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June - July 2001

Conservation Update



State Energy Offices Bulletin

Stories submitted by state energy offices about their projects.

Arizona

Arizona Army National Guard Ecobuilding

The Arizona Army National Guard is constructing a 5,200 square-foot, environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient office building in Phoenix, aptly called the Ecobuilding. The primary building material is used tires compacted with earth. As a result, the building uses substantially less wood than conventional structures, while incorporating thermal mass. The structure is completely self sustaining because it uses the natural cycles and elements to generate its own electricity through solar panels, harvests its own water from rain that is collected from the roof and stored in cisterns, and recycles its gray and blackwater on-site. The building design approach was to develop a holistic system that doesn't deplete natural resources. It is the recipient of Governors Pride In Arizona 2000 Environmental Leadership Award. For more information visit their Web site.



DOE

Department and States Join to Fund $40 Million in 164 Energy-Saving Projects

The Department of Energy, 48 states, three territories and the District of Columbia will combine resources to provide $40 million for 164 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. U.S. DOE is providing $17.5 million in funding through its State Energy Program special projects competitive grants.

The states and their partners will provide approximately $22.5 million in additional funds through cost-sharing agreements. These projects will help to conserve energy, provide jobs, increase national energy security, and reduce the need for new electricity generating plants.

For information on award categories and funding amounts, visit the U.S. DOE Web site.



Energizing Schools 2001: Energy, Transportation, and Electric Vehicles

On October 18-19, 2001, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is conducting a two-day conference near Philadelphia for educators, school administrators, and students on incorporating energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation issues, and alternative-fueled vehicles into the curriculum and on greening school facilities. Visit NESEA's Web site or call (413) 774-6051 for information on registration.



Laboratories for the 21st Century Conference

The Oct. 2-4, 2001, conference in Washington, D.C., brings together both private and public sector laboratory designers, engineers, owners, and operators to address issues related to laboratory energy and environmental efficiency. Two, one-day workshops will be held in conjunction with the conference: High Performance, Low Energy Laboratory Design Workshop, Oct. 1, and International Perspectives, Oct. 5.

Visit the Web site for more information and conference registration.



Leaders Teaming Up to Improve Ethanol Production

Under a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is teaming with Broin and Associates, Inc., a major ethanol producer, on a one-year, $446,000 project to develop new technologies to improve the efficiency of U.S. ethanol production.

NREL is a leader in research to develop new technologies for producing ethanol from fibrous, cellulosic plant material such as corn stalks and husks, which DOE sees as a promising way to meet future needs for transportation fuel with domestic, renewable energy.



Iowa

DNR Introduces New Wind Study for Iowa

A new study sponsored by the Department of Natural Resources evaluates the costs and capabilities of wind hybrid systems, which combine wind energy with other power sources for electricity generation. Sharon Tahtinen, chief of the DNR's Energy Bureau, said "This study analyzes how wind can be matched with natural gas or diesel generators, hydropower, solar, and other energy sources, for maximum reliability."

The study provides a calculator for entering information on a location's wind resources, electricity needs, and other factors. The information can then be used to compare a variety of potential hybrid systems for their costs and ability to meet the locale's electricity needs. The study was sponsored by the DNR with funding from U.S. DOE.



FERC Upholds Net Billing in Iowa

Iowa's alternative energy producers received a victory in March when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) upheld net billing arrangements in Iowa. Net billing allows entities like schools, farms, and residences to install alternative energy facilities and produce power for their own electricity needs—during a monthly billing period, if additional power is needed, the facility purchases it from the utility at retail rates. If the facility produces more power than it uses, it sells the excess to the utility at a lower, avoided cost rate.

The FERC decision denied MidAmerican Energy's petition to override the Iowa Utilities Board's net billing requirements. FERC stated that net billing arrangements are legal and not in violation of any federal laws. FERC ruled that only one transaction takes place between a utility and alternative energy facility at the end of a given billing period—either a net sale or net purchase for electricity—and this transaction is allowable through the Federal Power Act and other federal guidelines. FERC also ruled that a month is a reasonable timeframe for measuring the net transaction.



Iowan Wins National Energy Leadership Award

John Root, energy services advisor at Muscatine Power and Water (MP&W) and local coordinator for his community's Rebuild Iowa program, was honored with the Rebuild America Partnership Leader of the Year Award at a national forum in Atlanta, Ga., on March 14. U.S. DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary Mark Ginsberg presented Root with the award for his work to improve his community through the Energize Muscatine initiative.

Root launched Energize Muscatine in the fall of 1999 through Rebuild Iowa, a program coordinated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with support from U.S. DOE's Rebuild America. Root has raised community awareness about the benefits of adopting energy-efficiency measures and as a result, Muscatine building owners implemented energy-saving measures in 25 facilities, representing nearly 750,000 square feet during the program's first year. These improvements save $32,000 and avoid the emission of 12 tons of sulfur oxides and 456 tons of carbon dioxide annually.



New State Vehicles Exceed Fuel Economy Standards

In a report by the Iowa Department of General Services, more than 250 vehicles purchased by the state of Iowa in 2000 exceeded national fuel economy standards. State law requires that all new cars purchased for its fleet must meet or exceed the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards of 27.5 miles per gallon for passenger vehicles and 20.8 miles per gallon for light trucks and vans.

Out of 468 vehicles purchased, 151 passenger cars obtained 33.59 miles per gallon, six miles per gallon above CAFE standards. Ninety-two light trucks and vans purchased by the state average 24.35 miles per gallon, exceeding CAFE standards for that vehicle type by three miles per gallon. The remaining 230 vehicles purchased by the state were exempt from meeting fuel standards because of use in law enforcement.



Kentucky

Division Director to Serve on Governor�s Energy Advisory Board

Kentucky Division of Energy Director John Davies is serving on the newly created Kentucky State Energy Policy Advisory Board. In May, Gov. Paul Patton signed an executive order establishing the board, which will be attached to the Kentucky Public Service Commission and will advise the governor on the state's energy needs. The board will assess Kentucky's energy supply and study the need for additional power plants; study the economic impact of the state's ability to generate low-cost electricity; and monitor the environmental impact of the state's energy policies. The board includes administration staff, a representative from the Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research at the University of Kentucky, plus four appointed members, including consumer and environmental advocates and members of Kentucky's utility and coal industries.