News in Review: Feb 10

01.02.10
Clean Energy Week kicks off; calls for jobs, security and policy-making

From Monday February 1, 2010, Washington DC Clean Energy Week took place and almost 100 organizations from renewable energy, energy efficiency and environmental realms convened to take part.

The Week began with a news conference in the city, followed by workshops and rallies on Capitol Hill. The week aimed to stress the national need for implementing a full clean energy policy, “including climate solutions, renewable energy and energy efficiency programs,” according to Clean Energy Week’s press release.

Points of focus included green jobs generation, securing a leadership role for the United States as the “clean energy era,” emerges, improving national security and “preserving our planet for the generations to follow.”

“The organizers of Clean Energy Week assert that comprehensive clean energy policy will create good American jobs while making America a world leader in clean, healthy and safe energy production,” Clean Energy Week organizers told press.

“They point to an analysis from the University of California at Berkeley, which found that the clean energy legislation adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), could create up to 1.9 million jobs between its enactment and 2020.”

“Congress and the Obama Administration must take action on climate solutions, renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, which are essential engines of job creation and economic growth,” Michael Eckhart, President of the American Council on Renewable Energy told attendees.

“Clean Energy Week activities will underscore this consensus.”

05.02.10
EPA updates offer mass renewable fuel injection into nation’s supply for 2012

On Friday February 5, 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced updates to the renewable fuel standards (RFS2) which imply increasing usage of biofuels within the national fuel supply. According to these updates more than 15 billion gallons per annum of renewable fuels will enter USA fuel tanks by 2012.

Criticism came from the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA). The association said that specifics on the rules behind these updates ought to have been offered by the EPA months earlier than this, that the scientific reasoning behind this updated might be flawed and that this combination which makes renewable fuels portions retroactive to January 1, 2010 is unjust.

Discussion continues.

05.02.10
Renewable home-rewarding scheme misses the mark, United Kingdom

On Friday February 5, 2010, a new initiative to introduce renewable energy “feed-in tariffs,” as a way to reward green households in the United Kingdom received a lacklustre response.

The incentives, set to take effect from April 2010, will mean that residents who install small scale domestic solar panels and wind turbines in their homes could receive fixed rates on the electricity produced by the installations. This could offer reduced energy bills and was generally expected to be welcomed in light of rising energy prices today.

One example, from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), shows that installing photovoltaic panels could earn homeowners £900 per annum; a saving of £140 per annum.

According to the government this scheme could mean one in 10 UK homeowners installing applicable facilities during 2010. This would mean a key move in Britain’s efforts towards meeting its 2020 energy targets which require a 30 per cent rise from its current 5.5 per cent renewable grid portion within the next decade. However, other reports circulating state that those who choose not to install alternative energy facilities in their homes could face up to an additional £11 on their annual energy bills.

Opponents and sceptics of the scheme claim that the energy bill incentives are too mild, and far from generous enough to truly interest the general public when compared with those already instated by other European Union countries.

According to the Solar Trade Association, these incentives offer roughly half of that offered by some similar schemes. Whilst applauding the intention of the scheme, the British Hydropower Organisation points out that certain details within the structure of the feed-in tariff will directly affect overall hydropower development.

07.02.10
SGS Renewable Energy Competence Centre Extends to Face Growing Renewable Appetite

On Sunday February 7, the SGS Renewable Energy Competence Centre, part of the SGS inspection, verification, testing and certification company, was extended in response to the, “growing market for renewable energy and the attraction of offshore power generation,” according to the company press release.

As part of this response, Torsten Muuss was appointed Global Renewable Energy Competence Centre Manager effective of January 1, 2010. Daniel Hope was appointed Global Business Development Manager.

“In addition, SGS will open the SGS Wind Energy Technology Center in China, which focuses on comprehensive range of full-scale blade testing services. This is a significant investment and a great achievement about which SGS can be proud,” the company press release continues.

These latest moves to accommodate the world’s growing hunger for renewables exemplify actions taken by other inspection, verification, testing and certification services in this sector throughout the world.

09.02.10
USA: Vermont and Hawaii step up with green energy legislation

On Tuesday February 9, 2010, Bernie Sanders, the United States Senator for the state of Vermont, brought in new legislation to support solar rooftop installations through to 2020.

This legislation is capable of supporting over 10 million rooftop system installations and 200,000 solar water heaters. It will set various incentives, including tax rebates, to cover up to 50 per cent of installation costs.

“A dramatic expansion of solar power is a clean and economical way to help break our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, improve our geopolitical position, and create good-paying green jobs,” Sanders, also chairman of the Senate’s green job committee, told press.

This is one of the many state-side announcements for solar, wind and hydro incentives of late. On February 9, 2010, in Hawaii, reports flooded in that new legislation is poised to create a brand new green jobs sector for the islands.

