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
October/November 2005

 

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!

 

“I think the environment should be put in the category of our national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise what is there to defend?" – Robert Redford

In This Issue...

News...

• Solar Providing Power for Hurricane Katrina Victims
• EERE Launches Financial Opportunities Website
• Ford to Offer Hybrid Versions of Half its Lineup by 2010
• Tool Helps Fleet Managers Evaluate Hybrid Vehicles
• Turkey Litter to Fuel Small Town
• Manure-powered Ethanol Plant Planned in Kansas
• Construction of New Corn-Based Chemical Plant Underway
• National Lab Expert Notes Energy Benefits of Ethanol
• Corn Growers Association Launches Ethanol Website

Funding Oportunities
Website Spotlight
Mark Your Calendars!
Tip of the Month

 

News

Solar Providing Power for Hurricane Katrina Victims
Solar electric systems provided by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) are providing much-needed power in Kiln, Mississippi, following Hurricane Katrina. The solar systems, which convert the sun's energy into electricity, are mobile units mounted on a trailer that can then be towed by a pickup truck. The systems are important in recovery efforts, providing electricity for a host of important functions, such as mobile phones, laptop computers and hand-held radios, and other communication devices. http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=aK59Iv0L_6Q8?id=37058

 

EERE Launches Financial Opportunities Website
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has launched its new Financial Opportunities website, which lists current and past solicitations from EERE and provides specific funding information for business, industry, and universities, as well as consumers, federal energy managers, inventors, states, and tribes. In fiscal year 2004 alone, EERE awarded approximately $506 million in financial assistance. www.eere.energy.gov/financing/

 

Ford to Offer Hybrid Versions of Half its Lineup by 2010
Ford Motor Company recently announced plans to increase production of hybrids to encompass more than half the vehicle models by 2010. The company plans to increase production of its Ford Escape Hybrid to 250,000 in just five years. Ford recently unveiled its second hybrid, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which goes on sale this fall, and the company plans to introduce hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Mazda Tribute by 2008. http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=21600

Ford also noted plans to increase its flexible-fuel vehicles. The 2006 models of the Ford F-150, Ford Crown Victoria, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Car will accept E85, an ethanol and gasoline mixture containing 85 percent ethanol. Ford said it could produce as many as 280,000 flexible-fuel vehicles in 2006. http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=21636

 

Tool Helps Fleet Managers Evaluate Hybrid Vehicles
A new software tool that compares the costs and emissions of hybrid electric vehicles to conventional vehicles is now available for government and business fleet managers. The Hybrid Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator Tool takes into account purchase price, fuel costs, repair and maintenance costs, resale value, and applicable tax incentives. For example, the tool indicates that at the current fuel prices of $2.50 per gallon or more, hybrid vehicles can offer significant financial savings to fleets. A high percentage of city driving and large number of miles driven per year can further increase the cost-effectiveness of hybrid vehicles. The tool was developed by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Center for a New American Dream, and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities/hev/cost_calc.html

 

Turkey Litter to Fuel Small Town
According to an AP article in the Pioneer Press, energy developers are building a new plant that will burn tons of turkey litter from farms across western Minnesota. Situated in the small town of Benson, the plant is expected to begin production in 2007 and provide enough power to supply the town of 3,300 and the farms around it. The project comes a decade after the Minnesota Legislature ordered the state's largest power supplier — now Xcel Energy Inc. — to invest in biomass as a power source. www.realcities.com/mld/twincities/news/12668590.htm

 

Manure-powered Ethanol Plant Planned in Kansas
Panda Energy has announced that a new 100-million-gallon ethanol plant it plans to construct in Haskell County, Kansas, will be powered by gasified cattle manure, reports Kansas Ag Connection. The company also plans ethanol plants in Texas and Colorado, and together the three facilities will use three billion pounds of cattle manure a year in the creation of bio-gas to run the plants. The company says the biofuel will save 1,000 barrels of oil per day. www.kansasagconnection.com/story-state.cfm?Id=531&yr=2005

 

Construction of New Corn-Based Chemical Plant Underway
A new $100-million manufacturing plant to support new corn-based polymers is now under construction in Loudon, Tennessee, under a joint venture of DuPont and Tate & Lyle. The new plant will convert corn into a chemical called 1,3 propanediol, or PDO for short. The companies call the new product Bio-PDO, and will use it to produce DuPont Sorona polymer, which can be used to produce clothing, carpeting, plastics, and other products. According to the companies, the production of Bio-PDO consumes 30 to 40 percent less energy than producing PDO from petroleum; producing 100 million pounds of Bio-PDO in the Loudon plant will save the energy equivalent to 10 million gallons of gasoline per year. http://193.35.126.50/PressReleases/PressRelease1393.asp

 

National Lab Expert Notes Energy Benefits of Ethanol
A researcher at DOE's Argonne National Laboratory has completed a study that defends the energy and environmental benefits of producing ethanol from corn and other biomass sources. Argonne researcher Michael Wang presented research at the National Press Club confirming that ethanol fuel substantially helps reduce fossil fuel and petroleum use, when compared with gasoline. Wang also found that ethanol produced from corn achieves moderate reductions in greenhouse gases. Ethanol produced from grass and other "cellulosic" or woody biomass sources can achieve much greater energy and greenhouse gas benefits.

