Energy Law

Australia has plans to build the biggest wind farm in the southern hemisphere by 2013, part of its scramble to fight climate change and harness its abundance of clean energy sources ? wind, solar, waves, geothermal energy and bioenergy.

Renewable energy now supplies just 6 percent of power in Australia because the country has historically lacked the political and commercial will to pursue big renewable energy projects. And the very sources of Australia?s clean energy ? its vast outback and nearly 60,000 kilometers, or 37,000 miles, of coast ? are major obstacles to linking new, remote power sources into the grid.

New Jersey is the hottest place in the United States for solar energy these days, and it is not because it is so sunny. The Garden State?s progressive clean energy laws and high electricity costs make it the best place to install solar power because systems can pay for themselves in less than five years ? faster than any state in the nation.

Maine Gov. John Baldacci says the state is moving in the right direction with tidal and wind power development.

Baldacci used his weekly radio address to tout the success of Ocean Renewable Power Co., which last week reported that its underwater turbine generator is producing grid-compatible electricity in Cobscook Bay. The company hopes to connect to the grid next year.

Members of the San Jose Credit Union, who are also City of San Jose employees and retirees, can now go solar more efficiently and cost effectively thanks to an innovative group buy program that is the first of its kind in the U.S. The San Jose Employee Solar Group Buy program is the result of a partnership between the San Jose Credit Union and San Jose's Solar America City Program. A group of 130 City employees and retirees negotiated the group buy, which allows them to purchase residential solar electric and solar thermal systems at a reduced cost.