QUICK NEWS, October 22: THE WHIRLING WIND; THE EMERGING SOLAR INDUSTRY; FOR A GREENER HALLOWEEN

THE WHIRLING WIND Success of tax credit and new more affordable U.S.-built technology helping drive strongest year yet for U.S. wind energy

October 18, 2012 (American Wind Energy Association)

“The success of the federal Production Tax Credit and wind energy’s increased affordability are helping drive turbine installations to record levels in America…[according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Q3 report]...The U.S. wind industry in August for the first time surpassed 50,000 megawatts (MW) of total installed electrical generation capacity…[and] has added 4,728 MW of wind power so far this year…with another 8,430 MW currently under construction.

“Factors for the strong year…[include, 1] Greatly expanded U.S. manufacturing, which now makes up to nearly 70 percent of the value of U.S.-installed equipment, cutting transportation costs…[2] Technological advances, such as higher towers and longer blades, which make turbines more efficient and further drive down costs…[3] The fact that more electric utilities are locking in 20- to 25-year contracts for lower-priced wind power, to the benefit of their consumers…[and, 4] The federal Production Tax Credit for renewable energy, which has been kept continuously in place since 2005 and currently extends to the end of the year…”

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“The PTC incentivizes over $15 billion a year in private [wind] investment…[but expires] Dec. 31. A proposal to extend the tax credit for projects that start construction next year won bipartisan support from the Senate Finance Committee on Aug. 2, as part of an overall ‘tax extenders’ package. It now awaits action by the full Congress, expected in its lame duck session after the election…Navigant Consulting has forecast [37,000 jobs lost] if the PTC is not extended. Thousands of layoffs have already begun in wind energy measurement, development, and U.S. manufacturing, even as the construction sector remains busy…

“The third quarter saw 1,833 MW of new installations, putting total U.S. wind capacity at 51,628 MW on Oct. 1. Over 40,000 wind turbines across the U.S. [now produce electricity]…The year-to-date total stood at 4,728 MW at the end of the quarter, up 40 percent from the same point in 2011. The average turbine size installed throughout the year continues to hover around 2.0 MW…Over 80 percent of the new capacity coming online or under construction is covered by a long-term power offtake agreement [involving 68 utilities], either through a power purchase agreement between a utility and a wind developer, or through direct utility ownership…”

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THE EMERGING SOLAR INDUSTRY The Solar Industry’s Living Dead: 180 Module Manufacturers to Succumb to Consolidation by 2015; What does the future hold for struggling U.S., European, and Asian manufacturers, as well as China’s solar zombies?

October 16, 2012 (Greentech Media)

“With GTM Research estimating global PV supply to be in excess of demand by an average of 35 gigawatts per year over the next three years, 180 existing module manufacturers will either expire or acquiesce to acquisition by 2015. The largest number (88) of casualties will exit high-cost manufacturing markets in the U.S., Europe, and Canada."

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“…[ Global PV Module Manufacturing 2013: Competitive Positioning, Consolidation and the China Factor analyzes] more than 300 module manufacturers, their global facilities, business models, financial health and chance of acquisition or expiry. The report also examines the market conditions and competitive metrics that will affect the trajectory of these firms over the next three years, including global demand, manufacturing costs, the influence of Chinese lenders, and the innovative upstream and downstream strategies that will buoy business lines…[It also considers Chinese module manufacturers’ strategies] in the face of U.S. and potentially European import tariffs…

“The report estimates that 54 of the 180 ill-fated firms will come from China. Most of these are so-called ‘solar zombies,’ companies with manufacturing capacities less than 300 megawatts that have operated uncompetitively with support from the government. China’s number of ill-fated firms could be much higher if not for an aggressive downstream build-out that will prop up select domestic suppliers. China’s recent announcement to increase its cumulative 2015 solar target from 15 gigawatts to 21 gigawatts will most likely provide captive demand for firms such as Alex Solar, LDK Solar, and Astronergy."

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“In addition, as evidenced by the municipal loan to LDK Solar in July 2012 and the China Development Bank’s renewal of its pledge to support twelve selected domestic suppliers, GTM Research anticipates that the Chinese government will continue to provide financial support to established firms with large workforces in order to cover near-term debt obligations, or possibly to encourage diversified Chinese industrial conglomerates to acquire these companies. Potential beneficiaries of these strategies include Trina Solar, Yingli Green Energy, Suntech Power, JA Solar, Jinko Solar and Renesola; these companies make up more than 20 percent of existing global module capacity.”

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FOR A GREENER HALLOWEEN Green Your Halloween

Nina Ford, October 2012 (Green America)

“When Corey Colwell-Lipson took her two daughters trick-or-treating in 2006…she noticed that the girls were excited whenever they had an opportunity to collect treats that weren’t conventional candy…That was the beginning of Colwell- Lipson’s quest to “green” Halloween…Today, Green Halloween® has evolved into a national movement…[Over 5,000 people participate in the World Financial Center’s annual Screamin’ Green Halloween in New York City and over 100 zoos and aquariums across the US have expressed interest]…

“Colwell-Lipson started Green Halloween in part because of what she calls “the health epidemic and declining well-being of our children” caused by poor eating habits. One out of every three children is overweight, and the same number is expected to develop diabetes in their lifetime, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…This Halloween, Colwell-Lipson encourages families to give out healthier treats and non-food “treasures” to trick-or-treaters…”

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“Whenever Colwell-Lipson attends Green Halloween events, she brings a poster board about [recycled, natural, or sustainably sourced] alternatives to candy, from polished stones and seashells to temporary tattoos and friendship bracelets—with surprising results…For those who want to give out more traditional treats, there are many organic and all natural options—from organic and Fair Trade chocolate [without child labor ties] to sustainable chewing gum…

“…[T]he six billion-dollar-a-year holiday leaves room to cut back. Families can save by giving out one or two healthy treats instead of handfuls of candy…[For the] 41 million children [that] go trick-or-treating nationwide…Green Halloween has spearheaded National Costume Swap Day since 2010…[Because] six out of the ten products…[contain] at least one of the toxic heavy metals…Terra Firma Cosmetics offers natural, lead-free face paint…Pink Quartz Minerals, featured on Etsy.com, has handmade, vegan face paint…[or] create homemade face paint from food-grade ingredients…”

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