FW: January/February Edition of the Oklahoma WinCharger
Pollard, Eric W.
Eric Pollard
OUrEarth / Campus Climate Challenge
Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative (OWPI)
OU Student Congress
C: (405) 226-7663
W: (405) 325-8870
"Now, the extremists—the extremists—they don't want to drill for oil. They don't want fossil fuels. They don't want coal generation. They don't want nuclear power. Right now, they don't even want wind anymore because it's killing the birds. But they would really shut down this machine we call America. And I think it's very, very significant that we have a truth squad out there and people will understand what the real issues are."
- Senator James Inhofe (R-Exxon)
________________________________________
From: Oklahoma WinCharger Subscribers [WINCHA...@lists.ou.edu] On Behalf Of Britton Rife [bkr...@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 2:52 PM
To: WINCHA...@lists.ou.edu
Subject: January/February Edition of the Oklahoma WinCharger
Good Afternoon!
The latest issue of the Oklahoma WinCharger is now available below. You can also view the newsletter in PDF format by clicking on the following link:
http://www.seic.okstate.edu/owpi/OkWinCharger/WinCharger/latestIssue.pdf
Some of the stories in this issue include:
* 2008 Oklahoma Legislation highlights
* The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
* Installed U.S. Wind Power Capacity Increased 45% in 2007
* Increased Solar Production Creating "Green Collar Jobs"
* Geothermal Plant to be Powered by Solar Power
Have a wonderful weekend!
Britton Rife
Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative
The University of Oklahoma
OWPI NEWS & EVENTS
OWPI Introduces Angie Albers
In January, I began my job as the new Outreach Project Coordinator for the Oklahoma Wind Power Initiative. I am originally from Hoxie, KS and recently earned a B.S. degree in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma. This picture was taken in November 2005, during a visit to the Blue Canyon Wind Farm near Lawton, OK which was the initial spark to my interest in wind power. I am excited about my new position and look forward to working with OWPI to bring renewable energy outreach and education to Oklahomans.
— Angie Albers
Tower Installations
OWPI successfully installed a 20 meter meteorological tower in eastern Norman, Oklahoma in December 2007. The tower was installed before the ice storm and is still standing. The tower will be collecting data for at least a year, and will provide information about the wind resources in eastern Norman. OWPI will also install a 20 meter meteorological tower in Haskell, Oklahoma in late February.
2008 OKLAHOMA LEGISLATION
Wind Power, Renewable Energy, and Energy Efficiency Bills Begin Their Legislative Journeys
Legislation introduced from both sides of the aisle during the second session of the 51st Oklahoma Legislature highlight the growing interest in renewable energy and energy efficiency at the State Capitol. However, the legislative season is long, funding is tight, and most of the bills can expect difficult roads ahead.
This year's bills range from tax incentives for wind and photovoltaic energy systems, to energy efficient state buildings, to emissions reduction measures. Many of the bills are focused on improving the state's wind industry, which has the potential to become one of the largest in the nation.
Many sources believe that if the state's wind industry is fully developed, Oklahoma will be producing more electricity than it consumes, providing a potential source of income for the state.
Below is a short list of bills OWPI is tracking this legislative session. We will regularly update you on the status of the bills.
Bill #
Short Title
Author
Notes
HB 2476
Oklahoma Wind
Energy Incentive
Rep. Purcy Walker
District 60, Elk City
Creates a production tax credit for "zero emissions electricity generation facilities" at the rate of 1.5 cents/kWh generated. Facility size limited to 100 kW to 600 kW.
HB 2924
State Agency RPS
Rep. John Trebilcock
District 98, Broken Arrow
Requires state agencies to develop and implement energy efficiency and conservation plans.
HB 2966
Extension of fuel efficient vehicle tax credit
Rep. James Covey
District 57, Custer City
Taxpayers can claim up to 10 percent credit or $1,500 when purchasing a clean-burning or electric motor vehicle.
SB 1604
State energy policy from the Secretary of Energy
Sen. David Myers
District 20, North Central Oklahoma
Requires the Secretary of Energy to create an energy policy with legislative recommendations necessary to implement such policy, and to distribute copies of the policy no later than December 1, 2008.
SB 1391
Oklahoma Energy
Efficiency and Emission Reduction Program
Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield
District 14
Would create the Oklahoma Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction Program and provide $5 million in grants to improve air quality.
