Clean-energy action shifts to states postelection

Clean-energy action shifts to states postelection
	Nov 3, 2010	CNET.com
	Martin LaMonica Nov. 3, 2010 (CNET Networks delivered by Newstex) -- BOSTON--For clean-energy businesses, the mantra to think globally and act locally now resonates more than ever. The advance of Republican politicians in yesterday's national elections means that state-level efforts to encourage green technologies become more important, according to speakers on a panel at the Sixth Annual Clean Energy Conference here today. The political shake-up means that national policies to cap carbon emissions and stimulate alternatives to fossil fuels are less likely to happen, they said. "Policy via mandates is going to have serious problems in the House of Representatives and the Senate," Melanie Kenderine, the executive director of the MIT Energy Initiative, said during a panel this morning. "We are bringing leaders into the House and Senate who are serious climate deniers and I think that's very problematic." In a ballot question California voted to keep in place a global warming bill to cap emissions and voters there elected Jerry Brown as governor, who has said he will support clean-energy industries. In Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, whose administration has backed green tech businesses, was re-elected. But policies in other states, notably state-level renewable portfolio standards, will be challenged in places, such as Colorado, said Peter Rothstein, the president of the New England Clean Energy Council. About half of the states now have mandates that require utilities to get a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Even if many state-level programs stay in place, entrepreneurs who work in green technology need to contend with a patchwork of programs, Rothstein said. What's preferred is a unified national energy policy, something other countries are doing, he said. "The rest of the world is out-investing us," Rothstein said. "Part of the story now will be whether companies will be able to grow and have access to early markets here in the U.S. Or will they be founded by universities and start-ups and need to go elsewhere to scale?" Energy efficiency is one area where states and cities can continue to make advances, said Henrietta Davis, the vice mayor of Cambridge, Mass. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which puts a cap on carbon emissions from utilities, has successfully put most of that money towards energy efficiency efforts, said Rothstein. Meanwhile, several national programs already in place may not be renewed. The ARPA-E program, which has proved popular with scientists and entrepreneurs, was funded by $400 million in the stimulus plan, but now needs to be funded as part of the budget, panelists noted. Vincent DeVito, a partner at law firm Bowditch & Dewey, said that the change in the political picture at the national level won't have that much impact, particularly with regard to carbon emissions, given that the last Congress failed to pass a comprehensive climate and energy bill. Copyright © 1995-2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Newstex ID: CBSI-7022-50376156

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Tesla Motors and Panasonic Join Forces in Battery Production

Panasonic invests $30M in electric car maker Tesla
	Nov 3, 2010	Associated Press Online
	By SHINO YUASA TOKYO, Nov. 3, 2010 (AP Online delivered by Newstex) -- Panasonic Corp. (NYSE:PC) is investing $30 million in Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) , the U.S. maker of electric sports cars, eyeing expansion in the global market for green vehicles, both sides said Thursday. Panasonic, Japan's biggest electronics maker, will acquire about a 2 percent stake in Tesla, purchasing Tesla common stock at $21.15 per share. Panasonic, which already makes batteries for Tesla vehicles, said the two firms will jointly market and sell battery packs for electric cars. Shares in Panasonic jumped 3.7 percent to 1,181 yen Thursday following the announcement of the capital tie-up with Tesla. Apart from Panasonic, Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE:TM) already has invested $50 million in the high-end electric car maker. Toyota, the world's No. 1 automaker, has also signed a $60 million contract to have Tesla help develop an electric version of Toyota's RAV4 crossover vehicle. "It is an honor and a powerful endorsement of our technology that Panasonic, the world's leading battery-cell manufacturer, would choose to invest in and partner with Tesla," said Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk. "We believe our partnership with them will enable us to further improve our battery pack while reducing cost." Tesla opened its first Asian showroom in a fashionable Tokyo neighborhood last month, hoping to woo rich buyers before eventually widening its appeal with cheaper models. But the company has not turned a profit since it was founded in 2003, and so far Tesla has sold only about 1,000 of its high-end electric cars. It currently sells just one vehicle, the $109,000 Roadster sports car, which is popular among celebrities and performance-car enthusiasts. But interest is high in Tesla because of growing concerns about global warming and pollution. Governments around the world are offering tax rebates and incentives for electric car buyers, and they also won't need to ever fill up at a gas station. Nissan Motor Co., which is bullish on electric vehicles with its Leaf set for delivery in December, expect such vehicles to grow to 10 percent of overall global sales by 2020 but other research puts the number lower. Current sales of electric cars are negligible. Naoto Noguchi, President of Panasonic's battery cell unit, said the company hopes to build its reputation as a green company. Last month, Tesla showed a retooled factory in Fremont, California, the site of the former joint venture between Toyota and General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) , where it plans to produce its next-generation electric sedan, the Model S, in partnership with Toyota, set to start in 2012. Newstex ID: AP-0001-50397028

If you are interested in Green Building on an Investment Property Check out the Benton Gut Rehab Blog Series-Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

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Is Strong Energy Efficiency Legislation in New Congress ?

