Energy Efficiency Creates Jobs in the UK

UK to US: Green energy makes jobs

Apr 1, 2011 Charlotte Observer

As the United Kingdom slashes public spending to tackle its largest post-war deficit, new Prime Minister David Cameron set a heady goal: To lead the island nation's greenest government ever.

The Brits believe lowering their greenhouse gas emissions, investing in energy efficiency and partnering government with private industry is a way to grow the economy. The UK energy and climate change minister, Gregory Barker, talked about the possibilities Thursday in Charlotte with representatives of British and local firms headed toward the same goal.

There's a lot of work to do across the pond, Barker said.

The British record of energy efficiency is "rubbish," he said, making it cheaper to heat homes in icy Norway than in Britain. The UK has embarked on a campaign to retrofit 14 million homes, an effort estimated to create 250,000 jobs. It plans to invest the equivalent of $5 billion in a new green-energy investment bank and will offer innovative financing for renewable heating sources.

"Green will touch every sector," said Bill Rumble of the Mark Group, a British firm that specializes in making buildings more energy efficient. Millions of jobs for energy-efficiency technicians could be created, he predicted.

The long-term UK plan, Barker said, has bipartisan political support. "This is such a vital agenda," he said. "It really is important that we work together."

There's no such unanimity in the United States. President Barack Obama's administration has failed to win congressional support for limits on greenhouse gases, seen by energy advocates as a vital first step. Republican leaders are demanding more domestic drilling for oil and gas, while the Japanese crisis may shake support for new nuclear plants.

But that hasn't stopped businesses here, U.S. executives said.

NASCAR, with its 70 million fan base, has a green campaign underway that ranges from recycling to solar power. US Airways, which has its largest hub in Charlotte, has reduced its per-passenger use of fuel by 45 percent in the past 20 years. The owners of Indian Trail-based Radiator Specialty Co., which makes petroleum-based cleaners, degreasers and lubricants, last year formed a company to make biodegradable products.

"Over the last five years, I have seen a tremendous shift" toward green products by businesses, said Heather Killgallon of RSC Bio Solutions, the new company. "They want something tangible, not just because it feels good."

Energy Efficiency-Architects Join In with 5 proposals-Legislation

AIA reiterates top five proposals for increasing energy efficiency
	Apr 1, 2011	Construction News
	The American Institute of Architects (AIA) reacted to President Obama's proposals for increasing the nation's energy security by reiterating its top five energy conservation legislative priorities. "Architects make design decisions every day that have significant impact on the energy that buildings use both during their construction and throughout their life cycles, " said AIA 2011 President Clark Manus, FAIA. "Architects also have a major impact on whether communities are designed in a sustainable fashion." Among the AIA's energy conservation legislative priorities are: Strengthening the commercial building energy efficiency tax deduction. The AIA supports increasing the value of the deduction, an increase that was included in bipartisan legislation in 2010, or by turning it into a tax credit as proposed by the Administration. Passing a long-term transportation bill that empowers communities to plan in ways that reduce energy-wasting congestion and promote livable, walkable neighborhoods. Passing the bipartisan America's Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA) approved in 2009 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which promotes stronger energy building codes and building retrofits. Restoring funding for government building energy retrofits that was cut in the most recent continuing resolution, which will save taxpayers more money over the long-term. Passing legislation to allow states and localities to use PACE bonds. The sales proceeds from such municipal bonds are lent to commercial or residential property owners to finance energy efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems. The owners repay their loans over a 20 year term via an annual assessment on their property tax bill.

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Googles Added Dynamic View for Blogs

Google unleashed 5 Dynamic Views for your viewing pleasure.  To view the Dynamic View of St Louis Renewable Energy use this Dynamic View Web Links Provided Below

•  Flip Card Dynamic View 

• Side Bar Dynamic View 

• Mosiac Dynamic View 

• Snap Shot Dynamic View 

• Timeslide Dynamic View

Feel free to leave comments if the Dynamic Views failed to work properly for your Computer System.  Let me know which view you liked best in the comment form.  If you would like to enable Dynamic Views for your Site use the instructions on Google

        All about Dynamic Views for Authors 

Build Green,
Scotty

Latest News on Missouri Nuclear Reactor Agenda

Nuclear siting bill awaits committee action (AUDIO))

by Bob Priddy on March 31, 2011 cross-posted via: Missourinet

 

Four bills focused on how to pay to pick a site for a second commercial nuclear power plant are stuck in a Senate Committee.  Senator Jason Crowell, the sponsor of one of the bills, chairs the committee that held a seven-hour public hearing about three weeks ago. The committee has not considered whether to recommend full senate debate.
For him, the big issue is who will pay for the site selection.  He thinks the utility company and its stockholders should bear that cost.

