Community News

Energy Bill Delayed to 2004

On November 25, the Senate majority leader declared the Energy Bill dead for 2003, stating that the Senate would use the winter recess period to make the changes necessary to pass the bill. In response to this delay, the national Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) remarked it would continue to work to advance renewable energy in 2004. To find out more, visit www.seia.org.

Report Says California Has Potential to Increase Green Power Ten-Fold

The Renewable Resources Development Report recently adopted by the California Energy Commission estimates that California could produce 10 times more renewable electricity than currently generated in the state. Presently, California draws on renewable energy for 11 percent of its electricity. The document was submitted to the California legislature on December 1 in support of the state's new Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires that 20 percent of the state's retail electricity sales come from renewable energy sources. To find out more, visit www.energy.ca.gov/reports.

NESEA Calls for Green Building Award Entries

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) has announced a call for entries for its Northeast Green Building Awards. All entries are due on February 3, 2004. The Northeast Green Building Awards recognize outstanding achievements of high-performance architecture throughout the northeast. The annual competition is open to built works—either new construction or renovations—completed after January 1, 1998, and before January 1, 2004, in the northeastern U.S., as well as to student projects.

Award categories include places to live, places to work, places to learn and student projects. Cash prizes in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded for first place in each building category. In addition, those in the student projects category who place second will receive $500 and those who place third will receive $250. Northeastern states include Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. The competition is organized by NESEA and is supported in part by the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. For more details, visit www.nesea.org.

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