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32,000 Jobs Could Be Created By Illinois Renewable Energy Legislation
A bill sponsored by state Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and State Representative Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) that would make changes to Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio Standard might create 32,000 clean energy jobs, according to its backers. The bill would support greater solar power, and improve energy efficiency. It would also increase the renewable energy standard from 25% by 2025 to 35% by 2030. [ read more … ]
We have tools to ensure grid reliability under carbon rule — EPA
U.S. EPA Chief Gina McCarthy told lawmakers yesterday that her agency is prepared to deal with potential electric reliability problems under the Clean Power Plan, whether through a “waiver or another process.” While McCarthy maintained that the proposed rule would not affect reliability, she said EPA has the necessary tools to address situations that might arise under the landmark standards to cut carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. [ read more … ]
Inhofe throws snowball on Senate floor, trying to hit Obama agenda
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) yesterday lobbed a snowball at a Senate page on the chamber floor to illustrate his point that far from unprecedented warmness, this winter has actually been quite cold, as part of his speech trying to debunk global warming. “It’s a snowball from just outside here, so it’s very, very cold,” the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chairman told Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who was presiding at the time. “Very unseasonable. So, Mr. President, catch this.” [ read more … ]
Google invests $300 million in U.S. residential solar projects
SolarCity Corp on Thursday said it created a $750 million fund to finance about 25,000 residential solar projects, with Google Inc investing nearly half the funding. The money will be used by SolarCity to put solar panels on homes. Homeowners then will pay a monthly fee to lease the panels from the company. The growth of such financing has made generating electric power from the sun an option for households who do not want to shell out the $20,000 to $30,000 upfront cost of a typical residential solar system. [ read more … ]
Upper Midwest the worst place to plug in — study
If you live in Rochester, Minn., you may want to reconsider buying an electric vehicle, according to a new study from scientists at Carnegie Mellon University. The colder temperatures in the Upper Midwest can decrease the range of a battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV) by 36 percent compared to one in California and in turn also increase carbon emissions because the region’s generation mix is also the dirtiest, according to the study published in the American Chemical Society journal Environmental Science & Technology. [ read more … ]
Eiffel tower embraces wind power
One of the world’s most iconic sites has become the latest high profile venue to embrace renewable energy, after the installation of two vertical axis wind turbines as part of the Eiffel tower’s high profile renovation project. US-based onsite renewables specialist Urban Green Energy (UGE) announced on Tuesday that it has fitted two turbines at the site capable of delivering 10,000kWh of electricity annually, equivalent to the power used by the commercial areas on the Eiffel tower’s first floor. [ read more … ]
Spain’s Iberdrola to Buy UIL Holdings for About $3 Billion
Spanish utility Iberdrola SA will buy UIL Holdings Corp for about $3 billion to create a new listed power and gas company and expand in the United States, where it hopes to offset falling profits at home. A world leader in wind turbines, Iberdrola joins other European companies seeking to grow via acquisitions outside sluggish domestic markets. Last year, German engineer Siemens agreed to buy U.S. turbine maker Dresser-Rand. [ read more … ]
Iberdrola of Spain Buys UIL of New Haven for $3 Billion
Iberdrola will combine UIL’s power and gas operations with its existing local unit and will list the new company on an American stock exchange. The combined company will serve 3.1 million customers in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine. The company said it expected to invest $6.9 billion in electric and gas infrastructure and other capital expenditures over the next five years. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.