Alternative energy
The Department of Energy’s new wind industry reports show modest growth in 2013 annual wind capacity additions and point to a more robust-growth in 2014-2015. On August 18, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) released two reports on U.S. wind industry trends in 2013. The reports show that the U.S. ranked second in the world in…...
DOE has announced 31 new projects aimed to advance critical vehicle technologies to meet the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge and facilitate fuel efficiency improvements. On August 14, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced more than $55M in funding for 31 projects focused on research and development to advance efficient vehicle technologies. The projects will…...
Vermont’s Green Mountain Power has begun work on an innovative solar project that combines energy storage and microgrid integration. On August 12, 2014, Green Mountain Power (GMP), a Vermont electricity utility, announced breaking ground on the $10M Stafford Hill Solar Farm project in Rutland, Vermont. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it is the…...
The Wyoming Industrial Siting Council has approved the necessary state permit to construct and operate the state’s largest wind farm. On August 8, 2014, the Power Company of Wyoming LLC (PCW) announced that a seven-member panel of Wyoming’s Industrial Siting Council (ISC) unanimously approved PCW’s application for a major non-federal permit required to move forward…...
DOE has issued its final Environmental Impact Statement for a 336-mile electric transmission system between the United States and Canada, clearing the way for final Presidential Permit issuance. On August 11, 2014, Transmission Developers Inc. announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its proposed Champlain Hudson Power…...
The United States is set to begin construction this year on its first offshore wind farm – the Cape Wind Project, led by Cape Wind Associates, LLC – located off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The 130-turbine, 468 MW Cape Wind Project would more than quadruple Massachusetts’ current wind power capacity (Figure 1),…...
IRS Notice 2014-46 provides additional eligibility clarification for renewable energy tax credits and lowers the Safe Harbor requirement from 5 percent to 3 percent. On August 8, 2014, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance (Notice 2014-26) providing additional clarification regarding eligibility requirements for the renewable electricity production tax credit (PTC)…...
To avoid 2012 import solar PV tariffs, Chinese manufacturers outsourced production to nearby Taiwan. Recognizing this, SolarWorld has petitioned the Department of Commerce for new antidumping and countervailing duty tariffs. Domestic manufacturers support the tariffs in an effort to become more cost-competitive and increase single-digit market shares. Installers and project developers warn that installation costs…...
Massachusetts has enacted legislation, qualifying renewable heating and cooling technologies for Alternative Energy Credits under the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. On August 1, 2014, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted S 2214 – An Act Relative to Credit for Thermal Energy Generated with Renewable Fuels – mandating utilities to procure renewable thermal energy credits to meet their…...
Information on solar projects under NYSERDA’s open enrollment solar incentive programs have been made available on the Open NY data portal. On July 31, 2014, the New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the availability of information on approximately 10,000 solar project applications and installations from 2003-2014 under its open enrollment solar photovoltaic…...
EPA has extended 2013 RFS compliance deadlines for the third time, citing more delays in issuing the final 2014 RFS mandates. On July 31, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a direct final rule providing additional extension of existing regulatory deadlines for the 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS). Regulated entities under the 2013 RFS…...