U.S. Representative Bob Filner has introduced the “Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2012 (PTC)” that would allow Americans to invest billions of dollars to help develop clean energy technologies. The bill has good support: 10 co-sponsors, Green America and more than 40 other institutions have come out in support of the legislation. The majority of the production tax credits …
Carrots Go From Orange to Green
If carrots go green will they still help your eyesight? You bet. Grimway Enterprises, the largest carrot grower in the U.S., is going solar with plans to install 3.4 megawatts of solar energy. Grimway will be installing solar projects at five of its production sites located throughout San Joaquin Vally in California. Construction is underway at three of the sites …
New Heating Oil Rail Facility Opens in East
A new heating oil rail facility has official opened in Yaphank, Rhode Island owned and operated by Ultra Green. The terminal will receive diesel fuel produced from vegetable oils or other fats and then will blend the fuel with traditional heating oil to create Bioheat. The biodiesel will be delivered in rail cars and the facility can store up to 250,000 gallons on …
‘Houses’ Furnished by IKEA Now Include Solar
IKEA has made a name for itself through the sale of neat, affordable household items. A trendsetter in home fashion, IKEA is now on the path to become a trendsetter when it comes to integrating solar into a home’s decor, but maybe not in the way you would think. Over the past few weeks, IKEA has installed solar energy systems …
Blue Earth Secures Solar PV Project in Hawaii
Blue Earth has acquired the rights to build a $2 million, ground mounted, 497 kilowatt solar PV project in Hawaii. The company has created a Special Purpose Entity, Waianae PV-2, for the project. The subsidiary will engineer, construct, own, operate and maintain the solar PV plant. Blue Earth has a power purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). Hawaii has …
Government May Be Key to Solar Success
According to a new report by GBI Research, “Solar Thermal Power Market to 2020,” it will take worldwide government support to have a major impact on the renewable energy industry. Government attitudes to solar thermal power, or concentrated solar power (CSP), will be a key determinant to the future success of the market, which today, has a high cost of …
Raise Carbon Price
The European wind power industry is backing a proposal submitted by the European Commission to increase the price of carbon. This would be accomplished by delaying the auctioning of carbon allowances through the Emission Trading System (ETS). This action must be approved by Member States and the European Parliament. “The European Commission has finally taken the first step towards boosting …
Ball State Begins Final Phase of Geothermal System
Ball State is the home of the country’s largest geothermal system. This week the university began the second and final phase of converting to a geothermal ground-source heat pump system. The project began in 2009 and the first phase was completed earlier this year and now provides heating and cooling to nearly half the campus. Upon completion, the conversion should …
Wind O&M Market Forecast to Double
The wind operations and maintenance services (O&M) market is forecast to nearly double by 2025 from approximately $3 billion in 2012 to nearly $6 billion in 2025. Also according to a recent report from IHS Emerging Energy Research on U.S. Wind O&M Strategies, O&M is expected to account for over one-third of total capital expenditures over the next decade. In …
Offshore Wind Energy in Europe Doubles
Yesterday I wrote about the progress of an offshore wind project in the UK, the Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstration project. Today The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has said that 2012 could be the best year ever for offshore wind energy in Europe. Just this year 532.2 megawatts (MW) or 132 offshore wind turbines have been connected to the grid …