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Corporate Green Power Procurement
There are several strategies available to companies interested in procuring green power. In regulated states retail options such as procurement of renewable energy certificates and participation in green pricing programs are viable options for corporate customers. In deregulated states competitive markets have attracted green power marketers with custom green power products and services. There are also opportunities in several restructured regions to contract directly with green power projects in wholesale markets. For corporations interested in substantial investments in green power equity participation or actually developing projects may be viable options. The Green Power Market Development Group is continuing to explore strategies for procuring green power. We will be providing case examples and technical papers in the coming months as we continue to develop the business case for green power.
The Business Case for Green Power: When a company procures green power, it buys more than just electrons. In particular, it secures a wide variety of benefits which a company otherwise might have to pay for through contractual means or through other budgets within the corporation. Specifically, green power can offer some or all of the following benefits:
While the factors discussed above can all have a quantifiable monetary value, other potential benefits of green power appear to have monetary value that may be more difficult or impossible to quantify. These other benefits are rooted in a number of factors that can enhance a company's overall public profile and stakeholder relationships. For example, all of the companies who participate with WRI in the Green Power Group have cited a desire to be seen as corporate leaders as one of the reasons for their participation. Support of new technologies that provide broad social benefits is a time-honored way of demonstrating corporate leadership and engendering goodwill amongst a company's stakeholders. Though leadership in itself can be an important element for companies, the benefits of leadership can be manifest in the following specific ways:
The relative importance of these benefits likely will vary by technology and by company, and not all benefits will be relevant to every case. However, these benefits introduce extra dimensions to the energy procurement process, which corporate energy buyers should take into account. For more information about the Green Power Market Development Group see their web site at: http://www.thegreenpowergroup.org/aboutus.html. Source: The Green Power Market Development Group 7/18/2002.
EPA's Green Power Partnership Advances Renewable Alternatives
Is your facility currently using or purchasing renewable energy? Are you interested in installing or procuring renewable energy resources at your facility? Federal agencies have an opportunity to participate in the Green Power Partnership, a new voluntary program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the President's National Energy Policy. Federal agencies are encouraged to join the Partnership, which includes corporations, cities, universities, and two Federal partners‹EPA and DOE. The Partnership assists and promotes organizations that commit to using renewable power for a portion of their electricity needs. The Partnership's renewable power purchase requirements range from 2 to 15 percent of load depending on the purchaser's annual electricity consumption. Partners may use any combination of direct renewable power purchase, tradable renewable energy certificates, (also known as "green tags" or renewable energy credits), or on-site generation to fulfill their Partnership obligation. Once a Partner signs a Letter of Intent to join, the Partnership provides renewable power information, communications support, and public recognition. For more information, see the Green Power Partnership's web site at www.epa.gov/greenpower/ or contact Pam Bloch Mendelson, working with EPA through an interagency agreement in DOE's Denver Regional Office, at 303-275-4819. For assistance with renewable power purchases, please contact Chandra Shah at 303-384-7557 or chandra_shah@nrel.gov, or David McAndrew at 202-586-7722 or david.mcandrew@ee.doe.gov. Source: FEMP Focus June 2002.
For more information: http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/ or http://www.nwlink.com/~van/greenlnk.html
Phoenix Company to Build LA Landfill Biomass Power Plant
Companies from New York and Phoenix are planning to work together to build an electrical generating plant in Los Angeles. Environmental Strategies & Technologies International Inc. Thursday announced its plans to build the plant with Phoenix-based Alchemix Technologies. The electrical generating plant would be fueled by landfill biomass, which includes garbage, waste products and tires. Alchemix has developed a bioremediation technology, called HydroMax, which converts biomass into low-cost hydrogen, syngas or electricity. According to the proposed joint venture, ESTI will fund the project and Alchemix will build a "proof of commercial viability" plant for this process on a landfill site that has been selected in the Los Angeles basin. The initial project is expected to generate revenues of approximately $4 million to $5 million per year. The companies envision, upon success of this first plant, that future full-scale plants will be constructed for between $273 million each, generating net revenues of $250 million.
ESTI is a New York-based holding company, investing primarily in environmental technologies and corporations. Alchemix develops proprietary technologies used within the energy and industrial sectors.
