QUICK NEWS, 9-1: STOP THE DIRTY ENERGY PROP; BOOSTING NEW ENERGY’S LITTLE GUY; A BRIGHTER ENERGY STAR; THE STATUS OF STORING ENERGY

STOP THE DIRTY ENERGY PROP
Prop. 23 would push wind-energy producers to the side in favor of continued oil profits
Ed Duggan, August 30, 2010 (The Bakersfield Californian)

"Forgive the pun, but having worked to move the wind-energy industry forward for more than 30 years, I'm blown away that two Texas oil companies are spending millions on a ballot measure to kill California's clean-energy and air-pollution-control standards.

"…[California wind generates] enough clean energy to provide the annual power needs of more than 800,000 homes. This investment in renewable energy is made possible by the state's ambitious clean-energy policies, which provide a strong, long-lasting market signal...[T]hat's a market signal Texas oil companies do not want to hear. Their dirty energy ballot proposition -- Proposition 23 -- will allow polluters to avoid our state's clean-energy standards, kill competition and jobs from California's emerging clean-technology companies, and keep us addicted to dirty, costly oil."

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"…[T]wo out-of-state oil companies have not only exported $9 billion in profits from their operations in California, they have also violated dozens of pollution laws within the past three years. Their reasons for supporting Prop. 23 are not about saving jobs; their deception is based on the fact that they do not want to play by the rules and keep their profits in check.

"This ballot measure would cause irreparable damage to our growing clean-energy and clean-technology sectors. Last year, while other sectors saw little or no investment, the clean-technology sector in California received $2.1 billion -- 60 percent of the total in North America. Clean-tech venture capital investments in the Golden State now total nearly $10 billion since 2006, about five times more than our nearest competitor, and more than all other states combined. That's a huge amount of money pouring into our communities, spurring innovation and creating jobs."

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"The Wall Street Journal's recent first survey of clean-technology companies found seven of the top 10 firms are in California. Three of the top five cities in the U.S. for clean-tech are located in California, including San Diego, which was recently named the nation's top city to start a clean-tech venture…These are exciting times for clean-energy companies…Our industry now employs thousands of Californians, giving them jobs in construction and operation of this clean-energy source.

"Clean-technology companies, investors, politicians and traditional business entities around the globe are looking to California as a leader of innovation. The clean-tech industry…[creates] new opportunities for economic recovery and [provides] safe, clean energy…If we let the Texas oil companies have their way, …other countries and states [will] take on this valued leadership role. Job creation, investment in California companies and the health of Californians would be put in jeopardy…We must protect the state's clean-air and clean-energy standards by saying no to Prop. 23, the Texas Oil Companies' Dirty Energy Proposition..."


BOOSTING NEW ENERGY’S LITTLE GUY
CPUC Proposes Major Renewable Energy Feed-In-Tariff Pilot Program
26 August 2010 (Renew Grid)

"The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed a new renewable energy feed-in-tariff program that would require the state's investor-owned utilities to purchase electricity from midsized renewable energy systems - those ranging in size from 1 MW to 20 MW.

"The CPUC proposal would establish a 1 GW pilot program requiring Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric to hold biannual competitive auctions - known as the Renewable Auction Mechanism - into which renewable developers could bid. The utilities would be required to award contracts until the megawatt requirement for each round was reached."

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[Adam Browning, executive director, Vote Solar Initiative:] "Although there are a few mechanics of the program still in need of clarification, this proposal largely draws on proven best practices for midsized renewable procurement…"

"The Vote Solar Initiative adds that the CPUC program would use competition to establish prices that are both sufficient for project development and protective of ratepayers. Also, by continuing to deliver ratepayer value by driving down installed solar costs, the bidding mechanism is also more likely to provide a long-term market for solar power."


A BRIGHTER ENERGY STAR
Time to update the Energy Star program?
Tiffany Hsu, August 30, 2010 (LA Times)

"The voluntary [Energy Star system, used to rate products and retrofitted buildings for energy efficiency,]…uses relative instead of absolute ratings, comparing subjects to others in the same field, according to Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.).

"For example, consumers are told that a certain Energy Star-rated washing machine uses 30% less energy than a traditional appliance but aren’t informed just how much energy is used or how much money can be saved in energy bills, Maloney said…Energy Star ratings should be updated…"

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"…Empire State Building owner Anthony Malkin voiced concerns [to the congressional Joint Economic Committee, which Maloney chairs,] about the famed structure’s energy use being compared to smaller, less-high profile ones…The Empire State Building, which is undergoing a major energy-efficiency retrofit, uses the same amount of power as roughly 40,000 single-family homes, Maloney said…

"Out of about 5 million commercial buildings in the country, fewer than 10,000 have landed the Energy Star rating. Los Angeles had the most. More than 1 million residential homes have earned the rating."

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"But the program suffers from shaky credibility, Maloney said, referencing a test from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The investigation found that Energy Star approval was granted for 15 of 20 bogus products, including a fictional gas-powered alarm clock."

[Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, whose agencies run the program:] “[We] have started an enhanced testing program and have already taken enforcement actions against companies that have violated the rules.”


THE STATUS OF STORING ENERGY
Energy Storage on the Grid; Long Duration Energy Storage Systems: Compressed Air, Pumped Hydro, NAS Batteries, Flow Batteries, and Lithium Ion Batteries for Utility-Scale Storage
David Link and Clint Wheelock, 3Q 2010 (Pike Research)

"The stationary energy storage sector will play a large role in the electricity grid of the future. Demand is being driven by…the proliferation of variable sources of renewable energy, principally wind and solar…[T]he electric grid faces variability issues that it was not designed to handle…Other key drivers of the need for energy storage on the grid (ESG) technologies include the onset of the smart grid and a shift to plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles…Pike Research estimates 2010 worldwide ESG market revenue at approximately $1 billion…

"The principal technologies in the ESG category are pumped hydro, compressed CAES, and NAS batteries, as well as zinc bromine (ZnBr) and vanadium redox flow batteries (VRBs). Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are poised to be the leading technology…[I]n order for Li-ion to gain share in the ESG category…it will need to deliver lower-cost energy…"

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"Prior to 2010, ESG did not receive much support…[T]he tide turned in 2010 with the ARRA. The DOE granted $185 million for Energy Storage Demonstration projects that will attempt to validate a range of technologies, applications, and deployment structures…[and] $435 million for Smart Grid Regional Demonstrations, $118 million (if not all) of which will utilize energy storage…In the transportation sector, the U.S. DOE issued grants [to be matched by the private sector] totaling $2.4 billion focused on advanced transportation technologies…There are a number of incentives in place at the state level…The Storage Technology of Renewable and Green Energy Act [is a game-changer]… Forward-looking utilities]…are working with key industry players…"

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"ESG Technologies must overcome key barriers to adoption…[They] lack history with regulators and the utility community… [They must show value] across the entire utility value chain of generation, transmission, and distribution…perform multiple applications…[and develop] a cost recovery system…It is easier for utilities to make investments in natural gas spinning reserves to address grid instability…[T]he major barriers to adoption appear to be weakening…

"Pike Research forecasts the total ESG market will grow from over $1.5 billion in 2010 to approximately $35 billion in 10 years…The upside story in the market pertains to lithium-ion…Signs of energy storage market adoption are beginning to emerge on a worldwide basis, led by developments in the United States…followed by Asia Pacific and Western Europe…While little is known about storage plans in China and India, these large developing regions should have long-term upside opportunity…There are also pockets of activity in the Middle East and South America."