Energy User News articles from February 2001

Energy User News archives from February 2001

Promise of Deregulated Market Reduced to Discordant Debate.(California's energy misfortunes)(Industry Overview)
February 1, 2001... California's energy misfortunes multiplied almost daily as the year 2000 drew to a close. Utilities said they were running out of credit; at least one major supplier with-drew from the market; and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invoked...

Bush Names Abraham, Whitman to Fill Cabinet Positions.(Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy, Christie Todd Whitman, Administrator of Environmental Protection Agency)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... AUSTIN, TX--President-elect George W. Bush announced his intention to name Spencer Abraham, former United States Senator from Michigan, as Secretary of Energy, and New Jersey Governor Christie Todd Whitman to be Administrator of the...

World Natural Gas Consumption.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... World Natural Gas Consumption Eastern Europe & 27% Former USSR Middle East 8% Africa 2% Far East & Oceania 11% North America 31% Central & South America 4%...

Conectiv.(sells Eastern Regional Division of Conectiv Services)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Conectiv, Wilmington, DE, has sold the Eastern Regional Division of Conectiv Services, which is located in southern New Jersey, to the original owners. The division provided new construction, replacement, service, and maintenance of heating,...

Entergy Solutions Ltd.(application for certification as retail electric provider)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Entergy Solutions Ltd., a subsidiary of Entergy Corp., New Orleans, recently filed an application for certification as a retail electric provider with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The company plans to offer energy products and...

Siemens Solar Industries L.P.(Allegheny Energy Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Siemens Solar Industries L.P., Camarillo, CA, has signed an agreement with Allegheny Energy Solutions, headquartered in Hagerstown, MD, an unregulated subsidiary of Allegheny Energy, Inc. to market its photovoltaic electric systems.

Southern Energy Inc.(Potomac Electric Power Co.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Southern Energy Inc. has completed its acquisition of power plants with electric generating capacity totaling 5,154 MW and other assets from Potomac Electric Power Co. (Pepco) for a net purchase price of $2.65 billion. The transaction involves...

PPL Corp.(Environmental Protection Agency's 2000 "Energy Ally of the Year")(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PPL Corp. was recently named the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2000 "Energy Ally of the Year" award winner. The company received the award for the promotion of landfill gas-to-energy projects as well as other methane-based fuel...

Gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuels.(designated as alternative fuel)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuels made from domestically produced natural gas have been designated an alternative fuel (AF) as defined under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT) by the 106th U.S. Congress as part of the Omnibus spending bill signed by...

Florida Power Corp.(second 530-MW power plant)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Florida Power Corp. has been granted permission by the Florida Public Service Commission to build a second 530-MW natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle power plant at the company's Hines Energy Complex in Polk County, east of Tampa. The new unit,...

Sweden's PM Challenges U.S.(Goran Persson, environment, global warming)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... According to published reports, Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson told his national parliament, "The climate issue is a key item on the European Union's (EU) agenda." Goran opened Sweden's new presidency of the 15-nation EU with a clarion...

WI Transmission Line Supported.(Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, new electric transmission line)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... MADISON, WI--Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) called for approval of a new electric transmission line through northern Wisconsin to ensure adequate energy for Wisconsin homes and businesses. WMC director of legislative relations...

LETTERS.
February 1, 2001... Wrong Standard, New Standard? Lighting article brings more response, but are our energy standards good? Sam Berman's comments on lighting ("The Coming Revolution in Lighting Practice," October EUN) prompted another reader to...

A New Year, A New Administration.(energy policies of new Bush administration)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... New faces, new policies In a recent issue of EUN (December 2000), Representative Joe Barton (R-TX) said that there were significant differences on energy policy between the two presidential candidates, George W. Bush and Al Gore. He also...

EPA'S Energy Star Program Pays Dividends.(Environmental Protection Agency)(Interview)
February 1, 2001... Administrator talks about the successes of the program The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plays a critical role in energy policy and practice in the United States. For example, the EPA collaborates on a voluntary labeling pro...

The Dawning of the Age of the Internet.(energy industry's use of Internet)(Column)
February 1, 2001... Information technology becomes a critical asset to the bottom line Energy professionals may be excused if the proliferation of energy-related dot-coms, Web-based technologies, and online energy exchanges temporarily has caused some...

