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May 18, 2012
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U.S. imposes more than 31 percent tariff on Chinese solar panels
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In an effort to curb dumping, the U.S. Commerce Department announced yesterday that tariffs of more than 31 percent will be imposed on Chinese solar panels, The New York Times reports. While solar panel manufacturers in the United States argue that the move was necessary to prevent China from intentionally overwhelming the industry, solar panel installation companies say the new tariffs will hurt their companies by driving up the price of solar panels, the article said (See the May 15, 2012, blog – "Tariffs on Chinese solar cells could cost the U.S. jobs"). For more, read the full story here.
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May 17, 2012
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Friday's clean energy roundtable in Jackson is open to the public
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The Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership & Public Affairs, together with the Ohio Business Council for a Clean Economy, are hosting a series of roundtables in Appalachia Ohio to discuss how businesses can reduce energy usage and costs by pursuing energy efficiency initiatives and clean energy technologies. The next roundtable will feature three guest speakers and will be at La Rosa'a Pizzeria in Jackson on Friday, May 18th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, or to register for this or a future roundtable session in the area, visit Ohio University's Regional Energy Roundtables 2012 website here.
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May 15, 2012
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Landfill in New Springfield to produce electricity
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The Waste Management Mahoning Landfill in New Springfield announced last week that it will construct a gas-to-electric facility designed to generate 4.8 megawatts of electricity from methane gas, a press release from the company said. Methane gas produced from waste decomposition will be converted to energy and sent to the electrical power grid, the release said. For more, read the full press release here.
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May 15, 2012
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Solar-power cell component revitalizes lagging DuPont facility
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With a drop in demand for Mylar in the 1980s and an ill-timed entry into film production for videotapes and audiotapes in the mid-1990s, the DuPont facility in Circleville had been shrinking considerably in recent years, The Columbus Dispatch reports. State and federal tax incentives helped DuPont to pick the Circleville site to begin producing Tedlar – a film that "lines the backs of solar-power cells" – this year with a $175 million investment in the facility and the hiring of about 70 additional workers, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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May 15, 2012
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State hires accounting firm to assess Perrysburg solar firm's finances
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Because the Perrysburg solar firm Willard & Kelsey Solar Group has repeatedly missed and made incomplete payments on a $5 million loan from the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority, the authority now plans to hire GBQ Partners LLC to examine the firm's finances, The Toledo Blade reports. The firm, which received $10.5 million in Ohio taxpayer dollars in exchange for the creation of 400 jobs that have yet to materialize, is being accused of misusing the loan money (See the May 01, 2012, blog – "Perrysburg solar firm accused of misusing state funds"). For more, read the full story here.
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May 15, 2012
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Tariffs on Chinese solar cells could cost the U.S. jobs
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With the U.S. Commerce Department set to announce on Thursday whether Chinese-made silicon-based photovoltaic cells will be subject to a second round of tariffs amid allegations of dumping, some analysts warn that such tariffs could cost jobs in the U.S. solar installation market, The Los Angeles Times reports. More than 70 percent of jobs in the U.S. solar industry are in installation, sales and distribution, and could suffer significant losses if the cost of solar power does not drop to remain competitive with other energy sources, the article said (See the May 10, 2012, blog – "In the U.S., solar installation companies thrive while manufacturers struggle"). For more, read the full story here.
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May 10, 2012
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In the U.S., solar installation companies thrive while manufacturers struggle
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In the United States, solar installation companies are taking off with advantages like tax breaks, creative financing techniques and cheap, Chinese-made solar panels while solar manufacturers continue to lose footing against Chinese solar panel manufactures, whom they accuse of selling panels below fair value, The New York Times reports. Although the Commerce Department will announce on May 17th whether these Chinese companies did sell products below fair value and should be penalized with steeper duties, installation companies are at odds with solar manufacturers because they say the cheap panels enable them to drop prices, which is good for business, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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May 08, 2012
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Lakewood schools to use solar energy to pay for structural upgrades
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The Lakewood School Board approved a plan recently that will use money saved from the installation of a solar photovoltaic project to pay for new windows at one of the schools in the district, The Buckeye Lake Beacon reports. The solar project, directed by Tipping Point Energy, Inc., is projected to save the district $680,513 over the 20-year contract, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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May 08, 2012
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Report: Solar power will rebound dramatically
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Global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Inc. released a report declaring that it is not death throes that the solar-power industry is experiencing, but natural growing pains. The report, "Solar power: Darkest before dawn," finds that although government subsidies that are set to expire created new producers who oversupplied the market, the industry will stabilize as underlying solar-photovoltaic costs drop and solar power stand-alone economics become competitive in five customer segments. For more, read the full report here.
