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The most ambitious campaign yet in the UK to persuade households to switch to green electricity is to be launched next month by one of the country's biggest wind turbine developers. Ecotricity, which includes J Sainsbury and Ford among its customers, is aiming to sign up one million domestic customers to its new environmentally friendly tariff and build 500 megawatts of community wind power capacity by 2010. The campaign is being backed by Smile, the Co-op's internet bank, Body Shop, the Soil Association, the Wild Fowl and Wetlands Trust and Future Forests. Customers who sign up will receive 10 per cent of their electricity from wind turbines in the first year and a further 10 per cent in each subsequent year. Ecotricity also has plans for a dual-fuel deal so customers can buy gas at the same time. It may even seek to capitalise on the troubles facing British Energy by launching a "nuclear-free" tariff. Dale Vince, the founder and managing director of Ecotricity, said: "Our aim is to bring about significant environmental improvement by creating a mass market for electricity through building new clean green sources of energy." Unlike electricity giants such as ScottishPower and British Energy which are proposing to build large windfarms, Ecotricity's idea is to site wind turbines in local areas close to where the electricity will be used. Source: Independent,co.uk 2/17/2003.
The Energy Cooperative of New York is going green. The not-for-profit Buffalo energy services firm is offering its customers the option of buying an environmentally-friendly mix of electricity generated from wind and biomass sources. Like all so-called "green power" programs, consumers can expect to pay slightly more for electricity generated from pollution-reducing sources. The energy co-op estimates that a typical residential customer will pay between 5 cents and 15 cents a day extra for green power. The co-op, with financial help from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, is the first energy services company in the Niagara Mohawk service territory to offer a green power option to its customers. "We're the only one combining the cost advantages of deregulations with the environmental advantages of renewable energy," said Derek Bateman, a co-op spokesman. "The result is by far the most cost effective renewable program being offered in the Niagara Mohawk territory." The co-op estimates that the additional cost of the green power, which runs about 1.1 cents per kilowatt hour extra, will add about $3.10 to a typical monthly bill of a customer using 600 kilowatts of power each month, compared with conventional utility service. Niagara Mohawk customers also have a choice of three green power options that will add an estimated $6.50 to $7.50 to the typical monthly bill of a residential customer using 500 kilowatts of electricity. The co-op's green power program will get 80 percent of its power from biomass generators, which use landfill gas to generate electricity, and the remaining 20 percent from wind power. The idea behind green power programs is to stimulate the demand for renewable energy sources, which state regulators hope will encourage the development of additional wind, solar and hydroelectric power plants in New York. Those renewable energy power plants, however, often can not compete on price with conventional methods of generating electricity, including power plants powered by coal, natural gas or nuclear energy. As a result, green power programs are being marketed as a way for consumers to pay a little extra to help the environment by reducing the demand for the more polluting sources of electricity. Source: The Buffalo News, New York, 2/13/2003.
On January 28, the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) approved the NC GreenPower program, which is being touted as the first State program to offer electricity generated from renewable resources to consumers statewide. All three utilities operating in the State-Carolina Power and Light Company, Duke Energy Corporation, and Dominion North Carolina Power-have enrolled, and most municipal and cooperative systems are expected to participate. The NCUC will launch the program in 6 months and will offer two products to customers:
The initial NC GreenPower proposal came under fire from some environmental groups that believed certain materials should not be considered "green" under the policy. Appalachian Voices stated in its comments that it strongly opposes the inclusion of hydropower, municipal solid waste, animal waste, and biomass incineration. The NCUC consequently addressed the comments it received. The program administrator, Advanced Energy Corporation, stated that it acknowledges that all parties will not be completely satisfied with the plan, but that the revised plan has gained more support from stakeholders. Source: Utilities Biweekly Report 2/12/2003.
Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's largest and fastest growing retail provider of cleaner electricity, and The Climate Trust, an Oregon non-profit organization that promotes climate change solutions, have teamed up to reduce the climate impacts of the electricity provider's operations. The two organizations today announced an agreement that supports energy-efficiency programs in Portland to offset a portion of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulting from Green Mountain Energy Company's nationwide business activities. The agreement is made possible through The Climate Trust's "Giving to Protect the Climate" program, in which businesses can make a donation to expand The Climate Trust's portfolio of projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The funds provided by Green Mountain Energy Company will prevent the emission of 1,200 tons of CO2 . That is equal to 50% of Green Mountain Energy Company's 2001 emissions of CO2 [the primary greenhouse gas responsible for global warming] plus a portion of the company's 2002 CO2 emissions. As part of the agreement, The Climate Trust will hold the offsets created in trust for the benefit of the environment. "We applaud Green Mountain Energy Company for its commitment to the environment and to the communities in which it does business," said Mike Burnett, executive director for The Climate Trust. "The issue of global warming affects us all, yet there are easy ways for both individuals and businesses to do something about it—whether it's purchasing cleaner electricity or supporting other innovative programs like those offered by The Climate Trust." Since 1999, Green Mountain Energy Company has calculated the CO2 emissions resulting from its daily business activities, including office energy and paper use, employee commuting, and corporate air travel. Through its orporate Climate Mitigation Program, the company has offset half of each year's emissions. Green Mountain Energy Company will complete the remainder of its 2002 mitigation once that year's CO2 accounting is done.
Always committed to the environment: "We have always been committed to operating as an environmentally responsible business," said Karen Norris, director of operations in Oregon for Green Mountain Energy Company. "This is the third year that we have offset half of our CO2 emissions from key business practices. This agreement alone avoids 1,200 metric tons of CO2, as much as a car emits in driving over 2.9 million miles. The Climate Trust's Giving to Protect the Climate Program is a cost effective way to participate in high quality offsets and a great way to help us reduce our environmental footprint." Green Mountain Energy Company's donation is one of many that are earmarked to be included among the funds allowing the City of Portland to expand two existing energy-efficiency building programs. These projects reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by reducing conventional electricity use:
For more information about this and other offset projects funded by The Climate Trust, visit www.climatetrust.org. More information about Green Mountain Energy Company's corporate
environmental performance is available in its annual environmental report, available online at http://www.greenmountain.com/about/environment/index.jsp.
Source: E-Wire 2/13/2003.
TXU Energy said it has been awarded a contract from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Tex., to provide "100% of the energy needs for the base" for two years using wind energy. The utility said the goal of the contract, for the supply of approximately 78 million kWh of wind-generated
electricity each year, is "to help the base meet and surpass [U.S. Air Force] and government renewable energy goals." "TXU Energy is pleased to be the provider for the largest consumer
purchase of wind energy in U.S. history," said TXU Energy retail president Rob McCoy. "TXU Energy has been a national leader in wind development for years and we look forward to more opportunities for wind purchases in the future." TXU Energy, which has approximately 2.7 million customers in Texas, noted that its current renewable energy purchases provide electricity for more than 80,000 households in the state. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly 2/14/2003.
For more information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/home.shtml
We Energies is developing plans to harvest power from prairie winds blowing across Johnstown pastures. "We've looked at acres in the township and will be notifying landowners soon," Dave Johnson, a representative of enXco, said at a town board meeting Monday. The board had no previous knowledge of the possibility of a wind farm being built in the township east of Janesville, said Andrew Weberpal, town chairman. But none of the board members voiced opposition to the plan. Johnson, a full-time Iowa farmer, works part time for enXco, he said. The international company specializes in developing, building and managing more than 4,000 turbines on three continents, Johnson said. We Energies is looking for up to 200 megawatts of wind generation to reach its target of at least 5 percent of retail electric energy sales coming from renewable energy sources by 2011, Johnson said. Wind energy doesn't release carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides-the conventional by-products of power producers-into the atmosphere, Johnson said. The wind power project increases revenue to local governments and landowners, creates jobs during construction and adds to property tax revenues, Johnson said. Land would be leased for the turbines, he added. "There would be no cost at all to the landowner," Johnson said. Wind turbines are compatible with crop production, livestock grazing and forestry, John son said. Care is taken during the development of a wind farm to minimize any damage to the land, he added. A road would be built for maintenance of the turbines, but landowners would not be responsible for the cost, Johnson said. "Turbines would be placed 1,000 feet from any dwelling and 300 feet from a road," Johnson said. The logistics of creating a wind farm are immense. It takes huge cranes, capable of reaching 300 feet in the air, to construct the turbines, Johnson said. Charles Scharine, the town's zoning officer, offered his support. "My place is windy," he said. The plan is still in its infancy, Johnson said. But it's "highly probable" that a wind farm could be built in the town, Johnson said. One Johnstown resident asked Johnson if the turbines made a lot of noise.
Noise isn't a problem, he said. "It would be like the wind blowing across a cornfield," Johnson said. Source: Gazette Xtra 2/19/2003
The government of Thailand recent released a new report examining the wind energy generation potential of the country's Phuket, Songkhla and Pattani provinces that has prompted officials from GE Power Systems subsidiary GE Wind Energy to consider building a wind farm in and supplying wind turbines to Thailand. According to the Bangkok Post, GE Wind Energy Asian-Pacific general manager Steven Fludder met with government officials last week to discuss development of the country's wind energy sector. Fludder noted that the company is evaluating wind projects in several countries in the Asia Pacific region, including the Philippines and South Korea. GE Wind Energy said it is currently testing a commercial three-megawatt (MW) wind turbine prototype based on a 1.5-MW turbine model introduced by GE in 1996. The company said the turbine's designers were able to boost the rating of the prototype, which is expected to be available next year, by increasing the size of the generator and the rotor diameter. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 2/13/2003.
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) today applauded President George Bush for highlighting ethanol as a domestic source of hydrogen to power fuel cells. President Bush recently announced a $1.2 billion "Hydrogen Fuel Initiative" to support research and commercialization of fuel cells for automobiles and stationary power generation. In a speech this afternoon to fuel cell technology leaders, automobile industry executives and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staff, the President urged Congress to quickly pass an energy bill and expanded on his vision for a hydrogen-powered future first outlined in the State of the Union Address.
Today, the President stated: "And there's a lot of advantages that I want to explain to the American people about why this initiative makes sense. First, the hydrogen can be produced from domestic sources -- initially, natural gas; eventually, biomass, ethanol, clean coal, or nuclear energy. That's important. If you can produce something yourself, it means you're less dependant upon somebody else to produce it." The RFA recently released a white paper highlighting the potential synergies for ethanol and fuel cells. Ethanol is easily stored and dispensed in the current fueling system and generates fewer greenhouse gas-forming emissions than conventional fuels. Tests have demonstrated that ethanol is more efficient to reform than gasoline to provide hydrogen for fuel cells. "President Bush is to be commended for not only discussing hydrogen fuel cells, but the question of where the hydrogen will come from," said Bob Dinneen, RFA president. "In the search for hydrogen to power these new fuel cells, only ethanol combines the ability to utilize the existing fuel distribution infrastructure with the safety and environmentally-friendly attributes that consumers are increasingly demanding. And as a domestic fuel, ethanol helps provide energy security. Clearly, fuel cells represent an important new market for renewable ethanol."
The DOE has partnered with the State of Illinois, Caterpillar Inc., Nuvera Fuel Cells and Williams Bio-Energy to demonstrate the nation's first commercial ethanol powered fuel cell. With the design complete and fabrication well underway, the 13-kilowatt stationary fuel cell system is scheduled to power Williams' visitor center in Pekin, Illinois later this year. The RFA fuel cell white paper (PDF document) is available at:: www.ethanolRFA.org/RFA_Fuel_Cell_White_Paper.PDF
Source: RFA Release 2/6/2003.
