The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) urges states to take advantage of the carbon emission reduction available through expanding geothermal power portfolios.  Doing so makes sense in light of the US EPA’s proposed regulations for existing power plants that require states to substantially reduce carbon emissions.  The regulations proposed June 2, 2014, would give states significant leeway in designing plans to reduce …

To the consumer, the microgrid market will simply appear one day. Like the IPhone or the Kindle or solar panels, it will be the latest cool wonder of our high tech society. But those behind the scenes know that most products are many years in the making. Electricity innovation is no different, except perhaps that industry gestation requires a lot of government …

HOPE FOR THE PLANET: CALTECH‘S RESONATE AWARD HONORS INNOVATORS IN ALTERNATIVE ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SUSTAINABILITY   Five Big Ideas in an Often Overlooked Field Get a Moment in the Sun   PASADENA, CA – May 19, 2014 – To promote innovative and potentially game-changing solutions to some of the hardest problems in alternative energy and the environment, Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute …

Marc Lopata says his job is to uncover the dark side of microgrids. And that’s just what the president and principal engineer for Microgrid Solar is doing in a project that combines energy storage and solar energy at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The project is located at the “Solar Village,” which consists of multiple houses built by …

RENEWABLE SOURCES PROVIDE 92% OF NEW CAPACITY FOR FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2014    According to the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, wind and solar provided 80.9% of new installed U.S. electrical generating capacity for the month of February. Five new “units” of wind provided 99 MW while 12 units …

Californians consume the least electricity per-person of any state in the country, according to new 2014 state energy rankings from EnergyTrends.org. Behind California, Hawaii, Rhode Island and New York used the least electricity per person. Meanwhile, Californians consumed the fifth-lowest total energy per person of any state. This ranking has remained unchanged in recent years – and shows California’s residential …

FERC’s LATEST DATA UNDERMINES EIA’s PROJECTIONS OF SLOW RENEWABLE ENERGY GROWTH TO 2040 According to the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” report from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects, solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, and hydropower “units” provided 394 MW – or 100% – of all new electrical generation placed in-service in November 2013. There was no new capacity during the …

Geothermal Energy’s Environmental and Health Benefits Worth $117 Million Annually Benefits of geothermal energy touted in air emissions analysis The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has released an Air Emissions Comparison and Externality Analysis showing geothermal energy provides significant benefits to public health and the environment as one of the least-polluting and most environmentally friendly forms of energy. The analysis found …

Looming on the horizon is a future of high gas prices and disuse for most cars on the road today. More and more drivers are getting on board with alternatively-powered vehicles, and thus, more manufacturers are offering vehicle models outfitted with alternative engines to feed the demand. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, in 2010, vehicle dealers in the U.S. …

Benefits of geothermal energy touted in air emissions analysis The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) has released an Air Emissions Comparison and Externality Analysis showing geothermal energy provides significant benefits to public health and the environment as one of the least-polluting and most environmentally friendly forms of energy. The analysis found binary geothermal plants produce virtually no greenhouse gases (GHG) and …

Top governors proclaim ‘steadfast support’ for Renewable Fuels Standard Iowa Biodiesel Board says plea to Congress is a needed shot in the arm Thirty governors in the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition have issued a letter to all Members of Congress urging them to stay the course on the federal Renewable Fuels Standard. The Iowa Biodiesel Board praised the move as a …

Amid rapidly falling prices, mounting losses and massive operational costs, the upstream solar photovoltaic (PV) supply chain is undergoing major consolidation, with the number of companies participating in the market expected to plunge by 70 percent this year. Worldwide, the total number of companies participating directly in the manufacturing of PV solar panels, from polysilicon manufacturing through module assembly, is …

Sometimes energy makes headlines, sometimes it doesn’t.  But it almost always has important implications for the global economy, the environment, and our day-to-day lives. Here are 10 energy statistics from 2012 that capture some of the most noteworthy trends of the year, and that will shape the energy world in the years to come. Natural gas, one of the three key fossil …

By Michael Gorton, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Principal Solar Despite the sluggish economy, the US solar industry has seen massive growth in the past two years, creating jobs across the country, driving innovation and attracting investors. In fact, solar installations reached 742MW in the second quarter, up 45 percent over the prior quarter, and a 116-percent increase over …

TAKING BACK AMERICA’S ENERGY FUTURE FROM THE LOBBYISTS: 1 MILLION AMERICANS TO FIGHT INDUSTRY EFFORTS TO KILL CLEAN ENERGY AGENDA Three Dozen Citizen Organizations From Across Nation Take on Undue Influence of Energy Company “Goliath”; Push Reflects Views of 83 Percent of Americans That a “New-Grassroots Driven” Effort is Needed. Fed up with the undue influence of the energy companies, …

NUCLEAR SECRECY WITH $8 BILLION ON THE LINE: SACE CONTINUES FIGHT TO FORCE DISCLOSURE OF U.S. TAXPAYER-BACKED FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES TO RISKY VOGTLE REACTOR PROJECT As Final Arguments Are Filed, Southern Co., Obama Administration Fight FOIA Request to Figure Out Danger to Taxpayers in the Event of Default in Deal More Than 12 Times the Size of Solyndra. With the …

By Elisa Wood December 7, 2011 Electric utilities operated under a rarefied business model for decades. Their customers were captive so they rarely had to think about what motivated them to buy. New government energy efficiency mandates have changed that, and done so with an ironic twist. Now utilities must figure how to get their customers to refrain from buying. …

This is the kind of study and information that needs to get out to the mainstream public. They need to understand that we cannot and should not blindly listen to the oil companies or for that matter our politicians when it comes to energy policy and benefits. We clearly need to look at using renewable energy sources to wean our …

SACE: DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY CONTINUES TO STONEWALL FOIA REQUEST SEEKING DISCLOSURE OF DETAILS IN $8.33 BILLION FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEE FOR PROPOSED RISKY VOGTLE NUCLEAR REACTORS Is DOE Hiding Miniscule Credit Subsidy Fee of 1.5 Percent … Or Even Less …for New Vogtle Reactors? Ignoring Need for Transparency After Collapse of Recent Loan Guarantee, DOE Continues to Refuse to Operate in …

After long summer months of open windows and back yard grilling, the first energy bill of winter can be a real show stopper. In this economy, conserving energy and money is on everyone’s minds. Finding alternative ways to heat your home is one way combat that frightening winter energy bill, and a pellet stove may be the solution for you. …