Category Archives: OpEd

Renewable energy, wind power and solar energy, seen generating one million jobs in India

The renewable energy sector, a particular focus of attention for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has generated 400,000 jobs till 2014, according to a report released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).   The sector could generate a million jobs by 2022, if the government reaches its goal of 100 giga watts (GW) of solar … Continue reading Renewable energy, wind power and solar energy, seen generating one million jobs in India

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Government of dinosaurs will give Australia a ‘fossilised economy’

Following a recent meeting of federal and state ministers with the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figures, the federal government announced that it will publish by mid-year the emissions target it will take to the Paris Climate Summit in November. However, even if all the world’s governments agree … Continue reading Government of dinosaurs will give Australia a ‘fossilised economy’

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The Great Transition to Renewable Energy, Solar Power and Wind energy

The global transition to clean, renewable energy and away from nuclear and fossils is well under way, with remarkable developments happening every day. The Great Transition by Lester Brown, Janet Larsen, Matt Roney, and Emily Adams lays out a tremendous range of these developments – here are seven that may surprise you.     1. … Continue reading The Great Transition to Renewable Energy, Solar Power and Wind energy

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Wind power and solar energy were the clear winners in Germany

15 years ago, German politicians agreed to wean the country off fossil fuels and nuclear energy. The shift has been expensive and mistakes were made, but it has put Germany on a path to a cleaner, greener economy.   Sitting at a big conference table in central Berlin, laden with fruit skewers and vegetarian sandwiches, … Continue reading Wind power and solar energy were the clear winners in Germany

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Tory victory a huge blow to UK wind energy industry

The industry is concerned that wind energy, solar power, hydro and other low-carbon technologies could see further cuts to financial support – concerns bolstered by recent EU negotiations on green targets. These saw the UK Government fight hard – and successfully – to block European attempts to impose a target for the proportion of energy … Continue reading Tory victory a huge blow to UK wind energy industry

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EWEA welcomes deal on reform of the ETS

The European Wind Energy Association welcomes the deal between lawmakers to reform the Emissions Trading System before 2021. The EU-28 Member States and the European Parliament have agreed to introduce a market stability reserve in 2019 to tackle a glut of over 2 billion excess permits in the ETS. The surplus of allowances is currently … Continue reading EWEA welcomes deal on reform of the ETS

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First Lady Michelle Obama credits renewable energy for hiring veterans

First Lady Michelle Obama praised the renewable energy sector for its efforts to make good jobs available for U.S. military veterans, in marking the fourth anniversary of Joining Forces, the veterans advocacy initiative she co-leads with Dr. Jill Biden.   Military veterans from leading wind energy development companies Invenergy and EDP Renewables attended the event … Continue reading First Lady Michelle Obama credits renewable energy for hiring veterans

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Lester R. Brown on Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar Power and Wind Energy

Interview: Earth Policy Institute’s Lester Brown New Book Lays Out Roadmap for Transition to Renewables Ethan Goffman, reposted from Earthtalk.org, For the last 40 years, Lester Brown has been one of the primary forces in the sustainability movement. Besides publishing some 45 books, he is the founder of the Worldwatch Institute and the Earth Policy Institute. … Continue reading Lester R. Brown on Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar Power and Wind Energy

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Renewables, wind power and solar energy, 75% of new US capacity Q1

A combination of wind energy, solar power, geothermal energy and hydropower together provided over 75.43 per cent of the 1,229MW of new generating capacity placed into service during the first quarter of 2015, according to FERC. The balance (302MW) was provided by natural gas.   America’s Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released its latest … Continue reading Renewables, wind power and solar energy, 75% of new US capacity Q1

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Lester R. Brown: The Great Energy Transition to Solar Power and Wind Energy Is Underway

The worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel resources shrink, as air pollution worsens, and as concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, oil and natural gas, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled largely by coal … Continue reading Lester R. Brown: The Great Energy Transition to Solar Power and Wind Energy Is Underway

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US power sector emissions poised to fall to two-decade low

This should prove to be a watershed year for the “de-carbonization” of the US power sector, with record volumes of coal-fired capacity to be shuttered, renewables capacity to be built, and natural gas to be consumed. The result, according to research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF): CO2 emissions from the power sector should drop … Continue reading US power sector emissions poised to fall to two-decade low

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Vestas urges Australian parliament to support Clean Energy Council’s compromise proposal on Renewable Energy Target

Australia now one step away from a return to bipartisan renewable energy policy. After more than a year of uncertainty, the Australian Government can act quickly to secure jobs and investment in rural and regional Australia by accepting the Renewable Energy Target (RET) compromise proposed by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) to break the current … Continue reading Vestas urges Australian parliament to support Clean Energy Council’s compromise proposal on Renewable Energy Target

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Obama orders gov’t to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 pct.

President Barack Obama on Thursday signed an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the federal government by 40 percent over the next decade, a move made as part of his administration’s efforts to fight climate change. The executive order also set a target for 30 percent of the electricity consumed by the … Continue reading Obama orders gov’t to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 pct.

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World CO2 emissions stall in 2014, Rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, helped keep emissions in check

Global energy emissions stayed stable last year even though the economy grew, according to data released Friday that could boost chances for a landmark climate accord later this year. The rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, played a role in keeping emissions from the energy sector to 32.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide … Continue reading World CO2 emissions stall in 2014, Rising use of renewable energy, particularly in China, helped keep emissions in check

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The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar power and Wind Energy

“The energy transition will change not only how we view the world but also how we view ourselves,” say the authors of The Great Transition. “With rooftop solar panels to both power homes and recharge car batteries, there will be a personal degree of energy independence not known for generations.”   As fossil fuel reserves … Continue reading The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar power and Wind Energy

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U.S. trend toward sustainable energy continued in 2014

The United States saw continued growth in renewable energy, natural gas and energy efficiency in 2014, according to the third annual Sustainable Energy in America Factbook. The Factbook shows that U.S. deployment of sustainable energy increased as prices continued to fall and that investment in U.S. clean energy grew at a higher rate. Analysts at … Continue reading U.S. trend toward sustainable energy continued in 2014

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The cost of wind energy and solar power keeps dropping

A new study from the International Renewable Energy Agency laying it out in detail. Large wind power farms got cheaper between 2010 and 2014. Large-scale solar power got a lot cheaper. And at least some renewable plants are even becoming competitive with new fossil-fuel plants:   The chart shows the “levelized cost of electricity” for different … Continue reading The cost of wind energy and solar power keeps dropping

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Global capacity of renewable energy will more than double in 2025

The past decade has witnessed significant developments in policies for renewable energy. Previously, less than 50 countries worldwide had support policies for renewable energy; this number now stands at more than 130. As a result of political and financial support, investments in renewables have risen dramatically in recent years. In fact, the European Union has … Continue reading Global capacity of renewable energy will more than double in 2025

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Renewable energy now cost advantageous, especially when cost of pollution is factored in

The cost of generating power from renewable energy sources has reached parity or dropped below the cost of fossil fuels for many technologies in many parts of the world, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) revealed in a new report today.   The landmark report, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014, concludes that biomass, hydropower, … Continue reading Renewable energy now cost advantageous, especially when cost of pollution is factored in

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