geoharvey

Science and Technology:

¶    The International Energy Agency’s Renewable Energy Technology Deployment issued a new report looking at how policymakers and regulators may react to the surge in residential prosumers, a trend currently pushed by solar PV and, possibly soon, battery storage. [Energy Collective]

World:

¶   The UK government has finalised plans to procure 53.3 GW of electricity generating capacity via its new capacity market auction mechanism. The 53.3 GW figure equates to some 80% of peak electricity use in the UK today. [reNews] (We will surely hear more on this.)

¶   EU officials look at Belgium as an example for cooperative energy projects, as the 28-country bloc looks to de-carbonize and gain more energy independence. The European Commission estimates that the EU spent €1 billion per day last year on energy imports. [EurActiv]

¶   At one kilometre high, the taller of two new towers to be built in the city of Wuhan in China will be the world’s tallest, but both are also environmentally friendly. They will clean the water and air around them while generating sustainable power for neighbouring buildings. [ScienceAlert]

¶   The Ontario Environment Ministry is giving the green light to a $380-million wind farm that will add 40 turbines in a 16-kilometre corridor along Lake Huron. Most of the turbines will be about a kilometre inland from the beaches, but that is too close for some residents. [St. Thomas Times-Journal]

¶   A £6 million large-scale solar farm in Northern Ireland has been given the green light. Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister announced planning approval for the project in Crumlin, with an installed capacity of 6.5 MW, enough for more than 1,600 homes. [Energy Live News]

¶   The UK Government has given consent to go ahead with the East Anglia One offshore wind farm. It is scheduled to install up to 240 wind turbines and will generate enough electricity to power approximately 820,000 homes. [SmartMeters]

¶   The government of India’s northern state of Haryana is implementing an energy conservation policy making solar power generation mandatory for certain buildings and areas. The move could create 200 MW of power and avoid significant CO2 emissions. [SmartMeters]

¶   UK plans to drive investment in a new fleet of nuclear power stations took a step forward today after Toshiba and GDF Suez inked a deal to build three new reactors on the West Cumbria coast by 2024. [Business Green]

US:

¶   The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has rejected a nearly two-fold increase in fixed charges for CenterPoint Energy Resource’s residential customers, and ordered a mechanism – decoupling – for the gas utility that’s aimed at encouraging more energy savings. [Energy Collective]

¶   The new 600-kW Storms Hog Farm biogas plant in North Carolina has passed its proof-of-concept stage, leaving the field wide open to build even bigger hog manure biogas plants in the state. With a hog population of 10 million, that could add up to quite a bit of biogas. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The Consumer Electronics Association issued a new report on the amount of electricity used by US consumer electronics and the good news is that it’s finally begun to come down. But the total is still enormous, equal to the output of over 50 large polluting power plants. [Energy Collective]

¶   EDF Renewable Energy has awarded two contracts to Vestas to support the 150 MW Slate Creek Wind Project in Kansas with 75 wind turbines of 2 MW each, and the 300 MW Roosevelt Wind Project in New Mexico with an additional 150, also of 2 MW. [Energy Business Review]

¶   Without the economic relief, five of New Jersey’s county landfill projects are in jeopardy of closing this year, according to a lobbyist representing the facilities. They include projects in Warren, Sussex, Burlington, Atlantic, and Salem counties. [NJ Spotlight]

¶   In Vermont, the Washington Electric Co-op is proposing changes to their net metering program. They propose to add a fixed customer charge and a new grid service fee based on the amount of power the net metering member generates. [vtdigger.org]

Opinion:

¶   “How Opposite Energy Policies Turned The Fukushima Disaster Into A Loss For Japan And A Win For Germany” Japan has nine times Germany’s renewable energy resources but makes about nine times less of its electricity from new renewables than Germany does. [Forbes]

Science and Technology:

¶   Microgrids are attractive to universities, hospitals and military installations aiming to protect their critical loads. They are also attractive to communities looking to survive the next storm, a dynamic spurring development of a new, potentially controversial grid model. [Scientific American]

¶   Interest in microgrids has soared as America’s aging infrastructure has fallen behind. Unlike diesel generators for emergency power, modern microgrids frequently integrate batteries with multiple sources of power, including solar panels, wind turbines and fuel cells. [Leader-Telegram]

World:

¶   In the past, renewable power needed incentives. In Germany, however, the energy market is on the cusp of evolving to the next step: An era in which the sun and the wind replace fossil fuels through the sheer, unstoppable force of the market. [Engadget]

¶   Germany is headed for its biggest electricity glut since 2011 as new coal-fired plants start and generation of wind and solar energy increases, weighing on power prices that have already dropped for three years. [SteelGuru]

¶   The Indian government is working towards forming a nuclear insurance pool to cover the nuclear facilities, involving state-owned General Insurance Company and New India Insurance. [Indian Express]

US:

¶   Given the options to adapt or to die, a number of US utilities seem to have chosen a third way – Fight – as captured in a map from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. A total of 19 states have legislative or regulatory assaults on net metering or distributed solar underway. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Risky Business, an organization founded by Tom Steyer, Hank Paulson, and Michael Bloomberg, three business giants, released a report detailing the extraordinary risks that climate change poses to the nation’s economy and to the future business climate in the US. [Energy Collective]

¶    With rapidly growing utility-scale solar capacity, the California Independent System Operator has regularly recorded new hourly output records going back to 2010 when it first began publishing the daily data. [Energy Collective]

¶   Rocky Mountain Power struck a deal with Boston-based First Wind agreeing to purchase 320 MW of solar power over twenty years from four solar facilities in Beaver and Iron counties in Utah. Solar was chosen over other alternatives on the basis of price. [CleanTechnica]

¶   At 8:48 p.m. on March 26, wind generation on the electric grid covering most of the state of Texas reached a new instantaneous peak output of 10,296 MW. At that moment, wind supplied almost 29% of total electricity load, according to the grid’s operator. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Deepwater Wind is beginning construction of a demonstration project to power Block Island. They have a lease on 256 square miles of federal lands 30 miles off the coast of Montauk, where they plan to start with 35 6-megawatt turbines to tie in to Long Island’s electric grid. [East End Beacon]

Opinion:

¶   “Eric Pickles’ war on wind farms could blow UK renewable energy targets” The UK Government’s self-declared war on onshore wind farms will make it very difficult for the UK to meet its EU renewable energy targets, especially as it cuts support for solar PV. [The Ecologist]

¶   “Mo. experience epitomizes quandary for nuclear projects” For people who might want nuclear development in Missouri, there is an obstacle: how to finance it in an era of cheap gas, increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy penetration, and no demand growth. [Environment & Energy Publishing]

World:

¶   An important new World Bank report concludes that just a few key policies aimed at cutting carbon pollution would boost the global economy, with an estimated GDP growth of between $1.8 trillion and $2.6 trillion. [Energy Collective]

¶   First Solar has received vital board approvals for $290 million of financing to support construction of the 141 MW Luz del Norte solar power plant in Chile. The plant is said to be the largest of its kind in Latin America. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶   German lawmakers adopted a law on Friday to reduce renewable energy subsidies as the government seeks to keep its green “energy transformation” on track, curb rising prices and fight nagging criticism. [Yahoo News]

¶   Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based think tank, proposed a model based on mini-grids to eradicate energy poverty in India and claimed that their model would ensure at least 12 hours of electricity to every household per day especially in the rural areas. [Economic Times]

¶   EDF Energies Nouvelles has ordered 24 Vestas V90-3.0MW turbines and eight V80-2.0MW turbines with an option for an additional two V90’s and one V80. The total potential capacity of the French utility’s project, the location and nature of which yet unknown, could be 96 MW. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶   An Aberdeen-based renewable energy firm has submitted a planning application to create Scotland’s first solar energy park in Angus. The solar park proposal would operate with a capacity of 9.5 MW, which would provide enough electricity to power 2,500 homes. [Scottish Daily Record]

US:

¶   Curtailments of wind generation on the Texas electric grid have steadily dropped since 2011 as more than 3,500 miles of transmission lines have been built, largely as a result of the state’s Competitive Renewable Energy Zones program. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said he will sign legislation Saturday to free up $30 million for the purchase of solar energy for the stat’s electricity customers, a move expected to help the state catch up on its lagging renewable energy goals. [Chicago Tribune]

¶   The revelation this week that New England state administrators met in closed-door sessions with energy business leaders to craft a plan for billions of dollars of natural gas pipeline development to be passed onto utility ratepayers is raising questions among area lawmakers. [The Recorder]

¶   During the year’s first four months, renewables provided 14.05% of all electricity nationwide. Wind power grew past the 5% threshold, to 5.15% of US electricity production, and solar increased 108.9% from last year. But carbon emissions are growing too. [Justmeans]

¶   The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit Friday challenging Kansas’ latest move to allow construction of a $2.8 billion coal-fired power plant, partly because the state wouldn’t regulate the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions. [Kansas City Star]

¶   The official ribbon cutting ceremony has taken place at the Storms Hog Power facility at the Storms Hog Farm near Bladenboro, North Carolina. The 600 kW facility is North Carolina’s largest swine waste-to-energy system operating. [MRO]

¶   This past week, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator revealed modeling details for a future electricity supply with more renewable energy, less coal, and 23% less CO2 with only a 1% increase in generation costs over 25 years. [The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists]

World:

¶   In Britain, nearly a fifth of all electricity was generated by windfarms or other green technologies in the first three months of the year, according to new statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate change. In the same period last year, it was about 12%. [edie.net]

¶   New Government figures published on June 26th, 2014 reveal that compared to this time last year solar PV generation is up 77%, according to the British Solar Trade Association. Government now plans to end support for PV plants above 5 MW. [solarserver.com]

¶   Utilities in Queensland are looking to limit and even stop households exporting excess electricity back into the grid from their rooftop solar panels, in a move that other Australian network operators are expected to follow. [RenewEconomy]

