WHAT U.S. OFFSHORE WIND NEEDS

Fulfilling the Promise of U.S. Offshore Wind; Targeted State Investment Policies to Put an Abundant Renewable Resource within ReachFebruary 22, 2013 (National Resources Defense Council) “Offshore wind is an inexhaustible resource that lies just off our shores…[According to the Department of Energy,] the United States could obtain 20 percent of its electricity from wind by 2030, and more than 15 percent of that wind power could come from offshore...

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2,500MW WYOMING WIND MOVES AHEAD

Massive Wyoming wind farm developer to seek state permitAdam Voge, February 19, 2013 (Casper Star-Tribune) “…Power Company of Wyoming, developer of the [$5 billion] 1,000-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre wind project…was set to file an application with the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council…[but delayed because of] now-dead legislation which…would have required companies…to spend at least 25 percent of the anticipated cost in the first two years...

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MASSACHUSETTS PLANNING FOR MORE SUN

After The First 400 MW: Massachusetts Makes Plans For More SolarJessica Lillian, 26 February 2013 (Solar Industry) “…Massachusetts is now seeking to avoid the dreaded drop-off point with its popular solar carve-out program, which began in 2009 and currently has a 400 MW cap in place. The administration of Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., recently announced that it had begun work on a new policy to sustain solar development past 400 MW [and overcome an...

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SO DAKOTA WANTS WIND

SD Senate panel endorses incentives for wind powerChet Brokaw, February 14, 2013 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) “…[The] South Dakota Senate Commerce and Energy Committee voted 6-1 to pass a measure…that would provide financial incentives to encourage the stalled construction of wind power projects in the state…[The] construction of wind farms has drawn to a standstill in South Dakota because the state imposes much higher taxes during construction than...

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ASIA-PACIFIC SOLAR BOOM GOES ON

PV Demand in the Asia Pacific Region to Reach 13.5 GW in 2013…Leading PV Countries in Asia Pacific Starting to Exhibit Diverse Market-Entry ConditionsFebruary 13, 2013 (SolarBuzz) “Solar photovoltaic (PV) demand from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is forecast to grow to 13.5 GW in 2013, growing 50% Y/Y…China, Japan, India, and Australia…will account for 90% of APAC demand in 2013. However, discrete end-market demand environments are now evolving...

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STILL BIG MONEY IN LITHIUM ION BATTERIES

… Global Lithium-ion Market to Double Despite Recent Issues; The market was valued at $11.7 billion at the end of 2012 - Fastest growth can be witnessed in the industrial and automotive segments21 February 2013 (Frost and Sullivan) “The global lithium-ion battery market was worth $11.7 billion in 2012 and is expected to double by 2016, according to Frost & Sullivan. This will happen despite the recent issues experienced by Boeing, and despite...

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WIND BREAKS MORE RECORDS: TEXAS

Wind generation records fall in Texas…Tom Gray, February 22, 2013 (Wind Energy Weekly) “…[T]he increased generating capacity installed last year continues to make its presence felt…On February 9, a strong weekend cold front that brought needed rain to much of Texas also propelled the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), which operates the utility system serving most of the state, to a new wind power record, with wind generation providing...

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WIND BREAKS MORE RECORDS: PACIFIC NORTHWEST

New wind output record in Pacific NorthwestTom Gray, February 22, 2013 (Wind Energy Weekly) “On February 16, a new record for wind output was set on the main utility system in the [Pacific Northwest’s Bonneville Power Administration] power system. Wind energy output peaked at 4,402 MW at 4:05 PM, breaking the previous record of 4,344 MW that was set on January 29.”click to enlarge[Michael Goggin, Manager of Transmission, AWEA:] "The new wind records...

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WIND BREAKS MORE RECORDS: COLORADO

Wind generation records fall in…Colorado…Tom Gray, February 22, 2013 (Wind Energy Weekly) “…Xcel Energy in Colorado said February 12 that it…achieved a number of significant wind energy milestones [in 2012] that have continued through to this year. The highlight…came January 16 at 1 a.m., when the utility's system set a new record for wind generation of 1,960 MW. “The new record was spurred in part by the installation and commissioning in 2012 of...

