“We are currently the world’s largest biodiesel consulting group, and most of our consultants and strategic partners are already very involved in the other alternative fuels,” said principal owner Wayne Lee.

Lee notes that the group’s current appraiser, environmental expert, QA experts, and grant writers have backgrounds and experience in these areas, and that the group’s larger strategic partners – Stoel Rives (legal), Christianson & Associates (accounting), IMA of Kansas (insurance), FCStone Merchant Services (feedstock financing), and Executive Leadership Solutions (staffing) – already have very significant presences in these other alternative fuels sectors. “Our goal over the past several years has been to put together a top notch team of the best biodiesel experts in the world”, says Lee. “I am quite satisfied that we have accomplished that goal and now address almost every need in the biodiesel sector.”

“I am a firm believer in biodiesel as the best alternative to diesel fuels and I strongly believe in its future” says Lee. “But, the overall solution to the world’s oil dependency rests with all the alternative fuels working together”. As a result, Lee wants his consulting group to be able to provide the same depth of assistance for all kinds of alternative fuels as they currently provide for biodiesel.

This is an extremely in-depth look at what our energy landscape looks like today. It also reviews where we stand, as a world, with regard to resources and options as well as politics and policies that are driving the future. In addition, it looks at where we are headed.  As I look at our country, I’ve felt for a long-time that we are “energy illiterate” and need to become better students of energy education. While Montgomery agrees to some degree, he feels the problem lies more in lack of curriculum and the inability for people to learn about energy in a nonpartisan setting.

Montgomery writes, “Energy matters are critical to understand because they are fundamental to our way of life and because they are the subject of endless misconception, misrepresentation, and, as already noted, myth.”

Throughout the book, Montgomery takes an approach that many other authors have not and that’s the view that he doesn’t categorize energy as “dirty or clean” or necessarily “evil versus good.”  He explains that fossil fuels help build and transport renewable sources and also reminds us that every type of energy has an impact on the environment. Yes everyone, there is no “renewable” energy source that is developed, produced or transported without a fossil fuel.

So what does the future look like? Montgomery notes that in the future we’ll see great, more varied use of electricity. Despite “efforts” at energy efficiency, globally energy use will increase as countries such as China and India come online as well as other developing countries seek to emerge from poverty though tools such as electricity.

Montgomery believes that our current energy sources: natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and petroleum will continue to play a vital role in our energy future and their use will even grow over the next few decades. He also believes that all other sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and more will have a role moving forward. However, he does advocate that not all sources will become winners.

He writes, “Today natural gas, uranium, biomass, solar, wind, and geothermal energy all provide power, and millions of diesel, hybrid, and flex-fuel vehicles roam the roads, with all-electric species soon to arrive. Multiplicity has its limit: some technologies will likely cancel out; others may come to be dominant. Yet the grand pattern is clear: no single wonder-source lies in our future, but instead a portfolio of options demanding thoughtful balance. Progress in energy means technological diversity.”

Also unlike other authors, Montgomery does not predict the future or lay out how to get there. He does give us 20 things to contemplate as we diversify our energy future and leaves it up to us to follow a path (or three or four). While this was an educational read, it was not easy and is not for someone who wants a quick overview of the energy landscape of yesterday, today or tomorrow. However, this is a good book for the serious energy student and one that should help to craft our thinking.

Several country leaders attended the event including the president of Costa Ricka, H.E. Laura Chinchilla Miranda. Also on hand was the former Minister of Energy, Teofilo de la Torre who was recently nominated as the Executive President of ICE, the country’s national power utility. Dr. Nick Rischbieth, president of BCIE, along with other members of the government and distinguished dignitaries rounded out the attendees.

“We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with ICE which started with the 18 MW Miravalles Unit 5 in 2004. The Las Pailas plant demonstrates the trust that ICE and BCIE have in Ormat and its Binary Technology,” said Ormat’s Chairman, Lucien Y. Bronicki.

According to Gevo, this strategy will allow them to supply early adopters with product in order for them to test the materials, make sample products and begin sales. The contract is for two years and the demonstration plant should be complete by the end of this year.

“This contract is the successful culmination of one of several toll-processing opportunities on which we have been working. Gevo is developing exciting new technology and we’re pleased to be part of this value chain,” said Nick Carter, President and CEO of South Hampton Resources. “We believe this is a sustainable partnership as Gevo expects to demonstrate the viability of renewable hydrocarbons in a variety of market applications. That would pave the way for a larger market development plant, which, in turn, expands opportunities and should drive additional demand for our toll-processing services.”