For more information about Alchemix, visit the company's Web site at http://www.alchemix.net. Source: American Business Journal 7/18/2002
IBEW Commissions Advanced PV Array
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) recently announced it has commissioned Advanced Solar Products and Powerlight Corporation to install a 101-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) array at the union's local headquarters in Trenton, NJ. IBEW said the system will be the largest PV array in the state. "IBEW's deployment of solar power illustrates our organization's commitment to adopting a responsible approach to energy use," said IBEW Local 269 business manager Charles Marciante. "Solar will help us lower costs, reduce pollution and conserve natural resources." IBEW said it decided to commission the array in response to overwhelming interest among its members. The organization said the system will be designed to represent a "practical implementation of on-site renewable energy production." "IBEW is exhibiting leadership and vision in its commitment to deploying solar, and encouraging its members to learn more about this smart approach to energy generation," said Advanced Solar president Lyle Rawlings. PowerLight said it will reduce its PowerGuard solar system in the IBEW project. IBEW said it expects more of its members to deploy solar power projects in the future as electricians become more familiar with the technology. Contact: Susan DeVico, PowerLight, 415-434-8220. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 7/15/2002.
Nebraska Wind Farm Weathers Opposition
The Nebraska Power Review Board (NPRB) recently rejected a complaint by former U.S. Representative Clair Callan regarding the construction of a wind farm in Kimball, NE. Callan had asked that the board's approval of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) wind farm -- granted last December -- be rescinded because project leaders had opted to use wind turbines manufactured by now-bankrupt Enron Wind instead of Valley, NE-based Valmont. NPRB executive director Tim Texel said the plan to use turbines and towers manufactured in Denmark would not increase the cost of the $12-million project, and that the project "still meets the requirements of the board." Although Callan had described the MEAN wind farm as "an expensive gimmick" and a "multi-million dollar conversation piece," Texel said the board was satisfied by MEAN's justification for the project. Source: Omaha World Herald 6/5/2002 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 6/13/2002.
Columbia County Closer to Getting Ethanol Plant
Portland General Electric, Cascade Grain and the Port of St. Helens, Ore., are putting the final pieces together to bring an ethanol processing facility to industrially zoned land in Columbia County, near the city of Clatskanie. PGE holds a 99-year lease to approximately 852 acres of the industrial property at the Port Westward site where the new ethanol processing facility is proposed. PGE has operated its 500-megawatt natural gas-fired Beaver Generating Plant at the site since 1976, and last year added a 24-megawatt "peaking" unit in response to the region's energy crunch. PGE has worked with Cascade Grain to create a sublease agreement that would allow the ethanol plant to be sited near these existing power plants. "This is a very complex process and Cascade Grain has been great to work with," explained Ron Johnson, vice president of power supply at PGE. "Whenever there is a proposal to locate major industrial projects in close proximity, there are a number of appropriate steps that must be taken. We are pleased to emerge from that process with a green light to move forward to the next step." That next step involves obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for water outfall from the ethanol plant's operations and other proposed future operations. The issue will be reviewed in a public hearing by the end of October.
"If the Port of St. Helens can obtain the required NPDES permit for the outfall, we can move forward with our construction plans," said Charles Carlson, general manager of Cascade Grain. "Cascade Grain will provide over 50 new jobs with an annual salary and benefit package of approximately $2.5 million. Additionally, a related on-site carbon dioxide plant will add another 20 to 25 jobs to the local area."
Fagen Inc. of Granite Falls, Minn., is the designer and builder for the ethanol project. In the last five years, Fagen has developed and constructed 60 percent of the fuel ethanol industry capacity in the United States. To support the Cascade Grain project and two more proposed power plants--one from PGE and another from Westward Energy--area infrastructure upgrades will be needed. To that end, Columbia County has formed an urban renewal district and is taking the lead in obtaining local and state funding to improve roads and other services. Tax funds from the operations of the proposed developments will also help fund the improvements. Source: American Business Journal 7/18/2002.
Excellent Geothermal Product Research as Recognized Via an R&D-100 Award
Smart, high-performance Polyphenylenesulfide (PPS) Coating System, now being marketed under the trade name CurraLon®, which resists corrosion at high temperatures and can actually repair itself when damaged. It provides a reliable surface for heat exchangers and resolves a vexing operating issue for geothermal power plants. The recognition was jointly awarded to the National Renewable Energy laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Ticona Corp. and Bob Curran & Sons Corp. DOE Program Manager is Raymond LaSala. This technology is a significant advance for geothermal energy and is the result of good science and extensive fieldwork. The accomplishment is the result of teaming between DOE, the Labs, and industry a hallmark of our DOE Geothermal Energy Program.
PV Module Shipments to Top $3.7 Billion By 2006
Total shipments of photovoltaic modules reached 393.8 megawatts in 2001 and are projected to grow by an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 21% and reach 1,021.5 megawatts by 2006, according to a soon-to-be-released report by Business Communications Co. Inc. Source: The Energy Daily 7/18/2002 via Western's Newsclips 7/18/2002.
KAAPA Ethanol, LLC Begins Construction in Nebraska
KAAPA Ethanol, LLC began construction on their ethanol plant near Axtell, Nebraska earlier this month. KAAPA becomes the second ethanol plant currently under construction in Nebraska. Fagen, Inc., the Granite Falls, Minnesota design-build contractor, is spearheading the project and incorporating ICM process technology. "Fagen is pleased to have the opportunity to team with the Kearney area farmers to develop and build this state of the art fuel ethanol and feed plant," said Wayne Mitchell, Fagen, Inc. VP. "The success of KAAPA shows the determination of the farmer-owners to create value-added
opportunities while at the same time doing their part to reduce America's dependence on imported energy." The KAAPA ethanol plant will process nearly 15 million bushels of corn per year into 40 million gallons of ethanol and approximately 350,000 tons of distillers wet grains. KAAPA is expected to employ up to 32 people at the plant. "Farmers continue to drive the growth and diversity of the ethanol industry," said Bob Dinneen, RFA president. "Taken as a whole, farmer-owned ethanol plants are the single largest ethanol producer today. I congratulate KAAPA's farmer-owners on the beginning of construction for their plant. They are joining the most exciting industry in the energy business." There are currently 63 ethanol plants with a production capacity of 2.4 billion gallons per year operating in the United States and 14 plants under construction that will add more than 460 million gallons per year. Source: RFA Ethanol Report 7/16/2002.
Nordex Receives 16 New Wind Turbine Orders
Norderstedt, Germany-based international wind turbine supplier Nordex AG recently announced it has signed contracts for the delivery of 16 of its 2,500-kilowatt (kW) N80 wind turbines at a value of approximately 28 million euros (about $28.2 million). Nordex said 10 of the turbines will be constructed at the Kings Mountain wind farm near Sligo, Ireland to generate electricity for Irish utility company Airtricity. "This project is of a crucial strategic importance for us because after a large order received from Scotland in February this year, we have now also succeeded in gaining a foothold in the Irish market," said Nordex CEO Dietmar Kestner. "This marks a further milestone in our internationalization strategy." Nordex said the Kings Mountain project, which is expected to be completed during 2003, will generate a total of 85-million kW hours of clean energy per year at an average annual wind speed of 9.0 miles per second. The company said the six other turbines ordered are to be constructed for three separate wind farms in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Contact: Ralf Peters, Nordex, phone +49-0-40-50098-100. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today 7/4/2002.