The new US$50 million programme, titled The Hawaii Clean Energy Investment Bonds, will provide residential and commercial property owners with incentives as they install renewable energy facilities through state lending. The allowance from the state would then be repaid over a period using annual assessments on the individual’s property tax bills.

The programme was announced in late January by Linda Lingle, Governor, and has been shaped and modelled on similar programmes which already exist in 15 other American states.

Implementing the programme could create an instantaneous green job boom, and could provide vital input towards Hawaii’s target to be 70 per cent renewable by 2030 in the longer run, Governor Lingle told press.

10.02.10
New Nevada wind farm is a promising 20 year proposal

On Wednesday February 10, 2010, a purchase agreement between NV Energy and the Pattern Energy Group in Nevada, USA, was struck promising a 20 year span for a planned wind farm.

This agreement includes the Spring Valley Wind Project; a 150 mega watt project poised to begin generating electricity as of next year.

This deal comes in addition to the estimated 1,000 mega watts capacity of solar, geothermal, biomass and other renewable energy resources which NV Energy has under commission and/or project development.

This purchase-agreement is yet to be approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada.

11.02.10
National Trust offers new “practical solutions on the ground” with renewable energy plan, UK

On Thursday February 11, 2010, The National Trust, the largest private holder and preserver of the United Kingdom’s treasured stately homes, parks, castles and estates, announced new plans to slash its fossil fuel consumption by 50 per cent in the decade leading up to 2020.

The Trust already has more than 140 renewable energy systems in place, and this new plan entitled, Energy- Grow Your Own, covers 300 historic buildings, 360 holiday cottages and numerous offices and visitor centres. The existing systems total 2.3 mega watts of heating power and one mega watt of electricity. They are made up of 27 initiatives under the National Trust Green Energy map, implemented and partnered on with electricity giants Npower.

“Npower matches every unit of normal electricity that you use and feeds the same amount, generated from renewable sources, into the electricity network,” the energy map’s website explains.

Today, proposed plans included more than 50 wood-fuelled boilers, the recent installation of solar panels and considerations for utilising hydro where existing infrastructure might compliment the renewable source. Solar panels have also recently been installed.

“World leaders may not have provided a political solution to the climate change problem at Copenhagen, but that should not delay us from delivering practical solutions on the ground,” Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust told press.

“The trust has a responsibility to look after the special places in our care for ever, requiring us to make long-term decisions that will protect them for future generations to enjoy.”

12.02.10
FirstEnergy and Allegheny Energy Announce $8.5 Billion Merger Plans

On Friday February 12, a landmark $8.5 billion stock merger between FirstEnergy, of Ohio, USA and Allegheny Energy, headquartered from Greensburg Pennsylvania, USA was announced.

This merger is set to generate a joined diversified portfolio including 2,200 mega watts of renewable energy and under the transaction which is estimated to take up to 14 months, FirstEnergy will retain its name over the combined group company and stand at 73 per cent owners. Allegheny Energy will hold the remaining 27 per cent.

“Among other benefits, (this proposed merger) would increase generation resources by 70 per cent, more than double the amount of supercritical coal capacity, improve the overall environmental performance of the generation fleet, and increase our customer base by 35 per cent,” Anthony Alexander, CEO at FirstEnergy told press.

12.02.10
Indonesia Implements Renewable Incentives in Pursuit of 2025 goals

On Friday February 12, a new decree statement published on the Indonesian Finance Ministry website states that the country will put in place new tax incentives for renewable projects.

The renewable energy forms covered, including geothermal for which the country is naturally well-equipped due to its largely untapped volcanic geography, aim to slash Indonesian fossil fuel dependency in pursuit of 2025 goals for 30 per cent coal, 30 per cent gas, 20 per cent petroleum and the remaining 20 per cent from renewable.

The decree was signed by Sri Mulyani, Indonesia’s Finance Minister, late in January and states that the country will reduce the base used in income tax calculations by five per cent of the sum total investment over a six year period.

15.02.10
Action Aid: 100 million poor condemned to hunger by biofuels used for renewable 2020’s

A controversial report by Action Aid, one of the United Kingdom’s largest and most well-recognised human aid charities, stated that achieving UK and wider European renewable goals for 2020 could leave 100 million people hungry in the developing world.

The charity warned that increased use of biofuels to meet the targets, including the ten per cent renewable fuel for Europe goal, could have drastic implications for those in the developing world because it would result in spiralling food prices.

“Biofuels are driving a global human tragedy. Local food prices have already risen massively. As biofuel production gains pace, this can only accelerate,” Tim Rice, the writer of this report told press.

“Poor people can spend as much as 80 per cent of their income on food. Even small increases in the price of staples such as maize and wheat mean that many more will become increasingly desperate.”

Rice also said that the charity was, “relaying an alarm call” from the poor and hungry to those increasing biofuels consumption in the Western world.