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San Francisco, CA (October 15, 2003) — The Marketers' Marketers Group will meet in person on Nov. 5, 2003 in Chicago, IL. The group originated in September 2001, and is an independent assembly of communications, marketing and sales professionals of green power providers and utilities offering green options throughout the US and Canada.
The topic of the Nov. 5 meeting will be Maximizing Market Research with guest speakers from Roper ASW and Natural Marketing Institute. For details, please see attached agenda. The MMG provides an outlet for renewable energy marketers to learn new tools, strategies and best practices for marketing green power products to target audiences. Through regular conference calls, on-line communication, and use of the MMG website, members collaborate to relate and review experiences in marketing renewable energy products.
To join, please complete the attached registration form by Nov. 1, 2003. For more information, contact Kassie Rohrbach, kassie@resource-solutions.org or call 415.561.2100. CRS encourages the top marketing staff and program managers of green power providers who are interested in exchanging input, questions and concerns on contemporary marketing issues relative to green power, to visit the website http://www.resource-solutions.org/MMG.htm for more information.
To date, the group's discussion topics have included: effective direct mail campaigns, barriers to green power marketing and how to overcome them, effective language to describe renewables, partnering with NGOs for effective green power outreach, and national awareness campaigns. The group is inviting new members to join for the next conference call, scheduled for Sept. 10.
The Center for Resource Solutions makes it easier for people and organizations to use renewable energy. We design and operate national and international programs that support the increased supply and use of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and low-impact hydroelectric power. For more information on CRS, visit www.resource-solutions.org . Source: Center for Resource Solutions, 10/15/2003.
British government will launch a program this month to certify green power. Regulations have been tabled in Parliament to take effect on October 27, to implement the scheme required under the EU Renewables Directive. The Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin certification system will promote renewable energy by allowing renewable energy producers to certify that their power comes from a green energy source.
The program is open to all producers of green power, and will encourage development of renewable energy projects by assuring buyers of the power that it is low-emission and renewable. As a continent-wide scheme, it will extend the credibility of British generators when operating in other markets in the EU. REGO is required under Article 5 of the EU Renewables Directive, which requires member states to establish a mechanism to issue producers of eligible renewable sourced electricity with Guarantees of Origin. The Department of Trade & Industry consulted on this issue in March 2003.
When the regulations come into force on Oct. 27, producers of green power will be able to request electronic certificates from the energy regulator, Ofgem. The system will complement the existing Renewable Obligation Certificates which are available only to generators that produce at least 0.5 MWh per month from specified renewables. REGOs will be issued in units of 1 kWh, and the government also proposes to relax the qualifying conditions for ROCs. Source: Refocus Weekly - renewables update - issue 66, 10/16/2003.
Consumer-owned utility Walton Electric Membership Corporation recently announced that Green Power EMC, a partnership of 16 Georgia electric membership cooperatives, has delivered the state's "first electricity from renewable sources." According to Walton EMC, the electricity was generated from gas harvested at Green Power EMC's landfill site in Taylor County, GA. "Through the entire project, nine megawatts of energy is to be distributed annually," said Green Power EMC president Michael Whiteside.
"This amount can meet the energy needs of 5,600 homes. It also has the same environmental benefit as taking 84,000 cars off the road; planting 114,000 acres of forest; reducing the use of 1,890 railroad cars of coal; or eliminating 900,000 barrels of oil each year." Contact: Green Power EMC, website http://www.greenpoweremc.com. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 10/1/2003.
The City of Palo Alto Utilities, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency, recently announced that U.S. defense and aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin will participate in the utility's clean renewable energy program PaloAltoGreen.
According to CPAU, Lockheed Martin will purchase "10 percent of its Palo Alto facilities' power requirements, or 100 percent of the output of one large-scale wind turbine, on an annual basis." CPAU said the contractor's renewable power commitment of 1,800 megawatt hours per year — "the largest clean power commitment yet" to the PaloAltoGreen program — is expected to provide environmental savings through "preventing the release of 1,129 tons of carbon dioxide."
In addition to Lockheed Martin's participation in PaloAltoGreen, CPAU announced it has set a goal to have the top renewable energy program in the nation. CPAU said it plans to enroll 10 percent of the community in PaloAltoGreen within one year, a level of enrollment that officials said "no current utility renewable energy program has achieved." Since its launch in June, CPAU said the program has enrolled approximately 1,100 participants, or nearly four percent of residential and business customers.
"Palo Alto's national reputation as an environmentally conscious community is strengthened by the great initial response we've had to this program," said city of Palo Alto mayor Dena Mossar. "Having the [top] renewable energy program in the nation will require a commitment from residents and businesses, but it's a commitment with a payoff that's priceless -- a sustainable, clean future." Contact: Linda Clerkson, CPAU, phone 650-329-2656. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 9/30/2003.
NorthWestern Energy June 25 announced that its Montana electricity customers now have the opportunity to support the development of renewable energy through its new E+ Green power product. E+ Green offers customers the option, for a monthly fee, to purchase the environmental benefits associated with wind and solar generation .
