Renewable energy is at an important crossroads for several reasons. In particular, the following concerns have been brought to the forefront: the continued availability of subsidies that can impact the economic feasibility of renewable energy projects; the potential market impact of large quantities of inexpensive Marcellus formation natural gas entering the energy marketplace; and the emerging ability to cost-effectively store large quantities of energy generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar.
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has created a new website and Twitter feed to provide facts about renewable energy in the U.S. This informative, non-partisan organization is looking to address some of the mis-information about renewable energy, and facilitate fact-based decision and policy making regarding renewable energy. The links for both the website
New York’s Energy Highway
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo called for the development of New York’s “energy highway” in his State of the State address earlier this year. In large part, the energy highway would serve as an efficient conduit for energy from Canada and Western New York to the metro New York area, where demand is starting to outstrip the ability to ensure a reliable supply. The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is taking a lead role in the development of this initiative, and may play a key role in funding any significant expansion and/or replacement of components of New York’s aging power grid, or perhaps focused, less robust upgrades to the existing grid.
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New York Moves Its Marcellus Play Forward
New York has been all over the map recently regarding development of Marcellus formation natural gas. Over the last several weeks there have been legislative proposals to extend a State-wide moratorium on the development of the Marcellus Formation via hydrofracking. There have also been proposals to define “all” hydrofracking wastes as hazardous wastes. Others have been pushing to start development of the Marcellus formation, and for an end to a moratorium on that development.
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The Siting Process for Offshore Wind
Offshore wind has the potential to play an important and unique role in the US renewable energy supply. Whether it is off of the Atlantic, Pacific or Gulf Coasts or in the Great Lakes, a significant wind resource may, unlike many upland projects, be proximate to many significant load centers. The May/June edition of North
“Tailoring” of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Agenda
A key input into increased development of renewable energy projects in the U.S. is, and will continue to be, driven by U.S. EPA’s efforts to regulate greenhouse gasses (“GHG”). The nature and scope of GHG regulation, and Congress’ role in that effort, will be a material input into the renewable energy market. I encourage you
Renewable Energy and Tribal Nations
On January 19th U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new initiative to promote tribal renewable energy development. According to the DOE’s announcement, up to $10 million will be made available through DOE’s Tribal Energy Program to support, among other things, renewable energy projects on tribal lands.
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Will Obama’s Regulatory Review Order Help Renewables?
On January 18, 2011 President Obama signed an Executive Order to improve federal regulation as well as review existing regulations that may be outmoded or ineffective.
The Order, among other things, looks to coordinate regulation across agencies, reduce duplicative or overlapping regulations, and to foster increased participation by industry, experts and other stakeholders in the regulatory process.
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Evolving GOP Renewables Policy
As recently reported on energybiz.com, the GOP’s energy plan may be coming into focus as it relates to renewables. Rep. David Nunes (R-CA) has proposed new legislation called The Roadmap for America’s Energy Future. As it relates to renewable energy, Rep. Nunes states that this bill would generate billions of dollars of new lease and royalty proceeds from increased near-term development of domestic fossil fuel resources, and place them in a trust fund that “will be used to secure the long-term energy needs of our country through the deployment of affordable renewable and alternative energy options” and will result in “unprecedented investments in new forms of energy – the largest investment in renewable energy in world history”.
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Marcellus Shale Gas: When Will New York State Cash In?
Today there is much interest, pro and con, swirling around the prospects for the development of New York’s Marcellus Shale gas reserves. These reserves, which some estimate at well over one trillion cubic feet in New York alone, may provide a significant revenue source for a state that is burdened with a multi-billion dollar budget gap for the coming budget year, and perhaps several years to follow.
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