Lotus Biomass energy blog

Recycle.

2011-12-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

Recycling one aluminum can saves the energy equivalent of half that can of gasoline.

Solar clothe dryer worked well today.

2011-05-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

2011-02-08T23:54:00.000-08:00

Tired of the cold.

2011-01-26T23:50:00.000-08:00

Going to start adding more stuff again soon.

US offers $30M for high-risk biofuel research

2010-12-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

US Department of Energy moving beyond Ethanol development
By Layer 8 on Wed, 12/15/10 - 12:53pm.

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This one sounds a bit like really wishful thinking. The US Department of Energy today announced $30 million for research projects that would develop advanced biofuels that could replace gasoline or diesel without requiring special upgrades or changes to the vehicle or fueling infrastructure.

The $30 million would be spent over the next four years to support as many as five "traditionally high-risk biofuels projects," such as converting biomass into biofuels and bioproducts to be eventually used for hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals.

10 hot energy projects that could electrify the world

From the DOE: " The projects will focus on optimizing and integrating process steps that convert biomass into biofuels and bioproducts that will eventually be used to support hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals. These process improvements could include pretreatment methods that alter the biomass to improve the yield of sugars in subsequent process steps, less costly and more efficient enzymes that produce sugars, and fermentation organisms and catalysts that convert the sugars into fuel and chemical intermediates."

According to the DOE, government investment in developing Ethanol-based fuel alternatives has been critical to developing those fuels. What the DOE hopes to do now is expand beyond Ethanol development.

Going beyond Ethanol has been a DOE theme of late. Just this month the DOE awarded a massive amount of its world-class supercomputing time to 57 research projects looking at everything from biofuels and climate change to nuclear power and lithium air batteries. In Sept., the DOE announced $9.6 million for what it called transformational energy research projects. And in June the DOE said it would invest $24 million in three research groups to tackle the challenges of bringing algae-based biofuels to market.

Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8

Concerns Over Electric Cars Wrecking Power Grid - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

2010-12-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

Concerns Over Electric Cars Wrecking Power Grid - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Using firewood from more than 50 miles away can harm TN trees

2010-12-16T13:37:00.000-08:00

Don’t buy firewood from an area outside of where it came from, according to The Nature Conservancy, Tennessee.

A variety of insects and other pests infesting and devastating trees in other areas could be transported into your community.

More than 50 miles is considered too far.

“Here in Tennessee, it is incredibly important to the health of our forests and economy that people know moving firewood is dangerous and, in certain areas, illegal,” said Alex Wyss, with the Conservancy in emailed information.

The Don’t Move Firewood campaign did a poll recently showing that fewer people are moving firewood, but it was still around one in 20 Americans.

The tree-killing pests cannot move far on their own, but when people transport firewood that harbors them, they enable the pests to expand their range.

Past invaders have destroyed native species of American chestnut, hemlock, and American elm trees.

Both emerald ash borer, a beetle that has killed thousands of ash trees in other states, and thousand cankers disease, a fungus that kills black walnut trees, were found in parts of Tennessee this year, according to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

The scourges have been carried into several places around the country on firewood, and the state is prohibiting firewood movement in some areas.

People are prohibited from taking firewood of any hardwood tree species outside the quarantined counties that are Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon and Union.

Nearby counties that buffer these areas can move hardwood firewood around inside them, but it can’t be hauled out of them.

Another issue a consumer should consider is how different types of wood burn.

Oak burns slower and produces less smoke, for instance, while pine burns faster and produces more soot and smoke.

The state has a chart available giving more information about types of wood here.

Other tips from the campaign:

-If you have already moved firewood, and you now know you need to dispose of it safely, burn it soon and completely. Make sure to rake the storage area carefully and also burn the debris. In the future, buy from a local source.

-Tell your friends and others about the risks of moving firewood – no one wants to be responsible for starting a new pest infestation.

Source:ANNE PAINE • The Tennessean • December 16, 2010

Clean air diesel trucks to go for low interest in Southeast

2010-12-14T02:50:00.000-08:00

By Anne Paine • THE TENNESSEAN • December 14, 2010

Comments (0) Recommend Print this page E-mail this article Share Del.icio.us Facebook Digg Reddit Newsvine Buzz up!
Twitter FarkIt Type Size A A A Next Page1| 2Previous PageA carrot is about to be dangled in front of long-haul truck buyers in the Southeast to entice them to purchase a rig that spews less air pollution.

Almost $5 million in EPA low-interest money to buy previously owned, greened-up tractor-trailers will be offered through a Tennessee-based environmental group.

The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, better known for its years of pressing TVA and other utilities to reduce air pollution from coal-burning plants, is partnering with Rush Enterprises Inc., a nationwide truck dealership.

About 800 eco-upgraded, diesel-powered big trucks could be sold through the loan guarantee program that is beginning today at Rush Truck Center-Nashville in Smyrna.

If the loans are repaid as expected, additional loans would continue with the same funds well beyond the initial four-year life of the program.

"Outside of power plants, diesel is the next biggest contributor to particulate matter," said Anne Blair, manager of SACE's clean diesel and bioenergy program.

"One of the largest sources are these long-haul trucks."

Communities in several parts of the Southeast, including Tennessee, have to breathe air that doesn't meet national air quality standards, she said. Replacing dirty trucks with cleaner ones will help fix that problem and will also cut down on greenhouse gases.

The emissions from diesel-fueled trucks, buses, construction equipment and other vehicles can trigger asthma attacks and other ailments, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The smallest particles, which can have heavy metals bound to them, are so tiny that they can move into the bloodstream, where they have been linked to problems from heart disease to cancer.

Heavy trucks built before 2007, when regulations began requiring more emissions controls, are the concern.

Generator added
The Clean Trucks Make Cents program calls for a filtering system on truck exhausts, which can reduce health-damaging particles by 25 to 90 percent, depending on the money spent. Also, a small generator is added so truckers don't have to idle their vehicles to keep cool or warm while stopped to rest and sleep. Release of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, is lower, because less diesel is burned when idling is eliminated.

2010-12-02T21:09:00.001-08:00

Does anybody read this?

2010-11-25T10:45:00.000-08:00

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Leaking Siberian ice raises a tricky climate issue

2010-11-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press Arthur Max, Associated Press – Sun Nov 21, 10:35 am ET
CHERSKY, Russia – The Russian scientist shuffles across the frozen lake, scuffing aside ankle-deep snow until he finds a cluster of bubbles trapped under the ice. With a cigarette lighter in one hand and a knife in the other, he lances the ice like a blister. Methane whooshes out and bursts into a thin blue flame.

Gas locked inside Siberia's frozen soil and under its lakes has been seeping out since the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago. But in the past few decades, as the Earth has warmed, the icy ground has begun thawing more rapidly, accelerating the release of methane — a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide — at a perilous rate.

Some scientists believe the thawing of permafrost could become the epicenter of climate change. They say 1.5 trillion tons of carbon, locked inside icebound earth since the age of mammoths, is a climate time bomb waiting to explode if released into the atmosphere.

"Here, total carbon storage is like all the rain forests of our planet put together," says the scientist, Sergey Zimov — "here" being the endless sweep of snow and ice stretching toward Siberia's gray horizon, as seen from Zimov's research facility nearly 350 kilometers (220 miles) above the Arctic Circle.

Climate change moves back to center-stage on Nov. 29 when governments meet in Cancun, Mexico, to try again to thrash out a course of counteractions. But U.N. officials hold out no hope the two weeks of talks will lead to a legally binding accord governing carbon emissions, seen is the key to averting what is feared might be a dramatic change in climate this century.

Most climate scientists, with a few dissenters, say human activities — the stuff of daily life like driving cars, producing electricity or raising cattle — is overloading the atmosphere with carbon dioxide, methane and other gases that trap heat, causing a warming effect.

But global warming is amplified in the polar regions. What feels like a modest temperature rise is enough to induce Greenland glaciers to retreat, Arctic sea ice to thin and contract in summer, and permafrost to thaw faster, both on land and under the seabed.

Yet awareness of methane leaks from permafrost is so new that it was not even mentioned in the seminal 2007 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which warned of rising sea levels inundating coastal cities, dramatic shifts in rainfall disrupting agriculture and drinking water, the spread of diseases and the extinction of species.

"In my view, methane is a serious sleeper out there that can pull us over the hump," said Robert Corell, an eminent U.S. climate change researcher and Arctic specialist. Corell, speaking by telephone from a conference in Miami, said he and other U.S. scientists are pushing Washington to deploy satellites to gather more information on methane leaks.

The lack of data over a long period of time casts uncertainty over the extent of the threat. An article last August in the journal Science quoted several experts as saying it's too early to predict whether Arctic methane will be the tipping point.

"Arctic Armageddon Needs More Science, Less Hype," was its headline.

Studies indicate that cold-country dynamics on climate change are complex. The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, a scientific body set up by the eight Arctic rim countries, says overall the Arctic is absorbing more carbon dioxide than it releases.

"Methane is a different story," said its 2009 report. The Arctic is responsible for up to 9 percent of global methane emissions. Other methane sources include landfills, livestock and fossil fuel production.

Katey Walter Anthony, of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been measuring methane seeps in Arctic lakes in Alaska, Canada and Russia, starting here around Chersky 10 years ago.

She was stunned to see how much methane was leaking from holes in the sediment at the bottom of one of the first lakes she visited. "On some days it looked like the lake was boiling," she said. Returning each year, she noticed this and other lakes doubling in size as warm water ate into the frozen banks.

"The edges of the lake look like someone eating a cookie. The permafrost gets digested in the guts of the lake and burps out as methane," she said in an interview in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, en route to a field trip in Greenland and Scandinavia.

More than 50 billion tons could be unleashed from Siberian lakes alone, more than 10 times the amount now in the atmosphere, she said.

But the rate of defrosting is hard to assess with the data at hand.

"If permafrost were to thaw suddenly, in a flash, it would put a tremendous amount of carbon in the atmosphere. We would feel temperatures warming across the globe. And that would be a big deal," she said. But it may not happen so quickly. "Depending on how slow permafrost thaws, its effect on temperature across the globe will be different," she said.

Permafrost is defined as ground that has stayed below freezing for more than two consecutive summers. In fact, most of Siberia and the rest of the Arctic, covering one-fifth of the Earth's land surface, have been frozen for millennia.

During the summer, the ground can defrost to a depth of several feet, turning to sludge and sometimes blossoming into vast fields of grass and wildflowers. Below that thin layer, however, the ground remains frozen, sometimes encased in ice dozens or even hundreds of meters (yards) thick.

As the Earth warms, the summer thaw bites a bit deeper, awakening ice-age microbes that attack organic matter — vegetation and animal remains — buried where oxygen cannot reach, producing methane that gurgles to the surface and into the air.

The newly released methane adds to the greenhouse effect, trapping yet more heat which deepens the next thaw, in a spiraling cycle of increasing warmth.

Curbing man-made methane emissions could slow this process, said Walter Anthony.

"We have an incentive to reduce our fossil fuel emissions. By doing so, we can reduce the warming that's occurring in the Arctic and potentially put some brakes on permafrost thaw," she said.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in its 2010 Arctic Report Card issued last month, said the average temperature of the permafrost has been rising for decades, but noted "a significant acceleration" in the last five years at many spots on the Arctic coast.

One of those spots would be Chersky, an isolated town on the bank of the Kolyma River at the mouth of the East Siberia Sea.

The ground in this remote corner of the world, 6,600 kilometers (4,000 miles) east of Moscow, has warmed about 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) in the last five years, to about -5 C (23 F?) today, says Zimov, director of the internationally funded Northeast Science Station, which is about three kilometers (2 miles) from town.

The warming is causing the landscape to buckle under his feet.

"I live here more than 30 years. ... There are many (dirt) roads in our region which I used or built myself, but now I can't use anymore. Now they look like canyons," he says.

Buildings, too, collapse. The school in Chersky, a Soviet-era structure with a tall bronze statue of Karl Marx on its doorstep, was abandoned several years ago when the walls began to crack as the foundations gave way.

The northern Siberian soil, called yedoma, covers 1.8 million square kilometers (700,000 sq. miles) and is particularly unstable. Below the surface are vertical wedges of ice, as if 15-story-high icicles had been hammered into the soft ground, rich in decaying vegetation, over thousands of years.

As the air warms, the tops of the wedges melt and create depressions in the land. Water either forms a lake or runs off to lower ground, creating a series of steep hillocks and gullies. During summer, lakeside soil may erode and tumble into the water, settling on the bottom where bacteria eat it and cough up yet more methane.

The process takes a long time, but Zimov has done a simulation by bulldozing trees and scraping off moss and surface soil from 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of former larch forest, rendering it as if it had been leveled by fire.

Seven years later the previously flat terrain is carved up with crevices 10 to 15 feet (3 to 5 meters) deep, creating a snowy badlands.

Gazing across a white river to the apartment blocks on a distant hill, Zimov said, "In another 30 years all of Chersky will look like this."

Source: AP.

Keeping blog.

2010-11-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

I have decided not to close down the blog.

U.S. military, Ask America voters see green future

2010-10-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

By Torrey AndersonSchoepe torrey Andersonschoepe – 1 hr 35 mins ago
The U.S. military is getting serious about going green. Officials say its overdependence on oil has proven to be a dangerous liability, costing billions of dollars and the lives of those who supply and transport it.

While an energy bill has been put on the back burner in Congress due to more pressing issues with the economy, the military is making it a priority especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and other sensitive areas of deployment around the world.

The Ask America van arrives on Saturday in Santa Fe, part of the region in the U.S. that promises to lead the way in solar energy, and we've been collecting peoples' thoughts on energy and the environment through the Yahoo! News informal polling forum. With nearly 300,000 responses in this category, it seems most people would like to see a wider variety of energy sources on the mainland as well.

With energy legislation in a congressional logjam, can the U.S. military lead the way to a green revolution?
Vote now56%
Lead way44%
Not leadYahoo! News

Top military and civilian officials met at the Pentagon this week to discuss different ways to improve energy efficiency.

"We're not going green just for green's sake," Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia said at one of the panel discussions at the Pentagon according to the AFP. "Energy reform…is about protecting the lives of our troops. It's about making our country more secure and more independent. That's why we are doing this, that's why we have to change."

Six Marines have been wounded while guarding fuel convoys in the past three months, and a 2009 Army report found that for every 24 convoys delivering fuel to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, one soldier or civilian was killed in the process.

Attacks on trucks bringing fuel to NATO troops in Afghanistan earlier this month highlighted how vulnerable the convoys can be. Dozens of trucks were destroyed and thousands left stranded as officials shut down the Khyber Pass — suppliers' main route to the bases.

Mabus says he wants the Navy and Marines to be using 50 percent renewable energy by 2020.

The military has already made some advances in using more renewable technology in its efforts to go green. According to The New York Times, the Air Force's entire fleet will be certified to fly on biofuels by next year and has already done test flights using a fuel mix that is 50 percent plant-based biofuel and 50 percent jet fuel.

Ask America: Learn. Listen. Be heard.

Ask America

Election forum

The Fast Fix

Map snapshot
Ask America users seem to also want more energy efficiency outside the military. The forum's "Energy and Environment" section addresses many alternative energy options, including high-speed rails, wind farms, solar energy, nuclear power and electric cars. Each of these questions had a majority of 70 percent or more in favor of developing these parts of the industry.

But that's not to say that people want to abandon oil altogether. Fifty-five percent of responses to a question on oil versus alternative energy said they still want to see oil drilling continue while we develop other sources of renewable energy.

Most comments on both sides of the issue echoed the sentiment of Yahoo! user Shane S, who commented: "Keep drilling to keep oil prices down and keep us off mid-east oil. But we need to invest in clean energy for long-term growth and environmental health."

User Bradley continued in that vein saying, "'Clean Energy Now' is at least a decade away. In the meantime, let's drill our own oil, providing jobs here."

One user, R, who says he works in the industry commented: "The push toward new cleaner energy creates jobs and makes the world a better place to live. That's a win-win."

What do you think? Cast your vote now.

After the Gulf oil spill, is it "clean energy now" or still "drill, baby, drill"?

Keep up with Ask America: Follow our "video ninja" on the Ask America blog and on Twitter: http://twitter.com/askamericavan.

Biomass Feedstocks

2010-10-07T18:53:00.000-07:00

Biomass includes all plants and plant-derived material, and is a sustainable feedstock for the production of transportation fuels, products, and power.

The success of the U.S. bioindustry depends, to a large degree, on the quantity and quality of biomass available, and on the industry's ability to cost-effectively utilize biomass for energy production. Therefore, the Biomass Program's Feedstock R&D Platform impacts all facets of the Biomass Program portfolio. The Feedstock Platform is specifically linked to Processing and Conversion Platforms, as feedstock is the substrate that serves as a beginning point for all conversion technologies.

Ensuring a sustainable, high-quality, available, and functional supply of biomass feedstock requires R&D on all elements of the biomass feedstock supply chain, from plant breeding and genomics to crop production and harvesting techniques. The Biomass Program relies heavily on its Program partners, including the DOE Office of Science, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Laboratories, and many academic and industrial institutions that each play a role in advancing feedstock technologies from basic plant sciences to harvesting.

The Biomass Program's Feedstock Platform focuses on two areas of the feedstock supply chain: Sustainable Feedstock Production and Feedstock Logistics.

Sustainable feedstock production includes all the steps required to produce biomass feedstocks to the point they are ready to be collected or harvested from the field or forest. OBP's feedstock production R&D is focused on identifying feedstock resources, selecting the best feedstocks for energy production and solving specific feedstock production issues on a regional basis.

Feedstock logistics encompasses all the unit operations necessary to move biomass feedstocks from the field or forest to the biorefinery, while ensuring the delivered feedstock meets biorefinery specifications. OBP's feedstock logistics R&D is focused on developing and optimizing cost-effective, integrated systems for collecting, storing, preprocessing and transporting a range of cellulosic feedstocks, including agricultural residues, forest resources and dedicated energy crops.

These efforts will lead to completion of the Feedstock Platform's strategic goal: to develop sustainable technologies that can provide a secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable cellulosic biomass feedstock supply for the U.S. bioindustry in partnership with USDA and other key stakeholders. The ultimate outcome, or result, of the Feedstock Platform is that technologies and methods will exist to produce and supply over one billion tons per year of biomass feedstocks in a sustainable and cost-effective manner in the U.S.

Small Businesses and Congregations Improve Energy Efficiency and Fight Climate Change / EPA names nine Energy Star small business and congregation awa

2010-09-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Release date: 09/21/2010

Contact Information: Stacy Kika, Kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906, 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing nine small businesses and congregations for their achievements in the fight against climate change. Through effective energy management practices and innovative efficiency solutions, all nine organizations demonstrate that no matter the size, it is possible to save money and use significantly less energy and to power the buildings where Americans work, play, and learn.

The nine organizations all used different tactics to save energy in their buildings. Examples include installing programmable thermostats, lighting sensors, insulation, and a white roof; upgrading to more efficient LED and compact fluorescent lighting and Energy Star qualified equipment; and supporting employee energy-conscious behaviors. Together, these award-winning organizations reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from the annual electricity use of more than 650 homes, while saving more than $850,000 on their energy bills.

The 2010 Energy Star Small Business and Congregations Award winners used tools and resources provided by EPA’s Energy Star program to develop their plans and measure and track their accomplishments. By strategically managing the energy performance of their facilities, these small businesses and congregations cut utility costs without sacrificing features, convenience, style, or comfort while making significant contributions to a cleaner environment.

The small business award winners are AutoFair Companies (Manchester, N.H.), Dagher Engineering (New York, N.Y.), Engineering Excellence (Cincinnati, Ohio), and Patriot Subaru (Saco, Maine).

The congregations award winners are First Baptist Church of Orlando (Orlando, Fla.), First Parish Needham (Needham, Mass.), Lakewood Church (Houston, Texas), Saint Alban’s Episcopal Church (Monroe, Ga.), and Swarthmore Presbyterian Church (Swarthmore, Pa.).

More about the 2010 Energy Star Small Business Award winners: http://www.energystar.gov/SmallBizAwards

More about the 2010 Energy Star Congregation Award winners: http://www.energystar.gov/CongregationAwards

2010-09-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

TVA Scientists, Engineers Receive EPRI Honors for Research, Lifetime Service
From air-quality monitoring to advancing the power grid, TVA is sharing its scientific insights and engineering expertise as part of its public-service mission.

