Green Power

City's 'Green' Effort Lauded: EPA Salutes Local Clean Energy Work

The Environmental Protection Agency has named Palo Alto the first "green power community" in California, a high accolade for the eco-conscious city.  The recognition comes mostly for its Palo Alto Green program, a voluntary utility tax that the city uses to purchase solar and wind energy.  At a rate of 1.5 cents per kilowatthour, the average customer is taxed roughly $10 per month, depending on energy use.  About 140 local companies and nearly 16 percent of residents, or 4,440 households, have opted into the tax, Council Member Peter Drekmeier said.  Palo Alto is the EPA's fifth green energy community in the country.  "It's really related to the fact that Palo Alto Green has done so well," said Walt Hays, a member of the city's Green Ribbon taskforce, which is looking at how the city can fight global warming.

The green program was launched in June 2003 with the intention of buying clean energy and channeling it back into the city's municipal energy system.  Recently, Palo Alto officials signed a contract for 25 megawatts of wind energy--enough to power 10,000 homes--with a producer in Rio Vista, south of Sacramento.

Today, about 13 percent of the energy the city consumes is from renewable sources.  "We have a goal to be 20 percent renewable by 2015 and it looks like we're going to hit that goal five years earlier," Drekmeier said. Although the City Council spearheaded the program, it would have never succeeded without residents' buy-in.

The task force is scheduled to make a series of recommendations to the council Monday on how to further reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions.  Mayor Judy Kleinberg formed the task force in January and the members first met in May.  Federal officials will also attend the council meeting to present the green power community honor to the city.  "News like this is great," said task force member David Coale.  "But we want other utilities and cities to follow this lead so it's not news anymore."  Source:  McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News--Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer Palo Alto Daily News, Calif., 12/17/06.  Source: The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc.

Plants Plug into Green Power

In just a few days, the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency will announce the quarterly update of its national top 25 list of green power purchasers.  The new list will reflect purchases completed by December 31.  The EPA says the point of the list is that the actions of those on it help drive development of new renewable energy sources.  By choosing green power, homes, businesses and governments support development of cleaner forms of power generation and reduce their environmental impact.  As more green power is developed, the overall environmental effects associated with electricity generation will be reduced.  Combined, the top 25 purchasers on the previous list bought nearly 4.7 billion kWh of green power annually, according to the EPA.  That's enough renewable energy to power 378,000 homes for a year.

The EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program to help increase the use of green power.  Among the last quarter's top 25 are Johnson and Johnson at number five with 330 million kWh, and DuPont at number seven with 170 million kWh.  Johnson & Johnson is the only green power purchaser to earn a Green Power Leadership Award in three consecutive years.  This year, the company bolstered its environmental stewardship efforts by again significantly expanding its renewable energy commitment.

Within the past year, it has more than doubled 2003 procurements of 102,000 MWh to bring its total renewable energy procurement of green energy purchases and on-site solar projects to 214,000 MWh.  This makes Johnson & Johnson the largest corporate renewable energy purchaser in the United States.  The company has committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2010 in absolute terms, and believes green power will play a major role in achieving that target.  The U.S.  Air Force is the largest purchaser of green power in the nation at 1.043 billion kWh in the past quarter.

The Green Power Partnership works with hundreds of leading organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers and retailers, trade associations, and local, state and Federal government agencies, as well as colleges and universities.  Fossil fuel-fired power plants are responsible for 67 percent of the nation's sulfur dioxide emissions, 23 percent of nitrogen oxide emissions, and 40 percent of man-made carbon dioxide emissions, says the EPA.  Also, power plants are the main source of mercury emissions in the United States.  Generating electricity using renewable energy offers an alternative with zero or significantly lower emissions. 

There are a number of online resources available, including a step-by-step green power purchase process including types of products, choosing a purchasing scope, and procurement methods.  The green power locator directs you to renewable energy sources in your state, complete with contact information for the companies providing the energy.  For example, Missouri has 25 providers that offer wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, methane and bioenergy alternatives.

The power profiler calculates air emissions associated with electricity consumption by entering your ZIP code and current electrical load.  There also is information on how to join the program, a partner list, the top partners, award winners, partner resources and links.  Still another bit of useful online information is the downloadable brochure, "EPA's Green Power Partnership: An Environmental Choice for Your Organization." The brochure provides information about the partnership, benefits of green power, and how to join.

Another way to get information about the program is to contact Blaine Collison of the partnership at 202-343-9139.  Source: By Ken Schnepf, Managing Editor, PlantServices, 12/18/2006.

Clean and Green Victoria Leads Way

As the Federal government begins to grapple with the issue of a rapidly warming planet, more than 130,000 Victorian households have taken action of their own and opted for slightly more expensive green power.  The state now accounts for almost half of all Australian households buying their electricity from non-greenhouse- emitting sources, such as wind, hydro and solar.

Vikas Ahujo, Sustainability Victoria's renewable expert, said the rapid uptake of green power was due to people valuing the environment and being willing to pay a bit extra to protect it.  Electricity generation accounts for about 70 per cent of the state's emissions, double that from vehicles, and 90 percent of it comes from brown coal, one of the worst emitters of global warming carbon gases.  In the three months to September, 22,000 Victorian households switched to government-accredited renewable power.  Nationally, green power sales soared 59 per cent over the year, Sustainability Victoria says.  "Any electricity retailer would give both arms and legs to get that type of customer uptake," Mr Ahujo said.  The rise in Victoria is the equivalent of taking 9847 cars off the state's roads.