Carter added, “In addition, the new processing facility will continue to expand our capabilities into the renewable energy market. Our largest contributor to date in this field is our C5 product that is being utilized as the working fluid in closed loop geothermal generators with a top US geothermal company.”

Geothermal energy uses heat from the earth to produce steam or hot water. This “energy” is then used to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Unlike some renewable energy sources, geothermal power is produced all the time making it easier for a utility to predict output and manage load requirements.

The GHES uses the force of gravity to eliminate pumps and motors typically needed in binary geothermal energy production. Once validated, the technology allows geothermal providers to sell as much as 35 percent more electricity over the current technology on the market. This will not only increase energy output, but profits as well.

“GeoTek was one of only eight projects nationwide recently approved for a total of $11 million funding by the Geothermal Technologies Program to advance geothermal power technology,” said Kenneth Fryrear, GeoTek’s chief operating officer. The company plans to supplement the government funds with private capital.

The $3.4 billion Borgia-Silali geothermal project is under development by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) who plans on building out the project in four phases. GDC believes this project is critical in helping to resolve Kenya’s “critical recurring energy crisis.” The first phase of the project will involve the construction of a plant that will generate 800 MW by 2017. Phase II, with a capacity of 400 MW, is expected to be completed by 2019, while Phase III and Phase IV, each with a capacity of 400 MW, are expected to be completed by 2021 and 2023 respectively.

GDC is a state-owned company and is currently finalizing investors for this portion of the project and are already taking bids for Phase 1, that entails the construction of eight 100 MW power plants in the Bogoria-Silali area.

This is not the only area Kenya is targeting for geothermal power. GDC is also building a 400 MW geothermal plant in the Menengai caldera field and the geothermal power plant in Olkaria is generating 280 MW per year. The country’s current energy demand peaks today around 1,200 MW and is projected to grow by 10 percent to at least 17,000 MW over the next 20 years. The country hopes to generate at least 5,000 MW of energy by 2030 through geothermal power although GDC has identified 14 high potential sites along the Rift Valley that could generate between 7,000 – 10,000 MW.

During the first three months of 2011, energy produced from renewable energy sources (biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, hydro, wind) generated 2.245 quadrillion Btus of energy equating to 11.73 percent of U.S. energy production. During this same time period, renewable energy production surpassed nuclear energy power by 5.65 percent. In total, energy produced from renewables is 77.15 percent of that from domestic crude oil production.

When looking at all energy sectors, production of renewable energy has increased by a little over 15 percent when compared to first quarter of 2010, and by more than 25 percent when compared to the first quarter of 2009. Of this total, biomass/biofuels accounted for approximately 48 percent of this total followed by hydropower at 35.41 percent, wind at 12.87 percent, geothermal at 2.45 percent and lastly solar at 1.16 percent.

Despite a seemingly low number for solar power, when compared to first quarter last year, solar power has increased by 104.8 percent while wind power increased by 40.3 percent. Hydropower and geothermal energy also increased by 28.7 percent and 5.8 percent respectively. While nuclear energy has seen a slight increase in power generation, for the most part it has remained steady.

“Notwithstanding the recent nuclear accident in Japan, among many others, and the rapid growth in energy and electricity from renewable sources, congressional Republicans continue to press for more nuclear energy funding while seeking deep cuts in renewable energy investments,” said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “One has to wonder ‘what are these people thinking?’”

More than 120 researchers worked with IPPC on the report, “Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN),” and the findings also indicate that the rising penetration of renewable energies could lead to cumulative GHG savings of 220 to 560 gigatonnnes of carbon dioxide between 2010 and 2050.

“With consistent climate and energy policy support, renewable energy sources can contribute substantially to human well-being by sustainably supplying energy and stabilizing the climate,” said Professor Ottmar Edenhofer, Co-Chair of Working Group III at the report launch. “However, the substantial increase of renewables is technically and politically very challenging.”

According to a news release, the upper end of the scenarios assessed, representing a cut of around a third in GHGs from business-as-usual projections, could assist in keeping concentrations of greenhouse gases at 450 parts per million. If this were the case, it could help to hold the increase in global average temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius, a goal laid out in the Cancun Agreements (COP-16).

