Library >> Current Articles on Renewable Energy Resources and Transmission >> General Renewable Energy

Articles on General Renewable Energy

• Green-Collar Jobs Growing
  Apr 27, 2008 - The Augusta Chronicle
  
  When 1,800 workers lost their jobs after a Maytag appliance factory and headquarters closed last year in Newton, Iowa, a wind turbine blade company saw opportunity - an available, skilled workforce in the middle of one of America's hardiest wind energy production regions.
  
  
• 'Green' on the go: Vancouver engineer travels third world promoting renewable energy
  Apr 16, 2008 - Laura Mcvicker - The Columbian - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News
  
  Vancouver, Wash. - During his overseas trips, Michel Maupoux sleeps on classroom floors, makes a bed in strangers' homes or takes a tent into a remote village. For days, he lives without electricity.
  At the same time, he teaches villagers how to use solar energy to manufacture light or run water pumps -- to do the exact thing he promises to live without.
  
  
  
• Clean-Energy Trends 2008
  Mar, 2008 - CleanEdge
  
  Amid a challenging economic outlook—plummeting housing prices, rising foreclosure rates, record-high oil prices, sinking consumer confidence, looming recession—2007 was another banner year for clean energy, with no signs of a slowdown in 2008. Solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal, energy intelligence, hybrid- and all-electric vehicles, advanced batteries, green buildings, and other clean-energy-related technologies and markets provided bright spots in an otherwise sluggish economy.
  
  
• Renewable Energy Continues Rapid Global Growth in 2007
  Mar 12, 2008 - EERE Network News
  
  The global use of renewable energy sources continued its rapid growth in 2007, with 40 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity added throughout the world, according to a new report. That capacity growth, which includes large hydropower, brings the world's renewable energy generating capacity to more than a thousand gigawatts. Excluding large hydropower, renewable generating capacity grew by 33 gigawatts to a total of 240 gigawatts, a 16% annual growth rate. At 95 gigawatts, wind power is the largest of the newer renewable energy sources, while grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems increased by 53%, reaching 7.8 gigawatts.
  
  
• Portugal's rush to renewables places it in front line of EU's energy makeover
  Mar 11, 2008 - Barry Hatton - The Associated Press
  
  Broad fields of giant solar panels as big as houses tilt toward the sun in this torrid patch of the Iberian peninsula.
  
  
• DOE to Support Hawaii Efforts of 70% Renewables by 2030
  Feb 5, 2008 - Wind energy Weekly
  
  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle (R) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding for DOE to partner with the state and help it reach a goal of using renewable energy resources to supply 70% of its power needs by 2030.
  
  
• Iceland, Abu Dhabi will cooperate in renewable energy: Grimsson
  Jan 22, 2008 -- Asia Pulse Data Source
  
  Iceland is a fundamental proof that it is possible within the lifetime of one generation to transform the energy system of our countries, said President of Iceland Olafur Ragnar Grimsson at the World Forum Energy Summit (WFES) which opened Monday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
  
  
• France Sets Ambitious Renewable Energy Targets
  Jan 2, 2008 - Jane Burgermeister - renewableenergyaccess.com
  
  Wind and solar power are at the heart of a big new push by the French government to increase the renewable share of the country's total energy consumption from 6.7 percent in 2004 to 20 percent by 2020.
  
  
• China promises more clean energy spending but warns coal use will climb
  Dec 26, 2007 - Joe McDonald - The Associated Press
  
  China promised Wednesday to develop renewable energy for its fast-growing economy but warned that coal consumption will grow dramatically and avoided embracing binding limits on its greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  
• German Investments in Clean Alternative Energy Pay Off
  Dec 26, 2007 - Voice of America News/ContentWorks
  
  With virtually no oil or natural gas resources of its own, Germany relies on Russia for 20 percent of its oil and one-third of its gas imports. But with Russia displaying a willingness to use oil as a political weapon, Germany is placing new emphasis on achieving energy independence - especially by developing alternative energy sources. As part of his series on the politics of oil, VOA's Brian Padden reports how German efforts to reduce pollution have led to new ways to produce energy.
  
