renewable energy

Coal Is Deadly, Not Cheap

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:09:48 -0500

by Stephanie Pistello, Ben Evans, Jeff Biggers and Ben Sollee

As world leaders gather for the Copenhagen Climate Summit, we disagree with Commerce Lexington that energy legislation is "the most immediate threat to Kentucky's business climate."

Nothing could be further from the truth. Dirty energy led to Lexington's embarrassing selection last year as the worst carbon footprint contributor in the nation. Commerce Lexington has taken a giant carbon step backwards.

No Such Thing as Clean Coal

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:12:45 -0400

by Shawn Dell Joyce

We are enduring a $45 million advertising campaign touting "clean coal" as the solution to America's energy crisis. This is an attempt by "Big Coal" lobbyists (the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, in this case) to "greenwash" Americans into believing a lie that coal can be clean. Don't believe the hype!

US Lawmakers Seek More Nuclear Power in Bill

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:35:11 -0400

by Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers on Thursday sought to increase incentives for nuclear power and energy efficiency in a measure that would require utilities to generate a certain amount of electricity from renewable sources.

Nuclear power is not currently considered a renewable electricity source in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee bill. Under the bill, a percentage of utilities' total power production would have to be dedicated to renewables.

Green Energy Overtakes Fossil Fuel Investment, Says UN

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:36:45 -0400

by Terry Macalister

Green energy overtook fossil fuels in attracting investment for power generation for the first time last year, according to figures released today by the United Nations.

Wind, solar and other clean technologies attracted $140bn (£85bn) compared with $110bn for gas and coal for electrical power generation, with more than a third of the green cash destined for Britain and the rest of Europe.

Wind Power Installations Up 29 Percent in 2008

Fri, 08 May 2009 13:24:51 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2009

Worldwatch Institute

Global wind capacity increased an estimated 27,051 megawatts in 2008, with cumulative installations up almost 29 percent. The United States led in new installations, surpassing Germany to rank first in wind energy cumulative capacity and electricity generation.

A new snapshot of wind energy trends from Worldwatch Institute analyzes data since 1980 and reveals that:

Former Oilsands Exec Named Head of Climate Working Group

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:43:33 -0400

by Glen McGregor

OTTAWA - The Harper government has named a former oil and gas industry executive who led a company active in the Alberta oilsands as a representative on a U.S.-Canada working group on clean energy.

Charlie Fischer, who until recently served as president and chief executive officer of Calgary-based Nexen Inc., will head up one of three working groups with American counterparts as part of the Clean Energy Dialogue, Environment Minister Jim Prentice has confirmed.

US Interior Chief Touts Renewable Energy Zones

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:16:43 -0400

by Russell Blinch

WASHINGTON - The Obama Administration is carving out renewable energy zones across the country and offshore, and is preparing to work with critics who object to wind turbines or solar farms near wilderness or tourist areas, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday.

"You have a map that starts out as a very huge map that shows you have the huge potential for solar energy in the Southwest but then you have to overlay that with areas such as national parks and national monuments, where we won't allow any development of renewable energy facilities," Salazar said.

Shell Dumps Wind, Solar and Hydro Power in Favor of Biofuels

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:21:34 -0400

by Tim Webb

Shell will no longer invest in renewable technologies such as wind, solar and hydro power because they are not economic, the Anglo-Dutch oil company said today. It plans to invest more in biofuels which environmental groups blame for driving up food prices and deforestation.

Executives at its annual strategy presentation said Shell, already the world's largest buyer and blender of crop-based biofuels, would also invest an unspecified amount in developing a new generation of biofuels which do not use food-based crops and are less harmful to the environment.

Interior Department Announces New Focus on Global Warming & Renewable Energy

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:35:24 -0400

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 11, 2009

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar today announced that the agency will increasingly focus on advancing clean, renewable energy and addressing global warming. Secretary Salazar announced the formation of an energy and climate change task force to advance the Interior Department's renewable energy agenda.

Following is a statement by Bobby McEnaney, a lands advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

Stimulus May Put Some Wind in Clean Energy's Sails

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:26:11 -0500

by Renee Schoof

WASHINGTON - Many of the jobs that the economic stimulus would create are generated by the parts of the plan that also are intended to help combat global warming and reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels.