Dear friends,
Im ado from Indonesia.
I need detail information about wind energy for generating
electricity applicable for rural.
Especially which can be built from waste/recycle goods.
Because this gonna be used in a very poor isolated village.
Also great if there are information about institution which can grant
us ready to assembled wind electricity generator machine.
Thanks.
Ado
Jl.Damai 12 rt.13/09
Jakarta 13810
Indonesia
+6221-8407543
My dear Aki
I’m a little pessimistic because I believe that there is no clean energy.
All forms of energy give us, in some way, rubbish.
Them, it is necessary to take in consideration the rubbish that any form energy
produce. But in our society you buy the cheapest energy and do not care about
the long term consequences.
By other way all the societies are competing in a free market (or near free
market) them there is a strong need of inexpensives forms of energy.
To reduce pollution we need to give a “economic cost” to the pollution generated
by all the society, in that way we will find a cleaner world.
Nuclear Energy is a form of energy that have made a big evolution. From better
control, to improved waste management. But there is difficult to accept the time
that is needed to keep the waste under surveillance (few centuries).
In September last year I was one day in Nagasaki city in Japan. I visited a
museum about the Portuguese presence in Japan in the XVI and XVII centuries. In
the museum’s main door was written: “Love is stronger than dead” I believe in
that!
My Best Regards
Manuel
In Lisbon
~--------------------------------------
Manuel Peres Alonso
Lisboa, Portugal
http://geocities.com/mapeal2/manuel.jpg
~--------------------------------------
Dear ado from Indonesia
Many Thanks to join this e-mail discussion group.
About wind energy in Indonesia I found many www pages. Few Examples:
http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byGeo/byC/Indonesia/Indonesia.shtmlhttp://www.aseanenergy.org/pressea/indonesia/wind/background.htm
www.rsvp.nrel.gov/Listserv/1995/0023.html
www.ace.or.id/pressea/indonesia/wind/prospects.htm
> Date: Thu, 03 Jan 2002 03:42:31 -0000
> From: "listmanager_2" <listmanager_2@...>
>Subject: Wind Energy for poor country
>
>Dear friends,
>
>Im ado from Indonesia.
>I need detail information about wind energy for generating
>electricity applicable for rural.
>Especially which can be built from waste/recycle goods.
>Because this gonna be used in a very poor isolated village.
Must be very difficult to make a "fair" wind turbine with waste/recycled goods.
I have no idea how life is in Indonesia. But I remember that there are many
variable cost related to the installation and maintenance of wind energy. The
propeller machine itself is only maybe 30% of the total cost.
>Also great if there are information about institution which can grant
>us ready to assembled wind electricity generator machine.
Maybe this helps:
Tom Gray (tgray@...), Wed, 14 Jun 1995 07:32:09 -0700
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----------------------------------------------------------
Posted to the Renewables for Sustainable Village Power List
By: Tom Gray <tgray@...>
----------------------------------------------------------
[From Wind Energy Weekly #621, 7 November 1994]
USAID, WINROCK EXAMINE WIND
POTENTIAL FOR INDONESIA
The U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) is working
with Winrock International on the "Windpower for Island and Non-
governmental Development" (WIND) project to stimulate wind energy
use in Indonesia, according to Winrock's Todd Bartholf.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is also deeply
involved, said NREL's Dennis Elliott, who is helping to investigate
the resource potential of various sites in the island archipelago.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Regards
Manuel
I am a Japanese student. My name is Kazuyoshi Yokoyama.
I thought about the environmental problem recently.I considered
destruction of an ozone layer.Chlorofluocarbon is destroying the
ozone layer.Chlorofluocarbon is used for the detergent, the coolant,
the foaming agent, and the injection agent.The chlorine contained in
chlorofluocarbon destroys an ozone layer.The chlorofluocarbon which
does not contain chlorine does not destroy an ozone layer.This is
called chlorofluorocarbon-replacing material and, recently, this is
used.An ozone layer intercepts an ultraviolet ray. but if an ozone
layer becomes thin, it through-comes to be easy of an ultraviolet
ray.The ultraviolet ray is detrimental for almost all the living
things on the earth.Since an ultraviolet ray has a possibility of
causing the increase in a skin cancer or a cataract, the problem is
serious.
Here is website for solar, wind, and alternative energy links
go to http://www.altenergy.org/
This is a good web site and there are links to what interests you.
Have fun.
Patrick M
Hello
> Date: Sun, 06 Jan 2002 12:16:25 -0000
> From: "nurakuzawa" <nurakuzawa@...>
>Subject: Hello
>
>I'm a university student.
>I have homework but university begins tomorrow.
>Please tell me several things.
several things!
:))
was a joke! lof ;-)
In Portugal the University restarted the 3 of January, precisely in the middle
of the week :((
but a large number of students remain in home, of course
only today, Monday 7, the University was full of people.
In the beginning of each year we celebrate the new year singing few songs that
we can "January songs" (or "Janeiras" in Portuguese).
Every day his longer now.
Here (in the most western country of Europe) it's very cold (10 ºC) but in the
east side of Europe there are people dying by cold and cities isolated by the
snow.
Regards
Manuel Alonso
in Lisbon
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- January 9, 2001
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
New Large U.S. Wind Power Plants Go Online at Year End
Large Wind Power Plants Planned for Nebraska, West Virginia
GM Unveils "AUTOnomy," a Fuel-Cell-Powered Concept Vehicle
Nevada Renewable Energy Proposals Total 4,300 Megawatts
New Solar Electric Systems Indicate a Growing U.S. Market
*Site News
Fuel Cell Today
*Energy Facts and Tips
Future U.S. Energy Use Depends on Efficiency, Renewables
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New Large U.S. Wind Power Plants Go Online at Year End
A flurry of wind power plants went online in December
throughout the United States, significantly boosting the total
U.S. wind power capacity. The new wind power plants
include the 30-megawatt Fenner Windpower Project near
Syracuse, New York; the 80-megawatt Top of Iowa Wind
Farm in Worth County, Iowa; the 263-megawatt Stateline
Clean Energy Center near Walla Walla, Washington; and the
278-megawatt King Mountain Clean Energy Center near
Odessa, Texas.
FPL Energy, LLC developed the two largest facilities, in
Washington and Texas. See the company's press release at:
<http://www.fplenergy.com/newsreleases/2002/02001.html>.
For information about the Fenner Windpower Project in
New York, see the CHI Energy, Inc. Web site at:
<http://www.chienergy.com/fenner.html>.
The end-of-the-year rush to bring new wind plants online is
far from coincidental: wind plants that beat the year-end
deadline will qualify for a tax credit of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour
of electricity produced for their first ten years of operation.
The production tax credit is adjusted for inflation, and now
stands at 1.7 cents per year. But the tax credit expired at
year end, and a two-year extension of the credit has thus far
failed to make it through Congress. For more information,
see the American Wind Energy Association Web site at:
<http://www.awea.org/news/news011221ptc.html>.
Large Wind Power Plants Planned for Nebraska, West Virginia
Although the fate of the production tax credit remains in
doubt, wind plant developers are pushing ahead with plans
to develop large wind facilities in Nebraska and West Virginia.
In Nebraska, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska
(MEAN) intends to install a 30-megawatt wind facility in
Kimball County, located near the Colorado and Wyoming
borders. MEAN received approval to build the wind plant
from the Nebraska Power Review Board in late December.
See the MEAN press release at:
<http://www.nmppenergy.org/prb_windfarm.htm>.
In West Virginia, a 65-megawatt wind facility is being
developed in Tucker County, near the western border of
Maryland. Backbone Mountain Windpower LLC plans to
complete the project by December 2002. The company
announced in late December its signing of a 20-year
agreement for Exelon Power Team to purchase the power
from the wind plant. See the press release on the Exelon
Web site at:
<http://www.exeloncorp.com/newsroom/news-gen-20011228_1.html>.
The Backbone Mountain Wind Project may be dwarfed by a
wind facility planned just east of there, in Grant County,
West Virginia. US Wind Force, LLC plans to build a wind
plant with a capacity of 150 to 250 megawatts over a
20-square-mile area near the town of Mt. Storm. The West
Virginia Public Service Commission is currently considering
a permit for the project. See the US Wind Force Web site at:
<http://www.uswindforce.com/default.asp?pg=projects&pg2=mtstorm>.
While some choose to build, others choose to buy: American
Electric Power bought the 160-megawatt Indian Mesa Wind
Power Project from Enron Wind Corporation in late
December. See the Enron Wind press release at:
<http://www.enronwind.com/newsroom/pressrel/123101.html>.
Enron Wind, by the way, has thus far been unaffected by the
financial problems of its parent company, Enron Corporation,
which has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization. Enron Wind is
not listed in the Chapter 11 filings, although Enron has
announced its intentions to sell its "non-core" businesses.
See the Enron Web site at: <http://www.enron.com/corp/pressroom/>.
GM Unveils "AUTOnomy," a Fuel-Cell-Powered Concept Vehicle
General Motors Corporation (GM) took the wraps off its
latest fuel-cell-powered concept car -- the AUTOnomy -- on
Monday. GM's innovative approach starts by placing all the
drive elements -- including the hydrogen storage and the fuel
cell -- into a six-inch thick base with four wheels that looks
somewhat like a giant skateboard. Electric motors drive each
of the wheels independently and allow the driver to steer the
car. All-electronic "drive by wire" technology is used to
accelerate, steer, and stop the car, so the only moving parts
other than the video-game-like steering wheel are the
wheels, motors, and suspension. This approach allows GM
to mount a variety of bodies onto the skateboard chassis
using simple electrical and mechanical connectors. GM also
intends for the car to serve as a power source, providing
power to a building or to the power grid while it is parked.
GM has filed 24 patent applications based on the
AUTOnomy concept, as well as more than 300 for its fuel
cell technologies. The company hopes someday to achieve
cost savings through mass-production of the skateboard
chassis. Although the concept vehicle appears to be in its
early stages, GM intends to produce a drivable version by
the end of this year. See the January 7th press releases on
the GM Web site at: <http://www.gm.com/cgi-bin/pr_index.pl>.
To see actual video and photos of the vehicle, see the
January 7th GM press conference at:
<http://www.gm.com/company/gm_exp_live/events/NAIAS2002/index.html>.
GM unveiled the AUTOnomy at the 2002 North American
International Auto Show (NAIAS), now underway in Detroit.
The show opens to the public on Saturday. See the NAIAS
Web site at: <http://www.naias.com/>.
GM isn't the only company making fuel cell advances --
DaimlerChrysler recently rolled out its "Natrium" minivan,
based on the Chrysler Town and Country. The vehicle
generates hydrogen for its fuel cell from a solution of sodium
borohydride, which is derived from sodium borate, commonly
known as borax. Passed through a catalyst chamber, the
sodium borohydride releases a stream of pure hydrogen for
the fuel cell, producing borax as a byproduct. See the
December 12th press release from Millennium Cell Inc.,
which produces the sodium borohydride system, at:
<http://www.millenniumcell.com/cgi-bin/news.pl>.
But Ford Motor Company may be the only U.S. car company
using a fuel cell commercially -- not in its cars, but in the
North American headquarters building for its Premier
Automotive Group. Ford has installed a 200-kilowatt UTC
fuel cell in the 300,000-square-foot building, providing
25 percent of the building's power while also heating the
building's water. See the press release from UTC Fuel Cells
-- formerly called International Fuel Cells -- at:
<http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/121701b.shtml>.
Nevada Renewable Energy Proposals Total 4,300 Megawatts
Two Nevada utilities -- Sierra Pacific Power Company and
Nevada Power Company -- received 49 proposals totaling
nearly 4,300 megawatts in response to their recent request
for renewable energy project proposals. Of those proposals,
3,000 megawatts would be generated from wind power, 784
from geothermal and biomass power, and 385 from solar
power. The companies solicited the bids to meet a new state
law that requires them to gradually increase the percentage
of power they generate from renewable energy sources. See
the Sierra Pacific press release at:
<http://www.sierrapacific.com/news/releases/1008835200.html>.
