Topic: clean energy
Construction of Mojave Desert Solar Project Underway
The pros and cons of solar fields will be on bright display in Ivanpah Valley, CA, during the coming months. BrightSource Energy plans to construct a $2 billion solar project that will include 173,500 mirrors erected over more than 3,500 acres (approximately 6 square miles) of public land. The mirrors are expected to generate 370 MWs of solar power – enough to power 140,000 residences at peak usage levels.
While this project appears to be a laudable ally in the battle against global warming, it does not come without some controversy. In order to build the new plant, BrightSource has razed several acres of indigenous vegetation and displaced numerous species of desert-dwelling wildlife. Public parks, including Joshua Tree, Death Valley and the Mojave National Preserve, will be affected by the development. Some experts say that the development could kill many of the desert tortoises that reside in the area, a species whose existence is already threatened.
An article about the trade-offs related to the BrightSource solar power project can be found in the Los Angeles Times.
Judge Rules Part of AB 32 Unconstitutional
A district court judge in California dealt a major setback to AB 32, California’s landmark global warming law. With the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, AB 32 set a Low Carbon Fuel Standard that required the carbon content in gasoline to be reduced by 10% and required that 20% of total gasoline used in the state come from renewable fuels.
The law was one of the first in the country to use a “carbon intensity” analysis to determine the total amount of green house gases emitted during the production and transportation of fuel. By capping the amount of carbon permissible in the fuel, the law would provide marketable credits to producers and distributors who emitted less carbon. Those who could not comply with the standard would face increased fuel costs as they would be forced to buy additional credits.
However, the law, which went into effect this year, may have stalled before even leaving the gates. According to the judge, the new standard unconstitutionally discriminated against out-of-state producers and attempted to regulate activity that occurred outside of state borders. As a result, the law violated the Dormant Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
The lawsuit was brought by various farm groups, ethanol producers, refiners and truckers. The California Air Resources Board has said it would appeal.
Clean Energy Spending to Double by 2020
Global spending on new renewable energy projects has increased dramatically during the last two years. According to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the annual value of installed renewable energy capacity hit a record $195 billion in 2010. By 2020, experts predict that annual clean energy investments will climb to $395 billion and eventually reach $460 billion in 2030. This translates to a 3% increase in total energy production coming from renewable energy sources.
The forecast also predicts a shift in the location of these investments. While Europe, the United States and Canada will continue to see steady project construction, much of Asia and other developing countries will contribute significantly to the rise in annual investments. India, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America are expected to show increases in spending rates of between 10% and 18%. China is expected to far surpass most countries – in just four years, it is projected to spend almost $50 billion on renewable energy projects.
Driving this investment spike is renewed excitement in many forms of renewable energy. Steep reductions in the cost of solar facilities, which ironically helped lead to the recent bankruptcy of solar power company Solyndra, is expected to spur an investment of $130 billion in solar projects over the next 20 years. Similarly, it is anticipated that emerging markets such as Australia, Turkey, Africa and Latin America will spend many of their energy dollars on onshore and offshore wind facilities.
LEED Pilot Credit for “Demand Response” Revised
Pilot Credit 8: Demand Response, introduced in 2010 under the LEED Pilot Credit Library, USGBC’s mechanism for testing proposed credits that have not yet been formally vetted, has been revised. The credit attempts to incentivize participation in automated demand response (“DR”) programs that are important to developing a smart grid. DR refers to the ability to control consumption of electricity to better correspond with supply conditions.
Projects will earn a point toward LEED certification if they can show a 10% shift in their energy consumption away from peak energy periods. Extra points may be earned by projects that employ semi- or fully-automated demand response programs in their buildings. Education and market feedback are also incorporated into the program to help promote the sharing of information and to gauge the effect that the building community can have on the grid and the environment.
Read more about how the credit works here.
