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Companies realize that environmental initiatives can create great PR, but they’re also realizing that those initiatives must be profitable in order for them to be sustainable over the long term–especially with the economy threatening CSR budgets.
“Innovation software” companies like Invention Machine and Imaginatik help manufacturing companies develop clever ways to make their products more environmentally friendly without killing their cost structure, CNET reports.
Imaginatik CEO Mark Turrell says his company helped Wal-Mart unlock energy saving ideas from its own employees and wound up implementing $38 million in cost savings.
Over the past two years, Pitney Bowes’ energy task force has been responsible for projects that have eliminated more than 380 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from its operations. Those efforts reduced costs too.
“If you can’t be profitable, sustainability doesn’t make sense,” says Steve Di Biase, senior vice president and chief scientific officer for JohnsonDiversey, a cleaning products company.
Environmental Defense Fund recently released “Innovations Review 2008: Making Green the New Business as Usual,” a report highlighting the latest trends and best practices that show how environmental sustainability efforts are creating new markets, providing competitive advantages and saving companies millions of dollars. Source: Environmental Leader, 5/24/08
On Earth Day 2008, EPA Region 10 challenged ourselves and our Region 10 Federal partners to reduce our carbon footprint by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent over the next year by managing energy, transportation, waste, and water. We invite our Federal colleagues who have not already done so to join us as partners in the Federal Green Challenge. Please read on for changes in key dates, updates on the recognition program, and a list of current partners.
Key Date Update:
Champions of Environmental Leadership and Green Government Recognition Program 2008 Acknowledgements of Achievement:
2009 Acknowledgements of Achievement:
Current Federal Green Challenge Partners:
One of the Federal Green Challenge purposes is for partners to learn together and share ideas on best practices for achieving our environmental goals. The first step in creating a partner network is for us all to know who we are. This is the current list of Federal Green Challenge partners:
Ready to sign up? If you have already committed to join the Challenge and do not see your name on this list, please contact us. It is likely that we have not received your registration form.
Thank you again for your participation. We look forward to working with you! Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 6/14/08
Visit U.S. DOE EERE Green Power Network for more information.
New county health services building gets solar panels and energy savings The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) provided more than $300,000 to Sacramento County in rebates for a solar electric system that has been installed atop the new county health services office building at Bradshaw and Goethe Roads. The 100-kilowatt system will save electricity costs, producing about 10 percent of the building's electricity. In addition to the electricity savings, the solar electric system reduces the county's "carbon footprint" or the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced to electrify the facility. Cumulatively, the reduction is measured as equaling that of taking 22 cars off the road or planting about 14 acres of trees.
The new system also features an interactive computer kiosk where visitors can see how much electricity the solar panels are producing.
For SMUD, this is yet another project on which the electric utility and the county have teamed that has a good environmental impact. "We buy green energy from the methane-gas-powered generators at the county's Keifer Landfill and we've partnered with the county on energy efficiency projects in its new Animal Care and Water Quality facilities," said Susan Patterson, SMUD Ward 2 Director, who presented the $302,250 rebate check at the County Board of Supervisors meeting. "In addition, SMUD is exploring the possibility of establishing a heating, cooling and electricity cogeneration facility to serve the proposed expansion at Sacramento International Airport."
The solar project is just one of many for SMUD in 2008. The electric utility has committed to spending more than $130 million on solar projects for both residential and commercial customers in the coming decade. SMUD currently has approximately 27 megawatts of customer photovoltaic applications in its incentive pipeline. In addition, SMUD has agreed to buy power from a one-megawatt solar plant that's being built near Wilton. That power will allow SMUD customers to purchase solar energy without the expense of installing the panels on their homes or businesses
through an innovative program called SolarShares.
