President poised to let states issue tougher rules on emissions and order car makers to boost fuel efficiency.
President Barack Obama is expected to issue new environmental regulations today, reversing the Bush administration's climate change policies by allowing several states to set tougher car emission and fuel efficiency standards.
Granting California and 13 other states the right to regulate emissions is a sharp departure from President George W Bush's line on the environment and has been opposed by car makers.
According to The New York Times, Mr Obama will order the US Environmental Protection Agency to begin work immediately on granting the so-called California waiver, which allows the state - long in the vanguard on environmental matters - to set its own standards for car emissions.
In his White House announcement, Mr Obama is also expected to direct federal agencies to make all government buildings more energy efficient. The new administration hopes to achieve energy savings of up to $2 billion (£1.5 billion) per year, as well as a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming.
The presidential orders will require vehicle manufacturers to speed efforts to make and sell cars and trucks that get higher mileage than the national standard, congressional officials said.
"If we don't put a price on carbon," said Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer of California, the chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, "we'll never get these clean energy sources online."
Mr Obama also will direct the Department of Transportation to begin drafting automobile fuel-economy regulations to comply with a law enacted in December 2007. President Bush delayed implementing the law and left office saying there was not sufficient time to write the rules.
Source - Thetimes
Monday, 26 January 2009
SunRun Helps Homeowners Go Solar With New, Flexible Plans
SunRun has announced two new flexible payment options that will make residential solar more accessible to homeowners. SunRun offers a simple and affordable alternative to purchasing or renting a home solar system.
All SunRun customers receive comprehensive maintenance, repairs and insurance through its Full System Management offerings, which remove the complexity and risk of going solar.
With the introduction of the SunRun Power Plan and SunRun Total Solar, SunRun gives its customers additional flexibility on how they can pay for their solar service with the new SunRun Power Plan opening up SunRun's trusted solar service to more homeowners through a low upfront payment option.
Both SunRun Power Plan and SunRun Total Solar offer immediate savings on monthly electricity bills.
SunRun Power Plan: This plan offers customers who may have ruled out home solar due to high upfront costs new access: homeowners can pay as little as $2,000 upfront for solar service, with financing options available. Following the initial payment, the homeowner enjoys a fixed, low rate for his/her solar electricity.
SunRun Total Solar: This plan allows customers to pay for their solar electricity entirely upfront. Homeowners often choose this option over purchasing a system because they don't want to deal with the hassles of ownership and maintenance. SunRun Total Solar also allows customers to get the value of the Federal Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) immediately, rather than waiting up to twelve months or more to receive it.
"When my wife and I first looked into going solar, the original bid we received was far too much for what we were looking to spend at the time," said Chris Jordan, Camarillo resident and SunRun customer.
"When we were approached by a SunRun sales representative shortly thereafter, he showed us an affordable new service option that we couldn't refuse. Before we got our SunRun Power Plan we paid an average of $300 a month for electricity from SCE.
"Last month our SunRun bill was $74.98 and our SCE electricity bill was $1.10. The savings speak for themselves, and we never have to worry about our solar panels because SunRun takes care of everything."
"Our new flexible payment options are in line with SunRun's longstanding approach to providing homeowners long-term, affordable and hassle-free solar," said Nat Kreamer, president and co-founder of SunRun.
"Going solar is part of a thoughtful and considerate process, and we have found that SunRun's customers are responsible homeowners who want to reduce electricity costs without making any significant lifestyle changes.
"We're making home solar accessible to everyone who wants to reduce their energy costs and make a smart and reliable investment, regardless of how much they can pay upfront."
Source - Solardaily
All SunRun customers receive comprehensive maintenance, repairs and insurance through its Full System Management offerings, which remove the complexity and risk of going solar.
With the introduction of the SunRun Power Plan and SunRun Total Solar, SunRun gives its customers additional flexibility on how they can pay for their solar service with the new SunRun Power Plan opening up SunRun's trusted solar service to more homeowners through a low upfront payment option.
Both SunRun Power Plan and SunRun Total Solar offer immediate savings on monthly electricity bills.
SunRun Power Plan: This plan offers customers who may have ruled out home solar due to high upfront costs new access: homeowners can pay as little as $2,000 upfront for solar service, with financing options available. Following the initial payment, the homeowner enjoys a fixed, low rate for his/her solar electricity.
