Utah Coalition for New Energy Technologies Update
28 April 2003
In This Edition:
Welcome to New Coalition Members
Colorado:
Maynard/David Partnership, Inc.
Murray, Franke, Greenhouse, List & Lippitt, LLP
Science and Safety Resources Inc.
Utah:
News from Western Business Coalition for New Energy Technologies
New Mexico: New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies Launched at Statehouse Press Conference
Coalition Holds Statehouse Briefings in:
Arizona: Solar Industry Update
Colorado: Economic Benefits of Wind Energy
Utah: Inaugural Utah Briefing Features Wind, Geothermal and Energy Efficiency
Regional Legislative News:
Arizona: Contractors’ Solar Exemption; Energy Cost Savings in Schools; Energy Conservation in Public Buildings
Colorado: Renewable Energy Standard
New Mexico: Summaries of Successful Legislation from 2003 Legislature
Utah: Renewable Energy Standard
News Items from Members of Western Business Coalition for New Energy Technologies
-
Ski Industry Teams With NRDC on New Campaign to Fight Global Warming
-
CH2M Hill International Consortia to Compete for Key Projects for 2008 Beijing Olympics
-
NativeSun and Grand Canyon Trust staff and new solar panel at Trust headquarters
-
Dairyland Power to Participate in Renewable Gas-to-Energy Generation
-
CPC Launches First Biopowered Community Productive Use Platform
Regional News
Arizona: Tucson Celebrates Earth Day by Opening a Zero-Energy Home
NAU seeking energy resources for Navajos
Court Says Homeowners Have a Right to use Solar Energy
Colorado: Ft. Collins City Council Passes Colorado’s First Renewable Energy & Efficiency Standard
NREL Highlights Leading Utility Green Power Programs
Jefferson County honors NREL with Genesis Award
News from Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation:
Colorado Energy Research Institute Receives Funding
OEMC Receives Wirth Chair Award
OEMC Seeks Consultants for Rebuild Colorado Program
Colorado NanoBusiness Alliance Releases Report
New Mexico: PNM Seeks to Offer Wind Power To Customers
Utah Moab Mayor Seeks ‘Blue Sky’ Wind Power
National News
-
House Science Committee Approves Udall/Beauprez Science Education Bill
-
DOI and DOE Release Report Evaluating Renewable Energy Resources on Public Lands
-
Platts Reports that Renewables Provide Valuable Insurance Against Natural Gas Price Uncertainty
-
Even without Kyoto, GHG trading in the U.S. is “set to soar”
-
American Corn Growers Foundation Launches Wind Power Education Project
-
Solar Electric Power Association Launches New Installation Database
-
Clean Edge Predicts Rapid Growth in New Energy Technologies Market
-
EPA Offers Online Tool for Calculating Environmental Impacts of Electricity Use
-
Two New Documents on Energy Efficiency and Wind Available from EERE
-
Energy Secretary Abraham Announces Pollution-Free Power Plant of the Future
-
Agriculture Department Announces Grants for Renewable Energy Initiatives
International News
Upcoming Events
Arizona: SRP Solar Spectacular, Tempe, 3 May
Southwest Renewable Energy Fair, Flagstaff, 8-10 August
UPEX 2003, Scottsdale, 7-11 October
Colorado: Rocky Mountain AESP meeting and forum wind on power, Golden, 30 April
33rd Annual BioCycle National Conference, Denver, 5-7 May 2003
Green Power Options Seminar 2003
Colorado Renewable Energy Conference, Montrose, 27-29 June
WELCOME TO NEW COALITION MEMBERS:
[For complete member lists of the Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah Coalitions for New Energy Technologies, visit the respective state sites at www.newenergytechnologies.org]
Colorado
Dutko Group
Denver
The Dutko Group is a public affairs firm which plays strategic, bipartisan roles in policy debates at the federal, state and local levels. Based in Washington D.C., with an office in Denver, the Dutko Group companies work on a broad range of issues and have an extensive sustainable development program. The Dutko Group has been recognized as one of the top ten lobbying firms in the United States by Fortune Magazine.
Maynard/David Partnership, Inc.
Arvada
The Maynard/David Partnership, Inc. is an architecture, planning and design firm, specializing and exclusively serving the advanced technology community. With over 25 years experience each in the programming, planning and design of technical facilities, the principals Roger E. Maynard, AIA and Victoria David, AIA are committed to 100% client satisfaction, creative design excellence in the design of high performance low energy laboratory environments. The company’s approach to the planning and design of such facilities focuses on primary design issues of worker safety, modular planning for growth, space flexibility and emphasizes a whole building approach to sustainable systems and building materials selection.
