Green Power

NREL Ranks Top 10 Utility Green Power Programs

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops the Top 10 rankings of utility programs in the following categories: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate and the lowest price premium charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources.

In Green Power Program Renewable Energy Sales, from the top: Austin Energy (wind, landfill gas); Portland General Electric (PGE -- existing geothermal and hydro, wind); Florida Power & Light (FPL -- landfill gas, biomass, solar); PacifiCorp (wind, biomass, solar); Xcel Energy (wind); Basin Electric Power Cooperative (wind); Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD -- wind, landfill gas, small hydro); National Grid (biomass, wind, small hydro, solar); OG&E Electric Services (wind); and Puget Sound Energy (PSE -- wind, solar, biogas).

Customer choice programs are proving to be a powerful stimulus for growth in renewable energy supply. In 2006, total utility green power sales exceeded 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh), about a 30percent increase over 2005. More than 500,000 customers are participating in utility programs nationwide, up more than 10percent from 2005. "Higher prices for conventional energy sources, as well as increasing environmental concerns, are focusing greater attention on renewable energy options," said Blair Swezey, NREL principal analyst.

In Total Number of Customer Participants, from the top: Xcel Energy, PacifiCorp, PGE, SMUD, PECO, FPL, LADWP, National Grid, PSE, and We energies. In Customer Participation Rate: City of Palo Alto Utilities, Lenox Municipal Utilities, Montezuma Municipal Light & Power, PGE, SMUD, Silicon Valley Power, Holy Cross Energy, Central Electric Cooperative, River Falls Municipal Utilities, and Orcas Power and Light Cooperative.

Price Premium Charged for New, Customer-Driven Renewable Power, which includes only programs that have installed or announced firm plans to install or purchase power from 100 percent new renewable resources: Austin Energy (wind, landfill gas); OG&E Electric Services (wind); Edmond Electric (wind); Avista Utilities (wind, landfill gas, biomass); Indianapolis Power and Light (wind); Eugene Water and Electric Board (wind); Clallam County Public Utility District (landfill gas); PacifiCorp (wind, biomass, solar); Idaho Power (wind, solar); Mason County PUD 3 (wind); Sacramento Municipal Utility District (wind, landfill gas, hydro); and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (wind, landfill gas, biomass). Source: Renewable Energy Access, 4/5/2007.

Business School: Group Seeks to Reduce B-School's Emissions

The Goizueta Business School is looking greener than ever this spring. GoizuetaGreen, the B-School's new sustainability program, seeks to change the school's energy consumption habits and distinguish the B-School from its top-ranked peer institutions by casting itself as a leader in the environmental sustainability movement. "The cheapest energy is the energy you don't use," said Gordon McKemie, GoizuetaGreen chairman, BBA Council president and B-School senior. McKemie, along with seven B-School students and a faculty advisor, founded GoizuetaGreen to implement environmentally conscious initiatives. Thursday's "Kegs in the Courtyard" marked the group's first attempt to measure an event's carbon emission. GoizuetaGreen members surveyed students as to their mode of transportation to the event, distance driven, make and model of the vehicle and whether people carpooled, in an effort to measure carbon emissions. Using an online carbon calculator, survey results estimated that 39 pounds of carbon were released into the atmosphere. GoizuetaGreen's flagship initiative sponsors carbon-neutral events through student groups.

GoizuetaGreen dispatches auditors to measure how much carbon student groups put into the atmosphere as a byproduct of their activities. Then they charge their budget a kind of carbon "tax" which is used to further fund sustainability initiatives, McKemie explained. Despite encountering isolated resistance from some groups, the BBA Council approved the tax to encourage environmental responsibility among B-School groups, McKemie said. The carbon neutrality taxes charged to these groups will go toward purchasing renewable energy certificates, also known as green tags. Green tags subsidize the purchase of energy generated from renewable sources, for example by paying energy companies the difference between 100 megawatts of coal and 100 megawatts of hydroelectric energy, allowing consumers the option of renewable energy without extra cost. Another sustainability initiative involves raising funds to create a student lounge furnished with computers and televisions powered by solar panels installed on the roof of the B-School. McKemie describes this as a "guilt-free room." Due to a lack of funding, however, some of the group's initiatives must wait until next year.

Jong Park, a B-School junior and one of GoizuetaGreen's auditors who measures the carbon output of groups, said that although the program is in its developmental stage, GoizuetaGreen has the potential to teach students about the dual benefits of sustainability. "This isn't just about going green or promoting the [socially conscious] identity anymore," Park said. "That's what a lot of a lot of companies are doing nowadays. It's also about saving money and being more efficient with your energy use." McKemie agreed that their initiatives have multiple benefits. "Adding this element of sustainability is a way for [B-Schoolers] to build our brand and attract students who are not only intelligent and driven, but have a socially responsible mentality," he said. McKemie said GoizuetaGreen has begun talks with the Student Government Association about combining efforts to implement sustainability practices across campus. "It may be something that started in the business school," McKemie said. "But we'd like to expand it throughout the entire campus." Source: Eunice Lee, 4/6/07.

EarthColor Powers Printing with 100 percent Wind

EarthColor announced today its agreement to purchase clean, emission-free wind energy equal to 100 percent of its energy usage at its locations throughout the US. According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership, this renewable energy purchase is the largest in the printing industry. The full service printing company announced an agreement to purchase the wind energy from Pennsylvania-based wind energy marketer and developer Community Energy, Inc. The company's wind purchase is one of several major corporate initiatives aimed at improving the environment.

"Given our corporate-wide efforts to make EarthColor the leading environmental printer, a clean energy purchase fits with our mission," said CEO Robert Kashan. "We are excited about the series of sustainable initiatives that reduce our environmental impact at every stage of the printing process, from the electricity we use to power our technology,
to the finished products we present our customers."

In addition to the wind energy purchase, EarthColor possesses Chain of Custody Certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which supports sustainable forestry practices. The company's Ronkonkoma, NY facility is waterless capable; the environmental benefits of printing waterless aside from the dramatic conservation of our water resources is the elimination of dampening-related volatile organic compounds (VOCs), further decreasing their direct greenhouse gas emissions. EarthColor is also making an environmentally friendly impact with its recent installations of Xerox iGen3's in New Jersey and Texas. The iGEN3's are Xerox's most "GREEN" machines designed for the commercial print industry. The dry inks used are non-toxic and have a transfer efficiency rate approaching 100 percent, their operation creates little waste, emits 80 percent less noise than a conventional offset press and neither generates nor uses hazardous materials.

With facilities in Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Florida and Texas, EarthColor will buy a total of 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWhs) of clean wind energy per year for the next three years. The estimated environmental benefit from this purchase is equal to offsetting more than 33 million pounds of carbon dioxide per year, the impact of which is equivalent to planting more than 2.2 million trees or removing over 2,400 cars from the road per year.

Community Energy President Brent Alderfer stated, "EarthColor is leading the energy challenge by converting their energy use to an environmental advantage. Purchasing wind power for their electricity needs sets the standard that makes a clean and secure energy future possible." Source: Community Energy, Inc., 4/19/2007.

