======================================================================
EERE NETWORK NEWS -- April 23, 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/>
======================================================================
Featuring:
*News and Events
New York City Joins DOE's Clean Cities Program on Earth Day
Energy Star Awards Honor Energy Efficiency Leaders
Toyota Unveils Improved Prius; Ford Previews Hybrid Escape
Tucson Celebrates Earth Day by Opening a Zero-Energy Home
Penn Doubles Its Wind Power Purchase to 10 Percent
GE Hydro to Upgrade U.S. Hydropower Plants
*Site News
PA Windmap
*Energy Facts and Tips
EIA Expects Lower Gasoline Prices this Summer
*About this Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS AND EVENTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
New York City Joins DOE's Clean Cities Program on Earth Day
Earth Day 2003 was yesterday, and DOE and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) marked the occasion by designating the New
York City Clean Cities Coalition as the newest member of DOE's Clean
Cities Program. New York City uses alternative fuels in a number of
buses, garbage trucks, and light-duty vehicles, and 200 natural-gas
taxis operate in the city. See the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases03/aprpr/pr03078.htm>.
DOE coordinates the Clean Cities Program, a locally based voluntary
partnership of government and industry. Program partners help deploy
alternative fuel vehicles and build supporting alternative fuel
infrastructure. See the Clean Cities Program Web site at:
<http://www.ccities.doe.gov/>.
Although the official Earth Day 2003 theme, "Water for Life," seems
far afield from energy issues, water conservation also helps to save
energy. Energy is used to pump, purify, and heat water, so any action
to save water (especially hot water) will also save energy. To learn
more about the Water for Life campaign and its connection to energy
efficiency, see the Earth Day Network Web site and the related press
release from the Alliance to Save Energy at:
<http://www.earthday.net/goals/> and
<http://www.ase.org/media/newsrel/earth_day_2003.htm>.
Energy Star Awards Honor Energy Efficiency Leaders
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the
2003 Energy Star Partner of the Year awards last week. The awards
highlight the efforts of leading manufacturers, retailers, utility
companies, and a variety of state and regional programs that promote
energy efficiency and awareness of the Energy Star label.
Leading product manufacturers won Partner of the Year awards in three
categories: lighting, appliances, and windows. For lighting, Sylvania
won for its large product line of Energy Star-qualified lighting,
which experienced an 85 percent growth in sales in 2002. For
appliances, Maytag Corporation won for its large and diverse product
line of Energy Star-qualified appliances. In 2002, the company
introduced new models of Energy Star-qualified appliances in every
product category, including a new line of dishwashers. For windows,
JELD-WEN Inc. won for its aggressive promotion of the Energy Star
label. Eighty percent of the company's windows and doors carry the
Energy Star label. See the DOE press release at:
<http://www.energy.gov/HQPress/releases03/aprpr/pr03076.htm>.
In addition to these top awards, DOE and EPA awarded Partner of the
Year awards to 36 other organizations that have been instrumental in
promoting energy efficiency and the Energy Star label. See the full
list on the Energy Star Web site at:
<http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=news.nr_news>.
Energy Star was created in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to promote energy-efficient computers. DOE formed a
partnership with EPA in 1996 to expand the scope of the Energy Star
labeling program to include highly efficient appliances, residential
windows, doors and skylights, compact fluorescent bulbs and fixtures,
consumer electronics, heating and air conditioning systems, homes, and
more. Today, more than 7,000 organizations have become Energy Star
partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of
products, homes, and businesses. See the Energy Star Web site at:
<http://www.energystar.gov/>.
Toyota Unveils Improved Prius; Ford Previews Hybrid Escape
Toyota introduced a new, larger, more powerful Prius last week at the
2003 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS). The 2004 Prius is about
15 percent more fuel efficient than the current model; according to
Toyota, the new model will achieve a combined city/highway fuel
efficiency of more than 50 miles per gallon. At the same time, a new
lift-back rear end (somewhat reminiscent of the Honda Insight) and a
longer wheelbase moves the Prius up to the midsize category of
vehicles. The new Prius also accelerates faster than the current model
and meets the California Air Resources Board (CARB) certifications as
a Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) and a Partial Zero
Emissions Vehicle (PZEV).
