Green Power

New Belgium Brewing Gives New Meaning to Good Beer

New Belgium Brewing, Fat Tire, and other tasty brews, is more than just a brewery.  Its innovative founders, Kim Jordan, a former social worker and now CEO of New Belgium, and Jeff Lebesch, a former engineer, are classic American doers and dreamers who in 1991 started a brewery in their basement with a vision for their company of making world-class beers while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Today, New Belgium Brewing is the 3rd largest craft brewer in the U.S.--and one of the greenest in the country. Employee-owned, it became the nation's first fully wind-powered brewery back in 1998, thanks to a vote by employees to sacrifice their pay to switch to wind-power. They have halved the industry average for water consumption and produce 15 percent of their energy via a methane-fired co-generation plant at the brewery. They have adopted green building techniques throughout their operations (including a new bottling plant that will be in operation soon); and have incorporated innovative engineering and design throughout their operations--allowing brewers, for example, to capture heat created by the brewing process and reuse it to heat water for making beer.  In addition, the company is led by women--CEO, CFO and COO--in a male dominated industry. They have progressive programs like employee ownership and open book management. A bicycle awarded to each employee after one year of employment and a trip to Belgium after five years are also part of the corporate culture.   actions    

Global warming, greenwashing and escalating oil prices (among other factors) make the New Belgium story especially timely. Against this backdrop, New Belgium stands out as company that is "walking the walk," innovative and committed to making world-class beers with a minimal impact on the environment.  Source: By: Morrison Shafroth, Communications Strategy Group , 1553 Platte Street, Ste 300, Denver CO  80202, 9/6/2006.

State Government Doubles its Purchase of Green Power

The state of Pennsylvania will purchase 200,000 MWh a year of green power for government consumption, at a premium cost of 0.34 cent/kWh.  The purchase means that the state will source 20 percent of its electricity from renewables, double the current level. Pennsylvania will become the largest state purchaser of green power in the U.S. and will rank the state in the number 12 spot on the 'top 25' list of the Environmental Protection Agency for green power purchasing in the country. 

The state government will modify its existing contract with Community Energy to purchase 200,000 MWh a year from renewables, at a premium rate of 0.34 cent/kWh. The contract requires 40 percent of the electricity to be generated from wind turbines and 60 percent from hydroelectric sources, and the total power will displace the emission of 951 tons of sulfur dioxide, 271 tons of nitrogen oxide and 123,410 tons of carbon dioxide. 

Since he was elected in 2003, Governor Edward Rendell has doubled the state's commitment to green power and the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard requires that 18 percent of all retail energy generated by 2020 comes from clean sources. The state has the highest generation from wind east of the Mississippi, with wind providing clean energy for 70,000 homes.  Rendell's "PennSecurity Fuels Initiative" will produce 900 million gallons a year of clean fuel, equivalent to what the state imports from the Persian Gulf over a decade. The governor is investing US$30 million over five years to build re-fueling and production infrastructure to support wide distribution of alternative fuels.

Community Energy is a windfarm developer that recently became a subsidiary of IBERDROLA, the world's largest operator of green power facilities and largest shareholder in Gamesa. The Spanish turbine manufacturer decided to base its North American headquarters in Pennsylvania after Rendell spearheaded a campaign to attract the facility, and it recently increased its investment in Pennsylvania to $84 million and the creation of 1,000 jobs in the state over five years.

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will create 1,558 jobs. The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program has awarded $15.9 million since May 2003 for projects using wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy.  Pennsylvania has three dozen buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) program, of which eight buildings are state facilities. Another 129 buildings in the state are registered for LEED certification.  Source:  Refocus Weekly, 9/6/2006. 

GS Energy Announces Formation of Carbon Trading Unit

GS Energy Corporation announced its formation of a carbon trading division to focus on the increased development of GS Energy's renewable energy certificate, energy efficiency certificate, carbon and other emissions credit trading businesses.   The new division, GS Carbon Trading, Inc., will trade and sell renewable energy certificates, or Green Tags, and energy efficiency certificates, or White Tags, as well as emissions credits and other similar attributes.  

Green Tags enable retail residential and non-residential consumers to purchase green, or environmentally friendly, energy through their existing utility and offset reliance on power generated from fossil fuel sources. Green Tags are the intangible environmental benefits associated with generating one megawatt hour of electric energy from a renewable resource such as biomass, sunlight, and wind. Green Tags don't require the energy to be physically delivered to the buyer.  

White Tags are similar to Green Tags except they represent one MWh of electricity savings due to the use of energy conservation methods and equipment. White Tags are determined through precise calculations of energy savings derived from conservation measures, such as the use of more efficient lighting, heating and cooling. GS Carbon's Sterling Planet group is pioneering the U.S. market for White Tags with its state-of-the-art technology with advanced mathematical techniques and neural network algorithms to establish accurate (greater than 99.9 percent), scalable and cost-effective processes for the measurement, verification and certification of White Tags. 