SB 1985
Transmission upgrade recovery costs for electric utilities
Sen. Owen Laughlin
District 27, Woodward
Reasonable costs incurred by an electric utility for transmission upgrades needed to develop wind generation which have been approved by the Southwest Power Pool shall be presumed recoverable through a periodic adjustment to such utility's rates.
POLICY
Transmission Bill Introduced in U.S. House
On November 1, 2007, U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Rural Clean Energy Superhighways Act (H.R. 4059) in the U.S. House of Representatives. If the bill passes it will allow electricity generated in rural areas to be accessed by urban areas. The bill would improve electricity transmission from rural areas with high renewable energy potential by addressing the high costs of transmission.
Currently, constructing or upgrading transmission lines to remote areas is cost-prohibitive even when the areas have promising renewable energy sources. The Inslee-Blumenauer legislation would allow for the costs associated with construction, maintenance, and operation to be spread throughout an entire region, including the urban beneficiaries of the electricity. If passed, this bill would be very beneficial to Oklahoma because the state needs new and upgraded transmission lines to bring power from the rural areas rich in renewable energy potential to the urban areas.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from the National Wind Coordinating Collaborative December 2007 newsletter.
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 into law. The Act sets higher fuel economy standards, increases and extends renewable fuel standards, sets new energy efficiency standards, and provides for increased renewable energy research.
Higher Fuel Economy Standards
The Act requires the Department of Transportation to set tougher fuel economy standards, beginning with model year 2011, until the standards achieve a combined average fuel economy for model year 2020 of at least 35 miles per gallon (mpg). The standards apply to the entire fleet of passenger and non-passenger automobiles manufactured for sale in the United States for that model year, up to a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds. Under current standards passenger automobiles must achieve an average of 27.5 mpg, while "light trucks" (pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and minivans) must achieve 22.5 mpg, bringing the average for cars and light trucks to about 25 mpg. According to the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), the improved fuel economy standards will reduce U.S. oil consumption by an estimated 1.1 million barrels per day by 2020.
The Act will phase out the automakers' credit for manufacturing flex-fueled automobiles starting in model year 2015. The credit will be completely phased out by model year 2020, which will place additional pressure on automakers to improve fuel economy. The Act also requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create rules for a national labeling system for tires to show their impact of fuel economy. For federal fleets, the Act prohibits agencies from purchasing light-duty vehicles or medium-duty passenger vehicles that do not achieve low greenhouse gas emissions. It also requires new regulations to cut the petroleum consumption of federal fleets by 20% by 2015, while boosting alternative fuel consumption by 10%. The Act also calls for studies by the National Academy of Sciences on the technologies available to meet the new standards and on the possibility of increasing the fuel economy of medium and heavy-duty trucks. In addition, the Act establishes incentives and loan guarantees for advanced vehicle technologies, but those measures will depend on future funding.
As noted by ASE, the new fuel economy standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 28 million of today's cars from the road. A separate requirement to boost renewable fuel use will also lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable Fuel Standards Increased and Extended
The Act raises the requirements for renewable fuel use to 36 billion gallons by 2022. The Act requires "advanced biofuels," defined as fuels that cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50%, to provide 21 billion gallons of fuel by 2022. Advanced biofuels could include ethanol derived from cellulosic biomass such as wood waste, grasses, and agricultural wastes, as well as biodiesel, butanol, and other fuels.
The new Renewable Fuel Standard requires 9 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2008, increasing steadily to 15.2 billion gallons in 2012 and 36 billion gallons in 2022. The new act gives the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency one year to revise the RFS regulations to include the new standards.
The Act also prohibits petroleum companies from restricting the sale of alternative fuels under new franchise agreements, which could allow gas station owners to install more pumps for E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The Act requires labeling diesel fuel pumps with their biodiesel content. For federal fleets, the Act requires at least one renewable fuel pump at each fueling center, with minimal exceptions. The Act also calls for studies on biofuel infrastructure and delivery issues, and creates grant and research programs for biofuels that will depend on future funding.
