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California Utility to Buy Geothermal Energy

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it has purchased 20 megawatts (MW) of geothermal electricity from Esmeralda Truckhaven Geothermal LLC, to begin delivery in 2010. “This contract is another step in our aggressive efforts to meet our goal of supplying 20 percent of our customers’ electricity needs by 2010 with renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal power,” said Terry Farrelly, vice president of electric and gas procurement for SDG&E. “We are negotiating to buy even more renewable energy and will be announcing other contracts later this year.” Geothermal energy production involves using heat from beneath the earth’s surface to generate electricity and provide heat. The Esmeralda facility, at its Juan Bautista de Anza Geothermal Project, will be located in Imperial County west of the Salton Sea. Geothermal energy is considered a green technology because of its minimal environmental impacts and renewability from the heat of the earth. Geothermal is also the most prolific power generator of all renewable sources, producing energy 24 hours a day. The 15-year contract will provide approximately 1 percent toward SDG&E’s 2010 renewables goal. Jack McNamara, the manager of Esmeralda Truckhaven, said, “We look forward to working with SDG&E to meet […]

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California Utility to Buy Geothermal Energy

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has purchased 20 megawatts (MW) of geothermal electricity from Esmeralda Truckhaven Geothermal LLC, to begin delivery in 2010. “This contract is another step in our aggressive efforts to meet our goal of supplying 20 percent of our customers’ electricity needs by 2010 with renewable energy such as wind, solar and geothermal power,” said Terry Farrelly, vice president of electric and gas procurement for SDG&E. “We are negotiating to buy even more renewable energy and will be announcing other contracts later this year.” Geothermal energy production involves using heat from beneath the earth’s surface to generate electricity and provide heat. The Esmeralda facility, at its Juan Bautista de Anza Geothermal Project, will be located in Imperial County west of the Salton Sea. Geothermal energy is considered a green technology because of its minimal environmental impacts and renewability from the heat of the earth. Geothermal is also the most prolific power generator of all renewable sources, producing energy 24 hours a day. The 15-year contract will provide approximately 1 percent toward SDG&E’s 2010 renewables goal. Jack McNamara, the manager of Esmeralda Truckhaven, said, “We look forward to working with SDG&E to meet its 20 percent renewable […]

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32 Clean Energy Projects Get Funding

32 clean energy projects are set to receive funding in REEEP’s – the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) – fourth, and largest fund round in its three year history. “More projects have been funded in the areas of financing models and energy efficiency, than in previous rounds,” stated Morgan Bazilian, REEEP Programme Board Chair. “REEEP has also expanded its priority countries from six to twenty countries and we are engaging some countries for the first time, such as Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Liberia and Tunisia.” The increased funding was driven by the G8 dialogue last November when the UK government announced that a further 2.5 million pounds would be provided in 2006/7 and 2007/8. In addition, the UK Foreign Ministry also announced the provision of 1 million pounds. The REEEP has been able to leverage this funding by a factor of six as REEEP funding is attracting co-financing from other agencies as diverse as USAID, Cordaid Netherlands, the budgets of local municipalities in South Africa and also from other donors such as the government of Ireland. “REEEP is an ideal mechanism to help secure funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency activities in developing countries,” stated Dick Roche, Environment Minister […]

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Itron to Acquire Quantum Consulting

Itron Inc. (NASDAQ:ITRI) signed an agreement to purchase Quantum Consulting Inc., a nationally recognized energy consulting firm based in Berkeley, California. Quantum Consulting offers a wide range of consulting services relating to energy efficiency and demand response program evaluation, planning, and design, as well as market research. This team will join Itron’s existing Consulting and Analysis group to offer a more comprehensive set of consulting and research services spanning energy efficiency and demand response, renewable energy and distributed generation, market research, load research, and general analysis of energy usage and end-user decision making. The group will provide support to major energy utilities, government agencies and other clients throughout North America. The Quantum group will relocate to Itron’s Oakland office. “With intense focus on energy efficiency throughout the country and particularly in the state of California, we wanted to expand Itron’s capabilities and offerings in this growing segment of the energy marketplace,” said LeRoy Nosbaum, Itron chairman and CEO. “With the addition of Quantum’s leadership team and staff, Itron will have one of the most credentialed and respected consulting teams in the country.” Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission approved $2 billion to spend in 2006 through 2008 on energy […]

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