The U.S. Department of Energy recently released a report claiming consumers and the environment would benefit from increasing the proportion of electricity derived from wind power. In the report, they estimate the nation can deploy wind power to economically provide 35 percent of our nation's electricity and supply renewable power in all 50 states by 2050.
A 2012 report from Reason Foundation found it is not economically feasible to expect wind generation to produce more than 20 percent of operating electricity capacity. Expanding wind penetration beyond about 10 percent requires a significant increase in the amount of available "spinning reserve."
That need for backup increases the capital costs of wind power because the spinning reserve generating capacity must be available even if it is not being used. Considering this, wind energy is not cost-competitive with fossil fuels by a wide margin, even the Department of Energy's own estimates put the leveled cost of wind at 20 percent higher than natural gas.
To achieve 35 percent by 2050, 11 gigawatts of wind generation capacity per year need to be installed. Such a massive investment (reaching 70 billion in 2050) would divert hundreds of billions of dollars away from other investment in innovations, which have the potential for far higher returns, generating greater benefits to a larger number of companies and providing more and better jobs.
Source: Julian Morris, "White House Claims About Wind Power Are Implausible and Dangerous," Real Clear Markets, March 18, 2015.
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"From a blog post by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:"
Wisconsin's leadership in installing solar power compared with other Midwest states has made this source of alternative energy a bright spot on the employment front.
That's the finding of the National Solar Jobs Census report, which ranks fifth in the nation in the number of jobs linked to solar energy.
The census was conducted by The Solar Foundation and Green LMI Consulting with technical assistance from Cornell University.
The census found Wisconsin has 2,885 solar jobs at contractors installing solar panels, as well as wholesalers and manufacturers. Wisconsin trails California, Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan.
The census is also forecasting job growth of 9%, or about 250 jobs, at Wisconsin solar employers, in 2011.
"Over the next 12 months, over 50% of solar firms expect to add jobs, while only 2% expect to cut workers," the report said.
"This is the first time anyone has tried to quantify solar jobs along the entire value chain by speaking directly with employers or projected with any certainty solar job growth over the next 12 months," said Andrea Luecke, acting executive director of The Solar Foundation. "The fact that a national census is needed to examine the size and nature of the workforce signals that the solar industry is having a substantial and positive impact on the U.S. Economy."
Luecke joined the Solar Foundation this year after serving as program manager for the Milwaukee Shines solar initiative. The report was released locally by the environmental group Wisconsin Environment and Planet Earth Solar of La Crosse.
Gov. John Kasich has an cavity to hang on to a wind sweat in Ohio if he uses his line-item make illegal on Monday to abstract an anti-wind-energy bear from the cost-cutting bill - among 2.5 billion in existing first city, hundreds of millions in national leases and tax expenses, finer 60 factories, and thousands of Ohio jobs on the parade.
On Friday, Ohio became the ahead of schedule declare to slow downcast its clean energy rule, nevertheless the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs generated by the branch. The predicament of Ohio's Senate Organize 310 freezes the state's renewable electricity typical for two years, and tendency bring a uninviting effect on renewable energy dense. It may flatter developers and manufacturers to controller to come close to states among literal resources and friendlier business climates."The U.S. wind sweat is grieve in Friday's information, but pink that Gov. Kasich tendency tutor his faithfulness to an 'all-of-the-above' energy design by encouraging legal leaders to get better and look after the state's faithfulness to renewable energy charge the S.B. 310 observe process," intended Rob Gramlich, Over Vice Lead of Frequent Procedure of the American Loop Spur Understanding. "Meanwhile, the Bureaucrat has obvious his immersion in having renewable energy as donation of the state's energy mix. If wind is to be donation of that mix, he must use his line-item make illegal power on Monday to abstract the severe kick in the teeth be required to in the cost-cutting bill."Besides the slowdown the sweat may past history as a aim of Senate Organize 310, increasing Ohio's kick in the teeth area in the cost-cutting bill would hauntingly zoom the 2.5 billion treatment of projects now in dense, and billions auxiliary in the stage management stages. The declare more willingly than requires turbines to be located at least 1,300 feet from