Renewable Energy Doing So Well That Subsidies Could End: Energy Secretary Moniz

Wind farm, by Flickr user Patrick Finnegan (Used under CC License)

Enlarge Photo

Government subsidies have been an important lifeline for renewable energy, helping to make different technologies viable even when costs are not in their favor.

But at what point will the industry be competitive enough with fossil fuels that subsidies will no longer be necessary?

It’s possible that will happen sooner, rather than later.

DON’T MISS: As Solar Power Spreads, Diverse Users Fight Utility Attempts To Penalize It

The head of the U.S. Department of Energy now believes renewable energy is doing well enough that subsidies could end.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz now believes renewable energy can be cost-competitive with fossil fuels, even without subsidies, reports the Washington Examiner.

On a call with reporters earlier this week, Moniz said the Obama Administration supports an extension of tax credits for solar, but that he believes the industry could continue to grow without them.

Photovoltaic solar power field at Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Enlarge Photo

He said recent cost reductions in the solar industry have “been incredible.”

Moniz expects the cost of a rooftop solar panel to quickly fall by 6 cents per kilowatt-hour, which he claims would make solar “extremely competitive” with natural gas and grid-based electricity sources.

A report released by the Department of Energy earlier this month also claims that the cost of wind power is falling, and that wind-generated electricity could soon become cost-competitive with more traditional sources as well.

ALSO SEE: Some Solar, Wind Power Competes With Natural Gas Without Incentives: Study (Sep 2014)

It claims wind-power prices dropped from 7 cents per kWh in 2009, to 2.35 cents per kWh in 2014.

The drop is attributed to lower wind-turbine prices and installation costs for wind-farm projects, and anticipated increases in production capacity.

For its part, though, the wind-energy industry hopes that subsidies continue.

Ford and Windy Energy Windy System clean-energy pilot program.

Enlarge Photo

The American Wind Energy Association trade group says that the success of wind energy varies in different parts of the country, and that steady incentives are still needed to make it viable everywhere.

The industry needs “stable, predictable policy” to continue at its current rate of growth, Tom Kiernan–American Wind Energy Association CEO–said earlier this month.

MORE: Wind, Natural Gas, Solar Provide More U.S. Power, Replacing Coal

Congress allowed wind tax credits to expire at the end of 2014, but this summer the Senate Finance Committee passed a measure that would temporarily reinstate some form of wind-energy tax credits.

However, it did not address solar tax credits, which are set to phase out at the end of next year.

_______________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Twitter, and Google+.

Renewable Energy Doing So Well That Subsidies Could End: Energy Secretary Moniz

Brown seeks to broaden California's clean-energy reach in the West

Gov. Jerry Brown is working on an ambitious plan for transmitting electricity across state lines and bolstering California’s role in the region, according to energy officials.

The plan would integrate PacifiCorp, a utility serving six Western states, into the electricity grid run by the California Independent System Operator, which is based in Folsom.

If successful, it could make solar and wind energy available more widely throughout the West — a potential victory for Brown, who has sought partnerships beyond California’s borders in his fight against climate change.

“This would be gigantic,” said Carl Zichella, an environmental advocate who works on energy transmission issues for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “All of California’s climate laws were intended to drive policy in other states and at the federal level.”

The proposal has not yet been formally introduced as legislation, but it is part of the conversation as lawmakers debate measures for combating climate change in the final two weeks of the legislative year.

The governor’s office declined to comment on the issue.

The California Independent System Operator directs electricity from utility companies to 30 million customers in California and some of Nevada.

PacifiCorp produces power for 1.8 million people in six states — Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington and parts of Northern California — and operates its own electricity grid.

The two organizations agreed in April to study the possibility of integrating their systems, and officials at both operations said the Brown administration has been working with them.

Possible legislation could include changing the board of the California system operator to include members from other states. Right now, the board is appointed by California’s governor and confirmed by the state Senate.

Brown “has been supportive of the concept of a wider footprint,” said Patrick Reiten, a PacifiCorp executive who handles the company’s transmission system.

Integrating PacifiCorp with California’s grid would require approval from state regulators and the federal government, a process that could take years. But officials said changing the board would be a helpful step.

<!–

Renewable energy requirement creates jobs, Berkeley study says

Chris Megerian

As lawmakers consider new measures to combat climate change, researchers at UC Berkeley released a study saying stronger renewable energy requirements would lead to new jobs.

As lawmakers consider new measures to combat climate change, researchers at UC Berkeley released a study saying stronger renewable energy requirements would lead to new jobs. ( Chris Megerian )

–>

“There’s a lot of benefit to this kind of geographic expansion,” said Oscar Hidalgo, a spokesman for the California Independent System Operator.

Assemblyman Henry Perea (D-Fresno), who supports the idea of integrating PacifiCorp, called it “one of the most significant policy changes we can make on energy in this decade.”

Boosting regional energy cooperation has been a key issue as California lawmakers consider requiring a greater share of electricity to come from clean sources.

Renewable energy can be difficult to manage because it’s impossible to control when the sun will shine or the wind will blow, and expanding the reach of grid operators could make it easier to ensure that energy supply meets demand.

“California really needs a regional market to be able to continue to build large amounts of renewable energy,” Zichella said. “We need a place to send that energy if we’re going to build more.”

State officials have started requiring utilities to store some excess energy, and a regional system is another way to address the issue.

“We’ll have a chance to send the solar we can’t use to states north and east of us,” Zichella said. And we’ll have a chance to get wind from states north and east of us.”

The proposal could still prove controversial with some environmentalists who are concerned about PacifiCorp’s reliance on burning coal.

“This is a moment to ensure the state is taking the necessary steps to protect its own policy interests,” said Bill Corcoran, western director of the Sierra Club’s anti-coal campaign.

<!–

See the most-read stories this hour >>Read the story

–>

He’s concerned that electricity from dirty sources could make its way into California through a regional system, and he wants pressure on PacifiCorp to phase out its coal production.

Hidalgo said the system would be able to keep coal power out of California: The state’s cap-and-trade system, intended to promote clean air with fees levied on polluters, adds a financial penalty for dirtier fuels, making them less competitive on the market and less likely to be used on the grid.

“We’re seeing virtually no coal entering the state, because the economics don’t work,” he said.

There’s also the potential for opposition from unions, which want officials to focus on building new sources of renewable energy in California and keeping those jobs in the state, rather than on importing electricity from other states.

Steven Kelly, policy director of the Independent Energy Producers Assn. in Sacramento, said a regional system could make it tempting to build facilities elsewhere. Some states where PacifiCorp operates, such as Wyoming and Utah, have right-to-work laws that weaken unions.

“It’s so much easier to develop outside of California,” he said. “It’s a lot cheaper.”

Hidalgo said California’s grid operators are ready to expand their reach in the West, 15 years after an energy crisis led to rolling blackouts across the state.

“The grid has come a long way,” he said. “The energy crisis showed many flaws in the system that have since been cured.”

Twitter: @chrismegerian

Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times

Brown seeks to broaden California"s clean-energy reach in the West

Obama to keynote 8th clean energy 'summit' in Las Vegas

Presidential spokesman concedes his boss was a ‘little glib’.

