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Berlin, CT-based Select Energy, Inc., the competitive marketing and services subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, recently announced its formation of a strategic alliance with NewWind Energy marketer and developer Community Energy, Inc.
As a result of the agreement, Select Energy said business electric customers in upstate New York will be able to secure environmentally friendly power as part of their overall supply. According to Select Energy regional vice president Annette Durnack, the company now offers customers volume-discount pricing according to the amount and length of their wind power contracts. While Select Energy's current marketing efforts are focused initially on Niagara Mohawk's customer territory, Durnack said customers throughout New York can purchase wind power from Select Energy.
Select Energy said plans are in development to make wind power available to other businesses and institutions throughout the northeastern U.S. Contact: Joel Weinberg, Select Energy, phone 800-789-2213 ext 173. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 4/13/2004.
Look for products bearing the Green-e Logo in a grocery store near you. Lundberg Family Farms became the first company to place the Green-e logo on products you can find in your local grocery store.
Lundberg Family Farms purchases Green Certificates from 3 Phases Energy to offset 100% of the energy consumption of all for their rice processing plants. In 2003, Interface Fabrics was the first company to place the Green-e logo on their products. Interface Fabrics purchases Green Tags from Bonneville Environmental Foundation to offset 100 percent of the production of their Terratex line of commercial fabrics with renewable energy.
Nearly 9,000 businesses and organizations purchase Green-e certified renewable
energy. Recently, twenty-eight companies and organizations signed logo-use
agreements with CRS for authorized use of the Green-e Logo to promote their
purchase. These renewable purchasers are displaying the Green-e logo on websites,
in building lobbies, and on their product packaging. The Green-e "Made
With Certified Renewable Energy" product labeling initiative will expand
promotional opportunities and offer an exciting new channel for purchasers
to gain recognition and encourage consumers to purchase certified renewable
energy. During 2004, consumers can look forward to seeing the Green-e logo
on more products ranging from tea, soymilk, paper, fabric, beer and rice.
We will keep you updated on Green-e labeled products as they develop.
For more information visit the Green-e Product Labeling Initiative or contact
Këri Bolding. Source:
The Green-e News--Spring 2004.
The Green-e Program experienced tremendous growth in 2003, including these highlights:
For more information go to Green-e or contact Carrie Harvilla. Source: The Green-e News--Spring 2004.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, CA, 2004-04-14 (Refocus Weekly) The transit authority on Canada’s west coast will purchase electric trolley buses and use the savings to purchase 10,000 green power certificates.
The Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority (TransLink) will use a Cdn$20 million low-interest loan from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to purchase 228 buses. The ‘green municipal fund’ loan is part of FCM’s $250 million federal endowment to support municipal projects which are environmentally positive.
TransLink will reinvest 50% of the savings from the loan to purchase 10,000 green power certificates a year from the provincial utility, BC Hydro, for ten years. The green content of the purchase is sufficient to power one-third of the trolley fleet on an annual basis. The balance of the debt service savings will fund other projects including the purchase of solar-powered bus stops and hybrid buses.
“The purchase of Green Power Certificates is an excellent complement to TransLink's decision to purchase new electric trolleys and speaks to our commitment to reduce energy use,” says Doug McCallum of TransLink. “Taking transit - already a good way to reduce harmful emissions - will be even cleaner now that some of the electricity used to run trolleys comes from green power projects.”
The purchase of Green Power Certificates is a record for BC Hydro, explains president Bob Elton. “We are proud of this program which enables organisations to ensure their electricity use is environmentally friendly.”
“This model sets a new precedent in maximizing the environmental benefits of renewable energy and will lay out a roadmap with lessons learned for other Canadian municipalities to draw upon in the future,” says federal environment minister David Anderson. The announcement was made at the GLOBE 2004 conference in Vancouver.
To date, FCM has approved 297 ‘green municipal fund’ projects for a total of $124 million, leveraging $769 million in total spending. Another renewable energy project approved in the same round was $1.5 million to the city of Revelstoke, BC, to establish a biomass district heating system that is worth $5.5 million. Source: Refocus Weekly - renewables update - issue 91, 4/15/2004.
