QUICK NEWS, February 11: U.S. WIND BREAKING NEW-BUILD RECORDS; BIG TEST FOR EV BATTERY RE-USE AS SOLAR STORAGE; FARM BILL TO BUILD RURAL NEW ENERGY

U.S. WIND BREAKING NEW-BUILD RECORDS U.S. Wind Industry Has Record Number Of Megawatts Under Construction

January 31, 2014 (North American Windpower)

“…[Only] 1.084 GW of wind [came] online in 2013…a 92% decrease from the 13.131 GW of new capacity installed during the record-breaking year of 2012…[But] 2013 set a record [with]…more U.S. wind power megawatts under construction than ever in history: Over 12,000 MW (or, 12 GW) of new generating capacity were under construction in 2013, with [a record number of term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and] a record-breaking 10.9 GW starting construction activity during the fourth quarter…[T]he huge decrease seen in 2013 is a pattern that could repeat unless Congress acts to extend the PTC, which expired again on Dec. 31, 2013… [The record growth] resulted not only from the PTC (which provides upfront tax relief of $0.023/kWh for the first 10 years of a project), but also from investments in technological advancements that have driven down the cost of wind energy by 43% in just four years…” click here for more

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BIG TEST FOR EV BATTERY RE-USE AS SOLAR STORAGE Sumitomo Sets Up Solar Power Storage System With Used Batteries

Chisaki Watanabe, February 6, 2014 (Bloomberg News)

“…[Sumitomo Corp.] said it installed a power storage system using recycled electric-vehicle batteries near a solar power station in the western prefecture of Osaka [that will be in operation this month]…The 600-kilowatt system is the world’s first large-scale power storage system from used EV [lithium ion] batteries…The device uses 16 used batteries [and has a 400 kw-hr capacity]…Over the next three years, the system will measure the smoothing effect of energy-output fluctuation from the nearby Hikari-no-mori solar farm [and the next step would be a large-scale power storage technology by safely and effectively incorporating quantities of discarded EV batteries]…Sumitomo set up [the 4R Energy Corp joint] venture with Nissan Motor (7201) Co. in 2010 to address the secondary use of EV batteries.” click here for more

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FARM BILL TO BUILD RURAL NEW ENERGY U.S. House Passes Farm Bill With Renewable Energy Provisions Intact

Michael Puttre, 30 January 2014 (Solar Industry)

“…[T]he Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 - popularly known as the farm bill - passed the U.S. House of Representatives…[It included] $881 million in…the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which offers grants and loans to rural businesses and agricultural producers for…[solar, small wind, biofuel, and other renewable energy and energy efficiency] systems…The REAP provisions, described under Title IX, specify that $45 million be allocated in each fiscal year from 2014 through 2018…Applications for REAP funding are to be evaluated under the three-tiered approach, representing projects costing $80,000 or less, those over $80,000 but less than $200,000, and those costing $200,000 or more…” click here for more

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