A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
May 26, 2004 <#news>News and Events <#6886>DOE and Alliance to Save Energy Launch New Energy-Saving Campaign <#6885>United States and United Kingdom Team Up on Clean Energy <#6889>U.S. Wind Industry Expects Little Growth in 2004 <#6890>Ten New Retail Biodiesel Pumps Open in Colorado <#6891>USDA Launches Project to Make Energy from Cattle Byproducts <#6892>Energy Efficiency Comes to Auto Factories and Commercial Buildings <#site>Site News HUD Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor <#energy>Energy Connections Electric Reliability Council: No Power Problems this Summer News and Events DOE and Alliance to Save Energy Launch New Energy-Saving Campaign DOE and the Alliance to Save Energy launched a new yearlong public education and awareness campaign last week. Called "Powerful $avings," the campaign will provide consumers with the information and tools necessary to make smart energy choices a part of their daily lives. The new partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy continues Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham's "Smart Energy" campaign, which was launched last summer. The partnership between DOE and the Alliance will focus on increasing public awareness on the importance of energy efficiency and smart energy practices both at home and on the road through an extensive media outreach campaign. It will include broadly disseminated video, audio, and print news releases, as well as op-ed pieces and satellite media tours. Alliance and DOE leaders and spokespersons will reinforce the message in their public appearances around the country. It will also build on two booklets that are currently available to consumers: DOE's "Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home," and the Alliance's "Power$mart: Easy Tips to Save Money and the Planet." See the <http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=15931&BT_CODE=PR_PR ESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE press release and the <http://www.ase.org/powerfulsavings/>Powerful $avings Web site, as well as the "<http://www.energysavers.gov/>Energy Savers" and "<http://www.ase.org/powersmart/index.html>Power$mart" Web sites. United States and United Kingdom Team Up on Clean Energy The United Kingdom announced last week that it will join the "Efficient Energy for Sustainable Development Partnership" (EESD) of the U.S. Clean Energy Initiative. On April 28th, the United States joined the "Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership" (REEEP), which is led by the United Kingdom. Both partnerships promote sustainable, affordable energy throughout the world. Under the agreements, the U.S. and U.K. partners will work together and leverage human and financial resources to maximize their impact in building markets for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The EESD and REEEP originated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development-held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002-and provide new and flexible ways to achieve the common goal of maximizing the energy sector's contribution to economic, social, and environmental development. Both are market-oriented partnerships among developed and developing countries that will share knowledge, communicate across national boundaries, and help spread best practices to overcome barriers to the increased use of clean energy. See the <http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=15928&BT_CODE=PR_PR ESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE press release. U.S. Wind Industry Expects Little Growth in 2004 The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the U.S. wind industry's trade association, projects new wind energy installations to total less than 500 megawatts this year, a precipitous drop from the 1,687 megawatts of wind generating capacity installed in 2003. AWEA blames the slowdown on the current lack of a production tax credit for wind power. The tax credit expired at the end of last year, although an extension of the credit is currently working its way through Congress. See the <http://www.awea.org/news/news0405121qt.html>AWEA press release. Despite the slowdown, many companies are still planning future wind projects. The largest is the 400-megawatt Kingman Project in Arizona, to be located about 40 miles southeast of the Hoover Dam. Western Wind Energy Corporation is starting engineering, feasibility studies, and environmental assessment for the project, which will be built in several stages. In California, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is preparing a draft Environmental Impact Report for its 120-megawatt Pine Tree Wind project, first proposed in February of last year. In Texas, The Keith Companies, Inc., an engineering and consulting firm, is developing a 91.5-megawatt addition to the 37-megawatt Sweetwater Wind Power project. In New Mexico, the State Land Office has signed a lease for an 80-megawatt wind project, to be located southeast of Tucumcari in Quay County. And in Nebraska, the Board of Directors for