Groups Laud Governor Cuomo’s Renewable Energy Proposal

New York proposes 10 year, $1.5 Billion 

Large-Scale Renewable Energy Program 

ALBANY, NY. – The New York Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) filed a proposal with the Public Service Commission (PSC) Monday to extend and enhance the states cornerstone renewable energy program supporting large scale clean energy as part of PSC’s Large Scale Renewable Energy Track of the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding.

Since its inception in 2004, New York State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (“RPS”) has been a driver of clean energy investment and highly cost effective for New York ratepayers.

New York’s large scale renewable energy projects will contribute a total of $2.7 billion in direct economic investments statewide, have added approximately 670 jobs annually to New York’s workforce, and will reduce harmful carbon dioxide emissions by 50 million tons over the life of the projects.

Large scale renewable energy projects like wind power, promote fuel diversity, protect electricity customers from volatile gas prices, reduce the need for power plants that drive climate and air pollution, and improve energy security and independence.

The following joint statement was released by Sierra Club, Alliance for Clean Energy New York, Environmental Advocates of New York, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Pace Energy and Climate Center:

“New York’s current Renewable Energy Standard expires at the end of 2015. We applaud NYSERDA's proposal to extend and enhance the State's support for large scale renewable energy with a 10 year, $1.5 billion commitment that is designed to ensure the certainty, longevity, and scale necessary to attract continued private sector investment in these valuable renewable resources."

With this bold proposal, coupled with a strong renewables target such as 50% by 2025, Governor Cuomo can cement New York’s status as a national leader on clean energy and climate policy.

Along with the smart execution and implementation of the forthcoming Clean Energy Fund proposal and Final New York State Energy Plan, New York can stay on track to meeting the Governor’s commitment to reducing climate pollution 80 percent by 2050. This Large Scale Renewables proposal is a huge step forward toward that goal, while also driving the broader pollution reduction and job creation benefits such policies have proven to deliver.

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SEE ALSO:

NYSERDA Proposes New Strategies to Continue Support of Large Scale Renewables 

Strategies Include a Long-Term Public Commitment to Attract Investment to New York and Spur Development of Clean, Stable Power

Click Here

REPORT: Large-Scale Renewable Energy Development in New York: Options and Assessment
(168 pages). Click Here

BuffaloNews.com:  
State plans $1.5 billion more to spur renewable energy
10-year program would focus on large wind, solar projects
Click Here

Power Grid Can Handle More Renewable Energy -- Google Seeks 100%

Nation's Largest Grid Operator: Huge Renewables Expansion Won't Be a Problem

By John Moore

PJM Interconnection, the nation’s largest power transmission grid organization, announced last week that wind and solar power could generate about 30 percent of PJM’s total electricity for its territory covering the Mid-Atlantic region and part of the Midwest by 2026 without “any significant issues.” That’s engineer-speak for “no big deal.” Even better, we would see more clean power at less cost and with far less pollution than our current mix of coal and natural gas power plants.

PJM’s new renewables integration report, prepared for it by General Electric, is required reading for anyone who questions the ability of the electric grid to handle large amounts of wind, solar, and other renewable energy. GE estimates that about 113,000 megawatts (MW) of installed wind and solar power resources (including distributed/generation), could produce about 30 percent of the region’s total energy. That’s enough energy to power 23.5 million homes annually. Here’s the breakdown of the resource mix in one of the scenarios studied in the report:

Significant benefits from more clean energy
The report estimates that 30 percent wind and solar power in PJM would bring the following benefits:

• 40 percent less carbon pollution than “business as usual.”
• Lower average energy prices across PJM’s footprint – because wind and solar would avoid $15.6 billion in coal and natural gas fuel costs.
• Very little additional power (only 1500 MW) needed to support the minute-to-minute variability of the renewable power (like when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow).
• No additional operating (known as “spinning”) reserves needed for backup power. (Wow!)
• 44 percent less gas-fired generation and 21 percent less coal-fired generation—which also reduces the amount of carbon pollution emitted into the atmosphere.
  

The benefits, which really are stunning, derive primarily from several facts: 1) solar and wind power have zero fuel cost, which makes up most of the price of energy; 2) these resources are now commercially available and competitive with other power; 3) they produce zero carbon and other pollution; and 4) PJM’s large size over 14 states significantly reduces the magnitude of weather-caused variations in power output that can occur during the day and night.

