This page has moved, if you are not sent to the new news page click here.

PPM Energy Announces Two New Wind Farms in Two States
PPM Energy, ScottishPower's competitive U.S. energy business, will begin construction this fall on the 75-megawatt (MW) Twin Buttes Wind Power Project in southeastern Colorado. And in Oregon, PPM just announced construction of the 100 MW Leaning Juniper Wind Project near Arlington, which is expected to be commercially operational later this year.

Senator Clinton Calls for Investing in Renewable Energy
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has taken a stand by introducing legislation to create a "Strategic Energy Fund" to help pay for the clean energy transition. It would raise more than $50 billion to fund research, development and deployment of energy technologies that will reduce America's oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Perceived Problem" for Wind Power Undergoes Research
Wind power developments in the Mid-West have typically not faced nearly the same level of opposition they have encountered in other areas of the country both for environmental and aesthetic reasons. In particular, farmers seeking to diversify what they "farm" are some of wind energy's greatest supporters by agreeing to lease their farmland for wind turbine construction. There is, however, some newfound concern from an environmental perspective over wind power projects' impacts on a Mid-West species of prairie chicken.

Cincinnati Powers Up Two Buildings with Solar Electricity
Two new structures in Cincinnati now display prominent elements of "green" buildings with completed solar electric installations by Dovetail Solar & Wind. The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and the Melink Corporation headquarters both stand to benefit from saving energy and cutting costs, as well as doing their part in reducing GHG emissions.

New Study on Integrating Wind into the Power Grid
How wind impacts the operating costs of the non-wind portion of a power system is the focus of a recently released assessment on integrating wind generation into utility power systems. The Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) introduced the document's findings that design and operation are essential at the IEEE Power Engineering Society Transmission and Distribution Conference in Dallas.

New York Farmers Applaud Biofuels Bill
New York Farm Bureau said that the finalization of the Bio-Fuels Production Tax Credit and a recently announced $20 million state funding proposal for cellulosic ethanol will position New York as a national leader in biofuel production.

Smart Fuel Cell to Develop Airmen Power Supply for the USAF
A recent U.S. Air Force order calls for SFC Smart Fuel Cell to develop a fuel cell based Lightweight Portable Power System for Battlefield Airmen within the next ten months. The value of the development order amounts to US$ 500,000. This is not the first time SFC Smart Fuel Cell has been selected to provide a fuel cell based power solution to a military program.

Progress Continues in Using Bacteria to Generate Power
Research being presented this week at the 106th General Meeting of the (ASM) American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, Florida, furthers promising research into bacteria being used to create electricity, produce alternative fuels like ethanol and even boost the output of existing oil wells.

Field Trials of Ethanol-Powered Vehicles Go Worldwide
Scania, manufacturer of ethanol-powered commercial vehicles, is supplying the city buses for use in the BEST (BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport) consortium's initial field trials of 'ethanol as a vehicle fuel' to take place in La Spezia, a coastal city in northwestern Italy.

New Offshore Wind Project Proposed for Massachusetts
by Jesse Broehl, Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
Despite an atmosphere of outright hostility toward offshore wind projects off the coast of Massachusetts, a second offshore wind bid was unveiled this week.

MIT Sheds New Light on Old Solar PV Approach
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers are trying to unleash the promise of an old idea by converting light into electricity more efficiently than ever before. The research is applying new materials, new technologies and new ideas to radically improve an old concept -- thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion of light into electricity.

Gamesa Expands Solar Photovoltaic Business
When Spain-based Gamesa identified the good prospects of the wind power industry years ago the company has become one of the big players in the world market. Now the Basque company is following a similar path with its solar division. This week, the vertically integrated company signed a major contract to secure solar modules while at the same time embarking on a prominent solar project installation.

New Holland Becomes First OEM to Fully Approve B20
The first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in this country to announce full support of the use of 20 percent biodiesel (B20) in all the diesel engines that it produces is New Holland, a farming equipment manufacturer.

European Photovoltaic Industry Adopts Strategy
The members of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) recently adopted a proactive strategy for their Brussels-based organization with the mandate to further develop European and global markets.

REC Doubles its Production of Solar-Grade Polysilicon
Based on the proprietary technology that Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) developed for production of granular polysilicon, the company will build its third polysilicon plant, which it claims will more than double its production of polysilicon. The total capital requirement for the engineering and construction of the plant is estimated at US $600 million, which is already fully funded under existing loan facilities and equity.

