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Calling a T-shirt "green" is like calling a shampoo "natural." No one is quite sure what it means.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is taking steps to give the phrase "green" a measurable definition with an initiative to put eco-labels on the hundreds of thousands of products that end up on its store shelves, sources say.
The idea is to give products a simple, standard rating that allows shoppers at a glance to determine how sustainable a product is, akin to a nutritional label on food. Read more. Source: Chicago Tribune, 7/16/09
For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named Colby an individual conference champion for purchasing more green power than any other school in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC).
Because Colby purchases all of its electricity from renewable resources (low-impact hydro, biomass, and wind) and also purchases Green-E-certified wind power renewable energy credits (RECs), the EPA lists Colby as using 103-percent green electricity—the highest percentage among the 43 participating colleges and universities nationwide. In addition to purchased power, the college generates about 10 percent of its electricity with a cogeneration turbine at the on-campus steam plant used to heat campus buildings.
EPA estimates that Colby’s purchase of green power is equivalent to the electricity used by more than 1,600 average American homes in a year, and that the resulting reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is the equivalent of taking nearly 2,100 passenger cars off the road for a year. Source: Colby Magazine, Summer 2009
Some cities challenge residents to lose weight or become more fit.
But Alpine, American Fork and Lindon are doing something different: They want residents to start using cleaner electricity.
Between now and Sept. 30, the three cities are taking a challenge from Rocky Mountain Power to obtain 5 percent of the community purchasing renewable energy credit through the utility's Blue Sky program.
"It provides an easy, affordable way for customers to support renewable energy beyond what the company is doing to generate renewable energy on behalf of all customers," said Jeff Hymas, a Rocky Mountain Power spokesman. Read more. Source: Salt Lake Tribune, 7/08/09
Visit U.S. DOE EERE Green Power Network for more information.
One of the largest wind farms in the world has been sold.
Cannon Power Group, based in San Diego, has sold Windy Point, its brand- new, massive wind power project near Goldendale, to the Tuolumne Wind Project Authority consortium of Central California public utilities.
The company announced the sale in a news release Tuesday. Read more. Source: Energy Central via McClatchy-Tribune Regional News, 7/15/09
If the bioenergy industry is to be successful, diverse technologies are needed to make use of various biomass sources, according to Reyhaneh Shenassa, research and development manager at Metso Power Corp.
Before a technology is selected, identification and characterization of biomass resources by specific region are also needed to understand chemical and physical properties, production rates, yields and availability of the feedstock, she said.
Shenassa, who was a presenter at the Biomass ’09: Power, Fuels and Chemicals Workshop at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., recommended gaining a complete understanding of a biomass fuel source before selecting a technology. “What are the problematic elements?” she asked “What is the moisture content in this fuel?” Heating value, ash content, ash elements, melting behavior and bulk density should also be elements of concern when selecting a technology, according to Shenassa.
Biomass properties can be affected by many factors, including soil, location, climate, plant species, the part of plant being used, harvest time and harvest technology, she said.
“Biomass resources are not uniformly available across the U.S., or even within individual states,” she said. “The best source for a particular energy production scenario depends on multiple factors to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.” These factors include local resource availability, resource costs, plant size, feed ratio with coal, local geography and climate, as well as the availability of process utilities for conditioning as-received resources. Source: Biomass Magazine, 7/15/09
SRS Energy, a leading developer of sustainable solar roofing products, has completed one of the first residential installations of the Solé Power Tile™ system at a residence in Bermuda Dunes, CA. The Solé Power Tile™ is the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems.
“This installation illustrates how homeowners can go green and make smart, sustainable choices without compromising curb appeal,” said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy. “The revolutionary design of the Solé Power Tile system will enable this home to generate clean solar energy for decades to come.”
The Solé Power Tile system seamlessly blends with several styles of US Tile’s clay tiles, providing energy and preserving the home’s roofline, unlike unsightly roof-mounted solar panels. The combination of clay and solar tiles delivers the Spanish-style aesthetics of traditional curved clay tile roofs commonly found in the Pacific West and Southwest.
The Solé Power Tile system employs cutting-edge thin film solar technology, valued for its ability to convert a greater range of light–including the light at dawn and dusk–into solar energy when compared to other solar technologies. The curved design of the tile allows for greater air circulation under and around the tiles, helping to prevent degradation in performance caused by the region’s desert heat.
SRS Energy installed approximately 300 square feet of Solé Power Tile on the residence’s roof. The tiles are expected to generate approximately 2,400 kilowatt hours of electricity per year. The Bermuda Dunes home is one of several demonstration installations SRS Energy and US Tile are undertaking this summer to support the product’s launch. The homeowners will be able to install a larger solar upgrade beginning this fall when commercial shipments commence.
The Solé Power Tile system was installed in three hours by Roof Tile Specialty, a Solé-Certified US Tile contractor based in the Palm Springs area. Sunshine Solar Energy of Costa Mesa, CEC-approved solar contractors, installed the system’s off-roof components to the utility grid.
SRS Energy and US Tile are currently launching the Solé Power Tile system in select West Coast markets, and will begin a nationwide rollout of the product in spring of 2010. The Solé Power Tile is backed by a full product warranty that ensures reliability for both design professionals, contractors and their clients. Source: SRS Energy, 7/6/09
Burning coal and biomass to generate power while reducing emissions at the same time, Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology uses fluidization to mix and circulate fuel particles with limestone as they burn in a low-temperature combustion process. Unlike conventional steam generators that burn the fuel in a massive high-temperature flame, CFB technology does not have burners or a flame within its furnace. Read more. Source: A to Z of Materials, 7/15/09
Two Federal agencies are stopping a contentious California project from fracturing bedrock miles underground and extracting its geothermal energy until a scientific review determines whether the project could produce dangerous earthquakes, spokeswomen for the Energy and Interior Departments said on Monday. Read more. Source: New York Times, 7/13/09
Nobody asked him to build a house like this, but contractor Mark Antony DeAngelis believes that customers eventually will seek out the kind of green home he's building for the 2009 Parade of Homes.