Businesses should adapt new strategies just as baseball did, Reid said, noting that Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane figured out how to make smarter, more efficient choices by using an “analytical, evidence-based approach to assemble a baseball team”. “We see this renewed focused on clean energy and energy efficiency as a strong milestone in a journey toward a modern American energy economy that will reap enormous benefits for consumers and businesses alike”.

And he pointed out the inconsistency of those who promote free market solutions, except when those solutions point to renewable energy.

To help drive the decentralization, the Department of Energy “is announcing a new push to deploy innovative distributed energy resources like microgrids [and] rooftop solar with battery storage, and will offer loan guarantees for projects like these”, Obama said. The Blythe Mesa plant is expected to produce enough renewable energy to power more than 145,000 homes. But Obama mistakes the Tea Party trying to affect local change as an endorsement for his energy policies.

Under the new rules, homeowners who adopt renewable energy will be able to do so with no cost upfront and pay back the cost of installation over time through property taxes.

Obama said that the Kochs and other libertarian and conservative groups usually tout themselves as champions of the free market.

On the feisty score, he didn’t waste time saying he was ready for the fall’s legislative battles, noting that he had ridden to the fundraiser with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

Several private-sector firms also announced commitments to support renewable or energy-efficiency initiatives.

Company Executive Vice President of Energy Services Chris Brooks said those jobs will be temporary construction positions. Everybody’s got to seize the opportunity before us.

During the speech, the President highlighted his Administration’s track record on renewables, mentioned individual states’ efforts, plus some solar power technology and business model developments. “That has the potential to hurt a lot of communities, and set back America’s leadership in fighting climate change“. Basically, if you want to more green energy options for your house, the president wants to make them more available and affordable. And I’m all for consumers saving money because that means they can spend it on other stuff.

In a statement, Koch Industries’ Philip Ellender said the company “supports all forms of energy, but we believe they need to stand on their own merits”. Obama didn’t say, particularly. It’s nearly a moral obligation to become greenhouse gas emissions-free.

And this is all on the heels of the President’s Clean Power Plan, which requires states to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Wind power made up another 20 percent.

There is “a big shift underway that goes beyond simply putting solar panels on your home”, he said in the keynote address.

Obama to keynote 8th clean energy "summit" in Las Vegas

PLASTIC WHEEL CHOCKS & AIR FILTERS

This item was sold to another member.

If you are the buyer or seller, log in for more options

• Winning bid: $86.20


•  Reserve met 


• Closed: Thu 27 Aug 2015, 10:17 am

Listing #: 936435332

Photo 1 of

2x used road truck size chocks
5x used ute size chocks
2x new CAT radial seal air filters 106-3969

Buyer must pick up within one week of auction closing date.
Pick up is in Waihi Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
No cash – bank deposit only.
No shipping.
NO BUY NOW

Sold ‘as is where is’

Email me a reminder:

Text me a reminder:

Shipping details

• Buyer must pick-up


• Seller location: Waihi, Waikato, NZ

Payment details

• NZ bank deposit

Closed: Thu 27 Aug, 10:17 am. This auction used auto-extend.

Bid history

The reserve price was: $1.00

PLASTIC WHEEL CHOCKS & AIR FILTERS

Brown professor investigating possible breakthrough in solar energy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Nitin Padture is soft-spoken, so when he describes new solar power technology that he is researching his words are all the more striking because they’re delivered without bombast and with only a hint of excitement.

“This,” he says in his office at Brown University, “is a game changer.”

Padture, a professor of materials engineering, is talking about perovskites, crystal structures that could be used to replace conventional silicon in solar panels. Making them is cheap and, using a method Padture has patented, also relatively easy.

But the real promise lies in their versatility. Perovskites can be made in layers 1,000 times thinner than a human hair that can be applied to flexible films. They are semi-transparent and can be tinted yellow, red and other colors.

Instead of limiting the placement of photovoltaic panels to roofs or fields, imagine affixing them to walls as shingles or siding or even to windows as a special coating. The possibilities for generating electricity from sunlight could be significantly expanded.

“The vision is painting your house with solar cells,” says Padture.

Padture, who is director of Brown’s Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation, is leading a team of researchers that was recently awarded a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to investigate the potential of perovskite cells. He and other professors and students at Brown are working with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Rhode Island College on the four-year project.

Solar power has spread dramatically across the United States in recent years, but it still represents a small fraction of the nation’s energy mix at only 0.4 percent of total generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite the rise of leasing schemes offered by companies such as SolarCity and Sunrun, the main barrier for consumers is the high upfront cost of photovoltaic panels.

The cost has come down dramatically over the past four decades, from about $60 a watt in the 1970s to 60 cents a watt these days. But a homeowner could still pay thousands of dollars to buy and install a relatively small rooftop system.

Affordability

Perovskite panels could be part of a remedy. With a price, according to Padture, of less than 10 cents a watt, they could make solar power affordable to many more people. And he’s not alone in believing that they’re a major breakthrough.

“Time will tell, but many of us believe this is the field’s biggest breakthrough since the original invention of the solar cell sixty years ago,” Varun Sivaram, a solar researcher and fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes in a recent blog post.

Page 2 of 3 – Perovskite crystals were discovered in the 1830s in the Ural Mountains in Russia and named after a Russian mineralogist. Although there are many varieties of crystal structures in the world, very few have the right “band gap” that allows them to absorb sunlight while still being able to generate electricity. Padture calls it the “Goldilocks sweet spot.”

Perovskites hit that sweet spot. They were first used in solar cells in 2009 and were soon recognized as a possible replacement for silicon cells because of their ease of manufacture.

While silicon cells must be fabricated in a complicated process that requires high temperatures and vacuums, perovskites can be made with less fuss in a lab.

Brown PhD student Yuanyuan Zhou demonstrates this in the university’s Advanced Ceramics and Nanomaterials Lab. After mixing a couple compounds in a solution, in no time he is able to separate the perovskite crystals for use in the research project. A stack of solar cells that he has already made rests on a shelf inside a sealed box he is using.

“They look simple to make, but making good cells is not easy,” Padture says while looking on. “We’re trying to come up with altogether new methods. That’s what drives us.”

Padture grew interested in perovskites in 2011 after leaving Ohio State University to take up his current position at Brown. His research until then had focused mainly on composites and high-performance ceramics, such as coatings that could withstand the extremely high temperatures in jet engines.

He read about the first work on perovskites, which was done in South Korea, and thought he could bring his expertise in developing new materials to a field dominated by chemists and physicists.

By 2013, with help from Zhou, Padture developed an innovative way of making crystals using different chemical solutions at room temperature as an alternative to using heat, a more common technique but one that limits production.

Efficiency at issue

The biggest question facing perovskite cells is efficiency — how well they convert sunlight to electricity. Silicon cells have peaked at about 25 percent efficient. The first perovskite cells were less than 4 percent efficient. Advances in research have pushed that number to 20 percent and Padture has gotten it as high as 18 percent. But if the new cells are to compete with conventional ones, efficiency must go up even higher.

As part of the work being funded through the NSF, the research team will look at ways to enhance the efficiency of the cells. Members will also study ways to make them more durable and consider whether they can be made lead-free.

Padture says that solar power holds more promise than any other renewable source “because the available energy is everywhere.” Harnessing all that energy is the challenge. He believes that perovskites could be the key.