the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) gave approval for the utility to pursue a 60-megawatt wind project. The board approved a 30-megawatt project in December 2003, but since then the utility has secured interest from other utilities in the larger project. See the press releases from Western Wind Energy (<http://www.westernwindenergy.com/news/NRMay12-04.pdf>PDF 122 KB), <http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp005618.jsp>LADWP, <http://www.keithco.com/viewpr.asp?i=103>The Keith Companies, the New Mexico State Land Office (<http://www.nmstatelands.org/landoffice/news/2004/2004_0513windfarm.p df>PDF 60 KB), and <http://www.nppd.com/News/News_Releases/2004/Additional_Files/wind_fac ility.asp>NPPD. <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader. Finally, two wind power projects that were completed late last year were dedicated only recently: the 160-megawatt Green Mountain Energy Wind Farm in Brazos, Texas, and the 162-megawatt Colorado Green wind facility near Lamar, Colorado. The latter wind project led Colorado Governor Bill Owens to declare May 14th as "Colorado Wind Energy Day." See the press releases from <http://www.greenmountain.com/about/press_events/2004_04_20II.jsp>Gree n Mountain Energy Company and Governor Owens (<http://www.state.co.us/oemc/press/040514.pdf>PDF 38 KB), as well as the governor's <http://www.state.co.us/oemc/press/040514.htm>wind energy proclamation. Ten New Retail Biodiesel Pumps Open in Colorado Mayor Hickenlooper tries out the role of pump jockey at the new biodiesel pump in Denver. Credit: Blue Sun Biodiesel Ten retail service stations throughout Colorado began offering biodiesel fuel at their pumps last week. Blue Sun Biodiesel will supply the fuel for the 10 service stations, located in Carbondale, Colorado Springs, Crested Butte, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Greeley, La Salle, Pueblo, and Sterling. The new biodiesel pumps are in addition to two pumps that opened last year in Boulder and in Commerce City, a Denver suburb, as well as a pump that opened in Fort Morgan in February. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper attended the fuel pump opening in Denver to discuss the city's pilot program. The mayor announced in late April that about 60 city vehicles will be fueled with B20 (a blend of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel fuel) for the next eight months, and the city will gather information on vehicle fuel mileage, maintenance, repairs, performance and emissions. See the press releases from the National Biodiesel Board (<http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/pressreleases/gen/20040520_Colora do_Pump.pdf>PDF 29 KB) and <http://www.denvergov.org/Mayor/1688press1248.asp>Mayor Hickenlooper, as well as the lists of <http://www.gobluesun.com/html/May19opening.html>new and <http://www.gobluesun.com/html/outlets.html>existing biodiesel pumps on the Blue Sun Biodiesel Web site. <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader. Although most biodiesel fuel in the United States is produced from soybean oil, Blue Sun Biodiesel is working to reduce the cost of the fuel by developing and producing low-cost oilseed crops for dry-land agriculture on the high plains of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. In February, the company's primary agriculture supplier-Blue Sun Producers, Inc.-was awarded a $450,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Under the grant, members of the Blue Sun Producers cooperative will grow mustard-based oilseed crops for use in producing biodiesel fuel. See the <http://www.gobluesun.com/html/company.html>Blue Sun Web site and <http://www.gobluesun.com/html/pr_fm020604.html>press release. USDA Launches Project to Make Energy from Cattle Byproducts It's a classic case of turning lemons into lemonade: with concerns about mad cow disease (technically known as "bovine spongiform encephalopathy," or BSE) causing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to limit the use of certain cattle byproducts in the U.S. food supply, the agency hopes instead to turn these byproducts into energy. The USDA announced last week that it is offering $50 million in loan guarantees for pilot projects to turn cattle byproducts into energy. And if you're still unsure, yes, we're talking about cattle brains and nervous systems. That gives a whole new meaning to the term "brain power"! Applications must be received by August 16th. See the <http://www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0195.04.html>USDA press release and, for background, the January guidance on "<http://www.fsis.usda.gov/oa/news/2004/bseregs.htm>specified risk materials" from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. One potential applicant for the USDA grants is Renewable Environmental Resources, LLC (RES), which just began producing an equivalent to crude oil from turkey processing byproducts. The company claims its plant in Carthage, Missouri, is producing 100 to 200 barrels of crude oil equivalent each day, using a high-temperature and high-pressure process to break down organic material. RES also claims