Green Power

Green-E Certifies Renewable Energy Certificates Brokered and Sold by Amerex Brokers, LLC

The Center for Resource Solutions announced today that Amerex Brokers LLC will be offering Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). Texas-based Amerex Brokers is a part of the largest network of renewable energy providers who offer products certified by the nation's leading certification and verification program. "We are pleased to welcome Amerex Brokers into the Green-e program. Commercial and wholesale customers can now buy Green-e certified RECs from Amerex Brokers in order to offset the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their electricity use" said Lars Kvale, analyst with the Center for Resource Solutions.

The renewable energy certificates available to commercial and wholesale customers through Amerex Brokers will be supplied from Green-e eligible renewable facilities in the United States. By purchasing Amerex RECs, customers will support these resources as well as aid the development of new resources to be built in the United States. "We are proud to offer this additional service to our customers. By becoming a broker and marketer of Green-e certified products, Amerex will add liquidity to the wholesale REC market" said John Morrow of Amerex Brokers LLC. The Green-e program is the leading renewable energy certification and verification program in the U.S., with over 150 participating vendors who sold over five million MWhs of renewable energy in 2005. The program provides independent, third party certification to ensure certified renewable energy meets strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

Through the display and recognition of the Green-e logo, the national symbol for renewable energy excellence, a growing number of consumers are able to easily identify high quality, certified renewable energy options, as well as everyday consumer products that are produced by companies that use renewable energy in their operations. Providers of Green-e certified renewable energy agree to abide by the Green-e Code of Conduct, and meet strict Green-e disclosure and truth-in-advertising requirements. All Green-e marketers undergo an annual verification audit to document that the company purchased and/or generated enough quantity and type of renewable energy to meet customer demand and marketing claims. Source: Center for Resource Solutions, 05/08/2007.

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

Renewable Energy Technologies

Western Geopower: Signs Power Purchase Agreement with PG&E

Western GeoPower Corp. announced, the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between its wholly-owned subsidiary, Western GeoPower, Inc. and Pacific Gas & Electric Company of San Francisco, California (PG&E) for the supply of approximately 212,000 megawatt-hours per year of clean, renewable, baseload electricity from Western GeoPower's 25.5-megawatt (net) geothermal power plant scheduled to come on line in 2010 at The Geysers Geothermal Field in Northern California. Subject to approval by the California Public Utilities Commission, power deliveries from the plant -- to be named Western GeoPower Unit 1 -- are scheduled to commence in 2010. The contract allows for an increase in net capacity to a maximum of 31.5 megawatts, which could accommodate the steam potential from a recently-acquired leasehold extension.

"The execution of this PPA reflects the positive project assessment presented in the feasibility report completed in October 2006 by independent consultants GeothermEx of Richmond, Calif.," said Kenneth MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western GeoPower. "With this agreement we're taking a major step forward in meeting our renewable energy goals," said Fong Wan, Vice President of Energy Procurement of Pacific Gas & Electric Company. "This project is yet another example of our company's commitment to the environment by delivering reliable, climate-friendly energy to our customers."

PG&E has a long history of developing, generating, and purchasing renewable power. The utility currently supplies 13 percent of its energy from qualifying renewable sources under California's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)-one of the highest volumes of any utility in the United States. Renewables sources in PG&E's portfolio include solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, and small hydroelectric. In addition, more than 50 percent of the electricity that PG&E delivers to its customers comes from generating resources that emit no or low carbon dioxide, the primary contributor to global warming.

"The timing of our project could not be better as it responds directly to California's legislated Renewable Portfolio Standard Program (RPS) requiring state utilities, including PG&E, to purchase at least 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2010," said MacLeod. California's RPS Program requires each utility to increase its procurement of eligible renewable generating resources by 1 percent of load per year to achieve a 20 percent renewables goal by 2010. The contract with Western GeoPower represents approximately 0.3 percent of load. The RPS Program was passed by the Legislature and is managed by California's Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission.

The Geysers Geothermal Field, located 75 miles north of San Francisco, Calif., is the largest producer of geothermal electricity in the world. Commercial geothermal power has been generated continuously at The Geysers Field since 1960, the present generation level being about 900 megawatts of clean, base-load electricity. Western GeoPower's Unit 1 leasehold is situated in the southwestern region of The Geysers Field in Sonoma County. A commercial power plant of 62 megawatt (gross) capacity, known as PG&E Unit 15, operated at the leasehold during 1979-1989. Source: GEA Update May 14, 2007.

Wind Turbine Locations Sent Back to Board

The location of nine turbines in the Oliver Wind II project will be altered from the original plan, requiring a return of the project to the Oliver County, N.D., Planning and Zoning Commission next week.

Oliver Wind II will go into full-blown construction soon, but changes with landowners and design mean that some of the wind turbines will be moved outside of the previously approved project area.

County land use administrator John Wicklund said the change is a relatively small tweaking of the project and that the new locations will be adjacent to the land that was originally zoned for the project.

A hearing on whether to give the new turbine locations a conditional use permit will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Oliver County Courthouse in Center.

In this phase II, another 32 towers will be constructed and should go on line by the end of the year. The towers will hold turbines capable of producing 1.5 megawatts of electricity.

Phase 1 was completed in 2006 and consists of 22, larger turbines in the area northeast of Center, visible on the Missouri River ridge on the west side of the river near the Fort Clark area.

Florida Power and Light is developing both phases of the wind farm and the electricity is being sold to Minnesota Power under a 25-year contract and transported from the Square Butte substation.

Florida Power and Light has developed three wind farms in North Dakota -- in Oliver County, near LaMoure and near Wilton.

It has two more in development, the phase II in Oliver County and a very large-scale, 150-megawatt wind farm that is planned to be built near Langdon, said the company's spokesman Steve Stengel.

Stengel said Florida Power and Light is "very pleased" with the performance of its North Dakota assets. "We love doing business in North Dakota." Source:  Jun 21 -- McClatchy-Tribune Regional News -- Lauren Donovan The Bismarck Tribune, N.D.