SunRun Total Solar: This plan allows customers to pay for their solar electricity entirely upfront. Homeowners often choose this option over purchasing a system because they don't want to deal with the hassles of ownership and maintenance. SunRun Total Solar also allows customers to get the value of the Federal Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) immediately, rather than waiting up to twelve months or more to receive it.
"When my wife and I first looked into going solar, the original bid we received was far too much for what we were looking to spend at the time," said Chris Jordan, Camarillo resident and SunRun customer.
"When we were approached by a SunRun sales representative shortly thereafter, he showed us an affordable new service option that we couldn't refuse. Before we got our SunRun Power Plan we paid an average of $300 a month for electricity from SCE.
"Last month our SunRun bill was $74.98 and our SCE electricity bill was $1.10. The savings speak for themselves, and we never have to worry about our solar panels because SunRun takes care of everything."
"Our new flexible payment options are in line with SunRun's longstanding approach to providing homeowners long-term, affordable and hassle-free solar," said Nat Kreamer, president and co-founder of SunRun.
"Going solar is part of a thoughtful and considerate process, and we have found that SunRun's customers are responsible homeowners who want to reduce electricity costs without making any significant lifestyle changes.
"We're making home solar accessible to everyone who wants to reduce their energy costs and make a smart and reliable investment, regardless of how much they can pay upfront."
Source - Solardaily
BWEA backs the Tories green plan
Recognising need for energy revolution
The British Wind Energy Association has welcomed the UK Tory party’s proposals outline by David Cameron for a low carbon economy as a serious contribution to the debate on Britain’s future strategic energy policy.
BWEA chairman, Adam Bruce, says: “These proposals recognise that a massive expansion of wind, wave and tidal power is vital to decarbonising the UK economy.
“The Conservative plans recognise that moving to a green economy will create jobs, secure our energy supplies and tackle climate change. Britain needs a green energy revolution that delivers security of supply and better management of demand. Today’s announcement is a positive step towards what will be a transformational event in UK energy policy.”
BWEA believes wind, wave and tidal energy will play a vital role in decarbonising the economy. To reach the 2020 target of generating 15% of all the UK’s energy from renewables, between 35 to 40% of our electricity will have to come from renewables, which in turn means having 33 to 35GW of installed wind capacity.
To go further and fully decarbonise the economy will require even greater amounts of renewable production – including harnessing Britain’s huge wave and tidal power resource, as well as radical reform of our grid infrastructure.
BWEA welcomes the Conservative proposals – especially the calls for:
* A ‘smart grid’ with ‘smart meter’ technology for households & businesses.
* Support for a vast expansion of offshore wind with new incentives to build the necessary sub-sea grid network.
* Fast track planning for a number of offshore parks for wave and tidal energy.
Source - BWEA
The British Wind Energy Association has welcomed the UK Tory party’s proposals outline by David Cameron for a low carbon economy as a serious contribution to the debate on Britain’s future strategic energy policy.
BWEA chairman, Adam Bruce, says: “These proposals recognise that a massive expansion of wind, wave and tidal power is vital to decarbonising the UK economy.
“The Conservative plans recognise that moving to a green economy will create jobs, secure our energy supplies and tackle climate change. Britain needs a green energy revolution that delivers security of supply and better management of demand. Today’s announcement is a positive step towards what will be a transformational event in UK energy policy.”
BWEA believes wind, wave and tidal energy will play a vital role in decarbonising the economy. To reach the 2020 target of generating 15% of all the UK’s energy from renewables, between 35 to 40% of our electricity will have to come from renewables, which in turn means having 33 to 35GW of installed wind capacity.
To go further and fully decarbonise the economy will require even greater amounts of renewable production – including harnessing Britain’s huge wave and tidal power resource, as well as radical reform of our grid infrastructure.
BWEA welcomes the Conservative proposals – especially the calls for:
* A ‘smart grid’ with ‘smart meter’ technology for households & businesses.
* Support for a vast expansion of offshore wind with new incentives to build the necessary sub-sea grid network.
* Fast track planning for a number of offshore parks for wave and tidal energy.
Source - BWEA
IPPC challenges Obama to further cut CO2 targets
The head of the world’s pre-eminent organisation of climate scientists said yesterday that US President Barack Obama’s stated emissions targets need to be strengthened to deal with the climate threat.
