Bison Wind Energy Center Wins Award

Joanna Schroeder

Minnesota Power’s Bison Wind Energy Center in North Dakota was voted the best wind project of the year at the 2013 POWER-GEN International Conference. According to Minnesota Power spokespeople, this award is considered the industry’s top honor for a new wind generation project. “It’s gratifying to be honored by your peers for conceiving and completing a world-class renewable energy project,” …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Wind

November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook

Joanna Schroeder

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released its November 2013 Short-Term Energy Outlook and Winter Fuels Outlook. The report comes at the same time the 2013 World Energy Outlook was released by the International Energy Agency. Here are some highlights from the report: The weekly U.S. average regular gasoline retail price has fallen by more than 40 cents per …

biofuels, Electricity, Energy, Natural Gas, Oil, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Call for EU Climate & Energy Framework

Joanna Schroeder

Eight European companies are calling for a strong 2030 EU climate and energy framework based on mutually reinforcing tools and targets, including an ambitious and legally binding target for the share of renewable energy in the energy mix of more than 30 percent. Collectively, the group represents 176,000 jobs and over EUR250 billion annual turnover and is providing cleaner generation …

International, Renewable Energy, Wind

U.S. Electricity Mix is Changing

Joanna Schroeder

According to the most recent Today in Energy published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the mix of fuels used to generate the electricity in homes, factories and businesses across the U.S. has changed over the past few years. While coal remains in the lead, with all the grassroots efforts around ending coal use and as a result the …

Alternative energy, Electricity, Hydro, Solar, Wind

Sustainable Roadmap for Jamaica Released

Joanna Schroeder

The Worldwatch Institute has released the report, “Jamaica Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Pathways to an Affordable, Reliable, Low-Emission Electricity System,” that looks at the measures that the Jamaican government can take to transition its electricity sector to one that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable. The report also analyzes the potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment in Jamaica and …

bioenergy, Electricity, International, Solar, Wind

Energy Title “Vital” in Farm Bill

Joanna Schroeder

More than 40 bipartisan House and Senate members including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representatives Dave Loebsack (D-2-IA) and Aaron Schock (R-18-IL), sent “Dear Colleague” letters to Farm Bill Conference leaders stressing the vital importance of the energy title (Title IX). In response, the Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) praised the legislator’s letter of support. “The energy …

Agribusiness, Alternative energy, biofuels, farm bill, Solar, Wind

Legislation Introduced to Support Renewable Electricity

Joanna Schroeder

U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Udall (D-CO) have introduced a bill that if passed, would establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The bill would require utilities to generate 25 percent of their power from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2025. The first cousins, say the bill would create jobs, reduce pollution, reduce dependence on …

Electricity, Legislation, Renewable Energy, Solar, Wind

Wind Farms in Northern Cape Move Forward

Joanna Schroeder

Three large-scale wind energy projects in the Northern Cape, South Africa with a total generation capacity of 300 megawatts is moving forward and on track to be fully operational in mid-2014. A consortium led by global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power has been awarded Preferred Bidder by the Department of Energy in South Africa. The award was made …

Electricity, International, Renewable Energy, Wind

Renewable Energy in Mining Industry to Reach $4B

Joanna Schroeder

According to a new report, “Renewable Energy in the Mining Industry” the worldwide market for renewable energy systems in the mining industry will grow from $210.5 million in 2013 to $3.9 billion in 2022. Today, less than 0.1 percent of power consumed by the mining industry is generated from renewable energy; yet, mining operations consume enormous amounts of power- as …

Electricity, Renewable Energy, Research, Wind