danza energy

caught my first trout in Europe

2010-05-28T08:55:00.006-04:00

OK,

I had to go to Italy on an emergency, while there I took an hour to go fishing.

Caught my first trout in Europe, can't tell what species.

The best; was while I was driving ended up following trout stocking truck, "just can't get away from them". The top right corner of the truck says "live trout from Valnerina".

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution

2010-04-07T19:22:00.001-04:00

This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.

An idea whose time has come

For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."

PA Forests 'Significantly Threatened' by Gas Drilling

2010-03-24T12:55:00.000-04:00

PA Forests 'Significantly Threatened' by Gas Drilling
By Iris Marie Bloom | 24.MAR.10

Vote on Rep. Vitali’s 5-year Moratorium Expected this Week

The Pennsylvania legislature may vote this week to allow Governor Rendell to force the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to lease yet another huge chunk of Pennsylvania state forests. At a Temple University teach-in attended by over 200 people last Thursday, DCNR Secretary John Quigley stated that Pennsylvania’s forests are "significantly threatened by this uncontrolled gold rush to extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale."

The forest land already leased is one third of all Pennsylvania’s state forest land. All the state forest land left is sensitive and deserves special protection, according to the Pennsylvania Forest Coalition, PennFuture, Trout Unlimited, and other members of a wide-ranging coalition springing up to defend Pennsylvania’s forests and rivers.

Pennsylvania Representative Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) has introduced a resolution, HB 2235, which would require a five-year moratorium on any further leasing of forest lands. Supporters have become more vocal and active this week, expecting the vote any day. In a March 22nd editorial, "Stop, Look, Assess Drilling’s Full Effects," the Pocono Record advocated for HB 2235: "Pennsylvania should not risk the integrity of the beautiful forests that gave the state its name… Pennsylvania has already leased…a whopping 700,000 acres. Let’s see how that goes before opening the remainder of this valuable public land to energy companies." Over 145 people attended a Poconos forum on Marcellus Shale drilling last month, sponsored by the League of Women Voters out of growing concern about forest fragmentation, water quality and other impacts.

Vitali’s bill would also authorize DCNR, rather than the governor, to decide whether to authorize further drilling after the five-year moratorium.

Legislators not particularly known for environmental advocacy may favor the moratorium for economic reasons: tourism is Pennsylvania’s second most lucrative industry, and that’s not all about people standing in line to see the Liberty Bell. According to the Appalachian Mountain Club, Pennsylvania has more maintained hiking trails than any other state.

The Pocono Record commented, "Responsible legislators also must weigh [shale gas drilling’s] substantial risks, which include chemical spills, water pollution, the incursion of new roads in pristine remote land and heavier traffic in rural areas. Our legislators have a sworn duty to protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources." The Record concluded, "Don’t let our historic forests become a cash cow for drillers."

In related news, environmentalists found a temporary solution to protect West Virginia forests also vulnerable to shale gas drilling. Conservation groups succeeded last Friday in stopping the federal Bureau of Land Management from auctioning publicly owned oil and gas reserves under the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. The Center for Biological Diversity, Wilderness Society and Friends of Blackwater were among the groups warning that oil and gas development would threaten endangered bats, a native brook trout fishery, clean water and scenic resources inside the forest.

In Philadelphia, packed auditoriums marked two watershed events last week: the Schuylkill Watershed Congress, sponsored by Delaware Riverkeeper Network on March 13th, and the March 18th teach-in on the environmental impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania, sponsored by Temple University. The Temple teach-in included highly technical and scientific information as well as lively debate and confrontations between environmentalists, regulators, and industry lobbyists. "The timing was good… listening to the speakers, I renewed my commitment to work hard to keep shale gas drillers out of our watershed," commented Francine Cohen, a graduate student at Temple.

The Delaware River Basin Commission public comment period remains open until April 12th regarding the first shale gas drilling permit, and the first water withdrawal permit, in the Delaware River watershed. Both permits could be decided as early as May 5th.

Breaking News: No Bonus Depreciation 3-18-2010

2010-03-19T17:26:00.000-04:00

The jobs bill was signed into law today by President Obama.

Known as the "HIRE Act' (Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act), the new law does not include Bonus Depreciation.

This may be a non-event for many small businesses acquiring equipment this year if they would not have elected to take bonus depreciation anyway due to their reduced income during these difficult economic times.

Under 5-year MACRS, the annual depreciation deductions are 20%, 32%, 19.20%, 11.52%, 11.52%, and 5.76% in the first 6 years in that order. The biggest annual deduction in year 2 could match up nicely as a deduction against higher income next year for a company that installs solar this year.

The takeaway is this: It does not make sense for a company to put off installing solar to next year. Install now and get the big depreciation deduction next year when it has the most value...reducing higher income that would be subject to higher tax rates...especially after the Bush tax cuts expire this year and real rates rise along with the company's income!

Dump may have bright future as solar energy site

2010-03-04T07:59:00.000-05:00

THOMAS BARLAS, Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, March 4, 2010

A Burlington County company wants to buy Hamilton Township's old landfill and turn it into a major New Jersey solar energy site.

Officials with Land Resource Solutions, hired by the township a few years ago to help environmentally secure and redevelop the landfill, say state and federal programs that promote clean and renewable energy could make it financially feasible for them to proceed with the $50 million project.

"That's our goal," said Trevan Houser, a principal in Land Resource Solutions. "We think it's a good site. We think it's a good fit."

Along with gaining revenue from the sale of the land, Houser said the township could buy discounted energy from the site.

Houser and township officials say the proposal also means the municipality wouldn't have to pay millions of dollars to environmentally secure the landfill. That process traditionally means capping a landfill with clay to prevent water from seeping through the site and carrying pollutants into the ground, installing monitoring systems and performing 30 years worth of state-required environmental monitoring.

"No out-of-pocket expenses to the township," Houser said.

The landfill is located near the township's industrial park in Mays Landing. The site is also near many Atlantic County government buildings, such as the jail, criminal court complex and schools.

Mayor Roger Silva said the township, Land Resource and Atlantic County might consider a partnership that would also provide reduced-cost energy to those county facilities. Another possibility would be to use reduced energy costs as another way to attract more businesses to the industrial park, he said.

"The problem that I have is that you can't get it done fast enough," Silva said.

Houser estimated it could take about three years before the solar energy field is operational.

As for the county, Atlantic County Administrator Gerald DelRosso said it's already considering proposals for two solar panel arrays - one for the jail, and another to be built over the criminal court complex parking lot.

However, DelRosso said the county would be willing to at least discuss some kind of arrangement with the township.

The 16-acre landfill has been closed for about 20 years.

For years, township officials discussed what to do with the site. One major obstacle involved finding the millions of dollars necessary to environmental secure and then redevelop the land.

Land Resource is using $379,000 in state grant money to study what is buried beneath the landfill and whether it's causing any underground water and soil pollution.

Township and Land Resource officials estimate the site could hold enough solar panels to generate about 6 megawatts of power. That's enough to power about 5,000 homes for a year, Houser said.

Houser contends that one way to reduce closing costs is to convince the state Department of Environmental Protection and state Pinelands Commission that a different kind of cover for the landfill than clay could be safely used.

Houser said his company is studying alternative cap materials that would allow water to filter through the township landfill site. Water has filtered through the landfill for the past 20 years, he said, and tests indicate no potentially dangerous problems with soil and ground water.

"It has stabilized," he said.

Kyocera plans solar-panel assembly in San Diego

2010-03-04T07:36:00.001-05:00

Kyocera plans solar-panel assembly in Kearny Mesa

By Onell R. Soto, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 11:22 p.m.

/ Kyocera

Steve Hill, who heads Kyocera’s North American solar subsidiary, held one of the company’s solar modules. Kyocera has announced that it will begin manufacturing panels in San Diego.

Partly to take advantage of made-in-America provisions in the federal stimulus law, Kyocera announced plans Wednesday to open a solar-panel-assembly line at its U.S. headquarters in Kearny Mesa.

When it starts up in June, the assembly line will employ 65 to 75 people, company officials said. Some will be new hires; others will be existing Kyocera workers who had worked on a gold-plating line that the company recently moved to Mexico.

The announcement comes amid criticism that the stimulus bill — particularly in the renewable-energy arena — has sent money to overseas manufacturers. Washington lawmakers have become increasingly sensitive to those concerns amid persistently high unemployment.

Sen. Charles Schumer of New York and three other Democratic senators Wednesday introduced a bill that would require clean-energy projects receiving federal funds to use only domestic materials.

“It is a no-brainer that stimulus funds should only go to projects that create jobs in the United States rather than overseas,” Schumer said in a statement.

Existing law already requires some projects — those in certain public-works facilities — to use U.S.-made solar panels.

Kyocera’s decision to locate in San Diego was based only in part on stimulus considerations, said Rodney Lanthorne, president of the company’s U.S. subsidiary. The line will also take advantage of existing suppliers and infrastructure, as well as its proximity to a much larger solar-panel-assembly line in Tijuana.

“It just made sense to put it in San Diego,” Lanthorne said.

While workers are paid more in the United States than in Mexico, other costs are similar, and there will be savings because some components won’t have to cross the border, he said.

Whether employment here grows depends on how business fares, Lanthorne said, adding, “We don’t have a crystal ball.”

Kyocera’s solar operations have worldwide reach.

Silicon from the United States is sent to Japan, where it is forged into chips that are sent to plants in Japan, China, Mexico and the Czech Republic for assembly into solar panels, said Steve Hill, who heads the company’s North American solar subsidiary.

Hill said the company will manufacture 400 megawatts of solar panels worldwide in the fiscal year ending this month. By 2013, it plans to more than double that output to 1,000 megawatts.

“We’re expanding in Mexico as well,” he said.

The company’s five-year-old Tijuana plant, which will make 250 megawatts of solar panels this fiscal year, supplies customers in North and South America.

Hill said Kyocera’s business is split among rooftop arrays on homes, larger arrays on warehouses and stores, and much larger desert solar farms for utilities.

As production has increased, prices have come down, he said.

And California is a leading market. The state has subsidized solar installations for businesses and homeowners through surcharges on electric bills.

The state is two years ahead of expectations in its plan to outfit a million roofs with solar panels and generate 3 gigawatts of power from the sun, said Irene Stillings, head of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

Her group oversees solar rebate programs in San Diego County and hosted Wednesday’s Kyocera announcement.

“Demand is increasing exponentially,” Stillings said.

State lawmakers recently approved a plan through which the owners of solar panels would be reimbursed for excess electricity they produce. The California Public Utilities Commission is deciding how much they should be paid.

Wednesday’s announcement earned praise from San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, both of whom touted the benefits of adding “green collar” jobs to the region.

In 1971, Kyocera became the first Japanese company to begin manufacturing in California. The diversified industrial company now employs about 1,100 people in San Diego and about 800 in Tijuana.

“We’ve been here a long time,” Hill said.

NYSES,stimulus awards

2010-03-02T05:54:00.001-05:00

To the 565 Friends of NYSES:

You must track these stimulus awards locally (see below). Some of these funds are going to entities that may or may not do a great job. The ARRA housing insulation funds have been exceedingly slow to be spent.
Note below the remarks by NY Congresspeople who have already earmarked these new ARRA funds for specific projects.
Imagine if we had $40,000,000 for Solar Day NY/USA. We could easily reach every New Yorker with an educational package and a host a call in center with lists of local installers.