Ethanol Plants Go Up Thanks to Partnerships and Funding
More activity in ethanol production facilities is in the news every day. A variety of ingredients need to come together for a plant to go up, some of which are documented below.

UK's Newest Offshore Wind Farm Gearing Up
The 30th turbine was recently completed on the Barrow Offshore Wind (BOW) project, four miles off the South Cumbrian coast, and will be commissioned before beginning full commercial operations in June.

Bill Approved to Strengthen Energy Savings, RE at Federal Level
The U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment offered by House Science Committee Ranking Member Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), which he says would save more than $200 million a year by making the Federal Government a leader in energy efficiency. The measure would also promote the installations of renewable energy projects by government agencies.

Port of Vancouver USA Adopts B20 Biodiesel
The Port of Vancouver USA will use a combination of 20 percent biodiesel blended with 80 percent regular diesel (B20), resulting in a 20 percent reduction of emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is one of the first ports in the nation to implement a program for compliance to the state law passed last April that requires all state agencies to use a minimum of 20 percent biodiesel for state fleet vehicles by 2009.

This Week in Ethanol
The ethanol industry is progressing so rapidly, that in order to cover the news in an expedient way, we present this ongoing series of weekly news overviews.

Senate Democrats Introduce Broad Energy Package
While immigration and border security is the big issue this week in Congress, Senate Democrats haven't forgotten about the high energy prices being felt by industry and gas stations all across the country. On Wednesday, they unveiled a broad package of energy legislation that includes a number of provisions aimed at increasing renewable energy use and reducing America's use of petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.

Elk River Wind Power Project Delivers Renewable Energy
The energy generated by the Elk River Wind Power Project, which was dedicated last week, is already sold to the Empire District Electric Company in Kansas, and at less than traditional cost. Elk River, owned by Portland, Oregon- based PPM Energy (ScottishPower's U.S. energy business), uses 100 GE 1.5-megawatt (MW) turbines to produce 550,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy annually -- enough to power 42,000 homes.

Solar Photovoltaic Project Installation Update
Two new and notable solar photovoltaic projects were completed this past week, one which the developers say is the first Building Integrated PV (BIPV) high-rise solar-electric system in Arizona, and the other, which developers believe is the nation's largest residential rooftop solar electric power system.

Wind Turbine Manufacturers Ramp Up Business
In time for last week's major annual European wind energy conference, some of the big players announced new deals and expansions. There was an expected announcement from GE Energy, highlighting the commissioning of a wind farm in Germany comprised of GE turbines. There were turbine order contracts announced from other manufacturers as well. And perhaps most interestingly, there was news of a possible manufacturing expansion into the U.S. from a German turbine powerhouse.

Gamesa Expands Solar Photovoltaic Business
When Spain-based Gamesa identified the good prospects of the wind power industry years ago the company become one of the big players in the world market. Now the Basque company is following a similar path with its solar division. This week, the vertically integrated company signed a major contract to secure solar modules while at the same time embarking on a prominent solar project installation.

Biodiesel Awards, Openings and Plans Move Forward: A News Summary
Six winners were selected at the National Sustainable Design Expo held in early May in Washington, DC. Among the six to have won the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) P3 Awards was a student team from Appalachian State University (ASU) in North Carolina for its project that converts local waste vegetable oil into biodiesel through a "closed-loop" environmentally friendly process.

Pacific Gas and Electric Adds 105 MW More Renewable Energy
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has secured an additional 105 megawatts (MW) of clean, reliable renewable energy resources to help meet the future electricity needs of nearly 80,000 PG&E customers. The company submitted three long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for regulatory review.

GE Ecomagination Revenues Cross $10 Billion
This week GE released its 2005 ecomagination report, showing that revenues from the sale of energy efficient and environmentally advanced products and services hit $10.1 billion in 2005, up from $6.2 billion in 2004 -- with orders nearly doubling to $17 billion. GE's renewable energy efforts, particularly its booming wind power business, are a key part of this effort.

Canadian Geothermal Financing Helps Homeowners
Homeowners in Canada can now access a competitive financing option for geothermal installations due to a partnership between NextEnergy and Homeworks to meet increased demand. Through Homeworks, NextEnergy will offer this geothermal system financing opportunity across Canada through the lowest consumer lending rate(s) available.

Pacific Gas and Electric Adds 105 MW More Renewable Energy
Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has secured an additional 105 megawatts (MW) of clean, reliable renewable energy resources to help meet the future electricity needs of nearly 80,000 PG&E customers. The company submitted three long-term power purchase agreements (PPA) to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for regulatory review.

