CleanTechnica » Electricity http://cleantechnica.com Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Tue, 30 Dec 2014 22:55:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0.1 5 Steps To Make Your City A Climate Champion, Too http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/11/5-steps-make-city-climate-champion/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/11/5-steps-make-city-climate-champion/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:22:30 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=76196 Originally published on ilsr.org. In August 2013, Minneapolis (MN) was in the news for considering a take-over of its energy utilities. Today, they’re back in the news for supporting a first-in-the-nation clean energy partnership with those same utilities and a pioneering effort to bring more local input into the city’s energy future. It’s been a

5 Steps To Make Your City A Climate Champion, Too was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/12/11/5-steps-make-city-climate-champion/feed/ 2 Why Aren’t Rural Electric Cooperatives Champions of Local Clean Power? http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/26/arent-rural-electric-cooperatives-champions-local-clean-power/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/26/arent-rural-electric-cooperatives-champions-local-clean-power/#comments Wed, 26 Nov 2014 08:28:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=75446 Originally published on ilsr.org. When it comes to ownership, there are few better structures for keeping a community’s wealth local than a cooperative. So why is it that America’s rural electric cooperatives are tethered to dirty, old coal-fired power plants instead of local-wealth generating renewable power? There are a lot of answers to this question,

Why Aren’t Rural Electric Cooperatives Champions of Local Clean Power? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/26/arent-rural-electric-cooperatives-champions-local-clean-power/feed/ 6 67% Of Americans Support Federal CO2 Regulations http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/24/67-americans-support-federal-co2-regulations/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/24/67-americans-support-federal-co2-regulations/#comments Mon, 24 Nov 2014 06:12:52 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=75303 Congress can while away the hours debating over EPA regulations. It seems to be the plan of some congresspeople who would rather see a broken government than a useful one. However, they should note that a strong majority of Americans support strict limits on carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants, even existing plants. The Yale Project on

67% Of Americans Support Federal CO2 Regulations was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/24/67-americans-support-federal-co2-regulations/feed/ 4 6 Lessons Retail Electricity Pricing Can Learn from Parking Apps http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/03/6-lessons-retail-electricity-pricing-can-learn-parking-apps/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/03/6-lessons-retail-electricity-pricing-can-learn-parking-apps/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:48:35 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=74431 Rocky Mountain Institute. Even as some foretell a coming future of smart parking—part of a broader ongoing evolution toward intelligent transportation systems (ITS)—a third-party-driven revolution in parking (and its pricing) is already here. That revolution has come by way of a recent proliferation of parking apps for smartphones. Retail electricity pricing is similarly poised to

6 Lessons Retail Electricity Pricing Can Learn from Parking Apps was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/11/03/6-lessons-retail-electricity-pricing-can-learn-parking-apps/feed/ 0 Why Is An Island Electric Utility Hindering Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar? http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/27/island-electric-utility-hindering-incredibly-cost-effective-solar/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/27/island-electric-utility-hindering-incredibly-cost-effective-solar/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2014 18:00:29 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=74062 The Northern Mariana Islands are one of several island U.S. territories, lying three-quarters of the way from Hawai’i to the Philippines. Like most islands, their electricity supply has been almost entirely supplied by diesel-fueled generators, at enormous cost. So why have islanders in the Marianas – such as the residents of Saipan – been struggling

Why Is An Island Electric Utility Hindering Incredibly Cost-Effective Solar? was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/27/island-electric-utility-hindering-incredibly-cost-effective-solar/feed/ 8 Distributed Grid And Integrative Design in China Could Be Energy Gamechangers http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/24/distributed-grid-integrative-design-china-energy-gamechangers/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/24/distributed-grid-integrative-design-china-energy-gamechangers/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2014 15:42:18 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73911 Rocky Mountain Institute. In Part 1 we explored one of the gamechangers that would allow China to transition from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and renewable supply—oil-free mobility. In Part 2, we explore two other gamechangers that would allow China to reinvent fire—adopting integrative design for efficiency in buildings and industry, and redefining the future

