University of Colorado to Receive $450,000 to Accelerate Solar Energy

Here's some excellent news for the University of Colorado. The U.S. Department of Energy has given a $450K grant to the university to help advance concentrated solar power technology. I think it's a pretty good idea for the government to invest in universities to help advance and reduce the cost of various technologies. This is an investment in our educational system, which is ultimately an investment in our communities. Plus, is there a better investment other than our schools? Students receive the enlightenment through discovery and the eventual innovation and subsequent intellectual property stays within the U.S. It's a win/win no?

Pew Report: U.S. Drops to Third in Clean Energy Investment

I'm not ready to hit the panic button yet, but China is eating our lunch with respect to deploying clean energy technology. Although U.S. investment was up 51% ($34B) from 2009, the Chinese and the Germans are still pumping more investment dollars into clean tech deployments. Pew Clean Energy Director Phyliss Cuttino said, "The United States' position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain." That about sums it up for me. Our elected officials need to develop a comprehensive energy plan for this nation gradually phasing out fossil fuels and phasing in renewables or in the end we will spend way more than $34 billion for our energy needs.

Dark Grid: Electric Utilities Scramble to Get Smart

Here is a great article in Forbes regarding the incredible opportunities that utilities have with our nation's electricity grid to make them "smarter". I learned in one of my renewable energy classes (and it's talked about in this article) that utilities don't know when their customers have a power outage until those customers call and let them know the power is out. How crazy is that? Unfortunately it's true. The power grid is dumb because there is no instant feedback mechanism to provide utility operators with real-time information on the state of the grid and power flow. Lot's of money is beginning to be poured into making the grid smarter, which I think will ultimately be good for the electricity consumer.

CSU, Fort Collins Land Clean Energy Grants

Both Colorado State University (CSU) and the City of Fort Collins received grants from Colorado's New Energy Economic Development program. CSU received $15K to install a 2 megawatt PV array and the city received $72K to implement its "Carbon City sustainability information management system". This system will help track the city's carbon emissions. I think we live in interesting times. Just 10 years ago (heck even 5 years ago), renewable energy and sustainability policies were unheard of. Now they are mentioned everywhere and are being taken seriously. I hope this ride lasts forever.

Obama Awards $2 Billion For Solar Power, Hails New Jobs

Hopefully this is just the beginning of more investment into clean energy. With our economy sputtering and a decimated manufacturing base I think it makes good sense to invest in creating more manufacturing jobs here in the states. I often am disappointed when entrepreneurs come up with a great product and then choose to have it manufactured overseas with slave labor because it is cheaper. But can't economies of scale happen right here on U.S. soil? Well, maybe not as cheaply. Our penchant for cheap stuff is going to be our downfall. So I say why not invest in a thin-film solar manufacturing plant here in Colorado and Indiana with public funds? Why not invest in a concentrated solar utility plant in Arizona with public funds? I think it is good government and it will help reduce our consumption of fossil fuels.

Xcel Energy Files to Reduce Colorado Solar Projects; Cites Concerns over Timing of Future Transmission

Bummer. Looks like I'm not going to get my wish for a concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in southern Colorado. I'm really torn on this San Luis Valley issue now. I've learned from a scientist at NREL before that we could power all of Colorado and then some by placing CSP plants on just 2% of the San Luis Valley. Just 2% (roughly 160 of the 8,000 sq. miles of the valley. That's a 13 x 13 mile plot!) of the land to reduce our carbon footprint immensely, rid ourselves of dirty coal emissions, and showcase to the world that Colorado powers itself with 100% renewable energy. However, these CSP plants are water intensive and need new high voltage transmission lines built over the hill for many miles to the load centers on the Front Range. I'll be frank, large high-voltage power transmission lines are unattractive. If I lived in the beautiful San Luis Valley I probably wouldn't want them. But would I think about compromising to have a large majority of our power produced from the clean and free sun?

Then there's the distributed generation (DG) folks who make a good case for solar PV or thermal on rooftops in the valley and around Colorado. Putting solar rooftops on every residential and commercial building would go along way to lessening the environmental impact and the need for high-voltage transmission lines, but I believe (no facts to back this up yet), doing it piece meal like that wouldn't be as cost-effective (unless economies of scale kicked in at some point) and wouldn't provide nearly as much wattage as a CSP plant on 2% of the land in the San Luis Valley.

I don't know what the answer is. I imagine that it all depends on how quickly we have to get off of fossil fuels. Let's hope we come to some type of compromise sometime soon.

Colorado Leads Way in Renewable Energy

An op-ed from the Pueblo Chieftain written by former Republican speaker of the Colorado State House and current Democratic Senator Mark Udall on Colorado's growing strength and thought leadership within the renewable energy sector. It's a good read from state and federal legislators on both sides of the aisle.

Oregon Solar Parts Maker PV Powered Bought by Colorado's Advanced Energy

Just a little acquisition by Colorado's Advanced Energy for a cool $90 million. The purchased company, PV Powered out of Oregon, makes solar PV inverters for residential and smaller commercial customers. Advanced Energy focuses on selling inverters (amongst other solar products) to larger commercial customers. Looks like Advanced Energy is expanding into other markets and will also benefit from PV Powered's large manufacturing operations. Keep an eye on Colorado's Advanced Energy.

