-
Home
- RE Tech Basics
- Overview
- Solar Energy
- Wind Power
- Hydrogen/Fuel Cells
- Bioenergy
- Hydropower
- Geothermal Energy
- Ocean Energy
- Green Power
- Our Company
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Advertising Information
-
News
- News By Technology
- Bioenergy
- Energy Efficiency
- Geothermal Energy
- Green Power
- Hydrogen - Fuel Cells
- Hydropower
- Ocean Energy
- Solar
- Wind Power
- Other
- News By Section
- Podcasts
- Industry PR
- RE Insider
- Columnists
- InFocus
- Video
- More
- Writers & Columnists
- e-Newsletter
- RSS Feeds
-
Blogs
- Finance
- Video
- Products
- Companies
- Events
-
Jobs
- Employers
- Home
- Employer Login
- Resume Search Info
- Rates & Packages
- REWNA Jobs Center
- Job Seekers
- Home
- Job Seeker Login
- Find a Job
- Terms & Conditions
- Magazines
- Expo
Stephen Lacey
RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Stephen Lacey is the producer and host of the Inside Renewable Energy podcast. He also helps write, manage and edit stories for publication. Please contact him with any questions, comments or story ideas through the form below.
Click here to contact this author
Articles by Stephen Lacey: 249
February 4, 2010
Micro-inverters vs. Central Inverters: Is There a Clear Winner?
In recent years, the solar industry has seen radical change in the inverter space. On the utility side, inverters have been getting bigger in order to accommodate massive, multi-megawatt projects. On the residential side, they've been getting smaller and more adaptable,...
Listen to Podcast
Full Story
Reader Comments
January 27, 2010
Can Renewables Really Power our Cities?
Over the course of history, the city has evolved from an "agropolis" based on surrounding resources to a "petropolis" reliant on far-away food and fossil fuels. Now, with those environmentally-dangerous energy needs becoming harder to meet, can we make another transition...
January 20, 2010
Clean Energy Stocks: How Policy Impacts Finance
After a dismal performance at the end of 2008 and into 2009, clean energy stocks faired much better moving into 2010. But the volatility is far from over. Because the cleantech industry is still so new, investors are trying to figure...
January 14, 2010
Prospects Fading for U.S. Climate Legislation in 2010
Last summer, clean energy advocates were confident that the U.S. Congress would pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill by the time the Copenhagen conference rolled around. Now, as energy issues slip further down the policy priority list in the wake...
January 12, 2010
The Intersection of Climate Science and Politics in the U.S.
Scientists are telling us that climate change is happening faster than ever thought possible. Meanwhile, fewer Americans believe that climate change is taking place, or that it's caused by human activity. These two factors are working against one another, creating a...
January 4, 2010
The Real Story of Cap and Trade
In the wake of the Copenhagen talks and the passage of a climate bill in the U.S. House last year, the debate over cap and trade will likely intensify as we move 2010. Unfortunately, the debate in the halls of Congress,...
December 21, 2009
Renewable Energy 2.0: The Value of Online Marketing
The internet is a ubiquitous part of our culture. In the last decade, we've gotten comfortable doing almost everything online, from trading stocks to sharing every detail of our personal lives. So why then are many renewable energy companies – some...
December 11, 2009
Geothermal Industry Seeing New Investments
In October of 2008, Alexander Richter wasn't sure he would have a job when he returned home to Iceland from a geothermal conference in Nevada. As director of global geothermal development at Glitnir Bank -- one of Iceland's three main banks...
November 30, 2009
Why Solar Works
Whether they like it or not, utilities are starting to deploy more solar. Utility support of solar PV and CSP has been one of the most important developments for the industry. In many cases, utilities are supporting solar because the law...
November 19, 2009
Transmission: Geothermal's Achilles Heel
Now that geothermal is finally on our energy priority list, the industry is seeing a new influx of public and private capital. After more than a decade of almost no activity in the U.S. geothermal sector, we're finally seeing a lot...
November 12, 2009
Why Geothermal is Both Hot and Cool
Most geothermal development in the near future will come from conventional, medium-temperature hydrothermal power plants. But beyond the next few years, a large number of projects that utilize temperature extremes, both hot and cool, may come online. In this podcast, we'll...
November 11, 2009
Nominate Now! Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards
Disruptive innovation hasn't been a driving force of the modern energy industry, but today it is becoming the norm. To celebrate the companies, business leaders and cutting edge state and local governments that are leading this new wave of innovation, RenewableEnergyWorld.com...
November 9, 2009
Video: Concentrating Solar Power is Here to Stay
Twenty five years ago, the first Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) boom began in California's Mojave Desert. But shortly after the 354 MW of parabolic troughs were installed, the market ground to a halt when the technology couldn't keep pace with plummeting...
November 4, 2009
Geothermal: It's Not Just About Drilling Holes
It takes a lot of time and money to build out a geothermal project. Developers can spend millions of dollars and many years just to drill a test well and find a viable resource. Due to the high capital expenditures needed...
October 30, 2009
CSP: Bringing Solar to the Masses
In order to bring solar to the terawatt scale, we're going to need every solar-electric and solar-thermal technology possible. But the only technology that can deliver large amounts of electricity, heat and hot water at one time is concentrating solar power....
October 21, 2009
Locking up the Earth's Heat: Geothermal for Jails
Jails are the perfect place for renewable energy systems. Because they are so energy intensive, administrators and taxpayers are always looking for new ways to reduce energy needs and satisfy electrical, heating and cooling demands on site. In this podcast, we'll...
October 15, 2009
Solar Thermal: Leading by Example
Back in 1979, President Jimmy Carter put a large solar thermal system on the White House, calling on American businesses and consumers to make solar the future, not a "curiosity" or an "example of a road not taken." Unfortunately, six years...
October 9, 2009
Biomass Thermal Heats Up
For a decade, Europe has been supporting biomass thermal energy, creating a large commercial and industrial market for resources like wood pellets. Here in the U.S., support has been absent; therefore, wood pellets play only a niche role in residential applications....
October 1, 2009
Making Waste a Part of the Solution
Modern society has been built around disposable products. It seems that nothing is made to last anymore. That has caused an unprecedented build up of waste, increasing environmental problems and social friction over where to put our trash. Beyond reducing consumption...
September 24, 2009
Making Electric Transportation Work
The automobile and electricity industries have avoided dramatic change for decades. Today, because of environmental and geopolitical concerns, auto companies and utilities are re-evaluating the fundamentals of how they do business. However, by working together and embracing change, many of these...
September 23, 2009
Are Biofuels Ready for a Comeback?
The Cambridge, Massachusetts headquarters for Joule Biotechnologies are very discreet. The only thing marking the office from every other pale brick building on Rogers Street is a large "83" printed on a tinted glass door – hardly the type of labeling...
September 17, 2009
Eating Cellulose and Sweating Fuels -- The Next Biofuel Revolution?
The race is on to develop the next generation of biofuels. Biotechnology companies of all kinds have taken up the challenge and are looking in every corner of the globe for organisms that will help us make cheap, abundant, non-food based...
September 14, 2009
Video: Powering Up with Landfill Gas
Excessive trash can be a problem at college campuses, fouling up dorm hallways and campus walkways. But an energy team at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) has found a way to turn that problem into a solution by using trash...
Video
September 10, 2009
Surviving the Biodiesel Downturn
The biodiesel industry has been in rough shape over the last year. With oil prices down, two thirds of American refineries sitting unused and no national target for the fuel, there are many questions about where the industry will go next....
September 3, 2009
Will the Rough Patch Continue for Ethanol?
The last year has been a bad one for the corn ethanol industry. With relatively high grain prices and low oil prices, producers have struggled to stay profitable and many companies have gone bankrupt. In addition, growing consumer backlash has caused...
August 27, 2009
Ushering in a New Wave of Hydropower Growth
Hydro in the U.S. is poised for another period of major growth. With states recognizing hydro in renewable portfolio standards, companies getting access to stimulus funds and a range of new players getting into the industry, the environment is looking good....
