2013-05-17T15:36:20Z
EU Should Scrap Energy Subsidies to Fight Warming, Poland Says
The European Union should scrap fossil fuel and renewable energy subsidies and set a target to cut oil imports to remain the leader in the fight against global warming, according to Poland's environment minister.2013-05-17T14:28:01Z
Senate Committee Passes Geothermal Leasing Measure
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met Thursday, May 16th, to vote on a series of measures that included S. 363, The Geothermal Expansion and Production Act. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Wyden (D-OR), and co-sponsored by Senators Murkowski (R-AK), Begich (D-AK), Crapo (R-ID), Risch (R-ID) and Merkley (D-OR).2013-05-17T12:17:00Z
Fracking and Solar: Friends, Foes or the Bridge to Clean Energy Adoption?
Hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” has been widely criticized by environmentalists who cite concerns with water pollution and methane leakage from this high-volume method of extracting natural gas. However, the burning of natural gas is undoubtedly better for the planet than the burning of coal. Some experts are now saying that — toxic chemicals an2013-05-17T12:00:00Z
Brazil Auction Rules May Boost Price of Wind Power 15%
Prices for wind energy in Brazil, currently the lowest in the world, may rise at least 15 percent due to government policies designed to make the nation's power grid more reliable.2013-05-17T12:00:00Z
No Easy Fix for Broken Wind Turbine at US High School
It's status quo for the Portsmouth High School wind turbine. On Monday night, town planner Gary Crosby informed the Town Council that negotiations ceased with two possible developers interested in fixing or replacing the 336-foot-high turbine, which has been broken since June 2012.2013-05-17T12:00:00Z
Breakdown: Penetration of Renewable Energy in Selected Markets
The penetration of renewable energy into the electricity supply mix has been much in the news recently. During the first quarter, Portugal generated three-quarters of its electricity with renewable energy. Meanwhile, in Germany, one-fifth of all electricity was generated with renewables, most of that from new sources of renewable energy, such as wind and solar. And recently, at a conference in San Francisco, attendees heard calls for generating not just 100 percent of electricity supply with renewable energy, but far more — 200 percent to 300 percent of generation — in order to meet the need for heating, cooling, and transportation as well.2013-05-17T12:00:00Z
Solar Under Assault Again in Louisiana
A slew of bills introduced in Louisiana’s legislature this year were challenging the state’s solar incentives. At least one of which, House Bill 705 to gradually phase out the state’s solar and wind tax credits by 2020, has moved forward. While that bill might make some sense, other bills, like a bill to eliminate tax credits immediately, seem to b2013-05-16T19:55:25Z
Moniz Unanimously Confirmed As New DOE Chief
Ernie Moniz has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary of Energy, in a 97-0 vote (with three nonvoters). He succeeds Stephen Chu who held the position for four years.2013-05-16T15:55:34Z
SolarCity Scores $500 Million from Goldman Sachs for Solar Leasing
SolarCity Corp. (SCTY), a solar-energy developer chaired by billionaire Elon Musk, won financing from Goldman Sachs (GS) Group Inc. for more than $500 million in rooftop solar systems that the company will complete this year.2013-05-16T15:36:06Z
China Solar Update: Trina Improves, Suntech Scores Extension, Beijing Awaits EU Tariff Decision
Several news bits from the solar sector show more signs of stabilization after a 2-year-old downturn, even as an ongoing trade war looks set to escalate. The big picture in these news bits does seem to reflect some cautious optimism returning to the sector after the prolonged downturn due to massive oversupply. But that turnaround remains very tent2013-05-16T14:36:37Z
US Solar 2013 Halftime Update: Victories and Ongoing Initiatives
2013 is nearly halfway through, so we'd like to share an update of Vote Solar initiatives and notable industry happenings from net metering to innovative financing.2013-05-16T13:17:35Z
Are Run-of-River Hydroelectric Systems Ready to Ride US Currents?
Reaping renewable energy from un-dammed portions of great American rivers like the Mississippi, Ohio, or even the Columbia is an idea that has been bandied about for decades.2013-05-16T12:00:00Z
SunPower To Launch Solar Leases Overseas
Distributed generation and international markets will be the twin focus for SunPower over the next few years as the company makes a big push for using its concentrating PV technology and selling residential leases abroad, SunPower executives said during its analyst day presentations Wednesday.2013-05-16T12:00:00Z
U.K. Delays Smart Meter Rollout by a Year on 'Challenge'
The U.K. postponed its mass installation of "smart" energy meters by a year as suppliers struggle with design glitches and testing is delayed.2013-05-15T18:02:25Z
Solar PV Inverter Giant SMA Cutting Workforce Amid Sales Slide
Global inverter leader SMA AG cast a downward glance in its fiscal 1Q13 results today, and is preparing for what could be major layoffs in the face of the global PV market's first decline in many years.2013-05-15T14:21:00Z
Efficiency New Brunswick Cuts Geothermal Energy Incentives
Throughout Canada, energy efficiency retrofit grants have helped stimulate the geothermal industry and have made geothermal heat pumps more popular than ever before. The introduction of these substantial financial incentives on both a provincial and federal level have been a boon for the geothermal industry and the energy efficiency retrofit indust2013-05-15T13:56:14Z
Ireland Keen to Hit 2030 Renewable Targets, Says EU Ambassador
Irish Ambassador to the European Union Tom Hanney is in the throes of a six month stint at the heart of decision making in Brussels, as Ireland currently holds the EU Presidency. The Deputy Permanent Representative says holding the Presidency is "a marathon, from January to June."2013-05-15T12:00:00Z
SolarCity Earnings: Mixed Results, Good Prospects
SolarCity (SCTY) has been one of the hottest alternative energy stocks since its Initial Public Offering five short months ago. Yesterday it shot up 24% in one day, on the largest one-day volume since it opened, in anticipation of its quarterly earnings release. It is up 95% in the past three months, and has more than tripled from its initial trading price. As of this writing SCTY has given back about a third of yesterday's stratospheric gains.2013-05-15T12:00:00Z
The Economic Case for Divesting from Fossil Fuels
Securities of fossil fuels firms, as an economic sector, may soon be on the decline.2013-05-15T12:00:00Z
US Solar PV Manufacturer Suniva Plans Expansion
It's been a tough several years for solar PV manufacturing. The common refrain has been that Chinese competition has undercut solar cells and modules made elsewhere to the point of market instability. That's why the U.S. laid out penalties on Chinese solar imports last year, and why Europe is positioning to do so now.