Renewable Energy Assets

How Bio-Diesel is made from old restaurant grease

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:50:00 +0000

Fox Business News on the rising renewable energy sector.

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Study reveals jobs in fledgling renewable energy sector are growing

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:25:00 +0000

The fledgling renewable energy industry has grown steadily over much of the past decade, adding jobs at more than twice the national rate, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study released recently.

Solar and wind-power companies, energy-efficient light bulb makers, environmental engineering firms and others expanded their work force by 9.1 percent from 1998 to 2007, the latest year available, according to Pew.

The average job growth in all industries was 3.7 percent during the same period.

The entire energy sector has experienced growth in recent years as well, according to the Bureau of Labor. Bureau data shows coal mining jobs jumped 16 percent from 2003 to 2009. Oil and gas extraction jobs jumped 28 percent.

Continue:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090628/BUSINESS/906280360/Study-reveals-jobs-in-fledgling-renewable-energy-sector-are-growing

Tokyo, Japan: Sanyo to Expand Cell Production Capacity

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:19:00 +0000

Sanyo Electric's subsidiary Shimane Sanyo will start up a new HIT solar cell production line, in anticipation of an active demand for photovoltaic systems worldwide stimulated by economic packages as represented, the company says, by the "Green New Deal".

The new production line will be installed on the second floor of Factory Building No. 3 and is scheduled to begin operation in April 2010.

Shimane SANYO currently has a total HIT cell production capacity of 130MW.

Continue:

http://www.solarbuzz.com/news/NewsASMA240.htm

Solar energy coming to Uuniversity of Buffalo apartments

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:15:00 +0000

JENNIFER GOOD - News Editor

Residents in UB's apartment complexes will be hoping for some sunny days in the near future.

On May 7, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the University at Buffalo unveiled what officials said would be the largest solar energy project in the state to date.

At a news conference in the Center for Tomorrow on the North Campus, NYPA President Richard Kessel and UB President John B. Simpson announced a $7.5 million award to the university for the construction of a collection of solar panels in an attempt to encourage renewable energy technologies across New York State.

The solar panels will produce 1.1 megawatts of solar energy for the campus and are set for installation near the beginning of the fall semester in 2010.

Continue:

http://spectrum.buffalo.edu/article.php?id=40429

Mike Castle explains vote on Delaware energy bill

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:13:00 +0000

With his vote that helped the U.S. House narrowly approve the energy bill, U.S. Rep. Mike Castle established his reputation as moderate Republican. That is not a comfortable place to be, with conservative blogger coming up with a "Wanted Poster" and a few letter-writers from out of state expressing their anger in letters with in all capital letters. Castle did decide to issue a lengthy statement explaining the vote:

"My priorities, as I represent Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives today, begin with the economic opportunities and security for all who live here. We are facing serious challenges in both areas. With state budget shortfalls, rising unemployment and stagnant growth in many of the industries on which we typically rely-- new ideas and bold strategies for the future are required. Simultaneously, our nation's military is spread thin across the world in an effort to confront those who seek to do us harm. One major threat to our security and theirs is the current reliance we have on foreign energy sources.

Continue:

http://www.ledgerdelaware.com/articles/2009/06/28/news/doc4a48269d16023954290172.txt

New Measures to Aid Solar on Public Lands

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:09:00 +0000

By Kate Galbraith

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced measures on Monday to hasten the development of solar energy on Western public lands.

Mr. Salazar, appearing in Las Vegas with Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader, said that 670,000 acres of lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (an agency within the Department of the Interior) would be studied to determine whether they could support large solar power arrays.

Twenty-four tracts of land in six states — Nevada, Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah — are under review. Maps of the land will be published shortly in the Federal Register.

The solar study zones, Mr. Salazar said, are part of the Obama administration’s push to do “everything we can to put the bulls-eye on the development of solar energy on our public lands.”

Continue:

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/new-measures-to-aid-solar-on-public-lands/

UK Government confirms extra 25 GW of offshore wind energy

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:22:00 +0000

UK Energy Minister Lord Hunt yesterday announced an extra 25 GW of offshore wind energy around the UK in addition to the 8 GW already built or planned.