Turkeys help create solution to Midwest power needs

The gray, sandy mix of turkey droppings and other bits and pieces flowing through Greg Langmo's fingers back onto the floor of his barn isn't just funky dirt, it's fuel.

With 16,000 hens gobbling around him, Langmo is standing on a 15-inch layer of turkey litter -- some 750 tons of the stuff -- that represents a new source of energy. It will help fuel a $200 million power plant due to begin full-scale production next month. The 55-megawatt Fibrominn LLC plant will be the first poultry litter-fired power plant in the United States, tapping a novel source of renewable energy to produce enough power for 50,000 homes. Its developers are planning similar plants in other major poultry states.

Poultry litter -- a combination of droppings, wood chips, seed hulls, shed feathers and spilled feed -- has long been spread on fields as a fertilizer. That is cheap and effective, but it can cause nitrates and phosphates to build up in soil, groundwater and runoff. So poultry producers across the country have been looking for another way to get rid of it. "We've got a long-term, economically and environmentally sustainable alternative to land-spreading -- the only advancement in manure management technology since the development of the spreader," said Langmo, a turkey farmer who is also fuels manager for Fibrominn. The poultry industry's dilemma created an opportunity for Fibrowatt Ltd., which developed three smaller poultry litter power stations in Britain in the 1990s. As it happens, Minnesota is the nation's largest turkey-producing state.

When the state's producers learned about Fibrowatt, farmers and local officials began an intensive courtship of the company. Meanwhile, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. was seeking new sources of renewable energy to comply with a Minnesota Legislature mandate, requiring it to get 110 megawatts of power from biomass annually. Poultry litter works as a fuel because it is relatively dry, so it is easy to burn compared with cow and hog manure, which are too wet and smell far worse. Three tons of poultry litter have about as much energy as a ton of coal. The ash can be sold as a phosphate-rich fertilizer. And because it is biomass, it doesn't contribute to climate change like fossil fuels do. While both release carbon dioxide when they are burned, the biomass originated in plant material that absorbed carbon dioxide as it grew. Burning fossil fuels, like oil and coal, release carbon dioxide that had long been trapped in the earth. Fibrominn, a subsidiary of Fibrowatt, has a 21-year contract to sell its power to Xcel Energy, which is already meeting the other half of its biomass obligation with plants that burn wood waste. "This is a small step but a very important step toward doing something to counterbalance the effects of greenhouse gases," said Steve Wilson, a purchased power analyst for Xcel Energy. "I think it's really good for the environment."

Joseph Romm, a former top Energy Department official under President Bill Clinton and author of the global warming book "Hell and High Water," agreed, saying the plant would be considered greenhouse-gas neutral. "Obviously there aren't enough turkeys to generate enough poop to power a nation," Romm said. "On the scale of things, it's not a game-changer. It's certainly more good than bad."

Langmo said the plant will consume about 40 percent of the turkey litter Minnesota produces, turning about 500,000 tons of it per year into electricity. About 20 to 25 percent of the plant's fuel mix will be other biomass such as corn stover, native prairie grasses and wood chips, he said. Fibrowatt Ltd. was founded by British businessman Simon Fraser and his family, who sold their three British litter-fueled plants in 2005 so they could concentrate on their U.S. business. Fibrowatt LLC, based in the Philadelphia suburb of Newtown, Pa., is now led by Fraser's son, Rupert Fraser. Fibrowatt LLC is planning projects in other major poultry states. Rupert Fraser said they will likely include plants in North Carolina, Arkansas, Maryland and Mississippi. In Georgia, another developer, Earth Resources Inc., plans to break ground soon on a chicken litter-burning plant near Carnesville. That 20-megawatt project drew a $29 million loan guarantee from the Rural Utilities Service, a federal agency within the Department of Agriculture.

"We're big on renewables right now," said James Andrew, administrator of the RUS. One longtime critic of the poultry litter plants has been David Morris, executive director of the Center for Local Self-Reliance, a Minneapolis-based think tank that focuses on helping communities get the most from their resource bases. Morris said burning turkey litter squanders a resource more valuable as a nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer than as kilowatts. And he said Xcel Energy's customers will pay higher rates because electricity from Fibrominn will cost more than wind power or conventionally produced power. "From a public policy perspective, this stinks," he said.

The nitrates in poultry litter are destroyed when it's burned. Morris pointed out that farmers who raise nitrogen-hungry crops such as corn typically use fertilizer produced from natural gas. He said it would make much more sense for the environment to use poultry litter. He noted that in the rapidly growing organic sector, farmers can't use chemical fertilizers. Xcel's Wilson countered by saying all energy costs are going up, and developing new technologies costs money. He said Fibrominn has an advantage over wind power because the plant produces power nearly year-round, while wind turbines work only when the wind blows.

In his barn, Langmo said selling litter for fuel gives poultry farmers a new way to add value. Most producers who contract with Fibrominn will get $3 to $5 per ton, which he added is about what they get selling it for fertilizer. But the advantage, he said, is Fibrominn trucks the litter away all at once. Farmers don't have to pile it up outside their barns, where it can draw flies and spread odors that bother their neighbors, or put in the added work of spreading it on fields, he said. The plant itself was a beehive of activity on a recent tour as contractors rushed to meet their deadlines. Welders and grinders sent sparks flying, while loaders sped around outside smoothing the dirt so the paving crews could come in. Source: By Steve Karnowski, Associated Press, 5/29/2007.

GE Unit to Double Renewable Energy Investing

GE Energy Financial Services, a unit of General Electric (NYSE: GE), is to double its renewable energy investments by 2010, and has become one of the first financial institutions to disclose the greenhouse gas emissions from its power plant equity investments. "We are taking these steps because 'green is green' -- good for the environment and for business -- not only for GE's manufacturing but its financial services businesses," Alex Urquhart, president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, said today at Universal Studios California at GE's "Green is Universal" exhibition, a celebration of GE customers' improvements in operating and environmental performance. "In keeping with GE's ecomagination program, we are growing consistently and aggressively while helping customers overcome environmental challenges."

