News

April 18 -- The national transition away from fossil fuels and toward an increasing reliance on power from the wind and sun has been becalmed by the expiration of the Production Tax Credit, a 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour subsidy granted wind power generators.

Some argue that the subsidy, first offered in the 1990s to stimulate the development of alternatives to coal and oil energy, has outlived its usefulness. It’s time, they say, for power from wind turbines to compete in the marketplace on an equal basis with other sources, including natural gas. We say, not yet. >>View Article

April 18 -- President Barack Obama challenged companies Thursday to expand their use of solar power as part of his ongoing effort to leverage the power of his office to achieve goals that have been stymied by Congress. The new initiative comes as the White House hosted a Solar Summit aimed at highlighting successful efforts on the local level to speed the deployment of solar energy. >>View Article

April 18 -- In a speech this week at the University of Hawaii, former Vice President Al Gore called one key factor a "game changer" in the fight against climate change. The exponential growth in photovoltaic solar panels, he said, is "unstoppable," as is the consumers' demand for lower prices in the energy marketplace. >>View Article

April 18 -- Lutheran religious leaders have waded into the battle over Ohio's energy efficiency and renewable energy mandates "for the sake of the planet." >>View Article

April 18 -- With Washington adrift and the United Nations climate change panel again calling for action, the search for new clean energy finance solutions continues. >>View Article

April 18 -- The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) has decided to postpone its Renewable Energy Latin American and the Caribbean Conference and Exposition (RELACCx) until November 20-21, 2014 to attract increased global financial interest in the Latin and American and Caribbean (LAC) region. >>View Article

April 17 -- President Obama will challenge companies Thursday to expand their use of solar power, part of his ongoing effort to leverage the power of his office to achieve goals that have been stymied by Congress. The new initiative comes as the White House is hosting a Solar Summit aimed at highlighting successful efforts on the local level to speed the deployment of solar energy.

Although some large solar plants are coming online and it is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it accounts for roughly 1 percent of the nation’s electricity generation. >>View Article

April 17 -- The U.S. Energy Department on Wednesday unveiled a plan for up to $4 billion in loan aid for renewable energy companies to help rejuvenate a program that faced harsh political attacks over past failures of federally subsidized projects.

The Obama administration's draft plan would provide loan guarantees for innovative projects that limit or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. >>View Article

April 17 -- Ohioans overwhelmingly favor replacing coal-fired power plants with wind farms and solar arrays, and requiring utilities to help customers use less electricity, a poll released Wednesday has found. >>View Article

April 17 -- New wind and solar plants generate cheaper low-carbon electricity than the latest nuclear reactors, a study shows, indicating they will lead a global push for green energy.

Newly built wind and solar with natural-gas as a backup can make power a fifth cheaper than nuclear backed by gas, the study by consultant Prognos AG shows. Excluding the backup generation, renewables produce power 50 percent cheaper than nuclear, according to the study. Gas-fired power may be used when demand exceeds generation available from wind and solar. >>View Article