EERE: Solar Energy for the White House and California, plus New Fuel Economy Standards

On 10/6/2010 2:03 AM, EERE Network News wrote:

A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at: www.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm October 06, 2010 News and Events Obama Administration to Install Solar Panels on the White House Interior Department Approves First Solar Energy Projects on Public Lands EPA and DOT to Prepare Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2017-2025 IEA and Eight Countries Launch Electric Vehicles Initiative Clean Energy Conferences Abound Through the End of 2010 Energy Connections Analysis: Long-Term Viability of U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants is at Risk

News and Events Obama Administration to Install Solar Panels on the White House DOE announced on October 5 plans to install solar panels and a solar water heater on the roof of the White House Residence, the central building in the White House Complex. These two installations will be part of a DOE demonstration project to show that U.S. solar technologies are available, reliable, and ready for installation in homes throughout the country. The solar photovoltaic system will convert sunlight directly to electricity, while the solar water heater will have a solar collector facing the sun that will heat water for use in the residence. DOE will now begin a competitive procurement process to select the company responsible for the installations. The announcement came on the one-year anniversary of President Obama's Executive Order 13514 on Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance, which called on the federal government to lead by example toward a clean energy economy, as well as to reduce, measure, and report direct and indirect greenhouse gas pollution. To gain momentum from the White House installation, DOE also released "Procuring Solar Energy: A Guide for Federal Facility Decision Makers" to support the use of solar energy throughout the federal government. See the DOE press release and the guide for procuring solar energy. Interior Department Approves First Solar Energy Projects on Public Lands The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved on October 5 the first large-scale solar energy plants ever to be built on U.S. public lands. The approval of two developments in California grants the U.S.-based companies behind the projects access to almost 6,800 acres of public lands for 30 years to build and operate solar plants. The approved plants could produce up to 754 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, or enough to power 226,000–566,000 typical U.S. homes. The projects will generate almost 1,000 new jobs. Sixty SunCatcher solar dishes were recently installed in Peoria, Arizona, to form the 1.5-megawatt Maricopa Solar project. The newly approved Imperial Valley Solar Project will be nearly 500 times larger. Enlarge this image. Credit: Salt River Project The DOI-approved proposals will employ two different types of solar energy technology. The Imperial Valley Solar Project, proposed by Tessera Solar, will use Stirling Energy System's SunCatcher technology on 6,360 acres of public lands in California's Imperial County. The plant, featuring 28,360 solar dishes, is expected to produce up to 709 MW, enough to power 212,700–531,750 homes. The Chevron Lucerne Valley Solar Project, proposed by Chevron Energy Solutions of California, will employ solar photovoltaic technology on 422 acres of public lands in San Bernardino County. With 40,500 solar panels, it will produce up to 45 megawatts, enough to power 13,500–33,750 homes. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's payment for specified energy property in lieu of tax credit program makes Tessera and Chevron eligible for approximately $273 million and $31 million, respectively. The two projects are the first in a series of renewable energy projects on public lands under final review by the department that would provide thousands of U.S. jobs and advance U.S. clean energy technologies. In April of 2009, Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) committed to helping the United States reach its clean energy future by using a "fast track" program to help projects expedite approval. Each project has undergone thorough environmental review. See the DOI press release and the DOI fact sheets on the Imperial Valley and Chevron Lucerne Valley projects. Other California projects are on the immediate horizon, too. The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved on September 8 the construction of the Abengoa Mojave Solar Project, a 250-MW facility planned for San Bernardino County. The solar thermal facility will use parabolic mirrors to collect the sun's heat and convert it into electricity. Construction is slated to begin this year, with commercial service by early 2013. The CEC has also recently approved several concentrating solar power (CSP) projects that await DOI approval, including the 1,000-MW Blythe Solar Power Project, a parabolic trough facility that would be the world's largest CSP power plant; the 250-MW Genesis Solar Energy Project, which will also employ parabolic troughs; and the 370-MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station, which will be the first large-scale deployment of solar power towers in the United States (eSolar deployed a 5-MW system in Southern California last year). See the CEC press releases on licensing the Abengoa Mojave, Blythe, Ivanpah, and Genesis projects; an article on the eSolar power tower from the EERE Network News, and a description of CSP technologies on DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web site. EPA and DOT to Prepare Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2017-2025 The U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on October 1 that they will begin the process of developing tougher greenhouse gas (GHG) and fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks built in model years 2017 through 2025. This will build on the first phase of the national program covering cars from model years 2012 through 2016. In preparation for the upcoming joint rulemaking, the agencies and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have performed an initial assessment of potential stringencies with annual GHG reductions in the range of 3%-6% per year, which would result in average fleet fuel economies equivalent to 47-62 miles per gallon of gasoline in 2025. The assessment demonstrates that substantial reductions in fuel consumption and GHGs can be achieved with the use of advanced technologies. The assessment considers the costs and effectiveness of applicable technologies, compliance flexibilities available to manufacturers, potential impacts on auto industry jobs, and the infrastructure needed to support advanced technology vehicles. The assessment was developed through extensive dialogue with automobile manufacturers and suppliers, non-governmental organizations, state and local governments, and labor unions. The EPA and NHTSA emphasize that this is an initial assessment, and significant additional data gathering and analysis will be performed to support the future joint rulemaking. In a memorandum issued on May 21, 2010, President Obama directed the EPA and DOT to issue a Notice of Intent (NOI) that would lay out a coordinated plan to propose regulations that will extend the national program. He also directed the agencies