The U.S. market for wind energy is something of a contradiction: it's one of the world's larger markets and fastest growing with its own supply chain, yet it's still heavily reliant upon a production tax credit, which was renewed at the last minute last December (yet late with enough uncertainty to chill many projects in the pipeline), and this time its renewal is even less certain.

After being shut out of previous renewable energy auctions, and delaying its own auction by two weeks, the state government of Pernambuco held the nation's first solar energy auction on December 27, registering 122.82 MW of energy, six times the country's current entire solar energy output (20 MW). The auction involved 34 bidders proposing roughly 1 GW of capacity; at the end it was narrowed to six companies from Brazil, Italy, Germany, China and Spain. Average price of power finished trading at 228.63 Brazilian reais/MWh (just under U.S. $97), about 9 percent lower than the starting price of R 250.

General Electric Co. is in talks to buy Alstom SA, the French builder of trains and power plants, people with knowledge of the matter said, in what would be GE’s biggest acquisition ever.

Ohio is debating the sharpest break from a three-decade campaign by 29 U.S. states to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by promoting power from renewable sources.

A first-of-its-kind study of net evaporation at a hydroelectric facility reveals that the project has very little effect on the loss of water to the atmosphere as compared with pre-impoundment conditions.

Collection of articles related to hydropower technology

Investors have spent more than $2 trillion on clean-energy plants in the past decade and last year added more renewable capacity than ever before.

Executives from 13 major U.S. corporations are announcing at least $140 billion in new investments to decrease their carbon footprints as part of a White House initiative to recruit private commitments ahead of a United Nations climate-change summit later this year in Paris.

Companies including Apple Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will join Secretary of State John Kerry and top administration officials at the White House for the announcement. In addition to pledges to cut emissions, provide financing to environmentally-focused companies, and reduce water consumption, the companies have said they will procure at least 1,600 MW of new, renewable energy. The White House said in a statement that it expects to announce a second round of similar pledges later this fall from additional companies.

The commitments are being announced as President Barack Obama is looking to build momentum toward a legacy-defining global climate accord in Paris. In addition to company-specific commitments, the corporate leaders on Monday will signal their support for a strong climate agreement out of the United Nations talks. They administration is using the pledges to set an example for companies to find ways to eliminate their carbon emissions.

Climate Talks

“As the world looks toward global climate negotiations in Paris this December, American leadership at all levels will be essential,” the White House said in a fact sheet detailing the announcement.

The administration’s actions are pushing the issue into the 2016 presidential debate. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, released an energy strategy saying she would both defend and go beyond Obama’s efforts. Republican candidates have criticized the administration’s initiatives as costly to the economy and unnecessary.

Among the pledges, aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Inc. has agreed to reduce emissions by 50 percent from its 2005 levels, while agricultural giant Cargill Inc. says 18 percent of its total energy use will come from renewable sources.

Coca-Cola Co. said it would drive down the carbon footprint of its beverage production by 25 percent over the next five years, while Google says it plans to triple its purchases of renewable energy over the next decade. Berkshire Hathaway says it plans to invest up to an additional $15 billion in the construction and operation of renewable energy generators, while Bank of America Corp says it will increase its environmental business initiative by $75 billion over the next decade, according to the White House

Other participating firms include Wal-Mart, United Parcel Service Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Microsoft Corp., General Motors Inc.

The corporate commitments won’t be the administration’s only major climate announcement in the next few weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to present final regulations that aim to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 later this week.

While visiting Kenya over the weekend, Obama repeatedly praised the country for its efforts to address climate change, saying its efforts tor educe emissions “has put it in the position of being a leader on the continent.” And next month, the president will travel to Alaska for an international summit on Arctic climate issues.

©2015 Bloomberg News

For more, see Big Companies, Big Renewable Investments.

Pakistani farmers seem to be losing interest in growing wheat because the government has failed to increase wheat price supports enough, growers say.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a claim of disability discrimination brought by a wheelchair user who was unable to travel on a bus because the designated wheelchair space was already occupied by a passenger with a child in a buggy. The Court of A...

By March 2016 new regulations will be in place that will require larger employers in the private and third sector to publish details of their gender pay gap ie the difference in pay between male and female employees. The new rules, which will come a...

The Chancellor set out a number of measures of interest to the property sector in his Pre-Budget Report on 24 November 2008. The key ones are: a reduction in the rate of VAT from 17.5 per cent to 15 per cent for the period 1 December 2008 to 31 D...

Yesterday the Government announced its response to the Law Commission’s report on Event Fees. “Event Fees” are common in the retirement living sector. They are  fees payable on certain events such as sale, subletting or change...

