Meeting explores renewable energy marketplace

Renewable energy development is this generation’s “shot to the moon” declared Carol Browner, White House energy coordinator, to members of the renewable energy industry, educators, politicians and others gathered for RETECH 2010 in Washington, D.C., Feb. 3-5.

Workshop promotes corporate and municipal programs

New federally mandated environmental regulations and financial disclosure rulings are changing the way industry and other large emitters of air pollution must account for their greenhouse gas emissions for the first time, according to Jennifer Kaminski of the Climate Registry, a nonprofit that registers emissions reporting.

It was standing room only at the Local Government Workshop on home energy retrofit programs and government-sponsored financing options held at CCSE. More than 100 government officials, energy industry experts and others learned how municipalities can design comprehensive residential programs that will decrease energy consumption and help meet California’s greenhouse gas ( GHG) emissions reduction goals.

Assistance for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for Cities. The bill allocates funding for cities to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

President Barack Obama has called for the US to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats.

Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held "hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet".

He called for greater fuel efficiency and an "energy economy" aimed at creating millions of jobs.

He also ordered a review of whether states can set car emission standards.

California is one of the state's expected to benefit from the incoming Obama Administration's energy policies.