Alternative energy
The United States installed 3,313 MW of solar photovoltaics in 2012, representing a record growth of 76% over 2011, and accounting for 11% of total solar capacity globally. The 2012 annual Solar Market Insight report released by Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on March 14, 2013 reported that U.S. solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity increased by 76%…...
Department of Energy (DOE) study examines opportunities to attain significant reductions in emissions and petroleum use, revealing that the U.S. transportation sector has the potential to achieve 80% reductions by 2050. On March 14, the Department of Energy (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) released a study examining opportunities to…...
The Department of Interior (DOI) approved three new renewable energy projects in California and Nevada, adding to the diversification of the nation’s energy portfolio. On March 13, 2013, DOI announced approval of two solar energy projects and one wind project that will produce an estimated 1,100 MW of electricity to power more than 340,000 homes. The privately…...
In his Saturday Keynote speech at the 2013 MIT Energy Conference, Bill Richardson, former Governor of New Mexico, stressed the importance of connecting science and politics to fill the climate change knowledge gap, and proposed a macro-regional American collaboration to promote energy innovation and renewable energy diffusion. In the presence of recently appointed energy secretary Dr. Ernest Moniz, MIT…...
In the last 20 years, energy innovation has become a global process in terms of education, finance, technology, and markets. At the 2013 MIT Energy Conference a panel of experts discussed pros and cons of innovative energy solutions in emerging markets. Emerging markets provide attractive opportunities for innovative energy systems. The competitive advantage of renewable…...
The Energy Production and Project Delivery Act of 2013 aims at opening more federal acreage for energy development and expediting permitting processes for energy projects to create millions of jobs and add trillions of dollars to the economy. On February 27, 2013, Senator David Vitter (R-La.) and Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) introduced the Energy Production…...
A recent report from the Bipartisan Policy Center outlines common ground energy policy recommendations that build on energy abundance and efficiency accomplishments of the U.S. On February 27, 2013, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released a report proposing a set of recommendations intended to serve as a blueprint for establishing strong and diverse energy resource portfolios…....
Chief executives of leading U.S. companies released a report outlining recommendations for a comprehensive energy policy framework that would capitalize on the nation’s strengths to enhance self-sufficiency, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. On February 25, 2013, Business Roundtable, a national association of corporate executives, released a report outlining recommendations to devise a comprehensive energy policy…...
President Obama outlined bold actions to combat climate change, elaborating on his inaugural vow to address the issue. Obama further pledged to use his executive power to tackle climate change challenges if Congress denied action. At his State of the Union (SOTU) speech on February 12, 2013, President Obama cast a bold vision on climate change…...
Divided opinions over climate change issues delayed approval of the draft oversight plan in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Democrats called to amend the draft plan to hold hearings on climate change science, an issue that Republicans have long opposed. On February 6, 2013, democrats in the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced a…...
The EPA has proposed the 2013 standards for fuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program, as well as a new voluntary quality assurance program to verify the validity of tradable Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs). On January 31, the EPA proposed the 2013 annual volume and percentage standards for fuel categories under the RFS2 program. The RFS…...
Recognizing the need to upgrade New York’s energy infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Cuomo’s plans would fundamentally redesign the state’s power system. In his 2013 State of the State report, the Governor highlighted increased grid resiliency, renewable power integration, and reduced dependence on centralized power systems. Governor Cuomo’s proposals follow an interim report…...