Grasslands Renewable Energy of Bozeman wants to build a large power grid to collect energy from future wind power projects in Montana, North Dakota and Alberta, Canada.
The company says it has the support of 10 (unnamed) wind farm developers in the region for the so-called Wind Spirit transmission project. The project could collect energy from far-flung wind farms for deliver to major southbound trunk lines already in development by TransCanada (NYSE: TRP).
Grasslands made the announcement after receiving a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a pumped-water energy storage project near Martinsdale, Montana.
The company said it plans to use wind power to pump water uphill to a 50-acre reservoir, which can then be released through turbines to a lower reservoir to generate power as needed, when the wind stops blowing.
Massive California Solar Project Hits a Bump
A huge concentrating solar power (CSP) plant proposed for 1,700 acres of abandoned crop land in San Bernardino County faces its first big hurdle.
Local governments, farmers and environmentalists are all behind the project, which would make use of cropland damaged by years of salt accumulation. But the California Energy Commission has recommended that project developer Abengoa Solar (ABG.MC) should acquire and protect 1,588 acres of cropland–and water rights–elsewhere in the state.
The recommendation is in line with state policies to preserve farmland. But proponents of the solar plant say it should not be applied in this instance, where the land was already out of use.
Abengoa is planning to invest $1.2 billion in the project, which is likely to create hundreds of construction jobs and around 100 permanent solar jobs. A company spokesperson told The Press-Enterprise they were shocked by the recommendation, but it won’t necessarily kill the project.
Colorado Law Will Expand Geothermal Production
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a new that will make it easier for government agencies to cooperate on geothermal studies and projects.
The bill also aims to encourage geothermal energy projects by streamlining the process for obtaining drilling permits.
State Senator Gail Schwartz of Snowmass sponsored the bill, which she said will help diversify Colorado’s energy sources.
The law also includes measures to protect landowner and water rights, and it establishes a process for resolving disputes.
Canada Moves Climate Change Accountability Act
Across the border in Canada, an opposition climate change bill last week passed through the House of Commons by a vote of 149 to 136 and now heads to the Senate.
According to the Canadian Press, the bill calls for greenhouse gases emissions to be cut 25% below 1990 levels by 2020–a much tougher goal than Prime Minister Harper’s Conservative government suggest.
Like US President Obama, Harper backs a goal of 17% reductions from 2005 levels by 2020. However, there is obviously stronger political support in Canada to improve the country’s failing environmental reputation, and it will be interesting to see how Conservatives in the Senate deal with this minor environmental uprising.
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