Weekly Quick Hits
EPA Promotes Green Development in State Capitals – The Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is continuing its Greening America’s Capitals project that launched in 2010 by partnering with the capital cities of Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi, Nebraska, and the District of Columbia this year, in order to promote green development and economic revitalization. (EPA)
Stickers, Checklists Help Schools Cut Energy Costs – New York schools managed to cut their energy consumption by approximately 11% since 2008, by implementing relatively simple changes that aim to change people’s behavior. (New York Times)
Feds Approve Largest Public Solar Project to Date – The recently approved 550-megawatt Desert Sunlight Solar Farm project—located in the California desert east of Palm Springs—is set to generate enough power for more than 165,000 homes, create 630 jobs, and pump $336 million into the local economy. (U.S. Department of the Interior)
LA Debates Future of Trash, Recycling Policies – Los Angeles officials are considering making changes to the trash pickup and recycling policies that apply to apartment buildings, as residents express concerns regarding the current system. (Los Angeles Times)
LADWP’s Revised Solar Incentive Program
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s (LADWP) revised Solar Incentive Program takes effect September 1, 2011. Since the program’s initial launch in 2007, rebates for commercial buildings have dropped 8% and incentives for governments and nonprofits have fallen by 32%.
The program is currently budgeted to provide $60 million in financial incentives to LADWP residential and non-residential customers who purchase and install their own solar power systems. Additional funds are also available to those who purchase photovoltaic modules manufactured within the City of Los Angeles.
LEED 2012 Draft Available for Public Comment
An updated draft of the LEED green building rating system (“LEED 2012“) is now available for review. The U.S. Green Building Council released the new draft after receiving thousands of comments with respect to the initial draft.
Comments regarding the revised LEED 2012 are being accepted through September 14, 2011. More information about LEED 2012 can be obtained here.
Weekly Quick Hits
Tapping Water’s Energy – Proponents of underwater turbine farms believe that the technology could generate an additional 60 GW of power nationwide by 2025. (Boston Globe)
EPA “Greening the Apple” – The Environmental Protection Agency blogs about sustainability issues and efforts in New York City at “Greening the Apple.” (EPA)
Gearing Up for Wind Power – As the demand for clean energy grows, the technology behind wind turbines also advances. (The New York Times)
The Ultimate Green House – Ed Begley Jr., actor and environmentalist, aims to build a “net zero” house that will have no environmental impact and produce its own energy. (Studio City Patch)
New Partnership Seeks Uniform Standards for Green Valuations
In a memorandum of understanding, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and the Appraisal Foundation announced that they will join forces to ensure that the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice for commercial buildings are applicable to energy performance and green valuations. The collaboration also attempts to ensure that appraisers are appropriately trained in these valuations. Additionally, the Foundation plans to post informational videos and training sessions that can be accessed through their “eLibrary.”
This partnership is a part of the Better Buildings Initiative launched in February 2011 by President Obama.
LEED Gets New Standard for Energy Management Systems
The LEED system has a new standard: ISO 50001:2001, Energy management systems – Requirements with guidance for use. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ISO 50001 provides management strategies for public and private organizations around the world that will allow them to boost energy efficiency while simulatenously lowering costs and increasing energy performance. The new voluntary guidelines should be particularly helpful for multinational organizations as ISO 50001 provides “access to a single, harmonized standard” that can be implemented across facilities. According to the organization, ”ISO 50001 will establish a framework for industrial plants; commercial, institutional, and governmental facilities; and entire organizations to manage energy. Targeting broad applicability across national economic sectors, it is estimated that the standard could influence up to 60% of the world’s energy use.”
Energy management company Schneider Electric’s French headquarters is the first in the world to be certified under the new standard for energy management systems (EnMS). The company has been enhancing the 377,000 square-foot building, known as “the Hive,” since late 2010 in order to benefit from the gains of the new standard. Other early adopters in China, India and Austria are also reporting success.
The framework established by the new standard enables organizations to:
- Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy
- Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy
- Use data to better understand and make decisions concerning energy use and consumption
- Measure the results
- Review the effectiveness of the policy
- Continually improve energy management
To learn more, visit the links below:
