EarthTechling -
Apr 30
A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that bustling airports could serve a vital new function, doubling as alternative energy factories. The study findings indicate that airports might want to consider converting empty land into alternative fuel power plants where it is both economically and environmentally beneficial.
Oregon Live -
May 2
In a green vs. green federal lawsuit, two environmental groups are challenging what they call an "industrial-scale" wind project on the north end of ruggedly beautiful Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon. " The two groups have filed suit in U.S. District Court in Portland to stop plans for the $300 million Echanis Wind Project and its 40 to 60 wind turbines on 10,000 acres of private ranch land. It's one of two wind projects proposed on or near the spectacular 9,733-foot fault-block of Steens Mountain. Each would generate 104 megawatts, enough to power about 30,000 homes.
Clean Technica -
May 1
Land cools each night when the sun goes down. Hot air rises. Fans circulate air. Wind speeds pick up at night. This combination of familiar facts means that wind turbine blades move warmer air back down lower than usual over large wind farms. A small study measuring that effect measured the resulting ground surface temperatures from 2003 to 2011 near large wind farms in West-Central Texas and estimated the result could be three quarters of a degree (Celsius) difference.
National Wind Watch -
May 1
Enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act has become a delicate issue in recent years, made more controversial by the government’s failure to prosecute any wind energy operators despite the fact that turbines are estimated to kill many thousands of birds a year.
EarthTechling -
May 1
The legal battle over a wind power project in Nevada has been settled, clearing the way for the completion of the state’s first ever wind farm. The 150 megawatt project had hit a legal snag after a coalition made up of environmentalists and tribal groups had brought a lawsuit challenging its construction. The coalition complained that the project would have an adverse impact on the ecology of the region–particularly a colony of rare bats living near the site of the farm. Construction of the wind farm, known as Spring Valley Wind, is expected to be finished in July.
National Wind Watch -
Apr 28
A Utah wind developer announced that it is delaying half of a planned $180 million-plus wind farm south of Glenrock because of ongoing appeals by an opposition landowners group. Wasatch Wind of Park City, Utah, is planning to construct two separate but nearby 31-turbine sites along Mormon Canyon Road. When completed, they’re expected to generate a combined 100 megawatts of power.
Law360 -
May 1
The Bureau of Land Management pushed along a proposal by BP PLC's alternative energy unit to build an estimated $1 billion, 500-megawatt wind farm on federally managed lands in Arizona, releasing its draft environmental impact statement and inviting public comment. BP Wind Energy North America Inc. plans to construct up to 283 turbines on 47,000 acres of federal land.
Sustainable Business Oregon -
May 3
Boston-based independent wind energy company First Wind started construction on its first wind project in Washington state on May 1. The 105 megawatt Palouse Wind in northern Whitman County will create renewable energy for up to 30,000 homes.
EarthTechling -
May 3
Solar panels are popping up across Fort Bliss, which is the nation’s largest army post by physical size, covering an area slightly larger than Rhode Island. The panels are part of the base’s effort to cut its net energy and water usage, reduce waste and thus demonstrate self-sufficiency, a concept that can have a large impact on operations abroad.
Solar Novus -
Apr 30
The US Department of Labor has determined that all manufacturing employees laid off from SolarWorld Industries America as a result of the company’s shutdown of its 35-year-old solar-panel production plant in Camarillo, California, in September are eligible for federal trade-adjustment assistance, including grants for education to retrain them for new work.
Clean Technology Business Review News -
May 4
First Solar has commenced major construction on the 550MW Topaz solar power project in California. The solar project will provide enough energy to power around 160,000 homes in the region, upon completion in 2015. Construction on the project began in November 2011.
Related News:
First Solar reports $450M loss, names James Hughes CEO
Solar Industry Mag -
May 1
The Mount Diablo Unified School District in California has completed 40 of 51 planned PV installations at district schools and facilities. When the total number of 51 systems is complete later this year, the systems are expected to reduce the district's electricity costs by more than $3 million per year and save $220 million over the next 30 years.The Mount Diablo Unified School District in California has completed 40 of 51 planned PV installations at district schools and facilities. When the total number of 51 systems is complete later this year, the systems are expected to reduce the district's electricity costs by more than $3 million per year and save $220 million over the next 30 years.
Biz Journal -
Apr 30
Electricity from the state’s first utility-scale geothermal project could be part of the Public Service Co. of New Mexico’s energy mix starting in 2014. The utility's new renewable energy procurement plan calls for signing a 20-year power purchase agreement with Cyrq Energy Inc., which plans to build a 10-megawatt geothermal electric plant near Lordsburg in southwest New Mexico.
Sustainable Business General News -
May 2
The world's first hybrid geothermal-solar plant is now online in Nevada. The 59 megawatt (MW) Stillwater project includes 26 MW of solar and was built by Enel Green Power North America. All the power is being sold to the utility, NV Energy. The integration of the two technologies brings significant benefits: solar provides electricity during peak hours when thermal efficiency of the geothermal unit is lowest, enabling base load power, and there are cost savings from a shared infrastructure and transmission connection. There's also a smaller environmental footprint per unit of renewable energy produced and delivered.
Clean Technica -
Apr 28
The experience of residents living near the Puna Geothermal Venture (PGV), about 20 miles south of Hilo on Hawaii’s “Big Island”, raises serious questions about the environmental health and safety of geothermal energy and power plants. Longstanding residents of the area around PGV’s geothermal plant– now being expanded– were given a long overdue public hearing on geothermal energy recently at a special session of the Hawaii County Council in Pahoa. Their well-documented, well-presented testimony provides details of the history of what’s now the PGV geothermal energy plant’s development and operations over the decades since it first began producing electricity.
Ars Technica -
Apr 27
In the US, the loss of landscape and wildlife to hydropower has made the installation of major new dams very unlikely; in fact, the government is seriously considering removing a number of existing ones, and has recently dismantled some smaller ones. But two reports by the Department of the Interior suggest that this doesn't mean the end of new hydropower in the states.
Solar Thermal Magazine -
Apr 29
Projects completed by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) in 2011 saved New York taxpayers $9 million and created more than 3,000 jobs across New York State. The projects completed or under construction will lower electricity bills and will reduce carbon pollution. The upgrades involved no cost to New York taxpayers as the upfront investments will be repaid from energy savings.
Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals
Clean Technology Business Review -
May 3
Duke Energy Renewables has purchased a 10MW utility-scale Black Mountain solar project near Kingman, Arizona, from SOLON Corp. SOLON will also construct the solar project and continue to handle operations, monitoring and maintenance of the system after it is commissioned in October 2012. Comprised of more than 40,000 solar panels, the Black Mountain project is expected to produce enough electricity to power about 2,000 homes.
Solar Thermal Magazine -
May 2
K Road Power Holdings, LLC and SunPower Corp. announced today that K Road has acquired the 25-megawatt (AC) McHenry Solar Project that SunPower designed and is currently constructing in Modesto, Calif. The project is creating up to 144 construction jobs and injecting approximately $18.7 million into the local economy during construction.
Los Angeles Times -
Apr 30
SolarCity Corp., a Bay Area solar panel developer and installer whose chairman heads Tesla Motors Inc., is planning an IPO. SolarCity, one of the country’s largest residential and commercial solar installers, skimped on the details when announcing its IPO — the company did not disclose share pricing or amount or a projected debut date.
North American Wind Power -
May 1
Invenergy Wind LLC says it has closed debt financing for its 200 MW California Ridge wind energy project, which is currently under construction in central Illinois. The financing included construction, bridge and term loans and a letter of credit facility, and was allocated across a bank tranche and an institutional tranche.