New Energy Efficiency Standards
The Act requires inefficient incandescent lights to be phased out and sets improved energy efficiency standards on a wide variety of products. According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the new standards for light bulbs require them to use about 20%-30% less energy by 2014, while requiring DOE to set standards for light bulbs to cut their energy use at least 35% by 2020. The ACEE said the initial targets could be met with compact fluorescent light bulbs and advanced incandescent light bulbs that combine halogen capsules with infrared-reflective coatings, while the 2020 standards will encourage the use of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) and other advanced lighting technologies. The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) calls the Act "the most significant energy-efficiency legislation in three decades" and notes that the lighting standards alone will cut electric bills by $13 billion per year, eliminating the need for 60 mid-sized power plants.
The Act sets new minimum efficiency standards for external power supplies, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, residential boilers, electric motors, and walk-in coolers and freezers. DOE is directed to create new rules on residential refrigerators and clothes washers, and to establish a regional standard for heating products and two regional standards for cooling products, in addition to the national standard. These regional standards will allow DOE to account for significant climatic differences throughout the United States. In addition, the Act calls for the DOE to create a national media campaign to promote the benefits of increased energy efficiency.
The act sets a goal for federal buildings to cut their energy use by 30% by 2015, and requires new and renovated federal buildings to significantly reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. Federal buildings built or renovated in 2010 must cut their fossil fuel use by 55%, and by 2030 new or renovated federal buildings must eliminate their use of fossil fuel energy.
Increased Renewable Energy Research
The act calls for accelerated research and development (R&D) and deployment of renewable energy technologies, but the provisions will depend on congressional appropriations of funds. The act calls for new R&D programs for solar thermal energy storage, day lighting, and solar-powered air conditioning, as well as grant programs for solar industry workforce training and advanced photovoltaic demonstration projects. For geothermal energy, the act calls for a variety of R&D programs, an expansion of the "GeoPowering the West" program to make it "GeoPowering America," and the creation of a new Center for Geothermal Technology Transfer. The act also establishes a new R&D program for marine and hydrokinetic energy, which includes wave, tidal, current, and thermal technologies that use the energy of the ocean or free-flowing rivers. The act includes measures to establish one or more demonstration centers for marine and hydrokinetic technologies.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from the EERE Network News on January 2, 2008.
New International Clean Energy Fund to Battle Climate Change
At the end of January President Bush committed to provide $2 billion over the next three years for a new international clean energy technology fund. The President mentioned the fund during his final State of the Union Address, and a White House fact sheet includes the funding commitment and outlines the fund as a tool to help confront climate change throughout the world. The new fund will increase and accelerate the deployment of all forms of cleaner, more efficient technologies in developing nations. It will also help influence private-sector investments by making clean energy projects more financially attractive.
In addition to the new fund, the United States and the European Union submitted a joint proposal to the World Trade Organization in late November to eliminate barriers to clean energy and environmental services. Global trade in the goods covered by the proposal totaled $613 billion in 2006. According to World Bank, that trade could increase by an additional 7-14% per year under the proposal.
President Bush also reaffirmed the nation's commitment to complete an international agreement to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, while noting that such an agreement must include every major economy. As part of this commitment, the United States recently hosted its second Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change conference in late January. The President views energy technologies as the answer to climate change solutions, and noted that "we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology."
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from the EERE Network News on January 30, 2008.
WIND
Farm Bill with Small Wind Tax Credit Passes in Senate
In 2007 the U.S. Senate approved a new small wind turbine tax credit as part of a farm policy bill. The tax credit could become law in 2008, but farmers, home owners, and small business owners interested in taking advantage of the credit will have to wait until the legislation moves forward sometime later in the year.
Under the Senate farm bill, the small turbine investment tax credit (ITC) would cover 30% of the system cost up to $4,000. The credit would apply to residential system applications.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed its own version of farm legislation (H.R. 2419) that also contained a similar version of the small wind ITC. Sometime after Congress returns this year, the House and the Senate will attempt to settle the differences between the two bills.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from AWEA's Wind Energy Weekly Volume 26 #1270.
Installed U.S. Wind Power Capacity Increased 45% in 2007
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the U.S. wind energy industry installed 5,244 megawatts (MW) in 2007, increasing the nation's total wind power generating capacity by 45% and pumping over $9 billion into the U.S. economy. The new wind projects account for about 30% of the entire power-producing capacity added in the U.S. in 2007 and will power the equivalent of 1.5 million American homes while strengthening the U.S. energy supply with "clean, homegrown electric power."
