Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 17 May 2013

Fort Bliss gets on the microgrid, an energy first for DOD

May 16, 2013 - The Army flipped the switch on an advanced power system at Fort Bliss Thursday, taking a step towards the Pentagon's goal to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its military bases around the world.

Part of the El Paso, Texas, base now runs on what's called a microgrid, an emerging technology that makes the system more energy and cost efficient by harnessing solar power and storing energy for future use. But the microgrid, which is the first at a DOD installation, is as much about security as it is the environment and cost savings.

The system decentralizes how power is sent across the base, ensuring that a major power outage doesn't affect critical operations. read more>>>

Govt warming up to green house concept

KATHMANDU, MAY 14 - 2013 - The unchecked urban sprawl has led to myriad challenges ranging from severe energy crisis, environmental pollution, poor solid waste management to deteriorating quality of life of the city denizens. And Nepal is not an exception.

As the environmental impacts of buildings become more apparent, planners in the country have started discussing the concept of green homes to create healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition. read more>>>

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Entrepreneur Giving Space Shuttle Truss New Uses

May 14, 2013 — A truss design devised to help workers process space shuttles continues to find new uses as a space shuttle engineer-turned-entrepreneur adapts it to everything from a solar-powered electric generator to a mobile cellphone tower.

The structure, which is constantly being redesigned into smaller packages that unfold to larger sizes, is also envisioned for Mars or other space destinations where it could be deployed to connect modules for astronauts. read more>>>

Solar Scoreboard – Halftime Update

May 14th, 2013 - With the year nearly half done, here’s the solar scoreboard–updates from things we’ve been working on, and a selection of other notable solar victories.

New state solar programs

New York is our biggest market-building campaign in the East. Last month the Senate unanimously passed legislation to extend the successful NY-Sun program for 10 years and build 2.2 GW of local solar – on to the Assembly! Between the Senate vote and the Governor introducing similar legislation of his own on Earth Day, there’s serious momentum for major solar policy coming out of New York this session. read more>>>

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Chevron Energy Solutions Helping City of Lemoore Save Nearly $45 Million With Solar

May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Lemoore and Chevron Energy Solutions are starting construction of an expansive solar installation to power domestic water wells, a wastewater treatment plant, the Cinnamon Municipal Complex, Police Department, and several other facilities throughout the city. It is expected to generate 3.1 megawatts of electricity and reduce purchases from the electric utility by close to 100 percent for most of the facilities. Over the life of the project, and after paying all its costs, the City of Lemoore is expected to save close to $45 million.

To design, engineer, build, and operate and maintain the solar installation, the City of Lemoore chose Chevron Energy Solutions, its third project for the city in the past 5 years. Chevron has performed similar functions for hundreds of cities in California and around the country.

"With a combination of financing, grants and incentives, we were able to leverage a modest investment of taxpayer funds for the maximum benefit," said William Siegel , Mayor of City of Lemoore. "This project will enable us to save significant amounts of money and energy." read more>>>

Solar Lights & Water Pumps: Simple Tech for Alleviating Poverty

May 14, 2013 - Can solar power help eradicate extreme poverty in the developing world? As we’ve shown a number of times, many social entrepreneurs think so, and are investing their time and money in a variety of technologies. Now, these aren’t companies like Microgrid Solar, SunEdison, or Infinite Energy – the average citizen of the developing world definitely can’t afford the typical solar panels on the roof. But s/he probably can afford a small solar lighting system, or a phone charger. With the right financing, they can likely afford technology that’s a bit more complex (and, thus, more expensive). In just about every case, these technologies can create substantial opportunities for the world’s poor to lift themselves out of poverty. read more>>>

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Smart Grids´ Ability to Simplify Distributed Generation Encourages its Installation in Asia-Pacific, Finds Frost & Sullivan

May 12, 2013 /PR Newswire/ -- The smart grids market in Asia-Pacific got a huge boost from the roll-outs of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in Australasia and Smart City projects in North Asia. The market can expect higher revenue inflow with the rising popularity of Demand response systems and energy management system (EMS) installations as well as Southeast Asia's desire to switch to smart grids.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.energy.frost.com), Asia-Pacific Smart Grids Market Overview, finds that the market earned approximately US$5.40 billion in 2012 and estimates this to reach US$15.83 billion in 2018. read more>>>

A rare bipartisan Clean Energy Bill is ready for passage

May 13, 2013 - Congressional lawmakers from both parties are taking a step to catalyze the nation's clean energy economy: After 32 years of restricting a crucial investment tool to expanding fossil fuels, they're pushing to open it to renewables.

Legislation is moving through both houses to tweak the tax code to let clean energy developers form a master limited partnership, or MLP, a type of publicly traded company structure not subject to corporate taxes.

But renewables have been shut out of the benefit, because the tax code prevents companies involved in 'inexhaustible' natural resources like solar and wind from forming MLPs. read more>>>