Under fire, utilities canceling coal plants

News Update: Because of regulatory uncertainty and opposition from environmental groups, electric utilities are backing away from plans to build new carbon-spewing coal-fired plants. Coal now powers about half our electricity and is the dirtiest form of power. Last year 53 plants were stopped or put off. Regulators denied permits in Washington and Kansas. TXU in Texas cancelled 8 of 11 planned plants as part of a purchase agreement. Xcel Energy in Colorado closed 2 coal plants and is substituting natural gas, wind, solar and nuclear, with a goal of cutting 10% of CO2 by 2015. And TVA is building a nuclear plant instead of coal in Tennessee. Still, some new coal plants are on track in states like Indiana, Mississippi and New Mexico. Environmental groups urge no more coal plants until there is a viable “clean coal” option. (Source: Associated Press)

Diesel-electric hybrid buses picking up in American cities
Only 2-3% of municipal buses on the road are hybrids, but 22% of bus orders were for hybrids, the 2007 survey by the American Public Transportation Assn. found. Washington, D.C., ordered 900, New York City 850, Philadelphia 480 and Minneapolis-St. Paul 300. The mostly diesel-electric hybrids are priced at least $100,000 above standard diesel buses. But fuel economy was measured 27% higher in Seattle and 34% higher in NYC, says the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Federal money is available to pay for up to 90% of hybrid buses, compared with 80% for conventional buses, according to the non-profit Advanced Energy. Some smaller cities testing the buses include Ann Arbor, Mich., Asheville, N.C., and Evansville, Ind. (Sources: USA Today, Greenwire)

Now you can google ‘renewable energy R&D division’
Google has announced it will spend tens of millions of dollars this year and hundreds of millions during the next decade on clean energy, both for its own facilities and to create a niche in renewable R&D. Aware that $2.4 billion in venture capital went into the sector in 2007, Google is ready to throw its brainpower and creativity behind renewable energy, especially solar, wind and geothermal. Its goal is reduce use of coal in the U.S. It’s better to work on breakthroughs and help lower the cost of renewables to consumers than buy offsets for questionable projects, the company said. (Source: Greenwire)

Geothermal energy in U.S. will double with Western projects
When 86 geothermal projects in the American West are completed, geothermal capacity will more than double to 6,300 megawatts, enough to light 6 million home, according to the Geothermal Energy Assn. The projects are benefiting from a combination of state renewable electricity standards and federal production tax credits. The association pressed Congress to extend the tax credits, due to expire the end of this year. (E&E News PM)

Ultimate outsourcing – modules for hotels made in China
British budget hotel chain Travelodge is putting up what is says is the first recyclable hotel. The 120-room structure will be made from pre-built steel container-like crates shipped from China that are stacked and bolted together. In the future, the hotel chain would like the Chinese to decorate and furnish the rooms as well. This hotel can be disassembled and moved and could be a model for sporting events and festivals, Travelodge said. It takes 12 weeks to assemble and could be removed after the event is over. (Source: PlanetArk)

(Coal plant photo courtesy of Flickr and Bruno D. Rodriguez)