Page 3 of 3 – “We’ve tested small samples, but the potential is there,” Padture says. “This could be a transformative technology.”

akuffner@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7457

On Twitter: @KuffnerAlex

Brown professor investigating possible breakthrough in solar energy

Tips for saving on home heating

Replacing your air filter can save on heating costs.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Although temperatures may be in the mid 80’s right now, each passing day is a reminder that summer is coming to an end and winter will soon be upon us.

That means it’s not too soon to start thinking about how best to hold down the cost of staying warm this winter.

Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures have conditioned Wisconsinites to weatherproof their homes. However, tips from professionals act as good reminders of what we can do to ensure we get the most from our heating system without breaking the bank.

Change air filter

Changing your heating system’s air filter is one simple way to keep your appliance running at the highest possible efficiency.

“If you do not exchange your filters, then they get clogged up and they have to work that much harder to heat your home,” Wisconsin Public Service spokesman Kerry Spees said. “It’s a very small thing, a small change, but it really helps during those winter months.”

According to the Wisconsin Public Service website, air filters cost between $6 and $35 depending on the model. Regularly changing filters can save up to 15 percent on your monthly heating bill.

On the other hand, Consumer Reports estimates it can cost up to $300 to have a professional fix damage caused by a clogged filter.

Clean filters also improve the quality of the air you breathe, said Doug Meek, energy auditor for Highland Building Consultants in Green Bay.

“Especially with furnaces that run a fan all the time, replacing the filter improves the indoor air quality,” Meek said.

Preseason tune-ups

Although a system tune-up is an additional expense, Spees said they are necessary to prevent more severe, expensive problems in the future when you may need heat the most.

“It’s a little bit of an investment,” Speed said. “People should call some contractors because costs can range, depending. But as far as price goes, if you do wait and they end up finding anything it becomes a matter of pay me now or pay me later.”

If you do not wish to have an annual tune-up, Meek said newer systems can get by with a check-up every other year while systems ten years and older should have a yearly checkup.

Seal and insulate ducts

Insulation is one of the oldest and most recognized methods to maintain uniform indoor temperatures year-round.

Newer homes tend to be well insulated, but if you own an older home chances are you could benefit by buying additional insulation to keep the house warm and avoid heat loss.

APEX Heating & Cooling Sales Representative Dan Delforge recommends looking into a program called Focus on Energy for assistance with the cost of upgrading insulation.

Focus on Energy is a statewide energy efficiency and renewable resource program that works with Wisconsin utilities.

The organization’s website offers information on a variety of home improvement and energy savings topics and manages the a rebate program that pays up to $1000 for qualified energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment and attic insulation.

Programmable thermostats

There are mixed reviews on whether programmable thermostats are effective.

A programmable thermostat is designed to switch temperatures at specified times during the day. The devices cost between $20 and $40, plus additional fees for installation and programming.

Spees swears by this customizable technology and considers it to be the best investment for people concerned about saving money on utilities.

“I have mine set to 68 degrees and when my wife and I go to work it’ll go down to 60,” Spees said. “Then it’ll go back up to 68 degrees at night when we get home.”

Spees said every degree you keep your thermostat down saves about 3 percent on your bill.

However, others are not quite sold.

Meek said he prefers keeping his home at one constant temperature.

“It’s a personal opinion,” Meek said. “They are alright if they only swing in four to 10 degree frames.”

Going over that 10 degree difference means the furnace will use a great deal of energy to bring the temperature in the house back up, which can mean higher heating costs in the long run.

Install energy-efficient windows

Delforge said old, loose windows are often to blame for a chilly home and increased heating costs.

“Windows like that are going to allow the cold to penetrate faster,” Delforge said. “Slowing that down with new windows will help reduce your heating bill.”

Consumer Reports notes window replacement is a long-term investment that is repaid over time.Window replacement can typically reduce a heating bill between 7 and15 percent.

Even if your windows are up to date, monitoring the use of shades and blinds also plays a big role Spees said.

“Although it may be nice to watch a snowfall from your window that happens to be one of the biggest culprits in heat loss,” Spees said. “Draw the shades on a could cloudy day and open them up when it’s a sunny day.”

—sleduc@greenbay.gannett.com ‘Like’ Shelby Le Duc on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @pgshelbyleduc and Instagram @shelbyleduc22

Read or Share this story: http://gbpg.net/1JekdbD

Tips for saving on home heating

The administration meets reality

The markets and American technology are turning the Obama administration’s original energy policies around by 180 degrees. There’s still a lot to do, particularly by Congress, so long besotted with subsidies for certain powerful lobbies. But prospects are bullish.

The administration set out six years ago to raise the price of gasoline to put everyone at the mercy of expensive and unreliable green energy. He has lost the game, acknowledged in several recent White House decisions. With the technological breakthrough in shale gas and oil, the United States can be an oil exporter, and that’s a game changer. Enabling the markets — not the government — to determine the whys and wherefores of production is the way toward an effective energy policy. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas even wants to dismantle the Energy Department, which duplicates other federal bureaucracies.

The administration has approved the swap of lighter American crude for the heavier Mexican crude for which, along with similar Venezuelan oil, some refineries in the United States were designed. Lifting all export controls, dating from the Arab oil embargo on the 1970s, should be next.

The liquefied natural gas refinery in Sabine Pass, Texas, designed to take imported oil, now ships liquefied natural gas to France. A hungry foreign market, particularly in Asia, awaits American oil and gas. Dutch Shell has spent $7 billion looking for oil and gas off the Arctic coasts of Alaska, and now has permits to begin deep drilling there. Later this month, Gov. Bill Walker will come to Washington to persuade President Obama to put natural gas development in his strategy to cut carbon emissions and the cost of energy.

Fortunately for America, abundant private shale holdings enabled the exploitation of the technologies that produced the energy revolution. American oil producers, so often derided on the left, withstood the Saudi attempt to undercut American shale production by keeping their Saudi spigots open, suppressing the price of Middle Eastern oil. Several factors have so far defeated the Saudi attempt to sabotage American self-sufficiency. American technology continues to expand, China’s shrinking economy compels cutbacks in imports, and the economic takeoff in India has been delayed.

The administration has timidly announced an important reform, suspending the required mixture of ethanol and gasoline sold at domestic pumps. Ethanol has been the holy water of environmentalists, but a $10 billion a year bill for the taxpayer. Making ethanol from corn requires great tracts of dedicated farmland, fertilizers, pesticides, tractor and truck fuel, and natural gas to refine it. Turning corn into ethanol raises feed prices and thus the price of beef, pork, chicken, eggs, fish and international food aid. This hits hardest in the backward parts of the world where food must be imported. Reality, after all, is the most effective market regulator.

The administration meets reality

Solarize South Carolina to help homeowners navigate their way to solar power

Want to go solar but just don’t know where to start?

Upcoming Solarize South Carolina events

Tuesday: 3:30-7 p.m. Mount Pleasant Farmers Market

Thursday: Noon-6 p.m. North Charleston Farmers Market

Saturday: Solar Information Session, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Mount Pleasant Branch Library

AuG. 31: Solar Information Session, 6-7 p.m. Felix Davis Community Center, Park Circle, North Charleston

Sept. 3: Solar Information Session, 6-7 p.m. Dorchester Road Library Branch, North Charleston

Sept. 12: National Drive Electric Week kickoff event, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Local Works/The Refinery, 1600 Meeting St.

