MORE NEWS, 6-10 (THE COST OF WIND GOING DOWN; SUN IN MINNESOTA; SENATE COMMITTEEE OKS GULF OIL DRILLING)

THE COST OF WIND GOING DOWN
Acciona expects 20 percent fall in wind turbine costs
Martin Roberts, June 9, 2009 (Reuters)

"Spanish renewable energy company Acciona Energia…[estimates] factory gate costs for wind turbines will fall by 20 percent in three years [driven by manufacturers in places like China and Korea], a factor the wind power industry says is crucial to their future.

"Wind power developers at a Madrid conference on Monday said that turbine costs had to come down, especially when the future of subsidies was unclear…"

Acciona is one of the biggest in the world... (click to enlarge)

"Spain is the world's third-largest producer of wind energy, behind Germany and the United States, with about 17,000 megawatts of installed power, which provide some 11 percent of the country's electricity."

...And it has helped make Spain one of the biggest in the world. (click to enlarge)

"The current [Spanish] subsidy scheme for wind power is due to expire in 2012. Producers say a new [Spanish] law enacted last month did not specify whether new wind farms will receive aid after 2010, when total capacity is expected to reach government targets of 20,150 MW.

"Producers say Spain will need 45,000 MW of wind power -- 5,000 MW off shore -- installed by 2020 to reach European Union targets for renewable sources to supply 20 percent of energy consumption."


SUN IN MINNESOTA
Kiss the utility company goodbye
Karen Youso, June 9, 2009 (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

"… Here's how some [Minneapolis-St. Paul] homeowners are using new solar technology to kiss the utility company goodbye…and state and federal governments are giving them a helping hand. The Minnesota Legislature last month loaded $3 million into its solar rebate program, up from $1.2 million last biennium, and the federal 30 percent tax credit for solar is still available…Whether you're a skeptic who wonders if we're throwing money at crackpot ideas or someone who wants to get a piece of the action, consider these questions and answers…"

[Does solar even make sense in Minnesota?] "…Yes, as much sense as solar energy in Texas and Florida…Minnesota's sunshine is distributed unevenly -- more in the summer, less in the winter -- but on a yearly average, it's the same amount of sun energy as in Houston or Jacksonville…Minnesota is better than Southern states for solar energy because solar systems work best when they're cool…"

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[But once the sun goes down, so do the solar collectors.] "…[S]ystems are designed to efficiently store energy in batteries for use overnight, or to automatically flip to the power grid…Connected to the grid, the utility's meter can "spin" backwards when the home is on sun power."

[What can I expect out of a solar system?] "…Energy savings: Two solar panels can meet 75 percent of the hot water needs for a family of four…For solar photovoltaic (solar producing electricity)… A typical Minnesota home uses 600 kilowatts a month; that would take 20 panels. But careful planning -- energy-efficient lights, appliances and living habits -- can easily knock that down to a six-panel system…Pollution reduction…Over two years…[one Minnesota system saved] six tons of CO2…"

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[How much does it cost?] "…There are two types of solar systems: One heats the household's water, while the other makes electricity. The estimated cost of solar thermal (heating water) is about $10,000…Solar PV (for electricity) starts there and goes up…Electricity is cheap in Minnesota, at least compared with other states, which makes for a long payback time…Federal incentives reduced [one Minnesota] $20,000 system to about $18,000…."

[Want to hop on the solar bandwagon?] "…If you think your home might have solar potential, hire a solar contractor or installer to do a site evaluation…The cost is about $175 to $300; a list of companies doing the work is available at Renewables…Solar…Purchase and Installation…Hiring…Next invest in energy efficiency by installing Energy Star appliances, energy-efficient lighting and weatherizing the home…"


SENATE COMMITTEEE OKS GULF OIL DRILLING
Senate panel OKs expanded oil and gas leasing in eastern gulf
Ben Geman, June 9, 2009 (NY Times)

"The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved expanded oil and gas leasing… in the eastern Gulf of Mexico in a bipartisan vote that would upend a 2006 compromise with Florida senators that provided their state at least a 125-mile buffer in most areas until mid-2022.

"The committee voted 13-10 in favor of Sen. Byron Dorgan's (D-N.D.) plan to allow leasing as close as 45 miles from Florida's coast [as part of the committee's ongoing markup of a broad energy bill]. It also allows leasing in a gas-rich region called the Destin Dome off the Florida Panhandle that is even closer to shore…"

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"Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson slammed the plan in a prepared statement, arguing it could hamper military training, while blaming prices at the pump on financial speculators…Nelson vowed to block the effort…

"Environmentalists [also] oppose Dorgan's effort…But American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard praised the action after the vote…After a long debate, the committee rejected, 10-13, an amendment by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) to provide [revenues to] states… federal deficit reduction and… to the Land and Water Conservation Fund."

They can drill all they want but they aren't going to change this trend. (click to enlarge)

"A 2006 gulf leasing law created a revenue-sharing program for Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. Landrieu's plan would have provided this share to Alaska and to states that might have offshore leasing in the future…[as a critical state incentive and compensation]… for the impact of infrastructure…[R]evenue-sharing opponents said the OCS is a national resource and…Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) said the Interior Department has estimated that total future federal losses from revenue sharing could be between $653 billion and $790 billion dollars…

"Several lawmakers said they will look to revisit the revenue-sharing issue to seek a compromise as the bill proceeds toward the Senate floor."