  
• Renewable Energy Growth Boosted in New "Annual Energy Outlook"
  Dec 19, 2007 - EERE Network News
  
  DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) is now projecting renewable energy to experience 23% faster growth between now and 2030 than previously anticipated. The EIA's latest "Annual Energy Outlook" foresees renewable energy providing 12.2 quadrillion Btu (quads) of energy by 2030, up from only 9.9 quads in last year's outlook. For comparison, total U.S. energy use was 100 quads in 2006 and is projected to increase to 123.8 quads by 2030. The EIA projections include hydropower, which is expected to increase from 2.89 quads in 2006 to 3 quads in 2015, staying level after that. In contrast, biomass energy is projected to increase from 2.97 quads in 2006 to 5.52 quads in 2030, an 86% increase, while "other renewable energy" is projected to increase from 0.88 quads in 2006 to 2.49 quads in 2030, a nearly threefold increase. And this is just the EIA's reference case, often characterized as the "business as usual" case; a full EIA report examining alternative scenarios will be released early in 2008.
  
  
• Transmission, Renewables: Arranged Marriage, But at What Cost?
  Dec 4, 2007 - NGI's Power Market Today
  
  While technically and administratively California's grid can absorb renewable generation sources at the 20% level by 2010, according to a recently completed report by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), how much the transformation will cost and who pays for it are still unknown, CAISO CEO Yakout Mansour said Monday during a news media briefing on the grid operator's new demand response lab.
  
  
• Companies squeezing power from sun, deserts in Southern California
  Dec 2, 2007 - San Francisco Chronicle
  
  A renewable-energy boom is under way in the Southern California desert. The region's open, empty spaces have room for big projects - such as vast solar energy farms - that can generate energy on a grand scale while producing few, if any, greenhouse gases. Dozens of new solar and geothermal generating stations have been proposed, from Lancaster to the Arizona and Mexico borders. They won't be cheap to build, possibly raising the costs Californians pay for power. But with the state's utilities scrambling to find more renewable energy, the projects are moving forward.
  
  
• Mather Aims for 50per Cent of Electricity From Renewable Sources By 2020
  Nov 28, 2007 - The Herald, Glasgow (UK)
  
  The Scottish Government yesterday announced higher targets for the amount of electricity that comes from green sources.Ministers want 31per cent of Scotland's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2011, and they have set a target of 50per cent of all electricity from renewables by 2020. That compares with the previous aim of having 40per cent of electricity generated from such sources by 2020.
  
  
• Renewables booming in China: Report
  Nov 17, 2007 - China Daily
  
  China would likely achieve and could even exceed its target of obtaining 15 percent of its energy from renewables by 2020, according to a new report released by the Worldwatch Institute.
  
  
• Worldwatch Report Looks at The Role of Renewables in China's Future
  Nov 16, 2007 - Jennifer Runyon - renewableenergyaccess.com
  
  Symbolic though it may be, it cannot go unnoticed that China's richest man, according to the Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual list of billionaires, is the CEO of solar cell producer, SunTech Power Holdings. Even though virtually all of the company's product is exported, (coal provides most of China's energy) it's clear that the role renewable energy plays in China's future will continue to increase.
  
  
• Government Report: In Energy Sector, Renewables Get Less Federal Support
  Nov 14, 2007 - Wind Energy Weekly
  
  A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) comparing federal electricity subsidies by fuel type shows that renewables such as wind still get only a small share of the overall subsidies awarded to the energy sector.
  
  
• Rethinking U.S. Foreign Aid - Make RE, Not War
  November/December, 2007 - Frank Zaski - Solar today
  
  For international security, foreign aid should include renewable energy and efficiency.
  
  
• Lawmakers file bill that would help connect clean energy to the power grid
  Nov 1, 2007 - Media Release - www.house.gov
  
  Two members of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, U.S. Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), today introduced legislation in the House that would make renewable electricity produced in rural areas available to urban energy users.
  
  
• Green power purchases, state RES legislation to strain renewables supply--NREL
  Oct 31, 2007 - Wind Energy Weekly
  
  A recently released report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) highlights a potential supply and demand mismatch in renewable energy in the coming years as a result of renewable energy certificate (RECs) purchases, utility green pricing program options, and state renewable electricity standards (RES).
  
  
• NERC Annual Report Highlights Renewables Trend
  Oct 19, 2007 - Wind Energy Weekly
  
  The nation's transmission operators and utilities will increasingly need to accommodate a much larger portion of generation from growing amounts of renewable energy resources such as wind power coming online, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC) said in its latest annual “Long Term Reliability Assessment.”
  
