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The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops "Top 10" rankings of utility programs in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate, and the lowest price premium charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources. Ranked by renewable energy sales, the green power program of Austin (Texas) Energy is first in the nation, followed by Portland General Electric, PacifiCorp, Florida Power & Light, and Sacramento (Calif.) Municipal Utility District. Ranked by customer participation rates, the top utilities are City of Palo Alto (Calif.) Utilities, Lenox (Iowa) Municipal Utilities, Montezuma (Iowa) Municipal Light & Power, Holy Cross Energy (Colo.), and Sacramento Municipal Utility District.
"Utility green power sales continue to show strong growth across the country," said Lori Bird, senior energy analyst at NREL. "These utilities are the national leaders." Customer choice programs are proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply. In 2005, total utility green power sales reached 2.7 billion kilowatt-hours, a 36 percent increase over 2004. And an estimated 430,000 customers are participating in utility programs nationwide, up 20 percent from 2004. Utility green pricing programs are one segment of a larger green power marketing industry that counts many government agencies, colleges and universities, and Fortune 500 companies among its customers, and helps support more than 2,200 MW of renewable electricity generation capacity. NREL analysts attribute the success of many programs to persistence in marketing and creative marketing strategies, including in some cases, utility partnerships with independent green power marketers. In addition, the rate premium that customers pay for green power has dropped as fossil fuel prices have increased. "Higher prices for conventional energy sources are focusing greater consumer attention on renewable energy options," said Blair Swezey, NREL principal policy advisor. NREL's Energy Analysis Office performs analyses of green power market trends and is funded by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Source:GreenBiz.com
In a case of practicing what they preach, today EPA announced 100 percent of its power consumption at its Washington, D.C. headquarters will be supplied by green, renewable power. In addition, the vast majority of energy at over 30 regional and laboratory facilities will come from sustainable sources. "America's energy supply tomorrow requires action today," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "For 35 years, EPA has been greening our nation's landscape. By committing to alternative, renewable power sources, the agency is meeting the President's call to green our nation's energy." EPA has contracted to purchase nearly 260 million kilowatt hours of green power each year for 10 of the agency's offices and 21 laboratories, which places the agency among the top three green-power consumers in the country. Only the U.S. Air Force and Whole Foods Markets buy more green power.
Green power is energy generated from renewable sources. Energy for the EPA Green Power Purchase Program include sources such as biogas (methane from landfills), biomass (plant-derived material), geothermal, and wind. Green power is as simple as flicking on a light switch and as complex as the power grid that it feeds. Depending on location, the agency may buy green-power electricity from the local supplier, or purchase "green tags." These tags allow EPA to support green-power production in a distant location. The idea is to displace traditional generation, stoke the rise of alternate energy sources and short-circuit the pressure for new power plants.
Since 1999, EPA's commitment to green power has grown to cover approximately 88 percent of the agency's national electrical consumption. EPA is a leading member and co-founder of the Green Power Partnership. EPA's Green Power Purchase Program was awarded the Presidential Award for Leadership in Federal Energy Management in 2004. Source: EPA Release, 3/23/2006.
Ontario is fixing prices for green power generated by small renewable energy projects. Under the program, the Ontario Power Authority will buy power produced by wind farms and other renewable methods at 11 cents per kilowatt-hour. The fixed price for solar energy will be 42 cents per kilowatt-hour. The province estimates the scheme, called the Standard Offer Program, will help add up to 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy to Ontario's power grid over the next 10 years. In 2004, the governing Liberals committed to generating five per cent — or 1,350 megawatts — of electricity through renewable sources by 2007. Premier Dalton McGuinty made the announcement in Cambridge, Ont., with Energy Minister Donna Cansfield. "Encouraging communities to develop more renewable electricity — will help clean up our air, create jobs and contribute to our long-term prosperity,'' McGuinty said in a statement. Source: Canadian Press, 03/21/2006
Clif Bar & Co. Helps World’s Largest Cycling Festival Go ‘Climate Neutral’ in Fight Against Global Warming Eco-minded Energy Foods Maker and Sea Otter Classic Partner to Create Sustainable Event Model Monterey, Calif. - Clif Bar & Co. and the Sea Otter Classic, the world’s largest cycling festival, will together purchase enough clean wind energy to offset all of the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from participant travel to and from the event. CO2 is the major cause of global warming and participant travel surrounding the event creates the vast majority of the carbon dioxide that results from staging the festival.
This year’s partnership with Clif Bar marks the first time the event is ‘climate neutral’ and, along with other environmental efforts that will occur on site, represents one of the most significant environmental commitments ever at a major cycling festival.
Clif Bar & Co. and Sea Otter will purchase renewable wind energy credits or “green tags” from NativeEnergy, a renewable energy firm. The green tags will be used to fund new wind turbines that reduce the need for electricity generated by burning CO2-causing fossil fuels such as coal. For the remaining CO2 emissions caused by Sea Otter spectator travel, onsite generators, race support vehicles and media, Clif Bar will offer $2 Cool Tags at its booth. Each Cool Tag funds enough clean wind energy to offset approximately 300 miles of car travel.
Other incentives will be given to Sea Otter athletes, spectators, vendors, sponsors, media and volunteers to encourage them to do their part in helping to evolve the festival into a green event. These include premier reserved parking in the Paddock area for pedal powered vehicles, carpools (3 or more per vehicle) and hybrid vehicles. The preferred method of transportation at Sea Otter is on a bike. Spectators are encouraged to ride bikes to the event and/or bring them along so they don’t miss any of the action going on in other parts the Laguna Seca Recreational Area. Spectators also will be encouraged to use recycling stations that will be set up throughout the festival. Source: Michael Phillips, 3/22/2006.
Constellation Energy today announced that its subsidiary, Constellation NewEnergy, has signed power supply contracts with the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority. Under the agreements, Constellation NewEnergy will provide a Green-e certified ElectricGreen product to the existing supply of six megawatts of peak load to Gore Mountain, and begin to supply eight megawatts of peak load to Whiteface Mountain, both facilities within the ORDA. Ten percent of the non-production related electric load for both locations will be supplied through Constellation NewEnergy's Green-e certified ElectricGreen product.
Constellation NewEnergy's ElectricGreen product offers electricity supplied from low polluting sources, including wind, solar, hydro and biomass generating facilities. The benefits of using ElectricGreen include the reduction of greenhouse gases and other fossil fuel byproducts that contribute to global warming. For example, the direct environmental impact of this partnership is the equivalent of removing 1,600 vehicles from the roads. It also promotes local economic development by using in-state resources and power plants, and increases American energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign energy sources.
Furthermore, Constellation NewEnergy provides a customer with complete flexibility in determining the percentage of electricity usage supplied by ElectricGreen – from 5 percent to 100 percent. A customer can enjoy the stability of a long-term, competitive fixed rate for electricity, or select the option to have 100 percent ElectricGreen supplied on specific days or for special events. Whiteface Mountain, located in Wilmington, NY, is unique in American winter resorts - a place of unrivaled history and uncommon skiing and riding. Gore Mountain, located in North Creek, NY, now offers five new additions to the trail map and covers an impressive 344 acres of skiing.
Green-e is the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the U.S. The program provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards. Green-e's verification protects customers from paying for renewable energy that is "double sold" to other customers or used simultaneously to meet regulatory mandates. To learn more about Green-e certification, call 1-800-63-GREEN. Source: BALTIMORE, 3/29/06 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/
The Statue of Liberty is now lit with wind power, a powerful, shining symbol of how wind energy works for our economy, environment, and energy security. The U.S. National Parks Service has contracted with Pepco Energy Services to purchase 27 million kilowatt-hours of wind power to cover the electricity needs for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island museum over a period of three years. The American Wind Energy Association is providing the following facts and comments to highlight this announcement:
— Wind farms across the U.S. will generate enough electricity this year (about 25 billion kWh) to light up more than 2,700 Statues of Liberty.
— In 2006, the U.S. wind energy industry will install an estimated 3,000 megawatts of wind power capacity, enough to light an additional 900 Statues of Liberty or to power 800,000 homes annually.
— Wind power is now a mainstream option for electricity generation. “I recognize the importance of wind power,” said President George Bush on February 20, 2006. “It’s possible we could generate up to 20 percent of our electricity needs through wind.” Twenty percent is the share that nuclear power provides today.
The Statue of Liberty is just the latest example of how wind energy works for the nation’s economy, environment and energy security. The American wind energy industry commends the National Park Service for selecting clean, renewable wind energy to power one of America’s foremost symbols of freedom. Source: AWEA, 3/22/2006
Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski told the State Sustainability Board that he has raised the bar in pursuit of using new renewable energy in Oregon, and that he has set a higher goal for electricity use by state government-by 2010, just four years from now, the Governor wants new renewable electricity to account for 100 percent of state government’s electrical needs. “If we can achieve this—and I believe we can—Oregon will represent the first state committed to achieving 100 percent renewable electricity use in state government,” the Governor told the Board members in Salem.