Global Solar Energy (GSE) recently announced it has signed a contract with Tucson Electric Power (TSE) to add more than one megawatt (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) modules this year to the utility's 2.4-MW solar array in eastern Arizona. According to GSE, it has served as project manager for TEP's entire solar installation, "overseeing construction of a system that currently includes 22,276 PV panels near TEP's coal-fired Springerville Generating Station." As with the earlier installations, GSE noted that it has worked together with TEP to design, set specifications and integrate components for the one-MW addition, which will utilize both crystalline-silicon and thin-film cadmium-telluride PV modules. "We're very pleased to continue our unique partnership with [TEP] in providing this additional building block of clean energy-based generation capacity," said GSE president Michael Gering. "We continue to enhance our expertise in both ground-mounted and roof-mounted systems while constantly pursuing efforts to lower costs." Tucson, AZ-based GSE manufactures thin-film PV arrays for aerospace, military and commercial applications, and designs, installs, commissions and services complete turnkey solar power stations. Contact: GSE, website http://www.globalsolar.com. Source: Business Wire 2/10/2003 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 2/12/2003.
Plans to build a 30-megawatt wind facility in western Kansas are moving ahead, but of two installations planned near Wichita in southeast Kansas, only one has gained approval. In the western part of the state, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation has agreed to buy the first 30 megawatts of wind power produced by a project to be built near Leoti, located midway between
Nebraska and Oklahoma and about 40 miles east of the Colorado border. Renewable Energy Systems Ltd. (RES) plans to build the wind project, called the Sunflower Electric Wind Farm, by the end of this year. The project is still subject to the approval of the Rural Utilities Service and the Kansas Corporation Commission. See the RES press release at: http://www.res-ltd.com/news/04-02-03.htm. In the Wichita area, the Butler County Board of Commissioners has
given approval to one project while denying another. The board approved the Elk River Windfarm, to be located about 40 miles east of Wichita. The board denied approval for another project located about 30 miles east of Wichita. Kansas Wind Power, LLC had proposed the second project, which was apparently rejected because it did not meet the requirements of the county's comprehensive plan for development. See the last two sections of the minutes of the Board's
January 28th meeting at: http://www.bucoks.com/Commissioners/minutes03.htm. Kansas Wind Power signed an agreement with Padoma Wind Power, LLC in late January with the intent to develop 500 megawatts of wind power over the next three years, most of it located in Kansas. Despite the setback in Butler County, the company still plans to achieve that goal. See the Kansas Wind Power press releases at: http://www.kansaswindpower.com/Media_Coverage.htm. Source: EREN Network News 2/12/2003.
Shifting their marketing strategies to a more customer-focused approach, BP Solar will market to California homeowners a total solar energy solution that will reduce or eliminate monthly electricity bills, enhance energy independence, and help clean the environment through the production of emissions-free electricity using the power of the sun. "Homeowners want reliable energy in the form of a complete solution and are increasingly stating their preference for green, environmentally friendly products," said BP Group VP for Renewables John Mogford. "That's exactly what we'll deliver: lower energy bills and control into the homeowner hands through a
customized and branded system with a long-term panel warranty, backed by a company that's been around for 100 years." In addition to a highly efficient and reliable solar system, BP Solar will offer customers financing options, access to California Energy Commission (CEC) rebates up to 50 percent of the purchase price, a full planning, installation and commissioning service and an exclusive in-home display, enabling customers to track their system's electricity production. The company is reaching homeowners through a campaign of direct mail, newsprint, radio and television advertising. By taking advantage of the Internet as a part of its outreach, BP Solar offers a Solar Savings Estimator on its Web site. Simply by entering their zip code and utility bill, the online Solar Savings Estimator allows homeowners to calculate their potential savings, the payback period and the environmental benefits of having a system for their home. "A decade ago, the industry focused on developing new technologies and driving down manufacturing costs," said Mogford. "Our products are affordable and generate clean, reliable electricity. We now need to become more customer focused." Source: Solar e-Clips 2/11/2003.
Konarka Technologies, Inc. (KTI), a leading developer of flexible, polymer and nanoparticle-based photovoltaic (PV) technology, recently announced it has acquired Linz, Australia-based Quantum Solar Energy Linz (QSEL) from Linz AG, a regional utility company. Konarka said it will rename the company Konarka Austria Research and Development. "We consider organic solar cell technology as a complement to our dye-based solar cell nanotechnology and are confident that organic PV will be a commercial success," said Konarka CEO William Beckenbaugh. "One of the essential attributes of this technology is its compatibility with Konarka's expertise in roll-to-roll manufacturing and low-cost processing. The organic PV technology also opens the door for a hybrid solar cell, for which we have already applied for patent rights, that combines the advantages of our nanocrystalline titanium dioxide with conducting polymers." As a result of the acquisition, Konarka also noted that Linz will become one of its shareholders. "This acquisition is further evidence of our commitment and determination to be the market leader in third-generation, flexible, low-cost [PVs]," said Konarka chairman and co-founder Howard Berke. "Our commercialization roadmap for the polymer technology includes new applications and form factors to serve our customers with the most appropriate technology for their applications." Contact: Paul Wormser, KTI, phone 978-569-1407, e-mail pwormser@konarkatech.com, website http://www.konarkatech.com. Source: Business Wire 2/10/2003 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 2/11/2003.