As the nation's sixth largest publicly owned utility, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity for more than 60 years to Sacramento County (and a small portion of Placer County). SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Source: SMUD, 5/28/08
Duke Energy Carolinas plans to spend $100 million over the next 2 years to install roughly 20 megawatts (MW) of solar panels throughout North Carolina. The utility filed an application on June 6 with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, asking for approval to implement the solar distributed generation program. If the program is approved, Duke Energy Carolinas will install solar power systems on rooftops or on the ground at more than 850 customer locations throughout the state, including homes, schools, stores, and factories. Duke Energy Carolinas would own and operate the equipment, but customers who offer their location for solar panels will be rewarded by the utility.
The program will help Duke Energy Carolinas meet its obligations under the state's Renewable and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard, which requires 0.02 percent of the electricity sold in the state to come from solar power in 2010, increasing to 0.2 percent solar power by 2018. Once the solar power is converting into alternating current, it will provide roughly 16 MW of power, enough to serve more than 2,600 homes. The utility has also contracted to buy the entire electrical output from an 18-MW solar photovoltaic facility that SunEdison plans to build north of Charlotte. Construction is slated for mid-2009, with commercial operation by the end of 2010. See the Duke Energy press releases on the proposed solar program and the SunEdison facility.
A report issued by DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in April found that renewable portfolio standards (RPS), such as the one in North Carolina, now apply to nearly 50 percent of the electricity load in the United States. When the report was published, RPS policies were in place in 25 states and the District of Columbia. If those policies are met, roughly 60,000 MW of new renewable power facilities will be built by 2025, including 6,700 MW of solar power. And so far, the track record is good: from 1998 to 2007, more than 50 percent of the renewable power additions in the United States (excluding hydropower additions) occurred in states with RPS policies, including 165 MW of new solar generating capacity. In fact, the average compliance with state RPS policies was 94 percent in 2006, and so far, the programs have increased electricity rates by 1 percent or less. See the LBNL press release and the full report (PDF 1.5 MB). Source: EERE Network News, 6/12/2008
Raser Technologies, Inc. said it executed a power purchase agreement, or PPA, with the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District for Raser's Lightning Dock geothermal power plant in New Mexico.
As per the agreement, Raser plans to begin delivering electricity on or before Dec. 15, 2008. The PPA would provide for the delivery by Raser of approximately 10 megawatts, or enough electricity to power approximately 5,500 homes in the Phoenix area, of renewable geothermal power for 20 years. Source: RTT Staff Writer, 6/12/2008
Geothermal energy is seeing a rebirth as industry looks for new ways to replace fossil fuels. That’s why, from Calistoga to Iceland, UC scientists are puzzling over the energy beneath our feet. With its wide swath of harvestable underground heat, California is poised to lead that search. Read more. Source: UC Energy Institute, 6/12/2008
The Department of Energy takes its first step toward clean, renewable energy from the earth. Read more. Source: Molika Ashford, Scienceline, 6/11/2008
The May 2008 issue of the AWEA WindLetter is now online. Source: AWEA, 5/29/08
The latest issue of the RE Weekly News e-newsletter is now online. Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com, 6/12/2008
The May/June edition of Renewable Energy Focus is now available. Source: Tom Cox, Marketing Manager, Renewable Energy Focus, 6/12/2008
Learn more about renewable resources.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Department of Energy (DOE); and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior (DOI), are preparing a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate utility-scale solar energy development, to develop and implement agency-specific programs that would establish environmental policies and mitigation strategies for solar energy projects, and to amend relevant agency land use plans with the consideration of establishing a new BLM solar energy development program.
The joint will assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts from solar energy projects located in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. The joint PEIS will also evaluate a number of alternative management strategies to determine which presents the best management approach for the agencies to adopt in terms of mitigating potential impacts and facilitating solar energy development while carrying out their respective missions. The measures adopted as a result of this PEIS will provide consistency and certainty for solar energy development and will help expedite environmental analysis for site-specific projects in the future.