To achieve his goal the Governor directed his staff, the Department of Administrative Services and Department of Energy to deliver a roadmap by July 2006 that includes the exploration of options such as developing state renewable energy facilities, participating in utility-renewable-energy purchase programs, and passing legislation that authorizes state agencies to develop renewable energy on state forests, state lands, state campuses and other state property. For more information, please visit http://www.governor.state.or.us/Gov/p2006/press_031006.doc. Source: GEA Update, 3/30/2006
On March 21, 2006, the Ontario Government announced the new standards price they will pay for energy produced from renewable sources in Ontario. Biomaxx Systems Inc. is particularly interested with the inclusion and recognition of electricity produced from biomass. Biomaxx Systems Inc. will now develop a new initiative to produce a commercially viable product offering for biomass-to-electricity production. In the past the challenge with renewable energy in Ontario has been the lack of compensation for a grid tie system linking to the power grid, and the lack of commitment from the Ontario Power Authority.
The Ontario Power Authority will pay 11 cents per kilowatt hour for energy produced from wind, biomass, hydroelectric and will pay 42 cents per kilowatt hour for energy produced from solar.
The Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGinty announced the new standards price for renewable energy produced in Ontario. Entrepreneurs and businesses can sell clean power produced from solar, wind, biomass, and hydroelectric systems back to the power grid. The program is expected to produce 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy to Ontario's energy supply which will be enough to power 250,000 homes and reduces dependence on other energy sources, reduces air pollution, protects the environment and will create new jobs and opportunities.
Attending the announcement was world-renowned scientist Dr. David Suzuki who stated "Today's announcement will revolutionize the market for clean, renewable energy in North America and lay the groundwork for a healthier, brighter future."
The Ontario Government has been proactive in the development of a clean, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supply in Ontario and this initiative follows up on the commitment to generate five per cent of the energy produced, representing 1350 megawatts, through renewables by 2007. Last year they came close with 1300 megawatts produced from renewable sources. Biomaxx Systems Inc. expects demand for biomass to electricity related products and our expertise in this field will present great opportunities to the company. Source: Biomaxx Systems Inc., Investor Relations, 3/27/2006.
FuelCell Energy, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean and efficient electric power generation plants for commercial and industrial customers, today announced that the Japan Institute of Wastewater Engineering Technology has completed a comprehensive review of the DFC300A power plant operating at Seibu Wastewater Treatment Plant, certifying that the product meets or exceeds the independent industry trade group's examination standards for electrical efficiency, heat recovery efficiency, air emissions and operational stability in anaerobic digester gas applications.
Certification of the Direct FuelCell unit by JIWET was the result of more than a year of testing and evaluation by the group in conjunction with the city of Fukuoka, operator of the Seibu plant; Marubeni Corporation, FuelCell Energy's Asian distributor; and Kyushu Electric, one of Japan's five largest utilities. JIWET's certification process reviewed the plant's electrical efficiency; its exhaust heat recovery; and its ability to reduce atmospheric pollutants like particulate matter, nitrogen oxides and sulfuric oxides. The DFC unit was confirmed to eliminate these air pollutants to levels lower than one-tenth the emissions permissible under Japan's strict environmental laws.
Commitments by Japanese companies and governmental organizations to reduce greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocols increase the attractiveness of our DFC products. Because traditional fuels for power generation are expensive in Japan, and because DFC units are capable of generating high-efficiency electricity on renewables like ADG, they hold an important competitive advantage in the Japanese market. There are approximately 200 sites in Japan that produce sufficient ADG to generate 250 kW or more of electric generation from DFC power plants. JIWET was created in 1992 to research, develop, evaluate, promote and improve the utilization of new technologies for sewage treatment facilities in Japan. Source: FuelCell Energy Inc., 3/22/2006.
The parent company of Schott Solar Inc., the solar-power system manufacturer which has a sales and marketing outpost in Rocklin, said Monday that it will spend about $72 million to build a factory in Germany to produce solar-power modules. Germany-based Schott AG said the factory, which will make thin-film solar modules by a process that uses much less silicon than traditional methods, will be built in Jena, Germany and employ about 160. While solar power is an increasingly popular option for homes in Northern California, recent changes in German law have created much stronger demand there for solar power systems. Cells manufactured by the plant each year are expected to generate the equivalent of 30 megawatts. By comparison, the new Cosumnes Power Plant at Rancho Seco, built for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, is gas-fired and will produce 500 megawatts, enough to supply about 450,000 homes. The company has a second plant in Germany producing solar cells and modules and a smaller manufacturing plant in Billerica, Mass. The company has a second plant in Germany producing solar cells and modules and a smaller manufacturing plant in Billerica, Mass.Source: Sacramento Business Journal, 3/22/2006
Biomass (organic matter) can be used to provide heat, make fuels, chemicals and other products, and generate electricity. Wood, the largest source of bioenergy, has been used to provide heat for thousands of years. But there are many other types of biomass — such as wood, plants, residue from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes — can now be used to produce fuels, chemicals and power. In the future, biomass resources may be replenished through the cultivation of energy crops, such as fast-growing trees and grasses, called biomass feedstocks.
Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels for our transportation needs. The two most common biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol, an alcohol, is made by fermenting any biomass high in carbohydrates, like corn, through a process similar to brewing beer. It is mostly used as a fuel additive to cut down a vehicle's carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions. Biodiesel, an ester, is made using vegetable oils, animal fats, algae, or even recycled cooking greases. It can be used as a diesel additive to reduce vehicle emissions or in its pure form to fuel a vehicle.
Heat can be used to chemically convert biomass into a fuel oil, which can be burned like petroleum to generate electricity. Biomass can also be burned directly to produce steam for electricity production or manufacturing processes. In a power plant, a turbine usually captures the steam, and a generator then converts it into electricity. In the lumber and paper industries, wood scraps are sometimes directly fed into boilers to produce steam for their manufacturing processes or to heat their buildings. Some coal-fired power plants use biomass as a supplementary energy source in high-efficiency boilers to significantly reduce emissions.
Even gas can be produced from biomass for generating electricity. Gasification systems use high temperatures to convert biomass into a gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane). The gas fuels a turbine, which is very much like a jet engine, only it turns an electric generator instead of propelling a jet. The decay of biomass in landfills also produces a gas—methane—that can be burned in a boiler to produce steam for electricity generation or for industrial processes.
Western Wind Energy recently announced it has executed a new turbine supply agreement with Mitsubishi Power Systems. Under the agreement, Mitsubishi Power Systems will initially supply Western Wind with 15 one-megawatt MHIA 1000A turbine generators for its 15-MW steel park wind project in Arizona. Additionally, Mitsubishi will supply Western Wind with up to 900 MW of turbine generators for future projects. Western Wind noted that the initial 15 units are scheduled for delivery in October. Source: WESTERN WIND ENERGY CORP, 3/20/06
NanoLogix, Inc. recently announced that the company has completed construction of its first commercial hydrogen bioreactor facility at a Welch's Food plant in northeast Pennsylvania. The company also announced that the facility will begin hydrogen generation from Welch's waste organic matter in April. According to NanoLogix, the bioreactor technology, which was developed and patented by the company in coordination with the Gannon University Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, allows for the production of hydrogen from organic containing waste waters and such waste organic materials as sewer water and solid refuse. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/13/2006.
It has been a string of good news lately for Energy Conversion Devices, specifically for its solar thin-film subsidiary, United Solar Ovonic. The $129 million facility is expected to create 200 jobs on site and as many as 400 others indirectly related. The production output for the company's thin-film solar modules is expected to be 50 MW annually.
At the beginning of this year, the company hosted a tour from President George W. Bush, who was headlining his administration's energy policy blitz. This came under the backdrop of increased attention being paid to solar thin-film companies whose technologies are insulated from the silicon raw material shortage cramping the industry. Now comes news this week of the company agreeing to open a new manufacturing facility in Greenville, Michigan.
The site in Greenville is relatively close to the company's other manufacturing facilities in Auburn Hills. There's an existing 25 MW facility and a second 25 MW facility expected to come online later this spring. All three facilities are part of the company's expansion plans announced in February in which the board of directors approved a plan to expand to 300 MW of yearly production by 2010.
The company's solar modules, branded as Uni-Solar modules, offer some of the higher efficiencies and cost-per-watt ratios found in thin film offerings. Thin film, or amorphous PV, as opposed to traditional crystalline silicon photovoltaics, do not rely on expensive silicon, which as an essential raw material is in increasingly constrained supply, leading to a worldwide shortage in traditional crystalline modules. Source: SEPA Bi-Weekly News, 3/27/2006
FirstEnergy Corp. announced today that it has a 23-year agreement to buy 80 megawatts of wind power from a Pennsylvania wind farm. The Allegheny Ridge Wind Farm will be near Altoona, Pa., in parts of Cambria and Blair counties, and is planned to have 40 turbines rated at 2 megawatts each. Phase I is expected to be operating by early next year. The farm is being developed by Gamesa Energy USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gamesa Group, a publicly traded Spanish wind-energy company with its North American headquarters in Philadelphia. The project would be the largest wind farm in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the entire Mid-Atlantic region, according to a FirstEnergy news release.
