February 7th, 2010 › Clean Energy, Clean Fuel › Dr. Stephen A. Smith › 2 comments ›
SACE has started a subsidiary to make biodiesel. With higher fuel costs, growing issues of national security and an increasing awareness of the impact of global warming pollution, the use of renewable energy and alternatives to dirty fossil fuel sources have become a greater interest for the average citizen.
Our Philosophy
SACE and Clean Energy Biofuels are committed to the sustainable production of alternatives to fossil fuels. We are a member of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and support their statement below:
Individuals, companies and municipalities across the country are taking steps to first recognize, and then minimize their negative impact on the environment and their communities. By choosing to harness the power of alternative energy and fuels and being more aware of the impact their purchasing decisions have on the world around them; many are making progress. In today’s world however, “not all biodiesel is created equal”. Some biodiesel sold in the United States is created from international feedstocks that travel thousands of miles before being made into biodiesel, while other biodiesel is made from local feedstocks including waste products and second use oils. Making the right choices can help support rural communities, family farmers, and local job security while minimizing negative impact to the environment.
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Tags: Biodiesel, clean tech, climate change, Georgia, renewable energy, Tennessee, transportation
February 7th, 2010 › Clean Energy › Sam Gomberg › no comments ›
Congressman Cohen (D-TN) has stepped forward as a Southeastern leader in advancing solar energy technologies
A new Southeastern leader for our clean energy future may have just stepped forward. On Thursday, Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) from Memphis introduced legislation into the U.S. House of Representatives that would encourage the installation of 10 million solar power systems and 200,000 solar water heaters over the next decade. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced similar legislation in the U.S. Senate.
The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy commends Congressman Cohen for recognizing the federal government’s role in developing local markets for a solar industry that has invested billions of dollars here in Tennessee and across the nation. Read more…
Tags: clean tech, renewable energy, solar
February 4th, 2010 › Clean Energy › John Bonitz › 2 comments ›
This post was co-authored by Anne Blair
If there was anything clear in President Obama’s State of the Union address it was the need for JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. Renewable energy development can deliver on that goal.
“The nation that leads the clean-energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy, and America must be that nation.” –President Barack Obama, January 27, 2010
Spotlight: Bioenergy Jobs in North Carolina
According to one recent study, North Carolina alone could gain more than 127,000 new jobs if we pass a strong national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). With NC’s unemployment over 11%, this can begin to make an impact.
This study was commissioned by the Bipartisan Policy Center and looked at the total economic impacts of several different renewable energy standards in North Carolina. Even if we weren’t in a recession, the results are very interesting.
Read more…
Tags: bioenergy, biomass, biopower, Clean Energy, clean jobs, clean tech, climate change, global warming, jobs, North Carolina, renewable energy, RES
February 2nd, 2010 › Clean Fuel › Dr. Stephen A. Smith › 6 comments ›
We have heard a lot of promise and lots of talk about cellulosic ethanol. Friday January 29th, I attended the opening ceremony of the DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC (DDCE)/Genera cellulosic ethanol plant in Vonore, Tenn.
This scale-up of the technology represents a major milestone in sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. SACE has not been a big supporter of corn-based ethanol for a number of reasons, especially water use and concerns about food, but we do see the advantages of natural grasses and other sustainable biomass sources. SACE does support sustainable cellulosic ethanol as an alternative to fossil fuels.
The new Vonore facility will produce 250,000 gallons of ethanol as the partnership continues to develop and the process moves toward full commercial scale. DuPont Danisco brought the technology for converting corncobs to ethanol. The chemical structure of corncobs is similar to switchgrass. Genera, through its parent University of Tennessee, has been working with farmers in the state to start to growing the switchgrass feedstock needed for the plant when it converts from corn cobs to switchgrass later this year. Read more…
Tags: biomass, biopower, clean tech, climate change, Georgia, renewable energy
February 2nd, 2010 › Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Utilities › Tom Larson › no comments ›
Click image to enlarge - More aggressive efficiency programs do not drive up rates
The Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) just set goals for electric energy efficiency well below targets set—and achieved—by other states, but not surprisingly, several FEECA utilities filed objections seeking still lower goals.
Earlier, we reviewed the goals and outlined why the PSC’s targets were as weak as they were—but still the utilities want to aim even lower. Progress, FP&L, Gulf and JEA have all filed proposals for goals reduction, offering various rationales.
