QUICK NEWS, 2-17: WIND BACKS SHIFT TO CLEAN; NEW ENERGY LAB A COLO BLESSING; GEOTHERMAL HOME LEASING; THE GREEEEENEST CARS

WIND BACKS SHIFT TO CLEAN
Wind Industry Works To Shape The Clean Energy Standard Debate
Chris Madison, 15 February 2011 (North American Windpower)

"Facing a flurry of activity that began with President Obama's endorsement of the idea in last month's State of the Union address, the wind industry is scrambling to respond to proposals for a clean energy standard (CES).

"There is no formal legislative proposal yet, and significant skepticism among conservatives, especially in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, means that enactment into law is no sure thing. Perhaps most important of all, there is no guarantee that a CES would help the slumping wind industry."

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"Nevertheless, the pressure is on: The CES has emerged as the only blip on the policy horizon in the aftermath of the wind industry's failure last year to secure the enactment of a renewable electricity standard (RES)…The day after Obama endorsed a CES in the State of the Union, AWEA noted its delight and concerns…[and] skepticism."

[Britt Theismann, senior vice president/chief operating officer, AWEA:]"Policymakers recognize that we need a more diverse electricity portfolio…While natural gas provides many benefits, utilities are becoming overly reliant on that one source of new generation, so a clean and/or renewable electricity standard requiring other sources would provide valuable diversity. AWEA supports legislation that will deploy renewables and drive demand for clean, abundant and homegrown wind energy."

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"…The CES first emerged in 2010 as an alternative to the RES. By including natural gas and nuclear energy as ‘clean’ fuel sources for utilities, it was meant to be a more palatable path to dealing with climate change and over-reliance on foreign energy. For the wind industry and most other proponents of renewables, it was a non-starter because it seemed unlikely to increase the U.S. market for renewables, which was the purpose of an RES…But that political dynamic was upended when no RES passed in 2010 and when President Obama signaled his support for a CES in his 2011 State of the Union address…

"…[Though] Republicans in the House remain a formidable obstacle…the Center for American Progress is participating in the legislative process, proposing a set of key principles that should guide Congress in crafting a CES. Chief among them is that the CES should include ‘a specific and separate target to ensure the growth of our cleanest electricity resources, including energy efficiency, and wind, solar, geothermal and other truly renewable electricity sources.’ The center proposed a 35% ‘carve out’ within the Obama administration's goal of 80% clean energy by 2035…"


NEW ENERGY LAB A COLO BLESSING
Lab’s Impact on Colorado’s Economy Triples; NREL expands workforce, campus and contracts over three years
February 11, 2011 (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

"The presence of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado is a $714 million annual boost to the state’s economy, [more than three times the $192 million it was just three years ago,] according to data compiled in a soon to be released analysis by the University of Colorado…

"NREL is the nation’s primary research and development laboratory for the advancement of clean and renewable energy, and for maximizing energy efficiency…[It’s] full-time work force grew from 917 in 2007 to 2,300 today…[which] induces many more jobs to ripple through the state economy. In total, NREL’s presence means more than 5,500 jobs in Colorado…"

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"Construction at NREL in fiscal year 2010 totaled $96 million, highlighted by the new 220,000-square-foot Research Support Facility, a building that is a showcase for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act continues to accelerate construction…dramatically expanding NREL’s capacity for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment…

"NREL has helped wind and solar energy, biomass and alternative fuels gain traction in the marketplace, helping to vault Colorado into sixth place nationally in the total value of clean-energy jobs. Between 1998 and 2007, clean-energy jobs in Colorado grew by 18.2 percent – that’s more than double the 8.2 percent growth in all jobs in the state. As of the end of 2009, Colorado had 17,000 clean-energy jobs."

A test turbine at NREL's Wind Technology Center (click to enlarge)

"As of August of 2010, NREL had 329 contracts with Colorado companies totaling $414 million, including $75.3 million paid out in the most recent fiscal year…NREL [also] had cooperative research and development agreements with 23 Colorado companies; and technical service agreements with 24 Colorado firms as of the summer of 2010.