Youba Sokona, Co-Chair of the Working Group III, said: “The potential role of renewable energy technologies in meeting the needs of the poor and in powering the sustainable growth of developing and developed economies can trigger sharply polarized views. This IPCC report has brought some much needed clarity to this debate in order to inform governments on the options and decisions that will needed if the world is to collectively realize a low carbon, far more resource efficient and equitable development path.”

The six renewable energy technologies reviewed were bioenergy, solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy. The report, which is a summary of a longer, 900 plus page research document, will feed into the broader work of the IPPC as they prepare its Fifth Assessment Report that is scheduled to be released in September 2014.

In the first part of the book, Brown lays out the problems at hand including falling water tables and shrinking harvests, eroding soils and expanding deserts and finishes with a discussion about the effect of rising temperatures including the melting of ice and glaciers and food security. He notes that several researchers conducted a study whereby they aggregated the use of earth’s natural resources including CO2 and discovered that we first surpassed the earth’s regenerative capacity around 1980. In 1999, global demands on the earth’s natural systems exceeded sustainable yields by 20 percent and today it would take 1.5 Earths to sustain our current consumption.

Next Brown begins a discussion of the consequences as a result of our foundation in peril. He discusses rising food prices and food scarcity, environmental refugees (think Hurricane Katrina where more than 300,000 people were displaced and many never went back) and failed states such as Somalia and Iraq. During the first part of the book, the big link, or the big disaster, is failed agriculture. He notes that many archeologists have determined that many civilizations that disappeared did so because of food shortages and he believes this is the weak link for today’s civilization.

He uses the 2008-2009 “food bubble” as an example. This was when energy prices hit record highs and food prices also hit record highs. He explained that with countries producing fuel from food crops, such as the U.S. producing ethanol from corn, energy prices/fuel prices are now directly tied to food prices.

“The question is not whether the food bubble will burst but when,” says Brown. “While the U.S. housing bubble was created by the overextension of credit, the food bubble is based on the overuse of land and water resources. It is further threatened by the climate stresses deriving from the excessive burning of fossil fuels. When the U.S. housing bubble burst, it sent shockwaves through the world economy, culminating in the worst recession since the Great Depression. When the food bubble bursts, food prices will soar worldwide, threatening economic and political stability everywhere. For those living on the lower rungs of the global economic ladder, survival itself could be at stake.”

Now, understanding the role food plays in our future, Brown offers up a response that he calls Plan B – what the Earth Policy Institute believes needs to be done to save civilization. “It is a monumental effort to be undertaken at wartime speed,” writes Brown.  The plan has four components: stabilizing climate, restoring the earth’s natural support systems, stabilizing population, and eradicating poverty. The plan calls for a 80 percent reduction in CO2 by 2020. This, Brown says, can be achieved through three actions. First raise the efficiency of the world energy economy while restructuring transportation. Second, cut emissions in the energy sector by replacing fossil fuels with wind, solar and geothermal. Third, end deforestation while engaging in a massive campaign to plant trees and stabilize soils. (I wonder if he is a fan of biochar?)

When Brown offers up ways to achieve the goals, for the transportation sector, he is not a fan of biofuels. Rather, he would like to see a movement to vehicles run with electricity (aka electric vehicles), that is created from wind, solar and geothermal energy. He is also a proponent of pubic transportation such as rail and advocates for conservation.

In the end, Brown answers the question, “What can I do?” While recycling and conservation are good places to start, he says for success people need to become more politically active and concludes, “Saving civilization is not a spectator sport.”

The organizations wrote in their letter, “[W]e write today in support of Federal programs implemented to foster the development and expanded use of domestically-produced clean and renewable energy in the United States. Together, our industries account for over half a million jobs in the United States and counting. Existing federal programs continue to foster growth and allow U.S. businesses to lead a worldwide effort to deploy power plants, manufacturing facilities and fuel production facilities across the country.”

The groups stressed how economically unsustainable America’s dependence on imported energy, especially oil, has become. With oil prices hovering around the $100 per barrel mark, the country sends hundreds of billions of dollars to OPEC members. The groups stressed that support and investment in renewable energy technologies can lessen this dependence while creating jobs. While the organizations recognize budget issues are of utmost concern in Congressional leaders, they still urged members of Congress to take a holistic look at the benefits of America’s renewable energy industry.

