MORE NEWS, 8-10 (A LETTER FROM 10 DONKEYS; SMART GRID PLANS; THE OPPORTUNITY OF WIND)

A LETTER FROM 10 DONKEYS
Climate Bill Is Threatened by Senators
John M. Broder, August 6, 2009 (NY Times)

"Ten moderate Senate Democrats from states dependent on coal and manufacturing sent a letter to President Obama… saying they would not support any climate change bill that did not protect American industries from competition from countries that did not impose similar restraints on climate-altering gases.

"The letter warned that strong actions to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases would add to the cost of goods like steel, cement, paper and aluminum.
Unless other countries adopt similar emission limits, the senators warned, jobs will migrate overseas and foreign manufacturers will have a decided cost advantage…"

A recent Pew Center study showed cap&trade will not seriously harm U.S. competitiveness. (click to enlarge)

[The letter:] “As Congress considers energy and climate legislation…it is important that such a bill include provisions to maintain a level playing field for American manufacturing…It is essential that any clean energy legislation not only address the crisis of climate change, but include strong provisions to ensure the strength and viability of domestic manufacturing…”

"The 10 senators [Evan Bayh of Indiana; Sherrod Brown of Ohio; Robert C. Byrd and John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia; Bob Casey and Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania; Russ Feingold of Wisconsin; Al Franken of Minnesota; and Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan] are seen as crucial undecided votes in the Senate debate on climate legislation. The House narrowly passed a climate bill in late June, but the Senate is moving slowly, in part because it is preoccupied with health care legislation.…Without [the 10 Senators’] support, it is unlikely that the Senate can pass a major climate change bill…"

The Pew Center study showed cap&trade will also do little harm to U.S. employment. (click to enlarge)

"They called for transition aid for energy-intensive manufacturers in the form of rebates on their energy costs; negotiation of a strong international agreement on emissions; programs to monitor emissions in other countries; and significant financing for clean energy technology…[as well as] “border adjustments,” tariffs, on goods from countries that do not agree to an international program for carbon dioxide reductions. The House bill gives the president the power to impose such penalties on goods from countries that do not adhere to an international climate change regime. [President Obama has expressed concerns that tariff provisions in the House bill are protectionist]…"

[The letter:] “Climate change is a reality and the world cannot afford inaction…However, we must not engage in a self-defeating effort that displaces greenhouse gas emissions rather than reducing them and displaces U.S. jobs rather than bolstering them.”


SMART GRID PLANS
FirstEnergy Utilities Propose Smarter Grid; Application for Funding Targets Projects in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
August 6, 2009 (PR Newswire)

"FirstEnergy Corp…has proposed investing $114 million on "smart grid" technologies to improve the reliability and interactivity of its electric distribution infrastructure in its three-state service area. The proposal includes support for programs to help customers save energy and money and was included in the company's application for economic stimulus funding…

"The company's application requests $57 million - or half of the funding needed for targeted projects in communities served by FirstEnergy electric utility companies. The federal support - as well as regulatory recovery of non-federally funded costs - would help ensure the cost-effective implementation of the initial smart grid investments. And, the projects would provide FirstEnergy with the opportunity to better understand the costs and benefits associated with smart grid technologies."

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"The proposal requests funding for test projects in several suburban communities east of Cleveland…[For Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) - CEI - Smart grid components, including distribution automation, voltage control, and advanced protection equipment…to enhance service reliability…5,000 smart meters will be installed - with the potential to install 39,000 more - and used in conjunction with new information systems and a special pricing program to help customers save money by better managing their electricity use, especially during times of peak demand…

"[For; the York, Pa., area served by Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed)] - A voluntary load control program for 14,000 customers…will help reduce peak demand through an integrated system that directly controls air conditioners and other customer appliances during periods of high usage…deployment of distribution automation and related technologies will help improve the reliability and efficiency of the system… supported by two-way communications…"

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"[For communities throughout the Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) service area] - Expanding on smart grid technologies installed earlier this year, the project will use many of the same technologies and features being introduced in Pennsylvania. This voluntary control program involving 20,000 customers in New Jersey has the potential to reduce peak load by 30 megawatts.

"Smart grid technologies - such as distributed automation, demand response with smart metering, volt control, advanced protection devices and wireless security - would help improve system reliability and efficiency and enable customers to save money by better managing their energy usage…"


THE OPPORTUNITY OF WIND
Wind energy helps boost economy
Jim Shield and Bryan Schueler, August 5, 2009 (Morris Daily Herald)

"…[At Invenergy] we have the incredible opportunity to help move the U.S. renewable energy industry forward in a time when we can and must do all we can to decrease our dependence on foreign sources of energy.

"Our first wind energy project in Illinois, the Grand Ridge Energy Center in La Salle County, is currently expanding its capacity by over 110 megawatts –enough clean energy for 30,000 households. This is largely due to the hard work, vision and desire for a clean energy future of Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (IL-11). Congresswoman Halvorson was a strong supporter of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, under which our project is eligible for federal stimulus funds."

The Grand Ridge Wind Farm (click to enlarge)

"The courage of Congress to move boldly during a time when status quo energy solutions no longer work in our nation is applauded by all of us who understand the importance of renewable energy – not only today but for future generations.

"With the abundance of wind power in the United States waiting to be harnessed into electricity that can meet our growing energy demands, Halvorson and other like-minded members of Congress know that wind development is also a boon to the economy and job creation."

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"In 2008, the wind industry invested $17 billion into the economy providing the ability to serve more than two million homes in the United States…With 85,000 people employed in the industry at the end of 2008, we’ve already seen an increase of 35,000 jobs…

"According to a recent study by the Renewable Energy Policy Project, every 1000 MW of wind power developed creates a potential for 3000 jobs in manufacturing, 700 jobs in installation and 600 in operations and maintenance. The majority of these job opportunities are expected in the Great Lakes region, California and Texas...With the wind development potential in Illinois, 11th District residents stand to reap good economic and job benefits from wind…"