Author Archives Laura Arnold

AWEA: Wind energy and the Production Tax Credit advance in elections

Posted by Laura Arnold / November 08, 2012 / Posted in 2012 General Election, Uncategorized / No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 7, 2012

CONTACT Ellen Carey 405-203-9535 ecarey@awea.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 7, 2012 – Wind energy fared well in yesterday’s elections, with voters returning wind champions in both parties to Congress, and allowing the current administration’s support for wind energy to continue uninterrupted.

“We’re pleased to see the popular support we’ve always seen in polling validated by the election of so many champions of wind energy who’ve stepped out on our behalf, Republicans and Democrats,” said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association. “We heard a lot about wind energy in this election, and it proved to be a winning issue because it is so popular with the American people. As just one measure, an overwhelming majority of the members supported by our political action committee, WindPAC, won their races.”

Among the dozens of Republican wind champions reelected to Congress yesterday, for example, were outspoken House supporters Reps. Dave Reichert (R-WA), Steve King (R-IA) and Tom Latham (R-IA), and Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV).

Independent Angus King, a wind project developer since leaving the governorship in Maine, won his race for the open Senate seat there.

Overall, AWEA sees continued bipartisan support In Congress for extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC) to incentivize $15 billion a year in private investment in U.S. wind farms, with support steady in the Senate and a net increase in announced supporters in the U.S. House.

Swing states with numerous wind farms as well as wind factories were carried in the election by President Obama, whose campaign took the position that Congress should extend the wind energy Production Tax Credit.

They included Iowa and Colorado, where layoffs have struck wind energy factories because of uncertainty over when Congress will address the tax credit, which expires at the end of this year; and, Michigan and Ohio, important to the wind energy supply chain, and which have untapped wind resources under development.

One measure of support for wind this election: Of the 12 new Senators, seven received WindPAC backing this election cycle. Out of all the Senate candidates for this election cycle who were supported by WindPAC, 89 percent won their races.

In the House, there may be as many as 85 new House members and districts, once all races are decided. Of all the House candidates supported by WindPAC, 88 percent won as well.

Current House Members include 119 co-sponsors of H.R. 3307, introduced by Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA-8) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), which would extend the PTC through 2016. Of those, 87 won reelection, including 14 Republicans, and three more won Senate seats, with three races undecided on Wednesday.

The Production Tax Credit for renewable energy (PTC) is an incentive in effect continuously since 2005. It drives $15 billion a year in private investment in wind farms by offering tax relief to their operators according to how much electricity they make. It also creates business for component manufacturers, suppliers, trucking companies and more. It is set to expire on Dec. 31 unless Congress extends it first. A recent study by Navigant Consulting found that allowing it to expire would kill 37,000 jobs within a year, while extending the Production Tax Credit will allow the industry to grow to 100,000 jobs in just four years.

The Hill in its election analysis this morning listed “wind energy tax credits” as one of the top three “energy winners” from the election, noting that it will free up more Republicans in Congress to back an extension.

The Des Moines Register’s “A Better Iowa” feature quoted two experts who named “continuing tax credits for Iowa’s wind energy industry” as one of the top five outcomes of the election for Iowa.

For more information, including bipartisan endorsements of the PTC’s extension, please see www.SaveUSAWindJobs.com.

AWEA is the national trade association of America's wind industry, with 2,000 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers, and the world's largest wind power trade show, the WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition, which takes place next in Chicago, May 5-8, 2013. AWEA is the voice of wind energy in the U.S., promoting renewable energy to power a cleaner, stronger America. Look up information on wind energy at the AWEA website. Find insight on industry issues at AWEA's blog Into the Wind. Join AWEA on Facebook. Follow AWEA on Twitter.

SEIA Congratulates Obama on Re-Election, Praises Administration’s Energy Policy

Posted by Laura Arnold / November 07, 2012 / Posted in 2012 General Election, Uncategorized / No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 7, 2012

WASHINGTON, DC — The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released the following statement from president and CEO Rhone Resch in reaction to President Barack Obama’s re-election for a second term:

“SEIA congratulates President Barack Obama on his re-election. President Obama has been a tremendous supporter of solar energy and we look forward to continuing to work with the Obama Administration over the next four years.

“To date, the Obama Administration has created and supported pro-solar policies that have been vital to the success of the industry. Solar installations and jobs have risen dramatically throughout the U.S, while costs have fallen. Today, the solar industry employs more than 119,000 Americans at 5,600 companies, mostly small businesses, across all 50 states – this is more than double the number of Americans working in solar in 2009.

“Since President Obama took office, the amount of solar powering homes, businesses, and military bases has grown by 400 percent – from 1,100 megawatts in 2008 to more than 5,700 megawatts today. The Administration enacted a policy allowing solar installations for the first time on public lands and set a goal to permit 10 gigawatts of additional renewable energy projects on public lands by the end of 2012, which has been a great driver of this growth. The U.S. now has enough installed solar capacity to power nearly a million households, and 2012 will be another year of record growth for our industry.

“Policy certainty is crucial to continue the growing role of solar in America’s energy mix. Stable policy frameworks at the federal and state level, including maintaining and expanding commitments to renewable energy initiatives, spur and leverage private sector investments in the solar industry to meet our nation’s future energy needs.

