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!
Arkansas Renewable Energy News
May/June 2007
"Civilization is in no immediate danger of running out of energy or even just out of oil. But we are running out of environment—that is, out of the capacity of the environment to absorb energy's impacts without risk of intolerable disruption—and our heavy dependence on oil in particular entails not only environmental but also economic and political liabilities." — Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, author of Power to the People
In This Issue...
News...
- Fayetteville Fire Station Receives Grant for Solar Water-Heating System
- University of Arkansas Pledge to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
- Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended
- EIA: Summer to Bring Higher Energy Prices
- DOE Announces $14 Million for Plug-In Hybrid Battery Research
- EPA Offers Certification for Fuel-Efficient Trucks
- X Prize to Award Millions for Super-efficient Cars
- Corn Ethanol Production Increased 25 Percent in 2006
- U.S. Solar Market Increased by One-Third in 2006
Funding Opportunities
Website Spotlight
Mark Your Calendars!
Tip of the Month
News
Fayetteville Fire Station Receives Grant for Solar Water-Heating System
The Arkansas Energy Office (AEO) awarded a $10,700 grant to the city of Fayetteville to install a solar water-heating system in fire station No. 4.The grant is part of a new effort by AEO to gather information on how well solar water-heating systems perform in Arkansas, how cost-effective they are, and how much they will reduce hot water needs from the conventional system. According to this report in the Northwest Arkansas Times, the grant will be used to purchase and install the solar water-heating system, and also to switch the existing system to a tankless water heater.
In addition to Station No. 4, AEO also provided funding for similar systems in the Department of Environmental Quality building and a public safety building at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Two additional projects involve monitoring existing solar water-heating systems. www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/51340
University of Arkansas Pledge to Reduce Greenhouse Gases
The University of Arkansas is the first higher education institution in the state, and among the first 100 in the nation, to sign the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. The commitment is a pledge by the presidents to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on their campuses.
In signing the Presidents Climate Commitment the University of Arkansas is pledging to take three basic actions: to develop a comprehensive plan by 2009 to achieve "climate neutrality" on campus; to implement at least two specific programs for reducing greenhouse gases while the comprehensive plan is being developed; and to make the action plan and all progress reports accessible to the public. www.1800arkansas.com/energy/index.cfm?page=energy_event&event=106
Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), signed by the President in August of 2005, provides incentives for purchasing solar equipment. Now extended through 2008, these incentives could provide a tax credit equal to 30 percent of qualifying expenditures for purchase of commercial solar installations, with no cap on the total credit allowed. EPAct also provides homeowners a 30-percent tax credit for qualified PV systems and solar water-heating systems that are used exclusively for purposes other than heating swimming pools and hot tubs. Private property owners of qualified systems are eligible for a tax credit up to $2,000 for either system, with a maximum of $4,000 allowed, if both qualified photovoltaic and solar water-heating systems are installed. More information on available incentives for solar installations is available at energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits
EIA: Summer to Bring Higher Energy Prices
Crude oil prices are expected to average $65 per barrel this summer, and that, along with demand growth and supply constraints, will keep prices for gasoline and natural gas elevated, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook, notes that U.S. retail gasoline prices increased by more than 60 cents per gallon over the past two months due to higher crude oil prices, unplanned refinery outages, increased demand for gasoline, and low levels of gasoline imports from Europe . The average monthly gasoline pump price is projected to peak at an average of $2.87 per gallon in May while averaging $2.81 per gallon over the course of the summer. Average retail prices for diesel fuel are expected to average $2.82 per gallon over the summer, up from a winter low but down 6 cents compared to last summer. www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html
Interested in alternative fuels to reduce your gasoline consumption? Check out our Bio-fuels section at www.arkansasrenewableenergy.org/bioenergy/altfuels.html.
DOE Announces $14 Million for Plug-In Hybrid Battery Research
DOE has announced that it will provide up to $14 million of a $28 million cost-shared solicitation for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) battery development. The U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has issued the call for proposals. DOE and USABC aim to improve battery performance so vehicles can drive up to 40 miles on electricity before recharging, or the range of most daily roundtrip commutes. The research will seek to identify battery technologies that have the potential to be commercialized and quickly brought to market, in addition to meeting USABC's criteria for performance, weight, life-cycle, and cost.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program is working with industry to bring PHEVs to market and advance the President's Twenty in Ten plan, which aims to reduce gasoline usage 20 percent by 2017. USABC is the industry arm of the partnership, and as a consortium of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research, supports collaborative research among DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation to develop electrochemical energy storage technologies that support the commercialization of fuel cell, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Deadline for submission is May 31, 2007. www.energy.gov/news/4926.htm
EPA Offers Certification for Fuel-Efficient Trucks
As part of a new EPA certification program, fuel-efficient tractor-trailer rigs will begin carrying the SmartWay logo. EPA has announced that 2007 models of heavy trucks can earn certification from EPA's SmartWay program. SmartWay-approved equipment, like aerodynamic front bumpers and side mirrors, can cut wind resistance and reduce fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent. Each SmartWay-qualified rig can produce savings of up to 4,000 gallons of diesel per year, which would save truckers more than $11,000 each year at current diesel fuel prices. Participating manufacturers include Freightliner, International, Kenworth, Mack, Peterbilt, and Volvo. Truckers that buy the rigs and participate in the program can display the SmartWay logo on their tractors and trailers.
