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The University of Utah is being praised for its use of green power. The school earned a spot on the list of Top Ten Green Power Partners, which is sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The award recognized the U. for its voluntary purchase of 25 (M) million kilowatthours of green power. The school bought the power in the form of wind-generated electricity. The EPA's Top Ten list of colleges and universities includes schools that had the largest amount of green power purchases through June 26th. Source: Deseret Morning News, 7-25-2006.
Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the price everybody has to pay for the use of our environment and want to participate in ethical behavior. We already reported about the dramatic change in marketing communication supporting the trend “Easy Ethics” and its subtrends Eco Luxury and some case studies, like the Ozo Car. Being more and more aware of how important it is to do their part to protect earth’s sustainability, consumers are rethinking their spending habits. We collected some more case studies about alternative marketing strategies and how companies are trying to fit these changing consumer habits by making it easy for consumers to neutralize the pollution they produce. See the case studies online. Source: Trend-Green-Updates, 7-31-2006.
The Rev. Francis Galles lives on a retired priest's income, but he doesn't mind paying an extra 60 bucks a year to make sure some of the energy he uses comes from the wind turbines churning across southern Minnesota. "It's not much. I'd pay more," he said. Galles is part of a small but growing group of consumers who, despite an era of high energy costs, are willing to pay a premium to support renewable energy. "I think we need to have a vision when it comes to energy, and at the present time our government doesn't have much of a vision," said Galles. "So, I do this for my part." About 23,000 Minnesota households last year paid as much as an additional $150 for electricity, up 30 percent from last year, according to the state Commerce Department.
The trend is upward elsewhere, too. Utilities in 36 states offer some form of green pricing, and last year 430,000 households bought green power—up 20 percent from a year earlier, the U.S. Energy Department reported. Besides increasing the amount of clean energy being used, such programs educate consumers about renewable energy sources, said John Kelly, director of research and economics for the American Public Power Association, which represents public utilities. Some environmental groups, however, wonder about the ultimate effectiveness of such volunteer efforts.
J. Drake Hamilton, the science policy director for the environmental group Fresh Energy, said green pricing strategies are important because, for the first time, consumers are having a say in the source of their energy. But she said laws requiring utilities to generate more green energy would do more to transfer energy.
In Minnesota, which ranks fourth in the country in wind energy, participation in green pricing varies. More than 700 customers in Moorhead, for instance, pay higher bills to get power from two 180-foot wind turbines in the city. That's more than 5 percent of the utilities' 14,000 customers— the highest percentage in the state. Jennifer Walz, a spokeswoman for the utility, said, "I think we have had good fortune with our program, in part, because we are so windy, and people are just increasingly aware of the importance of finding energy alternatives," she said.
Churches and synagogues are also helping to promote green pricing. At least 40 congregations in the Twin Cities alone are involved in signing up members for the alternative energy premium, according to Sean Gosiewski, coordinator of the group Congregations Caring for Creation. Other Minnesota cities with top participation rates include Winthrop (3.8 percent), Detroit Lakes (3 percent), and North St. Paul (2.9 percent). Source: Houston Chronicle, 7-29-2006.
After recent interviews with large renewable power purchasers, I've learned a few remarkable things. One is that there's a deeper ethic at work than simple branding. And two, leadership is coming from citizens, businesses and local governments, not from Washington, D.C. "Our long-term commitment to renewable energy is more about contributing to the health of our local economy and less about branding," said Jeff Harvey, chief operating officer for The Holland Inc., which recently purchased 100 percent wind energy for its 39 Burgerville fast food restaurants in the Pacific Northwest. "Wind helps our local cattle ranchers because the turbines can be placed on their land," he said. "Because all of our restaurants are located in the Pacific Northwest, and because we buy all local ingredients, our profitability depends on the long-term profitability of our suppliers."
Recent renewable energy purchases by Safeway, Whole Foods and regional fast-food powerhouse Burgerville are just a starting point. The Holland Inc. is in discussions with Momentum Renewable Energy Inc. to develop the first small-scale community wind project in Oregon — a 10-megawatt project on cattle ranching land in Morrow County. A new subsidiary of engineering firm David Evans and Associates Inc., Momentum is working to build a portfolio of 10- to 50-MW wind projects.
Safeway recently purchased 87,000 megawatt-hours of renewable energy credits for its facilities, but it too is looking beyond tags. "We’re looking at a couple of specific projects that would generate wind power for our stores," said Doug Condon, who assists with energy operations for Safeway. "In addition to the RECs, we’ll get the power too." Condon said discussions are in the early stages, but that the benefits of investing in renewable energy facilities include more long-term control over energy supply, fuel diversification, and healthy financial returns over time.
Renewable energy credits — the environmental attribute of renewable generation — remain the primary vehicle of customer participation. Many households and businesses buy renewable energy through their utility bills or through marketers such as the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). Patrick Nye, BEF’s director of sales, said it has introduced innovative ways of "greening" companies, events and other special requests, such as weddings and ski lifts. With or without state mandates, and in an environment devoid of federal direction, the REC market has exploded in interesting new directions. "In 2000, we were excited to have sold 600 green tags," Nye said. "This past year it was 250,000. Every year we seem to double and more providers seem to enter the market.” Source: Deston S. Nokes, News, GreenBiz, 8-2-2006.
The City of Loveland (Colo.) Department of Water and Power announced that it has lowered the price of its green power offering. Under the newly-named GreenSwitch program, customers can now purchase 100-kWh blocks of wind energy for $1.50, or a rate premium of 1.5¢/kWh, down from $2.50/100-kWh block, or 2.5¢/kWh, under the old Wind Energy Program. The price reduction results from the purchase of renewable energy certificates from regional wind projects compared to sole reliance on Platte River Power Authority's Medicine Bow wind project. Loveland now sources its wind energy from PRPA at a cost of 1.2¢/kWh; the 0.3¢/kWh price differential is used to cover program marketing and administration costs. Source: Green Power Marketing Monthly Update, July 2006.
The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday approved the reinstitution of a Department of Water and Power program that offers rebates to customers who install solar panels on the roofs of their homes or businesses.
The Los Angeles Water and Power Commission signed off on the idea Tuesday. Beginning Aug. 14, the DWP will begin accepting applications for the Solar Power Incentive Program, which was stalled several years ago due to a backlog of applications, according to an agency report. The DWP first offered the program to customers in 2000 to encourage the use of clean, renewable energy through the installation of solar panels. The incentive ranges from $3 to $4 for each system watt. Under the program, property owners must apply for the funds, and the participating homes or businesses would remain connected to the DWP's power grid. About $16 million was set aside in the DWP's budget to fund the program during the 2006-07 fiscal year. Source: CBS Broadcasting Inc., LOS ANGELES, 7/26/2006.
Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd., a company that makes photovoltaic cells, said Wednesday it agreed to buy a 10-year supply of solar wafers from MEMC Electronic Materials, in a deal worth between $5 billion and $6 billion over the period. In addition, MEMC, a St. Peters, Mo.,-based company, received a warrant to buy about a 4.9 percent equity stake in Suntech. The WuXi, China,-based Suntech said the number of wafers it buys annually will increase during the span of the contract, and that MEMC agreed to a fixed price reduction over time. As part of the agreement, Suntech said it will advance MEMC an interest-free loan or security deposit for expansion of MEMC's manufacturing capacity. We believe that wafer-based PV technology will continue to dominate the burgeoning solar energy industry in the next decade," said Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's chairman and chief executive. Shares of Suntech fell 49 cents, or 2 percent, to $24.58, while MEMC rose 27 cents to $30, both on the New York Stock Exchange. Source: The Associated Press/NEW YORK, 7/26/2006.
