WIND WORKS FOR BIRDS

Terra-Gen gets OK on wind farm in wake of condor decision; U.S. officials approve project, which is taking advanced measures to keep turbines from harming condors. Earlier, Terra-Gen was told it would not be prosecuted if a condor is accidentally killed.Louis Shahagun, May 24, 2013 (LA Times) “…[The Tehachapi Mountains] will soon bristle with antennas and listening devices designed to protect endangered California condors…[at] the future home of...

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UK NEW ENERGY WOULD SAVE RATEPAYERS BILLIONS

Switch to low-carbon future would save households £1,600; A saving of £45bn should be good news, but the study’s conclusions clash with the pursuit of gasTom Bawden, 23 May 2013 (UK Independent) “…Overturning the general consensus that green electricity is more expensive than gas-generated power, a parliamentary advisory committee finds that while ‘decarbonising’ the energy supply will cost more in the next few years, the expense will quickly become...

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SOLAR POWER TOWER NEARING COMPLETION

Power in the Desert: Ivanpah on the Verge; Awesome or a blight on the desert? See Ivanpah, near completion in the Mojave, in all its glory.Pete Danko, May 23, 2013 (Greentech Media) “The giant Ivanpah solar thermal project in the Mojave Desert is now 92 percent complete…The 377-megawatt project consists of three 459-foot-tall towers encircled by arrays of garage-door-sized mirror sets. Those computer-controlled heliostats -- 153,990 out of 173,500...

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GOOGLE BUYS FLYING WIND

Google X Acquires Makani Power And Its Airborne Wind TurbinesFrederic Lardinois, May 22, 2013 (AOL Tech) “After previously investing in the company, Google has now acquired Makani Power, a green energy startup that is currently building airborne wind turbines…Google invested $10 million…in 2006 and another $5 million in 2008…[This seems to mark] the first time Google has acquired a company specifically for its Google X skunkworks. “…Google CEO Larry Page [reportedly] approved the acquisition…[and said X has] the budget and the people to go do this…lMakani]...

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LOOKING AHEAD AT U.S. WIND AND SUN

Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO); U.S. Electricity and Heat Generation from RenewablesMay 2013 (EIA) “… EIA projects renewable energy consumption for power and heat generation to increase by 3.3 percent in 2013. While hydropower declines by 2.2 percent, non-hydropower renewables grow by an average of 7.1 percent in 2013. In 2014, the growth in renewables consumption for power and heat generation is projected to continue at a rate of 4.4 percent,...

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TESLA PAYS BACK DOE LOAN WITH INTEREST

Tesla Motors pays off Department of Energy advanced technology loanJerry Hirsch, May 22, 2013 (LA Times) “Upstart electric car maker Tesla Motors…paid off a Department Energy loan that had become a political hot potato…Tesla owed the federal government $451.8 million on a loan that was part of a special program to develop alternative fuel vehicles and renewable energy sources… “Tesla has raised about $900 million this month in stock and debt offering deals and is expected to raise another $100 million in the coming days…Its shares have more than...

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SPECIAL THING TO THINK ABOUT

Clean energy means more jobs, not less Nancy LaPlaca, May 20, 2013 (AZ Capitol Times) The Arizona Republican Party recently issued a press release stating that I want to “eliminate 1,000 coal jobs” on Navajo land. That statement is so far removed from reality that it warrants a direct response. The issue that raised their ire was my asking whether spending $1.1 billion to $1.6 billion of ratepayer money to purchase the departing ownership...

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EARLY RESULTS SHOW WIND CAN PROTECT EAGLES

As U.S. DOJ Investigates, Duke Works Adaptive Management PlanMark Del Franco, 16 May 2013 (North American Windpower) “Duke Energy Renewables has confirmed that it is a subject of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) preliminary investigation resulting from…10 golden eagle deaths…at its 200 MW Top of the World wind farm since the wind farm began operating in October 2010…[and] three golden eagle fatalities at its 99 MW Campbell Hill wind farm since...

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WHAT THE U.S. CAN LEARN FROM GERMAN SOLAR SUCCESS

Germany Has More Solar Power Because Everyone WinsJohn Farrell, February 8 and May 20, 2013 (Institute for Local Self-Reliance) “…[Most have figured out it is not the Germany’s solar resource or policies make it a world solar industry force. There is also a] ‘Germans pay a lot extra’ meme. Germans do, and are perfectly happy with it, but…[the] real reason Germany dominates in solar (and wind) is their commitment to democratizing energy. “Half of...