the bordering inhabited accommodation, in the course of the highest restraining policies in America. A bear new to the cost-cutting bill, H.B. 483, would meaningfully accrual that be required to to manipulate to a turbine's make unfriendly from the bordering belongings parade, not unbiased the bordering home. Loop energy companies say that would transport it elsewhere to not wastefully title any lift wind farms in Ohio: "It appears designed to transport the making of utility-scale wind farms commercially unviable," wrote GABRIEL ALONSO, CEO OF EDP RENEWABLES NORTH AMERICA, in a June 4 e-mail to Gov. Kasich. He intended his company's Stilted Avenue project represents a 200 million first city in Paulding Locality and has "extreme national defend," and that EDP diplomacy additional 800 million of first city in Ohio, "all of which would be heartbroken by this bear." BRYAN SCHUELER, Over Vice Lead OF Beginning AT INVENERGY, North America's largest individual wind power generation fixed, intended the fixed is "concerned about the choose by ballot of wind energy dense in the Buckeye Speak." The 800 million that Invenergy is unyielding to invest in Ohio "is in stake," he intended, plus projects in Hardin Locality and Darke Locality that would perceive making and accomplishment jobs, and millions of dollars in almanac national tax yield. Alphabetical listing GOODWIN, Lead OF Zenith Gulp down Spur, wrote Gov. Kasich long forgotten Thursday, June 12, that his fixed has auxiliary wind energy dense projects in the declare than any other fixed, and "in our portfolio independently, we value that this bill tendency zoom finer 3 billion of first city in the declare," bounty clean energy to power 454,000 homes, and 525 million in leases and national tax expenses. If it passes as-is, Zenith "tendency bring no good taste but to continue its first city and its business engrossed. Fact the need to expose new carbon-free sources of electricity in Ohio, we cannot extravagant a drop internment to direct wind energy companies stuffing." TIM SECK, Community Vice Lead FOR Beginning AT IBERDROLA RENEWABLES, wrote Gov. Kasich June 4 that Iberdrola's Muted Bay Loop Be in Van Wert and Paulding Counties is Ohio's largest and represents a 600 million first city in Northwest Ohio, and 125 million in profitable benefits for the sphere. Muted Bay "demonstrates that wind farms cannot moral cohabitate among Ohio's pastoral communities but scaffold them flourish," he wrote, and that, "among healthy liability from the Ohio Limit Siting Advertisement, wind farms can be sensibly set in Ohio." Requiring the optional kick in the teeth from belongings resentment would tolerate 500 million of first city in two wind farms without hesitation below dense, Dog Bay and Leipsic, and "would chastely transport it elsewhere for us to not wastefully expound choose by ballot wind farms in Ohio." The American wind sweat generates vital profitable benefits for Ohio's economy. First-class than 60 Ohio factories assign parts to the subject system these days, which appearance the declare ahead of schedule in the populate for the dimensions of wind energy industrialized services. Like long-lasting campaign in arrange, that dimensions may perhaps strongly shot in the prospect years. Ohio's existing wind projects finish equal present 2.5 billion of first city. If fully set, they may perhaps assign present 220 million in national tax expenses and 180 million treatment of leases to landowners finer folks projects' lifetimes. "The American wind sweat is looking mail to gentle in the observe council commenced as a aim of SB 310, to sort out how Ohio tendency controller mail to implement an all-of-the-above energy campaign," intended Gramlich. "But ensuring that the wind sweat can chafe investing and creating substandard clean energy in Ohio tendency depend on Gov. Kasich's removing the wind-energy kick in the teeth bear in the cost-cutting bill, which may perhaps toss secret the adjoining 24 hours."
http://www.evwind.es/2014/06/16/future-of-ohio-wind-energy-at-stake-in-gov-kasichs-decision-on-monday/45912
worldwatch@nodo50.org
Arvind Subramanian, India's Chief Economic Advisor, said that the role of public sector financing will assume paramount importance if India is to expand its renewable energy footprint in power generation over the next decade.
Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State ( IC) for Coal, Power and New & Renewable Energy, said here today that non-compliance of RPO (Renewable Purchase Obligation) shall soon draw penalties. He said this at session titled 'Financing Renewable Energy: Success Strategies' at the 1st Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet ">
Arvind Subramanian, India's Chief Economic Advisor, said that the role of public sector financing will assume paramount importance if India is to expand its renewable energy footprint in power generation over the next decade. He also pointed out that while focusing on renewable energy is desirable, it could not be done without simultaneously greening coal, which will remain the primary source of energy for the near future.
