Georgia Power has received approval from the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) for a new tariff that will nearly double the amount of solar energy the company purchases to supply its Green Energy Program. read more
NEW YORK — Carbon market enthusiasts have largely given up on the idea of federal legislation on greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, most are now looking to establish cap-and-trade in the United States gradually, through the spread of regional programs. more here
In by far the most exhaustive and detailed study to date, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that solar homes sold 20% faster, for 17% more than the equivalent non-solar homes, across several subdivisions built by different California builders.
When Shea Homes put solar PV and solar thermal systems on half the homes in a development, all 257 of them sold within a year, two years faster than expected. And while these new houses were priced at $380,000 to $500,000, they sold for as much as $600,000. more
The amount of electricity generated by new solar installations this year is expected to be twice as much as the capacity added last year, enough to power 200,000 more homes, bolstering the market for clean-tech jobs, according to several studies unveiled this week.
The studies — all timed to the solar trade show at the Los Angeles Convention Center, one of the industry’s largest — are painting a rosy outlook for the renewable energy industry. article
At a time when local and municipal governments are struggling with cash flow, it’s notable that many continue to turn to solar power to provide some of their energy needs. The trend shows a growing appreciation of the long-term benefits of green energy, including savings on power expenditure over a 15- or 20-year period and freedom from volatile energy costs in oil, coal or gas. more
Recently-introduced legislation in Congress has the potential to make solar energy and other clean technologies more widespread than ever.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, has proposed implementing a national renewable electricity standard that would bring about a significant increase in the amount of clean energy generated nationwide.
Under the legislation, electric utilities would be required to derive at least 11 percent of their energy from renewable sources like wind, biomass and solar energy. Another 4 percent could be reached under the bill through energy efficiency initiatives.
“Shifting our country toward home-grown renewable energy will create jobs and help reduce carbon pollution. I believe there is strong support for this bipartisan bill and I hope we can pass it through Congress in the coming weeks,” said Senator Bingaman, a New Mexico Democrat.
The bill would keep in place any state renewable energy standards requiring more than 15 percent of electricity generated to come from clean technologies, while also exempting utilities that sell fewer than 4 million megawatt hours of electricity per year. The requirement would also be phased in over several years.
There was a wonderful article recently written by June Fletcher, posted on the Wall Street Journal’s website, that addresses a common question regarding residential solar installation. See the question below:
Q: I’m thinking of putting solar panels on my home. But I’m not sure whether I should buy or lease. What advice do you have, and also, what effect might this have on my home’s resale value?