Distributed Grid And Integrative Design in China Could Be Energy Gamechangers was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/24/distributed-grid-integrative-design-china-energy-gamechangers/feed/ 0 Time-of-Use Pricing Offers Opportunities For Both Customers And Utilities http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/time-use-pricing-offers-opportunities-customers-utilities/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/time-use-pricing-offers-opportunities-customers-utilities/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:33:46 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73863 Rocky Mountain Institute. Like many at RMI, I care about climate change and reducing the carbon intensity of the electric grid. I also care about my monthly electricity bill, and I’m keenly interested in keeping it as low as reasonably possible. If there are things I can do as a homeowner to tackle both topics,

Time-of-Use Pricing Offers Opportunities For Both Customers And Utilities was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/time-use-pricing-offers-opportunities-customers-utilities/feed/ 3 South Australian Renewables Contribute To Negative Electricity Prices In Middle Of Day http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/negative-electricity-prices-middle-of-day-south-australia-renewables/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/negative-electricity-prices-middle-of-day-south-australia-renewables/#comments Thu, 23 Oct 2014 07:32:46 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73833 Of all the Australian states, the part of Australia we call South has the most wind and solar capacity per person. Wind power generates electricity equal to about a third of the state’s total consumption and rooftop solar generates about 6%. We don’t have utility-scale solar on account of how we don’t do that sort

South Australian Renewables Contribute To Negative Electricity Prices In Middle Of Day was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/23/negative-electricity-prices-middle-of-day-south-australia-renewables/feed/ 33 JinkoSolar Power Develops Another 200MW Plant in China http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/22/jinkosolar-power-develops-another-200mw-plant-china/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/22/jinkosolar-power-develops-another-200mw-plant-china/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2014 08:04:01 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73778 JinkoSolar Power, a subsidiary of Jinko Solar, has partnered with the government of Shicheng County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, China to develop a 200MW PV power plant. The aggregate investment amount required for the project is approximately $261 million (RMB1.6 billion). Zhuokeng and Fengshan villages host the new plant. In scope and cost, it compares

JinkoSolar Power Develops Another 200MW Plant in China was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/22/jinkosolar-power-develops-another-200mw-plant-china/feed/ 2 The Energy Excelerator Selects A New Cohort Of 17 Startups To Address 6 Challenges http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/21/energy-excelerator-selects-new-cohort-17-startups-address-6-challenges/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/21/energy-excelerator-selects-new-cohort-17-startups-address-6-challenges/#comments Tue, 21 Oct 2014 07:44:27 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73721 In the world of energy, Hawaii is an excellent early market for startups to test and vet their technologies. The state is facing challenges with its energy system before most other markets, and its high energy prices make new solutions cost competitive there before nearly anywhere else in the world. Startups flock to the island

The Energy Excelerator Selects A New Cohort Of 17 Startups To Address 6 Challenges was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/21/energy-excelerator-selects-new-cohort-17-startups-address-6-challenges/feed/ 4 The Future of Solar Economics and Policy http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/20/future-solar-economics-policy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/20/future-solar-economics-policy/#comments Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:09:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73708 Solar power is at a unique place in history. It’s growing rapidly, its price is falling precipitously. Within the next 10 years, it will compete favorably with utilities for electricity sales, on price, and without subsidies. Given its rapid ascent, it might seem silly to talk about change.  But the continued expansion of distributed solar

The Future of Solar Economics and Policy was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/20/future-solar-economics-policy/feed/ 17 Win-Win This Fall: Business Climate & Climate Business http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/win-win-fall-business-climate-climate-business/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/win-win-fall-business-climate-climate-business/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:11:02 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73507 If we can credit a spate of reports this fall, the climate change discussion has begun to move toward common—and more mutually profitable—ground. Decisionmakers have begun to think about climate business: economic and climate action together. Treehuggers, this isn’t just something the Fortune 100 has cooked up to distract gullible people from real environmental issues.

Win-Win This Fall: Business Climate & Climate Business was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/win-win-fall-business-climate-climate-business/feed/ 0 More Signs That Chinese Coal Use May Have The Brakes On http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/signs-chinese-coal-use-may-brakes/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/signs-chinese-coal-use-may-brakes/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:05:20 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73392 China, a major strategic investor in fossil fuels, has set itself a 2014 target of slashing imports of thermal coal, and it looks as if that plan is on track. Guest contributor Justin Guay reported here in August, with a deep analysis, why consumption of Chinese coal had decreased during the first part of 2014.