Meanwhile, Xcel Energy announced in early December that
it has opened bidding for 1,000 megawatts of new electrical
capacity to serve its customers in the Upper Midwest.
Although any fuel source is eligible, a Minnesota statute
provides a preference for renewable energy, and the
company is encouraging proposals that draw at least
partially on renewable energy resources. See the Xcel
Energy press release at:
<http://www.xcelenergy.com/NewsRelease/newsRelease120601.asp>.
New Solar Electric Systems Indicate a Growing U.S. Market
Solar electric system installations have reached new heights
in the United States in recent months, suggesting that there
may finally be a sizable U.S. market for photovoltaic
products. In December, for instance, the Alameda County
Board of Supervisors in California decided to expand its
640-kilowatt solar electric system to 1.14 megawatts. The
expanded system will cover roughly three acres of the Santa
Rita Jail in Dublin, California. PowerLight Corporation
expects to finish the expansion this spring. PowerLight also
recently installed a 335-kilowatt solar electric system on the
roof of Cypress Semiconductor in San Jose, California, and
has started round-the-clock manufacturing of its solar roof
tiles to meet increasing demand. See the PowerLight press
releases at: <http://www.powerlight.com/pr/index.html>.
San Diego, California, is also getting into the act: a new
agreement between AstroPower, Inc. and homebuilder
Standard Pacific of San Diego will make solar electric power
a standard feature in the new Standard Pacific Maravu
community. AstroPower will supply at least 43 solar electric
systems in the next year, with a target of providing
100 systems in the next two years. See the AstroPower
press release at: <http://www.astropower.com/press_releases.htm>.
Washington state provides another example -- the state's
largest solar photovoltaic system, a 23-kilowatt installation
on the roof of the Puget Sound Environmental Learning
Center on Bainbridge Island, was completed last month by
the Schott Applied Power Corporation. See the Schott press
release at:
<http://www.us.schott.com/apc/english/news/press.html?NID=39>.
In Maryland, Siemens Solar Industries completed what the
company claims to be the world's largest solar roadway
lighting project. More than a mile of roadway in Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina, is now lit by the company's
200-watt solar electric lighting systems. The roadway leads
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Headquarters
Campus. See the Siemens Solar press release at:
<http://www.siemenssolar.com/121001.html>.
But the biggest gains may be yet to come: the New Energy
Company, a maker of high-concentration photovoltaic
(HCPV) systems, announced in the past week two 10-year
contracts to provide solar electric power -- one with Teixeira
Farms, Inc. of Santa Maria, California, and one with Andrew
Martin Company, Inc. of Carson, California. The agreement
with Andrew Martin Company includes the installation of a
220-kilowatt HCPV system, and the agreement with Teixeira
Farms calls for the installation of four 1-megawatt HCPV
systems. The New Energy Company intends to install all of
the systems by the third quarter of this year. See the press
releases on the New Energy Web site at:
<http://www.newenergyco.com/>.
Concentrating photovoltaic collectors, like the New Energy
Company products, use devices such as Fresnel lenses,
mirrors, and mirrored dishes to concentrate sunlight onto a
solar cell. Certain solar cells, such as gallium arsenide cells,
can efficiently convert concentrated solar energy into
electricity, allowing the use of only a small amount of
semiconducting material per square foot of solar collector.
Concentrating collectors are usually mounted on a two-axis
tracking system to keep the collector pointed toward the sun.
For more information, see the DOE Photovoltaics Program
Web site at: <http://www.eren.doe.gov/pv/concentrators.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SITE NEWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fuel Cell Today
<http://www.fuelcelltoday.com>
This portal site focuses on the commercialization of fuel cells
and provides background, industry networking, and
interactive discussions on fuel cell topics, from the latest
research developments to the impact of California's Zero
Emission Vehicle Program. Users may access conference
reports and reports of field trials, a list of recent patents, and
information on legislation, codes, standards and regulations
from around the world. The site also includes an industry
directory and events listing. It has a very dynamic aspect,
featuring interactive elements such as discussion boards,
industry forums where users may raise questions to industry
leaders, and an impressive number of recent news stories
from around the world. Visitors may also subscribe to an
email newsletter.
For this and other recent additions to the EREN Web site,
see <http://www.eren.doe.gov/new/whats-new.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Future U.S. Energy Use Depends on Efficiency, Renewables
U.S. energy demand is expected to increase 32 percent from
2000 to 2020, according to DOE's Energy Information
Administration (EIA), but the forecast could change with
faster or slower penetration of energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies. That conclusion is part of
the EIA's Annual Outlook 2002, released in late December.
Energy efficiency is measured at the national level by
"energy intensity," that is, the amount of energy used per
dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). The EIA reference
case -- often referred to as the "business as usual" case --
already projects a steady decline in energy intensity of
1.5 percent per year through 2020 due to energy efficiency
technologies. But a more rapid development and market
penetration of these technologies could lower the
U.S. energy demand in 2020 by 6 percent compared to the
EIA reference case.
The EIA report also examined the effect of extending the
production tax credit to the end of 2006. The tax credit
expired last month (see first story above). The report also
assumed the tax credit eligibility would be expanded -- it
currently applies only to wind power and biomass facilities
that draw on dedicated energy crops, but the EIA assumed it
would be expanded to include all biomass and landfill gas
facilities. That change would boost the production of
electricity from renewable energy by nearly 50 percent by
2020 -- increasing from the reference case projection of
15,000 megawatts to a total of about 22,000 megawatts.
See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press187.html>.
Looking for a more forward-looking energy projection? The
Royal Dutch/Shell Group recently issued its look at the
energy picture through 2050. The publication, "Energy
Needs, Choices and Possibilities," examines two possible
scenarios for future energy development -- one in which
there is an evolutionary progression to new energy sources,
and one in which society moves toward a hydrogen
economy. Both scenarios project a significant growth in
renewable energy by 2050. See the full report, in Adobe
PDF format only, at:
<http://www.shell.com/files/media-en/scenarios.pdf>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
I forwarded Ado's post to our international staff person at the American
Wind Energy Association, and here is her reply.
Tom
This is in answer to your questions about wind energy for rural power.
First you need to determine the amount of the demand that can be served by
a wind system. Peak power requirement for the village, the pattern of
electricity use, and expected growth in demand should all be
considered. You should then assess the local wind resource. Annual
average wind speeds of more than 3.5 meters per second (m/s) or 8 miles per
hour (mph) are required for small wind turbines. Wind speed and rotor
diameter are the most significant features related to wind turbine
performance. You should then determine and compare the wind system's cost
and performance with other options to see whether wind energy is the best
system for the village.
To determine wind speeds, the most accurate and most expensive way to do so
is to use an anemometer or more, to collect data over one year. You can
also examine vegetation growth patterns for signs of persistent high winds,
and ask for the observations of the local residents.
A complete remote power system usually consists of several components in
addition to the turbine itself: batteries to stabilize power fluctuations
from the wind and to store excess electricity production, an inverter (to
convert the battery's DC to AC power if the system must supply AC current),
a regulator or charge controller (this controls wind turbine output to
prevent overcharging of the batteries), a system controller or direct
current (DC) source center (it serves as a common connection point for all
the DC sources on the system), and, in many cases, a solar array and a
diesel generator for backup.
You can get information from different turbine manufacturers by contacting
companies through our Web site, using our company directory listed on the
site at http://www.awea.org/directory/ You can also get description of
village power projects using wind energy from the Web site of Bergey
Windpower, at www.bergey.com, under "example projects," "off-grid home,
facility or village, non US. locations."
We don't know of an organization that could donate a ready-to-go wind
turbine. Regarding financing, in addition to contacting individual
companies like Bergey who often work with village power, you could contact
the local US Agency for International Development (USAID) office with a
request. We will also forward your inquiry to Winrock, a non-governmental
organization that works closely with USAID on rural development
projects. You should also contact the local World Bank mission with a
request. The World Bank claims to support rural development and should
also be able to help with financing. The local World Bank phone number is
(62-21) 5299-3100, in Jakarta.
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: listmanager_2 [mailto:listmanager_2@...]
>>Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2002 10:43 PM
>>To: tomorrow-energy@yahoogroups.com
>>Subject: [tomorrow-energy] Wind Energy for poor country
>>
>>
>>Dear friends,
>>
>>Im ado from Indonesia.
>>I need detail information about wind energy for generating
>>electricity applicable for rural.
>>Especially which can be built from waste/recycle goods.
>>Because this gonna be used in a very poor isolated village.
>>
>>Also great if there are information about institution which can grant
>>us ready to assembled wind electricity generator machine.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Ado
>>Jl.Damai 12 rt.13/09
>>Jakarta 13810
>>Indonesia
>>+6221-8407543
Hello
A nice page about the European Union and Japan and the Energy Program
Regards
Manuel
in Lisbon
http://www.eujapan.com/europe/energy.html
Since 1987, the EU-Japan Centre has been managing the Alternative Energy
programme. It arranges for EU researchers and experts in oil-alternative energy
to go to Japan and for Japanese experts to go to Europe. The objective is of
deepening knowledge of the current state of research and development (R&D) in
this field and of further increasing mutual understanding and effective
collaboration between the EU and Japan, thus contributing to overall research
and development in the field of alternative energy.
This programme was reviewed in 1999 and now focuses on invitations to Japan for
EU policy-makers and specialists in the field of alternative energy (the
European Specialists' Invitation Programme ) and on missions for Japanese
experts sent to the EU to gather information on the state of R&D in this field
(the Japanese Specialists' Visit Programme).
The Alternative Energy Programme also focuses on the preparation of reports on
the state of research regarding renewable energy sources in Europe......
~--------------------------------------
Manuel Peres Alonso
Lisboa, Portugal
http://geocities.com/mapeal2/manuel.jpg
~--------------------------------------
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- January 16, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
"FreedomCAR" Program to Advance Fuel-Cell Vehicles
Ford Shows Hybrid Escape SUV at Detroit Auto Show
Wind Capacity Surges Ahead in the U.S. and the World
Wind Turbine Installed on Novel Tower Without Large Crane
North Carolina Utilities to Pursue Green Power
New York Power Authority Buys Eight 200-Kilowatt Fuel Cells
*Energy Facts and Tips
U.S. Energy Companies Expanded Oil, Gas Reserves in 2000
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"FreedomCAR" Program to Advance Fuel-Cell Vehicles
DOE announced last week a new government-industry
program for the advancement of high-efficiency cars:
"freedomCAR". The new program will focus on fuel cells and
hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. DOE
will carry out the freedomCAR program in partnership with
the U.S. Council of Automotive Research -- a cooperative
research organization formed by Ford Motor Company,
General Motors Corporation, and DaimlerChrysler
Corporation. In fact, the "CAR" in "freedomCAR" stands for
"Cooperative Automotive Research."
FreedomCAR replaces the Clinton-era "Partnership for a
New Generation of Vehicles" (PNGV), which aimed to
produce an affordable sedan that achieves 80 miles per
gallon by 2004. In contrast, the long-term goal for
freedomCAR is to develop technologies for hydrogen-
powered fuel cell vehicles that will require no foreign oil and
emit no harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases. An
interesting aspect of freedomCAR is its emphasis on
developing a hydrogen supply infrastructure: many
automotive companies are currently developing cars that
would be fueled with low-sulfur gasoline, methanol, or
natural gas fuels, which would be converted to hydrogen
using onboard fuel processors. FreedomCAR looks farther
ahead to an energy economy that is built around hydrogen
as the energy carrier.
See the DOE press release, with a link to a fact sheet, at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/janpr/pr02001.htm>.
