Opinion:
¶ “Will the Rise of Distributed Energy Spell the End for Traditional Utilities?” Increases in environmental regulation, new demand-side technology, and the rise of distributed energy resource systems are giving old-style utilities problems. [PennEnergy]
World:
¶ The number of jobs in the wind and marine energy industries has increased by 74% since 2010, according to a new study from Renewable UK. The offshore wind sector saw the biggest growth over this period. [Utility Week]
¶ Two years ago US experts urged Japanese authorities to take immediate steps to prevent groundwater contamination at Fukushima Daiichi. They decided against the advice because it would frighten investors, and now they are struggling with the problem. [The West Australian]
¶ Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered the decommissioning of the intact No. 5 and No. 6 reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. His decision follows groundwater contamination from damaged reactors. [Deutsche Welle]
¶ Ahead of Prime Minister’s visit to the US, a controversy has broken out over the nuclear liability law with reports suggesting that an agreement will be signed which may not be in tune with the law. [Times of India]
US:
¶ Energy Capital Group is laying the groundwork for the 300 MW ECG Utah Solar 1 plant in the state’s Millard County. The $600m scheme will cover 1754 acres leased from the Utah School and Institutional Trust Land Administration. [reNews]
¶ GM has unveiled a massive expansion of its Global Battery Systems Laboratory, tripling the facility’s size and making it the largest battery lab in North America owned and operated by an auto manufacturer. [CleanTechnica]
¶ A paper in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, which includes government estimates for costs of environmental and health effects in the calculations, shows wind and solar power are now less expensive than fossil fuels and nuclear. [EarthTechling]
¶ Environmental controls designed to prevent leaks of methane from newly drilled natural gas wells are effective, a study has found — but emissions from existing wells in production are much higher than previously believed. [Scientific American]
¶ Republicans and some Democrats criticised Ron Binz in a hearing on his nomination to lead a key US energy regulatory agency because his views support renewable sources like wind over coal and natural gas. He had said natural gas is a “dead-end” energy source. [Business Spectator]
¶ State regulators approved a request by South Carolina Electric and Gas to increase its electric rates by about 3%, a move that would help pay the costs of building two new nuclear reactors. SCE&G, which will is funding 55% of the roughly $10 billion project. [Aiken Standard]
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