The Department of Energy today released a new analysis of America’s wind energy industry – Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States. According to the report, the wind energy industry could support more than 600,000 jobs by 2050, including engineers, construction workers, truck drivers, factory workers, utility operators, maintenance technicians, electricians and other supporting services. …
Majority Urge Congress to Grant TPA
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should Congress grant TPA?” As Congress still considers granting Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) to our President, we asked what you thought on the issue. It looks like an easy majority believe it should be granted, however there are still a few in agricultural circles that question it. Hopefully, we will soon have a decision …
Paper Calls for More Geothermal Recognition
A paper recently published in the March 2015 edition of Electricity Journal argues that the value of geothermal energy as well as other baseload renewables need to be better recognized as current options for electricity. Authors Ben Matek with the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) and Karl Gawell, GEA executive director, write, “Misinformation about baseload renewables has distorted the discussion about …
Offshore Wind Can Compete With Fossils in Decade
A new study, “Offshore Wind in Europe: Walking the tightrope to success,” finds that the European offshore wind energy industry can compete with coal and natural gas by 2023. The Ernst & Young (EY) reports states that for this to occur, however, the industry must significantly reduce costs over the next five years. Cost savings can be achieved in several …
BioEnergy Bytes
Trina Solar Limited has announced that its Trinasmart panels are now part of the technology solution that Vivint Solar, Inc. offers to its customers. Trina Solar touts Trinasmart as a module-integrated solution that optimizes the energy output of PV systems, enhances solar array safety, improves installation speeds and reduces balance of system costs. Yes! Solar Solutions has partnered with Dividend …
U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Hot off the Press
The latest U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review has been released and solar had another banner year. Newly installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity for the year reached a record 6,201 megawatts, more than 30 percent higher than in 2013. An additional 767 MW of concentrating solar power (CSP) also came online during 2014. Solar accounted for 32 percent …
Advanced Biofuels Group Would Reopen RFS
Advanced Biofuels Association President Michael McAdams today called on Congress to amend the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to strengthen it for the “continued development of the advanced and cellulosic industry.” In an address this morning to the 2015 Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference, McAdams said the “RFS simply doesn’t work as well for companies trying to move cutting-edge technology from a …
Biofuels Leaders Defend RFS
Holding a press conference in advance of the American Petroleum Institute continuing its call to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), representatives of the ethanol and advanced biofuels industry and corn growers defended the law and the fuel. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis said the oil industry is making the same old arguments about ethanol that are simply not true, …
ACE Fly-In Coming Soon
The American Coalition for Ethanol is holding its 7th annual DC Fly-In, also known as the Biofuels Beltway March, on March 24-25. ACE executive vice president Brian Jennings says talking to Washington bureaucrats and lawmakers about ethanol is more important than ever. “We’re really going to be focusing on some new members of Congress and educating them on the RFS …
Today Natural Gas Rush, Tomorrow High Bills
According to a new report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly vulnerable to higher electricity bills due to increased natural gas bills. As such, USC calls for more energy efficiency and renewable energy resources like solar and wind to be integrated into the U.S. grid. This would help insulate against economic …