Green Power

EPA Recognizes Connecticut as One of Nation's Top Green Power Purchasers

The State of Connecticut is the first New England state to join EPA's Green Power Partnership and the second largest national purchaser of green power among state government partners. Connecticut's Governor Jodi Rell announced today that the state has increased its annual voluntary purchase of green power to nearly 84 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), representing nearly 12 percent of the state's total annual electricity usage.

"EPA applauds the State of Connecticut for doing their share to protect our environment by committing to use green power sources" said Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office.

Connecticut's purchase of green power resources is in support of Governor Rell's Energy Vision for a Cleaner, Greener State, which set a goal of increasing the percentage of clean, renewable energy consumed by state government from all sources to 20 percent by the year 2020.

"I pledged to lead our state toward a green energy future and Connecticut will continue to lead by example with clean, renewable energy purchases" Governor Rell said. "We have demonstrated that we can be environmentally responsible and fiscally responsible at the same time. Connecticut's recent energy contracts achieved historic levels of green power and were accompanied by huge cost savings--a true win-win for our environment and our taxpayers."

EPA estimates that the State of Connecticut's green power purchase of nearly 84 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 9,000 passenger cars each year, or the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power more than 10,000 average New England households annually.

Businesses and organizations in Connecticut that purchase green power and participate in EPA's Green Power Partnership include: Yale University, Connecticut College, the City of Hartford, Pitney Bowes, Aramark Parks and Resorts in Madison, and Honda of Westport.

EPA's Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to purchase green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. The Partnership currently has hundreds of Partners voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and Federal governments, trade associations, as well as colleges and universities. Source: Contact Information: U.S. EPA, David Deegan, 617-918-1017 State of Connecticut, Julie Cammarata, 860-418-6296.

Green Power Program in Santa Clara, Calif., Wins National Award from Energy Department, EPA  

Silicon Valley Power's 100 percent renewable energy option, Santa Clara Green Power, was honored as Green Power Program of the Year by the Green Power Leadership Awards program, run by the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Center for Resource Solutions. Last year, SVP, the city of Santa Clara's municipal electric utility, was honored in the New Green Power Program category.

Launched three years ago this month, Santa Clara Green Power has an 8.5 percent participation rate and is growing rapidly, with sales of at least 35 million kilowatt-hours in 2007-a 50 percent increase over the previous year. Silicon Valley Power estimates participation rates will reach 10 percent by year's end, thanks to a challenge issued by the mayor and City Council.

Participation in Santa Clara Green Power costs customers 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour above the utility's standard electricity rate, SVP said. Businesses may purchase renewable power for 100 percent of their energy use or buy blocks of 1,000 kilowatt-hours for $15 each. Among Santa Clara Green Power's 150 business customers are large, high-profile companies, such as Cisco Systems, Agilent Technologies, Applied Materials, National Semiconductor, Terremark and Yahoo, along with Santa Clara University and the city of Santa Clara.

"We are honored to receive such a prestigious award sponsored by three important organizations in the energy field," said SVP Acting Director John Roukema. "Our Santa Clara Green Power program owes its great success to teamwork-a partnership between SVP, the city of Santa Clara and its many customers. This teamwork has brought some of the highest renewable power content in California to all our customers, and the opportunity to choose 100 percent renewable power through this fast-growing, voluntary program." Proceeds from Santa Clara Green Power not only support large-scale renewable projects but also community solar projects in highly visible locations, such as schools and nonprofit senior centers, the utility said.

The average Santa Clara Green Power participant prevents the release of 5,640 pounds of carbon dioxide and harmful particulates into the atmosphere every year. This translates into environmental and air quality benefits equivalent to planting 380 trees or not driving a car for six months, SVP said. Source: APPA, 11/25/2007.

Hewlett Packard to Expand Renewable Energy Use (Ind. Report)

Hewlett-Packard Co. has contracted with SunPower Corp. and Airtricity Holdings Ltd. to expand its use of renewable energy at its San Diego and Ireland facilities. HP will install a one-MW SunPower solar-panel system in San Diego, providing more than 10 percent of its energy use there. It will also purchase more than 80 gigawatt-hours of wind power from Airtricity, which will account for nearly 90 percent of its energy use in Ireland.

HP estimates the one-year agreement with Airtricity will save it $40,000 US while the agreement with SunPower to install 5,000 panels and provide 15 years of maintenance will save HP $750,000 US in energy costs over that period. (Source: CNN Money, Nov. 27, '07)

For more information, contact: Airtricity, 353 1 6556 400, or SunPower Corp., 408-240-5500. Source: epOverviews, 11/28/2007.

Diamond Packaging Commits to 100-Percent Wind Energy

Diamond Packaging recently announced its commitment to purchase clean, renewable wind energy for 100 percent of its electrical energy requirements through RG&E and wind energy marketer and developer Community Energy. The purchase illustrates the company's continued commitment to the environment and the community.

