Mike G. DeSmog of the Ecologist reports over half of the new electrical generation capacity in the U.S. in 2013, came from Solar, in California and Texas are mainstreaming renewable energy.
In California, May 2014 recorded three times as much solar generation as the same month in 2013.
California, for its part, is following up on the huge year solar energy had in 2013 by breaking the record for single-day solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation back in March, and then breaking its own record on June 1. ... The new record in California - 4,767 megawatts of solar PV electricity fed into the grid - is also the national record for any American state.
California installed some 2,261 MW of solar capacity in 2013, more than any other state, and looks to be on track to post up even bigger numbers this year.
PV Magazine reports that "California's solar footprint is growing bigger with each passing day, week and month, with May recording three times as much solar generation as recorded during the same month in 2013."
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A threefold increase in one year is impressive even for California.
In the first quarter of 2014, solar accounted for more than 50% of all new electricity generation capacity installed in the US, some 584 MW, with new solar power plants going online in California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas.
Wind came in second at 427 MW. Natural gas came in third at 90 MW.
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On March 26, Texas set a new state record for wind production in one hour when it surpassed 10.2 Gigawatt-hours.
Our inspirational music for today's vision of converting from fossil fuels to sustainable and renewable energy generation comes from Bob Dylan's live TV performance of Blowing In the Wind, in March 1963, when I was seven years old. If you select the play triangle it will play in the background while you continue to read.
Frank Witsil from the Detroit Free Press clues us into to the news that Michigan's wind energy industry soaring, from generating 6 billion kilowatt-hours in 2000, to generating 168 billion kilowatt-hours last year, according to the EIA.
Power from wind in Michigan is half as expensive to produce than utility companies initially expected, down to as little as $50 a megawatt hour last year from more than $100 a megawatt hour in 2009, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
DTE cut its renewable energy surcharge fee to 43 cents per meter a month from $3 per month. Consumers Energy will eliminate its $2.50 a month charge starting next month. The state Public Service Commission approved eliminating the Consumers Energy surcharge at its June 19 meeting.
In the past few years, wind power in Michigan has created jobs, given rise to new companies that supply components — such as Ventower Industries in Monroe — and even inspired a few school projects and tourism. The nonprofit group, Natural Resources Defense Council, says Michigan is home to about 120 companies that supply wind components and employ 4,000.
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Sadly, Michigan sill gets more than 54% of its power from goal, which as we all know generates carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants which must be stopped to avoid global warming.
Since Michigan passed its Renewable Portfolio Standard goal in 2008 of achieving 10% production from renewable, utilities have invested more than $2.2 billion in renewable energy production.
Michigan's wind power capacity has grown from 2.4 megawatts in 2008, to 287 in 2011, with an additional 3,000 megawatts under development.
MI estimates that just counting the renewable energy projects by Consumers Energy, and DTE have helped create over 200 new companies, and 2,500 new jobs.
Investment in UK renewable energy sector almost £8bn in 2013, bringing the U.K.'s contribution to renewable electricity production to 15%, according to a report by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The report showed that £45bn has been invested in the UK's power generation and networks since 2010, supporting thousands of jobs, with an average of £7bn a year in renewables, which now produce 15% of the country's electricity.
The electricity demand reduction auction, which has a £20m budget, will provide funding for projects that would not otherwise have happened, and will save businesses money on their bills, cut carbon emissions and reduce demand on the grid.
Around 300 organisations including hospitals, airports and supermarket chains have expressed an interest in the pilot.
Greater efficiency could create savings equivalent to 9% of total demand by 2030, the DECC said.
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Wow, these are a lot of watts.
It takes some practice to keep one''s bearing and perspective when we jump around with prefixes between 3, 6 and 9 orders of magnitude, for those not used to it. I sometimes post overviews of exciting new projects measured in kilowatts, like perhaps, a household level backup generator that might be produce 5,000 to 10,000 watts per hour.
A kilowatt is 1,000 watts
A megawatt is 1,000,000 watts
A gigawatt is 1,000,000,000 watts
So when first article asserts,"California - 4,767 megawatts of solar PV electricity fed into the grid - is also the national record for any American state." - This is a lot of watts.
Or "on March 26, Texas set a new state record for wind production in one hour when it surpassed 10.2 Gigawatt-hours." Wowza, this is impressive.
Renewable energy generation is emerging out of the "now for something completely different," curiosity stage to a new "tipping point" stage where in many locations both solar and wind are competitively economically with fossil fuel, and nuclear generation, and the enormous investments, not just being talked about, but now online, setting record amounts of significant production marks the beginning of a new era of renewable and sustainable energy production.
We don't need to be a weatherman to know which way this wind is blowing.