For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.eren.doe.gov/repis/
Business Plan for a Clean Energy Cooperative
http://38.144.192.166/reports/2001-01-25_P300-00-008.PDF (Adobe® Acrobat® document)
Tribal Energy Coop
http://38.144.192.166/reports/2001-03-12_300-01-001.PDF (Adobe® Acrobat® document)
Avian Power Line Interaction Committee
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf,California+Energy+Commission+renewables,,www.energy.ca.gov%2Frenewables,,aol
Pier 2001 Annual Report
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf,California+Energy+Commission+renewables,,www.energy.ca.gov%2Frenewables,,aol
CEC Publications 1996 - 2002
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf,California+Energy+Commission+renewables,,www.energy.ca.gov%2Frenewables,,aol
Economic and Financial Aspects of Landfill Gas to Energy Project Development in California
http://webferret.search.com/click?wf,California+Energy+Commission+renewables,,www.energy.ca.gov%2Frenewables,,aol
For more information on Educational Resources go to: http://www.thegateway.org
Drought Parches One Third of the Nation
By the end of June, 36 percent of the contiguous United States was in severe to extreme drought, according to the National Climatic Data Center. Above normal temperatures and drier than normal conditions led to a worsening drought situation across more than one third of the United States last month, based on a common measure of drought severity, the Palmer Drought Index. The average temperature for the contiguous United States was 71.6 Fahrenheit (22.0 C) in June, 2.3 F greater than the 1895-2001 long term mean for the month, making it the fifth warmest June on record. Colorado and Nebraska had their second warmest June since statewide records began in 1895, while New Mexico and Nevada had their fifth warmest June. The above average warmth coincided with dry conditions in many areas. Fourteen states from the West Coast to the mid-Atlantic had below average precipitation totals and four states - Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska - were much drier than average. In the East, drought conditions were most severe in an area stretching from central Virginia to central Georgia. The past 12 months were the driest July through June on record for North Carolina and South Carolina, and drought has affected parts of the region for much of the past four years. Severe to extreme drought continued throughout large parts of the western United States from Arizona to Montana, affecting farming and the risk of wildfires. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 80 percent of range and pastures were classified as poor to very poor in New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado in early July, with conditions worsening during June and early July in California, Wyoming, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
The drought, combined with last winter's mild weather, has boosted populations of grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, which are now devouring crops and rangelands across the West, the "Associated Press" reports. In some areas, between 50 and 200 grasshoppers can be found in every square yard of cropland - or about one million grasshoppers per acre. Wildfires are also causing problems for western residents. By the end of June 2002, almost 2.8 million acres had burned in the United States, much of it in the west, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. This acreage is almost twice the total burned during the same period in 2000, one of the worst wildfire seasons in the past 50 years. In 2000, severe to extreme drought affected 19 percent of the nation at the end of June compared with 36 percent affected in 2002. In the Dust Bowl year of 1934, July saw severe to extreme drought covering 63 percent of the contiguous United States. Near average temperatures covered much of the south and northeast, and Maine and New Hampshire had cooler than average temperatures for the month. Source: ENS 7/19/2002.
For more information on legislative activities go to: http://thomas.loc.gov
NREL Study "Willingness to Pay Electrcity from Renewable Energy"
This study was conducted in NREL's Center for Energy Analysis and Applications. It was sponsored by the Office of Planning and Assessment and the Office of Utility Technologies, Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. See the study at: http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/willing.html
Shedding Light on the Marketability of Renewables
Electric utility strategic planners are responding to projections of dramatic change in utility regulation. Opinion leaders often sketch a future where today's utilities must become "least cost providers" or perish in imminent competition. But is price the only factor influencing electric service customers? Or does marketing in the Brave New World of competition need to learn how to creatively "unbundle" the values in electric service which consumers will pay for? Can a variety of electric service products be offered to targeted customer niches, fulfilling customer needs while generating additional revenues? One aspect of electric service which has received much attention is the environmental impacts of electric generation. Surveys suggest that many electric service customers are willing to pay price premiums for electricity generated using environmentally friendly sources. Results from green consumer product marketing and public opinion polling have lead many to expect that a majority of electricity customers would pay premiums for renewable generation, and that large scale changes in electric production favoring renewable generation could be funded by voluntary donations.1 This article reviews some of these opinion surveys and more focused Green Pricing program introductions and market simulations. These results provide valuable casebook materials in the promise and pitfalls of unbundling electric service values. They demonstrate that niche markets for specialized packaging of electric service products (including renewable electric generation) do exist. However, accurately projecting their size and revenue potential takes more than telephone surveys or conjoint analysis. Accurate estimation of renewable consumer niche markets requires market simulations, where researchers not only ask how much people are willing to pay, but also arrange to collect payment. Results also suggest that these findings generalize from environmental niche markets to consumer valuations of reliability, service quality and other unbundled elements of electric service. See full report at: http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/maribeth.html
DOE Lab Gets $5 Million for Nuclear Research
As part of the Bush Administration's goal of seeing a new nuclear reactor by 2010, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory will receive $5 million from the Department of Energy. The DOE has also picked Dominion Resources and Exelon Corp. for a $17 million cost-sharing project to demonstrate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission early site permit process at three existing reactor sites. Source: Dow Jones, July 16, 2002.
