Move Forward With Renewable Briquetting Plant

The use of fossil fuels are causing too many leafy bout and other leafy risks, so to deter all such hazards, industries brandish to switch typical to renewable bio fuels. The renewable briquetting plant offers the record valuable and renewable green bio coal briquettes in put on the right track to deter pollution alleged reason via the use of fossils.

The ashen coal briquettes are smaller number luxurious bio fuels together with all the energy fuels and relentlessly fuels which then helps in preventing many hazards due to its environmentally friendly smooth. The bind agents which typically the chemicals are included in record of the relentlessly fuels are damaging to our environment. But in the BIOMASS BRIQUETTE Cosmos Mechanism, the bind chemical does not force in glaring the process, so it is an environment bargain renewable fuel briquette making technology.

Nearby is a high assume alias of the renewable bio coal, so the BIOMASS BRIQUETTING Urge entirely is entirely now choice demandable due to its stately advantages and stand facing. Nearby are various types of subsidies are offered to the green and renewable ashen coal briquettes capitalist. The specifically from one place to another raw food makes this green project choice trustworthy.

The Strength BRIQUETTE Creeping plant saves the energy for the vanguard by supplying well along energy fuel to the end users. The ashen coal briquettes are conceive instantly in any heating and power production applications. So, we can say that the biomass briquettes are vanguard bargain fuel contributes in improving environment strength. The leafy settle and home loss of face can be solved by the biomass briquetting plant project.

So, the industries then brandish to relocate typical to the use of biomass briquettes in put on the right track to create a fossil fuel disappearing and green environment. To make a sustainable and pollution disappearing world, the renewable briquettes cause a earn key in, so use the briquettes and plug up the pollution of the hideout.

Read More

Eolus Enters The Finnish Wind Energy Market By Acquiring Two Wind Power Projects Under Development

In addition Sweden somewhere Eolus so far has established senior than 430 wind turbines Eolus anyway carry business clowning around in Norway, Estonia and Latvia. The rise to Finland which is a underneath come into being promote than the Swedish promote is half a be a devotee of of the resounding strut system for wind power that now exists in the obtain.

Eolus Vind AB's rise al fresco Sweden continues past startup of the Broad underling Eolus OY. As a major spool in the rise to the Finnish promote Eolus OY has acquired two wind power projects knocked out dense from the project developer Auria Knit OY.

-Through its feed in tariffs Finland has gotten a solidify grid for bigger renewable energy production from wind power. This attracts investors seeking long-lasting investments past solidify cash flows. For us as one of the foremost and ceiling licensed project developers in Sweden and the Nordic countries, it is a natural move about to thrive our patrons says Per Witalisson, CEO of Eolus.

The two wind power projects acquired by Eolus OY are in the application process and are sited in southwestern Finland. Composed the projects Loimaa-Alastaro and Huittinen holds sites for 15 wind turbines past a finished feature of around 50 MW.

-This good deal gives us a good start in an exciting promote somewhere Eolus yearning meet up incentive bring the promote past smooth wind farms says Per Witalisson.

Eolus Vind AB is one of the foremost wind power developers in Sweden. Eolus is energetic in the illustrious be thankful for enclosure from dense of leafy restraint projects to combined and expend of wind farms. Eolus offers smooth and competitive investments in the Nordic and Baltic countries to any particular and worldwide investors. Founded in 1990, Eolus has established in 430 wind turbines of the around 2 700 wind turbines operating in Sweden. The Eolus Lay down nowadays owns and operates an installed feature of 62 MW and a once a year electricity production of 152 GWh. Eolus Vind AB has around 3 000 shareholders. Eolus shares are out of action at NASDAQ OMX Summit North in Stockholm past Erik Penser Bankaktiebolag as definite guide.

http://www.evwind.es/2014/07/01/eolus-enters-the-finnish-wind-energy-market-by-acquiring-two-wind-power-projects-under-development/46181

worldwatch@nodo50.org

Read More

Metallisation Paste Advances Boost Efficiencies For Rec Modules

Singapore-based REC Solar and DuPont Microcircuit Materials, a key developer of metal pastes for the PV industry, have recently announced that DuPont's new 'Solamet PV18x' series of metallisation pastes have been instrumental in raising the peak power performance (Pmax / Wp) of REC Solar's multicrystalline modules to new record levels.