DeAngelis, owner of Mark Antony Homes, is pulling out all the stops on his model home in an effort to show customers the renewable energy systems and energy-saving features they could have. Read more. Source: Syracuse Post-Standard, 7/14/09
Energy investment firm, World Energy Research, and Blue Energy Canada have signed an agreement.
As per the agreement, New Zealand’s World Energy Research will finance the development of Blue Energy Canada’s first 200 MW commercial tidal power project at a cost of roughly $500 million. Read more. Source: Tidal Today, 7/14/09
Concerns about geothermal development near Buena Vista were heard Thursday by the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District.
Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC is investigating whether a $30 million-$40 million, 10-megawatt geothermal electric generating system could be built in the Chalk Creek area south of Colorado Springs.
Envisioned are up to six production wells that would remove heated water from the ground, convert some of the heat energy to electric power and return cooled water to the same aquifer from which it is remove through four reinjection wells, said Fred Henderson, chief scientist for the project. Read more. Source: Pueblo Chieftain, 7/11/09
In a laboratory at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, graduate students hover around a complex setup that involves tubes, chambers and dials. The students load sawdust into one side of the machine and, within moments, a brown liquid begins to drip into a catch basin on the other side.
The liquid—known as green gasoline—is the chemical equivalent of traditional gasoline, but cleaner and less expensive. According to its inventor, that means the green gas, also referred to as grassoline, has the potential to transform the economy.
“The goal is to make all of the same compounds you can make from petroleum,’’ said George Huber, the professor leading the research. “When you look at biomass versus crude oil, biomass is significantly cheaper.’’ Read more. Source: Boston Globe, 7/13/09
Thin film photovoltaics made with semiconducting inks promise to revolutionize the solar energy industry with flexible modules that can be integrated into roofs, windows and walls of any structure. NREL has a unique new processing platform that enables scientists and industry to collaborate on efficient ways to commercialize the process. Read more. Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 7/13/09
Fresco Solar has announced that it will construct solar photovoltaic ground arrays of one megawatt or more in size anywhere in the USA for $2.95 per watt. This new breakthrough pricing, when coupled with Federal tax credits and other local initiatives such as the California Solar Initiative, brings solar photovoltaic power within the realm of grid parity.
Fresco Solar is an engineering, procurement and construction company based in Morgan Hill, California. The company's CEO, Sean Kenny, states that "the price of polysilicon has been falling for well over a year and yet new capacity continues to come on stream. The same is true for inverters and all the commodities used in balance of plant components, such as copper, steel and aluminum. This, coupled with our proprietary designs, allows us to offer never before seen prices for turnkey solar plants." Read more. Source: PR Newswire, 7/8/09
Implications:
The recent New York Times article highlights the massive potential of Hot Dry Rock Geothermal energy (or Engineered Geothermal Systems—EGS), and raises public awareness of this unique and virtually untapped source of energy. Unfortunately, the article also may trigger undue fear and anxiety by focusing on one particularly flawed example and failing to explore the broader range of technical options for accessing this abundant and renewable energy resource. The public deserves a fair and balanced discussion of the technology and all of its implications. Read more. Source: Gerson Lehrman Group, 7/8/09
Solar cells could be produced from materials other than silicon under a breakthrough that scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, say could dramatically reduce the price of solar technologies.
Solar companies have been searching for some time for materials that are more efficient, cheaper to produce and use fewer raw materials than silicon. But tests of copper, indium, gallium, selenide (CIGS) or related materials have failed so far to produce a winner. Read more. Source: New York Times, 7/8/09
Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica has entered into an agreement with Turbo Power Baja Energy for the supply of a total of five Gamesa G87-2.0 MW wind turbines, amounting to the installation of a power output of 10 MW.
The wind turbines will be installed on the Rumorosa wind farm in the State of Baja, California. The scope of the agreement includes the supply of the wind turbines, their installation and start-up, as well as their operation and maintenance. Assembly work is expected to start in the second half of 2009. Read more. Source: Energy Current, 7/8/09
By 2022, the U.S. EPA expects the domestic biofuels industry to produce more than 32 billion gallons per year of renewable fuel. However, less than half of that fuel is expected to be corn-based ethanol. The majority, 16 billion gallons, will be cellulosic biofuel. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 defines cellulosic biofuel as renewable fuel produced from any cellulose, hemicelluloses, or lignin that is derived from renewable biomass and has life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are at least 60 percent less than the baseline life-cycle GHG emissions. The EPA predicts that, in the long run, those 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuel will be cellulosic ethanol. However, EISA’s definition for cellulosic biofuel leaves open the possibility that the mandate can be met by other fuels. Read more. Source: Ethanol Producer Magazine, Aug. 2009
In keeping with its efforts to diversify its resource portfolio to meet the power requirements of its 44 member distribution cooperatives, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association has signed a 20-year agreement with a subsidiary of Duke Energy Corp. to purchase the output of a new 51-megawatt wind farm to be built in east-central Colorado.
“This wind power project is an important part of our near-term strategy to diversify our portfolio with renewable resource that complement our fleet of baseload generation,” said Ken Anderson, Tri-State’s executive vice president and general manager. “It also keeps us ahead of targets to meet renewable energy standards on behalf of our member co-ops.”
The Kit Carson Windpower Project, named for the county in which it will be sited, will be comprised of 34 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines to be erected on a 6,000-acre site northwest of Burlington, Colo.—within the service territory of Tri-State member co-op K.C. Electric Association. “We are glad that Tri-State has chosen this site for its new wind farm,” said John Huppert, general manager of K.C. Electric. “It calls attention to the fact that areas served by the region’s electric cooperatives are ideally suited for the development of renewable resource projects.”
“The Kit Carson Windpower Project will generate reliable energy, create clean-energy jobs and provide long-term economic benefits for Kit Carson County,” Colorado Governor Bill Ritter said. “This is another important step forward for Colorado’s New Energy Economy and will be a boon for the Eastern Plains, which are blessed with rich and abundant wind resources. I congratulate Tri-State and Duke Energy for taking this innovative step forward and helping Colorado to continue building our New Energy Economy.”
“Duke Energy is pleased to be able to help Tri-State bring clean, renewable wind power to the customers of its member cooperatives,” said David Marks, senior vice president for wind energy at Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS), a business unit of Duke Energy that owns and develops renewable energy assets. No new transmission facilities will be required to the Tri-State system; the wind project will be directly connected to an existing Tri-State 230-kilovolt line between substations located near the towns of Limon and Burlington.
