The WSJ has an interesting article on the risks - at least in the short term - created by too strong a focus on transitioning to renewable sources of energy. California officials are concerned, for example, over a shortage in power supply and a "high risk" to its economy in order to meet a state mandate to provide 33% of its power from renewable sources by 2020.
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This article in the NYT discusses the risks of a geothermal project in California that intends to use a method to drill into the subsurface that was shut down in Basel, Switzerland, in 2006, due to earthquake concerns. The take-away: "[While s]eismologists have long known that human activities can trigger quakes, [] they say the science is not developed enough to say for certain what will or will not set off a major temblor."
Some alternative energy sources are having better success at encouraging investment than others, according to this article from the NYT. Not surprisingly, there is growing competition between alternative-energy technologies.
[Update: A related article on local community opportunities can be found here, from the Akron Beacon Journal.]
This NYT article is reporting that venture capital appears to be moving away from investments in alternative energies - such as algae and solar - and returning to information technology used to increase energy consumption efficiencies. Very interesting.
The Hill reports that one high-ranking Democrat has indicated that cap-and-trade legislation may not reach a vote in the House this year if there is a belief that it may not pass the Senate.
California has adopted the nation's first low-carbon fuel mandate in an effort to reduce associated greenhouse gas emissions, according to this article from the LA Times. The new rules require a reduction in the carbon content of fuels sold in the state by 10 percent by 2020 (including emissions related to the delivery of fuels to California consumers).
The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is holding hearings on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 issued for comment late last month. Related documents and videos of the testimony can be found here (including, for example, testimony from the new Administrator of U.S. EPA, the new Secretary of U.S. DOE, representatives of electric power producers and The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute). Interesting.
Yesterday, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio adopted rules for meeting the alternative energy portfolio standards required under S.B. 221. Among other things, the new rules establish incremental percentage requirements that electric utilities must meet to fulfill the renewable portion of the portfolio standard (e.g., its sets a benchmark of 2.5% for renewable energy resources by 2014), which can be met through the use of renewable energy credits (RECs). The new rules also establish requirements for greenhouse gas reporting and carbon dioxide control planning.
For more, see here.
Columbia University researchers may have found a method for separating natural gas from permafrost, according to this NYT report.
While the Interior Department may be putting the brakes on the prior administration's plans to open up the Atlantic and Pacific coasts for offshore drilling, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that is not the case for alternative energy development - particularly offshore wind projects.
[Update. In related news, the Houston Chronicle reports that a leading Democrat has suggested that Congress is unlikely to restore an offshore oil and gas drilling ban despite pressure from environmental advocates and fishermen. (Moved up).]
The Vermont Supreme Court has upheld a decision by the state Public Service Board issuing a certificate of public good for a 16-turbine wind project, according to this article in the Times Argus.
This is interesting: In 2008, the U.S. became the world leader for total wind production, overtaking Germany (the leader for 2007), according to this Daily Tech article. It goes on to note that some time this year the U.S. is expected to become the world leader in installed solar power as well.
In late 2008, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced the establishment of the Advanced Energy Job Stimulus Program, which will provide financial incentives in the form of low-interest loans and grants to support certain clean coal and other advanced energy projects. A total of $150 million in total funding is available. The Advanced Energy Job Stimulus Program is described in greater detail here.
Another obstacle overcome. According to this article from EnergyCurrent, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued a final EIS for the Cape Wind Offshore Energy Project, a 130-turbine wind farm to be located 4.7 miles offshore of Cape Cod, Mass. You can find a copy of the EIS here.
U.S. EPA has recognized several landfill methane capture projects for reducing greenhouse gas emissions: "The 2008 LFG award winning energy projects employed unique project structures and took creative approaches to use LFG from municipal solid waste landfills, creating a new source of renewable energy to benefit the local community." Congratulations to all, including the Green Energy Center, High Btu Landfill Gas Energy Project, located in Grove City, Ohio.
According to this article in the WSJ, the market for batteries is potentially huge due to the push to use alternative energy and avoid fossil fuels. Lux Research Inc., which tracks emerging technologies, reports that the battery market could be as $50 billion if only 10% of wind-power plants installed them. It predicts, however, that the actual market will be much smaller because of the long planning cycles and risk-aversion of utilities. This isn't surprising given how expensive the batteries can be - e.g., on the order of $10 million for a relatively small one.
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According to this article in Globe and Mail, although Henry Groppe may skeptical that worldwide oil consumption in transportation can be significantly reduced over the next decade by using alternative fuels, he believes that fuel substitutions already happening among industrial users will offset declining global oil production.
We're seeing a lot of articles like this: "Oil prices last week hovered just over $60 a barrel after peaking around $140 this summer. Will today’s falling oil prices also bury fledgling efforts to convert the US auto fleet from gas guzzling SUVs into fuel-sipping hybrids? Will investors still want to invest in advanced biofuels? Will the new president slow the push for energy security?" (From the Christian Science Monitor.) It depends in large part on whether you believe - or investors believe - that lower prices are here to stay.
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