Kansas Leads the Nation on Wind Energy Installations for 2012
January 27, 2012
Kansas is poised to lead the nation in wind energy installations this year, with 1,188 MW scheduled to come online in 2012 according to U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter Market Report released today by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
Last fall, BP announced Flat Ridge II in Barber, Harper, Kingman and Sumner Counties. This $800 million wind farm is slated to be the largest in Kansas at 419 MW. At least six other wind farms have been announced for 2012 construction.
If all of the proposed wind farms come online by the end of the year, Kansas will be up over 2,400 MW of installed capacity, which should move us up into the top 10 (we’re number 14 today) for wind installations. A good thing for our growing wind supply chain.
Unfortunately, if the Production Tax Credit isn’t extended, this will likely be the last year we’ll see this type of growth in the Kansas wind industry.
According to Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association. “Traditional tax incentives are working. This tremendous activity is being driven by the federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) – which leveraged an average of more than $16 billion a year in private investment over the last several years and supported tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs.”
The U.S. wind industry installed just over 6,810 megawatts (MW) in 2011, 31 percent higher than 2010, and has more than 8,300 MW under construction, setting the stage for a strong 2012.
With the second best wind resource in the nation and a growing wind supply chain, Kansas has a lot to lose in the race for clean energy.
Dorothy Barnett, Climate + Energy Project Executive Director
Thinking about Solar Energy in Kansas
January 27, 2012
So much of our work focuses on wind energy, transmission and energy efficiency but there are other important energy resources to consider if we want to fulfill Governor Brownback’s vision of becoming not only the wheat state, but the renewable state.
Consider an article from Energy Central today regarding solar energy’s role in firming up wind:
Energy firm to put solar array near wind farms
Jan 26 – McClatchy-Tribune Regional News – David Shaffer Star Tribune, Minneapolis
Wind power needs a breeze. Solar power relies on sun rays. And they don’t always occur at the same time.
So a renewable energy developer is putting Minnesota’s largest solar power array in the heart of the state’s wind-farm region in hopes of answering a question:
Could one intermittent power source complement another and produce electricity more reliably?
Ecos Energy of Mendota Heights said Wednesday that construction of a 13-acre solar array near Slayton, in southwest Minnesota, will begin in April and should be completed by July.
Xcel Energy, the Minneapolis-based electric utility that serves 1.1 million customers in the state, said it has agreed to purchase all of the solar array’s power, and will study how its output compares with that of three nearby wind farms.
Southwest Minnesota is home to more than 70 wind farms whose total output equals that of the state’s largest power plant. But the turbines spin intermittently, with peak output generally in the spring and fall. In addition, wind often is stronger at night than by day.
Chris Little, director of development for Ecos, said he hopes the project answers the question: “Could you fill that gap with another energy resource that might complement the wind?”
The Slayton project, at 2 megawatts, is not big enough to fill the gap by itself. It should provide roughly the output of a single wind turbine, equivalent to the power used by 340 homes.
Even so, it will be the largest solar array in Minnesota, slightly bigger than the one that retailer Ikea has said it will install on the roof its Bloomington store this year.
Jim Alders, Xcel’s director of regulatory administration, said Xcel has no current plans for more solar arrays among Minnesota wind farms, partly because solar energy remains more expensive that wind power.
“It is more fact finding and data gathering at this stage of the game,” he said.
But Xcel isn’t the only company looking at the possible benefits of co-locating wind and solar power generators. Last week, GE announced it would supply solar panels for a 23-megawatt solar farm to be built adjacent to a wind farm owned by renewable energy developer Invenergy in La Salle County, Ill. It will be the largest solar project in the Midwest.
Whether solar generation can fill in some of the peaks and valleys of wind power is an open question. Solar panels generate the most power on long days of summer, less in winter and nothing at night.
“Solar can be even more variable than wind,” said Beth Soholt, director of Wind on the Wires, a wind energy trade group in St. Paul. “I think it will be very interesting to see what comes out of this.”
Little said the Slayton solar project won’t be on the same property as the wind farms, but it will be close enough to test whether there’s a benefit to locating two renewable energy sources near each other. One potential savings of such an arrangement is that only a single connection might be needed to the power grid, he said.
“You could bring on more renewable energy without enhancing the transmission system in the rural parts of Minnesota,” he said.
But the data analysis probably will take several years.
The terms of Xcel’s 20-year power purchase agreement were not disclosed. But regulatory filings suggest that the project will cost about $7 million to build, with $2 million covered by a grant from Xcel’s Renewable Development Fund. The state-mandated fund gets its money from utility ratepayers.
Ecos Energy is a sister company to Outland Energy Services of Canby, Minn., which operates and maintains wind farms. It proposed the solar project in 2008, near Jeffers, Minn., also in southwest Minnesota, but transmission lines in that area couldn’t handle it.
That left the fate of the project uncertain for about three years, as the developer looked for a new site. During the delay, the price of solar panels dropped significantly, helping to cut the project’s cost by 50 percent, regulatory filings say.
The chosen location, Slayton, population about 2,200, is served by Xcel, and the solar-generated electricity will go directly on the utility’s local distribution grid.
Unlike other utility-scale solar projects, Xcel will buy all the power from the Slayton solar array. By contrast, Ikea plans to use most of its rooftop solar power in its store.
David Shaffer –612-673-7090
Interestingly – Kansas has a much greater wind and solar resource than Minnesota.
Dorothy Barnett, Climate + Energy Project, Executive Director
US Carbon Emissions Dropping ? Could be.
January 23, 2012
Thanks for a heads up from the ecocentric blog for a heads up on this new analysis from the US Energy Information administration about US carbon emissions. There are some good signs about the drop in US carbon emissions – even at the state level.
