QUICK NEWS, June 12: CHINA BUYING INTO NEW ENERGY WORLDWIDE; THE LOCAL HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FROM WIND; THE 2012 TOP GREEN UTILITIES

CHINA BUYING INTO NEW ENERGY WORLDWIDE China's Overseas Investments in the Wind and Solar Industries: Trends and Drivers

June 2013 (World Resources Institute)

“Shifting to a low-carbon economy will require current emitting countries and projected future emitters to rapidly scale up their investments in renewable energy. In recent years, major emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil have been catching up with leading developed country investors in Europe and the United States. By some estimates, China is already the leading global investor in renewable energy infrastructure, and is increasing its overseas investments in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind…

“…If China achieves its goal of sourcing 15 percent of its energy mix from renewables by 2020 and 30–45 percent by 2050, renewable energy will become closer to a mainstream energy resource within the country. Cost reduction incurred in this process would benefit not only China, but also the rest of the world…China has made at least 124 investments in solar and wind industries in 33 countries over the past decade. Of the investments for which data were available, the cumulative value amounted to nearly US$40 billion in 54 investments, and the cumulative installed capacity added was nearly 6,000 MW in 53 investments…”

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“…Of the 124 investments, 41 were in the wind industry, 81 in the solar industry, and 2 in both the wind and solar industries…The majority of investments were in electricity generation. Twenty-seven of the wind investments were in wind farms predominantly carried out through joint ventures, as were most of the 41 solar investments. Several investments were made in manufacturing facilities and to establish sales and marketing offices…

“…Most of the investments were concentrated in a few developed countries: the United States, Germany, Italy, and Australia. A handful of developing countries, including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ethiopia, also attracted investments…China’s investments in the wind and solar industries are driven by…macroeconomic conditions; industry conditions; policies (both general and specific to the wind and solar industries) that “push” Chinese companies to invest overseas; policy incentives in host countries that “pull” Chinese investors; and financial support from Chinese banks…China is driven to seek solar and wind markets overseas largely because its manufacturing capacity exceeds domestic demand…”

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THE LOCAL HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS FROM WIND …[W]ind farm expected to contribute millions to local economy

Scott Cloud, June 11, 2013 (Newkirk Herald Journal via Winfield Daily Courier)

“…[An Oklahoma wind farm] set to begin construction by the end of the year, will provide $480 million to the local economy over the next 25 years…The project will include approximately 130 wind turbines that will produce 130 megawatts of power. The wind farm area encompasses more than 12,000 total acres…

“…[T]he Kay Wind Farm Project will bring a significant new source of revenue and jobs to the county and local school districts…[according] to an economic impact analysis conducted by the Economic Impact Group (EIG), an independent consulting firm associated with the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University…”

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“…[It] is expected to contribute a total of $480 million to the local economy over a 25-year period when accounting for direct and multiplier economic effects…[and] bring long-term economic impact to the [school districts]…

“In September 2009, Apex began its partnership with GGW Renewable Resources, LLC (GGW) and opened its Tulsa office…Within the first three years, the GGW team initiated development of six of the best wind farm sites in Oklahoma…Since its founding in 2009, Apex has completed 15 acquisitions and become one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry…In December 2012, Apex completed the development and construction of the 300-megawatt Canadian Hills Wind project…”

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THE 2012 TOP GREEN UTILITIES NREL Highlights 2012 Utility Green Power Leaders; Top 10 programs support more than 4.2 million MWh of voluntary green power

June 5, 2013 (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

“The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)… released its assessment of leading utility green power programs. Under these voluntary programs, residential and commercial consumers can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable resources – such as wind and solar – that diversify our nation’s energy portfolio and protect our air and water…

“Using information provided by utilities, NREL has developed ‘Top 10’ rankings of utility green power programs for 2012 in…total sales of renewable energy to program participants…total number of customer participants…the percentage of customer participation…green power sales as a percentage of total utility retail electricity sales…and the lowest price premium charged for a green power program using new renewable resources.”

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“Ranked by renewable energy sales (megawatt hours /year), Portland General Electric (Oregon) overtook Austin Energy in Austin, Texas, in 2012…Dominion Virginia Power and Oklahoma Gas & Electric are new to the [list]…Ranked by the percentage of customer participation, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto Utilities (California), followed by Portland General Electric…[S]ix utilities provided green power supply that included at least 2% solar…Green power sales of the top 10 utility programs by sales exceeded 4.2 million MWh in 2012, up from 3.9 million MWh in 2010. Wind energy represents approximately 85% of electricity generated for green energy programs…

“Utility green pricing programs are one segment of a larger green power marketing industry that counts more than 1.8 million customers, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and colleges and universities among its customers, and helps support more than 11,200 megawatts of renewable electricity generation capacity…”

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