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Central Vermont Public Service recently announced it has asked the Vermont Public Service Board to approve a new voluntary renewable energy offering for the company's 148,000 customers dubbed "CVPS Cow Power."
"Together with our customers, we believe we can provide substantial benefits to the environment and many of our farm customers," said CVPS president Bob Young. "CVPS Cow Power is designed to expand renewable energy choices, help alleviate significant air and water quality concerns, and allow customers to play a role in that effort."
Specifically, Young cited what he sees as four potential benefits from CVPS Cow Power — "a valuable manure management option, which could reduce runoff and associated water quality impacts and improve local air quality; farm diversification and economic benefits, making participating farms financially stronger and preserving the working landscape; customer choice of a completely renewable energy source; and creation of a power market for renewable generation, which may lead to further opportunities for farms and customers."
Under the proposal, CVPS said customers who choose Cow Power would pay a premium of four cents per kilowatt-hour that would be paid to Vermont farmers who produce renewable electricity by burning methane from cow manure. Additionally, CVPS noted that it would purchase the electricity from the farmers at competitive spot market prices. Contact: Steve Costello, CVPS, phone 802-747-5427. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/11/2004.
NREL released its annual ranking
of leading utility green pricing programs. Under green pricing, consumers
can choose to help support additional electricity production from renewable
resources such as solar and wind. More than 500 utilities in 33 states now
offer these programs. Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops
"Top 10" rankings of utility programs in the following categories:
total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of
customer participants, customer participation rate, and the lowest price premium
charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources. Source:
NREL Stakeholder Update - March 2004.
Constellation NewEnergy recently announced it will supply renewable electricity to three additional Maine PowerOptions members— the University of Maine, Unity College and the Old Orchard Beach School Department.
According to Constellation NewEnergy, the renewable energy will be generated from 50 percent hydropower and 50 percent biomass. Constellation NewEnergy said other MPO members that receive green power include Colby College and York Hospital. Contact: Constellation NewEnergy. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/4/2004.
Shell Solar GmbH and Gesellschaft für Solarenergie announced they are to build the largest solar power station in the world, south of Leipzig in Germany. GEOSOL is the initiator and project developer while Shell Solar is the prime construction contractor. The solar power station will be built on a former lignite mine ash deposit near Espenhain. The free-standing array will comprise some 33,500 solar modules with a total output of 5 megawatts.
The solar power station is due on stream in July 2004. The power will be fed directly into the grid operated by enviaM Mitteldeutsche Energie AG, and will be sufficient to meet the electricity demand of about 1,800 households. The solar power station will save some 3,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Shell Solar will be using high-performance photovoltaic modules of the new Shell SQ series in large-scale industrial production for the first time in the Epsenhain project. These solar modules are capable of handling high-voltage and deliver the highest energy yields. Siemens AG is supplying the inverters, the transformers and the medium-voltage connection equipment. Source: Shell Solar Release, 1/19/2004.
On March 10, San Diego Gas & Electric and PPM Energy, Inc., ScottishPower's competitive U.S. energy business arm, unveiled the 22-MW Mountain View III wind plant in Riverside County, Calif., which will supply wind power to the San Diego region. PPM, the plant's owner, is selling the entire output of the plant near Palm Springs to San Diego Gas & Electric under a 15-year contract. PPM also added 3 MW from its existing wind supply portfolio to bring the total wind sale to SDG&E to 25 MW.
PPM purchased the land and project development from SeaWest WindPower of San Diego. PPM contracted with SeaWest to install 34 Vestas 660-kW wind turbines at the site and to operate them. Construction was completed in December, in time to make the facility qualify for the federal production tax credit.
With a portfolio of more than 830 MW of wind power currently in operation, PPM has a goal of bringing 2,000 MW of new wind power to market by 2010. Since 1982, SeaWest has developed more than 830 MW of wind power capacity. SeaWest currently operates and maintains nearly 480 MW under long-term contracts. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 3/12/2004.
The first new Energy Star Homes development in Massachusetts to incorporate a solar photovoltaic electric system opened in the Boston suburb of Wrentham in late September. The model home opening officially launches Sun Power for New Homes, and initiative partially funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative.
