DC Council Passes Nation's Most Aggressive 100 Percent Renewable Energy Bill, Mandates Eliminating Fossil Fuels

The Washington, D.C. city council on Tuesday unanimously passed the nation’s most aggressive 100 percent renewable energy bill, in what would be the fastest-acting climate change legislation in the country.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill. If she does, Congress will have 30 days to veto the bill.

The bill would require District utilities to source all electricity from wind and solar by 2032 — up from its current goal of 50 percent renewables in that time — and would set tough new energy efficiency standards for buildings. The bill's authors say it will reduce greenhouse gases in the District 44 percent by 2032.

Washington D.C. On Course To Pass Historic Climate Bill

As the federal government doubles down on denying climate change, the nation’s capital is moving toward using 100 percent renewable energy.

The nation’s capital just took a major step toward passing the most ambitious climate bill in the country—at a time when the federal government denies the need for such laws.

Tuesday (November 27), the Council of the District of Columbia voted unanimously for the Clean Energy D.C. Omnibus Act of 2018, more commonly referred to as the Clean Energy D.C. Act. The law would move the city’s power grid entirely to renewable energy sources by 2032, making it the first municipality to do so.

Will California Redouble its Push for Clean Energy? It All Rides on This Upcoming Vote

It's difficult to overstate how important California is to the US clean energy effort. For decades it has been serving as a kind of existence proof, growing its economy even as per-capita energy use and carbon intensity have fallen.

Every year, the market researchers at CleanEdge put out a Cleantech Leadership Index, ranking US cities and states on a range of more than 70 indicators, from renewable energy deployment to VC investment to clean energy patents to green buildings and more.

Virginia utilities, lawmakers to reform renewable energy policy Read more: Virginia utilities, lawmakers to reform renewable energy policy

Virginia lawmakers, environmental groups and utilities are working to revamp the state's 2007 Electric Utility Re-Regulation Act, which is designed to bolster renewable energy generation.

Stakeholders want to reform loophole in the law allows utilities to receive financial credit for renewable energy investments made outside of Virginia.

Renewable energy laws in cross-hairs of conservative groups

Renewable energy advocates made an unsuccessful push last year to expand Missouri’s green power law and help lessen the state’s dependence on fossil fuels.

But the same groups may spend 2013 on defense, working to fend off a movement among conservative groups such as the Heartland Institute and Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform that seek to dismantle such mandates across the country.

Their tool for doing so is the American Legislative Exchange Council, a corporate-backed group of mostly Republican state legislators, that adopted model legislation this fall — a blueprint for members to use to repeal renewable energy laws in their home states.

Blumenauer and CPC Call for Extending the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit

Office of the House of Representative Earl Blumenauer, U.S Government has issued the following news release:

Members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Energy & Environment Task Force announced today that the CPC is endorsing The American Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Extension Act of 2011( H.R. 3307).

This bipartisan bill, cosponsored by CPC member Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), would extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for renewable energy through 2016. PTC provides incentives to invest in wind, geothermal, hydropower and other energy projects. The current law is set to expire on January 1, 2013, and without the extension renewable energy projects could soon be at a standstill. Thousands of jobs are already threatened by the looming deadline.

CFTC decision gives renewables relief from Dodd Frank

Author: Rick Umoff, Cleantech Law Partners

In July 2010, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was granted expanded authority under the Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd Frank) to regulate risky transactions thought to be at the heart of the financial crisis.

NJ solar program gets new life

This morning Governor Chris Christie signed into law bipartisan legislation to strengthen and encourage the continued growth of New Jersey’s solar industry, while protecting ratepayers from increased costs.

The bill couples an acceleration of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) for solar energy with a reduction of the solar alternate compliance payments, strengthening the solar market in New Jersey, and securing the state’s place as a national solar energy leader.

“Since my time running for office, I made it clear that my Administration would be unrivaled in our aggressive support for the development of renewable sources of energy in New Jersey,” says Christie.

Legislation introduced for renewable energy development on public land

On Thursday U.S. Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) introduced H.R. 6154, The Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act, bipartisan legislation that streamlines permitting for renewable energy projects on public lands.

“By streamlining renewable energy projects on public lands, we can reduce our dependency on foreign oil and put Californians back to work,” said Thompson. “This bill is good for our economy, our national security and our environment. It will spur job growth, grow our energy sector, support conservation and help us pay down our deficit.”

House of Representatives passes bill to choke off Energy Department financing

Republicans in the House of Representatives quietly passed 13 provisions last week that would choke off Energy Department financing for existing clean energy and efficiency programs.

