Renewables & Efficiency

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Feb. 12, 2003

News and Events EERE Summarizes 2004 Budget Proposal in “Budget-in-Brief” President’s Budget Provides $17.6 Million in Weatherization Funds President Bush, Secretary Abraham Detail Hydrogen Initiative Two of Three Kansas Wind Power Installations Moving Ahead Dry Winter Likely to Impact Hydropower in Pacific Northwest Ethanol Fuel Industry Achieves Record Production in 2002 *Site NewsBioenergy Stoves Discussion Group *Energy Facts and TipsNuclear Industry Sees Potential for Large Growth in 10 Years———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-EERE Summarizes 2004 Budget Proposal in “Budget-in-Brief”DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) released its “Budget-in-Brief” on Tuesday, providing a summary of the proposed EERE budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004. The budget increases only slightly compared to last year’s proposed budget, now totaling $1.32 billion. It includes the President’s Hydrogen Fuel Initiative and expands the FreedomCAR program, while also providing increased funds for solid state lighting, the Weatherization Assistance Program, and the President’s National Climate Change Technology Initiative. See EERE’s “FY 2004 Budget-in-Brief” on the EERE Web site at: [sorry this link is no longer available]President’s Budget Provides $17.6 Million in Weatherization Funds for Iowa, New Hampshire, and WisconsinDOE released further details about President Bush’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2004 this week and last, noting that […]

Read More

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Feb. 5, 2003

News and Events President’s Budget Retains Funds for Efficiency, Renewables President Bush Launches $1.2-Billion Hydrogen Initiative Navy to Demonstrate Potential of Solar-Supplied Hydrogen Los Angeles Proposes to Build a 120-Megawatt Wind Plant Green Power Adopted in North Carolina and Successful in D.C. *Site NewsDOE Launches Revised EERE Web Site at New Web Address *Energy Facts and TipsEnergy Companies Added Significant Oil, Gas Reserves in 2001———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-President’s Budget Retains Funds for Efficiency, RenewablesPresident Bush released his administration’s proposed $2.2 trillion federal budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004 on Monday. According to the President, the budget meets the challenges posed by three national priorities: winning the war against terrorism, securing the homeland, and generating long-term economic growth. Despite these three priorities, the budget maintains funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. It assumes enactment of the energy tax incentives proposed in the President’s 2003 budget, including tax credits for the use of solar power in residences and for purchases of hybrid electric and fuel cell vehicles. It also proposes a two-year extension in tax credits for electric vehicles, clean-fuel vehicles, and power produced from certain renewable energy sources (the so-called “production tax credit”). See the budget on the White House […]

Read More

SolarSummary: January 28 – February 4, 2003

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news AstroPower www.astropower.com Global Solar Energy www.globalsolar.com Kyocera www.kyocerasolar.com Schott Applied Power www.appliedpower.com Shell Foundation www.shellfoundation.org Sustainable Energy Technologies www.sustainablenergy.com Emerging Technologies Scientists at Rochester Institute of Technology are developing the next generation of solar cells, advancing the technology that could put football field-sized solar power systems into earth’s orbit. The National Science Foundation recently awarded a three-year, $200,000 grant to the RIT’s NanoPower Research Laboratory to develop nanomaterials – no bigger than a billionth of a meter – in support of NASA’s space solar power program. “In order to put football-field sized arrays in space, they need to be lightweight and flexible, and able to withstand the rigors of space,” RIT scientists say. “Today’s technology isn’t good enough, but with the theoretical possibilities offered by nanomaterials it could become a reality.” (Ascribe via CNN Money, 29/01/03)New Products Calgary-based Sustainable Energy Technologies Ltd. has announced that the CANMET Energy Technology Centre of Natural Resources Canada will contribute $100,000 to the cost of commercialising the Company’s renewable energy inverter for grid-connected solar PV markets. Sustainable Energy Technologies has been successfully testing a 5kW version of the renewable energy inverter with a commercial scale solar PV […]

Read More

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Jan. 29, 2003

News and Events LIPA and GE Wind Turbines Boost U.S. Offshore Wind Prospects U.S. Wind Power Growth Slows to 10 Percent in 2002 Maine Renewable Energy Brings Green Power to the State Massachusetts, New Jersey Revise Clean Energy Programs President’s 2004 Budget Increases Weatherization Assistance New Combined Heat and Power Projects Mark a Growing Trend *Site NewsH2CARSBIZ *Energy Facts and TipsEIA Updates Regional U.S. Reports on Appliance Use———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-LIPA and GE Wind Turbines Boost U.S. Offshore Wind ProspectsThe likelihood of offshore wind power developments in the United States improved last week, thanks to separate actions taken by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and Cape Wind Associates, LLC.LIPA, acting on a previous study, requested proposals for an offshore wind power plant that would produce 100 to 140 megawatts of power. The utility has identified its preferred location, a five- square-mile area about 2.5 miles south of Jones Beach on the western end of the island. LIPA is prepared to enter into a 15- to 20-year power purchase agreement for the power produced by such a facility, which the utility hopes would be operational by late 2007. LIPA would also build the undersea cable to connect the facility to its […]

