When the US EPA found water contamination from hydraulic fracturing in Pavilion, Wyoming, the natural gas industry cried innocence.
Many pointed out that in the Wyoming case, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) took place in very shallow areas close to fresh water aquifers. In most fracking locations, including the Marcellus shale, natural gas is extracted from shale thousands of feet below the fresh water, with rock separating the two layers. Keep reading →
BP has confirmed it will be closing down operations of 40-year-old BP Solar. Keep reading →
As technology improves the world grows smaller and as it does energy markets have become more intertwined than ever before.
Its no longer unusual for an American company to invest in Turkey or for a European company to manufacture in Asia. But even as globalization has opened opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs, it has added–at times this year–crippling pressures on sectors of the energy industry. Keep reading →
It’s been sixty years since Argonne National Laboratory director Walter Zinn scribbled into his log book, “Electricity flows from atomic energy. Rough estimate indicates 45 kw.”
At 1:23pm on December 20, 1951 nuclear powered electricity worked for the first time, lighting four light bulbs in the lab. Keep reading →
The Solyndra bankruptcy led to a sudden frenzy of attention for government incentives for the renewable energy industry.
But even before the CIGS solar panel manufacturer announced it would be laying off all 1,100 of its employees and shutting down operations, private equity firm DBL Investors set out to look at the history of government incentives for the renewable energy industry and compare the numbers with data on government support of fossil fuels and nuclear power. Keep reading →
With TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline under scrutiny and Canada announcing its exit from the Kyoto Protocol, the fossil-fuel-rich country often surprises observers with its commitment to renewable energy investments as well.
On Monday, California-based Recurrent Energy announced that it has secured $250 million in financing for twenty utility-scale solar developments–producing a total of 200 MW of power–in the Canadian province of Ontario. The funds, from Mizuho Corporate Bank, are being transferred as a four-year construction revolver credit facility, one of the largest of its kind in North America. Keep reading →
Power utilities are beginning to focus more attention on transmission as the aging system tries to keep up with increasing renewable energy generation as well forecasts for increased overall demand for electricity.
Giant power company American Electric Power announced last week that it was restructuring some of its executive leadership to reflect a renewed commitment to transmission projects both within and outside its power generation region. Among the changes, AEP’s SVP of Transmission, Michael Heyeck, will also become president of Electric Transmission America, a joint venture of AEP and MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, effective January 1, 2012. Keep reading →
Congress invests $59 million in #hydropower research and development bit.ly/ty0VWq @NatlHydroAssoc
The US solar market has become so hot its attracting foreign developers hoping to win a piece of the pie.
German solar photovoltaic (PV) company Gehrlicher Solar announced on December 15 that it has successfully entered the US market with two solar installations completed and six more under construction. Gehrlicher Solar America, based in Springfield, New Jersey, was officially formed in late 2010. Keep reading →
Five years ago, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which included a provision to phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs requiring 25% greater efficiency beginning in 2012.
Now as the start date for the bill looms, Republicans have attached a rider to the omnibus spending bill that would take away the Department of Energy’s ability to enforce the law and establish civil penalties for violating it. State attorney generals would instead be in charge of reviewing complaints and enforcing the law. Keep reading →
