Green Power

Sony Signs Contract to Additional Energy in Japan

Together with its existing contract for 15.5 million kWh per year, Sony is now purchasing a total of 31.5 million kWh of renewable energy per year under the "Green Power Certification System." This energy is then used by Sony Group companies across Japan. In total, Sony Group companies in Japan have now agreed contracts for the supply of 36.4 million kWh2 of renewable energy in fiscal 2007, equivalent to the reduction of approximately 13,760 tons in CO2 emissions.

This latest agreement has been reached with Noshiro Forestry Resource Utilization Cooperative (AkitaPrefecture), for energy generated using their wood biomass power facility. Established in February 2003, this facility generates approximately 20 million kWh of electric power per year. Under this agreement, Sony will receive an annual supply of 16 million kWh of electricity from this facility. In October this year, Sony signed an agreement to purchase 16 million kWh of biomass renewable energy. Source: Huliq, 12/27/07.

LPEA Reduces Price of Green Power

Colorado-based La Plata Electric Association's (LPEA) board of directors has approved a price reduction for power supplied from renewable resources. As of Jan. 1, 2008, LPEA customers can opt to pay a premium of $0.80 per 100 kWh block, down from $1.25 per 100 kWh block.

The price reduction comes as a result of Tri-State Generation & Transmission's revised renewable energy program. Tri-State will now charge its customers, such as LPEA, daily market prices for what it purchases, which currently is approximately $0.40 for each 100 kWh block. Because the market price fluctuates and LPEA does not want to continually change the rate to its volunteer green power customers, LPEA says its board has opted to add an additional $0.40 to the premium to absorb those market fluctuations, as well as generate funds for local renewable programs and purchase locally produced renewable power.

Tri-State's power is generated from wind farms in Wyoming, plus from some small hydro and biomass.

Initially, the LPEA funds will support rebates for those who install renewable generation, market prices to purchase power from LPEA's net-metered accounts and purchase of local renewable energy certificates (RECs). If LPEA secures more local renewable energy than it needs to meet the new Colorado Statue requirements, LPEA can sell the local RECs to utilities outside LPEA's territory. Source: by NAW Staff -- 12/27/07.

Visit U.S. DOE EERE Green Power Network for more information.

Renewable Energy Technologies

Grooming Wind

Can wind be groomed to become a dependable source of electricity? Researchers at Stanford University say that it can. They conclude that various wind farms can connect and then join at a centralized transmission line to accomplish the mission. Wind is becoming a premier energy source. But, its intermittent nature means that providers must "insure" against lulls by backing up plants with steadier fuels such as natural gas and coal. If, though, separate wind farms can be linked to a transmission grid, it would make wind more reliable.

The goal is to create a "master plan," say Stanford University's Cristina Archer and Mark Jacobson. If so, individual wind farms could be joined through common transmission lines that would transport the power to where it is needed. Such a strategy would be paid by the users of the power, who would ultimately be getting cheaper and more consistent wind energy. This could result in bigger rollout of wind energy, which would be beneficial economically and environmentally, they add.

"This study implies that, if interconnected wind is used on a large scale, a third or more of its energy can be used for reliable electric power, and the remaining intermittent portion can be used for transportation, allowing wind to solve energy, climate and air pollution problems simultaneously," says Archer, a professor in Stanford's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The two Stanford professors published their findings in the November issue of the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. If the wind turbines are all interconnected, they say that it increases the odds that some of them will be performing at any given time. That effect, they add, is similar to hamsters in cage where at any point some may be resting while others may be turning their treadmill.

To support their findings, the Stanford group accumulated wind data from the National Weather Service for one year in 2000. They found that the Midwest has 19 locations with average wind speeds of nearly seven meters per second, making it a plush region to produce wind energy. If different wind farms were to connect, they could significantly improve their performance. Wind could therefore increase its market share, albeit such wind facilities would still not be able to run at the same level of efficiency as base-load plants that operate all the time.

To be sure, it's both expensive and time consuming to try to get new transmission built. Simply, some groups don't want electrical cords running through their communities for the benefit of outsiders. And, power companies may not have the determination to fight that sentiment if they are already able to generate power on a more cost effective basis with other fuels such as coal and natural gas.

But, the Stanford scholars say that connecting multiple wind farms to a common point before it is sent to far away cities, would reduce the cost. That's because the "meeting stage" would be in close proximity to the wind farms, thereby reducing the travel time of the electricity. It's the same as a tributary system where lots of streams and creeks join together to form a river that flows out to sea, the authors say.

"The idea is that, while wind speed could be calm at a given location, it could be gusty at others," says Archer. "By linking these locations together we can smooth out the differences and substantially improve the overall performance."

Wind's supporters say that public policy should promote more growth. Toward that end, they are pushing Congress to enact renewable portfolio standards that mandate utilities to generate more green energy while also asking it to renew the production tax credit that encourages the construction of more wind farms. They are also saying that all parties need to join forces to determine how such mammoth projects will be paid.

The creation of a "master plan" to deal with the layout of transmission is doable, proponents say. They point to an off-shore wind project in Europe that is already underway. The developer's vision is to harness this natural energy resource by building a Supergrid that ties together wind sites from the Mediterranean to the North Sea.

