Renewable Energy News, June 30, 2010

Burlington Electric extends Hydro-Quebec talks | The Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont

The Burlington Electric Commission voted Tuesday to continue negotiating a possible decades-long contract with Hydro-Quebec to meet about 14 percent of the city's power needs.

An hour of discussion among commissioners and members of the public preceded the vote, with most of the comments weighing the environmental and economic impacts of large-scale hydroelectric power generated by Vermont's northern neighbor.

Buying 9 megawatts of Hydro-Quebec's steady, round-the-clock power beginning in 2015 would help stabilize the city's electricity portfolio, particularly as it aspires to a greater commitment to renewable power, said Ken Nolan, director of resource planning at Burlington Electric Department.

Burlington's base power load fluctuates between 65 megawatts during the summer (due to air conditioning) and 54 megawatts in the winter.

Mainers full of gusto for wind power, survey finds | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Maine residents overwhelmingly support wind power development, chiefly because it cuts dependence on fossil fuels and creates jobs, according to the first survey released by the industry.

In a statewide telephone poll of 500 registered voters, 88 percent supported wind power in Maine. Calls to residents in seven rural "rim" counties, from Aroostook to Oxford, where most wind power projects are built or planned, showed 83 percent in support.

Renewable Energy News, June 29, 2010

EERE News: Department of Energy Announces $24 Million for Algal Biofuels Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today the investment of up to $24 million for three research groups to tackle key hurdles in the commercialization of algae-based biofuels. The selections will support the development of a clean, sustainable transportation sector—a goal of the Department's continued effort to spur the creation of the domestic bio-industry while creating jobs. Developing cost-effective renewable transportation fuels is a key component of the Administration's strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions and move the nation toward energy independence.

"Partnerships such as these focus the creative powers of the public, private, and academic sectors on key challenges facing the development of renewable energy for transportation," said Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi. "The United States must find effective ways to hasten the development of technologies for advanced biofuels made from algae and other renewable resources to reduce our need for foreign sources of oil." Zoi made the announcement while speaking today at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2010 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing.

Western governors consider alternative energy, climate change - Las Cruces Sun-News

WHITEFISH, Mont. - New transmission lines are critical to developing the alternative electricity production needed to meet demand in the coming years, governors of states in the West said Monday.

The need for new energy development and dangers of climate change topped the agenda at the annual meeting of the Western Governors Association, where participants recognized that more renewable energy is a priority that will require considerable private investment.

About half of the governors in the West are participating in the event.

The governors want to find a way to fast-track the construction of expensive, lengthy transmission lines to carry wind and solar power from rural to large urban areas.

Renewable energy bill to test Pennsylvania's House Coal Caucus - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

HARRISBURG -- The House Coal Caucus, revived recently in response to perceived threats to the industry from Washington and the state Capitol, could get its first test this week with a bill that would require utilities to buy higher amounts of renewable energy.

The bill's sponsor -- Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York -- is hoping for a House vote on dozens of amendments "soon."

The coal caucus, which includes 68 members, believes the bill is a threat to jobs in Western Pennsylvania. The bill calls for increasing the renewable energy used in Pennsylvania from 8 percent of the total to 15 percent by 2024.

Although amendments are designed to soften opposition from backers of the fossil fuel, Rep. Jeffrey Pyle, R-Ford City, the coal caucus' co-chair, said he doesn't expect to change his mind.

US Official: Oil Spill Shows Need for Green Energy - ABC News

A senior American energy official says the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico dramatically illustrates the need for investing in renewable sources of energy.

David Sandalow, an assistant energy secretary, said Tuesday the oil spill is a "tragic situation" that "underscores the need for a transition to a clean energy economy."

Paris looks for power from turbines beneath the Seine | Environment | guardian.co.uk

The river Seine, the historical "sacred river" running through Paris, inspired Monet, Matisse and even the British painter Turner, who sat on its banks to capture the scenery.

Now the landscape is to undergo a subtle change, with a plan to install eight turbines underneath the city's celebrated bridges to raise energy from river currents.

Paris city hall is to launch an appeal this week for power companies to come up with suitable projects to install the turbines, or hydroliennes.

