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EERE NETWORK NEWS -- February 26, 2003
A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/>
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Featuring:
*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
*Site News
ASHRAE Online Journal and Electronic Newsletter
*Energy Facts and Tips
Voluntary Greenhouse Gas Reductions Increased in 2001
*About this Newsletter
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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:
<http://www.nrel.gov/hot-stuff/press/2003/0703_eval_renewable.html>.
The full report is posted on the EERE Web site at:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/femp/techassist/publiclands.html>.
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:
<http://www.unr.edu/nevadanews/detail.asp?id=481>.
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, consider 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:
<http://energy.state.nv.us/taskforce/default.htm>.
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:
<http://www.nrel.gov/hot-stuff/press/2003/leading_greenpower.html>
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:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/topten.shtml>.
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 site at: <http://www.oge.com/>.
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:
<http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa2002/_media.asp?mode=ss7>.
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: <http://www.baat.com/pr03-02-24.htm>.
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: <http://www.greenercars.com/pr9.html>.
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:
<http://www.greenercars.com/bestof.html>.
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: <http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/headline_021103.htm>.
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, in PDF format only, at:
<http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer/f02055.pdf>.
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SITE NEWS
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ASHRAE Online Journal and Electronic Newsletter
<http://www.ashrae.org/template/JournalLanding> and
<http://www.ashrae.org/template/EnewsletterLanding>
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
efficiencies, increased use of cogeneration and renewable energy
sources, and improved demand-side management programs to help
customers use less electricity. See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press208.html>.
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:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/summary/index.html>.
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:
<http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2002/ann/ann02.html> and
<http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2003/jan/global.html>.
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ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
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