"Our customers recognize and value the commitment we've made to a safe and secure energy future. We hope others will follow our lead and make the choice as well," said Karla Fichter, chief executive officer of Diamond Packaging.

Diamond will purchase approximately 6,723,600 kWh of renewable energy credits over a one-year period. Compared to the average generation mix in the regional electric grid, the environmental benefit from this purchase is equal to offsetting approximately 4,156 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the impact of which is equivalent to planting more than 3,744 acres of trees each year or not driving 10.4 million miles.

"Diamond Packaging has stepped up as a leader in New York State. Their renewable energy purchase puts their energy dollars to work to benefit our economy, our environment, and our energy security. As more customers choose to follow their lead and purchase clean, homegrown energy, we can build more clean power to meet that demand," said Brent Alderfer, president of Community Energy.

The wind energy purchase is part of Diamond's greenbox initiative, the company's commitment to research, design, and implement packaging solutions that are innovative and sustainable. The initiative balances business with environmental considerations by promoting sustainability in all aspects of package production.

The core of Diamond's greenbox initiative--designs, materials, and methods--represents a comprehensive approach to packaging that minimizes environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

Diamond also addresses sustainability throughout the manufacturing process. This includes incorporating best practices at the plant level, such as recycling, process improvements, energy efficiency, and resource recovery and waste management. The wind power purchase is an extension of this objective.

2006 Green-e Verification Report Released

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced today the release of the 2006 Green-e Energy Verification Report, which highlights Green-e Certified renewable energy sales in 2006. The report shows an almost 90 percent increase in total sales volume over the previous year, equivalent to nearly 10 million MWh of renewable energy generation. Nearly 114,000 MWh were purchased or generated by companies participating in Green-e Marketplace, demonstrating their commitment to certified renewable energy.

"Certified renewable energy sales continue to grow rapidly, as the overall market for renewable energy increases and interest in renewable energy expands throughout the country. Purchasers of renewable energy are going above and beyond to drive the development of renewable capacity nationwide," said Jan Hamrin, President of CRS. "With this increased interest and growth in renewable energy--as well as climate change--the need for independent verification becomes ever more important to ensure that voluntary purchases are leading to a real improvement in our environment and energy supply."

Green-e Energy is the nation's leading renewable electricity certification program, providing independent, third party verification to ensure renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer-protection standards set through a collaborative stakeholder-review process with environmentalists, consumer advocates, and energy experts. Providers of Green-e Certified renewable energy undergo an annual verification audit to document that they purchased or generated enough renewable energy in quantity and type to match their marketing claims and meet customer demand. The 2006 verification results represent renewable energy sales from 175 marketers, utilities, distributors, and electricity service providers.

Electronic copies of the Green-e 2006 Verification Report are available on the Green-e Publications page. Source: Center for Resource Solutions | PO Box 29512 | San Francisco | CA | 94129

City Commits to Renewable Energy

Grand Rapids, Mich., reached an agreement with the company to buy more power from renewable sources, and will be one of Consumers Energy's largest buyers of renewable energy.

Mayor George Heartwell said this agreement could be part of a bigger trend. "It symbolizes a new day in Michigan, a new day in the United States, because this is not just happening in Grand Rapids, it's happening in cities all over this country. Mayors are moving their communities more toward a sustainable energy future. And this is just the leading edge of what I hope will be a continued effort for years to come." City leaders say by the end of 2008, 20 percent of the city's electric supply will come from renewable sources. They also say the added cost of buying renewable energy will be offset by reduced water and sewage costs.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, One Electronic Device at a Time

Ten years ago, the United States had around 34 million cell phones in service. Today, more than 200 million!

So, how do these statistics show up on an Energyseeds story? Well, not long ago, I received a handy little solar gadget called the Solio. The Solio is a small, portable and lightweight solar array and battery storage system. Think of it as your own personal "off-grid" power supply. The Solio literature states that an hour of charging in the sun can translate into about 25 minutes of talk time. The nice thing about the Solio, that sets it apart from other chargers, is the onboard lithiom-ion battery. That way, your expensive new mp3 player does not have to be out in the sun to charge.

In fact, you can charge up your Solio and carry that juice with you for up to a year! At first, I was really enjoying setting up the panels and adjusting the angle of the Solio towards the sun by using a pencil. Next, I began to think how I could use it. Buying a Solio portable solar charging device: $80 Teaching the world to reduce their carbon footprint: PRICELESS! Source: Energy Seeds Blog. 11/13/2007.

Give the gift of green this holiday season and receive a free REI gift card with purchase.

The renewable energy industry is growing. Although energy from wind and solar sources represents a small percentage of the energy we consume, the renewable energy industry is making huge strides. In the last year alone, we at Bonneville Environmental Foundation have helped bring enough clean, renewable energy online to power over 46,000 homes for a year. You have the power to accelerate this growth. By purchasing Green Tags through Bonneville Environmental Foundation, you can give your friends and family members the gift that keeps on renewing. You can help offset all of the carbon associated with everyday activities and power the development of clean, green wind and solar energy. Source: BEF, 11/29/2007.

