Predicted mass defections from utilities may not come to pass—but power companies can’t count on making profits by selling more energy. The notion that large numbers of electricity consumers will unplug from the power grid doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, according to an energy efficiency advocacy group. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ran… Keep reading →
We all know money talks, and that is certainly the case in capital-intensive energy businesses. Whether it’s developing a utility-scale wind or solar power project, bringing a natural gas field online or launching an energy efficiency services company, millions and even billions of dollars can be spent before profits are generated. And bringing investors onboard… Keep reading →
On June 6, 2014, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the availability of significantly higher incentives under its Low-rise Residential New Construction Program including first incentives for homes designed for net zero energy performance. Builders can avail $2,000-$8,000 per unit under three performance tiers, with the highest amount for net… Keep reading →
The recent Energy Strong settlement between New Jersey regulators and Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G), the state’s largest utility, should help reinforce vulnerable energy infrastructure ahead of future severe storms. Last month, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) agreed that customers could fund $1.2 billion in PSE&G improvements to New Jersey’s electric grid to… Keep reading →
Last week Barclays downgraded the high-grade bond market for the entire electric utility sector because “we believe that a confluence of declining cost trends in distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation and residential-scale power storage is likely to disrupt the status quo.” While this is not the first statement about vulnerability of electric utilities to competition from new technology… Keep reading →
With a blog post by CEO Elon Musk entitled “All Our Patent Are Belong To You” – that’s a reference to an old Internet meme, not poor grammar – Telsa Motors has gone open source. Henceforth, Musk wrote on Thursday, “Tesla will not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use… Keep reading →
Many in developed economies often think and speak about Africa in a one size fits all context, and of course nothing could be further from the truth. The vast continent is a diverse tapestry of sovereign nations with varied geography, demographics, religions and energy-related challenges. One challenge many countries share with regard to energy, however,… Keep reading →
The building efficiency field has never been as promising and full of opportunities as it is today. The proliferation of energy disclosure laws and rating systems has brought greater understanding of the potential savings embedded in our built environment. The price volatility of energy and water, as well as greater awareness of the economic… Keep reading →
Having read the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) report, “Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas from the United States,” published on May 29, 2014, we are puzzled by the skewed conclusions reached by the Washington Post: “That U.S. exports of LNG to China could end up being worse from a… Keep reading →
Opinion: Why Obama’s ‘Clean Power’ Plan May Prove Counterproductive for 2015 Global Climate Agreement
By Roman KilisekThe US EPA recently unveiled its Clean Power Plan. This time it proposes carbon pollution emission guidelines for existing stationary sources; namely, electric utility generating units (EGUs). Owners or operators of fossil fuel-fired EGUs will be subject to carbon emission limits if the rule is implemented as currently proposed. It appears this plan constitutes the centerpiece of… Keep reading →