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The One Thing Obama’s Climate Policy Can’t Leave Out

Submitted by Anonymous on June 20, 2013 - 5:04am

When President Obama unveils his climate policy proposal in the coming days, he should focus on the one key element of successful climate and energy policy.  It’s not about utilities or incentives or numbers, it’s about ownership.

Climate-protecting energy policy succeeds when communities can keep their energy dollars local by directly owning and profiting from investments in renewable energy.

Your Roof Truss Sales

Submitted by windysmith on June 19, 2013 - 9:34pm

Ensure that your business gets the attention that it deserves with the use of truss system. Roof truss designs are a good way for exposure, and to a lot of people at once. Still, you don't have to limit yourself to exhibitions. You can be the sole exhibitor. For example, you may want to set up your truss system and get some publicity for your products or services at a car-park, shopping mall, etc.The fact that you can use a truss system as many times as you need makes it even more viable to have your own truss system.

The Solar Opportunity

Submitted by Anonymous on June 18, 2013 - 5:26am

The coming of solar grid parity offers an opportunity for millions of Americans to go solar affordably. But it also means a potential transformation, a democratization of an electricity system long domi- nated by centrally-controlled utilities and centralized ownership and production of electricity. When solar can undercut grid electricity prices, it may also undercut this 20th century system of centralized ownership, bringing economic sunshine and self-reliance to communities along with solar electricity.

Minneapolis the First Domino in Local Energy Choice in Minnesota?

Submitted by Anonymous on June 17, 2013 - 2:00pm

Over the weekend the campaign for a municipal utility option in Minneapolis, MN, got another boost: the endorsement of the city Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.  The campaign’s goal is to increase clean, affordable, reliable, and local energy deployment in the city through meaningful negotiations with the utilities over their expiring franchise contracts in 2014, or by exercising the city’s right to own an operate its own electric and gas utilities.

Reactions to My Take on Master Limited Partnerships for Renewable Energy

Submitted by Anonymous on June 14, 2013 - 11:48am

When I wrote two weeks ago that Master Limited Partnerships are a Lousy Policy for Solar, Wind, and Taxpayers, I was aware that it wasn’t a widely held view.  The piece has done more than provide another viewpoint on the complicated corporate structure, it has ignited a significant debate across the renewable energy community about the concept:

WV Legislature Conducting Its Own Investigation into FirstEnergy’s “Deceptive Practices”

Submitted by Anonymous on June 13, 2013 - 9:25pm

The WV Legislature appears to be fed up with the lenient WV PSC.  Legislators will be conducting their own investigation into what Sen. John Unger called FirstEnergy’s “deceptive practices” in WV.

Stagnating Centralized Grid, But Rising Solar Capacity Continues in US

Submitted by Anonymous on June 13, 2013 - 10:23am

The disruption of centralized power companies and grid technologies is now the hot topic among power company executives.  The larges industry organization in the US has issued a report warning of the impacts of this disruption.

New Expose of Salazar S-R Shakedown

Submitted by Anonymous on June 12, 2013 - 10:07pm

You haven’t seen much coverage recently of the continuing story of the Susquehanna-Roseland line in PA and NJ here at The Power Line.  Keryn just dug up an interesting story in the New Jersey Herald about how Interior Secretary Ken Salazar shook down transmission line owner PSEG to ramrod the S-R project through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area after the National Park Service advocated that the line be re-routed around the park.

Texas Muni Utility Explains How They Are Already 40% Renewable

Submitted by Anonymous on June 11, 2013 - 4:52pm

In 2011, Boulder citizens voted to have their city take over the electric utility, joining 1 in 7 Americans served by municipal electric utilities.  The process (which will take 3-5 years) continues.

In April 2013, the city council again voted to move forward, inspired this time by the example of Denton, TX, a municipal utility that already gets 40% of its power from renewable energy.  The presentation to the city council is from Mike Grim, the head of the Denton city utility.

Learning and Fun with Solar Powered Cars!

Submitted by Anonymous on June 11, 2013 - 12:48pm

What they say is very true – teachers can really learn a lot from the students they are teaching!

Recently, Plano Solar Advocates volunteers had the wonderful experience of engaging in lessons, discussions, and Q&A with elementary students in 14 different class sessions (a total of 215 students) while helping them assemble demonstration solar powered cars.  And when the sun was shining, those cars went really fast!

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