Senate Passes Recovery Package, Makes Down Payment on Clean Energy Future

In response to Senate passage of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,” Wesley Warren, Director of Programs for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), issued the following statement:

“Passing this bill shows that the Senate recognizes we can’t wait any longer to start our economic recovery and invest in a clean energy future. The recovery package includes significant investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, which will save consumers money and create millions of jobs that can’t be shipped overseas.

“The Senate funding for speculative, long term projects for liquid coal and nuclear energy will not help with immediate economic needs and may never pan out at all. Congress should instead prioritize spending on ready-to-go projects, like transit, fixing our nation’s crumbling highways and bridges, and repairing our nation’s water and waste infrastructure.

“President Obama has made clear his intent to create a clean energy economy, and Congress has an opportunity to deliver on this promise and get America working again by making smart investments.”

Air & Waste Management Association Kicks Off 1st Annual

Competition Offers Students an Opportunity to Tackle a “Real” Environmental Challenge

As part of its 101st Annual Conference & Exhibition, the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) is challenging undergraduate and graduate students to try their hands at solving the types of environmental questions faced by professionals in the industry.

“The student Environmental Challenge is a new kind of experience that allows students to showcase their knowledge, discover what types of skills they still need to develop, and potentially catch the eye of industry leaders who manage some of the world’s biggest environmental programs,” said Adrianne Carolla, A&WMA Executive Director. “Our members are excited about how the ECi will allow them to share their experiences and interact with future professionals.”

The ECi requires students to build an interdisciplinary team of no more than five people to study a “true-to-life” environmental problem based on the experiences of A&WMA members. The 2008 problem asks teams to consider how sustainable energy sources could replace a proposed fossil fuel-based Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant in the Pacific Northwest, which was denied a permit. Teams will examine the issues surrounding the problem, discuss approaches to solving its challenges, and draft a presentation that will offer their potential solutions to judges during A&WMA’s Annual Conference & Exhibition in Portland, OR, June 24-27, 2008.

“The ECi committee has done its best to craft a competition that best simulates what environmental professionals face in their work,” said Steve Rybolt of the Port of Seattle, Chairman for A&WMA’s 2008 ECi. “We’ve even engineered a mechanism through which student teams can experience the twists, turns, and unexpected issues that almost always impact projects with environmental consequences.”

Student teams should expect some “late breaking” news on the problem that could require alterations to their proposals. Students will need to network among A&WMA members during the Annual Conference & Exhibition to evaluate the changes to the problem, and modify their presentations.

In addition to offering high-quality exposure to potential employers, student teams are eligible to win more than $15,000 in cash prizes. The ECi is sponsored by URS Corp. and the chapters of A&WMA’s Pacific Northwest International Section. View the detailed problem and read the rules, eligibility requirements, and policies governing the ECI program at http://www.awma.org/ACE2008/eci.htm. For additional information, or for a team application, contact Steve Rybolt at rybolt.s@portseattle.org.

An Opportunity to Network with Industry Leaders
A&WMA’s 101st Annual Conference & Exhibition is the premier networking and development event for environmental professionals. The 2008 annual gathering will feature keynote presentations from Bill Reinert of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A; Will Swopes of Intel Corp., Ernesta Ballard of Weyerhaeuser Corp.; Michael McCracken of The Climate Institute; and William Reilly, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and president of the World Wildlife Fund

Student housing is available at Portland State University. Additionally, student teams should check with local A&WMA sections and chapters regarding the availability of funding for students attending the Annual Conference & Exhibition. As part of the Annual Conference & Exhibition, students can submit an abstract for A&WMA’s student poster competition, attend panel discussions and tours designed for new professionals, and tour the exhibit hall. For more details, visit www.awma.org/ACE2008

See the Source:

A&WA - Annual Conference and Exhibition

Virginia Joins Federal Clean Energy Program

This week Virginia joined 15 other states as part of EPA's Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership to help address climate change.

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah are already working with EPA to develop and carry out comprehensive strategies for promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy.

This partnership aims to improve air quality and the environment while reducing energy costs and helping states achieve their economic goals. The 16 partner states represent 55 percent of U.S. population and energy consumption, and nearly 50 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the Partnership Program, launched in February 2005, partner states agree to develop and implement a state-specific Clean Energy-Environment State Action Plan that contains one or more clean energy-environment goals. Virginia will harness the power of the partnership to advance the goals of their recently released energy plan.

EPA provides partner states with access to a comprehensive assistance package of planning, policy, technical, analytical and information resources, and works to establish connections to other federal programs that support clean energy-environment strategies. Partners also benefit by learning from the federal government and other states about successful programs and policies at work, like Energy Star. EPA recognizes these states as environmental and clean energy leaders, commending them for the environmental benefits that result from their efforts. This work helps states plan to meet their energy policy goals and implement energy efficiency programs.

See the Source:

EPA - Clean Energy-Environment State Partnerships

Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards

The Aspen Institute, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering creative thinking and leadership, is now accepting nominations for its first annual Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards.

Nomination forms, information and judging criteria for the awards are available at: http://www.energyandenvironmentawards.com/

The award categories include:
- Corporate Energy Generation
- Corporate Energy Conservation
- Individual Thought Leadership
- Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)
- Government Agency

The awards will be presented during a dinner ceremony on March 29 in Aspen, Colorado, at the Aspen Environment Forum, presented by the Aspen Institute and National Geographic.

Information on the Forum is available at: http://www.aspenenvironment.org/

The deadline for award nominations is Feb. 17, 2008.

The awards draw international attention to the organizations and people who are making the biggest strides, acting as leaders, catalysts, and educators in the effort to address global demands for energy and the need to reduce environmental impacts.

This year's competition entails six separate award categories, including corporate energy generation and conservation programs, as well as individual thought leadership in the field of energy and environmental problem solving, with a special emphasis on disruptive solutions that have the potential for widescale application.

In addition, an award will be made to an NGO (non-governmental organization) for its contributions in renewable energy generation, improved efficiency, radical price reductions, or stimulation of new green energy markets in developing countries.

A separate award will go to a government entity for encouraging renewable energy generation or efficiency and/or its pursuit of other significant new policies that advance energy and environmental goals.

See the Source:

The Aspen Institute

environmental news

Energy Bill Blocked in Senate

One day after the U.S. House of Representatives passed an historic energy bill that would put the country on a path to cleaner energy, lower energy demand, and reducing dependency on oil, the Senate blocked progress on the bill. Led by a several Senators, and supporters of the coal and oil industry, the bill failed to reach the 60 votes necessary to pass.

A revised bill is expected to return to the Senate floor by the end of this week, minus some renewable energy provisions.

See the Source:

Inside Renewable Energy

current issues
energy

China Fights Air Pollution

According to Industrial Info Resources, China shut down 156 small coal-fired power plants during the first six months of this year in an effort to reduce emissions and comply with a target set by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People’s Republic of China. The total generating capacity of the power generation units is 5,510 megawatts and will meet 55% of emissions reductions set for 2007 by the NDRC.

Treehugger reports one million cars will be taken off Beijing roads in August for a two week trial to test new smog-control measures in an effort to reduce air pollution in anticipation of next year’s Beijing Olympics, representing 1/3 of the city’s cars. Last month, Beijing’s registered vehicles numbered 3 million, more than double from 5 years ago, with about 1,000 cars going on the road every day.

See the Source:
Marketwire

Treehugger

air pollution
environment

What’s Up with Wind Power: The Good and Not-So-Good

- The Department of Energy (DOE) just released the first “Annual Report on US Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006”.

- Wind power currently accounts for only 1% of all electricity produced in the US.
- The DOE predicts an increase in wind power generated electricity to reach 7% by 2022. If this goal is to be reached, 36,000 wind turbines will need to be built.

- The top 10 states according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) producing the most kilowatt hours of electricity are:
1. Texas
2. California
3. Iowa
4. Minnesota
5. Washington
6. Oklahoma
7. New Mexico
8. Oregon
9. New York
10. Kansas

- The EPA estimates that a 25-MW wind facility could cover up to 1,500 acres, equal to 60 acres per megawatt.

- 1 MW of power produced by a wind turbine would produce enough electricity for approximately 175 to 300 homes annually (depending on the source of the information). As of March 2007, our national wind energy capacity is 11,699 MW. In comparison, the average size of one US power plant is 213 MW.

- According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, if all US electric power plants were operating at full capacity in 1990, they would have produced 690,000 MW of electricity.

- According to the American Wind Energy Association, 1,700 MW of wind generated power will displace 3 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.

See the Source:
Annual Report on US Wind Power Installation, Cost, and Performance Trends: 2006
A Problem With Wind Power
Wind Energy Projects

environment
energy

CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 Passes Senate

On Thursday, the US Senate voted 65-27 to pass the new energy bill, CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 (H.R. 6), which would help reduce foreign oil dependency, increase production of alternative fuels, and boost fuel economy be requiring vehicles to average 35 miles per gallon by 2020, a 40 percent increase over today’s standards. Although it was a bi-partisan win for the bill, neither Democrats nor Republicans got exactly what they wanted. H.R. 6 is expected to also pass the House, possibly as soon as next week.

See the Source:
The Library of Congress

current issues
energy

Entrepreneurs Invited to Submit Energy Ideas

Presidential hopeful and New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson today solicited applications for the newly created Energy Innovation Fund as part of the Governor’s commitment to make New Mexico “The Clean Energy State.”

“The fund will accelerate the innovation and adoption of clean energy technologies in our state and ask New Mexico entrepreneurs to put forward their ideas,” said Governor Bill Richardson.

Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, New Mexico has already taken great strides in clean energy – requiring that at least 20% of electric utility power supply come from renewable sources by 2020, creating the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA), and providing tax credits for the use of alternative fuels.

The Energy Innovation Fund (EIF) created during New Mexico’s 2007 Legislative session, will help to accelerate the development of innovation to enable faster commercial adaptation of clean energy technologies in the state. This year, the focus of the EIF is biofuels and concentrating solar power.

Applications for funding must:
• Relate to achieving New Mexico goals in clean energy
• Be an innovative project
• Have the potential for a significant impact on New Mexico
• Include partnerships between private and public sectors, with at least one of the principals in the project being a New Mexico entity.

Applications for the New Mexico Energy Innovation Fund are now being accepted, through June 19, 2007. Project funding will be considered in the amount of $200,000 and above.

To download an application or for more information:
http://governor.state.nm.us/priorities-energy.php?mm=4

See the Source:
Office of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson

environment

GreenXchange Xpo – The World’s Green Marketplace

Environmental leaders and visionaries will join together in shaping a new global event focusing attention on critical issues of sustainability and energy. The new event, GreenXchange Xpo will be launched October 1-3, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center with the intention of becoming the world’s leading marketplace for green innovation and technology.

“Los Angeles is setting the green standard for its use of renewable energy,” says LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “GreenXchange is a critical step in establishing a marketplace for the ideas, products and services that take sustainability from theory to practice. Bringing the private and public sectors together under one roof for a global exchange on green innovation, will dramatically impact our opportunity to achieve lasting worldwide sustainability.”

The goal of GreenXchange is to bring together the largest exchange of green ideas and commerce in the world. Those participating in the invent include: green entrepreneurs and professionals; climate change policy-makers and regulators; environmental stewards, planners, consultants, and academic scientists; media, venture investors and market-makers; organized labor and management; builders, conservationists and recyclers; and futurists.

See the Source:
GreenXchange

environment
energy

Google Goes Green

Search engine behemoth Google and El Solutions, a California provider of solar power systems have joined forces to complete the largest solar installation on any corporate campus in the United States. Recently completed at Google’s Mountain View, CA headquarters, the system has a total capacity of 1.6 megawatts or the equivalent to supply 1,000 average California homes with electricity. The two companies will present a behind-the-scenes explanation of the solar project at the West Coast Energy Management Congress to be held June 6th at the Long Beach Convention Center.

See the Source:
Business Wire

Google Blog

energy
environment

Green on the National Mall

The National Sustainable Design Expo opens to the public today on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., showcasing innovative, commercially viable ideas for generating energy. Held April 24 and 25, the Expo includes exhibits from government agencies and nonprofit organizations, demonstrating successful, sustainable technologies and products such as energy generated from ocean waves to fuel produced from algae.

"Green designs not only help protect our planet by using renewable fuel sources and less toxics, but they also ring up big sales at the cash register." said Dr. George Gray, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. "There are great environmental challenges facing the U.S. in the coming decades. Smart companies are seeing these challenges as a golden opportunity to create a brand new market - - green technologies.”

The Expo includes the annual People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Award, a national competition involving 41 teams of college and university students exhibiting environmental design projects. Former P3 projects proved that green designs save energy and are profitable, with several of the projects going on to become new commercial ventures.

EPA launched the P3 award in 2004 to respond to sustainability challenges in the developed and developing world. This national competition enables college students to research, develop and design scientific, technical and policy solutions to sustainability challenges.

See the Source:
Expo and the P3 Award
EPA’s Sustainability Research Program

environment

Super Solar: SunEdison Breaks Ground

Colorado has broken ground on what will soon be one of the largest photovoltaic power plants in the United States. The 82-acre tract in the San Luis Valley located in south central Colorado is rated as having the best solar power conditions in the state. Upon completion the plant will create enough clean energy to power approximately 1,500 homes a year, thereby removing from the atmosphere carbon emissions equivalent to 2,840 cars driving 12,500 annually.

The solar plant will be financed, built and maintained by SunEdison. Xcel Energy will buy the power generated by the plant, which will help meet the 2020 Colorado deadline for utilities to generate 20 percent of their power from renewable energy sources.

“With wind farms across the plains, new bio-diesel and ethanol plants, the National Renewable Energy Lab, innovative businesses like SunEdison and Xcel Energy and this solar energy project, Colorado really is the renewable energy capital of the Nation,” said U.S. Senator Ken Salazar. “Combined with responsible development of fossil fuels and new technologies, renewable energy resources will help to secure our energy independence, strengthen our national and economic security and conserve our natural resources. And, solar energy will play an ever increasing role in that independence movement. This solar plant project, near my home in the San Luis Valley, will help bring new investments and new jobs to Colorado and I am proud to participate in this groundbreaking event.”

See the Source:
SunEdison

energy

The Greening of the Ivy League

The EPA has crowned the Ivy League as the overall champion conference of the College & University Green Power Challenge for 2006-2007, beating out 15 other collegiate athletic conferences. NYU won individual school honors for purchasing more green power than any other school in the competition.

"EPA applauds this year's College & University Green Power Conference Champions for their leadership in green power purchasing," said Bill Wehrum, EPA's acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation. "EPA hopes this year's competition inspires schools around the nation to participate in the 2007-2008 EPA College & University Green Power Challenge. Buying green power is a great way to demonstrate that what's good for the environment is also good for higher education."

Since April 2006, EPA's Green Power Partnership has ranked conferences by the quantity of green power purchased by their respective colleges and universities. These conferences must have schools that qualify as EPA Green Power Partners and make a collective green power purchase of at least 10 million kWh conference-wide in order to be eligible for the challenge. The 33 schools and 16 conferences taking part in this year's challenge are buying more than 750 million kWh of green power. EPA estimates that this amount of green power is equal to the electricity needed to power more than 60,000 average American homes each year.

Leading the Ivy League was the University of Pennsylvania followed by Harvard and Yale, with a collective purchase totaling more than 140 million kWh of green power.

Green power is produced from eligible renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. Green power is considered cleaner than conventional sources of electricity, has a superior environmental profile to conventional power, and does not contribute additional carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. Buying green power has proven to be an excellent strategy for colleges and universities across the country to reduce the environmental impact of their purchased electricity, while allowing them to tie environmental action to the educational mission of the school.

See the Source:
EPA - College and University Green Power Challenge

What is the Green Power Partnership?

An EPA initiative, The Green Power Partnership encourages organizations, schools, communities and businesses to buy green power to lessen the environmental impact of standard electrical use which usually emits greenhouse gases. When your company or organization becomes a Green Power Partner you purchase renewable energy for part or all of your energy needs. Renewable energy resources include: solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro generate green power. Green power resources are categorized as producing electricity with zero human-caused emissions, has a superior environmental profile compared to conventional power generation, and was built after the beginning of the voluntary market (Jan. 1, 1997).

An example of a recent Green Power Partner is the Fitgerald Auto Malls in Maryland - the first auto dealership in the US to purchase wind power for 100% of their energy needs.

To learn more on how to become a Green Power Partner, visit the EPA website at
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/

See the Source:
Fitzgerald Auto Malls “Go Green”

States on Track to Cut Emissions

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says that 21 states, along with the District of Columbia are on track to reduce their global warming emissions by 108 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon dioxide by 2020, through the use of adopting renewable electricity standards. The emission cuts are equal to taking 17.7 million cars off the road.

Three states in particular (Colorado, Minnesota and New Mexico) are over the 100 MMT milestone.

UCS estimates that by 2020, state standards will produce more than 46,000 megawatts of clean, renewable power. This will be enough to meet the needs of 28.5 million households.

With the success of state renewable energy standards, the UCS says momentum is building for a federal standard of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020.

See the Source:

Union of Concerned Scientists

Nation’s First Environmental Control Bond Issue

The Nation’s first issue of “Ratepayer Green Bonds” is a cost-effective solution to the national predicament of financing environmental compliance costs. U.S. and European investors snap up bonds at record low interest rates. Utility companies across the U.S. expect to spend billions on reducing environmental pollution and meeting new regulatory standards.

Saber Partners, a leading Wall Street financial advisory boutique, has successfully served as the chief advisor to the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) in completing the nation’s first Environmental Control Bond issue, which was launched on April 3rd and closed yesterday. The bonds lowered the cost of funding environmental control equipment by approximately $130 million when compared with traditional utility financing methods. More bond issues are likely to follow in other states as governments enact stricter environmental regulations.

The new type of “ratepayer green bond” is a “market-based” financing technique that can significantly reduce the cost to customers when coal-burning utilities comply with strict environmental standards affecting the climate. The proceeds will finance the costs of reducing mercury emissions, smog, acid rain and other air pollutants. The bonds are the result of a special statute passed by the West Virginia state legislature and implemented through a financing order issued by the state’s PSC. The bonds are groundbreaking because, while they are issued by the electric utilities, they use the powerful regulatory authority of the state to guarantee repayment of bonds through a surcharge to the utilities’ customers. The offering is also innovative because neither the credit of the electric utilities, nor the credit of the state, is affected by the financing. The bonds provide investors with a safe and secure investment and lower the costs of financing environmental compliance substantially and significantly.

