Alternative energy
The USDA has announced new funding to modernize the rural electric infrastructure across 15 states. On September 9, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a funding of more than $518M to rural electric cooperatives to modernize the rural electric infrastructure, increase electric system reliability, and improve electricity delivery across 15 states. The funding,…...
The 2015 round of the Solarize Massachusetts Program seeks applications from Massachusetts communities by October 15. On September 9, 2014, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) issued a request for proposals (RFP) for the 2015 Solarize Massachusetts program with an October 15 response deadline. MassCEC and DOER…...
The DOE has signed a $3.8M cooperative research agreement with the University of Maine to support full-scale deployment of the first U.S. grid-connected offshore floating wind turbine prototype. On September 5, 2014, the University of Maine (UMaine) announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) signed a $3.8M cooperative research agreement with UMaine to advance design…...
The New York Department of Public Service (DPS) staff has issued a Straw Proposal on achieving the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) Track One goals. The straw proposal reaffirms the initial April 24 proceeding which identified utilities’ role in managing a distributed system platform (DSP) and growing the state’s existing Distributed Energy Resource (DER) assets. Despite…...
Deepwater Wind has received the final federal approval required to advance its proposed Block Island Wind Farm, which would be the nation’s first offshore wind project. On September 5, 2014, Deepwater Wind announced that its proposed Block Island Wind Farm has received final federal permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the project’s lead…...
New York has rolled out K-Solar, a landmark solar program that will facilitate solar installations across state public schools to lower energy costs with clean, local power. On September 4, 2014, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the rollout of K-Solar, a joint program of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and New York…...
Project LIBERTY, a DOE-supported biorefinery project, is the first U.S. cellulosic ethanol plant to use corn waste as feedstock. On September 3, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the opening of POET-DSM Advanced Biofuel’s Project LIBERTY, a large-scale biorefinery in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Project LIBERTY is the nation’s second commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery and the…...
Rhode Island has launched the Solarize program, a municipal-based initiative aimed to facilitate low-cost rooftop solar installations. On September 2, 2014, the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation (Commerce RI), Office of Energy Resources (OER), and non-profit partner SmartPower announced the launch of Solarize Rhode Island, a municipal-based program aimed to facilitate low-cost rooftop solar installations. The…...
On August 7, 2014, California and Quebec held a successful practice joint carbon emissions allowance auction in preparation for the first ever cross-border auction on November 2014. Despite varied participation levels in Quebec’s first four auctions, activity is expected to increase with program maturity and the upcoming 2015 compliance deadline.The programs – under the Western…...
The NRC has approved a final rule on spent nuclear fuel storage, ending its two-year suspension of final licensing decisions. On August 26, 2014, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a final rule on continued storage of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in response a 2012 federal court decision, which vacated NRC’s 2010 revision of the…...
ACO Investment Group, a U.S.-based private equity fund focused on emerging Asian markets, has signed an agreement to develop a 300 MW solar project in Burma. On August 28, 2014, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced an agreement between ACO Investment Group and Burma Ministry of Electric Power to develop two 150 MW…...
First Wind Holdings LLC has received preliminary permit to construct its proposed 62-turbine, 206 MW Bingham wind project in Maine. On August 27, 2014, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection granted preliminary land-use permit to First Wind Holdings LLC’s proposed Bingham wind project. The $398M project, to be developed by First Wind’s subsidiaries Blue Sky…...
