Policies & Regulations

U.S. China Partnership to Contribute $100M to Clean Energy Research

September 8, 2010
clean coal

Funding to be Used Towards Clean Coal & Clean Vehicles Research

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced last Thursday that two consortia – one led by the University of Michigan and one led by the West Virginia University – will receive a total of $25 million over the next five years under the U.S.-China Clean...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, China, Policies & Regulations, United States | 1 Comment »

White Roofs can Save $735 Million Per Year

September 1, 2010
white roofs

Energy Secretary mandates Energy Department to Install White Roofs

U.S. energy secretary Steven Chu, is urging Americans to help cool the planet and add money to their pockets by painting their roofs white, a color that reflects the highest amount of sunlight. In addition, he's mandating all Energy Department offices to install white roofs...Read more »

Posted in Architecture & Design, Energy Efficiency, Policies & Regulations, United States | 3 Comments »

France Plans Cut in Solar Feed-in Tariff

August 31, 2010
France solar feed-in tariff

France likely to cut Solar Feed-in Tariff by 12%

Beginning September 1, France will likely cut its solar feed-in tariff by 12%. The Ministry of Sustainable Development has a strong desire to slow demand and spending. A cutback in the solar feed-in tariff was expected, but the timing is earlier than had been predicted.

The solar...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, EU, Policies & Regulations, Solar Energy | 1 Comment »

California Energy Storage Bill AB 2514 Passes Out Of Assembly

August 30, 2010
california energy storage bill

Energy Storage Bill AB 2514 Waits for Governor to Sign into Law by September 30

On August 27th, California Energy Storage Bill AB 2514 passed out of the California State Assembly by a vote of 44-25. AB 2514 now sits in limbo as the Governor has until September 30th, 2010 to sign it into law....Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Energy Storage, Policies & Regulations, United States | 2 Comments »

Finland to Build World's first Carbon Neutral Green Highway

August 26, 2010
carbon neutral green highway Finland

Finland Green Highway to Feature Electric Charging and Biofuel Stations

Finland is going green by creating the world's first green highway. The country hopes that the carbon neutral highway will serve as a blueprint for other ecologically friendly highways across the world.

The 81-mile mile Finland green highway will feature charging stations for electric cars and...Read more »

Posted in Cars, EU, Green Construction, Policies & Regulations, Transportation | 8 Comments »

CA Approves First US Solar Thermal Plant

August 26, 2010
solar thermal plant

Beacon Solar Energy Project Solar Thermal Plant receives long awaited license

On Wednesday, the 250-megawatt Beacon Solar Energy project — America's first large-scale solar thermal plant in the past two decades — received a long-awaited license from the California Energy Commission.  NextEra Energy Resources, the company in charge of the solar thermal plant project, has...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Policies & Regulations, Solar Energy, Solar Thermal, United States | 2 Comments »

Illinois Implements Two New Solar Power Laws

August 24, 2010
Illinois solar energy laws

Democratic Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois signed last week two laws designed to increase utilization of solar power. One law encourages the state’s utilities to purchase more solar power, and the other requires Illinois homeowner organizations to inform prospective residents about their solar panel policies.

Illinois utilities are now required to purchase a mandatory half-percent...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Policies & Regulations, Solar Energy, United States | 3 Comments »

France Invests Billions in Renewable Energy Program

August 21, 2010
France renewable energy funding

France announced last week a massive government program, “Demonstrateurs Energies Renouvelables et Chimie Verte,” to support renewable energy to the tune of $1.75 billion (1.35 billion Euros).  Translated, the Renewable Energy and Green Chemistry Demonstration, as the program is called, will provide $577 million in government subsidies and another $1.15 billion in low-interest loans...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, EU, Policies & Regulations | 9 Comments »

Solar Renewable Energy Credit allows New Jersey Homeowners to Earn Big Money for Solar Power

August 17, 2010
residential solar renewable energy credits

Solar Renewable Energy Credit has recently made installing rooftop solar panels a very profitable upgrade for homeowners in New Jersey. Not only can New Jersey residents eliminate their monthly electric bills by installing solar panels on their roofs, they can also earn a surprising amount of income by selling the energy that these panels...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Market, Policies & Regulations, Residential, Solar Energy, United States | 5 Comments »

Arizona Lands Fifth Solar Firm Under New, Aggressive Incentive Program

August 13, 2010
Arizona solar

On the heels of its new ranking as the nation’s leader in renewable energy, Arizona has landed another solar energy company, this one a major supplier to Spanish solar generator Abengoa. Rioglass Solar today announced it will open its headquarters and North American solar manufacturing facility in Surprise, Arizona, making it the fifth...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, EU, Policies & Regulations, Solar Energy | 2 Comments »

Smart Grid Faces Roadblocks to Widespread Acceptance

August 12, 2010
smart meters

Despite all the buzz about the smart grid and its potential for improving energy consumption, industry regulators in Maryland and other states are questioning certain practical aspects of the smart grid implementation. Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), selected in October 2009 as one of only six utilities nationwide to receive the maximum $200 million...Read more »

Posted in Energy & Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Policies & Regulations, United States | 2 Comments »

China to Invest $739 Billion in Newly Developing Energy Industries

August 9, 2010
China renewable energy

The China Securities Journal reported today that China is close to unveiling a plan to invest nearly 5 trillion yuan ($739 billion) in newly developing energy industries between now and 2020. This investment would boost the development of the solar, wind, nuclear, and biomass energy industries in China. It would also be used to...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, China, Policies & Regulations | 14 Comments »

Senator Reid Searches for Consensus on Stalled Climate Bill

July 23, 2010
Harry Reid climate bill

Instead of introducing a Senate version of the climate bill on Tuesday, July 20, as many expected, Majority Leader Harry Reid scheduled a meeting on Thursday to try to reach a consensus within his party regarding the legislation. The introduction of the climate bill now seems uncertain, with the August recess less than three...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Environment, Policies & Regulations, United States | 2 Comments »

Germany May Pass Environmental Tax on Air Travel

July 20, 2010
air travel germany

On Thursday, July 15th, the Associated Press obtained a draft of a bill, proposed last month, that would create a tax on air travel from Germany.  This tax is designed to force German airlines to raise the cost of plane tickets, thereby encouraging travelers to use more environmentally forms of transportation, such...Read more »

Posted in Airplane, EU, Policies & Regulations, Transportation | 2 Comments »

FHFA Rejects Energy Retrofit Loans from PACE Program

July 13, 2010
energy retrofit loans

The movement to use energy retrofit loans to install solar panels and other green climate control technology on commercial and residential properties may have suffered a serious setback following a Federal Housing Financial Authority (FHFA) announcement (pdf) last week in which they refused to accept use of the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program for...Read more »

Posted in Alternative Energy, Construction Companies, Energy Retrofitters & Raters, Financing, Government Organizations, Policies & Regulations, Professionals & Services, United States | 1 Comment »