Opinion:
¶ “Ranking the climate culprits” Groundbreaking, independent new research — eight years in the making — is shining fresh light on the biggest climate culprits in the world, and quantifying exactly how much of the climate change pie belongs to whom. [eco-business.com]
World:
¶ The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has set an ambitious target to replace all of the nation’s cars with electric vehicles as part of a government effort towards environmental sustainability as well as to reduce the cost of fossil fuel imports. [EconomyWatch.com]
¶ The government of Zimbabwe is looking to renewable energy as part of a solution for its financial problems and increasing manufacturing output in the country, creating employment and decreasing poverty in the process. [BizDay Zimbabwe]
¶ Alstom installed its first 6 MW Haliade 150 off the coast of Belgium. It is the largest offshore wind turbine ever installed in sea waters. The turbine has a 15% better yield than earlier models. [Renewable Energy Focus]
¶ Coalition talks in Germany to form the next government between Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU and the social democratic SPD are considering a two-year extension to premium feed-in tariffs for offshore wind. [reNews]
¶ A nuclear reactor at Scotland’s Torness Power Station was today shut down for the second time this year after its seawater cooling system again became clogged with seaweed. The 640 MW reactor is expected to remain closed for a week. [Edinburgh Evening News]
US:
¶ As House and Senate budget negotiators look for ways to lower deficits, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to eliminate tax loopholes and subsidies that support the oil, gas and coal industries. [vtdigger.org]
¶ Wind and solar were the fastest growing technologies for electricity generation in 2012, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Wind capacity grew 28% to 60 GW in 2012 and PVs were up 83% to 7.3 GW compared to 2011. [Denver Post]
¶ Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative has dedicated a new 49-megawatt biomass plant that turns wood waste into electricity. The $178 million plant will provide 6% of NOVEC’s power and help the Virginia’s 15% renewable energy standard. [Electric Co-op Today]
¶ The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and a consortium of solar industry professionals have introduced standardized solar contract templates, which make it easier for everyone involved in the industry, from homeowners to financiers. [Clean Energy Authority]
¶ Ohio’s renewable energy law of 2008 has saved the state 5 million MWh through mandated efficiency and reduced peak demand by 1,583 MW. Also, 313 MW of wind power and 25 MW of solar capacity were added statewide in 2012 alone. [HispanicBusiness.com]
¶ EDF Renewable Energy and Santee Cooper today dedicated the Pinelands Biomass project which consists of two nominal 17.8 MW generating facilities located in Allendale and Dorchester counties in South Carolina. [The T and D.com]
¶ According to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, 694 MW of new renewable capacity was added in October, 99.3% of the total. Of new capacity, 72.1% was solar, 17.7% was biomass, and 9.4% was windpower. [Green Building Elements]
¶ A Maryland county has passed a precedent-setting clean energy bill – it could be the first in the US to require all government buildings to run on renewable energy. Every building must have 1 kW of clean energy per 1,000 square feet. [SustainableBusiness.com]
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