the process could run on low-value waste streams such as tires, plastics, sludge, municipal solid waste, paper, and animal and agricultural wastes...we assume that includes cattle brains! See the <http://www.res-energy.com/press/view_release.asp?id=1>RES press release. Energy Efficiency Comes to Auto Factories and Commercial Buildings Energy efficiency remains one of the best energy investments an individual or organization can make, as is currently being demonstrated in a wide variety of facilities. Honda of America Manufacturing, for instance, unveiled plans in early May to build a new $123 million paint facility at its auto plant in Marysville, Ohio. The new facility will incorporate high-efficiency ovens, air-recycling systems, and highly efficient variable drive motors to reduce energy use by 34 percent. Honda is also constructing a 20-million-gallon pond system behind the plant that will recycle rainwater to cool the plant in warm-weather months. The 7-acre pond will save tens of thousands of dollars in energy costs and significantly reduce the use of groundwater. See the <http://hondanews.com/CatID1008?mid=2004051144483>Honda press release. Office buildings are also excellent targets for energy savings, as Orion Energy Systems recently demonstrated at Fastenal's distribution center in Atlanta, Georgia. An energy-efficient lighting system is saving Fastenal about a third of a million kilowatt-hours per year, and new motion sensors are expected to cut lighting costs by an additional 15 to 20 percent. See the <http://www.orionlighting.com/pressreleases.htm>Orion Energy Systems press release. Site News <http://www.rehabadvisor.com/>HUD Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor The Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor is a Web-based tool that helps homeowners, contractors, architects, facility managers, and others improve energy efficiency in existing homes during renovation and remodeling. By submitting basic project information, users receive individualized tips based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines for energy-efficient housing rehabilitation. The advisor also provides specific costs, savings, and payback periods for each recommended measure. See the <http://www.rehabadvisor.com/>Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor Web site. Energy Connections Electric Reliability Council: No Power Problems this Summer The North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) released its "2004 Summer Assessment" on May 12th, concluding that generating resources will be adequate to meet projected power demand in North America this summer. However, NERC warns that under conditions of high demand caused by extreme weather, high unit unavailability, or other factors, the areas of southwestern Connecticut, New York City, and Long Island might be susceptible to reliability problems. As previously noted in the <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=6861>May 12th edition of this newsletter, California could face similar challenges if adverse conditions arise. And although it doesn't hurt reliability, a lack of transmission lines in western Texas is hampering power exports from about 800 megawatts of wind power there. With only 400 megawatts of export ability, wind generation must be reduced "on an almost daily basis," says NERC, although several transmission line projects are currently underway to improve the situation. To address last summer's blackout, NERC is conducting reliability readiness audits for all control areas and reliability coordinators in North America. NERC will complete audits of the twenty largest control areas by June 30the. NERC has also revised its operating policies to clarify reliability coordinator and control area functions, responsibilities, and authorities. "NERC and the industry have taken a number of key steps to improve reliability in the wake of last summer's blackout," said Michael Gent, NERC President and CEO. "If all entities comply with NERC reliability standards, then there should be no uncontrolled blackouts." See the NERC press release (<ftp://www.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/pressrel/05-12-04-SA-PR.pdf >PDF 44 KB) and the 442-KB "2004 Summer Assessment" (<ftp://www.nerc.com/pub/sys/all_updl/docs/pubs/summer2004.pdf>PDF 442 KB). <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader. This newsletter is funded by DOE's <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>EERE news page. You can <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/about.cfm>subscribe to the EERE Network News using our simple online form, and you can also <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/changes.cfm>update your email address or <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/unsubscribe.cfm>unsubscribe online. If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please <http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/editor.cfm>contact the editor. You are currently subscribed as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------ Yahoo! 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