Murray, Franke, Greenhouse, List & Lippitt, LLP
Denver
MFGLL is a 10-lawyer firm located in downtown Denver. The firm’s lawyers represent and have represented a variety of energy and wind-energy-related companies handling matters such as mergers and acquisitions, right-of-way issues, condemnations, leases, power purchase agreements, and wind-energy supply agreements. MFGLL also represents clients regarding corporate, general business, finance, and real estate matters. MFGLL’s lawyers are licensed in Colorado, Florida, Wyoming, Louisiana, and California.
Science and Safety Resources Inc.
Bailey/Denver
Science and Safety Resources, Inc. is a consulting engineering firm long active in renewable energy technologies, especially wind. The company has erected a met tower near Como, Colorado and has accumulated nearly 18 months of wind data in a region of Colorado heretofore unexplored. Science and Safety Resources represents approximately ten ranches and over 12,000 acres of prime windfarm land. When the political environment becomes mature, the company will strive to co-develop utility scale wind farms in the South Park region of Colorado.
http://www.solarsolutions.com/
Silver Cliff
Solar Solutions Ltd. is committed to promoting the use of Renewable Energy through its consultation, design, sales & installation of PV, Wind & hybrid electric power systems. Our systems have included remote homes, RV’s, water pumping for ranchers, telecommunications & grid tie applications. We also provide technical assistance for the DIY homeowner and a maintenance program for the general servicing of your system. A finance program is also available for new systems.
Utah
Best Biofuels
Milford
BEST Biofuels will build Utah’s first waste-to-energy facility, a $20 million biodiesel project, at Smithfield Foods, Inc.’s swine production facility in Milford, Utah.
REDCO
Salt Lake City
REDCO (Renewable Energy Development Corporation) develops and finances non-utility scale renewable energy projects.
St. George Steel Fabrication
St. George
St. George Steel specializes in the industrial fabrication of large plate steel which it coats or paints. The company fabricates structural steel, pressure vessels and piping. It also provides all types of hoppers, cyclones, chutes, ducts, thick wall casting, stacks, specialty vessels and bins made from carbon and stainless steel plate and aluminum plate products. The company has been serving the energy, pollution control, mining, chemical, manufacturing, nuclear testing and construction industries throughout the United States and into international markets since 1969. St. George Steel is code shop ASME certified and AISC level 3.
Stantec Consulting
Salt Lake City
Stantec is a knowledge company. It provides knowledge-based solutions to infrastructure and facilities projects through value-added professional services and technologies in planning, engineering, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, surveying and geomatics, and project economics.
NEWS FROM WESTERN BUSINESS COALITION FOR NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
NEW MEXICO COALITION FOR NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCHED
IN SANTA FE
Leading members of New Mexico’s business community joined together at the Sustainable Energy Day on 21 February at the New Mexico State Capitol to launch the New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies (NMCNET). “This coalition demonstrates the growing importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies to New Mexico’s economy, environment and future job growth,” said the coalition’s executive director Craig Cox. He said that the coalition would pursue outreach opportunities to key stakeholder communities throughout New Mexico, educating them about new energy technologies produced, distributed and used by the coalition members, as well as by both of New Mexico’s National Laboratories—Los Alamos and Sandia.
“It is indeed auspicious for New Mexico and the nation, when an enthusiastic promotion of renewable energy by a governor of Bill Richardson’s stature is followed within weeks by the establishment of a New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies. The coalition’s mission and commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy will strengthen our economy; and it should capture the attention and support of every business in the state,” said Robby Robinson, president of the Center for Applied Research in Santa Fe.
“The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project recently completed a study showing that increased reliance on energy efficiency in New Mexico would save consumers and businesses $2.8 billion over the next two decades, representing a net benefit of nearly four thousand dollars per household,” said Howard Geller of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project. “Increased efficiency provides many more benefits, such as water savings and reduced pollutant emissions, and I hope that the New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies will provide an opportunity to highlight these benefits to key stakeholders throughout the state.”
This new energy coalition will work closely with the state government in areas of mutual interest. As Christopher Wentz, Director, Energy Conservation and Management Division of the State of New Mexico notes, “NMCNET will help our office in advancing awareness throughout key stakeholder communities of how energy efficiency and renewable energy are becoming increasingly important parts of our state’s energy portfolio.”
Founding members of the New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies are Bergey Windpower, BP America, Center for Applied Research, Cielo Wind, FPL Energy, GE Wind Energy, GeoSource Distributors, Inc., Global Concepts, Inc., Kinko’s, Land and Water Fund of the Rockies, McNeil Technologies, New Mexico Solar Energy Association, RES North America, Sacred Power Corp., SeaWest Windpower, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, URS Corp., Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Wulc & Associates, Zilkha Renewable Energy.
