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Where the Wind Comes Sweeping Down the Plains
Some Native American tribes see better financial future in wind farms |
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10 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:53 AM on 10 Oct 2008 Some Native American tribes, particularly those on extremely windy reservations, have been pursuing deals lately with wind-power developers, seeing the projects as potentially large and steady sources of income. Overall, Indian reservations are some of the poorest areas in the United States, but federal energy officials and others hope that a boom ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, news, politics, renewable energy, wind power (all these topics) |
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The Jersey 'Sure'
New Jersey moves to become premier U.S. offshore wind-power hub |
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07 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 6:51 AM on 07 Oct 2008 New Jersey this week opened a new front in its battle to be a leader in renewable energy generation. Gov. Jon Corzine (D) announced an ambitious goal to triple the amount of wind power the state plans to use by 2020 to 3,000 Megawatts, or about 13 percent of the state's total electricity. The wind-power goal is part of the effort to get utilities in the state to generate 20 percent ... |
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| Topics: energy, New Jersey, news, politics, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Bail to the chief
House passes bailout plan with extensions for renewables, sends to Bush's desk |
Kate Sheppard |
03 Oct 2008 |
Gristmill |
| If at first you don't succeed, try again. After failing to muster enough votes on Monday, the House on Friday approved the financial market bailout plan by a vote of 263-171, sending the bill to the desk of the president. The final version of the bailout included the extensions for renewable tax credits that Congress has been struggling with all year (the House and Senate disputed how to offset the credits with new revenues). The $17 billion in tax credi ... |
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| Topics: Congress, economy, energy, Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, renewable energy, tax incentives, Wall Street (all these topics) |
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The Four Trillion Dollar Plan
Google unveils plan to move U.S. off fossil fuels by 2030 |
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02 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:30 AM on 02 Oct 2008 Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the search giant, has unveiled a plan to move the U.S. to a clean-energy future. The vision: In 2030, electricity will be generated not from coal or oil but from wind, solar, and geothermal power. Energy demand will be two-thirds what it is now, thanks to stringent energy-efficiency measures. Ninety percent of new vehicle sales will be plu ... |
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| Topics: electricity, electricity grid, energy, energy efficiency, geothermal power, greenish companies, news, renewable energy, solar thermal power, tech, wind power (all these topics) |
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Chirp Thrills
Farmland birds don't seem to mind wind turbines, says study |
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01 Oct 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:50 AM on 01 Oct 2008 The sights and sounds of wind turbines don't seem to bother farmland birds, according to research published in the Journal of Applied Ecology. Scientists studied the effects of two wind farms in eastern England on 3,000 birds of 23 species, and found that only pheasants seemed to be disgruntled enough to move farther away from the turbines. (Incidentally, if we had a band, we'd call oursel ... |
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| Topics: biodiversity, energy, England, news, renewable energy, scientific research, wildlife, wind power (all these topics) |
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House vs. Senate
Renewable tax credits pass again in House, but changes to the plan may kill it in the Senate |
Kate Sheppard |
26 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The fate of tax extensions for renewable energy remains in question today, after the House approved a tax package that differed from the version passed earlier this week in the Senate. To the delight of enviros, the House version strips out tax incentives for oil shale and tar sands development, as well as provisions to support coal-to-liquid fuels.Both the the House and Senate versions include one year extensions of the production tax credit for wind and an eight-y ... |
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| Topics: legislation, tax incentives, Congress, politics, renewable energy, news, Muckraker (all these topics) |
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A Tax to Grind
House passes bill not to Bush's liking, endangering tax credits for renewables |
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26 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 1:58 PM on 26 Sep 2008 The House of Representatives on Friday passed a bill to extend billions of dollars in renewable-energy tax credits -- an action that may mean the tax credits don't get extended at all. Confused? Let us explain. The House bill, like its Senate counterpart, would extend tax credits for wind energy, residential and industrial solar power, and plug-in electrical vehicles. B ... |
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| Topics: Congress, energy, legislation, news, politics, renewable energy, tax incentives, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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Credits where credits are due
Senate passes renewable tax credits on the ninth attempt |
Kate Sheppard |