"After a study by our urban ecology service and the French waterways, four potential sites have already been identified," Denis Baupin, the deputy mayor, told Le Parisien newspaper. One is to the west of the city, at the Pont du Garigliano, while the others are in central Paris, at the Pont de la Tournelle, Pont Marie and Pont au Change. Two energy-harnessing machines will be placed at each spot.

Renewable Energy News, June 28, 2010

Hard cider company signs up for Cow Power renewable energy program: Times Argus Online

It raises the cost of doing business. But Bret Williams said there’s more to business than just the bottom line to consider.

As president of Green Mountain Beverage, the maker of Woodchuck Hard Cider, Williams made the commitment to buy 25 percent of his electricity through Cow Power — the manure-to-energy program run by the state’s largest electric utility.

For a 4 cents per kilowatt hour premium, Central Vermont Public Service Corp. offers its customers the option of receiving a portion of their electricity through Cow Power.

“There are things that do more and weigh more heavily on us than the bottom line and trying to do what’s right,” Williams said, “and if it helps the community and the environment, we’re all for it.”

Is It Energy’s Turn Now? - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

With the overhaul of financial regulation nearing completion, some Democrats are hoping that Congress can turn to the next big legislative challenge – energy and climate change. There is no consensus yet what such legislation should include, but there is strong determination on the part of the White House and Democratic leaders in Congress to try to move something – anything – before Congress leaves town in August.

President Obama hoped to give the matter a boost this week by calling a bipartisan group of senators to the White House for a pep talk, but he canceled at the last minute to deal with a crisis in his military leadership in Afghanistan. The president is now planning to host the energy meeting on Tuesday.

Clean energy grants mean jobs for Michigan | MLive.com

On Friday, Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced that nine small manufacturers in the state received $15 million in grants and $5 million in loans for a total of $20 million through the Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing (CEAM) program.

"The nine Michigan companies that are receiving grants and loans in this new round of clean energy advanced manufacturing funding are going to help grow Michigan's new energy economy and create jobs," Granholm said in her weekly radio address. "And their innovations in the field of clean energy will further reduce our reliance on fossil fuels."

Renewable Energy News, June 24, 2010

Alaska utility says wind farm power cheaper - JuneauEmpire.com

FAIRBANKS – The Golden Valley Electric Association says a wind farm near Healy could prevent increases in customer rates because it would likely produce cheaper power than wholesale prices the utility pays.

The proposed $93 million Eva Creek wind farm would be the largest in the state and could produce power for a full cent less than Golden Valley’s current wholesale price, which is about 10.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Texas oil firms behind California greenhouse gas initiative - CSMonitor.com

California is headed for another showdown over greenhouse gases.

A citizen's ballot initiative approved Tuesday could suspend AB32, the state's landmark 2006 law mandating a 25 percent reduction in industrial greenhouse gases by 2020.

Backed by manufacturers and Texas oil companies Valero Energy Inc. and Tesoro Corp., the ballot initiative would halt enforcement of the law until California unemployment, now at over 12 percent, sinks to 5.5 percent for at least a year. The "California Jobs Initiative," as it is called, is necessary to protect Californians from financial hardship at a time when they can ill afford it, its backers say.

Culver: Midwest can lead in renewable energy economy | Des Moines Register Staff Blogs

Gov. Chet Culver told the Midwest Governors Association in Washington, D.C. today the Midwest is well positioned to lead job creation and retention in a renewable energy economy.

“We have a great deal to be proud of: a growing biofuels industry; huge energy efficiency potential; significant underground storage potential for carbon capture from factories and power plants, and massive wind power potential,” Culver said in prepared remarks.

“Add to all of that our strong university system, our community colleges offering technical training and our internationally known work ethic, and you can see why there is reason to be optimistic about what we can do in renewable energy,” Culver added.

The Democratic governor noted that Iowa leads the nation in biofuels output, adding nearly $12 billion to Iowa’s gross domestic product; generating $2.8 billion in household income; supporting nearly 83,000 new jobs and generating $576 million in state tax revenue.

Renewable Energy News, June 23, 2010

EU sees solar power imported from Sahara in 5 yrs | Reuters

ALGIERS (Reuters) - Europe will import its first solar-generated electricity from North Africa within the next five years, European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in an interview on Sunday.

