Renewable Energy Today articles from February 2004

Renewable Energy Today archives from February 2004

Public Funds Co-create Clean Energy States Alliance.
February 2, 2004... Seventeen public funds from 12 U.S. states recently joined together in an effort to promote clean energy projects and companies through the support of a new nonprofit organization -- the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA). CESA's members...

Citigroup Adopts New Environmental Policy.
February 2, 2004... Citigroup, together with the Rainforest Action Network, recently announced it has adopted a new comprehensive environmental policy that includes the company's development of a program to invest in renewable energy. Under the green power...

Honeywell to Automate Hydro Stations in Korea.
February 2, 2004... Honeywell Process Solutions recently announced it has received a $3.2-million contract, the second phase of a multi-year project, from Korea Water Resources Corporation (KOWACO) to automate control systems for hydro power stations and hydraulic...

South Australian Residents Protest Local Wind Farm.
February 2, 2004... Officials in Myponga, South Australia recently reported that local residents protested earlier this month against the state government's approval of TrustPower, Ltd.'s proposed $60-million Myponga-Sellicks Hill wind farm on the belief that the...

PR&C Says Wind May Suffer From Tax Policy Uncertainty.
February 2, 2004... Platts Research & Consulting (PR&C) recently announced the release of a new study, titled "Financing Wind," which indicates that even if the 10-year 1.8 cents/kilowatt-hour production tax credit (PTC), which expired at the end of 2003, is...

VT Citizens Groups Recommend Moratorium on Wind Projects.
February 3, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that local Vermont citizens groups the Glebe Mountain Group, the Kingdom Commons Group and the Lowell Mountain Group are urging the state government and state environmental groups to support...

Xantrex, Atlantis Offer Solar Energy Systems for Home Builders.
February 3, 2004... Xantrex Technology recently announced it has joined with Atlantis Energy Systems to offer a new inverter and solar panel combination designed to be more easily installed by home builders. According to Xantrex, the system combines its SunTie...

Bruce Power Considers Restarting Two Nuclear Reactors.
February 3, 2004... Tiverton, Ontario-based Bruce Power recently announced plans to study the feasibility of restarting the idle Unit 1 and Unit 2 reactors at the company's Bruce A nuclear power station -- a move that could potentially meet 6.8 percent of the...

BIMS Announces $7.5-million Private Investment.
February 3, 2004... BIMS Renewable Energy, Inc. recently announced a private investment of $10 million Canadian (about $7.5 million U.S.) from private investment fund TGLP Capital, Inc. BIMS said it has agreed with TGLP that the investment money will be used...

Council Rejects Green Challenge to Belize Hydro Project.
February 3, 2004... U.K.-based Friends of the Earth (FOE), together with the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), recently announced that the Privy Council of London has rejected a challenge by environmental coalition Belize Alliance for Conservation...

BLM Official Says Geothermal Exploration Needs More Funding.
February 4, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that while speaking at a recent meeting on harnessing geothermal energy in Nevada, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) geothermal program head Paul Dunlevy revealed that more funding is needed to...

Aspen Skiing Company to Produce On-site Hydropower.
February 4, 2004... Rocky Mountain News recently reported that the Aspen Skiing Company is looking to spend approximately $150,000 on a new project that will produce on-site hydropower from a "micro-hydro electric system" on Snowmass Mountain utilizing the...

IRN Criticizes ADB Support of Hydro Projects in Mekong Region.
February 4, 2004... The International Rivers Network, USA (IRN) recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Sizing up the Grid: How the Mekong Power Grid Compares Against the Policies of the Asian Development Bank [(ADB)]," which criticizes ADB for...

Bank of Ireland Launches Renewable Energy Fund.
February 4, 2004... The Bank of Ireland Corporate Banking recently announced the launch of a new specialized 500-million euro (about $626.7-million) fund dedicated to the environment and renewable energy sector. Specifically, the Bank of Ireland said the fund,...

CEAA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Hydro Facility.
February 4, 2004... The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has invited public comment on a recently completed comprehensive report on the proposed Hydro-Quebec Peribonka River hydroelectric facility. According to CEAA, Hydro-Quebec proposes...

SEC Decries Proposed White House Renewables Budget.
February 5, 2004... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) recently vowed to work to reverse the $29 million in reductions contained in the Bush administration's FY 05 budget request for Department of Energy renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. ...

AstroPower to Sell Assets to GE Energy.
February 5, 2004... AstroPower, Inc. recently announced it has reached an agreement to sell some of its U.S. business assets to GE Energy, and has filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in United States Bankruptcy Court in...

