Report Released by Pew Charitable Trust Regarding America’s Position in the Rapidly Expanding Clean Energy Economy

A recent report by the Pew Charitable Trust entitled, “Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race?” documents the dawning of a major worldwide industry which has experienced investment growth of 230 percent since 2005. Demonstrating the strength of this sector, the clean energy market contracted by only 6.6 percent in 2009 despite the worst financial downturn in over half a century, and $162 billion was invested in clean energy around the world. Clean energy investments are forecast to grow by 25 percent to $200 billion in 2010.

The report, however, also indicates that there are reasons for concern regarding America’s competitive position in the clean energy marketplace. Relative to the size of its economy, the United States’ investments in clean energy lag behind many other countries. For example, in relative terms, Spain invested five times more than the United States last year, with China, Brazil and the United Kingdom each investing approximately three times more than the US. The United States is also on the verge of losing its leadership position in installed renewable energy capacity, with China surging in installed capacity in the last several years. Reasons for concern largely center on the fact that U.S. policy framework for reducing global warming pollution and promoting renewable energy remains uncertain, with comprehensive legislation currently stalled in Congress. On a positive note, the report also highlights America’s entrepreneurial traditions, venture capital network and capacity for innovation as considerable factors, giving it the potential to recoup leadership and market share in the future.

Click here for a link to the full report.

Brownfields Catching On As Attractive Sites for Renewable Energy

The idea of siting renewable energy generation facilities on contaminated land is beginning to catch on.   On May, 10th 2010, the Wall Street Journal featured an article highlighting the advantages of this practice, using the example of a project in Brockton, MA know as the Brockton Brightfield, where a former manufactured gas plant site had been converted to a solar generation facility. The EPA estimates that of the 15 million acres of identified brownfields, 11,000 of these sites may be favorable for renewable energy generation.
The WSJ article highlights some of the advantages of building renewable energy facilities on brownfields, including:

• Cheap land
• Often abandoned
• Close to necessary infrastructure
• Often properly zoned
• Less aesthetic opposition

Conversely, building on brownfields can present challenges as well. Environmental hazards and complex legal issues can stall projects or prevent them from coming to fruition at all.   Cleanup efforts can often continue well into the future, further limiting options for reuse.   Renewable energy projects can often be the best option for these otherwise unusable properties.  Click here to read the full article.

Risk Factors for Vermont Solar Investors

As Vermont companies and investors consider installing solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays as an opportunity to achieve a low, long term levelized cost of electricity and take advantage of Vermont net metering laws and tax credit opportunities, they must be cognizant of the intricacies of project finance and the difficulty of obtaining debt for an asset that most lenders have little experience financing.  A recent article in Solar Industry Magazine, reveals that limiting perceived risk is crucial to obtaining debt, which is especially true in today’s tight credit markets.  Click here to read the full article.

LED Life Cycle Study Released

A recent article published in the New York Times discusses the conclusions from a German study that lends support to the theory that LED bulbs are even “greener” than we initially believed. The article, written by Eric Taub, called LED Bulbs Save Substantial Energy, a Study Finds, outlines the extensive study that focused on the question of whether or not the overall production -- specifically the manufacturing and distribution processes -- of LED lamps consumed more energy than that of standard incandescent bulbs.  Click here to read the full article.

EPA Increasing Vigilance on Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water

A number of announcements in recent weeks reflects an expanding government effort by the Obama Administration to deal with pharmaceuticals as environmental pollutants. For the first time ever, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed certain pharmaceuticals as candidates for regulation in drinking water and has launched a survey to collect samples for analyses of the presence of drugs in water treatment plants across the nation.  Click here to read the full article.

Smart Siting for Renewable Energy Projects

By 2030, U.S. electricity demand is expected to increase by 30%, leaving a substantial gap between our current supply and expected demand.  Renewable energy sources will undeniably play a crucial role in filling that gap, while ensuring a healthy and sustainable future for America. As communities and local governments are realizing the benefits of utilizing renewable energy, new ideas and incentives have developed that are driving the industry forward at rapid pace.  Click here to read the full article.

Renewable Portfolio Standards

A Renewable Energy Standard is a state policy which requires electricity providers to purchase a specified amount of power from renewable sources by a certain date. If the utility does not meet the RPS requirement for purchasing RECs, it will be forced to pay a penalty.  Click here to read the full article.

Recent Solar Energy News

The U.S. solar industry has been recently gaining more widespread attention, as exemplified by recent comments by well known New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman. Mr. Friedman commented on the importance of both project growth and the establishment of a U.S. solar manufacturing base in order to compete with the rapidly expanding solar industry in China.  Click here to read the full article.

Benefits of Environmental Liability Transfers

In light of recent developments in environmental laws, accounting standards, and public awareness, more corporations are choosing to take action with their contaminated properties, many of which had been mothballed for decades. The concept of environmental liability transfer has been rapidly gaining momentum in the corporate community as the mechanism of choice for removing contaminated sites from a corporation’s balance sheet. In many cases, a liability transfer deal can be the first step in returning a site to productive reuse. Click here to read the full article.

Changes in Accounting Standards for Environmental Liabilities

Standards in accounting for contingencies such as environmental liabilities will likely become much more stringent in the near future. In response to calls from investors seeking greater transparency, the Financial Accounting Standards Board released an exposure draft revising FASB Statement 5 (Accounting for Loss Contingencies) in June of 2008... Click here to read the full article.

New Paradigms in Sustainability

In light of current environmental and economic circumstances, developers, builders, and consumers are adopting a new paradigm for the structures in which we live and work as well as the way we use and reuse our materials.  This work is being conducted both on the worldwide stage, as well as right here in our own backyard. Click here to read the full article.

The Link Between Brownfields Redevelopment and Smart Growth

The link between brownfield redevelopment and smart growth has grown stronger in recent years.  The social, environmental and economic benefits of redeveloping brownfields (land that is vacant, abandoned or otherwise underutilized due to the presence or potential presence of contamination) frequently outweigh the value of developing “greenfields” (previously undeveloped land.)  Click here to read the full article.

The Nexus of Brownfield Redevelopment and Renewable Energy Generation

The real estate industry commonly refers to the importance of identifying the “highest and best use” of a property. This is especially significant in brownfield redevelopment projects, where the end use of the redeveloped property must generate significant return on investment to justify the time, risk and expense of cleaning up existing contamination. Click here to read the full article.

A Case for Public Funding for Brownfield Redevelopment Projects

Tax credits and other forms of public funding are often used to “level the playing field” regarding the increased costs associated with redevelopment projects in established, previously developed areas in comparison with projects undertaken on raw, unencumbered land.  Tax credits are generally available... Click here to read the full article.

Renewable Energy and Environmental Awareness Built into a Home

For most of us, finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint has become a part of daily life.  For the inhabitants of a certain island in the New Zealand archipelago, reducing their carbon footprint is the only way to survive.  As illustrated by the groundbreaking architectural work being conducted in the U.S. by such visionary architects as Sarah Susanka (The Not So Big House) and Marianne Cusato (founder of the Katrina Cottage concept), smaller, more efficient housing designs offer significant opportunities for reductions in personal carbon footprints.  Click here to read the full article.