Here is a highlight from the analysis summary:
Total State Emission Levels
Over the time period from 2000 to 2009, carbon dioxide emissions fell in the United States and most individual States (Table 1). Thirteen States, however, experienced emissions increases in that time period. The greatest percentage increase was in Nebraska at 13.3 percent (5.5 million metric tons), while Colorado experienced the greatest absolute increase (8.9 million metric tons or 10.5 percent). Other States that experienced growth included: Arizona (9.5 percent), Iowa (7.5 percent), South Dakota (5.1 percent), Missouri (4.7 percent), and Oklahoma (4.4 percent).
The greatest percentage decrease in carbon dioxide emissions occurred in Delaware at 29.7 percent, (5.0 million metric tons). The greatest absolute decline was 52.1 million metric tons in Texas (7.9 percent). New York experienced a decline of 42.6 million metric tons (19.5 percent). Two States experienced reductions of slightly more than 32 million metric tons – Indiana and Michigan.
A more in depth review of how the agency came up with their numbers and what the implications are for these numbers will definitely appear in another blog post. Overall the news appears to be good.
Here are some highlights from the original post over at ecocentric by blogger Peter Hanlon:
The U.S. Energy Information Administration just released an analysis of the nation’s annual energy-related carbon emissions between 2000 and 2009. Over this period, total emissions dropped by 7.4 percent while per capita emissions fell 15 percent to an average of 17.6 metric tons per person (#1 among the world’s top economies).
This is exciting news for everyone who has been working to reduce emissions. Let’s keep up the good work and delve into this data a little more.
Written by Kate Van Cantfort,CEP, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Kansas – Will Wind Save the Day?
January 18, 2012
Well, maybe not save the day – but certainly there is place for wind development in the armada of life boats to move Kansas out of the great recession.
There has been some talk about the role of wind energy development in providing some balance to the economy in places such as Wichita which has had some losses in the aerospace industry. Here is a great example in a recent article from the News Observer.
Governor Brownback continues to cite wind energy as a key factor in Kansas’ future. He even cited the Kansas’ status as in the top 5 states for wind development in his state of the state address earlier this month.
Kansas can benefit not just from wind farms and production within the wind industry but also from the upgrade, building and maintenance of transmission lines which are a critical component of a growing wind industry.
Stay tuned for more information on the economic impact of the renewable industry on the future on the Heartland.
written by Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications & Special Projects
We’ve talked about why the production tax credit matters in recent posts. Another voice joined the conversation in early January. The new Siemen’s nacel production facility in Hutchinson, KS published a letter to the editor in The Hutchinson News on January 5th.
A letter in the Hutchinson News, January 5, 2012
A call for help
Siemens Energy would like to thank Hutchinson and Reno County for the warm reception we’ve received since we announced our plans to build our Wind Turbine Nacelle Assembly Facility in Hutchinson in 2009.
Since that time, Siemens has proudly hired more than 300 employees, whose dedication, enthusiasm and work ethic have helped us produce more than 690 MW of clean wind generation over the past year – enough to power more than 200,000 households.
Siemens has also benefited immensely from friendly, quality local services – from construction, hotels, restaurants and other local merchants – spending millions of dollars in the local community over the past year. We’ve also launched efforts to give back to the community through organizations such as First Call for Help, the Reno County Food Bank, New Beginnings and Hutchinson Community College.
We feel very fortunate to have built such a strong partnership with this community. Now, we’re relying on that partnership as we ask the citizens of Hutchinson and Reno County to support us and the future of wind energy in Kansas.
The future of the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) is currently uncertain. The PTC is a tax credit for renewable energy project developers that helps keep electricity rates competitive and encourages development of clean renewable energy projects, . While the PTC technically expires at the end of 2012, given the long project development and manufacturing lead times, the PTC will effectively expire within days.
To preserve tens of thousands of good-paying manufacturing jobs, the wind energy industry urgently needs Congress to take action to extend the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC). Nearly 1,000 people are employed in the wind industry in Kansas alone. This does not include the jobs indirectly created or the economic benefits of increased spending with local businesses by these companies and their employees.
Siemens has made significant strides to make renewable energy more competitive with conventional forms of power generation by optimizing our production systems and project logistics, and has also made significant investments in product innovation to improve performance and reduce the overall cost of renewables-generated electricity. However, there is still a need for clear policies that drive the long-term demand of renewable clean energy in the U.S. The next few years are critical to ensure that renewable energy is a viable part of a balanced domestic electricity portfolio. A multi-year extension of the PTC will help ensure industry participants can continue to make progress until critical mass is reached and renewable technologies become fully cost-competitive based on economies of scale.
Hutchinson and Reno County have been outstanding partners to date, which reinforces our decision to build our plant here. Siemens is grateful for the community’s ongoing support, and asks Hutchinson and Reno County residents to contact their legislators to advocate for the inclusion of a renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) extension in any tax bill as soon as possible. To write to their legislators, residents are encouraged to visit the local district offices or go to: www.saveusawindjobs.com
CLAUS UNGSTRUP
Plant Manager
JIM SILVER
Plant Controller
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We will continue to update the blog as more voices call for the extension of the Production Tax Credit.
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Renewable Energy Continues Growth – 13% of US Power
January 10, 2012
I’d say this new report marks the fact that renewable energy sources are definetly mainstream and a permanent part of our energy future. Now if only we can add energy efficiency to that stack of resources…..
Keep reading for some exciting numbers about the impact renewable energy is having on the US energy market and hopefully on our future energy independence.
