Green Power

Curtis Packaging Neutralizes its Carbon Emissions

Five years ago, Curtis Packaging began assessing and tweaking its operations to reduce its carbon footprint. The custom folding carton manufacturer announced this week that its efforts have paid off by becoming the first U.S. printing and packaging company to achieve carbon neutral status. The company is Forest Stewardship Certified and uses all renewable energy to power its operations. It will offset its unavoidable emissions by investing in audited mitigation projects, such as the Mynydd-Y-Garnedd forestry project in Wales and the Rhine-Ruhr methane capture project in Germany.

London's The CarbonNeutral Company worked with Curtis Packaging to manage its emissions. Curtis also joined the Sustainable Packaging Coalition to promote materials and systems that foster economic and environmental health.  It boasts an environmental officer, or "E.O," which has mandated that Curtis recycle paperboard waste, reuse materials and pallets, and revitalize its ink fountain solutions. Switching to solely using green power afforded the company a slew of media interest, Curtis' vice president of sales and marketing said on its website.

"We have also signed up new customers because of our 'green' commitment," said Don Droppo Jr. "Hopefully after hearing the positive impact this has had on our business, other business owners or corporations may follow suit to do their part to help sustain the environment."  Droppo said a major cosmetics manufacturer challenged Curtis to produce a carton made from recycled board. The project led Curtis to discover a paper mill that made recycled board that had 75 percent post-consumer content made from wind power.  Contact: GreenBiz.com -- Source: SANDY HOOK, Conn., 10/12/2007.

Consumers' Green Fatigue Due to Lack of Awareness, Economic Worries: Survey

The economy may be having its way with the burgeoning green economy: as consumers' fears about slowdowns in the housing and other sectors increase, their willingness to pay a perceived premium for environmentally friendly or energy efficient products is on the decline.  That's the message from Energy Pulse 2007, the third annual national consumer market study conducted by the Shelton Group, which were released yesterday. For instance, respondents to the survey were over 16 percent less likely to buy an energy efficient home product this year than they said they were last year. Although much of the drawdown can be blamed on fallout from the sub-prime mortgage loan scandal, Shelton Group CEO Suzanne Shelton said that economic concerns are only half the equation.

"In the past few years, consumers have been bombarded by the marketing messages of companies jumping on the green-friendly bandwagon," Shelton said. "People are becoming much more inquiring about the bill of green goods being sold to them--not only in terms of 'is it as green as what they say it is?' but also 'does it matter enough to me to pay extra?'"  "Fewer consumers seem willing to put the up-front cash into a green or energy-efficient purchase despite how much it may save them in the long-run or how it might assuage their guilt about the environment," Shelton added. "Marketers should take notice with respect to the content and credibility of their messages. Prices matter, and consumers may be growing weary of companies that appear to tout 'green' merely as a marketing ploy."

For eight different kinds of energy efficient home products, this year's Energy Pulse survey found that consumers are on average 16 percent less likely to go green, with 11 percent saying they're less likely to buy CFL or halogen light bulbs, 15 percent less likely to buy special insulation, and 19 percent saying they're less likely to buy an Energy Star certified home appliance.  The survey wasn't entirely gloom-and-doom for the green economy: consumer interest in renewable energy for their homes is at an all-time high. Over 54 percent of respondents said they were likely or very likely to participate in a green power program through their utility, up from 44 percent last year. But despite the growth in consumer interest in these programs, the survey found that actual participation in green energy programs is at a standstill: over the last three years, the number of consumers saying they already participate in these programs has actually dropped slightly, from 3.4 percent in 2005 to 3.2 percent this year.

Sheldon chalked this up to poor promotion and marketing from utility companies.  "Utilities that fail to initiate and sustain strong, consistent marketing support of green power should expect continued low response levels due to the extra effort required of consumers to participate in most programs," Shelton said. "In addition, it's not just the existence of marketing programs that's important--it's the targeting of these programs. Not everyone is a good prospect for green power. Utilities should target customers who both have the means and the interest to participate. A mass-market approach isn't appropriate." Source: GreenBiz, 10/15/2007.

Miller Brewing Co. Discloses Progress on Sustainability Goals

Miller Brewing Co. trimmed carbon dioxide emissions 10 percent per barrel in the last two years and used less water, aluminum and fossil fuels to produce its beer, according to its first Sustainable Development Report released Monday. Last year, the company established a set of 10 sustainable development priorities that serve as the criteria of the report findings.  For instance, the company wants to make more beer but use less water. In the report, Miller said that 196 million gallons of water were conserved through new process efficiencies. The company also committed to reducing its energy and carbon footprint. In addition shaving its CO2 by 10 percent, Miller also used 6.1 percent less fossil fuels per barrel of beer produced during the last two years.

The company used 622 tons of aluminum less as part of its goal focusing on packaging, reuse and recycling. The company said 99.3 percent of brewery waste, such as glass, cardboard and organic waste, is recycled or reused. Other priorities include discouraging irresponsible drinking, benefiting communities and respecting human rights, among other goals.  The company's report notes that its Milwaukee brewery is powered by wind power, while facilities in Texas and California are partially powered by biogas.  "The actions detailed in our report are just a start...It's good for business, the environment and the communities we serve," Tom Long, Miller's president and CEO, said in a statement. Source: GreenBiz.

APS to Let Customers decide on Renewable Energy Sources

It's not easy being green--especially for businesses--but Arizona's largest power utility is making it a little easier with a new renewable-energy program called Green Choice. The program lets APS customers decide if they want their power to be generated by renewable energy sources. Ratepayers can purchase renewable energy in exact quantities or as a percentage of monthly usage by paying an additional 1 cent per kilowatt-hour. APS spokesman Steven Gotfried said these funds go toward purchasing more wind and geothermal energy and, in early 2008, another renewable energy source, biomass.
 
Arizona Small Business Association Chief Executive Joan Koerber-Walker said Green Choice offers small businesses a good opportunity. "APS Green Choice is a great option for small businesses that have control of their facilities," she said. "(Renewable energy) is more accessible now for businesses and homeowners if they have their own building or a long-term lease."  APS is required to obtain 1.75 percent of its energy from renewable sources in 2008, but Green Choice does not count toward this percentage. Green Choice is set up as an "additional" service that will help APS buy more renewable energy, but it does not fall under the new Renewable Energy Standard, passed by the Arizona Corporation Commission in October 2006. The Renewable Energy Standard requires APS to incrementally increase the percentage of its total electricity sold from renewable energy sources annually until it reaches 15 percent by 2025.  "It's all about creating a sustainable and more promising future for Arizona, as well as a better business environment," Gotfried said.

Because the new rule requires APS to seek more renewable sources, the utility is requesting a rate increase for customers. The Corporation Commission already approved a $1.05 monthly increase for homeowners, $39 for small businesses and $117 for light industrial.  But APS said those increases fall short of the company's needs, and it filed an implementation plan for the commission to review. The APS proposal would raise those increases to $1.89, $70.39, and $211.16, respectively. Source: The Business Journal of Phoenix -- by W.J. Hennigan The Business Journal.

Green Power: Electric Co-Ops Try to Build Renewable Energy Sources

Athens residents Beth and Gary Hedrick, along with more than 670 other Jackson Electric Membership Cooperative customers, pay a little extra on their monthly power bill to boost renewable energy use, research and education. The additional payment supports Green Power EMC, a nonprofit corporation that Jackson EMC and more than 30 other member-owned electric cooperatives around the state have joined to develop and expand sources of clean energy. The program allows EMC customers to pay a little extra to cover costs of electric power generated by alternative energy sources such as methane gas from landfills, low-impact hydroelectric dams and solar panels at schools.

Green Power EMC, billed as the first renewable energy program in Georgia, has grown to be one of the largest such programs in the Southeast, said Katrice Bryant, a public relations executive with Jackson EMC. "Green power has generated over 112 million kilowatt hours (based on July figures) since everything went on line a little over three years ago," Bryant said.

