ASERTTI News
Department of
Energy Releases Report on Potential
Environmental Effects of Marine and
Hydrokinetic Energy Technologies
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently released
the Report to Congress on the Potential
Environmental Effects of Marine and Hydrokinetic
Energy Technologies. This groundbreaking report
analyzes the potential environmental effects of
technologies that capture energy from waves, tides,
ocean currents, the natural flow of water in rivers,
and marine thermal gradients, without building new
dams or diversions. Marine and hydrokinetic
technologies are not yet widely deployed, and their
environmental effects are not well documented.
Please
click here to read more about this report at the
DOE website.
Wind 20% of Iowa's Energy
Wind energy accounts for up to 20 percent of
Iowa's total electricity production, and is helping
to keep the state's power costs among the lowest in
the nation, a recently released study released
showed. Authors of the study said it debunks
arguments that alternative energy and other measures
to combat climate change are too expensive. The
study was conducted by the Iowa Policy Project, a
nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization based
in Iowa City. The study found that wind produced
3,670 megawatts of electricity in the state. If that
power were used solely within the state it would
produce enough electricity to power 940,000 homes
roughly three-quarters of the state's homes. Please
click here to read the full story.
"Carbon Fee" Explored by
Kerry, Graham and Lieberman to Encourage Industry
Support
Key senators are weighing a request from Big Oil
to levy a carbon fee on the industry rather than
wrap it into a sweeping cap-and-trade system that
covers most of the U.S. economy. Instead,
transportation fuels would face a carbon fee, with
the price linked to the compliance requirements for
other industries. New revenue would be geared toward
transportation projects, reducing fuel consumption
and lowering domestic reliance on foreign oil.
Advocates of the proposal support the
transparency of the carbon fee. ExxonMobil CEO Rex
Tillerson has said a carbon tax has more political
backing than many analysts are willing to give it.
"They say a carbon tax is too politically sensitive
and that it is easier and more expedient to support
a cap-and-trade approach because the public will
never figure out where it's hitting them," Tillerson
told the Economic Club of Washington last October.
"They'll just know they hurt somewhere in their
pocketbook. I disagree with this assessment. I
believe the American people want climate policy to
be transparent, honest and effective."
As of yet, there is no draft bill containing the
carbon fee proposal. It remains to be seen whether
agreement amongst industry can be found. Sen. David
Vitter (R-La.) said he doubts whether there is
unanimity among the refining industry on the need
for a carbon fee, specifically citing concerns from
smaller producers. "Some of those larger companies
have thrown up the white flag in this debate a long
time ago," he said. "So this is sort of a
continuation of that."
Please
click here to read more about the proposed
legislation at the New York Times.
Energy Savers May Get
Rebates in Proposal Dubbed 'Cash for Caulkers'
President Obama revealed details of a program to
boost the energy efficiency of the nation's homes,
create jobs and cut energy bills. The Home Star
program, which needs congressional approval,
envisions rebates of $1,000 to $1,500, or 50 percent
of the cost, for simple upgrades, such as windows
and insulation, for a maximum of $3,000 per home.
Or, consumers could get a $3,000 rebate for a
home-energy retrofit that cuts use by 20 percent.
Details, such as when Home Star would start, depend
on congressional action. The concept, also dubbed
"cash for caulkers," resembles cash for clunkers,
which helped spur auto sales last year.
Energy incentives in the stimulus package passed
last year have created jobs. Andersen Windows
refilled 600 positions because of increased demand
last year driven by a $1,500 energy tax credit, says
Jim Humphrey, CEO of Andersen, which employs 10,000
people. The rebate "stimulated people to get off the
dime," he says. In addition, the federal government
has already provided $300 million for rebates on
energy-efficient appliances. Most of that money is
likely to be spent by the time Home Star could
start, says Jeff Genzer, counsel to the National
Association of State Energy Officials. Please
click here to read the full article at USA
Today.
Please
click here to view the Home Star discussion
draft. Please
click here for a summary of Home Star.
ECW Webinar: SSL Technology
and LED Lighting: New Tools in Your Toolbox – March
10, 2010
The Energy Center of Wisconsin (ECW) will host "SSL
Technology and LED Lighting: New Tools in Your
Toolbox," a live webinar presented by Presenter:
Avraham Mor, IALD, LEED AP, IESNA, Lightswitch
Architectural. The webinar will take place on March
10, 2010 from 1:00 - 2:30 PM central time. SSL/LED
lighting can significantly reduce energy consumption
and costs. Technology advancements have increased
the versatility and durability of the lamps and
improved the fixtures contributing to their
expanding applicability. SSL is a vital lighting
design tool. As LED lighting becomes more
mainstream, it is important for those who specify
lighting products and users to understand the
technology, its uses and pitfalls. Attend this
webinar and learn the latest strategies to use these
tools effectively. Please
click here for more information and to register
for the event.
Register Now for Part One
of a Two-Part EPA Webinar Series Entitled "Capturing
New CHP Opportunities -- Maybe in Your Own Backyard"
The EPA CHP Partnership in collaboration with the
DOE’s EERE will host Part One of a Webinar series
focused on capturing new CHP opportunities and
project development strategies on March 18, 2010,
from 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM EST. Part One will focus on
capturing new CHP opportunities, and is intended for
entities who have heard about CHP's energy
efficiency potential but not sure how to pursue
these opportunities in their own "backyards" or in
facilities that perhaps have not yet been considered
as feasible candidates for CHP. For more
information and to register, please
click here.
California Clean Energy
Commission Announces $90 Million Clean Energy
Program
As the nation's largest cleantech forum begins
this week, ASERTTI member, the California Energy
Commission, announced the $90 million Clean Energy
Manufacturing Program that will strengthen
California's leadership in clean energy by providing
financing to manufacturers. The Clean Energy
Manufacturing Program will combine two programs that
offer California-based clean energy businesses a
combination of financing options including grants,
loans, loan guarantees, tax-exempt financing,
production incentives, sales tax incentives and
credit enhancements. The Clean Energy Business
Financing Program uses the remaining American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act State Energy Program
funds to provide $30.6 million in low-interest loans
to private businesses that improve or expand their
energy efficiency or renewable energy manufacturing
facilities in California. The Energy Commission
received $226 million under the State Energy Program
to implement public and private sector programs.
Please
click here to read more at the California Energy
Commission.
EPRI Shows That Direct
Current Superconductor Cable is Feasible for
Development Using Today’s Technology
ASERTTI member, the Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI), has published a report that
describes the design of a superconducting direct
current (DC) cable system capable of moving
thousands of megawatts of electricity between
regions, and which is practical and ready for
commercial development, using today's technology.
The EPRI analysis points to significant efficiency
gains using superconducting DC transmission lines,
with the capability to reduce transmission losses at
full load by more that 150 percent compared to
alternating current (AC) or high-voltage DC
systems. Assuming the trend continues for
cost-performance improvements in superconducting
wire, such a line could become an option within a
decade along with Extra High Voltage (EHV) AC lines
that are currently used to move large amounts of
power over long distances. Please
click here for the full story and a link to the
report. |