“Being able to connect to our existing transmission system helps get the project online within 18 months,” Anderson said. “We’ll continue to invest in new transmission resources that will support further development of renewable energy projects.”
Duke Energy will construct, own, operate and provide all maintenance services on the facility, which is scheduled to be in service by the end of 2010. Construction will begin in June 2010 with a workforce of about 150 people on site during the peak construction period. A permanent staff of four to eight technicians will operate the wind farm.
The wind project is the second utility-scale renewable energy development to be announced by Tri-State this year. In March, Tri-State and Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar entered into an agreement to develop a 30-megawatt solar generating facility in northeast New Mexico. Construction of that facility is scheduled to start in April 2010; it is expected to be fully operational at the same time as the Kit Carson Windpower Project. Source: Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, 7/6/09
Learn more about renewable resources.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has published a jobs calculator for estimating jobs created by energy projects funded through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The calculator is suitable for estimating jobs created in any economic sector and for energy savings in any fuel or energy form. Read more. Source: GEA Weekly Report, 7/16/09
As the Obama Administration pushed the energy bill through the House, government organizations and corporations are assessing renewable energy alternatives. Which are the most efficient and improving the fastest? According to a new study from NYU Stern, geothermal and wind energy are more efficient, and are yielding greater returns on the R&D invested in them, than most other renewable energy alternatives.
NYU Stern Professor Melissa Schilling, an expert in strategic management and technology and innovation management, finds that the cost of generating electricity with geothermal or wind energy is a fraction of the cost of solar energy. More important, the performance of both is improving much more per dollar of R&D invested in them than solar technologies. This is the first study to explore the trajectory of performance improvement of renewable energy alternatives. Read more.
To speak with Professor Melissa Schilling about the study, please contact her directly at 212-365-0118; or contact Jenny Owen in NYU Stern’s Office of Public Affairs, at 212-998-0561. Source: GEA Weekly Update via Business Wire, 7/16/09
Each year, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council recognizes individuals and organizations that have implemented innovative projects during the past year that promote and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
This year, IREC will present awards in the following six categories:
Eligible programs or activities include education, energy policy, legislation, regulatory actions, demonstration projects, research and development, or financial incentives. Projects must have been completed during 2008.
"We believe that renewable energy can play a pivotal role in helping our ailing economy, especially if policies and programs are implemented across multiple sectors," said Ken Jurman, IREC's Chair. "This year's Innovation Awards will, therefore, recognize exemplary activities implemented in six different catagories."
The awards will be made in conjunction with the IREC Annual Meeting to be held in Anaheim, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009. Winners will be notified prior to the event.
Award recipients will be recognized during IREC's annual meeting and will receive a commemorative plaque recognizing their achievement. The winning entries will also be posted on the IREC website, featured in a national press release and listed in a brochure to be distributed to all attendees at the annual meeting.
Applications are due COB on Thursday, July 30, 2009. For more information and to submit applications, contact Jennifer Szaro. Source: Internstate Renewable Energy Council 7/16/09 .
A new report of scientific findings confirms not only that human activity is the primary cause of rising temperatures, but that climate change impacts are accelerating.
The compilation of peer-reviewed research includes evidence that melting rates for mountain glaciers around the world doubled between 2004 and 2006, and that more than 28,000 plant and animal species are changing habits due to new climatic conditions.
“Climate change impacts are happening now. This is not a distant phenomenon. And many impacts are emerging at a faster rate than previously modeled,” said Kelly Levin, an associate at the World Resources Institute who co-authored Climate Science 2008: Major New Discoveries with Dennis Tirpak, WRI senior fellow.
Levin said the trends may seem less surprising because we are inundated with so many stories about global warming. But as a co-author for the past four years of WRI’s annual compilation, she added that the repeated reconfirmation of trends should support the need for rapid and substantial greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation efforts worldwide.
The report is broken into four sections, which include some of the following sample findings:
Physical Climate:
The rate of growth of global carbon dioxide emissions between 2000 and 2007 was four times that of the previous decade. A large majority of warming over the last century can be attributed to human activities rather than natural factors, such as solar variability. If atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations reach 700 parts per million by 2100 (concentrations in 2008 were 385.57 parts per million), daily maximum temperatures are projected to rise to 104 degrees Fahrenheit in the U.S. Midwest and Southern Europe and exceed 122 degrees Fahrenheit in Australia, India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Sea ice loss in the Arctic could have the potential to warm ground up to 930 miles inland, threatening to trigger ”rapid degradation” of permafrost. This section includes studies in the areas of abrupt change, GHG and aerosol concentrations, temperature, and ocean behavior.
Hydrological Cycle:
From 1996 to 2006, the rate of ice mass loss of Antarctica increased by 75 percent. The rate of melting and thinning of 30 glaciers across nine mountain ranges around the world doubled between 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Up to 60 percent of the hydrological changes in the Western United States are due to human activities, a trend which, if sustained, “portends a coming crisis in water supply.” This section includes studies in the areas of glacial and snow melt, water supply, and storms.
Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services
Changes in 28,800 plant and animal systems and 829 physical climate systems have led scientists to conclude that human-induced warming is already “having a significant impact” on natural and physical systems. Due to climate change-induced beetle infestations, the forests of British Columbia will turn from a small net sink of carbon dioxide to a large net source by 2020, with emissions trumping those related to forest fires. If carbon dioxide emissions continue unabated, tropical ocean “dead zones” are likely to increase by 50 percent by 2100. This section includes studies in the areas of both marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Mitigation Technologies
A promising method of capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air is under development. A new non-toxic, inexpensive technology for storing solar energy, with potential applications for generating hydrogen power, has been discovered. This section includes studies in the areas of solar, thermoelectric, biofuels, wave energy, batteries and ultracapacitors, and carbon capture.
For more information, contact: Paul Mackie. Source: World Resource Institute, 7/16/09
The 2008 Wind Technologies Market Report is now available to the public, the DOE announced. Authored primarily by Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the report provides a comprehensive overview of trends in the U.S. wind power market, with a particular focus on 2008.
