Tony Mitchell, chairman of Polaris Geothermal Inc, a Canadian-based energy company, said President Barack Obama's focus on renewables has raised the profile of the once little-known geothermal industry, which generates power through tapping heat from deep underground. [1] The stimulus package included $118 million for wind energy and $400 million for geothermal companies. [2]
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2. Solar, wind industries head to Washington - washingtonpost.com
1. Canada loses out as U.S. ups green ante | Green Business | Reuters
2. Solar, wind industries head to Washington - washingtonpost.com
1. Canada loses out as U.S. ups green ante | Green Business | Reuters
The 2009 Canadian budget also included a C$1 billion five-year Green Infrastructure Fund for clean electricity generation and a C$1 billion Clean Energy Fund to support research and development of new renewable technologies -- a help but not enough to compete with Canada's heftier neighbor. [1] There were some panelists endorsing energy projects outside of solar or wind. Mary Powell, the CEO of Green Mountain Power, expressed her company's support for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, saying officials there hope it is relicensed if there are no safety concerns. "We support relicensing of the plant, which has a carbon profile similar to renewable resources, but we will ramp down our purchases over time as we ramp up renewable resources," she said. [2]
The group's February 2005 report calculates that a large wind farm can deliver electricity at a nearly 40 percent lower cost than a small one. It also can take advantage of economies of scale in lower operational and maintenance costs. The bottom line is this: Decades ago, when widespread use of alternative energy was still only a dream, building one's own private source of home power was the only way to get off the carbon-intense grid and ensure that your own energy needs left little footprint. [3] Q. I'd like to know the relative electricity cost of utility scale solar and wind plants versus rooftop residential solar. A. Making such a determination is complex, but you could start with "In My Backyard," a new online tool by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. [3] You first need to know your electricity usage and what size solar photovoltaic system or wind turbine you could install. [3]
Australia's Parliament passed a law Thursday that set the country??? s renewable energy goals for the next 11 years: the country must draw 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources (for example, sun and wind) by 2020. [4]
Southwest Airlines Co.' s Houston and Dallas operations have been recognized for their green power by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Both of the locations together purchased nearly 16 kilowatt-hours of green power as of July 7 -- enough to meet 30 percent of the facilities' purchased electricity use. Dallas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV) buys renewable energy certificates for the Houston and Dallas operations from Houston-based Reliant Energy to cover the rest of their energy use. Southwest received the award as a result of its participation in the government agency's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, a program which encourages the country's largest corporations to collectively exceed 10 billion kilowatt-hours green power purchasing by year-end 2009. The City of Houston continues to lead in the local government category, using 438 million kWh of wind energy as of July 7, or 34 percent of its total energy use via Reliant Energy. [5]
"There is no doubt that the actions of the Obama administration pose a real challenge to Canada," said Robert Hornung, president of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), whose members include Toronto Stock Exchange-listed Canadian Hydro Developers Inc, Algonquin Power Income Fund and Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. "The U.S. has sent a very strong signal that renewable energy is going to play a central role in both energy-environment and economic recovery strategies. We don't have the same signals here federally," he told Reuters. Hornung said he had started "hearing stories" of international companies shifting business away from Canada to the United States. Some U.S. companies in Canada were also pulling back, he said, without mentioning any names. The United States plans to invest $59 billion of its $787 billion economic stimulus plan in green energy to help create jobs, double America's supply of renewable energy and reduce its dependence on foreign oil. That comprises $39 billion for projects at the U.S. Department of Energy and $20 billion in tax incentives for industries such as solar energy, wind power and geothermal. [1]
Chevron Corp. spent $6 million in the second-quarter alone. The oil and gas industry spent $44.5 million lobbying Congress and federal agencies in the first three months of this year. Lobbyists for fossil fuels have been a mainstay in the halls of Congress for generations, and they've secured millions in government subsidies as well. They also justify it by delivering most of the power on the American electrical grid. They offer higher paying jobs as well. The solar industry's pitch is that they can spread jobs more evenly across the entire country compared with the traditional energy sector, including coal. "The coal industry only employs a couple hundred thousand people in this country. They make pretty good salaries," he said. [6]
A start-up, whether it makes turbines for wind farms, solar panels or electric cars, may think twice before setting up shop in Canada, curbing the country's ability to create jobs and generate tax revenue, and losing technological innovation. [1] We have dozens of projects in the planning and development stages to utilize what the Imperial Valley has to offer lots of Sun, Wind and Geothermal, Biomass. [7] San Diego Gas & Electric has been a $2 Billion transmission line to transmit the electricity that Imperial Valley can produce but is tied up in court battles. [7] The money comes from a surcharge on customers' utility bills. A state mandate requires that New York get 25% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2013. [8] The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or NYSERDA, is running the auction. It takes bids for contracts from renewable energy power plant developers. [8] Today, with considerably more renewable energy sources coming online or about to do so in quantum-leap measures -- and at much greater efficiencies than can be achieved privately -- the best bet may well be to forego the "go it alone" path and support your utility's efforts to generate green power, not just for your own household but for everyone. [3]
More than ever, we are committed to growing a trained, local workforce and creating careers that pay well and have healthcare and benefits. [7] Using Google Earth maps and data on the amounts of sunshine and wind at your location, the tool will estimate the electricity you could get from a certain size wind turbine or PV array installed on your property. [3]
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3. EarthTalk: Alternative energy units - ContraCostaTimes.com
7. News
1. Canada loses out as U.S. ups green ante | Green Business | Reuters
8. Investing in Renewable Energy | WBNG-TV Binghamton, NY | Local Top Stories
6. Solar, wind industries head to Washington - washingtonpost.com
2. Green energy backers see obstacles, growth: Times Argus Online
5. Southwest units cited for green energy usage - Houston Business Journal:
4. Australia Breaks its Own Record in Renewable Energy Goals | Triple Pundit
3. EarthTalk: Alternative energy units - ContraCostaTimes.com
7. News
1. Canada loses out as U.S. ups green ante | Green Business | Reuters
8. Investing in Renewable Energy | WBNG-TV Binghamton, NY | Local Top Stories
6. Solar, wind industries head to Washington - washingtonpost.com
2. Green energy backers see obstacles, growth: Times Argus Online
5. Southwest units cited for green energy usage - Houston Business Journal:
4. Australia Breaks its Own Record in Renewable Energy Goals | Triple Pundit