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Web hosting blog company, Blogpire Productions, will buy enough renewable energy credits from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, to offset the environmental impact from its hosting and computer operations for the coming year. Blogpire hosts a collection of 14 lifestyle blogs ranging from Really Natural to Single Serve Coffee.
Using clean renewable energy reduces emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. By purchasing green tags, Blogpire Productions hopes to lessen our dependence on burning fossil fuels. Jay Brewer, Founder of Blogpire Productions explained, ''Doing our part to reduce the environmental impact of our computer operations fits with our personal interests and helps us set the tone for how we are going to run our business.''
The Blogpire and the people who write for it care deeply about the environment. From the Really Natural blog, which covers organic foods and household items, to GPS Lodge, which explores the world with the help of global positioning systems, and Single Serve Coffee, which regularly reviews and supports organic and Fair Trade coffee, the Blogpire's group of bloggers are committed to the environment and reducing their impact on the environment. Mr. Brewer continued, ''We are all interested in preserving our environment, so running our blogs on renewable energy was the right thing for us to do. More renewable energy use means less fossil fuel use, less air pollution and a more sustainable future for us and our planet.'' Source: Website Hosting Directory, Atlanta, GA, 6/21/2006.
GE Energy recently announced it has been selected by Tacoma Power to upgrade the two hydro generating units at the utility's Mossyrock power station on the Cowlitz River in Lewis County, WA. According to GE Energy, the project is expected to be completed in 2009 and to result in higher efficiency, a greater range of stable operation and reduced maintenance costs. GE Energy will replace the plant's existing vertical Francis hydro turbines with its patented X-blade technology, which the company said offers improved stability over large ranges in flow and head, strong cavitation behavior, low-pressure pulsation levels, and higher part-load and overload efficiency levels. Contact: Dennis Murphy, GE Energy, phone 678-844-6948. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 6/12/2006.
Sustainable Energy Technologies, Ltd. recently announced its successful completion of the first field tests for a new inverter for grid-connected small wind turbines. According to the company, the wind inverter uses the same power electronics platform as the SUNERGY solar inverter with only software changes required to optimize energy capture from the wind turbine for which it is being developed. Contact: Phil Winters, Sustainable Energy, phone 416-586-1474. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 6/15/2006.
Nanosolar Inc., a privately held solar energy company, said on Wednesday it plans to build what it called the world's largest factory to produce solar cells, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The plant would manufacture about 200 million solar cells a year with a total energy capacity of 430 megawatts, or enough to power more than 300,000 homes, Nanosolar said in a release.
The company — which got early stage financing from Google Inc. co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page and is based in Palo Alto, California — also plans to build a solar panel fabrication plant in Berlin, Germany. The company said it arranged a $100 million financing package for the projects, including $75 million of preferred stock. Nanosolar and other private solar companies such as Miasole and Heliovolt use a thin-film technology that requires only a fraction of the amount of silicon needed in conventional solar cells. Solar power and other renewable energies such as wind, biomass, and geothermal comprise the fastest-growing energy sector. Global sales of green sources of energy more than doubled in 2005 to $39.9 billion, according to California research and publishing firm Clean Edge. Sales could grow to $167.2 billion by 2015, according to Clean Edge. California is pushing a $2.9 billion program to make the state one of the world's largest producers of solar power. The "California Solar Initiative" aims to add 3,000 megawatts of solar energy over 11 years through the installation of 1 million solar energy systems at homes, businesses, farms, schools and public buildings. The state currently generates about 100 megawatts of solar electricity, enough to power about 80,000 homes. Source: Reuters, 6/21/2006.
Forest-products producer Weyerhaeuser today said it plans to use biomass fuel to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2020. Biomass fuel is made of bark and lignin, the substance that binds wood fibers.
Federal Way-based Weyerhaeuser said its pulp and paper mills currently pull 72 percent of their energy from biomass. Increasing its use of biomass fuel will temper the effects of volatile oil and gas prices, the company said. The reduction in greenhouse gases will be measured relative to Weyerhaeuser's emissions in 2000. Source: The Associated Press, 6/21/2006.
In the last week PPM Energy announced the construction of the 100-MW Leaning Juniper Wind Project near Arlington, Ore., as well as the 75-MW Twin Buttes Wind Power Project near Lamar in southeastern Colorado. Leaning Juniper is expected to be commercially operational later this year, while construction on Twin Buttes is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007. PPM, ScottishPower’s competitive U.S. energy business, also announced that it has 857 MW of currently approved wind projects for 2006 and 2007 with turbines on order from four major suppliers. The company will take delivery of turbines from Vestas – American Wind Technology, Inc., Mitsubishi Power Systems, Inc., SiemensPower Generation, Inc., and General Electric-all for 2006 and 2007 delivery. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 5/27/2006.
By the time public officials and energy industry representatives gathered with local schoolchildren and their families in central Kansas to dedicate the Elk River Wind Power Project earlier in May, the project had long since started showing its value in real dollars. "Our customers have enjoyed the benefit of the Elk River wind farm since we began receiving test energy last October," said Brad Beecher, vice president of energy supply for Empire District Electric Co. at the dedication.
Empire purchases the energy generated from Elk River, a project owned by Portland, Ore.-based PPM Energy. “During the two and one-half months of 2005 when energy was available, Elk River provided our system about 75,000 megawatt-hours of power at a cost about 64 percent lower than we would have paid for purchased power from the market,” said Beecher. That drove a reduction in costs of about $3.3 million, according to Beecher.