The taxable deal, which totaled US$459.3 million, consisted of two “ratepayer green bond” issues for two units of Allegheny Power (NYSE: AYE) that provide service in West Virginia. The issues are rated triple-A, the highest credit category available – by the top three U.S. bond ratings agencies – and were sold to investors in the U.S. and Europe at record low rates. The proceeds will be used to finance necessary environmental equipment at Allegheny’s West Virginia Ft. Martin coal-burning power plant. The equipment reduces mercury emissions, smog and acid rain – a pressing objective for West Virginia and the nation. Allegheny and the PSC, working through Saber Partners, worked together in an unprecedented level of collaboration and cooperation to bring the “ratepayer green bonds” to market.

Jon W. McKinney, Chairman of the PSC of West Virginia, said, “I am delighted to have worked with Saber Partners and its CEO, Joseph Fichera, the chief advisor to the PSC, on this innovative bond financing. Our ability to secure the lowest possible costs for the bonds and complete the transaction in record time reflects the firm’s expertise, integrity and commitment to their client and to the people of West Virginia.”

Joseph Fichera, CEO of Saber Partners, said, “We are honored to have this opportunity to assist West Virginia in leading the nation by implementing an innovative way to get low cost funds for important projects affecting the climate. The bonds solve part of the escalating costs utilities and their regulators face in meeting government environmental standards, without overly burdening electricity customers.”

“Because coal is an important part of America’s energy future, finding low-cost ways to raise funds to make coal more environmentally friendly is a national imperative. Regulators, governmental officials, electricity customers and investors all share in the environmental and economic benefits of this deal. The environment is enhanced, jobs are created and protected, and investors get a safe and secure long-term investment.”

- The deal helps to achieve public health and environmental benefits to satisfy regulations from the state and the Environmental Protection Agency. The goal is to reduce mercury and other emissions that create smog and acid rain.

- The bonds lower the cost of funding the emissions control equipment by over $130 million when compared with traditional utility financing methods.

- The financing will also lead to the creation of jobs to build the equipment and will promote the use of West Virginia-mined coal in power generation. The state is one of the leading producers of this essential commodity for coal-fired plants.

- The transaction will serve as a model of cooperation between the public and private sectors to protect customers’ interests and the environment.

The deal was divided into a $344.5 million senior secured issue to benefit Monongahela Power Co. and a $114.8 million issue to benefit The Potomac Edison Co. Each deal carried four sinking fund tranches of four, 10, 16 and 20-year average life maturities. Members of the underwriting team include First Albany Corp., Bear Stearns, Loop Capital Markets and Scotia Capital. Credit spreads on the bonds (the amount investors charge above U.S. Treasury securities in order to purchase the bonds) were the lowest ever of any similar top-rated security sold by utilities.

See the Source:
Saber Partners, LLC

Town, City, University to Use Biodiesel Fuel

Illustrating their commitment to sustaining the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Town of Blacksburg, City of Roanoke, and Virginia Tech are converting their diesel fuel-powered public works and facilities vehicles and power equipment to biodiesel fuel — a cleaner-burning, renewable diesel fuel replacement made primarily from soybean oil.

The biodiesel initiative is tied to the Town of Blacksburg and City of Roanoke’s membership in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) — Local Governments for Sustainability. Members of ICLEI agree to complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory, formulate an action plan for greenhouse gas mitigation, and implement the changes and monitor the resulting progress.

The City of Roanoke has converted 365 pieces of equipment – 100 percent of its diesel vehicles and equipment – to biodiesel. This includes school buses, trucks, fire trucks, front-end loaders as well as assorted smaller equipment. The Town of Blacksburg plans to convert 100 percent of its Public Works Department diesel powered fleet by August 2007. Virginia Tech will also convert the majority of its Physical Plant Operations fleet to biodiesel by August.

City of Roanoke among pioneers of renewable resources in Southwest Virginia
The City of Roanoke began using B2 biodiesel fuel in December 2006 in diesel powered fleet vehicles and Roanoke City School buses. B2 is a blending of two percent biodiesel and 98 percent diesel fuel.

“Protecting the environment is one of the most important issues in Southwest Virginia and in America today,” said Harris. “This action taken by Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, and Roanoke is a significant step in the right direction. The use of biodiesel will help us reduce the carbon footprint in the Roanoke Valley and New River Valley.”

Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech partner in B20 biodiesel conversion
Virginia Tech will work closely with the Town of Blacksburg in support of the Cool Cities Coalition (http://www.coolcities.us/) initiative. Combined, the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech will convert more than 70 diesel fueled vehicles and equipment to B20 biodiesel fuel – a blend of 20 percent by volume biodiesel with 80 percent by volume petroleum diesel.

B20 biodiesel has demonstrated significant environmental benefits with a minimum increase in cost. Use of biodiesel fuel reduces environmentally harmful emissions. This biodegradable, low toxicity fuel is a fully renewable energy source produced in the United States.

“We’re honored to share this biodiesel initiative with the City of Roanoke and Virginia Tech” said Rordam. “The environment is everyone’s responsibility and it’s through partnerships such as these that we will make an indelible impact on the future for generations to come.”

The Town of Blacksburg will convert more than 50 fleet vehicles and equipment to B20 biodiesel. The Town plans to utilize an existing compartmentalized 10,000 gallon above ground fuel storage tank with two 5,000 gallon storage sections and separate dispensing pumps for the biodiesel initiative, with one 5,000 gallon section dedicated to biodiesel fuel and the other to diesel.

The town is also considering a proposal to convert Blacksburg Transit (BT) vehicles to the alternative fuel source. BT will initiate a pilot project with one van this summer and a bus in August, before deciding to convert the entire fleet.

Virginia Tech plans to convert approximately 20 vehicles used by Physical Plant Operations to biodiesel fuel by August 2007. In addition, the university plans to convert some off-road equipment (large lawn mowers, for example) once the conversion of these vehicles is complete.

“Virginia Tech is committed to creating a sustainable environment both on and off campus,” said James Hyatt, Virginia Tech’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with local municipalities in hopes of broadening the positive impact on the environment through this biodiesel initiative.”

Initially, Virginia Tech will fuel its newly converted biodiesel vehicles and equipment at the Town of Blacksburg’s fuel tank. Webb Oil Corporation of Roanoke will supply B20 biodiesel fuel to the town and the university. B20 biodiesel fuel is typically slightly more expensive than regular diesel fuel.

Blacksburg joins Alexandria, Charlottesville, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg as those municipalities in Virginia participating in the Cool Cities initiative.

To announce the initiative, the Town of Blacksburg, City of Roanoke and Virginia Tech will host an environmental celebration at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17 in Blacksburg. The event will be held at the Five Chimney’s Lawn (corner of Washington Street and Draper Road). Roanoke Mayor Nelson Harris, Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam, and Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations at Virginia Tech, will announce the biodiesel initiative. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be held in the Blacksburg Police Department Training Room (200 Clay Street).

See the Source:
VirginiaTech
Cool Cities Coalition

Presidential Contender, Gov. Richardson Enacts Major Clean Energy Bills in New Mexico

Governor Bill Richardson wants to make New Mexico the “Clean Energy State” and has recently enacted four state bills that promote investment in clean electricity generation and reduction in New Mexico’s dependence on foreign oil. In the past he has aggressively promoted wind power, solar energy and biofuels, as well as new technologies being developed in New Mexico to provide clean energy and emissions control technology.

“These bills will keep New Mexico’s rapidly growing clean energy economy moving forward,” said Governor Richardson. “New Mexico is showing that we can create jobs through spurring significant investment in electricity generation from our world-class solar and wind resources, promoting advanced coal technologies, building more efficient homes and offices, and increasing the production and use of biodiesel.”

Bills recently signed are as follows:

SB 994 (Cisneros) Advanced Energy Tax Credit
Is the first tax credit in the nation to cover carbon capture technology and include specific capture goals for coal-fired power plants.

SB 489 (Ortiz y Pino) Biodiesel Blend Required by 2012
Requires by 2012 that 5% of every gallon of diesel fuel sold in New Mexico come from an agricultural source.

HB 318 (Wirth) Power plant mercury emissions control
Protects New Mexico citizens from the damaging effects of mercury pollution by passing higher state standards than allowed by the federal government.

SB 463 (Cisneros) Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit Amendments
Contains six tax incentives to promote clean energy.

“These vital pieces of legislation will work hand in glove with the other major clean energy bills I enacted earlier this session – the Renewable Energy Transmission Authority and the quadrupling of the Renewable Portfolio Standard – to continue to make New Mexico the nation’s Clean Energy State,” said Governor Richardson.

See the Source:
Office of New Mexico Governor Richardson

Find out:
About a New Mexico company at the forefront of emissions control technology

Fueling the Biofuel Conversation

A recent study by the United State Department of Agriculture and Colorado State University, entitled “Net Greenhouse Gas Flux of Bioenergy Cropping Systems Using DAYCENT,” has conducted the first complete analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from biofuel production. After testing seven different crops used in the manufacturing of biofuels using the DAYCENT biogeochemistry model, the results show a significant variation in the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy generated in comparison to greenhouse gases emitted from fossil fuels.

The report reveals that comparing the life cycle of gasoline and diesel to ethanol derived from corn and soybean, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by around 40 percent. These crops are at the low end of the spectrum in comparison to crops of switchgrass and hybrid poplar with a reduction of 115 percent.

Recent controversy has arisen over the actual fuel efficiency of biofuels in comparison to fossil fuels due to the process needed to refine bioenergy crops into liquid fuel, the environmental degradation evolved with growing and transporting crops, and the possible increase in other emissions such as NOx. Some researchers have concluded that taking these facts into consideration, ethanol actually produces a net energy loss rather than a gain.

USDA and NREL researcher, Stephen Del Grosso states, "although fossil fuel inputs are required to produce and process biofuels, hybrid poplar and switchgrass converted to ethanol compensate for these emissions and actually remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere when the benefits of co-products are included. Greenhouse gas savings from biomass gasification for electricity generation are even greater. This research provides the basis for evaluating net biofuel greenhouse gas emissions and highlights the need to improve the technologies used for large scale conversion of biomass to energy and to more fully exploit agricultural co-products.”

"We used extensive observed greenhouse gas flux and crop yield data to verify DAYCENT model predictions of crop yields and net greenhouse gas fluxes from all of the biofuel crop rotations. DAYCENT model results were combined with life cycle analyses of crop production, conversion to biofuel, and fossil fuel displaced to estimate net greenhouse gas emissions," said William Parton, a NREL researcher.

The study was unique in that it offered a complete analysis of different crops, varying in respect to length of plant life cycle, yields, biomass conversion efficiencies, required nutrients, net soil carbon balance, nitrogen losses and other specifics which impact crop management. The net greenhouse gas flux for each crop was calculated by combining the DAYCENT results with estimates of fossil fuels used by agricultural machinery in growing of the crops and the amount of fossil fuels offset from biomass yields.

See the Source:
Colorado State University
USDA – Fact Sheet
Is Ethanol Fuel Really Better for the Environment than Sticking with Gas?

DOE OKs OUC Plant Under the CCPI

April 3, 2007 – The DOE announced the signing of a Record of Decision under the Clean Coal Power Initiative (CCPI) which clears the way for construction of a clean coal-fired power plant co-owned by Southern Power Co., the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), and Kellogg, Brown and Root, utilizing innovative and efficient technology to reduce air pollution emissions. The DOE will provide $235 million in funding towards the construction of the $569-million, 285-megawatt coal gasification plant near Orlando, FL.

The Florida plant will use an integrated approach of coal gasification-combined cycle technology along with state-of-the-art emissions controls technology to reduce emissions, particularly mercury and CO2 and produce clean energy.

See the Source:
Fossil Energy Techline

Find out:
How coal-fired power plants can substantially reduce NOx emissions using selective catalytic reduction.

Alt-Fuels Pioneer Wins $100,000 Award for Sustainability

Lee Lynd, a Dartmouth College professor and the co-founder of Mascoma Corp., a cellulosic biomass-to-ethanol company, has received the first Lemelson-MIT Award for Systainability honoring his 25 years of achievements and research into alternative fuels. He received the $100,000 award on April 2nd, which recognizes inventors whose products or processes improve economic opportunity and community well-being, and at the same time protect and restore the natural environment.

Professor Lynd and his colleagues have researched and identified advanced technologies for converting biomass such as grass, using cellulose-utilizing bacteria to produce ethanol, resulting in a sustainable carbon cycle with no net emissions of carbon dioxide –
a process configuration known as consolidated bioprocessing (CBP).

“Decades ago, Lee Lynd started doing something about global warming and the rapid depletion of the world’s non-renewable energy resources,” said Merton Flemings, director of the Lemelson-MIT Program. “He continued to experiment and pursue his ideas even when the conventional wisdom said they couldn’t be done.”

“Lee’s groundbreaking research has driven forward the public policy debate, the business world, and the fundamental science of bioenergy,” said Nathanael Greene, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, and one of Lynd’s nominators for the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability. “His work has helped frame our basic understanding of the sustainable potential for bioenergy and especially biofuels.”

See the Source:
Business Wire

Are We at the Bottom of the Barrel?

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released “Crude Oil: Uncertainty about future oil supply makes it important to develop a strategy for addressing a peak and decline in oil production.” The study addresses the questions, “have we reached peak oil production and how much oil is really left to meet ever increasing energy demands?”

Covering many unanswerable factors in determining the answer, the GAO states that peak production will be anytime from now until 2040, but this is a speculative estimate. True numbers are uncertain because more than 60 percent of reserves are in countries with unstable political conditions; the oil is not accessible due to environmental or technological challenges; and future economic growth and political policies are unknown.

From “Crude Oil:”

In the United States, alternative transportation technologies face challenges that could impede their ability to mitigate the consequences of a peak and decline in oil production, unless sufficient time and effort are brought to bear. For example:

- Ethanol from corn is more costly to produce than gasoline, in part because of the high cost of the corn feedstock. Even if ethanol were to become more cost-competitive with gasoline, it could not become widely available without costly investments in infrastructure, including pipelines, storage tanks, and filling stations.

- Advanced vehicle technologies that could increase mileage or use different fuels are generally more costly than conventional technologies and have not been widely adopted. For example, hybrid electric vehicles can cost from $2,000 to $3,500 more to purchase than comparable conventional vehicles and currently constitute about 1 percent of new vehicle registrations in the United States.

- Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are significantly more costly than conventional vehicles to produce. Specifically, the hydrogen fuel cell stack needed to power a vehicle currently costs about $35,000 to produce, in comparison with a conventional gas engine, which costs $2,000 to $3,000.

See the Source:
GAO – U.S. Government Accountability Office
Crude Oil: Uncertainty about Future Oil Supply Makes It Important to Develop a Strategy for Addressing a Peak and Decline in Oil Production
Energy Bulletin

Blowin’ In the Wind

General Electric Wind has purchased 276 MW wind turbines from EDF Energies Nouvelles. Due to the recent renewal of the production tax credit in effect until the end of 2008, a demand has been created for turbines in order to continue U.S. expansion into this market.

“The availability of turbines is of major importance for wind power operators to expand in the United States. Extension of the renewable energy production tax credit until the end of 2008 will not fail to stimulate the wind power market and demand for turbines. We are pleased to have a long-established collaboration with GE Wind. Signing this new contract forms part of our ambitious expansion plan in the fast-growing US market,” says David Corchia, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Energies Nouvelles.

About EDF Energies Nouvelles
Founded in 1990, EDF Energies Nouvelles is a world-class player in the green electricity generation market, with gross installed capacity of 1,037 MW worldwide at 31 December 2006, plus 615 MW in gross capacity under construction. With a presence in 9 European countries and in the United States, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in four renewable energy segments: wind, hydro, biomass and solar.

See the Source:
EDF Energies Nouvelles

EU’s Environmental Endeavors

The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance heard the testimony of Ambassador John Bruton this week, outlining the European Union’s energy policy objectives.

With the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting energy dependency, the Ambassador stated several EU policies such as energy taxation, the EU emission trading system, and a plan for sustainable coal technologies.

"Although EU energy policy is far from being created from scratch - a number of energy efficiency and renewables promotion measures date back more than 10 years - it is just recently that the EU has opted for a comprehensive, integrated and ambitious policy set in the field of energy and fight against climate change," said Ambassador Bruton, Head of Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, during testimony.

He continued "the EU’s increasing dependency on imports threatens not only its security of supply but it also implies higher prices, if, for example, the price of oil rises to $100 per barrel in today’s money, the EU's energy import bill will be around 50 percent higher by 2030. While Europeans would have to pay a lot more for their energy, few additional jobs in the EU would be created this way. In contrast, boosting investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and new technologies has wide-reaching benefits and would contribute to the EU’s strategy for growth and jobs."

Addressing the common situation of the EU and United States’ energy situation, Ambassador Bruton concluded "…that in order to ensure a sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply, a common response is needed."

See the Source:
Ambassador Bruton’s testimony

Find out:
About new emissions control technologies offered by CleanAIR Systems

Fresno: Clean and Green

The City of Fresno, CA has earned national recognition from the DOE and EPA for instituting progressive measures in making the city “clean and green”.

City Mayor, Alan Autry says, “There are external standards in place to ensure compliance. We have an internal set of goals that more beyond compliance toward commitment – commitment to clean air initiatives and a commitment to being environmental stewards.”

The City of Fresno now boasts one of the largest clean fleets in California’s Central Valley, containing a total of 362 clean-air vehicles including:
- 54 Compress Natural Gas Transit Buses
- 72 Liquid Natural Gas Refuse Trucks
- 46 Hybrid Cars and Pickups
- 131 Diesel Vehicles retrofitted with emissions control technology
- 1 Class 7 Liquid Natural Gas “Plug-in” Electric Hybrid Truck (first of its kind)

The Municipal Service Center, where much of the fleet is parked, utilizes solar power from the 4,557 solar panels installed on the roof. The solar system is expected to have a 30-year life span and substantially reduce pollutants that would have otherwise been emitted by traditional power sources. The solar panels also help out during peak power hours by producing an increase in energy and lessening the load on local power grids.

Fresno City Council President Henry T. Perea emphasized, "More and more cities across the nation are recognizing their role in protecting the environment. Fresno has demonstrated its leadership in this regard and is pushing a progressive agenda to utilize more and greener technologies. Our efforts over the last several years have placed Fresno on the map of environmental innovation, and we have just begun."