The new 75-kilowatt Ecostar power converter for photovoltaic applications is now available from Ballard Power Systems. According to the company, the Ecostar features continuous power output at full load, night-time isolation, patented software algorithms, maximum power-point tracking and liquid cooling. Additionally, Ballard said the unit has a peak transformer efficiency of more than 98 percent. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 414/2004.
Dairyland Power Cooperative, together with the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, recently announced the launch of the ONYX Seven Mile Creek landfill gas-to-energy facility in Eau Claire, WI. According to Dairyland, the three-megawatt renewable energy facility, which was designed, engineered and constructed by Ameresco, is expected to be capable of providing electricity to more than 2,600 homes.
Dairyland contracted with ONYX Waste Service, Inc., which owns the Seven Mile Creek Landfill and is a member of the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, to purchase methane gas collected at the landfill for the new generating facility.
"We are making the world a cleaner place simply by making the electricity we all need in our modern lives with this new facility," said Dairyland president and CEO William Berg. "Cooperative members want more renewable energy in their power supply, and Dairyland is excited to provide the latest in efficient renewable generation to their local energy cooperatives." Contact: Tony McKimmy, Dairy Land, phone 608-787-1463. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 4/12/2004.
Local Minnesota newspaper The Daily Tribune recently reported that Hibbing Public Utilities and Virginia Public Utilities plan to launch a biomass project designed to generate electricity from wood at their existing facilities.
According to the newspaper, the utilities said such a venture, which could potentially cost more than $80 million in total, would require the purchase of new boilers, fuel handling systems and other auxiliary equipment as well as the establishment of a wood yard and tree farms.
The newspaper said the utilities anticipate that the project is estimated to provide them with approximately $704,369 in gross revenues "over 20 years." The newspaper noted that the utilities expect to begin generating electricity from biomass by the end of 2006, with Hibbing supplying 20 MW of biomass-generated electricity and Virginia providing 15 MW. Source: The Daily Tribune 4/7/2004 via EIN Renewable Energy Today, 4/12/2004.
As you pull into your local gasoline station to refill your tank, you notice that, along with the regular three grades of gasoline, the station offers an ethanol blend. You recall hearing about the benefits of ethanol, such as how it helps the environment, improves rural economies, and reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil imports. However, you still decide not to use the ethanol blend. Why not? Because you're not sure if your car can safely burn an ethanol blend and you do not want to risk paying for car repairs if it cannot.
The following information may help you determine if you can use ethanol blends in your car the next time you fill up at the pump. Today, two main blends of ethanol are sold - 85 percent of ethanol blended with gasoline and 10 percent ethanol blended with gasoline, referred to as E85 and E10, respectively. In 2002, 99 percent of fuel ethanol consumed was E10, with the rest E85 blends.
E85 - Although E85 is a small percentage of the total, the future of E85 fuels is bright. In fact, the level of E85 consumption in the United States has increased from just under 700 million gallons consumed 1996 to over 10 billion gallons consumed in 2002. The major "driver" of the increase in E85 consumption is the growing number of flexible fueled vehicles on the road. Since 1996, Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have manufactured and sold over 1.6 million FFVs nationwide that are capable of operating on E85 fuel or conventional gasoline. Only FFVs can use E85, but they are not difficult to find. They include models such as the Ford Taurus, Dodge Caravan, and Chevy Silverado. A comprehensive list of FFVs can be found in the 2004 Purchasing Guide for Flexible-Fuel Vehicles. Additionally, Clean Cities offers a buyers guide for these vehicles.
Once you know if you have a car compatible with E85, the next step is to find the nearest station that sells it. Currently, there are only about 180 gas stations in the U.S. offering E85, mostly in the Midwest. The Alternative Fuels Data Center provides an up-to-date list of stations, as well as maps and directions to these stations, at their Alternative Fuel Station Map Site. In Canada, the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association provides a list of the ethanol retailers in each of the provinces at their Directory of Ethanol Retailers.
E10 - If you do not own a FFV, E10 gasoline may still be used in your vehicle. The use of E10 is covered under warranty by automakers selling cars in the U.S., including DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Ford, General Motors, and Honda. Visit the Renewable Fuels Association Website to find a comprehensive list of which Automaker Fuel Recommendations include E10.