In the first quarter alone, Elk River generated 142,595 MWh and contributed an estimated savings of about $4.2 million, he said. “The impact of Elk River has far exceeded our expectations, and our customers and shareholders have enjoyed the financial benefits. We look forward to our continued relationship with PPM and the Elk River Wind Farm." Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 5/27/2006.
Cellulosic ethanol, the biofuel that differs from corn-based ethanol in that it can be made from pretty much any organic matter, has made an impression among people who matter. Alan Greenspan, the revered former chairman of the Federal Reserve with a big distaste for irrational exuberance, recently sang its praises before a Congressional hearing on energy security. Greenspan said cellulosic ethanol is the only alternative energy source that could be produced in enough volume to make a dent in gas usage. "You'll get an awful lot of investments [into this technology] coming in, especially if the numbers make sense, which I think they do," he said.
And last month Goldman Sachs, the world's largest investment bank, poured $27 million into Iogen, a Canadian-based biotech specializing in ethanol made from cellulose. It used to be thought that this fuel, which some argue has the potential to replace more than two thirds of all gasoline used in the U.S., was decades away from commercial viability. But high gas prices, a touch of technical innovation, and a healthy dose of capital may move that date up. "There are a lot of people who think the technology is there," and could be competitive even if oil prices return to $30 a barrel, said Greg Bohannon, a managing partner at Greenrock Capital, a California-based private equity fund that focuses on renewable energy.
Most ethanol currently produced in the U.S. is made from corn kernels. Its benefits have been well documented in the press, especially since gasoline prices reached a record average of $3.06 a gallon last September, and haven't fallen much since. Ethanol is clean burning. It's renewable. And it costs about a dollar a gallon to produce. Existing cars can run on 10 percent ethanol with no modifications, and they'd need only about $100 worth of tinkering to be 85 percent ethanol powered. And, perhaps most importantly, it's domestically produced. But there are a few major problems with corn-based ethanol. First, it takes a lot of energy to make it. According to the Department of Energy, most studies put the ratio as low as 1:1.4 - meaning that for every one unit of energy spent, only 1.4 units of ethanol energy are created. Indeed, there are some camps who believe producing corn-based ethanol actually results in a net loss of energy.
Second, an expensive infrastructure would need to be built if people started using mostly ethanol in their vehicles, since ethanol is water soluble and the existing pipelines and filling station equipment for gasoline are not completely water tight. Third, there's not enough corn available. John Ashworth, a biomass expert at the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, said corn could only supply about 12 to 18 billion gallons of ethanol a year, or about 10 percent of the nation's 140 billion gallon-a-year gasoline habit.
After that, ethanol would start to run up the price of corn, raising the cost of everything from eggs to Coca Cola. Of course the same problem would emerge with ethanol made with sugarcane or soy or any other food crop.
Cellulosic ethanol has all the advantages of corn-based ethanol – there is no difference in the ethanol, only in the way it's produced. But unlike corn-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol can be made from a variety of things that might otherwise be considered waste – sewage sludge, switchgrass, plant stalks, trees – virtually anything that contains carbon. Ashworth said there are an estimated one billion tons of such material available in the U.S. every year, enough for 100 billion gallons of ethanol. While it's not feasible to actually go out and collect every ounce of that one billion tons, he said it's not unreasonable to expect ethanol to replace 40 billion gallons of gasoline in the near future.
"We know the technology is proven," said Jim Stewart, a spokesman for Bioengineering Resources Inc., or BRI, an Arkansas-based biofuel outfit. "It's at the point of commercialization." Stewart said BRI uses a patented bacterial culture to transform organic matter into ethanol, and can produce a gallon of it at a fourth the retail cost of a gallon of gas. He said the company plans to have 4 plants operating commercially within the next 16 to 18 months, but some industry-watchers believe it will be at least several years before cellulosic ethanol production will become commercially viable.
Vancouver-based Syntec Biofuel uses a different process to make ethanol. It turns the organic matter into gas and then moves the gas over a metal catalyst, which then turns it into liquid fuel. But the end result is the same. Syntec hopes to have a full-scale plant up and running in three years, then plans to make most of its money by selling the plant's design to outside producers.
As the shift is made from fossil fuels to other options, it won't be any one single thing that meets the world's energy needs, but rather a mix of sources that will do so. Still, not everyone believes cellulose ethanol will be part of that mix in the near term. When the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its long term world energy outlook earlier this week, it projected a surge in U.S. oil consumption over the next 25 years, mostly due to transportation needs. The agency said it does take new technologies into account when making its predictions, but that it believes cellulose ethanol is still too expensive to compete in the market place with corn ethanol and gasoline. "It would take a breakthrough in the costs," said Andy Kydes, a forecaster at EIA. "It could happen, and we have hopes for it, but right now it's not on our radar." By Steve Hargreaves, CNNMoney.com - Staff Writer, 6/23/2006.
Buying a solar power system for your home is a little like diving into the frigid Pacific on a boiling day. It certainly looks inviting. Take the plunge, and you can cut your electrical bills, make a tiny dent in global warming and use California's summer sun to run your air conditioner. But jumping in brings some pain, at least at first. A typical home solar system costs $20,000 to $30,000, before rebates and other incentives.
