Energy User News articles from March 2003

Energy User News archives from March 2003

Clean coal and fuel cells highlight 2004 energy budget.
March 1, 2003... President Bush's budget plan for 2004 proposes a 5.9% increase for the Department of Energy, with the largest increases earmarked for nuclear power and weapons priorities. Clean coal technology and hydrogen fuel cells, both prominently featured...

FERC head says final power market rules due in July.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WASHINGTON, DC -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on January 13, bowing to harsh criticism of its standard market design (SMD) proposal, said it would delay the plan to reorganize wholesale electricity market rules until July...

The Public Policy Institute of California. (Ticker).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Public Policy Institute of California concluded that California's energy crisis cost the state as much as $45 billion over two years in higher electricity costs, lost business due to blackouts, and a slowdown in economic growth, according...

Dranetz-BMI and LEM. (Ticker).(announced formation of a strategic partnership to co-brand and co-market products and services within the power quality and energy instrumentation market)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Dranetz-BMI and LEM, Geneva, Switzerland, announced the formation of a strategic partnership to co-brand and co-market products and services within the power quality and energy instrumentation market The partnership will explore opportunities...

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (Ticker).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), in an effort to create more incentives to build new transmission lines, proposed boosting, return on equity by up to 150 basis points for firms that participate in the agency's grid-building...

The California Public Utilities Commission. (Ticker).(voted to put an official end to energy deregulation in California)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted on January 16 to put an official end to California's energy deregulation experiment With little fanfare, the commission canceled an order from April 20,1994, that allowed energy users...

WebGen Systems, Inc. (Ticker).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WebGen Systems, Inc., Cambridge, MA, a provider of predictive energy management systems, announced a three-year reseller agreement with EMCOR Facilities Services, Inc., a subsidiary of EMCOR Group, Inc., a provider of mechanical and electrical...

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham. (Ticker).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced on January 15 the first eight projects chosen by the Department of Energy in the initial phase of President Bush's Clean Coal Power Initiative. The projects, valued at more than $1.3 billion, are...

Genome mapping may show path to hydrogen production. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... HOUSTON, TX -- Dr. J. Craig Venter, known for his contributions to sequencing the human genome, described how genome mapping could lead to organisms that would provide the basis for making practical hydrogen-based energy systems and sequester...

Calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2003... MARCH 18-19 PLMA Spring Meeting, Hilton Crystal City, Washington, DC. Peak Load Management Alliance, For more information, call: (561) 575-1788 or visit: www.plma.org. 18-20 National Facilities Management and Technology Conference!...

Attorneys general for eight states counter legal challenge to new source review. (News).
March 1, 2003... Several Northeastern attorneys general filed a legal challenge to the Administration's new source review (NSR) policy last December. In January, another group of attorneys general are intervening in the case in support of the NSR changes. ...

New organization announced by Durr Environmental. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... PLYMOUTH, MI -- Durr Environmental, Inc. (DEL) announced a new energy management department, which is expected to complement the company's existing pollution control technology services. The energy management department will be responsible for...

Solar/PEM fuel cell power project planned at China Lake. (News).(Proton Energy Systems Inc. receives contract for solar, proton exchange membrane fuel cell)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... WALLINGFORD, CT--Proton Energy Systems, Inc. has been awarded a contract to develop a 1-kilowatt (kW) regenerative solar/fuel cell system to demonstrate use of a grid-independent power plant that generates electricity in a closed-loop system...

U.S. to join international fusion project negotiations. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... PRINCETON, NJ -- The U.S. will join negotiations for the construction and operation of a major international magnetic fusion research project, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced January 30. Known as the International...

Of words and deeds: the administration makes its case. (Editorial).
March 1, 2003... Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country, while dramatically improving the environment," said President George W. Bush in the annual State of the Union Address on January 28th. I heard little else of the President's...

Enterprise energy management: defining the enterprise. (Energy Online).
March 1, 2003... The term enterprise has a clear meaning when used to refer to computer networks. The enterprise is the highest level of communication architecture, meaning that both information and access at this level offer the greatest degree of utility...

Can governments cure ailing energy markets? National market problems are different than local service.
March 1, 2003... Credit downgrades, falling share prices, and a growing liquidity crisis. The nation's electric companies won't be looking back on 2002 with fondness. Neither will the public. In last November's elections, the public reacted to the industry's...

As clear as SMD: can FERC make its SMD reality?(standard market design proposal)
March 1, 2003... Although the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has taken a step back from the landmark standard market design (SMD) proposal it issued in July, Chairman Pat Wood III has made it clear he will fight to the end. Faced with strong...

ASHRAE's BACnet approved as international standard. (News).(BACnet, building controls standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, to be published as an international and European standard)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO, IL -- BACnet, the building controls standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), will be published as an international and European standard. ANSI! ASHRAE Standard 135-2001,...

ASHRAE forms committee on sustainability. (News).(American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... CHICAGO, IL -- Finding ways to reduce the impact of buildings on the environment is the goal of a newly formed technical committee of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Technical Committee...

