In September 2006, the Whatcom County Council (Washington) voted to use $62,000 out of $85,000 in projected energy efficiency savings for purchasing a block of renewable energy for a $0.01 per kWh premium. The renewable energy credits from Puget Sound Energy will cover 100 percent of the electricity used in county operations in 2007.
Last night, across the county, citizens’ cast their votes on ballot initiatives ranging from renewable energy portfolio requirements to increasing taxes to fund global warming programs. The results were mixed. Note: Most of the vote totals below are those that I found on the morning after the election on the respective Secretary of State web sites. The vote totals could change but the results are not expected to change.
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted yesterday on the final rules for implementing a 15 percent renewable energy standard by 2025. The rules state that 30 percent of the renewable standard is to be derived from distributed energy resources â€" small-scale technologies located close to where energy is used, such as roof-top photovoltaic projects or solar hot water projects.
Citizens in cities and states across the country will be casting their votes on some interesting energy issues on November 7th. Ballot initiatives ranging from a renewable energy portfolio requirement in Grand Forks, ND to increasing taxes to fund global warming programs in Seattle, WA will give citizens an opportunity to decide directly which path their communities will take. Democratic energy in action!
New York Governor George Pataki has signed legislation (Senate Bill S8349-A) that will limit the use of eminent domain by electric and gas corporations.
The fact that a small portion of Public Service Company of Colorado’s (Xcel Energy) ratepayers pay a “green premium” on their electric bills to support 60 MW of wind energy while 1000 MW of wind power costs will be spread over all customers is deemed to make “little sense.” The PUC staff have proposed the elimination of Xcel’s Windsource green power program and for the program’s cost to be absorbed by the entire ratebase.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced a pilot program to demonstrate that four state university campuses can make their campuses completely energy independent within the next five years. University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point will take part.
If they meet the challenge, the schools will be the first state-owned facilities capable of acquiring or producing renewable energy equivalent to their consumption.
ILSR’s Vice President, David Morris, was interviewed on WCCO’s "Good Question" segment that asked if gas prices were kept low for the election. Segment aired September 21, 2006.… Read More
A new report issued by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance urges the U.S. Department of Energy to change its piecemeal approach to commercializing ethanol from cellulose and develop a comprehensive strategy. "The future of American agriculture may depend on this," says David Morris, Vice President of ILSR and author of Putting the Pieces Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol.