For those thinking of going solar, The Chronicle sought advice from solar power advocates, installers and homeowners who have already made the leap. They recommend that the curious ask a series of questions before making a decision. All require research, although much of it can be done fairly quickly on the Internet. The answers, of course, will vary from one homeowner to another.
Where do you live? Your location matters in several ways. First, if your house stands behind a screen of tall trees — or in the shadow of your neighbor's McMansion — your roof may not get enough light. Even partial shading can reduce a solar system's effectiveness. Second, the rebates available to homeowners who go solar vary from one city to another. How big is your home? You'll probably need 200 to 250 square feet of rooftop oriented toward the south or the southwest to make the project pencil out. Solar power also will look more attractive if your home consumes a lot of energy. People who spend more than $75 on their monthly electric bill have the most to gain. How much will it cost? This gets tricky. Solar advocates and installers like to point out that home solar systems eventually pay for themselves, usually long before their 20- to 25-year warrantees run out. Not only do they cut the amount of power you need to buy, you also get credit for excess electricity that you generate and add to the state's grid. And state and federal incentive programs can cover more than 35 percent of your installation cost.
"If you can afford a used car, you can afford solar," said Bob Bowen, who spent less than $13,000 after rebates to install a solar system at his Redwood City home in February. But figuring out the finances in advance can be difficult, especially because some of the key factors can vary. State-mandated rebates change over time. California's standard rate is scheduled to drop by 7 percent at the start of July. The federal government offers a tax credit, but it's temporary. And the program that gives solar owners credit for excess power needs to be extended by the state Legislature. If that doesn't happen, future solar purchasers won't be able to participate.
There is, however, an easy way to estimate a solar system's possible costs and benefits for your home. The California Energy Commission offers a program called the Clean Power Estimator on its Web site. Enter your ZIP code, your current utility bills and information about your home, and the estimator will examine the government incentives available in your area as it calculates the probable costs and benefits. Developed by Clean Power Research in Napa, the program will even recalculate your utility rate.
There are several ways to find the right installer. The California Energy Commission maintains a list on its Web site. California's solar rebates are available only to homeowners who use installers registered with the state, and all those listed on the commission's Web site qualify.
You can also check the membership roster of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the trade organization representing installers.
Here are some Internet resources for homeowners considering installing a solar power system: To find out whether you'll save money with solar, use this online calculator. For a list of state-registered solar power installers who will qualify you for California rebates, visit the Consumer Energy Center. You will also find information here on California's solar rebate program. For answers to frequently asked questions about solar power systems for the home, go to NorCal Solar of Berkeley, an excellent source of consumer information. Source: - David R. Baker, Chronicle Staff Writer, 6/23/2006.
With "moderately strong trade winds" pushing the vanes, Kaheawa wind farm has been pumping out as much as 15 to 17 megawatts of electricity recently. That’s with only 14 of 20 towers hooked up. Stan Kiyonaga, with Maui Electric Co., said the experience of the utility so far has been "fair to good." Kaheawa Wind Power produced its first commercial power two weeks ago tonight, with just one turbine connected to MECO’s grid. The operators planned to bring additional towers online a few at a time. Each tower has a 1.5-MW turbine on top, so 14 towers at full blast could generate 21 MW.
Kiyonaga, who manages transmission services for MECO, says the wind farm has created "a little bit more" frequency instability than normal in the transmission lines. But it’s nothing managers cannot deal with. Keeping the grid stable was one of the technical problems that MECO and Kaheawa Wind Power had to figure out how to manage. Gusty wind is inherently less stable as a source of electrical power than a steadily spinning turbine powered by petroleum. Too much instability could bring the grid crashing down. That, among other things, is why the Kaheawa site is limited to 30 MW, which would be about 15 percent of MECO’s peak demand. Most of the time, the Kaheawa turbines will produce less. The renewable energy company estimated that over a year, the average output would be about 8 MW. Since winds at the 2,000- to 3,000-foot elevation above McGregor Point are usually strongest at night, when MECO’s demand is least, the stability management tests would come mostly at night or in storms. The wind farm vanes can be feathered when the wind gets too strong, says Kiyonaga, and units can also be taken off the grid, even by remote control. Other factors also can introduce instability into the grid - even a branch falling onto a transmission line.
The frequency variations, though higher than MECO has been dealing with, "are not a point where it’s a real problem" so far, Kiyonaga says. He’s waiting for all 20 units to come on line and some more adverse weather to learn more about dealing with the renewable but not fully reliable energy source. Source: By Harry Eagar, Staff Writer, 6/22/2006.
The Finksburg branch of the Carroll County Public Library, already designated as the county's first "green" building, may also become the first one to use the earth's temperature to heat and cool the facility.
The county commissioners are considering adding a geothermal system to the plans, which would heat and cool the building using the earth's core temperature, thus reducing energy costs. The $3.8 million facility would become the first county building to run on such a system. The Bureau of Building Construction is preparing to test the thermal conductivity in the soil surrounding the building and should decide if such a project is feasible in the coming weeks, said Thomas J. Rio, the bureau's chief.
He expects the ground temperature to be consistent enough - about 52 to 53 degrees -to sufficiently cool the building in summer and provide warmth in the wintertime. Officials from Carroll County Public Schools first heard about implementing geothermal systems about six or seven years ago, said Ray Prokop, director of facilities for the school system. But engineers weren't convinced the equipment was well-developed at the time.
