QUICK NEWS, June 6: STATES OF RENEWABLES; REPUBLICANS FOR NEW ENERGY; NRDC FOUNDER NAMED TO OBAMA CABINET; PLACES THAT ATTRACT SUN

STATES OF RENEWABLES
California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, and Colorado Top the Nation in Clean‐Energy Leadership; Clean Edge’s U.S. Clean Energy Leadership Index Provides Companies, Investors, and Governments with Critical Data and Insights on the Clean‐Energy Landscape
May 18, 2011 (Clean Edge)

"Clean Edge’s second annual U.S. Clean Energy Leadership Index…provides the industry’s most comprehensive and objective analysis and ranking of how all 50 states, and the individuals, businesses, and organizations that operate there, compare across the clean-energy spectrum…[The] assessment and ranking of more than 70 different indicators in technology, policy, and capital…[showed] the top 10 states in the nation are California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, Washington, New Mexico, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Vermont.

"Key market indicators tracked… include total electricity produced by clean-energy sources, hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, clean-energy venture and patent activity, and policy regulations and incentives. The 2011 Leadership Index paints an important and insightful picture of the U.S. clean-energy landscape…[The] bottom 10 states in this year’s rankings (placing 41st through 50th) are Oklahoma, Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota, Louisiana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia."

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"…[1] Three states now generate more than 10 percent of their utility-scale electricity from wind, solar, and/or geothermal. Iowa leads the nation with 15.4 percent of its electricity now generated from wind power, followed by North Dakota (11.99 percent from wind) and California (10.06 percent from wind, solar, and geothermal)…[2] Top-ranked California…[is] far ahead of the pack in terms of technology deployment and capital creation…[It] brings in more venture capital than all other states combined…

"…[3] Idaho leads the U.S. in clean electricity as a percentage of its total generation – at an astounding 84 percent – when you include hydro and biomass. Other states that get more than 60 percent of their electricity from renewable sources including hydro and biomass are Washington (71.59 percent), South Dakota (65 percent), and Oregon (63.84 percent)…[4] Oklahoma had more new EVs registered last year than any other state…[because two] of the nation’s largest rental car agencies register their vehicles in Oklahoma…Without that statistical anomaly, California is the nation’s EV leader…"

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"…[5] Michigan held the top spot in clean-energy patents for 2010 with 192 patents…[led by] General Motors, which is reinventing itself as a sustainable transportation leader. GM received more clean energy patents last year than any other company in the U.S., with 135 patents registered in 2010…

"…[6] Mississippi, which ranks in the bottom 10 of the overall Leadership Index, is aggressively pursuing clean-tech manufacturing…In the past year, the state has attracted a host of clean-tech companies to build manufacturing facilities and plants there, including California-based solar company Stion Solar Panels and Texas-based biofuel company KiOR. This shows that even low-ranking states are beginning to aggressively target clean-tech companies and services for their job creation and capital attraction…"


REPUBLICANS FOR NEW ENERGY
House Republicans Press for Faster Action on Renewable Energy
Jim Snyder, June 1, 2011 (Bloomberg News)

"U.S. House Republicans, who have sought to expedite offshore oil- and gas-drilling permits, pressed the Obama administration to [eliminate bureaucratic delays, unnecessary lawsuits and burdensome environmental regulations and] act faster on renewable energy projects.

"Federal hurdles are slowing growth of solar and wind companies, industry executives said…at a House Natural Resources Committee hearing in Washington. The witnesses also advocated tax incentives and production mandates criticized by Republicans, who control the House…"

Here are some ideas. (click to enlarge)

"…[The committee, chaired by Doc Hastings (R-WA)] has already passed legislation designed to expand oil and gas production offshore, including an accelerated approval process for drilling permits. The bills passed the House before being blocked in the Senate, where Democrats hold a majority.

"Susan Reilly, chief executive officer of Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc….said [said clean-energy mandates and a predictable tax policy would promote investment but] Interior Department protection from wind turbines for golden eagles[add to project financing difficulties]…The Obama administration proposed guidelines in February to help wind-energy developers identify sites that pose the least risks to birds and wildlife…Collisions with wind turbines are a [a threat to] golden eagles in regions of the U.S. West…"

The facts on birds. (click to enlarge)

"…Hastings asked witnesses if the Interior Department had an efficient and effective process for reviewing permits for developing public lands…While most responded no, executives also praised the Obama administration for improving the procedures and focusing more attention on renewable energy.

"They commended policies like a Treasury Department grant program for renewable developers set to expire later this year and an Obama plan to generate 80 percent of U.S. electricity from low-polluting sources by 2035…The Interior Department is ‘picking up the pace’ on offshore wind, said Jim Lanard, president of the Offshore Wind Development Coalition…"


NRDC FOUNDER NAMED TO OBAMA CABINET
Obama nominates Bryson for Commerce
David Jackson, June 1, 2011 (USA Today)

"President Obama nominated John Bryson to be the next Commerce secretary…citing in particular [Bryson’s efforts to develop alternative energy sources and his business experience on the board of directors for Boeing and Walt Disney as indicative of his ability to support the President’s] goal of doubling U.S. exports…

"The nominee is the retired former chairman and CEO of Edison International, a
California-based energy company; Bryson also co-founded the Natural Resources Defense Council and is a member of a United Nations advisory group on energy and climate change…If confirmed by the Senate, Bryson would replace Gary Locke, who is becoming ambassador to China — but that could be a big if."

Bryson was one of the founders of NRDC. Wow. From NRDCflix via YouTube

"Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell indicated… the GOP might block Bryson's nomination until Obama submits proposed free trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia to the Senate for ratification…The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has clashed with Obama over health care and other policies [endorsed Bryson]…"

[President Obama:] "Today, he advises companies around the world as a business leader who understands what it takes to innovate, to create jobs and to persevere through tough times…This experience and these qualities will serve our nation well as John takes on yet another tough assignment in his career."


PLACES THAT ATTRACT SUN
Solar indices at May 2011
May 2011 (Ernst & Young)

"…The US has surged ahead in the index, climbing two points after news that the market grew 67% from US$3.6b (€2.6b) in 2009 to US$6b (€4.3b) in 2010. The Department of Energy has fueled a lot of this by supporting manufacturers and developers [and the emergence of utility-scale solar power plants] with [loan guarantees]…

"…In early May, the Italian Government approved a new solar PV decree which will significantly reduce FITs from June 2011…[and] divide new PV plants into [small] and [large] sites…[0.2MW for building–integrated and 1MW for ground–mounted installations]… The decree is expected to slow new installations over next few years, and Italy has fallen two index places…As Germany’s solar industry matures, there are concerns around the ability of the grid to manage the intermittency caused by the increasing proportion of solar electricity being fed into it…"

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"…Australia has fallen two points as the Government plans to reduce the Flagship Solar Program by AU$250m (€183m), while it has also capped the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme which provides incentives for solar hot water systems…In March 2011, the French Government followed the trend across Europe and imposed solar FIT cuts. It also announced a 500MW annual cap on installations and 20% FIT cuts for projects below 100kW. Projects over 100kW will have to bid through a public tender. As a result France has dropped a point…

"…In March, the UK Government announced the results of its fast track FIT rates review, reducing tariffs by as much as 72% for projects up to 5MW from 1 August 2011, more bad news for a market that has already seen developers leave…The UK dropped three points as a result…Morocco shows the greatest solar potential of the new entrants. In December 2010, it selected four groups for the first phase of a 500MW solar thermal project, which represents part of the DESERTEC program. Political unrest in North Africa could stall development in the short term, but it is still planned to deliver 500MW capacity by 2015…"