Distributed Generation software performs cost analysis. (News).(Brief Article)
March 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The Distributed Generation Analysis Tool Version 1.0 is now available. With this software, users are able to conduct a 20-year lifecycle cost analysis and assess the environmental impacts of distributed generation...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2003... The U.S. map that accompanied Jack Klein's article, "Alternating Currents," in the January 2003 issue of Energy User News contained an error. The colors for Louisiana and Arkansas were reversed. Louisiana should have been colored to show that...

DC power systems. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... DC power systems for central office telecommunications applications are available with up to 1600 A of rectifiers and sixteen 600-A fuse positions for power distribution in a single 22 by 24-in, cabinet. The system is certified to NEBS Level 3,...

Digital gen set controller. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Digital gen set controller utilizes microprocessor-based technology to provide a system for control, protection, and monitoring of small- to mediumsized gen sets. The microprocessor design allows customization of the controller's functions and...

EAM/CMMS software. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... EAM/CMMS software now supports interfaces to the Tridium Vykon controllers, Invensys IA series controllers, Invensys InVue workstation, Staefe's Talon controllers, Honeywell's UNC, and the Carrier CCN system. The software will continue to...

Natural-gas-fueled gen sets. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Natural-gas-fueled gen sets designed for extended-duty distributed generation service are driven by lean-bum gas reciprocating engines in 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder configurations, operating at 1500 rpm/50 Hz, 1200 rpm/60 Hz or 1800 rpm/60 Hz,...

UPS power management software. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... UPS power management software, when used in conjunction with the company's XML-Web cards or XML-agent, provides secure management of networkattached UPS systems from anywhere on the network. The management software offers secure socket layer...

Internet-based SCADA. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Internet-based SCADA capability has been developed for the company's line of microprocessor-controlled automatic transfer switches (ATS). The pathway for the ATS information to the Internet is a compact embedded server running Win CE and...

Uninterruptible power supply systems. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Uninterruptible power supply systems are three-phase systems ranging from 10-150 kVA with other capacities to follow in 2003. The series operates in double conversion mode, with true on-line voltage and frequency independent operation,...

Digital gen set control. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Digital gen set control offers fully integrated digital voltage regulation, digital governing, and gen set protective functions. The control is optimized for smaller gen sets-down to small 20 and 30-kW machines-and provides a wide range of...

Hydrogen-powered standby generators. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Hydrogen-powered standby generators are designed for quiet operation and ultra-low emissions. The gen set is built using a Ford dry fuel truck engine. The engines reduce friction and contain a specially modified fuel delivery system,...

Industrial online UPS. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Industrial online UPS can be mounted directly into a standard 19-inch rack, taking only 2U (3.5 inches) of rack height. It can also be floor mounted for standalone applications. The standard input plug and 120-V output receptacles are easily...

Static transfer switch. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Static transfer switch (STS) delivers reliable, space-saving connectivity for applications that require less than 1/4-cycle transfers between sources, such as dual uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), UPS and utility, or UPS and distributed...

Bypass-isolation automatic transfer switch. (Products Literature & Services).
March 1, 2003... Bypass-isolation automatic transfer switch simplifies maintenance and testing with a draw out design and still allows loads to be bypassed and isolated without interruption. The system's capabilities make it suited for hospitals and other...

Degree Days for Selected Cities. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... DEGREE DAYS For Selected Cities January City Monthly Monthly Deviation Monthly Deviation Total from Norm from Last Year Atlanta 770 79 209 Baltimore...

Weather Hedging: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Weather Futures Prices. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Weather Hedging: Chicago Mercantile Exchange Weather Futures Prices Each Degree Day valued at $100 per contract Heating Degree Dayes CDDs Location Jan Feb Mar Apr ...

Electricity Price Comparison. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Electricity Price Comparison Break even Rates ($/kWh) 1st Q 2nd Q 3rd Q Large Office (150,000 [ft.sup.2]) Boston Edison Company (Boston, MA)...

Gas Price Comparison. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Gas Price Comparison Breakeven Rates ($/therm) 1st Q 2nd Q 3rd Q Large Office (150,000 [ft.sup2]) Boston Gas Company (Boston, MA) 0.5328...

Ranking of Electricity Prices Industrial. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Ranking of Electricity Prices Industrial Rank Cts/kWh ST UTILITY %Total kWh 1 15.24 NY Consolidated Edison Co.-NY, Inc. 0.165% 2 14.93 HI Hawaii Electric Light Co., Inc. 0.071% 3 ...

Rebate Report. (Marketplace).(utilities)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Rebate Report State Utility Rebate CA Anaheim Public Utilities Motors CA City of Palo Alto Motors CA City of Redding Motors CA Riverside Public...

Ranking of Gas Utility Prices by State Industrial. (Marketplace).(Illustration)
March 1, 2003... Ranking of Gas Utility Prices by State Industrial Rank State Price/Mcf 1 Hawaii $10.65 2 Nevada $8.98 3 Oregon $7.32 4 Delaware ...