Green-e Certifies Alliant Energy's Second Nature Product in Wisconsin

The Center for Resource Solutions announced today that Alliant Energy's Second Nature product is Green-e certified and available to customers of Wisconsin Power and Light Company. Wisconsin Power and Light Company is a part of the largest network of renewable energy providers who offer products certified by the nation's leading certification and verification program. The Second Nature renewable product offered by Alliant Energy through the Interstate Power and Light Company in Iowa and Minnesota has been Green-e certified since 2004.

"The availability of Green-e certified Second Nature to customers of Wisconsin Power and Light Company in addition to customers in Iowa and Minnesota enables even more people to improve the environment by buying renewable energy," said Lars Kvale, an analyst with the Center for Resource Solutions. "To benefit local economic development, the program supports local generation sources of renewable energy."

The renewable energy available to consumers through Alliant Energy's Second Nature program comes from renewable energy sources located in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy's Second Nature program allows customers to purchase renewable energy from wind farms, biogas energy from a landfill, and solar energy from a photovoltaic installation. This renewable energy displaces energy produced by more traditional sources such as coal and natural gas, resulting in cleaner air and improving the health of the community.

The Green-e program is the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the U.S., with over 150 participating vendors who sold over five million MWhs of renewable energy in 2005. The program provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

Through the display and recognition of the Green-e logo, the national symbol for renewable energy excellence, a growing number of consumers are able to easily identify high quality, certified renewable energy options, as well as everyday consumer products that are produced by companies who use renewable energy in their operations.

Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy agree to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and meet strict Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. All Green-e marketers undergo an annual verification audit to document that the company purchased or generated enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer demand and marketing claims. Source: Center for Resource Solutions, 4-19-07.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Auction Results - April 20th, 2007

Yesterday, Evolution Markets conducted an auction for the sale of Massachusetts "New" Renewable Energy Certificates on behalf of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, a Massachusetts state college, operating a renewable energy generation facility on its Buzzards Bay. A total of 396 vintage 2006 certificates were sold, subject to contract execution. The winning bid submitted was $57.10, almost two dollars above the Alternate Compliance Payment (ACP). For more information on the auction or the REC markets, please contact Evolution Markets at 914.323.0257 and ask for Andrew Kolchins. Source: Evolution Markets, 4/20/2007.

EPA: Bellingham is Washington's First Green Power Community

By purchasing more than 11 percent of all of the electricity used in the entire city from green power resources, Bellingham, Washington, has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a Green Power Community. Bellingham's power purchasing achievement is even more remarkable considering that it's actually double that of the six other "Green Power Communities" across the country.

Bellingham was officially recognized by EPA on Saturday, April 21 from 12 to 1 pm, during the City's Earth Day Celebration at the Farmer's Market in downtown Bellingham. EPA will be joined by Congressman Rick Larsen and other dignitaries to present Mayor Tim Douglas with two colorful street signs reading, "Welcome to a Green Power Community. We exceed EPA guidelines for buying clean, renewable energy." The signs will be posted at high visibility locations within the community. Whatcom County Executive Pete Kremen, Northwest Clean Air Agency Executive Director and former Bellingham Mayor Mark Asmundson and a representative from Western Washington University will also participate in the ceremony.

To qualify for the national designation, The City of Bellingham, Sustainable Connections and Puget Sound Energy (PSE) pioneered a community-wide "Green Power Challenge." The challenge promoted development of green power resources through participation in PSE's Green Power Program. Nearly 2,000 households and 110 businesses have enrolled in the Bellingham Green Power Community Challenge. Bellingham businesses and residents are collectively purchasing 76 million kWh of green power from PSE, which accounts for more than 11 percent of the community's total electricity load. This is enough power to light 6,333 households for one year. When asked for comment on the designation, Mayor Tim Douglas emphasized the "team effort" that was necessary for success. "Bellingham is proud to leader in Green Power purchasing," Douglas said. "We're proving that locally-engineered solutions to global warming are effective, achievable, and good for business. Our Green Power Community Challenge is a success because the business community, city residents and local government have teamed up in an unprecedented partnership."

The City, Whatcom County and Western Washington University are purchasing enough green power to serve 100 percent of their operations. EPA estimates that Bellingham's community-wide green power purchases equal to eliminating the CO2 emissions of 10,000 passenger cars annually. To date, Bellingham is one of only seven communities in the nation to receive recognition as an EPA Green Power Community. EPA extends the Green Power honor to communities that voluntarily meet or exceed the Agency's minimum green power purchase requirements. Green Power Community campaigns demonstrate the collective action and successful partnership between local government, businesses, residents and local organizations. The other six Green Power Communities are: Boulder, CO; Palo Alto, CA; Salem & Corvallis, OR; and Moab & Park City, UT.

Green power is generated from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity and has lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide. Source: By WebWire, 4/19/2007.

PGE No.1 in Residential Green Power

For the second year in a row, Portland General Electric's residential green power customers are tops in the United States for the amount of renewable energy consumed. The news comes from officials at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Also in 2006, the number of PGE renewable-power customers cleared 50,000 for the first time. Residential customers purchased nearly 344 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy last year, 23 percent more than in 2005. Separately, NREL released lists of the top 10 utilities in other renewable-energy sales categories. PGE scored third place or better in most categories.

The percentage of PGE customers who purchase a renewable power option saw a large jump. PGE now ranks third in the nation, at 6.5 percent of customers, up from sixth place (5.3 percent) in 2005. When residential customer counts were combined with commercial customers, PGE placed second in total kilowatt hours sold, nearly 433 million kilowatt hours, up 27 percent. PGE ranked third for total numbers participating, with 50,284 customers at the end of 2006, an increase of 24 percent. Source: The Times, 4/19/2007.

Oakland is No. 1 User of Renewable Energy

Oakland topped a list of U.S. cities using renewable energy, with 17 percent of its power coming from solar, wind and geothermal sources. Oakland beat out cross-bay rival San Francisco, which tied with Sacramento and San Jose for second place in the survey by SustainLane, which was released on Monday. Those three cities each get 12 percent of their power from renewable sources. San Francisco-based SustainLane surveyed the 50 largest cities in the United States for this report. San Diego ranked fifth, with 8 percent of its municipal energy coming from renewable sources, and Los Angeles was seventh, with 5 percent. SustainLane attributed California cities' high ranking to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard, which set minimal requirements in 2002 for utility purchases of renewable energy for the state's electric grid. That standard requires a 20 percent renewable-energy total for the state's utilities by 2020. Source: East Bay Business Times, 4/16/ 2007.

How Green Is the Music?

Last October, Thom Yorke, frontman for the British band Radiohead, told the UK's Guardian newspaper he would "consider refusing to tour on environmental grounds, if nothing started happening to change the way the touring operates." He explained, "Some of our best ever shows have been in the U.S., but there's 80,000 people there and they've all been sitting in traffic jams for five or six hours with their engines running to get there, which is bollocks." Yorke, who has become an impassioned and articulate advocate for greenhouse-gas limits in the United Kingdom, acknowledged that playing live is a "necessary part of what I do," but he's also well aware of the "ridiculous consumption of energy" required to tour.

