News

In its May 20 issue, the New Yorker featured AEE member company and advanced wind turbine startup Makani Power. Tying co-founder and interim CEO Don Montague’s background in kite surfing to Makani Power’s strategy of harvesting high-altitude wind energy, the article features the company’s newest prototype, the Wing 7. Makani Power's technology has taken off (pun intended) in the public eye recently, being featured as well in Discover Magazine and National Geographic.

Tesla Motors announced on Wednesday that the company had paid off the $456 million loan from the Department of Energy nine years ahead of schedule. The loan was awarded in 2010 as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program, which was signed into law under the Bush administration. In their press release, Tesla pointed out that it is the only car company to pay back this loan so far. The press release quotes CEO Elon Musk:

Advanced Energy Economy Ohio, one of AEE's state partners, and Ohio State University released a new study finding that the provisions of a 2008 state energy law have actually saved consumers $170 million. According to the study, the energy efficiency requirement in the law has saved consumers more than any potential higher cost due to the renewable energy provisions. In addition to saving money, the bill also spurred $660 million in investment in the state. The Columbus dispatch reports:

Advanced Energy Economy Ohio, one of AEE's state partners, and Ohio State University released a new study finding that the provisions of a 2008 state energy law have actually saved consumers $170 million. According to the study, the energy efficiency requirement in the law has saved consumers more than any potential higher cost due to the renewable energy provisions. In addition to saving money, the bill also spurred $660 million in investment in the state. The Columbus Dispatch reports:

SolarCity announced the latest location in its SolarStrong project of installing solar on military housing. Forest City Military Communities and SolarCity have partnered to install solar panels on 6,500 homes in Ohana Military Communities (OMC). OMC houses sailors and marines and their families stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Navy Region Hawaii. MarketWatch reports:

Kroger, a grocery chain based in Ohio, has invested in closed-loop anaerobic digesters produced by Boston-based startup Feed Resource Recovery. The anaerobic digesters can turn organic waste, including food waste, into energy. A single unit in a Compton distribution center offsets more than 20% of the facility's annual energy needs and helps it save money-- an estimated $110 million over the course of the project's lifetime. The LA Times reports:

SunPower's Chief Executive Officer, Tom Werner, said his company expects photovoltaic panels will become standard in new home construction. SunPower supplies seven of the top-ten home builders, and has installed solar panels on 10,000 new homes. Incorporating the solar panel systems into the homes during the design phase, rather than having to install the panels post-construction, would reduce costs. Bloomberg reports:

In 2008 Illinois passed legislation that requires utilities to buy electricity from renewable sources and pass those costs directly to consumers. Although the original intent was to grow the Illinois advanced energy economy, the result has been a mass defection to other energy suppliers that purchase power on the open market. Overall, more than 60 percent of Illinois electric customers are paying into a renewable energy fund that is sitting stagnant. The Chicago Tribune reports:

Sacramento, CA – California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday proposed loaning the entire first year's auction revenues of $500 million from the state’s landmark environmental legislation AB 32 to the state's general fund. 

The Boston Globe // May 14, 2013