More Signs That Chinese Coal Use May Have The Brakes On was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/16/signs-chinese-coal-use-may-brakes/feed/ 3 City Poised To Adopt 1st-Of-Its-Kind US Partnership With Utilities http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/14/city-poised-adopt-1st-us-partnership-utilities/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/14/city-poised-adopt-1st-us-partnership-utilities/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2014 10:36:12 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73398 Ever wonder what happened to the notion last August that the city of Minneapolis (MN) would take over its energy utilities? While it may seem like the issue vanished, last Monday the Minneapolis City Council held a hearing on another way forward to a better energy future. On the table is a novel partnership between

City Poised To Adopt 1st-Of-Its-Kind US Partnership With Utilities was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/14/city-poised-adopt-1st-us-partnership-utilities/feed/ 0 Local, 33% Renewable, Lower Prices. Sonoma Clean (Community) Power Has Launched http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2014 21:34:55 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=73144 Starting this May, 20,000 Sonoma County, CA, electricity customers are getting renewable power at a lower cost than from their previous electric utility, Pacific Gas & Electric. The portion of renewable electricity (“CleanStart”) for the average customer will rise by 50%. For those so motivated – 3% of customers already – it’s also possible to

Local, 33% Renewable, Lower Prices. Sonoma Clean (Community) Power Has Launched was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/08/local-33-renewable-lower-prices-sonoma-clean-community-power-launched/feed/ 2 China’s 21st Century Dilemma: Development and Carbon Emissions http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/06/chinas-21st-century-dilemma-development-carbon-emissions/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/06/chinas-21st-century-dilemma-development-carbon-emissions/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2014 09:00:24 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72885 “Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.” That’s the paradox gripping China, the world’s most populous nation. A new seven-year study by researchers from the University of East Anglia relates China’s carbon dioxide emissions to the country’s accelerating economic growth. The results, published today in Nature Climate Change, illustrate the dilemma of development and

China’s 21st Century Dilemma: Development and Carbon Emissions was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/06/chinas-21st-century-dilemma-development-carbon-emissions/feed/ 5 Japan Focuses On Zero-Energy Buildings http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/01/japan-focuses-zero-energy-buildings/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/01/japan-focuses-zero-energy-buildings/#comments Wed, 01 Oct 2014 21:55:01 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72549 In the wake of the Fukushima meltdowns, suspension of all nuclear plants (which once provided about 33% of the nation’s electricity and were slated to generate half), and subsequent head-butt from expensive fossil fuel replacement, energy resource-poor Japan is aggressively pushing forward with renewable power options. Formerly a prominent nuclear booster, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—now apparently

Japan Focuses On Zero-Energy Buildings was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/10/01/japan-focuses-zero-energy-buildings/feed/ 1 Catalyzing Action At The September 2014 UN Climate Summit http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/catalyzing-action-september-2014-un-climate-summit/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/catalyzing-action-september-2014-un-climate-summit/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2014 09:57:05 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72416 Almost everyone in the media has taken a stab at summarizing, if not snap-judging, the results of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s one-day UN climate summit last week. The meeting had a real name, but Robert N. Stavins in his New York Times runup to the conference was the only writer I observed using it: “Catalyzing Action.”

Catalyzing Action At The September 2014 UN Climate Summit was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/29/catalyzing-action-september-2014-un-climate-summit/feed/ 1 Road Trip In The Smart Electric Drive http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/28/road-trip-smart-electric-drive/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/28/road-trip-smart-electric-drive/#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2014 15:34:26 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72525 The Fear Of Road Trips Often discussion of short-range electric cars raises a terrifying specter: The Road TripTM. According to the internet, this is a pastime that the entire world engages in, at least bi-weekly. Furthermore, these road trips cover distances of thousands of miles. As such, short-range electric cars are derided in favor of

Road Trip In The Smart Electric Drive was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/28/road-trip-smart-electric-drive/feed/ 51 Inside The $8 Billion California Wind Energy Project http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/27/inside-8-billion-california-wind-energy-project/ http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/27/inside-8-billion-california-wind-energy-project/#comments Sat, 27 Sep 2014 12:38:57 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=72501 A proposed $8 billion California wind energy project with a compressed air energy storage feature could blow the socks off the regional energy market.

Inside The $8 Billion California Wind Energy Project was originally published on CleanTechnica.

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