Renewable generation capacity increased by 152 gigawatts (GW) or 8.3% during 2015, the highest annual growth rate on record, according to new data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Capacity Statistics 2016 finds that as of the end of 2015, 1,985 GW of renewable generation capacity existed globally. “Renewable energy deployment continues … Continue reading 2015 sets record for renewable energy
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Renewable energy capacity up by 152GW
The renewable energy generation capacity increased by 152 gigawatts (GW), which is equivalent to 8.3% last year, the highest annual growth rate on record, according to new data released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). The Renewable Capacity Statistics 2016 found that as of the end of 2015, 1,985 GW of renewable generation capacity … Continue reading Renewable energy capacity up by 152GW
Continue readingNew York Times calls for more wind power and transmission to carry it
The New York Times editorial board called for more renewable energy in a pair of editorials this week. Monday’s commentary was globally-focused, examining the growth of renewables worldwide and the role they can play in helping countries achieve their Paris agreement promises. The New York Times says growing renewable energy is a key part … Continue reading New York Times calls for more wind power and transmission to carry it
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U.S. and China decision to sign climate change accord
The United States and China issued a joint statement today announcing the two nations will sign the Paris Agreement, last year’s international agreement to lower greenhouse gas emissions, on Friday, April 22 (this Earth Day). AWEA CEO Tom Kiernan reacted with the following statement: “This historic announcement shows the U.S. is in the market for … Continue reading U.S. and China decision to sign climate change accord
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Christina Calabrese receives Andrew Linehan Award for Environmental Excellence
Christina Calabrese, Director of Permitting and Environmental Affairs at EDP Renewables North America, is this year’s Andrew Linehan Award for Environmental Excellence recipient. The award is presented to leaders in the siting community who strive to improve U.S. wind industry siting practices, an endeavor that in turn helps preserve the collective reputation of wind power … Continue reading Christina Calabrese receives Andrew Linehan Award for Environmental Excellence
Continue readingDeveloping nations top investors in renewables in 2015
Wind energy added 62GW, and photovoltaics 56 GW, with more modest contributions coming from biomass, geothermal, solar thermal and “waste-to-power”, in which waste products are recycled. Investment in renewable energy hit a record USD 286 billion in 2015, more than half of which came from developing countries for the first time, according to a UN … Continue reading Developing nations top investors in renewables in 2015
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Farming the wind
As a native New Yorker and Washington, D.C. transplant, admittedly I haven’t spent much time in rural America. So traveling to wind farms on the Colorado plains this past weekend was truly remarkable for me on a couple of different levels. On the one hand, the AWEA team spends its days advocating for the continued … Continue reading Farming the wind
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Meeting the people who live and work with wind power
Five months into my tenure at AWEA, I have a head full of facts about wind power. I can tell you about jobs, electric bills savings and clean air benefits. I can explain the policy mechanisms and incentives that help grow wind energy, and which companies are investing in a clean energy future for America. … Continue reading Meeting the people who live and work with wind power
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1.2 mln Brazilian homes to be self-powered by 2024
Nearly 1.2 million homes in Brazil will have to generate their own energy from renewable energy sources by 2024. A study by the National Electric Energy Agency predicts that homes equipped with solar panels or mini wind turbines will be able to generate electricity for household consumption, and transfer any surplus to a local distribution … Continue reading 1.2 mln Brazilian homes to be self-powered by 2024
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The Inexorable Shift of the U.S. Power Sector
David Littell served as a commissioner of the Maine Public Utilities Commission from 2010 to 2015, participating in the resolution of more than 2,000 cases involving energy efficiency, distributed generation, ratemaking, rate design, and consumer protection issues. He’s now a Principal at the Regulatory Assistance Project. This blog originally appeared on the Regulatory Assistance Project’s … Continue reading The Inexorable Shift of the U.S. Power Sector
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Major utility: Cutting carbon with wind, solar “a good business plan”
Beth Soholt is the Executive Director of Wind on the Wires, AWEA’s Midwest regional partner. Wind on the Wires concentrates on the technical aspects of connecting wind farms to the transmission grid, and delivering wind energy to cities and towns in nine states from Illinois to North Dakota. Xcel Energy recently said it plans to … Continue reading Major utility: Cutting carbon with wind, solar “a good business plan”
