QUICK NEWS, November 4: UTILITY GOLIATH FILES AGAINST SOLAR DAVIDS; CALIFORNIA’S MISGUIDED WIND POLICIES; GEOTHERMAL BREAKTHROUGH SPREADS THROUGH CITY

UTILITY GOLIATH FILES AGAINST SOLAR DAVIDS Duke urges regulators to deny TPO solar bid from green group, church

November 4, 2015 (Utility Dive)

Duke Energy filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) in opposition to a request from environmental activist group NC WARN for permission to sell energy directly to Faith Community Church from a solar array atop its building...Duke’s filing argues the sale of electricity by NC WARN to the church violates state law that limits electricity generation and delivery to commission-certified public utilities. Duke noted NC WARN may be fined up to $1,000 per day for illegal third-party electricity sales. NC WARN argues it is not acting as a public utility but providing a service to the church. Interfaith Power & Light and the Energy Freedom Coalition of America, representing the solar industry, back NC WARN.” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet

CALIFORNIA’S MISGUIDED WIND POLICIES Wind energy is being unfairly held back in California

Michael B. Gerrard and Nacy Rader, October 2, 2015 (Sacramento Bee)

“…[Beyond California’s new 50-percent-by-2030 renewable energy standard is] a brewing contradiction: Wind energy projects are being banned or severely restricted in several California counties and, more significantly, across vast federal lands in the state…These restrictions threaten the ability to achieve California’s climate-change goals…According to the most detailed state-commissioned assessment of what must be done to meet the 2030 target, each year the state will need to add 1,600 megawatts of renewable resources – roughly 16 new utility-scale projects – in addition to rooftop solar and aggressively increasing energy-efficiency…[S]ome rural communities clearly do not want local wind energy…despite California’s strict environmental laws and modern industry practices…Instead of carefully reviewing specific sites and using reasonable measures to address environmental, health, military and other concerns, these communities have resorted to wholesale bans, or have established unattainable standards that amount to bans…[where] mining, cattle grazing, recreational-vehicle use, and even oil and gas drilling – are allowed…No one is saying that utility-scale renewable energy should go everywhere, but [bans on wind projects cannot be part of a responsible solution…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet

GEOTHERMAL BREAKTHROUGH SPREADS THROUGH CITY Boise geothermal innovation is up for a national award

Teya Vitu, November 4, 2015 (Idaho Business Review)

"Boise’s new heat pump technology for reusing geothermal water…arose from a collaboration of the city’s Public Works, its Sustainable Boise Program, and the Capital City Development Corp. More than 65 downtown Boise buildings use geothermal energy. The new technology allows the city to offer geothermal [and incentives] in another downtown sector…In this area, the new heat pump technology will enable the reuse of once-used, lower temperature water…The incentive package [from the city’s geothermal fund] includes the offer of free water to the equivalent of 125 percent of the additional capital costs associated with connecting to the geothermal system, plus a 60 percent rebate on the monthly bill…” click here for more

click to enlarge

Tweet