ALBANY, NY (03/01/2010)(readMedia)-- Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $40 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding has been awarded to New York municipalities, public schools, universities and colleges, hospitals and not-for-profit agencies to support 118 energy conservation projects. The energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean fleet projects will reduce energy and operating costs by $13.5 million annually and fully return the initial investment in just under 7 years.
"At a time when many are working with less, we must make wise investments that both create savings and plan for our future. These funds will provide public and non-profit entities with critical resources needed to make long-term investments that will reduce their energy costs and save taxpayers money," Governor Paterson said. "These projects will invigorate the State's economy, heighten the demand for clean renewable technologies, and help put New Yorkers to work in the clean energy economy. I applaud President Obama and our Congressional Delegation for their work to secure these critical funds that promote economic recovery, energy independence and strong environmental stewardship."
The projects, which were competitively selected through the State Energy Program, represent the program's second round of funding that will total $74 million. Additional awards are expected to be made before the end of the year. Measures funded include installation of lighting and lighting controls, heating, cooling and controls, building envelope, photovoltaic systems, high efficiency biomass boilers, solar thermal, small wind generators and alternative-fuel refueling stations and vehicles.
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Francis J. Murray said: "The federal stimulus program is providing critical funding to help local governments, hospitals, colleges and universities, and non-profit agencies reduce their energy costs while helping New York reduce its overall energy consumption and our impact on the environment. The energy conservation measures this funding supports will help create jobs and make meaningful progress towards meeting Governor David Paterson's ambitious energy reduction goals. NYSERDA looks forward to working with the award recipients to help them achieve the greatest savings possible."
The following tables show the distribution of funds by region and by sector:

Region	Funds Awarded
1 – New York City	$16,356,848
2 - Long Island	$7,826,389
3 – Hudson Valley & Capital District	$6,741,262
4 – Adirondacks	$1,250,572
5 – Central New York	$3,684,384
6 – Rochester/Genesee	$2,082,595
7 – Buffalo/Western New York	$2,197,822

Sector	Number of Awards	Funds Awarded
Hospitals & Not-for Profits	23	$6,783,984
Public K-12 Schools	31	$16,803,928
Municipalities	42	$11,378,121
Public Colleges & Universities	22	$5,173,838

NYSERDA received more than 300 proposals and evaluated on a competitive basis. Primary selection criteria included technical viability, cost-effectiveness, demonstration of compliance with program requirements, and cost sharing. Each awardee must still successfully enter into contract and meet all ARRA requirements prior to funding being released.
Through these awards, New York continues to invest in a clean energy economy and achieve Governor Paterson's goal of meeting 45 percent of the State's energy needs through energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2015. Governor Paterson's '45 by 15' program is one of the nation's most aggressive energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. It is conservatively estimated that this program will create 50,000 new jobs throughout the State.
The next round of funding for the remaining $8.8 million has been announced with proposals due to NYSERDA on April 7, 2010. Visit http://www.nyserda.org/funding/1613rfp.asp for more information about RFP 1613.
A detailed table of the energy conservation projects awarded can be found at: http://www.nyserda.org/economicrecovery/awarded.asp.

Incentives would power solar sector

2010-02-23T10:47:00.000-05:00

Plans to expand solar power in the United States looked a lot different from my seat in a cafe near Tiananmen Square than they did from my office in Novato. Many of the measures - and half-measures - that we read about every day in American newspapers are things the Germans and Chinese and Spanish and French decided to do 10 years ago.

So now we are playing catch-up - but still not taking the steps our foreign competitors have long since regarded as routine.

Germany, for example: Hardly a sunny hot spot, but it has more solar installations than any country in the world - and 200 times more than England.

That is because German citizens get 75 cents per kilowatt hour for the solar power they sell back to the grid. Spain is similar. Great Britain and France and Ontario recently raised their "feed in tariffs" to comparable levels.

In California, we get less than 10 cents. And that is more than most places.

In the United States, we limit not just the price but also the amount of solar energy an owner can sell back to the grid.

So we limit our results as well.

If we allowed the price to rise, and removed the limits on how much solar energy a farmer or business owner or school or police station could generate, we would see an explosion in demand for solar and other renewables.

That would reduce our dependence on foreign energy and stimulate domestic manufacturing as well.

It's a two-fer.

That is our best chance of creating solar-panel manufacturing jobs in the United States. But it is already late in the game. Half-measures won't work anymore.

Tom Rooney is the president and CEO of SPG Solar.

Threat of gas drilling to Pa. State Forests weighed

2010-02-22T06:18:00.000-05:00

By Andrew Maykuth

Inquirer Staff Writer

Pennsylvania's countryside was a smoldering moonscape 90 years ago, the hardwoods decimated for fuel and the hemlocks cut down for tannic acid to process leather.

From those ruins, Harrisburg assembled the Pennsylvania State Forests, now one of the nation's largest sustainable systems certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the gold standard for enlightened forestry practices.

But some officials in the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) fear the hard-fought "green" certification could be threatened by the rush to cash in on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

John Quigley, acting DCNR secretary, has questioned how much gas leasing can be tolerated on public lands after the latest auction put 32,000 more acres of forest into the industry's hands.

"Over time, as all this activity proceeds, we could very well jeopardize that certification," Quigley told The Inquirer. "That may not happen immediately, but it's something very important to us."

The debate no doubt will be replayed in the spring as legislators consider Gov. Rendell's $29 billion budget request, which counts on raising $180 million more from gas leasing in 2010-11.

Next year, Rendell's successor will likely face pressure to lease more acreage. Already, nearly half the 1.5 million acres of state forest that lie in the Marcellus "fairway" are leased to gas operators.

"A rush to drill threatens the certification of our state forests as sustainably managed," Quigley's predecessor, Michael DiBerardinis, e-mailed Rendell in March in a campaign that succeeded in slowing down legislators who wanted far more acreage leased.

The gas industry's defenders say the DCNR is capable of accommodating Marcellus exploration while sustainably managing the woodlands.

"Frankly, we don't think it's a major issue," said Patrick Henderson, a spokesman for State Sen. Mary Jo White (R., Venango), the powerful chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Drilling opponents overstate the number of trees that would be lost to gas exploration, Henderson said. The most recent leases limit operators to 123 drilling locations totaling no more than 645 acres - about 2 percent of the 32,000 acres leased. The most sensitive timberlands are completely off-limits.

"It's not like they're clear-cutting 32,000 acres," he said.

The value of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification apparently is not universally appreciated.

"What does it mean beyond hanging a certificate on the wall that says you've done a good job?" Henderson asked.

Conservation and timber interests say certification is critical to the state's embattled forest-products industry, one of the nation's largest suppliers of hardwoods. The sector employs 70,000 people, down about 20,000 jobs since the housing market collapsed.

"The certification gives you market access," said Paul Lyskava, executive director of the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association. "Certain end-users require FSC certification as part of their specs. If you have access to that timber, you have access to those markets."

Though the DCNR's 2.1 million acres account for only 12 percent of the state's woodlands - most forests are privately owned - they account for 88 percent of Pennsylvania forests certified by FSC.

That makes Pennsylvania a key timber supplier to a growing market for lumber and paper that carries a "green" imprimatur. Last year, state forests generated nearly $20 million from timber sales - about half the amount generated five years ago, when the market was robust.

"We want to let people know we're concerned about the environment, that we're not just in it to rape the land," said Marc Lewis, co-owner of the Dwight Lewis Lumber Co. Inc. in Sullivan County, which produces hardwoods used in cabinetry. His company bought timber worth $720,000 last year from the state forests.

"We're in it for the long haul," said Lewis, a third-generation lumberman whose company's 15,000 acres are also FSC-certified.

Though the Forest Stewardship Council is one of several "eco-label" agencies that certify forestry practices, its association with the Rainforest Alliance and other environmental groups gives a little more credibility to the industries that meet its approval. It brings a degree of peace from activists, who have disrupted logging in other states.

"Managing timber on public lands can be very controversial, and on the West Coast, they have wars over this," said James R. Grace, deputy secretary of the DCNR, who was the state forester when Pennsylvania received its certification in 1998.

"It keeps environmental groups satisfied that we're moving in the right direction," said Lewis Fix, vice president of brand management and sustainable-product development for Domtar Corp., a Canadian firm that advertises itself as "the sustainable paper company."

Domtar, North America's largest producer of "uncoated free sheet" paper, a segment that includes copy paper, says more than a quarter of its pulp is FSC-certified, double the amount from three years ago.

Most of its 11 mills are FSC-certified, including the Johnsonburg, Pa., plant Domtar acquired from Weyerhaeuser Co. in 2007.

"The sustainability piece has enormous resonance," John D. Williams, Domtar's chief executive officer, told analysts this month.

In the most recent examination of state forests, FSC auditors said they were monitoring Marcellus gas-drilling activity for any adverse effect on the most sensitive stands of timber. Though 1,000 Marcellus wells are expected to be drilled in the forests in the next decade, only six have been completed thus far. More than 30 well pads have been cleared.

State forestry officials say the deep horizontal-drilling technique used to reach the Marcellus Shale may be less disruptive to the surface than the shallow vertical-well drilling of the past.

A dozen or more shallow wells might be spaced evenly over a square mile - each well requiring an access road and a pipeline. But Marcellus operators can access the same area through multiple wells drilled from a single location.

In Sproul State Forest near Lock Haven, foresters decided to position the drilling sites next to existing roadways to minimize fragmentation. Though the practice is more environmentally sensitive, the wells are visible to the public.

State Forester Daniel A. Devlin said the continuation of the DCNR's certification depended on how the state managed the drilling. In the forthcoming budget, Rendell has included 12 more foresters to monitor the activity - a 20 percent increase of staff currently devoted to it.

One thing is certain, said the DCNR's Grace: "Gas drilling is clearly a major change in land management in rural Pennsylvania. Not just for the forests, for everything."

Contact staff writer Andrew Maykuth at 215-854-2947 or amaykuth@phillynews.com.

Inquirer staff writer Joseph Tanfani contributed to this article.

N.Y. nuclear power plant

2010-02-22T06:13:00.000-05:00

By PAUL POST, The Saratogian

SARATOGA SPRINGS — No nuclear plants have been approved in the U.S. since the March 1979 accident at Three Mile Island brought the industry to a screeching halt.

However, changing political and market conditions could lead to approval of 17 applications now pending before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including one in New York.

President Barack Obama this week announced $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees to restart America’s nuclear energy program. The money might be used to build two reactors near Augusta, Ga., although several other sites are under consideration.

“It’s very difficult to pick out a lead horse in this race,” NRC spokesman Scott Burnell said. “We’re just getting into the backstretch. There’s still a lot of review work to be done.”

At present, nuclear power accounts for 20 percent of the U.S. energy portfolio. French and American companies are pursuing a joint venture to build a new 1,500-megawatt plant adjacent to the two Nine Mile Point facilities near Oswego.

There are 56 nuclear plants under construction around the globe, with 21 in China alone and a handful in both South Korea and India. France and Japan also have strong nuclear programs.

Joe Kuehn of Saratoga Springs spent his entire career in the field and oversaw radiological cleanup efforts at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. He said the time might be ripe for a nuclear rebirth, primarily because of improved technology. Also, President Obama, after losing out on health care, needs a positive initiative that might appeal to people on both sides of the political aisle.

“It ought to be pretty easy to do regulatory-wise,” Kuehn said. “Once we get one started, others will come on board. I certainly hope so. I think this will make everybody happy, even the right.”

However, Obama’s plan has already sparked criticism from one party — the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group dedicated to advancing solar power. “Solar energy is faster, easier, safer and cheaper than nuclear power, with less potential environmental danger,” Executive Director Gail Markels said. “It is the better solution.”

She cited national studies that say the solar industry creates at least three times as many jobs compared to nuclear for every megawatt installed. Solar energy installations can be located where the green jobs they create are needed most, as opposed to a large nuclear plant in a single location, she said.

There are currently 104 operating nuclear plants in the U.S. The last construction permit was issued in 1978 for a plant in North Carolina that came on line in 1987. The last new plant to start up was in Tennessee in 1996. Its construction permit was issued much earlier, but the project was slowed by numerous delays.

“We’re still a couple of years out from any licensing decisions,” Burnell said.

However, 13 of the 17 applications submitted to the NRC are under review and numerous approvals could be forthcoming as the decade unfolds. New incentives in the Energy Act of 2005 have spurred much of the renewed interest in nuclear.

One of the main issues confronting the industry is the lack of a national disposal site for spent fuel. There’s a facility at Yucca Mountain, Nev., that still has to be approved. At present, nuclear waste is being stored on-site in holding pools.

Kuehn said he’s confident a new round of plants will be constructed before long.

“All the lessons learned from Three Mile Island have been incorporated into new designs,” he said. “It’s going to be based on economics and public attitudes.”

TU calls for river protection near Pebble

2010-02-22T06:07:00.001-05:00

Associated Press - February 19, 2010 8:04 AM ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Trout Unlimited and several other organizations are calling on the state to protect the Koktuli River in southwest Alaska.

The conservation group wants the river designated as an Outstanding National Resource Water, which is a designation under the Clean Water Act.

Trout Unlimited says the river is facing unprecedented threats from the proposed Pebble Mine, a huge copper and gold deposit near the world's best salmon streams.

The designation would bar any new or increased pollution discharges within the river.

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation is the agency that identifies Outstanding National Resource Waters with help from the public.

