EREN Network News

December 13, 2000

News and Events

• California Reconsiders Zero Emission Vehicle Rules
• Two Large Solar Electric Systems Go Online in California
• Sandia Buys Wind Power, Makes Plans to Buy 10 Megawatts
• Los Angeles DWP Orders Two More Fuel Cell Systems
• DOE Looks Back on 23 Years of Achievements
• Arizona College Student Builds Sustainable Home

• Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies

• Use Energy Efficiency to Find Relief from High Energy Costs

News and Events

California Reconsiders Zero Emission Vehicle Rules
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced last week that it will reconsider the rules that mandate the sale of zero emissions vehicles (ZEVs) in the state. The current rules require medium and large car manufacturers to make ZEVs comprise 10 percent of their car sales in the year 2003. Part of that requirement can be met with the sale of cars with near-zero emissions, referred to by the ARB as partial-ZEVs or PZEVs. The ARB is now considering allowing hybrid-electric vehicles, fuel-cell vehicles, and other advanced-technology cars to meet a portion of the ZEV requirement. The ARB is also proposing changes in the accounting system that will effectively reduce the number of ZEVs required. A public meeting on the proposed changes will be held on January 25, 2001. See the "Public Hearing Notice" and supporting documentation on the ARB Web site.

Meanwhile, new California legislation is providing $18 million in grants to people or organizations purchasing or leasing a ZEV. Individual grants of up to $9,000 will be awarded over a three-year period. The ARB approved the guidelines for the new ZEV incentive program last week and will begin accepting applications on Friday. See the ARB press release.

The ARB is also starting a new $50 million program to reduce diesel emissions from school buses. The program, approved by the ARB last week, will help fund the purchase of 375 new alternative fuel or cleaner-burning diesel buses, while installing filters on 1875 existing buses. The program will also help defray the added cost of low-sulfur diesel fuel and will provide funds to help develop the alternative fuel infrastructure. See the ARB press release.

Two Large Solar Electric Systems Go Online in California
Southern California's supply of electricity from solar energy increased dramatically last week as two new solar electric systems went online. The largest — located in Orange County — is claimed to be the largest commercial solar electric system in the Western Hemisphere. The system uses almost an acre of solar panels, generating enough electricity to power more than 240 single-family houses. Nearby in Carlsbad, a second solar electric system was dedicated that will generate roughly half as much power. The two systems — located on the rooftops of large commercial and industrial buildings — were developed by RealEnergy Corporation, which will sell the power to the building owners. Edison Development Corporation, a subsidiary of DTE Energy, supplied the solar energy systems, which were built and installed by PowerLight Corporation. See the DTE Energy press release.

Sandia Buys Wind Power, Makes Plans to Buy 10 Megawatts
DOE's Sandia National Laboratories announced last week that it has contracted to purchase the output from a wind turbine located near Clovis, New Mexico. The purchase is expected to provide approximately six percent of the electricity needs at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. Sandia plans to purchase one megawatt of wind power in 2001, increasing to 10 megawatts within the next decade. The current purchase will lead to the installation of a new wind turbine at the Clovis wind site, according to Sandia. See the Sandia press release.

In related news, Vestas Wind Systems A/S announced last week that it has received an additional order from FPL Energy LLC for 346 more of its 660-kilowatt wind turbines. FPL Energy ordered 200 of the turbines in July, with an option to order an additional 600 turbines. In September the company ordered 150 additional turbines, and last week's order increases the total to 696 turbines, with a combined capacity of just under 460 megawatts. See the Vestas press releases.

Los Angeles DWP Orders Two More Fuel Cell Systems
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) has ordered two more 250-kilowatt fuel-cell power plants from FuelCell Energy, Inc. The first power plant is to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2001, and the second in the first quarter of 2002. A previously ordered fuel-cell power plant, announced last year, is to be installed at the DWP headquarters in the second quarter of 2001. See the FuelCell Energy press release.

DOE Looks Back on 23 Years of Achievements
DOE recently took the occasion of its anniversary to look back on its past 23 years and pick the department's 100 best discoveries and innovations. The "Energy 100" includes a wide variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy achievements. The list was further winnowed by a panel of citizen judges to pick the 23 best achievements. The "Energy@23" list includes energy efficient refrigeration, windows, and lights; an aerosol duct sealer; and advanced wind turbines and fuel cells. When asked to pick the five best advances from the past two years, the judges included solar photovoltaic roof shingles in the list. See the Energy 100 Web site.

Arizona College Student Builds Sustainable Home
Some students occasionally feel like they're living and breathing their studies 24 hours a day, but perhaps none has a right to as much as Brad Tito, a student at Prescott College in Arizona. While studying sustainable development, Tito used independent study classes to pursue his ideas for a self-sufficient, environmentally friendly home. He then teamed with an independent contractor to build it, and he now lives in it. The home minimizes its energy use through such features such as strawbale construction, energy- efficient framing and insulation, and triple-paned argon-filled windows. It also incorporates a solar electric system, solar water heating, and passive solar heating. The home relies on a rainwater collection and filtration system for much of its water use. Let's hope he got an "A" for all his work. See the Prescott College press release, which includes photos.

Site News

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies
The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies — a collaboration of environmental organizations, public interest groups and clean technology companies — is engaged in providing technical support to environmental advocates and clean technology developers, primarily in the western United States. The Web site includes clean power news and events as well as basic information about solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, including current market status, cost, economic benefits, and environmental benefits and issues. Visitors can also find information on changes in the electricity industry, sustainable success stories in California, and the cost of maintaining current systems.

For this and other recent additions to the EREN Web site, see http://www.eren.doe.gov/new/whats-new.html.

Energy Facts and Tips

Use Energy Efficiency to Find Relief from High Energy Costs
The high demand for natural gas caused by the current cold snap hitting the United States has raised the prices of natural gas futures to record highs, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Last Wednesday, the gas futures prices for January hit $8.485 per million Btu (roughly equivalent to 1,000 cubic feet) — nearly quadruple the price from last year at this time. For more information, select "Natural Gas Update" on the EIA home page. The Natural Gas Update page also links to a new consumer brochure that explains how natural gas prices work.

Want to see the market in action? You can actually check the futures prices on the Web — they're posted on the New York Mercantile Exchange Web site.

Those consumers using heating oil and propane are also facing increasing prices. See the "Heating Oil and Propane Update," also provided as a link from the EIA home page. And just like the Natural Gas Update, EIA has provided links to new consumer brochures that explain how prices work for these energy sources.

All of this energy news translates into higher heating costs for most of the United States. Although some utilities and their customers are sheltered from these prices by long- term, low-cost contracts, others may see increases of 50 percent or more. To help you deal with these rising energy costs, DOE has put together a special Web page with pointers to a wide variety of energy efficiency information. To access the page, select "How to Lower Your Heating Bill," listed in the Featured Sites section of the EREN home page.

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