News
Category:
Energy Policy
New England plan to buy renewable power as a region is held up by patchy rules
March 31, 2013 in Associated Press
March 31, 2013 in Associated Press
By offering long-term contracts to wind and solar power suppliers, New England states would virtually guarantee financing for renewable power projects.
However, not all of the six New England states are joining the regional effort, the only such endeavor in the country. New Hampshire is not participating, and Maine and Vermont disagree with Connecticut over whether hydropower and biomass count as renewable energy.
On Friday, Galbraith argued that the significance of that assessment and report should not be downplayed. Armed with information from the study, lawmakers could revisit the wind-power legislation in their next session starting in January.
"Then, we have our bite at the apple," Galbraith said.
He also pointed out that the bill still contains a provision banning wind turbines -- or any other commercial development -- on state land.
Also filed under [
Vermont]
The £9million bonus bonanza dished out to green energy bureaucrats
March 30, 2013 by Daniel Martin in Daily Mail
March 30, 2013 by Daniel Martin in Daily Mail
Bureaucrats in charge of the Government's controversial green policies have benefited from a multi-million-pound bonus bonanza since the last election.
The total amount of performance-related handouts given to civil servants at the Department for Energy and Climate Change has almost tripled since Labour's final year in office to £9million.
Also filed under [
UK]
A third more Scottish wind turbines built in one year
March 28, 2013 by Simon Johnson in The Telegraph
March 28, 2013 by Simon Johnson in The Telegraph
The true pace at which wind farms are spreading across Scotland's countryside has been disclosed after official figures indicated the number of turbines increased by a third in the last year alone. ...Struan Stevenson, a Scottish Tory MEP, said the DECC figures were "perfectly symbolic of how pathetically useless and inefficient the whole technology of wind is."
Also filed under [
UK]
Proposed bill to allow people to sue over wind turbine damages
March 28, 2013 in Wisconsin Ag Connection
March 28, 2013 in Wisconsin Ag Connection
"This bill makes it easier for families that have been hurt by industrial wind turbines to receive compensation for their losses," Senator Lasee said. "It is unconscionable for a family that has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in their home that they have lived in for years to be forced to move because an industrial wind tower is built nearby. Or wish that they could move and just can't afford it."
EU sees risks to meeting 2020 renewable energy target
March 28, 2013 by Alessandro Torello in Wall Street Journal
March 28, 2013 by Alessandro Torello in Wall Street Journal
European countries must do more if they are to succeed in meeting their targets to increase the use of renewable energy by 2020, the European Union's executive body said Wednesday, warning that failure to meet the targets would have "major consequences." ...but many voices, including the EU, are starting to call for phasing out incentives, to leave the sector operating more freely according to market dynamics.
Also filed under [
Europe]
Failure to meet the deadline will result in non-compliance costs potentially amounting to between €100m and €150m per year, for each percentage shortfall in renewable energy, and a further €250m in emissions permit purchases.
Also filed under [
Ireland]
Instead the Senate voted 23-1 to establish two study committees to review the state Site Evaluation Committee's ability and capacity to do its job and the criteria for siting wind farms.
Also filed under [
New Hampshire]
Bulgaria to suspend up to 40% of wind, solar power capacity
March 27, 2013 by Ladka Bauerova in Bloomberg News
March 27, 2013 by Ladka Bauerova in Bloomberg News
Bulgaria's grid is suffering from power overloads caused by a rapid increase in wind and solar capacity coupled with decreasing domestic consumption in the face of a weak economy. Protests against high electricity bills and poverty toppled the government of Boyko Borissov on Feb. 20.
Also filed under [
Europe]
Legislation gives Northern Pass project a pass, foes insist
March 27, 2013 by Dave Soloman in New Hampshire Union Leader
March 27, 2013 by Dave Soloman in New Hampshire Union Leader
"We didn't want to make a blanket decision to stop all SEC applications," said Prescott. "We made a decision to stop the filings for wind energy because there are many imminent issues. They are right on our doorstep. The decisions are going to be made soon.
Also filed under [
New Hampshire]
The 24-6 vote came after a much closer series of votes on an amendment to remove provisions requiring greater consideration of town and regional plans when the Public Service Board reviews energy projects.
Also filed under [
Vermont]
Foes of mountaintop wind power in Vermont were dealt a setback Tuesday when a bill calling for more study of large-scale renewable energy development was significantly reduced in scope.
Though the bill won preliminary approval in the Senate, it was only after provision calling for a slowdown of such development was scaled back, then removed completely.
Also filed under [
Vermont]
US FERC takes Idaho PUC to court over wind power qualifying facility contracts
March 25, 2013 by Esther Whieldon in Platts
March 25, 2013 by Esther Whieldon in Platts
FERC claims the PUC violated the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act when it held that Idaho Power was not obligated to buy from a number of wind generators because the utility did not sign the QF contracts prior to December 14, 2010, which was when the QF qualification threshold dropped to 100 kW from 10 MW.
A rapid expansion of renewable power would be complicated and costly. Using large amounts of renewable energy often requires modifying national power grids, and renewable energy is still generally more expensive than using fossil fuels.
Also filed under [
USA]
David Schnare: We're putting global warming on trial in Colorado
March 22, 2013 in Energy Policy Center
March 22, 2013 in Energy Policy Center
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 [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
Europe]
Proposed changes to Connecticut's RPS could be bad news for wind energy
March 21, 2013 in North American Windpower
March 21, 2013 in North American Windpower
That means large-scale hydropower could fulfill the requirement currently reserved for renewable energy resources like wind and solar. Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy already made it clear that wind power would not play a large role in efforts to meet the state's RPS. ...role in efforts to meet the state's RPS.
"In Connecticut, where we have limited in-state wind potential, and the New England region as a whole, high transmission costs are barriers to capturing the full potential of wind resources."
Also filed under [
Connecticut]
RGGI money eyed by NH House for low-income families
March 21, 2013 by Garry Raymo in New Hampshire Union Leader
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 [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
New Hampshire]
SEC changes met with skepticism in Senate
March 20, 2013 by Sam Evans-Brown in New Hampshire Public Radio
March 20, 2013 by Sam Evans-Brown in New Hampshire Public Radio
Opponents of Wind Farms and of Northern Pass are backing an effort to explicitly require the state's Site Evaluation Committee to consider effects on view sheds, home values, opinions of town governments and other factors, when permitting new energy projects.
Also filed under [
New Hampshire]
With project proposals popping up with increased frequency, supporters of the idea said a step back would be a thoughtful move.
"This is not about thumbs up or thumbs down on any specific project, it's looking at the process by which we approve them," said Sen. Andy Sanborn, R-Bedford.
Also filed under [
New Hampshire]
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