The model home was built by DiPlacido Development Corp. in partnership with Conservation Services Group using PV panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar Inc. Located at Wampanoag Estates, the home showcases ho PV can be incorporated into new construction, harnessing the sun’s energy for use in the home. The system works with other energy efficiency measures to reduce electrical consumption and lower energy bills.
The PV system on the Wrentham model home is a 1.3-kilowatt solar electric system. The 12 Evergreen Solar PV panels on the home’s roof are expected to generate 1,250 kilowatt-hours per year based on New England’s climate.
The 1.3-kW system is expected to save homeowners more than $150 per year in energy costs based on a projected 10-year average utility rate of 14 cents per kWh. DiPlacido is also offering a 2.6 kW solar electric system, expected to generate 2,500 kWh per year, saving homeowners more than $300 per year on electricity costs. Up to 25 homes at Wampanoag Estates will feature these PV systems.
CSG administers the Sun Power for New Homes program by training builders, electricians, and technicians how to install and maintain PV systems. Last fall, CSG won several grants from MTC as part of the Solar-to-Market Initiative, the largest public investment in the PV industry in New England.
MTC and state tax incentives reduce the cost of the PV systems by 50-75 percent, adding $3,000- $5,000 to a home’s price, according to CSG. The homes at Wampanoag Estates are Energy Star-rated, which means homeowners save up to 30 percent per month on energy costs. When combined with the 20-30 percent savings from the PV system, homeowners can expect to pay 50 percent less for electricity every month. Source: Solar & Renewable Energy Outlook, October 23, 2003.
Interest in daylighting is increasing all over the U.S., but this is particularly the case for the Northwest due, to a large extent, to the efforts of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, based in Portland, Oregon. Daylighting, properly designed, can increase building occupant comfort, possibly improve worker productivity and student learning, and save energy. Further, a building designed with daylighting can be built at the same or lower cost than a conventional one. The author makes the case for daylighting; the article includes links to several sites for valuable related information. Source: Daylighting Gains Popularity in Northwest; Human, Energy Benefits Seen, by Jim DiPeso.
Three new wind power projects aim to boost wind energy production in the
eastern United States, including the first large commercial wind power facility
in the state of Maine. Evergreen
Wind Power, LLC and the Town of Mars Hill have applied to the Maine Department
of Environmental Protection to build a 40- to 50-megawatt wind power plant
in Mars Hill, located near Presque Isle in northern Maine. Meanwhile, Generation
Resources Holding Company LLC is planning to build a 30-megawatt and a
45-megawatt wind power project, both in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, about
70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The larger of the two projects gained momentum
on February 5th as FirstEnergy Corporation agreed to buy 20 years of power
output from the facility, called StonyCreek WindPower. GRHC expects StonyCreek
to be complete late this year, and the smaller facility to be complete by
early 2005.
Note that the StonyCreek facility will have enough wind turbines to generate
64.8 megawatts of power, but GRHC is only building a 45-megawatt connection
to the power grid, since it's rare that all the turbines would be generating
full power at the same time. For this reason, FirstEnergy refers to the facility
as a 65-megawatt wind plant, but GRHC refers to it as a 45-megawatt wind plant.
See the February 5th press
release from FirstEnergy. Source: EERE Network News — 03/10/04.
The Low Impact Hydropower Institute recently announced it has granted low impact certification to Lower Valley Energy's 1,500-kW Strawberry Hydroelectric Project in Lincoln County, WY. According to LIHI, the voluntary certification program is designed to identify "environmentally sound", low-impact hydropower facilities for emerging green energy markets. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/1/2004.
The renewable energy industry has matured over the past few decades, and the American Planning Association wants legislation to increase development of renewables as 'an important component of planning for smart growth'. See the article online. Source: Refocus Weekly - renewables update - issue 86, 3/10/2004.
A U.S. energy consulting group has launched an internet tool to demonstrate how renewable energy can be an integral part of economic development.
The Rocky Mountain Institute says its ‘Community Energy Opportunity Finder’ will determine a community's “best bets for energy solutions that benefit the local economy, the community and the environment.” Version 1.0 has just been released to mimic the preliminary analysis of an expert consultant to assess the benefits of renewables and energy efficiency.
The tool compiles information on energy use in any community, and then demonstrates the potential energy savings, cost savings, reductions in GHG emissions and job creation from energy efficiency programs, and provides an overview of the green power sources that are available. It also contains case studies on programs that have been successful in other U.S. communities, sources of advice, and ideas for funding energy projects.