Importantly, Green Tags and White Tags can be used to favorably impact the economics of renewable energy generation and energy conservation projects by monetizing reduced carbon emissions.  The Green Tag market is expected to grow from about $250 million to nearly one billion dollars per year by 2010. In addition, the new White Tag market is emerging as a potentially far larger market. Presently, these markets are characterized by fragmented brokerage-driven transactions. The growth and increasing liquidity of these markets is creating valuable opportunities for trade-driven transactions that capitalize more efficiently on changing market conditions.

"GS Energy's carbon trading group was founded to specifically focus on building a trading business that effectively capitalizes on the evolving carbon markets while facilitating decarbonization," said Kevin Kreisler, GS Energy's chairman and chief executive officer. GS Energy also announced its plans today to take GS Carbon public in a reverse merger or similar transaction with a compatible public company on or before October 1, 2006. Source: BUSINESS WIRE, 6/6/2006. 

PSC Reduces Cost of Green Power Premium

The Georgia Public Service Commission reduced on Tuesday the cost of the premium of a voluntary program that allowed customers to purchase part of their electric power from renewable, or "green" resources.  The unanimous vote reduced the premium to $4.50 per block of 100 kilowatthours for Georgia Power customers and those who used to be in portions of the former Savannah Electric territory.  Previously, the "Green Power" premium was set at $5.50 per block for Georgia Power customers and $6 per block for Savannah Electric customers. The premium is in addition to regular electric usage charges.

The voluntary program allows customers to have part of their electric power come from renewable resources, such as landfill gas, solar or wind power, and limited amounts of hydroelectric and biomass power.  Environmental groups bristled that the energy provider should meet national accreditation standards in supplying greener energy and complained that even with the reductions, that rates are still too high.

The PSC first approved the Green Power program in July 2003.  But the program hit a bump when Georgia Power announced it planned to use an old landfill energy facility as the source of the greener power. Environmentalists called for the company to pursue energy sources that meet national accreditation standards.  With Tuesday's vote, the energy giant hopes to sell its first kilowatt hour of greener power at a more reduced rate.  The reduced premiums will be consolidated into one rate in Georgia Power's next rate case proceeding, which is expected to be filed July 1. Customers in the program have to agree to participate for a minimum of a year.  The commission also voted to increase the price Georgia Power pays for solar photovoltaic energy from 15 cents per kilowatt hour to 17.4 cents per kwh. The increase will be used to encourage the development of solar power in the state that can be sold as part of the Green Power program.  Source:  Associated Press, 9/5/2006.

US Colleges to Buy Green Power in MTV Competition

An environmental group is teaming with MTV to encourage U.S. university students to demand their schools get more energy from renewable energy sources.  "We believe students are especially well-positioned to be advocating for this because they more than anyone know what's at stake," said Billy Parish, a coordinator for Washington D.C.-based Energy Action Coalition, in a telephone interview. His group is launching the competition with MTV, a cable network owned by Viacom Inc. 

Students at several colleges have already pushed through fees of about $30 per student that allow schools to buy power from clean energy sources such as solar and wind farms.  Parish said students are energized to fight global warming because they're worried about the threats of heat waves and flooding from melting glaciers on the habitats of people and endangered species.  But the economic opportunities of clean technology and sustainable energy also make college students active in pushing for alternative power, he said.

Hip-hop artist Jay-Z was set to launch the competition, called Break the Addiction Challenge, on MTV show "Total Requests Live" on Wednesday. Schools will compete for prizes including "green"-friendly renovations of their student lounges.  "Whether it is concerns about Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices, war or national security, young people are beginning to connect the dots between their daily behavior and the health of our environment," said Christina Norman, president of MTV, in a statement. 

Unlike the European Union, the United States does not have a national plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions. In the absence of a federal program, states like California and seven in the Northeast are planning to create their own regional markets for greenhouse gases.  Below is a list of colleges that buy 100 percent of their power from clean energy sources, according to Energy Action Coalition: Bowdoin College, Maine, Colby College, Maine, College of the Atlantic, Maine, Concordia University, Texas, Duke's Fuqua School of Business, North Carolina, Evergreen State College, Washington, Unity College, Maine, University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma, UC Santa Cruz, California, Western Washington University, Washington.  Source: By Timothy Gardner, (Reuters), 6/6/2006. 

Minnkota Lowers its Green Pricing Premium

Minnkota Power Cooperative, which serves 11 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and North Dakota, has lowered the premium charged for its Infinity Wind Energy program from 1.5 cent/kWh to 0.5 cent/kWh. In making the change, Minnkota cited cost increases for conventional generation sources that have narrowed the price differential between wind energy and other resources in the utility's generation portfolio. As a result of the price change, one distribution utility--Nodak Electric--has dropped the premium-priced program altogether. Minnkota has now lowered the premium several times since the program was launched in 1999. The wind energy is supplied from two, 900-kW wind turbines located in North Dakota.  Source: Green Power Marketing Monthly Update - August 2006.

REI Buys Wind Power for Three Maryland Stores

Recreational Equipment Inc., a national retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear and apparel, announced  that it will purchase an additional 1 million kilowatt hours of wind power annually to supply its three stores in Maryland.  "As a retailer that promotes the responsible enjoyment of the outdoors and active conservation, we believe it is appropriate to look at our business operations to reduce negative impacts on the environment," said Kevin Hagen, REI corporate social responsibility program manager.  