Six TVA employees this year have received Technology Transfer awards from the Electric Power Research Institute – an independent, nonprofit research organization – for their collaborative efforts tackling big challenges facing the electric utility industry.

Also, upon his retirement, TVA Environmental Projects Manager Tom Burnett received EPRI’s Lifetime Service Award. A national expert in hazardous air pollutants and control technologies, Burnett previously won EPRI accolades for evaluating selective catalytic reduction systems for power plants and for monitoring fine particulates in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Bryan Hannegan, EPRI vice president for Environment & Renewable Energy, said the “hard work, commitment and leadership demonstrated by these award winners help make electricity more affordable, more reliable and sustainable for this and future generations.”

TVA Vice President for Technology Innovation Ramesh Shankar said, “This recognition by EPRI of TVA in furthering research for the utility industry at large and TVA in particular is a testimonial to the talent we have.”

Among those honored, Suzanne Fisher, an environmental scientist and senior adviser in TVA Technology Innovation in Knoxville, was cited for her analysis of more than 20 years of research by EPRI and others on the variety of ways ecosystems react to acid deposition.

Her report formed EPRI’s response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to revise so-called secondary air-quality standards. EPA wants to more closely link smokestack limits on nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides to their impact on soil, water, visibility, plants and animals.

“This is a first for EPA because essentially what they want to do is go from an ambient air-quality standard down to deposition and associated ecological effects,” Fisher said. “They are going from air to water to something on the ground.”

Developing a national standard, even with some variations between states, will require computer models that account for regional differences, including climate and soil conditions.

“What the EPRI white paper did was go through and point out those kinds of things, and just take a look at the science behind the modeling and the risk exposure,” Fisher said.

EPRI Senior Project Manager Eladio Knipping praised Fisher’s knowledge about the issues and her ability to quickly generate an analysis that satisfied an exacting team of EPRI experts. EPA expects to issue draft rules later this year and final regulations in 2012.

Other EPRI winners are as follows:

Ralph McKosky, a project manager in Technology Innovation, and Mark Goff, a systems engineer in Power System Operations, both in Chattanooga, for their contributions to advances in transmission and substation sensor design and deployment.
Lisa Beard, a retired project manager in Technology Innovation, and Ritchie Carroll, a retired Power System Operations manager in Chattanooga, for demonstrating an EPRI-developed, power-grid monitoring system called a Wide Area Power System Visualization Application. The system will give operators better tools to observe grid conditions in real time and to detect and locate power disturbances.
Michael Turnbow, general manager in Inspection & Testing in Chattanooga, for preparing a guidance document about ultrasonic exams of dissimilar metal welds, benefiting EPRI’s Materials Reliability Program and its Boiling Water Reactor Vessels Internals Project.
“Our commitment to EPRI is vast and deep, with over 100 TVA engineers and scientists serving on EPRI councils and advisory committees,” Shankar said. “This collaboration has continued to yield solid, practical and useful results.”

EPRI has offices and labs in Palo Alto, Calif.; Charlotte, N.C.; Lenox, Mass.; and Knoxville.

2010-09-21T19:08:00.000-07:00

Ramping up for firewood.Now is a good time to buy it before the rush. Just because it's hot now,in a few weeks,you'll need it.

TVA Identifies Preferred Route for Transmission Line

2010-09-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

September 9, 2010

COLUMBUS, Miss. — The Tennessee Valley Authority has identified a preferred route for a new transmission line that would provide power to 4-County Electric Power Association's proposed Lake Lowndes Substation.

The proposed 2.4-mile transmission line and substation would relieve overloading at the New Hope Substation, and provide reliable power to the growing Lake Lowndes area. The 161-kilovolt transmission line would extend southeast from TVA's existing Lowndes-Columbus 161-kilovolt line to the proposed Lake Lowndes Substation, located on Mississippi Highway 69 near New Hope Road.

The preferred route is expected to have the fewest overall impacts among the alternatives studied, and is pending completion of a National Environmental Policy Act review.

The route affects approximately 16 parcels. TVA will meet with property owners along the proposed right-of-way to obtain 100-foot easements for construction, operation and maintenance of the line. Property owners will still own the property and be compensated for easements at fair market value.

TVA is expected to begin acquiring easements for the transmission right-of-way during the summer of 2011. Construction is scheduled to begin during spring 2012 with the project's completion scheduled for summer 2012.

TVA selected the preferred route after receiving public input on the various alternatives for the transmission line. TVA's goal is to select the best overall path, weighing the same environmental, land use, engineering, cultural and cost considerations for each option to ensure the project's overall impact is minimized.

The preferred route consists of alternative segments 2 and 4 as shown on TVA's website. The map of the project and additional information is available at www.tva.com/power/projects.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for utility and business customers in most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia – an area of 80,000 square miles with a population of 9 million. TVA operates 29 hydroelectric dams, 11 coal-fired power plants, three nuclear plants and 11 natural gas-fired power facilities and supplies up to 33,700 megawatts of electricity, delivered over 16,000 miles of high-voltage power lines. TVA also provides flood control, navigation, land management and recreation for the Tennessee River system and works with local utilities and state and local governments to promote economic development across the region. TVA, which makes no profits and receives no taxpayer money, is funded by sales of electricity to its customers. Electricity prices in TVA's service territory are below the national average.

Media Contact
Myra Ireland, Chattanooga, (423) 413-5971
Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000

TVA Newsroom

Is Algae the DIY Answer to Fuel & Food Crises?

2010-09-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

Is Algae the DIY Answer to Fuel & Food Crises?

2010-09-09T07:51:00.000-07:00

Finally got my computer issues addressed.

Solar Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles to be Tested Across Tenn.

2010-02-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

January 15, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority, the Electric Power Research Institute and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Friday announced that they will test and deploy solar-assisted charging stations for electric vehicles across the state of Tennessee as part of one of the largest electric transportation projects in U.S. history.

Speaking at an event in Knoxville introducing the Nissan LEAF, a 100 percent electric, zero-emission vehicle, TVA Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore said that the first prototype charging station using solar-generated electricity will be tested at EPRI’s Laboratories for Electric Transportation Application in Knoxville this spring.

A second prototype will be built by ORNL in Oak Ridge. The prototypes will be tested for three to six months before expanding and constructing additional stations in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville over the next few years.

“These new cars will need a new type of “filling station,” Kilgore said, “and we’ve been working with our partners at Nissan, the state of Tennessee, the city of Knoxville, the Electric Power Research Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Knoxville Utilities Board and other utilities to create these filling stations for the future.”

"This project will bring substantial benefits to our region, and we at ORNL welcome this opportunity to support DOE and eTec to advance our vision for sustainable mobility," said Director of ORNL Thomas Mason.

This regional electric vehicle initiative is being done in conjunction with the Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation, e-Tec, which has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to accelerate the development and production of electric vehicles in several states. DOE also is providing funding to ORNL for its involvement in the solar-assisted charging station project.

The solar-assisted charging stations will use the sun to generate power needed to offset the charge of the electric vehicles during peak power demand periods. While vehicles are charging, the stationary batteries and smart grid controls will provide additional localized support to mitigate any impacts on the power system.

TVA is working with EPRI and regional partners on the design of these charging stations. EPRI will help TVA and other partners share the design and best practices gleaned from this research to begin developing an efficient nationwide charging network for electric vehicles.

EPRI is an independent, non-profit organization that conducts research about the generation, delivery, and use of electricity.

“Electrifying transportation is an important step in achieving a low-carbon future,” said Arshad Mansoor, Vice President of Power Delivery and Utilization at EPRI. “The solar assisted charging stations that are being developed by TVA in partnership with EPRI, ORNL and distributors will help accelerate deployment of electric vehicles in the region.”

The first prototype station will have four to six parking “spaces,” but larger 10- space stations are expected to be built in the future using a modular base design.

TVA also is working closely with KUB and other distributors of TVA power to conduct research to understand the impacts of vehicle charging on the power grid.

The solar-assisted stations will complement the standard home, commercial, public and fast-charging infrastructure needed to support the Nissan LEAF and more electric vehicles.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 157 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also creates economic development opportunities and manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Contact
Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865) 632-6000

Department of Energy Announces Technology Transfer Coordinator

2010-02-24T14:06:00.000-08:00

February 23, 2010

Department of Energy Announces Technology Transfer Coordinator
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Department of Enery Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Dr. Karina Edmonds will join the Department of Energy as its new Technology Transfer Coordinator. Dr. Edmonds will be responsible for working with the Department's National Laboratories to accelerate the process of moving discoveries from the laboratory to the private sector, ensuring that America’s scientific leadership translates into new, high-paying jobs for America’s families. Dr. Edmonds is scheduled to join the Department starting in April 2010.

“I am pleased to have Karina join our team at the Department of Energy,” said Secretary Chu. “Having Karina oversee a coordinated, strategic effort on behalf of the Department will help increase the rate of successful technology transfers, creating clean energy jobs and providing more solutions to our energy challenges.”

Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, this is the first time that the Department has appointed a full-time person to fill this role. An aeronautical engineer, Dr. Edmonds is presently the Director of Jet Propulsion Laboratory Technology Transfer at the California Institute of Technology. In that position, she is responsible for licensing technologies developed at both JPL and Caltech to industry and start-ups, managing the JPL patent portfolio, assisting Caltech Start-ups and managing Caltech's current patent filings. Dr. Edmonds will also be a featured guest speaker at the inaguaral ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in to take place March 1-3, 2010 in Washington D.C. The ARPA-E Summit will bring together leading members of the business and scientific communities to discuss their game-changing ideas for transforming the way we use and produce energy.

Dr. Edmonds is also a registered patent agent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United States

2010-02-15T17:14:00.000-08:00

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February 2, 2010

EPA and DOE Join States to Speed Energy Efficiency Progress in the United States
WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy announced today the creation of the State Energy Efficiency (SEE) Action Network. This network is meant to help states achieve maximum cost effective energy efficiency improvements in homes, offices, buildings and industry by 2020. Strengthening energy efficiency initiatives across the country helps to save money and protect the environment at the same time.

“In the clean energy future, energy efficiency is action number one. We can cut greenhouse gases and protect our environment while we save money for homeowners, schools and businesses,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “With strong federal support, our state partners can realize these benefits even faster than expected and move aggressively into a clean, affordable energy future.”

“Expanding energy efficiency is one of the quickest, most cost-effective ways we can address climate change and grow America’s economy,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “The State Energy Efficiency Action Network will help provide states with the technical and policy support they need to invest in energy efficiency, saving energy and money for families and businesses across the country.”

The SEE Action Network will be led by the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. Through the Network, DOE, EPA and other member organizations will assist states with their energy efficiency initiatives, including residential efficiency programs, financing solutions, and improving availability of energy usage information. It will address the full range of challenges to implementation by providing targeted technical assistance to states in order to reach ambitious national energy goals to greatly improve our nation’s economy and environment.

The SEE Action Network will drive energy efficiency by using a broad set of goals developed in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, but will strive to reach these goals five years earlier than originally envisioned. These goals range from establishing state-of-the art billing systems that provide consumers with consistent information on their energy use and costs to developing strong state policies to ensure robust energy efficiency practices.

The new SEE Action Executive Group will meet for the first time in early March. A number of working groups will continue to meet throughout the year to deliver results on specific goals.

The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency is a public-private initiative that began in the fall of 2005 to create a sustainable, aggressive national commitment to energy efficiency through collaborative efforts of gas and electric utilities, utility regulators and other partner organizations.

Learn more information on the SEE Action Network.

The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency has reports and tools

EPA Proceeds with Revoking Regulations Allowing Carbofuran Pesticide Residues on Food

2009-10-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward to implement the agency’s May 2009 final rule revoking tolerances, or residue limits, for the pesticide carbofuran. EPA continues to find that dietary exposures to carbofuran from all sources combined are not safe.

“The evidence is clear that carbofuran does not meet today’s rigorous food-safety standards,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “EPA has carefully evaluated the scientific issues and has provided more than 500 days of public comment on this decision. It is now important to move forward with the needed public health protections, especially for children.”

Short-term health effects include headache, sweating, nausea, diarrhea, chest pains, blurred vision, anxiety and general muscular weakness.

EPA encourages growers to switch from carbofuran to safer pesticides or other environmentally preferable pest control strategies. Since the tolerances are being revoked, EPA reminds growers that carbofuran should not be applied to any food crops after December 31, 2009. Use of carbofuran after this date could result in adulterated food products, which would be subject to enforcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The United States has a safe and abundant food supply, and everyone should continue to eat a variety of foods, as recommended by the federal government and nutrition experts.

During the objection period, the chemical company FMC Corporation, which manufactures carbofuran, and three grower associations submitted objections to EPA’s tolerance revocations and requested an administrative hearing. EPA has concluded that the regulatory standard for holding an evidentiary hearing has not been met. EPA’s explanation about why a hearing is not warranted, and the reasons for denying the objections are available on the web and will be published soon in a Federal Register notice. As part of the administrative process, FMC may appeal the revocation of the carbofuran tolerances to a federal circuit court of appeals.

EPA’s May 2009 action to revoke carbofuran tolerances was the culmination of a regulatory process that began in 2006 when the agency published its risk assessments for carbofuran and determined, in August 2006, that no uses were eligible for reregistration. While FMC has voluntarily canceled 22 carbofuran uses, the elimination of these uses was not sufficient to allow the agency to make a finding that combined dietary exposures to carbofuran from food and water are safe. The process to cancel the remaining carbofuran registrations is under way and will address unacceptable risks to farmworkers during pesticide application and to birds in and around treated fields

Department of Energy Awards $338 Million to Accelerate Domestic Geothermal Energy

2009-10-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $338 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of new geothermal fields and research into advanced geothermal technologies. These grants will support 123 projects in 39 states, with recipients including private industry, academic institutions, tribal entities, local governments, and DOE’s National Laboratories. The grants will be matched more than one-for-one with an additional $353 million in private and non-Federal cost-share funds.

“The United States is blessed with vast geothermal energy resources, which hold enormous potential to heat our homes and power our economy,” said Secretary Chu. “These investments in America's technological innovation will allow us to capture more of this clean, carbon free energy at a lower cost than ever before. We will create thousands of jobs, boost our economy and help to jumpstart the geothermal industry across the United States.”

These grants are directed towards identifying and developing new geothermal fields and reducing the upfront risk associated with geothermal development through innovative exploration and drilling projects and data development and collection. In addition, the grants will support the deployment and creative financing approaches for ground source heat pump demonstration projects across the country.

Collectively, these projects will represent a dramatic expansion of the U.S. geothermal industry and will create or save thousands of jobs in drilling, exploration, construction, and operation of geothermal power facilities and manufacturing of ground source heat pump equipment.

The projects selected for negotiation of awards fall in six categories:

Innovative Exploration and Drilling Projects (up to $98.1 million): Twenty-four projects have been selected focusing on the development of new geothermal fields using innovative sensing, exploration, and well-drilling technologies.
Coproduced, Geopressured, and Low Temperature Projects (up to $20.7 million): Eleven projects have been selected for the development of new low-temperature geothermal fields, a vast but currently untapped set of geothermal resources. This includes geothermal heat found in the hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells around the U.S., where up to ten barrels of hot water are produced for every barrel of oil.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems Demonstrations (up to $51.4 million): Three projects have been selected for the exploration, drilling and development of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) to validate power production from deep hot rock resources using innovative technologies and approaches.
Enhanced Geothermal Systems Components Research and Development / Analysis (up to $81.5 million): Forty-five projects have been selected to focus on research and development of new technologies to find and drill into deep hot rock formations, stimulate enhanced geothermal reservoirs, and convert the heat to power.
Geothermal Data Development, Collection and Maintenance (up to $24.6 million): Three projects have been selected for the population of a comprehensive nationwide geothermal resource database to help identify and assess new fields.
Ground Source Heat Pump Demonstrations (up to $61.9 million): Thirty-seven projects have been selected to demonstrate the deployment of ground source heat pumps for heating and cooling of a variety of buildings for a variety of customer types, including academic institutions, local governments and commercial buildings.

Save the Date - Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee

2009-10-15T16:44:00.000-07:00

The Summit for a Sustainable Tennessee is a two-day conference at Ward Agricultural Center, Lebanon, TN. Citizens, conservation groups, environmental policy experts, elected officials and local business leaders are invited to participate.

Collaborate with conservation leaders to develop and implement a statewide Sustainability Agenda for 2010.

Attend seminars and learn about:
Economic stimulus opportunities
How pollution prevention can benefit you and your business
The benefit of land resources, greenspace and stewardship

Meet and network with local green businesses, organizations, and leaders and learn about their successes and solutions at our Green Exhibit area.
More information coming soon at www.SustainableTN.org

2010 Annual Fuel Economy Guide Now Available

2009-10-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Guide helps drivers save money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy today unveiled the 2010 Fuel Economy Guide, which gives consumers important information about estimated fuel costs and mileage standards for model year 2010 vehicles.

“Every year, consumers use the Fuel Economy Guide to find clean, efficient, cost-effective vehicles that meets their needs and their budgets,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “It's an easy, accessible resource for everyone, and helps us cut harmful pollution from the air, and save money for American drivers.”

“Fuel economy is about both saving energy and saving money,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “Buying fuel efficient vehicles - like the many hybrid technologies featured in this year’s Fuel Economy Guide – helps limit carbon pollution, lessen our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce driving costs for American families.”

Fuel-efficient models come in all types and sizes, so consumers can save thousands of dollars over a vehicle’s lifetime without sacrificing performance. Model year 2010 fuel economy leaders include a wide range of hybrid models, from compact cars to sport-utility vehicles.

Each vehicle listing in the Fuel Economy Guide provides an estimated annual fuel cost. The estimate is calculated based on the vehicle’s miles per gallon (mpg) rating and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices. The online version of the guide allows consumers to input their local gasoline prices and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate.

Fuel efficiency is important for reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change. One of the most important things consumers can do to reduce their contribution to climate change is to buy a vehicle with better fuel economy.

The Fuel Economy Guide continues to be available to mobile users (fueleconomy.gov/m), and is readily accessible from a mobile device, smart phone, or personal digital assistant (or PDA).

More online sources with fuel economy information:

Visit the joint DOE/EPA Fuel Economy website for detailed information on fuel economy, including a complete version of the Fuel Economy Guide.

View the 2010 fuel economy leaders within each class as well as the lowest fuel economy models.

Secretary Chu Announces First Awards from $1.4 Billion for Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage Projects

2009-10-04T17:24:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC - U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the first round of funding from $1.4 billion from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the selection of 12 projects that will capture carbon dioxide from industrial sources for storage or beneficial use. The first phase of these projects will include $21.6 million in Recovery Act funding and $22.5 million in private funding for a total initial investment of $44.1 million. The remaining Recovery Act funding will be awarded to the most promising projects during a competitive phase two selection process.

"This is a major step forward in the fight to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial plants. These new technologies will not only help fight climate change, they will create jobs now and help position the United States to lead the world in carbon dioxide capture technologies, which will only increase in demand in the years ahead," said Secretary Chu.

The successful development of advanced technologies and innovative concepts that reduce emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is a key objective of the Obama Administration's effort to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas and contributor to global climate change.

Projects announced today include large-scale industrial carbon capture and storage projects that capture carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources—such as cement plants, chemical plants, refineries, paper mills, and manufacturing facilities—and store the carbon dioxide in deep saline formations and other geologic systems.

The initial duration of each project selected is approximately seven months. Projects will be subject to further competitive evaluation in 2010 after successful completion of their Phase 1 activities. Projects that best demonstrate the ability to address their
mission needs will be in the final portfolio that will receive additional funding for design, construction, and operation.

2009-09-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, TVA is doing the right thing.They stepped up to the plate and are trying to clean up a dreadful mess.They are also trying to limit the emissions from fossil plants.Having worked on TVA projects as an electrician,I feel they work to do the right thing.It does provide very competively priced power in vast quantities.

Kingston Ash Release

2009-09-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

September 27, 2009 September 20, 2009 September 13, 2009 September 6, 2009 August 30, 2009 August 23, 2009 August 16, 2009 August 9, 2009 August 2, 2009 July 26, 2009 July 19, 2009 July 12, 2009 July 5, 2009 June 28, 2009 June 21, 2009 June 14, 2009 June 7, 2009 May 31, 2009 May 24, 2009 May 17, 2009 May 10, 2009
Week Ending September 27, 2009
Moved 23,900 cy of ash east of Dike 2 to wet staging areas.
Dredged 53,682 cy of ash from the River from September 21 to September 27.
Moved 11,690 tons of ash this week to Alabama.
The community Action Group (CAG) met with EPA and TVA this week.
Key Statistics This Week Cumulative
Total Ash Removed (Cubic Yards) 77,582 1,301,447
Air Samples Taken 3.138 110,456
Water Samples Taken 100 2,757

Note: Effective with this report, the ash information above includes all ash removed. Please see the complete report for more information.