Sept. 20: Carolina Green Fair, noon-5 p.m. James Island County Park

To sign up for a free solar estimate, go to http://www.solarizesc.org/

It can seem like a daunting endeavor, filled with questions.

Is my house appropriate for solar? Will I have to cut down trees? Is it financially beneficial to install panels? Are tax credits still available for doing so and when will they expire? What’s the best financing plan?

The nonprofit marketing firm, SmartPower, and its Solarize South Carolina campaign is trying to make it as easy as contacting them, via phone or Internet, for a free estimate and advice at www.solarizesc.org.

The initiative seeks to outfit 2,000 homes with solar in the Palmetto State in the next 18 months.

“Solar is here and now’s the time to get started,” says Jim Kubu, the community outreach manager for SmartPower in the Lowcountry. “In the past, people didn’t trust the technology or the return on investment didn’t work for them, but we’re now at a point where both the technology and investment work together.”

Credits, net metering

He adds that a tax credit for up to 55 percent of the cost of a system is available, for now, until December 2016 when the federal portion of 30 percent is set to expire.

Those tax credits combine with “net metering” with SCE&G to make it more financially feasible now.

In a nutshell, net metering credits the renewable energy producer, such as a homeowner, at the same rate the utility charges for service. The excess energy that is not used by the producer is then pushed back into the energy grid at the same rate.

The newly enacted Net-Metering 2.0 will still credit the producer at the same rate, but will now buy all produced energy at a wholesale rate.

Meanwhile, Solarize South Carolina will make it more attractive to go solar by offering a zero-down financing option.

North Charleston

In the Lowcountry, Solarize South Carolina is looking at North Charleston as its hub, in part because the city has taken the lead in terms of clean energy and sustainable development in recent years.

Examples of businesses and nonprofits using solar include Boeing, Intertech Group, Carolina Ice Palace and Water Missions International, as well as Clemson University’s wind turbine testing facility.

Last week, the city launched “Solarize North Charleston” with Solarize South Carolina to build on successes and to encourage residents to tap into new opportunities, made possible by legislation on solar-friendly “net metering” signed by state lawmakers last year.

The effort also benefits the city. When 60 or more residents sign a contract to install solar before Dec. 15, the initiative will provide a free five-kilowatt solar system to the city for any of its municipal buildings.

Residents seeking estimates are asked to check “North Charleston” under “affiliation” to ensure that the city gets credit for customers who go solar.

Mayor sunny?

Among the first to step up in North Charleston and inquire about panels through Solarize North Charleston is the mayor himself, Keith Summey.

“I’m one of the people who believes you have to lead by example,” says Summey, noting how solar increasingly is both environmentally friendly and economically beneficial.

While Kubu says there are many variables on financing and cost savings, he says the average system will cost about $20,000 and that the aim of the initiative to allow people to have solar panels installed with no money down and a monthly payment equivalent to that of a typical car payment.

With current tax credits and more fair net metering compensation by private utilities, paying off loans will be more in the five- to seven-year range rather than seven or more years, Kubu notes.

A system typically has a warranty of 25 years or longer.

One drawback for some South Carolinians, though, is that significant cost savings on electricity applies only to those served by utilities that are under regulatory control of the S.C. Public Services Commission, such as SCE&G and Duke Power. Electric cooperatives, such as Santee Cooper and Berkeley Electric Cooperative, are exempt from net metering.

New law opened door

But solar is on its way in the state.

Hamilton Davis, the energy program director for the Coastal Conservation League, says campaigns such as Solarize South Carolina have everything to do with last year’s legislation.

“Solarize SC is a great example of what is happening across our state as a result of landmark solar legislation that was signed into law last year by Governor (Nikki) Haley. The law, which removed many of the barriers for solar investments by homes and businesses, makes good economic and environmental sense for South Carolina,” says Davis.

“With solar leasing now available in South Carolina and utility solar programs for customers rolling out in the fall, solar is beginning to help people save on their electricity bills while cleaning up our air and water.”

Reach David Quick at 937-5516.

Solarize South Carolina to help homeowners navigate their way to solar power

Wind Energy Is Having a Railroad Moment

Just as oil needs pipelines and coal needs railroads, wind power needs transmission lines to reach cities.

Photo by Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images

One of the raps on big renewable energy projects, such as solar plants and wind farms, is that they rely on federal subsidies and tax credits to get off the ground. That’s obvious. Here’s something less obvious: Taxpayers may have subsidized the boom in emissions-free energy, but that’s triggered a whole lot of unsubsidized private investment in turn. Someone has to pay to build the infrastructure that conveys the power from the empty places where it’s produced to the populated places where it’s consumed.

This is particularly evident in wind energy. Developers needs the federal production tax credit—2.3 cents for every kilowatt-hour produced by a wind farm for 10 years after its construction—to justify the nine-figure investments to plant clusters of turbines in the plains. But just as oil needs pipelines and coal needs railroads, wind power needs transmission lines to reach cities. A report by the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group for investor-owned utilities, highlighting some $47.9 billion worth of transmission lines in the works through 2025, found that about $22.1 billion in funds will be spent on transmission projects aimed at integrating renewable energy into the grid.

A large chunk of America’s wind resources remains stranded.

Advertisement

And there could be much more to come. In Houston, the global capital of the fossil fuel industry, a startup, Clean Line Energy, is aiming to replicate the feats of 19^th-century railroad barons, erecting audacious, expensive tracks that will turn farmland and fallow space into economically useful terrain. The company wants to spend about $10 billion in private capital to wire the plains with direct current electricity wire. The names of its proposed lines evoke the age of the iron horse: There’s the Rock Island Clean Line, which would ferry juice 500 miles from Iowa to Illinois; the Grain Belt Express, traversing 780 miles from Kansas to points east; and the Plains & Eastern, which would convey power from the windy Oklahoma panhandle to Memphis, Tennessee. (Here’s a map of Clean Line’s proposed projects.) Farther to the west, billionaire Philip Anschutz is plotting the TransWest Express, a 730-mile line from Wyoming to Las Vegas. That effort, along with Clean Line’s Plains & Eastern—both of which could get federal approval to proceed this year—“may be the two most ambitious transmission lines ever built in this country,” says Michael Skelly, president of Clean Line Energy. (The Pacific Intertie, which connects Oregon hydropower to Southern California, is actually longer than both of these proposed lines.)

Skelly has some experience tilting at windmills. He was chief development officer of Horizon Wind Energy, a Texas-based development firm bought by  Goldman Sachs in 2005. (In 2008, in another quixotic quest, he ran for Congress in Texas’ deep-red 7^th district as a Democrat and lost.) The wind industry boomed in Texas in part because the state, which has its own grid, pushed through a plan that enabled the construction of massive wind farms in the western and northern parts of the state, encouraging about $6 billion in new transmission lines to bring the power to population centers.

Outside of Texas, however, the electricity grid is highly balkanized. Utilities in Oklahoma aren’t particularly interested in figuring out how to convey wind power from the Oklahoma panhandle (where it could be produced in massive quantities) to Atlanta (where it would be consumed in massive quantities). And the federal government has long since gotten out of the business of backing big interstate power highways. (The last major electricity interstate highway it supported was the Pacific Intertie, completed in 1970.) That means a large chunk of America’s wind resources remains stranded.