Clean Energy Partnership helped REI broker the wind power purchase for REI stores in Timonium, Rockville and College Park. The product combines an energy supply contract with Pepco Energy Services with Green-e certified renewable energy contracts provided by Sterling Planet. 

The addition of the three Maryland stores brings the total number of stores powered by renewable energy to 20 out of 85. Sources of green power include wind, landfill gas and solar and represent more than 20 percent of REI's electrical use. The total annual purchase is more than 11 million kilowatt hours, equal to the electricity needed to power more than 1,100 homes. The switch to renewable resources also eliminates more than 6,000 tons of CO2 annually, equivalent to removing more than 1,100 cars from the road.  REI's green power purchases ranks it among the top 10 retail members of Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.  REI has committed to purchasing 100 percent of its electricity from new renewable energy resources in any region where qualifying, Green-e certified, green power contracts are available.

In addition to the Maryland stores, other purchases include the following stores and suppliers:  Brookfield, Wis.; WE Energies; sources: wind, landfill gas and solar, Madison, Wis.; Alliant Energy/WP&L; sources: wind; landfill gas and solar, Eugene, Ore.; Eugene Water & Electric; source: wind, Denver, Englewood, Boulder, Grand Junction and Lakewood, Colo.;  XCEL Energy; source: wind, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Community Energy; source: wind, Fort Collins, Colo.; Fort Collins Utilities; source: wind, Bloomington and Roseville, Minn.; XCEL Energy; source: wind, Dallas, Houston, Willowbrook and Plano, Texas; Green Mountain Energy; source: wind, Pittsburgh; Community Energy; source: wind.   Source: Press Release from Recreational Equipment, Inc., 9/7/2006.

For more information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/index.shtml

Renewable Energy Technologies

Wind Farm Nearly Done

All of Maple Ridge Wind Farm's 195 towers--minus one top section--should be up this week and fully operational by November.  "Things are coming to a close rather quickly here," said Scott R. Alexander, operation manager at the wind farm.  While the initial plan was to finish tower installation Saturday, several factors have pushed the completion date past Labor Day.  They include an accident involving one of the tower pieces.  A truck delivering a tower top from Louisiana several weeks ago flipped over on a highway in Kentucky or Tennessee, injuring the driver and damaging the massive part, Mr. Alexander said. "It rolled twice," he said of the tower section. 

Because of the accident, a tower top must now be remanufactured and likely won't be available until some time in October. Many of the turbine parts--including the 130-foot blades--have been manufactured overseas and must first be transported by ship to the Port of Oswego before being trucked here to the project site.  Turbine construction was also expected to be delayed this weekend by the weather, namely rainfall and heavy winds stemming from Tropical Depression Ernesto.

Flat Rock Wind Power--a joint venture of Horizon Wind Energy of Houston, Texas, and PPM Energy of Portland, Ore. --last year began a $380 million, 195-turbine wind farm project in the towns of Lowville, Martinsburg and Harrisburg.  When completed, the project is to provide around $11 million annually to local taxing jurisdictions and landowners.  Crews in late June activated 20 new turbines, adding to the 120 that were put up last year.  Installation of a second substation is slated to begin this week. "We're hoping to get things energized by the first of October," Mr. Alexander said, noting it will then take several weeks to commission the remaining 55 turbines. 

That tentative timetable should allow for "full commercial operations" to begin by, Mr. Alexander said.  "We're really pleased with where we're at," he said.  A Sept. 26 ribbon-cutting ceremony is also being planned at the wind farm, Mr. Alexander said. More details on the event will be available in the near future, he said.  Source: McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Steve Virkler Watertown Daily Times, N.Y., 9/3/2006. 

Going 'Green' at Eastern

There's a push to find alternative energy sources across the country. And in Connecticut, a small university in the quiet corner of the state is leading the charge.  This is the future," says Nancy Tinker, who is in charge of facilities at Eastern Connecticut State University, and these days everything she touches is turning green, from the green grass to the green trees to the solar panels on the shuttle bus stops.  The recycling bins, outside classroom buildings, wind turbines on Eastern Hall and geothermal cooled water flushed through toilets.  Even the electric golf cart used by administrators and the way this new science building is being constructed--it uses local recycled materials--all of it is green. "There isn't anything that we do here at Eastern in facilities that we aren't constantly thinking about how can we save more money, make things more efficient, make things more green," Tinker said. 

"Everybody who pays for an electric bill, pays for their oil, pays for their gasoline, has a great understanding for what a stress energy is causing on our lives today," says Laurel Kohl from the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern. Her group's charge is to study and define energy policy for the state of Connecticut, all the while practicing what they preach.

Another green idea is installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in the nine-story high rise apartment building. The old system used electric baseboard heat and did not include air conditioning. So far the university has saved $50,000 in one year.  Not only is the geothermal system helping to make things run more efficiently, it's also using its excess clean water to irrigate the grass and the trees all around campus.  The university has even launched a degree program for Sustainable Energy Studies.  "Energy matters, and knowing what energy decisions to make ... what will it mean in ten years, what will it mean in five," says Dr. Fred Loxsom, Sustainable Energy Studies.  Source: By News Channel 8's Jodi Latina, 9/6/2006.