Department of Energy Announces Testing for AeroSys, Inc. Products to Ensure Compliance with Appliance Standards

2009-09-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC – As part of its renewed efforts to ensure compliance with national energy efficiency appliance standards, the U.S. Department of Energy today issued a test notice requiring AeroSys, Inc. to provide sample air conditioners and heat pumps for laboratory testing by DOE. The test notice, issued under 10 CFR 430.70, requires AeroSys to make test samples of certain AeroSys-manufactured air conditioners and heat pumps available to DOE at its own expense. The Department will then determine whether these products comply with applicable DOE energy standards, which are designed to strengthen efficiency levels for various appliances, save money for consumers, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“In response to our subpoena, AeroSys provided confidential certification test data that claimed to show standards compliance for seven of its basic models,” said DOE General Counsel Scott Blake Harris. “But we concluded that the AeroSys data left open questions about whether their products fully comply with all of the relevant energy efficiency standards. As the next step in the process, we will be testing the products ourselves to ensure that these appliances meet national energy efficiency standards.”

President Obama and Secretary Chu have moved aggressively to clear the backlog of energy efficiency standards for appliances and reinforce the Department’s efforts to save energy for American consumers and businesses. In February 2009, President Obama tasked the Department of Energy with quickening the pace of energy conservation standards for appliances, while continuing to meet legal and statutory deadlines. The Department of Energy has now issued energy efficiency standards for each of the appliance categories highlighted by the President, and is continuing to move forward to develop new energy saving standards and to consistently and agressivley enforce existing standards.

Media contact(s):
(202) 586-4940

Obama Administration Delivers More than $106 Million for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Projects in 9 States

2009-09-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that more than $106 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is being awarded to 9 states to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, these states will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.

“This funding will allow states across the country to make major investments in energy solutions that will strengthen America's economy and create jobs at the local level,” said Secretary Chu. “It will also promote some of the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have - energy efficiency and conservation - which can be deployed immediately. Local communities can now make strategic investments to help meet the nation's long term clean energy and climate goals.”

States receiving funding today include: Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.

Today’s awards to the State Energy Offices will be used to support state-level energy efficiency priorities, along with funding local conservation projects in smaller cities and counties. At least 60 percent of each state’s award will be passed through to local cities and counties not eligible for direct EECBG awards from the Department of Energy. The EECBG Program was funded for the first time by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and provides formula grants to states, cities, counties, territories and federally-recognized Indian tribes nationwide to implement energy efficiency projects locally.

Projects eligible for support include the development of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy, energy efficiency audits and retrofits, transportation programs, the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and installation of renewable energy technologies on municipal buildings.

Transparency and accountability are important priorities for the EECBG program and all Recovery Act projects. All grantees have specific measures they must take before spending the full amount of awarded funding, such as ensuring oversight and transparency, submitting a conservation strategy to the Department of Energy, and complying with environmental regulations.

Throughout the program’s implementation, DOE will provide strong oversight at the local, state, and tribal level, while emphasizing the need to quickly award funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies. Communities will be required to report regularly to DOE on the progress they have made toward successfully completing projects and reaching program goals.

For a full list of awards to date, visit the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Program

Treasury, Energy Surpass $1 Billion Milestone in Recovery Act Awards for Clean Energy Projects

2009-09-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON– This morning, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu hosted a group of clean energy developers and manufacturers at the White House to discuss how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) is creating jobs and helping expand the development of clean, renewable domestic energy. At the meeting, Secretaries Geithner and Chu announced $550 million in new awards through the Recovery Act’s 1603 program, bringing the total to more than $1 billion awarded to date to companies committed to investing in domestic renewable energy production.

“This Recovery Act program is an example of a true federal partnership with the private sector,” said Treasury Secretary Geithner. “Not only are our Recovery dollars meeting an immediate funding need among innovative companies, they are also jumpstarting private sector investment in communities across the country – with benefits for the renewable energy industry and our economy alike.”

Said Secretary Chu: “These investments are crucial to ensuring America can compete and win in the race for the clean energy jobs of the future. With American workers and American innovation, we can and must lead the world when it comes to the new Industrial Revolution in clean energy.”

Created under Section 1603 of the Recovery Act, the program provides cash assistance to energy producers in place of tax credits. The payments improve project viability, enabling companies to create and retain jobs, and establish sufficient financing bases for projects that may otherwise not be possible, dramatically expanding and accelerating the development of renewable energy projects throughout the country. Under this program, the federal government provides a cash payment in lieu of a tax credit totaling 30 percent of the qualifying cost of the project; for each federal dollar spent in payments, more than two dollars are spent in private sector investments.

Today the Treasury Department will make the second round of awards, all of which will be made in half the statutorily mandated turnaround time of 60 days. The first round of awards totaling $502 million was announced on September 1, 2009. Today’s announcement provides an additional $550 million. The 1603 program is having an immediate effect on the renewable energy industry by significantly increasing the availability and liquidity of project capital in three ways:

Recycling grants into new projects. Project developers are able to begin construction of additional projects thanks to the extra capital from the grants they are receiving.
Increasing the flow of capital. By reversing the drop in availability of equity investment available, the 1603 program brings significant private capital off the sidelines to finance more renewables projects.
Attracting investment for domestic projects. Large project developers allocate capital across many countries, and the 1603 program is attracting billions of dollars of additional capital towards projects in the US.
Project developers receiving awards through this program participated in today's meeting, including Ameresco, First Wind, Horizon Wind, and Sun Edison. Also participating were several renewables manufacturers who supply these developers, including Cardinal Fastener, GE Energy, Gamesa, Solyndra, and Vestas Americas.

At a site in Pittsburgh, CA, Ameresco is using a landfill to provide power to the City of Palo Alto. Payments awarded because of this project will allow Ameresco to accelerate its development of renewable energy projects by a minimum of four more domestic projects a year.
Solyndra is helping to provide energy to a building in downtown Denver, CO through solar panels on the roof, a project that would not have been possible without Recovery Act payments.
Vestas Americas has made a significant investment in developing renewable energy in the United States. The company has allocated $1 billion for new manufacturing facilities throughout the country, and the 1603 program will allow these facilities to be fully operational by 2011.
Source:DOE
_________________________________________________________________________________

Secretary Chu Announces Finalized $5.9 Billion Loan for Ford Motor Company

2009-09-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Secretary Steven Chu announced that the Department of Energy has closed on its loan offer of $5.9 billion to Ford Motor Company to transform factories across Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio to produce more fuel efficient models. The loan is part of the Department’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing program, which supports the development of innovative, advanced vehicle technologies to create thousands of clean energy jobs while helping reduce the nation’s dangerous dependence on foreign oil.

Source: D.O.E.
________________________________________________________________________________

Liberia Converting Old Rubber Trees to Electricity

2009-09-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

By Scott Stearns
Dakar
13 September 2009

Work begins this month on a new, environmentally-friendly power plant in Liberia that will use old rubber trees to generate electricity. It is part of a plan to make Liberia the world's first sustainable biomass-driven economy.

Natural rubber has anchored the Liberian economy for more than 75 years. The huge Firestone plantation east of the capital, Monrovia, remains the world's largest single natural rubber operation and was one of the first businesses to reopen after Liberia's long civil war.

Its continued success is crucial to Liberia's economic recovery. Now, the plantation's eight million rubber trees may help fuel that recovery by producing low-cost electricity.

The firm Buchanan Renewable Energies is building a carbon-neutral power plant using woodchips from older rubber trees to generate 35 megawatts of electricity.

An electrician works on a lamp-post in Monrovia the capital city of Liberia (File)
The Liberian Electric Company will then sell that power to people in Monrovia for about half what they are paying now.

Buchanan Renewables President Joel Strickland says it is a low-cost, intermediate solution to Liberia's energy needs, while repairs to the Mt. Coffee hydroelectric facility are at least five years away.

Workers break ground on the new power plant this month. Strickland says it will have the capacity to double the initial 35 megawatts of electricity, once the nation's power grid is improved.

"The rubber chips are available. The biomass is here. The difficulty is the distribution is not there," said Strickland. "So LEC, once they receive the power have to be able to deliver it to the consumer. So all the wires stringing the distribution needs to be done on a more rapid basis and faster so we can get out to the consumer."

Using non-performing rubber trees as a source of power also helps rejuvenate rubber production by making room for new planting. If properly managed, clearing and replanting trees in a 30-year cycle creates both a renewable source of energy and maximum rubber production.

Liberia is also gaining from the export of woodchips to Europe, where they are used as either biomass for energy production or in the manufacture of fiber board.

Strickland says Liberia has shipped 30,000 tons of woodchips this year and will export another 30,000 tons before the end of the year. He expects to top that in 2010 with more than 200,000 tons of woodchip exports.

National Investment Commission Chairman Richard Tolbert says Buchanan Renewable's $150-million investment demonstrates the strength of both Liberia's commitment to renewable energy and its investment climate.

"So despite all of what is going on in the world - the global financial crisis - instead of investors pulling back, investors are continuing to come to us here in Liberia," said Tolbert. "That is very tangible proof that we are doing the right thing."

Strickland says the project will create more than 400 new jobs by the end of the year.

"As we expand, we will be creating jobs in Margibi. We will be creating jobs in Bong County where we are starting to operate, certainly Montserado with the power plant and the distribution," added Strickland. "So our goal really as we go about is to have close relations with both the political authorities as well as civil society because that is where we are drawing our employees from."

Beyond the hiring of its own employees, Buchanan Renewable's generation of lower-cost electricity should lead to further job growth as small businesses will spend less on utilities.

Tolbert says employment is the key in a nation still recovering from conflict where the United Nations estimates formal sector unemployment at 80 percent.

"Business is coming. Investment is coming. And what does this mean? This means jobs, my friend. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. That is the key to the economic and security, long-term stability of this country," said Tolbert. "That is all we are about, as far as I am concerned. Jobs even over revenue. We are trying to create jobs so everybody can make their own living as opposed to depending on the government for a hand-out."

The Buchanan Renewable investment has already improved roads, bridges, and ports in Liberia. It says a portion of profits from the project will be given as grants to social program.

The company says its goal is to generate electricity from natural, non-edible, renewable and sustainable resources indigenous to West Africa with projects that focus on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Source: VOA News

TVA Leases Three Knoxville Homes For 3-Year Energy Efficiency Study

2009-09-12T17:30:00.001-07:00

August 13, 2009

TVA will test building techniques, technologies and household appliances at three experimental houses over the next three years to learn more about how cutting-edge residential construction affects energy efficiency in homes in the Tennessee Valley region. The three houses, in Knoxville’s Campbell Creek Subdivision, include a newly built home that meets Energy Star Performance standards, a second home modified with improvements that could easily be made to existing homes for increased efficiency; and a third home built from the ground up to be a “near-Zero Energy Home.”

TVA will use data collected from the houses to develop information and programs to help the public choose energy efficiency packages for their homes and to help builders provide affordable, near-Zero Energy Homes in the future. TVA also intends to test technologies that enable consumers to better manage the energy they use and save money on their electric bills.

“Going forward, this three-year project will help TVA fine-tune its energy efficiency products so that we can work with local distributors to help homeowners add energy efficiency and money-saving measures to their existing homes,” said Joe Hoagland, TVA’s vice president for Environmental Science, Technology and Policy. “Along with the expertise of Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the building industry, these homes gives us a multimillion-dollar research laboratory for about 10 percent of the cost of creating the testing capacity in a laboratory setting. This project is an enormous resource to TVA and local distributors of TVA power, and we believe it’s the only one of its kind in the world.”

In addition to ORNL, TVA’s partners in the project are the Electric Power Research Institute and General Electric, which will supply the GE heat pump water heater in the retrofitted home and GE Energy Star appliances. Several other companies are supplying building materials and cutting-edge technology to the demonstration project, including:

Louisiana Pacific, TechShield roof sheathing
DOW Chemical, structural insulated sheathing for walls
Sustainable Future, solar water heating system
BioBased, foam insulation
Johns Manville, fiberglass spider and batt insulation
Serious Materials, super insulating windows
Fantech, energy recovery ventilator
Associated Equipment Company, 2-ton Amana heat pump
TVA also worked closely on the project with Michael Rhodes, owner of the homes, and builder John Kerr. Both expressed an interest in learning about new building technologies that will be explored in this project. The homes are served by Lenoir City Utilities Board.

For more information on this project, please visit the Web page at www.tva.com/campbellcreekresearchhomes.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 9 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.

Media Contact
Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

TVA Newsroom

Integrated Resource Plan

2009-09-10T15:40:00.000-07:00

TVA has begun a comprehensive study of alternatives for meeting the future electrical energy needs of the Tennessee Valley. The purpose of this study, the Integrated Resource Plan, is to develop a plan that TVA can enact to achieve a sustainable future and meet the electricity needs of the Tennessee Valley over the next 20 years. As part of the study, TVA will then implement the plan that best meets the goals of its Strategic Plan and Environmental Policy and the goals of Valley residents. The results of the study will be presented in a new integrated resource plan and associated environmental impact statement.

Public Involvement
Public scoping for the IRP was held from June 15 through August 14, 2009. TVA anticipates releasing a draft plan and associated environmental impact statement for public review and comment in early 2010.

In order to get specific and continuous guidance from a variety of Valley residents, TVA has assembled a Stakeholder Review Group that will meet frequently as TVA develops the IRP.

To be added to the IRP mailing list and receive future project announcements, such as the availability of the draft plan and EIS, please sign up here. Please note that any comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the project administrative record and will be available for public inspection.

Background
Electrical utilities periodically develop integrated resource plans to determine the most cost-effective way to meet the future needs of their customers. The plans typically compile a list of various options for meeting these needs, including different types of generating plants and various energy efficiency and demand response measures. These options are assembled into resource portfolios, which are then evaluated for several criteria, including capital and fuel costs, reliability, compliance with existing and anticipated future regulations, and other factors. The “best’ portfolio is then selected and implemented.

TVA developed its Energy Vision 2020 Integrated Resource Plan and associated environmental impact statement with extensive public involvement in 1995. Based on the evaluations in Energy Vision 2020, TVA adopted a flexible portfolio of supply- and demand-side energy resource options to meet the growing demand for electricity in the region and achieve the goals of the TVA Act and other congressional directives. This portfolio of energy resource options, as amended through subsequent studies, will be a baseline for the evaluations conducted for this new planning effort.

Source:TVA
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DOE Recognizes Midwest Industrial Efficiency Leaders

2009-09-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

DETROIT, MI – The U.S. Department of Energy and Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm joined with over 300 industry, state, and federal leaders to recognize industrial efficiency leaders and plot a course to accelerate industrial energy efficiency in the Midwest. As part of the Midwest Industrial Energy Efficiency Exchange that began last night and continued today, Governor Granholm and DOE announced 11 Save Energy Now awards recognizing industry leaders for their exemplary energy saving accomplishments. Attendees at the Energy Efficiency Exchange also had an opportunity to learn about new energy saving technologies and ways to improve industrial competitiveness, including technical advances and financing strategies.

“Improving industrial energy efficiency is a true win-win-win for the Midwest,” said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. “It saves our manufacturers money on their energy bills and makes them more competitive; it creates new jobs implementing these efficiency measures; and it protects the environment by reducing our need to burn fossil fuels.”

“By implementing the latest energy efficiency technologies, American industry leaders will help ensure American businesses will lead the world into a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu. “Working together with American manufacturing industries to make their facilities as efficient as possible, we will be able to create new jobs, reduce industrial energy use, and limit damaging carbon pollution.”

As part of the Save Energy Now program, DOE works with private companies to improve their energy efficiency and demonstrate profitable business models that will expand markets for new energy technologies. Industry consumes about a third of all energy used in the U.S., with a large portion of the energy lost to inefficiencies. In the Midwest alone, industry accounts for 35 percent of the total energy consumption for the region and 16 percent of the region’s carbon emissions. By providing companies with the technical support and expertise to lower their energy use, DOE helps bolster industrial competitiveness, create jobs, and save energy across the industrial sector.

Last night, DOE recognized the following Midwest companies as Save Energy Now Champions for saving more than 250,000 MMBTU or more than 15 percent of total energy savings:

Benlee, Inc. (Romulus, MI)
Brose (Chicago, IL)
Flex-N-Gate Corporation – MasterGuard (Veedersburg, IN)
The Minster Machine Company (Minster, OH)
Nease Corporation (Harrison, OH)

Being 'green' is key part of commissary operations

2009-09-02T09:17:00.000-07:00

by Mike McCarthy,
Environmental management service

8/31/2009 - FORT LEE, Va. (AFNS) -- Each year, Defense Commissary Agency stores use more than 200 million gallons of water, spend more than $60 million on utility services and generate more solid waste than most mid-sized cities. However, as DeCA officials deliver the commissary benefit, they also are responsible for eliminating or limiting any negative impact its operations may have on natural resources.

The agency's environmental policy spells out its mandate to make environmental protection as important to daily operations as providing quality and safe products to millions of authorized customers worldwide.

"DeCA understands the importance of minimizing the environmental impact on both the retail food industry and the armed forces community and is committed to setting an example as a leader in environmental performance when it makes good business sense to do so," said DeCA Director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. "Everyone benefits from these initiatives, our customers, our installation partners, our employees, and most importantly, the environment."

The mission of implementing DeCA's environmental policy and monitoring its compliance with relative executive orders, laws and other regulatory requirements belongs to the agency's environmental management system staff.

"Environmental performance is key to DeCA's continued success," said E. Carroll Shepherd III, DeCA's energy and environmental manager. "Our improved environmental performance lessens our environmental footprint, enhances quality of life and improves our store operations. Since 2005, our environmental management system has supported this strategic initiative and our environmental policy holds us accountable."

"Going Green" has become a way of life for the commissary agency. In fiscal 2008 alone, DeCA officials significantly increased the number of environmentally friendly products -- including recycled paper products, detergents and cleaners, and organic products -- available to its customers. The agency also sold more than 1 million compact fluorescent light bulbs. Those bulbs are projected to generate more than $40 million in energy savings while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 200,000 pounds.

Commissary operations also have been enhanced. DeCA has saved more than $50 million in energy costs since 1995. The recycling program has prevented more than 85,000 tons of cardboard from going to landfills, generated more than $8.5 million in revenue over the last two years and created potential solid waste cost avoidance of $650,000 annually. These initiatives and others, such as DeCA's integrated pest management and electronic stewardship programs, are all driven by the agency's environmental management system, which in turn is driven by DeCA's environmental policy.

The team members at the Fort Myer, Va., commissary are a good example of the environmental policy in action. Through DeCA's Effective Waste Management Plan they reduced the frequency of waste pickups and created the potential for $53,000 in cost avoidance and a 350-ton increase in the store's annual recycling rate.

"All DeCA associates should be aware of the environmental policy and its importance to our day to day operations," Mr. Shepherd said. "Environmental protection is an objective for everybody in DeCA, from the stores to the regions to the headquarters.

"In September, we will undergo a third-party audit of our environmental management system to gauge our success in communicating the agency's environmental initiatives to our employees and their understanding of the environmental policy," he added. "We are asking all employees to please take the time to review the policy and do their part to help DeCA 'Go Green.'"

Source: USAF.
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Planning for clean energy in the Tennessee Valley

2009-08-31T13:37:00.000-07:00

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is the nation’s largest federal power authority, serving seven southeastern states and providing power to approximately nine million people. With more than 107 million tons of carbon dioxide emitted annually, TVA’s power plants are responsible for a significant share of the United States’ global warming pollution.

As the only organization that advocates at both regional and federal levels for energy efficiency and clean energy programs at TVA, SACE also pushed TVA to engage in an updated “resource planning process,” which it had not undertaken since 1995. Today’s rapidly changing regulatory and technological environments necessitates an up-to-date assessment of the available resources that would ensure safe, clean, reliable power supply for the residents of the Tennessee Valley.

In June 2009, TVA announced it would develop an integrated resource plan that will consider a long-range set of options for supplying electric power to customers in the Tennessee Valley. Stephen Smith, SACE’s executive director, has accepted the invitation to take part in a stakeholder advisory group that will provide input into the planning process, set priorities, and give recommendations to TVA on how best to meet future energy demand.