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says, “President Obama’s goal for reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 falls short of the response needed by world leaders to meet the challenge of reducing emissions to levels that will actually spare us the worst effects of climate change.”
These comments were made at an event held by the Worldwatch Institute yesterday afternoon in Washington to discuss its recently-released report, State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World, which finds the world will have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions more drastically than has been widely predicted, even going into negative emissions by 2050 to avoid catastrophic disruption to the world’s climate.
“The world is desperately looking for US leadership to slow emissions and create a green economy,” said Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute. “With the Copenhagen climate conference rapidly approaching, this will be a crucial early test for President Obama.”
Source - Worldwatch
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says, “President Obama’s goal for reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 falls short of the response needed by world leaders to meet the challenge of reducing emissions to levels that will actually spare us the worst effects of climate change.”
These comments were made at an event held by the Worldwatch Institute yesterday afternoon in Washington to discuss its recently-released report, State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World, which finds the world will have to reduce carbon dioxide emissions more drastically than has been widely predicted, even going into negative emissions by 2050 to avoid catastrophic disruption to the world’s climate.
“The world is desperately looking for US leadership to slow emissions and create a green economy,” said Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute. “With the Copenhagen climate conference rapidly approaching, this will be a crucial early test for President Obama.”
Source - Worldwatch
Thursday, 22 January 2009
Economic downturn must not hamper green energy plans
Former prime minister Tony Blair has urged his successor Gordon Brown and other political leaders not to allow the global financial crisis to halt the fight against climate change.
The former prime minister called for a new global deal that would set tough interim targets up to 2020 in a bid to “transform” countries to low-carbon economies.
Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Blair said: “It is right now, at the instant when our thoughts are centred on the economic challenge, that we must not set to one side the challenge of global warming, but instead resolve to meet it and put the world on path to a sustainable future.”
Blair outlined a range of steps that were required through a “global compact” to meet the environmental challenge.
“It needs not just a 2050 target but an interim target to get there …a target for 2020 that shows seriousness of intent and gives business a clear, unequivocal signal to invest in a low-carbon future with green energy technologies such as solar panels.”
The interim goals would largely be aimed at the West but he believed it would have to be matched by obligations in the developing world. He suggested that strategic partnerships between China and America, India and America and Europe and America would be important, with all three being of “paramount importance”.
Blair said there was a need for a step change, not small steps to meet the scale of the challenge, but he also said it was necessary to be practical about what could be done.
“There is no point in demanding of President Obama something he cannot deliver. Instead let us help him deliver what he can.”
Blair said global warming required enormous changes in the way the world did its business but that global cooperation brought wider benefits.
He praised Abu Dhabi for its decision earlier this week to set a 7% renewable energy target for 2020. That showed other oil-rich nations in the region what could be done and was an example of the kind of move away from pure self-interest that the world needed, argued Blair.
He set out the importance of a green new deal to revitalise economies, arguing it was vital to “invest now in these times of a low-carbon price for the times when that price rises again”.
Blair, who took no fee for his speech, gave an upbeat assessment of his own 10 years in office as UK prime minister, saying greenhouse gases had fallen while economy had continued to grow. “There are now more jobs in the new environmental industries than in coal, steel and shipping combined,” he argued.
He also encouraged the development of nuclear power as a way of lowering carbon emissions, although he acknowledged that it was “controversial”.
Observers would contest Blair’s assessment of his green record, pointing out that much of the carbon dioxide reductions resulted from the demise of the UK coal industry, for economic reasons.
Source - Theguardian
The former prime minister called for a new global deal that would set tough interim targets up to 2020 in a bid to “transform” countries to low-carbon economies.
Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Blair said: “It is right now, at the instant when our thoughts are centred on the economic challenge, that we must not set to one side the challenge of global warming, but instead resolve to meet it and put the world on path to a sustainable future.”
Blair outlined a range of steps that were required through a “global compact” to meet the environmental challenge.
“It needs not just a 2050 target but an interim target to get there …a target for 2020 that shows seriousness of intent and gives business a clear, unequivocal signal to invest in a low-carbon future with green energy technologies such as solar panels.”
The interim goals would largely be aimed at the West but he believed it would have to be matched by obligations in the developing world. He suggested that strategic partnerships between China and America, India and America and Europe and America would be important, with all three being of “paramount importance”.
Blair said there was a need for a step change, not small steps to meet the scale of the challenge, but he also said it was necessary to be practical about what could be done.