  
• Boost for Renewables As Minister Hints at Capping Grid Charges
  Oct 10, 2007 - The Scotsman
  
  The UK energy minister yesterday signalled he was prepared to intervene in a row that threatens to damage Scotland's potential to become a green-energy powerhouse.
  
  
• India, Iceland sign MoU on renewable energy co-operation
  Oct 10, 2007 - Thomson Financial
  
  The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said it has signed a memorandum of understanding on renewable energy cooperation with Iceland.
  
  
• UNEP poised to stir green energy revolution in E. Africa
  Oct 8, 2007 - The Associated Press
  
  A U.N.-backed initiative is set to harvest environment-friendly hydroelectric power from millions of tea and sugar cane growers across East Africa, U.N. officials said Thursday.
  
  
• Coal-Emission Cleanup a Challenge for Utilities
  Oct 8, 2007 - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services
  
  Coal-powered utilities, under intense pressure to cut carbon emissions, say the country needs the electricity that coal generates and they need time to enact controls on discharges. Groups like the Sierra Club, however, want an immediate end to coal's use -- in the United States and around the world -- to slow global warming.
  
  
• Shortage of renewable energy grows
  Oct 4, 2007 - Paul Davidson - USA Today
  
  Demand for renewable energy is outstripping supply, pushing up prices and raising the specter that some states may not meet clean-energy mandates.
  
  
• China shuts down 253 small coal-fired generating units
  Sep 28, 2007 - Asia In Focus
  
  In the past eight months, China has shut down 253 small coal-fired generating units that were heavy energy consumers and emitters, and replaced them with high-efficiency generators that has cut yearly coal consumption by 13.5 million tons and CO2 emissions by 27 million tons. Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan said this while inaugurating the second forum on China-Japan Energy Saving and Environmental Protection yesterday.
  
  
• Nepal, UNDP sign 1.9 mln USD rural energy project
  Sep 25, 2007 - Xinhua
  
  The Nepali government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) have signed a 1.9 million-U.S.-dollar rural energy project for a period of three years.
  
  
• Study nixes nuke, fossil energy planning
  Sep 24, 2007 - UPI
  
  A study suggests the wisest energy strategy for many nations is to move away from reliance on large-scale centralized coal and nuclear plants.
  
  
• AWEA Praises Bill Introduced by Senator Reid to Designate National Renewable Energy Zones
  Sep 21 - Wind Energy Weekly
  
  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced September 20 a bill to establish “National Renewable Energy Zones” to improve the development and transmission of renewable energy. AWEA praised Sen. Reid for proposing this legislation and released the following statement:
  
  
• Experts warn of severe challenges to peaceful use of nuclear energy
  Sep 20, 2007 - Xinhua
  
  Experts warned here on Thursday that the development of the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the world would face severe challenges over the next 25 years.
  
  
• Iceland phasing out fossil fuels for clean energy
  Sep 20 - CNN.com
  
  Iceland may be best known for world-famous musical export Bjork but there's a new star quickly gaining this island nation worldwide acclaim -- clean energy.
  
  
• Council Finds Coal Cutbacks Vital to Lower CO2 Emissions in NW
  Sep 19, 2007 - Clearing Up - energycentral.com
  
  Retiring some existing coal-fired plants and replacing their output with cleaner resources is the key to maintaining or lowering carbon dioxide emissions from the regional electric sector, according to a new Northwest Power and Conservation Council paper.
  
  
• World Energy Council Cites Need for More Renewables, Nuclear
  Sep 19, 2007 - NGI's Power Market Today
  
  Fossil fuels will continue to play an important role in energy supply in the decades to come, but every effort has to be made to develop cleaner, more efficient energy technologies that include renewables and nuclear power, according to the World Energy Council (WEC).
  
  
• Europe and U.S. Warned Over Rising Energy Use
  Sep 18, 2007 - Internationnal Herald Tribune
  
  Despite the growing political commitment to tackling global warming, individual energy use and carbon emissions in the leading industrial countries have actually increased in recent years, the new head of a major energy advisory group said Monday. Nobuo Tanaka, the first non-European chosen to lead the International Energy Agency, said during an interview that Europe, Canada, Australia and particularly the United States had to do much more to increase energy efficiency if they wanted to have any credibility when calling on India and China to act.
  
