QUICK NEWS, January 9: CAPE WIND OCEAN POWER GETS BOOST; INDIA SOLAR GROWING SLOWLY; YEAR LOOKS GOOD FOR EFFICIENCY

CAPE WIND OCEAN POWER GETS BOOST
Cape Wind edges ahead after PPA victory
Paul Garrett, 3 January 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"National Grid US is free to buy power from the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm, after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court…upheld a disputed power purchase agreement (PPA).

"The deal was challenged by the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound on the grounds that it would result in much higher electricity prices than other renewable-energy options…[The Court found that the] benefits of PPA-1 outweighed its costs…[siding] with an earlier decision by the Department of Public Utilities that the 15-year PPA should stand."

A Massachusetts voter (click to enlarge)

"The Alliance’s president and CEO Audra Parker…maintained that the Cape Wind project would never be built.

"Cape Wind president Jim Gordon said the ruling was a ‘big boost’ for the 130-turbine project, which has had a decade-long gestation period and is to be located 4-11 miles offshore from Cape Cod in the Atlantic Ocean. However, with a buyer still to be found for the remaining 50% of its output, its future remains uncertain."


INDIA SOLAR GROWING SLOWLY
India to Build 400 Megawatts of Solar, Two-Thirds Less Than Plan
Natalie Obiko Pearson, December 30, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"India will complete 400 megawatts of solar power connected to the grid this fiscal year, two-thirds less than previously forecast by state and central governments…[It] has so far built 180 megawatts during the year ending March 31…

"Gujarat had planned to build more than 900 megawatts during the fiscal year as part of a regional solar program…In addition, the central government’s Solar Mission had a forecast of 302 megawatts…"

(from WikiCommons - click to enlarge)

"The mission involved 150 megawatts of operations awarded by auction, 98 megawatts of rooftop developments and 54 megawatts of capacity under a program to consolidate state-level projects.

"India’s renewable energy capacity has grown 20 percent in 2011 to 22,447 megawatts…Wind farms made up most of the increase, adding a total of 2,827 megawatts."


YEAR LOOKS GOOD FOR EFFICIENCY
Energy Efficiency in 2012: Forecast Is Mostly Sunny
Steven Nadel, January 6, 2012 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"Looking forward into 2012, I see more reasons for optimism than pessimism. Many states and utilities are committed to ramping up their energy efficiency programs…The private market continues to invest in energy efficiency, although efforts have been slowed by the economic downturn. New energy-efficient products continue to enter the market and energy efficiency is one of the hot areas for “Cleantech” investments…

"At the federal level, new vehicle and equipment efficiency standards will be issued in 2012. Fuel…economy standards for passenger vehicles will be finalized…raising these standards to an average of nearly 50 mpg by 2025. Final decisions are due from DOE on standards for 13 products…And recent EPA regulation updates on emissions of toxic pollutants, along with other pending regulatory updates for power plants, will encourage utilities to look at efficiency investments as an alternative to upgrading aging power plants."

click to enlarge

"A major driver in 2012 will be the state of the economy. Our economy is finally growing again, although too slowly…[E]nergy efficiency can contribute to job growth…The Brookings Institute estimates that there are about 2.7 million clean economy jobs in the U.S., including about half a million added over the 2003-2010 period…While there are many reasons for optimism in 2012, all is not rosy…[ARRA] funding will end in early 2012…Policymaking in Washington is paralyzed…[and] the energy savings realized are still modest relative to the cost-effective opportunities.

"…[ACEEE] will be working to advance three themes in 2012…assisting and encouraging states, utilities, and others who are interested in increasing their energy efficiency efforts…documenting what works (and what doesn’t) so that programs and policies can be as effective as possible…[and] laying groundwork for the future…"