EREN Network News

June 21, 2000

News and Events

• DaimlerChrysler Expects to Sell Fuel-Cell Cars by 2004
• Los Angeles Bans Diesel Buses, Promotes Solar Energy
• West Virginia University Wins First FutureTruck Competition
• First Home Manufactured Using Foam-Core Panels
• Nine School Districts Earn the Energy Star Label

• Distributed Power Program

• Manufacturing Emits One-Quarter of Energy-Related Carbon

About this Newsletter

News and Events

DaimlerChrysler Expects to Sell Fuel-Cell Cars by 2004
DaimlerChrysler announced Monday that it expects to sell fuel-cell-powered automobiles by 2004. The news follows an April announcement by the company that it will sell city buses powered by fuel cells in 2002, which was also confirmed in Monday's announcement. See the DaimlerChrysler news release.

In related news, Honda announced early this month that it will be working in a new cooperative partnership to study and advance ultra-clean vehicles. Honda will work with the University of California at Riverside, the California Air Resources Board, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the research project. General Motors Corporation and the Ford Motor Company are also contributing to the project. See the Honda press release.

Los Angeles Bans Diesel Buses, Promotes Solar Energy
Two separate actions by Los Angeles entities last week will promote the use of clean energy in the city. The first was a landmark decision by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), adopting regulations that ban the purchase of diesel-fueled municipal buses and garbage trucks for the city. Public transit agencies, cities and trash haulers under contract to public agencies will be required to purchase buses and trucks that use clean fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, methanol, electric batteries and fuel cells. However, if low-polluting diesel trucks or buses become available, AQMD pledged to amend the rules to allow the purchase of clean diesel vehicles.

AQMD also passed a regulation that will require government agencies in the region to purchase from among the cleaner cars, pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles on the market. See the AQMD Web site.

The second action was taken by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which announced a $6 million contract with AstroPower, Inc. to install solar electric systems throughout the city. The majority of the panels will be installed on the Los Angeles Convention Center, making it the largest solar-powered building in North America. The contract marks the start of a four-year, $38 million project to provide solar power to LADWP customers. See the LADWP press release.

The LADWP news follows an earlier announcement that the utility will subsidize the installation of solar energy systems in its service area. The company will pay up to $5 per watt to homeowners and businesses that buy and install their own solar energy systems. See the LADWP press release.

West Virginia University Wins First FutureTruck Competition
General Motors Corporation (GM) announced last week that a team of engineering students from West Virginia University won the first FutureTruck competition. Starting with a standard Chevrolet Suburban, the team was able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent while maintaining much of its overall performance. A team from the University of California at Davis achieved the highest fuel efficiency, 18.7 miles per gallon — roughly 13 percent better than their original Suburban. See the GM press release.

In related news, GM also announced last week that starting in 2002, all its 5.3-liter V8 Chevrolet Suburbans and Tahoes and GMC Yukons and Yukon XLs will be capable of running on varying blends of ethanol and gasoline, up to a maximum 85 percent ethanol (E85). The new Chevrolet Avalanche will also have E85 capability in its standard 5.3-liter V8 model, beginning in the 2003 model year. See the GM press release.

First Home Manufactured Using Foam-Core Panels
The first-ever manufactured house constructed entirely of energy-efficient foam-core panels rolled off the assembly line last week. The demonstration home, built at the Champion Enterprises factory in Silverton, Oregon, is expected to cut heating and cooling costs up to 50 percent compared to a manufactured home built to the minimum housing code. Manufactured housing comprises about 20 to 30 percent of new U.S. home sales. See the DOE press release.

Foam-core panels sandwich an insulating layer of foam between two structural panels, creating a highly insulating floor, wall or ceiling that replaces standard stud framing. They are often referred to as structural insulating panels (SIPs). See the Structural Insulating Panel Association's Web site.

Nine School Districts Earn the Energy Star Label
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that nine school districts across the country had received the first Energy Star label for schools. The label is given to buildings with energy performance in the top 25 percent of their peer group. See the DOE press release.

DOE helps schools achieve energy efficiency through its EnergySmart Schools program. This year, the program will award $4.7 million to schools for energy efficiency improvements. See the EnergySmart Schools Web site on EREN.

Site News

Distributed Power Program
This site describes DOE's Distributed Power Program and its activities, as well as providing information and current news about barriers to distributed power, policies and regulations, technical interconnection issues and upcoming events.

Energy Facts and Tips

Manufacturing Emits One-Quarter of Energy-Related Carbon
A new report from DOE's Energy Information Administration finds that manufacturing produces more than a quarter of the total U.S. energy-related carbon emissions. Three industries — petroleum, chemicals, and primary metals — produce nearly 60 percent of the total energy-related carbon emissions from manufacturing. Of all industrial activities, manufacturing dominates both the energy use and the energy-related carbon emissions, at roughly 80 percent of both. See the EIA report, "Energy-Related Carbon Emissions in Manufacturing."

DOE's Industries of the Future program concentrates on energy-saving technologies for the nine most energy- intensive industries, including the petroleum, chemical, steel and aluminum industries. See the Industries of the Future Web site.

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