  
• Consortium to Spearhead Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative
  Sep 17, 2007 - News Release - California Energy Commission
  
  Sacramento - Imagine solar mirrors shimmering in the sun and wind turbines harnessing the wind by generating thousands of megawatts of clean, green power from remote California deserts and hillsides.
  
  
• Taking Care of Business
  Sep 10, 2007 - GreenBuzz
  
  I've long maintained that human resource managers are the real drivers of sustainability inside mainstream companies. Every time I see how-to advice on greening a company that includes the suggestion to "get top-management buy-in," I think, "Sure, but what about everyone else?"
  
  
• China outlines plans to increase use of renewable energy
  Sep 4, 2007 - The Associated Press
  
  BEIJING - China on Tuesday announced details of its plans to increase the use of renewable energy in an attempt to cut pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  
• UN report predicts massive need for renewables
  Aug 29, 2007 - Renewable Energy Focus
  
  BONN, Germany, August 29, 2007. Green power should receive a share of the US$148 billion that will be needed by 2030 to reduce GHG emissions, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  
  
• LED dynamics creates direct LED replacements for fluorescent tubes
  Aug, 2007 - LEDs Magazine

  Replacing a fluorescent tube with an LED luminaire becomes very easy when you don't need to worry about drivers, ballasts and wiring, writes Tim Whitaker.

• More states harness power of renewable energy
  Aug 22, 2007 - Jordan Schrader - USA Today
  
  RALEIGH, N.C. — Some focus on the sun, others on the wind, and at least one includes a role for pig power. While the particulars vary, state laws requiring electric utilities to use renewable energy sources to help curb greenhouse-gas emissions and meet growing power demands are rapidly becoming the norm.
  
  
• Power to the poor
  Aug 13, 2007 - New Straits Times
  
  
  THERE is a noticeable link between the provision of power and the incidence of poverty.

  When electricity illuminates homes, schools and clinics, pumps water and powers machines, it lights up lives, brightens prospects and radiates hope for the future by kindling learning, opening up communications, unlocking income-generating activities and driving up living standards. This is why access to electricity has been recognised as a key tool against poverty and why investments in rural electrification has been a major feature of poverty eradication plans.
  
  

• BP and Powerspan Collaborate to Demonstrate and Commercialize CO2 Capture Technology for Power Plants
  Aug 8, 2007 - Press Release - PowerSpan
  
  (Portsmouth, NH) BP Alternative Energy and Powerspan Corp. today announced their collaborative agreement to develop and commercialize Powerspan’s carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technology, called “ECO2™,” for power plants. The scope of the agreement includes financial and technical support for pilot demonstration and commercial scale-up activities, which may include joint development of large-scale demonstration projects that would capture CO2 from power station flue gas. The captured CO2 would be sent for secure, long-term storage deep underground. Use of ECO2 for large scale capture and storage of CO2 from power plants represents a major option for reducing greenhouse gases.
  
  
• Coal Plant Opposition Mounts in Nevada
  Aug 8, 2007 - Powernews
  
  Opposition in Nevada is rapidly building against plans for three new coal-fired plants in the state. Most telling for the opponents of the projects is the opposition of the state's most important political leader, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader.
  
  
• China Grants Special Protection to Renewable Energy Firms
  Aug 6, 2007
  
  China's renewable energy enterprises will be given "special protection" by the government from September 1
  
  
• At Helm of Governors Association, Pawlenty Steers Course for Clean Energy
  Jul 30, 2007 - Wind Energy Weekly
  
  It's official: a renewable energy advocate is leading the National Governors Association (NGA). In his first act as NGA chair, at the closing plenary session of the association’s annual meeting, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) announced the foremost initiative he will undertake while holding the chair seat: "Securing a Clean Energy Future."
  
  
• Business sees green in energy savings
  Jul 15, 2007 MONICA HATCHER - MiamiHerald.com
  
  In the effort to clean the atmosphere of toxic carbon pollution, business leaders meeting Friday at the Summit on Global Climate Change seemed to agree that going green means more of the green stuff in the future. ''What's good for the environment is good for business,'' said Lorraine Bolsinger, a vice president with GE, who spoke along with business representatives on two panels at the summit that ends later Friday.
  
  http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/169802.html
  
  
• New Renewable Energy Tracking System Launched for Western U.S.
  Jun 25, 2007 Sacramento
  
  The California Energy Commission today announced the launch of the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS), a renewable energy registry and tracking system for electricity generation.
  
