MORE NEWS, 9-21: OLD ENERGY DEPENDS ON FED SUBSIDIES; SOLAR BIG ENOUGH TO DEFER; SMALL WIND RISING; CORPORATIONS SUSTAINING SUSTAINABILITY

OLD ENERGY DEPENDS ON FED SUBSIDIES
U.S. Fossil-Fuel Subsidies Twice That of Renewables
Tina Seeley, September 18, 2009 (Bloomberg News)

"Fossil fuels including oil, natural gas and coal received more than twice the level of subsidies that renewable energy sources got from the U.S. government between 2002 and 2008…The subsidies, in the form of government spending and tax breaks, amounted to $72.5 billion for fossil fuels and $29 billion for renewables, according to [Estimating U.S. Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008 from from the Environmental Law Institute]…

"President Barack Obama has called for the U.S. to reduce its oil dependence, by promoting efficiency measures and investing in alternative energy supplies. The $787 billion stimulus package signed into law in February included more than $60 billion for reducing energy use and supporting renewable programs."

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"The U.S. House approved legislation in June that would cap greenhouse-gas emissions and require that a portion of the nation’s electricity come from renewable sources. A Senate panel has also approved a renewable power requirement. The full Senate has yet to take up climate change legislation or the renewable energy measure.

"The largest of the subsidies for fossil fuels in the report was a tax credit oil and natural gas companies can claim for paying royalties to other governments. The institute’s report finds that credit totaled $15.3 billion over the time period…"

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"Also included in calculation of subsidies are the government’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve, an emergency oil stockpile in the event of supply disruptions, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps certain consumers pay for heating and cooling costs.

"About half of the government’s subsidies for renewables go to corn-based ethanol…The largest of the renewable subsidies was for blending ethanol with gasoline, a credit that the institute calculated at $11.6 billion during the seven years…"


SOLAR POWER DEFERS TO ENVIRONMENT
Solar energy firm drops plan for project in Mojave Desert; BrightSource Energy's decision ends a battle with environmentalists over a 5,130-acre site in a proposed national monument.
Louis Sahagun, September 18, 2009 (LA Times)

"Ending a bitter feud in the rush to develop solar farms, BrightSource Energy Inc….[has] scrapped a controversial plan to build a renewable energy facility in the eastern Mojave Desert wilderness that Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) wants to transform into a national monument.

"The proposal pitted companies queuing up to replace imported oil and facilitate a national clean-energy economy against environmentalists strongly opposed to the idea of creating an industrial zone within 600,000 acres of former railroad lands that had been donated to the Department of Interior for conservation."

Sleeping Beauty Valley. (click to enlarge)

"The acrimony even triggered a nasty public squabble between Robert Kennedy Jr., a senior advisor at VantagePoint Venture Partners, which raised $160 million for Oakland-based BrightSource, and David Myers, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy, which raised $40 million to buy the old railroad lands to protect them from development…

"Of particular concern was BrightSource's proposal to develop a 5,130-acre solar power plant on a portion of the donated lands known as Broadwell Dry Lake, which lies within Sleeping Beauty Valley…The scenic, near-pristine region near Ludlow is home to a significant herd of bighorn sheep and framed by the Kelso Dunes Wilderness and Bristol Mountains Wilderness on the east and the Cady Mountains Wilderness Study Area on the west…"

Artist's rendering of the solar power plant installation that, because of BrightSource Energy's commitment to do the right thing the right way, will now not happen. (click to enlarge)

"Scientists continue to catalog plants and reptiles uniquely adapted to the scorched terrain…botanists recently discovered a species of lupine that features showy purple blossoms in the spring…Biologists are also studying unusually dark lizards that appeared to have genetically adapted to the volcanic terrain…

"…[BrightSource Energy’s move ] came as a welcome surprise to environmentalists…Separately, BrightSource is pressing ahead with plans to build a massive solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert's Ivanpah Valley, near Primm, Nev., just south of Las Vegas…State and federal regulatory and land-use authorities say construction of the Ivanpah Valley project could begin as early as March."


SMALL WIND RISING
Wind turbine installations expected to double; Small systems an attainable way to generate renewable energy
September 18, 2009 (Focus on Energy via Wausau Daily Herald)

"…[D]emand for…clean power is growing… Focus on Energy co-funded small wind turbine installations are expected to more than double in 2009 compared with 2008…[As small wind] technology improves, a growing number of Wisconsin residents and businesses are investing their time and resources…

"A small wind turbine has a rated capacity of 100 kilowatts, or kW, or less…The electricity output of a wind turbine depends on its size and the wind's speed through the rotor. As wind speed increases, the energy produced increases exponentially…[A] 10 percent increase in average annual wind speed from 10 mph to 11 mph can result in a 33 percent increase in total electricity production…"

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"There are many benefits to using wind energy as a source of electricity…[1] The cost of electricity generated from wind power is stable over time and isn't subject to swings in fuel prices…[2] Wind energy is clean, non-polluting and non-depletable. It does not produce smog, acid rain or greenhouse gases…[3] A small wind turbine can help make a home or business energy independent…[4] Wind turbines support the electric utility infrastructure by providing power exactly where it is needed…[5] Building a wind turbine is a way to show your commitment to the community and the environment…

"There are a number of considerations to take into account…Not all locations are suitable…The quantity and quality of the wind resource at a site should be carefully evaluated…A rule of thumb is that small wind turbines should be installed to operate 30 feet above the trees and buildings located within 500 feet of the turbine…[M]ost towers for Wisconsin are typically in the 80- to 120-foot range, or taller…"

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"Prior to installing any renewable energy system it's important to ensure your home or business is as energy efficient as possible. For every dollar you spend on energy efficiency, you can save $3 on the cost of your renewable energy system.

"Like any mechanical system, small wind turbines require annual inspections and maintenance…Most installers will offer a service contract option…The first step to implementing a small wind turbine is to learn about wind turbines…Getting a site assessment is the next step…[T]he assessor will provide a written report with feedback and suggestions on using wind power as well as next steps…[Several types of local, state and federa financial assistance are available]…"


CORPORATIONS SUSTAINING SUSTAINABILITY
New Report Reveals Corporate America Moving Sustainability Initiatives Forward
September 17, 2009 (PR Newswire via Reuters)

"Corporations across the U.S. must amplify sustainability efforts and increase efficiencies, especially given President Obama's focus on making America the 21st century clean energy leader. A new report from Siemens and McGraw-Hill Construction, the 2009 Greening of Corporate America Report, shows that corporate America has in fact embraced standard sustainability practices, such as recycling, building green, focusing on employee engagement, and partnering with non-profits…Seventy-six percent (76%) of firms have made significant commitments to sustainability, and as a result, the firms of tomorrow must be innovative in their sustainability plans to stand out in the market and gain a competitive advantage…"

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"Commissioned by Siemens Building Technologies and conducted by McGraw-Hill
Construction Research & Analytics, the report follows a similar 2006 study and
provides comparative statistics, trend analysis, and thought-leader interviews with corporate sustainability officers at Microsoft, AT&T, and Owens Corning…[H]ighlights include…"

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"…[1] Three out of four firms view sustainability as consistent with their profit missions. They expect that green practices tied to core business strategies will reduce energy costs (75%), retain and attract customers (70%), and provide market differentiation by contributing to the financial performance of the company (61%)…[and, 2] The economic crisis has supported, rather than deterred, sustainability activity; 57% of those polled believe sustainability practices are either unaffected or aided by the down economy…"