QUICK NEWS, 12-6: U.S. ENVIROS WANT OCEAN WIND; WORLD SOLAR TO 2020; COAL BOSS QUITS; OPINIONS ON SMART GRID

U.S. ENVIROS WANT OCEAN WIND
Report: US has untapped offshore wind potential
Glenn Adams, December 1, 2010 (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

"America has a largely untapped potential for offshore wind power…[and should take] a more aggressive approach for wind power development off the Atlantic coast…[Offshore Wind in the Atlantic] calls for a permitting process that's friendlier to offshore wind power, establishment of priority zones for offshore wind, more research on offshore wind technologies, and efforts to promote quality jobs, especially in manufacturing, that would result from that industry.

"The report was prepared by the National Wildlife Federation and co-sponsored by more than 35 other organizations, including the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Environment Maine. The Maine AFL-CIO supports its findings…[It comes] barely a week after U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar promised to spur offshore wind projects in the Atlantic Ocean by expediting permits and identifying promising areas for wind power…[which] could result in leases issued within two years, instead of seven years or more…[W]ind farms would be 10 to 50 miles offshore, out of sight from land…"

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"Of the 212 gigawatts of wind power potential off the Atlantic coast, wind projects harnessing 6 gigawatts have been proposed or are advancing through the permitting process, according to the report. Those proposed projects would generate the equivalent of up to a half dozen coal-fired plants, enough to supply the needs of about 1.5 million homes annually…

"While Atlantic wind resources are largely untapped, European countries have more than 900 turbines producing enough power for at least 450,000 homes. Even offshore wind-power goals of European countries and China dwarf those of the United States…Offshore wind offsets the need for fossil fuels such as coal and oil, whose consumption leads to environmental damage, including global warming, and a range of public health risks including thousands of premature deaths, says the report…"

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"…[D]evelopment of an offshore wind industry would create thousands of jobs…[T]he Ocean Energy Task Force says development of 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind would create 16,700 new or retained jobs per year for 20 years [in Maine]. The report also cites studies showing a potential for roughly 10,000 jobs in Virginia and nearly 2,000 jobs in South Carolina resulting from offshore wind.

"The report lists proposed projects, or projects that have moved to advanced steps such as leasing or power contracts, in 13 East Coast states…[They include Maine,] New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia and Florida."


WORLD SOLAR TO 2020
Solar Energy May Reach 980 Gigawatts by 2020
December 3, 2010 (Regulacion Eolica con Vehiculos Electricos)

"Global solar energy capacity (photovoltaic and concentrated solar energy) may reach 980 gigawatts by 2020 as governments worldwide seek to reduce fossil fuel consumption and cut emissions of greenhouse gases.

"Development of photovoltaic and Concentrating Solar Power projects will cut emissions of carbon dioxide by about 570 million tons over the decade, the equivalent of shutting down 100 coal-fueled power plants or taking 110 million cars off the road, according to [Seizing the Solar Solution: Combating Climate Change through Accelerated Deployment] from 21 solar industry associations from around the world]...[which] urged governments to include solar energy incentives as part of the effort to address climate change..."

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"For the U.S., boosting total solar capacity to 139 gigawatts, as the report predicts, would account for 4.9 percent of the country’s total output, add 683,0000 jobs and help reduce the cost of electricity to $2.32 a watt from $5.71 today...The report shows that combined world targets for solar electric capacity will reach 700 gigawatts and solar thermal capacity will reach 280 gigawatts (GWth, thermal equivalent) by 2020. This level would reduce carbon pollution by 570 megatons, equivalent to shutting down more than 100 coal plants...Highlights of the report will be presented at an official side-event...[at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) in Cancun]...

"...[The] solar coalition, comprised of more than 40 leading international solar and renewable energy organizations, is demonstrating the immediate potential of the accelerated deployment of solar energy in reducing harmful pollution, combating climate change and creating jobs and economic impact. The group is urging political and business leaders to take action now to accelerate solar deployment..."

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"The report also identifies key policies...[including] establishing a price on carbon to ensure a level playing and field and factor externalities into the costs of fossil fuels...[s]etting internationally agreed mid-term and long-term emission reduction targets for all developed countries...[e]nding the massive subsidies given to fossil fuel industries...[e]nsuring that renewable energy targets set by developing countries qualify as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs); and...[d]eveloping an international financing framework...

"...[A]n online petition has been launched and hundreds of people from across the planet have already signed it. After COP16, the Solar Petition will be sent to key political leaders...[with] the list of supporters...[and] a Solar Dancing Flower to remind them of the power of the Sun. All the funds generated from the production of these solar flowers will be donated to Solar Solidarity, an NGO active in the promotion of projects for the developing world using renewable technology..."