Since then, many school systems across the country have gotten on board. In Maryland, new schools in Montgomery and Dorchester counties must include geothermal heating. A geothermal system is also planned for Carroll's Ebb Valley Elementary School, scheduled to open in the northeast corner of the county in August 2008. That system is expected to pay for itself in less than six years, when the county realizes savings in energy costs. The Ebb Valley geothermal system is budgeted at $2.9 million, about $300,000 more than the cost of implementing the conventional air conditioning and furnace format, Rio said. Rio expects a similar cost and payback period for the 15,000-square-foot library, planned for the intersection of Old Westminster Pike and Green Mill Road in the Sandymount area.
Rio has presented the county commissioners with more than 30 examples of public buildings around the country that use geothermal systems. Most systems were expected to achieve cost savings in about seven years. A longer payback period of 20 years was predicted for the Glenwood Community Center in Howard County. But with a large gymnasium, that building, which will be four times the size of the Finksburg Library, would be much more expensive to cool and heat.
Estimates for the Glenwood center, which has yet to be completed, were based on old utility rates obtained from Howard County, said George Ribas, a mechanical engineer who also worked on the Finksburg project. "The cost of energy is going to continue to increase, so basically a geothermal system does make sense. The balance would be in its favor."
About 60 wells would have to be dug, some 400 feet deep, to pump geothermal energy into the Finksburg library, Rio said. The wells eliminate the need for a boiler or chiller. In winter, heat is pulled from the earth or groundwater into the building. In the summer, heat is transferred from the building and discharged into the ground.
Redesigning the library to include a geothermal system will set the project back about three months, Rio said. He expects the county to receive bids on the project in late fall. The library, with the geothermal system, would be set to open in December 2007. Hopefully, the county will continue to tap into geothermal energy in the future, Prokop said. Source: By Laura McCandlish, Sun Reporter, 6/25/ 2006.
Ethanol made from corn is big business in the Midwest, and Gov. George Pataki is seeking to boost production of that bio-friendly fuel in New York. But some believe the future of ethanol in the Empire State lies not in grains, but in wood. In his 2006-07 budget proposal, Pataki included a $20 million program to develop cellulosic ethanol. The state Legislature ultimately signed off on the money, which is earmarked to help create a pilot plant to make the fuel using materials as diverse as willow trees, agricultural detritus, paper pulp and waste.
Thomas E. Amidon, a professor and chairman of paper science and engineering at the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse, says researchers there have figured out how to remove sugars from wood and use them to produce ethanol. They are using a type of willow tree that is more like an overgrown shrub. It grows fairly quickly and requires little energy to cultivate. Then a hot-water process is used to extract the wood's sugars. "The thing that makes wood-based sugars attractive is that it's inexpensive and requires relatively little energy input (to grow trees)," Amidon said. "Biomass willow ... captures more energy than the average forest does."
He said the hope is to create a sort of closed circuit of energy production where a substance in wood called ligan would be extracted and burned to create the energy needed to process the wood sugars (cellulose) to make ethanol. Another byproduct, acetic acid, is a valuable commodity, he said. The leftover wood pulp would be sold to a manufacturing plant like Lyonsdale Biomass' facility 30 miles north of Utica in Lyons Falls, Lewis County, which would burn it to make even more energy.
Derek Benson, director of business development for owner Catalyst Renewables Corp., said the benefit would be no waste, since all parts of the tree would be used and the resulting energy renewable. "It's akin to the idea of using the whole buffalo," Benson said. "They'll produce the ethanol, and the material left over from that process is material we need in our process."
Northeast Biofuels, which is working to convert a former Miller Brewing Co. plant in Fulton north of Syracuse into a plant to make ethanol from corn, has also said it would be interested in branching out to cellulosic ethanol production, in part because corn is expensive in comparison with wood. New York produces about 54 million bushels of grain corn each year, compared with Iowa's 10.2 billion bushels. To meet its annual goal of 100 million gallons of ethanol, the Fulton plant would need about 41 million bushels of corn every year. Corn sells for about $2.20 a bushel. New York does, however, have a lot of trees. About 18 million acres, or 62 percent of the state, is covered by forest. Unlike many other states, that number is continuing to increase, Benson said. About 15 million acres are privately owned, according to the state. In addition, willow farms are cropping up around the state in connection with the College of Environmental Science and Forestry's cellulosic ethanol efforts. Catalyst Renewables has started what Benson called a commercial-scale willow farm in the Tug Hill region that features 60 to 70 acres of willow trees. The trees, which grow up to 40 feet tall, take three to four years to mature, he said.
Cellulosic ethanol also has the benefit of being less irksome to environmentalists, some of whom have said corn-based ethanol isn't really a viable renewable — or "clean" — fuel because it can take more energy to produce than ethanol yields. This point has been hotly debated, with ethanol supporters insisting it's not true.
Jason Babbie, environmental analyst for the New York Public Interest Research Group, said making ethanol out of wood is "a more efficient process" than making it from corn and "makes more sense for the Northeast because the resources you would use are more indigenous to this region." Technically, ethanol can be made by fermenting anything that has sugar in it. But it's not always a cost-effective process. Source: By Elizabeth Benjamin, Capitol bureau, 6/25/2006.
Oak Tree Village in San Jose is Akeena Solar’s latest commercial solar electric project with JSM Enterprises, a development company focused on developing below-market housing. The 21.8 kW PV system will provide the new 175-unit apartment complex with enough electricity to power their underground parking, common area lighting, and run other common area electric loads, such as the elevator.