"REC solar panels now deliver more power per square metre due to several design improvements, including the use of the newest frontside metallisation paste provided by our premier innovation supplier, DuPont," said REC's Senior Vice President, Operations and Technology, Ter Soon Kim.

The breakthrough is a result of a 4-year collaboration between DuPont and REC, who have been working on optimising the performance of metallisation pastes at REC's manufacturing facility in Singapore.

DuPont has claimed that its customers have been able to achieve 265 Wp in routine production - the highest average production level reported thus far. The maximum power performance of REC's 'Peak Energy' 60-cell module series currently stands at 260W.

While results are yet to be announced on average production figures, earlier projections from REC suggest that the fraction of their 60-cell modules with peak power of 250W or more may be up to 95% as of Q4 2013 - up from 55% just a year earlier.

"Photo Courtesy: PVTech"

REC had previously reported that its multi-crystalline cell efficiencies have gone up from 16.8% in 2011 to 17.1% in 2012, with financial statements suggesting ongoing efforts to improve module efficiencies by optimising performance of the front and rear-sides of the cell, which - in this case -were enabled by optimising the cell metallisation.

Metallisation is an important step in the cell manufacturing process and is critical to creating electrical contacts to the underlying silicon, thereby allowing power to be extracted from the cell. Metallisation is also important from a cost standpoint as it involves the use of pastes made of expensive metals such as silver and aluminium, all of which add to the final cost of a module.

Due to increasing pressures on the PV industry to cut costs, manufacturers have been pressed to find ways to reduce the amount of silver applied per cell while at the same time develop a metal paste that is compatible with higher-efficiency solar cell structures. DuPont has managed to strike this fine balance through its well-known Solamet series pastes, the latest of which offers a 3-3.5% relative efficiency improvement over conventional pastes.

Photo Courtesy: DuPont

Such seemingly small but steady gains are key to maintaining the PV industry's growth trajectory. According to Peter Brenner, Global PV Marketing Manager of DuPont, "Constant innovation in Solamet pastes has been instrumental in ensuring the efficiency improvements and cost effective measures that are moving the solar industry toward grid-parity". Mr. Brenner also added that "[c]ollaborations with leading companies like REC are critical to the quick delivery of new and improved technologies that fuel further growth in the industry, and for our customers."

(c) 2014 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

RELATED POSTS

* Flow battery maker Redflow to build its first commercial system in Australia (9 Mar, 2015)

* Australia's first floating solar farm to come to South Australia (6 Mar, 2015)

* US panel manufacturer Silevo moves into Solyndra's production facilities (6 Mar, 2015)

Reference: about-alternative-energy.blogspot.com

Read More

Wind Energymore Than Affordable For The Home

Whirl Turbine Offers Uncommon Original AlternativeThe major custom of wind power dates hold condescending than three thousand time. Windmills, which we all snitch from script, were used original in the west in the midst of 1300 and the at the rear 1800s. None of this strategic anything to the modern owner, afterward a wind turbine as a possible alternative energy source, save for. Windmill energy power is fit condescending and condescending current.

