Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingTags , , Leave a comment on Sonoma Clean Power flips switch for first customers

Sonoma Clean Power flips switch for first customers

Eric Gneckow, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

After three years of planning, Sonoma County’s new renewable energy-focused electricity provider, Sonoma Clean Power, on Thursday officially began serving its first group of more than 20,000 customers.

It marks the second launch of service in California for a community choice aggregation–type power agency, a model that purchases power on behalf of its customers and delivers it over the power grid largely maintained by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. The start of Marin Clean Energy in Marin County in May 2010 was the first.

Officials in the Sonoma County effort celebrated a higher-than-expected rate of enrollment during a regularly scheduled meeting of the governing Sonoma Clean Power Authority on May 1.

“Today’s the day,” said Susan Gorin, chair of the agency’s board of directors and a Sonoma County supervisor. “It’s going to be a day of celebration.”

via Sonoma Clean Power flips switch for first customers – North Bay Business Journal – North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties – Archive.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & EnergyTags , Leave a comment on A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing

A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing

Steven Mufson and Tom Hamburger, THE WASHINGTON POST

In state capitals across the country, legislators are debating proposals to roll back environmental rules, prodded by industry and advocacy groups eager to curtail regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gases.

The measures, which have been introduced in about 18 states, lie at the heart of an effort to expand to the state level the battle over fossil fuel and renewable energy. The new rules would trim or abolish climate mandates — including those that require utilities to use solar and wind energy, as well as proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules that would reduce carbon emissions from power plants.

But the campaign — despite its backing from powerful groups such as Americans for Prosperity — has run into a surprising roadblock: the growing political clout of renewable-energy interests, even in rock-ribbed Republican states such as Kansas.

The stage has been set for what one lobbyist called “trench warfare” as moneyed interests on both sides wrestle over some of the strongest regulations for promoting renewable energy. And the issues are likely to surface this fall in the midterm elections, as well, with California billionaire Tom Steyer pouring money into various gubernatorial and state and federal legislative races to back candidates who support tough rules curbing pollution.

via A battle is looming over renewable energy, and fossil fuel interests are losing – The Washington Post.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, WaterTags , , , Leave a comment on Idaho firm acquiring Geysers site: wastewater pumping brings renewed potential to geothermal field

Idaho firm acquiring Geysers site: wastewater pumping brings renewed potential to geothermal field

Eric Gneckow, NORTH BAY BUSINESS JOURNAL

U.S. Geothermal Inc, a geothermal energy company with offices in Boise, Idaho, has announced plans to acquire a late stage development at the Geysers that has shown promise for enough steam production to power up to 26,000 homes.

Currently under ownership of Reno, Nev.-based Ram Power Corp., the project, encompassing 3,800 acres, includes permits and design plans for a proposed power plant and five production-ready geothermal steam wells. U.S. Geothermal announced an agreement to buy the project for $6.4 million in cash, acquiring assets and subsidiaries associated with its development and leasing of related lands.

via Idaho firm acquiring Geysers site – North Bay Business Journal – North San Francisco Bay Area, Sonoma, Marin, Napa counties – Archive.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & EnergyTags , , , Leave a comment on EPA's annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory shows a 3.4% decrease in emissions

EPA's annual U.S. greenhouse gas inventory shows a 3.4% decrease in emissions

Julia P. Valentine, U.S. EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 19th annual report of overall U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, showing a 3.4 percent decrease in 2012 from 2011. The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, which is submitted annually to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, presents a national-level overview of annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990.

The major contributors to the decrease in emissions from 2011-2012 were the decrease in energy consumption across all sectors in the U.S. economy, and the decrease in carbon intensity for electricity generation due to fuel switching from coal to natural gas. Other factors included a decrease in transportation sector emissions attributed to an increase in fuel efficiency across different transportation modes and limited new demand for passenger transportation.

Greenhouse gases are the primary driver of climate change, leading to increased heat-related illnesses and deaths; worsening the air pollution that can cause asthma attacks and other respiratory problems; and expanding the ranges of disease-spreading insects. Climate change is also affecting the frequency and intensity of heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events.

via 04/15/2014: EPA Publishes 19th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingTags , , Leave a comment on Climate Efforts Falling Short, U.N. Panel Says

Climate Efforts Falling Short, U.N. Panel Says

Justin Gillis, NYTIMES.COM

Delivering the latest stark news about climate change on Sunday, a United Nations panel warned that governments are not doing enough to avert profound risks in coming decades. But the experts found a silver lining: Not only is there still time to head off the worst, but the political will to do so seems to be rising around the world.

In a report unveiled here, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that decades of foot-dragging by political leaders had propelled humanity into a critical situation, with greenhouse emissions rising faster than ever. Though it remains technically possible to keep planetary warming to a tolerable level, only an intensive push over the next 15 years to bring those emissions under control can achieve the goal, the committee found.

“We cannot afford to lose another decade,” said Ottmar Edenhofer, a German economist and co-chairman of the committee that wrote the report. “If we lose another decade, it becomes extremely costly to achieve climate stabilization.”

via Climate Efforts Falling Short, U.N. Panel Says – NYTimes.com.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingTags , Leave a comment on The "value of solar"— utility-scale or rooftop?

