MORE NEWS, 4-24 (OFFSHORE WIND GETS A ‘GO’; SUN LIGHTS UP WAL-MART; FIRST EV CHARGER FOR BILLINGS, MONTANA)

OFFSHORE WIND GETS A ‘GO’
White House Sets Rules for Offshore Wind Farms
Christine Buurma, April 22, 2009 (Wall Street Journal)

"The Obama administration’s …Department of the Interior [DOI] announced a program to grant leases, easements and rights of way for the development of offshore wind farms. The [final rules program for offshore development]… also puts in place methods for sharing revenue from offshore renewable energy projects with coastal states…

"Mr. Obama and congressional Democrats have touted wind power and other renewable energy sources as an alternative to power plants that run on fossil fuels that emit the heat-trapping gases blamed for climate change. The U.S. currently has no offshore wind farms, and the few plans that have gotten some traction, such as a project for a farm off Cape Cod, Mass., have at times been met with fierce opposition from local residents…"

Lots of potential. (click to enlarge)

"The guidelines [are] from [DOI's] Minerals Management Service…MMS's final rule on offshore wind development came as the New York Power Authority said… it will partner with several public and private organizations to develop wind power projects off the coast of the Great Lakes."

A UK offshore installation. (click to enlarge)

"[Last month, DOI]… and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [FERC] resolved a longstanding regulatory dispute…Under the agreement, the MMS is responsible for rules governing the wind projects and FERC has approval over siting…[Secretary of the Interior] Salazar said in February that the Atlantic coast has "huge potential" for offshore wind energy production, possibly hinting at an area his department would consider in early lease auctions. Mr. Salazar also said the Southwest and Great Plains regions were of interest.

"A 2006 report by the Interior Department said wind energy in the U.S. outer continental shelf has the potential to generate 900,000 megawatts of power, roughly equal to total installed U.S. electrical capacity."


SUN LIGHTS UP WAL-MART
Wal-Mart to double amount of solar energy use
Paul Davidson, April 22, 2009 (USA Today)

"…For Earth Day [Wal-Mart announced]…it will as much as double the size of its solar-power initiative in the next 18 months by putting rooftop solar arrays on 10 to 20 stores and distribution centers in California. The retail giant early this month finished installing solar setups at 18 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores and two warehouses in California and Hawaii…Wal-Mart's solar projects will generate enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 2,600 homes…tantamount to taking about 4,000 cars off the road. The company is considering other sites for solar arrays.

"As with the first batch of stores, Wal-Mart won't buy the solar setups outright. Under a 10-year power purchase agreement, or PPA, it will pay for the electricity it uses. BP Solar will make, install, own and maintain the systems."

click to enlarge

"Wal-Mart aims to buy the green power at prices equal to or less than traditional energy. The chain already has reaped a "moderate savings" with the initial projects…Each store gets 20% to 30% of its power from solar…

"The project is part of an aggressive environmental campaign Wal-Mart unveiled in 2005…[A] bevy of retailers that announced solar projects the last two years, including Target, Macy's and Whole Foods. Most signed PPAs, which have exploded in recent years because they let large businesses buy solar energy without huge upfront costs or, more significantly, the hassles of maintaining systems. The set-ups comprise the bulk of the large commercial solar market…"

click to enlarge

"Wal-Mart likely would have to spend more than $2 million per store if it purchased the solar setups, says Jigar Shah, a consultant and founder of SunEdison, the top solar services company…

"Some say the PPA market has slowed recently along with the economy…[and] natural gas [prices] have plunged, stabilizing utility electric rates. But…Wal-Mart, for instance, recognizes electricity rates are bound to rise in coming years…while solar prices are stable…"


FIRST EV CHARGER FOR BILLINGS, MONTANA
Billings electric car owners in luck
April 22, 2009 (Montana’s News Station)

"A downtown Billings business showed off a green machine today in honor of Earth Day. Electric cars could be the future of the automobile industry, but the downfall is keeping the battery charged while running errands. Because of this dilemma, The Good Earth Market, unveiled its electric car parking spot where drivers can plug in their car while shopping.

"Good Earth is the only official business in Billings to offer the service."

From KULR-8 TV.

"Billings resident, Richard Jones, is the proud honor of a 2007 Zenn and says the new charge station allows him more freedom when running around town…

"Currently there are three earth-friendly electric vehicles in Billings. No car dealerships in Billings carry electric cars -- Jones purchased his vehicle two years ago in Bozeman."