Municipalities create jobs and a tax base by attracting industry, and often offer tax breaks to new companies. The new entities then compete with existing firms for resources and increase infrastructure costs, which often puts the community into a worse state than before it attracted the new investments. The Finder is designed to be used by economic development advocates, business owners who want to reduce operating costs, communities that want to ensure their economic development is compatible with sustainable development principles, and renewable energy advocates.
“Renewable energy is an important piece of a comprehensive and self-reliant community energy plan,” says the site. “When it becomes necessary to increase the energy supply or if a community wants to replace polluting energy sources with clean, renewable ones, community leaders can consider developing the local solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and hydropower resource potential.” The Community Energy Opportunity Finder was developed by RMI staff with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and input from the U.S. Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Renewable Energy Policy Project, American Wind Energy Association, and more than 50 others. Source: Refocus Weekly - renewables update - issue 86, 3/10/2004.
USDA Rural Development Nevada and the Nevada State Office of Energy today announced during the second and fourth weeks of April the two agencies will tour rural Nevada with a free workshop designed to help rural Nevadans develop and fund renewable energy projects. This is the first time the two agencies have joined forces to promote a single agenda.
“Rural Nevada has rich renewable resources which – when developed – will reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels, reduce the amount of energy we import from other states and create jobs,” said Richard E. Burdette, Jr., Energy Advisory to Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and Director of the Nevada State Office of Energy. “These workshops will begin leveraging our rural renewable energy resources with the long term goal of improving margins for Nevada’s farmers and ranchers,” he said.
No fees or advanced registration is required for the workshops which are also sponsored by the Department of Energy Wind Powering America, the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Task Force, the Nevada Association of Counties, the Nevada Rural Development Council, the Nevada Farm Bureau Federation and the Nevada Wind Power Working Group. The workshops are being organized by the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and include participation from the National Renewable Energy Laboratories and the Seattle Regional Office of the Department of Energy.
According to Larry Smith, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Nevada, “These renewable energy workshops are a step in the right direction toward educating rural Nevadans about the availability of renewable energy funding. USDA Rural Development supports President Bush’s energy plan to expand the economic prospects of developing alternative energy sources that reduce pollution and increase energy security.” “We feel that Nevada has tremendous potential for the development of renewable energy systems and we are ready to assist,” continued Smith.
Workshop presentations will include the location and nature of Nevada’s renewable energy resources, how to develop renewable energy projects, how to apply for the renewable energy project development grants included in Section 9006 and Section 6401 of the Farm Bill and the Department of Energy’s Special Project and Special Program Grants, and project contacts and resources. Tour Schedules:
Northern Nevada
• April 5th Lovelock 8:30 am to 12 pm.
• April 5th Winnemucca 6 pm to 9:30 pm
• April 6th Battle Mountain 8:30 am to 12 pm
• April 6th Elko 6 pm to 9:30 pm
• April 7th Ely 8:30 am to 12 pm
• April 7th Eureka 6 pm to 9 pm
• April 8th Fallon 6 pm to 9 pm
Southern Nevada
• April 19th Caliente 6 pm to 9:30 pm
• April 20th Logandale 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
• April 20th Pahrump 6 pm to 9:30 pm
• April 21st Amargosa Valley 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
• April 21st Tonopah 6 pm to 9:30 pm
• April 22nd Hawthorne 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
• April 22nd Yerington 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm
Source: Jeneane Harter, HiTech Communications, 775.232.3567
DOE's Zero Energy Homes research initiative has recently released a series of fact sheets. Entitled Moving Toward Zero Energy Homes, the full-color fact sheets feature ZEH homes in Tucson, Arizona (Armory Park Del Sol) and Watsonville (Vista Montana) and Elk Grove, California (Lakeside). Source: IREC/MSR E-Newsletter, Friday March 12, 2004
AWEA has just released its new Wind Power Outlook brochure for 2004. This is a six-page color brochure that provides a status report on the U.S. wind energy market, and the outlook on the challenges and opportunities facing wind power in the U.S. on a range of issues the policy environment, transmission, wildlife, and others. The brochure is available in PDF and downloadable from the AWEA Web site, in the "Complimentary Publications" section of the Web site. A hard copy of Wind Power Outlook 2004 will be also be mailed to you. Please contact AWEA with any requests for additional copies. Source: AWEA, 3/11/2004.