Earlier this month, Gamesa also announced it would be building three new advanced technology plants in Bucks County, Pa., for the production of wind mill blades and towers and the assembly of nacelles, which house the wind turbines. These plants will join the existing blade plant Gamesa is building in Cambria County, a few miles away from the proposed project location. Source: Beacon Journal staff report, 3/22/2006
The parent company of Schott Solar Inc., the solar-power system manufacturer which has a sales and marketing outpost in Rocklin, said Monday that it will spend about $72 million to build a factory in Germany to produce solar-power modules. Germany-based Schott AG said the factory, which will make thin-film solar modules by a process that uses much less silicon than traditional methods, will be built in Jena, Germany and employ about 160. While solar power is an increasingly popular option for homes in Northern California, recent changes in German law have created much stronger demand there for solar power systems. Cells manufactured by the plant each year are expected to generate the equivalent of 30 megawatts. By comparison, the new Cosumnes Power Plant at Rancho Seco, built for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, is gas-fired and will produce 500 megawatts, enough to supply about 450,000 homes.
Germany-based Schott AG said the factory, which will make thin-film solar modules by a process that uses much less silicon than traditional methods, will be built in Jena, Germany and employ about 160. While solar power is an increasingly popular option for homes in Northern California, recent changes in German law have created much stronger demand there for solar power systems.
Solar Photovoltaic Market Grew 34 percent in 2005. "World solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 1,460 Megawatts in 2005, representing annual growth of 34 percent, says the annual PV market report issued today by Solarbuzz LLC, a San Francisco based solar energy consultancy". .."Germany's PV market grew 53 percent to 837 Megawatts in 2005, corresponding to 57 percent of the world market. This level is eight times the size of the United States market"..."The on-going capacity shortfall will restrict world PV market growth to just 10 percent in 2006". .."The 200-page report includes a full, authoritative analysis of the supply/demand balance through the PV industry business chain, an annual survey of solar energy installers, and a detailed review of price movements in the major world markets". SolarBuzz is a very useful site. The supplier index and job listings make a visit worthwhile. Source: John Laumer, 3/25/2006
San Diego Gas & Electric today announced that it has purchased 20 megawatts of geothermal electricity from Esmeralda Truckhaven Geothermal LLC, to begin delivery in 2010. "This contract is another step in our aggressive efforts to meet our goal of supplying 20 percent of our customers' electricity needs by 2010 with renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal power," said Terry Farrelly, vice president of electric and gas procurement for SDG&E.
Geothermal energy production involves using heat from beneath the earth's surface to generate electricity and provide heat. The Esmeralda facility, at its Juan Bautista de Anza Geothermal Project, will be located in Imperial County west of the Salton Sea. Geothermal energy is considered a green technology because of its minimal environmental impacts and renewability from the heat of the earth. Geothermal is also the most prolific power generator of all renewable sources, producing energy 24 hours a day. The 15-year contract will provide approximately 1 percent toward SDG&E's 2010 renewables goal.
Jack McNamara, the manager of Esmeralda Truckhaven, said, "We look forward to working with SDG&E to meet its 20 percent renewable goal in 2010 and higher renewable goals going forward." SDG&E has announced a series of renewables contracts for the last several years and has more than 12 percent of its customers' energy needs under contract. The resources include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and biogas contracts.
Esmeralda Truckhaven is a California limited liability company, whose sole member is Esmeralda Energy Company, a Nevada corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Geo-Energy Partners-1983 Ltd., a major geothermal leaseholder. Source: SAN DIEGO, 3/24/2006 (PRIMEZONE)
Output of geothermal electricity in the United States could double soon, according to a survey by the industry trade group. The U.S. had 2,828 MW of geothermal capacity on-line last year, and 45 projects underway could provide another 1,818 to 2,095 MW of new electricity for the grid, reports the Geothermal Energy Association. Its survey identified new projects in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah, which would provide electricity sufficient to meet the needs of cities such as Las Vegas, Sacramento, Albuquerque and Seattle combined.
“New federal and state initiatives to promote geothermal energy are paying off,” says GEA executive director Karl Gawell. “State renewable standards coupled with the federal production tax credit are creating a renaissance in U.S. geothermal power production.” The most significant catalyst behind new industry activity was passage of the Energy Policy Act last year by the federal Congress, says GEA.
EPAct made new geothermal plants eligible for the full federal production tax credit, previously available only to wind farms, and it authorized increased funding for research by the Department of Energy, and gave the Bureau of Land Management new secure funding to address its backlog of geothermal leases and permits. “But we face serious challenges this year in Congress,” says Gawell. The FY07 budget could undermine several EPAct initiatives and be a major set-back to industry progress, he explains. “Instead of increasing DOE funding, the budget proposes to zero-out geothermal research; instead of providing the resources needed for BLM to work off its 25-year backlog of lease applications, the budget proposes to repeal this and other provisions of EPAct; finally, the budget is silent on extending the production tax credit beyond its current deadline of December 2007, a date most of these new projects will not be able to meet.”
The U.S. continues to be the world leader in geothermal, generating 14,356 GWh in 2004, or 0.35 percent of the country’s annual output. Facilities were based in four states: California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah, and California obtained 4.8 percent of its electricity from geothermal in 2004. Last year, the state’s geothermal capacity exceeded every country in the world, with 2,492 MW of installed capacity. Nevada has 15 geothermal plants, with a capacity of 274 MW which collectively generate 1,269 GWh which will increase this year. Hawaii has only one power plant on the big island of Hawaii, and the Puna Geothermal Venture delivers 25 to 30 MW of firm energy on a continuous basis, supplying 20 percent of the total electricity needs of the Big Island and its 162,000 residents. In Utah, Cove-Fort has been decommissioned and now has only the Blundell plant. In FY07, DOE requested no funding for its geothermal research program and expressed its intention to terminate the program, but GEA has expressed opposition to the proposal noting that “there are substantial needs for improvements in technology, information and efficiencies for which federal research is vital.” The range of near-term needs is broad, and the technology currently available to identify and characterize the resource “is too unreliable to effectively mitigate the high risk of development.”
GEA has proposed that Congress consider a budget for the DOE geothermal research program of $32.5 million. Source: `WASHINGTON, DC, US, March 22, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)
Most of the demand for domestic hot water in Spain must be met from solar thermal systems, under a new building code approved by the national government. The new Technical Buildings Code (Codigo Tecnico de la Edificacion) is the most significant reform of the Spanish building sector for decades, according to the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation. It includes changes to sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings, and includes an obligation to meet 30 percent to 70 percent of demand for domestic hot water from solar thermal systems. The changes go “far beyond the minimal level of implementation” of the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings adopted by the European Commission, and makes Spain “one of the countries with the most advanced solar legislation in the world,” ESTIF explains. The requirement for solar thermal applies to all new buildings and renovations, and applies to all buildings regardless of their use.
Some exceptions are defined under law, mainly for buildings that heat water from other renewable energy technologies or by cogeneration, or for buildings that are shaded. The variation of the solar fraction will depend on a number of parameters, such as the geographical location of the building, but municipal solar obligations that have been approved in recent years by many municipalities, including Barcelona and Madrid, will remain in force as long as they are stronger than the national obligation included in the code changes. In addition, large buildings over 4,000 m2 of floorspace will also be obliged to install solar PV systems for electrical generation.
The changes will be published soon in the Spanish Official Journal and, while most provisions will take effect one year after publication, the measures on solar energy and energy efficiency are expected to apply by October, ESTIF notes. The obligation refers to authorization of new buildings, so it may take another year until the impact is felt in the market for solar thermal. Source: BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 29, 2006 (Refocus Weekly)
Plant-derived industrial products play a key role in the United States’ plan to cut down dependence on foreign petroleum by boosting production and use of domestic energy and feedstock sources. And in Ohio — where agriculture and the chemicals, plastics and rubber materials sector are king — an Ohio State University-based endeavor is on its way to change the chemistry of the state’s economy. Established last year through an $11.5 million award from the state’s Third Frontier Project, the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center is linking agricultural technologies with chemical-conversion and advanced-materials technologies to create a high-quality, renewable supply of specialty industrial compounds such as plastics, paints, lubricants and solvents.
In an April 2005 report commissioned by Congress to guide the future direction of federally funded biomass research and development, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture set a vision to slash 30 percent of the country’s current petroleum consumption by 2030. Such an ambitious plan would require the use of biomass — which includes crops, manure and plant waste — to supply 5 percent of the nation’s power, 20 percent of its transportation fuels, and 25 percent of its chemicals. “Production of chemicals and materials from bio-based products will increase substantially from approximately 12.5 billion pounds or 5 percent of the current production of target U.S. chemical commodities in 2001, to 12 percent in 2010, 18 percent in 2020, and 25 percent in 2030,” the report stated as of its main objectives.
The Center is bringing new technology to accelerate research in the areas of plant genetics, biomass processing and chemical conversion and is revamping the university’s soybean breeding program to look for traits and varieties targeted at industrial applications, which is also expected to benefit farmers in the near future. OBIC is also planning to build a feedstock processing facility on OARDC's Wooster campus; is partnering with other Ohio State programs such as the Center for Advanced Polymer and Composite Engineering; and is working with OARDC’s Food and Agricultural Technology Commercialization and Economic Development Program to determine strategic fit and changes of success of proposed bioproducts. This cooperation can lead to new and innovative opportunities for Ohio’s economic development, said Wayne Earley, executive director of PolymerOhio — an umbrella organization that supports the state’s polymer, plastics, rubber and advanced-materials industries.
Source: Mauricio Espinoza, Ohio State University, 3/28/2006
GeoSmart Energy named Selectpower its Geothermal National Dealer of the Year for 2005 at a banquet held in Cambridge Monday night. Selectpower was chosen from over 65 dealers from across Canada, for its outstanding sales achievements in 2005. “Selectpower combined technical excellence with huge appetite for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions,” Stan Marco, co-founder of GeoSmart Energy told the audience of geothermal specialists.
Selectpower’s geothermal team not only installed more geothermal systems than any other GeoSmart dealer in the country last year, but also the greatest volume of heating and cooling tonnage. Selectpower completed geothermal projects ranging from 1500 square foot urban and rural homes to million dollar cottages in Muskoka to the new Guelph Hydro Administration Building.
Geothermal energy systems rely on water circulated through special high-density plastic pipes laid horizontally several feet under the ground or inserted into vertically drilled holes. In winter the pipes collect heat and deliver it to heat pumps which heat the building. In summer heat is collected from the building and shed back into the ground. The system uses significantly less electricity than traditional air conditioning and uses no natural gas or other fossil fuel for heating.
LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is increasingly important to commercial developers selling into a growing market for higher quality buildings. “Geothermal systems have been around for 30 years,” says Marco, “but improved technology and today’s fuel costs are now driving it into the main stream. I don’t know of a government building project today, municipal, provincial or federal, that isn’t going for some level of LEED certification, and geothermal is certainly one of the most cost effective ways of achieving that goal,” said Marco. Source: Cambridge – 03/28/06
The goal of the National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference is to provide a valuable learning and networking experience for a diverse industry audience of power marketers, renewable energy developers, industry advocates, policy makers and large energy users. The focus of the 2006 Conference is on capitalizing on the momentum in the marketplace and understanding effective strategies in marketing, product design, and program implementation. The Conference will also highlight important developments in renewable energy technology and policy. Organizers invite submission of presentation abstracts in the following subject areas:
Organizers seek dynamic topics and abstracts representing presentations that offer new, cutting-edge ideas! Please include your name, position title, affiliation, mailing address, phone numbers (voice and fax), and e-mail address. Source: CRS, 3/22/2006.
Developed by Natural Resources Canada, RETScreen is a pre-feasibility analysis software for renewable energy projects. The software, available free of charge, can be used to evaluate the annual energy production, costs and financial viability of the following renewable energy technologies (RETs): Wind energy, Small hydro, Photovoltaics, Solar air heating, Biomass heating, Solar water heating, Passive solar heating, Ground source heat pumps. Source: SEPA Bi-Weekly News, 3/27/2006
In a new TIME survey, most people see global warming worsening — and want action.
A large majority of Americans — 85 percent — say global warming is probably happening, according to a new TIME magazine/ABC News/Stanford University poll. An even larger percentage (88 percent) think global warming threatens future generations. More than half (60 percent) say it threatens them a great deal; 38 percent feel that global warming is already a serious problem, and 47 percent feel that it will be in the future.
Just over half of Americans (52 percent) say weather patterns in the county where they live have grown more unstable in the last three years and half (50 percent) feel that average temperatures have risen in their county. A large majority (70 percent) think weather patterns globally have become more unstable in the last three years and 56 percent feel average temperatures around the world have risen. Almost half (49 percent) say the issue of global warming is "extremely important" or "very important" to them personally, up from 31 percent in 1998. When asked about the causes of rise in the world’s temperatures, 31 percent feel it is caused by the things people do, 19 percent feel it is due mostly to natural causes, and 49 percent feel it is a combination of the two. Almost seven-in-ten (68 percent) Americans think the government should do more to address global warming, according to the poll; however, 64 percent think scientists disagree with one another about global warming.
Two-thirds of Americans (66 percent) say President George W. Bush’s policies did little or nothing to help the environment in the past year. More than half (54 percent) feel American businesses did little or nothing to help. Three-quarters want to see Bush and others — Congress, American businesses and the American public — take action to help the environment in the year ahead. About one-third (35 percent) of Americans say that in the past year they have personally given a lot of thought to the impact they were having on the environment. Six in 10 Americans (62 percent) think much can be done to curb global warming and 52 percent favor government mandates. A majority (61 percent) say they would support a government mandate on lowering power plant emissions, and 87 percent support tax breaks to develop water, wind and solar power. But 81 percent oppose higher taxes on electricity, 68 percent oppose higher gasoline taxes and 56 percent oppose giving companies tax breaks to build nuclear power plants.
The partisan gap on global warming seems to be shifting, according to the poll. In 1998, 31 percent of Republicans and independents alike were sure that global warming was happening, compared with 39 percent among Democrats. Today, 46 percent of Democrats and 45 percent of independents are certain, but only 26 percent of Republicans feel that way, according to the poll.
The California Geothermal Energy Collaborative is convening the 2006 California Geothermal Summit on May 23, 2006, and the RPS Workshop on May 24th at the UC Davis Alumni Center.
Registration for both events is being handled by UC Davis Conference Services. The website provides general event information, the current draft agendas, registration forms, and information on lodging, directions and maps. NOTE: Pre-registration will close on May 9, 2006, so please register early.
We look forward to seeing you at our annual Summit and the informative RPS Workshop. If you have any questions concerning the events, contact Judy Fischette. If you have questions about the registration process, please contact UC Davis Conference Services. Source: CEC Release, 3/31/2006
The National Wind Coordinating Committee is pleased to announce its fourth Western Transmission Workshop, Leadership Forum: Implementing Transmission Recommendations in the West scheduled for July 18-19, 2006 in either Denver or Santa Fe (location being finalized). Occurring one month after the Western Governors’ Association annual meeting, this meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss implementation strategies building on the recommendations of the Clean and Diversified Energy Action Committee.
Attendees will work together to develop a workplan for moving forward with the wind and transmission recommendations in the West. We hope you are able to join us for this event, please hold these dates on your calendar.
This brief focuses on the wind power and transmission recommendations formulated as part of the Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee (CDEAC) process, feeding into the Western Governors Association’s Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative.
The Western Governors meet in June to consider CDEAC’s recommendations. This year’s NWCC Western Transmission Workshop will be devoted to developing an action plan for implementing the governors’ recommendations. We hope you can join us for this event; please save July 18-19, 2006 on your calendars.
The location is expected to be Denver or Santa Fe.
The next Bi-Monthly Transmission Update conference call will be held on Monday, April 24, 1 pm ET (noon CT, 11 am MT, 10 am PT) to discuss the U.S. Department of Energy’s work on identifying transmission corridors under Sections 368 and 1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT). Speakers will include Larry Mansuetti and Julia Souder from the DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Source: Kevin Porter, Exeter Associates, and RESOLVE NWCC Staff
The California Energy Commission's 53-page report, Building a "Margin of Safety" into Renewable Energy Procurements: A Review of Experience with Contract Failure, released in January 2006, is available online. Source: CEC Release, 1/1/2006.
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has provided at least a temporary (through 2007) economic boost to photovoltaic system purchasers by instituting a new 30 percent residential tax credit (capped at $2000), and increasing the existing 10 percent commercial tax credit to 30 percent.
But how much economic value do these new and expanded federal tax credits really provide to PV system purchasers? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer to this question is not at all straightforward, and depends on a number of factors, including: whether the system is for residential or commercial use; system size; the tax status of the system owner; whether or not the IRS considers grants made by state and utility PV programs to be taxable income; and finally, whether state and utility PV incentive programs move to capture some of the value of EPAct's credits by reducing grant size. This brief report analyzes each of these factors to derive a generic estimate of the grant-equivalent ($/W) value of EPAct's PV tax credits. Our findings have important implications for both PV system purchasers and state and utility administrators of PV incentive programs.
