Legislation has been re-introduced in Congress that would give investors in renewable energy projects access to a corporate structure currently only available for fossil fuel-based energy projects. The Master Limited Partnerships (MLP) Parity Act modifies the federal tax code by helping additional energy-generation and renewable fuels companies form master limited partnerships, which combine the funding advantages of corporations and the …
Farm Bill Energy Title Introduced in Senate
Legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill energy title was introduced in the Senate Monday. Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Rural Energy Investment Act to “help farmers, ranchers, and rural communities by encouraging the growth of agricultural energy technologies, including advanced biofuels, biogas, biomass, and renewable energies.” “These energy programs are essential for expanding clean energy …
New Wind Turbine for Low Wind Sites
Northern Power Systems has launched two new wind turbine models specifically designed for low wind sites. The NPS 60-23 and the NPS 100-24 are based on the NPS 100-21 platform, but according to the company, leverage product features that produce higher energy capture in low winds while reducing the noise profile of the turbine. To date, more than 20 of …
Study Shows Ethanol Reducing Footprint
A new study indicates that ethanol production is continuing to reduce its energy and environmental footprint. The study, entitled “2012 Corn Ethanol: Emerging Plant Energy and Environmental Technologies”, found that recent innovations in corn ethanol production have resulted in increased yield per bushel even as less energy is required for production. Thermal energy use at a typical dry mill ethanol …
CEC Debuts First Community-Owned Solar Project
The Clean Energy Collective (CEC) has cut the ribbon on the first community-owned solar array resulting from the Community Solar Garden Act. The 2010 Colorado legislation was sponsored by Representative Clair Levy as a means to encourage locally-produced clean energy. The Boulder Cowdery Meadows Solar Array was built on 3.5 acres of land located in South Boulder County and the …
Abengoa to Construct Cogeneration Plant in Texas
Abengoa has been selected by Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P.to construct a cogeneration plant in Texas. The project will require an investment of approximately US$30 million and will create approximately 50 construction jobs. Abengoa will carry out the engineering, design and construction of the cogeneration plant under a lump sum turnkey contract (EPC) over 18 months. The cogeneration plant is expected to …
FREIF Adds Two Mexican Wind Farms to Portfolio
The First Reserve Energy Infrastructure Fund (FREIF I) of First Reserve and Renovalia Energy have announced the expansion of their Renovalia Reserve joint venture with the addition of two wind power plants in Southern Mexico. The investments diversify the Renovalia Reserve portfolio beyond Europe into North America and nearly double the power capacity of the wind farm assets worldwide. Financial …
Mosaic Releases Large Solar Project for Investment
Mosaic, an online marketplace that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, has released its largest solar project to date with $700k in investment opportunities. This is the company’s second project in its Golden State Series, a $100 million series of solar investments available to residents of California. Mosaic’s first offering, a $153,000 project for a charity in San Diego, sold …
Facebook Blows Into Iowa with the Wind
According to a story from Radio Iowa, Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook, was in Altoona, Iowa earlier this week to officially announce they will be constructing a 476,000 square-foot data center. One of the reasons cited for the social media giant to choose Iowa: it’s commitment to renewable energy including wind energy. Parikh said the company …
Ski Area Powered by Renewables
It’s spring and most people are tired of the snow, but not Berkshire East, who has completed a solar installation that enables the Massachusetts family ski run area to be powered entirely from onsite renewable energy. The year-round resort recently developed a 500kW solar tracker farm that will produce 700,000kWh annually. The solar farm will supplement a 900kW wind turbine …