 |
|
|||||
| Responsibility for the factual accuracy of each press release rests entirely with the individuals or organizations identified on the release.
|
|
|||||
|
||||||||||
INSEQ Corporation announced its execution of a strategic alliance with Sterling Planet, Inc., the nation's leading retail renewable energy provider through the sourcing and sale of renewable energy certificates. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, INSEQ will sell RECs through its planned new secondary commodities exchange, which is currently in development and is expected to launch later this year.
INSEQ's Revenue Model: INSEQ plans to generate revenue from the new platform in the form of transaction fees, but also by making a market in key high-volume liquid subsets of green commodities, including certain metals, chemicals, fuels, plastics and - as is the case here - renewable energy.
"As the nation's leading reseller of renewable energy, we believe that Sterling will bring renewable energy to a great many people, businesses and government institutions," said Kevin Kreisler, INSEQ's chairman. "INSEQ hopes to generate additional earnings by making a valuable contribution to Sterling's efforts. INSEQ's key initial goal here is to expand the breadth and depth of Sterling's reach in the retail residential markets."
Kevin Kreisler, who is also the chairman and chief executive officer of GreenShift, added: "We are particularly excited by the prospects of the trading platform. This pact with Sterling is important because REC's and other green tag offerings are going to be among the first commodities that INSEQ makes a market in when the INSEQ exchange launches later this year." Source: Business Wire, 8/29/2005
Public Service New Mexico announced that it had signed a six-year agreement to sell renewable energy certificates to El Paso Electric Co. to allow El Paso to meet the requirements of the state’s renewables portfolio standard. The sale will begin in 2006 if approved by the Public Regulation Commission. The sale is worth about $4 million, according to PNM estimates based on current market prices.
New Mexico’s RPS requires investor-owned electric utilities to produce or buy renewable energy or equivalent certificates. According to the law, renewable energy must make up 5 percent of the utilities’ sales by 2006 and 10 percent by the year 2011. New Mexico, like many other states, allows utilities to either provide renewable energy to customers or purchase RECs, which encourage the development of renewable energy. The seller of RECs must provide evidence that the energy has been generated by a renewable resource. PNM buys the full output of renewable energy from the 200-MW New Mexico Wind Energy Center, near House, N.M. According to the PNM-El Paso agreement, the price of each certificate will be adjusted annually based on inflation from 2007 through 2011. One certificate represents one megawatt-hour of electricity generated by a renewable source. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 8/26/2005.
NativeEnergy is now Native-owned, giving strong evidence that the effort to capture prairie winds to produce affordable, safe and clean energy is well under way. This is the recent message from Bob Gough, secretary of the nonprofit Intertribal Council On Utility Policy, the group that has spearheaded the most intriguing and potentially impactful energy project in Indian country. For one thing, it has united over a dozen Great Plains tribes, as Gough described it, in the ''historic effort to power America with Native wind and fight global warming.''
Intertribal COUP is a nonprofit council of federally recognized Indian tribes from North Dakota (Mandan, Arikara and Hidatsa, and part of Standing Rock and Sisseton-Wahpeton), and South Dakota (Cheyenne River, Flandreau Santee, Lower Brule, Oglala, Rosebud, Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Spirit Lake Tribe and Standing Rock), and the Omaha Nation of Nebraska and Iowa. Chartered and headquartered on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation, it has operated since 1994 to provide a tribal forum for policy issues in energy utility operations and services and telecommunications.
NativeEnergy has been a leading national marketer of Renewable Energy Credits and greenhouse gas offsets. It has worked to help tribal and rural communities develop their own sustainable economies based on the generation of clean, renewable energy. Now, on behalf of its member tribes, COUP has closed the ownership circle by purchasing a majority interest in the energy marketing company.
The new, Native-owned business marks a milestone in the movement that COUP has led, providing direct access to the retail market for the energy the inter-tribal council will ultimately produce. A major initial strategic goal of the purchase is to help develop an 80-megawatt distributed-wind project, hosted in 10 MW (1,000 kilowatt hours) ''clusters'' at eight different COUP reservations. The wind farms will provide clean energy to fuel more than 23,000 homes and also create jobs. The sale of electricity and Renewable Energy Credits will generate additional revenues for the tribes.
One heartening aspect of the Intertribal COUP project is the strong assertion of concern for the wider issues of global warming and industrial pollution. ''Wind turbines generate electricity that would otherwise have to come from polluting power facilities on the regional grid, preventing carbon dioxide, a leading cause of global warming, from entering the air,'' according to Gough. The renewable energy credits, also called ''green tags,'' offer individuals and organizations a way to compensate for their global warming pollution by committing to powering their homes and businesses with renewable energy.
Said COUP President Patrick Spears, a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe: ''Living in harmony with our Mother Earth is not only good for the environment, it is also good business.'' Spears also pointed out the excellent strategic fit between the two outfits, which stems from the mutually recognized integrity of purpose and method. It is always encouraging to hear such language from Indian country leaders of tribal economic ventures.
The earlier success of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe wind project was also directly tied to its partnering with NativeEnergy, from which it received the benefit of that company's wide range of customers. Also run on a commercial level, the Rosebud initiative was the first such 100 percent American Indian-owned and operated wind facility. The new venture intends to continue expanding by supporting ''off-reservation,'' renewable projects in partnership with the COUP tribes, according to President and CEO Tom Boucher.
For more information, contact Tom Stoddard, NativeEnergy, at (802) 425-3419 or Patrick Spears, Intertribal COUP, at (605) 945-1908. Source: Indian Country Today, 8/25/2005.
The Pueblo of Laguna Utility Authority says an 80-megawatt wind farm might be able to power both homes on the Pueblo and the tribe's economic development efforts.It's conducting a $76,000 feasibility study to find out.
If the authority proceeds with the project, it would be the largest single wind farm entirely on tribal land in the U.S., says an industry expert. The study and its report, paid for by the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the project's potential developer, could take between two and four years to complete and will be one of the key factors in helping the utility authority determine whether to go forward with the $100 million project.
If it doesn't go ahead with the full project, the utility authority is considering a scaled-back version of the farm that could be as small as 40 megawatts or enough power for about 12,000 homes. But because wind power is cheaper when a facility is bigger, the larger the better. In July, the utility authority, a non-profit organization that is independent of the Pueblo of Laguna's Tribal Government, erected a 20-meter and 50-meter tower equipped with wind sensors that will collect data for the feasibility study.
If the data and study prove the project is feasible, the utility authority will need to obtain approval from its board of directors as well as the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Council before proceeding. Right-of-way approval for the wind facility's connecting power lines also will need to be obtained from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Garcia says. Source: By Clay Holtzman, New Mexico Business Journal, 8/29/2005.
Provo River will soon be producing electricity for residents of Heber Valley — and residents here are celebrating. Local water officials have announced they will build a $15.5 million hydroelectric facility on the toe of the Jordanelle Dam. Construction is expected to begin in August 2006 with production of electricity starting in the spring of 2008.
The pay-off is self-sufficiency because the city partnered with the Orem-based Central Utah Water Conservancy District to float the bond for the project, the city gets the jobs and electricity but is not burdened with the debt. "If the grid goes down, with that plant in place we are pretty much self sufficient year-round," he said. "About 15 years ago we had a fire in Provo Canyon that burned the line and came really close to putting us in a situation where we had rolling blackouts.
"We realized we were vulnerable." Growth here has also exploded, he said. Heber City had 7,000 residents in 2000 and has 10,000 now. "Midway and the valley are growing even faster, so this power plant is huge for us," he said. The hydro facility will be a long-term source of cheap power once the facility is paid off, said Heber City Mayor Lynn Adams. "We think this power plant is going to pay for itself in well under 30 years," he said. "When that happens, the cost of power will be extremely cheap." Heber Light & Power now pays about $60 per megawatt, he said. Power from the new facility will cost about $50 to $55 a megawatt, "and when it is paid for, it will go to almost half that," he said.
Jordanelle Dam, completed in 1993, was originally designed for a hydro project, said Chris Finlinson of the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. The district just signed all of the final contracts for the project, she said. That permission, necessary because the federal government owns at least most of the water behind the dam, took about eight years, she said. Normally electricity generated on federal projects is considered to belong to the federal government, so water officials had to get special permission to sell the power from the dam to Heber Light & Power. Hydroelectricity also represents a clean source of renewable energy, she said.