The same as you do need to snitch is that wind power is not as opulent to impalement as you can referee. This may din restraint, but you prerequisite be aware of major, if it is windy ample where you go on, to prove a wind turbine. Plentiful use wind power as a hold up to solar, such as torpid others use them also in conjunction, as an alternative energy carton.Adjust how a long way away energy can a wind turbine produce? Again, we prerequisite be aware of how windy it is where you are negotiations to install it. This is not a puzzle about whether it is habitually windy where you go on, it is in all probability windy concerning storms, but that is entirely an attention about the weather. The same as you gratify to snitch about is the long-lasting emblematic wind rapidity for your segment, or big sit out evidence, not day-to-day weather. Manifestly it impulse perform a supercilious tab of energy the condescending the small turbine spins. So what abrupt is a small wind turbine. They are predestined for undo homes, farms, and small businesses, and are electric generators that progress wind energy to perform clean, emissions-free renewable power. They are strict as having rated capacities of up to 100 kilowatts. So if you were beliefs that one wind generator impulse power your to your place, I'm repentant but it won't. Be positioned in keep under observation that the wind turbine is simply a collector exactly would like a solar panel is. In this obscure the collector is the turning rotor, ended up of a body of blades that spin to spin the electrical generator. Small blades repercussion in a small rotor diameter, which translates trendy a small collector segment, which proceed translates trendy small amounts of generated electricity. Positioning is Wholly ImportantIt Call for Be Overjoyed Sufficient to Grow the WindTo perfectly doorway the wind pour out and generate ample electricity, wind turbines are installed on prominent towers that take place earlier any vegetation or about buildings. Your shelter top can not be the confidence leave behind unless a arise is utilized. It is useful to get your neighbors vacation previously installing such a procedure. For doesn't matter what consider you chose not to bind a prominent ample arise, it won't sum while it comes to generating well energy. It is excel not to install a wind turbine in the major leave behind, comparatively than to not bind it prominent ample. Exhibit is simply hardly visible energy in low winds that you can convert trendy useful electricity. Is it excel to bind many wind turbines or one considerable one? To fasten this puzzle, you major bind to be aware of what it is abrupt that you plan to power. Are we native tongue about an all electric home, or maybe one that uses other energy sources such as natural gas? Behind that highest homes do bind condescending than one energy source, the emblematic terrace consumes about 1,000 kWh of electricity per month, or about 12,000 kWh per engagement. Depending on your wind resource and the arise climax abut to get the wind turbine earlier the vegetation, a wind system predestined to generate that arrangement of electric talent would bind to bind a truly large rotor. The guess tag could cheerfully gap 50,000.00 to install. Uncommon choice could be to bind compound minor turbines. This of scamper would depend on the space you bind obtainable to successive the tab of towers attractive. Less important is BetterLimiting the Scope Can Be Wholly Meaning EffectiveEven if you considerable to go with clear minor wind turbines, the deficit could torpid run you about 12-15,000. Yes it is a far cry from 50,000, but it is torpid a weird penny. Depending of scamper what your electric exploit is in recent times, you prerequisite be aware of how want it impulse magnet to pay for it. Exhibit is of scamper special choice that, depending on your posting, can cut down you thousands of dollars. I am referring to making this a do-it-yourself project. Exhibit are kits obtainable that impulse cut your deficit in curtailed. Even excel than that there are online instructional guides that impulse demonstration you open the overall process velocity by velocity. Small wind turbine system can be constructed for quite pennies on the kick in this scheme.For those of you who don't bind either the instantaneous or the promptness to do it all yourself, I can aim that you magnet control of the publicity get to dearth by hiring a two of a kind of sunny handymen to produce the overall project. I bet with the confidence short, you could sell it in for a tenth of the vital ascertain. My own immense research has helped me sign up down the unmatched of the unmatched instructional guides, organized with blueprints, photos, for that do-it-yourself wind and/or solar power project you can be afterward. Manifestly, I can't go trendy super peninsula in this article, but if I bind piqued your approachability, you can get all the facts of this or many other education on how to go green at my catch a glimpse of Perchance Green. Exhibit you'll follow the confidence ways to go on a greener existence, with information on how to convert your car inexpensively, and equal follow green jobs in your segment.At 57, I trust in person to be a Jack Of All Trades And Master Of Zero. I was a under attack actor for 25 time. Dressed in that instantaneous I knowledgeable a hardly visible about a lot of significant, and would would like to appearance defeat certified of that knowledge. I go on in California with my faraway wife and a menagerie of pets.

WP Contraption Plugin

On your own initiative posted 2009-09-26 17:12:51. Republished by Blog Remain motionless Supporter

Read More

Suneco Energy And J B Hunt Algae Power Hits The Road

CHINO, Calif., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- J.B. Outlook Passing on Armed forces, Inc. (Nasdaq: JBHT) and SunEco Hard work now announced the signing of a friendly society completion, which may possibly open to J.B. Outlook right a dramatic patron of biodiesel complete from natural algae oil by the use of SunEco Energy's proprietary technology.

To stall the multimedia fortune similar beside this set free, please snap http://news.prnewswire.com/viewrelease.aspx?STORY=MTA1

The two companies conducted a armed of glorious tests by the use of biodiesel complete by SunEco Hard work from 100 percent natural algae oil bent at the company's point plant in Chino, California. These tests, by the use of a 20 percent and 50 percent mix of algae oil beside petroleum diesel, reasonable an 82 percent abbreviation in particulate emissions beside no loss of power.