During its work on the PEIS, the BLM will focus attention on the 125 applications already received for rights-of-way for solar energy development, while deferring new applications until after completion of the PEIS. The 125 existing applications involve almost a million acres of land and have the potential to generate 70,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 20 million average U.S. homes. The PEIS will establish a process for accepting future applications, possibly through a competitive process, which would be likely to attract companies with the experience and resources necessary to quickly deploy solar energy projects. The BLM is accepting comments on the scope of the PEIS through July 15 and will also hold public scoping meetings in the six states from mid-June through early July. Source: DOE, 6/11/2008
The U.S. Department of Energy today released its “Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2007.” This report, authored primarily by Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, provides a comprehensive overview of trends in the U.S. wind power market, with a particular focus on 2007.
The need for such a report has become apparent in the past few years as the wind power industry has entered an era in which it contributes significantly to the nation’s new electricity supply needs. Drawing from a variety of sources, this report provides the latest information on a variety of topics, including:
Of particular note, data on project-level wind power pricing, installed project costs, O&M expenses, and wind project performance have not previously been summarized in as comprehensive a fashion as provided in this annual report.
Hard copies are available on request, and a PowerPoint presentation based on the report has been created.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ryan Wiser, 510-486-5474, or Mark Bolinger, 603-795-4937, at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Source: LBNL, 5/29/08
Under its Solar Showcase program, DOE will provide technical assistance to large-scale, high-visibility solar installation projects having the ability to impact the market for solar technologies.
Large project size, use of a novel solar technology, and/or use of a novel application for a solar technology will be considered as positive attributes for successful proposals. It is also desired that any project submitted for consideration be replicable or have replicable components.
Large-scale installations to be considered may include photovoltaic, concentrating solar power, solar water heating, and solar space heating applications. Source: EERE Program News, 5/29/08
DOE's new report on wind energy expansion lays out what it will take for the U.S. to reach the potential of getting 20 percent of our electricity from wind power by 2030.
After a decade of trailing Germany and Spain, the U.S. re-established itself as the world leader in wind energy in 2005. Many believe this may be a case of "just in time."
U.S. electricity demand is estimated to grow by 39 percent from 2005 to 2030, reaching an annual demand of 5.8 billion megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity.
To meet 20 percent of that demand, the nation needs to build a wind energy capacity of at least 300 gigawatts (GW)—right now, U.S. wind capacity stands at about 11.6 GW.
A 20 percent wind energy scenario in 2030 will require:
These and other challenges are pointed out in a new DOE report: 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply. Source: DOE Golden Field Office, 5/29/08
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), the Green Power Leadership Awards are competitive awards that recognize outstanding commitments and achievements in the green power marketplace in the following three award categories:
The Awards will be presented on October 27, 2008, in conjunction with the 2008 National Renewable Energy Marketing Conference in Denver, Colorado.
Nominations must be received by Friday, June 27, 2008, at 5:00 PM (PDT).
For questions or additional award information about Purchaser and Supplier Awards, contact Pam Bloch Mendelson at 303-275-4819 (Contractor to both EPA and DOE).
For questions about Market Development Awards, contact Rachael Terada at 415-561-2135. Source: NREL, 5/29/08
This short course will provide an introduction to the underlying technology of wind turbine generators and wind power plants, how to model them for power system analysis purposes for planning and operating studies, and an introduction to using actual models in simulation programs.
A third of the seats for the 2008 presentation of the Wind Integration Short Course have been sold. This event, which will be held at the La Playa Hotel in Carmel, Calif., Sep. 9-12, has a maximum enrollment of 35 attendees.
Register online, or contact the Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) for details. Note: As of July 2, UWIG's telephone and fax number will change. The new phone number will be 865-218-4600, ext. 141, and the fax number will be 865-218-8999. Source: Utility Wind Integration Group, 6/16/08
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a new report titled "Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Deployment on Public Property by State and Local Governments," authored by Karlynn Cory, Jason Coughlin and Charles Coggeshall of NREL.