¶   China’s renewable energy capacity increased from 27.8 GW in 2001 to 183 GW in 2013, and alternative sources are expected to account for more than 20% of the country’s total electricity generation by 2020, says research and consulting firm GlobalData. [Business Spectator]

¶   Dublin Airport has struck a deal with the ESB which will lead to energy consumption at the airport being cut by almost a third. The Dublin Airport Authority aims to reduce its energy consumption by 33% by 2020. [Irish Independent]

¶   Britain’s energy ministry awarded too much in subsidies to eight renewable energy projects in April – £16.6 billion in total – meaning that consumers will pay over the odds for the electricity the projects produce, a parliamentary watchdog said. [Reuters]

¶   Germany’s Bundestag is expected to pass reforms to its laws supporting renewable energy, ending a week of dispute with the EU over the government’s plan to have German consumers pay a surcharge to finance renewable energy while heavy industry is exempt. [Renewable Energy Magazine]

¶   Proposals to end or reduce nuclear power generation were submitted to general shareholders’ meetings at nine Japanese power companies on Thursday, but all were rejected as the utilities plan to restart idled reactors in step with government policy. [The Japan News]

¶   Alstom is to supply PGE Energia Odnawialna 30 ECO 110 3-MW turbines for the 90-MW Lotnisko wind farm in Kopaniewo in Poland. The €80 million deal is the first wind power project by Alstom in the country and should be commissioned at the end of 2015.  [reNews]

US:

¶   Michigan Public Service Commission staff released the first draft of a report from the commission’s Solar Working Group offering scenarios in which the state’s two largest investor-owned utilities could expand their solar programs without a spike in customers’ monthly bills. [Greentech Media]

¶   The Fish and Wildlife Service expects to grant a permit to the Shiloh IV Wind Project near Rio Vista, California within 30 days that would allow for the deaths of five golden or bald eagles over a five-year period without penalty. [CNN]

¶   The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and General Motors are partnering on a joint effort to speed up the reduction of automotive fuel cell stack costs through fuel cell material and manufacturing R&D. [Daily Fusion]

¶   Leading waste technology management firm, Covanta Holding Corporation (CVA – Snapshot Report) has entered into a 5-year contract with the City of Boston to provide sustainable waste disposal services. The agreement will start from Jul 1, 2014. [Zacks.com]

Opinion:

¶   “Explainer: did Clive Palmer just save the planet?” Australian kingmaker Clive Palmer has saved the furniture on climate policy, in a bizarre press conference with Al Gore. Spin and media fiction aside, here’s an explanation of what Palmer’s announcement means. [Crikey]

Science and Technology:

¶   New organic, non-toxic, water-based batteries that last five times longer than their lithium counterparts have been developed. Created by researchers at the University of Southern California, the batteries would also be much cheaper than lithium batteries. [The Conversation]

World:

¶   Royal Dutch Shell has blamed air strikes by the government in Kiev against its own citizens in southern Ukraine as the reason it decided to declare a halt to its shale oil projects in the region. But the company was already looking for a way out of fracking in the area. [Energy Collective]

¶   Windsor, Ontario will pocket millions simply by leasing airport lands, that would otherwise remain untouched, to global technology behemoth Samsung for construction of a  400-acre solar-panel facility with a capacity of 50 MW, built on unused airport land. [Windsor Star]

¶   German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Wednesday he will introduce a market for spare power capacity which will help keep loss-making coal- and gas-fired power stations stay open on standby for when wind and solar plants are not producing. [Business Spectator]

¶   Chatham-Kent is now home to the largest wind farm in all of Canada. The farm utilizes 124 Siemens 2.3 MW wind turbines, which are estimated to produce renewable energy for up to 100,000 local homes. [CTV News]

¶   German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday she would push back decisively against the European Commission if it raised further objections to Germany’s system of green power subsidies. [Reuters]

¶   Furious shareholders of TEPCO, the company that runs Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear power station, joined campaigners today to demand the permanent closure of the utility’s atomic plants as it held its annual meeting. [Economic Times]

US:

¶   Senators Corker (R-TN) and Murphy (D-CT) are backing a 12-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax increase to shore up the nation’s highway trust fund, and getting praised for it to boot, as federal outlays supporting roads are outpacing exceed revenues. [Energy Collective]

¶   Rhode Island currently has the capacity to deliver 21.65 MW of solar power. Newly passed legislation, which Gov. Lincoln Chafee is expected to sign, would expand this capacity to roughly 200 MW. [The Providence Journal]

¶   Fuel producers are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear a challenge to California’s landmark low carbon fuel standard, the first of a series of cases seeking to roll back state renewable energy laws around the country. [Reuters]

¶   Colorado energy company SunShare has sold out the nation’s largest privately developed and subscribed Community Solar Garden. Having over 10,000 solar panels, it can power over 500 average Colorado homes. Construction will begin in the fall. [RenewablesBiz]

¶   8minutenergy Renewables, LLC has reached an agreement on a 27-year contract with the City of Palo Alto Utilities that would sell 25 MW of power generated from the PV developer’s Hayworth Solar Farm in Kern County, California to the city of Palo Alto. [PV-Tech]

¶   An 80 MW Solar Farm in North Carolina has received final approvals from Duke Energy. Innovative Solar 37, LLC is the solar farm project located in the middle of the state that will supply enough electricity to the grid to power approximately 20,000 average size homes. [PR Web]

¶   The use of executive powers to regulate greenhouse gas emissions has been reaffirmed by the US Supreme Court in a ruling issued on Monday. This suggests President Obama’s climate policy has solid legal foundations. [Carbon Brief]

Opinion:

¶   “Where The US Got Its Oil in 2013” As events in Iraq continue to unfold, many people have asked about just how much oil the US imports from Iraq. The author has tabulated a list of the top 10 sources of crude oil imports for the US for 2013. [Energy Trends Insider]

Science and Technology:

¶   Several developments in the power sector, including growth in smart meters and variable renewable generation, have created an environment conducive to virtual power plants, which Navigant Research expects to be worth $5.3 billion in 2023. [Virtual-Strategy Magazine]

World:

¶   Clive Palmer, member of Parliament from Melbourne, will demand that households benefit from a move to repeal the carbon tax, while the government’s plans to scrap the renewable energy target and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation have been thrown into doubt. [Brisbane Times]

¶   Alten LLC announced it had successfully bid on the capacity allocation tender organized by Russian energy regulator Sovet Rynka to build a 51 MW wind park scheduled to launch in 2015. It will be Russia’s first large-scale wind plant. [Prague Post]

¶   Total wind energy supplied to the states of NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria reached a record 2598 MW at 10:30 pm according to National Electricity Market data analysed by Pitt & Sherry. That supply met 14.9% of total demand. [Sydney Morning Herald]

¶   The number of large-scale solar parks in Wales is set to double, with rural west Wales increasingly being targeted. Eighteen schemes greater than 5 MW are already in operation, with 34 projects in planning or being built, according to website Solarbuzz. [BBC News]

¶   State governments in Australia provided $17.6 billion in subsidies to the minerals and fossil fuel industries over a six-year period, according to a report by The Australia Institute. This figure does not include significant federal government support and subsidies. [Business Green]

¶   Vega Biofuels has entered into an agreement with Austrian based, ECEM Salzburg Energy and Environment Consulting GmbH to sell 50,000 tons of Bio-Coal each year for the next five years. The five year deal will generate approximately $57 million in revenue to Vega. [Baystreet.ca]

¶   The Czech Republic is the world’s fifth biggest power exporter, but fears in Prague are that the rise of renewable energy in the coming decades will cause a fall in prices. They suggest output reductions from coal and postponement of new nuclear power stations. [Radio Prague]

US:

¶   The state of New Hampshire lags behind many New England states in energy-efficiency measures, investment in grid modernization, zero-emission vehicles and in other areas, but a proposed 10-year state energy plan hopes to address many of these issues. [Seacoastonline.com]

¶   Some leaders in the GOP and the industry have backed away from the initial relentless criticism of the EPA’s proposed carbon rule. Michigan and New Jersey provide two among other examples. [Great Lakes Echo]

¶   The vast majority of Vermonters want to use less fossil fuel for their energy needs, but the cost to reduce one’s carbon footprint is a perceived challenge, according to a survey the Energy Action Network released last week. [vtdigger.org]

¶   The owner of a planned trash-burning power plant in Delaware faces millions of dollars in fines and has been ordered to halt construction because company officials didn’t buy enough emissions credits to offset air pollution the facility is expected to emit. [Baltimore Sun]

¶   General Motors is increasing its renewable energy use with 3 acres of new solar arrays at two Michigan facilities. The two will feature 150-kilowatt ground-mount solar arrays expected to generate a combined 400,000 kWh annually. [Greenfield Daily Reporter]

¶   The Northeast Biodiesel Diesel plant in Greenfield, Massachusetts has gotten a major boost toward becoming a reality with a $540,000 grant from the state Department of Energy Resources. The $3.5 million plant has been a work in progress for 10 years. [GazetteNET]

¶   A Spending Bill under debate in Congress would cut over $100 million from renewable energy, grant extra funds for dumping nuclear waste and fossil fuel research, exempt ‘mountain top removal’ coal from regulation, and limit EPA enforcing clean water laws. [The Ecologist]

Opinion:

¶   “Top Ten Reasons Why Business Should Love a Carbon Price” Economists have argued the case for carbon pricing for over two decades. The Chief Climate Change Advisor for Royal Dutch Shell gives ten reasons why carbon pricing makes business sense. [Energy Collective]

¶   “Nuclear power – small isn’t beautiful, safe, or cheap” Small Modular Reactors are supposed to be small and prefab – constructed from parts made in a central location and slapped together onsite like a cheap prefab home. But this is merely old technology in new clothes. [The Ecologist]

Science and Technology:

¶   The Japan Meteorological Agency reported Monday that March-May was the hottest in more than 120 years of record-keeping. It was also the hottest May on record. This is all the more important because we are still waiting for the start of El Niño. [Energy Collective]

¶   New semiconductor materials could mean 50% less energy loss in switched-mode power supplies for PCs, flat-screen televisions, servers and telecommunications systems and could make solar inverters even more compact and cost-efficient. [presseagentur.com]

World:

¶   Germany’s windiest area, Schleswig-Holstein, will probably achieve “100% renewable electricity” sometime this year. Schleswig-Holstein has a goal to generate 300% of its electricity consumption with renewables eventually. [CleanTechnica]

¶   In the Austrian town of Amstetten, a pilot project by the local utility is reclaiming heat energy from the sewer system. This it uses to heat 45,000 square feet of buildings, or cool them in summer, allowing it to dispense entirely with gas and reduce its carbon footprint. [Naharnet]

¶   The administration of the Indian city of Chandigarh has a plan to equip most of the city’s government buildings with PVs by the end of this year. The buildings include 35 schools and all of the 11 police stations. [Times of India]

¶   The pot of money that ministers have set aside to subsidise UK renewable power is likely to run out much more quickly than previously thought, according to research, placing green energy projects in jeopardy. [Financial Times]

¶   One of India’s leading information technology and consultancy companies, Infosys, is planning to implement of the most significant sustainability and clean energy measures in the company’s history, a 50-MW solar park. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The UK’s High Court has overturned a decision by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, to block a 24-MW solar farm in Suffolk, calling his original decision “perverse”. It also refused the Secretary of State leave to appeal. [Solar Power Portal]

US:

¶   A recent study from Regional Economic Models Inc is the newest released in a series of studies finding that taxing carbon can not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also add jobs to the economy. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Biogenic Reagents, a producer of biocarbon products from renewable biomass, has entered into an agreement with a US subsidiary of West Fraser Timber, the largest lumber producer in North America, to develop renewable biocarbon products, including biochar. [BioEnergy News]

¶   Swedish marine energy technology company Minesto has signed an agreement with Florida Atlantic University to examine the feasibility of harnessing the power of Gulf Stream ocean currents. [reNews]

¶   As more people integrate solar power infrastructure with their homes and businesses, Arizona utility operators and regulators are discussing how best to meet the paradigm shift in terms of grid management. [Modern Times Magazine]

Opinion:

¶   “Might the Bakken Boom Get Derailed?” Bakken crude oil production has many of the classic characteristics of an economic bubble. It looks likely that, as with every bubble before, it will end. Whether it ends catastrophically or just badly depends on how regulators act. [Resilience]

¶   “Utilities unsure of future as environmental regs loom” Coal is under fire, gas and wind are blowing up, and consumers may yet wrestle control of power generation from their utilities. There’s a lot on the mind of your average electric company executive these days. [STLtoday.com]

Science and Technology:

¶   A new book by Vermont architect William McClay shows that net-zero-energy buildings (those that make as much — or more — energy than they consume) not only offer long-term advantages for the planet, but can also save their owners money from the start. [New York Times]

¶   According to a report from the Geothermal Energy Association, geothermal energy is as affordable an energy source as any other and could be quite effective as a primary energy source, especially in parts of the world where geothermal activity is particularly high. [Hydrogen Fuel News]

World:

¶   Polling for the Climate Institute shows 72% of Australians want to keep or expand the renewable energy target, which requires that 20% of energy is sourced from renewables by 2020, as the Abbott government considers abolishing the incentive. [The Guardian]

¶   The board of directors of French power-to-rail group Alstom on Saturday unanimously approved US conglomerate General Electric’s €12.35 billion ($16.8 billion) bid to acquire its energy business. [Business Recorder]

¶   Indian capital city’s pride, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, has earned yet another achievement by commissioning its first rooftop solar power project at one of its stations. The project has an installed capacity of 500 kW and is expected to produce power next month. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Corporate India is going “green” with its new campuses and buildings across the country. And this is primarily because it wants to cut down on power and water consumption, to reduce its operational and overhead costs. [The New Indian Express]

US:

¶   The DOE has announced the selection of three pioneering offshore wind demonstrations to receive up to $47 million each over the next four years to deploy innovative, grid-connected systems in federal and state waters by 2017. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶   Texas has become a major testing ground for storage technology. For example, Oncor, the state’s largest transmission company, is installing five of the batteries this summer in South Dallas neighborhoods, providing backup power to schools, traffic lights and a fire station. [New York Times]

¶   Companies are increasingly offering ‘green bonds’ in order to raise money for sustainable projects—and to appeal to socially conscious investors. Increasingly, endowments and other institutions are establishing socially conscious criteria for their investments. [Daily Beast]

¶   As its nuclear plants increasingly look like an albatross rather than a boon, Exelon is at a crossroads. The so-called nuclear renaissance has not come, and the company would have to play catch-up other new investments. Or it could split off the nuclear generating business. [Crain’s Chicago Business]

World:

¶   UK planning applications for small and medium-scale wind turbines have grown by 60% in six months according to data from leading agricultural turbine specialist Earthmill. The company has installed more than 150 turbines on farms and land across the UK. [Farming UK]

¶   Close to 7,000 battery systems for storing energy from solar PVs were installed in Germany in 2013. The renewable energies expert at Germany Trade & Invest, expects to see more, with the majority of PV sales probably in conjunction with batteries within two years. [CleanTechnica]

¶   A majority of Britons believe the government is not doing enough to fight climate change, according to a Frost & Sullivan report, but fewer than one in ten of those questioned in the study knew that heating was the single biggest cause of carbon dioxide pollution in the UK. [CITY A.M.]

US:

¶   Barclays’ rationale for the downgrade they gave the entire US utility industry is their expectation that for more than 20% of US electric consumers, solar combined with electric storage will be at least as cheap as power from utilities within 4 years. [Energy Collective]

¶   Climate change may drive a shift to more wind and solar power generation to conserve water, a US DOE report said this week. Thermoelectric power including gas, coal and nuclear, is responsible for 40% of US water use. [Responding to Climate Change]

¶   Portland, Oregon’s regional transit agency has received and will soon be testing an all-electric 40-foot bus for two weeks throughout the region. The zero-emissions, environmentally friendly bus was manufactured by Build Your Dreams Motors, Inc. [Portland Tribune]

¶   Green Power EMC, the renewable energy supplier for 38 Georgia electric membership corporations, has reached an agreement to purchase the full output of a new 20-MW solar project planned for construction in southeast Georgia. [Macon Telegraph]

¶   Chicago Bridge & Iron received an engineering, procurement and construction contract from a subsidiary of Indianapolis Power & Light Company for a 671-MW combined-cycle gas turbine power station near Martinsville, Indiana. The contract is worth $500 million. [NASDAQ]

¶   The Omaha Public Power District  board approved a 20-year generation plan to retire three coal-burning units at the North Omaha Station in 2016. Emissions controls will be installed on the remaining two units, and in 2023 they will be refueled with natural gas. [Kearney Hub]

¶   The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced it has taken an important step toward issuing a research lease for a facility to test utility-scale wave energy devices in federal waters off Oregon. [The Maritime Executive]

¶   Denver International Airport’s fourth solar power array is now online, bringing the airport’s total solar energy capacity to 10 MW. The Solar IV array is capable of generating up to 2 MW, or 3.1 million kWh annually. [PennEnergy]

¶   The Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies has awarded a $707,550 contract to U.S. Hybrid to build a fuel cell plug-in hydrogen fuel and battery-powered bus for the Big Island. The 25-passenger bus should be ready by 2015. [Pacific Business News]

Opinion:

¶   “The EPA carbon plan: Coal loses, but nuclear doesn’t win” Assuming that states generally adhere to the prime directive of public utility resource acquisition—choosing the lowest-cost approach—the proposed rule will not alter the dismal prospects of nuclear power. [Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist]

Science and Technology:

¶    US researchers studying an environmental life-cycle assessment on specific 2-MW wind turbines conclude that in terms of cumulative energy payback, a wind turbine with a working life of 20 years will offer a net benefit within eight months of being brought online. [Science Daily]

World:

¶   In a rather lengthy decision, the Federal Court of Canada agreed with Greenpeace and other environmental groups that portions of the Joint Review Panel report for the Darlington New Nuclear project were inadequate. There are implications for other industries. [Energy Collective]

¶   Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Acciona Windpower has signed a 153 MW supply deal with Brazilian renewable power producer Atlantic Energias Renováveis. Acciona will deliver 51 of its AW 125/3000 machines to a wind power complex in the state of Río Grande do Sul. [Recharge]

¶   The CEO of the UK government-backed Green Investment Bank says he could raise up to £60 billion to fund low carbon energy infrastructure, from windfarms to wave power, if the restrictions on his ability to borrow in the capital markets were lifted. [The Guardian]

¶   Tata Power Solar, India’s largest specialized solar EPC player, has successfully commissioned the 50 MW solar photovoltaic project for NTPC, as part of their mandate to expand their renewable energy portfolio to 1,000 MW by 2017. [Your Renewable News]

¶   The Renewables 2014 Global Status Report says that 22.1% of the world’s electricity was generated from renewable sources in 2013. That percentage is expected to rise as countries across the globe pour money and resources into alternative, clean energy. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   Japan installed 7,185 MW of PV by the end of the country’s 2013 financial year, which ended on 31 March, according to the latest figures from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. [PV-Tech]

US:

¶    After seeking and then getting an international job promoting nuclear power while serving on the NRC, Commissioner William D. Magwood is being urged to resign immediately by 34 leading national and local groups. [InvestorIdeas.com]

¶   First Wind announced agreements with Rocky Mountain Power for clean energy from the largest solar developments in Utah. Four four separate agreements, Rocky Mountain Power will purchase the output of four 80-MW solar farms for 20 years. [Your Renewable News]

¶   The nation’s largest companies are leaving Washington gridlock on climate change behind and rapidly embracing renewable energy sourcing and greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts, according to a new report from Calvert Investments. [Insurance News Net]