NorthWestern Energy announced the new program to the public at the Wheat Montana Bakery and Deli in Three Forks. Wheat Montana is the first customer to sign up for E+ Green. Wheat Montana has committed to purchase 65 blocks of E+ Green each month, which is equivalent to about 105 of the bakery's overall electricity needs.
E+ Green allows customers to purchase a 100 kilowatt-hour "block" of environmental benefits for $2 per month. Customers may purchase as many blocks as they want and the additional charges are added to their monthly NorthWestern Energy electric billing statement.
ording to our surveys, approximately 30% of our customers have indicated they would be willing to pay a little more in their monthly electric bill to support renewable energy," said Pat Corcoran, NorthWestern's vice president of regulatory affairs.
The E+ Green program is made possible by the company's purchase of certified "tags" or tradable renewable energy credits from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Tags are assigned for each megawatt-hour of electricity generated from renewable projects in the region. These tags are sold separately from the electricity making it possible for other to support renewable energy generation and the development of more renewable resource projects. Call North Western at (888) 467-2667. Source: Solar & Renewable Energy Outlook, August 8, 2003.
For more information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/home.shtml
On October 7, 26 technical experts met at AWEA's invitation to develop a wind industry-sponsored "National Grid Code," a set of performance specifications that will define "good utility practice" for interconnection and operation of wind turbines in the United States. The initiative was authorized at the September 17 meeting of the AWEA Board of Directors.
According to AWEA Policy Director Jim Caldwell, who organized the new initiative and will be coordinating it, good utility practice for fossil and nuclear-fueled large central generators has developed over the past seventy years as central generation technology and transmission technology evolved together. Wind generation, Caldwell said, is different, with many relatively small induction-based generators fueled by variable natural forces as compared to single large synchronous generators whose fuel input is controlled. Caldwell said recent experience in many parts of the world with wind generation has given engineers confidence that integration of large quantities of wind while maintaining traditional levels of reliability is practical and cost effective, but the engineering practices have yet to be reduced to a commonly understood grid code.
According to Caldwell, the process that the industry group will follow is:
Caldwell commented, "The wind industry has reached a state of maturity and a level of growth where it must recognize its own responsibility to establish a code of best engineering practice and communicate this body of knowledge to the utility industry as a whole. Establishing a national grid code will give manufacturers a set of performance standards to design equipment, and provide project developers and transmission operators a common set of standards to ensure safe, cost effective, and reliable installations." Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 10/10/2003.
On Oct. 7, NEG Micon announced that it is erecting the largest wind turbine in Denmark at the country's Risø National Laboratory's test site at Høvsøre. The turbine, called the NM110, is a prototype of NEG Micon's new 4.2-MW offshore turbine featuring pitch regulated variable speed. The turbine will have a 110-meter rotor diameter.
"Offshore wind farms are typically large-scale projects exceeding 100 MW. High generator capacity is therefore just one of several essential properties when considering offshore turbines of the future. The fewer the number of turbines erected at a wind farm, the lower the costs for foundations and installations. The overall economy of the offshore project will be improved, and the cost per produced kWh will thus be reduced in the course of the lifetime of the project," said Ole Gunneskov, NEG Micon's development director. After October 10, photos of the installation will be available at the NEG Micon Web site at http://www.neg-micon.com . Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 10/10/2003.
Wellington, NZ-based geothermal energy generator Contact Energy, Ltd. recently announced a new investment to increase electricity generation at its Wairakei power station "using the same amount of geothermal energy as at present."
According to the company, the upgraded plant is expected to utilize a new technology designed to "recycle geothermal heat through a second generating system, thereby making even greater use than at present of the Wairakei resource to meet national electricity needs."
"The new binary plant will make more efficient use of the geothermal energy resource and provide an additional 14.4 megawatts of new generating capacity to the national electricity system," said Contact Energy CEO Steve Barrett. "The binary plant will increase the efficiency of the Wairakei geothermal plant by nearly 10 percent and generate an additional 120 gigawatt hours per year -- enough to run about 15,000 homes."
Contact Energy, which has contracted international energy technology provider ORMAT to design and construct the binary plant at a cost of $40 million New Zealand (about $23.8 million U.S.), said construction for the upgrade is scheduled to begin early next year. Contact: Contact Energy, website http://www.mycontact.co.nz . Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 10/9/2003.
Johnson & Johnson, an icon of American corporate culture, is showing a growing interest in a technology once associated with backwoods cabins and pocket calculators. Like a number of other large companies, Johnson & Johnson has begun to generate its own power from the sun.
Solar power has evolved from being an expensive, pie-in-the-sky technology to one that is finally beginning to make business sense. Recent electricity shortages in California, the continuing gyrations in energy prices over all, and new state and federal incentives are among the reasons for companies' efforts to start or expand their use of the technology.