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TEXAS GROWING NEW ENERGY, QUADRUPLES SUN

Renewable energy generation in Texas continues to grow, up 7 percent from 2011; Wind power continues to lead, with notable gains in solar generationMay 16, 2013 (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas) “Electric generation from renewable resources in Texas increased 7 percent in 2012, compared to 2011, with capacity up by about 16 percent…[according to The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)…2012 Annual Report on the Renewable Energy...

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U.S. EMISSIONS DROP AS ELECTRICITY OUTPUT RISES

Groups credit natural gas, renewables with steep emissions cuts in power sectorDan Lowry, May 15, 2013 (SNL) “U.S. power plant emissions from the nation's largest generators continued to fall in 2011 even as overall electricity output rose…Since Congress passed major amendments to the Clean Air Act in 1990, power plant NOx emissions have fallen 70% and SO2 emissions have dropped 72%. Carbon dioxide emissions have declined 7% from 2008 to 2011…The...

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WTO RULES FOR IMPORTED SUN

World Trade Organization Delivers Blow to Solar PV Domestic Content ProponentsMichael Barker, May 15, 2013 (SolarBuzz) “…[T]he World Trade Organization (WTO) released its final ruling in the dispute concerning Ontario, Canada’s local content requirements (LCRs) for its internal FIT program…[T]his ruling ends a process that was initiated almost three years ago when Japan first filed a complaint – in September 2010 – alleging that Ontario’s LCRs violated...

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THE SPACES BETWEEN THE WINDS

Wind Energy’s Shadow: Turbines Drag Down Power Potential; Renewable-energy experts maintain the world is far from reaching a saturation point.David LaGesse, May 16, 2013 (National Geographic) “…[S]ome scientists are…arguing that the laws of physics will limit wind's potential for meeting the world's energy needs. The controversy arises from the turbines themselves…[R]esearchers have explored the issue of turbines stealing energy from the wind, creating...

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INSURANCE COMPANIES PREPARE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

For Insurers, No Doubts on Climate ChangeEduardo Porter, May 14 2013 (NY Times) “…[N]atural catastrophes across the United States pounded insurers last year, generating$35 billion in privately insured property losses, $11 billion more than the average over the last decade…And the industry expects the situation will get worse…Most insurers, including the reinsurance companies that bear much of the ultimate risk in the industry, have little time for...

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UTILITY GOES FOR BETTER SUN, WIND FORECASTS

Xcel Energy and NCAR power up renewable energy forecasts2013 May 8 (Xcel Energy) “Xcel Energy…expanded [its] agreement with the National Center for Atmospheric Research for sophisticated renewable energy forecasting…[A]n existing relationship… has saved Xcel Energy’s 3.4 million electricity customers in eight states millions of dollars [including more than $6 million in 2010]… “In the next two years, NCAR scientists and engineers will develop custom...

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UK’S GREEN BANK BRINGS THE BIG BUCKS

UK Green Investment Bank mobilises £2.3bn investment in UK’s low-carbon infrastructure09 May 2013 (Green Investment Bank) “The UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB)…investment impact of its first five months of operation (up to 31st March 2013)…[1] Committed funds to 11 transactions with a total value of £2.3 billion…[2] Directly committed £635 million, resulting in a funding ratio that sees £1 from GIB mobilising almost £3 of private sector money…[3]...

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MINNESOTA’S SOLAR AMBITIONS IN CONTEXT

Minnesota’s Proposed Solar Standard in ComparisonJohn Farrell, April 25, 2013 (Institute for Local Self-Reliance) “Some Minnesota legislators are getting a little weak-kneed listening to utility lobbyists make hugely ironic claims about the cost of the proposed solar standard and thinking about how much solar this is…Time for some context. “The originally proposed 10% solar energy standard might have been ambitious by national standards, but the...

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RHODE ISLAND’S FIGHT OVER OCEAN WIND

Block Island Gets First Chance To Weigh In On Wind TurbinesJudy Benson, May 10, 2013 (McClatchy News Service via Hartford Courant) “...[A public meeting] offered the first chance in two years for [Block Island] residents to publicly take a side on the 30-megawatt turbine wind farm proposed for a site 3 miles off the southeast shore. It also was the first litmus test of island support since the $300 million project to erect five 650-foot turbines...

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VC MONEY FOR SMART GRID STEADY

VC Funding in Smart Grid Sector Remains Flat in Q1 2013 with $62 Million…Pace of funding largely unchanged for last five quartersMay 2013 (Mercom Capital Group) “…Smart grid venture capital (VC) funding in Q1 2013 totaled $62 million in nine deals. The quarter’s funding was nearly identical to the first quarter of 2012, when the same amount was raised by smart grid companies but in 10 deals instead of nine. With the lone exception of home security...