The New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies is affiliated with the Arizona, Colorado and Utah Coalitions for New Energy Technologies, which operate under the umbrella of the Western Business Coalition for New Energy Technologies and have successfully pursued similar outreach missions in their respective states. For more information on the New Mexico Coalition for New Energy Technologies and its partner coalitions in Arizona, Colorado and Utah, visit www.newenergytechnologies.org
STATEHOUSE BRIEFING IN ARIZONA FOCUSES ON ADVANCES IN ARIZONA’S SOLAR INDUSTRY
On 20 March, the Arizona Coalition for New Energy Technologies hosted its annual briefing for legislators, which focused on advances in solar energy technologies in Arizona. Tom Dyer, Vice President of Kyocera Solar, Don Baird, General Manager of Sun Systems and Sean Seitz, President of American Solar Electric all provided firsthand accounts of the solar industry’s growth in Arizona and its future potential. Among the reasons cited for the industry’s growth include financial incentives (such as state income tax credits, sales tax exemption and utility rebate programs) as well as improved inverter technology and continued declines in module pricing. Nonetheless, several people attending the briefing pointed out the aggressive incentives that California is offering for solar and suggested that Arizona should pursue similar measures in order to retain its competitiveness.
Seven legislators of both parties took part in this presentation, providing follow-up opportunities for all participants and demonstrating the strong interest in renewable energy technologies by Arizona’s lawmakers.
For more information on this briefing, contact Craig Cox.
STATEHOUSE BRIEFING IN COLORADO LOOKS AT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF WIND ENERGY
Over 60 persons, including eight state legislators, attended a coalition briefing on Wind Energy and Economic Development at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on 27 February featuring presentations by Prowers County Commissioner John Stulp and FPL Energy’s Director of Regulatory Affairs Steve Ponder. Stulp described how the new 162MW windfarm in Prowers County will provide tremendous new economic benefits to the region, while Ponder presented an overview of his company’s nationally leading activities in windpower development.
House Speaker Lola Spradley also provided short remarks to this briefing about her long involvement and support for renewable energy technologies. She discussed the important benefits that renewable energy brings to Colorado and provided her firsthand perspective on HB 1295 (legislation providing a renewable energy standard in Colorado; see article on this topic).
A copy of Steve Ponder’s presentation is available on the slideshow page of the website of the Colorado Coalition for New Energy Technologies at http://www.newenergytechnologies.org/colorado/slideshow.htm.
February’s briefing marked the fourth year of statehouse briefings by the Colorado Coalition for New Energy Technologies. The first briefing was held in March 2000, featuring a briefing to legislators by Admiral Richard Truly, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
FIRST UTAH STATEHOUSE BRIEFING HELD IN SALT LAKE CITY
—Inaugural February Briefing Features Wind, Industrial Energy and Geothermal
The first briefing of the Utah Coalition for New Energy Technologies took place at the state capitol in Salt Lake City on 20 February. Featuring presentations by coalition members FPL Energy, St. George Steel and Advanced Thermal Systems, eight legislators attended this inaugural event, which focused on how companies are seeking to leverage Utah’s rich resource base in renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency potential.
At this briefing, FPL Energy’s Bob Bergstrom provided an overview of his company’s wind energy activities in Utah and throughout the region. John Campos, President of St. George Steel Fabrication, described his company’s involvement in energy-related technologies, and Mack Shelor, Senior Vice President of Advanced Thermal Systems, Inc., highlighted the tremendous potential of geothermal energy as a clean and dispatchable energy source.
For more information on this briefing, contact Craig Cox.
REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE NEWS:
ARIZONA: GOVERNOR SIGNS CONTRACTORS’ SOLAR EXEMPTION INTO LAW
In a victory for the solar energy industry in Arizona, Governor Janet Napolitano has signed HB 2322, contractors’ solar exemption, into law. Sponsored in the House by Rep. Randy Graf (R-Green Valley), this bill will provide a full transaction tax exemption for contractors. Previously, contractors were only entitled to take an exemption only for the wholesale cost of the sale. Retailers of the same systems were able to take a full sales tax exemption.
Other legislation passed by both chambers of the Arizona legislature and sent to the Governor Napolitano for signature into law included:
HB 2001
As reported in the 10 February WBCNET Update, HB 2001 makes it easier for a school district to contract for the procurement of a guaranteed energy cost savings contract. This legislation would allow Arizona’s schools to take advantage of energy saving technologies without the up-front investment.
HB 2324
As reported in the 10 February WBCNET Update, HB 2324 focuses on three provisions:
· energy conservation target for state buildings;
· change in energy code reference; and
· requirement to purchase of energy star products.
COLORADO: RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD LEGISLATION
In 2002, bipartisan majorities in Colorado’s Senate and House passed SB 180, legislation sponsored by Senator Terry Phillips (D-Louisville) and Representative Lola Spradley (R-Beulah) providing for a renewable energy standard in Colorado. However, on the last day of the 2002 legislative session, this legislation failed to be brought up by the Senate for a concurrence vote (to accept changes made in the bill’s language by the House).