So how do you produce hydrogen? Today, most hydrogen is
produced from fossil fuels. It can also be produced by
passing a current through two electrodes immersed in water,
but that technique tends to be expensive. Researchers are
now examining ways to make hydrogen from organic
materials, to generate it from organic processes, or to
produce it directly from sunlight and water. Some catalysts
help sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, but
researchers are also using modified solar cells immersed in
water, called photoelectrodes. For more information, see the
Hydrogen Information Network on EREN at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/>.
For those more technically inclined, the proceedings of the
2001 DOE Hydrogen Program Review are posted on the
Hydrogen Information Network at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/hydrogen/docs/30535toc.html>.
Ford Shows Hybrid Escape SUV at Detroit Auto Show
Ford Motor Company is displaying the hybrid electric version
of its Escape sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the North
American International Auto Show, now underway in Detroit.
Ford confirmed that the vehicle will be available in 2003, and
announced that its emissions will be low enough to qualify as
a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) under California
law. The vehicle is expected to achieve nearly 40 miles to
the gallon. See the Ford Hybrid Electric Vehicle Web site at:
<http://www.hybridford.com/index.asp>.
While domestic auto companies continue to prepare their
hybrid-electric vehicles for production, U.S. sales of the
Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight continue to grow. Toyota
Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. announced that it sold 15,556
Priuses in the United States in 2001, up from 5,562 in 2000
(U.S. sales of the Prius began in mid-2000). American
Honda announced Insight sales of 4,726 in 2001, up from
3,788 in 2000.
See the Toyota press release, "Toyota Sets Sales Record
for Sixth Year in a Row," on the Toyota Pressroom Web site
at: <http://pressroom.toyota.com/>.
See the American Honda press release at:
<http://www.hondacars.com/news/press.html?y=2002&r=770>.
The Honda Civic Hybrid, unveiled in Japan last month, had
its U.S. debut in Los Angeles early this month. Honda claims
the Civic Hybrid will achieve about 50 miles per gallon and
will cost about $20,000. Honda expects to sell 2,000 vehicles
per month when it goes on sale in the United States in April.
See the American Honda press release at:
<http://www.hondacars.com/news/press.html?y=2002&r=774>.
Wind Capacity Surges Ahead in the U.S. and the World
U.S. wind power capacity increased by 66 percent in 2001,
according to figures released yesterday by the American
Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The record growth of
1,694 megawatts boosted the total U.S. wind power capacity
from 2,564 megawatts to 4,258 megawatts. AWEA says last
year's installations represent capital investments of about
$1.7 billion and will produce enough electricity to meet the
annual needs of 475,000 U.S. households. See the January
15th press release on the AWEA Web site at:
<http://www.awea.org/news/index.html>.
The U.S. growth in wind capacity is actually outpacing the
world growth: according to the Earth Policy Institute, world
wind power capacity increased 31 percent in 2001. In fact,
wind capacity grew faster in the United States than in the
other four leading wind-development countries: Germany,
Denmark, India and Spain. Germany, however, still has
nearly twice the wind power capacity as the United States,
thanks to aggressive government policies for wind power
development. German wind power capacity overtook
U.S. wind power capacity in 1997. According to the Earth
Policy Institute, the world's total wind power capacity is now
at 23,300 megawatts -- more than five times the U.S. capacity.
See the Earth Policy press release, with links to detailed
tables and graphs, at:
<http://www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update5.htm>.
(Note that the Earth Policy numbers are preliminary, so they
are slightly lower than the AWEA numbers.)
If the latest news is any indication, world wind power
capacity will continue to grow rapidly in 2002. Ireland gave
the go-ahead for the world's largest offshore wind power
facility last week. Ireland's Minister for the Marine and
Natural Resources approved a wind power lease of the
Arklow Bank, a sand bank located more than four miles off
the coast of Ireland. Eirtricity, Ireland's largest renewable
energy developer, intends to build a 520-megawatt wind
plant along the sand bank, beginning with 60 megawatts in
2002 and completing the site by 2005. See the eirtricity Web
site at: <http://www.eirtricity.ie/news-11-01-2002.htm>.
Wind Turbine Installed on Novel Tower Without Large Crane
A single 660-kilowatt wind turbine was installed in December
in Omaha, Nebraska, to serve a green power program run
by the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD). The installation
uses an innovative tower designed by Valmont Industries Inc.
that incorporates a lifting platform for installing the turbine.
The platform eliminated the need for a large crane to install
the turbine. See the OPPD Web site at:
<http://www.oppd.com/news/GreenPower.htm>.
Valmont Industries believes its wind turbine tower could help
expand the installation of wind turbines into rugged terrains
that present access problems for large cranes. See the
Valmont Web site at:
<http://www.valmont.com/poles/poles7.shtml>.
North Carolina Utilities to Pursue Green Power
A Green Power Program Advisory Committee formed last
year in North Carolina has led the electric utility companies
throughout the state to pursue a green power program.
According to Advanced Energy, which helped form the
advisory committee, the three investor-owned utilities in
North Carolina have publicly declared their intentions to file
for a green power program with the state's utility commission.
The state's municipal utilities and electric cooperatives have
also agreed to participate. A statewide program should be in
place by mid-year. Advanced Energy is a non-profit energy
consultancy founded by the North Carolina Utilities Commission
in 1980. See the Advanced Energy Web site at:
<http://www.advancedenergy.org/greenpower/index.html>.
Green power also continues to advance in Washington
state, where all the utilities are now required by law to offer a
green power program. The latest offerings come from Avista
Utilities, which serves nearly 310,000 electric customers in
eastern Washington and northern Idaho, and from Clark
Public Utilities in southwest Washington. Clark Public
Utilities is buying so-called "green tags" from the Bonneville
Environmental Foundation, while Avista is buying wind
power from the Stateline Wind Project that went online at
year end.
See the Avista Web site at:
<http://www.avistautilities.com/account/windpower.asp>.
And see the January 7th press release from Clark Public
Utilities by selecting "News Releases" on the Web site at:
<http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/events.html>.
Utah Power's "Blue Sky" green power program is also
gaining ground -- Salt Lake City's Uinta Brewing Company
opened its new brewery last week with the announcement
that it will buy 100 percent renewable energy to power the
facility. The brewery expects to purchase more than a
quarter million kilowatt-hours of wind power per year. See
the announcement on the Utah Green Power Web site at:
<http://www.utahgreenpower.org/News.htm#uinta>.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
encouraging more companies to buy green power through its
Green Power Partnership Program. Companies that commit
to buying green power will gain technical support and public
recognition from EPA by joining the partnership. See the
newly revised Green Power Partnership Program Web site
at: <http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/>.
New York Power Authority Buys Eight 200-Kilowatt Fuel Cells
UTC Fuel Cells announced last month the sale of eight fuel
cell systems to the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which
will use them at four wastewater treatment facilities in New
York City. NYPA will use waste gas (primarily methane) from
the water treatment process to power the fuel cells. Each of
the units generates 200 kilowatts of electricity. See the
UTC Fuel Cells press release at:
<http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/121901.shtml>.
Other recent fuel cell developments include the installation of
a Nuvera Fuel Cell at a Verizon telecommunications site in
Massachusetts and the shipment of a 5-kilowatt fuel cell --
produced by DCH Technologies, Inc. -- to the Houston
Advanced Research Center (HARC).
See the December 18th press release on the Nuvera Web
site at: <http://www.nuvera.com/>.
See also the HARC press release at:
<http://www.harc.edu/pressroom/02_0103.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. Energy Companies Expanded Oil, Gas Reserves in 2000
The major U.S. energy companies achieved great success
with their drill bits in 2000, significantly boosting oil and gas
reserves, according to a report released last week by DOE's
Energy Information Administration (EIA). The major U.S.
energy producers expanded their worldwide oil and gas
reserves by an equivalent of 6.6 billion barrels of crude oil in
2000, exceeding their worldwide oil and gas production by
22 percent, allowing the reserves to gain some ground over
production.
Meanwhile, the companies actually gained 60 percent of
their oil and gas reserve increases through mergers and
acquisitions. The companies nearly doubled their worldwide
capital expenditures in 2000, and most of the growth in
spending went toward mergers and acquisitions. The
companies also posted record profits, as their net income
increased 133 percent from 1999 levels to a new record of
$53.2 billion. See the EIA press release, with a link to the full
report, at: <http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press188.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
The following article is from the current issue of "Wind Energy Weekly."
You can subscribe to a free, time-lagged edition of this informative
publication, which now goes to more than 2,800 subscribers in over 70
countries, by sending an e-mail message to
windenergyweekly-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
__________________________________________
WORLD WIND CAPACITY GROWS
BY MORE THAN 30% IN 2001
__________________________________________
World wind electric generating capacity climbed from 17,800 MW in 2000 to
an estimated 23,300 MW in 2001, according to preliminary data released
January 8 by Lester Brown’s Earth Policy Institute--a dramatic one-year gain
of 5,500 MW or 31%. The cumulative capacity total can meet the needs of
some 23 million people, the Institute said, asuming that 1 MW will satisfy
the electricity needs of 350 households in an industrial society, or roughly
1,000 people.
Other findings released by the Institute include:
* Since 1995, world wind power capacity has increased by 487%, or nearly
five-fold. During the same period, the use of coal has declined by 9%.
* In wind power capacity, Germany continues to lead the world with 8,000 MW,
nearly a third of the total. The United States stayed in second place, now
with a total of over 4,200 MW installed. Spain remained in third place,
with 3,300 MW. Denmark, in fourth with 2,500 MW, now gets 18% of its
electricity from wind.
* Two-thirds of the capacity added in 2001 was concentrated in the top three
countries: Germany added 1,890 MW; the United States, more than 1,600; and
Spain, 1,065. For the United States, this translates into a growth in
generating capacity of more than 60% in 2001.
Even more impressive than the recent growth in generating capacity, the
Institute said, are the plans for future growth. The European Wind Energy
Association has recently revised its 2010 wind capacity projections for
Europe from 40,000 MW to 60,000 MW. France announced in December, 2000,
that it would develop 5,000 MW of wind-generating capacity during this
decade. Argentina said in December, 2000, that it was planning to develop
3,000 MW of wind power capacity in Patagonia. In April, 2001, the United
Kingdom sold offshore lease rights for an estimated 1,500 MW of capacity to
several bidders, including Shell Renewables. And in May, a report from
Beijing indicated that China would develop up to 2,500 MW of wind capacity
by 2005. A survey of some 70 wind developers in Germany indicates that they
plan to install 2,500 MW of capacity in 2002 and a similar amount in 2003.
If they succeed, they will surpass the German government's 2010 goal of
12,500 MW by the end of 2003.
In the United States, the wind industry installed more than twice as much
capacity in 2001 than it has in any other single year in history--over 1,600
MW. Texas alone installed more than 900 MW, including what is now the
world's largest wind farm, the 278-MW King Mountain Wind Ranch (see earlier
story). [For complete project details, go to http://www.awea.org/projects .
A more detailed report of U.S. wind power capacity additions in 2001 will be
included in next week's Wind Energy Weekly]
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- January 23, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
California Cut Electricity Use by 6.7 Percent in 2001
Spire Solar Chicago Installs 100 Kilowatts of Solar Power
DOT Proposes No Change in Light Truck Efficiency Standards
Real-World Test of Superconductor Cable Delayed
Report Questions Government Support for Renewable Energy
*Energy Facts and Tips
Report Claims Utilities are Struggling to Power Data Centers
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
California Cut Electricity Use by 6.7 Percent in 2001
The final numbers for California's electricity use in 2001 are in,
and they're impressive: compared to 2000, the state reduced
its total electricity use by 6.7 percent and its peak electricity
demand by 8.9 percent, or nearly 3,800 megawatts. Those
numbers are adjusted for economic growth and differences in
weather, but the cold, raw numbers still show a 4.4 percent
drop in electricity use and a 5.4 percent drop in peak demand.
