Category Archives: Wind Energy

Explosive Growth on the Horizon for African Renewable Energy Market

Currently, California, USA is the hotspot for renewable energy development worldwide, with more open solar and wind projects in this small region than anywhere else in the world. However, experts expect this to change very soon and Africa is expected to be one of the most important new regions for renewable energy production.

Up until now, Africa has been by and large left out of the renewable energy race despite prevailing weather conditions and geography that would seem to lend it perfectly to different types of renewables, particularly solar. In addition, the lack of a centralized grid system over much of the continent also lends itself to stand-alone renewable power generation as an avenue for individuals and communities who are in need of energy solutions to produce electricity in the long term while avoiding the high fuel costs and upkeep of traditional fossil-fuel systems. Continue reading

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US Voters Warm Up to Renewable Energy

It’s election season once again. One of the most important times of the year, where we get to decide the direction that our country is moving in. It looks like elections this year will hold good news for renewable energy. In a recent poll of voters conducted by Public Policy Polling for the NRDC Action Fund it was found that the majority of voters were in support of an energy bill with strong ties to renewable sources. The poll was conducted in 23 congressional districts and concluded that at least 52% of voters in these districts would be more inclined to support a candidate whose platform included energy policy that would cut pollution and reduce the effects of climate change.

This is good news for the booming renewable energy sector. Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already gotten the ball rolling by supporting renewable energy projects in the United States. Continued legislation in favor of renewables will only further cement the progress that has been made in the past 3 years. Continue reading

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ON LINE – Nevada’s Southwest Intertie Project: How it Demonstrates Commitment to Renewable Green Energy

The town of Apex, Nevada is normally just the location of the Apex Regional Landfill (the largest landfill in the state of Nevada), a small relief power station that comes online when nearby Las Vegas is overloading the grid and not much else. However last week brought red-letter days for this dusty, nondescript stretch of Hwy 93 situated just northeast of the city of lights. The One Nevada Transmission Line or “ON Line” (so clever!) project commencement was hosted at NV Energy’s [NASDAQ: NVE] Harry Allen Generating Station campus on Tuesday. It was a fairly star-studded event with U.S. Energy Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid both in attendance, alongside a veritable who’s who of Nevada’s energy-industry brass to witness the beginning of a project that is being billed as a significant breakthrough in the support of renewable power and a major source of green collar jobs, as well as being symbolic of the new direction the state of Nevada is taking towards energy policy through the strong support of renewables.

The One Nevada transmission line consists of a 500 kilovolt power conduit that will cover the entire length of the state of Nevada running north-south. It will eventually be extended as far north as Idaho. The portion of the line that will be completed in this first phase consists of a 235-mile line extending from the Harry Allen site to a new electrical substation that will be constructed northwest of the town of Ely, Nevada. The projected price tag for the project will top $510 million. Continue reading

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Corporations Moving Toward the Use of 100% Renewable Energy

renewable energy in corporationsThe use of renewable energy has passed a critical threshold with companies aiming toward making the transition to the use of 100% renewable energy. Environmentalists, ecosystem advocacy groups and the blossoming wind and solar industries are on board pushing for the exclusive use of renewable energy wherever possible.

From a technical standpoint it is seen as being a realistic goal through the use of the Cradle to Cradle principle. The Cradle to Cradle principal entails the use of 100% renewable energy while maximizing an organization’s environmental, social and economic impacts. Cradle to Cradle is a holistic, economic, industrial and social framework that seeks to create systems that are not just efficient but fundamentally waste free. It moves beyond traditional sustainability goals of only reducing negative impacts to instead creating a wholly positive or beneficial mark on the planet.
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Siemens First to Support Australia’s New Business Incentives for Energy Efficiency

siemens logoAustralia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Task Group on Energy Efficiency got a big boost when industrial mega-giant Siemens AG [NYSE: SI] vowed to support their programs by offering business incentives for the creation of energy efficiency saving measures and raising economic productivity. The objective of the program is to encourage businesses to undertake energy efficiency projects with the eventual goal of increasing the overall energy efficiency of the Australian way of life.

