Tag Archives: renewables
Alteris Renewables Offers Zero Down in NW
Despite allthe growing interest in solar energy, the fact remains that only onepercent of the energy produced in the United States comes via solarpower. Generally speaking, the upfront costs associated with installing a residentialsolar system remain relatively high — a hindrance to many. In a bid tohelp more homeowners install solar panels, a number of [...]
Improving Prospects for Renewables
Two-thirds of the fuel used in conventional power plants is exhausted as wasteheat to oceans, rivers and the atmosphere. In total, U.S. power plantswaste more energy than most countries – including major economies likeJapan – consume for their entire economies. This waste heat can berecovered and put to productive use through combined heat and power(CHP) [...]
California Ponders Higher Renewables Standard
On Monday, the California Legislature will vote on a bill to raiseCalifornia’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, potentially requiring 33percent of electricity generated by the state’s utilities to come fromrenewable resources by 2020. State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) proposed the bill, SB 722,which has drawn attention from stakeholders like the Sierra Club,Pacific Gas and Electric Company, [...]
What Are the Economic Realities of Renewables?
In response to my white paper on The Tough Realities of Marketing and Sales, a reader points out a few of the economic realities that, in his mind,supersede the points I make in the report. In particular, he notes thatthere is currently no true market economy for things like biofuels: All Sustainable businesses have a [...]
Study: Americans Used Less Energy And More Renewables in 2009
U.S. energy use fell in 2009 and Americans used more wind and solar power and less electricity generated by burning coal and natural gas, according to a survey by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Using data from the U.S. Department of Energy, thelaboratory said energy use fell from 99.2 quadrillion BTUs (quads) in2008 to 94.6 [...]
The Renewables Global Status Report Card
REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) has released its annual global report card on renewableenergy, covering highlights and facts for 2009 and a cumulativeoverview. The report comments that renewables are making headway intoglobal energy use, cutting into some fossil fuel use, as illustrated bythe graphic to the right. The big theme of [...]
Obama Talks Renewables in Wisconsin
President Obama made a trip today to ZBB Energy, a manufacturer of advanced batteries for energy storage. Such batteries promise to play a key role in the clean energy economy,enabling intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind toprovide more consistent sources of power. At ZBB’s Wisconsin factory, the President described the company’s achievements and how [...]
California Utilities Will Probably Miss Renewables Targets
The midnight hour is fast approaching for the three major Californiautilities. According to state law, Pacific Gas & Electric(PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas &Electric (SDG&E) are by 2010 supposed to meet 20 percent of theirretail electricity sales using renewable resources, like solar, wind and geothermal. It’s increasingly clear this ai’nt gonna [...]
Germany Aims for 100% Renewables by 2050
Germany is already leading the world on renewable energy use and isnow planning to become the first G20 country to be powered entirely bygreen energy by 2050. The country currently generates about 16 percentof its electricity from renewable sources and according to the FederalEnvironment Agency, a complete switchover is possible from a technicaland ecological point [...]