On an ironically overcast day at 12 Reuter Avenue in Rice Lake Wednesday, July 19, Char and Cary Komoto took what they hope are the first steps toward a bright future for renewable energy in Barron County. The Komotos looked on in amazement as a four-foot by eight-foot, 400-pound solar panel was gently lowered onto their garage, ushering in a new era for the Komoto family, and possibly for all the residents of the county. With the solar panel in place, the Komotos have the final piece of a brand-new solar water heating system-a system that is expected to pay for itself in energy savings within the next four to eight years. The company responsible for the solar water heating system is Citizens Energy Cooperative of Wisconsin, a Waupaca-based energy cooperative. CEC is a true cooperative in that homeowners having a system installed become members of the cooperative, and receive dividend checks from any profits made by the co-op; funds gained through membership go directly towards the installation of a large scale renewable energy system on a public or private building within Wisconsin, owned by CEC.
According to Chamomile Nusz, executive director of CEC, the Komoto's system was the first of two to be installed that day, with the second being at the home of Nancy Chick and Peter Davidson, also of Rice Lake. Nusz says the long-term goal for the Rice Lake-Chetek area is for 40 people in Barron County to become members of CEC. If that happens, Nusz says the Co-op will find a suitable location, most likely a community facility, and install a large-scale solar power-generating system. This will cost the facility nothing; CEC retains ownership of the system and sells the energy to the facility for a price that is less then the market price for energy. Nusz points out this means the facility will save money on its energy bills every month and they will be using non-polluting energy that they otherwise could not afford.
Anyone who has studied solar power recognizes the massive potential of capturing even a fraction of the sun's energy and converting it into a form that can be used for public consumption. Unfortunately, solar power systems of the past have been prohibitively expensive, and those prices have only been driven higher by a short supply of uncontaminated silicon to produce high-quality panels that can maximize efficiency. To help defray the costs of solar energy system ownership, CEC was formed. By passing the costs and benefits of the system to all the members of the cooperative, solar energy systems become affordable to individual home owners. With the only moving part being a water pump, the systems are low-maintenance. A solar water heating system works by passing a liquid similar to antifreeze through the solar panel, where it can be heated by the sun's rays. That heated liquid is then pumped into the house, where it is used to heat a tank full of water. That water is then ready for use at any point inside the home-no pollution necessary. A standard water heater needs to be kept in the home as a backup in the case of a long spell of overcast days where the temperature of the water would fall below acceptable levels; however, the standard water heater should receive little use once the solar heating system is installed.
"The economics of it makes so much sense," Komoto says. The Komotos were able to take advantage of the cash-back rewards through the state-mandated Focus on Energy program-a utility-funded program which will pay for 25 percent of the cost of a solar water heating system, and the federal tax credit paying for 30 percent of the system cost. With both incentives, system costs are cut in half, making a renewable energy system more economically-viable for homeowners. For the Komotos, that meant that even though the system cost them $8,000, they will be receiving $4,000 in refunds to make their net costs $4,000.
"I think if a lot of homeowners sat down and figured it out, they would realize that these systems quickly pay for themselves," Komoto says. While the ability to save money on energy bills is certainly a benefit, the Komotos say there are other selling points to the systems. "What convinced me in the end is that the system is pretty low maintenance," Cary says. "The only thing that seems like it can go wrong is the pump, and that's only like $100." In the end, Cary says, the environment is the big winner. "We want to let people know that this system is available in our area," says Cary. "The more people who sign up for this, the less electricity and natural gas is being used. Our system is something an individual homeowner can do to help promote energy independence."
For her part, Nancy Chick, also an instructor at UW-BC, says she is thrilled with the prospect of saving money and helping the environment at the same time. "We're really excited to take this step towards a more responsible model of energy consumption, especially given the high costs of fuel and the impact of man-made greenhouse gases on the environment," says Chick. "This is just one small way we can do our part." To learn more about Focus on Energy go to, or call 1-800-762-7077. To learn more about Citizens Energy Cooperative of Wisconsin, call 1-800-504-7331. If you would like to find out if your home is suitable for a solar water heating system, contact CEC to set up a home site assessment. Source: by Jeremy A. Jensen, 7/26/2006.
Placer County officials are working toward a day when reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire in the eastern part of the county will produce consumable energy. Referred to as a biomass project, the concept has become much more than an idea for county officials in the past year. Placer County hired a biomass project manager last year, and ideas are quickly developing into concrete plans for a plant that will either burn forest waste for energy or ferment the wood into a biofuel, said Brett Storey, the county’s biomass project manager.
Two public agencies in Truckee have worked together to get a small biomass boiler running in the town. The wood chip-fueled machine heats buildings, creates energy and melts snow. Although the Truckee Donner Public Utility District and the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District have had some “bugs” with the technology, biomass is definitely an emerging and environmentally friendly energy source, said Scott Terrell, conservation director for the Truckee Donner Public Utility District.
In Placer County, the lead promoter of the biomass concept has been Supervisor Bruce Kranz. Representing a thickly forested district from North Auburn to Homewood, Kranz sees catastrophic wildfire as a looming threat to the area he represents. “The biomass project, in my opinion, just happened to be something that was good for the environment. But my real goal was to do something to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire,” said Kranz at Monday’s county supervisors’ meeting.
Storey said the support for Placer County’s push to become a leader in biomass energy production has been overwhelming. He is now working on a five-year “biomass utilization strategic plan” that will include research on biomass feasibility in the county. A draft of the plan should be complete by the fall, said Storey.
While the biomass project seems to be gaining momentum, there remain several large challenges that remain for a successful biomass energy facility to be built. Storey said he wonders if the project will be attractive to a private company; what amount of biomass fuel is available; and how feasible transporting the forest products to the plant will be. `The same questions have been asked by Forest Service officials in the Tahoe Basin, who support biomass projects but know there will be some challenges ahead.
“The cost of collecting and hauling the material in these areas may be very high, and this might complicate maintaining a regular flow of material,” said Rex Norman, spokesman for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the Forest Service in an e-mail interview. “We foresee biomass, particularly for the creation of energy, as playing an increasingly important role in reducing hazard fuels that contribute to catastrophic wildfire behavior.”
The Forest Service recently funded a biomass boiler project in South Lake Tahoe that heats high school buildings, said Norman. The Forest Service plans to pursue biomass use of forest material, as well as prescribed burning, which mimics the low-intensity wildfires that are part of the natural process in forests, he said.
Terrell said although the biomass technology is advancing rapidly, the Truckee Donner Public Utility District decided not to pursue a large-scale biomass plant in Truckee following analysis that went hand-in-hand with their small biomass machine. “We think it’s feasible,” said Terrell. “We don’t think it’s practical or economical.”
Down the road however, Terrell said he sees biomass taking off as a legitimate and practical energy source. “In five to 10 years they’ll probably be selling these things at Home Depot,” Terrell said. Source: By David Bunker. Sierra Sun, 7/26/2006.
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., recently announced it has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a permit for a 50-megawatt wave power generation project in Reedsport, Ore. As part of the initial program for the new wave park, OPT said it expects to install the company's ocean-tested PowerBuoys. According to OPT, the buoys will initially generate a total of two MW approximately 2.5 miles off the coast at a depth of 50 meters. "When completed, this plant will provide renewable power into the grid supplying the West Coast of the U.S.," said OPT chief executive officer George Taylor. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/24/2006.
