Renewable Energy Today articles from April 2004

Renewable Energy Today archives from April 2004

DOE Announces New Partnerships to Expand U.S Wind Potential.
April 1, 2004... U.S. deputy secretary of energy Kyle McSlarrow recently announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will open negotiations for 21 public-private partnerships to "greatly expand potential U.S. wind development through advances in...

GE to Supply 30 Turbines for French Projects.
April 1, 2004... Two wind power projects in France will be adding a total of 30 GE Energy wind turbines, or 45 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The turbines will be delivered to the La Haute Lys project in northern France, and the Sorotsville-Les...

Meridian Energy Discontinues Project Aqua.
April 1, 2004... New Zealand state-owned electricity generator Meridian Energy, Ltd. recently announced it will not continue work on Project Aqua, a hydropower project on the Lower Waitaki River. "In essence, the decision has been driven by a series of...

DynaMotive Completes BioOil Turbine Generator Run.
April 1, 2004... DynaMotive Energy Systems Corporation, together with Magellan Aerospace Corporation, recently announced the completion of the first commercial scale run of an OGTS2500 gas turbine using BioOil, a fuel produced from a biomass conversion process...

IWEA to Host Annual Wind Energy Conference in Ireland.
April 1, 2004... The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) will host IWEC 2004, its annual conference, April 21 and 22 at the Sligo Park Hotel in Sligo, Ireland. The event will open the morning of April 21 with a welcoming address from Sligo County Council...

ALSTOM Awarded Contract for Three Gorges Project.
April 2, 2004... ALSTOM has won a 163-million-euro (about $200-million) contract to supply four 700-megawatt (MW) turbines and their associated generators for the Three Gorges hydroelectric project in China. Delivery of the turbines and generators is...

Official Says Wind Could Generate 10 Percent of Ontario's Power.
April 2, 2004... The Ontario Clean Air Alliance recently announced that Ontario Sustainable Energy Association acting executive director Paul Gipe told members of the provincial parliament that Ontario could potentially generate 10 percent of its electricity...

Infocast to Host 'Mexican Energy 2004' in Houston.
April 2, 2004... Infocast, Inc. will host "Mexican Energy 2004," an event designed "to provide large and small developers, as well as financiers, with a complete overview of the necessary information offered by leading international developers, Mexican...

SDSU Receives Donation to Construct Wind Assessment Sites.
April 2, 2004... Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) recently donated $50,000 to South Dakota State University's (SDSU) College of Engineering to help construct seven new "wind resource assessment" stations throughout the state. According to SDSU assistant...

AWEA Recognizes Leading Figures in Wind Energy.
April 2, 2004... The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) recognized several business leaders, advocates and policymakers as "the most influential voices in the development of the wind power industry" at the Global WINDPOWER 2004 Conference and Exhibition in...

Weekly Update.
April 2, 2004... GLOBE 2004: 8TH BIENNIAL TRADE FAIR & CONFERENCE ON BUSINESS & THE ENVIRONMENT, March 31-April 2, 2004, Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia CIBO RENEWABLE ENERGY, FUELS & EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY...

Coalition Seeks Increased Funding for Geothermal Programs.
April 5, 2004... A coalition of 21 organizations recently sent a letter to federal lawmakers calling for increased federal support for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) geothermal program and the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) geothermal resource...

CO Electric Cooperative Opposes Renewables Bill.
April 5, 2004... The Denver Post recently reported that Sedalia, CO-based electric distribution cooperative Intermountain Rural Electric Association (IREA) has inserted a flier in its March bills encouraging customers to oppose state House Bill 1273, which...

Germany Considers Increased Support for Renewables.
April 5, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the German parliament is considering revisions to a renewable energy sources subsidy law that would increase funding for inland wind farms. According to Reuters, currently only inland wind farms that achieve...

Powergen Looks to Develop Local U.K. Wind Projects.
April 5, 2004... British company Powergen Renewables is soliciting interest from communities seeking to build small wind power projects in northeast and northwest England. The projects would feature approximately three wind turbines, with planning,...

Cleantech to Host Venture Forum in San Francisco.
April 5, 2004... Cleantech Venture Network, LLC will host Cleantech Venture Forum IV, "a twice-yearly exchange of information about cleantech business and investment opportunities," April 28 through 30 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, CA. Several...

CEI Makes NewWind Energy Available to RI Customers.
April 6, 2004... Wayne, PA-based wind energy marketer Community Energy, Inc. (CEI) recently announced the availability of NewWind Energy to all Rhode Island residential and small-commercial electric customers through Narragansett Electric's new GreenUp program....