  
• Developing Nations Embrace Renewable Energy
  Jun 22, 2007 - SciDev.Net/All Africa Global Media
  
  Developing countries have increased investment in renewable energy, accounting for one-fifth of the world's total last year, according to a report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released today (21 June).
  
  
• India needs long-term energy planning: study New Delhi
  Jun 20, 2007 -- Asia Pulse Data Source
  
  India needs to pursue an integrated approach to energy planning as high economic growth equaling or exceeding eight per cent would create much larger demand for energy in the next few decades, a study has said.
  
  
• Western Governors Release Energy Report
  Jun 13, 2007
  
  Casper, Wyoming [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Western states are on track to surpass a 2004 goal of adding 30,000 megawatts of "clean and diversified" energy generation in the region by 2015, according to a report from the Western Governors' Association. The report released [June 17] said 80,000 megawatts is possible with better cooperation from the federal government. The report came out as the Western Governors' Association began its annual conference in Deadwood, S.D.
  
  http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49039
  
  
• Cheap, Reliable and Renewable Electricity a Step Closer for Pacific Islanders
  Jun 12, 2007 Worldbank.org
  
  WASHINGTON - The World Bank Board of Executive Directors today approved US$9.5 million provided by the Global Environment Facility to fund renewable energy electricity supplies for rural communities in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  
  http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/COUNTRIES/EASTASIAPACIFICEXT/PACIFICISLANDSEXTN/0,,contentMDK:21369612~menuPK:441893~pagePK:2865066~piPK:2865079~theSitePK:441883,00.html
  
  
• Integration of Renewable Energy into Electricity Grids
  Jun 6, 2007 - IEA Report
  
  PARIS, France - The International Energy Agency will table a final report to the G8 meeting in Japan next year that will establish "a degree of consensus on the priority issues" to integrate green power into electricity grids.
  
  
• International university presidents declare energy research crucial
  May 7, 2007 - Christopher Leonard - The Associated Press
  
  Thirteen university presidents from around the world declared Monday that studying energy and the environment are the most important fields for researchers.
  
  
• FPL to Issue RFP on Renewable Energy Sources
  Apr 23, 2007 - Business Wire
  
  Florida Power & Light Company (NYSE:FPL) today announced it has issued a request for proposals (RFP) to identify and select new renewable generation resources that will help the company enhance its fuel diversity and maintain system reliability while providing cost-effective power to its customers.
  
  
• U.N. scientists to lay out ways to head off worst of climate change, at least cost
  Apr 23, 2007- Michael Casey, The Associated Press
  
  Environmental Writer Printer Friendly After two reports predicting a warmer Earth where life is fundamentally changed, a U.N.-sponsored scientific panel next month will issue a third study describing how a united world can avert the worst, by embracing technologies ranging from nuclear power to manure controls.
  
  http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/04/24/news/nation/12_03_494_23_07.txt
  
  
• India to depend on renewable sources to meet energy needs
  Apr 09, 2007 - Asia Pulse Data Source
  
  New Delhi, India will be dependent on renewable sources such as solar, hydro and biofuels to meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements by 2050. Through the use efficiency measures the country will also be able to reduce 50 per cent of its energy consumption.
  
  
• Portugal investing billions in renewable energy by 2012, government says
  Mar 22, 2007 The Associated Press
  
  LISBON, Portugal: Portugal plans investments of euro8.1 billion (US$10.8 billion) in renewable energy projects over the next five years, a government official said Thursday.
  
  
• Greece to invest 2.5 billion euros in renewable energy sources by 2010
  ATHENS, Mar 19, 2007 - Xinhua
  
  Greek Development Minister Dimitris Sioufas on Monday signed a ministerial decision on licensing of electricity production from renewable energy sources and high-performance heating electricity co-production in the country.
  
  
• U.S. ASKS FIRMS TO PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TO INDIA, CHINA
  Mar 13, 2007 -- AsiaPulse
  
  The US Commerce Department has asked American companies to exploit opportunities in clean technologies for energy generation in India and China.
  
