Incentives
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SBO Roundtable: Pacific Power's Reiten on renewables
In Friday's print edition of the Portland Business Journal, we'll be running several pieces culled from a late-May Sustainable Business Oregon roundtable. The event tackled the topic of policy, more specifically,…
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Furman wants Portland and Oregon to give Greenbrier reasons to stick around
In discussing why he’s laying off at least 200 workers and moving another 50 out of Portland proper, Greenbrier Cos. CEO Bill Furman insists he’s not seeking retention-related incentives. Still, Furman’s…
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Feds offer $150M in clean energy tax credits
The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Treasury have announced $150 million in energy manufacturing tax credits for clean energy and energy efficiency manufacturing projects in the U.S. The Advanced…
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My EV isn't my valentine, but there's a lot to love
My interest in electric vehicles began back in the late 1990s, when my husband and I converted a 1987 Fiat Spider. It was a challenge and a conversation starter. I embraced the cutting-edge technology…
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Oregon energy loan program under scrutiny
A powerful lawmaker wants the Legislature to investigate a popular state loan program that recently made headlines for a series of bad loans, including a loan to ReVolt Technology, a battery technology…
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Energy Trust has $1M for large solar project developers
Energy Trust of Oregon put out a call this week for large solar projects that would operate in Portland General Electric's territory or sell power to the utility. The nonprofit has $1 million in its budget…
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Pennsylvania reopens its solar rebate program
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection got $7.25 million to temporarily reopen its popular Sunshine Solar Rebate program which was put into wait-list mode August 2011. The current pot…
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Progress Energy looking to slash solar incentives in the Carolinas
Progress Energy Carolinas plans to cut rebates in half for customers who install solar panels on their homes, the company said in a regulatory filing this week. The utility, a subsidiary of Duke Energy…
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NY Gov. Cuomo proposes $1B 'green bank' to invest in cleantech
In his state of the state address this week New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hit on a lot of national hot buttons including gun control and education reform. But tucked into the speech was his declaration that…
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Pay-for-production solar incentive proving viable in Oregon
A two-year report on the pilot program launched in 2010 to create a solar incentive where utilities pay panel owners for the power they generate indicates that the program is viable and coexists well with…
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Gamesa plans layoff at wind turbine plant despite PTC extension
Despite the good news from Washington this week on the wind production tax credit, Spanish wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa is still planning to lay off 92 workers at its plant in Pennsylvania's Cambria…
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Incentive applications flood Oregon energy department
The holiday season comes with a tongue-in-cheek gift for workers at the Oregon Department of Energy this year: 440 applications for the final awards of the Business Energy Tax Credit program. That’s…
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Cincinnati to boost green building incentives
The city of Cincinnati will announce proposed amendments to its tax abatement program for buildings built in adherence to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, standards. Sponsors of…
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Production Tax Credit is key to U.S. energy security
As a West Point Army Captain who served in the Infantry, I became accustomed to using state-of-the-art technology and tools. Like many veterans transitioning out of service, I sought job opportunities…
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PacifiCorp report: Wind integration getting cheaper
A biannual report from PacifiCorp that analyzes the cost of integrating wind power into its energy mix shows that cheap natural gas prices have dramatically reduced those costs over the last two years. Because…
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Solar companies eye boom-bust business in the post-'Solarize' era
Over the past four years, the Solarize movement has inspired thousands of Oregon homeowners to adapt solar electric energy. But even as Solarize spreads nationwide, many initial participants wonder whether…
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Kitzhaber to urge Congress to pass wind tax credit extension
Gov. John Kitzhaber on Tuesday will play a leading role in urging Congress to immediately pass an extension of the federal Production Tax Credit for wind energy. The Governors Wind Energy Coalition, a…
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Vestas plans to cut 2,000 more jobs, may sell 20% stake
Vestas Wind Systems A/S put out an interim financial report Wednesday indicating ongoing financial uncertainty and announcing plans to cut an additional 2,000 jobs in 2013. The company is also considering…
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Energy Trust releases tool for calculating wind energy potential
Energy Trust of Oregon has a new online tool for anyone curious whether a wind turbine on their property would be worth the investment. The online wind resource calculator is designed for customers of…
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Energy Trust says programs saved Oregon utility customers $233M
The Energy Trust of Oregon on Thursday said it saved customers of regional utilities $233 million on their energy bills in 2011. The Portland-based, utility-funded nonprofit group since 2002 has issued…
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Power plant that grows tomatoes could bring 120 jobs to Dallas, Ore.
A $60 million project proposed in Dallas, Ore., will produce natural gas-fired electricity, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers and — if it evolves as planned — 120 permanent jobs. Dubbed the Willamette…
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Vestas announces a 1,400 round of job cuts
Vestas Wind Systems A/S officials said Thursday the company would cut 1,400 jobs, on top of 2,300 in layoffs announced earlier this year. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the move would bring…
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Report: Vestas to detail layoff plans this week
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is expected to give details this week about plans to layoff as many as 1,600 U.S. workers, most of them in Colorado, as a standoff in Congress has stalled the passage of a key tax…
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New York Gov. Cuomo signs bills for new solar incentive
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed a series of bills Friday as part of the NY-Sun initiative that make solar energy more affordable for New York businesses and homeowners. The laws include statewide tax credits…
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Wind energy tally shows momentum
An annual report from the U.S. Department of Energy showed an increase in velocity of wind energy installation additions in 2011, even while the industry faces a stall-out if lawmakers do not extend a…
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