“As Congress moves forward with efforts to cut federal spending, it is important to recognize and retain programs that create American jobs, leverage private sector investment and increase tax revenue,” the letter continued. “The DOE Loan Guarantee Program is one of these programs. Eliminating funding for this program will disrupt and delay dozens of projects that are seeking a DOE loan guarantee, and will have very real impacts on job creation and energy security efforts currently underway. We strongly support efforts to prevent funding cuts and preserve the DOE Loan Guarantee Program in its current state.”

The full letter can be read here.

Grassley said today during his weekly agricultural media conference call that there are two ways the vote can be avoided. “Either talking him out of it, or denying unanimous consent to bring it up, and I think we can do the latter,” he said. Grassley say he is trying to “reason with” Coburn and urge him to take up the issue within the context of energy legislation so to “have ethanol be viewed as part of an overall energy program” instead of having it be part of the spending bill debate.

According to Grassley, Coburn says he has 55 votes. “He probably needs 60 votes. I think we can probably keep him from getting 60 votes. But, quite frankly, I don’t want anybody on record, if we can avoid it, on the ethanol issue until we get down to discussing it as part of the energy debate.”

Listen to Grassley’s comments in answer to a question by Dan Looker of Successful Farming. Sen. Grassley

Meanwhile, as the future of the VEETC remains unsure in Congress, ethanol interests are reportedly in negotiations on a proposal for moving beyond the VEETC. According to DTN/The Progressive Farmer, representatives from the American Coalition for Ethanol, Growth Energy, National Corn Growers Association and Renewable Fuels Association have been working on a compromise proposal this week, getting input from lawmakers in Washington.

District leaders kicked off a District Green Power Challenge today during the District’s EPA Green Power Recognition Ceremony that was held at Phelps Career High School in northeast DC to encourage more residents and businesses to switch to green power. The first goal of the challenge is to increase citywide green power purchases by 33 percent by August 31 of this year in hopes of keeping their #1 ranking. This increase would also mean that the city’s electricity users are purchasing 10 percent from green power or 1 Billion kWh each year.

“This is a huge honor for Washington, D.C. and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Mayor Vincent Gray. “The purchase of green power by our citizens and businesses is cleaning our air and supporting growth of the clean energy economy. When we clean the air, we improve the health of our residents, and particularly our children. We are sending a message to other communities across the country that supporting clean power is a sound business decision and the right thing to do. I’m proud that the District of Columbia government is leading the way, purchasing 50 percent of our electricity through the Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. wind power program.”

There are currently 36 Green Power Communities across the country. To be given the designation, a city, town or village must have government, business and residents that commit to purchasing green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA’s Green Power Community purchase requirements. Qualifying energy sources include wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro-electric power.

“The District of Columbia is setting an excellent example for the nation by harnessing clean energy,” said Elizabeth Craig, Acting Director of EPA’s Office of Atmospheric Programs. “We hope the city will continue to increase its use of green power and that other communities will follow suit.”

In a financial analyst call this week, Ross Beaty, Magma’s Chairman and CEO said that “size matters” and “the power business is all about the cost of capital.”

In a press statement Beaty commented, “This merger will strengthen both companies and will create a larger, more diversified renewable energy company with assets across a broader spectrum of the clean energy industry. It has the potential to lower the cost of capital to develop each company’s existing growth assets, to enable those assets to be developed more quickly, and to better attract new opportunities for future development. Geothermal will remain a core focus of the new company, but hydro, wind and solar assets will be solid business platforms for future growth. In the renewable energy business, bigger is better and this combination will achieve that while enhancing returns to each company’s shareholders.”

The new company, Alterra Power Corp, intends to develop new energy sources either within Canada or globally, whatever projects will provide the best return on investment for shareholders. Magma already operates projects in the U.S., Iceland, and Latin America while Plutonic has wind projects in Canada and is looking to acquire some solar projects in the U.S.

Donald McInnes, Plutonic’s Vice-Chairman and CEO said, “2010 was a breakout year for Plutonic having completed the transition into an operating company. To continue to build on the success of our history as a project developer, a merger with Magma will provide our shareholders with the best path to further value creation achieved through a larger market size, greater liquidity, better access to capital, and diversity of geography and technology with a healthy development pipeline that provides significant growth opportunities.”

In conjunction with General Electric (CE), Plutonic Power operates Canada’s largest wind farm, the Dokie Wind project. Under a 25 year Electricity Purchase Agreement with BC Hydro, the now fully operational wind farm will is expected to generate 320,000-340,000 MWh per year – enough energy to power about 34,000 homes. It is comprised of 43 wind turbines and located in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. As part of the project, Plutonic Power also built seven kilometres of transmission lines and an electric substation.