In addition, Victorian families have spent $26 million since 2000 installing solar panels on their homes and another $35 million converting their hot water systems to solar.  The State Government has funded two campaigns encouraging Victorians to reduce household emissions.  They were bookended by the publication of Tim Flannery's Weather Makers and the Stern Review by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern.  The State Government's $1.5 million "black balloon" television advertisement screened this year has won international praise, with Britain and Canada considering adopting the campaign.

Former US vice-president Al Gore was also planning to take it back to the United States.  State minister for Climate Change John Thwaites told The Sunday Age it was important for all Australians to consider taking up green power.  "This is an important way of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and complements Government initiatives such as the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, which will require 10 percent of Victoria's energy to come from renewable sources such as windfarms by 2016," Mr Thwaites said.  Steve Harris, manager, environment market, for Origin Energy, which has been offering green power for a couple of years, said electricity from renewable sources was being used to grab market share as retail competition intensified.  "Clearly others have seen the success we have had so they are offering green products as well," Mr Harris said.  The cost of green energy ranges from $1 a week for 20 per cent of power from renewables to $5 for 100 percent renewable energy.  Source:  Peter Weekes, 12/17/2006.

Got Green Guilt? Green Tags Can Help

FEELING GUILTY about plugging in those extra lights for the holiday, turning up the heat or driving to the mall? Add that to the 28,000 pounds of greenhouse gases--the leading cause of global climate change--the average Marin household produces ever year, and you have yourself an environmental dilemma.  Fortunately, you can help offset the polluting effects of your energy use by supporting the development of clean renewable energy.  Green tags can help you do just that.  Green tags are created when renewable energy is substituted for traditional, fossil-based power.  When you purchase a green tag, your money helps to fund renewable energy projects.  Because residential buildings produce more than 21 percent of the nation's greenhouse gases, more and more consumers are interested in offsetting their emissions at home.  "I've bought them to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with my electricity usage.  In that sense, I've paid a premium of a few cents per kilowatt hour over the normal cost of my electricity from PG&E," says Gwen Rose of Sausalito and a former Marin County Community Development Agency staff member.

The holidays are a perfect time to compensate for that extra energy used to light up your holiday light display or heat up your home during those extra cold nights.  Several green tag vendors allow you to calculate your emissions at home by asking you a series of questions.  Typically, you can expect to enter in your geographic location, the amount of your last energy bill and/or the amount of energy in kilowatt hours you used.  From there, you can choose how much of your emissions you would like to offset.  Ideally, a user would aim to offset his emissions by 100 percent.  This makes your home "climate neutral," meaning that it has little or no effect on the Earth's climate.  Green tags are also available for air and car travel. 

The holidays are a time to pack the bags and hit the road to be with loved ones.  An estimated 38.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home this season, according to the American Automobile Association.  That's a 2.7 percent increase from the 2005 holiday rush.  For the road, online vendors allow you to calculate your emissions by entering simple questions such as the make and model of your vehicle as well as your average yearly miles traveled.  For the skies, you have the option of entering in your average annual air miles or just that holiday flight cross country.  For example, a trip from San Francisco to New York equals approximately 2,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.  For $9.95, TerraPass balances out your trip by eliminating your emissions.

Trip planning sites like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com are making life a little easier by offering to offset your emissions prior to checkout.  Customers are offered a chance to purchase green tags that fund enough clean energy to balance out the emissions caused by their flights.  Once you've completed calculating your emissions, the vendor uses your money to directly fund clean energy projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  You're now ready to become a part of the solution.  "Try to find out about specific renewable energy projects being built with the revenue from green tags--I think this makes it more tangible," adds Rose. 

Green Tag vendors usually provide the names and locations of specific renewable energy projects in your area.  Some green tags, such as those provided by TerraPass, are third-party verified.  Rose says, "See if the tags have the voluntary certification, called Green-e, which helps verify the quality of the product."

Third party verification covers all aspects of the company's operations, from the marketing claims to the emissions reductions they purchase on a customer's behalf.  Green tags also make great holiday gifts.  When you buy a green tag, you'll receive a certificate, which may confuse recipients.  "I'd recommend asking for educational material to accompany it," Rose says.  "I found it tricky to explain the concept of green tags above the din of Christmas merriment."

These organizations offer renewable energy generated in California.  For a complete list, visit Green-e. 

Bonneville Environmental Foundation,  503-248-1905.  Option: 90 percent wind, 10 percent solar or 99 percent wind, 1 percent solar

MMA Renewable Ventures, 986-8038.  Option: 100 percent solar TerraPass, 877-879-8026.  Option: 33 precent wind, 33 percent biomass, 33 percent industrial efficiency.

Omar Pena is a community planning aide with Marin County's Community Development Agency.  The county's draft general plan is based on principles of sustainability and promotes healthy communities and ecosystems, energy and water conservation, renewable energy, green building and climate protection.  Source: Omar Pena, 12/15/2006.

EPA, DOE Laud Renewable Choice and Clients

Whole Foods Market, Vail Resorts and Renewable Choice Energy have received awards given by the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.  Department of Energy, and the Center for Resource Solutions for helping to advance the development of renewable energy in the United States. 

The annual Green Power Leadership Awards, which recognize leading national green power purchasers and suppliers, were presented at an awards event on Dec.  4 in conjunction with the 11th National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in San Francisco.  Whole Foods Market and Renewable Choice shared the prestigious Beacon Prize, bestowed on companies that take the lead in marketing renewable energy in the past year.  The award cited the companies' joint efforts to explain Whole Foods Market's wind credit purchase and to market wind credits directly to its customers.  The EPA named Whole Foods Market a Green Power Partner of the Year in recognition of its historic wind energy credit purchase in January.  Whole Foods Market became the largest purchaser of wind power at the time and remains the only Fortune 500 company purchasing wind energy credits equal to its entire electricity consumption.  Vail Resorts received a Green Power Purchaser Award in recognition of its commitment in August 2006 to go 100 percent wind power. 