E-Enabled Energy Services: B2B in the Energy Sector.(e-commerce)
February 1, 2001... The Internet has created new markets, new ways of doing business E-commerce has already made a deep impact on business and leisure. Forrester Research, a Cambridge, MA, firm that tracks technology markets, projects that e-commerce...

Reynolds Saves Over 85% in Energy Costs, Improves Lighting Quality.(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Manufacturing operation cuts costs, raises productivity Like many busy facility managers, Sam Jennings of the Reynolds Metals Company in Richmond, VA, spent a lot of his time over the last few years wrestling with how to modernize an...

Paralleling load transfer switchgear.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Paralleling load transfer switchgear provides automatic transfer functions between utility power and rental generator sets. Made for temporary use at a project or commercial site, the unit features a NEMA 3R weatherproof enclosure and easy...

Three-phase digital power meter.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Three-phase digital power meter combines power-quality reporting functions with analysis capabilities. Suited for monitoring service entrances and key distribution points, the meter uses expanded measurement capabilities and fast transient...

UPS products.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... UPS products are scalable from 4 to 16 kVA and provide on-line power protection with N+x redundancy. The modular design provides flexibility and is configurable with any combination of power or battery modules to maximize redundancy and battery...

Optimizing thermal storage controller.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Optimizing thermal storage controller features a patented control algorithm that handles load forecasting automatically. It predicts the daily cooling requirements of a facility in real time while adapting to seasonal and daily variations in...

Generator series.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Generator series includes 15 higher-end units with a prime output of 50 to 563 kVA, powered by a John Deere or Volvo engine depending on the model. Each generator is equipped with a control panel that includes accurate frequency and voltage...

HTTP server.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... HTTP server provides power transfer, control, and power monitoring information to multiple remote clients over an Intranet/Internet via a TCP/IP protocol stack in real time. The server logs and e-mails critical alarm information from its...

Distributed generation systems.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Distributed generation systems are natural gas-fueled and focus on the requirements of industrial and commercial users who want to supplement utility-supplied power with on-site generating capability. Integrated paralleling switchgear gives...

Steam trap monitoring system.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Steam trap monitoring system uses radio waves to transmit data from up to 2,000 steam traps simultaneously. The system consists of a transmitter that is threaded into the base of an inverted bucket or float and thermostatic steam trap, a...

Power meter.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Power meter captures faults, outages, and transients by detecting subtle disturbances that could shut down a critical process. Equipped to provide extensive historical data to measure and analyze power quality while optimizing capital...

Software suite.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Software suite allows operators to re-tune a distributed control system (DCS) to match the equipment's current operating performance. Through the use of data "snapshots" collected over time, the package retains parameter information and reminds...

Air-cooled screw chillers.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Air-cooled screw chillers are now available in capacities from 90 to 400 tons of refrigeration. The chillers have been optimized for use with HFC-407C, an environmentally responsible refrigerant, resulting in the industry's highest average...

Architectural grade luminaires.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Architectural grade luminaires, characterized by low-brightness glass refractors for three-dimensional illumination, glare guards, and light trespass shield, meet RP20, the latest illumination standard for parking-garage environments adopted by...

Gas-turbine-powered mobile power unit.(Product Information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Gas-turbine-powered mobile power unit addresses the demand for reliable, low-cost, on-site peaking power that will meet the need for short-term capacity and reduce exposure to price spikes or system capacity constraints. The unit is a...

High-intensity fluorescent luminaires.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... High-intensity fluorescent luminaires provide energy efficiency and durability in a variety of industrial and commercial applications. Combining specular reflectors with biaxial and T5 HO lamps, the luminaires are suited for high- and low-bay...

Control damper/airflow-monitoring station.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Control damper/airflow-monitoring station is offered on the company's AirPak and CurbPak air-handling units. The damper's design integrates a low-leakage control damper with air-monitoring blades and an air straightener. Maintaining adequate...

Interoporability CD.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Interoporability CD is a resource for system designers and building owners. Focusing on industry education, the CD's content ranges from introductory background on protocols to detailed info on designing and specifying open systems. Detailed...

Axial wall exhaust fans.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Axial wall exhaust fans for commercial and industrial applications come in a variety of sizes and include shutters. They provide performance from 360 to 12,000 cfm. A variety of options and accessories is available.

