8 Major Energy Bills Offered: 2 Become Law

Senate Bill 252 requires rural electric cooperatives, such as Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and Intermountain Rural Electric Association, to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewables by 2020. The previous standard required that renewables account for 10 percent of rural co-ops’ power portfolio.

Bill Passed Increasing Renewable Energy Standard for Rural Cooperatives in Colorado

Colorado's renewable energy standard for rural cooperative electric utilities will increase from 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020 under Senate Bill 252, which was signed into law on June 6, 2013, by Governor John Hickenlooper. The new law requires rural co-ops with more than 100,000 meters and utilities that generate and supply electricity on behalf of member co-ops to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.

New Incentivized Sales Tax Exemption For Renewable Energy Development In Nebraska

On June 4, 2013, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman signed into law a bill (LB104) designed to incentivize the development of renewable energy in the state by exempting certain purchases of renewable energy equipment and other project costs from the state's 5.5 percent sales tax. The bill defines sources of renewable energy to include wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and transmutation of elements. Under the new law, prospective renewable energy developers will be required to invest a minimum of $20 million in qualified property in the state to be eligible for the exemption. Separate proposals to limit the benefit of the exemption to those spending a percentage of project costs using Nebraska-made materials, and to those spending a percentage of gross revenues earned with Nebraska businesses or individuals, both fell flat and are not included in the final law. The bill falls under the Nebraska Advantage Act of 2006 and takes effect immediately.

Kazakhstan Senate Approves Draft Law on Renewable Energy Sources

Kazakhstan Senate has approved the draft law On amendments to legislative acts to support use of renewable energy sources in the first reading, Tengrinews.kz reports.

Changing Policy Could Attract Private Investment in Clean Energy

Like a fresh wind setting in motion the blades of a giant turbine, a new idea for encouraging the development of clean energy has blown into the U.S. Congress.

It is to allow renewable-energy companies to form master limited partnerships, a business structure that has long worked to attract investment capital to the oil and gas industry. Legislation in the Senate has support from Republicans and Democrats alike, not to mention the White House. We think it’s a neat idea, too.

Draft law "On Alternative Energy Sources" Being Prepared in Uzbekistan

The Ministry of the Economy of Uzbekistan, Academy of Sciences and Uzbekenrgo State Joint-Stock Company (SJSC) will conclude the development of the project on draft law "On Alternative Energy Sources" by the end of June, a source in the government circles of Uzbekistan told Trend on Friday.

According to the source, a bill, aimed at regulating relations in the sphere of production and use of alternative energy sources, must be submitted to the government in early July and to the parliament of Uzbekistan in September.

Connecticut's Canadian Hydro Bill Becomes Law

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday signed Connecticut's new renewable portfolio standards into law, opening the door to large-scale hydro from Canada.

The bill expands the definition of renewable energy beyond wind, solar, and fuel cells, but still calls for 20 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Wind Companies Involved In FAIR Coalition To Promote MLP Bill

Several renewable energy companies, including prominent wind industry developers and manufacturers, have formed a coalition to promote and support the Master Limited Partnerships (MLP) Parity Act. The coalition, named Financing America's Investment in Renewables (FAIR), is advocating for equal treatment between clean energy and fossil fuels that would allow average Americans to invest in renewable energy projects in the same way they do oil and gas projects.

Shared Solar Bills Pass California Senate, Assembly

This is getting real, folks.  California legislators voted this week to advance two different bills that open up access to solar to the 75+ percent of energy customers who can’t put it on their own roof.  Here’s the skinny on the two bills and what we need you to do to make sure shared solar becomes a reality in California this legislative session.

Major NY Solar Bill Close to Becoming Law

Momentum is high for major solar legislation in New York State, but it’s a race to the finish to get it passed before lawmakers go home for the year.

Heavy Hitters Push US Tax Bill

A number of the largest renewable energy players in the United States have joined forces to lobby for tax changes to level the playing field for clean energy development.

Founding members of the coalition include First Wind, Vestas, Gamesa, OWN Energy, Everpower, Invenergy, Geronimo, Pattern Energy, juwi, Keybanc Utility, Power and Renewables, Terra-Gen Power and TradeWind Energy.

Hickenlooper Signs Bill to Double Rural Renewable-Energy Requirement

In a move to boost renewable-energy generation in Colorado, Gov. John Hickenlooper on Wednesday signed a controversial bill doubling the renewable-energy target for rural electric cooperatives.

"No question that the country as a whole is looking for, wanting cleaner fuels," Hickenlooper said.

The governor said, however, the bill was "imperfect" and issued an executive order to review its most contentious issues: the compliance deadline and the cost.

In Japan, New Policy Spurs Solar Power Boom

Across Japan, technology firms and private investors are racing to install devices that until recently they had little interest in: solar panels. Massive solar parks are popping up by the dozen, and companies are mounting panels atop warehouse and factory rooftops as part of a rapid buildup that one developer likened to an “explosion.”

Hickenlooper Likely to Act on Rural Energy Renewables Mandate Wednesday

After nearly a month of deliberation, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is expected to take action Wednesday on a handful of controversial bills that remain unsigned, including a measure to increase the amount of energy that rural electricity associations must draw from renewable sources.

Backers of Senate Bill 252 are optimistic Hickenlooper will sign it into law, but the governor’s office insists that a final decision won’t be made until Wednesday morning.

Decarbonisation Target Narrowly Defeated in British Commons Energy Bill Vote

A bid to include a target to decarbonise the UK's electricity generation by 2030 was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons on Tuesday afternoon, to the dismay of green campaigners and businesses that had backed the goal as a way of stimulating investment in renewables and low-carbon energy.

The amendment to the energy bill, proposed by the former Tory minister Tim Yeo, was voted down by 290 votes to 267, though several Tories and Lib Dems backed the measure against the coalition's line. It was one of the narrowest victories for the government in a whipped vote during this parliament.

Heineman Signs Bill to Offer Wind Energy Tax Incentives

Gov. Dave Heineman signed a bill into law Tuesday that will pave the way for a massive wind farm project in Nebraska.

The wind farm bill (LB104) by Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop will remove a barrier to the development and export of wind energy in Nebraska. It will offer tax incentives that could lead to Nebraska getting a $300 million to $400 million wind farm project by TradeWind Energy of Lenexa, Kan.

Interior Department OKs 520 MW of Solar, Geothermal Projects

The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) gave the go-ahead to 520 MW of renewable energy projects, including two solar and one geothermal plant, on public land in the states of Arizona and Nevada.

Among the projects that got leases on public land are the 350 MW Midland solar energy project to be developed by Boulder Solar Power LLC in Nevada. Creating about 350 construction jobs, the facility will generate enough renewable power for about 105,000 households, when completed.

Intersolar North America Spotlights Energy Storage Innovations and Changing Solar Policies

Intersolar North America, the most attended industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities in the U.S. solar market, will feature a variety of new products that boost system efficiency and lower costs on its 2013 exhibition floor of the Moscone Center in San Francisco from July 9 to 11, 2013. This year marks Intersolar North America’s sixth year in California, the United States’ largest solar market.

New Minnesota Solar Mandate Law Will Give Power Companies a Jolt

Large solar arrays are likely to sprout in Minnesota after lawmakers required Xcel and other big utilities to get 1.5% of their power from the sun by 2020.

Minnesota’s solar industry is getting a jolt of energy.

It doesn’t sound like much — a requirement that major utilities generate 1.5 percent of their power from the sun by 2020. That’s roughly the output of one power plant or wind farm.

ND's Business-Friendly Policies Touted at Wind Farm Dedication

A persistent rain Thursday in west-central North Dakota moved the Bison Wind Energy Center dedication from the site of the project to a more urban environment, but that hardly seemed to dampen the spirits of attendees to the ceremony and luncheon marking the completion of the massive project.

With some of the state’s most prominent political leaders looking on and close to 200 people packing the New Salem City Auditorium, top executives from Minnesota Power/ALLETE touted their $500 million baby — a 50,000-acre network of over 100 wind turbines in Oliver and Morton counties.

India Combats Energy Poverty Through Renewable Sources

India’s energy program is extremely interesting, given the sheer size of its electrical grid and the dire necessity to develop additional forms of electric generation.  Overall, it is the fourth-largest energy consumer in the world behind the US, China and Russia.  Yet over 300 million citizens in India function without electricity and over 800 million remain with limited electrical access.  What’s worse is 300,000-400,000 deaths occur each year from energy poverty, as burning traditional things like wood and animal waste indoors for cooking purposes lead to respiratory ailments that would be mitigated with better electrical services

Snowmass Senator's Clean Energy Bills Become Law

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed two clean energy bills into law Tuesday that Colorado Sen. Gail Schwartz of Snowmass Village co-sponsored.

The first bill, SB 13-212, is designed to create clean energy and construction jobs, help Coloradans save on their energy bills, and reduce air pollution. It creates the opportunity for new energy conservation and renewable energy financing options for commercial property owners. Sen. Matt Jones, D-Louisville, co-sponsored along with Sen. Schwartz.

U.K. Says Energy Law to Bring ‘Massive’ Cut in Pollution

Energy Secretary Ed Davey urged lawmakers to back away from immediately imposing targets for carbon emission from U.K. power plants, saying legislation being considered now will make a “massive” reduction. 

His department estimated the law being considered in Parliament tomorrow will stimulate 110 billion pounds ($168 billion) of investment in power stations and the electric grid. It includes guaranteed power prices for atomic reactors and wind farms and payments for gas plants that remain available to smooth peaks and troughs of intermittent renewable generation. 

Dayton Signs Solar Energy Bill

Minnesota's investor-owned utilities will be required to get 1.5 percent of their power from solar energy by 2020 under legislation signed by Gov. Mark Dayton. 

The solar energy standard also sets a statewide goal of reaching 10 percent by 2030. 

Connecticut State House of Reps Passes Renewable Energy Bill

The state House of Representatives approved a bill to revise Connecticut’s renewable energy standards, but not before amending the Senate-passed bill to make it tougher for the state to procure energy from large-scale hydropower sources to meet those standards.