Milpitas, an East Bay, CA city, is trying to create its own power source.  Essentially, they would allow homeowners to pay for their solar installations the same way they pay for their sidewalks. The city raises capital upfront with municipal bonds and is then reimbursed through the tax system.  The homeowner doesn’t need a big bank loan that is due upon the sale of the home; the next inhabitant just picks up the taxes.  The project, if undertaken neighborhood-by-neighborhood, allows for the pros and cons to be weighed and establishes tax rates and other essentials for citywide implementation.  The recent changes to California law now allow this type of assessment arrangement.

The city wants to offset the potential drain on the grid because they feel the electric car and plug-in hybrids are right around the corner in 2010-11.  That, coupled with the fact that Solyndra, the leading Bay Area solar manufacturer, has just secured a lease for a space covering 30 acres with a square footage of 506,000 in the Milpitas area.  The lease is believed to be the largest in the Bay Area in the past 20 years!  Add in California’s new mandate requiring utilities to pay for excess power generated by home solar installations and support from the Obama administration, and you’ve got yourself one forward-thinking city that’s moving in a sound direction. (more…)

Popularity: 1% [?]

Costa Rica is already a green national leader, but now they’re looking to become the first carbon-neutral country in South America. The past generation of Costa Ricans protected 26% of their land mass as national park and recreation ground, their eco-tourism industry is worth $2 billion per year, and the country has the highest rate of trees planted per capita on the planet, which has actually doubled Costa Rican forest canopy since the 1980s.  And Costa Rica is home to the only carbon-neutral airline, NatureAir, on the planet.  It’s a small airline, but it’s gotten the big ones thinking.

Why Costa Rica? And Why Now?

Costa Rica is simply alive with a youthful vigor. Carbon neutrality is the agenda of the voting population – at least the younger demographic – by and large.  Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has supported the goal since June of 2007, when he made a public commitment and garnered much support for the national green movement.  Here’s what could be a catch, however. Time.com reports that Arias may have “been neither serious nor coherent on the issue of the environment.”  There’s also an environmental minister who resigned due to a mining scandal, as well as potential plans for 125 acres of clear-cutting to accommodate what would be the largest gold mine in Central America, Las Cruches.  Time also reported that Arias has recently lifted a ban on open-pit mining. (more…)

Popularity: 1% [?]

The US Government subsidizes all forms of energy production, from a $10 billion cap on nuclear disasters to tax credits and cash grants.  Where does renewable energy fall into that sizable outlay of money?  According to Renewable Energy World, only so-so.

Types of Federal Subsidies Available

• Tax Credits: Solar investment and production credits fall into this category (i.e. put solar on your roof and we’ll reimburse up to %20 with tax credits).  Ethanol and Biofuel also fall into this category.  This is the largest method of subsidy, comprising 45% of all government energy assistance between 1950 and 2003, and a peak of 65% in 2006.
• Cash Grants, Loan Guarantees and Others: These accounted for about 20% of federal support between 1950 and 2003, and 29% in 2006.  The ARRA Renewable Energy Cash Grants fall into this category.  Essentially, this type of subsidy is a handout or a loan with very agreeable terms to ensure the success of the recipient. (more…)

Popularity: 1% [?]