Visit U.S. DOE EERE Green Power Network for more information.

Renewable Energy Technologies

Former President Bush Goes For Small Wind Power

Small wind power has a new advocate: former President George H.W. Bush. Bush installed a $14,000, 33-foot-tall Southwest Windpower Skystream 3.7 windmill at his summer home at Walker's Point, Maine. The turbine can generate 400 kW a month at a wind speed of 12 mph. All Season Home Improvement Co. in Augusta, Maine, was responsible for the installation. Despite making his fortune in oil, the former president has been cognizant of renewable energy's potential for years: His Walker's Point home had solar heating and solar panel systems installed in the 1980s. Source: By AER Staff, 11/28/2007.

Energy--A Developer Could Start Exploratory Drilling Near Newberry Crater in 2008

An energy developer could begin exploratory drilling deep into the Earth's crust alongside Newberry Crater early next year, the latest signal that Oregon's geothermal potential has become a hot prospect.

Connecticut-based Davenport Power has high expectations for the site just outside the boundary of the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in central Oregon. The company won't know whether a full-fledged geothermal project is worthwhile until it probes for the fissures that could yield super-heated water capable of electricity generation.

"The magic here is in finding the cracks, the faults, because that's where the water and heat are," company President Doug Perry said. "The rest is rock."

Geothermal energy generation depends on tapping water in excess of 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The water is brought to the surface and flashed into steam, which rotates turbines that generate power. The cooled water is injected back into the ground.

Studies of the area have found subsurface temperatures as high as 600 degrees, but only exploratory drilling can determine whether the heat is held in water, not simply rock, and that sufficient volume exists to make commercial generation feasible, Perry said. Newberry Crater long has been seen as a potential hot spot for geothermal development. With energy prices surging and demand for renewable resources growing, scrutiny of the area has become more intense. "With changing economic conditions, it's now desirable to explore on Newberry volcano," said Al Waibel, owner of Columbia Geoscience and a consultant on the project.

Davenport also may discover the depth of any opposition. Conservation groups are wary of disturbing an area near a designated national monument. The Sierra Club plans to appeal the Federal Bureau of Land Management decision that helped clear the way for the drilling. Marilyn Miller, a naturalist with the Sierra Club's Juniper Group, said her organization is concerned about the site's proximity to the national monument and about potential damage to forests and wildlife. "We don't think it's the proper place to site a geothermal facility."

Earlier this month, Davenport repaired and improved the Forest Service roads that veer off Oregon 97 about 20 miles southwest of Bend, providing access to the site on the crater's western flank. It soon will haul in the equipment necessary to build three well pads and erect 150-foot-high drilling rigs.

The company said it's prepared to drill as deep as 10,000 feet. If test results prove satisfactory and the company obtains the permits to proceed, the project could begin producing electricity by late 2010, Perry estimated. The company has signed a 20-year contract with California's Pacific Gas & Electric to sell 120 megawatts of power annually from the project. That's enough electricity to light about 80,000 homes. Source: Oregonian via George Frye, LBL, 11/29/2007.

USC Ready to Fire Up New Plant

Firing up the University of South Carolina's new high-tech biomass energy plant is a little like lighting a campfire: Make a pile of wood and strike a match. But this will be a $19 million campfire, using the waste stripped from trees at the nearby International Paper plant to generate energy for the seven miles of steam pipes on the USC campus--plus enough electricity to power the equivalent of 800 to 1,000 average homes.

Helen Zeigler, USC associate vice president for business and facilities, said the university and its contractor, Johnson Controls Inc., expect to fire up the new power plant at Sumter and Whaley streets this week and have it operating at full power within two weeks. It will replace one of four plants that power the campus.

The biomass generator will be the first of its kind to go into operation in the nation, said Ken Detwiler, the senior project manager for Johnson Controls. It is modeled on a similar facility in Canada and is designed to use a stream of forest-products waste that is largely untapped in South Carolina.

"We anticipate a lot of national traffic to see this facility because it is the first of its kind," Zeigler said. "There's such a large supply of this product, we're not going to run out anytime soon." Between 10 million and 20 million tons of tree bark is generated annually in South Carolina, most of which is disposed of as waste. The new USC plant will consume an estimated 57,000 tons of that material each year, a tiny fraction of the available fuel. Johnson Controls estimates traffic into the biomass plant will not exceed 10 trucks per day at peak usage periods. A cathedral-size concrete bin will hold 1,000 tons of wood chips, screened to ensure there are no pieces large enough to clog the system.