One of the most common misconceptions regarding ethanol use is that it plugs fuel filters. On the contrary, ethanol has detergent properties which make it a valuable cleaning agent to help prevent fuel filters from plugging. If your mechanic is uncertain about using ethanol in your specific vehicle, they should consult the Changes in Gasoline Manual: The Auto Technician's Gasoline Quality Guide.
Ethanol-blended fuels can also be used in your yard care equipment, snowmobiles, ATVs, or boats. Lawnmowers, chainsaws, weed trimmers, and blower vacs have all been tested with ethanol fuels and have shown no engine failures, no unscheduled maintenance, and good performance. The RFA Web site 2003 Power Equipment Fuel Recommendations shows that E10 can be used as a fuel for these products.
For example, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality has persuaded
snowmobile rental agencies in West Yellowstone to try ethanol blended fuels
and alternative oil products. Since all rental businesses have started using
these products exclusively, the result has been a
reduction in air pollution in the park. Although, snowmobile
manufacturers approve the use of ethanol in their products, they also
recommend changing to a larger main carburetor jet size when operating on
an oxygenated fuel.
Additionally, watercraft manufacturers Honda, Kawasaki, Mercury Marine, OMC
(Johnson/Evinrude), Pleasurecraft, Tigershark (Artco), Tracker and Yamaha
allow the use of oxygenated fuels in their products under certain restrictions.
Remember that the use of ethanol-blended fuels is not just for a specially designed "car of the future." Today, all cars, trucks, snowmobiles, boats, ATVs, lawnmowers, weed trimmers, and other equipment can use E10 as a fuel. Although you need a FFV to use E85, these vehicles include some of most popular models being sold today. As a consumer, you can have a direct effect on decreasing U.S. dependence on foreign imports of oil, improving the environment, and supporting rural economic growth. Source: April 2004 Biobased Fuels, Power and Products Newsletter.
Toyota Motor Corp. the world's No. 2 auto maker, expects its production of biodegradable plastics to grow into a four trillion yen ($38 billion) business by 2020 when the company hopes to control two-thirds of the world's supply. "[The biotechnology arm] could really explode as a business, and may have the biggest growth potential out of all of our operations," Kozaburo Tsukishima, general manager of Toyota's biotechnology division, said. Toyota began using bioplastics in some new cars last year, including the Raum and Prius models, but also supplies the material to Japanese cosmetics maker Shiseido Co. and other companies. Source: April 2004 Biobased Fuels, Power and Products Newsletter.
The Utility Wind Interest Group would
like to take this opportunity to report on the status of the
organization and operation of the UWIG
user groups. There are four user groups that have been established. They
include:
A new Union of Concerned Scientists analysis shows increasing national renewable electricity use to 20 percent by 2020 would reduce natural gas use and save consumers money.
The National Geothermal Collaborative has recently released a publication entitled: Evaluating State Renewable Portfolio Standards: A Focus on Geothermal Energy. The report examines how state RPS impacts the development of geothermal energy development in the United States.
Companies striving to reduce their environmental impacts by pushing eco-efficiency measures up the supply chain often find that this is much easier said than done. It's certainly not a matter of merely handing down an edict about your environmental standards or specifications and expecting everyone to stand up and salute. Many suppliers would just as soon you take your business elsewhere.
Being big doesn't necessarily help. Even General Motors finds less than total cooperation when it asks suppliers to make environmental improvements. It's not that suppliers don't want to reduce the environmental impact of their operations and products. It's just that many find themselves facing a bewildering array of corporate environmental policies, purchasing specifications, and other criteria.
And yet many companies are successfully forging a green link in the supply chain. In the process, they are finding that both buyer and seller can benefit through shared cost savings, reduced environmental impacts, and enhanced business relationships.
There is no cookie-cutter approach to greening suppliers, as our recent conversations with companies found. Each has managed in its own way. At some companies, environmental procurement initiatives are comprehensive, with extensive performance criteria and evaluation processes given to all, or most, vendors. At others, the efforts are smaller and more targeted, focusing on packaging, for example, on a specific type of emissions, or on only the largest suppliers.
And yet all of these companies appear to have traits in common. For starters, all have high-level environmental commitments, backed by clear, strong mission statements and top management's understanding of the benefits of integrating the environment throughout company operations.
