BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) has decided to postpone its Renewable Energy Latin American and the Caribbean Conference and Exposition (RELACCx) until November 20-21, 2014 to attract increased global financial interest in the Latin and American and Caribbean (LAC) region. The event will take place at the El Conquistador in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. The Renewable Fuel Association’s “Gasoline …

Bioenergy Bytes

State of the World 2014

Joanna Schroeder

According to the State of the World 2014, citizens around the globe have been disappointed by lack of leadership from governing bodies. This has led to the sustainability movement being led by citizen groups, women’s organizations and grassroots movements around the world and these efforts are often in opposition to government and corporate agendas. This year’s report, published by Worldwatch …

Clean Energy, Climate Change, Environment

DOE Finds Hydropower Has Great Potential

Joanna Schroeder

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has released a renewable energy resource assessment that finds that hydropower has great potential to produce renewable electricity. The report estimates over 65 gigawatts (GW) of potential new hydropower development across more than three million U.S. rivers and streams. This is nearly the amount currently produced by the industry. “The United States has tremendous untapped clean …

Hydro, Renewable Energy, Research

DOD Begins Largest Ever Solar Installation

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Department of Defense has broken ground on the military’s largest solar installation ever located at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The 155-acre project will exceed 18 MW of clean electricity and provide 25 percent of the military base’s power. “These kinds of projects are vital to building a sustainable infrastructure for our nation,” said Ruth Cox, GSA Regional Administrator. “It …

Microgrid, military, Renewable Energy, Solar

ACORE & Lockheed Martin Partner on Energy Education

Joanna Schroeder

Lockheed Martin and the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) have formed a partnership to promote renewable energy education through a sponsorship with NASCAR Green, the sustainability arm of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. “At Lockheed Martin, we’ve been committed to providing innovative energy solutions for decades and we are thrilled to now work alongside ACORE …

biofuels, NASCAR, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

SunEdison has dedicated a new solar power plant to the Mariposa Center for Girls in the Dominican Republic. The Mariposa Center for Girls is a non-profit foundation that works with at-risk schoolgirls, aged 8-18, to teach leadership skills and improve their prospects for the future. Currently the Center offers health and wellness care, academic tutoring, library and computer access, job …

Bioenergy Bytes

Trends & Growth in Global Geothermal Market

Joanna Schroeder

A new report reveals the international power market is booming with a sustained growth rate of 4 percent to 5 percent. The “2014 Annual U.S. & Global Geothermal Power Production Report,” finds, released by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) finds that nearly 700 projects are currently under development in 76 countries. Among the key factors for growth, finds the report, …

Geothermal, International, Renewable Energy, Research

Oklahoma Institutes “Sun” Tariff

Joanna Schroeder

The Oklahoma legislature has passed a bill that institutes a tax on the sun and wind (distributed generation). Beginning November 1, 2014, residents who use solar or wind energy and want to connect their renewable energy to the grid, must begin paying a “solar surcharge” to utilities for the privilege. The bill was signed into law on April 21 (notably …

Electricity, Legislation, Opinion, Solar

Microalgae Project Underway in Portugal

Joanna Schroeder

A one-hectare pilot project for the production of microalgae is under construction in Portugal. The facility will demonstrate, what a consortium of biotechnology experts say, is an innovative approach to produce microalgae biomass with biodiesel validation in a sustainable manner. The demonstration pilot facility is one of the milestones expected from the Integrated Sustainable Algae (InteSusAl) project. The project aims …

advanced biofuels, algae, biomass, International

EPA Announces People, Prosperity, Planet Winners

Joanna Schroeder

Seven winners of the People, Prosperity and Planet (P3) competition were announced as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 10th annual National Sustainable Design Expo recently held in Washington, D.C. The phase II awards are for innovative and sustainable designs created to help solve today’s environmental problems. “As we mark the 10th year of the National Sustainable Design …

bioenergy, biomaterials, Environment, Renewable Energy