Renewable Energy Update -- September 2014 #2

Allen Matkins
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Renewable Energy Focus

Blue and red states going green on energy policy

USA Today - Sep 11

Politically "red" and "blue" states are increasingly turning green as they push energy efficiency and renewable power to save money and protect the planet, says a report today with prominent bi-partisan support. In the last two years alone, GOP-dominant red states have adopted policies that could serve as models for others seeking to meet proposed federal targets for reducing heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions, according to the "State Clean Energy Cookbook" by Stanford University and the Hoover Institution.

New solar capacity beats natural gas in the first half of 2014

Greentech Media - Sep 10

Last year, solar photovoltaics and concentrating solar power were the second-largest source of new generating capacity in the U.S. That trend continued through the first half of 2014, with solar coming in behind natural gas in terms of new power plant additions, according to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). However a crucial segment of the market is missing from the EIA data: commercial and residential solar projects of less than 1 megawatt. When factoring in these projects, the rankings change.

SDG&E looking to buy locally produced electricity

KPBS - Sep 9

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced Monday that it is looking to buy 500-800 megawatts of electricity from local producers to replace what had flowed from the San Onofre power plant. At least 200 megawatts would need to come from renewable sources, according to SDG&E. The utility said it would accept bids until January 5. The nuclear plant at San Onofre, on the northern San Diego County coast, has been idle since a non-injury radioactive leak in January 2012.

UC to invest $1 billion to tackle climate change

San Francisco Business Times - Sep 10

The University of California (UC) will invest $1 billion over five years in companies and researchers coming up with solutions to climate change, part of an overall UC push in sustainability. The 10-campus university system also said Wednesday that it had signed solar energy deals with Frontier Renewables to use solar power generated from the German company's two to-be-constructed solar fields in Fresno County.

Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals

Work begins on $1 billion solar plant in Nevada

Downstream Today - Sep 5

Construction has begun on a $1 billion solar power generating station in the Mojave Desert that officials say will produce enough electricity to power about 80,000 California homes when it is completed in 2016. The 250-megawatt project, dubbed Silver State South, will capture solar energy with panels spread across almost four square miles of federal land south of Las Vegas, according to a fact sheet obtained Friday from a First Solar Inc. representative.

Marin Clean Energy will lease Richmond land from Chevron for solar power project

Contra Costa Times - Sep 8

Marin Clean Energy's board of directors has approved a plan to lease land from Chevron for the creation of a large solar power project in Richmond. The board Thursday also approved the purchase of electricity from a wind farm in Kern County that will reduce Marin Clean Energy's need to purchase unbundled renewable energy credits. The board gave the green light for analysis to begin to determine if the city of El Cerrito should be allowed to join Marin Clean Energy's joint powers authority.

Nuclear official backs Diablo Canyon plant's safety

SFGate.com - Sep 10

A top Nuclear Regulatory Commission official Wednesday rejected a federal expert's recommendation to shut down California's last operating nuclear power plant until it can determine whether its reactors can withstand powerful shaking from nearby earthquake faults. In a decision released Wednesday, Executive Director for Operations Mark Satorius said there is no immediate or significant safety concern at the Diablo Canyon plant.

DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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