Once operations begin, the pine bark and wood chips will be fed continuously into three large gasifiers, where the wood chips are cooked at 1,500 to 1,800 degrees in an oxygen-starved chamber that keeps the fuel from burning. The hot chips, smoldering like the embers at the base of a campfire, will give off combustible gasses that flow into a secondary oxidizer the size of an Iowa grain silo, where oxygen is injected. The result is the relatively clean combustion of the hot gasses, and a rush of 1,800- to 2,200-degree heat that will generate steam and electricity.

After the plant was designed and construction begun, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tightened the limits on solid particles that can be emitted from the plant to about 5 percent of the emissions allowed in the EPA permit for the old fuel-oil and natural-gas boiler the biomass unit will replace.

To meet the new restrictions on emissions, Johnson Controls added a "scrubber," a device that removes solid particles from the gas being emitted through the 92-foot tall stack rising above the plant. Because the shell of the factory was already finished, the contractor had to cut a hole in the roof to lower the scrubber into the building, Detwiler said. The wood chips could save USC more than $2 million a year in energy costs, perhaps more if the cost of natural gas continues to climb, according to Johnson Controls estimates. Some in the neighborhoods around USC have expressed concern the biomass plant will emit odors. Thomas Syfert, director of environmental health and safety at USC, said he is confident it will not produce any odor. "My office is downwind from the plant," Syfert said. "This is going to be a clean operation."

USC officials plan to give neighborhood representatives a tour of the plant Dec. 13. By then they expect to have the biomass generator fully operational.

A classroom will be built inside the biomass plant to give students and faculty the benefit of the new technology. Numerous disciplines will be interested in it, Zeigler said, ranging from engineering students to the School of the Environment.

"There will be some academic benefit," Zeigler said, "But it started out as a cost-saving measure." Source: By JAMES T. HAMMOND.

Victoria's Geothermal Potential to be Further Explored

A further 19 permits will be offered in April 2008 for companies to search for geothermal energy in areas of Victoria previously unexplored, Minister for Energy and Resources Peter Batchelor said today. "More than 154,000 sqkm of previously unallocated land across Victoria will become available for geothermal exploration under permits available to the geothermal industry," Mr Batchelor said. "The Brumby Government is committed to exploring Victoria's renewable energy potential."

"Through the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, the Brumby Government will require 10 per cent of Victoria's energy to come from renewable sources by 2016. "Geothermal energy is clean, green and renewable, and is one source of energy which could help ensure we reach that target."

Geothermal energy is a clean and green energy source generated from naturally occurring heat within the Earth. This heat can be harnessed to produce energy. In hydrothermal geothermal systems, deep groundwater that has been naturally heated to steam temperatures is brought to the surface and used to turn turbines. In dry rock systems, water is injected into hot rocks and returned to the surface once heated. "In the last two years, the number of companies exploring for geothermal energy sources in Australia has doubled," Mr. Batchelor said. "This second release of permits will help ensure Victoria's geothermal potential is realised.

"Exploration for potential geothermal energy sources in Victoria is relatively new. However, there is growing interest in Victoria's potential, given the state's compact size and proximity of potential geothermal sources to the power grid. "Permits for 12 areas were awarded to five companies in April this year, in the first release of acreage for geothermal exploration in Victoria. "These companies committed more than $64 million over five years to explore for geothermal energy sources, with work already underway in the Gippsland area. "This second release of permits will ensure continued investment in Victoria's renewable energy sources." Source: Media-Newswire.com.

Quick facts: Geothermal Energy

Most people have an inkling that if you drilled down to the Earth's core, it would feel pretty hot down there --around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit) to be precise, in fact, according to Greenpeace. (Nearer the Earth's surface, however it is a more bearable 10-16 degrees Celsius (50-60 degrees F) all year round.)

• All that heat produces an extremely high amount of virtually limitless energy. Geothermal energy is the art of exploiting that very resource.
  
• Geothermal energy is the art of exploiting the vast amounts of hot water and steam that is to be found deep within the rocks and fractures beneath the Earth's crust.
  
• The hot water that is found nearer the Earth's surface can be directly pumped into our homes in the form of heating and hot water. And conversely, in Summer time that same system can cool buildings too.
  
• According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), when used on an industrial scale, geothermal fields emit one-sixth of the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that come from a "clean" natural gas power plant.
  
• The advantage geothermal energy has over other energy sources, is it is available for use 24 hours a day, all year-round, at a rate of 90 percent (compared to 75 percent for coal), the DOE says.
  
• According to Environmental Defense, existing geothermal plants in the U.S. produce enough electricity to power 3.5 million homes. The known geothermal reserves, however--if utilized with currently available technology--could power the whole nation for the next 30 years.
  
• Geothermal energy is considered a renewable energy resource as the volume of heat or water taken out can be reinjected back into geothermal areas.
  
• The largest complex of geothermal power plants to be found anywhere in the world are known as the Geysers, and can be found in North California.
  
• While geothermal energy is not in widespread use, the knowledge and technology has been around for more than a century. According to Sierra Age Power, the world's very first geothermal plant began operating back in 1904 in Italy. It is still running today.
  