On a blustery fall afternoon, the solar installation on the roof of the United States headquarters of Johnson & Johnson's Janssen Pharmaceutica Products unit in Titusville, N.J., is producing 245 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power 245 homes. At their peak, the 2,850 solar panels can produce about 500 kilowatts of energy, making this one of the largest solar installations on the East Coast. The system provides about 10 percent of Janssen's annual electricity needs. While Johnson & Johnson has corporate policies that support the use of green power, a large part of the decision to install the system, as well as three others on its buildings in New Jersey and California, was economic.
Solar power accounts for only three-hundredths of 1 percent of all electricity generated globally, said Lisa Frantzis, director of renewable and distributed energy at Navigant Consulting in Chicago. Yet sales of equipment are growing quickly. Since the 1990's, the market for products that capture electricity from the sun has grown about 20 percent a year, In the last three years, the growth has accelerated to about 33 percent a year.
That impressive growth rate has lured investments from large corporations, many of which are better known for electronics or even pumping oil. Sharp is the world's largest provider of solar products, followed by the the BP Solar unit of BP; Kyocera; the Shell Solar unit of Royal Dutch/Shell; and Sanyo.
But solar power remains a small part of the balance sheet for many of these companies. BP Solar had $300 million in revenue in 2002, compared with BP's total of $178.7 billion. Nonetheless, Steve Westwell, president and chief executive of BP Solar, said he wants to be ready when solar power takes off. "The solar market is showing dramatic growth, which any corporation should be excited about," Mr. Westwell said. "It is increasingly looking like the right thing to do."
Solar energy has also been lucrative for smaller companies. The PowerLight Corporation, a company in Berkeley, Calif., with 100 employees, has made Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America for four consecutive years. The company says its annual revenue has grown to $28 million from $800,000 in the five years through 2002.
UNLIKE other renewable power sources, solar panels provide the most electricity in the middle of the day, when demand is greatest. At such peak times, utilities charge businesses a premium for electricity, helping to make solar that much more attractive. That was a significant factor in the decision by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. to install solar panels on a 635,000-square-foot building in Torrance, Calif., said Sanford Smith, Toyota's corporate manager for real estate and facilities.
"Solar power allows you to stabilize your power purchasing so you won't be buying peak power produced during the middle of the day," Mr. Smith said. The system provides 20 percent of the building's electricity. Toyota is evaluating the project and is likely to expand its use of solar energy, he said.
Even though solar power is on a growth curve in the United States, the technology is spreading even faster in Japan and Germany. In Japan, higher prices for other types of energy have bolstered the popularity of solar power. There are fewer than 5,000 grid-connected solar setups in the United States, compared with 40,000 systems in Japan, most of them residential, said Glenn Hamer, executive director of the Solar Energy Industries Association in Washington.
Other countries are also quickly developing uses for solar technology, Ms. Frantzis said. In 1999, the United States accounted for 17 percent of the global solar market. Last year, it accounted for only 13 percent. Nonetheless, Ms. Frantzis is optimistic about solar power's future, even in the United States. "People see that eventually it is going to get there," she said. "Right now it is not so far off." Source: Jim Rendon, NY Times, 10/12/2003, via Solar e-Clips, 10/14/2003
The Renewable Fuels Association today congratulated the more than 700 farmer-owners of Mid-Missouri Energy for beginning construction on their ethanol plant near Malta Bend, Nebraska. "We congratulate the farmer-owners of Mid-Missouri Energy as construction begins on their ethanol plant," said Bob Dinneen, RFA president. "The state of Missouri made a commitment to expanding its ethanol production. With two ethanol plants operating and a new plant under construction, the state is reaping the economic benefits of value-added agriculture."
MME will process 15 million bushels of corn into 40 million gallons of ethanol and 120,000 tons of distillers dried grains with solubles annually. A wholly farmer-owned cooperative, MME set several national membership drive records. Ryland Utlaut, MME President, explained, "We started out as a group of farmers in a true grassroots effort and we are still that, just a whole lot more of us. We are highly honored to attract so much national attention for mid-Missouri farmers."
Fagen, Inc., the Granite Falls, Minnesota design-build contractor, is the general contractor and will incorporate a process design provided by ICM of Colwich, Kansas. Currently, 73 ethanol plants nationwide have the capacity to produce 2.9 billion gallons annually. There are 15 ethanol plants under construction. Source: RFA Release, 10/6/2003.
The Los Angeles Department of Wind and Power recently announced it is considering modifications to a proposed 120-megawatt Pine Tree Canyon wind farm in Kern County, CA in order for the project to conform with height restrictions in the area, where several military bases including Edwards Air Force Base and the Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake conduct test flights.
According to officials, the bases, LADWP and the Kern County Planning Department are currently working on height specifications for the wind farm, which is expected to feature 80 1.5-MW wind turbines. LADWP director of system planning and projects John Schumann said if the Los Angeles City Council grants final approval for the project, the wind farm is expected to begin operating in "April or May 2005." Source: Bakersfield Californian, 9/18/2003 via EIN Renewable Energy Today, 10/2/2003.