Many state and local governments are considering deployment of solar photovoltaics (PV) on public building rooftops, and also large-scale applications on public lands. The changing marketplace requires that public entities be financially sophisticated to capture as much of the economic potential of a PV system as possible. This report examines ways that state and local governments can optimize the financial structure of deploying solar PV for public uses. It explores revenues from electricity and solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs), and incentives such as state systems benefit charge (SBC) funds, issuance of energy bonds, clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Federal renewable energy production incentives (REPI).
Finally, the report explores the recent emergence of the third-party ownership model and the potential benefits and challenges with this structure. Under this model, the government entity hosts (but does not own) a solar PV system and signs a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) rather than paying a large, up-front cost to get a PV system on its property. Source: NREL, 5/22/08
Five years ago Edward Mazria, architect and founder of Architecture 2030, brought forth the notion that the nation’s biggest greenhouse-gas emitter isn’t transportation or industry; it’s the ‘Building Sector’ which is the major source of demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases (GHG).
Further he posited that stabilizing and reversing emissions in this sector is key to keeping future global warming under one degree Celsius (°C) above today’s level.
To accomplish this, and avoid dangerous climate change, Architecture 2030 issued 'The 2030 Challenge’ asking the global architecture and building community to adopt the following targets:
The fossil fuel reduction standard for all new buildings be increased to:
This may be accomplished through innovative design strategies, application of renewable technologies and/or the purchase (maximum 20 percent) of renewable energy.
Last December, the President signed into law a sweeping energy bill that, among other things, handed down the stiffest green-building standards in U.S. government history. The legislation requires Federal facilities to eliminate carbon emissions by 2030, regulates home appliances, and offers some financial incentives for sustainable design. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as it was optimistically called, is the nation’s largest step on energy since the 1970s and the largest step on green building ever.
According to Mazria, “Although difficult, the economic and global warming crises are the motivation we need as a nation to retool our thinking. If we’re smart enough to jump on this opportunity, we will not only solve global warming, we will set the US up for unprecedented economic success.”
Showing how a small investment of only $21.6 billion in the Building Sector would produce 216,000 permanent jobs and save 86.7 Million Metric Tons (MMT) of CO2 in a single year. This same amount invested each year for five years would net over one million permanent jobs and save 433.5 MMT.
The 2030 Blueprint — Solving Climate Change Saves Billions is a roadmap for turning the global warming and economic crises into an historic opportunity. It calls for the United States to:
The study concludes that there is a clear, simple, realistic and achievable solution to addressing climate change with significant economic benefits: building energy efficiency. Source: GreenSage.com, 5/08
Companies that report sustainability data generally experience higher gross margins and return on sales, higher return on assets, and stronger cash flow and rising shareholder return, according to a recent report, "The Food, Beverage, and Consumer Products Industry—Achieving Superior Financial Performance in a Challenging Economy - 2008,"...read more. Source: Corporate Climate Response News, 6/12/2008
The Governor's Energy Office (GEO) sends out a monthly Enewsletters focusing on news, events, Greening Government and other program updates. GEO also releases press announcements via email. Add your e-mail to the list to receive updates. Source: Colorado Governor's Energy Office, 6/12/2008
The energy choices we make today are part of the legacy we'll leave our children. Watch the ads and then choose which energy-saving actions you will do as part of your legacy. Source: Flex Your Power, 5/29/08
The June 2008 issue of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's (IREC) Connecting to the Grid newsletter is now
available online. Source: IREC, 5/29/08
The Board on Energy and Environmental Systems of the National Research Council recently published a 32-page booklet entitled What You Need to Know About Energy. Geared to a general audience, the booklet is the first in what will be a series of informational booklets designed to engage readers in current topics in science, engineering, and medicine. The series is part of the National Academies' Communications Initiative. Source: National Academies of Science, 6/12/2008
Energy Policy TV has a great collection of videos about everything to do with energy policy, including renewable resources. Take a look through their expansive library of videos. Source: RFA, 6/12/2008
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has added a Siting Policy page to its Web site. AWEA’s Siting Handbook as well as comments filed with Federal agencies regarding siting issues can all be found there. Source: AWEA, 6/10/2008
Learn more about educational resources.