EPA and DOE presented awards for green power purchasing to 22 organizations that have demonstrated leadership by voluntarily purchasing green power or creating innovative supply options for consumers.  CRS presented six awards to organizations and individuals that have shown outstanding leadership in building and shaping the market for renewable energy.  Undoubtedly, Americans believe in a renewable energy future.  "We are proud to honor these leaders whose efforts to move the market for renewable energy forward are making a positive impact on thousands across the country," said Jan Hamrin, president of the Center for Resource Solutions. Source: Ted Rose, Renewable Choice Energy via Lisa Conover, The Fresh Ideas Group, 12/11/2006.

Green Power Marketing Monthly Update--November 2006

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has published the November issue of Green Power Marketing Monthly Update.  This update summarizes recent green power marketing activity, including news and information on competitive green power marketing, utility green pricing programs, renewable energy certificates, green power purchasing, and related market activity.  The Green Power Network is operated and maintained by NREL for the U.S.  Department of Energy and provides news and information on green power markets and related activities.  You can subscribe or unsubscribe to these e-mail updates at any time.  Source: NREL, 121/2006.

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

Renewable Energy Technologies

Sierra Geothermal Receives Drilling Permit in Nevada

Mr. Gary Thompson, President of Sierra Geothermal Power Corp., is pleased to report that the Nevada State Office of the BLM issued a geothermal drilling permit on December 14, 2006.  The permit allows for drilling to commence on the Reese River Project, Lander County, Nev.  Road upgrade work and drill pad construction commence this week with drill mobilization planned for late December 2006.  The well 56-4 is planned as an exploration slimhole to a maximum depth of 1200m.  The objective of the well is to test the geothermal reservoir characteristics.  The slimhole well program is partially funded by the US Department of Energy's GRED III program in the amount of US$580,000.

Reese River has been rated by Richards and Blackwell as one of the top 10 undeveloped geothermal prospects in Nevada.  Phillips Petroleum and Amax Exploration drilled 52 holes during the 70's and 80's.  Contoured data of the temperature gradient wells show that the 150(degrees)C/km heat flow anomaly is approximately 4.8 km (3 miles) long in the northeast direction by approx.  1.6 km (1 mile) wide.  The center of the anomaly reaches a temperature gradient over 500(degrees)C/km.  Using a Monte Carlo simulation the potential geothermal resource at Reese River was estimated to have a 90-percent probability of generating 13 MW and a 50-percent probability of exceeding 30 MW (Source: New Geothermal Site Identification and Qualification, PIER study prepared by GeothermEx, 2004).  A 30-MW power plant is enough electricity to power 24,000 homes.  Pending positive results from the 56-4 slimhole drilling, Sierra Geothermal plans to conduct geophysical surveys and drill several production assessment wells on the Reese River Project.

Sierra Geothermal is a renewable energy company focused on the exploration and development of clean sustainable geothermal power projects.  Geothermal plants produce long-term revenues and provide continuous, base load power, often at or above 95 percent capacity.  Thereby, geothermal is the preferred source of green power for many utilities.  Sierra Geothermal has recently acquired a large portfolio of geothermal projects.  Sierra Geothermal intends to advance the development of its portfolio of projects through a combination of equity and/or joint venture partnerships while continuing to evaluate additional acquisitions.  Source: Sierra Geothermal Power Corp., 12/18/2006.

Old Country Roofing and BP Team Up on Solar Roofing in California

Old Country Roofing has announced an agreement with BP Solar to offer solar roofing packages to homebuilding companies and homeowners.  Beginning Jan.  2007, OCR will offer a package for built-in solar roofs that includes design, installation, warranty, and customer service.  The company will offer the package in California.  The agreement will see OCR use BP Solar's EnergyTile product, a roof-tile design that is integrated into a roof.  Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 12/18/2006.

Offshore Wind Farms Could Solve Power Problems

As energy prices continue to climb, the wind power sector is experiencing a global boom.  Because wind blows more steadily and much more strongly at sea than on land, more and more countries around the globe are planning and constructing sea-based wind energy plants.  The first German offshore testbed--comprising 12 wind turbines of the 5-megawatt class--is now being built off the North Sea coast.  In a joint project carried out with WeserWind GmbH Offshore Construction Georgsmarienh?tte and Technologiekontor Bremerhaven GmbH, Fraunhofer researchers from the Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Materials Research IFAM and the Center for Wind Energy and Maritime Technologies CWMT accompanied the planning process for the construction of a three-legged foundation, also known as a tripod.  This was not an easy task, as the bulky components of the 30-meter-high tripod, weighing a total of over 600 metric tons, had to be assembled in the perfect order as quickly and precisely as possible.  "Ensuring the best possible fit therefore constitutes a considerable cost and quality factor in constructing a tripod.  Welding must be kept to a minimum and the most suitable position needs to be established for each part," explains Holger Fricke of the IFAM.

The best-fit method determines the best join partners available for each designated assembly position.  For this purpose, the IFAM researchers developed an algorithm that enables the workload to be calculated in advance.  The parts are measured at the manufacturing plant, and the data are then imported into the best-fit system and matched against the components that have already been installed.  On the basis of these measurement data, the best-fit analysis calculates the ideal allocation of each strut to its respective join partner, and determines their precise position.  Unlike conventional measurement techniques, this method not only verifies the best fit for each strut, but also rationalizes all welding work by means of combinatorial analysis.  Therefore, when a new component is delivered, the engineers already know how and where to install it.  Owing to the best-fit system's clear graphic representation, any potential problems regarding production can be identified and resolved at an early stage.  To ensure that everything goes to plan at sea, the researchers have first been testing the system on land, during the manufacture of the tripod prototype.  This will provide them with valuable experience when it goes into series production.  Source:  azomnews, 12/18/2006.