For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.repartners.org
Environmental nonprofit-industry partnerships are a growing and increasingly important strategy for improving environmental quality and reducing environmental burdens from new and existing products and services, according to a new report. Read more at: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.htm?NewsID=25734 . Source: Greenbuzz, 10/6/2003.
Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. has launched "Con Edison Kids," a creative and entertaining Web site that introduces a number of energy-related concepts to children of all ages. The Web site is part of an extensive effort to make schoolchildren in Con Edison's service area more aware of energy efficiency.
Images filled with movement, colors and sounds will take children on an unforgettable trip through Con Edison's underground electric, gas and steam systems.
In partnership with the New York City Department of Education, Con Edison customer outreach representatives demonstrated "Con Edison Kids" to more than 100 curriculum specialists who recognized the site as a potential learning tool for disciplines such as science, math, history, and language skills. You can visit the site at www.coned.com/kids. Source: Electric Light & Power, Volume 81.08, August 2003
A paper recently released by Erin T. Mansur, UC Energy Institute, entitled "Vertical Integration in Restructured Electricity Markets: Measuring Market Efficiency and Firm Conduct," demonstrates two reasons why performance is relatively competitive in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland market. First, in this market, the vertical integration of firms reduces electricity producers' interest in setting high prices: producers sell into the wholesale market and also are required to buy in the market in order to provide power to their retail customers at set rates. Second, the study accounts for production constraints that result in cost non-convexities.
When ignoring these constraints, measures of price-cost margins--which are based on a method common to the literature--imply that market imperfections during the summer following restructuring increased procurement costs 51percent ($950 million). This method further implies considerable welfare loss as actual production costs exceeded the competitive model's estimates by 12.5 percent.
This paper develops a consistent estimate of competitive production decisions and predicts that costs were only 3.4 percent above competitive levels. Using this method of estimating production, the study compares behavior of two producers that have relatively few retail customers with other firms. Consistent with these vertically integrated firms' incentives, only firms with large net selling positions in the market reduced output relative to competitive production estimates. (JEL L13 L94). Download this paper in Adobe Acrobat format: http://www.ucei.org/PDF/csemwp117.pdf . Source: CSEM WP-117, Erin T. Mansur, UC Energy Institute, 10/7/2003.
New maps reveal expanded geothermal energy potential. The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the availability of new, first-of-their-kind geothermal resource maps that show low- to moderate- and high-temperature geothermal energy resource locations in 13 Western states. These maps reveal a world of geothermal development opportunities that exist just beneath our feet.
The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, with its 30-year history of geothermal research leadership and program management, produced the maps as part of DOE's GeoPowering the West activity, supported by professional geologists and others from each of the states. These resource maps are a starting point for educating individuals, energy professionals, economic development associations and businesses about locating, developing and using potential geothermal energy resources. The maps have also been consolidated into a Western United States geothermal resources regional map to provide a broader view of regional potential for power and direct-use applications.
With today's technology, public and private investors can expand on the existing use of geothermal energy to help meet increasing energy demands. Further development of the extensive domestic geothermal resources will increase the nation's energy security and diversify its portfolio of energy technologies. Geothermal working groups, established in several states including Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Washington, have used these maps to generate interest and initiate actions to develop their respective geothermal resources.
Geothermal power plants in use are among the cleanest sources of electrical power available and already are having an impact in some states. On the island of Hawaii, 25 percent of the electrical supply comes from geothermal energy. In northern Nevada, 10 percent of the region's electricity comes from geothermal sources, and its use is expected to increase. And in California, 6 percent of electrical supply comes from geothermal sources.
Geothermal energy also is used in Oregon, Utah and Idaho for power generation and space heating needs. Through these and other direct-use applications, geothermal energy provides about 600 megawatts of heat or roughly enough energy to heat and cool more than 400,000 homes. Presently, this energy is used for agriculture, industrial processing, recreational pools and spas, space heating and in-district heating, for example, where geothermal hot water is used to heat several greenhouses or aquaculture facilities.
Geothermal energy - or heat from the earth - is a clean, reliable and sustainable source of energy. This "heat beneath our feet" in the Western United States comes from underground reservoirs of steam and hot water, and provides electricity and heat for thousands of homes and businesses. Using Geographical Information System technology, the INEEL prepared these maps to show areas with potential for geothermal electricity production and direct use - as well as known geothermal wells and springs, existing geothermal power plants, direct-use applications and land ownership.
GIS technology, using "layers" of digitized spatial information and linking databases, provides great flexibility in manipulating and presenting this information. This improved database allows for improved data visualization and analysis. The regional geothermal resource map and the maps for each of the 13 Western states (Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming) are available on the Internet at http://geothermal.id.doe.gov/maps-software .