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Support mounting for Oregon plan to eliminate coal, increase renewables
The Oregon state legislature is currently considering a bill that would eliminate coal from the state’s energy mix while increasing its Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50 percent by 2040. The initiative, called the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Plan (House Bill4036), has wide variety of supporters, ranging from the Sierra Club to utilities Pacific Power … Continue reading Support mounting for Oregon plan to eliminate coal, increase renewables
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Billions in benefits from adding more electric power transmission
Savings on producing electricity are just the start of the benefits to regions that expand their electrical transmission, according to an impressive new study issued today in Little Rock, Ark., by the Southwest Power Pool, which supplies 14 states across the central U.S. Fuel cost savings alone totaled $240 million in the first year, from … Continue reading Billions in benefits from adding more electric power transmission
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Protecting our most precious resource: water
California’s ongoing drought serves as a stark reminder that water may well be our most precious resource. Luckily, wind power helps conserve billions of gallons every year. In 2013 alone, wind saved over 35 billion gallons of water. To put that into perspective, that works out to 120 gallons per person, or the equivalent of … Continue reading Protecting our most precious resource: water
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Clean Power Plan overcomes first legal challenge
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia recently issued a major ruling on the Clean Power Plan, deciding a stay of the rule was not warranted. Here’s a roundup of what people are saying about the announcement. The New York Times “We are pleased that the court has rejected petitioners’ attempts to … Continue reading Clean Power Plan overcomes first legal challenge
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Governors’ coalition teams up wind energy and solar power to advance renewable energy across U.S.
After seven years of promoting the benefits of adding wind energy to the U.S. electricity mix, the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition announced today it will pair its advocacy work for wind with work for solar energy as well. The change is reflected in the group’s new name, the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy Coalition (GWSC). … Continue reading Governors’ coalition teams up wind energy and solar power to advance renewable energy across U.S.
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Governor Cuomo Launches $5 Billion Clean Energy Fund to Grow New York’s Clean Energy Economy
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the New York State Public Service Commission’s approval of a 10-year, $5 billion Clean Energy Fund to accelerate the growth of New York’s clean energy economy, address climate change, strengthen resiliency in the face of extreme weather and lower energy bills for New Yorkers starting this year. Additionally, the … Continue reading Governor Cuomo Launches $5 Billion Clean Energy Fund to Grow New York’s Clean Energy Economy
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Spain’s 500 MW wind energy auction inadequate
Spain’s 500MW wind power auction last week was too small to satisfy demand and the country risks missing its 2020 target for renewables. The auction is Spain’s first under the new support scheme for renewable energy projects since the government implemented a series of harsh retroactive cutbacks to the country’s feed-in tariff in 2013. A … Continue reading Spain’s 500 MW wind energy auction inadequate
Continue readingThe Spanish Wind Energy Association believes that the outcome of the 500 MW auction does not reflect the reality of the sector
The Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE), which represents 90% of Spanish wind energy sector, believes that the outcome of the auction held on Friday 14th, the first in Spain ever, is not significant because it does not reflect the reality of the sector. The fact that the auction was isolated (there is no calendar for … Continue reading The Spanish Wind Energy Association believes that the outcome of the 500 MW auction does not reflect the reality of the sector
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Increasing World’s Share of Renewable Energy Would Boost Global GDP up to $1.3 Trillion
Achieving a 36 per cent share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 would increase global gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 1.1 per cent, roughly USD 1.3 trillion, according to new analysis by IRENA. Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the Economics, released today at IRENA’s sixth Assembly, provides the first global … Continue reading Increasing World’s Share of Renewable Energy Would Boost Global GDP up to $1.3 Trillion
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