Clear and consistent communications is another common trait. Most companies use a variety of two-way communication vehicles and channels to provide information to — and get information from — vendors. Included in these efforts are initiatives to educate suppliers about environmental issues in general and about the company's green goals and challenges in particular.
Perhaps the most important common trait is the understanding among companies that their efforts to educate, screen, evaluate, monitor, or otherwise interact with suppliers on environmental issues is key to their own performance and competitiveness. "You are what you eat," says Jim Sellar, manager, executive board support, at Lucent Technologies. "If we can push environmental concerns down the supply chain, that makes our job a lot easier in complying and going beyond compliance."
Walking a Fine Line: The challenge for most companies is walking a fine line between gentle prodding and overbearing aggressiveness. The former may lead to little or no change in supplier performance while the latter can anger and alienate key business partners.
Many effective programs begin with a clear statement of a company's goals and expectations. Compaq Computers puts potential suppliers on notice that environmental performance is one of five pre-selection criteria. Volvo sends suppliers information about its environmental commitments along with a self-assessment questionnaire. Hewlett-Packard was instrumental in creating a standard supplier environmental questionnaire for use within the computer industry to screen and evaluate suppliers.
While educating corporate buyers will help, the key to success will come from educating sellers. "The challenge is to make the case that there is a business for the environment," says Bill Shapiro, Volvo's director of environmental affairs. "That is what we need to convince our suppliers of. It is a continuous challenge to educate the business community about our philosophy and what we expect of them."
Questions to Ask Suppliers: Here are some factors to consider when evaluating suppliers for environmental performance:
When SJF Ventures of Philadelphia, a venture capital fund devoted to investing
in "green" or environmentally friendly companies, began raising
its first fund in 1999, it met some heavy resistance.
"At that time, VC was a very hot investment vehicle," said Dan Hoversten,
managing director. "When we promised returns of 10 percent to 12 percent,
we got some pushback from many of the LPs. They were expecting a higher rate
of return."
Fast forward five years. Hoversten said SJF has fared pretty decently. "I believe we're in the top quarter of all funds raised in '99, with returns right around 10 percent to 12 percent."
So-called mission-driven venture funds — private equity funds with a social or environmental agenda, as well as a financial focus — are on the rise. Although their size is still measured in millions of dollars, as opposed to billions for traditional venture capital funds, mission-driven funds — also called community development funds — have nearly doubled in size since 2000.
According to New York City-based trade group Community Development Venture Capital Alliance, capital under management by community-development VCs rose roughly 83 percent, to $550 million in 2003 from $300 million in 2000. Capital under management at traditional VCs rose 15 percent during the same period, to $263 billion from $227 billion.
"Fund-raising in 2000, '01, '02 and '03, percentage-wise, has been a lot stronger than for traditional VCs," said CDVC spokeswoman Charity Shumway. "VC's interest in clean technology does seem to be taking off," said Anthony Romanello, director of Investor Services at Thomson Venture Economics of New York, which tracks the VC industry. Mission-driven funds vary widely in scope and operation. What unites them is their focus on a social, as well as financial, return from their investments.
"They're really looking for companies with a double bottom line — a financial return and a social return," said Elyse Cherry. CEO, of Boston Community Capital of Roxbury, which has raised two funds totaling more than $20 million. "A social return can be thought of in several different ways — as companies that benefit the environment; create jobs, services or products that benefit low-income communities; or are headed by populations that have traditionally been underrepresented, such as women and people of color."
Probably the biggest investors — and the driving force behind the rise of these funds — are banks, thanks largely to the Community Reinvestment Act, a 1977 law passed by Congress to encourage banks to adopt initiatives to meet the credit needs of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods where they do business. Source: Linda Goodspeed, Boston Business Journal, 2004 American City Business Journals Inc.
AWEA, together with the Utility Wind Interest Group, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the International Council on Large Electric Systems, will host an upcoming Wind Integration and Interconnection Workshop May 19 to 20 at the Sheraton Old Towne in Albuquerque, N.M.
The workshop will be the year's premier event for those interested in the technical issues associated with the integration, interconnection, and operation of wind plants in today's increasingly complex power system environment. It is shaping up to be a unique opportunity to engage with others sharing similar interests and concerns. Workshop topics will be:
Who Should Attend?