That amount of renewable energy equates taking 100,000 cars off the road or planting 135,000 trees, the Green Power EMC Web site states. EMC customers pay $4.50 extra for a block of 150 kilowatt hours of renewable energy, which is used to offset the total amount of electric power used by the EMC network, said Alan Shedd, an engineer with Jackson EMC's commercial and industrial marketing program. In other words, a particular Jackson EMC customer won't necessarily have 150 kilowatts of green power sent to his or her home. "You're paying for putting electricity in the grid from green power in one location, but it's all going in to fill up the tank, so to speak," Shedd said.

That arrangement is fine with Hedrick, who said she simply wants to do what she can to support renewable energy. "I don't care whether it goes into my house, but I want (Jackson EMC) to have the ability to invest in this because I know it takes lots of money, and I think it's important."

Still, less than 1 percent of Jackson EMC's 167,000 customers in a 10-county area in Northeast Georgia participate in the program, partly because limited sources of renewable energy mean the EMCs only can sell an allotted number of power blocks. The 35 EMCs that comprise Green Power EMC serve 3 million customers, but EMC officials have not seen the numbers they expected in overall enrollment, said Terri Statham, media relations coordinator with Georgia EMC, the statewide trade organization representing the EMCs. "Each EMC tracks its own numbers, so there is no collective number for the total number of people participating in Green Power," Statham said. "It's been a little disappointing in terms of enrollment numbers."

Customers initially indicated strong interest in the program when it first was announced, but when enrollment began, EMCs reported that fewer customers than expected signed up, Statham said. She guessed about 1 percent of all the EMC customers eligible for the Green Power program have signed on. The majority of the green power in the EMC program comes from two "biomass" stations that convert methane gas from landfills to electricity."Landfill gas, which provides most of our renewable electricity, is a great source, a constant supply," Shedd said. "That garbage is rotting 24/7."  

The Tallassee Shoals low-impact hydroelectric dam located on the Middle Oconee River near the border of Jackson and Clarke counties, accounts for about 6 million kilowatt hours produced since it became operational in 2005. Low-impact hydropower uses turbine systems installed on small rivers and streams and have less environmental effects than larger dams. The Tallassee Shoals Hydroelectric Project produces 2.3 megawatts of power, and Green Power EMC purchases the electricity from the project's owner. Fall Line Hydro Co. Inc. owns and operates the small power generating facility, which is licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Certified by the Low Impact Hydro Institute, the Tallassee Shoals power plant met certification criteria covering areas such as river flows, water quality, fish passage and protection, watershed protection and several other categories involving environmental impact.

The hydropower generators are subject to the river's flow, however, and the recent drought has curtailed power generation at the Tallassee Shoals facility, said Bob Davis, project manager with Lawrenceville-based Fall Line Hydro. Davis said his company uses the time when the generator is not operational to conduct maintenance on the facility and equipment. If the Middle Oconee River had good stream flow all year, the Tallassee Shoals plant could produce about 7.5 million kilowatt hours of energy, Davis said.

Hydro and biomass power represent Green Power EMC's current renewable energy sources, but sometime next year, the corporation expects to begin buying power from Earth Resources Inc., a Franklin County operation that will burn chicken litter and wood scraps to produce 20 megawatts of electricity a year through steam-driven turbines. A little more than two years ago, Green Power EMC began testing the potential for using wind power. Renewable Generation Inc. installed a wind assessment tower on top of Oglethorpe Power Corp.'s Rocky Mountain Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Plant in Floyd County.

The tower has been collecting data on wind currents. Another Green Power initiative in which data is collected related to power usage is the Sun Power for Schools program. EMCs installed solar voltaic cell panels at selected middle and high schools for students to learn about solar energy, Shedd said. Fourteen schools are participating, including Mill Creek High School in Hoschton and Oconee County High School. A seven-panel solar grid is connected to a school's electrical system and produces about 1 kilowatt of electricity when the sun is bright, Shedd said. By comparison, a house needs four to six times that energy level. The real advantage to the Sun Power for Schools program, however, is the information available through the system, Shedd said.

The system is equipped to monitor data about how much energy is being generated, and the information is available online. "We can gather data from our solar voltaic cells but also from around the world to compare the efficiency of our cells to that of others," said Suzanne Roginski, an advanced placement biology teacher at Mill Creek. Mill Creek's panel, in use since January 2006, is between 7 percent and 10 percent efficient, and can generate enough energy to power a refrigerator, Roginski said.

At Oconee County High, which has not had its solar panel as long as Mill Creek, science teacher Vicki Soutar said she plans to incorporate the solar cells as part of a meteorology study to see how cloudy days and seasonal changes affect the power generation. "The objective is to teach how the systems work and to see how each differs," Shedd said. "More importantly, it's helping to educate a generation of consumers."

Meanwhile, EMC customers are helping fund Sun Power for Schools through that extra $4.50 a month. The fee breaks down to about 3 cents per kilowatt, and half a cent for each kilowatt is spent on research and development of renewable energy, including the Sun Power for Schools program, Shedd said. The other 21/2 cents per kilowatt covers operational costs for producing the green power.

When the Green Power program began, Jackson EMC's involvement in the initiative thrilled Hedrick, who thought the relative small size of the cooperative would prevent it from offering renewable energy sources. "I was really excited, because I had no idea Jackson EMC would be able to do something like that," Hedrick said. Hedrick also liked the idea of Green Power's plan to buy power produced by burning chicken waste. "That's definitely renewable," Hedrick said. Source: By Don Nelson, 10/16/2007.

Sundance Square Becomes Largest Real Estate Green Power Purchaser in Texas

Sundance Square, one of the country's premier mixed-use developments, announced today that beginning in January 2008 it will purchase cleaner, renewable energy to offset 10 percent of its yearly energy needs for the next five years. The vibrant district, located in downtown Fort Worth, is purchasing the green power from Texas-based Green Mountain Energy Company, Texas' only electricity provider dedicated to cleaner energy.

In 2008, Sundance Square will purchase an estimated 6.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power from Green Mountain Energy Company for its commercial, residential, entertainment, and retail development that encompasses 35 city blocks.

Sundance Square's green power purchase exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership purchase requirements. According to EPA, Sundance Square is the largest green power purchaser in Texas among EPA's real estate partners and the second largest nationally in the real estate industry. 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 electricity use. By purchasing the renewable energy, Sundance Square will offset an estimated 8.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2), a harmful greenhouse gas that leads to global warming. That is the equivalent of taking more than 760 cars off the road for one year, or the amount of CO2 absorbed by over 516,000 trees in one year.

Green Mountain Energy Company was awarded the five year electricity contract after a competitive Bid process facilitated by PoCo Energy Group, the energy consultant for Sundance Square. Green Mountain was selected as a result of its competitive rates and leadership in the renewable energy industry. The company is the nation's longest serving green power marketer in the U.S.

"Green Mountain has the best value proposition in the market," said Paul Thomas, CEO of Green Mountain Energy Company. "Our company was founded with an environmental mission: to change the way power is made. We were green before green was cool."

Sundance Square and Green Mountain Energy Company also will jointly develop marketing and sales initiatives to promote renewable energy among current tenants, visitors, and local Fort Worth residents. Sundance Square has become a recognized center of activity within the DFW area, and has become host to major events throughout the year.

Renewable energy or "green power" includes electricity that is partially or entirely generated from cleaner resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Green power purchases accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide. Source: Next News, 10/12/2007.

Green Power Marketing Monthly Update -- September 2007

Read the September issue of Green Power Marketing Monthly along with other great information on competitive green power marketing, utility green pricing programs, renewable energy certificates, green power pricing, and related market activity. Source: Western, 10/16/2007.

BEF's Autumn 2007 Newsletter

Read the Bonneville Environmental Foundation's Autumn 2007 newsletter. Source: BEF, 10/15/2007.