Great River Wind Energy Purchase Moves it Closer to Minnesota Goal

Great River Energy, a nonprofit cooperative, has agreed to buy the output from Horizon Wind Energy's 100-megawatt wind power project in Mower County, Minn.  The proposed wind farm will generate enough electricity to power some 29,000 Minnesota homes. The green power purchase brings Great River Energy closer to meeting the state's 10 percent renewable energy goal by 2015.  The Mower County wind farm will consist of 61 wind turbines, each approximately 260 feet high. The facility is expected to begin operations in late 2007. Horizon Wind Energy, formerly Zilkha Renewable Energy, is owned by New York investment banking firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc.  Source: Waste News, 9/6/2006.

DuPont Invests $50 Million, Launches New Photovoltaic Solar Panel Materials

DuPont announced a production expansion of DuPont Tedlar polyvinyl fluoride film. The new facility, with an estimated investment of $50 million, is scheduled for completion by 2007.  The company also announced the launch of DuPont Tedlar PV2100 Series films, part of an extended product line used in the protective backsheets of solar panels, which are critical to the efficiency, lifetime and overall operation of the panels.  This series of films provide increase dimensional stability, tear and abrasion resistance and higher reflectance, which improves output and efficiency.

"DuPont and Tedlar have played key roles in the solar energy industry," said Cindy Green, vice president and general manager, DuPont Fluoroproducts.  "This expansion will allow us to better supply customers in several global market segments as we focus more of our science and innovation on improving the life cycle of solar cells and reducing the cost per watt of electricity to consumers and building owners."  DuPont estimates the market for Tedlar films is increasing at more than 30 percent per year, due to a surge in the production and installation of photovoltaic solar panels around the world.  Tedlar films also are used in key applications for aerospace, construction and graphics arts because of their durability and weatherability.   Source:  Clean Edge News, 8/24/06.

U.S. Geothermal Acquires Second Geothermal Project

U.S. Geothermal Inc., a renewable energy development company focused on the production of electricity from geothermal energy, announced that it has acquired property for a second geothermal project at Neal Hot Springs in eastern Oregon near the Idaho border.  The new property, 8.5 square miles of geothermal energy and surface rights, was acquired from a private party. The property has an identified geothermal resource and was recently made part of U.S. Geothermal's submittal to Idaho Power Company's Request For Proposals for electricity produced from geothermal sources.  " We are working to advance the project to a development decision and have targeted an initial production potential of 25 to 30 MW", said Daniel Kunz, President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Geothermal Inc. "Neal Hot Springs is close to transmission lines and is in a great location to serve Idaho Power Company's growing customer base and the rapidly growing Pacific Northwest energy market".

Teplow Geologic, an independent geothermal consulting firm, recently conducted a geological reconnaissance and preliminary assessment of the project and found that "a commercially viable geothermal resource was discovered at Neal Hot Springs in l979." Thermochem, Inc., an independent consulting firm, analyzed geothermal fluid samples recently collected from the area by Teplow. Using the chalcedony geothermometer method, a probable reservoir temperature of 311 degrees F to 320 degrees F is indicated, while a distal source temperature of 347 degrees F to 356 degrees F is indicated by the cation geothermometer.  A geophysical and geological mapping program has been proposed by Teplow to help determine the overall extent of the geothermal reservoir. A high-permeability production zone has been encountered by previous exploration drilling at a depth of 2680 feet and thus represents a confirmed production-drilling target. After completion of the mapping program, it is anticipated that production wells can be sited and drilled to intersect the geothermal reservoir at depths ranging from 2,500 to 4,700 feet. This well drilling would be followed by flow testing to confirm the production sustainability of the reservoir.

U.S. Geothermal Inc. entered into a long-term lease with a private third party for energy and surface rights associated with 5,409 acres (8.5 square miles). The lease calls for annual rental payments and includes a production royalty provision. The site was the subject of geothermal exploration from l976 to l980 by Chevron Minerals who discovered the geothermal resource. Chevron drilled seven wells in the area during a 4-year exploration program. Although all of the wells have been plugged and abandoned, several of the drill logs have been acquired by U.S. Geothermal Inc. The discovery well was a 6.25-inch diameter hole drilled to a depth of approximately 2,820 feet. Due to massive lost circulation of drill fluids within the geothermal production zone this well was never tested for flow capability. Lost circulation is a strong indication of a highly permeable zone that is considered a very positive geologic feature for geothermal resources. One of the other Chevron exploration wells experienced a reported steam blow out that created a geyser some 40 feet high for a period of several weeks before it collapsed and sealed itself.  Source: U.S. Geothermal Inc., 9/5/2006.Plutonic Power Secures the Rights for Three New Run-Of-River Green Energy Hydropower Projects

Plutonic Power Corporation is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed Stages 1 and 2 towards securing a Water License and Crown Land rights from the Integrated Land Management Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture and Lands) and the Water Stewardship Division (Ministry of the Environment), for the development of three run-of-river nonstorage hydroelectric power generation projects to be located on Smythe Creek, Stanton Creek and Fissure Creek, near the headwaters of Knight Inlet, approximately 200 km North of Powell River, BC.