EPA plans to set more ambitious performance targets for the SmartWay rigs in the future. EPA is also developing guidelines for recognizing other vehicles such as delivery vans, in which hybrid technology can dramatically improve fuel efficiency. http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d9d1f718ae373653852572a000655936/d589a72aad623772852572ae005ba50d!OpenDocument
X Prize to Award Millions for Super-Efficient Cars
The X Prize Foundation is developing a multi-million dollar Automotive X Prize to inspire a new generation of super-efficient vehicles. Known for its $10 million Ansari X Prize, which spurred the development of private spacecraft, the X Prize Foundation now aims to encourage the development of clean, production-capable vehicles that can achieve a fuel economy equivalent to at least 100 miles per gallon of gasoline.
The foundation has published draft competition guidelines for the Automotive X Prize, allowing two vehicle classes: "Mainstream" vehicles that carry at least four passengers and have at least four wheels, and "Alternative" vehicles that can carry at least two passengers and have any number of wheels. The vehicles can be fueled with gasoline, alternative fuels, or electricity. As currently proposed, the Automotive X Prize will culminate in 2009 with two long-distance stage races that will expose the vehicles to a range of driving patterns over varied terrain and diverse weather conditions. To win the prize, vehicles must complete both races with the lowest overall time averaged over all scoring stages, while still meeting the requirements for fuel economy and emissions. auto.xprize.org/news/4_02_07.html
Corn Ethanol Production Increased 25 Percent in 2006
The U.S. ethanol fuel industry produced 4.86 billion gallons of ethanol in 2006, a 24.3-percent increase over the previous year, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). According to RFA, demand for ethanol reached 5.4 billion gallons in 2006, exceeding the supply by 11 percent. To meet that demand, some 653 million gallons of ethanol were imported, two-thirds of which were shipped directly from Brazil . Currently, 114 ethanol plants located throughout the United States have the capacity to produce more than 5.6 billion gallons of ethanol fuel per year. Another 78 facilities under construction and seven expansions underway will boost the industry's capacity to more than 6 billion gallons of ethanol fuel per year. www.ethanolrfa.org/media/press/rfa/view.php?id=964
While the increased ethanol production is pushing up corn prices and making it more profitable for farmers to grow corn, it also worries ranchers, chicken farmers, and others that depend on corn feed to raise animals. According to the National Chicken Council, the demand for ethanol had already raised the wholesale price of chicken by six cents per pound back in January. Meanwhile, the cattle industry is expected to be less profitable in 2007. At a trade show in early February, analysts warned that any impact on the 2007 corn crop "could have particularly drastic consequences, because even a strong corn crop will be hard-pressed to meet current demand." These concerns emphasize the need for the ethanol industry to expand to cellulosic biomass feedstocks. See the press releases from the www.nationalchickencouncil.com/pressroom/pr_detail.cfm?id=61
www.beefusa.org/NEWSCattle-FaxFavorableWeatherStrongCornCropCriticalin200729512.aspx
U.S. Solar Market Increased by One-Third in 2006
Installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) devices in the United States increased by about 33 percent in 2006 over the previous year, according to a new report from Solarbuzz, LLC. Worldwide PV installations totaled 1,744 megawatts (MW) in 2006, a new record and a growth of 19 percent over 2005. The United States contributed just 8 percent of those installations, or about 140 MW, while Germany led the world market with 960 MW of PV installations, comprising 55 percent of the world's total PV installations for 2006. To supply that market, the global production of solar cells reached 2,204 MW in 2006, a growth of 33 percent over PV production in 2005, while the production of polysilicon—a critical ingredient for silicon solar cells—increased by 16 percent. www.solarbuzz.com/Marketbuzz2007-intro.htm
Funding Opportunities
Clean Energy Grants and Loan Guarantees
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering $176.5 million in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses. Loan guarantees cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost and will not exceed $10 million. Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project's cost, with a limit of $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. Grant applications must by postmarked no later than May 18, 2007, while the deadline for loan applications or grant and loan combinations is July 2, 2007. See the USDA press release at www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2007/03/0070.xml, and for the complete details, see the announcement from the March 22 edition of the Federal Register http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-5198.htm
Website Spotlight
Interstate Renewable Energy Council
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!
WINDPOWER 2007 Conference and Exhibition
June 3-6, 2007
Los Angeles, CA
Whether you are an established industry veteran or a newcomer to this exciting and explosive industry, WINDPOWER 2007 has much to offer including three days of conference sessions, an interactive tradeshow of wind energy products and services, and numerous networking opportunities. www.eshow2000.com/awea/
Solar Buildings Conference
June 10-13, 2007
Calgary , Alberta , Canada
This conference will promote innovative research and development in solar energy utilization. The conference addresses all topics related to solar energy and buildings, innovative technologies, experimental studies, simulation applications, design tools and methods, case studies and practical applications. www.solarbuildings.ca/en/conference
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair
June 15-17, 2007
Custer, WI
This annual, three-day festival is the world's largest venue to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living. The fair offers more than 100 workshops, demonstrations of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, and entertainment.
www.the-mrea.org/energy_fair.php
Tip of the Month
Seal Heating and Cooling Ducts
(source: EnergyStar.gov)
Ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent — and sometimes much more.
Focus first on sealing ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, unheated basement, or garage. Use duct sealants (mastic or mastic tape) or a UL approved duct sealing tape to seal the seams and connections of ducts. Current codes do not allow common cloth backed "duct tape." After sealing the ducts in those spaces, wrap the ducts in insulation to keep them from getting hot in the summer or cold in the winter. Next, seal ducts that you can access in the heated or cooled part of the house.
Visit the following links for more information:
- Duct Sealing, ENERGY STAR www.energystar.gov/ia/products/heat_cool/ducts/DuctSealingBrochure04.pdf
- Duct Sealing, ENERGY STAR www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=home_improvement.hm_improvement_ducts
- Duct Sealing and Insulation, Energy-Efficient Rehab Advisor
rehabadvisor.pathnet.org/sp.asp?id=9709
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