Solar and Wind's blog

Since the launch of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, in late 2010, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) have become more widely available in Asia Pacific, North America, and Western Europe. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which first appeared a decade earlier, are now selling steadily in those regions as well. According to a new report from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, annual worldwide sales of these vehicles, collectively referred to as electric vehicles (EVs), will reach 3.8 million by 2020.

Congress has included the long-sought extension of wind energy tax credits in final passage of a bill to avert the "fiscal cliff" that now moves to President Obama for his expected signature.

America's 75,000 workers in wind energy are celebrating tonight over the continuation of policies expected to save up to 37,000 jobs and create far more over time, and to revive business at nearly 500 manufacturing facilities across the country. The extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC)--and Investment Tax Credits for community and offshore projects--will allow continued growth of the energy source that installed the most new electrical generating capacity in America last year, with factories or wind farms in all 50 states.

The version included in tonight's deal would cover all wind projects that start construction in 2013. Companies that manufacture wind turbines and install them sought that definition to allow for the 18-24 months it takes to develop a new wind farm.

Sales of electric cars in Britain are expected to double in 2013 as cheaper models enter the market and the number of charging points increases.

Numbers of fully electric cars are expected to grow from 3,000 to 6,000, according to Ben Lane, managing editor of the website nextgreencar.com. He warned, however, that the switch to electric vehicles was still moving slowly.

December 20, 2012. On December 18, 2012, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced its affirmative final determinations in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of utility scale wind towers from China (AD/CVD) and Vietnam (AD).

The AD and CVD laws provide U.S. businesses, workers, and farmers with a transparent and internationally approved mechanism to seek relief from the market distorting effects caused by injurious dumping and subsidization of imports into the United States, and thus to have an opportunity to compete on a level playing field.

For the purpose of AD investigations, dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value. For the purpose of CVD investigations, countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production of goods from foreign companies and are limited to specific enterprises or industries, or are contingent either upon export performance or upon the use of domestic goods over imported goods.

As we close out 2012 and look ahead to 2013, what is in store for solar manufacturers, installers and everyone in between? Market research firm IHS foresees little relief from some of the key challenges that rocked the industry this year, but positive signs are also appearing.

"The photovoltaic industry is in the midst of wrenching change - buffeted by government incentive cuts and nose-diving prices that has hurt solar suppliers worldwide, rocked by trade disputes among its major players, and hamstrung by a sputtering global economy," says Ash Sharma, director of solar research at IHS.

The Arlington County Board voted against a recommendation to place 40 electric taxicabs on area streets in what could have been the first all-electric taxi fleet in the US. EVA/DC members Eric Cardwell and Lanny Hartmann were at the meeting when they voted.

Board member Jay Fisette initiated the motion to award 40 taxi certificates to EV Taxicabs. Fellow board member, Libby Garvey, supported the motion.

In his remarks, Mr. Fisette said, "the bulk of the testimony, the bulk of the letters have been supportive of the Manager's recommendation around the EV cabs. I see this as a very effective leveraging of resources through a public / private partnership." He added, "This is exactly the kind of innovation, the kind of opportunity that is needed for us to meet the goals we've adopted in the community energy plan to date around reducing greenhouse gases, competitiveness and energy security."