UK Report Foresees More Households Generating Renewable Energy
A growing number of householders in the UK are hoping to use microgeneration to reduce fuel bills and perhaps sell surplus energy to grid operators, according to a report published this week by CarbonFree. If energy prices stay at their present level, the report claims, household energy microgeneration will create an internet of energy that eventually impacts incumbent energy providers.

Canada to Slash Last Remaining Federal Solar Program
by Jesse Broehl, Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
While solar energy advocates in the U.S. may look longingly to Japan or Europe where government support is strongest, Rob McMonagle, President of the Canadian Solar Energy Industries Association, has his neighbor to the south to be envious of.

European Solar Photovoltaic Update
It's no surprise some of this week's notable European solar photovoltaic (PV) announcements involve Germany and Spain, each a top solar market thanks to strong feed-in energy policies.

Geothermal Industry Stares Down DOE Budget Cuts
The House Energy and Water Appropriation's Subcommittee "Chairman's Mark" could "devastate geothermal power's growth," the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) said last week. The Subcommittee proposal made available on its website would terminate DOE's geothermal research program.

Winners of $125,000 Ignite Clean Energy Competition Announced
The Finals of the 2006 Ignite Clean Energy Business Presentation Competition have been awarded to energy entrepreneurs in solar, hydro-power and waste processing by a panel of industry leaders and venture capitalist judges who were convinced by the winners that their businesses can make clean energy that is competitive with conventional energy.

Expansions Fuel Ethanol Facilities in U.S.
While the ethanol debate in our nation's capitol is still on, ethanol plants grow in size as well as frequency of new construction.

First Condo Project in New England to Use 100% Solar Power
With support from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) and Conservation Services Group (CSG), ground is being broken for what may well be the first new condominium construction project in New England that is all solar, according to Johnson Square Builders, the developer.

Chevron Invests in 100 mgy Galveston Bay Biodiesel
Chevron, through its subsidiary, Chevron Technology Ventures LLC (CTV), has taken an equity position in Galveston Bay Biodiesel LP (GBB). The Houston-based company is constructing a biodiesel production and distribution facility in Galveston, Texas, said to have the potential to produce 100 million gallons per year (mgy) of clean-burning renewable fuel -- an amount that more than doubles this country's current production volume of biodiesel. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2006.

Potential Wind Energy Studied in U.S. Northwest
Researchers from Oregon State University (OSU) used economic models developed by the National Energy Renewable Laboratory and the university to estimate the current impact of the wind industry, and what the impact of wind energy development would be in an "optimized" economy (75% local).

New Hampshire Businesses to Benefit from Energy Efficiency Loans
Governor John Lynch announced that the State of New Hampshire has teamed up with Ocean National Bank to offer discounted loan rates for energy-saving projects at New Hampshire businesses. The loans will help them make structural improvements and equipment purchases that reduce energy consumption.

Texas Grants Lease for Gulf of Mexico Wind Project
Texas is now in a position to launch the first U.S. offshore wind project with its announcement of a lease agreement for a wind farm in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the second such lease granted by Texas for an offshore project and follows a similar announcement in October 2005.

Pennsylvania Invests $10 Million for Clean Energy Projects
Governor Edward G. Rendell announced Pennsylvania will create jobs in the alternative energy industry and provide affordable, reliable energy for Commonwealth businesses and residents by investing $10 million in new clean energy projects.

UN Secretary-General Calls for New Energy Approaches
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for new approaches to energy use with a focus on greater efficiency, increased investment in renewable sources and new technologies.

New York State Backs Cellulosic Ethanol
A $20 million program in the New York state budget is slotted for the development of a cellulosic ethanol pilot facility in New York State, Governor George E. Pataki announced, renewing his call for the adoption of his energy independence plan to reduce U.S. dependence on imported energy by boosting the production of clean, renewable fuels.

"Californians For Clean Energy" Seek Part of Oil Profits
by Andy Kollmorgen, Podcast Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
When Exxon-Mobile reported the highest annual profit of any company in U.S. history last year ($36.1 billion), advocates of clean energy -- along with economically squeezed motorists -- saw a way to balance the scales: direct a portion of the oil companies' windfall toward alternate sources of fuel. As prices at the pump climbed and accusations of price gouging ensued, the idea gained widespread support.

