Energy & Clean Tech Connections August 2011
8/31/2011
In the August edition of Energy & Clean Tech Connections, we’ve gathered recent information from a wide variety of sources in an effort to keep you abreast of what’s new in the world of clean energy. We draw your attention to the latest industry developments, news from local governments to Capitol Hill, grant opportunities, and upcoming events.
This month, the Energy & Clean Technology Practice Group would like to congratulate our client, Suniva, Inc. Based in metro Atlanta, Georgia, Suniva manufactures high-efficiency monocrystalline silicone solar cells and high-power solar modules using low-cost techniques, and is dedicated to making solar-generated electricity costs competitive with fossil fuels. Earlier this month, Suniva announced that it will help power Walking Mountains Science Center’s new Buck Creek Campus in Avon, Colorado. The center seeks to inspire environmental stewardship through natural science education, and the campus, which opened to the public on August 20, features a 33kW solar system comprised of Suniva’s high-efficiency solar cells and modules. The Suniva solar cells will provide more than a third of the annual electrical requirements of the campus.
The Energy Information Administration released a report on August 1, detailing $37.2 billion in federal energy subsidies spent in 2010, an increase of more than $19 billion from 2007. The renewable energy industry specifically received more than $14.6 billion in subsidies in 2010 from a combination of direct and tax expenditures, research and development spending, loans, and loan guarantees. Several members of the Joint Special Committee on Deficit Reduction are likely to pay particularly close attention to energy spending, including Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), whose home state accounts for nearly 30% of national oil production.
In upcoming events, the EnergySMART Conference 2011, an event designed to help attendees navigate the complicated energy landscape and hosted by EnerNOC, a leader in the energy management industry, will take place September 27 – 29, in Boston. The National Clean Energy Summit 4.0 takes place August 30, in Las Vegas, Nevada, when top minds in the clean energy sector will gather to discuss research and development into new technologies. Mid-September will be busy with events in Shanghai, Washington, Philadelphia, and Boston. The 3rd Annual China Smart Grid Forum 2011, where discussion on China’s unique renewable energy policy and regulatory landscape will be the focus, takes place September 14 – 16 in Shanghai. In Washington, the RETech 2011 takes place September 20 – 22, and will host over 250 industry-leading speakers. Organic Photovoltaics 2011, an important event for those interested in the advancement of OPV technologies, will take place September 20 – 21, in Philadelphia.
We hope that you enjoy this month’s edition of the newsletter. For the most up-to-date information on federal legislation and programs, read the most recent ML Strategies Energy & Environment Update and check back for weekly updates.
