May 18, 2012

U.S. Orders Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels
Los Angeles Times
May 18, 2012
The Obama administration ordered tariffs of 31% and higher on solar panels imported from China, escalating a simmering trade dispute with China. Read more here.
China Warns Solar-Panel Tariff May Backfire
Wall Street Journal
May 18, 2012
China unleashed a storm of protest across multiple outlets criticizing the U.S. decision to impose a 31% antidumping tariff on Chinese solar-panel makers and said the action could backfire. Read more here.
Senate Dem: Energy Bills Stalled Until Fiscal ‘Grand Bargain’ Is Struck
The Washington Post
May 18, 2012
Sen. Mark Udall has reached a sobering conclusion: Energy legislation will remain stuck in the political mud until Washington reaches a sweeping, and thus far elusive, financial agreement.  Read more here.
Cap-and-Trade to Generation Billions, Tough Choices
San Francisco Chronicle
May 18, 2012
Starting later this year, California's cap-and-trade system will generate billions of dollars in revenue, as companies buy and sell permits to produce greenhouse gases. How should the money be used? Read more here.
Effort to Stall Light Bulb Standards Pits Tea Party Against Manufacturers
Bloomberg BNA
May 18, 2012
The DOE would continue to be barred from enforcing new energy efficiency standards for incandescent light bulbs under a planned House amendment that pits bulb manufacturers against the Tea Party. Read more here.
Federal Regulators May Cut Incentives for Transmission Lines
Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel
May 18, 2012
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering proposals to reduce the rate of return, or profit, that utilities receive from building power lines. Read more here.
When It Comes to Natural Gas, Obama Can’t Win
Politico
May 18, 2012
The White House seems unable to decide how close it wants to be to the natural gas industry. Read more here.
First Solar Plans Middle East Office to Help Tap Regional Market
Bloomberg
May 18, 2012
First Solar, the largest maker of thin-film solar panels, plans to open an office in the United Arab Emirates this year to tap growing demand for power in the Middle East. Read more here.
Apple Commits to Renewable Power for U.S. Data Centers
Guardian
May 18, 2012
Apple plans to power its main data center entirely with renewable energy by the end of this year to address environmental concerns about the rapid expansion of high-consuming computer server farms. Read more here.
A New Skirmish in the Ethanol Wars
NYT Green
May 18, 2012
The auto and oil industries released a report indicating that some cars running on E15, the 15% ethanol blend recently authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency, experienced engine damage. Read more here.
Palm Oil Industry Adds Lobbying Muscle in EPA Climate Battle
The Hill
May 18, 2012
The palm oil industry has hired a lobbying giant to help battle the EPA's preliminary finding that palm-based biofuels don't meet the GHG standards of the federal renewable auto fuels mandate. Read more here.

May 17, 2012

DOE's Chu Sees Arizona Potential in Energy Diversity
Phoenix Business Journal
May 17, 2012
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu believes in a diversified energy portfolio, and on Tuesday he was in Arizona to speak on at least one aspect of how to get it: financing. Read more here.
Sharp: Japan Solar Cell Shipments May Top 2.5GW
Reuters
May 17, 2012
Shipments of solar cells in Japan could rise above 2.5 gigawatts by March 2013 amid a pickup in demand following the start of a new feed-in tariff scheme in July. Read more here.
Plan for Wind Turbines in Vermont Creates International Furor
AP
May 17, 2012
The winds blowing through Canada's St. Lawrence Valley and across Vermont are stirring up an international tempest over which country's laws should govern how those breezes are harnessed.  Read more here.
Dept. of Interior Ignored Tribal Concerns About Wind Farm Impacts: Lawsuit
Greenwire
May 17, 2012
An American Indian tribe has filed a federal lawsuit against the Interior Department in an effort to stop what would become California's largest wind farm on public land. Read more here.
Solar FIT Fallout: Germany's Environment Minister Forced Out
Renewable Energy World
May 17, 2012
Germany's powerful Minister of the Environment Norbert Roettgen was fired Thursday as Chancellor Angela Merkel looks to hold onto power following her party's regional election loss over the weekend. Read more here.
Green Energy CEOs to Face Loan Questions
The Hill
May 17, 2012
The Energy Department’s loan guarantee program will be back in the cross-hairs of Capitol Hill Republicans on Wednesday. Read more here.
House Armed Services Committee Proposes Ban on Biofuels
Renewable Energy World
May 17, 2012
 The House Armed Services Committee issued its report on next year's Pentagon budget, which includes a measure to exclude the purchase of biofuels that cost more than fossil fuels.  Read more here.
In Los Angeles, an Electrifying Freight Solution?
Los Angeles Times
May 17, 2012
Los Angeles may be one of the first global cities to adopt a new electric freight trucking system, unveiled by electrical engineering giant Siemens Corp. last week. Read more here.
Kleiner Perkins Backs Solar Sales & Marketing Start-up
GigaOm
May 17, 2012
San Francisco-based Gen110, a solar sales and marketing company, now plans to add other residential energy services and has lined up venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as an investor. Read more here.

May 16, 2012

Shift By U.S. Muddles Solar Imports Case
New York Times
May 16, 2012
Renewable energy firms around the world are awaiting a decision Thursday by the U.S. Commerce Department on whether to impose anti-dumping tariffs on solar panels imported from China. Read more here.
Senate Dems Urge More Stringent Tax Rules for Chinese Solar Firms
The Hill
May 16, 2012
Two Senate Democrats unveiled a proposal to make it harder for Chinese solar panel firms to qualify for tax credits that they say are giving those companies an edge over U.S. firms.  Read more here.
Biggest Solar CPV Plant in U.S. Now on the Grid
Greentech Media
May 16, 2012
The 30-megawatt Alamosa Solar plant on 225 acres in Colorado is now the concentrated solar power heavyweight champion. Read more here.
Phoenix to Mark New Phase of Solar Program
AP
May 16, 2012
Energy Secretary Steven Chu will join Phoenix officials in marking the second phase of the nation's largest city-sponsored solar financing program. Read more here.
Saudi Arabia Launches Massive Renewable Program with Hybrid FITs
Renewable Energy World
May 16, 2012
While North America continues to dawdle on renewables, the oil-rich Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has proposed one of the most sweeping and massive moves to renewable energy on the planet. Read more here.
Clean Energy Funding Hot (and Cold) in Ohio
Midwest Energy News
May 16, 2012
The Midwest is a hot spot for Clean Energy Funds, and an ice cream business in Cleveland is among the beneficiaries. Read more here.
Ferrari to Launch Its First Hybrid Car
Guardian
May 16, 2012
From horsepower to battery power, Ferrari is joining the growing ranks of green carmakers by launching its first ever hybrid vehicle at the end of the year.  Read more here.
Battery Maker A123 Posts Big Losses
GigaOm
May 16, 2012
The lithium-ion battery maker posted lower revenues and greater losses for Q1 of this year, about two months after it launched a program to replace batteries with defective cells. Read more here.

May 15, 2012

Study Finds Americans Willing to Pay a Little More for Clean Energy
NYT Green
May 15, 2012
A new public opinion study finds that people are willing to pay higher energy costs to move to cleaner energy. Read more here.
Google-Backed Wind Power Line Clears Hurdle
Reuters
May 15, 2012
A planned $5 billion transmission line to send power from wind farms off the East Coast cleared a hurdle, allowing the Google-backed project to move to the next step in the approval process.   Read more here.