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Fort Collins Utilities' Wind Power Program received a national award October 26 from the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Powering America program for its leadership, success and quality. DOE selected Fort Collins Utilities for its Wind Power Pioneer Award over seven other public power utilities from across the United States. The award is the program's sixth since inception.
Subscribers purchase wind energy for an additional 1 cent per kilowatt-hour.
The program has over 1,100 residential and 70 commercial subscribers. In addition,
Fort Collins Utilities approved a groundbreaking electric
energy supply policy in 2003. The policy calls for the city, by 2017, to acquire
15 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and for a reduction in
total per capita electricity consumption of 10 percent by 2012. Source:
Lisa Kokes, Fort Collins Utilities, 11/16/2004.
Santa Clara city businesses are being asked to become "stewards of the environment" by purchasing renewable energy through their city's power company—at a premium. Silicon Valley Power will purchase mostly wholesale wind power based on the number of businesses and residents who sign up for the program.
"We'll try to break even but our main focus is supporting the renewable energy business and giving our customers a choice," says Larry Owens, division manager of customer services for Silicon Valley Power, which started offering the program to its customers in November.
Businesses can buy green energy in chunks of 1,000 kilowatts for $15 above normal costs. Residents can buy green energy at a 1.5-cent-per-kilowatt premium. While Silicon Valley Power expects most of its customers to be residential, some businesses are expected to sign on to "green up" their energy portfolios, Mr. Owens says.,
Palo Alto Utilities, which introduced a similar program in 2003, estimates 10 percent of its customers have signed up for the program, using 2 percent of its 150 megawatt average load.
While Palo Alto Utilities covers its costs, Silicon Valley Power expects to lose money for at least the next few years on the program due to administrative and other startup costs, Mr. Owens says. A local survey shows 80 percent of Silicon Valley Power customers want the municipal utility to include renewable energy sources as part of its portfolio.
It will be buying the renewable power through 3Phases Energy Service, the same firm Palo Alto Utilities uses. Palo Alto Utilities gets most of its windmill power from Oregon and Washington. Several, mostly municipal, utility companies have been offering this program for several years in an attempt to jump-start the renewable energy industry. Source: Andrew Hamm, Business Journal, 11/22/2004.
The American Wind Energy Association would like to provide a small sample of the items that are now being made with electricity from wind power, a pollution-free, clean, domestic resource.
A growing number of companies have chosen to use wind power for a significant part of their electricity supply. Buying their products sends a signal that their support of wind power is important to you as a consumer, which will encourage other companies to make wind power an important part of their electricity mix.
Your support can build on this momentum so that wind power can provide 6 percent of the nations electricity by 2020, similar to the amount that hydropower is producing today and build a modern, clean industry that can move forward into the future without the depletion of any of the earths resources. Here are a few gift ideas from the growing number of companies that support wind power:
Many ski resorts have recognized how important protecting the environment and the climate is for winter sports and have undertaken a range of activities, including buying wind power, in their Sustainable Slopes campaign.
For some background on green power, go to the AWEA Green Power Web site. To see a list of companies making a commitment to green power, go to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Green Power Partnership Web site.
If you buy a gift from one of the companies listed above, be sure to tell them that you are purchasing from them to support their clean energy purchase because clean air and water is the best gift we can give to our children. This is the second annual windy holiday press release. For even more gift ideas, see last years recommendations.
SmartPower, a non-profit marketing organization created by five private foundations and the Connecticut Clean Energy fund, has coordinated some consumer research into what the general public feels about renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power. Briane Keane, SmartPower's executive director, explained the research findings in a presentation at the Ninth National Green Power Marketing conference held in early October in Albany, N.Y.
The answers may be somewhat surprising to those in the industry. Take the phrase, "renewable energy," for instance. Is that the best way to describe electricity produced from wind and solar power? In a survey of 1,000 Americans across the country, the researchers found that Americans aren't very familiar with that term. Survey responders were asked which term best describes electricity generated by sources such as wind and water. The term that won the most responses (32 percent) was "natural energy." "Clean energy" came next with 28 percent. Fifteen percent preferred "alternative energy"; 12 percent preferred the term "renewable energy"; and only 4 percent preferred the term "green energy" and "green power."
