BP puts wind farms up for sale

BP Plc said it will sell its U.S. wind farms, but did not disclose an asking price. The London oil giant said it will sell 16 wind farms across nine states, Bloomberg reports. “BP has decided to market for sale our U.S. wind energy business as part of a continuing effort to become a more focused oil and gas company and re-position the company for sustainable growth into the future,” spokesman Mark Salt said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg. BP Plc said it will sell its U.S. wind farms, but did not disclose an asking price. The London oil giant said it will sell 16 wind farms across nine states, Bloomberg reports. “BP has decided to market for sale our U.S. wind energy business as part of a continuing effort to become a more focused oil and gas company and re-position the company for sustainable growth into the future,” spokesman Mark Salt said in an emailed statement to Bloomberg.

Xcel unit that scrapped $400M wind farm deal beats suit

A Minnesota federal judge on Thursday granted an Xcel Energy Inc. subsidiary's bid to toss enXco Development Corp.'s suit over the unit's failure to fulfill a contract to buy a $400 million wind farm, which had problems handling the safety of endangered birds. Northern States Power Co. and enXco sued each other in May over whether enXco's delay in addressing the $400 million North Dakota wind farm project's impact on endangered birds justified Northern States' disputed termination of an agreement to buy the farm from enXco.

BLM looks for solar energy proposals for Colorado land

The U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking suggested solar energy development plans on 3,714 acres of BLM-managed land in Conejos and Saguache counties in southwestern Colorado. The BLM's current actions come after 2 years of planning to pave the way for utility-scale solar development on public lands that will be capable of producing 20 megawatts or more of energy.

Coal out, renewables in with NV Energy's new plan

Nevada's largest utility plans to begin closing four coal-fired power plants northeast of Las Vegas and invest more money in renewable energy. NV Energy officials said the closures long sought by a neighboring tribe, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others are scheduled to begin by the end of next year. A summary of the plans being presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday concludes the move could cost ratepayers nearly 4 percent more over the next 20 years — with some individual annual rate increases bigger than that over the course of the project.

USDA seeking applications for rural renewable energy projects

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack says the USDA is seeking applications to provide assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, including solar projects. Funding is available from the USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). The USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a time of significant budget uncertainty, the department notes. The REAP represents part of the department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy.

Energy co. loses bid for enviro data for wind farm funding

Energy company Addison Energy Resources LLC on Wednesday lost its bid to force a wind farm company to hand over environmental data Addison allegedly needs to secure financing for its planned “multihundred million" wind farm project at a Kern County, Calif., site. U.S. District Judge Robert Timlin denied Addison’s preliminary injunction motion against Rising Tree Wind Farm LLC — with whom Addison is locked in a dispute over which of them has superior option rights to the property — ruling that it has not shown irreparable harm.

BrightSource shelves second major solar project this year

BrightSource Energy Inc has shelved a major solar power project in California, its second such move this year. The solar plant developer said in a document filed with the California Energy Commission on Wednesday that it was suspending its application for permission to build the 500 megawatt Hidden Hills solar thermal power project until further notice. It added in an emailed statement that it had agreed with Pacific Gas and Electric to terminate the utility's plan to purchase power from the plant due to "challenges associated with the project schedule and uncertainty around the timing of transmission upgrades".

Wyoming and Colorado benefit by combining wind power

Wyoming and Colorado would benefit by combining their wind energy resources, studies released Monday by the University of Wyoming and a national research laboratory show. One study conducted by the university's Wind Research Center showed that Wyoming's wind is stronger than Colorado's and blows during the day, the ideal time to meet Colorado electric customers' demands. The second study, conducted by the Colorado-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory, showed that construction of a transmission line connecting Wyoming and Colorado would bring 4,000 jobs and almost $4 billion in economic activity to the two states.

Oregon health dep't: Turbines are safe, but caution needed

The Oregon Public Health Division has recommended that wind energy planners and developers need to minimize the noise generated by wind turbines. The report urged industry types to "evaluate and implement strategies to minimize noise generation when outdoor levels exceed Oregon’s standards for wind turbine noise." However, current state noise standards for turbines aren't harmful to the public's health, according to the Division.

NC could lose solar lead as neighbors promote development

As North Carolina legislators consider ending some of the state’s incentives for solar energy development, legislators and utilities in neighboring states are increasing efforts to attract it. Mike Whitson of PCGSolar Inc. in Davidson says the two factors could leave the state losing its edge as the solar leader in the Southeast. The Solar Energy Industries Association says North Carolina ranks fifth in the nation for the amount of solar capacity installed in 2012.