Marcellus shale hearing

2010-02-22T06:03:00.000-05:00

http://www.theprogressnews.com/default.asp?read=21302

Marcellus shale hearing ... Ensuring the protection of our resources
Friday, February 19, 2010
By Liza Matia Staff Writer
State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-74 of Houtzdale, chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, sponsored a hearing yesterday on House Bill 2213, the Land and Water Protection Act. The legislation was designed to reduce the adverse impacts to the environment from gas drilling in Marcellus shale deposit.
George said he anticipates a great deal of activity to come from the drilling of Marcellus shale.
"We're no stranger to gas well exploration," he said, "but Marcellus presents new challenges to drilling." George said those challenges must be examined and understood to ensure the protection of the industry and environment. George drafted the legislation to mitigate the risks to land and water posed by the expansion of gas well drilling in the commonwealth.
House Bill 2213 would require the state Department of Environmental Protection to inspect Marcellus drill sites during each drilling phase. It would also extend the liability of a well polluting a water supply and require the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing of the natural gas from the earth. The bill would also update bonding requirements and clarify a local government's authority to regulate gas and oil activities.
According to Chairman Scott Hutchinson, a state representative from Venango County, Pennsylvania needs to make sure the laws are adequate to deal with problems that may arise with drilling.
"We need to take advantage of the wonderful natural resource," he said.
Yesterday, the committee heard testimony from DEP, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, PennFuture and the Marcellus Shale Coalition.
"Our job is to produce gas and protect the future," said John Hines, deputy secretary for water management from DEP. He explained the Marcellus shale gas reserve could potentially hold "enough gas to fully supply the nation for 10 or more years." Hines added producing that gas could create new wealth as well as new jobs, "but not at the sacrifice of our water resources."
Hydraulic fracturing, the process used to extract the gas from the earth, would require large amounts of water to be pumped into the shale formation to fracture the shale and allow the gas to flow freely. During this process, Hines said some water could flow back to the surface. The water used in hydraulic fracturing would then have to be treated to remove chemicals and minerals.
During his testimony, Hines attempted to dispel rumors that certain "secret" chemicals were used in the fracing process. He said that DEP distributed a list to the public of all the chemicals that were used. Hines said the Material Safety Data Sheets were also distributed to local emergency responders. The list is available on DEP's Web site. Hines added that while DEP is aware of the chemicals that are used, the exact portions of those chemicals is unknown. He said the industry considers this a "trade secret."
George said he was "amazed" that the material used in fracing is a "trade secret."
"How do you know it's treated properly if you don't know what it is," George asked, noting that some of those chemicals could potentially be toxic. He also questioned the portion of material that remains in the ground after fracing.
According to Scott Perry of DEP, approximately one-third of the flow back stays in the ground.
State Rep. Matt Gabler, R-75 of DuBois, questioned the possibility of gas migration and how it happens. Perry explained that improper casing and coupling are some of the main reasons. He said that cement has been successful in protecting approximately 120,000 wells and said it is "very uncommon for cement casing to fail." When casings do fail, Perry said, the issue could be bad welding or poor coupling.
Thomas Beauduy, deputy director and counsel of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, spoke on the issues of diminution of water supplies. He explained that the River Basin Commission regulates the withdrawal and consumptive use of water associated with natural gas development activity. He pointed to the past and said that mineral exploitation has occurred at the expense of society and the environmental risk was transferred to the public.
"We don't want to repeat that history and perpetuate that legacy," Beauduy said. "We need to be smart and use the lessons we've learned."
Beauduy said the Marcellus shale gas drilling would use approximately 28 million gallons of water per day. Comparatively, he noted that the power industry uses approximately 3.4 billion gallons and the golf industry uses 10 times more water than Marcellus drilling would.
When George questioned the possibility of using hydrology that remains in the earth in order to recycle water already used by industries, Beauduy said it would be possible.
"We've tried to incentivize that," he said. "We consider all the water used as a loss to the basin."
John Baillie, senior attorney for Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future, also known as PennFuture, pointed out that Marcellus shale is "not the only gas-bearing geologic formation in Pennsylvania." He said the same drilling techniques used to extract gas from the shale are also likely used to extract gas from other formations.
Due to that fact, Baillie said the same water pollution concerns addressed with Marcellus shale have also arisen with those other formations.
He suggested House Bill 2213 be revised to protect not only Marcellus shale gas wells, but also any other gas extraction activities that use the same drilling techniques.
House Bill 2213 was introduced on Jan. 20. The act is expected to take effect 60 days from that date.

DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTIN OUTRAGED BY ARMY CORPS' TREATMENT OF SOUTH JERSEY IN DELAWARE DEEPENING

2010-02-19T18:27:00.001-05:00

IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 19, 2010

Contact: Elaine Makatura (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

GOVERNOR CHRISTIE, DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTIN OUTRAGED BY ARMY CORPS' TREATMENT OF SOUTH JERSEY IN DELAWARE DEEPENING

Note: The two paragraphs that are copied here appear near the end of this press release. "Millions of tons of sediments", does not sound good for spring shad runs.

The Army Corps has not updated a number of environmental studies for the
Delaware deepening project since 1997, including evaluations of the effects
of the project on the region's wetlands, water supplies and wildlife. The
Army Corps also failed to address the potential impacts of a massive oil
spill in 2004 on the river sediments.

The Army Corps has proposed deepening the Delaware's 40-foot shipping
channel to 45 feet from Camden to the mouth of Delaware Bay, a distance of
more than 100 miles. The project will produce millions of tons of sediments
that will need disposal.

(10/P8) TRENTON * Governor Chris Christie and Department of Environmental
Protection Acting Commissioner Bob Martin today expressed outrage over the
Army Corps of Engineers' plans to start the deepening of the Delaware
River's main shipping channel without updating sediment studies, providing
alternatives to disposing dredged sediments in South Jersey or implementing
measures to prevent dredging equipment from polluting the air.

"It is irresponsible for the Army Corps to push this dredging project
forward when we know South Jersey will suffer the consequences," Governor
Christie said. "The Army Corps is using a double standard, applying tough
criteria to protect the environment during the project to deepen the New
York-New Jersey Harbor yet failing to provide the same protections to South
Jersey's environment during the proposed deepening of the Delaware."

Army Corps studies for the Delaware River deepening project are more than a
dozen years old, yet more recent monitoring of Army Corps disposal
facilities indicates elevated levels of contaminants in effluent. In
addition, the Army Corps has failed to provide alternatives to dumping most
of the dredged sediments in South Jersey.

"The Army Corps is using poor and obsolete data to make big decisions that
affect New Jersey," Commissioner Martin said. "We have very deep concerns
about the old scientific data the Army Corps has been using to push this
project ahead. We demand a fresh look using current data and testing
methods, and then we'll see if this project is as ecologically benign as the
Army Corps purports it to be."

In the project to deepen the New York-New Jersey Harbor, the Army Corps
updated scientific data and applied project-specific testing protocols. It
also worked with the project sponsor to improve air quality. The sponsor
purchased low-pollution engines for tugboats and ferries.

For the Delaware River project, the Army Corps wants to purchase air credits
from other polluters to offset smog-causing pollutants emitted by its boats
and equipment. The Army Corps refuses to discuss options to credits or
update its air-pollution analysis.

"We want real steps to protect the health of people who live and work along
the river," Commissioner Martin said. "We don't want paper credits that
don't actually eliminate any pollution."

The Army Corps has not updated a number of environmental studies for the
Delaware deepening project since 1997, including evaluations of the effects
of the project on the region's wetlands, water supplies and wildlife. The
Army Corps also failed to address the potential impacts of a massive oil
spill in 2004 on the river sediments.

The Army Corps has proposed deepening the Delaware's 40-foot shipping
channel to 45 feet from Camden to the mouth of Delaware Bay, a distance of
more than 100 miles. The project will produce millions of tons of sediments
that will need disposal.

Most of the dredged sediments will be dumped at federal disposal sites in
New Jersey. The DEP wants a sediment sampling program for the Delaware River
similar to one the Army Corps used for the New York Harbor deepening
project.

New Jersey is pursuing legal action in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey
challenging the Army Corps' decision to move ahead with the project and
intervened in an action filed by the state of Delaware.

###

TU Call For Ban On Marcellus Gas Wells In Floodplains

2010-02-19T07:48:00.000-05:00

http://home3.netcarrier.com/~susquehanna/page0002.html
In the rush to develop the Marcellus shale formation in Pennsylvania, natural gas wells are being permitted and drilled in floodplains. Two such wells, one operated by Stone Energy along Wyalusing Creek in Rush Township, Susquehanna County, and one operated by XTO along Muncy Creek in Shrewsbury Township, Lycoming County already experienced flooding events.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Trout Unlimited (TU) call upon the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remedy this clear environmental and public health hazard.
“The handling of fracking chemicals and highly contaminated drilling wastewater in floodplains is an environmental disaster waiting to happen. It has to stop,” said Matt Ehrhart, executive director of CBF’s Pennsylvania Office. “Permitting well pads in floodplains causes a very serious threat of pollution. We call upon DEP to use its authority under the Clean Streams Law to order the companies operating these wells to permanently cap and abandon them, and then reclaim the sites to their natural condition.”
While current regulations do not allow well pads to be located within 100 feet of streams or within the floodway without an encroachment permit, neither the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act nor its regulations prohibit siting wells in floodplains. Because horizontal drilling technology is used to drill into Marcellus shale, the gas underneath streams and floodplains can easily be accessed from a pad location in an upland area, avoiding risk of flooding and catastrophic pollution to Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams. There is no reason to site wells in floodplains.
“This loophole must be closed immediately,” said Dave Rothrock, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited.
In late January, heavy rains hit northern Pennsylvania and several streams and rivers experienced flooding events, including Wyalusing and Muncy Creeks. Both the Stone Energy and the XTO sites were flooded as a result of these events.
“The risk of pollution to our streams will increase exponentially in a matter of weeks,” said Rothrock. “As we head into the season of snowmelt and spring rains, there should be absolutely no more well drilling activity in floodplains anywhere in Pennsylvania.”
The Stone Energy site was permitted along Wyalusing Creek by DEP without the necessary encroachment permits. While DEP issued a notice of violation to the company the week before the flood, the agency should have never issued the well drilling permit in the first place. CBF has previously highlighted serious flaws in the fast track permitting process implemented by DEP since April 2009, where permit applications do not receive careful environmental review but are instead pushed quickly out the door.
In August 2009, CBF appealed three erosion and sediment control permits issued by DEP for drilling sites in Tioga County. CBF’s appeals resulted in a DEP review of the plans and revocation of all three permits because of serious deficiencies.
“The Stone Energy site is yet another example of permits being issued without the necessary review,” said Ehrhart. “DEP should not have issued a drilling permit that close to the creek, plain and simple. If the agency was spending any time looking at the proposed location, it would have known that.”
Governor Rendell recently announced plans to hire 68 new DEP staff to bolster inspection and environmental compliance as Marcellus Shale development expands, and DEP announced plans to open a new regional office in Scranton to increase its presence in the northeast, where much drilling is already taking place.
“We are glad Pennsylvania has taken these actions,” said Ehrhart. “We hope that DEP will take advantage of these new staff and resources to ensure more careful review of permits.”
Photos of the Stone Energy flooding can be found online.
http://home3.netcarrier.com/~susquehanna/page0002.html

waste from gas drilling radioactive?

2010-02-19T07:40:00.000-05:00

Is flowback and waste from gas drilling radioactive?

Rewards and Risks of the Marcellus
Part I in a series

By Sharon Corderman

Published: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:46 PM CST

Claims have been made that the potential exists for some level of radioactive material to be in the wastewater and drill cuttings coming from the Marcellus shale. According to Peter Davies, professor of biology at Cornell University, New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reported that brine samples taken from 12 Marcellus wells that were actively producing gas last year came back with higher than expected levels of “NORM” - naturally occurring radioactive material. In fact, some brines were reported to have levels of radium-226 as high as 250 times the allowable level for discharge into the environment and thousands of times higher than the maximum allowed in drinking water.

The Penn State School of Forest Resources released a water guide for landowners in 2008 that warns that “gas well waste fluids usually contain levels of some pollutants that are far above levels considered safe for drinking water supplies. As a result, even small amounts of pollution from waste fluids can result in significant impacts to nearby drinking water supplies.” Bryan Swistock a Penn State water resources extension specialist who prepared the guide, said that there is not a large risk, “but the idea that there is no risk, which is what some people will say, is far from the truth.”

“It is especially important to understand the potential radioactivity of wastes that may be disposed of in areas that are located close to residences or public facilities such as schools,” wrote Lisa Sumi in a May 2008 report prepared for the Oil & Gas Accountability Project. “For example,” she continued, “during drilling, there may be a large volume of radioactive Marcellus shale rock removed (in other words, the drill cuttings), especially from horizontally drilled wells. If these rock wastes are disposed of by on-site burial or land-spreading, the radioactivity may become an issue for those living nearby. Radioactive wastes should be taken to a facility that is designed to handle low-level radioactive waste.”

In recommendations to the New York DEC for the handling and disposal of these radioactive wastes, Professor Davies stated that while these NORM wastes are known as “naturally occurring” it should be emphasized that such materials are not normal just because they are naturally occurring at thousands of feet below the surface. “On the surface they are not part of the normal environment and should be treated as hazardous,” he said.