The researchers were somewhat surprised to find that people were far less critical of fossil fuels than most clean energy advocates would imagine. Most people identified them with the warmth, comfort, and pleasure that they can bring to our modern lives. They clearly saw pollution and dependence on foreign sources of energy as problems, but thought that they were necessary evils because there was not a reliable alternative. Clean energy was seen as "eccentric" with "kinks to work out."
Researchers concluded from this exercise that people were familiar with wind and solar technologies, but did not perceive them as ready now to make a significant contribution. When showed a series of ad-like images, the messages that seemed to trigger the most positive reactions came from ads that emphasized that clean energy was powerful, real, and closer than you think.
The researchers found that selling clean energy on its environmental attributes isn't working well. Although Americans agreed protecting the environment was important, it was an old message. People were also afraid that using clean energy would require sacrifices. The researchers concluded that consumers already know that clean energy is better for our health and better for the environment. Advocates now need to start working on convincing them that it is ready now to be a viable alternative to traditional energy sources. SmartPower is coordinating the Clean Energy advertising campaign to increase public awareness of clean energy. The Clean Energy campaign and logo were developed as part of a collaborative effort among several states * Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania * working under the auspices of the Clean Energy States Alliance. For more information about this research, e-mail SmartPower or phone (860) 249-7040.
In addition to SmartPower's resources, AWEA and a number of other groups have produced informational resources to help make explaining the benefits of clean energy easier:
SunPower Corp., a subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp., today announced completion of the first Building Integrated PhotoVoltaic system using its A-300 high efficiency solar cells. The office building, which opened today, is located in Paderborn, Germany, and is being occupied by BioHaus, a manufacturer and distributor of solar-electric modules and inverters.
SunPower's A-300 silicon solar cells—which generate 25-30 percent more power than conventional solar cells—were encapsulated between sheets of glass by Saint Gobain Glass Solar and integrated into the building's rounded south facade. The building also features solar panels on its southeast and southwest walls and roof. The SunPower glass/glass modules will generate up to 1.8 kW of energy for the building.
SunPower's solar cells were selected not only for their outstanding area efficiency, but also due to their unique appearance. Unlike conventional blue-tinted solar cells, SunPower's A-300 solar cells have a neutral near-black color favored by many architects. In addition, the A-300's all-back contact design avoids the use of highly visible reflective metal interconnects between cells, further improving aesthetics.
"We see a clear trend toward more highly integrated BIPV systems because they allow the building envelope to actively reduce electrical consumption," said Jorn Jurgens, BIPV manager at SunPower Corp. "By integrating the world's most-efficient solar cells from Sun Power into an architecturally pleasing building design, BioHaus has shown that companies can enjoy the energy independence and environmental benefits of solar without sacrificing aesthetics." Source: Business Wire, 11/19/2004 via Energy Central, 11/22/2004.
Local Oregon newspaper the Bend Bugle recently reported that the Summit High School in Bend, OR plans to hold a "Flip the Switch" ceremony to celebrate the launch of the school's new 5,344-watt, 32-panel solar power system. According to the Bugle, the new solar project, which was funded through a grant from the Energy Trust of Oregon, is expected to provide 7,315 kilowatt-hours of annual electricity savings and produce revenue of 10 cents per kWh through the sale of Green Tags. Source: Bend Bugle, 11/12/2004 via EIN Renewable Energy Today, 11/16/2004.
Giant wind turbines being shipped through the Port of Beaumont will generate enough renewable electricity to power thousands of Chicago homes. The blades, which look as if they could be propellers on the world's largest airplane, and other parts headed to the Midwest began arriving at the port last month from England.
In all, four ships will bring in about 250 pieces, including 100 blades, John Roby, the port's director of logistics, said Thursday. The blades, 143 feet long, and hub and nacelles—a casing that protects the generator—are being imported by Vestas American Wind Technology.