The European Union is backing projects to turn the plentiful sunlight in the Sahara desert into electricity for power-hungry Europe, a scheme it hopes will help meet its target of deriving 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources in 2020.

"I think some models starting in the next 5 years will bring some hundreds of megawatts to the European market," Oettinger told Reuters after a meeting with energy ministers from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia.

Climate Law Ban Ballot-Bound, But Schwarzenegger Bolsters Support of AB32

Back in May, the California Jobs Initiative submitted to California’s Secretary of State’s office more than 800,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure to stall implementation of the state’s 2006 landmark law designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since that’s nearly double the number of signatures required for a measure to make the ballot, it was all but certain that the measure would qualify for the November ballot. And so it has, announced the Secretary of State’s office announced late Tuesday.

But in reaction to this news, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who opposes the ballot measure and a much-maligned study from the state’s Analyst’s Office that predicts implementing the law would worsen California’s employment numbers, swiftly expressed his continued support of AB32 and called out the link between the ballot measure and the Texas oil companies that support it.

CVPS unveils solar education center: Rutland Herald Online

RUTLAND TOWN – Central Vermont Public Service's patch of solar panels just north of the city have attracted the attention of passersby on Route 7 since their installation late last year.

Now, passing motorists have a reason to stop and look a little closer.

On Tuesday morning, Gov. James Douglas joined CVPS President Bob Young and local leaders to officially unveil the “solar project and renewable energy education center,” which welcomes the public to park in a lot off Route 7, on the campus of the company's district service center, and take a self-guided tour through the 33-module array that includes a total of 264 solar panels.

“We want the community to view this not just as a small solar array that's generating power ... but as an education tool for children and adults alike,” Young said during a short ceremony along the noisy roadway.

Dow Jones & SunPower To Build 4-MW PV System | Renewable Energy World

New Jersey, United States -- Dow Jones & Company has selected SunPower to install a solar power system with 4.1 megawatts (MW) of capacity at Dow Jones' corporate offices in central New Jersey. The system will include 3.6 MW of elevated solar panels above parking areas and a 522-kilowatt rooftop installation.

When completed early next year, the system will be one of the nation's largest solar power installations operating at a corporate site, and is expected to generate the equivalent of 15 percent of current electricity needs for Dow Jones' South Brunswick campus. The system is being partially financed through PSE&G's Solar Loan Program, through which PSE&G offers loans for solar power.

$25M veto cuts into Alaska clean energy plans » Ventura County Star

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Renewable energy development in Alaska is getting about half the funding lawmakers had approved after Gov. Sean Parnell decided to veto $25 million for projects he said can still be considered.

The Legislature had approved $50 million for the Alaska Renewable Energy Grant Fund, but Parnell cut it in half just before the 2010 Business of Clean Energy in Alaska conference last week.

The conference was organized by the Renewable Energy Alaska Project to show Alaska's leaders how to build a more sustainable energy future for the state and tap into the worldwide $155-billion-a-year clean energy market.

The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported the veto could delay 46 projects around the state unless other funds are found.

Industry finds wind taxes high

CHEYENNE — Wyoming taxes on the wind energy industry would be the highest among Rocky Mountains states if all of Wyoming’s pending taxes take effect, according to a new analysis by an industry group.

The Wyoming Power Producers Coalition is releasing its study in advance of wind tax discussions scheduled for next week by the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Interim Committee.

The report says a model 99-megawatt wind project would pay at least 37 percent more taxes in Wyoming than any other Rocky Mountain region state.

“Wyoming has a big policy discussion that needs to take place,” said David Picard, a lobbyist for the coalition. “What amount of wind energy development do they want? Because clearly our analysis shows that Wyoming is much less competitive with our surrounding states.”

Ohio solar project hailed as step in renewable energy research

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — Gov. Ted Strickland led a list of VIP’s at the Tuesday, June 22, official opening of Dayton Power & Light’s Yankee Solar Array.

Although he acknowledged Ohio has been “late to the ball game” on renewable energy, Strickland pledged that the state’s aggressive advanced energy requirements and innovations would surpass global competitors.

“We should never be shy about Ohio’s place at the forefront of advanced energy,” he said. “Increasingly, we are seeing these energy displays.” He praised work in the state to produce fuel cells and solar panels amid intense international competition. “It’s an environment we can compete in. We’ll be competitive and overtake those who are ahead of us.”

