Historic perspective helps today's energy dilemmas
The Center of the American West at the University of Colorado at Boulder recently released "What Every Westerner Should Know About Energy," a roadmap to Western regional energy issues.
The report contains the findings of 16 prominent experts on energy and the American West who gathered for a two-day workshop in May 2002. Attendees discussed the unique role of energy in the past, present and future of the West, which benefits from rich deposits of conventional fuels as well as an abundance of renewable resources like sun and wind.
Contents of the full report are available for free on the Web. Printed copies are available for $5 plus $2 shipping and handling. To order or for more information, call the CU-Boulder Center of the American West at 303-492-4879.
DOE to fund tribal development of clean energy
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is making $2.2 million available to seven Native American tribes to support the development of renewable energy resources on tribal lands.
"Native American tribal lands offer promising opportunities for renewable energy growth in this country," Secretary Abraham said, "and reliable, affordable energy supplies are critical to tribal self-sufficiency. With these awards, the Department of Energy is helping accomplish two very important goals: supporting economic development among Native Americans while helping our nation enhance its energy security."
Among those receiving awards are the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at the Fort Peck Reservation in Poplar, Mont. The tribes' unemployment rate stands at 76 percent, and the reservation's high electric rates play a significant role in inhibiting economic development. By developing their wind resources, the tribes hope to increase opportunities for employment and education.
Riverside expands solar rebate to single-family homes
Riverside, Calif., Public Utilities recently decided to expand its rebate program encouraging residents to install solar systems.
While state incentives to homeowners are drying up, the utility's residential customers can look forward to rebates of $2 per watt or 50 percent of the project cost, whichever is less. Based on a 2-kW photovoltaic system for an average home, homeowners would receive a $4,000 rebate.
Initially, RPU's solar program focused on low-income, multifamily and senior housing projects. The California Energy Commission paid rebates and incentives for single-family residences.
The CEC incentives have been repealed, but Riverside homeowners' interest in solar energy remains high. Fortunately, their utility has the resources to offer a substantial incentive to install a PV system. Money will come from RPU's public benefit fund.
Wind power program sells electricity for a penny a kilowatt-hour
Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency has lowered its wholesale price for wind power to member utilities from $2.90 per 100 kWh block to $1 per block, making it one of the five lowest green power pricing programs in the country.
The new price reflects the cost of production from SMMPA's new turbines near Fairmont, Minn. The turbines are close to the distribution lines of Fairmont Public Utilities, a SMMPA member, cutting down on costly transmission charges and losses and further reducing the cost of the wind energy.
The completed turbines are expected to generate at least 5 million kWh of electricity annually, providing SMMPA member utilities with a new source of wind power to sell to customers in 100-kWh blocks. Customers may sign up for as many blocks as they like. A number of municipal utilities in Minnesota boast a higher sign up rate for green power programs than the national average.
New ethanol plant creates jobs, market for Iowa farmers
Otter Creek Ethanol, LLC, broke ground on a new ethanol plant near Ashton, Iowa, one of four under construction in the state.
The Renewable Fuels Association commended the company's farmer-owners for creating jobs and keeping more money in Iowa by turning the state's largest crop into diversified products.
When completed, the plant will employ about 40 people, some in highly technical positions, and carry an annual payroll of $1.25 million. The facility will process nearly 16 million bushels of corn into 45 million gallons of ethanol annually, and produce 135,000 tons of premium Dakota Gold livestock feed.
Broin Companies of Sioux Falls, S.D. is building the plant for Otter Creek, the 18th of 19 such facilities the company is building. The plant is expected to be on-line next summer.