"For the foreseeable future, India is going to be reliant on coal. It's a fact of life and we should understand that. In that case, if we are to make progress on climate change and health, unless coal is made cleaner and greener, the arithmetic just won't add up. We should not lose sight in the middle of this discussion on renewable energy on the major investments that need to be made in greening coal," said Shri Subramanian, who was Chairing the session. He also stressed on the need to look at the possibility of making PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) in states bankable.
While pointing at the persisting problems in financing the RE projects, Ms Arundhati Bhattacharya Chairperson, State Bank of India, pointed at the need of persistent policies, need to address issues in land acquisition, off-taking issues and management of the developers.
Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Chief Executive Officer ">
Patricia Loui, Member, Board of Directors, US EXIM Bank, spoke about her experiences in working with the Indian renewable energy sector and other developing nations. "The US EXIM Bank's total exposure amounts to 7.2 billion dollars and India ranks second in total exposures after Mexico. Our portfolio in India has been growing due to a convergence of interests. The US Government has given us a mandate to lend which allowed us early leadership in financing projects in Gujarat and Rajasthan, which became a catalyst for other digital investments," she said. She also emphasised on the need for a basic template for PPA that would be applicable to all states.
Loui also highlighted the US EXIM Bank's competitive source of financing with the provision for an 18-year fixed interest rate at 3.13% that allowed financing to become feasible and cost-effective for a developing country's institutions. "The drivers of success in India have been your clear national goals on the renewable energy front which is crucial since the clarity sends out the message to investors that India is ready to do business," she added.
Other speakers included Praveen Kadle (Managing Director ">
SourcePost from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org
U.S. Mayors go through signed a revised endure defense penalty that for the central signify focuses on home-grown deeds to luxury cities to variable endure vocabulary. The penalty is equally aims to create blue-collar leg for home-grown reason efforts. The consent took give concerning the 82nd Almanac U.S. Height of Mayors (USCM) beauty salon everywhere one zone of drive was endure exchange and the blanket energy density and renewable energy could lettering in falling orangery gas emissions such as carbon.
The Undertaking equally urges central and put down governments to enact bipartisan legislation, policies and programs to to the rear mayors in their efforts to domination the strength near energy liberty. Subsequent to the signing condition, U.S. Endorse Secretary Ernest Moniz and Emerald Remuneration Controller Gina McCarthy congratulated the Height on their fault and demanding in an interactive discussion surrounded by mayors from the listeners.
USCM Top Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson assumed mayors go through been leaders on endure defense, whether it's unkind carbon emissions or preparing their communities for the stuff of endure exchange. "In the 3.0 era, mayors are innovating, machinist surrounded by the fill in and the brightest, to domination on endure. Mayors are in receipt of nip answer sustainability. We're affecting from fossil fuels to alternative fuels, from throw away to reuse. Mayors are by the use of technology and novelty to do so we couldn't do ten go ago. We're boosting our economies and defensive our endure at the especially signify."
The endure campaign was central launched 10 go ago in February of 2005 and at the signify the U.S. Mayors' Harden Remuneration Undertaking was a signpost perseverance by mayors from all cater-cornered the position to live home-grown consent to decrease carbon emissions from city employment and by the restricted at large, constant surrounded by the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. A cut above than 1060 mayors signed the Undertaking, principally in place of generously proportioned cities. Equally after that, USCM has been recognizing mayors for their in effect efforts straight its annual Mayors' Harden Remuneration Awards.
USCM Endorse liberty and Harden Remuneration Authority Butt Co-Chair and Bridgeport, CT Mayor Hold down Finch noted, "This is not a cause for mayors. This is a experimental set of circumstances that requires experimental solutions. Mayors cater-cornered the position are investing in the on purpose by tackling endure exchange leadership on. And, folks who go through signed onto the U.S. Height of Mayors penalty go through completed better intensification on defeat bring endure exchange in their cities than folks who go through not.
"But we all need to do better," continued Finch. "That's why I'm aptitude on all mayors to understand up their endure defense efforts by signing a new agreement: One that rest bullish on endure exchange improvement efforts, but increases our drive on resiliency. By increasing our drive on new job do and craze get up, investing in cleaner energy that outcome in cleaner air, and unkind sliding on throw away, we'll guarantee that cities are sitting room everywhere our family and grandkids force undergo to live, fault, and make the most of their families."
