MORE NEWS, 2-2 (INSIDER TALKS SOLAR MONEY; CANADA OFFSHORE WIND DEAL; CHINA CITIES & CLIMATE GROUP TO CUT GHGS; INT’L NEW ENERGY GROUP FOUNDED)

INSIDER TALKS SOLAR MONEY
Robert Fishman talks about funding solar
David R. Baker, February 1, 2009 (SF Chronicle)

“[David R. Baker, S.F. Chroinicle]: Banks have pretty much stopped lending, and renewable power projects are having a hard time getting financing. How do we break the
logjam?

“[Robert Fishman, President/Chairman/CEO, Ausra Inc.]: It's going to require some action from the federal government, and I think the stimulus package in the form it's taking will help. There's a lot of good stuff in there; we're just hoping it gets out of Congress in one piece.

“[David R. Baker, S.F. Chroinicle]: What specific provisions in the stimulus package would help?”

click to enlarge

“[Robert Fishman, President/Chairman/CEO, Ausra Inc.]: There's a lot of versions floating around, but one of them is letting the tax credit (for solar projects) become a grant. It's kind of like getting your tax refund up front. The net cost to the government is the same. It just allows the tax credit to become something more liquid to get projects moving.

“[David R. Baker, S.F. Chroinicle]: Can renewable power keep growing now that oil and natural gas prices are low again?

“[Robert Fishman, President/Chairman/CEO, Ausra Inc.]: The real question that people have to ask themselves is not what the cost of renewable energy is compared to natural gas-fired energy. It's what are you really trying to solve here? We're trying to solve security issues with imported energy, and solve climate change and create jobs. Also remember, energy prices at the moment are artificially low because of the low economic activity.”


CANADA OFFSHORE WIND DEAL
NaiKun and Haida Nation partner for offshore wind project
January 29, 2009 (Energy Current)

“British Columbia-based renewable energy company NaiKun Wind Energy Group and the Council of the Haida Nation have formed a partnership to support the development of Canada's first offshore wind energy project.

“The NaiKun project is located in British Columbia's Hecate Strait, between the mainland and the Haida Gwaii, also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. The area is the traditional territory of the Haida, the indigenous people of the area.”

Will the first offshore wind installation in North America be here? (click to enlarge)

“The partnership will be a commercial limited partnership that will operate and maintain the NaiKun wind energy project after construction. The agreement provides benefits to the Haida Nation from the project, including revenue sharing, environmental stewardship and employment and economic development opportunities…

“Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2012. The project could have up to 110 turbines, installed off the east coast of Haida Gwaii. Energy generated from the turbines will be collected at an offshore substation in the center of the project and converted into electricity, which will be transmitted to the mainland by a subsea cable.

“The project is contingent upon receipt of environmental approvals from the Haida Nation and through the harmonized federal/provincial environmental assessment process, and the award of an Electricity Purchase Agreement from BC Hydro.”


CHINA CITIES & CLIMATE GROUP TO CUT GHGS
The Climate Group to Develop Low Carbon Cities in China
January 21, 2009 (Green Biz)

“The Climate Group plans to develop 15 to 20 low carbon cities in China as part of the organization's drive to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and battle climate change.

”In addition to working with large cities, the group seeks to engage what it described as "second" and "third-tier" cities and views the smaller municipalities as greater opportunities…"

click to enlarage

”According to Wu Changhua, the director for Greater China of The Climate Group, the organization is already talking with seven to to eight cities, and plans to urge local governments and businesses to help…

”Guiyang in China's Guizhou province, which has crafted a strategic plan to make the city more eco-friendly, is working with the group and undertaking five energy saving programs, according to Wang Chengbo, director of The Climate Group's Chinese City Leadership Program.

”Similar efforts in China include the WWF's Low Carbon City Initiative…[in] Shanghai and Baoding…”


INTL NEW ENERGY GROUP FOUNDED
International Renewable Energy Agency Launches
29 January 2009 (Environmental France)

"An international body to promote renewable power was founded in Berlin this week. Seventy-five countries signed the founding statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)…

"Originally an initiative of the German government, IRENA plans to offer policy advice to developed and developing countries, promote technology transfer, advise on financing renewable power and enhance capacity building…"

click to enlarge

"The US was not among the signatories to IRENA, but sent an observer from its embassy in Berlin. John Geesman, co-chairman of the board of directors at the American Council On Renewable Energy, urged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to revisit the decision of the Bush administration to opt-out of joining the agency…

"European energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs said he hoped the EU would be able to join IRENA in future, indicating that the European Commission plans to ask the Council of Ministers for a mandate to sign up.

"The location of IRENA’s headquarters and the appointment of its first director-general are to be decided place in June 2009."