Two turbines will be installed with a total capacity to generate enough electricity to provide power to 30,000 people or 8,000 homes. "We're just taking advantage and using a resource that we have," she said. Because power generation is not the primary reason the dam was built, water will not be released just to meet electric demand, she said.
"The water that is going to be used is just the water coming out of the dam," she said. "We won't say we have demand for this much power, so we are going to release this much water. That will not happen." The project will not change the temperature of the water, affect fish, water quality, or increase phosphorus in the river, organizers said in a statement.
The dissolved oxygen content of water released through the turbines will be lower than water released through valves in the dam, which could potentially hurt water quality, said organizers. If oxygen levels become too low, the district will release water through the valves, bypassing the hydroelectric turbines, "so there will be no impact to the downstream fishery," organizers said. Source: Provo Daily Herald, 8/27/2005.
The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs announced it has completed installation of one of the largest military-owned solar electric systems in the Eastern U.S. at the New Jersey Army National Guard's Fort Dix Joint Training and Development Center. This 181 kW solar array, furnished by PowerLight Corporation, will generate the equivalent electricity during the day to power 150 homes. This will provide roughly 10 percent of the facility's energy needs.
PowerLight said DMVA's 13,000 square-foot solar project is designed to generate 187,527 total kWh of electricity a year, and over the 30-year lifetime of the system, spare the environment from thousands of tons of harmful emissions such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulphur dioxide, which are contributors to smog, acid rain and global warming. The Joint Training and Training Development Center at Ft. Dix is a major training installation for Guard, reserve, and active duty troops. The DMAVA said the project is part of their ongoing effort to harness renewable energy technology, optimize efficiency and conserve natural resources. Source: SEPA Bi-Weekly News, 8/26/2005.
A new study offers guidance on proper blending of biodiesel fuel to achieve consistent performance in cold weather. Made from domestic resources such as soybean oil or other domestic fats and vegetable oils, biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine with few or no modifications and can be blended with petroleum diesel at any level. Biodiesel is widely in use by governmental and commercial fleets, personal passenger vehicle owners, and farmers.
The National Biodiesel Board coordinated the Cold Flow Blending Study because petroleum blenders and distributors wanted more data on the most cost-effective means to achieve a homogenous, or consistent, biodiesel blend in cold weather. A new Minnesota law requires all on-highway diesel fuels to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel.
"Many blenders have requested guidelines which detail processes and temperatures that could be implemented to reduce operational issues of getting a good biodiesel blend," said Paul Nazzaro, coordinator of this study and petroleum liaison to NBB. "The collective efforts of this diversified group of experts have generated a comprehensive body of work which has taken the guess work out of storage and blending of B2 and will help ensure consistency and reliability."
Biodiesel blends of B20 (that is, a 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent regular diesel blend) and lower can be used in cold climates if the finished blend has appropriate cold flow properties for the time of year and geography where it is used. This study addressed questions from the petroleum industry about how to achieve that stable blend in cold weather, especially for a B2 blend, when the temperature of the diesel fuel is colder than the point at which the pure biodiesel starts to freeze and become cloudy (known as cloud point).
According to the report, successful homogenous blending of B2 will occur if the biodiesel is incorporated into the diesel stream as it is going from a storage tank to a truck and if the temperature of the biodiesel is a minimum of 10 F above the cloud point. The temperature of the diesel fuel did not matter as long as its temperature was above its cloud point. This type of in-line blending is similar to the way conventional diesel fuel additives are incorporated. Source: GreenBiz.com, 8/29/2005
A section in the recently-signed national energy bill could create a financial windfall for Churchill County in coming years. The Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed into law by President Bush on Aug. 8, changes the way royalties from geothermal plants on public lands are distributed between federal, state and local governments.
Previously under the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, half of the royalties from geothermal operations on federal lands went to the federal government, while the other half was distributed to the state of geothermal origin. In Nevada, those funds are placed in the State Distributive School Fund.
Under the new energy bill, the federal government will receive 25 percent, the states get 50 percent and the counties of geothermal origin receive 25 percent. Churchill County is home to at least six geothermal plants with locations at Brady Hot Springs, Dixie Valley, two plants near Soda Lake and Stillwater. Geothermal exploratory drilling is also going on near Salt Wells.
Electricity production from geothermal sources is accomplished by harnessing the boiling hot water several thousand feet below the ground. The water is drawn up and the accompanying steam turns a turbine. After the hot water is used to generate power it's injected back into the ground to ensure a sustainable system.
The change is the result of efforts by several Nevada politicians guarantee a slice of geothermal royalties for their constituents, said Rich Hoops, the fluid minerals team leader for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada. The full potential of geothermal power is yet to be realized, which could mean sustained revenue for Nevada counties, he said.
The change in royalty distribution is an appropriate benefit for a county which sees geothermal companies profit from local resources, County Manager Brad Goetsch said. "We get very little recognition and credit for the mining of that resource in the county," he said. "This is a great step in recognizing that."
Efforts will be made to continue the county's partnerships with geothermal companies, he said. ORMAT, a geothermal corporation with a plant in Churchill County, contributed roughly $100,000 to a lighting project for sports fields off Sheckler Road in a tax abatement deal negotiated with the county.
ORMAT participated in a similar tax deal that provided a $300,000 brush truck to the Fallon/Churchill Volunteer Fire Department. "We've got a good relationship with them," Goetsch said of geothermal companies. "The sky is the limit for how much geothermal can be developed in Churchill County."
Geothermal development is good for the county and country as a whole, as long as the process doesn't adversely affect groundwater aquifers, said Gwen Washburn, Churchill County Commission chair. "We don't have gold mines, but this could be it, our substitute for it," she said with a chuckle.
Nevada ranks second only to California in the development and use of geothermal resources for producing electricity. There are currently 14 plants at 10 locations in the state with a total rated capacity of 237 megawatts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Total state geothermal capacity has been estimated at 2,000 megawatts by the U.S. Geological Survey. Source: By Josh Johnson, Lahontan Valley News, 8/27/2005.
What does it take to start a new industry from scratch? Let's say you wanted to develop an alternative energy source to replace diminishing fossil fuel supplies. More than two decades ago, you may have recognized a plentiful source in plants for making ethanol, especially the leaves and stalks of crops, as a replacement fuel for gasoline.
You may have spent your business' money, as well as the government's, to develop technologies that could convert this resource into ethanol. You may also have lobbied for policies that encouraged renewable fuels like this, and developed ties with big companies interested in alternative energy. You may have even ironed out the technological kinks and received some government support. But after all that, you might still find yourself wondering whether the industry would ever gather momentum.
Because you would still have production plants to build. You would still have to convince farmers to grow the right crops and possibly alter the way they harvest. Gas prices would need to stay high for this alternative to make economic sense. Demand for ethanol fuel would need to increase and Detroit would have to build cars that could run on it.
This is the state of producing ethanol from plant cellulose, the fibrous, nonfood portion of plants. "It's the classic chicken-and-egg problem," said Jack Huttner, vice president of commercial and public affairs at Palo Alto-based Genencor International Inc. "The pioneers are taking a significantly greater risk than those who will follow."
Genencor, other companies, academic researchers and the government say cellulose has great potential for producing ethanol because it is a cheap, plentiful resource.
There are the leftover, non-edible parts of plants such as corn, rice and wheat, otherwise plowed into the soil by farmers after harvest. Pulp and paper mills generate cellulose waste. Perennial grasses, composed primarily of cellulose, can also be grown cheaply. "We realized there was a future in it since there was so much cellulose in the world," said William Dean, Genencor's vice president of development. "One way or another, we knew that someone was going to develop a technology to convert and use it."
Ethanol is already used as an additive for gasoline. But if enough were produced, the content of ethanol in gasoline could go much higher, helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Genencor was perfectly positioned to get involved in developing the cellulose technology. It specializes in making enzymes, proteins that assist in some chemical reactions, for everything from detergents to feed stocks. It already manufactured enzymes for converting corn starch into ethanol, a simpler but related process to producing ethanol from cellulose biomass.
