Geothermal Heat Pump Systems

Geothermal heat pump (GHP) installations, a renewable energy technology where water is circulated through underground pipes to provide buildings with heating and cooling, are often confused with geothermal electricity generation or overlooked for wind or solar.  

In early July, two bills passed the New York State legislature to provide tax incentives to GHP installations -- which will help to put this technology on equal tax footing with other renewable resources.

US Cities Making the Leap to 100% Renewables

Aspen, CO is now one of three U.S. cities able to run on 100 percent renewable energy.  The first two U.S. cities to reach the goal were Burlington, Vermont and Greensburg, Kansas.

The shift to energy that is generated from natural resources — including wind power, solar power, hydro power, geothermal heat, and landfill gas — follows a “decade-plus” city goal, said city Utilities and Environmental Initiatives Director David Hornbacher.

All of the Above Energy Policy?

As President Obama crosses the Alaskan Arctic in a historic climate tour reinforcing his “All-of-the-Above” energy policy, a group of diverse and well-known environmental leaders has challenged him to take decisive action on climate change. 

The coalition collectively released a letter insisting "The moment of truth for your climate legacy has arrived" and is signed by the likes of Randy Hayes, Terry Tempest Wiliams, Winona LaDuke, Tim DeChristopher, Julia Butterfly Hill, David Suzuki, directors and founders of numberous environmental organizations, and individual citizens. 

Climate Change Threatens Food Companies

Droughts and increasing temperatures are a serious threat for the agricultural business - and companies such as General Mills are acutely aware of this.  As such, General Mills has set an ambitious goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2025 — and plans to encourage its entire supply chain to follow suit.

Change Along the Supply Chain

Large corporations, such as General Mills, can exert influence all along the supply chain because of their size and buying power. Many other major global food companies such as Unilever, Mars and Nestle have set greenhouse gas reduction targets for their own operations. Kellogg's has committed to only buying key product ingredients - including corn, wheat, rice, potatoes, beet and cane sugar, cocoa, palm oil, fruits and vanilla - that are responsibly cultivated.

As General Mills CEO Ken Powell sees it, food companies have no choice but to take action in the face of climate change. It's a matter of business.

Save Solar in Nevada

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26th, Nevada’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) will decide whether to agree with the state's major utility, NV Energy, and implement huge rate increases for solar customers. Industry insiders say the move could completely devastate the residential market in the state - at a time when solar is booming in Nevada.

Initial COP 21 Progress Slow

Three Cheers for Net Metering

The U.S. is consuming more electricity than ever and electricity costs are on the rise. The Energy Information Administration says that retail electricity was up nearly 3 percent per kilowatt hour in 2014. Americans are turning to solar to lower their utility bills, and net metering is the cornerstone policy mechanism that is making solar the cleaner, cheaper energy alternative.

The Clean Power Plan

For the first time ever, we as a nation are putting limits on the carbon pollution that drives climate change. Under the Clean Power Plan, each state will reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation, primarily by replacing coal combustion – a major source of carbon pollution – with solar energy and wind power.  When fully implemented in 2030, the EPA is predicting renewable energy will make up 28% of total generating capacity.

Re-envisioning Buffalo, NY

After decades of rising unemployment and dwindling economic opportunities, Buffalo, NY is seeing a revitalization - and it is being driven in large part by clean energy!  .  

Recognizing that making a meaningful impact in the region required significant financial commitment, Governor Cuomo recently pledged $1 billion in tax breaks, grants and incentives to the city.  

The Investment Tax Credit

More than half a million American homes are powered by solar. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC), a 30% federal tax credit, has helped to make such large scale solar deployment possible in the U.S.   However, the ITC is set to expire in December 2016 and, if it is not extended, long term solar development could be stalled and investments could diminish.  Action is needed to encourage Congress to extend the ITC to support the continued growth of the solar industry.