Enehttp://www.wapa.gov/es/title> <link rel="stesb123a.htmref="esb.css"> </head> <body bgcolor="white" link="red" vlink="#003366"> <div align="center"> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td width="60%" valign="top" align="left"><span class="subhead"><i>Energy Services bulletin</i>, <font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular" size="2">Vol. 22, No. 6, December 2003</font><a href="http://wapa.gov"><br> </a></span></td> </tr> <tr align="center"> <td width="60%" valign="top" align="left"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="2" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="2%"></td> <td width="96%"> <div align="right"> <span class="text"><a href="esb123.htm">Return to article<br> </a></span></div> </td> <td width="2%"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="2%"></td> <td width="96%"> <div align="left"> <p><span class="headline">Alameda P&T gives customers renewable energy education they want<br> </span></p> <div align="left"> <table width="64" border="0" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="0" align="right"> <tr> <td><img src="images/coolingtower.jpg" alt="" height="210" width="271" border="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="cutline">Geothermal Facilities Manager Murray Grande (center in hardhat) of Northern California Power Agency leads Alameda P&T customers on tour of NCPA's geothermal plant No. 1 located in Middletown, Calif. Alameda P&T has part ownership in the plant, one of two that supply more than 50 percent of the utility's power. (Photo courtesy of Alameda Power and Telecom)<br> </span></td> </tr> </table> <p class="text">If it is true that we conserve only what we love, we love only what we understand and we understand only what we are taught, <a href="http://www.alamedapt.com">Alameda Power and Telecom</a> is out to turn its customers into conservationists.<br> </p> <p class="text">The municipal utility serving an island community in the San Francisco Bay area launched a customer education program three years ago to teach people of all ages about energy efficiency and renewable energy."We surveyed our customers to get their ideas on how <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/es/pubs/ESB/03Aug/esb085a.htm">their public benefits</a> funds should be spent in each of the four approved categories: energy efficiency, low-income assistance, new investments in renewables and research and development," recalled Energy Management Supervisor <a href="mailto:mowens@alamedapt.com">Meredith Owens</a>. "Their No. 1 interest was energy efficiency. We were surprised to learn that their No. 2 priority was education about renewable energy."<br> </p> <p class="text">Maybe it isn't so surprising after all, since Alameda P&T receives 80 percent of its power from renewable resources. Hydroelectric power from Western and the <a href="http://www.ncpa.com/">Northern California Power Agency</a> makes up 30 percent of the utility's portfolio. More than 50 percent is geothermal power from two plants in which the utility has partial ownership through the NCPA.<br> <br> </p> <p><span class="subhead">School-based programs reach out to all students</span><br> </p> <p class="text">Like all good habits, wise energy use is best started early, so educating future customers was a top priority. Working with the school district, other utilities and nonprofit educational organizations, Alameda P&T developed energy education programs to give students of all ages the information to make good energy decisions down the road. "Our schools are facing big challenges," noted Owens. "Staffing is light, and they have standards to meet. It was important to offer them quality programs geared to what they needed to teach." <br> </p> <p class="text">Alameda P&T commissioned Make*A*Circus, a San Francisco community theater group, to create a performance for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. In "Sky Juice," three clowns use acrobatics, dancing and juggling to introduce students to the basics of electricity and the value of renewable energy. A videotape of the circus performance made the message available to students throughout the Alameda Unified School District. <br> </p> <p class="text"> Through a contact at Palo Alto Utilities, Owens learned of <a href="http://www.rahus.org/">The Rahus Institute</a>, a research and educational organization focused on solar energy education in California. Alameda P&T hired the institute to contact high schools, determine interest in a program on energy efficiency and solar energy and help teachers develop hands-on classroom lessons. <br> </p> <p class="text">After the successful collaboration, science teacher Bill Dodge of Lincoln Middle School expressed interest in a similar program. Students' and teachers' response to science lesson plans based on The Rahus Institute's Solar Schoolhouse Program were so positive that the program expanded. Using public benefits funding and money from its <a href="esb123a.htm">Clean Future Fund</a>, Alameda P&T installed a one-kW photovoltaic system at the school. When the PV system went live in April 2002, Lincoln Middle School sponsored a month of solar activities integrated into all aspects of the curricula.<br> </p> <p class="text">Getting teachers involved was the hardest part of the program, Owens recalled. "We had to go from teacher to teacher. If a utility is going to do this kind of program, it really helps to have a teacher advocate, like Bill Dodge."<br> </p> <p class="text">The focus of the program is now moving from solar energy to geothermal, the source that supplies Alameda residents with more than half their power. The <a href="http://geothermal.marin.org/">Geothermal Education Office</a> is providing teacher education, classroom presentations and field trips.<br> <br> </p> <p><span class="subhead">Powerplant tours, lectures introduce renewable options<br> </span></p> <p class="text">Geothermal power is at the center of the utility's education program outside the classroom. For the last three years, Alameda P&T has offered adult customers field trips to NCPA's geothermal powerplants and steam fields just north of Calistoga. Twice yearly, two busloads of customers spend the day learning how geothermal power is generated. The field trip includes a visit to the Calpine Geothermal Energy Visitors Center, a presentation by a geologist, lunch and a tour of the NCPA geothermal powerplants.<br> </p> <p class="text">Owens, who developed the tour program, publicizes the trips in newspaper ads and billing statements. "More than 700 customers have been up to the powerplants," she said proudly.<br> </p> <p class="text">Customers who attended the tours and Clean Future Fund contributors were on the mailing list for invitations to a free lecture series in Spring 2003. The Clean Future Fund Speakers Series launched with Dr. Severin Borenstein, professor in public policy and business administration at the UC Berkeley Haas Economic School of Business and director of the <a href="http://www.ucei.berkeley.edu/">University of California Energy Institute</a>. About 90 people attended the talk on California's energy crisis, how future crises can be prevented and steps Alameda P&T has taken to protect its customers.<br> </p> <p class="text">The most recent event took the form of a panel discussion about renewable energy options. Following a presentation by Alameda P&T General Manager Junona Jonas, industry experts discussed the potential of geothermal, wind and municipal solid waste resources. "We need to add new generation by 2005," said Owens. "The lecture series gave us a forum to start acquainting customers with the different options."<br> </p> <p class="text">The speakers' series will reach more customers as part of Alameda P&T's public access cable program, "Energy Views." Besides the taped Clean Future Fund lectures, the new weekly program will feature videos on energy efficiency and renewable energy.<br> </p> <p class="text">Spreading the message of energy efficiency and renewable energy has strengthened Alameda Power and Telecom's ties to the community. Residents who wanted to learn about renewable energy are now more familiar with their utility's staff and facilities as well. Giving customers what they asked for has never been better for business—or the environment.<br> </p> <p class="text"></p> </div> </div> </td> <td width="2%"></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </body> </html>