NYSERDA Awards Inverter Contract to Albany Company.
April 6, 2004... The Albany Business Review recently reported that the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded a $200,000 contract to Albany, NY-based Inverters Unlimited, Inc. for the commercialization of solar power...

EC Challenges Hydropower Project in Italy.
April 6, 2004... The European Commission (EC) recently announced a decision to refer Italy to the European Court of Justice regarding the construction of a hydropower project in Lombardy that involves drawing water from the Schiesone River. According to EC...

Australian Renewable Energy Industry Criticizes Government.
April 6, 2004... The Australian Financial Review recently reported that officials with the country's renewable energy industry have criticized the government for its goal of generating 9,500 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity from green sources by the end of...

GE Energy to Open Research Center in Germany.
April 6, 2004... GE Energy recently announced plans to open the GE Global Research-Europe Center in Munich, Germany this summer. "The Munich center will keep GE on the lading edge of technology development, driving further improvements in wind turbine...

Kyocera to Build Solar Facility in San Diego.
April 7, 2004... Kyocera Corporation will build a solar power facility at its North American headquarters in San Diego, using more than 1,600 of its own photovoltaic modules. The array, to be erected in an employee parking lot, will have a capacity of 251...

GSA Requests Proposals for Renewable Energy Certificates.
April 7, 2004... The General Services Administration (GSA) recently announced it is requesting proposals from renewable energy generation suppliers to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) to GSA facilities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island as well as an...

Indonesia to Offer Geothermal Sites for Bid.
April 7, 2004... Indonesian newspaper the Jakarta Post recently reported that officials with the Directorate General of Geology and Mineral Resources plan to offer 13 geothermal sites for bid to interested investors. According to the newspaper, officials...

Indian, Chinese Companies to Sign Hydro Turbine JV.
April 7, 2004... India's Financial Express recently reported that Indian company Steel Industrials Limited, Kerala (SILK) and China's Chendian Power International have finalized a joint venture (JV) proposal calling for the development of hydropower turbine...

Black & Veatch Studies Economic Impact of Renewables in PA.
April 7, 2004... Overland Park, KS-based global engineering, construction and consulting company Black & Veatch Corporation recently announced its completion of an economic impact study of renewable energy in Pennsylvania, which included "a review of the...

SC Electric Cooperative Launches Green Power Program.
April 8, 2004... Local officials in South Carolina recently reported that York Electric Cooperative has begun offering customers the opportunity to enroll in a voluntary green power program that will allow them to purchase methane gas-generated electricity from...

WorldWater Executes $3.6-million Financing Agreement.
April 8, 2004... Pennington, NJ-based solar energy and water management company WorldWater Corporation recently announced it has received a $3.6-million common stock purchase commitment, with a call on an additional $3.6 million at the company's option. Irvine,...

SMA America Receives Listing for PV Inverter.
April 8, 2004... Grass Valley, CA-based photovoltaic (PV) inverter manufacturer SMA America, Inc. recently announced that Underwriters Laboratories has granted UL1741 listing for the Sunny Central 125-kW utility interactive inverter (SC125U) for use in Canada...

GE to Supply Turbines for Alberta Project.
April 8, 2004... GE Energy will provide wind turbines, start-up support and maintenance services for the 30-megawatt (MW) Magrath Wind Power Project in Alberta, Canada. Installation of 20 of GE Energy's 1.5-MW turbines should be completed by August. ...

Chinese Prospectors Discover Untapped Geothermal Reserves.
April 8, 2004... Xinhua recently reported that considerable potential for geothermal power development has been identified by prospectors in China's Shandong Province. According to Xinhua, Shandong's Committee of Geological Reserves said the prospectors...

Northern, NREL to Negotiate Research Agreement.
April 9, 2004... Northern Power Systems recently announced it has been selected to negotiate for a cooperative research agreement with the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a direct drive wind turbine for low wind...

Charis Energy Receives Purchase Orders for New Solar Panels.
April 9, 2004... Aquentium, Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary Charis Energy Development, Inc. has received purchase orders exceeding $10 million for its newly invented non-silicone, flexible, lightweight solar panels. According to Aquentium, the...

Avista, PPM Sign Wind Power Agreement.
April 9, 2004... Under an agreement with PPM Energy, Avista Utilities will receive up to 35 megawatts (MW) of additional energy from the Stateline Wind Energy Center near Walla Walla, WA. The 10-year deal also allows Avista to receive up to 35 MW in...

