geoharvey

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]

Opinion:

¶   “3 Reasons Why Cutting Carbon From Power Plants Is Good For Business” The new standards will protect Americans at home and provide a strong signal to the international community. But, what does it mean for business? [Forbes]

¶   “How to Cut Power Plant Carbon by 50%: New EPA Climate Rules Can Create a Foundation for Real Global Warming Solutions” New UCS analysis shows that a strong standard provides an opportunity to cut our power sector emissions in half by 2030. [The Equation: Blog of the Union of Concerned Scientists]

World:

¶   EDF en Canada, a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, and Enbridge, announced that the 300 MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project is operational. The project, located Alberta, started construction in May 2013 and is comprised of 166 Vestas V100-1.8MW wind turbines. [Today’s Energy Solutions]

¶   Scottish Power’s parent firm Iberdrola has struck a major deal which will see customers in the UK supplied with gas from Texas. Under the 20-year, €4.1 billion agreement Iberdrola will buy a billion cubic metres of natural gas a year beginning in 2019 from Cheniere Energy. [Scotsman]

¶   The World Bank approved $203 million to help Ethiopia exploit its geothermal energy resources. Ethiopia will use the money to develop its geothermal energy resource to boost electricity supply. Domestic power demand is expected to grow by more than 25% a year. [Bloomberg]

¶   Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal has dismissed another anti-wind power appeal. The Wainfleet Wind Energy Project can now proceed, despite objections from a skydiving club, as it failed to show the turbines were likely to cause a serious skydiving accident. [Mondaq News Alerts]

US:

¶   Legislation that calls for the three investor-owned utilities in California to procure 500 MW of new geothermal energy generation over the next 10 years cleared the Senate and will next be taken up by the Assembly. [Imperial Valley News]

¶   Environmental activists delivered more than 50,000 comments to New York’s Cuomo administration on Friday, urging officials to recast the state’s energy plan with specific strategies for burning less fossil fuel and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. [Greenfield Daily Reporter]

¶   A survey for Advanced Energy Economy found 58% of people say they would like to move from old power sources like coal to new renewable forms of energy like wind, solar, and hydropower, even if it costs more to do so. [The Hill]

¶   Ocean Renewable Power, of Portland, Maine, showed off its RivGen Power System in Anchorage. It is a scaled-down version of turbines for harnessing tidal power. It will be installed to power for Igiugig, a community of 50 about 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. [Alaskajournal.com]

¶   The California legislature passed AB 2145 by a 51-15 vote. A broad and diverse coalition of business, local government, community and environmental organizations have decried this as the ‘Utility Monopoly Power Grab of 2014.’ [CleanTechnica]

¶   Congressional inaction on clean energy policies and attacks on state renewable energy programs led to a dramatic decline in clean energy job announcements in the first quarter, according to a report from the nonpartisan business group Environmental Entrepreneurs. [Windpower Engineering]

¶   MidAmerican Solar and SunPower are making significant progress at the Solar Star projects in California. The millionth photovoltaic module has been installed at the Solar Star development, which is now delivering more than 170 MW to the California ISO grid. [PR Newswire]

¶   Everyone understood that solar power, as a promising renewable form of energy, needed to eventually compete with nuclear, oil, coal and gas — without any government subsidies. Much faster than anyone expected, we’re almost there. [NASDAQ]

¶   Green Mountain Power announced it has reached an agreement with the Vermont Department of Public Service and other stakeholders to decrease electric rates by 2.46%. The rate decrease will take effect on October 1, 2014. [Green Energy Times]

Science and Technology:

¶   Species of plants and animals are becoming extinct at least 1,000 times faster than they did before humans arrived on the scene, and the world is on the brink of a sixth great extinction, according to a new study published by the journal Science. [Huffington Post]

World:

¶   The burgeoning North American grid energy storage market could develop into a multibillion-dollar industry within a few years. Vancouver-based American Vanadium hopes to become North America’s first vanadium redox flow energy storage system provider. [Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly]

¶   In Australia, the NSW government has demonstrated support for the Renewable Energy Target in a submission to the review panel, according to the Clean Energy Council. There are concerns about the review panel, creating uncertainty. [EcoGeneration]

¶   Samsung Renewable Energy and Pattern Energy’s 180 MW Armow wind project in Ontario has taken another step toward construction. With a pledge of contributions to the community and a road use agreement, construction is to begin late this year. [reNews]

