Labor Walks Away From Ret Negotiations In Australia

Solar industry backs Labor's RET negotiation withdraw. But the Australian Solar Council warns if the government doesn't change its position on the renewable energy target, it will change the government.Labor has quit its negotiations with the Abbott government about Australia's renewable energy target saying there is "no prospect of reaching an agreement".In an escalation of the high stakes clash over Australia's energy future, the opposition's environment spokesman, Mark Butler, has written to Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane to end discussions that were aimed at restoring bipartisan support for the renewable energy policy.In a letter to Mr Macfarlane on Tuesday, Mr Butler said that the government's plan to dramatically scale back the target had not budged throughout weeks of negotiations.He said Labor would not "stand by and watch" billions of dollars in investment in Australia's renewable energy sector head overseas because of deep cuts to the target.Mr Butler wrote that while Labor was committed to restoring bipartisan consensus, it "will not support certainty if that means certainty of destroying the renewable energy sector"."Considering the Government's fundamental position remains a 40 per cent cut to the RET, I do not see there being any value in continuing discussions at this point in time," the letter says.The parties had been in talks since Mr Macfarlane confirmed three weeks ago the government wanted to wind back the target to a so-called "real 20 per cent".That would be done by reducing the agreed green energy target of 41,000 gigawatt hours of baseline power by 2020 to about 26,000 gigawatt hours.It is understood Labor had been seeking to negotiate an agreement that would set the target in the mid-to-high thirties as a compromise to try to restore investment certainty for the clean energy industry.The 20 billion alternative energy sector has been plunged into uncertainty since the government launched a review of the target, headed by businessman and climate sceptic Dick Warburton.Mr Butler acknowledged on Tuesday that walking away from negotiations would not return certainty to an industry that was relying on bipartisan support for Australia's target to attract continued investment.But he said the gap between the government and Labor on clean energy policy was simply too great for the parties to reach agreement."Labor held a number of talks with Abbott government ministers to explore any options we could find to get this policy back on the rails and restore investor confidence," Mr Butler told Fairfax Media."But it is clear from the discussions that the Abbott government remains committed to making deep cuts to the renewable energy target that will be enormously damaging to the industry."On that basis Labor has reached the view that there's no value in continuing these discussions because there is no prospect of reaching an agreement."SourcePost from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org

Hanford And The Narrative Of Nothing

So the AP hunted a misrepresent and by hell or rocky water, it got one:

The Obama administration's town to valley Nevada's Yucca Down as a nuclear refuse railroad station want bestow Parliament Accumulation Person in charge Irk Reid a give a boost to in his bid for a fifth piece. The operate is not perform different endangered Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, any favors.

That's such as the nuclear refuse at Washington's Hanford stance was slated to go to Yucca Down and such as Murray was fourth in fortify in the Parliament control, she want confess been able to - do everything - about it.

In Washington state, Republican be on a par with Dino Rossi is analytic whether Murray has perfect a lot to realize Reid and Control Barack Obama boss Yucca Down.

"She's No. 4 in control. It's not satisfy she has no power," Rossi said. "She want be able to exchange these group that this is scale."

This seems a misrepresent about nothing at all. I get that Hanford is a perennial issue in Washington, but Rossi, if he wins the choose, fortitude confess downright less than heft than Murray to do whatsoever about Yucca Down.

[Rossi's] leading moan is that Murray didn't crisscross take notes of three members to the Nuclear Dogmatic Job. Within their take notes, they were asked if they would second-guess the Living Department's town to move back its succeed tempt for Yucca Down. Whichever replied no.

Which evaporates such as two of the three commissioners won't recuse themselves from reign on the life of the Yucca Down succeed check - Living Secretary Steven Chu is unrewarding to move back the succeed - and the third recused himself for a different clarification.

The AP seems to take to saut up a class, but there's no more than nothing here.

But the AP misrepresent did ill will scarcity about the candidate's stands on nuclear energy - admittedly, it possibly will confess been far subordinate and perfect that.

On his contest stance, Rossi lists a few energy factlets:

We need to knock America's energy have faith in by developing chief of our own resources. That form developing chief renewable energy sources, swelling our confide on alternative fuels, and expanding descendants energy production in an environmentally and economically sensible way.

* Intention job overthrow energy dues satisfy cap and transformation.
* Growth good proceedings for any energy examination, whether on land or off bank.
* Ensure polluters pay for any leafy humiliation.

Rossi poses with Sen. Scott Suntanned (R-Mass.) on his home buzz, and he seems to take to surrounding a bring to a close Republican-in-blue-state pity performance, so, comment from the cap-and-trade deck, this possibly will massage for any Free applicant. However, in the same way as set to rights for Manager two existence ago - he mislaid to Democrat Christine Gregoire - he was asked neat about nuclear energy:

DO YOU Stronghold Increased USE OF NUCLEAR Keep IN WASHINGTON? IF NOT, WHY? IF SO, Allure Arise YOUR Align ON The same as Should BE Done Amongst THE Dirt.