August 20, 2009
Building Community Support for Renewables
Public opposition is a formidable hurdle for any project developer. Around one quarter of all wind projects in the U.S. are delayed or stopped because concerns over project siting and general distrust of the developer. In this podcast, we'll look at...
August 14, 2009
Navigating the Rough Waters of Ocean Energy Regulation
Permitting and licensing energy projects isn't exactly the easiest process. But in the marine environment -- both for fossil and renewable energies -- the process can be much more difficult. In this podcast, we'll look at why regulation is so complex...
August 6, 2009
Assessing the Progress of Ocean Renewable Energy Technologies
The ocean represents one of the largest energy sources on the planet; yet, we still haven't found reliable, cost-effective ways to harness that resource. The incredible amount of experimentation happening in the industry today will inevitably lead to technology breakthroughs. But...
July 30, 2009
Are PV Manufacturers Coming Up for Air?
After many months below the murky waters of the global recession, PV manufacturers seem to be getting a bit of breathing room. The capital markets are starting to thaw, silicon and wafer contracts are being renegotiated and some manufacturers are able...
July 22, 2009
Renewable Energy: A Weapon of Mass Reconstruction
The renewable energy industry has suffered over the last year much worse than previously thought possible. But now the pieces are coming together to make clean energy the centerpiece of an economic recovery. That makes the moment perfect for bootstrapping entrepreneurs...
July 17, 2009
Developing Renewables with War-Time Urgency
Governments all around the world are making renewable energy a top priority; finally, the United States has joined the effort. The slew of programs moving through Washington are proof that politicians are starting to recognize the value of clean energy. But...
July 13, 2009
Can Cleantech Entrepreneurs Rely on Venture Capital?
After a two-quarter period of falling venture capital investments in the cleantech space, the industry is finally picking back up again. But the prospects for early-stage companies and entrepreneurs looking for funding is mixed....
July 9, 2009
IEA Responds to the Climate Crisis
The International Energy Agency was formed out of the oil crisis of 1973 as a fossil-energy consumers union for developed countries. Because of its origins, the IEA has not historically been a strong supporter of renewable energy. But that is changing...
July 6, 2009
The State of Cleantech Venture Capital Investment
Venture Investments in cleantech have dropped 44 percent since their high in the second quarter of 2008. Even though investors are being more cautious, there are still plenty of opportunities out there for early stage companies looking to get funded. In...
July 1, 2009
Renewable Energy Investors Are Cautiously Optimistic
In just five months, the U.S. government has gone from being a casual supporter of renewable energy to the one of world's biggest investors in the space. Now the private sector is trying to figure out what role it will play...
June 26, 2009
Enabling Community Solar in North America
Because of its distributed nature, solar is an intimate resource. But not everyone has the opportunity to invest in solar due to siting issues and cost. What about individuals who might want to own part of a solar system? Quite often...
June 24, 2009
Ocean Renewable Energy Has Huge Potential But Not Without Giant Hurdles
Since 1844, when the first tide wheel was built, inventors have been trying to harness the immense power of the ocean with little success. Now the next generation of engineers is trying to break the course of history and turn this...
June 19, 2009
Can We Meet Our Energy Needs with Solar?
Theoretically, we could get all of our energy from the sun. But is it realistically feasible? And if so, what are the technical, economic and political barriers to reaching that lofty goal? In this podcast, we'll look at the challenges and...
June 11, 2009
Video: Meeting the Transmission Challenge at Power-Gen Europe
If there's one thing that unites the conventional and renewable energy industries, it's the need to upgrade and expand the transmission and distribution infrastructure. Global investment in new power plants has fallen because of the dearth of capital for projects. But...
June 10, 2009
Applying Bioclimatic Design; Building Solar Cells from the Atom Up
Solar technologies and techniques come in many forms. From passive solar design to designing photovoltaic cells on the atomic level, there are thousands of ways to utilize the sun's energy for our own use. In this podcast, we'll take a look...
June 5, 2009
Video: Global Connections at Intersolar
The solar industry is truly global. When one market heats up or cools down, the rest of the world feels the impact. That's why many solar companies need to have a world-wide strategy to meet the challenges in building this fast-moving...
June 3, 2009
Realizing the Potential of Solar Thermal
People are waking up to the benefits and "sexiness" of solar-electric systems. But in North America, the solar thermal industry still has a lot of work to do to educate people about the myriad water heating, space heating and cooling technologies...
May 28, 2009
The Challenge of Promoting Wind in Developing Countries
Building wind and other renewable energy projects in developed countries is hard enough; in the developing world, the financial and political barriers are often much more pronounced. In this podcast, we'll look at how companies are working to overcome these barriers...
May 27, 2009
At Work in Germany: Wind, Solar ... and Jobs
Walking down the cobblestone pathway that connects the buildings of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Dr Brigitte Knopf looked up at the white stucco Einstein Tower looming above her. Built in 1920, the observatory was designed to celebrate...
May 21, 2009
Video: Solar Thermal Perspectives Roundtable
The Ancient Greeks and Romans understood the value of solar for heating -- the two societies oriented entire cities to maximize sun exposure during winter months. Today, we orient houses any way we please, ignoring the value of the sun for...
May 18, 2009
The European Role in U.S. Wind Development
With wind installations growing more slowly in Europe than in the U.S., European companies are coming across the Atlantic to get a piece of the booming American wind market. Because of this, Europeans are playing an increasingly important role in building...
May 13, 2009
Podcast: Assessing the Financial Health of the Wind Industry
This week, we're podcasting from the Wind Power 2009 conference in Chicago looking at the state of the wind industry in the face of a dismal economic climate. As we'll hear from our guests, the health of the industry is still...
April 30, 2009
All There is To Know About the Smart Grid and Renewables
If demand on today's electrical grid looks like a rough landscape of high peaks and low valleys, demand on tomorrow's "smart grid" will look more like a series of rolling hills....
April 30, 2009
Supply-side Management and Security on the Smart Grid
Smart grid technologies will allow consumers to see how behavioral changes can save them money and reduce their environmental footprint. But the entities managing the grid will have to change as well. In this podcast, we'll look at how utilities and...
April 23, 2009
Storing Renewable Energy on the Smart Grid
Storage is considered the "holy grail" of clean technologies, especially as it relates to the deployment of renewable energy. If we truly want to clean up the grid and make it smarter, all kinds of storage technologies will need to be...
April 16, 2009
How Will We Manage Demand on the Smart Grid?
Actively managing and reducing demand on the customer side of the meter is an important part of the smart grid. But installing an intelligent metering infrastructure is just the first step. Developing engaging applications, working through changes in the utility-customer relationship...
April 9, 2009
The Smart Grid Explained
The Smart Grid is an intriguing but elusive concept. What exactly do we mean when we talk about the intelligent grid? And where does renewable energy fit into the mix? In this podcast, we'll explore the technological and conceptual basics of...
April 2, 2009
Is Algae-to-Energy Sustainable?
Algae is one of the hottest sectors of the renewable energy industry. New technologies are emerging rapidly, investors are pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into companies all around the world and costs per gallon are steadily coming down. Algae certainly...
March 26, 2009
Australian Greens Push for More Renewables; Financial Importance of Resource Analysis
Since taking office at the end of 2007, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised a swift reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and a rapid deployment of renewables. But Senator Christine Milne, head of the Australian Greens, says that action from political...
March 19, 2009
The Next Four Years for Renewable Energy
We've got another panel discussion this week featuring a range of industry representatives sharing their thoughts on the upcoming issues for renewable energy in the U.S. We'll talk about what the next four years may bring, and how they may be...
March 18, 2009
Hydropower Roundtable: New Growth for a Mature Industry
The recent federal stimulus package is touted as the key to building new clean energy industries in the U.S.; but it's also helping the most established industry -- hydropower -- redefine itself and continue to lead the penetration of renewable electricity...
March 14, 2009
Hydropower Perspectives Roundtable
Hydropower is making a big comeback. With a range of incentives in the U.S. created or extended by the recent stimulus package, new marine energy technologies emerging and a recognition that there are still plenty of untapped resources available, the future...
