Obama flips switch on government renewable energy
WASHINGTON — Saying the government should lead by example, President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the federal government to nearly triple its use of renewable sources for electricity by 2020. Obama said the plan to use renewables for 20 percent of electricity needs will help reduce pollution that causes global warming, promote American energy independence […]
Fuel cell technology pioneered in Md.
A collaborative effort between a private Maryland-based company and a University of Maryland researcher is working to develop fuel cells to provide electricity to businesses, homes and eventually automobiles at about one-tenth the cost and one-tenth the size of current commercial fuel cell systems.
Renewable energy rises as electricity source
NEW YORK — Renewable energy is growing fast around the world and will edge out natural gas as the second biggest source of electricity, after coal, by 2016, according to a five-year outlook published Wednesday by the International Energy Agency. Developing countries are building more wind, solar and hydroelectric power plants to meet rising power […]
Obama aims to tackle pollution, climate change
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama declared the debate over climate change and its causes obsolete Tuesday as he announced a wide-ranging plan to tackle pollution and prepare communities for global warming. In a major speech at Georgetown University, Obama warned Americans of the deep and disastrous effects of climate change, urging them to take action […]
Clean energy business getting bigger, and profitable
Judging from the number of financiers, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and corporate managers at the Maryland Clean Energy Summit, the renewable energy business and companies that reduce use of carbon fuels are becoming larger and more profitable. Bill Van Hoene, senior executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Exelon Corp., which recently purchased Constellation Energy, […[...]
‘Colbert Report’ takes on fracking
Comedian Stephen Colbert took on hydraulic fracturing on the “Colbert Report” Wednesday night, with actor Mark Ruffalo playing the part of concerned citizen and Colbert sticking by what he said America was built on: burning stuff. “We burn things. We burn things better than anyone’s ever burned things,” Colbert said. “America was built on burning […]
O’Malley to try once again for offshore wind power
Gov. Martin O’Malley will take another stab at sparking development of a wind energy farm off Maryland’s coast this year with a new spin on last year’s proposal. O’Malley made offshore wind the centerpiece of his energy agenda in 2011 and touted its potential to create jobs in the struggling economy. The General Assembly balked, […]
Renewable energy in Constellation/Exelon deal questioned
Promises to build more renewable energy sites in Maryland as part of the proposed sale of Constellation Energy to Chicago’s Exelon Corp. are drawing opposition in western Maryland. The chairman of the Garrett County Board of Commissioners wrote Exelon President and COO Christopher Crane this month saying industrial wind-power generation has been a contentious issue […]
Clean Green Fuel owner backs out of plea deal in $9M case
A Perry Hall man accused of selling $9 million worth of phony clean energy credits reversed course on a plea agreement minutes before his 1 p.m. arraignment in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore on Thursday. Instead of entering a plea, Rodney R. Hailey, 33, made an initial appearance and waived indictment before Magistrate Stephanie […]
Groups call for O’Malley’s veto of waste incineration bill
ANNAPOLIS — A growing coalition is urging Gov. Martin O’Malley to veto legislation that enhances incentives for facilities that create energy by incinerating trash. More than 35 local, state and national organizations sent a letter to O’Malley on Tuesday pressing for a veto. The measure moves energy generated by burning trash into a top-tier category […]
Renewable energy gets its day before Senate Finance
The push to use more renewable energy sources from the governor and legislators is one of the green themes of this year’s General Assembly, and the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday heard mixed testimony on six bills to enhance the state’s renewable energy policy, including trash talk from the chairman. A bill proposed by Committee Chairman […]
O’Malley proposal builds on effort to create wind market
ANNAPOLIS — Gov. Martin O’Malley has proposed legislation that would allow the state to lure wind turbine manufacturers to Maryland with economic development incentives up to $50 million. The proposal builds on the governor’s effort to create a wind energy market in Maryland. Another set of bills pushed by his office would require utility companies […]