Welcome to the Arkansas Renewable
Energy e-newsletter! This newsletter is a bi-monthly
feature of the Arkansas Renewable Energy website. Visit
the website at www.arkansasrenewableenergy.org for more
information on solar, wind, biomass, and other renewable
energy resources!
December 2004 / January 2005
"The Truly Healthy environment is not merely safe but stimulating."– William H. Stewart
In This Issue...
News...
Website Spotlight
Mark Your Calendars!
Tip of
the Month
News...
New Clinton Presidential Library a Showcase of Green Building Technologies
The new Clinton Presidential Library was dedicated in Little Rock, Arkansas, on November 18. In addition to its scholarly and historical value, the building is also a boon to the green building movement, featuring a host of technologies that will save energy and help protect the environment. For example, its 306 solar panels generate green electricity from the sun, and conservation measures allow the building to use 34 percent less energy than a conventional building of the same size. It's been referred to by some as the first green presidential library. Get the scoop at www.thehometownchannel.com/news/3917237/detail.html!
Arkansas Earns Second Place in SOLAR SPLASH 2004
The University of Arkansas again achieved honors in this year's Solar Splash, an international intercollegiate competition that takes place over five days in Buffalo, New York. The Arkansas team achieved second place overall. The team also won first place in the Solar Slalom, second in Technical Report, and second in Visual Presentation. Other kudos include Design Achievement and Outstanding Solar System Design. Nice work, team! Learn more at www.ee.uark.edu/students/organizations/solar/solar2003/index.html and www.solarsplash.com/splash/results/event04.html#HEADING6.
Study: Worldwide Use of Solar Thermal Energy Underestimated
Estimates of the world's use of solar energy for heating water and buildings have long been hampered by a technical issue: the difficulty of converting the size of the installed solar energy collectors into an energy capacity that could be easily compared to other capacity figures. Last week, however, the International Energy Agency's Solar Heating and Cooling Programme and the world's major solar energy trade associations announced that they had agreed on a simple conversion factor for all types of solar thermal collectors: each square meter of solar collector, regardless of type, has the capacity to generate about 0.7 kilowatts of thermal heat. Applying that to worldwide estimates of installed solar collectors, the organizations found the world capacity to be nearly 70 gigawatts of thermal heat. That compares favorably with wind power, which has a global installed capacity of 23 gigawatts of electric power. Read more at www.estif.org/index.php?id=46&backPID=2&pS=1&tt_news=25.
State Technologies Advancement Collaborative Launches New Site
The State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC), a five-year pilot program funded by DOE, has launched a new website. Formed in late 2002 by DOE, the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO), and the Association of State Energy Research and Technology Transfer Institutions, STAC is meant to allow states and territories and the federal government to collaborate better on energy research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects. Since its inception, STAC has issued two solicitations, and expects to announce awards from the second round of solicitations sometime this month. Visit the new website at www.stacenergy.org/.
U.S. Wind Industry Predicts Record Growth in 2005
The growth in U.S.wind energy capacity next year is expected to break all previous records, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). In 2001, a record 1,696 megawatts of new wind power capacity, was set in 2001, but AWEA says that some industry participants are predicting more than 2,500 megawatts of new wind power in 2005. The surge in new wind power projects is due to the recent extension of the production tax credit, which is allowing many previously stalled projects to move ahead. But with the tax credit now expiring at the end of 2005, developers will rush to put their projects in place before that deadline. Learn more at www.awea.org/news/news041028mkt.html.
Clean Energy Production Growing Nearly 25% Faster Than Oil and Gas
With oil and gas prices surging, alternative fuels and clean energy technologies are becoming more and more competitive. In fact, the production of alternative fuels, such as ethanol or biodiesel, is growing at by nearly thirty percent, compared with 4 percent for oil and 6 percent for natural gas, according to the Christian Science Monitor. While the USlags behind Europe and Japanin renewable energy production, demand is high for both solar and wind-derived power. For example, Home Depot has started stocking solar power devices, and both the U.S. Postal Service and Federal Express have recently installed large-scale solar panels on some of their facilities. Read more at www.csmonitor.com/2004/1022/p01s02-usec.html.
President Bush Signs New Energy Tax Incentives into Law
President Bush signed H.R. 4520, the "American Jobs Creation Act of 2004," into law on October 22. The new law creates and extends a number of energy-related tax credits, including an expansion of the renewable energy production tax credit. This credit formerly applied only to wind energy and some biomass energy projects, but Section 710 of the law now expands the credit to a wide range of biomass, geothermal, and solar energy projects, as well as hydropower produced from small irrigation projects. The tax credit applies to facilities placed in service before the end of next year.
The bill's Title III also extends the tax credit for ethanol through 2010 and creates a new tax credit for biodiesel, effective through 2006. It also removes a disincentive for ethanol and biodiesel production by eliminating any impact on the Highway Trust Fund caused by the tax credits. Read the Renewable Fuels Association press release at www.ethanolrfa.org/pr041022.html.
To read full text of the bill, go to thomas.loc.gov/ and search on HR 4520.