One key to the performance of the Prius is its new Hybrid Synergy
Drive, which feeds the battery power through a new high-voltage power
converter, supplying 500 volts of electricity to a 50-kilowatt motor.
The new high-voltage motor is about 50 percent more powerful than the
motor in the current model, and allows the vehicle to operate in all-
electric mode for a greater percentage of time. The new Prius is
expected to go on sale in fall. See the Toyota press release and the
Toyota "Future Vehicle" Web site at:
<http://www.toyota.com/about/news/product/2003/04/16-1-prius.html>
and <http://www.toyota.com/newprius>.
Also debuting at the NYIAS was the new Escape Hybrid SUV (sport
utility vehicle) from Ford Motor Company. Like the Prius, the Escape
Hybrid is a "full hybrid" -- able to run on electric power only -- and
will achieve about 35 to 40 miles per gallon. It will also meet the
SULEV and PZEV standards. Ford will begin low-volume fleet production
of the Escape Hybrid by year-end, and plans to begin retail sales in
late 2004. In addition, Ford announced plans to launch a new midsize
sedan, the Futura, in late 2005, and plans to eventually offer a
hybrid-electric version of that vehicle as well. See the Ford press
releases at:
<http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=15136> and
<http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=15096>.
While luxury vehicles, sport cars, and SUVs continue to dominate most
auto shows, advanced-technology vehicles are a growing presence. At
this year's NYIAS, which runs through April 27th, automakers are
displaying four gasoline-electric hybrids, three fuel-cell vehicles,
and one hydrogen-fueled internal-combustion vehicle -- enough to earn
a separate category on the NYIAS Web site. See the "Alternative Fuel"
category in the NYIAS "New Vehicle Gallery" at:
<http://www.autoshowny.com/html/body_new_vehicle_template_.html>.
Tucson Celebrates Earth Day by Opening a Zero-Energy Home
A home in Tucson, Arizona, that produces as much energy and it uses
was introduced to the public on Earth Day. Designed by architect
Devereaux and Associates and built by John Wesley Miller Companies,
the so-called "Zero-Energy Home" combines energy efficiency with solar
energy technologies that will meet all its energy needs over the
course of a year. The uses of solar energy include solid masonry
construction for thermal mass, a 4-kilowatt solar power system, and an
integrated solar hot water and space heating system, which uses
tankless water heaters as a backup energy source. But the home is by
no means Spartan: it also includes a high-efficiency central air
conditioning system. According to the NAHB Research Center, the energy
performance of the building will be monitored of one year. DOE's
National Renewable Energy Laboratory provided partial funding for the
project. See the NAHB Research Center's "Virtual Press Kit" at:
<http://www.nahbrc.org/tertiaryR.asp?CategoryID=1782&DocumentID=3874>.
DOE is supporting the construction of a number of zero-energy
buildings throughout the country. In late March, the New Jersey Board
of Public Utilities (NJBPU) approved the use of a DOE grant to the
Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for the design and
construction of six zero-energy homes in Atlantic City. DOE's Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) awarded a grant of
$75,613 for the project. See the NJBPU press release at:
<http://www.bpu.state.nj.us/home/news.shtml?17-03>.
Penn Doubles Its Wind Power Purchase to 10 Percent
The University of Pennsylvania (Penn) announced on Monday that it has
doubled its purchase of wind-generated power. Penn will now buy
40 million kilowatt-hours of wind power annually from Community Energy
Inc. -- the largest retail purchase of green power in the nation. The
university's new 10-year commitment will lead to the construction of a
new wind power facility in Pennsylvania. See the Penn press release
at: <http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/releases/2003/Q2/windpower2.html>.
Green power sales are also supporting wind power in New York State,
where Green Mountain Energy Company (GMEC) has bought all the
environmental attributes associated with wind power production from
the Madison Windpower facility near Hamilton. The wind power credits
will be used to meet the demand for people buying green power through
the Niagara Mohawk Renewable Energy Program. See the GMEC press
release at:
<http://www.greenmountain.com/about/press_events/2003_04_10.jsp>.
