QUICK NEWS, January 3: The New Energy Questions In 2017; Proof That New Energy Makes Business Sense; The Solar Bargain Gets Better
The New Energy Questions In 2017 4 Critical Energy Issues to Watch in 2017; The president-elect will likely start rolling back eight years of Obama administration climate regulations and restrictions on coal, oil and gas development
Bobby Magill, December 29, 2016 (Climate Central via Scientific American)
“The U.S. may be on the cusp of a stark turning point in energy and climate policy…Top priorities of the Trump transition team and cabinet nominees — many who disregard the connection between global warming and fossil fuel energy use — include rolling back eight years of Obama administration climate regulations and restrictions…[Trump’s energy plan envisions] oil, gas and coal development as a path to national prosperity and energy independence…[F]our developments in energy policy to keep an eye on in 2017...[are (1) whether] the moratorium the Obama administration placed on coal leasing in early 2016 [is repealed by Congress…[(2) whether the Clean Power Plan, which would limit carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants…[is defended in court…(3) whether the incoming administration will support] leasing of renewable energy on federal lands and waters…[and get] behind tax credits that help spur wind and solar development…[and (4) whether states emerge] as the nation’s bulwark against climate change…” click here for more
Proof That New Energy Makes Business Sense Why is corporate America picking wind power over solar? Google, Microsoft, Dow Chemical and other big companies are buying five times more wind than solar electricity in the race to hit ambitious emissions targets
Scott Thill, 21 December 2016 (UK Guardian)
“Businesses are buying more wind and solar electricity than ever before to help lower their carbon footprint in offices, stores and factories…Wind energy has long been the favorite. Businesses, not counting power companies, signed 2,000 megawatts of it in 2015, a jump from 100 megawatts in 2009…Wind energy [will enable] Google, the largest corporate buyer of renewable electricity in the world, to hit the 100% renewable energy goal…[by] next year. The company has inked 2,548 megawatts of wind contracts and 141 megawatts of solar…Interest in solar energy is growing, but at a slower rate. Solar contracts shot up to 1,070 megawatts in 2015 from 339 megawatts in 2010…As more businesses come under pressure from their customers, investors or government regulators to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and help rein in global warming, they will be looking for low-carbon energy that can compete with the price of coal and natural gas…Wind power costs cratered 66% in the last six years…Prices for solar contracts have dived 63% over the last five years…” click here for more
The Solar Bargain Gets Better Solar Panels Now So Cheap Manufacturers Probably Selling at Loss
Chris Martin, December 30, 2016 (Bloomberg News)
“Solar manufacturers led by China’s Trina Solar Ltd. are probably selling at a loss after prices fell to a record low this week...The global spot market price for solar panels fell 2.4 percent to an average of 36 cents a watt on Dec. 28…Suppliers are expanding capacity this year while demand is expected to slow in 2017, helping to push prices down…The current price is also lower than cost estimates from Trina…of about 40 cents a watt by the end of the year…Some companies’ cost structures remain competitive, even with prices this low…Canadian Solar Inc., the second-biggest supplier, reported costs of 37 cents in the third quarter…and it expects to reach 29 cents a watt by the fourth quarter of 2017. Many of its competitors expect costs in the low 30s by then…” click here for more
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