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Wind credit backers floating on the tide of fiscal talks, hoping not to sink
December 2, 2012 by Nick Juliano in E&E News
December 2, 2012 by Nick Juliano in E&E News
There is little appetite in Congress to address the credit in isolation of the broader suite of tax-and-spending issues collectively known as the "fiscal cliff."
The current scenario leaves wind proponents hoping for the best but realizing there is little they can do to affect their prospects at this stage of the game.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Friday it is considering formally listing the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species.
The announcement begins a yearlong review ...Fish and Wildlife said it made the decision based on evidence the bird and its habitat are in decline.
Iberdrola shifts US focus to networks, not planning renewables sales
November 30, 2012 by Abby Gruen in SNL News
November 30, 2012 by Abby Gruen in SNL News
Spanish energy giant Iberdrola SA, faced with continuing fallout from the European sovereign debt crisis, is retrenching to preserve its financial flexibility. As it completes projects on its books, it is not planning new renewables investments in the U.S.
Baucus working feverishly to extend wind energy PTC this year
November 30, 2012 by Mark Del Franco in North American Windpower
November 30, 2012 by Mark Del Franco in North American Windpower
Spearheading a charge to secure an important tax incentive for wind energy is familiar territory for Baucus. Two years ago, he successfully extended the popular Section 1603 cash-grant program.
However, given Congress' fractured nature, it is unclear if even Baucus can garner enough support needed to extend the PTC.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Climate skeptic group works to reverse renewable energy mandates
November 25, 2012 by Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post
November 25, 2012 by Juliet Eilperin in The Washington Post
The Electricity Freedom Act, adopted by the council's board of directors in October, would repeal state standards requiring utilities to get a portion of their electricity from renewable power, calling it "essentially a tax on consumers of electricity." In the absence of federal climate legislation, these initiatives have become the subject of intense political battles.
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
FERC initiates unprecedented enforcement action against Idaho PUC
November 21, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
November 21, 2012 by Rocky Barker in Idaho Statesman
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will seek to enforce an earlier order against the Idaho Public Utilities Commission over wind power projects near Murphy.
The federal commission oversees electric and natural gas delivery policy. Its ruling says the Idaho commission violated federal law when it denied an appeal by developers for three Murphy Flat wind power projects.
Clipper chops South Coast jobs, operations
November 16, 2012 by Stephen Nellis in Pacific Coast Business Times
November 16, 2012 by Stephen Nellis in Pacific Coast Business Times
It is unclear how many jobs Clipper might shed. At its high point, the firm employed about 770 people. ...By February, Clipper will consist of “somewhere under 100 employees.” Clipper’s development operations have ceased, and it is likely that the only part of the company to live on will be servicing the proprietary gearboxes in its 739-turbine fleet, this person said.
Aerial photos of giant Google-funded solar farm caught in green energy debate
November 14, 2012 by Jakob Schiller in Wired Magazine
November 14, 2012 by Jakob Schiller in Wired Magazine
Barbara Boyle, a senior representative at the Sierra Club's regional field office in Sacramento, says Ivanpah could have been located at any number of other locations where it would have had less impact on the environment and the tortoises that live there.
Boyle says there are multiple areas in Southern California, including old dried-up agricultural lands and mining areas, that would have been more suitable.
Analysts believe retaining tax credits for any type of energy will be a hard fight during upcoming negotiations over the federal budget and fiscal cliff.
"Even if that battle is won, it is very unlikely that you will see an increase in support," said Sarah Ladislaw, an energy analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's like an all-out battle for the status quo."
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Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
U.S. redraws world oil map: Shale boom puts America on track to surpass Saudi Arabia in production by 2020
November 13, 2012 by Benoît Faucon and Keith Johnson in Wall Street Journal
November 13, 2012 by Benoît Faucon and Keith Johnson in Wall Street Journal
Four years ago, the perception of energy scarcity and rising concern about global warming led Mr. Obama to push for legislation capping greenhouse-gas emissions and to pump billions of federal dollars into green-energy companies. ...In Mr. Obama's second term, Republican control of the House makes any big climate-change legislation unlikely, and budget deficits will limit any effort to spend billions more on green-energy projects.
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Grassley: Senate will wait on tax extender package due to fiscal cliff talks
November 13, 2012 by Zack Colman in The Hill
November 13, 2012 by Zack Colman in The Hill
With Grassley signaling the Senate might idle on that $205 billion package, conservatives will have more time to mount efforts aimed at excising the wind credit.
Fiscal conservatives, such as Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), believe voting on the wind incentive separately would improve chances of killing it. They say it subsidizes an energy source that otherwise would be uncompetitive in energy markets.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
GOP senators accuse Interior of playing favorites in offshore wind deal
November 10, 2012 by Zack Colman in The Hill
November 10, 2012 by Zack Colman in The Hill
"The administration has a habit of picking energy-industry winners and losers, and we want an explanation. Secretary Salazar should at least be able to defend the economics of the lease sale for wind energy."
Also filed under [
Energy Policy|
USA]
Study finds physical, mental health effects from wind turbines
November 10, 2012 by Ariel Wittenberg in South Coast Today
November 10, 2012 by Ariel Wittenberg in South Coast Today
A recently released study of industrial wind turbines in Northern Maine has found they can cause sleep disturbances that result in physical and mental health issues in humans living as far as 4,500 feet away.
The study, published in the September-October issue of Noise and Health, is the first of its kind to be scientifically vetted and approved through the peer-review process.
Alternative energy backers go to court in Seabrook Station fight
November 10, 2012 by Jim Haddadin in Fosters Daily Democrat
November 10, 2012 by Jim Haddadin in Fosters Daily Democrat
The groups contend that alternative energy sources could eventually make the nuclear energy supplied by Seabrook Station unnecessary. ...When it dismissed the groups in March, the NRC indicated alternative energy technology must be viable today "or in the near future" in order for consideration.
Senator David Vitter, R-L, said that the decision to permit an offshore wind farm - while still ruling out oil and gas development in the area - is evidence that the Obama administration is "picking energy industry winners and losers."
"Sec. Salazar should at least be able to defend the economics of the lease sale for wind energy," Vitter said in a statement.
Obama win may bring tax credit renewal, but wind turbine maker plans more layoffs
November 9, 2012 in E&E News
November 9, 2012 in E&E News
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Vestas seeks 20 percent stake sale, cuts 3,000 more jobs
November 8, 2012 by Alex Morales in Business Week
November 8, 2012 by Alex Morales in Business Week
Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWS) is seeking to sell a stake of as much as 20 percent and said it's reducing headcount by 3,000 to raise the staff cuts by the biggest wind turbine maker to almost a third over two years.
Does the wind energy PTC stand a chance in lame-duck congress?
November 8, 2012 by Laura DiMugno in North American Windpower
November 8, 2012 by Laura DiMugno in North American Windpower
With President Barack Obama gaining a second term, the wind energy industry maintains key support from the Executive Branch. But as anyone familiar with energy politics knows, backing from the president alone will not guarantee full support for wind power at the federal level.
Also filed under [
Tax Breaks & Subsidies|
USA]
Vestas to cut 3,000 more jobs; reports 3Q loss
November 7, 2012 by Steve Lynn in Northern Colorado Business Report
November 7, 2012 by Steve Lynn in Northern Colorado Business Report
Vestas said Wednesday it would reduce its workforce by another 3,000 employees as the company reported a $225 million loss for the third quarter vs. a $77 million loss last year.
It did not say where the cuts could come.