water heating

Turtle Beach Resort, Barbados, uses renewable energy

Renewables Benefit Island Tourism, Says New IRENA Report

With the local tourist season ending this Labor Day, it’s time for a look at how renewables can benefit island  tourism, which stays open year-round. Island policy makers, private sector investors, international financial institutions, renewable energy companies, power utilities, operators of hotel chains, and tourism businesses all have something to gain … [continued]

$3 Billion For Energy Efficiency in California

The California Public Utilities Commission has approved the largest energy efficiency program in U.S. history, authorizing $3.1 billion in consumer rebates and efficiency programs over the next three years. This brings the state a giant step closer to implementing AB32, according to Lara Ettenson, director of California Energy Efficiency Policy at the NRDC.

Ettenson told me that the funding comes from the part of the budget that California’s regulated utilities may use to invest in conventional electricity. This may include “negawatts” or energy efficiency measures, which is cheaper than building new plants and transmission.