In 2009, Skelly helped found Clean Line, which has raised more than $100 million in capital from investors including National Grid. The idea: build a series of long-haul transmission lines—400-, 500-, 700-miles long—and rent capacity to wind developers so they can send their power to market. (Rule of thumb: It costs about .3 cents to send a kilowatt-hour of power 100 miles.)

It sounds like a simple business model. But as pipeline builders have found (hello, Keystone XL!), building energy infrastructure that crosses several state lines requires negotiating a maze of state regulators, federal authorities, and private landowners. And for a host of reasons—economic, political, regulatory, environmental—people aren’t always psyched about big projects coming through their proverbial backyards. For example, while Indiana and Kansas have given approval to the Grain Belt Express, which would connect Dodge City, Kansas, to southern Indiana, Missouri has said no. (In certain circumstances, transmission developers can appeal such denials to the federal government, which Clean Line has done.) “A wise person said that anything worth doing takes a decade,” said Skelly. “And we are going to prove them right. We haven’t done this before in this country. We haven’t built four-state transmission lines.”

Skelly is confident that Clean Line can raise the $10 billion needed to build its five proposed lines and that construction could start as early as 2017 if approvals start to come through.

Clean Line’s ambitions highlight the complexities of the arguments surrounding energy subsidies. Yes, Clean Line’s customers—developers of wind plants—rely on subsidies. And those subsidies cost real money. According to the Energy Information Administration wind accounted for 4.4 percent of U.S. electricity production in 2014, or about 180 billion kilowatt-hours. Assuming every one of those kilowatt-hours is eligible for the 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (and they’re not—wind farms more than 10 years old can’t get the credit, for example), the production tax credit would amount to a maximum of about $4.2 billion year.

The American Wind Energy Association argues that every form of energy production is subsidized to a degree and that the U.S. is getting a lot in return for whatever subsidy wind receives. The burgeoning wind industry has accounted for some $100 billion of investment since 2008 (a period in which the U.S. suffered a big shortfall in investment), created tens of thousands of permanent jobs, and stimulated the creation of a domestic manufacturing sector. It also funnels $195 million a year in lease payments to farmers, ranchers, and other landowners.

But as Clean Line’s ambitious plans show, the wind boom has also inspired people and businesses to do something they didn’t do much before 2008—think big and funnel private capital into infrastructure projects. And when private firms erect new platforms that encourage other private companies to invest and build, that’s a form of economic stimulus worthy of a few lofty railroad metaphors.

Wind Energy Is Having a Railroad Moment

How to improve indoor air quality in winter

Homes tend to be stuffier in autumn and winter. As temperatures outside dip, windows are closed and air quality inside homes can suffer.

Poor indoor air quality can not only be uncomfortable, causing residents to experience headaches, dry eyes and nasal congestion, but also can be unhealthy. According to the American Lung Association, poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases, such as asthma.

Though it’s not feasible or healthy to open windows when temperatures outside dip to near or below freezing, there are steps everyone can take to improve the indoor air quality in their homes.

• Add to your décor with plants. Plants provide both aesthetic and practical appeal to a home’s interior. Houseplants can clean and purify the air in a home, helping to remove formaldehyde, benzene and other toxins that can make indoor air unhealthy to breathe. Benzene is an irritant that can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and blurred vision, among other side effects. Formaldehyde, which is often found in homes thanks to its widespread use in a range of products, can cause watery eyes, nausea and wheezing.

• Watch what you are lighting up. Many homeowners know that smoking indoors drastically reduces indoor air quality, putting even nonsmokers at heightened risk of developing various respiratory ailments. Homeowners concerned about the indoor air quality in their homes should ban smoking inside, no matter how low temperatures dip outside. In addition, homeowners with wood-burning stoves and fireplaces should be especially diligent maintaining these features, as they can release harmful soot and smoke if they are not taken care of. Some people may also be allergic to incense and scented candles, so keep a watchful eye on residents and guests whenever you light candles or sticks of incense. If any symptoms of allergies appear, avoid lighting any more candles or incense, waiting until you can open the windows if you want to light any again.

• Purchase an air purifier. Air purifiers are beneficial year-round, helping to remove allergens and particles from a home. High-efficiency particulate air filters, known as HEPA filters, are extremely effective at removing airborne particulates from the air inside your home.

• Pay attention to pets. Like their owners, pets tend to spend more time indoors during the winter. That means more fur and pet dander, the skin flakes in an animal’s fur or hair that can trigger allergic reactions, is likely in your home during the winter than in the summer. To combat this, bathe your pets regularly in the winter, making sure to wash the animal’s bedding in hot water on a weekly basis as well.

• Open the windows when possible. Winter does not typically provide many opportunities to open the windows, but you might get a few chances to let some fresh air in through the windows during winter. Make the most of these opportunities, and when possible crack the windows when you’re cleaning so dust and other particles that kick up have a path outside of your home.

Clean interior air should be a yearround priority, but homeowners may have to go the extra mile to keep their homes’ interior air clean when winter arrives.

© Copyright 2015 Yorkton News Review

How to improve indoor air quality in winter

Plans for solar panel energy at RRMR are on hold

ROCKFORD, Iowa – A north Iowa school is working to cut down on utility costs by investing in some renewable energy options, but their plan has hit a major standstill.

Utility bills for Rudd Rockford Marble Rock (RRMR) schools are through the roof, and they’re being paid for with the general fund for the district. District Superintendent Keith Turner says that every penny that comes out of that supply to pay for heating and electric, means there is less money for things like supplies and teacher salaries, so coming up with an idea to save that money was crucial.

The plan was to build a solar panel field on the south side of their buildings in Rockford. Energy from that project would serve the school, and any excess energy would help service the surrounding community. It sounds like the perfect solution, only not everyone thought so.

The plan has temporarily been put on hold because of a strict contract the city has with the company Nebraska Energy.

Math teacher, football coach and track coach Mark Johnson says he was surprised to get back to school this fall and not see any changes, especially since the plan would have helped bring more support into his classroom and athletic departments.

“It just makes sense,” he says. “We were going to possibly make money off of the solar project, which would put money back into the school and we could use that money to look at things and see where we could use the money and other places.”

He says not only would this be helpful on a financial level, but an education level as well. He says that bringing solar energy into the school could open up countless doors to teach kids about renewable energy. “We thought it would be a great project for the school, and it would enable us to further the duration of our school,” Johnson says.

The concern about the school’s future is all thanks to the growing issue of expensive utility bills. Turner says that during the month of July, energy bills exceeded $19,000. “That’s $4000 more than it was the year before,” he explains.

“Our energy costs are in excess of about $160,000 a year, and for us as a small school with the declining enrollment, it means this year we project our costs are going to be about $400 per student to heat and cool our buildings,” Turner says.

All summer, teachers and faculty have been keeping thermostats warmer and classrooms darker in an attempt to save on these costs when kids aren’t around, but the RRMR school year kicks off next week and school officials hope a decision is made soon.

We’re told Nebraska Energy will be meeting today to further discuss the plans. We will continue to follow this story as more information becomes available.

Share this:

Like this:

Like Loading…

Related

Advertisement

Plans for solar panel energy at RRMR are on hold

Greenville woman renting house with mold and landlord won't repair it

GREENVILLE, NC (WNCT)- A local woman came to 9 On Your Side looking for help after dealing with mold issues for months in her rental home. Sandra Clark says after one month of living in her Greenville town home, she started to feel sick.

