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Defiant Dems say they won’t be shut out of budget talks
Anxiety over a shutdown was delayed this week after the House and Senate passed a continuing resolution keeping agencies working through Dec. 11, sidestepping demands from conservatives to delay funding the government until Democrats and Obama agreed to block federal funds for Planned Parenthood. The Senate passed the legislation 78-20, and hours later, the House approved it 277-151, with opposition coming mainly from Republicans unimpressed with a symbolic vote in the House against Planned Parenthood. [ read more … ]
MidAmerican Energy completing large O’Brien County wind farm
Construction on MidAmerican Energy Company’s massive wind turbine farm in northwest Iowa is expected to finish by year’s end. MidAmerican Energy project manager Adam Jablonski told the Sioux City Journal that the Highland project will be one of the 10 largest wind farms in the country when it is completed. [ read more … ]
Berkshire Hathaway Said to Borrow $275 Million for Texas Wind
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. borrowed $275 million for a 300-megawatt wind farm in Texas that’s supplying power to Austin Energy, according to two people familiar with the deal. Mizuho Financial Group Inc. led the 10-year financing for the Jumbo Road wind farm, said the two people, who asked not to be identified because they’re not authorized to discuss the deal publicly. CoBank Financial Corp., Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. also participated. Pricing started at 162.5 basis points over the London interbank offered rate. [ read more … ]
Offshore wind advocates try to broaden debate beyond straight economics
After what one market participant described as a “tortuously” slow start, there are now more than 15,500 MW of offshore wind projects in various stages of development in the U.S., and federal regulators have leased enough ocean acreage to support the construction of projects totaling more than 5,500 MW, the U.S. Department of Energy said Sept. 29. [ read more … ]
U.S. offshore wind industry feels momentum building as steel hits the water
Backers of the U.S. offshore wind industry are hoping to build on recent momentum to crack the major financial and regulatory roadblocks that still remain before they can catch up with their thriving European counterparts. The image of a steel foundation being lowered into the ocean off the coast of Rhode Island this summer has become a sign of hope for the industry. Due next year, the small offshore wind farm developed by Deepwater Wind will generate 30 megawatts — peanuts compared with the more than 10 gigawatts already installed in Europe. The Block Island Wind Farm will be the first in the United States. [ read more … ]
Note: News clips provided do not necessarily reflect the views of coalition or its member governors.