Alliance to Save Energy Says Strong Energy Efficiency Legislation in New Congress
	Nov 3, 2010	Alliance to Save Energy
	Washington, D.C., November 3, 2010 – The Alliance to Save Energy congratulated returning and newly elected members of Congress and urged them to work together to quickly enact strong energy efficiency policies in response to the American people's pleas, as expressed in the run-up to the mid-term elections, for a "back to basics" approach to national energy policy. The Alliance will call upon the new Congress to embrace and quickly enact energy efficiency policies that curb waste, create good jobs, enhance national security and, perhaps most importantly in the current economy, cut energy costs for American consumers and businesses. "Polls indicate that the American people want government to embrace policies that promote self-sufficiency and independence while leaving more money in their pockets – not taking more out," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "While responding to these voter demands is a tall order for the new Congress, policies that drive energy efficiency into the U.S. economy answer this 'win-win' policy demand perfectly. "As a homegrown and abundant resource, energy efficiency is the cheapest, quickest, cleanest way to meet our country's growing energy appetite," Callahan added. "Mining the energy efficiency resource potential fully, however, requires a strong national policy framework that includes building energy codes and labeling, appliance and equipment standards, consumer and business incentives and investment in research and development." Even while the debate over national climate policy has grown contentious and divisive, more and more Americans – whether Republican or Democrat, Tea Partiers or Liberals – are agreeing on the importance of cutting waste out of our energy system in general and out of their own daily energy use in particular. Callahan commented, "Becoming more energy efficient – doing more with less – is increasing viewed by consumers and policy makers as a non-partisan, sensible and eminently 'doable' means for improving the quality of life here in America, from making us more globally competitive and secure to improving the air and preserving 'Mother Earth' for future generations." As strong evidence of the bipartisan agreement on the importance of the energy efficiency resource to America, the Alliance to Save Energy enjoys the leadership of key Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate, who serve as honorary members of its Board of Directors. Callahan explained, "While partisanship now runs rampant in the Nation's Capital, the need to advance energy efficiency and cut energy waste through good public policy has proven to be a goal that transcends political ideologies and an issue that incites bipartisan action, not just rhetoric." Over the next few months, the Alliance will be seeking out both incumbent and newly-elected lawmakers to lead a campaign for swift enactment of bipartisan legislation to advance energy efficiency as America's "first fuel of choice" for meeting our country's growing energy demands while preserving and enhancing our quality of life. "We look forward to working with the new Congress, as we believe energy efficiency is the key to meeting voter demands that our national energy policy be affordable, effective and quick to deliver for Americans," Callahan concluded.

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Energy efficiency is a no-brainer

	Energy efficiency is a no-brainer
	Nov 4, 2010	Cape Cod Times
	Efficiency standards work for all of us! We know this, we promote this and we all benefit when we adopt achievable energy efficiency standards. We must continue to improve efficiency standards based on sound technical advances that can be complemented by good public policy. I take issue with and respond here to the Oct. 31 op-ed "Red tape rising: A record flood of regulation," specifically the claim that improved residential heating and hot water equipment efficiency standards will raise the price of a "typical gas storage water heater by $120." This claim by the ultraconservative Heritage Foundation, funded with assets of more than $183 million, claims this is a "hidden tax" per their website (heritage.org). Let us please consider the direct tax that hits every consumer, especially those least able to afford it, as a result of the increasing energy costs related to our continued dependence of foreign fossil fuels. Some of us in the field of energy efficiency know that these improved standards are, in fact, promoted and adopted through a stakeholder process that involves appliance manufacturers and consumers who tell us they not only support such uniform standards but also enjoy the financial return of energy savings for their investment in advanced technology. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE), appliance efficiency standards are not new; in fact, appliance manufacturers, disturbed by a patchwork of state standards, supported adoption of uniform national standards during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Complementing these advances in efficiency standards is the national Energy Star product-labeling program, which promotes advances in technology from manufacturers' research and development efforts and educates and informs consumers to make informed choices. Locally, through the electric and gas ratepayer-funded energy-efficiency programs in Massachusetts (and in many other states as well), we have cost-effective rebates and incentives to promote more efficient appliances. Again, according to ACEEE, appliance efficiency standards are estimated to save over 2.58 quadrillion BTU per year. Yes, that is a really big number — but what does it mean to a consumer on Cape Cod? For a customer with an electric water heater who is looking at a new heat pump electric water heater, for example, we are seeing a 50 percent savings, or a new gas condensing water heater will save about 25 percent relative to today's conventional storage water heaters. This translates into savings of over $500 a year at the average 17 cents-per-kilowatt-hour cost of electricity here in Massachusetts — not a bad return on the additional $120 investment. The combined efforts of national efficiency standards and local programs that educate and promote significant energy savings let all consumers enjoy lower energy costs through improved products over the long term. This is good for our economic prosperity, energy security and the environment. Kevin F. Galligan of Orleans is the energy efficiency program manager for the Cape Light Compact.

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