Toshiba International Corporation (TIC) and Plug Power Inc. announced today a joint marketing agreement to explore the application of fuel cells for industrial premium power markets. The agreement will define a product that combines Plug Power's proprietary fuel cell technology with TIC's uninterruptible power systems. The companies expect the joint marketing agreement to lead to subsequent product development and commercialization agreements. "Back-up power is a compelling application for Plug Power's fuel cell technology," said Mark Sperry, Plug Power Chief Marketing Officer. "We believe this application will deliver tremendous value to TIC's customer base because of its expected extended run capability, low cost of ownership, quiet operation, and low emissions. TIC is a supplier of power quality technology to the telecom and IT industries, and we look forward to helping them build a new product in the premium power market." "Fuel cells promise a cost effective and clean energy solution to the critical power needs of our industrial clients," said Greg Mack, Product/Sales Manager, Uninterruptible Power Supplies. "TIC is committed to being a 'front runner' in developing creative solutions to solve our customers' problems and we look forward to working closely with Plug Power to fulfill this need."
TIC located in Houston, Texas, is the North American headquarters for the Industrial Division. TIC produces products that efficiently generate, distribute, control, and convert electricity. TIC designs and manufactures uninterruptible power supply systems for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. Plug Power designs, develops and manufactures on-site electric power generation systems utilizing Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells for stationary applications. Plug Power's fuel cell systems are expected to be sold globally through a joint venture with General Electric and through DTE Energy Technologies in a four-state territory, which includes Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. The Company's headquarters are located in Latham, N.Y., with offices in Washington, D.C., and The Netherlands. This press release may contain statements, which are not historical facts and are considered forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements contain projections of Plug Power's future results of operations, Plug Power's product development expectations or of Plug Power's financial position or state other forward-looking information. In some cases you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will" and "would" or similar words. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because Plug Power's actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, Plug Power's ability to develop a commercially viable fuel cell system; the cost and timing of developing Plug Power's fuel cell systems; market acceptance of Plug Power's fuel cell systems; Plug Power's reliance on Plug Power's relationship with certain affiliates of General Electric; Plug Power's ability to perform on its multi-generation product plan in a manner satisfactory to GEFCS and DTE; ability to manufacture fuel cell systems on a commercial basis; competitive factors, such as price competition, competition from other power technologies and competition from other fuel cell companies; the cost and availability of components and parts for Plug Power's fuel cell systems; the ability to raise and provide the necessary capital to develop, manufacture and market Plug Power's fuel cell systems; Plug Power's ability to lower the cost of its fuel cell systems and demonstrate their reliability; the cost of complying with current and future governmental regulations; and other risks and uncertainties discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Plug Power's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, dated March 29, 2002 and filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002, and the reports Plug Power files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Plug Power does not intend to and undertakes no duty to update the information contained in this press release. Source: PRNewsWire 2/19/2003.
For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.wapa.gov/es/resources/renewables/tech.htm
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation parent company WPS Resources Corporation recently announced that nine high schools in northeastern Wisconsin have been selected to receive WPS Community Foundation, Inc.'s SolarWise for Schools education program. During the next two years, WPS said each school will receive a two-kilowatt rooftop solar-electric system and "a three-week curriculum package to explore energy resources and the use of solar power." WPS noted that five of the high schools are slated for solar system installations this year, including Bayport, Oconto, Pacelli, Tomahawk and Valders, while the other four -- Marinette, Sevastopol, Wausau East and Wrightstown -- will receive their SolarWise systems in 2004. WPS said the solar equipment will provide enough electricity to light several classrooms, with students able to monitor system performance daily via the Internet. Additionally, WPS said all of the selected schools are eligible to participate in the seventh annual "Solar Olympics," a one-day event that provides students the opportunity to compete in a variety of solar projects against teams from other schools. According to WPS, the nine schools join 18 others that have received SolarWise installations since 1997 and five schools that have received the program's educational component. "The SolarWise program is growing," said Wisconsin Public Service SolarWise manager Chip Bircher. "People are becoming aware of the important role that renewable energy will play in providing reliable electricity while protecting the environment, and SolarWise is an easy, convenient way to make a difference." Contact: Chip Bircher, WPS, phone 920-433-5518.
Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 2/11/2003.
Four of the five draft staff reports for the 2003 Energy Policy Report are now available on our website. The reports and their publication numbers are:
The fifth report is expected to go on line on Thursday, February 13th and is titled:
To download the reports, please go to: http://www.energy.ca.gov/energypolicy/documents/. Source: E-mail from CEC 2/11/2003.
For more information on Educational Resources go to: http://www.es.wapa.gov/links/renew_education.htm
Picking up where they left off in 2002, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led by Tom Daschle (D-SD) today introduced comprehensive fuels legislation, the Fuels Security Act of 2003, that
bans MTBE nationwide, strengthens air quality regulations, provides refiner flexibility, and establishes a renewable fuels standard (RFS). "At a time when America's foreign oil pipeline appears more vulnerable than ever, Congress must act to enhance domestic energy
security - the fuels agreement is a good first step," said Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president. "This bill jump starts the legislative process and I commend all the cosponsors for their vision. Congress must not abandon the work done on energy issues last year. It must move forward with a fuels agreement that includes a robust RFS. While we expect modifications during the legislative process, the key provisions of the bill remain the same."
Key provisions of the RFS compromise include:
The fuels agreement is supported by an historic coalition of oil, ethanol, agriculture, environmental, and public health interests, including the American Petroleum Institute, National Corn Growers Association, Renewable Fuels Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and National Farmers Union, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Lung Association, and Renewable Energy Action Project.
Cosponsors of the bill include: Sens. Dick Lugar (R-IN), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), George Voinovich (R-OH), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Kit Bond (R-MO), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jim Talent (R-MO), Mark Dayton (D-MN), Norm Coleman (R-MN), and Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL). Source: Renewable Fuels Association 2/13/2003.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions are definitely on the radar of corporate and political America. But approaches vary as to how cuts in emissions ought to be achieved. The Business Roundtable likes the voluntary tack of the Bush administration, which has set a national goal to reduce greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012. The roundtable, made up of CEOs from major U.S. corporations, announced Wednesday that it will ask its members to curb their emissions in an effort to slow global warming. It's a near certainty that CO2 reductions won't become obligatory during the Bush presidency. But, all bets are off after that. In any event, the tone of current discussions will undoubtedly influence the investment decisions of power plant operators.