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SMART HOMES FROM SMARTTHINGS

SmartThings Aims to Deliver the Internet-Connected HomeBrad Stone, February 14, 2013 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) “…[SmartThings is] selling [home automation] kits with moisture sensors, power outlets, and motion detectors that turn previously dumb appliances such as fans and garage door openers into Internet-connected devices that can be controlled using the company’s smartphone apps…SmartThings is also trying to create the dominant platform for such...

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COMPARING SOLAR PANEL PRICES

What’s Happening with c-Si and Thin Film Pricing Categories?Michael Barker, February 14, 2013 (SolarBuzz) “…c-Si module pricing started 2012 with a larger quarterly decrease than thin film. But the pricing trends for c-Si and thin film modules were essentially parallel for the remainder of last year…Over the past year, thin film modules have retained higher ASPs than most c-Si modules, the exception being the higher prices obtained by c-Si Tier 1...

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THE END IN SIGHT FOR NUCLEAR

Texas Wind Power Transmission Set To Skyrocket As Energy Exec Hints At End Of NukesTina Casey, February 10, 2013 (Clean Technica) “A $7 billion project that will send wind power from remote areas in West Texas to Dallas, Houston and other big cities is on the verge of completion, and that could pound yet another nail into the coffin for U.S. nuclear power and, for that matter, coal…When completed some time this year…3,500 miles of new line [will...

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WHERE SUN IS IN TEXAS

San Antonio, Austin support 85 percent of Texas solar energy installations; Legislature considering bills to help expand solar to rest of stateFebruary 14, 2013 (Environment Texas) “The municipally owned utilities in San Antonio and Austin have supported the installation of four times more solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity than the rest of Texas combined or 85 percent of the state total, according to Reaching for the Sun: How San Antonio and Austin...

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NEW ENERGY SAVED MONEY FOR NO CAROLINA

New Report Shows Clean Energy’s Positive Impact on North Carolina’s Economy and Utility Rates; Since 2007, clean energy investments have created thousands of jobs.February 18, 2013 (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association) “… The Economic, Utility Portfolio, and Rate Impact of Clean Energy Development in North Carolina [from RTI International and La Capra Associates, Inc]…is an economic analysis focused on the impacts of clean energy policy...

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NEW YORK TURNS TO WIND

New Yorkers' Green Helps Wind Power Supply More Of The Power GridJill Urban, February 10, 2013 (NY1) “…[T]he Barcade bar in Williamsburg…[a]Brooklyn hotspot is 100-percent powered by wind energy…Because the bar operates more than 30 arcade games, it consumes more energy than the average bar. Kermizian and the other owners decided to reduce their carbon footprint by turning to wind, and more and more New Yorkers are asking energy suppliers like Con...

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GE BUYS CSP

GE to buy two Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plants in Spain...2013 February 13 (Helioscsp) “...[T]aking steps to reduce its massive debt…[ACS] has reached an agreement…[with General Electric for the concentrating solar power (CSP) Manchasol I and II parabolic trough projects]…in Alcazar de San Juan and CityReal [in Spain]…Both assets [are] already in operation, totaling about 100 megawatts of power…[A final price has not yet been announced]… “…[Spain’s]...

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$150M NEW ENERGY MANUFACTURING TAX CREDITS RELEASED

Energy Department, Treasury Announce Availability of $150 Million in Tax Credits for Clean Energy ManufacturersFebruary 7, 2013 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program/U.S. Department of Energy) “As part of President's Obama's all-of-the-above approach to American energy, the U.S. Departments of Energy and the Treasury…[has made] $150 million in Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing...

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IPC ADVANCES GRID POWER STORAGE

Ideal Power Converters Achieves Key Certification for Grid Storage Battery Converter; Higher efficiency and lower installed cost of storage expected to resultFebruary 6, 2013 (Ideal Power Converters) “…[The] Ideal Power Converters (IPC)…30kW Battery Converter has…[won UL1741 certification for safety and grid compatibility. The distributed generation technology…supplies power to the electric grid… “IPC has invented and patented indirect Energy Packet...

