January 6, 1999

News and Events

• Federal Agencies May Soon Be Buying Green Power
• DOE Supports Green Power Purchases
• ASES Position Paper Supports Green Power Purchases
• U.S. Public Supports Green Power Purchases
• PV Power Comes to Massachusetts

Site News

• Customer Evaluation Survey
  
• Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships

Energy Facts and Tips

• Track Down Air Infiltration Problems Now
  
• A Quarter-Century of Oil Imports

About this Newsletter

News and Events

Federal Agencies May Soon Be Buying Green Power
Recent news from Washington insiders suggests that the White House may soon be giving the renewable energy industry a boost. A new Executive Order could mean up to $210 million per year in new business for generators of electricity from renewable sources, often called green power.

The December 2, 1998, edition of the "Electric Power Alert" reported that the White House is drafting an Executive Order to encourage Federal agencies to purchase electricity from renewable sources, even if it costs more than traditional electricity sources. Although still in draft form, the Order reportedly calls for agencies to reduce their energy use by 30 percent by the year 2005, and purchase five percent of their electricity supply from renewable sources. Federal agencies would be "authorized to spend up to a 20 percent premium for electricity" from renewable sources, according to the report.

DOE Supports Green Power Purchases
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has shown strong support for federal purchasing of green power. In a mid- summer speech at a wind industry conference, Dan Reicher, DOE's assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, noted that DOE was considering such an approach. "If we can do for renewable energy what we have done for recycled copying paper, we can really make an impact," said Assistant Secretary Reicher.

ASES Position Paper Supports Green Power Purchases
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) also recently issued a position paper supporting federal purchasing of green power. Find the paper at http://www.sni.net/solar/fedpurch/execsum.htm. According to ASES, the federal government spends $3.5 billion each year for electricity. If 5 percent of that were purchased at a cost premium of 20 percent, that would create a new market for green power of $210 million per year. However, energy efficiency efforts may reduce that figure.

U.S. Public Supports Green Power Purchases
ASES also announced in November the results of a public opinion poll, which found that three-quarters of U.S. voters favor federal purchasing of green power. The survey was conducted for ASES and the Sustainable Energy Coalition by Research/Strategy/Management, Inc., a polling firm in Rockville, Maryland. It reflected interviews with 1003 registered voters conducted in late September 1998. See the ASES press release at .

PV Power Comes to Massachusetts
Speaking of green power, the first solar-electricity power plant in Massachusetts began producing power in early December. The power plant, which will eventually provide 50 kW of power, is being built to serve the new green power market created by deregulation. 60 of the 156 photovoltaic panels are now in place in the North Dartmouth location.

Sun Power Electric of Boston, the nation's first non-profit utility producing all its power from solar energy, owns the system. Sun Power sells the power to AllEnergy for its "green" electricity product, "Re-Gen." DOE contributed to the project through its Utility Photovoltaic Group TEAM-UP program.

Read the full story on EREN's Green Power Network.

Site News

New on EREN: Customer Evaluation Survey
We at EREN want you to tell us how useful the site has been for you and what you would like to see improved. A new survey form posted on the site asks 10 simple questions with radio-button and check-box responses. Space is also provided for you to write in your recommendations. All answers are confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than internal evaluation of the Web site. Please visit the site and fill out the form before March 1st.

New EREN Link: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Inc. (NEEP) is a non-profit regional organization founded to increase and coordinate energy efficiency efforts in the northeast United States. Visit the NEEP Web site for information about the mission and background of NEEP, their partners, and NEEP residential, commercial, and industrial initiatives. News relating to NEEP activities and a calendar of events and meetings are also available.

Energy Facts and Tips

Track Down Air Infiltration Problems Now
The winter storm and cold weather now affecting most of the United States presents a good opportunity for you to track down energy leaks in your home. Pick a cold day and simply feel around windows, doors, baseboards, and other potential leakage locations. Cold spots are indicators of either air infiltration or poor insulation. A cool draft is a sure indicator of air infiltration. Make a note of their location now, and go back on a warm day and add weather-stripping or caulking as appropriate.

Also note how your windows are performing. For instance, if most are clear but one has condensation or icing, there's probably an air infiltration problem with that window. Condensation along the edge of panes probably indicates poor caulking. And if condensation or icing is a general problem with your windows, you should consider replacing them.

It's worth noting that even for those who live in warm climates, controlling air infiltration and insulating properly will save energy and save you money. Although it may not be a problem now, those air leaks will make it harder to keep your house cool when the hot summer days roll around.

A Quarter-Century of Oil Imports
DOE's Energy Information Administration is marking the 25th anniversary of the 1973 Oil Embargo with a Web site devoted to energy trends over that time span. Among the interesting trends noted on this site is that despite energy efficiency efforts, U.S. dependence on imported oil has increased to record levels during the past 25 years.

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