See the Source:
City of Fresno

Find out:
About emissions control technology to retrofit diesel engines

Edwards Calls For Cleaner Use Of Coal As Part Of Fight Against Global Warming

Calls for Ban on New Coal Plants Lacking Technology To Capture Carbon Dioxide Emissions

San Francisco, California – Following last week's announcement of his plan to halt global warming and create a new energy economy, Senator John Edwards today released the details of his plan to burn coal cleanly and store its carbon dioxide emissions safely. Edwards called for an end to the construction of any new coal-burning power plants that lack the technology needed to capture their carbon dioxide emissions.

"Global warming is not an issue for the future," said Edwards. "It is a crisis that demands action from us today. We have the chance to create an energy revolution in our country, but if we're going to have that happen, we have to be willing to take action now. We need to be smart and responsible about how we use coal, so we can leave our children and grandchildren a safer and cleaner planet."

While Edwards' energy plan calls for investing in renewable energy and efficiency, he understands that the U.S. is likely to rely on coal for its energy needs for decades or even centuries. Coal-fired power plants generate more than half of our electricity, but cause a third of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Utility companies are planning to build more than 150 coal-fired power plants in the next 25 years.

Edwards believes we need to find a way to use coal without heating the planet. As president, Edwards will require that all new coal-fired plants be built with the required technology to capture their carbon dioxide emissions, so plants built today will be able to permanently and safely store their carbon emissions tomorrow. He also committed to investing $1 billion a year in research and testing to jumpstart the means to store large amounts of carbon dioxide safely underground.

In order to halt global warming, Edwards last week called for a dramatic reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Edwards' plan would cap greenhouse gas pollution starting in 2010, and reduce it by 15 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, as the latest science says is needed to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Edwards also proposed major investments in renewable energy and laid out ways to help Americans conserve energy.

See the Source:
A New Strategy For Coal: Achieving Energy Independence & Stopping Global Warming

Find out:
About low-temp selective catalytic reduction to reduce NOx emissions at coal-fired power plants.

Environmental, Community Groups Announce Important Energy Agreement with Major Utility

Sierra Club, Kansas City Power & Light and Concerned Citizens of Platte County Put Forward Agreement to Reduce Emissions, Spur Clean Energy Development

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- March 20, 2007--In a groundbreaking agreement that can serve as a model for environmental groups and utilities working together, the Sierra Club, Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), and the Concerned Citizens of Platte County (CCPC) have agreed on a set of initiatives to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) and reduce other emissions for the Kansas City-based utility. Under the agreement announced today, KCP&L agrees to pursue offsets for all of the global warming emissions associated with its new plant through significant investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and cut pollution from its existing plants in order to improve air quality in the Greater Kansas City metro area. The agreement proposes other investments in clean energy, significant decreases in emissions and resolves four appeals pending between the Sierra Club, CCPC, and KCP&L. Full implementation of the terms of the agreement will necessitate approval from the appropriate authorities, as some of the initiatives in this agreement require either enabling legislative policy or regulatory approval.

“We believe there is significant potential through new energy technology and innovative approaches to improve the environment and offer additional value to our customers across the Kansas City region. This is especially true with energy efficiency and wind generation, which we have been implementing already through our Comprehensive Energy Plan developed in 2005,” said Mike Chesser, Chairman and CEO of Great Plains Energy. “We look forward to collaborating with the Sierra Club and other stakeholders as we pursue these exciting new opportunities.”

“This agreement is a win for our climate, for the environment, and for the residents of the Kansas City area,” said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director. “It is the latest sign that smart energy solutions like wind power and energy efficiency are gathering steam. We look forward to working with KCP&L to help the Midwest realize its full potential as a leader in the clean energy technologies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow.”

The most significant element of the agreement is the unprecedented commitment by KCP&L to pursue the offset of carbon emissions from its proposed Iatan 2 generating station, located near Weston, Missouri. The estimated 6,000,000 tons of annual carbon dioxide emissions are targeted to be offset by adding 400 megawatts (MW) of wind power; 300 MW of energy efficiency; and a yet to be determined combination of wind, efficiency, or the closing, altering, re-powering or efficiency improvements at any of its generating units. These proposed offsets will be partially implemented by 2010 and fully implemented by 2012. The parties are also agreeing to work together on a series of regulatory and legislative initiatives to achieve an overall reduction in KCP&L’s carbon dioxide emissions of 20 percent by 2020.

“This agreement shows that we can work together to curb air pollution, combat global warming, and protect our local communities,” said Susan Brown, chairperson for Concerned Citizens of Platte County. “The renewable energy investments in this agreement can revitalize the region’s manufacturing economy and offer rural landowners a new source of steady income from wind turbines located on their property. The large investment in energy efficiency will also help everyone use less energy — reducing emissions and saving consumers and businesses money each month.”

In addition to offsetting its global warming emissions, residents of the Kansas City area will benefit from reduced emissions of criteria pollutants at KCP&L’s existing Iatan 1 and La Cygne plants. The agreement calls for annual reductions in nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter estimated to total some 9,100 tons. Within the next year, KCP&L will also work with the Sierra Club to study options, including retiring, re-powering or upgrading its Montrose power plant. Finally, KCP&L will fund several community projects including: recommendations of the Kansas City Climate Protection Committee targeting global warming reduction measures; additional monitoring of soot and smog pollution in the metro area; and an upgrade to the drinking water infrastructure in Weston, a community near the Iatan station.

In another important step for clean energy, KCP&L will also file for approval of a net metering program within six months. Net metering allows a utility’s customers to generate small amounts of renewable energy on-site, such as from rooftop solar panels or a small wind turbine, and sell any excess energy back to the utility.

KCP&L’s Comprehensive Energy Plan was collaboratively constructed with a broad group of stakeholders and includes investments in new generation (including renewable wind energy); innovative efficiency, affordability and demand response programs; infrastructure improvements; and proactive environmental investments. This balanced approach will enable KCP&L to satisfy growing energy demands across the region for years to come while improving environmental stewardship.

“KCP&L’s current Comprehensive Energy Plan addresses the energy needs and emissions reductions for the Kansas City region with actions into the year 2010. This Agreement is the start of the next set of discussions with stakeholders as we develop our plans for the 2010-2015 timeframe,” said Bill Downey, President and CEO of KCP&L. “It reflects the ongoing atmosphere of collaboration we established in developing the CEP, and proactively resolves differences. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to secure a long-term energy supply for Kansas City while improving air quality.”

This agreement builds on the success of a 2006 agreement that Sierra Club brokered with City Water Light and Power of Springfield, IL. That agreement stipulated that the municipal utility retire one of the dirtiest coal plants in the nation, purchase 120 MW of wind, invest four million dollars in energy efficiency, and significantly decrease emissions of soot, smog and mercury pollution. In addition, all of the government buildings owned by the state of Illinois are to be powered with green electricity. Last week, CWLP announced that it stands to at least break even and may reap significant profits from its purchase and resale the wind power investments required in their agreement.

“We were and continue to be very pleased with the agreement we reached in Springfield,” commented Pope. “Our exciting new agreement with KCP&L raises the bar even further and demonstrates just how much we can achieve when utilities and groups like the Sierra Club work together.”

See the Source:
Kansas City Power & Light

Find out:
How selective catalytic reduction can eliminate NOx emissons from power plants

B & W and AEP to Demonstrate New Clean Coal Technology for Capture of CO2 Emissions

HOUSTON—March 16, 2007--McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE:MDR) announced today that its subsidiary, The Babcock & Wilcox Company (“B&W”), and American Electric Power (“AEP”) plan to pursue the commercial viability of a new combustion technology to reduce carbon dioxide (“CO2”) and other emissions from coal-fired power plants. Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) agreement, the companies will assess the application of oxy-coal combustion as a retrofit to an existing AEP plant, and work toward the development of the first oxy-coal commercial validation project in the United States.

Oxy-coal combustion uses pure oxygen for the combustion of coal in electricity generating plants. In this system, nitrogen that comes in with the air for the combustion process is eliminated. As a result, the exhaust gas is a relatively pure stream of CO2 that is ready for capture and sequestration or alternative uses such as enhanced oil recovery. Use of this technology is expected to result in near-zero emissions from coal-fired electric-generating facilities. B&W has established a collaboration agreement with American Air Liquide, Inc. for the continued development of the technology.

During the summer of 2007, B&W will complete a pilot demonstration of the oxy-coal combustion technology at its Clean Environment Development Facility (“CEDF”) in Alliance, Ohio. The CEDF is a 30MWth combustion testing facility that simulates key operating characteristics of a modern, commercial fossil fuel-fired power plant and includes a pulverized coal feed system, furnace and convection pass, an air heater, dry and wet scrubbers, baghouses and an electrostatic precipitator.

AEP will be among the utility participants in B&W’s Oxy-Coal Combustion Advisory Group in an effort to help bring the potential users of the technology into the development process.

In addition, as part of the MOU, B&W and AEP will evaluate and select the most suitable existing AEP plant location for the commercial application of the oxy-coal combustion technology. B&W will also provide unit performance and design approximations for potential carbon capture uses, perform preliminary site equipment layouts, prepare a detailed scope of work, and develop schedule- and budget-price estimates.

“B&W and AEP have a long history of working together to advance the technology of electric power generation,” said Brandon C. Bethards, President, B&W Fossil Power Group. “We expect that this study will bring us even closer to identifying a viable carbon-reduction solution for coal-firing power plants – one that is both economical and environmentally sound.”

The feasibility study is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2008.
In addition to the work under the MOU with AEP, B&W is working with a major Canadian utility to develop a supercritical pressure, pulverized coal-fired boiler and to assess the feasibility of proceeding to the construction phase on a new, near-zero-emissions, 300MW power station utilizing the oxy-coal combustion technology. In that unit, recovered CO2 would be sold for enhanced oil recovery operations and eventually sequestrated underground in stable geologic formations.

See the Source:
Air Liquide
McDermott International, Inc.

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About selective catalytic reduction to reduce NOx from coal-fired power plants

Canadian Scientific Study Reinforces ThermoEnergy’s Carbon Capture Technology

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—March 16, 2007--ThermoEnergy Corporation today announced the release of the scientific study by the CANMET Energy Research Centre (part of the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources) on ThermoEnergy’s advanced new pressurized oxy-fuel power plant design called the ThermoEnergy Integrated Power System, or TIPS process. The report, entitled “Technical and Economic Feasibility Study of a Pressurized Oxy-fuel Approach to Carbon Capture” identifies TIPS as potentially the most competitive new power plant design for the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2). The Company is currently working with the Alaska Energy Authority, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and CANMET to design, build and operate an engineering prototype of a TIPS power system which will be housed at CANMET’s laboratory in Ottawa.

“The CANMET report represents an extremely important milestone for the Company since it not only substantiates, but actually exceeds many of our own performance predictions for TIPS,” said Dennis C. Cossey, ThermoEnergy’s CEO. “The data generated by the current project underway in Ottawa will provide the data we need to take the TIPS technology to the next step – a large-scale stand-alone pilot plant,” said Alex Fassbender, EVP and Chief Technology Officer at ThermoEnergy as well as Project Manager of the Ottawa development program. Mr. Fassbender is also the inventor of the TIPS process.

TIPS is a patented pressurized oxy-fuel combustion system designed to achieve high thermal efficiency, near zero air emissions of pollutants, as well as CO2 capture. TIPS’ ability to utilize a wide range of fuel resources, including high moisture fuels such as Powder River Basin coal and lignite, and biomass with relatively few process steps provides significant economic advantages over competing new power plant designs such as Integrated Gasification and Combined Cycle (IGCC) plants. TIPS also eliminates the need for expensive pre-processing of coal since coals with low thermal value can be fed directly into TIPS boilers with no loss of efficiency.

The use of elevated pressures in the TIPS process significantly increases heat transfer which results in a corresponding reduction of size in key power plant components, such as boilers and heat exchangers, when compared with air-fired or atmospheric pressure oxy-fuel systems. TIPS’ excellent thermal efficiencies over a wide range of sizes, from ten-megawatt industrial combined heat & power plants to large utility power plants, provides a wide range of market opportunities both in the US and abroad.

One of the key conclusions of the CANMET report is that no major technical barriers were found in the TIPS process. “The current collaboration with the Canadian government, along with previous work done with US Department of Energy (DOE), the EPA, Reaction Systems Engineering (a British firm), and the University of Nevada/Reno has greatly accelerated the development of the TIPS process,” said Cossey. “We are on a very aggressive schedule that projects a large-scale, carbon capture commercial power plant underway within the next two years.” The 200-page CANMET report will soon be available for download on the ThermoEnergy’s website.

See the Source:

ThermoEnergy

ENDESA Starts up Its First Wind Farm in France

New York -- March 14, 2007--Today, Jesús Olmos, General Manager for Endesa Europe (subsidiary of ENDESA, NYSE:ELE) officially opened the Lehaucourt wind farm in France. This is the first of five wind power facilities that Endesa is starting up in the country. Among those representing national and regional authorities at the event were Evelyne Ratte, Prefect of the l’Aisne region, Pascale Gruny, local Member of Parliament, and Raymond Froment, Mayor of Lehaucourt.

The Lehaucourt wind farm is located in the Picardy region, in the department of l’Aisne and has entailed an investment of approximately Euro 10 million.

This wind farm is an example of Endesa France’s commitment to renewable energies and underscores the Group’s decision to choose the French market as one of its priority geographical areas in terms of European expansion.

Endesa France chose cutting-edge technology for this first wind power project: Nordex N90 turbines. Standing 125 metres high (the mast measures 80 metres and the blades span 45 metres) and with net capacity of 2.5MW, this model combines maximum power with minimum impact on the surrounding landscape. The facility comprises four turbines, with total installed capacity of 10MW, which will generate energy equivalent to the electricity consumption of 22,000 inhabitants.

This facility's launch follows the recent award of the tender for the Cernon I and Cernon II wind farms, which will have a total installed capacity of 17.5MW and that of the Ambon wind farm at the end of last year which has 10MW in installed capacity.

These facilities form part of Endesa France’s Industrial Plan, whose goals include constructing 200 MW of wind power capacity.

These initiatives demonstrate Endesa France’s determination to meet peaks in demand by giving priority to technologies with low CO2 emissions and to contribute to the French government’s goal of generating 21% of electricity from renewable energies by 2010.
Endesa France

Since becoming its majority shareholder in 2004, Endesa has transformed this company significantly. The initiatives undertaken to improve efficiency, availability and safety at its four coal plants, along with the investments made to reduce the environmental impact will serve to guarantee these plants’ competitiveness beyond 2020.

As well as progress at the coal plants and in wind power development, the Endesa France Industrial Plan envisages installing two CCGTs in France, each with installed capacity of 400MW. The two plants, in which Euro 400 million will be invested, will be built in the north-east of France, on land at the Emile Huchet plant (Lorraine). Work will commence in mid-May 2007.

Furthermore, Endesa France sold a total of 19TWh in 2006, 4.5TWh of which were for 153 "eligible customers".

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Endesa

Green Energy Resources ('GRGR') to Sponsor Bioenergy North America Conference in April

New York, NY -- March 15, 2007 -- Green Energy Resources (PINKSHEETS: GRGR) will sponsor the Bioenergy North America 2007 Conference. The conference will be held in Chicago on April 16 and 17 in conjunction with Environmental Finance Magazine of the UK. Green Energy Resources CEO Joseph Murray will speak at the event. The two-day forum will host a variety of speakers on various topics regarding bioenergy and biomass including ethanol, co-firing and direct burn . Green Energy Resources will utilize the opportunity to unveil its new UTCS trade board and sell carbon offset credits. Info is available at www.environmental-finance.com

See the Source:
Environmental Finance

MIT Panel Provides Policy Blueprint for Future of Use of Coal as Policymakers Work to Reverse Global Warming

Washington, DC – March 14, 2007 -- Leading academics from an interdisciplinary Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) panel issued a report today that examines how the world can continue to use coal, an abundant and inexpensive fuel, in a way that mitigates, instead of worsens, the global warming crisis. The study, "The Future of Coal – Options for a Carbon Constrained World," advocates the U.S. assume global leadership on this issue through adoption of significant policy actions.

Led by co-chairs Professor John Deutch, Institute Professor, Department of Chemistry, and Ernest J. Moniz, Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, the report states that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is the critical enabling technology to help reduce CO2 emissions significantly while also allowing coal to meet the world's pressing energy needs.

According to Dr. Deutch, "As the world's leading energy user and greenhouse gas emitter, the U.S. must take the lead in showing the world CCS can work. Demonstration of technical, economic, and institutional features of CCS at commercial scale coal combustion and conversion plants will give policymakers and the public confidence that a practical carbon mitigation control option exists, will reduce cost of CCS should carbon emission controls be adopted, and will maintain the low-cost coal option in an environmentally acceptable manner."

Dr. Moniz added, "There are many opportunities for enhancing the performance of coal plants in a carbon-constrained world – higher efficiency generation, perhaps through new materials; novel approaches to gasification, CO2 capture, and oxygen separation; and advanced system concepts, perhaps guided by a new generation of simulation tools. An aggressive R&D effort in the near term will yield significant dividends down the road, and should be undertaken immediately to help meet this urgent scientific challenge."
Key findings in this study:

Coal is a low-cost, per BTU, mainstay of both the developed and developing world, and its use is projected to increase. Because of coal's high carbon content, increasing use will exacerbate the problem of climate change unless coal plants are deployed with very high efficiency and large scale CCS is implemented.

CCS is the critical enabling technology because it allows significant reduction in CO2 emissions while allowing coal to meet future energy needs.

A significant charge on carbon emissions is needed in the relatively near term to increase the economic attractiveness of new technologies that avoid carbon emissions and specifically to lead to large-scale CCS in the coming decades. We need large-scale demonstration projects of the technical, economic and environmental performance of an integrated CCS system.

We should proceed with carbon sequestration projects as soon as possible. Several integrated large-scale demonstrations with appropriate measurement, monitoring and verification are needed in the United States over the next decade with government support. This is important for establishing public confidence for the very large-scale sequestration program anticipated in the future. The regulatory regime for large-scale commercial sequestration should be developed with a greater sense of urgency, with the Executive Office of the President leading an interagency process.

The U.S. government should provide assistance only to coal projects with CO2 capture in order to demonstrate technical, economic and environmental performance.

Today, IGCC appears to be the economic choice for new coal plants with CCS. However, this could change with further RD&D, so it is not appropriate to pick a single technology winner at this time, especially in light of the variability in coal type, access to sequestration sites, and other factors. The government should provide assistance to several "first of a kind" coal utilization demonstration plants, but only with carbon capture.