“Worldwide potential for geothermal energy is immense but geothermal remains an underutilized resource and represents only a small fraction of the global renewable energy portfolio,” said senior analyst Peter Asmus. “Improved access to resource data, more efficient drilling processes, increased understanding about the industry’s potential, and improving access to financing are driving expanding interest in the sector.”

According to Asmus, the current geothermal capacity is spread across 26 countries with a combined output of nearly 67 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity. The U.S. is the global leader with 3.1 GW of installed capacity while seven countries represent 88 percent of the global geothermal capacity. Although traditional geothermal resources make up the majority of installed capacity, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) and co-produced wells both offer opportunities for expansion.

The high-growth scenario used in the study assumes continued and persistent volatility in the price of oil, tightening carbon regulations, improved access to capital, standardization of geothermal exploration data, contribution from EGS-enabled and co-produced resources, technological breakthroughs in exploration and drilling equipment, improved access to drills and skilled labor, and sustained policies supporting renewable energy mandates, grants, and tax subsidies.

Asmus added, “Even if progress falls short in these areas the potential for geothermal market expansion remains strong, and even our conservative business-as-usual forecast is consistent with growth rates observed in the industry since 1990.”

Despite my story lead, I was not a cheerleader in another life but I couldn’t get that cheer out of my head while I read this week’s book, “Why We Hate The Oil Companies Straight Talk From An Energy Insider,” by John Hofmeister. I recently gave Mr. Hofmeister some ink when he predicted that the country would see $5 per gallon of gas within the next 10 years so I thought, hey, I should read his book. See what’s he’s all about. He is, after all, the former president of Shell Oil Company.

What is Hofmeister all about? Bringing affordable, clean and sustainable energy to all Americans. He writes, “The truth is that affordable energy is essential for American economic growth. It is essential for our national security and position in world leadership. And it is necessary to maintain our quality of life.” He continues by saying affordable energy and environmental sustainability are challenges that require immediate attention.

Who is in charge of leading the way to affordable energy?  The oil and utility companies? Government? American Citizens? The answer is not so black and white as Hofmeister explains. No one believes the oil companies – they are ranked 24 out of 24 in the industry “Who do you trust” poll and the government is ranked at 22. Not swell by any standards. Then we have American citizens who have been fed “information, misinformation and no information” and they are still electing politicians who have spent 40 years not making good energy policy decisions. We Americans have bad voting histories.

So what do we have? Hofmeister says “there is an energy shortage, but there is no shortage of energy.”

Like so many others, Hofmeister is not an outright fan of biofuels but he does not dismiss them entirely. He writes, “There are sound reasons for investing in biofuels research and development. We should not be naive, however, about the cost, barriers, and obstacles to commercial biofuels production. Nor should we overestimate their potential.”

He continues, “Biofuels are not about to replace classic fossil fuels as the primary source of engine power in the lifetime of anyone alive today. In fact, before we develop the capability for biofuels to replace fossil fuels, internal combustion engines will mostly disappear, and with them the need for massive quantities of biofuels.”

It just so happens that he’s banking on electric vehicles and hydrogen fuels cells as the transportation mode of the future.

That’s a good segue to briefly touch on electricity and his views on alternative energy such as solar and wind. Also, in the vain of many before him, he doesn’t believe they can compete without subsidies. In the case of wind, it doesn’t blow all the time, and for solar power, where we have ample sun, we have little water. But, like biofuels, he believes they should still be pursued.

Ultimately, Hofmeister believes that the future energy mix will still be primarily fossil fuel, or carbon based, albeit cleaner, with alternative energies filling in the gaps when needed. However, this will never happen, he says, with current policy and with all the fighting between energy industries. Therefore, his solution: “Now is the time for Congress to legislate and the president to sign a bill to create and implement an independent regulatory agency, the Federal Energy Resources System, to manage the nation’s energy and energy-related environmental footprint.”

Needless to say, this idea has gone on deaf ears in the oil and utility industries along with politicians and other energy groups. However, Hofmeister says that the general public has been receptive to the idea, and it will take a massive grassroots effort to induce major energy policy change. Therefore, he created the nonprofit Citizens for Affordable Energy to do just that.

