Renewable Energy Today articles from July 2004

Renewable Energy Today archives from July 2004

U.S. Court of Appeals Dismisses Suit Against Cape Wind.
July 1, 2004... Cape Wind recently announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed earlier this week a Federal District Court decision of August 19, 2003 to dismiss the "Ten Taxpayers Citizens Group" lawsuit filed against the company...

REP Guide Promotes Community Wind Farm Ownership in Ireland.
July 1, 2004... The Renewable Energy Partnership (REP), a collaboration between the Western Development Commission (WDC), Mayo Community Wind Energy Group and Bri Nua, recently announced the publication of a new guide titled "To Catch the Wind: The Potential...

Nicaragua Announces New Projects to Boost Renewables Industry.
July 1, 2004... Business News (BN) Americas recently reported that Nicaragua's energy commission CNE has announced plans to use industry investments to develop 140 megawatts (MW) of renewable power by 2007. BNamericas said the renewable projects include a...

First Geothermal Plant Begins Production in Iran.
July 1, 2004... Iran's Mehr News Agency (MNA) recently reported that the country's first geothermal plant became operational earlier this week in Meshkinshahr. According to MNA, the plant is capable of generating two megawatts of electricity. (MEHR...

New Tidal Power Plant Proposed for Islands in West Bengal.
July 1, 2004... Eastern India newspaper the Telegraph recently reported that a proposed four-megawatt tidal power plant is under consideration for development at Durgaduani in the Sundarban Islands, West Bengal. According to the paper, Union minister of...

FPL Energy Announces Plans for New Wind Farm in OK.
July 2, 2004... FPL Energy, LLC recently announced plans to build, own and operate a new wind farm near Weatherford in Custer County, Oklahoma capable of generating up to 106.5 megawatts (MW). FPL Energy noted that it will sell the electricity output from...

Open Hand Dedicates New 68-kW Solar System.
July 2, 2004... PowerLight recently announced that wood processing shop Open Hand Manufacturing, Inc. has dedicated a new 68-kilowatt solar power system atop its manufacturing facility in Oakland, CA. According to PowerLight, the solar system, which...

3 Phases to Supply RECs to Federal Facilities.
July 2, 2004... San Francisco, CA-based renewable energy service provider 3 Phases Energy recently announced it has been contracted to supply the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the General Services Administration (GSA) with approximately 36 million...

BEF to Purchase Green Tags From Vision Quest.
July 2, 2004... The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced plans to purchase "Green Tags" from wind energy provider Vision Quest, a division of Alberta, Canada-based TransAlta Energy Corporation. "Both organizations exist to ensure...

Weekly Update.
July 2, 2004... SOLAR 2004: A SOLAR HARVEST -- GROWING OPPORTUNITIES, July 10-14, Doubletree Hotel Portland, Portland, OR 2004 ENERGY TECH INVESTOR CONFERENCE, July 19-20, 2004, Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA MARKETING GREEN POWER CONFERENCE, August...

KeySpan Calls for Broader Renewables Definition in NY RPS.
July 6, 2004... West Hempstead, NY-based energy and environmental service company Changing World Technologies (CWT) recently announced that utility KeySpan Corporation has appealed for a broader definition of eligible renewable energy sources under New York...

Nathaniel Energy Enters Partnership With Merrick.
July 6, 2004... Nathaniel Energy Corporation recently announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Merrick & Company, which will be used as a model for future agreements and create a framework for a continuous partnership between the...

Renewables Fund Made Available Through EU INTERREG IIIA.
July 6, 2004... The Belfast News Letter recently reported that a new 5-million-euro (about $6.1-million) renewable energy and energy efficiency fund has been made available through the European Union (EU) INTERREG IIIA, a community initiative aimed at...

Thai Electric Company Seeks Share of Solar Company.
July 6, 2004... The Bangkok Post recently reported that Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, Plc is looking to acquire 20 percent of solar module manufacturer Solartron According to the newspaper, Solartron was recently awarded a 1.4-billion baht...

New Wind Farm Visitors Center Opens in Tasmania.
July 6, 2004... Local Australian newspaper the Mercury recently reported the opening of a new visitors center at the Woolnorth Wind Farm in Tasmania, which the paper said is capable of providing power for more than 25,000 area homes. According to the...

PSE Acquires New License for Snoqualmie Falls Hydro Project.
July 7, 2004... Puget Sound Energy (PSE) recently announced it has been granted a new operating license by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enabling the Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project to continue operating for another 40 years. PSE...