“As we recover from the recession, America needs plentiful and diverse energy resources, including solar, to power our economy. Solar is clean, reliable, and more affordable than ever. Since the beginning of 2011, the average cost of solar panels has dropped more than 50 percent and the cost of a solar electric system has dropped by more than a third, thanks to innovation, entrepreneurship, and strong federal and state policies leveraging private investment.

“More than nine out of 10 voters want the U.S. to develop and use more solar power, and the president understands the importance of solar to the American people. The solar industry looks forward to continuing our productive working relationship with the Obama Administration, the incoming 113th Congress, and state legislatures throughout the country to create smart policies that help power our homes and businesses with domestic energy and create jobs across America.”

Additional Resources:
- Report: U.S. Solar Market Spikes in Q2 2012, More than Doubling Q2 2011 Market Size (Sept. 10, 2012)
- America Votes Solar - National Solar Survey 2012 (Oct. 2, 2012)
- SEIA's Major Solar Projects List

About SEIA:
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,100 member companies to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

Media Contacts:
Jamie Nolan, JNolan@seia.org, 202-556-2886
Monique Hanis, MHanis@seia.org, 202-556-2885

Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette: Wind farm developer Apex Wind Energy alters plan for Wells County wind farm

Posted by Laura Arnold / November 07, 2012 / Posted in Uncategorized / No Comments

Published: November 7, 2012 3:00 a.m.

http://www.journalgazette.net/article/20121107/LOCAL/311079955/0/FRONTPAGE

Vivian Sade | vsade@jg.net

A public hearing in Wells County on Thursday will detail a modified plan for a wind turbine project proposed by Apex Wind Energy of Charlottesville, Va.

The Wells County Plan Commission voted 6-4 in March to approve the proposed wind farm after a six-hour public hearing in front of a crowd that packed the Southern Wells High School gym.

Apex’s proposal includes building about 80 turbines in southern Wells County, with the concentration in Chester, Liberty and Nottingham townships. Poneto is the only incorporated town within the wind-farm project area.

The initial proposal was unveiled in December. After it was approved in March, the petition was appealed to Wells Superior Court. As a result, Wells County Wind has modified several items in the original petition.

The changes were requested after members of Wells County Concerned Citizens voiced concerns, including shadow flickers, property values and increased noise. The first of two phases for the wind farm is set to get under way next spring.

Maps detailing the requested changes and proposed placement of the turbines are available on the plan commission’s website atwww.wellscounty.org/apc.htm.

Be Alerted: ALEC Prioritizes Renewable Energy For Next Year; What about Indiana?

Posted by Laura Arnold / November 06, 2012 / Posted in Uncategorized / No Comments

Dear IndianaDG Readers:

So what will Indiana state legislators who belong to ALEC do here in Indiana during the 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly. They can't repeal an RPS that Indiana doesn't have. In 2010, state legislators did enact something called the Indiana Voluntary Clean Energy Portfolio Standard (InVCEPS). But really people since this was such a do nothing piece of state legislation why would they bother to repeal it, especially since InVCEPS was combined with other things in SB 251 the electric utilities really wanted.

Laura Ann Arnold

SustainableBusiness.com News

Regardless of who wins today's elections, conservative groups and their fossil fuel industry backers will keep working to crush the renewable energy industry. They will be greatly assisted, of course, if more Republicans win elections on the state and federal levels.
ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), the notorious right-wing group that develops model legislation, which legislators then introduce across the country, is launching an all-out effort to repeal state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) through model legislation, the "Electricity Freedom Act."

They plan to make repealing state RPSs a "high priority" for the coming year.

The bill is written and funded by an ALEC task force consisting of representatives from major oil, gas and power companies, including BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Koch, and Shell.
As most of you know, these standards - in place in 29 states and Wash DC - require utilities to source a certain percentage of their energy from renewables by a target date. The percentage varies depending on the state. The RPS is among the most important methods for increasing the share of renewable energy in the US.
ALEC says it opposes the concept of RPS because it is essentially a tax on consumers and mandates some energy sources over others.

The bill says that wind and solar power are expensive and unreliable, and that forcing utilities to use renewables threatens electric grid reliability and will increase the cost of doing business through rate increases or higher taxes.

"Forcing business, industry, and ratepayers to use renewable energy through a government mandate will increase the cost of doing business and push companies to do business with other states or nations, thereby decreasing American competitiveness," the bill states.
ALEC points to studies that claim electric rates will rise up to 37% by 2025 in Minnesota, for example, because of its RPS. Who conducted the study? ALEC's right-wing sister organization, American Tradition Institute. Earlier this year, a memo uncovered that group's planned national PR campaign to turn public opinion against renewable energy.

This line of logic is false.

Studies find that state RPSs have not significantly affected electricity rates between 2000-2010. Instead, these policies lead to cleaner air, economic development, a more resilient electrical grid and greater resource diversity, which reduces risk to consumers by not relying on any one energy source.