This was the headline in our inbox Monday morning:
RENEWABLE SOURCES CONTINUE EXPLOSIVE GROWTH:
NOW PROVIDE 12% OF DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION – 14% MORE THAN 2010
RENEWABLE ELECTRICAL OUTPUT INCREASES 25%; CONTRIBUTES 13% OF U.S. POWER
Washington DC – According to the most recent issue of the “Monthly Energy Review” by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), with data through September 30, 2011, renewable energy sources continue to expand rapidly while substantially outpacing the growth rates of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
For the first nine months of 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass/biofuels, geothermal, solar, water, wind) provided 11.95% of domestic U.S. energy production. That compares to 10.85% for the same period in 2010 and 10.33% in 2009. By comparison, nuclear power provided just 10.62% of the nation’s energy production in the first three quarters of 2011 — i.e., 11.10% less than renewables.
Looking at all energy sectors (e.g., electricity, transportation, thermal), renewable energy output, including hydropower, grew by 14.44% in 2011 compared to 2010. Among the renewable energy sources, conventional hydropower provided 4.35% of domestic energy production during the first nine months of 2011, followed by biomass (3.15%), biofuels (2.57%), wind (1.45%), geothermal (0.29%), and solar (0.15%).
(On the consumption side, which includes oil and other energy imports, renewable sources accounted for 9.35% of total U.S. energy use during the first nine months of 2011.)
Looking at just the electricity sector, according to the latest issue of EIA’s “Electric Power Monthly,” with data through September 30, 2011, renewable energy sources (i.e., biomass, geothermal, solar, water wind) provided 12.73% of net U.S. electrical generation. This represents an increase of 24.73% compared to the same nine-month period in 2010. By comparison, electrical generation from coal dropped by 4.2% while nuclear output declined by 2.8%. Natural gas electrical generation rose by 1.6%.
Conventional hydropower accounted for 8.21% of net electrical generation during the first nine months of 2011 – an increase of 29.6% compared to 2010. Non-hydro renewables accounted for 4.52% of net electrical generation (wind – 2.73%, biomass – 1.34%, geothermal – 0.40%, solar – 0.05%). Compared to the first three quarters of 2010, solar-generated electricity expanded in 2011 by 46.5%; wind by 27.1%, geothermal by 9.4%, and biomass by 1.3%.
“Notwithstanding the recession of the past three years, renewable energy sources have experienced explosive rates of growth that other industries can only envy,” said Ken Bossong, Executive Director of the SUN DAY Campaign. “The investments in sustainable energy made by the federal government as well as state and private funders have paid off handsomely underscoring the short-sightedness of emerging proposals to cut back on or discontinue such support.”
Contact: Ken Bossong, 301-270-6477 x.11
# # # # # # # #
The U.S. Energy Information Administration released its most recent “Monthly Energy Review” on December 23, 2011. It can be found at: http://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/index.cfm. The relevant charts from which the data above are extrapolated are Tables 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 10.1. EIA released its most recent “Electric Power Monthly” on December 16, 2011; see: http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/pdf/epm.pdf. The relevant charts are Tables 1.1, ES1.A, ES1.B, and 1.1.A.
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Ecycling is Major Business
January 9, 2012
According to the website earth911.com:
“The market value of e-waste recycling and reuse services totaled close to $6.8 billion worldwide in 2010, increasing nearly 10 percent from $6.2 billion in 2009, according to a new market research study from SBI Energy.
electronic waste
Industry growth is expected to continue on its uphill path at least through the next decade, with collection services alone more than tripling by 2020, according to the study – which contains global e-waste recycling data from 2006 to 2010 and forecast data up to 2020.
READ: Is America’s E-Waste Problem Over?
The report, entitled “E-Waste Reuse and Recycling Services Worldwide,” predicts that the value of lead, copper, gold and other valuable materials found in e-waste components will continue to drive global market growth. In 2011, China and India are estimated to retain the largest market shares, with approximately 24 percent and 22 percent respectively, according to the report.
Although e-waste represents less than 3 percent of the world’s waste total, it is growing two to three times faster than any other waste stream, mostly due to electronics becoming obsolete more and more quickly, according to the study.”
The EPA announced today that the KC metro area has a new certified e-waste recycler. Congratulations to Surplus Exchange of KC, MO.
We included all of the news release because it couldn’t be found on the EPA website and they are offering an opportunity to tour the facility. So, if you are in the area and like to learn more stop by and check it out.
There has also been an increasing number of e-waste recycling days and events in the state of KS. Our local community hosts a huge event associated with Earth Day at our local nature center. I researched whether there was a database of the events for Kansas or the US. I didn’t find an easy resource, but this listfrom the EPA should help anyone who is interested in ecycling in their community.
Pre-cycling, or choosing products because of materials or packaging which create less environmental impact, and buying energy star rated gadges and applicances are additional ways to limit the impact of our increasingly electronic world.
NEWS RELEASE
please contact: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov
(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 9, 2012) – Surplus Exchange of Kansas City, Mo., will be recognized by EPA and the General Services Administration (GSA) this week for achieving certification to the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment Program. Surplus Exchange is the first recycling facility in Missouri to attain this prestigious certification.
This event is part of the Obama Administration’s “National Strategy for Electronics Stewardship,” which is a strategy for responsible design, purchasing, management and recycling that promotes sound electronics recycling. Electronic waste from old cell phones, computers and other devices often contains toxic chemicals and heavy metals.
A tour of the Surplus Exchange facility, at 518 Santa Fe, in Kansas City, Mo., will be held for the news media and public from 10:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. on Friday, January 13. A news conference will follow at 10:50 a.m. at the same location.
WHAT: Recognition of Surplus Exchange for e-Stewards Electronics Recycling Certification
WHEN: 10:50 a.m., January 13, 2012 (Tour of the facility will begin at 10:30 a.m.)