¶   The American Bird Conservancy filed suit against the Interior Department of the Interior, charging multiple violations of federal law in connection with its regulation that allows wind energy companies and others to obtain 30-year permits to kill eagles without prosecution. [Surfbirds News]

¶   Responding to customer wishes and pending federal air quality regulations that could cost millions, the Omaha Public Power District announced Thursday it will phase out its aging North Omaha coal plant and reduce emissions at its Nebraska City coal plant. [Lincoln Journal Star]

¶   A four-month public comment period on the federal government’s plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired electric power plants began this week, allowing anyone to submit feedback through Oct. 16. [Climate Central]

Science and Technology:

¶   James Smith, the former chair of Shell UK, is no climate denier. He says, “Climate change is a problem that absolutely must be tackled, and it is a very urgent problem and the longer we leave it the more and more urgent it becomes.” [Triple Pundit]

¶   Though electric cars may cost more up front, their low-maintenance nature and low-cost fuel make them a natural fit for small businesses that require a lot of daily, local driving. A new study estimates that over a seven-year lifespan, the average electric car saves owners $16,000 in fuel and maintenance costs. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶   Despite being quite a grey country, with average solar irradiation levels worse than even the US Northwest and Alaska, Germany is the world’s solar power leader. In the past couple of weeks, it broke another three records, at one point getting 50.6% of demand from solar PVs. [Treehugger]

¶   This year’s International Off-grid Renewable Energy Conference in Manila seems to have achieved balance and a politics-free sense of hope for the industry, investors, new business, and the government agencies that inform the people and support the public good. [CleanTechnica]

¶   French energy and environment minister Ségolène Royal presented a bill that would cut nuclear’s share of France’s energy mix to 50% by 2025 from 75% now, while the share of renewables should increase to 40% from around 15% by 2030. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   The nuclear option is now a certainty as a means to alleviate the South Africa’s energy shortage, according to Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson. Speaking at a business breakfast, she said: “Nuclear will be used. This certainty has been lacking until now.” [BDlive]

US:

¶   Sunetric has deployed a 198.8 kW PV system with automated curtailment and smart-grid controls on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The system will not feed electricity back into the utility grid, making it easier for the utility to manage the grid. [AZoCleantech]

¶   Four former heads of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency who served under Republican presidents urged lawmakers Wednesday to stop bickering over whether climate change is real and start finding solutions. [Tico Times]

¶   The new administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration has dedicated the nation’s largest federally owned wind farm near Amarillo, Texas with a mission to ensure the safe, secure, and cost-effective operation of facilities in Oak Ridge. [Oak Ridge Today]

¶   Colorado state regulators have approved reopening Xcel Energy Inc.’s Solar*Rewards program that handles rebates and incentive payments for rooftop and commercial-sized solar power systems. [Denver Business Journal]

¶   Massachusetts Deval Patrick and U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced plans for a new proposed offshore wind power area of more than 742,000 acres, or 1,160 square miles, which would make it about the size of Rhode Island. [Treehugger]

¶   SolarCity, the rooftop solar panel business backed by technology entrepreneur Elon Musk, has announced plans to expand its production to 1,000 MW a year in one of the world’s largest solar manufacturing plants, located in New York. [Blue & Green Tomorrow]

Science and Technology:

¶   Energy companies generate the lion’s share of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, about 40% of the total. But they will also suffer as global warming picks up pace, as generators – from nuclear reactors to coal-fired power plants – feel the brunt of the weather changes. [The Guardian]

¶    Scientists from Korea University have shown that human urine is a rich source of carbon catalysts, prompting a rethink of how we handle our biological waste. Material called “porous urine carbon” displayed catalytic strength comparable to the widely-used Platinum catalyst. [Asian Scientist Magazine]

¶   University of Utah electrical engineers have designed a thin layer made of a transparent plastic or glass that sorts and concentrates sunlight to boost the overall efficiency of solar cells by up to 50%. [Energy Harvesting Journal]

World:

¶   A poll commissioned by Greenpeace International, found that 85% of those interviewed in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia supported a binding target to reduce energy wastage by 2030, while 86% supported a binding renewable energy goal. [EurActiv]

¶   ScottishPower Renewables and Vattenfall have won approval from the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change to develop a 1.2 GW wind farm off the coast of Suffolk. The project will eventually feature about 325 turbines. [Clean Technology Business Review]

¶   Chinese President Xi Jinping says that his government is drawing up new criteria for reforming energy consumption and production and will move faster to modernize its outdated energy regulations. [OilPrice.com]

¶    France is set to unveil a much-delayed energy transition bill on Wednesday that will avoid making tough choices on its dominant nuclear energy sector, instead focusing on measures to cut red tape currently stifling renewables and boost energy savings. [Reuters]

¶   At 38 GW, more solar PV capacity was installed globally in 2013 than wind and roughly as much as hydroelectric power, according to a new report by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. [solarserver.com]

US:

¶   Four in 10 new oil and gas wells near national forests and fragile watersheds or otherwise identified as higher pollution risks escape federal inspection, unchecked by an agency struggling to keep pace with America’s drilling boom, according to the Associated Press. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Mosaic, the first company to crowdsource investments to finance solar projects, has launched Mosaic Places, a technology platform allowing the public to raise funds to put solar on local community centers, schools, libraries, places of worship, and businesses. [Your Renewable News]

¶   Nine Republican governors signed a letter addressed to President Obama urging him to dispose of the recent EPA rules regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions, including the rule that would require a reduction in carbon emissions of 30% by the year 2030. [Watchdog Wire]

¶   Thanks to new investments in natural gas and utility-scale solar energy, El Paso Electric, a Texas utility with nearly 400,000 customers, announced on Monday that its electricity mix will be free from coal by 2016. [ThinkProgress]

Science and Technology:

¶   Lawrence Livermore’s National Ignition Facility had its first fusion reaction that got more energy from the fuel than it absorbed. The reaction, which was at 50 million° C and a pressure of 150 billion atmospheres, produced twice as much power as was used to trigger it. [Scientific American]

¶   Tesla has managed to bring down battery prices per kWh by half in just four years with plans to half the cost again when its gigafactory comes online in 2020. As electric cars become more affordable, demand should produce even more economies of scale. [ValueWalk]

World:

¶   The Cabinet of Japan on Tuesday approved Japan’s Energy White Paper 2013, which defines nuclear power as an “important base-load power source” and calls for a return to nuclear power generation, local media reported. [Chinadaily USA]

¶   Russia’s OAO Gazprom has halted shipments of natural gas to Ukraine after the collapse of negotiations over gas prices. The shutdown is the first since January 2009. The fact that this is June will naturally mute the impact of the supply cut-off. [Oil & Gas Journal]

¶   A Climate Council report finds Australia faces significant economic and environmental risks due to its ageing, inefficient and unprepared electricity sector. It calls for a faster transition to renewables and provides cost comparisons for sources of electricity generation. [The Daily Telegraph]

¶   The growing number of community-led projects that generate their own power through renewable energy is the focus of Australia’s first Community Energy Congress, being held in Canberra this week. [ABC Local]

¶   At the International Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition in Manila, large international agencies and financial organizations showing support for off-grid renewable systems that can offer viable, strikingly swift change to remote communities. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Solar project developer Solarcentury has moved into the market for community-owned solar farms, inking a deal for the first solar co-operative in the UK county of Hampshire. The new solar farm will have 2.4 MW capacity, wild flowers, bee hives, and sheep. [Business Green]

¶   Windfarm owners say the head of Tony Abbott’s renewable energy review recently told them they were foolish to “build a whole business model on government largesse”, raising fears he will recommend a severe winding back of the renewable energy target. [The Guardian]

¶   The new leader of Norway’s Labour Party has called for the country to become the world’s first zero-emission nation in an unexpectedly radical speech that signalled a sharp change in the party’s climate policy. [The Local.no]

US:

¶   Cherryland Electric Cooperative in northern Michigan has a relatively modest 224-panel solar array. But it could serve as the catalyst to set renewable energy groups, utilities and the state on a path to find out how community power can be expanded in Michigan. [Great Lakes Echo]

¶   El Paso Electric Monday announced that it’s now getting power from the recently completed Macho Springs solar plant near Deming, N.M., which is, at 50 MW, the largest solar plant in New Mexico. [Businessweek]

¶   GE Power & Water’s Distributed Power business has announced the launch of its new, 10-MW class Jenbacher J920 FleXtra gas engine for the 60-Hz North American segment, offering one of the highest electrical efficiency commercially available today. [Windpower Engineering]

¶   US utility Northwestern Energy has issued a request for proposals for up to 45 MW of community-owned renewable energy generation in Montana. The regulated investor-owned utility is required to purchase energy from qualified community projects. [reNews]

¶   The political action committee of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce has helped recruit candidates to run against GOP members who voted against repealing a state law that requires utilities to generate a specific amount of energy from renewable sources. [Lawrence Journal-World]

Energy Week Videos:

¶   The regular hour edition of the weekly Energy Week series includes commentary from internationally renowned physicist Steve Reucroft of CERN, who joins hosts George Harvey and Tom Finnell as they sort through the week’s energy-related news. [BCTV]

¶   Renowned physicist Steve Reucroft of CERN joins the Energy Week team for in-depth discussion on the future of energy, including the untapped potential of nuclear waste currently lying dormant in sites across the globe, and much more. [BCTV]

Science and Technology:

¶   A new “suction bucket” foundation for anchoring offshore wind turbines to the seabed has the potential to reduce set-up costs of offshore wind energy by up to £1 billion ($1.7 billion) over the next decade. [Energy Matters]

World:

¶   The latest round of UN climate talks concluded in Bonn yesterday on an upbeat note, with a pledge that elements of a draft treaty aimed at curbing global warming would be circulated to the parties as early as July 15th. [Irish Times]