The Knight Inlet Projects have a design capacity of 121 MW and could be expected to generate approximately 383 GW.h of green energy per year, enough energy to meet the needs for approximately 40,000 homes. Initial studies show that all three creeks have steep sided rock canyons upstream of the proposed powerhouse locations, which act as fish barriers, thus minimizing the impact of the projects on local fish habitat.  The addition of the three Knight Inlet projects brings the number of development projects in Plutonic's portfolio to 22.

Plutonic Power is an emerging renewable energy producer in British Columbia. Its proposed 22 development projects have a design capacity of nearly 1000 MW with the potential to generate approximately 3,300 GWh per annum of green energy - enough energy to meet the annual energy needs of over 300,000 homes. Included in the 22 projects is the creation of the Green Power Corridor, a series of non-storage hydroelectric projects in southwestern BC, which hold the potential to catapult British Columbia to the forefront of green energy generation in North America. The completion of the Green Power Corridor would create approximately 3000 person-years of employment.

In July 2006, Plutonic Power was awarded Energy Purchase Agreements from BC Hydro for its most advanced projects: East Toba River, Montrose Creek and Rainy River, which combined, total 211 MW of capacity. Plutonic has granted a Canadian affiliate of GE Energy Financial Services the exclusive right to provide $100 million of project equity as well as lead a $400 million debt financing for construction of the East Toba/Montrose Creek project.  Plutonic is committed to working with First Nations, stakeholder groups and local communities in the development of its run of river projects.  For more information, contact, Plutonic Power Corporation, Marc Stachiw  604-669-4999, or Nancy Goertzen 604-669-4999.  Source:  VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Plutonic Power Corporation, 9/7/2006.

For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.repartners.org

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

Final New Mexico Report on Geothermal Potential

The Geothermal Energy Association has just released a new report that documents a resurgence in interest to develop geothermal resources in New Mexico.  Source: Daniel J. Fleischmann, Research Coordinator, Geothermal Energy Association, 9/5/2006.

Kansas Renewable Energy & Energy EFficiency Conference

The Kansas Corporation Commission's 7th Annual Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference will be held at the Topeka Ramada Inn beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and continuing all day on Wednesday, Sept. 27.  Keynote addresses will be given by Representative Carl Holmes, Chair of the House Utilities Committee, Lola Spradley, Chairwoman of the Colorado Harvesting Energy Network and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, and Dave Hamilton, Director, Global Warming and Energy Programs for the National Sierra Club.   On Wednesday, multiple breakout sessions on different topics will be held throughout the day.   Please join us to learn the latest in Kansas' energy efforts and talk and interact with energy experts and federal, state and local officials. 

This year, there will be many forums where your views can be expressed.  On Tuesday afternoon, there will be a legislative panel where members of the Kansas Senate and House Utilities and Agriculture Committees will take questions from the floor.  Wednesday, throughout the day, the Kansas Energy Council will be conducting citizens' forums on Transportation, Agriculture, Renewable Portfolio Standards and Energy Efficiency.  See the entire agenda, and register online. 

Room arrangements can be made by calling the Ramada Inn, 800-432-2424, and ask for the "Renewable Energy Conference".  Rates are $69/night for rooms, or $89/night for suites.  Rates are good as long as rooms remain available. 

Platinum sponsors of this year's conference are Wind Powering America, United States Department of Energy-State Energy Programs and the Kansas Corporation Commission.  Source: Jim Urich, VP Sales & Marketing, Pinnacle Technology, Inc., 2721 Oregon St., Lawrence, KS 66046.

Natural Disasters Could Expand Renewables in U.S.

The growth of renewable energies could benefit from hurricanes and other catastrophic events which disrupt energy supplies, suggests the draft strategic plan of the U.S. Department of Energy.

"Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, heat waves, terrorist attacks and other catastrophic events could have a major impact on the nation's energy security and energy balance," and these energy disruptions may open "windows of opportunity" to introduce new energy technologies or expand emerging technologies, such as renewables or distributed technologies into the nation's energy mix sooner than would be the case under a business-as-usual scenario." 

The strategic plan is DOE's roadmap "to address the energy, environmental and nuclear security challenges before us," and it outlines "our commitment to energy security, diversity, and efficiency through the development of economically competitive fuels and technologies, including bold new initiatives in nuclear, coal and renewables, such as, biomass, wind, and solar energy," explains energy secretary Samuel Bodman. "Our plan renews and extends our commitment to the environment, both resolving legacy nuclear waste and supporting a future of cleaner energy."  In 2004, the U.S. imported 65 percent of the crude oil it consumed and, by 2030, oil imports will rise to 75 percent of total supply while imports of natural gas rise from 17 percent to 21 percent. Petroleum and natural gas currently account for 60 percent of the country's energy use.