• Countries around the world that currently use geothermal energy include Iceland, the U.S., Japan, Italy, Indonesia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines, Kenya, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

Sources: Greenpeace; Calpine; Environmental Defense; U.S. Department of Energy; Sierra Age Power, November 28, 2007.

Google to Spend Hundreds of Millions on Developing Renewable Energy

Google Inc. says it will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to develop renewable energy as part of an ambitious plan to clean the environment and reduce the company's own power bill.

The Mountain View company said Tuesday that it will open its deep pockets to foster innovation in solar, wind and geothermal technology in the hopes of making green energy cheaper than power produced by burning coal.

To start the initiative, Google said that it will invest tens of millions of dollars in renewable power, spread over research and development and related investments, in 2008.

"Solar isn't currently cheaper than coal," Google co-founder Larry Page said in a conference call. "That's the point of this--to get it there."

Google, which dubbed the project RE<C, short for Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal, stands to benefit from cheaper electricity by reducing the costs of running its vast electricity-hungry data centers. Executives declined to discuss the amount of power used in the facilities.

Google also hopes to license any technology spawned from the effort to other companies so that they, too, can reduce their reliance on more polluting forms of energy while saving money. Co-founder Sergey Brin raised the possibility that the fees will be a new source of revenue for his company, but insisted that the goal isn't to rake in big profit.

About 40 percent of the world's electricity comes from coal-fired power plants. Providing an affordable, cleaner alternative would go a long way in reducing pollution, particularly in China, where coal plants are proliferating.

In unveiling its plan, Google joins many companies and investors focused on clean energy, an area that is getting increasing attention amid high energy costs and concern about global warming. That list includes Wal-Mart, Cisco Systems and Hewlett-Packard. Google's financial contribution will be relatively minor when measured against overall investment on alternative energy.

Ron Pernick, co-founder of Clean Edge, an energy research company, said U.S. venture capital investment alone in clean energy was $2.4 billion, according to a joint study by Clean Edge and Nth Power, a venture capital firm.

Whether Google's money will fund anything new is unclear because the company announced few specifics. But Pernick said that Google's contribution is significant nonetheless, because it sets a clear goal. "What they did today was to put a stake in the ground saying, 'Let's get renewable energy to be cost-competitive with coal,' " he said. "That's the differentiator that shows vision and commitment."

In general, Google said it will make investments and give grants to projects that show promise in developing energy at a cost below coal-fired power plants. Companies, universities and research and development labs will be eligible.

Google.org, Google's philanthropic arm, which will fund all the company's investment in outside companies, already is working with two partners in alternative energy.

ESolar, in Pasadena, designs solar thermal power plants. Makani Power, in Alameda, is working on wind power generated at high altitudes, a futuristic technology that potentially calls for turbines to be held aloft on kites or sails.

Executives from both startups were unavailable for comment. Larry Brilliant, who leads Google.org, declined to offer details about their cooperation.

Google's founders acknowledged that renewable energy is far more expensive than coal, which can cost 2 to 4 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on the country. Bill Weihl, who oversees green energy for Google, said that the cost of renewable energy will have to drop to 1 to 3 cents per kilowatt hour to make it competitive.

James Sweeney, a Stanford professor and director of the university's Precourt Institute for Energy Efficiency, said wind and geothermal power, under ideal conditions, are already close to Google's target price. However, solar power is several times more expensive than coal and would require significant innovation to become competitive.

Sweeney applauded Google's plans and said that it's almost irrelevant whether the company meets its goal. He said that the money will push innovation if it is well spent.

"If a large fraction goes to investing into companies that are being created anyway, then it's a big drop in a bucket," Sweeney said. "But if it's funding basic research, which isn't getting enough funding, then it's probably a significant force in moving this forward."

As part of its plan, Google intends to hire up to 30 engineers and energy experts. The plan is to generate one gigawatt of renewable energy, enough to power a city the size of San Francisco.

No deadline was announced. The company gave a vague timeline of years, not decades.

Potentially, the company could even operate power plants next to its data centers.

Google's founders have long been interested in energy efficiency and have played a big role in getting the company to go green. Last year the company said it would become carbon-neutral by the end of this year, meaning that it will be responsible for zero carbon emissions.

Relying on renewable energy would help bring Google closer to the goal. But in practice, it probably means the company will engage in buying "carbon offsets," the controversial practice of paying others to plant trees that then absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Already, Google has built a solar panel installation at its headquarters that generates 1.6 megawatts, making it among the biggest corporate arrays in the country. In addition, the company has put out a request for proposals to fund up to $10 million in research and development of electric and hybrid cars.

Google's founders have taken some hits, however, for failing to practice what they preach by flying in a Boeing 767 that they own through a holding company. Brin answered the criticism Tuesday by emphasizing that he compensates for the pollution from the flights by buying carbon offsets.