EWEA Comments on EU Wind Power Capacity.
February 5, 2004... The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) recently reported that EU wind power capacity increased by 23 percent last year to 28,401 megawatts, with Germany (2,645 MW) and Spain (1,377 MW) continuing to "dominate the market." "Wind energy...

Airtricity Selects ION System to Monitor Wind Farm Performance.
February 5, 2004... Airtricity recently announced it has chosen an ION enterprise energy management system developed by Power Measurement to monitor electricity production at the company's Corneen wind park in Ireland. According to Airtricity, the site's two...

DynaMotive Expands Strategic Alliance With UMA Engineering.
February 5, 2004... Vancouver, British Columbia-based DynaMotive Energy Systems Corporation, a "leading technology provider of renewable energy solutions from biomass," recently announced an expanded strategic alliance with UMA Engineering, an engineering,...

Konarka Demonstrates Efficiency of Prototype PV Cells.
February 6, 2004... Konarka Technologies, Inc. recently announced that its prototype "third-generation" photovoltaic (PV) cells have achieved a rate of efficiency above seven percent. "Konarka's chemistry-based cells represent a new breed of coatable,...

NJPIRG Opposes License Extension for Nuclear Power Plant.
February 6, 2004... The New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG), together with local public officials, community leaders, local and state organizations and local citizens, recently expressed their opposition to a potential license extension for Exelon...

EnviroMission Completes Solar Tower Project Feasibility Study.
February 6, 2004... Melbourne, Australia-based renewable energy development firm EnviroMission, Ltd., together with construction and infrastructure developer Leighton Contractors, Pty., Ltd., recently announced the completion of a pre-feasibility study for the...

ORMAT Commissions First Geothermal Plant in Costa Rica.
February 6, 2004... Sparks, NV-based modular power plant developer and manufacturer ORMAT recently announced the formal commissioning of the first ORMAT geothermal binary power plant in Costa Rica. According to the company, the ORMAT Energy Converter (OEC)...

Environment Colorado, Sierra Club File Renewables Initiative.
February 6, 2004... Environment Colorado and the Sierra Club recently announced they have filed a ballot initiative to increase the use of renewable energy in Colorado that will require electricity providers to get 10 percent of their electricity sales from...

Weekly Update.
February 6, 2004... ENERGY MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP, February 10-11, 2004, Florida Solar Energy Center, Cocoa, FL AUTOMOTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES, February 18-19, 2004, The Grand, Amsterdam POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: CLEANING THE AIR ON ENERGY, March 1-3,...

FirstEnergy to Purchase Power From PA Wind Farm.
February 9, 2004... FirstEnergy Corporation recently announced that its competitive subsidiary FirstEnergy Solutions has entered into a 20-year agreement to purchase the output of a wind farm being developed by Generation Resources Holding Company (GRHC) in...

Green Mountain, EPA Promote Green Power Partnership Program.
February 9, 2004... Green Mountain Energy Company recently announced it is working with the EPA to promote the agency's Green Power Partnership Program, a voluntary program working to standardize green power procurement as part of best practice environmental...

Exelon Nuclear Reports Record Generation in 2003.
February 9, 2004... Exelon Nuclear recently announced that its 17 generating units produced a total of 143.9 million net megawatt-hours of electricity in 2003, the "highest production ever" for the company. According to Exelon Nuclear, the units generated 2.9...

Philippine DOE to Conduct Geothermal Bid Round.
February 9, 2004... Local officials in the Philippines recently reported that the federal Department of Energy (DOE) plans to conduct a geothermal bid round later this year designed to "bid out" geothermal fields to domestic and foreign companies. According...

Local NM Officials Urge Senate to Extend Wind Tax Credit.
February 9, 2004... Local officials in Quay County, NM recently reported that such local groups as the San Jon School Board and the Quay County Commissioners, as well as the village administrator of Logan, the president of Mesalands Community College, the village...

PacifiCorp Issues RFP for Renewable Resources.
February 10, 2004... PacifiCorp, which serves six western states as Pacific Power and Utah Power, recently announced that it is seeking up to 1,100 megawatts (MW) of new renewable resources in the next seven years, after receiving final regulatory approval to issue...

Idatherm, U.S. Geothermal Pursue Geothermal Projects in ID.
February 10, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Oakley, ID-based Idatherm and U.S. Geothermal, Inc. are both pursuing the development of new geothermal power plants in Idaho. According to AP, Idatherm is looking to begin the drilling of...

