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Also Noted: The worst tech layoffs of this year; Avoid these application development security mistakes; and much more... WA Parish carbon capture project first in the U.S.
Construction at the WA Parish power plant has begun on the first commercial-scale post-combustion carbon capture retrofit project in the U.S. and the largest such project in the world. Article
Alliant supports Supreme Court solar decision but cannot predict impacts
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that a power purchase agreement (PPA) between the city of Dubuque and Eagle Point Solar does not violate state law. The case brought by Iowa's regulated utilities claimed exclusive rights to sell solar to customers in their service areas. Article
Research firm credits Obama for driving EV charging surge
Research and consulting firm GlobalData credits U.S. President Barack Obama as the catalyst for a surging electric vehicles (EV) charging market. The U.S. EV level 2 charging stations market is forecast to jump from $67 million in 2013 to approximately $947 million by 2020, driven by President Obama's target of one million EVs on roads by 2015, according to GlobalData. Article
News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. Google honing in on methane leaks
2. Renewable energy lessons from Germany
3. Microsoft investing in largest wind project so far
More headlines...
Today's Top News 1. Early Retrofit Chicago results ''envy of every town in America''
Preliminary results of the Retrofit Chicago Commercial Buildings program -- Chicago's unique partnership to showcase energy efficiency efforts in the city's biggest buildings, where dozens of the city's most recognizable buildings have pledged to reduce their energy consumption by 20 percent over five years -- are in.  | | Credit: NRDC | Program participant buildings range in age from three to 125 years old and include cultural institutions, tourist attractions, hotels, university facilities and some of the city's most iconic office towers designed by architects from Burnham to Mies van der Rohe. "Chicago is probably America's most architecturally aware city, so it is no surprise that the skyline is taking the lead in fighting climate change and giving us more resilient infrastructure," said NRDC Midwest Director Henry Henderson. "Energy efficiency efforts are helping to turn the works of Daniel Burnham and Mies Van der Rohe into the best looking tool we have to push back on global warming." The program is working well, with participating buildings already cutting energy usage by 7 percent in less than two years -- putting them on target to fulfill their goals, according to NRDC's evaluation. Those savings are leading to significant positive impacts, including $2.5 million in annual avoided energy costs and the elimination of more than 28,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. An array of tools were deployed in participating buildings to drive energy reductions. To achieve their goals, buildings get access to incentives and technical expertise from experts including program partners Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and ComEd. Other techniques include a shift to more efficient lighting, revamped heating and cooling systems tied to motion detectors, and upgraded ventilation systems and HVAC motors. Experts also worked directly with tenants to improve efficiency in their office spaces. The initial results are being touted by NRDC as "the envy of every town in America," achievable by municipalities around the country. For more:
- see the report Related Articles:
Energy benchmarking law goes from cities to county
Chicago to get efficiency upgrade Read more about: Retrofit Chicago Commercial Buildings Program, ComEd
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2. Rewriting national energy policy
New Mexico Congressman Ben Ray Luján and Vermont Congressman Peter Welch have introduced legislation that will promote energy savings through increased efficiency standards and higher investments in renewable energy -- such as wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass. Known as the American Renewable Energy and Efficiency Act, or HR 5072, the legislation would enact a renewable energy standard to reduce carbon emissions and drive clean energy deployment in states nationally. A renewable energy standard will drive the development of the clean energy sector and the economy.  | | Congressman Peter Welch at Rock Point school solar farm. Credit: Rep. Welch | The legislation requires electric utilities to obtain a minimum of 25 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Electric and natural gas utilities will also need to implement energy efficiency programs in order to save the equivalent of 15 percent and 10 percent of sales, respectively, by 2025. "The United States is lagging behind on energy efficiency and in adopting renewables. Our nation's energy policies are overdue for a rewrite," said Welch. "Our legislation charts a new energy future where energy efficiency and renewable technologies are put to work creating jobs, saving money and improving the environment." An analysis of the American Renewable Energy Efficiency Act and similar legislation found the bill would create more than 400,000 jobs, save the average household $39 annually in energy, and reduce carbon emissions by 480 million metric tons by 2025. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Ed Markey of Massachusetts. For more:
- see the bill Related Articles:
National framework for energy efficiency action
Clean energy supporters celebrate Obama's Year of Action
Energy performance standards level the playing field Read more about: HR 5072
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3. Rehabilitation funding focuses on critical water infrastructure
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making a $262 million investment into the nation's waterways to rehabilitate dams that provide critical infrastructure and protect public health and safety. "This investment will protect people and property from floods, help keep our water clean, and ensure that critical structures continue to provide benefits for future generations," Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller said. "Families, businesses and our agriculture economy depend on responsible management of dams and watersheds." A number of the projects to be funded are in Oklahoma where the first full watershed plan and structure completed by USDA on private lands happened in the 1940s. Recognizing the critical role of these structures in water supply, flood management and agricultural productivity, the signing of the 2014 Farm Bill earlier this year increased the typical annual investment in watershed rehabilitation by almost 21-fold. From the 1940s through the 1970s, local communities constructed watershed management projects, which included more than 11,800 dams in 47 states, providing an estimated $2.2 billion in annual benefits in reduced flooding and erosion damages, and improved water supplies. Current funding will provide rehabilitation assistance for 150 dams across 26 states; 500 dam sites will be assessed for safety through NRCS' Watershed Rehabilitation Program. For example, Oklahoma's Watershed Dam No. 62, which protects critical infrastructure like power lines, will be included in a USDA-funded rehabilitation partnership project. The rehabilitation project is expected to provide $7.5 million in benefits including water supply and flood damage reduction. For more:
- visit this website Related Articles:
Legacy of technology innovation could sustain CA water future
Duke, AEP purchasing water quality credits Read more about: water infrastructure
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4. NRG acquires Spanish Town Estate Solar
NRG Energy, Inc. has acquired the 4 MW Spanish Town Estate Solar project on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). The project is expected to help the USVI achieve their renewable energy goals to reduce its fossil fuel based energy consumption by 60 percent over the next 10 years.  | | Benefits of the Spanish Town Estate Solar project. Credit: Toshiba International Corporation | St. Croix benefits from abundant sunlight with an average of 12 daily hours of sun throughout the year, which highlights the potential for solar generation in this area. The solar facility, which will inject approximately $3 million into the local economy, will require no fuel and minimal water. "Not only is solar cost competitive here, but it provides clean, emission-free power, helping to ensure that the pristine beauty of the island is not compromised by the economic costs and detrimental effects of importing and using fossil fuels," said Tom Doyle, president of NRG's renewable energy business unit. Toshiba International Corporation engineered, procured and constructed the 5 MW peak, 4 MW AC ground-mounted photovoltaic power plant and connected it directly to the new U.S. Virgin Island Water and Power Authority (WAPA) Midland Substation at Estate Spanish Town. The plant includes approximately 19,600, 255 watt photovoltaic modules connected to eight 500 kW inverters -- housed in buildings to protect them from the environment -- and approximately 817 solar racking structures mounted to follow the site terrain on driven piles. Environmentally, the 8,000 megawatt hours per year of renewable energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the territory since no fuel is needed to generate the power. Construction of the Spanish Town Estate Solar project began in April of 2014. Once completed in the fourth quarter of this year, the power will be sold to the USVI WAPA under a 25-year power purchase agreement. This project expands upon NRG's efforts in the Caribbean region with utility-scale solar and distributed solar projects in Haiti and St. John, and a microgrid installation in progress on Necker Island. For more:
- see this report Related Article:
NRG soaking up summer sun Read more about: NRG Energy, Spanish Town Estate Solar
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5. U.K. oil and gas firms await impact of new regulator
Oil and gas firms may have a "wait and see" attitude in terms of investing further in the North Sea, according to Deloitte's Petroleum Services Group (PSG), as many changes on the horizon settle down. The North Sea industry has been struggling with rising operating costs, which has an impact on activity and investment decisions, particularly given the maturity of the region.  | | North Sea oil platform. Credit: Stan Shebs | "It's no secret that the costs facing oil and gas firms on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (UKCS) have been a significant issue for some time now. Understandably, it tends to be more expensive to operate in mature fields where oil is much more difficult to recover. Research suggests it's now almost five times more expensive to extract a barrel of oil from the North Sea than it was in 2001," said Derek Henderson, Deloitte senior partner. "What's more, the drop we've seen in the number of farm-ins could indicate that companies are holding off before committing to longer term exploration investments. Asset transactions, involving producing fields, remain at more consistent levels, which suggests companies are more confident in these types of deals, which can offer a quicker and less risky return." Meanwhile, the U.K.'s oil and gas industry awaits the implementation of recommendations made in Sir Ian Wood's "UKCS Maximising Recovery Review," which includes the introduction of a new regulator. "There were many recommendations made in Sir Ian Wood's final report, and it's likely that the industry could be pausing until it has a better understanding of the impact of these, and the effect on the long term future of the North Sea, before making any big investment decisions," Henderson said. "In addition, with the fiscal regime under review, it's quite likely that the industry will be waiting until there is a bit more clarity over how this will take shape." The tax environment -- with varying corporate tax rates that can reach 81 percent -- is also a factor weighing heavily on of all oil and gas companies. A recent Deloitte poll, which looked at the issues facing the UKCS and how the fiscal regime could be used to address these, 46 percent indicated that oil and gas firms felt the overall level of tax most needed to be addressed. Only 23 percent of respondents thought the current regime encouraged new entrants into the basin. For more:
- see this article Related Article:
Oil and gas companies setting the bar higher due to new cost consciousness Read more about: Deloitte
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Also Noted News From Across the Energy Industry:
> U.S. corporations' renewable energy demand presents clear market opportunity Post
> Two NY hydrofracking lawsuits dismissed Post
> Sponge breakthrough could expand range of electric vehicles Post
> DOE, USDA funding bioenergy Post
> U.S. falls at the bottom of international energy efficiency rankings Post
> DOE forges ahead with research to power 100M homes Post
> Minnesota Power settles with the EPA over New Source Review Post
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Microsoft to tighten up use of outside contractors and consultants 
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