EREN Network News

July 19, 2000

News and Events

• Seattle Seeks 100 Average Megawatts of Green Power
• Hawaii to Add 30 Megawatts of Wind Power
• Navajo Utility Uses Solar Energy to Power Remote Homes
• Toyota Prius Ranked as Greenest Gasoline-Powered Car
• New Patent Could Boost Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries
• Report: "Micropower" Technologies Ideal for Digital Age

• EduGreen — Renewable Energy

• Report Confirms Validity of Strict Mercury Exposure Limits

News and Events

Seattle Seeks 100 Average Megawatts of Green Power
Seattle City Light announced last week that it is seeking proposals to provide up to 100 average megawatts of electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and other green power sources, enough to light 82,500 homes. The city- owned utility is seeking green power as part of the city's Earth Day commitment to meet future electricity needs without any increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

An "average" megawatt refers to the average of the actual electric power produced over the course of a year, rather than the total capacity to produce power. Accounting for the typical power output of a wind power plant, for instance, 100 average megawatts would equal a wind power plant with a total power-producing capacity of 300 to 400 megawatts. See the Seattle City Light press release.

Hawaii to Add 30 Megawatts of Wind Power
Hawaii is slated to boost its electricity production from wind energy by 30 megawatts in the near future. A 10-megawatt wind facility is planned for the Kahua Ranch on the island of Hawaii, and a 20-megawatt facility is being developed near McGregor Point on Maui. Zond Pacific Inc. is developing both wind sites, and on the island of Hawaii, Zond Pacific is teaming with Kahua Power Partners. See the Hawaii State Government Web site.

Navajo Utility Uses Solar Energy to Power Remote Homes
A new power initiative of the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) is using solar electric systems to provide power to remote homes on the Navajo reservation. NTUA is buying 200 solar photovoltaic systems for $2 million and is installing them on individual homes. One hundred of the systems have already been installed. Between 10,000 and 30,000 Navajos are estimated to live without electricity throughout the reservation, which covers parts of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. DOE's Sandia National Laboratories is providing technical support to the initiative. See the press release on the Sandia Web site.

Toyota Prius Ranked as Greenest Gasoline-Powered Car
The hybrid-electric Toyota Prius is the most environmentally friendly gasoline-powered vehicle available in the United States, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The council's Green Book, which rates the environmental performance of cars and trucks, was updated online to include the Prius last week. Although its nearest competitor, the Honda Insight, achieves higher fuel efficiency, the Prius meets California's Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) standard, which gives it the edge over the Insight. The SULEV standard means that the Prius emits only 20 percent of the pollution emitted by a standard new compact car. See the ACEEE press release.

In related news, the Los Angeles Times reported last week that initial sales of the Prius are exceeding expectations and will prompt Toyota Motor Sales USA to seek a production increase. According to the article, U.S. Toyota dealerships processed more than 1,300 sales orders in the first week of advanced sales, but the company had expected to sell, on average, only about 230 cars per week. See the Los Angeles Times online.

New Patent Could Boost Use of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Researchers at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) have been awarded a patent for a new electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries that is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than current electrolytes. Electrolytes allow charged ions to move between the positive and negative poles of a battery, creating electrical current. They are often liquids, such as the acid used in today's lead- acid automotive batteries. Although lithium-ion batteries are currently used in some cell phones and laptop computers, the BNL development could make it feasible to use lithium- ion batteries in large applications like electric and hybrid electric vehicles. See the BNL press release.

Report: "Micropower" Technologies Ideal for Digital Age
A report released last week by the Worldwatch Institute finds that "micropower" technologies — small, user-located power generators — are necessary for providing the high-quality, reliable power needed for today's digital economy. The report suggests that fuel cells, microturbines, solar electric systems, and other power technologies can provide the reliability and quality needed to power digital equipment, while also providing environmental benefits. The report also finds that market rules and electric utility policies discourage the use of micropower technologies in most countries. See the press release, with a link to the full report, on the Worldwatch Institute Web site.

The use of a distributed network of such micropower technologies, rather than (or as a supplement to) a power system dependent on centralized power plants, is a concept often referred to as distributed generation or distributed power. See the Distributed Power Program Web site on EREN.

In related news, a recent brief from DOE's National Center for Photovoltaics (NCPV) notes that solar energy technologies have a significant potential to help maintain reliable power supplies during summer heat waves. Examining six major power outages in 1999, the brief found that local solar electric systems would have been producing 80 to 90 percent of their power capacity at the time of the outages. See the brief on the NCPV Web site.

Site News

EduGreen — Renewable Energy
This site, maintained in India, encourages kids to learn about renewable energy through stories, poems, activities, puzzles, word searches, cartoons, and video clips. It features overviews of solar power, biomass, fuel cells, hydropower, geothermal, and wind energy and includes the status of renewable energy sources in India as well as a description of a model Indian village.

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

Report Confirms Validity of Strict Mercury Exposure Limits
A report released last week by the National Academies of Science (NAS) confirmed that the health effects of mercury at low levels are adverse enough to warrant strict limits on people's exposure to it. The NAS report was requested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in support of rules under consideration that would place limits on mercury emissions from power plants. Coal-fired power plants generate most of the mercury emissions in the United States — approximately 40 tons of mercury each year. The study found that one form of mercury, methylmercury, can cause neurological effects in people, including learning disabilities in children. The report validates the scientific assumptions that EPA made when the mercury emission limits were initially being considered. See the press release on the NAS Web site.

The full text of the report is available online.

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