Actually, states with RPS report the costs of renewable energy are dropping. In its annual report on the impact of Michigan's RPS (which voters may raise today), the Michigan Public Service Commission said wind energy was almost a third cheaper than buying electricity from a new coal plant. Utility Xcel got a similar deal in Colorado.

ALEC's uses faulty assumptions. That "coal and natural gas prices will be very low and stable over time, and they don't count any environmental benefit to society from renewables," Richard Caperton from the Center for American Progress told Midwest Energy News.

Minnesota's largest utilities say they would add wind power regardless of the state's mandate, reports Midwest Energy News.
Although ALEC has lost a slew of corporate supporters this past year after they were finally exposed, 2000 state lawmakers remain members. Among the raft of right-wing legislation ALEC is responsible for are the voter suppression laws that have taken hold across the country this year.

ALEC anti-environmental agenda includes dismantling state Renewable Portfolio Standards, pressuring the EPA to designate palm oil as a renewable fuel, pushing for loopholes in disclosure of natural gas fracking chemicals, and killing regional climate cap-and-trade pacts, along with eliminating clean air and water regulations, and even trying to turn public lands over to corporations.

ALEC's goal is "to do one thing, and that's to maximize the profits of fossil fuel industry and eliminate renewables from competition. I don't see where the freedom is in that," warns Doug Klopp of Common Cause. Advocates of renewable energy should be worried.

Read ALEC Exposed: Warming Up to Climate Change
Read ALEC Exposed: A Nationwide Blueprint for the Rightwing Takeover
Visit ALECexposed.org to learn more and find ALEC-influenced bills in your state:

Read ALEC's Electricity Freedom Act:

Website: www.midwestenergynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Electricity-Freedom-Act-New.pdf

SiliconValley.com: Cleantech and elections: Will ‘green’ win? Will ballots end up in court? Whatever happened to online voting?

Posted by Laura Arnold / November 06, 2012 / Posted in Uncategorized / No Comments

Dear IndianaDG Readers:

I subscribe to an e-newsletter called, Good Morning Silicon Valley powered by the Mercury News. There is also another article about on-line voting in today's edition from SilconValley.com. Both articles provide food for thought. Enjoy!

Also please remember to vote today. In Indiana you are allowed to vote as long as you are in line before the polls close at 6:00 pm.

Visit this blog again for a post-mortem on today's election.

What are your predictions for the outcome of today's election?

Laura Ann Arnold

By Levi Sumagaysay

The outcome of today’s U.S. presidential election could mean plenty for green technology and jobs.

President Obama, who has pushed for green jobs, has fallen short of the number of positions he had pledged to create. (The goal was 5 million in 10 years, according to Bloomberg; a Brookings report found last year that less than 200,000 U.S. workers were employed in cleantech jobs in 2010.) Factors include foreign competition, cuts in government subsidies, different green-energy policies in states, and fallout from the high-profile bankruptcy of Solyndra.

The Fremont solar-panel maker, which received a $535 million government loan guarantee, flamed out last year. (See As sun sets on Solyndra, what’s the forecast for green industry?) The Solyndra name has become a bad word when used by those who oppose government subsidies for the green-energy industry, saying the costs are too high and the return on investment too takes too long. Obama’s opponent, Mitt Romney, and other critics have attacked Obama over Solyndra’s bankruptcy.

An Obama win would keep the green efforts going. Among other things, Obama supports extending a wind-industry tax credit that could expire next year; Romney has said he does not. Other green-energy supporters question why: “Every form of energy has incentives. We’re up against 90 years of incentives for other forms of energy,” said Peter Kelley, spokesman for the American Wind Energy Association, according to the Associated Press. “Plenty of people consider tax credits a good, Republican way of fostering business.”

The AP story also says federal spending on renewable energy, which has become politically unpopular, will have dropped 75 percent by next year from a high of $44.3 billion reached in 2009. But the Washington Post points out that some of the government money that has gone to clean energy has been in the form of loans, which can be paid back, while the United States cannot get back the $2.8 billion in tax breaks it gives to oil and gas companies every year.

There have been signs of optimism for cleantech in the private sector. (See Quoted: on unicorns and clean-tech investing and Quoted: Fiery side up — on the state of the solar industry.) But continued government investment of any conseqeuence will be determined by who wins the White House.

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QUOTED

“It’s not difficult to imagine that these ballots will end up in court.”

— Andrew Appel, computer science professor at Princeton University, on New Jersey letting citizens displaced by Hurricane Sandy vote by email (or fax). He and other experts see problems with a system that was hastily put together, which includes calling for a hard-copy follow-up to an emailed ballot. Among other things, experts are saying email is insecure, and — by design — the system that calls for comparing a hard copy to an email ballot throws anonymity out the window. “In 2012 it’s in the news that some corporations are pressuring their employees to vote in certain ways. The secret ballot is still critical to the functioning of democracy,” Appel writes. Meanwhile, in the age of online banking, payments and e-commerce, whatever happened to online voting? Still too risky, some say. “Voting over the Internet is rarely going to be the best choice. It’s very complicated, and you are asking for trouble. Would you connect your toaster to a high-tension power line?” said Ron Rivest, MIT professor and cryptography guru, according to MIT Technology Review.