QUICK NEWS, February 20: MANUFACTURING CLIMATE DOUBT; CAPE WIND GETS NEW BACKING; CHINA SOLAR MODULE PRICE BREAKS $1/W

MANUFACTURING CLIMATE DOUBT
Leaked docs offer insight into how climate-skeptic groups operate
Brad Plumer, February 16, 2012 (Washington Post)

"…[D]ocuments from the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit that spends a fair bit of time disputing mainstream climate science…[reinforce the well-known fact that] skeptic groups spend a lot of money trying to call into question the scientific consensus on man-made global warming…[and] offer some fuller insight into how these organizations operate…

"1) There’s still a lot of money in climate skepticism…[The documents show] the group has spent at least several million dollars attacking climate science over the past few years…[I]t took nearly two years for the Heartland Institute to [repond to the 2007 IPCC report on climate change]…[but] Heartland is trying to raise at least $200,000 to make sure that it has its “Climate Change Reconsidered” report ready as soon as the IPCC releases its next big assessment in 2013…"

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"2) Big oil companies seem to be increasingly minor players in the skeptic arena…[M]uch of the money comes from individual donors, particularly a person referred to as “the Anonymous Donor,” who gave $14.26 million over the past six years…That’s one possible signal that climate skepticism…[has] become a self-sustaining ideological endeavor…3) Many firms don’t like being associated with climate denial…[Donors] were quick to distance themselves from Heartland’s stance on global warming…

"4) Skeptic money doesn’t necessarily corrupt, but it can amplify marginal viewpoints…Craig Idso, a skeptical scientist…says that he has long opposed the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change — even before he was getting paid by Heartland…It’s doubtful that many skeptics meaningfully alter their views in order to receive money…5) The climate wars are moving to the classroom…[Heartland] plans to spend $100,000 per year to develop a curriculum for schools that would call basic climate science into question…[B]attles over the teaching of evolution in public schools…[could be replaced by] fights over climate science…"


CAPE WIND GETS NEW BACKING
Cape Wind to proceed after 129MW NStar PPA
James Quilter, 16 February 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"Plans to build the Cape Wind 468MW project in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts, took a big step forward after the state PUC made the merger of two utilities NStar and Northeast Utilities conditional on signing a power purchase agreement with the wind farm.

"Cape Wind has all of the necessary permits to build the project…[but] only has a PPA with National Grid for 50% of the 468MW project and has been struggling to find a buyer for the remaining half to finance the build…Nstar is to purchase 129MW of capacity from the project as of its $4.8 billion acquisition by Northeast Utilities. Cape Wind said this would allow the project to be constructed."

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"Last year, Cape Wind called on the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to make NStar/Northeast buy the remaining 50% in order to fulfil its renewables obligations. At the time, there was a question over whether this was possible as NStar has tended to prefer onshore wind and has acquired PPAs in several projects…

"The decision...[will allow Cape Wind’s] the search for project financing. Last year, there was speculation that Cape Wind may tap into the bond market for financing…[T]he Department of Energy [shelved the project's] application for a loan guarantee for the $2 billion project…[A]t one point Siemens [the project’s turbine supplier] said it would consider financing the project…"


CHINA SOLAR MODULE PRICE BREAKS $1/W
Chinese Tier-2 PV Module Prices Fall Below $1/W in January, But Price Cuts Slow
16 February 2012 (IMS Research)

"The average price of Chinese Tier-2 crystalline PV modules fell to $0.96 per watt in January 2012, according to the latest PV module pricing report from IMS Research.
Annualized price declines (ignoring seasonality) slowed to 22% in January, having exceeded 50% in December, as incentive levels were reduced in a number of major PV markets at the end of 2011.

"Highly competitive pricing from Chinese Tier-2 manufacturers has continued into 2012…and the average crystalline PV module price from these suppliers declined twice as quickly as the total market in January dropping to $0.96/W."

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"Although many spot prices were offered below this in recent months, this is the first time that the global average price had fallen below this industry milestone. Prices as low as $0.80/W (~€0.60/W) were recorded for Chinese Tier-2 module suppliers in January, typically for large orders from German distributors.

"The report also found significant pricing variations throughout the supply chain with distributors seeing an even faster fall in prices…[D]declines actually slowed in comparison to previous months in response to strong demand in Europe…"