Fighting the Energy Security War at Home through Energy Efficiency
ACEEE recommends achieving energy security through energy efficiency. Job #1: drive a hybrid vehicle.
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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: March 19, 2003
*News and Events 250-Kilowatt Fuel Cell System Installed in Los Angeles New Waste-to-Energy Projects Planned Throughout the U.S. U.S. Helps Fund Study for Hungarian Wind Power Project Renewable Power Plants Win Contracts in California, Nevada Building Developer and Town Buy Large Amounts of Green Power Arizona Court: Homeowners Have a Right to use Solar Energy*Site NewsGridless Urban House Project *Energy Facts and Tips EIA Report Examines Troubled Electric Industry in 2001———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-250-Kilowatt Fuel Cell System Installed in Los AngelesThe largest fuel cell system in North America was dedicated last week in Los Angeles. FuelCell Energy Inc. built the 250-kilowatt power plant and installed it at the downtown headquarters building for the Los Angeles Department of Power and Water (LADWP). The LADWP has also broken ground on a second 250-kilowatt fuel cell power plant, to be located at Terminal Island in San Pedro. The Terminal Island facility will be fueled with digester gas from a nearby wastewater treatment plant. See the LADWP press release at: [sorry this link is no longer available]DOE has been supporting research at FuelCell Energy since 1976. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham hailed the new installation as “a preview of our energy future – clean, efficient power […]
SolarSummary: March 11-17, 2003
by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news BP Solar Carmanah Technologies Photowatt Shell Solar Solar Energy Systems Applications The utility, NorthWestern Energy of Montana and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) recently announced details of its two residential solar energy demonstration programs, a wind energy demonstration project and solar projects intended for schools and fire stations. All the projects are funded by NorthWestern Energy’s Universal Systems Benefits (USB) charge paid by the company’s electric customers. (Solarbuzz.com, 11/03/03) The first phase of the largest commercial solar project in the US has been completed in Suffolk County. A joint effort between a Suffolk County direct mail order company and the Long Island Power Authority has resulted in a showcase solar power system that will cover the business’ three rooftops and annually generate a possible 1.6 MWh of electricity, enough to power 125 average-sized homes. (Suffolk Life via Solarbuzz.com, 12/03/03) Shell Solar and AE Schmidt Environmental (AESE) have combined efforts to design and construction of a 73-kilowatt solar electric system at the AESE site in Los Angeles. With the incentives received from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Gas Company, the system will pay for itself in approximately […]
SolarSummary: March 4-10, 2003
by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news Advanced Energy Systems, Inc. Evergreen Solar ICP Global Technologies Global Solar Energy Sharp Corp. Shell Solar Solar Grade Silicon LLC (Komatsu/REC) Tata BP Solar New Products W. C. Heraeus GmbH & Co. KG, a subsidiary of the Germany-based precious metals and technology group Heraeus Holding GmbH, has developed an innovative coating material for thin film solar cells. Under the product name ZAO for aluminium-doped zinc oxide the “Thin Film Materials Division” of W. C. Heraeus has introduced a so-called “sputter target” to the market, a substrate used for coating, which is effective and cost-efficient at the same time. It has been designed to pave the way for thin film solar cells into the economically attractive mass production market, where it will be used for the coating of transparent conductive metal oxide. The company has said that the new high performance material has already been qualified by important producers of solar cells and modules. (Solarbuzz.com, 10/03/03) Tata BP Solar India Ltd plans to develop a financing scheme to promote its newly launched Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Laminates in the country. The new technology could be used as a replacement for building materials like glass […]
How One Little State (Vermont) Can Make a Difference
Fluorescent lamp makers recently announced a nationwide program to label fluorescent and high intensity discharge (HID) lamps that contain mercury, as well as their packaging. Is this a case of manufacturers coming to terms with mercury toxicity? Unfortunately not. Although lamp sales in Vermont account for less than $2 million worth of fluorescent lamps purchased each year – a tiny percentage of national lamp sales – Vermont passed a law in 1998 that requires labeling on all lamps sold in state that contain mercury. The lamp manufacturer trade association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), promptly filed a lawsuit asking how “tiny Vermont” would “purport to dictate worldwide lamp labeling requirements.” They argued the Vermont law violated the Commerce Clause as well as other Constitutional provisions. NEMA won the first round but lost in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and again when the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear their case. Then NEMA made their announcement about a nationwide program. “A harmonized national label is the only labeling approach that makes sense,” said NEMA president Malcolm O’Hagan in a prepared statement. “Lamp manufacturers make their products for national and international markets and do not control the distribution system. Disposal […]
House Energy Bill Takes Small Steps for Energy Efficiency
In testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) said that while the recently introduced energy bill contains important energy efficiency provisions, it omits measures that could have a much larger impact. “As we stand poised for war in Iraq, it is astonishing that an American energy bill would do so little to save oil,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel. “We applaud the Energy and Commerce Committee for retaining the appliance efficiency standards and other energy efficiency features from last year’s conference, but the larger issues of vehicle fuel economy and efficiency in the electricity sector are not seriously addressed.”ACEEE supports the energy efficiency provisions in the bill, including:* Title I on Energy Conservation – especially the sections on energy conservation standards for additional consumer and commercial products and on federal leadership in energy conservation;* Title VI on DOE Programs and the sections of Title V dealing with hydrogen vehicles and fuel; and* Title X on Automobile Efficiency, primarily because it improves on the 2001 legislation by not extending the dual-fuel credit for cars(thereby saving about 55 million barrels of oil annually).ACEEE estimates these provisions will reduce U.S. energy use by […]
2003: Record Year for Shareholder Advocacy
As of February 1, 862 shareholder proposals have been filed with publicly traded U.S. companies, compared with just 802 in all of 2002! The 2003 proxy season is on track to be a record year for shareholder advocacy – in terms of the number of resolutions submitted, the number of resolutions likely to come to vote and, possibly, the level of shareholder support. Among the fastest-growing issue areas for resolutions include concerns about excessive CEO compensation, global warming, dividing the positions of CEO and chairman, and sexual orientation anti-bias policies. The report “2003 Shareholder Proxy Season Overview: Social and Corporate Governance Resolution Trends,” notes that corporate governance resolutions rose sharply to 625 by early February 2003, compared with 529 in all of 2002. At least 237 social and environmental resolutions were filed by mid-February, up slightly from the number at this point last year. Social Investment Forum President Timothy Smith said: “It is clear that 2003 will be remembered as the year when investors decided to stand up and be counted, using their voice and vote to call for strengthened corporate governance and solid corporate citizenship. Investors are moving from passive holders of stock to becoming active and responsible owners […]
Transparency after 9/11: Balancing the
Will the trend toward voluntary corporate reporting mechanisms reverse because of increased security post-9/11?
Breathe Easier
Renewable energy will becoming widely accepted only when people connect it with being healthier. The new, national "Breathe Easier" campaign will connect energy choices with health.
Wind Farm Financing: Dont Get Blown Away
Not a single U.S. bank loans money for large-scale wind farm projects! Those who do will prosper, and those who dont will wish they did.
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