Spain’s Renewables Industry Applauds New Payment Scheme

Renewable energy investors could finally get the policy certainty they have been begging for—if the proposal passes.

  

Spain’s renewables industry is celebrating proposed legislation that could provide plant owners with guaranteed income for up to 12 years.

The regulatory framework would give renewable energy plant owners the option to stick with their current level of remuneration until the end of 2031, or switch to a formula based on the weighted average cost of capital that will be reviewed after six years. 

Solar Required on New Commercial Buildings in Watertown, Massachusetts

Watertown, Massachusetts now requires solar power with all new commercial construction and retrofits of structures greater than 10,000 sq feet – as well all structures that include ten or more residential units.

Solar power as a required part of new construction is starting to catch hold. Last year, we saw South Miami mandate 2.75 kW of solar for every 1000 square feet on new homes. Prior to that it’d been a few cities within California (Lancaster led the way in 2013, with Sebastopol, Santa Monica, and San Francisco) requiring solar with new construction. Now, of course, we live in a time where the whole of the State of California has set a requirement for all new low-rise residential construction to have solar in 2020, and there is much speculation on what that might do to lower installation costs.

New Governors Could Mandate 34 GWac More Solar, Wind by 2030

Illinois, Nevada show most potential for solar

A new analysis by Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables finds that the renewable energy and climate ambitions of governors elected on November 6 could increase the total market for solar in five states by 17.7 GWac, if all five pass 50% by 2030 mandates.

November 6 was a big night for renewable energy and climate policies. While voters rejected a 50% by 2030 renewable energy mandate in Arizona and a carbon tax in Washington, they also elected governors in five states that have called for stronger renewable energy mandates.

Four more either pledged to commit to the Paris Agreement or are in states that have already joined an alliance of states committed to meeting Paris Agreement goals. Wood Mackenzie Power and Renewables has identified renewable portfolio standard (RPS) policies as the most likely way to meet those goals, bringing the total number of states that could potentially see RPS increases to nine.

In a new report, Wood Mackenzie looks at the market ramifications of states passing 50% by 2030 renewable energy mandates. This is less than the 100% being called for by three of these governors, however both timelines and total ambition of the final policies will likely be decided through political processes.

The report found that if all five pass 50% by 2030 RPS policies, this could increase the total solar that is built by 2030 by 17.7 GWac, and the total wind by 16.5 GW. These volumes and ratios are based on current electric demand and the current wind/solar ratio in each state, and it is important to note that these numbers are outside of other renewable development which may happen for other reasons, including to meet current RPS mandates or driven by factors such as voluntary utility and corporate procurement.

The state that would see the most solar market growth as the result of a more ambitious RPS is Illinois, which at 9.1 GWac makes up more than half of the total anticipated increase. This is doubtless due to the much larger population in Illinois, including 8 million residents in Chicago and surrounding suburbs, than other states that are considering raising their mandates.

Wood Mackenzie has expressed concerns regarding Illinois’ financial condition, and it is also unclear how the state’s sizable nuclear fleet would fit into all of this. However, the firm points to a large interconnection queue for wind and solar projects, and also the state’s ability to import capacity from other wind-rich states in the region.

The state with the 2nd-greatest potential for more solar is Nevada. And while Governor-elect Steve Sisolak (D) has called for putting the state on a path to 100% renewable energy, the initial path forward is up to Nevada voters. November 6 saw an electoral victory for the state’s Question 6, which calls for 50% renewables by 2030, however the bill must go to the voters one more time before becoming law.

Wood Mackenzie is projecting that all new capacity under an RPS in Nevada will come from solar, not wind, and that this additional 4 GW by 2030 would more than double the current volume in the state. Nevada is one of only three states where solar met more than 10% of in-state electricity demand in 2017, and the state also has developed its geothermal resources.

Political and infrastructure constraints

The report projects that New Mexico, Colorado and Minnesota would each deploy from 1-2 GWac of additional solar to meet a 50% by 2030 RPS. In Colorado and Minnesota wind is expected to dominate capacity additions, but none of these states have particularly large populations and electric demand.