FirstEnergy to Buy Wind Power in Pa.

Electricity distributor FirstEnergy Corp.  on Monday said it has agreed to a 23-year contract to buy wind power from Scottish Power's PPM Energy subsidiary in Pennsylvania.  FirstEnergy plans to buy 34.5 megawatts of output from PPM's Casselman wind power project, which is under construction about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.  The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2007.  Its 23 turbines will produce about 1.5 megawatts each.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.  FirstEnergy said the contract brings its total amount of purchased wind power to 464.5 megawatts.  Shares of FirstEnergy rose 10 cents to $60.95 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.  Source: The Associated Press, 12/18/2006.

First Solar Exercises Options

First Solar Inc., which makes solar modules used to generate solar energy, said Monday that it has exercised options to increase sales volumes and extend contract terms under each of its six long-term supply contracts.  By exercising the options, First Solar has increased the sales volumes under the contracts to an aggregate of 1,270 megawatts, with 1,240 megawatts remaining to be shipped between 2007 and 2012.  First Solar shares fell 1 cent to $28.58 in aftermarket trading, after closing down 46 cents at $28.59 on the Nasdaq.  Source: The Associated Press, 12/18/2006.

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

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

Partnership presents wind case study teleconference

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the American Public Power Association, APPA's Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments Program, the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America Program, Bonneville Power Administration, Utility Energy Forum, Northwest Public Power Association and Western Area Power Administration invite you to participate in the Wind Energy Case Studies teleconference Thursday, Jan. 11, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. CST.

Participants will learn about various approaches taken by consumer-owned utilities to expand the use of wind resources in their electricity supply mix.

The teleconference will cover the following case studies:

• Tom Carnahan, Wind Capital Group and Barry Hart, Assn. of Missouri Electric Co-ops--Missouri Wind Development
• John Krajewski, Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska--Building a Renewable Energy Portfolio: Municipal Joint Action Agency Perspective
• Andrew Stern, Hullwind.org --Town of Hull, MA

There is no charge to participate in the teleconference, but you should reserve a spot ahead so that the maximum number of participants can be accommodated. Preference will be given to Electric Cooperative and Public Power personnel. Contact Debbie Rock at 1-720-962-7271 to sign up today.

All registrants will receive a link to the presentations on the Web, along with call-in information in the week prior to the teleconference. Bob Putnam of CH2M HILL, technical support contractor to NRECA, will moderate the teleconference. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of each speaker following their presentation, or participants can e-mail their questions to Putnam for the general session following all of the individual presentations.

WAPA Geothermal Power Generation Webinar--December 6, 2006--Now Online

WAPA Geothermal Power Generation Webinar program files available from Northwest Public Power Association.  Download program files from the Dec.  6 webinar.  Source: NWPPA, 12/18/2006.

Refocus November/December 2006 Issue

View the latest issue of Refocus --keeping you up-to-date with all the latest developments in the renewables industry.  Source: Refocus, 12/18/2006.

Green Buildings and the Bottom Line

Green Building has changed dramatically in recent years.  What started out as a charismatic environmental crusade has matured into an established sector of the U.S.  construction industry.  Green building's early adherents have proven that they can build high-quality, high-performance structures in a professional, businesslike way.  Their passion has not diminished, but it has become more firmly grounded in the realities of the marketplace.  This "new reality" has begun to attract the attention of the financial community.  Investors are asking: Do green buildings command premium rents? Do they lease up faster than "conventional" buildings? Are they more valuable than other real estate investments? What is the market potential for green buildings in the future?

This report examines the bottom-line issues of green building across a wide range of building types.  It concludes with 10 constructive recommendations--an "Action Plan"--for consideration by stakeholders in the green building movement.  Source: By Building Design + Construction, 12/19/2006.

Register Now for January Wind Interconnection Workshop

Are you ready to integrate the world's fastest growing form of generation into your power mix? Learn about interconnecting wind turbines and other distributed generation applications to public power distribution systems at the two-day Wind Interconnection workshop, Jan.  24 and 25 in Golden, Colo.  Registration fee is $200.  Participation is limited to the first 30 registrants, with electric cooperative and public power personnel receiving preference, so reserve your place today.  To register, contact Debbie Rock, Western Area Power Administration, 720-962-7271.  Source: WAPA, 12/13/2006.

Submit Your Nominations for Wind Co-Op of the Year

The annual Wind Co-op of the Year Award honors one electric co-op for its leadership in wind power.  All electric co-ops that are members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association are eligible to apply, and electric cooperatives can nominate themselves.  DOE's Wind Powering America Program sponsors the award.  There is no cost to enter.  Deadline for nominations is Jan.  29.  For additional information, call Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7423.  Source: WAPA, 12/13/2006.

10th Annual EUEC Conference in Tucson, Arizona

The 10th annual Electric Utilities Environmental Conference, will be held at the world famous Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa, in Tucson, Arizona, Jan.  21-24, where the average high temperature for January is a balmy 70 degrees F.  Reduced registration rates for the conference are available until to Dec.  15.  Eight area hotels within 10 minutes from the Westin have rooms blocked at reduced rates for the EUEC conference.  EUEC 2007 has gained national recognition as a "must attend" technical and networking event.  Over 800 professionals have registered to attend to-date.  Utility executives and world-leading experts will present 300 technical presentations in five tracks on Clean Air, Mercury, Global Warming and Renewable Energy.  The conference--jointly organized by the US Department of Energy, the Electric Power Research Institute and the Edison Electric Institute--has steadily grown in size and scope since it was first held in Arizona in 1995.  EUEC is a highly professional event where participants may attend any of 300 technical presentations made in three days, Monday to Wednesday from 7:30 a.m.  to 6 p.m., in five concurrent tracks.  Buffet style luncheons (noon-1 p.m.) and receptions (6-7 p.m.) held in the exhibit area provide networking opportunities with 1,000 conference participants.  Fifteen pre-conference workshops and seminars held on Sunday, Jan.  21, before the conference, provide opportunities to learn about state-of-art and cutting-edge technologies.  The exposition showcasing 150 exhibit booths has been expanded since last year with about 30 new booths now featured.  Source: Prabhu Dayal, Chair EUEC, 12/14/2006.

