Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Which State Is a Big Renewable Energy Pioneer? Texas

By Bill Spindle and Rebecca Smith, Wall Street Journal • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:34:11

On a blustery February night, the Texas electricity market hit a milestone. Nearly half the power flowing onto the grid came from wind turbines, a level unimaginable a decade ago in a place better known for its long romance with fossil fuels. The Lone Star state still embraces its oil and gas, leading a revolution in innovative “fracking” technology. Yet an equally startling energy bonanza here has gone almost unnoticed—the rise of renewables. Texas has added more wind-based generating capacity than any other state, with wind turbines accounting for 16% of electrical generating capacity as of April. Now Texas is anticipating a huge surge in solar power. [ read more … ]

Offshore wind sails forward, but a different story on land

By MATT O’BRIEN Associated Press • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:35:02

Even as Rhode Island makes history as the first U.S. state with an offshore wind farm, its people are not so fond of wind turbines sprouting up on land near where they live. Dreams of a wind-powered nation sparked by the pioneering Atlantic Ocean project are running aground back on shore, where conventional battles over aesthetics and property values have stymied wind projects here and around the country. Ruth Pacheco said she didn’t expect so much hostility when she invited a developer to build a giant wind turbine atop a forested hill at her 52-acre family farm in rural North Smithfield. [ read more … ]

Gov. Brown signs bill banning state money for coal exports

Anne C. Mulkern, E&E reporter • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:33:22

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill Friday aimed at cutting coal exports from the Golden State. Brown approved S.B. 1279 from state Sen. Loni Hancock (D), which takes effect in 2017. It blocks the California Transportation Commission from giving state funds to any new transport terminal “that stores, handles, or transports coal in bulk.” [ read more … ]

PG&E may build nation’s largest deployment of EV charging spots

Anne C. Mulkern, E&E reporter • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:34:39

The biggest utility in California will soon learn whether it can install as many as 7,600 electric vehicle charging stations, a controversial plan that would be the single largest deployment of plug-in spots in the country. Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s proposal would have ratepayers foot the $160 million cost. The utility would partner with charging companies but largely would build and maintain the infrastructure. PG&E would prioritize placements at workplaces and multifamily housing, including apartment buildings. A portion would go in disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ read more … ]

CIP acquires Massachusetts offshore project

By David Weston, Windpower Offshore • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:33:01

As part of the deal, CIP has acquired the rights to a 675 square kilometre offshore wind energy lease off Massachusetts, northeast US. OffshoreMW won the development rights to the site in an auction in January 2015. OffshoreMW placed a winning bid $166,886 for a the zone. CIP said it would continue to develop the project, expected to be up to 1GW in capacity, “by the existing local development team, supported by senior industry experts from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners”. [ read more … ]

Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.

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	August 30, 2016
Which State Is a Big Renewable Energy Pioneer? Texas By Bill Spindle and Rebecca Smith, Wall Street Journal • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:34:11 On a blustery February night, the Texas electricity market hit a milestone. Nearly half the power flowing onto the grid came from wind turbines, a level unimaginable a decade ago in a place better known for its long romance with fossil fuels. The Lone Star state still embraces its oil and gas, leading a revolution in innovative “fracking” technology. Yet an equally startling energy bonanza here has gone almost unnoticed—the rise of renewables. Texas has added more wind-based generating capacity than any other state, with wind turbines accounting for 16% of electrical generating capacity as of April. Now Texas is anticipating a huge surge in solar power. [ read more … ] Offshore wind sails forward, but a different story on land By MATT O’BRIEN Associated Press • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:35:02 Even as Rhode Island makes history as the first U.S. state with an offshore wind farm, its people are not so fond of wind turbines sprouting up on land near where they live. Dreams of a wind-powered nation sparked by the pioneering Atlantic Ocean project are running aground back on shore, where conventional battles over aesthetics and property values have stymied wind projects here and around the country. Ruth Pacheco said she didn’t expect so much hostility when she invited a developer to build a giant wind turbine atop a forested hill at her 52-acre family farm in rural North Smithfield. [ read more … ] Gov. Brown signs bill banning state money for coal exports Anne C. Mulkern, E&E reporter • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:33:22 California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signed a bill Friday aimed at cutting coal exports from the Golden State. Brown approved S.B. 1279 from state Sen. Loni Hancock (D), which takes effect in 2017. It blocks the California Transportation Commission from giving state funds to any new transport terminal “that stores, handles, or transports coal in bulk.” [ read more … ] PG&E may build nation’s largest deployment of EV charging spots Anne C. Mulkern, E&E reporter • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:34:39 The biggest utility in California will soon learn whether it can install as many as 7,600 electric vehicle charging stations, a controversial plan that would be the single largest deployment of plug-in spots in the country. Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s proposal would have ratepayers foot the $160 million cost. The utility would partner with charging companies but largely would build and maintain the infrastructure. PG&E would prioritize placements at workplaces and multifamily housing, including apartment buildings. A portion would go in disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ read more … ] CIP acquires Massachusetts offshore project By David Weston, Windpower Offshore • • Posted 2016-08-30 06:33:01 As part of the deal, CIP has acquired the rights to a 675 square kilometre offshore wind energy lease off Massachusetts, northeast US. OffshoreMW won the development rights to the site in an auction in January 2015. OffshoreMW placed a winning bid $166,886 for a the zone. CIP said it would continue to develop the project, expected to be up to 1GW in capacity, “by the existing local development team, supported by senior industry experts from Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners”. [ read more … ] Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.
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