JSM Enterprises has focused on developing below-market housing for the past eight years. They have constructed and now operate over 1,500 affordable housing units in San Jose and have “gone solar” with two other projects (Las Ventanas and Villa Solera), in addition to Oak Tree Village.
Building, owning and operating multi-family housing has always been a challenge in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mark Ruebsamen, Vice President of JSM Enterprises shares the challenges: “Five years ago all of our apartment complexes were built with surface parking. Today due to the high cost of land we build most of our parking underground below the apartments. This means that our firm owns and maintains acres of underground parking that must be illuminated 24 hours a day. Needless to say, our firm's electricity bills would take your breath away.“
To solve this problem JSM looked into the feasibility of generating some of the electricity through renewable energy. To do this they chose Akeena Solar in Los Gatos. “We found that it makes financial sense, so we then hired Akeena to design and install solar arrays on three of our largest apartment complexes in San Jose,” said Mr. Ruebsamen. The result is that JSM Enterprises is generating approximately 25 percent to 30 percent of the electricity that is used at those properties and their PG&E bills have dropped accordingly.
With the new 30 percent federal tax credit in place through 2007, it's no surprise that the market for commercial solar electric systems is really taking off. The financial analysis for Oak Tree Village is a great example of the fast paybacks of installing solar electric. The total costs of the solar energy system were $163,200, including all engineering, equipment, permits and installation. JSM Enterprises received a $50,266 rebate from the California Energy Commission and an $11,293 federal solar tax credit. Net costs to the apartment owners were $101,641. In addition there is a significant depreciation tax benefit. The Oak Tree Village PV system will reach an economic break even point in just four and a half years.
Based on current commercial electric rates and an assumed 5 percent average annual rate increases, the system will produce $303,013 in energy cost savings over its 30-year design life. Fossil fuel energy costs continue to rise, with no end in sight. At this rate there is a good chance that incentives won't even be needed in five years — providing even a bigger economic "bang for the buck" to today's far sighted early adopters of solar power systems.
“Going solar” is a perfect opportunity to make a positive impact on environmental conditions and Commercial projects, in particular, can reduce the “environmental footprint” of the company and help it achieve a more sustainable business model. “Farsighted businesses such as JSM Enterprises realize that they can be part of the energy solution by installing solar electric and also reap big financial benefits at the same time,” said Barry Cinnamon, President of Akeena Solar.
According to the EPA, the 21.8kWDC system at Oak Tree Village will generate clean electricity that will reduce atmospheric emissions, including 542 pounds of NOX and nearly 300 tons of CO2. The CO2absorption is the equivalent of 7.3 acres of trees. “The added bonus was that this entire process went smoothly from beginning to end,” said Mark Ruebsamen. Source: PR Web Newswire, on behalf of Akeena Solar, 6/26/2006.
GE Energy recently announced the introduction of its new Brilliance residential solar energy system, which allows homebuilders to purchase the required components in one all-inclusive package. GE Energy noted that the Brilliance solar electric packages are offered in sizes ranging from one kilowatt to 10 kW. As part of the Brilliance system, GE Energy also introduced a new 66-watt, roof-integrated solar module for new home construction, which the company said is compatible with most major flat cement tile products. "The new 66-watt module and Brilliance packaged solution are important parts of GE Energy's growth strategy in the residential solar market because these products can make an immediate difference for our customers," said GE Energy vice president of renewables Victor Abate. Contact: Dennis Murphy, GE Energy, phone 678-844-6948. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 6/21/2006.
GE Energy has signed a contract with the Ontario Power Authority to study the impact of wind power on the Ontario, Canada electricity system. The study, which also is sponsored by the Independent Electricity System Operator and the Canadian Wind Energy Association, will be used to assist the development of an Integrated Power System Plan.
The IPSP will cover a 20-year time frame and will establish direction, strategy, and an action plan for the development and implementation of renewable and other forms of generation and transmission to meet consumer energy supply needs. The ultimate goal of the study is to determine the maximum amount of wind power that could be added to the Ontario bulk power system with minimal impact on system operation.
In executing the study, GE will assess the operational impact of integrating wind power penetration levels of up to 25 percent to 35 percent into Ontario’s electricity system. GE will work with AWS Truewind to develop energy production profiles for a number of wind generation sites across Ontario. The variability of wind generation, in combination with load variability, will be quantified and characterized to determine the impact on system operations. Source: Windtech International, 6/21/06
The Geothermal Resources Council will convene its 2006 Annual Meeting at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, CA on September 10-13, 2006. Committee organization and planning for the event is underway. Check the GRC website for more information about the meeting - and the companion Geothermal Energy Association Trade Show – as it becomes available. See you in San Diego! Source: Geothermal Resources Council - 6/15/2006.
Mark your calendars for the Southwest Renewable Energy Conference August 2-3, 2006, Flagstaff, Ariz. The Southwest Renewable Energy Conference is a forum for the exchange of ideas and information about renewable energy. The conference program covers a wide range of information to encourage thoughtful evaluation and discussion on the development of wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy on tribal, federal, state and private lands.
Topics will include:
Climate change risks, regulations and mitigations strategies
Global energy markets and their effect on renewable energy
The water-energy nexus
Utility acquisition of renewable energy resources: To buy or build
Financing renewables
Making renewable energy projects attractive to utilities
Transmission policy and planning
Tribal energy projects in the Southwest - Lessons learned
Costs of wind project integration
Renewable energy credit markets and solar initiatives
Western Governors' Association - Clean and Diversified Energy Initiative
Registration is now open. For further information, please do not respond to this email. Contact: Kristine Newton, at 303-384-0414, or Shelly Collings at 720-233-5590.
