Massachusetts’ governor wants his state to significantly step up its wind energy efforts over the next decade. This story from RenewableEnergyWorld.com says Gov. Deval Patrick wants the state to produce 2,000 megawatts of wind energy by 2020, representing 10 percent of today’s electric load and a 300-fold increase from the current 6.6 megawatts currently produced in Massachusetts: “With the growing …
Show Features California’s Alt Energy Efforts
There was a fascinating show on PBS tonight that featured the various efforts in California to change how the state will meet some substantial challenges in its growing energy consumption, while reducing the amount of greenhouse gases pumped into the environment. The episode of Nova, entitled “The Big Energy Gamble” talked about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s aggressive plan to have one-third …
Feds Give Cape Cod Wind Project Thumbs Up
A 130 giant wind turbine project planned for off the shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts has received the green light from a key federal agency, but it still faces some opposition from one of its powerful neighbors. This story from the Boston Herald says the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service has given a preliminary approval to the …
Obama Makes Case for Wind & Other Renewables
An Ohio wind-turbine parts factory was the backdrop today as President-elect Barack Obama made his case to include renewable energy in his economic-stimulus package. The Wall Street Journal reports Obama made his push at the Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co. in a Cleveland suburb: Mr. Obama has pledged to double over three years the amount of U.S. wind, solar and …
Virginia Gov Proposes Incentives for Renewable Energy
Virginia’s governor is proposing a series of grants and tax credits to help renewable energy sources, such as biodiesel, ethanol, solar and wind energy, grow in his state… and grow the green jobs that come with those sources. This story from Virginia Business says Gov. Timothy M. Kaine sees the green jobs and renewable energy as a way out of …
Donors Build Alt Energy Institute at Stanford
One hundred million dollars has been donated to Stanford University for a new energy institute to find environmentally friendly energy sources. This article from Reuters says half of the money is coming from an oil executive… interesting, since the intent of the institute is to make renewable energy cheaper than petroleum: The new Precourt Institute for Energy is named after …
Obama, Congress Considering Alt Energy in Stimulus Bill
As leaders in Congress and President-elect Barack Obama look at another possible economic stimulus package, renewable energy sources, such as biodiesel, ethanol, solar and wind, look to get $25 billion in tax credits from the plan. This story from the Washington Post says the credits could come in either a single bill or a series of legislative moves: The main …
Philly Utility to Run on Wind, Biodiesel Power
A Philadelphia-based utility has announced plans to use wind and biodiesel power, along with more hybrid vehicles to help power its headquarters. This story from the Philadelphia Business Journal says Peco Energy Co. wants to buy enough wind-generated electricity to cover 15 percent of its power needs at its Center City Philadelphia headquarters through the end of 2011: The electric-and-gas …
Colorado State Hopes to Use 100% Wind
Colorado State University officials hope to one day power their school using 100 percent wind power. This story in the Fort Collins Coloradoan says the school plans to apply in February to put up an 8,000-acre wind farm that could power the entire university: CSU officials said earlier this year the wind farm could be operational in 2010. The wind …
Colorado Hands Out $620K in Ethanol, Biodiesel, Wind & Biomass Grants
The State of Colorado has handed out $620,000 in grants for research and development into a variety of renewable energy sources, including ethanol, biodiesel, biomass and wind energy. This press release from the state Department of Agriculture says the 14 grants have been hand out through the “Advancing Colorado’s Renewable Energy” (ACRE) program: “ACRE is a statewide effort to promote …