Congress should remove any expectation that construction of new coal plants without CO2 capture will be "grandfathered" and granted emission allowances in the event of future regulation. This is a perverse incentive to build coal plants without CO2 capture today.

Emissions will be stabilized only through global adherence to CO2 emission constraints. China and India are unlikely to adopt carbon constraints unless the U.S. does so and leads the way in the development of CCS technology.

Key changes must be made to the current Department of Energy RD&D program to successfully promote CCS technologies. The program must provide for demonstration of CCS at scale; a wider range of technologies should be explored; and modeling and simulation of the comparative performance of integrated technology systems should be greatly enhanced.

About The MIT study: A group of MIT faculty has undertaken a series of interdisciplinary studies about how the U.S. and the world would meet future energy demand without increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. The first study, "The Future of Nuclear Power," appeared in 2003.

Generous financial support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Energy Foundation, the Better World Fund, Norwegian Research Council, and the MIT Office of the Provost is gratefully acknowledged. Shell provided additional support for part of MIT's studies in China.

See the Source:
The Future of Coal – Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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About selective catalytic reduction for coal-fired power plants

UC Berkeley Energy Symposium Showcases Cutting-Edge Research on Sustainable Energy

The first annual University of California, Berkeley, Energy Symposium – "Challenges, Opportunities, and the Role of UC Berkeley in Creating a Sustainable Energy Future." The event will bring together 150 of UC Berkeley’s leading researchers in energy technology, economics, and policy with the nation’s top “cleantech” investors, industry experts, business leaders, and entrepreneurs.

Keynote speakers will include UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and Nobel Prize winner Steven Chu, director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, among others.

The symposium will highlight clean energy innovations emerging from several segments of the UC Berkeley community and include discussions about energy-efficiency, transportation fuels, solar technologies, carbon regulation and innovation, energy storage, and energy economics. A student poster session will display more than 50 research projects of UC Berkeley’s top graduate students.

WHEN:
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, March 21

WHERE:
Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union, on Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue. A campus map is online at http://berc.berkeley.edu/symposium-directions.html.

WHO:
Additional keynote speakers will include:William Banholzer, chief technology officer of Dow Chemical CompanyDavid Crane, special jobs and economic growth advisor to Gov. SchwarzeneggerIra Ehrenpreis, general partner of Technology PartnersChris Somerville, director of plant biology with the Carnegie InstitutionArt Rosenfeld, a commissioner with the California Energy Commission

DETAILS:
The Energy Symposium is being organized by the Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative. BERC, an interdisciplinary, student-run organization, was founded in 2005 to enhance interdepartmental collaboration on energy issues and to serve as a bridge between the university and the private sector.

Innovations will be highlighted at the symposium from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Haas School of Business, Energy and Resources Group, UC Energy Institute; School of Law (Boalt Hall), College of Engineering, College of Chemistry, Goldman School of Public Policy, Institute of Transportation Studies, College of Natural Resources, and Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS).

See the Source:
University of Berkeley

Greenhouse Gas Partnership Wants Clean Energy Projects for Beijing Expo

Washington, D.C. -- March 12, 2007 -- The Methane to Markets Partnership, a multilateral initiative that promotes greenhouse gas reduction, today issued a call for projects to feature at its first Beijing Partnership Expo Oct. 30 - Nov.1.

Twenty times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere, methane is both a potent greenhouse gas and a valuable energy resource. The top three sources of methane are livestock emissions, landfills, and oil and gas production. The Methane to Markets Partnership focuses on promoting projects that reduce methane emissions and utilize the methane as a clean energy source.

“This Expo is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can advance environmental goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and delivering clean energy to markets around the world,” said Bill Wehrum, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for Air and Radiation and chairman of the Methane to Markets Steering Committee. “I hope the private sector, site managers, and others will take advantage of this opportunity to showcase potential projects to financiers.”

The Expo will highlight potential projects in four sectors: agriculture, coal mining, landfills, and oil and gas systems.

The Expo will provide attendees with the opportunity to:
o Showcase project opportunities for potential investors
o Meet with potential project partners and financiers
o Learn about the latest technologies and services
o Explore key technical, policy and financial issues
Any entity, private or public, can enter a project proposal for consideration at www.methanetomarkets.org/expo. The submission deadline is July 2, 2007.

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will co-host the Expo with the Methane to Markets Partnership.

The is a public-private partnership that brings together the technical and market expertise, financing, and technology necessary to advance near-term, cost-effective methane recovery and use projects in the four industrial sectors mentioned above. Nineteen partner countries and a growing project network of over 500 public and private sector organizations work to reduce emissions of methane while delivering clean energy to markets around the world.

See the Source:
Methane to Markets Partnership

DOE Selects 13 Solar Energy Projects for up to $168 Million in Funding

First funding awards for Solar America Initiative to make solar technology cost-competitive by 2015

LOWELL, MA - U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced the selection of 13 industry-led solar technology development projects for negotiation for up to $168 million (FY’07-’09) in funding, subject to appropriation from Congress. These projects will help significantly reduce the cost of producing and distributing solar energy. As part of the cost-shared agreements, the industry-led teams will contribute more than 50 percent of the funding for these projects for a total value of up to $357 million over three years. These cooperative agreements, to be negotiated, will be the first made available as part of President Bush’s Solar America Initiative (SAI), a component of his Advanced Energy Initiative (AEI), announced in his 2006 State of the Union Address. Secretary Bodman made today’s announcement while visiting Konarka Global Headquarters in Lowell, Massachusetts, one of the selected solar energy project sponsors.

“Solar technology can play a crucial role in moving toward affordable net zero energy homes and businesses – which combine energy efficiency and renewable energy produced on-site. Efficient buildings with solar power generation can help reduce peak demand and ease the need for expensive new generating capacity, transmission, and distributions lines as our economy grows,” Secretary Bodman said.

President Bush’s AEI challenges Americans to change the way we power our nation. As an integral part of the AEI, the Solar America Initiative aims to bring down the cost of solar energy to make it competitive with conventional electricity sources in the U.S. by 2015. The SAI is also part of the President’s commitment to diversify our energy resources through grants, incentives and tax credits and; aims to spur widespread commercialization and deployment of clean solar energy technologies across America, which would provide long-term economic, environmental, and security benefits to our nation.

The teams selected for negotiation have formed Technology Pathway Partnerships (TPP), which include companies, laboratories, universities, and non-profit organizations to accelerate the drive towards commercialization of U.S.-produced solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. These partnerships are comprised of more than 50 companies, 14 universities, 3 non-profit organizations, and 2 national laboratories. DOE funding is expected to begin in FY’07, with $51.6 million going to the TPPs.

In addition, the projects announced today will enable the projected expansion of the annual U.S. manufacturing capacity of PV systems from 240 MW in 2005 to as much as 2,850 MW by 2010, representing more than a ten-fold increase. Such capacity would also put the U.S. industry on track to reduce the cost of electricity produced by PV from current levels of $0.18-$0.23 per kWh to $0.05 - $0.10 per kWh by 2015 – a price that is competitive in markets nationwide.

As part of a broader effort to highlight the Bush Administration’s bold energy initiatives, today, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Andy Karsner traveled to United Solar Ovonic in Auburn Hills, Michigan to highlight these selections and the Solar America Initiative. Tomorrow, Under Secretary for Science Dr. Raymond L. Orbach will travel to Boeing in Sylmar, California to discuss today’s selections and meet with representatives from the solar industry.

Solar energy is a clean, abundant, widespread, and renewable energy source that can be used to increase electricity generating capacity while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions as compared to other energy conversion pathways. Photovoltaic-based solar cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. They are made of semiconductor materials similar to those used in computer chips. When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, the solar energy knocks electrons loose from their atoms, allowing the electrons to flow through the material to produce electricity. The process of converting light to electricity is called the photovoltaic effect.

Teams Selected For Negotiations under the Solar America Initiative:
Amonix, Boeing, BP Solar, Dow Chemical, General Electric, Greenray, Konarka, Miasole, Nanosolar, Powerlight, Practical Instruments, SunPower, United Solar Ovonic

For more information on the solicitation and facts about the Solar America Initiative, visit: http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america/.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), signed by the President in August of 2005, provides incentives for purchasing and using solar equipment. Now extended through 2008, these incentives could provide a credit equal to 30 percent of qualifying expenditures for purchase of commercial solar installations, with no cap on the total credit allowed. EPAct also provides a 30 percent tax credit for qualified PV property and solar water heating property used exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot tubs. Private property owners of qualified property could be eligible for a credit up to $2,000 for either property, with a maximum of $4,000 allowed, if both photovoltaic and solar hot water qualified properties are installed. More information on available incentives for solar installations is available at:http://energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits.

See the Source:
DOE

Green Mountain Power Generating Sources Among Lowest in Emissions

COLCHESTER, Vt.-- Green Mountain Power Corporation (NYSE:GMP) announced today that only two percent of its fuel mix for 2006 was from carbon dioxide emitting sources, compared to a national average of nearly 70 percent from emitting sources, according to the Energy Information Administration. More than half of Green Mountain Power’s sources came from water, wood or wind.

“We have consistently worked to reduce emissions at Green Mountain Power, both in our operations and in the fuels we use to supply our customers with electricity,” said Christopher L. Dutton, president and chief executive officer of Green Mountain Power. “In 2006, we achieved the lowest proportion of emission-producing fuels that we’ve had in decades. We were able to take advantage of additional hydro power resources from Hydro Quebec and we experienced near record-breaking production at our own hydro facilities, which helped reduce the use of fossil fuels,” he added. Green Mountain Power uses no coal and in 2006 sold more power into the New England market than it purchased.

Green Mountain Power owns and operates eight hydroelectric plants in Vermont. Hydro generation in 2006 was 30 percent greater than the 20-year average, with several plants recording the highest annual generation in 31 years of record. Overall production was the third highest total in 31 years of record, producing 161,937 megawatt hours. At a 2006 cost of 3.6 cents per kilowatt hour, Green Mountain Power’s own hydro generation is its second lowest cost source. Power generated at Green Mountain Power’s wind generating station is its lowest cost source, at 3.1 cents per kilowatt hour.

“With the world focused on how to combat global climate change, we are proud that this year our carbon footprint is so small,” said Mr. Dutton. “Our challenge in the future will be how to keep our emissions low as we replace the contracts for power from Vermont Yankee and Hydro Quebec, which expire in 2012 and 2015, respectively.”

The complete breakdown of Green Mountain Power’s fuel mix in 2006 is: hydro 50.4%, nuclear 43%, wood 4.3%, oil/natural gas 2.2%, and wind 0.1%. Water, wood and wind together produced 55 percent of the total. (Renewable Energy Credits, or RECs, were sold for a portion of the energy generated at Green Mountain Power’s wind facility in Searsburg. Energy associated with the RECs sold is not claimed as wind and is 0.5% of the total energy in 2006.)

Green Mountain Power Corporation is a Vermont-based energy services company serving 90,000 electric customers.

See the Source:
Green Mountain Power Corporation

Global Clean Energy Markets Expand to $55 Billion in 2006 and Projected to Exceed $220 Billion by 2016, Reports Clean Edge

U.S. Energy-Tech Investments Grow to $2.4 Billion in 2006, Representing 9.4 Percent of Total VC Activity

PORTLAND, Ore. & OAKLAND, Calif--Global clean-energy markets are poised to quadruple in the next decade, growing from $55.4 billion in revenues in 2006 to more than $226.5 billion by 2016 for four benchmark technologies, according to the sixth annual Clean Energy Trends report. The report was released today by clean-tech research and publishing firm Clean Edge, Inc.

As highlighted in the report, “Clean Energy Trends 2007,” a number of factors are contributing to this extensive growth, including an influx of venture capital (VC); a new level of commitment by politicians at regional, state, and federal levels; and significant corporate investments in clean-energy acquisitions and expansion initiatives. The free report can be downloaded at http://www.cleanedge.com/.

For the second year in a row, the global biofuels market was slightly larger than both solar and wind, reaching $20.5 billion in 2006 and projected to grow to more than $80 billion by 2016. Clean Edge projects solar photovoltaics (modules, system components, and installations) will grow from a $15.6 billion market in 2006 to $69.3 billion by 2016; wind power installations will expand from $17.9 billion in 2006 to $60.8 billion in 2016; and the markets for fuel cells and distributed hydrogen will grow from $1.4 billion in 2006 to $15.6 billion over the next decade.

“At $55 billion, the global market for biofuels, solar, wind, and fuel cells are now considerably larger than the global recorded music industry,” explains Clean Edge co-founder and principal Ron Pernick. “Within a decade we predict these clean-energy markets will exceed $220 billion and that the global annual production of biofuels will increase from around 13 billion gallons last year to 50 billion gallons, solar will jump from 2 GW of production to nearly 20 GW, and wind power will increase from 15 GW to 67 GW.”

Clean Edge, in collaboration with Nth Power, a leading energy-tech VC firm, also released the firms’ annual energy-tech venture data. This year’s findings show that VC investments in energy-tech start-ups rose 262 percent to $2.4 billion in 2006. These investments, primarily in transportation and fuels, distributed energy, energy intelligence, and power reliability, eclipsed the previous high-water mark set in 2000 for energy-tech investing by more than $1 billion. The figures represent 9.4 percent of total US venture capital investments in 2006.

“Energy tech investing in the U.S. now represents nearly ten percent of the total venture activity,” explains Rodrigo Prudencio, partner, Nth Power. “With a growing number of investors actively seeking energy-tech deals, the capital to fund biofuel and solar expansion was readily available. 2007 will clearly be an indicator of whether the aggressive growth in energy-tech investment can be sustained.”

“Clean Energy Trends 2007” also names five key trends that are shaping the clean-energy landscape this year. They include:
- Carbon Finally Has a Price … and a Market
- Biorefineries Begin to Close the Loop
- Advanced Battery Makers Take Charge
- Wal-Mart Becomes a Clean-Energy Market Maker
- Utilities Get Enlightened

About Clean Edge, Inc.
Clean Edge, Inc. is a leading research and publishing firm that helps companies, investors, and policymakers understand and profit from clean-energy technologies. Since 2001, the company has been providing market research and reports, conferences and events, and strategic consulting services to the clean-tech industry. Among its many activities, the company publishes the annual Clean Energy Trends report, produces the annual Clean-Tech Investor Summit (along with IBF), and maintains the NASDAQ® Clean Edge® U.S. Index which tracks U.S.-listed clean-energy companies. Founded by environmental and high-tech business pioneers Ron Pernick and Joel Makower, Clean Edge and its network of partners and affiliates offer unparalleled insight and intelligence for a range of clean-tech stakeholders.

See the Source:
Clean Edge’s “Clean Energy Trends 2007”

Find out:
About diesel particulate filters that also work with biodiesel fuels to further reduce emissions of particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons

The Babcock & Wilcox Company to Demonstrate Carbon Dioxide Capture Technology

Barberton, Ohio -- March 5, 2007 -- The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), in collaboration with American Air Liquide Inc., will begin testing a promising new technology to help coal-fired power plants capture emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas.

The evaluation will occur at B&W’s 30 MWth Clean Environment Development Facility (CEDF) in Alliance, Ohio. The CEDF, originally placed in service in 1994 by B&W, the U.S. Department of Energy and others, is a large-scale demonstration facility that has been used to develop emissions-control technology.

The CEDF will be used to validate a technology called “oxy-coal combustion” that utilizes pure oxygen for the combustion of coal in electricity generating plants. In this system, nitrogen that comes in with the air for the combustion process is eliminated. As a result, the exhaust gas is a relatively pure stream of CO2 that is ready for long-term storage operations.

“Finding ways to capture and store CO2 emissions from power plants is paramount if the United States is going to address greenhouse gas concerns and use our national energy resources,” Don Langley, B&W vice president and chief technology officer said. “We see this major technology demonstration project as another step in B&W’s plan to deliver CO2-capture technology to the electricity generating industry and make a significant impact on this global issue.”

B&W’s development efforts are being done well in advance of similar projects around the globe. “This is truly changing-the-world technology and we are pleased to be leading this research,” Langley added. Because the oxy-coal technology builds on pulverized coal combustion technology, it would be complementary to most of the world’s coal-fired power plants.

B&W will work with American Air Liquide to modify the existing CEDF facility for the oxy-coal process and will begin proving the technology in June 2007. American Air Liquide will provide engineering and chemistry know-how related to combustion, as well as proprietary equipment and sensors for the safe and efficient handling of liquefied oxygen.

In addition to American Air Liquide, several utilities will participate in an “advisory group” process that will help bring the potential users of the technology into the development process.

B&W will evaluate several types of coal, including coal imported from Saskatchewan, Canada, the site of a proposed near-zero emissions power plant that will use this technology at commercial scale.

Present in 72 countries, Air Liquide provides industrial and medical gases and related services and offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies. These solutions, which are consistent with Air Liquide’s commitment to sustainable development, help to protect life and enable customers to manufacture many indispensable everyday products. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073). American Air Liquide Inc. is Air Liquide’s U.S.-based research and development company. For more information, visit http://www.airliquide.com/.

The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc., a leading worldwide energy services company. McDermott subsidiaries manufacture steam-generating equipment, environmental equipment, and products for the U.S. government. They also provide engineering and construction services for the offshore oil and natural gas industry.

See the Source:
Babcock and Wilcox

Find out:
How nitrogen oxides can be virtually eliminated from power plant emissions using selective catalytic reduction

Governor Bill Richardson Enacts Landmark Clean Energy Bills to Create Jobs, Keep Air Clean

SB 418, HB188 will Increase Generation and Promote Export of Clean Electricity

SANTA FE – March 5, 2007 -- Governor Bill Richardson today signed two major cornerstones of his clean energy agenda. Senate Bill 418 will dramatically increase New Mexico’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and our use of clean electricity. House Bill 188 creates a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority to promote clean energy jobs and help New Mexico both develop our clean energy resources and market them to other states.

“I am proud today to sign a bill that will quadruple New Mexico’s use of clean electricity by 2020,” said Governor Bill Richardson. “Promoting renewable electricity keeps our air clean and it will help New Mexico meet my aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals. It will also help continue to create new jobs, like those at Advent Solar in Albuquerque, and aid ranchers who want to diversify into the lucrative wind energy market.”

In 2004 Governor Richardson signed New Mexico’s first Renewable Portfolio Standard into law. This mandated that 5% of New Mexico’s electricity come from renewable sources by 2006, increasing to 10% by 2011. Senator Michael Sanchez’s Senate Bill 418 requires that at least 15 percent of an electric utility's power supply come from renewable sources by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020.

