Solar Farm Will Generate Energy and Millions In Economic Benefits to Northern Alabama
CleanEngery.org – July 9
A recent study by the University of Alabama Center for Business and Economic Research found that a proposed 80 MW solar farm, to be located in Lauderdale County, Alabama, could create millions of dollars in economic benefits to the area. The solar farm is being developed on a 640-acre tract of land by NextEra Energy Inc. and will sell the power to the Tennessee Valley Authority under a 20-year contract approved by the TVA Board in February 2015. As the report points out, utility-scale solar projects have accounted for a majority of the recent growth in the solar industry. Much of this growth is due to the fact that solar costs have declined significantly in recent years. While residential costs have dropped by 45% since 2010, utility-scale costs have dropped more significantly, with recent contracts at prices below $0.05/kWh. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, by the end of 2014, there were 20,000 MW of solar in the U.S. – enough to power more than 4 million homes. The U.S. is on pace to complete its one millionth solar installation in 2015, and solar capacity is expected to double by the end of 2016 – which will reduce carbon emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 10 million cars off the road or shutting down 12 coal-fired power plants! NextEra plans to spend around $150 million on the project. The University of Alabama report looked at economic impacts both during the construction/installation phase and impacts over the 30-year operating period, focusing on output, value-added, earnings and employment. (Output refers to the total or gross business sales realized as a result of operation of the solar farm).
Column: Meeting Harper Lee
New York Times – July 9
In 2004 my daughter, Meredith, won an Alabama-wide high school contest to write an essay about To Kill a Mockingbird. The finalists from each school were invited to a luncheon at the University of Alabama, and Meredith, as statewide winner, got to bring Mom and Dad along. My wife, Nancy, and I were delighted. The elusive author herself, we’d learned, was scheduled to be there. Harper Lee. The name was an incantation. “If Harper Lee is there,” I told Meredith, as we drove from Mobile to Tuscaloosa, “don’t expect her to be superfriendly. Just say hello, be gracious, shake her hand.” “Okay, Dad.” “She’s famous but reclusive. Not every star wants to be the center of attention.” “Sure.” “And do not, I repeat, do not, ask her about To Kill a Mockingbird.” “This is about Meredith,” Nancy said, “not you. We’re just going along.”
Tampy Bay Tribune (Fla.) – July 9
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – July 9
Qatar Tribune – July 9
UA Adapted Athletics Wheelchair Basketball Camp (gallery)
Tuscaloosa News – July 9
Players begin the practice with group stretches in the middle of the court. The 2015 UA Women’s National Championship team hosted UA Adapted Athletic’s wheelchair basketball camp. The camp, held from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, is for kids ages 11-18, with practice each day and games each night.
CBS 42 (Birmingham) – July 9