Luminaires.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Luminaires that provide high-efficiency, low-glare illumination of outdoor advertising and roadway signs are detailed in brochure. Photographs illustrate product design and construction details. Product specifications and data are also provided...

Power control and synchronizing switchgear system.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Power control and synchronizing switchgear systems are custom designed in low- and medium-voltage ratings for single- and multi-unit on-site power generators. In addition to emergency power, system designs may include a variety of control...

Controllable electronic ballast line.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Controllable electronic ballast line now includes units for the operation of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), such as 26-W quad and triple, 32-W triple, and 42-W triple. The units can interface with a variety of manual and remote dimming...

Pulse-start metal-halide lamp-ballast system.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Pulse-start metal-halide lamp-ballast system produces 50,000 lms, equal to 400-W high-pressure sodium (HPS), with a life rating of 20,000 h. This light output represents a 40% improvement over standard 400-W universal lamps, the manufacturer...

Energy-efficient windows and curtainwall design.(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Energy-efficient windows and curtainwall designs offer lower heating, cooling, and maintenance costs, says the manufacturer. The windows are AAMA certified for AW6O and feature 4-in, frame depth with a 1-in, thermal barrier. They can be dual or...

Hydronic product bulletin.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... Hydronic product bulletin helps HVAC engineers and contractors simplify the selection and ordering process for several of the company's new hydronics products. Listing detailed technical information, the bulletin showcases the products by...

In-ground paver luminaire.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
February 1, 2001... In-ground paver luminaire utilizes a fiber-optic light source and can be mounted within a variety of paving stone configurations, concrete pour, or wall stone applications. The luminaire features a plastic housing and a frosted, tempered-glass...

EPRI Consortium Addresses Electricity and Productivity Demands of Digital Economy.(Electric Power Research Institute)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... PALO ALTO, CA--The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) announced the launch of a consortium dedicated to finding electric power reliability solutions for the digital economy. Participants in the endeavor, called the Consortium for...

Wisconsin Electric and State Agency File Joint Environmental Proposal with EPA.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... MILWAUKEE--In what they say is a first for the electric utility industry, Wisconsin Electric (WE) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have filed a joint proposal with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designed...

NWEEA Offers New Energy-Efficiency Web Site.(Northwest Energy-Efficiency Alliance)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... The Northwest Energy-Efficiency Alliance has announced a simple on-line process for submitting electricity-saving business ideas through an unsolicited proposal process. The process involves a short (no more than six pages) e-mail submission...

Alt Spec, a New Tool for Designers, Available Soon.(published set of product information)(Product Information)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... Alt Spec, a four-volume, boxed-set of product information, will be available to the A&D community spring 2001, according to the publisher. Alt Spec's publishers are dedicated to bringing information about design conscious furnishings, fixtures,...

NYS Approves use of Capstone MicroTurbines for Grid Interconnection.(New York State Department of Public Service)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... CHATSWORTH, CA--The New York State Department of Public Service has approved the Capstone MicroTurbine as the first three-phase distributed generation (DG) device permitted to operate in parallel with utilities in New York State as part of the...

Siemens Westinghouse to Demo Fuel Cell for Ontario Power Generation.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2001... TORONTO--To test what could become a future product line for Siemens Westinghouse Power, the company signed an agreement with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) of Toronto, ON, to provide a demonstration 250-kilowatt (kW) solid oxide fuel cell...

DEGREE DAYS For Selected Cities December.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... DEGREE DAYS For Selected Cities December Monthly Monthly Deviation Monthly Deviation City Total from Norm from Last Year Atlanta 859...

Spot Market Gas: Posted Prices.(January, 2000, December, 2000, January 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... January prices represent estimates of median prices for one-month spot transactions. Prices are not offers. Source: Dynegy Inc. Pipeline Jan-00 Dec-00 Jan-01 ANR, La. 2.30 5.90 9.85...

Ranking of Gas Utility Prices By State Commercial.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Ranking of Gas Utility Prices By State Commercial Rank State Price/Mcf 1 Hawaii $17.96 2 Maryland $10.42 3 Rhode Island $10.21...

Ranking of Electricity Prices Commercial.(various companies)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2001... Ranking of Electricity Prices Commercial Rank Cts/kWh ST UTILITY % Total kWh 1 21.07 HI Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc. 0.06% 2 20.37 AK Kotzebue Electric Assn, Inc 0.00% 3 ...