Parts being shipped through the port are going to the Crescent Ridge wind farm in Bureau County, Ill., located about 110 miles west of Chicago. The 2,200-acre farm should create enough power for 20,000 Chicago homes, according to a press release on Vestas Web site. Source: The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas—Nov. 19 via Energy Central, 11/22/2004.
RWE SCHOTT Solar, Inc. recently announced the installation of a new 145-kilowatt photovoltaic system at the Hills Flat Lumber Company hardware store in Colfax, CA. According to RSS, the system, which employs 528 RWE SCHOTT Solar ASE 300 Series modules, is capable of generating approximately 92 percent of the store's electricity needs.
Hills Flat Lumber general manager Jeff Pardini noted that the company also installed an in-store kiosk that demonstrates to customers how much electricity is being produced and how many tons of greenhouse gases are being offset through the new system. Contact: Jennifer Pecha, RSS, phone 916-625-9033. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 11/15/2004.
The Renewable Fuels Association today congratulated Hawkeye Renewables, LLC for beginning production at its ethanol plant near Iowa Falls, Iowa. The plant will process over 16 million bushels of corn into 45 million gallons of ethanol and 150,000 tons of distillers grains annually.
“The RFA congratulates Hawkeye Renewables on the start-up of their ethanol plant,” said Bob Dinneen, RFA president. “Hawkeye Renewables is the newest of 14 ethanol plants powering Iowa’s rural economy. By creating good jobs and raising grain prices, ethanol plants are a true rural economic development success story.”
Hawkeye Renewables will host a public open house on Dec. 9, 2004 at the plant located at 21050 140th St. in Iowa Falls. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. visitors will be able to tour the facility and meet the staff. For more information, contact the plant at 641-648-8910.
Currently, 82 ethanol plants nationwide have the capacity to produce nearly 3.5 billion gallons annually. There are 14 ethanol plants under construction with a combined annual capacity of over 600 million gallons. Source: RFA Release, 11/15/2004.
Sandia National Laboratories recently announced plans to partner with Stirling Energy Systems, Inc. on a project to build and test six new solar dish-engine systems. Under the agreement, Sandia and Stirling will add five new dish-Stirling systems to an existing prototype at Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility. Once completed, the system is expected to produce up to 150 kilowatts of power.
"This will be the largest array of solar dish-Stirling systems in the world," said Sandia project leader Chuck Andraka. "Ultimately SES envisions 20,000 systems to be placed in one or more solar dish farms and providing electricity to southwest U.S. utility companies." According to Sandia, each prototype unit currently costs about $150,000 and can produce up to 25 kW of daytime power. Contact: Chris Burroughs, Sandia, phone 505-844-0948. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 11/15/2004.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently announced that the Kauffman-Gambler Physical Therapy building in Lancaster County, PA, has completed installation of six new photovoltaic power panels that will generate approximately five kilowatts of electricity.
Additionally, DEP said the building has inaugurated a new thermal solar unit that will supply hot water for the facility, including a 4,500-gallon therapy pool that is kept at a constant 92 degrees Fahrenheit. According to DEP, the new solar power system has generated more than 1,600 kilowatt-hours of energy since its startup in July, providing approximately one-tenth of the building's entire electrical load.
DEP noted that the initial $54,000 cost of the system was offset by a $18,500 grant from the Sustainable Development Fund of Pennsylvania, a state fund created in 1999 to support the promotion of renewable power generation. Principal building owner Timothy Kauffman said he expects to recoup the cost of the system in 15 to 20 years. Source: EIN Renewable Energy Today, 11/11/2004.
Hoping to catch up to solar powerhouse Germany, sunny Spain has announced that as of next year, solar panels will become mandatory on new and renovated buildings. The government is shooting for a tenfold increase in the total square footage of solar panels by 2010. Domestic solar usage is low in Spain, though the country is a leading manufacturer of solar panels. With oil above $50 a barrel, the government claims that solar power could save each household more than $100 a year just on water heating costs. The initiative could also make a notable dent in the nation's greenhouse-gas emissions. Industry Minister Jose Montilla promised subsidies to ease the transition, but gave no details. Source: The Times, David Sharrock, 09 Nov 2004 via Eric Lombardi, Executive Director, Eco-Cycle, Inc., 11/16/2004.
