Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Feb. 26, 2003

News and Events

Report Finds High Potential for Renewable Power in the West
New Nevada Campus to be Fully Powered by Geothermal Energy
Report: More Than 300 Utilities Now Offer Green Power
Ski Areas Buy Green Power, Use Renewables, and Save Energy
Two Large and Innovative Biodiesel Plants Under Construction
Honda, Toyota Continue to Dominate List of “Greenest” Cars

Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reductions Increased in 2001

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NEWS AND EVENTS

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Report Finds High Potential for Renewable Power in the West

A new report examining the potential for renewable energy development on public lands finds that all 11 western states have areas with a high potential for power production from one or more renewable energy sources. The report, released February 21st by DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the U.S. Department of the Interior, studies resources on Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and tribal lands. Titled “Assessing the Potential for Renewable Energy on Public Lands,” the report was prepared in support of the President’s National Energy Policy, which included efforts to increase domestic energy security by encouraging energy production on public lands.

The report examines wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy resources, applying suitable screening criteria such as the distance to transmission lines and roads. It found areas in seven western states that hold a potential for power production from three or more renewable energy resources, plus 35 sites in six western states that hold a high potential for near-term development of geothermal power resources. See the NREL press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

The full report is posted on the EERE Web site at:
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New Nevada Campus to be Fully Powered by Geothermal Energy

The University of Nevada, Reno announced last week that it will use geothermal energy to supply all the energy needs for its new Redfield Campus in Reno. Advanced Thermal Systems, Inc. (ATS) will build and operate an 11-megawatt geothermal power plant adjacent to the campus. Under a 30-year agreement with the university, the power plant will provide electricity and hot and chilled water to the university, using an absorption cooling system to produce chilled water from the geothermal heat. ATS expects to sell excess electricity to Sierra Pacific, the local electric utility. The new campus is expected to open next year. See the University of Nevada press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

The use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies should accelerate in Nevada, thanks to the Nevada Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Task Force. The task force, established in November 2001 to administer the state’s Trust Fund for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, released its first legislative report on January 30th. According to that report, the task force plans to work with the Nevada State Energy Office to improve renewable energy resource assessment and examine solutions to power transmission constraints within the state. The task force will also examine credit trading systems for renewable power producers, evaluate market incentives, onsider new energy codes for buildings, and expand the state’s public outreach efforts. See the legislative report on the task force’s Web site at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Report: More Than 300 Utilities Now Offer Green Power

DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) released its annual ranking of utility-sponsored green power programs last week, noting that more than 300 utilities in 32 states now offer such programs. To date, more than 425 megawatts of renewable generating capacity have been installed or are planned as a result of these programs. the utility-sponsored programs, referred to as “green pricing” programs, are just one aspect of the green power market, which has resulted in nearly 1,500 megawatts of new renewable power capacity either planned or installed. See the NREL press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

NREL develops “top ten” rankings of these green pricing programs based on total sales, total number of participating customers, percentage of customers participating, and lowest price premium charged. The top-ranked utilities for each of these categories are Austin Energy (selling over 251 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy each year), the Los Angeles Department of Power and Water (selling green power to 71,732 customers), Moorhead Public Service in Minnesota (selling green power to 5.8 percent of its customers), and Washington’s Clallum County Public Utility District (charging a premium of only 0.7 cents per kilowatt-hour for green power). See the complete top ten rankings on the EERE Green Power Network Web site at:
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Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) is currently not on NREL’s top ten list, but it hopes to be eventually: the company is requesting proposals for 50 megawatts of wind power, to be sold to its customers through a green pricing program. Proposals are due in March, and the company plans to choose one by May. See the announcement on the OG&E Web sitet: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Ski Areas Buy Green Power, Use Renewables, and Save Energy

U.S. ski resorts launched a new voluntary initiative last weekend to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to address global warming. As part of the “Keep
Winter Cool” campaign, ski areas are buying wind energy, using solar energy to heat lift shacks, managing their power consumption, using energy-efficient lights and snowmaking equipment, and even recovering the heat from snowmaking compressors. Two California resorts are also using biodiesel fuel in their snow vehicles and transportation buses. The National Resources Defense Council is participating in the campaign. See the press release from the National Ski Areas Association at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Two Large and Innovative Biodiesel Plants Under Construction

Two separate companies — one in California, and one in Utah — announced in late February their plans to produce biodiesel fuel from renewable resources using innovative technologies.