So over the past four years, Genencor has devoted $5 million of its money, another $17 million from the government and a team of 20 people to making enzymes to produce ethanol from biomass. But even now, with the project considered a success, it's unclear whether Genencor will ever sell its product. That's because as of today, there is no cellulose ethanol industry. After 25-plus years of research by academic and industry laboratories around the country, the technology has improved tremendously. But no one has built large-scale production facilities. And there are questions about whether it can compete cost-wise with other fuel sources.
Still, those who have worked years to develop the technology say they have little doubt it will eventually happen. Ethanol made from all sources of biomass will not eliminate the United States' dependence on foreign fossil fuel sources, but it could significantly help, they say. "It's not like biomass itself will get us to miracle land," said Jim McMillan, manager of bioprocess research and development at the bioenergy center of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. "But there's a role for biomass in America's energy future."
Right now, the United States makes about 4 billion gallons of ethanol per year, or about 2 percent of the gasoline supply, primarily from corn starch and used as an additive for gasoline. However, demand for ethanol is increasing every year; there is a provision in the recently signed federal energy bill to produce 7.5 billion gallons annually by 2012. And the Department of Energy's stated goal is to increase the energy supplied by biomass to 30 percent by 2030.
To even begin approaching the final goal, cellulose will have to play an important role, McMillan said. But first there will have to be an industry. Work by Genencor and other biotechnology companies with help from federal grants may have nudged the industry closer to a tipping point. In an effort to push it forward, the National Renewable Energy Laboratories offered competitive grants in 2001 to tackle the primary technological stumbling block. It awarded two contracts of $17 million to Genencor and Novozymes. The goal was to lower the cost of enzymes that could break apart cellulose, with its tight chemical bonds.
Economically the cellulose process had to compete with the already established one of converting corn into ethanol. The problem was challenging. The corn-to-ethanol process starts with kernels — the starchy portion of the plant. And it's much easier to separate starch into simple sugars, the starting point for ethanol fermentation. Genencor's scientists attacked the problem in two ways. First, they worked on making the enzyme-manufacturing process more efficient, refining how they grew a fungus called Trichoderma reesei that contains a host of enzymes called hydrolases that can break apart the cellulose chemical bonds.
Second, through genetic engineering, they began manipulating the hydrolase DNA. To increase the enzymes' ability to sever the tightly glued complex, they wanted them to work better and faster at higher temperatures. In addition, the researchers inserted into the fungus other enzymes that could aid in the operation. The effort took the work of 20 scientists over four years. But at a recent meeting before the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Genencor reported success. It had lowered enzyme costs 30-fold.
Even with this success, the Genencor scientists don't know whether their efforts will pay off. There still are other technical hurdles that need to be addressed. For example, the sugars that come from cellulose are less readily converted to ethanol than those from starch. And beyond the technical challenges, there are many logistical ones.
First, pilot and then industrial-size factories will have to be built and embedded into the fabric of America's farm belt. Car engines will have to be adjusted if the ethanol content in gasoline increases above 10 percent. The cost of cellulose ethanol will have to compete with fossil fuels and ethanol derived from starch. And consumer demand will have to go up.
Still, the possibility that an industry will evolve is more likely than ever before. Gas prices are high and increasing, and the federal government has grown more supportive of alternative energy sources. The latest energy bill even includes incentives for cellulose ethanol. So some companies say they are pushing ahead. Colusa Biomass Energy Corp. is one. The company, with only a handful of employees, says it will build a plant in Colusa County and intends to begin making ethanol in the last quarter of 2006.
The firm intends to take advantage of its location in Colusa, where much of California's rice is grown, and convert 165,000 tons of rice waste into 20 million gallons of ethanol a year. The process will also produce a byproduct called lignin that will help fuel the plant, and silica, used in products such as toothpaste and microelectronics components. Source: By Judy Silber, Contra Costa Times, 8/28/2005.
DayStar Technologies, Inc., recently announced that it has posted a white paper on its Web site that details how the company’s CIGS solar cell technology on flexible metal substrates can be scaled up to allow for large-volume production and offer an alternative to conventional solar cells based on silicon wafers.
According to DayStar, the paper describes a continuous inline manufacturing process that will allow CIGS-based Photovoltaic Foil to be produced on a gigawatt scale. The paper estimates efficiencies and economies of scale could drive production costs down to about $1 per watt.
DayStar noted that the paper was presented by CEO John Tuttle at the recent 20th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exposition in Barcelona, Spain. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 8/25/2005.
Sunshine Wind Park, designed to be Arizona’s first utility-scale wind energy facility and originally slated for to begin construction in 2005, is now targeted for development in 2007. Inconclusive power purchase negotiations and a legal action challenging the conditional use permit issued by Coconino County are factors in the delay.
Sunshine Arizona Wind Energy has been in negotiations with APS (Arizona Public Service) to provide the power under the existing Environmental Portfolio Standard. In recent months, however, rising steel prices and limited turbine supplies have combined to push the installed cost of wind projects sharply higher. While Sunshine Wind Park has a viable wind resource, even incremental cost increases can have significant impacts on long-term power purchase contracts. Wind energy contracts are typically priced on a fixed rate basis for periods as long as 20 years, unlike conventional power plants where costs fluctuate based on market rates for natural gas or coal. While a power purchase agreement with APS cannot be reached to achieve the original 2005 date, Sunshine Arizona Wind Energy is exploring numerous alternatives to bring the wind park online in 2007.
Legal action brought by Red Gap Ranch, LLC, against Coconino County is proceeding. The suit challenges the validity of the conditional use permit granted by the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission on January 25, 2005. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors denied an appeal by Red Gap Ranch at an April hearing and determined that the findings for the granting of the conditional permit had been met. In May, Red Gap Ranch filed the legal action against the County. Sunshine Arizona Wind Energy, LLC is also named in the suit. Sunshine Wind Park is being developed by Flagstaff-based Sunshine Arizona Wind Energy, LLC, a partnership of local investors and Foresight Wind Energy, LLC, a professional wind energy development company.
Sunshine Wind Park will be located approximately 36 miles east of Flagstaff along I-40 near the Meteor Crater exit on private lands leased from the Bar-T-Bar Ranch, The Hopi Tribe and another private landowner. The wind park will include up to 40 state-of-the-art wind turbines and produce enough electricity to serve the annual needs of approximately 14,000 northern Arizona households.
Sunshine Wind Park has the support of The Hopi Tribe, Diablo Trust, Meteor Crater Enterprises, Grand Canyon Trust, Friends of Flagstaff’s Future, Northern Arizona University Sustainable Energy Solutions Group, City of Winslow, Greater Flagstaff Economic Council, Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, and Northern Arizona Builders Association. The project has been reviewed and received letters of non-objection from Arizona Game & Fish, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, and the U.S. Naval Observatory. Source: Foresight Wind Energy, LLC, via Curtis Framel 8/30/2005.
The Imperial Valley got the nickname “America’s Winter Breadbasket” for its year-round ability to grow farm products. Imperial County is also a leading producer of geothermal energy, and although plans exist to expand geothermal production, the growth is not expected to be at the expense of local agriculture.
The first geothermal power plant in the Imperial Valley was completed in 1982 along the eastern edge of the Salton Sea. It was a joint venture between Southern California Edison and Union Oil. Currently 10 power plants at the Salton Sea combine for about 340 megawatts of power.
Although the Salton Sea is the primary location of geothermal power in the Imperial Valley, other sites such as Heber and East Mesa increase Imperial County’s total production capacity to 537 megawatts, the most of any county in California. California produces 1,673 megawatts of geothermal energy, or about 20 percent of the world total of 8,053 megawatts and more than half of the North American total of 2,940 megawatts.
Vince Signorotti, vice presidnet of real estate assets for CalEnergy, expects the eventual Salton Sea production to reach 2,300 megawatts. “We have a lot of room to grow, and some of that growth we hope is going to materialize,” he said. In 2001 CalEnergy signed a contract with the Imperial Irrigation District in which IID will purchase power from a 215-megawatt plant to be built along the Salton Sea. The base-level long-term contract gives IID, as well as its customers, a sense of rate security over a 30-year period. “IID is going to know what they’re going to pay for electricity in 2036,” Signorotti said.