SACE submitted official comments on August 14, 2009 regarding the scope of the planning process and to recommend specific issues TVA must address to achieve a true evaluation of resource options for meeting the energy demand. In addition, SACE’s comments urged for an open and transparent process to produce a responsible plan that also has the support of the general public. Click here to review SACE’s comments or visit TVA’s website to learn more about the planning process.
Source:SACE.
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Georgia expands solar in voluntary utility program

2009-08-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Public Service Commission voted in August to expand Georgia Power Company’s “green energy” program to allow more solar energy. In a 5-0 vote, Georgia Power was directed to purchase up to 1.5 megawatts of solar energy where it had previously only purchased up to 500 kilowatts. The price that Georgia Power’s green energy subscribers currently pay stays the same: $4.50 for a block of 100 kilowatt hours each month that includes solar and $3.50 for those who want to buy a cheaper block that is not guaranteed to include solar. One hundred kilowatt hours is about one tenth of a typical home's monthly consumption.

To learn more about the program and to sign up for the solar-guaranteed option, go to the company’s web site at http://www.georgiapower.com/green/home.asp. Although much of the fuel from Georgia Power’s green power program still comes from methane gas produced at landfills, the more customers buy into the solar-guaranteed option, the more solar-expansive the program can become. The program is “Green-e” certified by a nationally respected, independent third-party, which Southern Alliance for Clean Energy endorses.

Also, Georgia state law requires Georgia Power to buy a certain percentage of solar power from any customers who generate more than they need. Based on the recent Commission vote, a seller now gets a higher buy-back rate from the company of 18.31 cents per kilowatt hour. We applaud the Commission for taking this small step to expand solar energy in Georgia and ask that they also support current federal legislation for a clean energy standard that will advance the solar industry in the region even more.
Source:Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
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2009-08-26T18:12:00.001-07:00

South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Drayage Truck Replacement Initiative. The project will replace 180 diesel drayage trucks at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with LNG trucks. Additionally, workshops will be made available to truck operators and technicians working on LNG trucks. The final element of this application is an education/outreach component for alternative fueled vehicles that will be deployed by the Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition and the SCAQMD. DOE estimates that the project will help displace an estimated 1.8 million gallons of petroleum annually.
Total DOE award: $9,408,389

2009-08-26T18:09:00.000-07:00

August 26, 2009

Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $300 Million in Clean Cities Grants to Support Clean Fuels, Vehicles, and Infrastructure Development
Projects will create jobs, limit pollution, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil
WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These projects will speed the transformation of the nation’s vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.

“The Clean Cities program is helping give state and local governments the tools they need to build a greener transportation system that will create new jobs and help to put America on the path to a clean energy future,” said Secretary Chu. “Advancing the number of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles on the road will increase our energy security, decrease our dependence on oil, and reduce pollution across the country.”

Under the Recovery Act, the Clean Cities program will fund a range of energy efficient and advanced vehicle technologies, such as hybrids, electric vehicles, plug-in electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids and compressed natural gas vehicles, helping reduce petroleum consumption across the U.S. In addition, funding will support refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuel vehicles, including biofuels and natural gas. Other efforts under the Clean Cities program include public education and training initiatives to further the program’s goal of reducing the national demand for petroleum.

The projects announced by Secretary Chu will support a combined total of more than 9,000 light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles and establish 542 refueling locations across the country. The vehicles and infrastructure being funded include the use of natural and renewable gas, propane, ethanol, biodiesel, electricity, and hybrid technologies. And with the cost share contributions from the recipients, every federal dollar spent will be matched by nearly two dollars from the project partners.

Last week, the Department of Energy also announced that it had selected 23 projects for up to $15 million in annual appropriations funding. Like the Recovery Act-funded projects, the annual Clean Cities projects include grants for vehicles, infrastructure, and education.

Clean Cities is a government-industry partnership that works to reduce America’s petroleum consumption in the transportation sector. Over the last 15 years, the Clean Cities program has established local coalitions across the country that promote the growth of alternative fuels and showcase the potential of advanced and energy efficient vehicles.

The projects announced today are selections for financial award. The final details and funding level of each project is subject to modification based on further contract negotiations between the selected entity and DOE.

DOE Announces $37 Million for Small Business Research and Technology

2009-08-22T19:34:00.000-07:00

Washington, DC— U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that $37 million in funding from the Recovery Act will be made available to qualified small businesses through the Department’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Today’s funding announcement emphasizes the Department’s commitment to developing near-term, clean energy technologies while allowing small businesses take part in the new industrial revolution that the sustainable energy economy will bring.

“Small businesses are engines of job creation and innovation, and we need their ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to drive a clean energy economy,” said Secretary Chu. “By helping small businesses bring clean technologies to market, we can create jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and reduce carbon pollution.”

DOE’s SBIR/STTR programs target U.S. companies with fewer than 500 employees. Small businesses with strong research capabilities in science or engineering are encouraged to apply. Applications are currently being accepted for topic areas related to improving energy efficiency including:

Advanced building air conditioning and refrigeration, thermal load shifting, and cool roofs
Water usage in electric power generation and industrial processes
Power plant cooling
Advanced gas turbines and materials
Sensors, controls, and wireless networks
Advanced water power technology development
Smart controllers for smart grid applications
Advanced solar technologies
Advanced industrial technologies development
Advanced manufacturing processes
The deadline for submission of applications is September 4, 2009, at 8:00 p.m. EST. Approximately $8.5 million is expected to be available for new Phase I awards. Successful applicants may receive up to $150,000 for a Phase I grant for a period of six months to demonstrate the feasibility of the ideas that appear to have commercial potential.

Source:DOE.
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EPA Seeks Comments on its Reevaluation of the Chemical Perchlorate

2009-08-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced that the agency is taking an important step to ensure children’s health is taken into account when evaluating the chemical perchlorate. To enhance transparency, the agency is seeking public comment on its re-evaluation of the scientific information on perchlorate in drinking water. Under the previous administration, EPA made a preliminary decision not to regulate perchlorate. Administrator Jackson directed EPA staff to review that decision and, as part of that review, the agency is putting special emphasis on evaluating the impact of perchlorate on infants and young children.

“It is critically important to protect sensitive populations, particularly infants and young children, from perchlorate in drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “As we re-evaluate the science around perchlorate, we will seek public input before making a regulatory determination based on the best science.”

The analysis presented in the notice announced today more directly evaluates children’s exposure to perchlorate. This step takes into account the fact that infants and children consume more water per body weight than do adults. EPA is now considering a broader range of alternatives for interpreting the available data on the level of health concern, the frequency of occurrence of perchlorate in drinking water, and the opportunity for health risk reduction through a national primary drinking water standard. These alternative interpretations may impact the agency’s final regulatory determination for perchlorate.

In response to a 2008 preliminary determination not to regulate perchlorate, EPA received and reviewed comments from more than 32,000 individuals and organizations. EPA will consider those comments, as well as new comments received during the 30-day comment period on the current notice, before making a final decision on whether to regulate perchlorate under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring and man-made chemical. Perchlorate is used in the manufacture of fireworks, flares and solid rocket propellant.

Secretary Chu Announces Funding for Clean Energy Projects on Tribal Lands and Alaska Villages

2009-08-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Anchorage, Alaska – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $13.6 million in multi-year funding for new clean energy projects on tribal lands. Thirty-six Native American tribes and Alaska villages have been selected to receive awards that will advance renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency and conservation projects on tribal lands and rural Alaska villages.

“The Department of Energy is committed to helping Native American tribes meet their energy needs through clean energy technologies,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will create jobs and economic opportunities on tribal lands, while protecting our planet and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

In Alaska, many rural Native villages face the special challenge of paying high retail fuel prices to meet basic survival needs. Heating oil and diesel fuel is expensive, and the situation becomes even more burdensome for rural communities with the increased costs for transportation and storage. For those Alaska Native communities and many other tribes struggling in the current economy, renewable energy and greater efficiency can provide reliable power supplies while reducing heating and electricity costs.

DOE selected the projects through a competitive process and will provide financial assistance to the tribes for weatherization training, feasibility studies, and development and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The DOE funding is expected to be matched by up to $27 million in public and private investment, for a total value of up to $41 million.

Of the 36 Native American tribes and villages whose projects have been selected for negotiation, 8 projects will provide weatherization training and resources to tribal members, 17 projects will focus on assessing the feasibility of renewable energy development and energy efficiency deployment on tribal lands; and 11 projects will fund the development of renewable energy resources and the deployment of energy efficiency measures on tribal lands and villages.

Since 2002, the Department of Energy has provided $16.5 million for 93 tribal energy projects.

Read more on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Tribal Energy Program.

The following table lists projects selected for award negotiations. DOE funding is subject to negotiation and annual congressional appropriations.

Source:DOE
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Obama Administration Awards More than $119 Million for State Energy Programs in Seven States and Territories

2009-08-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $119 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Alabama, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, North Dakota, and Wyoming. Under DOE’s State Energy Program, states and territories have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce carbon pollution.

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence," said Secretary Chu. "It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly."

These states and territories are receiving 40 percent of their total State Energy Program (SEP) funding authorized under the Recovery Act today. They will now have received 50 percent of their total Recovery Act SEP funding. The initial 10 percent of total funding was previously available to states to support planning activities; the remaining 50 percent of funds will be released once they meet reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.

Activities eligible for State Energy Program funding include energy audits, building retrofits, education and training efforts, transportation programs to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles, and new financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy investments.

The Recovery Act appropriated $3.1 billion to the State Energy Program (SEP) to help promote energy efficiency and clean energy deployment, as well as to support local economic recovery. States use these grants at the state and local level to create green jobs and address state energy priorities.

Transparency and accountability are important priorities for SEP and all Recovery Act projects. Throughout the program’s implementation, DOE will provide strong oversight at the local, state, and national level, while emphasizing with states the need to quickly award funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies.

Source:DOE.
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New biofuel production facility

2009-08-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

CleanEnergy Biofuels, an initiative managed by SACE, celebrated the grand opening of a new biodiesel production facility during a ribbon cutting ceremony held earlier this month at the University of Tennessee's agricultural campus. Biodiesel is a clean-burning, biodegradable alternative fuel made from renewable resources, including vegetable oil, animal fat and used cooking oil.

The production facility will convert waste fryer oil from Knoxville area restaurants into useable fuel and will serve as a research center for other agricultural fuels like soybean oil and oilseed crops. Participating restaurants including Café 4, Crown N Goose, La Costa, Moe’s, and others that will store used grease in special bins for SACE to collect with a 1,500-gallon vacuum truck.

SACE had several goals in mind when building the facility, which can produce up to 380,000 gallons of biodiesel annually and will supply UT and local businesses. We aim to reduce the harmful environmental effects of vehicle emissions, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, develop a fuel source that is both renewable and locally produced, and help the local economy.

Our hope is that the project will spark interest from the public in biofuels and encourage entrepreneurs to get involved. The UT facility was built with an Alternative Fuels Innovations Grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Source:Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
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August 6, 2009

2009-08-09T14:10:00.000-07:00

DOE Awards $377 Million in Funding for 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers
Washington, DC – In a major effort to accelerate the scientific breakthroughs needed to build a new 21st-century energy economy, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the delivery of $377 million in funding for 46 new multi-million-dollar Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) located at universities, national laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private firms across the nation.

“As global energy demand grows, there is an urgent need to reduce our dependence on imported oil and curtail greenhouse gas emissions,” said Secretary Chu. “Meeting the challenge to reduce our dependence on imported oil and curtail greenhouse gas emissions will require significant scientific advances. These centers will mobilize the enormous talents and skills of our nation’s scientific workforce in pursuit of the breakthroughs that are essential to expand the use of clean and renewable energy.”

Of the $377 million awarded to the EFRCs, $277 million comes from funding made available through the Recovery Act with the remaining $100 million made from DOE’s FY2009 budget. The 46 EFRCs are being funded at $2-5 million per year each for a planned initial five-year period and were selected from a pool of applications received in response to a solicitation issued by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science in 2008 and announced on April 27, 2009. Selection of the EFRCs was based on a rigorous merit review process utilizing outside panels composed of scientific experts. In total, the EFRC initiative represents a planned DOE commitment of $777 million over five years.

EFRC researchers will take advantage of new capabilities in nanotechnology, high-intensity light sources, neutron scattering sources, supercomputing, and other advanced instrumentation, much of it developed with DOE Office of Science support over the past decade, in an effort to lay the scientific groundwork for fundamental advances in solar energy, biofuels, transportation, energy efficiency, electricity storage and transmission, clean coal and carbon capture and sequestration, and nuclear energy.
Source:DOE.
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New business unit.

2009-08-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

LOTUS is pleased to announce diversification into carbon sequestration and soil ammendments. Plans are underway for a moderate pyrolytic biomass conversion works
to be established at a yet to be determined location. The facility will produce biochar through the indirect,or retort method,from various sources of biomass.More to come as available.

New feature.

2009-08-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to the blog will be a directory of sustainability partners. These are companies who have shown a willingness to be known as environmentally responsible,
and as a result,have earned an endorsement from LOTUS. Please stay tuned to see who makes the list.Inclusion on this list is quite a high mark for any firm or organization to win listing. Not only is an organization's environmental identity a
factor,but also its corporate charachter. I use the term identity instead of "image",
as image implies false.Inclusion in this directory is by invitation only.
LOTUS is very selective in its accolades,but some organizations deserve recognition.

'Conductive ink' solar panels capture sun power for servicemembers

2009-07-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

by Pete Meltzer Jr.
Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate

7/16/2009 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Air Force and civilian scientists have developed a ready-to-use, cost-reducing technology that captures and stores solar energy to power global positioning system components, portable communications and other devices used by U.S. servicemembers.

Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate officials provided guidance and funding to Plextronics, Inc., and the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center to develop a special "conductive ink" that can be used to make printed organic photovoltaic solar cell panels on very thin, flexible surfaces using ink-jet printing, said 2nd Lt. Christopher A. Vaiana of the Directorate's Nonmetallic Materials Division.

This new technology, called Plexcore®, developed and manufactured by Plextronics, allows solar cells to form-fit servicemembers' uniforms. It can also be used to print solar panels onto thin films in military tents, Lieutenant Vaiana said.

Plextronics' primary focus is organic solar cell and organic light emitting diodes, and more specifically, the conductive inks and process technologies that enable such applications.

"Solar power and solid-state lighting offer substantial promise as approaches toward the development of practical alternative energy technology," Lieutenant Vaiana said. "Combined with the low-cost manufacturing methods of printed electronics, solar and solid-state lighting panels could become economical and environmentally compatible solutions to current day and future energy challenges."

"Military and commercial operations demand portable, highly efficient power sources. Using the power provided by natural sunlight via solar cells is an attractive option, yet has thus far been restricted by cost and size," Lieutenant Vaiana said.

"Plextronics' new technology represents a significant step forward in printing inexpensive solar cells capable of powering a wide range of portable devices such as cell phones and radios. Key outcomes include lower costs and reduced logistical footprints for military operations across the battlefield environment," he added.

3 to 4.3 Billion Barrels of Technically Recoverable Oil Assessed in North Dakota and Montana’s Bakken Formation—25 Times More Than 1995 Estimate—

2009-07-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

Reston, VA - North Dakota and Montana have an estimated 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil in an area known as the Bakken Formation.

A U.S. Geological Survey assessment, released April 10, shows a 25-fold increase in the amount of oil that can be recovered compared to the agency's 1995 estimate of 151 million barrels of oil.

Technically recoverable oil resources are those producible using currently available technology and industry practices. USGS is the only provider of publicly available estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil and gas resources.

New geologic models applied to the Bakken Formation, advances in drilling and production technologies, and recent oil discoveries have resulted in these substantially larger technically recoverable oil volumes. About 105 million barrels of oil were produced from the Bakken Formation by the end of 2007.

The USGS Bakken study was undertaken as part of a nationwide project assessing domestic petroleum basins using standardized methodology and protocol as required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 2000.

The Bakken Formation estimate is larger than all other current USGS oil assessments of the lower 48 states and is the largest "continuous" oil accumulation ever assessed by the USGS. A "continuous" oil accumulation means that the oil resource is dispersed throughout a geologic formation rather than existing as discrete, localized occurrences. The next largest "continuous" oil accumulation in the U.S. is in the Austin Chalk of Texas and Louisiana, with an undiscovered estimate of 1.0 billions of barrels of technically recoverable oil.

"It is clear that the Bakken formation contains a significant amount of oil - the question is how much of that oil is recoverable using today's technology?" said Senator Byron Dorgan, of North Dakota. "To get an answer to this important question, I requested that the U.S. Geological Survey complete this study, which will provide an up-to-date estimate on the amount of technically recoverable oil resources in the Bakken Shale formation."

The USGS estimate of 3.0 to 4.3 billion barrels of technically recoverable oil has a mean value of 3.65 billion barrels. Scientists conducted detailed studies in stratigraphy and structural geology and the modeling of petroleum geochemistry. They also combined their findings with historical exploration and production analyses to determine the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil estimates.

USGS worked with the North Dakota Geological Survey, a number of petroleum industry companies and independents, universities and other experts to develop a geological understanding of the Bakken Formation. These groups provided critical information and feedback on geological and engineering concepts important to building the geologic and production models used in the assessment.

Five continuous assessment units (AU) were identified and assessed in the Bakken Formation of North Dakota and Montana - the Elm Coulee-Billings Nose AU, the Central Basin-Poplar Dome AU, the Nesson-Little Knife Structural AU, the Eastern Expulsion Threshold AU, and the Northwest Expulsion Threshold AU.

At the time of the assessment, a limited number of wells have produced oil from three of the assessments units in Central Basin-Poplar Dome, Eastern Expulsion Threshold, and Northwest Expulsion Threshold.
The Elm Coulee oil field in Montana, discovered in 2000, has produced about 65 million barrels of the 105 million barrels of oil recovered from the Bakken Formation.

Results of the assessment can be found at http://energy.usgs.gov.
Source: U.S. Geological survey.
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Lower your energy bill

2009-07-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

Top 10 No Cost Steps You Can Do This Summer
Turn up your cooling system’s thermostat to 75–78°F. Don’t pay to keep your furniture cool — raise it even more when no one is home.
Perform a do-it-yourself energy audit. You can request a print version or perform your audit on-line at www.energyright.com.
Lower your water heater temperature to 120°F and reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers and using cold water for laundry whenever possible.
Turn off lights, televisions and other appliances when not in use. Use the “sleep mode” on computers.
Remove and recycle your second refrigerator.
Keep curtains closed on the south, east and west sides of the house during the day to help keep cool.
Clean refrigerator coils and set the temperature to 36° to 39°F and the freezer to 0° to 5°F.
Use the microwave; it cooks faster and doesn’t create as much heat as a stove burner.
Air-dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s heat drying option.
Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.

Sorce: T.V.A.
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josephlastella.com Energy Independence Info

2009-07-01T18:18:00.001-07:00

Texas Governor Rick Perry vetoes TV recycling bill

2009-06-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

By Pegasus News wire

New home for your old TV?
The Texas legislature passed HB 821 -- which sought to require TV manufacturers to set up a free recycling program for Texas residents looking to discard their old tube TVs -- and sent it to the governor's desk for approval.

Well, on Monday (June 22) word reached us that Governor Rick Perry vetoed the bill, leaving the way open for thousands of pounds of lead to enter Texas landfills and -- eventually -- our groundwater.

According to an email received from Zac Trahan with the Texas Campaign for the Environment, " ... this bill had no opposition and passed overwhelmingly in the House and unanimously in the Senate."

Leading one to wonder what factors the governor might have been weighing in deciding to veto the measure.

posted by JM

Former criminals take water in Colorado.

2009-06-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

DURANGO, Colo. — For the first time since territorial days, rain will be free for the catching here, as more and more thirsty states part ways with one of the most entrenched codes of the West.

Rick Scibelli Jr. for The New York Times
Tom Bartels of Durango said he had been “so willing to go to jail” for catching water on his roof and watering his garden.

Precipitation, every last drop or flake, was assigned ownership from the moment it fell in many Western states, making scofflaws of people who scooped rainfall from their own gutters. In some instances, the rights to that water were assigned a century or more ago.

Now two new laws in Colorado will allow many people to collect rainwater legally. The laws are the latest crack in the rainwater edifice, as other states, driven by population growth, drought, or declining groundwater in their aquifers, have already opened the skies or begun actively encouraging people to collect.