GE Energy Financial Services' fastest growing business area, headed by Managing Director Kevin Walsh, is its worldwide investing in wind, solar, biomass and geothermal renewable energy. Those investments have grown from $630 million in 2004 to $2 billion today. The expanded investment target announced today would increase the share of renewable energy assets in GE Energy Financial Services' overall portfolio to nearly 20 percent, or $4 billion, by 2010. Helping to reach that target, the GE business unit announced today investments in wind energy in Texas and in hydroelectric power in British Columbia. And as part of a broader cleaner energy program, it said it had agreed with BP on the opportunity to invest in hydrogen power projects that will dramatically reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from electricity generation.

At the same time, GE has become a leader in disclosing emissions from power plants based on its percentage of equity ownership. GE's annual ecomagination report, released at the "Green is Universal" exhibition, reveals that greenhouse gas emissions from GE Energy Financial Services' equity investments in power plants total about 10.94 million metric tons. The report also says GE Energy Financial Services is working with the World Resources Institute and other organizations to develop a greenhouse gas accounting protocol to cover a wider range of financial instruments. And in a third disclosure, the ecomagination annual report says electricity from the business unit's current equity portfolio of renewable energy assets will avoid 3.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Further advancing US leadership in carbon reduction, GE Energy Financial Services and the AES Corporation announced the completion of a joint venture to develop greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in the United States. The venture, first announced in January, seeks to create an annual production volume of 10 million tonnes (metric tons) of greenhouse gas reductions by 2010, primarily through the reduction of emissions of methane -- a potent greenhouse gas with a warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide. AES and GE are finalizing strict standards to ensure the environmental and scientific integrity of the emissions reductions.

GE Energy Financial Services is also stepping up its efforts to support development stage clean energy and water technology and efficiency initiatives. The business unit originally planned to invest $25 million annually in venture equity in companies pursuing clean technology, but has now doubled that target. Among the companies in which it has invested, featured at the "Green is Universal" exhibition, is A123Systems, which is developing advanced technology for rechargeable batteries. GE acted as lead investor in A123's latest fund-raising, a $40 million series D equity round that closed in January. Source: Relevant Company(s) and News, 5/28/2007.

Snohomish County PUD Purchases Wind Power

The Snohomish County Public Utility District (PUD) has signed a contract to purchase wind energy from the new White Creek Wind Project, located in south central Washington along the Columbia River Gorge. The utility will receive 10 percent of the project's output, about 7 average-MW, starting in January 2008, the company says. "This wind power purchase is consistent with our commitment to a diverse portfolio of clean, renewable resources," notes Steve Klein, PUD's general manager. "The Columbia Gorge is a good location to site new wind facilities because of strong winds in the area." Source: By NAW Staff, 5/29/2007.

Learn more about renewable resources.

Outreach, Education, Reports & Studies

NAS Report on the Benefits and Impacts of Wind Energy in the Mid-Atlantic Region

The statement that AWEA issued on the National Academy of Sciences report is available on their Web site. You may also want to see the brief statement issued by the National Audubon Society on the study; the Society emphasizes the importance of wind energy in fighting global warming. Source: Christine Real de Azua, Assistant Director of Communications, American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 5/3/2007.

State Activities and Partnerships Weekly News Report Apr. 28-May 4

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) publishes this summary of news stories posted this week on EERE State Activities & Partnerships. EERE collects news stories dealing with state involvement in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects from EERE technology program Web sites, the State Energy Program, and EERE Network News. Source: State Activities and Partnerships Weekly News Report - May 4, 2007.

Presentations Now Online from FERC Order 890 Webcast: What Does It Mean for the West?

A summary of presentations from the recent webcast entitled FERC Order 890: What Does It Mean for the West? is now available online, or on the "NWCC News" box. The webcast focused on the aspects of Order 890 of most importance for wind power, i.e., conditional firm, energy imbalances and re-dispatch, and transmission planning. Source: National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, 5/8/2007.

EESI Fact Sheet - Climate Change: What Americans Think

On Friday, May 4, EESI held a briefing entitled "Climate Change: What Americans Think,"which featured a presentation by Dr. Jon A. Krosnick, the Frederic O. Glover Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences and professor of communication, political science, and psychology at Stanford University. The briefing was well-attended, with lively Q&A at the end, and was broadcast live by CSPAN. In addition to the briefing, EESI published a three-page fact sheet, "Recent Polling on Public Perceptions of Climate Change: April 2006-2007." Source: Environmental and Energy Study Institute.

SEPA's Utility Peer Match Online Tool

The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) has released a Utility Peer Match online tool. Over the last couple of months, SEPA members have submitted information through their online profile and agreed to serve as a resource for other utilities interested in connecting with "solar savvy" utility peers. Please refer to the attached press release for more information.

If you are an electric utility who is willing to be contacted by other utilities who are interested in talking about your solar experiences and have not already updated your SEPA online profile, please do so through the members-only section of SEPA's Web site. Source: Emily Brown, Program Manager, Solar Electric Power Association, 5/17/2007.

Energy Efficiency Investments and Renewable Energy Purchases together are "Twin Pillars" in Reducing Carbon Emissions

Aggressive investments in energy efficiency in the short run and growing purchases of renewable energy over the long run are a powerful one-two solution for businesses, local governments, and states aspiring to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions now, according to a new report by a pair of clean energy advocacy groups. The report, The Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Synergies between Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology and Policy, by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), represents the latest research in steps that can be taken now to combat global warming while improving U.S. energy security.

Under realistic technology scenarios and the types of policy commitments that are emerging from many states and Congress, the report says that the U.S. can reduce its conventional electricity generation and carbon emissions by almost half in a 20-year timeframe. The report examines key policy areas where efficiency and renewables work well together. It contains case studies of both statewide programs and policies, and individual case studies at the building level. It concludes by recommending further steps for study and policy advocacy to apply renewable-efficiency synergies in policies and programs. Source: GEA Update May 28 2007.