The Advanced Energy Initiative launched by President George Bush will improve energy security and reduce dependence on foreign oil by "accelerating the research, development and deployment of clean energy technologies to diversify our nation's energy mix," he adds. "AEI directs funds for the advancement of hydrogen and renewable energy technologies such as biomass, wind, and solar energy." 

The draft plan says one of DOE's goals is to improve environmental quality by reducing GHG emissions and environmental impacts from energy production and use. In electricity generation, DOE is working to advance "a variety of carbon-free electricity options" which ranges from wind farms and solar power systems to central station near-zero atmospheric emissions fossil fuel power plants that capture and store carbon.  Strategies to reach this goal include support for new nuclear capacity, clean coal technology, and support for research efforts "to reduce the costs of renewable energy technologies and accelerate the large-scale use of carbon-free electricity sources."  Source: Refocus Weekly - Renewables Update, 9/6/2006.

Cogeneration Could Benefit From RPS Standards

The cogeneration industry should use Renewable Portfolio Standards as a policy tool to advance the industry, suggests the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.  "Although many states have been making notable progress on combined heat & power policies, significant barriers continue to hinder the realization of CHP's nationwide potential," explains ACEEE in "Combined Heat & Power: Connecting the Gap between Markets & Utility Interconnection and Tariff Practices." "In particular, individual utility policies and practices, especially relating to interconnection and tariffs, have long been identified by ACEEE and others as a major barrier to the expanded adoption of CHP." 

The report examines utility policies across the U.S. relating to cogeneration and distributed generation, to identify utility barriers to entry for proposed CHP facilities. It also identifies current CHP policies on a state-by-state and regional basis, and highlights "the most appropriate policy options that might help the CHP industry move forward." The first part of the report focused on utilities in 15 states and identified some of the main barriers to new projects including interconnection, tariff rates, safety issues, spark spread, utility awareness of CHP benefits, and disincentives for utilities caused by utility regulation. This second part focuses on the remaining states, and provides national and regional perspectives.

A renewable portfolio standard is a market-driven policy to require that a minimum amount of green power is included in the portfolio of electricity resources within an area, it explains. The concept "has been evolving for many years, with legislation having been introduced for over a decade at the national level and, to date, 20 states and Washington DC have implemented minimum renewable energy standards."

"Recently, we have seen a few instances where either existing or proposed RPS's have included CHP and energy efficiency as qualifying under the standard," noting that Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Hawaii are examples of states with RPS's that include CHP.  "This trend could be a valuable opportunity for encouraging further integration of CHP into the market and market-driven policy," the report notes. "The CHP community should pay close attention as to how to best use this as a policy tool to move the CHP industry forward."  Source:  Refocus Weekly, 9/6/2006. 

The Eleventh National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference - December 3-6, 2006,  San Francisco, CA

The National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference  is the preeminent conference for communicating directly with leading renewable energy and green power industry stakeholders.  Hear from national and regional experts on important topics such as:  Lessons Learned from Leading Renewable Energy and Green Power Providers, Renewable Energy and Carbon Markets, The Role of Regulators & Policy Makers in Shaping Green Power Markets, Communicating the Value of Renewable Energy to Consumers, The Solar Revolution: Marketing On-Site, Generation & Attributes, the Sixth National Green Power Leadership Awards banquet will be held at the conference. Source: Green Power Marketing Monthly Update - August 2006. 

Get a better understanding of the issues and opportunities renewable energy presents to electric cooperatives and public power utilities. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, DOE's Wind Powering America and GeoPowering the West programs Bonneville Power Administration and Western Area Power Administration are sponsoring a series of educational events on renewable energy applications and opportunities. Check the schedule, and register for events by contacting Debbie Rock, Western Area Power Administration, 720-962-7271.

For more information on Educational Resources go to: http://www.repartners.org

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Schools Looking Toward Wind Power

Schools across Minnesota are hoping to create a revenue source and an educational experience for students by tapping the font of renewable energy.  Fourteen Minnesota districts have signed on to a plan that would give schools cooperative ownership of a wind farm.  Mike Pieper from Johnson Controls, the firm organizing the project, says the schools involved want to bring math and science to students in a way that has positive economic, social and environmental outcomes.  Johnson Controls will fund the development costs of the wind farm. The subsequent revenue is expected to pay back those costs and then supplement school budgets.  The site of the wind farm hasn't been chosen, but six locations in south-central and southwestern Minnesota are being considered.  It's hoped that construction will begin in the spring.   Source: Associated Press, 6/6/2006.

Is Wind Power an Option?

The idea of supplementing Delaware's energy supply with an off-shore wind farm is gaining popularity among experts, politicians and citizens. The University of Delaware has been studying the viability of wind power and has concluded that it is a possibility. "We think it's very attractive, not just feasible," said Dr. Willett Kempton, a University of Delaware professor at the College of Marine and Earth Studies in Lewes. "It could be an export industry." Kempton teaches a class on offshore wind power. The university has studied the wind off Delaware's coast for 20 years.

From the research, Kempton concluded that there is enough wind for a wind farm that could generate up to 4,000 megawatts of power each year.  Wind power's most obvious benefit is that it's a nonpolluting, renewable resource.  Power plants based on fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal need to pay for the fuel as well as transportation costs.   Wind power is also much cleaner than fossil fuel-based plants. It has no toxic emissions.  In addition, a large wind farm would generate more electricity than Delaware needs. The excess energy could be sold to neighboring states, Kempton said.