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

Renewable Energy Technologies

Catching the Wind in a Bottle

At the Iowa Stored Energy Park, a coalition of local utilities is grappling with one of the thorniest challenges in the field of renewable power: how to store the excess energy windmills create when demand is low so it can be used later, when the need is greater. This trick does more than capture wind that might otherwise be wasted. It also lets the utility sell the stored energy when demand is peaking and prices are highest. More than 100 municipal utilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and the Dakotas are ponying up a total of $200 million to build the 268-megawatt system. Source: BusinessWeek -- USA via Wind Energy News, 10/15/2007.

Bonneville Power Enters 20-Year, 50-MW PPA with PPM for Klondike Wind Energy

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) inked a new 20-year agreement to purchase 50 MW of capacity from PPM Energy's 221-MW Klondike Wind Power III project near Wasco, Ore.

The purchase, which BPA called "cost competitive" in its news release, will help the agency ensure it has an adequate power supply to meet customer needs in the years ahead, BPA said. The agreement increases BPA's total renewable capacity supply by roughly 25 percent, from about 207 MW to 257 MW.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Fifth Northwest Power Plan anticipates wind power will play a major role in meeting the region's future demand for electricity. The plan foresees the development of up to 5,000 MW of new wind power over its 20-year planning period. Additionally, regional and national consumer concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, along with Northwest legislation encouraging more renewable power supplies, are fueling growth in wind power popularity, BPA noted.

"Public demand in the Northwest for sources of clean, renewable power has never been stronger," said BPA Administrator Steve Wright. "This Klondike III purchase is a sound business decision-it's cost-competitive, fits with the agency's goals of serving the region's needs, and helps BPA maintain its near-zero carbon footprint."

BPA, a federal agency, primarily uses hydropower in meeting load. Had BPA purchased the equivalent energy output of the Klondike III contract from an efficient fossil-fuel source such as a natural gas-fired, combined-cycle generator, the associated emissions could range between 27,000 tons and 72,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, according to BPA.

Three states that include BPA customers- Washington, Oregon, and Montana-have enacted legislation requiring utilities to phase in additional renewable energy sources over time. The Klondike III purchase will help BPA keep up with the increase in demand for renewable power that is expected to grow in future years, the agency said. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 10/15/2007.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Provides Massive Wind Power for State

Colorado unleashed the power of a 274 turbine, 300-megawatt wind generating station at Cedar Creek, in northern Weld County, Colorado, this past week. The governor noted three "wins" from the project, one of three coming on-line since he took office in January. The economy, the environment, and energy independence are the three big beneficiaries, according to the governor's remarks. The new facility, run by Xcel Energy and developed by BP Alternative Energy and international investment firm Babcock & Brown, will provide power for about 90,000 homes at the end of the year, said the governor's press release. The governor recently signed legislation which requires large utilities to derive at least twenty percent of their power from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020, the so-called "renewable portfolio standard." "We're going to hit that target by the end of the year," he is quoted as saying during a dedication where strong winds added a dramatic effect, "that's about eight years early."

Noting the nature of the Colorado weather, the governor said, "To any farmer or rancher who has ever been on a tractor and cursed the wind, today we honor it." Winds blowing along Colorado's Front Range often blow strongly, only now Colorado winds are being transformed into an important resource. The high number of sunny days will also likely figure into Colorado's energy future. One of the challenges of wind power on such a large scale is the "NIMBY" effect, where ideal locations are, like Massachusetts' Nantucket Sound, the location of resort areas where they may be considered undesirable, and politicians are challenged to balance the national and environmental priorities against their constituents' and neighbors. Source: By Dave Maddox, 10/13/2007.

Geothermal a Cheaper, Clean Source of Energy

Here is some information about geothermal energy from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Q: What are the benefits of using geothermal energy?
A: Several attributes make it a good source of energy. First, it's clean. Energy can be extracted without burning a fossil fuel such as coal, gas or oil. Geothermal fields produce about one-sixth of the carbon dioxide a relatively clean, natural gas-fueled power plant produces and very little, if any, of the nitrous oxide or sulfur-bearing gases. Binary plants, which are closed-cycle operations, release essentially no emissions. Geothermal energy is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Geothermal power plants have average availabilities of 90 percent or higher, compared to about 75 percent for coal plants. Geothermal power is homegrown, reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

Q: Why is geothermal energy a renewable resource?
A: Because its source is the almost unlimited amount of heat generated by the Earth's core. Even in geothermal areas dependent on a reservoir of hot water, the volume taken out can be reinjected, making it a sustainable energy source.

Q: Where is geothermal energy available?
A: Hydrothermal resources -- reservoirs of steam or hot water -- are available primarily in the western states, Alaska, and Hawaii. However, Earth energy can be tapped almost anywhere with geothermal heat pumps and direct-use applications. Other enormous and worldwide geothermal resources -- hot dry rock and magma, for example--are awaiting further technology development.

Q: What are the environmental impacts of using geothermal energy?
A: Geothermal technologies offer many environmental advantages over conventional power generation: Emissions are low. Only excess steam is emitted by geothermal flash plants. No air emissions or liquids are discharged by binary geothermal plants, which are projected to become the dominant technology in the near future. Salts and dissolved minerals contained in geothermal fluids are usually reinjected with excess water back into the reservoir at a depth well below groundwater aquifers. This recycles the geothermal water and replenishes the reservoir. Santa Rosa, Calif., pipes the city's treated wastewater up to The Geysers power plants to be used for reinjection fluid. This system will prolong the life of the reservoir as it recycles the treated wastewater. Some geothermal plants do produce some solid materials, or sludges, that require disposal in approved sites. Some of these solids are now being extracted for sale (zinc, silica, and sulfur, for example), making the resource even more valuable and environmentally friendly.

Q: What is the visual impact of geothermal technologies?
A: District heating systems and geothermal heat pumps are easily integrated into communities with almost no visual impact. Geothermal power plants use relatively small acreages and don't require storage, transportation or combustion of fuels. Either no emissions or just steam are visible. These qualities reduce the overall visual impact of power plants in scenic regions.

Q: Is it possible to deplete geothermal reservoirs?
A: The long-term sustainability of geothermal energy production has been demonstrated at the Lardarello field in Italy since 1913, at the Wairakei field in New Zealand since 1958, and at The Geysers field in California since 1960. Pressure and production declines have been experienced at some plants, and operators have begun reinjecting water to maintain reservoir pressure.

Q: How much does geothermal energy cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh)?
A: At The Geysers, power is sold at $0.03 to $0.035 per kWh. A power plant built today would probably require about $0.05 per kWh. Some plants can charge more during peak demand periods. Source: Courier-Post, 10/14/2007.

Schools Tap into the Earth

Natural heat drawn from below the Earth's surface is being used by the Woodbury School District to warm buildings in the winter and cool them during the summer. Along with dozens of other school districts throughout the state, Woodbury is controlling its indoor climate using geothermal energy. Geothermal, which means "earth-heat," helps schools save up to 25 percent on their fuel costs compared to traditional heating and cooling systems. It is also environmentally cleaner than traditional systems, and reduces dependence on foreign fuel. In the tri-county area, schools using geothermal technology include Clementon, Berlin Township, Medford, Lawnside, and Gloucester County College in Deptford.

Newark Public Schools is working on a project.  No one agency keeps track of New Jersey schools using geothermal technology for climate control. But up to 100 public schools are believed to have systems in place, according to Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, near Atlantic City.

For awhile, Stockton was the world's largest geothermal system for heating and cooling use. "It's been really successful for us," said Tim Kelly, spokesman at Stockton. "Everybody is complaining about fixed costs going up, and here is a way for your dollar to go further. It is something that businesses and institutions can implement, and it's going to save them an awful lot of money."

Last year, Woodbury installed three geothermal heating and cooling systems: at the junior/senior high school, the Evergreen Avenue Elementary School and the West End Elementary School. The systems, costing a total of $15 million, replaced old boiler systems, which were requiring frequent repair, according to Superintendent of Schools Joseph Jones III. Because of space restrictions, the Woodbury district installed some geothermal "wells" underneath the football field at the junior/senior high school. This was done upon the suggestion of its architect, Frank H. Radey, III, of Radey Associates Architects in Cherry Hill. Win or lose for the football team, Woodbury should expect to be a winner in terms of energy savings, thanks to the heat-gathering activity going on below the sod. Jones said the district is still evaluating first-year energy costs and savings.