I have read hundreds of energy and environmental books and I must say that Hofmeister has offered one of the most unique, achievable and comprehensive solutions to our energy woes that I have ever seen.

According to an analysis performed by Battelle Memorial Institute and R&D Magazine, the global research and development (R&D) outlook for 2011 will be more stable and positive and is emerging from one of the worst recession eras in recent times. With this in mind, R&D managers are prepared to see moderate, but sustainable growth and more global competition for resources and market share.

In more tangible terms, R&D spending is expected to increase by 3.6 percent in 2011 to $1.2 trillion; however, in the U.S. this number is only expected to climb by 2.4 percent over the 2010 numbers reaching just over $405 billion in 2011. Regardless of a number that appears to be minor, the U.S. is positioned to be the dominate region for research and investment.

When you hone in on energy R&D, the report notes that in this category, overall R&D budgets are low compared to the percent of R&D versus revenues of companies in other categories. The companies spending the most in R&D are: Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, USEC, First Solar, Cree, McDermott International, A123, SunPower, and FuelCell Energy.

The authors write, “Unlike defense, outcomes and benefits from federal energy research are realized largely in the private sector. Moreover, DOE’s research investment fills a critical gap in private sector innovation capacity. The relatively low level of R&D spending in the regulated, capital-intensive energy sector is unlikely to achieve the affordable, abundant, sustainable, secure energy supply that will be necessary for the U.S. to maintain global economic leadership in this century.”

“At the same time, public-private collaboration and commercialization are necessary to deploy energy innovation at scale, since the government controls little energy production or distribution capacity (except fossil reserves on federal lands).”

The conclusion in this sector by the report authors is that the private sector lacks the full scope of resources to accomplish the necessary research that is required to meet the demand for sustainable and affordable energy. They also note that the government lacks the means to deploy energy innovation at scale to meet policy goals and stresses that collaboration and commercialization are essential to see success.

You can download a copy of the 2011 Global Funding R&D Forecast here.

The report examined projected private investment in wind, solar, biomass/energy from waste, small hydro, geothermal and marine energy projects. To predict the levels of private investments into projects, the report modeled three policy scenarios to determine future growth through 2020:

• * Business-as-usual – no change from current policies: total investment projected to be $1.7 trillion by 2020
• * Copenhagen – policies to implement the pledges made at the 2009 international climate negotiations in Copenhagen: total investment projected to be $1.8 trillion
• * Enhanced clean energy – maximized policies designed to stimulate increased investment and capacity additions – total investment projected to be $2.3 trillion

“The message of this report is clear: countries that want to maximize private investments, spur job creation, invigorate manufacturing and seize export opportunities should strengthen their clean energy policies,” said Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Climate and Energy program.

The report found that the clean energy sector continues to be an immense economic opportunity and Asia became the top regional destination for clean power finance in 2010. Within the region, China and India are leading the way (in all energy demand, not just clean energy demand) and by 2020, the report anticipates that 40 percent of global clean power project investments will be made in China, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Michael Liebreich, CEO of Bloomberg New Energy Finance, the company that compiled the underlying data for the report said, “Strong and consistent policies in Asia have helped double private investment over the past two years. Asia is now the leading region for clean energy investment, and its lead is set to extend in the near future unless Europe and the US make a step change in their support for the sector.”

While the U.S. is currently lagging far behind in private investments in clean energy, the report found that they are among those with the most to gain from passing strong clean energy policies. The report cites an example that says the U.S. has the potential to attract $342 billion in clean power project investments over the next 10 years under the Enhanced clean energy scenario.

You can download a copy of Global Clean Power: A $2.3 Trillion Opportunity here.

In a statement, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said, “These innovative projects have the potential to expand the use of geothermal energy to more areas around the country. The development of these technologies will allow us to tap into additional renewable energy resources, reduce carbon pollution and create new jobs.”

Chu hopes that these research projects will help lower the cost of geothermal energy and help make the operational deployment of low temperature geothermal units more economical.

In this edition of the Domestic Fuel Cast, we will hear from each of those representatives – Tom Buis with ethanol group Growth Energy; Bob Cleaves of the Biomass Power Association; Brad Collins with the American Solar Energy Society; Karl Gawell from the Geothermal Energy Association; and Rob Gramlich with the American Wind Energy Association – as well as 25x’25 steering committee co-chairman Reid Smith.

Listen to the Domestic Fuel Cast here. Domestic Fuel Cast

You can also subscribe to the DomesticFuel Cast here.