¶   In the past week renewable energy support schemes in Australia described as “plain crazy.” It may be time to review a study published by Agora Energiewende showing European subsidies for solar and wind are essentially half those for nuclear or CCS. [CleanTechnica]

US:

¶   The US Department of Energy has unveiled $10 million in funding for six new research and development projects that will advance concentrating solar technologies. The projects will target cost savings by developing thermochemical energy storage systems. [reNews]

¶   Xcel Energy announced that, as of 2013, it had reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 20% since 2005, exceeding President Barack Obama’s announced goal of achieving a 17% reduction by 2020. [Boulder Daily Camera]

¶   On June 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will announce draft regulations under the Clean Air Act that will set the stage for the 50 states to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants. [AZoCleantech]

¶   Some leading conservatives have a new talking point on climate science: They’re not qualified to talk about it. House Speaker John Boehner became the latest top Republican to say so, as the issue has given Democrats an opening to brand the GOP as “anti-science.” [Politico]

¶   The US solar manufacturing industry awaits the first ruling from the Department of Commerce in trade cases against China and Taiwan. The preliminary decision next week addresses the level of illegal Chinese government subsidies benefiting its solar producers. [Your Renewable News]

¶   A new report from the fledgling Energy & Policy Institute seeks to pull back the curtain on coordinated efforts to repeal or put moratoriums on renewable energy standards, revealing just where the influence and money are coming from. [Greentech Media]

¶   The National Resources Defense Council says new federal standards that aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions from power plants would save the nation’s consumers $37.4 billion in 2020 via reduced electricity bills by the time the rules are fully implemented. [Denver Business Journal]

¶   Two legislative efforts nearing the Ohio governor’s desk would result in significant challenges for the company developing wind farms in Hardin and Logan counties. One is the freeze on the renewable energy standard, the other would increase setbacks for wind turbines. [RenewablesBiz]

¶   Chevron’s renewable power group produced profits for 2013 that were nearly double what the company hoped for. Nevertheless, managers told the group that funding for the effort would dry up and encouraged staffers to find jobs elsewhere. [Businessweek]

¶   Vermont is getting warmer. And wetter. And without significant global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, that trend will continue, according to a comprehensive report on climate change released by the White House this month. [Addison County Independent]

Science and Technology:

¶   Acta has developed a product it calls the Acta Power which provides the whole hydrogen system on-site – hydrogen generation, storage and conversion to electricity. Acta refers to this system as the ‘Hydrogen Battery’. [Cogeneration & On-Site Power Production Magazine]

World:

¶   A report by Goldman Sachs’ global commodities team said that Chinese demand for imported coal is past its peak, so demand for seaborne thermal coal will grow just 2% per year on average to 2018, leaving coal prices too weak to generate profits on new mines and infrastructure. [Courier Mail]

¶   Tata Power Solar, one of the pioneering solar manufacturers in the world and India’s largest specialised EPC player, today announced a 60% expansion of its manufacturing facility in Bangalore, taking the total production capacity to 200 MW. [Your Renewable News]

¶   Germany’s Energiewende is very much alive. The biggest “winners” in the first quarter were solar power, whose production was up 82.5%, and offshore wind, up 33%. Natural gas production was down 19.7%, hard coal down 17.4%, and nuclear energy down 4.6%. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Greenpeace has launched a petition that they will deliver to the headquarters of Origin, AGL and Energy Australia, which control 77% of the Australian residential energy market,  ‘in a spectacular, public way that they won’t be able to ignore’. [Energy Matters]

¶   France’s highest administrative court on Wednesday annulled the decree setting wind power feed-in tariffs, marking the end of a complex legal procedure that has stifled investment in the French onshore wind sector. [Scientific American]

¶   Scotland is arguably one of the greenest countries in Europe. It produces 40% of Scottish electricity demand from renewable sources, and models suggest this could rise to 67% by 2018. Some question what effect the independence vote on September 18 will have. [New Scientist]

¶   Trade Association RenewableUK has said that if the UK is to meet its legally-binding target of generating 15% of all energy from renewable sources by 2020, more onshore wind may be needed to make up for a possible shortfall in other parts of the energy mix. [Click Green]

