Alternative energy
Indiana’s new Feed-in tariff (FiT) program will allow customers to sell electricity produced by renewable energy facilities to their electric utilities at favorable rates. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will establish an electric utility FiT program, which requires utilities purchasing electricity generated from a renewable energy facility to enter a standard contract for a…...
The U.S. and Colombia have entered into an agreement to collaborate development of the first Latin America Solar Decathlon. On March 11, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the U.S. and Colombia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly develop a Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean competition. Under the agreement, DOE,…...
California’s grid-connected solar generation has more than doubled from last year, setting a new record of 4,093 MW. On March 10, 2014, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) reported that grid-connected solar generation reached 4,093 MW on March 8, outperforming the prior-day record of 3,926 MW. The new capacity can supply approximately three million homes…...
On February 27th, the Conference of Mayors released survey findings summarizing how cities across the nation spent $2.7b in funding disbursed through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG). This program, authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was designed to provide state and local governments federal support to carry out…...
The FY 2015 budget plan proposes $27.9B in DOE funding, reiterating President Obama’s commitment to a low-carbon future and energy infrastructure resilience. President Barack Obama’s FY 2015 budget plan released on March 4, 2014 allocates $27.9B for the Department of Energy (DOE), a 2.6 percent increase from the 2014 enacted level. It reflects DOE reorganization…...
Senator Monning introduces Photovoltaic Panel Collection and Recycling Act of 2014 under the Hazardous Waste Control Law. The solar industry is rapidly evolving with new and complex materials in efforts to make improvements in efficiency and economic feasibility. Environmental, health, and safety issues are on the rise with technological advancements, especially in product manufacturing and…...
The U.S. solar market grew by 41 percent from 2012-2013, with solar accounting for 29 percent of new electricity generation capacity in 2013. A report released by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association on March 4, 2014 shows that 2013 U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) installations increased by 41 percent over 2012, reaching 4,751…...
On February 26, 2014, Massachusetts approved 12 long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) for a total of 409 megawatts (MW) – enough to power 122,000 homes – from three projects located in Maine and New Hampshire. The contracts are between four Massachusetts utilities, Unititl, NSTAR Electric, National Grid, and Western Massachusetts Electric Company, and three renewables…...
Alternative power producers continue to turn to the YieldCo model to find lower costs of capital and residual value. Investors benefit from low risk exposure to renewable energy development, high yield and more favorable tax rates, however, risks do exist. Since January 1, 2014, two new YieldCos have been announced, SunEdison and Hannon Armstrong Sustainable…...
To date, the 2009 Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy has invested $900M for innovative projects leveraging $625M in private funding. On February 25, 2014, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) announced that it has advanced 22 innovative projects over the past five years, leveraging approximately $625M private funding following its…...
Hawaii Senate Bill 2933 mirrors energy storage sector growth interest and introduces investment and utilization tax credits. Senate Bill 2933 introduces two tax credit forms on utility scale renewable energy storage properties with the requirement that all departments of business, economic, and tourism are to submit an annual joint report to legislature. Investment credit will…...
On January 28, the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to receive testimony on S. 1600, the Critical Minerals Policy Act of 2013. This Act that would enable domestic production of critical minerals necessary in the manufacturing of many clean energy technologies. Overview Critical minerals play and important role in…...