Direct Use and Geothermal Heat Pump Applications Webinar, January 10, 2007--9 to 11 a.m.  PST

Please mark your calendar for the next Utility Geothermal Working Group webinar--Direct Use and Geothermal Heat Pump Applications, January 10, 2007--9 to 11 a.m.  PST.  Direct use and geothermal heat pump applications are available to most of the United States.  Learn how low-temperature geothermal technologies can help electric cooperatives and public power utilities provide energy services and improve the bottom line.  The topics and speakers are "Geothermal Heat Pump Applications" Paul Bony, Delta Montrose Electric Association, "Direct Use Applications" Andrew Chiasson, OIT Heat Center, "Public Participation in Utility Decisionmaking" Jon Clarke, city of Longmont.

There is no charge to participate in the webinar, however, space is limited, so reserve your place early.  To register for any of this and other webinars, contact Debbie Rock, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7271. 

Visit the Public Renewables Partnership for previous webinar content and the complete webinar schedule of webinars through April 2007.  The webinars are designed to help electric cooperatives and public power utilities better understand the issues and opportunities renewable energy offers their industry.  The webinars are sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, APPA's Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments program, DOE's Wind Powering America and GeoPowering the West programs, Bonneville Power Administration, Utility Energy Forum, Northwest Public Power Association, Geothermal Resources Council and Western Area Power Administration.  Source: WAPA, 12/19/2006.

Western Renewable Energy Project Map Highlights New Interwest Website

Interwest Energy Alliance has launched a newly redesigned website featuring an innovative new western  renewable energy project locator map showing wind, solar, geothermal and biomass energy projects in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.  Interwest's new site contains other information of interest to renewable energy companies and advocates in the region, and will soon provide updates on 2007 state legislation from legislatures in the West--particularly legislation that Interwest actively supports. 

The website's new project locator map is integrated with Google Maps and features wind, solar, geothermal and biomass electricity projects throughout the region.  With this innovative mapping approach, users can choose to display projects by specific energy technology.  As with all Google Maps, users can zoom in on a specific area or drag the map to a specific destination, as well as choose a satellite view of the region.  The new site's wind and geothermal project listing is comprehensive, but the solar power listing currently shows only certain projects sponsored by utilities in Arizona and Nevada, as well as two new larger, utility-scale projects in Colorado and Nevada.  As more information becomes available on the many other existing and planned solar projects throughout the region, Interwest will seek to display them on the map accurately and efficiently.

The coming year will be very active in the policy arena in states throughout the West, and at the national level, and we hope our site helps provide all interested parties the accurate information they need for effective advocacy activities and sound policymaking.  I look forward to any comments, suggestions and questions on any aspects of our new site, which was designed by R.L.  Martin & Associates.  Contact Craig Cox, Executive Director, Interwest Energy Alliance, P.O.  Box 272, Conifer, CO  80433, 303-679-9331.  Source: Craig Cox, Executive Director, Interwest Energy Alliance, 12/19/2006.

DOE's Tribal Energy Program

The presentations from DOE's Tribal Energy Program Review held the week of October 23, 2006, in Denver have been posted.  For status on many tribal energy projects, download the presentations or contact: Lizana Pierce, Manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, Golden Field Office, Phone: 303-275-4727, Fax: 303-275-4753, Source: Source: Lizana Pierce, Manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, Golden Field Office, 12/19/2006. 

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News from Washington

Senators Seek Five-Year Extension of Production Tax Credit

A bipartisan group of 42 senators have asked President Bush to extend the renewable energy production tax credit through 2013 in his fiscal 2008 budget request.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 expanded the tax credit, which is now set to expire Dec.  31, 2008.  To qualify, generating facilities must be in service by that date, which means the incentive will not spur new projects in the next two years.  Given the market certainty needs of the renewable power industry, a five-year extension is needed to launch new electric-generation projects, the lawmakers say in their Dec.  15 letter.  "In the past, the short-term, start-and-stop nature of the credit has not sufficiently provided utilities, developers, manufacturers and investors with the necessary certainty to maximize the vast potential for renewable technologies," the letter says.  "A long-term credit of five years will give businesses the stability necessary to plan and finance renewable energy projects."

The lawmakers, led by the incoming chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), say it is "crucial to our national security that we expand and strengthen investment in renewable energy resources."  "The continued development of renewable energy also will spur significant economic development opportunities, stabilize prices by diversifying the electric generation supply and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions," the letter says.  Source: E&E Publishing, Mary O'Driscoll, Greenwire Senior Reporter, 12/19/2006.

Renewable Energy in America, Part 1: A Changing Climate

Broadbased--from the grass roots up--calls have been building for the U.S.  to focus efforts and resources on the development of renewable energy sources and infrastructure, following the latest steep and sustained run-up in petroleum and fossil fuel prices.  Some 450 leaders from the U.S.  renewable industry's policy, financial and technology sectors assembled on Capitol Hill on Nov.  29-30, meeting with members of Congress and government agency officials during the American Council on Renewable Energy's fifth annual national policy conference.  The event was clear evidence of the momentum surrounding the greater use of renewable energy sources and for building a supporting infrastructure. 