Yorke is in harmony with an emerging movement among musicians, as they plug into a new era of consciousness about energy and its geopolitical and ecological ramifications. While music is a key medium to engage people emotionally about environmental issues, the way people have come to experience music--in clubs, at festivals, and by purchasing CDs and reams of related swag--is itself environmentally taxing. As Yorke notes, it takes huge amounts of energy to power bands' constant circulation around the country, as well as fans' movement to and from shows. In the venues, glass and plastic refreshment containers often remain usable for mere minutes before becoming trash. Mountains of concert flyers are printed, T-shirts are sold, and CDs--most shrouded in toxic plastic--continue to be a common way to distribute albums, even in the digital age. So, the music industry is indeed a fertile ground for greening.

Just what is the eco-inspired rock community doing? Here are a few big-name examples:

• The Vans Warped Tour employs a solar-powered stage engineered by Austin's Sustainable Waves, is saving 81,000 disposable plates by using washable dishware and utensils for bands and crew, and avoids 50,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide emissions by using varying blends of biodiesel in the tour's nine big-rigs and 17 buses.

• Dave Matthews Band buys renewable-energy credits to offset energy use from amps onstage, as well as trucking, travel, and hotel stays for current megatours--as well as retroactively over the last 15 years.

• Sub Pop Records recently committed to buying enough renewable-energy credits to offset 100 percent of the company's energy use.

• Pearl Jam is now using 100 percent biodiesel in all tour production trucks and is donating $100,000 to nine organizations doing climate-change-reform activities, while shooting for net-zero emissions from tours and business.

• Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Young, Indigo Girls are all prominent biodiesel burners.

• Andrew Bird: The whistling troubadour, who packed Stubb's during South by Southwest, offsets the energy used at his shows with renewable-energy credits from NativeEnergy, uses B20 (20 percent biodiesel blended with 80 percent diesel) in his bus, requests organic foods and biodegradable cups backstage, and offers fans organic merchandise as well as ways to neutralize emissions from their drives to the show.

Here in Austin, the ever-expanding South by Southwest Music Festival, which wrangles more than 1,500 bands and overruns Downtown each spring break, made environmental strides in 2007. Festival planners enacted a host of eco-reforms, including offsetting all of the energy used in its offices throughout the year as well as at all of its concert venues around town by buying the equivalent amount of renewable-energy credits. Una Johnston, SXSW's European manager, led the Festival's greening efforts--which included providing more transit options for participants to minimize individual car trips and powering some outdoor generators with biodiesel. Some of SXSW's offsetting was done through the donation of $5,000 to the city of Austin to fund local tree-planting--part of the city's larger climate-protection initiative. Johnston said her motivation was in part to "show leadership" in preparing for an energy-constrained future. So, when the music biz came to town, SXSW had already set the stage for what might have been the nation's most dynamic meeting of music's green pioneers.

For more information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/index.shtml

Renewable Energy Technologies

Wind Power Rate Rejected

North Dakota's Public Service Commission rejected Xcel Energy's request to charge a special rate for wind power, saying it was too expensive and could mislead customers about the cost of wind-generated electricity. "Why should people who really support wind have to pay significantly more for that resource than others?" asked Susan Wefald, the PSC's president.

Xcel Energy's Windsource program, which it already offers in Minnesota, Colorado and New Mexico, sells wind energy by 100 kilowatt-hour "blocks" to customers who want assurances they are using environmentally friendly power. The Minneapolis utility asked the PSC for permission to charge North Dakota customers a premium of $2.50 per 100 kilowatt-hours for a supply of wind energy. A typical residential customer uses about 750 kwh each month. Xcel has about 85,000 electric customers in North Dakota, most of whom live in Fargo, West Fargo, Minot and Grand Forks.

Wefald and Commissioners Tony Clark and Kevin Cramer unanimously voted to reject Xcel Energy's proposed wind-power price on Wednesday, saying it was too expensive. The proposed North Dakota price was more than double what Xcel charges Colorado customers for the same program, Cramer said. Clark said special rates for wind power, which may have been justified a decade ago, look dated in an era that now considers wind energy a mainstream source of electric supply. "The problem with this tariff is, it treats wind as if it's some sort of boutique fuel that's set aside from the rest of the generation grid," Clark said. "It sends the message that (wind energy) is more expensive to bring online than any other form of power."

Dave Sederquist, a senior regulatory and finance consultant for Xcel, said the company was disappointed in the commission's decision. The company's proposed wind-energy rate reflected the current costs to supply wind power, and its proposal left open the possibility the rate would decrease along with wind energy costs, Sederquist said. "We believe this program would have resulted in more wind turbines in North Dakota, so it is unfortunate that the rate will not be offered (in North Dakota) to customers who want this choice," Sederquist said in a statement. Clark said the program did reflect the rising cost of putting up wind turbines. Construction costs to generate every form of energy have increased dramatically, he said. "The problem is, this sets aside wind and says, 'Here's the cost of bringing on new wind,' and then asks people to pay for that, when it may not be an accurate representation of both the benefits and negatives," he said. "Wind makes sense as part of the (energy) portfolio. It doesn't make sense on its own." Source: By DALE WETZEL, Associated Press Writer, 4/11/07.

Scottsdale Developer Offers Solar as a Standard Feature SRP EarthWise Solar Program Helps Offset Costs

SRP has partnered with a Scottsdale developer, Modus Development , to do something no other Valley homebuilder has done before--provide homebuyers with a solar electric system as a standard feature of each new home in a Scottsdale development. Nine new townhomes in the Array Development, which will be located at Oak and Scottsdale roads, will each be equipped with a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic system to harness the power of the sun.

Modus Development, a developer focused on green building and infill projects, has partnered with American Solar Electric to provide grid-connected PV systems. Modus Development also was able to take advantage of SRP EarthWise Solar Energy incentives. In addition, the new homebuyers can apply for state and federal tax credits. SRP EarthWise Solar Energy, a solar-incentive program that encourages SRP customers to invest in solar energy, paid for 40 percent of each homeowner's system in the development.

The individual systems are expected to significantly reduce each homeowner's electric bill. The nine systems are forecasted to generate 28,800 kilowatt hours of electricity on an annual basis, which equates to offsetting almost 30,000 pounds of CO2 emissions in the first year of operation. "We're excited to see this new-home builder step up and invest in renewable energy," said Lori Singleton, manager of SRP Environmental Initiatives. "As more homebuilders realize the value of offering these systems and more homebuyers expect it, we will see more homes harnessing the power of the Arizona sun." The development will feature nine townhomes built to meet standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Homes Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. This will be the second residential LEED Certified home project in the Valley.