By connecting and integrating geographically dispersed wind farms across Europe -- with each site experiencing a different phase of the region's weather system -- electricity will always be produced. It will then be transported to where it is needed, ensuring a reliable and predictable source of energy, says Airtricity, the developer. It says that the project will be economical, noting Europe is starved for new and plentiful sources of energy.

"By providing interconnection between electricity systems, the Supergrid will automatically overcome the most significant barrier to establishing a single internal market for electricity, and thereby will create a more competitive electricity supply for Europe," says Airtricity. "The establishment of a functioning internal market in electricity is necessary if (Europe) is to retain competitive energy supplies into the future and to avoid sliding into irreversible economic decline."

As the global community tries to cope with climate change in the face of rising energy demand, it makes sense to find more efficient ways to produce green energy. The linking of various wind sites to a centralized transmission line is therefore worth exploring. While the power generated would not replace that produced by fossil fuels, the expanded role could help solve the current predicament.

FP&L, NASA Partner to Explore Renewable Energy Projects

Florida Power & Light Co. is partnering with NASA's Kennedy Space Center to explore developing renewable energy projects, Miami-based FPL said Thursday. Under the agreement, FPL and NASA plan to deploy the use of large-scale solar technology in Florida as early as next year.

Examples of the types of projects contemplated for evaluation under the agreement include solar, biomass, and wind energy projects. The parties plan to initially study the feasibility of installing a solar system capable of producing up to 10 megawatts of electrical power at a site of about 50 acres. Such a site would produce enough energy to serve about 3,000 average homes, FPL said.

The utility's parent company, Juno Beach-based FPL Group, owns and operates the largest solar facility in the world. Source: By Marcia Heroux Pounds, Sun-Sentinel, 12/13/2007.

Biomass Power Plant Planned for Minneapolis

Michael Krause is excited about a 70-year-old, two-story brick building with a tall smokestack. It is on a tiny plot of land between the Soldiers and Pioneers Cemetery and a roofing contractor, just west of Hiawatha Avenue. "There's a tip floor, there's a boiler room, there's a stack -- all of the basic elements you'd think of with an energy facility. And I'm thinking, I wonder if we could put new modern energy equipment in here."

Krause started thinking that six years ago, when the city was trying to find a new use for this Depression-era incinerator. Back then, he was running the Green Institute, just across the street. The group did some research, and came up with the idea of burning biomass to produce electricity. Biomass in the form of wood chips is considered carbon-neutral--it doesn't contribute to global warming. "Because the plants, as they grow, sequester as much carbon dioxide as is released during combustion. So, because that loop is relatively short, and it occurs within a 10 or 15 year period, that's said to be carbon-neutral."

The plant would not only produce electricity; it would also put to use hot water, a byproduct of cooling the turbine. The hot water would create steam heat for the Midtown Global Exchange and two hospitals in the neighborhood. That's an efficient approach, especially if it uses waste wood as fuel, Krause says. "There are a million trees just in the city of Minneapolis alone, and there's a fair amount of waste generated: natural growth, natural mortality, diseased trees, storm damage, trimming around buildings and power lines, that's generated every year. Most is being hauled out of city." And Krause says that'll be more than enough to fuel the power plant. Not everyone agrees with him. Over in downtown St. Paul, District Energy operates a combined heat and power plant a lot like the one planned for Midtown Minneapolis.

Mike Burns, vice president of operations at District Energy, says at times he's had trouble getting enough wood chips close by. He's had to import material from the northern part of the state. It's easy to get the idea there's plenty of wood around, until you realize his power plant burns 200,000 to 300,000 tons of wood chips a year, Burns says. "I think everyone would conclude that there aren't 10,000 to 15,000 tractor-trailer loads of harvested urban wood residues sitting around anywhere in the Twin Cities area. I can assure you that's not the case, because being as deep into the market as we are, we know that's not the case."

District Energy is starting to look at importing agricultural waste like corn stalks. But the farther you have to go for fuel, the less efficient and environmentally-friendly the project becomes.

Another criticism for the Minneapolis project is coming from the Michael Krause's former employer, the Green Institute, the group that did the original research. The institute is pushing for a more thorough environmental study. Plans call for 25 truck loads of wood chips to be delivered each day. There is already a lot of truck traffic in the area. Presently, the site is used as a garbage transfer station, which would be eliminated if the power plant goes through. The area is zoned industrial, but there are houses within a couple of blocks of the plant. The state is poised to issue a permit for the project.

The permit says the plant could emit as much as 160 tons per year of smog-causing nitrogen oxides, and various other pollutants. There would be some environmental impact from the plant, Michael Krause admits, but he says on balance it would be much cleaner than the coal that is currently supplying much of the electricity used in the metro area. "The electrical power in this neighborhood is going to come from somewhere. When we look at how much we're saving by generating this electricity from biomass versus coal, 240 million pounds a year of greenhouse gas emissions that we're saving compared to if we were just generating the same amount of electricity from coal." Krause says small, local power plants like his are the way of the future. Most of the time the energy it produces will stay in the neighborhood, providing electricity for about 18,000 homes. Thurday's meeting is being run by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and will explain the permit. It starts at 6:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on East 31st Street in Minneapolis. Source: By Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio. 12/13/2007.