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May 04, 2012
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Gov. Kasich promotes cogeneration as renewable energy
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During an energy summit in Columbus hosted by the Washington-based newspaper The Hill on Wednesday, Gov. John Kasich pushed for the inclusion of cogeneration in the state's definition of renewable energy, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Arguing that it would help promote a cleaner environment, Gov. Kasich said that solar and wind industries should not rally against expanding the definition simply because they fear losing subsidies, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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May 02, 2012
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Legislation aims to extend wind energy PTC by slashing oil subsidies
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A new bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, known as Investing to Modernize the Production of American Clean Energy and Technology Act of 2012 (IMPACT Act), would end $44.8 billion in subsidies for oil companies to pay for extending the production tax credits for electricity produced from renewable sources; providing incentives for offshore wind, energy efficiency, electric, natural gas and fuel cell vehicle pumps, heavy duty natural gas vehicles and domestic clean energy manufacturing; extending the 1603 Renewable Energy Grant Program; and increasing the electric vehicle tax credit. For more, read a summary fact sheet of the bill here and the full text of the legislation here.
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May 02, 2012
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New report details funding opportunities for local energy efficiency programs
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The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released a report, titled "Keeping It in the Community: Sustainable Funding for Local Energy Efficiency Initiatives," that explores a number of funding opportunities that can enable local governments to continue their energy efficiency projects even as federal funding expires. For more, read the summary here.
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May 01, 2012
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Perrysburg solar firm accused of misusing state funds
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William Mitchell, the former top executive at Willard & Kelsey Solar Group in Perrysburg, is accusing Michael Cicak, the current CEO and chairman of the firm, of instructing him to use funds from the Ohio Department of Development to pay company executives – a direct violation of the company's loan agreement, The Toledo Blade reports (See the Mar 21, 2012, blog – "New details emerge about Ohio solar company's troubles"). Two of the firm's executives as well as the company's lawyer insist that the state loan funds were used to finance equipment the company had already purchased, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 30, 2012
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FirstEnergy Solutions wins Cincinnati's electricity contract
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Last Thursday, Cincinnati selected FirstEnergy Solutions to be its new 100 percent "green" electricity supplier in an effort to become the largest city in the United States to operate completely on renewable energy, according to a press release from the City of Cincinnati (See the Apr 09, 2012, blog – "Cincinnati reviews seven renewable energy bids"). The city represented all eligible buyers as one large unit so as to negotiate a lower price, which is estimated to be $133 less per year compared to Duke Energy Corp.'s standard service offer for a 24-month period, the Business Courier reports. For more, read the full article here and read the press release here.
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Apr 30, 2012
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FirstEnergy's Ohio utilities meet in-state solar renewable energy benchmarks for 2012
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Last Thursday, FirstEnergy Corp. announced that its Ohio utilities – Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison and Ohio Edison – met the 2012 in-state solar renewable energy benchmarks through "a successful Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure 10-year Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs)," according to a press release from the company. For more, read the full press release here.