Many older coal facilities are at a crossroads: They must either cease production or undergo modifications to extend their life. The latitude endorsed by President Bush and business groups has proved successful when it comes to reductions in other emissions, particularly when the strategy has been tied to lower overall caps that could be achieved through the buying and selling of so-called credits. But, without a viable enforcement mechanism to bring companies into
compliance, the policy could falter. In the case of the roundtable, it aims to get 100 percent of its members to participate but does not say how it would do so.
The Battle: Without a practical method to force those reductions, critics claim the roundtable's announcement is meaningless. Pollution control could therefore take a backseat to cost-cutting measures and competitive pressures. Environmentalists view the statement as part of an attempt to stave off legislation that would mandate cuts in CO2 emissions, not a fundamental change in the way industry thinks. The Bush team says that environmental policy is not a zero-sum game,
which means one side wins at the other's expense. Policy is about getting results, it says, noting that the measure of success is not how many lawsuits have been filed but how much emissions have dropped. A less rigid approach, it says, will balance the demands of a growing economy with the need to curb emissions. It will also result in more compliance and better results, and less litigation. Environmentalists don't disagree with the notion of flexibility, as long as the overriding goal remains the production of tangible results. Along those lines, not only must the Clean Air Act be fully enforced, it says, but strict limitations ought to be placed on CO2 emissions. That policy produces more environmental benefits than the one put forth by the White House.
The tug-of-war over U.S. environmental policy has never been more strident. It's really boiled down to President Bush's Clear Skies Initiative versus Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., who has championed the environmental cause. The administration's climate action report projects that carbon dioxide emissions tied to U.S. companies will increase by 43 percent by 2020. If Bush won't endorse the Kyoto Protocol, then the matter must be resolved through legislation, say green groups. The technology to clean up power plants already exists, they say, which means that the central task is to get companies to implement pollution control equipment. Some utilities, like the seven that are members of the Clean Energy Group, are pushing generators to adopt new technologies, as well as the current administration to enact limits on CO2 emissions.
The cost of inaction is simply too high: Ecosystems are likely to disappear entirely because of manmade global warming, say many scientists. Because these are real threats, there is no reason why modern technologies cannot be applied today. "America is on the verge of a boom in power-plant construction, and that gives us a rare opportunity," wrote Sen. Jeffords, in a New York Times op-ed. "The power industry realizes that the question on carbon dioxide is not whether it will be regulated, but when." His bill would bring CO2 emissions down to their 1990 levels by 2008. Additionally, the Natural Resources Defense Council says that President
Bush's voluntary proposal would result in higher emissions relative to other nations, contrary to what the White House has said. The president's plan would result in U.S. emissions 30 percent above 1990 levels in 2012, the defense counsel says.. Other industrialized countries, meanwhile, have committed to reduce emissions to near 1990 levels under the global warming treaty abandoned by the administration last year.
Voluntary Approach: The mandatory approach is not without risk. The conclusions about past
temperature changes and projections about the future, which are the basis for Kyoto, are built on assumptions?not demonstrated scientific facts, says William O'Keefe, president of the George Marshall Institute. Not enough is known about global warming to distinguish whether it
increases because of natural variability or human influence. Further, drastic CO2 reductions would result in a massive switch from coal-fired plants to those that run on natural gas. And that would be an expensive transition that would ultimately be cushioned by ratepayers. The Energy Department released a report recently that says that the Jeffords measure, which also has strict limits on sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and mercury, would increase the cost of power by $9 billion a year over the next 20 years. Market-based methods work, the administration says, pointing to the success of the nation's acid rain program. Under such a system, regulators put a cap on the emissions of certain toxins that is noticeably less than current allowable limits. Businesses that emit less can sell, bank or transfer those credits. In 1990, 15.7 million tons of SO2 were emitted. By 2000, that number had dropped to 11.2 million tons. By 2010, businesses are expected to meet the target set by the Clean Air Act of 8.95 million tons, in large part because of the flexibility given under the cap-and-trade program. Meanwhile, the Ozone Transportation Commission 2002 report says that such initiatives have reduced NOx emissions in the Northeast alone to 60 percent below their 1990 levels. The Business Roundtable's climate initiative "will show that voluntary actions can deliver solid results without government mandates and rigid compliance timetables," says Linn Draper, CEO of American Electric Power and part of the roundtable's environmental task force. AEP has joined a global climate exchange whereby it will work to cut its own emissions by 4 percent over the next four years, beginning now. By reducing those emissions by one percent annually until 2006, it aims to cut 18 million tons of CO2 emissions based on current levels. Utilities have responded to pressures to curb all of their emissions by switching increasingly to natural gas and by implementing newer technologies that run more efficiently and produce fewer pollutants. But
if the predictions are correct, CO2 emissions will only increase and the consequences of that could be severe. If the void between what industry and environmentalists cannot be closed, the pressures to enact a legislative fix will only grow. Source: Issue Alert 2/13/2003.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) recently announced it will join with the Sustainable Energy Coalition and the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucuses to host a Congressional briefing on renewable energy technologies and "their increasingly important role in the U.S." EESI said the briefing will focus on five renewable energy technologies, including biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar and wind, with an expert from each field providing a general introduction to the technology and information on "the relevant policy and budget issues coming before the 108th Congress."
According to EESI, American Bioenergy Association co-director Katherine Hamilton will discuss biomass technology, followed by Geothermal Energy Association executive director Karl Gawell, who will address geothermal energy issues. Additionally, National Hydropower Association executive director Linda Ciocci will deliver a presentation on hydropower technology, while Solar Energy Industries Association executive director Glenn Hamer and American Wind Energy Association legislative director Jaime Steve will discuss solar and wind energy, respectively.