But in Clementon, where a similar $5.2 million system has been in place for about two years, the district is saving 25 percent at its 525-student elementary school, a facility that is all-electric. "We have saved about $25,000 in electric costs in 2006, and this year I expect it will be about the same or more," said Joanne Clement, business administrator. "What's nice about (a geothermal system) is that you can regulate each classroom. If we have a snow day, from my house I can use my computer to regulate the system. That's where you are saving your money, you are not heating the whole building unnecessarily," Clement said. Clementon also took advantage of state and utility rebate programs to help cover some of the cost of installation, she said.

According to Radey, Woodbury has a closed loop system, which also employs the use of heat pumps. At the football field, 176 closed U-shaped pipes called wells were drilled 350 feet into the ground. Water circulates through the closed tubing to gather earth heat and then carries the heat inside of buildings. In the summertime, the opposite happens. Hot air is circulated into the ground where it is cooled by the earth and then returned inside. Below-ground temperatures are generally a constant 50 degrees, warmer than outside air in the winter and cooler than air in summer. "We are taking heat out of the earth and putting it into the classroom. And in the cooling mode, we are taking it out of the classroom and putting it into the earth," Radey said. The technology has been around for 30 years. Each classroom has its own heat pump and its own climate controls, Radey said. Source: By JEANNE RIDGWAY, Courier-Post Staff, 10/14/2007.

Solar-Powered Parking Lots

On hot, sunny days when air conditioners threaten to overload the power grid, solar power generation makes a lot of sense. Solar panels produce the most electricity exactly when demand peaks, so they reduce the load on conventional power plants at the right time. Solar panels also cleanly and quietly produce power exactly where it is consumed, so they help to prevent power outages caused by overloaded transmission lines.

Although the demand for electricity peaks on days when the sun shines brightest, solar power accounts for less than 1 percent of California's total electricity supply. But solar panels have found a promising new place in the sun on canopies above the parking lots that surround commercial and industrial buildings. The solar panels not only provide electricity for the buildings, but also shade for the parked cars.

Parking lots in asphalt-rich cities have great solar potential because the panels can be oriented to optimize power production during summer afternoons when electricity is most valuable. Google, for example, has installed solar canopies on its parking lots to satisfy 30 percent of its headquarters' power demand.

Although solar power can mitigate the increase in peak-hour power demand created by new buildings, developers rarely install solar panels above their parking lots. What can cities do to increase the use of parking lots for solar power production? One option is to incorporate solar panels into the parking requirements for commercial developments.

Cities already require parking spaces for all new buildings, and they regulate many features of the parking lots, such as the size of the spaces and their landscaping. Cities can also require that a share of the sunlit spaces be covered by solar panels to mitigate the increased peak-hour electricity demand created by new buildings.

The legal basis for requiring solar panels atop a parking lot is similar to the basis for requiring the parking lot itself to mitigate an impact. If a development increases the demand for scarce energy during peak hours, the solar requirement for the parking lot will help to meet this peak-hour demand. The massive air conditioners for a new Wal-Mart Supercenter will increase the risk of power shortages on hot summer days, so it seems reasonable to require Wal-Mart to mitigate this risk. As part of a pilot program, Wal-Mart has already installed solar panels at 18 stores in California. Following this lead, cities could amend their zoning codes to require all new commercial development to include solar power in the parking lots.

Is there a downside to this plan? No one can say the solar arrays will mar the appearance of parking lots, because most parking lots are already ugly. Indeed, solar arrays will improve the look of most parking lots.

Would a solar requirement be anti-business or anti-development? California's Million Solar Roofs program provides generous subsidies for solar panels, and the federal government offers additional tax credits, so developers won't have to pay the full cost of a city's solar requirement. Because the parking lots for most commercial buildings are bigger than the buildings themselves, economies of scale for large installations can further reduce the cost of the solar panels. In contrast, few houses have properly-oriented roofs, unobstructed solar access and the structural capacity to support solar panels. Solar parking lots at commercial developments will therefore make cost-effective use of the government subsidies.

Solar arrays are highly visible evidence of a company's commitment to the environment, and one way for citizens to act green is to shop at stores that are green. If all new buildings come with solar arrays, vast parking lots without solar panels could even begin to look antisocial. The owners of some older buildings might update their parking lots with solar arrays to keep up with the green sheen of the new competition. Even those who don't own hybrid cars can act green by generating some electricity while they are parked in the shade.

Beyond their immediate economic advantages, solar-powered parking lots will provide a decentralized source of backup electricity in an emergency, such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Reducing the demand for energy from the electric grid will also reduce power plant emissions that contribute to air pollution. In the long run, parking lots that convert sunlight into electricity will reduce our fuel imports and even help to delay global warming.

Adding a solar component to the parking requirements for all new commercial buildings will ensure a steadily increasing supply of dependable, clean, renewable power. With only a small change to their zoning ordinances, cities can lead the way toward a solar powered future. We shouldn't wait until the next heat wave to think about getting solar power from our parking lots. Source: Donald Shoup, Professor of urban planning, University of California, Los Angeles.

Johnson Controls Teams With Nexterra Energy To Offer Biomass Gasification Systems -- Quick Facts

Nexterra Energy Corp. revealed that Johnson Controls, Inc., has formed a strategic alliance with the company to offer Nexterra's biomass gasification solutions to Johnson Controls customers, including higher education, health care, government facilities and industrial operations.

As per the partnership accord, the companies would team up to develop and implement biomass gasification projects that would enable customers to cut energy costs, raise energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become less dependent on fossil fuel by using locally sourced, renewable biomass fuel.

Nexterra said that its patented gasification technology converts biomass into clean burning syngas that could be utilized to displace natural gas or fuel oil to generate heat and/or electricity.  Copyright(c) 2007 RealTimeTraders.com, Inc. -- Source: (RTTNews), 10/11/2007.

New 109 MW Solar Thermal plant for California (Ind. Reports)

Solar MW Energy Inc. and affiliate Ecosystem Solar Electric Corp. have started the permitting process for the development of "SME-1", a nominal in the aggregate of 109 MW solar thermal electric hybrid power plant near the town of Boron in Southern California. The companies have filed notices with the agencies responsible for providing permits for the facility. Source: Earthtoys, Oct. 12, '07) -- Source: EPOverviews, 10/16/2007.

IID Plans to Increase Renewable Energy Transmission

At a recent meeting, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors unanimously adopted two major policy initiatives designed to bolster renewable energy development in the Salton Sea area, where up to 2,000 megawatts (MW) of untapped geothermal resources are located.

In a resolution entitled "Incentives to Interconnect and Export Renewable Resources," the board committed itself and the district to advancing California's renewable energy goals by acting as a catalyst for the transmission of new geothermal, solar and wind-powered generation proposed for the region. The resolution contains two components, said IID board President Stella Mendoza, both of which are intended to facilitate the development and export of renewable energy from the Imperial Valley to the Southern California coastal plain. The first component of the plan would be to significantly increase the district's current export capability over the next decade. This renewable transmission program includes the construction of new 230kV lines and performing system upgrades at key interconnection facilities to accommodate new generation. Over the same time period, IID would build a dedicated 230kV line from its Midway substation through the Salton Sea area (where the undeveloped geothermal resource is thought to be greatest) to Bannister Road, providing access to the district's network grid.

This transmission corridor would offer up to 1,600 MW of renewable energy export capacity from the Salton Sea area. "By adopting this resolution," Mendoza said, "the IID is placing itself at the vanguard of change in harnessing and transmitting renewable resources within its control area. We see this as a win/win for IID ratepayers and California taxpayers."

In a related move, the board amended its open access transmission tariff to incorporate provisions dealing with interconnection agreements. The new OATT, which was revised in consultation with renewable energy generators already operating in the region, will provide renewable energy generators with more uniformity in the planning, processing and scheduling of new interconnections into the IID transmission system. Source: Renewable Energy Access, 10/15/07.