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Apr 30, 2012
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Oberlin College to house largest campus-based solar array in Ohio
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Aspen-based Spear Point Energy is developing a 2.27-megawatt ground-mounted solar array project to be built on Oberlin College property this summer and expected to be generating power by September, The Morning Journal reports. The college and possibly the city will purchase energy from the panels, which at a production rate of three million kilowatt hours annually will be the "largest solar array on any college or university campus in Ohio," the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 25, 2012
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EPA lists top green power users
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The United States Environment Protection Agency recently ranked the top green companies, governments and schools with respect to their use of Renewable Energy Certificates, on-site generation and green power products. While Intel, Kohl's and Microsoft took the top three overall positions respectively, the Ohio State University ranked 12th on the college and university list. For more, view all of the EPA's lists here.
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Apr 22, 2012
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PUCO issues Ohio RPS report
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Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Staff last week issued their annual report detailing the utilities' compliance with Ohio's Renewable Portfolio Standard and highlighting policies that may encourage the use of renewable resources. The report--required by statute to be provided to the General Assembly--primarily recounts the compliance shortfalls of 2009 and 2010 caused by the shortage of in-state solar resources. It also includes a federally funded National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) analysis of Ohio's renewable energy market. The PUCO is required to solicit public input prior to submitting the report to the legislature. The Commission is inviting interested parties to file comments by May 21. The PUCO report is available here. The NARUC report is available here.
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Apr 20, 2012
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Harrison-area company's solar panels are ahead in energy output
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Favorable weather conditions have resulted in the 120,000-square-foot solar installation at Hubert Co., a Harrison-based food merchandising supplier, to produce at a pace that is ahead of its expected annual output, Cincinnati Business Courier reports. The $3-million installation, which should produce approximately 27 percent of the facility's yearly needs, will also save the company from having to purchase electricity from an outside supplier during hot, sunny days when the cost of power is at its peak, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 20, 2012
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Report urges policy reform to break the boom/bust cycle of renewable energy
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In collaboration with the World Resources Institute and the Breakthrough Institute, the Brookings Institution has released a report addressing problems with the current funding methods for renewable energy projects that it says will cause several U.S. clean tech sectors to experience "more bankruptcies, consolidations, and market contractions," according to a summary from the Brookings Institution. The report provides a number of recommendations that it says will not only help to avoid a "clean tech crash," but will encourage technological progress and more effectively utilize taxpayer resources, the release said. For more, read the summary here or view the full report here.
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Apr 18, 2012
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First Solar Inc. to be removed from the Nasdaq 100 list
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Nasdaq announced on Friday that First Solar Inc., which is based in Tempe, Arizona, and has its only U.S. plant in Perrysburg Township, will be replaced by Texas Instruments Inc. on the Nasdaq 100, The Toledo Blade reports. Having been on the index of 100 of the largest nonfinancial companies listed on the stock exchange since December 2008, the solar firm was removed for being unable to "have an adjusted market capitalization, or value, equal to or greater than 0.1 percent of the aggregate adjusted market capitalization of the entire index at the end of the month" for two consecutive months, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 17, 2012
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Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance seeks financial analyst
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The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance is seeking a skilled and motivated financial analyst with two or more years of experience to join the finance department and be responsible for overseeing the evaluation, measurement and verification of energy efficiency projects, as well as the organization's internal reporting, database and data analysis, program evaluation, measurement and verification, and grant reporting, among other duties, according to a job posting from the alliance. For more, read the full job posting here.
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Apr 16, 2012
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8,000-panel solar farm planned for Findlay
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By the fall, Seattle-based OneEnergy Renewables will have an 8,000-panel solar farm constructed at the corner of Broad and Bigelow avenues in Findlay, The Courier reports. Energy from the farm, which will be sold to an American Electric Power substation nearby, will be enough to power 200 houses, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 16, 2012
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Bipartisan poll finds that a majority of Ohioans support clean energy
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A bipartisan poll conducted in January found that across partisan, gender and geographic subgroups, Ohioans overwhelmingly support policies and political candidates that support clean and renewable energy, and believe clean energy and energy efficiency projects will create jobs for the region, according to a press release from the Ohio Environmental Council. Telephone interviews with 400 Ohio voters found that two-thirds "believe the use of clean, renewable energy should be prioritized over fossil fuels to meet energy needs," the release said. For more, read the full press release here and read the summary of the research findings here.
