Ozone Layer Shows Signs of Recovery
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Wind Industry Giant Invests in U.S.
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Largest Onshore European Wind Farm Approved
The largest onshore wind farm in Europe has been given the go-ahead. The Whitelee Wind Farm will consist of 140 wind turbines and 322 megawatts (MW) of capacity, and will be constructed south of Glasgow, Scotland. ScottishPower is the developer of the plant, which will produce enough energy to meet over two percent of Scotland’s annual electricity requirements. “Whitelee is the largest single onshore wind farm to be consented in Europe and is a significant milestone towards achieving our renewable energy and climate change targets,” said Allan Wilson, Deputy Enterprise Minister. “We are strongly committed to the continued development of a diverse renewable energy portfolio in this country and there are many more proposed projects in the pipeline, including biomass, wave and hydro power.” Scotland’s Renewables target is for 18 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010 and 40 percent by 2020. “We are already well on target to surpass the 2010 target and this single development equates to over five percent of the capacity needed to hit our 2020 target,” he said. The plant will cover 11.5 km east to west and 7 km from north to south — 55 km2 in total. The project will […]
Construction Begins on World's Largest Thin-Film Solar Plant
Die Beck Energy GmbH (Dimbach), a company that specializes in the development and construction of large-scale solar power plants, has begun construction of the world’s largest thin-film solar park, “Markt Bibart I.” With a capacity of 3160 kWp, it will be able to supply power to about 1000 private homes. The solar plant will be fitted with Blitzstrom CTS modules manufactured by First Solar, their most significant features being high efficiency, cost effectiveness and a comprehensive end-of-life recycling management. First Solar recycles modules after their useful life has ended, reprocesses them and re-introduces them back into the production cycle. Beck Energy is working closely with First Solar and is favouring CTS technology for large-scale solar power plants. Completion of the project is set for 2007. Beck Energy GmbH is a leader in the development and construction of large-scale solar power plants. The Dimbach-based company has specialized in turn-key systems for investors and is constantly striving to improve system efficiency and output yield of their products. To date, 20 large-scale solar power projects have already been completed. Beck Energy only utilizes crystalline thin-film modules supplied by long-time trading partner Blitzstrom GmbH. The system design of Beck Energy solar power plants has […]
12-Step Program to Break America?s Oil Habit, Stop Global Warming
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group recommends the following 12-step program to reduce America’s dependence on oil and help stop global warming: ? Require cars and trucks to go farther on a gallon of gas. According to the National Academy of Sciences, currently available technology can make cars and trucks nearly double their gas mileage to an average of 40 mpg within a decade without reducing the size, power, or variety of cars available to consumers. Had the President done this in 2001, consumers would be saving more than $8.7 billion in 2006 alone (more than $500 per new vehicle.) ? Adopt nationwide limits on global warming pollution to ensure that we prevent the worst impacts of global warming. ? Move away from oil by requiring a minimum amount of farm-based bio-fuels. ? Stop efforts to open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The Refuge would provide less than a year’s worth of oil that would take ten years to get to market. ? Maintain strong protections against drilling off our beautiful coasts. Given the benefits of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency, we should not drill off our beaches. ? Save taxpayers money by repealing the […]
25% Renewables by 2025
Leading officials and representatives from more than 70 organizations and businesses gathered to demonstrate support for an aggressive “25 X ’25” renewable energy vision, March 7-9, at the second national Agricultural and Forestry Renewable Energy Summit. The goal of the Washington D.C. summit, sponsored by the 25 X ’25 Work Group with funding from the Energy Future Coalition, was to secure national support for the mission of producing 25% of total U.S. energy consumption from America’s working lands by 2025.More than 70 organizations endorsed the vision. Advocates led by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the National Association of Counties attended the summit. Other supporters represent renewable energy, agriculture, forest products, environmental, religious, labor, conservation and federal, state and local governments. A bipartison lineup of political powerhouses addressed the 150 attendees. Key speakers included former Tom Daschle, former Senate Democratic leader; Mike Johanns, Agriculture Secretary, Dan Arviszu, NREL director, James Woolsey, former CIA director, Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania; Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana; Tim Wirth, president of the UN Foundation; and US Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado.In coming months, the 25 X ’25 Work Group will work to gain endorsements from a majority […]
Wells Fargo Still Finances Environmentally Destructive Activities
With $435 billion in assets and over 23 million customers, Wells Fargo is the largest US-based bank still operating without comprehensive modern guidelines to govern its investment practices and corporate conduct on a broad range of urgent environmental and social issues. Case studies on DirtyMoney.org show how Wells Fargo supports radical extraction practices like clear-cutting forests and leveling mountaintops, often on public land for private profit, from Ecuador to Alaska to West Virginia. Despite persistent calls from citizen action groups, Wells Fargo has refused to incorporate new industry best practices on the environment, instead substituting PR and greenwash for action. While the company released a 10-point environmental plan significantly weaker than the industry’s best and riddled with loopholes, it has shown its true colors by investing millions of dollars in Massey Energy, a company currently under fire for destroying Appalachian communities with mountaintop coal removal, and funding an industry front group that is trying to open up roadless areas in Alaska’s valuable Tongass National Forest. Industry peers began to adopt environmental policies in 2003 to address the pressing issues of climate change, ecosystem preservation, and human rights violations. Citigroup, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Goldman Sachs have all become […]
Nigeria of the North:Oil Sands Frenzy Threatens Alberta Environment
The relentless pursuit of oil continues - this time in Canada.
Environmental Power Corp: Cow Power
Here's a more creative, common sense way to make energy (than wreaking havoc on the environment as in the article above).
Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:May 3, 2006
News and Events U.S. Geothermal Prepares to Build a 10-Megawatt Plant in Idaho Florida Pursues Power from Grass, While Others Pitch Manure California Sets Goals to Boost In-State Biofuels Production New Near-Zero Energy Homes Open in California and New Jersey Energy Connections Forecasters Predict an Active and Dangerous Hurricane Season News and EventsU.S. Geothermal Prepares to Build a 10-Megawatt Plant in IdahoU.S. Geothermal, Inc. told its contractor last week to proceed with the engineering, procurement, and construction of a 10-megawatt geothermal power plant in central Idaho, the first geothermal power plant in the state. The Raft River Geothermal Project will be located about 10 miles north of the Utah border and will sell its power to the Idaho Power Company. Ormat Nevada, Inc. is supplying the power plant, which will use the geothermal heat to vaporize an organic fluid. The organic vapor will spin a turbine that drives a generator to make electricity, and then the vapor will be condensed and reused, in what is called a binary cycle power plant. U.S. Geothermal is currently negotiating long-term financing for the plant and expects to have it in place by June 1st. The company plans to begin operating the power plant […]
