QUICK NEWS, March 11: HOMEOWNERS OVERWHELMINGLY WANT NEW ENERGY; THE FIGHT FOR NEW ENERGY IN VERMONT; HUMONGOUS 40X GROWTH COMING IN DG FUEL CELLS

HOMEOWNERS OVERWHELMINGLY WANT NEW ENERGY National Poll Finds American Homeowners Overwhelmingly Want Energy Choice; Data reveals vast majority of Americans support renewables, 73 percent open to receiving clean energy from a provider other than their utility

March 10, 2014 (Clean Edge, Inc. and SolarCity)

“…[A]n inaugural national poll of U.S. homeowners regarding clean-energy products and services…found that a majority of homeowners, 69 percent, want more choices when it comes to their energy and electricity supply…U.S. Homeowners on Clean Energy: A National Survey…confirmed that a significant majority of Americans (88 percent of homeowners) support renewable energy…[62 percent were] interested in solar for their own homes…Less than half of all homeowners nationally understand that solar power is more affordable today than it was three years ago, despite the reality that prices for solar panels have dropped by more than half over this time period, and solar electricity prices can beat utility rates in a growing number of locations…73 percent of homeowners also said they would welcome clean energy provided by an entity other than their utility…[and three out of four poll respondents said] utilities should not be allowed to enforce restrictions on on-site energy systems…” click here for more

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THE FIGHT FOR NEW ENERGY IN VERMONT Vermont loves renewable energy, until it arrives; Some green energy projects run into strong opposition

Dave Gram, March 3, 2014 (Burlington Free Press)

“Getting energy from the sun, wind and forests fits with Vermont’s sense of itself as clean, green and independent. But when it comes time to build and live with the projects that make it possible, things can get complicated…The state’s own comprehensive energy plan contemplates a future of electric cars and renewable sources providing 90 percent of its energy needs. And Vermont was recently rated No. 1 in solar industry jobs per capita…But strong opposition from citizens’ groups to a wind-power project in Lowell, the recent vote by property owners to reject a proposed wind farm in northeastern Vermont, and a ruling by state regulators against a proposed wood-burning power plant in southern Vermont have some questioning the state’s willingness to turn talk into action…” click here for more

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HUMONGOUS 40X GROWTH COMING IN DG FUEL CELLS Stationary Fuel Cells; Fuel Cells for Prime Power, Large CHP, Residential CHP, and UPS Applications: Global Market Analysis and Forecasts

1Q 2014 (Navigant Research)

“…[T]he use of fuel cells as small distributed power plants for grid stabilization or backup is moving forward faster than any other [fuel cell] sector in terms of megawatts…Since different countries are facing different pain points, in terms of power and power availability, the adoption costs of distributed generation (DG) technologies, including fuel cells, are also different. The core application segments of prime power, large combined heat and power (CHP), residential CHP (resCHP), and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) continue to grow, albeit at different paces…[J]ust 20 key system players accounted for over 95% of revenue at the end of 2013. Navigant Research forecasts that global stationary fuel cell revenue will grow from $1.4 billion in 2013 to $40.0 billion in 2022…” click here for more

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