¶   The Government of Kazakhstan will subsidize 50% of expenses to remote households that install renewable power generators. Rates per kWh were also set for renewable power depending on source: 19¢ for solar, 12¢ for wind, 10¢ for small hydro, and 17¢ for biogas. [Tengrinews]

¶   Experts are now calling Germany the world’s first modern renewable energy economy. Germany already obtains 29% of its electricity from renewable sources, meaning photovoltaic, hydro and wind power, and power produced by burning wood or other biomass. [Inter Press Service]

¶   Toshiba Corporation and Toshiba Solutions Corporation today announced that they have started to demonstrate a home energy monitoring system and community management system in the Lyon redevelopment area in Lyon, France. [Wall Street Journal]

¶   Plans are underway to form a pair of state-owned joint ventures that will oversee the construction of renewable energy projects, contributing to India’s energy security and reducing reliance on conventional sources of fuel such as coal. [Livemint]

¶   BT signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements worth £440 million with three wind farms in Scotland, Wales and Lancashire, adding more than 100 MW of renewable energy to help power its UK operations. [Converge Network Digest]

¶   A massive Chinese state-owned company has been given $25 million by the governments of Australia and Victoria to develop more Latrobe Valley brown coal. Shanghai Electric is promising to build a $119 million demonstration plant to process coal into briquettes. [The Age]

¶   The government of the Indian state of Haryana said it will implement an energy conservation action plan under which solar power generation will be made mandatory in different categories of buildings or areas with a suitable enforcement mechanism. [Daily News & Analysis]

US:

¶   Sonoma Clean Power, Sonoma County, California’s new electricity supplier, signed an agreement today with solar project developer Recurrent Energy, to construct 30 MW of solar power in California, and to supply the energy to SCP customers. [Sonoma County Gazette]

¶   After introduction of an innovative, community-focused, solar project in Rutland, Vermont, NRG Energy is developing a similar project in collaboration with the Center for Energy Sustainability at San Diego State University’s Imperial Valley Campus. [Triple Pundit]

¶   The company operating Texas’ only radioactive waste dump site is asking state regulators to allow disposal of depleted uranium and triple the capacity of a burial site that accepts nuclear waste from dozens of states. [LubbockOnline.com]

Opinion:

¶   “Sea Change: Counting the ways Maine gains from renewable power” Maine has a well-earned reputation for Yankee thrift and self-reliance – except when it comes to energy. Maine residents pay $4000 on fossil fuels each year. [Press Herald]

World:

¶   The Philippine Department of Energy will be helping Metro Manila schools reduce their dependence on the Manila Electric Co. through the installation of solar power systems on various campuses. [Inquirer.net]

¶   Technological developments making it possible to derive energy from wind at lower speeds are especially relevant for the UAE, which typically lacks the gales that drive the largest of existing wind farms in Europe and North America. This is causing a change in thinking. [The National]

¶   US company Consilio Group, specialising in electricity generation from solar power, is planning to establish several projects in Egypt with capital of up to $100 million. Egypt has been suffering in recent years from power outages caused by shortages of gas and oil. [Daily News Egypt]

¶   As France rushes to make expensive upgrades to its aging nuclear plants in view of the Fukushima Disaster, a report from Greenpeace shows that maintaining the nation’s dependence on atomic energy will cost more than generating power with solar and wind. [Mintpress News]

¶   Alstom will be supplying a wind project in Brazil with 19 of the French conglomerate’s wind turbines. Under the contract signed with CPFL Renovaveis, Alstom will deliver, erect, and commission 19 ECO 122 wind turbines. [EcoSeed]

US:

¶   A new report conducted by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shows that the state has made progress with greenhouse gas emissions. It was 5.4% below 1990 levels in the most recent test period, 2010, which is better than hoped. [The Daily Voice]

¶   As the use of solar energy has grown exponentially over the past decade, Massachusetts has become a national leader in the field. Massachusetts currently has 496 MW of solar energy capacity, up from less than 1 MW 10 years ago. [Wicked Local Wilmington]

¶   In meeting federal requirements to cut power plant emissions linked to global warming, Wisconsin’s task was made much tougher by the closing last year of the Kewaunee nuclear power plant. Utilities in the state have made up the generating loss with coal. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

¶  Air Force Academy experts say Smart Grids could shave nearly 20% off power companies’ peak load as they gain popularity. The academy’s Smart Grid Energy Research Group is working on security for smart grids. [U.S. Air Force Academy]

Not Energy, but Noteworthy:

¶   National associations representing food and snack manufacturers are suing the state of Vermont over its law passed last month that will require foods produced with genetically modified ingredients to be labeled as such beginning July 2016. [Food Safety News]

Opinion:

¶   “US Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Deployment Fades Further into an Uncertain Future” Nuclear reactor proponents confront a US economic landscape that has shifted against nuclear power in the near term, while the longer-term outlook remains uncertain at best. [Natural Resources Defense Council]

¶   “Old Reactors v. New Renewables: The First Nuclear War of the 21st Century” Utilities, who had loudly announced the arrival of a “nuclear renaissance”, are desperate to “stay relevant to the game going forward” because they cannot compete with renewables or gas. [InvestorIdeas.com]

Science and Technology:

¶   If solar energy deployment doesn’t increase 12 times over by the year 2030, the world is headed towards a “climate catastrophe,” according to a recent report from the International Renewable Energy Agency. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶   The world is on the brink of a serious surge in batteries. Batteries of the near future will power homes and hospitals and even provide relief for the grid, with an industry that may be worth $200 billion in 2020. [Bloomberg]

¶   The election in Ontario saw the governing Liberal Party score a surprise victory, giving a boost to windpower. During the campaign, Conservative leader Tim Hudak advanced an energy strategy heavily focused on nuclear power, while stopping support for renewables. [Windpower Monthly]

¶   Kyocera Corporation, along with several other organizations, today announced that they have reached a basic agreement to investigate the possibility of operating a 430-MW solar power project on the island of Ukujima (Sasebo City, Nagasaki Pref., Japan). [PennEnergy]

US:

¶   Elon Musk has made yet another highly interesting and somewhat unpredictable move/announcement (in a long line of such moves) — Tesla Motors will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, uses the company’s technology. [CleanTechnica]

¶   New York legislation would let people without their own roofs for solar panels invest in clean energy projects, which is more attractive than ever thanks to recent drops in the price of solar and wind power. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) dashed the hopes of environmentalists, leading manufacturers and renewable-energy businesses Friday and signed a bill shelving requirements for utilities to ramp up the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency. [Washington Post]

¶   Independent energy provider Tenaska closed commercial financing today for Tenaska Imperial Solar Energy Center West, a 150-MW photovoltaic solar electric generating plant near El Centro, California. [Imperial Valley News]

¶   Cirque Energy Inc. announced the signing of a development agreement for a project to install a 2.5 MW biomass gasification power plant to be known as the Midland Biomass Energy Station in Midland, Texas. [Biomass Magazine]

¶   In 2006, Wisconsin passed a law calling for the state to get 10% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2015. Now, two years ahead of schedule, the state announced it has already met its goal. [ThinkProgress]

¶   The Department of Public Utilities has issued two orders that will allow Massachusetts to become the first state in the country that requires electric distribution companies to take affirmative steps to modernize the electric grid. [Berkshire Eagle]

World:

¶   The Government of Gibraltar has signed its first power purchase agreement for the provision of renewable energy. The agreement, which is with Eco Wave Power, is for the provision of an initial 0.5 MW, with a possibility of expanding to 5 MW. [MercoPress]

¶   Clarke Energy has inaugurated the largest landfill gas-powered cogeneration plant in France. The 17.3-MW facility features 10 Jenbacher gas engines, from GE Distributed Power, to generate renewable electricity and heat for residents and businesses. [Business Wire]

¶   The National Grid, which operates Britain’s electricity system, this week said it wants businesses to switch off between 4pm and 8pm on winter weekdays over the next four years to help avoid blackouts. [Western Daily Press]

¶   Australia posted its biggest annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 24 years of records in 2013 as the carbon tax helped drive a large drop in pollution from the electricity sector. Emissions are reported to be down 0.8 per cent on the previous year. [Kiama Independent]

¶   Regen Powertech Ltd, one of India’s leading wind turbine manufacturing companies, is all ready to launch wind-solar hybrid systems, the company’s Managing Director, Madhusudan Khemka, has said. [The Hindu]

¶   Uruguay’s government said on Thursday that 84% of its energy last year came from renewable sources. The small South American country has been pushing for an energy diversification policy focused on developing wind and solar energy since 2008. [HispanicBusiness.com]

¶   China Wanxiang Holding announced the planned formation of a joint venture between its wholly-owned subsidiary, Puxing Energy, and NEC Corporation to pursue grid energy storage opportunities in the Chinese market. [Business Wire]

¶   The wind energy industry in the country would see an addition of around 3,000 MW of capacity during the year compared to 2,100 Mw last year, according to the Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association. [Business Standard India]

¶   Germany’s government has decided to stop issuing credit guarantees for exports of equipment used for nuclear power generation because the risks to public safety are too great, according to the Economy Ministry. [Reuters]

US:

¶   EPA chief Gina McCarthy said on Thursday that newly proposed rules to slash carbon emissions from U.S. power plants will cut electricity bills after 2030 by forcing power plants to become more efficient. [MarineLink]

¶   The US DOE is spending $500,000 on a project to boost electric grid reliability in Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric will use the money to deploy technology capable of measuring instantaneous voltage, current and frequency at specific locations on the grid. [Associated Press]

¶   Nuclear power plants across the United States are building or expanding storage facilities to hold their spent fuel, radioactive waste that by now was supposed to have been on its way to a national dump. [Associated Press]

Please Note:

The internet has been running badly today, with most of the sites I tried to visit unavailable. I am sure there were important news items missed because of this. 