Duke Energy To Buy Wind Turbines

Duke Energy Corp. is expanding its renewable-energy portfolio with the purchase of 100 wind turbines from General Electric Co. The turbines, capable of generating a total of 150 megawatts of power, are expected to be placed into service in 2009-2010 on sites under review in the West and Southwest. The company's wind generation assets are managed by Duke Energy Generation Services. "Growing our wind power portfolio underscores our commitment to reduce carbon emissions across the United States," said DEGS President Wouter van Kempen.

Financial terms weren't disclosed. This year, DEGS acquired the development assets of Tierra Energy, a wind power development company in Austin, Texas. The purchase included more than 1,000 megawatts of wind assets under development in the western and southwestern United States. "Our agreement with General Electric increases our investment in the wind business and further expands Duke Energy's renewable energy fleet," said David Marks, DEGS senior vice president for wind energy development. DEGS provides power under long-term contracts to government and business customers. It is not part of Duke's regulated utility business, which includes Duke Energy Carolinas. Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke (NYSE: DUK) includes the former Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co., Union Light, Heat and Power in Kentucky, and PSI Energy in Indiana. The company also operates Duke Power in the Carolinas. General Electric (NYSE: GE) is based in Fairfield, Conn., Source: Business Courier of Cincinnati, 12/13/07.

December 28th Issue of Renewable Energy Weekly - RenewableEnergyAccess.com

View the latest issue of the RE Weekly News e-newsletter. Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 12/27/2007.

How Green is Your Neighborhood?

Technology has gotten us into the climate change mess, and we assume that technology will get us out of it. Hybrid cars, wind turbines, algae biofuel -- businesses and policymakers alike are searching for the technological fixes that will decarbonize our lives. But the deeper problem may be how -- and where -- we live our lives. The dominant pattern of development in America -- large houses and sprawling, auto-dependent suburbs -- requires a heavy input of fossil fuels and an output of carbon emissions. The adoption of cleaner technologies will take us part of the way, but what we really need to do is change our habitat, not just for the environmental benefits, but for our health, lifestyle and happiness.

Andr?s Duany is writing the blueprint for a greener human habitat. The Miami-based architect is the co-founder, with his wife Elizabeth Plater-Zybek, of the firm DPZ, and over the years he's become a leader in what's called New Urbanism. It's a philosophy of design that tackles not so much buildings themselves as the entire built environment. Duany and his peers in New Urbanism want to stem suburban sprawl in favor of medium-density towns and neighborhoods where houses, offices, shopping and leisure activities would all be within a walkable space. The automobile -- which is responsible for a significant portion of most Americans' individual carbon footprint -- would become an option, not a lifeline. "This goes beyond simply having cars that will pollute less, like hybrids," says Duany, a voluble 58-year-old who grew up in Cuba before moving to the U.S. in 1960. "It means not having to drive."

For most Americans outside a handful of urban areas, not driving is not an option. But auto addiction takes a hidden toll. There's health: The average American walks as little as four minutes a day, in part because little is within walking distance. That sedentariness has contributed to the rise in obesity over recent decades. Next is the theft of time: More driving means more hours in the car, especially with traffic worsening. The population of extreme commuters -- those who travel 90 minutes or more each way -- has hit 3.5 million, double the number in 1990. But the worst effects -- the ones that affect us all -- are environmental. As long as the car is central to the American lifestyle -- one we're in the process of exporting to developing countries like China -- making the necessary, drastic cuts in carbon emissions will be very difficult. "What is causing global warming is the lifestyle of the American middle class," says Duany. "It's terrible for nature and for humans."

The miracle of New Urbanism is its simplicity. Duany has designed whole towns under the movement's principles -- like Seaside, Fla., or Kentlands, Md. -- and to walk their streets is to be transported back decades, before McMansions and SUVs. Houses are more human-sized, in part because the designs create vibrant, walkable public spaces, where people can eat, work and have fun. The explosion of the American house -- up from 1,385 sq. ft. on average in 1972 to 2,140 sq. ft. in 2000, while the average number of people living in it has decreased -- is, in Duany's view, a consequence of our practice of virtually eliminating the public space outside of major urban areas. "What has blown up the McMansions is the lack of community," says Duany. "We need to externalize those social needs, rather than privatizing them."

It's important to note that New Urbanism is different from green building, that other environmental trend that's never far from the news. For better or worse, environmental design has come to be defined by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Design (LEED) ratings. A point system, LEED rewards technological fixes like rooftop solar panels or energy-efficient insulation. That's great, and there are enormous energy savings that can be achieved with basic improvements in building design, but the LEED system doesn't take into account the context of a building -- where it is. A design could win a Platinum LEED rating -- the highest possible award -- but it can't really be described as environmentally friendly if it's part of a sprawling neighborhood that just adds to car dependency. "It doesn't matter how green you are if your house in the suburb still generates 14 car trips a day, which is the American average," says Duany. "But that's complicated to get across, because it's not high-tech."