In 2003, two similar bills providing for renewable energy standards were introduced in the Colorado legislature: SB 151 and HB 1295, both sponsored again this year by Senator Phillips and House Speaker Spradley. Both bills were modeled closely on last year’s SB 180; most of the changes from SB 180 were made at the suggestion of the many stakeholder communities involved in drafting of this year’s bills. Brief summaries of each bill are included at the end of this article.
SB 151 was introduced and considered first, receiving a 5-2 bipartisan endorsement by the Senate Business Affairs & Labor Committee on 11 February. The only two votes against the bill came from Senators Andy McElhany (R-Colorado Springs) and Steve Johnson (R-Fort Collins). Before being considered by the full Senate, SB 151 needed approval by the Senate Appropriations Committee, but this committee killed the bill on a 4-6 party-line vote on 11 April. All four of the Appropriations Committee’s Democrats voted for the measure: Senators Peggy Reeves (Fort Collins), Dan Grossman (Denver), Terry Phillips (Louisville) and Moe Keller (Wheat Ridge). However, the committee’s six Republicans all voted against SB 151: David Owen (Greeley), Ron Teck (Grand Junction), Doug Lamborn (Colorado Springs), Ken Chlouber (Leadville), Mark Hillman (Burlington) and Jim Dyer (Littleton). Interestingly, Senators Chlouber, Hillman and Dyer all supported SB 180 last year, with Dyer cosponsoring the measure.
HB 1295 received an overwhelming 11-1 vote of approval by the House Transportation & Energy Committee on 13 February and went on to pass by a bipartisan 43-20 vote in the full House on 21 February. However, when this bill was considered by the Senate Business Affairs & Labor Committee on 12 March, it was defeated by a 3-4 vote. Two of that committee’s members ---Ed Jones (R-Colorado Springs) and Stephanie Takis (D-Aurora)--- who voted for SB 151 earlier changed their votes and caused the defeat of HB 1295 in the Senate.
Proponents of both bills cited the rural economic development benefits of renewable energy technologies and emphasized how renewables can help provide important price stability to the state’s electric power consumers, noting that the Colorado Public Utilities Commission had declared wind energy to be the least-cost alternative in a 2001 case. Opponents decried the imposition of a “government mandate” and said that renewable energy would lead to higher costs and decreased reliability.
Among the witnesses who testified in favor of these bills were representatives from the Xcel Energy and Aquila (the two utilities that would be subject to the requirements of the bills), as well as the Colorado Independent Bankers Association, Denver Water, Colorado Coalition for New Energy Technologies, the Metro Wastewater Recreation District and the Crowley and Prowers County Commissions. In addition, the Owens Administration supported the passage of HB 1295.
Among the witnesses who testified against these bills were representatives from the Colorado Rural Electric Association and Colorado Springs Utilities (neither of which would be included under the two bills), the Colorado Mining Association and a consortium of large industrial users.
Bill Summaries:
SB 151 directed the Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation to undertake several initiatives to promote wind energy development in Colorado. The bill called for Xcel Energy to provide a minimum of 400 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (including wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal) in Colorado by 2005, 800 MW by 2010 and 1,500 MW by 2020. The bill provided a 4.5-cent cost cap, establishment of a credit-trading system and triple credit for solar resources and a 150% credit for renewable energy generated in Colorado’s rural areas. In addition, it provided double credit for small (less than 5MW) generators and for energy generated on Indian reservations.
HB 1295 called for the state’s two investor-owned utilities (Xcel Energy and Aquila) to provide a minimum of 500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy (including wind, solar, biomass, hydro and geothermal) in Colorado by 2006, 900 MW by 2010 and 1,800 MW by 2020. The bill provided a 4.5-cent cost cap, establishment of a credit-trading system and triple credit for solar resources as well as 150% credit for renewable energy generated in enterprise zones around the state.
See related articles from Denver Post:
Wind-power bill to get 3rd airing
By Denver Post reporter Steve Raabe
From 9 April 2003 Denver Post
“A twice-unsuccessful effort to promote wind and other renewable energy gets a third chance this week in the Colorado legislature…”
“Project a winner, advocates say“
By Denver Post reporters Steve Raabe and Joey Bunch
From 20 April Denver Post
“Cast aside the do-good, feel-good environmental aspects, and wind energy still wins in a breeze. That’s the pitch of wind-energy advocates who say they’re convinced by the economics of generating electricity from wind…Even after a renewable-energy mandate was defeated for the third time in the Colorado legislature last week, proponents say wind power is progressing from environmental novelty to mainstream reality.”
Colorado to be home to fifth-largest wind farm in nation
By Denver Post Environment Writer Joey Bunch
“Many scientists, politicians and businessmen see wind power as an important supplement to Colorado’s electrical supply…Colorado House Speaker Lola Spradley goes further, calling it ‘a part of the vision for Colorado’s future.’”