"LEED Certification is the first step in reducing the impact on the environment and lowering energy consumption," said Ed Gorman, president of Modus Development. "By adding the solar panels to the rooftops of every home, we create homes that are both architecturally unique and cost very little to operate."

The development will be complete and the panels installed within the next 12 months.

"Modus Development is setting the bar for integration of photovoltaics into residential green-building projects," said Sean Seitz, president of American Solar Electric. "The energy-saving and energy-generating elements within Array create value for the owners through reduced energy costs and establish a sustainable energy profile for the property that benefits our community. Array is leading an evolution into sustainable-energy design within Arizona's urban environment."

For more information, contact Patricia Garcia Likens, SRP, 602-236-2500; or Matt Shannon, American Solar Electric, 480-994-1440 x103. Source: By Patricia Garcia Likens, SRP and Matt Shannon, American Solar Electric, 4/18/2007.

Kyocera To Double Manufacturing Capacity For Solar Modules

Kyocera Corp. will double its manufacturing capacity from 240 megawatts to 500 MW by end of March 2011, the company announced April 18. "For the last two years, as we endured a shortage of solar-grade silicon, Kyocera has focused on improving solar-cell quality and energy conversion efficiency," stated Tatsumi Maeda, general manager of the company's Corporate Solar Energy Group. "Among the world's fully integrated suppliers that manage every stage of the process, from casting silicon ingot to engineering and supplying complete solar electric generating systems, our goal is to lead the industry in both quality and quantity." Kyocera currently holds the world record for energy conversion efficiency in 15x15cm polycrystalline silicon solar cells, at 18.5 percent.

"The U.S. is experiencing phenomenal public interest in, and acceptance of, solar electricity," said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc., the operating headquarters for Kyocera's solar energy business in the Americas and Australia. "The majority of Americans want clean energy developed into an affordable, mainstream resource. Kyocera, with its 32-year commitment to this effort, is aggressively adding capacity both at our North American facilities and globally to meet this ever-increasing demand."

The new raw material contracts will allow the company to expand capacity throughout its quadripartite global manufacturing network for solar modules, which includes plants in Yohkaichi and Ise, Japan; Tijuana, Mexico; Kadan, Czech Republic; and Tianjin, China. Kyocera will invest an estimated 30 billion yen (US $250 million) in plants and equipment throughout this network during the course of the expansion effort.

Increased solar energy production will help offset the negative effects of electricity generated by fossil fuels -- including carbon dioxide, a suspected contributor to global warming; nitrous oxide, which has been linked to the destruction of the Earth's ozone layer; and sulfur dioxide, the principal contributor to acid rain. Solar energy is Kyocera's fastest growing business. As a measure of growth, the combined output of all Kyocera solar energy manufacturing from 1975 to 2006 totaled approximately 760 MW of solar modules. This result, in terms of "greenhouse gases avoided," is equivalent to the environmental impact of approximately 220 square miles of healthy forest. While that achievement took 31 years to attain, Kyocera's planned production capacity by 2011 will be comparable to giving the Earth 220 new square miles of forest about every 18 months. As another metric, the 500-MW capacity would allow Kyocera to build complete 3.5-kilowatt solar electric generating systems for 142,800 new homes each year. Source: Compiled By Adrienne Selko, 4-19-07.

Air Force Building Giant Solar Field to Power NV Base

The Air Force is building the largest solar power plant in North America and will soon provide electricity to an Air Force base in the Nevada desert, USA Today reports. The project is proof positive that solar will work provide a sizable chunk of the nation's energy needs. "It allows the Air Force to show its leadership in applying renewable energy and new technology to reduce our needs to use traditional forms of electric power," says Maj. Don Ohlemacher, operations flight chief and acting commander of the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron at the base.

But solar still is a problematic energy source, mostly because of the expense of panels. "The industry has some problems to solve," says Paula Mints, associate director and photovoltaic specialist with Navigant Consulting of Palo Alto, Calif. "Solar energy has been around 30 years and is still a start-up industry."

With 140 acres dedicated to a massive photovoltaic array, the solar plant will produce 15 megawatts of power, about 30 percent of Nellis AFB's needs. Projected savings in energy costs: $1 million. But even the Air Force requires multimillion-dollar financial subsidies and incentives to build the plant, recover investment costs and produce electricity at a savings. "This is possible because of state and federal incentives. Without those, prices wouldn't be competitive," Daniel Tomlinson, editor of a solar newsletter for Navigant Consulting, says of the project.

The Nellis installation will only serve as a daytime energy source. It will not have battery storage capacity and thus will be useful as a power supplement but not a primary generating source. "A lot of people are focusing on these large fields as a way to bring down the price of solar," Mints says. "They certainly have their place in the energy portfolio, but there are a lot of other technologies out there." Source: by ZDNet Government, 4-18-07.

MidAmerican Plans To Expand Wind Power Use

MidAmerican Energy said it is expanding its wind power use to include the Iowa State Fairgrounds. The company said it plans to build more wind turbines that will in turn create 540 megawatts of electricity. In addition to expanding existing wind farms, MidAmerican Energy plans to build turbines in new locations, including the State Fairgrounds. "This wind turbine will provide enough wind energy to provide the equivalent of one-quarter of the Iowa State Fairgrounds' energy needs for the whole year," said State Fair CEO Gary Slater. The State Fair turbine will be built in part by voluntary contributions made by MidAmerican Energy customers. Source: By Money, 4-19-07.

OIT Wins Nationwide College Campus Ecology Competition

Converting much of the campus to sustainable geothermal energy saved Oregon Institute of Technology almost $1 million per year in energy costs, reduced their global warming emissions, and made the college a winner of the National Wildlife Federation's Campus Ecology Chill Out contest, a recent press release said. The competition recognizes colleges and universities around the country which are implementing innovative programs to reduce the impacts of global warming, the number one environmental threat facing the nation. Oregon Institute of Technology was one of eight winning schools chosen for the award from over 100 competition entries received from colleges nationwide.

"Colleges and universities are key places for demonstrating how to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the major culprit of global warming," Julian Keniry, Director of Campus and Community Leadership for the National Wildlife Federation said in the release. "Oregon Institute of Technology has demonstrated its leadership in promoting renewable energy options both on campus, throughout the United States and around the world."

Due to high energy costs, Oregon Institute of Technology constructed a new campus in the 1960s to take advantage of geothermal energy. The school drilled three deep wells to tap geothermal hot water that now heats the entire campus of about 650,000 sq. ft., saving about $1 million annually in heating and domestic hot water costs and 10,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions (compared to producing energy from petroleum). This year, the college is proposing to drill a new well to generate energy from geothermal resources that will fulfill the remaining electricity needs on campus, provide an additional savings of around $500,000 per year, and reduce CO2 emissions by about 16,000 tonnes annually (compared to producing it from petroleum). The campus would then be 100 percent "green" by producing all of its energy needs from geothermal resources. In addition, the campus will be constructing a geothermally heated greenhouse and aquaculture facility to train interested students and potential developers in the use of geothermal energy for agricultural purposes.
 