This story from ExecutiveGov.com says a Pew Charitable Trust report has good news about the U.S. Department of Defense’s use of solar, geothermal and biodiesel:

According to [Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew Charitable Trusts’ climate and energy programs], DoD accounts for 80 percent of the U.S. government’s energy consumption, which amounts to 330,000 barrels of oil and 3.8 billion kilowatts of electricity per day for more than 500 major military installations. However, she said, the department is working to meet its stated goal of having one-fourth of its energy come from renewable sources by 2025.

Additional examples of how the Navy is going green include developing a carrier strike group that will run completely on alternative fuels; powering the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake by geothermal sources; and commissioning the USS Makin Island, a large-deck amphibious ship propelled by both gas and electric engines.

And don’t forget, it was just last month that the Air Force flew for the first time an A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the Warthog, on a biomass-based jet fuel.

That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday on “Energy Tax Incentives Driving the Green Job Economy.” Pickens told the panel that he’s for “anything that’s American” when it comes to energy -including wind, coal, solar, hydro, nuclear, geo-thermal, ethanol, propane, or natural gas.

The straight-talking Texan and chairman of BP Capital Management addressed those who discourage tax incentives for renewable energy on the basis of letting the free market work. “If you think OPEC is a free market, you’re a sap,” he said.

Pushing natural gas as an alternative, Pickens said that skeptics say there is no natural gas fueling infrastructure. “If you create the market, the private sector will build it,” he said. “Can you imagine what would have happened if we had told Henry Ford, forget about building the Model T, there’s no filling stations?”

Pickens strongly stressed the need for America to develop an energy plan now. “I’m running out of time, I’m 82 years old next month, and I’ve got to get an energy plan fixed for America because we cannot leave this to generations in the future,” noting his 13 children and grandchildren.

Pickens’ whole opening statement is well worth watching here on the Ways and Means Committee website.

“Geothermal power can be a critical part of the answer to global warming,” said GEA’s Executive Director, Karl Gawell. “For example, California could achieve its 2020 goal for global warming emissions reductions just by keeping energy demand level and replacing its coal-fired generation with geothermal.”

Once these projects are completed, they will add over 7,000 MW of baseload power capacity, which is enough to provide electricity for 7.6 million people, or 20 percent of California’s total power needs. This is also roughly the amount of total power used in California from coal-fired power plants.

“These geothermal power projects will create substantial sources of new employment across the country,” said Gawell. “Not only are we seeing more and more development and hiring in places with a long history of geothermal like Nevada and California, but for the first time these jobs are being created in the Gulf Coast, in states such as Louisiana and Mississippi. Along with a huge number of new construction jobs, geothermal power also creates many permanent positions that can never be outsourced.”

Together, the direct, indirect and induced employment created by these projects is estimated by GEA to be 29,750 permanent jobs and 112,000 person-years of construction and manufacturing employment. In addition, the projects under development will represent capital investment of more than $35 billion when completed. The full report is available by clicking here.

“With the help of farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses, America can make great strides toward solving its energy problems.” said Andy Olsen, Policy Advocate for ELPC. “REAP is creating economic development, energy independence and a cleaner environment one farm at a time.”

Since 2003, REAP has funded over 3,000 clean energy projects, in 50 states that cover the clean energy spectrum – wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and energy efficiency. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the program receives applications for more than three times the amount of funds available, and in February, President Obama raised the funding levels to the highest amount ever to $109 million.

ELPC has been a public supporter of the program since its inception and notes that the program,”leverages billions in private investment, reduces pollution, builds interest and awareness about the benefits of clean energy.” Many legislators support the program as well and Represenative Colin Peterson (D-MN) commented, “This is the kind of common sense program that will help transform rural America into an energy resource for the entire nation.”

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Photo Credit: U.S. Geothermal Inc.

Based its 20 year Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed with the state last December, the most promising form of geothermal energy for Southern Idaho is binary cycle geothermal development. In this type of plant, the hot geothermal water is passed through a heat exchanger which then heats a binary liquid. From there, the liquid is vaporized and the vapor spins the turbine-generator unit where it is then reliquefied and reused in the heat exchanger. After a portion of geothermal water is used for heat, it exits the plant and is returned back to the reservoir.

The first project, Raft River, is already producing electricity and Idaho Power is looking to develop additional projects over the next decade. To date there are only 12 binary cycle geothermal plants in operation in the US.