“Colorado will get a major boost in its wind-energy supply later this year after 108 turbines go up on an isolated ranch in southeastern Colorado. The wind farm will be built and operated by General Electric. The Prowers County site will become the fifth-largest wind farm in the country, cranking out enough power to serve 75,000 homes annually. Xcel Energy already has agreed to purchase the wind farm’s entire output.”
NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE PASSES NUMBER OF BILLS AND MEMORIALS
The New Mexico legislative session ran from 21 January through 22 March. The Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD) of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department provided the following list of legislation that passed during the legislature’s 2003 regular session.
House Joint Memorial 6—Support Fuel Cell Research (Rep. Jeanette Wallace)—requesting that the Legislature support state action to reinforce NM as the world leader in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development.
*Status: Passed both House (63-0) and Senate (37-0).
House Joint Memorial 92—Study Use of Wood Pellets as Heat Source (Rep. Debbie Rodella)—requesting the interim legislative Economic and Rural Development Committee to conduct hearings to assess the long-term economic impacts of a thriving wood pellet industry in New Mexico.
*Status: Passed both the House (58-0) and Senate (30-0).
House Joint Memorial 97—Study Renewable Energy Sources (House Speaker Ben Lujan)—encouraging the Public Regulation Commission to suspend its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) rule while an interim legislative committee studies the most appropriate means to encourage renewable energy; report from the committee due in January 2005. Companion to SJM 51. Amended in House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to delete reference to the RPS suspension; amended on House floor to move the date for completion of legislative report from January 2005 to January 2004.
*Status: Passed both House (60-2) and Senate (33-0).
House Bill 146—Expand Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Rep. Anna M. Crook)—extending the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit to include biomass as a qualified energy resource; and expanding the amount of the credit from 800,000 megawatt-hours to 2 million megawatt-hours. Companion to SB 813. Amended in House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to make the credit transferable. Amended in House Taxation and Revenue Committee to delete transferability provision and to reduce capacity limit for eligible projects from 20 megawatts to 10 megawatts.
*Status: Passed both House (49-0) and Senate (40-0).
House Bill 172—Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (Rep. Miguel Garcia)—directing the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to conduct practical demonstrations of a grid-interconnected, net-metered solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a co-generation fuel cell system; $80K appropriation included. Amended in House Appropriations and Finance Committee to delete the appropriation; however, the $80K appropriation was subsequently included in Supplemental General Appropriations Act, SB 655.
*Status: Passed both House (63-0) and Senate (32-0).
House Bill 949—Potable Water as Geothermal Resource Use (Rep. Manuel Herrera)—providing that incidental use of heat from potable water is not a geothermal resource and therefore does not give rise to an obligation to pay royalties and is not subject to the Geothermal Resources Conservation Act. Companion to SB 827. Amended in House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to include only those resources less than 250 degrees F.
*Status: Passed both House (61-0) and Senate (34-0); signed into law March 15.
Senate Joint Memorial 89—Goal for Use of Renewable Energy (Sen. Richard Romero)—Governor Richardson’s clean energy goals such as “10% of NM’s electricity needs being met through renewables by 2010” are specified and endorsed by Legislature.
*Status: Passed unanimously by both Senate (24-0) and House (64-0).
Senate Bill 350—Repeal Public Utility and Telecommunications Laws (Sen. Phil Griego)—repeals the existing sunset provision for the Public Utility Act, which is set to expire later this year (2003) if electric utility industry restructuring continues on course.
*Status: Passed both Senate (24-0) and House (59-0); signed into law March 16.
Senate Bill 718—Public Utility Transition Cost Recovery (Sen. Michael Sanchez)—repealing the Electric Utility Industry Restructuring Act of 1999, as amended, including the System Benefits Fund provisions.
*Status: Passed both Senate (37-2) and House (51-3).
Senate Bill 813—Expand Renewable Energy Tax Credit (Sen. Carlos Cisneros)—extending the Renewable Energy Production Tax Credit to include biomass as a qualified energy resource; expanding the amount of the credit from 800,000 megawatt-hours to 2 million megawatt-hours; making the credit transferable. Companion to HB 146. Amended in House Taxation and Revenue Committee to delete transferability provision and to reduce capacity limit for eligible projects from 20 megawatts to 10 megawatts.
*Status: Passed both Senate (35-0) and House (60-0).
For more information on these bills or any other energy-related legislation, contact the ECMD’s Chris Wentz at 505-476-3310. Additionally, information on all bills and other legislation can be accessed on the legislature’s website at www.legis.state.nm.us. The “Bill Locator” function can be used to review individual bills; use the “Complete Locator” function to see how legislation fared.