For these impressive efforts, the National Wildlife Federation featured the Oregon Institute of Technology in their Chill Out webcast on April 18, broadcast live from George Washington University in Washington DC, which included a taped address from Al Gore. The webcast was part of global warming events scheduled on over 100 college campuses throughout the nation.

The college will also receive a $1,000 grant to continue innovating global warming solutions. Winning schools in the contest are: California State University, Chico; Mount Wachusett Community College, Gardner, Massachusetts; Monmouth University, West Long Branch, New Jersey; Richard Stockton College, Somers Point, New Jersey; Oregon Institute of Technology, Klamath Falls, Oregon; University of California at Santa Barbara; Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio; the Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Source: Siskiyou Daily News, 4/19/2007.

Prosperous Growth of US Wind Power

Texas is the leader in the annual wind power ranking 2006 in the United States, with California as runner-up. Last year the US installed over 2400 megawatt of new wind power capacity. But yet the American Wind Energy Association advocates a better political climate to stimulate 'business to grow to its full potential'. Last week the AWEA published the wind power rankings 2006, showing a prosperous growth. In 2006 the US wind energy industry invested about 4 billion dollar, making wind power one of the largest sources of new power generation in the US. Total installed wind power capacity is now over 11,600 MW, providing the equivalent of the yearly demand of three million households. At present, the US ranks third in the world, behind Germany and Spain.

In Texas 2,768 MW is installed, with another 1000 MW in the pipeline. California is runner-up with 2,361 MW. Iowa is third with 936 MW. GE is still the largest producer (1146 MW installed), while Siemens (573 MW) and Vestas (465 MW) are second and third. Also in 2006 the world's largest wind farm was opened: 735 MW in the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center located near Abilene, Texas. The prosperous growth is providing many benefits, as AWEA states in a press release: "New jobs, more local revenue, cleaner air, and an essential, home-grown contribution to meeting the challenge of global warming." But AWEA warns that a long-term extension of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) is crucial to sustain this growth. "Previous short-term extensions have led to a boom-and-bust cycle in the wind industry, increasing costs along the entire supply chain and preventing businesses from growing to their full potential." Source: Green Prices, 4/18/2007.

For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.repartners.org

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

GRC 2007 Annual Meeting

The Geothermal Resources Council invites you to present your latest technical work in geothermal research, exploration, development and utilization at the 2007 GRC Annual Meeting at the John Ascuaga's Nugget Resort in Sparks, Nev., on September 30 to October 3, 2007.

The GRC deadline for receipt of draft papers is May 11, 2007. Visit the GRC Website to find our Call for Papers, Paper Submission Deadlines, Session Themes, Author Instruction's and GEA Geothermal Trade Show link.

Contact the Geothermal Resources Council , 2001 Second St., Ste 5, (95616), POB 1350, (95617), Davis, CA.; 530-758-2360, fax: 530-758-2839. Source: By Estela M. Smith, Geothermal Resources Council, 4/12/2007.

Utility Wind Integration Group Announces Annual Meeting

Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting, Wind Integration: Coming in from the Cold, July 23-25, 2007, Sheraton Anchorage, Anchorage, Alaska.

The Utility Wind Integration Group is pleased to announce the dates and location for the 2007 Technical Workshop and Annual Meeting. This event will take place July 23-25 in Anchorage, Alaska, with the technical program on July 24 and 25 focusing on industry and technology developments, distributed wind and local developments, international experience, transmission planning and policy as well as updates on wind integration studies. The technical workshop (open to all) will be preceded by meetings of the UWIG User Groups on July 23 and will also feature the UWIG Annual Membership meeting on July 25. These two events are open to UWIG members and invited guests only.

Following the technical workshop will be an optional cultural and technical visit to Kotzebue, Alaska. This event will feature a cultural program, traditional salmon dinner, and tour of the Kotzebue Electric Association Wind Farm and Diesel Plant. Participants are encouraged to book travel arrangements as soon as possible as July is a popular time to travel to Anchorage and airfare and hotel availability will be constrained. Note that there are two room blocks that have been arranged for this event, with one block expiring May 22 and the other expiring June 22. You can find the event agenda, as well as information on registration and accommodations, on the UWIG Web site or contact Sandy Smith, 865-691-5540, ext. 141. Source: Utility Wind Integration Group, 4/14/2007, 4/14/2007. 

New Look and Added Content on DOE's Tribal Energy Program Website

DOE's Tribal Energy Program is proud to announce a new look! The Program site and the "Guide to Tribal Energy Development" have been integrated into one website.

We hope the new structure will be easier to locate information and aid you in your efforts to develop energy efficiency and renewable energy on tribal lands. Highlights of the new TEP website:

• All tribal energy projects funded through the program are now accessible by geographically on U.S. state map.  Projects can also be found under the Tribe's name, year of award, type of project, and technology. For the "Guide," see Deployment on main page.
  
• Information on government grants and other project financing options 
  
• Short course information has been added covering workshop materials on renewable energy technology, analysis tools, and local community development.
  
• Read more on our Student Internships under "Education and Training".

Tell us what you think. Contact Lizana Pierce, Tribal Energy Program manager, at DOE's Golden Field Office, 303-275-4727, Fax: 303-275-4753. Source: Source: Lizana Pierce, Manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, Golden Field Office, 4/16/2007.

Northwest Wind Integration Action Plan Final Plan Now Available

Little more than a decade after the region's first commercial-scale wind project came online, as much as 3,800 MW of wind power may be in service in the Northwest by 2009. Many factors are driving wind energy's growth, Including volatile natural gas prices, and renewable energy and climate policy developments at the federal, state and local levels. Clearly, wind energy is going to play a major role in the future of the Northwest power system. Read more about it. Source: Northwest Power and Conservation Council, 4/17/2007.

New Renewable Energy Publications from Berkeley Lab

As an FYI, below is a listing of some recent renewable energy publications by Berkeley Lab that may be of interest.

• "Renewables Portfolio Standards: A Factual Introduction to "Experience from the United States." Written by staff at Berkeley Lab and the EIA, this paper provides an updated overview of experience with RPS policies in the U.S.
  
• "Wind Power and the Production Tax Credit: An Overview of Research Results." Presented by Ryan Wiser to the Senate Finance Committee in March 2007, this written testimony provides information that May inform Deliberations about an extension of, and revisions to, the federal production tax credit.
  
• "The Treatment of Solar Electricity in Renewables Portfolio Standards." This PowerPoint presentation summarizes approaches to the inclusion of solar power in RPS policies, as well as early results and expectations of those policies.

In addition to the above publications, two recent journal articles have been published; these are available on request.

• "Wind: A Local Industry." Written by Joanna Lewis and Ryan Wiser, and published in reFOCUS magazine in March/April 2007, this article summarizes earlier work that can be found on the Berkeley Lab publications page listed above ("Fostering a Renewable Energy Technology Industry: An International Comparison of Wind Industry Policy Support Mechanisms").
  