"This is the third consecutive year of record-setting growth, establishing wind power as one of the largest sources of new electricity supply for the country," said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher. "This remarkable and accelerating growth is driven by strong demand, favorable economics, and a period of welcome relief from the on-again, off-again, boom-and-bust cycle of the federal production tax credit (PTC) for wind power."
"But the PTC and tax incentives for other renewable energy sources are now in danger of lapsing at the end of this year--and at the worst moment for the U.S economy," added Swisher. "The U.S. wind industry calls on Congress and the President to quickly extend the PTC--the only existing U.S. incentive for wind power--in order to sustain this remarkable growth along with the manufacturing jobs, fresh economic opportunities, and reduction of global warming pollution that it provides."
Wind power is now generated in 34 states in the U.S. and produces 16,818 MW. It is estimated that American wind farms will generate 48 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy in 2008, powering the equivalent of 4.5 million homes.
AWEA estimates that 2008 could equal 2007 in new wind capacity installed. According to developers, wind turbines are sold out for the year due to strong demand for wind power. However, AWEA predicts that more turbines will become available with more companies entering the market. The timing and duration of an extension of the federal production tax credit will also determine the pace of growth in 2008.
Highlights from AWEA's market report include:
Installations in the last quarter of 2007 alone (2,930 MW) surpassed the amount installed in all of 2006 (2,454 MW).
Texas is still in the lead, but wind power is also expanding at a strong pace in the Midwest and Northwest. The states with the most cumulative wind power capacity installed are:
According to AWEA's initial estimates, at least fourteen new manufacturing facilities opened or were announced in 2007. Companies are opening new manufacturing plants and expanding existing ones, creating new jobs and business opportunities across the country, even in states that do not have a large wind resource.
GE Energy continued to lead in wind turbines sales, with 45% of the market in terms of new capacity installed. FPL Energy remained at the top of the list of wind project developers, with 956 MW of new development in 2007.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from the AWEA Annual Market Report.
Governors Announce Formation of Wind Coalition
Governors Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) and Bill Richardson (D-NM) have organized the Governors' Windpower Coalition which will strive to promote the increased use of wind energy in America.
In a bipartisan letter inviting fellow governors to join the group, the two governors announced the coalition's objectives, which are to discuss interstate collaboration, exchange information on wind technology and policy, commission research on critical wind policy issues, and seek recommendations on federal and regional policy.
According to the letter, the group is modeled after the Governors' Ethanol Coalition, which has more than 30 member states. The group intends to bring stakeholders together and conduct research addressing critical issues, exchange information on wind technology and policy, and explore recommendations for federal and regional policy.
"Wind power holds tremendous potential for clean renewable energy for our country, and leading states - like New Mexico and Minnesota - are now harnessing that power in order to meet their renewable portfolio standard commitments," says Richardson. "As the highest per capita wind energy user in the nation, New Mexico is fully invested in wind power. This coalition has the potential to bring together states with abundant wind resources with states with a large demand for renewable energy, and with states where wind technology is developed - to create a powerful lobby on behalf of clean energy."
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from North American Windpower on December 10, 2007.
Global Wind Power Capacity to More than Triple by 2015
According to Emerging Energy Research (EER), an advisory and consulting firm analyzing global renewable energy markets, global wind power capacity is expected to more than triple by 2015, with installed capacity predicted to rise from approximately 91 GW by the end of 2007 to over 290 GW by the end of 2015.
EER predicts that global wind power will increase more than 50%, from approximately 17.5 GW in 2007 to over 30 GW in 2015. "The global wind power market continues to diversify geographically from Europe to North America and Asia Pacific, with short-term supply bottlenecks giving way to longer term sustained growth," according to Senior Analyst Joshua Magee.
The US Federal Production Tax Credit's (PTC) current extension through 2008 and strengthening state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) have boosted the US wind power market, and will continue to do so into 2009. Significant new local supply chain capacity is coming online, and Texas and California are preparing for additional massive wind projects as transmission expansion projects move through permitting.
China is on track to continue record wind installations in 2008 and could surpass its goal of 5 GW installed by as early as 2009 with significant industrial supply chain investments. India also continues to grow steadily, but more development awaits a production-based tax incentive, according to EER's predictions.