In addition to the information contained on the maps, even more detailed and valuable information is available through links from this Web page to other DOE Geothermal Program resources. As the lead laboratory for the DOE Geothermal Energy Program's geoscience research, the INEEL is focused on characterization and management of geothermal reservoirs. INEEL also coordinates the international geothermal program for DOE as well as both managing and performing research and development activities on many of the other major activities in DOE's Geothermal Program, including the Heat Cycle, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, and Exploration programs. Working closely with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories and others, the INEEL ensures availability of nationally recognized geothermal leadership to implement a successful national program.
The INEEL is a science-based, multi-program national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's missions in environment, energy, science and national defense. The INEEL is operated for the DOE by Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC. Source: DOE News Release via Roger Hill, Technical Director, GeoPowering the West, Sandia National Laboratories, 10/10/2003.
Several reports are available for the Energy Commission Integrated Energy Policy Report proceeding. The reports include:
These documents can be downloaded at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/energypolicy/documents/ . Source: CEC, 10/10/2003.
To help advance distributed generation, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council recently released new model rules to help guide policymakers considering net metering or interconnection
rules in their states. See the announcement, with a link to the draft rules, on the IREC Web site at: http://www.irecusa.org/articles/static/1/1062865888_987096450.html . Source: EERE Network News, 10/15/2003.
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory has launched a redesigned Web site that allows easier navigation while providing a standard "look and feel" that will be reflected throughout the site. This new look and feel is already evident in the Web site's revised sections on Biomass Research, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research, and Advanced Vehicles and Fuels Research. The site is specifically designed to showcase the latest research activities at NREL. For more information, see the site at: http://www.nrel.gov/ . Source: EERE Network News, 10/15/2003.
How much energy should we expect a new home to use? How about zero? It may sound far-fetched, but DOE's Zero Energy Homes research initiative is proving it can be done. See the initiative on the DOE Building Technologies Program Web site at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/zeroenergy/ . Source: EERE Network News, 10/15/2003.
A new report challenges business schools to better arm graduate business students with skills critical "for effective leadership in a changing world." See the report at: http://www.greenbiz.com/news/news_third.htm?NewsID=25768 . Source: Greenbuzz, 10/13/2003.
Search this online database for case studies describing what U.S. states are doing about global warming. http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports_third.htm?LinkAdvID=43122 . Source: Greenbuzz, 10/13/2003.
Coming up on October 25, 2003 at various sites across the United States, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners will administer the first exam for Solar PV Installer Certification. The NABCEP Study Guide is available for those who applied to take the exam: www.nabcep.org/nabcep/www/pages/resources/default.asp . For more information about NABCEP: www.nabcep.org. Source: Renewable Energy Alliance News, September/October 2003.
The mission of the NEED Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multi-sided energy education programs. Learn more about NEED at their web site: http://www.need.org/ . Source: Renewable Energy Alliance News, September/October 2003.
LearnOnLine, Inc. based in Camarillo, California, is launching the REEL Power (Renewable Energy Education Lab) project to help students better understand their math and science studies through direct, hands-on participation in a motivationally enhancing renewable energy project. We are targeting the 53 million, plus, K-12 students of America, including the 6.3 million K-12 students in California, to meet the "Mandated 20% of California energy from renewable energy by the year 2017". REEL Power is the first national renewable energy project where students can participate in experiments with miniature solar panels, wind turbines and fuel cells in the classroom and then share their results on the World Wide Web. See their Web site at: www.learnonline.com . Source: Renewable Energy Alliance News, September/October 2003.
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According to the (U.S.) Geothermal Energy association (GEA – Washington, DC), the U.S. House of Representatives completed action on new national energy legislation (H.R. 6) on April 11, with a vote of 247-175, sending the bill to the Senate. Besides provisions that would reform geothermal energy leasing and royalty provisions, major elements of H.R. 6 include:
At the same time, the Senate Finance and Energy committees completed work on their portions of an energy bill, which was expected to be considered on the Senate floor starting May 5. The finance committee added provisions that would expand the Section 45 Production Tax Credit to include geothermal energy. In addition to the existing Investment Tax Credit, the PTC would provide a 5-year, 1.8 cent/kilowatt-hour PTC for electricity produced by new geothermal power plants. The energy committee added provisions that would change geothermal leasing and royalty provisions, but turned back a proposed amendment that would have established a 10-percent federal Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Senate Energy Committee completed its mark up and reported out the energy bill on April 30 by a 13-10 vote. The proposal's renewable energy provisions also include:
Source: Geothermal Resources Council Bulletin Volume 32 / Number 3, May/June 2003.
The Sustainable Energy Coalition recently announced that U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) has joined the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE/EE) Caucus as its 222nd participant, "bringing membership up to a majority of the voting members of the [House]."
According to SEC, the body now includes 218 voting members representing 45 states as well as non-voting delegates from Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa, "making the RE/EE Caucus one of the largest caucuses in the U.S. Congress."