• "Analyzing Historical Cost Trends in California's Market for Customer-Sited Photovoltaics." Published in Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, this article also summarizes earlier work that can be found on the Berkeley Lab publications page listed above ("Letting the Sun Shine on Solar Costs: An Empirical Investigation of Photovoltaic Cost Trends in California").

Source: Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, 4/18/2007.

States Renewable Energy News from DOE

State renewable energy news can be delivered to your inbox at no cost. You are invited to subscribe to the following services available through the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program:

• State Activities and Partnerships Weekly News Report - This summary of news stories, about state involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and policies, lists articles collected from EERE's State Activities and Partnerships and State Energy Program news pages, and from EERE Network News. See a sample report below.

• State News via RSS - Choose to receive news from all states or only from the state(s) that you select.

EXTRA! You can also perform custom searches for current and archived news stories by accessing the State Activities and Partnerships News Database. Define your search by renewable energy topic, date, state, and/or source.

The follow stories are samples from the Feb. 17-23 report:

Tesla Motors to Build Electric Car Facility in New Mexico --Feb. 23. Tesla Motors will build an electric car assembly plant in New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson announced on February 19. The facility is expected to provide 400 new jobs and a total capital investment of $35 million.

Cellulosic Ethanol Facilities Planned for Louisiana and Georgia -- Feb. 21. Two companies are taking totally different routes toward producing cellulosic ethanol. A facility in Louisiana will convert crops and agricultural wastes to ethanol via fermentation, while a proposed facility in Georgia will gasify biomass and then produce ethanol from that "synthesis gas."

New Jersey Governor Calls for Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- Feb. 21. New Jersey will reduce greenhouse gas emissions about 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent below 2006 levels by 2050 if it meets goals set in an executive order signed by Governor Jon Corzine on February 13.

Colorado to Open 40 More E85 Fuel Pumps -- Feb. 20. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced February 15 that 40 new E85 ethanol fuel pumps will open statewide during the next year. Colorado is one beneficiary of a public-private partnership with General Motors to expand the availability of E85.

Arkansas Regulators Issue First Energy Efficiency Rules -- Feb. 19. The Arkansas Public Service Commission issued new energy efficiency rules on January 11, completing its first regulatory framework for energy efficiency programs.
Source: Karen Atkison, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 4-19-2007.

For more information on Educational Resources go to: http://www.repartners.org

News from Washington

Solar Advocates Stress Bilateral Support for Credit Extensions

The solar power industry intends to use a House hearing to showcase support among environmentalists and industry for long-term extensions of investment tax credits for commercial and residential solar energy systems.

The Solar Energy Industries Association wants lawmakers to extend the credits, which expire at the end of next year, for eight years. They are rallying support for bipartisan legislation -- called the "Securing America's Energy Independence Act" -- that continues the credits for eight years and makes them more attractive.

The group is unveiling a letter today from over two dozen environmental organizations to lawmakers that backs the extension of the investment tax credits for solar power and fuel cell systems.

"This responsible, forward-looking bill would provide the stability these industries need to make major new investments, serve as a down payment on efforts to address global warming, reduce air pollution, help relieve our national energy crunch and create quality, high-paying technology jobs," states the letter.

Major environmental groups including the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, Greenpeace and many others signed the letter. The bill they are supporting is sponsored on the Senate side by Sens. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), and on the House side by Reps. Michael McNulty (D-N.Y.) and Dave Camp (R-Mich.). It was introduced earlier this year.

The solar trade group's president, Rhone Resch, will address the tax issue this afternoon when a House Ways and Means Committee panel reviews energy taxes.

Resch called the eight-year extension a way for the Democratic Congress to boost carbon friendly energy and to create jobs, without breaking the bank. A version of the extension legislation introduced in the 109th Congress was estimated by the Joint Committee on Taxation to cost $408 million over 10 years.

"This should be considered must-pass legislation by the Democrats. It is very popular with constituents, it is not expensive and it is clean energy," he said. "For a very low pricetag, Congress can check the solar box and ensure this industry grows in the U.S. for the next decade."

House and Senate Democratic leaders are planning to bring energy legislation to the floor in coming months that could include tax components.

Resch is among the witnesses today at a hearing on energy policy before the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

In is prepared statement to the subcommittee, Resch says an eight-year extension is crucial to "establish parity" between congressional support for other power sources and solar. The credit was first offered for two years in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and Congress tacked on an additional year last year.

The testimony contrasts the solar credits with longer-term incentives lawmakers have provided for clean coal and nuclear technologies in the 2005 energy law. That law's provisions included a production tax credit of eight years for generation from new nuclear plants.

The testimony also notes that the original production tax credits for wind power in the 1990s were longer-term incentives.

He said an eight-year extension of the solar investment credit will provide a long-term market "demand signal" that is needed to convince the industry to build domestic manufacturing capacity, expand the work force of solar system installers, and spur construction of utility-scale power plants.

The bipartisan legislation introduced earlier this year would also sweeten the incentive, including boosting the credit for photovoltaic cell technology to $1,500 per half-kilowatt, Resch notes. It also removes the 30 percent cap for commercial PV installations and the $2,000 cap for residential PV installations.

Utilities want credits too. The letter from the Edison Electric Institute and other utilities also asks lawmakers to allow utilities to claim the investment tax credit. "An obvious way to support large-scale development of solar power in this country is to allow the sector that may have the most to offer toward this goal -- electric utilities -- to claim the same tax incentive that other businesses can," the letter states. Solar energy currently provides less than 1 percent of the nation's electric power. Source: E&E Publishing, LLC, 4/19/2007.

FERC Approves Calif. Plan for Linking Grid to Renewable Energy

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission signed off on a plan by California's independent power-grid monitor to help finance facilities needed to connect renewable energy to the state's power system. Under the plan, the cost of building infrastructure needed to connect renewable sources to the electricity system would be the responsibility of all users of the transmission system. Each generator that connects to the system would pay a pro rata share of the so-called going-forward costs on the line, and all users of the grid would pay the costs of any unsubscribed portion of the power line. The commission found the California Independent System Operator's proposal should help remove regulatory barriers to renewable energy development in the state. Chairman Joseph Kelliher told the monthly commission meeting the location of renewable energy potential is dictated by nature, not by proximity to the transmission grid. Source: Dow Jones/AP, 4/19/07.

For more information on legislative activities go to: http://www.repartners.org

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Doyle Signs Energy Policy Order

The newly-created Wisconsin Global Warming Task Force has its first task: getting an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. Governor Jim Doyle, Thursday, in La Crosse, signed an executive order creating the task force and a new Office of Energy Independence, which will work on the governor's energy policy. Doyle directed the Department of Natural Resources, with the assistance of the Public Service Commission, to obtain the greenhouse gas estimate, in conjunction with the task force. Doyle has proposed spending $30-million on additional renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydrogen, bio-diesel, and ethanol.

