Alternative energy
Despite the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, U.S. nuclear energy research and development continues undeterred. Despite new plant construction, nuclear energy byproduct storage and disposal remains a highly-debated topic in congress. Overview For the first time in more than 30 years, new nuclear reactors are under construction in the U.S. The construction consists…...
The Whitehouse has launched the Climate Data Initiative to expand access to federal climate data resources to strengthen community climate-resilience. On March 19, 2014, the White House launched the Climate Data Initiative to leverage climate-relevant government data resources to stimulate private-sector entrepreneurship and forge cross-sector partnerships for developing innovative climate-resilience tools. The initiative, part of…...
Biofuel production from biomass energy sources contributed to significant growth in U.S. biomass energy consumption over the past decade. On March 18, 2014, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report showing 60 percent growth in U.S. biomass energy consumption from 2002-2013, driven by increased production of biofuels from biomass sources. According to EIA, biomass…...
The traditional electricity power grid is undergoing a historic shift with the emergence of decentralized power generation. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is charged with overseeing complex state, regional, and local transmission laws and regulatory environments, which can vary significantly. This variance, combined with a more open transmission project market may lead to increased…...
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…...