March 5, 2009
Creating an Equitable Green Jobs Movement; Thrifting as Renewable Energy
We've heard a lot about the Green Collar Jobs movement. But as the movement grows, organizations like Green For All will be working to ensure it reaches low-income communities that have traditionally been more adversely affected by an economy based on...
February 27, 2009
Making the Case for Carbon Capture and Storage
Lodewijk Nell points to the series of pipes and valves attached to the flue of a 1.1-gigawatt coal plant that supplies electricity to the Port of Rotterdam in South Holland. The gigantic, steam-spewing columns dwarf this system of scrubbers, absorbers and...
February 26, 2009
Ontario Considers Green Energy Act; BU Panel Discussion on Market Trends
Ontario has had its share of disagreements over the last two years. Ever since the province's Standard Offer Program was implemented, regulators, politicians and renewable energy advocates have been quarreling over both the details of the program and the government's long-term...
February 18, 2009
The Netherlands, Part 2: The Dutch Renewable Energy Economy
After five years with scaled-back incentives and a dead market for wind and solar energy, the Dutch government is determined to get things moving again and reach the European 20-percent renewable energy targets. The question is: Will they do it?...
February 12, 2009
The Netherlands, Part 1: Exploring the Dutch CO2 Economy
The Netherlands is not a very large country, but as the world's 16th largest economy, it needs to make some big changes to lower emissions and combat climate change. If changes are not made, this low-lying country could face some major...
February 5, 2009
2009: The Year of the Shake-out; IEA Underestimates Renewables
Everyone in the industry has been preparing for a time of falling renewable energy prices, rapid consolidation, and a quick push-out of weak companies. That time is now. And the economic crisis is only speeding the process up....
February 2, 2009
European Delegation Touts Feed-in Tariffs in Florida
With a slew of recent grassroots support and state-level legislative activity, Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) -- also called Renewable Energy Payments -- seem to be gaining more traction around the U.S. FIT advocates hope this week's European delegation to Florida will highlight...
January 29, 2009
Learning from Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs
The renewable energy industry is being built by risk-taking entrepreneurs who are not afraid to fail. Today, the work of these fearless trailblazers has brought us on the verge of a renewable energy revolution. In this podcast, we'll speak to a...
January 27, 2009
Beyond Rebates: State Solar Market Transitions
The solar industry is going through a rocky period of change due to the economic crisis. This restructuring is most evident in cash-strapped states, where legislators and regulators are exploring how to move beyond solar programs that rely on traditional rebates...
January 22, 2009
Tumultuous Times for State Solar Programs
State programs are driving the U.S. solar market. But what happens when most of those states want to restructure their incentives all at once? The result: A period of downright difficult-yet-necessary growth pains for the solar industry....
January 21, 2009
Early-stage Companies Tightening Belts
In 2007, entrepreneur Steve Kropper formed WindPole Ventures, intending to get into the wind development business. Then came a financially tumultuous 2008, which forced him to dramatically re-evaluate his short-term plan....
January 14, 2009
What Kind of Stimulus Can Renewables Expect?
The economic impact of the financial crisis appears to have hurt the renewable energy industries more than previously thought. After further rounds of job losses and project delays, many businesses are looking to the upcoming economic stimulus package for a boost....
January 8, 2009
The Long, Hard Road for Clean Energy Finance
In this podcast, we're (you guessed it) looking back at 2008. In this industry, it often takes a while for the numbers to accumulate. But so far, one thing is for sure: The end of last year was difficult for the...
January 8, 2009
The German Perspective, Part 3: Training the Future Wind Power Workforce
Newcomers to the northern German city of Husum usually notice two things when entering the quaint seaside tourist destination: The rows of small historic brick shops and houses lining the harbor and the massive, hammer-like structure standing guard over the neighborhood....
January 7, 2009
The German Perspective, Part 2: A Resilient Renewable Energy Leader
When Hermann Albers inherited his father's 80 hectare farm in northern Germany in 1981, he soon realized that it would be necessary to supplement his income. At that time, many family farmers around the country were leaving for urban areas in...
January 6, 2009
The German Perspective, Part 1: Difficulties in Climate Negotiations
Walking down the cobblestone pathway that connects the buildings of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Dr. Brigitte Knopf looks up at the white stucco Einstein Tower looming above her, the white building in stark contrast to the gloomy...
December 31, 2008
2008: A Benchmark for Renewable Energy
The end of the year offers us an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments and setbacks over the previous twelve months. It also gives us the chance to think about what the coming twelve months will bring. In this episode, we're...
December 30, 2008
2008 Wrap-up: What Will A Financially Disastrous Year Mean for Renewables?
This year was dominated by bad financial news — very bad financial news. Renewables have certainly had their fair share of troubles associated with the financial crisis; yet somehow they've seemed to fare better than most industries. It's still uncertain how...
December 21, 2008
Exploring the German Renewable Energy Market
This week, we're podcasting from Germany to get a better sense for how one of the world's leading renewable energy markets is fairing during these tough economic times. Despite the projected global slowdown throughout the renewable energy industries next year, Germany...
December 11, 2008
Energy Businesses Recognizing the Need to Diversify
This week, we're podcasting from the Power-Gen International conference in Orlando, Florida. This event is mostly geared toward traditional power companies; however, renewables are starting to play a bigger role at Power-Gen as businesses and investors in the space recognize the...
December 8, 2008
Power-Gen: Energy Diversity Is Key to Success
At the Power-Gen International conference -- an event with over 1,200 exhibitors in the coal, oil and natural gas industries -- you might not expect renewables to play an important role in the conversation around energy. But as businesses in the...
December 4, 2008
A Rough Patch for the US PV Market; Building Relationships to Build Greener
With the recent eight-year extension of the Investment Tax Credit for solar, many professionals are predicting rapid growth in the solar industry. However, because of problems in the tax equity market and other issues with state solar programs around the country,...
November 26, 2008
Video: Relationship Between Traditional Contractors and Renewable Energy Getting Stronger
When Tecta America's Mark Gaulin spoke with attendees at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo a few years ago, many businesses were unsure about how to enter the market. Now, says the company's Chief Operating Officer, most of the people he...
November 20, 2008
Geothermal Energy Leaves the Window Open for Iceland's Economy
Drive around Iceland's capital city of Reykjavik on any cold night and look at the houses and apartment buildings lining the streets. The first thing you may notice is how many windows are wide open, allowing the frigid outdoor air to...
November 19, 2008
Exploring the Icelandic Geothermal Experience
This week, we're podcasting to you from Iceland. The country has been getting a lot of attention lately -- and not just because of its severe economic problems. Iceland gets 78 percent of its primary energy from renewable resources, with 62...
November 17, 2008
Less Strain on Renewable Energy Than Other Sectors
What a difference two months can make. Back in September, it seemed like every journalist covering energy issues wanted to write about the "green" boom. Now, with the precipitous drop in the price of oil and the increasing scope of the...
November 13, 2008
Gauging the Impact of the Credit Crisis on Renewable Energy
The gears of the global economy are moving very slowly these days; yet, the renewable energy industry is still performing better than many other industries. However, the path out of the global credit crisis will be long and steep, making it...
November 6, 2008
A Shake-up in Project Finance; Bucking the Downward Housing Trend with BIPV; PV Concentrator Balloons
With the credit crisis and resulting economic woes making their way into the renewable energy industry, project financing all over the world is getting more difficult. In the U.S., many people are concerned about the health of the tax equity financing...
October 30, 2008
Innovation and Politics in this Hot, Flat and Crowded World
New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman's latest book, "Hot, Flat and Crowded," looks at the imminent need to formulate a national strategy to combat climate change, stimulate technological innovation and grow America's economy....
October 23, 2008
Touring the Steamboat Geothermal Plant
This week, we've got some extras from the Geothermal Conference and Expo held earlier this month. Before leaving Nevada, Stephen Lacey met up with some folks from Ormat Technologies, who gave him a tour of the company's 100-MW capacity Steamboat facility...
October 16, 2008
2008 Solar Perspectives Roundtable
This week, we're podcasting from Solar Power International in San Diego, California. Stephen Lacey rounded up some influential industry executives who represent different areas of the supply chain and asked them about what they're seeing in the industry today. The conversation...