Governor Gray Davis lauded Californians for their achievement.
See the statistics, with a link to a January 17th press release
from Governor Davis, at:
<http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/peak_demand_reduction.html>.
The Pacific Northwest can be proud, too, according to DOE's
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA): the region reduced its
electricity demand by roughly 85 megawatts, or enough to
power more than 80,000 homes, in 2001. See the BPA press
release at: <http://www.bpa.gov/Corporate/KCC/nr/02nr/nr011702.shtml>.
Spire Solar Chicago Installs 100 Kilowatts of Solar Power
Spire Solar Chicago, a business unit of Spire Corporation,
announced last week the installation of a total of 100 kilowatts
of solar photovoltaic systems on six roofs in Chicago. The
systems were installed on the DuSable Museum of African
American History, the Homan Square Community Center,
Commonwealth Edison's South Hydome facility, two Chicago
public schools, and a small commercial building. The
installations are part of a local public/private partnership to
produce clean energy in Chicago. See the Spire press release
at: <http://www.spirecorp.com/Spire/news/PV369.html>.
DOT Proposes No Change in Light Truck Efficiency Standards
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
NHTSA), a part of the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT), released last week its proposed fuel efficiency
standards for Model Year 2004 light trucks. The proposed
standard holds the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency
(CAFE) standard for light trucks at its current level of
20.7 miles per gallon. The light truck classification includes
vans, pickup trucks, and most sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Since 1996, Congress has prohibited NHTSA from spending
any funds to consider changes to the CAFE standards.
Although that prohibition was lifted in December, the NHTSA
claims it has not had sufficient time to consider changes to
the standard. The NHTSA must issue its proposed rules
early enough to allow public comment and changes prior to a
final rulemaking, which must be issued by April 1st. The
public is invited to provide comments on the proposed fuel
efficiency standard before mid-February. See the January 18th
press release on the NHTSA Web site at:
<http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/index.cfm>.
On January 14th, four days before the proposed standards
were released, the National Research Council (NRC) sent
NHTSA a report confirming the NRC's conclusions on CAFE
standards, originally released in a detailed report published
in July 2001. The reassessment was performed after the
initial report was challenged by the automotive industry. The
latest report reaffirms that "technologies exist that, if applied
to passenger cars and light-duty trucks, would significantly
reduce fuel consumption within 15 years," and that
"assessment of currently offered product technologies
suggest that light-duty trucks, including SUVs, pickups, and
minivans, offer the greatest potential to reduce fuel
consumption..." See the new report on the National
Academy Press Web site at:
<http://books.nap.edu/books/NI000377/html/R1.html>.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), the overall fuel economy of light vehicles -- including
both light trucks and cars -- is now at a 21-year low of
20.4 miles per gallon. Although car mileage has remained
essentially flat for the past 16 years and light truck mileage
has stayed largely unchanged for the past 20 years, the
growing market share of light trucks has dragged down the
overall fuel economy of light vehicles. See the EPA "Light
Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends"
Web page at: <http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm>.
Note that actual fuel economies can be lower than the CAFE
standards for a number of reasons, including the fact that
manufacturers earn credits for any alternative-fuel vehicles
that they sell. Some manufacturers also fall below the
standards and pay penalties. To see how the details of how
manufacturers are meeting the standards, see the NHTSA
report on Model Year 2000 CAFE standards at:
<http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/studies/fuelecon/index.html>.
Real-World Test of Superconductor Cable Delayed
A test of a high-temperature superconductor (HTS) cable at
a Detroit Edison substation has been delayed indefinitely.
According to American Superconductor Corporation, which
made the HTS wires for the cables, a problem with the
vacuum insulating system used to help keep the cables cool
is preventing Detroit Edison from placing the HTS cables into
service. The company says the HTS wires met all their
performance requirements, and the vacuum insulating
technology is a proven technology that would not be
expected to hinder the future use of HTS cables. Pirelli
Energy Cables and Systems, the cable manufacturer, is
expected to issue a revised timetable for the demonstration
project in spring.
The Detroit Edison substation is the site of the first
installation and demonstration of an underground HTS cable
in a U.S. utility network. The utility installed three 400-foot
cables inside 4-inch-diameter underground ducts during the
summer of 2001. All other cable components, including the
cryogenic cooling and vacuum insulating systems, were
completed in the fall.
American Superconductor does have some good news,
though: its 5,000-horsepower HTS motor prototype, which
uses HTS wires in its rotor winding (the part of the motor that
rotates), was successfully tested at full load early this month.
The motor also successfully carried a peak load of 7,000
horsepower while running at its rated speed. Both the HTS
rotor coils and the refrigeration system met or exceeded their
performance goals, and the system as a whole operated at
an efficiency of 97.2 percent. The company claims it also
identified potential changes to the stator (the part of the
motor that stays still, or static) that could boost the efficiency
of the motor to 97.7 percent. See the American Superconductor
press releases at: <http://www.amsuper.com/press.htm>.
Report Questions Government Support for Renewable Energy
A report issued early this month by the Cato Institute, a
non-profit public policy research foundation, says that
government subsidies for renewable energy sources are
unwarranted. The report says that renewable energy is not
likely to gain significant market share in the foreseeable
future without a significant increase in government subsidies
or mandates. The report also claims that the environmental
benefits of renewable energy could be achieved more
cheaply using other technologies.
The report does acknowledge that government subsidies for
fully commercialized fossil energy technologies -- oil, coal,
and natural gas -- are nearly double those for renewable
energy, while nuclear and fossil fuels are also receiving
more research and development funds. It also suggests that
natural gas prices and availability will remain stable for the
foreseeable future. See the Cato Institute press release, with
a link to the full report, at:
<http://www.cato.org/new/01-02/01-08-02r-2.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Report Claims Utilities are Struggling to Power Data Centers
A report issued last week suggests that electric utilities are
having a difficult time providing power to electronic data
centers, including so-called "Internet hotels" that provide
servers for Web sites. The Platts report finds that such data
centers can consume from 8 to 50 times the electricity per
square foot used by standard commercial buildings. For
instance, a 344,000-square-foot data center under
construction in Washington State is expected to draw up to
105 megawatts of power when it is complete. Such high
power loads are causing some data centers to develop their
own power sources. See the news release from Platts, one
of The McGraw-Hill Companies, at:
<http://www.platts.com/pressreleases/pressrelease2002-0118.shtml>.
The Platts report might be somewhat suspect, however, in
light of a report issued last summer by DOE's Lawrence
Berkeley Laboratory (LBL). That report found that, for a
variety of reasons, data centers often greatly exaggerate
their power needs. It concluded that data centers use at
most 50 watts per square foot, and usually closer to 40 watts
per square foot. This number applies only to the computer
room part of the facility, and not surrounding office areas.
Using these figures, the data center in Washington would
need at most 17.2 megawatts of power -- probably much
less. See the August 29th edition of EREN Network News at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/archives/2001/aug29_01.html>.
A report released last month by the Renewable Energy
Policy Project (REPP) suggests that energy use in data
centers could be even lower. Using efficient servers,
properly sized and efficient cooling systems, and other
energy efficiency approaches, data centers could reduce
their electricity demand by 20 to 50 percent, according to the
report. See the REPP announcement, with a link to the full
report, at:
<http://www.crest.org/articles/static/1/1008083982_982708646.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
Coalition To Watch for Sustainable Energy Policies in Bush Address
US Newswire ( January 25, 2002 )
WASHINGTON, Jan 25, 2002 (U.S. Newswire via COMTEX) -- A coalition of
national business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations
today urged President Bush to focus on U.S. energy security in his State of
the Union address and issued a checklist that it will use to determine
whether his proposals are based on sound energy principles.
The Sustainable Energy Coalition called on the president to offer realistic
and near-term solutions to decrease U.S. reliance on foreign oil. It urged
that he change the course of this country's energy policy from fossil fuels
and nuclear energy to a more robust mix of cleaner technologies, especially
an enhanced use of energy efficiency technologies and standards and
aggressive promotion of renewable energy technologies and applications.
In the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, it's important that the
president pursue a sustainable energy future -- one that promotes fuel
diversity, harnesses safe and abundant domestic resources, and expands the
use of small-scale, dispersed, and passively-safe technologies," said
coalition spokesperson Susanna Drayne. "Such technologies can be built and
operated without imposing new security burdens on the nation's energy
infrastructure."
The President often touts the benefits of efficiency and renewables, but he
needs to start supporting the actions that will make them a reality. The
administration's current policy flies in the face of overwhelming public
support for clean energy," continued Drayne. "With wholesale subsidies of
conventional fuels, the plan is too costly, would take too many years to
deliver, and worst of all, would cause tremendous harm to our health and
environment."
"Increasing energy efficiency, on the other hand is cleaner, saves
taxpayers' money, and provides a faster route to energy independence.
Renewable energy is the fastest growing source of energy supply in the
United States today and it should be our primary new source of energy in the
future. Together, these sources of energy would help us decrease reliance on
imported oil, decrease air pollution, generate new industries, and keep
energy dollars at home."
The Coalition posted the checklist to their Web site which can be found at
www.sustainableenergy.org.
CONTACT: Susanna Drayne of the Sustainable Energy Coalition, 202-293-2898,
ext. 20
Hello All,
My name is Mark von Topel and I am the campaign organizer for Power Shift
(www.shiftpower.org). We are an organization working for clean energy to
stop global warming. We are currently focusing on Citigroup (#1 financier
of fossil fuel projects in the world) to start financing solar. If they
allowed people to purchase solar systems with a long-term loan it would be
the cheapest form of energy in the country, today! Take a look at the
action alert below and check out www.stopciti.org to enter your zip code and
find out how much money you can save by switching to solar. Then drop me an
email to find out how you can help to STOP CITI!
Cheers,
Mark
STOP CITIGROUP CALL TO ACTION
FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19:
HELLO CITI-STOPPERS: it's time to organize this year's Citigroup campaign
kick-off. The week of FEBRUARY 19, 2002 people around the country will be
telling Citi, it's time to change their ways. After 60 actions in November,
Citi knows that the public will not tolerate their destructive investments
in fossil fuel projects, which are causing global warming. If Citi's
turning up the heat on the planet, then let's turn up the heat on Citi!
Global warming is threatening life on our planet. Mass species extinction,
submersion of countries due to rising sea levels, and the spread of diseases
are the after effects of our deadly fossil fuel addiction. As the largest
financial institution in the world and the #1 financier of fossil fuel
projects, Citi acts as judge, jury, and executioner in determining what gets
funding and what does not. Citi is the largest funder of the fossil fuel
industry which is destroying the planet by causing climate change. Citi must
stop profiting from this deadly industry and begin financing clean forms of
energy, such as solar. If Citi started financing solar it would be the
cheapest form of energy, today! Citi could make money and stop the effects
of global warming, but has decided to continue financing the fossil fuel
chain of destruction.
One example of Citi's destructive practices is the Camisea project. This
gas pipeline that cuts through the Lower Urumbamba region of the Peruvian
Amazon threatens pristine ecosystems and vibrant indigenous cultures. This
region is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. 800
species of birds and trees will be endangered by the construction. The very
survival of two indigenous tribes who live in voluntary isolation is
jeopardized by the Camisea project. The project has already proven deadly
for the Nahua tribe. During preliminary exploration in the Camisea region,
the Nahua were exposed to whooping cough and influenza epidemics that killed
off an estimated 50 percent of the tribe's population.
Citi has made a value judgment in backing the Camisea gas project. It
weighed the value of these indigenous people and productive intact
ecosystems against the short-term profit of fossil fuel addiction, and Citi
reached a verdict. Illegal road construction has already begun into the
heart of the Amazon, paving the way for further profits at the expense of
innocent lives.