For those of you with a deeper interest in how the concepts presented in this study can be applied to an individual state (California), see Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, "Federal Tax Incentives for PV: Potential Implications for Program Design" and Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, "Calculating After-Tax Parity Under EPAct 2005: Potential Implications for the California Energy Commission's PV Rebate Levels" (forthcoming from the California Energy Commission). Source: Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 3/30/2006.
Enormous advances and opportunities are occurring in agricultural and industrial biotechnology, offering a chance to revitalize rural economies in Texas, a West Texas A&M University official said.
West Texas A&M, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development and the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation are hosting a special seminar to spotlight the possibilities. "The New BioEconomy: What We Have to Be Excited About" will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 5 at the Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Boulevard West.
Headlining the day of speakers is Ward Huffman of Denver, bioenergy consultant-U.S. Department of Energy, retired. He will discuss supporting the bio-refinery industry. Other experts speaking throughout the day will cover topics such as: biomass crops, rangeland biomass, biomass liquid fuels, bio-conversion of animal residues, fueling a bio-refinery with agricultural residues, wind energy and the growing dairy industry. Afternoon sessions will focus on how to access economic development funding from Rural Development, Department of Agriculture and West Texas A&M.
At the end of the program, attendees will be asked if they would like to join a work group that will review and recommend projects for the rural economic development program. A Phase II seminar will be held in three months and each committee will report its findings.
Admission is $12. Advance registration is preferred. Checks should be made payable to WTAMU Seminar and sent to Steve Gens, West Texas A&M University, WTAMU Box 60997, Canyon, Texas 79016. Gens can be contacted at (806) 651-2099. Source: Writer: Kay Ledbetter, (806) 677-5608, and Contact: Steve Gens, (806) 651-2098.
The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council recently announced the release of Version 1.8 of its ENERGY-10 software, which helps builders identify the best combination of nearly one dozen energy-efficient strategies, including daylighting controls, passive solar heating and high-efficiency mechanical systems. According to SBIC, new software features include a photovoltaic module that provides the ability to model and simulate the performance of a PV system that is either stand-alone or integrated with a building; a solar domestic hot water module; and a new library that defines constructions as spelled out in American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1-2004.
SBIC noted that the solar features were added to ENERGY-10 Version 1.8 at the urging of the solar industry.
Contact: Douglas Schroeder, SBIC, phone 202-628-7400 ext 210. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/15/2006.
The Geothermal Resources Council has announced a call for papers for their premier 2006 GRC Annual Meeting to be held in San Diego, CA September 10 - 13, 2006, at the Town & Country Resort. The proposed 2006 technical program includes:
Business Development and Finance
Direct Use Applications
Utility and Transmission Issues
Government Policies and Incentives
Geothermal Resource Assessment
The GRC invites you to submit a paper related to one of the above session themes or a technical paper in geothermal research, exploration, development and utilization. Deadline for draft technical papers is April 28, 2006. Additionally, the GRC 2006 National Conference will focus on university student participation, with its new “Year of the Student” program. The GRC is encouraging students in the fields of geology, engineering, and environmental sciences to submit draft papers for consideration by it Technical Program Review Committee. With U.S. Department of Energy assistance, the GRC will offer attendance scholarships to any student whose paper is accepted for presentation, and cash prizes for Best Student Oral and Poster Presentations. Source: WAPA, 3/30/2006.
Register now for the final geothermal webcast/ teleconference in a series of three, sponsored by Western Area Power Administration and the Utility Geothermal Working Group. The free webcast/teleconferences have been l covering economics, financing, permitting, transmission, environmental impacts, marketing, case histories, program development and project development for geothermal technologies. Webcast sponsors include the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CRN Program and the American Public Power Association DEED Program among others. The next webcast/teleconference will cover GeoExchange systems and will take place on April 18, 2006. Each webcast begins at Noon EST (11 a.m. CST, 10 a.m. MST, 9 a.m. PST) and lasts for 2 ½ hours, including at least 30 minutes of questions and answers. Participation is limited to the first 40 utilities that register. To register, email Debbie Rock. There is no charge for participation. About a week before each webcast, registrants will receive via email the dial-in instructions and the presentation file to follow during the webcast. Questions? Source: Guy Nelson, UGWG Team Leader,
Tucked away in the woods near Tahoe City, Calif., more than 150 decision makers from electric and gas utilities and ancillary organizations will gather for the May 3 to 5 for the 26th Utility Energy Forum. Annually since 1981, the forum focuses on how utilities can help customers meet their energy needs with the emphasis on reducing energy consumption and developing renewable energy resources.
This year’s theme is “Best Practices . . . Running Utility Programs more Efficiently, Economically, and Effectively”. Workshops, panels, and breakout sessions will address ways Electric, Gas, and Water Utilities can cut costs and increase productivity AND help their business customers do the same. In keeping with core concept of providing better service to customers, the forum now also includes sessions on how to run utilities better. Register online. Source: Guy Nelson, 2/6/2006.
Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman announced the swearing-in of Alexander "Andy" Karsner as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Assistant Secretary Karsner was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on March 16, 2006.
As assistant secretary, Mr. Karsner will manage the Department of Energy's $1.17 billion EERE office, which promotes the development of domestic, renewable, and environmentally sound energy technologies, as well as efficient use of our energy resources. Assistant Secretary Karsner will also lead DOE's efforts to carry out the new Advanced Energy Initiative, announced by President Bush in his 2006 State of the Union address, which provides a 22 percent increase in clean-energy research to accelerate breakthroughs in the way we power our cars, homes, and businesses.
Joining DOE from Enercorp LLC, where Assistant Secretary Karsner served as managing director, he is known for international project development, management and financing of renewable energy infrastructure. Mr. Karsner's global energy experience has encompassed a wide range of technologies including heavy fuel oil, distillates, natural gas, coal, wood waste/biomass, and wind energy and distributed generation based upon renewable technologies. Assistant Secretary Karsner graduated with honors with a BA from Rice University, and an MA from Hong Kong University. Source: Washington, DC [RenewableEnergyAccess.com], 3/27/06
A notice of program interest was issued earlier this month by the Department of Energy, with a closing date for applications of June 3. The government site does not provide details on total program funding nor the expected number of awards, but it does say the award ceiling is US$20 million and the award floor is $5 million. A major emphasis of the program is “achieving cost-competitiveness and broad commercialization of solar photovoltaic systems” to diversify electric supply options in the U.S., reduce the need for new conventional power plants, and improve the environment. The major goal of the Solar America Initiative is to make electricity generated by PV systems cost-competitive with other electricity sources by 2015 and to promote commercialization of 5 to 10 GW of new grid-connected capacity by that year.
The DOE has used “very aggressive benchmarks” for determining levelized energy cost targets under the program, from 8¢ to 10¢/kWh in the residential sector, 6¢ to 8¢ in commercial, and from 5¢ to 7¢/kWh for utilities (in 2005 dollars). The SETP will focus on two areas: R&D on PV component and system designs, including low-cost approaches for manufacturing them; and technology acceptance activities that address marketplace barriers such as net metering.
Funding under the SAI Technology Pathway Partnerships will boost research on component technologies, manufacturing processes and integrated PV system designs that are considered to have “the best chance at making PV-generated electricity cost-competitive with market alternatives by 2015,” the notice explains. The first phase will solicit formation of multiple industry-led partnerships to design prototype PV systems, demonstrate novel approaches for manufacturing and to implement results into ongoing or new mass production operations.
DOE is not accepting applications under this notice, but will review responses fir the formulation of program strategies. It will not pay for information provided and there is no guarantee that there will be a funding arrangement as result of the notice. Responses to the official notice must be less than 30 pages and no more than 5 MB in file size. “Providing data/information that is limited or restricted for use by the government would be of very little value and such restricted / limited data / information is not solicited nor will it be considered.” Source: GOLDEN, Colorado, US, 3/22/2006 (Refocus Weekly)
Lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol are gunning for another energy policy debate this year, but it remains unclear just what individual elements will make the cut into an "energy independence" bill possibly headed for the House and Senate floors. House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) told reporters yesterday he has spoken with Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) about the possibility of an energy bill whose central goal would be energy independence within the next 10 years. Boehner provided no details, saying the bill will be introduced "at some point" and is not yet ready. On the Senate side, Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and ranking member Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) acknowledged they are having informal discussions on how to address energy, but it remains unclear whether they will try to add anything to their bill that opens up Lease Area 181 in the offshore Gulf of Mexico to natural gas gas drilling.
Observers anticipate this year's expected close midterm elections, combined with rising gas pump prices and expected high fuel prices during the coming summer driving season, could propel Congress into acting on another energy bill just one year after passing the Energy Policy Act of 2005. But how far such a bill would get remains unclear particularly when both houses have different views of what energy independence means and what issues can get a majority of votes in their respective chambers.