The Argonne research dismisses an ongoing academic argument about the amount of energy needed to produce ethanol. A paper published in the March edition of "Natural Resources Research" by researchers at Cornell University and the University of California at Berkeley claims that ethanol production from corn requires 29 percent more energy than is provided by the resulting ethanol fuel. In contrast, a 2004 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that ethanol produces 67 percent more energy than is consumed in its production. But according to the Argonne research, what really matters is that ethanol compares favorably to gasoline, the fuel it replaces. www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2005/news050823.html

 

Corn Growers Association Launches Ethanol Website
Looking for information on ethanol? There’s a new resource at hand — EthanolFacts.com. This new website is a project of the National Corn Growers Association and serves as a comprehensive source of ethanol information, including basic facts about ethanol and its benefits to U.S. consumers. www.ethanolfacts.com/

Funding Opportunities

 

RNK Capital LLC Request for Proposals
RNK Capital LLC, a manager of environmental investments, has announced plans to invest $25 million in the U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency market and is inviting interested parties to submit an Expression of Interest. The company hopes to receive offers for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that will result in renewable energy credits, sulfur dioxide emissions allowances, nitrous oxide emissions allowances, or other environmental credits. As an active participant in the markets for emissions trading and renewable energy credits, RNK Capital will consider either buying the credits or allowances generated by the projects or providing debt financing for the projects. http://rfp.rnkcapital.com/.

Website Spotlight

 

Methane to Markets Partnership
The Methane to Markets Partnership is an action-oriented, international initiative that focuses on advancing cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. The initiative will reduce global emissions to enhance economic growth, promote energy security, improve the environment, and reduce greenhouse gases. Other benefits include improving mine safety, reducing waste, and improving local air quality. The initiative focuses on cost-effective, near-term methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. It will be carried out internationally through collaboration between developed countries, developing countries, and countries with economies in transition — together with strong participation from the private sector. The Partnership is initially targeting three major methane sources: landfills, underground coal mines, and natural gas and oil systems. Learn more at: www.epa.gov/methanetomarkets/.

 

 

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!

 

 

Tenth National Green Power Marketing Conference
October 24-26, 2005
Austin, TX
This year's conference will celebrate and build on a decade of success by examining the growth of green power markets, with particular emphasis on communicating "best practices" for product design and marketing, and program implementation. www.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/conference/tenth.html

ACEEE Forum on Energy Efficiency in Agriculture
November 14 -16, 2005
Des Moines, IA
Based on the theme "Increasing Energy Efficiency in the Agriculture Sector: Farms, Ranches, and Rural Small Businesses," this event will highlight energy efficiency technologies, policies, and actions that can contribute to increased viability and sustainability of farms, ranches, and the rural business community. The Forum will offer general panels and interactive session topics such as: agricultural data needs, gaps, and problems; non-energy benefits of energy efficiency; lessons learned from past and present agricultural energy efficiency programs; how to increase the presence of energy-efficient technologies on small farms, ranches, and rural small businesses; and how to stimulate additional research on technologies, products, social aspects, and policies required to achieve energy efficiency. www.aceee.org/conf/af05/af05index.htm

Wind Site Assessor Training
November 15-18, 2005
Custer, WI
This workshop will help participants learn how to evaluate a site's wind energy potential, determine wind speeds at proposed heights, make a load profile for a client's energy needs, determine appropriate tower heights, and estimate kWh output for a system based upon wind resources. www.the-mrea.org/workshops.php?id=1048539106

Tip of the Month:

Improve Your Gas Mileage
The typical Arkansas vehicle is driven more than 15,000 miles a year and uses about 1,200 gallons of fuel. That adds up to a lot of fuel consumption in the state, not to mention harmful emissions. But there are lots of ways to improve gas mileage, reduce miles traveled, save fuel and money, and help protect the environment. Check out these resources from the Arkansas Energy Office and www.FuelEconomy.gov to learn how.

• Tips for Better Gas Mileage
  www.1-800-arkansas.com/energy/index.cfm?page=transportation-eff_driving


• More Gas Mileage Tips
  www.1-800-arkansas.com/energy/index.cfm?page=transportation-mileage_tips
  
• Keeping Your Car in Shape
  www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml
  
• Choosing a More Efficient Vehicle
  www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/choosing.shtml

 

 

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