"The US and China will be neck-and-neck for global annual megawatts added leadership in the coming decade," according to Magee. "US federal renewable energy policy support and proactive transmission expansion projects will need to stay on pace for the country to remain ahead of China's voracious renewables growth appetite by 2015."
Europe will remain the world's largest regional market in terms of annual growth, according to EER, transitioning from established markets such as Spain and Germany to new long-term growth regions including the UK, France, Portugal, and Italy. Significant wind expansion will occur in Eastern European markets as well, with larger markets in Poland and Turkey predicted to average over 500 MW annually combined. Latin American and the Africa/Middle East regions are slowly developing their wind resources.
Although Europe is currently facing offshore supply chain challenges and cost increases, the continent is on track to have a fully established offshore wind market by 2013, according to EER's predictions. The UK and Sweden were set for near-term projects totaling 150 MW in 2007, with significant expansions in the coming years in Germany, the Netherlands, France and Belgium. North America's offshore development is still behind because a few initial projects are still awaiting regulatory approval. Offshore activity in Asia Pacific will be driven by China, South Korea, and Taiwan, with significant market opportunities expected as early as 2012.
As demand for wind power increases across all global regions, most major wind turbine suppliers are increasing their production capacity. New fabrication and assembly facilities are planned in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and South America. Numerous component suppliers are investing in key wind turbine supply chain pinch points such as gearboxes, blades, bearings, towers, and castings, according to EER.
"Long-term global energy demand drivers continue to favor wind build-out," according to Magee. "Steady global electricity demand increases show no sign of easing, and global emissions reduction initiatives are likely to become more prevalent beyond the current 2012 Kyoto period and will diversify into the US and Asia. Fossil fuel price volatility is likely to continue to stimulate long-term demand, with wind serving as a quickly deployable hedge against natural gas and petroleum power generation."
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from a press release from Emerging Energy Research on November 20, 2007.
Studies Show Wind Farms Not Harmful to Property Values or Birds
According to studies conducted by two national experts, two Illinois wind farm projects have not negatively impacted surrounding property values or migrating birds and bats.
Peter Poletti, a real estate appraiser, said he found no difference in property values since Lee County's Mendota Hills wind farm was built near Paw Paw. He compared sales from January 2003 through June 2006. The wind farm became operational in 2003.
Based on his Mendota Hills study and another of a Wisconsin wind farm, Poletti reported no statistical differences between sale prices of farmland and homes close to an operating wind farm and those farther away. "This may seem counterintuitive, but the evidence is out there," Poletti told county officials.
Poletti showed photographs of homes that sold for more than $500,000 and were located as close as a half a mile from the Lee County wind farm. "These homes sold for a good hunk of money," he said. "If you have that kind of money, you can go anywhere."
Poletti found that prices increased significantly for subdivision lots about a half mile from Mendota Hills. Most of the lots sold after the turbines were constructed, he noted. "I met people who moved to the subdivision because they liked the view (of the wind farm)," he said.
Likewise, the Crescent Ridge wind farm near Tiskilwa in Bureau County has not significantly impacted bird and bat populations, said Paul Kerlinger, a national expert and author on birds and migration.
Kerlinger conducted bird studies from September through November 2005, and from March through May 2006. He studied the impact of wind farms on bat and bird migrations in August 2006. He compared his Illinois results to similar studies of wind farms in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa.
Kerlinger found that the potential impacts on birds result from collisions with the turbine blades and loss of habitat during construction. He found that the habitat changes were temporary and lasted for six to eight months.
Ten birds found dead at the site were mostly song birds, such as the song sparrow. Kerlinger reported that no endangered or threatened species, ducks, or geese were killed. "Waterfowl seem almost immune to colliding with wind turbines," he added.
Kerlinger calculated the bird deaths at a rate of 1.3 deaths per turbine per year. He found 21 dead bats, which he calculated would average about 4.9 deaths per turbine per year. This rate is comparable with bat death rates at the other three facilities studied.
Kerlinger then compared bird deaths from wind farms with other bird deaths. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources allows 200,000 bobwhite quail to be harvested annually, but that doesn't have an impact on the population even though bobwhite is a declining species, he said. "Compared to hunting, we would not expect a negative impact (from wind turbines)," Kerlinger said. "We're only talking 33 turbines (at Crescent Ridge)."