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Apr 16, 2012
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Governor Kasich acknowledges climate change
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Gov. Kasich surprised some during a GOP fundraiser in Ross County last Thursday when he said that his belief in global warming encouraged him to pursue cleaner energy technologies, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Gov. Kasich was speaking with regard to his new energy policy, which includes "shale drilling, clean-coal technology, capturing waste heat and support for solar and wind energy," the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 16, 2012
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Ohio officials are unsure if solar companies can repay loans
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Although Ohio officials are eager to appear friendly to businesses, concerns are beginning to arise regarding whether several solar companies will be able to make scheduled payments on loans that were funded by taxpayer dollars and whether these companies will be able to meet hiring requirements that were outlined in the loan agreements, The Columbus Dispatch reports. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 16, 2012
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Report will determine if the Willard & Kelsey Solar Group failed to meet the terms of a loan agreement
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An Ohio Department of Development report set to be released on May 2, 2012, will determine whether the solar-panel company Willard & Kelsey Solar Group met the terms of taxpayer-funded loan agreements, including repayment and job creation, The Toledo Blade reports. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 15, 2012
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Blade editorial cautions against classifying cogeneration as renewable energy
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An editorial in The (Toledo) Blade warns that plans by the Kasich Administration to classify cogeneration systems--which recycle waste heat and steam in commercial and industrial settings to produce electricity--as renewable energy could deal a "big setback" to other renewable technologies. According to the editorial, any proposal that defines cogeneration to include systems that use natural gas or other fossil fuels
would be counterproductive, and a possible reason to exclude cogeneration from utilities' options for earning credits under a state law that calls for 25 percent of Ohio's electricity to come from advanced technologies by 2025. Half of that power must come from wind, solar, and other sources that do not involve nuclear power or coal-fired emissions.
Cogeneration belongs in the mix if it does not require additional use of fossil fuels. But the administration's intentions need to be clearer.
The full editorial is available here.
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Apr 13, 2012
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Ohio's wind power capacity is nation's fastest growing
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A report released yesterday by the American Wind Energy Association ranks Ohio as the number one state in the nation in terms of growth in wind power capacity, the Dayton Business Journal reports. The state's capacity grew 929 percent in the past year, according to the report. The report, titled "U.S. Wind Industry 2011 Market Report," also ranks Ohio fourth in overall wind jobs at approximately 5,000-6,000, a press releases from AWEA said. For more, read the full Dayton Business Journal article here (subscription required) or read the AWEA press release here.
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Apr 12, 2012
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Report: natural gas prices undercut renewable energy's progress
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The guaranteed rise in the price of traditional energy that spawned a political and business climate heavily invested in the development of renewable energies like wind and solar has since been unexpectedly undercut by the innovation of hydraulic fracturing, which has caused the price of natural gas in the United States to plummet, Circle of Blue reports. The Midwest – Ohio in particular – encapsulates the striking contrast that has developed between the resurgence of the fossil fuel industry and the suffering clean energy industry. Whereas several solar and wind energy projects and manufacturing outfits in the state have been severely reduced or abandoned, Ohio is experiencing an economic boom as a result of the implementation of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil extraction, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 10, 2012
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Toledo GM plant to partially run on solar energy
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The General Motors Toledo Transmission Plant will soon purchase electricity produced from the 80,000 square feet of solar panels housed on the roof of its own facility, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Solscient, a company based at the University of Toledo's Clean and Alternative Energy Incubator, installed and will maintain the infrastructure, which is projected to produce 1.8-megawatts upon completion, at no cost to GM, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 09, 2012
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Cincinnati reviews seven renewable energy bids
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As Cincinnati works to become the largest city in the United States to operate completely on renewable energy sources, seven companies have submitted electric rate proposals that include energy from coal-burning power plants, nuclear and natural gas sources, Business Courier reports. By using the purchase of renewable energy credits to offset the city's consumption, the city can "claim its energy comes from up to 100 percent renewable resources," the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 09, 2012
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Toledo considers energy efficiency upgrades for government buildings
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Under a recently changed Ohio state law that allows cities and port authorities to form Energy Special Improvement Districts, Toledo's mayor has proposed $5.3 million in energy efficiency improvements to 40 of the city-owned buildings, radio station 104.7 WIOT reports. Working with the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority's "Better Buildings" program, the non-profit Toledo Ohio Advanced Energy Improvement Corporation will upgrade the heating and cooling systems, lighting and windows of buildings, including senior centers, fire stations and the downtown police station. For more, read the full story here.