Wood Mackenzie also included Michigan in the report, but as major actors in this state do not appear to be contemplating an RPS increase we have omitted this from our summary of the findings.

The firm also noted that Democratic governors who have taken office in Kansas and Wisconsin are unlikely to pass RPS policies with Republican control of both houses of each state’s legislature. 

Wood Mackenzie additionally did not provide forecasts for Connecticut and Maine, due to a variety of factors. This includes a preference in the region for importing Canadian hydropower, and “severe transmission constraints” in Maine.

Source

It's the Economy: Maryland RPS Debate Illustrates National Divide on Clean Energy Policy

A curious trend is emerging when it comes to renewable energy mandates: Many states that have them are doubling down, while those that don’t are showing little interest at all.

Since 2009, only Vermont has enacted a new renewable portfolio standard (RPS), yet five states with an RPS on the books strengthened them in the last two years alone.

State Renewable Energy Policy Developments - March Recap

Attacks on state renewable energy deployment policies continue in at least twenty-two states. However the news is not all bad with a near equal balance of states presenting opportunities to expand, strengthen or improve existing renewable energy policies. For fellow energy policy wonks out there, the North Carolina Solar Center posted this handy compendium of all state-level renewable and clean energy legislative developments taking place in 2013. Below is a brief March recap of the states where NRDC is actively defending, strengthening or improving policies to promote clean and renewable energy deployment.

The energy bill: what’s the real cost?

Before the end of this month, the Coalition will publish a new Energy Bill, which sets out its strategy for UK ‘energy futures’. Paul Dorfman has an idea who is likely to reap the highest benefits and guess what? It's not you or me ...

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has been relentlessly optimistic about its Electricity Market Reform plans for the Energy Bill, despite strong and sustained criticism from a scientific advisory Committee on Climate Change, a Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, and more recently, a House of Lords Working Group who have all concluded that the reforms are ‘unworkable’.

How Obama and Congress Could Find Common Ground on Energy

Despite divided government, the partisan impasse may be about to end on energy policy. The key lies in a grand bargain.

In 2008, Barack Obama campaigned for the White House on the promise that he would pass a sweeping energy and climate-change law and move the country from dependence on fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy that reduced carbon pollution and addressed global warming. In his first term, Obama inched in that direction: The president rolled out regulations to reduce pollution from tailpipes and coal plants, and his stimulus program pumped $40 billion into clean-energy development.

US policy outlook for renewable energy

The United States went to the polls on November 6. President Obama was returned to another four years in the White House. Democrats picked up another two seats in the US Senate where they are expected to have an effective majority of 55 seats to 45 for the Republicans. The Republicans lost seats in the House, but still retain a majority of 16 out of 435 House seats in total.

A panel of veteran Washington lobbyists for renewable energy companies talked 34 hours after the polls closed about what the election results mean for the US renewable energy market.

Germany plans to be 100 per cent Renewable by 2050

Fully twenty five percent of Germany’s energy pie is now renewable energy – compared to six percent in the United States.

And Germany is pushing to transform from fossil fuels to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

The USA is stalled, dead in the water.

If the Germans can do it, why can’t the USA?

10 Significant State Policies for Distributed Solar Energy

California and New Jersey receive frequent coverage for the state policies that have helped them claim and hold onto the first and second spots, respectively, for US solar energy installations.

But there are other state programs worthy of emulation especially as smaller residential and commercial projects account for more US clean energy capacity.

New report suggests US energy policy focus on supply security rather than energy independence

America's policymakers need to consider whether energy independence is really necessary to achieve adequate, reliable and affordable energy supplies, according to a new report from Deloitte.

The report - "Energy Independence and Security: A Reality Check" - explains that the United States already enjoys significant energy independence for most sectors and much of our economy. Transportation is really the only sector that remains dependent on imports; therefore, when people say the U.S. needs a secure supply of energy, what they really mean is a secure supply of crude oil.

