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The Energy Department helped start a revolution – and doesn’t know who to hand it off to
As the Obama administration prepares to leave office, it is seeking to underscore just how much has changed in the last eight years in the way we get energy — and to take some credit for it. Since 2008, costs for wind and solar have plunged by 40 and 60 percent, respectively, according to an analysis provided by the Energy Department. That’s even as the United States has installed 100 gigawatts, or billion watts, of generating capacity in the two technologies combined (75 gigawatts of wind, 25 of solar).
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Norway’s Top Oil Company Is Building A Huge Wind Farm Off New York’s Jones Beach
Winds off the coasts of the United States are so dependably strong, turbines built offshore could produce four times the amount of electricity that’s currently generated from all sources in the country. At least, that’s what Norway’s biggest oil company is betting. Statoil, the fossil fuel cash cow that made Norway the world’s seventh richestcountry, won a $42.5 million bid last Friday to lease 79,350 acres of federal waters starting roughly 14 miles off the coast of Long Island. There, the company’s U.S. subsidiary plans to build a massive offshore wind farm to send clean energy back to New York City and its suburbs. [ read more … ]
Letter to the Editor: The Trump administration should invest in offshore wind farms
Leaders on both sides of the political aisle are calling for boosting U.S. manufacturing and investing in infrastructure. Developing a robust offshore wind-farm industry accomplishes these goals simultaneously. Offshore wind farms will revitalize American steel manufacturing, employ highly skilled American tradespeople and spur much-needed infrastructure investments in American highways, rails and ports. [ read more … ]
How China Beats the U.S. at Clean-Air Progress
As Beijing and more than 20 other cities in northern China have been plunged into another winter air-pollution crisis, with choking, toxic air and many people afraid to wander outside, observers wonder when China will start making significant progress on this problem. But there is some good news, namely that when it comes to clean air improvements, China probably is ahead of the historic pace of the U.S. at a comparable stage of economic development. [ read more … ]
Saudis Seen Accelerating Sunward Tilt in Charge for Oil Revenue
Saudi Arabia’s long-awaited drive to free up more oil revenue by shifting to solar power generation is expected to pick up speed next quarter, according to local developers eyeing contracts. “I’m fully expecting within the first quarter 500 megawatts to come out in tenders and then it’ll ramp up,” said Paddy Padmanathan, the chief executive officer of Acwa Power International in Riyadh. “That will be a game changer for the region.” [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.