Energy News

East Coast Governors Say National Transmission Grid Limits Local Energy

jbailey — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:05:16 -0500

On May 4th, 2009, Governors from 10 East Coast states sent a sign-on letter opposing the current House & Senate bills to expedite transmission line planning and siting. The states that signed onwere Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. The letter argued against a greater federal subsidy for long-distance transmission, stating that the focus should be on more local renewable generation, such as off-shore wind along the East Coast.

California may miss 33% RPS target due to focus on centralized generation

jfarrell — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:33:16 -0500

In a nutshell: On paper, California could meet its targets, provided it can afford and build $12 billion in new transmission lines and higher electricity costs. In reality, the state probably won’t make the target, concludes the California Public Utilities Commission in its latest analysis of the state’s clean-energy quest...

Indian tribe creates own electric utility

dmorris — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 08:24:36 -0500

The St. Regis Mohawk tribe again proves that it is cheaper to build your own power plant than to buy electricity from utilities.

SD Sets Interconnection Rules for Distributed Renewable Energy Projects

jbailey — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:20:36 -0500

The state Public Utilities Commission has made it easier for small power generators 10 MW and under to get their renewable energy flowing onto the electric grid.

Called the South Dakota Small Generation Interconnection Rules, the recent decision simplifies who can connect to the electric grid and how. It allows electric customers to be producers, too, by connecting clean energy systems such as solar panels and wind turbines to the grid. Next is a legislative review hearing. Barring changes, the interconnection rules will become law June 9.

Payback Time - Feed in Tariffs Work (video)

jfarrell — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:41:44 -0500

A 10-min video on Germany's rewarding feed-in tariff renewable energy program

Energy Smart Miami - A possible model for smart grid and DG

jbailey — Tue, 19 May 2009 08:56:48 -0500

Mayor Manny Diaz recently unveiled an ambitious, $200 million "Energy Smart Miami" smart grid project developed in partnership with General Electric, Cisco Systems, Florida Power & Light and Silver Spring Networks to ultimately deploy smart meters on every home and most businesses in Miami-Dade County. In addition to smart meters, the project aims to install solar power systems on several schools and universities, add 300 plug-in hybrid vehicles to the city's fleet, and bring a series of new technologies like home energy use dashboards, smart appliances and smart-meter thermostats to pilot programs in 1,000 city homes.

Distributed Renewables Can Defer Infrastructure Investments

jbailey — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:33:09 -0500

This recent article by the Manager of EPRI published on EnergyCentral.com discusses how conventional photovoltaic (PV) applications can act as distributed resources when the sun is shining -- rather than solely as a reduction in load. They also can help diversify supply portfolios and meet other goals. The most basic scenario is for utilities to aggregate grid-connected PV installations owned by others and to treat them as demand-side resources.

CapX Transmission Line Decision Ignored Current Economic Realities

jbailey — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:26:34 -0500

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and the North American Water Office (NAWO) find today's decision by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve nearly $2 billion in ratepayer money for 650 miles of new high voltage transmission lines (known as CapX) to be willfully shortsighted. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission's decision represents a slap in the face to Minnesota ratepayers and deals another setback for building a homegrown, decentralized energy future.

Report: Feed-in Tariffs in America

jbailey — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:26:18 -0500

There's a renewable energy policy with a record of incredible success, so why aren't we using it in America? Our April 2009 paper briefly explores the history of feed-in tariffs (FITs) in Europe - the rise and fall of this policy in Denmark and the rise and rise of FITs in Germany - and then outlines why it would be a much simpler, more cost-effective, and better economic driver for reaching America's renewable energy goals.

American renewable energy policy consists of a byzantine mix of tax incentives, rebates, state mandates, and utility programs. The complexity of the system results in more difficult and costly renewable electricity generation, and hampers the ability of states and communities to maximize the benefits of their renewable energy resources.

No Green Without Green: the uphill ﬁght for renewable energy in a recession

jfarrell — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:57:06 -0500

Upcoming Event in Minneapolis!

A talk by David Morris at 7PM on Sunday, April 26. Join ILSR and the DFL Education Foundation in a discussion of the challenges to environmental and renewable energy policy in an economic crisis.