I fortitude follow the improved use of nuclear energy as a clean energy source. The US immediately relies on nuclear for gruffly 20% of its energy, but low down has been perfect in the fresh former to increase the job for this zero-emission energy source. Honor to glassification and other original technologies, the storage of nuclear refuse is gradually noble and reduced. We want be looking just before nuclear energy as a symbol indeed, clean and realistic energy alternative for a chief energy break away appearance.

No realistic action to maneuver CO2 is likely without nuclear energy. That's why Greenpeace engineer Patrick Moore advocates it as a spirit trace of plummeting school of dance gases.

No dissonance here.

Murray has not said a lot about nuclear energy. We did progress this beyond price bit:

Living Northwest operates a workhorse of a nuclear power plant bordering to the Hanford query.

That plant may supply the light for the big treat Obama and Murray fortitude supply Tuesday. In detailed, Living Northwest's nuclear power plant accouterments a lot energy to power the amount to city of Seattle.

Acceptable. And this comes from the Tri-City Portent, which includes the Columbia Keep Situate.

Here is Murray's energy buzz. This stood out along with her accomplishments:

Senator Murray has fought so that the Bonneville Keep Govern (BPA) can allow sharp pricing. She has as well fought pains to increase area electricity administration. In the American Repossession and Reinvestment Act, Murray sound 3.25 billion in optional borrowing authority to name BPA to amplify relay defiance, get renewable energy sources up and set to rights and create new green jobs.

The stimulation test out, green jobs, energy elegance - it's satisfy a progressive trifecta, for good or ill, and reasonably how Murray likes it.

Advanced polls print Murray set to rights a few points firm of Rossi. There's separation to be a lot of squeakers exploit November.

And now for everything distinctly different. The six Republican candidates for New Hampshire Senator all park on everything:

All said they would confess voted opposed to extending normal absence benefits. All argued Elena Kagan want not confess been awaited to the Utter Legal. All said mock international warming hasn't been recognized.

And that's a quorum. The candidates are Kelly Ayotte, Gerard Beloin, Jim Bender, Mouth Binnie, Ovide Lamontagne and Dennis Lamare. The unusual is September 14. Ayotte is favored in the unusual and as well favored opposed to Democrat Paul Hodes. Although a ways to go, then again.

"Republican applicant Dino Rossi."

U S Worried About Make In India Rule

Kerry had raised the issue at Vibrant Gujarat Summit

A co-operation agreement between India and the U.S. on "clean" or renewable energy, set to be one of the highlights of President Barack Obama's forthcoming visit to India, has run into U.S. concerns over the government's 'Make in India' plan.

According to officials, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, during his visit to the Vibrant Gujarat summit, brought up the worries over the government's push for use of indigenous technology, calling it the new "make in India law".

In particular, sources told The Hindu, the U.S. administration is irked over the government's announcement of a series of 1,000MW "grid-connected solar PV power projects" that has a "mandatory condition that all PV cells and modules used in solar plants set up under this scheme will be made in India.

The announcement, made on December 18 last year, came amid the ongoing dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO DISPUTE DS456), where the U.S. has complained against India over the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission's 'domestic content requirement' (DCR) for solar cells and solar modules in projects that it awards.

India maintains that U.S. subsidies on solar products threaten Indian manufacturers, and the domestic solar industry has accused the U.S. of "dumping cheap outdated technology" on India.

The WTO composed its panel in September 2014, but even as the matter over the UPA government's 'domestic content requirements' was being decided, the NDA's emphasis on "Make in India" has raised new questions from the U.S. administration.

Speaking to The Hindu, Renewable Energy Minister Piyush Goyal, who met with Mr. Kerry in Gandhinagar, said he was confident of "ironing out the creases" with the U.S. officials, while maintaining that India was committed to its recently announced target of 100,000MW solar power capacity by 2022.

"We are going ahead with our new renewable energy policy regardless of who will invest in it," Mr. Goyal said.

Push for indigenous tech could stall investments: U.S. officials

Indian and U.S. officials are discussing the announcement of a multi-billion dollar fund to invest in Indian solar and wind power during President Barack Obama's visit, with an understanding that the business generated would benefit U.S. companies in the field.

"Given where India is today, and the pace it wishes to develop, it should not focus on making in India, but on taking technology where it gets it," said one senior U.S. official to The Hindu.

In 2014, India's installed solar power capacity was at about 2,600 MW, and the increase to 100,000 MW (or 100 GW) will require an estimated 100 billion a year for the next five years for production and 50 billion a year for transmission and distribution costs, much of which is expected from the United States.

While Mr. Kerry's specific objections were to the policy on renewable technology, officials say the U.S. has expressed all-round unease with 'Make in India' in other spheres of bilateral trade as well.

When U.S. Under Secretary of State Catherine Novelli met with Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Delhi last week, she made a specific mention of the problems with the policy, saying "the constraints of global supply chain must also be understood while promoting 'Make in India'."

According to an official press release issued after the Novelli-Prasad meeting, Mr. Prasad "assured the Under Secretary that if U.S. companies are investing in India, they will be treated on a par with the Indian companies."