Workshop information and registration form can also be downloaded. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 4/16/2004.
UWIG will hold its 2004
annual meeting just prior to the workshop on May 17-18 at the same venue.
The meeting will explore key issues related to deployment of wind energy in
the Southwest and nationwide, and will include presentations and discussion
on both large-scale (transmission-connected) and small-scale (distribution-connected)
wind turbine installation experiences. Participants will learn about challenges
and opportunities for integrating wind power to meet growing demands for clean
energy and establish new sources of income for their
communities.
The meeting will include a tour of the 204-MW New Mexico Wind Energy Center near House, N.M. on May 18. The project consists of 136 1.5-MW GE Energy wind turbines. Bus transportation will be provided. AWEA members are invited to attend all three events and will receive the UWIG member rate for registration. More information about the UWIG meeting is available by contacting Karen Lane. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 4/16/2004.
Following the IEEE Rural Electric Power Conference the Cooperative Research Network of NRECA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America Program will conduct a two day workshop on wind power generation.
The California Energy Commission 2003 Integrated Energy Policy Report conducted a workshop on April 5, 2004. See the transcript for the Workshop and other Committee Workshop information on the Electricity Transmission Line Assessment.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has formed an energy network aimed at advancing clean energy solutions. This free resource, called Energy Net, will help you stay informed and take action on renewable energy issues while expanding your skills and expertise. When you sign up you will receive one to three email updates monthly about RE developments around the world.
The Geothermal Technologies Program, one of 11 energy programs in the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, has generated a new Web site that provides simple, intuitive access to information about the program. The redesigned Web site conveys the new program organization and structure and includes program review and presentation material from the last five years. Its "Deployment" section includes information about DOE's GeoPowering the West initiative. The Web site has an updated look and feel to reflect the look of the EERE Web site, and provides the latest news from the program. Source: EERE Network News, 4/14/2004.
The Western Area Power Administration is one of many sponsors in the “Focus on Energy Solutions” workshop. This event is scheduled for May 6, 2004, in Taos, New Mexico. The 1-day workshop is geared for local governments, school districts, and local utility partners, to discover the benefits of renewable energy. The registration deadline is April 30, 2004. For more information or registration, please contact Peggy Plate at 970-461-7227 or 1-800-472-2306.
The 24th Annual Utility Energy Forum, May 5-7, Tahoe City, CA focuses on how utilities, government officials, and product and service providers can help their customers meet their energy needs through efficiency, renewables, and customer service. This year's meeting includes pre-forum workshops and breakout sessions on Utilities' Roles in Economic Development and Renewable Energy Technologies and Tradable Renewable Certificates. The UEF is a non-profit corporation with the mission to promote better utility practices. Source: Energy Newsbriefs March 29 – April 2, 2004
The lastest information for the April 9th update is available on National Wind Coordinating's Committee Web site. Update information includes:
• Call summaries on Wildlife and Transmission
• Siting Case Studies Update
• Documents for review
• Economic Fact Sheets
• RECs Tracking Design Guide
• Transmission Planning Issue Brief
WASHINGTON, DC, US, 2004-04-14 (Refocus Weekly) The U.S. government must allocate US$599 million for renewable energy technologies this year, almost double last year’s budget, according to the Sustainable Energy Coalition.
Congress must “substantially increase” its support for renewables and provide more than the $375 million requested than the White House for FY05. The request is higher than the $358 million allocated in FY04.
The group wants $110 million for hydrogen research that is focussed on using renewables and to “de-emphasize the use of coal or nuclear energy, traditional energy resources, for this purpose.” Another $100 million should be spent on biomass and biofuels, which would include $45 million for a biomass electric program.
Photovoltaics would receive$100 million under the Coalition’s plan, to stop the U.S. decline in share to Japan and Europe, and distributed energy resources would receive $76 million to focus on developing a variety of technologies including gas turbines, reciprocating engines, microturbines, and thermally activated technologies that use waste heat.
