Japan panel head eyes incentive seen boosting solar power

The head of a Japanese panel suggested on Wednesday that utilities pay 52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh) for solar power supplies in a renewable energy incentive scheme, a rate that could encourage business investors to enter the budding market.

Japan will introduce in July a new feed-in tariff scheme, which was originally aimed to help cut fossil fuel consumption and has become a key policy as Japan tries to reduce its reliance on atomic power after last year's Fukushima disaster.

Poland to amend renewable bill amid wind-farm investor concern

Poland, which boosted wind-power capacity 37 percent last year, will amend a proposed renewable- energy law after investors said a December draft would hamper development of new ventures and erode wind-project finances.

The December plans, aimed at saving the government as much as 1 billion zloty ($313 million), would reduce support for onshore wind farms, boost subsidies for costlier technologies and scrap an obligation for utilities to buy fixed-rate power from renewable sources.

Poland to reverse course over new renewables law

Coal-reliant Poland will reverse course and push through a law providing guaranteed purchase prices for power generated from wind turbines, an economy ministry official said on Wednesday.

The European Union member in December presented an overhaul of its renewable support plan that sought to retract guaranteed purchase prices for renewables, a move that raised investor concern in the rapidly growing wind sector.

Industry members said the lack of a purchase guarantee and a cut in the size of state support for wind by a quarter would shrivel up financing over worries costly projects would not provide a return in the European Union nation.

California's energy policy continues to provide valuable lessons going forward

Energy efficiency continues to be the cheapest, cleanest, fastest source of energy available today. Take California for instance. Over the last several decades, California has implemented a number of key energy policies – efficiency programs, innovative changes to the utility business model, and standards for buildings and appliances – that make efficiency the state’s leading energy resource. In addition to these efficiency policies, California also has an aggressive renewable energy effort to ensure the State’s second energy option comes from clean sources of energy.