Sen. George Bunting (D-Bethany Beach) has researched wind power and said he supports a wind farm pilot program, adding that he will probably be involved in legislation advocating a pilot program in the future.  But installing wind farms off the coast has some drawbacks as well.  "It's controversial," said Bunting. The University of Delaware has identified the coast of Cape Henlopen and some parts of Rehoboth Beach as the best place for installing a wind farm. Those are places where the wind is strongest. The farm would be far off the coast, but still visible from shore. But based on the need for clean power, the people of Delaware may not have the "luxury" of rejecting a wind farm based on aesthetics, Bunting said. 

Wind power is a fluctuating resource, so there are sometimes shortfalls. But the shortfalls from a wind farm would be "predictable," because the amount of wind varies on schedule and can be predicted based on weather forecasts, Kempton said.  When a shortfall occurs, utility companies would have to rely on power lines or generators.  "But that's the same problems as any power plant," Kempton said.

All power plants have to shut down sometimes for maintenance. A well-maintained plant will be offline 5 percent of the time, Kempton said, while a wind farm would be off about 15 percent of the time. A wind farm would also have to avoid navigational channels and it would pose some danger to birds. Some citizens groups support wind power as well.

Bill Zak, founder of Citizens for Clean Power, said wind power might have a future in Delaware. "There's every indication and reason to believe that it is available in the area," he said. Citizens for Clean Power is an advocacy group that formed six months ago with the goal of cleaning up the Indian River Power Plant. The group has not specifically lobbied for wind power, but Zak said it would be an "ideal" clean power source.

NRG, which owns the Indian River Power Plant, recently purchased a wind power plant. But the company is not looking at building a wind power plant off the coast of Delaware.  Ray Long, director of the Northeast Region for NRG, said he thinks an off-shore wind farm would have difficulty winning state approval.  Delmarva Power is going to be awarding a long-term contract in November for an energy plant. NRG is competing for the contract with a plan to update its Indian River plant with cleaner coal technology.  A wind power company, Blue Water Wind, was also considering competing for the contract, but the company did not respond to interview requests. Source:  By Sara Smith, Staff Writer, 6/6/2006. 

Chip Equipment Maker Heads for Solar

One of the largest makers of semiconductor chip manufacturing equipment, Applied Materials, said that it plans to aggressively pursue sales of equipment to make solar cells.  The company will provide manufacturing tools that will help lower the cost of converting the sun's energy into electricity for consumers. High costs are a barrier to more widespread adoption of solar energy.  "We plan to change the cost equation for solar power through adaptation of our existing technology and new innovation in order to help make solar a more meaningful contributor to the global energy supply,'' Mike Splinter, chief executive of the Santa Clara company, said in a statement.

The prelude to Splinter's announcement came earlier this summer when Applied Materials agreed in May to pay $464 million to buy Applied Films, a maker of machines that can be used to make displays and solar cells.  Market researchers estimate that the overall solar equipment market will grow from $1 billion in 2006 to $3 billion in 2010. That doesn't count revenue for servicing equipment. 

Demand for solar is going through the roof as consumers look for alternatives to rising energy costs and take advantage of government subsidies that encourage solar use. Solar markets in Japan, Germany and California are taking off thanks to these subsidies. Overall solar revenues are expected to grow from $5.2 billion in 2005 to $13.9 billion in 2010, according to analyst firm ThinkEquity.  Splinter said that Applied is showcasing several pieces of equipment this week at a solar energy trade show in Germany. Lowering the cost of solar installations could have a big impact on demand, he said.  According to a Harris Interactive survey commissioned by Applied Materials, about 87 percent of homeowners who do not use solar power cited barriers such as cost as the most common reason they aren't adopting solar power.  Source: By Dean Takahashi, Mercury News, 6/5/2006.

Palm Desert to Promote Solar with General Plan Amendment

The Palm Desert Planning Commission held a meeting to look at an amendment to the city's General Plan that would make promoting solar power a key priority of the city's five-year plan to cut energy use by 30 percent. The amendment would allow developers to factor in solar panels when calculating the energy efficiency of new buildings, something not allowed by state regulations.  If approved by the commission, the General Plan amendment will go next to the City Council. Any city regulations on solar will also have to be approved by the California Energy Commission.  Source: K Kaufmann, The Desert Sun, 6/5/2006. 

Duke Energy Indiana to Purchase Wind Power

Duke Energy Indiana finalized an agreement to purchase up to 100 MW of wind-generated electricity from an Orion Energy wind farm under development in Benton County, Ind. 

The 20-year agreement is the first significant, long-term purchase of wind power in Indiana. It is the result of a request for proposals Duke Energy Indiana (then PSI Energy) issued for green energy resources in late 2005. Pending regulatory approval, Duke Energy Indiana will begin purchasing the power in 2007.  The purchase captured the attention of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. "Duke Energy's announcement is right in line with our new state energy plan to maximize Indiana's wind energy potential," he said. "This is a small but significant part of Indiana's long-term plan to find alternative sources of energy."