Bingaman suggested the legislation could include the bipartisan oil savings plan that projects savings of 2.5 million barrels per day by 2016, rising to 7 million barrels per day by 2026 and 10 million barrels per day by 2031. Regarding the potential for raising corporate average fuel economy standards or climate change proposals in an energy bill this year, Bingaman added, "The reality is we have a 181 bill, and there are informal conversations going on about whether we can do anything more," Bingaman said. "Anything beyond that is pure speculation."
Sensing the renewed focus on energy, oil and gas producers, industrial natural gas users and others are ramping up appeals for wider offshore drilling, and yesterday decried the effects of high gas costs as they prepared to meet with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) to seek floor time for Domenici's 181 bill. Domenici told reporters he has not yet asked Frist for floor time, mostly because the energy legislation strategy is not yet final. "We don't know what to tell him," he said. Domenici acknowledged that he and Bingaman had an early agreement to get a "clean" 181 bill through Congress "to get it out of here and get something for action. All those reasons are behind it still." Source: Mary O'Driscoll, E&E Daily senior reporter, 3/28/2006
A bipartisan coalition of Senators led by Idaho's Mike Crapo and Iowa's Tom Harkin is asking Senate appropriators to ensure that programs improving renewable energy production receive the full funding possible in the coming fiscal year. "We urge you to fully fund the valuable Section 9006 Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements program for FY2007," begins the letter addressed to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies.
The Senators are calling for minimum funding of $23 million to continue the renewable energy programs. The letter, dated March 24th, which Crapo and 21 other Senators signed, notes that Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill expanded the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar power, ethanol and biodiesel. In the letter, they note that over the past three years, Section 9006 programs invested nearly $62 million in 270 projects that brought an estimated return of nearly $834 million, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates.
"The Section 9006 program has already helped to produce more than 170 million gallons a year of ethanol and biofuels, and more than 300 megawatts of wind power. The 150 energy-efficiency projects, including some in my home state of Idaho," said Crapo, "have saved America millions of dollars in energy costs. We must continue this record of success to work for energy independence." Source: Washington, DC [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] 03/29/06
A ruling from a circuit court judge means construction can proceed on a wind power project in Fond du Lac and Dodge counties. However, the project still faces possible delays because the Federal Aviation Administration has concerns about how the wind turbines could interfere with Air Force radar in the Horicon area.
The Dodge County judge decided the Public Service Commission was correct when it authorized construction of the $250-million project last summer. The Forward Wind Energy Center project includes up to 133 turbines that can produce enough electricity to power about 72,000 homes. The Horicon Marsh System Advocates want to keep the turbines farther from the marsh. The group appealed the PSC's decision last fall. Source: Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. UPDATED: 11:51 am CST March 24, 2006
By midsummer, 100 homes within the Cameron Chapter of the Navajo Nation will have electricity from solar-power systems. Rayola J. Werito, community services coordinator for the chapter, had read about Sacred Power bringing electricity to homes on the Navajo Chapters of Ojo Encino and Torreon in New Mexico. A phone call to the American Indian-owned company in Albuquerque that built and installed the systems led to a collaboration on submitting a grant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The collaboration paid off in the form of a $1.9 million. "I'm excited our community was able to partner with Sacred Power to get these solar systems installed," Werito said. "Using solar-energy technology falls right in line with Indian people's philosophy of protecting the environment."
In 2005, the company installed 50 of the stations on the Navajo reservation. The company had received an $825,000 grant from the USDA four years earlier to install the systems. Werito said he didn't think it would happen so fast in Cameron. Odes Armijo-Caster, Sacred Power principal, said it is a great opportunity to be able to provide electricity to more homes on the Navajo reservation. "Producing energy in non-polluting ways and using it more efficiently is what the future has to be," he said. Source: Associated Press 3/24/06 12:00 AM
Investing in capturing solar energy is not just for houses…….it makes good economic and ecological sense commercial and industrial buildings, too. With rising energy costs, building owners and users, alike need to be knowledgeable about the benefits of solar.
With the passage of Amendment 37 in November 2004, Xcel Energy is required to generate 0.4 percent of its electricity through solar by 2015. To comply with this voter mandate, Xcel established a rebate program to provide financial incentives of up to 60 percent of the total cost of installing solar electric systems (also called solar photovoltaic) on private buildings. Some solar energy contractors will ‘float’ the rebate, so that you, the customer do not have to be out-of-pocket waiting for Xcel’s check to arrive.
In addition, tax benefits are available. A 30 percent federal income tax credit is being offered under the recently passed energy bill, the Energy Incentives Act of 2005. Residential system tax credits are capped at $2,000 whereas there is no cap for commercial systems. Plus, the owner of the solar electric system can depreciate the full retail cost of the system (minus half of the tax credit amount) over 5 years, while the life of a typical PV system is 30+ years.
Owning a solar electric system allows you to produce your own electricity and therefore reduce your building’s electricity bills. As solar electric systems last for 30 years or more, buying one is like paying for 30+ years of electricity with a one-time, upfront cost. The more that electricity prices go up, the more valuable your system becomes via saving larger and larger amounts on your utility bills.
Namaste Solar Electric, a solar contractor based in Boulder, helped put together a hypothetical example for purchasing a 10kW commercial solar PV system:
Retail price of the solar PV System $80,000
Xcel Rebate ($45,000)
Income Tax (30 percent) on Xcel Rebate $13,500
30 percent Federal Income Tax Credit ($24,000)
Net Out-of-Pocket Cost $24,500
Annual Tax Savings from Depreciation in first 5 years
(“straight-line” depreciation schedule at 30 percent tax rate) $4,000
Estimated Annual Savings on Electrical Bill
(based on conservative, fixed electricity rate) $1,000
Total Annual Savings for First 5 years $5,000
Re-occurring savings Year-6 and beyond
(in present-time dollars) $1,000
Pay-back Period Approx. 5 Years
Through a capital investment of this type that decreases the operating expenses of the building, it is reasonable to expect an increased value to the building. In the example above, capitalizing the $1,000 re-occurring annual electricity savings at a 7 percent rate (1,000/.07) yields an increase to the value of the building of $14,286, which is additional benefit over-and-above the initial 5-year payback.
PV panels are typically located on the roof on the building, where they can help reduce cooling costs by mitigating the roof’s heat gain. In the case of a flat-roofed commercial building the panels may not even be visible from the ground. However, PV panels can also be used as awnings over doors and windows to provide shade where needed, while capturing and utilizing that solar energy at the same time.
One more reason to invest in solar is it’s marketing value your building. In Colorado, people value a clean environment. It stands to reason that if two buildings are in competition for a tenant, (assuming the cost of leasing the two buildings are identical) the one with a solar PV system may likely be chosen over the non-solar building. And in the case of a tenant/buyer who has a strong affinity for renewable energy, the customer may be willing to pay a substantial premium for the solar-equipped building. Source: maninboulder, Citizen Journalist 3-24-06
New England’s largest alpaca farm is teaming up with Vermont’s largest voluntary renewable energy program, CVPS Cow Power. “We’re putting CVPS Cow Power to work at Cas-Cad-Nac Farm,” said co-owner Ian Lutz, who with his wife Jennifer runs the 250-head alpaca farm in central Vermont. “We’re strong supporters of sustainable, Vermont-scale agriculture, so it’s a natural decision for us to become Cow Power customers.”
CVPS Cow Power is the nation’s only direct farm-to-consumer renewable energy program, creating a market for farmers who want to process cow manure and other farm waste to generate electricity.
With annual electric use of about 55,000 kilowatt-hours, Cas-Cad-Nac Farm is now the biggest single customer enrolled in CVPS Cow Power. The farm plans to cross-market its alpacas with CVPS Cow Power, using its newsletter, website and farm signage to promote the program.
Enrolling Cas-Cad-Nac Farm in CVPS Cow Power also fits CVPS’s original concept for the renewable energy choice. “From the beginning we’ve wanted to partner with customers who wanted to go beyond just enrolling, who wanted to trumpet their enrollment,” CVPS President Bob Young said. “That’s good for the customers, good for farms, and good for the program.”
CVPS Cow Power was born of a desire to give electric customers a 100 percent renewable energy choice. CVPS did extensive customer surveying to gauge demand for a renewable choice, and support for farm-based generation in particular.
Customers pay a premium of 4 cents per kilowatt hour for CVPS Cow Power, which goes to participating farm-producers, to purchase renewable energy credits when enough farm energy isn’t available, or to the CVPS Renewable Development Fund. The fund provides grants to farm owners to develop on-farm generation. Farm-producers are also paid 95 percent of the market price for the energy sold to CVPS.
“Cow Power makes perfect sense for Vermont, and Cas-Cad-Nac Farm,” Ian Lutz said. “We want to encourage our customers and neighbors to join us in enrolling and supporting farming and the environment.” Source: Steve Costello, 3/22/2006
The Massachusetts Audubon Society granted preliminary support yesterday for the planned Cape Wind Associates wind farm off Cape Cod, an important step because the project's threat to birds is one of the most controversial aspects of it.
