Renewable Energy Memo

Renewable Energy Around the Web is our weekly round-up of news and blogs in the renewable energy industry. 

The New York Times ponders whether the nation’s emphasis on renewable energy will mean an economic boom for California.  California generates roughly two-thirds of all the solar power in the U.S.

Four geothermal companies announced merger plans.  GTO Resources Inc. (NEX:GTR.H), Polaris Geothermal Inc. (TSX:GEO), Western GeoPower Corp.(TSX VENTURE:WGP) and Ram Power, Inc., a private Delaware corporation signed a letter of intent to form a single, publicly traded company according to a press release. 

While U.S. efforts to kick-start its renewable energy industry attract alot of headlines, the Washington Post notes that investment in renewable energy in China, Japan, South Korea and other Asian nations continues to exceed U.S. efforts.

NYU Stern Professor Melissa Schilling announced that her studies have concluded that wind and geothermal are the most efficient renewable energies.  (Full report). 

Another study (from Harvard) concluded that wind power could produce sixteen times U.S. energy requirements.  (Full report).  Xi Lu, Michael B. McElroy and Juha Kiviluoma concluded that “a network of land-based 2.5 MW turbines restricted to non-forested, ice-free, nonurban areas operating at as little as 20% of their rated capacity could supply . . as much as 16 times total current deamand for electricity in the United States.”

Treehugger reports that the island nation of Tuvalu (most of which is only three feet above see level) has announced a policy of generating 100% of its energy from renewable sources by the years 2020.  (Tuvalu is perhaps best kn0wn as the country responsible for the .tv country code). 

Susan Kraemer notes that renewable energy grew to account for 13% of U.S. energy usage (according to the latest EIA monthly report) while overall U.S. energy consumption feel 0.5% from April 2008 to April 2009. 

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