Siemens is the world’s largest provider of environmentally friendly technologies. Their recently launched Energy Efficiency Portfolio includes over 45 unique products and services directly related to efficiency, from water treatment and cogeneration solutions to brand new LED lighting technology and energy performance contracting. The Prime Minister’s Task Group on Energy Efficiency Report was specially contracted by the Australian Government in order to provide advice on developmental policy which will strengthen Australia’s response to climate change while at the same time reducing energy costs and raising the standard of living for all Australians. Continue reading

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Spanish Company to Open Solar Manufacturing Plant in Ontario

ontario canada mapOntario has positioned itself to become the site of considerable renewable energy investments in North America. Spanish solar equipment maker Siliken S.A. announced the establishment of a new domestic content compliant manufacturing plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada which will produce solar panels and create green jobs in the region.

The plant is expected to produce up to 50 megawatts of solar modules annually and will employ about 150 people, and is expected to be in full operation by the second quarter of 2011. By locating their plant in Ontario, Siliken SA is capitalizing on an Ontario provincial government program called green energy feed-in-tariff (FIT) plan which offers rich incentives and pay high rates for renewable energy developers producing clean energy in the province however a “made in Ontario” quota will be placed on the project, requiring 50% green energy project inputs to be Ontario-manufactured.
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Important Trends in Alternative Energy

Breakdown Of Alternative Energy Use in the US

Recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released their most recent report regarding the consumption of alternative energy in the United States. While the nation’s complete dependence on fossil fuels is readily apparent in the report, there are signs of progress as well. Nationwide, renewable energy sources accounted for over 7% of the total energy consumption. Within that 7% the main type of renewable energy that was consumed was biomass, meaning the burning of fuels produced from renewable sources such as ethanol production and biodiesel accounting for 52% of the total renewable energy consumed. The biomass sector has seen substantial growth, more than doubling its market share in the period between 2004-2008. The second leading source of renewable energy consumed was hydroelectric power which accounted for 34%. Hydroelectric energy production has remained steady (with minor fluctuations due to water levels) at between 2.2 and 3.6 quadrillion Btu/yr for about 20 years. The leading states as far as hydroelectric power generation were Washington, Oregon, New York, California, Montana and Idaho, although there was some growth in Alabama, Arkansas and New York. Since plans for the construction of new dams is limited, it can be expected that these figures will continue basically unchanged.
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Clinton Global Initiative Reveals High Hopes for Green Jobs

At the recent Clinton Global Initiative conference held in New York Last week, a variety of different topics were discussed. Among the hottest topics: Green Jobs and the growth of the green economy. The Clinton Global Initiative describes itself as:

“…a meeting of innovative, action-oriented, and socially responsible leaders in the world. The Clinton Global Initiative’s Annual Meeting brings together heads of state, government and business leaders, scholars, and NGO directors. Participants analyze pressing global challenges, discuss the most effective solutions, and build lasting partnerships that enable them to create positive social change.”

That being said, it should be encouraging that green development and the green economy were one topic that was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. According to leaders at the conference, the green sector is the shining light amidst an otherwise gloomy outlook.

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Green Jobs Training Beginning to Show Signs of Life

Green jobs trainingHow are you doing with your job lately? Are you feeling tired of it ‘cause it’s no longer paying the bills? Have you ever thought of making a change?

In today’s economy, some people are feeling less certain about their jobs because it can’t provide for their needs or pay their bills. That is why people are considering a career change. Job training programs are here to help switch from your job to another or from being unemployed to employed. Continue reading

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Save Money by Going Green

Climate change is an obvious scenario of our worsening environmental condition but before it gets too late, realizing efficient ways of going green will not only mean saving our environment but also saving money. With the summer heat scorching more than ever, from New York to Tokyo, we can only do as much to protect ourselves and our surroundings from the potential dangers of global warming, which according to the survey recently published by the National Academy of Sciences based on 1,400 climate researchers worldwide, about 97% believe that global warming is caused by people. But before we are immobilized by our own fears and worries, there are still some “green” moves people can undertake to go green and save our money.

Using energy efficient bulbs is a surefire way to cut bills by 75%. New LEDs are cost-effective choices that cut 95% of energy consumption as they emit much softer light. Likewise, it would also be a good idea to decorate your house with energy-efficient appliances which are now being manufactured by many appliance companies to contribute efforts with the go green campaign. To spot energy-efficient appliances, look for those with EnergyStar seal from the Department of Energ— they use about 30% less power than those without the seal. Of course, it’s such a great sight to have a huge TV in your house’s living room, but the bad side is the bigger the screen you have the more power is consumed in operating it. Continue reading

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