The sponsor of one of the proposals, Jefferson City Senator Mike Kehoe, thinks most senators are comfortable with having consumers pay for the site selection—but be repaid if no site is picked or no plant goes into operation.

Crowell worries that having consumers pay for the site selection is the first step toward repealing the construction work in progress law that says consumers won't be billed for construction costs until the plant is running.  Kehoe says he favors whichever approach is the most economical way to build the plant.

Kehoe comments 7:38 mp3                   crowell comments 4:03 mp3

Find Additional News on Missouri's Nuclear Agenda Here

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Ameren UEs Greed-Missouri-Nuclear Reactor-

Here is some of the latest news on Energy (Electricity) Issues affecting the St Louis Area, Ameren UEs Nuclear Reactor Agenda is just plain GREEDY and will cost us the rate payers now and in the future.

• Amerens goal is to charge the people of the St Louis Area, the ratepayers, millions of dollars up front for an unnecessary, risky, and expensive Nuclear Power Reactor Plant rather than investing in the cheapest energy resource available, energy efficiency
  

• US Department of Energy Statistics on Energy Efficiency-Saves 10% Energy Costs, 20-30% Heating/AC Costs. 
  

• The proposed legislation would chip away at a 1976 ballot initiative supported 2-to-1 by Missouri voters. This law protects Missourians from investor-owned utilities charging ratepayers up-front for the construction of a power plant until it is producing electricity.

• Missouri General Assembly is considering legislation that would allow Ameren Missouri to charge ratepayers $40 million for a permit for a second nuclear reactor in mid-Missouri.
  

• The proposed legislation-SB 321 and SB 406- would chip away at a 1976 ballot initiative supported 2-to-1 by Missouri voters. This law protects Missourians from investor-owned utilities charging ratepayers up-front for the construction of a power plant until it is producing electricity.

• To understand the many other reasons why SB 321 and SB 406 are bad public policy, read Senator Joan Bray's guest column in the Joplin Globe last month.                                                                                                                                                                                        
• Ameren admits it cannot find investors to fund the Nuclear Plant because it is too risky and expensive.

• Scotts Contracting/Facebook Page Latest Estimated Costs for Nuclear Reactor is $10 Billion. we'll have to pay an additional $4 Billion Dollars                                             

• Therefore, Ameren must pass SB 321 or SB 406 which shifts the financial risk of investment of a new nuclear plant from shareholders to ratepayers.  But while shareholders dodge the risk, they still receive a financial windfall if/when the reactor comes online and Ameren then sells the excess electricity out of state for a premium.                                                                                                                                                                           

•  Ameren can easily meet Missouri's energy needs through energy efficiency instead of raising your electric rates to pay for a $6 billion nuclear reactor.  (Per Nuclear Reactor in Florida 6 Billion in Projected Costs ends up with total costs of 22 Billion over Budget)  In the St. Louis Post Dispatch on February 25, Steve Kidwell, Ameren Missouri Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, said:  

1.  
   "If we went after the potential that we've seen in our own study,  we wouldn't have to build another power plant for 20 years, and we could retire Meramec, and we'd be OK.  But we'd lose  $30 million a year. And we just can't do that. It's that simple."

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Join the Movement and Contact the Missouri Legislative Department Here

-Find Your Representatives-Republican or Democrat,
and Let Your Voice BE HEARD!     
Active Participation is Suggested Tell My Politician

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Missouri-Lobby Day 2011 Registration

If you care about Missouri's environment and want to make a difference, we need your help! Join MVC, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Sierra Club and citizens from across Missouri as we convene at the state Capitol for Conservation Lobby Day on Tuesday, March 29, 2011.

