QUICK NEWS, 6-24: OBAMA MAGIC FOR ENERGY-CLIMATE BILL?; BIG OIL ATTACKS CALIF CLIMATE LAW; TEXAS WIND GIANT ONLINE; WIND IS CHEAPEST – ALASKA UTIL

OBAMA MAGIC FOR ENERGY-CLIMATE BILL?
Can President Obama forge a compromise on an energy bill?
Editorial, June 23, 2010 (Washington Post)

"President Obama will bring senators to the White House soon in another attempt to achieve bipartisan accord on energy and climate policy. The president's push could be the last opportunity to pass a significant bill any time soon.

"The most helpful thing…[would be] a gradually rising price on the carbon emissions produced by the burning of fossil fuels. The best way to do this would be with a simple tax…A well-designed cap-and-trade system also would encourage conservation and fuel switching…Most of the proceeds from either could go right back to consumers, with some set aside for research and infrastructure improvement."

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"Mr. Obama has endorsed some variation of this rational approach. Unfortunately, much of the Senate does not share his enthusiasm. Many Republicans would rather rail…[and] many Democrats don't want to give Republicans any excuse to rail. Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) included a modest cap-and-trade mechanism for utilities and manufacturing in their compromise energy proposal, but even its prospects are uncertain at best."

"Is there a way forward? Some observers argue that it's more realistic for Democrats to press only for politically attractive things such as clean-energy mandates, efficiency standards, research and development funding and lots of energy subsidies. But that approach is expensive…inadequate to meet even…underwhelming medium-term emissions targets…[and] the Democrats' left flank in the Senate has threatened to oppose an energy bill without some kind of carbon price."

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"Another option is to include those politically attractive measures, as well as GOP priorities such as generous provisions for nuclear power and some of the efficiency programs [in the Lugar Practical Energy and Climate Plan]…but to add a cap on emissions from utilities…

"…[Utility emissions] account for about 40 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, and many utilities already have agreed to submit to cap-and-trade regulation. This, too, would be imperfect: It would not raise as much money or cut emissions as much as the Kerry-Lieberman proposal would. But putting a price on carbon even in one economic sector might make it easier to establish a more effective cap in the future. It's a Plan C worth considering."


BIG OIL ATTACKS CALIF CLIMATE LAW
Measure to delay greenhouse gas cuts qualifies for November ballot
Margot Roosevelt, June 22, 2010 (LA Times)

" [California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:] "This initiative sponsored by greedy Texas oil companies would cripple California's fastest-growing economic sector, reverse our renewable energy policy and decimate our environmental progress for the benefit of these oil companies' profit margins…I will not allow this to happen on my watch."

"An oil industry measure to postpone enforcement of California's 2006 global warming law [has] qualified for the November ballot…setting up what promises to be a nationally watched struggle over the future of renewable energy."

California has the finest New Energy effort in the country. Can it keep it? From stopdirtyenergyprop via YouTube

"The initiative, launched six months ago by Texas oil giants Valero Energy Inc. and Tesoro Corp., comes as the oil industry has fallen under intense scrutiny in the wake of the gulf oil spill disaster.

"California's law, by limiting greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, oil refineries and other industries, has already begun to create a huge market for solar, wind and other clean energy sources…[but] could falter if the initiative passes…[T]he law, AB 32, would require that a third of the state's electricity come from renewable sources by 2020…Proponents are calling their measure "The California Jobs Initiative" and painting the climate law as "an energy tax." The initiative would halt enforcement of the law until unemployment in the state, now over 12%, sinks to 5.5% for at least a year…"

From stopdirtyenergyprop via YouTube

"Proponents of the measure spent $3 million, of which more than two thirds was contributed by the two Texas companies and other energy interests, to gather more than 800,000 signatures to place the measure on the ballot…Valero, which owns several California refineries, has mounted an aggressive campaign against federal efforts to pass climate legislation…[P]ostponing California's rules to limit greenhouse gases could damage the chances of any federal legislation."

[Steve Maviglio, spokesman, Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs:] "The Texas oil companies think if they can kill their clean energy competition in California, they can do it everywhere…"


TEXAS WIND GIANT ONLINE
Iberdrola starts up 404MW Peñascal wind farm in Texas
Ben Backwell, June 21. 2010 (Recharge)

"…Iberdrola Renovables has started production from its Peñascal wind farm in Texas, the company’s largest facility to date. The complex consists of the Peñascal I and Peñascal II wind farms in Kenedy County, Texas. The wind farms comprise 168 Mitsubishi MHI 92 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 2.4 MW.

"Iberdrola says that the wind farm project has created about 20 direct jobs in operation and maintenance…around 200 people were involved in its construction."

The stature of Penascal. (click to enlarge)

"…[Iberdrola] spent over 4,000 hours researching the characteristics and habits of the bird life in the region prior to the wind farm’s construction in order to meet stringent environmental criteria. The complex’s features include a radar that detects the arrival of large flocks of migratory birds and shuts down the turbines if visibility conditions present a danger.

"Iberdrola Renovables is the second largest wind power operator in the US. At the end of the first quarter the company had 39 wind farms in 23 states, with an installed capacity of 3.83 GW. It plans to install 1GW per year in the US in 2011 and 2012."


WIND IS CHEAPEST – ALASKA UTIL
Alaska utility says wind farm power cheaper
June 23, 2010 (AP)

"…The proposed $93 million Eva Creek wind farm would be the largest in the state and could produce power for a full cent less than [The Golden Valley Electric Association's] current wholesale price, which is about 10.6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

"Kate Lamal, a vice president for the utility, said… [Eva Creek] should be able to deliver 9 megawatts of power…[and] also said years of data on wind patterns are strong enough to secure loans…[A] $2 million renewable-energy grant from the state has paid for studies of road access, bird migration patterns and integration with Golden Valley's existing energy portfolio."

Alaska's coastal wind riches are amazing. (click to enlarge)

"…[T]he utility plans to solicit bids to present to the board of directors this fall. Approval would let engineering advance this winter, road and foundation construction begin next summer, and turbine installation follow in 2012."

The Panhandle winds are even richer. (click to enlarge)

"Joe Blanchard, a Borough Assembly member, said…he supports the Eva Creek project while still considering himself among those who feel the state will fail to meet the Legislature's green energy goals without investing in a large hydroelectric dam.

"In April, the Legislature chose to set a target that Alaska will get 50 percent of its electricity from renewable and alternative sources within 15 years…Kat Keith, an applied wind-diesel specialist at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, said interest in wind power in Alaska is growing. The state hosts 19 wind projects; that number could grow to 25 or more in 2011…"