The Columbia Housing Authority is expecting to realize over $6.5 million in energy and water savings as a result of efficiency efforts. This is yet another example of the role efficiency can play in keeping dollars in our local communities rather than exporting capital and jobs for the purchase of energy resources. Read More
Could South Carolina’s electric utilities be key players in implementing our state’s recently updated building energy code? Read More
Some of the largest and most successful corporations across the planet are increasingly turning to clean energy to power their operations. Boeing and BMW are two of the more prominent examples here in South Carolina. Take a look at this report to understand better what drives these decisions. Read More
Such was the headline from a recent article out of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. The author spells out what many utility executives have known for years; the evolution of solar technology is changing the electric utility business model in transformational ways. So what is the key to the future? The article prescribes flexibility to incorporate low-cost, renewable energy and advanced demand-response systems to ensure reliability. Read More
In case you were wondering how to reduce your electricity use during the holiday season, here are six ways to save energy (and money) from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Read More
A new study out of the University of Delaware contends that a combination of wind, solar and storage could be a cost-effective way to fully power a large electric grid 99.9% of the time by 2030. If these findings prove accurate, traditional generation like nuclear and fossil fuels would serve as backup during rare events when renewables and storage were not enough to meet electricity needs. Read More
The Public Service Commission held its final hearing for SCE&G’s most recent rate increase request last week. Ratepayers in Columbia voiced concerns similar to those raised in Charleston, and the PSC will likely decide on the request before the end of the year. If approved, the increase will go into effect on January 1, 2013. Read More
As the impacts of climate change become more and more apparent, the need to identify a palatable solution to the carbon problem becomes clear. This topic receives a fresh look from a professor of energy policy at Oxford. Read More
Atlanta’s Economic Development Authority decided to set aside $200 million to finance energy efficiency retrofits for commercial and multi-family buildings. Read More
Swedish retailer Ikea will produce 100% of the corporation’s energy needs from solar and wind by 2020. They currently generate electricity from solar panels atop 34 of their 38 US stores and distribution centers. They plan to expand solar installations, develop wind farms, and invest heavily in highly-efficient LED light bulbs. Read More