COAL BOSS QUITS
Mining CEO's Sudden Exit Follows Troubled Year
Howard Berkes, December 4, 2010 (National Public Radio)

"Eight months after a deadly explosion at a Massey Energy coal mine, CEO and board Chairman Don Blankenship suddenly surrendered control of the company…Neither he, nor the board, nor the company provided…[any real] explanation…The unexpected departure comes amid unconfirmed reports that Blankenship opposed the Massey board's consideration of a sale of the giant Appalachian coal producer…

"Blankenship, 60, spent close to three decades at Massey and served as chairman and CEO for 10 years. His tenure was marked by dramatic growth and enviable profitability. The number of employees doubled to 7,300, as did annual revenues, which rose from $1.08 billion in 2000 to $2.7 billion in 2009…Massey also gained control of vast coal reserves in Appalachia, including metallurgical coal used to manufacture steel. That coal is in high demand right now and is part of what makes the company an attractive takeover target."

Curiously, Blankenship gets a $10 million golden parachute for making this happen. (click to enlarge)

"Blankenship's reign was also marked by seemingly endless controversy, especially after the massive blast that ripped through Massey's Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia on April 5. Twenty-nine miners died in that explosion, which ranks as the nation's worst coal mine accident in 40 years…In the wake of that disaster, Massey's stock price plummeted…left the company undervalued…[and] attractive to prospective buyers.

"…The board recently affirmed a departure package that gives Blankenship a $10 million golden parachute… [A lawyer who] represents the families of six of the victims of the Upper Big Branch tragedy…[said] the environmental and human costs blamed on Blankenship and Massey's mining practices [will never be undone]. Environmental activists say the company is responsible for the poisoning of streams and ground water and the stripping of forests and mountaintops. Other critics detail injuries and deaths at Massey mines and Blankenship's apparent obsession with coal production."

The good news: Blankenship is being moved out before he can mess up something really dangerous. (click to enlarge)

"Under Blankenship, Massey has amassed thousands of state and federal safety violations, citations and orders, and close to $13 million in fines. Since the Upper Big Branch disaster, Massey and other coal companies have faced greatly increased regulatory scrutiny. A federal criminal investigation is considering the company's possible role in the April explosion…Blankenship and the Massey board have also been the targets of shareholder lawsuits claiming the company's stock was devalued due to the alleged failure to operate Massey mines safely…

"Two weeks ago, Blankenship met with a selected group of reporters for more than two hours, trying to shift blame for the Upper Big Branch explosion away from his company and toward federal regulators…In July, at the National Press Club in Washington, Blankenship ridiculed global warming, environmental activism and federal mine safety regulation…"


OPINIONS ON SMART GRID
Smart Grid Consumer Survey; Preferences and Attitudes about Smart Meters, Home Energy Management, Demand Response Programs, and Smart Appliances
Bob Gohn, Brian Davis and Clint Wheelock, 4Q 2010 (Pike Research)

"…During 2010, industry discussion of consumer [acceptance of the Smart Grid] has intensified, particularly in the wake of loud consumer pushback related to smart meter deployments in the Pacific Gas & Electric and Oncor service territories. Utilities are seeking effective ways to communicate the benefits…[K]ey players…continue to wrestle with developing the business models and user experiences that will resonate…[S]everal dozen home energy management companies are jockeying to find their place…

"In order to establish a framework for understanding consumer interest and attitudes…Pike Research conducted a survey…in the summer of 2010…While energy information displays (EIDs) and smart appliances enjoy relatively strong levels of interest, consumers are less enthused about smart meters and demand response (DR) programs…"

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"…Familiarity with the concept of smart meters was quite low…Ambivalence to smart meters was most common among respondents…Strong opinions, whether favorable or unfavorable, were strongly correlated with familiarity…Increased consumer access to electricity usage information was identified as an important benefit…Improved reliability of electricity service was not far behind…The most popular reason for an unfavorable opinion about smart meters…focused on concerns that the devices would lead to an increase in electricity bills…

"…Consumer interest in the energy information display (EID) concept was fairly strong…Interest in EIDs was greater among consumers with higher monthly electric bills…The largest number of EID intenders (38%) stated that they would actively manage the energy usage in their home, as opposed to a more passive or “set and forget” mode of EID usage…Dedicated in-home display units (IHDs) were the most popular user interface option…Consumer willingness to pay for EIDs has diminished since 2009…Nearly all respondents interested in EIDs (92%) selected the electric utility as their preferred provider of energy management services…"

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"…[F]or the purposes of this survey, Pike Research described [Demand Response Services (DR)] programs as “energy savings plans.”…Consumers with higher electricity bills were more likely to express interest in DR programs…

"…43% of respondents stated that they would be “extremely” or “very” interested in
purchasing a smart appliance, assuming the price was right and the electric bill savings would be enough to make it worthwhile…Early adopters of technology showed much higher levels of interest… 68% were comfortable paying at least 10% more than the price of a conventional appliance…[but] 23% indicated that a smart appliance would have to be the same price as other appliances…[The most frequent objection was losing] control [of] their own appliances (49%). 39% expressed a concern about the 'Big Brother' aspect of their utility monitoring their electricity use."