MORE NEWS, 8-12 (ALASKA LAWMAKERS OVERRULE PALIN ENERGY VETO; NEW HAMPSHIRE RES SPURS NEW ENERGY; DOE DOLLARS TO INNOVATIVE SUN)

ALASKA LAWMAKERS OVERRULE PALIN ENERGY VETO
Legislature overrides Palin veto of energy funds; Alaska to accept federal money after months of debate
Pat Forgey, August 11, 2009 (Juneau Empire)

"The Alaska Legislature narrowly voted [45-14, just meeting the 75% override threshold] to overturn former Gov. Sarah Palin's veto of $28.6 million in federal energy stimulus money, ensuring that Alaska will not become the only state in the nation to reject it.

"Juneau's legislative delegation joined with all others from Southeast to accept the energy money, despite the "strings" Palin claimed would be onerous…[P]rotesters took the unusual opportunity of an Anchorage legislative session to noisily make their views heard outside…After the successful override vote, about half the audience broke into cheers…"

From WhiteHouse.gov (click to enlarge)

"The vote was the final act in a long-running battle in Alaska over the federal stimulus money. Palin originally said she would reject about a third of the nearly $1 billion headed to Alaska…After that proved unpopular, she denied saying she intended to reject the money, and said she instead wanted to begin a discussion with the Legislature about it.

"She hung firm on the final $28.6 billion, however, maintaining that accepting it would require the state to impose mandatory, unwanted energy efficiency building codes on Alaskans…[L]eading legislators in the House and Senate…studied the issue and said the strings weren't there."

From WhiteHouse.gov (click to enlarge)

"Override opposition on Monday was led by the few remaining Palin supporters in the Legislature…Legislators spent months analyzing the requirements that came with the money, both during the session and after Palin's vetoes. The majority didn't see the onerous strings that Palin saw.

"Not everybody was convinced…A letter from the U.S. Department of Energy assured Alaska that the feared strings were not there, but the critics dismissed that statement…Those who backed Palin's veto, as well as many of the anti-override protesters, said the vote was a political message about the stimulus plan led by President Obama and other Democratic leaders…Immediately after the override vote…Gov. Sean Parnell sent a letter to Energy Secretary Stephen Chu providing the required assurances that the money would be accepted and spent on appropriate energy efficiency and renewable energy projects."


NEW HAMPSHIRE RES SPURS NEW ENERGY
NH's 'green power' law draws wind parks
Paula Tracy, August 10, 2009 (New Hampshire Union Leader)

"The state's incentives for "green power" proved a draw for the company that plans to build a string of 410-foot wind turbines across remote ridge lines in Coos County.

"Like 29 other states and the District of Columbia, New Hampshire is offering trade-able credits for renewable power through the state's new [Renewable Electricity Standard, RES]…"

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"The 2007 [RES] law requires utilities to buy certain percentages of power from renewable sources; Gov. John Lynch's goal is to have 25 percent of the electricity used in New Hampshire come from renewable resources by 2025.

"The Granite Reliable Power Project received a state certificate July 15 to build a 99-megawatt wind park. Using a series of 33 towers…it is expected to produce enough emissions-free electricity to power 40,000 homes a year…[Noble] will spend $275 million to build the wind park here because of the [RES]…In 2005, about 10 percent of the state's power came from renewable resources, but that is now increasing…[although] it costs more to buy the renewable power…"

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"On June 19, Iberdrola Renewables dedicated [the 24-megawatt Lempster Wind Project,] the state's first commercial wind operation…[the RES was] a positive factor…[but] wind and access to transmission are the primary drivers…PSNH buys the wind and…credits [RECs] and it also sells the power to New Hampshire Electric Coop…

"[Public Service of New Hampshire, PSNH]… said the [99-megawatt Granite Reliable Power] project simply would not have come here were it not for [RES] credits. [It will boost New Hampshire's wind production to 125 megawatts by 2011]…"


DOE DOLLARS TO INNOVATIVE SUN
DOE Announces Awards for up to $11 Million for New Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems
August 10, 2009 (DOE via R&D)

"US Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced…the investment of up to $11.8 million – $5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – for five projects designed to advance the next stage of development of solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS)…part of DOE's continuing work to help assure the nation's electrical grid reliability… as solar energy technologies reach cost competitiveness and increased levels of integration with the grid…

"Initiated in 2008, the SEGIS activity is a partnership that includes DOE, Sandia National Laboratories, industry, utilities, and universities and emphasizes complete system development. The selected projects focus on the most promising technology advances and include development of intelligent system controls. These projects ultimately seek to maintain or improve power quality and reliability, as well as return economic value, while increasing integration of solar technologies…The selections…"

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"…PVPowered will partner with Portland General Electric…South Dakota State University…and Northern Plains Power Technologies…Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories…[and] SENSUS…The project will reinforce the fundamental objectives of the SEGIS program to optimize interconnections across the full range of emerging PV module technologies through innovative systems integration…up to $3 million…

"…Petra Solar will work with the University of Central Florida…and Fifteen Electric Utilities with service in NJ, PA, OH, DE, MD, DC, FL, TX: This project complements the mission of the Solar Program to achieve the widespread adoption of solar energies. It supports improving reliability and resiliency so that high levels of PV integration can be adapted…up to $2.9 million…

"…Princeton Power will work with Transistor Device Inc…LaGuardia Community College…Idyllwild Municipal Water District…National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration…Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory…Premier Power, SPG Solar…and Spire…This project focuses on lowering manufacturing costs through integrated controls for energy storage and develops new inverter designs…upto $2.8 million…"

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"…Apollo Solar will work in collaboration with Saft Batteries…the Electric Power Research Institute…and California Independent System Operator…This project creates innovative inverters using energy storage and two-way communications between solar electrical systems and utilities…up to $1.5million…

"…Florida Solar Energy Center will work with Satcon Technology Corporation…SENTECH, Inc…SunEdison…Cooper Power Systems EAS…Northern Plains Power Technologies…and Lakeland Electric Utilities…This project focuses on solving technical challenges that must be overcome to include higher PV penetration levels in larger electrical systems…up to $1.3 million…"