Energy Storage Stocks: The Missing Link

Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) recently introduced legislation that would pump $1.5 billion into the clean energy economy via tax credits for energy storage projects. The Storage Technology of Renewable and Green Energy (STORAGE) Act of 2010 aims to boost introduction of solar and wind power…

ARPA-E: “Change Course with Fierce Urgency”

The first round of federal ARPA-E funding for future energy kick-started a stunning range of 37 different projects last year, from fuel-secreting bacteria to liquid batteries and a way to create solar energy by mimicking photosynthesis. Now the agency has launched a new round that narrows the target down to just three carefully defined areas.

Minnesota: Taxing CO2 at the North Dakota Border

The first carbon tax to reduce the greenhouse gases from imports comes not between two nations, but between two states. Minnesota has passed a measure to stop carbon at its border with North Dakota.

Cap & Rebate Climate Proposal

A new climate bill proposal with bi-partisan and moderate-Democrat support changes a few critical features from previous proposals, but it still seems to keep to the aim. Supposedly, the (Cantwell-Collins) bill would achieve a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and an 83% reduction by 2050.

China Renewable Energy Electricity

This weekend the main Chinese legislature adopted an amendment to the renewable energy law, requiring that utilities must buy all the electricity produced by renewable energy generators. Utilities refusing would be fined up to an amount double that of the economic loss of the renewable energy company.

Feinstein Expands 30% Solar Tax Credit

When the 30% tax credits as cash grants were instituted with the American Recovery Act, I was doing solar estimates for a small solar start-up in California. I was surprised to find that the 30% solar tax credit (available as a cash grant for businesses) was available for solar thermal – only when it was not used for heating swimming pools.

Renewable Energy and Job Creation

The Obama administration’s progressive support for renewable energy will result in about 1.3 million green collar jobs, according to a new report published by three U.S. universities. They will also elevate the average household income by more than $1,000 and America’s GDP by $111 billion by 2020.

This sets Obama on track to create 5 million green (not just renewable energy) jobs over the next decade. Granted, he made this promise early in his campaign, all the way back in the spring of 2008. At that point he planned to spend $150 billion total to stimulate the green economy.

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