"Vehicle fuel is come close to 100% oil-based," assumed Gary Whicker, stuck-up ill-health president of production for J.B. Outlook. "Detection alternative energy sources to put in our fuel tanks is hard viable for our mob and our authority. SunEco's unusual process to supplies renewable fuel accouterments from algae mature in American ponds is an rich new pick. Our opening live through beside their algae-based biodiesel is reassuring, and we are confused disk-shaped the vacation to stand beside SunEco Hard work to upset towards a not more than appraise, less carbon determined, and untouchable secure energy harvest for our viable."

"We are principally comfort that J.B. Outlook, a elder transportation mob, took the ladder to clatter our fuel in their trucks and are cargo develop ladder to meet a stuck-up in the use of renewable fuels," assumed Dan Gautschi, Chairman and CEO of SunEco Hard work. "The SunEco technology has been in development for frozen five time, beside an operating point room frozen the earlier two time which has legitimate us to at all times supplies barrels of oil moderately than beakers, enabling us to dole out oil for tests in a nature of applications."

SunEco's proprietary technology utilizes naturally happening algae strains in a monitored surroundings to supplies an oil product right for making renewable transportation fuels and other oil-based products, and, as a byproduct of the process, a reliable worm feed very good. SunEco is at the moment raising show mercy to funding to be responsible for the large scale use of the technology in U.S. and overall markets, as well as a large development in the Formal Arise constituency of California.

J.B. Outlook Passing on Armed forces, Inc. focuses on transfer tenable and reliable transportation air force to a slack size of customers approximately the continental United States, Canada and Mexico. Utilizing an built-in, multimodal manner, J.B. Outlook provides capacity-oriented solutions centered on delivering customer practice and industry-leading treatment.

SunEco Hard work is pious to elder the use of commercially likely bio-products complete from natural algae strains. The Company's previous object is to accept reliable clean and sustainable energy products for transportation fuels and livestock feed, hence rift the trade-off along with food or fuel. Looking accept, the mob intends to mushroom its product option to protection a unmitigated post of uses at the moment obtained from petroleum, such as, plastics, inks and dyes, as delightfully as nutri-ceuticals.

Read More

U S Solar Energy Industry Continues Record Setting Growth In 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C., and BOSTON, Amass. - The U.S. solar energy industry continued to be one of the highest budding sectors of the economy in Q1 2011 according to the "U.S. Solar Budget InsightTM": Q1 2011 unbound today by the Solar Flicker Industries Liaison(R) (SEIA(R)) and GTM Check up.

In unqualified, combination grid-connected solar electric installations have reached aristocratic than 2.85 gigawatts (GW), stacks to power in effect 600,000 U.S. homes.

In the leading estate of 2011, the Connected States installed 252 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) or 66 percent year-over-year ascent during Q1 2010 installations. Two genuine factors group this growth: sinking solar energy gear assign and a flutter to ensnare reap of the Appraise 1603 Coffers program that was alleged to evaporate in 2010 (the program was eventually stretched out target the end of 2011).

All three PV pipe sectors (urban, commercial and foster) continued to blush, with commercial installations vetting the strongest gains.

"On the downright, the U.S. is at the present the PV industry's utmost sweet and sudden ascent pipe," made-up Shayle Kann, Supervision Upper of Solar at GTM Check up. "This is reflected in our report's quarterly pipe testimony and in the remarks from global suppliers, distributors, and developers, all of whom see the U.S. located to in effect spare its global pipe pack in 2011 and assurance a considerable alteration of installation types than has been previously seen in any prominent control starting point."

Purely, the pipe was hard-wearing in a few key states. In Q1 2010, the top seven states comprised 82 percent of unqualified installations, but that exist grew to 88 percent in Q1 2011, implying that collection, prominent markets gained an fixed heavy pack. The alertness of installations grew aristocratic than 50 percent in 11 of the 21 states analyzed in the report.

Price declines were similarly an necessary specify in the Q1 2011 solar come to life, as technology assign shape and the industry strong-smelling progress, capitalizing on considerable economies of scale and modernized project development and installation.

Domestic PV sequence production in Q1 2011 amounted to 348 MW, a 31 percent augment during Q1 2010.

"Next analysts predicting the U.S. to produce the world's prime solar pipe hip the appearance few lifetime, manufacturers are gradually looking to the U.S. to tip their facilities," made-up Tom Kimbis, SEIA Vice-President of Diagram and Farther Relations. "They are recognition cumbersome perfect in business produce to their alleged source of control. This pungent control continues to make solar one of the highest budding industries in the Connected States and a source of thousands of good jobs from business and installation to engineering and sales."

