Green Energy News | February 18, 2001

February 18, 2001 – Vol.5 No.47

ENERGIES... week of February 18, 2001

IMMEDIATE SOLAR - ALMOST. Compared with extracting oil from a remote, pristine Arctic wilderness, which could take many years, adopting clean and efficient energy technologies, or bringing new renewable power online, can be relatively quick. And unlike oil reserves, renewable energy is never depleted - provided the sun continues to shine and the moon smiles upon us. (Though green energy technologies may need occasional replacement.)

By early summer the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California will be the site of the largest roof-mounted photovoltaic solar system in the United States, possibly the Western Hemisphere. The 500 kilowatt system and other energy efficiency enhancements will reduce the jail’s draw on the power grid by an estimated 20% and save taxpayers $190,000 per year - $5.5 million over the expected life of the project.

The solar system will include 6000 PowerGuard (tm) solar roof tiles from PowerLight. PowerGuard tiles also act as a roofing material and incorporate additional insulation, which will help ease the load on the jail’s heating and cooling system. Efficiency upgrades to the jail’s central heat and cooling plant will be provided by CMS Viron Energy. Visit PowerLight at http://www.powerlight.com/ .

INSTANT CAR REMOVAL. In Southern California consumers who fancy themselves riding an electric bike to work can get a $250 point-of-purchase rebate for specified e-bikes through the Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC). The Committee has allotted $100,000 - $12,500 per manufacturer - to the program, with an additional $50,000 for companies that deplete their supply of rebate money before the end of the year. Potential funding is available to help put 600 e-bikes on the road - or remove 600 cars.

Buyers must agree to use the e-bike primarily for commuting or in place of a car. Buyers will be surveyed at the time of purchase with a follow-up survey six months later. Visit the MSRC at http://www.msrc-cleanair.org/ and participating e-bike seller Zapworld.com at http://www.zapworld.com/ .

PERMANENT CLEAN POWER. Capstone Turbine has set up a new division - Capstone California - to market turn-key microturbine-based clean energy solutions to businesses and public facilities state-wide. Unlike back-up generators, which are intended to be eventually removed, the Capstone systems will become a permanent energy source for the facilities operating year-round, ‘round the clock. Visit Capstone at http://www.microturbine.com/ .

WIND POWER ASAP. The western U.S. will soon have an additional 1000 megawatts of wind power, according to the Bonneville Power Authority (BPA). BPA is soliciting proposals for new large-scale wind power projects in the region. The Request For Proposals has set a minimum 15 average megawatts (40 - 60 megawatts of stated capacity) for any particular project, but would prefer larger projects especially those that can be expanded.

One reason BPA finds wind power attractive is the short period of time it takes to get the power online - 24 to 30 months including approval and permits. Visit the BPA at http://www.bpa.gov/ . Contact George Darr at 503-230-4386 for the BPA wind power RFP.