UNDP, GEF to Launch Wind Power Initiative in Tunisia.
February 10, 2004... The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) recently announced the launch of an initiative designed to help develop Tunisia's wind power industry, which "has the potential to generate more than...

Toronto Hydro, WindShare Release Bird Mortality Study.
February 10, 2004... Toronto Hydro Corporation recently announced the release of a new study conducted with WindShare which reveals that the wind turbine located at Toronto's Exhibition Place "has had no significant impact on local and migrating bird populations."...

Community Energy Applauds Wind Energy Customers.
February 10, 2004... Community Energy, Inc., together with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Environmental Advocates of New York and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), recently hosted an award ceremony in...

Local NY Legislators Approve Renewables Spending.
February 11, 2004... The Poughkeepsie Journal recently reported that legislators in Dutchess County, NY voted 24-1 earlier this week in favor of spending up to $27,000 on renewable energy. According to the newspaper, the county is expected to primarily rely...

Guatemalan Village Benefits From Micro-hydropower Project.
February 11, 2004... Portland, OR-based Green Empowerment, a nonprofit that promotes renewable energy in the developing world, recently announced that Mayan villagers in the Guatemalan highlands have received funds in connection with greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation...

International Alliance to Advance 'Low-carbon' Technology.
February 11, 2004... The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Carbon Trust and the Clean Energy Group recently announced the signing of a statement of intent and principles to launch the Low Carbon Technology Alliance. According to the groups, the alliance...

Pacific Hydro Provides Updates on Wind Farm Projects.
February 11, 2004... Melbourne, Australia-based renewable energy company Pacific Hydro, Ltd. recently announced that two of its wind projects in South Australia -- the Clements Gap wind farm and the Shea Oak Flat wind farm -- have "taken important steps forward in...

DOE Releases Draft RFP to Establish Nuclear Technology Lab.
February 11, 2004... The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the release of two draft requests for proposals (RFP) for "missions" related to a new "world class nuclear technology lab" as well as a new environmental site clean-up project in Idaho. ...

Genzyme Selects Constellation Energy as Renewables Supplier.
February 12, 2004... Constellation Energy Group recently announced that its subsidiary Constellation NewEnergy has been selected by Genzyme Corporation to supply electricity to the Genzyme Center, the company's corporate headquarters located in Cambridge, MA....

Pollution Probe Releases Renewable Energy Primer.
February 12, 2004... Canadian environmental organization Pollution Probe recently announced the release of its new Primer on the Technologies of Renewable Energy. According to the organization, the 81-page booklet was developed as a resource to promote...

SWRDA Approves Funding for Wave Power Development.
February 12, 2004... The South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) recently announced it has committed nearly 500,000 pounds (about $943,905) towards the advancement of plans to install an electrical socket, known as the Wave Hub, off Cornwall's...

U.K. Company Offers Bonds for New Wind Farm.
February 12, 2004... Industry officials in the U.K. recently reported that Conwy Energy Agency has begun offering bonds to the public for the final phase of the Cwmni Gwynt Teg wind farm in North Wales. According to officials, the company has set a minimum...

PA Awards Energy Harvest Grants for Renewable Projects.
February 12, 2004... The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) recently announced it has awarded a total of $5 million in Energy Harvest grants to 32 recipients, the majority of which plan to use the funds for renewable energy projects. ...

CO House Approves Renewable Energy Measure.
February 13, 2004... The Denver Business Journal recently reported that the Colorado House of Representatives earlier this week approved, by a vote of 39 to 26, a measure that would require energy companies Xcel Energy, Inc. and Aquila, Inc. to provide more "green"...

Spire Solar Installs PV System at Chicago 911 Center.
February 13, 2004... Spire Corporation recently announced the installation of a 10-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic (PV) backup power system at the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). According to Spire, backup power for the new PV...

Local MA Mayor Says Proposed Wind Farm Unlikely.
February 13, 2004... The Massachusetts Sentinel & Enterprise recently reported that Fitchburg, MA mayor Dan Mylott informed attendees of a press conference held earlier this month that Applied Wind Technologies' proposed eight-turbine wind farm for the city is not...

CHA Calls for Hydropower Development Incentives.
February 13, 2004... Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) president Al Snyder recently addressed members of the Quebec electricity association, speaking of "the need for appropriate incentives for the development of new hydropower facilities." According to...

