QUICK NEWS, March 18: NEW ENERGY TRENDS; THE FIGHT FOR NEW ENERGY IN NO CAROLINA; SUN AND MONEY TOGETHER AT SUNEDISON

NEW ENERGY TRENDS Clean Energy Trends: The Future is all About Deployment

Ron Pernick, March 12, 2013 (Clean Edge)

“…[As highlighted in] Clean Energy Trends 2013 report, the fundamental global market drivers for clean technology remain largely intact. Intensifying resource constraints loom large. Unprecedented climate disruption in the U.S. and abroad is putting resiliency and adaptation front and center. And President Obama has signaled a strong commitment to expanding clean energy and energy efficiency in his second term, calling for another doubling of renewable power by 2020. Similar commitments exist in China, Japan, and the European Union…

“…[But] combined global revenue for solar PV, wind power, and biofuels expanded just one percent, from $246.1 billion in 2011 to $248.7 billion in 2012…Biofuels (global production and wholesale pricing of ethanol and biodiesel) reached $95 billion in 2012, up from $83 billion the previous year. From 2011 to 2012, global biofuels production expanded from 27.9 billion gallons to 31.4 billion gallons of ethanol and biodiesel…”

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“…Wind power (new installation capital costs) expanded to $73.7 billion in 2012, up from $71.5 billion the previous year. Global wind capacity additions totaled 44.7 GW (gigawatts) in 2012, a record year led by more than 13 GW added in both China and the U.S., and an additional 12.4 GW of new capacity in Europe…Solar photovoltaics (including modules, system components, and installation) decreased from a record $91.6 billion in 2011 to $79.7 billion in 2012 as continued growth in annual capacity additions was not enough to offset falling PV prices. While total market revenues fell 19 percent – the first PV market contraction in Clean Energy Trends’ 12-year history – global installations expanded to a record of 30.9 GW in 2012, up from 29.6 GW the prior year…

“…[W]e project these three sectors will continue to grow over the next decade, nearly doubling from $248.7 billion in 2012 to $426.1 billion in 2022…Renewables and natural gas made up more than 80 percent of new electricity capacity additions in the U.S. in 2012, with renewables coming in at 49 percent and natural gas at 33 percent. For the European Union, the renewables number is even higher, with solar in the driver’s seat…[A] new focus on deployable and proven technologies reflects the maturation of an industry that was a mere blip on the economic radar just a decade ago, but today represents the largest slice of new electricity capacity additions in the U.S. and European Union…[Sustaining the momentum will require] new models and a leveling of the playing field…and, in the face of entrenched interests, a great deal of steadfast commitment and endurance.”

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THE FIGHT FOR NEW ENERGY IN NO CAROLINA New Bill Seeks To Repeal N.C.'s Renewable Energy Mandate

Laura DiMugno, 14 March 2013 (North American Windpower)

“…New legislation proposed in the [North Carolina's] House of Representatives would repeal North Carolina's renewable portfolio standard (RPS), the major driver of renewable energy development in the state…North Carolina's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, passed in 2007, is 12.5% by 2021 for investor-owned utilities and 10% by 2018 for electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The authors of the bill, dubbed the “Affordable and Reliable Energy Act,” say the state’s RPS is raising energy costs for North Carolina consumers.

“However, a recent study found that North Carolina’s clean energy policies - including the RPS - will actually save customers over the long run. According to the study, electricity rates will peak in 2015 and then decline through 2026, ultimately saving customers $173 million…[B]etween 2007 and 2012, clean energy resulted in $1.7 billion in economic benefits to North Carolina and generated $2.56 billion in spending in the state's economy…and while the broader North Carolina economy lost more than 100,000 jobs between 2007 and 2012, the state gained 21,162 clean energy jobs during the same period…”

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“According to the American Wind Energy Association, there are at least 18 facilities in North Carolina that manufacture components for the wind energy industry…PPG Industries, a supplier of fiberglass to the wind energy industry, has two factories that employ hundreds of workers…A repeal of the RPS would likely lessen demand for offshore wind in North Carolina…A comprehensive study…found that North Carolina has the best offshore wind resource on the East Coast…

“North Carolina’s highly regulated electricity market limits opportunities for newer energy technologies…The bill would also eliminate all funding for renewable energy research, further limiting the ability of [New Energies like] offshore wind to compete with more established technologies…Despite backing from state lawmakers, however, it is unlikely that the state’s voters will support the bill: Recent poll results…found that 69.7% of North Carolina voters are in favor of the state’s RPS program…The bill still must travel through a number of committees before going up for a vote.”

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SUN AND MONEY TOGETHER AT SUNEDISON MEMC Creates SunEdison Capital, Proposes Company-Wide Name Change

13 March 2013 (Solar Industry)

“MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. has formed SunEdison Capital, a new division within its SunEdison subsidiary…

“SunEdison Capital will focus on aggregating capital to develop, build and finance the long-term ownership of solar power plants. As part of this effort, the division will develop internal and external capital funds and facilities, playing a key role in financing the growth of SunEdison's solar business in addition to acquiring new projects.”

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“Additionally, MEMC has released details on a forthcoming company name change. Subject to shareholder approval, the company will rename itself SunEdison Inc. If approved, the name change would be effective after the company's annual meeting of shareholders on May 30, 2013.

“This name change does not reflect a change in business strategy related to either of the company's segments, MEMC says. Rather, the name change is designed to better reflect the synergistic nature of the two businesses and help create and maintain one global brand name.”

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