QUICK NEWS, 1-12: CHINA-US SUMMIT ON WIND; SOLAR INDUSTRY PRAISES WOUNDED AZ REP; EV BRINGS WORK FOR AUTOMAKERS; WIND FOR EMPIRE STATE BLDG

CHINA-US SUMMIT ON WIND
Hu Jintao Visit to U.S. Pushes Wind-Power Subsidy Issue Into Spotlight
Joel Kirkland, January 5, 2010 (NY Times)

"President Obama plans to roll out the red carpet when Chinese President Hu Jintao lands on American soil [January 19]…[A]s the United States emerges from its economic recession and as China's role in the global economy expands further, analysts say trade issues, including one dealing with China's support for clean energy companies, will grab headlines.

"The administration late last month said it is requesting consultations with China at the World Trade Organization to end China's government subsidies to wind-power producers."

It was China, the U.S. and the rest of the world in new installations last year. (click to enlarge)

"The United Steelworkers (USW) in September filed a 5,800-page petition with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that called on the Obama administration to launch a formal investigation into whether China has ignored international trade agreements to help its clean-energy technology sector. It cited a fleet of government export subsidies, including low-interest loans and access to cheap land, that allegedly give China's lower-cost manufacturers an unfair advantage.

"In explaining the Dec. 22 request for consultation with the Chinese on the wind-power subsidy issue, the USTR targeted a nearly $1 billion [Wind Power Equipment Fund which is contingent on the use of domestic over imported wind power equipment and] the United States claims could violate WTO rules…"

The steelworkers, environmentalists and the wind industry want it to be the U.S and China and the rest of the world. (click to enlarge)

"…Kelly Sims Gallagher, professor of energy and environmental policy at the Fletcher School at Tufts University…took issue with the idea that China hasn't played fair by developing competitive advantages in clean energy, particularly its low cost of labor and its development of a mechanized manufacturing process…Through coherent national policies meant to build up wind power in China, she says the nation's carved out a growing domestic clean energy market, something she says the United States hasn't done…

"U.S. companies with interests in China have been steadfast in their plea for Congress and the administration to refrain from stirring up a trade war. Still, few have openly criticized the United Steelworkers, or the administration, for stirring the pot on the issue of clean energy subsidies…The leaders of both countries appear interested in managing the relationship and ensuring its trajectory leans toward open and positive dialogue…"


SOLAR INDUSTRY PRAISES WOUNDED AZ REP
SEIA Offers Thoughts For Wounded Solar Champion Gabrielle Giffords
10 January 2011 (Solar Industry)

"In a letter to members, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch expressed devastation at the news that Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was critically injured by a gunman [and remains in critical condition but is reportedly now breathing on her own]…[The] incident killed six people: federal judge John M. Roll, nine-year-old Christina-Taylor Green, Dorwin Stoddard, Phyllis Schneck Dorothy Morris and Gabe Zimmerman, an aide to Giffords. Giffords remains in the hospital in critical condition, with bullet trauma to her head…

"In his letter, Resch praised Giffords as both a strong solar advocate and an admirable public servant…"

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"Giffords has supported and introduced a number of measures designed to promote solar energy in the U.S…[Resch said] she was a ‘key supporter as SEIA pushed for the eight-year extension of the solar investment tax credit and the recent one-year extension of the Treasury Grant Program.’

"In addition, Giffords introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which would dedicate over $2 billion to new research partnerships and demonstration projects for solar energy technologies. She also launched the Solar Power 101 educational series to increase public awareness for solar energy and installed a 2 kW PV system on her Tucson home last year."


EV BRINGS WORK FOR AUTOMAKERS
Ford to Hire 7,000 Workers to Help Manufacture Electric, Hybrid Vehicles
Keith Naughton, January 10, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"Ford Motor Co., revealing three new electric or hybrid vehicles to the public…, plans to hire more than 7,000 workers in the next two years, including engineers with expertise in battery-powered cars…Ford will hire 4,000 factory workers and 750 engineers this year and add 2,500 hourly workers next year …

"Ford will recruit engineers…at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit…[while] debuting the Focus Electric car, the C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid and the C-Max Hybrid gasoline-electric wagon…The automaker has said electric and hybrid vehicles may account for as much as 25 percent of its sales by 2020…"

Increasing sales means more and more work (click to enlarge)

"Automakers are developing models powered all or in part by electricity to meet standards such as the U.S. rules for average fuel economy by company of 35.5 mpg in 2016, up from 25 mpg now.

"Demand for hybrids has waned…[It] peaked at 3.3 percent of the U.S. market in 2008, when gasoline topped $4 a gallon. With fuel prices down about 25 percent from their peak, hybrids accounted for 2.4 percent of U.S. auto sales last year…Hybrids accounted for 1.8 percent of Ford’s U.S. sales last year, even though its Fusion is the most fuel-efficient midsize gas-electric sedan on the market…"


WIND FOR EMPIRE STATE BLDG
Empire State Building Purchases Wind Power From Green Mountain Energy
6 January 2011 (North American Windpower)

"The Empire State Building is purchasing 100% wind power from Green Mountain Energy Co. The building signed a two-year contract with Green Mountain to purchase nearly 55 million kWh of renewable energy annually.

"…[It] will be purchased in the form of wind renewable energy certificates from NRG Energy, Green Mountain's parent company."

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"Green Mountain will work with the Empire State Building to…educate the building's tenants and visitors about the benefits of choosing renewable energy.

"Green Mountain was awarded the electricity contract after a bid process with multiple electric service companies…"