http://www.environmentalleader.com The Executive's Daily Green Briefing Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:16:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/national-grid-again-rejects-high-costs-of-offshore-wind/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/national-grid-again-rejects-high-costs-of-offshore-wind/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:07:44 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27681 National Grid for the second time has turned down a proposal from a Rhode Island offshore wind developer that wants to sell the electricity retailer energy from a yet-to-be-developed wind farm. National Grid says the price to purchase renewable energy from New Jersey-based Deepwater Wind is too high, reports the Providence Journal. Deepwater is seeking to [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/national-grid-again-rejects-high-costs-of-offshore-wind/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/around-the-web-nike-google-nissan-bushs-green-library-wwf/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/around-the-web-nike-google-nissan-bushs-green-library-wwf/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:02:10 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27653 Today’s news from around the Web. Google Says It Doesn’t Want to Be a Utility NY Times How Much of China’s Emissions Mess Is Really Ours? WSJ Benchmarking Tool Aims to Help Semiconductor Facilities Improve Energy Efficiency IndustryWeek Plans for the Green George W. Bush Presidential Center Released inhabitat Nissan chief: Electric car adoption to be gradual AP How Nike Considered Uses Innovation and Collaboration [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/20/around-the-web-nike-google-nissan-bushs-green-library-wwf/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-partner-on-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-partner-on-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:39:17 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27527 President Barack Obama and China’s President Hu Jintao have agreed to a wide ranging package of programs and initiatives (seven in total) to strengthen the two countries’ cooperation on renewable energy and energy efficiency. One key program establishes a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, supported by $150 million in public and private funds over the [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/u-s-china-partner-on-renewable-energy-energy-efficiency/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/from-solar-applications-to-christmas-leds-light-the-night/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/from-solar-applications-to-christmas-leds-light-the-night/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:07:14 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27452 Advances in LED lighting continue to pour forth, while some programs are promoting awareness of LED lighting by promoting Christmas light exchanges. New research from the state-funded Florida Energy Systems Consortium may result in a combination solar cell, LED and energy storage system. The system would do away with the need for an inverter, making adoption of [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/from-solar-applications-to-christmas-leds-light-the-night/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/epa-may-regulate-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-on-hourly-basis/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/epa-may-regulate-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-on-hourly-basis/#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:29:57 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27458 Manufacturers and utilities that emit sulfur dioxide may soon fall under tighter regulation, as the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed new rules that set hourly requirements on emissions, the Wall Street Journal reports. Currently, emissions standards are based on annualized or 24-hour averages and do not take into account the sort of short-term peaks that often [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/18/epa-may-regulate-sulfur-dioxide-emissions-on-hourly-basis/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/txu-marriott-identify-250k-in-energy-savings-at-40-texas-hotels/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/txu-marriott-identify-250k-in-energy-savings-at-40-texas-hotels/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:26:54 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27423 TXU Energy recently conducted energy audits at Texas Marriott locations, identifying energy saving opportunities. If fully implemented across Marriott’s 40 properties in Texas, the savings could amount to 2 million kilowatt hours a year, or about $250,000 in costs, according to a press release. Recomendations include the upgrading of control systems and swapping out traditional bulbs for [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/txu-marriott-identify-250k-in-energy-savings-at-40-texas-hotels/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/dry-cooling-challenges-notion-of-water-intensity-for-desert-solar/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/dry-cooling-challenges-notion-of-water-intensity-for-desert-solar/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:40:43 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27382 Many desert-based solar thermal power plants increasingly are being criticized for the amount of water they use, but a new dry-cooling technology may help make desert solar more feasible. Solar Millenium LLC plans to use new dry-cooling technology at two plants outside Las Vegas. The technology was developed by parent firm Solar Trust of America LLC. The [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/17/dry-cooling-challenges-notion-of-water-intensity-for-desert-solar/feed/ 0 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/utilities-face-cost-and-implementation-challenges-with-smart-grid-upgrades/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/utilities-face-cost-and-implementation-challenges-with-smart-grid-upgrades/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:51:16 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27292 In the wake of the Department of Energy’s $3.4 billion in grants for various smart-grid projects, local governments and utilities are trying to sort out the pros and cons of a smart-grid system, while trying to determine how to implement — and pay for– the required electrical grid upgrades, particularly when capital is tight. The utility [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/utilities-face-cost-and-implementation-challenges-with-smart-grid-upgrades/feed/ 1 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/lower-renewable-energy-benchmark-may-discourage-production/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/lower-renewable-energy-benchmark-may-discourage-production/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:29:06 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27301 As more utilities begin offering customers the ability to purchase electricity generated from renewable sources, other utilities may benefit from a drop in the benchmark price that they must pay independent producers for renewable energy. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed a 15 percent cut in the benchmark that utilities must pay over a [...]]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/lower-renewable-energy-benchmark-may-discourage-production/feed/ 3 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/smart-grid-renewable-power-opportunities-for-utilities/ http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/smart-grid-renewable-power-opportunities-for-utilities/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:02:21 +0000 Environmental Leader http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=27311 This panel discussion was held during the 3rd annual Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum held at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. Panelists included Mark Goodwin, Chief Operating Officer at APEX Wind, Mark Case, SVP BGE Strategy and Regulatory Affairs at Constellation, and Matt Kastantin, Senior Business Development Manager at EnerNOC. ]]> http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/11/16/smart-grid-renewable-power-opportunities-for-utilities/feed/ 0