The boost to UK offshore wind capacity, which arose from the Government’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), allows the Crown Estate to launch a third round of leasing for new wind farms.

Speaking at the British Wind Energy Association conference, he said: “We’re already the world’s number one offshore wind power. With the right support, we can grow the industry even further, supporting tens of thousands of high value, green manufacturing jobs.”

The Government estimates that offshore wind, as well as supporting the UK target of 15% renewable energy by 2020, could generate up to 70,000 new jobs and annual revenues of £8 billion.

Any new wind farms should also find it easier to connect to the national grid with the start of the new £15 billion licensing regime. The new Ofgem-administered competitive tender process could save generators around £1 billion, says the Government.

“The Crown Estate is delighted that 25 GW has been confirmed and also agreement on the ‘Go-Active’ date has been reached for the offshore transmission regime,” said Rob Hasting, director of the Marine Estate at the Crown Estate. “These are significant milestones.”

The latest round of leasing for offshore wind farms will take the total capacity to 33 GW by 2020 – a quarter of the country’s electricity demand.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth welcomed the move but is calling on the Government to secure funding for further wind expansion and develop a new supergrid.

“At last the Government is starting to recognise the enormous potential of the UK’s offshore wind power and its crucial role in slashing emissions and securing a national energy system based on clean, safe, renewable energy,” commented campaigner Nick Rau.

Lord Hunt also announced at the conference that the UK would be joining the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which it had previously refused to do in case it undermined the efforts of the International Energy Agency (IEA). However, the Government has changed tack and says it will be signing the official agreement as soon as possible.

http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/policy/i/2205/

Sears Tower Slated for $350M Sustainability Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Sears Tower, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, is about to get a $350-million makeover that is designed to significantly reduce its energy use by up to 80 percent and cut its CO2 emissions. The retrofit project, over the next five years, includes major upgrades to windows, heating and cooling systems, lighting, elevators, restroom fixtures and condensation recovery systems, along with wind and solar installations and a green roof.

The energy savings will equal 68-million kilowatt hours annually or 150,000 barrels of oil every year. The majority of the energy savings will be realized in approximately five years, say planners. The sustainability project will also create more than 3,600 jobs.

Continue:

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/06/25/sears-tower-slated-for-350m-sustainability-makeover/

$22M in energy loans available to Arizona small businesses

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Phoenix Business Journal

The U.S. Department of Energy has freed up $22.2 million to invest in renewable energy projects in Arizona.

The grant will allow the state to establish a revolving loan program for small business owners interested in improving energy efficiency or installing solar platforms at their facilities, according to an announcement by U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff.

The funds are part of more than $204 million allocated to state energy programs nationwide through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Green Energy Company Seeks to Bring Thousands of Jobs to Indiana

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Inside IndianaBusiness.com Report

A Washington, D.C.-based renewable energy company says it has developed a green power energy supply system and is considering Indiana for the initiative's manufacturing headquarters. D'Arcinoff Group says it is talking with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation about seven locations throughout the state with the potential to create 20,000 jobs.

Continue:

http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=36302#middle

China commits to offshore renewable energy

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:04:00 +0000

China is planning to construct a number of 10 GW wind power bases in the coming years, in a bid to further boost the development of the country's renewable energy industry, the country's top energy official said recently.

Zhang Guobao, administrator of the National Energy Administration, said: "We have worked out the strategy of building large (wind power) bases and integrating them into the mainstream power grid in order to speed up the pace of wind power development in the country".

Vigorously developing renewable energy, including wind power, forms part of the country's ongoing strategy to contribute to the global campaign for combating climate change.

Continue:

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/24/content_8316184.htm

Commerce secretary: Energy entrepreneurs will lift U.S.

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:58:00 +0000

BY KATHLEEN GRAY • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

High energy prices in Europe are causing 80% of the solar panels built in Michigan by United Solar Ovonics to be shipped overseas.