On June 12, the offices of Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ken Salazar (D-CO) held an informal discussion exploring the potential of small wind turbines. The term "wind energy" conjures up images of utility-scale wind farms — large arrays of two megawatt turbines with blades the length of a football field. But what about the potential for residential-scale wind turbines? Is this technology viable and affordable for a typical homeowner?
The discussion focused on these questions, as well as small wind's role in addressing energy security and climate change, and was lead by two experts in the field: Trudy Forsyth, senior project manager, Small Wind Turbines, National Renewable Energy Lab; and Andy Kruse, senior vice president, Southwest Windpower. As a follow-up, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has also released a fact sheet about current costs and other frequently asked questions about small wind turbines. The fact sheet and the presentations of both speakers are available online.
This event was the second in a series cosponsored by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). A small group of energy experts leads each interactive discussion and answers a variety of questions including:
Through this series we hope that Senate staffers will better understand the possibilities of different kinds of renewable energy.
If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Laura Parsons of EESI at 202-662-1884. Source: EESI, 6/16/2008
“Thank you all for coming today to discuss our nation’s biofuels policy, and how that policy is affecting domestic and global food prices. The recent increase in commodity prices, with food and fuel prices at historic highs, highlights the importance of getting our policies right. I called today’s hearing in an effort to help us do just that: to make sure we are getting our biofuels policy right.
“Last month, I asked the Secretaries of Agriculture and Energy a series of questions about the impact of the Renewable Fuel Standard on domestic and international food and fuel prices. Those questions were intended to establish some of the facts on this issue, so that we could base today’s discussion on facts, rather than the agenda-driven calculations that we see more often than not.
“The answers that I have received from the Departments of Agriculture and Energy indicate that U.S. biofuels policy explains between 4 and 5 percent of the 45 percent global increase in food prices in the last year. At the same time, biofuels have increased the U.S. fuel supply and are reducing the prices that Americans pay at the gas pump by between 20 and 35 cents per gallon.
“As we continue on this path toward expanding our alternatives to gasoline and reducing its cost, we obviously need to find a way to eliminate any impact on the global food prices. The intent of the Renewable Fuel Standard that was enacted in December 2007 is to move beyond our current technologies, to technologies that have no implications for our food supply.
“I think the critics of our current biofuels policy do not question the validity of our end goal of a healthy second-generation biofuels industry, but rather question our path for arriving at that end goal. Our current path does require increased use of existing biofuels, including corn ethanol and soy-based biodiesel.
“I am concerned that altering that path now would not only be unfair to the industry that is responding to the government policies that have already been put in place, but also would have negative implications for second-generation fuels. It is a fact that many of the companies that are expected to be next-generation biofuel industry leaders, especially for cellulosic ethanol, are current industry leaders in corn ethanol production. To hurt those companies’ bottom lines now would endanger their investments in expanding their business to include next-generation production.
“I also suspect that investment in other kinds of next-generation technology would suffer, as investors would feel less confident of Congress’s commitment to its biofuels policies. I believe that many next-generation fuels hold great promise for further diversifying our fuel supply. As we diversify away from biofuel feedstocks that compete with our grain supply, we also diversify the geographic production areas beyond the current base in the Midwest.
“In my home state of New Mexico, which has no corn ethanol production, limited sorghum-ethanol production, and very small amounts of biodiesel production, is an example of how the geography of biofuels production can change. We are hopeful that we will be home to the country’s first biobutanol plant, which could be located near Portales, N.M., and could use sweet sorghum as a feedstock. We also understand that New Mexico is one of the most promising states in the U.S. for large-scale algae production, which we will hear more about in today’s hearing. We need the market certainty that comes with the existing renewable fuels mandate in order to realize the benefits of this next-generation industry.