There are encouraging signs that New Urbanism is beginning to take root in American design. The U.S. Green Building Council has begun using a pilot system called LEED Neighborhood Design (LEED-ND), which will include location and transportation use in its green ratings. Duany and his peers in the movement are helping city and town planners to dismantle the postwar zoning regulations that helped make the car king, and you can find New Urbanist projects sprouting across the country.

Still, it's an uphill battle. Americans may say they hate their long commute, but there's little evidence that they're eager to abandon a lifestyle built around the car. If one city could represent the opposite of New Urbanism, it would be sprawling, decentralized Atlanta, where extreme commuting is fast becoming the norm. (Coincidence or not, Atlanta is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the U.S.) And sprawl is spreading overseas, to developing nations like China that are fast abandoning traditional, dense neighborhoods as they fall in love with the car. "We'll design a community for [Chinese clients] that is essentially Chinese, which has served them well for centuries," says Duany. "They say, 'No, we want Orange Country.' They're desperate to live in the dopey American way."

If we can change that way, we can save ourselves -- and much of the rest of the world. That will require the leadership of architects like Duany, who has dedicated his career to New Urbanist principles. But it will also require something of the rest of us: actively valuing what we profess to value, like more time out of the car and with our families, and choosing to live in neighborhoods that make those ideals possible. If that happens, the benefits to the fight against climate change -- and our own sanity -- would be immense. Source: By Bryan Walsh, 12/19/2007.

AWEA December WindLetter

The latest issue of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WindLetter is available in Adobe PDF format. Source: AWEA, 12/23/2007.

Learn more about renewable resources.

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

NRECA, Others to Tackle Wind Interconnection

The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's  Wind Interconnection Workshop, which takes place January 23-25 in Golden, Colo., will examine the issue of interconnecting wind turbines to electric distribution systems.

The event will include an introduction to the Utility Wind Integration Group's new Internet-based tools designed to assess a distributed wind project's impact on the local distribution system. Training will cover the theories behind the tools and include demonstrations that use actual data.

Instructors from the Western Area Power Administration's Electric Power Training Center (EPTC) will discuss regulations of both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and North American Electric Reliability Corp. that pertain to wind energy. Tours of the center also will be offered, with participants having the opportunity to operate EPTC's hands-on miniature power system, which includes a Wind Farm Simulator developed in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. DOE Wind Program.

The event, which AWEA is co-sponsoring, concludes with an optional tour of the National Wind Technology Center on January 25. Source: AWEA, 12/21/2007.

Nominations open for Wind Co-op of the Year

Nominations for the 2007 Wind Cooperative of the Year Award are now being accepted. Deadline is midnight, Jan. 16, 2008.   Sponsored by DOE's Wind Powering America Program, the award honors one electric cooperative for its leadership in wind power. Nominees must be members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association to be eligible for the award.  For more information, contact Randy Manion, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7423.

Less Backup for Wind Power May Be Required

The varying nature of wind power means that it is harder to forecast than the fluctuations in electricity demand. Adding large quantities of wind power to power systems is therefore challenging. The results of a recent study coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland indicate the frequently stated claim of wind power requiring an equal amount of reserve power for backup is not correct.

The study showed that a substantial adjustment tolerance is already built into the power network in most countries, and the impacts of wind power fluctuations can be further balanced through a variety of measures. The study was an international collaboration within the International Energy Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreement for Wind Energy, coordinated by VTT and its results have been published in a report entitled Design and Operation of Power Systems with Large Amounts of Wind Power.

The impact of a large share of wind power can be controlled by appropriate grid connection requirements, extension and enforcement of transmission networks as well as integration of wind power production and production forecasts into system and market operation. The report presents the assessments of the impact of wind power on the reliability and costs of power systems in different countries.

The assessments performed in different countries are often based on substantially different assumptions. Comparison of the studies showed that in particular the assumptions concerning the use of international transmission connections and the time scale of updating wind power forecasts had a major impact on the results.

The aggregation benefits of a power system covering a large area help in reducing wind power fluctuations and improve predictability. A large power system also has a larger amount of generation reserves available, and the increased regulation effort can be implemented cost-effectively. The transmission capacity between areas is crucial for the utilization of the benefits arising from large production areas. An electricity market in which production forecasts can be updated a few hours ahead also helps in keeping down the forecast errors and thereby the costs of balance power.

The report contains a summary of the wind power impact assessments performed in 11 countries. The assessments are divided into three categories:

• Additional costs arising from the balancing of wind power fluctuations
• Grid reinforcement needs due to wind power
• Capacity of wind power to replace other power plant capacity

With wind power penetrations amounting to 10-20 percent of the gross electricity demand, the additional costs (per MWh of wind power) arising from the balancing of wind power fluctuations are estimated to range between 1-4 Euro/Mwh (US $1.46-$5.88/MWh). This is less than 10 percent of the long-term market value of electricity.

Current wind power technology makes it possible for wind power plants to support the grid in the event of faults such as significant voltage drops and to participate in voltage regulation. Wind power plants are also able to limit their production fluctuations. The grid reinforcement needs due to wind power vary in different countries depending on how far from the consumption centers the wind power plants are constructed and the strength of the existing national grid.

