Democrats Release Infrastructure Plan With $80 Billion for Grid Upgrades

The plan includes funding for energy storage, smart grid technologies, microgrids and electric vehicles—paid for by reversing parts of the Republican tax bill.

Senate Democrats released a $1 trillion infrastructure plan Wednesday framed as a way to give Republican "tax giveaways" for the wealthy back to the American people.

Additional powers in UK Govt's draft Energy Bill

The Government plans to introduce additional powers in its draft Energy Bill to provide certainty about the details of energy regulation that investors are looking for, the Energy Secretary has announced.

Addressing senior industry figures at an event hosted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Ed Davey confirmed that a new version of the Bill would be published next month. An early draft (307-page / 1.9MB PDF), made available for 'pre-legislative scrutiny' in May, has been criticised by the industry for leaving much of the detail of the Government's flagship Electricity Market Reform (EMR) programme to be covered by later secondary legislation.

California legislation would benefit renewable energy projects

Assemblyman Ben Hueso, D-79th District-Calif., has introduced a bill that would allow property-tax revenue to be used to promote renewable energy projects.

The legislation, A.B.2551, would authorize a legislative body to establish an infrastructure financing district in a renewable energy zone area, as defined, for the purpose of promoting renewable energy projects. The bill would exempt the creation of the district from the voter-approval requirement.

Colorado Governor's Energy Office changes are proposed

The Governor’s Energy Office, a cornerstone of former Gov. Bill Ritter’s New Energy Economy, would get a new name, expanded mission and termination date under a bill that Rep. Jon Becker, R-Fort Morgan, filed Wednesday.

The office would be renamed the “Colorado Office of Energy Development,” and its mission expanded to include promotion of all of Colorado’s energy resources — those based on fossil fuels as well as on renewable energy, Becker said in an interview.

It also would get a termination date: July 1, 2018, “unless extended through the sunset review process,” the proposal says.

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.

California key energy policy draft report available for comment

The following information was released by the California Energy Commission:

The California Energy Commission has released a preliminary draft of its 2011 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR). The report, the state's main energy planning document, discusses the wide variety of issues facing California's energy sector. The draft report provides recommendations to ensure reliable, affordable, and environmentally sound supplies of electricity, natural gas, and transportation fuels to meet the needs of the state's economy and growing population.

Cayman Islands: Committee shines light on National Energy Policy

If Wednesday’s presentation is any indication, then the National Energy Policy set to go before Cabinet in the first quarter of 2012 will address issues from the mundane to the ambitious – from building code revisions to goals for alternative energy production. Subcommittees formed in November 2010 will submit their draft reports to the National Energy Policy Committee in two weeks, with public consultation and policy implementation scheduled to take place next year.

India: With accent on renewable sources of energy, the solar sector in India is poised to grow at a significant pace

Solar power is one of the most talked about topics in India today. With peak power deficit hovering around the 12 per cent and increasing fossil fuel costs, the government is aggressively pushing for renewable sources of energy. Of the 182 GW of total installed power generation capacity in India, renewables constitute about 11 per cent. However, the installed solar capacity still has less than 1 per cent share in the total renewable energy installed capacity.

CA state committee looks at rural renewable energy

Rural renewable energy planning has started as a state committee began hearings today on the “promise of renewable energy development in California’s rural economies.”

The Assembly Select Committee on Renewable Energy Economy in Rural California, chaired by Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez, D-Coachella, held its first hearing at Fresno City College to assess the opportunities and challenges of achieving the state’s high renewable energy portfolio standards. The hearing included discussion on transmission planning, siting and rural land use, according to a press release from Pérez’s office.

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.