“I was so willing to go to jail for catching water on my roof and watering my garden,” said Tom Bartels, a video producer here in southwestern Colorado, who has been illegally watering his vegetables and fruit trees from tanks attached to his gutters. “But now I’m not a criminal.”

Who owns the sky, anyway? In most of the country, that is a question for philosophy class or bad poetry. In the West, lawyers parse it with straight faces and serious intent. The result, especially stark here in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, is a crazy quilt of rules and regulations — and an entire subculture of people like Mr. Bartels who have been using the rain nature provided but laws forbade.

The two Colorado laws allow perhaps a quarter-million residents with private wells to begin rainwater harvesting, as well as the setting up of a pilot program for larger scale rain-catching.

Just 75 miles west of here, in Utah, collecting rainwater from the roof is still illegal unless the roof owner also owns water rights on the ground; the same rigid rules, with a few local exceptions, also apply in Washington State. Meanwhile, 20 miles south of here, in New Mexico, rainwater catchment, as the collecting is called, is mandatory for new dwellings in some places like Santa Fe.

And in Arizona, cities like Tucson are pioneering the practices of big-city rain capture. “All you need for a water harvesting system is rain, and a place to put it,” Tucson Water says on its Web site.

Here in Colorado, the old law created a kind of wink-and-nod shadow economy. Rain equipment could be legally sold, but retailers said they knew better than to ask what the buyer intended to do with the product.

“It’s like being able to sell things like smoking paraphernalia even though smoking pot is illegal,” said Laurie E. Dickson, who for years sold barrel-and-hose systems from a shop in downtown Durango.

State water officials acknowledged that they rarely enforced the old law. With the new laws, the state created a system of fines for rain catchers without a permit; previously the only option was to shut a collector down.

But Kevin Rein, Colorado’s assistant state engineer, said enforcement would focus on people who violated water rules on a large scale.

“It’s not going to be a situation where we’re sending out people to look in backyards,” Mr. Rein said.

Science has also stepped forward to underline how incorrect the old sweeping legal generalizations were.

A study in 2007 proved crucial to convincing Colorado lawmakers that rain catching would not rob water owners of their rights. It found that in an average year, 97 percent of the precipitation that fell in Douglas County, near Denver, never got anywhere near a stream. The water evaporated or was used by plants.

But the deeper questions about rain are what really gnawed at rain harvesters like Todd S. Anderson, a small-scale farmer just east of Durango. Mr. Anderson said catching rain was not just thrifty — he is so water conscious that he has not washed his truck in five years — but also morally correct because it used water that would otherwise be pumped from the ground.

Mr. Anderson, a former national park ranger who worked for years enforcing rules and laws, said: “I’m conflicted between what’s right and what’s legal. And I hate that.”

For the last year, Mr. Anderson has been catching rainwater that runs off his greenhouse but keeping the barrel hidden from view. When the new law passed, he put the barrel in plain sight, and he plans to set up a system for his house.

Dig a little deeper into the rain-catching world, and there are remnants of the 1970s back-to-land hippie culture, which went off the grid into aquatic self-sufficiency long ago.

“Our whole perspective on life is to try to use what is available, and to not be dependent on big systems,” said Janine Fitzgerald, whose parents bought land in southwest Colorado in 1970, miles from where the pavement ends.

Ms. Fitzgerald, an associate professor of sociology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, still lives the unwired life with her own family now, growing most of her own food and drinking and bathing in filtered rainwater.

Rain dependency has its ups and downs, Ms. Fitzgerald said. Her home is also completely solar-powered, which means that the pumps to push water from the rain tanks are solar-powered, too. A cloudy, rainy spring this year was good for tanks, bad for pumps.

The economy has turned on some early rainwater believers, too. Ms. Dickson’s company in Durango went out of business last December as the construction market faltered. The rain barrels she once sold will soon be perfectly legal, but the shop is shuttered.

“We were ahead of our time,” she said.
Source: New york Times.
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Hemlock parent seeking federal boost of solar power

2009-06-25T04:12:00.000-07:00

Clarksville plant would be strengthened further if Obama, Congress OK proposals
By JIMMY SETTLE • The Leaf-Chronicle • June 25, 2009

The leadership of Dow Corning — parent of Clarksville's Hemlock Semiconductor LLC plant that's to arrive by 2012 — appealed for a national commitment to increased solar energy in Washington, D.C., Wednesday morning.

If President Barack Obama and Congress buy into the industry recommendations, it could strengthen Clarksville's future as a global leader in the production of silicon-based materials for solar energy technologies.

Dow Corning Chairman, President and CEO Stephanie A. Burns led a contingent of representatives from several of its leading solar technology customers seeking the new federal policies.

The group urged a "Four Point Policy Plan" that would:

Enact a broad federal legislative and regulatory package designed to encourage the rapid growth of a viable renewable energy industry and encourage consumer adoption.

Increase investments in research and development to support innovation in solar energy technologies.

Increase renewable energy-related education, training and job creation.

Establish the federal government as a leader in the utilization of clean energy technologies.

"Solar energy is a clean, efficient and readily available technology that with the right support could help transform America's energy, environmental and economic future," Burns said in prepared comments.

"To make America a 21st century solar power, we need smart and effective government policies from Congress that will help the private sector grow, thrive and create thousands of new jobs."

State impact
Tennessee as a whole could capitalize in a big way from any federal boost of solar power. Last month, Gov. Phil Bredesen announced that $62 million in federal stimulus money would be spent on solar generation and research, pending approval in Washington. About $30 million would be spent on what Bredesen is calling a "solar farm" — a five-megawatt solar power plant at the Haywood County megasite.

It would be among the largest in the eastern part of the country. Power generated would be sold to the Tennessee Valley Authority, and proceeds would be invested back into the farm to increase its size.

(2 of 2)

The remaining funds would be invested in the Tennessee Solar Institute, which would work with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in researching solar technology.

Hemlock plant
Clarksville became an up-and-coming leader in solar energy development when the $1.2 billion Hemlock Semiconductor LLC plant was announced in December 2008.

Site preparation is now under way at Commerce Park, the TVA-certified industrial megasite in northeast Montgomery County. Plant construction is expected to start in November, and by 2012, the plant is expected to employ a minimum of 500 people in the development of polycrystalline silicon. That base product is used in advanced electronics and solar panels.

Another $1 billion polysilicon plant is being built in rural southeast Tennessee by Wacker Chemie AG, a Hemlock competitor.

The Hemlock expansion efforts ongoing in Michigan and Tennessee distinguish parent Dow Corning as a leading producer of silicon-based materials for solar energy technologies globally.

At Wednesday's presentation, Dow Corning was joined by nine of its customers in the solar energy chain: Abengoa Solar, BP Solar, Kyocera, National Semiconductor Corp., Sanyo, Schott Solar, Solar Power Industries, SolarWorld and Suniva Inc.

Dow Corning's silicon-based materials are used in solar cell manufacturing, solar module assembly and installation.

In the past five years, Dow Corning and its joint ventures within the Hemlock Semiconductor Group have announced investments of more than $5 billion to research and develop, as well as expand, production of materials deemed critical to the solar industry.

Source: Leaf-Chronicle.
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Bonnaroo recycling builds

2009-06-21T03:56:00.000-07:00

TONNAGE

Over the years, the amount of recycling from Bonnaroo has been up and down at Orange Grove Recyling Center.

* 2004: 41.22 tons

* 2005: 28.23 tons

* 2006: 45.48 tons

* 2007: No records

* 2008: 43.16 tons

Source: Orange Grove Recycling Center
A 12-foot-high, 30-foot-wide swath of recycling sits at the John F. Germ Recycling Center waiting to be sorted, and every day it gets bigger and bigger.

"They're bringing in two truckloads a day," said Martin Smith, recycling education coordinator for the Orange Grove Center. "The driver said there's probably 20 more loads, and he's already brought in seven."

The recycling comes from the Bonnaroo music festival, which concluded last week. Orange Grove Center has a contract to take all the recycling products from Clean Vibes, a Marion, N.C.-based company that contracts with Bonnaroo to provide waste and recycling services.

Mr. Smith said when people attend the festival they are handed two bags -- one for trash and another for recycling. Beside each trash can also is a recycling can, officials said.

Anna Borofsky, owner of Clean Vibes, said she does not foresee 20 more loads. She expects about six more. That still will be a lot more than the 43 tons of recycling the center saw last year.

"We're looking at the 65 or 70 (tons) range," she said.

In comparison, Riverbend brought in 6.6 tons of recycling, officials said.

The reason behind the increase is that this year the company did not take some of the recycling to a local provider and is using Orange Grove almost entirely, Ms. Borofsky said.

Mr. Smith said workers have not yet begun to sort through the Bonnaroo recycling. Once they do, they will devote an entire line to handling it, he said.

"It looks like there's a lot of it," said Case White, assistant support manager on the sorting line. "I'm almost wishing we had two lines for Bonnaroo."

Source: Chattanooga Free Press.
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Commentary.

2009-06-19T08:19:00.000-07:00

Hello,readers,

I just wanted to take a moment to opine on the state of the energy/environmental issues facing not only this country,but the world. This blog does not advocate or promote any political ideology. Its goal is to present relevant news,commentary,and some videos regarding not only renewable energy,but also the state of conventional sources. In future editions We plan to bring more on pollution,sustainable agriculture,and more ways to conserve what we already have.
Any ideas for future columns are welcomed. Part of my motivation for this blog is concern not only for the environment upon which we all depend for our very existence,but also our national security of which energy is a vital part,and a desire to show people how to save money. Saving money benefits everyone. This blog will from time to time post items with which some will take exception, in the interests of rational,reasoned discourse.
I am not a climatologist,and do not profess to be. perhaps man-made climate change is a chimera,but perhaps not. Regardless of anyone's views on that: there are some irrefutable,common sense facts. I wish to reduce emissions of ALL kinds because less pollution leads to fewer conditions such as asthma,allergies,empysema,and a host of other illnesses. It also means less acid rain,fewer cancers,fewer deaths. There are many things on which all can agree.
Sometimes facts are counter-intuitive. For example,while I am a supporter of biofuels,we should take a closer look to make sure there is a net energy gain,not loss.It makes no sense to pursue that path if it does more harm than good. I am a supporter of recycling programs,sometimes unorthodox,because fewer resouces will be wasted. This blog intends to promote environmental responsiblity and stewardship even if that runs counter to accepted orthodoxy. There is a place here for reasoned debate,not shouting down conflicting voices. I personally am open to discussion on any ecological topic. After all,my motto is, "If you can't change your mind,are you sure you still have one?"
It is true that we cannot make our way through this problem with the same way of thinking that put us into it. I welcome all comments to any post for discussion. It is my earnest wish that you enjoy reading the news and cloumns presented here and that you will return again. Thank you very much for stopping by. All my best.

Sustainably Yours,

Mike.

Oil hovers above $70 on mixed US economic signs

2009-06-17T00:59:00.000-07:00

Oil hovers above $70 in Asia as investors mull mixed signs on US economy
Alex Kennedy, Associated Press Writer
On Wednesday June 17, 2009, 1:23 am EDT
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Oil prices hovered above $70 a barrel Wednesday in Asia as investors weighed mixed signals from the U.S. economy amid tumbling equity markets.

Benchmark crude for July delivery rose 10 cents to $70.57 a barrel by midday Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Tuesday, it fell 15 cents to settle at $70.47.

Oil prices this week have come off eight-month highs near $73 a barrel amid some signs that the U.S. economy -- while past the worst of a severe recession -- is still weak. The Federal Reserve said Tuesday that industrial production fell a larger-than-expected 1.1 percent in May.

After a rally of almost 40 percent since March 9, the Dow Jones industrial average has fallen 3.3 percent over the first two days of the week.

Meanwhile, the Commerce Department said home construction jumped in May by the largest amount in three months after hitting a record low in April.

"There have been some mixed signs," said Toby Hassall, an analyst with investment firm Commodity Warrants Australia in Sydney. "The last few days we've seen a turn toward negative sentiment. Oil looks set for a correction."

Crude traders have also been watching the dollar. A weakening dollar helped fuel a doubling of the oil price since March as investors often look to commodities such as crude as a hedge against inflation.

The euro gained to $1.3867 on Wednesday from $1.3813 on Tuesday.

"Oil will likely drift below $70 and maybe to $65." Hassall said. "It's been a very strong rally, driven by sentiment rather than data, which makes it look vulnerable to a correction."

In other Nymex trading, gasoline for July delivery fell 2.21 cents to $2.05 a gallon and heating oil was steady at $1.83. Natural gas for July delivery slid 2.8 cents to $4.10 per 1,000 cubic feet.

In London, Brent prices rose 7 cents to $70.31 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

Associated Press.
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Death toll from mine blast in Indonesia reaches 28

2009-06-17T00:56:00.000-07:00

JAKARTA, Indonesia – An explosion ripped through a coal mine in western Indonesia, killing at least 28 people and burying 12 others who were feared dead, officials said Wednesday.

Dozens of rescuers tried to reach the trapped men after the Tuesday morning blast, but rock slides and a mix of gas and coal debris forced them to resurface after four hours of digging, district police Chief Yasman Esha in West Sumatra province said by phone from the scene.

"We fear the miners are dead by now," Esha said.

Four bodies were recovered soon after the morning blast at the 300-foot (100-meter) -deep mine in Sawahlunto regency on Sumatra island, he said. Eight more were pulled out late Tuesday after teams pumped oxygen into the mine shaft to allow rescuers to breathe.

Health Ministry Crisis Center chief Rustam Pakaya said rescuers have found 11 more bodies, bringing the death toll to 28, including five who were rescued but died at a hospital.

Nine survivors are still being treated, two of them in critical condition, Pakaya said. He added that rescuers were still searching for 12 miners.

Police were trying to determine what caused the blast. A preliminary investigation said it was triggered by leaking methane gas.

The mine, owned by a local company, is 560 miles (900 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Jakarta.

Indonesia has some of the world's largest coal deposits and is a major coal exporter.

Source: Associated Press.
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josephlastella.com Energy Independence Info

2009-06-16T21:03:00.001-07:00

Watch that foot.

Georgia utilities back out of proposed coal plant

2009-06-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, four of Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) publicly withdrew from Power4Georgians’ proposed Plant Washington, an 850MW coal-fired power plant planned for Washington County, Ga. Their withdrawal represents a significant victory for SACE and our partners campaigning to halt the construction of the coal plant.

The departure of two of the most influential EMCs -- Greystone Power Corp. and Jackson EMC – along with Excelsior and Diverse Power EMCs eliminates significant investment and ownership stake in the plant’s construction. Partners explain their reason for backing out of the proposal is due to “uncertain regulatory climate.” With pending federal climate legislation and the associated risks to utilities and their customers for emitting carbon dioxide, building new coal plants may not be a viable option for these utilities.

SACE has worked with local groups and Georgians for Smart Energy to oppose the plant since its inception. In December 2008, SACE released a report, The Risks of Building and Operating Plant Washington, detailing the considerable risks involved in Plant Washington and the financial benefits of embracing energy efficiency and clean energy alternatives. We are calling on the remaining EMCs still partnered with Power4Georgians to follow suit and leave dirty coal behind.

Source : Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.

Pleasant Prairie Power Plant: Clean Coal Technology in Action

2009-06-09T13:50:00.001-07:00

Clean coal technology ? You decide.

Energy execs worry oil rise just mood swing

2009-06-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

By Braden Reddall

HOUSTON (Reuters) - A broad consensus about the need for oil prices to rise over time is not reassuring energy experts, who worry that the recent rally is driven simply by an improving "mood," and therefore very fragile.

Energy executives at the Reuters Global Energy Summit this week sounded unnerved by a surge in the U.S. benchmark oil price near $70 per barrel which, while less than half its peak last July, is double its level of mid-February.

That increase has come despite rising crude stockpiles and amid few signs that the world economy will turn around dramatically any time soon, they said.

"It does kind of feel like the market is getting ahead of itself. The demand has not increased," Larry Nichols, chief executive of Devon Energy Corp (DVN.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), said. "One can say that the rate of decline has slowed down -- that does not mean that the rate of decline has stopped."

Steve Farris, CEO of rival U.S. exploration and production company Apache Corp (APA.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), agreed that the rally was not well grounded in supply and demand fundamentals, and saw prices heading lower.

"It's more perception than reality," Farris said. "A lot of people think we bottomed out -- I tend to think otherwise. So I wouldn't be surprised to see a pullback in oil prices."

The executive director of the International Energy Agency, Nobuo Tanaka, added his voice to those doubting that the "green shoots" of economic recovery alone would drive more energy consumption.

"It seems to us oil demand data does not show up these green shoots yet, at least in the early part of the year," Tanaka said.

And among those who serve the oil and gas producers, there is also a feeling that the market for oil is sending the wrong signal, according to Richard Spears, vice president of oil services specialist and consulting firm Spears and Associates.

"It's been our firm's view that the fundamentals of the market would suggest a lower price -- a $40 or $50," Spears said. "In the range of that. Not $70."

Analysts and executives pointed to this week's closely watched American Petroleum Institute figures, which showed U.S. crude stockpiles down less than expected.

But prices were steady on Friday at just under $69 a barrel, after reaching above $70 for the first time in seven months.

"It's just the mood," said Aidan Heavey, CEO of Tullow Oil Plc (TLW.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Europe's largest independent oil explorer by market value. "There's no shortage of oil."

Leading energy analyst Daniel Yergin, the chairman of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates, said global oil demand was now down nearly 3 million barrels a day, erasing four years of demand growth, and the market had its biggest capacity overhang in 21 years.

But Yergin, like the energy executives, told the summit the long-term fundamentals of oil ultimately point to insufficient supply, and he predicted another tight market in three to five years.

(Reporting by Braden Reddall, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)

© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.

source: The Oil Drum.
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Biofuel plants can't compete with diesel prices

2009-06-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Brian Dunn • May 31, 2009

MEMPHIS (AP) - Less than three years ago, two West Tennessee biodiesel plants opened with the potential to produce millions of gallons of biodiesel fuel annually, but today the plants are idle.

Milagro Biofuels and Memphis BioFuels opened in Memphis when the renewable fuels industry seemed to have a limitless future, and Memphis appeared poised to become a pivotal hub.

Now it is uncertain when or if they'll resume production.

The Commercial Appeal reports Memphis BioFuels laid off 30 employees this month and Milagro laid off all but a few workers.

The local shutdowns are part of a national collapse that's ravaged the biodiesel market after years of exponential growth. At least a third of all biodiesel plants across the nation have ceased operation, and production this year is expected to be no more than half last year's total of 700 million gallons.

The production of biofuels is shaped by the vagaries of the commodities ma rket, oil prices, federal energy policy and trade decisions made by foreign governments.

Biodiesel typically is blended in 20-80 mix with regular diesel. Although biodiesel consistently has cost more than regular diesel, the difference generally has been small enough that many motorists have been willing to use it because of the fuel's benefits to the environment, national security and engine maintenance.

"The feedstock price is so high and the price of diesel is so low, they can't really make any money. There's no market," said Tim Schnippert, executive director of the West Tennessee Clean Cities Coalition, a federally supported group that promotes alternative fuels.

The biodiesel industry has proved a boon to farmers and others, Mulloy said.

"A lot of people are making money off this industry, but it's not the producers," she said.

In early March, the European Union imposed a stiff tariff on U.S. biodiesel, claiming the $1-per-gallon tax credi t offered to blenders represents a subsidy that violates trade agreements.

By shutting down production, both Memphis biodiesel plants are in violation of the payment-in-lieu-of-tax freezes approved for them by the Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board. The PILOTs, as they are known, are contingent on companies maintaining certain employment and pay levels. It's unclear when the local governments might review the tax freezes.

___

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

Source: Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle.
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Alternative-energy firms see bright future despite decline in oil prices

2009-06-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

ASCE SmartBrief | 10/31/2008

Concerns about global warming and energy security continue to boost the prospect for renewable energy despite the recent decline in oil prices. The spike in oil prices this year led to an increase in investments in alternative-energy firms. But instability in the financial markets has made financing less certain for these companies. MIT Technology Review (10/30)
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Some states turn to biomass power for alternative energy

2009-06-01T13:03:00.000-07:00

ASCE SmartBrief | 06/01/2009

Some U.S. states without the capacity for large-scale wind and solar energy are turning to biomass for renewable energy. The Southeast and parts of the Midwest are investing millions in biomass plants that burn wood and other plant material to generate electricity. "In Georgia, trees are plentiful," said Greg Jones, a spokesman for Oglethorpe Power Corp., "but wind is not abundant." Wall Street Journal, The (06/01)

Air Force solar-powered hydrogen plant completed

2009-06-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

by Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

5/20/2009 - HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AFNS) -- A $1.1 million solar array project to power the base hydrogen production and fueling station was completed here May 8, marking a "first" for both the Air Force and the state of Hawaii.