“I didn’t know why and I was like what is wrong with me. Why am I getting sick like this,” Clark said.

Clark says her conditions prompted her to question her landlord about previous water leaks at the property. She said the landlord admitted there had been leaks and told Clark to remove the air filters and spray Clorox.

Clark said, “I immediately went straight and removed the air filter and discovered there was a current water leak, and there was mold all in the open area where the AC return is.”

Specialists say Clorox is not the proper way to treat mold. Home improvement stores have do-it-yourself kits, but getting professional help is the best thing to do to prevent further contamination.

Al Joseph, a bleach specialist said, “bleach feeds mold, it doesn’t kill it, all it does is eminate the color and make you think its gone. But once the chlorine evaporates all your left with is water, and moisture feeds mold, so if your putting bleach on mold your actually helping it grow.”

Clark says inspectors came to evaluate the situation, but she hasn’t received the results. A copy of her lease states it is the landlords responsibility to fix the problem.

Her landlord refused to comment.

Share this:

Advertisement

Greenville woman renting house with mold and landlord won"t repair it

CGE Energy Reports Financials for Period Ending June 30, 2015

CGE Energy (MKBY) (OTC PINK: MKBY) has released its Consolidated Financial Statement for the three-month period ending June 30, 2015. The Consolidated Financial Statement in its entirety can be viewed at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/mkby/filings.

In the statement, CGE Energy profited $172,553 from gross sales of $1,780,391 in the fiscal quarter.

CGE Energy signed new long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) contracts during this period. As of June 30, 2015, unbilled revenue of all long-term contracts is $4,623,916. Future long-term contract revenues are not reflected in current sales numbers reported in the financial statement.

“Our financials reflect large growth of our long-term portfolio this quarter,” said Bryan Zaplitny, CGE Energy’s President and CEO. “In addition, the performance of our Chicago office is exceeding expectations. We just began a high profile project installing Cree LED lighting and electric bus charging stations at an airport which we will detail soon.”

About CGE Energy

CGE Energy is the leading engineer of no capital cost energy solutions. Headquartered in Brighton, Michigan, the company integrates the optimal configuration of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies to meet their customers unique energy needs. Today the company serves customers in the U.S. and abroad, using energy technologies that include Cree® LED lighting, their patented WIND•e20® wind turbine and SolarWorld® solar generation. CGE Energy is now a publicly traded company and will trade under the ticker symbol (OTC PINK: MKBY) until FINRA approval of symbol change. http://www.cgeenergy.com

This letter contains forward-looking statements including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or future strategies that are signified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes” or similar language. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors. All forward-looking statements included in this letter are based on information available to us on the date hereof and speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

 

CGE Energy Reports Financials for Period Ending June 30, 2015

OU hires energy consultant to mixed reactions

Ohio University is at a crossroads this year for its energy policy with its selection of a new energy consultant two weeks ago.

As OU transitions away from coal as its primary resource for heating and cooling, it’s building a pipeline to accommodate the resulting increased demand for natural gas. Officials say the university is still on-track to meet a goal to be completely coal-free by the end of 2015.

Meanwhile, the university is fast approaching its 2020 deadline to source 20 percent of its total energy from renewable energy sources.

OU announced on Aug. 4th that it had selected the West Chester, Ohio-based firm, Step Resources, as a consultant to guide OU’s energy purchases for the next year (with the option to extend it for another year), OU’s Joe Lalley confirmed Thursday. Lalley is senior associate vice president of information technologies and administrative services.

Lalley said OU’s future energy purchase, with Step Resources’ help, may involve a greater mix of renewably sourced energy than currently.

Local activists have expressed concern about OU’s consultant selection process (which started last spring), as well as OU’s decision to tie itself to a fossil fuel with the natural gas pipeline. In a “Readers Forum” op-ed on page 7 in today’s issue, members of local environmental activist group, OU Climate Action Now (OUCAN), say they are disappointed that OU chose Step Resources over Delta Energy Management as a consultant.

Of three consultants “short-listed” by OU in the consultant selection process, the activists said Delta Energy Management was the best option. Local activist and filmmaker Gary “Spruce” Houser said in an email last week that Delta Energy “openly promotes a green-energy option on its website while Step Resources does not.”

He continued, “… The 25-year history of Step (Resources) points to a very central theme of always finding the monetarily cheapest option for its client – even when that energy source poses a very steep cost in terms of protecting the health and welfare of our society.” On the bright side, Houser noted, OU did not choose Brakey Energy as a consultant, which he maintains has a “demonstrable history” of lobbying against clean-energy interests in Ohio.

Lalley has said previously that natural gas is a temporary solution for OU to get off coal – the most recent estimate from OU’s Office of Sustainability in February 2015 showed that OU heated its buildings with 37 percent coal and roughly 63 percent natural gas last year.

Activists have said that natural gas is not the bridge fuel that OU makes it out to be despite the idea that natural gas produces less greenhouse gas on initial burn than coal; those activists have stated that methane leaks from natural gas hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations are a big environmental concern, among other standard concerns about fracking’s impact on local water supplies.

Lalley said Thursday during a conference call that Step Resources will help OU evaluate and prepare responses after a request for qualifications for electricity and natural gas contracts is sent out sometime this month. Lalley said he expects responses for that RFQ due back in early to mid-September, with a decision expected in October about which natural gas and electricity vendors OU will use and the mix of renewable energy involved.

Lalley said it will be the university’s decision, and not the consultant’s.

Lalley also stated that he expects electricity firms to provide estimates on how much it will cost OU to generate varying percentages of its total electricity from renewable sources. The university currently generates 5 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, Lalley said. He said he expects to see cost estimates for various mixes of renewable and non  – what it would cost OU to generate 35 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, for example, compared with costs for sourcing 50 or even 100 percent of its energy from such sources.

“We’re very mindful of our 20 percent by 2020 goal, and we also have the desire to see what we can do to accelerate that goal,” Lalley said.

Step Resource’s contract, which OU provided The NEWS, states that Step asked to be paid $49,500 for its services, or $250 per hour plus any out-of-pocket expenses. (Step estimated it would take 194 hours to perform its tasks). It’s unclear which model OU chose.

OUCAN MEMBERS HAVE VOICED concerns about the transparency of the consultant selection process.

“A profound dismay with OU centers around the issue of democratic accountability,” Houser wrote. “It is not morally defensible to on the one hand accept this substantial public money and then exclude the public from having any input whatsoever on how it is used.”

Houser said that OU previously refused to make public the names of individuals on the selection committee for the consultant selection process, and noted that university officials refused to meet with OUCAN members.

Bernhard Debatin, a professor of multimedia policy in OU’s journalism school, said that Step Resources previously has been a consultant for two other Ohio public universities that have adopted geothermal heating and cooling policies, which he views as a positive.

“I would assume that (Step’s) work with universities and their ability to include renewables into the mix, plus Step’s track record of renegotiating and reducing energy costs made them an attractive candidate for Ohio University,” he wrote.

OU hires energy consultant to mixed reactions

Construction Dust Irritating Locals in Central Austin

Until this year, property manager Dathon Aragon hasn’t had any problems leasing condos.

“We had multiple showings,” Aragon said. “It took a lot longer than it typically would.”

