Alternative energy
A 2.7 MW solar installation at the Owens Corning site has reached completion, making it the largest installation under the NY-Sun Initiative. On October 15, 2013, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the completion of the largest solar installation under the NY-Sun Initiative. Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corp., financed…...
A number of renewable energy tax credits are set to expire on December 31, 2013. Neither the House nor Senate has introduced legislation or amendments that would likely advance before the end of the year. The expirations will affect multiple industries, including wind, biofuels, and other renewable energies. Overview More than a dozen tax credits…...
California’s AB 327 will facilitate electricity rate reforms, including extension of the net energy metering program that enables consumers to realize economic benefits from harnessing solar energy. On October 7, 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 327 (AB 327) into law, authorizing the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to implement residential electricity…...
The API has challenged EPA’s 2013 RFS mandate, claiming that the volumetric targets are unrealistic. On October 8, 2013, the American Petroleum Institute (API) filed a lawsuit in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumetric requirements, claiming the 6 million gallon (MG)…...
In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, which left at total of 8.5 million customers without power, the need for a smarter and more resilient grid has never been greater. To achieve this, the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force is partnering with affected states to rebuild smarter and stronger. The Sandy Supplemental Appropriation has allocated approximately…...
The California Air Resources Board has announced additional funding to expedite transformation of its heavy vehicle fleet to zero-emission technologies. On September 26, 2013, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced $72.5 million in funding for deployment of clean vehicle technologies through state programs. The incentive programs are designed to accelerate the purchase of advanced…...
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has released a study examining increased wind and solar energy integration to the Western Interconnection power system. On September 24, 2013, the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released Phase 2 of the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study, assessing emissions and costs of fossil-fueled power plant cycling…...
The NYS Unified Solar Permit program will streamline the solar project permitting process to cut costs and boost solar development across NY State. On September 20, 2013, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced the NYS Unified Solar Permit program to reduce solar project costs by streamlining municipal permitting processes across…...
The biofuels industry has benefited from the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) since 2005. The standard has since expanded and been a source of debate largely centered on the reliance of U.S. fuel consumption estimates, the feasibility of production levels for various feedstocks, and reaching minimum greenhouse gas reduction levels when weighting direct and indirect greenhouse…...
The latest U.S.-Russia agreement on nuclear research and development builds on the 2011 Agreement for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. On September 16, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the U.S. and Russia have entered into an agreement to advance collaborative research and development in nuclear energy and…...
California and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to coordinate efforts on low carbon development. On September 13, 2013, California Governor Jerry Brown and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Vice Chairman, Xie Zhenhua signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to coordinate climate change efforts, promote efficient energy technologies, and advance low…...
Governor Cuomo took the first step in the New York Green Bank capitalization process to facilitate private capital flow for clean energy projects. On September 10, 2013, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo formally launched the $1 billion Green Bank initiative, the central part of innovative clean energy proposals announced during his 2013 State…...