WHERE: 518 Santa Fe, Kansas City, Mo. 64105
WHO: EPA Region 7 Regional Administrator Karl Brooks, GSA Regional Administrator Jason Klumb, and Surplus Exchange Deputy Director Bob Akers
As a certified e-Steward recycler, Surplus Exchange operates its facility in accordance with the most stringent certification standards in the electronics recycling industry. Surplus Exchange was subject to extensive and rigorous audits conducted by an accredited certifying body to ensure compliance with the e-Stewards Standard. The facility processes nearly 2.2 million pounds of electronics for reuse and recycling annually.
Every year, Americans generate almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics, which are made from valuable resources such as precious metals and rare earth materials, as well as plastic and glass. From computers and cell phones, to portable communication and music devices, the United States will continue to be a global leader in the designing and development of new and improved electronic technologies. The responsible management of electronics provides an opportunity to create economic development and jobs through the development of a strong domestic electronics recycling market while protecting valuable natural resources.
Since 2008, EPA Region 7 has recycled 2,944 pounds of spent batteries and 56,163 pounds of old computers, computer monitors, printers, and other electric/electronic equipment.
As the government’s purchasing and disposal arm, GSA is working to ensure that all electronics used by the federal government meet green electronics standards and are reused or recycled properly.
EPA and GSA seek to encourage other companies to use certified recyclers to help grow the domestic recycling market, create green jobs and educate consumers.
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The EPA provided the following information on ewaste recycling and local events:
There are two existing domestic third-party electronics recycling certification standards, R2 and E-Stewards.
For more information on the EPA and industry collaboration go to: http://www.epa.gov/electronicsstrategy.
For more information on GSA’s electronic stewardship goals and promoting federal agencies’ purchasing Environmentally Preferable Products go to: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/234565.
For more information on where and how you can recycle electronics go to: http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/rrr/recycle.htm or www.earth911.com.
To locate a list of Responsible Recycling (R2) Certified Electronics Recyclers go to: http://www.r2solutions.org/index.php?submenu=Recyclers&src=gendocs&ref=R2CertifiedRecyclers&category=Main.
To locate a list of e-Stewards Certified Electronics Recyclers go to: http://e-stewards.org/find-a-recycler/.
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Resourceful KS to Help Communities with Energy Efficiency
January 3, 2012
Happy New Year to everyone!
We are back to work on and digging through the emails as I am sure everyone else is too.
In the CEP inbox we found a great announcement about some opportunities through as new program called Resourceful Kansas. We want to pass this information along to any Kansas communities and maybe share this as an example for anyone else. CEP is always encouraged to see a local government sharing information about the impacts of energy efficiency on local budgets and welcome more to the work of making a less energy intensive future for Kansas.
Please read below about this great opportunity:
Riley County has saved more than $15,000 in taxpayers’ dollars on energy costs, and most of the energy consumed at its facility is generated by on-site renewable energy. The Riley County Public Works Facility is now leading a grant team to provide free energy efficiency and renewable energy services to several categories of eligible organizations, including state, county and local government organizations; unified school districts and private schools; colleges, universities, and technical schools; agribusinesses; and non-profit organizations.
Resourceful Kansas, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy, is a new program whose mission is to “to engage communities throughout the state of Kansas in making a fundamental shift toward a less energy intensive, more efficient economy.” The application for Resourceful Kansas is live on http://www.resourcefulkansas.org/.
Eligible organizations can attend a one-day seminar in Riley County to receive a hands-on tour of four different types of wind turbines, solar LED lighting, solar radiant floor heating systems, and more. The next seminar is scheduled for January 25, 2012, and is open to all eligible Kansas organizations, regardless of location. A portion of the organizations attending the seminar will be selected for a free energy assessment. Be sure to read the ‘application info’ tab and don’t hesitate to contact the program coordinator if you have any questions.
Seminars will also be conducted on April 25, 2012; July 25, 2012; and October 24, 2012.
Please forward this information to your county commissioners, county departments, mayors, public works directors, city councils, schools, libraries, museums, and colleagues through your listserve and personal contacts and continue to visit our website as we add information about Resourceful Kansas, as well as resources for Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy improvements.
If you have any questions, please contact me at any time. I hope to see you at our next seminar.
David A. Carter
Kansas State University
Pollution Prevention Institute
785-532-4998 (office)
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Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications and Special Projects
Happy Holidays from the Climate + Energy Project!
December 27, 2011
I hope you are enjoying the ramp up to the winter holidays. We are busy at the Climate + Energy Project working on the end of the Take Charge Challenge, the 2012 plans for the Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission, and the usual end of year reflecting and new year planning.
Sitting back for a moment to take stock, I thought I should share some of the great success CEP had this year. 2011 saw Climate + Energy Project grow through our first year as an independent nonprofit – yep, we are officially past our first year on our own with our own nonprofit status. I want to thank so many who have been part of our success and ask you to consider the Climate + Energy Project in your end of year giving.
On my highlight reel for 2011:
- We saw the successful roll out and completion of round two of the Take Charge Challenge.
- Sixteen cities across the state saved 110.2 billion BTUs of gas and electricity. Over 400,000 Kansans participated in Take Charge in 2011. The Challenge received national attention and will be included in a PBS documentary “Earth the Operator’s Manual” in 2012.
- CEP made great strides in energy efficiency policy. We continue to advocate for more progressive views of energy efficiency and demand side management policies through our participation at the Kansas Corporation Commission and the Southwest Power Pool.
- The Climate + Energy Project was highlighted by the Lawrence Berkeley Labs in their Science Theatre series.
- The Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission (HART) is establishing itself as an important and useful group of stakeholders in the Southwest Power Pool.