LADWP Issues RFP for Renewable Energy Projects.
July 7, 2004... The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) for green power projects as it seeks to acquire up to 1.3 million megawatt-hours per year of renewable energy by the end of 2010. According...

New Study Finds New Zealanders Favor Renewables Growth.
July 7, 2004... The New Zealand government recently announced that a new Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA)-commissioned survey reveals that New Zealanders "overwhelmingly" support wind energy and hydropower. According to the government, 82...

New Survey Says Californians Support Solar Energy.
July 7, 2004... Environment California recently announced the results of a new statewide survey which indicate that 72 percent of those polled support governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's campaign goal to have half of all newly built homes in the state feature...

Energy Northwest, RES Seek Investors for Proposed Wind Farm.
July 8, 2004... The Tri-City Herald recently reported that Energy Northwest is collaborating with Britain's Renewable Energy Systems, Ltd. (RES) on the development of a new wind farm in Garfield County, WA to be built and owned by RES, and operated by Energy...

Quebec Postpones Hydro-Quebec Gas Power Plant Approval.
July 8, 2004... Bloomberg recently reported that the Quebec government will not allow power company Hydro-Quebec to build a $550-million Canadian (about $415-million U.S.) local gas-fired plant, which would typically be approved more rapidly than hydropower...

Cape Wind Awarded 'Tentative Decision' Approval From MA EFSB.
July 8, 2004... Cape Wind recently announced it has been awarded "tentative decision" approval from the staff of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) for the installation of two approximately 18-mile, 115-kilovolt underground electric...

Bainbridge Graduate Institute Purchases BEF Green Tags.
July 8, 2004... Washington's Bainbridge Graduate Institute (BGI) recently announced it has purchased enough "green tags" from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to offset 100 percent of the annual electricity usage at its administrative offices. ...

Official Says Spain Could Raise Wind Power Capacity.
July 8, 2004... Reuters recently reported that while industry officials have estimated that Spain's wind energy capacity will reach approximately 13,000 megawatts (MW) by 2011, Instituto Para La Diversificacion Y Ahorro De La Energia (IDAE) director general...

NY Launches Renewable Energy Incubator.
July 9, 2004... The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), together with High Tech Rochester, the Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE) and the Rochester Institute of Technology, recently announced the formation of the Renewable...

Pacific Hydro Begins Construction on Australian Wind Farm.
July 9, 2004... Australia-based renewable energy company Pacific Hydro recently announced the commencement of construction for the 30-megawatt (MW) Yambuk Wind Farm, the first stage of its Portland Wind Project in Portland, Victoria. According to the...

Konarka Announces European Investments, Prepares to Expand.
July 9, 2004... Konarka Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of products that convert light into energy, recently announced it has received an investment from the European venture capital community as part of its $18 million Series C round of financing. New...

WREN to Host World Renewable Energy Congress in CO.
July 9, 2004... The World Renewable Energy Network (WREN) will host the World Renewable Energy Congress VIII, a biennial event, August 28 through September 3 at the Denver Marriott City Center in Denver, CO. On Saturday, August 28, the WREN Council will...

Weekly Update.
July 9, 2004... SOLAR 2004: A SOLAR HARVEST -- GROWING OPPORTUNITIES, July 10-14, Doubletree Hotel Portland, Portland, OR 2004 ENERGY TECH INVESTOR CONFERENCE, July 19-20, 2004, Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA MARKETING GREEN POWER CONFERENCE, August...

Internal Hydro Enters Partnership With Kinetic Energy Systems.
July 12, 2004... Tampa, FL-based Internal Hydro International, Inc., the developer of a low-impact hydro system, recently announced it has entered into a strategic partnership with Kinetic Energy Systems, Inc., which has developed wind turbine and water...

Asirus Announces PV Module Production Line Acquisitions.
July 12, 2004... Thin-film solar photovoltaic (PV) modules manufacturer Asirus Solar International recently announced it has acquired CalSolar's amorphous silicon PV module production line in Sacramento, California, as well as much of the amorphous silicon PV...

New Report Highlights France's Wind Industry.
July 12, 2004... Reuters recently reported that France's Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry (MINEFI) has released a new study which reveals that, between July 2001 and February 2004, the government issued 175 permits allowing the construction of...

WRI, Indian Industry to Collaborate on Renewable Efforts.
July 12, 2004... The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) announced late last month during the Green Power 2004 Conference in Mumbai that they have agreed to collaborate on a...