Brin added that Google's interest in renewable energy won't distract the company from its main search and online advertising businesses. But he added that he doesn't want the company's focus to "preclude us from using some of our resources on more speculative areas, especially when they touch us."
Chronicle staff writer David R. Baker contributed to this report. Source: Verne Kopytoff, Chronicle Staff Writer; Wednesday, November 28, 2007

AWEA WindLetter

The monthly newsletter of the American Wind Energy Association, Volume 26, Issue No. 11 - November 2007, is now online. Source: AWEA, 11/27/2007.

Learn more about renewable resources.

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

Nominations open for Wind Co-op of the Year

Nominations for the 2007 Wind Cooperative of the Year Award are now being accepted. Deadline is midnight, Jan. 16, 2008.

Sponsored by DOE's Wind Powering America Program, the award honors one electric cooperative for its leadership in wind power. Nominees must be members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to be eligible for the award.

For more information, contact Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7423. Source: Western Area Power Administration, 11/28/2007.

NRECA, APPPA, AWEA, UWIG, WAPA, DOE to Offer Wind Interconnection Workshop

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, American Wind Energy Association, UWIG, Western Area Power Administration, and DOE's Wind Powering America Program are presenting a wind interconnection workshop January 23-25, 2008 at the Western Area Power Administration's Electric Power Training Center in Golden, CO.

This workshop will focus on the interconnection of wind turbines to electric cooperative and public power distribution systems as well as other distributed generation (DG) applications. The workshop will begin with an overview of wind energy, distributed wind applications, economics, and development issues and opportunities. Following the overview, participants will use tools developed by UWIG to assess the impact of wind generation on distribution systems. Training will include an introduction to the theory behind the use of each applet and practical examples of their use using actual cooperative feeder data.

Additionally, WAPA's Electric Power Training Center (EPTC) instructors will discuss North American Electric Reliability Corporation and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations pertaining to wind energy and offer tours of the center. Participants will have the opportunity to operate the EPTC's hands-on miniature power system, which includes a Wind Farm Simulator developed in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Wind Powering America Program. There will also be an optional tour on January 25 of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Wind Technology Center.

Workshop registration is $300 and is limited to the first 30 registrants. More information is available by contacting Bob Putnam of CH2M Hill, at 315-751-2638. Source: UWIG, 11/30/2007.

Geothermal Development and Finance Workshop

Come to Geothermal Development and Finance Workshop on Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Bally's Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, and learn about our dynamic and fast expanding market. The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) will be bringing together experts from all different facets including:

• Developers of New Projects
• Green financing
• Investing
• Marketing
• Sustainable resources
• Policy

National, state and local political leaders in renewable energy are also invited. GEA is presenting this event with the help of our very special sponsors:
Glitnir Bank
Nevada Power 
Ormat Technologies
Sierra Pacific

Co-sponsors include:
Geothermal Resource Council
Western Area Power Administration

For admission information, contact Karl Gawell at 202-454-5264, or register online. For sponsorship information, contact Kathy Kent at 202-454-5263. Source Western Area Power Administration, 11/28/2007.

Groundbreaking Analysis Finds Abundant, Low-Cost U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Opportunities

A groundbreaking independent analysis of greenhouse gas emissions reduction opportunities across the U.S. economy shows that projected emissions could be cut by as much as one-half by 2030 at a manageable cost, and without major technological breakthroughs or significant changes in consumer behavior.

"This study shows that with the right national policy--and a quick start--we can go almost all the way with the technologies and lifestyles we have today," said Peter Goldmark, Director of the Climate and Air Program at Environmental Defense, a sponsor of the report. "Few of these opportunities can be realized without the right policy incentives, and many of them could slip away if we don't grab them soon." "It's up to Congress now to help companies grab the low-hanging fruit with a smart, market-driven policy," Goldmark added.

The study, Reducing US Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?, found that emissions reductions along the lines of climate change legislation pending in Congress can be achieved by 2030 with proven and emerging technologies, and that nearly 40 percent of 250 potential emissions reductions opportunities would more than pay for themselves and create net savings for the economy. The analysis was conducted by management consulting firm McKinsey & Company and published jointly with the Conference Board, a business research organization.

McKinsey's landmark study looked at opportunities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the main carbon-emitting sectors of the U.S. economy in unprecedented detail. The independent analysis drew on actual industrial experience, assumed that consumer behavior and preferences would remain in line with current trends, and did not assume major technological breakthroughs.

Key implications of the study's findings include:

• Emissions reductions totaling 3.0 to 4.5 gigatons are achievable by 2030 at manageable cost using existing and presently emerging technologies;
• Achieving identified emissions reductions will require an economy-wide strategy and clear policy framework;
• Delaying implementation of a comprehensive national strategy will lead to higher costs because energy efficiency opportunities become more expensive over time; and,
• Capital expenditures necessary to realize emissions reductions opportunities between now and 2030 will represent an increase of about 1.5 percent in the $77 trillion in real investment the U.S. economy is expected to make over the same period.