Tampa utility testing pole-mounted solar panels | Cooler Planet News

Utilities and solar energy companies have been working together in many parts of the country to put unused roof space and abandoned industrial lots to better use by installing photovoltaic panels to generate clean energy.

However, telephone poles may be playing a greater role in the coming years when it comes to distributed solar plans that generate large amounts of energy with help from existing structures. This allows companies to avoid the costs and regulatory burdens that come with having to acquire new parcels of land for such projects.

In a recent announcement, Petra Solar, a New Jersey company, reported that its SunWave solar photovoltaic systems will be tested by the Tampa Electric Company. The systems are geared to work with the smart grid technology that is expected to become more common in the near future.

EPA Kicks Off Nationwide 'Green Capitals' Initiative | GreenBiz.com

WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering comprehensive technical assistance to state capitals for the design and development of more sustainable neighborhoods -- ones that incorporate green building and infrastructure to foster social, economic and environmental benefits.

The program called Greening America's Capitals is a project of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a collaborative effort involving the EPA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Under the program, design teams provided and funded by the EPA are to work with the cities to transform neighborhoods into models of sustainability.

Renewable Energy News, June 22, 2010

Bill seeks to expedite land leases to solar developers - Las Vegas Sun

Solar energy could finally directly contribute to government coffers in Nevada if legislation proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. Dean Heller becomes law. But some solar companies are wary it could keep them from developing new energy plants if the same approach winds up applied to all Bureau of Land Management property.

The Nevada lawmakers this month introduced the American Solar Energy Pilot Leasing Act of 2010 in their respective houses. The legislation would designate two valleys in Lincoln County as solar pilot project areas where land leases would be auctioned to the highest-bidding solar developers. The legislation calls for Nevada and Lincoln to each get a quarter of the revenue from lease and royalty income from development on the land.

Australia Will Maintain 20% Renewable Energy Target, Wong Says - BusinessWeek

June 22 (Bloomberg) -- The Australian government will keep a target of generating 20 percent of the nation’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 while amending planned legislation, Climate Change Minister Penny Wong said.

“The amendments will ensure the long-term, sustainable growth of both the small-scale and large-scale renewable energy sector and will support new jobs and investment,” Wong said in an e-mailed statement today after putting the amendments to the upper house Senate.

California Legislature to Reconsider Renewable Electricity Standard | Union of Concerned Scientists

The California Legislature and Gov. Schwarzenegger are expected to redouble their efforts to enact renewable energy legislation this year that would require California utilities to acquire 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy like the wind and sun by 2020, up from the state's current 20 percent requirement by the end of this year.

While the governor vetoed a package of renewable energy standard bills last year, citing concerns that they would unduly restrict out-of-state renewable energy from counting towards the requirement, there is renewed interest among both branches of government to find common ground on legislation sooner rather than later. The governor issued an executive order on the 33 percent renewables issue, but the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), state legislators, renewable energy companies and many other stakeholders assert that an executive order does not carry the force of law, which is what's needed to send a clear market signal that California is prepared to invest in renewable energy.

Poll: Vast Majority say U.S. Energy Policy Needs Major Changes - CBS News

Nine in 10 Americans -- including a majority of Republicans, Democrats and independents alike -- think U.S. energy policy either needs fundamental changes or to be completely rebuilt, a new CBS/ New York Times poll shows.

Just 6 percent think only minor changes are needed to the nation's energy policy, according to the poll, conducted June 16 - June 20.

Study Affirms Consensus on Climate Change- Green Blog - NYTimes.com

Many debates about global warming seem to boil down to appeals to authority, with one side or the other citing some famous scientist, or group of them, to buttress a particular argument. The tone is often, “My expert is better than yours!”

Against this backdrop, some analysts have been trying for several years to get a firm handle on where climate researchers come down, as a group, on the central issues in the global-warming debate: Is the earth warming up, and if so, are humans largely responsible?

Renewable Energy News, June 21, 2010

Alaska to seek half its power from renewable sources | BrighterEnergy.org

Alaska has adopted legislation aiming to generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

The state’s Governor, Sean Parnell, signed a bill into law that will set one of the highest targets for renewable power among any of the US states, surpassing California’s 33% goal and Hawaii’s 40% goal.

