Iowa Global Warming

The Global Wind Energy Council, a trade association based in Brussels, estimates that wind power capacity grew by 31 percent worldwide in 2009, with 37.5 additional gigawatts installed, bringing global wind power capacity to 157.9 gigawatts.

China accounted for a third of the new capacity, and the Chinese market experienced more than 100 percent growth.

According to the trade group, more than 500,000 people are now employed by the wind power industry around the world, and the market for wind turbine installations last year was worth about $63 billion. The primary markets today are in Asia, Europe and North America.

“The continued rapid growth of wind power despite the financial crisis and economic downturn is testament to the inherent attractiveness of the technology, which is clean, reliable and quick to install,” said Steve Sawyer, the secretary general of the council, in a statement issued late last week. “Wind power has become the power technology of choice a growing number of countries around the world.”

The market in the United States grew by 39 percent with nearly 10 gigawatts of new capacity installed in 2009. The total installed and grid-connected capacity in the United States is now about 35 gigawatts, according to the trade group’s assessment.

“The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all installation records in 2009, chalking up the Recovery Act as a historic success in creating jobs, avoiding carbon, and protecting consumers,” said Denise Bode, the chief executive of the American Wind Energy Association. But, she added, “U.S. wind turbine manufacturing is down compared to last year’s levels, and needs long-term policy certainty and market pull in order to grow.”

Some analysts, citing the global financial crisis, had predicted a drop in wind power development in the United States by up to 50 percent, according to the Global Wind Energy Council.

China, meanwhile, doubled its capacity from 12.1 gigawatts in 2008 to 25.1 gigawatts by the end of last year.

Combined with new installations in India, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, Asia accounted for more than 14 gigawatts of new capacity in 2009.

Read story here

Benjamin Julian, Environmental Law & Policy Center’s Iowa intern; wrote a letter to the editor for the “Des Moines Register” published in the Sunday Feb. 7 “opinion” page.

A New York Times Jan. 31 article, “China Leading Global Race to Make Clean Energy,” discussed how China is getting ahead of the curve when it comes to clean-energy production.

Though many would find this ridiculous – due to China’s history of environmental degradation and frenzied industrial development – the consequences are very real.

Now, more than ever, green jobs are moving overseas due to a concerted effort to stall clean-energy development in the United States.

In no way are President Barack Obama’s plans for clean energy perfect, but the United States is falling dangerously behind on creating a favorable market for renewable energy.

The ideological battle between Republicans and Democrats in Washington has severely hampered the nation’s ability to produce the next generation of infrastructure and energy. Instead, we have instances of Chinese companies contracting out to wind farm operations in Texas.

Of Iowa’s five major wind-turbine manufacturers, two are from Europe. When will America catch up when it comes to renewable energy?

By Julie Schmit, USA TODAY 

The number of clean-energy jobs in the U.S. would more than double by 2025 if the nation adopts a plan to get 25% of its electricity from renewable energy sources, says a report backed by energy firms.Nationwide, 274,000 jobs would be created in the wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and waste-to-energy industries by 2025 if a 25% standard is adopted, says research firm Navigant Consulting. Those sectors now support about 196,000 jobs.

Navigant did the study for the RES Alliance for Jobs, a consortium of renewable energy companies and others that recommends national renewable electricity targets of 12% in 2014 and 20% in 2020.

Unlike three dozen other countries, including China, the U.S. doesn’t have a national standard to drive use of renewable energy, although it’s being debated in Congress. President Obama has pushed for 25% renewables by 2025. Meanwhile, 30 states have renewable standards. Five have set goals.

But company executives say state standards are often unenforceable and lack the punch of a national standard that would more forcefully drive use of renewables. That would entice companies to put manufacturing and operations in the U.S. as opposed to other countries, they say.

“We’re building this industry right now,” says Don Furman, senior vice president of Iberdrola Renewables, a leading wind farm developer. “We’re really in a footrace with China and Europe to secure these jobs long term. When you create demand, you really create jobs.”

Losing jobs to China

Navigant’s research, based in part on interviews with dozens of energy firms and suppliers, found that every state would see job growth with a 25% standard.

The biggest winners include states already strong in wind power generation or manufacturing, including Texas, Pennsylvania and Colorado. California, a leading solar state, would also be a big beneficiary.

The Southeast, meanwhile, would gain jobs in biomass, which includes turning wood and agricultural products into energy, Navigant says.

On the flip side, many states will lose clean-energy jobs if no national standard is passed, Navigant says. Texas, for one, could lose more than 2,500 jobs given its already big presence in wind and expiring tax credits for wind projects, Navigant says.

Without a strong national standard, Furman says, the U.S. wind industry could even lose jobs, especially to China. Last year, China became the No. 1 maker of wind turbine equipment. It’s also the No. 1 maker of solar cells for solar panels.

While the federal government pumped $150 million in stimulus funds into renewable energy, China is moving faster, Obama told governors Wednesday, while calling for more ethanol production and technology to limit pollution from coal.

Southeast raises concerns

A national electricity standard has faced opposition from Southeastern lawmakers, who fear that it’ll benefit states with big wind and good sun. Southeastern states are largely dependent on coal and nuclear power.

“We’re not opposed to renewables, but we’re of the opinion that states should come up with their own plans,” says David Wright, past president and current commissioner of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. If the Southeast benefits from growth in biomass, he wonders if it’ll lose jobs if coal plants close.

