EREN - EREN Network News May 17, 2000

EREN Network News

May 17, 2000

News and Events

Arizona Sets Minimum Requirement for Solar Electric Power
Maryland Creates Tax Incentives for Efficiency, Renewables
Alternative Vehicles Shine in 2000 American Tour de Sol
Toshiba Announces Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Achievement
DOE Funds Energy Efficiency Improvements in Schools
DOE Announces Clean Energy Projects for the Pacific Rim

Site News

IEA Photovoltaics Power Systems Program

Energy Facts and Tips

Harvard Study Links Two Coal Plants to 159 Annual Deaths
Bob Vila's "Home Again" Tours Innovative Development

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News and Events

Arizona Sets Minimum Requirement for Solar Electric Power
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) in late April approved a new "Solar and Environmentally Friendly Portfolio Standard," which set minimum requirements for electricity generated from renewable energy — and particularly solar energy — in Arizona. The standard starts at 0.2 percent of total electricity in 2001, grows to 1.0 percent by 2005, and eventually increases to 1.1 percent. Of that, at least 50 percent must come from solar electricity. Various credits are available for power suppliers that already have solar energy installations, that invest in solar energy research and development, and that invest in solar electric manufacturing facilities within the state. The final decision is now posted on the ACC Web site.

Maryland Creates Tax Incentives for Efficiency, Renewables
Last week, Maryland enacted a series of tax credits that will encourage the use of energy efficiency technologies and renewable energy in the state. The package partially or fully waves sales taxes for buyers of energy efficient appliances, heating and cooling equipment, fuel cells for buildings, and hybrid electric cars. The bill also provides income tax credits for buying solar photovoltaic systems or solar hot water systems, and for the production and sale of electricity from renewable energy sources, including wind power, biomass, and landfill gas. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) praised the legislation. See the press release, with a link to a detailed summary of the legislation, on the ACEEE Web site.

Alternative Vehicles Shine in 2000 American Tour de Sol
The 2000 American Tour de Sol, sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA), started Friday in New York City and will end tomorrow in Washington, D.C. The Tour de Sol includes a range of vehicles from production-level electric and hybrid electric cars to experimental solar-electric vehicles. The vehicles are judged within their categories on the basis of performance, environmental emissions, fuel economy, and other factors. The road rally is making stops in major cities to inform people about alternative vehicles, with test drives available for several of the vehicles. For more information, see the Tour de Sol page — especially the "Scoring and Tracking" section – on the NESEA Web site.

Honda scored a marketing coup at the event, providing its Insight hybrid electric car as the pace car and encouraging Insight owners to sign up for the event. According to NESEA, 10 Insights are participating in the road rally. See the Honda press release.

Toshiba Announces Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Achievement
Toshiba Corporation announced earlier this month that it has made a significant achievement in the production of organic- dye-sensitized solar cells. Unlike typical photovoltaic solar cells, which use expensive semiconductor materials such as silicon, the dye-sensitized cells use dye-coated particles of relatively inexpensive titanium dioxide. The dye captures the sunlight's energy and the titanium dioxide converts that energy into an electrical current. One drawback, however, has been the use of a liquid electrolyte to carry the charge through the solar cell.

Toshiba's main achievement is the development of a solid electrolyte for dye-sensitized solar cells. Toshiba has also reduced cost by building the cell on a sheet of plastic, rather than glass, while boosting the conversion efficiency of the cell from about 5 percent to 7.3 percent — that is, 7.3 percent of sunlight striking the cell is converted to electricity. Toshiba hopes to license the technology, which is still at the research stage. See the Toshiba press release.

DOE Funds Energy Efficiency Improvements in Schools
DOE announced last week that it is providing $4.7 million in funding towards the EnergySmart Schools program, which encourages energy-efficiency improvements in U.S. schools. State energy programs are expected to equally match the federal funds. See the DOE press release.

The announcement was made in San Diego, California, where a recent $216,000 investment to improve Euclid Elementary School has slashed the school’s electric bills by 40 percent and cut total energy consumption by 28 percent. Although the size of the elementary school has increased and utility rates have risen, the school has trimmed its annual utility bill by $20,000. Because of its exceptional energy performance, the school was awarded the DOE/EPA EnergyStar Buildings Label. See the EnergyStar Buildings Web site.

DOE Announces Clean Energy Projects for the Pacific Rim
DOE has announced three new clean energy initiatives as a result of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministers Conference, which concluded last week. The three initiatives will promote voluntary cooperative efforts among member economies that encourage the use of renewable energy for sustainable economic development and growth; promote greater development and standardization of energy efficiency standards, testing procedures and labeling; and help establish open energy markets to encourage the practical application and marketing of clean energy technologies. See the DOE press release.

APEC includes most countries that border the Pacific Ocean, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan, China, and Russia. In conjunction with the APEC Energy Ministers Conference, DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report summarizing energy issues and trends in each of the APEC member countries. See the EIA report.

Site News

IEA Photovoltaics Power Systems Program
This program is a collaborative effort established by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The program's 22 member nations are currently conducting eight research projects on the applications of photovoltaic solar energy systems. The site provides news on the latest research developments from the program and other sources, as well as contact information and lists of available publications and upcoming photovoltaic events.

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

Energy Facts and Tips

Harvard Study Links Two Coal Plants to 159 Annual Deaths
It has long been known that coal-fired power plants produce sooty particulates and other smog-producing pollutants, and it is also well known that these pollutants contribute to health problems. But actually quantifying the effect of a coal-fired power plant on public health has remained elusive — until this month. Using a sophisticated model of how particulates are dispersed in the atmosphere, the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found that two coal-fired power plants in Massachusetts cause an estimated 43,000 asthma attacks and 300,000 upper respiratory problems per year in the Northeast. An estimated 159 premature deaths occur due to the pollution, according to the report, with 20 percent of the health impact falling on the residents living within 30 miles of the power plants.

The Harvard study examined the Salem Harbor and Brayton Point power plants, both of which are older plants that are exempt from Clean Air Act emission restrictions. The study estimated that using the best available control technology would reduce premature deaths by 124 per year and eliminate 34,000 asthma attacks and 230,000 upper respiratory difficulties. See the HSPH press release, with a link to the full report.

In response to the report, the operators of the plants and four other coal-fired power plants in Massachusetts announced an agreement with the state to reduce their emissions by 50 percent by 2003. Meanwhile, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) noted that the report clearly shows the health benefits of using renewable energy sources such as wind energy. See the AWEA press release.

Bob Vila's "Home Again" Tours Innovative Development
Continuing our look at Bob Vila's "Home Again," this week's show includes takes a tour of the Civano development in Tucson, Arizona. The development showcases energy- efficient homes in a number of styles that include solar energy features. Many of the homes are built with alternative materials such as straw bale and adobe brick. For more details about the "Home Again" show, plus lists of local TV schedules, see Bob Vila's Web site.

Civano has been named a National Pilot Project for the Partnership for Advanced Technology in Housing (PATH). PATH is a voluntary initiative that links key agencies in the federal government with leaders from the home building, product manufacturing, insurance, financial and regulatory communities to achieve technological innovation in the U.S. housing industry. See the overview of Civano on the PATH Web site.