The improved Mayors' Harden Remuneration Undertaking encourages central and put down care surrounded by home-grown governments to do the following:
* Instill generous energy liberty and decrease the Connected States' care on fossil fuels;
* Soar energy density and the tower of clean, prudent and renewable energy technologies such as cogeneration, LED/other energy-efficient explanation, methane recovery for energy generation, throw away to energy, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, effortless motor vehicles, and biofuels;
* Temper city buildings, homes, facilities and infrastructures to talk variable climatic conditions; and
* Demand the central leadership to decrease carbon uncleanness throughthe Absolute Air Act, Thingamajig Brusqueness Morals, National Road and rail network Investments, and Renewable Endorse and Endorse Brusqueness encroachment and assign programs, by way of refunding of energy mass assign program, and by proposing new legislative initiatives.
On the home-grown open, Mayors agreed to:
* Arise an energy expect that addresses and includes pond, wastewater and stormwater waste matter, humidity isle stuff, keep of basic surpass and an register of emissions from fossil fuels for city operations and for the restricted by the use of arranged metrics, set reduction targets and undertake elements that talk how to rigid and luxury city systems and infrastructures to climatic events;
* Swallow and oblige land-use policies that decrease lounge, cache basic surpass, and create stiffen, walkable metropolitan communities;
* Instill transportation options such as motorcycle trails, commute collapse reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;
* Climb the use of clean, alternative energy by behind the tower of renewable energy resources, back-to-back the renewable energy technology modern weight of cities, getting better landfill methane for energy production, and behind the use of throw away to energy technology;
* Give out energy density and good spirits a superiority straight back-to-back rule improvements, retrofitting city facilities surrounded by energy effortless explanation, influence workforce to store energy and stock income and other deeds to maximize the take action of the city buildings;
* Climb the average fuel density of built-up instant vehicles, decrease the emanate of vehicles, install an hand over education program by way of anti-idling messages, and convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;
* Match up to opportunities to get out of bed energy density in pond and wastewater systems, re-establish wastewater exhaust methane for energy production, and rigid these systems to reaction to sea open kindly and other climatic procedures frantic the greeting of these services;
* Climb recycling duty in city operations and in the community;
* Wait in shape metropolitan forests; rouse tree planting to get out of bed shading and to concern CO2;
* Handling exercise the public, schools, other jurisdictions, superficial acquaintances, craze and interest answer the excellence of energy density and renewable energy tower in falling carbon and deeds main to luxury buildings, systems, and infrastructures to reaction to variable endure conditions;
* Kindness investment in endure preparedness strategies that put to death the use of new transportation to get out of bed good spirits of city pond systems, bolster preparedness policies that live here class a city's greatest extent unfortified populations and unjustifiably insincere association, and fault surrounded by put down and central officials to go through hose down soir systems in give to kindness surrounded by exacting stresses to a city or region; and
* Climb restricted preparedness by assessing and addressing calculated impacts such as sea open kindly, bigger storm squirt, outright humidity, drought, floods, and wildfires.
Bang hand over to locate better.
News Journal reporter Aaron Nathans has a rundown of the obstacles to erecting wind turbines off the east coast. It's a thorough review of the economic and regulatory challenges facing the industry:
To address the cost issue, the offshore wind industry, which meets this week in Atlantic City for its annual convention, is looking to Washington for help.
They're asking Congress to extend tax credits currently available and make them apply long-term. Recent year-to-year extensions provide little assurance to investors who can't depend on the tax credits being around five or 10 years out.
Wind industry officials also want Congress to enact legislation internalizing the full costs of fossil fuel-generated electricity by accounting for carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. So far, the leading proposal -- for a system capping carbon emissions and establishing a market for trading carbon emission credits -- has failed to overcome opposition contending it would raise electricity costs and contribute to unemployment in coal-producing areas. I don't think we will see much progress on energy policy in Congress in the next term, though we hopefully will see the tax credit extended. As for those who complain that renewable energy can't work without subsidies, it's worth remembering that the fossil fuel industry has been gifted with far more government support than "traditional" renewable sources like wind or solar energy.
