Renewable and Efficiency Standards for State Operations In Iowa

By executive order Iowa's Governor has established a renewable portfolio standard for state operations that leans heavily on in-state renewable energy sources. Governor Tom Vilsack's order directs state agencies to obtain at least 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 and to reduce their energy use in buildings by 15 percent by 2010 relative to their energy use in 2000.

The 10 percent renewable standard will mean that about 179,000 MWhs of electricity consumed by Iowa state agencies will have to come from renewable energy technologies (most likely wind power). Engineers with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Energy and Waste Management Bureau estimate that this could equate to approximately 30-35 MW of renewable energy generating capacity.

The order also requires the state's light-duty vehicle fleets to consist of either hybrid-electric vehicles or vehicles running on alternative fuels by 2010 (the order exempts law-enforcement vehicles). Alternatively fueled vehicles currently include gas-fueled vehicles using at least eighty-five percent ethanol, diesel fueled vehicles using at least 20 percent soybean oil (biodiesel), and vehicles using compressed or liquefied natural gas, propane or solar energy. Iowa currently has 1,367 E85 vehicles in the state’s fleet.

The order also requires that bulk diesel fuel purchased for use by state agencies must contain 5 percent renewable fuel (such as biodiesel) by 2007, 10 percent by 2008 and 20 percent by 2010.

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Europe Proposes A Platform for Photovoltaics Development

A new report by the Photovoltaic Technology Research Advisory Council (PV-TRAC) reviews the current status of solar powered electricity and presents a vision of photovoltaic technology for 2030 and beyond. The report nicely summarizes the policies of EU member states that have encouraged solar powered distributed generation.

The table below pulled from the report shows Germany far out in front of other EU states. Germany has a goal of installing 1 GW of solar electric power by 2010 and has enacted generous tariffs to allow it to meet this aggressive goal. Germany's “Renewable Energy Sources Act” (EEG) has resulted in a tenfold market increase in four years (from 13 MW in 1999 to 130 MW in 2003). With other countries expected to implement similar schemes in the coming years, growth of solar electricity in Europe is expected to be robust. The EU target for PV is to have 3 GW installed by 2010, and with ambitious, though realistic, growth figures, the installed capacity may increase to around 200 GW in the EU by 2030.

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Webcast: CHP and DG Potential in California - April 28th and 29th

Internet users have a nice opportunity to tune in via the web on a pair of workshops set up to discuss issues related to combined heat and power (CHP) and distributed generation (DG) development in California.

UPDATE MAY 12, 2005: The webcasts of these two meetings don't appear to be archived on the CEC web site. So we've added links below to the various presentations that the CEC has put online that came out of these meetings.

Both of the workshops are being coordinated by the California Energy Commission's Integrated Energy Policy Report committee. Internet users can tap into the webcast of these two sessions by visiting: www.energy.ca.gov/webcast/

Detail on the two workshops:

Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 9:00 a.m.
A workshop to review and discuss California's market potential for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and Distributed Generation (DG). The workshop seeks to identify and understand current market and policy implications of both end-users and utilities. In addition, international CHP/DG user experiences will be discussed. Presentations about current CHP/DG issues, analysis, and experiences in California will be followed by round table discussions.

The workshop will examine end-users' experiences with: Building CHP/DG projects, Operating and maintaining CHP/DG installations and Policy options to increase CHP/DG adoption. In 1999, The Energy Commission identified over 12gigawatts of potential for CHP and cogeneration in California. Thus far, only 9 gigawatts have been installed in California. The delay in more fully implementing CHP/DG in California may be attributed to regulatory uncertainties, natural gas prices, utility tariffs, emissions standards, and other drivers. Complete list and links to presentations from this meeting

Meeting Document: Assessment of California CHP Market and Policy Options for Increased Penetration - Draft Consultant Report. Online April 15, 2005

Friday, April 29, 2005 - 9:00 a.m.
This is a workshop to discuss California's distribution planning process and the role of Distributed Generation (DG) and Demand Response (DR) in the planning process. Participants will have the opportunity to review and discuss the development of a more transparent distribution planning process that will ensure cost effective and reliable distribution services. The workshop will identify typical distribution planning processes used today and innovative approaches used elsewhere in the United States. In addition, findings from recent research with distribution planning implications will be highlighted. Research has indicated that DG and DR does provide utility system benefits. These benefits require reassessment on how utilities conduct distribution planning and investment decisions. Complete list and links to presentations from this meeting

Meeting Document: Optimal Portfolio Methodology for Assessing Distributed Energy Resources Benefits for the EnergynetSM - Draft Consultant Report. Online April 15, 2005

Biomass: Which Road to Take?

A strategic report on developing a sustainable biomass policy, prepared for a foundation in 2001, offers a vision that is still relevant today.

Prepared by ILSR's vice president, David Morris, Biomass: Which Road to Take offers a seven-point strategy for biomass covering these points:

1) Make language consistent
2) Strive to design policies that encourage and enable the highest value end products and the greatest flexibility for producers and manufacturers
3) Accept and grapple with the fact that a significant near term expansion in the use of biomass to generate electricity depends on a partnership with the forest products industry and coal-fired power plant operators
4) Analyze more comprehensively and adequately the environmental impacts of various forms of biomass and biomass processing
5) Make farmers active and enthusiastic partners
6) Consider the issue of scale when designing policies
7) Adopt a nuanced approach to genetic engineering

Click and read the full report, Biomass: Which Road to Take?

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State Authority Over Mercury Emissions From Power Plants

We received a question on the whether or not states like New Jersey have authority to enact more stringent rules on mercury emissions from power plants than what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued recently.

Here is the original question:

Q. My state (New Jersey) is suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its new regulation regarding mercury emissions from power plants. What’s the problem? I thought states had authority to limit mercury emissions?

Click Here for the complete answer from our very own Dr. Dave.

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Community Wind Energy - Examples to Learn From

Community wind energy projects are expanding across the Midwest. These locally owned commercial-scale wind projects maximize local economic benefits. Take a look at how farmers and entrepreneurs are harvesting a new crop.

Below find some nice online resources describing successful community wind energy projects.

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