QUICK NEWS, February 4: WOOD MACKENZIE CONFIRMS SOLAR BOOM; COLORADO UTILITY OFFERS COMMUNITY WIND; THE OBAMA PRO-ENVIRONMENT BUDGET

WOOD MACKENZIE CONFIRMS SOLAR BOOM New dawn for U.S. solar power capacity; Analysis finds parallels between solar power capacity and shale boom.

Daniel J. Graeber, February 3, 2015 (UPI)

“…Energy consultant group Wood Mackenzie finds it's getting cheaper to install solar power components. With [record levels of new capacity, solar] has evolved from a niche renewable sector to something that's pressuring conventional business models in the utility industry [as prices decline and technology improves. No] other technology is closer to transforming power markets than distributed and utility-scale solar…The U.S. government is supporting solar development through its SunShot initiative, which aims to make the renewable technology competitive. The program aims to move solar power capacity from less than 1 percent of the national electricity supply to 14 percent by 2030. Wood Mackenzie finds new materials and applications, like roof-top and window installations, are expected to have an impact on future solar development…” click here for more

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COLORADO UTILITY OFFERS COMMUNITY WIND Contract will allow Colorado Springs customers to buy into wind energy

Maureen McMullen, February 2, 2015 (Marcellus)

“Colorado Springs Utilities signed a [two-year] contract with Xcel Energy…[allowing] utilities customers the chance to help finance wind energy — for a rate of $2.14 per 100 [kilowatt-hours] each month. Average electric use for homes in Colorado Springs is 600 [kilowatt-hours] per month…The company’s last contract had 1,300 customers subscribed; already, the current contract [is] 63 percent spoken for [on a first-come, first-served basis]…Because Utilities is municipally owned, the company is not required to comply with public renewable energy standards, which mandate that municipal utilities use 10 percent renewable energy by 2020…[but] Colorado Springs Utilities has set its goal 10 percent higher than the [state] standard…” click here for more

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THE OBAMA PRO-ENVIRONMENT BUDGET Sierra Club Statement On President Obama’s Budget

February 2, 2015 (Sierra Club)

“…[T]he Obama Administration] budget proposal for FY2016 that includes…Increases in funding to the Environmental Protection Agency to support climate change initiatives and the implementation of the Clean Power Plan…Increases in funding to the Department of the Interior to permit new renewable energy leases on federal land…A permanent extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind energy…More than $7 billion in investments to support clean energy technology…Investments in climate and drought resilience programs at home and abroad, including support for the Green Climate Fund, the National Flood Insurance Program, and NOAA coastal resilience grants…Billions to support the health and livelihoods of coalfield workers and communities…Slashing $4 billion in long-standing tax giveaways to oil companies…"President Obama is making action on the climate crisis a top goal of his administration over the next year[Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said]…This proposal recognizes the obligation we have to act on climate and the opportunity that arises as we do…” click here for more

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