“At the same time, I do think we need to be mindful of any unintended consequences of our biofuels policy. No one wants our biofuels policy to increase the prices that Americans are paying at the grocery store - although I think we can agree that this domestic price increase is to some degree offset by the savings we’re seeing at the fuel pump. But we must also ensure that our policies, including but not limited to our biofuels policies, are not negatively impacting the world’s poor, who are most vulnerable to food price increases. I take seriously the United Nations call for further study on the topic of biofuels, and look forward to constructive thoughts on how we can create a more sustainable global biofuels industry. Source: Senator Bingman, HEARING STATEMENT, 6/12/08
Learn more about legislative activities.
A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy. Ninety-one percent of Republicans, 97 percent of Democrats and 98 percent of Independents agree that developing solar power is vital to the United States.
These and other findings were reported today in the SCHOTT Solar Barometer, a nationally representative survey conducted by the independent polling firm, Kelton Research.
The survey revealed that 77 percent of Americans feel that the development of solar power, and other renewable energy sources, should be a major priority of the Federal government. Independent voters felt strongest about this, compared to voters in other political parties, with 86 percent of Independents supporting the statement.
When asked which one energy source they would support if they were president, 41 percent of Americans picked solar. Solar and wind together were favored nearly 20 times more than coal (3 percent).
"These results are an undeniable signal to our elected leaders that Americans want job-creating solar power, now," said Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
According to the survey, nearly three-quarters of Republicans (72 percent), Democrats (72 percent) and Independents (74 percent) favor an extension of the Federal investment tax credits (ITC) as a way to encourage development of solar power and fund continued development of the technology. In contrast, only 8 percent of Americans believe the ITC should not be extended.
Current Federal legislation, which provides incentives to spur the growth of renewable energy, is set to expire at the end of the year. Experts predict that without long-term renewal of the legislation, the solar energy industry will struggle to maintain its momentum. According to independent analysis by Navigant Consulting, this would translate into the loss of 39,000 jobs, as well as the loss of nearly $8 billion in investments. When wind is included, 116,000 jobs and $19 billion in investment are at risk, according to the report.
"Solar development means job growth for Americans, by Americans, in an industry that will benefit America." said Dr. Gerald Fine, president & CEO of SCHOTT North America. "Rather than rely on foreign sources for fuel, the U.S. can aspire to become the world's leader in clean energy."
Extension of the tax credits continues to be in doubt as the House, Senate and Administration debate differing plans. In May, the House Ways and Means Committee cleared H.R. 6049, which would extend the solar investment tax credit for six years. According to SEIA, this legislation would secure America's clean-energy future by closing an income tax loophole enjoyed by hedge-fund managers on their off-shore accounts.
"The U.S. Senate has an opportunity to act decisively by passing the Renewable Energy & Job Creation Act of 2008 (H.R. 6049) this month. This is smart policy that will help solar become a powerful economic engine for the country, stabilize energy prices for consumers and businesses and improve America's national energy security. A vote against this bill is a vote against what the vast majority of Americans are demanding," said Mr. Resch.
"When you consider that, according to the American Solar Energy Society, nearly 7,000 gigawatts (GW) of solar generation capacity exists in the American Southwest, America is truly a sleeping giant," said Dr. Fine. "Americans want to wake this giant up."
The SCHOTT Solar Barometer Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between May 29th and June 2nd, 2008 using an email invitation and an online survey. The Solar Energy Industries Association and SCHOTT Solar commissioned the survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample. Source: SCHOTT, 6/10/2008
Read Oregon Business Magazine's cover story about the rise of the solar industry. Source: Ben Jacklet Associate Editor, Oregon Business Magazine, 503-445-8824, 5/28/08
DOE announced last week that it will work with the Western Governors' Association (WGA) to identify areas in the West with substantial renewable energy resources and to expedite the development and delivery of that energy to meet regional energy needs.