“There is no point in demanding of President Obama something he cannot deliver. Instead let us help him deliver what he can.”
Blair said global warming required enormous changes in the way the world did its business but that global cooperation brought wider benefits.
He praised Abu Dhabi for its decision earlier this week to set a 7% renewable energy target for 2020. That showed other oil-rich nations in the region what could be done and was an example of the kind of move away from pure self-interest that the world needed, argued Blair.
He set out the importance of a green new deal to revitalise economies, arguing it was vital to “invest now in these times of a low-carbon price for the times when that price rises again”.
Blair, who took no fee for his speech, gave an upbeat assessment of his own 10 years in office as UK prime minister, saying greenhouse gases had fallen while economy had continued to grow. “There are now more jobs in the new environmental industries than in coal, steel and shipping combined,” he argued.
He also encouraged the development of nuclear power as a way of lowering carbon emissions, although he acknowledged that it was “controversial”.
Observers would contest Blair’s assessment of his green record, pointing out that much of the carbon dioxide reductions resulted from the demise of the UK coal industry, for economic reasons.
Source - Theguardian
7% of power will come from solar panels sources by 2020
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi, has decreed that 7% of power will come from solar panels sources by 2020.
The Middle East nation holds around 8% of the world’s oil reserves and derives the vast bulk of its national income from fossil fuels, but while other OPEC oil cartel members see renewables as a threat, it has taken a different view.
Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the state-owned future energy company Masdar, which will oversee the green drive, said at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi that it was natural tomove into this new sector. By doing so Masdar would “provide a comprehensive solution to the world’s energy challenges and maintain Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading supplier of energy to the world.” The Gulf state, a part of the United Arab Emirates, also wants to differentiate itself from neighbour Dubai, and diversify its economy, believing a “green” infrastructure will help its image as a new tourist destination.
Abu Dhabi has already put itself forward as a possible location for the headquarters of a planned International Renewable Energy Agency being promoted by Germany. “Many [Opec members] see renewables as a threat but the crown prince sees them as an opportunity,” said a source close to the Abu Dhabi state. “He knows that the oil will eventually run out and he wants to ensure there is something left for future generations,” he added.
Prince Charles, who has close links to the Gulf royals, has been actively encouraging the green initiative behind the scenes, the source added, explaining that the Masdar executives had been invited to Buckingham Palace last year.
Prince Charles is already a patron of the Masdar City project which aims to build the world’s first carbon-neutral city in Abu Dhabi. He made an appearance by holographic video link at the first World Future Energy Summit held in the Gulf state last year. Prince Andrew has also become involved and was present at the meeting in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
Masdar expects to mainly use solar energy to reach its 7% targets but is also looking at wind and even geothermal power, where heat from the ground is used as a power source. Masdar has already built links to Britain by investing with E.ON of Germany and DONG of Denmark in the London Array wind farm project of the coast of Kent which is tipped to be the biggest of its kind in the world.
The Abu Dhabi state stepped in when Shell pulled out of the £1bn project. The Anglo-Dutch oil group said it was concentrating its wind investment in the US, a move followed by BP. Masdar has $15bn worth of state-funding and has already started to build up its solar power business through a joint venture with Germany, a leader in the photovoltaics field. A new company, Masdar PV, will build manufacturing plants in both Germany and Abu Dhabi that will serve the growing demand for solar panels, which is beginning to compete on a cost basis with traditional energy sources, even without subsidies.
Dutch solar firm Econcern claimed today at the summit that prices of solar panels would half in the next five to six years. It claimed the global industry had already met the International Energy Agency’s target of 10GW of installed solar power by 2020.
Source - TheGuardian
The Middle East nation holds around 8% of the world’s oil reserves and derives the vast bulk of its national income from fossil fuels, but while other OPEC oil cartel members see renewables as a threat, it has taken a different view.
Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the state-owned future energy company Masdar, which will oversee the green drive, said at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi that it was natural tomove into this new sector. By doing so Masdar would “provide a comprehensive solution to the world’s energy challenges and maintain Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading supplier of energy to the world.” The Gulf state, a part of the United Arab Emirates, also wants to differentiate itself from neighbour Dubai, and diversify its economy, believing a “green” infrastructure will help its image as a new tourist destination.