23 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The Senate today overwhelmingly approved a massive tax package that mashes together incentives for renewable energy with support for traditional energy sources less beloved by environmental groups. The Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, sponsored by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), would extend the investment tax credit for solar energy for eight years. It would extend the production tax credit (PTC) for wind for one year, and ... |
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| Topics: tax incentives, politics, US Senate, renewable energy, Congress, Muckraker, news (all these topics) |
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Honey, We Pumped Up the Grid
Google, GE team up to tout 'smart grid,' clean energy initiatives |
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18 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 9:52 AM on 18 Sep 2008 General Electric and Google announced on Wednesday they're teaming up to promote renewable energy, specifically geothermal energy and plug-in hybrids, and spur better investment and swifter government action to create "smart," more efficient electrical grids. In recent years, both enormous companies have announced big green investments: GE launched its Ecomag ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, news, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Tax team
Bipartisan deal in Senate would extend renewable tax credits |
Kate Sheppard |
17 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The Senate appears to have reached a deal on a major tax package that includes the extension of tax credits for renewable energy that are set to expire at the end of this year. Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), chair and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, announced on Tuesday that they have come to agreement on a tax package that would provide $17 billion in renewable energy tax breaks. The bill would also adjust the alternat ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, US Senate, renewable energy, tax incentives, Muckraker (all these topics) |
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Where there's a drill, there's a way
House passes an energy bill that combines increased drilling with expansion of renewables |
Kate Sheppard |
16 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| After a day-long debate over energy legislation, the House passed the Democrats' 'Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act,' a bill that both opens up new areas of the country to oil extraction and increases support for renewables. 'The energy bill puts us onto that path of independence by having a comprehensive legislation which is the result of a bipartisan compromise in favor of sweeping innovation solutions for America's energy future ... |
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| Topics: offshore drilling, oil and gas drilling, news, renewable energy, Muckraker, politics, energy, legislation, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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'Innovate, baby, innovate!'
Markey on House Dems' energy bill |
Kate Sheppard |
16 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The House just passed the Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act [PDF] (more on that in a moment). In the meantime, here's video of Select Committee for Energy Independence and Global Warming Chair Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on the floor earlier with one of the more passionate speeches of the day: |
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| Topics: Congress, Ed Markey, energy, legislation, Muckraker, news, politics, renewable energy, video (all these topics) |
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The streets are paved with oil
Bike-hatin' DOT head Mary Peters warns of decline in gas-tax revenues |
Kate Sheppard |
12 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Mary Peters, President Bush's Secretary of Transportation, is best known in green circles for blaming bike-riders and pedestrians for the decay of the nation's roads and bridges. But green-transit-hating Peters seems to be singing a different tune, now that the Highway Trust Fund is threatened by a decrease in driving. Congress yesterday approved an $8 billion relief package for the fund, to compensate for decreased revenues from the federal gas tax. And in a tele ... |
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| Topics: cars, gas prices, Muckraker, news, politics, public transportation, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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RNC: Drill, baby, drill
House GOP leaders call for their energy bill, or no energy bill at all |
Kate Sheppard |
04 Sep 2008 |
Gristmill |
| House Democrats are planning to co-opt the idea of an 'all of the above' energy policy that the Republican congressional leadership has been pushing, offering them a bill that includes an expansion of offshore drilling, coupled with a renewable electricity mandate, energy-efficiency standards for buildings, and provisions to raise taxes on the oil industry. This is essentially the Democrats attempting to call Republicans' bluff on energy policy by getting them to vote ... |
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| Topics: tax incentives, video, renewable energy, Congress, legislation, oil and gas drilling, news, politics, Republican National Convention, Muckraker (all these topics) |
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Just the Tip of the Bloomberg
Mayor has big clean-energy goals for NYC |
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20 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:54 AM on 20 Aug 2008 New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg touted clean energy Tuesday at, aptly, the National Clean Energy Summit. He said his city has issued a formal request to companies for ideas on how to source electricity from the wind, sun, and waves. "Perhaps companies will want to put wind farms atop our bridges and skyscrapers, or use the enormous potential of powerful offshore winds miles out in ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, local politics, New York City, news, placemaking, politics, renewable energy, wave and tidal power, wind power (all these topics) |
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How would you spend $10 billion?