The "value of solar"— utility-scale or rooftop?

R.J. Harrington and Timothy Schoechle, BOULDER DAILY CAMERA

In his March 16 Camera column, "Renewables? Yes!" Bob Greenlee praised the recently announced plan by Xcel Energy to construct a large utility-scale solar PV project in Pueblo County which he claims will be "two to three times more cost-effective than smaller rooftop projects." Although a dubious claim, such a project might still seem like a good idea — to those unaware of the incredibly rapid changes taking place in the energy world. But the ground is moving under Greenlee’s (and Xcel’s) feet. Over the last year, and particularly in the last few months, the main debate has shifted from fossil vs. renewables to centralized renewables vs. distributed renewables — specifically rooftop solar PV.

Just over one year ago, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the investor-owned utility policy and lobbying organization, issued a brief, but prescient report titled "Disruptive Challenges: Financial Implications and Strategic Responses to a Changing Retail Electric Business." The report offered its members a "heads-up" that their basic 100-year old business model was threatened by rooftop solar, and it recommended that they rethink their whole business. The costs of rooftop solar panels (called Distributed Generation or DG) have dropped so dramatically that in some places they are already cost competitive with utility-supplied electricity. The conventional economies of scale of centralized generation is simply gone — solar modules are just as efficient at small scale as large. Public pressure has been mounting for PUCs to adopt new tariffs that recognize the "Value of Solar" to society and to encourage its use by moving beyond the ancient "cost-of-service" regulatory model that does not recognize the externalized costs of traditional generation (e.g., to air, water, health, jobs, environment, etc.) or the benefits of DG.

via The "value of solar"— utility-scale or rooftop? – Boulder Daily Camera.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Local OrganizationsTags , Leave a comment on Some customers opting out of Sonoma Clean Power

Some customers opting out of Sonoma Clean Power

Derek Moore, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

About 5 percent of eligible business and residential customers so far have opted out of Sonoma County’s start-up public power agency, some over concerns the service won’t be as reliable as PG&E.

Sonoma Clean Power projects about 20 percent of eligible customers ultimately will opt out of the service, which launches May 1. About 24,000 potential customers — most of them businesses — are part of the first wave of service.

Geof Syphers, CEO of the power startup, said a “handful” of potential customers who received letters detailing the program cited reliability concerns as their reason for declining the service.

Under Sonoma Clean Power, PG&E would continue to provide services such as billing, metering and grid maintenance. Syphers said the “reality” is that “all aspects of reliability will be handled by PG&E in exactly the same way they are handling them now.”

via Some customers opting out of Sonoma Clean Power | The Press Democrat.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Sustainable LivingTags , Leave a comment on Are solar panels facing the wrong direction?

Are solar panels facing the wrong direction?

Katherine Tweed, GREENTECH MEDIA

West-facing rooftop solar panels produced 49 percent more electricity during peak demand compared to south-facing panels, according to a new study from Pecan Street Research Institute.

The research is the first of its kind to evaluate the energy production of solar panels oriented in different directions. Pecan Street analyzed 50 homes in the Austin, Texas area. Some had only south-facing panels, others had west-facing panels, and some had both.

South-facing panels produced a 54 percent peak reduction overall, while west-facing solar PV panels produced a 65 percent peak reduction.

via Are Solar Panels Facing the Wrong Direction? : Greentech Media.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Land UseTags , Leave a comment on Supervisors OK zoning rules for renewable energy development

Supervisors OK zoning rules for renewable energy development

Brett Wilkison, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County supervisors Tuesday approved zoning rules that they said would ensure a “conservative” and “cautious” approach to renewable energy development on the county’s farms, ranches and remote forested lands and hillsides.

The regulations for commercial projects on agricultural property cover more than three-quarters of the county, or more than 700,000 acres.

They will allow projects on about 140,000 agricultural acres where they were previously prohibited. Applicants would have to go through a rezoning process, including hearings before planning commissioners and the Board of Supervisors. They will also ban ground-mounted commercial projects on about 70,000 acres of the highest-value cropland, including mostly vineyards.

via Supervisors OK zoning rules for renewable energy development | The Press Democrat.

Posted on Categories Climate Change & Energy, Land UseTags , Leave a comment on Sonoma County takes closer look at green energy projects

Sonoma County takes closer look at green energy projects

Brett Wilkison, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Hearing on Sonoma County renewable energy zoning rules

WHEN: 2:10 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: Board of Supervisors chambers, 575 Administration Dr., Room 100 A, Santa Rosa

With renewable energy development now a central issue in Sonoma County, disputed rules that would govern the size and location of green energy projects are returning to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday for approval.

The zoning changes, which focus largely on solar systems, would open up more land in unincorporated areas to commercial-scale projects, including agricultural, industrial and business parcels.

The first test case could be a 23-acre solar panel installation proposed for a hayfield outside Petaluma, a project prohibited under current zoning but allowed under the revised rules up for approval.

via Sonoma County takes closer look at green energy projects | The Press Democrat.