"The Photovoltaic Incubator Program funded by the DOE and managed by NREL, helps solar companies get their technologies ready for full-scale production…NREL [also] sponsors the annual Industry Growth Forum to connect clean-technology companies to investors. Since 2003, venture capitalists and others have invested $3.4 billion in Colorado companies…"


GEOTHERMAL HOME LEASING
LVestus Energy Raises $750M for Innovative Geothermal
February 15, 2011 (Sustainable Business via Reuters)

"A new geothermal heating and cooling company, LVestus Energy, Inc., announced that it raised $750 million in initial project funding from Sundance Capital Group.

"The company is using a unique business model that's popular for small-scale solar development and--more recently--small scale wind."

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"Municipalities, universities, schools and other large customers can have a geothermal heating and cooling system installed with no upfront costs, and instead pay for the system over time with the money saved in energy efficiency."

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"LVestus Energy's GeoTPA (Thermal Purchase Agreement) program potentially makes geothermal energy a more cost-effective way to heat or cool a commercial facility…

"This first round of project capital will be provided through SCG's Bright Matter Energy Fund, will be dedicated to the installation of geothermal loop fields, the on-site underground structures used to extract heat from the ground in the winter and reject heat in the summer."


THE GREEEEENEST CARS
Latest Technologies Place But Don't Win In This Year's Greenest Vehicles List
February 15, 2011 (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy)

"With the arrival of the first widely available plug-in vehicles, model year 2011 boasts the most diverse car offerings ever in terms of technologies and fuels…[T]he American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy released its 14th annual environmental ratings for the model year showing how they all stack up. The result? Some newcomers — including an electric vehicle and a plug-in electric hybrid — did well, while several of the regulars held their ground.

"This year’s ratings reveal a face-off among plug-ins, gasoline hybrids, diesels, natural gas vehicles, and ever-improving “conventional” gasoline vehicles. For the 8th year, the Honda Civic GX wins top honors, notwithstanding changes to Green Book® rating methods that boosted other technologies. But below the top spot, the “Greenest” list sees a shake-up: the all-electric Nissan Leaf places second, followed by the gasoline-powered Smart Fortwo. Hybrids take the next three spots…[T]he much-touted Chevrolet Volt “extended-range EV” [slipped] into the 12th spot…[F]ive new models pushed out entries on last year’s list."

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"The strong showing of conventional vehicles in the top twelve is a testament to how serious manufacturers have gotten about recasting these vehicles as fuel-sippers with transmission refinements, weight savings, and sophisticated internal combustion engines…The Green Book® methodology update also incorporates emissions associated with battery manufacture and disposal…drawing from Argonne National Lab’s GREET model. Hybrids lose a couple of points on their Green Scores as a result and this year capture only three of the top 12 spots. Once again diesels fall just short of the Greenest list.

"Widely regarded as the pre-eminent buyer’s guide to environment-friendly passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, greenercars.org provides the facts necessary to examine the eco-performance of any 2011 model. Vehicles are analyzed on the basis of a “Green Score,” a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and emissions of gases that cause global warming."

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"…[The] “Greener Choices” list includes trucks and SUVs such as the Hyundai Tucson, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Canyon, and the Ford F-150 (FFV). Cars such as the Honda CR-Z and Hyundai Sonata top their respective classes…The “Meanest” list this year is populated largely by heavy trucks and SUVs, a marked change from the numerous European sports cars that dominated last year’s list. Nevertheless, the Bugatti Veyron tops the list this year with a Green Score of 19…

"In addition to highlighting the year’s Greenest, Meanest, Greener Choices, and best-in-class lists, the greenercars.org Web site features informational write-ups on model year 2011 highlights, a consumer primer on vehicles and the environment, and advice on how to buy green…"