San Francisco, CA-based energy research firm Clean Edge, Inc. recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Clean Energy Trends 2004," which predicts that three "high-growth" clean energy markets —wind, solar and fuel cells— are poised to grow from the present total of $12.9 billion to $92 billion by 2013.
According to Clean Edge, the report, which examines factors influencing clean-energy markets, tracks five "key" trends that support the predicted growth, including "how some innovative utilities are using clean energy as a price hedge for customers; how China is poised to embrace new technologies; and how Europe is the leader in wind production with 70 percent of the global market."
Clean Edge said the report also cites three factors that will be essential in bringing clean energy to the mainstream — more supportive government policies; more funding for research and development and commercialization; and continued technological advancements.
"New government policies and continued investment from venture capitalists and multinationals are playing a critical role in what we see as a bright future for clean-energy growth," said Clean Edge co-founder Ron Pernick. The Clean Energy Trends 2004 report is available for download from the Clean Edge website. Contact: Ron Pernick, Clean Edge, phone 415-386-8681. Source: CLEANWATCH for March 9, 2004
The 2003 edition of the Power Technologies Data Book compiles - in one central document - a comprehensive set of energy data and complete technology profiles for renewable energy and distributed power technologies. Source: NREL Stakeholder Update - March 2004
The Department of Energy's Office of Science, the Nation's leading supporter of the physical sciences, has prepared its 20-year vision for the future of science supported by DOE. The Office of Science Strategic Plan, produced after extensive consultations with the U.S. scientific community, sets concrete goals and priorities that will dramatically influence the direction of basic research in the U.S. for decades to come. Source: NREL Stakeholder Update - March 2004
The Green Power Network, a site managed by NREL for the Department of Energy, has an assortment of current and timely green power reports on on-line. See a brief list of the various reports below:
• Utility
Green Pricing Programs: A Statistical Analysis of Program Effectiveness
(pdf)
• Utility
Green Pricing Programs: Design, Implementation, and Consumer Response
(pdf)
• 2003
Green Power Programs in Washington: A Report to the Legislature (.doc)
• Green
Power Marketing in the United States: A Status Report, Sixth Edition (pdf)
• Regulators
Handbook on Tradable Renewable Certificates
Source: EERE Network News — 03/10/04.
The Renewable Fuels Association recently joined with several agriculture
and renewable fuel organizations to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the new “energy-lite”
legislation, S. 2095, which contains a renewable fuels standard and important
renewable energy tax
provisions.
“This legislation just makes good sense,” stated National Corn Grower President Dee Vaughan. “It’s obvious that the American public is behind this legislation; now we just need our lawmakers to close the deal.”
“The Senate must find a way to pass this important energy legislation as soon as possible,” said RFA President Bob Dinneen. “The U.S. trade deficit recently hit a record $450 billion – in large part to our ever-growing dependence on foreign petroleum products. Passing this bill and keeping more of our energy dollars here at home will spark economic development and create much-needed jobs.” “Perhaps the most important benefit of the RFS and the renewable energy tax provisions is the increased jobs they will create.” – RFS Coalition
In a letter to Senators the RFS Coalition wrote: “The American public overwhelmingly supports efforts to promote the increased production and use of domestic renewable fuels. Consequently, the RFS and energy tax provisions have been supported by a bipartisan majority of the United States Senate, the House of Representatives and the Administration. It is time they became law.”
“Perhaps the most important benefit of the RFS and the renewable energy tax provisions is the increased jobs they will create. A review of employment studies completed by the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee concludes that the RFS alone will create more than 214,000 of the nearly 1 million jobs anticipated by comprehensive energy legislation. Such an employment increase is needed, particularly across rural America where small towns and family farms need the economic stimulus.
“The coalition partners signed below, representing millions of Americans, strongly urge you to seize every legislative opportunity to enact into law the RFS and renewable energy tax provisions, which enjoy broad bipartisan support and will create a more sustainable energy and economic future for all America.”
The letter was signed by: Renewable Fuels Association, American Coalition for Ethanol, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, National Grain Sorghum Producers, New Uses Council, American Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Biodiesel Board, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, Women Involved in Farm Economics, and Ethanol Producers and Consumers. Source: RFA, 3/9/2004
Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) stated recently that Energy-Lite is attracting more Democratic support than last year’s energy bill. “I believe…that we have more than 60 votes should there be any effort to delay final passage,” Daschle stated.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) also expressed optimism. “I think there’s a very good chance it will pass on the floor of the United States Senate [soon],” Frist said recently. “I’m just not going to give up.”