Farmers in New York state fear invasion of drilling rigs

2010-02-19T07:34:00.000-05:00

Shale gas gambit pits NY neighbor against neighbor

* State considers whether to allow shale gas drilling
By Edith Honan
HANCOCK, New York, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The race to exploit America's promising reserves of shale gas has triggered a clash between landowners in New York state, pitting those eager to earn royalties from drilling against farmers who fear gas companies will be able to drill without their consent.\
"There are people that say: my land, my gas," said Marc Dunau, an organic farmer in Hancock, located 150 miles (240 km) northwest of New York City, who refused to sign a lease to drill on his 50-acre (20-hectare) farm. "You know it is our land and it is your gas, but it's my water. And you can't get that gas unless my water and my air is protected."
Dunau was approached by multiple gas companies over the years, most recently in 2008 by XTO Energy (XTO.N), currently the subject of a $30 billion all-share takeover bid by Exxon Mobil (XOM.N).
The booming shale gas business accounts for 15 to 20 percent of U.S. natural gas production and is seen increasing fourfold over the next 15 years, providing a relatively clean energy source for a country sensitive to its dependence on foreign oil.
Farmers in New York state fear invasion of drilling rigs
Natural gas from shale is trapped deep underground inside solid rock. It has been unlocked in recent years through technological advances.
Environmentalists and people living near drilling operations worry that the drilling process might contaminate ground water. Some landowners welcome the possible financial benefits of drilling in economic hard times. [ID:nN17118922]
The shale gas industry considers environmental opponents of drilling misguided, saying drilling is heavily regulated and that there has never been a documented case of ground water contamination because of hydraulic fracturing.
VIRTUAL MORATORIUM
New York state has placed a virtual moratorium on the production of shale gas -- a policy that is under review.
The issue has the attention of Washington. The White House has promoted research and development funds that could help develop cleaner forms of producing natural gas energy. The U.S. Senate is looking at compromise climate control legislation that could encourage more domestic natural gas production.
Much of western New York sits on top of the Marcellus Shale, a vast geological formation that geologists say might contain enough natural gas to satisfy U.S. demand for more than a decade.
Shale gas is collected a mile (1.6 km) or more underground by hydraulic fracturing, in which a millions of gallons of water, sand and diluted chemicals are blasted into the shale, breaking the rock and freeing the gas.
In many cases, shale gas is cheaper to produce than conventional natural gas, particularly in the Marcellus, which is the most economical of U.S. shale formations because of its quality and proximity to the U.S. Northeast market.
Democratic New York Governor David Paterson has directed the state to complete an environmental review of hydraulic fracturing before it begins issuing drilling permits.
The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee is investigating potential health and environmental impacts from hydraulic fracturing. [ID:nN18198199]
'MY RIGHTS'
"I feel like my rights are being taken away because if I don't lease my land, and my neighbor does, they can go under me and contaminate my water," said Cindy Gieger, who runs a dairy farm on 200 acres (80 hectares) of property in nearby Jeffersonville and says she does not trust gas companies to drill safely.
Under a rule known as compulsory integration, gas companies in New York state can secure leases on 60 percent of a patch of land, totaling no more than 640 acres (259 hectares), to seek a permit to drill on the entire patch. The landowner who sits over unleased land is paid 12.5 percent of the royalties -- far less than if the landowner had signed a lease.
"Property rights are a very relative thing," said Albert Appleton, a former commissioner of New York City Department of Environmental Protection. "The rights of property ends where the exercise of your rights impacts somebody else's right to property. When people talk about their property rights they don't talk about the right of the person who doesn't want to drill gas, not to have their property destroyed, their wells threatened."
Drilling has been at a standstill since the effective moratorium went into effect in July 2008. Industry sources privately express their exasperation with New York, saying they have all but given up on the state.
"I'm an environmentalist and it doesn't make sense to me to use any other fuel at this time," said Barbara Thomas, a landowner in the nearby town of Conklin who is a member of the Joint Landowners Coalition, a group created to support landowners in their negotiations with gas companies.
"The only way I can protect my land is by having a lease that is written to protect the land," she said.

(Reporting by Edith Honan; Editing by Will Dunham)

Concerns Expressed About Marcellus Shale Drilling

2010-02-19T07:29:00.000-05:00

CLEARFIELD, Pa. -- More than 100 people turned out Thursday for a meeting focusing on the environment impact of Marcellus shale gas drilling.Officials from across the state discussed the environmental impact with members of the gas industry and the Department of Environmental Protection.Much of the discussion focused on the technique of hydraulic fracturing.That is the process of using water to fracture rock formation in order to release natural gas.State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, D-74, of Clearfield County, has sponsored a bill that would place new regulations on the drilling process.The legislation would force companies to release the composition of the hydraulic fracturing solution.It would also require routine inspections of drilling sites.
by WJACTV.com.

Delaware energy: Wilmington water plant goes solar

2010-02-19T07:23:00.000-05:00

WILMINGTON -- Nearly 2,300 solar panels at the city's largest water filtration plant next week will begin harnessing energy from the sun.
The $8.9 million project at the Porter Reservoir plant is the first in a series of greening efforts that has been completed by the city government.

Mayor James M. Baker has made the environmental work one of his highest priorities in his third and final term.

The solar panels and other upgrades at the plant will save the city money, reduce the government's reliance on traditional sources of electricity such as fossil fuels and nuclear power and provide temporary construction jobs.

"This is showing what we can do as a community and a country," Baker said. "If we don't keep doing this for our children and the next generation, we're going to suffer miserably."

The Porter plant filters 75 percent of Wilmington's drinking water. The solar panels will generate about 25 percent of the power needed to run the plant, which will save the city about $60,000 a year in electricity costs, city Public Works Commissioner Kash Srinivasan said.

The city also will receive about $120,000 a year through the sale of renewable-energy credits to Delmarva Power and get a one-time $250,000 rebate from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, city Communications Director John Rago said.

The installation of a booster system to the pumps at the Porter Plant later this year will further reduce the facility's energy costs, Srinivasan said.

The nearly $9 million work at Porter is part of $14.5 million in green projects planned for Wilmington this year.

The other work includes lower-energy traffic lights and more-efficient lighting systems and solar panels in city-owned buildings, city spokesman Rich Neumann said.

Most of the money came from federal stimulus funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Solar power? Some in Watchung are ahead of Somerset County

2010-02-19T07:20:00.000-05:00

By Independent Press

February 18, 2010, 10:51AM

By Robert Kopacz

WATCHUNG — Somerset County’s new solar energy initiative announced back on Jan. 26 has many municipal officials talking about the possibilities of solar energy to lower public sector energy costs. But Watchung resident Richard Wellbrock is doing more than talking about it. He’s living it.

Robert KopaczRichard Wellbrock

“I’m way ahead of them,” notes Dr. Wellbrock, a longtime Watchung resident. He installed four solar panels on his house in Watchung eight years ago, taking advantage of rebates offered by the state of New Jersey back then. At the time, such a system, including installation, cost $50,000. Under the New Jersey rebate scheme, the State covered $40,000.

He was inspired by a British Petroleum solar energy exhibit at the New Jersey Flower Show. They directed him to a California company, which arranged not only the installation, but also the paperwork necessary to secure the rebate.

The results have been impressive. Dr. Wellbock’s solar-equipped home not only generates significant energy savings, but also makes him eligible for federal tax credits. In addition, the local utility is paying him an amount per kilowatt for the energy they don’t have to generate, what the utility refers to as “avoided costs.”

He notes that without the state subsidies and tax credits, the investment would not be attractive, a common objection faced by proponents of solar energy. In his view, government officials need to do more careful analysis of their solar power strategy if it is to succeed.

“It needs a lot more thought than all the speech-making that goes on,” he says, noting that solar energy cannot be stored or easily transported, a major drawback when compared to carbon based fuels. The bulky infrastructure required for solar energy can also create obstacles to normal home maintenance. Wellbrock notes that he will have to dismantle the solar panel installation in order to put a new roof on his home. He now wishes he had put a new roof on before he installed the solar panels. He also had to cut down four large oak trees on his property in order to generate enough sunlight for the panels.

He recommends that future building codes have “solar ready” provisions, to provide for solar infrastructures built into future homes facilitating installations and future repairs like the re-roofing for Wellbrock’s home.

Somerset County officials are hailing their new program as a way to lower municipal and school district energy costs through a public-private partnership mechanism. Under the program, a private company will lease roof space from municipal and school district buildings and install solar energy panels on them, taking advantage of the various subsidies and tax credits otherwise not available to the local governments. The private company will then sell the solar power at vastly lower rates to the public entity, realizing a cost savings. Both the borough and the school district in Watchung are now studying the county program.

For more information, go to the Somerset County website at co.somerset.nj.us

TD Bank Announces It's Now Carbon Neutral

2010-02-19T07:14:00.000-05:00

CHERRY HILL, N.J., and PORTLAND, Maine - February 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank^®, continues to WOW! its customers, but this time in a very green and environmentally friendly way. Today TD Bank announced it is the largest U.S.-based bank to go carbon neutral. TD Bank also unveiled the new "green" design for its future stores.

As part of its overall environment strategy, TD Bank reached its carbon neutral goal by building greener buildings, lowering its energy consumption, and making a significant investment in renewable energy from sources like wind, solar and low-impact hydro power. TD Bank has purchased a block of wind energy large enough to power its network of 2,600 ATMs. TD Bank has also purchased 31,000 metric tons of carbon offset credits to eliminate its remaining emissions.

TD Bank prides itself on providing its customers with a consistent "WOW! the Customer" experience through products and services, as well as its delivery channels. The bank developed a "prototype store" design that has a similar look and feel so no matter where customers bank, they will have a memorable and consistent store experience from Maine to Florida.

TD Bank has pledged to develop LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified stores opening its first green prototype store in Queens Village, N.Y., at 214-32 Jamaica Avenue, targeted to open in the spring of 2010. The bank expects to open about five to 10 new green stores in 2010. In 2011, the vast majority of new TD Bank stores constructed will be LEED certified and all stores thereafter. The bank has already opened LEED certified offices at 200 State Street in Boston, Mass., and in 2010 plans to open a call center in Auburn, Maine, which it fully intends to LEED certify. LEED evaluates buildings for their overall environmental performance in five areas: sustainable sites, water use, energy efficiency, materials and resource use, and indoor environmental quality. LEED Platinum is the highest level of LEED certification; TD Bank is targeting LEED Platinum certification for its new Queens Village store.

TD Bank's new 3,800 square-feet prototype stores will reduce energy consumption by 50 percent compared to previous designs, with nearly 20 percent of the store's energy being produced onsite through solar panels and solar drive-thru canopies. The new stores will feature: wood from sustainably managed forests, products that emit little-to-no VOCs (volatile organic materials), walk-off mats and air filters that trap particles of dirt, dust and pollen for improved indoor air quality, insulated glass with a low-E coating to help keep a balanced, temperate environment, and sensors to control lighting. Stores will be maintained with green cleaning products, and will recycle paper, cardboard, glass, metal, plastics and disposable batteries.

"TD Bank is committed to protecting the environment and reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions by developing innovative buildings and focusing on sustainability efforts for our employees and customers in a WOW! way," said Fred Graziano, head of retail banking, TD Bank. "We are proud of what we have accomplished and will continue to look for opportunities to be as efficient as possible in our energy use. It is more important than ever to meet the needs of our planet in the same way we meet the service needs of our customers."

The new store will continue to provide customers and employees with a comfortable and convenient banking experience and will feature:

solar drive-thru canopy – a translucent canopy over the drive-thru lanes that generates electricity for the store
kids' center – a place where children can test their financial literacy knowledge and skills, as well as learn about some of the green features of the building
customer service islands – convenient and customer friendly stations to learn more about the bank's products and services from customer service representatives
wall murals – highlighting a local historic scene
drive up ATM – making TD Bank even more convenient, the drive up ATM allows customers to save time and access their accounts 24 hours a day
lots of glass to allow natural daylight and views to the outside
excellent indoor air quality
exterior walls and glazing that keeps the store cool in the summer and warm in the winter
water efficient plumbing fixtures
environmentally friendly materials and finishes made of recycled materials
secure bicycle parking
new design for Penny Arcade, TD Bank's free interactive coin counting machine
landscape designed with drought-tolerant plants and shrubs that do not need to be watered regularly.

Walgreen buys Duane Reade

2010-02-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

Walgreen buys Duane Reade

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Walgreen Co. agreed to buy Duane Reade for about $620 million, excluding debt, giving the largest U.S. drugstore chain a dominant presence in New York City. Walgreen Chief Executive Greg Wasson said that without the acquisition, "it would have taken us many, many years, through our organic growth model, to gain that type of presence" in New York.

Walgreen, which posted $63 billion in sales across its 7,162 stores last year, will look not only to gain a sales boost from the acquisition but also to capitalize on Duane Reade's new product and marketing initiatives. A traditionally conservative company, Walgreen has posted weaker results in recent months than its largest competitor, CVS Caremark Corp., which has moved more quickly to adopt innovative ideas such as loyalty-card programs and in-store cosmetic departments.