The need for such a report has become apparent in the past few years as the wind power industry has entered an era in which it contributes significantly to the nation's new electricity supply needs. Drawing from a variety of sources, this report provides the latest information on a variety of topics.
Of particular note, data on project-level wind power pricing, installed project costs, O&M expenses, and wind project performance have not previously been summarized in as comprehensive a fashion as provided in this annual report.
The report can be downloaded, along with a PowerPoint presentation based on the report. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ryan Wiser at 510-486-5474, or Mark Bolinger at 603-795-4937. Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 7/16/09
Van Ness Feldman has announced the most recent issue of their Public Lands and Natural Resources Update. The Update recaps, on a regular basis, significant developments in Federal law, policy and litigation relating to the use of public lands and natural resources. Source: Van Ness Feldman, 7/16/09
Not many people in Michigan can say they've built a wind turbine, because the renewable energy concept is so new.
But, Nate Pedder, a student at Sterling Heights High School, is one of them.
The 16-year-old from Troy was part of a student-led group that constructed a 30-foot-tall, 1.2-kilowatt wind turbine on Saturday at Warren Consolidated Schools' Butcher Educational Center that is already generating power to two classrooms. The 30 or so students from the district's Macomb Mathematics Science Technology and Career Preparation centers began their project this spring—as part of the district's commitment to renewable energy—by filing permits with the state and DTE Energy, digging the foundation, installing the underground wiring and eventually assembling the Michigan-based Mariah Power Windspire turbine. Read more. Source: The Detroit News, 7/15/09
Clean Edge Jobs is the premier source for clean-tech job seekers, employers, and recruiters. During our BETA period it is free to post jobs. Be sure to register now to connect with qualified candidates or to start your career in clean tech today! Source: Clean Edge Jobs, 7/15/09
Geothermal energy is a vast, renewable, low carbon energy source that can be converted to electricity and used to condition building environments. Almost everywhere on the planet, within the upper 10 feet of the earth's surface, a nearly constant temperature of 50 to 60º F (10 to 16º C) is maintained. A geothermal heat pump (GHP) consists of a network of piping or tubing buried in shallow ground near the building, which can tap this free, year-round reservoir of constant temperature. Read more. Source: Official Spin, 7/14/09
The RETScreen Clean Energy Project Analysis Software is a unique decision support tool developed with the contribution of numerous experts from government, industry, and academia. The software, provided free-of-charge, can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production and savings, costs, emission reductions, financial viability and risk for various types of Renewable-energy and Energy-efficient Technologies (RETs). The software (available in multiple languages) also includes product, project, hydrology and climate databases, a detailed user manual, and a case study based college/university-level training course, including an engineering e-textbook.
In support of RETScreen's goal of reducing the transaction costs associated with implementing clean energy projects, we are pleased to introduce the RETScreen Clean Energy Legal Toolkit.
This initiative was undertaken by NRCan/CanmetENERGY's RETScreen International in association with the Energy + Environment Foundation (EEF) and supported financially by a grant from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP). Some legal documents have been contributed pro bono by lawyers from leading American firms. This toolkit is also incorporated within the RETScreen Software User Manual available free-of-charge.
There are now more than 193,000 RETScreen users in 222 countries, where the software has been directly responsible for over $4 billion in user savings to-date. Source: DOE Tribal Energy Program, 7/13/09
On March 18, NCAI hosted a webinar on the Recovery Act provisions for tribal financing. This live presentation discussed these energy conservation bonds. Source: DOE Tribal Energy Program, 7/13/09
During the next few decades this year's summer of 100-plus temperatures and parched soils may represent the norm, not the exception, for much of Texas, said a climatology expert.
However, this winter could be wetter, thanks to an El Niño currently building in the Pacific, but the long-term trend suggests more hot and dry summers, said Dr. Gerald North, professor of atmospheric sciences and oceanography at Texas A&M University.
El Niño generally produces wet winters for the south, from Florida to Texas, he said.
"One thing for sure. All the (climate) models say things are going to get warmer in the U.S. and the rest of the world," he said. "But it's a gradual process; a kind of stagger-step trend upwards. It may warm for a few decades, then slows down, then warms again for a few decades."
North bases his predictions on a 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, an organization composed of thousands of scientists from more than 100 countries, he said.
"In the report are all sorts of results from climate (computer) model runs," North said. "What I've done is try to summarize what these runs mean for this region. ...What they suggest is that the tropical climates will expand northward. This seems to have been happening in the past and will continue to happen in the future."
What is a tropical climate? Think of Central Texas during a typical summer, North said. The last storm front comes through roughly in the middle of June, and brings with it nice rains.
"During those months of the summer, all we have are these blue skies and little puffy clouds, occasional little rains in the afternoon. That's tropical climate."
"As global warming proceeds – this is the theory, it's what the models say – the storm belt moves northwards," he said. "And that particularly affects us here in the summertime, when we get no fronts."
North said it is possible that the current drought is not indicative of a permanent trend, but is an anomaly, as were the droughts of the '30s and '50s.
"It could be just a fluke that persists for a decade," he said. "But my guess is that it's here to stay, but with fluctuations up and down."
More information on drought in Texas can be found at the Drought Joint Information Portal. Source: Texas A&M University, 7/14/09
Get comprehensive, organized and inclusive content that isn’t available anywhere else. Energy Central Professional includes:
Subscribers receive only the information they select with this fully customizable service. Powerful enhancements such as full-text searching and a complete 30-day history make Professional a must for today’s savvy energy professional. Source: Energy Central, 7/9/09
A Natural Resources Defense Council report indicates that Missouri is a prime candidate for greater development of wind and other alternative (renewable) energy projects. The state currently has three wind farms in operation with a total production of 163 MW. The report suggests that 25 moderate-scale wind farms could generate an economic impact of $75 million in the state.