Abu Dhabi has already put itself forward as a possible location for the headquarters of a planned International Renewable Energy Agency being promoted by Germany. “Many [Opec members] see renewables as a threat but the crown prince sees them as an opportunity,” said a source close to the Abu Dhabi state. “He knows that the oil will eventually run out and he wants to ensure there is something left for future generations,” he added.
Prince Charles, who has close links to the Gulf royals, has been actively encouraging the green initiative behind the scenes, the source added, explaining that the Masdar executives had been invited to Buckingham Palace last year.
Prince Charles is already a patron of the Masdar City project which aims to build the world’s first carbon-neutral city in Abu Dhabi. He made an appearance by holographic video link at the first World Future Energy Summit held in the Gulf state last year. Prince Andrew has also become involved and was present at the meeting in the throne room at Buckingham Palace.
Masdar expects to mainly use solar energy to reach its 7% targets but is also looking at wind and even geothermal power, where heat from the ground is used as a power source. Masdar has already built links to Britain by investing with E.ON of Germany and DONG of Denmark in the London Array wind farm project of the coast of Kent which is tipped to be the biggest of its kind in the world.
The Abu Dhabi state stepped in when Shell pulled out of the £1bn project. The Anglo-Dutch oil group said it was concentrating its wind investment in the US, a move followed by BP. Masdar has $15bn worth of state-funding and has already started to build up its solar power business through a joint venture with Germany, a leader in the photovoltaics field. A new company, Masdar PV, will build manufacturing plants in both Germany and Abu Dhabi that will serve the growing demand for solar panels, which is beginning to compete on a cost basis with traditional energy sources, even without subsidies.
Dutch solar firm Econcern claimed today at the summit that prices of solar panels would half in the next five to six years. It claimed the global industry had already met the International Energy Agency’s target of 10GW of installed solar power by 2020.
Source - TheGuardian
Monday, 19 January 2009
SunEdison Wins Rights To Hundreds Of Shopping Centers
SunEdison has announced the largest solar distributed generation program with Developers Diversified Realty, a Cleveland-based real estate investment trust (REIT) actively engaged in the development and management of shopping centers.
SunEdison has the rights to deploy solar energy systems at more than 200 shopping centers, covering up to an estimated 30 million square feet, located in 24 states and in Puerto Rico. Potential capacity of the program is up to 259 MW.
Once a system is operational, Developers Diversified will be able to purchase energy for common area uses. In addition, shopping center tenants can benefit and realize energy savings by opting to purchase the power generated through the program at rates lower than retail energy rates.
"Developers Diversified is a forward-thinking real estate company-bringing clean solar energy to its properties for the benefit of its tenants and the environment through the largest distributed generation program of its kind.
"It's a way for Developers Diversified and its tenants to reduce operating costs. Furthermore, a typical-sized solar energy system in the program will avoid an estimated 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution," said Brian Jacolick, General Manager, Americas for SunEdison.
Developers Diversified Realty currently owns and manages approximately 720 retail operating and development properties in 45 states, plus Puerto Rico, Brazil, Russia and Canada, totaling approximately 159 million square feet.
Developers Diversified is a self-administered and self-managed REIT operating as a fully integrated real estate company that acquires, develops, leases and manages shopping centers. Additional information about the company is available at www.ddr.com.
Source - solardaily
SunEdison has the rights to deploy solar energy systems at more than 200 shopping centers, covering up to an estimated 30 million square feet, located in 24 states and in Puerto Rico. Potential capacity of the program is up to 259 MW.
Once a system is operational, Developers Diversified will be able to purchase energy for common area uses. In addition, shopping center tenants can benefit and realize energy savings by opting to purchase the power generated through the program at rates lower than retail energy rates.
"Developers Diversified is a forward-thinking real estate company-bringing clean solar energy to its properties for the benefit of its tenants and the environment through the largest distributed generation program of its kind.
"It's a way for Developers Diversified and its tenants to reduce operating costs. Furthermore, a typical-sized solar energy system in the program will avoid an estimated 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution," said Brian Jacolick, General Manager, Americas for SunEdison.
Developers Diversified Realty currently owns and manages approximately 720 retail operating and development properties in 45 states, plus Puerto Rico, Brazil, Russia and Canada, totaling approximately 159 million square feet.
Developers Diversified is a self-administered and self-managed REIT operating as a fully integrated real estate company that acquires, develops, leases and manages shopping centers. Additional information about the company is available at www.ddr.com.
Source - solardaily
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