Xantrex Technology, Inc. recently announced the expansion of its North American solar product line to include the new GT 3.8 Grid Tie Solar Inverter. According to the company, the new 3.8-kilowatt (kW) inverter boasts the highest efficiency for its power range as determined by the California Energy Commission inverter test protocol.
Xantrex said it designed the GT 308, which converts direct current from solar panels into alternating current power for the electricity grid, to allow installers to use a 20-ampere output current breaker. The company noted that two of the new inverters will fit on a standard 200-amp service panel without exceeding the National Electrical Code limit of 25 percent of service panel rating from current sources. Contact: Cathy Gibson Epp, Xantrex, 604-422-2589. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/19/2006.
The first geothermal power plant in the Pacific Northwest will hold its groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, July 29. The plant is being developed by U.S. Geothermal Inc., a Boise-based alternative energy company. The groundbreaking celebration will take place at the project site in Raft River, Idaho. "This completely clean, green, renewable energy source will soon be put to work for our Idaho customers," said Daniel Kunz, CEO and president of U.S. Geothermal.
Ultimately, the site could yield up to 90 megawatts of electricity according to studies cited by U.S. Geothermal. This will be the second new geothermal power plant expected to come on-line since Congress enacted the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The first was the Richard Burdette plant near Reno, Nev., developed by Ormat Technologies.
These two new projects represent the front end of over 40 geothermal power projects under development in the Western U.S., according to the Geothermal Energy Association, the industry trade association. A survey conducted by GEA in March 2006 showed a major surge in U.S. geothermal power development across the West. Some 45 projects are underway throughout Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon and Utah. These projects will eventually provide between 1,817.9 MW and 2,094.9MW of new electric power for the grid — nearly doubling geothermal power production in the U.S. "New federal and state initiatives to promote geothermal energy are paying off," commented Karl Gawell, GEA's executive director.
GEA's survey of new projects under development is available online, or contact Alyssa Kagel at 202-454-5261. News Provided By U.S. Newswire, Washington, 7/27/2006.
PacifiCorp and PPM Energy today announced PacifiCorp has purchased from PPM Energy the Leaning Juniper 1 wind energy generation facility, located about three miles southwest of Arlington, Ore. When completed in August 2006, the Leaning Juniper 1 facility will have a generating capability of 100.5 megawatts, which will become part of the diverse resource mix used to supply electricity to PacifiCorp's 1.6 million customers in six Western states.
PPM Energy began project construction in January 2006. Under the agreement, PPM Energy will complete construction of the project for PacifiCorp and then provide operation, maintenance and warranty services for a period of two years.
"This purchase announcement is the first of several we expect to be making in the next year, as we aggressively pursue renewable resources as an economic and environmentally prudent component of our generation portfolio," said Greg Abel, chairman and chief executive officer of PacifiCorp. "As part of its sale to MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, PacifiCorp committed to bring at least 100 megawatts of cost-effective new wind resources in service by late March 2007 and to have, to the extent available, 400 megawatts of cost-effective new renewable resources in PacifiCorp's generation portfolio by the end of 2007."
Today's announcement comes within four months of the closure of the sale of PacifiCorp to MidAmerican and fulfills the first step of that commitment. It is a first for PPM Energy, which for some time has sold energy and green tags from wind farms and now, for the first time, is selling a developed and built wind project to a utility. PPM Energy is the leading wind developer in the Northwest.
The project will generate enough energy to serve more than 30,000 homes each month. It will use 1.5-megawatt General Electric turbines, 67 in total and all of which are erected. The land is owned by Waste Management Disposal Services of Oregon, Inc. and will continue to be used for wheat farming and grazing. Source: Business Wire — 7-27-2006.
Managing Director of Solar Dynamics, James Husbands, says the hospitality sector could help Barbados reduce its energy bill by switching to solar water heating. He is not satisfied that everything is being done to use solar energy in this industry. Mr. Husbands says some hotels have been using the technology for as long as 10 years and have been reaping the benefits. He says the industry is enjoying incentives and should not be exporting money to buy oil to generate electricity to heat water. Source: cbc.bb, 7-27-2006.
MEMC Electronic Materials Inc., a St. Peters, Mo., maker of solar-grade silicon materials, has signed a deal to supply solar wafers to Suntech Power Holdings Co., of China. Under the terms of the deal, finalized last week, MEMC will supply solar wafers to Suntech at a fixed price over a 10-year period, beginning in the first quarter of 2007. MEMC said it expects sales of the wafers to generate $5 billion to $6 billion in revenue. Suntech, based in China's Jiangsu Province, will advance funds to MEMC in the form of an interest-free loan or security deposit that will be used by MEMC to expand its manufacturing capacity, the companies noted. In addition, MEMC received a warrant to buy a 4.9 percent equity stake in Suntech, which ranks among the world's top 10 manufactures of solar energy components. Source: E&E Publishing, Michael Burnham, Greenwire reporter, 7/31/2006.
BP Solar recently announced the development of a new silicon growth process that is capable of increasing cell efficiency over traditional multi-crystalline-based solar cells. According to the company, solar cells made with its new wafers, in combination with other BP Solar advances in cell process technology, will be able to produce in excess of five to eight percent more power than solar cells made with conventional processes. BP Solar plans to implement the "Mono2" technique in existing equipment at its facility in Frederick, MD, with the goal of achieving large-scale production. The company noted that the first modules to incorporate the process will be available next year. The development of Mono2 was funded in part through a manufacturing contract with the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/21/2006.
One of Tom Benson's claims to fame, proclaimed in five-foot-high letters across his storefront, is that he owns the "WORLD'S LARGEST LAUNDROMAT" - complete with 153 washers, 148 dryers and 15 flat-screen TVs. But that's not the claim that excites advocates of renewable energy. It's that, perched atop the hangar-sized facility in this working class Chicago suburb, is one of the largest, most cost-effective solar systems in the country. Scaling a ladder to the scorching roof one recent morning, the 61-year-old beamed with pride as he showed off the 36 10-by-4-foot panels that supply his 24-hour laundry with hot water.
Benson's boast about having the largest coin-operated laundry on Earth might be open to debate. What's not in doubt is that his $150,000 hot water system has become a darling of environmentalists and officials smitten with the promise of solar, heralded as a prime example of how sun energy is practical, simple and cost-wise. "The World's Largest Laundromat has shown that solar can work in the Midwest climate, in the heartland," said Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, a vocal solar advocate. However, fewer than 5 percent of the 40,000 coin-operated laundries nationwide use solar, according to estimates from the Coin Laundry Association, which represents nearly 3,000 companies in the $5 billion industry.
Benson first converted from natural gas to solar in 2001, two years after buying the laundry. The motivation, he says unapologetically, was pure dollars and cents. His heating bills were climbing as high as $13,000 - the equivalent of 25 percent of his total monthly revenue. "There was just no way I could survive if that continued," he said. At a meeting where laundry owners vented about energy prices, someone mentioned solar. Illinois was offering grants to pay 50 percent of the cost of solar systems; Benson applied, got the grant and had a system up within months. His bank, to his surprise, didn't hesitate to loan him the needed money.
Benson calculates his $150,000 system saves him $25,000 annually and so should pay for itself in about five more years. To boot, he expects it to remain operational for at least 20. The technology is so simple, requiring what Benson says is laughably low maintenance, he's perplexed why more businessmen don't embrace it. "None of my competitors within a several mile radius are doing this," he said. "It's a shame."