CRS Releases New White Paper on Energy Savings Certificates

The Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced the release of a white paper entitled The Potential for Energy Savings Certificates (ESC) as a Major Tool in Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs. The paper, an investigation of ESCs (also called "white tags") was funded by the Henry P. Kendall Foundation and co-authored by Dr. Jan Hamrin, Dr. Ed Vine, and Amber Sharick.

The paper examines the status of energy savings certificates in Europe and the United States and assesses their potential use to help fight global climate change by stimulating increased energy efficiency. While energy efficiency measures have been touted as a critical component for greenhouse gas reduction for years, this report is the first investigation of the potential for ESCs to help boost energy efficiency's contribution to climate change mitigation.

"This is a good piece of work and very timely in terms of the interest which Congress, advocates and many states have in pursuing energy efficiency/climate solutions," said Rob Pratt, senior vice president-Climate Change/Energy, Henry P. Kendall Foundation. The report concludes with a "roadmap" that lays out the issues and possible solutions for implementing energy savings certificates as a tool to support: national energy efficiency programs, energy savings portfolio standards, and as a tool for attracting financing for hard to reach energy efficiency measures. The Executive Summary as well as the full paper is posted on the CRS website. Source: Center for Resource Solutions, 5/19/2007.

Western Establishes Webinar Partnership with SEPA, APPA and NRECA

Western's Renewable Resource Program (RRP) has established a partnership with the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), the American Public Power Association (APPA) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to promote a July 17, 2007, webinar entitled Low-Cost / No-Cost Solar Electricity Project and Program Ideas. The July 17th webinar could mark the beginning of an ongoing partnership with these organizations to promote the use of solar energy to the Nation's 2900 consumer-owned utilities. For more information, contact Randy Manion, 720-962-7423.

Southwest Renewable Energy Conference

Join us in beautiful Boulder for this leading-edge technical and policy conference on renewable energy development. Enjoy a tour of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory or Xcel's Ponnequin wind farm, learn about the latest technology at tradeshow booths, hear preeminent speakers on the development of wind, solar, biomass and geothermal energy and network with experts from utilities, government and private sector companies at this premiere energy event. Sessions topics include:

• Utility Leadership in Renewable Energy Development
• Emerging Policies on Climate and Carbon
• Procuring Renewable Energy Resources
• Case Studies on Integrating Wind in the Electric Grid
• Water and Energy
• Understanding Challenges for Rural Electric Providers
• Renewable Energy Technology Update and more!

Booths are still available. Contact Shelly Collings at 720-233-5590. Source: Amanda Ormond, 5/29/2007

May/June Issue of Renewable Energy World

This note is a reminder that the recent issue of Renewable Energy World is available to view or download.

This issue features:

• Beyond the PTC -- what will drive future US wind development?
• Urban initiative. The future is looking greener for Toronto
• CSP lifts off. Nevada Solar One comes to life
• Green trading -- why the chase is on for US RECs
• A radical rethink -- how can PV manufacturing break the next barrier?

Source: Renewable Energy World, 5/29/2007.

US DOE releases updated National Solar Radiation Database (Ind. Report)

The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and collaborators have updated the National Solar Radiation Database a planning tool that provides critical information about the amount of solar energy that is available at any given location. The database is widely used by solar system designers, building architects and engineers, renewable energy analysts and others to plan, size and site solar energy systems. It provides hourly solar radiation and meteorological data for 1991-2005 for 1,454 stations and features a new hourly 10-kilometer gridded data set for 1998-2005, expanding the original 1961-1990 database, which contains solar and meteorological data for only 239 stations. For more information, contact: Public Relations, NREL, at 303-275-4090. Source EP Overviews, 5/30/2007.

Wind Integration Summary Document Repackaged

UWIG is pleased to announce the release of its repackaged assessment on the integration of wind generation into utility power systems. "Utility Wind Integration State of the Art," originally released in May 2006, has been presented in a more user friendly format. The assessment summarizes a number of the key points raised in a series of articles on wind integration that appeared in the November/December 2005 issue of the IEEE Power Engineering Society's Power & Energy Magazine. UWIG produced the summary in cooperation with the American Public Power Association (APPA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). The assessment does not support or recommend any particular course of action or advocate any particular policy or position on the part of APPA, EEI, or NRECA. Hard copies of the document will be available at the UWIG booth (447) at the AWEA Wind Power conference. Source: Utility Wind Integration Group Update - May 2007.

Dates, Location Set for 2007 Offering of Wind Integration Short Course

The highly-successful and well-received course Wind Generation in Power Systems: A Short Course on the Integration and Interconnection of Wind Power Plants into Electric Power Systems will be offered Sep. 11-14 in St. Paul, Minn., at the facilities of the Midwest Independent System Operator. Registration for the event will be limited to the first 35 individuals. The course will run three days, followed by a half-day optional program and tour of a nearby wind farm. Source: Utility Wind Integration Group Update - May 2007.

IREC Small Wind Newsletter - Issue No. 27, May 25, 2007

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has just published its June 2007 issue of the Small Wind Newsletter.You can receive view this newsletter at the link below. The next issue will be August 2007. Source: Larry Sherwood, Editor, IREC, 5/25/2007.

Student Advocacy on Global Warming Explodes in First Year of Campus Climate Challenge

The Campus Climate Challenge wrapped its first year of explosive student activity that pushed campuses to become models for a clean energy revolution to stop global warming. The Challenge is a three-year campaign of the Energy Action Coalition to unite students to win 100 percent clean energy policies on their campuses. Energy Action is a coalition of 41 youth and environmental organizations.

