Does anyone else feel like twitter is nothing more than 21st century stalking? I mean, I follow various celebrities, and sometimes it feels a little creepy. I've never met these people, yet I'm reading their thoughts, sometimes even replying to them. Does this rub anyone else the wrong way? Of course, I used to look down on twitter, and now I use it frequently. I guess I'm nothing more than a big part of the problem. Anyway, on to the energy.
In southern CA, an ambitious solar energy program is launched:
Southern California Edison has launched one of the most ambitious solar initiatives yet. It involves using the roofs of commercial buildings to develop renewable energy resources. Building owners get paid to host the solar arrays on their rooftops, and the utility takes all the risk.
A new law in Nebraska could spur wind energy growth:
"This sends a message we have an open door for wind," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Chris Langemeir. He said a lot of private development has been scared off because Nebraska is a public power state. That meant the state was missing out, because federal tax incentives promoting wind energy can be used only by private developers.
The law also protects public power companies by allowing them to purchase up to 10 percent of the energy harvested. It also requires private companies to pay for some of the costs of transmission lines. Power companies signed on, saying the law wouldn't raise rates for Nebraskans.
One developer already wants to build 130 new turbines during the next 18 months, bringing in jobs and millions of dollars of tax revenue for schools and counties.
Maryland has passed a new solar energy bill. The bill requires power companies to buy more power from solar sources & imposes fines if they don't.
A group of Indiana college students have embarked on a biofuel project:
For the first time in the college’s history, a group of students, faculty and staff converted a gallon of used fryer oil from the campus cafeteria into biodiesel fuel and successfully powered a college-owned tractor on campus.
The idea for the project, sparked by the winter term class "Going Green Matters," came from two freshmen students, Jimmy Qualters and Drew Royalty. Following a class presentation by Tom Patz, project manager for organizational development and safety and the college’s advisor to the Green Team, they decided to share their idea with Patz. The project grew from there.
Geothermal energy is hot! (Excuse the horrible pun):
The US geothermal power industry continued strong growth in 2009, according to a new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The April 2010 US Geothermal Power Production and Development Update showed 26% growth in new projects under development in the United States in the past year, with 188 projects underway in 15 states which could produce as much as 7,875 MW of new electric power.
Nevada continues to lead the nation in new geothermal energy, with over 3,000 MW under development. The fastest growing geothermal states are: UT, which quadrupled its geothermal power; NM (tripled); ID (doubled); and OR, which reported a 50% increase. Also, LA, MS, and TX all reported their first geothermal projects. All told, these projects are estimated to create 29,750 permanent jobs and 112,000 person-years of construction and manufacturing employment. Other states ready to get in on the geothermal act include: AK, AR, CO, HI, Idaho, Louisiana, WA and WY.
New York is adding to their biomass energy output:
NRG Energy Inc. has received a 10-year contract from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for power generated using renewable biomass fuel at its Dunkirk Generating Station in western New York. The project, which is expected to come online by the end of 2011, will produce up to 15 megawatts (MW) of the station's total output by co-firing with clean wood biomass.
In another slap in the face to the Chamber of Commerce, a group of large American companies have written to Congress,, imploring them to enact clean energy legislation. The companies include: Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Starbucks, Sun Microsystems, The Timberland Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Clif Bar & Company, eBay, Gap Inc., Jones Lang LaSalle, The North Face, Seventh Generation, Ben and Jerry's, Eileen Fisher, Stonyfield Farm Inc., and Symantec.
A "revolutionary" biodiesel plant will break ground in Iowa next month.
New Hampshire has passed renewable energy legislation:
The New Hampshire Senate has sent legislation to Gov. John Lynch that encourages homeowners, businesses and communities to produce their own energy from renewable sources.
The bill allows consumers who generate up to one megawatt of electricity to be credited on their electric bill for the power. If they generate more than they consume, they could be paid at a rate equal to what the utility saves by not having to produce or buy the power.
The current limit on what consumers can get credit for generating is 100 kilowatts.
Salt Lake City is expanding their solar energy use:
The 800-kilowatt solar-energy system that Mayor Peter Corroon planned to put on county buildings could get even bigger, he announced Wednesday at the dawn of the Solar America Cities convention in downtown Salt Lake City.
The installation could grow to 1.4 megawatts, the latest estimates suggest, providing more solar power than the entire state produces today. (Utah now generates about 1.2 megawatts of solar energy, according to Rocky Mountain Power.)
Texas has already become a leader in wind energy in the US, and as reported earlier in this round-up, they have expanded their geothermal output. Up next? Solar:
Oncor Electric Delivery is pumping $6.9 million more into its program to provide rebates for installation of solar photovoltaic panels at homes and businesses.
The transmission and distribution company committed $5.2 million when it launched its 2010 program in January. Because of heavy demand, all the money was gone by the end of February, Oncor spokeswoman Jeamy Molina said Wednesday. As a result, Oncor is extending the 2010 program by committing $6.9 million that had been allocated for 2011 and 2012, she said.
Oncor, which serves most of North Texas and parts of Central and East Texas, expects to reopen the extended program to new applications within the next month.
Amazing that such progress is taking place in Texas, considering the morons that govern at the state level.
Florida is considering expanding their solar energy output:
Generating 700 megawatts of increased solar-power output would create 40,000 jobs and expand economic activity in Florida by $8.1 billion, a new study says.
The report by the Washington Economics Group helped to fuel support for Senate Bill 1186, which the Senate Energy Committee passed Wednesday.
If you could create 40,000 jobs in FL, think about how many could be created with a national plan? And considering his current political situation, I would think Governor Crist would sign this bill quickly.
Finally, the national pastime is helping to fight climate change:
America’s national pastime is leading the way on climate action by adopting a comprehensive conservation and greenhouse gas-reducing program, including a public outreach component at National League and American League ballparks this summer. The new sustainability drive involves all 30 Major League Baseball teams from coast to coast, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
One main feature of the program is a multi-year environmental data collection drive for Major League Baseball operations that will include energy use, waste generation and disposal (including recycling), water use, and paper goods — quite a lot of effort by a legendary American industry to get in front of a global issue that our own U.S. Chamber of Commerce refuses to address.
In addition to public education and data collection, major league teams have adopted an array of actions including installing solar panels (Red Sox), using staff shirts made of recycled PET bottles (Reds), purchasing Renewable Energy Credits to offset carbon emissions (Phillies), and installing a giant rainwater havesting system (Twins).
This is surprising to me, considering that many MLB owners are knuckle-dragging conservatives. We all remember what Dubbya did before he ran for governor of Texas right?