House Bill 188 – sponsored by Representative Jose Campos -- establishes a Renewable Energy Transmission Authority that will help New Mexico export solar, wind and other renewable energy and further build our high-wage, and high-tech economy.

“The Transmission Authority and the Renewable Portfolio Standard work in combination to dramatically position New Mexico to develop our vast renewable energy resources,” said Joanna Prukop Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources. “We've just positioned our state to become extremely competitive in all aspects of clean energy development and the benefits that come with it.”

Under Governor Richardson’s leadership, New Mexico has become the nation’s Clean Energy State. In the past few weeks alone Governor Richardson has signed a major, five state climate change agreement, announced a new Tesla electric car plant for Albuquerque and a biodiesel plant in Clovis, NM.

“I am proud that both these bills passed with bipartisan support,” said Governor Richardson. “That is because New Mexico is hungry for clean energy and the good jobs that come with this new industry.”

See the Source:
New Mexico – Governor’s Office

Find out:
How another New Mexico business is making a difference in clean energy through the development of emissions control technology

Climate Change is Top Priority of London Plan Review

London – March 5, 2007 -- Mayor of London Ken Livingstone announced that his London Plan Review will set radical new objectives for planners and developers that will require new developments to connect to “decentralized” local energy supplies and achieve the highest standards of sustainable building design. The Review also doubles the carbon emission reductions that developments must achieve through onsite renewable energy from 10% to 20%.

The London Plan Review also proposes to set carbon dioxide reduction targets – a 20 per cent reduction by 2015 and a long-term target of a 60 per cent reduction by 2050. This is the first time that statutory carbon reduction targets have been set for London.

The Mayor is proposing a series of new development, transport and energy policies all with the aim of making London an exemplary and sustainable world city, adapting to inevitable climate change and reducing future carbon emissions.

These new policies are published in a document entitled Draft Further Alterations to the London Plan which the Mayor is publishing today for consultation with the London Assembly and the Greater London Authority functional bodies, before a formal public consultation stage this autumn.

The Mayor said:'London should lead the way in showing the world how one of its greatest cities is planning to meet the challenges of climate change. We have already succeeded through the London Plan in introducing a target of 10% carbon reductions through on-site renewable energy generation and I would like to congratulate those developers and planners who have responded positively to this challenge. In more and more cases we are meeting – and sometimes exceeding - the existing policy requirements but we still need to do much more.'

'The new policies I am publishing today set tough but deliverable targets for reducing our carbon emissions. We must move our cities away from relying on inefficient centralized heat and power generation, and stop constructing buildings that waste heat and electricity. In London we want to see the widespread use of decentralized energy, the highest standards of green building design and renewable energy incorporated wherever we can.'

'In London I am proposing a challenging new target for our developers and planners.’

The Draft Further Alterations to the London Plan also sets out a series of complementary policies to achieve carbon dioxide reductions and the Mayor will be working with boroughs and other agencies to:
- ensure that development is located, designed and built for the climate that it will experience over its intended lifetime and is capable of adapting to new uses.
- increase the cost effectiveness, and provide incentives to use the technologies which will help address climate change.
- procure and use building materials more responsibly.
- manage flood risk through policies on the location, design and construction of development, and management of surface run-off including rainwater harvesting.
- minimize overheating and the ‘heat island’ effect, for example by encouraging green roofs and walls and designs which reduce solar gain.
- minimize the movement of waste including the introduction of new targets for composting and recycling the different waste streams and giving preference to technologies which produce renewable hydrogen over incineration.

Last week the Mayor published Supplementary Planning Guidance on Sustainable Design and Construction to guide developers and planners on how to use the existing policies to best effect in addressing the consequences of climate change.

Other key proposed alterations to the London Plan, also published today, include:
- Support for the already published proposals to increase housing provision across London.
- Measures to make more effective use of existing and already planned transport capacity.
- Provision for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and associated regeneration of large parts of East London.

A clearer geographic framework for coordinating the strategic policies of a range of pan London agencies and integrating these with local action at the sub regional level.

Action to make London a more livable and socially inclusive city such as the East London Green Grid, improvements to safety and security, and increased play provision.

Refinement of some of the economic policies to support London’s global business area, the Central Activities Zone, and help rejuvenate the economies elsewhere in the city.

A more focused approach to town centers and retailing including the particular need to develop the capacity of the West End as a global shopping and leisure destination.

“Decentralized energy” involves using combined heat, power and cooling systems and renewable energy, as the most efficient way to supply heat and power to domestic and commercial buildings. Typical decentralized energy systems are over 85% efficient, compared with average centralized power generation which wastes two thirds of energy input and is the single biggest source of carbon emissions.

In working towards a long term reduction of carbon dioxide emissions of 60 per cent by 2050 he has set the following minimum targets for London (against a 1990 base):
- 15 per cent by 2010
- 20 per cent by 2015
- 25 per cent by 2020
- 30 per cent by 2025

These targets are practicable providing all stakeholders, including government, work together.

Existing commercial and domestic buildings contribute approximately 73 per cent of carbon emissions in London. The Mayor recognizes the cost implications of these new technologies and will support measures to drive down costs such as stimulating their supply chains.

Most changes to the London Plan are minor amendments to clarify points or to take account of new information. Most of the proposed significant policy changes reflect issues raised in the Mayor’s Statement of Intent published in December 2005. In substantive terms it is the group of new policies associated with climate change in Chapter 4A which represent the most significant Further Alterations.

The Further Alterations to the London Plan are the result of a focused review based on the Mayor’s Statement of Intent to review the plan. Factors which this took into account included:
- a duty to keep the London Plan under review
- responding to new evidence
- taking into account the results of the Sub Regional Development Framework Process
- extending the plan period from 2016 to 2025 and
- taking account of national legislation and policy in the recent planning system reforms.

See the Source:
London Government

Find out:
How energy emissions can be made cleaner using low-temp selective catalytic reduction

New Fundraising Program Sets National Sales Goal of Two Million Fluorescent Light Bulbs

LightbulbsAmerica Enables Schools and Other Groups to Easily Raise Money While Saving More Than One Billion Pounds of CO2 Emissions

ORINDA, CA -- February 28, 2007 -- A new national fund-raising campaign, which LightbulbsAmerica announced today, enables schools, churches and other groups to raise money by selling environmentally friendly fluorescent light bulbs. In the "win-win" fundraiser, organizations can raise money; purchasers can save money; energy use can be lessened and the environment helped.

The fundraiser's national sales goal of two million fluorescent light bulbs would reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by about 1.3 billion pounds, save approximately 500 million pounds of coal, and save consumers about $124 million.

"Many people don't realize how much they can save -- both financially and environmentally -- by switching to fluorescents," said Robert Etheredge, founder of LightbulbsAmerica. "We expect a positive response to this program because it provides a high-quality, environmentally friendly product that people need, and that can reduce the country's energy use."

The program features a family of products, including popular mini-spiral bulbs that replace 60 to 100 watt bulbs, reflector lights for ceiling cans and even a dimmable reflector bulb. The ENERGY STAR® products are made by Greenlite Lighting Corporation, one of the leading manufacturers of energy-efficient light bulbs. These "new-generation" light bulbs come on almost instantly and are small enough to fit the majority of light fixtures.

Easy Fundraising Program
A LightbulbsAmerica fundraiser can be both profitable and easy. Participants will make about 40 percent on the bulbs (based on the suggested selling price). All information and materials are available online. A school or organization can get started right away and can track their progress online.

As an added incentive, LightbulbsAmerica is offering a grand prize and individual state prizes for the organizations selling the most light bulbs this calendar year.
Advantages of Fluorescent Bulbs

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) use only 24 percent of the energy of traditional bulbs, saving an estimated $20 to $50 over the life of the bulb. CFLs last six to ten times as long as regular light bulbs, reducing the need to buy more light bulbs. The decreased electrical use results in less carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and other pollutants. And an individual fluorescent light bulb can save up to 500 pounds of coal.

To help people get a better idea of how much they can save, LightbulbsAmerica has an Energy Savings calculator at http://www.lightbulbsamerica.com/yourenergy.asp. The LightbulbsAmerica website also tracks the energy savings, and CO2 and coal reductions connected to the number of light bulbs sold.

About LightbulbsAmerica
LightbulbsAmerica is dedicated to improving the environment and reducing energy dependence. The company is headquartered in Orinda, California.

See the Source:
LightbulbsAmerica

Phoenix Motorcars Signs Deal With Pacific Gas and Electric for All-Electric Vehicles

Powered by Altairnano's NanoSafe Battery Packs and UQM's Electric Drive Motors

ONTARIO, CA -- February 28, 2007 -- Phoenix Motorcars announced today it received a purchase order for four of its zero-emission, all-electric sport utility trucks (SUTs) from Pacific Gas and Electric Company to be delivered in June. The SUTs, which are powered by UQM Technologies, Inc.'s propulsion system, Boshart Engineering's homologation process and Altairnano's NanoSafe™ 35kWh battery pack, will represent the only series of battery-electric trucks in the PG&E fleet.

Phoenix's SUT can travel at freeway-speeds while carrying five passengers and a full payload. The SUT exceeds all specifications for a Type III ZEV, having a driving range of over 100 miles, can be recharged in less than 10 minutes and has a battery pack with a lifespan of more than 12 years. PG&E plans to place a purchase order for 200 of Phoenix Motorcar's vehicles annually to assist in its daily operation of serving over 70,000 square miles in Central and Northern California.

"PG&E operates the fourth largest alternative-fuel truck fleet in the nation, and we are honored to supply them with a reliable all-electric vehicle to improve their fleet operations," says Daniel J. Elliott, CEO of Phoenix Motorcars. "We want to provide the California-fleet market with high-performance, zero-emission vehicles to reduce costs, improve air quality and protect public health."

Phoenix Motorcars targets operators of fleet vehicles, such as public utilities, public transportation providers and delivery services. A limited number of vehicles will be available to consumers in 2007 with an expanded consumer launch scheduled for 2008. Phoenix Motorcars will also introduce an SUV model in late 2007.

About Phoenix Motorcars, Inc.
Phoenix Motorcars Inc., a privately-held company headquartered in Ontario, Calif., has been an industry leader in the development of battery-electric, freeway-speed vehicles since 2001. The mission of Phoenix Motorcars is to manufacture zero-emission vehicles including Sport Utility Trucks and Sport Utility Vehicles to reduce the toxic emissions from the largest contributor to air pollution, personal automobiles. Phoenix Motorcars has strategic alliances with UQM Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: UQM), Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI) and Boshart Engineering.

See the Source:
Phoenix Motorcars, Inc.

Find out:
How to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles by using diesel particulate filters

The Green Grid Addresses Energy Efficiency in Data Centers

Consortium Completes Formation and Calls for Members

Portland, Ore. -- The Green Grid, a non-profit consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems, today announced the completion of its formation, membership structure, technical charter, and made available three new white papers.

The collective viewpoint of Green Grid members is that energy efficiency in the data center is the most significant issue facing technology providers and their customers today. This situation is not only due to exponential increases in power and cooling costs over the past few years, but also because customer demand for concentrated computing is outpacing the availability of clean reliable power in many places around the world. The Green Grid is the first industry initiative chartered to take a holistic view of the computing ecosystem, with a focus on addressing the pressing issues facing data center users.

The consortium also announced its Board of Directors, comprised of AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems, and VMware. These companies represent leadership across all facets of product development for the data center and are collectively committed to driving new user-centric metrics, technology standards, and best practices for use by data center managers worldwide.

End users and technology suppliers are encouraged to become members of The Green Grid to help drive the creation of platform-neutral specifications and metrics. The Green Grid's membership structure includes Contributing and General Member levels. General members will have access to all technical documentation produced by The Green Grid, access to intellectual property licensing, and opportunities to attend events. Contributing members will have all the above benefits and be eligible to join technology working groups, review technology documentation at each phase of development and directly contribute to shaping future consortium direction.

The organization has also made available its first three white papers developed by The Green Grid's technical committee. The papers offer perspectives on data center efficiency issues as well as efficiency baseline recommendations, and are targeted at CIO, data center administrator and facility manager audiences.

For more information about The Green Grid's activities or to become a member, please visit the organization's Web site at www.thegreengrid.org.

About The Green GridThe Green Grid is a global consortium of companies dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and computing ecosystems. The Green Grid does not endorse any vendor-specific products or solutions, and will seek to provide industry-wide recommendations on best practices, metrics and technologies that will improve overall data center energy efficiencies. Membership is open to companies interested in data center operational efficiency at the Contributing or General Member level.

See the Source:
The Green Grid

Find out:
About CleanAIR’s PERMIT Filter. The CleanAIR filter/silencer is commonly installed on diesel emergency generators used by data centers to ensure uninterrupted power during power outages. The PERMIT filter/silencer virtually eliminates diesel particulate, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons when the back-up generator is called into service.

DOE Selects Six Cellulosic Ethanol Plants for Up to $385 Million in Federal Funding

Funding to help bring cellulosic ethanol to market and help revolutionize the industry

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Samuel W. Bodman today announced that DOE will invest up to $385 million for six biorefinery projects over the next four years. When fully operational, the biorefineries are expected to produce more than 130 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year. This production will help further President Bush’s goal of making cellulosic ethanol cost-competitive with gasoline by 2012 and, along with increased automobile fuel efficiency, reduce America’s gasoline consumption by 20 percent in ten years.

“These biorefineries will play a critical role in helping to bring cellulosic ethanol to market, and teaching us how we can produce it in a more cost effective manner,” Secretary Bodman said. “Ultimately, success in producing inexpensive cellulosic ethanol could be a key to eliminating our nation’s addiction to oil. By relying on American ingenuity and on American farmers for fuel, we will enhance our nation’s energy and economic security.”

Today’s announcement is one part of the Bush Administration’s comprehensive plan to support commercialization of scientific breakthroughs on biofuels. Specifically, these projects directly support the goals of President Bush’s Twenty in Ten Initiative, which aims to increase the use of renewable and alternative fuels in the transportation sector to the equivalent of 35 billion gallons of ethanol a year by 2017. Funding for these projects is an integral part of the President’s Biofuels Initiative that will lead to the wide-scale use of non-food based biomass, such as agricultural waste, trees, forest residues, and perennial grasses in the production of transportation fuels, electricity, and other products. The solicitation, announced a year ago, was initially for three biorefineries and $160 million. However, in an effort to expedite the goals of President Bush’s Advanced Energy Initiative and help achieve the goals of his Twenty in Ten Initiative, within authority of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), Section 932, Secretary Bodman raised the funding ceiling.

“We had a number of very good proposals, but these six were considered ‘meritorious’ by a merit review panel made up of bioenergy experts. So I thought it would be best to front-end some more funding now, so that we could all reap the benefits of the President’s vision sooner,” Secretary Bodman said.

Combined with the industry cost share, more than $1.2 billion will be invested in these six biorefineries. Negotiations between the selected companies and DOE will begin immediately to determine final project plans and funding levels. Funding will begin this fiscal year and run through FY 2010. EPAct authorized DOE to solicit and fund proposals for the commercial demonstration of advanced biorefineries that use cellulosic feedstocks to produce ethanol and co-produce bioproducts and electricity.
The following six projects were selected:

Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass of Kansas, LLC of Chesterfield, Missouri, up to $76 million.The proposed plant will be located in the state of Kansas. The plant will produce 11.4 million gallons of ethanol annually and enough energy to power the facility, with any excess energy being used to power the adjacent corn dry grind mill. The plant will use 700 tons per day of corn stover, wheat straw, milo stubble, switchgrass, and other feedstocks.
Abengoa Bioenergy Biomass investors/participants include: Abengoa Bioenergy R&D, Inc.; Abengoa Engineering and Construction, LLC; Antares Corp.; and Taylor Engineering.

ALICO, Inc. of LaBelle, Florida, up to $33 million.The proposed plant will be in LaBelle (Hendry County), Florida. The plant will produce 13.9 million gallons of ethanol a year and 6,255 kilowatts of electric power, as well as 8.8 tons of hydrogen and 50 tons of ammonia per day. For feedstock, the plant will use 770 tons per day of yard, wood, and vegetative wastes and eventually energycane.ALICO, Inc. investors/participants include: Bioengineering Resources, Inc. of Fayetteville, Arkansas; Washington Group International of Boise, Idaho; GeoSyntec Consultants of Boca Raton, Florida; BG Katz Companies/JAKS, LLC of Parkland, Florida; and Emmaus Foundation, Inc.

BlueFire Ethanol, Inc. of Irvine, California, up to $40 million.The proposed plant will be in Southern California. The plant will be sited on an existing landfill and produce about 19 million gallons of ethanol a year. As feedstock, the plant would use 700 tons per day of sorted green waste and wood waste from landfills.BlueFire Ethanol, Inc. investors/participants include: Waste Management, Inc.; JGC Corporation; MECS Inc.; NAES; and PetroDiamond.

Broin Companies of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, up to $80 million.The plant is in Emmetsburg (Palo Alto County), Iowa, and after expansion, it will produce 125 million gallons of ethanol per year, of which roughly 25percent will be cellulosic ethanol. For feedstock in the production of cellulosic ethanol, the plant expects to use 842 tons per day of corn fiber, cobs, and stalks.
Broin Companies participants include: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company; Novozymes North America, Inc.; and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Iogen Biorefinery Partners, LLC, of Arlington, Virginia, up to $80 million.The proposed plant will be built in Shelley, Idaho, near Idaho Falls, and will produce 18 million gallons of ethanol annually. The plant will use 700 tons per day of agricultural residues including wheat straw, barley straw, corn stover, switchgrass, and rice straw as feedstocks.
Iogen Biorefinery Partners, LLC investors/partners include: Iogen Energy Corporation; Iogen Corporation; Goldman Sachs; and The Royal Dutch/Shell Group.

Range Fuels (formerly Kergy Inc.) of Broomfield, Colorado, up to $76
million.The proposed plant will be constructed in Soperton (Treutlen County), Georgia. The plant will produce about 40 million gallons of ethanol per year and 9 million gallons per year of methanol. As feedstock, the plant will use 1,200 tons per day of wood residues and wood based energy crops.
Range Fuels investors/participants include: Merrick and Company; PRAJ Industries Ltd.; Western Research Institute; Georgia Forestry Commission; Yeomans Wood and Timber; Truetlen County Development Authority; BioConversion Technology; Khosla Ventures; CH2MHill; Gillis Ag and Timber.