If the ‘Bill on Protection against Infectious Diseases 2020’ presently in the Senate is signed into law, anyone found transporting a corpse of someone who died of infectious disease would pay a fine of N2 million.

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FA licensed agent, Dr Drew Uyi, has stressed the need for African athletes and sports practitioners to embrace sports branding, saying it’s a gateway to competing at the top level and planning for life after retirement. Uyi advised African athletes to engage brand experts with a knowledge of their backgrounds, countries, cultures, inclinations and conditions,
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Western African maritime regions are prone to pirate activity, and it is expected that the number of incidents, notably those involving kidnapping for ransom, will increase in upcoming years. ......

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Libyan rebels have heavily attacked an airport in the capital Tripoli, killing six civilians and inflicting damage in and around the facility. Several civilians were also injured in the attack on Mitiga International Airport on Saturday, the country’s internationally-recognized government said. The Libyan Interior Ministry said at least 80 rockets were fired in the attack,...

The local federation has now banned the Rayon boss after he allegedly incited hatred and violence while he protested fines ......

Both West African greats won the lot at Stamford Bridge, but who had the greater influence in West London? ......

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The Plateau State Government on Saturday disclosed that most of the cases of COVID-19, which led to the number rising to 15 in state were all imported from outside the state, particularly from Kano and Lagos States. The State Government equally stated that out of the 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State, 7 […]

COVID-19: Most cases were imported from Kano, Lagos – Plateau Health Commissioner decries

In Germany, the provision of temporary personnel is strictly regulated by the German Temporary Employment Act (“AÜG”). The principle is straightforward: the agency is the employer and supplies the temporary employees to the hirer. A...

….As Forum laments crime rates amdist COVID-19 lockdown in Kaduna, Nigeria Kaduna based Islamic leader, Dr. Imam. Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa has expressed hundreds percent support for the ban on Almajiris systems, saying the system is out of fashion, and could no longer work in North. “it is unfortunate that people could born child that they […]

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COMMENT: The lockdown has seen us all spend time with our families or a close group of people in our own bubble, for a few weeks now. For us personally this has meant time with 10 in our bubble. One of our six kids, our eldest daughter,...

Almost 500 possible breaches of level-3 rules have been reported to police this weekend, as many Kiwis prepare for what they hope will be a move to level 2 this week.People flocked to beach suburbs and took waterfront walks in cities...

The tally of coronavirus (Covid-19) cases reported by 53 African Union (AU) members states by Saturday stood at 57 746 confirmed cases; and 2 151 deaths.

Authors: Ieva Otomere, Aris Kakstans delfi.lv 18.02.2013. On 4 February, 2013 sports world was shaken by “Europol” notice, in recent years’ organized crime affected results of at least 380 football matches, including World Cup and ...

150 soldiers said to be involved in the confrontation

GAINESVILLE, Florida: The decision to shelve detailed advice from the nation’s top disease control experts for reopening communities during the coronavirus pandemic came from the highest levels of the White House, according to internal government emails obtained, reported international...

GAINESVILLE, Florida: The decision to shelve detailed advice from the nation's top disease control experts for reopening communities during the coronavirus pandemic came from the highest levels of the White House, according to internal government emails obtained, reported international media. The...

The event had been scheduled to take place in October of this year, marking 75 years since the end of the second world war, but will now take place in 2021.

The WHO noted that China confirmed human-to-human transmision on Janurary 20, a day before the purported conversation between Jingping and Ghebreyesus

Dermer set to stay in Washington til US election, taking away plum post in crowded Likud

A majority of Israeli-Jews (51.7%) supported annexation and 8.8% of Israeli-Arabs supported it, while 27.9% of Israeli-Jews opposed it and 51.9% of Israel-Arabs were against it.

Although they are now forgotten in the minds of most Jews, their impact on conversos in Portugal and exiles from Spain cannot be underestimated.

The newest outbreak has largely been traced back to a truck driver who did not self-quarantine after being tested negative when he returned to the country

Mohamed assured that it’s a countrywide drive, and not an exclusively Rift Valley project.

Hong Kong recorded at least one new imported coronavirus case on Sunday, ending a string of three days with no reported infections. The tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases now moves to at least 1,045. The last time the city recorded new infections was on Thursday, when four imported cases were revealed. At least eight new infections have been recorded so far this month, all imported – cases involving people with recent travel history. Health authorities have previously said the deadly…

Taxi drivers say some customers spend $100 a week on fares to and from work

While 62 percent of transportation has been restored, locals say bus service has been left behind