A Clean Energy Economy for Missouri: Analysis of the Rural Economic Development Potential of Renewable Resources examines the potential for renewable energy resource development, specifically looking at how Missouri's wind, biomass and biogas potential will benefit rural communities. (Source: Associated Press, July 7, 2009)
Contact: Peter Lehner, exec. dir. NRDC, 212-727-2700. Source: EP Overviews, 7/9/09
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Green Power Partnership will host a webinar on solar power purchase agreements (SPPA), Tuesday, July 28, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. An SPPA is a financial arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates, and maintains a photovoltaic (PV) system and a host customer (i.e., a business, municipal government, or university) agrees to site the system on its roof or elsewhere on its property and purchase the system's electric output for a pre-determined period. Participants will learn:
Register for the webinar today. Source: U.S. Envirnomental Protection Agency, 7/8/09
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory will play a key role in a Clean Energy Partnership recently announced between Turkey’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR) and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
“We have enjoyed a longstanding partnership with Argonne National Laboratory and we look forward to working with them again as we address critical issues related to future energy use and developing clean energy technologies,” said Budak Dilli, General Director for Energy Affairs at MENR. “Their expertise will be instrumental in helping us understand our future energy supply and demand situation while realizing the environmental and economic implications of our energy policy decisions.” Read more. Source: Argonne National Laboratory, 7/8/09
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute's (EESI) Sustainable Biomass and Energy Program is proud to release a new policy paper, Sustainable Forest Biomass: Promoting Renewable Energy and Forest Stewardship.
The paper summarizes the most important issues surrounding the current use of woody biomass as a renewable energy resource, and identifies policy solutions that will promote sustainable harvesting of woody biomass resources as part of a larger effort to steward our nation's forests for a diversity of values, products, and ecosystem services. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES, H.R. 2454), recently passed by the House of Representatives, contains a number of provisions relating to bioenergy.
As the Senate considers ACES in the coming weeks, there will be many opportunities to reinforce the roles that forest management and woody biomass can play in meeting our nation's energy needs and addressing global climate change. This publication addresses a number of these provisions directly, as well as identifying additional policies that could ultimate improve a national climate and energy law. This policy paper is the end product of a two year initiative to better understand this subject.
As part of the initiative, EESI convened a discussion series bringing together scientists, community groups, foresters, environmental advocates, federal agencies, and other experts to explore the opportunities and problems associated with greater use of woody biomass for energy. I would like to extend my deep appreciation to all of you who participated in the discussion series. Many of you invested a lot of time in sharing your experience and expertise; this paper reflects your guidance, knowledge and dedication to the subject. Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 7/6/09
Learn more about educational resources.
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the selection of 28 new wind energy projects for up to $13.8 million in funding--including $12.8 million in Recovery Act funds. These projects will help address market and deployment challenges including wind turbine research and testing and transmission analysis, planning, and assessments. Along with the new awards, Secretary Chu announced the release of DOE's "2008 Wind Technologies Market Report", detailing $16 billion in investment in wind projects made in the U.S. in 2008--making the United States the leader in annual wind energy capacity growth, as well as cumulative wind energy capacity.
"American families and businesses are struggling in a recession and an increasingly competitive global economy. The Recovery Act was designed to rescue the economy from the immediate dangers it faces while rebuilding its fundamentals, with an eye toward new industry and opportunity," Secretary Chu said. "To help meet these challenges, the Recovery Act invests significant dollars to put people to work to spur a revolution in clean energy technologies." Read more. Source: U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, 7/16/09
This alert continues our series on energy provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In this edition, we discuss the just-released rules under Section 1603 of ARRA for converting the credit into a direct payment from the U.S. Treasury. Read more.
For more information, please contact:
Contact: Department of Treasury; or download program guidance, terms and conditions or the sample application form. Source: Nixon Peabody, 7/14/09
The Senate Appropriations Committee has doubled a proposal of the House Appropriations Committee, endorsing $60 million for the Department of Energy’s hydropower research and development program, with a note to expand marine and hydrokinetic R&D.
The Senate panel endorsed its version of the annual energy and water appropriations bill, totaling $34.27 billion, on July 9, 2009, including the $60 million for the DOE waterpower program, twice the $30 million proposed by President Obama and endorsed by the House committee on July 8.
The Senate committee’s summary of the appropriation noted it was "$30 million above the president's budget request for the Water Power R&D program to expand marine and hydrokinetic research, development, and deployment." Read more. Source: Hydro Review, 7/10/09
The U.S. Interior Department launched several initiatives on Monday to speed the development of solar energy on Western lands. Under the main initiative, 24 tracts of land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be fully evaluated for their environmental and resource suitability for large-scale solar energy production. DOE will help to evaluate these "Solar Energy Study Areas," which are located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, encompassing about 670,000 acres. The goal is to provide large-scale planning and zoning for solar projects, allowing a more efficient process for permitting and siting responsible solar development. The selected areas will become available for ventures producing 10 megawatts or more of electricity, and those ventures could have their permit applications put on a fast track.
To select the study areas, the Interior Department chose lands with excellent solar resources, suitable slope, proximity to roads and transmission lines or designated corridors, and containing at least 2,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands. The agency excluded sensitive lands, wilderness, and other high-value lands, as well as lands with conflicting uses. The study areas will be evaluated by including them in the Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), which an ongoing federally-funded environmental evaluation of potential solar energy development on public lands in six Western States. The expansion of the Solar PEIS will be supported with Recovery Act funds. While the study areas are being evaluated, the BLM will temporarily close them to new mining claims and other actions initiated by third parties under public land laws. The evaluation should be completed in late 2010 and will be open to public comment. Read more. Source: U.S. Dept. of Interior, 7/13/09
Late Tuesday the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to considerably boost funding for farm energy programs. The committee voted to increase fiscal year 2010 funding for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) from $60 million to $128 million. The committee also voted to increase funding for the Biorefinery Assistance program by $17 million. Read more. Source: Environmental Law and Policy Center, 7/9/09
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In an opinion that should prove valuable to wind development projects in Wisconsin, the State of Wisconsin Court of Appeals struck down a Calumet County ordinance that placed across-the-board design restrictions on the development of wind energy projects. The Court held that a political subdivision may not regulate wind energy projects in a manner that is contrary to the State Legislature’s policy clearly favoring such projects. The Court further held that any local restrictions on wind energy projects must be made on a case-by-case basis through a conditional use permit or other similar process. Read more. Source: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, 7/16/09
Global warming left unmanaged would “redraw the planet,” and the resulting damage may cost as much as one-fifth of production, Nicholas Stern, the U.K. government’s former chief economist, said in an interview.