¶   The new Indian government may de-emphasize the previous government’s plan to install 20 GW of nuclear power capacity by 2020, and instead focus on wind and solar to achieve energy security, according to global auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. [domain-B]

US:

¶   The Massachusetts-based Millbury Solar project will produce cost-competitive clean energy for UMass and surrounding communities. The 3 MW project is part of First Wind’s first solar development and first renewable energy project in its home state of Massachusetts. [Renewable Energy Focus]

¶   Illinois lawmakers have advanced a plan urging environmental agencies to adopt nuclear power-friendly rules following financial struggles at Exelon. Exelon has said several of its nuclear power plants could be closed if their financial outlook doesn’t improve. [DeKalb Daily Chronicle]

¶   An Asheville, North Carolina company has proposed a dozen solar megafarms. Innovative Solar Systems has filed applications for 12 solar farms of between 25 and 80 MW, mostly in Eastern North Carolina. [The State]

¶   After more than an hour of passionate debate, the Ohio House voted Wednesday 53-38 in favor of Senate Bill 310, which calls for freezing renewable energy benchmarks and energy conservation measures for the next two years. The bill is going to the governor. [Springfield News Sun]

¶   The future of three Exelon nuclear power plants is in question after they failed to secure a capacity payment which would have that supported their operation in a difficult power market. The capacity payment is worth $5 per MWh. [World Nuclear News]

¶   Electric school buses that feed the power grid could save school districts millions of dollars — and reduce children’s exposure to diesel fumes — according to research by the University of Delaware’s College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment. [University of Delaware]

Opinion:

¶   “Are Shales a Bubble?” Hype works. Hype has been the primary tool used by the oil and gas industry with regard to shales and it has worked brilliantly. There is just one problem. When considering shale economic viability, hype was the only aspect that actually existed. [Resilience]

¶   “German Electricity Suppliers Not Passing On Wholesale Electricity Cuts” The support scheme for renewables is not the primary reason for high electric prices in Germany. The real reason is that suppliers are in effect keeping prices artificially high. [CleanTechnica]

Science and Technology:

¶   Solar panel technology is improving so rapidly that petrol stations could be replaced in the near future by drivers plugging their electric cars into their homes, according to Keith Barnham, emeritus Professor of Physics at Imperial College. [Telegraph.co.uk]

World:

¶   While EV sales still make up a small part of the market, they are actually selling faster than the first generation of hybrid cars did. When you put the first three years of EV sales side by side with the first three years of hybrid sales, electric cars are doing remarkably well. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The Australian government review of the renewable energy target has come under more scrutiny, with questions being asked about the consultancy hired to advise the panel. The contract did not go to the lowest bidder, who has close ties to traditional fuel markets. [Echonetdaily]

¶   A new report by the Danish Energy Agency has found it would be technically possible to construct a secure and reliable national energy system based on 100% renewables by 2050. The report also supports scenarios for 100% renewable electricity and heating by 2035. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The Committee on Climate Change reiterated that an increase in onshore wind capacity during the 2020s is likely to represent the most cost-effective means for the UK to meet its carbon targets after questions arose about its position. [Business Green]

¶   Of the about 600 TWh hours Germany consumes each year, 50 TWh are self-produced in a trend that has seen solar panels installed on home roofs and gas plants set up in factories. Home-made power is not taxed to support the move from nuclear and toward renewables. [Expatica Germany]

US:

¶   Large parts of the Southwest are drier than they were during the 1930s Dust Bowl. And the latest science says unrestricted carbon pollution will make this a near-permanent situation post-2050 in a growing portion of this country and around the world. [Energy Collective]

¶   Californian solar company SunPower is set to collaborate with Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy to build a 50 MW solar PV plant in Colorado. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016, and will generate enough power for 13,500 households. [pv magazine]

¶   A bill that at least temporarily halts Ohio’s march toward green energy, pitting business against business in the process, moved closer to the governor’s desk Tuesday, when the House Public Utilities Committee voted largely along party lines to send it to the full House. [Toledo Blade]

¶   On Obama’s climate rule, the US Chamber of Commerce (CoC) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are both releasing economic impact studies this week. CoC says the rule will kill jobs and cost money, NRDC says it will create jobs and save money. [Businessweek]

¶   A proposal for a 23-turbine wind farm in central New Hampshire is dead because of what the project developer calls an unfavorable political and regulatory climate in the state. Iberdrola Renewables says it’s abandoning the Wild Meadows project. [Eagle-Tribune]