Beginning in the early 1990s, a small number of U.S. utilities began offering "green power" options to their customers. Today, more than 50 percent of all U.S. consumers have an option to purchase some type of green power product from a retail electricity provider. This report provides an overview of green power marketing activity in the United States, including an overview of green power markets, consumer response, and recent industry trends. The publication also describes utility green pricing programs available nationally and discusses companies that actively market green power in competitive markets. Finally, the report provides information on a select number of large, nonresidential green power purchasers, including governmental agencies, universities, and businesses. Source: Energy Analysis at NREL - November 2004
Today, more than 500 utilities in regulated electricity markets—or about 16 percent of all utilities nationally—offer their customers green power options. Through more than 100 programs, more than 33 million customers spanning 34 states have the ability to purchase renewable energy. This report presents year-end 2003 data on utility green pricing programs, and examines trends in consumer response and program implementation over time. The data provided in this report can be used by utilities as benchmarks by which to gauge the success of their green power programs. Source: Energy Analysis at NREL - November 2004
Many pollution prevention opportunities cost very little to carry out and can be quite profitable; others must be analyzed carefully to weigh their profitability. This analysis involves identifying all the major costs involved in a current process and possible pollution prevention alternatives, and then comparing the costs and savings.
This tool, published on October 2002, explains a few basic approaches to calculating cost/benefit ratios for pollution prevention projects. Clearly written and informative, the tool features practical worksheets and financial analysis forms. Source: Washington State Department of Ecology via Greenbiz.com, 11/22/2004.
A new study recently released by the California Energy Commission PIER Program identifies remaining undeveloped geothermal resources in California and western Nevada, and it estimates the development costs of each. It has relied on public-domain information and such additional data as geothermal developers have chosen to make available.
Incremental geothermal reserves in the California/Nevada study area have a minimum value of 2,800 gross MW and a most-likely value of 4,300 gross MW. For the state of California alone, these values are 2,000 and 3,000 gross MW, respectively. These estimates may be conservative to the extent that they do not take into account resources about which little or no public-domain information is available. The average capital cost of incremental generation capacity is estimated to average $3,100/kW for the California/Nevada study area, and $2,950/kW for the state of California alone. These cost estimates include exploration, confirmation drilling, development drilling, plant construction, and transmission-line costs. For the purposes of this study, a capital cost of $2,400/kW is considered competitive with other renewable resources.
The amount of incremental geothermal capacity available at or below $2,400/kW
is about 1,700 gross MW for the California/Nevada study area, and the same
amount (within 50-MW rounding) for the state of California alone. The capital
cost estimates are only approximate, because each developer would bring its
own experience, bias, and opportunities to the development process. Nonetheless,
the overall costs per project estimated in this study are believed to be reasonable.
Source: Roger Hill, Sandia National Lab and Jim Lovekin, Geothermix, 11/11/2004.
As of Nov. 1 and the subsequent first Monday of every month, for the next
five-months, small and medium sized public power utilities can participate
in a free web cast to learn how to
expand the role of renewable resources in there energy supply portfolio. The
December 6th web cast will focus on "Encouraging Public Participation
and Meaningful Governance." Guest speakers include Barbara Farhar, National
Renewable Energy Laboratory; Laverne Kyriss, Western Area Power Administration;
and Will Guild, Public Decision Partnership. The web cast is sponsored by
American Public Power Association Demonstration of Energy-Efficient Developments
Program, Western Area Power Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy
GeoPowering the West Program and the U.S. DOE Wind Powering America Program.
The web cast series is based on a new resource produced by the APPA DEED Program
entitled: A Guidebook to Expand the Role of Renewables in an Energy Supply
Portfolio.