Stern said he “probably underestimated” the potential effects of rising temperatures when he published a widely-cited economic study in 2006 that found unabated climate change could cost up to 20 percent of output -- or $11 trillion based on the world’s gross domestic product of $55 trillion in 2007. Read more. Source: Bloomberg, 7/15/09
On May 27, the Oglala Sioux Tribal Council voted to accept the charter of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Renewable Energy Development Authority. This new authority will oversee community and commercial scale renewable energy development on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The authority will require that this development is transparent, timely, equitable and environmentally sound. It will also ensure that the greatest possible financial benefits are retained by the tribe. Read more. Source: Indian Country, 7/15/09
Vega Promotional Systems, Inc. announced today that the Company's plan to manufacture energy efficient pellet fuel from organic waste bi-products in the State of Georgia meets the qualifying criteria to apply for a grant from the State under the federal State Energy Program.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced July 7, 2009, that Georgia will receive $32.9 million in federal money to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state. The money is part of a total of nearly $82.5 million the department will award Georgia as part of the federal State Energy Program. Georgia's proposal outlined plans for increasing the use of renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The state will get more than $41 million in additional funding upon demonstrating successful implementation of that plan, according to the department. Read more. Source: PR Newswire, 7/16/09
State lawmakers on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted to ban commercial wind development on North Carolina's mountains.
The Senate Finance Committee agreed to limit wind power to allowing homeowners to install small turbines on towers no taller than 100 feet. The full Senate could take up the measure as early as this week. The House also will review the proposal.
Tuesday's vote is a setback for wind power advocates who dream of turning the state's mountain ranges into commercial wind farms, which link a fleet of turbines that can exceed 300 feet. Read more. Source: The News & Observer, 7/15/09
A citizens group says it's considering legal action after Minnesota regulators declined to reconsider approval of a power line project that will touch four different states.
The Citizens Energy Task Force opposes the CapX2020 transmission line project, which eleven utilities plan to build in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday declined to rehear the case, making way for a possible appeal.
Also Tuesday, the PUC modified its requirement that the Brookings line from eastern South Dakota to the Twin Cities area carry wind energy and other renewables. The PUC allowed a way for the utilities to sidestep that if they demonstrate that meeting the rules isn't practical or isn't in customers' best interest.
In Minnesota, most utilities would have to generate a quarter of their power from renewable sources by 2025. The state's largest electricity provider—Xcel Energy Inc.—would be under orders to draw 30 percent from those sources by 2020. Source: Associated Press via WCCO-CBS, 7/14/09
The Bureau of Land Management says an auction for geothermal sites on public lands in three Western states generated more than $9 million.
The auction, held Tuesday at BLM headquarters in Reno, offered 124 parcels totaling 335,000 acres. Fifteen parcels were in California, one in Utah and the rest in Nevada.
The BLM says more than 243,000 acres in Nevada were sold for $8.9 million.
All 15 parcels in California sold for a total of $131,000. And the 228-acre parcel in Utah went for about $57,000.
Half of revenues from lease sales go to the state where the properties are located. The other half is split between the BLM and the counties where the properties are located. Source: Associated Press via Mercury News, 7/14/09
The IREC State & Stakeholder Newsletter tracks a range of market-oriented news, services and outreach tools valuable to the renewable energy community.
In this issue:
Source: Interstate Renewable Energy Council, 7/15/09
Great Lakes WIND Network, an international wind energy supply chain advisory group, announces the launch of its web-based WIND Energy Supply Chain Database and Mapping System.
This first-of-its-kind industry resource features an interactive GIS (geographical information system) map and searchable wind supply chain database containing the profiles of more than 1,000 manufacturers and supporting organizations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that are actively serving or emerging in the wind industry. Designed to facilitate customer-supplier relationships, the system quickly connects manufacturers and suppliers with OEMs, economic development officials, consultants and other wind power supply chain partners.
Site users are able to search the database of organizations by company name, industry sector, specialization or wind supplier activity status–active for companies currently serving the wind industry and emerging for those interested in entering the wind supply chain. Company profiles include name, address and Web site. Among the industry sectors represented in the database are machine shops, fabricators, foundries, forging, electrical, electronics, control systems, gears, bearings, hydraulics, fasteners, metal coatings, composites, and other auxiliary products and services.
"The wind energy sector is the fastest-growing industry in North America. By linking buyers, sellers and other industry partners, we believe this system can be a catalyst for business expansion, investment and new jobs," said Ed Weston, Director of WIRE-Net's Great Lakes WIND Network. "We are very excited at the prospect of being able to service our global network with a single site that supports supply chain needs."
Access to the site is free and available 24 hours a day. Register with the database today. Source: Today's Energy Solutions, 7/15/09
Canada has literally been a `powerhouse' of energy resources for decades with hydroelectricity, natural gas and oil playing a major role in the nation's economy, but only recently has begun paying serious attention to the potential for electrical production from geothermal energy to help meet the demand for "green, renewable" power in the western provinces and western U.S. Read more. Source: Energy Pulse, 7/8/09
China has announced its plans to construct a number of 10 GW wind power bases, in a bid to further boost the development of the country's renewable energy industry.
Zhang Guobao, administrator of the Chinese National Energy Administration, said: “China has worked out the strategy of building large (wind power) bases and integrating them into the mainstream power grid in order to speed up the pace of wind power development in the country.”
Vigorously developing renewable energy, including wind power, forms part of the country's ongoing strategy to contribute to the global campaign for combating climate change. Read more. Source: Seeking Alpha, 7/13/09
Construction of the state’s largest wind energy project is starting today, according to developer Wind Capital Group.
Work on the Lost Creek Wind Farm is beginning nearly a month ahead of schedule, officials said.
The earlier construction date is a result of Wind Capital Group taking delivery of wind turbines earlier than anticipated. With the revised start date, developers estimate that the $300 million, 150-megawatt wind energy project will be completed in late spring of 2010.