House Bill 306 is expected to see most of Alaska’s renewable energy target achieved through hydroelectric projects.

A $100 Million Pool for Solar Financing - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

PG&E Corporation, the California utility holding company, has created a $100 million tax equity fund to finance residential solar installations by SunRun, a San Francisco startup that leases photovoltaic arrays to homeowners.

The fund managed by a PG&E subsidiary, Pacific Energy Capital II, is the largest single solar leasing pool to date, according to the company, and marks the growing interest of utilities in the renewable energy financing business.

A New, Bold Plan for a Carbon-Neutral UK by 2030

Carbon neutrality by 2030 is the new standard for climate policies, and again the UK is leading North America in the climate debate with a bold national-level proposal about how to get there. The Centre for Alternative Technology just launched zerocarbonbritain2030 (ZCB2030), a collaborative project showing one possible scenario for making the entire UK carbon-neutral by 2030.

ZCB2030 is a well-researched, well-written, and well-designed report on a set of possible pathways to a zero carbon Britain by 2030 (The goal, though bold, is not unique: Alex Steffen called for a very similar position for Seattle, a target which the Seattle City Council has included in their legislative priorities this year; and a variety of other nations and cities are approaching the same target, from Copenhagen to New Zealand). In 384 pages, CAT presents a comprehensive look at the kind of systemic changes needed to achieve dramatic emissions reduction in just 20 years in such areas as farming, energy generation, building codes, transportation planning, and economic frameworks. This report truly addresses the scope, scale and speed of the climate crisis and the solutions needed to create a bright green future.

Renewable Energy News, June 18, 2010

Uncle Sam, Solar Landlord, Is Under Fire - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

The nation’s biggest landlord, the United States government, has set the rent it will charge developers who build solar power plants on federal land, and some prospective tenants are not happy.

Solar developers will actually pay two fees – the lease for the land along with what the Bureau of Land Management calls a “megawatt capacity fee” based on how much electricity a project generates.

“Since we don’t have authority to collect royalties for wind and solar projects, we had to come up with a methodology to convert that electrical generation into an upfront rent payment,” Ray Brady, manager of the bureau’s renewable energy team, said in an interview.

But potential developers see a disparity. “The proposed B.L.M. rental fees are in many cases two times higher than market rates for private land,” Monique Hanis, a spokeswoman for the Solar Energy Industries Association, said in an e-mail message. “The B.L.M. must collect ‘fair market value’ from developers, but this seems to go beyond that threshold.”

Williamstown board OKs solar farm | The Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont

WILLIAMSTOWN -- Officials in Williamstown have given their approval to a plan to build what would become the state's largest solar farm on a site just off Interstate 89.

The Williamstown Selectboard gave a waiver for the proposal for a 2.1 megawatt solar farm in hopes it would expedite the application process of a Massachusetts company to install nearly 9,000 solar panels on 744 arrays.

U.S. climate bill to shape U.N. talks - UPI.com

WASHINGTON, June 16 (UPI) -- Worldwide hopes for a comprehensive climate protection treaty hinge on whether U.S. President Barack Obama can push through an ambitious U.S. climate bill.

At least that's what observers to the U.N. climate negotiations say.

EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard, a former Danish climate minister and chairwoman of the Copenhagen climate summit, last month said it was key that the United States legally commits itself to greenhouse gas emissions caps.

"The United States needs to bring in the law," she said of the climate and clean energy bill currently stalling in the Senate. Quickly growing economies like India and China are waiting on Washington to live up to its rhetoric before they are willing to take their own steps, Hedegaard added.

US Senators Propose Extending Renewable-Energy Grant Program - WSJ.com

SAN FRANCISCO (Dow Jones)--A group of U.S. Senators Tuesday proposed extending a government program that provides cash grants to renewable energy developers in lieu of tax credits, a program developers have said is crucial to keeping the market afloat.

Sens. Maria Cantwell (D., Wash.), Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) and four other Democratic senators proposed extending the renewable tax-credit Treasury grant program another two years, through 2012, as part of a $140 billion bill to extend federal unemployment aid and renew a host of expired tax breaks.

