Midwest Energy News recently published an interesting article discussing how different states treat hydroelectric power when it comes to renewable electricity standards. As the article explains, although hydropower is a renewable energy, it does not always count toward a state’s renewable electricity standard.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) on December 29, 2011, taking the first step toward establishing a competitive process for leasing public lands for solar and wind energy development. The ANPR asks for public comments to assist the BLM as it drafts a proposed rule that is meant to foster the growth of renewable energy by establishing an efficient competitive process for issuing right-of-way (ROW) leases for solar and wind energy development.

You know that Nissan Leaf commercial where everything runs on gas? Every time I see it I wonder how much gas it would take to do certain things. Apparently Nissan and I are not the only people thinking about these things, as Exxon Mobile recently did the math, and figured out how many gallons of gas would it take to charge an iPhone.

The EPA finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2) just in time for the new year.

The final 2012 overall volumes and standards are:

Biomass-based diesel: 1.0 billion gallons; 0.91 percent
Advanced biofuels: 2.0 billion gallons; 1.21 percent
Cellulosic biofuels: 8.65 million gallons; 0.006 percent
Total renewable fuels: 15.2 billion gallons; 9.23 percent

The Environmental Protection Agency will develop and finalize multiple rules over the next several years that will dramatically impact the air, water, and energy regulatory climate. This unprecedented level of activity will be mirrored at the state level since each federal regulation will trigger the promulgation of state rules to implement the standards. Studies have shown these rules will have an impact on the overall economy, jobs, competitiveness, and energy costs.

Below is a brief summary of of the most recent action on the multitude of rules under promulgation as well as information on expected future actions.

Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner is leading a two front attack on the EPA’s registration of E15 fuel. Sensenbrenner has introduced legislation requiring more studies and higher standards and has also asked the EPA to delay any action on E15.

A congressionally-requested report from the National Research Council found that the United States is unlikely to be able to meet its Renewable Fuel Standard.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued its final report identifying a number of regulations that it will target for modification or elimination in response to Executive Order 13563. The EPA’s report discusses 35 planned regulatory reviews in five main environmental areas.

The old saying that politics makes strange bedfellows is spot on when it comes to describing a recent report titled Green Scissors 2011. The report, which is to be delivered to the super committee created by the bi-partisan compromise over raising the federal debt ceiling, was co-authored by the Friends of the Earth, the Heartland Institute, Public Citizen, and Taxpayers for Common Sense.

Beginning on January 2, 2011, the EPA required large plants and factories planning to make major modifications or build new facilities to obtain pre-construction permits addressing their GHG emissions. These facilities, such as oil refineries and power plants, must obtain air permits and carry out energy efficiency measures or use cost-effective technology to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Recently, however, the EPA has taken a significant step away from regulation by proposing to defer, for three years, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Title V permitting requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from bioenergy and other biogenic stationary sources.

This morning the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules voted to suspend the Public Service Commission’s (PSC) wind siting rules. The PSC rule, finalized in December, would have taken effect today if the vote had failed. The next step is for the Committee to draft a bill supporting the suspension.

The PSC rules called for wind turbines to be set back at least 1,250 feet from nearby homes, and included specific limits on decibel levels for wind turbines as well as shadow flicker.

ANew York Times article discusses a new study that finds that a proposed plan by the EPA to allow an increase in the amount of ethanol mixed into gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent would damage cars and increase pollution.

According to the article:

• Half of the engines tested so far have had some problems, said C. Coleman Jones, the biofuel implementation manager at General Motors, who spoke on behalf of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
• More ethanol will confuse exhaust control systems and make engines run too hot, destroying catalytic converters, automakers say. It can also damage engine cylinders, they say.

The article also notes that higher ethanol content will likely produce more nitrogen oxides, an ingredient of smog.

The Wisconsin Policy Research Institute (WPRI) this week issued a study titled, "The Economics of Climate Change Proposals in Wisconsin," which analyzes the costs associated with complying with the various policy recommendations contained in Wisconsin's Governor's Task Force on Global Warming Final Report.

The Assembly Committee on Renewable Energy and Rural Affairs and Senate Committee on Rural Issues, Biofuels, and Information Technology this week held a joint hearing on companion bills - SB 279, introduced by Senator Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and AB 408, introduced by Rep. Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) - dealing with domestic biofuels.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week will issue an executive order requiring that state to generate one-third of its power from renewable resources by 2020. Currently, California imposes a 20 percent requirement by 2010.

The Wisconsin Legislature is considering companion bills (Assembly Bill 256/Senate Bill 185) that would give the Wisconsin Public Service Commission the authority to draft rules regarding the siting of wind turbines and preempt local government control over their placement.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has an in-depth article today discussing a proposed $10 billion transmission line that would bring wind power to Wisconsin. According to the article:

At 765,000 volts, the lines would carry two to six times as much power as the largest power lines operating in Wisconsin today. Wisconsin's highest-voltage lines are 345,000 volts, and transmission utility American Transmission Co. faces vocal opposition in its bid to build another line in Dane County.