While wind power is mainly considered an energy resource that replaces fossil power generation, it can also be used for replacing existing power plant capacity. In areas where wind power production is high during peak demand, wind power can replace other capacity by up to 40 percent of the installed wind power capacity. However, when a larger share, more than 30 percent, of electricity is produced by wind power and in areas where the wind power production is low during peak demand, wind power can only replace other capacity by 5-10 percent of the wind power capacity. Source: Renewable Energy Access, 12/13/2007.

Renewable webinars scheduled for 2007-08

Learn the latest about wind, solar, geothermal, RECs and more. Our 2007-08 webinar series explores the issues and technologies shaping the renewable energy industry now.

Sponsors include National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, American Public Power Association, Western Area Power Administration and Northwest Public Power Association. DOE's Wind Powering America and GeoPowering the West, Solar Electric Power Association, American Wind Energy Association and Southeastern Power Administration are co-sponsoring the events.

DOE Tribal Program Review Presentations Now Online

The U.S. DOE Tribal Energy Program conducted its annual program review meeting in Denver, Colorado in November. The presentations from that meeting are now available. Source: Lizana Pierce, Project Manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, 12/14/2007.

NWCC Western Transmission News

The 4th issue of NWCC's newsletter Implementing Wind Energy & Transmission in the West newsletter is complete and available online.

• A few additional items that missed the newsletter cutoff that you may want to check out include:
• Video highlights from the WGA/NWCC/GEA Increasing Renewable Energy in the Western Grid summit
• Meeting summary and presentations from Western Transmission and Wildlife Needs at a Crossroads: A Topical Workshop
• Agency rethinks "energy corridor" from Ariz. to Calif.
• Western Wind and Solar Integration Study  

Source: NWCC, 12/27/2007.

WREGIS Update - January 2008

The WREGIS Administrator has scheduled two user trainings for the New Year. The first will be held in Butte, Montana, on January 15, 2009. The second will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on February 20, 2008. For more information on either training session, see Upcoming Training. Source: WREGIS, 12/28/2007.

GEA Announces Geothermal Development and Finance Workshop

Learn about the dynamic and fast-expanding geothermal energy market at the third annual Geothermal Development and Finance Workshop to take place on Jan. 16, 2008, 8am-4pm at the Bally's Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Geothermal Energy Association (GEA) is bringing together experts from all different facets of the industry including: New project developers, green financing, investing, marketing, and sustainable resources policy.

National, state and local political leaders in renewable energy are also invited. GEA is presenting this event with the help of our very special sponsors:

• Glitnir Bank
• Nevada Power
• Ormat Technologies
• Sierra Pacific 

Co-sponsors include:
Geothermal Resource Council
Western Area Power Administration

For admission information, contact Karl Gawell at 202-454-5264, or register online. For sponsorship information, contact Kathy Kent at 202-454-5263. Source: GEA, 12/23/2007.

Learn more about educational resources.

News from Washington

New Energy Act Calls for Increased Renewable Energy Research

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, signed into law on December 19th, calls for accelerated research and development (R&D) and deployment of renewable energy technologies, although all the provisions are subject to  congressional appropriations of funds. For solar energy, the act calls for new R&D programs for solar thermal energy storage, daylighting, and solar-powered air conditioning, as well as grant programs for solar industry workforce training and advanced photovoltaic demonstration projects.

For geothermal energy, the act calls for a wide range of R&D programs, an expansion of the "GeoPowering the West" program to make it "GeoPowering America," and the creation of a new Center for Geothermal Technology Transfer. The act also establishes a new R&D program for marine and hydrokinetic energy, which includes wave, tidal, current, and thermal technologies that draw on the energy of the ocean or flee-flowing rivers. The act includes a measure to establish one or more demonstration centers for marine and hydrokinetic technologies. Source: EERE Network News, 1/2/2007.

Appropriations Act Boosts DOE Funding for Renewables, Efficiency

President Bush approved an omnibus appropriations act on December 26th that provides a 17% increase in funds for the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The new act appropriates nearly $1.74 billion for EERE, but then rescinds 0.91% of that, leaving EERE with roughly $1.724 billion for fiscal year 2008. That represents a significant boost above the $1.474 billion that was included in a continuing resolution approved in February 2007. The appropriations act does not provide a breakdown of the funds by program, but mandates that any change in program implementation be submitted for congressional approval as part of DOE's budget submission. The appropriations act also provides $5.45 million for the administration of DOE's Innovative Technology Loan Guarantee Program. Source: EERE Network News, 1/2/2007.

Learn more about legislative activities.

State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Governors Say States Must Take Lead in Shaping Energy Policy

Governors from four states, and two political parties, can agree on one thing: states must take the lead in shaping energy policy. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer joined the governors of Florida, Minnesota and Kansas today in Tampa, Florida, for a summit on alternative fuels and cleaner vehicles.