Since a laundry depends on hot water, its bottom line can be greatly affected by how energy efficient it is, said Michael Sokolowski of the Coin Laundry Association. But the cost of solar systems dissuades many laundries, most of which are a fifth the size of Benson's and have annual revenues of less than $200,000, he said.
The owner of Niles-based Solar Service Inc., which sold Benson his system, also blames what he says is a lack of adequate state aid. Illinois allotted just $5 million this fiscal year for grants similar to the one Benson received, Brandon Leavitt said. "Wisconsin spends 10 times more, Pennsylvania has a $100 million program and California has a $2 billion one," he said.
Hans Detweiler, deputy director of energy programs for the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, insists Illinois has made renewable energy a high priority - though he conceded the $5 million in grants "is not that much money."
Benson, who has college degrees in philosophy and business administration, said he could have made his business even more environmentally friendly – say, by adding biodegradable floor tiles. But, in scrutinizing the bottom line, he said that would have been too costly to justify. "A lot of times the environmental stuff ... ends up costing you money," he said. His solar setup, though, has virtually no downsides, he argued. His reliance on solar also engenders loyalty among his customers, the majority of whom are Hispanic and many of whom are poor. Their reaction, he says, has tickled him more than anything. "Many people here have come up to me and said, `Thank you for helping the environment,'" Benson said. Source: Michael Tarm, Associated Press, 7-30-2006.
Argonne researchers are partnering with industry and other national laboratories to develop biorefineries that compete economically with oil refineries. One of the world's most touted bioproducts is ethanol. Its production is increasing by 20 percent annually, and last year the nation produced 4 billion gallons.
Argonne is one of five U.S. Department of Energy laboratories working to replace 30 percent of today's motor fuel with alternative biofuels by 2030. Called the National Bioenergy Center, the team includes Idaho, Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest national laboratories and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
"Researchers and industry see developing alternative processes to replace the country's reliance on foreign oil as filling a national need," explained Seth Snyder, a biochemical engineer and the leader of the Chemical and Biotechnology Section in Argonne's Energy Systems Division. As oil prices rise, so do all petroleum-based products, including paint, plastic and carpets." Products traditionally made from oil can be made from plants and trees, but the processes need to be developed to make their products price-competitive with petroleum-based products.
Argonne is working with Archer Daniels Midland Company to optimize a separative bioreactor that converts sugar from corn into chemicals. R&D magazine named the technology one of this year's top R&D products. This research is supported jointly by the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Office of the Biomass Program and ADM. The Argonne-ADM effort currently focuses on demonstrating the fermentation of gluconic acid on a commercial scale. Snyder said, "We chose to start with gluconic acid because we are familiar with its processes." Gluconic acid is produced by fermenting glucose, a type of sugar. During fermentation, gluconic acid builds up until its acidity blocks the fermentation enzyme. The acidity can be chemically neutralized, but the extra treatment raises costs and generates waste.
Argonne's separative bioreactor uses a process called "electrodeionization" to overcome this problem without the need for additional chemical treatments. Electrodeionization uses small amounts of electricity and Argonne's resin wafer stack to remove gluconic acid from the solution as it is produced.
In a related project, Argonne is partnering with BP Chemicals to produce acetic acid by fermentation of biomass. The U.S. currently uses about 5 billion pounds per year of acetic acid, to make everything from plastics used in water bottles to paints. In research supported by DOE's Industrial Technologies Program and BP, Argonne is developing technology to produce acetic acid from a kind of biogas. The current technology requires expensive natural gas.
Argonne believes that a similar biogas strategy could also be used to produce ethanol directly. In parallel projects, Argonne is developing microorganisms and chemical catalysts to convert the gas to ethanol. At the same time, Argonne is working on new ways to recover the ethanol from the fermentation broth.
"But in the long run, we'll have to move beyond corn as a feedstock," Snyder said, "if bioprocessing is to compete with petroprocessing." Possible new biofeedstocks include forest products, agricultural fodder—such as corn cobs and husks—and fast-growing grasses.
Argonne researchers are using their expertise in engineering trees for environmental cleanup to develop more possible sources for bioprocessing. Argonne's Cristina Negri is expanding her study of poplar trees to determine if they can be engineered to grow in dry areas. "Trees and plants that can grow in marginal areas will add to the biofeedstock without using land that is better suited to growing food crops," Snyder explained.
Argonne's effort cuts across scientific disciplines. Snyder's group plans to work with Argonne computer scientists to explore how genomics and systems biology can improve bioprocesses and the crops that will be used to produce bioenergy and bioproducts.
The buzz about ethanol has escalated this year, along with the price of gasoline, but Argonne has been studying ethanol for decades. The laboratory served as the cold weather test site for ethanol-fueled vehicles in the 1980s and 1990s. Environmental engineers and economists are determining the full-cycle energy costs of ethanol and many other alternative fuels and technologies. DOE uses GREET, a life-cycle analysis program developed by Argonne's Michael Wang, to help guide decisions in ethanol research. Source: Argonne National Laboratory, Evelyn Brown, 7-28-2006.
As California struggles with the barrage of record temperatures and energy demand, Ohlone College officials are boasting about their solar-powered Newark campus. "We're breaking a bit of new ground here," college President Doug Treadway said as workers installed the circulatory system of the design in 90-foot-long trenches.
The 26 miles of coils are the veins of its solar-powered network, which Ohlone expects will generate 30 percent of the campus's energy needs. "If the campus was operating now, it would be feeding energy back to the power grid," Treadway said. The design puts the college at the head of its class in terms of clean energy, which comes from 2,500 solar panels that will cover the roofs. The coils, each 500 feet long, will extract the heated air from the 135,000-square-foot building, transfer it to the ground through the water in the coils and return cooled air to the campus's 16 classrooms.
Even California lawmakers have got behind the solar design. U.S. Rep. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who earmarked $250,000 for the project in an energy and water spending bill being considered in Congress, has praised Ohlone for using clean, green energy. Asked if the expectations of the college were overstated, Trustee Bill McMillin, one of two Newark representatives on the Ohlone board, said that is a risk. But it's worth taking because the option is to keep relying on fossil fuels for energy, he said.
"It's all coming together," Treadway said. "We have a chance to be part of the solution, not part of the problem." Source: By Angela Woodall, Staff Writer, 7-29-2006.
Konarka Technologies, Inc. and Renewable Capital, Ltd., a firm that invests in renewable technologies, recently announced the licensing and joint development of Konarka's dye-sensitized solar cell technology for large-scale production. The non-exclusive relationship will focus on manufacturing scale-up in Europe and commercialization of the dye cell technology. Renewable Capital has committed resources, capital and equipment to the endeavor, including hiring coating equipment manufacturer Coatema. Source: EIN Staff, 7-31-2006.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2006 Wind Power Pioneer Award, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America Program.
This is the fourth year for the award honoring one public power utility for its leadership in wind power. All public power utility members of the American Public Power Association are eligible to apply, and utilities may nominate themselves. There is no cost to enter.
Complete the nomination form and return it to Debbie Rock by 5 p.m. MDT, Sep. 15, 2006.
For additional information, call Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7423.
The Geothermal Resources Council will convene its 2006 Annual Meeting at the Town & Country Resort and Convention Center in San Diego, Calif., on September 10-13, 2006.
Committee organization and planning for the event is underway. Check the GRC website for more information about the meeting – and the companion Geothermal Energy Association Trade Show – as it becomes available. See you in San Diego!