The construction across the street has changed his business. The dust from the construction clogs the air conditioning units so much the air filters need to be changed every week.

“The return air sucks in the dust and it just clogs up the system,” Aragon said. Fortunately, we have had it serviced, but we haven’t had to replace it yet like some of the other businesses.”

Across the street, Brave New Books says it learned the hard way what was going in its air conditioning unit.

“A few days ago, the outer fan motor completely burned out,” Brave New Books’ Leland Freeman said. “Dust got into the motor and just caused it to fail completely, and we didn’t have air conditioning down here for a couple days.”

Since our story aired last week, DPR Construction has added more sprayers and water trucks to combat the dust. Businesses nearby say they just want to be done.

“I don’t think it’s good for the residents that live here certainly,” Aragon said. “In terms of business and in terms of leasing it out, it has made it a lot more difficult.”

The University of Texas says it will investigate any formal claim but none have been received from any local businesses. The university adds the contractor should finish excavation by the end of August.

—

Join the Discussion:

Follow TWC News Austin on Twitter

Follow TWC News San Antonio on Twitter

—

More Stories of Interest:

Construction Dust Irritating Locals in Central Austin

A Bright Spot in US-China Relations: Renewable Energy

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Washington in September comes on the heels of cyber accusations, tensions in the South China Sea, and grumbling about China’s currency devaluation — all just as a new U.S. election cycle starts to kick in, a time notorious for being tough on China. The Obama administration faces a narrowing window for engagement with the Chinese, who have viewed the United States’ “pivot” to Asia as a containment rather than an engagement strategy.

Still, there has always been one topic that both sides have been able to agree upon. From President Barack Obama’s first visit to Beijing in November 2009, which heralded a new U.S.-China renewable energy partnership, to his most recent visit five years later, featuring an “historic agreement” to reduce carbon emission growth, both sides agree about the need to reduce greenhouse gases. However, even a common goal as well intentioned as saving the planet can be derailed without an understanding of the underlying frictions that have prevented bilateral cooperation between the world’s two largest carbon emitters.

Just two months after the United States and China reached a landmark climate accord at the November 2014 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings, the International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded in a press release that “a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from China and Taiwan.” The Commission found that Chinese solar panels were being subsidized by the Chinese and dumped in the U.S. “at less than fair value.”  Their ruling imposed new tariffs on imports from China, including antidumping duties of 26.71 percent to 78.42 percent on most Chinese manufactured solar panels and anti-subsidy duties of 27.64 to 49.79 percent for Chinese modules.

As a trade issue, the U.S.-China clean energy partnership faces significant headwinds. Under World Trade Organization (WTO) trade regulation, the United States is well within its rights to penalize subsidization for “dumping” products at below market value – including those that may help reduce the cost of solar energy. Even with an Environmental Goods Agreement in the WTO that reduces tariffs on products such as wind turbines and solar panels, significant barrier to entry can still exist due to different specification systems within countries for regulations and standards that put exporters at a disadvantage.

Trade disputes also stir up a “win/loose” perception that cheap Chinese manufacturing undermines American jobs. But in fact, Malaysia (not American industry), has been the real beneficiary of the U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar industry products. With its assembly line wages roughly on par with China’s coastal areas – about ten times less than average U.S. monthly wages – Malaysia’s solar industry has been growing rapidly. According to a New York Times report, the Malaysian solar industry receives a 10-year exemption from corporate taxes specially allotted to large domestic and foreign investors, and is almost entirely owned by American, European, South Korean and Japanese companies. Though solar manufacturing in Malaysia has yet to illicit domestic outcry in the United States, already Malaysia is the third largest producer of solar equipment behind China and the EU.

Rather than letting clean energy fall victim to another trade dispute, the U.S. and China should recognize the opportunity in cooperation on bilateral investment that could bypass trade frictions and help both sides capture the positive externalities of green technology. The United States and China are currently in the midst of negotiating a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), which has the potential to create new incentives to invest in each other’s clean energy sector.  With China not in the U.S.-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and the United States not involved in Asia’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade initiative, the U.S.-China Bilateral Investment Treaty offers a singular opportunity for the two countries to engage, and not to favor the red or blue, but the green.

According to Melanie Hart of the Center for American Progress, moving toward a clean energy economy in the United States will require more than $1 trillion of investment in the electricity grid, new fuels, mass transit, power generation, and manufacturing. The United States is a relatively secure investment destination, home of leading solar technology, and has a strong domestic market for clean energy. With Obama’s new regulatory plan under the EPA, establishing first-ever national standards to limit carbon pollution from power plants, demand for clean energy is expected to increase.

Meanwhile, China, with about $3.8 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, is increasingly employing its money towards outward investment and has strong incentives to invest in clean energy. In China, coal accounts for about 60 percent of China’s CO2 emissions, which are causing massive health problems because of the smog they generate as well as social discontent. In June, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang submitted a carbon-curbing plan to the UN, pledging to cut China’s greenhouse gas emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 60-65 percent from 2005 levels.

However, even with the right incentives, supply does not always meet demand. Good policies are necessary to capitalize on opportunities. As Hart points out, foreign companies operating in the United States are disadvantaged. U.S. tax credits for residents and corporations that generate energy through renewable sources primarily help large and well-established companies that can pay the high upfront costs for renewable projects. Foreign and smaller companies with less operational capacity need investment incentives that can help reduce considerably high upfront costs and risk from the start. Another clean energy incentive, loan guarantees issued by the U.S. Department of Energy, would be especially hard for a Chinese company to obtain given the political controversies of U.S. government benefits to a Chinese company.

Meanwhile, companies like Apple, Google, and even Goldman Sachs have been trailblazing investment in solar energy. In February, Apple Chief Executive, Tim Cooke announced an $850 million agreement to buy enough solar energy from lead developer, First Solar, to power all of its California operations. Though Cook certainly deserves credit for proactively decreasing the company’s carbon footprint, U.S. tax policies and creative financing techniques have also made this commercially profitable. In a Wall Street Journal interview with Lisa Jackson, the woman overseeing Apple’s environmental policy, she commented, “The difference in what we’re going to pay for the power through this deal and what we would pay commercially is hundreds of millions of dollars.”

On the other side of the Pacific, China is creating financial incentives for clean energy too, though by providing free or low-cost loans and artificially cheap input components, land, and energy designated to promote the renewables sector. In April, Apple made forays into the China arena, agreeing to back two larger solar farms in China. Both sides have recognized the need to adjust domestic policy and provide government support, but can the two countries work together? Few companies have been able to help capture clean energy’s positive externality, and the U.S. and China have yet to figure out how to make collaboration happen at the international policy level.

Financial support for clean energy does not measure up to the tax breaks and other policies propping up fossil fuels. An IMF study estimated that the cost of global fossil fuel subsidies in 2015 would amount to $5.3 trillion or $14.5 billion a day. China’s energy hungry domestic market could help validate new technologies that burn coal more cleanly. The U.S. demand for residential solar has also risen dramatically and stands to benefit from Chinese investments that could help finance more clean energy jobs. As the two biggest carbon emitters globally, the United States and China have the most to gain from allowing clean energy to access international markets of scale.