Source: Southwest Renewable Energy Conference, 6-15-2006.
Climate change and the increasing instability of energy supplies are in the news more and more. In an effort to showcase Renewable Energy as the key to both Climate Recovery and Energy Independence, the American Solar Energy Society will hold its SOLAR 2006 Conference, July 8-13 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in downtown Denver, Colo. The ASES conference is America’s largest and most prestigious annual gathering of sustainable energy professionals. Many prominent experts in the fields of renewable energy and climate change are scheduled to speak at SOLAR 2006:
For more information, contact either Phil von Hake, 303-762-8547, or Becky Campbell-Howe, 303-443-3130, x103. Source: The American Solar Energy Society, 6/27/2006.
With the announcement of President George W. Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative, FY 2006 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the Laboratory.
Director Dan Arvizu recently announced an organizational change, which will align NREL consistently with the priorities of the Department of Energy and the Laboratory's strategic roadmap. The new organization is structured around renewable fuels, renewable electricity technologies, energy sciences, and strategic development and analysis. Arvizu formed four new departments to address these areas.
Renewable Fuels Science and Technology will conduct research to help change the way we fuel our vehicles in the future using biomass and hydrogen technologies and to promote new renewable fuels and vehicle technologies. Renewable Electricity Science and Technology will research: power generation from wind, solar, geothermal and ocean resources; storage of renewable electricity; the integration of renewable electricity systems; and energy efficiency in residential and commercial buildings. Energy Sciences will focus on basic scientific advancements in the chemical, biological, materials and computer sciences to help create new energy options for the future.
Strategic Development and Analysis will conduct strategic planning and initiatives, business development and cross cutting analysis and technology application capabilities to inform decisions on programs, policy and technology choices. It will manage and transfer NREL-originated intellectual property and facilitate the development of partnership agreements. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO, 6/23/2006.
A coalition including the Nevada State Office of Energy, Desert Research Institute, the University of Nevada Reno, Washoe County, Sunrise Sustainable Resources, Sierra Green Building Association and others in the northern Nevada are invite you to join them at the second annual Smart Living Expo on October 7, 2006 at the Truckee Meadows Community College. Initiated by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Million Solar Roofs Program, the event includes exhibitors, workshops, keynote speakers and other activities that focus on sustainable living. Last year over 40 exhibitors shared everything from solar and wind exhibits to energy efficiency and water savings information with over 400 participants from throughout northern Nevada and the eastern Sierras. Contact Ellen Jacobson, Expo Chair at 775-746-9310. Source: Ellen Jacobson, Expo Chair, 5/25/2006.
The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) announces the release of a new guide to help building owners and design teams build better, more energy efficient buildings in Colorado. "Using LEED-NC(R) in Colorado: Tips, Resources & Examples" is now available at no cost, on the OEMC website. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is the standard for green building rating systems.
This Guide provides recent examples of green buildings in Colorado. It shows how building managers and designers can use the LEED rating system to consider practical, cost-effective features for new construction and that incorporating smart design doesn't have to cost more than conventional buildings. Additionally, LEED buildings can save money for decades to come through lower energy and water bills and are better places to work with benefits such as improved air quality, temperature control, and daylighting. "Our goal is to promote smart green building strategies in new buildings," said Drew Bolin, OEMC director. "This Guide uses Colorado examples to demonstrate how new construction including LEED features can be done practically while providing benefits in energy savings and comfort over the long term."
To learn more about this Guide, OEMC, Rebuild Colorado, LEED and other information, contact:
Source: Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation, 6/21/2006.
The Solar Electric Power Association launched www.FindSolar.com, an online resource featuring a directory of solar installers by county and a cost/benefits estimator customized by locality. The site has gained significant traction, with approximately 25,000 unique visitors using the site each month. We have further developed the site to provide added value to you and your customers.
We have created the ability for you to use a utility/location specific FindSolar estimator and installer directory on your own web site, free of charge. The estimator is driven by our extensive databases of solar ratings, regional weather conditions, applicable incentives, and utility rates. Please note that the utility rates currently in the database are imported from the most recently available EIA data, which is from 2004. If your utility rates have changed significantly since that time (or you have other requested changes to your estimator), there is a Utility Feedback Form available below the HTML code box. Source: SEPA, 6/22/2006.
The U.S. DOE has added a Schools section to the Wind Powering America website.
It contains project information from across the country, including active and planned projects, case studies, curricula, programs, publications and presentations, and lessons learned from our Colorado School Wind pilot. For more information contact Marguerite Kelly, NREL. Source: NREL, 6/27/2006.
The Renewable Fuels Association has just published the Ethanol Report #243 dated June 27, 2006. Source: RFA, 6/27/2006.
Sharp Electronics Corporation recently reported that a new Sharp-commissioned Roper survey reveals that eight out of 10 Americans believe homebuilders should offer solar power as an option for all new construction. The survey was conducted this May among 1,004 adults, Sharp said. Overall, the survey finds that two-thirds of Americans are willing to pay a premium for solar systems installed in homes, while one-half of those participating in the survey said they would spend up to 10 percent more for a solar-equipped house.