"Energy policy will once again be at the forefront of the Congressional policy agenda this session, and renewable energy technologies are poised to tackle many of the country's energy concerns," the institute stated. EESI noted that the briefing is open to the public and no reservations are required. Contact: J.R. Drabick, EESI, phone 202-662-1886, e-mail jrdrabick@eesi.org. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 2/18/2003.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) released its "Budget-in-Brief" on Tuesday, providing a summary of the proposed EERE budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004. The budget increases only slightly compared to last year's proposed budget, now totaling $1.32 billion. It includes the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and expands the FreedomCAR program, while also providing increased funds for solid state lighting, the Weatherization
Assistance Program, and the President's National Climate Change Technology Initiative. See EERE's "FY 2004 Budget-in-Brief" on the EERE Web site at:
http://www.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/budget.html. Source: EREN Network News 2/12/2002.
President Bush and his Republican allies in Congress have an opportunity to give the nation's energy and environmental policies a more pro-business tilt, and they're moving quickly to take advantage of it. The pending war with Iraq and disruptions of oil supplies from Venezuela highlight the need for greater energy independence, a goal Bush listed as one of his top priorities in his State of the Union address last month. Republican leaders in Congress are moving quickly to revive an energy bill that died last year in the Senate, which was controlled by Democrats. This year, Republicans control both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and a number of key committee chairmanships and leadership posts are held by staunch conservatives. Several were small-business owners who had run-ins with environmental agencies before coming to Washington. They view the Environmental Protection Agency as a bureaucracy run amok. Last week, the conservatives demonstrated their new clout. They expanded a program that allows for more logging on federal land. They lifted a ban on preliminary oil and gas exploration in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They barred environmental lawsuits over reissuing permits for the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. And they cut $140 million from Bush's requests for national parks and wildlife refuges. The measures, all controversial, were part of a massive spending bill that had to be approved for the federal government to continue operating. In the coming months, the president and his allies are hoping for more energy exploration on federally owned lands; more freedom to thin national forests; and environmental regulations that would give businesses, power plants and property owners more flexibility in meeting federal standards on clean air, clean water and the preservation of endangered species. The stage is set for a showdown that could move environmental issues to the top of the political agenda. Conservative Republicans think voters will agree that it's time to update environmental policies that they say have put the interests of obscure bugs and plants over Americans who need jobs. Democrats are trying to make an issue of the administration's plans for energy and the environment. "They're set on rolling back 30 years of environmental progress," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said last week.
New power brokers: When Republican congressional leaders made ppointments to key committees last month, moderates with close ties to the environmental movement were shunted aside in favor of Westerners with a history of tangling with the EPA. Among the new chairmen:
The combative businessman-turned-lawmaker has said he intends to change the EPA, which he sees as too closely tied to "environmental extremists." He called it an agency of "bureaucrats inflicting terror" on small-business owners. He said the costs of environmental regulations need to be weighed against their benefits. He wants more oil and gas drilling in areas that are now off-limits. "You can't run the most heavily industrialized nation in the world on windmills," Inhofe said.
A 1996 book that Pombo co-wrote, This Land Is Our Land, inveighed against "an eco-federal coalition that owes more to communism than any other philosophy." But as chairman, Pombo is sounding more conciliatory. He said he's seeking a "broad consensus" on ways to "do a better job of protecting our environment and have less conflict with people."
The committee chairmen help set the legislative agenda. They can showcase an issue by holding a hearing on it. They can bury a bill by never scheduling it for consideration. They can make policy behind closed doors.
A pro-business agenda: The conservatives are assuming leading roles on the environmental and energy committees at a key time. The administration is trying to revive several bills that never made it out of Congress last year, largely because of opposition in the Democratic-led Senate:
Also on the agenda for conservative Republicans such as Inhofe and Pombo: a rewrite of the endangered species act. Advocates of the law say it protects important plants and animals from extinction. Opponents argue that it deprives property owners of the right to use their land. But there are signs of a schism in Republicans' narrow congressional majority. Influential centrist Republicans have delivered a vote of no-confidence in Bush's "Clear Skies" plan. Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both Maine Republicans, are supporting an alternative by Vermont independent Sen. Jim Jeffords and backed by a number of leading Democrats. Centrists also have objected to Bush's plans for energy exploration in the Arctic refuge. Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-Conn., is co-sponsoring a bill to ban oil and gas drilling permanently in the refuge. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., plans to use his post as chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to crusade against global warming. And Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., who often holds the deciding vote on the Environment and Public Works Committee, is prepared to break ranks with the Bush administration on environmental issues. Nonetheless, business leaders and property owners think they have their best chance in years to rein in government regulators. "It does look as if the stars are lined up," says Nancie Marzulla of the Defenders of Property Rights. Environmentalists agree. They say they're facing the most hostile Congress in at least a generation. John Echeverria, director of the Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Institute, said, "You can be confident nothing good will happen for the next two years from an environmental standpoint." Source: USA Today 2/16/2003.
For more information on legislative activities go to: http://www.wapa.gov/es/resources/renewables/washingt.htm
Please find the Nevada Office of Energy 2003 Status Report on their website at www.energy.state.nv.us. The report was distributed to the Governor and the legislature on January 30th. The report includes assessments of the adequacy of energy supplies in Nevada. The report also discusses all office of energy activities including those related to renewable energy development, energy efficiency and conservation support, permitting and siting support. The report also discusses the Comprehensive Energy Plan for Nevada which, at this point, includes a 3 year strategic plan for the Office of Energy and observations relative to the integrated electric resource planning process at the PUCN. Source: Carl Linvill, 2/13/2003.