The renewable energy proposal, in the form of an amendment to the "tax extender" bill, would create at least 65,000 jobs in the solar power industry and tens of thousands of jobs in other sectors, Cantwell and Feinstein said.

"The clean energy sector is the next frontier in jobs creation, so we need to ensure that developers can access financing to launch wind, solar and geothermal projects and put people to work," Feinstein said in a statement.

White House Seeks to Bolster Role in Senate Climate Talks - NYTimes.com

The White House is trying to assert its influence over the Senate climate debate after President Obama's nationwide energy address left some questioning how aggressively the president will push for comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

Obama made calls yesterday morning to Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), both sponsors of competing Senate energy bills, and the White House announced plans to host a bipartisan group of senators next week to discuss the path forward on an energy package.

Democrats May Aid Renewable Energy in Oil Spill Bill (Update1) - BusinessWeek

Senate Democrats will debate today whether a bill that responds to BP Plc’s oil spill should benefit renewable energy sources and limit greenhouse gases.

The closed-door meeting will gauge Democratic support for these proposals before President Barack Obama brings Republicans into talks on energy legislation next week at the White House.

N.J. bill backs offshore wind development | Philadelphia Inquirer | 06/17/2010

New Jersey has become a national leader in solar power with the help of a market-based incentive program. Legislative leaders now want to expand the program to include offshore wind projects in hopes of making the state a destination for developers.

No offshore wind turbines yet exist in the United States, but states are in a race to be the first and biggest producers.

A bill sponsored by Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) and Minority Leader Thomas H. Kean Jr. (R., Union) would provide developers of New Jersey projects guaranteed revenue with which to secure financing.

Renewable Energy News, June 16, 2010

EPA Says Senate Climate Bill Won’t Be Costly - Ecocentric - TIME.com

While the Socratic exercise that is the House hearings on Big Oil go on—and on, and on—this afternoon, it's not the only piece of energy and environmental news today. The Environmental Protection Agency released today its preliminary economic analysis of climate and energy bill co-sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman, and the news is good for greens, according to the Hill's E2 Wire blog.

Jerry Brown unveils clean-energy plan in Silicon Valley - ContraCostaTimes.com

Build a "California solar highway" by placing gleaming solar panels along the banks of freeways. Put projects on the "fast track" to get green energy to consumers sooner. Create nearly a half-million jobs by generating 20,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2010.

Attorney General Jerry Brown, the Democratic candidate for governor, came to Silicon Valley on Tuesday to announce those and other parts of his new "clean-energy jobs plan."

New Law keeps with Vt.'s social conscience

For Jeffrey Hollender, a law establishing a new type of corporation that puts society and the environment on a level playing field with profits is in keeping with Vermont’s reputation as the home to many socially responsible businesses.

“I think because we have the nation’s largest collection of socially responsible businesses, it is appropriate we are one of the first two states to recognize that business focus in legal fashion,” said Hollender, co-founder and executive chairman of Seventh Generation, a company that develops and markets environmentally friendly household products.

Hollender was referring to Act 113, the Vermont Benefit Corporations Act, signed into law last month by Gov. James Douglas. (Maryland became the first state earlier this year).

According to the law, a company may identify in its articles of incorporation one or more public benefits with a standard of conduct laid out for a company’s board of directors to follow. That standard of conduct allows directors to take into consideration not only the interest of shareholders but also the effects the company’s actions might have on society and the environment.

Obama Signals Need for New Energy Agenda

The biggest news from President Obama's Oval Office address is that cap and trade legislation is probably dead for the foreseeable future, and the administration is seeking new ideas.

Instead of using last night's prime-time opportunity to push cap and trade in the form of the Kerry-Lieberman American Power Act -- as many climate advocates saw as their last hope for "comprehensive" climate reform -- President Obama pressed the reset button on energy and climate policy, saying he was "happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party, as long they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels." He made no mention of setting a price on carbon or establishing an emissions cap and trade system.

CEOs to Washington: Spend on Energy R&D! | Business | GreenBiz.com

Can a massive government spending program bring us closer to a clean energy economy and help fight climate change?

Absolutely, say some of the America's most powerful CEOs and ex-CEOs, capitalists all.