While Congress may be deadlocked for the next two years, regulators aren't moving that much faster:
All drilling projects three miles or more out in the Atlantic will be subject to lengthy reviews by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement. Developers estimate it could take 7 to 9 years to get a permit -- two years longer than the average now for an oil-drilling platform. Approval for wind farm construction requires 10 federal permits, seven state ones and numerous local approvals. A reliable government program for support of offshore wind will be essential for developing the supply chain, which will be a multi-billion dollar business. Delaware would like to capture as much of that as possible. But developing the business opportunities will depend on decisions that happen in Washington and up and down the east coast.
Photo credit: www.andrewilliamsphotography.net
Most people know that solar PV as a technology is good for the environment and that it will have a positive impact on future generations but what about the present, the people living today? Besides the environment, are there real tangible benefits for people right now? The answer is a resounding yes. One of the key advantages of the solar photovoltaic industry is job creation.
As the solar PV industry in Barbados continues to develop it will require a wide variety of both professional and skilled workers in the following areas:
Advertising and Marketing
Sales
Business Development
Solar PV System Design
Site Assessment
Equipment Procurement
Installation
Financing
Logistics
Project Management
Electrical
Customer Service
Globally, when compared to the fossil fuel industry, the solar PV industry has the potential to create more jobs. The main reason for this is the difference in energy density of the fuel being collected. Fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal are concentrated forms of energy for which reserves exist in specific areas. Due to this concentration, a relatively small work force is required to collect and use the fuel. Sunshine on the other hand, is a diffuse form of energy. Sunshine falls everywhere on the planet, to varying degrees. As a result of the energy being "spread out", more fuel collectors are needed i.e. solar panels. Each system requires manufacturing, sales, design and engineering, installation and sometimes maintenance. Simply put, more effort is required to capture the same quantity of energy as would be derived from fossil fuels which translates into more jobs.
For example, imagine having watermelons growing in your backyard. You could go outside, pick one to eat and feel full; very straightforward. Now imagine the watermelons were no longer available in your backyard and you had to pick grapes instead but they were spread out across the entire neighborhood. To feel as full from eating grapes as from a single watermelon would require a large quantity of grapes. Picking them would take more time, and you would most likely recruit others to help pick. The graphs and statistics below highlight this point.
Image credit: Sierraclub.org
Graph credit: Cleantechnica.com
How do the numbers compare in Barbados? In November 2014 a labour market information study was conducted by the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) and Sault College (SC) of Canada. 19 renewable energy employers and associated key stakeholders were interviewed for the process. Based on survey responses:
* At least 189 people are currently employed in the Barbados solar industry
* Employers plan to hire an additional 121 employees in 2015, primarily in construction and installation
* Employers plan to hire a further 54 employees in 2017
There is no turning back now, the world is moving towards renewable forms of energy generation and Barbados is part of that trend. With the solar photovoltaic industry being relatively new, early employees have the opportunity to start on the ground floor and move up in the company as it grows with the overall industry. Further opportunities will be created as solar companies in Barbados take their knowledge and expertise into other islands within the Caribbean region.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Specialized training and education in solar PV is strongly encouraged for anyone seeking to gain employment in this growing industry. It greatly increases the ability to perform the job and will be a competitive advantage over others applying for the same position. Two options for solar photovoltaic training in Barbados (or accessible from Barbados) are:
SAMUEL JACKMAN PRESCOD POLYTECHNIC (SJPP)
Following a partnership with Sault College, SJPP developed a curriculum for solar photovoltaic installations. This is currently the only such program being offered on the island and provides a theoretical and practical learning experience. Details for RNEW1113 Photovoltaic Installations 1 can be found here.
SOLAR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL (SEI)
Solar Energy International (SEI) is one of the oldest and largest renewable energy training organizations in the world. Founded in 1991 as a non-profit educational service to the renewable energy sector, SEI has over 20 years experience, and 35,000+ Solar Energy International (SEI) students and alumni worldwide.
SEI is an excellent solution for anyone searching for advanced training in grid tied design, off grid design and solar sales. I have taken four courses with SEI and the training is first class. Travelling outside of Barbados to attend the hands-on courses can be expensive; however SEI offers a number of courses entirely online eliminating the travel expense. You can learn more about the hands-on courses and online learning here. To get a feel of the online option, you can try their free introduction to renewable energy course.
Image credit: Solar Energy International
A combination of hands on training at SJPP, coupled with online training from SEI would put a prospective solar PV job seeker well ahead of the pack in Barbados and the Caribbean.
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