Camisea is but one destructive project brought to you by Citigroup. From
redlining and predatory lending, indebting people of color in our inner
cities to Citi's participation in the OCP pipeline in Ecuador where
activists have put their bodies on the line to save their treasured forests.
As well as Citigroup's partnership with Enron in the contested Dabhol power
plant in India. Citigroup lives up to its reputation as the World's Most
Destructive Bank. Now is time to let Citi know loud and proud that we know
they are using our savings accounts, our financial aid payments, and our
credit card balances to finance this destruction. Go out and tell them, "Not
with My Money!"
Grassroots pressure is essential to stopping Citi, the survival of these
indigenous people and ecosystems is hanging in the balance. Activists around
the country and around the globe will go to their local Citibanks and
perform a mock trial where Citi is the judge, jury and executioner. The only
thing that can stop Citi? The public. So make a giant scale, and watch Citi
try to tip the scale of justice. How can you prevent Citi from tipping
the scales of justice in their favor. How do you do that? Close your
Citibank accounts. Cut up your Citibank credit cards and save a Citi
customer! Talk to folks, let them know that their money is being used to
fund the world's most destructive bank. Other actions like call ins,
leafleting, making mock deposits of oily water or a bag of shavings sends a
message that can bring Citi's underhanded verdict to the light and have them
reconsider the judgement. Citi must rule in favor of human rights and
environmental justice instead of shortsighted corporate greed. Organize an
action on February 19th or any day that week. It's a week of actions to stop
Citi's selling of the planet. LET'S STOP CITI FROM FINANCING FOSSIL FUELS
AND TELL THEM TO FINANCE CLEAN ENERGY! TELL CITI'S FUNDING OF DESTRUCTION
MUST STOP
"NOT WITH MY MONEY, CITI"
For more info contact Mark von Topel with Powershift in DC at
mark.vontopel@... <mailto:mark.vontopel@...> (202)
299-9096
Matt Prescott with SEAC in Philadelphia at IMPULSE275@...
<mailto:IMPULSE275@...> 215-222-4711
Emma Kelty, at Grinnell College, Des Moines, <mailto:ftp@...>.
Sabrina Alonso at Rainforest Action Network in San Francisco at
sabrina@... <mailto:sabrina@...> 415-398-4404 ext 309
For more info on the Citi campaign go to http://www.ran.org or
www.shiftpower.org
______________________
Mark von Topel
Power Shift
Campaign Organizer
1752 Columbia NW
Fourth Floor
Washington, DC 20009
ph: 202.299.9096
fax: 202.299.9073
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- January 30, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
Interior Department Budget to Boost Geothermal Energy
Large Wind Power Plant Under Evaluation for Nantucket Sound
Acquisitions a Growing Trend in Solar and Wind Power
Hawaii Resort Dedicates 250-Kilowatt Solar Power System
New Zero-Emission Vehicle Rules On Hold in California
DOE Awards $8 Million for Weatherization in Texas, Oklahoma
*Energy Facts and Tips
2001 Ranked as Second Warmest Year on Record
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interior Department Budget to Boost Geothermal Energy
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced in mid-
January that the Interior Department's proposed budget for
next year will include funds to encourage geothermal energy
development on public lands. The President's budget
proposal for fiscal year 2003 will include $350,000 for the
Bureau of Land Management to improve access for
geothermal energy leasing in California, Nevada, Utah,
Oregon, and New Mexico. The budget will also include
$500,000 for the U.S. Geological Survey to produce
improved and updated information on geothermal resources.
See the Department of Interior press release at:
<http://www.doi.gov/news/020118a.html>.
Secretary Norton's announcement came as a follow-up to
the "National Conference on Opportunities to Expand
Renewable Energy on Public Lands," co-hosted by DOE and
the Interior Department in November of last year. See the
December 5th edition of the EREN Network News at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/archives/2001/dec05_01.html>.
Further details of President Bush's budget proposal were
anticipated in last night's State of the Union Address, but the
text of the speech was not available at press time. The
President is also expected to release his full budget proposal
next week. Watch for further news of the President's budget
in future editions of the EREN Network News.
Large Wind Power Plant Under Evaluation for Nantucket Sound
Cape Wind Associates, LLC is currently proposing to build a
420-megawatt wind power plant in the waters offshore of
Massachusetts. If built, the facility will be the first offshore
wind facility in the United States and the largest U.S. wind
power plant yet. The company plans to erect 170 turbines in
a part of Nantucket Sound called Horseshoe Shoal. A
submarine cable system consisting of two power lines, each
115 kilovolts, will transmit the power from the facility to the
shore at Yarmouth, Massachusetts.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced on Monday
that it will require an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the facility, which will be built on state and federal waters
stretching across about 28 square miles of the sound. The
site is closest to land at Point Gammond, which is 4.1 miles
away. The Corps will work closely with the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, which is also performing an environmental
review. On March 6th and 7th, the Corps will hold public
meetings to help determine the range of issues the EIS
should address and to identify significant issues that should
be analyzed in depth. See the press release on the Corps'
New England District Web site at:
<http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/news/2002-16.html>.
Cape Wind expects to begin construction on the facility in
2004 and complete it by 2005. See the Cape Wind Web site
at: <http://www.capewind.org/learning/pglan02.htm>.
The Web site also includes a map of the site with overlays of
shipping channels, ferry routes, and airplane flight lanes, as
well as a link to computer-simulated views of the site from
the shore, at:
<http://www.capewind.org/benefiting/sitev02.htm>.
Pennsylvania also hopes to increase its wind power
capacity: the state's Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) issued a permit for a new 60-megawatt wind facility in
Wayne County last week. National Wind Power and Orion
Energy LLC are developing the project, which will consist of
47 turbines on two parcels of land covering 858 acres. See
the DEP press release at:
<http://www.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=1468>.
Acquisitions a Growing Trend in Solar and Wind Power
While wind power developers are at work in Massachusetts
and Pennsylvania, acquisitions appear to be growing in
popularity as a way to obtain wind power capacity. For
example, Entergy Corporation, a global energy company,
announced in mid-month its purchase of a majority
ownership in the newly completed Top of Iowa Wind Farm,
an 80-megawatt facility in northern Iowa. See the Entergy
press release at:
<http://www.entergy.com/news_database/news-detail.asp?ID=306>.
Shell WindEnergy Inc. followed suit shortly thereafter with its
purchase of the 80-megawatt Llano Estacando Wind Ranch
near Amarillo, Texas, from Cielo Wind Power, LLC. Shell
WindEnergy is part of Shell Renewables, one of five core
businesses of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies.
But for Shell Renewables, the big news last week was its
buyout of solar photovoltaic partners Siemens AG and E. ON
Energie AG. Their joint venture, called Siemens und Shell
Solar, will now be owned entirely by Shell and will be known
as Shell Solar.
The wind and solar purchases are part of the Shell Group's
plan to invest up to $1 billion in renewable energy
technologies over the next five years. See the Shell
Renewables press releases at:
<http://www2.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=rw-br>.
Hawaii Resort Dedicates 250-Kilowatt Solar Power System
The Mauni Lani Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii dedicated
its new 250-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system last week. The
sun-tracking system was manufactured and installed by
PowerLight Corporation. The installation brings the resort's
total solar power capacity to 500 kilowatts, which PowerLight
claims as the most solar electric generating capacity of any
resort in the world. The resort projects savings of $5 million
over the next 25 years by using solar power. See the
PowerLight press release at:
<http://www.powerlight.com/pr/012202powertracker.html>.
Part of the resort's solar generating capacity is actually on
the move -- it's a fleet of solar-powered golf carts. A
photovoltaic canopy on each cart helps keep its battery
charged, significantly reducing the resort's use of grid power
to recharge the carts. PowerLight just delivered 60 of the
carts to the resort, which plans to convert its entire fleet to
solar power by the end of 2003. See the PowerLight press
release at:
<http://www.powerlight.com/pr/012202suncaddy.html>.
The demand for solar power systems grew significantly in
2001. At California's Sacramento Municipal Utility District
(SMUD), for example, nearly 1,200 kilowatts of solar
generating capacity was installed on more than 220 homes
and business in 2001 -- nearly seven times more than the
utility installed in 2000. That growth spurt helped SMUD to
achieve a total solar capacity of 10 megawatts, spread over
more than 1,000 solar power systems that were installed
through the utility's Solar Pioneers program. SMUD expects
the program to continue growing rapidly in 2002; to meet the
demand, the utility has tripled the number of staff and
contractors working on the program. See the SMUD press
release at:
<http://www.smud.org/info/02archive/0118_solar_landmark.html>.
New Zero-Emission Vehicle Rules On Hold in California
California's latest set of rules for Zero-Emission Vehicles
(ZEVs), issued by the state's Air Resources Board (ARB),
have failed to win approval from the California Office of
Administrative Law. The ARB announced last week that the
rules were apparently not approved because it failed to
follow proper procedures when giving notice of its proposed
changes to the program. ARB has 120 days to remedy the
situation, and it expects to meet that deadline. See the
notice on the ARB Web site at:
<http://www.arb.ca.gov/regact/zev2001/zev2001.htm>.
New York, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with its own
version of the ZEV program. The state's current regulations
require ten percent of all vehicles sold in the state to be
ZEVs, which in practical terms means electric vehicles,
starting with Model Year 2005. Early this month, Governor
George E. Pataki announced an alternative approach for
automakers that starts a year earlier but includes credits for
vehicles with near-zero emissions -- vehicles referred to as
Partial ZEVs or PZEVs in the California rules. The new
approach also allows partial credits for PZEVs that use
alternative fuels or hybrid technologies. These changes are
similar to changes made in California by the ARB, but on a
slower timetable. See Governor Pataki's press release at:
<http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/year02/jan4_02.htm>.
State standards for auto emissions are governed by unusual
rules: by federal law, only California can set stricter standards
than the federal standards, and other states must either
follow federal standards or adopt standards essentially equal
to California's. This approach helps keep the standards
manageable for automakers, but places California in a
leadership position. New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont
have followed California's lead on ZEV rules. Reportedly,
Massachusetts is now taking an approach similar to New York's,
and Vermont has not yet announced what approach it will take.
DOE Awards $8 Million for Weatherization in Texas, Oklahoma
DOE announced last week its award of $8 million to Texas
and Oklahoma for weatherization assistance to low-income
households. DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program
provides funds to state and local agencies, as well as Native
American tribes, for measures that improve the energy
efficiency of the homes of people that can least afford to
waste energy. The program provides comprehensive energy
auditing, health and safety diagnostic services, and whole-
house energy efficiency services, including air infiltration
reduction, insulation, heating system service, and measures
to reduce residents' use of electricity. See the DOE press
release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/janpr/pr02010.htm>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 Ranked as Second Warmest Year on Record
The year 2001 was the second warmest globally since
record keeping began in 1880, according to data released in
mid-January by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). Only 1998 ranked higher, and
temperatures that year were boosted by strong El Nino
conditions. In contrast, 2001 began with weak La Nina
conditions, which tend to depress global average
temperatures. Temperatures in the United States were also
above average; the year ranked as the sixth warmest since
record keeping began in 1895. See the report on NOAA's
National Climatic Data Center Web site at:
<http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2001/ann/ann.html>.
