QUICK NEWS, 6-8: NEW ENERGY RES GOOD FOR DAKOTA; ALASKA BACKS GEOTHERMAL; WORLD EE UP IN 2010; CLIMATE/ENERGY BILL PRICES GHG SPEW

NEW ENERGY RES GOOD FOR DAKOTA
National requirements for renewable resource use could be boost for N.D.
Christopher Bjorke, June 6, 2010 (Bismarck Tribune)

"The power of [the wind in the Dakotas] wind is apparent to anyone who has experienced a spring storm here. Exporting that power to new markets could get a boost from a national standard for renewable energy use…

"The wind energy industry and renewable energy advocates are pushing for Congress to mandate a percentage of the country’s energy use to come from renewable resources.
Such a requirement would create markets for wind and other resources and could provide a push toward solving the challenge of building the transmission infrastructure to support increased electrical generation..."

Anything that puts this gigantic ND asset to work is good for the state. (click to enlarge

"The House version of energy legislation pending in Congress calls for a goal of 20 percent of electricity coming from renewable sources by 2020. The Senate version does not include such a goal, but calls for investments in renewable energy sources that would increase renewables’ share of energy use to 18 percent by 2030…

"Rob Gramlich, vice president for public policy at the American Wind Energy Association, said that a national standard would create a dependable market for wind and other renewables that would be ‘a strong and stable signal’ encouraging private investment in wind farms and manufacturing of wind components…According to AWEA, investment in wind power fell in the first quarter of 2010 due to a lack of market signals that there will be a long-term market for wind energy…"

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"Establishing permanent markets for renewable energy could push forward another knotty issue for wind power, the transmission infrastructure. If wind is to grow as a major energy export…it needs more capacity to transmit electricity out of state. Investment in new power lines would cost billions of dollars and involves complex questions of who pays for it. It also creates a chicken-and-egg problem for wind development. More development requires transmission investments, which in turn require more power development to justify the costs…By guaranteeing a level of demand for wind power, a renewable energy standard could push forward new transmission infrastructure…

"AWEA’s Gramlich said that while many states already have renewable energy standards, a national standard would put the United States on an even footing with other countries in attracting manufacturing jobs in renewable energy…"


ALASKA BACKS GEOTHERMAL
Alaska pushes for geothermal, exempts renewables from regulation
June 3, 2010 (CivSource)

"Alaska passed legislation…designed to make geothermal power projects in the state more economically viable and support the production of more electric power from geothermal sources. The legislation supports safe exploration of Alaska’s geothermal energy resources and moves the permit process from the Department of Natural Resources to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

"The bill will also cut the royalties derived from geothermal leases on state land from 10-15% of gross revenue to 1.75% gross revenue for the first 10 years increasing to 3.5% after ten years have passed."

Alaska showed these geothermal assets its ultimate sign of respect by shifting permitting for them from Natural Resources to Oil and Gas. (click to enlarge)

"In addition, the Governor signed a separate bill that would exempt facilities that generate electricity entirely from renewable energy resources from regulations currently governing energy production in the state. The exemption is said to be aimed at the Fire Island Wind Project being developed by CIRI."

[Alaska Governor Sean Parnell:]“This legislation makes geothermal power projects economically viable and therefore more likely to produce more affordable and reliable electric power for homes and businesses…”


WORLD EE UP IN 2010
Global Energy Efficiency Sees Growth in 2010; A new study finds optimism and expansion in commercial energy efficiency across the globe.

Katharine Tweed, June 4, 2010 (Greentech Media)

"Energy efficiency continues to grow in importance over the past year despite the still-struggling global economy, according to the latest global survey on the subject by Johnson Controls and the International Facility Management Association.

"The international drivers for energy efficiency are based in cost savings, suggesting that the sluggish economy could be a driver for companies to grab low-hanging fruit to help their bottom line. While energy management is important in every country, some emerging economies outstripped Europe and the U.S. when it came to how high they ranked…India lead the pack with 39 percent of respondents ranking energy management ‘extremely important,’ compared to 27 percent for China, 16 percent in the U.S. and 14 percent for Pan-Europe."

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"Energy cost savings topped the list as a driver for investing in energy efficiency, with 97 percent saying it was at least somewhat significant. Greenhouse gas reduction and enhanced public image followed with 74 percent finding it was somewhat important…Attracting and retaining customers ranked second as an ‘extremely significant’ driver for influencing energy efficiency decisions…About two-thirds of global respondents expect energy prices to creep up in 2010…[M]ost thought they would increase by about 9 percent…

"Most decision-makers thought energy or carbon legislation is likely within the next two years…Chinese and Indian business leaders are the most likely to expect legislation, with 97 and 95 percent respectively saying it was at least somewhat likely, compared with 75 percent of those in the U.S…About 40 percent of respondents globally think climate change legislation will be at least a slightly greater risk than opportunity…China, followed by Europe, championed a dose of optimism, with 22 and 19 percent respectively saying that legislation was at least more of an opportunity than a risk…"

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"…[B]uilding efficiency is the top priority for those looking to shrink their carbon footprint, with 34 percent saying energy efficiency was their top strategy…The second most popular method to reduce emissions was onsite renewable energy, yet 18 percent of respondents said there was no prioritization amongst different energy efficient strategies...Nearly 30 percent did not know or had not prioritized their carbon strategy…China and India are leading in putting money where their mouths are, with nearly all of the respondents from the two countries saying they have planned operating expenditures for energy efficiency investments, compared to 73 percent in the U.S.

"Companies are largely considering renewable technologies, with solar electric topping the choices at 50 percent of respondents considering incorporating it into existing or new construction. Solar thermal was just behind at 42 percent, followed by wind at 26 percent…As energy costs are expected to climb, corporate leaders think that PV and lighting technologies will see the most improvement in performance-to-price, with smart building technologies and electric vehicles coming in third and fourth."


CLIMATE/ENERGY BILL PRICES GHG SPEW
Climate Bill’s CO2 Permits to Cost $26 Each, Point Carbon Says
Simon Lomax (w/Richard Stubbe and Bill Banker), May 19, 2010 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

"Carbon dioxide allowances created by a new proposal to curb U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would have an average price of $26 between 2013 and 2020, Oslo-based environmental market analysis firm Point Carbon said.

"The allowances, each representing one metric ton of carbon dioxide, would be issued under legislation unveiled May 12 by Senators John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, and Joseph Lieberman, a Connecticut independent."

Click thru for complete emissions market data

"Kerry and Lieberman’s legislation aims to cut U.S. output of the greenhouse gases scientists have linked to climate change 17 percent from their 2005 levels by 2020. It sets a maximum price for carbon allowances of $25 each and a minimum of $12 for 2013...The maximum and minimum prices would be increased each year above the rate of inflation.

"The cap-and-trade program’s allowances…[limit the impacts of] supply and demand…[with a] ‘price collar’ Point Carbon said…By 2020, the carbon market created by Kerry and Lieberman’s legislation would be worth $350 billion…"