Back-to-Back Wind Conferences Highlight Industry Growth
More than 300 companies involved in wind power from 26 countries convened in Hamburg this week for the European Wind Energy Association's (EWEA) annual conference and expo. And in a few short weeks, the North American equivalent, AWEA's WindPower 2006, will take place in Pittsburgh in early June. As in past years, both conferences fall within a period of great growth for wind power, said to be the fastest growing energy industry in the world.

Real Estate Powerhouse Expands into Renewable Energy Markets
Municipal Mortgage & Equity (MuniMae), a player in the real estate and financial services markets, moved into the renewable energy markets by acquiring Renewable Ventures LLC, a third-party financer and operator of renewable energy generation facilities.

Transformation Under Way in Transportation
The outlook for near-term commercial deployment of PHEVs looks excellent, said Rick Tempchin, Edison Electric Institute (EEI) director of retail distribution policy, to the House Science Subcommittee on Energy at a recent hearing on draft legislation to promote plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) research and development. Tempchin spoke in support of earlier testimony by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

Biodiesel Made from Algae in Sewerage Ponds
Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation has produced its first sample of homegrown biodiesel fuel using algae sourced from sewerage ponds in its region of New Zealand. In what could be the first such sample of biodiesel in the world, the breakthrough came after Aquaflow undertook a pilot project to extract algae from its excess pond discharge.

DOE Honors Knight & Carver's Low Wind Speed Blade Design
Nearly 75 wind-energy leaders from the public and private sectors attended the Department of Energy's Peer Review Meeting in Golden, Colorado, to witness the Wind Blade Division of Knight & Carver receive honors from the U.S. Department of Energy. The company's $2.8 million shared-cost research and development (R&D) project will ultimately lead to production of a wind blade that produces energy in low wind speed regions.

Swell Potential for Maine Ocean Energy
In a one-year study of Maine's tidal power potential, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) concluded that it provides an excellent resource that could produce electricity at costs competitive with wind and natural gas, and less expensive than solar and so-called "clean coal." And, like wind and solar, capturing energy from the tides emits no greenhouse gases.

House Democrats Take a Stand for U.S. Biodiesel
In response to public demand for new direction and leadership to meet the energy needs of America's families, Democrats in the House of Representatives announced a plan to invest in America, grow our energy and establish energy independence. "This plan is homegrown and American-owned," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn. The plan, developed by the Rural Working Group, details the opportunities.

OTB Solar Provides Solar Manufacturing System to South Korea
OTB Solar announces the successful installation of a 30 megawatt (MW) production line to KPE, a South-Korean solar cell manufacturing company. The line will increase the production capacity of KPE more than five times, the release claims, to meet increasing global solar energy demand. Total annual capacity of the new production line equals the yearly power consumption of 10,000 European households.

Pan-European Wind Energy Grid Proposed
As more wind energy projects go online in Europe, concerns remain that additional generation will require backup generation from other electricity production to balance out times when the wind doesn't blow. One of the world's leading wind energy developers believes it has an answer that could help avoid concerns over backing-up intermittent wind power while also offering a more efficient, dynamic electric grid.

Free Wind Turbines Part of Pennsylvania Push for Wind
The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority is looking for a few good municipalities, public authorities and school districts to generate a buzz about alternative energy.

California Utility Strikes Long-term Renewables Pricing Agreement
Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation's leading purchasers of renewable energy, and four of its largest renewable power suppliers, announced an agreement establishing a fixed price for SCE's wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and small hydro power purchases through mid-2012.

Wind Power to Generate Hydrogen in New Research Project
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Xcel Energy recently signed a cooperative agreement for an innovative "wind to hydrogen" research, development and demonstration project. Researchers will analyze and compare hydrogen production from wind power and the electric grid. The hydrogen will be produced through electrolysis -- the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity.

New Jersey Creates Green Task Force to Consolidate Efforts
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Susan Bass Levin announced a Green Building Task Force to build on DCA's nationally recognized green programs and policy initiatives while continuing to break new ground in those efforts.

UN to Discuss Sustainable Energy Future of the World
The 14th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD 14) to be held in New York this week will examine progress in sustainable energy, climate change, air pollution and industrial development issues. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, representing the European Commission, will advocate energy policies that improve access to energy services for the world's poor while maximizing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy globally, thus increasing the protection of the environment.