Wind would receive $55 million to develop a turbine that operate in low wind speeds and expands the potential for wind by 20 times and allows placement of turbines closer to existing transmission lines. Geothermal is earmarked for $43 million to “urgently” tap the extensive geothermal reserves in the U.S. beyond the current production of only 2 percent of potential. “At one time, the geothermal research budget was over $150 million, but today the program struggles to maintain a bare-bones research program” at $26 million and “simply below critical mass,” says the letter.
Concentrated solar power would receive $25 million to meet a goal of 1,000 MW suggested by state governors in the southwest, and $5 million would go to solar heating and lighting, formerly called ‘solar buildings,’ to reduce consumption of electricity and natural gas, and to reduce the cost of solar DHW to 4¢/kWh in 2004.
Other allocations would be $10 million for hydropower, $40 million for a renewable energy production incentive, $10 million for international programs in renewables, $20 million for public education, and $5 million for a renewable energy resource assessment that is “an inexpensive investment that can have an enormous impact in leveraging future energy investments.”
The Sustainable Energy Coalition has 80 national and state members that promote increased use of renewables and energy efficient technologies. Members include the American Bioenergy Association, American Public Power Association, American Solar Energy Society, American Wind Energy Association, Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Council for Photovoltaic Research, Geothermal Energy Association, National Hydropower Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association. Source: Refocus Weekly - renewables update - issue 91, 4/15/2004.
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Two windmill farms planned for the mountains of western Maryland remain stalled despite the General Assembly's approval of a renewable energy bill as developers await reinstatement of a federal tax credit.
Without congressional action on the tax credit, which expired at the end of last year, "it's going to be pretty difficult to move forward," Kevin Rackstraw, eastern North American regional leader for Clipper Windpower Inc., said Tuesday. "Not that it's impossible, but everything will happen at a higher cost, so people are less willing to do that."
Clipper, of Carpinteria, Calif., won approval from the Maryland Public Service Commission last year to place as many as 67 giant, three-bladed turbines atop Backbone Mountain, Maryland's highest ridge, in southern Garrett County. Another company, US Wind Force LLC, of Wexford, Pa., has been approved for a 25-turbine wind farm atop Big Savage Mountain in neighboring Allegany County.
US Wind Force Chairman David McAnally said Wednesday such projects would benefit from renewable energy legislation the General Assembly passed last week, encouraging utilities to obtain more energy from wind, solar and geothermal sources. Gov. Robert Ehrlich said Monday he was undecided about signing the bill, but it was passed by both houses with more than enough votes to override a veto.
McAnally praised the legislature for passing the bill, which had broad bipartisan, industry and environmentalist support. But he criticized Congress for "continuing to drag their feet" on a federal energy bill that contained the tax credit.
McAnally said he was hopeful that Congress would vote to reinstate the tax credit, possibly as soon as next week. The wind farms could then be constructed as soon as next year, according to the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Clean Energy Partnership, two groups that supported the legislation. Source: The Charleston Gazette, 4/15/2004 via The Daily Power Report, 4/19/2004.
BERKELEY, Calif., April 15, 2004 - Clif Bar is partnering with nonprofit Undoit.org to help educate the public about global warming and encourage passage of federal legislation that would limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Clif Bar expects to collect thousands of signatures this year as part of the Undoit.org campaign to collect 1 million signatures on a petition urging the U.S. government to take decisive action on global warming. The petition calls on Congress to pass the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act, which would establish a cap on greenhouse gas emissions—the primary cause of global warming.
Clif Bar is acquiring petition signatures, registering voters and distributing information about global warming at sporting events and “green” festivals nationwide, through street marketing teams in select cities, online and via the first climate-neutral mobile marketing tour, which visits the East Coast this summer.
“Global warming is a huge world issue that can seem paralyzing,” said Gary Erickson, owner and CEO of Clif Bar and Global Green USA award recipient for Corporate Environmental Leadership. “We want to take action as a company and educate people about the simple ways every one of us can contribute to solving the global warming crisis.”
The mobile marketing tour will feature a bus retrofitted to run entirely on bio-diesel, a clean-burning alternative fuel made from renewable resources. The bus will travel from Tampa, Fla., to Boston throughout the summer, educating thousands of consumers about the benefits of bio-diesel fuel and the role traditional vehicles play in global warming by burning fossil fuels. To offset the environmental impact of other aspects of the climate-neutral tour—shipping, airfare, and the like—Clif Bar will purchase renewable energy credits to support construction of a wind farm.