The governor made the announcement at La Crosse's Trane Company. Doyle says Trane is a big part of his energy independence plan. "Trane is an example of the kind of company that we want to make sure we're working very closely with," says Doyle. "Obviously, they make heating and cooling systems, so their commitment to energy efficiency is something we really want to promote." The governor also announced that he will be hosting a summit of Midwest governors, this Fall, to discuss regional efforts to achieve energy independence and fight global warming. Source: WKBT, 4/6/2007.

Florida Senate Introduces Renewable Energy Mandate

Senators Michael S. Bennett, R-Fla., Evelyn Lynn, R-Fla., Mike R. Fasano, R-Fla., and Jeffrey R. Atwater, R-Fla., have recently introduced Senate Bill (S.B.) 996 to the Communications and Public Utilities Committee. Voted in favor by the committee 8-1, the bill creates a renewable energy standard requiring that 50 percent of all electricity provided by a utility be from renewable energy sources by 2015 from within Florida.

According to the Florida legislature, the bill also creates the Florida Alternative Energy Development Corp., which would promote the development of alternative energy technologies in the state. The company would assist in state-government energy programs, create a Web site for Florida residents to obtain information, and hold conferences to educate the public, among other initiatives. In addition, S.B.996 would create the Florida Net Metering Conservation Act, requiring all utilities set up a net-metering program. "If the customer's system generates more energy than the customer consumes during a billing cycle, the utility must pay the customer for the excess generation at its avoided cost, as set forth in S.366.051," the bill states.

On the other hand, the House of Representatives recently drafted House Bill 7123 (H.B.) 7123--part of the bill requires the Florida Energy Commission conduct a study with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to recommend an "appropriate renewable portfolio standard." The organizations would study the current and future availability of renewable fuels, incentives to attract the development of large-scale renewable energy projects, impact on utility rates and costs if an RPS were issued, and the environmental and economic benefits of forming an RPS, the bill states. Kevin Wiehle, PSC's legislative analyst, estimates the study would take between six months to a year to conduct. He adds that four years ago, the PSC and the Department of Environmental Protection studied the options of obtaining additional renewable energy resources. Wiehle predicts that the study is still accurate because Florida's renewable energy portfolio has not altered substantially. Source: By Shelley Paventy, 04/05/07.

Governor Ritter Signs Landmark Energy Legislation

Renewable energy advocates, energy providers, and lawmakers gathered with a backdrop of mountains and wind turbines at NREL's National Wind Test Center, as the Governor signed into law House Bill 1281 and Senate Bill 100. These two centerpieces of the New Energy Economy legislative agenda will support Colorado's commitment to becoming the energy capital of the nation. Both of these laws will aid to improve Colorado's economic and environmental security. House Bill 1281 increases the state's requirement for utilities to get their electricity from renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind or biomass from the current 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020. Senate Bill 100 allows utilities to propose transmission plans and recover those investments from electric ratepayers. Appropriately, the event was powered by renewable energy. OEMC's hydrogen powered fuel cell used hydrogen created through the Xcel and NREL wind to hydrogen project. Source: Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation, 3/29/2007.

Wind-Farm Proposals for R.I. Elicit Positive Responses

Several key leaders in Rhode Island were cautiously optimistic yesterday about Governor Carcieri's plan to construct one or more large-scale wind farms off the coast of Rhode Island. The governor released a state-commissioned study that identified one onshore site in Little Compton, and 10 offshore sites in Rhode Island and Block Island Sounds where it said operating wind turbines would be economically feasible. Carcieri yesterday announced plans to create a stakeholder group to participate in siting decisions.

The group will be made up of perhaps 40 people who represent various interests, such as the business community, environmental advocates and communities near the potential sites. "It is important that all of this experience and expertise be involved in this process from the very beginning," Carcieri said in a statement. "As a statewide project with local impacts, everyone should have a seat at the table as we move forward in our efforts to decrease Rhode Island's reliance on foreign fuels by increasing the use of renewable energy sources."

The Providence Journal contacted officials from several groups that could be affected by the billion-dollar project. Some expressed concern about exactly where the turbines would be placed, but most appeared to favor the idea. None expressed opposition. "Rhode Island's economic identity has always come from the use and access of the sea, and wind turbines should be seen as the next great means to increase the quality of life and economy in the Ocean State," said Keith Stokes, executive director of the Newport Chamber of Commerce.

One of the potential sites for a wind farm is off Newport, which depends heavily on tourism and the sailing industries. Stokes said he is "very open-minded" about a potential wind farm, but he has several concerns. First, he said that whatever site is selected, it cannot interfere with Newport's commercial and recreational boating activities, including cruise ship visits, sailing regattas and fishing. "You don't want to introduce a use that would interfere with those historical and future Bay activities," he said. "Siting becomes very important." Stokes said that any wind turbine structures should be built with materials that blend in with the natural environment; they shouldn't emit noise that would affect the quality of life in the region; and construction and operation should not harm Narragansett Bay or its aquatic life.

Save the Bay, the environmental organization that advocates for Narragansett Bay, reacted favorably. "In general, it is very positive," said John Torgan, Bay Keeper for the group. "We certainly applaud the governor for his initiative here." But where the wind turbines eventually go is key, Torgan said.

"Wind facilities in the marine environment need to be located to minimize conflicts," he said. "We would need to be sure, wherever we're putting it, it did not unreasonably disrupt fishing areas, fish habitats and bird migratory routes."

"I think the idea is great," said Lanny Dellinger, president of the Rhode Island Lobsterman's Association, which represents about 80 fishermen. "Anything we can do to start getting away from fossil fuels would be wonderful."

Contrary to concerns raised about a wind farm's impact on shipping and navigation raised by opponents of the proposed Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, wind turbines could actually help marine captains find their way, said Capt. E. Howard McVay Jr., president of the Northeast Marine Pilots Association. "Put in the right location, it could be an excellent aid to navigation," he said.

The turbines would have to be placed in areas that would not impede navigation and there are a lot of areas where they wouldn't, McVay said. "The chances are they'll put them in shallower water in areas we're going to be avoiding anyway," he said.

But what will the general public think? Lefteris Pavlides, director of the Wind Power Rhode Island Project and a professor of architecture at Roger Williams University, said he thinks there will be overwhelming public support. "There's very strong support for wind energy in Rhode Island," Pavlides said. "For every person who found [wind turbines] ugly, there were 10 people who found them beautiful."

Pavlides, aided by a state grant, polled residents in Bristol and Portsmouth last May and June and found that about 80 percent of residents approved of a wind turbine being placed at specific sites within their towns. However, one turbine is very different from the scope of the project Carcieri has proposed, which could include 100 or more wind turbines offshore, well within sight of land, Pavlides said. He pointed to another study conducted in Delaware that sought public opinion about an offshore, large-scale wind farm. It was compiled by Jeremy Firestone, Willett Kempton and Andrew Krueger, all from the University of Delaware. That study found that 65 percent of Delaware residents who live near the ocean would approve of an offshore wind-energy project similar to Cape Wind. About 19.5 percent opposed it, and 15.5 percent were unsure. Source: McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Timothy C. Barmann The Providence Journal, R.I. via Energy Central, 4/20/2007.

