Political Special - Clean Energy and Recent Politics

For those of us in the United States today is the day when the majority of US citizens who are going to vote will do so. A number of federal issues and the general direction of the country will be somewhat decided today. Of course one of those issues will be alternative energy and here are a few news articles for you this AM.


Election outcome may determine future of clean energy industry - San Antonio Business Journal

The fate of clean energy jobs around the nation may hinge on the outcome of the election. President Barack Obama has been a champion of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power and has supported programs that provide tax credits to companies investing in “green energy.” Republican nominee Mitt Romney, however, has called Obama’s support of such programs a disaster[...]

Green Jobs Depend on Obama Win As Fiscal Cliff Approaches - Bloomberg

Four years ago Obama pledged to make the U.S. less reliant on fossil fuels and create 5 million green jobs in 10 years. So far, job creation has been far more modest than Obama projected, and bankruptcies at government-supported companies, including solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC, which received a $535 million loan guarantee, have generated a political backlash.

Bill in Congress could increase energy competitiveness | Midwest Energy News

With the potential for renewable investment high in the Great Lakes region, companies may use the business structure to attract more funding, said Nick Hylla, director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, an outreach group based in Wisconsin.

“Where policy and financial innovation have been set in place at the state level, we’ve seen investors take advantage,” he said.

Climate policy advances in the states, but slowly - The Washington Post

But the push to expand renewable energy, which would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by producing electricity without burning fossil fuels, does continue on the state level. And California is pressing ahead — without the six states that initially planned to join it — with a trading system that will allow the state’s major carbon emitters to buy and sell pollution allowances.

 Obama-Romney: Where They Stand on Energy- U.S. Election 2012 - CNBC

There hasn't been all that much talk this election year about U.S. energy policies and the environment. But there are some major differences between the two presidential candidates.

technorati tags: alternative energy, green blog, climate change, energy, politics

November 5th Green News

Green economy is on the rise – but remains to be fully exploited | Environment | The Guardian

There are now nearly 1 million people employed in green jobs, from biofuels and electric car manufacturing to wind turbine installation, with more than 25,000 jobs created last year. The green sector is now bigger than car manufacturing, aerospace or telecoms, but gets far less of the political attention these established sectors enjoy.

Going Green: SUNY ESF generating most of its own heat, power - YNN, Your News Now

At the current price of heat and power, the college will save about $400,000 a year, which means the system, will be paid for in five years.

Scotland generating £200m a year of indie green energy

According to figures compiled by SmartestEnergy, there are now around 280 independent, commercial-scale renewable energy projects across the country with a total capacity of 750 megawatts – equivalent to a small conventional power station and enough to power more than 500,000 households.

Green campaigners furious with UK's 'dash for gas' revelation

The coalition is divided over energy policy, with Osborne favouring a major increase in gas use, promising generous tax subsidies to the shale gas industry at last month’s Tory party conference. The Liberal Democrats want greater emphasis on renewable energy.

Land acquired for biomass power plant project | News | Materials Recycling Week

The EnergyPark is claimed to be Europe’s most sustainable biomass-from-waste power station, using a mix of the technologies to divert of waste from landfill at below landfill cost at the same time as creating renewable energy and recycled products.

technorati tags: alternative energy, green blog, climate change, energy

Green energy exports key to Iceland's growth -McKinsey | Reuters

Green energy exports key to Iceland's growth -McKinsey | Reuters

Iceland risks slipping back into external deficit if it does not address the fundamental economic shortcomings exposed by the crisis, notably low productivity. This would threaten living standards and might delay the removal of capital controls imposed after the banking system collapsed in 2008.

technorati tags: alternative energy, green blog, climate change, energy