To “climate neutralize” its own business practices, Clif Bar Inc. is expanding an innovative program begun in 2003 to reduce its carbon dioxide production—the leading contributor to global warming. Last year Clif Bar offset the CO2 generated by its offices, bakeries and business travel, purchasing renewable energy credits to help build the first large-scale, Native American-owned wind farm. This year, the company is helping the wind farm add another turbine by purchasing additional energy credits to offset the CO2 produced through the transport of its products from bakeries to a distribution center.
All told, Clif Bar is purchasing enough energy credits in 2004 to offset 5.5 million tons of CO2—the equivalent of removing 344 SUVs off the road for a year.
The company also is launching the Clif Bar Clean Commute program to offset the global warming pollution generated by its employee commutes to and from work. In partnership with the American Forests Wildfire ReLeaf campaign, Clif Bar is planting 1,000 trees in fire-ravaged portions of Southern California. The newly planted trees will absorb and store CO2 as they grow. Source: GREENBUZZ for April 19, 2004.
The Associated Press recently reported that New Mexico governor Bill Richardson urged Western U.S. state leaders during the Western Governors' Association North American Energy Summit held in Albuquerque last week to band together in support of renewable energy.
"The American West—where the wind blows and the sun shines—has the potential to be a major part of our energy solution," said Richardson. "We could become the nation's energy storehouse—and the economic impacts could be extraordinary."
Specifically, AP said Richardson called on Western states to generate increased amounts of energy from such renewable sources as wind, solar and biomass, while also considering the use of clean coal technology. Additionally, AP noted that Richardson urged Congressional passage of an energy bill containing both a renewable energy tax credit and a "mandatory reliability standard." Source: AP, 4/15/2004.
The Ontario Clean Air Alliance recently announced the release of a new survey of 1,000 Ontario adults which reveals "across-the-board support for alternative energy sources such as wind turbines, water power and high-efficiency, natural gas-fired electricity plants."
According to OCAA, the survey, which was conducted between March 31 and April 12, 2004, indicates that 92 percent of participants support the use of hydropower as an option to replace coal while 86 percent support wind power; 66 percent support natural gas plants; and 44 percent support nuclear power. Additionally, the survey found that 64 percent of respondents support the Liberal Government of Ontario's plan to phase out the province's coal-fired electricity generating stations by 2007.
"[OCAA] believes that Ontario can and should phase out its coal-fired power plants using a combination of energy conservation and efficiency, water power, wind power and high-efficiency, natural gas-fired power plants rather than once again placing a risky bet on nuclear energy," said OCAA chair Jack Gibbons. "Our polling results show that 80 percent of Ontarians agree with us." Complete survey results can be downloaded from the OCAA Web site. For more information contact: Jack Gibbons, OCAA, phone 416-926-1907 ext 240. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 4/14/2004.
The Million Solar Roofs 2004 solicitation is now posted and can be viewed on the IIPS system. All reviewers must be registered in the system. The due date is April 30th, 2004 for all proposals. Source: Margie Bates, U.S. DOE Denver Regional Office.
NorthWestern Energy recently announced it is recruiting ten Montana communities to participate in a new Sun4Communities project, which is designed to enable secondary schools and city and county government buildings to qualify for free solar energy systems.
According to NorthWestern Energy, the project has been developed and is being administered by the National Center for Appropriate Technology. The company said NCAT will install grid-connected, two-kilowatt photovoltaic systems, at no cost, atop participating buildings. Any excess electricity produced by the systems will be redirected into the utility grid through a net metering agreement.
In order for communities to quality, the company said buildings must receive their electricity from NorthWestern Energy and be owned by the city or county. Interested communities must submit an application to NCAT by April 23. Contact: NorthWestern. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/29/2004.
The Defense Energy Support Center recently announced it has issued a request for proposals for renewable energy certificates on behalf of EPA facilities located in Las Vegas, NV; Duluth, MN; Grosse Isle, MI; and Washington, D.C. According to DESC, technical proposals are due by May 17, with pricing due by May 24. Details concerning the RFP can be accessed online. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 4/9/2004.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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