The fallowing will reduce runoff to the Salton Sea and thus have a positive impact on geothermal production ability. “The fallowing is likely to have an impact on the shoreline of the Salton Sea,” Signorotti said. “We would have access to additional parts.” The geothermal production that overlaps agricultural areas will include steps to protect the farming. “We have to make sure that they have access to their fields,” Signorotti said. Source: By Joe Naiman, Freelance Writer, Capital Press via George Frye, 8/26/2005.
Planet warming? Temperatures rising? What can an individual do to make a difference on planet Earth? Lester Muralles thinks there are plenty of possibilities. Right now, he's looking for people who want to make a difference by using alternative fuels. Muralles, a commercial extension agent for Florida A&M University, says he's looking for those interested in saving on fuel costs by using a biogas-generation system.
The system produces energy by burning gases released by decomposing organic matter. He said a limited number of systems are now available for free through a community-development program associated with the Florida Department of Community Affairs. The money is being used to build a number of biofuel systems. The purpose is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the biogas-generation system in a variety of settings so others can see the difference it can make both economically and environmentally.
Muralles is seeking volunteers who would like to work together to install their own system. The Belize native, who graduated from Earth University in Costa Rica, will provide the technical assistance. First of all, Muralles is seeking a source of manure, preferably from cattle, but pig or goat manure does well, too, he said. "We are looking for anyone interested in creating their own biogas system that can be used for heating, running appliances and pumps, grill cooking," among other uses, Muralles said.
He says it is an age-old system that has worked for poorer rural communities as a source of fuel. All sorts of renewable fuels are now being created all over the world, he said. In fact, there is a major interest by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and several universities. Iowa State University is holding a conference this month called "Building a Partnership with Economic Development Businesses Working Together to Help Develop Bio-Energy."
The Panda Group of Dallas plans to fuel a $120 million ethanol plant scheduled to open next year using cow manure and cotton-gin waste. Harold Green, public information officer, said the energy savings are equivalent to 1,000 barrels of oil per day. The plant will be using "food-lot biomass," turning it into clean-burning fuel to create steam to power the plant.
One of the first people locally to contact Muralles was Bill Bess, pastor of Havana Presbyterian Church. He had recently been to Costa Rica helping to build a school in a small village. Bess has seen the process work up close and he's interested in building one to fuel his barbecue grill without using propane gas. "Certainly, one has to be committed to improving our environment, (as) I am," Bess said. "I am also willing to try this as an alternative to propane natural gas, a depleting fuel source." Muralles can be reached at Gadsden County Extension office, or call him at (850) 875-7255. Source: By Nikki Beare, Tallahassee Democrat, 8/31/2005.
DOE's Argonne National Laboratory announced last week that one of its researchers recently completed a study that defends the energy and environmental benefits of producing ethanol from corn and other biomass sources. Argonne researcher Michael Wang presented research at the National Press Club confirming that ethanol fuel substantially helps reduce fossil fuel and petroleum use, when compared with gasoline. Wang also found that ethanol produced from corn achieves moderate reductions in greenhouse gases. Ethanol produced from grass and other "cellulosic" or woody biomass sources can achieve much greater energy and greenhouse gas benefits. See the Argonne press release.
The Argonne research dismisses an ongoing academic argument about the amount of energy needed to produce ethanol. A paper published in the March edition of "Natural Resources Research" by researchers at Cornell University and the University of California at Berkeley claims that ethanol production from corn requires 29 percent more energy than is provided by the resulting ethanol fuel. In contrast, a 2004 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that ethanol produces 67 percent more energy than is consumed in its production. But according to the Argonne research, what really matters is that ethanol compares favorably to gasoline, the fuel it replaces. See the Berkeley/Cornell study (PDF 114 KB), posted on UC Berkeley's Petroleum Engineering Web site, and the USDA study (PDF 23 KB), posted on the Renewable Fuel Association Web site. Download Adobe Reader.
The ethanol fuel industry continues to set new records: in June, the industry set an all-time monthly production record of 249,000 barrels per day, 12 percent more than the industry produced in June 2004. In recent months, an ethanol plant was completed in Kansas, and existing plants in New Mexico and South Dakota were significantly expanded. Construction also began on new ethanol plants in Iowa, Michigan, and North Dakota. Currently, 88 ethanol plants nationwide have the capacity to produce over 3.9 billion gallons annually. There are 16 ethanol plants and two major expansions under construction with a combined annual capacity of nearly 1 billion gallons. See the press releases on the RFA Web site. Source: EERE Network News, 8/31/2005.
UC Berkeley researchers have developed a new technique to reduce the cost of producing solar cells made of low-grade silicon that could provide a safer and cleaner energy source. Solar cells often contain metal contaminants that can reduce the quality and efficiency of solar cell performance. Approximately 50 percent of the solar cell, or photovoltaic, market is based around the production of solar cells made out of multicrystalline silicon. Solar cells are essentially semiconductors that are capable of generating electrical energy from the presence of sunlight. The photovoltaic effect is the conversion of sunlight to usable energy in solar technologies.
Because it is difficult and expensive to remove iron and copper that damage the efficiency of energy storage in the silicon material, techniques have been developed to combat such problems without much success, researchers said. Researchers developed a simple and inexpensive way to engineer solar cellwhich would allow them to collect the majority of metal impurities in a few large clusters.
“The previous way to handle metal contamination was to have them collected at the front- or backside contact (of the solar cell). We found that there is a possibility to leave them inside the cell, but collect them in large clusters,” Professor Eicke Weber of the Materials Science and Engineering Department said. “Our finding is actually based on examining existing solar cells, and we found that some of them contained extraordinary large amounts of metals but still showed good performance.”
Relying on previously developed technologies such as synchrotron-based x-ray microscopy, researchers were able to detect nanoscale-sized metal particles that were difficult to identify in the past. Synchrotron radiation creates more intense x-ray resolution that can provide sufficient information on spatial resolution, chemical identity of metals and chemical binding.
“It is generally known that these (past) methods are insufficient, especially when dealing with dirty Si (silicon) starting material,” Weber said. “The key to understanding the behavior of metals in PV Si was to develop new techniques that are based on using the intense x-rays in synchrotron radiation.”
In addition to using synchrotron radiation, researchers found that the distribution of metal impurities could be varied according to different cooling rates applied to the silicon. A slower cooling rate leads to formation of few large clusters of metal impurities. Though the new technique is revolutionary, researchers still hope to further understand more efficient methods for producing solar cells.
“The concept of defect engineering of metals opens a whole new area of research,” said assistant researcher Andre Istratov at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “However, the process is far from being optimized. There are many process variables which can potentially be used to further improve the material performance.” Nevertheless, this new technique can lead to efficient use and applications of solar cells in many everyday activities.
“Solar energy is the main hope to try to delay the catastrophic dangers of climate change that are caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,” Weber said. “This technique is interesting for all applications of PV to generate electricity in a cost-efficient way, such as for private households and commercial use.” Researchers hope to make more progress in tweaking current energy manufacturing processes. By doing so, solar energy could provide a cost-effective and more environment-friendly alternative to the current primary use of gas, oil or coal. Contact Amber Hsiao. Source: By Amber Hsiao, The Daily Californian Online, 8/31/2005.
The Geothermal Energy Association is releasing data showing the untapped geothermal power potential in the West. The data, extracted from publicly available reports and studies, show almost 100 undeveloped geothermal power sites. These sites have a total production potential approaching 25,000MW of electrical generating capacity — enough to meet more than 70 percent of California's electricity needs.
GEA pulled together these estimates for the Western Governors' Association's on-going assessment of the ability of geothermal and other clean energy resources to meet the substantial growth projected in the region's electric power demand. The data demonstrate significant geothermal potential from identified but undeveloped hydrothermal sites in eleven western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
These estimates exclude unknown, undiscovered resources. Substantial undiscovered geothermal resources are expected to exist, and they are generally considered to be much larger. USGS Circular 790, for example, estimated that 72,000 to 127,000 megawatts could be supported by undiscovered hydrothermal resources not included in its assessment. Hydrothermal resources, which use steam or hot water to transfer the geothermal resource from the ground to the power station, are one of the four main types of geothermal resources. Hydrothermal resources are used for geothermal electricity production today, while the other three types, geopressured, hot dry rock, and magma, remain in the initial stages of development.