After about six weeks of installation, 810 solar modules can now produce 146 kilowatts of energy per hour, equivalent to what it would take to power about 30 standard homes, which is enough to handle the maximum power demand of the hydrogen plant.

"In fiscal year 2008, the average cost of power on base was 21 cents per kilowatt hour," said Josh Powell, vice president of construction operations at Sunetric.

At that cost, these solar panels will save an average of $43,000 per year, Mr. Powell said. "In this energy-conscious environment, every little bit helps."
Now that the solar panels are installed, they will go through a week-long commissioning process, said Tom Quinn, Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies director.

"We need to test the inverter box (which turns DC power into AC power) to make sure everything is working properly, then slowly ramp it from 25 percent working power to 50 percent power and higher," Mr. Quinn said. "It's a typical safety check we go through before we crank it up to full power."

By May 22, the commissioning process should be finished, and the plant will be running on renewable energy, he said.

The $1.5 million hydrogen station was completed in November 2006; however, the fact that the hydrogen plant is now solar-powered means hydrogen is now a renewable fuel, Mr. Quinn said. This combination of solar panels with the hydrogen plant is what makes the project a dynamic, first-in-the-Air Force and first-in-Hawaii combination.

"The three principal players in this partnership are the Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; the HCATT; and the 15th Airlift Wing," said Mr. Quinn.

The office at Robins AFB provides the funding and guidance for the program, and the 15th Airlift Wing operates and evaluates the equipment, he said.

"The Advanced Power Technology Office recognized that there is a wealth of military installations here as well as a need," Mr. Quinn said, "which provide the potential for joint service projects."

The way it works is simple, said Nolie Diakoulas, Sunetric project engineer. When the sun hits the photovoltaic panels, electrons move from front to back, creating a current that travels through small wires to a junction box in the back. The junction box takes the current from the small wires and moves it to larger wires, which travel to a combiner box and then to an inverter. There, DC power is converted to AC (usable) power, which runs the base hydrogen station.

"Solar panels have been around since the space program of the '50s," Mr. Powell said. "This is a long-lasting, well established material with a warranty for 25 years. We can expect this to produce at 80 percent effectiveness for at least the first 20 to 30 years of its life and continue essentially forever."

This system was designed for the specific environment here, he said.

The solar panels are wind-rated and hurricane proof, Mr. Diakoulas said. They're seismic-level four rated, hurricane proof, and designed not to blow away in the Hawaii trade winds.

The state of Hawaii formed a partnership with the Air Force and established the National Demonstration Center for Alternative Fuel Vehicles in 2001, Quinn said. The goal of the program was to develop non-petroleum-based power for vehicles. Early projects included both hybrid and all-electric vehicles, to include the electric shuttle bus operating at the passenger terminal. More recently, a lithium battery-powered step van was developed and demonstrated and will soon go commercial. The first hydrogen-powered vehicle here was developed in 2003, and because the hydrogen plant is now powered by the solar array they have achieved a major demonstration milestone in the program.

"We have a total of seven hydrogen powered vehicles, all different types, here, but this truck is unique as it is a new concept vehicle," Mr. Quinn said. "Once we've tested and demonstrated its capabilities, we hope it will join the Air Force inventory."
Source: U.S. Air Force.
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Lotus Biomass energy blog

2009-05-31T11:40:00.000-07:00

Lotus Biomass energy blog

US wants to paint the world white to save energy

2009-05-27T01:21:00.000-07:00

LONDON(AFP) (AFP) - US Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday the Obama administration wanted to paint roofs an energy-reflecting white, as he took part in a climate change symposium in London.

The Nobel laureate in physics called for a "new revolution" in energy generation to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

But he warned there was no silver bullet for tackling climate change, and said a range of measures should be introduced, including painting flat roofs white.

Making roads and roofs a paler colour could have the equivalent effect of taking every car in the world off the road for 11 years, Chu said.

It was a geo-engineering scheme that was "completely benign" and would keep buildings cooler and reduce energy use from air conditioning, as well as reflecting sunlight back away from the Earth.

For people who found white hard on the eye, scientists had also developed "cool colours" which looked to the human eye like normal ones, but reflect heat like pale colours even if they are darker shades.

And painting cars in cool or light colours could deliver considerable savings on energy use for air conditioning units, he said.

Speaking at the start of a symposium on climate change hosted by the Prince of Wales and attended by more than 20 Nobel laureates, Chu said fresh thinking was required to cut the amount of carbon created by power generation.

He said: "The industrial revolution was a revolution in the use of energy. It offloaded from human and animal power into using fossil fuels.

"We have to go to a different new revolution that can severely decrease the amount of carbon emissions in the generation of energy."

Source: Yahoo news.
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DOD program aims to create new biodiesel fuel

2009-05-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

by Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

4/1/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Ever imagine filling up the fuel tanks on a military aircraft with french fry grease? That's exactly what Air Force officials could do someday if a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research program proves successful.

DARPA is the Defense Department's scientific agency that pushes the envelope toward what Anthony J. Tether, its long-time previous director, described as "the far side" of science and technology development to support military requirements.

So in an effort to reduce the military's huge reliance on imported oil, DARPA scientists are on the fast track exploring ways to convert so-called "yellow grease oil" or plant-based "cellulosic and algae sources" into JP8 jet fuel.

The goal, explained Barbara McQuiston, director of the Strategic Technology Office and program manager for biofuels, is to come up with nonpetroleum sources to power military aircraft, ground vehicles and non-nuclear ships. Two side benefits, she said, will be lower fuel costs and fewer environmentally unfriendly carbon emissions.

The DARPA-funded biofuels program has the scientific community looking into some seemingly unlikely petroleum alternatives: algae, seeds and corn husks among them. These crops produce a type of oil that can be converted through a complicated process into biofuel, Ms. McQuiston said.

The private sector is exploring this possibility, too, in the quest for cheaper, domestically produced fuel. In fact, several commercial airlines already have conducted test flights using a blend of petroleum and biofuel.

This research may have some military application, Ms. McQuiston said, but the biodiesel produced through current commercial processes isn't necessarily suitable for military uses. The military, for example, needs a fuel that meets exceptionally high standards; it must be as efficient at minus 20 degrees as at 140 degrees.

Some participants in the DARPA program have produced samples that meet these standards. They could, if produced on a big enough scale and at a low enough cost, potentially serve as stand-ins for JP8 jet fuel, Ms. McQuiston said.

Within the next few years, she said, she expects to have a proven biodiesel alternative that meets all the established requirements, and to be able to present it to military officials so they can consider using it.

"Our interest is in being able to prove out the technology and be able to demonstrate that these goals are achievable," she said. "We want to show that this can be done, and that it can be done within a feasible and manufactureable and scalable process."

Developing alternative energies has strategic importance to the United States, Ms. McQuiston said.

"Being able to develop this alternative energy independence is good for the military, and it's good for the nation," she said.

This recognition, Ms. McQuiston said, is a great motivator for her and her team.

"I think all of us are here because we want to do service to the country," she said. "And at DARPA, we get to be able to do this high-risk, high-return investment that we feel is critical to the nation. We're able to not only address some of the more challenging problems, but also to provide leadership into the future."

DARPA was established in response to the Russian Sputnik launch, and celebrated its 50th anniversary last month. Its work has built the foundations for the NASA space program, the World Wide Web and myriad other technologies.

Technologies developed by DARPA have revolutionized warfare as well. Stealth aircraft, advanced precision munitions and the Predator and Global Hawk unmanned aircraft used in Iraq and Afghanistan today all began on DARPA's drawing boards.

Source : U.S. Air Force.

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DOE Announces $25 Million for Wind Technology Testing Center

2009-05-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

May 12, 2009

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Governor Deval Patrick today announced the Department of Energy's intent to award Massachusetts $25 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate development of the state's Wind Technology Testing Center and create hundreds of new jobs in the area.

The new center will test commercial-sized wind turbine blades to help reduce cost, improve technical advancements, and speed deployment of the next generation of wind turbine blades into the marketplace. State Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles joined Secretary Chu and Governor Patrick for the announcement at the Autoport in Charlestown, the eventual site of testing center.

"This is part of President Obama's broad agenda to make sure that our country leads the world in capturing the clean energy jobs of the future," said Secretary Chu. "As the world moves toward a significant expansion in wind power, the test blade facility will help make sure that the best, most efficient wind turbines are built right here in America. Not only will it create jobs and help us achieve energy independence, it will mean cleaner air, cleaner water, and fewer greenhouse gas emissions."

"The clean energy technology sector is taking root and growing in Massachusetts, and hosting a national wind technology testing center will be a big boost," said Governor Patrick. "Testing the next generation of wind turbines here will make Massachusetts a hub for the fastest-growing energy source in the world."

When selecting Massachusetts for this facility in June 2007, the Department of Energy pledged $2 million for the project. Since then, the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust has committed $13.2 million in grants and loans for design and initial development expenses, working capital, and first year operating expenses.

With the Recovery Act funding announced today, construction of the facility can begin in September, and will be complete by the end of 2010. The state is now concluding the final design for the testing center, while DOE completes the environmental review and public consultation process.

Strengthening American Leadership in Wind Energy
Once finished, the center will be the first commercial large blade test facility in the nation, allowing for testing of blades longer than 50 meters, which currently can be done in Europe but not in the United States—putting American manufacturers at a disadvantage.

More research and development into longer blades will quicken the creation of large-scale offshore wind power facilities. The facility will attract companies to design, manufacture, and test their blades in the United States. It will also promote the growth of American companies who are part of the supply chain for wind turbine production—including fiber glass distributors, advanced composite materials manufacturers, and others.

The location of the testing center, at the Boston Autoport in Boston Harbor, provides a shovel ready site featuring proximity to substantial offshore wind resources, truck access, a rail spur and a 1200 ft. dock for transporting blades from ocean going vessels.

Today's announcement brings the total commitment of Recovery Act funding by the Department of Energy for wind development to $118 million. Building upon President Obama's commitment to promote increased use of renewable energy, Secretary Chu recently announced $93 million in Recovery Act funds to support advanced wind energy research projects in the United States during a recent visit to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

In addition to today's announcement, Massachusetts-based companies have been selected to receive approximately $1 million in additional wind funding under a competitive funding opportunity announcement to address market and deployment challenges identified in DOE's 2008 report: "20% Wind Energy by 2030." Award amounts listed below are subject to negotiation:

The Cadmus Group, Inc. (Watertown, MA) - Analysis Tool for Distributed Wind Technologies (Watertown, MA) - $476,831

Consensus Building Institute, Inc. (Cambridge, MA) - Building State Capacity to Advance Wind Energy Through the Best Practices of Collaborative Planning and Siting - $99,785

Power Advocate, Inc. (Boston, MA) - Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges to Wind Power in the U.S. - $100,000

Sustainable Energy Advantage, LLC (Framingham, MA) - New England Wind Energy Education Project - $99,746

University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA) - Offshore Wind Energy Systems Engineering Course Development - $252,687

Source: Dept. of Energy.
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Offshore Oil Suffers From Obama Restrictions on New Drilling

2009-05-23T05:03:00.000-07:00

Friday, May 22, 2009
By William La Jeunesse

ABOARD THE NOBLE PAUL ROMANO — Almost 140 miles off the Louisiana coast, aboard the drill ship Noble Paul Romano, workers punch an 8-inch steel pipe four miles under the ocean in search of America's next barrel of oil.

"If we don't increase our own oil production in the U.S., our dependence on foreign oil won't go down," said Marathon Oil executive Woody Pace.

The drill ship is the size of a football field. Twelve anchors the size of an average living room hold the rig in place while a synthetic-diamond cutting blade bores deep into sand and rock.

Like other oil explorers, Marathon is being forced farther and farther out into the Gulf to find oil. Deeper water means more expensive oil.

"We may spend anywhere from $100 to $200 million just to find out if we have commercial hydrocarbons," Marathon Vice President Annell Bay told FOX News.

Marathon is a Houston-based oil company than not only explores for oil and natural gas, but refines oil as well.

Marathon dumped $230 million into developing the Droshky oil field, which it acquired in 2007, but expects to spend more than $1.3 billion when it begins pumping next year, about the time the economy is expected to recover.

And while every drop counts, many fear it won't be enough.

"We all have hope for green energy, but it is going to take time — and in the meantime, oil and natural gas will have to be the bridge to the energy future," says Cathy Landry, a spokeswoman for the American Petroleum Institute.

Congress lifted its 27-year moratorium on drilling off Florida and the East and West Coast last year, but billions of barrels of that oil remains untouched and off-limits because the Obama administration has postponed development there.

The Obama administration favors green energy and provides generous tax subsidies to wind and solar. By contrast, this week the oil industry complained that Obama proposed hiking their taxes by $70 billion over 5 years, including a $122 million on leases the administration considers non-producing.

"If you penalize oil and gas, and add taxes, it is going to make it much more difficult and more expensive. That means U.S. jobs are exported and we won't get the revenues from royalties," said Landry.

Oil executives fear the lesson of $5-a-gallon gasoline is lost, and that American consumers will pay the price, vulnerable to shortages in the short term and a continued dependence on foreign oil for decades to come.

Source: Fox News.
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GOP: Alternative energy alone won't meet US needs

2009-05-23T03:56:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON – Democrats will increase energy costs and make the U.S. more dependent on foreign oil if they focus solely on alternative energy, the Republicans say.

In the party's weekly radio and Internet address Saturday, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Republicans support a more comprehensive energy plan that would increase funding for energy research, develop U.S. oil and gas resources and promote clean coal and nuclear power.

"Democrats have focused solely on what they call green jobs. Those are jobs from alternative energy. I support green jobs, but why discriminate?" Barrasso said. "American energy means American jobs, which is why I support red-white-and-blue jobs."

He said renewable energy such as wind and solar power is important, noting that Wyoming has world-class wind resources. But Barrasso said wind and solar only account for about 1 percent of U.S. electricity, far below what is needed to meet the nation's energy needs.

Barrasso also said Democrats were misguided by ruling out the use of U.S. oil in places such as the Outer Continental Shelf and Alaska.

"There's enough oil shale in the Rocky Mountain West alone to power America for the next hundred years," he said. "As a nation, we need to be more energy independent. It is a matter of energy security, as well as national security."

"As we approach this Memorial Day, it is my hope that the Democrats can work with us to develop solutions to make our energy supply clean, affordable and reliable," he said.

Source: AP. Yahoo news.

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Locke, Chu Announce Significant Steps in Smart Grid Development

2009-05-21T13:51:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced significant progress that will help expedite development of a nationwide "smart" electric power grid.

A Smart Grid would replace the current, outdated system and employ real-time, two-way communication technologies to allow users to connect directly with power suppliers. The development of the grid will create jobs and spur the development of innovative products that can be exported. Once implemented, the Smart Grid is expected to save consumers money and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil by improving efficiency and spurring the use of renewable energy sources.

Before it can be constructed, however, there needs to be agreement on standards for the devices that will connect the grid.

After chairing a meeting of industry leaders at the White House, Locke and Chu announced the first set of standards that are needed for the interoperability and security of the Smart Grid and $10 million in Recovery Act funds provided by the Energy Department to the National Institute of Standards and Technology to support the development of interoperability standards.

Secretary Chu also announced that based on feedback from the public and Smart Grid stakeholders, the Department of Energy is increasing the maximum award available under the Recovery Act for Smart Grid programs. The maximum award available under the Smart Grid Investment Grant Program will be increased from $20 million to $200 million and for the Smart Grid Demonstration Projects from $40 million to $100 million. In making awards, DOE will ensure that funding is provided to a diversity of applications, including small projects as well as end-to-end larger projects.

"President Obama has made a smart electrical grid a key element of his plan to lower energy costs for consumers, achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Secretary Locke said. "Today, we took a significant step toward developing the open and transparent interoperability standards necessary to realize the Smart Grid vision."

"The Smart Grid is an urgent national priority that requires all levels of government as well as industry to cooperate," Secretary Chu said. "I'm pleased that industry leaders stepped forward today and are working with us to get consensus. We still have much to do, but the ultimate result will be a much more efficient, flexible power grid and the opportunity to dramatically increase our use of renewable energy."

Today's meeting was designed to encourage industry executives to work to expedite the adoption of standards in advance of a major two-day, public standards workshop tomorrow in metro Washington, DC.

The initial batch of 16 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-recognized interoperability standards announced today will help ensure that software and hardware components from different vendors will work together seamlessly, while securing the grid against disruptions.

Spanning areas ranging from smart customer meters to distributed power generation components to cybersecurity, the list of standards is based on the consensus expressed by participants in the first public Smart Grid Interoperability Standards Interim Roadmap workshop, held April 28-29 in Reston, Va. A full list of the announced standards is attached below.

The Energy Department also announced that the $10 million it received to support the development of interoperability standards under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been provided to NIST to help accelerate their efforts to coordinate these critical standards.

Public comments on the initial standards will be accepted for 30 days after their upcoming publication in the Federal Register. The date of publication will be posted on NIST's Smartgrid webpage.

Source: Dept. of Energy.
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Report Shows Air Quality Improved During Bush Administration

2009-05-20T18:32:00.000-07:00

pollution, like carbon monoxide, have fallen off since 2001 and air quality in the U.S. has improved significantly over the last decade.
By James Osborne

FOXNews.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

As the Obama administration considers further steps to fight air pollution, a recent report from a Washington think tank shows that air quality in the United States has improved significantly over the last decade.

The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research analyzed data collected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and concluded that levels of numerous gases linked with air pollution have fallen off since 2001.

Among the findings: Carbon monoxide decreased by 39 percent, ozone by 6 percent, and sulfur dioxide by 32 percent.

"Pick any category you want and pollution levels are generally lower than they were seven years ago," said Steven Hayward, the policy analyst who authored the report, titled "Index of Leading Environmental Indicators," for the conservative think tank.

"(Environmental groups) said air pollution was out of control, but this was always more about politics than it was fact," Hayward said.

Environmental groups agree that tremendous progress has been made since the 1980s, when cities like Houston and Los Angeles were thick with smog and acid rain devastated lakes and forests across the U.S.

But they add that the progress reflects "strong legislation," and they say the nation needs more of it.

"The reason we've had success over the last 40 years is because strong laws like the Clean Air Act work on pollution," said John Walke, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council.

"But we have a long way to go. We've learned more. The science is better today than it was in 1980 or 1990. We now know we need stronger definitions of clean air to truly protect Americans.

"Over 150 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy air," Walke said. "If we can pass effective laws, we can reduce the problem."

In an e-mailed statement, the EPA said that it has seen success by a number of measures, but there are still key areas of the country "not meeting EPA's air quality standards."

President George W. Bush drew the ire of environmental groups throughout his eight years in the White House, perhaps the loudest in 2003 when he announced that he would end a Clean Air Act program that required older power plants, refineries and industrial sites to install pollution control devices when they expanded their operations.

But in looking over the data on air quality from the Bush years, Hayward notes that levels of most air pollutants decreased at a faster rate than they did during the Clinton administration.

"Mostly of it's technological change. Quite a bit of it's been forced by regulation, but a lot of it has been the marketplace," Hayward said. "The EPA has models that project an 80 percent decline in auto emissions. Nothing Bush could have done was going to change that."

Responding to Hayward's report, the EPA said it did not correlate drops in pollution levels to specific presidential decisions.

"Air quality regulations and progress overlap administrations," the agency said in a statement. "For example, ozone reductions that began in the East in 2004 resulted from a rule the agency issued in 1998."

Jeff Holmsted, a high-ranking official at the EPA from 2001-2005 and now an attorney with the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani, acknowledged that the decrease in air pollution over the last eight years owes much to efforts of past administrations. But he called the statistics a vindication of Bush's environmental policy, which he said did away with cumbersome regulations while still protecting the environment.

"I think among people who actually understand how the regulatory process works, they, in private, would acknowledge that we accomplished a lot," Holmsted said.

Hayward began putting out his annual report in 1994 due to what he called "the lack of unity on environmental responsibility in this country."

Every year he combs through EPA data to present what he believes is a more comprehensive portrait of the state of the environment than what the mainstream media have provided following events like the grounding of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker in 1989.