Cellulosic ethanol is an alternative fuel made from a wide variety of non-food plant materials (or feedstocks), including agricultural wastes such as corn stover and cereal straws, industrial plant waste like saw dust and paper pulp, and energy crops grown specifically for fuel production like switchgrass. By using a variety of regional feedstocks for refining cellulosic ethanol, the fuel can be produced in nearly every region of the country. Though it requires a more complex refining process, cellulosic ethanol contains more net energy and results in lower greenhouse emissions than traditional corn-based ethanol. E-85, an ethanol-fuel blend that is 85-percent ethanol, is already available in more than 1,000 fueling stations nationwide and can power millions of flexible fuel vehicles already on the roads.

See the Source:
DOE

Large-Scale Wind Power Plant to be Built in France

Paris -- EDF Energies Nouvelles (Paris:EEN) has ordered 26 turbines for its Chemin d'Ablis wind farm from German company REpower. Construction of this large-scale wind power plant, which will have 52 MW in installed capacity, is due to commence in 2007.

The Chemin d'Ablis wind farm, located in the Eure-et-Loir department, will boast 26 windmills, each capable of generating 2 MW, located alongside a 13km stretch of the A10 motorway. It represents a total investment of €75 million.

Work is set to begin in spring 2007, with the taking over of the wind farm scheduled during the first half of 2008.

The windmills are to be supplied by REpower, a major European turbine manufacturer, under an agreement with the manufacturer covering a total order of 46 turbines: 26 windmills for Chemin d'Ablis, plus 20 for the Biker (26 MW) and Walkway (14 MW) wind farms in the UK.

This order falls within the scope of the framework agreements signed by EDF Energies Nouvelles with the world's leading manufacturers to secure its supply of turbines around the world.

The start-up of construction work at the Chemin d'Ablis project will bolster EDF Energies Nouvelles' position in its home market. To date, EDF EN has developed and built 140 MW in capacity in France, including 60 MW for its own account. Construction of six new wind farms in France representing an additional 160 MW in installed capacity is planned, with start-up dates during 2007 and 2008.

About EDF Energies Nouvelles
Founded in 1990, EDF Energies Nouvelles is a world-class player in the green electricity generation market. With a presence in 9 European countries and in the United States, EDF Energies Nouvelles operates in four renewable energy segments (wind, hydro, biomass and solar). Wind energy currently accounts for nearly 80% of its installed capacity.

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EDF Energies Nouvelles

More Wind Power Coming to Ontario

Schneider Power Launches $90 Million Four Wind Farm Development

TORONTO -- February 27, 2007 -- Schneider Power Inc., a leading Canadian owner and builder of renewable energy generation projects, announced today that it has launched the development and expansion of four new wind farms across the Province for a total capital cost of $90 million dollars.

Schneider Power intends to develop and construct three new 10 Megawatt, low-impact wind farms across the Province, one adjacent to Highway 400 near the Town of Innisfil, "The Highway 400 Wind Farm," one near the Town of Arthur, "The Arthur Wind Farm," and one near the Town of Trout Creek, "The Trout Creek Wind Farm." In addition to this Schneider Power also intends to expand the Providence Bay/Spring Bay Wind Farm to its full 11.6 MW capacity by end of 2008. Collectively these wind farms represent a total of 41.6 MW of installed capacity and will produce 8.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to power an equivalent of 11,000 homes.

In 2006 Schneider Power successfully established its presence in Ontario with the construction of The Providence Bay/Spring Bay Wind Farm, on Manitoulin Island. It is Canada's most technologically advanced small-scale wind power generation project and one of the first Wind Farms in Ontario to be built solely with wind turbine generators from German manufacturer Enercon GmbH.

"Today's announcement by the Province has given us the confidence to continue to make a strong commitment to Renewable Energy in Ontario," said Thomas Schneider, CEO, Schneider Power Inc. "This is the next step in building on a proven growth strategy for our Company and it brings us closer to our goal of 500 MW installed across Canada by 2010 -- more than double our previous production capacity," he said.

The accelerating demand for clean electricity has allowed Schneider Power to grow rapidly in the past three years. With developments of power projects in Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Ontario totaling in excess of 500 MW, the Company hopes to establish itself as one Canada's leading green electricity generators. Headed by the Chairman, Bernd Schneider, the Schneider family has over 115 years of experience in developing clean, renewable energy. Schneider Power is a leader in applying new environmentally friendly technologies and is a member of the United Nations Global Compact.

About Schneider Power Inc.
Schneider Power Inc. is a 100 percent green electricity generator with facilities in Canada and Germany that generate electricity exclusively from small-scale, low-impact wind power projects who meet or exceed the federal government's EcoLogo standard for renewable energy. Schneider Power intends to invest heavily over the next three years to increase its presence in Ontario by increasing the nameplate capacity of its planned Ontario developments to more than 41.6 Megawatts, with plans for a further 500 MW of green electricity generation installed across Canada by 2010.

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Schneider Power

TXU to Set New Direction As Private Company

Public Benefits Include Price Cuts, Price Protection, Investments in Alternative Energy and Stronger Environmental Policies

Dallas, February 26, 2007 – TXU Corp. (NYSE: TXU), a Dallas-based energy company, together with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR) and Texas Pacific Group (TPG), two of the nation’s leading private equity firms, and Goldman Sachs & Co., a leading global investment bank, announced today the execution of a definitive merger agreement under which an investor group led by KKR and TPG will acquire TXU in a transaction valued at $45 billion. GS Capital Partners, Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley intend to be equity investors at closing.

As a result of this transaction, the newly privatized company will deliver price cuts and price protection benefits to electric customers, strengthen environmental policies, make significant investments in alternative energy and institute corporate policies tied to climate stewardship.

Stronger Environmental Policies and New Investments in Alternative Energy
- Planned coal-fueled generation units reduced from eleven to three, preventing 56 million tons of annual carbon emissions $400 million investment in demand side management initiatives Transaction endorsed by Environmental Defense and Natural Resources Defense Council Increased commitment to exploring renewable energy sources and investing in alternative energy technologies

Corporate Leadership and Climate Stewardship
- Former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III will serve as Advisory Chairman to the investment group of new owners William Reilly, Chairman Emeritus of the World Wildlife Fund and former EPA Administrator, will join board of directors and lead effort in making climate stewardship central to corporate policies

- Donald L. Evans, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce; James R. Huffines, Chairman of the University of Texas Board of Regents; and Lyndon L. Olson Jr., former Texas State Representative and former U.S. Ambassador to Sweden, will join the board of directors
TXU will create an independent Sustainable Energy Advisory Board comprised of individuals who represent the following interests: the environment, customers, Texas economic development and ERCOT reliability standards.

The acquisition of TXU by the investor group will be accompanied by an environmental focus that will make TXU a leader in conservation and energy efficiency, creating a fundamental change in the Texas electric market. In addition, the company’s new strategic direction will seek to achieve top environmental News Release performance in the industry and greater involvement and dialogue with environmental, government and community leaders.

C. John Wilder, chairman and chief executive officer of TXU Corp., said, “This is a momentous event for our company in our long journey to transform TXU from a former integrated monopoly to high performance businesses. The new ownership and business structure will enable us to better meet the growing energy needs of Texans. The long-term capital, expertise and resources of the investor group will allow us to increase our focus on reliability, lower prices, outstanding customer service and innovative products, and investments in long-term environmentally sound technology. TXU is a proud Texas corporate citizen, and the company will continue to operate with the same commitment and dedication to serving Texas.

“KKR, TPG and the rest of the investor group are all world-class investors who bring valuable experience in the industry. With these long-term and very informed investors, we can execute a new strategy that will allow us to reshape TXU’s program to build new electric generation units,” Wilder continued. “Our new strategy will meet two important objectives: addressing Texas’ immediate and future energy and reliability needs; and doing so in a manner that responds to the desires of policy makers and other key stakeholders to incorporate new technology advancements and conservation.”

Henry Kravis, founding partner of KKR, said, “TXU has outstanding employees dedicated to meeting the increasing long-term energy needs of Texas. We have listened to the various TXU constituencies, including customers, Governor Perry, Lt. Governor Dewhurst, Speaker Craddick, members of the Texas Legislature and those expressing environmental concerns. As a result, we have developed a new vision with management of how we can turn TXU into a more innovative, customer-centric, environmentally friendly company, and we plan to work with management to implement it. Our experienced energy team looks forward to providing strong support for this transformation, including making substantial, long-term capital investments in new innovation across each business – from customer product and service offerings including demand side management, to generation and grid technologies, and superior risk-management strategies. We intend to hold this as a long-term asset, and we recognize the need to balance growth with environmental considerations.”

Rich Friedman, Global Head of Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division, said, “This transaction serves as a model for long-term environmental stewardship. By investing in new technologies, encouraging conservation and reducing carbon emissions and pollutants, TXU is on the path to being a 21st century power company. We, together with KKR and TPG, are proud to have been able to play a constructive role in the development of the significant environmental elements that help set this transaction apart.”

Stronger Environmental Policies and New Investments in Alternative Energy
Planned Coal Units Reduced from Eleven to Three, Preventing 56 Million Tons of Annual Carbon Emissions

This scale-back represents a 75 percent reduction in new coal capacity. In addition, the company is committed to continuing its efforts to meaningfully reduce existing carbon emissions and seeks to join the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP). USCAP is a broad-based group of businesses and leading environmental groups organized to work with the President, the Congress and all other stakeholders to enact an environmentally effective, economically sustainable and fair climate change program. As part of the company’s support for USCAP, TXU is also pledging to support the mandatory cap and trade program to regulate carbon emissions.

To satisfy ERCOT’s requirement for immediate additional capacity to meet the state’s increasing electricity demand, TXU expects to build two coal units at the Oak Grove site and one coal unit at the Sandow site. TXU will immediately seek to suspend the permit application process for the other eight units and withdraw them once the transaction closes. TXU does not intend to apply or reapply for permits to build additional coal units utilizing current pulverized coal-fueled technology.

$400 Million Investment in Demand Side Management

InitiativesTXU will implement an aggressive demand reduction program through a $400 million investment in conservation and energy efficiency activities over the next five years.

Transaction Endorsed by Environmental Defense and Natural Resources Defense Council

KKR, TPG and the investor group are committed to addressing TXU’s environmental issues through substantial new investments in research and demand side management initiatives and a 75 percent reduction in planned new coal capacity. Recognizing this, key environmental groups are supporting the transaction.

Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense, said, “This is one of the most significant developments in America's fight against global warming. Environmental Defense commends KKR and TPG for not only dropping TXU's applications for eight proposed coal plants in Texas, but also for the many other commitments they have made to reduce air pollution and global warming emissions, including their support for a mandatory federal cap and trade program to regulate carbon emissions, doubling TXU’s expenditures on efficiency measures and their overall desire to rebuild TXU as a leader in the clean energy economy.

“The debate over this issue has been a top priority for Environmental Defense and we plan to work just as hard with the new TXU to implement this agreement. We also look forward to working closely with TXU as a member of its planned Sustainable Energy Advisory Committee and to settling our federal lawsuit against TXU,” concluded Krupp.

“The NRDC fully supports this transaction and the new company's support for mandatory global warming legislation. This turnaround marks the beginning of a new, competitive focus on clean, efficient, renewable energy strategies to deliver the power we need while cutting global warming emissions,” said Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “It is a big step forward for the State of Texas and for the American energy economy as a whole.”

Increased Commitment to Exploring Renewable Energy Sources and Investing in Alternative EnergyTechnologies

As a private company, free from the short-term financial pressures affecting all public companies, TXU will be able to accomplish important goals for customer service innovation and new generation technology development on a scale and schedule that would otherwise not be possible.

The investor group is grateful for Governor Perry’s commitment to a long-term reliable supply of energy for Texas and his advocacy for investment in clean energy alternatives, such as IGCC. TXU is committed to the development and deployment of advanced technologies with a commitment to exploring IGCC’s potential to meet Texas’ reliability requirements. With the support of the Governor, the company is evaluating the dedication of an attractive site for the exploration of clean coal technologies and partnership with technology leaders.

- TXU will reduce mercury (Hg) emissions, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 20 percent from 2005 levels, as previously committed, through reductions at existing units and installation of emission controls on the new Oak Grove and Sandow units.

- TXU will reduce its own carbon emissions by increasing efficiency of its generating facilities by up to 2 percent.

- TXU will become a leader in providing electricity from renewable sources by more than doubling its purchase of wind power to more than 1,500 MW, maintaining its status as the largest buyer of wind power in Texas. TXU will also promote solar power through solar/photovoltaic rebates.

The company also intends to join the FutureGen Alliance, a non-profit consortium of companies supporting FutureGen, the U.S. Department of Energy project intended to create the world’s first near-zero-emissions fossil-fuel power plant.

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Read the complete press release from KKR

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How power plants can reduce NOx emissions by greater than 90% with the CleanAIR low-temperature ENDURE SCR Catalyst

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman Shares Policy Goals with The Energy Initiative

Coalition led by former Sen. John Breaux and past U.S. Conference of Mayors President Beverly O’Neill joins energy consumers and producers to develop consensus on America’s energy policy

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman shared the ongoing efforts and energy policies of the administration today (Feb. 22) before The Energy Initiative at the Hotel Sofitel in Washington, DC.

The Energy Initiative, led by former U.S. Senator John Breaux of Louisiana and former Long Beach, California Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Beverly O’Neill, represents a unique collection of energy stakeholders including both producers and consumers.

“It is only by fostering cooperation between this wide cross section of interests that The Energy Initiative coalition will be able to achieve its goals of educating the public and helping to secure a future of sustained energy production in America,” said Secretary Bodman. “All of us who are interested in maintaining our economic prosperity, and leaving a healthy environment to our children, recognize that our nation’s future depends -- in a critical way -- on fostering clean energy development,” continued Secretary Bodman.

Initially launched in December, The Energy Initiative’s members are midway through a broadbased educational effort, with the ultimate goal of formulating a set of recommendations that will serve as the basis for future energy policies. The Energy Initiative consists of three working groups which are charged with reviewing the major challenges, current policy impediments, market restraints and other barriers relating to national energy policy in an effort to identify concrete recommendations that can be advocated for in the 110th Congress.

“Secretary Bodman’s remarks today allowed members of The Energy Initiative to get a better understanding of the issues and policies the administration is keying in on,” said Sen. Breaux.

“This information will be increasingly important as we continue to participate in our working groups, and develop recommendations on how to improve America’s energy policy.”

“Our members represent interests, priorities and stakeholders as diverse as the nation itself, from labor to state and municipal government, and from industry associations to major energy producers,” said Sen. Breaux. “We are working very hard to build consensus amongst our membership on a number of challenging energy issues, and are optimistic about achieving good results.”

The working groups include: 1.) Stationary Energy Supplies - charged with addressing crude oil, natural gas, electricity, coal, nuclear, wind, solar, other renewables and infrastructure; 2.) Transportation Energy Supplies - focusing on conventional motor fuels, bio-fuels, fuel cells, hybrids and emerging technologies; and, 3.) Conservation, Efficiency and Environmental Protection - analyzing environmental protection, conservation measures, and standards.

“Sen. Breaux and I are very grateful for Secretary Bodman’s willingness to share the
administration’s ongoing efforts and policies,” said Mayor O’Neill. “This coalition will look to work within the shared goals of the administration and Congress to develop an energy policy that benefits consumers, and is supported by producers, as well.”

Immediately after today’s announcement, members of The Energy Initiative, representing groups from 8 energy producing trade associations and 21 energy consuming associations, met in a joint-session, led by Breaux and O’Neill, to continue efforts to develop consensus and build toward a final report to Congress and the Bush Administration.

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The Energy Initiative

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Find out how CleanAIR Systems is working with power plants and owners of stationary generators to reduce emissions and create cleaner energy resources.

GE Announces Advancement in Incandescent Technology; New High-Efficiency Lamps Targeted for Market by 2010

Re-inventing Edison: New Light Bulb Will Provide High-Quality Light and Deliver Efficiency Comparable to Compact Fluorescent Lamps

CLEVELAND--GE Consumer & Industrial’s Lighting division, a world leader in the development of energy-efficient lighting products, today announced advancements to the light bulb invented by GE’s founder Thomas Edison that potentially will elevate the energy efficiency of this 125-year-old technology to levels comparable to compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), delivering significant environmental benefits. Over the next several years, these advancements will lead to the introduction of high-efficiency incandescent lamps that provide the same high light quality, brightness and color as current incandescent lamps while saving energy and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

The new high efficiency incandescent (HEI™) lamp, which incorporates innovative new materials being developed in partnership by GE’s Lighting division, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, and GE’s Global Research Center, headquartered in Niskayuna, NY, would replace traditional 40- to 100-Watt household incandescent light bulbs, the most popular lamp type used by consumers today. The new technology could be expanded to all other incandescent types as well. The target for these bulbs at initial production is to be nearly twice as efficient, at 30 lumens-per-Watt, as current incandescent bulbs.

Ultimately the high efficiency lamp (HEI) technology is expected to be about four times as efficient as current incandescent bulbs and comparable to CFL bulbs. Adoption of new technology could lead to greenhouse gas emission reductions of up to 40 million tons of CO2 in the U.S. and up to 50 million tons in the EU if the entire installed base of traditional incandescent bulbs was replaced with HEI lamps.

Kevin Nolan, Vice President of Technology for GE Consumer & Industrial, said: “In addition to offering significant energy savings comparable to CFLs, the 21st century version of Edison’s bulb provides all the desirable benefits including light quality and instant-on convenience as incandescent lamps currently provide at a price that will be less than CFLs. We and other lighting manufacturers have been aggressive in developing and marketing CFLs. But consumers want more options and we plan to respond to their needs and deliver environmental benefits, too. It’s important that we offer consumers a full range of products that meet their personal desire to reduce their negative impact on the environment while preserving their ability to pick the best lighting product for their needs. That’s why we are moving aggressively to commercialize these new lamps.”

GE’s announcement was made in conjunction with its decision to support legislation in the EU, the United States and in other areas that would accelerate the introduction of all types of high efficiency lighting products as part of the global effort to promote energy security and reduce emission of greenhouse gases. GE’s HEI ™ would support attainment of the objectives of the European Commission’s Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which aims to reduce Europe’s energy consumption 20% by the year 2020.

GE has invested more than $200 million in the last four years on the development of energy efficient lighting, including reduced-powered Miser® light bulbs to high-efficiency Par 38 halogen lamps and Energy Smart® compact fluorescent lamps. The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have recognized its contributions to energy efficiency and GHG reductions every year since 2004 with the ENERGY STAR Award, and in 2006 with the ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence. GE offers 67 ENERGY STAR-qualified lighting products. The environmental benefits of these products sold in 2006 alone will, over their lifetime, reduce consumers’ electricity costs by $1.3 billion and prevent 500 million tons of GHG emissions.

GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial uses innovative technologies and "ecomagination," a GE initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that help customers and consumers meet pressing environmental challenges, to deliver comfort, convenience and electrical protection and control. General Electric (NYSE: GE) brings imagination to work, selling products under the Monogram®, Profile™ GE®, Hotpoint®, SmartWater™ Reveal®, Edison™ and Energy Smart™ consumer brands, and Entellisys™ industrial brand. For more information, consumers may visit http://www.ge.com/.

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GE

Green Energy Resources to Offer Carbon Offset Credits

The Urban Tree Certification System (UTCS) Reduces Carbon by Planting Trees and Eliminating Wood Waste From Landfills

NEW YORK, NY -- 02/26/2007 -- Green Energy Resources will offer "Carbon Offset" credits through its Urban Tree Certification System (UTCS). Green Energy Resources UTCS urban forest management plan reduces carbon from the atmosphere by planting trees and taking wood waste from landfills and turning it into renewable energy. UTCS is designed to create a self-sustaining and revenue generating mechanism to plant millions of trees a year to create carbon sequestration in cities and suburbs. The company will sell the credits to the public, industry and the investment community. UTCS has strict and verifiable standards with measurable results where carbon reductions are permanent, quantifiable and scaleable.

The plan calls for every credit to be certified and authenticated. Green Energy Resources plans include retirement accounting of the carbon reductions from the atmosphere and a registry of every city and town that enrolls in UTCS. The Sale of Carbon Offset credits is anticipated to generate millions of dollars annually for the company in conjunction with each ton of biomass it sells.

The Carbon Offset market according to the World Bank, ranged from $.65 cents - $9.36 Per tonne of CO2 during 2005. A more recent survey conducted by the UK company Context found credits were sold to the public between $4 - $50 per tone of CO2. The creation of a viable business model for local, state and city governments in the US creates a bonafide self-sustaining renewable energy plan from biomass without the need to cut global forests. UTCS plan does not include RECs (Renewable Energy Credits) but rather sells to the power generator who earns the RECS. Green Energy Resource plan can be used voluntarily (VCS), sold in US regional markets or under the EU scheme because of its export of biomasse for energy over seas.

About Green Energy Resources
Green Energy Resources is a consultant to governments and the power generation industry on carbon reduction strategies. Green Energy Resources supplies 100% environmentally certified wood biomass. The company utilizes diverse sourcing for mitigated risk management. Green Energy Resources exclusive urban forest management plan, the Urban Tree Certification System (UTCS) is designed to solve the demand for wood biomass for energy through maximized resource utilization of urban and suburban wood waste streams to preserve global forests not cut them.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause the companies' actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market conditions, competitive factors, the ability to successfully complete additional financings and other risks.

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Green Energy Resources

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How emission control products from CleanAIR Systems virtually eliminate emissions of NOx from biomass power plants

Mayor Newsom Announces Plan to Significantly Expand Solar, Renewable Energy Generation in San Francisco

Proposed Public-Private Partnerships Would Leverage State Legislation, Available Financing to Generate Nearly 35 Megawatts of Solar Power

San Francisco, CA - Mayor Gavin Newsom today proposed an unprecedented expansion of San Francisco’s solar and renewable energy resources, taking the first steps towards forming public-private partnerships that would leverage new state legislation and available financing mechanisms to boost solar generation from less than 2 megawatts today to nearly 35 megawatts in the future. The plan, announced at a Cleantech Forum reception Wednesday evening, invites the nation’s most innovative renewable energy companies to partner with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to facilitate and support the development of large-scale solar and other renewable energy resources on public and private property in the City.

"If we want to show real leadership in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and protecting our environment, we have to act boldly and we cannot act alone," said Mayor Newsom. "Our plan challenges the best and the brightest in the renewable energy field to join us in making San Francisco a laboratory for solar power and clean energy development."

Today the SFPUC issued a Request for Information (RFI) to private and public sector businesses and organizations soliciting information, advice and analyses on opportunities to finance and develop solar and other renewable energy resource projects in San Francisco. Among the opportunities and challenges outlined for respondents to the RFI and potential partners in the plan:

· Partnering with the SFPUC to facilitate the development of large amounts of solar power, including nearly 24 megawatts of photovoltaics on private property within the city, leveraging the provisions of California’s Million Solar Roofs Law (SB1), the California Solar Initiative (CSI), federal tax incentives and other available financing mechanisms. Currently, less than one megawatt of photovoltaics exist on private property in San Francisco.

· Developing solar power financial structures for municipal facilities that leverage the provisions of the new California Assembly Bill 2573. This law enables SFPUC to move power across PG&E’s local grid from municipal sources to municipal loads. The SFPUC estimates that up to ten megawatts of solar capacity may be developable on municipal property, up from less than two megawatts today.

· Examining the SFPUC’s solar capacity estimates, proposing estimates for other technologies and suggesting alternate estimates if knowledge of the market opportunities and deal structures support different estimates.

· Proposing ways to help the SFPUC finance renewable power systems on property owned by private-sector customers served by Pacific Gas & Electric Company and Direct Access Providers. All kinds of deal structures are open to consideration, from those where a property owner owns a system outright to those where a solar provider owns the system and sells power to a property owner.

· Describing deal structures, expected returns, various kinds of risk, credit issues, ownership structures, use of asset depreciation and tax provisions, disposition of renewable rebates and renewable energy credits, power purchase arrangements, revenue allocation, and local economic development opportunities.

"With direct investment from our Power Enterprise towards developing new solar projects, we’ve already done more to advance solar power than any other City in America," said SFPUC General Manager Susan Leal. "But this new initiative will attract new partners to dramatically expand and accelerate deployment of renewable power in San Francisco."

The SFPUC currently owns and operates the nation’s largest city-owned solar project atop the Moscone Convention Center. Additional SFPUC solar facilities are completed or currently planned for the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant, Pier 96/Norcal Recycling Facility, the North Point Wet Weather Treatment Plant, San Francisco International Airport and several San Francisco public schools and libraries. The SFPUC also leads numerous energy efficiency projects to reduce demand at City facilities, is conducting a feasibility study to generate tidal power at the Golden Gate Bridge and is launching a biofuel program to convert waste grease and oil into fuel for city vehicles and MUNI buses. For more information or to review the Request for Information visit sfwater.org.

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San Francisco Government

Cleantech 2007 Call for Venture & Partner Award Set at $10,000

Call for Venture & Partnering Presentations Now Open for Cleantech 2007, May 23-24, 2007 in Santa Clara, Calif.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TechConnect.org, producers of Cleantech 2007, today announced the Cleantech 2007 Ventures & Partner awards.

“Clean and sustainable technologies reflect the ability for innovators to bring together new perspectives and new technologies to improve today’s products, services and manufacturing processes. By making these awards, Cleantech wants to showcase leading-edge companies, as well as their go to market strategies,” said Matthew Laudon, Executive Director of TechConnect.org.

The Cleantech 2007 Ventures & Partnering Presentation Awards acknowledge business plan and partnering presentations that contribute to the goal of accelerating the flow of clean technologies to the viable market phase. The Awards are a part of the Cleantech 2007 conference, a multi-disciplinary and multi-sector conference on global sustainability addressing advancements in traditional technologies, emerging technologies and clean business practices.

The Cleantech 2007 Ventures & Partnering Presentation Awards will applaud commercialization achievements within these technology areas:

Renewable Energy
Enabling Transmission, Geothermal, Hydro, Photovoltaics, Solar Thermal, Wave, Wind

Clean Technologies
Clean Burning Fuels, Electric Vehicles, Fuel Cells, Hybrid Electric, Hydrogen, Zero Emissions, Pollution Reduction

Bio Energy
Biodiesel, Biofuels, Biomass

Novel Technologies

Advanced Materials, Biomimetics, Catalysts, Construction Materials, Distributed Power, Emerging Fuels, Energy Efficiency, Fuel Additives, Microreactors, Microturbines, Nanotechnology, Smart Grid

Environmental
Bioremediation, Desalination, Phytoremediation, Recycling, Smart Fertilizers, Waste, Water Purification, Water Treatment

Traditional Industries - Clean & Green Advancements
Agriculture, Automotive, Building, Chemical, Coal, Food, Nuclear, Oil & Gas, Paper, Semiconductor, Transportation

Cleantech 2007 has officially opened its Call for Venture Presenters submissions. Cleantech will be held May 23-24, 2007, at Santa Clara, Calif.

Judges will select the winner from proposals submitted to speak at Cleantech 2007. The deadline to apply for the Cleantech 2007 Venture Award Presentations is March 10, 2007. To submit or learn more visit: http://www.techconnect.org/Cleantech2007/participate/Venture/

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Cleantech 2007

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About current clean technology to reduce diesel and power plant emissions from CleanAIR Systems

Clean Energy Incubator, Austin Energy Agree to Test Clean Technologies to Accelerate Commercialization

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Austin Technology Incubator’s Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy have agreed to create the first test-bed environment in the United States for alternative energy companies to prepare their technologies for commercialization.

The partnership will allow clean technology companies to accelerate their path to market through early product validation with a leading utility.

“A major slowdown in getting clean energy companies to market is early utility validation,” said Joel Serface, director of Clean Energy Incubator. “Through our test-bed partnership, Austin Energy will give critical feedback and credibility to startups who prove themselves in Austin Energy’s environment.”

The Clean Energy Incubator and the Austin Technology Incubator are part of the IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin.

The test-bed partnership, supported unanimously by the Austin City Council, will allow Clean Energy Incubator member companies to plug into different parts of Austin Energy’s grid to prove their technologies. Such innovative programs led by the Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy have helped Austin be recognized as the leading cleantech incubation center.

A report by SustainLane, a green media company, released last week named Austin the No. 1 U.S. city in incubating and clustering clean technology companies. The report ranked 50 cities and credits Austin with creating a robust test facility that is an innovative and economic step forward for the clean energy market.

“It is great that Austin is being recognized as the ‘Cleantech Capitol,’’’ said Mayor Will Wynn. “The Clean Energy Incubator and Austin Energy have long been leaders in clean technology. The test-bed partnership is the first of its kind and will extend Austin’s leadership in developing and using clean technologies. This will also become a powerful economic development engine for the city of Austin.”

The Clean Energy Incubator is extending an invitation to companies to come to Austin and participate in this unique partnership. By applying to participate in the Austin Clean Energy Venture Summit, start-up companies will have the opportunity to present to the Clean Energy Incubator, Austin Energy, leading international venture capitalists and energy companies. Several of the companies selected to participate in the conference will be extended invitations to take part in the test-bed partnership.

The Clean Energy Venture Summit, held on May 14-16, will highlight many of the potential technologies that will help create “The Utility of the Future,” including green building, energy efficiency, grid-connected vehicle technologies and smart-grid applications.

To participate in this conference, please go to http://www.cleanenergyventuresummit.com/.

For the past three years, Austin Energy has been ranked as the No. 1 green energy program in the country by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, generating more revenue than its closest competing utilities in Portland, Ore. and Los Angeles. Its Green Choice program has sold more than 334 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy last year.

Background on Austin Energy
Austin Energy is the community-owned electric utility of Austin, Texas, serving 360,000 customers and a population of 880,000. Austin Energy is nationally recognized for its energy efficiency programs, establishment of the nation’s first Green Building Program and for the nation’s No. 1 renewable energy program for sales since 2002, outperforming 600 utility-sponsored green power programs nationwide. Austin Energy’s Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program offers rebates and loans for energy-efficiency improvements. Since 1982, more than 200,000 Austin residents have participated in the utility’s energy efficiency programs.

Background on the Clean Energy Incubator
The Clean Energy Incubator has been a leader in building clean-tech companies since its inception in 2001 when it was formed as a program of the Austin Technology Incubator, a division of The University of Texas at Austin, the IC2 Institute, and inspired by the National Renewable Energy Lab. The incubator oversees seven portfolio companies in the clean-tech market and is supported by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Austin Energy.

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Clean Energy Incubator

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How coal-fired power plants can become a cleaner energy source by reducing NOx emissions using selective catalytic reduction.

Wind Energy is the World's Fastest Growing Energy Source

DUBLIN, Ireland--(February 15)--Research and Markets has announced the addition of Global Wind Power Market Potential to their offering.

Wind is simple air in motion. It is caused by the uneven heating of the earth’s surface by the sun. Since the earth’s surface is made of very different types of land and water, it absorbs the sun’s heat at different rates. Today, wind energy is mainly used to generate electricity. Wind energy is also world's fastest growing energy source and is a clean and renewable source that has been in use for centuries in Europe and more recently in the United States and other nations. Wind turbines, both large and small, produce electricity for utilities and homeowners and remote villages.

Wind energy is a clean energy source as electricity generated by wind turbines does not pollute the air or emit pollutants like other energy sources. This means less smog, less acid rain and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Every 10,000 MW of wind installed can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 33 MMT annually if it replaces coal-fired generating capacity, or 21 MMT if it replaces generation from average fuel mix.

Many developing countries have little incentive to use wind energy technologies to reduce their emissions, despite the fact that the most rapid growth in CO2 emissions is in the developing world. Two related activities could give both developed and developing countries incentives to develop wind projects. The first is joint implementation, a program under which firms from the developed countries can earn carbon offsets by building clean energy projects in the developing world. Developed nations should endorse and push for joint implementation to move from its current status to full-scale implementation.

The second activity is the World Bank's Global Environmental Facility (GEF), which can cover the incremental cost of developing environmentally benign or beneficial projects in the developing world, such as building a wind project instead of an apparently cheaper coal project. This incentive is particularly important for countries such as China and India, which have tremendous power needs and must build energy capacity quickly at the lowest possible cost.

This report examines global wind power market potential.

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Research and Markets

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More about emissions

Hawaii Joins EPA in Boosting Clean, Efficient Energy Use

State Aims to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

(Washington, D.C. - Feb. 12, 2007) Hawaii today agreed to work with EPA in developing its own action plan for clean energy.

As the newest partner in EPA's Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership, Hawaii joins 14 other states working with EPA to develop strategies to promote cost-effective energy efficiency, clean distributed generation (consumers generating heat / electricity for their own needs via on-site production), renewable energy, and other clean energy sources that can provide air quality and other benefits. Hawaii currently imports most of its fuel but through its work with the partnership, it hopes to reduce its dependence on these imports through increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

"I am pleased to welcome Hawaii to the Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership," said Bill Wehrum, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Each new partner increases our ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen our energy independence, and improve air quality."

"The state of Hawaii is at the forefront of clean energy and environmental initiatives. This partnership will strengthen the state's position as we undertake new programs promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy sources," said Maurice Kaya, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Under the partnership program, launched in February 2005, partner states agree to work with EPA to develop and implement a state-specific Clean Energy-Environment State Action Plan that contains one or more clean energy-environment goals. EPA provides partner states with a comprehensive technical assistance package of planning, policy, technical, analytical and information resources, and works to establish linkages to other federal programs that support clean energy-environment strategies. Partners also benefit by learning from their peers about successful programs and policies at work in other states, identifying themselves as environmental and clean energy leaders, and receiving EPA recognition for the environmental benefits that result from their efforts.

Hawaiian officials signed a Memorandum of Agreement with EPA at the National Association of State Energy Officials winter meeting in Washington, D.C., today.

The other states in the partnership: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Utah.

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The Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership

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How low-temperature selective catalytic reduction is helping to reduce NOx emissions from power plants and create cleaner energy.

City of Austin Climate Protection Plan

(Austin, TX – February 7, 2007) - The City of Austin today announced a groundbreaking initiative to reduce the city's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The plan represents the most aggressive GHG reduction plan of any city in America.

The following statement can be attributed to Jim Marston, regional director of Environmental Defense.

"The City of Austin is already a leader in clean energy and environmental stewardship. This plan launches the city to the forefront of the fight against global warming. This isn't just the strongest plan in Texas, it's the strongest plan in the country. This is the kind of leadership that makes us proud to live in Austin and hopeful that Texans will accept responsibility for the role we should play in solving this global crisis."

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Environmental Defense
Austin Climate Protection Plan

Successful Refined Coal Test Burn

Buckeye Industrial Mining Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Evergreen Energy Inc., has successfully concluded a comprehensive test burn at the University of Notre Dame involving 50 and 75 percent blends of K-Fuel® refined coal with high-sulfur, low-fusion eastern Ohio bituminous coal.

The test was designed to take advantage of K-Fuel’s® ultra low levels of mercury, chloride and sulfur while maintaining the boiler at or near its full load. A feed of 100 percent K-Fuel® was tested as well.

The test results, verified through stack testing by a third party, demonstrated that when compared to the base bituminous coal normally used in the Babcock and Wilcox cyclone boiler, a 100 percent burn of K-Fuel® reduced chloride emissions by 75 percent and sulfur dioxide emissions by 90 percent. The difference in mercury content of K-Fuel® as compared to the feedstock coal was a reduction of 75 percent.

Blends of 50 percent and 75 percent K-Fuel® with the eastern bituminous high sulfur coal resulted in emissions improvements as well, confirming that a blend of eastern bituminous coal and K-Fuel® could help the boiler comply with the new Federal Industrial Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology rule for emissions while maintaining its load capacity through higher BTU values resulting from the blending of eastern bituminous coal with K-Fuel®.

“This is significant news because it further demonstrates that Buckeye’s existing customers who burn coal will benefit from eastern bituminous coal blended with K-Fuel®, providing those customers fuel based options to meet the new Federal rules for lower emissions. Coal consumers would otherwise have to rely on currently available and costly technology to scrub the pollutants,” said Mark S. Sexton, chairman and CEO of Evergreen Energy.

Sexton noted that as the September 2007 deadline for new emissions rules looms closer, industrial boiler customers should consider K-Fuel® to address their compliance needs as an economical alternative to other emissions control technologies.

Other test results showed that the specific properties of K-Fuel® and the way it interacts with eastern bituminous coal improved the boiler operation and overcame problems experienced by many cyclone-fired units when operating under light load conditions.
Quinapoxet Solutions of Windham, NH provided technical support for the test burn.

More details of the results are available at www.evgenergy.com.

About Evergreen Energy Inc.
Evergreen Energy Inc. refines coal into a cleaner, more efficient and affordable solid fuel that is available today to meet the growing energy demands of industrial and utility customers while addressing important environmental concerns.

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Evergreen Energy Inc.

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How emissions of NOx from coal-fired power plants can be reduce by up to 95% using selective catalytic reduction from CleanAIR Systems.

