First Reserve announced late last week it will acquire the 298 MW Kingfisher Wind power project located in Canadian and Kingfisher Counties in Oklahoma from Apex Clean Energy. The wind farm is expected to be completed this year. “First Reserve believes the project benefits from a strong, consistent wind resource. In addition, the firm expects Kingfisher Wind to have a 20-year energy hedge for most of its power generation, as well as long-term construction and operating/maintenance agreements with strong partners.” [First Reserve]
Solar Projects are set to see their lucrative investment tax credits decrease and government loan guarantees end from 2016. “Ken Johnson, chief spokesman for the Solar Energy Industries Association, the main solar trade group, said that his group planned to lobby Congress to extend the credit beyond 2016. “That’s our top priority for this session of Congress,” he said, adding that developers across the solar industry were “trying to do as much as possible before it drops to 10 percent in 2017.”
In addition to the tax credit, the existing solar thermal plants have benefited from heavy government support in the form of loan guarantees — $1.2 billion in the case of the Mojave plant — but that program is no longer active. As a result, utility-scale development, which accounted for almost two-thirds of the nation’s solar capacity installed last year, according to industry estimates, could drop off.” [NY Times]
Governors across the Tri-State area have declared a state of emergency for Winter Storm Juno which has left some areas with more than 2 feet of snow. “Some travel restrictions were already in place Monday and announcements were made to close most public school systems, including New York City’s, Tuesday. Cuomo declared a state of emergency for all New York counties south of Sullivan, and said the New York State Thruway and other state-controlled highways are closing at 11 p.m., along with all city and local roads.
Mayor de Blasio declared a state of emergency for New York City Monday afternoon as a National Weather Service blizzard warning officially went into effect for the Big Apple. The mayor said city schools would be closed Tuesday and all non-emergency vehicles were ordered off the streets by 11 p.m. Monday to clear the way for snowplows and salt spreaders.” [NBC New York]
