Intermittent it may be, but wind is a friend of EPA, not a foe Ever since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the Clean Power Plan (CPP), its proposal to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions 30% from 2005 levels by 2030, there has been speculation that it will lead, among other things, to premature retirements… Keep reading →
Low demand, depressed wholesale prices & low cost shale gas are to blame In late December 2014, Entergy Corp. announced that Yankee nuclear power plant would cease operation after 42 years of service during which it generated 171 billion kWhrs of carbon-free electricity – more than 70% of Vermont’s electricity total demand since 1972. Bill… Keep reading →
The renewable energy sector is dynamic, with advancing technology and evolving policy. As 2015 beckons, here are some of the key questions that Portland, Oregon-based contributor Pete Danko will be asking as about U.S. renewables. 1) Is The PTC Winding Down or Dead? The wind industry won a small victory just before Congress went home,… Keep reading →
Even more can be done without too much pain US energy-related CO2 emissions have declined in 5 of the past 8 years, almost without trying very hard, mostly due to reductions in the electric power sector. Current trends, including lower energy demand growth rates (graph below), continued substitution of gas for coal and increasing the share… Keep reading →
Business-friendly clean energy policies in North Carolina continue to support the success of clean energy companies – boosting job growth and economic development. In the past 30 days alone, three corporate announcements illustrate the power of the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to expand their use of renewable energy and energy efficiency,… Keep reading →
The movement to natural gas-fired and renewable energy solutions for U.S. power generators is continuing its rapid march. Utilities are aligning their generation portfolio assets to address increased federal regulations concerning cross-state air emissions, proposed carbon emissions rules and surface water regulations, as well as renewable portfolio standards. These trends were evident from the results of the 2014… Keep reading →
On September 17, 2014, the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing titled “Reforming America’s Outdated Energy Tax Code” to discuss possible reforms to the U.S. energy tax policy. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) underscored the need for predictable, level playing-field tax policy that puts renewables on the same footing as other… Keep reading →
Despite impressive gains, policy uncertainties prevail First, the good news: Global investments in new clean-energy capacity will total $1.61 trillion through 2020 according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) latest annual renewable report. The Paris-based agency predicts annual investment in wind, solar and biomass to average $230 billion. This will boost renewables’ contribution to about… Keep reading →
War on Coal – Already Lost A convenient political sound bite, and not much more The coal lobby and its political supporters accuse President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of waging war on coal. They claim that putting restrictions on burning coal will bring America’s economy to a screeching halt, untold number of… Keep reading →
Revisions to New York’s Main Tier RPS will increase contract lengths for large-scale renewable projects from 10 years to 20 years, providing greater investor certainty. On July 2, 2014, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) announced major changes to the state’s Main Tier Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program to promote large-scale renewable projects.… Keep reading →
