Is, and should, natural gas be a viable partner in the movement to a low-carbon future? This was the question asked and answered in a new report published by the Worldwatch Institute and authored by Worldwatch Sustainable Energy Fellow Saya Kitasei. “Powering the Low-Carbon Economy: The Once and Future Roles of Renewable Energy and Natural Gas,” concludes that natural gas …
Wind Energy Powers COP-16
It is only fitting that wind energy would supply power to an environmental conference. The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16) is in full swing in Cancun, Mexico and renewable energies are taking center stage. Cancun’s windmill will produce 1.5 megawatts on each day, enough energy to power 1,500 houses. This according to the President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. …
FERC Attempts to Improve Grid Access for Solar & Wind
Earlier this month, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking aimed at removing barriers to the integration of wind and solar and other forms of alternative energies to the wholesale power grid. The 60 day comment period is in full swing and many in the wind industry are actively submitting comments. According to a FERC …
Book Review – Jolt!
The Age of Electric Cars is finally coming. Despite a stutter back in the late 90s when electric vehicle (EV) development came and went spurred by the passage and elimination of California zero emission policies, electric vehicles have come back. And if author James Billmaier is correct, in his book “JOLT! The Impending Dominance of the Electric Car,” they are …
How Loud Is A Wind Turbine?
There are several complaints that plague the wind industry including noise, visual impact and bird and bat mortality. Along with these complaints are sources that attempt to mitigate these issues. However, as with any emerging industry, the extent of negatives and positives are not known until later. That is why research is focused on answering these questions. For example, many …
Book Review – Smart Power
Tis the season to start thinking about electricity costs. Winter is on the horizon and with the holiday season comes holiday lights and holiday parties. As energy demand rises, how are the utilities going to keep up with demand? An important question as the country looks to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while at the same time needs to find a …
Largest Solar Project in Tennessee Begins
Jackson, Tennessee is about to become the home of the state’s largest solar farm. The new solar project is located at the American Drive Business Center and when completed in December of 2010, will consist of 4,914 Sharp solar modules manufactured at their Memphis facility and become the second 1 megawatt (MW) solar project within the seven-state Tennessee Valley Authority …
HyperSolar Announces Solar Cell Magnification Breakthrough
HyperSolar, Inc. has announced that their new solar design models have the potential to increase magnification by 300 percent. This would increase the power output of solar cells. “The higher the light magnification in the HyperSolar layer, the higher the power magnification of the attached solar cell. As part of our development plan, we are exploring various designs and microphotonic …
New Solar Farm in Taylorsville, NC Powers Homes
A new solar farm in Taylorsville, NC is up and running and powering numerous homes and businesses in the community served by EnergyUnited. The solar project consists of 4,224 photovoltaic (PV) panels that can generate enough energy to power 150 homes. Unlike some solar systems that are designed using conventional fixed-tilt technologies, this project uses a tracking systems to follow …
White House Highlights Federal Energy Successes
Many of you remember the solar panels that were installed on the White House during the 70s when our country was focused on reducing its dependence on foreign oil. Many of you will also remember when President Reagan removed the solar panels and moved our government’s focus away from energy independence. The White House announced that it is moving forward …