Western peak power prices for the Thursday/Friday package were up for the fourth straight session Wednesday, predominantly on Tuesday's gas futures rally, and on less available hydroelectric generation, as was evidenced by BPA's reduced offer. Traders in the WECC scheduled a Thursday/Friday combo on Wednesday in order to accommodate the upcoming Presidents' Day holiday on Monday. A Saturday/Sunday package will trade on Thursday and a Monday/Tuesday combo will trade on Friday. Several players believed that spot prices had just about reached their apex, citing weather forecasts calling for moderating temperatures across much of the West, and the return of precipitation to the Northwest beginning on Friday. NYMEX Henry Hub futures contracts ended lower Wednesday on steep declines in heating oil, sources said. Some players also attributed the weaker Henry Hub contracts to moderating weather forecasts for the eastern U.S. and profit taking following Tuesday's rally, the third day of gains in the past four sessions. March Hub gas shed 19.2 cents to close at 5.785$/mmBtu, and April fell 16.2 cents to finish at 5.56$/mmBtu. NYMEX will close at 13:00 EST Friday and will remain shut Monday in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday. Withdrawal estimates for Thursday morning's EIA storage report slipped considerably since Tuesday, with most parties now expecting a draw of between 160 and 170 bcf. The same week in 2002 saw a 172-bcf decline in U.S. gas stocks. California day-ahead power prices maintained their recent strength Wednesday as traders swapped Thursday-Friday packages to accommodate Monday's holiday. COB peak-load prices gained a few bucks, trading from 53.75$/MWh to 54.50$/MWh, with most action seen around the 54.25$/MWh mark, while COB off-peak goods were bought and sold on a dollar margin, from 44 to 45$/MWh. NP-15 peak power traded between 55 and 57$/MWh, while off-peak went for between 42 and 44.25$/MWh. SP-15 heavy-load transacted on an even 3$/MWh spread from 56 to 59$/MWh, while its light-load counterpart changed hands from 42.25 to 44.25$/MWh. In unit news, Duke-owned Morro Bay #4 (336 MW) was back on the grid Wednesday after a planned outage beginning in early January 2003. The unit's return brought outages from Tuesday's total of 16,795 MW down to 16,548 MW, according to CAISO's 11:15 PST report. On the gas front, SoCal next-day goods weakened by a penny Wednesday and were bought and sold from 5.36 to 5.41$/mmBtu. There were no new reports in transmission Wednesday. California was forecast to hover around seasonal norms for the rest of the week and weekend, with expected highs in the low to mid-60s. Los Angeles was anticipated to reach 66 degrees by Sunday. In their latest six-to-ten forecast, the NWS called for normal weather conditions throughout the State, with a sliver of below-normal temperatures in the northeastern area, from February 18 to 22. Source: Energy Market Report 2/13/2003.
Colorado State legislators, industry, and environmental organizations are negotiating provisions of a renewables portfolio standard (RPS) bill. During the past legislative session a similar bill died after legislators failed to reconcile the House and Senate versions before they adjourned. Supporters of the legislation claim the bill would require investor owned utilities in the State to obtain eight percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources. Several Colorado counties have passed resolutions in support of the policy; however, the Colorado Mining Association opposed the bill last year. The organization plans to review the language currently under negotiation to see how it will affect the mining industry. Source: Utilities Biweekly Report 2/12/2003.
If you interviewed 100 people on the street, how many would tell you they think customer service is alive and well at the companies they patronize? Having asked such a question of thousands of people over the years, I'm sorry to say most people do not find that to be the case. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index established by the University of Michigan Business School, customer satisfaction with service has decreased as much as 12 percent in the last six years. That's amazing because many experts will tell you the only thing that separates you from your competition is customer service. This being the case, wouldn't it then make sense, particularly in an unstable economy, that you work even harder to retain the customer base you have invested countless hours and dollars to develop? It sounds to me like customer service is nothing more than a convenient slogan at many electric utilities. The most valuable asset any utility has is its customer base, and steps must be taken to protect this asset from diminishing in value. Those in the know understand how significantly assets impact their bottom line and they will do what it takes to protect them.
So how do they do that? When it comes to customer service and how it affects the customer base asset, they turn to their employees. Look at it this way. All utilities view delivering reliable power as a necessity and they will do everything they can to make that happen. The same thing goes for utilities that have branched out into cable TV, cellular phone service and Internet access to grow new revenue streams. They want those services to be reliable. But when you throw the human element into the picture, there are many opportunities for things to go wrong. Have you ever stopped to figure out the variety of ways your staff interacts with your customers? Here are a few:
These front-line employees have the greatest opportunity to influence your most important asset. The manner in which they treat your customers plays out very simply in one of two ways: your customer found the experience to be positive or negative. The better question to ask is how many customers have you lost because of a poor attitude or lack of skills on the part of your staff? How many customers went to your cellular or Internet-access competition or to another utility where the market is deregulated, never to return, because someone didn't have the skills to proactively resolve a problem or to listen attentively to a frustrated customer? And don't forget, each of those customers that defected is likely to tell 10 or more people about the experience they had with your company. If a friend of yours tells you that the latest Hollywood movie is a bomb and not worth your time, are you going to have second thoughts about whether you go see it? Thanks to the Internet, both good and bad customer service stories spread like wildfire. The investment you make in training your staff to provide quality customer service doesn't cost your company, it actually pays your company! Many companies see training as an expense because they see it as a cost. They have a difficult time understanding how it positively affects their bottom line. One way to become a believer is to call your customers and ask them what they think of your level of customer service. I'm guessing some of you might be concerned about what they tell you. Most companies have no idea how many customers they have lost because of poor service.