UTAH: RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARD
In the 2003 session of the Utah legislature, a renewable energy standard bill, HB 89, was introduced (see Update of 10 February 2003) by Rep. James Gowans (D-Tooele). Calling for renewable energy generation by regulated utilities of 4% by 2005, 7% by 2010 and 10% by 2013, this bill went through a number of amendments, including a change to “soft targets” encouraging (rather than requiring) certain megawatt levels of generation by certain years. These soft targets would become requirements when it could be shown that new wind resources built in Utah were equal to or less than the cost of other new resources built in Utah. Rural Electric Associations and municipal utilities were exempt from this bill. This version included a sales tax exemption for renewable energy equipment for a five-year period.
After a committee hearing and further amendments, the final version of this legislation removed all language regarding a renewable energy standard, leaving only the sales tax exemption. After passing the House 46 to 29 on the legislature’s final day of regular session on 5 March, it was held up in the final hours in the Senate Rules Committee.
Related Article:
Another View: Gov. Leavitt, Legislature Should Jump-Start Wind Power in Utah
By Christine Watson, Cathy L. Hartman and Edwin R. Stafford
“Is Utah ready for renewable energy? Last month’s initial meeting of the Utah Wind Working Group, sponsored by the Utah Energy Office, appears to indicate so…More than 45 landowners, business people, wind developers, lawyers, academics, utility representatives, federal and state government representatives and Farm Bureau members met in Salt Lake City to begin developing a “road map” for jump-starting wind power markets in the state.”
“…Gov. Mike Leavitt’s energy policy calls for the development of reliable, affordable, sustainable, clean energy. Wind is just that. Members of the Utah Wind Working Group recognize that wind-power development in Utah can help keep local dollars spent on electricity in local communities rather than on projects in other states. Without a change in current policies to promote renewable energy, however, Utah is likely to miss out on the economic opportunities of the world’s fastest-growing energy source.”
NEWS ITEMS FROM MEMBERS OF WESTERN BUSINESS COALITION FOR NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
SKI INDUSTRY TEAMS WITH NRDC ON NEW CAMPAIGN TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING
—”Keep Winter Cool”
Ski resorts across the country have launched a new campaign to “Keep Winter Cool, “ highlighting the impact of global warming on winter recreation and the opportunities both resort operators and their guests have to start solving the problem. “Keep Winter Cool” is a partnership between the National Ski Areas Association and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), a leading environmental organization.
“For diehard skiers and snowboarders, winter is already too short,” said NSAA’s president, Michael Berry. “The ski business depends on snow and we view global warming as a long-term concern. We are doing our part to help fix the problem and we’re giving our guests an opportunity to join in the fight.”
Resorts adopted a new climate change policy this season to address global warming. On 22 February, “Sustainable Slopes Outreach Day,” they showcased simple, innovative efforts they are using to reduce carbon dioxide and other heat trapping emissions associated with global warming.
“Global warming is a tough challenge, but we know how to fix it,” said Dr. Daniel Lashof, deputy director and chief scientist for the NRDC Climate Center. “The problem is pollution from cars and power plants, which traps heat in the atmosphere. The answer is cleaner, smarter energy technologies that pollute less. The ski industry is calling attention to the threat, and more important, the solutions that exist right now to fight global warming.”
Resorts are using a variety of measures to reduce global warming emissions in their operations, including pollution-free wind energy to run buildings and lifts and the use of energy-efficient “green building” techniques. They are retrofitting existing facilities to save energy (and money); replacing inefficient compressors in snowmaking operations; using alternative fuels in resort vehicle fleets; and providing or promoting car pooling or mass transit use by guests and employees.
Innovative ski resort solutions highlighted on 22 February include:
Coalition member Vail Mountain purchases 300,000 kilowatt-hours per year of wind energy to power the Wildwood Express Lift, preventing 300 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Coalition member Aspen Skiing Company purchases wind energy to power the Cirque Lift at Snowmass and the Sundeck Restaurant on Aspen Mountain. ASC recently announced that guests driving low-pollution hybrid vehicles will park for free at certain lots all season long.
For more information, visit http://www.nsaa.org/nsaa2002/_media.asp?mode=ss7.
CH2M HILL INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIA TO COMPETE FOR KEY PROJECTS FOR 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
Coalition Member CH2M Hill announced on 3 March that the Beijing government has notified CH2M HILL that two consortia which it formed to pursue two high-profile 2008 Beijing Olympic projects have both been pre-qualified. These consortia are vying for the right to privately develop, own and operate the 80,000-seat National Stadium, site of many major events, as well as the opening and closing Olympic ceremonies, and the combined Olympic Village and National Indoor Stadium.
CH2M-IDC China President Nicholas Sonntag announced that these projects, valued at over $400 million each, are planned to be privately developed and operated by the CH2M HILL consortium members. A very limited number of companies have received the prequalification that is required to allow the consortium to make an official bid for the Olympic projects. The winners will be announced in the latter part of 2003.
