Planet Relations

Today, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory based in Golden, CO released the Western Wind and Solar Integration Study. The goal of the study is to better understand the costs and operating impacts due to the variability and uncertainty of wind, photovoltaic, and concentrated solar power. The study found that a 35-percent target for wind and [...]

In a speech delivered yesterday at The Brookings Institute, President Obama announced a series of proposals to boost job growth. Acknowledging that the federal government must be fiscally prudent, he indicated that additional funding would come from “savings” from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP. According to the Associated Press, the Administration now estimates [...]

The second of the two main smart grid funding announcements (DE-FOA-38) from DOE was issued today by Secretary Chu while visiting Columbus, Ohio. According to the Department’s press release, the award includes $620 million for projects around the country to demonstrate advanced smart grid technologies and integrated systems that will help build a smarter, more [...]

Last week, the California Legislature reached an agreement to overhaul California’s water system. The plan is comprised of four policy bills and an $11.14 billion bond. After the all-night negotiating session, Governor Schwarzenegger held a press conference announcing the legislation. He later signed several of the bills. On Monday, he signed SBX7-2 at a ceremony [...]

Following in the wake of the $3.4 billion smart grid stimulus funding, the Department of Energy yesterday announced roughly $30 million in grants to seven hydroelectric facilities nationwide. The projects will produce about 187,000 MWh/year, enough to power more than 12,000 homes. An important theme of the announcement was the incremental generation potential of the [...]

UPDATE: Grant awards (pdf) by category, state, or map-overlay. The White House held a press briefing on Monday evening to announce that President Obama would be awarding $3.4 billion in Smart Grid grants. Administration officials included Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change; Jared Bernstein, Chief Economist and Economic Policy Adviser [...]

This whole week, National Public Radio is examining the costs, the politics, and other challenges of upgrading the country's electricity grid. From discussing the state of the grid to siting much-needed new transmission lines to how best to accommodate the intermittent nature of renewable power, the series covers the important issues faces our nation's energy [...]

Artist Robert Shetterly from Maine has painted over 68 portraits of "Americans Who Tell the Truth."   According to Rob's website, he 'intends to remind people of the dignity, courage and importance of some of America's truth tellers…" The portraits, along with short bios, are available on his website. A collection of the first 50 [...]

According to the Slate Green Challenge, my annual carbon emissions are 12,725 lbs. That's equivalent to the emissions from 1.25 passenger cars. I'll try to reduce these using the Green Challenge. Average carbon emissions (lbs) per year, per person: United States: 44,312 Qatar: 117,064 France: 13,668 India: 2,645 Kenya: 440 Start the Slate Green Challenge [...]

We're pleased to announce that Planet Relations has been selected for Who's Green 2007, published by Ecotone Publishing. According to Ecotone, Who’s Green© 2007 is an annual directory "designed to serve as the pre-eminent resource book for locating firms, companies, organizations and institutions that are actively participating in the growth of the green building industry.[It] [...]