Advertising and Marketing: If you spend money on advertising and marketing to attract customers, why wouldn't you make a continual investment in training your staff to make sure that every customer has a great experience when they contact your utility? If your business is a revolving door of new customers entering and existing customers leaving, something needs to change! Skill development is an ongoing process. A one-time training program or the class you gave last month will not give your employees all the training they need to provide first-class, top-notch service. Creating a memorable experience for each and every customer requires continual reinforcement and coaching. Consistency of service is the true key to a successful customer service program. It should make no difference to a customer whether they are the first or last call of the day, whether they are calling with a simple question or whether they are frustrated and don't understand their bill. They should be treated with an attitude and concern that clearly leaves them with the impression that they are valued and appreciated. Many utilities fail to create a culture that expects and rewards consistent top-notch service. Every person on your staff, whether or not they deal directly with your clients, needs to clearly understand the dollar value of a customer. Education will help your staff more easily relate to and appreciate that value. Knowledge is power and this power will, in turn, be reflected in how employees choose to treat your customers.
The old-school management philosophy that "you lead from the top" still holds true today. Front-line employees won't honor service standards imposed on them if it's their perception that management fails to adhere to the same requirements in dealing with internal and external customers. Actions speak louder than words. Nothing is more true than "walk your talk"! Management must become the coach and the model for the corporate culture you wish to create. It's the small things utilities do to provide a consistent level of customer service that help them exceed customer expectations. Your staff must be able to go beyond just using the customer's name. They need a variety of skills that empower them to actually hear what your customer is saying and then make appropriate decisions to effectively respond in a manner that leaves the customer feeling valued and appreciated. Are the right people taking care of your customers? How many people have you hired because they had previous experience with the product or service you provide? When you hired those people, were you sure they had the appropriate skills to take care of your most valuable asset, your customers? Make a commitment to personality profile your job applicants to find out before you hire them if they have the attitude to treat people they way they should be treated. You can teach customer-friendly people the skills to do the job. You can't always teach people to be customer friendly. Is there a possibility that you have someone with years of experience who's tired of dealing with customers who ask questions? Don't you want to employ a friendly and caring person who will do whatever they can to help satisfy the needs of your customers? In the current job market, people may tell you what you want to hear to get hired.
Customer loyalty starts with appreciation. I have to dig deep into my memory to remember a time when I received a genuine and sincere thank you from a company that sold me a product. Actually, there's one exception. I recently received a card from Amazon.com telling me it has been a year since I made my first purchase. In honor of my anniversary, they gave me $10 off my next order. How do you think that made me feel? Here's a company that deals with hundreds of thousands of customers a year but it values my business so much it gave me a gift certificate to use on my next purchase. Other than Amazon.com, I have not had one single company that I have ever done business with remember when I started buying from them as a customer. Guess who I'm going buy from next time I want a book? If your staff does not possess these skills, then top-notch customer service really is just a slogan at your utility! Are you satisfied with lip service or do you really want to develop a culture in your company that truly separates you from your competition? Source: Energy Central via David Saxby, President, Measure-X, 2/14/2003.
For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/emaa/index.html
To find out about California Energy Commission requests for proposals, grant opportunities and solicitations, go to: http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html .
The U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announces its intent to request proposals for State Energy Program (SEP) Special Projects. The goal of the Special Projects Program is to assist States, D.C., and Territories to accelerate deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; facilitate the acceptance of emerging and underutilized energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; and increase the responsiveness of Federally funded technology development efforts to private sector needs. Funding areas include: Clean Cities/Alt. Fuels, Industrial, Building Codes and Standards, Rebuild
America, Building America, FEMP, Solar, Wind, Distributed Generation, Geothermal, Biomass, Residential Deployment and Fuel Cells. Applications must be submitted by State or Territorial Energy Offices or other agency responsible for administering the State Energy Program
http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/state_energy/ . $16.6 million expected to be available. Cost share requirements vary by project area. The RFP expected to open mid-February and close in early to mid-May 2003. It will be issued as Master Solicitation. Individual project announcements will be issued as Supplemental Announcements to the Master Solicitation. For more info, go to. http://e-center.doe.gov. Refer to DE-PS36-03GO93001. (FBO 2/7/03). Source: Seattle Regional Office (SRO) of the U.S. Department of Energy
The U.S. Department of Defense through the U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) requests proposals for federal buy down of the cost of stationary fuel cell demonstration projects. Federal buy down NTE the lower of $1,000/kW or one-third of the total project costs which includes unit cost, installation, and one year of operation. Responses due 6/1/03. For more info, contact Raymond Jarr at RJARR@NETL.DOE.GOV or go to: http://e-center.doe.gov. Refer to Sol# DE-PS26-03NT41463. (FBO 1/12/03). Source: Seattle Regional Office (SRO) of the U.S. Department of Energy
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration invites letters of intent indicating interest in establishing a joint or cooperative institute for climate applications and research. Research priorities include but are not limited to climate variability and climate change applications research. $500K expected to be available for one five year award. Responses due 2/24/03. For more info, contact Michael Nelson, NOAA, at (301) 713-0926, Ext. 123. (Federal Grants and Contracts Weekly 1/27/03). Source: Seattle Regional Office (SRO) of the U.S. Department of Energy.
The U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) is conducting market research (this is not a request for proposals) on the available of sources capable of designing, manufacturing, installing, and monitoring the performance of a green roof for a pilot project to be undertaken by the DOI at its Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C. As part of the project, DOI is interested in environmental performance monitoring of this pilot installation, particularly comparing the instrumented performance of the installed green roof against a control roof. Responses due 2/27/03. For more info, contact Annabelle Contee, GSA, at (202) 205-0165. Refer to Ref# AC0227. (FBO 1/31/03). Source: Seattle Regional Office (SRO) of the U.S. Department of Energy.
For more information on funding solicitations go to: http://www.wapa.gov/es/resources/renewables/grants.htm
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