Renewables attracting more investor attention
A report released in February by Clean Edge, a San Francisco-based market research firm, showed that the total investment in renewable energy technologies by venture capitalists has increased over the last three years from 0.7 percent to 2.3 percent. The increase is especially impressive given the economy's overall sluggish or negative growth, especially in the technology sector.
If the trend continues, the report predicts that renewable energy will become an $89 billion industry by 2012, up from just $10 billion right now. It forecasts that spending on photovoltaics will grow from $3.5 billion to $27.5 billion, wind power investment will increase from $5.5 billion to $49 billion, and investment in fuel cells will climb from $500 million to $12.5 billion.
Another important trend the report cited is the increasing interest shown by the military in developing fuel cell technologies for ultra-lightweight equipment. Military research and development has historically driven technology costs down.
GCEA offers renewable energy loan program
The Gunnison County Electric Association is offering low-interest loans to members to purchase and install renewable energy resources, such as wind power or photovoltaic systems. Loans of up to $25,000 each are available for on- or off-the-grid systems anywhere in the GCEA service area.
The new loan program is one of the first of its kind in the nation. GCEA was also among the first to offer energy conservation loans. The utility has offered net metering for the past year to anyone with a grid-tied renewable energy system.
Participants in the program must produce electricity for 12 consecutive months in order to be eligible for payment for the power.
Western offers Federal agencies renewable energy options
Western Area Power Administration, in cooperation with the Federal Energy Management Program, has created a program designed to increase the renewable power options available to Federal agencies.
Western offers these agencies renewable power, supplemental renewable energy, and renewable energy certificates, or green tags.
Under the renewable power option, Western can buy renewable energy for Federal agencies located within Western's 15-state service territory. The supplemental renewable energy product, like its namesake, allows current customers to acquire renewable energy to supplement their current firm hydropower deliveries from Western. In the renewable energy certificates, or green tags program, Western can buy renewable energy and then sell the energy's environmental attributes to a Federal customer.
For more information on these program options, read the new brochure Renewable Resources for Federal Agencies.
Report contends Illinois could run on green power
According to a report recently released by the Illinois Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, the state has the potential to generate 88 percent of its power needs from renewable sources of energy, not counting solar generation. At this time, Illinois receives less than 1 percent of its power from renewables.
The report estimated that wind generation could produce more than 105,000 kWh. Biomass, including organically grown combustibles such as switch grass, could supply 46,882 kWh, and another 3,000 kWh could come from landfill gas.
Pointing to recent spikes in the natural gas market, Illinois PIRG Executive Director Diane E. Brown noted that increasing the percentage of electricity generated by renewable energy could save consumers money in the long run. Illinois PIRG, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Illinois Environmental Council, Citizen Action/Illinois and other groups are working to pass a state renewable energy standard of 15 percent by 2020.
Chicago already gets 10 percent of its energy from renewables, and Mayor Richard Daley has committed to buying 20 percent of the power for the city from renewable sources within the next 5 years.
Basin Electric wins national wind award
Basin Electric Power Cooperative won the Wind Power Cooperative of the Year 2002 award from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, its Cooperative Research Network and the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America program.
NRECA presented the Bismarck, N.D.-based generation and transmission cooperative with the award at its annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn., in March. The award recognized Basin Electric for its leadership in expanding opportunities for wind energy. The co-op's involvement with an 80-MW wind project, announced in 2002, is the largest electric cooperative wind farm in the nation.
Basin Electric has recently taken a step to encourage consumer-owned wind projects as well, by setting a pay rate for electricity purchased from wind turbines with a capacity of 150 kW or more, up to a maximum of 2 megawatts. The new rate complements the small-consumer wind purchase rate the co-op adopted last year. The rate is planned to go into effect this summer.
Workshop teaches teachers about renewable energy
A group of eleven high school teachers attended the second annual Renewable Energy Education Teacher Workshop at the Laurentian Environmental Center near Britt, Minn.
The workshop introduces teachers to a multi-disciplinary curriculum designed to give students an understanding of renewable energy. Initially, the curriculum focused on wind generation; however, LEC has incorporated facts about solar energy into the latest workshop. Participants also learn how to use a traveling kit that includes a 400-watt turbine with a cutaway design and additional parts so students can build their own turbine.
Minnesota Rural Electric Association, several electric cooperatives and two school districts sponsored teachers to attend the workshop. Triton High School, in one of the sponsoring districts, recently purchased a classroom kit as well.
The next workshop, scheduled for October 15-17, 2003, will take place at the Midwest Center for Wind Energy at Buffalo Ridge near Hendricks, Minn.