In the near-term, Idaho Power plans on adding 266MW of wind capacity in 2010 through long-term power purchase contracts and plans to have over 600MW of wind by the end of 2012. In addition, they have hired Black and Veatch to conduct a feasiblity study for solar techologies.

In an effort to increase geothermal funding and projects across the US, the industry is gathering in San Francisco next week for the GeoPower Americas conference where the goal is to raise more attention to this promising form of alternative energy.

The Deseret News reports that a $4.6 million stimulus bucks grant will pay for training for displaced workers, disadvantaged youths and veterans:

“We’re still working out some of the details,” department spokesman Curt Stewart said Wednesday. “But we have formed a coalition” to settle details on what will be free tuition for workers training for specific types of jobs related primarily to emerging energy industries.

The Southwest Technology Center will have 100 slots focused on working with wind, solar and geothermal power, Stewart said.

This State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant is part of the $440 million in stimulus grants nationwide.

According to the White House, the federal government, which includes all of our armed forces, is the largest energy user in the U.S. The 28% reduction would decrease annual electricity use by 1.5% saving between $8 – $11 billion in energy costs through 2020. Just in 2008, the federal government racked up a $24.5 billion energy bill.

“As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to American citizens to reduce our energy use and become more efficient,” said Obama as quoted in an article in Recharge. “Our goal is to lower costs, reduce pollution, and shift Federal energy expenses away from oil and towards local, clean energy.”

This goal will require the government to shift to clean energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal, which will support job growth and technology development in the clean tech sector – another major goal of the administration. This move also signals Obama’s commitment to passing a comprehensive climate change package, which is currently stalled in the Senate.

In the meantime, departments will be required to develop sustainability plans that will include current GHG emission estimates and to ensure follow-through, achievement reports will be published online for the public to view and submit reponses.

According to the most recent draft of the National Geothermal Action Plan, geothermal resources could account for 100,000 MWe of base load electric generating capacity by 2050. The catch—the government and private investors must support the growth of the industry. This increased attention for geothermal power now offers new investment and exploration opportunities that will be discussed during the GeoPower Americas 2010 national conference in San Francisco, Cali. on February 16-17.

“Geothermal energy is often left off the table when discussing key alternatives to fossil fuel based energy,” said Sarah Ellis, Managing Director, Green Power Conferences. “What the experts don’t understand is that geothermal could, if properly developed and funded, provide enough energy to offset fossil fuel use.”

Partho Sanyal, Director of Energy & Power Investment Banking with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will be speaking to industry experts during the GeoPower Americas conference. “2010 will likely follow the momentum gained in 2009 in the U.S. geothermal sector. Industry players are looking to either jump start stalled projects from the credit crisis or reexamine strategic alternatives. The market seems to be rewarding players with scale, proven reserves and the ability to fund development,” said Sanyal.

Additional speakers include the keynote address from the U.S. Department of Energy; Dian M. Grueneich, California Public Utilities Commission; Charles Visser, NREL; Charles Baron, Google.org; Elaine Sison-Lebrilla, Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Curt Robinson, Geothermal Resources Council; and more.

For a full list of speakers and to register, visit www.geopowerseries.com. Enter code 4RC-203 for 20 percent off the current registration rate.

The DOE, as part of Stimulus Bill (otherwise known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) has announced it will allocate funds up to $338 million to be used for the exploration and development of new geothermal sources and technologies. In addition, as reported by the Geothermal Digest, an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds will match the grants more than one-for-one.

One of the first companies to receive word that they have received monies is AltaRock Energy, Inc. based in Sausalito, Cali. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced that the AltaRock Energy will receive $1.45 million to develop exploration methods for identifying EGS drilling targets more efficiently.

The project that has been given the green light for funding will take place in the Newberry Geothermal Resource Area in Oregon, and is being conducted in partnership with Davenport Power, who operates the site.

Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash) commented about the DOE grant, “AltaRock, founded in Seattle, is on the cutting edge of engineered geothermal energy and I’m extraordinarily pleased the Department of Energy is making a commitment. This exciting technology presents us with the opportunity to expand geothermal energy production beyond traditional areas and thus make it available to more consumers. Investment will allow new testing, research and expansion of the technology, which has the potential to become an inexpensive, self regenerating, and CO2 free source of energy. With the work of AltaRock and others, the Pacific Northwest will remain at the vanguard of clean energy development.”