Poll Says Nine of Ten Americans Favor Increasing Solar Energy
According to a new article on RenewableEnergyAccess.com, solar energy has more support than ever before among U.S.residents, with nine of ten favoring an increase in its use. The increased interest is attributed to "rising natural gas prices, concerns over grid reliability, and renewed debate on energy independence." More cost-effective solar technologies also play a role. Read the full story at www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=17114.
Wind Energy Viewed as Crucial for Relieving Energy Shortage
Energy industry experts are increasingly calling for greater development of wind resources and a removal of obstacles limiting wind energy production. The two major obstacles are the lack of sufficient transmission lines and uncertainty over the continuation of the wind energy federal tax credit, which has expired several times since it was initially created in 1992. Should these obstacles be dealt with, wind energy could be providing up to 20 percent of the nation’s energy in 20 years, providing cheap, clean energy and thousands of new jobs. Find out more at www.helenair.com/articles/2004/10/11/national/a01101104_02.txt.
EIA: U.S. Home Heating Bills to Increase 15 Percent This Winter
A colder winter and higher fuel prices are likely to drive up residential heating bills by 15 percent this winter, according to a report released last week by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA expects elevated crude oil prices to result in higher prices for heating oil, natural gas, and propane. Heating oil users will take the biggest hit, with a 29 percent increase in prices, although a slightly warmer winter in the Northeast is expected to hold the increase in those households' heating bills to 28 percent. EIA says inventories of heating fuels are sufficient to avoid price spikes from surges in demand under most circumstances.
EIA notes that current spot prices for crude oil continue to fluctuate above the $45 per barrel range, and projects the price for the fourth quarter to average about $46.40 per barrel. Prices remain high despite increased production by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in part because of oil production losses due to September hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricanes also impacted natural gas production. The spot price for natural gas at the Henry Hub, a major distribution point, averaged $5.15 per thousand cubic feet in September, and EIA expects it to average $6.18 per thousand cubic feet in 2005. See the EIA press release at www.eia.doe.gov/neic/press/press241.html and the October edition of the Short-Term Energy Outlook at www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html.
Projected increases got you down? Don't despair! Check out these resources:
- Consumer's Guide to Lower Utility Bills
www.1800arkansas.com/energy/index.cfm?page=energy_saver
A series of guides that provide step-by-step suggestions and energy-saving tips for improving energy efficiency in your home and reducing your energy bills.
- Residential Energy Efficiency Information
www.1800arkansas.com/energy/index.cfm?page=residential
Provides cost-effective solutions, offers creative alternatives, and identifies resources to help you make informed decisions to reduce your utility bills and increase your comfort level.
ELPC Releases 'Community Wind Financing Handbook'
The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) is offering its new 'Community Wind Energy Financing Handbook' online. The handbook is intended to assist potential developers of community wind projects understand the range of project structuring and financing options available, covering topics such as:
The pros and cons of different business ownership models
- How to secure debt and equity financing
- Major federal and state financial grant and other financial incentive opportunities
- The significance and use of the federal production tax credit and other tax benefits
- Power purchase agreements and "green tags"
The handbook
can be accessed at www.elpc.org/energy/windhandbook2004.pdf.
Website Spotlight
Looking for information on energy? DOE's Office Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) website could be just what you're looking for! EERE is an excellent resource for information about renewable energy and energy efficiency. Learn more about DOE’s programs and its efforts toward increasing energy efficiency in all sectors, as well as links to useful resources, and other information. Check out the website at www.eere.energy.gov/.
Mark Your Calendars!
Here's a sample of the many upcoming events focusing on energy issues. For a more complete list, see our Events Calendar at www.arkansasrenewableenergy.org/calendar/calendar.html!
PV Design
Online
January 10-February
18, 2005
Online
This course
provides 60 cumulative hours of training,
that may be used towards NABCEP certification
purposes. Learn how to design a complete solar electric
power system without leaving your home. A six-week, internet-based,
online course of instruction with text, CD-ROM reference
materials and Internet resource links. Get more information
at www.solarenergy.org/workshops/workshop.php?id=14
Harvesting
Clean Energy V
January 20-21, 2005
Great Falls, MT
This
two-day conference is geared toward for people interested
in renewable energy production who want to learn practical
steps for developing successful renewable energy projects.
Sessions and breakouts will offer financial and "how-to" solutions
and resources for getting into small and large-scale
renewable energy production. See the conference website
at www.harvestcleanenergy.org/hce.html.
POWER-GEN
Renewable Energy Conference
March 1-3, 2005
Las Vegas, NV
This event
will bring together the renewable energy, renewable fuels,
and emerging energy technology sectors to discuss the
key technical, regulatory, structural, economic and market issues impacting their commercial future.
With a conference program featuring multiple tracks of
sessions covering technologies and business issues, plus
an exhibit floor showcasing the latest products, systems
and services, POWER-GEN Renewable Energy is the industry's
premier event covering all major aspects of the renewables market.
Learn more at pgre05.events.pennnet.com/.
Tip of the Month: Light Up the Holidays With LED Lights
Haven't strung
your Christmas lights yet? Consider LED lights this year—they
use as much as 90 percent less energy than conventional
lights! LED holiday lights are widely available. Check
your local home improvement store, or online at retailers
selling Christmas lights. Hungry for
more information? Check out the Energy Ideas Clearinghouse
fact sheet at www.energyideas.org/documents/factsheets/HolidayLighting.pdf!
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