Looking beyond Solyndra to REAP big rewards
Yes, Solyndra was disappointing. But we must not forget the many successful projects that have also received taxpayer support. Here are a few great examples of REAP solar projects in the Southeast region.
Driving energy efficiency too slow
Just a brief update for those who are interested in why Florida is moving so slowly on energy efficiency. As recently noted by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, “regulators in Florida … took actions to render their energy savings target ineffective.” Similarly in response, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is protesting [...]
A fresh look at the buyer of last resort, PURPA
For over a decade, states have been coasting along with policies that affect the market for key energy resources: small renewable energy generators and companies that practice cogeneration (also known as energy recycling, or combined heat and power). As advocates for consumer-friendly energy efficiency, we’ve learned that these same policies affect energy efficiency, particularly what [...]
Citizens take charge of their health, test for toxic mercury
This blog was written by Eriqah Foreman Williams with input from Amelia Shenstone. On Saturday October 15, free burgers, beautiful weather, and a high school marching band drew Covington, GA residents to an unusual event – a community health fair, including free mercury testing courtesy of SACE. Southern Alliance for Clean Energy partnered with Quad [...]
Southeast is movin on up in ACEEE state scorecard ranking
The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE ) released their 5th annual state scorecard on energy efficiency yesterday and the results, not surprisingly, support that the efficiency sector continues to grow and create jobs. The report found that the nationwide budget for electricity efficiency programs increased $1.1 billion from 2009 to 2010, and [...]
2011 Solar Home Tour makes Stop at Smith Residence
Knoxville’s 2011 Solar Home Tour is October 22. SACE is excited about this year’s annual tour, and welcomes the recent expansion of solar energy development in east Tennessee. I am especially excited to offer my home as one of the stops along the tour. Our objective is to have a net-zero home, and between our [...]
Energy Awareness Month: Save Energy With Simple Tips for the Home
As the third in a series of blogs during Energy Awareness Month, this post explores simple energy savings tips for your home. Since 1991, the federal government has recognized October as Energy Awareness Month. SACE is taking this opportunity to focus on how we can all reduce energy use in our everyday lives. Before we [...]
House Votes to Give Coal Ash Dumps a Free Pass, President Stops Short of Veto Threat
The following is a post written by Professor Rena Steinzor and originally published yesterday on the Center for Progressive Reform Blog. As Prof. Steinzor notes, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to ignore the lessons of the Kingston coal ash disaster and to pull the rug out from under the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to [...]
First Impressions of the LEAF
I wanted to share my first impression after driving the Nissan LEAF for the past couple of weeks. While it may be quixotic to think we can ever truly drive “guilt free,” the zero-emissions LEAF certainly is a step in the right direction. By charging the LEAF at non-peak hours to level off energy load demands [...]
The future of offshore oil drilling is blowing in the wind
Last week, Simon Mahan attended the American Wind Energy Association/Offshore Wind Development Coalition’s conference on offshore wind energy in Baltimore, Md. This is the final of a series of three blogs from the conference. Read the previous posts: Southern Jobs for Offshore Wind Energy and Overwhelming Support May Not Be Enough for Offshore Wind. As I [...]