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Tags: EERS, electric rates, Energy Efficiency, Florida, incentives, public service commission, utility regulation
February 1st, 2010 › Clean Energy › Dr. Stephen A. Smith › 1 comment ›
As the east dug itself out of another snowstorm, I found myself up on a ladder pushing snow off my solar panels on a Sunday afternoon. Of course, I did not have to do this. Over the next couple of days it would have all melted off just fine, but one obsession I must admit: I can not stand to see a bright sunny day and not see the electric utility meter running backwards on my house.
The thick snow on the roof just did not work for me yesterday. Having solar power has me paying much closer attention to the clouds and weather generally. I’m more aware of tracking the sun in the sky as the earth tilts on its axis. The sun is moving north again after its lowest point in the southern sky during the winter solstice December 21st. When you have solar panels, it just gives you a little more of a connection to these natural cycles.
This has been a tough late fall/early winter so far because we have had more rain than normal. You can see this on our solar output graphs for the last few months. Especially check out the Energy and Power data. February 11, 2010 will be one year since we installed the system, and I hope to post a year in review soon after.
I share this not to be smug — I have a strong belief that many, many more folks will be adding solar to their homes in the coming months and years. It is more to help you understand the little obsessions that come with the power of the sun. My time on the ladder today was not about money, as I estimate I went from a 1-2 kWh day without my efforts and allowing the snow melt on its own, to 8.4 kWh with my early afternoon 30-minute intervention. In all, this made me about $1.60. So today was not about the money. We produced some hot water too, as I also cleared the solar hot water 
panels, which on a cold day is priceless.
I do get a kick out of my neighbor across the street who has started calling me Ed Begley. Of course I laugh with him when he calls me this and then I laugh at him as he continues to pay the utility company a lot of money for dirty power every month.
Tags: clean tech, climate change, renewable energy, snow, solar
January 29th, 2010 › Climate Action, Copenhagen '09 › Jennifer Rennicks › 1 comment ›
Update: as of Monday, February 1, 57 nations (including the 27-member European Union) are likely to or have associated with the Copenhagen Accord, representing 73.3% of global emissions.
January 31, 2010 is the deadline for nations supporting the Copenhagen Accord to submit their greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans. Today, just days before the deadline, the United States submitted its reduction proposal for 17% of 2005 levels by 2020. The US joins more than 25 other nations that have come forward so far, collectively representing more than 70% of what global emissions were in 2005. When the official deadline passes and the number of countries and pledges are tallied, we may finally have an indication of whether the Copenhagen Accord will lead to a fair, ambitious and binding agreement to solve the climate crisis. Read more…
Tags: climate change, climate policy, cop15, Copenhagen, global warming
January 28th, 2010 › Clean Energy › Dr. Stephen A. Smith › 1 comment ›
SACE is officially certified as “carbon neutral” after working to lower its carbon footprint and offset 100% of its carbon emissions. SACE’s first priority is to invest in office energy efficiency improvements, make healthy travel choices, and to operate extensive recycling programs in our offices to minimize our total carbon impact as much as feasible. However, to compensate for unavoidable organizational activities that create carbon emissions, SACE voluntarily purchases carbon offsets on an annual basis.
What are carbon offsets?
A carbon offset is a purchase made to absorb or avoid the release of a ton of carbon to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use, transportation, waste, and other sources. Offsets are typically achieved through financial support of a project that reduces emissions, such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency projects, methane abatement, reforestation, etc. Read more…
Tags: carbon market, carbon offsets, climate change, global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution control
January 27th, 2010 › Clean Energy, Climate Action, Green Economy › Jennifer Rennicks › 3 comments ›
In tonight’s State of the Union speech, President Obama highlighted myriad issues confronting Americans today from an economic crisis to high unemployment to ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East. What these varied issues have in common is that meaningful clean energy policies could provide workable solutions.
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Tags: clean tech, climate change, climate policy, Energy Efficiency, global warming, North Carolina, Obama
January 27th, 2010 › Coal, High Risk Energy, Utilities › Mary Bendeck › 7 comments ›
In recent months, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken great strides to improve air quality and protect the environment by proposing stricter standards for ozone and sulfur dioxide, and begin regulation of coal ash waste and greenhouse gases. If these standards and regulations are implemented, they could inhibit the development of new coal-fired power plants by creating such a strict regulatory environment that utility companies will have fewer incentives to push dirty coal and more incentives to pursue clean energy alternatives. The ozone and sulfur dioxide standards are open for public comment and we hope you might take a chance to support stronger rules to protect public health.
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Tags: Coal, coal ash regulation, EPA, greenhouse gas emissions, Ozone Rules, Sulfur Dioxide