Convening for this year's conference theme, "Renewable Energy in America: Phase II Market Forecasts and Policy Requirements," industry participants for the first time put together an industry-wide energy forecast stating that renewable energy providers would collectively be able to deliver 550 to 700 gigawatts of electrical power in the next 10 to 20 years--more than enough to reach the industry "25 by 25" goal of meeting 25 percent of national electrical power needs by 2025.  "There is a convergence of issues and opportunities that make this a perfect time to let mainstream America and our policy leaders know we are here to help--'here is what renewable can provide, capacity-wise, and here are the policies that will lead to solutions,'" said ACORE president Michael Eckhart.  in a press statement. 

Of the key factors necessary to foster the growth of a significant and sustainable renewable energy industry and infrastructure in the U.S., "I think the biggest ...  will be continued public and private support," Jeff Lipton, Jefferies & Co.  managing director of investment banking, told TechNewsWorld.  "Clearly, incentives, rebates, RPS (renewable power standards), tax credits, etc., are important and critical to this sector remaining strong near term," he added. 

"A timely renewal of the Federal production tax credit in 2007, before its expiration in December 2007, will be the most important short-term factor," said Christine Real de Azua, assistant director of communications for the American Wind Energy Association. 

"Equally important, though not as prominent in media reports, is the fact that large multinationals are committing real dollars here," Lipton pointed out.  "For some, it is about PR, and actual dollars are modest--but many large global corporates are putting real dollars to play, altering the way they do business, etc., because there is a bottom line financial impact to their business, and they see it and monitor it."  The momentum driving the development of renewable energy systems and infrastructure has now carried the issue up to the Federal level, but it has been state governments that have really fostered the development of the industry to this point--California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a standout among them. 

Governor Schwarzenegger, California's state legislature and relevant agencies have placed themselves at the forefront of a wave of renewable energy legislation enacted recently with the introduction of the California Solar Initiative.  "The two most important events in advancing the adoption of alternative energy technologies were the announcement of the CSI by the California Public Utilities Commission and the implementation of the Renewable Energy Law in China," Lipton wrote in Jefferies' Q3 2006 industry review. 

The largest program of its kind, with a US$2.9 billion budget, the CSI aims to install 3,000 megawatts of rooftop solar power generating capacity on 1 million homes, businesses and public buildings by 2017--an ambitious goal, given that the total global manufacturing capacity as of 2004 totaled an estimated 1,100 MW.  The CSI "could lead to increased demand for solar products and, more importantly, provide long-term visibility and continuing incentive for expansion of production," Jefferies' research analyst Jeffrey Bencik said. 

The solar power industry's increasing use of silicon has caused supply shortages of solar photovoltaic and electronic grade silicon in recent years, which has led existing and new market entrants to make plans and break ground for new manufacturing facilities, as well as new production methods that use less silicon and methods that use other materials.  "Our research shows that the availability of polysilicon will double between 2006 and 2008, and triple between 2006 and 2010, which means that the amount available for solar will quadruple by 2010.  Given that producers are also using it more efficiently, we can expect an effective quintupling in the amount of PV that can be produced by the end of the decade," noted Travis Bradford, founder and director of the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development.

Recently, Washington state joined 21 other states and the District of Columbia in instituting renewable energy quotas for electric utilities.  At the end of November, voters in Washington passed Initiative No.  937, known as the "Renewable Portfolio Standard," or RPS.  In the southwest, Arizona looks set to increase its RES (renewable energy standards) by requiring the state's regulated utilities to cover 15 percent of their power sales from renewable sources by 2025.  Washington's RPS establishes progressively higher renewable energy targets for the utility industry, starting at 3 percent of a qualifying utility's load by 2012 and increasing to 15 percent by 2020. 

Seventeen of the state's 62 public and private utilities qualify, representing about 84 percent of the state's electricity-generating capacity.  The RPS's renewable energy goals must be achieved by generating electricity from eligible renewable resources, by acquiring equivalent renewable energy credits, or a combination or both.  Electricity generated from Washington's hydroelectric facilities does not qualify, which has prompted strong criticism from opponents.

Feed-in tariffs--the legislated financial mechanism by which homeowners can receive credit for the surplus electricity they produce from renewable sources and feed back into a utility grid--have been a key element of Europe's rapidly growing renewable energy infrastructure.  On Nov.  22, the Ontario Power Authority introduced the Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program, which includes a feed-in tariff or rate schedule for renewable energy sources, an initiative that industry observers believe may be widely duplicated across North America.  It is the first initiative of its kind on the continent since California introduced feed-in tariffs for wind power generation 22 years ago. 

Even the Internal Revenue Service is getting into the act.  The IRS recently allocated $800 million worth of Clean Renewable Energy tax credit bonds to more than 600 projects across the country, including 434 solar power projects, 112 wind power facilities, 14 hydro power facilities and 13 open-loop biomass facilities, according to an ACORE report.  Out of the 700-plus applications received, 610 government and electrical cooperative projects were chosen to receive the tax credit bonds, which range in scale from $23,000 to $80 million.  With a tax credit bond, the Federal government pays a tax credit to the bondholder in lieu of the issuer paying interest to the bondholder.  The bondholder deducts the amount of the tax credit from total income tax liability.  A state-by-state breakdown shows that of the total 610 of 700 CREB applications approved, 231 went to proposed projects in California, 67 in New Mexico, 64 in Minnesota, 41 in New Jersey, 38 in Montana, 27 in Colorado, 24 in Massachusetts, 13 in New York and 12 in Ohio.  Source: By Andrew K.  Burger,TechNewsWorld, 12/16/06.