Lost Creek is slated to provide 2,500 jobs and enough electricity to power more than 50,000 homes. The project is located six miles south of King City. Source: St. Joseph News Press, 7/13/09
T. Boone Pickens has got nothing on Connecticut's municipal utilities.
While financier Pickens' plans to build the world's biggest wind farm recently blew away like leaves in a windstorm, Norwich Public Utilities has completed a solar installation and has three other renewable projects, including small but viable wind turbines, in the works.
At Groton Utilities, managers decided to build a 2 1/2 -kilowatt wind turbine at the Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School—not to produce energy but as a demonstration project that helps students studying green technology learn how to build and operate one. And Groton Utilities is exploring whether or not to pursue wind-energy production here in the region. Read more. Source: McClatchy-Tribune Regional News, 7/13/09
Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) has received approval to purchase 60 MW of power from Flat Water Wind Farm LLC's project which is under construction in Richardson County in southeast Nebraska and expected to be operational in late 2010. This follows from the OPPD's RFP for wind projects identified in our Aug. 27, 2008 edition.
This 20-year purchase agreement brings OPPD's total wind energy to 95 MW. OPPD is continuing to negotiate with other respondents to the RFP. Flat Water Wind Farm, LLC is a subsidiary of juwi Group/JW Prairie Wind Power, Lawrence, Kansas. (Source: The (Plattsmouth) Journal, July 10, 2009)
Contact: Omaha Public Power District, Editor's Note: Flat Water Wind Farm, LLC, is a subsidiary of juwi Group/JW Prairie Wind Power of Lawrence, Kansas. Bridget. Patti, Managing Director, JW Prairie Windpower, LLC, 785-856-5997. Source: EP Overviews, 7/13/09
The California Energy Commission's (Energy Commission) Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Committee held a workshop July 22 to receive public comments on the staff's preliminary levelized cost estimates for a number of electricity generation technologies. Commissioner Jeffrey D. Byron is the presiding member and Vice Chair James D. Boyd is the associate member of the 2009 IEPR Committee.
The workshop reviewed the staff's preliminary levelized cost estimates for a number of different generation technologies, and discuss whether the calculations are representative of current and expected project developments. The Energy Commission staff presented a summary of assumptions used to characterize different generation technologies and resulting range of levelized cost calculations.
The detailed study results appeared in the draft staff report, Comparative Costs of California Central Station Electricity Generation Technologies. The characterization of the different renewable generation technologies and supporting documentation are presented in a PIER interim project, Renewable Energy Cost of Generation Update. The Energy Commission made both reports available online, a week prior to the workshop to allow the state's major utilities, conventional and renewable generation developers and other interested parties to review the referenced documents and be prepared to provide comments at the workshop. The IEPR Committee is seeking to develop an accurate and relevant set of generation cost estimates that can be applied to electricity resource planning and technology evaluation studies. Source: California Energy Commission, 7/9/09
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is backing renewable energy in Washington. On Tuesday, at an environment committee hearing on major climate change legislation, Sanders highlighted a recent trip to Middlebury College as an example of how alternative energy can be put to use on a broad scale.
"I went to a plant that they have on campus which is using wood chips replacing oil. They're saving $700,000 a year in creating local jobs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions," Sanders said.
Sanders said the rest of the country should look to Vermont for more examples of how to use alternative energy sources. Source: WCAX News, 7/8/09
Once you’ve visited Enchanted Rock, you never forget the scenic beauty and power of this natural wonder. What would a farm of 400-foot-tall wind turbines do to the unique vista adorned by the dome profile of this pink granite marvel?
Junction is known as the “Land of the Living Waters” and is named for the rivers coming together there: the North and South Llano Rivers. The Johnson Fork Creek, that feeds into the rivers, provides amazing canoeing and kayaking experiences. Young boys fishing the creek boast about catching 50 pound catfish. How will this wild, beautiful area, change if high voltage transmission lines cross the creek in four places? Read more. Source: Mason County News, 7/8/09
The National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) praised the provisions for renewable forest biomass and carbon offsets in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 as passed by the House.
David P. Tenny, president and CEO of NAFO, said, “NAFO appreciates the improvements to the bill that will enable our forests to make a significant contribution to producing clean, domestic renewable energy and providing environmentally sound, cost effective offsets to greenhouse gas emissions. We applaud Chairman Peterson and the other members of Congress who understand the fundamental role of forests in renewable energy and climate policy and who insisted on crafting legislation that captures the full benefits our forests can and should provide.” Read more. Source: Macon County News, 7/9/09
Progress Energy Carolinas, Southern Energy and NxGen Power will build, own and operate a 1.3-MW solar PV plant in Raleigh, N.C. The facility, which will be located on city-owned property at the Neuse River Wastewater Treatment Plant, is expected to be completed in early 2010 and will be the first utility-scale solar power project located on local government property in the state. The project originated from an RFP issued by Progress Energy Carolinas, first profiled in our Nov. 5, 2007 edition. (Source: Triangle Business Journal, July 7, 2009)
Contact: Progress Energy Carolinas; Southern Energy, 919-836-0330; or NxGen Power, 704-800-7410. Source: EP Overviews, 7/9/09
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday granted a geothermal company's request to be added to a local geothermal mitigation committee.
AltaRock Energy, of Sausalito and Seattle, will now officially be a member of the Anderson Springs Geothermal Mitigation Committee, based on a unanimous board vote.
Last month the company began drilling on a Bureau of Land Management lease held by the Northern California Power Agency, as Lake County News has reported.
AltaRock intends to use the enhanced geothermal system technology to drill deep into bedrock in an effort to release heat. The process will then inject water to get steam for geothermal energy production. That bedrock fracturing is scheduled to begin in August. Read more. Source: Lake County News, 7/8/09
ITC Holdings Inc., a power-line company, announced Tuesday that it had entered into an agreement with MDU Resources Group Inc. to participate in a wind-power transmission project that includes Wisconsin.
The Green Power transmission network is expected to provide grid access for many of the highest-efficiency wind farms in the upper Midwest and cover parts of the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin.
It is expected to include 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage, 765,000-volt transmission and would connect with existing lines in Illinois and Indiana. The project would facilitate the flow of up to 12,000 megawatts of renewable power to the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions of the country.
By comparison, Wisconsin's highest-voltage lines are 345,000 volts.