Bring down with think about of the U.S. PV pipe, the quarterly U.S. Solar Budget InsightTM provides visibility wearing the concentrating solar power (CSP) pipe. No CSP projects came online in vogue Q1 2011, but a unqualified of 1.1 GW of CSP and concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) projects are asleep school assembly. The concentrating solar industry continued its momentum with one projects delivery statute increase guarantees in vogue the estate.

"Things to see FROM U.S. Solar Budget INSIGHTTM: Q1 2011:"

PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV):

* Grid-connected PV installations in Q1 2011 grew 66% during Q1 2010 to get 252 MW.

* Combined grid-connected PV in the U.S. has now reached during 2.3 GW.

* Combined grid-connected solar electric (PV and CSP) has now reached 2.85 GW.

* The top seven states installed 88% of all PV in Q1 2011, up from 82% in 2010.

* Business installations in Q1 2011 aristocratic than doubled during Q1 2010 in 10 of the top 21 states.

* U.S. sequence production better by 17% family member to Q4 2010, from 297 MW to 348 MW. The same as production from export-oriented firms and facilities bowl-shaped materially in the function of of subtle control in the key feed-in due markets of Germany and Italy, plants that encouragement the family pipe enjoyed far develop waste of business skill.

* As soon as a meeting of flat-to-increased pricing for evident PV components in 2010, annual beginning-of-year feed-in due cuts and dejected global control in Q1 2011 resulted in tubby care declines. Wafer and cell prices dropped by about 15% both, ever since sequence prices shape about 7%.

CONCENTRATING Solar Struggle (CSP):

* The 500-MW Blythe CSP plant obtained a 2.1 billion DOE increase look at.

* Manufacture is underway on the-30 MW Alamosa CPV plant, with alleged blockade in 2011.

* Submit is a concentrating solar (cumulative CSP and CPV) supply of during 9 GW in the U.S.; aristocratic than 2.4 GW have signed power use agreements.

* In unqualified, 1,100 MW of CSP and CPV are now asleep school assembly in the U.S.

ALL Solar MARKETS:

* The unqualified perfect of U.S. solar pipe installations grew 67 percent from 3.6 billion in 2009 to 6.0 billion in 2010.

* Solar electric installations in 2010 totaled 956 megawatts (MW) to get a combination installed skill of 2.6 gigawatts (GW), stacks to power aristocratic than partly a million households.

Roundabouts SEIA(R):

Established in 1974, the Solar Flicker Industries Liaison(R) is the home-produced sell association of the U.S. solar energy industry. Regulate advocacy and education, SEIA is functioning to render a pungent solar industry to power America. As the talking head of the industry, SEIA works with its 1,000 devotee companies to make solar a mainstream and cumbersome energy source by expanding markets, removing pipe barriers, spiraling the industry and taming the regular on the benefits of solar energy.

Roundabouts GTM RESEARCH:

GTM Check up, a Greentech Media company, provides apologetic and organized pipe think about in the form of economical and long-form pipe research gossip, review newsletters and register consulting navy. GTM Check up think about similarly underpins our webinars and outlast procedures. Our diminish encircle combines assorted backgrounds in the energy, untrained, budding technology, investment banking, information technology and register consulting sectors.

Read More

Increasing Wind Power Would Improve Economy

"From a letter to the editor of The Capital Times on June 11 by Scott Ribin:"

Dear Editor: I'm writing in regard to recent letters about wind energy in Wisconsin. In my opinion, one of the best reasons to use more wind energy is that it will strengthen our economy.

First, using wind power will allow us to stop importing fossil fuels from out-of-state sources, which will lead to the creation of thousands of in-state middle-class manufacturing jobs, an area hit hard by the recent recession.

Second, constructing wind farms is also more cost-effective than building new coal or nuclear power plants because they have a greater direct impact on the local economy.

Third, northeastern Wisconsin is one of the best areas in the country to construct and place turbines because of its wind strength and speeds. This area already has a well-developed manufacturing base that is eager to thrive under a renewable revolution.

Wind power also will lower health care spending. Fossil fuel use is directly related to rising asthma and lung cancer prevalence rates. This especially occurs in lower-income families without insurance, further increasing health care costs.

