World:
¶ Construction of the world’s largest tidal stream turbine power plant looks set to begin next month in Scotland. The project’s majority owners, Australian-founded Atlantis Resources, say they had met all requirements for funding through the UK’s Renewable Energy Investment Fund. [CleanTechnica]
¶ Analysis by WWF Scotland found that last year wind turbines provided enough energy to supply the electrical needs of 98% of Scottish households, or 2.36 million homes. Wind turbines generated enough power to supply over 100% of Scottish households on 25 out of the 31 days of December. [SNP]
¶ Walmart is making progress on three environmental goals outlined by Lee Scott in 2005, the company said. Nearly a quarter of Walmart’s electricity across the globe comes from renewable resources, and the company diverts almost 82% of US stores’ waste from landfills. [Northwest Arkansas News]
¶ Near the largest oil spill in Israeli history, which poured millions of liters of crude oil into the desert, an ambitious effort is underway to help reduce global dependency on petroleum for energy. Known as the Eilot Belt, the area is the site of Israel’s largest solar energy field. [Heritage Florida Jewish News]
US:
¶ Xcel Energy Inc says it wants to far more than double the amount of electricity it gets from wind and solar in the Upper Midwest. The business, which serves 1.2 million ratepayers in Minnesota, has the most wind power of any US utility, and plans for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030. [Macro Insider]
¶ Despite years of successful experience, dozens of studies, and increasing utility support for clean energy, urban myth holds that electricity from renewable energy is unreliable. Yet over 75,000 MW of wind and solar power have been integrated reliably, enough to supply 17.9 million homes. [Energy Collective]
¶ In Wisconsin, the public is frustrated with the coordinated, special-interest efforts to slow public and private investments in clean energy. Currently there is an especially alarming trend: the alignment of the manufacturing lobby behind the monopoly utilities’ rate “fairness” campaign. [Stevenspointjournal]
¶ The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission is preparing for what some energy experts have called a watershed utility case. It will have a two-week hearing on a proposal calling for closing part of the San Juan Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant serving more than 2 million customers. [Daily Journal]
¶ Solar and wind power are our least expensive options in many places. Solar power costs as little as 5.6¢ per kWh, and wind power can cost only 1.4¢ per kWh. Without subsidies, solar costs about 7.2¢ at the low end, with wind at 3.7¢. These compare with prices of natural gas and coal upwards of 6.1¢. [Inhabitat]
¶ A coalition of US governors is calling on President Obama to implement a series of crucial changes to the country’s wind power policies. Among their goals are a multi-year extension of the renewable energy production and investment tax credits and expansion of transmission line development. [reNews]
¶ Kansas City Power & Light Co filed for a 12.5% rate increase for its Kansas customers. The utility attributed much of the request to governmental mandates to upgrade infrastructure at the Wolf Creek nuclear power plant and to install emission scrubbers at its La Cygne coal-fired plant. [Kansas City Star]
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