State Of The Day: Massachusetts
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.19.07
With the US Congress still making no real progress with energy and climate issues, the US States are in a clear lead. Yesterday we mentioned the coal vs wind debate in Pennsylvania. Today's State Of The Day is Massachusetts, which, leveraging the just released US PIRG report, is challenging itself as well as the other US states to go for renewable electricity standards and green jobs.
"America now generates twice as much electricity from the wind and the sun as it did just four years ago. RES policies have been among the most important factors in encouraging the development of renewable energy. The new report, Reaping the Rewards, documents the benefits that have already been achieved by states that have adopted renewable electricity standards."
""In Massachusetts, if we expand and improve our renewable electricity standard to reach beyond 2009, as now defined, we can fuel the kind of clean energy boom that other states are already seeing. At the same time, a nation-wide RES will give America the kind of advantages that RES states are seeing." said Diana Connett, Energy Associate with Environment Massachusetts."
"In Massachusetts, Evergreen Solar just broke ground last week on a new manufacturing facility, following Gov. Patrick's earlier announcement committing Massachusetts to reach 250 megawatt capacity for solar power. RES policies play an important role in attracting manufacturing facilities by making a long-term commitment to building the market for renewable energy technologies."
TreeHugger adds: Get the technical details on Evergreen's technology here, on the Energy Blog.
Get the full report here (pdf format).
Reaping the Rewards found that the 24 RES states are leading the way in renewable energy development.. In 2006, more than two-thirds of all new renewable electric generating capacity in the United States was built in RES states.
. In Massachusetts, the short span of the standard along with a too-low price cap have allowed electricity providers to get away without investing in real renewable energy, and so Massachusetts gets less than 2% of its energy from new clean, renewable sources.
. In 2007, renewables account for about 38 percent of planned capacity additions in RES states, compared to just 12 percent in non-RES states. There are currently 3 megawatts of renewable energy capacity proposed in Massachusetts.
Via:: Environment Massachusetts and US PIRG Image credit::Evergreen Solar made panels on farm shed, from Energy Blog.
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Lets not forget that for the last six years the Cape Wind project (what could be the nations first offshore wind farm) has been held up mostly by the filthy rich who don't want to look at them. Including but not limited to Ted Kennedy. Meanwhile Texas (not known for its liberal leanings) is the nations number one supplier of wind power. More here.
What I find odd is that if you look at the wind potential for the entire state of Texas, the panhandle (area near Amarillo) is as good if not better area for wind, and is mostly miles of flat farmland.
It would not get hit by a hurricane, and would seem to be cheaper and easier to maintain a wind plant near Amarillo than off shore.
What would happen if this was done in every state?On every grid connected home.Would we need coal power plants?Would the clean power it generated get rid of dirty power?