SEC noted that the House RE/EE Caucus, which was founded in 1996, is "a non-legislative, bipartisan, information-sharing clearinghouse that regularly provides its members with updates on the status and potential of the cross section of renewable energy and energy efficienct technologies." Contact: Ken Bossong, SEC, phone 202-293-2898 ext 201, website http://www.sustainableenergy.org . Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 10/9/2003.
Lawmakers overhauling U.S. energy policy were told to finish work this week on some $15 billion in tax breaks to encourage oil and gas drilling, renewable fuel use and the construction of new power plants, the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee said on Wednesday.
Chairman Pete Domenici said negotiations with the House (of Representatives) over a final, compromise version of the bill were going well and could conclude on Thursday. That would allow a formal session Monday to clear the bill for a floor vote. Domenici met the Republican leaders of the House and Senate before telling reporters that several meetings, particularly on taxes, were needed to wrap up the final disputes.
"I thought it went well but I'm not a tax guy," said Domenici, New Mexico Republican, after the meeting in Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's office in the Capitol. House Speaker Dennis Hastert was at the meeting too, as were other Republican lawmakers prominently involved with the bill. "Hope so," Domenici replied to questions about finishing the bill on Thursday, sending the bill to the floor on Monday and debating it next week.
Democrats have bitterly complained of being shut out of the bill-writing process. The entire negotiating committee has met only once and is scheduled to meet one more time to vote on the bill's final language. The broad-ranging bill would modernize the U.S. electrical distribution grid, support construction of a natural gas pipeline from Alaska, double ethanol's share of the fuel market and encourage more electricity generation.
But it has been slowed by a years-old dispute over oil and gas drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge -- a Bush administration goal -- as well as by disagreements over utilities joining regional electricity grids, tax breaks for the natural gas pipeline, and whether to ban MTBE, a gasoline additive that competes with ethanol. Iowa Republican Charles Grassley, chairman of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, told reporters on Tuesday that several things "still have to be worked out." "It's my understanding that leadership would like to have us have those worked out by this week," Grassley said. Grassley said he was "very confident" Congress would send the energy bill to President (George W.) Bush yet this year.
The energy bill would guarantee corn-derived ethanol and other renewable fuels a 5 billion-gallon (19 billion-liter) share of the fuel market by early next decade. The earmark would start at 3.1 billion gallons in 2005, Grassley said, a step up from the 2.6 billion gallons proposed in the Senate version of the bill. Source: Reuters, 10/15/2003 via Energy Central Professional Daily - 10/16/03.
The Sustainable Energy Coalition recently called upon President Bush and officials in the Department of Energy and Office of Management and Budget "to double funding for DOE's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs over the next five years."
Specifically, SEC urged the Bush administration via "a detailed series of budget proposals prepared and endorsed by 21 of its member groups" to submit a FY 05 budget request that is "at least 20 percent over FY 04 levels." The coalition further offered "recommendations for an ideal budget that envision an increase of 30 percent to 40 percent (or more) over the anticipated 2004 budget levels for these programs, many of which are facing reductions from the FY 03 levels."
SEC noted that its budget plan outlines suggested funding levels totaling $939 million for "the cross-section of DOE's energy efficiency, weatherization and state grant programs," as well as an additional $482.5 million for the agency's renewable energy programs, including $55 million for wind power technologies, $100 million for photovoltaics, $25 million for concentrated solar power, $5 million for solar heating and lighting, $100 million for biomass/biofuels, $42.5 million for geothermal, $10 million for hydropower, $25 million for distributed generation and $120 million for hydrogen. Contact: Ken Bossong, SEC, phone 202-293-2898, ext 201. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 10/1/2003.
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On March 6, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved six contracts between Nevada Power Co. and renewable energy power projects under development. The facilities will provide enough electricity in 2005 and 2006 for Nevada Power to comply with the non-solar portion of Nevada's Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard. The contracts are for the following six projects, which are expected to be online by the summer of 2005:
The PUCN voted 3-0 to approve the Nevada Power contracts for wind and geothermal power. The contracts call for Nevada Power to pay between 4.2 cents and 5.2 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity from the geothermal power plants over the next 20 years.
In addition to providing electricity at stable and reasonable rates, the new renewable energy power plants will provide economic development benefits for the state. During construction, the projects are expected to employ from 480 to 650 people. Once operational, the power plants will employ from 63 to 70 people. The power plants are expected to pay between $55.6 to $58 million in fees and various federal and state taxes.
According to a report in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, two geothermal developers have clauses in their contracts allowing them to raise prices 1 percent annually, while the remaining developer locked in its price. Wind farm developers quoted 3 to 4 cents/kWh prices with contract clauses that allow for 1 percent annul increases. "Wind power prices are now competitive with conventional fuels," said the article, "while geothermal is competitive in some situations and slightly costlier than conventional fuels in others."
Experts quoted by other new sources say they expect no decline in natural gas prices for the short-term, and escalating prices in the future as supplies tighten in Canada, Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has proposed legislation to extend a Production Tax Credit to all new and incremental renewable energy products, which would make geothermal energy even more competitive in power markets. (GEA and Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Source: Geothermal Resources Council Bulletin Volume 32 / Number 2, March/April 2003.