The Challenge is designed to build a presence on targeted campuses where large numbers of students can be engaged and activated to help achieve quick campus victories and to build a long-term organizing structure. By working together in partnership with students to reduce the carbon emissions of their campuses down to zero, the Challenge helps to provide real world models for other students, elected officials, corporate leaders and the public of how we can stop global warming now. Over the longer term, The Challenge will help to develop the next generation of political and corporate leaders who will shape future policy debates about global warming and climate change.

Highlights from the first year of the Challenge include:

• 251 presidents of colleges and universities have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Presidents signing the Commitment are pledging to eliminate their campuses' greenhouse gas emissions over time. To read the pledge, visit. To see the list of signatories, visit.
• Students on over 575 college and high school campuses across the United States and Canada organized events January 29-February 2 calling for immediate solutions to deal with the potentially devastating impact of climate change caused by global warming. The demands were made as part of Rising to the Climate Challenge: Visions of Our Future, a week-long series of actions coordinated by the Campus Climate Challenge. The week of action coincided with the release of the Intergovernmental Panel Climate Change report stating that man-made activities are a leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 50,000 students were reached during this week.
• Challenge partners organized 17 regional and state summits bringing together more than 1,200 students to participate in skills-building sessions, strategy discussions and community service projects. The summits took place in every region of the country.
• Student activists organized more than 120 community meetings and screenings of An Inconvenient Truth with members of Congress to discuss global warming solutions.
• More than 5,000 photos from young people across the U.S. were collected for the Campus Climate Challenge photo petition. Young people delivered the petition to members of Congress urging reductions in carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050.
• A new online advocacy community was launched to galvanize students around the Challenge. A groundbreaking effort in open-source organizing, the new site is a mash-up that combines advocacy tools with social networking functions to empower young activists to take effective action to cut global warming pollution on their campuses and in their communities.

"Since it's inception in 2004, the Energy Action Coalition has catalyzed youth climate action internationally," says Liz Veazey, regional campus coordinator for the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Energy Action co-founder. "That early work is now fueling an unprecedented amount of student activism on global warming through the Campus Climate Challenge." For more information, contact Michael Crawford, communications director, Energy Action Coalition; 202 247-0965. Source: Michael Crawford, Communications Director, Energy Action Coalition, 5/24/07.

Upcoming Tribal Energy Workshops

A mission of DOE's Tribal Energy Program (TEP) is to enhance human capacity through education and training. Building knowledge and skills is essential to developing, implementing, and sustaining conservation and energy development projects on Tribal lands. As such, the Program is proud to offer the following training opportunities below:

RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: A STRATEGIC ENERGY PLANNING WORKSHOP
Renaissance Hotel ? Stapleton, Denver, Colo. Aug. 13-16, 2007.

WIND ENERGY APPLICATIONS TRAINING SYMPOSIUM (WEATS) -- Boulder, Colo., Aug. 28-31, 2007

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING WORKSHOP, Denver, Colo., Oct. 2-4, 2007

TRIBAL ENERGY PROGRAM REVIEW, Denver, Colo., Nov. 5-8, 2007

The DOE Weatherization Program is offering "Weatherization Program Basics for Tribes" in Bozeman, Mt., July 16-20, 2007, at Montana State University.

WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM BASICS FOR TRIBES, Bozeman, Mt., July 16-20, 2007.

For information on project development, see our "Guide to Tribal Energy Development".

Contact Lizana Pierce, manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, Golden Field Office;
303-275-4727, or fax 303-275-4753. Source: Lizana Pierce, Manager, DOE's Tribal Energy Program, Golden Field Office.

2006 Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends:

The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program today released its first ever "Annual Report on U.S. Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006." 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 2006.

The need for such a report has become apparent in the past few years, as the wind power industry has entered an era of substantial growth, both globally and in the United States. Drawing from a variety of sources, this report ? the first in what is envisioned to be an ongoing annual series ? provides information on a variety of topics, including:

• Wind project installation trends
• Wind industry trends
• Evolution of wind power sales prices
• Installed wind project costs
• Wind turbine prices
• Wind project performance
• O&M cost trends
• Integration, transmission, and policy developments

Of particular note, data on U.S. 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 report.

A PowerPoint presentation based on the report is also available.

We hope that this report will be of value, and that Mark Bolinger he planned annual updates will become a staple of the U.S. wind market for years to come. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ryan Wiser, 510-486-5474 or, 603-795-4937 at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Source: Ryan Wiser and Mark Bolinger, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 5/31/2007.

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News from Washington

Sen. Cantwell Introduces New Legislation to Level Playing Field for Renewable Energy, Extend PTC through 2013

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced comprehensive legislation to level the playing field for new energy technologies. Her bill would help renewable energy compete with fossil fuels by using enhanced tax credits to encourage increased investment in renewable technologies, according to her press release. The legislation, S1370, or The Clean Energy Investment Assurance Act, is cosponsored by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and John Kerry (D-MA), and endorsed by several nonprofits, companies, and utilities. Cantwell's Clean Energy Investment Assurance Act would extend the renewable electricity production credit through 2013 and extend and expand the Clean Renewable Energy Bond (CREB) program, among other initiatives. About the PTC extension, Cantwell said, "The core of this bill is a 5-year extension and modification of the production tax credit. This tax credit is designed to help businesses and utilities diversify their sources of energy and promote energy production using biomass, wind power, hydropower, geothermal power, and other clean, renewable resources." About CREBs, Cantwell said, "The bill provides a powerful, complementary incentive through the Clean Renewable Energy Bond Program so that public power and consumer-owned utilities that cannot benefit from tax credits are not financially disadvantaged when they invest in renewable facilities." Finally, the bill also "levels the playing field by providing an incentive to both thermal energy production and electricity production that use renewable resources," according to Cantwell. "It also modifies the tax credits to increase the incentive effect for all renewable technologies that can produce energy with zero carbon emissions."

During prepared remarks when the bill was introduced, Cantwell said: In order to transition away from an over-reliance on fossil fuels, we must promote investments in clean energy generation using renewable resources. ? We also know that Government can play a key role setting technology standards and clean energy goals, but shifting our Nation's and the world's energy system to clean energy alternatives will take substantial private sector investment. Here, too, the Government can play a key role by enabling the market conditions that will take the technology from the laboratory and turn it into fully operational energy producing facilities." Source: GEA Update May 14, 2007.

