Government needs to act in solar case

The UK solar industry could face months of "paralysis" because the of the inadequate actions of the government in dealing with the industry. The government needs to act quickly according to a leading renewable energy company.

The double whammy of the High Court ruling that the reduction in Feed-in-Tariffs was “legally flawed” together with a Parliamentary report which labelled the process “clumsy” has further rocked one of the brightest sectors in the UK economy. The Government now faces having to go back to the drawing board in order to put in place a new consultation process to find a feed-in-tariff rate for domestic solar PV schemes more acceptable to the industry. Read more ...

Producers request hearing over Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS)

Producers in the US have approached the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to request a hearing over to discuss the Renewable Fuel Standard’s (RFS) impact on the economy. “In light of the ongoing pressures that the RFS is placing on the domestic feed grain supplies, something must be done to protect livestock and poultry producers from excessively high corn prices because of the rigid RFS compliance system,” the groups told Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D- California) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma). Read more ...

Power plant looks to sorghum instead of coal as a fuel

Rio Bravo Poso Cogeneration Facility

A power plant in the US is looking to move away from coal and petroleum as its fuel, and is looking at a strain of sorghum bred specifically for its high heat content, drought tolerance and ability to grow on marginal land. There are issues to be worked out, one of which is is the cost of producing enough sorghum to keep the plant running 24 hours a day. "This is a bit of a R&D project," said Steve Gross, a regional manager for one of the power plant's co-owners. Biomass, as the technology is known, is hardly new to Kern County California. Read more ...