NEMA backs bill to promote energy storage investment
The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), endorsed legislation that will spur the deployment of cutting-edge energy storage technologies. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced “The Storage Technology for Renewable and Green Energy (STORAGE) Act of 2011” (S. 1845), a set of investment tax credits to promote adoption of the spectrum of energy storage technologies. Batteries, flywheels, superconducting magnetic energy storage, and other technologies would all be eligible under the legislation. S. 1845 would offer a 20 percent investment tax credit to energy storage used in connection with the power grid, with no project eligible to receive more than $40 million. To promote efficiency and distributed generation in the commercial and residential markets, the bill offers a 30 percent credit (up to $1 million) for on-site application of energy storage.
Green building code approved
After two years of development, the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) was approved by the International Code Council last week. The code, if adopted by state and local governments, would apply to all new and renovated commercial buildings and residential buildings over three stories high. The new code sets mandatory baseline standards for all aspects of building design and construction, including energy and water efficiency, site impacts, building waste and materials. The final code won't be published until March 2012, but many local and state governments have begun to officially adopt it, said the ICC. The IgCC's requirements include minimum standards for lighting and mechanical systems and specified levels of submetering and demand-response automation.
A gigawatt of solar on California roofs
The Environment California Research & Policy Center released a new report documenting that California has installed more than a gigawatt of rooftop solar power. Only five countries have more solar on the roof. The study also notes that the state's Million Solar Roofs initiative is on pace to meet its goal of installing its legislatively mandated 3 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2016.