Agriculture Committee Adopts Resolution of 25 x '25

The agriculture committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has adopted a resolution that calls for 25 percent of the country's energy to come from renewables by 2025. The 25x'25 measure now moves to the House committees on Energy and Natural Resources for consideration. The resolution is also pending in the U.S. Senate. Currently, the House resolution (H. Con. Res. 25) has 63 co-sponsors while the Senate version (S. Con. Res. 3) has 32 co-sponsors to date. The chairman of the House agriculture committee, Collin Peterson (D-MN) and ranking member Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) are lead sponsors, with Representatives Mark Udall (D-CO) and Zach Wamp (R-TN). In the Senate, lead sponsors include Barack Obama (D-IL), Ken Salazar (D-CO), Charles Grassley (R-IA), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and agriculture committee chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The initiative represents rural and urban constituencies with 500 supporters from farm, forestry, business, environmental and labor sectors. The coalition also includes one third of U.S. governors and nine state legislatures. Source: GEA Update May 28 2007.

ENRC Receives Show of Support for National RPS

On May 25, Honorable Jeff Bingaman, Chairman of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee (ENRC), welcomed a letter from a diverse group of more than 175 supporters who are urging Congress to pass a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) this year. Bingaman plans to offer an RPS amendment when the Senate takes up energy legislation in June. "We are writing to urge the Senate to include a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in energy security legislation that may soon be considered by Congress."

The letter was signed by nearly 200 corporations, trade associations, unions, faith-based organizations and environmental groups, including big names such as GE, Google, the United Steelworkers, Union of Concerned Scientists, BP America, Sierra Club, and many others.

"As a diverse group of corporations, manufacturers, electric utilities, renewable energy developers, labor organizations, farm groups, faith-based organizations and environmental advocates," the letter addressed to Senators Reid, McConnell, Bingaman and Domenici, explains, "we are writing to urge the Senate to include a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in energy security legislation that may soon be considered by Congress."

An RPS, already law in 22 states and DC, requires utilities to supply a specific percentage of electricity from renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal. Sen. Bingaman is a long-time champion for renewable energy and RPS is a signature issue for him.

"We believe the time has come for Congress to move quickly to enact national RPS legislation. The costs of inaction for our environment, national security and economy are too high. Although more than 20 states have adopted individual RPS programs, the country will not realize the full potential for renewable electricity without the adoption of a Federal program to enhance the states' efforts.

Energy Legislation Outlook in the 110th Congress

An issue alert prepared by Van Ness Feldman attorneys entitled, "Energy Legislation Outlook in the 110th Congress" has been posted. Majority Leader Harry Reid announced plans to bring energy legislation to the Senate floor as early as the second week in June. Key committees in the House continue to draft legislation for the "energy independence" package expected on the floor by July 4. Source: Van Ness Feldman, 5/30/2007.

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State Activities, Marketing & Market Research

Rhode Island Considers Power Authority Legislation

Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri has submitted a bill for the creation of the Rhode Island Power Authority, a new agency that would be able to sell municipal bonds to finance development of wind-power and hydroelectric projects. Contact Donald L. Carcieri, Governor, Rhode Island, 401-222-2080. Source: EP Overviews, 5/8/2007. Source: Reuters, 5/02/ 07.

31 States Target Global Warming

On May 8, 31 states representing more than 70 percent of the United States population announced they would measure and jointly track greenhouse gas emissions by major industries in their formation of the Climate Registry. "You have to be able to count carbon pollution in order to cut carbon pollution," said Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "The registry gives business and policymakers an essential accounting tool for tracking the success of the many emerging global warming emission reduction initiatives that are blossoming across the country." The new registry will be based in Washington, D.C., and will have regional offices. It will begin tracking data in January and will be funded by industry fees, foundation donations and public money. Reported by EESI. Source: GEA Update May 14 2007.

Western Governors Release Energy Report

Casper, Wyoming, Western states are on track to surpass a 2004 goal of adding 30,000 megawatts of "clean and diversified" energy generation in the region by 2015, according to a report from the Western Governors' Association. The report released [June 17] said 80,000 megawatts is possible with better cooperation from the federal government. The report came out as the Western Governors' Association began its annual conference in Deadwood, S.D. Source: RenewableEnergyAccess.com, 6/21/2007.

California Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Fix Solar Program California

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today applauded the Senate's passage of AB 1714 that will fix an unintended flaw in legislation passed last year to complete his Million Solar Roofs plan: "I am very pleased that we have bipartisan support to fix this important program that will greatly expand solar energy in California. By expanding its use in homes and businesses across our state, we can help fight greenhouse gases while bringing more jobs to California." said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This legislation will correct an unintended flaw in last year's legislation so we can immediately work to maximize Californians' participation in the program." Earlier this month, Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he is sponsoring legislation to fix the program, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which provides financial incentives to home and business owners to install solar systems to reduce electricity demand in California, helping to ensure an adequate supply and protect the environment.

To expedite the passage of urgency legislation, the Governor worked with a bipartisan group of legislators including Assembly members Lloyd Levine, Bonnie Garcia, John Benoit and Senators Christine Kehoe, Bob Dutton and Jim Battin to quickly introduce a bill that fixes the problem. The Governor has also worked with utilities, environmental groups and other stakeholders to craft the agreement.

AB 1714 must still pass the Assembly before going to the governor for final approval. The unintended problem is related to the current statutory requirement for Time of Use rates for electricity customers that install solar systems. The solution allows the CPUC to temporarily change the rate structure for solar systems installed since January 1, 2007. The legislation must be signed into law by June 6, 2007, to allow the CPUC to take action at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The legislation will also allow the CPUC to offer rebates or credits to ratepayers impacted by the current rate structure. Since taking office, the Governor has made it a priority to develop a self-sustaining solar industry for California. Gov. Schwarzenegger worked for more than two years with the legislature and the California Public Utilities Commission to create a solar program for the citizens of California. To fully implement the incentive program, he signed SB 1 by Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles) in August, 2006.