Mason City, IA - The Renewable Fuels Association today congratulated the roughly 500 farmer-owners of Golden Grain Energy, LLC for beginning construction on their ethanol plant near Mason City, Iowa.
"We congratulate the farmer-owners of Golden Grain Energy as construction begins on their ethanol plant," said Bob Dinneen, RFA president. "This new state-of-the-art ethanol production facility will be a rural economic engine for north-central Iowa. Iowa is certainly reaping the benefits of value-added agriculture. For the first time, with this plant ground breaking, Iowa has more gallons of ethanol production capacity in operation and under construction than any other state."
Golden Grain Energy, LLC will process 15 million bushels of corn into 40 million gallons of ethanol and 120,000 tons of distillers dried grains with solubles annually. The plant will create 32 new jobs with a $1.7 million annual payroll. Ethanol production is scheduled to begin in March of 2005.
Fagen, Inc., the Granite Falls, Minnesota design-build contractor, is the general contractor and will incorporate a process design provided by ICM of Colwich, Kansas. "We have selected an ideal site for corn supply and necessary infrastructure," said Stan Laures, Golden Grain Energy project coordinator. "The demand from the plant is expected to add 3 to 5 cents per bushel to the price of local corn. That equates to a more than $6.5 million increase in local farm income. Total plant operations will add $50 to $60 million in new economic activity for the region." Currently, 73 ethanol plants nationwide have the capacity to produce 2.9 billion gallons annually. There are 16 ethanol plants under construction. Source: RFA Release, 10/10/2003.
Governor-elect Arnold Schwartznegger included these goals on his website for developing renewable energy in California. Solve California's Electrical Energy Crisis: An unreliable energy system discourages businesses from locating or even remaining in California, resulting in lost jobs and state revenues, I will take action to prevent brownouts or blackouts, such as those experienced during the Davis Administration in California and this year on the East Coast. Almost one third of California's entire in-state generation base is over 40 years old. I will immediately lay the groundwork to expand the state's power supplies, with special emphasis on clean, renewable sources, through the following steps:
Source: Solar e-Clips, 10/14/2003.
Next day power prices firmed in typical Friday fashion today in the Western U.S. after yesterday's prices were bogged down by the usual inclusion of low-load Saturday power. Meanwhile, along with the return to a full Monday workweek load expected in the demand sector, power prices rebounded from Thursday's rut, garnering additional strength from climbing spot natural gas prices.
Natural gas sources said that spot prices on the West Coast climbed today as they trailed the almost 35-cent gains registered yesterday in NYMEX front month trading, even as PG&E California Gas Transmission declared a system-wide operational flow order on its pipeline for Saturday due to high inventories.
Nonetheless, weekend spot deals at PG&E City-Gate remained bolstered by 7 cents in front of the weekend, moving from $4.85 to $4.99, while Malin transacted from $4.57 to $4.67, climbing 11 cents. Elsewhere in the Golden State, SoCal/Topock was seen at $4.56 to $4.61, 10 cents stronger on the day.
Meanwhile, traders reported spot power prices garnering additional support from the expected increase in Monday loads, as the full weight of commercial and industrial demand returns to the grid after the weekend. While demand is expected to peak a fairly paltry 30,219 MW today, and only 27,349 MW on the low load Saturday, traders said they expected considerably higher loads come Monday.
In term of weather, little is expected to change over the weekend, with most major Western U.S. cities anticipating an increase in temperatures of just 1 or 2 degrees by Monday, as overall weather is expected to remain mild. The higher prices came even as supplies are improving in the Golden State. According to the California Independent System Operator, some 4,678 MW was offline yesterday and only 4,456 MW was non-operational today, an improvement of about 220 MW on the day.
Deals at the North Path Hub were reported at $47.75 to $50.75, up $2.75 on the low end and $4.25 on the high, while off peak power, garnering additional strength from the all-off-peak day Sunday, traded at $38.75 to $40.50. While interzonal congestion was again reported at the Miguel Imports areas of the South Path-15 line, the gap between the SP-15 and NP-15 hubs continued to dwindle today, as SP-15 continues to forfeit its transmission-related premium from earlier this week.
Traders said SP activity was being done today between $50.50 and $5425, up $2.50 on the low end and $4.25 on the high, while light deals were done around $37.75 to $39.00.
Power prices posted similar movements in surrounding areas today, as power at the Palo Verde Hub was bought and sold at $47.50 to $51.50, up $3.25 on the low end and just 50 cents on the high, while off peak power traded at $36.00 to $38.75.
Values were even stronger in the Northwest, even as forecast calls for more mild weather over the weekend and into early next week. Deals at the Mid-Columbia Hub were reported at $42.00 to $43.25, marking a gain of $3.50 on the low end and $2.00 on the high, while light deals were done at $34.50 to $38.00. At the California/Oregon Border Hub, deals were done at $44.75 to $46.50 today, up $2.75 on the low end and $3.50 on the high, while off peak power moved at $38.75 to $39.75. Source: Btu's Daily Power Report, 10/10/2003 via Energy Central Professional Daily, 10/13/03.