  
• Richardson signs renewable energy bills
  Mar 6, 2007, The Associated Press
  
  Sunny, windy New Mexico is the "clean energy state," Gov. Bill Richardson said Monday as he signed into law two measures that encourage the production of electricity from renewable sources.
  
  
• House approves Renewable Energy Transmission Authority
  Feb 15, 2007, The Associated Press
  
  Legislation intended to promote the generation and transmission of electricity from clean, renewable sources was whisked through the House on Wednesday.
  
  
• Wind Farm in India is 500th Kyoto Project in a Developing Country
  Feb 14, 2007 EERE Network News
  
  The Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) announced Monday that an 8.75-megawatt wind facility in Gujurat, India, is the 500th project to be registered under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The Kyoto Protocol specifies greenhouse gas reduction requirements for its participating countries, but allows countries to earn credits toward those requirements through emissions-reducing investments in developing countries. Even though developing countries don't have specific reduction goals, the CDM helps reduce the growth of green.
  
  
• Energy needs more money in U.S., says federal agency
  Jan 24, 2007 Refocus
  
  In 2005, the United States derived 6% of its energy from renewables, the same level as in 1973, according to an analysis by the Government Accountability Office.
  
  http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=83189028&accnum=1&topics=
  
  
• Denmark unveils plan to reduce fossil fuels, double use of renewable energy
  Jan 19, 2007
  
  The government on Friday unveiled plans to cut the use of fossil fuels by up to 15 percent and double renewable energy sources within 18 years - in a drive for cleaner fuel and greater self-sufficiency.
  
  
• EPA Challenges Fortune 500 to Double Use of Green Power
  Dec 4, 2006 GreenBiz.com
  
  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is asking Fortune 500 companies double their current level of green power purchasing.
  
  http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=34332
  
  
• Chinese Government to Start Buying Green
  Nov 30, 2006 Worldwatch Institute
  
  China’s Ministry of Finance and the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) have announced that starting in 2007, the nation’s central and provincial governments will prioritize their purchasing of environmentally friendly products and services. The government’s new “green procurement” policy will be implemented at all levels of jurisdiction starting in 2008.
  
  http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4760
  
  
• Renewables increase carbon emissions despite declining output
  November 29, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)
  
  Emissions of carbon dioxide from renewable energy facilities in the United States have doubled since 1990, according to government reports.
  
  http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=51739138&accnum=1&topics=
  
  
• U.S. think tank extols benefits of renewables
  November 22, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)
  
  Switching the U.S. economy to run on renewable energies could save money and reduce pollution, with visible benefits within a decade, says a national think tank.
  
  http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=89117068&accnum=1&topics=
  
  
• Namibia: Country On Verge of Policy Breakthrough On Renewable Energy
  Nov 21, 2006 Brigitte Weidlich Windhoek The Namibian
  
  NAMIBIA will soon have its own regulatory framework and technical standards for the use of appliances powered by renewable energies such as solar or wind power.
  
  http://allafrica.com/stories/200611210222.html
  
  
• Venture Capitalists Pour Money into California Clean-Energy Companies
  11/21/06 California Energy Markets
  
  Venture capitalists are coming in droves to throw millions of dollars at California companies that specialize in clean-energy technology, spurred on by the state's promotion of renewable energy and greenhouse-gas emissions reductions.
  
  http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/power/news_article.cfm?id=7447307
  
  
• Report: Renewables Could Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs
  Nov 14, 2006 Wind Energy Weekly
  
  The manufacturing of renewables components such as wind turbines and solar panels could create 42,000 new jobs in Pennsylvania and 23,000 new jobs in Ohio if the right federal and state incentives are put in place, according to two studies released by the Apollo Alliance. In addition, the studies found, thousands of firms in each state could benefit from the expanded manufacturing activity.
  
  http://www.awea.org/windenergyweekly/WEW1216.html
  
  
• European renewable energy market growing
  Nov 14, 2006 -- UPI
  
  European government promotion of renewable fuels will increase that market's value from $11.39 billion in 2005 to $18.63 billion in 2010, a study said.
  