VT Locality Seeks Bids for Small Wind Project.
July 13, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that the village of Alburg, VT is seeking bids from developers for a project to erect a wind turbine atop the Alburg Welcome Center. According to AP, Alburg officials expect the turbine will help...

Companies Join to Form Strategy for Sustainable Solutions Institute.
July 13, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that Ebara Corporation, Shimizu Corporation and Toshiba Corporation are among several companies that have joined together to create the Institute of Strategy for Sustainable Solutions, a research...

BWEA to Launch U.K. Wind Power Campaign.
July 13, 2004... Reuters recently reported that the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) plans to launch a campaign this September promoting the construction and operation of onshore wind farms in the U.K. According to Reuters, BWEA said the promotion...

CO to Host Energy Technology Expo & Conference.
July 13, 2004... The Energy Technology Expo & Conference (ETEC), an event co-located with the World Renewable Energy Congress VIII, will be held August 31 through September 1 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. ETEC, which will include...

Magnetek Unveils New Aurora 3-kW PV Inverter.
July 14, 2004... Magnetek, Inc. recently introduced its new Aurora three-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) inverter for the North American market at the Solar 2004 trade show, ending today in Portland, OR. According to the company, the Aurora PV inverter changes...

Nathaniel Energy Chief Executive Retires.
July 14, 2004... Nathaniel Energy Corporation recently announced that CEO and director Stanley Adams has retired and resigned from his positions with the company. According to Nathaniel Energy, it will now begin searching for a "seasoned" CEO to lead the...

NZ PV Association Says Low Line Charges Good for Solar Users.
July 14, 2004... The New Zealand Photovoltaics Association recently lauded New Zealand energy minister Pete Hodgson's 30 cent per day fixed line charge proposal as "great news for the solar electric industry." "We believe the minister of energy's proposal...

Local U.K. School Installs New Wind Turbine.
July 14, 2004... Local British newspaper the Shropshire Star recently reported that the Ladygrove school in Dawley, West Midlands has unveiled a new wind turbine that is expected to help save the school approximately 400 pounds (about $742) per year in...

Energy Official Comments on Germany's Biomass Industry.
July 14, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Karl-Heinz Trautmann, an executive board member of electricity supplier MVV, has commented on the state of Germany's biomass industry, noting that while state financial support has helped the construction and...

Ballard Offers Ecostar Power Converter for PV Applications.
July 15, 2004... Ballard Power Systems recently announced it has begun offering its 30-kilowatt (kW) Ecostar power converter specifically designed for photovoltaic (PV) applications. According to Ballard, the grid-tied utility interactive power converter,...

Genoray Systems Configurable for Wood-, Coal-to-energy Plants.
July 15, 2004... Genoray Advanced Technologies, Ltd. recently announced that its advanced biomass gasification systems can now be configured to produce a wood- or coal-to-energy gasification plant for roughly $525 per installed megawatt-hour (MWh) of capacity,...

New Solar System Installed at Galapagos National Park.
July 15, 2004... Portland, OR-based nonprofit international development organization Green Empowerment recently announced the installation of a new 2.5-kilowatt, grid-tied solar electric system at one of the Galapagos National Park's tortoise breeding centers...

Report Confirms Problems With Yacyreta Hydroelectric Project.
July 15, 2004... The International Rivers Network (IRN) recently announced that the Inter-American Development Bank's Independent Investigation Mechanism has issued a new report confirming "chronic and serious problems" with the Yacyreta Hydroelectric Project...

Green-e Certifies Constellation NewEnergy.
July 16, 2004... Renewable electricity certification organization Green-e recently announced it has designated Constellation NewEnergy "a top national supplier of certified electricity generated from such renewable sources as wind, water and biomass that are...

Local Maine Group Supports Proposed EEC Wind Farm.
July 16, 2004... Local Maine newspaper The Original Irregular recently reported that the board of directors of the Greater Franklin Development Corporation has announced its support of Endless Energy Corporation's (EEC) proposal to construct a 29-turbine wind...

Endesa to Build 18 New Wind Farms in Valencia.
July 16, 2004... Spanish energy producer Endesa recently announced plans to invest 450 million euro (about $555.5 million) for the construction of 18 new wind farms in the region of Valencia that will have a total installed capacity of approximately 500...

Research and Markets Offers New Report on Biomass.
July 16, 2004... Dublin, Ireland-based international market research and market data provider Research and Markets recently announced the availability of a new report titled "Biomass Report (Edition 1) 2004," which the company said focuses on the technologies,...