9am - 4pm
The day begins at the Governor's Office Building
200 Madison St. - Room 450
Jefferson City, MO 65101

This is an important opportunity to share your passion for the environment with state legislators, and have a big impact on environmental policies affecting Missouri.

Each year, Missourians gather at the capitol to make their conservation values known - from environmentalists, scientists, students and business owners to hunters, anglers and farmers. On Lobby Day, advocate for one of these important issues:

• Defending Missouri Renewable Energy: Defending Missouri's 2008 voter-enacted Renewable Electricity Standard.
• Protecting Water Quality: Ensuring adequate monitoring and enforcement to protect Missouri's streams and lakes.
• Upgrading State Parks: Aquiring funding for vitally-needed capital improvements to maintain Missouri's excellent parks.
• Advancing Energy Efficiency and Green Building: Making buildings more energy efficient through green building standards.

Become part of the political process, and add your voice to others in Missouri's environmental community. By speaking out with a unified voice for environmental values, we can help shape the future of our state.  

Join the Movement and Contact the Missouri Legislative Department Here

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Here is some of the latest news on Energy (Electricity) Issues affecting our Area

• Ameren's goal is to charge the people of the St Louis Area, the ratepayers, millions of dollars up front for an unnecessary, risky, and expensive power plant rather than investing in the cheapest energy resource available, energy efficiency
  

• US Department of Energy Statistics on Energy Efficiency-Saves 10% Energy Costs, 20-30% Heating/AC Costs. 
  

• The proposed legislation would chip away at a 1976 ballot initiative supported 2-to-1 by Missouri voters. This law protects Missourians from investor-owned utilities charging ratepayers up-front for the construction of a power plant until it is producing electricity.

• Missouri General Assembly is considering legislation that would allow Ameren Missouri to charge ratepayers $40 million for a permit for a second nuclear reactor in mid-Missouri.
  

• The proposed legislation-SB 321 and SB 406- would chip away at a 1976 ballot initiative supported 2-to-1 by Missouri voters. This law protects Missourians from investor-owned utilities charging ratepayers up-front for the construction of a power plant until it is producing electricity.

• To understand the many other reasons why SB 321 and SB 406 are bad public policy, read Senator Joan Bray's guest column in the Joplin Globe last month.                                                                                                                                                                                        

• Ameren admits it cannot find investors to fund the nuclear plant because it is too risky and expensive.

• Scotts Contracting/Facebook Page Latest Estimated Costs for Nuclear Reactor is $10 Billion. we'll have to pay an additional $4 Billion Dollars                                             

• Therefore, Ameren must pass SB 321 or SB 406 which shifts the financial risk of investment of a new nuclear plant from shareholders to ratepayers.  But while shareholders dodge the risk, they still receive a financial windfall if/when the reactor comes online and Ameren then sells the excess electricity out of state for a premium.                                                                                                                                                                           

•  Ameren can easily meet Missouri's energy needs through energy efficiency instead of raising your electric rates to pay for a $6 billion nuclear reactor.  In the St. Louis Post Dispatch on February 25, Steve Kidwell, Ameren Missouri Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, said:  

1.  

   "If we went after the potential that we've seen in our own study,  we wouldn't have to build another power plant for 20 years, and  

   we could retire Meramec, and we'd be OK.  But we'd lose  $30 million a year. And we just can't do that. It's that simple."

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://scottscontracting.wordpress.com

New 2011 CSP Today World Map

The 2011 version of the CSP Today World Map has been released, displaying all concentrated solar thermal projects in USA and worldwide whether under planning or construction or operational.

This unique document gives you a bird´s eye view of what is happening in the US in the concentrated solar thermal power industry.

You can download the map from here:

http://rencd-media.com/portal/wts/cemcDAaA-RebaDsF2fs90-aAw-Aeyd

I hope that you find it useful!  Let me know your thoughts

Thanks

Belén

Belén Gallego
CSP Today
belen@csptoday.com

US Phone 201 204 1914
UK Phone +44 207 3757555

__________________________________________________________



You may also contact us at:
RenewableEnergyWorld.com
9 Vose Farm Road
Peterborough, NH 03458 - USA

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
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http://scottscontracting.wordpress.com