CH2M HILL plans to integrate sustainable development concepts and leading-edge technologies into its final submission to meet the Beijing government’s stated goals to hold the greenest Olympics in history.
For more details, visit the company’s news site at http://www.ch2m.com/flash/News/News_frame.htm
GLOBAL SOLAR ENERGY PREPARING TO EXPAND SOLAR ARRAY FOR TEP
Coalition member Global Solar Energy (GSE) of Tucson announced on 10 February that it has signed a contract with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to add more than 1 megawatt (MW) of photovoltaic modules this year to the company’s 2.4 MW solar array in eastern Arizona.
GSE has served as project manager for the entire installation, overseeing construction of a system that currently includes 22,276 photovoltaic panels near TEP’s coal-fired Springerville Generating Station. The system, which is connected directly to TEP’s transmission line network, is helping TEP satisfy its commitment to provide a portion of its power from renewable resources.
As with the earlier installations, Global Solar Energy and TEP have worked together to design, set specifications and integrate components for the 1-MW addition. The expansion will utilize both crystalline-silicon and thin-film cadmium-telluride photovoltaic (PV) modules.
Global Solar Energy manufactures thin-film photovoltaic arrays for aerospace, military and commercial applications and designs, installs, commissions and services complete turnkey solar power stations. The company has a manufacturing plant in Tucson, Ariz., and system engineering and design and sales offices in Tucson, Denver and the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
From GSE press release.
NATIVESUN AND GRAND CANYON TRUST STAFF AND NEW SOLAR PANEL AT TRUST HEADQUARTERS
Grand Canyon travelers and Flagstaff commuters may have noticed two large solar panels next to the Grand Canyon Trust’s office. The two panels move to follow the sun’s path across the sky and provide an important contribution to the conservation group’s electrical power needs. Installed by Doran Dalton and Kevin Begay of coalition member NativeSUN Solar, the new solar panels are the first phase of the Grand Canyon Trust’s effort to produce some its own electricity, significantly reducing the Trust’s contribution to global warming and air pollution from its office building.
With the installation of the 1.44-kilowatt solar panels complete (each one the size of about three sheets of plywood), Arizona Public Service is completing the hook up of the solar panels into the grid today. This is the first phase of the Trust generating some of its own power for its headquarters office on Highway 180/Fort Valley Road. The Trust’s goal is to eventually augment its electrical power even more significantly with an expanded five-kilowatt solar array.
“We are delighted this energy and environment saving project is underway,” said John Gaglioti, Trust project manager for renewable energy initiatives. “We are doing our part, helping lead the way towards Arizona’s mandate to produce a percentage of its power from renewable and solar power.”
The Trust’s solar installation is highly efficient because of the tracking mechanisms that allow the big panels to follow the sun’s progress throughout the day. “This tracking feature gives us 25 percent more efficiency in “sun hours” than having stationary panels,” said Rick Moore, Grand Canyon Trust’s program officer.
“We are pleased to be teaming up with a longstanding Native American business to do something tangible and measurable in reducing our “skyprint” or contributions to global warming and air pollution,” said Moore.
Arizona has two times the “sun hours,” or position of maximum sun power, than the national average (1,973 sun hours per year in Arizona).
Arizona Public Service (APS) provided $2,880 of the total funds needed to install the system through a subsidy available to all residential and business systems. The total cost of the system was $15,000. The subsidy program is made possible by electric power ratepayers through both a surcharge on electric bills and a system benefit charge.
In a related article in the 20 March edition of the Arizona Business Gazette, reporter Mike Fimea notes that NativeSUN has “only begun tapping the solar market in Indian country. More than 10,000 homes on Hopi and Navajo lands have no access to electricity. The reason is the prohibitive cost of stringing power lines in a remote corner of the state.” In his article, Fimea quotes NativeSUN’s chief operating officer, Doran Dalton as saying that “APS charges $65,000 a mile just to bring power,” while the Navajo (Nation) utility charges $48,000 per mile.
From Grand Canyon Trust press release.
DAIRYLAND POWER TO PARTICIPATE IN RENEWABLE GAS-TO-ENERGY GENERATION
Dairyland Power Cooperative (DPC) of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, announced on 8 April that it has signed a Letter of Intent with coalition member Microgy, a subsidiary of Environmental Power, to produce “waste-to-energy” renewable electricity at dairy and swine farms within the DPC system. Manure will be the resource and methane, its byproduct through anaerobic digestion, will be the fuel used to generate electricity for DPC cooperative members.
This “green” alliance with Microgy enables DPC to expand its renewable energy portfolio as part of its long-term power supply plan to use clean, cost-effective sources of energy. The project will begin with 5 megawatts of renewable electricity with planned growth of up to 25 megawatts in five years, fulfilling the energy needs of approximately 20,000 homes in DPC’s five-state service area.