to coordinate with CARB in developing a technical assessment to inform the NOI and subsequent rulemaking process. Along with the initial assessment of potential reductions in fuel consumption and GHGs, the NOI outlines next steps for additional work the agencies will undertake, including issuing by November 30 a supplemental NOI that will include an updated analysis of possible future standards. As part of that process, the agencies will conduct additional studies and will meet with stakeholders to better determine what level of standards might be appropriate. The agencies aim to propose actual standards within a year. As of October 5, the NOI has not yet been published in the Federal Register. See the DOT press release, the NHTSA and EPA Web sites, and the unofficial version of the NOI. IEA and Eight Countries Launch Electric Vehicles Initiative The International Energy Agency (IEA) joined China, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and the United States in launching the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) on October 1 at the Paris Motor Show in France. The new initiative will provide a platform for global cooperation on the development and deployment of electric vehicles. The EVI began at the Clean Energy Ministerial that was held in Washington, D.C., in July 2010; it was cemented during IEA's Advanced Vehicle Leadership Forum, a two-day roundtable on electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids that was held at the Paris Motor Show. Countries participating in the EVI have agreed to promote EV demonstrations in urban area and share the results; to share information on EV research and development programs; and to collect and share information on EV deployment targets, best practices, and policies. The participating countries will present more detailed plans at Electric Vehicle Symposium-25 in Shenzhen, China, in November, and initial EVI results are planned for presentations at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2011. See the IEA press release. The Jaguar C-X75 concept vehicle, unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, is an electric supercar that extends its range with two natural gas-fueled microturbines. Credit: Jaguar The venue for launching the EVI was appropriate, as the Paris Motor Show featured a wide variety of electrified vehicles. Jaguar wowed crowds with the C-X75 concept vehicle, an electric supercar that extends its range to 560 miles using two natural gas-fueled microturbines. The supercar draws on a lithium-ion battery pack to power 145-kilowatt (kW) motors mounted in all four wheels, achieving 780 horsepower and 1,180 foot-pounds of torque. And while the C-X75 is just a concept vehicle, Fisker Automotive unveiled the production version of its Karma, a premium plug-in hybrid that generates 300 kW of power and more than 981 foot-pounds of torque. The Karma has a 50-mile electric-only range that is extended to 300 miles with a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine. The engine drives a generator to power two 175-kW motors that are mounted to the rear differential. Other electrified vehicles of interest include Hyundai's ix35 diesel-electric hybrid concept vehicle; Saab's first EV, the 9-3 ePower, which will undergo field trials next year; and a tiny three-seat EV concept vehicle from Kia Motors, called the POP. The Paris Motor Show is open to the public through October 17. See the Paris Motor Show Web site and the press releases from Jaguar, Fisker Automotive, Hyundai, Saab, and Kia. Clean Energy Conferences Abound Through the End of 2010 A wide range of renewable energy and energy efficiency topics share the spotlight at national conferences as 2010 draws to a close. Among the largest is Solar Power International, running October 12 to 14 in Los Angeles, California. Previously called the Solar Power Conference and Expo, it was created in 2004 when two nonprofits, the Solar Electric Power Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association, partnered to present a business-to-business solar expo. More than 1,000 companies will exhibit this year, with cell and module manufacturers, inverter and other component manufacturers, material and equipment manufacturers, installers, integrators, and investors all represented. See the conference Web site. Among other upcoming conferences is the Excellence in Building Conference and Expo in Portland, Oregon, from October 12 to 14; Renewable Energy Markets 2010, also taking place in Portland, from October 19 to 22; the 2010 Geothermal Energy Expo, the world's largest, sponsored by the Geothermal Energy Association and coming to Sacramento, California, from October 24 to 27; the 2010 Summit on Emerging Technologies in Energy Efficiency, also coming to Sacramento, on November 7 to 9; and the CitiesAlive 8th Annual Green Roof and Wall Conference, which runs from November 30 to December 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Energy Connections Analysis: Long-Term Viability of U.S. Coal-Fired Power Plants is at Risk A new analysis of the challenges facing coal-fired power plants in the United States suggests that many of them could be retired from service early. The Wood Mackenzie analysis found that the power industry is facing unprecedented challenges, including new regulations and policies as well as lagging economic growth. The research firm concluded that coal-fired power plant retirements will be driven mainly by more stringent air emission regulations, potential new rules for handling coal ash, and the future potential for climate change regulations. Other factors include rising capital costs, a lack of growth in power demand, low to moderate natural gas prices, and competing renewable energy sources. Wood Mackenzie notes that most of the recent retirement announcements have been accompanied by plans to replace the retired capacity with natural gas combined-cycle facilities or to repower the facilities with natural gas. Natural gas facilities offer lower emissions and a greater ability to cycle up and down in power output, so they work better with variable power sources such as wind energy. See the Wood Mackenzie press release. Some recent examples of coal-fired power plant retirements include Xcel Energy, which proposed in mid-August to retire 900 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired capacity at its Valmont and Cherokee plants in Colorado by 2017 and 2022, respectively, in keeping with a new state law. The 717-MW Cherokee power plant will be repowered as an 883-MW natural gas-fired power plant, and a 111-MW unit at its coal-fired Arapahoe power plant will also be repowered with natural gas. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also announced in August that it will idle nine units totaling about 1,000 MW at three of its coal-fired power plants over the next five years. One unit may be converted to burn biomass fuel. In addition, Progress Energy Carolinas announced last year that it will shut down four coal-fired plants in North Carolina by 2017. The four plants lack scrubbers and have a total capacity of nearly 1,500 MW. Exelon Power also announced plans to shut down three coal-fired units, totaling 732 MW, by mid-2012. The units are located at two power plants near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See the press releases from Xcel Energy, TVA, Progress Energy, and Exelon Power.

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