IID Energy sees voluntary RPS as goal to beat

Recognizing the wisdom of diversifying energy resources, consumer-owned Imperial Irrigation District established a 20 percent minimum for the use of green energy resources by 2017, paralleling California's renewable portfolio standard.

Kit Carson joins team to grow solar industry in northern New Mexico

At the North American Energy Summit in Albuquerque, N.M., four companies announced a public-private partnership that could turn the state's abundant sunshine into renewable energy and turn renewable energy into economic development.

Renewable hydrogen future begins now in Ft. Collins, Colo.

The city of Ft. Collins, Colo., is launching the first phase of a multi-faceted project that will provide the municipality with hands-on education in hydrogen energy systems.

Plankinton, S.D., rebuilds school with eye on efficiency, safety

Safety was as important as efficiency to Plankinton Public School when it chose a geothermal heating and cooling system for its new building.

Sun and wind electrify Navajo Nation

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority gave the age-old tradition of living off the land a 21st century twist with a renewable energy and distributed generation project that is producing electricity for remote households on the Navajo reservation.

Snowmass Golf Clubhouse goes for the gold with green construction

Aspen Skiing Company is going for the gold—LEED certification for green building, that is—with the new Snowmass Golf Clubhouse, a model of sustainable construction.

Power Line shows supermarkets how to shop for energy savings

In the first of two parts, the Western-sponsored energy information clearinghouse offers a wealth of suggestions to improve energy efficiency in a grocery operation, many targeting the food sales industry's single largest energy user.

Reverse osmosis gives Julesburg, Colo., water supply new lease on life

A northeastern Colorado town fine tunes the operation of its innovative water treatment plant to find the optimal balance between efficiency and water quality.

APPA guidebook aims to increase small utilities' use of renewables

Small and medium municipal utilities trying to add more renewable energy to their power mixes will soon have a new tool to answer questions and aid in the planning process.

Western and GeoPowering the West set out to raise the visibility of geothermal power with two workshops targeting public power utilities.

Topics from the Power Line:
Many software packages can help predict energy use

The U.S. Department of Energy Web site lists software packages—many of them free—to help building owners and managers estimate how much energy a facility is likely to use.

• New guide is primer on pumping system efficiency
  
• Biodiesel fueling stations spread through Colorado
  
• ACORE publishes renewable energy finance directory
  
• Riverside Public Utilities programs win PR awards
  
• Bacon Elementary wins Wirth Chair environmental award
  
  

Technology Spotlight
Exploring power factor myths

The Spotlight demystifies power factor by shining some light on a few myths about that misunderstood electrical phenomenon.

Western's Energy Services Equipment Loan Program recently added an ultrasonic leak detector and two infrared cameras to its library of tools that can help customers locate and correct energy leaks.