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says he'd invest in clean energy |
Kate Sheppard |
18 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The Wall Street Journal asked House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) how he would spend $10 billion of the country's monetary resources. He says it should be spent on clean energy: A dramatic investment in clean energy would be the most effective check on aggressive petroregimes from Moscow to Tehran. It would be the best long-term solution to global warming. And energy independence is the most effective step we can take for American families staggering under t ... |
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| Topics: climate, energy, Muckraker, news, politics, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Splitting Airs
N.Y. wind rush brings corruption complaints, divides rural communities |
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18 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:28 AM on 18 Aug 2008 Lured by generous state subsidies, the wind industry is having its day in the sun breeze in upstate New York. But the scramble for turbine-friendly land has led to complaints of corruption and caused schisms in rural communities. At least two wind companies are being investigated for shady dealings, and evidence of possible improper influence or conflicts of interest have emerg ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, New York, news, placemaking, renewable energy, wind power (all these topics) |
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Takin' a Shine to You
Ginormous solar plants to be built in California |
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15 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 8:34 AM on 15 Aug 2008 Two gigantic solar plants will be built in California under deals announced Thursday between utility Pacific Gas & Electric and companies OptiSolar and Sun Power. Together, the plants could generate 800 megawatts of electricity at peak capacity, enough to power 239,000 homes. (Perspective: The total peak capacity of every photovoltaic panel in the U.S. as of last year was 750 MW.) The lar ... |
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| Topics: business, California, energy, news, progress, renewable energy, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Where there's a drill, there's a way
New House bill combines drilling with tax extensions for renewables |
Kate Sheppard |
09 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| A bipartisan group of House members has unveiled a new compromise energy bill, roughly along the lines of the Gang of 10 bill released in the Senate last week. 'The National Conservation, Environment, and Energy Independence Act' would repeal federal prohibitions on offshore oil and gas production and lift the ban on finalizing regulations for oil-shale development. Some of the proceeds from offshore leasing would be spent on environmental programs: 15 percent on ... |
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| Topics: energy, legislation, Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, renewable energy, US House of Representatives (all these topics) |
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The Swede Hereafter
IKEA invests in cleantech, may soon stock solar panels |
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08 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:43 PM on 08 Aug 2008 Heading to IKEA for some meatballs and easy-to-assemble furniture? You may soon be able to pick up solar panels as well. The Swedish manufacturer plans to invest some $75 million in a handful of cleantech startups, focusing on the areas of solar energy, lighting, sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and water conservation. Ultimately, IKEA has a goal of stocking its shelves with prod ... |
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| Topics: business, energy, energy at home, green living, green products, greening biz operations, greenish companies, news, renewable energy, shopping, Sweden (all these topics) |
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Obama's new 'New Energy' plan
More drilling in exchange for comprehensive energy legislation |
Kate Sheppard |
04 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Democrat Barack Obama on Friday said he would be willing to support some offshore drilling if it were necessary to enact a comprehensive energy plan, and indicated that he could support the bipartisan energy plan put forward by the Senate's 'Gang of 10' that includes both drilling and a major investment in renewables. The shift on drilling drew a lot of heat over the weekend, as pundits accused the candidate of flip-flopping on the issue, though Obama says he st ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, energy, gas prices, Muckraker, news, oil and gas drilling, politics, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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I Wear My Sunglasses at Night
With research breakthrough, solar power could work when the sun don't shine |
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01 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 10:51 AM on 01 Aug 2008 Wind and solar energy face a distinct hurdle: sometimes the wind don't blow and the sun don't shine. But new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests a breakthrough in the intermittency problem. In a study published Friday in Science, researchers demonstrate a photosynthesis-inspired process to use electricity from renewable sources t ... |
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| Topics: energy, innovation, news, progress, renewable energy, scientific research, solar voltaic power (all these topics) |
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Renew's You Can Use
China's renewables sector booming, study says |
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01 Aug 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 7:59 AM on 01 Aug 2008 China's renewable-energy sector is growing substantially despite the simultaneous growth of its famous dirty-energy sector, according to a study by nonprofit The Climate Group. While China recently took the lead as the world's largest carbon emitter and continues building roughly one coal-fired power plant a week on average, the country's renewables industry is also setting records. In 2007, China ... |
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| Topics: business, China, energy, news, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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Turbine of the Times
Wind power in China is 'huge, huge, huge' |
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25 Jul 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:44 PM on 25 Jul 2008 China, known for its environmental struggles, is looking to have a success story in wind power. "China's wind energy market is unrecognizable from two years ago," says Steve Sawyer of the Global Wind Energy Council. "It is huge, huge, huge. But it is not realized yet in the outside world." China's wind generation has increased by more than 100 percent per year since 2005, and the ... |
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| Topics: China, energy, news, progress, renewable energy, wind power (all these topics) |
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Major League
LCV President Gene Karpinski on the race for the White House |
Kate Sheppard |
24 Jul 2008 |
Gristmill |
| The League of Conservation Voters announced its endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Monday, touting his energy and environment plans as the 'most comprehensive' ever from a presidential nominee. While LCV President Gene Karpinski credits John McCain -- whom LCV endorsed in his 2004 Senate race -- for taking the challenge of global warming seriously, Karpinski says that the 'solutions that he suggests aren't nearly good enough.' ... |
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| Topics: League of Conservation Voters, Muckraker, news, politics, presidential race 08, renewable energy (all these topics) |
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