Public power utilities face unique challenges in trying to add more renewable
energy to their power supply mix, the Guidebook will assist in answering questions
and aid in the planning process. The web cast series will review each core
chapter in the guidebook, including topics on:
• Drivers for expanding the role of renewable resources
• Strategies for acquiring resources
• Options for public participation
• Examples of consumer research versus customer participation
• Defining renewable resource alternatives
• Screening renewable resource options
• Designing acquisition programs
• Analyzing cost and risk factors
• Suggesting implementation processes
The Guidebook draws on strategies other utilities have used to increase their percentage of renewable energy and provides a step-by-step process for considering renewable resources, especially wind and geothermal, in smaller public power system resource portfolios. To register for web cast series beginning November 1, contact Debbie Rock, Western Area Power Administration, at 720-962-7271. Attendance will be limited to the first 40 people for each web cast. Additional web casts will be provided on a demand basis. Representatives from public power utilities will have priority over non-utility participants if more than 40 people register for any single web cast.
The Northern California Public Power Agency and the Southern California Public Power Authority are hosting two green power workshops in California for public power utilities and other interested parties. These workshops are designed to provide utilities and renewable energy providers with a better understanding of renewable energy options and markets, and the design of meaningful green power programs. Co-organizers include the Western Area Power Administration, the Utility Energy Forum, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. DOE Wind Powering America Program, the U.S. DOE GeoPowering the West Program, and the Public Renewables Partnership. The first workshop will be Nov. 30, 2004 in Roseville, Calif. at the Roseville Hilton Garden Inn; the second workshop will be hosted by Riverside Public Utilities at their offices in Riverside, Calif., Dec. 2, 2004. For more information and registration details, contact Guy Nelson at 541-994-4670.
The National Wind Coordinating Committee hosted its fifth research meeting on November 3-4 in Lansdowne, Va. The meeting provided participants with new and updated research, methods, and tools to assess wind development and wildlife impacts.
Of great interest to many of the participants were presentations from the Bat and Wind Energy Cooperative, an alliance of AWEA, Bat Conservation International, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Researchers reported early findings from extensive surveys completed this summer on bat interactions with wind turbines. The substantial data collected continues to be analyzed and a final report is expected in January, 2005.
NWCC recently also released an updated fact sheet, Wind Turbine Interactions with Birds and Bats: A Summary of Research Results and Remaining Questions. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 11/19/2004.
People from Montana and the Pacific Northwest can make energy a profitable
new crop by learning about using renewable sources like wind, biofuels and
solar at a conference January 20-21, 2005, in Great Falls, Mont., at the Heritage
Inn. Harvesting Clean Energy is a regional event bringing the agriculture
and energy industries together to share how to make and profit from clean
energy sources.
Registration for farmers, ranchers and other private individuals is $50 before
January 9 and $95 for professionals and organizations. Registration fees increase
after the Jan. 9 deadline. Register
online or call (360) 943-4241.
Harvesting Clean Energy is being organized by the Montana's Office of the Governor and Office of the Secretary of State, National Center for Appropriate Technology, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Farm Bureau, U.S. Department of Energy, Bonneville Power Administration, Alternative Energy Resources Organization, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Climate Solutions, the Montana and the Northwest Co-operative Development Centers, and others. Source: Brensdal, Georgia, 10/28/2004.
In order to work towards achieving the goal of reducing dependence on foreign oil, the biobased products platform within OBP conducts R&D to create products that were formerly petroleum-based from biomass materials such as sugars and lignin. Specifically, OBP is interested in developing transportation fuels, commodity chemicals, and combined heat and power technologies for the utility market through the biological conversion of sugars, development of products from lignin, catalytic conversion of synthesis gas to valuable chemicals, and fermentation of synthesis gas to ethanol. These different processes will be combined into an integrated biorefinery to cost-effectively produce a variety of biobased products. OBP has partnered with several national laboratories and with industry to conduct biobased products R&D. For example:
The National Biomass Initiative funds an annual competitive Joint Solicitation sponsored by USDA and DOE. The 2004 Joint Solicitation included a technical topic area titled Biobased Products - Environmental and Economic Performance, in which five awards were granted. The DOE awarded one project in this area: the partnership of Rohm and Haas, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Eastman Chemicals, and the USDA Eastern Regional Research Center for their project on New Sustainable Chemistry for Adhesives, Elastomers and Foams. The USDA awarded four biobased products projects:
Membrane Technology and Research, Inc., to develop a new membrane-based ethanol
recovery technology;
Mississippi State University’s Forest Products Department, to develop
a biobased wood preservative; Technology Management Inc., to build and operate
a modular proof-of-concept solid oxide fuel cell power generation system capable
of generating up to 1kW of biopower from biomass or biofuels; and
Watershed Research and Training Center, to support the design and early implementation phases of an innovative biomass utilization facility that will include development of stewardship contracts for public lands fuels reduction, a log sort yard, a small log processor, a post and pole operation, a value-added incubator and industrial park, and a wood-fired electrical generation plant. Source: November 2004 Biomass Initiative Newsletter, 11/8/2004.