Conditions appear ripe for 2002 to become a record-
breaking year: according to NOAA's Climate Prediction
Center, the tropical Pacific Ocean is warming, a trend which
could lead to an El Nino by early Spring. However, NOAA
cautions that it is too early to predict the magnitude or
duration of the anticipated El Nino. See the NOAA press
release at:
<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s849.htm>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- February 6, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
President's Budget Supports Efficiency, Renewable Energy
Budget Includes Tax Incentives for Renewables, CHP, Hybrids
Alliant Energy Seeks Renewable Power Sources for Iowa
DOE Awards More Than $500,000 for Metal Casting Research
Explosion at FuelCell Energy Plant Delays Shipments
New Energy Corporation Retracts Claim of Solar Contract
*Energy Facts and Tips
EIA Issues U.S. Renewable Energy Maps
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
President's Budget Supports Efficiency, Renewable Energy
President Bush released his administration's proposed
$2.13 trillion federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2003 on
Monday. Although the budget emphasis is on the war on
terrorism and U.S. homeland security, the budget maintains
funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy
programs, while providing new tax incentives to encourage
the use of these technologies (see second story below). See
the full budget on the White House Web site at:
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2003/>.
The proposed overall budget for DOE's Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which funds this
newsletter and the EREN Web site, remains nearly steady,
increasing about 0.8 percent above FY 2002 funding levels.
Funding for renewable energy programs increases 5.5 percent
in the budget, with significant funding boosts for hydrogen,
hydropower, and solar building technology research and
development, as well as for programs that encourage
renewable energy use on Indian reservations and internationally.
However, the research budget for concentrating solar power
technologies suffers a cut of 86 percent.
Overall funding for energy efficiency programs decreases by
about 1.3 percent. The largest change is a budget increase
of 25 percent for the Federal Energy Management Program,
which helps the federal government reduce its energy use.
EERE estimates that the combined energy efficiency and
renewable energy programs, which cost about $1.3 billion
per year, will save the country between $76 billion and
$125 billion in energy costs by 2020.
See EERE's "Budget-in-Brief" on the EREN Web site at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/budget/budget_summary03.html>.
See also the "Renewable Energy Resources" and "Energy
Conservation" sections under the "Detailed Budget
Justifications" heading of DOE's budget request, posted at:
<http://www.mbe.doe.gov/budget/03budget/index.htm>.
In his announcement of the DOE budget, Secretary of
Energy Spencer Abraham specifically noted that the
proposed budget will support the President's commitment to
double funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program
over the next 10 years, and will provide roughly $150 million
for FreedomCAR, which aims to develop the infrastructure
and technologies needed for hydrogen-powered fuel-cell
vehicles. See the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/febpr/pr02016.htm>.
The administration's proposed budget is only the first step in
the budget process. Both the House and Senate will now
start working on a series of bills to set a budget and appropriate
funds. For FY 2002, for instance, the President's budget
originally proposed cutting funding for EERE, but as shown
in the budget documents cited above, funding for FY 2002
ended up higher than the previous year's funding. See the
news about last year's proposed budget in the April 11,
2001, edition of the EREN Network News at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/archives/2001/apr11_01.html>.
Budget Includes Tax Incentives for Renewables, CHP, Hybrids
The President's budget for fiscal year 2002 includes
$9.1 billion in tax incentives over 10 years to encourage the
use of renewable energy, combined heat and power (CHP)
systems, and energy-efficient vehicles.
For power producers, the budget includes a new 10-percent
investment tax credit for qualifying CHP systems, an
extension of the tax credit for landfill methane power plants,
an extension of the production tax credit (PTC) through
2005, and an expansion of the PTC to include more biomass
energy facilities. The PTC provides renewable power
producers with a tax break of 1.5 cents per kilowatt-hour (in
1992 dollars, adjusted for inflation) and was formerly
applicable only to electricity produced from wind power,
poultry waste, and biomass power produced from dedicated
energy crops.
The PTC expired in December, leading to a slowdown in the
wind energy business. For example, Vestas Wind Systems
A/S shifted 1,200 employees to half-time work in January,
with the expectation that the slowdown will continue for
12 weeks. See the Vestas press release at:
<http://www.vestas.com/nyheder/presse/2002/UK/fond20020124_UK.html>.
The budget also includes a tax credit for the average
American -- people that install solar hot water or solar
electric systems on their homes would earn a tax credit of
15 percent of the cost of the systems, including installation.
The credit has a maximum of $2,000 per person for solar hot
water systems and another $2,000 per person for solar
photovoltaic systems.
People buying hybrid electric vehicles would also earn a tax
credit of up to $4,000, with the amount determined by both
the performance of the hybrid system and the vehicle's fuel
economy. When fuel-cell vehicles become available, they'll
earn an even higher tax credit -- at least $4,000 and up to
$8,000, depending on the vehicle's fuel economy.
And fuel producers don't get left out of the equation -- the
budget also proposes extending the tax credit and excise tax
exemption for ethanol and methanol from renewable
sources.
See pages 71-73, 80 and 99 (PDF pages 75-77, 84 and 103)
of the "Analytical Perspectives" section of the President's
budget at:
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2003/>.
Alliant Energy Seeks Renewable Power Sources for Iowa
Alliant Energy announced in late January that it plans to add
enough renewable energy generating capacity in Iowa to
produce up to 150,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year
-- enough to meet the annual power needs of more than
20,000 households. A wind power plant that produces power
one-third of the time would require a capacity of about
50 megawatts to generate that much electricity. The
company serves 464,000 electric customers in Iowa, and
intends to add the renewable power capacity by the end of
2003. The company has posted a request for proposals on
its Web site; proposals are due by April 2nd. See the Alliant
Energy press release, with a link to the request for
proposals, at:
<http://www.alliantenergy.com/news/news.php?issueID=237>.
DOE Awards More Than $500,000 for Metal Casting Research
DOE announced last week its award of $533,328 over three
years to a technical consortium, headed by the University of
Michigan in Ann Arbor, for research into ways to improve the
casting of light metal alloys. By studying how heat is
transferred between the mold casting and the metal, the
researchers hope to develop lighter, stronger, and less-
expensive molds. One aim of the research is to reduce the
amount of scrap and reworked materials in the aluminum
mold and die casting industry by eight percent. The
projected energy benefits in the metal casting industry alone
over the next ten years are estimated to be 36.6 trillion Btu
-- enough energy to power all the homes in Arkansas for a
year. See the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/febpr/pr02015.htm>.
Explosion at FuelCell Energy Plant Delays Shipments
An explosion racked the production line of FuelCell Energy's
manufacturing plant in Torrington, Connecticut, on January 14th,
slightly injured five employees. A buildup of solvent fumes
caused the explosion on the company's new "tape casting"
line, which is used to manufacture fuel cell components. The
company emphasized that the explosion was not caused by
hydrogen, nor was it caused by the operation of one of its
fuel cells.
FuelCell Energy has continued to assemble fuel cells at the
facility since the explosion, but is expecting delays of four to
six weeks in its fuel cell shipments. The company shut down
both tape-casting lines as a safety precaution, but expects to
restart the older line in mid-February. The new tape-casting
line was recently installed at a cost of $1.7 million. See
FuelCell Energy's Form 8-K filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (used to make investors aware of
any significant company events) on the company's Web site at:
<http://www.fce.com/site/investor/press/releases/2002/01_31_02.html>.
New Energy Corporation Retracts Claim of Solar Contract
New Energy Corporation announced last week that it had
mistakenly claimed to have a contract to deliver solar
electricity to Teixeira Farms of Santa Maria, California, and
that in fact no such contract exists. The company now claims
to have purchase orders from Distributed Power Systems for
the installation of four solar electric systems, each with a
generating capacity of one megawatt. The original story was
covered in the January 9th edition of the EREN Network
News:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/archives/2002/jan09_02.html>.
Since January 18th, the trading of New Energy stock has
been suspended by the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission over "questions involving the adequacy and
accuracy of public disclosures," in particular, "the value of
certain power generation contracts, the existence and size of
certain purchase orders for solar chips and its partner's
relationship with the Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power." Last week, Stratos Research, LLC, an investment
research firm, announced that it had suspended coverage of
New Energy and had removed its research report on the
company from its Web site, due to concerns that the report
"may contain factual errors." See all of the relevant press
releases by selecting "Press Release" on the New Energy
Web site at: <http://www.newenergyco.com/>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EIA Issues U.S. Renewable Energy Maps
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) completed a
new regional series of renewable energy maps last week.
The Renewable Energy Map series includes maps of each of
the nine U.S. census divisions, plus individual maps of
California, Alaska, and Hawaii. The maps attempt to indicate
all renewable energy resources in each region, and also
show the location of all renewable energy power plants with
a net summer capacity of 1 megawatt or more. See the EIA
Renewable Energy Maps at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/reps/remap/contents.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- February 13, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
Massachusetts Moves Ahead on Renewable Energy Requirement
DOE Releases Design Guidelines for Energy Efficient Schools
U.S. Ethanol Fuel Industry Sets Production Record in 2001
Environmental Assessment: GM Falls Short on Fuel Efficiency
DOE Awards $6 Million to Missouri for Home Weatherization
*Energy Facts and Tips
EIA: Expect a Rise in Gasoline Costs, Drop in Heating Costs
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Massachusetts Moves Ahead on Renewable Energy Requirement
The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER)
released last week its final renewable energy portfolio
regulation, which sets a minimum requirement for generating
electricity from new renewable energy sources. The regulation
requires all retail electricity providers in the state to draw on
new renewable energy sources for at least one percent of
their power supply in 2003, increasing to four percent by
2009. The state mandated the renewable energy regulation
in its Electric Utility Industry Restructuring Act, enacted in
1997.
The DOER regulation allows the use of solar, wind, and
ocean energy, as well as landfill methane gas, anaerobic
digester gas, and low-emission biomass power (but not from
municipal waste), to meet the requirement. In general, only
facilities that started commercial operation in 1998 or later
will qualify. Biomass can also be co-fired with other fuels for
partial credit if the facility meets certain criteria. Electricity
providers that fall short of the requirements can opt to pay
5 cents per kilowatt-hour to the Massachusetts Technology
Park Corporation (MTPC), which administers the
Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. The MTPC, in turn,
will use the funds to maximize the commercial development
of new renewable generation facilities in the state. See the
DOER press release, with a link to the full regulation, at:
<http://www.state.ma.us/doer/pub_info/nr020207.htm>.
The State of New York is also pressing ahead with plans to
encourage renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency.
The state's draft energy plan, now being reviewed in public
hearings, includes plans to solicit long-term contracts for
electricity from renewable energy sources, examine the
feasibility of a requirement similar to Massachusetts' new
regulation, help create a biofuels industry in the state, and
encourage the use of distributed generation and combined
heat and power technologies. The plan also proposes a
statewide energy efficiency standard, voluntary energy-
efficiency agreements with businesses, efforts to encourage
alternative modes of transportation, and programs to
promote energy efficiency in buildings. The plan specifically
suggests a coordinated effort to include energy efficiency
and other green building principles in rebuilding efforts in
New York City. See the draft energy plan on the New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority Web site
at: <http://www.nyserda.org/sep.html>.
DOE Releases Design Guidelines for Energy Efficient Schools
DOE released last week the first of seven volumes of design
guidelines for energy-efficient schools, providing the detailed
information needed for schools to save millions of dollars in
energy costs. U.S. schools for kindergarten through the
twelfth grade spend a total of about $6 billion on energy
each year, a quarter of which could be saved through energy
efficiency. In addition, a number of recent studies show that
students learn better in comfortable classrooms that make
use of natural sunlight.
The new design guidelines cover a wide range of
technologies for schools in hot and dry climates, and also
include numerous case studies. The remaining six volumes
will cover the other U.S. climate zones and will be released
by this summer. DOE aims to help school districts achieve
energy savings as they renovate old schools or build new
ones -- U.S. school districts are expected to spend
$79 billion on such projects over the next three years. See
the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/febpr/pr02021.htm>.
The design guidelines are a product of EnergySmart
Schools, a part of DOE's Rebuild America Program. See the
EnergySmart Schools Web site, including a link to the new
design guidelines, on EREN at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/energysmartschools/>.