"We are pleased with both this agreement and the opportunity it establishes to work with MDU Resources Group on the design and development of the Green Power Express Project," said Edward M. Rahill, president of ITC Grid Development LLC. "MDU's insight into the wind-power infrastructure needs in North and South Dakota will be invaluable as we continue to advance the development of the Green Power Express."
MDU is headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. ITC is based in Novi, Mich. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/7/09
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced plans to provide up to $52.5 million to research, develop, and demonstrate Concentrating Solar Power systems capable of providing low-cost electrical power both day and night. Today's announcement underscores the Obama Administration's commitment to creating jobs and saving money, making electricity generated from solar energy competitive with conventional grid electricity.
"Low-cost renewable energy generation that includes energy storage is one key to our efforts to diversify domestic energy sources and create new jobs," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said. "By investing in the development of low-cost solar technologies we can pave the way toward faster deployment of carbon-free, large-scale energy sources." Read full story. Source: DOE EERE Progress Alert, 7/15/09
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu today announced plans to provide up to $22 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support the planning and installation of utility-scale community renewable energy projects in up to four communities nationwide. This funding opportunity directly supports the Obama Administration's goals of developing clean, renewable energy supplies, and creating new jobs and economic opportunities.
"American families and businesses are struggling in a recession and an increasingly competitive global economy. The Recovery Act was designed to rescue the economy from the immediate dangers it faces while rebuilding its fundamentals, with an eye toward new industry and opportunity," Secretary Chu said. "To help meet these challenges, the Recovery Act invests significant dollars to put people to work to spur a revolution in clean energy technologies." Read the full story. Source: EERE Progress Alerts, 7/15/09
The USDA RBEG program received an additional $19 million in program dollars through the Recovery Act. Funds are available until Sep. 30, 2010, or until expended. Contact your local USDA Office or the State Native Program contact for more information. Information courtesy of Brian Gillen, HUD. Source: DOE Tribal Energy Program, 7/13/09
Continuing to roll out funds under the State Energy Program, U.S. DOE Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $141 million US in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Hawaii, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, the Northern Mariana Islands and Texas. Initial funds of 40 percent have been authorized, with 10 percent of total funding previously available to states to support planning activities. The remaining funds will be provided upon successful implementation of the programs.
In addition to energy efficiency measures, Texas, which is receiving $87.5 million in funding, will also use approximately $30 million for competitive grants to assist help public entities install solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal projects. The state will also use $6 million to partner with the Texas Workforce Commission to train workers for the renewable-energy industry and $5 million on energy education and outreach. Additional funding available - $109 million. (Source: U.S. DOE, July 10, 2009/Houston Business Journal, July 13, 2009)
Contact: Cathy Zoi, assistant secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, 202-586-9220. Source: EP Overviews, 7/13/09
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a funding opportunity for up to $10.5 million to increase the ability of local governments to accelerate solar energy adoption and workforce development. Funding for the five-year awards is subject to annual appropriations. Through this new funding opportunity, DOE will provide local governments across the U.S. with useful, timely information on increasing solar energy use.
Through the Solar America Cities program, a partnership effort with 25 large U.S. cities, DOE has developed guides, case studies, and tool kits to assist local governments in promoting solar energy. Under this new effort, DOE will partner with outreach organizations to get these tools into the hands of local government officials and stakeholders. Read the full story. Source: EERE Progress Alerts, 7/7/09
DOE offered $59 million in conditional loan guarantees last week to Nordic Windpower USA, Inc. and Beacon Power Corporation. Nordic Windpower has been offered $16 million to support the expansion of its assembly plant in Pocatello, Idaho, to produce its 1-megawatt N1000 wind turbine. Beacon Power, an energy storage company, has been offered $43 million to support the construction of a 20-megawatt, flywheel-based energy storage plant in Stephentown, New York, that will help ensure the reliable delivery of renewable energy to the electricity grid. See the DOE press release. Source: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – News, 7/8/09
DOE issued solicitations in late June for $3.9 billion in grants to support the development and demonstration of smart grid technologies. Smart grid technologies involve adding communication capabilities and control systems to the electrical grid. Just as the Internet drastically changed how people use their home computers, adding communications to the power grid is expected to change how people use electricity, resulting in improved home energy management for the homeowner, greater demand control for the utility, and a more reliable power grid overall. Smart grids are also expected to better accommodate the use of renewable energy, all forms of on-site power production, and electric vehicles.
DOE's new solicitations include a $3.3 billion Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program, which is intended to enable smart grid functions on the nation's electrical grid as soon as possible. The cost-shared grants will support the manufacturing, purchasing, and installation of existing smart grid technologies that can be deployed on a commercial scale, with a maximum award of $200 million. Applications are due on August 6. DOE also issued an FOA for $615 million to identify and develop new and more effective smart grid technologies. The Smart Grid Demonstration Program will support demonstrations of the innovative use of emerging technologies in the power grid, with a maximum award of $100 million. Applications are due on August 26. Both solicitations are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. See the DOE press release, and download the FOAs by searching the public opportunities on FedConnect for reference numbers DE-FOA-0000058 for the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program and DE-FOA-0000036 for the Smart Grid Demonstrations Program.
As DOE works to help deploy the smart grid, the U.S. Commerce Department is working to develop the technical standards that will govern its construction. Just as most home entertainment systems involve combining components from different manufacturers that need to work together, a smart grid will require smart electric meters, smart home appliances, and utility systems to work together. The system must allow for upgrades to handle electric vehicles and new power sources, but like the Internet, it must also be secure against outside tampering. Standards will also aim to avoid utility investments in technologies that may quickly become outmoded. As the first step to creating smart grid standards, the Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a 300-page report, prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute, to identify the issues and priorities for developing such standards. NIST released the report in mid-June and opened it to public comment with a Federal Register notice on June 30. Comments are due by July 30. See the NIST press release, the Federal Register notice, and the full 291-page report). Source: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – News, 7/8/09
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $153 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under DOE's State Energy Program (SEP), states and territories have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the
use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative is part of the Obama Administration's national strategy to support job growth, while making a historic down payment on clean energy and conservation. Read the full story. Source: EERE Progress Alerts, 7/6/09
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