NJ Governors Troubling Actions

2010-02-12T07:47:00.000-05:00

As a state we are in financial trouble, we all know this. Our governors actions to resolve the problem are very troubling.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_gov_chris_christies_spendin.html

Treasury:
• Dissolves the untapped $128 million fund controlled by the Board of Public Utilities encouraging companies to use alternative energy.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_environmental_groups_accuse.html

Christie declared a fiscal state of emergency today and, in an effort to close a $2.2 billion budget deficit, cut $9 million in aid for the Department of Environmental Protection, $1.7 million for state parks and $500,000 for the Pinelands Commission.

In addition, he took $18 million in existing funds from the Highlands Council which controls development in seven northern New Jersey counties. The money had been given to the council by Public Service Electric & Gas last June to preserve land in exchange for the council approving a project to expand 240 electric towers along the Susquehanna-Roseland power line stretching 44 miles from the Delaware River to Essex County.

Tittel also chided the governor for taking another $158 million in existing funds from the Clean Energy Fund operated by the BPU.

The program gets about $269 million a year from surcharges on ratepayers to finance energy efficiency improvements in businesses and homes, including installation of solar panels and windmills. The program is credited with building alternative energy markets, and creating jobs.

This is not money for the state to use on general programs.

Call my view on the issue simple. When you raise money for a specific issue and then take the money to close the state general budget is nothing other than indiscriminate taxing.
How is he allowed to do that legally.

feed-in tariff

2010-02-04T07:37:00.000-05:00

A feed-in tariff , is a mechanism designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources. It typically includes three key provisions:

1) guaranteed grid access,

2) long-term contracts for the electricity produced, and

3) purchase prices that are methodologically based on the cost of renewable energy generation.

Under a feed-in tariff, an obligation is imposed on regional or national electricity utilities to buy renewable electricity (electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar thermal power, wind power, wave and tidal power, biomass, hydropower and geothermal power), from all eligible participants.

The cost-based prices therefore enable a diversity of projects (wind, solar, etc.) to be developed, and for investors to obtain a reasonable return on renewable energy investments. This principle was first explained in Germany's 2000 RES Act:

“The compensation rates…is predetermined by means of scientific studies.

As a result, the rate may differ among various forms of power generation, and for projects of different sizes.

In addition, FITs typically offer a guaranteed purchase for electricity generated from renewable energy sources within long-term (15–25 year) contracts.

As of 2009, feed-in tariff policies have been enacted in 63 jurisdictions around the world, including in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and in some states in the United States.

In 2008, a detailed analysis by the European Commission concluded that "well-adapted feed-in tariff regimes are generally the most efficient and effective support schemes for promoting renewable electricity." This conclusion has been supported by a number of recent analysis, including by the International Energy Agency, the European Federation for Renewable Energy ^,as well as by Deutsche Bank .

renewable portfolio standards

2010-02-04T07:36:00.001-05:00

So what are “renewable portfolio standards” besides an affront to the English language? They are requirements, enacted in about half the states, that a certain percentage of electricity generation come from renewable resources. For example, California’s big utilities are supposed to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

New Jersey SREC Program

2010-02-04T07:19:00.000-05:00

Frequently Asked Questions: New Jersey’s Solar
Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Program

What is an SREC?

SREC stands for Solar Renewable Energy Certificate and is a tradable certificate that represents all the clean energy benefits of electricity generated from your solar electric system. An SREC can be sold or traded separately from the power. It is issued once a solar facility has generated 1000kWh (1MWh).

What is the New Jersey SREC Program?

The New Jersey SREC Program provides a means for SRECs to be created and verified on your behalf. It also facilitates the sale of SRECs to electric suppliers that are required to invest in solar energy under New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). The RPS requires electricity suppliers to get a minimum of the electricity they sell in 2005 from solar energy systems located in New Jersey. This requirement increases each year. All New Jersey electric suppliers are required to use the SREC
Program to show compliance with this part of the State’s renewable portfolio standard.

How do SREC’S Differ from Green Tags?

“Green Tags” is a generic term which refers to renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated from a variety of renewable energy sources including solar, wind, small hydro and biomass. Green Tags are widely used to meet various state renewable portfolio standards and are traded in wholesale and voluntary retail markets across the U.S.

Who is eligible to participate in the New Jersey SREC Program?

All solar system owners in New Jersey with grid connected generators can set up an electronic account for the sale and trade of SRECs at the New Jersey. The SREC Program Administrator will link your solar system to your electronic account when these steps have been completed.

What portion of my electricity is eligible for the program?

Each kWh produced by your solar electric system that is metered or that is verified through an approved method of estimation, is eligible to be counted towards SRECs. The date that your system is inspected by the NJBPU is the start date for generating SRECs.

How are SRECs generated and sold?

Once you have registered and established an account on the SREC website, SRECs will be generated each month and deposited in your account. For solar generators smaller than 10kW, an engineering estimate will be used to calculate the monthly SREC generation. For solar electric systems that are larger than 10 kW, the SREC website will allow you to upload your monthly meter readings and/or production information into the site. Once SRECs are in your account, you can use an electronic bulletin board on the SREC website to let others know you have SRECs for sale. Interested buyers can also make a request to buy SRECs through the bulletin board. Buyers and sellers can then contact each other offline and execute a sale. Once a sale is made, the seller will use the website to transfer SRECs to the buyer. Electricity suppliers will also use the website to retire SRECs that have been used to meet their RPS requirements.

Who buys New Jersey SRECs?

SRECs can be bought by electricity suppliers, renewable energy marketers, private businesses and individuals interested in supporting the development of solar energy. A list of electric suppliers that are required to purchase SRECs, interested ‘aggregators’ and brokers is available on the SREC website periodically to update buyers and sellers of the going price.

How much are SREC’S sold for now?

The price of SRECs will fluctuate. However, if a New Jersey electricity supplier does notpurchase a sufficient number of SRECs to meet the RPS requirements, the supplier must pay the BPU a fee. Therefore, the BPU believes that SRECs will likely sell. The actual price will vary according to supply and demand, and a weighted average price will be posted on the SREC website.

Can someone else sell my SREC for me?

Yes, some solar electric system owners may have agreements with agents or “aggregators” to handle the disposition or sale of their SRECs.

If I don’t sell my SREC what are my options?

If you choose not to sell your SREC, you can “retire” it which means that you maintain rights to all the clean energy benefits and nobody else will claim those benefits or count them towards their goals or mandates. You can post retired SRECs on your account.

If I sell my SRECs, can I still claim that I am solar powered?

No, if you sell your SRECs, you have sold the claiming rights for being solar powered. However, you can state that you are “hosting” a solar system on your roof.

Is an SREC income taxable? Will I be issued a 1099 if I sell my SRECs?
Is there sales tax on an SREC?

There is not a definitive ruling on this issue. We recommend you discuss the issue with your tax account and perhaps a tax lawyer.

Cap and Trade 101

2010-02-03T13:34:00.000-05:00

What is Cap and Trade?

The goal: To steadily reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide in a cost-effective manner.

The cap: Each large-scale emitter, or company, will have a limit on the amount of green house gas that it can emit. The firm must have an “emissions permit” for every ton of carbon dioxide it releases into the atmosphere. These permits set an enforceable limit, or cap, on the amount of greenhouse gas pollution that the company is allowed to emit. Over time, the limits become stricter, allowing less and less pollution, until the ultimate reduction goal is met. This is similar to the cap and trade program enacted by the Clean Air Act of 1990, which reduced the sulfur emissions that cause acid rain, and it met the goals at a much lower cost than industry or government predicted.

The trade: It will be relatively cheaper or easier for some companies to reduce their emissions below their required limit than others. These more efficient companies, who emit less than their allowance, can sell their extra permits to companies that are not able to make reductions as easily.
This creates a system that guarantees a set level of overall reductions, while rewarding the most efficient companies and ensuring that the cap can be met at the lowest possible cost to the economy.

The profits: If the federal government auctions the emissions permits to the companies required to reduce their emissions, it would create a large and dependable revenue stream. These financial resources could be used to achieve critical public policy objectives related to climate change mitigation and economic development. The federal government can also choose to “grandfather” allowances to the polluting firms by handing them out free based on historic or
projected emissions. This would give the most benefits to those companies with higher baseline emissions that have historically done the least to reduce their pollution.

What Would a Successful Cap-and-Trade Program Look Like?

The goal: To limit the rise in global temperature to approximately 2.0 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by 2050 by reducing carbon dioxide and other emissions from companies as part of a larger plan for curbing global warming.

The cap: To achieve this goal, the U.S. government should steadily tighten the cap until emissions are reduced to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Businesses would have to obtain www. americanprogress.org JANUARY 2008 permits entitling them to emit a certain quantity of carbon dioxide or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases. All permits would be auctioned off by the government. Emissions permits in the near term would likely fall in the range of $10 to $15 per metric ton of
carbon dioxide or its equivalent.

The trade: Companies unable to meet their emissions quotas could purchase allowances
from other companies that have acquired more permits than they need to account for their emissions. The cost of buying and selling these credits would be determined by the marketplace, which over time would reduce the cost of trading the credits as trading becomes more widespread and efficient.

The profits: Initial estimates by the Congressional Budget Office project that an economy-wide cap-and-trade program would generate at least $50 billion per year, but could reach up to $300 billion. Approximately 10 percent of this revenue should be allocated to help offset costs to businesses and shareholders of affected industries. Of the remaining revenue, approximately half should be devoted to help
offset any energy price increases for low- and middle-income Americans that may occur as a result of the transition to more efficient energy sources. The other half of the remaining revenue should be used to invest in renewable energy, efficiency, low-carbon transportation technologies, green-collar job training, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Some resources should also be invested in the energy, developing nations to alleviate energy poverty with low-carbon energy systems and help these nations adapt to the inevitable effects of global warming. Revenues from the permit auction would essentially be “recycled” back
into the economy to facilitate the transition to an efficient, low-carbon energy economy and ensure that consumers are not unduly burdened by potentially higher energy costs.

people are pissed at goverment spending, but not when it's for a cause they care about

2010-01-28T08:18:00.001-05:00

N.J. voters deny 7 of 9 school-construction questions

By Rita Giordano

Inquirer Staff Writer

Voters in seven of nine school-district referendums around the state said no to new taxes Tuesday, rejecting 12 school construction and renovation proposals.

One of the two New Jersey proposals that passed was a $10 million project, eligible for almost $3.5 million in state aid, to replace the roof and install solar panels at Cumberland Regional High School in Bridgeton. The other was for partial roof replacement and repair at an elementary school in Montague Township, Sussex County.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/82873422.html

My interpretation of the vote results is:
Politicians will not understand what this means, they will simply move ahead on the failed referendums in other ways; so they can make rich freinds richer. NJ is tired of being taxed, but as a society we see the need for renewable energy. We want to move ahead in reasonable manners. The votes on the referendums prove that.
Elio

BPU faces big changes

2010-01-23T08:44:00.000-05:00

Governor Christie's transition team has recommended significant changes to the Board of Public Utilities, with more emphasis on business and less on the environment.

The team's Energy & Utilities report recommends that the Clean Energy Program, a centerpiece of former Gov. Jon Corzine's energy master plan, be moved from the BPU to the Economic Development Authority, where its focus would switch from promoting use of more renewable energy sources to supporting economic growth.

The BPU should "aggressively drive wind and solar renewable energy, but only if we can get the manufacturing built in N.J., utilize the ports, and drive down the cost of this renewable energy over time," the report said.

"The BPU is not focused on its core mission [to regulate utilities] and is trying to do too many things, especially trying [and failing] to manage the Office of Clean Energy," the report said.

Given the state's financial crisis, the report suggested that $1.1 billion in Clean Energy funds be "directed" to the EDA for business-related programs to grow energy-related programs and grow the state's economy.

The report drew immediate criticism from the Sierra Club, which called it, "a major step back'' for energy and the environment.

The organization objected to what it called a "raid" on the Clean Energy Fund that is earmarked for special programs.

The reports also called for the number of commissioners to be cut from five to three (its size until 2001) and that BPU headquarters be moved from Newark to Trenton, where the agency now has a second office.

The staff of 267 would be slashed by 10 percent to 20 percent.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/82474852_Advisers_prefer_a_BPU_focused_on_business.html

things you can do to cut energy usage that won’t cost a thing

2010-01-22T10:37:00.000-05:00

While there are plenty of costly ways to save on your utility bills this winter like buying a high efficiency furnace or solar-paneled roof, there also are things you can do to cut energy usage that won’t cost a thing. Effective energy solutions can be implemented simply by knowing what to look for around your home. Following are no-cost energy saving tips:

Ceiling fan. A ceiling fan circulates air while using very little electricity making it naturally energy efficient. A ceiling fan can help warm you up in the winter as easily as it can cool you down in the summer. One of the most economical ways to save energy is to run your ceiling fan in the proper direction. When operated correctly, a ceiling fan that’s sized appropriately for a room can save you up to 10 percent on your heating bills. Most ceiling fans have a switch that controls the direction of the blades. A fan running counter-clockwise blows air down to cool your house during warmer months. A fan running clockwise circulates warm air near the ceiling which makes the room warmer. This places less demands on heating systems and allows you to comfortably turn down your thermostat to save on energy costs.

