Renewable Energy News, March 30, 2010

Here's what we're reading today:

• Skypoint Solar edges closer to selecting Vermont | The Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont
  
  Skypoint Solar Inc., is focusing on a site in Essex to begin manufacturing flexible, thin film solar cells by the end of the year. The deal remains in the works, with final site decisions yet to be made and tens of millions of dollars that need to be raised.
  
  The startup company received a boost with the announced initial approval Monday by the Vermont Economic Development Authority to authorize the company to sell $25 million worth of tax-exempt bonds.
  

• VPR News: Schools Share $6 Million In Energy Grants
  
  Dozens of schools and towns across the Vermont will share in nearly $6 million to pay for renewable energy and efficiency projects.

• Town hopes hydro project can set statewide example: Rutland Herald Online
  
  Two Bennington municipal employees and a local state representative are hoping the town's experience installing a hydroelectric generator at Bennington's water treatment plant will help make it easier for similar projects across the state in the future.
  

• New York ISO report on energy storage in the NY electricity markets
  
  New report looks at the potential for, and benefits of, new electricity storage technologies.
  

• Cleantech Blog: The Right Way to do Solar Manufacturing in the US
  
  Jigar Shah, CEO of the Carbon War Room and founder of SunEdison LLC writes about the need to invest more not just in renewable projects, but in renewable technology manufacturing.
  

• Hill Heat: Drilling For Votes: Senators Stake Out Climate And Energy Stances

Senators are beginning to seriously tackle climate and clean energy reform, responding to the leadership of Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) with letters staking out positions and making specific demands.

• Scaling Up Renewables and the Smart Grid | Renewable Energy World

There are many experts who feel that the market potential of renewable energy will only be fully realized if smart grid technologies and services are successful.

Renewable Energy News, March 29, 2010

Here's what we're reading and watching today:

• Up-Coming Local Renewable Energy Vermont Event - REV Distributed Generation Conference, May 18-19 in Manchester, VT
  
  Renewable Energy Vermont's next conference will focus on distributed generation issues; the agenda covers both Vermont's new feed-in-tariff program and the development and implementation of smart grid technology. Don't miss it - we'll see you there.
  

• The Smart Grid Industry – Connecting with Consumers (via The Energy Collective)
  
  The Smart Grid industry took an important first step in addressing a major disconnect in consumer communications strategies. Last week at a major utility industry show, Distributech, the launch of a non-profit organization to understand consumer needs in the Smart Grid universe was announced. It will be called the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC).

• Governors Urge President Obama To Expand Cleantech Tax Credit (via Green Energy Reporter)
  
  Governors are pressing President Obama to extend the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit, the fiscal incentive funded by the stimulus to boost cleantech jobs in the U.S., which is set to expire at the end of the year. In a letter, 19 state governors — Republicans and Democrats — propose that the tax credits be extended as part of a “jobs bill or another appropriate vehicle.”

• DOI Announces Eight Regional Climate Science Centers to Research Climate Adaption (via E&ETV)
  
  The Department of the Interior recently announced it will open eight Regional Climate Science Centers for climate adaptation research, the first of which will be based out of the University of Alaska. David Hayes, deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior, speaks with E&ETV about the need for these regional centers and discusses Interior's budget request for the research facilities.

• Using Organized Electricity Markets to Push for Efficiency and Clean Energy (via E&ETV)

How can the unique characteristics of organized electricity markets encourage the development of clean energy solutions in the United States?

• Climate Change Imperils the State of the Planet--Will the World Act?: Scientific American
  
  This new Scientific American article looks at the climate change challenges facing the world and emphasizes the need for government action at all levels.
  

Renewable Energy News for March 26, 2010

Here' what we're reading and watching this morning:

• Smart Grid Heavy Hitter series – Chris King, Chief Regulatory officer, eMeter (via The Energy Collective);
  
  A video conversation about smart grid development, meter data management, real time price visibility, and the regional differences in smart grid regulation.
  

• New York state OKs new funding for renewable energy projects
  
  State utility regulators Thursday approved $279 million in new funding to help homeowners and businesses install solar panels, fuel cells, wind turbines and other renewable energy devices.
  
  The money will be collected from utility ratepayers and used over the next five years, according to the state Public Service Commission.
  
  
• Pile on the Copenhagen Accord! 110 countries now committed to contributing to 2°C target
  
  An update on implementation of the Copenhagan Accord.
  
