Mid-Year Renewable Energy Check-Up

Joanna Schroeder

Heading in to the second half of 2015, renewable energy accounted for nearly 70 percent of new electrical generation for the firs six months as reported by the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Office of Energy Projects. The report finds wind accounts for more than half (50.64%) of the 1,969 MW of new …

biomass, Clean Energy, Electricity, Geothermal, Hydro, Solar, Wind

Corn Growers: Build it and They Will Come

Joanna Schroeder

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has announced an additional $500,000 investment in Prime the Pump, a program that is expanding midlevel ethanol fueling infrastructure. The latest funds brings NCGA’s annual commitment in the program to $2 million. The organizations overseeing the Prime the Pump program will use the monies as matching funds to secure grants under the U.S. Department …

corn, E15, E85, Ethanol, NCGA

Media Communication Tips for BioEnergy

Joanna Schroeder

I had the opportunity to facilitate a lively discussion on effective stakeholder messaging during the BioEnergy 2105 conference. “Reaching Your Stakeholders: Effectively Engaging and Educating Key Audiences,” discussed success stories, best practices and lessons learned that have helped to improve public perception of bioenergy at all levels. The panel featured: Melissa Savage, Senior Program Director with the National Association of State Energy …

communications, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable Edge has reached a milestone by installing its 1000th Integrated Wireless Solar Payphone Power Supply System Kit to New York City payphones. The patent pending technology replaces the utility grid power connection previously needed to operate New York City payphones with a solar powered battery system powering wireless routers that communicate with existing cell towers. The Solar Kit system turns the payphones into coin …

Bioenergy Bytes

Canadian Solar Connects 3 Japanese Solar Projects

Joanna Schroeder

Canadian Solar has grid connected three solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Japan with a total of approximately 5.2 MWp. The 2.2 MWp Tsukuba Stones Solar Power Plant was connected to the grid on June 26, 2015. Powered by 8,448 Canadian Solar CS6P-260P modules, it will generate approximately 2,474 MWh of clean, emission-less solar electricity every year and the electricity generated …

Clean Energy, Solar

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Abengoa has announced that it has closed, together with its partner the Israeli global infrastructure group Shikun & Binui, the non-recourse project financing for Ashalim. The total investment of the project will be approximately USD 1 billion. The 110 MW Solar Thermal Electricity (STE) plant Ashalim will be able to store energy in order to produce electricity whenever required after …

Bioenergy Bytes

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Alliance BioEnergy Plus, Inc. has announced that Charles Sills has been formally elected to its Board of Directors by unanimous vote. The total onshore wind installed capacity in Serbia will rise from 102.5 MW in 2015 to an estimated 522 MW by 2025, boosted by several new projects and the government’s new Energy Law, which came into effect in January 2015, …

Bioenergy Bytes

HydroPower Opportunities Abound in Oregon

Joanna Schroeder

HydroVision took place this week in Oregon and during the event, Voith Hydro President and CEO Bob Gallo said that the state provides, “the perfect setting to shine a light on the value of hydropower”. The company has an office in Springfield, Oregon in addition to offices in several other states. “Oregon is the perfect showcase for hydropower’s past, as …

Clean Energy, Hydro

USDA Accepting Applications for Biobased Products

Joanna Schroeder

Following a webinar this morning, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced they are accepting applications for funding under the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program. It was formerly known as the Biorefinery Assistance Program. The webinar discussed changes to the program as well as opportunities available to produce more biobased products. “This critical financing …

advanced biofuels, algae, biochemicals, biomaterials, bioplastics, bioproducts

Time is Now for Non-Renewable Carbon Fee

Joanna Schroeder

Advanced Biofuels USA has gone public with a new idea for capturing externalities of non-renewable fuels for funding needed research – a Non-Renewable Carbon Fuel User Fee. The organization made the announcement during the Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO + Forum that took place in Washington D.C. on July 9, 2015. “If we’re serious about reducing Climate Change …

advanced biofuels, Carbon, Climate Change