Alternative energy
In last night’s 2014 State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama highlighted energy industry progress as a major job and economic growth driver. The President first mentioned crude oil production outpacing imports for the first time in nearly 20 years, then natural gas production and how if extracted safely, it can serve as a…...
A Solar Foundation report shows U.S. solar industry jobs increased by 19.9 percent, 10 times faster than overall job growth. On January 27, 2014, the Solar Foundation (TSF), a non-profit research organization, released the 2013 National Solar Jobs Census, its fourth annual report on U.S. solar industry employment and projected growth. The report shows the…...
The U.S. and 13 World Trade Organization members have committed to advance free trade of environmental goods to make green technologies more affordable. On January 24, 2014, the U.S. and 13 World Trade Organization (WTO) members – Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, and…...
Solar carve-outs have been implemented as part of the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, helping to support the expansion of solar energy projects throughout the nation. All of these states are on track to meet their long-term compliance goals, and all show increasing percentages of annual RPS…...
EPA has granted oil industry groups’ petitions to reconsider the 2013 cellulosic biofuel standard based on information obtained after the finalized 2013 RFS. On January 23, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled its decision to grant petitions filed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) to reconsider…...
Increasing solar energy investment opportunities will become available in 2014 as a result of financial innovation helping to accelerate project deployment and cost cutting. Historically, solar energy projects are difficult to finance because of high fixed costs and long investment return terms. As a result, the margin of error on risk evaluation is much greater…...
DOE has announced $49M in funding for critical vehicle technologies alongside its 2012 EV Everywhere Grand Challenge progress report release. On January 22, 2014, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $49M in funding to support new vehicle technologies including its EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, a 2012 program which aims to make plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)…...
U.S. Commerce Chamber’s new energy advocacy platform proposes actionable recommendations to capitalize on the nation’s energy potential. On January 15, 2014, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy launched its new energy advocacy platform titled “Energy Works for US,” a comprehensive plan with recommendations for 2014 and beyond. The plan, an update…...
President Obama has ordered a comprehensive energy strategy review to ensure federal policies continue to address changing energy requirements. On January 9, 2014, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) to enhance the federal government’s capability to provide a comprehensive and integrated energy strategy to meet challenges posed by rising energy…...
Governor Cuomo’s 2014 State of the State agenda includes new clean energy and climate initiatives with a grid resiliency and distributed generation focus. In his State of the State (SOS) address on January 8, 2014, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reaffirmed his commitment to clean energy, proposing significant initiatives to address energy and…...
Enbridge’s 110 MW Texas wind project will deliver electricity to the ERCOT market under a 20-year agreement with Microsoft Corporation. On January 6, 2014, Canada’s Enbridge Inc. announced an agreement with Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas) to construct the Keechi Wind Project, a 110 MW wind energy project in Texas, at a cost…...
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has opposed SolarWorld’s latest trade petition against anti-competitive trade practices of China and Taiwan, calling for negotiations to end the trade dispute. On December 31, 2013, international solar power system manufacturer SolarWorld filed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy cases with the U.S. International Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce…...