¶   President Barack Obama is about to unveil the centerpiece of his agenda to fight climate change, calling for each state to meet carbon emissions reductions and giving each state the job of deciding how they are met. Cap-and-trade is one option among many for states. [Times Record]

¶   Wind energy reduced power sector emissions by more than 5% last year, saving the same amount of CO2 as taking 20 million cars off the road, according to a new report published by the American Wind Energy Association. [ThinkProgress]

Science and Technology:

¶   The emissions from two very large coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners area of northwest New Mexico have been measured through space-based techniques, the first time remote emission measurements have been made from space. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Carbon dioxide levels throughout the northern hemisphere hit 400 ppm for the first time in human history in April, an ominous threshold for climate change, the World Meteorological Organization said on Monday. [Huffington Post]

World:

¶   Russian authorities will continue to rely on nuclear power and drilling the Arctic shelf for a bright future, as Moscow continues to turn its back on the worldwide boom in the renewable energy sector and place its bets on nuclear power and fossil fuels. [Bellona]

¶   The Board of the Green Climate Fund – the new multilateral fund to support developing countries in efforts to address climate change – finalized its overarching business model so that countries can begin to direct resources through the fund. [Energy Collective]

¶   German developer RWE Innogy is kicking off construction of the 90 MW Zuidwester wind farm in the Netherlands. The 12-turbine scheme will feature 7.5 MW Enercon E126 machines costing a total of  €150 million, currently the world’s largest onshore units. [reNews]

¶   Japan’s campaign to boost renewable power supplies since the Fukushima nuclear disaster is producing some unlikely winners: vegetable farmers. The solar sharing programme allows them to harvest dual incomes from sunlight, as solar PVs are put up amongst the crops. [eco-business.com]

¶   The Fukushima crisis may have left Japan with a major energy challenge, according to Simon Clements of Alliance Trust Investments, but it has opened the door for a renewables boom. [Business Green]

¶   The government of the Philippines is considering increasing the capacity allocation for wind power projects under the feed-in tariff program. This after the Department of Energy decided to hike the solar project installation under the program to 500 MW from 50 MW. [BusinessWorld Online Edition]

US:

¶   Tesla Motors is now the largest auto-industry employer in California — employing more than 6000 people within the state, with a further 500 jobs expected to be added to that figure before the end of 2014. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) hold on South Carolina is weakening. The state’s House of Representatives just passed a solar energy bill that appears to show that South Carolina sees the light about solar energy and ALEC. [CleanTechnica]

¶   The Obama administration will unveil a cornerstone of its climate-change initiative with a proposed rule to allow states to use cap-and-trade systems, renewable energy and other measures to meet aggressive goals for reducing carbon emissions by existing power plants. [Fox News]

¶   The Sun Day Campaign has just released a press release proclaiming the fact non-hydro renewables has outproduced hydropower for the first time. Also, for the first time, wind contributed 5% of the nation’s electricity. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Commercial buildings could cut their heating and cooling electricity use by an average of 57% with advanced energy-efficiency controls, according to a year-long trial of the controls at malls, grocery stores and other buildings across the country. [Daily Fusion]

Science and Technology:

¶   As mobile tech-savvy people are looking for reliable public places to recharge electronic devices, a few innovative companies are finding ways to offer renewable, free solar energy charging stations for community use. [Triple Pundit]

¶   Close to half of the food that the world produces goes to waste, whether it’s on the farm, at the production or packaging plant, or from the dinner plate. A company in Israel has stepped up to the plate in America, aiming to transform food waste to biofuel. [ISRAEL21c]

World:

¶   GE Power Conversion is currently in the process of testing out new tidal turbine generators and “other underwater technology in turbines standing on the sea floor near the Orkneys in Scotland and at Ramsey Sound in Pembrokeshire, Wales.” [CleanTechnica]

¶   A Bloomberg report warns it would cost Australia billions of dollars and thousands of jobs if the Abbott government chooses to scrap the country’s renewable energy target. An expert panel is currently reviewing Australia’s goal of 20% renewable power by 2020. [International Business Times AU]

¶   It was, perhaps, a mirror image of the perfect storm: An abundance of sunshine and wind in Germany on May 11 stimulated solar and wind energy generators to the point where the price of electricity cost literally less than nothing for about an hour. [OilPrice.com]