Programmable thermostat. According to Energy Star, approximately 70 percent of consumers find programmable thermostats too difficult to operate and, as a result, lose out on energy savings. Turning down your thermostat one degree can save you two percent on your heating bills. Programmable thermostats save energy with pre-programmed temperature settings that allow you to scale temperatures back as you leave your home and warm things up upon your return.

Home electronics. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), up to 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. Power continues to run through home electronics even when you have them turned off. Common household devices that consume electricity while not in operation include: computers, TVs, cable boxes, cell phone chargers and other power adapters – basically anything with a microchip that requires at least some electricity to keep its inner clock ticking. Use a power strip for often-used devices found in groups, such as the TV, cable and surround sound system or the computer, printer and scanner. It allows you to run a number of devices from one power source.

Performing an energy audit will help you understand how you and your home consume energy. An energy auditor will find air leaks or insulation problems and recommend energy saving products. Call your local energy company to see if they offer free professional audits. If you’d rather do this yourself, the Department of Energy provides a free, do-it-yourself plan that can be found at http://www.eere.energy.gov.

in coal country -- mountaintop removal versus the environment

2010-01-22T08:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.wsaz.com/home/headlines/82283972.html

Updated: 7:36 AM Jan 22, 2010
Massey CEO, Environmentalist Face Off in Coal Debate
Don Blankenship and Robert F. Kennedy Junior are certain they could win over the world if only the public could see mountaintop removal mining through their eyes.
Posted: 3:59 PM Jan 21, 2010
Reporter: Associated Press; Jessica Ralston; Kallie Cart

same, same and always the same

2010-01-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

PSE&G solar plan raises questions
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Matt Fair
STAFF WRITE

http://www.nj.com/news/times/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-19/1264056305233770.xml&coll=5

PSE&G wants to install solar fields, and the citizens surrounding the areas are coming out in protest.
When will we learn, invest the money to install solar on individual homes and businesses..
No were going to waist time and money fighting people.

Solar Power Is Now an Option for Even the Most Cash-Strapped Suburbanites

2010-01-20T06:07:00.000-05:00

By Yasha Levine, AlterNet. Posted January 16, 2010.

Residential solar leases offer a no-money-down, low-monthly plan that makes solar electricity cheaper than the stuff we get by wire -- and you don't have to buy the panels.

Say hello to the thing that could save our sun-splashed suburban lifestyle: affordable residential solar power that puts roof-top solar panels within reach of the most cash-strapped America consumer. This breakthrough is not a result of technological innovation, but a new financing scheme cooked up on Wall Street called a "residential solar lease," a no-money-down, low-monthly plan that has made solar electricity cheaper than the stuff we get by wire. It's an old approach to a new source of energy, and it is taking California by storm.

"Go solar for $0 down. Now you can afford to go solar without the high initial cost of installing a system. Instead of buying the equipment, you simply lease it," boasts the Web site of SolarCity, a well-financed Silicon Valley start-up that has been pioneering the residential solar lease.

A solar lease is a fairly simple arrangement that is not unlike a car lease. Instead of dishing out tens of thousands of dollars upfront to buy and install a rooftop solar array, homeowners simply borrow one for a low monthly fee. Like a car lease, customers sign a contract that locks them in for a specified period of time with the option of extending their lease or buying the panels at the end of the contract. It makes sense when you consider that a typical homeowner would have to cough up between $20,000 and $50,000 to buy and install a solar panel system. A solar lease, on the other hand, would only cost them somewhere around $100 a month.

California, the world's third-largest solar-power market, saw twice as many people file for solar power permits in 2009 than in 2008, with much of the surge in demand being driven by this newfangled solar product. (Demand is so high that a black market for stolen solar panels has sprung up in the Golden State.)

SolarCity, one of the first companies to aggressively market solar leases, signs people up for 15-year contracts that run an average of $110 a month (with a 3.5-percent increase every year). SolarCity says customers can typically expect to shave 15 percent off their electricity bill from day one, with savings potentially growing over time if energy costs continue to rise. Competing companies -- like SunRun out of San Francisco or American Solar Electric out of Scottsdale -- offer the same basic deals.

A $100 electricity bill is a steal for California, a state that takes fifth place for highest electricity rates in the country, especially for the millions of people who inhabit the southern, sun-baked reaches of the state.

“My bill goes over $200 during summer when we keep the central AC going twelve hours day,” explained Paul Bosacki, who sits on the city council of Hesperia, a rustic, sprawling exurb on the edge of the Mojave Desert 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Bosacki was the first -- and so far the only -- person to sign up for SolarCity’s lease program in his town, but he won’t be alone for long. Because now he pays $89 a month and gets all the juice his household needs, while saving $21 dollars off his average electricity bill.

We walk around to Bosacki's backyard, where a single Joshua tree keeps watch over a jacuzzi and a panoramic view of the Mojave Desert, and he gives me a tour of his solar system: a slim grid of black panels on the roof and a box that converts its electricity to proper voltage. Bosacki might have to spend a couple of bucks a month on additional electricity from his local utility in the summer, but in the few months he’s had the system, he’s been well in the clear. “I turned it on in September and haven’t gotten a bill since," he says, adding that he would never be able to afford the $40,000 his solar setup retails for without the solar lease.

Not only do homeowners like Bosacki save money with solar, but they stand to make some, too. The beautiful thing about the technology is that it allows you to feed all your surplus electricity -- like when you're on vacation, at work or taking a nap -- into the grid. The only downside is that, until 2010, local utilities in California paid customers in electricity credits rather than in real money. But a new law will now force them to pay in real money, as in cold hard checks they'll soon start getting in their mailboxes. Called Consumer Net Metering, this new regulation finally does an end-run around an insane California law that only allowed utility companies to sell electricity; a restriction that had been putting a serious damper on small and alternative solar projects. Now even the small-time homeowner could actually make an honest buck on the energy market. Welcome to the cheap new world of debt-financed green energy.

"We've been selling like crazy down here because of the lease program," a SolarCity rep told the Orange County Register, explaining that the company had not been able to meet demand in Southern California, which has been so high it outstripped SolarCity’s meager financing ability. In April 2009, 3,000 people signed up, biding their time until SolarCity lined up more investors to fund the installations -- a wait the company predicted could take a year to clear. Other solar lease companies are seeing similar growth.

"Falling prices, rising utility rates and new government incentives may finally be driving serious growth in the region's market for residential solar power," wrote the Sacramento Bee in September 2009, when applications for solar panel installations suddenly quadrupled in the Sacramento region.

Even in this harsh credit freeze climate, investors seem to be rushing in to fill the need. While loans to American businesses have dropped by 17 percent compared with last year, solar leasing companies have taken in hundreds of million of dollars in new funding. SunRun received $105 million in financing from U.S. Bankcorp earlier last year and another $90 million in December. The bank also doubled SolarCity's funding to $100 million. National Bank of Arizona gave SolarCity $5 million for solar leases in Arizona. Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs all have been in the solar lease game from the beginning, in large part because they have been able to rig the financing and government subsidy structure in a way that guarantees profits, allowing them to easily recoup their investments through complicated tax credit and green energy derivatives schemes -- all of if risk free.

California goes the extra mile, providing the largest solar subsidies of any state ($2.2 billion has been made available through 2016). Investors can expect to be credited 80 percent of their products’ retail cost, meaning that financiers like Goldman Sachs are able to turn an instant profit for their investors on every solar panel array -- before customers even pay their first solar lease bill. The handouts have been so good, in fact, that investors are constantly demanding bigger profits.

"Investors historically expect seven percent to eight percent, which includes the tax benefits and a slice of profit during the life of the fund," wrote Green Tech Media about the amazing profits being squeezed out of the residential solar market. "Now they want ten percent or more."

Solar start-ups are popping up to compete for customers and the billions of dollars of federal and state subsidies for solar and renewable energy. Some companies are pioneering do-it-yourself solar kits you'll be able to buy at Home Depot, while others are working to integrate solar panel technology into building materials like roof shingles and siding.

Looking through slick Web sites and optimistic sales pitches, yet with nothing real to sell, is reminiscent of the dot-com bubble. It seems like solar hype is about the only thing for sale, and a sign that America's solar energy market is probably entering the same dangerous bubble-burst territory Spain found itself in last year, when the government heated up the solar market with with $1 billion in subsidies and then crashed the party when it ran out of money and was forced to suddenly cut funding, causing a world-wide solar recession and a glut in solar panel parts that persists even today.

But bubble or not, there are huge ramifications from this full-on race to develop affordable, ubiquitous residential solar technology.

Peak oil theories have been gaining strength ever since the real estate market collapse turned vast stretches of sub-prime suburbs into vast stretches of ghost sprawl, giving us a scary glimpse into our post-oil future. Its preachers have been pounding the empty oil drum, warning the masses about our helpless dependence on cheap oil and how a shortage would reduce us to pathetic hunter gatherers -- all the while urging people to stock up on dry astronaut food and how-to farming guides for urbanites through their online stores.

"[T]he truth is that no combination of solar, wind and nuclear power, ethanol, biodiesel, tar sands and used French-fry oil will allow us to power Wal-Mart, Disney World and the interstate highway system -- or even a fraction of these things -- in the future," James Howard Kunstler, the populist apostle of peak oil for this generation and failed Y2K theorist, prophesied in a Washington Post op-ed titled "Wake Up, America. We're Driving Toward Disaster." Even the New York Times has joined the scare fest with stuff like this: "Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life, idealized around the world, are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the distant edges of metropolitan area."

Standing in Paul Bosacki’s backyard, on the edge of Southern California’s suburban sprawl, it is hard not to agree with the suburban doomsayers. With a panoramic view of the Mojave Desert, you can see the sub-prime suburbs creeping deeper into the open desert. This is one of the most arid, inhospitable places in America, yet it is also one of the fastest-growing, swelling to a population of almost 400,000 over the past few decades, then booming higher and crashing harder than most other regions in the country. Looking at this failed McTractHome paradise and left-behind carnage -- half-built master-planned communities and a sea of vacant homes with dead lawns dry and rotting in the heat -- it seems there is no way it can survive, not with its four-hour daily commute to Los Angeles and summer air-conditioning bills that can feel more like mortgage payments.

But affordable roof-top solar has the power to nip a suburban energy freakout in the bud. Not only can it power the most outlandish McMansion palaces out in the hottest reaches of the American West, but it can also power the cars that get people there and back.

“You’ll be able to plug in electric vehicles into these things to charge them off your own panels,” says Bosacki, intuitively picking up on the possibilities that residential solar power have opened up for suburbia. “One day, we’ll be probably be able to lower energy costs for cars to zero. That’s one of the unintended benefits of these things.”

That is exactly the future that SolarCity seems to be angling for. The company was created in part by Elon Musk, a Silicon Valley millionaire and the man behind Tesla Motors, the experimental electric car company that recently rolled out its first model: the souped-up, $100,000 base price sports car called the Tesla Roadster that does 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The San Francisco Business Times wrote about Musk:

At 37 years old -- and with a net worth estimated at more than $300 million from past endeavors like PayPal -- Musk is making contributions to clean energy that may become his legacy. Tesla was the first company to produce an electric car that gets more than 200 miles per charge, and SolarCity is one of the largest installers of solar panels in the country. SolarCity was also the first company to market solar-power systems with no down payments that could save customers money from day one.

Rumor has it Tesla is working to unveil a mass market all-electric sedan sometime after 2012, with SolarCity playing a part. SolarCity already offers charging stations as a deluxe option for its residential solar power systems; the company equipped over 2,500 electric vehicle charging stations so far and recently installed five experimental Tesla charging stations along Highway 101 from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It’s all part of a bigger strategy to provide the foundation for cheap, readily accessible solar electricity, and a ray of hope as far as our suburban lifestyle is concerned.

The fact that the biggest suburban growth has been taking place in the sunniest spots in the United States -- California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona -- means that these sweltering locales will become even more popular with solar power. After all, who can say no to trading up to a larger home and reducing energy bills at the same time? And that just might make solar the thing that will sucker us into the next reckless speculative real estate boom. Amen to that.

Solar energy could help restore Walker Lake

2010-01-18T09:23:00.000-05:00

The sun's energy would be tapped to power a new process with the potential to aid an ecologically ailing Walker Lake.

Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno are developing a "solar pond" with a newly patented membrane distillation system that could be used to remove excessive levels of salt from Walker Lake and similarly troubled bodies of water.

"This is the only thing that's been proposed as far as cleaning up the lake as opposed to bringing more water to the lake," said Amy Childress, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UNR.

The process developed by doctoral candidate Francisco Suarez and colleagues traps solar heat within a 400-gallon laboratory tank, with collected energy powering the distillation system that removes concentrated salts.

"We can create pure water from this system," said Suarez, 29. "You could take this system and drop it anywhere, and you could create fresh drinking water."

Scientists hope to build an open-water system, perhaps hundreds of acres in size, in a portion of Walker Lake to test its effectiveness on a much larger scale.

Water levels at Walker Lake have plunged about 145 feet since the early 1880s, largely because of upstream agricultural diversions. Dropping water levels have resulted in spiking levels of salts and impurities, places the lake's fish and other wildlife in peril.

Millions of dollars have been spent pursuing strategies to get more water flowing to the lake, including through the use of alternative crops.

The solar pond technology could offer an opportunity to clean the lake's waters, with Nevada's plentiful sunshine providing a ready energy source to do so, researchers said.

"This can operate 24 hours a day using the stored energy. Very little electricity would be used," Suarez said.

The process could generate three acre-feet of clean water a year for every surface acre of water treated, he said.

Scott Tyler, another UNR professor involved in the research, said the process could be applied to other lakes with declining water levels and impurity problems. They could include places such as California's Salton Sea, the Great Salt Lake and Asia's Aral Sea.
By Jeff DeLong • jdelong@rgj.com • January 18, 2010

Christie taps energy adviser for DEP

2010-01-15T06:10:00.000-05:00

By MICHAEL MILLER, Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 0 comments

Two nominations for state office Gov.-elect Chris Christie made Wednesday may signal his priorities on education and the environment.

Christie's choice to head the Department of Environmental Protection, Robert Martin, of Hopewell Township, is a Republican donor and retired consultant who has a summer home in Avalon.

He is a former partner at the publicly traded consulting firm Accenture, where he worked in energy and utility consulting. In November, Christie appointed Martin to his transition team to cover those two issues. He was nominated Wednesday to take the job held by acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello.

To some environmentalists, Christie's DEP pick, Martin, is a virtual unknown.

"We don't know where he stands on a lot of issues," said Jeff Tittel, spokesman for the Sierra Club.

"We want to see where he stands on protecting clean water, beaches, cleaning up toxic sites, sprawl and open space. There is a lot to learn."

Tittel said Martin has experience with clean-energy issues that New Jersey will face in trying to accomplish its goal of providing 20 percent renewable energy by 2020.

"He has a strong management background in information technology. From a management standpoint, he'll be a very good commissioner," Tittel said.

Martin made an unsuccessful bid for state Senate in 2007 in Mercer County's 15th Legislative District.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday at his home outside Princeton.

In the past decade, he has been a regular political contributor, donating thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, county parties and the Republican State Committee.

Last fall, he donated $3,400 to Christie's campaign.

He also donated $2,000 to Republican Doug Forrester's 2005 unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign against Gov. Jon S. Corzine and another $2,600 to help former Assemblyman Bill Baroni, R-Mercer, win re-election that year.

He made $1,000 donations to the Cape May County Republican Organization in 2003 and 2004.

'A man of enormousability and talent'

"He's a man of enormous ability and talent," Cape May County Republican Party Chairman David Von Savage said.

Von Savage said Martin would approach New Jersey's environmental regulations with an appreciation for how they affect individuals and businesses.

"I think he understands how stifling and onerous it is for the private sector to get approval for any project," Von Savage said. "I'm not talking about the Pinelands, either. I'm talking about the DEP's refusal to grant a permit … to install a bulkhead along the Delaware Bay shoreline to keep a house from falling into the bay, which is outrageous and shows how out of touch the tenured DEP bureaucrats have become."

Martin was appointed last year to an advisory committee for the nonpartisan Reform Institute, a public-policy group that U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., founded.

Martin and his wife, Brenda, own a summer home assessed at $2.1 million on 17th Street in Avalon.

Avalon waged a successful battle against the DEP last year over the agency's insistence that municipalities install public bathrooms and allow 24-hour access to beaches replenished with state money.

Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi declined to comment Wednesday on Martin's nomination.

"But I don't think I'll have to worry about putting in public restrooms every half mile. You can put that in there," Pagliughi joked.

The nominations must be confirmed by the state Senate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Michael Miller:

609-272-7247

MMiller@pressofac.com

Posted in New_jersey on Thursday, January 14, 2010 2:20 am

TU Concerned for Marcellus Drilling

2010-01-14T16:58:00.000-05:00

Date:

01/13/2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Erin Mooney
703-284-9408
National Press Secretary

TU Concerned About Fish and Wildlife Protection as Pa. Leases New State Forest Land for Marcellus Drilling

Leasing agreement to allow drilling on 32,000 acres

Arlington, Va. – Pa.’s plan to award gas drilling rights on 32,000 acres of state forest land to energy companies for Marcellus Shale drilling could have a detrimental effect on fish and wildlife habitat.

The state legislature decided last fall to lease state land for gas drilling activities to generate revenue for the state. At the same time, the Pa. legislature and Gov. Ed Rendell declined to require a severance tax on gas drilling that would have generated significantly more revenue for the state. Pennsylvania is one of just a few states with natural gas resources that does not require a severance tax.
"The decision by Pennsylvania’s legislature to require the leasing of state forest land for gas drilling is a failure to protect public resources for the citizens of the Commonwealth now and in the future," said Elizabeth Maclin, Trout Unlimited’s Vice President for Eastern Conservation. "The state seems more concerned with generating revenue in a manner acceptable to gas companies than it does with protecting its natural resources."

The 32,000 acres of public state forest land are located in north central Pa. in the Elk, Moshannon, Sproul, Susquehannock, and Tioga State Forests in Cameron, Clearfield, Clinton, Potter and Tioga Counties, places that are renowned for trout fishing. Eastern brook trout are found in this area. The only trout species native to the East Coast, their habitat is becoming rapidly diminished. The brook trout is Pennsylvania’s state fish.

"With one-third of our state forests now open to gas drilling, we are concerned that public recreation and water quality is at risk. We have already seen detrimental effects to water quality on our state forest land due to drilling, and find this unacceptable," said Dave Rothrock, President of the Pa. Council of Trout Unlimited. "The state budget should not be balanced at the expense of hunters and anglers."
TU is concerned about the long-term ecological impacts of drilling in these areas, particularly the clearing of trees, habitat fragmentation, and sedimentation due to road crossings and construction. The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture, a multi-agency partnership, found in its comprehensive review of the species that habitat fragmentation and sedimentation are two of the major impacts limiting the health of brook trout populations.

Each Marcellus well also requires up to eight million gallons of water to extract the gas from beneath the earth’s surface. This water is often taken from rivers, streams and other sources near the drill site. In addition, the water is mixed with toxic and other chemicals and must be disposed of after being used at a drill site. The safe disposal and treatment of this water is an additional concern.
Over 990, 000 people hunt and fish in Pa. each year. Hunting and fishing in the state generates over $3.9 million in revenue each year.
TU supports the responsible development of Marcellus Shale gas, but believes this development must take place in a manner that protects the irreplaceable fish and game habitat in the region.

Trout Unlimited is North America’s leading coldwater fisheries conservation organization, with more than 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

Gov. Jon Corzine's State Of The State

2010-01-14T08:23:00.000-05:00

We are implementing a comprehensive Energy Master Plan that will meet our aggressive carbon emissions objectives in the decades ahead.

We installed more solar panels than any state except California.

And we're blazing a trail in off-shore wind.

http://cbs3.com/wireapnewsnj/Text.of.NJ.2.1421450.html

Getting the Most Cash Back From Your Green Home

2010-01-13T06:04:00.000-05:00

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: January 12, 2010

Filed at 10:41 a.m. ET

Under a $300 million federal rebate program that started last month, consumers can trade in their energy-sucking appliances for more efficient models, but there are other ways to save money while making a home more energy efficient.

Most utilities, states and even some local governments offer their own programs to give homeowners a break when they buy new appliances, insulate, or install alternative energy sources like solar or wind power. The federal government also recently increased its two tax credits to help pay for more efficient heating, cooling and water-heating equipment, as well as wind, solar and geothermal systems and fuel cells.

The programs run the gamut with some states funneling hundreds of million of dollars into certain programs and through utilities, said Justin Barnes, a policy analyst at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, or DSIRE.

''The tricky part is finding all these programs,'' Barnes said.

The DSIRE lists all available incentives and rebate programs by state on its web site at www.dsireusa.org.

The greening of American homes saves consumers money, protects the environment and helps stimulate the broader economy. By adding more insulation to the attic and walls, for example, homeowners can cut their heating consumption up to half. And whether homeowners tackle projects themselves or hire professionals, that spending helps retailers, manufacturers and ripples through other industries.

Of course, homeowners may still have to shell out thousands of dollars to make energy efficient improvements, and that might be a tough decision in lean times.

''They care about putting food on the table, paying the mortgage and college tuition,'' said Steven Nadal, executive director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, or ACEEE. ''This is not a top priority in a lot of households.''

So far, the effects of the federal tax credit has been minimal on Tom Higgins' business in Boulder, Colo. Homeowners just don't have access to the cash they once did, the owner of Superior Home Improvements/Siding said, and he believes the government should double the credit cap to $3,000 from $1,500 to motivate consumers.

''The concept is well received, but it's still not enough,'' he said.

On the other hand, there's been great success with New Jersey's Clean Energy Program administered through the state's utilities, said Tom Testa, owner of Home Energy Diagnostics in Bloomfield, N.J. Since the program's launch in 2003, its funding and publicity have increased.

''There are a lot of younger people calling because they want to do the right thing,'' Testa said, ''and then I get calls from Wall Street types who want the best return on their home improvements.''

Megan Blank can't wait to see her heating bills this winter. Last year, she spent $500 a month to heat her three-bedroom house in Bloomfield. She had Testa perform an energy audit last February after putting up with cold drafts for seven years.

''We had to walk around with sweaters on top of sweaters,'' Blank said.

Testa discovered there was no insulation in the walls and only a tiny bit in the attic of the 1940s house. In May, Blank had professionals insulate the attic, basement and walls. The total cost to retrofit her home was $5,300, but the state utility program is picking up about half that tab because Blank will cut her energy consumption by at least 25 percent.

Utilities have long been the big funders of energy efficient programs, pouring about $3 billion a year into them, according to the ACEEE.

But some states have also been leaders. Seventeen states offer rebates on energy-efficient products, 16 of them give personal tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements and eight exempt sales tax on certain environmentally friendly products like dishwashers, ceiling fans and programmable thermostats, according to DSIRE.

Cities and counties are also playing key roles. In Maryland, for example, both Howard and Prince George's counties offer a property tax credit on solar panels and geothermal heating systems. That's on top of a geothermal and solar energy grant program the state offers.

These programs are all part of a larger public push to protect the environment, from Copenhagen to Cincinnati (which offers tax abatements for green homes). The revolution is happening one Energy Star appliance at a time.

New solar energy-related company to be announced, says Hinchey

2010-01-12T06:25:00.000-05:00

KINGSTON – Congressman Maurice Hinchey briefed reporters Monday on the need to increase funding for clean energy manufacturing, and he anticipates more federal money to help The Solar Energy Consortium in the region.

Last year Hinchey helped secure nearly $12 million for TSEC and its member companies, part of the $31 million he’s brought to the region since TSEC was created in 2007. And that funding will start to flow into the region this year.

TSEC has already created about 200 jobs, and that job creation is expected to multiply in the next few years.

“We’re anticipating about a 1,000 new jobs over the next few years,” he said.

And that job creation will be bolstered by new TSEC initiative with the state, which will lead to those 1,000 jobs to be created over the next two or three years, he said.

“We are anticipating that announcement will come up in the next few weeks,” he said. “It will be a new business, new company and new jobs that go above the 200 we’ve already created.”

Hinchey said time can longer be wasted to create clean energy jobs in the Hudson Valley as China and India ramp up their efforts to join the green manufacturing sector.

“While we stop importing oil, we will be importing solar energy technology from China or someplace like that,” he said “That is absolutely something we should regard as unacceptable and unreasonable. We need to be generating that technology right here.”

Hinchey also anticipates more federal stimulus money to flow into the region, two-thirds of which has not been doled out yet.
“Of the two-thirds left, there will be stimulus money for school districts, for infrastructure and new technology,” he said.

HEAR today's news on MidHudsonRadio.com, the Hudson Valley's only Internet radio news report.

