www.windaction.org

Ag industry concerned about renewable energy bill that would increase electricity costs
April 27, 2013 by Eric Brown in Greeley Tribune

"This would just be terrible for the dairies around here," said Weld County Commissioner and Platteville-area farmer Doug Rademacher, who added that Weld County's five-member Board of County Commissioners has spoken out against Senate Bill 252. "It would really be disastrous for all of ag. A farmer told me the other day this could increase his electricity costs for (groundwater) pumping by about $8,000 per month."

Also filed under [ Colorado]

U.S. States turn against renewable energy as gas plunges
April 23, 2013 by Christopher Martin in Bloomberg News

Sixteen of the 29 states with renewable portfolio standards are considering legislation that would reduce the need for wind and solar power, according to researchers backed by the U.S. Energy Department. North Carolina lawmakers may be among the first to move, followed by Colorado and Connecticut. ...Repealing the state's RPS policy "would help increase disposable income, attract more business investment and make energy more affordable for consumers."

Also filed under [ USA]

Exelon falls from green favor as chief fights wind aid
April 1, 2013 by Jim Snyder & Julie Johnsson in Bloomberg News

Also filed under [ USA]

Sen. Lamar Alexander still tilting at wind energy
April 1, 2013 by Paul C. Barton in The Tennessean

"I will continue my efforts to get rid of the 20-year-old, multi-billion-dollar subsidy for unreliable, expensive wind energy that stands no chance of powering our nation's 21st century economy." ...Perhaps just as important, Alexander said, wind turbines would scar the mountaintops of Tennessee, the only place in the state where they can work.

Also filed under [ USA| Tennessee]

Renewable energy losing its shine in Europe
March 22, 2013 by Sumi Somaskanda in USA TODAY

Generous subsidies for renewable energy in Europe widespread. Europe's debt crisis has many nations focused on costs, not climate change. Rocketing prices, infrastructure challenges, budget cutbacks paring renewables push.

Also filed under [ Europe]

RGGI money eyed by NH House for low-income families
March 21, 2013 by Garry Raymo in New Hampshire Union Leader

However, some members wanted to see the program repealed, including House Republican Alliance co-chair Rep Pam Tucker, R-Greenland. ...Over the past two years, the House voted to repeal RGGI, while the Senate wanted to modify the program. Two years ago, the bill died when the Senate failed to override former Gov. John Lynch's veto.

Also filed under [ New Hampshire]

Surplus wind power could cost Ontario ratepayers up to $200 million: IESO
February 27, 2013 by John Spears in Toronto Star

Surplus wind power could cost Ontario ratepayers millions and compromise power system, says electricity system operator. It says renewable energy market rules must change. ...The IESO has drawn up new rules that will allow it to shut output from wind and solar operators ...The renewable power generators are fighting the new rules vigorously.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Texas' wind industry battens down
February 14, 2013 by Kate Galbraith in The Texas Tribune

As the session progresses, renewable energy advocates are bracing to defend critical policies that have helped Texas become the leading wind-power state. The ascendancy of the Tea Party, an abundance of cheap natural gas and tighter budgets have reduced the sway of the wind industry. Solar power advocates anticipate limited gains at best.

Also filed under [ Texas]

Too much cash for wind farms: study
February 4, 2013 in Free Press

In the report, released on Monday, the authors say wind energy "will never be suited as the lone or primary source of grid electricity due to its variable nature and will not deliver the environmental benefits expected".

Also filed under [ UK]

Despite dawn of a new term, forecast cloudy for energy and enviro issues
January 22, 2013 by Nick Juliano, Jean Chemnick and Phil Taylor in E&E News

Fresh off their successful push to extend a key tax break in the PTC, wind industry lobbyists are beginning to prepare for the tax reform fight. But the push for some longer-term certainty will proceed without at least one key ally in Congress. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) says the one-year extension and expansion of the PTC that were included in this month's "fiscal cliff" legislation should be sufficient for the industry.

