EREN Network News

August 4, 1999

News and Events

• Utility Regulators Support Energy Efficiency Programs
• New Wind Turbines Operating in California and Kansas
• Microtechnology Shrinks Fuel Converter for Automobiles
• Ashland, Oregon, to Promote Solar Photovoltaic Power
• Texas Wind Plant Developers Win 1999 Powerplant Award
• Wisconsin Electric Receives Alternative Fuel Vehicle Award

Site News

• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Power Program

Energy Facts and Tips

• Fossil-Fuel Production Dominated by 122 Companies
• Gasoline Mishandling Wastes Energy, Causes Pollution

About this Newsletter

News and Events

Utility Regulators Support Energy Efficiency Programs
The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) passed a resolution in late July in support of DOE's efforts to upgrade energy efficiency standards for lighting and appliances. NARUC noted that such standards could save U.S. consumers a total of $28 billion by 2030, while reducing energy use and air pollution. The resolution was passed as part of NARUC's annual summer meeting. See the resolution on the NARUC Web site under Electricity.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson also spoke at the meeting, outlining a six-point plan to solve the growing problem of electricity shortages in the United States. The plan emphasizes DOE programs that are "developing advanced generation and transmission technologies, and ... promoting energy efficiency in homes and businesses." The plan particularly emphasized energy efficiency standards for air conditioners. "I will work with the Congress to ensure that these vital programs are fully funded," said Richardson. See Secretary Richardson's speech.

New Wind Turbines Operating in California and Kansas
Greenmountain.com announced July 28th that its new wind turbines in California's San Gorgonio Pass are now generating electricity. The turbines were built as part of the company's commitment to provide 25 percent of the electricity for its premium green power product from new wind energy resources. For more information, see the Greenmountain.com Web site.

In related news, Western Resources of Kansas has begun selling premium-priced wind power from a new wind facility near St. Marys, Kansas. The two 750-kilowatt wind turbines will generate an estimated 3.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. The company will sell the power through its utilities, KPL and KGE, which provide electric service to approximately 620,000 customers in Kansas. For more information, see the Western Resources Web site.

Microtechnology Shrinks Fuel Converter for Automobiles
Researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have successfully demonstrated an ultra-compact device that converts fuels such as gasoline into hydrogen. The fuel converter incorporates microtechnology to achieve a performance equal to current units while using only 1/10 the space, allowing it to be more easily integrated into automotive designs. The invention increases the promise of using hydrogen-powered fuel cells in cars and other vehicles. For more information, see the DOE press release.

Ashland, Oregon, to Promote Solar Photovoltaic Power
The city of Ashland, Oregon, is preparing to launch Ashland Solar, a project to deploy solar photovoltaic power units on homes, businesses, and community facilities in the town. In its first phase, up to 25 kilowatts of solar arrays will be installed on municipal buildings, schools, and other public facilities. A second phase will market both power and solar panels to the Ashland public. The city recently received a cost-matching grant of up to $62,500 from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for the project. For more information, see the press release on the City of Ashland Web site.

Texas Wind Plant Developers Win 1999 Powerplant Award
York Research Corporation announced July 30th that it had received the 1999 Powerplant Award for the 34-megawatt Big Spring WindPower Project in Big Spring, Texas. York shares the award with TXU (formerly Texas Utilities). The annual award, from The McGraw Hill Company's Power Magazine, represents "leadership in the application of advanced equipment designs ... that optimize among competitive economics, energy efficiency, and environmental impact." For more information, see the Investor Relations section of the York Research Web site.

Wisconsin Electric Receives Alternative Fuel Vehicle Award
Wisconsin Electric announced July 29th that it had been awarded the Wisconsin Alternative Fuel Vehicle Leadership Award from DOE's Clean Cities program. The utility, which serves 2.3 million people in southeastern Wisconsin, was recognized for its 230 natural gas vehicles and its support of eight public refueling sites for natural gas vehicles. For more information, see the News section of the Wisconsin Electric Web site.

For more information about the Clean Cities program, see the Web site.

Site News

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Power Program
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is the nation's second largest hydroelectric power producer with 58 hydroelectric power plants. Their Power Program Web site explains the Bureau's roles and responsibilities in regard to hydropower production and provides information about plants that the Bureau operates, including location, river, initial date in service, number of units, installed capacity, and gross generation. In addition, the site features general information about hydropower such as the history, major producers, and hydropower's link to the environment. Educational materials, including a Hoover Dam Teacher/Student Learning Packet, are also available. For industry professionals, the site includes a schedule of training available around the country.

For this and other recent additions see the EREN Web site.

Energy Facts and Tips

Fossil-Fuel Production Dominated by 122 Companies
In 1997, the world energy industry produced 5.2 billion tons of coal, 26.4 billion barrels of petroleum, and 81.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. But how many companies are involved in this massive energy production? According to a recent report compiled by several environmental groups, nearly 80 percent of those fossil fuels were produced by only 122 companies. And just 20 private companies produced 22 percent of the fossil fuels. The carbon emissions from these fuels totaled 6.2 billion tons, according to the report. The report, "Kingpins of Carbon," is posted on the National Resources Defense Council's Web site.

Gasoline Mishandling Wastes Energy, Causes Pollution
Sometimes the little things add up to big problems. Take gasoline as an example: most adults in the United States pump their own gas at the pump, and many own gasoline cans. No problem, right? Well, according to the newly formed Alliance for Proper Gasoline Handling, we spill more than 9 million gallons of gasoline in the United States each year—the equivalent of an oil supertanker.

According to the Alliance, roughly half the owners of gasoline cans never put the cap on, causing gasoline to evaporate into the air. While wasting energy, this also causes environmental problems, releasing a total of 300,000 tons of smog-producing hydrocarbons into the air each year. For more information, see the Alliance's Web site.

About this Newsletter

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