  
• Lecture on Federal Renewable Energy Legislation & Regulation
  
  A little dated (2008), but Professor Weissman gives a good intro lecture on federal energy legislation and regulation, particularly as it relates to renewable programs. Just fast-forward through the attendance roll-call. . .
  

Renewable Energy News for March 25, 2010

Here's what we're reading (and listening to) today:

• VPR News Vermont Edition: Montpelier & The Wood Chip Debate:
  
  The city of Montpelier hopes to heat and help power 176 buildings, including the State Capitol, with wood chips. The project has been in the works for close to 15 years, but recently got a jumpstart with $8 million in federal stimulus funds.VPR's Jane Lindholm talks with Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser and Chris Recchia, the Executive Director of the Biomass Energy Resource Center based in Montpelier, about the specifics of the project, and whether or not the city could serve as a model for other biomass projects across the country.

• VPR News: Denmark's Renewable Energy Model For VT:
  
  Earlier this week, the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, Friis Arne Petersen, was in Vermont to talk about a variety of subjects including those renewable energy projects, and Denmark's education and health care systems. VPR's Steve Zind met up with Petersen Sunday night at the Montpelier Unitarian Church, where the ambassador was set to speak later that night. He talked with him specifically about the country's renewable energy initiatives and what a state like Vermont can learn from the Danes.

• Hill Heat: Markup of Home Star, Smart Grid, and Renewable Energy Legislation:
  
  The Subcommittee on Energy and Environment will consider H.R._, Committee Print on the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, H.R. _, Committee Print on the Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense (GRID) Act, and H.R. 4451, the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act.

• SFGate: Renewable energy strong despite recession:
  
  A devastating recession slowed but did not stop the clean energy industry's growth in 2009, a report issued Tuesday found.
  
  The Clean Energy Trends 2010 Report concluded that combined global revenue for solar photovoltaics (PV), wind power, and biofuels expanded by 11.4 percent in 2009, reaching $139.1 billion. Wind power (new installation capital costs) is projected to expand from $63.5 billion in 2009 to $114.5 billion in 2019, and solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation) is expected to will grow from a $30.7 billion industry in 2009 to $98.9 billion by 2019.
  

• China's investment in clean energy outstrips United States, according to Pew report - chicagotribune.com
  
  China overtook the United States for the first time last year in the race to invest in wind, solar and other sources of so-called clean energy, according to a new report that raises questions of American competitiveness in a booming global market.
  
  The Pew clean energy report is available here
  

• Ohio Power Siting Board Approves 483 MW of Wind | Renewable Energy World
  
  The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) this week approved the construction of three wind projects, which represent 483 megawatts (MW) of capacity. At completion, the plants would vault Ohio into the mix for leading wind states and bring Ohio closer to its RPS target of 25% renewables by 2025.

• E&E News - Insurance regulators seek to stem opposition to climate regulation (note: subscription required)
  
  The nation's first mandatory climate regulation on the insurance industry might become voluntary. Insurance regulators plan to revisit the landmark rule this week requiring some 300 companies to disclose their efforts to prepare for climate change. One potential change to the "climate risk survey" might make the measure voluntary for insurers, according to sources.

Renewable Energy News for March 24, 2010

There are a two upcoming events in Vermont that may be of interest to folks in the local renewable energy community, both hosted by Vermont Law School:

• this Friday, 3/26, VLS will host a climate change symposium discussing the possible consequences of a warmer climate in Vermont (the agenda is available here);
  
  
• on Saturday, 3/27, VLS will host an all-day workshop on Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) districts, also know as Clean Energy Assessment Districts (CEADs). The Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC) has more information about the PACE program on its website.
  

Also in Vermont news, there are two separate reports on renewable energy projects that are moving through the permitting process under the new state standard-offer/feed-in-tariff program:

• ABC-22 reports on a proposed solar facility project in Ferrisburgh; and
  
  
• The Burlington Free Press has a story on another proposed solar project in South Burlington (disclosure: SDRS represents the developers of both these projects)
  

In regional news, over at Center for American Progress, Sean Pool takes a look at the effectiveness of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI. Vermont is one of the ten states taking part in RGGI, which takes a market-based approach towards reducing carbon emissions.

And on a related national note, Environment and Energy Daily reports that Senators Graham, Kerry and Lieberman are pushing towards getting a climate change and energy bill drafted in time to present next month (note: E&E Daily subscription required).

Elsewhere, Colorado recently enacted legislation that creates one of the highest state renewable energy standards in the nation. According to the press release, the law "requir[es] that 30 percent of electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2020."