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Apr 03, 2012
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Environmental advocacy group wants energy efficient buildings
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The advocacy group Environment Ohio released a study last week that found that improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings in the state would reduce the projected energy use of Ohio's buildings 20 percent and would save the average Ohio family of four $340 annually by 2030, according to a press release from the group. The report, "Building a Better America: Saving Energy and Money with Efficiency," says that because "40 percent of the energy used in America goes to heat, cool, and power our buildings," retrofitting and weatherizing existing buildings and constructing new energy efficient buildings in Ohio would prevent emissions equivalent to taking 15 million cars off the road by 2030. For more, read the press release here and the full report here.
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Apr 02, 2012
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Toledo-based solar panel company develops business plan for commercial launch following layoffs
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Xunlight Corp., a Toledo-based, private solar panel company with branches in China, is working to overcome the last several months of layoffs, resignations and a halt to paying its top executives' salaries to emerge with a profitable business plan, The Toledo Blade reports. Xunlight, which has received a job creation tax credit and several grants from the state, blamed payment issues with an Italian company for forcing it to lay off 30 employees at its Toledo facility last May, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Mar 30, 2012
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State and federal agencies agree to expedite wind farm review process for the Great Lakes
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The Obama Administration announced an agreement today between federal agencies and five states that aims to expedite the regulatory review process of proposed offshore wind farms in the Great Lakes "without sacrificing environmental and safety standards," The Associated Press reports. Although Obama Administration officials said that the "region's offshore winds could generate more than 700 gigawatts – one-fifth of all potential wind energy nationwide," three of the eight states with Great Lakes coastlines – Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin – elected not to join the agreement, the article said. For more, read the full story here.
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Mar 29, 2012
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PUCO Chairman Snitchler testifies in support of SB 315
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Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Todd Snitchler testified in support of Gov. John Kasich's energy bill released last week--Ohio Senate Bill 315--before the Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee. Among other things, the bill includes cogeneration systems in the definition of "renewable energy resource" under Ohio's renewable portfolio standard ("RPS"). Critics of the proposal have warned that the inclusion of cogeneration in the RPS could harm the development of other renewable energy systems, particularly wind. Chairman Snitchler, however, testified that:
[t]his is not an attempt to minimize wind, solar, or other renewable technologies, which are important to Ohio's energy portfolio and economy, but a step toward expanding usage and fostering development of a burgeoning technology that is cost-effective and that will aid Ohio utilities in achieving the renewable energy benchmarks the Legislature put in place in SB 221. Our case experience has shown that as we progress into the future, it will become less and less likely that we attain our renewable energy benchmarks with current technologies and their performance. Thus, we believe that including [cogeneration] in the "renewable energy resource" definition will help bring the cost-benefit curve down and allow us to have a more realistic shot at achieving our renewable energy goals.
Snitchler's full testimony is available here (pdf).
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Mar 28, 2012
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Governor Kasich releases energy bill -- Senate Bill 315
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On March 22, 2012, Governor John Kasich released an energy bill, Senate Bill 315 (SB 315), which focuses on regulatory issues relating to the shale industry as well as classifications of co-generation systems, support for natural gas vehicles, and energy projects for state-owned buildings. A copy of the bill can be found at: http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_SB_315. For more, read this article which summarizes SB 315’s key provisions.
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Mar 27, 2012
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FirstEnergy to host interconnection workshop
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FirstEnergy will host an interconnection workshop at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (180 East Broad St., Columbus) this Thursday, March 29, 2012, at 10 a.m. in Room 11-B. The presentation materials for the workshop are available here. More information on FirstEnergy's interconnection requirements is available here.