  
• China, Italy to cooperate on exploiting marine current power
  Nov 8, 2006 Xinhua
  
  Italy and China signed an agreement on Wednesday to exploit marine current to generate electricity, a move aimed at promoting renewable energy in China.
  
  http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-11/09/content_5311209.htm?rss=1
  
  
• Asia-Pacific Partnership Yields Renewable Energy and Efficiency Projects
  Nov 8, 2006 EERE Network
  
  Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Dr. Paula J. Dobriansky today announced that the United States and the other five Partner nations of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate have endorsed detailed Action Plans and nearly 100 collaborative projects and activities to implement this initiative. The announcement was made in remarks to experts from all Partner nations gathered in Columbus, Ohio, to attend a week-long series of site visits organized and hosted by American Electric Power, one of the private sector partners.
  
  http://www.energyvortex.com/pages/headlinedetails.cfm?id=2528
  
  
• Clean energy is 'cost effective'
  November 7, 2006 BBC News
  
  Using cleaner and more efficient energy not only helps the environment but also makes economic sense, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
  
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6121936.stm
  
  
• U.S. coalition wants renewables to provide 50% of electricity
  October 25, 2006 Refocus Weekly
  
  More than 150 organizations and businesses from 38 states have endorsed the 'Sustainable Energy Blueprint' for the United States. The policy document was developed by member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition to outline "a plausible strategy and timeframe for rapidly expanding the use of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies to enable a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gases, while simultaneously phasing out nuclear power and ending most energy imports," explains co-ordinator Ken Bossong.
  
  http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/fp_showdoc.asp?docid=29833621&accnum=1&topics=
  
  
• MNES is now Min of New and Renewable Energy
  Oct 22, 2006 Asia Pulse Data Source
  
  The government has re-christened the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources as Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. "The new name gives a more positive outlook to the ministry as compared to the earlier name," a Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry official said.
  
  http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=330751&sid=NAT
  
  
• Commission helps developing countries invest in 'clean energy'
  8 October 2006 Euractive.com
  
  With a contribution of 80 million euro over four years, the Commission wants to start a new global risk-capital fund which should mobilise private and public investments in both renewables and energy efficiency in developing countries.
  http://www.euractiv.com/en/energy/commission-helps-developing-countries-invest-clean-energy/article-158568

• New technology needed to cut pollution-World Bank
  11 Oct 2006 Gilbert Le Gras, Reuters
  
  The world's top polluting nations agreed new energy-generating technologies are needed to curb global warming and developing countries asked rich states for training and know-how, a World Bank official said on Wednesday.
  
  http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N11262915
  
  
• Business, Environmental Groups Release 'Sustainable Energy Blueprint'
  Oct. 9, 2006 Greenbiz.com
  
  Nearly 150 companies, environmental organizations, and others have released a "Sustainable Energy Blueprint," a policy paper outlining a "plausible strategy for achieving a no-nuclear, low-carbon, highly-efficient and sustainable energy future."
  
  http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.cfm?NewsID=34113
  
  
• Strategic Partnership Between Turkey And Germany In Renewable Energy
  10/4/06 Turkish Press
  
  ISTANBUL - Turkey and Germany reached an agreement in principle concerning renewable energy, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Hilmi Guler said after a bilateral meeting with German Minister of Environment.
  
  http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=145070
  
  
• China to increase investments in alternative energy projects
  Oct. 4, 2006, Asia Pulse Data Source
  
  China will step up investments in projects involving development of bio-energy and other alternative energies between 2006 and 2010 to ensure energy security and maintain its high economic growth.
  http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/en/NewsInfo.asp?NewsId=6038
  
  
• China expecting increase in renewable energy investment
  Sept 12, 2006 - Asia In Focus
  
  China is expecting a wave of investment in renewable new energy sources and domestic and foreign investors widely agree that the development of new energy in China will generate great business opportunities, according to speakers at the Tenth China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) in Xiamen. It is estimated that China will need to invest about 800 billion yuan (US$100.5 billion) in new energy in the years to 2020.
  
  http://pro.energycentral.com/professional/news/power/news_article.cfm?id=7139107
  
  
• The Global Warming debate
  January 1999, James Hansen, Goddard Institute fro Space Studies
  
  In my view, we are not doing as well as we could in the global warming debate. For one thing, we have failed to use the opportunity to help teach the public about how science research works. On the contrary, we often appear to the public to be advocates of fixed adversarial positions. Of course, we can try to blame this on the media and politicians, with their proclivities to focus on antagonistic extremes. But that doesn't really help.
  http://www.giss.nasa.gov/edu/gwdebate/index.html
  
  
• How great divide could light up the lives of millions
  
  “ Under the Rift Valley we have a natural resource that can be of huge benefit to Africans,” said Mr Obuya, gesturing towards the clouds of steam wafting across the muddy shoreline of Lake Bogoria.
  