"Species extinction or nutrient run off from the Mississippi basin, these are big issues that get very little coverage," Hayward said. "It isn't a big catastrophe like a tanker crashing or a hurricane."

Hayward says his biggest gripe is the amount of media coverage given over to global warming.

He acknowledges that carbon dioxide levels are increasing in the earth's atmosphere, but he says there are gaps in global warming data, such as a recent trend toward cooler temperatures.

"We had temperature increases for two-and-a-half decades, but it suddenly seemed to switch a few years ago," Hayward said. "It might just be noise, but a lot longer and we'll have to think about it."

That might rub against the grain of environmentalists like Walke, who say the science behind global warming has improved dramatically over the last five years.

But for Hayward, the number of people that believe something is no indication that it's correct.

"If you look at survey data, what you find is three quarters of Americans think environmental quality is getting worse, but at the same time they tend to think their neighborhoods are getting better," he said. "People just don't have all the information."

Source: Fox News.
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Green Berets: Military Brass Urge American Energy Revolution

2009-05-20T10:39:00.000-07:00

By Keith Johnson
Retired military officers are urging the U.S. to get serious about changing the country’s approach to energy use.

Nellis AFB hosts one of the largest solar arrays
In a new report from Alexandria, Va.-based Center for Naval Analyses, a bevy of high-ranking former Army and Navy officials stress that the country’s reliance on oil poses a threat to national security and undermines the country’s ability to wage war. That’s because the hegemony of oil empowers plenty of dodgy nations, and because it imposes huge (and expensive) logistics strains on the U.S. military, as made clear in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The report calls for the Pentagon to lead a shift away from oil and toward renewable sources of energy—not so much to save the planet as to make it easier to defend.

The stress on energy and national security isn’t surprising. National Security Adviser James Jones’ former gig involved drafting a new blueprint for changing America’s energy mix to boost security.

What’s really interesting about the report is that it highlights how important the Pentagon could be in blazing a new energy trail. The U.S. Department of Defense is the world’s single-largest energy consumer, so any shift in energy use by the Pentagon automatically has massive repercussions. That’s especially true when it comes to new technologies:

While the private sector buys, funds, and develops technologies to generate a profit, DoD does so in order to help secure the nation; as such, it can invest more heavily in technologies that may require more patience and risk than most traditional investors can tolerate. The Department can provide essential aid in moving important new energy systems through what venture capitalists call “the valley of death”—the period after prototyping and before fully developing the product to scale.

Beyond the Pentagon’s sheer financial heft, history shows that where the military goes, nations tends to follow—for good and bad.

When Winston Churchill decided to shift the Royal Navy from coal to oil, that led directly to British government involvement in the oil business and Middle East politics—to secure oil for the ships. Likewise, the U.S. Navy’s embrace of oil induced a national obsession with oil storage, leading to everything from the Teapot Dome oil scandal to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

When Capt. Dwight Eisenhower led a cross-country truck convoy for the U.S. Army in 1919, it helped spur the motorization of the horse-bound military—and planted the seed for President Eisenhower’s creation of the interstate highway system. Wartime nuclear-weapons research led directly to peacetime civilian nuclear power.

More recently, the Pentagon’s need for electronic communications networks spawned the Internet. Research into on-demand battlefield power sources were the impetus for work on space-based solar power.

The point is: Green rhetoric and budget tweaks only do so much to rewrite the energy paradigm. Serious progress tends to come when it becomes part of the business of waging war.
Source: Wall Street Journal.
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DOE Announces Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act for Biofuels

2009-05-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

May 05, 2009

As part of the ongoing effort to increase the use of domestic renewable fuels, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $786.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to accelerate advanced biofuels research and development and to provide additional funding for commercial-scale biorefinery demonstration projects.

"Developing the next generation of biofuels is key to our effort to end our dependence on foreign oil and address the climate crisis—while creating millions of new jobs that can't be outsourced," Secretary Chu said. "With American investment and ingenuity—and resources grown right here at home—we can lead the way toward a new green energy economy."

The U.S Department of Energy (DOE) Biomass Program will leverage DOE's national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to help improve biofuels reliability and overcome key technical challenges, with the goal of creating third-generation biofuels like green gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels.

The $786.5 million in Recovery Act funding is a mix of new funding opportunities and additional funding for existing projects. It will be allocated across four main areas.

$480 Million Solicitation for Integrated Pilot- and Demonstration-Scale Biorefineries
Projects selected under this Funding Opportunity Announcement will work to validate integrated biorefinery technologies that produce advanced biofuels, bioproducts, and heat and power in an integrated system, thus enabling private financing of commercial-scale replications.

DOE anticipates making 10 to 20 awards for refineries at various scales and designs, all to be operational in the next three years. The DOE funding ceiling is $25 million for pilot-scale projects and $50 million for demonstration scale projects.

These integrated biorefineries will reduce dependence on petroleum-based transportation fuels and chemicals. They will also facilitate the development of an "advanced biofuels" industry to meet the federal Renewable Fuel Standards.

$176.5 Million for Commercial-Scale Biorefinery Projects
$176.5 million will be used to increase the federal funding ceiling on two or more demonstration- or commercial-scale biorefinery projects that were selected and awarded within the last two years.

The goal of these efforts is to reduce the risk of the development and deployment of these first-of-a-kind operations. These funds are expected to expedite the construction phase of these projects and ultimately accelerate the timeline for start up and commissioning.

$110 Million for Fundamental Research in Key Program Areas
The Biomass Program plans to use $110 million to support fundamental research in key program areas, distributed in the following manner:

Expand the resources available for sustainability research through the Office of Science Bioenergy Research Centers and establish a user-facility/small-scale integrated pilot plant ($25 million)
Create an advanced research consortium to develop technologies and facilitate subsequent demonstration of infrastructure-compatible biofuels through a competitive solicitation ($35 million)
Create an algal biofuels consortium to accelerate demonstration of algal biofuels through a competitive solicitation ($50 million).

This funding will help to develop cutting-edge conversion technologies, including generating more desirable catalysts, fuel-producing microbes, and feedstocks.

$20 Million for Ethanol Research
The Biomass Program is planning to use $20 million of the Recovery Act funding in a competitive solicitation to achieve the following:

Optimize flex-fuel vehicles operating on high octane E85 fuel (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline blend)
Evaluate the impact of higher ethanol blends in conventional vehicles
Upgrade existing refueling infrastructure to be compatible with fuels up to E85.

For more information on these and other Recovery Act related funding opportunities, visit DOE's Recovery and Reinvestment Web site.

TVA caucus forum on renewable electricity

2009-05-13T18:34:00.000-07:00

Senators and Representatives that make up the TVA Congressional Caucus held a forum to continue dialogue on the role of renewable electricity in the future of the Tennessee Valley. Instead, the “TVA and Renewable Electricity Forum,” held April 16 at the Knoxville City County Building failed to open a constructive dialogue about developing our region’s strong renewable energy potential.

The Caucus, which consists of more than 30 U.S. Senators and Representatives from the seven states that TVA serves, is chaired by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), and helps oversee the public utility. Tennessee is already beginning to experience the benefits of clean energy resources like efficiency and renewable energy. Two large solar manufacturers have just announced billion-dollar investments, and the state’s Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports that Tennessee could gain 45,000 green jobs from renewable energy investments.

Yet, in doubting the clean energy future that could provide jobs and enhance economic security for the region, Sen. Alexander stated that TVA could only possibly meet 10 percent renewable electricity production by 2010. But SACE’s report, “Yes We Can: Southern Solutions for a National Renewable Energy Standard,” shows that the Southeast could meet a renewable electricity standard of at least 15 percent by 2015, 20 percent by 2020, and 25 percent by 2025 with today’s technology. Tennessee can meet this renewable energy goal with our bioenergy, solar and land-based wind resources.

Both Senator Alexander and Senator Corker from Tennessee have important roles to play in supporting clean, renewable energy in Congress, and the Tennessee Valley Authority could be a living laboratory that supports innovation and technology development. One of the best ways to kick-start this development is to support a national renewable electricity standard that requires utilities to supply 25% of their electricity from renewable sources. To learn more, read a blog by SACE Executive Director Stephen Smith detailing the missed opportunities at the TVA Caucus forum.

Source: Southern Alliance For Clean Energy.
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Bioenergy

2009-05-12T03:38:00.000-07:00

Biomass offers America tremendous opportunity to use domestic and sustainable resources to provide its fuel, power, and chemical needs from plants and plant-derived materials. The Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Biomass Program, run by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy includes major programs for developing and improving technology for biomass power; for making biofuels such as ethanol (from biomass residues as well as grain) and renewable diesel; and for making plastics and chemicals from renewable, biobased materials.

Bioenergy technologies use renewable biomass resources to produce an array of energy related products including electricity, liquid, solid, and gaseous fuels, heat, chemicals, and other materials. Bioenergy ranks second (to hydropower) in renewable U.S. primary energy production and accounts for three percent of the primary energy production in the United States.

The term "biomass" means any plant derived organic matter available on a renewable basis, including dedicated energy crops and trees, agricultural food and feed crops, agricultural crop wastes and residues, wood wastes and residues, aquatic plants, animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other waste materials.

Source: Dept Of Energy.
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How Green Is Biodiesel?

2009-05-12T03:28:00.000-07:00

Friday, April 17, 2009
By Jason Gurskis

Warren Gretz/Department of Energy

Soybeans, often used in producing biodiesel.
When it comes to our energy woes, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel -- a green light, and one not powered by petroleum.

We may be able to curb our addiction to fossil fuels by using plants, animal fats and old restaurant grease. But there are a few drawbacks.

Consumers are already familiar with ethanol, a simple alcohol distilled from corn and often added to gasoline. But even easier to produce is biodiesel, a mixture of more complex molecules that can be made from all sorts of fats and oils, including leftover foodstuffs.

Biodiesel is safe to handle, nontoxic and biodegradable. Its proponents says it's a cleaner-burning replacement for petroleum-based fuels and that its use will greatly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and other toxic air pollutants.

"Biodiesel could be one of the best carbon-mitigation processes available today for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses," says Jenna Higgins, spokeswoman for the National Biodiesel Board, based in Jefferson City, Mo. "It works with what we have, and we don't have to wait for new technologies to use it."

The concept of biodiesel is surprisingly old. In the 1890s, Rudolf Diesel envisioned vegetable oil as a fuel source for his engine. In 1900, the diesel engine was demonstrated at the World Exhibition in Paris, France, running on peanut oil.

Biodiesel can be used "neat" in a formulation known as B100 (100 percent biodiesel), or blended with petroleum diesel. A 20 percent blend is called B20. The Department of Energy says B20 reduces a diesel engine's carbon-dioxide emissions by 15 percent, and B100 by more than 75 percent.

And carbon dioxide released by biodiesel combustion is offset by the carbon dioxide sequestered while growing the soybeans and other feedstock.

Yet biodiesel almost sounds too good to be true -- and many experts say it is.

"Biodiesel is, of course, made from vegetable oils that are food crops, such as palm and soy, which have played a significant role in deforestation," explains Jimmie Powell of the Arlington, Va.-based Nature Conservancy. "Dramatically expanding production to meet new demand for biodiesel would not only continue to worsen the problem, it would also have severe impacts on food prices in the developing world."

In some places, current crops can't keep pace with the bio-materials needed for producing biodiesel. Even though biodiesel is undoubtedly greener than traditional petroleum-based fuel, there's little or no regulation on how and where it's produced.

Palm oil, for example, is commonly used for cooking and as an additive in foods. Growing it has been big business in Southeast Asia since the mid-19th century, and it's only getting bigger.

Between 1995 and 2005, nearly 8.6 million acres of land in Indonesia, including vast tracts of forests and peat bogs, were converted to palm-oil plantations, more than doubling total plantation area, according to a recent report by Credit Suisse.

Tropical forests help remove millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year. Burning and clear-cutting these forests to grow biofuel crops not only eliminates one of the planet's own natural air-filtration systems, but the process of land clearing itself releases even more carbon dioxide into the air as smoke or gases released during the decomposition of forest waste.

"It's unfortunate these practices give biodiesel a bad name," says Robert McCormick at the DoE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. "There are plantations that are sustainable."

According to the National Biodiesel Board, a vast majority of the feedstock used to make biodiesel in the United States is grown responsibly and sustainably. Most of the domestic stock comes from soybean oil, mainly because the U.S. is the world's largest producer of soybeans.

"Sixty-five percent of all biodiesel used in this country comes from soybeans," explains Victor Bohuslavsky, executive directory of the Nebraska Soybean Board, based in Lincoln, Neb. "Eighty-six percent of soybeans produced was used in food. We can find good uses for the balance, and biodiesel is one of them."

Most experts agree that biodiesel is a good alternative to imported petroleum, despite the complications.

"It's not an easy problem to solve, because we've built our entire system around coal and petroleum," explains Kert Davies, research director for Greenpeace. "We have to be creative and look at a diverse set of solutions to solve our addiction to oil."

The DoE's McCormick agrees.

"Using biodiesel is not going to end petroleum imports," he says, "but it is an important part of the solution."

Source: Fox News.
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Future of coal?

2009-05-08T03:04:00.000-07:00

Coal-fired power plants

The writing on the wall
May 7th 2009 | BOULDER, COLORADO
From The Economist print edition

Only green compromises will allow them to survive

THE coal-fired power plant that was cancelled in Michigan on May 1st is the 97th to be rejected since 2001, and the ninth this year. The number of planned coal plants across America has plummeted from 150 to 60 in the past five years. Last year 5,465 megawatts (MW) of new electricity were announced, but more than twice that capacity—12,572mw, according to Edison Electric Institute, which represents the electricity industry—was subtracted because of cancellations or delays. The nine coal plants cancelled this year alone, Edison notes ruefully, would have provided about 6,650mw of power, or enough to heat almost 5m homes.

Environmentalists, though thrilled, know they still have a long way to go. The Energy Information Administration reports that more than 600 coal-fired plants still produce about half of America’s power and will still produce 47% of it in 2030. But the government has pledged to slash greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% by 2050. “If the [planned] coal plants don’t get derailed, President Obama won’t be able to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the next four years,” says Bruce Nilles, who heads the Sierra Club’s anti-coal campaign.

At least the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), in a complete reversal from its role under the Bush administration, is doing its best for the cause. On April 27th it withdrew an air-quality permit it had issued for a 1,500mw pulverised coal-fired power plant, called Desert Rock, which was to be built on Navajo Nation land in New Mexico. In effect, this pulled the plug on the enterprise. That ruling was the first public consequence of an EPA mandate, issued on April 17th, that the most harmful heat-trapping greenhouse gases were a threat to public health and welfare and a cause of global warming. The mandate gives Barack Obama carte blanche to regulate the power industry.

Among the utility companies feeling the heat is NV Energy, which is postponing plans for a $5 billion, 1,500mw coal plant in eastern Nevada. Instead, it will harvest the state’s plentiful solar and other renewable resources. Farther north, Southern Montana Electric Generation and Transmission Co-operative says “regulatory uncertainties” have forced it to defer plans for its 250mw Highwood coal plant near Great Falls. It proposes to build a smaller, cleaner-burning, natural-gas power station, as well as a previously announced 9mw wind farm. And several power companies are planning to convert older coal-burning plants to run on biomass, such as woody forest waste.

Renewable resources can’t yet begin to replace coal as providers of power. But a deal struck in Kansas on May 4th, ending 19 months of impasse between Sunflower Electric Power corporation and the state government, shows under what conditions coal may be able to survive. Two coal-fired plants had been planned by Sunflower. It will now build just one, which will use new clean technology, offset carbon dioxide emissions and develop wind energy on the side. In return, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment cannot impose any greenhouse-gas regulations that are tougher than those emerging from Washington. Suddenly, that seems a pretty high bar.

Source: The Economist, The Oil Drum.
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Methane Gas Energy

2009-05-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Energy from methane gas is provided by the City of Memphis wastewater treatment facility, which produces a methane by-product that is co-fired with coal at TVA’s Allen Fossil Plant. The project provides eight megawatts of power production.

Methane is produced when organic wastes decay. The wastewater plant’s lagoon was covered to capture the methane, which otherwise would have to be burned, or flared, in order to reduce the hazard arising from gas buildup.

If methane is released directly into the atmosphere, it is a potent greenhouse gas. In fact, its global-warming potential is 21 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. Using it to generate energy encourages more efficient collection and thereby reduces emissions into the atmosphere. For this reason, energy recovery from methane, where economically viable, is of considerable benefit to the environment.

Besides diminishing global warming, the use of methane fuel eliminates the consumption of more than 20,000 tons of coal per year, reducing regional and local pollution. The project has been approved by the Center for Resource Solutions, the organization that accredits Green Power Switch

Source :T.V.A.

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Home heating with biomass.

2009-04-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

Wood and Pellet Heating
Before the 20th century, 90% of Americans burned wood to heat their homes. As fossil fuel use rose, the percentage of Americans using wood for fuel dropped, falling as low as one percent by 1970. Then during the energy crises of the 1970s, interest in wood heating resurfaced as a renewable energy alternative.

Newer on the scene are pellet fuel appliances, which burn small pellets that look like rabbit feed and measure 3/8 to 1 inch in length. Pellets are made from compacted sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, waste paper, and other organic materials. Some pellet fuel appliances can burn a wide variety of biomass fuels, including nutshells, corn kernels, small wood chips, barley, beet pulp, sunflowers, dried cherry pits, and soybeans.

Choosing and Installing Wood- and Pellet-Burning Appliances
Today you can choose from a new generation of wood- and pellet-burning appliances that are cleaner burning, more efficient, and powerful enough to heat many average-sized, modern homes. It's also important to use a properly sized appliance for the space to be heated. When an appliance is too big, residents tend to burn fires at a low smolder to avoid overheating, which wastes fuel and is one of the biggest causes of air pollution. A reputable dealer should talk with you about size requirements, but a good rule-of-thumb is that a stove rated at 60,000 British Thermal Units (Btu) can heat a 2,000 square foot home, while a stove rated at 42,000 Btu can heat a 1,300 square foot space.

Wood-burning appliances and fireplaces may emit large quantities of air pollutants. Wood smoke contains hundreds of chemical compounds including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, organic gases, and particulate matter, many of which have adverse health effects. In many urban and rural areas, smoke from wood burning is a major contributor to air pollution. Because of this, some municipalities restrict wood heating appliance use when the local air quality reaches unacceptable levels. Others restrict or ban the installation of wood-burning appliances in new construction. Before installing a wood-burning system, you should contact your local building codes department, state energy office, or state environmental agency about wood-burning regulations that may apply in your area.

If you have an older wood-burning appliance, consider upgrading to one of the newer appliances certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They include a catalytic combustor that allows combustion gases to burn at lower temperatures, thereby cleaning the exhaust gas while generating more heat. All woodstoves sold today should bear an EPA certification sticker. High-efficiency appliances not only have lower emissions but they are also often safer, since complete combustion helps to prevent a buildup of flammable chimney deposits called creosote.

If you want to retrofit an existing non-catalytic wood-burning appliance with a catalytic combustor, you can buy a catalytic damper. These are available as kits and are usually installed in the flue collar. To monitor the stove temperature after adding a catalytic combustor, you should also install at least one heat sensor on the stove body or stove pipe. Several manufacturers sell retrofit kits, and they may be available from wood stove retailers. They are not appropriate for all types of stoves. Again, be sure to follow the manufacturer's installation and operating instructions.

The location of the appliance (and chimney) will influence how well heat is distributed and conserved in your home. Most wood- and pellet-burning appliances are essentially space heaters, and should be put in the room where you spend most of your time. Ideally, there should be a way for heat to circulate to the rest of the house.

For safety, and to maximize efficiency, you should consider having a professional install your wood- or pellet-burning appliance. A professional will carefully evaluate everything from your chimney to your floor protection. A certified professional can also help you choose the best appliance to heat your home.

Types of Wood- and Pellet-Burning Appliances
The following is a brief overview of the different types of appliances available.

High-efficiency fireplaces and fireplace inserts
Designed more for show, traditional open masonry fireplaces should not be considered heating devices. Traditional fireplaces draw in as much as 300 cubic feet per minute of heated room air for combustion, then send it straight up the chimney. Fireplaces also produce significant air pollution. Although some fireplace designs seek to address these issues with dedicated air supplies, glass doors, and heat recovery systems, fireplaces are still energy losers. When burning a fire, you should turn your heat down or off and open a window near the fireplace.