The data will be available from the GEA website. It can also be obtained in spread sheet format by emailing your request to GEA. For more information, contact Karl Gawell, 202-454-5264 or Alyssa Kagel, 202-454-5261, both of the Geothermal Energy Association. Source: GEA Release, 8/31/2005.
Suncor Energy Products Inc., EHN Wind Power Canada Inc. and Enbridge Inc. today announced they have received approval from the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board to build a 30-megawatt wind power project near Taber, Alberta. Construction on the approximately $60-million (Canadian Dollars) Chin Chute Wind Power Project is expected to begin next month and the facility is due to be commissioned in late 2006. Construction timelines are subject to completion of an environmental review.
The facility, 20 kilometres southwest of Taber, will consist of 20 1.5-megawatt turbines. It is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 14,000 Alberta homes and displace the equivalent of at least 88,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. EHN, the renewable energy subsidiary of the Spanish ACCIONA Group, will operate the wind farm.
"We are very pleased to once again partner with Enbridge and EHN to deliver clean electricity for Albertans," said Dave Byler, Suncor's executive vice president, natural gas and renewable energy. "As Suncor embarks on our third wind power project we have demonstrated that wind power can be both environmentally responsible and economically viable." "The Chin Chute project provides continuity on our execution plan for expanding our presence in Canada," said Alberto de Miguel, EHN's executive director of development. "By investing in Chin Chute, our third wind power project, we are working to meet a growing North American electricity demand with renewable energy," said Stephen J.J. Letwin, Enbridge Group Vice President, Gas Strategy & Corporate Development. "We're pleased to be involved in another joint venture with Suncor and EHN to add to Canada's wind power supply." Source: Suncor Energy Products Inc., 8/31/2005.
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America program, the American Public Power Association and Western Area Power Administration invite you to participate in an upcoming series of teleconferences on integrating wind energy into electric cooperative and public power systems.
Teleconferences are limited to the first 40 callers, with electric cooperative and public power personnel receiving preference. There is no charge to participate, but the sponsors ask that you reserve a spot beforehand so that the maximum number of participants can be accommodated. Please sign up only if you know you will be able to attend since conference seating is limited. Register by contacting Debbie Rock at 720-962-7271.
Registrants will receive a link to the presentations on the Web, along with call-in information a week before the teleconference. The teleconference moderator will be Bob Putnam of CH2M HILL, technical support contractor to NRECA. During the teleconference, participants can e-mail Bob, and he will query the intended speaker(s) following the presentations.
All teleconferences are scheduled for 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. MST.
Dates:
Other programs to follow in 2006, including “Wind in a Box.”
Space is still available for the 10th National Green Power Marketing Conference, set for Oct. 24 to 26 in Austin, Texas. The conference reviews the status of green power marketing in electricity markets and explores strategies to increase the development of renewable energy resources through customer choice programs. Conference organizers include the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Center for Resource Solutions.
This year's conference will celebrate and build on a decade of success by examining the growth of green power markets, with particular emphasis on communicating "best practices" for product design and marketing, and program implementation. Attendees will hear from national and regional experts on important topics such as best practices in green power product design, effective marketing strategies and tools for acquiring customers, defining renewable energy attributes and values, using green premiums to finance renewable energy projects, and the interplay of voluntary and compliance markets. For more information on the conference, access the Green Power Network. Source: Energy Analysis at NREL - August 2005
Plan now to attend the Geothermal Resources Council 2005 Annual Meeting on Sept. 25 through 28 at the Reno Hilton Nevada Conference Center. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, this year’s Annual Meeting theme is Geothermal Energy-The World’s Buried Treasure, highlighting geothermal energy technologies as a premium renewable base-load generation resource in the United States and globally. With its Technical Program and other events, the GRC 2005 Annual Meeting will also provide a unique opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their projects, equipment and services at the Geothermal Energy Association Trade Show.
The GRC 2005 Annual Meeting will feature distinguished Keynote Speakers at its Opening Session, as well as Technical and Poster sessions on a broad range of timely geothermal resource and development topics. This year’s event will also offer Technical Workshops; Field Trips to nearby geothermal projects; the GRC Banquet and Annual Awards Luncheon; and the GRC Golf Tournament.
For more information on the GRC 2005 Annual Meeting visit the GRC web site or contact them at Geothermal Resources Council, 2001 Second St., Ste. 5, P.O. Box 1350, Davis, California 95616 • USA, Phone: (530) 758-2360, Fax: (530) 758-2839.
Painting a sunny picture for solar investors, Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia, expects a 30 percent annual growth for cell production while revenues more than triple over five years. Go online to view the full Sun Screen II report (PDF). Source: BREEE: News V 36, 8/30/2005.
See the August 2005 issue of GeothermalBiz.com online. Source: Liz Battocletti, 8/31/2005.
The American Wind Energy Association’s small wind turbine committee has completed the first Small Wind Industry Market Study, which describes the current state of the market and scenarios for future growth. The study was conducted by surveying AWEA member companies involved in the small wind turbine market. The study shows an industry with a potentially bright future. The goal published in AWEA's Small Turbine Roadmap is to install 50,000 MW by 2020, or 3 percent of domestic electricity demand, with annual sales of around $1 billion and 10,000 people employed in the industry. However, to meet that goal, the study shows that the industry must overcome some high hurdles, primarily in system costs and installation restrictions. Source: AWEA August Windletter, 8/31/2005.
Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Send nagging questions pertaining to the environment or fill out the form. Tell Umbra where you're from and please include your email address so she can alert you if your letter is chosen. Published questions may be edited for length, clarity, and grammatical boo-boos. If you don't have a question for Umbra but want to comment on a Grist article or other aspects of the magazine, please send us a letter to the editor. And be sure to check out Umbra's latest column. Source: Grist Magazine, 8/31/2005.
Look for improvements on the www.nationalwind.org Web site: new search and contact features, as well as a link to our bi-weekly update on the left side of the homepage. This latest bi-weekly update for the National Wind Coordinating Committee highlights new meeting dates for the next business meeting and siting workshop. Source: National Wind Coordinating Committee, 8/31/2005.
The American Solar Energy Society’s bimonthly newsletter, Sunbeam, provides up-to-date news and goings-on in the renewable energy community. Source: American Solar Energy Society, 8/30/2005.
The current Small Wind Newsletter is available on the Web. Source: Larry Sherwood, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, 8/30/2005.
Refocus Weekly reported EIA’s findings that it will cost 4.4c/kWh to generate electricity from a new geothermal plant in the United States in 2010, while solar photovoltaic will cost 21c. The national average levelized generation costs for new plants in five years will be lowest for pulverized coal at 4.3c, Howard Gruenspecht told a subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives. Geothermal is in second place at 4.4c, followed by natural gas combined cycle at 4.7c, wind at 4.8c and open-loop biomass at 5.1c/kWh. Nuclear would cost 6c, but the time required to license and construct a nuclear reactor “makes it impossible to bring one on line by 2010.” For solar thermal, the levelized cost will be 12.6c and 21c/kWh for solar photovoltaic. Gruenspecht was testifying on the economics of green power technologies that are eligible for the production tax credit, and he said the EIA does not take positions on policy issues. His testimony comes from the Annual Energy Outlook 2005 released earlier this year, to project domestic energy consumption, supply and prices through 2025. To view complete article, please visit . Source: GEA Update, 8/12/2005.
The topic I have come to speak on...is how we achieve fundamental, long-term energy security for the United States in the 21st century. Our demand for electricity is growing, but our electric grid infrastructure has been shown to be outdated and, in too many places, overloaded. Indeed, our continued use of fossil fuels entails concerns about pollution and global climate change that need to be addressed.
The [Energy] Bill is a landmark achievement. It will truly help bring about the energy and economic security that the American people deserve. And while we are pleased with that achievement, for some people it is not enough. ...What is important is that with passage of comprehensive energy legislation last week, we are finally headed in the right direction. After years of indecision, partisan squabbling, and disjointed policies, we are committed finally to making the changes necessary to secure our energy future.
