National Educational Campaign Launched
The National Environmental Trust, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and Physicians for Social Responsibility have launched a national educational campaign to raise awareness of the problem of global warming and to give people a way to register their concerns with elected officials.  The campaign features a new website at http://www.HOTEARTH.net/air .  In addition to basic information, http://www.HOTEARTH.net/air allows visitors to send free e-mails and faxes automatically to elected officials. Source: AWEA Weekly 11/5/99.

Long Island Power Authority Plans Lottery of PV Systems
The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has a new test program through which they will install free solar panels on 30 homes chosen in a lottery.  The program comes at a time when Long Island is facing a shortage of energy caused by rapid building over the last decade.  To address the shortage LIPA is exploring energy alternatives, including solar.  Each of the 30 units provided by LIPA will produce about 600 watts of electricity, and could save homeowners as much as $100 annually. Any LIPA customer with at least 50 square feet of unobstructed roof space and $100,000 in homeowners' insurance is eligible for the program.  LIPA hopes to install the 30 units by the end of the year.  Anyone who wants to enter LIPA's lottery can call 1-877-LIPA-SUN, or visit LIPA's website at www.lipower.org by Nov. 8th. Source: MSRI Electronic Newsletter 11/5/99.

NREL Website Provides Electric Markets Analysis and Applications
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Electric Markets Analysis and Applications website provides a wide range of green power information, including information about renewable energy technology characterization, market penetration of renewable electric technologies, green power networks, a state renewable energy newsletter, and comprehensive information about grid-connected renewable electric generation plants in the United States.  Check it out at http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/emaa/index.html
Source: MSRI Electronic Newsletter 11/5/99.
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For more information on Green Power go to: http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower/
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A New Landmark: Santa Ana, CA's Solar Cube
It's twelve stories high and can be seen for miles.  Santa Ana's new PV system, which is sited beside Interstate Highway 5, has become a landmark.  The 15-watt PV system is part of the Discovery Science Center.  It was funded by the UPVG's Team-Up program and designed by Solar Design Associates of Massachusetts.  To learn more about the Solar Cube, contact Steven J. Strong, President, Solar Design Associates, (978) 456.6855, or visit the Discovery Science Center website www.go2dsc.org/ . Source:  UPVG Member News 11/5/99.

SMUD Begins 435 kW PV California Exposition Project Construction
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, (SMUD), has begun construction on the California Exposition Project, a 435kW covered parking system.  The project is undertaken in partnership with the Utility Power Group and Siemens under the Round Three TEAM-UP Venture.  The project should be completed by the end of the year.  SMUD will also begin construction on its fifth ground-mounted installation at Rancho Seco (500kW) at the end of the year.  This project is also a partnership with UPG and Siemens. Source:  UPVG Member News 11/5/99.

Residential Fuel Cell Testing Begins
Mini-power plants designed for home use will be tested at 16 utility sites by EPRIGEN, Inc., a subsidiary of EPRI. The alpha-test Residential Power Generation (RPG) units, manufactured by American Fuel Cell Corp., will be owned and operated by utility and other participants in a collaborative research project. "This field test initiative is an important first step in evaluating the potential for individual households and communities to produce clean, emission-free energy right in their own neighborhoods," says Dan Rastler, manager of EPRIGEN's Distributed Resources program. Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that cleanly convert natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels directly into electricity. The RPG is designed to allow a home to operate either on or independent from a utility power grid. It uses natural gas or propane fuel as its power source. The RPG, which is pollution free, has an expected electrical efficiency approaching 40%. Team members will assess the installation, operation and maintenance considerations associated with residential sized fuel cell units, and will recommend modifications and enhancements for future units. Users of the units will provide feedback on technical performance, durability, and reliability of power quality. EPRIGEN will evaluate all test results, and prepare an assessment of the commercial readiness, safety and practicality of RPG technology for household applications, which they will share with participants. The RPG units are designed for operation at a continuous output of 3 kW and a self-contained battery pack allows output up to 10 kW during transient loads, such as the start-up of a home appliance. For technical information, contact: John B. O'Sullivan Phone: 650/855-2292 or johsulli@epri.com. Source: EPRI News 11/5/99.

Model Home Features PV Back-Up Power System
Boulder, CO-based McStain Enterprises recently announced it has decided to feature a photovoltaic (PV) solar electricity system with back-up power capabilities on its model home in Longmont. McStain said it now offers the Solarsource systems as a standard option on all its new homes. Solarsource was formed through an unregulated partnership between Golden, CO-based Altair Energy and the Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCCO) which was launched a year ago. The new PV back-up systems will provide power to critical appliances in the event of utility power outages, and will also allow McStain's customers to utilize solar energy for some or even all of their energy needs. "McStain Enterprises is a green builder with its customers in mind," said Altair Energy president Kirk Stokes. "They are offering a product that makes sense and is a feasible option for homebuyers." McStain said its 2,100 square-foot model home includes a 1.2-kilowatt PV system which can meet approximately one-third of a family's power needs. During a power outage, the PV system will automatically power one outlet in each room, the refrigerator, kitchen lights and furnace blower. Contact: Kristin Shewfelt, McStain, phone 303-494-5900 extension 104; Jennifer Harrison Lane, Altair Energy, phone 303-277-0025 extension 103.  Source:  EPRI Green Power News 11/5/99.