The House adopted the amendments on June 6 as part of its 2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The proposed cuts reflect a broader trend. As the Tea Party reshapes the GOP, opposition to policies that reduce climate-changing gases and stoke the clean energy economy is soaring.

Jordan's parliament adopts energy efficiency law

Arwa reported on last week’s parliamentary vote to shelve Jordan’s first nuclear reactor. Exploratory mining for uranium was also stopped. The program will surely resurrect once new feasibility analyses are complete, but against a backdrop of a pressurized economy, scarce water sources and corruption investigations, success is anyone’s guess.

The time is now for Jordan’s renewable proponents to demonstrate the viability of alternative energy. Take a page from regional legend David and Goliath, and slay the nuclear beast.

Florida: Winners and losers - Some bills that passed, failed in the 2012 legislative session

Some bills that passed and failed in the 2012 session. Bills must be approved by Gov. Rick Scott.

RECLAIMED WATER (PASSED): Bans all five water management districts from forcing cities and utilities to give away treated water. (SB 1086/HB 639)

NUMERIC NUTRIENTS (PASSED): Allows Florida to override federal water pollution requirements and provides a flexible "threshold" standard. (SB 2060/HB 7051)

TRAIL ADS (PASSED): Allows private companies to buy ads on state trails. (SB 268/HB 181)

Maryland gov lobbies lawmakers for offshore wind

Maryland's governor lobbied lawmakers personally Tuesday for one of the key pieces of his environmental agenda, a reworked offshore wind power bill modeled on a New Jersey law.

The bill follows one that was killed the year before by lawmakers over concerns about costs. That bill would have mandated utilities enter long-term contracts with offshore wind power producers. The current bill establishes requirements for offshore wind power production, but does not require mandatory contracts.

Vermont Statehouse 2012: A legislative preview

On Tuesday, 180 lawmakers will converge on the Statehouse after a seven month hiatus for Round 2 of the 2011-2012 biennium. Judging from interviews with committee chairs, the upcoming session will be fast and furious. Lawmakers have an impressive array of complicated issues to address in four short months, and there is little expectation that the session will drag past the first week in May (this is an election year after all).

Vermont: New energy plan highlights transportation changes post-Irene

Gov. Peter Shumlin's comprehensive energy plan includes a significant portion dedicated to improving the Vermont transportation infrastructure, calling for a greater focus on pedestrian/bicycle projects and increasing the number of in-state vehicles powered by renewable sources.

Chris Cole, a planning and policy director with the state's Agency of Transportation, said during a Thursday forum in Brattleboro that the governor's plan reduces petroleum consumption in Vermont while reducing energy use in the transit sector.

Renewable energy potential in Armenia

Renewable energy development has been slow in the past, but its application throughout the world is accelerating. Policies to stimulate a faster deployment of clean energy technologies are necessary and will, in turn, create a level playing field by addressing market barriers, creating transparent pricing structures, and facilitating access to infrastructure financing. Because the renewable energy industry is not yet at the same level of development as the more traditional energy industries, it needs a more favorable regulatory environment in the near term for its development, survival, and transformation to a mainstream energy resource.

India: Ambitious renewable energy policy on the anvil

Tamil Nadu will soon come out with a renewable energy policy that will feature ambitious targets and several innovative features, M. Velmurugan, Executive Chairman, Tamil Nadu Industrial Guidance Bureau, said on Thursday.

Addressing an Italian business mission, which is scouting for partnerships on sustainable urban infrastructure and energy, he said that the State, which had an installed capacity of 17000 MW, was looking to significantly scale up the share of renewable energy in its energy grid.

Rhode Island’s renewable energy laws

By Representative Deborah Ruggiero

Rhode Island ranks among the lowest 10 states in the country when it comes to renewable energy. However, in the 2011 session, the General Assembly passed a suite of renewable energy laws -- some of the most cohesive and comprehensive in the nation—that will leap frog Rhode Island from laggard to leader in renewable energy.  It’s more than just protecting our environment, it’s about creating jobs in our state.

Virginia: Wind clears the way for greener grid

Wind generators or windmills are sprouting up all over the United States.

They're part of a growing move to expand the use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and the sun, to produce electricity.

Philippines: The President’s renewable energy policy

Energy Secretary Rene Almendras returned a day ahead of President Noynoy Aquino last week from Japan. Despite his abbreviated stay, many are hoping that Secretary Almendras’ visit to the Land of the Rising Sun would have convinced him further that he is doing the right thing by pushing the President’s strong pro-renewable energy policy.