October 9, 2008
Technological Innovation Driving Renewed Interest in Geothermal Energy
In the past, geothermal energy might have been called the underdog of renewable energy. But if one were to characterize the industry based on current growth and technological innovation, it might be more accurate to call geothermal the rising star of...
October 8, 2008
The Beginning of a Geothermal Renaissance
This week, we're podcasting from the Geothermal Conference and Expo in Reno, Nevada. Most professionals at the conference would say that the geothermal industry is experiencing a renaissance. Indeed, as development of conventional resources has increased over the last few years...
October 2, 2008
Rapid Growth in the Algae Market; Managing Risk in the Renewables Space
With over US $180 million in venture capital invested in Algae companies already this year, the market looks ready to explode. That explosion couldn't come soon enough for biodiesel producers who are having trouble getting enough feedstock to meet global demand....
September 25, 2008
Smarter Grids, Smarter Cities and Common-Sense Planning
Many solutions to the world's problems take nothing more than a common-sense approach. No one pretends that the environmental and social challenges ahead will be easy to solve, but sometimes the solutions simply require a different way of thinking. This week,...
September 19, 2008
Cleantech Investments Counter Environmental Deficits
Today, in this mostly urbanized society, over 1 billion people live without clean drinking water. As grain prices continue to rise, hundreds of millions of others barely have enough money to pay for food. Meanwhile, global oil production may have peaked,...
September 18, 2008
Cleantech Forum: An Insider's Look at Cleantech Investing
This week, we're podcasting to you from the Cleantech Forum in Washington, DC. This forum is a gathering place for early-stage investors who are pouring capital into renewable energy, smart-grid technologies and advanced materials. We'll talk with some analysts and investors...
September 11, 2008
Energy Equity: Diversifying the Market with New Incentives
The U.S. renewable energy market is growing at an impressive rate. But as more wind, solar and biofuel facilities get developed, there are fewer people or organizations that own those facilities. That is primarily due to the exclusive nature of the...
September 4, 2008
Crunch Time for Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Congress comes back to Washington next week and in the tradition of election-year politics, there's a good chance that much won't get done before November. That means there are very few chances left to extend the Production and Investment Tax credits...
September 2, 2008
California Ballot Initiatives: Good or Bad for Clean Energy?
Californians have a lot of homework to do this fall. With two controversial initiatives addressing renewable electricity and fuels on the upcoming November ballot, voters will have to parse through conflicting arguments about what exactly each would do for the state's...
August 28, 2008
Questioning America's Most Ambitious Renewable Energy Law
This November, Californians will be voting on a ballot initiative that could require the state's utilities to generate half their power from renewables by 2025. Sounds good, right? Not according to some of nation's most influential renewable energy companies, associations and...
August 21, 2008
Pickens' Plan and California's Proposition 10; Auctioning Environmental Commodities
T. Boone Pickens has a plan -- but is it the correct plan for the nation? This November, Californians will have the opportunity to vote on an initiative that could be the first step down Pickens' path toward greater reliance on...
August 20, 2008
Creating Realistic Expectations for Renewable Energy
It's a delicate time for the renewable energy industry. Now that the public eye is focused more intensely on clean energy technologies, there are a lot of high expectations about their potential. Properly educating consumers, investors and journalists about what each...
August 14, 2008
Keeping the Industry in Check
With all the money from investors, attention from the mainstream media and interest from consumers pouring into clean technologies, the situation is looking good for renewable energy. But as the financial opportunities grow, so too does the potential to oversell the...
August 13, 2008
A New Environment for Biofuels
Gas prices may have gone down a bit in recent weeks, but interest in fuel alternatives is reaching new highs. Now the big questions for both lawmakers and consumers are: Where will the fuels come from and how economically and environmentally...
August 7, 2008
Debating the Brazilian Ethanol Tariff; The Weak Dollar and Foreign Investment
As American politicians try to prove to their constituents that they are addressing high gasoline prices this summer, the debate over increasing Brazilian ethanol imports has gotten more traction in Washington. The Brazilians say that lifting the 54-cent tariff on imported...
July 31, 2008
Big Developments for U.S. Wind; Enhancing Grid Communication
The last few weeks have been full of positive news for the U.S. wind industry. Former oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens has thrown his support behind a 20% wind penetration target for the U.S. in the next 10 years; former Vice...
July 24, 2008
Web 2.0: Connecting the Renewable Energy Community
The renewable energy industry is leading one of the most important technological shifts in the history of mankind. In many ways the distributed, democratic nature of the envisioned renewable energy infrastructure mimics the internet; however, many businesses within the industry still...
July 17, 2008
Global Green Job Growth; PPAs Enabling U.S. Community Wind
There are now 2.3 million people working directly or indirectly in the renewable energy industries around the world, according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute. As job growth in this sector continues, the fossil energy industries are seeing a...
July 16, 2008
Greek Incentive Program Lures Solar Companies
Two more North American companies have moved into the Greek solar market in response to the feed-in tariff and grant program passed there in 2006....
July 10, 2008
RE Mash Up: Electric Cars, Energy Storage, Carbon Trading and Entrepreneurship
In this week's program we feature a series of interviews on a range of topics. We'll speak with a line-up of experts on how to get America off oil, the game changing ability of storage, upcoming trends in emissions trading, and...
July 3, 2008
Roundtable Discussion: Outlook for Renewable Energy
Last month's Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York City brought together some of the most sophisticated investors and analysts in the renewable energy and cleantech space. The end of the conference featured a roundtable discussion about the current status and...
July 2, 2008
Will Renewables Trump Nuclear in Ontario?
In Canada these days, it's almost impossible to talk about renewable energy without talking about nuclear power. With the recent freezing of Ontario's Renewable Energy Payment (REP) system and a proposal from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to procure 14,000 megawatts...
June 27, 2008
Community Wind: Building a Democratic Industry in Canada
This week, we're podcasting from the World Wind Energy Conference in Kingston, Ontario. There is an ongoing movement in Canada to support more community wind projects and create a more distributed, democratic energy economy. We'll take a look at what's happening...
June 23, 2008
Renewable Energy a 'Finance-driven' Industry
Although the renewable energy industry saw over US $100 billion in global market activity, 14 percent of global venture capital investment and accounted for roughly one-third of new U.S. electrical generation capacity last year, the industry is still very far from...
June 19, 2008
An In-Depth Look at Renewable Energy Finance
This week, we're podcasting from the Renewable Energy Finance Forum in New York City. It's a complex industry out there, and this conference is designed to give investors the most in-depth, up-to-date information about the U.S. and global renewable energy markets....
June 12, 2008
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion; EU-Wide Feed-in Tariff
Few people have given Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) much thought over the last 30 years. But with the rising price and potential supply constraint of fossil energies, technologies that once seemed unfeasible now seem reasonable. OTEC is one such technology....
June 5, 2008
Envisioning the Future for U.S. Wind
In this week's program, we've got a selection of interviews from the American Wind Energy Association's WINDPOWER 2008 conference on the technical, political and financial issues facing the U.S. wind industry. Although the industry still has not gotten the production tax...
May 29, 2008
Verifying Efficiency Claims for Organic PV; Renewable Heating and Cooling in Europe
Organic PV has made a lot of headway in recent years as efficiency levels have climbed higher and higher, grabbing the attention of researchers and investors. However, some reported efficiencies of organic PV cells are being disputed because of inconsistent and...
May 23, 2008
'Last Best Chance' for Renewable Energy Tax Credits?
With Wednesday's passage of a House bill that could extend the production and investment tax credits, many in the industry are cautiously hoping for an end to a political standoff that has threatened to cripple the nation's renewable energy industry....
May 21, 2008
Staying Positive During Turbulent Political Times for Renewables
After successive record years for wind and solar in the U.S., no one thought the industry would be facing another potential expiration of key federal tax incentives. But now the industry is scrambling to get the tax credits through Congress before...
