The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative is asking for proposals as part of its “Community Based Renewable Energy Programs” – and companies are responding. The program aims to expand access to renewable energy to those living in apartments, as well as small business owners and community groups. [node:read-more:link]
After winning control of the House of Representatives Tuesday night, Democrats plan to counter the Trump administration on climate change policy, aiming to convince the American public of the seriousness of the problem ahead of the 2020 presidential election and the urgency of addressing it. “Climate change has to be one of our highest priorities,” Rep. Ro Khanna of California, the newest Democrat to join the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, told Josh. [node:read-more:link]
The administration is auctioning off millions of acres of drilling rights and rolling back regulations, raising environmental concerns in states like Wyoming.Reversing a trend in the final years of the Obama presidency, the Trump administration is auctioning off millions of acres of drilling rights to oil and gas developers, a central component of the White House’s plan to work hand in glove with the industry to promote more domestic energy production.Seeing growth and profit opportunities at a time of rising oil prices and a pro-business administration, big energy companies like Chesapeake [node:read-more:link]
A national scorecard released today by the independent Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) grades the nearly 20 state shared renewable energy programs (aka community solar). [node:read-more:link]
Sustainability has taken a new turn with O-Wind, an omnidirectional, single-axis wind turbine catered to serve apartment buildings facing chaotic winds in urban environments. Patent pending, the O-Wind takes advantage of horizontal and vertical winds without requiring steering. It would enable apartment block residents to sustainably generate electricity. Due to its unique design, the turbine makes use of wind approaching from all directions in three dimensions. This is not the case for other wind turbines available at present. [node:read-more:link]
The $1.2 million biogas machine is basically an internal combustion engine that’s similar to a diesel but can burn both methane and natural gas. It’s not using natural gas just yet, but turns methane into electricity. That’s generating about $8,000 worth of electricity at the plant each month, which is about 25 percent of the plant’s monthly electric bill.“This was an idea that staff had made, and is one of the actions — if you go back to the city’s climate change and energy conservation plan — that was in the plan,” said Bryan von Lossberg, president of the Missoula City Council. [node:read-more:link]
General Motors says it will ask the federal government for one national gas mileage standard, including a requirement that a percentage of auto companies' sales be zero-emissions vehicles. Mark Reuss, GM's executive vice president of product development, said the company will propose that a certain percentage of nationwide sales be made up of vehicles that run on electricity or hydrogen fuel cells."A national zero emissions program will drive the scale and infrastructure investments needed to allow the U.S. to lead the way to a zero emissions future," Reuss said. [node:read-more:link]
More than 60,000 tons of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel is stored on the shores of four of the five Great Lakes — in some cases, mere yards from the waterline — in still-growing stockpiles. \“It’s actually the most dangerous waste produced by any industry in the history of the Earth,” said Gordon Edwards, president of the nonprofit Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.The spent nuclear fuel is partly from 15 current or former U.S. nuclear power plants, including four in Michigan, that have generated it over the past 50 years or more. [node:read-more:link]
The U.S. government is taking steps to develop offshore wind farms off both coasts. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced this week the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will hold an offshore wind auction Dec. [node:read-more:link]
The energy sourced from Cactus Flats combined with power procured from the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm meets the electricity demand. [node:read-more:link]