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MINNESOTA LOVES WIND

New Poll Finds Minnesota Power Customers Overwhelmingly Support Clean Energy And Energy Efficiency, Shift Away From Fossil Fuels In Minnesota; As Minnesota Power Sets Its Long-Term Energy Plan, More than 8-in-10 Customers Say “We Need to Fundamentally Change the Way We Get Our Energy”May 1, 2013 (Sierra Club) “…[A new poll] shows that voters in the Minnesota Power service area overwhelmingly favor using clean, renewable energy sources…as Minnesota’s...

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HUGE BUFFETT WIND BUY IN IOWA

MidAmerican Energy will invest $1.9 billion in wind projects in IowaWilliam Petroski, May 8, 2013 (Iowa Politics) “…MidAmerican Energy will make a $1.9 billion investment in Iowa for wind energy projects that will be the biggest single economic investment ever in the state…MidAmerican officials said no sites have been selected yet…MidAmerican Energy Co. will add up to 1,050 megawatts of wind generation, consisting of up to 656 new wind turbines,...

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THE VALUE OF ARIZONA’S SUN

New Study: Distributed Solar Energy Provides $34 Million in Benefits to Arizona RatepayersMay 10, 2013 (Solar Energy Industries Association) “…[D]istributed solar generation (DG) and net energy metering will provide Arizona Public Service (APS) customers with $34 million in annual benefits…[according to a study] by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)…Using data from APS’ 2012 Integrated Resource Plan and other APS data, the study examines...

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BRIGHTSOURCE EXEC TALKS SOLAR TOWER TECH & BIZ

Future CSP growth in the United States - CSP Today interview with Joe Desmond of BrightSource EnergyMay 9, 2013 (CSP Today) [Joe Desmond, BrightSource Energy:] “…[In 2013-14, U.S. CSP capacity will increase by 120%, with a total of 1318MW coming online, including BrightSource Energy’s 392MW (gross) Ivanpah project]…Demonstrating CSP technologies at scale is very important…[T]here are real benefits that CSP technologies provide to grid operators and…[CSP]...

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WIND SAVES MONEY FOR RATEPAYERS – STUDY

With more wind energy, PJM could save customers $7 billion per yearJeff Postelwaite, May 9, 2013 (Electric Light & Power) “The PJM Interconnection could save its customers $6.9 billion if it more than doubled the amount of wind energy it currently plans to build…according to a [new] study…By the end of 2012, about 3.4 percent of PJM's total installed capacity was generated from wind. Over the next 13 years, with the advent of renewable portfolio...

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HOW BIG OIL USES REPUBLICANS

How Big Oil Uses the Republican Party to Subvert American DemocracyRobert F.Kennedy, Jr., May 10, 2013 (EcoWatch) “…The perversity of the modern conservative mind is displayed in…the extent to which the right wing has become the ideological sock puppet of Big Oil and the GOP’s army of right wing Christian fundamentalists oil industry foot soldiers…Big Oil’s Orwellian skill at employing the rhetoric of patriotism and emblazoning its enterprises with...

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Senator Blasts Senator For Using Bible To Deny Climate Change

From CSPAN Tweet!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs...

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GERMANY OFFSHORE WIND SUCCESS

Germany’s First Offshore Wind Farm Exceeds Expected Power OutputStefan Nicola, April 26, 2013 (BloombergBusinessweek) “Germany’s first offshore wind farm generated more power than expected because of steady winds last year, [according to] operators of the Alpha Ventus park…Alpha Ventus’s 12 turbines last year fed 267.8 gigawatt- hours of electricity into the German grid at a yield of 15.3 percent, more than anticipated, EON, Vattenfall Europe AG...

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DUKE WANTS NEW ENERGY

Duke hopes to add 3,750 MW of renewables over next 8 yearsAmy Poszywak, April 23, 2013 (SNL) “Building on the recent news that Google Inc. will participate in…[a Duke Energy Corp.] renewable energy rate plan, Duke] has set a goal of owning or contracting 6,000 MW of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020…Duke owns about 2,251 MW of generation powered by those three resources, representing about 3% of its total generation fleet, according to SNL Energy...

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SELLING SOLAR

Where the Rubber Hits the Road: Effective Marketing for Solar; “Southwest isn’t an airline; it’s a service business. That’s how we have to think about solar.”—Danny Kennedy of SungevityEric Wesoff, April 30, 2013 (Greentech Media) “Is the solar industry marketing itself successfully? Are solar firms reaching consumers? Is branding important? Can the average consumer name even one solar panel manufacturer?...In a 2011 survey performed by San Jose...

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