The survey reveals that 42 percent of respondents said saving money on monthly bills is the most compelling argument for installing solar systems, with 31 percent saying they would hope to decrease the nation's dependence on oil and 18 percent identifying a reduction in environmental pollution as the most compelling reason for using solar. Contact: Chris Loncto, Sharp, phone 201-646-502-3568. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 6/21/2006.
This workshop will present the results of Phase I of the EMPower Program, a program that seeks to bring about dramatic reductions in the cost of electricity generated from grid-connected PV and CSP by aggregating utility demand globally. In Phase I of this program, solar experts will visit approximately 20 utilities around the world to examine how and at what price solar would be an attractive addition to their system and what specific opportunities are available to each utility. Three SEPA-member utilities (PG&E, We Energies, and SMUD) will participate in the initial phase this summer. This workshop will present the results of the expert work with these three utilities as well as an overview of the results found in the other participant countries. Workshop participants will learn about some of the large, cost-competitive grid-connected solar technology opportunities available to utilities in the US and worldwide. There is no cost to participate in this workshop, but you must register in advance through the Solar Power 2006 online conference registration system. Register online. Source: SEPA Bi-Weekly News, 6/23/2006.
Gov. Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania urged the White House on Wednesday to make energy independence and renewables a top national priority, akin to this generation's race for the moon. "We need the federal government–right now, no delay–to declare a Manhattan project or Apollo project," he said at a conference on renewable energy finance in New York. "If we don't, we will be–in two or three decades–a second-class economic power."
Rendell and others at the conference called for the federal government to spur even more investment to help the country reach energy independence it the coming decades. Rendell urged the federal government to extend production tax credits for renewable energy set to expire in coming years, speed up its loan guarantee program for alternative plants and declare a national requirement for a certain percentage of electricity to be made from renewable fuels. A Department of Energy official at the same conference, though, took exception to Rendell's calls, saying President Bush already has made renewables a top focus.
Alexander Karsner, the assistant secretary of energy for efficiency and renewable energy, said the administration is also pessimistic about a national requirement for renewable production. But he said production tax credits for renewables are likely to be renewed. That would help the industry avoid a boom/bust cycle, said General Electric Corp.'s Kevin Walsh, who heads renewable energy for GE Financial Services. The industry has been rushing to take advantage of tax credits and other incentives before they expire, which has sent prices for some turbines soaring and strained the system, he said. "Projects that otherwise might get done aren't getting done," he said. Source: By Stan Choe AP Business Writer, The Associated Press, 6/21/2006.
A Senate hearing on oil savings legislation turned into a gripe session about the Office of Management and Budget today as lawmakers complained bitterly about delays in setting up the Energy Department's alternative energy loan guarantee program. The loan guarantee program was considered central to last year's massive energy bill. It was seen as a way to promote private sector investments in a wide range of energy sources — from advanced nuclear power to renewable fuels. But OMB and the Energy Department are fighting over what percentage of investment would be subject to the loan guarantees, prompting Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) to repeatedly express deep embarrassment that the program is still not under way. "It will be resolved soon, or something will be resolved," Domenici warned. "There are a lot of ways to skin a cat, and this cat will be skinned."
Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) said he had met this week with new OMB director Rob Portman, who has pledged to personally work with DOE to settle the matter. Domenici's concern is that high oil prices should be creating the ideal atmosphere for investment in alternative energy technologies, but the lack of a loan guarantee program means the industry cannot take full advantage of it. High oil prices, Domenici said, are "an invitation to investment," but investment is "being negated by fears that the price will fall again." Domenici also noted his growing interest in the concept of price floors to maintain energy price levels that will encourage investment in alternatives. "It's a very, very interesting proposition," he said. Source: Greenwire, E&E Publishing, 6/22/2006
A number of recent actions by California regulators, transmission system operators, and utilities are effectively rolling out the red carpet for renewable energy projects. Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission assured utilities that they can recover their investments in new transmission lines to access known renewable energy resources. The CPUC noted that the Tehapachi area in Southern California could produce more than 4,000 megawatts of wind power, but new transmission lines to access that resource could cost as much as $1 billion. The CPUC decision gives utilities confidence in pursuing such projects, since they can recover their costs in customer rates.
Meanwhile, the California Independent System Operator, which manages the flow of power on the state's power grid, has established a four-point program to assure that the grid can accommodate new renewable power plants. The plan includes considering renewable power growth when evaluating proposed transmission projects, avoiding financial disincentives for renewable energy in power marketing, using forecasting and management tools to effectively integrate renewable power into grid operations, and upgrading an existing program that aims to remove barriers for intermittent renewable energy sources.
Finally, Southern California Edison announced in May that it has reached an agreement with its four largest renewable energy suppliers to establish a fixed price through 2012 for its purchases of small hydropower and wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal power. The agreement establishes a price of 6.15 cents per kilowatt-hour, increasing by 1 percent per year, and eliminates any tie to natural gas prices, which had previously caused prices to vary widely. The agreement was reached with Caithness Energy, LLC, which owns wind and geothermal plants; Colmac Energy Inc., which owns a 47-megawatt biomass power plant on the Cabazon Indian Reservation near Mecca; Ormat Technologies, Inc., which owns three geothermal plants in the Imperial Valley; and FPL Energy, which owns wind and solar thermal power plants. In June, six subsidiaries of CE Generation, LLC, all of which own geothermal plants, also signed onto the deal. Source: EERE Network News - 6/21/2006.