- We co-organized the Heartland Transmission Conference in Hutchinson, KS in August. We brought to together local stakeholders and national decision makers, including Governor Brownback and FERC Commissioner Marc Spitzer along with policy makers, industry and nontraditional stakeholders representing the public interest voice.
- We kicked off HART’s webinar series.
On a personal note, 2011 saw big changes and opportunities for me. After several years with CEP, I was asked to take the mantel of Executive Director this fall. We hired a new staff person, Kate Van Cantfort and have contracted with a consultant to work on our behalf at the Southwest Power Pool. With our Board of Directors in place and new staff up to speed, we are ready to take on some great new challenges and move forward with the foundation we have built in the Heartland.
One of CEP’s strongest characteristics has been our ability to be flexible and responsive to needs and opportunities as they arise. While the majority of our funding comes from large private foundations across the county, part of our flexibility comes from the small unrestricted dollars we have been able to raise – these dollars are critical to our success as a “yes, we can” organization. We need your help raising those important dollars for 2012. Please take a moment to consider a tax-exempt gift for the Climate + Energy Project. Our hope is to raise $10,000 for our unrestricted fund. Your gift will help get us to this goal. Any donations may be sent to our new mailing address at PO Box 1858, Hutchinson, KS 67504.
Thank you for your support throughout the year. We keep working to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in America’s Heartland through the ambitious deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy, in policy and practice.
Happy holidays to you and your family. And best wishes for a brighter energy future for us all.
With warm regards,
Dorothy Barnett
Executive Director
PS
Our audited financial statements are now available online.
Head of the The Wind Coalition Back in the Race
December 21, 2011
The CEP staff happened to see an announcement on the Houston Chronicle blog that the current head of the Wind Coalition, Paul Sadler, has thrown his name in the ring for as a candidate for the US Senate race for retiring Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. CEP wishes Paul the best in his race – we respect any citizen willing to step up to the duty of running for political office.
Paul has been a great advocate for wind and renewable energy. We hope his campaign will continue to elevate the discussion about wind energy resources and renewable energy for America’s future.
Read some of Paul’s bio from his campaign below:
“Paul is currently the Executive Director of The Wind Coalition. The Wind Coalition is a non-profit association designed to promote the responsible development of wind energy as a clean, reliable, affordable and infinite resource at the regulatory and legislative levels within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) grid systems which combined cover all or part of eight unique states: Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana and Nebraska. As the Executive Director, Paul is responsible for the policy and regulatory development of the over 11,800 MW in wind capacity already operating in the region.
Under his leadership, The Wind Coalition secured SPP Board approval of over one billion dollars in high voltage transmission Priority Projects that will facilitate wind development within the region. The Wind Coalition was also involved in the adoption of a new Integrated Transmission Planning process that anticipates the need for renewable resources and plans transmission to incorporate them. Paul worked alongside state leadership and various stakeholders during the 2009-2010 legislative sessions in multiple states to defend and reauthorize tax incentives in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma as well as promote the adoption of favorable energy standard policies. As the regional organization overseeing policy in the ERCOT footprint, the Wind Coalition has been continuously involved in the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones (CREZ) process at both ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Once the almost $5 Billion transmission build-out is completed, the new lines will allow over 18,000MW of wind energy in West Texas to reach the population centers in the state.
Paul is currently serving on the Governors Advisory Energy Panel for Oklahoma. He recently returned from Morocco at the request of the Governor of Texas and the Ambassador from Morocco to discuss renewable energy policies…”
Good luck to Paul in his new endeavor!
Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects, CEP
Schools Show Leadership in Renewable Energy Projects
December 19, 2011
USD 308, the local school district in Hutchinson, KS, recently approved a joint project with the Hutchison Community College to install solar panels and a wind turbine along with creating and renewable energy education program. Below is the press release announcing the approval. CEP applauds this new program. Look for updates on this project moves forward.
FROM USD 308, Monday, December 12:
The Career and Technical Education Academy building will soon have solar panels installed atop and a 90-foot wind turbine will be constructed north of the building, the director of career and technical education at Hutchinson High School told the Board of Education Monday (Dec. 12, 2011).
David T. Patterson, career and technical education director, told the Board of work between USD308 and Hutchinson Community College to bring renewable energy education programs to the community. The classes will be available to Hutchinson High School students, area high school students through cooperative agreements and HCC.
High school students can receive college credit through the program and work toward a renewable energy technology certificate.
Later in the meeting, the Board approved an interlocal agreement with HCC on the wind turbine.
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In another update, Dan Whisler with the Sterling, KS school district updated us that a primary donor has come forward and the Chevy Volt Project is moving forward! Please read his update below. We look forward to hearing more about this great project for high school students in Rice County.
From Dan:
Thanks to the generosity and support of JaCam Chemicals in Sterling, our Volt project is about to become a reality! JaCam committed to be a major sponsor for our project last Friday ($5000/year for each of the three years of the project) and the Board of Education gave formal approval Monday night for us to move ahead with the 3-year lease, as planned. I still have about $6000-$8000 that isn’t covered for the overall project that will need to be raised through grants/sponsorships, but we are close enough and have several possibilities in the works (inc. Midwest Energy) that we are approved to start the project. I am working to get the lease agreement done this week….and then I need to clean out the garage! Our Volt was delivered to Newton yesterday and still needs the graphics, but will be available later next week. That will give me Christmas break to start reading through the owner’s manual and be ready to start second semester when we come back.
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We look forward to learning more about both of this projects!
