Why We Should Democratize the Electricity System — Part 4
A serialized version of ILSR‘s new report, Democratizing the Electricity System, Part 4 of 5.
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Could California Save 30% or More on Solar Power?
The Golden State has covered over 50,000 roofs with solar PV in the past decade, but could it also save 30% or more on its current solar costs? Renewable energy guru Paul Gipe wrote up a study last month that found that Californians pay much more per kilowatt-hour of solar power than Germans do (accounting for the difference in the solar resource). The following chart outlines the various ways Californians pay for solar, compared to the Germans (averaged over 20 years, per kilowatt-hour – kWh – produced).
American Cattle Ranching is Outgunned by Climate Change
Cattle-ranching, as quintessential to America’s idea of itself as John Wayne and cowboy movies, will likely become a thing of the past as temperatures continue to rise. With the heat index above 120°F across many US states this summer – the kind of incredible temperatures more typically associated with countries like Saudi Arabia – cattle deaths have been on the rise, according to Pew Climate.
Even at just a degree or two in average global temperature rise – early in the decades of predicted climate change – some regions of the USA are experiencing temperature humidity index (THI) values that threaten cattle.
Energy Self-Reliance Worth 20 Times the Economic Benefit for Missouri
In a stunning reversal of popular wisdom, overzealous state legislators and interest groups are jeopardizing over $4 billion in economic activity and thousands of jobs promised in Missouri’s 3-year old renewable energy law. Missourians should override their mistaken legislators, reaffirming their commitment to local renewable energy and even consider the benefits of maximizing the state’s clean electricity production.
Global Renewable Capacity Has Now Exceeded Nuclear
The world has now breached a tipping point of some significance. According to Phyllis Cuttino, Director of the Clean Energy Program at The Pew Charitable Trusts, and Michael Liebreich, CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the worldwide installed capacity of renewable energy has now surpassed that of nuclear power.
Writing for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the pair note that with increased investment in renewable energy over the last year, the world now has more renewable energy capacity in place than nuclear power.
Learning the Wrong Lessons from the Solyndra Bankruptcy
Solyndra’s recent failure to thrive, despite half a billion dollars in federal loan guarantees and strong growth this year, could be taken as a lesson in the failure of government investment in clean energy technology. But it was, in fact, an example of a stunning success of this strategy. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our success. It was China’s.
Electricity Home Rule Could Save D.C. Billions, Create Over 14,000 Jobs
For many years the citizens of Washington, DC, struggled for the basic right to elect their own leaders. In 2011, they should use their political home rule to maximize the economic benefits of local renewable energy with “electricity home rule.”
Mapping Solar PV CLEAN Contracts in the U.S.
The price of solar is dropping fast, opening new opportunities for community-scale renewable energy across the country. But despite the improving economics and tremendously sunnier skies, the United States lags far behind Germany in installing new solar power.
The biggest difference is policy. The U.S. has two major federal incentives (a 30% tax credit and accelerated depreciation) for solar power, and a few state programs for solar power. Germany and most other developed countries use a feed-in tariff for renewable energy, a policy responsible for three-quarters of the world’s solar power capacity.
How Old Are US Power Plants?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 530 gigawatts, or 51% of all generating capacity, were at least 30 years old at the end of 2010. The U.S. fleet of electric power generators has a very wide range of ages, dependent on technology type.
Stephen Colbert Flips the Bird to Nissan’s Wave
Steve Colbert gestures his reaction to the Nissan Campain to create an exclusive wave between Leaf owners.