Weekly Update.
July 16, 2004... 2004 ENERGY TECH INVESTOR CONFERENCE, July 19-20, 2004, Hyatt Regency, San Francisco, CA MARKETING GREEN POWER CONFERENCE, August 5-6, 2004, Omni San Francisco, San Francisco, CA ENERGY 2004: ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP AND EXPOSITION,...

GE to Start Third Shift at Solar Panel Assembly Plant in DE.
July 19, 2004... Local Delaware newspaper The News Journal recently reported that General Electric Company (GE) plans to bring back former Glasgow-based AstroPower's third solar panel assembly line shift that was cut last year due to financial difficulties. ...

House of Lords Committee Assesses U.K. Renewables Targets.
July 19, 2004... The U.K. House of Lords Science and Technology Committee recently released a new report on "the practical implementation of the government's policy on renewables," which finds that government targets to produce 10 percent of the U.K.'s...

Wales Sets Clean Energy Targets for 2010.
July 19, 2004... The National Assembly for Wales recently announced the release of a draft Energy Strategy that sets a target of generating approximately four terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. After assessing a range of...

U.K. Museum Considers Human Waste-generated Power.
July 19, 2004... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently reported that officials with the Science Museum in London are considering the possibility of satisfying its energy needs with human waste-generated electricity. According to ABC, the...

Local NY Municipality Submits Grant for Solar Panels.
July 19, 2004... Local New York newspaper the Poughkeepsie Journal recently reported that Dutchess County officials have submitted a $216,000 grant proposal to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for a set of solar panels. ...

Spire Completes Five BIPV Systems at Chicago Millennium Park.
July 20, 2004... Solar energy products provider Spire Corporation recently announced the completion of five new photovoltaic systems at Chicago's Millennium Park. According to the company, the five building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) structures have...

BPA Draft Plan Reveals Planned Reliance on Hydro, Nuclear.
July 20, 2004... The Tri-City Herald recently reported that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has developed a draft strategy which reveals its intention to begin solely offering power derived from federal dams in the Northwest region and the Richland,...

NY Locality to Purchase Wind-generated Power.
July 20, 2004... Local New York newspaper the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle recently reported that the Livingston County Board of Supervisors has announced a decision to purchase wind generated-electricity from Community Energy, Inc. and Rochester Gas and...

Primen Study Cites Importance of Green Power Marketing.
July 20, 2004... Boulder, CO-based energy market intelligence company Primen recently announced the release of a new study, titled "Designing Direct Marketing Materials to Sell Green Power," which indicates that successful green power direct marketing campaigns...

MA Residents Group Opposes Wind Measuring Device.
July 21, 2004... The Associated Press (AP) recently reported that residents of North Country, Massachusetts have formed a group called Lyman Citizens for the Protection of Gardner Mountain, which aims to halt UPC Wind Partners' proposal to build a 150-foot-tall...

Eastwood Unveils Sun-Link PV Module Mounting System.
July 21, 2004... Larkspur, CA-based Eastwood Energy recently introduced its new Sun-Link flat-roof photovoltaic (PV) module mounting system. According to the company, he system can be arrayed at tilt angles of five, 10, 15 and 20 degrees, and can be used...

Sierra Pacific to Acquire Geothermal Power From ORNI 7.
July 21, 2004... ORMAT Nevada, Inc. subsidiary ORNI 7 will supply 20 megawatts of renewable energy to Sierra Pacific Power Company under a recently signed agreement. The geothermal power will be generated at ORNI 7's Galena Geothermal 1 facility in...

Scottish Activist Says Proposed Wind Project Poses Health Threat.
July 21, 2004... The Scotsman recently reported that anti-wind-farm-development group Scottish Wind Watch's convenor Brendan Hamill, who holds a doctorate in geology from Glasgow University, maintains that rocks located underneath the proposed site of a new...

Global Solar Energy Honored With R&D 100 Award.
July 21, 2004... Tucson, AZ-based Global Solar Energy (GSE) recently announced that its thin-film photovoltaic modules have been named among the year's "100 most significant technological innovations" by R&D Magazine. According to GSE, the magazine's R&D...

Nevada Geothermal Announces Private Placement Offering.
July 22, 2004... Nevada Geothermal Power, Inc. will offer up to 1.5 million units at 50 cents Canadian (about 38 cents) in a private placement. The units will include one common share and a non-transferable share purchase warrant. The company expects to...

Mack in Project to Evaluate Wind Resources.
July 22, 2004... Mack Trucks, Inc. will evaluate a WindStor configuration at its Middletown, PA remanufacturing center under an agreement with McKenzie Bay International, Ltd. The evaluation will be used to determine the sufficiency of wind resources at...