Pacific Hydro Reports Half-year Financial Results, Equity Raising.
February 13, 2004... Melbourne, Australia-based renewable energy company Pacific Hydro, Ltd. recently announced its financial results for the half-year ended December 31, 2003, reporting a net profit after tax of $20.3 million, a three-percent increase from $19.7...

Weekly Update.
February 13, 2004... AUTOMOTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGIES, February 18-19, 2004, The Grand, Amsterdam POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: CLEANING THE AIR ON ENERGY, March 1-3, 2004, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV FIFTH ANNUAL ENERCOM, March 2-3, 2004, Metro Toronto...

SEC, Groups Urge Congressmen to Join RE/EE Caucus.
February 17, 2004... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) recently announced the delivery of a letter last week signed by 78 businesses, environmental, consumer, religious and energy policy organizations urging members of Congress, who are not yet members, to...

Great Lakes Hydro Reports Fourth-quarter Financial Results.
February 17, 2004... Gatineau, Quebec-based hydroelectricity producer Great Lakes Hydro Income Fund recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2003, reporting an increase in quarterly net income to $20.5 million from $2.3...

U.K. Launches Renewable Energy Publicity Drive.
February 17, 2004... Government officials in the U.K. recently announced the launch of a publicity drive touting the benefits of renewable energy known as "it's only natural." According to officials, the campaign, being conducted by public relations firm...

Report Says German Wind Industry Increased Contribution in 2003.
February 17, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the German Institute for Economic Research has published a new report indicating that the German wind energy industry's contribution to the country's total power output increased to 3.1 percent in 2003, compared...

Banham Poultry Receives U.K. Approval for Renewable Project.
February 17, 2004... Norfolk, England-based Banham Poultry, Ltd. recently announced that its newly launched energy division Banham Power, Ltd. will help advance the parent company's plan to establish a renewable power plant near Attleborough, Norfolk, which has won...

FPL Launches Sunshine Energy Initiative.
February 18, 2004... Florida Power & Light (FPL) recently announced the launch of its Sunshine Energy initiative, a new "green pricing" program offered as a choice for customers "who want to support cleaner, renewable electric generation and reduce the demand for...

Local WA County Board Rejects Wind Farm Proposal.
February 18, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the Benton County, WA Board of Adjustment unanimously rejected the granting of permits for a proposed 549-turbine wind farm on the Yakima-Benton county line. According to AP, the board based...

Israeli Utility Authority Considers Renewables Production Rate.
February 18, 2004... Israel's Public Utility Authority-Electricity recently announced that within three months it will set rates for renewable energy power producers. Additionally, the authority said an emissions trading mechanism by electricity producers will be...

Scottish Enterprise Committee Considers Renewables Goal.
February 18, 2004... Scottish newspaper The Scotsman recently reported that an enterprise committee in charge of investigating renewable energy was told that achieving the country's goal of generating 18 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2010...

Local Chinese Firm to Add Two Hydro Projects on Jinsha River.
February 18, 2004... Industry officials in China recently reported that the China Yangtze Three Gorges Project Development Company has begun construction of two additional hydroelectric facilities on the Jinsha River as part of its larger "Three Gorges" hydro...

Intrepid Technology to Initiate Design of Anaerobic Digester.
February 19, 2004... Intrepid Technology and Resources, Inc. recently announced it has signed a letter of intent to begin the design that is to lead to construction of an anaerobic digester and methane production facility to be built on a dairy located near...

RWE Innogy Signs $400-million Wind Power Deal.
February 19, 2004... RWE Innogy, a leading integrated U.K. energy business, recently announced the signing of a new deal to secure further funds for the development of its wind energy business. Under the terms of the agreement, RWE Innogy, Englefield Capital,...

Western GeoPower Reports Year-end Financial Results.
February 19, 2004... Vancouver, British Columbia-based renewable energy development company Western GeoPower Corporation recently announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2003, reporting a loss of $1.7 million, or 12 cents per share, compared...

South Africa Reclaims Funding From Solar Energy Initiative.
February 19, 2004... Local officials in South Africa recently reported that the government has reclaimed funding from a pilot solar energy project initiated in 1999 to supply off-grid electricity to 300,000 rural households by 2009. According to officials, the...

CSU Student Government Proposes Wind Power Option.
February 19, 2004... The Colorado State Collegian recently reported that Associated Students of Colorado State University (ASCSU), the university's student government, introduced a bill late last month that would offer on-campus residents the option to purchase...