Sandia Announces Updates to Their PV Website
Sandia National Laboratories has added several new features to their popular Photovoltaics website www.sandia.gov/pv to make it even more user friendly and pertinent to the U.S. PV industry and Sandia's other customers.  The latest modifications to the website will allow visitors a standard visit to the homepage, the ability to bypass directly to the publications page, or a graphical detour that provides a glimpse of their major capabilities and programs.  A "Recent Webpage Updates" button will highlight items that have been added to the webpage over the previous six- or seven-week period.  Among the many other additions is the solar training programs page www.sandia.gov/pv/training.htm, which was developed to help the Million Solar Roofs Initiative. Source: MSRI Electronic Newsletter 11/5/99.

Biogas Fuels CO Backup Power System
Testing has been completed on a renewable energy-powered backup system that will serve the major wastewater treatment facility in the metropolitan Denver area. Officials say the backup system gives them confidence that the system will have sufficient power for critical functions in the event of a Y2K-related disturbance. "Just two of our four biogas-fueled engines provided sufficient emergency power to run critical functions," said Metro Wastewater Reclamation District (MWRD) director of operations and maintenance Mary Ann Tavery. "There was also power to spare, and we are confident our cogeneration system will get us over the Y2K power hump if that should become necessary."  The emergency five-megawatt backup power system is powered by four 2,000-horsepower, biogas-fueled internal combustion engines. Biogas is produced by 10 anaerobic digesters that are used to treat solids removed from wastewater.  MWRD serves all of Denver, as well as the cities of Arvada, Aurora, Lakewood and Thornton, part of Westminster, and 40 smaller locations in Arapahoe, Adams and Jefferson counties. During July, computers simulated a Y2K changeover situation without incident. Contact: Steve Frank, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, phone 303-286-3465. Source: EIN-RET via MWRD RELEASE: 11/1/99.
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For more information on Renewable Resources go to: http://www.eren.doe.gov/power/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Energy Security Tax Act of 1999 (S. 1833) Introduced in Senate 10/29/99
A broad-ranging energy policy bill that includes a five-year extension of the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) was introduced in the Senate October 29 by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-S.D.).  The Energy Security Tax Act of 1999 (S. 1833) provides for an extension of the PTC through January 1, 2004.  Additionally, wind energy facilities built since the June 30, 1999, expiration of the original PTC would qualify for the tax credit under Daschle's plan.  Meanwhile, the American Wind Energy Association continues working to secure PTC extension within this year's final budget negotiations, expected to wrap up by November 10.  AWEA legislative director Jaime Steve said, "We are very pleased to have the PTC extension included in this energy package which recognizes the contribution wind can make to powering the nation."  The introduction of S. 1833 follows the recent unanimous approval of an 18-month extension of the PTC by the full Senate.  The bill (S.1792), by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bill Roth (R-Del.), would initially extend the PTC to December 31, 2000, also providing retroactive treatment to June 30.  Although newly introduced, S. 1833 serves more as a foundation for comprehensive energy package to be addressed by lawmakers next year.  Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), and Bob Kerrey (D-Neb.) are co-sponsors of the bill, which is written in a fashion to garner bipartisan support.  In addition to wind, renewable energy technologies such as "closed loop" biomass and poultry waste receive tax credits, as well as biomass co-fired in coal plants.  A second bill containing a five-year PTC extension was recently approved by the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power.  Drafted by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Tex.) to restructure the electric utility industry, the legislation contains few provisions to foster the growth of renewables beyond the wind tax credit.  Like the Senate's Energy Security Tax Act, it is unlikely that utility deregulation will progress this year.  Rather, the legislation again serves as a starting point for future consideration of the matter. For additional PTC information, contact AWEA's legislative staff
by phone at (202) 383-2500. Source: AWEA Weekly 11/5/99.
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For more information on legislative activities go to: http://www.kannerandassoc.com/fedenergybills.html
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DOE Indicates Program Opportunities Forthcoming
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced October 29 it will issue a broad based solicitation for "renewable energy and energy efficiency basic research, directed and applied research, demonstrations, and related activities" for fiscal year 2000. The statement serves to alert potential solicitors of upcoming program opportunities and announce the posting of submission guidelines on the Web.  According to DOE, technology specific requests for proposals will be issued as supplemental announcements released separately or in the Federal Register periodically.  All future announcements will be classified under solicitation DE-PS36-00GO10482. For more information, contact DOE's Ruth Adams at (303) 275-4722.  Application guidelines can be found online at http://www.eren.doe.gov/golden/solicitations.html .
Source: AWEA Weekly 11/5/99.

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