The credits purchased by GMEC are often referred to as "green tags" --
also known as "tradable renewable credits" -- and are a growing market
for renewable energy. As one sign of that growth, the Center for
Resource Solutions announced in early April that its Green-e Program
has certified the first-ever wholesale broker for green tags.
Evolution Markets LLC hopes to make green power transactions easier by
helping to build a wholesale market for green tags. See the Green-e
press release at: <http://www.green-e.org/media_ed/evo_markets.html>.
GE Hydro to Upgrade U.S. Hydropower Plants
Many hydroelectric power plants across the United States are aging and
in need of refurbishment, and a growing number of hydropower plant
owners are choosing to boost their facilities' power production while
updating their equipment. This trend is evident at GE Hydro, a unit of
GE Power Systems, which recently announced several hydropower turbine
refurbishment contracts. On March 10th, GE Hydro won a $47 million
contract to refurbish seven turbines at the John H. Kerr Powerhouse in
Boydton, Virginia. The project will increase power production by more
than 70 megawatts, or roughly 34 percent. On March 24th, the company
won a $7 million contract to upgrade two generators at the Jaybird
Hydroelectric Powerhouse in northern California. That project will
increase power production from 154 megawatts to 170 megawatts, a
10 percent increase. And on April 7th, GE Hydro entered into an
agreement with southern California's Imperial Irrigation District
(IID) to evaluate and upgrade that utility's hydropower facilities.
The IID generates 84 megawatts of power from 14 hydropower units at
seven sites along the All American Canal, which runs from Yuma,
Arizona, to California's Imperial Valley. See the GE press releases
from March 10th, March 24th, and April 7th by selecting "News Archive"
on the GE Power Systems Web site at:
<http://www.gepower.com/home/index.html>.
Meanwhile, concerns about this summer's hydropower production in the
Pacific Northwest are gradually easing, as above-average precipitation
is bringing snowpack levels and predicted streamflow volumes closer to
normal. As noted in the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) "Power
Update" for April 18th, snowpack above the Dalles Dam is now at
86 percent of normal, and predicted streamflow volumes through July
are at 79 percent of normal. In March, the watershed above the Dallas
Dam received 75 percent more precipitation than normal. See the BPA
report, in PDF format only, at:
<http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/kc/home/power_update/Power041803.pdf>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SITE NEWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PA Windmap
<http://www.pawindmap.org/>
The PA Windmap Web site provides a complete guide to wind energy
resources in Pennsylvania. It features an interactive map program that
visitors can use to create printable wind maps. PA Windmap is
sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
and Conservation Consultants, Inc, a regional nonprofit organization
based in Pittsburgh.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
EIA Expects Lower Gasoline Prices this Summer
U.S. motorists will pay less at the pump this summer than they have in
recent months, according to a report issued in early April by DOE's
Energy Information Administration (EIA). The EIA anticipates an
average price of $1.56 per gallon for regular gasoline, down from peak
prices of more than $1.70 per gallon earlier this year. However, the
projected prices remain about 17 cents per gallon higher than last
summer's average price. See the EIA press release at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press213.html>.
Indeed, the latest figures from EIA, released on Monday, confirm that
gasoline prices are dropping. On average, U.S. gasoline prices dropped
2.1 cents per gallon in the past week, reaching an average of
$1.57 per gallon. See the EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update at:
<http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gasdiesel.asp>.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/about.cfm>.
This Web page also allows you to update your email address
or unsubscribe to this newsletter.
The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
home page is located at: <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>.
If you have questions or comments about this
newsletter, please contact the editor, Kevin Eber, at
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Make Money Online Auctions! Make $500.00 or We Will Give You Thirty Dollars for
Trying!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/yMx78A/fNtFAA/AG3JAA/9bTolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Biofuels at Journey to Forever
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html
Biofuel at WebConX
http://webconx.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/biofuel.htm
List messages are archived at the Info-Archive at NNYTech:
http://archive.nnytech.net/
To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