May 15, 2008
Utility Profit Decoupling; Building Integrated PV
In service territories across the country, the solar industry is facing an uphill battle. Because rate cases are often structured so that more energy consumption equals more profits, utilities don't have an incentive to encourage energy efficiency or distributed renewables. But...
May 8, 2008
California Solar Initiative Update; Social Merchant Banking in the Developing World
As the California Solar Initiative approaches its 15-month anniversary, many changes have been made to speed up the adoption of photovoltaics in the state. Before the program began, some people were worried about flaws in the design of the rebate calculator,...
May 1, 2008
U.S. Solar Industry Concerned about SREC-Only Markets
Over the last year, as some east coast states have started transitioning into market-based incentive structures for solar, small- and mid-sized businesses are worried about getting pushed out of the market by a few larger businesses....
May 1, 2008
U.S. State Solar Debate: Will SRECs Create Unhealthy Market Concentration?
A growing divide is occurring within the solar industry over how best to incentivize state-level solar programs. At issue is the role that solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) should play in each market and what their impact will be on how...
April 17, 2008
Full Cost Accounting of Energy; A Detailed Discussion about Future Wind Technologies
We know the market price of fossil energies, but do we know their true cost to society? In this week's program, we'll examine the concept of full cost accounting and how it could dramatically shift the energy landscape in favor of...
April 16, 2008
Urban Sustainability: A Force for Change
Over the last 50 years urban populations have exploded, causing a slew of environmental and social problems. However, many community planners see the world's urbanization not as a threat, but as a powerful force for addressing climate change and building a...
April 10, 2008
Creating Sustainable Cities
The United Nations projects that sometime this year more people will be living in cities than in rural areas. By 2020, it's predicted that 5 billion people will be living in urban environments. While rapid urbanization can cause many social, economic...
April 4, 2008
Creating Renewable Energy from Living Organisms
The death and fossilization of plants and animals gave us the dirty energy we rely on today; but it's living organisms that will give us the clean energy of the future....
April 3, 2008
How Photovoltaics Can Copy Photosynthesis; Interviews from World Sustainable Energy Day
We all know how photosynthesis works. Or do we? Researchers at the University of Chicago and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have made new discoveries about why photosynthesis is so efficient. Their work may have implications for the efficiency of future...
March 27, 2008
It's Alive! How Living Organisms are Helping Create a Renewable Energy Future
The energies we mostly rely on today were made possible by the death and fossilization of ancient organisms. Unfortunately, our continued reliance on those fossil energies will most certainly cause the future death of many others. So how are we going...
March 24, 2008
Nevada Debates Third-Party Ownership of Renewable Energy Systems
Earlier this month, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) delayed a ruling on the legality of third-party ownership of renewable energy systems in the state, saying that it needs more time to deliberate how such a ruling will impact Nevada's...
March 20, 2008
Doing Business in the Hydro Industry; Sponsoring RE Projects; Important Ruling in Nevada
Last week, we covered some of the broad political and regulatory issues facing the hydro industry. This week, we'll have a feature story looking at what some companies are dealing with in the markets they serve....
March 17, 2008
U.S. on the Verge of a Small Hydro Boom?
While the U.S. has seen a slight decline in total energy production from hydro resources over the last two decades, the industry is gearing up to reverse that trend and ride the wave of growth seen throughout the other renewable energy...
March 13, 2008
Growing a Sustainable Hydropower Industry
Think the hydropower resource in the U.S. is all dried up? Not even close. According to the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), there are still about 100,000 megawatts of hydro resources available in this country. That's not even considering the tens of...
March 10, 2008
Building a FIT Renewable Energy Market in the U.S.
As renewable energy developers and generators in the U.S. maneuver through a patchwork system of tax incentives, renewable energy credit markets and net metering policies, many in the industry are calling for the adoption of a national feed-in tariff (FIT), which...
March 6, 2008
Renewables Front and Center on the International Political Stage
Political actors from all over the world gathered in Washington, DC for the WIREC conference this week to consider the impact that their choices have on the business of renewable energy. While renewables still play a relatively small role compared to...
February 29, 2008
Not All Bioenergies are Created Equal
Bioenergy is emerging as one of the most reliable, diverse and cost-effective forms of renewable energy. The seemingly ubiquitous industry encompasses a whole range of technologies and feedstocks, from advanced pyrolysis and anaerobic digestion to wood pellets and firewood....
February 28, 2008
Conflicting Research on Renewables; Spanish Energy Companies Entering the U.S.
There have been a number of contradictory academic and government studies on photovoltaics and biofuels released over the last two months. Because renewable energy is becoming a hot topic in the press, various media outlets are reporting on the studies without...
February 22, 2008
PGRE&F: Changes and Challenges for the Renewable Energy Industry
This week's podcast comes to you from the Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo (formerly Power-Gen Renewable Energy and Fuels). In this show, we'll tell you what the site and conference rebrand says about the changing renewable energy industry. We'll also...
February 14, 2008
Building Green with Chris Anderson; Pushing for Change with Solar Nation
Chris Anderson, Chief Operations Officer for Borrego Solar just built a new off-grid house in Peterborough, NH. Stephen Lacey recently visited Chris' house to check out his setup and discuss important considerations for homeowners who want to build green....
February 7, 2008
Sustainable Co-Housing; The Importance of Building Preservation
The Nubanusit Neighborhood and Farm is a new 29-unit co-housing development being built in Peterborough, NH. The community features state-of-the-art, energy-efficient homes; a working organic farm; seven wood pellet boilers for heat and hot water; and "roughed in" plans for photovoltaics...
January 30, 2008
Advancements in Next-Gen Biofuels; Economic Benefits of Extending the PTC
The race is on to bring the biofuels industry to the next level. As more people question the prudence of food-based fuels, researchers and companies are aggressively looking for commercially viable ways to produce greener alternatives to gasoline....
January 24, 2008
CSP: Market Trends and New Technologies
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) is emerging as one of the most promising utility-scale renewable energy sources. The launch of Nevada Solar One last June sparked a revival for this so-called "sleeping giant" in the U.S. and marked the first of a...
January 24, 2008
Renewable Energy as a Mainstream Product Choice
A growing body of opinion research shows that Americans are concerned about how consumption of dirty fossil energies is impacting the environment, threatening national security and hindering long-term economic growth. But when the time comes for action, renewable energy and climate...
January 17, 2008
Changing Public Perceptions of Renewables
Many public opinion polls suggest that Americans strongly support mass adoption of renewable energy; however, when it comes to actually making a purchase from their utility or investing in their own system, people just aren't buying in the same numbers. Why?...
January 10, 2008
Prospects for Renewable Energy on Wall Street in 2008
Things aren't looking great for Wall Street coming into the new year. With a poor housing market, ongoing credit crunch, high energy prices, low employment figures and low consumer spending, the chatter about a recession has been getting louder in recent...
January 7, 2008
2007: Did We Reach the Tipping Point?
At the beginning of each year, as the renewable energy industry looks back on its progress over the previous 12 months, the phrase "tipping point" always seems to enter the discussion. But how will we know when renewables have truly hit...
January 3, 2008
2007: A Brief Year in Review
Welcome to the new year! In our first episode for 2008, we're taking a look at some global trends for renewable energy throughout 2007. We'll talk with industry analysts about worldwide development figures, how the markets are approaching clean energy, the...
December 27, 2007
The Challenge for Feed-in Tariffs in Europe; Green Holiday Gift Ideas
European Union officials are currently debating the need for a voluntary renewable energy certificate trading scheme. Some countries that can't meet their renewable energy targets -- namely the UK -- are in favor of such a system, as it would allow...
December 27, 2007
Top Stories of 2007
Each year, things seem to get more exciting for the renewable energy industries, and 2007 was no exception. Although there was much disappointment about the exclusion of important provisions for renewables in the recent U.S. energy bill, the overall global picture...
December 21, 2007
A Unique Holiday Greeting
We take our work here at RenewableEnergyAccess.com very seriously. But sometimes you need to step back and have a good laugh. This week, in place of our regular podcast, we present to you an audio christmas card produced by MC PV...