Glenwood Springs Council Supports Energy Finance District

Glenwood Springs, Colorado has decided on creating a "Clean Energy Financing District" for commercial and residential property owners of that area. What this designation does is allow property owners to receive low-interest, long-term loans for any clean energy project. The loan then gets attached to their property taxes and they gradually pay it off. If they sell the property, the loan stays with the property and is assigned to the new owner. We've seen this model before in Boulder, Colorado with the Boulder County ClimateSmart Loan Program. This model is a great way to promote clean energy, reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, and improve the economic vitality of the region.

The Business Case for Climate Solutions

Check out this commentary piece in the Denver Post by Hunter Lovins and let me know what you think. Essentially, it speaks to the necessity of investing in clean energy and energy efficiency measures to help boost the Colorado economy, help ease the environmental and economic impact of climate change, and help the U.S. remain competitive with countries that are already investing heavily in clean energy.

Obama Awards $2.3 Billion In Renewable Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits

Nice. A cool $2.3 billion for renewable energy manufacturing. And from the list it looks like more than a few Colorado companies have made the list. I will do some research to see how Colorado is impacted by this. Renewable energy's future in the U.S. is looking way bright.

White House to Announce $5 Billion More in Tax Credits for Renewable Energy Products

How delicious is $5 billion more for renewable energy tax credits? Just think of all the RE small businesses that will stay afloat because of these tax credits. With over 300 sunny days a year in Colorado, we need to take advantage of the sun's free energy so we can get a slice of our $5 billion! So, weatherize your home first, then invest in some RE generating technologies (like PV or solar thermal or geothermal), and help invest in small business.

Ritter Announces $1.5M in New Energy Economic Grants for Colorado

In an economy as bad as we've seen in awhile it's a positive sign that we are still willing to invest in good opportunities. The good Governor of Colorado is giving away grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. These grants will go to schools, small businesses, and non-profits. This money will go directly into the pockets of Coloradans. And there are projects that range from installing photovoltaic systems to developing energy efficient building codes. Keep it coming Governor Ritter!

Energy Secretary Announces Funding for Colorado

The good doctor is releasing some more renewable energy/energy efficiency funds to the State of Colorado. $34 million will go to weatherization rebates and credits for renewable energy systems (such as PV or solar thermal) and biomass stoves. The money will also be used to help state agencies, including public schools, reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Anschutz Corp. Plans Wyoming Wind Farm

Wow. A $4-6 billion wind farm project just south of Rawlins, Wyoming. They are planning to put 1,000 wind turbines and then pump the electricity to the desert southwest? Maybe they are thinking that they can sell the electricity to Las Vegas. Anschutz founded Qwest in 1996 his claim to fame was to use railroad right of ways (some of which he owned) and lay fiber for a telecom backbone. Genius at the time. Since he probably still owns those right of ways, perhaps he is thinking that he can lay transmission lines (hopefully underground) all the way to Vegas?

Australia to Build World's Largest Solar Energy Plant

Put another shrimp on the barbie! The Aussies are about to rock and roll on a new solar power plant (article doesn't say if it is concentrated solar thermal or PV). 1000 megawatts of, "Australia's biggest natural resource." I wonder why the U.S. doesn't do this?

Dr. Chu Brings Some Serious Coin to NREL

Dr. Chu goes to Golden, Colorado and sets up the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), big time. I thought he was just going to focus on wind and that was it. Not only is NREL getting $93 million for the wind program, but they are also getting $100 million for, "NREL facility and infrastructure improvements," which includes solar and biofuels. Unbelievable. That's almost $200 million in funding which will be put to good use by the bright minds at NREL. Finally, an energy secretary who is supportive of the renewable community. Read all about the groovy details in the DOE press release. I look forward to seeing more funding next year.

Energy Secretary Brings Money to NREL

U.S. Energy Secretary Dr. Chu is coming to Colorado tomorrow to bring some money to National Renewable Energy Lab's (NREL) wind program. Now this is great, great news for the wind program, but I am also wondering if the solar and biofuel programs are going to feel the love from the good doctor. With his recent embrace of clean coal investments, I'm not exactly sure those other critical programs will receive the same reception. Come on Dr. Chu, do the right thing.

Energy Secretary Backs Clean-Coal Investments

Umm. Well, I hope this is only the political side of Dr. Chu talking and it's a chess match where he is five moves ahead. Perhaps the Obama administration needs to acknowledge the coal industry so that they don't freak out with all of this renewable energy talk. I hope. As I've discussed before, there is no such thing as clean coal and carbon sequestration is a pipe-dream. Using the arguement that we need to invest in the technology to make coal cleaner or bury the CO2 underground and then export it to China and India is a bit weak. Perhaps we need to invest more heavily in renewable technology and the export that to China and India so that they don't have to burn coal? I know my arguement is extremely simple, but it is no more simple than Dr. Chu's.

Op-Ed: NREL’s History of Fickle Funding

Anne Butterfield nails it in her op-ed in the Daily Camera. If the Energy Secretary, Dr. Steven Chu, believes what his boss says about renewable energy then he needs to allocate reliable funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) now. Those hard-working scientists at NREL have been working diligently, quietly, and on a shoe-string budget for the last 30 years. They've lasted through the tragic energy policy myopia of Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, and Bush II. The time is now. No more lip-speak.