"One thing that bothers me is that we don't compare the impact of other electricity sources on birds and fish," Kerlinger said. "If you have a problem with wind power, there is one solution. Turn off the lights," he concluded.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyaccess.com<http://renewableenergyaccess.com/> on December 20, 2007.
SOLAR
Solar Power Projects to be Funded by DOE
At the beginning of January the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that $5.2 million will be distributed between 12 projects involved with concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. These projects are focused on "lowering the cost of components and developing energy storage technologies." CSP systems use different arrangements of mirrors to concentrate the sun's heat and convert it into electricity.
The projects will work to develop low-cost mirrors, means of converting solar dishes into electricity, and molten salt technologies. Molten salt systems are efficient because they allow for storage of the molten salt for conversion into electricity, even at night. One project will work to develop a compressed air energy storage system for solar dishes. The 12 projects are located in California, Colorado, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyaccess.com<http://renewableenergyaccess.com/> on January 2, 2008.
Increased Solar Production Creating "Green Collar Jobs"
Although the average price of installing a solar system remains around $25,000 - $30,000 and is out of reach for most Americans, industry insiders believe that the silicon shortage and increased price of panels in 2006 is a minor bump in the road to a thriving industry.
New technologies are fueling the hopes that prices will soon be driven down. For example, Solaria (a solar technologies company in California) uses mirrors to concentrate solar energy onto a smaller area of panels which reduces the overall cost of the system. Others companies are looking towards "more flexible thin films that can coat a surface to produce electricity." Another approach being used is utility-scale solar systems that heat water or oil to generate electricity.
As new technologies are developed and the costs of solar systems are driven down, the solar industry will expand and there will be increasing employment opportunities. Van Jones, Executive Director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, believes that renewable energy can be used to create jobs not only for the middle class but also those groups who have traditionally been at the bottom of the economic structure. He says these new workers could be employed as solar panel installers and not just create jobs, but "build green paths out of poverty."
Where some see only a few solar panels scattered among roofs as a negative, others see a great opportunities for a huge industry that could provide jobs for millions of Americans. One estimate found that the renewable energy industry already employs 8.5 million people in the US and might employ as many as 40 million people by 2030.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyaccess.com<http://renewableenergyaccess.com/> on January 2, 2008.
GEOTHERMAL
Geothermal Plant to be Powered by Solar Power
A 1 MW single-axis solar tracking system will be built by Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) and SPG Solar to power an existing pump station that supplies the NCPA Geysers Geothermal Energy Plant.
The system will collect solar power, which will be used to generate geothermal power. The photovoltaic system will start generating clean renewable power beginning in September 2008.
The system will cost $8.2 million and will consist of 6,300 solar modules that will produce 2.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
"The significance of this project is the creative use of clean energy and a system design in which we will deploy one renewable energy source to power another," said Jim Pope, NCPA General Manager. "This solar investment demonstrates our continued commitment to investing in environmentally responsible resources, reducing our carbon footprint and lowering costs for our utilities and public power customers."
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyaccess.com<http://renewableenergyaccess.com/> on December 12, 2008.
Energy Bill Will Revitalize Geothermal Research
Although the recent energy bill signed by President Bush does not contain a renewable portfolio standard or production tax credits, it will advance geothermal research and development for decades to come according to the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).
The energy bill contains the "Advanced Geothermal Energy Research and Development Act of 2007." The underlying bills were H.R. 2304, sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and S.1543 introduced by Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).
Both bills had bipartisan co-sponsorship and support. The final provisions authorize $95 million a year to be devoted to a "broad and aggressive research program" to promote and develop geothermal energy.
"The geothermal provisions come at a crucial time in the history of the industry. Renewed research, development, and public-private partnerships are needed to continue the momentum we've seen in the past few years," said Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive Director. "We applaud Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid for their overall accomplishment. This energy bill shows the tide is turning."
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyaccess.com<http://renewableenergyaccess.com/> on December 17, 2008.
BIOFUELS
DOE Invests $7.7 Million in Biomass Gasification for Biofuels
In late 2007, DOE announced that four cellulosic biofuel projects will receive up to $7.7 million in funding over the next three years. The four projects will take place at Emery Energy Company of Salt Lake City, Utah; Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa; Research Triangle Institute of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; and the Southern Research Institute of Birmingham, Alabama.