Environmentalists want a renewable-energy firm to move its solar project to avoid tortoises

2010-01-11T06:08:00.001-05:00

10:00 PM PST on Saturday, January 9, 2010
By DAVID DANELSKI
The Press-Enterprise

Environmentalists say they will urge a renewable-energy developer to relocate a planned solar project in the Mojave Desert to avoid harming a population of genetically unique desert tortoises.

BrightSource Energy proposes to use 6.2 square miles of public land near Interstate 15 at the eastern border of San Bernardino County to install thousands of mirrors that will focus heat on water-filled steel boilers mounted on towers. The steam would drive turbines to generate clean electricity for some 140,000 homes.

The project is being watched closely because it would be the first large-scale solar development in a wave of proposals triggered by California's mandate that utilities supply 20 percent of their customers' power needs with renewable energy by this year and 33 percent by 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. More than 120 solar and wind projects have been proposed on public land in the California desert.

Story continues below

AP photo

Environmentalists want a solar project moved to a different part of the Mojave Desert for protection of a species of desert tortoise.

The federal government also is pushing for large-scale alternative energy development and announced in November that BrightSource's project would be fast-tracked.

Some environmentalists say the solar array, as proposed, would destroy prime habitat for the desert tortoise, a species listed as threatened with extinction, in the Ivanpah Valley between I-15 and the Clark Mountains.

The animals have unique genetic characteristics that could be important to the species' survival, and moving them could put them at risk, said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the Center for Biological Diversity.

Last year, Army officials stopped relocating tortoises from Fort Irwin after dozens of the reptiles died, mostly as a result of coyote attacks.

Anderson's group, the Sierra Club and the Western Watersheds Project are expected Monday to attend a California Energy Commission hearing in Sacramento focusing on environmental issues BrightSource faces.

Representatives of the groups say the solar development could be built on land closer to I-15 or on a dry lake bed that is poor tortoise habitat but has just as much sunshine.

Keely Wachs, a spokesman for the Oakland-based BrightSource, decline to comment on calls to move the project. He said such concerns will be addressed during this week's public hearing.

Documents submitted to the energy commission say the company plans to move about 25 tortoises to other parts of the Ivanpah Valley.

Wachs said the company will protect tortoise habitat elsewhere that is three times the size of the land taken for the solar development.

Environmental groups say it's important to protect the Ivanpah Valley tortoises because of their uniqueness.

A 2007 study published in the journal Chelonian Conservation and Biology found that the Ivanpah tortoises are genetically different from most other desert tortoises.

That most likely is because mountain ranges isolated the population from other tortoise communities, said the lead author, Robert W. Murphy, senior curator of herpetology at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

"There is genetic variation in that population that is unique, and that diversity is something we want to maintain," Murphy said Friday in a telephone interview.

The researchers analyzed DNA and completed other genetic tests on blood from 753 Mojave tortoises. The blood was gathered for federally funded disease studies.

The study did not identify what the genetic differences are, but Anderson noted that the Ivanpah tortoises' shells appear to be less round than those of tortoises in other parts of the Mojave Desert.

Genetic diversity is important to the survival of all animals but especially to those, like the desert tortoise, on the brink of extinction, said Michael Connor, a wildlife biologist and California director of the Western Watersheds Project. He said he will speak at Monday's hearing.

The greater the genetic diversity, the more traits a species will have in its evolutionary toolbox to recover or survive changing conditions, Connor said.

Since the Ivanpah tortoises have adapted to a higher-altitude valley at 3,200 feet, they may have traits needed for the species to survive global warming, which is expected to force many plants and animals to move to higher, cooler ground, he said.

BrightSource's Wachs declined to answer questions about the genetic study, saying it would be addressed at the energy commission hearing.

Sid Silliman, a member of Sierra Club's San Gorgonio Chapter, said in a letter to the energy commission that large-scale solar projects like BrightSource's proposal are needed to reduce global warming. But such projects should go on land already disturbed by farming and other human activity, and preferably on privately owned land, he said.

Reach David Danelski at 951-368-9471 or ddanelski@PE.com

Environmentalists want a renewable-energy firm to move its solar project to avoid tortoises | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

2010-01-11T06:08:00.000-05:00

Environmentalists want a renewable-energy firm to move its solar project to avoid tortoises | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

GE Narrows Scope of Solar Power Investment

2010-01-08T18:16:00.000-05:00

Solar power prices collapsed last year. They dropped nearly 50 percent in 2009, and analysts predict prices could drop another 20 percent in 2010, helping the industry become cost-competitive with other energy resources but squeezing some companies out of business. The economic downturn and falling power demand in the United States and Europe have contributed to the price collapse, but the major cost driver has been the fluctuating supply of polysilicon, the primary raw material used to develop solar energy units. Polysilicon has gone from a major shortage to massive oversupply, and bank analysts have projected an oversupply of polysilicon until 2012.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/01/08/08climatewire-ge-narrows-scope-of-solar-power-investment-77307.html

Drilling the Marcellus Shale for gas is a mistake.

2010-01-08T05:31:00.000-05:00

This is a good website to get the basic of the Marcellus gas reserve.
http://geology.com/usgs/marcellus-shale/

This site gives you a more realist view of the potential accidents involved with the drilling.
http://www.stargazette.com/article/20091108/NEWS01/911080372&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

This video is great, shows the actual problems involved, and the NY state lack of action.
http://nywellwatch.org/2009/11/10/ny-drilling-regs-woefully-insufficient-video/

This is a video on some of the hazards of this practice.
It was made by a conservation group in Arkansas.
http://nywellwatch.org/2009/11/07/drilling-for-gas-polluting-water-caution-video/

New twist to this, the waste water is radioactive.
http://nywellwatch.org/2009/11/09/schuyler-steuben-gas-wells-test-positive-for-radioactivity-map/

PSE&G to build four solar farms in NJ

2010-01-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

Public Service Electric & Gas will build four large solar farms in New Jersey that could generate enough electricity to power 1,300 homes, the utility announced today.

Construction on the $50 million project is scheduled to begin this spring at sites owned by the utility in Edison, Hamilton, Linden and Trenton. J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, of Hackensack, will build the 2 megawatt solar farm in Edison. It will involve installing 8,500 panels on 5.7 acres.

The projects are part of PSE&G’s $515 million investment in solar over the next three years that will increase electric bills by 10 cents a month on average. The utility is also installing solar panels on more than 200,000 utility poles across New Jersey.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/environment/010610_PSEG_to_build_four_solar_farms_in_NJ.html#comments

Financial incentives bring renewable energy businesses — but not experience

2010-01-06T09:13:00.000-05:00

Buoyed by some of the nation’s most generous financial incentives and relatively little regulation, New Jersey’s renewable energy industry — particularly solar power — has exploded with activity. Scarcely a month passes without news emerging of some major new renewable power facility planned for southern New Jersey. PJM, the multistate organization that manages the regional energy grid, lists 52 proposed renewable energy projects due for interconnection studies, 24 of which are south of Trenton.

Read more at www.pressofatlanticcity.com

Power Plants Continue to Decrease SO2 Emissions under EPA Cap and Trade Program

2009-12-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

Power Plants Continue to Decrease SO2 Emissions under EPA Cap and Trade Program
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that power plants across the country decreased emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a precursor to acid rain, to 7.6 million tons in 2008. Emissions from sources in the Acid Rain Program fell by 52 percent compared with 1990 levels and are already below the statutory annual emission cap of 8.95 million tons set for compliance in 2010.

In a new report, EPA highlights progress made in reducing SO2 emissions under the Acid Rain Program. Key achievements of the program include:
All 3,572 electric generating units subject to the program’s SO2 requirements held enough allowances to cover their SO2 emissions, resulting in 100 percent compliance in 2008;
Emission reductions under the Acid Rain Program have led to improvements in air quality with significant benefits to human health; and
Sensitive water bodies in the east are showing signs of recovery from acidification.

+ Acid Rain Program 2008 Progress Reports

stupid carbon statement

2009-12-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

In September, the Environmental Protection Agency announced it could require the nation’s biggest power plants and industrial operations to report greenhouse gas emissions as early as 2011. The United States Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers have firmly opposed such regulation, saying that it would be legally and technically burdensome, drive up fuel costs by promoting renewable sources

This came from a story in the NY times on 12-28-09 called

Emissions Disclosure as a Business Virtue

tax's on srec's

2009-12-22T19:41:00.000-05:00

By Karin Price Mueller/The Star-Ledger

December 22, 2009, 8:00AM

Q. I am in a process of installing solar panels on my house. My solar panels will be generating nine Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC). My question: Is the income from the sale of the SREC taxable? I will not ever see that income because it will be used to pay off a loan to PSE&G. Can I assume I do not have to report the income?

— David Chan

A. That’s a question only the Internal Revenue Service could answer.

‘‘All world-wide income is taxable unless specifically exempted by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC),’’ said spokesman Gregg Semanick. ‘‘In this case, it is not exempted by the IRC and is taxable income.’’

Semanick offers you kudos for being savvy enough to generate electricity, and in sufficient capacity to have some left over to sell. But, he said, the income from selling your "product" is taxable. You using the income to pay the PSE&G loan has no bearing on the issue of taxability.

‘‘This is no different than the products of a carpenter, farmer, factory owner, child-care provider, etc.’’ he said. ‘‘Another example: if a person owns a car and decides to use that car to start a courier business so he can apply his courier revenues to the car payments, his income from the courier business is still taxable.’’

Semanick said IRS Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, addresses many specific issues and highlights those specifically mentioned in the IRC that may require clarification. But not every specific possibility for generating income — including SREC — is covered in the publication.

IRS Publication 525 does indicate in its introduction that, "Generally, an amount included in your income is taxable unless it is specifically exempted by law."

The bottom line: All world-wide income is taxable unless specifically exempted by the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

To read IRS Publication 525 in its entirety, visit irs.gov.

Additionally, you should have a conversation with your tax preparer about what kinds of documentation you may need for your tax return. That will allow you to get a head start and discuss with PSE&G the paperwork you’ll need to file with your return. With any luck, you won’t have to call the company in desperation in early April to get the forms you need.

Best of luck with your solar panels!

danza energy

caught my first trout in Europe

Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution

PA Forests 'Significantly Threatened' by Gas Drilling

Breaking News: No Bonus Depreciation 3-18-2010

Dump may have bright future as solar energy site

Kyocera plans solar-panel assembly in San Diego

Kyocera plans solar-panel assembly in Kearny Mesa

NYSES,stimulus awards

Incentives would power solar sector

Threat of gas drilling to Pa. State Forests weighed

N.Y. nuclear power plant

TU calls for river protection near Pebble

Marcellus shale hearing

DEP ACTING COMMISSIONER MARTIN OUTRAGED BY ARMY CORPS' TREATMENT OF SOUTH JERSEY IN DELAWARE DEEPENING

TU Call For Ban On Marcellus Gas Wells In Floodplains

waste from gas drilling radioactive?

Is flowback and waste from gas drilling radioactive?

Rewards and Risks of the MarcellusPart I in a series

By Sharon Corderman

Farmers in New York state fear invasion of drilling rigs

Shale gas gambit pits NY neighbor against neighbor

Concerns Expressed About Marcellus Shale Drilling

Delaware energy: Wilmington water plant goes solar

Solar power? Some in Watchung are ahead of Somerset County

By Independent Press

February 18, 2010, 10:51AM

TD Bank Announces It's Now Carbon Neutral

Walgreen buys Duane Reade

NJ Governors Troubling Actions

feed-in tariff

renewable portfolio standards

New Jersey SREC Program

Cap and Trade 101

people are pissed at goverment spending, but not when it's for a cause they care about

BPU faces big changes

things you can do to cut energy usage that won’t cost a thing

in coal country -- mountaintop removal versus the environment

same, same and always the same

Solar Power Is Now an Option for Even the Most Cash-Strapped Suburbanites

Solar energy could help restore Walker Lake

Christie taps energy adviser for DEP

TU Concerned for Marcellus Drilling

Gov. Jon Corzine's State Of The State

Getting the Most Cash Back From Your Green Home

New solar energy-related company to be announced, says Hinchey

Environmentalists want a renewable-energy firm to move its solar project to avoid tortoises

10:00 PM PST on Saturday, January 9, 2010

Environmentalists want a renewable-energy firm to move its solar project to avoid tortoises | Inland News | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California

GE Narrows Scope of Solar Power Investment

Drilling the Marcellus Shale for gas is a mistake.

PSE&G to build four solar farms in NJ

Financial incentives bring renewable energy businesses — but not experience

Power Plants Continue to Decrease SO­2 Emissions under EPA Cap and Trade Program

stupid carbon statement

Emissions Disclosure as a Business Virtue

tax's on srec's

By Karin Price Mueller/The Star-Ledger

December 22, 2009, 8:00AM

Rewards and Risks of the Marcellus
Part I in a series

Power Plants Continue to Decrease SO2 Emissions under EPA Cap and Trade Program