Schweitzer says the U.S. must step-up its development of technology for cleaner vehicles, and new forms of energy, or risk being left behind as other countries beat us to it. Schweitzer compared it to the space race, and President Kennedy's urgent challenge in 1961 to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty says he hopes that states taking action will either inspire or shame a federal government that's been slow to act on developing alternative energy, reducing greenhouse gases and promoting conservation. Source: Associated Press, 12/13/07.

Cities Enticing Residents to Go Green

Free hybrid-car parking. Cash rebates for installing solar panels. Low-interest loans for energy-saving home renovations. Money to tear up desert lawns and replace them with drought-resistant landscaping.

Frustrated by what they see as insufficient action by state and federal government, municipalities around the country are offering financial incentives to get people to go green.

"A lot of localities recognize they're going to get a lot more done using carrots and incentives rather than regulatory means," said Jason Hartke, director of advocacy for the U.S. Green Building Council.

In Parkland, where the motto is "Environmentally Proud," the city plans next year to begin dispensing cash rebates to its 25,000 residents for being more environmentally friendly.

"We will literally issue them a check," said Vice Mayor Jared Moskowitz. "We're sick of waiting for the federal government to do something, so we've got to do what we can."

Residents who install low-flow toilets or shower heads will get $150. Replacing an old air conditioner with a more energy-efficient one brings $100. Buying a hybrid car? An additional $200 cash back. And the list goes on.

Based on an estimate of 1,000 residents participating in the rebate program during the first year, the city predicts it will cost up to $100,000.

"Could this bankrupt the city if the program grows by leaps and bounds?" Moskowitz asked. "I can only wish that so many residents want to go green that that becomes an issue."

Many states already offer similar rebates and incentives through tax breaks, loans and perks such as allowing hybrid-car drivers to use car pool lanes.

Utilities have long provided incentives to buy energy-efficient appliances, solar panels and toilets that use less water. The federal government, too, offers tax incentives for purchases of many hybrid vehicles and energy-saving products.

Still, for many cities, it's just not enough. "In terms of waiting for the federal government, we've waited a long time, and frankly, we haven't gotten very much," said Jared Blumenfeld, director of San Francisco's Department of Environment. "And how do you change someone's behavior? The simple answer is cash."

Starting next year, San Francisco will offer homeowners rebates of up to $5,000 for installing solar panels if they use a local contractor. Coupled with state and federal incentives, that could cut in half the $21,000 cost for an average household, Blumenfeld said.

The city will also cover up to 90 percent of the costs of making apartment buildings more energy-efficient, and will pay residents $150 to replace old appliances.

The neighboring city of Berkeley is financing the cost of solar panels for homeowners who agree to pay the money back through a 20-year property tax assessment.

Nearby Marin County offers a $500 rebate to homeowners who install solar systems.

Baltimore offers at least $2,000 toward closing costs for people who buy new homes close to where they work. It is called the "Live Near Your Work" program.

"Just living near your job and taking transit or walking to meet your daily needs provides basically the same environmental benefit as buying a hybrid car," said Amanda Eaken of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Residents of Albuquerque, N.M., get fast-track building permits and other perks if they agree to make their homes more energy-efficient.

In Arizona, many cities pay residents to replace grass with artificial turf or plants that use less water. Scottsdale, outside Phoenix, will pay up to $1,500.

"We're in the middle of a desert and water is absolutely the most precious resource we have," said city spokesman Mike Phillips. Source: By BRIAN SKOLOFF, 12/26/07.

Xcel Energy Inc.

Colorado's largest utility, said Thursday that 2007 was "the most important environmental year" in the company's history of operations in the state. Xcel (NYSE: XEL) is based in Minneapolis. It serves about 70 percent of Colorado's population with electricity and natural gas.
 
In 2007, Xcel said it added nearly 800 megawatts of "clean, renewable energy with zero emissions," generated by either wind or sun. One megawatt from a renewable resource can generally serve about 330 homes. One megawatt from a fossil fuel resource, such as coal or natural gas, supports 1,000 homes.

The company also wants to increase the amount of renewable energy resources by adding more than 1,050 megawatts of renewable power sources in the next eight years, according to a plan Xcel filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in November.

If the plan is approved, Xcel said it'll reduce the company's overall greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent by 2017. That's in line with voluntary goals laid out by Gov. Bill Ritter in his first action plan to combat climate change.

The plans calls for shutting down two coal-fired power plants, replacing them with natural gas power plants, and increasing Xcel's energy conservation efforts as well as its renewable energy resource base.

Xcel listed its 2007 achievements on environmental issues as:

• The addition of 775 megawatts of wind generation through exclusive agreements with wind farms to buy the power they generate.
• Beginning to buy the entire 8.2 megawatts of solar power output from a newly finished solar plant near Alamosa, one of the largest solar power plants of its kind in the nation.
• Having more than 1,000 Xcel customers in Colorado add solar power systems to their homes and businesses, and paying out $19.5 million in rebates through Xcel's Solar*Rewards program, which pays money collected from customers through a special monthly charge for renewable energy.
• Completing a recent agreement to buy the energy output from a landfill methane power plant, which is expected to produce more than 3 megawatts of power.
• Testing six plug-in hybrid electric vehicles as part of a demonstration of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.