Ft. Carson to Host the Army's Largest Solar Project

3 Phases Energy Services, LLC, SunTechnics Energy Systems, Inc., and Morgan Stanley, will develop, engineer, install and finance a 2-megawatt (MW), ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) array at Fort Carson, CO. When completed, this landmark PV project will cover nearly 12 acres at Fort Carson making it the largest solar array at a U.S. Army facility and one of the largest in Colorado.

The project will generate 3,200 megawatt-hours (MWh) of solar power annually, reflecting the U.S. Army's strong commitment to clean, renewable energy. "Using Colorado's abundant sunshine and available federal land to continue charting a new course for our energy future made sense," said Ft. Carson Utilities Manager Vince Guthrie, who was instrumental in bringing solar power to Fort Carson.

This project also represents one of the first major customer-sited projects to emerge from Colorado's voter-led initiative to make the state a leading user of renewable energy. Governor Bill Ritter, who took office in January 2007, recently led a successful campaign to double the amount of renewable energy in the state's renewable portfolio standard. By 2020, Colorado will get 20 percent of its power from renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass and geothermal resources.

"The 2 MW solar project at Fort Carson represents the collaboration of seven major players, each of whom has played a decisive role in making this project a tremendous success," said Erik Rothenberg, Managing Director at 3 Phases Energy. A California based developer of renewable energy projects, 3 Phases worked with Fort Carson to assemble the various pieces and partners to make this an economically viable project for the Army.

Two utilities and a federal power marketing agency cooperated in making the project possible. Xcel Energy will purchase the renewable energy credits (RECs) for 20 years under its Solar*Rewards program, which provides incentives for residential and commercial solar installations. The RECs will support Colorado's renewable portfolio standard. Colorado Springs Utilities which provides services to Fort Carson will host the system on its grid. Under its power marketing authority, Western Area Power Administration's Rocky Mountain Region will procure the power from the system on behalf of Fort Carson.

"Western is proud to support a federal customer in securing clean, reliable power at a fixed rate," said Randy Manion, Manager of Western's Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies Program. "We hope to use this model for other customers who are expressing interest in similar types of projects. It is a great way to expand the use of renewable energy while meeting the needs of many different parties."

3 Phases Energy brought the best of the solar industry to build and finance this project. SunTechnics Inc., the largest global installer of solar systems, will design and construct the project which is expected to be completed in December, 2007. Florian Edler, CEO of SunTechnics Energy Systems, Inc. said "Our international and proven engineering expertise has been a critical factor in SunTechnics' contribution to the Fort Carson project. Our ability to provide a customized renewable energy solution such as our unique output guarantee assures the maximum return on investment and enables us to make a difference for this high-profile project."

3 Phases Energy selected Morgan Stanley Co. as the project investor and long term owner. "This project represents an example of successful collaboration between a developer, state and federal government, the US Army, utilities and financing community" added Edward Levin, a Vice President in the New York Global Structured Products Group of Morgan Stanley.

The ground-mounted solar array will consist of flat-plate, thin-film solar technology provided by First Solar, an Arizona company. The solar modules are warranted for 25 years and the plant can be expected to produce energy efficiently for up to 40 years.

"Reducing Fort Carson's reliance on fossil fuels helps us build a sustainable energy future that is good for our bottom line, the environment, and national security," said Vince Guthrie who oversees Fort Carson's utilities and electric bills. Source: 3Phases, 10/15/2007.

Learn more about renewable resources.

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

Increasing Renewable Energy in the Western Grid Summit

Over 200 leaders participated in last week's summit Increasing Renewable Energy in the Western Grid, co-hosted by NWCC, WGA, and GEA, including Governors Ritter and Freudenthal, FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff and Idaho PUC Commissioner Marsha Smith, and utility presidents Pat Vincent, PNM and Paul Bonavia, Xcel. Representatives from the wind, solar, and geothermal industry, state and federal regulatory and technical agencies, transmission experts, and others convened to discuss the urgent need to build new transmission to bring renewable energy sources to market and help states and utilities achieve their renewable portfolio goals. Participants stayed for the whole meeting, glued to their chairs as new relevant information on the most recent events throughout the West directed at building new transmission. Many at the meeting were impressed by the quality of the participants and level of the dialogue. During the last session, meeting participants agreed to move forward with many initiatives, including exploration of applying the Texas state-level competitive renewable energy zone to the western region as well as creating a dialogue to address siting of a specific transmission line. Download summit presentations. Source: Katie Kalinowski, Outreach Coordinator, National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, 10/2/2007.

October 2007 IREC Newsletter

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Connecting to the Grid newsletter is now available.

IREC's Connecting to the Grid newsletter is a free, monthly publication. Subscribe to the newsletter. Source: IREC, 10/11/200.

California 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report

Presentations for the Oct. 15-16, 2007 Committee Hearings on Committee Draft of the 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report are now available online.
Source: California Energy Commission, 10/15/2007.

Geothermal Industry meets Financial Community for Major Summit November 14-16, 2007

Meet leading project developers, investors, lenders, power purchasers, technology experts and other active market players looking to craft deals at the Geothermal Finance & Investment Summit Nov. 14 through 16 at the Dolce Hayes Mansion in San Jose, Calif. The Summit will bring together leading project developers, investors, lenders, EPC contractors and other players to share their perspectives on the market for geothermal finance and investment. For more information, call 818-888-4444 to register by phone, or register online. Source: Western 10/15/2007.

The California Sustainability Alliance's Website Launched

The California Sustainability Alliance is bringing together all of the key stakeholders needed to overcome barriers to sustainability. Together, we are developing strategies to harvest the next generation of energy efficiency, building on the momentum created through complementary sustainability initiatives such as climate action, smart growth, renewable energy, water-use efficiency, waste management, and transportation management. Source: Laurie Park, 10/15/2007.

Renewable Webinars Scheduled for 2007-08

Learn the latest about wind, solar, geothermal, RECs and more. Our 2007-08 webinar series explores the issues and technologies shaping the renewable energy industry now.

Sponsors include National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, Western Area Power Administration and Northwest Public Power Association. DOE's Wind Powering America and GeoPowering the West programs, Solar Electric Power Association, American Wind Energy Association and Southeastern Power Administration are co-sponsoring the events.

Space at some events is limited, so reserve your place early. To register, contact Debbie Rock, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7271. Source: Western, 10/12/2007.

WGA/NWCC/GEA Summit Increasing Renewable Energy in the Western Grid

The National Wind Coordinating Committee (NWCC) is pleased to share the below memo, which outlines next steps identified during the recent WGA/NWCC/GEA summit Increasing Renewable Energy in the Western Grid meeting. As you will see, participants identified many ways to help ensure transmission access for renewables in the Western Grid at the national, regional, state, and local levels. The summit planning committee will utilize these next steps as an input for planning future activities, but you are likewise encouraged to use the list to guide your own efforts. Source: NWCC, 10/15/2007.

Annual Geothermal Events Most Successful in Decades

A recent Renewable Energy Access article begins, "geothermal is the most reliable form of renewable baseload power and given the proper financial support from the private sector -- and favorable policies from government -- it will become a viable alternative to coal, natural gas and nuclear, according to speakers at the Geothermal Resource Council's annual meeting in Reno, Nevada."

RE Access reported on the GRC Annual Meeting and GEA Annual Trade Show. The events together brought in over 2,000 people and over 50 exhibitors, a record year both in number and diversity. Geothermal members from countries around the world attended the annual event, including a full delegation from Chile. Glitnir, as well as several other Icelandic companies, attended and took on leadership roles at the event. Exhibitors varied in size and type -- from small-scale parts manufacturers to large scale companies such as Fuji.

The events kicked off with a key note speech by Andy Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). "We spend a lot of time talking about the resource that beams down from space or blows over us," he said. "But we don't spend enough time looking at our very abundant terrestrial geothermal resources that will provide reliable, renewable baseload power." Karsner concluded with a question: "Is the Department of Energy up to the task of providing meaningful assistance to your industry? I hope so. But in the meantime, your industry needs to tell the government how we can make a difference." Source: GEA Release, 10/9/2007.

AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium -- Nov. 1-2, 2007 -- Carlsbad, CA

Does your organization have new staff that could benefit from a quick introduction to wind energy topics?

As a seasoned industry veteran, do you need to stay on top of industry news, issues and developments to keep your competitive edge? If the answer to either question is YES, then an excellent educational opportunity is just 3 weeks away! The AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium 2007 is being held Nov. 1-2 at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. While developed for experienced wind energy professionals, this event also provides an amazing amount of industry education (in just two and a half short days!) for those new to the wind industry as well.

Start out with the half-day, Introduction to Wind Energy pre-conference seminar the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 31, which provides an excellent overview of the wind industry. Following this primer, the more detailed educational sessions on Thursday and Friday will provide your staff with information on all of the most important issues in the industry. Not to mention, the added value of numerous networking opportunities with hundreds of leading wind energy professionals!

Who wouldn't benefit from education on the following wind industry topics while expanding your network of business contacts and potential customers?

Symposium sessions include:

1. Addressing the Supply Chain & Creating a Domestic Manufacturing Base
2. Transmission Interconnection Queues -- Getting through the Thicket
3. New Trends in Wind Energy Financing
4. Technology Development -- Help is On the Way
5. Securing America's Energy Independence
6. Models for Success -- Wind Developers & Utilities
7. Community Outreach: Making the Case for Local Acceptance
8. Asset Management -- Doing Things Right
9. Addressing Wildlife Issues
10. Resource Assessment -- The Answer is Blowing in the Wind

The AWEA Fall Symposium will provide a unique educational program designed for wind energy professionals involved in, or looking to learn more about, the business, policy and technical issues of the wind industry. The Symposium will also provide outstanding business interaction and networking opportunities, all at a luxury resort located just north of San Diego, Calif.

Conference Theme: The Wind Power Imperative: Securing America's Economic, Environmental & Energy Future

This year's program will focus on wind power's critical role in securing America's economic, environmental and energy future. Each session will discuss challenges facing the wind industry and initiatives required to position wind power to be able to maximize its contribution to U.S. energy security. For more information, contact AWEA's Conference and Education department, 202-383-2512. Source: AWEA, 1101 14th Street, NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, 10/9/2007.

Stony Brook University Breaks Ground on Energy Research Center

A renewable-energy research center that will practice what it preaches by conforming to rigorous on-site energy-efficiency standards is set for ground-breaking today on the Stony Brook University campus.

Called the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center, the facility will become the home for developing and testing renewable energy sources and technologies that minimize environmental impacts. It will be built with a state Senate grant of $35 million at the former Flower Fields research park annexed by Stony Brook University in 2005.

Officials said the facility will become a model for energy efficiency in itself, by sporting solar cells and windows that provide for maximum interior lighting and climate regulation. Energy-efficient desk lamps will replace overhead lights. Rainwater collected on its roof will be used for flushing toilets. It will strategically locate plants and shrubs to minimize water runoff, and offer special parking for low-emission vehicles.

The center, which is co-chaired by National Grid USA chairman Robert Catell and Stony Brook President Shirley Strum Kenny, is in the process of staffing up. Sources said Catell has approached former LIPA chief executive Richard Kessel to consider heading up the center, but a decision is not finalized.

Ground-breaking comes at a critical time for the region, the state, and the globe. Amid a global warming crisis and record oil prices, utilities are under pressure to meet aggressive energy-efficiency standards.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer earlier this year instituted a program that seeks to cut the state's energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015. The Long Island Power Authority, which will soon release a new set of energy efficiency programs, recently balked at installing a 40-turbine wind farm off Jones Beach because of its prohibitive costs. But it has committed to pursuing renewable energy, including a more economical wind farm. The winners of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, including former Vice President Al Gore, were recognized for ringing the alarm bell about global warming.

Catell in a statement said the center's projects, which combine academic, government and business interests, will help "stimulate the economy, improve the environment, and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels." A former KeySpan facility in Hauppauge is being used as an interim home for the center until construction is completed in late 2009.

Miriam Rafailovich, chief scientist at the center, said a primary area of research will be on nano technologies, and specifically the creation of nano fuels. Manipulation of the basic molecular building blocks of such fuels, she said, could unlock vastly superior energy sources. The mission, she said, is to come to a "major technology breakthrough that will make energy cheaper, cleaner and easier to use." Source: By Mark Harrington, Newsday, Inc., 10/15/2007.

New Report Sheds Light on Intricacies of Wind Project Finance

A number of different financing structures have been developed in recent years to help fund the rapid expansion of the wind power sector in the United States, according to a report released today by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The report is titled "Wind Project Financing Structures: A Review & Comparative Analysis".

These structures feature varying combinations of equity capital from project developers and third-party tax-oriented investors, and in some cases commercial debt. While their origins stem from variations in the financial capacity and business objectives of wind project developers, as well as the risk tolerances and objectives of equity and debt providers, each structure is, at its core, designed to manage project risk and allocate Federal tax incentives to those entities that can use them most efficiently.

The new Berkeley Lab report aims to provide a better understanding of these complex structures, in a number of ways. First, it begins with a contextual discussion of recent trends in the financing of utility-scale wind projects in the United States. "Over time, different financing structures have evolved to meet specific developer and investor needs," notes report co-author John Harper of Birch Tree Capital, LLC. "This evolution will continue as long as the sector continues to attract new investment capital."

Next, the report describes in both visual and textual detail the seven principal financing structures through which most utility-scale wind projects (excluding utility-owned projects) have been financed from 1999 to the present. These structures include simple balance-sheet finance, several varieties of all-equity partnership "flip" structures, and a pair of leveraged structures.

Finally, using a simplified pro forma financial model and market-based assumptions about the cost of equity and debt capital under each structure, the report analyzes the impact of these seven structures on the levelized cost of energy from a generic wind project. "The modeling finds that, under our assumptions, choice of financing structure can have a fairly significant impact on the cost of energy from a wind project," notes co-author Matt Karcher of Deacon Harbor Financial, L.P. "This disparity suggests that the wind finance market is not entirely efficient, and that both perceptions and the pricing of risk differ among wind project investors."

The results of the modeling exercise are also somewhat out of tune with the market in terms of the relative popularity of the different structures. For example, although the model finds that the two leveraged structures yield the lowest cost of wind energy, in reality these structures have not been widely utilized in recent years, for a number of reasons both in favor of other structures (simplicity, standardization, speed) and against using debt (cost, complexity, loss of control, little-improved return). "This divergence from market reality highlights the fact that developers consider a variety of factors -- other than which structure yields the most-competitive cost of energy -- when choosing financing structures for their projects," explains co-author Mark Bolinger of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab.  "These more-qualitative considerations are difficult to capture in a financial model."

For this reason, the report also includes a discussion of the array of factors that developers take into consideration when selecting a financing structure.

For more information on the report, contact Mark Bolinger, 603-795-4937, or Matt Karcher, 972-739-0242. Source: Mark Bolinger, LBL, 9/26/2007.

Learn more about educational resources.

News from Washington

EPA Says Competing Senate Climate Bills Achieve Same Goal

On October 2, the EPA released a report that compares the long-term impacts of three different climate change bills being proposed in the Senate. By the end of the century, the EPA reports, each of the three bills will reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere by 23 to 25 parts per million (ppm). The three bills, one proposed by Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), another by Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-VT) and John McCain (R-AZ), and the third by Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), each call for a cap on CO2 emissions for cars, industry, and power plants with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 60-65 percent by mid-century. The EPA analysis was requested by Sens. Bingaman and Specter as discussion over climate legislation continues. In response to the report, Sen. Bingaman said that it "shows that inaction is the real danger with regards to climate policy." The report's findings were disputed by the World Resources Institute, which said the EPA analysis of federal bills "omits key assumptions." Reported by EESI. Source: GEA Update 10/9/07.