Construction of NY Wind Farm Faces Delays.
April 9, 2004... Local New York newspaper the Watertown Daily Times recently reported that officials with Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Renewable Energy Corporation have said construction of Flat Rock Wind Power's proposed 200-turbine Tug Hill wind project...

NY Environmental Group Urges Localities to Use Renewables.
April 9, 2004... Local New York newspaper the Watertown Daily Times recently reported that nonprofit group the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) has launched an initiative dubbed "New York's Independence Depends on Energy Independence" that urges...

Weekly Update.
April 9, 2004... 6TH CUBASOLAR INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE, April 10-18, 2004, Guantanamo Hotel, Guantanamo, Cuba COLORADO WIND AND DISTRIBUTED ENERGY (CWADE): RENEWABLES FOR RURAL PROSPERITY, April 13-14, 2004, Doubletree Hotel World Arena,...

SEC Urges Congress to Increase FY 05 Renewables Funding.
April 12, 2004... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) delivered a letter last week calling upon congressional appropriators to "substantially increase" federal support for the "cross-section of renewable energy technologies." Providing...

Spire Appoints New Sales and Marketing Manager.
April 12, 2004... Bedford, MA-based Spire Corporation, a developer, manufacturer and marketer of photovoltaic module manufacturing equipment, recently announced the appointment of David Wissoker, who has "over 20 years of sales and marketing experience gained in...

Catamount, Marubeni to Codevelop Wind Power.
April 12, 2004... Catamount Energy Corporation and Japan's Marubeni Power International, Inc. have entered into a joint agreement to develop wind power in New England, New York and Pennsylvania. "Marubeni provides Catamount with resources necessary to...

UL to Develop Commercial Wind Turbine Testing Site in U.S.
April 12, 2004... Nonprofit product testing organization Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) recently announced it has received a $1.25-million contract from the state of Wyoming, in conjunction with the Department of Energy (DOE), to open a commercial wind...

LBNL Report Highlights State Support for Wind Development.
April 12, 2004... The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) recently announced the release of a new case study titled "A Survey of State Support for Community Wind Power Development." According to LBNL, the study, which focuses on the states of Iowa,...

UCSY, Petro-China Division to Commence Solarization Effort.
April 13, 2004... Miami, FL-based Universal Communication Systems, Inc. (UCSY) has signed a joint agreement to begin a "photovoltaic [(PV)] solarization" effort in China. Universal will work with Petro-China division JiangSu Yangtze Petrochemical Company,...

MN Utilities to Conduct Biomass Project.
April 13, 2004... Local Minnesota newspaper The Daily Tribune recently reported that Hibbing Public Utilities and Virginia Public Utilities plan to launch a biomass project designed to generate electricity from wood at their existing facilities. According...

Canada Okays Continued Development of Peribonka Hydro Plant.
April 13, 2004... The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) recently reported that Canada's environment minister David Anderson has announced that the Hydro-Quebec proposal to construct a dam and a hydroelectric generating station on the Peribonka...

Local New Zealand Residents Oppose Geothermal Project.
April 13, 2004... Local New Zealand newspaper the Taupo Times recently reported that a group known as the Environmental Geothermal Protection Society was recently established to serve as an outlet for local landowners to express their concerns about Contact...

ORC Releases Draft Operating Rules for WREGIS.
April 13, 2004... The Western Governors' Association (WGA) recently announced that the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS) Operational Rules Committee (ORC) has released draft interim operating rules that include recommendations on...

Local MI Township Approves Wind Turbine Ordinance.
April 14, 2004... Local Michigan newspaper the White Lake Beacon recently reported the board of Grant Township, MI's approval of a wind turbine ordinance recommended by the Grant Township Planning Commission following almost one full year of consideration of the...

Nevada Power, Sierra Pacific Fail to Comply With RPS.
April 14, 2004... The Las Vegas Review-Journal recently reported that Sierra Pacific Resources subsidiaries Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company have stated in utility regulator filings that they will not be able to comply with the state's...

GE Energy to Provide Turbines for Taiwanese Project.
April 14, 2004... GE Energy will supply wind turbines for a 39-megawatt (MW) wind project being developed by Taiwan Power Company. Project contractor Chung-Hsin Electric and Machinery Manufacturing Corporation will install 26 1.5-MW GE turbines at three...

Hydropower Station in China to Begin Operating in July.
April 14, 2004... Chinese newspaper the People's Daily recently reported that the first generating unit of the 4.9-billion-yuan (about $593-million) Hongjiadu hydropower station on the Wujiang River is scheduled to become operational July 1. According to...