DOE Funds Projects Geared Toward Near-Zero Emissions Power Production

Washington, DC - The Department of Energy announced in December the selection of five projects totaling nearly $12 million targeting cost-effective technologies to improve the performance and economics of near-zero emission, coal-based power generation systems.

Developed for the Office of Fossil Energy's Advanced Research program, the projects focus on identifying technologies that address physical, chemical, biological and thermodynamic constraints in the cross cutting technology areas of instrumentation, sensors and control systems, materials, and computational energy sciences. DOE is providing more than $9.3 million in funding while industry is contributing more than $2.3 million. The projects range from 24 to 36 months in duration.

The research will continue to emphasize many of President Bush's energy goals of addressing global climate change, enhancing energy security, ushering in a hydrogen economy, and building the FutureGen plant. Cumulatively, the results will meet the efforts to develop the power generation systems of the future.
The projects are described below:

ALSTOM Power, Inc. (Windsor, Conn.) will develop computational process models and a process dynamic simulator to investigate and develop advanced sensing and control systems for hybrid combustion-gasification chemical looping. Their work hopes to achieve a more reliable, economical and emissions-optimized future plant process. (DOE share: $1,198,998; industry share: $299,750; duration: 24 months)

Babcock & Wilcox Company (Barberton, Ohio) will develop comprehensive modeling focused on predicting the corrosion rates of boiler tubes under low-NOx corrosion. Eight common coals will be tested and the intention is to accurately estimate the corrosion rates of boiler tubes using different variables including chemicals and temperature. (DOE share: $2,103,543; industry share: $525,884; duration: 36 months)

General Electric (Niskayuna, N.Y.) will perform computer modeling research focused specifically on coal gasification plants and will install and develop a harsh environment sensor package at the Tampa Electric Company Polk Power Station. The collected temperature data will be used for model validation. (DOE share: $2,427,588; industry share: $606,897; duration: 36 months)

Electric Power Research Institute (Palo Alto, Calif.) will develop advanced nanostructure coatings to significantly improve corrosion and erosion performance of tubing used in boiler applications. The coatings will undergo testing in simulated boiler environments using coals from three different regions. EPRI's partners include the Southwest Research Institute, Foster Wheeler North America Corp. and Applied Films. (DOE share: $1,994,828; industry share: $498,708; duration: 36 months)

University of Colorado at Boulder (Boulder, Colo.) will develop a gas-solid model, using new methodologies tailored to polydisperse systems, targeted specifically at materials with differences in size and/or density. Novel aspects include incorporating the effects of random particle motion between systems. (DOE share: $1,594,175; industry share: $402,995; duration: 36 months)

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Department of Energy

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About new low-temperature selective catalytic reduction technology from CleanAIR Systems to lower NOx emissions from power plants.

Global Wind Energy Markets Continue to Boom – 2006 Another Record Year

Industry delivered 32% of annual market growth despite supply chain difficulties.

Brussels – February 2 - The booming wind energy markets around the world exceeded expectations in 2006, with the sector experiencing yet another record year. On the day of the publication of the 4th Assessment Report on Climate Change by the IPCC, the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) released its annual figures for 2006. These figures, which include wind energy developments in more than 70 countries around the world, show that the year saw the installation of 15,197 megawatts (MW), taking the total installed wind energy capacity to 74,223 MW, up from 59,091 MW in 2005.

Despite constraints facing supply chains for wind turbines, the annual market for wind continued to increase at the staggering rate of 32% following the 2005 record year, in which the market grew by 41%. This development shows that the global wind energy industry is responding fast to the challenge of manufacturing at the required level, and manages to deliver sustained growth.

In terms of economic value, the wind energy sector has now become firmly installed as one of the important players in the energy markets, with the total value of new generating equipment installed in 2006 reaching €18 billion, or US$23 billion.

The countries with the highest total installed capacity are Germany (20,621 MW), Spain (11,615 MW), the USA (11,603 MW), India (6,270 MW) and Denmark (3,136). Thirteen countries around the world can now be counted among those with over 1000 MW of wind capacity, with France and Canada reaching this threshold in 2006.

In terms of new installed capacity in 2006, the US continued to lead with 2,454 MW, followed by Germany (2,233 MW), India (1,840 MW), Spain (1,587 MW), China (1,347 MW) and France (810 MW). This development shows that new players such as France and China are gaining ground.

“The tremendous growth in 2006 shows that decision makers are starting to take seriously the benefits that wind energy development can bring. However, we must not forget that wind energy is a new technology that needs robust policy frameworks and political commitment to fulfill its full potential,” said Arthouros Zervos, Chairman of GWEC.

Europe is still leading the market with 48,545 MW of installed capacity at the end of 2006, representing 65% of the global total. In 2006, the European wind capacity grew by 19%, producing approximately 100 TWh of electricity, equal to 3.3% of total EU electricity consumption in an average wind year.

“While Germany and Spain still represent 50% of the EU market, we are seeing a healthy trend towards less reliance on these two countries. In the EU, 3,755 MW were installed outside of Germany, Spain and Denmark in 2006. In 2002, this figure still stood at only 680 MW,” said Christian Kjaer, the European Wind Energy Association’s (EWEA) CEO.

“The figures clearly confirm that a second wave of European countries is investing in wind power.”

Despite the continuing growth in Europe, the general trend shows that the sector is gradually becoming less reliant on a few key markets, and other regions are starting to catch up with Europe. The growth in the European market in 2006 accounted for about half of the total new capacity, down from nearly three quarters in 2004.

Asia has experienced the strongest increase in installed capacity outside of Europe, with an addition of 3,679 MW, taking the continent over 10,600 MW. In 2006, the continent grew by 53% and accounted for 24% of new installations. The strongest market here remains India with over 1,840 MW of new installed capacity, which takes its total figure up to 6,270 MW.

China more than doubled its total installed capacity by installing 1,347 MW of wind energy in 2006, a 70% increase from last year’s figure. This brings China up to 2,604 MW of capacity, making it the sixth largest market world wide. The Chinese market was boosted by the country’s new Renewable Energy Law, which entered into force on 1 January 2006.

“Thanks to the Renewable Energy law, the Chinese market has grown substantially in 2006, and this growth is expected to continue and speed up. According to the list of approved projects and those under construction, more than 1,500 MW will be installed in 2007. The goal for wind power in China by the end of 2010 is 5,000 MW, which according to our estimations will already be reached well ahead of time,” said Li Junfeng of the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association (CREIA).

22% of the world’s new wind capacity was installed in North America, where the annual market increased by a third in 2005, gaining momentum in both the US and Canada.
For the second year running, the US wind energy industry installed nearly 2,500 MW, making it the country with the most new wind power.

“Strong growth figures in the US prove that wind is now a mainstream option for new power generation,“ said Randy Swisher, President of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). “Wind’s exponential growth reflects the nation’s increasing demand for clean, safe and domestic energy, and continues to attract both private and public sources of capital. New generating capacity worth US$4 billion was installed in 2006, billing wind as one of the largest sources of new power generation in the country – second only to natural gas – for the second year in a row.”

Canada also had a record year, with the installed capacity more than doubling from 683 MW in 2005 to 1459 MW at the end of 2006. “Wind energy is an emerging Canadian success story and 2006 will be remembered as the year that our country first began to seriously capture its economic and environmental benefits,” said Robert Hornung, President of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA). “Canada’s is on the cusp of a wind energy boom as provincial governments are now targeting to have a minimum of 10,000 MW of installed wind energy capacity in place by 2015.”

Growth in the relatively young African and Middle Eastern market picked up considerably in 2006, with 172 MW of new installed capacity, bringing the total up to 441 MW. This represents a 63% growth, and should be seen as a promising signs for future developments. The main countries experiencing growth are Egypt (230 MW, up from 145 MW), Morocco (124 MW, up from 64 MW) and Iran (48 MW, up from 23 MW).

Compared to previous years, the Australian market only experienced slow growth in 2006. "While 2006 saw only 109 MW installed bring total capacity to 817 MW, the Australian market has been given a new lease of life with the introduction of state based renewable energy targets providing a more positive outlook for 2007," said Dominique La Fontaine, CEO of the Australian Wind Energy Association (Auswind).

“As security of energy supply and climate change are ranging high on the political agendas of the world’s governments, wind energy has already become a mainstream energy source in many countries around the world. Wind energy is clean and fuel-free, which makes it the most attractive solution to the world’s energy challenges,” said Arthouros Zervos, Chairman of GWEC.

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Global Wind Energy Council

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How to make your diesel generator a clean energy source by reducing particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

Levine Legislation to Make California First State in the Nation to Ban Incandescent Light Bulbs

"How Many Legislators does it take to Change a Light Bulb Act" Touts the Multiple Benefits of Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Sacramento - In yet another instance of California being a trend-setter for the rest of the nation, Assemblymember Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), the Chair of the Assembly’s Utilities and Commerce Committee, today announced that he is introducing legislation - the How Many Legislators Does it Take to Change a Light Bulb Act - to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in California by the year 2012.

“Incandescent light bulbs were first developed almost 125 years ago, and since that time they have undergone no major modifications,” Assemblymember Levine said.

“Meanwhile, they remain incredibly inefficient, converting only about five percent of the energy they receive into light. It’s time to take a step forward – energy-efficient bulbs are easy to use, require less electricity to do the same job, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and save consumers money.”

According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a nonprofit organization that focuses on energy policy, replacing a 75-watt incandescent light bulb with a 20-watt compact fluorescent would result in the same amount of light but would save 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide and save customers $55 over the life of the bulb (while the life of one 75-watt incandescent bulb is roughly 750 hours, the life of a compact fluorescent is a whopping 10,000 hours). Meanwhile, incandescent bulbs use 750 kWh over 10,000 hours, while compact fluorescents use only 180 kWh.

In addition, a utility can give away a compact fluorescent lamps more cheaply than it can fuel its existing power plants, which is why Southern California Edison, for example, has given away more than a million such lamps.

“Electricity-saving technologies may not be glamorous, especially when compared with the idea of a shiny new power plant, but the facts are that there are hundreds of electricity-saving innovations now on the market that if fully used throughout the United States, would significantly decrease the electricity the country now uses,” Levine said. “The time has come for this legislation, and what better state to lead the charge than California.”

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California State Capitol Office

Mayors Wrap Up 75th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors

Mayors Release Call for $4 Billion Energy and Environmental Block Grant

On January 26, more than 260 of the nation's mayors wrapped up the 75th Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) in Washington, D.C. Led by Conference President and Trenton, NJ Mayor Douglas H. Palmer, the mayors discussed a variety of issues that impact America's cities with new Congressional leaders and presidential hopefuls. Environmental issues included achieving energy independence and climate protection.

Mayor Palmer stated "We are not here in Washington, DC with our hats in our hands and tin cups. We're not looking to be saved; we need the federal government to be partners with us to build on our strengths."

Following this session, the mayors called for a $4 billion Energy and Environmental Block Grant to help cities combat global warming.

"Cities are on the frontlines of the global warming issue with mayors leading the way. But we can't do it alone. We need the federal government to be a real partner with us on climate protection and achieving energy independence. That is why we are proposing an Energy and Environmental Block Grant," said Mayor Palmer.

The block grant would provide funding directly to cities and urban counties for programs that:
- improve community energy efficiency
- reduce carbon emissions
- decrease the nation's dependence on foreign oil

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75th Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors

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More about toxic emissions.

Wind Power Capacity in US Increased 28% in 2006 and Is Expected to Grow an Additional 26% in 2007

Annual industry outlook details increased growth spurred by strong demand, investment of private capital, as well as support of federal and state governments

Wind power generating capacity increased by 27% in 2006 and is expected to increase an additional 26% in 2007, proving wind is now a mainstream option for new power generation, according to a market forecast released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Wind’s exponential growth reflects the nation’s increasing demand for clean, safe and domestic energy, and continues to attract both private and public sources of capital.

“iPods, flat screen televisions and other highly sought technologies are creating a demand for electricity that is beginning to eclipse our current supply. Wind is a proven, cost-effective source of energy that also alleviates global warming and enhances our nation’s energy security,” said AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher.

The U.S. wind energy industry installed 2,454 megawatts (MW) of new generating capacity in 2006, an investment of approximately $4 billion, billing wind as one of the largest sources of new power generation in the country – second only to natural gas – for the second year in a row. New wind farms boosted cumulative U.S. installed wind energy capacity by 27% to 11,603 MW, well above the 10,000-MW milestone reached in August 2006. One megawatt of wind power produces enough electricity to serve 250 to 300 homes on average each day.

Wind energy facilities currently installed in the U.S. will produce an estimated 31 billion kilowatt-hours annually or enough electricity to serve 2.9 million American homes. This 100% clean source of electricity will displace approximately 23 million tons of carbon dioxide – the leading greenhouse gas – each year, which would otherwise be emitted by coal, natural gas, oil and other traditional energy sources.

Wind power has also attracted the support of state and federal government legislatures. The U.S. Congress recently extended the federal production tax credit (PTC) through December 2008 to further expand the number of wind farms throughout the U.S. Based on the success of the PTC to date, AWEA is calling for extending the provision an additional five years.

“The industry has demonstrated a generous return on the investment of both private and public investment in wind,” said Swisher. “Extending the PTC five years will significantly increase the progress America is making in expanding its use of new forms of energy when they’ve never been needed more.”

The industry outlook also finds:
- Texas accounted for nearly a third of the new wind power installed in 2006, taking over the lead from California in cumulative installed capacity. Texas hosts the world’s single largest operating wind farm, the 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, located in Nolan and Taylor counties.

- Much of the new wind equipment in 2006 was produced in new manufacturing facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. Additional announcements are expected in 2007.
Investment in manufacturing capability signals confidence in the market and lays the groundwork for expanded growth.

- New utility-scale turbines were installed in a total of 20 states across the country, from Maine to New Mexico to Alaska.

- The top five states in new installations were Texas (774 MW), Washington (428 MW), California (212 MW), New York (185 MW) and Minnesota (150 MW).

- AWEA gathers the data for its analysis each January by contacting wind farm developers and turbine manufacturers around the country.

A state-by-state listing of existing and proposed wind energy projects is available on AWEA's Web site at http://www.awea.org/projects.

AWEA, formed in 1974, is the national trade association of the U.S. wind energy industry. The association's membership includes turbine manufacturers, wind project developers, utilities, academicians, and interested individuals. More information on wind energy is available at the AWEA web site: www.awea.org.

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American Wind Energy Association

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More about emissions that cause air pollution.

DOE Announces $17 Million to Promote Greater Automobile Efficiency

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner today announced that DOE intends issue $17 million in solicitations to improve automobile efficiency and reduce the United States’s dependence on foreign sources of oil. The funding will be offered as two separate solicitations, one for $14 million to support plug-in hybrid electric vehicle technology and another for $3 million for research to improve E-85 engine efficiency.

“President Bush is committed to developing alternative fuels and energy-saving innovations in vehicle technology, not just for concept cars, but for cars that can be publicly available,” Assistant Secretary Karsner said. “By improving battery technology and engine efficiency, we can take bold steps towards reducing our reliance on foreign sources of oil.”

DOE’s FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program will lead the efforts to bring new, more efficient technologies to market with research on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and E85-blended fuel. The $14 million cost-shared solicitation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle battery development aims to improve battery performance so that plug-in hybrid vehicles can deliver the 40 miles of electric range required for most roundtrip daily commutes. DOE has also created a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle test bed at DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory; allowing scientists to measure the performance of a vehicle.

The $3 million cost-shared solicitation will support engineering advances to improve the fuel economy of E85 engines and reduce vehicle emissions. The solicitation also serves to undertake research and development projects that will result in flex-fuel vehicles, which take advantage of the favorable properties of ethanol gasoline blends. E85 can be used in flex-fuel vehicles and is a gasoline-ethanol blend of motor fuel containing 85% ethanol. E85 has the highest oxygen content of any fuel available today, allowing it to burn more completely – and cleaner - than conventional gasoline.

The solicitations are subject to Congressional appropriations.

Assistant Secretary Karsner made the announcements at the Washington Auto Show, where he was joined today by senior executives from General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler.

See the Source:
US Department of Energy
http://www.energy.gov/news/4621.htm

Governor Richardson To Review Ideas to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Santa Fe, NM - December 1 -- Governor Bill Richardson's Climate Change Advisory Group announced today that New Mexico could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of 267 million metric tons and create a projected $2 billion net economic savings for New Mexico's economy over the next decade if the state adopts 69 policies they developed on climate change.

The group, created by Governor Richardson in 2005, was tasked with developing policy recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The diverse group has been working on its recommendations for more than a year and sent its final report to the Governor today.

"Climate change ranks as one of the most serious environmental challenges we face today, and the federal government has not showed leadership in addressing it," Governor Richardson said. "The implications of climate change for New Mexico - especialy our freshwater and snowpack - are potentially severe if we don't act now."

"Climate change issues are at the top of the list of priorities in New Mexico, across the nation and in many nations around the world," said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry. "With Governor Richardson's leadership, we were the first state to join the Chicago Climate Exchange and we are well ahead of other states on addressing these issues."

The recommendations would create greenhouse gas emissions reductions through initiatives in transportation, land use, energy supply, agriculture, forestry and energy use in residential, commercial and industrial operations. Some of the top recommendations of the advisory group are to increase the renewable energy portfolio, create incentives for energy efficiency in buildings, require cleaner cars and reduce emissions from oil and gas production.

Governor Richardson has already taken steps that are in line with the recommendations of the advisory group. For example, the state's renewable portfolio standard requires that ten percent of all electricity be produced from renewable sources by 2011, and the Governor will work to increase the percentage further during the next session of the Legislature. On October 31, 2006, the Governor announced a far-reaching package of energy proposals including a $23 million investment in energy efficiency and green buildings, a recurring investment of $9.6 million for land, wildlife and clean energy projects and $3 million in tax incentives for biofuels, energy efficient appliances and renewable energy manufacturers.

In spring 2005, Gov. Richardson issued an executive order establishing greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals for New Mexico and called for the creation of the advisory group to meet those goals. The state's greenhouse gas reduction goals were targeted to meet year 2000 levels by 2012, 10 percent below 2000 levels by 2020 and 75 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. New Mexico, along with Arizona and California, is among a growing number of states to create climate change advisory groups.

New Mexico's advisory group consisted of about 40 representatives from tribes, industry, agriculture, universities and our national labs and environmental nonprofit groups. The group met six times around the state for the past year and a half to gather public input for the process. Technical workgroups developed details of recommendations and determined emissions reductions and cost savings.