Today Alternative Energy News Source published a new research report on solar power investment, titled "A Research Report on Solar Power Investment: The Dawn of Solar Power." The 26-page research report, written by Altenews President Russell Hasan, is available free to the public in the Research Reports section.
The report begins with a detailed history of solar power growth, focusing on the five year historical trend of 30 percent annual growth in the solar power industry. The report examines the shortage of silicon raw material for the manufacture of solar panels, looks at the silicon shortage's impact on solar stocks, and then makes a provacative prediction about when the solar silicon shortage will end. There is analysis of the potential of various solar technologies, including silicon photovoltaic, thin film, and solar thermal. A wealth of data is offered about solar usage in industrialized countries, with a focus on the top three solar markets of the USA, Japan and Germany. Altenews then makes the controversial claim that one of the greatest potential revenue sources for the solar industry will be future sales in developing countries.
The report concludes with a detailed plan for turning the information in the report into a strategy for how to invest in solar stocks, and mentions such companies as BP, GE, Sharp, Kyocera, Q-Cells AG, Ovonic (Energy Conversion Devices), GiraSolar, SunPower, EverGreen Solar, Ascent Solar, Solar Millenium AG and NanoSolar. The report is a must-read for every investor who wants to invest in the Wall Street trend towards green power and clean tech.
Alternative Energy News Source, well known for their reports and articles about ethanol investment, is a premier news and analysis website covering alternative energy, including solar, wind, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cells, geothermal, tidal power, and alternative oil and gas exploration. With the goal of "helping educate the intelligent environmentalist and the smart investor," Altenews offers a variety of features, including daily news headlines, all of which are free on its website. Contact: Russell Hasan of the Alternative Energy News Source, 917-669-9944. Source: Alternative Energy News Source, 7/26/2006.
The July 2006 Renewable Fuels Association newsletter is now available. Source: Matt Hartwig, Communications Director, Renewable Fuels Association, 7/26/2006.
The Kansas Corporation Commission’s 7th Annual Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference will be held at the Topeka Ramada Inn beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, and continuing all day on Wednesday, September 27.
Keynote addresses will be given by Representative Carl Holmes, Chair of the House Utilities Committee, Lola Spradley, Chairwoman of the Colorado Harvesting Energy Network and former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, and Dave Hamilton, Director, Global Warming and Energy Programs for the National Sierra Club.
Please join us to learn the latest in Kansas’ energy efforts and talk and interact with energy experts and federal, state and local officials. This year, there will be many forums where your views can be expressed. On Tuesday afternoon, there will be a legislative panel where members of the Kansas Senate and House Utilities and Agriculture Committees will take questions from the floor. Wednesday, throughout the day, the Kansas Energy Council will be conducting citizens’ forums on Transportation, Agriculture, Renewable Portfolio Standards and Energy Efficiency.
Platinum sponsors of this year's conference are Wind Powering America, United States Department of Energy-State Energy Programs and the Kansas Corporation Commission. Source: Jim Urich, Conference Coordinator, 7/26/2006.
AWEA released its Second Quarter Market Report announcing that Texas has now overtaken California in wind energy installations. Source: AWEA, Washington, DC, 7/26/2006.
Registration is now open for Advancing Renewable Energy: An American Rural Renaissance, a national renewable energy conference that will be hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Energy on October 10-12, 2006, at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The conference will focus on achieving goals outlined in President Bush's Advanced Energy Initiative, which seeks to change the way we power our cars, homes and businesses through the use of alternative energy sources.
The conference will specifically focus discussions on biomass, wind and solar research and commercialization. USDA and DOE expect the conference to identify critical pathways, and to make recommendations to help accelerate renewable energy technology development. The conference also will examine incentives to help reduce risk for investors and developers in the marketplace and will review challenges of developing new distribution systems.
Attendance is open to the public. Anyone involved with, or interested in, renewable energy is encouraged to attend, including transportation, large- and small-scale farming, finance and investment officials, as well as academia, and federal, state, government and elected officials. All attendees must register for the conference, including press, who may attend without charge. Contact: USDA: Jim Brownlee, 202-720-4623, DOE: Craig Stevens, 202-586-4940. Source: USDA, DOE, 7-26-2006.
Nominations are being accepted for the sixth annual Green Power Leadership Awards. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Center for Resource Solutions, the Green Power Leadership Awards are competitive awards that recognize outstanding commitments and achievements in the green power marketplace in the following three categories:
Purchasers – members or prospective members of the U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership.
Suppliers – renewable electricity providers, renewable energy certificate marketers, project developers, and equipment vendors.
Market Development – individuals, companies, and other industry leaders.
The awards will be presented on December 4, 2006, in conjunction with the 11th National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in San Francisco, Calif. Nominations must be received by 5:00pm PDT on August 4, 2006. Please see 2006 Green Power Leadership Awards. For questions about the Purchaser and Supplier Awards, contact Pam Bloch Mendelson at 303-275-4819. For questions about the Market Development Awards, please contact Keri Bolding at 415-561-2100. Source: Green Power Network, NREL, 7-21-2006.
Keep an eye out for the Solar Power 2006 brochure which all SEPA members will receive in the mail by the first week in August. Presented by SEPA and the Solar Energy Industries Association, Solar Power 2006 will focus on new and innovative developments in the industry. We expect more than 2,000 attendees representing the solar industry, customers, and policymakers from throughout the US and around the world, and have more than 130 exhibiting companies. The conference will take place from October 16-19th in San Jose, California. Register today at to get the early-bird discounted member rate. Source: SEPA Bi-Weekly News, 7/21/2006.
According to a new poll by Mortgage Lenders Network USA, 94 percent of Americans prefer to work in a building that is designed to be energy efficient and ecologically sound. Women appear to be more environmentally-concerned than men about their workplace. The poll also revealed that 72 percent of working women declare a strong preference for green employers, vs. 64 percent of men. And, a larger percentage of Americans ages 45-54 would prefer to work in an eco-friendly building vs. their less eco-minded counterparts ages 25-34 (74 percent vs. 62 percent).
Not only does America's workforce want to be more "environmentally correct," but more employers are jumping on the green bandwagon. The U.S. Green Building Council has seen its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications for newly-constructed green buildings jump in the past 3 years by 150 percent, from 167 to 417. The Council's LEED certification is the only national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Jim Smith, senior director of real estate and facilities at MLN, is spearheading construction efforts for MLN's $75 million eco-friendly headquarters with an eye toward earning LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. MLN's new headquarters, in Wallingford, Conn., will feature an employee cafeteria with healthy offerings such as herbs and vegetables grown on the premises, and food fuel zones: employee break areas stocked with complimentary snacks such as fruit from local orchards.
Yet, Smith says their green building strategy is about more than just keeping employees happy and healthy. "MLN is looking beyond the common benefits of green buildings — employee retention, fewer illnesses and increased productivity - and seeking to influence employees and customers to live and build green in order to increase environmental sustainability," said Smith. One example of MLN's drive toward energy efficiency is The Founder's Cottage at its new headquarters. This New England-style farmhouse will feature state-of-the-art technology, allowing it to produce as much energy as it uses through solar panels and hydraulic power. Source: GreenBiz, 7-26-2006.
To encourage geothermal energy development on federal lands, Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced proposed rules that would require more competitive leasing, offer simplified royalty calculations and share $4 million in current royalties with counties where production occurs. “These draft regulations would add another tool in our efforts to encourage environmentally responsible development of renewable energy resources while ensuring a fair return to the United States. We welcome public comment,” Kempthorne said.