U.S. Ethanol Fuel Industry Sets Production Record in 2001
The U.S. ethanol fuel industry achieved a record production
of 1.77 billion gallons in 2001. The Renewable Fuels
Association (RFA) announced in late January that production
in 2001 increased to nearly 10 percent above 2000
production levels. Construction began on nearly 20 new
ethanol plants in 2001, in part to meet an increase in
demand for ethanol in California, which is phasing out its use
of MTBE as a gasoline additive and is required to replace it
with ethanol. See the RFA press release at:
<http://www.ethanolrfa.org/pr020128.html>.
The RFA also called attention on Monday to a DOE report
that shows "no major infrastructure barriers exist" for a
greatly expanded ethanol industry. The report examines the
infrastructure impacts of producing and using more than
5 billion gallons of ethanol in the United States each year.
See the RFA press release, with a link to the full report, at:
<http://www.ethanolrfa.org/pr020211.html>.
Environmental Assessment: GM Falls Short on Fuel Efficiency
The first outside environmental assessment of General
Motors Corporation (GM) has found that despite progress on
many environmental fronts, GM has failed to improve the
overall fuel economy of its fleet. The assessment was
performed by the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible
Economies (CERES) with the cooperation of GM, and the
results were released in late January. Back in 1994, GM was
the first Fortune 50 manufacturing company to endorse the
CERES Principles, which include goals for protecting human
health, natural resources, and the global environment. The
environmental assessment is one requirement of companies
that endorse the CERES Principles.
The CERES review did credit GM with increasing the fuel
efficiency of its vehicles model-by-model, but concluded that
increased sales of sport utility vehicles and trucks held
steady the overall fuel efficiency of the GM fleet of cars and
trucks. See the CERES press release at:
<http://www.ceres.org/events_news/press_gm.htm>.
With the emphasis on aluminum components in some high-
efficiency cars, particularly the Honda Insight, you might
think the steel industry would be averse to fuel-efficiency
increases. If so, you'd be wrong. According to the American
Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), advanced high-strength steels
can help vehicles achieve five-star crash ratings while
doubling fuel efficiencies, without increasing their cost. An
AISI study developed conceptual vehicle designs using the
high-strength steels and compared the vehicles' predicted
performance to high-efficiency concept cars such as the
GM Precept. The AISI conceptual vehicles achieved similar
vehicle weights and fuel efficiencies at lower costs,
according to the study. Computer simulations showed the
vehicles would earn a five-star crash rating in U.S. tests. See
the AISI press release at:
<http://www.autosteel.org/press_release_output.php3?prjob_num=1222>.
DOE Awards $6 Million to Missouri for Home Weatherization
DOE announced last week the award of more than $6 million
to Missouri for weatherization assistance to low-income
households. The award will boost the energy efficiency of an
estimated 1,726 homes in the state. The grant is part of
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program, which provides
funds to state and local agencies, as well as American
Indian tribes, for measures that improve the energy
efficiency of the homes of people that can least afford to
waste energy. This year, the program will reduce the energy
bills of roughly 105,000 low-income families, saving each an
average of $218 per year. See the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/febpr/pr02020.htm>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EIA: Expect a Rise in Gasoline Costs, Drop in Heating Costs
Crude oil prices are expected to gradually increase this year,
pushing U.S. gasoline prices up too, says the latest "Short-
Term Energy Outlook" from DOE's Energy Information
Administration (EIA). Meanwhile, a mild winter is causing a
low demand for heating fuels such as heating oil, propane
and natural gas, causing a price slump for those fuels. The
combination of a mild winter and a reduced energy demand
due to the economic slowdown has allowed inventories of
fuels to recover from last year's lows. The amount of natural
gas in storage is high, causing lower prices and reduced
drilling for natural gas. For gasoline prices, the combination
of increased demand as the weather gets warmer and
reduced OPEC oil production should push prices up about
15 cents by late spring, says EIA. See the EIA report at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Bergey [mailto:mbergey@...]
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 8:48 PM
Subject: Please call your Senators
The American Wind Energy Association, AWEA, the small wind turbine industry,
and potential buyers of small wind systems need your help this week to
support a Senate floor amendment to the Senate Energy Bill next week. Sen.
Richard Durbin of Illinois, the Senate author of S. 1810, will ask the
Senate to
amend their new energy bill to include all of the provisions of S. 1810.
This bill
would provide a 30% federal tax credit for purchases of small wind turbines
up
to 75 kW.
The Senate is in recess this week and Senators are in their home
states. You can help by calling the local offices of both of your
Senators. These telephone numbers will be listed in most phone books.
Ask them to support the Durbin amendment, to the Senate Energy bill, on
small wind energy systems. Please emphasize that it is for small wind
systems for homes, farms, and businesses, not large wind systems covered by
the "existing, but expired" Production Tax Credit.
Last week the Senate drafted an Energy Bill that included a 30% tax credit
for small wind systems for homes. But, it only covers residential
applications and the credit is capped at $2,000. We need the cap removed
and eligibility opened back up to farms and businesses. The Durbin
amendment will do that.
Please take time in the next few days to place these important phone
calls. AWEA is working hard to resurrect a federal tax credit for small
wind systems (we have not had one since 1985!), but they could really use
some grassroots help. You would be amazed at how effective a few focused
calls from constituents can be.
Further information on S. 1810 and its House companion, HR 2322, are
available at www.bergey.com (this listing doesn't, however, have up to date
information on the new Senate Energy Bill or the upcoming Durbin amendment)
Thank you very much,
Mike Bergey
Chair, AWEA Small Wind Turbine Committee
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- February 20, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
President Bush Unveils U.S. Global Warming Initiative
California Power Authority Issues Resource Investment Plan
Distributed Generation Powers Much of the Winter Olympics
California Sets Tough Air-Conditioner Efficiency Standard
Soy-Based Biodiesel Firm Earns $7.5 Million Subsidy
DOE Awards Florida $3.5 Million for Energy Efficiency
*Energy Facts and Tips
NRC Orders Nuclear Plants to Tighten Security
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
President Bush Unveils U.S. Global Warming Initiative
President Bush unveiled a new U.S. initiative for addressing
global climate change last week. Rather than focusing on the
absolute amount of greenhouse gases emitted each year,
the Bush administration's plan emphasizes "greenhouse gas
intensity," that is, the amount of greenhouse gases produced
per dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). The initiative
sets a goal of reducing the U.S. greenhouse gas intensity by
18 percent in the next ten years -- from 183 metric tons of
emissions per million dollars of GDP to 151 metric tons of
emissions per million dollars of GDP. The initiative relies on
a combination of voluntary emissions reductions, advances
in energy technologies, and tax credits for renewable energy
installations, energy efficient vehicles, and other energy
technologies.
President Bush also announced a new initiative for cutting
power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and
mercury. The "Clean Skies" initiative proposes a system of
tradable emissions credits that will lead to lower emissions,
similar to the system already in place for sulfur dioxide
emissions. If enacted into legislation, the initiative will mark
the first time that power plant emissions of mercury have
been regulated.
See the "Global Climate Change Policy Book," with links to
the President's speech and the "Clean Skies" documents, on
the White House Web site at:
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/climatechange.html>.
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted last
week that voluntary efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions are making headway. Companies that are
currently reporting on their voluntary greenhouse gas
reductions achieved 269 million metric tons of equivalent
carbon dioxide reductions in 2000. The 222 companies
participating in the voluntary program implemented 1,882
projects to achieve those reductions, which equaled nearly
4 percent of the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2000.
See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press189.html>.
EIA included such advances in its Annual Energy Outlook
2002, released last November. Based on past trends toward
a more energy-efficient economy, the outlook projected that
the "carbon intensity" of the economy -- essentially
equivalent to the greenhouse gas intensity -- would decline
at an average annual rate of 1.5 percent per year through
2020. That projection would result in a 14 percent reduction
in carbon intensity by 2012. But with the anticipated growth
in the U.S. economy, the projection shows actual
greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion
increasing to about 1.9 billion metric tons -- about 40 percent
above 1990 levels. See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press185.html>.
California Power Authority Issues Resource Investment Plan
California's Consumer Power and Conservation Financing
Authority released its energy resource investment plan last
week. Based on a number of gaps in the state's electricity
supply -- including inadequate reserves of electrical capacity,
an inadequate diversity of fuels to provide the state's power,
and a lack of power choices for the state's consumers -- the
power authority proposes a "cost-effective energy resource
investment strategy" based on "an aggressive investment in
energy efficiency and renewable energy resources." The
power authority proposes to provide 3,500 megawatts of
reserve electrical capacity by 2006 through investments in
energy efficiency, electrical load management, clean forms
of distributed generation, and renewable energy. By issuing
bonds for up to $5 billion, the authority plans to finance a
variety of projects, including 1,275 megawatts of new
generating capacity powered by renewable energy.
The power authority's investment plan was approved by its
board last Thursday and sent on to the California legislature.
See the power authority's Web site, with a link to the full
plan, at: <http://www.capowerauthority.ca.gov/default.asp>.
Distributed Generation Powers Much of the Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, are
drawing on 350 portable generators to supply 100 megawatts
of power for such critical functions as broadcasting, security,
timing and results operations, and information technology.
Aggreko LLC has had a 107-member team installing power
systems at the Salt Lake City site for the past 18 months.
Although many of Aggreko's systems are providing backup
power for utility-powered systems, the company's press
release notes that most of the 20 Olympic venues are
powered by temporary generation systems. The next stop for
the team: the 2002 World Cup Games in Japan. See the
press release on the Aggreko home page at:
<http://www.aggreko.com/>.
Portable generators are one example of distributed
generation, the production of electricity via a large number of
relatively small generators, usually located close to the
electrical load. Distributed generation can meet many needs:
DOE's Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), for example,
is evaluating distributed generation as one means of
avoiding the construction of new power lines. BPA
announced last week that it will examine energy efficiency,
distributed generation, and other alternatives before building
new power lines. See the BPA press release at:
<http://www.bpa.gov/Corporate/KCC/nr/02nr/nr021302x.shtml>.
For more information about distributed generation and other
distributed energy sources, see the Distributed Energy
Resources Web site on EREN at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/der/>.
California Sets Tough Air-Conditioner Efficiency Standard
The California Energy Commission (CEC) announced last
week that it has adopted the nation's toughest energy
efficiency standard for central air conditioners. The new
standard is 30 percent better than the existing federal
standard. It is also 10 percent better than the proposed new
federal standard, so it will require a waiver from the federal
government to be enacted into law. In addition, the CEC
adopted new state standards for commercial refrigerators,
beverage vending machines, exit signs, traffic signals,
torchiere lighting fixtures, coin-operated clothes washers,
and electrical transformers. See the February 14th press
release on the CEC Web site at:
<http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/index.html>.
New homebuyers want energy-efficient appliances,
according to a survey commissioned by Sears, Roebuck and
Company. The survey found that despite 70 percent of
prospective homebuyers claiming to want energy-efficient
appliances, only half of U.S. homebuilders provide them.
Sears, of course, sells a number of energy-efficient
appliances. See the February 8th press release by selecting
"News Releases" on the Sears Web site at:
<http://www.sears.com/sr/misc/sears/about/aboutmain/mainpage.jsp>.
Soy-Based Biodiesel Firm Earns $7.5 Million Subsidy
Southern States Power Company, a producer of biodiesel
from soy, has been awarded a subsidy of up to $7.5 million
from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the
company announced last week. The USDA's Bio-Energy
Subsidy Program will provide a quarterly subsidy based on
the company's purchase of soy for the production of
biodiesel. See the Southern States press release at:
<http://www.sspowerco.net/newspress.cfm>.
Farmers help produce soy-based biodiesel, so why shouldn't
they use it as well? That's the thinking at FS/GROWMARK, a
farmer's cooperative that operates in the U.S. Midwest and
in Ontario, Canada. With the help of the Illinois Soybean
Association, FS/Growmark is now selling diesel blends
containing from 2 to 20 percent biodiesel through
participating cooperatives throughout Illinois. For
convenience, the biodiesel blends are delivered directly to
the farmer. See the FS/GROWMARK press release at:
<http://www.growmark.com/Room/Features/Fuels/biodiesel.htm>.