Read more at NRDC SWITCHBOARD

Google Exec: 'Our Goal Is To Be 100 Percent Renewable Powered'

by Khier Casino

Google spent $2.25 billion in its last quarter on data centers and infrastructure, giving it a reason to use solar, wind and other alternative energies to cut everyday costs for the company.

"We've invested over a billion dollars in 15 projects that have the capacity to produce two gigawatts of power around the world, mostly in the US, but that's the equivalent of Hoover's Dam worth of power generation," Needham said.

Google recently opened the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station, located on federal land on the California-Nevada border southwest of Las Vegas. The field of mirrors rein in solar and energy and cuts energy costs.

"The fact is that all of these things, procuring power for ourselves, investing in power plants, renewable power plants, they all make business sense, they make sense for us as a company to do. We rely on power for our business," Needham adds.

Other companies in Silicon Valley are as devoted as Google in investing in sources of renewable energy.

"Silicon Valley is leading the charge to be more efficient, to work on solutions to some of these problems," said Ben Schachter, senior Internet analyst at Macquarie Securities. "Google is ahead of the pack and we'll have to wait and see how it works out. They are certainly trying many different initiatives to figure out how best to manage their footprint in the environment, as well as how to manage the cost of all their energy."

The original article is here.

Ecology and Environment, Inc., Plays Key Role in First Large-Scale Solar Energy Project on U.S. Public Lands in Nevada

LANCASTER, N.Y., October 20, 2010 – Ecology and Environment, Inc., (E & E) (NASDAQ: EEI) is proud to announce its involvement in the Silver State North Solar Project, the first large-scale solar energy project on U.S. Public Lands in Nevada. The First Solar, Inc. project was approved by Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, yesterday. This is the second landmark, large-scale solar fast-track project to obtain Department of the Interior (DOI) approval in recent days in which E & E has played a key role providing permitting, environmental impact assessment expertise and coordinating the public involvement process.

“Silver State is one of several renewable energy projects in the pipeline that will help Nevada and the nation create jobs as we build a clean energy economy,” Secretary Salazar said in signing the Record of Decision. “This project will provide renewable energy that will help meet our nation’s growing demand as we strive to become energy independent.”

E & E prepared the precedent-setting environmental impact statement (EIS) for the 50-megawatt (MWAC) 60 (MWDC) solar facility and associated infrastructure, which will be built in the Ivanpah Valley, 40 miles south of Las Vegas. E & E worked collaboratively with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Vegas Field Office on the EIS, which analyzed environmental impacts of project construction and operation on several key resource areas, including threatened and endangered species, recreation, and hydrology; and identified appropriate mitigation measures to reduce project impacts. E & E engaged all project stakeholders and conducted well-attended public scoping meetings.

The Silver State North Solar Project is expected to generate enough electricity to power approximately 15,000 homes, create 300 construction jobs, and generate $250,000 in annual property tax revenue for Clark County, NV.

BLM Director, Bob Abbey, noted the key role public involvement played in the project’s approval. “The BLM is proud to play a major role in our nation’s quest to capture more renewable energy resources here at home,” Abbey said. “Through wise planning and engagement with local communities and stakeholders, we can support large-scale solar development on public lands while protecting valuable natural and cultural resources. If we are smart from the start, we can capture America’s renewable energy resources in the right way and the right places.”

“DOI approval of these pivotal large-scale solar projects on U.S. Public Lands is a significant step forward in advancing a clean energy economy and we are proud to play a role in making these projects a reality,” said E & E president and CEO Kevin Neumaier. “Silver State North brings Nevada one step closer to its goal of a 25 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2025, and sends a clear message that standards and benchmarks like Nevada’s are achievable when energy companies, agencies, and stakeholders work collaboratively to advance environmentally sound projects.”

E & E has 40 years of global energy project experience and has been at the forefront of solar, wind and other renewable energy development. E & E has completed hundreds of renewable energy projects bringing thousands of megawatts of solar, wind, geothermal and ocean energy power to the grid.

Headquartered in Lancaster, N.Y., Ecology and Environment, Inc., has completed more than 50,000 projects for a wide variety of clients in 96 countries, providing environmental solutions in nearly every ecosystem on the planet. The company is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol EEI and is located on the web at www.ene.com.