The proposed rules are published in today’s Federal Register by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management and Minerals Management Service. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking opens a 60-day public comment period.
Half of the Nation’s geothermal energy production occurs on Federal land, much of it in California and Nevada. Other states with geothermal activity include Oregon, Utah, Idaho, and New Mexico. The Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule would require competitive leasing for geothermal resources on nearly all federal lands designated for this type of development. If no bids are received, then these resources would be offered non-competitively for two-year periods. The proposed Minerals Management Service’s regulations establish a fee schedule (in lieu of royalties) for the direct use of geothermal resources that provides incentives to encourage the development and expansion of this alternative energy source. The MMS rule also would simplify the royalty calculations for electrical generation by basing them on a percentage of gross proceeds from the sale of electricity. This rule would reduce industry’s administrative costs to comply.
The draft rules also mandate that 25 percent of the royalties be paid to the counties where the production occurs, increasing those local governments’ revenues initially by more than $4 million a year. The two sets of proposed rules were written in response to the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which mandated comprehensive changes to leasing and royalty policies to encourage geothermal energy use without imposing additional administrative burdens on industry or government agencies. Previously, geothermal royalties were divided equally between federal and state governments. Under the new rules, the royalties would be divided as follows: county governments would receive 25 percent, state governments 50 percent and the federal government 25 percent. The new regulations place no additional burdens on local governments.
Geothermal leasing is permitted on Interior and other federal lands that are designated for this type of development but not on restricted public lands, such as national parks, wilderness areas, national recreation areas and other protected lands. The BLM currently administers about 350 geothermal leases; 55 of those are producing geothermal energy, including 34 power plants. The BLM has been expediting the application process for geothermal leases, issuing more than 200 leases since 2001, compared to 25 leases from 1996-2001.
Written comments on the BLM rules may be submitted by any of the following methods: regular mail to Director (630), Bureau of Land Management, Administrative Record, Room 401 LS, Eastern States Office, 7450 Boston Boulevard, Springfield, Virginia 22153; personal or messenger delivery to Room 401, 1620 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036; e-mail to Federal eRulemaking Portal or the BLM. Please include “Attn: RIN 1004-AD87” in the subject line. To learn more on the BLM’s efforts to implement the Energy Policy Act, call Kermit Witherbee at 202-452-0385.
Comments on the MMS rule may be submitted via regular U.S. Mail to: Minerals Management Service, Minerals Revenue Management, P.O. Box 25165, MS 302B2, Denver, Colorado 80225; or via e-mail. Please include “Attn: RIN 1010-AD32” in the subject line and include your name and address. Persons seeking additional information on the MMS rule may contact Sharron Gebhardt, Lead Regulatory Specialist, MMS, P.O. Box 25165, MS302B2, Denver, Colorado 80225; at 303-231-3211; or fax 303-231-3781. All public comments received will be reviewed and considered before the draft rules are finalized. The comment period for both rules ends Sept. 19, 2006. Source: Energy Central, 7/21/2006.
The Idaho National Laboratory has helped Idaho State University and the city of Pocatello build a wind measurement tower in what could be the site of a wind power generating facility. The 164-foot tower was built yesterday a few miles west of Pocatello near where a smaller tower found consistent winds of 14 m-p-h to 15 m-p-h, strong enough to make it feasible to produce electricity. The taller tower will measure wind higher off the ground. Idaho State University is interested in the project for research. Pocatello officials are interested in the site for generating power for the city. Source: By the Associated Press, 7/25/2006.
A surge in wind farm development promises to break records regionally and nationally this year, but it likely won't come without growing pains. The frenzied expansion could soon collide with practical considerations, at least in the Northwest. Power resource planners in the Northwest say several factors could buffet the region's wind farm boom. Rising construction costs, strained transmission lines and a limited ability to blend wind's fickle nature with more controllable generation, such as hydro-power, are among the biggest concerns.
The rising concerns highlight the rapid-fire pace of wind farm development, which has surprised even the most optimistic of regional planners. The questions also hint at the challenges facing a relatively new industry quickly joining the mainstream of electricity generation.
Big-name developers and several Northwest utilities are involved in large-scale wind power projects throughout the rural reaches of the Columbia River Gorge, long known for its breezy conditions. Already wind facilities in Oregon and Washington cover thousands of acres and, all told, boast a generating capacity in excess of 700 megawatts. Another 500 or more could come online by year-end, a jump in capacity of about 70 percent. Similar red-hot construction scenarios are playing out throughout the country, particularly in windy spots in Texas and California, the top two states for wind-power.
Washington and Oregon stand in the seventh and eighth spots, respectively, in the AWEA rankings. The group forecasts the industry will bring more than 3,000 megawatts of additional wind capacity online by year's end, well above last year's record of 2,431 megawatts. Despite the growth, wind power remains a small percentage of overall electricity capacity — roughly 3 percent in the Northwest.
Rising costs of fuel for traditional generation, such as natural gas-fired plants, are driving the interest in renewable energy, especially wind. So, too, is a federal production tax credit for wind resource development. The subsidy was extended by Congress last year and is set to expire at the end of 2007. The jump in demand for wind power is one of the reasons construction costs have climbed dramatically in the past couple of years. Most significantly, the huge turbines that turn the wind's power into electricity have been ordered in such quantities that they now fetch premium prices — or cannot be bought at all.
Costs for cement, copper, steel and resin — all used in the manufacture and installation of wind turbines and related equipment — also have jumped in the past two to three years, resource planners and wind developers note. Two years ago, the power council estimated the cost of power from new power projects to be between $42 and $53 a megawatt hour. An updated report, completed earlier this month, put estimates in the range of $45 to as much as $100 a megawatt hour.
"Everyone's seeing it, across the board, in all types of markets," said Ty Daul, managing director of wind development in the West for PPM Energy, a Portland-based company and one of the largest wind developers in the country.
PPM Energy is keenly aware of the higher price tags, Daul said. Even so, the company has no plans to pull back on thousands of megawatts of wind farm development in the works. Also, it has stockpiled enough turbines to see it through its next phase of development. Even so, other obstacles could stand between new projects and the ultimate delivery of wind-power electricity to customers. A potentially "very big issue" is the blending of wind's ups and downs with other generation so that a smooth flow of electricity enters the transmission grid on its way to customers. No problems have yet arisen, but another 1,000 megawatts of new wind capacity is expected to become available in the next couple of years, and that's where the questions lie.
The federal Bonneville Power Administration, whose 31 hydroelectric dams and one nuclear plant generate about 40 percent of the electricity consumed in the Northwest, acknowledges that additional management plans are necessary. The Portland-based agency has teamed with the planning council and with developers, utilities and other interested parties to assess the situation in detail. The group's first meeting is set for. Source: McClatchy-Tribune Business News Formerly Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Gail Kinsey Hill, The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, 7-27-2006.
Rep. Jim Matheson has introduced legislation that would allow schools in six states, including Utah, to issue bonds to improve or add renewable energy sources. The bill, the Renewable Schools Energy Act of 2006, would affect Rocky Mountain states, providing up to $200 million through 2009 for schools to issue bonds on which they would pay no interest to acquire renewable energy from sources like solar panels, geothermal heat pumps or small wind turbines. The measure is identical to legislation introduced by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. The states affected are Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Montana and Idaho. Source: Thomas Burr, Salt Lake Tribune, 7-27-2006.