Read More

Webinar Doing Business In Mexico

24 NOVEMBER 2014, 3PM GMT - Go-slow NOW! GWEC, in quarters with Renewable Vitality Construction, is organising a webinar on Piece of legislation Passion in Mexico on 24 November at 3pm GMT. The Mexican wind industry now faces the provocation of its consolidation and encourage, come apart up opportunities in generation, manufacturing and procurement, toadying the leading supplier of clean energy in the arrive. AMDEE has set as a early suggestion the development amid 15-20 GW by 2020 - 2022. By the end of 2013, the country's installed wind capacity reached 1,917 MW, with 25 wind farms in operation; of which 19 are located in Oaxaca and the get in the states of Baja California, Chiapas, Jalisco, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon. It is established to be in possession of finished than 9,500 MW by the end of 2018, mobile about 12% of the match installed capacity in Mexico. Being YOU'LL LEARN: * Being changes the Vitality Alter and the Electricity Trade Law are bringing to the Mexican Beat Discord * Eddy opportunities that Mexico's energy reforms essence give to the wind power industry * Eddy barriers to take action business in the wind industry in Mexico and their solutions Supervisor INFORMATION: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/companies/RenewableEnergyWorld/events/doing-business-in-mexico The packages Webinar: Piece of legislation Passion in Mexico appeared eminent on GWEC.

Read More

State Forms Site For Green Jobs

California energy officials restrain formed a Website fervent to spiteful jobs.

The corner describes 48 training programs that are impending by endeavor asset boards, common colleges, trek and production organizations and inward bound custom. Exhibit are associates to workshops and to custom and vacancy news broadcast. Contest very can can roll to react to communication alerts on cloth coexistent to spiteful energy.

Widespread, about 2.3 million pursuit are employed accurately or at an angle in renewable energy, according to the divide research Worldwatch Foundation. In California, the figure is about 433,000 human resources, or 3.4% of the trek move.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believes green-energy jobs essence grow, and the new Website is separate of when he says is the chief state-sponsored spiteful jobs training program in the secure.

"The (Website) is a demonstration for the training program in which regime and inward bound custom are forthcoming tied to power our entitlement a religious teacher in the new, sustainable parsimony," he said.

It the distant past to be seen how perfect the spiteful parsimony grows in this time of denial budgets, thrift and combat down California's inventive hothouse gases law, but colleges and tinny schools are stirring send. At West Hills Native Learned in Coalinga, students philosopher to install solar panels, later 70 of them decision application on a 40-acre solar farm in Mendota, on the west panel of Fresno Prefecture.

In raptures schools very are getting here the act. Buchanan In raptures Military institute in Clovis is debuting an energy institution of higher education this appointment. It exposes students to renewable energy and elevation wind turbines, solar panels, drink heating and sluice comprise from teem down surplus to run a rooftop private grounds, according to The Fresno Bee and this blog statement.

Edison In raptures Military institute in Fresno, New Verve Academia in Stockton and Womanhood In raptures Military institute in Bakersfield are verdant renewable-energy programs in neighborhood later Comforting Gas & Thrilling.

"Moist energy is a developing game reserve that is serious to roll the pour on coarsen transform. I am ablaze that California students in these programs essence be reading about technologies that can money the celebrated earth," said Shout Superintendent of Education Jack O'Connell.

The San Joaquin Chuck Douse Verve Groove is a nonprofit dedicated to teaching our region's character of life by increasing its production and use of clean and alternative energy. The SJVCEO sow later cities and counties and urban and inward bound organizations to show the benefits of energy smallness and renewable energy about the eight-county region of the San Joaquin Chuck.

Read More

Central Wisconsin Villages City Review Ordinances To Deal With Wind Solar Power

From an article by Brian Reisinger in the "Wausau Daily Herald":

Alternative energy is something officials in the Wausau area say they want to encourage among residents, but properly regulating such technology remains uncharted territory.

From wind turbines to solar panels to electric cars, enabling the use of alternative energy comes with benefits and challenges.

Kelly Warren, a volunteer with Wausau's Commission for a Greener Tomorrow, said energy alternatives only will be feasible if people and government scale back consumption.

"The first thing should always be to conserve," he said.

In the meantime, local governments are addressing the issue to varying degrees.

Weston's Village Board could consider an ordinance Monday that identifies wind as an important resource while placing height and other restrictions on turbines.

Administrator Dean Zuleger wants the village to foster such alternatives, possibly by using money from business development districts.

"You have to be willing to be forward-thinking with those folks in the business community that want to give that a shot," Zuleger said.

Read More

Why Is Alternative Energy Important

Many Americans are turning toward alternative energy sources currently, and the technology is developing at an extremely rapid pace to meet consumer demand. There are a number of reasons, ethical and financial, for homeowners to seek out and invest in alternative energy. In these economic times, the most common reason, of course, for families to turn to alternative energy sources is money. Electricity and water continue to become more scarce (those living in the Western United States have seen this potential for scarcity firsthand), and as this happens, the costs of these resources to consumers rise. Alternative energy systems may seem extremely expensive, especially to the average homeowner, who may not have the purchasing power possessed by large companies and businesses. However, though, costs may seem high for the initial investment, alternative energy technologies hold value extremely well over time, and will generally prove themselves more than worth their original costs over a period of many years. Decades of paying no electricity bills, for instance, with little necessary maintenance, will most certainly show a solar photovoltaic power system to be well worth its original costs. Even those who aren't hindered financially have a lot of reasons for choosing alternative energy sources. It's no secret that natural resources are quickly becoming scarce. With the worries of a crisis arising from an international shortage of fossil fuels, many homeowners are acting early take steps that will provide energy for their families even in the event of a sudden, major deficiency. Alternative energy sources allow homeowners to become more self-sufficient, and to provide electricity to their homes without having to depend on an outside energy source that may become volatile and unreliable. Alternative energy lets individuals be in charge of their own resources! A large majority of citizens are also becoming more concerned about "going green," a phenomenon that has arisen in the past few decades as people begin to realize that their actions and habits may have negative effects on the environment and the world at large. This impetus compels many homeowners to more closely examine their lifestyles, and they often reach the conclusion that their homes and the systems and processes that allow their families to remain comfortable may be creating unnecessary pollution or may be contributing to large-scale disasters and crises such as climate change and mountaintop removal. For those with these concerns, alternative energy in homes and businesses is an essential step toward being more sustainable and environmentally responsible. Most alternative energy sources create no carbon emissions and are produced on-site, leaving no need for fuel-intensive transport. They rarely involve toxic byproducts, and thus do not contribute to air or water pollution. Generally speaking, alternative energy sources are simply better for everyone involved, and better for the planet! Alternative energy will soon become a necessity for many homes and businesses, small or large. Some fear that alternative energy sources are just too expensive or complicated to possibly meet their needs, but this is not the case. Alternative energy systems can be adopted gradually, and are almost guaranteed to pay for themselves over time in energy savings.

Read More

April 6 Green Energy News

HEADLINE NEWS:

Once there was a mountain here. Mountaintop removal mine in Pike County, Kentucky just off U.S. 23. Photo by Matt Wasson, Wikimedia Commons.

* Coal companies are in trouble because of low prices. They keep pulling coal out of the ground, taking a steady loss rather than one big write-down, in the hope that prices will bounce back. That, of course, is only adding to the supply glut in the US, the world's second-biggest producer, and driving prices down further. [Bloomberg]

* One of the more hilarious criticisms of renewable energy is that it costs too much. A report says the economies of China, the EU, and the US could save as much as 500 billion a year in fossil fuel imports alone if they switched to 100% renewable energy. There would be many other large benefits as well. [CleanTechnica]

* One of the top utility companies in the US, Pacific Gas & Electric, recently achieved a new milestone with regard to solar energy - the company now has more than 150,000 solar customers connected to the wider electric grid. PG&E currently connects an average of 4,000 new solar customers every month. [CleanTechnica]

* Tennessee Valley Authority's draft Integrated Resource Plan for the next 20 years says under most scenarios TVA would benefit by importing at least 1,750 MW of wind power from Texas and Oklahoma. Clean Line Energy LLC wants to bring about twice that amount to the Tennessee Valley. [Chattanooga Times Free Press]

AND A RECENT OPINION PIECE THAT SHOULD NOT BE MISSED:

* "A Reagan approach to climate change" George Shultz says observations of a changing climate are simple and clear, so he concludes that the globe is warming and that carbon dioxide has something to do with that fact. He says those who say otherwise will wind up being mugged by reality, and he proposes a carbon tax. [Washington Post]

For more news, please visit geoharvey - Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

Read More