Tag: Renewables
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California Approves Program That Paves Way for Clean Energy Future
By Noah Long [caption id="attachment_312625" align="alignright" width="450"] Photo courtesy of Shutterstock[/caption] The Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) research, development and demonstration (RD&D) program is needed because California is facing huge challenges—and opportunities—in its electric system: both from the state’s ambitious goals and mandates to reduce the environmental impacts of electricity generation, transmission and consumption and also from…
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Arizona Imposes Unprecedented Fee on Solar Energy Users
In Arizona, contractors won’t be only ones collecting money from those with solar panels. The state’s largest utility can impose a fee of about $4.90 a month on customers with solar systems, following the Arizona Corporation Commission’s (ACC) 3-to-2 vote in favor of Arizona Public Service Co (APS). The collections will begin next year for residents who…
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Powering the Planet: How Do We Balance Energy, Water and Climate?
By David L. Chandler [caption id="attachment_312271" align="alignright" width="360"] Photo courtesy of Shutterstock[/caption] In deciding how best to meet the world’s growing needs for energy, the answers depend crucially on how the question is framed. Looking for the most cost-effective path provides one set of answers; including the need to curtail greenhouse-gas emissions gives a different…
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Fracking’s Dirty Little Secret
by Daryl Hannah and Diane Moss Fracking imposes unnecessary risks on public health and on our diminishing, yet most precious of resources–water. The Associated Press reported: “The government projects that at least 36 states will face water shortages within five years.” In 2013, the WSJ found at least 15.3 million Americans have a natural gas well within…
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We Have the Renewable Energy We Need to Power the World—So What’s Stopping Us?
By Tara Lohan [caption id="attachment_312150" align="alignright" width="450"] Photo courtesy of Shutterstock[/caption] The environment is one bad news story after another. The Pacific Ocean is warming at a rate faster than anything seen in the last 10,000 years and we may have the warmest Arctic in the last 120,000 years. We’re told to brace for more and worse…