Local CA Lawmaker Introduces Renewables Measure.
February 20, 2004... Local officials in San Francisco, CA recently reported that Board of Supervisors member Tom Ammiano has introduced a measure that could potentially lead to greater use of electricity generated from such renewable resources as wind, solar power...

Uni-Solar Ovonic Receives PV Order From German Company.
February 20, 2004... United Solar Ovonic, LLC (Uni-Solar Ovonic) recently announced it has received an order for one megawatt (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) panels from ThyssenKrupp Hoesch Bausysteme GmbH (Thyssen). According to Uni-Solar, the flexible panels are to...

Evergreen Solar Objects to Pending Sale of AstroPower Assets.
February 20, 2004... Marlboro, MA-based photovoltaic products developer, marketer and manufacturer Evergreen Solar, Inc. recently announced it has filed objections with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware regarding the pending sale of the assets of Newark,...

SSE Announces Wind Farm Acquisition, Development.
February 20, 2004... U.K. renewable energy generator Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) recently announced it has completed the acquisition of the 11-MW Spurness wind farm on the Orkney Islands from Spurness Wind Energy for 8.3 million pounds (about $15.7 million)....

U.K. Town Council Approves Purchase of Green Power.
February 20, 2004... Local U.K. newspaper the Evening Gazette recently reported that town officials in Darlington, Durham have committed to purchasing wind and hydropower in an effort to improve the local environment. "We believe that our switch to green power...

Weekly Update.
February 20, 2004... POWER-GEN RENEWABLE ENERGY: CLEANING THE AIR ON ENERGY, March 1-3, 2004, Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV FIFTH ANNUAL ENERCOM, March 2-3, 2004, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, Ontario WORLD SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DAYS 2004, March...

Local CT City Announces Renewable Energy Commitment.
February 23, 2004... Local officials in New Haven, CT recently reported that Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. has announced the city's commitment to purchase 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2010. According to officials, the city...

Global Solar Touts Efficiency of Thin-film Solar Module.
February 23, 2004... Global Solar Energy recently announced it has built a large-area solar module capable of converting 10.7 percent of the energy in captured sunlight into electricity, "staking its claim to the most efficient flexible thin-film module ever built...

BWEA Champions Wave and Tidal Power.
February 23, 2004... The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) recently launched a new initiative to back the U.K.'s emerging wave and tidal power sector at its joint national conference with Regen SW, "the renewable energy agency for the south west of England."...

CEC, WGA Seek Input for Renewable Energy Tracking System.
February 23, 2004... The California Energy Commission (CEC) and the Western Governors' Association (WGA) recently announced they are seeking feedback from interested parties concerning proposals and recommendations that will be developed this year for the...

Local MA Residents Voice Opposition to Wind Turbine Installation.
February 23, 2004... The Boston Globe recently reported that local residents in Hanson, MA have expressed opposition to the erection of a 120-foot-high, 10-kilowatt wind turbine as part of the new Whitman-Hanson Regional High School construction project. ...

SMA America to Install New PV System at Headquarters.
February 24, 2004... Grass Valley, CA-based installed inverter manufacturer SMA America recently announced the installation of a 21.6-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system at its company headquarters. According to SMA America, the grid-tied solar system produces...

Local PA County to Purchase Wind Power.
February 24, 2004... Local officials in Delaware County, PA recently reported that the Delaware County Council has approved a contract to purchase up to 496,808 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind power per year from Energy Cooperative Associates of Pennsylvania. ...

BEF Participates in 'Sustainable Slopes' Initiative.
February 24, 2004... The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced its participation as a partner in "Sustainable Slopes," a "blueprint for ski areas seeking to manage their businesses in a way that demonstrates a commitment to environmental...

U.K. Announces New Funding for Solar Energy Projects.
February 24, 2004... The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently announced 5 million pounds (about $9.3 million) in new funding for solar energy projects around the country. According to DTI, the funding, which applies to medium- to large-scale...

Ontario Hydro-power Companies Attempt Merger.
February 24, 2004... The Toronto Star recently reported that Ontario hydropower utilities Hydro Vaughan Distribution, Inc. and Markham Hydro Distribution, Inc. are attempting a new merger after a failed attempt in 2001. According to the newspaper, if...

TXU Energy Customers Receive 'Record Amount' of Wind Power.
February 25, 2004... TXU Energy recently announced that electricity produced for its customers from wind power "set a Texas record" last week. "For the first time, TXU Energy wind power provided enough energy this week to equal a natural gas power plant," said...