  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1643571,00.html

• RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY EXPO SHOWCASES SOLUTIONS MISSING FROM PROPOSED "ENERGY WEEK" LEGISLATION
  
  WASHINGTON, DC—On June 20, the Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) and the House and Senate
  Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses hosted the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
  Expo and Policy Forum to demonstrate how sustainable energy technologies can meet America's energy
  needs now as well as in the near- and long-term future. Companies representing the biomass, combined heat
  and power (CHP), geothermal, hydropower, small distributed technology, solar, and wind industries
  revealed to visitors that their technologies are already available to free us from our dependence on foreign
  oil, slash greenhouse gas emissions and improve the reliability of our power grid.
  
  http://www.eesi.org/publications/Press%20Releases/2006/6.23.06RE_EEExpoEnergyWeek.pdf

• The New Red, White and Blue
  
  The biggest threat to America and its values today is not communism, authoritarianism or Islamism. It's petrolism. Petrolism is my term for the corrupting, antidemocratic governing practices - in oil states from Russia to Nigeria and Iran - that result from a long run of $60-a-barrel oil. Petrolism is the politics of using oil income to buy off one's citizens with subsidies and government jobs, using oil and gas exports to intimidate or buy off one's enemies, and using oil profits to build up one's internal security forces and army to keep oneself ensconced in power, without any transparency or checks and balances.
  
  http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/news/sbnews.cfm?id=8386

• The State of Green Business: Good News and Bad
  
  If you've been engaged in the green business world for any length of time, you know the short story: there's good news and bad. Herewith is a top-ten list of sorts: five reasons for optimism, and five reasons for concern, about the state of business and the environment.
  
  http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2005/12/the_state_of_gr.html

• Earth, Water, Fire & Air: Utility Strategies For Renewable Energy
  
  Renewables quotas are being set for utilities. But how can you meet them? Let this guide on renewables for large-scale power generation show you.
  
  http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reportinfo.asp?report_id=307836&t=d&cat_id=

• The Human Right to Renewable Energy
  
  “ All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.“ This first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights articulates a basic human commitment. Only by respecting this commitment, a humane life in peace can be assured.
  
  http://www.wrea2005.org/final_communique.php

• Renewable Energy Brings Water to the World
  
  In the future, few things will be more important than ample supplies of clean water to ensure economic success, good health and political stability across the globe. Every day solar and wind energy systems are saving billions of gallons of clean water around the world and the opportunity exists to save much more water. Fittingly, "Bringing Water to the World" was one of the major themes at the recent ASES / ISES solar energy conference in Florida. But now it's time the issue was given the attention that it deserves.
  
  http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=35664

• Sen. Salazar Hosts Successful Renewable Energy Summit
  
  “ We cannot postpone the development of renewable energy resources any longer,” said Senator Salazar. “By bringing together business, non-profit and government stakeholders, I am hopeful the conversations that took place today have built bridges of cooperation towards our common goal: America’s energy independence.”
  
  http://salazar.senate.gov/news/releases/060111energysummit.htm

• Survey respondents favor alternative fuels
  
  Most American voters think the country is facing an energy crisis and that government and private industry should invest billions of dollars to increase the role renewable fuels play in the nation's economy. Those are the sentiments of a new survey of 1,000 registered voters commissioned by Energy Future Coalition, a nonpartisan public policy initiative in Washington, D.C. The study found:
  
  http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060309/BUSINESS06/603090485/1019/BUSINESS

• Renewables to provide 2% of global energy by 2030, says IEA
  November 9, 2005 -Refocus Weekly
  
  Energy from emerging renewables will grow faster than any other source in the world until 2030, increasing at 6.2% per year, according to the latest forecast from the International Energy Agency.
  
  http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/redesign/showdoc.asp?docid=29798526&accnum=1

• Renewables provided 13.3% of global energy in 20