Environmental Power, through Microgy, holds the license for the highly efficient anaerobic digestion technology. The digester will be owned by the farmer and the generating equipment will be purchased by DPC. The fuel (methane) created by the waste will be bought from the farmer by DPC.
The goal is to make the renewable energy available over the next year. “We aim to implement the initial construction phase of waste-to-energy this year. The first step will be to identify the most likely participants to get the project running. Some participation eligibility factors will include the size of the farm herd and the proximity to distribution infrastructure,” said John McWilliams, DPC resource planner.
Clean air and water pollution issues associated with manure disposal are significantly reduced, as is the odor problem. Siting is convenient for the farmer and will not interrupt farming practices.
[From DPC press release http://www.dairynet.com/news/wastetoenergy.htm]
CPC LAUNCHES FIRST BIOPOWERED COMMUNITY PRODUCTIVE USE PLATFORM
—Modular biopower system delivers three forms of power for rural enterprises in developing countries
Coalition member Community Power Corporation of Littleton, Colo. announced on 2 April that it has successfully tested its new Community Productive Use Platform (C-PUP) at the Productive Rural Enterprise coir fiber processing facility in Aklan Province, Philippines. Developed and deployed under cost-shared contracts with the US Department of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the World Bank Development Marketplace, the C-PUP is a renewable energy-based adaptation of the Multi-purpose Platform first introduced in Africa by the United Nations (IFAD/UNDP/UNIDO).
Art Lilley, Chairman of CPC said, “Rural people need access to small amounts of high quality productive power in order to add maximum value to their agricultural, forest and marine resources. The C-PUP converts local biomass residues into different forms of power that can be applied to a myriad of productive use applications. For example, at a small coconut processing facility in the Philippines we demonstrated the ability to simultaneously grind husks and shells using shaft power, light the facility and pump water using electrical power, and dry fiber using thermal power. The flexibility of the C-PUP to power different kinds of productive applications is limited only by one’s imagination and needs.”
For more information, visit http://www.gocpc.com/press/CPUP%20Release.PDF.
PENDERGAST SARNI GROUP BECOMES DOMANI LLC
Coalition Pendergast Sarni Group has changed its name to Domani LLC www.domani-llc.com/.
Domani LLC creates and implements strategic, innovative solutions to environment-related problems for business and public-sector clients worldwide. “With extensive experience and unique client-specific practices, we integrate economic, scientific, engineering, legal, and public policy knowledge to respond to dynamic environmental conditions and evolving environmental policy.”
NEW WEBSITE ADDRESSES RENEWABLE ENERGY ISSUES IN COLORADO
—”Renewable Energy: Facts and Fiction”
A new website launched on 6 March by a “Coloradans for Renewable Energy,” a coalition of advocacy groups from around Colorado (including the Colorado Coalition for New Energy Technologies), addresses many questions posed by opponents of renewables, including:
§ Is renewable energy reliable?
§ What will renewable energy cost consumers?
§ Do renewables need to be backed up by additional conventional generation?
§ Would renewable energy bring economic and job benefits to Colorado?
§ Do wind turbines kill birds?
§ Who pays for transmission interconnection?
§ Does renewable energy rely on federal subsidies?
This site,
www.coenergy.info, contains a number of other resources for those interested
in renewable energy in Colorado.
REGIONAL NEWS
TUCSON CELEBRATES EARTH DAY BY OPENING A ZERO-ENERGY HOME
A home in Tucson, Arizona, that produces as much energy and it uses was introduced to the public on Earth Day. Designed by architect Devereaux and Associates and built by John Wesley Miller Companies, the so-called “Zero-Energy Home” combines energy efficiency with solar energy technologies that will meet all its energy needs over the course of a year. The uses of solar energy include solid masonry construction for thermal mass, a 4-kilowatt solar power system, and an integrated solar hot water and space heating system, which uses tankless water heaters as a backup energy source. But the home is by no means Spartan: it also includes a high-efficiency central air conditioning system. According to the NAHB Research Center, the energy performance of the building will be monitored of one year. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory provided partial funding for the project. See the NAHB Research Center’s “Virtual Press Kit” at: http://www.nahbrc.org/tertiaryR.asp?CategoryID=1782&DocumentID=3874.
[From EERE Network News]
ARIZONA: NAU SEEKING ENERGY RESOURCES FOR NAVAJOS
Tayloe McConnell reports in the Flagstaff Daily Sun of 30 March that the Sustainable Energy Solutions group at Northern Arizona University [NAU] has been “developing business plans for renewable energy resources like wind and solar power and are working on sustainable energy outlets to bring power to more than 10,000 structures on the Navajo Nation.”
McConnell notes that “[f]aculty and anywhere from 60 to 70 students on payroll work together from various schools and colleges at NAU to devise energy solutions for the Southwest and Native American lands.”
The group is a part of the colleges of Business Administration and Engineering and Technology and does work in research and development, education and technology transfer from the university to the marketplace.