Every so often I review articles from:
1. U.S. Renewable Energy Action is Brewing in Cities and States: to quote:"Viewing the progress of clean tech in the U.S. through the lens of national politics can get pretty depressing. Continual gridlock on Capitol Hill, the federal budget sequester, key leadership positions (like administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency) being held hostage by partisan politics - it all makes fertile ground for breeding cynicism and despondency."
However, the report goes on to say that many states and metropolitan areas are leading the way towards sustainability. The National 2013 U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index was released two days ago:
If you click on that map the size increases so you can read the rankings. California is #1 and Hawaii is #10. Mississippi sits at the bottom.
"Hawaii's Public Utilities Commission performed a remarkable public service by delivering "a stinging rebuke to Hawaiian Electric Company" for wide-ranging practices that tended to pad the pockets of their shareholders at the expense of consumers by maintaining non-progressive renewable energy policies. This was somewhat unexpected because the relatively new chairperson, Mina Morita, our legislative leader for green energy when she was a State Representative, was reasonably accommodating to the local utilities, and regularly included their employees on her staff, until that became an issue. This STAR ADVERTISER" editorial was somewhat arcane, but well explained the situation.
2. The Solar Duel: China vs. the United States, also includes Europe, for both are being compromised by the massive exportation of China's silicon photovoltaic systems. Prices have precipitously fallen, a boon to consumers, but a danger to the general health of this global industry.
"China and the U.S., and China and the E.U., are in the midst of a blame game as the solar industry is on the brink of collapse - and the tensions could infect technology and commercial development globally, says John Deutch, the lead author of the study and Institute Professor at MIT". "All the players should understand that the PV industry is globally linked, and jobs and profits are available for those who manufacture and for those who innovate. Given the complex but productive relationships, nations need to find a way to better work together rather than flirt with protectionist measures.
The European Union has taken steps:
EU IMPOSES DUTIES ON CHINESE SOLAR PANELS, BUT KEEPS DOOR AJAR FOR TALKS
Of course, we, too did this two weeks ago:
U.S. IMPOSES TARIFFS ON CHINESE SOLAR PANELS
China has figured out that you can make money from the sun and winds, and now leads the world. How do our two nations compare?
3. The title is sufficient, if you've been on the market for a PV system:
IS SOLAR AT RISK OF BECOMING AS TRUSTED AS A USED CAR SALESMAN?
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