Ohio's Opportunity for Wind Power Grows, New Data Show

New wind maps and data released Thursday show far greater potential for wind power in Ohio than previously thought, including prime areas north of Dayton and surrounding Springfield. A panel of experts discussed the new data that was compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and released by Environment Ohio and the Ohio Department of Development's Office of Energy Efficiency.

Technological advancements and the growing use of higher reaching wind turbines have positioned Ohio as a promising producer of up to 20 percent of the state's total energy consumption, the panel said. Data show that Ohio is estimated to be able to produce about 66,000 megawatts of wind power. "Wind is an economic boon waiting to happen in Ohio," said Richard Stuebi, a BP fellow for energy and environmental advancement at The Cleveland Foundation. Energy experts said wind power generates jobs, mostly in manufacturing and services of parts. "Tens of thousands of jobs could unfold in Ohio if we move aggressively to develop it and attract developers of it," Stuebi said. The north and western part of the state have the greatest wind power potential.

Promising Miami Valley counties include parts of Warren, Greene, Preble, Miami, Clark, Champaign, Shelby and all of Darke. The panel said Ohio utility companies support wind energy but aren't pressed to partner with developers and farmers in delivering it because no state policy exists mandating a percentage of power be generated by it. We need lawmakers in Ohio to develop an advanced energy portfolio standard with a dedicated renewable energy component, now," Stuebi said. Amy Gomberg with Environment Ohio said 20 states already have a policy and that Ohio has all the right ingredients to join them. "We could be powering millions of homes with the wind energy resource," she said. "We're barely scraping the surface." Source: By Kristin McAllister , Staff Writer, 4-20-2007.

NY Aims to Lead Nation in Clean-Energy Policy

New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer unveiled an ambitious new energy policy on Thursday that aims to cut power demand 15 percent by 2015 in what he says would be the most aggressive state conservation plan in the country. Only one state, Hawaii, has higher electricity prices than New York, Spitzer said at a Crain's business breakfast, adding this expense stunted economic growth and drove employers away.

The Democratic governor, who won election last November on a reform ticket, also pledged to address another often-heard complaint from the business community -- sky-high state and local taxes. New York led the nation in this category in 2004, when its residents paid $1,374 out of each $10,000 of income. Though Republican lawmakers say Spitzer broke his vow not to raise taxes when he proposed a new bottle deposit fee, he has never agreed, and on Thursday he took his pledge further. "There was not a tax increase -- nor will there be while I am governor," Spitzer said, defending his $121 billion budget from critics who say a nearly 9 percent hike was way too big.

Nor did the former attorney general see a need to soften his "steamroller" style, though it riles state legislators. "The public wants nothing more than someone with the fortitude to stand up and do the hard decisions that have to be made."

Though Spitzer has proposed $295 million for renewable energy projects, his plan relies heavily on private investments in clean energy, wind, solar and hydropower. He hopes to spur new power plants by enacting a new environmentally sound law that will enable utilities to quickly clear the many regulatory hurdles they now face when they try to get new sites approved.

Stringent new efficiency standards for appliances -- from furnaces to boilers to walk-in freezers -- should help slash demand, as will pushing developers to use the most modern international standards for green buildings, he said.

However, the governor ruled out nuclear power, telling reporters: "There is simply no tolerance in New York State for additional nuclear plants."

Entergy Corp.'s Indian Point nuclear plant should be shut once alternatives are built, Spitzer added, explaining that its location just north of New York City makes it impossible to evacuate residents in the event of an accident. "That is simply not a smart location for a nuclear power plant... We simply cannot turn it off until we have replacement power."

Saying he wished to break with former Republican Gov. George Pataki's policies, Spitzer added he would encourage utilities to sign long-term contracts. This should help them win private investors by strengthening their forecasts and cut their borrowing costs, Spitzer said. In addition, he sees no need for public authorities to sell more tax-free bonds to fund the new plants. Source: By: Joan Gralla, Reuters, 4/19/2007.

For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/

Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

U.S. DOE grants $1,500,000 US to University of Maine for Biomass fuel conversion (R&D - Funding)

U.S. DOE has awarded more than $1,500,000 US in federal funding to the University of Maine to advance the university's ongoing efforts to develop methods for converting biomass from Maine's forests into fuels and valuable chemicals. The state will contribute 50 percent in matching funds to the project through the Maine Economic Improvement Fund. "This project adds the thermal conversion pathway to our earlier biochemical conversion focus for the utilization of woody biomass to produce biofuels and other co-products," says Hemant Pendse, Chair of U. of Maine's Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. The money, which was awarded through the DOE's Experimental Programs to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), will be added to the $6,900,000 US the Forest Bioproducts Research Initiative (FBRI) received previously as part of the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR award in 2006. (Source: University of Maine, Apr. 05, '07). Contact: Hemant Pendse, Chair, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Maine, telephone: (207 581-2283, email: pendse@maine.edu, Contact Forest Bioproducts Research Initiative , 207-581-1431; or Kristen Bennett , EPSCoR Program Manager, 301-903 4269. Source: EP Overviews, 4/6/2007.

American Electric Power Calls for Wind Power Proposals (Ind. Report)

AEP is seeking long-term purchase agreements for 1,000 MW of wind energy, including up to 360 MW for its eastern United States service territory by 2011 as part of its strategy to address greenhouse gas emissions. The company issued a request for proposals seeking up to 260 MW of wind energy for its Appalachian Power unit and proposals seeking up to 100 MW of wind energy for its Indiana Michigan Power unit . The deadline for bids is April 30, '07 with delivery to begin by the end of 2008. (Source: Charleston Daily News, Apr. 04,'07). Contact: Peggy Simmons, AEP Project Manager, at 614-583-6009. Source: EP Overviews, 4/6/2007.

Solicitations (Issue 164) and Happy Earth Day!

The Farm Bill: Renewables and Energy Efficiency:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants. This initiative provides grants, guaranteed loans and a combination of grants/loans to agriculture producers and rural small businesses in eligible rural areas for purchasing renewable energy systems and for making energy efficiency improvements. $11.4 million expected to be available, up to 200 awards anticipated. Grant applications due 5/18/07, guaranteed loan applications due 7/2/07. For more info, contact the applicable State Office.  Refer to Sol# RDBCP-07-01. Source: Grants.gov, 3/26/07

SMUD Renewables:
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District announces its intent to release a Request for Offers (RFO) for renewable energy power purchase agreements (PPA) and project ownership options. SMUD will consider RFOs for the following renewables: Wind, geothermal, small hydroelectric, landfill gas, biomass and biodiesel, photovoltaic, solar thermal (with and without natural gas assist), biomass gasification, digester gas, fuel cells using qualifying renewable fuels, qualifying municipal solid waste conversion, ocean wave, ocean thermal, tidal current, and innovative storage coupled with qualifying intermittent renewables. The RFO is scheduled to open in May 2007.  For more info, contact Marco Lemes.

For more information on funding solicitations go to: http://www.repartners.org/grants.htm