Learn more about legislative activities.

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Hendricks Industries to build $32,000,000 US Wind tower factory in Keokuk, Iowa

Hendricks Industries plans to build a $32,000,000 US wind tower factory in Keokuk, Iowa. As part of its plan, the company will spend $2,500,000 US upgrading the Southeast Iowa Port Terminal. Ken Hendricks, founder of wholesale building supply distributor ABC Supply, purchased the Danish company nearly a year ago. He said he chose the Keokuk, Iowa location because of its proximity to the port terminal, adding that "it's nine times cheaper to ship by barge." The company plans to seek state and local incentives for the construction of the plant. Hendricks has also invested in green-roof construction and solar energy. (Source: Des Moines Register, Oct. 11, '07) -- Contact: Hendricks Industries, +45 9627 1600. Source: EPOverviews, 10/15/2007.

Fort Worth Star Telegram -- Fort Worth, Texas

For years, Trinity Industries welded together steel rail cars and tanks at its Fort Worth facility on 28th Street. The plant is still buzzing, but it has been converted to produce a different product: huge towers, up to 250 feet tall and 14 feet in diameter and weighing more than 100 tons, to support the big wind turbines sprouting up across West Texas and other parts of the country. Trinity Structural Towers, which has two other U.S. locations, expects revenue of as much as $250 million in 2007, or more than triple its 2005 revenue. Source: Wind Energy News, 10/15/2007.

New Jersey Utilities Board Accepting Proposals for Offshore Wind Grant

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved up to $19 million in funding for a competitive grant solicitation to support the financing and development of an offshore wind pilot. The successful grantee, the NJBPU said, will build an aggregate capacity of up to 350 MW of offshore renewable wind electricity. As a part of his overall renewable energy strategy, Governor Jon Corzine (D) directed his administration to explore the possibility of offshore wind, which has significant potential along the New Jersey coastline. As part of the funding, the board will provide up to 10 percent of the total incentive up front to help recipients conduct the needed studies and prepare needed permit applications. Corzine has committed his administration to aggressively pursuing clean, renewable energy sources for New Jersey's electricity supply, the NJBPU said. 

"I commend Governor Corzine on his leadership in exploring offshore wind, a clean, renewable resource that has the potential to provide greater fuel diversity for New Jersey, while simultaneously fighting global warming that threatens our New Jersey shoreline," said Board of Public Utilities President Jeanne M. Fox. "Today's Board decision will allow New Jersey to move forward in gathering essential data to help us determine the feasibility of offshore wind in New Jersey."

The NJBPU will accept proposals for funding through January 16, 2008, with the award projected for March of 2008. The evaluation committee will choose a proposed winner to recommend to the board if a proposal meets the relevant criteria but reserves the right not to make an award if no acceptable proposal is received. "Governor Corzine has been very clear that the state will not move forward with construction if upcoming studies or analyses conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection and Commerce indicate that the construction or operation of this pilot project will have unacceptable adverse impacts on the environment, the economy, or tourism," said Fox. "In taking this approach, the administration is responsibly exploring the potential development of offshore wind in New Jersey." Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 10/15/2007.

Energy: Where Are We Now?

Four years ago, North Dakota was the underdog in the renewable fuels race, lagging behind with no biodiesel facilities, miniscule wind power generation and two small ethanol plants. Today, an about-face in the state's energy policies means it's the sixth largest energy producer in the nation. That turnaround was heavy with incentives, legislation and strong efforts from both industry and government. Incentives have taken renewable energy production in the state to new highs: A 2002 energy plan set goals that have been met and exceeded, prompting more challenging goals for the future.

In 2003, a countercyclical production program for ethanol was put in place, to help reduce the risk for potential investors. And investors and developers stepped up, as is evident by the now half a billion gallons of ethanol produced in the state.

The state also produces 85 million gallons of biodiesel and has up to 900 megawatts of wind power projects in the works. And the goal to have 50 percent of gasoline in the state blended with ethanol has been surpassed; newer goals set the mark at 75 percent by 2015. The incentives in place, said Gov. John Hoeven, include production, marketing, finance and tax incentives. "If you look at what we've got going, it's a tremendous number of projects," Hoeven said. "But we're committed to doing more."

Kim Christianson, manager of the renewable energy and energy efficiency office in the state Department of Commerce, said he's amazed at the developments that have taken place in the last few years. Wind energy, particularly, has taken off, he said.  Initially, he said, there was a resistance and skepticism about wind energy in the state, because of the strong coal-based industry and the potential conflicts another energy source could produce. "Once that initial development took place ... others started seeing, first of all, the economic impacts for the local area, then secondly, that project turned out to be a very good project," Christianson said. "It turned out they were producing a higher rate than what they expected. What that did (was) encourage other wind developers to take very seriously North Dakota's wind resource."

Bismarck-based Basin Electric took the reins when it came to wind energy, partly because the opportunity was finally available by way of the investment in farms by FPL Energy, LLC., said Daryl Hill with Basin. "... Developing wind farms is a capitol-intense venture," Hill said. "From an FPL perspective, they could build a wind farm, but their challenge was someone to sell the power to."

From a Basin perspective, the challenge was the opposite. "Our challenge was we didn't have much experience with wind," Hill said. "The beauty of this deal is that we both had expertise or needs that we could bring to the table, and we could meet each other's needs to help develop this." The other part of Basin's seemingly quick investment in wind energy was the recognition that renewable resources can be a part of a generating mix, Hill said. That mix is something Hoeven touts as North Dakota's strongest point: The state is No. 6 not just in non-renewables or renewables production separately, but altogether. "The attitude is that we need all of it," Hoeven said.

Investors haven't been shy in North Dakota in the past few years. In Minot, a $2 million wind-to-hydrogen plant, a collaboration of Basin Electric, UND Energy and Environmental Research Center and NDSU North Central Research Center, will use intermittent power from wind turbines to produce and store hydrogen fuel. Basin also plans on spending $150 million on carbon capture, and has invested heavily in wind projects on the state's borders. The about-face in energy production in North Dakota also may be attributed to newly formed partnerships, authorities and committees.

Coal and oil, for example, always have been major players in the state, but with recent near-record production levels of more than 120,000 barrels of oil a day, the challenge has been getting it out of the fields and into the hands of buyers, refineries and, ultimately, retailers.

This year's Legislature helped create a state Pipeline Authority, headed by Mark Makelky, in an attempt to unclog the bottlenecks in oil transportation. Since the inception of the authority, the Enbridge pipeline, which runs across northern North Dakota to a terminal in Clearbrook, Minn., expects to increase its capacity from 75,000 to 110,000 barrels by the end of the year, according to a report drafted by Makelky. Enbridge wants to raise that to 155,000 barrels daily.

Improvements to a separate pipeline, called the Belle Fourche line, will provide two pipeline shipping options for oil producers in North Dakota's southwestern corner. Power bottlenecks also are prevalent, prompting the creation of the Transmission Authority, headed by Sandi Tabor. And most recently, Hoeven addressed the first meeting of his Energy Policy Commission, which will look more at energy parks to increase production efficiency, maximizing all outputs from each type of plant.  It's not all rosy, however. Not only has getting the energy out of the state been a challenging task, but consumers also have a long ways to go in efficiency. Christianson said that, although the state seems healthy in its renewables plans, the Legislature could do more by way of encouraging energy efficiency. His office has programs in place to encourage that efficiency, but it's not enough. "There's so much more we could do in the residential area with energy codes ..." Christianson said. "We don't really have incentives for efficiency." Otherwise, from an environmental standpoint, Christianson points to the efforts by the coal industry, which has put in equipment and spent huge amounts of money on methods to reduce their emissions. And wind energy, he points out, has no emissions.

Hoeven has said that the state can do more with its energy, most importantly, bringing the bigger projects to completion. The state also needs to help industries address the issues, such as transportation problems, he said. "We're big believers in partnerships," Hoeven said."The short answer is, we're doing a lot, but we're committed to doing more." Source: By CRYSTAL R. REID, Bismarck Tribune, 10/14/2007.

