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Where We Are: Policy. 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act mandates a 10-25% reduction from 1990 GHG levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050.
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Where We Are: Policy • 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act mandates a 10-25% reduction from 1990 GHG levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. • Green Jobs Act of 2008, established the Mass. Clean Energy Center, the nation’s first state authority devoted exclusively to creating jobs and economic development in the clean-energy sector ($68 million over 5 years). • Member, Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Northeast’s cap-and-trade system, which has generated $79 million in carbon credits for Massachusetts.
Where We Are: Policy • MA Renewable Energy Trust, funded by 0.05 cents/kilowatt-hour surcharge on utility customers • Major source of clean energy investments in Massachusetts • $28 million expenditures in 2007: $12.7 million for “large renewables; $9 million for affordable green housing
Where We Are: Technology • 2nd in cleantech venture capital in 2009 ($356 million in 27 deals). Total of $1.8 billion since 2005. • Top research universities. MIT alone has supported many recent successful ventures including Sun Catalytix, A123 Systems, and FastCAP Systems. • Mass. received 16 of 123 awards from the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program (total= $62.8 million).
Where We Are: Jobs • “Clean energy cluster” supports 14,400 jobs (.4% of empl) (Pollin, 2009) • 6,300 jobs in energy efficiency • Mass. received 16 of 123 awards from the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program (total= $62.8 million).
By Joan Fitzgerald Thursday, October 22, 2009 WITH THE NEWS that the state’s premier solar energy company, Evergreen Solar, is facing financial struggles, many are questioning whether the state was wise to “bet’’ on solar energy by providing an unprecedented level of state loans, grants, and land deals. Indeed, the rationality of states bidding against each other to attract biotech, information tech, and now renewable energy companies by offering the biggest subsidy package is part of a decades-long debate. A case could be made that Massachusetts is better positioned to develop a wind production industry than solar. But the bigger question is whether the United States will be a leading player in the production of renewable energy and other clean technologies -or cede that role to Germany, Japan, and increasingly China. In the absence of a coherent national renewable energy policy, states and cities have been moving forward on their own. The predominant strategy has been to require utilities to purchase a set percentage of their energy - known as a renewable portfolio standard - from renewable sources, invest in some research, offer subsidies to attract companies, and maybe provide some worker training. The payoff for any given state may be anywhere from a few hundred to a couple of thousand jobs. While we applaud each success, this approach does not add up to the United States becoming a leader in renewable energy. Image by: Clayton Hansen Even when states and cities do all the right things, success is not guaranteed. Consider Austin, a city that has a comprehensive strategy to develop a solar production industry in a state that has been a leader in renewable energy. All of its planning and investment has resulted in one company staying in the area, HelioVolt, a producer of thin-film solar power cells. Two other solar companies incubated in Austin moved to other states, taking advantage of attractive incentive packages. And Austin Energy’s new 30-megawatt solar energy farm will use Suntech modules made in China and assembled in the United States.
Renewable Portfolio Standards www.dsireusa.org / November 2009 WA: 15% by 2020* ME: 30% by 2000 New RE: 10% by 2017 VT: (1) RE meets any increase in retail sales by 2012; (2) 20% RE & CHP by 2017 MN: 25% by 2025 (Xcel: 30% by 2020) MT: 15% by 2015 • NH: 23.8% by 2025 ND: 10% by 2015 MI: 10% + 1,100 MW by 2015* • MA: 15% by 2020+1% annual increase(Class I Renewables) • OR: 25% by 2025(large utilities)* 5% - 10% by 2025 (smaller utilities) SD: 10% by 2015 WI: Varies by utility; 10% by 2015 goal • NY: 24% by 2013 RI: 16% by 2020 CT: 23% by 2020 • NV: 25% by 2025* IA: 105 MW • OH: 25% by 2025† • CO: 20% by 2020(IOUs) 10% by 2020 (co-ops & large munis)* • PA: 18% by 2020† WV: 25% by 2025*† • IL: 25% by 2025 • NJ: 22.5% by 2021 CA: 33% by 2020 UT: 20% by 2025* KS: 20% by 2020 VA: 15% by 2025* • MD: 20% by 2022 • MO: 15% by 2021 • AZ: 15% by 2025 • DE: 20% by 2019* • NC: 12.5% by 2021(IOUs) 10% by 2018 (co-ops & munis) • DC: 20% by 2020 • NM: 20% by 2020(IOUs) • 10% by 2020 (co-ops) TX: 5,880 MW by 2015 29 states & DChave an RPS 6 states have goals HI: 40% by 2030 State renewable portfolio standard Minimum solar or customer-sited requirement * State renewable portfolio goal Extra credit for solar or customer-sited renewables † Solar water heating eligible Includes non-renewable alternative resources
On Clean Energy, China Skirts Rules (9/9/10) Union Accuses China of Illegal Clean Energy Subsidies (9/9/10)