Posted by Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects, CEP
Clean Line Approved by KCC for Utility Status
December 9, 2011
Clean Line and their Grain Belt Express project took one in many major steps in the development of the high voltage transmission line to export wind energy from Kansas. The KCC approved Clean Line for utility status in Kansas opening the process for Clean Line to move forward with the transmission line project. The KCC and governor Brownback are getting kudos for positioning Kansas as a leader in the Mid-west when it comes to wind energy production. The Associated Press has a solid article in the Chicago Tribune on what this project means for Kansas:
“It’s clear that Kansas is serious about taking a leading role in shaping the future of the energy landscape in the United States,” Clean Line President Michael Skelly said…
Electricity that runs through the Grain Belt Express won’t be sold in Kansas, and there will be no cost to taxpayers or electric ratepayers, the company said, nor is it getting any incentives from the state.”
There is also a great story on KMUW, Wichita’s public radio station. Certainly there will be more information made available about what this approval for Clean Line means for the future of wind energy in Kansas.
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP, Director of Communications and Special Projects
Jimmy Glotfelty was a featured panelists at this summer’s Heartland Transmission Conference.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Selective use of energy subsidies is unfair
By Jimmy Glotfelty – The Washington Times – Wednesday, November 30, 2011
I am a Republican who worked for President George W. Bush both when he was governor of Texas and when he was president, and I am now working to create jobs in renewable energy. The recent opinion column by Reps. Raul R. Labrador and Mike Pompeo (“Era of energy subsidies is over,” Commentary, Monday) told only half the story.
Mr. Labrador and Mr. Pompeo are striving to eliminate all subsidies in the energy system, and their legislation makes a strong effort at repealing many tax subsidies. However, there are many other subsidies that continue to skew electricity markets. The very fact that not all issues are addressed amounts to picking winners and losers.
The wind business could thrive in a truly free market. That would require the elimination of federal loan guarantees and Price-Anderson Act insurance limits for commercial nuclear reactors, the elimination of investment tax credits for coal plants and the elimination of subsidies that support research-and-development programs to improve the efficiency of combustion turbines. It is unlikely that will ever happen and we will ever get to a free market in the electric-power system. Politicians and state regulators will never let electric prices rise and fall as a free market would dictate.
In the absence of true free markets, Republicans should look toward leaders like Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad to better understand the value of renewable-energy development. Like most Beltway myths, characterizations of the renewable industry are wrong, more ideological than fact-based.
As Mr. Brownback recently said, “Experience has taught us that investment in the renewable-energy economy is creating jobs across all employment sectors, including construction, engineering, operations, technology and professional services, in both rural and urban communities.”
It is in the red states where the development of wind energy is growing the fastest. My home state of Texas – where we get almost 10 percent of our electricity from wind – and Iowa are leaders, with Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas taking the steps to catch up quickly.
Most important, until a truly free market takes over, I hope Mr. Labrador and Mr. Pompeo can agree with me that a tax increase on the wind-energy industry will skew the market even more and have a detrimental effect on an industry that is generating clean, affordable, homegrown electricity, creating jobs and providing an economic shot in the arm to farmers, ranchers, rural communities and manufacturing towns all across America.
JIMMY GLOTFELTY
Executive vice president
Clean Line Energy Partners
Houston
Production Tax Credit Under Attack
December 5, 2011
We’ve talked about why the production tax credit matters in recent posts, here are a few more thoughts from a broad coalition of partners (including CEP):
America needs homegrown energy resources to power the nation and with our economy struggling, we’re in dire need of American jobs. Wind energy delivers in both of these areas. The wind energy industry has lowered the cost of wind power by more than 90%, has fostered economic development in all 50 states, and currently powers the equivalent of 10 million American homes. The federal Production Tax Credit (PTC) was instrumental in helping the wind industry achieve these breakthroughs. Experts say that if we keep the PTC in place, over 500,000 more jobs will be created in the next 20 years. By then, wind will generate 20 percent of America’s electricity.
The PTC is not a subsidy, but a tax incentive that helps keep electricity rates low and encourages development of proven clean energy projects. The PTC will expire in 2012 unless Congress takes action. Failure to extend the PTC will lead to thousands of job losses and put the brakes on the vast progress we’ve made as a nation toward making clean, affordable, homegrown wind energy part of the U.S. electricity portfolio.
Facing the threat of the PTC expiring, wind project developers are hesitant to plan future U.S. projects and American manufacturers have seen a marked decrease in orders. Job layoffs have already begun. The wind industry is facing the recurrence of the boom-bust cycle it saw in previous years when the PTC was allowed to expire. In the years following expiration, installations dropped by between 73 and 93 percent, resulting in significant job losses.
Unfortunately, renewable energy is under attack right here in Kansas – Representative Mike Pompeo is on a quest to stop renewable energy subsidies, “From solar to wind, from geothermal to biomass and from ethanol to hydrogen, they all must go. It is equal opportunity – not one single solitary tax credit would survive this bill”.
Funny how fossil fuel subsidies would seem to continue under Pompeo’s plan.
Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director CEP
White House Announces Major EE Savings without Spending a Dime
December 5, 2011
I have been reading stories about the administration’s new energy efficiency contract for federal buildings and decided that some other people did a better job explaining this than I did. So I have posted the link and the text from environmental journalist Christopher Mims who writes for Grist Magazine. He also includes some source links and links to the Associated Press in case you have any more questions, like I did.
I think this a great example being set by the administration. I agree with several commenters in the on-line world – I would love to see a national campaign for something like this, especially for schools and universities and maybe even public housing authorities.
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Dir of Communications & Special Projects
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White House to Make $4 Billion Out of $0 Using Energy Efficiency
Blog posted by Christopher Mims of Grist Magazine
Everyone says energy efficiency can pay for itself, and now the White House is out to prove it, by spending zero money to produce $4 billion. Yeah, I’m not making that up. From the administration:
The $4 billion investment announced today includes a $2 billion commitment, made through the issuance of a Presidential Memorandum, to energy upgrades of federal buildings using long term energy savings to pay for up-front costs, at no cost to taxpayers.
