QUICK NEWS, August 13: Different Ways To Respond To The Crisis; Wind Prices Hit Record Lows As Wind Boom Grows

Different Ways To Respond To The Crisis US states differ wildly in response to climate crisis; New York legislates for ambitious climate action, while Ohio protects failing coal companies

Tan Copsey, 12 August 2019 (ChinaDialogue)

“…[B]attles over climate policy have broken out across the country…[S]ome states have put in place radical and ambitious new climate change laws and targets…[O]thers have given polluting power plants more money…In late July, Ohio passed a bill to rescue three coal and two nuclear plants using money intended for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This may increase Ohio’s greenhouse gas emissions relative to if the money had been used for its original purpose…[D]espite the rapid, nationwide decline in coal use and the bankruptcy of many coal companies…[many Ohio Republicans see protecting] coal jobs seems a more powerful political force than creating new, green ones…[Some Republicans are worried] the state will miss out on renewable energy investment, which has grown rapidly in neighbouring states…

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…New York provides a different vision of the future…Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed into law the country’s most ambitious climate goals. These will cut greenhouse gas emissions 85% by 2050 and require utilities to source 70% of their energy from renewables by 2030…New York is the sixth state to mandate 100% renewable energy, following Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and California…[They are pushing back against White House efforts] to protect polluters…New York’s new laws will require renewable energy and infrastructure construction at a scale and pace never seen before…[Many, often as a result of partisan politics,] have concerns…[When Oregon] Democrats attempted to pass a cap-and-trade scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050…[But Republican state senators forced a delay. It appears state lawmakers in Ohio and Oregon] will play a disproportionate role in determining all of our futures.” click here for more

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Wind Prices Hit Record Lows As Wind Boom Grows Annual DOE Report Finds that Wind Energy Is Being Sold at Record-Low Prices

August 12, 2019 (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)

“…Wind power capacity additions continued at a robust pace in 2018: $11 billion was invested in new wind power plants in 2018…[and] wind energy contributed 6.5% of the nation’s electricity supply, more than 10% of total electricity generation in fourteen states, and more than 30% in three…232 gigawatts of wind are seeking transmission interconnection, 2% of which represents proposed wind plants paired with storage…Bigger turbines are enhancing wind project performance…The average 2018 capacity factor among projects built from 2014 through 2017 was 42%, compared to an average of 31% among projects built from 2004 to 2011 and 24% among projects built from 1998 to 2001… The average installed cost of wind projects in 2018 was $1,470/kW, down 40 percent since the peak in 2009 and 2010…

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After topping out at 7¢/kWh for power purchase agreements (PPAs) executed in 2009, the national average price of wind PPAs has dropped to below 2¢/kWh… These prices, which are possible in part due to federal tax support, compare favorably to the projected future fuel costs of gas-fired generation. Solar PPA prices have declined precipitously, pressuring wind’s competitive position…Wind sector employment reached a new high of more than 114,000 full-time workers at the end of 2018…[F]orecasts for the domestic market show expected wind power capacity additions of 9,000-12,000 MW in 2019 and 11,000-15,000 in 2020, with market contraction anticipated beginning in 2021 as those tax incentives are phased out…” click here for more

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