Idaho has become one of 13 states to back a nationwide push to boost renewable energy sources. Gov. Jim Risch named Department of Agriculture Director Pat Takasugi the state director of the "25x'25" initiative, which hopes to make 25 percent of America's energy sources renewable by the year 2025. Risch wrote in a letter to Earnest Shea, the group's coordinator, "Idaho stepped up and made the financial commitment to start our first biodiesel plant, and we remain committed to continue like efforts."
Most of that plant in New Plymouth burned to the ground this month, with Risch watching the smoke as he traveled the area to hand out the same kind of state grants that helped build the plant. Two of the plant's owners told Risch they hoped to rebuild and start again.
Risch and Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle both joined the effort this month. The "25x'25" group supports renewable energies like wind and solar, and is supported by agricultural and forestry groups hoping to boost biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel. In Idaho, the Idaho Farm Bureau and the Idaho Grain Producers Association back the effort. The group says its efforts are focused on passing congressional resolutions declaring the goal of 25 percent renewable energy, and in securing partners and supporters in the states. Source: Gregory Hahn, Idaho Statesman, The Idaho Statesman, 7-25-2006.
Since the last time heat waves threatened rolling blackouts around the state in 2001, California has installed 177 MW of solar photovoltaic power systems on nearly 20,000 homes, businesses, schools and government buildings, according to data from California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission.
Given that solar power systems generate electricity at a time California needs it most—while the sun is out and air conditioners are on full-blast—this 5,900 percent increase in the amount of solar power installed in California over the past four years will make a real difference in those conditions.
Further, thanks to the California Solar Initiative adopted by the California Energy Commission this past January, California has set a goal of building 3,000 MW of solar power on a million roofs by 2016. Meeting this goal would mean 6 percent of California’s summer-time peak load would be met with clean, reliable solar power helping give grid operators a healthy margin between energy supply and demand.
|
Amount of solar power (MW) |
Number of solar roofs |
% increase from previous time period |
% of Today’s Forecasted Peak Demand (52,000 MW) |
1998-2000 |
3 |
450 |
- |
.01% |
2001-present |
177 |
19,200 |
5,900% |
.3% |
2007-2016 (estimated goal) |
3,000 |
1,000,000 |
1,600% |
6% |
In addition to installing more solar power, California also needs to do more to conserve energy and build other types of renewable energy resources like wind turbines and geothermal power plants. While California’s homes and appliances are more efficient than ever, because our population is growing and we are building larger homes and filling them with more electrical appliances, our overall energy consumption is on the rise. The solution to this problem is to continue to tighten conservation and efficiency measures while also building more clean renewable energy such as solar power. Source: Energy Program News, Bernadette Del Chiaro, 7-24-2006.
Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc., John Deere Wind Energy and Wind Capital Group recently announced that a new 50-megawatt wind farm is set for construction in Atchison County, MO. The announcement comes less than six months after the companies revealed plans for the state's first commercial wind farm. According to AECI, the new Cow Branch project will consist of 24 2.1-MW Suzion S-88 turbines. Construction is slated to begin in early 2007, with project completion expected by the end of next year. Power produced by both farms will be purchased by AECI and distributed through its network of regional and local rural electric cooperatives. John Deere Wind Energy is providing project financing. Contact: Nancy Southworth, AECI, phone 417-885-9246. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/12/2006.
Nature's Accent, wholesale generator of renewable energy, announced an opportunity to all electric cooperatives belonging to the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association for low-cost renewable energy at fossil fuel prices. The offer included 4.8 cents per kilowatthour, with a fixed price for 30 years on 100 percent renewable energy, price and delivery guarantees, equity participation and revenue sharing.
Highlights of Nature’s Accent’s proposal are:
• 4.8 cents per kilowatt pricing fixed for 30 years
• Fixed pricing with no increases over the entire term
• Guaranteed delivery with no down time
• Renewable energy price match guarantee
• 100 percent renewable energy using our tri-fuel plant design
• Cooperative equity ownership in generation plants
• Joint venture revenue on excess energy that is sold
• Shareholder dividends from equity ownership
• Help create global cooling (reduce CO2 emissions)
• Help watersheds and reduce bovine waste problems
• Reduce transmission bottlenecks with locally generated power
• Put a plan in place to meet future renewable energy portfolio standards
• Lower the cost of energy to co-op members and create employment opportunities locally
A copy of the formal proposal can be requested from Nature’s Accent using our contact form.
Las Vegas, NM, is the proposed site of the first plant to be located in the Northeast Regional Wood Business Park owned by San Miguel County and managed by the Las Vegas/San Miguel Economic Development Corporation. The plant, planned to start generation in January 2008, will create about 350 high paying professional jobs in rural New Mexico. Nature’s Accent has identified 12 other rural communities with the renewable resources to build clean energy plants.
We are currently surveying 12 additional sites in New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Texas for potential to generate renewable energy. The plants will range in capacity from 40MW to 100MW and they will be powered by solar thermal, wind and biomass (forest or bovine waste materials), that is integrated into a base load and dispatchable continuous energy plant. We plan to build capacity targeted at 1-1.4 Gigawatts of 100 percent renewable energy in the next 10 years. We are looking for sites and partnership opportunities. Partnering with Nature’s Accent does not require any cash participation and we will supply all funding, engineering, construction, and operation of the plants. Through this joint venture approach, your co-op can attain long-term fixed energy pricing, stable power purchases and the benefits of owning your own renewable generation facility. Source: Nature's Accent, Inc., 7-31-2006.
MidAmerican Energy Company recently announced that construction of a new 123-megawatt wind facility in Pocahontas County, IA is expected to begin later this year and be completed by the end of 2007.
MidAmerican Energy noted that the Pocahontas County site will be developed and constructed by enXco Development Corporation and will utilize 82 1.5-MW GE Energy turbines. Earlier this year, MidAmerican Energy announced a 99-MW wind project in Carroll and Crawford counties in west central Iowa following Iowa Utilities Board approval of the company's plan to build up to 545 MW of wind power generation in the state before the end of next year. MidAmerican Energy wind project manager Tom Budler noted that the Carroll and Crawford project is scheduled to be online by the end of 2006. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/25/2006.
The Town of Beekmantown seems to be proceeding with consideration of the installation of wind turbines in a fashion that could be the model for others. The spirit of objectivity and compromise seems to be driving the discussions, as it should.
The advent of windmills in the North Country has generated more debate than any news development in the past two years. Communities being considered for wind farms are divided over the prospects. Some people are fearful of the consequences of having the enormous structures as neighbors. Some are eager for the income they can derive from allowing turbines onto their property. Others have no other stake but are quietly hopeful wind can ease some of the burden of providing energy now and into the future.
As with any largely unknown commodity introduced into an area unused to such disruptions, the debate has often been spirited and even acrimonious. Sometimes, suppositions have dominated facts. But Beekmantown is approaching the question with common sense and reserve. A committee has been formed to study, first, whether townspeople want or will tolerate the wind farms. If so, where should the windmills be placed?
Some of the greatest apprehensions over the wind farms involve the noise they'll emit, the denigration of the landscape and the obligation of taxpayers if the experiment fails and the devices are abandoned. Each municipality needs to thoroughly explore the ramifications of the project to every resident's satisfaction. That is what Beekmantown has done. The board has set a moratorium on any construction until next April. In the meantime, the necessary research and discussion will ensue. The citizens committee doing the work comprises people of both persuasions, so all viewpoints are represented.