The United States has the opportunity to set a new tone before Xi’s state visit to the White House this September and seize upon this opportunity where interests align. The visit could perpetuate economic tensions and frictions that have lasted since China’s ascension to the WTO in 2001, or establish a more cooperative relationship towards a sustainable future that better aligns economic incentives with environmental ones under a green BIT.

Michelle Winglee is a former Research Assistant at a DC think tank where she worked on U.S.-China economic relations. Her current research focus is on the intersection of sustainable and economic development. 

A Bright Spot in US-China Relations: Renewable Energy

Solar power growing pains: Public Utilities Commission considers rates

LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) – The push for solar power has been heating up over the last few years. Now, this fast growth is causing some bumps in the road when it comes to setting rates and regulations.

The Public Utilities Commission at a meeting Wednesday, heard an earful from hundreds of solar power advocates. People switching to solar has happened quicker than many expected, and this growth has caused some growing pains as rates are being set. Barbara Nelson has her home all set up for solar power.

“Solar is coming. This is a no brainer,” Nelson says.

She was one of hundreds of people who were at a standing room only meeting along with hundreds of people rallying outside the building. Workers from several solar companies fear jobs will be lost if rates increase for solar energy.

“The extreme proposal NV Energy has brought to our attention will kill solar jobs,” said Teddy Stanowski with The Alliance for Solar Choice.

This group has submitted a petition to the PUC, asking for rates to stay the same until the rates are set by the end of the year. These workers say they are standing up for solar users.

“So when they are overproducing, they are selling it back to NV Energy and they want to be able to buy it back at the same price they sold,” says Noel Lloyd with Solar City.

Energy officials didn’t expect the cap set for solar use to exceed 235 megawatts so soon, as rates are not due to be changed until the end of the year because of a new law. Energy leaders say 235 megawatts should be hit any day now.

Kevin Geraghty, VP of Energy Supply at NV Energy, says back in the late 90’s policymakers set subsidies to end when solar industry can stand on its feet, and he says they are clearly there. So now setting rates is the next step. He says new consumers will see a huge savings in their energy bills.

A hearing on these issues is set for August 21st before the PUC.

Standing room only at PUC meeting. Hundreds rallying solar energy being more accessible for Nevadans. @News3LV pic.twitter.com/DWvQFpRgd9

— @SandraNews3LV (@SandraNews3LV) August 12, 2015

Hundreds of solar workers rally outside a PUC meeting. At issue a proposed rate plan. @News3LV pic.twitter.com/1MZGfsKeO2

— @SandraNews3LV (@SandraNews3LV) August 12, 2015

Solar power growing pains: Public Utilities Commission considers rates

A breath of fresh air: SECSB wins energy award

Camfil, the leading global manufacturer of air filtration products awarded the Sudbury English Catholic School Board with the prestigious 5-Star Energy award.

Sudbury English Catholic School qualified for this award by demonstrating their continued commitment to saving energy while providing quality indoor air throughout their facilities.

Sudbury English Catholic School Board selection of air filters have the 5-Star Energy Cost Index (ECI) rating placing the company in the top 20 per cent of customers worldwide that have chosen to make a difference in energy usage globally.

Presented by Sling Choker Manufacturing, an exclusive distributor of Camfil air filtration products, the award recognizes facilities that conserve our natural resources and put their employees, visitors and customers first when improved indoor air quality is considered.

Air handling equipment accounts for up to 40 per cent of all energy usage and the selection of 5-Star products can reduce a users energy cost to move air through an air handler by up to 30 per cent.

Sudbury English Catholic School Board was nominated by Sling Choker Manufacturing, who presented the award to Jim Morgan, Maintenance Coordinator at Sudbury Catholic School Board.
 

A breath of fresh air: SECSB wins energy award

Time is now for NJ to reclaim its status as a leader in clean energy | Opinion

By Jeff Tittel

Never has our energy future been clearer than it is today between clean energy and dirty fossil fuels. The upcoming Energy Master Plan update is important not only for New Jersey’s environment but also New Jersey’s economy. We have a choice between more dirty fossil fuels, pipelines, oil trains and pollution or renewable energy, energy efficiency and a green economy.

The Board of Public Utilities is going to be taking input into updating the 2011 Energy Master Plan. The plan is the guiding document on energy policy in New Jersey. The 2011 plan rolled back important energy goals from the 2008 plan. Now is our chance to reverse these rollbacks and make sure that 30 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources by 2020 rather than the current 22.5 percent. Currently the state does not have an energy efficiency standard. We need to push for a 30 percent reduction in energy use through energy efficiency by 2030. We need to look at the long-term to get rid of dirty fossil fuel sources like closing the state’s three coal power plants. We should have a goal of 80 percent of our energy to come from renewable sources by 2050.

New Jersey was a leader in clean energy and energy efficiency before Gov. Chris Christie took office. We were second in the nation and we’re now seventh. We had 10,000 jobs in solar energy; now 5,500. We were seventh in energy efficiency and are now 21st. We were supposed to be the first state in the nation to have offshore wind. Even though five years ago Gov. Christie signed the Offshore Economic Development Act and the EMP calls for 3,000 megawatts of wind power, the Christie administration has blocked financing rules for offshore wind.

This week Gov. Christie officially pulled us out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. RGGI is a ten-state regional compact to reduce climate change, air pollution and fund clean energy projects. RGGI worked; New Jersey received over $40 million a year and it created over 1,800 jobs. It reduced carbon pollution by 18 million tons. By pulling out of RGGI, The governor was invited to have lunch with the Koch brothers while New Jersey saw a loss in funding and jobs. The New Jersey Sierra Club believes the governor violated the Global Warming Response Act by pulling out of RGGI. The governor has also used over $1.1 billion from the Clean Energy Fund, which helps people save money on their energy bills through weatherization and energy efficiency, to plug holes in the state budget.

While Gov. Christie was pulling us out of RGGI, President Obama released his Clean Power Plan. The EPA’s CPP requires reductions in greenhouse gasses and encourages states to participate in regional compacts like RGGI. The CPP is important because this is the first significant attempt by the United States to reduce greenhouse gasses and combat climate change. The plan sets targets for each state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to promote renewable energy. This will help move our economy into the future, providing green energy jobs. While the CPP calls for a 32 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses nationally, it’s only a modest 23 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030 in New Jersey. New Jersey should and could be able to do a lot more than that but Gov. Christie and his administration oppose even those modest goals.

States have two years to comply and if they do not then the federal government will write the plan for them. New Jersey can easily comply because we have the programs and rules in place to meet the CPP’s goals and go beyond. The only thing that’s holding us back is Gov. Christie. Updating the EMP could easily help New Jersey implement President Obama’s CPP. The governor cares more about his national political ambition than he does about the people or environment of New Jersey.

We need to demand action on climate change and these EMP hearings are the first real step to moving us forward on doing so. New Jersey’s energy future should be built on increased solar and wind generation and more energy efficiency. We must demand response programs, green job creation, and a commitment to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. We need to take a page from the president’s Clean Power Plan and tell the BPU to stop promoting dirty fuels and work towards clean energy and reducing climate change by ramping up their Energy Master Plan. These three upcoming EMP hearings are important because we need an EMP with stronger energy goals. This is our chance to go in the right direction and work with the Clean Power Plan to reduce our dependence on dirty fuels and fight climate change.

Jeff Tittel is director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.

Time is now for NJ to reclaim its status as a leader in clean energy | Opinion