Also filed under [ USA]

Lawsuit: Obama steered tens of millions to green energy cronies
January 11, 2013 in Bloomberg News

"Defendants used the ATVM loan program as nothing more than a veil to steer hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to government cronies," according to the district court complaint. Today's lawsuits are the latest challenge to clean-energy loan programs administered by the Energy Department, which has come under scrutiny over a $535 million loan guarantee to now-bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra.

Also filed under [ USA]

Xcel Energy clarifies wind energy position after lobbyist implies doubt
January 8, 2013 by Leslie Brooks Suzukamo in Pioneer Press

Xcel won't need more wind energy until 2019 at the earliest, because it has built up a sufficient storehouse of wind energy, Xcel spokeswoman Mary Sandok said. Xcel will revive its idea for a consumer renewable credit with Congress this year when lobbying begins anew on extending the production tax credit beyond 2013.

Also filed under [ Minnesota]

Dems dig in against spending cuts to clean-energy programs
January 7, 2013 by Zack Colman in The Hill

Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), a second-term lawmaker who opposes energy credits, said he believes Congress "can get rid of a big swath" of energy subsidies. "I've spent the first two years in Congress talking about these market distortions," Pompeo told The Hill. "This is the stuff that five years ago wasn't even talked about. I think we've made a lot of progress in getting awareness."

Also filed under [ USA]

PSB report criticizes renewable credit sales
December 14, 2012 by John Dillon in Vermont Public Radio

The PSB recommends that the renewable energy credits be retired - and not re-sold to polluting power companies. The board says that because RECs are sold in the regional market, utilities in other states can use them to offset their own emissions.

Also filed under [ Vermont]

Sen. Alexander: Double DOE research funding, end wind credit to grow revenues
December 4, 2012 by Zack Colman in The Hill

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Congress should double the Energy Department's (DOE) research and development funding to generate breakthroughs that would reduce oil dependency and close the federal deficit. Alexander said he would pay for part of that $6 billion bump by eliminating a tax incentive for wind power production that he has long opposed.

Also filed under [ USA]

Ontario loses WTO ruling on green energy policies: reports
October 16, 2012 by Richard Blackwell in Globe and Mail

If the preliminary report stands, Ontario might have to dismantle parts of its controversial "feed-in-tariff" program that pays high prices to producers of wind and solar power, as long as they buy a certain proportion of their equipment in the province.

Also filed under [ Canada]

Germany hikes electricity charge to finance renewables
October 15, 2012 by Richard Carter in Yahoo News

In total, the network operators hope to collect more than 20 billion euros to subsidise renewable energies. ..."The increase in this charge is manageable for many households, but there are also very poor, low-income households which could be negatively affected by this type of price rise," she said.

Also filed under [ Germany]

PPL Montana officials discuss potential shutdown of Corette plant
September 22, 2012 by Tom Howard in Billings Gazette

After PPL Montana announced a plan to mothball its J.E. Corette power plant in Billings, likely eliminating 35 jobs and dealing a blow to the local economy, some blamed federally subsidized wind power as the culprit. ..."The wind was brought in to create jobs and to clear carbon emissions, but they've done neither," Winger said. "We're subsidizing a type of industry that can't make it on its own and replacing jobs with unsustainable work."

Also filed under [ USA| Montana]

Renewable incentives spark debate at Texas hearing
September 7, 2012 by Kate Galbraith in Texas Tribune

"Federal incentives for renewable energy, I believe, have distorted the competitive wholesale market" on the Texas grid, Nelson told the Senate Natural Resources Committee. Nelson said she believes those distortions are "one of the primary causes" of the current strains on the grid, and added: "I think we all need to move with extreme caution before adopting any additional incentives or mandates."

Also filed under [ Texas]

Not in Kansas anymore: Politics threaten state's wind energy market
September 6, 2012 by Kimberly Svaty in North American Windpower

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Kansas is leading the U.S. in new wind farm installations this year. By the end of the year, eight new utility-scale wind projects will come online - representing approximately $3 billion in new investment - and the state will have more than doubled its installed wind power by adding 1.489 GW of new wind power capacity.

Also filed under [ Kansas]

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