World:

¶   Australia’s electricity demand has fallen sharply again, with the market operator conceding that power consumption will fall 3.1% below even its most recent downgraded forecasts – made just in November. [RenewEconomy]

¶   South Australia will in the next week reinforce its position as the leading mainland state on renewable energy as the completion of a major new wind farm brings its wind and solar energy production to around 40% of its total generation. [RenewEconomy]

¶   Bord na Móna signed a €50m deal to supply renewable electricity to Irish energy supplier Vayu for resale to its business customers. As part the deal, electricity produced by a new Bord na Móna landfill plant in Co Kildare, will be supplied to Vayu for 15 years. [Irish Examiner]

¶   Mainstream Renewable Power is on track to commission the 46 MW Oldman 2 project in Alberta, Canada in late summer despite a difficult winter construction season, as the Irish developer has erected the first of 20 Siemens 2.3MW 101 turbines. [reNews]

¶   In the early stages of the Fukushima Disaster, Japanese government officials had very little information. They assumed it was because TEPCO was not getting information from the plant, but this was untrue. TEPCO was not giving giving it to the government. [Asahi Shimbun]

US:

¶   Researchers from the University of Vermont released a report Tuesday detailing the impacts of climate change on Vermont. The report aims to translate the scientific certainty of climate change into a grim forecast that is expected to worsen over the next century. [vtdigger.org]

¶   Google Inc. is looking to make a deeper push into the billion-dollar U.S. energy market by developing tools to deliver power more efficiently, with hope that a “smart grid” would be an improvement, as solar and wind power become more prevalent. [MarketWatch]

¶   US Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday heralded America’s oil and gas boom but urged private investors and government leaders to aim, ultimately, to shift their investments away from carbon-intensive fuels. [Investing.com]

World:

¶   Chinese demand for natural gas is expected to almost double in the next five years as the country aims to use cleaner fuels to clear its cities’ smog-filled skies, according to the International Energy Agency. [Financial Times]

¶   Energia has announced that they have commenced operations at its newest wind farm in County Tipperary, supplying energy to homes and businesses across Ireland. The €19 million Hollyford wind farm has the capacity to produce 9 MW of renewable electricity. [Siliconrepublic.com]

¶   Iberdrola has pledged to invest $5 billion in Mexico’s energy sector through 2018 under an agreement with the Federal Electricity Commission. Iberdrola already has more than 5.2 GW in operating nameplate capacity – wind farms and combined cycle natural gas plants. [Recharge]

¶    Expanding its international and renewable energy footprints, GE Energy Financial Services invested in a 32-MW solar PV project in Japan. GE Energy Financial Services’ plan is to invest over $1 billion annually in renewable energy projects worldwide. [AltEnergyMag]

¶   A decision by parties to an obscure convention has huge implications for Europe’s ageing nuclear reactors. Licence extensions for nuclear reactors must follow Environmental Impact Assments comparing them with alternatives – including wind, solar and other renewables. [The Ecologist]

US:

¶   At the Edison Electric Institute’s annual convention, Warren Buffett was reminded by an aide that Berkshire Hathaway had spent on $15 billion on wind and solar power. He responded: “There’s another $15 billion ready to go, as far as I’m concerned.” [Businessweek]

¶   A Minnesota administrative law judge has recommended the state approve Geronimo Wind’s 200 MW Odell wind project. Geronimo proposes to build up to 133 turbines in southwestern Minnesota. The developer is considering several turbines. [reNews]

¶   Duke Energy says too little natural gas can reach the Ashville, North Carolina region to allow Duke Energy to switch entirely from burning coal at its Lake Julian plant. They also say the region’s demand for electricity rules out closing the plant. [Asheville Citizen-Times]

¶   University of California President Janet Napolitano formed an advisory group to help the UC system cut pollution. Napolitano hopes the University of California will reach carbon neutrality by 2025, by cutting some of its emissions and paying to offset the rest. [San Francisco Business Times]

¶   Concentrating Solar Power projects would add additional value of 5 or 6 cents per kWh to utility-scale solar energy in California where 33% renewables will be mandated in six years, a new report by the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory says. [EIN News]

¶   A bill expected to spark investment by South Carolina homeowners and businesses in solar energy has been passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor. It allows non-utilities to lease solar systems, updates net metering, and establishes other measures. [GSA Business]

Opinion:

¶   “Hurray For EPA Carbon Rules!” New carbon rules may be going into place in America and everyone is worried about the economic effects. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine. It won’t hurt the economy or our energy security or our energy reliability. [Forbes]

Science and Technology:

¶  A new catalyst based on an enzyme called H2ase S–77, discovered at an active volcano in Japan, may prove a low cost replacement for platinum, which is the very expensive but highly efficient current “gold standard” for fuel cell catalysts. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶   Qatar Solar Energy announced the opening of the largest solar technology development and manufacturing facility in Middle East and North Africa region. It has already struck two deals to supply 150 MW of solar power each to Japan and Thailand. [reNews]

¶   The solar energy storage system market in Germany is approaching a boom period, according to many analysts, with a rapid uptick in sales likely as the technology enters wider use. The systems benefit both the consumer and the grid. [CleanTechnica]

¶   A US wind power developer that is seeking $653 million in damages under a NAFTA challenge accuses the government of Ontario of manipulating Green Energy Act rules to benefit the interests of Liberal-connected firms, according to court documents. [Ottawa Citizen]

¶   The Narendra Modi-led government has started work on a plan to ensure half of all homes in major cities receive some power from solar or wind energy sources by 2019. The plan includes fresh incentives to encourage investment in renewable energy. [Hindustan Times]

US:

¶   Analysis by the Rocky Mountain Institute found the US could transition to a 2050 economy energized by tripled efficiency and 75% renewables for a $5 trillion savings while supporting a 158% bigger U.S. economy and slashing carbon emissions 82–86%. [CleanTechnica]

¶   A Houston energy company has proposed building a multibillion dollar pipeline that would connect Boston, Massachusetts to abundant natural gas from Eastern shale fields in Pennsylvania. The plan is sparking fierce opposition. [Boston Globe]

¶   The Obama administration’s proposed regulations for power plants would give a big boost to nuclear power as the industry faces an uncertain future with increasing retirements and declining prospects for dozens of aging reactors. [Washington Times]

¶   TDI New England, a transmission line developer, wants to submerge a high-voltage line the length of Lake Champlain. Environmental groups warn the proposal could impact the health of Lake Champlain, a vital economic and ecological asset for Vermont. [vtdigger.org]

¶   The United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is considering a competitive lease process for an offshore wind energy development off New York. The potential project is part of the president’s Climate Action Plan. [SmartMeters]

¶   Renewable energy company First Wind has finalized seven power purchase agreements for their solar projects in Utah. Rocky Mountain Power will buy the output of the planned 20-MW Seven Sisters solar portfolio. The PPAs will be effective for 20 years. [EcoSeed]

Opinion:

¶   “An inconvenient truth: US proposed emission cuts too little too late” The maths accompanying obligations to “avoid dangerous climate change” demand fundamental change rather than rousing rhetoric and incremental action. [Resilience]

¶   “EPA proposal could spark growth, too” The Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to cut greenhouse gas emissions at power plants could cause headaches for some, but could lead to opportunities for companies working in the latest technology. [Crain’s Cleveland Business]

World:

¶   The energy-starved Indian state of Karnataka plans to install 2,000 MW of solar over the next seven to eight years through public-private partnership, as the state is blessed with about 300 days of good solar radiation in a year. [ummid.com]

¶   UK generation of offshore wind power is expected to more than triple in the next six years, increasing from around 4% of the UK’s total electricity generation to 13%, according to a new report released in Glasgow this week. [Herald Scotland]

¶   The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced it will provide Romania with a loan worth €57 million ($78 million) to fund its eighth wind power project in the country, an 84 MW plant with 42 wind turbines. [Business Review]

US:

¶   The average fuel economy for new vehicles hit a record high in May of 25.6 miles-per-gallon, a 0.4 mpg rise from April. Vehicle fuel efficiency has increased 5.5 mpg since October of 2007, when the Institute began monitoring fuel economy. [Energy Collective]

¶   Big plans of three years ago for a BP ethanol plant in Highlands County, Florida were called off. Now after that huge false start, the biofuels industry may yet impact Highlands County and the Heartland as Southeast Renewable Fuels plans a plant to open in 2015. [Highlands Today]

¶   Already the No. 1 windpower state, Texas is on pace to increase wind capacity by about 70% within two years. Between that and new natural gas capacity, several energy analysts expect Texas to meet the EPA’s proposed goal of cutting CO2 emissions 39% by 2030. [Fort Worth Star Telegram]

¶   Even after the twin domes along I-5 are gone and the San Onofre nuclear plant is mostly a memory, fuel rods hot with radioactivity will remain behind in rows of tomb-like casks – perhaps for decades. [OCRegister]

Science and Technology:

¶    A team of students has calculated that for the low cost of $5.00, your home could be transformed into a smog-eating house that could eliminate pollution-causing nitrogen oxides from the air just by sitting there. This is done with a coating of $5 worth of titanium dioxide. [CleanTechnica]

¶   According to a new peer-reviewed scientific report from the Club of Rome, industrial civilisation is likely to deplete its low-cost mineral resources within the next century, with debilitating impacts for the global economy beginning in the next decade. [Resilience]

World:

¶   Tata Power has announced the introduction of natural ester filled distribution transformers across the Mumbai distribution area. The objective of introducing these green and fire-safe installations is to ensure safe and sustainable distribution of electricity. [Times of India]

¶   The Australian coal industry is at significant financial risk of stranded assets as major global powers act on climate change, with regulatory changes threatening to destabilise a number of Australian projects. [RenewEconomy]

¶   Europe’s power, gas and coal markets are in a sharp down from their highs. Power and coal futures are down by around 40% since peaking after the Fukushima Disaster of 2011 pushed prices up. Solar and wind power have added generating capacity while demand has fallen. [Reuters]