Even though 60 votes would end any filibuster attempt, Energy-Lite will likely not be taken up on the Senate floor for consideration until an agreement is worked out to limit amendments. Some opponents want to offer numerous amendments to bog down Senate progress. While acknowledging that considering some amendments would be necessary, Senate Leader Frist does not want to spend multiple weeks debating the bill given the fact it’s already been debated for numerous weeks over the last two years. Source: RFA, 3/9/2004.
As the prospects for passing energy legislation in the Senate brighten, the outlook in the House of Representatives remains decidedly cloudy. The new chairman of the House Energy Committee, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), has said that dropping limited liability protection for MTBE, as Energy-Lite does, is not acceptable. “If there isn’t language saying MTBE has safe harbor, there won’t be a bill,” stated Rep. Barton.
Given the short, election year Congressional schedule, Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), the democrat turned republican who was given Barton’s old post as chairman of the House Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, added: “It’s just a bad year to be trying to put a bill through.”
However, the Bush Administration continues to push for passage this year. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham recently stated: “I think the question should be whether the Congress is prepared to go into election season having once again, if it does, failed to pass an energy bill. This administration has done everything we can.” Source: RFA, 3/9/2004.
On March 3, 2004, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission reaffirmed its July 2003 rule (Order No. 2003) that sets standard procedures and agreements for the interconnection of generators larger than 20 megawatts—a move designed to facilitate development of needed infrastructure for the nation’s electric system. MORE Interconnection/Net Metering news READ the Interconnection/Net Metering Enewsletter. Source: IREC/MSR E-Newsletter, Friday March 12, 2004
On March 4, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) signed into law a renewables portfolio standard that requires utilities to procure at least 5 percent of their supply from renewable resources by 2006, and 10 percent by the year 2011. According to the law, all utilities-including rural co-ops and municipally owned utilities-must offer a voluntary green pricing program. "We can have it all. We can build a prosperous economy, we can have development, we can protect our environment, and we can create jobs," Richardson said. The New Mexico legislature passed the law codifying the RPS originally put into force by the state Public Regulation Commission in 2002. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 3/12/2004.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority recently announced the launch of the New York Energy $mart Wind Incentive Program, which offers technical and financial assistance for small, non-commercial, grid-connected wind systems.
According to NYSERDA, the incentives could potentially help offset installation costs of such systems by 15 to 70 percent. To quality, NYSERDA said a wind generator must be considered "qualified;" erected on a lot no smaller than one acre; capable of producing at least 500 watts of electricity; connected to the local utility grid; and installed by an "eligible" installer.
Additionally, NYSERDA said customers must pay into the system benefits charge, a fee on the transmission of electricity that costs an average homeowner approximately $10 per year. "With financial incentives in place and a growing network of qualified installers in the program, NYSERDA is making it easier for more homeowners to use wind energy," said NYSERDA president Peter Smith. Contact: Ryan Moore, NYSERDA, phone 518-862-1090 ext 3267. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 3/4/2004.
The Federal Utility Partnership Working Group bulletin board is a service is to provide FUPWG members and other interested parties with a medium for open discussion of the issues of the day. Get more information on the PTC extension. Source: Chandra Shah, 3/11/2004.
DOE Initiative Modification 1. Source: Grants.gov, 3/12/2004.
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for State Energy Program Special Projects. The goal of the Special Projects Program is to assist States, D.C., and Territories to accelerate deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; facilitate the acceptance of emerging and underutilized energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; and increase the responsiveness of Federally funded technology development efforts to private sector needs. Funding areas include: Clean Cities/Alt. Fuels, Industrial, Building Codes and Standards, Rebuild America, Building America, FEMP, Solar, Wind, Distributed Generation, and Biomass. Applications must be submitted by State or Territorial Energy Offices or other agencies responsible for the lead administration of the SEP. $16 million is expected to be available. Cost share, funding amounts and due dates vary by project area. Due date range is 3/29/04 to 4/2/04. Source: March 2004 Biobased Fuels, Power and Products Newsletter.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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