One million solar roofs will greatly increase the state's rooftop solar energy capacity, providing the output equivalent of five modern electric power plants. This program's 3,000 megawatt goal, taken together with other aggressive solar initiatives such as requiring utilities to acquire 20 percent of the power used within the state from renewable sources, will make California once again a world leader in solar power. In October of last year, the Governor launched the Go Solar California Web site, a one stop shop for information on the state's solar programs for California residential and commercial power users. Source: California Governor, 5/29/2007.

Chasing the Energy Hat

An old Irish saying defines the act of commitment as tossing your hat over a wall and then figuring out how to retrieve it. The Oregon Legislature has thrown its energy hat over the wall, approving legislation that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming and make this state a leader in clean energy technologies ranging from wind power to solar energy. By a surprisingly lopsided 41-19 vote, the House approved a bill that requires Oregon's biggest utilities, including the Eugene Water & Electric Board, to generate 25 percent of their power by 2025 from renewable energy sources. The Senate passed a similar version of the bill last month, and is expected to quickly endorse the House changes and send the measure to Gov. Ted Kulongoski to be signed into law.

Oregonians should be proud of this historic legislation, which should help limit carbon emissions while at the same time promoting alternative energy and boosting the state's economy. The proposal's scope and complexity, along with the initial wariness of powerful utility and business interests, made its passage anything but a foregone conclusion. Despite four years of work and compromise, and last month's passage by the Senate, the bill's prospects appeared uncertain just a few weeks ago. Critics warned with little justification that the proposal would burden ratepayers with major cost increases as renewable energy sources are brought online to replace traditional ones, such as generation plants powered by coal and natural gas. Ultimately, lawmakers were convinced that the bill contains adequate safeguards to protect consumers. Those protections include a 4 percent cap on cost increases that utilities can incur as they adapt to the new renewable energy standards. Smaller utilities, including rural electric co-ops, are protected by provisions that make it easier for them to cope with the measure's requirements.

Regrettably, the House dropped the Senate bill's requirement that medium-sized utilities, those that account for between 1.5 percent and 3 percent of the state's overall power load, meet the ''25 by '25'' requirement. Instead, they'll be required only to generate 10 percent of their power from renewable resources. Unlike the state's smallest utilities, which account for less than 1.5 percent of the state's total power load, the 25 percent mandate would not have imposed unworkable hardships on medium-sized utilities such as the Springfield Utility Board. Some already have made strides toward increasing the percentage of electricity they get from renewable sources. Even with that last-minute compromise, Oregon will still have one of the most demanding renewable energy standards in the nation. And if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency allows, as it should with no further delay, plans by California, Oregon and 10 other states to reduce emissions from motor vehicles by nearly a third over the next decade, Oregon will take its place at the forefront of states responding to the challenge of global warming. Governor Kulongoski deserves primary credit for making the renewable energy standard the centerpiece of his energy policy, one that not only targets global warming, but that should provide a significant boost for the state's economy by making Oregon a leader in clean energy technologies. All it took was tossing a hat over the wall. Source: A Register-Guard Editorial, 5/27/2007.

New Opportunities for Renewable Energy

There is great potential for America to be a leader in innovation when it comes to developing the new energy resources that will fuel our nation for decades to come. Because Nebraska has been successful in developing a market for biofuels from early on, we have an opportunity to set an example for other states hoping to get involved in the production of renewable fuels.

As Governor of one of the nation's largest ethanol-producing states and chairman of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition (GEC), I'm pleased to say that Nebraska communities are making new investments in expanding ethanol production in our state.

There are at least a dozen new ethanol plants under construction across Nebraska, in addition to several other projects in various stages of development. During the next year or two, we will double the amount of ethanol produced in Nebraska, in addition to making strong gains when it comes to biodiesel production.

Today, our challenge as leaders in the renewable fuels industry is to help set new goals that will help our state and the nation build on what has already been achieved.

If ethanol and other renewable fuels are going have a sustained role in meeting the nation's transportation needs, we need to expand opportunities to invest in their production. While ethanol made from corn has been very successful, our future energy needs demand that we pursue fuel production from more than traditional crops alone. Technology that allows us to make ethanol by converting cellulose derived from wood chips, switch-grass and other plant materials is just around the corner.

Recently the GEC submitted several recommendations for national policies that would help expand our investment in biofuels by advancing research and supporting increased production of renewable fuels. The GEC supports the development of ethanol and other renewable fuels from a variety of sources, and has urged lawmakers to support research on the feasibility of producing biofuels from new materials as a way to begin developing markets for new crops used in their production.

We've recommended the creation of renewable fuel loan guarantee program that would encourage more low-carbon biofuels production facilities to be built in the U.S., as well as the development of research designed to help livestock producers make better use of the distiller's grains made in addition to ethanol produced from corn as a way to help reduce the impact ethanol production has had on the livestock industry.

Here at home, there are several bills working their way through the Legislature that could help encourage further the development of Nebraska's renewable energy industry.

I recently signed two bills that will help our state invest in the opportunities of wind energy. LB 367, this year's tax relief legislation, exempts materials used for wind energy projects from taxes, and LB 629 authorized Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) projects designed to encourage electrical generation from community-owned wind turbines.

Public entities have not been eligible for federal incentives encouraging the development of wind power. Because Nebraska is a public-power state; opportunities to invest in wind projects have been very limited up to now. The C-BED bill clears the way for Nebraska's public utilities to purchase electricity generated by privately-owned turbines and as a result, further development of wind projects in our state.

Nebraska is poised to see substantial development of our renewable energy industry, now and for many years to come. Whether its opportunities to develop our ethanol, biodiesel or wind power production capacity, I am committed to ensuring that the possibilities for Nebraska to lead the way in renewable fuel and energy production are endless.

