Clean Economy Wire

U.S. Orders Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Los Angeles Times

The Obama administration ordered tariffs of 31% and higher on solar panels imported from China, escalating a simmering trade dispute with China.

China Warns Solar-Panel Tariff May Backfire

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Wall Street Journal

China unleashed a storm of protest across multiple outlets criticizing the U.S. decision to impose a 31% antidumping tariff on Chinese solar-panel makers and said the action could backfire.

Senate Dem: Energy Bills Stalled Until Fiscal ‘Grand Bargain’ Is Struck

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

The Washington Post

Sen. Mark Udall has reached a sobering conclusion: Energy legislation will remain stuck in the political mud until Washington reaches a sweeping, and thus far elusive, financial agreement.

Cap-and-Trade to Generation Billions, Tough Choices

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

San Francisco Chronicle

Starting later this year, California's cap-and-trade system will generate billions of dollars in revenue, as companies buy and sell permits to produce greenhouse gases. How should the money be used?

Effort to Stall Light Bulb Standards Pits Tea Party Against Manufacturers

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Bloomberg BNA

The DOE would continue to be barred from enforcing new energy efficiency standards for incandescent light bulbs under a planned House amendment that pits bulb manufacturers against the Tea Party.

Federal Regulators May Cut Incentives for Transmission Lines

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering proposals to reduce the rate of return, or profit, that utilities receive from building power lines.

When It Comes to Natural Gas, Obama Can’t Win

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Politico

The White House seems unable to decide how close it wants to be to the natural gas industry.

First Solar Plans Middle East Office to Help Tap Regional Market

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Bloomberg

First Solar, the largest maker of thin-film solar panels, plans to open an office in the United Arab Emirates this year to tap growing demand for power in the Middle East.

Apple Commits to Renewable Power for U.S. Data Centers

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Guardian

Apple plans to power its main data center entirely with renewable energy by the end of this year to address environmental concerns about the rapid expansion of high-consuming computer server farms.

A New Skirmish in the Ethanol Wars

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

NYT Green

The auto and oil industries released a report indicating that some cars running on E15, the 15% ethanol blend recently authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency, experienced engine damage.

Palm Oil Industry Adds Lobbying Muscle in EPA Climate Battle

Fri, 18 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

The Hill

The palm oil industry has hired a lobbying giant to help battle the EPA's preliminary finding that palm-based biofuels don't meet the GHG standards of the federal renewable auto fuels mandate.

DOE's Chu Sees Arizona Potential in Energy Diversity

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Phoenix Business Journal

U.S.

Sharp: Japan Solar Cell Shipments May Top 2.5GW

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Reuters

Shipments of solar cells in Japan could rise above 2.5 gigawatts by March 2013 amid a pickup in demand following the st

Plan for Wind Turbines in Vermont Creates International Furor

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

The winds blowing through Canada's St. Lawrence Valley and across Vermont are stirring up an international tempest over which country's laws should govern how those breezes are harnessed.

Dept. of Interior Ignored Tribal Concerns About Wind Farm Impacts: Lawsuit

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Greenwire

An American Indian tribe has filed a federal lawsuit against the Interior Department in an effort to stop what would become California's largest wind farm on public land.

Solar FIT Fallout: Germany's Environment Minister Forced Out

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Renewable Energy World

Germany's powerful Minister of the Environment Norbert Roettgen was fired Thursday as Chancellor Angela Merkel looks to hold onto power following her party's regional election loss over the weekend.

Green Energy CEOs to Face Loan Questions

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

The Hill

The Energy Department’s loan guarantee program will be back in the cross-hairs of Capitol Hill Republicans on Wednesday.

House Armed Services Committee Proposes Ban on Biofuels

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Renewable Energy World

The House Armed Services Committee issued its report on next year's Pentagon budget, which includes a measure to exclude the purchase of biofuels that cost more than fossil fuels.

In Los Angeles, an Electrifying Freight Solution?

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles may be one of the first global cities to adopt a new electric freight trucking system, unveiled by electrical engineering giant Siemens Corp. last week.

Kleiner Perkins Backs Solar Sales & Marketing Start-up

Thu, 17 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

GigaOm

San Francisco-based Gen110, a solar sales and marketing company, now plans to add other residential energy services and has lined up venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as an investor.

Shift By U.S. Muddles Solar Imports Case

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

New York Times

Renewable energy firms around the world are awaiting a decision Thursday by the U.S.

Senate Dems Urge More Stringent Tax Rules for Chinese Solar Firms

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

The Hill

Two Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal to make it harder for Chinese solar panel firms to qualify for tax credits that they say are giving those companies an edge over U.S. firms.

Biggest Solar CPV Plant in U.S. Now on the Grid

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Greentech Media

The 30-megawatt Alamosa Solar plant on 225 acres in Colorado is now the concentrated solar power heavyweight champion.

Phoenix to Mark New Phase of Solar Program

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Energy Secretary Steven Chu will join Phoenix officials in marking the second phase of the nation's largest city-sponsored solar financing program.

Saudi Arabia Launches Massive Renewable Program with Hybrid FITs

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Renewable Energy World

While North America continues to dawdle on renewables, the oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has proposed one of the most sweeping and massive moves to renewable energy on the planet.

Clean Energy Funding Hot (and Cold) in Ohio

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Midwest Energy News

The Midwest is a hot spot for Clean Energy Funds, and an ice cream business in Cleveland is among the beneficiaries.

Ferrari to Launch Its First Hybrid Car

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Guardian

From horsepower to battery power, Ferrari is joining the growing ranks of green carmakers by launching its first ever hybrid vehicle at the end of the year.

Battery Maker A123 Posts Big Losses

Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

GigaOm

The lithium-ion battery maker posted lower revenues and greater losses for Q1 of this year, about two months after it launched a program to replace batteries with defective cells.

Study Finds Americans Willing to Pay a Little More for Clean Energy

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

NYT Green

A new public opinion study finds that people are willing to pay higher energy costs to move to cleaner energy.

Google-Backed Wind Power Line Clears Hurdle

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Source:

Reuters

A planned $5 billion transmission line to send power from wind farms off the East Coast cleared a hurdle, allowing the Google-backed project to move to the next step in the approval process.