California may become the first state in the U.S. to ban the free distribution of plastic shopping bags.
The state Assembly passed a bill prohibiting pharmacies, groceries and other stores from giving out plastic bags, and the bill now goes before the state Senate.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave the bill his support.
Other communities in the U.S. have unsuccessfully tried to institute bag bans in the past.
Maryland County Creates First Carbon Tax
Montgomery
County, Maryland passed the nation’s first countywide carbon tax.
By
a vote of 8-1 council members approved the tax, which reportedly is
aimed a a single coal-fired power plant. The local law calls for
payments of $5 per ton from stationary sources emitting more than a
million tons of carbon dioxide per year.
The county expects to
collect between $10 million and $15 million in yearly revenues from the
tax, and the local action could serve as an example for other countyies
across the country.
Vermont Law Boosts Hydro Power
Republican governor James Douglas signed a renewable energy bill last Friday that is expected to be the last piece of legislation in his eight-year term.
The bill received mixed responses from renewable energy advocates. On one hand, new tax credits should spur development of small scale projects, lead to more "cow power" from methane capture, and allow the state’s National Guard to install rooftop solar.
But on the other hand, it gives a big boost to large hydropower from across the border in Quebec. By designating power from Hydro-Quebec as renewable, the law will crowd out in-state developers of distributed renewable power, according to Vermont Natural Resources Council.
Also, there is widespread recognition among environmentalists that large-scale hydro power projects are damaging to the environment, despite the fact that they provide emissions free electricity.
Alaska Reduces Its Take from Geothermal Projects
Alaska passed a law last week reducing the royalties it takes from geothermal power projects on state lands.
Governor Sean Parnell said the legislation will make geothermal projects more economically viable.
Royalties derived from geothermal leases on state land will be cut from 10% to 15% of gross revenue to 1.75% for the first 10 years, rising to 3.5% thereafter.
Oregon Approves Solar Incentives
The Oregon Public Utility Commission issued rules for a pilot incentive program for solar energy.
The program allows utility customers to receive incentive payments for new solar systems installed after July 1. Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR), PacifiCorp and Idaho Power will pay residents a fixed rate for small- (10 kW or less) and medium-scale (10 kW to 100 kW) solar systems for 15 years.
A competitive bidding process will be used for large-scale systems (100 kW to 500 kW).
The initial incentive rates will differ from region to region; it will be slightly less in sunnier regions that have more potential for solar generation.
The size of the pilot program is limited to 2,500 kW.
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I applaud Montgomery County for taking the advice of the vast majority of the world’s leading scientists and economists by enacting a carbon tax. I can only hope that it becomes a national model!