News, Trends & Analysis
Policy
Jan. 1 Emissions Reporting Deadline Draws Pundits Out of Wordwork
Dec 30th
With large emitters scheduled to begin collecting their emissions data Jan. 1, companies are gearing up to ensure their compliance. But that hasn’t stopped critics from ramping up their rhetoric.
On Sept. 22, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it would require about 10,000 facilities that emit about 85 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gases to begin collecting their emissions data.
The largest emitters will have to submit annual reports of their emissions, starting in 2011, with information from the 2010 calendar year. Vehicle and engine manufacturers are getting a one-year reprieve. They don’t have to start reporting until model year 2011. For More >
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Restricted Content – Entergy Regulators form Regional State Committee
Dec 30th
Entergy’s Retail Regulators have announced the formation of the Entergy Regional State Committee designed to provide collective retail regulatory agency input on the operations of and upgrades to the Entergy Transmission System as well as operations and functions of the Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) in the Entergy region. The members of the E-RSC are five retail regulators of Entergy operating companies: Arkansas Public Service Commission (APSC); Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC); Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC); Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT); and the city of New Orleans’ City Council (CNO). The formation of the E-RSC follows …
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Restricted Content – New Energy Transmission IEEE Standard Now Available
Dec 30th
IEEE has published its latest energy transmission standard: IEEE C57.12.38, “IEEE Standard for Padmounted-Type, Self-Cooled, Single-Phase Distribution Transformers; High Voltage, 34 500 GrdY/19 920 V and Below, Low Voltage, 240/120 V; 167 kVA and Smaller.” This standard covers certain electrical, dimensional, mechanical characteristics and safety requirements of single-phase, 60 Hz, liquid-filled, self-cooled, padmounted, compartmental-type distribution transformers. These transformers are rated 167 kVA and smaller, with the high voltages of 34 500 GrdY/19 920 V and below for operation between one phase and grounded neutral, and low voltage of 240/120 V.
Restricted Content – New Energy Transmission IEEE Standard Now Available.
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New “Cap & Rebate” Climate Bill Proposal Will Give You $1,100 a Year?
Dec 29th
Published on December 29th, 2009 in Climate Change, policy, politics
A new climate bill proposal with bi-partisan and moderate-Democrat support changes a few critical features from previous proposals, but it still seems to keep to the aim. Supposedly, the (Cantwell-Collins) bill would achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and an 83% reduction by 2050.
Not only that, but it would also give a monthly refund of about $100 to a family of four, refunding approximately 75% of all revenue to US residents.
There are criticisms of the bill, of course, such as that it may take a long time for emissions reductions to More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Senate Bill Could Block Solar & Wind Projects in California – Renewable Energy World
Dec 28th
December 28, 2009
Washington, D.C., United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com]
U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) last week introduced a bill that she says will improve the federal permitting process to advance large-scale wind and solar development on suitable lands. But opponents argue that it will simply block renewable energy development on some federal lands in California.
The pending introduction of the legislation has already prompted a number of companies, including BrightSource Energy, to cancel or change development plans for projects slated for that area of California.
The legislation, titled the California Desert Protection Act of 2010, would require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to establish offices More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...An Energy-Policy Rethink Is Required
Dec 27th
By DAN LEWIS
As much of northwestern Europe basks in a cold and unusually white Christmas, the continent’s failure to confront its urgent energy-security concerns is a disgrace.
The old continent continues to be squeezed from two directions— internally by the inefficacy and high costs of its own policies and externally by its increasing energy imports from countries where it has little and declining influence, due principally to its waning economic strength. European nations must act quickly to secure the big impact of clean and secure energy investments, increase competition by fully unbundling their gas-and-electricity networks and face down the challenge of Russian More >
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China enacts law to promote renewable energy – Taiwan News Online
Dec 27th
By JOE McDONALD Associated Press 2009-12-27 12:44 PM
China’s utilities will be required to buy all the power produced by wind farms and other renewable sources under a new law meant to promote the industry and reduce heavy reliance on coal.
Legislators approved the measure Saturday as an amendment to China’s 2006 renewable energy law, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Beijing has set ambitious goals for wind, solar and other renewable energy in an effort to clean up its environment and curb surging demand for imported oil and gas, which communist leaders see as a strategic weakness.
The measure also could help Beijing More >
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China Requires Utilities to Buy All the Electricity Generated By Renewable Energy Companies : CleanTechnica
Dec 27th
Published on December 26th, 2009 in alternative energy, policy
This weekend the main Chinese legislature adopted an amendment to the renewable energy law, requiring that utilities must buy all the electricity produced by renewable energy generators. Utilities refusing would be fined up to an amount double that of the economic loss of the renewable energy company.
The big question is: for how much? Whether this would create a boom in renewable energy in China will depend on how much money companies could earn in the sales. So far, this figure is not in the news reports. This amount paid per kilowatt-hour produced is More >
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5) Loading ...Most pragmatic approach to reducing CO2: ‘Cap and Trade’ or ‘Fee and Dividend’?
Dec 25th
What is the most pragmatic policy approach to reducing CO2 emmissions?
Earlier this month (Dec. 7, 2009), two Op-Ed columns appeared in the New York Times–one, by Nobel-winning economist Paul Krugman, supporting ‘cap and trade’ strategies for reducing carbon emissions, and the other, authored by NASA’s James Hansen (head of the Goddard Space Flight Center) advocating a new approach that he calls ‘fee and dividend’. So, which is the most effective policy to pursue and implement?
The following is a break down of the two More >
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