DESC Issues RFP for Renewable Energy Certificates.
April 14, 2004... The Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) recently announced it has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for renewable energy certificates on behalf of EPA facilities located in Las Vegas, NV; Duluth, MN; Grosse Isle, MI; and Washington, D.C....

UCSY Acquires Majority Stake in GiraSolar.
April 15, 2004... Universal Communication Systems, Inc. (UCSY) has executed a share purchase agreement resulting in the acquisition of a 51-percent stake in Dutch company GiraSolar BV. The agreement will leave GiraSolar with a majority stake in both...

Dairyland Announces Operation of WI Landfill Gas Facility.
April 15, 2004... Dairyland Power Cooperative, together with the Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, recently announced the launch of the ONYX Seven Mile Creek landfill gas-to-energy facility in Eau Claire, WI. According to Dairyland, the three-megawatt renewable...

NorthWestern Seeks MT Communities for Solar Installations.
April 15, 2004... NorthWestern Energy recently announced it is recruiting ten Montana communities to participate in a new Sun4Communities project, which is designed to enable secondary schools and city and county government buildings to qualify for free solar...

Researchers Study Conversion of Pig Waste Into Crude Oil.
April 15, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that University of Illinois scientists are conducting research into the development of a new thermochemical process for the conversion of porcine waste into crude oil suitable for refining. ...

Clean Power Income Fund Reports 2003 Financial Results.
April 15, 2004... Toronto, Ontario-based Clean Power Income Fund, a provider of "stable, long-term cash flow to investors from the environmentally preferred generation of electricity," recently announced its financial results for the three months and year ended...

Maryland Legislature Approves Renewable Energy Bill.
April 16, 2004... The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), together with the Clean Energy Partnership, recently announced that the Maryland General Assembly has approved a measure requiring 7.5 percent of the state's electricity to be generated from...

Ballard Offers New Ecostar Power Converter for PV Market.
April 16, 2004... The new 75-kilowatt (kW) Ecostar power converter for photovoltaic applications is now available from Ballard Power Systems. According to the company, the Ecostar features continuous power output at full load, night-time isolation, patented...

Nathaniel Energy Closes $2-million Funding.
April 16, 2004... Englewood, CO-based renewable energy technology and engineering company Nathaniel Energy Corporation recently announced its closing of a convertible debt funding of $2 million in March. According to the company, the loan bears interest at...

Select Energy, Community Energy Form Strategic Alliance.
April 16, 2004... Berlin, CT-based Select Energy, Inc., the competitive marketing and services subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, recently announced its formation of a strategic alliance with NewWind Energy marketer and developer Community Energy, Inc. As a...

Survey Says Ontario Residents Want More Green Power.
April 16, 2004... The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) recently announced the release of a new survey of 1,000 Ontario adults which reveals "across-the-board support for alternative energy sources such as wind turbines, water power and high-efficiency, natural...

Weekly Update.
April 16, 2004... 6TH CUBASOLAR INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE, April 10-18, 2004, Guantanamo Hotel, Guantanamo, Cuba IWEC 2004: WIND ENERGY AT THE CROSSROADS, April 21-22, 2004, Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo, Ireland 1ST SOLAR SILICON CONFERENCE,...

NM Governor Urges Western States to Support Renewables.
April 19, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that New Mexico governor Bill Richardson urged Western U.S. state leaders during the Western Governors' Association (WGA) North American Energy Summit held in Albuquerque last week to band together in...

Hunt Aviation Tests Vertical-axis Wind Turbine.
April 19, 2004... Testing on Hunt Aviation Corporation's prototype vertical-axis wind turbine is underway, with company officials hopeful that its design, originally developed to harness power from the air for the Gravityplane while gliding, will prove...

AEC to Acquire Majority Interest in Sterling Planet Subsidiary.
April 19, 2004... Alternate Energy Corporation (AEC) recently announced it has signed a letter of intent to acquire a majority interest in Sterling Planet, Inc. subsidiary Sterling Technologies, Inc., which "deploys distributed generation technologies, primarily...

Endesa to Invest 1.3 Billion Euros in Renewable Energy.
April 19, 2004... Madrid, Spain-based private electrical group Endesa recently announced plans to invest approximately 1.3 billion euros (about $1.6 billion) from now until 2008 in renewable energy generation. According to Endesa, the investment will involve...

Forum Attendees Discuss Green Power in Pacific Northwest.
April 19, 2004... The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently reported that attendees of the New Apollo Energy Forum held last week in Seattle, WA discussed the development of a 10-year, $300-billion program designed to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency...