A secretive group in Middle Tennessee wants to build from scratch one of the biggest colleges in the Southeast, and the only college in the nation to be completely dedicated to energy. They promise a school that will have an eventual enrollment of 8,000 students, 500 teachers poached from other energy programs around the nation, thousands of associated jobs and an annual economic impact greater than $250 million.
It's the United States Energy College. All it would take to land it is a "package of state and local cash incentives," according to the proposal, and 340 acres of contiguous, wooded land. "This idea has been around a long time, and there's a lot of frustration that there is no college devoted to the study of energy," says Don Reynolds. "If all you want to do is petroleum engineering you can go to Tulane or Houston; there's a number of schools that do one thing or the other. If you want a comprehensive education you're out of luck."
His request for proposals, dated Oct. 30., says U.S. Energy College will be the first college in the nation devoted exclusively to preparing people for careers in oil, gas, coal, nuclear, utilities, energy transportation, wind and solar. A majority of students would come from foreign countries. The campus would also have 2,400 double-occupancy units of student housing.
A focus of the school would be on diverse and new energy sources, he says, such as oil shale, which is present in West Tennessee. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that there are 2.6 trillion barrels of recoverable oil in shale, with 2.1 trillion of it in the U.S.
The Tennessee Department of State does not list U.S. Energy College, or anything similar, among its registered charitable organizations. The college also does not appear on the department's list of exempt organizations, which is where most private schools are listed. Nobody's heard of the Energy College, Reynolds says, because it hasn't been built yet, and therefore it's not accredited. Source: Memphis Business Journal, 11/22/2004.
The California Energy Commission has announced the draft Fourth Edition of Emerging Renewables Program Guidebook (publication # CEC-300-2005-001-ED4D) and the Committee Decision Document on Performance-Based Incentive Program for December 1, 2004, Committee Workshop are now available. Source: Bob Aldrich, California Energy Commission, Web Team, 11/19/2004.
Congress' inclusion of the $28.79 billion fiscal year 2005 Energy and Water
Development appropriations bill in the massive omnibus spending legislation
passed over the weekend brought to an end furious haggling over how to fund
the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
And in the end, the FY '05 funding level of $557 million left the project
with the same amount it had for the previous year—about $330 million
less than what the Bush administration originally had sought, and without
the off-budget funding proposal offered by the Office of Management and Budget.
Of that, $346 million is included in the conference agreement while the remaining
$231 million will come from the Defense Nuclear Waste Program account.
The Energy and Water bill was among the nine appropriations measures rolled into the $388 billion omnibus bill approved shortly before Congress adjourned its lame-duck session early yesterday morning. The Energy and Water portion of the omnibus, which lawmakers agreed to after 35 hours of negotiations, funds the Energy Department and its national laboratory system, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Interior Department's Bureau of Reclamation water projects.
The final agreement provides $23.3 billion overall for DOE in FY '05, $150 million above the budget request and $1.34 million more than FY '04. The measure includes $964 million for the Bureau of Reclamation, a $21 million increase over FY '04 levels, and $4.7 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers, which is $125 million more than FY '04 funding levels. However, to pay for some of the new initiatives in the 1,000-plus page omnibus, lawmakers are forcing a 0.8 percent across-the-board reduction for all agreed-upon program funding levels.
