News

The Business Journals // Jun 17, 2013

New Yorker (subscription required) // Jun 15, 2013

Discovery News // Jun 14, 2013

Associated Press // Jun 13, 2013

Idaho Statesman // Jun 12, 2013"Customers who reduce their base charges to zero through financial credits can avoid contributing to energy-efficiency programs and municipal fees in addition to avoiding the costs of distribution, infrastructure and customer services," Matt Larkin, a regulatory analyst for Idaho Power, said in testimony filed with the commission.

CBS Detroit // Jun 11, 2013Traverse City, Michigan dedicated a new community solar installation on Friday. The Cherryland Electric Cooperative and Traverse City Light & Power offered consumers the opportunity to purchase a solar panel for just under $500. The solar panels would be installed in a single location and the energy generated by each solar panel will be credited to the owner's account. Initially, the Cherryland Co-op expected to sell 48 panels. They sold 80, and they are installing several 72-panel arrays with the expectation that the program will continue to grow. Solar panel owners can expect a full payback for their panel in 15 years, according to Dave Konkle, energy programs manager for Ann Arbor's Downtown Development Authority. Detroit CBS reports:

CBS Detroit // Jun 10, 2013“You can go out today and spend the most on gas that you’ve ever spent in a year – that tends to drive people here but really it raises awareness in terms of how much so you want to spend on gasoline and how much you want to be tied to spending on gas in the future.”

The U.S. is expected to lead the world's mergers and acquisitions in renewable energy for a second year, according to a report from CohnReznick LLP. In vestors include Warren Buffet, and other financial giants. Solar leads the sector with 63 percent of investors targeting solar PV. The biomass and onshore wind sectors make up most of the remaining investment. Bloomberg reports:Institutional investors are attracted by the large number of operating renewable-energy assets being sold by their original developers, Cohen said. “They know there is only room to increase the installed capacity in the U.S.,” he said.

In a recent article on executive moves in the energy industry, GreenTech Media reports on Lisa Frantzis' new role as AEE senior vice president of strategy and corporate development. According to GreenTech: 

Researchers at the University of Maine launched the first offshore floating wind machine last Friday to capture wind energy, the New York Times reported. The project is one of seven sponsored by the Energy Department under a $168 million program.“The tower, launched in Brewer, Me., sits on three hollow concrete tubes and will be anchored in the Gulf of Maine. It is a mere 20 kilowatts in capacity, an amount of power that could be soaked up by a handful of big suburban houses on a hot summer day.”