Orion Energy, an independent developer of wind projects, began developing the Benton County project on approximately 10,000 acres in late 2003. Located in York and Richland townships, the project is expected to go online by late 2007. Duke Energy Indiana has filed for approval of the purchase power agreement with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.  "We are very pleased to be working with Duke Energy to bring the first utility scale wind energy project to Indiana." said Reid Buckley, Orion Energy vice president for development. "We value their strong commitment and leadership in tapping into the state's potential to supply clean, renewable energy."  Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 9/1/2006. 

Wind-Park Comment Process Criticized

Critics of the wind park proposed for Long Island's South Shore say the online process for filing comments to federal regulators reviewing the environmental impact of the project was flawed, and they want the comment period reopened.  The two-month period for public comment ended. The federal Minerals Management Service  is using the comments to shape a broad review of the environmental impact of the controversial project, which proposes erecting 40 windmills 443 feet tall in 8 square miles of ocean between Robert Moses and Jones Beach state parks. The turbines, from 3 1/2 to five miles off the beach, would be visible from land.

Members of the opposing Save Jones Beach group said they worry that significant numbers of comments filed with the Minerals Management Service may have vanished because of acknowledged problems with a computer system, called OSC Connect. The group handed out several thousand flyers urging beachgoers to comment, yet the agency says 106 online comments were received.  In an e-mail exchange between a Save Jones Beach member and the lead official at the service for the Long Island project, problems with the public comment system were acknowledged, as was a lack of staff. "It has become apparent that our electronic comment submission system has some weaknesses," Doug Slitor, the top official on the wind park proposal, said Tuesday, noting the system sometimes fails to confirm messages received. 

A minerals service spokeswoman on Tuesday acknowledged other problems with the system.  "If a lot of people are trying to comment at the same time, it kind of blocks some people out," Nicolette Nye said. But she said the agency believes all comments were captured, and it does not intend to reopen the comment period.

Nye said the service received 1,700 comments on the Long Island Power Authority project, including 106 taken online.  "I think 106 comments is very low, and I challenge it," said Walter Arnold, a director of Save Jones Beach.  "If this is indicative of how they're going to do the whole review, I think you have to look at a judicial review."

Members of Save Jones Beach, which is made up of individuals and civic groups, said the computer glitch highlights their concern that a special fast-track status afforded the LIPA project by 2005 energy legislation could shortchange a proper environmental review. LIPA, the Minerals Management Service and some environmental groups have disputed the fast-track claim.  Tom Vanderberg, chairman of the Save Jones Beach legal committee, said he received an "error" message when he first sent his comments.  When he attempted a second time, he said, he never received confirmation from the service. He checked the Web site yesterday and could not find his six-page comment letter.  The service knew of only one person who complained about the Web site, but his comments were later found to have been posted, Nye said.  Source: Mark Harrington, Newsday,  9/1/2006. 

Biomass in Minnesota

The Laurentian project in Hibbing and Virginia isn't the only big biomass project in Minnesota.  St. Paul already is using waste wood to heat and cool most of its downtown buildings while also generating electricity. The new combined heat and power plant burns 280,000 tons of wood waste each year to produce 25 megawatts of electricity. But rather than taking wood out of the forest, the boiler runs mostly on wood cut in urban and suburban areas of the Twin Cities, usually tree trimmings.  In Benson in west-central Minnesota, manure from commercial turkey farms will generate electricity. In Little Falls, a dry-wood biomass boiler is being combined with an ethanol plant to create energy.  Some taconite and paper mills already burn waste wood, and Minnesota Power has generated biomass steam and electricity for paper mills for years in Duluth and Grand Rapids.  Source: News Tribune, 9/4/2006.

For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/

Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

USDA Invests $17.5 M in Renewable Energy in 36 States

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the award of $17,510,887 in Section 9006 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program Grants to 375 recipients in 36 states today. The grant program increases America's energy independence through the development of renewable energy resources, as well as improving efficiency of existing systems.   Eligible projects include those that derive energy from a wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal source, or hydrogen derived from biomass or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources. Rural Development grant funds can be used to pay up to 25 percent of the eligible project costs. Additionally, the program provides loan guarantees up to $10 million to fund up to 50 percent of eligible projects. Over $4.6 million in federal funds was allocated in loan guarantees and grants under the program earlier this year.  Eligible projects include those that derive energy from a wind, solar, biomass, or geothermal source, or hydrogen derived from biomass or water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources. Awards are made on a competitive basis for the purchase of renewable energy systems and to make energy improvements.

States receiving funding are Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massaschusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Wyoming.  "These grants will directly promote energy savings and increased energy production in rural America," Johanns said. "The Bush Administration is committed to providing more energy from within our nation's borders, especially here in America's agricultural heartland and these grants will help accomplish this goal."  Since 2003 when the program was established, USDA has provided $87.3 million in grants and $34.3 million in loan guarantees to 844 applicants.  Source: RenewableEnergyAccess, 6/6/2006.

For more information on funding solicitations go to: http://www.repartners.org/grants.htm