Former president Bush promotes renewable energy
UK on Course to Reap Massive Renewable Energy Harvest
8 States Offering Homeowners Solar Energy Rebates
Ohio and Oklahoma Lawmakers Approve Clean Energy Bills
Wind Energy Becoming More Competitive
Indiana Seeks Opportunities At Texas Wind Conference
Xcel Energy to Buy 250 Mw from Colorado Wind Farm
Kan. Could Have 30000 Green Jobs by 2012
Oklahoma House Approves Renewable Energy Target
Texas hits renewable energy targets 15 years early
Former president promotes renewable energy in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Former President George W. Bush recently promoted the use of renewable energy at a convention in Dallas. As reported by the Dallas Morning News, Bush gave a speech at the Windpower 2010 Convention held Thursday at the Dallas Convention Center.
Bush is quoted in the report as stating of the use of tax incentives for businesses for investing in renewable energy technology, “If you’re interested in developing industry, keep your taxes low.”
Bush is further quoted as stating of Texas’ efforts in promoting wind energy production, including the passage of legislation in 1999, “There’s a big difference in the talkers and the doers…Here in Texas, we’re the doers.” Texas has reportedly produced 9,000 megawatts of wind energy over the course of the last decade.
UK on Course to Reap Massive Renewable Energy Harvest
Independent study says North Sea wind and wave power could make Britain the ‘Saudi Arabia of renewable energy’
The review by independent consultants for the Offshore Valuation Group estimates that by 2050 the UK could generate the equivalent in electricity to the 1bn barrels of oil and gas being produced annually offshore.
It looks at different likely scenarios for growth of the industry with even the most conservative – 13% resource utilisation, producing 78 gigawatts of power – which would provide half of the UK’s electricity demand. A more ambitious scenario, using 29% of resources would see 170GW installed and would make Britain a net exporter of electricity.
8 States Offering Homeowners Solar Energy Rebates
As of this writing, at least 34 states offered incentives and rebates to pay for part and sometimes most costs related to installing a solar energy or heating system on their homes.
California: The rebates are part of the $3.2 billion California Solar Initiative.
New Jersey: offers three homeowner rebates for installing solar. Homeowners purchasing solar systems and related materials built in New Jersey can qualify for even greater rebates
Connecticut: offers solar rebates to homeowners. the rebates are based on system efficiency.
Maryland: offers homeowners incentives for installing photovoltaics and solar hot water systems.
Massachusetts: offers rebates for up to $10,500 in state-financed rebates for a photovoltaic system.
Minnesota: offers three solar rebate programs: a rebate for installing a solar thermal heating system, a solar thermal water heater rebate under the same terms, and a rebate for installing PV systems.
Colorado: a $1.50 rebate per watt of installed residential solar power, up to $3,000. The same applies for solar hot water systems.
New Hampshire: rebates for solar water heating or air heating and for photovoltaic or wind installations.
Ohio and Oklahoma Lawmakers Approve Clean Energy Bills
to encourage the development of renewable energy projects.
Around 35 US states now operating under some form of renewable energy standard for utilities to achieve, whether compulsory or voluntary.
Oklahoma The legislation creates a Renewable Energy Standard that will require 15% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources including wind, solar, geothermal energy or efficiency measures within five years.
Ohio: to ensure a competitive tax environment for Ohio wind and solar development; critical to bringing Ohio’s tax on wind and solar development in line with surrounding states
Wind Energy Becoming More Competitive
New research and improved developments have resulted in wind turbines that are nearly 100 times more powerful than the previous versions. Contemporary wind turbines utilize sophisticated materials, electronics, and aerodynamics. Furthermore, costs have declined significantly, which makes wind power more competitive with other energy sources.
Indiana Seeks Opportunities At Texas Wind Conference
The state will attempt to recruit businesses and jobs at a conference and trade show for wind energy development and components manufacturing.
The American Wind Energy Association hosts the conference and exhibition. The event is expected to have more than 1,300 exhibitors and 23,000 attendees from around the nation and world.
The state will have a booth at the convention and members of the state delegation plan to pitch opportunities in Indiana to company executives in meetings.
Indiana ranked second in nation to Texas in 2009 for installing wind systems that could produce the largest amount of power, according to the AWEA.
The state’s wind development conference, WIndiana, will be held July 21 and 22 in Indianapolis.
Xcel Energy to Buy 250 Mw from Colorado Wind Farm
BP Wind Energy announced a 25-year power purchase agreement with Xcel’s Public Service Company of Colorado on Wednesday. Financial terms weren’t released. It expects to start building the wind farm this summer about 20 miles north of New Raymer, east of the existing 300-megawatt Cedar Creek I wind farm.
Kan. Could Have 30000 Green Jobs by 2012
Kansas has the potential to create up to 10,000 “green” jobs in the next two years, adding to the 20,000 people already working in that sector, according to a new state survey.
The report said the largest increases were expected in renewable energy, up 121 percent; energy efficiency, up 57 percent; and clean transportation and fuels, up 37 percent.
“The survey shows clearly that the future demand for green skills and knowledge is significantly greater than the current demand,” Thornton said. “That is good information to have as we consider future training efforts.”
Oklahoma House Approves Renewable Energy Target
The bill creates a renewable energy target for Oklahoma. Under the bill, 15% of all electricity generated within the state by the year 2015 would be generated from renewable energy sources.
Texas hits old, 2001, renewable energy targets 15 years early
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said on Friday that there was a record increase in voluntary participation in the state’s renewable energy certificate program in 2009.
With more than 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity on the Texas grid – mostly wind power – the state has reached its 2025 target 15 years early, and has doubled the target set for 2015.
with hydropower facilities providing 507,507MWh, 412,926MWh from landfill gas, 73,364MWh from biomass, 4,492MWh from solar power facilities, and wind farms generated very nearly 20.6 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable energy in 2009.