QUICK NEWS, February 18: WHERE WIND IS UP, ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE DOWN; CROWD FUNDING RESIDENTIAL SOLAR OWNERSHIP; MINING INDUSTRY TURNS TO NEW ENERGY

WHERE WIND IS UP, ELECTRICITY PRICES ARE DOWN More Wind Energy, Lower Electricity Prices

February 13, 2014 (SustainableBusiness)

"Electric bills are trending down for people that live in high-wind states, according to research by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)...The 11 states that get more than 7% of their electricity from wind energy have seen their electric prices decrease by 0.37% over the past five years, in contrast to all other states, where electricity prices have increased 7.79% during that time…The more wind capacity they have, the more rates have come down…[A]t least 15 studies confirm that as wind energy increases, electric prices come down. Studies have been done by independent grid operators, state governments, academic experts, and others…[R]esearch from New England's grid operator concludes that when wind provides 14% of electricity, prices drop 10%, and when it reaches 24%, prices decline 15%...” click here for more

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CROWD FUNDING RESIDENTIAL SOLAR Mosaic And Connecticut Team Up On Crowd Funding Of Residential Solar

Michael Puttre, 5 February 2014 (Solar Industry)

“Solar project crowd funding pioneer Mosaic is expanding its activities into the residential solar sector….Connecticut's Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA)…has provided an initial $5 million commitment to fund originations of the consumer loans. Participating solar installers serving the Connecticut market will be able to offer the loans to their customers. The loan product, developed by Sungage Financial, uses projected energy savings as the basis for the offering…Investments in the loan pool will be offered to accredited investors through Mosaic's crowd-source investment website. The Hampshire Foundation Inc., which has committed $1 million of its own funds, will also offer investment opportunities to its clients as part of the program…[T]he residential financing options…[will soon be] built into the Mosaic online marketplace…[I]nvestors can expect similar rates of return that they have seen from commercial projects…” click here for more

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MINING INDUSTRY TURNS TO NEW ENERGY Report: Renewable Energy Will Supply At Least 5% Of Mining Industry Power Demand By 2022

17 February 2014 (Solar Industry)

"The electricity-hungry mining industry is investing in renewable energy such as solar and wind to power its operations, particularly those in remote locations, a new report from Navigant Research says…[R]ising energy prices and the desire to reduce mining companies’ carbon footprints have created a growing consensus in the mining industry that renewable energy at mine sites - both grid-tied and off-grid - is feasible and often necessary…[T]he portion of energy consumption in the mining industry supplied by renewable energy will grow from less than 0.1% now to at least 5% - and possibly up to 8% - by 2022…Wind power will account for the majority of deployed renewable energy assets for mining operations by 2022, with nearly 516 MW of capacity…Following closely will be solar power, with 493 MW of installed capacity…” click here for more

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