Michigan Energy Michigan jobs pushes for RE measure

Supporters of a Michigan ballot measure that would require utilities to get more of their electricity from renewable sources submitted more than a half-million petition signatures to the secretary of state’s office, they announced Friday.

The Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs coalition pushing the measure said it turned in 530,000 signatures, well above the approximately 323,000 required to put a proposal on the November ballot.

The proposal would require more than 80 electricity suppliers statewide to obtain 25 percent of their power from wind, solar, biomass or hydro power by 2025. The current requirement, passed in 2008 as part of a rewrite of Michigan’s energy law, requires they get 10 percent from renewable sources by 2015.

UK policy will fail to reach carbon targets, says IEA

The U.K.’s energy policies may fail to deliver nuclear power and renewables needed for the nation to meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gases, the International Energy Agency said. 

Britain’s new electricity generation capacity is coming mainly from natural gas fired plants, the Paris-based agency, which advises 28 nations, said today in a report. The government should spur an “efficient mix of new, cleaner generation, more efficient use of existing infrastructure and more flexible demand,” the IEA said.

Iowa new state tax credit policy makes solar a better investment

There is, after all, something new under the sun -- a tax credit that energy companies and lawmakers say makes installing solar energy systems on homes and businesses an affordable investment.

"A lot of people have been looking at solar energy systems and now, with the state tax credits, they're starting to move forward," Brad Duggan, energy efficiency project manager at Van Meter Inc. in Cedar Rapids said Tuesday. "It makes solar ripe for the residential use. I think it will push the market."

New Illinois energy bill includes some solar incentives

When the Illinois legislature voted earlier this week to override Governor Pat Quinn’s veto of Senate Bill 1652, it paved the way for greater solar energy development in the state.

The bill, titled the Energy Infrastructure Improvement Act, introduces tougher utility performance standards and provides payment assistance for low-income families. But the trailer bill introduced last week includes provisions and new policies that will encourage further renewable energy and especially solar energy development in Illinois.

Boston networks solutions: driving demand for clean energy policy

Boston is nationally renowned as a leading “green” city, recently ranked the 5th most sustainable city in the U.S. by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Under Mayor Menino’s leadership, Boston has solidified its position as a hub of innovation in energy policy and program development, from our comprehensive climate action strategy to the 1st in the nation green building zoning, as well as new cutting edge clean energy programs emanating from City Hall.

From the beginning of the mayor’s push to green Boston, he has focused his administration on connecting our environmental and energy policy strategies with job creation and economic growth.

Australia: $1.5bn cloud over renewables plan

CONSUMERS could be slugged with up to $1.5 billion in extra electricity costs next year as the high Australian dollar and a flood of cheap solar panels from China sabotage the Gillard government's push to take the heat out of its renewable energy scheme.

Installers of solar photovoltaic panels developed increasingly sophisticated marketing schemes for cheap rooftop models, and consumers rushed to install the panels before generous federal subsidies were wound back on July 1, causing an unprecedented spike in installations early this year.

Governor Christie outlines future of green energy in New Jersey

Governor Chris Christie today released the State’s draft 2011 Energy Master Plan (EMP), a greener and more affordable vision for the use, management, and development of energy in New Jersey over the next decade and beyond. The draft EMP establishes a path for the Administration to manage energy in a way that promotes renewable sources of energy, saves money, stimulates the economy and job creation, and protects the environment.

Clean-Tech Developers Fret Over Witching Hour for DOE Grants

By NATHANIAL GRONEWOLD of Greenwire

Two-and-a-half years since the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. sent Wall Street into a tailspin, financing for wind, solar and other clean energy projects is still hard to come by, experts say.

Deals are getting done, but not at the rate that the industry would call robust, and many project developers are still dependent on temporary government support measures.

Regional & state interests may dominate future climate & energy policy

The failure of climate legislation in the Senate last week is a blunt reminder of a basic truth, experts say: The nation's energy policies are historically driven by state and regional interests that will trump national agendas in all but the most compelling circumstances.

Without a national consensus on energy policy, the telling political forces come from states, based on how they relate to energy as producers or consumers, says historian and political analyst Bill Schneider.