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WIND COMMENDS THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH

Statement by AWEA Interim CEO Rob Gramlich on President Obama’s State of the Union speechFebruary 12, 2013 (American Wind Energy Association) [Rob Gramlich, Interim CEO, AWEA:] “President Obama called on Congress to strengthen the stewardship we all share for our environment…put more Americans to work in clean energy jobs and manufacturing…[and] double generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources by 2020…[He] called on Congress to make the...

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OFF-GRID MARKET TO QUADRUPLE OVER 8 YEARS

Off-Grid Power for Mobile Base Stations; Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources for Remote Mobile Telecommunications: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts1Q 2013 (Pike Research/Navigant) “Demand for high quality, high reliability off-grid power is increasing yearly. In the coming years, a significant fraction of this demand will be met by some form of hybrid system that includes renewable or alternative energy sources…[There] is growing demand...

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SOLAR COMMENDS THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH

SEIA Statement on President Obama's State of the Union AddressFebruary 12, 2013 (Solar Energy Industries Association) [Rhone Resch, President/CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association:] “In tonight’s State of the Union Address, President Obama laid out a vision for the American energy economy that is in line with what SEIA is working to achieve – a robust clean energy industry that powers our homes and businesses while growing our economy and protecting...

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WIND FARMS IN THE SUBURBS

Developer Makes The Case For Urban Wind Energy DevelopmentMark Del Franco, 31 January 2013 (North American Windpower) “Kruger Energy's 100 MW Monteregie wind farm, located 20 km outside of Montreal…[is visible] from the roofs of downtown skyscrapers…Commissioned on Dec. 12, 2012, the wind farm features 44 Enercon E82 wind turbines perched on 98-meter hybrid towers made of steel and concrete. The project is the result of nearly five years of company...

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WESTERNERS WANT NEW ENERGY

New Survey: Westerners Link Public Lands to Economic Prosperity, Quality of Life Strong majorities reject selling off public lands; want protections for sensitive lands subject to drilling and prioritize renewable energy production in their state.February 7, 2013 (Colorado College State of the Rockies Project) “Westerners place a strong value on public lands, saying they are “essential” to their state’s economy and quality of life, according to the...

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WHAT MAKES A CITY SMART

Smart Cities Infrastructure, Information, and Communications Technologies for Energy, Transportation, Buildings, and Government: City and Supplier Profiles, Market Analysis, and Forecasts1Q 2013 (Pike Research/Navigant) “The next 40 years will see an unprecedented transformation in the global urban landscape. Between 2010 and 2050, the number of people living in cities will increase from 3.6 billion to 6.3 billion. Almost all of that growth will...

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HOW SEQUESTRATION STALLS NEW ENERGY INNOVATION

Energy Funding Outlook Looks Bleak as Obama Begins Second Term; Cuts and a decade of stagnation loom ahead for renewed clean energy funding.Kevin Bullis, February 1, 2013 (MIT Technology Review) “As a result of impending mandatory spending cuts known as sequestration…federal support for clean energy, which received a $90 billion jolt from the stimulus package four years ago, is likely to decrease…Under sequestration, across-the-board cuts would go...

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THE FUTURE OF BUILDING ENERGY MANAGEMENT

Building Energy Management Technology LandscapeEric Bloom and Bob Gohn, 1Q 2013 (Pike Research/Navigant) “The market for building energy management systems (BEMSs) comprises hundreds of vendors offering thousands of products aimed at using building-related energy data to reduce energy costs…[that] vary… “Vendors have historically focused on BEMSs based on a single source (building automation system (BAS) data, utility bills, operational data, etc.),...

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CLIMATE CHANGE WILL COST FARMERS

Report: Climate change could devastate agriculture; A comprehensive USDA study concludes rising temperatures could cost farmers millions as they battle new pests, faster weed growth and get smaller yields as climate change continues.Christopehr Doering, February 5, 2013 (USA Today) “Climate change could have a drastic and harmful effect on U.S. agriculture, forcing farmers and ranchers to alter where they grow crops and costing them millions of dollars...

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