CleanTechnica

Tesla Pays Off Government Loan 9 Years Early

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Zachary Shahan

Tesla Motors announced late in the day yesterday that it has now completely paid back its Department of Energy loan. It also noted that it is the only American car company (of any kind) to have fully repaid the US government. It’s been somewhat sad and somewhat hilarious watching anti-EV (i.e. pro-oil) media companies, politicians, and their followers try to bash and belittle the electric car revolution and its prime pioneer, Tesla. As Tesla succeeds … Read More

Utilities Want Higher Charges To Shade Business Model From Solar

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Giles Parkinson

This article first appeared on Renew Economy The electricity supply industry has resumed and intensified its efforts to change the tariff system for rooftop solar households, in a bid to protect revenues that are falling and their business models that are eroding because more customers are producing their own electricity. A new discussion paper was released this weekend, “exclusively” to News Ltd newspapers which enthusiastically took up the chance to demonise the cost of renewables once … Read More

Relocating Renewables Could Save Europe Billions

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Joshua S Hill

Siemens study: Europe can save EUR 45 billion in its pursuit of renewables

Power generation solutions provider Siemens has analysed the electrical power producing systems located across Europe and found “considerable potential for optimisation, especially in connection with plans to expand power generation from renewable energy sources.” The primary manner in which this “optimisation” could come about is by changing the location of renewable power plants. According to Siemens, if power plants were built in locations that offered the highest possible power yields an approximate EUR 45 billion … Read More

Nest Comes To US Home Depot Stores

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Joshua S Hill

We’ve reached that point where even my editor will throw Nest stories at me, assuming that I will want to cover them. He’s right, of course, but I’m not sure what I think about the stereotyping. So when Nest announced that they were now stocking their Nest Learning Thermostat in Home Depot stores, I was all over it like gravy on mashed potato (I’m told people like it). Nest already had a partnership with Home … Read More

Installing Rooftop Solar Is Unfair, Says Energy Group

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Ronald Brakels

Justin Bieber via Featureflash / Shutterstock.com.

The Energy Supply Association of Australia, or ESAA, is a group whose membership appears to include just about every company that is involved in the generation or distribution of electricity in Australia. They have just released a very interesting discussion paper called, “Who pays for solar energy?” I think it’s very nice of them to put out a report like this and try to educate people, but oddly enough for a group that’s intimately involved … Read More

Largest Federal Wind Farm In US Contract Awarded To Siemens

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Who doesn’t love a “largest wind farm” or “largest solar farm” story? Here’s the latest I’m aware of, via CleanTechnica sister site Green Building Elements. Congrats to Siemens. (Note: if the article doesn’t load fully, simply refresh this page or click on through to Green Building Elements.) Largest Federal Wind Farm to Be Built by Siemens (via Green Building Elements) The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has awarded a contract to Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. … Read More

China Announces 2016 Emissions Cap Proposal!

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Giles Parkinson

Image Credit: Flag of China on Yangtze River via Shutterstock.

This article was originally published on RenewEconomy. China, the world’s biggest polluter, is proposing to set a cap on greenhouse gas emissions as early as 2016 in a move that is being hailed as a potentially transformative step in the fight against climate change. According to news reports from China, the powerful National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has proposed setting absolute caps that would divorce the growth on emissions from growth in the economy, … Read More

Harnessing The Power Of Pond Scum

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Tina Casey

A new study from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) estimates that the US could support the production of up to 25 billion gallons of algae biofuel annually. That accounts for a whopping one-twelfth of the nation’s current needs and it could prove even more significant if electric vehicles replace liquid-fuel vehicles in greater numbers, which seems likely. As always, though, there’s a catch. Although the PNNL estimate is based on available land and water resources, … Read More

Grants From USDA Cover Up To 25% Of Renewable Energy Project Costs (Deadline Extended)

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Dan Thiede, CERTs

The US Department of Agriculture announced their Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant application recently. These grants can pay for up to 25% of the eligible costs of a renewable energy project. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of funding and implement your renewable energy and/or energy efficiency projects. The deadline is now May 31, 2013. What’s available? USDA Rural Development has recently been made aware of access to additional funding for … Read More