Energy Articles and Commentaries

The State of the States: Power From the People

jfarrell — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:55:09 -0500

In the absence of federal action, states are leading the way toward renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and empowering local communities to be more energy self-reliant. This presentation highlights the model policies for moving forward.

Instead of Cap and Trade, Cap and Dividend

dmorris — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:56:50 -0600

A new and vastly improved climate change policy has come out of nowhere to capture the imagination of state and national policymakers: "Cap and dividend." It works like this: Step one, impose a carbon cap. Step two, auction off all carbon allowances. Step three, return most of (if not all) the revenues generated to all households on a per capita basis.

Supreme Court Removes Clean Energy Policy Detour

jfarrell — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:46:47 -0600

In a largely unheralded move last week, the Supreme Court removed an unnecessary and unpopular detour from the road to a clean energy economy, preserving the right of states to refuse new high voltage transmission lines. At issue was the right of the federal government to override a state’s veto of a new transmission line. Electric utilities had appealed the Piedmont Environmental Council’s victory in a lower court decision, but the high court’s refusal to review means that states will retain the authority to refuse new high voltage transmission lines.

A New Outside-the-Beltway Climate Bill Deserves Support; Why Won't Enviros Get Behind It?

dmorris — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:51:34 -0600

Cap and Trade is one approach for limiting our global warming pollution but there is a different climate change proposal in Congress called the CLEAR Act. It's simple, deserves to be looked at closely and looks to be the start of a winning alternative to the complicated system of cap and trade.

On Energy Questions, State's Leaders Should Listen Better

dmorris — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:28:46 -0600

How many times do the people have to be proven right before their political leaders listen to them? The recent cancellation of Big Stone II by its investors brings that question to mind.

Back in 2006, seven Minnesota utilities asked the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for permission to build a large coal fired power plant in that state. At the same time they asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission for permission to build a high voltage transmission line to bring that plant's electricity into Minnesota, where more than half of its output would be consumed.

A little heresy on transmission

jfarrell — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:15:55 -0500

The last thing renewable energy needs right now are new transmission lines.

This statement is heresy in the green community, but there’s a danger that the increasing focus of green energy advocates on a new nationwide transmission superhighway may undermine the pursuit of near-term renewable energy goals.

Animating improvements in state electricity intensity 1990-2008

jfarrell — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:04:38 -0500

States can significantly improve energy efficiency, as shown in this video. It illustrates the consistent improvement in the amount of GDP per capita generated per kilo-watt hour of electricity used in each state, from 1990-2008.

New Proposed Climate Change Bill in Washington Is Simpler and More Equitable

dmorris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:02:00 -0500

Happily, a new climate bill drafted by Sen. Maria Cantwell may change both the nature of the debate and its outcome.

On Sept. 22, in a speech to 100 world leaders gathered at the United Nations to discuss climate change, President Barack Obama declared the U.S. "determined to act." But at the same time, word began to circulate on Capitol Hill that the Senate might be equally determined not to vote on the climate bill any time soon.

Federal Renewable Energy Cash Grants to Iberdrola Makes for Lousy Economic Stimulus

jfarrell — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:35:55 -0500

If the government hopes to stimulate the American economy with its renewable energy cash grants, it's going about it backwards. Cash grants to locally owned renewable energy projects would secure the greatest bang for the buck, but the lion's share of the renewable energy stimulus dollars are headed overseas to Spanish wind developer Iberdrola, who nabbed 60% of the $500 million in cash grants the Energy Department's program provided to renewable energy producers.

100,000 mini power plants to substitute for 2 nuclear plants

jfarrell — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:39:03 -0500

Can small-scale replace large-scale? With 100,000 mini gas-fired generators in homes, the answer is yes.