EREN Network News

February 21, 2001

News and Events

• BPA Starts $200-Million Program for Renewables, Efficiency
• More Than 400,000 Ohioans May Receive Green Power
• Reports Examine the Energy Future of the Midwest
• New Clean Car Prototype Features Honda-Made Fuel Cell
• California Winery Uses Clean Energy to Stabilize Costs

• Consumer Energy Center

• Scientists Release New Assessment of Climate Change Impacts

News and Events

BPA Starts $200-Million Program for Renewables, Efficiency
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) announced last week the launch of a $200-million program to save energy and develop renewable energy resources. Over the next five years, regional utilities that buy power from BPA and choose to participate will get a discount on their wholesale power bill if they agree to invest in energy efficiency measures or renewable resources. Each utility will decide how to spend its discount funds to achieve the desired results for its service area. BPA's principal service territory includes the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, and the portion of Montana west of the Continental Divide. BPA also directly serves small portions of California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. See the BPA press release.

More Than 400,000 Ohioans May Receive Green Power
Green Mountain Energy Company announced last week that it has been selected to serve more than 400,000 electricity customers in Ohio. A group called the Northeast Ohio Public Energy Council (NOPEC) has brought together the customers from nearly 100 communities in the Cleveland area to buy power as a group — a process known as "aggregation." NOPEC selected Green Mountain Energy Company and will enter into a six-year supply contract with the company. Green Mountain Energy Company will provide power to customers within NOPEC unless these choose to "opt-out."

According to a NOPEC press release, Green Mountain Energy Company will obtain 98 percent of its electric supply from natural gas-fired power plants and 2 percent from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The company will also install solar energy systems at eight schools, offering students the opportunity for hands-on study of solar power. See the Green Mountain Energy Company press release.

For more information about NOPEC, including their press release, see the NOPEC Web site.

Reports Examine the Energy Future of the Midwest
What does the future hold for Midwestern states like Ohio? At least one organization, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, sees the ten Midwestern states using energy efficiency to curb electricity consumption a full 28 percent by 2020, with renewable energy providing 22 percent of the electricity that is used. See the "Repowering the Midwest" report.

What would it cost, for example, to supply 10 percent of Nebraska's electricity needs with wind power? According to a recent report from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), doing so by 2012 would create 360 more jobs, $8 million more in income, and $35 million more in gross state product than producing the same amount of electricity from coal and natural gas generation. The study also found that the net benefits to the state economy would exceed the additional cost of developing wind power by nearly $15 million per year over a 20-year period. See the UCS press release.

New Clean Car Prototype Features Honda-Made Fuel Cell
Honda Motor Company, Ltd., unveiled its latest fuel-cell- powered vehicle, the FCX-V3, last week. Unlike previous Honda prototypes, which ran on fuel cells made by Ballard Power Systems, Inc., the new model features a fuel cell designed by Honda. The vehicle starts up in only four seconds and uses an ultracapacitor to improve response. It will be road tested as part of the California Fuel Cell Partnership's public highway demonstration program. See the Honda press release.

Mazda has also built a prototype fuel-cell car, the Premacy FC-EV, which it will road test in Japan. Mazda has been working with Ford Motor Company on research and development of the FC-EV. See the Mazda press release.

California Winery Uses Clean Energy to Stabilize Costs
While many businesses in California have seen their energy costs skyrocket, at least one business is riding out the storm with stable energy costs. Through a combination of an aggressive energy-efficiency program, a solar electric system, and a contract to buy 100 percent of its power from renewable energy sources, Fetzer Vineyards of California's Mendocino Valley has held its energy costs steady. Despite plans to boost its production above its current three million cases of wine per year, the winery expects that new energy- saving approaches will greatly reduce its energy use this year. See the Fetzer Vineyards press release.

Meanwhile, the electrical crisis in California appears to have lessened, at least temporarily. After 32 days at Stage Three (operating reserves at or below 1.5 percent, with rolling blackouts possible), the operator of the California electrical grid went to Stage Two (operating reserves at or below 5 percent) on Friday near midnight, and remains at Stage Two as of press time. See the California Independent System Operator Web site.

Site News

Consumer Energy Center
Developed by the California Energy Commission, this site offers consumers a variety of information on energy topics, ranging from the cost and benefits of investing in solar panels and small scale wind projects to building efficiency and construction practices to suit California's various climate regions. Tips on conserving electricity while using today's modern conveniences are included, as well as specific advice for industrial and agricultural consumers.

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

Scientists Release New Assessment of Climate Change Impacts
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced last week that its latest assessment of the worldwide impacts of climate change has been completed. The report finds that recent regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases, have already affected many physical and biological systems throughout the world. There are also preliminary indications that some social and economic systems have been affected by an increasing frequency of floods and droughts. The IPCC was established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988. Although its full report is not yet available, a "Summary for Policymakers" is available on the IPCC Web site.

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