EREN Network News

April 19, 2000

News and Events

• Largest Eastern U.S. Wind Plant Being Built in New York
• Seattle to Meet Future Electricity Needs Without
• Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Green Power Brings New Solar Installation to California
• PacifiCorp Initiates Green Power Project for Western States
• First Hybrid Fuel-Cell/Microturbine Power Plant to be Tested
• Report Ranks States on Utility Energy Efficiency Programs

• Renewable Northwest Project

• EIA Publishes "Primer on Gasoline Prices"

About this Newsletter

News and Events

Largest Eastern U.S. Wind Plant Being Built in New York
Ground was broken last week for the construction of a new 11.5-megawatt wind power plant in Madison, New York, which will be the largest wind power plant in the eastern United States. PG&E Corporation is building the facility with partial funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The plant will produce approximately 24 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, to be sold to directly to large organizations and to consumers and smaller organizations through green power marketing companies. See the PG&E Corporation press release.

Seattle to Meet Future Electricity Needs Without Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Seattle City Council unanimously adopted a proposal last week to meet Seattle's future electricity needs with no net emissions of greenhouse gases. Seattle City Light, the city's municipal utility, will meet the goal by encouraging energy efficiency, relying on existing hydropower, and developing new renewables such as wind, geothermal, solar and landfill gas. If new fossil fuel use is necessary, the city will offset the emissions through other measures such as forest protection. See the Seattle City Council press release.

Seattle adopted the proposal in recognition of Earth Day 2000, which has the theme of "Clean Energy Now!" For information about the 30th anniversary of Earth Day, coming up this Saturday, April 22nd, see the Earth Day Network.

Green Power Brings New Solar Installation to California
A new 100-kilowatt solar electric system is coming to California's Bay Area, thanks to consumers who have chosen to buy green power. The photovoltaic system will be installed on the roof of the PowerLight Corporation's new photovoltaic manufacturing plant, located in Berkeley. The new system, to be installed this summer, will be funded by customers who are buying the trademarked "Solar for the Future" energy brand from GreenMountain.com. See the GreenMountain.com press release.

The "Solar for the Future" energy product is the newest power product from GreenMountain.com, and is the first U.S. green power product to specifically support the construction of new solar energy facilities. For every 1,000 customers that purchase the product, another 10 kilowatts of photovoltaic power will be installed. The product received the "Green-e" certification from the non-profit Center for Resource Solutions just last week. See the Green-e press release.

PowerLight's new facility will produce up to 15 megawatts per year of the company's PowerGuard tiles, a roofing tile that generates electricity while protecting and insulating the roofs of buildings. The production plant already features a 15-kilowatt PowerGuard system as part of its roof, and the remainder of the facility's power is being provided from the "Solar for the Future" energy product. The plant was funded in part by DOE, the California Energy Commission, and the California Trade and Commerce Agency. See the PowerLight Web site.

In related news, Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD), United Solar Systems Corporation, and N.V. Bekaert S.A. have agreed to expand United Solar's photovoltaic manufacturing capacity fivefold with the construction of a new facility. The new plant will be capable of producing 25 megawatts of thin-film photovoltaic devices each year. See the press release on the ECD Web site.

PacifiCorp Initiates Green Power Project for Western States
PacifiCorp announced last week the start of their new "Blue Sky" program to sell wind-generated electricity in the western United States. The company is currently accepting customer sign-ups for the program, which will sell 100-kilowatt-hour monthly blocks of wind power for $4.75 per month. The program is currently available to customers of Pacific Power & Light in Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming and to customers of Utah Power & Light in Utah. PacifiCorp is currently negotiating on the actual wind site. The company plans to choose the location by fall 2000, with operation beginning by the end of 2001. See the "Blue Sky" page on the PacifiCorp Web site.

First Hybrid Fuel-Cell/Microturbine Power Plant to be Tested
DOE announced on Monday the completion of the world's first hybrid combination of a fuel cell and a microturbine in a power plant. Manufactured by Northern Research and Engineering Corporation as part of DOE's advanced fuel cell program, the power plant uses tubular ceramic fuel cells that operate under high pressure. The hot, pressurized exhaust gas is then used to power the microturbine. The 220-kilowatt power plant operates at 55 percent efficiency and can power more than 200 homes.

Siemens Westinghouse performed critical factory acceptance testing on the power plant. It is now being shipped to the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California-Irvine, where it will be tested for a year in a commercial setting by Southern California Edison. See the DOE press release.

In related news, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) announced Monday that it is installing a microturbine generator for testing in its White Plains headquarters building. Testing of the 30-kilowatt microturbine, manufactured by Capstone Turbine Corporation, will begin in June and extend for at least six months. See the NYPA press release.

Report Ranks States on Utility Energy Efficiency Programs
A new report by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) ranks all 50 U.S. states in terms of the effectiveness of their utility-run energy efficiency programs. Washington tops the list and West Virginia lands at the bottom. See the ACEEE press release.

In related news, a recent report by the Rand Corporation for the California Energy Commission finds that California consumers are making a good investment in energy efficiency. According to the report, the energy efficiency benefit in 1995 to the California economy ranges from $875 to $1,300 per capita. This benefit derives from energy efficiency improvements enacted since 1977. See the report on the Rand Web site.

Site News

Renewable Northwest Project
This broad coalition of public-interest organizations and energy companies promotes renewable energy development in the northwestern region of the United States. The site covers the basics of wind, solar, and geothermal energy, as well as their potential for use, cost, economic and environmental impact, and any available incentive programs. Northwestern renewable energy news and statistics are also included.

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

Energy Facts and Tips

EIA Publishes "Primer on Gasoline Prices"
Have you been trying to figure out what's happening with gasoline prices? A new publication from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) might help. EIA's "Primer on Gasoline Prices" is a short pamphlet that explains the cost components in gasoline prices and discusses factors that cause gasoline prices to fluctuate. See the Primer and other related information about gasoline prices by selecting "Gasoline and Diesel Update" on the EIA's Petroleum page.

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