December 13, 2007
The Importance of Net Metering and Interconnection Standards; Feed-in Tariffs Gaining Ground in North America
The necessity of good net metering laws and interconnection standards can't be understated. In order to grow the market for solar and other distributed forms of energy in the U.S., the appropriate laws must be in place to make installation easy...
December 6, 2007
Making Use of Holiday Waste; The Powerful Message from ACORE's Phase II Conference
'Tis the season to consume. This holiday season, Americans will produce 44 million tons of waste -- a 25 percent increase over the rest of the year. But instead of letting this waste pile up in landfills, there are many companies...
December 4, 2007
Moving Renewable Energy from the 'Green Ghetto' to Mainstream America
Far away from mainstream America, there is a lonely, sun-bleached and wind-swept place filled with partisanship, accusatory rhetoric and strict adherence to ideology. That place is the Green Ghetto....
November 29, 2007
How Manufacturers are Bringing Solar to Grid Parity
The solar industry is itching to bring PV to grid parity with fossil sources of energy, and the burden of this task is carried primarily by manufacturers and politicians. This week, we're talking with two different types of manufacturers about their...
November 27, 2007
Part 2: What To Do With All This Waste?
Yesterday, RenewableEnergyAccess.com took a look at companies that are working to make energy from residential and commercial waste. Today we look at others that are converting fecal waste from cows, horses, pigs and other livestock into energy....
November 26, 2007
Part 1: What To Do With All This Waste?
The holiday season is upon us -- a time of thanks, celebration and tons of trash....
November 15, 2007
A Nerve-wracking Week for Renewables; GreenBuild 2007 Audio Tour
You've probably heard the news by now: There have been numerous reports from Washington, D.C. over the last week that Democratic Congressional leaders may strip out the most important renewable energy provisions from the upcoming energy bill. We'll have a feature...
November 14, 2007
Energy Bill Update: Will Renewables Be a Part of the Political Landscape?
After much concern about whether or not key provisions for renewable energy will be a part of this year's energy bill, it appears that tax incentives and a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) are still options on the table, according to industry...
November 12, 2007
U.S. Energy Bill -- Early Christmas Present or Lump of Coal?
All the tough talk in Washington, D.C. about the need to combat global warming, make America energy independent and stimulate the economy with homegrown, renewable energy sources turned to a whisper on Thursday, as House and Senate Democratic leaders reportedly said...
November 9, 2007
Creating a 21st Century Grid
In 1957, as Eisenhower began his second term as U.S. President, the first satellite launched into orbit and the first commercial nuclear reactor came online, electrical workers all over the country were installing the world's most advanced transmission and distribution (T&D)...
November 8, 2007
Regenerating the U.S. Grid
The need to upgrade our outdated grid is getting more important each year. As renewable energy makes up more of the U.S. electricity supply and changes the energy landscape, the old, tired transmission and distribution system will have a hard time...
November 1, 2007
Keeping up with the Growing U.S. Demand for Renewable Energy
Demand for renewable energy in the U.S. is growing rapidly -- so rapidly, in fact, that supply cannot keep up. Even though renewables only make up around 7 percent of the U.S. electricity supply, growing voluntary markets and new state renewable...
October 25, 2007
The Future of Green Building is Here
The participants and organizers of the Solar Decathlon are working toward one goal: Educate the public about the viability and importance of green building practices. The hundreds of students who built the 20 green houses on the National Mall in Washington,...
October 22, 2007
The Glamorous Life of a Solar Decathlete
The life of a solar decathlete isn't all filled with glamor and glitz. Sure, there's the notoriety, travel, late night partying and mingling with politicians in the nation's capital -- but it takes hard work and true grit to change the...
October 18, 2007
Scaling up PV Manufacturing in the Face of the Silicon Shortage
PV Manufacturers are having a hard time keeping up with the demands of their customers these days. Because companies can't secure all the silicon they need, they are often having a hard time making enough product to meet the needs of...
October 11, 2007
New Financing Options for Renewable Energy Systems; Solar Hot Water in California
One of the biggest barriers in front of the solar industry is the complicated way that consumers pay for their systems. Along with the high upfront cost, consumers must deal with state and federal rebates, renewable energy credits, and net metering....
October 5, 2007
Scaling Geothermal for Reliable Baseload Power
Geothermal is the most reliable form of renewable baseload power and given the proper financial support from the private sector -- and favorable policies from government -- it will become a viable alternative to coal, natural gas and nuclear, according to...
October 4, 2007
The Status of the U.S. Geothermal Industry
In order to truly wean the U.S. off fossil sources of energy, we'll need to develop as much renewable baseload power as possible. That's where geothermal comes in. At this week's annual geothermal conference in Reno, Nevada, industry leaders are touting...
September 28, 2007
The Solar Industry Has Arrived
It's been another record setting year for the solar industry and the Solar Power conference. In this program, we'll discuss the key take aways from the conference with SEPA and SEIA, examine the emergence of the thin film market in the...
September 20, 2007
Nurturing Clean Tech Companies in Austin, Texas; Supporting Renewables in the Farm Bill
Under the leadership of Mayor Will Wynn, Austin, Texas is working to become a destination for renewable energy companies and make itself the "clean energy capital of the world." It's going to take a lot of serious action for Austin to...
September 13, 2007
The Clean Tech Revolution is Here
The Clean Tech Revolution is upon us and it's going to change almost everything we do and consume. It's also going to make many people a lot of money....
September 6, 2007
The U.S. Wood Pellet Market; Green Energy in Deregulated Markets; DOE Solar Decathlon
The European and U.S. wood pellet industries have grown in opposite directions over the years. While the Europen industry is based mostly on larger centralized wood pellet boilers, the U.S. market is based primarily on smaller residential wood pellet stoves....
August 31, 2007
Can Ontario Meet its New Renewable Energy Directive?
Last week, Ontario's Energy Minister directed the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to immediately begin the process of contracting 2,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy projects, with 500 MW of projects in the consultation phase by the end of 2007....
August 30, 2007
Suntech Power CEO: Solar Market Set to 'Explode'
Since Dr. Zhengrong Shi founded the Chinese solar PV module manufacturer Suntech Power in 2001, the company has seen exponential growth. In just five years, Suntech has become the second largest solar manufacturer in the world, with about 325 MW of...
August 23, 2007
Groundbreaking Developments for Hydrogen; Ocean Renewables in Congress
One of the biggest barriers in front of the hydrogen industry is that of building a complicated infrastructure for producing, shipping, storing and consuming hydrogen for fuel. But what if we could bypass all that and create a distributed system in...
August 16, 2007
The Saga Behind Cape Wind; Growing Opportunities in the Renewable Energy Sector
For six years, the proposed offshore Cape Wind farm has faced a tough battle waged by a group of residents living on the Nantucket Sound. Journalist and author Wendy Williams has written a book about the project's history titled, Cape Wind:...
August 9, 2007
The Future for Food-Based Fuels; Tracking Clean Energy on Wall Street
Growing concerns over the environmental and social impact of food-based fuels raise the question: Where will the biofuels industry go from here?...
August 2, 2007
Accelerating Renewable Energy at DOE; Venture Capital Firms Embracing Cleantech
Steven Chalk, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Renewable Energy at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy, talks about the government's role in developing and deploying clean energy technologies. While the budget for renewable energy...
July 26, 2007
Special Report: The Rising Cost of Wind Development
Increased worldwide demand for commodities such as copper, steel and concrete has significantly driven up the cost of wind energy. As a result, project costs have gone up as much as 50% over the last two years. Despite this significant cost...
July 26, 2007
Despite Rising Costs, Wind Industry Thriving Worldwide
The wind industry is undergoing temporary growing pains similar to the silicon shortage experienced by the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry: there are simply not enough materials or manufacturing capacity to keep up with the increasing demand for wind turbines. The need...
July 12, 2007
Ensuring Grid Stability with Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
In order to ensure stable electricity prices, maintain a reliable grid and lower our environmental footprint, energy efficiency efforts by utilities and consumers will be just as important as generating electricity from renewable resources. Bob Fesmire, Communications Manager for the Power...