For more information on legislative activities go to: http://www.repartners.org

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Georgia's Energy Plan Released (Legislation)

Georgia's first-ever comprehensive energy plan of recommended policies for the state has been released.  The plan's development included input from utility executives, environmental groups and individual consumers.  A total of 36 specific strategies were included in the final draft.  Strategies include provisions to create a "Georgia Clean Energy Fund" for energy efficiency and other clean energy strategies, support the deployment of integrated gasification and combined cycle coal technology and advanced nuclear reactors.  Support for development of biomass fuel industry and supporting public-private partnerships to coordinate renewable energy research and development were also included.  (Source:  Florida Times Union, Dec.  17, '06) Contact Sonny Perdue,  Governor, Georgia, telephone: 404-656-1776.  Source: ep-overviews, 12/19/2006.

Study: North Carolina Can Develop Alternative Energy Options

North Carolina has significant potential to develop wind and other alternative energy without drastically increasing customer bills, according to a recent study from the state's Utilities Commission.  The report indicates that renewable energy could provide as much as 1,800 megawatts of power, the equivalent of two power plants the size of Progress Energy's Shearon Harris nuclear plant in Wake County, NC.  The study comes at a time that Progress Energy and Duke Energy are planning to build nuclear plants and Duke Energy is also planning to build coal-fired power plants.  Requiring utilities to use renewables would offset the need to build some power plants, the study concluded, reducing pollutants, greenhouse gases and radioactive nuclear waste.  Source: WIND-WATCH, 12/14/2006 via EIN Renewable Energy Today, 12/18/2006.

Frustrated Wind Power Developers Say Regulatory Process Flawed

Wind-power developers in Maryland say the state doesn't have a strong commitment to alternative energy.  Efforts to expand wind power have been hampered by regulatory hurdles and legal challenges.  The state Public Service Commission approved two western Maryland wind farms in 2003 and is considering a third, but none have been built.  Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has six commercial wind farms operating and another in the works, and West Virginia has one running and two proposed.  Leaders of two Maryland projects told a state-sponsored meeting of wind-power proponents last week in Bethesda that Maryland's government lacks a strong voice on energy issues.  They also say the state's power-plant approval process is flawed because it allows almost anyone to intervene.  Source: Newswatch50, 12/19/2006.

Minnesota Governor Unveils Next Generation Energy Initiative

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty last week announced the new Next Generation Energy Initiative, aimed at increasing renewable energy, energy conservation and lowering carbon emissions in the state.  Pawlenty's proposals will build on Minnesota's nation-leading per capita renewable fuel use.  The governor plans to expand the state's Renewable Energy Objective to 25 percent.  Currently Minnesota electric utilities are expected to generate at least 10 percent of the electricity they supply to come from renewable resources by 2015.  Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 12/18/2006.

Editorial: A Bold, Balanced Initiative on Energy

Continuing a generally progressive record on energy issues, Gov.  Tim Pawlenty has laid out a set of objectives that is bold in places, balanced overall and, best of all, appears achievable.  Most noteworthy in last week's proposals, we think, is the heightened emphasis on conservation and efficiency.  Pawlenty is calling for Minnesotans to reduce their use of fossil fuels by 15 percent over the next nine years--a marked reversal of upward consumption trends for gasoline and coal-derived electricity.  And on this point the governor spelled out some particulars of an agenda whose details are, for the most part, yet to be unveiled.  Electric utilities will be asked to reduce their retail sales 1.5 percent each year by promoting and assisting conservation efforts among customers.  Additionally, utilities will no longer satisfy state regulators merely by showing they spent the required amounts on conservation-related programs--they will also have to document actual energy savings.

If 1.5 percent seems a small number, consider that such a reduction could largely offset projected growth in electricity demand for the near future.  The savings can be measured not only in lower electric bills and avoided costs of building new generating plants, but in reduced pollution.  One aspect of that pollution--globe-warming greenhouse gases--also gets new emphasis in Pawlenty's proposals.  He is calling for development of an aggressive strategy for reducing such emissions in the state, including a requirement that utilities find ways to offset any increases in carbon dioxide emissions by reducing outputs elsewhere--or, perhaps, by taking part in a regional carbon-credits exchange. 

On renewable energy, the governor wants to both raise and extend the state's official objectives, calling on utilities to generate 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025.  That's even a bit more ambitious than some environmental groups have been seeking, but, as Bill Grant of the Izaak Walton League observed, "It's nice to be in a race to the top for a change, instead of a race to the bottom."  Interestingly, Pawlenty seems also to have dropped his preference for a strictly voluntary program, proposing financial penalties for utilities that fail to hit these targets.  This appears to make Minnesota's Renewable Energy Objective essentially indistinguishable from a Renewable Energy Standard, which is preferred by environmental groups but causes allergic reactions among business lobbyists and Republican legislators.  Burying this venerable dispute, if the governor can manage it, will certainly be a welcome step forward.

Renewable fuels have been a mainstay of Pawlenty's policies in years past and remain prominent this time, too, but with some important differences.  For ethanol, the focus is not on raising production nor mandating higher motor-fuel percentages but on expanding availability of E85, the blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline that can be used in an estimated 100,000 "flexible-fuel" cars and trucks in Minnesota.  This state already leads the nation in E85 outlets, at roughly 300, but Pawlenty's four-year plan to have 1,800 outlets would make E85 readily available essentially anywhere.