Singapore has become the 32nd country to join the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership or REEEP. REEEP is an international alliance of governments, NGOs and businesses, all of which are dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and making clean energy services more affordable, available and reliable. REEEP wants to accelerate and expand the global market for renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies and has some 60 on-the-ground projects. It has more than 160 members including almost all the G8 countries. The National Environment Agency says joining the partnership is a positive and important step for Singapore and hopes to help support the establishment of an energy efficiency market in the region. Source: By Joanne Leow, Channel NewsAsia, 6/21/2006.
A new report from the Geothermal Energy Association documenting Utah's resurgence of geothermal resource development finds that Utah is among the states with the "greatest potential for new development in the West." The report, entitled Geothermal Development Needs in Utah, points to plans to triple the State's geothermal power production by 2007 and recent additions to the geothermal heating project at the Utah State Prison, as examples of new developments. Among the key findings of the report were: By 2015, Utah could generate enough electricity to power over a quarter-million homes; Utah could use its geothermal resources to produce alternative fuels such as ethanol and bio-diesel; and Direct-use heating projects from low-temperature geothermal resources could have widespread applications in communities throughout the state. According to the author of the report, Daniel Fleischmann, "Utah has the potential to meet a large part of its energy needs from geothermal resources while creating tens of thousands of new jobs in the state."
The report is based upon interviews with over 50 leading experts in the geothermal field in the United States, more than 25 of whom have worked specifically with geothermal resources in Utah. State and federal officials, researchers, industry representatives, and clean energy advocates were among the wide range of individuals interviewed. The report examines Utah's current and future potential for geothermal development, highlighting 15 specific resource areas in the state. It also examines the impact of recent government programs on new development and the policies federal and state lawmakers could put in place to encourage this development. According to the extensive interviews conducted, the report finds:
The report will be made available free of charge. Source: U.S. Newswire, WASHINGTON, 6/26/2006.
At its June 15, 2006 meeting, the California Public Utilities Commission adopted rules designed to encourage utilities to finance transmission upgrades necessary for renewables projects by providing cost recovery in retail rates in certain circumstances. The rules were adopted under decision D.06-06-034. For example, utilities could recover the costs of eligible transmission upgrades in retail rates if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission does not allow the utility to recover such costs in transmission rates.
The decision establishes guidelines for implementing California Public Utilities Code § 399.25(b)(4), part of Senate Bill 1078, which established California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) program. Section 399.25(b)(4) directed the CPUC to allow “recovery in retail rates of any increase in transmission costs incurred by an electrical corporation resulting from the construction of the transmission facilities that are not approved for recovery in transmission rates by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after the [CPUC] determines that the costs were prudently incurred….”
In an earlier decision interpreting Section 399.25, the Commission had held that it had the authority to direct transmission owners to pay the up-front costs of network upgrades to connect renewable energy generators. That decision, D.03-07-033, was subsequently overturned by the California Court of Appeal in Southern California Edison v. PUC, 121 Cal. App. 4th 1303 (2004). Second, the Commission determined that it would also allow utilities to file applications for cost recovery for transmission projects that did not require either a CPCN or a PTC.
The Commission established several criteria for identifying projects that would be eligible for Section 399.25 cost recovery. The Commission determined that it would permit cost recovery for two types of projects. First, new high-voltage, bulk-transfer transmission facilities that are designed to serve multiple RPS-eligible generators where the amount of added transmission capacity will likely be utilized by RPS-eligible generation projects to meet RPS goals will be eligible for cost recovery. The Commission noted, however, that it did not anticipate allowing cost recovery for gen-tie projects absent at least one approved RPS contract.
Second, network transmission facilities that are required to connect an RPS-eligible resource that is necessary for the achievement of RPS goals and that has an approved power purchase contract will also be eligible for cost recovery. Gen-tie projects designed to connect a single facility, however, would not be eligible for cost recovery. The Commission also established several rate mechanisms for cost recovery under Section 399.25. A utility will not be required to receive a definitive ruling from FERC denying cost recovery in transmission rates before seeking cost recovery under Section 399.25.
The Commission also allowed utilities to seek pre-approval for the recovery of study and project development costs before the filing of an application for Section 399.25 cost recovery in certain circumstances. For projects that meet the eligibility criteria for Section 399.25 cost recovery, utilities are permitted to file advice letters seeking pre-approval to record and recover study and project development costs.
The Commission made clear, both in D.06-06-034 and at its business meeting approving that decision, that its chief concern was with transmission facilities proposed to access concentrated renewable resource areas where initial generation projects are not expected to fully use the new transmission capacity. Transmission facilities accessing such areas should be appropriately sized to ensure adequate transmission for all the projects in the area, while avoiding encumbering those projects that are first to market with the totality of the costs for such transmission. By allowing backstop cost recovery, the Commission hopes to induce utilities to pay the up-front costs for these projects. Source: Stoel Rives Energy Law Alert, 6/22/2006.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation is requesting proposals from generators and marketers of renewable energy certificates, renewable energy attributes or ‘green tags’ associated with the generation of electricity from qualifying renewable resources. The deadline for a response is 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on July 14, 2006.
The California Energy Commission's PIER Environmental Area air quality group is accepting proposals for a research project on Short-Term, Interbasin and Interpollutant Credit Trading. Source: Nancy Hassman, California Energy Commission, Web Team, 6/26/2006.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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