July 5, 2007
Better World Club: Challenging the Highway Lobby
Americans who belong to automobile clubs like AAA may be surprised to know that their membership fees don't always go toward the services advertised. Instead, many auto clubs use some of that money to lobby against stricter emissions standards, higher fuel...
June 28, 2007
The Potential for Landfill Gas to Energy
As the largest operator of landfills in the U.S., Waste Management (WM) sees a lot of potential to generate renewable electricity. When waste material in landfills decomposes, methane and carbon dioxide are released. While most landfills burn that gas off, WM...
June 22, 2007
Trends in Renewable Energy Finance
Here's an audio postcard from the Wall Street Renewable Energy Finance Forum held in New York City this past week. The forum brought together policy makers, financiers and project developers to discuss current trends and future projections for investment opportunities in...
June 18, 2007
Arizona Renewable Energy Standard Now Law
After more than two years of hard work from renewable energy advocacy groups, the Arizona Attorney General approved the state's renewable energy standard (RES) on Friday, requiring Arizona utilities to generate 15 percent of their electricity from renewable resources by 2025....
June 14, 2007
Why Utilities Are Embracing Wind Power
Over the last decade, as fears over the reliability and cost of wind power have proven overblown or unfounded, utilities have begun to generate more electricity from wind in their service areas. In the last few years, some utilities have fully...
June 7, 2007
WindPower 2007: The State of the Wind Industry
Here's an audio postcard from the American Wind Energy Association's WindPower 2007 conference held in Los Angeles, California this past week. Wind advocates and business leaders are optimistic about the future as the industry gains more acceptance and faces another record...
May 30, 2007
The Future of New Jersey's Solar Market; Washington State's Solar Production Incentive
As the popularity of solar grows in the U.S., more states are adopting programs to encourage deployment of photovoltaics. While these programs are very positive for the U.S. solar industry, they can also be confusing and hard to understand for many...
May 29, 2007
Transition Period for New Jersey Solar Program
After eighteen months of project delays, job cuts and angst about the future for many businesses in the New Jersey solar industry, the state's solar program has started moving again as more funds were released for projects waiting in a queue...
May 24, 2007
Progress Report for Ontario's New Feed-in Tariff
Ontario's Standard Offer Program created the first feed-in tariff for North America in over 20 years. Last year, Ontario government officials determined that a feed-in tariff similar to Germany's would be the best way to deploy large amounts of renewable energy...
May 18, 2007
Mixed Reviews for Ontario's Feed-in Tariff
It's been six months since the Canadian province of Ontario started its Standard Offer Program (SOP), which created the first feed-in tariff (FIT) in North America for renewable energy in over twenty years. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) says the program...
May 17, 2007
The State of the U.S. PV Industry
There have been numerous expansion announcements recently from PV module manufacturers and polysilicon producers in the U.S., which many people believe are signs of a healthy solar market. Travis Bradford, Founder of the Prometheus Institute, joins us to talk about what...
May 11, 2007
IPCC: Lawmakers Must Act Now
Now that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made it clear that the solutions to climate change are available without hindering economic progress, U.S. lawmakers must act immediately to ensure a prosperous future based on sustainable development, say clean...
May 10, 2007
IPCC Report: A Call for U.S. Lawmakers to Act
According to the newly released report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the technological resources are available to solve the world's looming environmental problems. According to the IPCC, the answer is developing massive amounts of renewable energy, encouraging energy...
May 4, 2007
IPCC: More Renewable Energy Must Be Developed Now
After outlining the drastic consequences of climate change in its last two reports, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its final assessment today, saying that emissions trading schemes, energy efficiency, and rapid development of renewable energy are needed to...
May 3, 2007
How to Make a Greener Biofuels Industry
Many people worry about the impact that wide spread adoption of biofuels will have on the environment. When biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel become primary sources of energy, conscious consumers will want to know that they are purchasing a product that...
April 26, 2007
NH Senate Unanimously Passes a Renewable Portfolio Standard
After years of hard work from advocacy groups, utilities and legislators, New Hampshire finally passed a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) Thursday, which will require state utilities to generate 25 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2025....
April 26, 2007
The Collective Impact of State RPS Initiatives
There are currently 21 state renewable portfolio standards (RPS) underway in the U.S., with 12 other states considering passing such laws. The collective environmental and political impact of these initiatives is significant. As state governments and utilities realize the importance of...
April 20, 2007
The Economic Impact of Renewable Energy
When the Fraser Paper Mill shut down in the northern New Hampshire city of Berlin in 2006, many people wondered how the city would recover....
April 19, 2007
Renewable Energy and Economic Progress
As the U.S. adopts greater amounts of renewable energy, the economy will see a significant boost as more domestic jobs are created and tax revenue is generated, according to leading researchers in the field. We'll take a look at some recent...
April 12, 2007
Spreading Renewable Energy to Developing Countries
Developing nations are some of the most important players in the fight against climate change. As countries like China and India grow rapidly, it is necessary that they meet as much of their energy needs with renewables as possible. It's a...
April 9, 2007
Communities Take Initiative to Combat Climate Change
While the federal government moves slowly to support renewable energy and energy efficiency, cities and towns across the U.S. are adopting green building ordinances or creating funds to encourage energy efficient building design and increase integration of renewable energy systems....
April 6, 2007
RPS Passes New Hampshire House by Wide Margin
A renewable portfolio standard (RPS) was one of many pieces of historic legislation passed by the New Hampshire House of Representatives yesterday, approved by an overwhelming margin of 253-37....
April 5, 2007
Feed-In Tariffs: The Best Tool for Spreading Renewable Energy
Miguel Mendonca of the World Future Council has just written a new book on feed-in tariffs titled, Feed-In Tariffs: Accelerating the Deployment of Renewable Energy. Miguel says that feed-in tariffs are the best and fastest way to spread renewable energy around...
April 2, 2007
Companies Find Solutions to Possible Biodiesel Ban in Texas
Now that Texas biodiesel producers have another year before a decision is made on whether or not to ban B20 in many areas of the state, companies are using the extra time to make fuels that are compliant with Texas diesel...
March 29, 2007
Special Report: California Solar Initiative Update
As the California Solar Initiative moves into its fourth month, the solar industry is still learning how to navigate the state's new market landscape. In this week's show, Stephen Lacey looks at some of the issues that have surfaced in the...
March 26, 2007
CSI: Examining California's Ambitious Solar Program
As the California Solar Initiative (CSI) moves into its fourth month, solar businesses in the state are still figuring out how to maneuver through the changing industry landscape and handle some of the issues that have arisen from the state-wide program....
March 20, 2007
SOLA' in NOLA Video
RenewableEnergyAccess.com Podcast Editor Stephen Lacey recently traveled to New Orleans to report on the installation of 10 solar electric systems donated by Sharp Solar and installed by some of the nation's most experienced solar contractors....
March 20, 2007
Tracking the Sun: Concentrating Solar Power Faces Bright Future
The sun sits high over the Nevada desert in the Eldorado Valley, gleaming off the upside down rows of mirrored parabolic trough collectors at the Nevada Solar One power plant. Gilbert Cohen, senior vice president of Acciona Solar, stands beneath one...
March 6, 2007
Greening the Future of New Orleans
Bruce Harris has a big smile on his face. Standing between his small FEMA trailer and peeling yellow house in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, he points to a new inverter attached to the worn clapboard....
February 28, 2007
Pelosi Supports Important U.S. Solar and Fuel Cell Bill
In a meeting last Wednesday with solar and environmental lobbyists, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expressed her support for H.R. 550, an important bill that would extend the residential and commercial investment tax credit (ITC) for solar and fuel cell equipment for...
February 15, 2007
The Heated Debate Over Citizenre
The war of words has intensified in recent days over Citizenre, the new multi-level marketing business that promises to "revolutionize" the way Americans purchase their energy....
January 24, 2007
Bush Addresses Climate Change in State of the Union Address
In his State of the Union Address last night, President Bush announced plans to address global climate change and energy dependence through a mandatory renewable fuel standard and increased development of solar and wind power....
January 19, 2007
Renewables Making Gains in Congress
The Democratically controlled House of Representatives passed the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Act last night, a bill that will repeal nearly $14 billion in tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies and put that money toward...