Microsoft's Bill Gates, Jeff Immelt of GE, Ursula Burns of Xerox, Tim Solso of Cummins and former CEOs Chad Holliday of DuPont and Norman Augustine of Lockheed Martin, along with venture capitalist John Doerr, came to Washington earlier this month to release a new report calling for the government to invest in energy innovation.

Williamstown site eyed for state s largest solar farm: Times Argus Online

WILLIAMSTOWN - A Massachusetts firm is moving ahead with plans to transform a gently sloping plateau located just off Exit 5 of Interstate 89 into Vermont’s largest solar farm.

The Williamstown Select Board has approved a waiver that should expedite the state Public Service Board’s pending review of the project by TriLand Partners. The company will soon submit its application for the 2.1 megawatt solar farm, which will be located near the I-89-Route 64 interchange to Williamstown and Northfield.

Developer in talks over $3.25bn Montana wind grid project | BrighterEnergy.org

The $3.25 billion transmission project being proposed to unlock 3,000MW of wind energy potential around Montana is to be evaluated by the region’s power marketing administration.

Montana’s Governor Brian Schweitzer said Grasslands Renewable Energy, the developer of the so-called Wind Spirit Project, will take part in further discussions with the Western Area Power Administration, a federal agency that markets and transmits electricity in 15 states from its HQ in Denver, Colorado.

Bozeman-based developer Grasslands already has 10 wind power generators signed up to take part in the project.

Supported by federal stimulus money, the Wind Spirit Project would comprise three separate 230kV AC power lines to connect Montana with markets in Wyoming and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Brownfields' Bright Spot: Solar and Wind Energy | Renewable Energy World

Colorado, United States -- Wind turbines are rising from abandoned toxic industrial sites. Solar panels are catching rays over contaminated landfills. The land is cheap, often abandoned, close to such necessary infrastructure as power lines and roads, is often properly zoned, and no other developers are rushing to erect anything on them.

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory is evaluating sites for renewable energy potential on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency.

"The big driver is using land that otherwise couldn't be used," said James Salasovich, an NREL engineer who has evaluated so-called landfill "brownfields" in Puerto Rico and Wisconsin.

Permit granted for 37,000-acre South Dakota wind farm

PIERRE, S.D. - A state permit was granted Tuesday for a 37,000-acre wind farm of up to 110 turbines to be built by Basin Electric Power Cooperative in southeast South Dakota.

North Dakota-based Basin Electric said when completed, the PrairieWinds SD1 project would replace its PrairieWinds ND1 as the largest wind project owned and operated by an electric cooperative in the United States.

Construction of the $363 million, 165-megawatt project will begin when federal permits are obtained, Basin officials said. PrairieWinds ND1 south of Minot, N.D., has 77 turbines producing about 115 megawatts of electricity.

Public hearing for Pownal solar proposal set for June 29: Rutland Herald Online

POWNAL — The Public Service Board has scheduled a public hearing for later this month for the solar farm proposed for the former Green Mountain Race Track site on Route 7.

The hearing on June 29 will be the first public hearing on the request for a certificate of public good that would be needed to build the solar farm at the former race track, renamed the Southern Vermont Energy Park.

Under Vermont law, a power generation project such as the solar farm requires a certificate of public good from the Public Service Board, but not local permits. However, proponent EOS Ventures of Hancock, Mass., has already made presentations to the Select Board and Pownal Zoning Administrator Nelson Brownell.

Disclosure: SDRS represents EOS Ventures in this matter.

Renewable Energy News, June 14, 2010

CleanTechLaw:  New law establishes nation's first statewide PACE program

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed House Bill 1328, known as the New Energy Jobs Creation Act, along with a number of other clean energy bills, at a ceremony in Denver Friday afternoon.

The jobs bill sets up the nation's first statewide Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) district, called the Colorado New Energy Improvement District. It will offer clean energy financing to homeowners throughout Colorado by allowing them to add a special assessment to their property taxes to pay off the cost of the improvements over time.

Europe’s New Wind Power Rivals Gas - Green Blog - NYTimes.com

The amount of power generated by new wind turbines in the European Union this year will be about the same as the amount from new gas plants, according to the European Wind Energy Association, an industry group.

