Solar3D, Inc. has announced that its MD Energy subsidiary has been awarded a $10 million, 2- megawatt solar project with the Fresno/Clovis Wastewater Reclamation Facility, subject to approval by the city council. A city council meeting to approve the award is set for next Thursday, July 30, 2015. Suntech has recently supplied 9.3 MW to a solar power plant in …
Green Charge Networks & ChargePoint Partner
Green Charge Networks and ChargePoint have forged a partnership in the electric vehicle (EV) space. The two companies will combine EV charging with EV charging stations. The companies cite combining energy storage with EV charging will eliminate the high cost of demand charges caused by spikes in power usage. This challenge is oftentimes a barrier for EV charging installation. “We …
PG&E Donates Solar to Habitat Homes
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has donated $1 million to support the installation of rooftop solar on 79 homes with 18 different Habitat for Humanity local affiliates throughout Northern and Central California. The company said its Solar Habitat Program, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, is making affordable housing and solar energy a reality for deserving families, particularly in …
Geothermal Industry Calls for Tax Extender Credits
The geothermal industry is happy with the news that the Senate Finance Committee voted for a package of tax extenders proposed by Chairman Orin Hatch (R-UT) and Ranking Democrat Ron Wyden (D-OR). The package includes provisions extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for new geothermal power facilities that “start construction” by the end of 2016. Developers retain the option of converting …
BioEnergy Bytes
Rapidly increasing solid wastes and the acute shortage of landfills are pushing countries in Southeast Asia to adopt sound waste management practices. Governments are also looking to leverage indigenous resources in order to meet renewable energy targets and become energy independent. As a result, investments in the Southeast Asian biomass and waste to power market are on the rise. New …
Cadmus Releases EV Research, Policy Report
The growing number of electric vehicles (EV) on the road may present challenges for the country’s infrastructure (roads) that according to Cadmus, can be addressed through smart planning and thoughtful policy. A report released in June 2015 by the Federal Highway Research Association (FHWA) based on Cadmus research, Feasibility and Implications of Electric Vehicle (EV) Deployment and Infrastructure Development, is …
NFU to Obama Admin – Comply with RFS
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is calling on the Obama Administration to comply with the Renewable Fuel Standard volume obligations as set forth by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) statutory levels. President Roger Johnson sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writing, “The volume standards issued in EPA’s proposed rule for RFS target levels are unacceptable …
Nature Conservancy Looks to Bird Friendly Wind
The Nature Conservancy has installed the first phase of a bird friendly wind power project. The project is taking place in Palmyra, a national wildlife refuge located in Hawaii, where more than a million nesting seabirds call home. With low wind speeds, traditional wind turbines would have low output, plus, says the Conservancy, conventional wind turbines pose a risk of …
U.S. Senate Votes to Extend Federal Tax Credits
The U.S. Senate Finance Committee has voted 23-3 to extend over 50 tax policies through 2016, including the renewable energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that helps to encourage the development of more renewable energy projects including wind. To qualify for the credits, construction of a product must begin while the tax programs are in place. …
BioEnergy Bytes
The UK will remain the leading offshore wind power market globally by 2025, with its installed capacity increasing from 4.5 Gigawatts (GW) in 2014 to 23.2 GW by the end of the forecast period, representing an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 30.5%, says research and consulting firm GlobalData. The company’s latest report states that the UK accounted for …