For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/emaa/index.html
DEP Receives DOE Funding, Launches Wind Map
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced it has received a $48,000 grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) to support three new state wind energy projects. DEP said it join with the Clean Air Council's Energy Team on the initiatives. According to DEP, the group's main wind energy project is the second Mid-Atlantic Wind Powering America Workshop. The department said other projects include small wind energy outreach and facilitation in communities of color, and the production of information modules on wind energy to complement other "green" building incentive efforts. DEP also recently announced the launch of Pennsylvania's first interactive wind map to provide landowners, municipalities and private developers with free validated wind information. The map can be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://www.pawindmap.org. DEP said the map, which was developed with the assistance of Conservation Consultants International and TrueWind Solutions, will help property owners determine whether wind energy generation would be commercially viable on their land. Since evaluating existing wind resources is a recommended first step for choosing a wind farm site, the department said the map can serve as a "useful screening tool for those interested in erecting wind turbines." Among the map's interactive features are county lines, highways and towns to help visitors locate sites and view data in context. DEP said the website also includes links to other websites focused on wind energy. Contact: Kerry Campbell, DEP, phone 717-772-5985, e-mail kcampbell@state.pa.us. Source: DEP Update 7/12/2002 via EIN Renewable Energy Today 7/18/2002.
DOE funds 14 Native American Tribes To Develop Renewable Energy
Residing in the upper peninsula of Michigan, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians is well removed from civilization. The Tribe struggles to meet its energy needs as it stretches across a vast area of the Upper Great Lakes and into Canada. Existing electricity is expensive, considering the annual income per capita is $7,106 per year. With strong wind resources though, the Chippewa might find themselves in a good position to benefit from the use of clean energy alternatives. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced today $3 million in grants to 14 Native Americans tribes, including the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, to advance the development of renewable energy technologies on tribal lands. Fourteen out of 37 proposals were selected for funding this year. "The U.S. Department of Energy's Tribal Energy Program is committed to helping our Native American Tribes develop clean, affordable and reliable energy options," Abraham said. "These projects will encourage tribal self-sufficiency, increase employment and promote economic development." The Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians plans to conduct a study to determine whether or not resources are adequate to develop wind power on the reservation. Other projects to receive DOE funding include:
| Technology (Type) | Native American Tribe and Location | Funding Amount | Cost Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development of a substation to allow marketing excess power from biomass | Colville Confederated Tribes (North Central Washington) |
$581,700 | $124,000 |
| Development of a wind/photovoltaic and propane generator hybrid system | Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians (Anza, Calif.) |
$270,736 | $321,500 |
| Wind, solar and biomass study | Northern Cheyenne Nation, Inc. (Lame Deer, Mont.) |
$230,000 | $68,400 |
| Wind power generation study | Sault Ste. Marie Tribe (Michigan, upper peninsula) |
$157,944 | $148,861 |
| Biomass (poultry litter and/or wood residue) generation study | Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (Choctaw, Miss.) |
$127,990 | $0 |
| Wind power generation study | Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (Central Oregon) |
$463,796 | $60,561 |
| Geothermal study | Pueblo of Jemez (North Central New Mexico.) |
$173,086 | $0 |
| Wind, solar (photovoltaic and hot water) and building energy efficiency study | Oneida Tribe of Indians (near Green Bay, Wis.) |
$300,000 | $74,585 |
| Phase 1 renewable energy study | Confederated Tribe-Umatilla Indian Reservation (Pendleton, Ore.) |
$172,417 | $0 |
| Wind and biomass study | Kaw Nation of Oklahoma (Kaw City, Okla.) |
$184,649 | $76,157 |
| Wind power generation study to offset high cost diesel generated power | Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (Bethel, Alaska) | $68,490 | $0 |
| Biomass cogeneration study | White Mountain Apache Tribe (Tucson, Ariz.) |
$28,007 | $0 |
| Wind, micro-hydroelectric and solar study | Makah Tribe Council (Neah Bay, Wash.) |
$112,935 | $0 |
| Wind study | Manzanita Band of Mission Indians (San Diego County California) |
$119,244 | $12,605 |
Source: E-mail from Curtis Framel, U.S. DOE 7/18/2002.