Subject to congressional appropriations, DOE plans to contribute up to $2.3 million over the next three years to the Western Renewable Energy Zones (WREZ) project, which was launched by WGA and DOE. Under a cooperative agreement with WGA, DOE will help to identify the WREZs, develop regional transmission plans to enhance access to the WREZs, create a transparent process to bring together utilities and the companies developing those renewable energy resources, and encourage interstate cooperation to address permitting and cost issues with transmission lines that cross state lines. Participating in the project are 11 western states, two Canadian provinces, and areas in Mexico that are part of the Western Interconnection, the massive electrical grid that supplies electricity to most of the West. Source: DOE, 6/4/08
Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed a bill last week that requires the state to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 2001 levels by 2050. House Bill 5600, "An Act Concerning Global Warming Solutions," requires the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to determine the best strategies to meet the GHG limits. It also authorizes the DEP to work with other states and Canadian provinces to develop a cap-and-trade program to achieve the GHG limits. Connecticut is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is establishing a cap-and-trade program for GHG emissions for much of the Northeast.
The bill requires the DEP to evaluate the potential of low-carbon fuel standards for motor vehicles and home heating fuels to help achieve the GHG reductions. It also establishes a subcommittee to evaluate the impacts of climate change on the state and to recommend to the governor and the state legislature any needed changes to state and municipal programs, laws, or regulations to mitigate such impacts. See the governor's press release and the full text of the bill, HB 5600. Source: EERE Network News, 6/12/2008
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The Defense Energy Support Center has issued a solicitation for 245,000 MWh of renewable energy certificates for ultimate transfer to the Environmental Protection Agency. Technical data and final pricing proposals are due NLT 11:00 A.M., EDT on June 20, 2008. Contact Cindy Ralph at 703-767-8566, for more information.
Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, has issued a Request For Information (RFI) to commercial utility-scale wind farm developers, owners, operators, energy service companies (ESCOs) and financiers who may be interested in forming partnerships with the US DOE in the delivery of wind energy to Federal facilities in Albuquerque, NM. This RFI is part of a comprehensive strategy to meet and exceed statutory renewable energy goals for federal agencies; DOE is taking a leadership position in accelerating the development of utility-scale wind projects at DOE sites that have adequate land with wind resources in Class 3-7 regimes and transmission/distribution capacity.
The Kirtland Air Force Base and the National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) are involved in this project. Sandia is primarily interested in on-site wind plants that will be privately owned and operated, with the DOE/NNSA, as a wholesale energy customer, purchasing the energy through a power purchase agreement (PPA) contract.
Sandia seeks to solicit industry input regarding the type of information, data, conditions, resources, environmental constraints, contracting mechanisms or parameters, etc. that potential industrial partners would expect/require to be in place in order to respond to a RFP for a wind farm(s) installation and operation on Federal land. The project size may exceed 30 MW. The resource location is also located near tribal and US Forest Service lands that have indicated wind resource potential.
The RFI process will include an industry day on June 10 in Albuquerque, NM where interested developers can attend to obtain information and ask questions. The RFI response deadline is July 3, 2008. The RFI will also be put into the Federal Business Opportunities posting system. Parties interested in being considered for this opportunity are requested to register. Source: Sandia National Lab, 5/14/08
With the Senate veto override of the "Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008," the new Farm Bill is now law. This Farm Bill builds upon the first-ever Energy Title of the 2002 Farm Bill, providing new and improved programs and a stronger Federal commitment to farm-based energy of all types.
Highlights of the Bill include: (1) improvements and better funding for REAP; (2) new funding for energy audits on farms; (3) new cellulosic ethanol biorefinery financing; (4) energy crop incentives for growers; and (5) new funding for converting fossil fuel power to biomass. The legislation also includes a new tax credit for cellulosic ethanol production, and other renewable energy/energy efficiency incentives. Source: ELPC, 5/22/08
Learn more about funding solicitations.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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