This month brought another exciting piece of news for those of us hoping the US will transition to renewable energy in the years ahead. Not only did the US add a record amount of wind capacity in 2009, but new data show that the potential supply of wind power is almost infinite relative to our electricity consumption. The US government agency that deals with renewables, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), finally updated their study of onshore wind resources (since the last comprehensive study in 1993). They now estimate that wind power (more…)
Archive for the ‘Electricity’ Category
US Wind Potential Estimate More Than Triples
Sunday, February 28th, 2010Wind & Solar Poised to Supply New Demand
Sunday, February 7th, 2010The recession was supposed to slow down white-hot renewable energy growth. A lack of financing and tax equity was to reduce the wind and solar markets as much as 50% in 2009. Instead, last year brought new records in capacity additions. Wind power in the US grew (more…)
Solar price falls to new record low, now below 20 cents per kWh
Sunday, September 6th, 2009
My first week working with the East Coast Greenway Alliance was amazing. And I have some big news to share that helps make my dream of a mobile bicycle/solar existence possible. Bicycles are already cost-effective, but solar has been out of reach to most consumers in the past. It’s price just fell for the 11th straight month, reaching a new record low. (more…)
Green Wall Street gets together
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
The barons of Wall Street have been blamed for the global financial crisis. They have been the target of Main Street ire and the butt of talk show jokes. But as I walk the halls of New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria today, it is clear that the hundreds of suits filling the conference space want to change that. (more…)
EIA Report: US emissions to tank ~3.5% in ‘09
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
The US Energy Information Agency (EIA) has further lowered its emissions projection for 2009 this month, as I said in May was likely. Lower coal consumption drives the reduction, based on the drop in industrial demand for fuel and the substitution by natural gas for coal for (more…)
House committee passes climate bill as electricity emissions plunge
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
Yesterday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed Waxman-Markey’s American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act by a 33-25 vote. This passage does not guarantee ultimate passage in the full House or Senate, but gets some positive political momentum behind necessary federal (more…)
May report: US emissions expected to fall further
Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its monthly Short Term Energy Outlook today. And their projection for 2009 US carbon dioxide emissions from energy fell even further than last month’s. The drop was led by (more…)
Much of US to enjoy solar grid parity by 2012
Monday, May 11th, 2009
The economics of solar power are changing rapidly. And if the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development (PI) is right that solar module prices will fall more than 50% by 2012, grid parity will be achieved across many parts of the US. Solar electricity currently carries a price tag that is higher than (more…)
Wind conference gets record attendance, calls for federal Renewable Electricity Standard
Wednesday, May 6th, 2009The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is in Chicago this week, hosting its largest conference ever. Over 20,000 people are filling the McCormick Place Convention Center, representing a 60% growth from last year’s attendance. And they are sending a clear message too: we need to ensure continued US wind power leadership by passing a (more…)
NY moves to become offshore wind power leader
Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Denmark offshore, photo by Jim Hodson of Greenpeace
SET’s home state of New York is moving to become a leader in offshore wind power. Both the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) have offshore wind farms they are pursuing. The NYPA project would be the first major freshwater wind farm in (more…)