Most interesting among the renewables proposals, but also least specific, is the governor's call for state investment in new technologies for producing cellulosic ethanol and synthetic natural gas from such biomass sources as grasses or wood.  Here are opportunities for Minnesota not only to turn biomass into fuel, but also to turn energy policy into economic development.  For years American governors, including Pawlenty, have voiced their renewables visions in terms of creating a new Saudi Arabia of wind power, corn ethanol or some other alternative energy source.  But a newer and better metaphor, to our way of thinking, is Iowa Gov.-elect Chet Culver's call for his state to become a Silicon Valley of alternative energy technology.  We'd like to see Minnesota as an exporter of that technology as well as potentially surplus power, and so we hope the governor, the Legislature and the various interest groups will consider these investments another good opportunity for racing to the top.  Source: Star Tribune, 12/17/2006.

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

Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

University of Toledo Receives $ 18,635,238 US for Photovoltaics Commercialization Center

The University of Toledo (Lucas County) received $18,635,238 US in "Wright Centers of Innovation" funds to establish the Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization Center.  This grant follows a previous 2004 Wright Project grant for support of University of Toledo's existing solar power program.  The project will focus on research into advanced materials to be used in constructing and development of solar cell arrays, prototyping and demonstrating various system components, development and installation of a complete system and graduate level education and consumer awareness.  The grant was part of $168,000,000 US in Third Frontier awards announced recently by Ohio Governor Bob Taft, (Source: Ohio Department of Development, Dec.  15, '06).  Contact Bob Taft, Governor, Ohio, telephone: 614-466-3555, or Dr.  Lloyd Jacobs, President, University of Toledo, telephone: 419-530-2211.  Source: ep-overviews, 12/19/2006.

Solicitations (Issue 159)

Conservation Innovation Grants
The U.S.  Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Conservation Innovation Grants Program.  The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies for environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.  3 categories of interest include: 

1. National Natural Resource Concerns (atmosphere, water, soil grazing land and forest health)
2. National Technology (improved on-farm energy efficiency including, but not limited to renewable energy resources, methane recovery, and water management)
3. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  $2 million expected to be available, up to 60 awards anticipated. 

Responses due 2/2/07.  For more info, contact Tessa Chadwick.  Refer to Sol# USDA-NRCS-NHQ0701.  (Grants.gov 12/1/06).  Source: The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc., 12/1/2006.

Wind, Ocean Wave or In-Stream Tidal
The Bonneville Power Administration requests proposals for the Technology Innovation Program, Renewable Energy (Wind, Ocean Wave or In-Stream Tidal).  BPA seeks innovative R&D projects that manage the intermittent nature of transmission grid connected renewables such as wind and advancing research on ocean wave and in-stream tidal technologies.  $1 million expected to be available, multiple contract awards anticipated.  Responses due 1/19/07.  For more info, contact Diane Roth.  Refer to Sol# 739.  (Green Power Network 12/14/06)  Source: The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc., 12/14/2006.

Innovation Grants--California
The California Energy Commission requests proposals for the Energy Innovations Small Grant Program.  This program supports small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts that address a CA energy problem, provide a potential benefit to CA electric and natural gas ratepayers, and target one of the following: 

1. Industrial/Agriculture/Water End-use Efficiency
2. Building End-use Efficiency
3. Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation
4. Renewable Generation; Energy-Related Environmental Research
5. Energy Systems Integration 

Individual awards NTE $95K.  Responses due 2/6/07.  For more info, contact the EISG Program.  Source: The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc., 12/18/2006.

Natural Gas, Biogas and Hybrids--California
The California Energy Commission requests proposals for Natural Gas Replacement Alternatives--Biogas and Hybrids, for RD&D of advanced, cost-effective, and environmental friendly technologies using renewable fuels to replace or reduce natural gas applications in CA.  The CEC seeks to advance industrial and commercial process heating and combined heat and power projects, which provide biogas and/or hybrid renewable alternatives to conventional natural gas applications.  $1 million expected to be available, up to 3 awards anticipated.  Responses due 2/6/07.  Source: The Center for Economic and Environmental Partnership, Inc., 12/18/2006.

Grants, Loans Available to Rural Businesses

Mark Reisinger, USDA Rural Development state director in Iowa, recently announced that grants and guaranteed loans are available to help rural businesses or agricultural producers looking to produce renewable energy or make energy-saving improvements to their facilities.  Grants can be used to cover up to 25 percent of a project's cost and can be combined with the guaranteed loan program to further lower the cost of a variety of energy projects.  Eligible projects fall into two categories.  One use is to finance the installation of renewable energy systems, such as small and large wind turbines, solar, geothermal or biomass.  Second, funds can be used for energy efficiency projects, including installing new electric motors that are more efficient in equipment, adding insulation and improving electrical or heating and cooling systems.

Restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, greenhouses, cold storage businesses, ethanol plants, manufacturing facilities, as well as any other business that requires a large amount of energy to operate, may benefit from an energy-efficient upgrade that these funds could help finance.  Grants from Rural Development can cover up to 25 percent of the project costs.  Minimum total project costs to qualify for grants are $6,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $10,000 for new renewable energy projects.  The maximum energy efficiency grant is $250,000; $500,000 for renewable energy.  Guaranteed loans can be issued for up to 50 percent of the project costs.  Minimum project costs to qualify for a guaranteed loan is $10,000 for both energy efficiency and renewable projects.  The maximum guaranteed loan is $10 million.  A combination grant and guaranteed loan can be requested for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs.  Costs incurred before submitting an application for both grants and loan guarantees are not eligible.  In addition, funds are not available for residential use.

Information, applications, forms and other tools regarding the energy program can be found online.  Contact the USDA Rural Development State Office in Des Moines at 515-284-4714 with questions.  The Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program was created as part of the 2002 Farm Bill to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses develop renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements to their operations.  Source:  Daily Nonpareil 2006, 12/18/2006.

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