January 19, 2007
DC Power for Large Data Centers
Using direct current (DC) to power large, inefficient data centers could result in 15% energy savings at many sites and lead to wider adoption of distributed renewables that generate DC power, according to a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory...
January 12, 2007
Democrats Must Prove Commitment to Renewable Energy
Now that Democrats have a majority in both the House and Senate, it is up to them to make renewable energy a priority on the legislative agenda; however, Democratic lawmakers might not provide the full political and financial support that people...
January 11, 2007
CPUC Votes for Customer Ownership of RECs
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted today 4-0 in favor of customer ownership of renewable energy certificates (RECs), which will provide another significant source of revenue for distributed generators in the state....
January 8, 2007
Texas Biodiesel Ban Delayed
The Texas biodiesel industry avoided a major setback on December 23 when the Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) delayed a decision to ban sales of B20 in several major cities because of concerns over nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx). TCEQ said it...
December 21, 2006
'Groundswell' of Support for Customer Ownership of RECs in California
When the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision in favor of 100% customer ownership of renewable energy credits (RECs) earlier this month, the California solar industry applauded the large number of letter writing campaigns waged by businesses, associations,...
December 11, 2006
Update: Key Tax Bill for Renewables Passed by Congress
On Saturday, the U.S. Senate approved the "Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006" by a vote 79-9, thereby extending many of the tax credits that benefit the renewable energy industries. President Bush is expected to sign the bill into...
December 8, 2006
Solar Industry Preparing for California Solar Initiative
As the start date for the California Solar Initiative (CSI) approaches, members of the solar business community are getting ready to make the change from a capacity-based payment structure to a performance-based incentive (PBI) structure....
December 7, 2006
CPUC Proposed Decision: RECs Belong to Solar System Owners
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a proposed decision on Wednesday granting 100% ownership of Renewable Energy Credits to owners of solar systems and other renewable energy distributed generators....
December 1, 2006
Feed-in Tariffs Good for North American Renewable Energy Markets
Ontario's Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program, which sets tariffs for clean energy fed into the grid, is a big step for renewables in North America and could open up more opportunities for similar programs elsewhere in Canada and the United States,...
November 21, 2006
SCHOTT Solar Feels Impact of Silicon Shortage
SCHOTT Solar, Inc. issued a notice to its employees at its solar wafer and module manufacturing plant in Billerica, Massachusetts, that the facility may have to close down because of inadequate supplies of silicon....
November 17, 2006
CPUC Proposed REC Decision Delayed
A California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposed decision to grant solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) to utilities was delayed on Tuesday, November 14, because of the overwhelming response from the solar industry against such a decision....
November 16, 2006
Why Mass Storage Is So Important for Renewables
A common criticism of renewable resources such as wind and solar is that they are intermittent -- meaning that storage is necessary for times when the resources are not so plentiful....
November 15, 2006
SunPower to Acquire PowerLight
SunPower Corporation, a manufacturer of solar cells and panels, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire PowerLight Corporation, a global provider of large-scale solar power systems. The deal is valued at $332.5 million....
November 12, 2006
California Debates Ownership of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates
A California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposed decision to grant 100% ownership of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) to utilities from solar system owners could hamper the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and slow down the state's burgeoning solar market, according to...
November 10, 2006
More Bands Cleaning Up Their Act
As concern over energy security and global climate change grows, many musicians around the United States are greening their concerts using renewable energy....
November 6, 2006
California Energy Commission Seeks Comments on PBI Transition
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is encouraging all interested parties to attend a workshop on the design of the New Solar Homes Partnership (NSHP) and an Advisory Committee meeting to discuss the NSHP Draft Guidebook and PV Calculator....
November 3, 2006
Google Sets an Example for Other Companies
Google's decision to install 1.6-megawatts (MW) of solar panels on its headquarters in Mountain View, California will cause other large companies to do the same in the near future, according to an executive at Sharp Electronics....
October 27, 2006
AWEA: Stalled Midwest Wind Projects a Minor Setback
The United States wind industry is on track for the installation of 2,700 megawatts (MW) of capacity, despite the many projects held up in the Midwest because of radar concerns, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)....
October 20, 2006
Schwarzenegger Closes America's Largest Ever Solar Event
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger pumped up a crowd at America's largest solar power conference with a speech affirming his strong commitment to solar and other forms of clean energy....
October 19, 2006
The Rebirth of Concentrating Photovoltaics
The Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) industry will soon take up a larger share of the solar market as technology improves, investment pours in and cost comes down, according to leading CPV manufacturers at the Solar Power 2006 conference and expo....
October 10, 2006
The Price of Success: Inside the NJ Clean Energy Program
The overwhelming response to the New Jersey Clean Energy Program (CEP) rebate system has contributed to significant delays for commercial and residential rebate approvals -- hurting many solar companies that are supposed to benefit from the program....
September 29, 2006
More Investment Needed for Cellulosic Ethanol
Lack of investment in cellulosic ethanol is causing major project delays and industry stagnation, according to a business leader in the ethanol industry....
September 29, 2006
Production Tax Credit Vital for the Wind Industry
For wind developers, the Production Tax Credit (PTC) can either make or break a project. In Lempster, New Hampshire, the timely development of a 24-megawatt (MW) wind farm hinges on the probability of it coming online before December 31, 2007, when...
September 22, 2006
Renewable Energy Reaching a Positive Tipping Point
History will judge 2006 as the start of a major paradigm shift for the world's energy infrastructure, according to a leading environmental thinker....
September 15, 2006
An Important Development for Geothermal Power
Distributed generation is now a real option for the geothermal industry, opening up more potential resources for power around the world, according to a leading expert on geothermal energy....
September 15, 2006
Renewables Making Progress on Capitol Hill
Although federal energy legislation will probably not pass this year, the high number of bills addressing renewable energy in Congress indicates the maturation and growing popularity of renewables, according to various experts in the renewable energy industries....
September 8, 2006
Solar Gaining Ground in U.S. Congress
Congress has paid much more attention to solar energy in recent years due to intensive awareness campaigns by members of the solar industry, according to a leading solar policy expert....
September 5, 2006
Development at Dow Corning Could Ease Silicon Shortage
Dow Corning Corporation announced the development of PV 1101 SoG Silicon, the first commercially available metallurgical feedstock produced using large scale manufacturing processes. The announcement was made at the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Dresden, Germany....
September 1, 2006
New Solar Hybrid Product Successful in Field Tests
Hybrid Solar Lighting, a new product developed by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is being tested in five locations around the U.S. with another 20 test sites planned for the coming months....
August 25, 2006
Researcher Studies Growing Biofuel Crops on Brownfields
A professor at Michigan State University (MSU) is researching the possibility of growing biofuel crops on polluted former industrial sites called brownfields....
August 18, 2006
New Hampshire Governor Says Renewables Are a Priority
As New Hampshire's energy demands grow, more can be done to promote renewable resources in the state, said Governor John Lynch last Wednesday at the opening of a new wood-pellet facility in Jaffrey, NH....
August 11, 2006
Investing in Renewable Energy Is a Matter of National Security
Speaking on RenewableEnergyAccess.com's Inside Renewable Energy podcast, Representatives Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Steve Israel (D-NY) declared the military's dependence on foreign oil a national security threat and said that the only way to solve the problem is to invest in renewable...
August 4, 2006
Texas Now Leader in U.S. Wind Energy
In a forecasted record year for the U.S. wind industry, Texas surpassed California as the leader in wind energy capacity with the addition of 275 megawatts (MW) in 2006, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA)....
July 28, 2006
Bill Holmberg Discusses the Climate for Biofuels
Biofuels are becoming increasingly popular as gas prices soar, environmental concerns grow, and political will strengthens, according to a leading expert on biofuels....
July 12, 2006
Renewables Are the Solution to Global Climate Change
Global climate change can be significantly slowed with the proper economic incentives and technological developments, according to presenters at the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) conference in Denver, Colorado. The presenters spoke Tuesday morning, highlighting the current impacts that carbon (CO2)...
