Category: renewable

Labor Refuses Greens’ Proposal to Ban Coal and Gas Projects in Climate Safeguard Mechanism

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has brushed off the Greens’ proposal to ban coal and gas developments as the centre-left government seeks to pass the climate safeguard mechanism in the upper house. Labor’s safeguard mechanism, which would deal the resource sector a heavy blow, would mandate Australia’s 215 businesses that emit the highest…


Labor Puts $70 Million Towards New Hydrogen Hub in Australia’s Queensland

Australia’s Prime Minister has invested $70 million (US$48.87 million) to build a hydrogen hub in northern Queensland as part of Labor’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 43 percent in 2030. Speaking to reporters at Townsville, Queensland, Anthony Albanese said the plan is part of a half-a-billion dollar program that Australia’s centre-left Labor government is investing in…


California Companies Swindle Green Energy Consumers: Expert

California utility companies are mixing coal- or gas-sourced energy with renewable energy, like solar-and wind-sourced, and packaging it to consumers as “green energy”—a process known as “green washing,” Jim Phelps, a 35-year veteran engineering contractor and utility rate analyst, said during an interview with Epoch TV’s “California Insider.” The first greenwashing method energy companies use…


California Regulators Propose Reducing Incentives for Rooftop Solar

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California regulators proposed major changes to the state’s booming residential solar industry Monday, including reducing the discounts homeowners with rooftop solar and storage systems get on their electric bills when they sell extra energy back to the power companies. California’s successful program to get more people to put solar panels on their homes has…


GM Flags Concern Over Renewable Energy in Mexico, Sees Investment Risk

MEXICO CITY—A senior executive of carmaker General Motors (GM) raised concern about the future of renewable energy usage in Mexico, saying that without a solid legal basis for it, automotive investment in Latin America’s No. 2 economy would suffer. Francisco Garza, chief executive of GM Mexico, spoke as debate rages over a Mexican government proposal…


Germany Slashes Energy Surcharge to Help Consumers Weather Soaring Prices

FRANKFURT—Germany will cut a power surcharge levied on consumers to support renewable energy by 42.7 percent to help households cope with soaring energy prices, network operators said on Friday. Germany and other governments in Europe are seeking to provide relief for consumers as gas prices skyrocket. The reduction in the German levy, to 3.723 euro…


Los Angeles to Invest $30 Million to Reach 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2035

The City of Los Angeles announced on Sept. 27 that it will invest $30 million to help achieve its goal of 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2035. The funds will go toward a program that will create solar energy and storage options in city-owned buildings across Los Angeles. This year’s city budget allotted…


Australia’s Largest Energy Company Splits in Two to Cope With Falling Energy Prices

Australia’s largest energy producer and retailer, AGL Energy, will be dividing itself into two new companies that will focus separately on energy production and retail. Announcing the changes on March 30, AGL said it would divide into New AGL, which would take care of AGL’s multi-product retail side, including the delivery of electricity, gas, internet, and mobile…


Texas Power Crisis Highlights Fragility of Growing Dependency on ‘Unreliable’ Sources of Energy: Expert

The brutal cold snap that crippled Texas’ power system and spread to other states, leading to blackouts in over four million homes and businesses, highlighted the growing vulnerability of the grid to increased dependency on less reliable sources of energy like wind and solar, an expert told NTD in an interview. Jason Isaac, a former…