The European Union’s energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and the chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association, Christian Kjaer,with the wind turbine in the Schuman roundabout in Brussels.
European Pressphoto Agency The European Union’s energy commissioner, Andris Piebalgs, and the chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association, Christian Kjaer,with a wind turbine in Brussels.

“It is too early to say whether, for a third year running, there will be more wind energy capacity installed than any other electricity generating technology, but it is clear that wind energy will be competing for the top spot with new gas power plants,” Christian Kjaer, the chief executive of the wind association, said on Monday.

N.C. House passes renewable-energy bill - Charlotte Business Journal

A bill to create a 25 percent tax credit for the construction of facilities used to manufacture renewable energy has cleared the N.C. House. It now heads to the state Senate’s finance committee.

The credit, to be taken against state income or business franchise taxes, applies to the construction of a variety of renewable-energy projects, including biomass, hydro-generation, solar, wind and geothermal heat pumps.

Ohio Assembly passes renewable energy tax reform bill | BrighterEnergy.org

Ohio is close to reforming its property tax laws to dramatically cut the costs of developing renewable energy projects in the state.

A vote by the state’s House of Representatives late Thursday – and a final clearance from the Senate – passed a bill that is now expected to become law before the summer recess.

Governor Ted Strickland pledged on Friday that he would sign Sub Senate Bill 232 the moment it hits his desk.

The new law will mean that renewable energy projects are no longer taxed as just another form of private property.

Solar industry challenges Georgia Power | ajc.com

Three years ago, when Congress tried to set national standards for the power industry’s use of things like solar energy, Atlanta-based Southern Co. fought back with singular ferocity.

The costs would be “exorbitant,” a Southern Co. spokesman said at the time.

“Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are not really an option for us in the Southeast,” the spokesman said.

This spring, the state’s small but growing solar industry offered up a full-throated rebuttal to the Southern Co.’s longtime mantra, blasting it and its Georgia Power utility for misleading Georgia and national policymakers about the feasibility of solar energy in the Southeast.

“We directly challenge for the first time the accuracy of the company’s information about the viability of solar power as a renewable energy source in Georgia,” James Marlow and Lee Peterson said on behalf of the Georgia Solar Energy Association in first-time testimony at the state Public Service Commission.

Local Vermont & Regional News:


Georgia wind project wins Vermont approval | The Burlington Free Press

GEORGIA — Developers of a three- to five-turbine commercial-scale wind project in Georgia — the first of its kind in Chittenden County — today received a certificate of public good from the Vermont Public Service Board.

The board’s 94-page order states that the project’s potential to generate up to 12MW of power, and its relatively benign impact on natural resources, outweigh its critics’ claims that it will diminish the value of their viewshed and property values.

Advocates for the project note that the proximity of the proposed power source to a concentration of consumers in northwest Vermont will reduce transmission costs of electricity in the region.

New Haven tract on Route 7 eyed for major solar farm | Addison County Independent

NEW HAVEN — A team of Winooski-based engineers is proposing to build one of the state’s largest solar farms on a 40-acre portion of a 180-acre parcel on the west side of Route 7, across from the Hill Top RV Center in New Haven.

The proposed project, on land owned by Albert and Gail Freyer, would feature 178 ground-mounted solar trackers with photovoltaic panels capable of harvesting enough energy to power 500 homes annually. It would also include an organic farm operation calling for sheep and goats to graze near the high-tech equipment.

East Coast Governors Join Forces for Clean, Renewable Energy from Wind : CleanTechnica

From red state to blue, ten governors of states bordering the East Coast of the U.S. have joined forces to endorse the development of wind energy farms on the Outer Continental Shelf. The list includes Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Virgina.

Vermont Renewable Energy Bill Becomes Law

Signed on Friday, June 4, the 2010 Renewable Energy Bill (H. 781) further encourages development of renewable energy in Vermont. Most provisions became law upon signature. It is a critical follow-up to Vermont’s 2009 Energy Act, enacted to support rapid deployment of renewable energy generation projects in Vermont through the establishment of long-term power contracts with fixed prices. More details to follow, but the full text of the new law is available here: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2010/bills/Passed/H-781.pdf.

The Times-Argus has an article on the new law.

An earlier blog post addressed this matter on May 7, 2010: Vermont Senate backs Hydro-Quebec renewable-energy status