In specific areas of the DOE budget, renewable energy resources will get $389 million, while the electricity transmission and distribution budget will get $121 million. The renewables budget includes $82 million for biomass and biofuels, $26 million for geothermal, $95 million for hydrogen, $86 million for solar energy, $42 million for wind and $5 million for hydropower.
Other provisions: Elsewhere, the conference report includes language changing the composition, operation and duties of the board of directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This provision, included by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), expands the board to nine members who will serve five-year terms instead of the current nine-year terms. The new board will hire a chief executive officer to manage daily operations. TVA currently does not have a CEO. The bill also directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to consider a recent National Academy of Sciences report in improving its analysis of spent nuclear fuel storage at commercial nuclear sites.
The bill also extends the prohibition on oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes through 2007 and includes language regarding the public release of information concerning energy markets. Source: Mary O'Driscoll, E&E Daily senior reporter, Environment and Energy Daily, 11/22/2004.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will hold a technical conference on Dec. 1, to assess the state of wind energy in wholesale electricity markets. The goal of the technical conference, according to the November 18 official notice from FERC, is to explore possible policy changes that would better accommodate the participation of wind energy in such markets. Members of the Commission will attend and participate in the discussion.
The conference will focus in particular on:
• Drivers and Issues to Wind Energy Participation in Wholesale Energy
Markets,
• Planning, Grid Operation and Utilization to Account for Wind and Other
Emerging Technologies, and
• Open Access Transmission Tariff Services and Pricing.
The conference is open for the public to attend. In-person attendees are asked to register for the conference on-line by close of business on Monday, Nov. 29, 2004. The conference will begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 6 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time) at the Adams Mark Denver Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, Colorado.
Transcripts of the conference will be immediately available from Ace Reporting
Company (202-347-3700 or 1-800-336-6646) for a fee, according to FERC. They
will be available for the public on the Commission's eLibrary system seven
calendar days after FERC receives the transcript. Additionally, Capitol Connection
offers the opportunity for remote
listening of the conference via the Internet or a Phone Bridge Connection
for a fee. Interested persons should make arrangements as soon as possible
by visiting the Capitol Connection
website and clicking on FERC. Contact David Reininger or Julia Morelli
at the Capitol Connection (703-993-3100) with any questions. For more information
about the conference, please contact Sarah
McKinley at 202-502-8004. Source: AWEA Wind Energy Weekly, 11/19/2004.
Description: The EISG provides funding to small businesses, small non-profits, individuals and academic institutions for establishing the feasibility of new energy concepts. Qualifying entities outside of California are eligible. Projects must develop innovative and original energy concepts that address a clear market need, provide benefit for California electricity ratepayers and target one or more areas of interest: Industrial/agriculture/water end-use efficiency; building end-use efficiency; advanced generation; renewable generation; energy-related environmental research; strategic energy research. Government Agency: California Energy Commission
Schedule: EISG has up to four cycles of grants a year.
Source: November 2004 Biomass Initiative Newsletter, 11/8/2004.
John Hanger, President and CEO of Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future today applauded the Pennsylvania legislature's approval of SB1030, the Alternative Energy Bill, and thanked Governor Rendell for his leadership in support of the bill.
The Alternative Energy Bill requires 18 percent of the electricity sold in Pennsylvania to come from renewable and advanced energy sources within 15 years. The bill sets up two categories of energy sources required to be used by all power companies selling electricity in Pennsylvania—Tier 1 energy sources including wind, solar and biomass and Tier 2 energy sources including energy saved from new energy efficiency measures and coal waste. Energy companies would have to obtain 8 percent of their power from Tier 1 resources and 10 percent of their power from Tier 2 resources.
PennFuture is a statewide public interest membership organization that advances policies to protect and improve the state's environment and economy. PennFuture's activities include litigating cases before regulatory bodies and in local, state and federal courts, advocating and advancing legislative action on a state and federal level, public education and assisting citizens in public advocacy. PennFuture has offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Jeanne K. Clark of Pennsylvania's Future, +1-412-258-6683, or cell, +1-412-736-6092. Source: SOURCE Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future via PRNewswire, 11/20/2004.
This news item comes to you as a service of Western's Renewable Resources Program.
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