September 4, 2009
The Environmental Protection Agency has revised the qualifications for televisions to achieve the ENERGY STAR label, requiring TVs to be 40% more energy efficient than conventional models. These requirements will help consumers save even more energy and money and fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while allowing them to continue to enjoy the [...] Read More
September 3, 2009
The Kodiak Daily Mirror recently chronicled the christening of the new wind turbine project on Pillar Mountain on Kodiak Island. The utility estimates the new turbines – the first in the state that can each produce more than a megawatt – could produce enough power to eliminate the need for 800,000 gallons of diesel each [...] Read More
September 2, 2009
APRN reports on new federal stimulus funding for people upgrading to more energy efficiency appliances. Alaska has about $650,000 for the program, but the details of how it would be doled out and who would be eligible are still being worked out. AHFC also has a short update on the program. Read More
September 2, 2009
Bloomberg News reports on Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and IHI Corp. joining a 2 trillion yen ($21 billion) Japanese project intended to build a giant solar-power generator in space within three decades and beam electricity to earth. Read More
September 2, 2009
The issue of a natural gas shortfall in Cook Inlet and the potential for rolling brownouts this winter in Anchorage and other Railbelt communities was the focus of a House Energy Special Committee meeting on Sept. 1. It was covered by KTUU, and KTVA. The Petroleum News also published a story about the issue. The [...] Read More
September 2, 2009
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of national laboratory-led projects for up to $11 million this year, as well as future years, subject to annual appropriations, under DOE’s competitive laboratory solicitation for the development of Advanced Water Power Technologies. These projects will advance the science needed to accelerate the commercial viability, market [...] Read More
August 31, 2009
The Denali Education Center unveiled its new solar water heating system this week. The system includes 1,300 square feet of flat-panel thermal collectors and is expected to save up to $9,000 a year in energy costs. Congrats to REAP members ABS Alaskan Inc., which did the design and installation, and to Golden Valley Electric Association [...] Read More
August 31, 2009
Lots of talk in the press today about Europe’s new restrictions on the sale of incandescent bulbs. The restrictions, which go into effect today, have been met with varying degrees of enthusiasm. This story from the New York Times Green Inc. blog notes other countries are ahead of Europe. Australia already has a ban, and [...] Read More
August 28, 2009
The Alaska Journal of Commerce’s Rob Stapleton had a nice profile today on REAP member Bernie Karl. Bernie is the owner of Chena Hot Springs resort and has pioneered the use of geothermal energy at the resort, located 56 miles east of Fairbanks. Read More
August 28, 2009
Kate Galbraith of the New York Times’ Green Blog Inc. reports on how prices for solar panels are dropping in a story entitled More Sun for Less. The biggest factor driving the lower prices is an increase in production of polysilicon, which goes into most types of panels and which had been in short supply. [...] Read More
