MORE NEWS, 1-22 (THE NEW ENERGY IN-CROWD; THE RIGHT NEW ENERGY INCENTIVE?; GREAT LAKES WIND – FEASIBLE & CHALLENGING; PERSIAN GULF NOT SEEING ITS SUN)

THE NEW ENERGY IN-CROWD
The New In-Crowd in Obama's Washington: the Renewable Energy Folks
Kent Garber, January 21, 2009 (U.S. News & World Report)

“…in President Barack Obama's Washington…the CEOs of the nation's top wind and solar trade organizations pass for celebrities…it was on display Monday night at the Green Inaugural Ball, hosted by former Vice President Al Gore…

“Standing on the red—or rather, green—carpet alongside musicians like John Legend, Maroon 5, and will.i.am were Denise Bode, the CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, and Rhone Resch, the Solar Energy Industries Association's president and CEO…"

Highlights of the 2009 Green Inaugural Ball. From Washingtonian via blip-tv.

“Inside the ballroom, though, the talk was mostly wonky…lobbyists, environmentalists, and trade association officials… sat at small tables (with green tablecloths) or stood around in small groups, discussing topics like the nuances of carbon cap-and-trade legislation…references to Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Henry Waxman, the California Democrats who now chair major committees on energy or the environment and…the fate of bills, dealing with everything from conservation of public lands to tax incentives for the wind and solar industries, were a prime topic…

“For these renewable energy proponents, Obama's presidency comes at a critical time… the economic downturn is taking a toll…

“Still, the event was something of a coming-out party for renewable energy, which has evolved over the past decade from a group of niche industries into serious forces on Capitol Hill with sophisticated lobbying operations…Gore told the crowd, ‘We have everything we need now, save perhaps political will. But...tomorrow at high noon, political will is a renewable resource…We have to get out there and help [Obama] pass his program.’”

"…advocates say that Congress and the new president should continue to work on extending tax credits for wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources, help developers get access to financing for renewable projects, and find ways to improve electricity transmission from resource-rich areas—the windy Midwest, the sunny Southwest—to populous coastal regions…"


THE RIGHT NEW ENERGY INCENTIVE?
Clean Energy: How Do You Jumpstart It?
Keith Johnson, January 21, 2009 (Wall Street Journal)

"...economics are not working in favor of clean energy. That puts even more pressure on President Obama’s clean-energy plans…One of the biggest challenges facing the administration isn’t summoning support for clean energy; the stimulus package alone shows the breadth of support for throwing money at new energy solutions. The real challenge will be the shape that support takes.

"Since 1992, clean energy in the U.S., such as wind and solar power, has been promoted by tax credits…

"Tax credits work when businesses have taxable income they need to offset. The recent credit crunch and economic slowdown highlighted the shortcomings...the number of financial players willing and able to help finance clean-energy development shrank dramatically. That’s the main reason that the wind and solar lobbies called for “refundable tax credits” that would give companies credit even if they aren’t in the black...

"The bigger problem with tax credits is that even when they work, they don’t always work. That is, they can actually distort the electricity market..."

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"…Europe loves feed-in tariffs, where renewable-energy projects simply get a cash premium over traditional power…[But] clean-energy pioneers like Germany and Spain have had to throttle back their generous subsidy programs after the lucrative schemes led to an avalanche of new installations that raised electricity prices for consumers.

"And a national, renewable-energy standard? State-level mandates to generate a certain percent of electricity from renewable energy were a big driver behind America’s recent clean-energy push…a national renewable-energy standard is apparently at the top of the Obama administration’s energy wishlist.

"The problem…is that not all states have sun or wind in equal measure. A one-size-fits-all national standard would face stiff opposition…especially in the South…as with so much of energy policy, turning support on the Hill into wind turbines on the hills will mean tackling the devil in the details."


GREAT LAKES WIND – FEASIBLE & CHALLENGING
PSC: Great Lakes wind energy likely part of Wisconsin future
January 15, 2009 (Fond du Lac Reporter)

“…a final report on the feasibility, economic potential and environmental impacts of developing wind energy on the Great Lakes [Harnessing Wisconsin’s Energy Resources: An Initial Investigation into Great Lakes Wind Development] was issued by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC). The study found that off-shore wind projects in the Great Lakes are feasible, and could likely be a part of Wisconsin’s energy future.

"The report, which is the result of an initial investigation into Great Lakes wind development, identifies options for addressing the most significant barriers to the development of off-shore wind should the State of Wisconsin decide to pursue this alternative energy source…"

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“The Study Group that prepared the report is comprised of a diverse member roster representing utilities, environmental organizations, customer and community groups, Indian tribes and state agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Administration and Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. The group began its work investigating the potential for off-shore wind generation in April of last year in response to a recommendation by Governor Jim Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warming…

“All three Commissioners agreed that the next likely steps would be to collect wind resource, wildlife, and other ecological data, and further study research and development on deep water foundations; initiate discussions with other states and Canada on procuring a construction vessel for the Great Lakes; and begin working with the Wisconsin Legislature to consider legislative changes that would facilitate the development of off-shore wind on the Great Lakes…"


PERSIAN GULF NOT SEEING ITS SUN
Sun 'could supply Gulf's day-time energy needs'
January 20, 2009 (AFP)

“Oil-rich Gulf Arab states enjoy year-round sunshine but they remain slow in adopting environmental technologies to let them harvest their abundant solar power…

“Conergy is building a two megawatt roof-top solar power system in a Saudi university in the Red Sea city of Jeddah…Although the environment-friendly system is not enough to power the campus, it is the largest so far in the region…

“Abu Dhabi's renewable energy company, Masdar, is building a 10 mw solar farm…to power the construction of its carbon neutral development, the Masdar City.

“The 22-billion-dollar city which is planned to spread over 6.5 square kilometres (2.5 square miles) is expected to house 55,000 people when ready in 2015, and will run totally on renewable energy."

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“But apart from those two projects, the drive to introduce solar power in the Gulf region remains negligible. Even at household level, solar water heaters which are popular in Mediterranean countries, are rarely seen in the Gulf.
“…the low use of such units in Gulf countries, despite the potential to recover their cost within four years, is because it has not been made mandatory by the governments…

“The United Arab Emirates tops the World Wide Fund chart of countries' per capita ecological footprint, while Kuwait comes third.

“…government incentives have helped enormously in promoting households' switch to cleaner energy in Germany…”

“Despite their huge wealth of oil and gas, Gulf countries are bound to join the bandwagon of environmental countries…[but] the huge drop in oil prices due to the global economic crisis might reduce the momentum in switching to renewables as conventional power becomes cheaper…”