But company officials were buoyed today after a visit from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who said that the Obama administration’s commitment to renewable energy will help transform the state.

“Hopeful is how I feel about the future of Michigan and America. I know Washington, D.C., can only do so much. So it will take the spirit of American entrepreneurs to dig us out,” Locke said during a town hall meeting at one of United Solar Ovonics plants in Auburn Hills.

“American workers are designing and building components that are changing the way people are using energy. And that’s the way to go until economy is humming again," Locke said. "But I know we’re going to get there because of companies like United Solar Ovonics."

Continue:

http://www.freep.com/article/20090624/BUSINESS06/90624039/1002/BUSINESS/Commerce+secretary++Energy+entrepreneurs+will+lift+U.S.

Austin Chamber releases 'green jobs' report

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Austin Business Journal Metropolitan Austin needs a broad public relations strategy and a permanent steering committee coordinating training efforts in order to realize its potential as a center for so-called green jobs.

Those are the two primary recommendations in an initiative report on green job creation that the Austin Chamber of Commerce released Wednesday.

The report is the first from the Chamber's Green Job Task Force, which launched in January 2009 to coordinate a community-wide approach to green job education and training. The task force's goal is to help facilitate the training and retraining of up to 25,000 workers in Central Texas for green jobs, namely those in the energy efficiency or renewable energy arenas.

Continue: http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/06/22/daily21.html

Buckeye Silicon joins Toledo solar business

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:38:00 +0000

Hotel Industry Adopts Solar to Save Energy

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:43:00 +0000

As consumers demand more eco-friendly vacation choices, the tourism industry is responding with energy-efficient and carbon friendly resorts and hotels.

In the U.S., as an example, the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick in New Jersey recently installed a SunPower solar power system, marking the hotel’s initial step towards generating clean, renewable solar power. The hotel partnered with SunPower Corp. to design and install the 32,000-square-foot, 421-kilowatt system over the top floor of the hotel’s garage.

Hyatt Regency New Brunswick’s solar power system uses SunPower’s high-efficiency solar panels with its patented PowerGuard roof tile technology. PowerGuard is a non-penetrating, wind-resistant system that lies flat on the roof and provides added thermal insulation for the building and environmental protection to the roof membrane.

Continue:

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/06/23/hotel-industry-adopts-solar-to-save-energy/

Where are the green energy jobs?

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:17:00 +0000

By SANDY SHORE
Associated Press

Everywhere you turn there is talk of a shift to renewable energy, of building wind farms and solar plants, of making buildings more efficient, of developing biofuels. And of billions in federal funding to help make it all happen.

This should mean a whole lot of new energy jobs. So where are they — and how do I get one?

The clean energy sector has certainly been on a tear in recent years, and there will be a lot more money flowing in to meet government-backed demand.

Here's the "but":

The recession has walloped the clean energy sector like every other, and no one is going on a hiring spree right now. Companies have shelved plans for wind farms, solar parks and biofuels plants. Some have laid off workers. Others have been forced to seek bankruptcy protection.

Continue:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i24dsvFXWidJn_2gHW4prtlsCDVwD990JGM80

Florida should focus its energies on renewable sources

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:10:00 +0000

As a blazing sun bore down this week, Southwest Florida got a sweltering reminder of true solar power.

With the intensity and frequency of its sunshine, Florida should be a world leader in harnessing this potent form of renewable energy.

Yet, the state has only a handful of commercial solar arrays, offers a paltry $5 million rebate program, and serves merely as a conduit for federal stimulus funds targeted to renewable energy projects.

Despite good goals set by Gov. Charlie Crist, Florida has done too little to increase the use and generation of solar power or to encourage businesses or jobs in developing, supplying or installing the equipment.

Continue: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090620/OPINION/906201016/-1/NEWSSITEMAP

Queensland set to become solar powerbase

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:08:00 +0000

Marissa Calligeros

June 21, 2009

An oversight by the State Government may jeopardise its plans to develop a source of clean, green, solar energy with the potential to power up to 400,000 Queensland homes.