Colorado Fuel Cell Center Showcases Entire Fuel Cell Industry
Colorado's first fuel cell center is officially open in Golden, to showcase its partners, their projects, and efforts in fuel cell research, development, education and commercial application. The announcement was made by the Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) along with its partners, the Gas Technology Institute, the Colorado School of Mines, Versa Power Systems, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Ethanol Plants and Processes All Across the Country
Even though the domestic ethanol industry is on edge over talk in Congress of lawmakers removing protectionist tariffs on international ethanol, ethanol plants and processes are going up far and wide.

Biofuels Thriving in Western New York
When Governor George E. Pataki announced nearly $6 million in State funding to assist Western New York Energy (WNYE) in the development of the first state-of-the-art dry mill ethanol plant in New York State, many spoke to the project's economic and environmental benefits -- regionally, nationally and beyond.

Renewable Energy Takes Center Stage in Nevada Politics
by Jesse Broehl, Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
The race for the next Governor of Nevada is well under way and with all the expected political maneuverings -- except one. In a twist on the age-old political contest, renewable energy has become a prominent campaign issue with one candidate announcing major plans and the topic proving itself worth addressing for the others.

U.S. Wind Energy on Track for Another Record Year
The U.S. wind energy industry is on track to installing a record-breaking 3,000 megawatts (MW) this year -- generating enough electricity to power approximately 600,000 homes -- the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said in its First Quarter Market Report. However, there is a holdback to completion of some projects due to concerns with radar.

Renewable Energy Seen through the Lens of Social Science
Benjamin K. Sovacool of North Canton, Ohio, a Ph.D. student in science and technology studies at Virginia Tech, has been named a Eugene P. Wigner Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for his research based on how to introduce more renewable energy systems and other small-scale electric systems into society. He was one of more than 50 candidates from across the nation to apply and is the first social scientist to have been awarded the fellowship.

Western Wind Energy Wins Key FERC Decision
Western Wind Energy Corporation announced that the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a definitive decision in Western Wind's favor, allowing Western Wind to access a key transmission line.

Clean Energy Index Launched by Clean Edge and NASDAQ
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (NASDAQ) and Clean Edge, Inc. today announced plans to launch the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index, an innovative and powerful tool for clean-energy investing. Clean Edge is a leading research and publishing firm that helps companies, investors and policymakers understand and profit from clean technologies. NASDAQ will begin disseminating the index on May 18.

GE Energy to Assess Wind Power on California Grid
To ensure grid reliability and accommodate emerging markets for renewable generation, both wind and solar energy, the California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program is funding a project to study the impact that higher levels of intermittent renewable power generation, such as wind energy, will have on the state's power grid.

E85 Fueling Sites to Grow with Tax Credit
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has recently published Form 8911 Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit that provides the first federal income tax credit for the installation of E85 fueling systems.

Australia's Origin Energy Solar Wins Government Backing
The Australian government last week awarded AUD $2 million in grant funding to help propel the commercialization goals of Origin Energy's unique solar photovoltaic (PV) cells, called the "Sliver" cells.

Sweden Envisions an Oil-free Future
Swedish energy and environmental experts are en route to Vancouver, British Columbia, to share their expertise in renewable energy solutions at the 11th annual Canadian District Energy Association (CDEA) conference.

ADM Breaks Ground on 85 Million Gallon Biodiesel Plant in North Dakota
Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) broke ground for a new 85 million gallon biodiesel plant adjacent to its oil-crushing plant at Velva, North Dakota. The new facility will convert canola oil from the oil-crushing plant into biodiesel fuel, and use the equivalent of 1,000,000 acres of canola annually, adding further value to the crop.

Largest Onshore European Wind Farm Approved
Proposals were given the green light to build the Whitelee wind farm comprising 140 wind turbines with a maximum output of 322 megawatts (MW), said to be the largest single onshore wind farm in Europe. Situated south of Glasgow, Scotland, when the ScottishPower wind farm is complete it will satisfy more than two percent of Scotland's electricity needs in a typical year.

This Week in the Ethanol Business
With gas prices through the roof and every politician, including President George W. Bush, calling for more use of ethanol, the industry has been on a roll. To follow are several news items from the U.S. and France.

Goldman Sachs & Co. Invests in Cellulose Ethanol
The buzz this week in the promising but elusive field of cellulosic ethanol, came in the form of a major Wall Street firm acquiring an equity position with a Canadian company hopeful for commercial success.