¶   President Michelle Bachelet of Chile has inaugurated the Amanecer Solar CAP plant, which was developed, built, and interconnected by SunEdison. The plant has a capacity of 100 MW, enough to supply 125,000 Chilean homes, at a cost of $250 million. [PennEnergy]

¶   Vestas is to supply a EnBW/Borusan joint venture with 158.4 MW for three wind farms in Turkey. The Danish manufacturer will supply, install and commission a total of 48 V112-3.3MW turbines at the Mut, Harmanlık and Koru RES wind power plants. [reNews]

¶   Snake-like buoys sitting off the coast of Scotland have been tested to the point they have proven their reliability, Pelamis Wave Energy said. Two machines sitting at the European Marine Energy Center in Orkney have logged 10,000 hours of grid-connected service. [UPI.com]

¶   A huge wind farm featuring 67 turbines built high above Loch Ness has been given the green light by the Scottish Government. The Stronelairg project is near the Highland tourist village of Fort Augustus but is not visible from areas usually visited by tourists. [Scotsman]

¶   Europe faces hotter-than-usual weather through August as German solar-energy production is set to advance to a record, potentially driving power prices lower. Power prices are projected to drop, even as temperatures hit new highs. [Businessweek]

¶   Tokyo Electric Power Company started building the big underground cooler meant to freeze the soil into a rectangular ice wall around TEPCO’s four nonfunctioning but still highly radioactive reactors to keep ground water from leaking through. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶   Some critics of the EPA’s new requirements for power plants argue that forcing emissions reduction will curtail economic growth. But the recent experience of states that already cap carbon emissions reveals that cutting emissions may not hurt economic growth. [New York Times]

¶   The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has approved the winning bids to build the 250 MW Beacon solar PV project in Kern County, California along with 50 MW of PV within Los Angeles. Contracts still need to be approved by the Los Angeles City Council. [solarserver.com]

Opinion:

¶   “Climate action is good for New Hampshire” The new EPA draft standards on carbon dioxide pollution provide an opportunity for New Hampshire businesses and investors to continue to innovate and build a clean energy economy. [Foster’s Daily Democrat]

Science and Technology:

¶   A team of scientist from the University of Florida developed electrical cables that are augmented with nanotechnology, giving these cables the ability to transmit and store electricity in a single, lightweight copper wire. [Hydrogen Fuel News]

World:

¶   Global oil prices—which, at the current $90 to $110 per barrel range, are at historically high levels—are nevertheless too low to justify tackling ever-more challenging geology. The industry needs an oil price of at least $120 per barrel to fund exploration in many places. [Resilience]

¶   The Chinese government has established ambitious targets of 5,000 MW of offshore wind power installed by 2015 and 30,000 megawatts by 2030. They are teaming with the British Embassy in Beijing to investigate ways a China offshore wind plan could scale up quickly. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The Indian government is aggressively accelerating the solar energy program, and aiming for four giant plants of 1,000 MW each. It also wants to bundle solar and conventional power to make renewable energy more affordable. [Economic Times]

¶   Since time immemorial the home of the Dokis People has been on the shores of the French River in Ontario. Today, with private partner Hydromega, the Dokis Nation is tapping into the hydroelectricity potential of the river to power the local economy and drive job creation. [The Sudbury Star]

¶   Brazil is banking that a drop in prices and interest from foreign companies will boost the amount of energy it’s able to generate from the sun. The country will hold an auction tender focusing on solar, wind and biomass energy, the first national auction with a solar category. [Businessweek]

¶   At a summit of the G7 club of wealthy nations in Brussels, the US pledged to work with its European allies to end its energy dependency on Russia, in the hope of preventing the Kremlin from using oil and gas as tools of political influence. The West has said all this before. [TIME]

US:

¶    Jameel McCline, US House candidate in Florida Congressional District 20’s August 26 Democratic primary, is calling for congressional action to stop individual states from preventing the expansion of solar-electric power. [EIN News]

¶   The Illinois General Assembly passed a House Bill which unlocks $30 million of roughly $54 million in existing state funds for investment in new renewable generation. The $30 million is anticipated to be targeted at distributed solar generation. [The National Law Review]

¶   In Kwigillingok, Alaska, five remanufactured 95-kW Windmatic turbines not only offset the burning of diesel for Kwig Power Co., they also heat homes when the wind blows hard, as it often does in the flat, treeless region. [Alaskajournal.com]

¶   Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection issued a draft order approving an eight-turbine, 22.8 MW Canton Mountain wind project proposed by Patriot Renewables. A final determination by the end of this summer. [reNews]

¶   General Motors announced today a $24-million investment in electrical generation equipment that will allow the company to use more landfill gas at its Fort Wayne, Ind., and Orion, Mich., assembly plants, generating more than 14 MW. [Inside Indiana Business]

¶   Exelon’s Christopher Crane wants Congress to kill a wind tax break, despite the fact the nuclear industry wouldn’t be viable today without decades of federal subsidies underwriting every stage of the nuclear fuel cycle. [Huffington Post]

Opinion:

¶   “Obama Isn’t Killing Power Plants. The Sun Is.” Opponents to President Obama’ regulations for controlling carbon emissions are claiming the new rules are so onerous they will imperil the electric utility industry. Actually, it’s a little too late for that; solar power got there first. [Bloomberg View]

World:

¶   The world needs to spend $48 trillion between now and 2035 to meet rising demand for energy, according to the International Energy Agency.  The good news is that for an extra $5 trillion, we can both meet demand and avoid dangerous climate change. [Business Spectator]

¶   Wind turbine maker Suzlon Energy has bagged an order worth about Rs 750 crore ($126.4 million) for a project in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The order for 48 units of S97-120 m wind turbine generators totaling 100.8 MW. [Business Standard]

¶   The Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is offering nine new work areas to public bidders for geothermal projects nationwide. The ministry estimates that about 550 MW will be developed with total investment of around $2.1 billion. [Jakarta Post]

¶   The UK subsidiary of Wave energy developer Perpetuwave Power was given a $113,000 grant from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Program to develop its ‘Wave Harvester’ technology. The company says it is cost-competitive with wind and solar. [Business Spectator]

¶   The European Commission has chosen 16 renewable energy projects that will help power around two million homes in rural Africa to receive €95 million. The EU grants were focused on improving access to modern, affordable and sustainable energy services in rural areas. [Energy Live News]

¶   China’s lower than expected demand for coal could leave 40% of the country’s coal-fired power stations at risk of being stranded by the end of the decade, according to a new report from the Carbon Tracker Institute. [Business Green]

¶   It seems Australia’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets more than tripled on the weekend, from a 5% cut by 2020 to a reduction of more than 18%. Surprised? The Abbott Government might be too. The new target is a default, automatically generated by law. [Energy Matters]

¶   Three years and $15 billion dollars spent have been spent in Japan on disaster preparedness, and Japan’s electric utility firms hope to restart their nuclear reactors. But it seems what everyone forgot is the presence of volcanoes in the country. [The Japan Daily Press]

US:

¶   Consumers and businesses will see their electric bills go up if Gov. John Kasich signs a new bill rolling back Ohio’s energy efficiency and renewable energy standards as he is expected, according to a letter sent to Kasich by a coalition of 51 companies and 21 organizations. [Dayton Daily News]

¶   Barclays has calculated that it will not be government regulation that will phase down US coal-fired power plants first, but rather the advance of renewable technologies and the continued decline in costs of those technologies. [The9Billion]

¶   Whether solar will take off in Texas the same way wind power has remains to be seen. But the recent developments represent the strongest foothold the solar industry has achieved in a state that does not offer the lucrative subsidies found in other parts of the country. [Dallas Morning News]

¶   Warren Buffett’s $26 billion bet on western US power plants, transmission lines and wind farms is poised to pay off. The energy unit of Berkshire Hathaway is moving to unite holdings under a single market capable of dispatching power across seven states every five minutes. [Sydney Morning Herald]

¶   An explosive new report from the US DOE makes clear that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is likely a climate-destroying misallocation of resources. That is, if one uses estimates for methane leakage based on actual observations. [ThinkProgress]

Science and Technology:

¶   A new research study has been released from the University of Georgia. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, it documents the direct conversion of biomass to biofuel without pre-treatment, using engineered bacteria. [Science Daily]

World:

¶   The Guardian reported this morning that the Queen’s Speech is to contain a surprise measure designed to make it easier for local residents in the UK to invest in wind or solar farm projects near their properties. [Business Green]

¶   The world is not moving fast enough on investment in low carbon energy to tackle climate change, new research from the International Energy Agency has found. About $1.6 trillion is invested annually in the global energy supply, but amount needs to rise to $2 trillion. [The Guardian]

¶   The number of developing countries with policies in place to support renewable energy has increased six-fold in just eight years, resulting in one-fifth of the world’s power production now coming from renewable sources, according to a United Nations-backed report. [indiablooms]

¶   The government of Germany’s regional state of Brandenburg approved a plan by the Swedish utility Vattenfall to extract extra brown coal at an open-cast mine starting in 2027. The state’s administration says coal will act as a “bridge” in phasing out nuclear power. [Deutsche Welle]

¶   At the end of 2013, China, the US, Brazil, Canada, and Germany remained the top countries by total installed renewable power capacity, according to the Global Status Report of the UN-backed Renewable Energy Policy network for the 21st Century. [GlobalPost]

¶   The European Union’s greenhouse gas emissions continued to fall in 2012, as a 1.3% decrease meant emissions have now been cut to 19.2% below 1990 levels, according to official data from the European Environment Agency. [Click Green]

¶   Almost two-thirds of Australians think the federal government should take a leadership role on climate change, while only 28% believe we should wait for international consensus – often a proxy for inaction. Just 7% think Australia should do nothing. [The Canberra Times]

¶   Britain’s growth in solar capacity could be greater this year than last as firms snap up government subsidies for new large plants before they come to an end, according to Foresight Group, a major British asset manager investing in the solar sector. [Reuters]