¶   Billionaire investor Alex Waislitz has launched an unprecedented attack on Australia’s federal government for its budget changes affecting the biodiesel industry, claiming it will prompt investors to reassess companies relying on government promises enshrined in law. [Business Spectator]

¶   In another potential blow to Australia’s magnificently expensive seven liquified natural gas (LNG) projects, Citigroup has released a research report forecasting a “slump” in Japanese LNG demand from 2015. [MacroBusiness]

¶   Western Australia’s solar households and businesses are generating as much power together as a major traditional power plant. As growth is solar PVs may continue, the State Government now says a new power station may not be needed in the state until 2029. [Energy Matters]

¶   RWE’s CEO says the company should start to see an improvement in its fortunes in two years as power prices rebound and Germany reforms its electricity market in ways that will benefit traditional energy suppliers. [Financial Times]

US:

¶   Lawsuits filed in Illinois by Farmers Insurance claim the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and other municiaplities knew their stormwater infrastructure was insufficient to deal with extreme precipitation brought on in part by climate change. [Energy Collective]

¶   Just two weeks after the US Navy announced a major research partnership to ramp up its solar power and other clean energy programs, Barclays has warned that the solar market is likely to “disrupt the status quo” for the electric utility industry sooner rather than later. [CleanTechnica]

¶   In South Carolina, Black state legislators have been instrumental in passage through both the state House of Representatives and Senate of new legislation enabling The Palmetto State to become a more active participant in the renewable energy sector. [Politic365]

¶   Protesters are planning to gather near the Sagamore Bridge on Memorial Day to highlight concerns about the safety of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth. The protesters called the current emergency plan unacceptable for those on the Cape. [Greenfield Daily Reporter]

Science and Technology:

¶   Miscanthus could be called the king of biomass fiber. It is a relative of sugar cane that looks like bamboo, could be the Midwest’s next energy crop. But in a region dominated by corn and soybeans, it has yet to fully catch on, even as advocates tout its advantages. [HPPR]

World:

¶   Pakistan’s Alternative Energy Development Board is working on development of 33 windpower, half of which are under construction or to a point that they will be ready for funding in 2014. Also, 24 solar power projects and 9 biomass plants are being pursued. [The Nation]

¶   In Sri Lanka, the controversial coal-burning Norochcholai Power Plant has been confirmed to be operating as expected and is currently producing 600 MW of power – or the equivalent of 40% of the national grid. [Sunday Leader]

¶   Power companies are eyeing new generation plants in the Philippine island of Cebu in preparation for a projected power shortage that could be critical in 2018. First Gen, Aboitiz Power, and other companies are looking into building generating plants in the province. [Sun.Star]

¶   Swiss-Swedish engineering giant ABB sees an uptick in demand for its power systems business after a tough 2013. The power systems segment designs turnkey systems and services for distribution and transmission grids and power plants. [Business Standard]

¶   Replacing fossil fuels with renewables as the world’s primary source of energy will not only save the planet from dangerous levels of warming – it will also save the global economy $71 trillion by 2050, according to a report released by the International Energy Agency. [CounterCurrents.org]

¶   IKEA doesn’t just sell affordable home decor to the masses anymore. The furniture giant has added eco-friendly to its repertoire in the past and is now launching an electric bike that they’re calling the FOLKVÄNLIG. [Ecorazzi]

¶   Dublin-based hydro-power firm OpenHydro has teamed up with Alderney Renewable Energy to set up a new company called Race Tidal that aims to generate 300 MW of power for export to Britain and France. [Afloat]

US:

¶   Because the current automotive industry is likely unsustainable, General Motors recently announced it is aiming to overhaul many of its operations. Now GM is more or less on track to achieve its goal of 500,000 electrified vehicles on the roads by 2017. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Construction of the world’s largest single-axis tracking solar PV plants – the 206 MW Mount Signal Solar farm in southeast California – has been completed and is ready to generate enough electricity to power 72,000 households in the San Diego area. [CleanTechnica]

¶   Calling a nuclear waste dump proposed for Ontario, less than a mile from Lake Huron, “not safe” and “not acceptable,” a contingent of state legislators asked last week for President Obama and other parties to intervene and stop the so-called Deep Geologic Repository. [New Baltimore Voice Newspapers]