Oklahoma Wind Farm Gains Regulatory Approval
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved OG&E Electric Services' request to construct a 120 megawatt (MW) wind farm in northwestern Oklahoma. Approved in a 3-0 vote by the Commission, OG&E's Centennial Wind Energy Project is expected to begin production of electric power by year-end.

Geothermal Could Meet 6% of U.S. Electrical Needs by 2025
Geothermal resources could supply more than 30,000 MW of power by 2025, the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) told the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this week. This would meet 6 percent of today's total U.S. electricity needs, supplying consumers, boosting the economy, and stabilizing energy costs. But, GEA testified, budget cuts would be a major setback for new development.

Momentum Builds for Lucrative Hydrogen Energy Prize
Four expert witnesses on Capitol Hill recently testified in support of a prize to promote technological advances in hydrogen technology. The witnesses testified at a hearing on a bill by Research Subcommittee Chairman Bob Inglis (R-SC) that would establish a prize competition to encourage the research and development (R&D) necessary to overcome the technical barriers that currently stand in the way of hydrogen becoming a practical alternative to oil in fueling our transportation sector.

Iberdrola Enters U.S. Wind Market by Acquiring Community Energy
Iberdrola of Madrid, Spain, will acquire Community Energy, Inc. (CEI), a U.S. wind energy marketing and development company based in Wayne, Pennsylvania. CEI, with more than 2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy sales, supplying more than 75,000 residential and business customers and 18 investor-owned and municipal utilities, will remain a key part of the U.S. strategy.

450-Home Housing Development to Feature Solar Systems
The Sacramento division of the national builder, Lennar, announced a partnership with PowerLight Corporation and Roseville Electric to build what it is calling the nation's largest solar community, which will integrate photovoltaic (PV) systems and upgraded energy efficiency measures into 450 new homes slated to be built in Roseville over the next two years. Lennar operates locally as Renaissance Homes and Winncrest Homes.

Million Solar Roofs Bill Resurrected
by Jesse Broehl, Editor, RenewableEnergyAccess.com
The California Solar Initiative (CSI), adopted this past January by the California Public Utilities Commission, was widely considered a major victory for supporters of solar energy in California and beyond. It secured a long-term solar rebate plan for California funded at $3.2 billion dollars. But the solar roller coaster ride isn't entirely over as the Million Solar Roofs bill, SB1, was recently resurrected by state lawmakers to address some items left unattended by the CSI.

2006 Already a Record Year for Canadian Wind Power
Canada's wind energy industry has already broken its annual growth record in 2006 and is set to shatter it before the year is out. As of April 2006, Canada had installed 260 MW of new wind energy capacity, breaking the existing record of 239 MW established in 2005. An additional 250 MW of new wind energy capacity is expected to be installed in Canada before the end of 2006. Canada currently has 943 MW of installed wind energy capacity, enough to power more than 285,000 homes.

Former Soviet President Calls for Global Solar Fund
Calling on leaders of the world's largest industrialized nations (G8) to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency, former Soviet President Gorbachev marked the 20th anniversary of the world's largest nuclear power plant disaster in Chernobyl with a request for the creation of a $50 billion Global Solar Fund over 10 years.

California Launches Solar Website for New Home Construction
The California Energy Commission launched a new website encouraging installations of solar energy in new residential home construction. The New Solar Homes Partnership website is in response to the Governor's Million Solar Roofs Initiative to create 3,000 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity in the state by the end of 2017.

Ontario's New 8 MW Hydro Station Powers 4,000 Homes
The Glen Miller Hydro Electric Station near Trenton, Ontario, is an eight megawatt (MW), $21 million hydro project on the Trent River that will generate enough electricity to power up to 4,000 homes. It marks the first new hydro power station, and the fifth new renewable energy project, to open in the last year as a result of the Canadian government's renewable energy RFP process.

AES Grows Its Wind Generation Assets in California
The AES Corporation will purchase 54 MW of wind generation assets from Enron Wind Systems in Tehachapi, California, bringing the total wind generation AES operates to 654 megawatts (MW). The assets include two wind farm projects encompassing 667 turbines constructed in the mid-1980s in Tehachapi. AES currently operates 274 MW of wind farms in California, in addition to the wind generation facilities it operates in Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Wyoming. This year, AES began commercial operation of its 120 MW Buffalo Gap wind farm in Abilene, Texas.

US Geothermal Begins Idaho Geothermal Power Plant
U.S. Geothermal commissioned Ormat Nevada to proceed with final engineering and place orders for the equipment and material components of a proposed power plant in Idaho announced late last year.