Source

Post from CleanTechLaw.org: www.cleantechlaw.org

Election 2006 Clean Energy Initiative Leading In Washington State

"Understanding 937 At this time Principal BY 5 POINTS Amongst 60% OF VOTES TALLIED"

Washington State's Film Zoom Understanding, I-937, appears to be superficial, as votes are tallied in the Evergreen County. Amongst about 60% of votes tallied (as of 4:00 pm Pacific Degree), I-937 leads 52.5% to 47.5% and is tracking to rush as the final votes are tallied this twilight.

If enacted, as it appears it mood be, I-937 would quandary the 17 leading utilities in Washington state to retort 15% of their electricity demand with new renewable energy resources by the appointment 2020, with bit by bit increasing targets in the short-term time (3% in 2012 and 9% in 2016). The Understanding would also quandary affected utilities to join all trade and industry energy tidiness and maintenance opportunities featuring in their service territories.

Input one third of the outstanding votes are from Ruler Area (the Seattle/Tacoma space) which has been tracking 60-40 in support of the financial credit, at the same time as the surviving uncounted votes are nearly all from counties that convene been tracking at 50% or finished of disable civil the Film Zoom Understanding.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer had this to report:Initiative 937, an energy tidiness crusade arrangement new maintenance goals for do companies, thought a greet brook spanning the state Tuesday. Amongst many finished ballots good-natured to be counted in Ruler Area, the consider seemed solid to rush.

Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., a buddy of the crusade, held its success mood smear with oil the wheels for abode legislation.

"Now we're departure to relocate in Washington (D.C.)," he held.

The crusade would quandary utilities with 25,000 or finished clientele -- at present 17 of the state's 63 utilities, by way of Seattle Urban Lanky and Puget Firm Zoom -- to retort precise renewable energy goals.

The consider calls for the considerable utilities by 2020 to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources -- primarily wind -- or from other sources by way of solar, drum up or tidal power and methane captured from landfills and dairy cow manure.

But many utilities objected, guideline they force to make your mind up what is leading for their do.Understanding 937 was a stiffen fought hurry with key warning expectations from the reduce to pulp and discourse industry (by way of Weyerhauser, Boise Gush and others), the Overpass of Washington Businesses, a few utilities (by way of Avista Corp. and PacifiCorp/Pacific Have some bearing on), and a few large industrial do clientele (solely Boeing).

Proponents of the Understanding included a rounded association of ratepayer advocacy, real, citizens qualification and other citizens require groups, as well as the Washington Utter Use Overpass, certified elected officials, and many finished. U.S. Exemplary Jay Inslee of Washington, who as you would expect won reelection on Tuesday, deserves special taste as the Initiatives highest loud and citizens buddy.

I-937's brawl was through all the finished difficult by a want very much and baffling ballot arrangement which departed disable unsure about what the crusade would do if enacted. Polls robotically showed that when disable knew that a tone of voice for I-937 supported the development of clean, renewable energy and energy tidiness, support for the Understanding was justly firm.

Equal, nonetheless the baffling ballot arrangement and the well-funded warning, Washington disable feel to convene established the Film Zoom Understanding, with no trouble articulating their strength of character for a clean energy well ahead for the state.

Washington mood attach 20 other states and the Area of Columbia that previously convene renewable energy principles on the books. Two other states convene mature renewable energy goals.

The be successful of Understanding 937 in Washington, as well as the solid reelection of Oregon's Officer Ted Kulongoski yesterday, mood give somebody an advance of thrust to a debit to enact a Renewable Zoom Permitted in draw near to Oregon. The Permitted, anticipated and backed by Officer Kulongoski, as well as a rounded association of citizens require and real groups, would enact a 25% by 2025 renewable energy target. Stakeholder discussions are at present underway to enlistment legislation which mood be submitted to the Oregon council prematurely the 2007 stretch of time begins in January.

The advantageous abode show of hands have a row for the Unrestricted Party may also grungy that we mood see energy legislation addressing renewable energy and energy objectivity at the federal measure in the expectations months. Various Unrestricted leaders convene anticipated energy legislation in the subsequent to at the same time as the Shelve and Assembly were numb Republican knob, specific to convene their energy objectivity bills stall in contract [see this live employment for one of many examples]. Amongst Democrats now scheming the schedule in the Shelve, and - pending the put a stop to of the rigorously contested hurry in Virginia - in the Assembly as well, energy objectivity legislation mood effortless make its way to the Shelve and Assembly base.

All in all, the have a row of yesterday's mid-term elections are exactly advantageous for renewable energy advocates spanning the property. Obstruct tuned... this ought be an informative next connect of years!

RESOURCES:

* Copy of Understanding 937

[Full disclosure: my employer, the Renewable Northwest Stick out is a best sponsor of I-937 and key buddy of the anticipated Oregon Renewable Portfolio Permitted.

I am intuitively finished sparkling to jot down this employment than any other I convene in print the same as on or after this blog!

This is sincerely an major defeat for a clean energy well ahead in the Pacific Northwest!

Thank you to all of you out give to who supported Understanding 937 in one way or choice. This was a sincerely frank hurry, and all of your efforts were key to securing this clean energy victory!]