The four projects will be studying the thermochemical conversion process of turning switchgrass, corn stover, and the non-edible part of other organic materials into biofuel. The projects will work to develop technologies for converting biomass into a gas at high temperatures (a process called gasification), for removing tars, oils, and other impurities from the resulting high-temperature "syngas," and for cooling the gas for use in other processes.
Including this funding, DOE announced more than $1 billion in multi-year funding for biofuels research and development in 2007. This includes $385 million for commercial-scale biorefineries, $200 million for pilot-scale biorefineries, more than $400 million for bioenergy centers, and $23 million for developing more efficient microbes for ethanol refining.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyacces.com<http://renewableenergyacces.com/> on December 21, 2007.
Switchgrass Shows Great Potential as Biofuel
According to estimates from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), switchgrass grown for biofuel production produced 540% more energy than needed to grow, harvest, and process it into cellulosic ethanol.
The study was conducted over a five year period on farms in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota and is the largest study to date examining the net energy output, greenhouse gas emissions, biomass yields, agricultural inputs, and estimated cellulosic ethanol production from switchgrass grown and managed for biomass fuel. Ken Vogel, a U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service geneticist in UNL's agronomy and horticulture department, said that switchgrass as a biomass fuel source "yields significantly more energy than is consumed in production and conversion into cellulosic ethanol."
"This clearly demonstrates that switchgrass is not only energy efficient, but can be used in a renewable biofuel economy to reduce reliance of fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance rural economies," Vogel said.
Vogel noted that perennial crops, crop residues, and forestry biomass could be developed into cellulosic ethanol in the future and could potentially displace 30 percent of current U.S. petroleum consumption.
The researchers conducting the study pointed out that plant biomass remaining after ethanol production could be used to provide the energy needed for the distilling process and other power requirements of the biorefinery, giving ethanol produced from switchgrass biomass a high net energy value. Corn grain ethanol biorefineries, on the other hand, need to use natural gas or other sources of energy for the conversion process.
The researchers also noted in their study that switchgrass managed as a bioenergy crop produced estimated ethanol yields per acre similar to those from corn grown in the same states and years based on statewide average grain yields.
"However, caution should be used in making direct ethanol yield comparisons with cellulosic sources and corn grains because corn grain conversion technology is mature, whereas cellulosic conversion efficiency technology is based on an estimated value," Vogel said.
There will be future studies on improving management practices, biomass yield, conversion efficiency, and net and total energy yields.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from renewableenergyacces.com<http://renewableenergyacces.com/> on January 15, 2008.
RENEWABLE NEWS
Increased R&D for Marine Renewables
The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Research and Development Act, part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, could result in significant advances in the development of ocean, tidal, and run-of-river energy in the United States.
The act covers "marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy" sources, which include wave, tidal, current, and ocean thermal energy conversion, as well as electrical energy produced from free-flowing rivers, lakes, streams, and man-made channels. Traditional hydropower produced by dams and other diversionary structures is excluded from the definition of "marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy."
The act authorizes $50 million to the Secretary of Energy for each of the fiscal years from 2008 through 2012 to carry out the following programs:
1.) "Establishment of a research and development program, in consultation with the Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, that will focus both on developing and refining existing hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, and on associated research into issues such as advance wave forecasting technologies, integration of marine and hydrokinetic energy into the utility grid, reliability and survivability of equipment and reduction of manufacturing and operating costs. Included in this program is an assessment of potential environmental impacts of hydrokinetic renewable energy technologies, and measures to prevent or mitigate these impacts."
2.) "Provision of grants to universities for the establishment of "National Marine Renewable Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Centers" that will advance research and development into the commercial application of marine renewable energy. This section of the EISAct will likely be of great interest to Oregon State University's Wave Energy Team."
The act does not address some of the regulation issues the marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy industry faces, but this program has the potential to provide the needed support and for this fast-growing field. One of the challenges the industry faces is a lack of knowledge about how new marine renewable technologies will affect existing human and ecological uses of the environment. The act will hopefully be able to provide the means for obtaining that information and data, and in turn will be able to reduce the uncertainty about the industry.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from a press release from Stoel Rives on December 20, 2007.
