Below are a few letters received at EnergyBiz Insider on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.

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August 18, 2010

The renewable movement has gotten the green light. Now it's a matter of crafting the right policies to ensure that projects get built in a cost-effective and consumer-friendly way. Californians think they have the answer.

After getting tested by their domestic utilities, the California Public Utility Commission has come up with a "marketplace tariff" that fits with national laws. Basically, California's utilities have to buy green energy to meet the states renewable portfolio standards. But they don't have to do it at state-controlled prices. Instead, producers will bid into a system -- one that requires those utilities to buy at the lowest cost.

August 16, 2010

Keeping those air conditioners flowing is a summer necessity. But getting the most out of them has become national priority. The long-term goal is to equip utilities and consumers with the technologies they need to make better energy decisions.

While private entities are the most integral part of the mix, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also emerging as a vital facilitator. When it comes to establishing smart grids, the national energy regulator's role is to set the agenda and to become a meeting place so that the stakeholders can advance their ideas. As such, FERC has said that improving reliability, increasing the use of green energy and enticing investors are among its highest objectives.

August 13, 2010

If energy consumption is a major standard by which to judge economic prowess, then China has joined the big leagues. The International Energy Agency now reports that China has surpassed this country to become the world's biggest energy consumer.

The distinction carries with it two implications. The first is that China now possesses unfettered weight in global markets while the second is that it carries new-found obligations to reduce its air emissions. While the Chinese are destined to supply most of their energy needs with coal, natural gas and oil for decades to come, they are nonetheless committed to building out their renewable and nuclear energy programs.

August 11, 2010

Carbon capture could become commercial within 10-15 years. And while it holds the potential to significantly cut heat-trapping emissions, it may be noticeably more expensive than current technologies and thereby cause consumers to pay more.

That's the primary findings of the Government Accountability Office, which concluded that current carbon capture and sequestration technologies would increase the cost of power by 30 percent to 80 percent, albeit it has greater potential to reduce carbon emissions than other ideas. The alternative to such progressive technologies is one that centers on improving efficiency gains, or reducing the amount of coal that is burned so as to limit emission levels.