By executive order Iowa’s Governor has established a renewable portfolio standard for state operations that leans heavily on in-state renewable energy sources. Governor Tom Vilsack’s order directs state agencies to obtain at least 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 and to reduce their energy use in buildings by 15 percent by 2010 relative to their energy use in 2000.
A new report by the Photovoltaic Technology Research Advisory Council (PV-TRAC) reviews the current status of solar powered electricity and presents a vision of photovoltaic technology for 2030 and beyond. The report nicely summarizes the policies of EU member states that have encouraged solar powered distributed generation.
Internet users have a nice opportunity to tune in via the web on a pair of workshops set up to discuss issues related to combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed generation (DG) development in California.
UPDATE MAY 12, 2005: The webcasts of these two meetings don’t appear to be archived on the CEC web site. So we’ve added links below to the various presentations that the CEC has put online that came out of these meetings.
A strategic report on developing a sustainable biomass policy, prepared for a foundation in 2001, offers a vision that is still relevant today.
We received a question on the whether or not states like New Jersey have authority to enact more stringent rules on mercury emissions from power plants than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued recently. Here is the original question: … Read More
Community wind energy projects are expanding across the Midwest. These locally owned commercial-scale wind projects maximize local economic benefits. Take a look at how farmers and entrepreneurs are harvesting a new crop.
Below find some nice online resources describing successful community wind energy projects.
More
We received a question on whether or not the state of Montana should enact a requirement for a 10 percent ethanol blend in its gasoline supplies. Dr. Dave responded, noting that Montana is one of six states that has in … Read More
In a unique collaboration, a Minnesota electric cooperative will supply the thermal energy requirements for an ethanol plant proposed in North Dakota.
Under a law enacted in 2002, communities in California were alllowed to aggregate electric utility customers and take control over their electric system. Three years later, implementation plans are being developed or under consideration by about two dozen California cities.