It has been my belief that there are six major issues with regard to energy that must be addressed. The first of these six issues needing to be addressed applies to our nation’s energy infrastructure. At present, this infrastructure is wholly inadequate... The second major thing that needs to happen is the resurgence of nuclear power. The third major topic involves [reducing emissions from] coal [through carbon sequestration and research]. The fourth significant measure for 21st century energy security is the development of the hydrogen economy. The fifth major concern centers on energy efficiency and renewable energies. Critics say renewables will never amount to more than a small percentage of our energy mix. I am not sure if that is true. But even if they are right, we are approaching an era in time when every bit counts. There is no question in my mind that the 10,000 homes supplied by the solar panels from just one plant will make a significant contribution. Congress agrees on the need for renewables and energy efficiency. The sixth and final area I want to address relates to international energy cooperation. Working on a global scale to increase overall energy security is a critical component of our strategy. And while the energy bill is focused largely on domestic activities, it does include provisions encouraging international cooperation on research and development for new and advanced technologies. Source: GEA Update, 8/12/2005.
Newspapers from both sides of the country are reporting increased economic activity and interest resulting from the wind energy building boom that is underway. AWEA is predicting the biggest year ever in terms of new wind power capacity installed – up to 2,500 MW – which means that wind turbine towers are now popping up in communities across the U.S.
The Great Falls, Mont., Tribune reports that three towers are being erected a day in Montana’s first utility-scale wind power project near Judith Gap. The rotors are expected to arrive soon, and are expected to draw a tourist crowd. When construction is complete on the first phase, 90 GE Energy 1.5-MW wind turbines will start delivering power to Northwestern Utility, a Montana utility. Invenergy Wind, the project developer, estimates that over 10 full-time operations and maintenance personnel will be needed. The project is expected to pay $30 million in property tax over its 40-year life. The paper reports that local restaurants, motels, and stores have been enjoying increased business since construction started earlier in the summer.
The Oswego, N.Y., Palladium Times reports increased business at the Port of Oswego as workers and parts arrive for the Maple Ridge Wind Farm being built near Lowville, Martinsburg and Harrisburg in Lewis County. The project is bringing in 120 Vestas 1.65-MW wind turbines this year, and next year’s planned expansion will add 75 more. “These people normally only work here periodically,” said Port director Tom McAuslan. “But I think there’s $500,000 more we’ll pay just in wages to those stevedores.”
The El Dorado, Kan., Times reports that construction on PPM Energy’s Elk River Wind Farm in Butler County began in May. Foundations were poured and towers were beginning to be erected. The construction crew estimated that the first turbines would be mechanically complete by the end of August. All of the 100 GE Energy 1.5-MW wind turbines are expected to be producing power by the end of November. One of the landowners on whose property the wind farm is being built estimates that the turbines will only take about 1 percent of his pastureland out of commission, taking into account the service roads as well as the turbines themselves.
The Oregonian from Portland, Ore., reported that 12 ships and 650 trucks will have come through the Port of Vancouver’s docks by the end of August to deliver components of the Hopkins Ridge Wind Project to the site in Columbia, Wash. The first eight of the 83 Vestas 1.8-MW turbines under construction are expected to be operational by the end of September. RES America developed the project and Puget Sound Energy contracted for the power output. To transfer the massive parts from ships to trucks will create about 13,000 job-hours, according to one port official. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 8/28/2005.
The Renewable Fuels Association today announced that the U.S. ethanol industry set an all-time monthly production record in June of 249,000 barrels per day (b/d), according to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The previous all-time record was 245,000 b/d in February of this year. Ethanol production was up over 12 percent compared to 222,000 b/d in June of 2004.
“With crude oil and gasoline prices setting price records weekly, ethanol represents the best bargain in motor fuels,” stated RFA President Bob Dinneen. “It appears the marketplace has finally responded. And with 65,000 b/d of new ethanol production under construction, the ethanol industry is well situated to meet growing demand in the future.” Source: RFA Release, 8/29/2005.
Schneider Power announced today that it has launched the first development phase of its wind farm project in Manitoba. The 60 MW Hillltop Wind Farm is the first of a new $550 million dollar three wind farm portfolio to be developed by the company.
Over the past six months, Schneider Power has made an effort to substantially increase its presence in central Canada by increasing the nameplate capacity of its planned Manitoba developments to more than 300 Megawatts. The Hilltop Wind Farm is located in the township of Clanwilliam, Manitoba, and is expected to be a 60 MW low-impact facility that will produce 160,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power an equivalent of 21,000 homes.
"Our discussions with the Province have given us the confidence to make a strong commitment to Renewables in Manitoba," said Schneider Power's chief executive Thomas Schneider. "This is the next step in building on a proven growth strategy and it brings us closer to our goal of 1,000 MW installed by 2009 — more than double our previous production capacity," he said.
Schneider Power Inc. is one of Canada's leading privately owned wind power developers. Headed by the Chairman, Bernd Schneider, the family has over 110 years of experience in developing clean, renewable energy. Schneider Power is a leader in applying new environmentally friendly technologies and is a member of the United Nations Global Compact. Source: Schneider Power Inc., 8/29/2005
The three owners of Namaste Solar Electric Inc. hope that rising fuel costs, Amendment 37 and Boulder's penchant for environmental causes will grow their renewable-energy business. Namaste Solar Electric designs, installs and supplies components of solar photovoltaic, or PV, systems for new and existing homes and businesses in Colorado. PV systems convert solar energy directly into electricity.
In February, Blake Jones, Wes Kennedy and Ray Tuomey combined their funds and experience in the solar-energy field to form Namaste. The company moved into a new headquarters on Spruce Street in Boulder in July. Namaste is a Sanskrit greeting of respect, celebrating the interdependence of all living things, explains Jones, the company's president.
The impetus to form a new company came in November 2004 when Colorado voters passed Amendment 37, the Colorado Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, mandating that a certain percentage of Colorado's electricity come from renewable sources such as wind and solar power. Nineteen other states have this legislation, Jones says.
Specifically, Amendment 37 says that 3 percent of retail electricity sales must come from renewable resources from 2007 through 2010, 6 percent by 2011 through 2014, and 10 percent after 2015. Jones predicts that a boom in the market to meet the new requirements will not occur until the spring of 2006.
Under the rules of the amendment, utilities can count toward their quota the solar energy generated by homes and businesses on the power grid. For example, if a home typically uses 550 kilowatt- hours of electricity per month and begins generating that amount with its own solar PV system, the utility can credit that amount toward its calculation of the total amount of renewable energy produced on its grid.
Although some of the details for implementing the amendment still are being worked out by the Public Utilities Commission, Jones predicts incentive programs offered by utilities in the form of rebates to homeowners toward the cost of purchase will reduce the cost of solar PV systems by between 25 to 50 percent. Jones expects that solar PV systems installed after Dec. 1, 2004 will be retroactively eligible for the amendment's rebates. He estimates that less than 1 percent of residences and businesses in Boulder County currently are using solar energy.
"Worldwide, solar PV demand has grown consistently by 20 to 24 percent over the past 20 years, due mainly to falling prices that result from ongoing technological advances and economies of scale," Jones says. During the past five years, worldwide demand has grown more than 30 percent per year.
The largest markets are in Japan, Germany and the U.S., primarily in California, New York and New Jersey. Now demand is outpacing supply for solar panels. "We have been placing orders far in advance to make sure we always have some in stock," he says.
Customers recognize that the upfront cost is high, but they also understand they are purchasing 30 to 40 years of electricity. The result is a known cost versus the rising fuel costs of the last 10 years, Jones points out.
At today's prices, payback may be long term, he acknowledges. However, if electricity rates continue to rise at 5 percent per year, solar system becomes more valuable. "It's a long-term versus a short-term perspective," he says, adding Boulder is a good market, with people willing to pay higher prices for organic food or naturally made clothing. Source: RedNova.com, 8/29/2005.
Tapped out by the cost of fossil fuels? Then what better time for solar energy to get its moment in the sun? Using the sun's rays to power homes is not just for tree huggers anymore. Of course, mitigating acid rain, smog and global warning is always noble. Solar energy systems, however, are now starting to make sense in terms of dollars and cents.