The heartland was the birthplace of America's ethanol industry, and I am confident that our state has the resources needed to ensure that we remain at the forefront when it comes to innovation in the development of renewable energy for our nation. Source: By Governor Dave Heineman, 5/26/2007.

Iowa Establishes a $100 Million Clean Energy Fund

Iowa Governor Chet Culver approved two bills last week that establish a new state fund for clean energy research and development. The state will provide the new Iowa Power Fund with $25 million per year for the next four years. The fund will support research, development, commercialization, and deployment of biofuels, renewable energy technologies, and energy efficiency technologies, while also seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The fund will also educate the public about these technologies and will aim to increase the demand for them. The $100 million fund will be run by an 18-member board, with oversight from a seven-member committee of legislative and university leaders.

To administer the Iowa Power Fund, the legislation also creates a new Office of Energy Independence. The new office will lead the state's outreach and public education efforts for clean energy and will coordinate and monitor all existing state and federal grants, programs, and policies relating to renewable energy, renewable fuels, and energy efficiency. By mid-December, the director of the office will also prepare an Iowa energy independence plan that will include cost-effective options and strategies for the state to achieve energy independence from foreign sources of energy by the year 2025. The director will provide an annual report on these goals every November and will update the energy independence plan every December.

The effort will complement a bill signed in April, establishing the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council to consider and determine the best strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state. It also establishes a greenhouse gas inventory and registry within the state. Source: EERE Network News, 5/30/2007.

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Grants, RFPs & Other Funding News

Solar Program Announces Solar America Showcases

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced its selections for the first round of Solar America Showcases (SAS). The Department selected three proposals for technical assistance during FY 2007:

• Forest City Military Communities, for the proposal, "Residential Hybrid Solar Electric & Thermal Systems in Hawaii." DOE will help determine the feasibility of incorporating hybrid solar-thermal electric systems to a large military residential project in Oahu.
  
•  Orange County, Florida, for the proposal, "Photovoltaic Demonstration and Research Facility & Family Learning Center." DOE will help evaluate the technical feasibility of placing an 800kW photovoltaic system on the Orange County Convention Center, the second largest convention center in the southeastern U.S.
  
• City of San Jose, California, for the proposal, "Smart Solar Initiative." DOE will provide technical and cost-benefit analysis in evaluating the potential of multiple large buildings and complexes in San Jose for solar photovoltaic and thermal applications.
  
• The Solar America Showcases activity is part of the President's Solar America Initiative (SAI), which seeks to make solar energy cost competitive by 2015. The Showcases are designed to help reach the SAI goal through market pull opportunities by facilitating large-scale installations that involve cutting edge solar technologies, novel applications of solar, high visibility sites, and/or high likelihood of replicability. SAS does not provide financial assistance; instead it provides technical assistance to worthy proposals through teams of DOE-funded solar experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, the Southeast and Southwest Region Experiment Stations, and private firms.

A new call for SAS proposals has recently been announced, and will close on July 10, 2007.
 

US DOE Sec. Bodman announces $32,500,000 US in Solar Initiatives (Funding)

U.S. DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman issued a $30,000,000 US Funding Opportunity Announcement in support of university level research and development to lower costs, increase availability, and improve the efficiency of photovoltaic solar products.

In addition, Secretary Bodman named 13 "Solar America Cities" that will share $2,500,000 US in grant money to promote solar-power technology throughout their communities: Ann Arbor, , Austin, Berkeley, Boston, Madison, New Orleans, New York City, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco and Tucson, Each city submitted a proposal outlining their plans to build a sustainable solar infrastructure, streamline city-level regulations and promote mainstream solar technology adoption among residents and businesses. Source: Deseret News/DOE, June 21, '07.

Contact Nancy Kiyota, grant specialist, DOE, 303-275-4938; or Samuel Bodman, secretary, DOE, 800-342-5363. Source: EP Overviews, 6/22/2007.

Concentrating Solar Power Funding Opportunity Announcement

The U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Program released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for companies to develop storage solutions, manufacturing approaches, and new system concepts for large-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) plants. CSP technologies are one of the most attractive renewable energy options for large-scale power generation in the U.S. Southwest, which is home to 15 of the 20 fastest-growing metro areas in the country. The collaborative public-private partnerships established herein will work to reduce the nominal levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of CSP power plants from 13-17 -/kWh in 2007 to a target of 7-10-kWh by 2015 and 5-7-/kWh by 2020. DOE estimates that satisfaction of these cost targets could lead to installation of 16,000 to 35,000 MW of new generating capacity by 2030. This would result in a savings of 36-80 million tons of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere each year relative to coal plants of similar capacity. Contact Jim Hoelscher, 301-731-1900 X17.

DOE Awards $22.7 Million for Basic Solar Energy Research

DOE announced that it has awarded $22.7 million to 27 projects aimed at improving the capture, conversion, and use of solar energy. These basic research projects will help increase the amount of solar power in the nation's energy supply and will focus on two technical areas: the conversion of solar energy to electricity and the conversion of solar energy to chemical fuels. Directly converting sunlight to chemical fuels will help overcome the problem of the lack of nighttime solar resource and provide solar-derived energy in forms useful for transportation, residential, and industrial applications. DOE selected projects at 23 universities and two DOE national laboratories: Brookhaven National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Fourteen projects will receive $9.9 million over three years for research in the conversion of solar energy to electricity. The projects will involve such technologies as nano-materials, organic solar cells, solar cell materials that can produce multiple excited electrons from a single photon, and "dye-sensitized" solar cells, which employ dyes to capture the energy in solar photons. Thirteen projects will receive $12.8 million over three years for research on the conversion of solar energy to chemical fuels. While some of these projects involve developing catalysts for such chemical conversions, most are aimed at mimicking the photosynthetic process that plants use to convert sunlight into stored chemical energy. Source: EERE Network News, 5/30/2007.

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