Only high-efficiency fireplace inserts have proven effective in increasing the heating efficiency of older fireplaces. Essentially, the inserts function like woodstoves, fitting into the masonry fireplace or on its hearth, and use the existing chimney. You must install a flue collar that continues from the insert to the top of the chimney. A well-fitted fireplace insert can function nearly as efficiently as a woodstove.

Studies have shown that proper installation of fireplace inserts is very important. Have a professional installer examine the fireplace and chimney to determine if they are suitable for an insert. Inserts should be as airtight as possible. The more airtight it is, the easier it is to control the fire and the heat output. The installer should use only approved fireplace insulating materials to fill any gaps between the fireplace mouth and insert shield.

Moving an insert to clean the chimney or liner can be difficult, and is a job best left to a professional chimney sweep. In some situations, a clean-out door can be installed above the insert connection so the insert does not have to be moved as often. Some models have wheels to simplify installation, cleaning, repairs, and other adjustments.

Some modern fireplaces heat at efficiencies near those of woodstoves and are certified as low emission appliances. Although designed to include the fire-viewing benefits of a traditional fireplace, this generation of fireplaces can effectively provide heat as well. Through vents under the firebox, room air is drawn in, heated through a heat exchanger, and sent back into the house either through vents at the top of the fireplace or through ducts leading to nearby rooms. Some of these fireplaces are approved to route heated air to a basement auxiliary fan. The air then travels through ducts to other rooms in the house. The fireplace should have a dedicated supply of outside air for combustion.

Flues are ideal for leaking heat and warm air out of your home. If you have a fireplace that you don't use, plug and seal the flue. If you use the fireplace, be sure to close the flue when the fireplace is not in use. You could also use an inflatable stopper, available commercially, to temporarily seal the chimney and avoid air leakage through the flue.

Catalytic Wood Stoves, Advanced Combustion Woodstoves, and Centralized Wood-Burning Boilers
Wood stoves are the most common appliance for burning wood. New catalytic stoves and inserts have advertised efficiencies of 70%–80%.

Advanced combustion woodstoves provide a lot of heat but only work efficiently when the fire burns at full throttle. Also known as secondary burn stoves, they can reach temperatures of 1100°F—hot enough to burn combustible gases.

These stoves have several components that help them burn combustible gases, as well as particulates, before they can exit the chimney. Components include a metal channel that heats secondary air and feeds it into the stove above the fire. This heated oxygen helps burn the volatile gases above the flames without slowing down combustion. While many older stoves only have an air source below the wood, the secondary air source in advanced combustion stoves offers oxygen to the volatile gases escaping above the fire. With enough oxygen, the heated gases burn as well. In addition, the firebox is insulated, which reflects heat back to it, ensuring that the turbulent gases stay hot enough to burn. New advanced combustion stoves have advertised efficiencies of 60%–72%.

Another benefit is that the secondary channels funnel hot air toward the glass doors, keeping them clean for viewing the fire. They can also be slightly less expensive than conventional woodstoves fitted with catalytic combustors. Like wood stoves, centralized wood-burning boilers have been improved over the last several years. Modern, centralized wood heaters use wood gasification technology that burns both the wood fuel and the associated combustible gases, rendering them efficient up to 80%. In addition, systems are available that can switch to oil or gas if the fire goes out.

Masonry heaters
Masonry heaters are also known as "Russian," "Siberian," and "Finnish" fireplaces. They produce more heat and less pollution than any other wood- or pellet-burning appliance. Masonry heaters include a firebox, a large masonry mass (such as bricks), and long twisting smoke channels that run through the masonry mass. Their fireboxes are lined with firebrick, refractory concrete, or similar materials that can handle temperatures of over 2,000°F (1,093°C).

A small hot fire built once or twice a day releases heated gases into the long masonry heat tunnels. The masonry absorbs the heat and then slowly releases it into the house over a period of 12–20 hours. Masonry heaters commonly reach a combustion efficiency of 90%.

Most are intended for burning wood, but they were historically designed to burn almost any type of solid fuel. The relatively small, but intense fire also results in very little air pollution and very little creosote buildup in the chimney. Because most of the heat from the fuel is transferred to the masonry and slowly released into the room over the day, this type of heater does not need to be loaded with fuel as often as other types of wood heating appliances. In addition, if the masonry heater is built where sunlight can directly shine on it in the winter, the heater will absorb the sun's heat and release it slowly into the room.

A wide variety of masonry heater designs and styles are available. Larger models resemble conventional fireplaces and may cover an entire wall. Smaller models take up about as much space as a wood or pellet stove. They can be custom-built or purchased as prefabricated units. Some large designs may cost $5,000 or more. Plans and kits are available, but they are not easy do-it-yourself projects and require experience in working with masonry.

In addition to their expense, masonry heaters have one significant disadvantage when compared to conventional wood stoves and fireplaces: They cannot provide heat quickly from a cold start.
Source; U.S. Dept. of Energy

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Biofuels

2009-04-30T19:24:00.000-07:00

Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels—biofuels—for use in our vehicles. The two most common types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.

Ethanol
Ethanol—an alcohol—is currently made primarily from the starch in corn grain. It's most commonly used as an additive for petroleum-based fuels to reduce toxic air emissions and increase octane. Today, roughly half of the gasoline sold in the United States includes 5%–10% ethanol.

Ethanol is also available as an alternative fuel. E-85 is an alternative fuel blend containing 83% ethanol in the summer and 70% ethanol in the winter. Flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) have corrosion-resistant fuel systems and other modest modifications to accommodate either E-85 or regular gasoline. The largest U.S. automobile manufacturers each offer several models as flexible fuel vehicles at little or no additional cost. Currently, there are more than 200 E-85 fueling stations in 30 states for flexible fuel vehicles.

Biodiesel
Biodiesel is made primarily from soybean oil. Its use is currently relatively small, but its benefits to air quality are quite dramatic. A recently enacted subsidy should greatly stimulate use.

Biodiesel is typically blended at 20% with petroleum diesel. This fuel blend is called B-20. B-20 is used chiefly by vehicle fleets, which get credit for using alternative fuel vehicles without having to purchase new vehicles. B-20 is also available to individual consumers with diesel vehicles. There are nearly 180 B-20 fueling stations in about two-thirds of the states

Source; U.S. Dept of Energy.
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Republicans push nuclear energy to lower costs

2009-04-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Sat Apr 25, 6:11 am ET
WASHINGTON – The U.S. should build 100 more nuclear plants rather than spend "billions in subsidies" for renewable energy if it is truly committed to lowering electric bills and having clean air, the Republicans say.

In the party's weekly radio and Internet address, Sen. Lamar Alexander said the United States should follow the example of France, which promoted nuclear power decades ago. Today, nuclear plants provide 80 percent of France's electricity, and the country has one of the lowest electric rates and carbon emissions in Europe, he said.

In contrast, renewable electricity provides roughly 1.5 percent of the nation's electricity, according to Republicans. Double it or triple it, and "we still don't have much," the Tennessee Republican said.

"There is a potentially a dangerous energy gap between the renewable electricity we want and the reliable electricity we must have," he said.

In contrast to Democrats, Alexander said Republicans:

_Start with conservation and efficiency. "We have so much electricity at night, for example we could electrify half our cars and trucks and plug them in while we sleep without building one new power plant."

_Seek to keep bills down. "Democrats say, put a big new national sales tax on electric bills and gasoline."

_Wish to find more natural gas and oil offshore. "Farmers, homeowners and factories must have the natural gas. And more of the oil we'll still need should be ours, instead of sending billions overseas."

Source: Associated Press.

Building the American Clean Energy Economy

2009-04-23T21:15:00.000-07:00

Secretary Chu discusses the role of nuclear security laboratories in meeting national challenges while visiting Sandia National Laboratory in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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News
Op-Ed by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis: Building the American Clean Energy Economy
To commemorate Earth Day, the op-ed "Building the American Clean Energy Economy" on green jobs and energy independence by Secretaries Steven Chu and Hilda Solis ran in the newspapers yesterday and today.
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Austin American-Statesman
Buffalo News
Denver Post
Montgomery Advertiser
Omaha World Herald
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Building the American Clean Energy Economy
By Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis

Today, Americans will join with people around the world in celebrating Earth Day, raising awareness about the plight of our natural resources and taking action to preserve our planet for future generations.

For decades, while Americans have worked to make a difference in their communities, some politicians in both parties have failed to adequately address the energy crisis, which imperils our economy, our security and our planet. Now, we have a unique and critical opportunity to attack the energy crisis head on and create a comprehensive energy policy that will bolster our economy, end our dependence on foreign oil and reduce the threat of deadly pollution that could devastate our climate.

During his first months in office, President Obama has taken important first steps toward those goals through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which includes billions of dollars for cities and states across the country - to strengthen our clean energy industries, reduce our energy use, and create good jobs that can't be outsourced.

The greening of our economy will bring significant changes to the American workplace and will require workers to acquire new and different skills. Both the Department of Labor and Department of Energy have begun to coordinate their work to forge unique efforts that ensure the connection between investments in infrastructure and research.

We are supporting work-force investment activities by retraining dislocated workers, women and minorities. We are also investing in summer employment for youth, and community service employment for low-income seniors.

Recently, we visited the Community College of Allegheny County in Pennsylvania, where workers are being trained for green jobs like the ones the Recovery Act is creating. These jobs range from the construction of new green buildings to the installation of energy-efficient street lights to conducting energy audits and upgrading older buildings.

By providing the training that will turn 20th century blue-collar jobs into secure 21st century green-collar jobs, we are paving a pathway out of poverty; strengthening urban and rural communities; rebuilding a strong middle class; and protecting the health of our citizens and planet.

This investment in our work force will not only jumpstart our economy today but will lay the foundation for America's long-term competitiveness. With the eventual depletion of the world's oil reserves and growing disruption of our climate, we know that the development of clean, renewable sources of energy is the growth industry of the 21st century. The question is who will lead the world in making the fuel-efficient vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and other technologies of tomorrow.

American workers must lead this green revolution. That is why we are investing these dollars here at home in American jobs and American innovation. By making strategic choices now, we will restore our country's role as a global leader in the clean energy industry. We will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and begin to make America truly energy independent. That's not just an economic and environmental issue, it's also a national security imperative.

As part of this comprehensive energy strategy, we must continue to crack down on corporations that pollute the water we drink and the air we breathe. And because of what we now know about global warming, we must begin to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that have begun to change our climate. We can protect the health of our children and their children, while finally tackling global warming and its potentially catastrophic effects.

The path before us is clear, but it will not be easy. To create entire new industries of clean energy jobs, break the stranglehold of foreign oil on our economy and punish the polluters who are devastating our natural resources, we have to be honest about the difficult tasks and hard choices ahead. Our goal must be a clean energy future that works for all Americans, so that we can pass on to our children and grandchildren not just a stronger economy but a cleaner planet.

Media contact(s):

Source: dept of energy.

Lotus Biomass energy blog: April 9, 2009 Department of Energy and Commercial Real Estate Executives Launch Alliance to Reduce Energy Consumption of Buildings

2009-04-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Lotus Biomass energy blog: April 9, 2009 Department of Energy and Commercial Real Estate Executives Launch Alliance to Reduce Energy Consumption of Buildings

Refining Crude Oil

2009-04-21T03:52:00.001-07:00

Mayor Karl Dean Rides New Hybrid Bus

2009-04-14T16:37:00.000-07:00

Metro Transit Authority placed three hybrid buses into service Tuesday making a first step toward a bus rapid transit project. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean was among those on the first hybrid bus trip.

"This is exciting, you've got two great stories, the first is we are improving our bus system, our mass transit system, and the second is we're doing it by improving our environment" Mayor Dean said. "These buses are cleaner, more fuel efficient, and they're just all around good for the city."

The ground work for acquiring the buses was done in the summer of 2008 when fuel prices were at their highest. At $4 a gallon, hybrid buses saving 34% on fuel, would pay for themselves in about 7 or 8 years according to Metro Transit Authority CEO Paul Ballard. "But these buses will do much more for the environment."

Source: WKRN news 2 Nashville,TN.
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I for one am absolutely pleased to see these new buses in town and would love to see more of them. They are quieter, more efficient, and make a great deal of sense if you have ever been behind or beside one these behemoths at acceleration with a jet-engine-like deafening roar and that cloud of noxious black smoke that temporarily chokes me and makes it all but impossible to breathe. Good move, Nashville.

Mike

Hemlock Semiconductor Groundbreaking in Clarksville, TN

2009-04-13T17:43:00.001-07:00

April 9, 2009 Department of Energy and Commercial Real Estate Executives Launch Alliance to Reduce Energy Consumption of Buildings

2009-04-13T15:50:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Top executives from 19 commercial real estate companies met with U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officials in New York City today to discuss plans to dramatically reduce the sector’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The meeting officially launched DOE’s Commercial Real Estate Energy Alliance (CREEA), a partnership of commercial real estate owners and operators who have volunteered to work together with DOE to make lasting change in the energy consumption of commercial real estate buildings in the United States. Currently, commercial buildings account for 18 percent of the nation’s energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions.

“The deployment of new energy efficient technologies and adoption by both public and private sectors are vital to achieving substantial change in building energy use throughout the U.S.,” said Scott Hine, acting program manager of DOE’s Building Technologies Program. “This collaboration will help speed the adoption of high-performance, energy-efficient buildings by the commercial real estate sector.”

CREEA links building owners and operators with applicable research and technologies being developed at DOE’s National Laboratories. It is the second energy alliance launched by the Department of Energy in the commercial buildings sector. The Retailer Energy Alliance, with members such as Walmart, Target and Macy’s, was launched in 2008.

These commercial energy alliances serve as national forums to share best practices and practical experiences in energy efficiency. For instance, the Retailer Energy Alliance has held two supplier summits where building owners, operators, and suppliers worked on solutions for achieving dramatic energy reductions. The alliances also serve as a collective buying voice for the industry to encourage building material suppliers to create more energy efficient equipment.

CREEA and the Retailer Energy Alliance are part of the Department’s Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI), which aims to achieve market-ready, zero-energy commercial buildings by 2025. CBI also includes a National Laboratory Collaborative on building technologies, concentrating the efforts of five National Laboratories on the Net-Zero energy goal, and the Commercial Building National Accounts, which conducts cost-shared research, development and deployment for new building technologies among major national companies.

The CREEA Steering Committee has been instrumental in setting the direction and goals of the alliance; it includes executives from CB Richard Ellis, Cushman & Wakefield, Grubb & Ellis, Hilton Hotels Corporation, Jones Lang LaSalle, MGM Mirage, Transwestern, U.S. General Services Administration, USAA Real Estate Company, The Walt Disney Company, Wyndham Hotel and Resorts, American Hotel and Lodging Association, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Building Owners and Managers Association, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, and the Real Estate Roundtable.

Source; U.S. Dept of Energy

North Dakota Bakken Oil Rig

2009-04-07T11:32:00.001-07:00

josephlastella.com Energy Independence Info

2009-04-07T11:11:00.001-07:00

Green Star Announces Biorefinery and Electric Car Plans

2009-04-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City, UT – (BUSINESS WIRE) March 11, 2009 – Green Star Products, Inc., (US OTC: GSPI) held its Special Stockholders Meeting on January 31, 2009 (see press release dated January 9, 2009). The meeting had the largest attendance in many years and special presentations were given by GSPI Consortium member companies. Details of the Stockholders Meeting are covered on Green Star's website GreenStarUSA.com.

The presentations outlined detail plans of the biorefinery projects and their plant construction. These plans include the production of cellulosic ethanol, chemical by-products from cellulosic ethanol plants, algae biomass production, algae biodiesel production and the many advantages of combining all of these technologies into one biorefinery complex.

The existing board members were re-elected and many discussions took place concerning the issues contained in the GSPI Letter to Shareholders dated December 29, 2008. Mr. Joseph LaStella, GSPI's President, spent a significant amount of time reviewing the history of Green Star, which changed its name from BAT International to Green Star Products, Inc., in 2002.

Mr. Brooks Agnew, Ph.D., Vice-President of Green Star, presented algae biomass production technology and the advancements that Green Star has made in the algae production business which gives the Company at least a two year edge in algae research and commercial production.

Mr. Irshad Ahmed, Ph.D., President of Pure Energy Corporation a Biorefinery Consortium partner, gave a detailed analysis of the integration of technologies in the biorefinery complex and its many advantages including significant cost reductions. Under a technology license agreement, Pure Energy is providing to the Consortium a cellulosic ethanol/chemicals biorefinery manufacturing platform. The biorefinery complex is designed to utilize municipal waste, agricultural waste and non-food products, including algae, to produce a variety of energy and chemical products. These products include cellulosic ethanol, algae biodiesel, biodiesel from other non-food products, electricity, fertilizers and chemicals.

President Obama recently stated that he intends to double alternative energy for the United States within three years. There are also existing federal programs clearly identifying funds in the billions for biorefinery-type projects.

The GSPI Consortium partners dedicated a significant amount of time over the past 10 months to prepare several biorefinery proposals for submittal to the existing and anticipated multi-billion dollar federal alternative energy programs.

Mr. LaStella stated, “The Company has received many inquiries and suggestions for Green Star to re-enter the emerging electric car market.” This situation occurred in direct reaction to the release of Chapter 6 and 7 of Mr. LaStella's book entitled 'National Birthright', which clearly reflects the early years of Green Star and its success in manufacturing electric vehicles off its assembly lines. Chapters 6 and 7 can be reviewed at Mr. LaStella's website at JosephLaStella.com

Green Star also was one of the only companies to crash test their vehicle during that era. The crash test video can be seen at GreenStarUSA.com.

During the years 1992 to 1998, Green Star not only manufactured electric cars and trucks but also set many of the electric vehicle world records, which still stand to this day. Although, Green Star received national media attention many times during this period, the electric car era unfortunately came to an end when the electric car mandates for California were defeated by Detroit car company lawyers in 1998. Therefore, the expected electric vehicle market did not materialize.

During the past year, a strong electric car market has emerged not only in this country but around the world (especially noted in China). Green Star is presently formulating a plan to re-launch its electric vehicles by utilizing the expertize acquired during its early years. GSPI cars have been tested under a federal government program which depicted GSPI vehicle statistics that still cannot be matched by today's electric vehicles. Detailed information in relation to these test programs is also contained in Mr. LaStella's two chapters.

In summary, investors in the United States and from foreign countries have indicated their interest and support for the re-emergence of this electric vehicle technology and expertize by Green Star Products.

The stockholders at the meeting were very enthusiastic about the future of our Company because the Green Nature of our Company and the fact that existing government programs and future programs now being laid out by the Obama Administration support all aspects of Green Star's business strategy including biorefineries, algae biodiesel, CO2 sequestration, energy efficiency and even the electric vehicle market.

Green Star Products, Inc. (OTC: GSPI) is an environmentally friendly company dedicated to creating innovative cost-effective products to improve the quality of life and clean up the environment. Green Star Products and its Consortium are involved in the production of green sustainable goods including renewable resources like algae biodiesel and clean-burning biofuels, cellulosic ethanol and other products, as well as lubricants, additives and devices that reduce emissions and improve fuel economy in vehicles, machinery and power plants. For more information, see Green Star Products' Web site at http://www.GreenStarUSA.com, or call Public Relations at 1-800-741-7648 and 1-800-340-9784, or fax 619-789-4743, or email info@GreenStarUSA.com. Information about trading prices and volume can be obtained at several Internet sites, including http://www.pinksheets.com, http://www.bloomberg.com and http://www.bigcharts.com under the ticker symbol "GSPI".

Forward-looking statements in the release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition for the company, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

CONTACT:
Joseph LaStella, President
Green Star Products, Inc.
800-741-7648
800-340-9784
619-864-4010
619-789-4743 (fax)
info@GreenStarUSA.com

EIA Renewable Energy-Biomass Data and Information

2009-03-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

EIA Renewable Energy-Biomass Data and Information: "Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Photographic Information Exchange
Biomass energy is derived from three distinct energy sources: wood, waste, and alcohol fuels. Wood energy is derived both from direct use of harvested wood as a fuel and from wood waste streams. The largest source of energy from wood is pulping liquor or “black liquor,” a waste product from processes of the pulp, paper and paperboard industry. Waste energy is the second-largest source of biomass energy. The main contributors of waste energy are municipal solid waste (MSW), manufacturing waste, and landfill gas. Biomass alcohol fuel, or ethanol, is derived almost exclusively from corn. Its principal use is as an oxygenate in gasoline."