Last week Suffolk became the first county in the state to eliminate the sales tax on solar heating systems for electricity and hot water. The commendable action by Suffolk officials to encourage solar use comes just after New York State exempted such power systems from state sales tax, in addition to providing tax credits. A similar bill is expected to be introduced in the Nassau County legislature soon.
The elimination of the sales taxes, combined with the income tax credits and a 50 percent LIPA rebate, has significantly lowered the cost of a small residential unit to $9,000, from $26,070. And that's not counting a new federal tax credit that will kick in Jan. 1.
The 3,150-kilowatt unit would reduce a typical fuel bill by about $500 a year at current prices. The new laws are also intended to create energy entrepreneurs. LIPA is required to buy back from homeowners any extra solar energy.
While the region is considering windmills in the Atlantic Ocean and floating liquefied natural gas platforms in the Long Island Sound, new sources of energy could be right in homeowners' own backyards. Source: Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA, 8/29/2005.
Though it's just a few minutes from Seattle, this island has always remained a community apart, rural and artsy. Now an environmental research group is proposing that the island further separate itself by producing all its own energy.
The Institute for Environmental Research and Education, an island think-tank with an impressive list of financial backers including the Bullitt Foundation and Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen's investment firm, Vulcan Inc., figures the goal could be met by 2015.
It contends aggressive spending on conservation measures could topple the conventional wisdom that alternative energy is too expensive, and that it could actually save the island's 11,000 residents about $5 million a year. The 37 square-mile island is only reachable by air or sea, and electricity and natural gas are brought to the island via underwater lines.
Stage one: Change every light bulb to a compact fluorescent, add insulation to the many year-round homes that were originally built as vacation cottages and buy new energy-efficient appliances. Together, those steps would eliminate 70 percent of the island's energy consumption, according an institute study. But unlike most conservation pushes, the light bulbs, insulation and appliances would be paid for by a new public utility district and installed by professionals.
Stage two: Installing wind, solar and other renewable power solutions - including biomass plants to capture energy from the byproducts of the island's livestock. The conservation measures and new energy sources would cost roughly $40 million. But the institute estimates the energy savings over the life of the equipment would be more than $95 million. Rita Schenck, the institute's executive director, also figures the program would create about 30 jobs.
"In the field of sustainability, the Pacific Northwest rules. It leads. It's not just because of the resources; it's because of the people," she said. Mike Richardson, manager of renewable energy for Puget Sound Energy - the company that provides electricity and gas for the island - helped write the report and said the project fits in well with the utility's efforts to promote conservation and renewable energy.
If and when the proposal is actually implemented, the utility would continue to own the transmission lines and rather than "going off the grid," Vashon Island could potentially send energy back through the lines during particularly sunny or windy days.
The ideas in the report are completely doable - given enough money and political will, Richardson said. He said neighborhoods in California and the Southwest are making similar efforts, but he has not heard of a whole town or island attempting energy independence.
"I would be very surprised if we don't find some way to move forward with this plan," said Rayna Holtz, who has lived on the island for about 30 years. "It seems like a good thing in the long run and the way to go as costs keep going up and up." Jim English, a businessman and president of the Vashon community council, said he hasn't heard anyone say anything negative about Schenck's proposal. "The consensus is, if she can make it happen, then go for it," English said.
One possible sticking point: The plan's 15 wind turbines would jut above the island's current wooded silhouette. Similar concerns have stalled wind-turbine projects elsewhere. In a nonscientific survey of the island's neighboring communities, a few wealthy homeowners whose view could be affected expressed opposition to the project. But business leaders in one such wealthy waterfront community, Gig Harbor, said they didn't expect a lot of opposition.
"I don't think there would be too much significance over here, said Chuck Hunter, a retired general contractor and mayoral candidate who has lived in Gig Harbor for 50 years. "I think that the impact they would have on this area would be minor." Gig Harbor city administrator Mark Hoppen figures Vashon Island won't approve wind turbines in the long run because they would be too large and invasive.
"I kind of trust those Vashon Island folks to not mess up their lifestyle, so I'm not too worried about it," said Hoppen, who has lived across the water in Gig Harbor since 1951. "People who live on Vashon really treasure the nature of their island getaway in the middle of a really intense, urban, suburban environment." The institute hopes Vashon Island voters will approve the formation of the Public Utilities District in fall 2006 and start to turn its ideas into reality. Schenck's organization focuses on scientific research not policy, but she said she is optimistic about the proposal's chances. Source: By Donna Blankinship, Seattlepi.com, 8/29/2005.
Two ridge lines in the southern Green Mountain National Forest soon could sprout 370-foot tall wind power generators if the U.S. Forest Service approves what would be the first wind energy project on its lands anywhere in the country.
Deerfield Wind LLC has proposed up to 30 of the towers in a special-use application to the Forest Service. The review is expected to take up to 18 months. Environmental groups have strongly opposed moves to open more federal lands to people who want to extract energy from them, whether oil, natural gas or coal. But wind energy, a relatively benign and pollution-free way to make electricity, is a different story.
"We're not against wind power. We think that renewable energy is a promising and useful thing," said Richard Andrews of the group Green Mountain Forest Watch. He said his group has yet to take a position on the Deerfield Wind proposal. Andrews said, though, that his group would prefer to see wind power projects on private rather than public land. Proposals for several such projects elsewhere in Vermont are in various stages of regulatory review.
And there are other, more site-specific worries. "Bear use has been a concern," said Gina Owens, district ranger for the U.S. Forest Service. Other issues need study, she said, including "understanding the migratory paths of migratory birds, understanding how bats use the area."
"It's very interesting," Owens said of her role as the chief local Forest Service official in the place where the agency is considering its first wind power proposal. "We're going to be the wind experts in the Forest Service no matter what happens. "The Forest Service doesn't have well developed protocols on wind power development," she said, but added that it is borrowing guidance from the federal Bureau of Land Management, which has dealt with wind power proposals in the past.
John Zimmerman said he thinks the site of his company's proposed project is close to ideal. The National Forest ridges where Deerfield Wind LLC wants to build its wind towers are like bookends to a privately owned tract where nearly a decade ago a Vermont power company built the first utility-scale wind project east of the Mississippi.
Green Mountain Power Corp.'s 11 towers — a bit more than half as tall as the ones proposed — have been well received by area residents, Zimmerman said. "The expansion we hope will be received just as favorably as the original project." He added that the site's proximity to Vermont Route 8 and to roads and power lines supporting the GMP project are plusses.
On a hot, calm afternoon last week, there was just enough wind — the threshold is 10 mph — to get the GMP site's 2-ton, 64-foot-long, fiberglass blades, painted black to shed ice in winter, turning enough to make electricity.
Martha Staskus, Zimmerman's co-worker at Vermont Environmental Research Associates, with which Deerfield Wind is affiliated, stood atop Searsburg Mountain, the blades of tower No. 1 rhythmically casting a shadow that seemed to pulse across her face, and said the GMP project remains a favorite spot for school and other groups to visit.
The company consulted with GMP on the construction of the original project. "It's been eight years and we're still responding to people who want to come and see it," Staskus said. People from around the region, often concerned about proposals for wind power projects in their areas, are among those who come to visit. "It's the only reference point," Zimmerman said. Staskus added, "It's amazing to see people come in and say, `Ah, that's not so bad."' Owens said the jury is still out.
The Forest Service's strategic plan says wind power "can fit within the context of forest lands. But does it fit on that particular ridge in the Green Mountain National Forest? That's the question we're going to be working hard on in the next couple of years." Source: By David Gram, Associated Press Writer, Foster’s Online, 8/28/2005.
Environmentalists are trading barbs in the debate over providing tax breaks to bolster the state’s fledgling wind-power industry. “The state’s reputation is one of resistance,” said Brent Blackwelder, president of Friends of the Earth and a wind-power advocate. But Ron Klataske, executive director of Audubon of Kansas, said he fears Blackwelder’s campaign will weaken efforts to safeguard the environment.
