Mike G. DeSmog of the Ecologist reports over half of the new electrical generation capacity in the U.S. in 2013, came from Solar, in California and Texas are mainstreaming renewable energy.
In California, May 2014 recorded three times as much solar generation as the same month in 2013. California, for its part, is following up on the huge year solar energy had in 2013 by breaking the record for single-day solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation back in March, and then breaking its own record on June 1. ... The new record in California - 4,767 megawatts of solar PV electricity fed into the grid - is also the national record for any American state. California installed some 2,261 MW of solar capacity in 2013, more than any other state, and looks to be on track to post up even bigger numbers this year. PV Magazine reports that "California's solar footprint is growing bigger with each passing day, week and month, with May recording three times as much solar generation as recorded during the same month in 2013." |
A threefold increase in one year is impressive even for California.
| In the first quarter of 2014, solar accounted for more than 50% of all new electricity generation capacity installed in the US, some 584 MW, with new solar power plants going online in California, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas.
Wind came in second at 427 MW. Natural gas came in third at 90 MW. |
On March 26, Texas set a new state record for wind production in one hour when it surpassed 10.2 Gigawatt-hours.
Our inspirational music for today's vision of converting from fossil fuels to sustainable and renewable energy generation comes from Bob Dylan's live TV performance of Blowing In the Wind, in March 1963, when I was seven years old. If you select the play triangle it will play in the background while you continue to read.
Frank Witsil from the Detroit Free Press clues us into to the news that Michigan's wind energy industry soaring, from generating 6 billion kilowatt-hours in 2000, to generating 168 billion kilowatt-hours last year, according to the EIA.
| Power from wind in Michigan is half as expensive to produce than utility companies initially expected, down to as little as $50 a megawatt hour last year from more than $100 a megawatt hour in 2009, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
DTE cut its renewable energy surcharge fee to 43 cents per meter a month from $3 per month. Consumers Energy will eliminate its $2.50 a month charge starting next month. The state Public Service Commission approved eliminating the Consumers Energy surcharge at its June 19 meeting. In the past few years, wind power in Michigan has created jobs, given rise to new companies that supply components — such as Ventower Industries in Monroe — and even inspired a few school projects and tourism. The nonprofit group, Natural Resources Defense Council, says Michigan is home to about 120 companies that supply wind components and employ 4,000. |
Sadly, Michigan sill gets more than 54% of its power from goal, which as we all know generates carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants which must be stopped to avoid global warming.
Since Michigan passed its Renewable Portfolio Standard goal in 2008 of achieving 10% production from renewable, utilities have invested more than $2.2 billion in renewable energy production.
Michigan's wind power capacity has grown from 2.4 megawatts in 2008, to 287 in 2011, with an additional 3,000 megawatts under development.
MI estimates that just counting the renewable energy projects by Consumers Energy, and DTE have helped create over 200 new companies, and 2,500 new jobs.