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Mar 26, 2012
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Gov. Kasich signs multi-state agreement to encourage natural-gas vehicle production
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Gov. Kasich recently signed a memorandum of understanding designed to "encourage manufacturers to start making more vehicles that burn compressed natural gas," Gongwer reports. As Ohio becomes the eleventh state to sign on, the hope is that multi-state cooperation produces "enough demand to drive down the cost of CNG vehicles to stimulate a market," the article said.
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Mar 26, 2012
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President Obama touts "all-of-the-above" energy policy during Ohio visit
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During a visit to Columbus last week, President Obama reiterated his position that "the United States can't drill its way to lower gas prices," evidenced by the fact that "America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years" as prices continue to rise, The Columbus Dispatch reports. The president said that while he does support drilling, it will take fuel efficiency programs, as well as solar, wind and other advanced technologies, to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, The Plain Dealer reports. For more, read The Columbus Dispatch story here and The Plain Dealer story here.
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Mar 26, 2012
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U.S. Department of Labor calculates first-ever "green jobs" statistic
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For the first time ever, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics has made an official count of so-called green jobs and found that in 2010, at least 3.1 million Americans were associated with the production of green goods and services, a sector that accounted for about 2.4 percent of the nation's total employment that year, The Associated Press reports. Some of the report's analysis, however, including its determination that "nuclear power plant employees have green jobs," but workers who make bicycles do not, are causing some to criticize the report's accuracy. For more, read the full story here or view the full report here.
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Mar 23, 2012
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Wind farm project tops list as 2011's largest investment in Ohio operations
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As the decline in the American industrial sector lead Ohio and other states in the Midwest to be referred to as "The Rust Belt," the development of shale gas, a drop in the state's unemployment and an increase in private business investment are helping the state shake this association with abandoned, dilapidated factories, The Columbus Dispatch reports. Two of the largest investments in Ohio last year were wind energy projects, with a $600 investment in the Blue Creek Wind Farm from Iberdrola Renewables topping the list, according to an infographic accompanying the article (See the March, 12, 2012 blog – "Iberdrola completes construction of Ohio wind farm"). EDP Renewables' Timber Road II wind project also made the list. For more, read the full story here.
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Mar 22, 2012
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Ohio Senate bill classifies co-generation as renewable energy, energy efficiency
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Ohio Sen. Shannon Jones (R-Springboro) introduced Senate Bill 315, which features a number of energy proposals promoted by Gov. John Kasich, including new regulations governing the development of shale natural gas deposits and a reclassication of co-generation projects. Under the bill, developers of co-generation projects would be able to choose whether to classify the projects as renewable energy or energy efficiency. A full version of the bill is available here.
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Mar 21, 2012
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ABJ editorial cautions against cateogrizing co-gen as renewable energy
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A new editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal is critical of a plan advanced by Ohio Governor John Kasich and members of the General Assembly to define co-generation technology as renewable energy under Ohio's renewable portfolio standard. The editorial notes:
Consider that lawmakers currently are hustling to approve a co-generation arrangement at a steel plant in southwest Ohio. The plant alone would consume nearly one-half of the renewable energy credits. That leaves little room to encourage and sustain markets for wind, solar and others.
Better to construct a separate portfolio for co-generation, establishing the necessary incentives and benchmarks while advancing the idea of a broad strategy. Ohio has much potential in renewable and other alternative energy sources. At this point, let’s not pit one against another.
The full editorial is available here.
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Mar 21, 2012
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New details emerge about Ohio solar company's troubles
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The (Toledo) Blade reports that the State of Ohio lent millions of dollars to a Perrysburg solar-panel manufacturer despite knowing about budding financial problems at the company. And even when it had a better account of Willard & Kelsey Solar Group's money troubles, the article continues, the state approved requests to defer loan payments, extend financial report deadlines, enter into a new state loan agreement, and modify the terms of a private loan. The full article is available here.
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