FY 2002 State Energy Program Special Projects Awards
Energy Secretary Abraham announced that DOE will provide $12,608,524 to 47 states and three territories for 138 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through State Energy Program Special Projects FY 2002 competitive grants. Four projects totaling $312,812 were awarded to study the costs and benefits of geothermal power in the Western United States, provide the public with information about geothermal energy, and inform community leaders of the geothermal energy potential in their area. Projects are located in Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, and Utah. More details are available from the SEP website.. Source: GeothermalBiz.com 7/18/2002.
Promoting Direct Use Development of Utah's Geothermal Resources
SEP awarded Utah $87,812 to encourage further development of Utah's geothermal resources by providing readily available information and increasing the awareness of commercial opportunities. The three components to this FY 2002 project are:
For more information, email Denise Beaudoin, Utah Energy Office. Source: GeothermalBiz.com 7/18/2002.
The California Power Authority's new program "PUblic Leadership Solutions for Energy (PULSE)"
The California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority (the "Power Authority") announces PULSE, its new public agency loan fund to achieve a clean and affordable energy future. These funds can help public agencies secure financing to manage energy needs and costs by providing longer term loans to a broader range of eligible technologies, while supporting transactions larger than those served by existing programs. Along with attractive financing, this fund will promote cost-effective energy efficiency and clean on-site power generation. Projects of this type can offset the need for two or more new power plants a savings in excess of 600 megawatts. "We invite public leaders across California to take advantage of PULSE," said Chairman of the Board S.David Freeman. "The State wants to ensure sufficient funding options are available to local government and other public agencies to implement energy efficiency and on-site clean power generation measures."
This fund helps local government leaders to: deliver conservation and clean energy solutions to their communities; cut energy bills with cost-effective paybacks on energy improvements; and, simultaneously implement local control of energy choices and spending. The lending features of the program are the strongest of its kind.
The financial team includes: Bond Underwriter: Goldman, Sachs & Co., Financial Advisor: Public Financial Management, Inc., Bond Counsel: Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP. The California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority was created by the State Legislature in August 2001 to help ensure reliable and affordable power for California, including financing energy efficiency and renewable energy for energy users. Our recent Energy Resource Investment Plan targets up to $1.5 billion for public buildings. For details, interested state and local governmental agencies can access more information at the Power Authority's website http://www.capowerauthority.ca.gov/financing/PULSE.htm. Source: E-mail from Dennis Fukumoto 7/18/2002.
GeoPowering the West Partner Awarded DOE Grant
The State of New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has been awarded a grant through DOE's State Energy Program. Working with Jim Witcher of the New Mexico State University, one of the GeoPowering the West partners, $50,000 will go to support the establishment of a New Mexico Geothermal Clearinghouse. Information produced will include specific information on New Mexico's geothermal resource base, low-temperature reservoir management for the direct-use operator, and the steps required to lease and permit various aspects of geothermal development. Doug Glaspey, President of U. S. Geothermal, met with DOE Idaho and with Joel Renner, INEEL, to discuss pending development of the Raft River geothermal field. U. S. Geothermal is currently reviewing reservoir data collected at the field during the late 70s and early 80s when a small binary plant was operated at the site by INEEL. They plan to conduct flow tests on several wells in late summer or early fall and hope to have a 5-10 megawatt binary plant on line in two years. INEEL has provided U. S. Geothermal all available information concerning the wells, flow tests of the wells and reservoir measurements made during the operation of the field. Interest in geothermal development in Idaho has been buoyed by changes to PURPA regulations by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. The commission has proposed an avoided cost of somewhat more than 8 cents per kilowatt-hour and is considering raising the upper limit of power production to 10 or more megawatts. Contacts: Roger Hill, SNL, 505-844-6111, rrhill@sandia.gov; Robert Neilson; INEEL; 208-526-8274, rmn@inel.gov; Barbara Farhar, NREL, 303-384-7376, barbara_farhar@nrel.gov; and G. Nix, NREL,303-384-7566. gerald_nix@nrel.gov. Source: E-mail from Gerald Nix, NREL, 7/16/2002.
For more information on funding solicitations go to: http://www.eren.doe.gov/solicitations.html
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