The other half of the $4 billion will come from a consortium of private investors, assuming they all come through. The whole operation has the stamp of approval of both the Clinton Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which aren’t often mentioned in the same sentence.
The White House says this initiative will lead to retrofits for 1.6 billion square feet of commercial and residential space, and create 50,000 jobs over the next two years.
The entire thing will be accomplished through an existing, decade-old mechanism called an Energy Savings Performance Contract.
Here’s how those work: The feds pay nothing, and the contractor itself pays for the retrofit. Then the feds pay the contractor what they were paying before, for energy. The contractor keeps the difference between new, lower energy bills and what they’re paid, until the cost of the retrofit is paid off. Then the contract ends, and the feds reap all the efficiency benefits from there on out. It’s a similar financing mechanism as, for example, SolarCity, which offers homeowners solar panels for free.
From the Department of Energy:
An ESPC is a partnership between a Federal agency and an energy service company (ESCO). The ESCO conducts a comprehensive energy audit for the Federal facility and identifies improvements to save energy. In consultation with the Federal agency, the ESCO designs and constructs a project that meets the agency’s needs and arranges the necessary funding. The ESCO guarantees that the improvements will generate energy cost savings sufficient to pay for the project over the term of the contract.
For additional details, check out stories from the Associated Press and GreenTechMedia.
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Thank you to Christopher Mims and Grist for this story.
Sterling High School and proposed Chevy Volt Project
November 30, 2011
Welcome to a guest post by Dan Whisler, an environmental science teacher at Sterling High School in Sterling, KS. Dan has also been part of the Wind in Schools program which installed a small wind turbine for the Sterling School District and has been used to teach students about the science of renewable energy and the future job potential in the renewable energy field. Dan and his students have a great passion for the real life learning that is part of the renewable energy projects they have been part of. Dan and Sterling High School are also looking to collaborate with other high schools in the area such as Lyons and Chase High Schools for as wide a group of classes (economics, match, etc) to take advantage of this program.
If you would like to learn more about the proposed Chevy Volt project or the Wind in Schools project please contact Dan Whisler at whislerd@usd376.com.
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Sterling Hich School Chevy Volt Project
Sparked by a “what if…” comment during discussion of an assignment in one of my Environmental Science classes last winter, it has been an interesting year of exploring the “possibilities” as we have taken this initial idea and now work to pull the pieces together to make the SHS Chevy Volt Project a reality! My excitement for this project reached a new level this week as I can now say not only have I finally seen a Chevrolet Volt, but thanks to the support and encouragement of Tony Hoover, New Car Manager at Conklin Cars inNewton, I had the privilege of taking a Volt for a test drive.
What was it like to finally see and drive the vehicle I have been reading so much about this past year? I am VERY impressed! The Volt is classy and stylish both inside and out and has a bit futuristic look when you sit in the driver’s seat and see the control panels. The two large data displays are convenient and easy to comprehend and the electric motor is very quiet, but it definitely has some “get-up-and-go” when you hit the road.
Is it possible to drive 75 mph on the interstate in an electric-powered car? Absolutely! We completed two short loops out on the interstate (my wife wanted to drive it, too) and pulling back into the lot the data display showed 18 miles traveled and 6.4 kWh of energy used from the battery. That first look at the numbers for our test drive is all it took for me to know I want to study this vehicle in more detail.
The idea for this project actually has roots that can be traced back to a workshop that my wife (Kelley – science teacher at Buhler H.S.) and I were fortunate to have attended twice. Taught by Donald G. Fell, Foundation for Teaching Economics Program Director, and Robert W. Reinke, Professor Emeritus at theUniversityofSouth Dakota, The Institute of the Environment and the Economy is designed to help teachers integrate an understanding of economics using current environmental issues into classroom discussion.
As science teachers, Kelley and I were a bit unique in our participation in these workshops, but these workshops had as much real-life science application as any science workshop we have ever participated in. One of the points I remember being emphasized over and over is now the basis for the SHS Chevy Volt Project – “solutions to environmental issues are usually found in economics”. From this, the seeds for our project began to grow.
Sterling High School was one of the five original schools selected to participate in the Wind for Schools program, so the study of renewable energy has been a strong focus in our Environmental Science classes for several years. As news of the Chevrolet Volt began to hit the headlines in 2010, my 40 mile round-trip daily commute led to an obvious hypothetical case study – “When it comes to saving money AND being environmentally friendly, is it: ‘The car of the future?’.”
Wanting students to understand there are a number of factors involved in determining the operational cost of owning a vehicle, I had them complete a cost-benefit analysis comparing the Volt to my current vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado pickup. From that cost-benefit analysis came the idea for this project…”What if we actually had a Volt and could put it to the test?”
Thus, the “SHS Chevy Volt Project” was born – the idea to lease a Volt as a school district vehicle for three years and put it to the test in a highly-integrated, real-life study. The project has gained additional support thanks to Brad Berman, editor of www.plugincars.com, who has offered support for the project in return for weekly updates detailing our results and the variables being tested week-to-week.
There is still a lot of work to be done to connect all of the dots to make this project a reality, especially since school budgets don’t have the extra funding needed to support projects such as this. In addition to the work required to complete grant applications and secure business sponsorships and support from various organizations, there is also curriculum development that must be done to include not just students in my classroom, but in area schools as well.
We have applied for several grants that we should hear the status on soon and, if approved, those will help get the project started; next we will work to complete the funding needed for the entire three year project. JaCam Chemicals and United Industries, both inSterling, along with local farmer/Board of Education member Jon Oden have offered support for the project, so we are moving in the right direction. Thanks to these businesses/individuals and the support of people like Tony Hoover, Brad Berman, Jeff Laudermilk, President of First Bank in Sterling, and Cleila McCrory, our district grant writer, the pieces of the puzzle are coming together to make the SHS Chevy Volt Project a very unique learning experience for students in area schools!