Renewable energy also remains more expensive than coal. Mandates that drive up its use could result in higher energy prices, which could result in lost jobs, says Max Schulz, analyst at the Manhattan Institute, a free-market think tank.

“There’s no question that if you have a national standard, you’ll see an increase in green jobs,” Schulz says. “But you’ll also have harmful effects.”

 Full story here

Its time for the weekly news update, brought to you by the Iowa Global Warming Campaign! Scroll down for short descriptions of interesting articles that ran around the country this week.

Kenneth Lieberthal, a former National Security Council Officer under President Clinton, announced this week that he believes the only way the U.S. can adequately address international greenhouse gas emissions is to hold a joint climate summit with China. In what would be a departure from the happenings of recent years, Lieberthal recommended that “We should use Sino-U.S. cooperation in order to create momentum for other countries’ efforts, which will in turn increase the chances for success at the global climate negotiations.” Read more here

The Obama team released their long-awaited budget proposal Thursday morning and revealed that in an effort to reduce the ever growing deficit, would be counting expected revenues from a yet-to-be-enacted carbon Cap and Trade system. Just how much money do they expect will be collected by the selling of Carbon emission permits? By 2012, the administration expects to raise $78.6 billion dollars in funding, and between 2012-2019, an additional $640 Billion. Read more about the proposed bill, how it would work and when it would likely start to take effect here

The week’s biggest disappointment was the “total failure” of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory Satellite, which crash-landed into the ocean near Antarctica early Wednesday morning. The Taurus XL Rocket was the product of a $270 million project, and was completely destroyed when it failed to enter orbit due to a malfunctioning protective shell. Read more here

Finally, a sign that the campaign against plastic bags is working; UK stores distributed 3.5 Billion fewer plastic bags this year than last, a change of 26.6%. One company, Britain’s largest retailer Tesco, was responsible for reducing the need for 2 Billion of those bags through a “consumer rewards” program, which gave store credit for those shopping with canvas bags. The plan has worked so well that retailers are looking now to reduce the number of plastic bags to 50% of their 2006 levels by May. Though the changes so far have all resulted from consumer industries making (and keeping) their own commitments. However, should they fail to do so in the future, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs noted that it would retain its right to institute a fee if the need for one should arise.

Thats all for this week! Be sure to check in next week for more news stories, and perhaps an account of my weekend spent at Powershift in DC!

December crude oil contracts plunged below $69 as the specter of collapsing demand weighs on markets, Bloomberg reports. It’s worrying OPEC: Iran is now talking of a 2.5 million barrel cut, though the cartel’s divisions often come to the fore when prices are falling, also in Bloomberg. OPEC can at least shoot for a price band again thanks to its newfound spare production capacity, notes the NYT. Spare capacity being what Russia wants, signalling it won’t join OPEC in any cuts, in Bloomberg.

Elsewhere the oil-production situation is gloomy. Africa provided 25% of new reserves in the last decade, but the perfect storm of violence, depleted fields, and financial turmoil threatens the continent’s output, in the WSJ (sub reqd.). Same for Mexico, where new oil-sector laws to goose production are politically viable but tecnically little help, also in the WSJ (sub reqd.). Meanwhile, a planned gas cartel between Iran, Russia, and Qatar will likely have little impact given natural gas’ different trading characteristics, in Voice of America.

Kirk Kerkorian’s frustration with Ford is the latest no-confidence vote in Detroit, notes the NYT. And the promised $25 billion federal bailout could take 6 to 18 months to materialize, in the WaPo. In comparison, alternative-fuel car markers like Tesla aren’t in such bad shape, notes Earth2Tech, though Tesla is also waiting on Washington for much-needed money.

Tom Friedman yearns for $4 gasoline and all the changes it wrought, renewing his calls for a green buildout to save the economy. He’s not alone. Van Jones, best-selling green-collar author, says the time has come for Green Keynesianism, in the Huffington Post. Google CEO Eric Schmidt renews his calls for federal investment in a smart grid at an Obama event, in Washington Wire. And now that regulation isn’t a dirty word, Washington can embrace sensible, cost-benefit analysis to revitalize environmental regulation, at TNR’s The Vine.

Chinese emissions could grow faster than expected in coming decades, in Reuters. But figuring out how to curb emissions around the world is tough, with the EU balking at proposals to include afforestation in any emissions-credit scheme, in Green Inc. The emissions market is still attractive, with Nasdaq the latest exchange jumping on the bandwagon, in the WSJ (sub reqd.).

General Electric hopes clean energy will help pull it through tough times, forecasting $17 billion in comagination sales this year, at Green Biz. The spate of clean-tech-is-battered stories are just the latest round of newspapers shooting the wounded after the battle, says Joe Romm at Climate Progress. And Grist dives into the GAO report on clean coal, and finds U.S. policy is on the wrong track to quickly develop cleaner ways to use the nation’s big coal reserves.

Wal Mart puts pressure on Chinese suppliers to clean up their act, with a new slate of environmental standards unveiled in Beijing, in the NYT. It couldn’t come at a worse time for many small suppliers, notes the WSJ (sub reqd.), wondering who will pay for it all. Perhaps that’s why Wal Mart sweetened the pill with a special appearance by Cameron Diaz, at the China Journal.