US:

¶   Vernon, Vermont selectboard members are touting the potential benefits of new biomass power plant — with the possibility of a natural-gas component — that could be built at the Vermont Yankee site after the nuclear facility shuts. [Bennington Banner]

¶   Three nuclear plants owned by Exelon Corporation, including the Byron and Quad Cities plants in Illinois and one in New Jersey, may close after failing to secure contracts in the annual auction to provide power to the electric grid. [The Rock River Times]

¶   Storage devices are already enabling wind farms in Texas and solar arrays in California to operate at their maximum potential, capturing excess production to be delivered when it is needed most. This allows maximized renewable energy output. [Greentech Media]

¶   Nevada recorded the steepest decline nationwide in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions between 2005-2011, a federal report today shows. Nevada’s CO2 emissions in electric power sector fell 33%, according to the US Energy Information Administration. [Reno Gazette Journal]

¶   The New York Assembly Energy Committee today passed a “Shared Clean Energy Bill”, which would establish a new way for renters and other families, schools and businesses to go solar. [Business Wire]

¶   The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it has issued a lease to Florida Atlantic University for marine hydrokinetic technology testing off the coast of Florida to evaluate the use of turbines powered by ocean currents. [The Maritime Executive]

¶   Natural gas and renewable energy will continue to dominate the Texas electric supply additions over the next 20 years, while adoption of expanded energy efficiency and demand response programs could reduce 40% to 50% of projected peak demand growth. [MarketWatch]

Opinion:

¶   “America’s Market Based Economy Must Have a Price on Carbon Dioxide Emissions” The 3rd National Climate Assessment was recently released, painting a frightening picture of the spiraling costs of climate disruption and highlighting the need to price CO2 emissions. [CleanTechnica]

¶   “New EPA Carbon Rule Can Help Preserve Michigan’s Way of Life” The EPA’s new carbon-power plant emission standards will do more than just clear the air. Leaders from various sectors say the rules stand to create jobs, save money, and help preserve the way of life. [Public News Service]

World:

¶   The work of erecting 40 wind turbines at Trianel’s 200MW Borkum West 2.1 offshore wind farm in the German North Sea has been completed. Installation of the Areva M5000-116 machines took 11 months. Grid connection is targeted later in the summer. [reNews]

¶   A report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, the report says that proper investment in wind, solar, and other renewable energy generating technologies can lead to an economic boom. [Triple Pundit]

¶   An Australian solar thermal demonstration project has notched up a significant win for the technology, generating the highest temperature steam ever produced using energy from the sun. It has been hailed as a game changing breakthrough for renewables. [RenewEconomy]

¶   A new initiative launched by the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles is aimed at stimulating innovation in the electric vehicle sector and its related ecosystem, providing a significant global growth opportunity for New Zealand. [Voxy]

¶   Reshaping the European energy system could reduce annual energy expenditure by an amount between €27 billion and €81 by 2030, according to a new study carried out by Accenture for EURELECTRIC. [WebWire]

US:

¶   Vermont is the only state not covered by the Obama administration’s sweeping new plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent over the next 15 years, but the state will still benefit by working with other states to meet the goals. [Greenfield Daily Reporter]

¶   US solar panel installations climbed to a record 1.3 GW in the first quarter of 2014, according the SEIA quarterly report. Solar PV installations jumped 79% from the first quarter of 2013, with 744 MW added. Only 2013 Q4 had more installations, with 2.1 GW. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Since 2005, New Jersey has cut its greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector by 24%, according to the Georgetown Climate Center, a nonpartisan organization that is part of Georgetown Law in Washington DC. [NJ Spotlight]

¶   In Florida, political hostility toward programs like the new EPA rules on carbon emissions raises questions about whether the state will cooperate with federal efforts to regulate carbon emissions, with some speculating that the deciding factor could be the 2014 governor’s race.[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

¶   Under the new EPA rule, Iowa power plants would be required to cut carbon emissions 16% by 2030, a lower burden than the national average because of the state’s investment in renewable energy development and energy efficiency. [DesMoinesRegister.com]

¶   The EPA plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions suggests a cut of nearly 45% by 2030 for Arkansas, where nearly 44% of the energy came from coal in 2012, according to EPA figures. Natural gas placed second at 26%; nuclear power accounted for nearly 24%. [Fairfield Citizen]

¶   The announcement that the coal-fired Mount Tom Power Station near Holyoke, Massachusetts will close permanently thrilled an alliance of community and environmental organizations which have been trying to reduce pollution in the city. [MassLive.com]

¶   Under a proposed rule out of the EPA Monday, New Hampshire will have to come up with its own plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, many of the building blocks for that plan are already in place. [New Hampshire Public Radio]

¶   With the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rules capping carbon emissions from power plants, Chicago-based Exelon Corp. might appear to be well-positioned thanks to its nuclear power holdings. However, those benefits aren’t likely to be realized for several years. [Chicago Business Journal]

World:

¶   Denmark has given the green light to investment in the 700 MW Cobra interconnector with the Netherlands. Energy minister Rasmus Helveg Petersen issued the all-clear this morning. The 300 km subsea line will carry high voltage DC power from wind farms. [reNews]

¶   Jordan is close to awarding contracts for the next stage of its renewable energy programme, according to reports. The country’s energy strategy also calls for over 600 MW of solar power soon and around 1,200 MW of wind power to be in place by 2020. [Utilities-ME.com]

¶   The Australian Energy Market Operator is set to downgrade its energy demand forecast again, hinting at the change it its submission to the Renewable Energy Target review panel. It said the increasing prevalence of renewables would not threaten power reliability. [The Australian]

¶   The UK renewables market has dropped back to 2012 levels in terms of its attractiveness to investors as the sector continues to be “caught in the firing line.” Ernst & Young’s latest Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index ranks the nation in sixth place globally. [reNews]

¶   One of Jamaica’s largest hotels, the Grand Palladium, Hanover, has what is believed to be the largest solar plant in the country. The hotel expects to save over J$80 million ($720,000) in energy cost per year from the installation of a solar PV power plant. [Jamaica Gleaner]

¶   The Philippine Department of Energy is ramping up work on renewable energy projects to diversify the country’s energy mix. A report posted on its website said it has issued 565 renewable energy service contracts since guaranteed rates for RE projects were set. [Inquirer.net]

¶   Lake Kivu lies on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is a relatively small body of water that poses a not-so-small problem: it’s filled with 60 billion cubic meters of methane gas. A project called Kivuwatt plans to use that problem for power. [RYOT]

¶   Olkiluoto 3 was originally slated for connection to the Finnish energy grid in 2009 but has long been hampered by setbacks. Meanwhile, a lack of domestic production has led to the need for energy imports, and the government is concerned that imports are increasing. [YLE News]

US:

¶   The Obama administration will seek to cut greenhouse gas emissions from existing power plants 30% from 2005 levels by 2030, potentially one of the biggest steps any country has taken to confront climate change, people familiar with the plan said Sunday. [Los Angeles Times]

¶   Many Northwest tribes have been exploring ways to get more of their electricity from renewable sources that don’t pollute, like coal-fired power plants do, or harm fish — a concern when it comes to hydroelectric dams. [Jefferson Public Radio]

Opinion:

¶   “What the Court Decision on FERC Order 745 Means for Demand Response” Demand response was dealt a blow when a US Court of Appeals vacated it in a 2-1 decision. But it may not be enough for incumbent power producers. Demand response is too attractive for states. [Energy Collective]

Science and Technology:

¶   Now that the age of fossil fuels and petrochemicals is winding down, sewage mining is obviously the Next Big Thing. The wastewater-to-biogas angle is already going strong and a number of companies are busily reclaiming other useful raw materials, too. [CleanTechnica]

World:

¶   A senior official in China’s planning ministry announced the country would launch a national carbon market starting in 2018, based on the six regional carbon markets it launched this year as pilot programs. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Finland lags behind its European peers in its efforts to develop wind energy resources. However after a slow start, the renewable sector is beginning to gather speed, and Finland is now trying to catch up to with such countries as Denmark and Germany. [InterAksyon]

US:

¶   Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced the Rural Wind Energy Development Act to provide an investment tax credit to ranchers, farmers, and small businesses to offset the up-front costs of owning a distributed wind turbine. [Investorideas.com]

¶   The idea of replacing America’s asphalt roads with solar panels apparently has plenty of appeal. The Solar Roadways IndieGoGo campaign has raised some $1.5 million to use towards research and development of this cutting-edge solution to our world’s environmental woes. [CleanTechnica]

¶   North Dakota power plants are preparing to respond to federal regulations to be announced this week to limit carbon dioxide emissions. They expect to meet the new standards — though North Dakota may have further to go than other states. [Bismarck Tribune]

¶   The thought of turning your dinner table leftovers, old cardboard boxes and even dirty diapers into fuel for your car might sound absurd. But scientists and profit-minded business people say they can do it, and it’s becoming a part of Iowa’s advanced biofuel landscape. [Fort Dodge Messenger]

¶   The state of New Mexico is leasing land to Triangle Gallegos, a joint venture of Triangle Cattle Co. and Gallegos Wind Farm, for a 500-MW wind project. The wind turbines will go on 19,000 acres of state trust land and 31,000 acres of private ranch land. [Santa Fe New Mexican.com]

¶   According to recent Center for American Progress (CAP) studies, middle-class America is buying into the solar market. This is great news — rooftop solar isn’t just for mansions and millionaires anymore; it is accessible to suburban households across the country. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The first quarter of 2014 was another big one for the U.S. solar industry, with 74% of all new electricity generation coming from solar power. It was also the first time that residential solar installations surpassed commercial in the same time period. [ThinkProgress]

¶   Critics of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant say the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission provided insufficient information at a recent public meeting on the plant’s 2013 performance. There were several known problems that were not dealt with. [BurlingtonFreePress.com]