The State of California and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on renewable energy, building on existing collaboration by California and its federal partners to facilitate the development of renewable energy resources in the state. The MOU stems from California and DOI energy policy directives, and California’s legislative mandate to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and produce 33% of California’s electrical needs from renewable energy sources by 2020. The MOU notes one reason for California and DOI to really get the ball rolling on their collaboration: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act specifically directs economic stimulus funding to qualified renewable energy projects that begin construction by December 1, 2010.

The California-DOI MOU complements and expands on several MOUs issued over the past year to establish and outline the activities of the California Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT). The REAT was provided for in California Executive Order S-14-08, issued November 17, 2008, to “establish a more cohesive and integrated statewide strategy, including greater coordination and steamlining of the siting, permitting, and procurement processes for renewable generation … .” In other words, let’s dispense with the permitting hang-ups and delays that plague development projects in California and get more renewable energy facilities online.  While Executive Order S-14-08 does not focus on the development of solar energy in particular, this MOU is geared to faciliting California’s burgeoning solar energy industry.Continue Reading California and the U.S. Department of Interior Sign an MOU on Renewable Energy

The enthusiasm about smart grid continues to spread in the Pacific Northwest.  Tomorrow, Intel’s Ronler Acres Campus (just outside of Portland) will host "Demystifying the Smart Grid," a panel and dinner event from 6 to 9 PM that will bring together industry experts and capital providers to discuss smart grid opportunities and the direction of current…

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) highlighted smart grid technologies in its strategic plan for fiscal years 2009-2014 (the “Strategic Plan”). FERC found that our nation could potentially reduce peak electricity demand by up to 20% through the deployment of new technologies, including smart grid and demand response technologies.
 

In the Strategic Plan, FERC is…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule that would limit future greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations under the Clean Air Act to large industrial facilities emitting the equivalent of 25,000 tons or more of carbon dioxide annually. Effectively,  the application of GHG regulations will be confined to facilities such as power plants, refineries…

The Obama Administration has met its goal to invest $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on fuel-efficient vehicles for the federal fleet. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it has ordered :

· 3,100 fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles for $77 million;

· 14,105 fuel-efficient vehicles including alternative-fuel and hybrid vehicles, for…

140 U.S. and Chinese officials met in Beijing at the first U.S.-China Electric Vehicle Forum to discuss progress in the electric vehicle industry and opportunities, concluded October The meeting highlighted the rapidly growing electric vehicle industry in China and the US (which are two largest auto markets and energy consumers, and together emit more than…