Friday Green News Round-up - March 13, 2009

March 13, 12:27 PMDC Green Business ExaminerMatt Roberts

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This week brought plenty of interesting news in sustainability, especially at the Federal level, and below is a quick rundown of some stories that you may have missed.

Local News:

First up, Jim Nolan at the Times-Dispatch wrote today that Virginia will be getting $164 million for weatherization and efficiency programs.

"About $94 million will go toward the commonwealth's Weatherization Assistance Program, while $70 million will be applied to the State Energy Program."

The Business Gazette did a piece about local solar companies and the 'bittersweet' market in the region that talked to a number of leading energy companies including Standard Solar, SunEdison and WGES

Even with a little uncertainty right now about the situation in MD and stimulus funding companies seem hopeful.  "We have a firm belief that solar-electric can meet the energy goals for this region," said Jim Pierobon, vice president and chief marketing officer for Standard Solar.

William Flook here at the Examiner also talked about the local clean energy sector in yesterday's edition and how many were looking forward to the potential of stimulus funding to support growth of the region's clean tech markets.

Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Public Service Commission in Maryland has approved a fast-track plan for the wind farms in Western Maryland that I discussed in an earlier post.  With such long lead times for the project though, it probably will not create turbines to harness the wind by the end of the year. 

"But maybe the developers will need all that time, given that Maryland remains one of the relatively few states - 16 of them - that even at a time of great interest in clean, renewable sources of energy have no commercial wind farms in operation."

Mufson and Slevin at the Post put together an interesting look at what elements may be apart of a smart grid infrastructure now that stimulus funding is on the way based on a demonstration project by Duke Energy. 

"One gizmo allows you to run the dishwasher when electricity is cheapest. Another decides when to fire up the water heater if you plan on a 6 a.m. shower. Another routes solar energy from a rooftop panel to a battery in your garage and the wiring in your house."

National News:

The Interior Department has created a special task force to speed the development of renewable energy projects on federal land according to Reuters.  The task force will identify specific zones on public lands where the department can act rapidly to create large-scale production of solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energy. 

"More so than ever, with job losses continuing to mount, we need to steer the country onto a new energy path," said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

More attention is being paid to the feed-in tariff in Gainesville, Fla. as the NYTimes put some coverage together on the European-inspired program making its debut in the U.S.

The Times doesn't let it escape without a grain of salt though: “Why should we use regressive taxation to support the most expensive form of renewable energy?” Mr. Hawiger of the Utility Reform Network in California asked.

Busy time up on the Hill right now too for energy policies and legislation, and Tom Lobianco at the Washington Times had a rundown on happenings at the Federal level this week.

It seems there is still plenty to be decided: "The specifics of major energy and climate policy proposals are quickly taking shape on the Hill. However, many key factors have yet to be hashed out — House leaders have said they would like to pass climate change legislation as part of a broader energy plan."

Bloomberg reported on a draft piece of legislation proposed by the Democratic staff of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that would take authority away from states to approve or deny high power transmission lines, ostensibly to speed adoption of the lines to spur on development of large-scale wind power projects. President Barack Obama has called for the U.S. to build 3,000 miles of new transmission lines and double renewable energy use by 2012.

In International News:

A report has been released as the result of a conference in Copenhagen where 2,000 researchers gathered to discuss climate change, reports CNN. 

"Temperatures, sea levels, acid levels in oceans and ice sheets were already moving "beyond the patterns of natural variability within which our society and economy have developed and thrived," scientists said."

A new prototype for how to reduce carbon emissions coming from the UK.  A professor across the pond has designed a prototype that essentially is a giant microwave that can "cook" wood into charcoal. The idea has been touted by numerous others, but is now approaching practicality. 

"...by burying the charcoal produced from microwaved wood, the carbon dioxide absorbed by a tree as it grows can remain safely locked away for thousands of years. The technique could take out billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year."