Southern California Edison customers soon may receive more of their energy from renewable power sources, thanks to a slew of proposals recently submitted to the company. On Aug. 29, SCE, a unit of Rosemead-based Edison International, released a request for proposals for 10-, 15-, or 20-year contracts with such energy projects, according to the company.
Thirty-seven bidders in California and neighboring states responded to the request by Oct. 3, offering a total of 45 contract proposals, according to company officials. "We're very encouraged by what we've seen so far," said Lars Bergmann, who directs SCE's renewable resource operations.
Project proposals included sources such as biomass, small hydroelectric and solar and represented about 5,000 megawatts of potential new power, according to SCE. Each megawatt equals 1 million watts. About 10 percent of the statewide demand for energy is met by renewable sources, said Steven Kelly, policy director for the Sacramento-based Independent Energy Producers Association.
Under state legislation approved last year, 20 percent of retail sales generated by investor- owned utilities -- those not owned by municipal governments -- must come from renewable energy sources by 2017. "(SCE) is moving aggressively to meet that goal," Kelly said.
The company is currently under contract with about 150 renewable contracts owned by about 70 different companies, he said. This summer, renewable energy sources accounted for as much as 23 percent of SCE's total monthly power sales, according to the company. The firm draws about 13,000 gigawatt-hours of such energy per year, more than any other state in the country except California, according to SCE. A gigawatt is equal to 1 billion watts. Shares of Edison International closed up 16 cents Wednesday to $19.70 on the New York Stock Exchange. Source: By Jamie McClintock, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Calif., 10/9/2003 via Energy Central Professional Daily, 10/13/03.
Depending upon its size, a modest wind farm south of Ainsworth would cost the Nebraska Public Power District somewhere between $23.5 million and $66.8 million to build. The NPPD board this week was presented with an analysis of the cost of three options for expanding the utility's wind resources. The analysis underscores the value of government and market incentives in lowering the cost to consumers.
Cost and reliability have been major issues that have held back the expanded use of wind power in Nebraska. Here are the costs of the options and the average impact on rates over six years:
The incentives include federal tax incentives and payments from utilities that need to boost their renewable-energy portfolio but, for whatever reason, don't want to build their own facilities. Two utilities have expressed an interest in participating in the wind farm: the Omaha Public Power District and Jacksonville, Fla., Electric Authority.
NPPD has its eyes on 11,000 acres south of Ainsworth and proposes to pay five landowners $2,500 a year per turbine in rent. The rent payments would increase by 2.5 percent a year. The largest wind farm would require 33 turbines and thus would generate about $82,500 in rent to landowners. Each turbine would take up one-half acre at most.
The utility would also pay landowners one-time fees for construction access and roads. Transmission lines would need to be upgraded, and a new substation would need to be built. If NPPD, which serves most of the state, goes for the full 50 megawatts, it would more than quadruple the amount of wind energy being generated in Nebraska, from about 14 megawatts now to about 64.
The board is scheduled to discuss the possible expansion at its November meeting. The majority of NPPD's customers surveyed recently said that they were willing to pay more, if necessary, to see the utility expand its wind power, but cost will continue to play a significant role, said Beth Boesch, NPPD spokeswoman.
"We've got other customers saying they want the lowest cost (electricity)," she said. "It's always a balancing and a judgment in terms of what resources we should generate with." If the utility decides to move forward, the wind farm could be in operation in 2005. Source: Omaha World - Herald, 10/11/2003 via Energy Central Professional Daily, 10/13/03.
For more information on marketing and research go to: http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/emaa/index.html
The Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program has issued Request For Proposals # 500 03 503. This solicitation is for PIER's Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation (EPAG) program area and solicits RFPs for Combined Heat and Power Research, Development and Demonstration Projects. For details and to download the RFP package, please go to: http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html#epag . Source: Bob Aldrich, CEC, 10/2/2003.
The U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released an RFP for Hydrogen Education Development. Se the RFP at: http://e-center.doe.gov/iips/busopor.nsf/UNID/5A3C81CBFA8B26ED85256DA0005D58F6/$file/Solicitation+-+DE-PS36-03GO93016.doc . Source: Chuck Collins, DOE, 10/2/2003.
The U.S. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released an RFP for Research, Development and Demonstration of Micro-CHP Systems for Residential Applications. See the RFP at: http://e-center.doe.gov/iips/busopor.nsf/UNID/886EF36BE821E1A285256DAD0069339F/$file/Solicitation+for+Micro-Combined+Heating+and+Power+-DE-PS36-03GO93014+-+Sep+26,+2003.doc . Source: Chuck Collins, DOE, 10/2/2003.
For more information on funding solicitations go to: http://www.repartners.org/grants.htm
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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