In California, American Bio-Fuels, LLC is constructing a biodiesel production plant that it claims will be the largest in the United States. According to a press release from Green Star Products, Inc., a part owner of American Bio-Fuels, the new Bakersfield plant will use a continuous-flow reactor and separator to achieve a production capacity of 35 million gallons per year. For comparison, the U.S. production of biodiesel in 2002 was only 15 million gallons. The new plant is expected to begin operating by midyear. See the Green Star Products press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

In Utah, Smithfield Foods, Inc. plans to invest $20 million in a facility that will convert swine manure into methanol, which will be shipped elsewhere and used to produce biodiesel. Pending final approval, construction at the Milford facility will begin in April, and the plant may be operating as early as October. Smithfield Foods is the largest hog producer and pork processor in the world. See the Smithfield Foods press release at: http://www.smithfieldfoods.com/news/news_030221.html

Honda, Toyota Continue to Dominate List of “Greenest” Cars

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its annual list of the most fuel-efficient and least-polluting cars and trucks last week, a list that continues to be topped by Honda and Toyota vehicles. The new “ACEEE’s Green Book — Model Year 2003” still lists the hybrid-electric Honda Insight in first place, followed in order by Honda’s natural-gas-powered Civic GX, Toyota’s (now discontinued) all-electric RAV4 EV, and the two hybrid-electric sedans, the Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. The top-ranked domestic car, coming in 11th, is the low-emissions version of the Ford Focus. Riding at the bottom of the list are three 12-cylinder sports cars from Ferrari and Lamborghini and a slew of sport utility vehicles: the GMC Yukon, Sierra Denali, and Yukon Denali; the Chevrolet Suburban and Silverado; the Land Rover Range Rover; the Cadillac Escalade; the Lexus LX 470; and the Toyota Land Cruiser. See the ACEEE press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Although the Green Book is only available for a fee, a summary of the top-ranked and lowest-ranked vehicles is available for free online at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Missing from the Green Book list are the two fuel-cell-powered cars that are now being tested in California fleets: the Honda FCX and the Toyota FCHV. In mid-February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Honda FCX was the first to be certified as a “U.S. hydrogen fuel cell zero emission vehicle.” See the EPA press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

The EPA established that the Honda FCX achieves 51 miles per kilogram of hydrogen in the city, and 48 miles per kilogram on the highway. In terms of energy, a kilogram of hydrogen is nearly equal to a gallon of gasoline. The price is a bit greater, though: according to the EPA, a kilogram of compressed hydrogen currently costs about five dollars. See the EPA fact sheet: [sorry this link is no longer available]

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SITE NEWS

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ASHRAE Online Journal and Electronic Newsletter

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The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has two online news publications about heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R): the weekly “HVAC&R Industry” electronic newsletter and the monthly “ASHRAE Online Journal.” The newsletter features news briefs about the HVAC&R industry, while the Online Journal features more in-depth articles by top HVAC&R experts. Both often feature news about energy efficiency issues and technologies.

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ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS

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Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reductions Increased in 2001

U.S. companies that are voluntarily reporting their cuts in greenhouse gas emissions were able to eliminate more emissions in 2001 than they did in 2000, according to DOE’s Energy Information Administration (EIA). Overall, voluntary greenhouse gas reductions increased 5.4 percent over 2000 reduction levels. The 228 participating companies reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 316 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, or about 4.5 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Most noteworthy is that the bulk of emissions cuts were achieved through direct reductions — actually cutting the companies’ emissions — rather than helping to cut emissions at other facilities or using means of sequestering carbon, such as tree planting. With power companies dominating the group, most of the reductions were achieved through improved power plant efficiencie
s, increased use of cogeneration and renewable energy sources, and improved demand-side management programs to help customers use less electricity. [sorry this link is no longer available]

The EIA also released in mid-February a summary version of its report on total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2001 (the full report was released in December 2002). The report shows a 1.2 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions in 2001, primarily because of slow economic growth, reduced manufacturing output, a drop in electrical demand, and a warm winter. See the EIA summary report at: [sorry this link is no longer available]

Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed in late January that 2002 was the second-warmest year on record, topped only by 1998, when a strong El Nino contributed to higher global temperatures. In mid-February, NOAA reported that January 2003 was the third-warmest January on record. See the

NOAA climate reports at:
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