Audubon Advocacy Director Jack Clarke said studies over the past four years showed that sensitive species like endangered roseate terns and piping plovers generally avoid the 24-square-mile site of the proposed 130 turbines in Nantucket Sound. The group's final decision will depend on the outcome of additional research on several more bird species, he said.
The Cape Wind Associates project, which would be the nation's first offshore wind energy facility, has faced opposition as it has moved through the state and federal permit process. Supporters of the wind farm have applauded its potential to generate clean energy from a renewable source, but opponents have expressed concern for its potential effects on the ocean floor, migrating birds, navigation, fishing and tourism. Cape Wind has said the project could generate 75 percent of the total energy needed to power Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket (Greenwire, Feb. 28, 2005).
Mass Audubon wants the government and Cape Wind to study bird flight paths for one more spring and summer, as well as at night, to make sure the turbines would not kill too many birds. The group said one more winter study of sea ducks might also be necessary. Mass Audubon's approval will likely help the project pass its federal environmental review.
A final environmental decision is unlikely before mid-2007, officials said. The agency has already spent $54,000 to study sea ducks, said MMS's Cape Wind project director Rodney Cluck. Next month, Cape Wind is commissioning a study on migratory birds, and in the summer MMS will study roseate terns and piping plovers, he said (Beth Daley, Boston Globe, March 29). Source: E&E Publishing, Greenwire, 3/29/2006.
Colorado's drive for renewable energy is becoming a model for other areas as planners look to rural America to help solve the nation's energy problems, an advocate said Monday.
Ernie Shea, coordinator of a national push for renewable energy called 25 x '25, said a ballot measure approved by Colorado voters in 2004 can be a blueprint for other states. The name refers to a goal of 25 percent of the nation's energy coming from renewable energy by 2025. "We're taking lessons from what you did here in Colorado," Shea, who is from Brooklandville, Md., told the crowd at a regional agriculture and renewable energy summit that drew about 200 people from 15 states.
Colorado voters became the first in the nation to require utilities to get more of their power from renewable sources when they approved an initiative in 2004. Farmers and ranchers joined environmentalists and business leaders to promote Amendment 37, which mandates that the state's largest utilities get 10 percent of their electricity from such renewable energy sources as wind and solar power by 2015. Currently, just under 2 percent of the electricity sold in Colorado comes from renewable sources.
Shea said the 25 x'25 program, started by farm leaders after the 2001 terrorist attacks, is building the kind of networks that helped Amendment 37 win at the polls. Environmentalists, state and federal lawmakers and business groups endorse the national program, which supports cutting the country's reliance on foreign energy sources by building wind farms in rural areas and turning corn, canola and other crops into biodiesel.
Mike Bowman, a wheat farmer from Wray on Colorado's eastern plains, worked on the Amendment 37 campaign and is on the steering committee for 25 x'25. He told the audience at the Intermountain Harvesting Energy Network, which runs through Tuesday at the Larimer County fairgrounds, that increasing the country's energy production from renewable sources can revitalize rural America. "This is about rural prosperity. Those of us from farm country want a bright future, not only for ourselves, but for our children," Bowman said. He and other speakers pointed to areas such as Lamar in southeastern Colorado, where a 108-turbine wind farm supplying to electricity to Xcel Energy has generated jobs and higher property taxes. Bowman is heading the 25 x'25 program's efforts to build similar state organizations nationwide. Source: Judith Kohler, AP Writer
An attempt to re-establish Aspen's original hydroelectric plant, past Castle Creek just under the Highway 82 bridge, is not just an attempt to reconstruct the past in this history-crazed city. If the federal permitting perches goes well, the new hydro station should help provide Aspen with even more electricity, which, because of the operational existence of two other hydro plants - one on Maroon Creek and the other near Ruedi Reservoir - makes this one of the least expensive cities for electricity in the state.
According to public works director Phil Overeynder, Aspen currently gets about a third of its power via hydroelectric generation plants. Rebuilding the Castle Creek plant according to plan would provide the city with an additional 8 to 10 percent of its electric needs. Aspen was actually the first city west of the Mississippi to provide for all its municipal electricity needs via hydro power.
According to Overeynder, Aspen's self-sufficient hydro era ended when the federal government came in an offered power for a fraction of the cost of locally generated electricity. "When they offered the city all the power it could use for a few cents less per kilowatt-hour, the hydro plant was abandoned," Overeynder said. But, with electricity generation increasingly dependent upon gas- and coal-powered plants hundreds of miles way, Aspen has been rediscovering its historic power-generation roots.
Overeynder estimates it will cost $2 million to $2.5 million to resurrect the hydro plant on Castle Creek. That money would come from Aspen's coffers, but the power it generates would then be sold back to the city's electrical authority, which would then resell it to local consumers. That initial capital outlay would not only be recouped in 20 years, but, even before the plant is amortized, the power it generates would contribute to the fact that Aspen has the sixth-least-expensive electricity in the state, Overeynder said.
At issue is not only the upfront capital outlay but the federal permitting process. "We still own the necessary water rights," Overeynder said. "Actually, our application is requesting that the feds OK an exemption to the permitting process, because out water rights and the existence of the original hydro plant predate the existence of FERC. If that exemption is granted, we could have a permit to begin construction within six months."
Overeynder says he has received the blessing of the city government, and that he plans to go forward with the permitting process, in hopes that construction might begin next year. Source: By M. John Fayhee. 3/27/06
Clean Energy Incubator, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing clean energy initiatives, recently announced that the City Council of Austin, TX, in collaboration with the City of Austin and Austin Energy, has voted to provide the organization with $500,000 in funding for the next two years. CEI said it will use the new funds to further establish its infrastructure and sponsor member companies. Additionally, the funding will support an investment conference and venture/technology competition to be held next year in Austin. “Our partnership with the City of Austin and Austin Energy will enable us to expand our programs with the goal of delivering clean energy entrepreneurial ventures that will assist the city and enrich our community,” said CEI director Richard Amato. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/24/2006
The wind power project on the ridge above Maalaea took delivery Monday on the last of the 20 nacelles it needs for its giant wind turbines. Pasha Hawaii's MV Jean Anne brought the last four nacelles for the Kaheawa Pastures Wind Farm project. Each weighs 57 tons. Nacelles are the main source of power generation in a windmill. Each nacelle and trailer measures 48 feet long, 12 feet 6 inches wide, 14 feet high, and weighs 134,000 lbs. The ship left San Diego on Wednesday, March 22. Pasha previously shipped 20 windmill hubs for the project, each weighing 40,000 pounds. Hubs are the center component to which the windmill blades are attached. Pasha also shipped 20 controllers that regulate the energy flow from the windmills to the substations. The components will be assembled on 180-foot towers at the wind farm. The 20 windmill project will produce 30 megawatts of electricity for the island of Maui. Nacelles, hubs and controllers are the only main windmill components manufactured in the United States for this project. The towers, blades and other major components were manufactured by foreign suppliers in China, India and Korea, making this a truly global project.
A new survey shows a major surge in developing geothermal power projects in the U.S. Some 44 projects are underway that could nearly double U.S. geothermal power output according to the Geothermal Energy Association — the industry trade group. The U.S. had 2,828 MW of geothermal power capacity on-line in 2005. The survey identified new power projects in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. These projects, when developed, would provide between 1,777.9 MW and 2054.9MW of new electric power for the grid. This would be enough electricity to meet the needs of cities the size of Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Sacramento and Seattle combined, GEA noted.
The FY 2007 Budget could undermine several of EPAct's initiatives and be a major set-back to the industry's progress, GEA asserts. The full text of the 2006 Update on US Geothermal Power Production and Development is on the GEA Web site. The document reviews the status of installed power generation and new activity across the U.S. It also provides an update of federal government programs and incentives, and a summary table of projects under development. Source: GEA Update, 3/30/2006.
An underground hot spring Chandler has tapped into at its newest well site brought up 100-degree tap water, a recent news article reported. The Public Works that the mineral content of the water, which causes the Valley water's "hardness" and corrodes plumbing, is a fraction of what it is in the rest of the city, and arsenic levels are so low that the city doesn't have to treat the water to meet strict federal standards. The new well produces 3 million gallons a day, three times the quantity produced by the average city well. A geology expert said Chandler could potentially tap the geothermal spring for energy. Tempe energy consultant Amanda Ormond, who is working with Northern Arizona University to map the state's geothermal sites, said the phenomenon stands to help cities and business create low-cost, geothermal energy. Source: GEA Update, 3/30/2006.
ESC issued two REC solicitations 24 March 2006. A brief synopsis of each solicitation and their respective web-link can be found below. SP0600-06-R-0407: Renewable Energy Certificates, for ultimate transfer to the United States Postal Service. Contract is a one time delivery of 532,304 MWh.
SP0600-06-R-0410: Renewable Energy Certificates, for ultimate transfer to the Environmental Protection Agency. Contract is anticipated for a 17-month delivery period commencing on 8 May 2006 for 110,000 MWh.
