Obama touts new $15 million initiative on solar power. "The new initiative comes as the White House is hosting a Solar Summit aimed at highlighting successful efforts on the local level to speed the deployment of solar energy. Although some large solar plants are coming online and it is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, it accounts for roughly 1 percent of the nation's electricity generation....In an effort to make it easier for state, local and tribal governments to expand their solar portfolios, the Energy Department is launching a $15 million-dollar 'Solar Market Pathways' program." Juliet Eilperin and Katie Zezima in The Washington Post.
U.S. also will fund cutting-edge renewable energy programs. "As much as $4 billion in loan guarantees may be available for cutting-edge renewable energy technologies, the U.S. Department of Energy said. The Energy Department issued a draft loan guarantee for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that would avoid, reduce or sequester greenhouse gases found to be linked to climate change." Daniel J. Graeber in UPI.
But a new government watchdog report won't help Obama's PR push. "Long before the Energy Department lost $68 million on Abound Solar, a manufacturer that went bankrupt two years ago, it should have known that the company's chance of repaying the loan it had guaranteed was deteriorating, according to a report by the department's inspector general. The damning report was issued as the Obama administration prepared to offer as much as $8 billion in additional loan guarantees. The loan guarantee program has been a magnet for criticism since the failure of Solyndra in 2011; that company took $528 million in loans guaranteed by the Energy Department." Matthew L. Wald in The New York Times.
Oklahoma will likely tax people who generate their own energy with solar panels. John Aziz in The Week.
Other energy/environmental reads:
Hydraulic fracturing giants meet their climate demon. Ben Geman in National Journal.
Oil and gas activity in full rebound in Gulf four years after BP oil spill. Jennifer Larino in The Times-Picayune.
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