CCE Urges Congress to Enact Wind Energy Development PTC.
April 20, 2004... Nonprofit advocacy organization Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) recently urged Congress to reenact the wind energy development production tax credit (PTC), which expired at the end of last year. "It is time for America's...

New Solar Manufacturing Project Planned for New Mexico.
April 20, 2004... New Mexico companies the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative and SolarPort will collaborate with Spire Corporation and New Energy Capital of Massachusetts on an effort to manufacture solar panels and generate solar power in New Mexico. Under a...

Puget Sound Region Utilities Launch Green Power Campaign.
April 20, 2004... The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced that Puget Sound Energy, the Snohomish County Public Utility District and Tacoma Power have joined together in launching a public information campaign designed to encourage...

Officials Say EU CO2 Regulations Could Benefit Nuclear Industry.
April 20, 2004... Reuters recently reported that European Union (EU) nuclear power industry officials and analysts believe the nuclear industry could potentially benefit from the EU's upcoming carbon dioxide (CO2) regulations. "There's generally more of an...

New Group to Encourage Use of Renewables in ND.
April 20, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported the establishment of a new coalition in North Dakota, known as the Renewable Energy Partnership, that will support the local development and use of energy from such renewable sources as wind and...

WorldWater to Supply Additional PV Equipment for CA Project.
April 21, 2004... WorldWater Corporation recently announced plans to ship an additional $1.3 million of photovoltaic (PV) equipment to the job site at Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest, CA during the next two weeks. According to WorldWater, which last month...

GE Energy Completes Acquisition of AstroPower.
April 21, 2004... GE Energy has completed its acquisition of solar electric power product manufacturer AstroPower, Inc., which had filed a Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy earlier this year The move adds solar power to GE Energy's renewable energy mix,...

DynaMotive Conducts Groundbreaking of Pyrolysis Plant.
April 21, 2004... DynaMotive recently announced the groundbreaking of a new $12.5-million Canadian (about $9.7-million U.S.) pyrolysis oil-fueled power cogeneration facility in West Lorne, Ontario. According to DynaMotive, the facility is expected to process...

Local U.K. Council Investigates Geothermal Resources.
April 21, 2004... Local U.K. newspaper the Western Morning News recently reported that the county council of Cornwall, England has requested public comment on a proposed plan to support an extension of the local Camborne School with geothermal power. ...

UC Berkeley Report Says Renewables Will Produce More Jobs.
April 21, 2004... The University of California (UC) Berkeley recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Putting Renewables to Work: How Many Jobs Can the Clean Energy Industry Generate?", which indicates that investing in such renewable resources as...

Nathaniel Energy Ships Combustors for Waste-to-energy Project.
April 22, 2004... Englewood, CO-based Nathaniel Energy Corporation has begun shipping parts for its Thermal Combustors to be used in a waste-to-energy project in Cologna Venetta, Italy. Two 1,800-BHP Thermal Combustors will be shipped to the project, valued...

Millennium Electric TOU Receives $7 Million in Orders.
April 22, 2004... Universal Communication Systems, Inc. (UCSY) recently announced that its subsidiary Millennium Electric TOU, Ltd. has received signed orders worth approximately $7 million for its photovoltaic (PV) products and solar energy systems. ...

Green Mountain Appoints New Chief Environmental Officer.
April 22, 2004... Green Mountain Energy Company recently announced it has appointed Gillian Taddune, who has worked for the company since 2000, to the position of chief environmental officer. In her new position, Green Mountain said Taddune will be...

Pacific Hydro Completes Purchase of Chilean Hydro Assets.
April 22, 2004... Australian renewable energy company Pacific Hydro, Ltd. recently announced the successful completion of its acquisition of the Coya and Pangal hydroelectric projects from the Chilean state-owned copper company CODELCO for a total cost of $75.6...

New Report Favors U.K. Nuclear Generation Over Wind Power.
April 22, 2004... The Scotsman recently reported that Edinburgh-based think-tank the David Hume Institute has released a new report, titled "Tilting at the Windmills: The Economics of Wind Power," which predicts that the government's commitment to generate 20...

Sanyo Dedicates New Solar Installations in San Diego.
April 23, 2004... Sanyo North America recently dedicated two new solar installations at its San Diego, CA headquarters. The arrays include a 150-kilowatt (kW) system on the headquarters roof and a 50-kW atop a nearby parking garage. Both feature Sanyo's...