Another bump in the road for implementing E15, a new report finds CO2 emission from power plants increased in 2010, and a Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility Opens in Oregon.
House Passes Proposal Against E15
The House of Representatives has approved the Sullivan proposal regarding the implementation of E15. Recently approved by the EPA, the bill blocks the ability to sell E15 fuels to the marketplace. The bill has yet to go through a Senate vote in order to fully block the sale of the ethanol blend without further research. A number of constituents expressed their frustration with the House’s decision, citing the recent turmoil in the Middle East as a pressing reason to promote alternative fuels. They are that E15 fuels are the most tested fuels in the country’s history and that the blend could help lower our dependence on foreign sources of oil by up to 7 billion gallons annually. Meanwhile, Charles Drevna, the president of the National Petrochemical Refiners Association said: “Every American who owns a car, light-duty truck, motorcycle, snowmobile or outdoor power equipment will benefit by the House vote that has the effect of blocking the sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol, known as E15.”
CO2 Emissions had Greatest Annual Increase in 2010
Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants increased by 5.5 percent in 2010, the greatest increase since the EPA began tracking annual emissions in 1995, according to a report from the Environmental Integrity Project. Texas, a leader in wind power, also came first in terms of CO2 emissions, releasing 257 million tons. That is equivalent to Florida and Ohio, the next two states, combined and it is seven times the emissions in California. A third of the emissions were caused by about 50 coal-fired plants including the two largest polluters, Scherer and Bowen plants in Georgia. The two released almost 50 million tons of CO2; in New York, all plants combined produced 40 million tons.
Gamesa Opens Offshore Wind Turbine Factory
Wind energy giant, Gamesa, is operating the United States’ first offshore wind turbine factory in Norfolk, Virginia. The factory is close to sites that are ideal for offshore wind farms such as the Mid-Atlantic coast. Gamesa is designing two turbine prototypes, one for land and the other for the sea, to be sold to wind farms by the end of 2012. The opening of the factory coincided well with the DOE’s goal to increase the nation’s offshore wind capacity to 10,000-MW by 2020.
Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility Opens in Oregon
SoloPower will begin work on a thin-film solar panel manufacturing facility in Wilsonville, Oregon using a $197 million loan guarantee from the DOE. At its full capacity, the facility should produce over 400-MW of flexible photovoltaic panels per year. SoloPower claims the project will create up to 500 permanent jobs and 270 construction jobs. The panels will be used for rooftop installations.
Grasslands for Biofuel can Protect Bird Species
Using grassland for biofuel has a twofold environmental benefit, according to researchers at Michigan State University. Their studies show that grasslands are a great source for biofuel stock and using them can protect some bird species. By converting land to use for monoculture crops (corn) to be converted to biofuel could lead to a decline in bird species. In addition, much ethanol is produced from corn, creating a conflict of interest over food or fuel. Using prairie grass eliminates this concern.
