• Politics

Clean Energy Sector Makes Strong Case for Coronavirus Aid

• clean energy
• COVID-19
• solar energy
• stimulus
• tax credits
• wind energy

As we have reported, the clean energy sector is down more than 620,000 jobs thanks to the coronavirus pandemic and the industry is now pushing hard for relief from Congress in the form of tax credits that companies would receive as cash payments (a deal Congress gave some companies) and delaying the phase-down of other tax incentives. 

Why This Matters:  While there may be some overcounting in jobs lost or undercounting of the number covered under the generic PPP stimulus program, there is no doubt the sector has been “decimated” as the clean energy industry claims.

• Energy

US Coast Guard Backs Wind Developers’ Plan in New England

• Coast Guard
• conservation
• fishing
• ocean energy
• offshore wind
• science
• shipping lanes
• Vineyard Wind
• wind energy

President Trump has slowed the development of offshore wind in the Atlantic, but the U.S. Coast Guard just completed its study of how wind farms in the ocean off New England would impact ports in the region and its recommendations are “largely in line with a proposal that the five developers that hold leases for offshore wind sites off New England made late last year,” according to State House News Service in Massachusetts. 

Why This Matters:  Regional fishers advocated for a grid layout with navigation lanes 4 nautical-miles apart — arguing that wider spacing would be necessary “to preserve safe and efficient passage along the routes most often used by fishermen.”

• Energy

Ohio’s Regulators Deal a Likely Fatal Blow to Lake Erie Wind Project

• offshore wind
• ohio
• wind energy

As Electrek reported, last week Ohio unanimously approved the Icebreaker wind farm, North America’s first offshore freshwater project planned for Lake Erie near Cleveland. However, there’s a rather large hitch that could put an end to the entire project. At the very last minute, the Ohio Power Siting Board ruled on Thursday that the project could […]

• Energy

Renewable Energy Sector Has Lost 600,000 Jobs Due To COVID-19

• clean energy
• COVID-19
• jobs
• renewable energy
• solar energy
• unemployment
• wind energy

Using the latest Labor Department data, E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), and other analysts reported on Wednesday that 594,347 workers in clean energy occupations, representing 17.8% of the industry’s workforce, filed for unemployment benefits in April and March. 

Why This Matters:  The oil and gas industry really is the squeaky wheel getting the grease.  The number of jobs lost in that sector is likely only a fraction of those lost in the renewable energy sector.

• Energy

Virginia To Greatly Expand Renewable Energy Under New State Law

• #cleanenergy
• #climatechange
• conservation
• environment
• frontline communities
• renewable energy
• solar energy
• Virginia
• wind energy

Virginia will close all its coal-fired power plants by 2024 and its electricity will all come from renewable sources by and be 100 percent carbon-free by 2050 under a new law the Governor signed yesterday, with penalties imposed on the utilities that fail to meet these deadlines.

Why This Matters:  State government elections matter too. This is the most ambitious clean energy program enacted by a Southern state (yet).

• Health

Coronavirus: Renewable Energy Loses Out in Stimulus

• coronavirus
• COVID-19
• Green Stimulus
• renewable energy
• solar energy
• wind energy

Yesterday, major ideological tensions flared among Senate Democrats and Republicans about what just 12 hours prior seemed to be a solid stimulus package. Despite those roadblocks, there was one clear loser in the $2 trillion relief package: the renewable energy industry. The deal for Senate Republicans taking out a $3 billion provision to buy oil […]

• Politics

McConnell Blasts Dems’ Demand That Latest Stimulus Package Include Green Provisions

• #GreenNewDeal
• Green New Deal
• Green Stimulus
• solar energy
• wind energy

The Senate was unable to agree on a bipartisan stimulus bill yesterday — negotiations apparently stalled because, among other things, the Democrats demanded that bailouts for airlines be conditioned on their lowering their emissions and that tax credits for wind and solar projects be extended.

Why This Matters:  After dragging his feet on immediate economic relief and adjourning the Senate over the weekend ten days ago, now Senator McConnell seems in a big rush to give billions to corporations while leaving workers and the environment out of the deal.

• Energy

The Big Recyclability Problem of Wind Turbines

• circular
• recycling
• sustainability
• wind energy

Wind energy has seen impressive growth in the United States over the past decade with offshore wind standing as the next big phase in renewable energy expansion. However, now that the first generation of wind turbines are nearing the end of their lifespan, we’re being faced with a growing sustainability concern: what to do with […]

• Energy

Wind is Growing — Had Its Third Strongest Year Ever in 2019

• American Wind Energy Association
• offshore wind
• wind energy

The American Wind Energy Association announced on Thursday that for wind power developers experienced their third-best year in 2019, adding 9,143 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity to the grid—enough to power over three million American homes. 

Why This Matters:  No matter how much President Trump tries to knock it, wind power is a big part of our energy future.

• Energy

World’s Largest Wind Turbines Get The Green Light

• American Wind Energy Association
• offshore wind
• wind energy

Construction of the world’s largest offshore wind turbines is set to begin in 2020 in the North Sea. In 2023 when these behemoth turbines (they’re 853ft tall with blades that extend 351ft) come online they will power 4.5 million homes with renewable energy and will generate 5% of the UK’s total power supply. Why This Matters: According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), “our shores possess a power potential of more than 2,000 gigawatts (GW), nearly double the nation’s current electricity use. This potential presents an enormous opportunity to deliver large amounts of clean and reliable electricity to the country’s largest population centers, where it’s needed most.”

• Sustainability

What To Do With Wind Turbine Scraps

• circular
• sustainability
• wind energy

While some wind turbine parts can be repurposed to be used elsewhere, as NPR reported, researchers estimate the U.S. will have more than 720,000 tons of blade material to dispose of over the next 20 years. As Living Circular explained, the rotor blades, in particular, are a problem although they are only 2% to 3% […]

• Energy

Kansas Wind Hits a Snag

• Kansas
• renewable energy
• wind
• wind energy

Wind energy deployment hit a snag in Kansas after a group of landowners from the central and eastern part of the state signed a petition to stop the turbines citing decreased property value and negative health effects as their reason for not wanting the project. As the Wichita Eagle reported, “after Florida-based NextEra announced plans […]