An Ignoble Experiment

2. Central Maine Power promoting EVs with grants

Electric vehicle (EV) sales doubled in the first 6 months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). DOE's most recent pricing data -- eGallon, a quick and simple way for consumers to compare the costs of fueling electric vehicles vs. driving on gasoline -- shows that prices rose slightly to $1.18 from $1.14 in the latest monthly numbers, but remain far below the $3.49 cost of a gallon of gasoline.

Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Sales: December 2010 - June 2013. Credit: DOE

The data also shows that plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) sales tripled from about 17,000 in 2011 to about 52,000 in 2012. During the first six months of 2013, U.S. consumers purchased more than 40,000 PEVs, more than twice as many as the same period in 2012. The latest numbers show how the early years of the PEV market have seen much faster growth than the early years of the hybrid vehicle market. Thirty months after the first hybrid was introduced, monthly sales figures were under 3,000.

"More and more Americans are taking advantage of the low and stable price of electricity as a transportation fuel, and that's very good news for our economy as well as the environment," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz in a statement. "As the market continues to grow, electric vehicles will play a key role in our effort to reduce air pollution and slow the effects of climate change."

DOE launched eGallon last month to allow consumers to compare the cost of fueling with electricity vs. gasoline. eGallon prices are available for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

For more:
- see this infographic

This week's sponsor is AESP.

By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Comment |

3. Today's utility decisions will have long-term renewables impact

Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is offering incentives to organizations that wish to try out plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) in an effort to encourage the use of hybrid and electric cars in the state.

Argonne's Through-the-Road Plug-in hybrid prototype. Credit: Argonne National Laboratory

Through the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Grant Program, selected organizations will receive up to $15,000 to support the lease or purchase of eligible vehicles. A portion of the grant may be applied toward the purchase and installation of a Level 2 or 3 charging station.

"[The grant program is] a chance to promote the storage of renewable and other energy generated off-peak to replace fuels with greater climate impacts," said Adam Cutter, manager of the utility's grant program. "We're looking for organizations that share CMP's strong commitment to the environment, will maximize road time for the vehicles, and record this important data. We also hope to see a broad range of electric vehicle models to help us get a thorough evaluation of the options that are available in today's market."

Qualifying vehicles must have electric propulsion (either part- or full-time), plug-in battery charging, and be commercially available. Customized cars, home-made vehicles, or prototypes are not eligible. Participants must also collect data about how the vehicle is used for a period of up to two years.

For more:
- visit this website

Read more about: plug-in electric vehicles
back to top

By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Comment |

4. Dominion adds largest generation-scale solar acquisition to portfolio

Global investment in the renewable energy sector is set to continue to decline in the short term from the 11 percent fall seen in 2012, according to research from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL).

"Global investment into the renewable energy sector is likely to remain subdued in the near time. Yet over the long term, the sector will be more attractive, as technology improves and costs decline," said Jane Allen, DTTL global leader, renewable energy. "In the meantime, investors need to choose their spots wisely, because it's not going to get any easier anytime soon."

For utilities, planning and decision making in the near term in a number of areas will be critical.

For example, there are no easy answers when it comes to mitigating the risks of the shale gas revolution, which has created new uncertainty for the near-term investment prospects of renewable energies. In some ways, it is unavoidable, according to Allen, as growth in the renewable energy sector is not likely to increase while gas prices are as low as they are.

In many cases, the key deterrent to investment is the lack of regulatory frameworks suitable to ensuring economic returns. This leads utilities to question whether it is more economical to upgrade existing energy infrastructure, build new facilities on the foundation of the existing infrastructure, or invest in the new infrastructure of the "Third Industrial Revolution."

"It is important for utilities, investors, developers, and governments to understand the evolving renewable energy landscape so that they have the long-term context for the short-term decisions they must make," said Allen. "Subsidies and further technological refinement and innovation are going to continue to be needed in the short- to medium-term. Companies must take advantage of the subsidies where possible, but must also develop a strategy that takes into account their eventual phase out. The current low cost of natural gas in North America and the expectation of this dynamic spreading globally will also suppress investment in renewables for the short-term, but this is likely to ease as gas prices level out with rising demand."

For more:
- see this report

By Barbara Vergetis Lundin

Comment |