QUICK NEWS, May 22: WHAT THE U.S. CAN LEARN FROM GERMAN SOLAR SUCCESS; EARLY RESULTS SHOW WIND CAN PROTECT EAGLES; TEXAS GROWING NEW ENERGY, QUADRUPLES SUN

WHAT THE U.S. CAN LEARN FROM GERMAN SOLAR SUCCESS Germany Has More Solar Power Because Everyone Wins

John Farrell, February 8 and May 20, 2013 (Institute for Local Self-Reliance)

“…[Most have figured out it is not the Germany’s solar resource or policies make it a world solar industry force. There is also a] ‘Germans pay a lot extra’ meme. Germans do, and are perfectly happy with it, but…[the] real reason Germany dominates in solar (and wind) is their commitment to democratizing energy.

“Half of their renewable power is owned by ordinary Germans, because that wonky sounding feed-in tariff (often known as a CLEAN Contract Program in America) makes it ridiculously simple and safe for someone to park their money in generating solar electricity on their roof instead of making pennies in interest at the bank.”

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“It also makes their “energy change” movement politically bulletproof. Germans aren’t tree-hugging wackos…[T]hey are investing by the tens of thousand in a clean energy future that is putting money back in their pockets and creating well over 300,000 new jobs (at last count). Their policy makes solar cost half as much to install as it does in America, where the free market’s red tape…

“…In a country founded on the concept of self-reliance (goodbye, tea imports!), we finance clean energy with tax credits that make wind and solar reliant on Wall Street instead of Main Street. We largely preclude participation by the ordinary citizen unless they give up ownership of their renewable energy system to a leasing company. We make clean energy a complicated alternative to business as usual, while the cloudy, windless Germans make the energy system of the future by making it stupid easy and financially rewarding…[L]et’s learn the real secret to German energy engineering and start making democratic energy in America.”

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EARLY RESULTS SHOW WIND CAN PROTECT EAGLES As U.S. DOJ Investigates, Duke Works Adaptive Management Plan

Mark Del Franco, 16 May 2013 (North American Windpower)

“Duke Energy Renewables has confirmed that it is a subject of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) preliminary investigation resulting from…10 golden eagle deaths…at its 200 MW Top of the World wind farm since the wind farm began operating in October 2010…[and] three golden eagle fatalities at its 99 MW Campbell Hill wind farm since December 2009.

“Golden eagles receive federal protection under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA)…[Duke Energy Renewables] has employed several adaptive management techniques…[T]he company has taken to removing objects and debris from its Wyoming sites, such as animal carcasses, to clear anything that birds and other avian species…find attractive…”

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“The company also employs biologists to watch for birds at the sites…If eagles are spotted…[the biologists notify Duke's] Renewable Energy Monitoring Center (REMC) to stop the turbines…Duke went so far as to employ a radar surveillance system featuring the same technology used by the U.S. military to detect missiles in Afghanistan…

“Thus far, Duke's adaptive management efforts have resulted in zero golden eagle fatalities at either wind farm since September 2012…Duke is in a much better position to understand - and therefore protect - avian species, such as golden eagles…”

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TEXAS GROWING NEW ENERGY, QUADRUPLES SUN Renewable energy generation in Texas continues to grow, up 7 percent from 2011; Wind power continues to lead, with notable gains in solar generation

May 16, 2013 (Electricity Reliability Council of Texas)

“Electric generation from renewable resources in Texas increased 7 percent in 2012, compared to 2011, with capacity up by about 16 percent…[according to The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)…2012 Annual Report on the Renewable Energy Credit Trading Program.

“Generators participating in the state’s renewable energy credit trading program reported 33.9 million megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable generation in 2012, compared to 31.7 million MWh in 2011 — a 7 percent overall increase. At more than 32.5 million MWh in total generation, wind power continued to lead the pack, with solar generation representing the largest rate of growth, nearly quadrupling last year’s output, and energy from biomass sources more than doubling the 2011 total.”

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“A renewable energy credit (REC) is a tradable instrument that represents one megawatt-hour, or MWh, of renewable energy produced. That is roughly the amount of power consumed by an average home in a month. Competitive retail electric providers must acquire and retire renewable energy credits annually based on their load-ratio share of the state’s renewable portfolio standard mandate. Any electric provider may voluntarily retire renewable energy credits to substantiate claims that power they are selling comes from renewable resources.

“The Texas Legislature established the renewable portfolio standard as part of the restructuring of the state’s electricity market in 1999 to increase incentives for renewable energy production. The PUC implemented the REC program in 2001 and established ERCOT as the administrator…”

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