“I’m uncomfortable with an environmental organization like Friends of the Earth lobbying for the wind-power industry,” he said. “The wind-power lobby is plenty capable of lobbying for itself.” The comments came in separate interviews Friday, after Blackwelder’s recent tour of Kansas wind sites with Charles Benjamin, a lobbyist for the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club. Klataske called the giant wind turbines “unsightly,” while Blackwelder called them “elegant.” Audubon of Kansas has been outspoken in its opposition to letting wind-power companies build their turbines near scenic and environmentally fragile areas, especially the Flint Hills.
Brent Blackwelder, president of the environmental group Friends of the Earth, refers to a map of Kansas to underscore the state’s potential for generating wind power. He urged the state to provide incentives for wind-power companies. Blackwelder said the debate over the Flint Hills has stalled the development of wind power in Kansas. This delay, he said, only increases the nation’s dependence on fossil-burning power plants, worsening the effects of global warming.
The fact that Kansas boasts only a handful of wind-power sites, he said, proves the state isn’t doing enough to attract them. “Kansas has the potential to be the Saudi Arabia of wind power,” Blackwelder said. But Klataske said the state already bends over backward in its effort to accommodate the wind-power companies. “They have plenty of incentives,” he said.
Klataske has allies in the environmental movement. “We are not opposed to wind power or its expansion. Look all that’s going on in Montezuma,” said Alan Pollum, state director for the Nature Conservancy, referring to the site of the state’s largest wind-power site. “We didn’t say a word because it met all the preferred citing requirements.”
Pollum said efforts to expand wind power in the state’s most western counties are hampered by Oklahoma and Nebraska’s disinterest in buying and Colorado’s grid’s inability to carry electricity generated in Kansas. “So the issue we keep coming back to is, ‘OK, how can we get it over to Missouri?’ and that brings us back to the Flint Hills,” Pollum said. “We think it would be ill-advised to industrialize the Flint Hills,” he said. Source: By Dave Ranney, Lawrence Journal World, 8/27/2005.
National members of the biotech field are in Ames to attend the Biobased Industry Outlook Conference. The conference, held at the Scheman Building, discussed improving Iowa's bio-economy. The conference began Monday morning and ends Tuesday evening. The 357 attendees discussed next-generation and renewable energy sources.
Lee Lynd, engineering professor at Dartmouth College, spoke Monday about the ability of biomass to provide a sustainable world. He stressed the importance of crop rotation and the introduction of new crops. "We need a different response," Lynd said about resource productivity. "I believe we could rapidly develop cost-competitive, efficient conversion technology."
Between sessions, conference participants had the opportunity to view posters and exhibits on display. One of the exhibitors was Sean Reed, senior in chemistry. Reed, who has been doing undergraduate research for Walter Trahanovsky, professor of chemistry, said he was encouraged by Trahanovsky to attend. Reed has been working on a project that converts biomass like cellulose - such as cotton balls and cotton T-shirts - to a glucoside, which will be converted into glucose. Reed said he thinks there are already processes like this that exist, but he is working to make the process more efficient.
"We're figuring out how to do it in a more pure way," Reed said. Also among the speakers yesterday was U.S. Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa. He spoke about the need to find alternative options to oil and to continue using alternative fuel sources, such as ethanol. "Today in Iowa, there are 5,000 jobs tied directly to ethanol," Latham said. He said he hopes by building Iowa's alternative oil market, more jobs will be created, keeping more young people from leaving the state.
He listed the five main reasons for building up the biofuel industry: National security, the surplus of agricultural products, environmental concerns, the rising price of oil and rural development. "Oil was $70 a barrel this morning," Latham said. "The current price of oil makes us extremely competitive." He said he hopes by researching and promoting domestic alternatives, there will be less of a need for foreign oil. "Iowa has the potential to be the new Middle East," Latham said. "We are just in the infancy."
On Tuesday, attendants will have the opportunity to hear from Doug Faulkner, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, Stanley Johnson, vice provost for ISU extension and bio-industry representatives and researchers. Source: By Teresa Krug, Iowa State Daily Staff Writer, 8/31/2005.
More use of renewable electricity would save Texas consumers billions on their energy bills and boost rural economies, according to a new study released by the Union of Concerned Scientists. The UCS study found that if Texas increased its share of renewables to 10 percent, Texas families and businesses would save $4.7 billion on energy bills, primarily by reducing the demand for - and the price of - natural gas. Source: GEA Update, 8/12/2005.
Washington County officials are looking at a very big fan to keep jail inmates and road department employees cool. A Quorum Court committee voted Thursday afternoon to examine the cost of installing a wind generator to help cut the cost of electricity at the county's south Fayetteville property, which includes the road department and jail buildings.
"I'm not sure if this is feasible, but it's something we should at least look at," said Justice of the Peace Micah Neal, R-Springdale. "Anything we can do to cut down on costs would help out in the long run."
The county has paid $129,388 this year in electricity bills for the jail, operations center, juvenile detention complex and county library system office. All are on a 50-acre tract of county-owned land on the south side of Fayetteville.
One wind generator model Neal examined would produce between 458,000 kW and 636,000 kW per year, depending on average wind speed. The jail used 358,400 kW last month alone, meaning a single generator would make only a small dent in electricity costs.
The model Neal examined costs $168,000, but other models might produce different power or have different costs, he said. "This is pretty preliminary," he said. Alternative energy grants may be available to offset the cost of a wind generator or another energy source such as solar panels, said George Butler, the county attorney. Climbing utility costs may make alternative energy more attractive than in the past, said Justice of the Peace Ann Harbison, D-West Fork.
"If there's any type of alternative out there, I think we need to check on it," Harbison said. There is space on the property to install a wind generator, although it should be sited so as not to interfere with possible expansion of county buildings, said Sheriff Tim Helder. Another limiting factor is height. The wind turbine used in Neal's example stands 154 feet high, but the Federal Aviation Administration restricts any structure on the site to 148 feet above ground level because the land is in the approach path to Fayetteville Municipal Airport, Helder said.
"We ran into this with our radio tower," Helder said. "We simply can't go any higher than that." County staff members will research the cost and feasibility of a wind generator power supply and return their findings to the Public Works Committee, Butler said. Source: By Dan Craft, The Morning News, 8/26/2005.
DOE - all departmental locations and all DOE federal offices has recently released a notice for: Inventions and Innovation Program (I I) Grant. Source: Grants.gov Opportunities Posting Update, 8/30/2005.
Description: Seeking grant applications for support of basic energy science fundamental research in the natural sciences and engineering leading to new and improved energy technologies and to understanding and mitigating the environmental impacts of energy technologies. Government Agency: Department of Energy's Office of Science. Schedule: Applications may be submitted at any time. August 2005 Biomass Initiative Newsletter, 8/10/2005.
Description: The EISG provides funding to small businesses, small non-profits, individuals and academic institutions for establishing the feasibility of new energy concepts. Qualifying entities outside of California are eligible. Projects must develop innovative and original energy concepts that address a clear market need, provide benefit for California electricity ratepayers and target one or more areas of interest: Industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; strategic energy research. Government Agency: California Energy Commission. Schedule: EISG has up to 4 cycles of grants a year. August 2005 Biomass Initiative Newsletter, 8/10/2005.
Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests applications for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the Small Business Innovation Research Program. The purpose of the USDA SBIR program is to provide an opportunity for U.S. owned, for profit small business firms to submit innovative, applied, R&D projects that address important problems facing American agriculture, and have the potential to lead to significant public benefit if the research is successful. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, Animal Waste Management, Rural and Community Development, Aquaculture, and Wildlife. Up to $19.4 million expected to be available, award range $80K to $300K. Government Agency: USDA. Schedule: Responses for Phase I due September 1, 2004, responses for Phase 2 due February 2, 2006. August 2005 Biomass Initiative Newsletter
Description: The Rural Business-Cooperative Service is establishing a program for making grants, loan guarantees, and direct loans to farmers and ranchers (agricultural producers) or rural small businesses to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements. The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (2002 Act) established the Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program under Title IX, Section 9006. This program will help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses to reduce energy costs and consumption. Government Agency: USDA. Schedule: The loan guarantee funds will be set aside until August 31, 2005, after which they'll be reallocated to the USDA's grant program. August 2005 Biomass Initiative Newsletter.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
|