Read More

SolarSummary: January 21 – 27, 2003

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news ICP Solar Technologies: www.icpglobal.com Intersolar Ltd: www.intersolar.com Konarka : www.konarkatech.com Matsui Proton Energy Systems: www.protonenergy.com S.A.G. Solarstrom: www.solarstromag.de Sanyo Electric Co.: www.sanyo.co.jp Sharp Electronics Corp: www.sharp-world.com Spire Solar Chicago: www.spiresolar.com/Solar/Chicago.html Suntechnics Fabrisolar: www.fabrisolar.ch Tata BP Solar: www.tatabpsolar.com Uni-Solar www.unisolar.com Xantrex Technology: www.xantrex.com Emerging Technologies The chemical manufacturer, Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku and Mitsui have announced the formation of a Joint Venture to develop a new organic solar cell. The Joint Venture will have an initial capital of two hundred million Yen ($1.5M) and be based in Kyoto. The shareholding will be 65 percent Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku and 35 percent Mitsui. The goal is to start manufacture of the cells by autumn 2004. (Solarbuzz.com, 22/01/03)New Products Xantrex Technology is introducing a new inverter/charger for off-grid homes and backup power systems. The Xantrex Sine Wave Plus Inverter/Charger (SW Plus) is available in 24 and 48-volt versions with a continuous power output of 2.5 kW. It has a suggested list price of US$2,299. (SolarAccess.com, 22/01/03)Applications One of the UK’s biggest solar-powered roofs is about to become active at the Gaia Energy centre in Cornwall. The 400,000 roof measures 520 sq m and was funded by the Department […]

Read More

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Jan. 22, 2003

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events 14 Organizations to Cut Greenhouse Gases 4 Percent by 2006 Zilkha Proposes 180-Megawatt Wind Plant for Washington Hawaiian Electric Launches Renewable Energy Subsidiary Green Mountain Energy to Stop Selling Power in Connecticut Toyota to Discontinue Electric Version of its RAV4 New York State Supports Industrial Energy Efficiency *Site NewsNew Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) *Energy Facts and TipsEIA Updates Projection of U.S. Winter Heating Costs———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-14 Organizations to Cut Greenhouse Gases 4 Percent by 2006Fourteen organizations, including several large corporations, have entered into a legally binding agreement to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent within the next four years. The 14 entities announced last week that they are forming the Chicago Climate Exchange, a voluntary cap-and-trade program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The program will allow entities that exceed their emissions goal to sell carbon credits to organizations that are falling short. Trading will begin in spring, and will include so-called “sinks” — farm and forestry projects that help reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere — as well as “offsets,” which are emissions-reducing projects in other countries that are funded by the U.S. entities.The 14 entities include American […]

Read More

SolarSummary: January 14 – 20, 2003

by Kirsten Elder Companies in the news Bonneville Environmental Foundation www.b-e-f.org Evergreen Solar www.evergreensolar.com Green Mountain Energy Co. www.greenmountain.com Occidental Power www.oxypower.com Sanyo Electric www.sanyo.co.jp Applications In the UK, Sheffield College has proposed a 20 million campus in the heart of a Sheffield suburb that they hope will become a green beacon for the city. The college says that the new facility will use solar power and glass front panels that will save money on energy bills and reduce emissions. (Sheffield Today via Solarbuzz.com, 20/01/03) A project to install PV systems on eight schools has recently been completed in the city of Frth in Bavaria. The total rated output of the PV systems is 250 kilowatts. The total project was put together by private investors putting up a total of 1.2 million. The solar energy will be fed in to the electricity grid and secure a tariff of 48.1 cents per kWh provided under the German Feed In tariff law. (Solarbuzz.com, 15/01/03) Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) has announced the dedication of a 2.4 kilowatt PV solar electric system at West Salem High School in Oregon. The system will supply a portion of the school’s electricity while allowing students to gain […]

Read More

Weekly Clean Energy Roundup: Jan. 15, 2003

Provided by EREN Network News*News and Events Toyota to Produce First Hybrid Electric Luxury SUV in 2005 GM Introduces Hybrid Electric Military Pickup with Fuel Cell California Proposes Delay to Zero-Emission Vehicle Program ChevronTexaco to Use Ethanol in Southern California by May N.Y. Governor Proposes 25 Percent Renewable Power Mandate Solar Power Installed at the White House and in California *Site NewsAutoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Association (AACPA)*Energy Facts and TipsEIA: U.S. May Draw on Imports for 70 Percent of Oil by 2025———————————————————————-NEWS AND EVENTS———————————————————————-Toyota to Produce First Hybrid Electric Luxury SUV in 2005Toyota Motor Corporation unveiled a new hybrid electric drive system last week and promised to use it in the Lexus RX 330, a luxury sport utility vehicle (SUV), by 2005. Toyota’s new hybrid system uses wheel-mounted electric motors on all four wheels, combined with a traditional gasoline engine and a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack.According to Toyota, the hybrid electric Lexus RX 330 will use a six-cylinder engine to produce the power and torque of an eight- cylinder engine with “the fuel mileage of a compact car.” For now, the new hybrid drive is featured in Toyota’s sport utility hybrid vehicle (SU-HV) concept car, now on display at the North […]

Read More