In 2008, Xcel will pursue its plan to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 1.4 million tons per year. The plan includes shutting down some older, inefficient power plants, and replacing them with new power plants that use natural gas.

In the next several years, Xcel also wants to add another 800 megawatts of wind power and 225 megawatts of solar power, and add 4 megawatts from a biomass plant that burns waste from trees killed by the pine beetle. The company said it also wants to double the size of its energy conservation programs to nearly 700 megawatts. Source: Denver Business Journal, 12/27/07.

South Dakota Energy Infrastructure Authority

Creating more opportunities for the development of electrical energy in South Dakota is a critical part of the state's 2010 Initiative. With that in mind, Governor Mike Rounds and the 2005 South Dakota Legislature created the South Dakota Infrastructure Authority.

The Infrastructure Authority brings together public and private entities in an effort to identify and address South Dakota's needs in the area of renewable electrical energy development. By helping develop energy production facilities in South Dakota and providing financing for new and expanding facilities, the Infrastructure Authority will achieve its goal of helping to diversify and expand the state's economy. Source: SDEIA, 12/28/2007.

State & Stakeholder Newsletter, December 26, 2007

The IREC State & Stakeholder Newsletter tracks a range of market-oriented news, services and outreach tools valuable to the renewable energy community. From webinars to white papers to workkshops and interviews with renewable energy newsmakers, you'll find the latest news about IREC members and other renewable energy stakeholders in this newsletter which is distributed semi-monthly to email subscribers and published on IREC's website. There is no fee for this newsletter. If you have comments or if you would like to submit a news item, contact Jane Pulaski. Source: Jane Pulaski, 12/26/2007.

Colorado Renewable Energy Society News Update

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) brings you news about CRES activities and renewable energy and energy efficiency events from around the state. Source: CRES, 12/23/2007 .

State Activities and Partnerships Weekly News Report for December 22 - December 28, 2007

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) collects news stories dealing with state involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from the EERE technology program Web sites, the State Energy Program, and EERE Network News. Source: EERE, 12/28/2007.

Learn more about marketing and research.

Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

Alternative Energy Programs in Michigan Growing

Greg Monk sees it as a pretty easy way to make a difference: Cut his family's electricity consumption and use the savings to offset the extra cost of buying "green" power. Monk is part of a wave of Consumers Energy customers who in the past year have discovered the utility's Green Generation Program which allows consumers to pay extra to buy power generated by wind or biomass energy. But while the program's goal is to reduce the state's reliance on energy sources that are contributing to global warming, it has a long way to go.

Monk, of Kalamazoo Township, is among only about 11,000 Consumers Energy customers buying higher-priced green energy. They account for only 0.6 percent of Consumers Energy's 1.8 million electric-service customers. "I'd like to think we could have more participation," said Monk, 46, from his home off G Avenue, north of Kalamazoo.

Environmentalists say the higher cost is discouraging participation. But Consumers Energy, the chief subsidiary of Jackson-based CMS Energy Corp., says the program is growing and that as more people demand their energy be produced from renewable sources, the utility will provide it.

Monk's home is no different than any other in his normal-looking subdivision. And inside the home, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer, and 7-year-old son, Ryan, the changes he's made are not so much about tree hugging as they are about common sense. Most of the family's electronic devices -- the TV, VCR, stereo, computer -- continue to draw power even when turned off. So Monk plugs the components into power strips that he turns off when the machines are not in use. That simple change, combined with replacing traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights, is saving his family an average of $4 per month on electricity, Monk said. It's not a huge amount -- Monk said it's about a 10 percent reduction from his typical winter-month bill. But the savings cover about half the extra cost of participating in the Green Generation.

Monk's 1,500-square-foot home uses about 550 kilowatt-hours a month in winter, he said. Consumption jumps to about 900 kwh in summer, when the family uses air conditioning. For $2.50, a household can buy one green-energy block of 150 kwh. So using "green" electricity costs the Monks $10 extra a month in the winter. By paying the premium, they support the production of pollution-free energy. "We're just trying to do our part," he said.

Green-energy programs are good, but their impact is minimal because so few people participate, said David Gard, director of energy programs for the Michigan Environmental Council a statewide environmental-advocacy organization in Lansing. Many customers are driven away by the cost, Gard said. "There's a disconnect for some people" between the cost and the benefit, he said. A solution would be for the state to take a two-pronged approach, he said: create a fund to target investments in energy-efficient technology and establish a state minimum standard for renewable energy. By adding a small fee to all utility bills, public utilities could, for example, offer rebates for installing lights or appliances that use less energy, Gard said.

From August 2006 to August 2007, participation in Consumers' Green Generation program quadrupled, to 10,000 customers statewide. In the past two months, it jumped another 10 percent, to more than 11,000, utility spokesman Dan Bishop said. About 5 percent of the power Consumers Energy produces or buys comes from renewable sources -- wind and landfill gas -- Bishop said. The utility is confident it can provide 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2015, he said. But to reach 20 percent may be too costly. "We have serious questions about expanding beyond that in an economical way," he said.