DOE Awards Florida $3.5 Million for Energy Efficiency
DOE announced last week its award of $3.5 million for
Florida's weatherization and state energy programs. Florida
will receive nearly $2 million for energy efficiency
improvements to an estimated 800 low-income homes. An
additional $1.5 million will go towards improving the state's
building energy codes and educating Floridians about
energy efficiency in homes, schools, and businesses. See
the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases02/febpr/pr02026.htm>.
The funds are being provided through DOE's Weatherization
Assistance Program and State Energy Program, both part of
the DOE Office of Building Technology, State and
Community Programs (BTS). See the BTS Web site on
EREN at: <http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC Orders Nuclear Plants to Tighten Security
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced last
week that it will issue orders to all commercial nuclear power
plants and other key nuclear facilities to implement new
security measures "for the high-level threat environment."
The new orders will formalize measures taken after the
September 11th terrorist attacks, and includes such actions
as additional personnel access controls, enhanced
requirements for guard forces, increased stand-off distances
for searches of vehicles approaching nuclear facilities, and
heightened coordination with appropriate local, state, and
federal authorities. The NRC says the orders are prudent
because "the generalized high-level threat has persisted
longer than expected." See the February 14th press release
on the NRC Web site at:
<http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/>.
The NRC announcement follows a mention by President
Bush last month of potential threats to nuclear power plants.
In the President's State of the Union Speech, he noted that
"Our discoveries in Afghanistan confirmed our worst
fears...(we) have found diagrams of American nuclear power
plants..." See the State of the Union Speech on the White
House Web site at:
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/01/20020129-11.html>.
Dams may also be in jeopardy, according to the National
Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC). The center released
a bulletin in late January that warns of potential terrorist
interest in the structural engineering of dams. See the NIPC
Information Bulletin at:
<http://www.nipc.gov/publications/infobulletins/2002/ib02-001.htm>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
=================================================
EREN NETWORK NEWS -- February 27, 2002
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN).
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/>
=================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
General Electric Buys Enron Wind, Buoys U.S. Wind Industry
NREL Updates Top-Ten List of Utility Green Power Programs
Study: Economy Can Grow While Carbon Emissions Are Cut
Army Corps Releases Final Report on Snake River Dams
IBM Introduces New Energy-Saving Web Server
Microbes Found to Convert Organic Matter Into Electricity
*Energy Facts and Tips
EPA Releases Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gases
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
General Electric Buys Enron Wind, Buoys U.S. Wind Industry
GE Power Systems -- a General Electric company --
nnounced last week that it plans to buy Enron Wind from its
parent company, the bankrupt Enron Corporation. GE Power
Systems will take ownership of the Enron's wind turbine
manufacturing and marketing operations, but not the wind
facilities owned or operated by Enron. The news was a relief
to the U.S. wind energy industry, which feared that one of
the largest U.S. wind turbine manufacturers -- the seventh
largest in the world -- would be sold to a company overseas.
If approved by bankruptcy court, the deal should be finalized
in April. See the press releases from Enron and General
Electric on the Enron Wind Web site at:
<http://www.enronwind.com/newsroom/pressrel/index.html>.
Meanwhile, the progress on U.S. wind power installations
has slowed dramatically this year. One of the few recent
wind power additions was a single 900-kilowatt wind turbine
installed near Valley City, North Dakota, by Minnkota Power
Cooperative. Power from the turbine will be sold through the
utility's green power program. Commissioned in late
January, the turbine holds the honor of being the first utility-
scale wind turbine in North Dakota. See the Minnkota press
release at: <http://www.minnkota.com/infinity1.htm>.
Despite the slowdown, larger wind power installations are
still being planned and pursued by several companies.
Endless Energy Corporation, for instance, has announced
plans to install a 7-turbine wind facility near Manchester,
Vermont, and a 29-turbine facility near Stratton, Maine.
Combined, the two facilities could generate enough
electricity to power 35,000 New England homes. The
company hopes to install the Vermont facility this summer.
See the Endless Energy Web site at:
<http://www.endlessenergy.com/>.
NREL Updates Top-Ten List of Utility Green Power Programs
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
updated this month its popular top-ten lists of utility programs
that sell green power, which is electricity from renewable
energy sources. NREL ranks the most effective of these
utility programs -- sometimes called "green pricing" programs
-- based on customer participation, new renewable energy
installed capacity, and cost premiums.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ranked
first for total number of customers: its "Green Power for a
Green L.A." program has 87,000 participants, although about
half of those are low-income customers who are signed up at
no cost. In terms of percentages, Moorhead Public Service
of Minnesota comes in first with 7.0 percent of its customers
signed up. For new renewable power capacity, Austin
Energy of Texas takes first place with 76.9 megawatts of
wind and solar power installed. And there's a three-way tie
for the lowest premium, with two California utilities --
Roseville Electric and Sacramento Municipal Utility District --
and the Texas-New Mexico Power Company each charging
customers just a penny extra per kilowatt-hour for green
power. See the top-ten lists on the EREN Green Power Web
site at: <http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/topten.shtml>.
Green power experts believe these numbers will get even
better: at a green power conference last week, experts
predicted that utilities would achieve 10 percent participation
rates in green pricing programs within the next five years.
Xenergy Inc. organized the conference in cooperation with
the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). See the February
21st press release by selecting "For the Press" on the
Xenergy Web site at:
<http://ragtime.xenergy.com/XENHome.nsf/HTMLDocs/1_About>.
CRS, by the way, is offering an accreditation program for
utility green pricing programs. Three programs -- Tennessee
Valley Authority's "Green Power Switch," Wisconsin
Electric's "Energy for Tomorrow," and Madison Gas and
Electric's "MGE Wind Power" -- have already been
accredited. See the CRS Web site at:
<http://www.resource-solutions.org/CRSprograms/greenpricing.html>.
Study: Economy Can Grow While Carbon Emissions Are Cut
A new report by the Center for a Sustainable Economy
(CSE) and the Economic Policy Institute concludes that the
U.S. economy can grow under policies that tax carbon
dioxide emissions while promoting energy efficiency and
renewable energy. The study used a sophisticated
macroeconomic model to examine the effects of these
policies. Included in the model were policies to help energy-
intensive industries that would be hurt by a carbon tax and
policies to help workers that would be displaced from
carbon-intensive industries, such as the coal industry. The
model also assumed that most of the revenues from the
carbon tax would go towards a cut in income tax.
The study found that under this set of policies, U.S. gross
domestic product (GDP) would grow 0.6 percent by 2020,
while carbon dioxide emissions would drop by 50 percent.
Along the way, a net 1.4 million jobs would be created, after-
tax wages would rise, and household energy bills would fall.
And oil imports, currently projected to increase by about
40 percent by 2020, would instead stay essentially level. See
the CSE press release, with a link to the full report, at:
<http://www.sustainableeconomy.org/press/cleanenergy.htm>.
A growing number of U.S. cities are now pledging to reduce
their greenhouse gas emissions. Salt Lake City is a recent
entry, pledging to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to
7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. To help meet that
goal, the city will establish a scientific, detailed tracking of its
greenhouse gas emissions. Through the city's "Salt Lake
City Green" program, the city plans to cut emissions by
encouraging the construction of "high performance" energy-
efficient buildings while promoting alternative fuel vehicles,
electricity conservation, and other measures. Mayor Rocky
Anderson announced the pledge on the eve of the Olympic
Winter Games. See the Mayor's announcement at:
<http://www.slcgov.com/mayor/pressreleases/kyoto%20protocol.htm>.
Army Corps Releases Final Report on Snake River Dams
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released last week its
final report on improving salmon passage through the lower
Snake River dams, reaffirming its recommendation to make
major systems improvements to the dams, as was first
announced in December. The Corps report rejected the
option of breaching the dams, which would have eliminated
3,033 megawatts of hydroelectric power capacity for the
region -- about 7 percent of the region's total generating
capacity. The newly released feasibility report and
environmental impact statement provides the basis for the
Corps' recommendation and includes details of the
recommended system improvements.
The recommended improvements include structural changes
such as upgraded fish ladders (to aid adult fish migrations
upstream) and turbine upgrades. The report also recommends
operational changes such as improved spills of water past
the dams to assist with juvenile fish migration downstream.
The Corps is accepting public comments on the report
through early April. See the February 20th press release on
the Corps' Walla Walla District Web site at:
<http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/html/offices/pa/NR/NR02_files/NR02.htm>.
The full report is loaded with photos and illustrations, and is
actually quite educational. However, the download times are
long, so you might opt to order a compact disk. Both options
are available on the "Final Feasibility Report and
Environmental Impact Statement" link at:
<http://www.nww.usace.army.mil/lsr/>.
IBM Introduces New Energy-Saving Web Server
The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
announced last week that it is producing a new server that
uses 57 percent less electricity than comparable models.
Servers are computers that "serve up" the graphics, text,
forms and other contents of Web pages. The new IBM
server also produces 63 percent less heat than comparable
models, thus also requiring less energy for air conditioning.
See the February 13th press release on the IBM Web site at:
<http://www-916.ibm.com/press/prnews.nsf/TodayDate/Today?OpenDocument>
Microbes Found to Convert Organic Matter Into Electricity
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts (UMass)
have found that a class of energy-harvesting microbes
known as "Geobacters" can convert organic matter into
electrical energy. In a January issue of Science magazine,
the researchers reported on how they built a simple battery
using mud from Boston Harbor and two graphite electrodes.
They then determined that Geobacters were responsible for
generating the electricity. After other microorganisms broke
down the large organic molecules in the mud into acetate,
the Geobacters were able to transfer electrons from the
acetate molecules to the graphite electrode, generating a
current. The Geobacters were also able to generate
electricity from toluene. One possible application, according
to the researchers, would be to harvest sediment on the
ocean floor to generate electricity for deep-sea submarines.
See the UMass press release at:
<http://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/archive/2002/011702electrodes.html>.
More traditional technologies for harvesting ocean energy
draw on the mechanical energy of waves or tides and on the
thermal energy of the ocean. To learn more about these
technologies, see the EREN Ocean Energy page at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/RE/ocean.html>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EPA Releases Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gases
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
in early February its draft inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions and sinks. The report finds that U.S. greenhouse
gas emissions increased 2.5 percent in 2000, to a level that
is 14.1 percent greater than 1990 emissions. The EPA
attributes the increase to robust economic growth, cooler
winter conditions, and a decreased output from hydroelectric
dams. The report, prepared to meet the U.S. commitment to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change, is open to public comment until mid-March. See the
EPA report at:
<http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/emissions/index.html>.
In news that may or may not be related, depending on your
outlook, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) announced last week that average
global temperatures in January made it the warmest month
on record. And here in the contiguous United States, the
three-month period from November 2001 through January
2002 was also the warmest on record. See the NOAA press
release at:
<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s869.htm>.
Even warmer global temperatures are expected by this
summer, as a continuing warming trend in the tropical Pacific
waters signaled the likely development of El Nino conditions
within the next three months, according to researchers at
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. See the NOAA press
release at: <http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s860.htm>.
Meanwhile, new research from Australia's Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
suggests that El Nino events may be getting stronger due to
global warming. CSIRO researchers say they have evidence
that warm water in the oceans at high latitudes is being
carried to the eastern equatorial Pacific by deep ocean
currents. The researchers matched the observation to a
global climate model, suggesting that global warming may
have caused the shift in ocean currents. See the CSIRO
press release at:
<http://www.csiro.au/index.asp?type=mediaRelease&id=WarmingUp>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eren.doe.gov/newsletter/subscribe/>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
kevin_eber@....
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