Scroby Sands Wind Farm Begins Production in U.K.
July 22, 2004... Local British newspaper the Eastern Daily Press (EDP) recently reported that the first of 29 wind turbines comprising the 75-million-pound (about $138-million) Scroby Sands wind farm off Britain's Norfolk coast was switched on earlier this...

DOE, USDA Announce Recipients of Biomass Research Grants.
July 22, 2004... The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the selection of 22 projects that will receive $25.5 million for the Biomass Research and Development Initiative. According to the agencies, the...

RI General Assembly Passes Clean Energy Act.
July 23, 2004... The Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group (RIPIRG) recently reported that the Rhode Island General Assembly passed late last month the Clean Energy Act, "which will bring 16 percent renewable energy to Rhode Island by 2020." ...

NV Governor Announces Proposals for RPS Compliance.
July 23, 2004... The Nevada Office of the Governor recently announced that representatives from the governor's office, renewable developers, the state's two investor-owned utilities, the State Consumer Advocate and the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) agreed...

WPPI to Purchase Energy From Planned Wind Farm.
July 23, 2004... Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (WPPI) has agreed to buy 20 megawatts of power from a wind farm proposed for development near Brownsville, WI. The purchase is the result of a joint request for wind proposals between WPPI and Madison Gas &...

SDG&E Issues RFO to Increase Renewables Portfolio.
July 23, 2004... San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) earlier this month issued a request for offers (FRO) designed to help increase its renewable energy portfolio. Although California law requires utilities to obtain 20 percent of their energy offerings...

Weekly Update.
July 23, 2004... MARKETING GREEN POWER CONFERENCE, August 5-6, 2004, Omni San Francisco, San Francisco, CA ENERGY 2004: ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORKSHOP AND EXPOSITION, August 8-11, 2004, Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY HYDROVISION 2004,...

GIPA Files Application for New Hydroelectric Plant in NY.
July 26, 2004... Local New York newspaper the Business Review recently reported that the Green Island Power Authority (GIPA) has proposed the construction of a new 100-megawatt hydroelectric plant at Mohawk River's Cohoes Falls in Waterford, NY. According...

New Tower to Test Wind in MA City.
July 26, 2004... Local Massachusetts newspaper the Daily Item recently reported that a wind-speed testing tower has been approved for the city of Lynn, MA, and will be built at the city sewer treatment plant. "This is the first step," said city council...

DynaMotive Nearing Completion of Cogeneration Plant.
July 26, 2004... DynaMotive Corporation recently announced that final-stage construction has started on the West Lorne cogeneration plant in Ontario. DynaMotive noted that the plant, which is located at Erie Flooring and Wood Products in West Lorne, is...

Chicken Waste Electricity Plant Receives Opposition From Locals.
July 26, 2004... Local British newspaper the Eastern Daily Press (EDP) recently reported that chicken processor Banham Poultry's proposed electricity generation plant in Station Road, Attleborough is receiving opposition from local residents due to noise, odor...

WWEA Publishes Draft Sustainability Guidelines.
July 26, 2004... The Bonn, Germany-based World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) recently announced the publication of a draft document for wind energy development titled "Sustainability and Due Diligence Guidelines." "The sustainability and due diligence...

Pacific Hydro Announces Changes to Board.
July 27, 2004... Pacific Hydro recently announced that its board of directors has received the resignations of two non-executive directors, Mike Fitzpatrick and Mike Hutchinson. The company said its major shareholder Development Australia Fund (DAF) has...

ONGC Considers New Wind Project in India.
July 27, 2004... India's state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) recently announced it is considering the development of a new 100-megawatt (MW) wind power facility in Gujarat. "ONGC is going in the direction of generating power from...

EnviroMission Selects New Site for Solar Generators.
July 27, 2004... The Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) recently reported that solar power group EnviroMission has decided not to develop its solar power generators at the Ned's Corner Station site near Renmark, Australia. According to ABC, Ned's had...

PECO Awards Grant for Low-income Solar Projects.
July 27, 2004... The Philadelphia Housing Authority has received a $232,100 grant from PECO Energy to install solar energy systems at 22 new low-income housing being built in the Philadelphia area. "This is an example of the many PECO outreach programs in...

Cape Wind Launches Radio Ads Promoting Wind Power.
July 28, 2004... Cape Wind recently announced the launch of a new wind power education campaign comprising two local radio advertisements that highlight the benefits of wind energy. According to Cape Wind, one ad, titled "Good News," features a husband and...