No one argues for a continued reliance on coal or oil to fuel power-generating plants. The sun has not proven to be reliable to meet large-scale demands in this area of the world, and there is not enough hydropower. Burning low-grade wood has been suggested as an answer, but it has not been thoroughly explored yet. Wind certainly sounds like an attractive supplement to the power being produced through conventional means. But it is only attractive if it can be harvested in a manner that is not intrusive to neighbors or the landscape. Beekmantown seems poised to find out once and for all whether the proposal is compatible with residents' interests. 7/30/2006.
Because developing alternatives to oil imports must be a priority, Kentucky House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins has asked Gov. Ernie Fletcher to re-establish the Kentucky Energy Cabinet. In a speech to the Energy and Environment Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference Sunday in Louisville, Adkins said he made the request to Fletcher in a letter Friday. Adkins told fellow southern legislators convening at the Louisville Marriott Downtown that turning Kentucky’s office of Energy Policy into a cabinet “will send a clear message and unmistakable message that here in Kentucky we are serious about providing a leadership role in the national pursuit of energy independence.”
Gov. Julian Carroll created the Kentucky Energy Cabinet during the oil crisis of the 1970s to coordinate state efforts to develop coal gasification and liquefaction projects. But those projects faded and the cabinet was abolished in the early 1990s. Energy programs are now handled by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy within the Fletcher administration Commerce Cabinet. Making the agency a cabinet will make sure that programs and proposals to convert coal and agricultural products into liquid or gaseous fuels get constant attention at the highest level of state government, Adkins said. “If we as legislators do not aggressively chart a course of action, our country will lose its foothold as the world’s superpower.” Adkins said, “All of our states can play a pivotal role by starting to provide a groundswell of state actions that would most assuredly lead to quicker, more decisive federal action.”
Reporter Tom Loftus can be reached at 502-875-5136.Source: By Tom Loftus, The Courier-Journal, 7-30-2006.
NRG Energy, the state’s leading polluter, has announced the purchase of a top wind power development company. Environmental groups have been calling for intensified research into alternative power, such as wind power, which could dramatically cut down on pollution emitted into Delaware’s air. NRG, owners of the Indian River Power Plant in Millsboro, purchased the wind company, which has built more than 40 wind farms in the U.S. and Europe. Padoma Windpower LLC, headquartered in LaJolla, Calif., has developed, financed, built and operated more than 40 wind farms. Neither NRG nor Padoma disclosed the amount of the purchase. NRG has not said if the company will pursue wind farms in Delaware.
Willett Kempton, associate professor for the University of Delaware, recently presented information about wind farms to the Citizens for Clean Power, a Lewes-based grassroots organization for clean energy. Kempton has been working with students to understand public opinion on wind power. His group recently did a study on wind power in Massachusetts and plans to start a study in Delaware this year. He is teaching a class this fall about off-shore wind power, the only one of its kind he knows of, he said.
NRG Energy, owners of the Indian River Power Plant, agreed that alternative sources are important. But, skepticism remains about the stability and reliability of sources such as wind power. In the water off Delaware’s coast there is room for about 3,604 turbines, taking into account bird flyways, shipping lanes and views from the resort beaches. According to Kempton’s research the wind turbines could produce 13 GW of energy, which is more than the amount needed by all of Delaware. The wind farms could produce about $1 billion in revenue each year and create 3,000 permanent jobs. NRG is also planning to build a coal gasification plant in Delaware beside the Indian River Power Plant. Coal gasification plants emit fewer pollutants and are considered a stat-of-the-art technology for energy production. They can also be outfitted with additional equipment to capture mercury. In the future energy officials and clean power advocates hope new technology will be able to capture carbon dioxide as well, but that technology is not yet available. It may be available by the time NRG starts to construct the new plant in Millsboro.
CCP members are concerned that even if NRG procures the long-term financing necessary to build the multi-billion dollar plant, the old plant will continue to run and continue to pollute. NRG officials said the old plant will be outfitted with scrubbers to reduce toxic emissions, but it will continue to run to meet the growing energy demand in Delaware. “Power plants created today will still be operating in 2050,” said Kempton, meaning that if NRG builds the new plant, it will still exist when the planet hits the point of no return for the environment. By Rachel Swick, Cape Gazette staff, 7-28-2006.
It's a sure sign that renewable energy is growing in the region when an advocacy group forms in the heartland of Nebraska. Early this month, the Nebraska Renewable Energy Association announced it had formed to advocate for the development of all forms of renewable energy. Grainnet News, which is a farm-oriented publication out of Decatur, Illinois, announced the story on July 12. Grainnet News has become a news hub for the biofuels industry in the Midwest. Source: Peggy Plate, Energy Services, Western Area Power Administration, Loveland, CO.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently announced that the TRF Sustainable Development Fund is soliciting applications for approximately $400,000 in wind energy production incentive grants. The grants will support new community wind projects in the state that will begin commercial operation by December 31, 2007. According to DEP, the grant program is designed so the financial benefits of community wind projects are primarily local. The program limits the size of the community wind project to a minimum of 500 kilowatts and a maximum of 10 megawatts. DEP noted that SDF's preferred form of financial support for community wind projects is wind energy production incentives paid as the project generates electricity. The total amount of the production incentive grant will be negotiated by SDF and the successful applicants. SDF will seek those projects that generate the maximum amount of wind energy per dollar of subsidy from the fund. SDF reserves the right to negotiate the amount of the financial assistance to maximize the effectiveness of the 2007 assistance. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 7/20/2006.
SolFocus developer of solar concentrator photovoltaic systems, says it has closed $25 million of a $32 million Series A equity financing. Led by New Enterprise Associates, the round also included seed investors NGEN Partners and Yellowstone Capital. The $3.5 million seed round was completed in March 2006. The new funds will accelerate a large-scale reliability test series, the production ramp of CPV modules at domestic and off-shore factories, and securing the long term supply of photovoltaic cells. As part of the financing, NEA's Scott Sandell joins the company's board of directors. Nobel Laureate and former director of Bell Laboratories Arno Penzias joins the SolFocus technical advisory board.
SolFocus has signed a volume supply agreement with a leading supplier of high efficiency triple-junction PV cells. The agreement is the largest to date in the CPV industry and will support SolFocus' field test series and first phase of active deployments through 2007. Source: CarbonFree weekly newsletter, 7-29-2006.
A grant opportunity exists for US Department of Energy, Commercial Demonstration of an Integrated Biorefinery System for Production of Liquid Transportation Biofuels, Biobased Chemicals, Substitutes for Petroleum-based Feedstocks and Products, and Biomass-based Heat/Power Modification 6. The synopsis is available at Grants.gov.
Southern California Edison requests proposals from sellers of electric energy, capacity attributes, environmental attributes, and resource adequacy benefits produced by generating facilities that qualify as Eligible Renewable Energy Resources. Notice of Intent to bid due 8/18/06, final proposals due 9/22/06. For more info, contact RenewableProposals@SCE.com. Source: Green Power Network, 7/19/2006.
San Diego Gas & Electric Company requests offers from eligible renewable energy generators. SDG&E’s goal is to achieve an overall resource portfolio comprising of 20 percent renewable energy by the year 2010. Registration due 8/30/06, final offers due 9/1/06. Source: Green Power Network, 7/24/06.
The Defense Energy Support Center is soliciting offers for 155,000,000 kWh of Renewable Energy Certificates for NASA Johnson Space Center and Dyess Air Force Base. For more info, contact Leslie Simpson. Refer to Sol# SP0600-06-R-0412. Source: Green Power Network, 7/24/06.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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