If you are unable to access the solicitation via the Internet, please contact DESC-APE for a printed copy. Points of Contact for the listed solicitations are: Leslie Simpson, 703-767-8536, and Andrea Kincaid, 703-767-8669. Source: Chandra Shah, NREL, 3/28/2006.
Top CEOs will be headlining this year's Renewable Energy Finance Forum - Wall Street, being held June 21-22, 2006 in New York City. The event is being co-organized by the American Council On Renewable Energy and Euromoney Energy Events, a subsidiary of Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC.
Speakers in the biofuels finance session will include: Martin Tobias, CEO, Seattle Biodiesel; Brian Foody, CEO Iogen Corporation; Gerry Peters, Senior Vice President, Hudson United Bank; and Scott Brown, CEO, New Energy Capital Corp. This year's solar finance session will be led by co-chairs Rhone Resch, President, Solar Energy Industries Association and Dr. Sven Hansen, COO, Good Energies and will include speakers Erik Thorsen, CEO, Renewable Energy Corporation; Tom Werner, CEO, SunPower Corporation; and John Miles, President, Solargenix.
REFF-Wall Street 2006 is supported by the American Wind Energy Association, Biomass Coordinating Council, National Hydropower Association, Renewable Fuels Association, Solar Energy Industries Association and US Energy Association. Conference co-chairs are Michael Eckhart, President, ACORE; Nancy Floyd, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Nth Power; Ken Locklin, Director, Massachusetts Green Energy Fund; Torsten Merkel, Conference Manager, Euromoney PLC; Dan W. Reicher, Founder and President, New Energy Capital; and Michael D. Ware, Managing Director, Advance Capital Markets Inc.
A utility that serves eastern and southeastern New Mexico has issued a request for proposals for about 40,500 megawatt hours of annual renewable energy or renewable energy certificates, to be generated from renewable technologies other than wind turbines.
The energy would serve customers of Southwestern Public Service Co., an operating company subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc., in the South Plains and Panhandle of Texas, eastern and southeastern New Mexico, the Oklahoma Panhandle and southwest Kansas. Eligible technologies are: solar; hydropower; geothermal; fuel cells that are not fossil-fueled; landfill gas and anaerobically digested waste biomass; and biomass (including fuels such as agricultural and animal waste, small diameter timber, salt cedar and other woody vegetation removed from watersheds or river basins in New Mexico).
SPS filed an application with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission last fall that contained a renewable energy portfolio procurement plan (required under the state's Renewable Energy Act). The portfolio standards under the Act require each investor-owned utility to implement and maintain an energy supply portfolio that includes "progressively greater percentages of supply from renewable energy resources," according to Xcel's RFP. The Renewable Energy Act requires each utility's renewable portfolio to include a diversity of renewable generation technologies.
SPS proposes to satisfy 10 percent of its total renewable portfolio standard requirement with resources other than wind by 2011. The utility already has significant wind resources in New Mexico, says Bill Crenshaw, spokesman with Xcel Energy, and made its first commercial sale of wind-generated power in June 1999. Source: New Mexico Business Weekly - 12:18 PM MST Tuesday
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns recently announced the availability of $176.5 million in loan guarantees and almost $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced $160 million in cost-shared funding over three years to construct up to three biorefineries in the United States. In addition, the President's FY 2007 budget proposal for USDA includes more than $250 million each year in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects through Rural Development's loan and grants programs, as well as a core investment of $85 million for USDA's energy-related projects. This funding includes resources to support renewable energy research and demonstration projects and additional efforts to support energy development and transmission across public lands.
The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency loan and grant program was established under Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill to encourage agricultural producers and small rural businesses to create renewable and energy efficient systems. Under the program, the maximum amount of a loan guarantee made to a borrower is $10 million. For renewable energy systems, the minimum grant request is $2,500 and the maximum is $500,000. For energy efficiency improvements, the minimum grant request is $1,500 and the maximum is $250,000. Rural development grants under the program will not exceed 25 percent of the eligible program costs and a combination of grants and guaranteed loans will not exceed 50 percent.
A detailed template, A Proposal Prepared for the United States Department of Agriculture 2002 Farm bill Initiative: The Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Program USDA Farm Bill Section 9006 For Purchase and Installation of a Renewable Energy Project, can be used as a guide to allow users to see the type of information required to receive grant funding from the USDA Section 9006 program. Please email the report’s author, Pat Laney, Idaho National Laboratory at with any questions.
Applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the appropriate USDA Rural Development state office postmarked no later than May 12, 2006. Guaranteed loans will be awarded on a continuous basis. Applications are due to the National Office for funding consideration by July 3, 2006. Any guaranteed loan funds not obligated by August 1, 2006, will be made available for competitive grants. For more information refer to the announcement in the February 13, 2006 Federal Register or contact any state Rural Development office. Source: GEA Update, 3/30/2006
The recently enacted Clean Renewable Energy Bond program allows electric cooperatives, public power systems, and municipal utilities to benefit from tax incentives. This new provision was enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 along with the extension of the Section 45 Production Tax Credit. CREBs offer significant advantages for new projects, but the deadline is April 26, 2006.
Unlike normal bonds that pay interest, tax-credit bonds pay the bondholders by providing a credit against their federal income tax. In effect, the new tax-credit bonds will provide interest-free financing for certain renewable energy projects. A CREB owner receives a tax credit instead of an interest payment from the borrower, and this amount can be deducted from its income liability, even though it is treated as taxable income.
How and under what conditions can a CREB be used? 95 percent or more of the CREB proceeds must be used for capital expenditures by qualified projects, including geothermal facilities-all of which must be placed in service by Jan 1, 2009. The CREB is expected to be used within five years of issuance. The Secretary, who will administer the funds, may provide specific regulations about how the money can be used. CREBs are limited to $800 million (max of $500 million to be allocated to government entities). The IRS will allocate the bond authority among interested projects if there is more interest in the bonds than there is capacity.
According to a representative with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, projects that make a low to moderate funding request are more likely to receive allocations from treasury. Projects are expected to supply a certificate from engineer that verifies the specifics of the project. Projects will be ranked in priority order, with first priority going to the smallest dollar requests. Only those “owned by the taxpayer,” such as a co-operative electric company; a municipal utility; a government body, including an Indian Tribe; or a renewable energy bond lender can borrow bonds. Private geothermal companies are not eligible to receive CREBs.
Clean Renewable Energy Bond applications must be filed by April 26. All bonds must be issued by December 31, 2007. There is no indication of when, prior to December 31, bonds will be issued.
Applications must be submitted in duplicate to the Internal Revenue Service, Attention CC:TEGE:EOEG:TEB, 1111 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 4306, Washington, D.C. 20224. Source: GEA Update, 3/30/2006
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for basic research in solar energy utilization in order to establish a scientific basis that underpins the efficient capture, conversion, and utilization of solar energy in a cost-effective manner. Areas of interest include: 1) Solar to Electric Conversion, 2) Solar Fuels Production, and 3) Solar Thermal Energy Utilization. $20 million expected to be available. Pre-applications are required and are due 6/5/06, final applications due 11/14/06. For more info, contact Eric Rohlfing. Refer to Sol# DE-FG02-06ER06-15. (Grants.gov 3/21/06). Source: Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Energy
The National Science Foundation requests applications for the FY07 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I. This program seeks to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal R&D needs, increasing the commercial application of federally supported research results, and encouraging participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses. Proposed project should provide evidence of commercial viability and meet an important social or economic need. Broad areas of interest include: Advanced Materials, Emerging Opportunities, Information Technology and Manufacturing Innovation. $16.25 million expected to be available, up to 150 awards anticipated. Responses due 6/13/06. Refer to Sol# Refer to Sol# 06-553 (Grants.gov 3/14/06). Source: Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, 3/31/2006
The U.S. Department of State requests bids for professional services including, but not limited to designing photovoltaic and/or wind energy systems for new structures, existing and additions. Conceptual designs shall include economic analysis, including both a simple payback and a life cycle analysis to establish the costs and benefits of completing the project. Requests for clarification due 4/6/06. Bids due 4/25/06.
For more info, contact Chrissie Fields. Refer to Sol# SALMEC06R0060. (FBO 3/25/06) Source: Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, 3/31/2006
The Defense Energy Support Center requests proposals for the delivery of 110,000 MWh of Renewable Energy Certificates over 17 months to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Responses due 5/1/06. For more info, contact Leslie Simpson. Refer to Sol# SP0600-06-R-0410. (Green Power Network 3/24/06). Source: Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, 3/31/2006
The Defense Energy Support Center requests proposals for a one-time delivery of 532,304 MWh of Renewable Energy Certificates to the U.S. Postal Service. Responses due 5/2/06. For more info, contact Leslie Simpson. Refer to Sol# SP0600-06-R-0407. (Green Power Network 3/24/06) Source: Western Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Energy, 3/31/2006
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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