Global Renewable Energy Growing Rapidly
According to a new report from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), renewable energy use is growing faster than 10% per year throughout the world. The global electric generating capacity of renewable energy facilities, excluding large hydropower, reached 237 gigawatts (GW) in 2007, which is up 15% from 2006. That amount (237 GW) is about 5.5% of the electric generating capacity throughout the world. Wind power provided about 40% of that renewable generating capacity with 93 GW. Wind power capacity increased by 25% over 2006. Grid-connected solar photovoltaic systems reached a capacity of 7.8 GW, a 56% increase, while the global production of photovoltaic systems reached 3.8 GW per year, a 52% increase over 2006.
Among non-electric renewable energy sources, solar hot water capacity increased by 17% to 121 thermal GW. Global ethanol production increased 16% to 11.6 billion gallons, while biodiesel production increased by a third to more than 2 billion gallons. The REN21 report estimates that global investment in renewable energy will exceed $100 billion in 2007, including $15-$20 billion invested in large hydropower facilities, at least $66 billion invested in other renewable energy facilities, $10-$12 billion invested in manufacturing plants for photovoltaic devices and biofuels, and $16 billion invested in public and private research and development.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from the EERE Network News on December 5, 2007.
ASHRAE Publishes Energy Design Guide for K-12 School Buildings
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) has published a new energy design guide that can cut annual energy use in new K-12 school buildings by 30% or more. The guide has easy-to-follow recommendations for various climate zones and includes case studies of school construction projects. The guide also provides suggestions for achieving green building energy credits, as well as supplemental strategies for achieving advanced energy savings beyond 30%. ASHRAE and its partners recently sent free printed copies to 16,000 school boards throughout the United States to encourage schools to implement the suggestions in the guide.
The new design guide for school buildings is part of the Advanced Energy Design Guide series, which is developed through collaborative efforts by ASHRAE, DOE, the American Institute of Architects, the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, and the U.S. Green Building Council. The series also includes design guides for small retail and office buildings, and an upcoming guide will provide suggestions for warehouses. The guides "provide a sensible approach to easily achieve advanced levels of energy savings without having to resort to detailed calculations or analyses." The guides offer contractors and designers the tools needed for achieving a 30% reduction in energy use compared to buildings that meet minimum energy efficiency requirements. To encourage designers and builders to make full use of the guides, they are now available for free download on the ASHRAE website.
ASHRAE has also published an updated version of its energy efficiency standard for buildings other than low-rise residential buildings. The new standard addresses advanced lighting technologies that use less power, resulting in lower electrical and cooling loads for new buildings. In addition, ASHRAE has published a new book on energy efficiency in data centers. The book outlines a variety of practices to minimize energy use in new and existing data centers.
Editor's Note: The above is a summary from EERE on January 30, 2008.
Emerging Energy Technology Conference (EETC) Cancelled
The Emerging Energy Technology Conference (EETC) scheduled for April 10-11, 2008 in Norman, OK has been cancelled.
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Calendar of Events
FEB 19-21 POWER-GEN Renewable Energy and Fuels 2008, Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV. For more information, please visit http://pgre08.events.pennnet.com/fl/index.cfm.
MAR 12 Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council Meeting, 10 a.m.— noon, Department of Commerce, Gallery 1-2. Oklahoma City, OK. For directions please visit www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec<http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec>.
MAR 18-19 AWEA and CanWEA Wind & Transmission Workshop, Detroit, MI. For more information, please visithttp://www.awea.org/events/transmission08/.
MAR 28-29 Oklahoma Sustainability Network Annual Conference, Norman, OK. For more information, please visit http://www.oksustainability.org/conferences.php.
APR 9 Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council Meeting, 10 a.m.— noon, Department of Commerce, Gallery 1-2. Oklahoma City, OK. For directions please visit www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec<http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec>.
APR 24 ScienceFest Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma City, OK. For more information, please visit http://www.sciencefestok.org/.
MAY 3-8 Solar 2008, San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.ases.org/solar2008/.
MAY 14 Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council Meeting, 10 a.m.— noon, Department of Commerce, Gallery 1-2. Oklahoma City, OK. For directions please visit www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec<http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/orec>.
JUN 1-4 WINDPOWER 2008 Conference & Exhibition, Houston, TX. For more information, please visit www.windpowerexpo.org<http://www.windpowerexpo.org/>.
OWPI Wishes You a Happy 2008!
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