Homeowners can buy energy produced from renewable resources such as wind and landfill gas by enrolling in Consumers Energy's Green Generation program.

• How much: Either buy one or more energy blocks -- each 150 kilowatt-hour block carries a $2.50 premium -- or buy all your electricity through the program at a 1.667-cent premium per kilowatt-hour.
• How long: 12-month commitment

For more information, contact 800-241-3368. Source: Alternative Energy Programs in Michigan Growing, 12/14/07.

Biomass Information and Expansion

The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Wood Education and Resource Center Competitive Grants Program. This program supports projects that facilitate interaction with the forest products industry and that will enhance opportunities for sustained forest products production in the eastern hardwood forest region which includes 35 states. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: 1) Projects that increase the sustainable use of woody biomass to meet our nation's energy and raw materials needs, and 2) Projects that address the economic, social, and ecological aspects of woody biomass production and use. $1 million expected to be available, up to 20 awards anticipated. Responses due Feb. 4, 2008. For more info, including a list of eligible states, contact Edward Cesa. Refer to Sol# USDA-FS-WERC-2008. (Grants.gov 12/4/07). Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

Agriculture and Energy -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals for the Federal-State Marketing Improvement Program (FSMIP). This program supports applied research projects that address barriers, challenges, and opportunities in the marketing, transportation, and distribution of U.S. food and agricultural products. FSMIP has funded projects dealing with bioenergy, compost, and products made from agricultural residues. $1.3 million expected to be available, 25 to 30 awards anticipated. Responses due Feb. 11, 2008. For more info, contact Janise Zygmont. Refer to Sol# USDA-AMS-FSMIP-2008. Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

Tribal Colleges -- AG Alternative Energy and Sustainability The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests proposals from 1994 Land-Grant Institutions for the Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program. Eligible institutions may propose projects in any discipline of the food and agricultural sciences. Examples include, but are not limited to: Research on alternative energy sources, biotechnology, sustainable agriculture, sustainable forestry and waste management. $1 million expected to be available, individual awards NTE $150K. For more information, contact Salei'a Afele-Fa'amuli. Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-TCRGP-001174. Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

Tribal Colleges -- AG Efficiency and Bioenergy The U.S. Department of Agriculture requests capacity building
proposals from 1994 Land-Grant Institutions for the Tribal Colleges Extension Program. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: Projects that increase knowledge of bioenergy and biomass conversion, assist farmers and ranchers to increase efficiency of agricultural production systems, and/or improve management of forest and rangelands, including land, air and water. $945K expected to be available, no max or minimum funding specified. For more information, contact Joan Gill. Refer to Sol# USDA-CSREES-SLBCD-001172. Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

Electricity Research: California -- The California Energy Commission requests proposals for the Energy
Innovations Small Grant Program - Electricity Program. This program supports research that establishes the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts. Up to $95K is available for individual hardware projects and $50K for modeling projects. Projects must address a CA energy problem and provide a potential benefit to CA electric ratepayers. In addition, projects must target one of the following areas: industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; environmentally preferred advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; and energy systems integration. Responses due 1/31/08. For more info, contact the California Energy Commission. Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

Wind Storage: California -- The California Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Renewables Program requests proposals for Wind Storage Enhanced Transmission Research and Development. The purpose of this initiative is to facilitate the deployment of wind energy and advanced storage strategies that will enable California to sustainably reach renewable policy goals and enhance the integration of wind on the transmission system. $1.65 million expected to be available, up to five awards anticipated. Responses due 2/12/08. Source: Laurie Brown, 12/10/2007.

SMUD to Release 2008 Renewable Energy RFO

On Jan. 4, 2008, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) will release a Request for Offers (RFO) of renewable energy for power purchase agreements (PPA). Proposals will be due early April 2008.
 
SMUD has a goal to meet 23 percent of its retail electricity sales with renewable energy by 2011 and beyond. The utility's need for renewable energy continues to increase due to its commitment to expand the amount of power from renewable sources in its power mix and a need to replace current contracts that expire in the coming years.
 
The 2008 solicitation is for PPA offers of California RPS eligible conventional renewables, which include resources such as wind, geothermal, small hydroelectric, landfill gas, biomass and biodiesel. A separate RFO for emerging renewable technologies is planned for mid-2008.
 
Interested parties can download the RFO documents from SMUD's Electronic Bid Solicitation System (EBSS) when it becomes available. Registration to the EBSS site is required to access the documents.
 
SMUD recommends that those interested in this and future solicitations list their company name in the "Renewable Power" category as well as in one or more of the following Renewable Power subcategories: Generation Energy, Geothermal Power, Landfill Gas Power, Renewable Power-Other, Small Hydro Power, and Wind Power.
 
Registered individuals will also receive updated information regarding this RFO and will also receive notification of future solicitations for purchase of renewable energy resources. For additional information, contact Cesar J. Beltran at 916-732-6925. Source: SMUD Release, 12/5/2007.

Grant Solicitation for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Research, Development & Demonstration

The California Energy Commission (CEC) has recently published information on its Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Research, Development & Demonstration grant solicitation. Source: CEC, 12/28/2007

Learn more about funding solicitations.