Along with Environmental Defense, other sponsors of the study include DTE Energy, Honeywell, National Grid, Natural Resources Defense Council, PG&E and Shell. Source: Environmental Defense, 11/28/2007.

SMUD awarded $75,000 Grant to Develop Energy Curriculum for Schools

Energy and the Environment (E&E) explores the science, politics and policy of climate change in this ongoing special report. The report is broken into three distinct sections: domestic policy, international action, and science and technology. Source: E&E Publishing, 11/29/2007.

Saved by the Sun PBS/Nova Special

The recent hour long PBS/Nova special, Saved by the Sun, can be watched on-line. The program is divided into six chapters. Choose any chapter below and select QuickTime or Windows Media Player to begin viewing the video. If you experience difficulty viewing, it may be due to high demand. Source: Frank Vignola, University of Oregon, 11/29/2007.

Learn more about educational resources.

News from Washington

GAO Report Highlights Geothermal's Small Share of Federal Electricity Subsidies Compared to Fossil Fuels

A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) compares Federal electricity subsidies from research and development (R&D) and tax expenditures awarded to three fuel types-fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy-from fiscal year (FY) 2002 through FY 2007. According to the report, R&D expenditures totaled $11.5 billion, with $6.2 billion to nuclear, $3.1 billion to fossil fuel, and $1.4 billion to renewables. The report shows that renewables, especially geothermal energy, have enjoyed only a small percentage of total subsidies during this time period. While renewable R&D funding overall has increased by 23 percent, this was largely due to the increased funding for the solar program. Tax expenditures totaled $18.2 billion, with $13.7 billion to fossil fuels and $2.8 to renewables (no new nuclear plants have been built since 2002, so no tax expenditures accrued). "The new technology credit, which reduces the cost of electricity generation from wind, geothermal, and solar energy, is the largest tax expenditure directed at renewable electricity production," according to the report. Source: GEA, 11/28/2007.

Learn more about legislative activities.

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Black & Veatch Study Identifies Renewable Energy Resources in Arizona

Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company, has identified more than 5,000 megawatts (MW) of untapped renewable energy resources in Arizona, enough to meet the energy needs of more than 1.5 million customers.

Arizona's three largest utilities, Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project and Tucson Electric Power (TEP), commissioned a renewable energy assessment to determine the availability of the state's renewable energy resources. Black & Veatch was selected to conduct the research because of the company's global expertise in renewable energy studies and projects.

"The purpose of this study was to learn the types of renewable resources that could be developed within Arizona," said Ryan Pletka, Project Manager for Black & Veatch. "This study will assist Arizona's utilities in identifying opportunities that will help them meet their renewable energy goals."

According to the Black & Veatch study, more than 4,300 MW of electricity could be produced using solar thermal generation. In addition, nearly 1,500 MW of electricity could be developed from wind power generation. Other resources could provide as much as 175 MW of electricity through a combination of hydropower, biomass and geothermal technologies. However, further review will be needed to determine the comparative value of developing these in-state renewable energy resources versus purchasing electricity from out of state.

"As states continue to institute renewable energy standards, utilities need to have a clear understanding of their renewable resources," said Dean Oskvig, President and CEO of Black & Veatch's global energy business. "Black & Veatch's proprietary models and tools enable us to provide clients with a thorough analysis for the development of sustainable solutions that meet their economic, environmental and energy goals." Source: NAU, 10/26/2007.

Folsom-SMUD Partnership Makes Solar Easier, More Affordable

For Folsom residents, installing money-saving, renewable energy solar systems just got more affordable thanks to a new partnership between the City of Folsom and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD).

Last week, the Folsom City Council passed a resolution that will waive the permit fee for a residential solar installation, and agreed that city staff will review the application in one day, use a standardized application packet, and conduct the post-installation inspection within 24 hours. The Folsom-SMUD partnership is landmark as it means that the permit fee has been waived throughout Sacramento County, for all residents--whether they live in a city or the unincorporated portion of the county. SMUD undertook the effort in early 2007 to gain partnerships with all six city councils and the county board of supervisors. The partnerships are three-year pilot programs that run through 2009.

SMUD also works directly with residential customers by providing financial incentives to help reduce the cost of solar electric systems by as much as 25 percent. In addition, the homeowner is eligible for a $2,000 Federal tax credit. In combination with energy efficiency practices and equipment, owners of solar-powered homes can see drastic reductions and even credits on their SMUD bills.

SMUD has installed enough solar power in its service territory to power the equivalent of 9,000 average sized homes. Solar power units have been installed on residential, commercial and government buildings and in larger, utility-scale arrays. Recently SMUD has partnered with local homebuilders to construct Solar Smart homes that combine the latest energy efficiency features with solar power.

