Opinion:
¶ A well-funded war on state support for renewable energy is being waged in all 29 states with renewable energy standards. It is financed and waged by a minority of conservatives with ties to fossil fuel interests, but it might give all conservatives a bad name. [Salon]
World:
¶ A coalition of major European energy companies says the EU should to commit to new 2030 renewables targets, arguing that binding targets would lead to economic growth, fewer fossil fuel imports, reduced carbon emissions, more innovation and greater competitiveness. [reNews Europe]
¶ A UK government report expected to be released soon says Britain may have massive gas reserves that can be released by fracking. If true, this could be the final nail in the coffin of the nuclear industry in the UK. [Responding to Climate Change]
US:
¶ President Obama restated a renewed commitment to clean energy and pledged to return manufacturing jobs to the US in his state of the union address. [PV-Tech]
¶ The US military has tested a microgrid called SPIDERS, with energy that is 90% renewable, and found only one glitch, as a piece of equipment failed to perform as expected. SPIDERS is being developed to provide a secure power source for the military, and for adoption by civilians. [RenewEconomy]
¶ The US government says nearly 400,000 off-grid mobile telecommunications base stations run on renewable or alternative energy sources will be deployed from 2012 to 2020. [Utility Products]
¶ US Bancorp has invested $930 million in renewables since 2008, and expects to invest more than that in the next four years. [OilPrice.com]
¶ Microsoft has given a progress report on its pledge to move toward being carbon neutral. [ZDNet]
¶ The NRC is insisting that the San Onofre nuclear plant be known to be safe at full power before it could be started. The owners had been hoping to test it at 70% power. [U-T San Diego]
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