Arizona Leads the Solar Revolution

Electric utilities must generate 15 percent of their energy from non-fossil sources. In the coming months, thousands of homeowners and small businesses throughout Arizona will install solar panels on their rooftops, becoming part of a revolution in the way Arizona produces energy. Recently, the Arizona Corporation Commission passed the Renewable Energy Standard (RES), which requires that the state's electric utilities -- including Tucson Electric Power-- generate at least 15 percent of their energy from sources such as the sun, wind, biomass or geothermal. Under the Renewable Energy Standard, 30 percent of the renewable energy obtained by the utilities must be from distributed sources of electric generation, which will come primarily from rooftop solar systems or small wind turbines. In fact, in order to meet the RES' distributed generation requirement, utilities will be asked to help homeowners install more than 3,000 solar rooftops next year, increasing to 4,200 in 2009, 5,500 in 2010, 9,100 in 2011 and almost 12,000 by 2012. Currently, utilities are only installing a few hundred solar rooftops per year.

According to the national Vote Solar Initiative, Arizona will soon march to the head of the solar class. On a per capita basis, there will be more solar rooftops here than anywhere else in the nation, once the Renewable Energy Standard is fully implemented.

The RES will also give Arizona its best chance to prevent greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our reliance on foreign sources of energy. By the year 2020, renewable energy projects stemming from the Renewable Energy Standard will avoid the emission of 8 million tons of carbon dioxide and 11,000 tons of nitrogen oxide -- the rough equivalent of taking 2 million cars off the road. And the proliferation of solar will conserve 23 billion gallons of water over the next 15 years. Customers of any electric utility can take part in the effort to advance solar energy by calling their utility and asking for information about the utility's solar rebate, which is approved by the Corporation Commission and is designed to meet the RES. Homeowners installing a 3-kilowatt system will receive a $9,000 rebate from their electric utility, and can also take advantage of federal and state tax credits totaling $3,000, significantly decreasing their out-of-pocket costs. Over time, homeowners who install solar see their utility bills slashed, and eventually, the systems pay for themselves.

Arizona's effort to move toward more sustainable sources of energy doesn't come without a cost. Each Arizona ratepayer currently pays 35 cents per month to support renewable energy projects, including solar rooftops, an amount that will soon rise to $1.05. One recent poll showed that an overwhelming 87 percent of the state's residents are willing to pay a small amount more if it means breaking our utilities' addiction to fossil fuels and making America less dependent on other countries for energy.

While it is true that today, solar is more expensive than traditional energy sources like coal and natural gas, the cost of solar is declining, in large part due to state efforts like the Renewable Energy Standard. Industry analysts are already predicting that the price of solar energy will be competitive with traditional forms of power by the year 2014, something that would not happen absent state efforts to spur a marketplace in renewable energy. Still, more can be done to foster a culture of clean energy in Arizona. We must begin to find ways to encourage home builders and developers to incorporate solar into new homes and commercial buildings, as they are being built. Some boutique builders are starting to incorporate solar into new home designs, but for the most part, mass-market home builders haven't followed suit. In Tucson, homes in Armory Park del Sol come equipped with solar energy, providing an excellent example of what can be done. Additionally, the federal government should extend existing tax credits for solar energy and the Arizona Legislature should implement a production tax credit for large-scale solar and wind projects. At the Arizona Corporation Commission, we are working to craft a statewide net metering policy that will allow homeowners to sell excess power from their rooftop solar systems back to the utilities at full retail prices, further enhancing their affordability. For now, though, Arizona homeowners are busy making Arizona the solar state, one rooftop at a time.

In addition to the legislative, executive and judicial branches, Arizona's Corporation Commission functions as a fourth branch of government, regulating utility service. The commission regulates public utilities, railroads and gas pipelines, and oversees the formation of corporations in the state.  Only seven states have constitutionally formed commissions, and Arizona is one of 13 states where commissioners are elected, not appointed, to the post. The commission's role as defined by the Arizona Constitution is executive and legislative in that it adopts rules and regulations and judicial in that it sits as a tribunal and makes decisions in contested matters. The Arizona Constitution requires the commission to be based in Phoenix and hold monthly meetings.

For information about Tucson Electric Power's SunShare program, the utility's solar rebate, call 745-3100. (Sources: Star archives and the Arizona Corporation Commission) Sources: Kris Mayes, Star archives and the Arizona Corporation Commission, 10/14/2007.

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Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

Calif. Governor Approves $250,000,000 US Solar Water Heater Subsidy Program (Reg. & Leg.)

Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed into law a series of energy efficiency bills including a measure by Assemblyman Jared Huffman that creates a 10-year, $250,000,000 US subsidy program to help consumers buy solar water heaters. The program, which would be financed by a surcharge on natural gas, is intended to encourage the installation of 200,000 solar water heaters in California by 2017. (Source: San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 12, '07) Contact Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor, California, 916-445-2841. Source: EP Overviews, 10/15/2007.

Design Competition for Sustainability

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests proposals for the 5th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet. P3 is a partnership between the public and private sectors to foster progress toward sustainability by achieving the mutual goals of economic prosperity, planet protection, and improved quality of life. P3 supports R&D and design solutions to real world challenges involving sustainability. Areas of interest include: Energy, Water, the Built Environment, Agriculture, Materials and Chemistry, and Information Technology. In Phase 1, $550K expected to be available, 55 awards anticipated. Responses due 12/20/07.

For more info, contact Cynthia Nolt-Helms. Refer to Sol# EPA-G2008-P3. (Grants.gov 9/5/07). Source: WashingtonStateUniversity Extension Energy Program, 10/15/2007.

DOE SBIR/STTR

The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs Phase I. The objectives of these programs include increasing private sector commercialization of technology developed through DOE-supported R&D, stimulating technological innovation in the private sector, and improving the return on investment from federally-funded research for economic and social benefits to the nation. 60 categories of interest, along with subcategories, have been identified, which include but are not limited to: Traditional Energy Efficient Lighting Technologies; Wind EnergyTechnology Development; Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies; Vehicle Technologies; Solar Energy; Production of Biofuels from Biomass; Ocean Energy; and Geothermal Technologies. $36 million expected to be available, up to 360 awards anticipated.

Responses due 11/27/07. For more info, contact Larry James. Refer to Sol# DE-PS02-07ER07-36. (Grants.gov 9/20/07).  Source: WashingtonStateUniversity Extension Energy Program, 10/15/2007.

NSF SBIR/STTR

The National Science Foundation requests proposals for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Programs Phase I. The primary objective of the NSF SBIR/STTR is to increase the incentive and opportunity for small firms to undertake cutting-edge, high risk, high quality scientific, engineering, or science and engineering education research that would have a high potential economic payoff if the research is successful. Broad areas of interest include Bio & Environmental Technologies, Components & Systems, and Software & Services. $16.25 million expected to be available, up to 150 awards anticipated. Responses due 12/4/07. Refer to Sol# 07-586. (Grants.gov 9/4/07). Source: WashingtonStateUniversity Extension Energy Program, 10/15/2007.

Woody Biomass Markets

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for Woody Biomass Grants, for forest product projects that increase the use of woody biomass from National Forest System lands. These funds are targeted to help communities, entrepreneurs, and others turn residues from forest restoration activities into marketable forest products and/or energy products. $4.5 million expected to be available, up to 20 awards anticipated. Responses due 11/2/07. For more info, contact Susan LeVan-Green.  Refer to Sol# USDA-FS-2008-01. (Grants.gov 9/19/07). Source: WashingtonStateUniversity Extension Energy Program, 10/15/2007.

Geothermal Development -- California

The California Energy Commission requests proposals for the Geothermal Resources Development Account (GRDA) to fund projects that relate to geothermal development, planning, or mitigation. $5.8 million expected to be available. Pre-applications are required and are due 11/16/07, final proposals due 2/15/08. For more info, contact Kelly LaFave. Source: WashingtonStateUniversity Extension Energy Program, 10/15/2007.

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