EREN Network News
June 28, 2000
News and Events
- Northern States Power Plans 80-Megawatt Wind Addition
- Solar Energy Plant Coming to Gilbert, Arizona
- Sears to Sell New Energy Star Clothes Washer
- Energy Use Halved in Boston Low-Income Housing Project
- HUD Funds Energy-Saving Homebuilding Technologies
- Solectria to Develop Microturbine-Powered Delivery Truck
- Manhattan Scientifics Demonstrates Fuel-Cell Bicycle
Site News
Energy Facts and Tips
- BP Amoco's World Energy Review Finds Slow Growth
About this Newsletter
News and Events
Northern States Power Plans 80-Megawatt Wind Addition
Minnesota-based Northern States Power Co. (NSP)
announced last week that it is requesting proposals for the
development of 80 megawatts of new wind-generated
electricity. The company plans to install the new wind
capacity — enough to power 20,000 households — by the end
of 2002. The installation will complete NSP's commitment to
install 425 megawatts of wind energy by 2002. See the NSP
press release.
Solar Energy Plant Coming to Gilbert, Arizona
The town of Gilbert, Arizona, last week approved a plan to
install a 125-kilowatt solar photovoltaic electric system on
town property. The system will produce enough electricity to
power 25 to 40 homes. Arizona Public Service Company
(APS) is installing the system as part of its green power
program, APS Solar Partners. The one-acre site will consist
of 10 solar arrays, which will track the sun from east to west
on a single axis. Each solar array will be about 150 feet long
and 8 feet wide. See the APS press release.
Sears to Sell New Energy Star Clothes Washer
Sears, Roebuck and Co. announced yesterday that it will
begin selling a new energy-efficiency clothes washer, the
Kenmore Elite Calypso. The washer, built by the Whirlpool
Corporation, is the largest-capacity residential washer on the
market today, yet its energy- and water-saving features have
qualified it for the Energy Star label. DOE estimates the
washer could save nearly $100 and 7,100 gallons of water
each year by using the washer. See the DOE press release.
Energy Use Halved in Boston Low-Income Housing Project
A low-income housing development that will use half the
energy of standard U.S. housing was dedicated Monday in
Boston. The Erie-Ellington Homes in Boston's Dorchester
neighborhood will not only save energy, they also cost
25 percent less to build than comparable traditionally built
homes. The homes were designed using a systems
engineering approach that takes advantage of downsized
heating and cooling equipment because of better insulation.
DOE's Building America project participated in the
construction of the development. See the DOE press release.
Readers with a strong interest in energy-saving technologies
for buildings may be interested in the Summer Study on
Energy Efficiency in Buildings, hosted by the American
Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The
conference will be held August 20th to 25th in Pacific Grove,
California. See the ACEEE Web site.
HUD Funds Energy-Saving Homebuilding Technologies
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) announced last week that it is providing $1.1 million in
funding for six industry projects to develop new
homebuilding technologies, most of which will result in
improved home energy efficiency. The technologies include
programmable thermostats, insulating panels, pre-insulated
forms for pouring concrete foundations and walls, and
roofing materials that keep the home cool while generating
electricity. The funding is made available through the
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH),
and marks the start of the new PATH Cooperative Research
Program. See the HUD press release.
Solectria to Develop Microturbine-Powered Delivery Truck
Solectria Corporation announced last week that it has been
awarded $262,000 by the U.S. Department of Transportation
for the development of a hybrid-electric delivery truck. The
truck will be propelled by a 70-kilowatt electric drive system.
An onboard, 30-kilowatt Capstone microturbine will convert
natural gas fuel into electricity to recharge the electric drive
system. See the Solectria press release.
Manhattan Scientifics Demonstrates Fuel-Cell Bicycle
Manhattan Scientifics, Inc. announced earlier this month that
it has successfully tested a fuel-cell-powered bicycle. The
bike features a carbon-fiber hydrogen tank mounted above
the rear wheel, and a cylindrical fuel cell stack mounted on
the handlebars. The company claims the motorized bike
could go up to 62 miles at speeds of 18 miles per hour. See
the Manhattan Scientifics press release.
Site News
GoingSolar
This site, sponsored by the Interstate Renewable Energy
Council, provides information and help for those interested in
using solar energy in their communities. It features a model
education kit that includes videos, radio public service
announcements, fact sheets, brochures, videos, photos, and
posters. GoingSolar also houses a listserve and archive for
information exchange for community leaders interested in
sharing information.
Energy Facts and Tips
BP Amoco's World Energy Review Finds Slow Growth
BP Amoco has released its annual review of world energy
use for 1999, which finds that world energy consumption
grew only 0.2 percent over 1998 levels. The slow growth
was due mainly to countries with emerging and developing
economies, which experienced a 2.3 percent drop in energy
use. This was due in part to the Asian economic crisis.
Among developed countries, energy use grew 1.4 percent.
The United States led the pack for increased energy use,
with an increase of 1.6 percent in 1999. See BP Amoco's
"Statistical Review of World Energy".
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