The Bligh Government today flagged its commitment to building state's first baseload solar thermal power plant by 2020.

However, part of the State Government's Renewable Energy Plan, released today by Premier Anna Bligh, fails to qualify for funding under the Commonwealth's $465 Renewables Australia Fund.

Continue:

Europe Looks to Africa for Solar Power

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:06:00 +0000

By TOM ZELLER Jr.

Published: June 21, 2009

NEW YORK — The European project known as Desertec is nothing if not ambitious.

It aims to harvest the sun’s energy — using a method known as concentrating solar power, or C.S.P. — from the vast North African desert and deliver it as electricity, via high-voltage transmission lines, to markets in Europe. Eventually, its backers say, it could satisfy as much as 15 percent of the European Union’s power needs.

The idea, which has been bouncing around for years, arises out of an alphabet soup of organizations, formal multinational partnerships and regional acronyms like TREC, for Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation; Eumena, or European Union, the Mediterranean and North Africa; the Union of the Mediterranean; and the Club of Rome.

Continue:

Solar Energy Demand Grows in Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:04:00 +0000

By SCOTT HARRISON

s.harrison@krdo.com

COLORADO SPRINGS - On the summer solstice Sunday--the longest day of the year on the calendar--a survey highlights how Colorado can benefit from our reputation as a sunny state, and from the growing potential of solar energy.

According to the survey, more that three-fourths of state residents--76%--believe utility companies should be required to provide solar energy, and 50% are willing to pay 50 cents a month to help in that regard.

Continue:

National Research Council study predicts growth for wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Based on current rates of growth and available technologies, renewable energy—solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass—could provide 10% of U.S. electricity by 2020, according to a National Research Council report released June 15.

However, these sources of non-hydroelectric power generate less than 2.5% of U.S. electricity today, and under a business-as-usual scenario, they would reach only 8% of U.S. need by 2030, says the report. However, looking just at wind, recently applied consistent and aggressive policies to encourage wind's development have put this source of renewable energy on a growth curve to reach 8% by 2020, says K. John Holmes, who is the NRC staff director for this study.

Continue:

Nevada enacts 'green energy' measures

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:26:00 +0000

The Associated Press

Posted: 06/15/2009 05:21:16 PM PDT

CARSON CITY, Nev.—With help from the 2009 Legislature, Nevada has become one of the most attractive states in the sun-drenched West for large solar plant development and other alternative energy projects.

Jim Baak, director of utility-scale solar for the nonprofit advocacy group Vote Solar, says Nevada was far more proactive than other sunny-state legislatures this year.

If some other objectives are met, large-scale solar is likely to become the focus of renewable energy development in Nevada for at least the short term, observers say.

Continue:

Cheap solar power on your farm or ranch

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:40:00 +0000

By: Alex Tiller

I’ve been working on a side project for one of the ranches I work with to install some form of renewable energy. Due to the ranch’s location, we have opted to install a photovoltaic (PV) solar energy production system. The ranch gets lots of sun every year, and less predictable wind.

Many of you with livestock are probably familiar with small scale PV systems that charge the batteries that electrify your cattle/livestock fences. Some of you might also have small solar panels on metering and reporting systems for outlying wells, your RTK systems, or weather stations. In my case, we are looking at a much larger system for the entire ranch including 3 homes and a large implementation and equipment barn.

Continue:

Two Solar Plants To Be Built Within 100 Miles of Phoenix

noreply@blogger.com (The Adventures of MYK JONES) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:37:00 +0000

According to Environmental News Service May 26, 2009, seventy-five miles west of Phoenix the Arizona Public Service (APS) will build a second solar energy plant scheduled for completion by 2013. In a long-term contract with an affiliate of the Starwood Energy Group Global, APS will be in charge of dispersing the 290 million watts generated by the plant to more than 73,000 APS customers. The "Starwood Solar I" plant will be erected on 1900 acres in Harquahala Valley and will be one of the largest in the world.

Continue: