Alternative energy
2013 Year-over-year GHG emissions rose 2.5 percent and are projected to rise an additional 1.1 percent over the course of 2014, mainly due to harsh 2014 winter conditions. If energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable resources are not increasingly developed, the U.S. power sector will be challenged to affordably meet emissions goals if extreme weather…...
NY Green Bank’s initial transactions will produce more than $800M in investments supporting clean energy projects that would annually avoid 575,000 tons of carbon emissions. On October 22, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the NY Green Bank’s first seven transactions, which – supported and agreed to in principle – will produce more…...
The DOE has announced 40 R&D projects aimed to make solar energy more affordable by advancing system performance. On October 22, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $53M for 40 research and development (R&D) projects aimed to reduce solar energy costs by addressing key technology development aspects that can expedite commercialization of…...
New York’s first energy management network operations center will provide statewide public facilities with real-time energy use data to improve building performance. On October 21, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the launch of NY Energy Manager (NYEM), the state’s first energy management network operations center, at the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and…...
Entergy’s site assessment study of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station estimates the plant’s decommissioning cost at $1.24B, higher than previous estimates. On October 17, 2014, Entergy Nuclear Vermont Yankee (ENVY) released a site assessment study for decommissioning its Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Station by 2014. The study – submitted to Vermont’s Public Service Department,…...
The DOE-supported Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, the nation’s third commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery, will have an annual production capacity of up to 25 million gallons. On October 17, 2014 the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the opening of the nation’s third commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery in Hugoton, Kansas as part of Energy Action Month…....
The majority of U.S. states utilize retail energy rate-based compensation of net energy metering (NEM) for residential solar customers. The distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) energy industry is growing rapidly and disrupting the traditional one-way power flow utility model. As residential solar PV installation levels increase, utilities are pushing for new rate structures to cover system…...
The third volume of NRC’s safety evaluation report on the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository finds that DOE’s design meets its post-closure performance objectives. On October 16, 2014, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published Volume 3 of its Safety Evaluation Report (SER) on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) license application for the proposed underground geologic…...
Massachusetts has advanced measures to establish net metering requirements for small hydroelectric facilities. On October 16, 2014, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) issued a notice and order opening a proceeding (DPU 14-118) to enable net metering for small hydroelectric generation, consistent with requirements under “An Act Relative to Credit for Thermal Energy Generated with…...
The 2014 New York State Yogurt Summit unveiled NYSERDA commitments to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency in the dairy industry. At the 2014 New York State Yogurt Summit held on October 15, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo highlighted progress made in the dairy industry – the state’s largest agricultural sector – and…...
SolarCity’s first registered public offering of solar bonds provides an opportunity for individuals to access clean energy investments that were previously reserved for large institutions. On October 15, 2014, SolarCity launched the nation’s first registered public offering of solar bonds through an online investment site to make solar bonds directly available to consumers. SolarCity has…...
Massachusetts offered its first green bond sale in June 2013, and several additional states have offered green bonds over the last two years. Green bonds offer issuers access to capital to finance projects for water quality and infrastructure, energy efficiency, renewable energy, pollution cleanup, and other capital-intensive projects.. With the Green Bond Principles gaining marketplace…...