SMUD has been a pioneer in energy efficiency and renewable energy for over 25 years creating nationally recognized energy efficiency programs in the 1970s and building one of the world's first solar plants in the
1980s. Since then, SMUD's solar programs for residential and commercial customers have been viewed as industry leaders. SMUD was one of the first utilities to establish renewable energy goals, with plans to have
20 percent of its energy coming from renewables by 2011. Source: SMUD, 11/28/07.

Midwestern Governors Sign Climate and Energy Pacts

Governors from six Midwestern states-Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin-and the Premier of Manitoba signed an agreement recently that will lead to a regional cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions. The Midwestern Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord commits the six states and the province to establish targets for greenhouse gas reductions and to develop the cap-and-trade system, all within the next year. The targets will apply to multiple sectors (not just electric utilities) and will be "consistent with the 60 to 80 percent recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." Indiana, Ohio, and South Dakota also signed on as observers to the agreement, which will be fully implemented within the next two and a half years. In addition, all of the above Midwestern states, as well as Nebraska and North Dakota, adopted an energy strategy for improved energy efficiency, increased deployment of renewable energy and low-carbon fossil fuel technologies, and carbon dioxide sequestration. Source: GEA, 11/28/2007. 

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Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

Request for Proposal - Firm Purchase Power

Western proposes to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to 200 MW of purchase power with the intent of awarding one or more Purchase Power Agreements with a contract delivery term of up to 5 years. The RFP will be available in December 2007. The RFP will consider power supplied from renewable and/or non-renewable resources. Proposals that contain renewable resources will include the associated Renewable Energy Certificates. Source: Western, 11/25/2007.

RFP125145 - Solar Water Heating Incentive Program

RFP125145 - The City of Palo Alto is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide professional services to develop and implement a turnkey outsourced solar water heating incentive program that complies with AB1470. AB1470 established new state law that requires all natural gas utilities to implement such a program. The required services and performance conditions are described in the Scope of Work (or Services). Source: Palo Alto Utilities, 11/25/2007; Revision Date: 11/21/2007.

$21,700,000 US in Grants Towards $30,300,000 US Investment in PV Research - Cont'd. (R&D - Funding)

The U.S. DOE is investing $21,700,000 US in next generation photovoltaic technology under the "Future Generation Photovoltaic Devices & Processes" program. 25 projects will be implemented at 15 universities and 6 companies; each award averages $900,000 US from DOE over three years. With cost-sharing, the total investment in research will be up to $30,300,000 US. The following projects were selected for negotiation of awards:

University of Illinois (Urbana)--This project will seek a low cost PV concentrator from automated printing and the interconnection of a large number of microcells with built-in optics. DOE will provide up to $900,000 US for this $1,100,000 US project. Contact: John Rogers, 217-244-4979.

University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)--This project will seek to demonstrate effective tandem crystalline organic photovoltaic cells. DOE will provide up to $790,049 for this $900,000 project. Contact: Stephen Forrest, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 248-764-1185.

University of South Florida (Tampa, FL)--The University will demonstrate a new flexible configuration with a high throughput process for transforming the standard process/product design of CdTe cells and modules. DOE will provide up to $881,972 US for this $1,200,000 US project. Contact: Christos Ferekides, Professor, Electrical Engineering, University of South Florida, 813-974-4818.

University of Washington (Seattle, WA)--This project will seek to use interfacial engineering to make highly efficient polymer-based photovoltaic devices with organic/inorganic nanostructures; it also seeks to produce improved performance multilayer, solution processible organic tandem cells with additional enhancements due to interfacial engineering at the electrode. DOE will provide up to $900,000 US for this project. Contact: Alex Jen Boeing Johnson Chair Professor of Materials Science & Engineering, 206-543-2626.

Voxtel, Inc. (Beaverton, OR)--Voxtel will seek to go beyond conventional limits in power production in composite nanocrystal photovoltaic devices. DOE will provide up to $672,878 for this $841,098 US project. Contact: David Schut, Voxtel, 971-223-5646.

Editor's Note: Previous details were provided in our Nov. 26, 27 & 28 issues, this concludes our coverage of details of these projects. (Source: Environmental Research Web, Nov. 20, '07/U.S. DOE, Nov. 14, '07)

Contact: Kevin Brosnahan, U.S. DOE Solar Technologies Program, Solar America Initiative. Source: EPOverviews, 11/29/2007.

Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program

DOE is offering a new Entrepreneur in Residence Program to bring venture capital sponsored entrepreneurs into three of DOE's national laboratories to develop commercialization plans for new clean energy technologies.

The entrepreneurs in residence will identify technologies that, when commercialized in private sector companies, will contribute to DOE's mission to promote America's energy security through reliable, clean and affordable energy.

DOE will initially support the work of three entrepreneurs by providing up to $300,000 in funding. Applications are due Dec. 21, 2007. Source: DOE Golden Field Office, 11/30/2007.

Learn more about funding solicitations.