Dan Whisler
Environmental Science Teacher
Sterling High School
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The views in this post are not those of the Climate + Energy Project. This is not a paid advertisement for anyone associated with CEP or the mentioned project.
Economic Impacts of Transmission – a FREE webinar
November 23, 2011
CEP and the Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission announce the first in a series of free webinars to be offered this winter.
Economic Impacts of Transmission on Friday, December 2, 2011, 10am CST
These free webinars are designed to meet the needs of HART stakeholders and others interested in regional transmission. The first webinar includes a highly requested presentation from this summer’s Heartland Transmission Conference.
This webinar will feature Southwest Power Pool specific job impact numbers from the Brattle Group’s, Delphine Hou. Eric Lantz, from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will present the JEDI model, helpful in identifying jobs and economic impact of renewable energy projects.
Space is limited so register early.
For more details on the webinar or to register, contact:
Kate Van Cantfort, vancantfort@climateandenergy.org
Presenters are:
Delphine Hou is an associate of The Brattle Group with expertise in the electric utility sector. She specializes in transmission issues and has assisted electric utilities, IPPs, transmission-only market participants, regulators, and industry organizations in cost allocation, benefits analysis, cost recovery, and strategic entry and partnership analyses. In addition, she has worked on demand response and associated shareholder incentives, capacity market analyses, as well as a range of financial and regulatory issues. She received her M.A. from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, where her concentration was in U.S. and International Electricity and Transmission Policy. She received her B.S. in Finance and International Business from The Stern School of Business at New York University. Prior to joining The Brattle Group, Ms. Hou was a senior associate on the transmission team in the wholesale power group at ICF International, where her work included national energy market modeling and asset valuation.
Eric Lantz is a research analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. His primary research includes study of current and future costs of wind energy and economic development impacts from wind energy. In addition, Eric represents the U.S. in a collaborative effort of the International Energy Agency focused on understanding public perceptions of and responses to wind power. Eric holds a master’s degree in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Renewable Energy Policy from the University of Colorado.
Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects, CEP
Power to the People in Your Power Bill?
November 17, 2011
A recent study, The State of the Utility Bill, published by ACEEE looked at 100 current utility bills for level of consumer information provided in the bills.With more smart phone apps being developed for consumers to understand and control their energy usage, a basic understanding of our monthly and possibly daily or even hourly energy consumption would represent a large shift of awareness for each of us.
Ben Foster, one of the authors of the report, has a great posted a great blog about why this information is useful. The report includes interesting ideas about how a more knowledgable customer base and a more useful utility bill creates actual savings for consumers. What a novel idea? So take a moment and get to know your utility bill a little better.
Kate Van Cantfort, Director Communications and Special Projects
Nebraska Wind Conference – Kearney, NE
November 15, 2011
HART representatives, CEP staff and 100 plus attendees and presenters have gathered in Kearney, NE for the annual NE Wind Conference. This morning we have already learned about public power in NE, the physics of wind energy, and developing wind farms.
CEP will be part of a panel focusing on HART and citizen involvement. We are looking forward to a great range of workshops and keynote speakers, including the CEO of the Southwest Power Pool.
The dates for the 2012 Nebraska Wind Conference are November 13-14, 2012. For more information check out the Nebraska Wind Working Group and www.windpoweringamerica.gov.
Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Kansas 25x’25 Alliance Lauds Renewable Energy Projects Promoted by USDA
November 14, 2011
From our partners with Kansas 25x’25:
Last week, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced $184,012 in cost-share funding for five renewable energy projects on Kansas farms and at rural businesses. The department awarded the funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which provides loan guarantees and grants for an array of smaller renewable technology and energy efficiency developments. Ken Frahm, leader of the Kansas 25x’25 Alliance, said the projects will contribute to the state’s economic growth and create jobs.
In Kansas, farmers and rural businesses have been recipients of 141 Rural Energy for America Program grants and loans for a total of $4,907,091 since the program’s inception in 2003. These awards have leveraged a private sector investment of over $10 million. In addition, USDA’s first designated Biomass Crop Assistance Program project area was announced for Kansas and Missouri for the establishment of 50,000 acres of dedicated energy crops. Another project area in Kansas and Oklahoma, sponsored by Abengoa Biofuels, will grow up to 20,000 acres of switchgrass near Abengoa’s future biomass conversion plant near Hugoton. Also, eleven facilities in Kansas were recently financially rewarded ($7,690,143) for expanding their production of advanced biofuels from feedstocks other than corn starch.
USDA’s announcement cited REAP funding across the country for wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric power projects designed to reduce energy costs for farms and small business throughout rural America. Officials say the program is valuable to America’s energy security, spurring investments that increase efficiency or generate homegrown energy that reduces reliance on fossil fuels.
The Agriculture Department says that since 2003, funding has been awarded to more than 7,000 projects in all 50 states, assisted more than 9,500 businesses and saved or created nearly 15,000 jobs.
“Much of the growth in REAP has come in recent years as the program increasingly demonstrates the local economic revitalization that can come with public investment,” said Frahm. “However, Congress is now considering a fiscal 2012 appropriations bill that could deeply cut the program.
“We believe that it’s in the interest of a healthy economy, our energy security and a cleaner environment that Congress restore full funding for REAP and renew the program when a new, 2012 farm bill is negotiated,” Frahm said. He called on the state’s congressional delegation to support the interests of rural Kansas and recommit to a program that provides economic opportunities for all of rural America.”
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