Renewable Energy Today articles from March 2004

Renewable Energy Today archives from March 2004

NM Legislature Approves Renewable Energy Legislation.
March 1, 2004... Local officials in New Mexico recently reported that both houses of the state legislature have approved a measure requiring that 10 percent of electricity offered by such utilities as Public Service of New Mexico (PNM), Xcel Energy and El Paso...

SatCon PV System Receives UL-1741 Certification.
March 1, 2004... SatCon Technology Corporation recently announced that its 50 kilowatt (kW) PowerGate AE-PV photovoltaic (PV) power conversion system (PCS) has been UL-1741 certified and submitted to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for approval for use...

LACCD Receives $1 Million for Solar Generation System.
March 1, 2004... The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) recently announced it has received an incentive totaling more than $1 million from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for the installation of a new 191-kilowatt (kW) solar...

Gamesa to Supply Wind Turbines to SINAE.
March 1, 2004... Spanish wind energy company Gamesa recently announced it has signed a contract with Spanish renewable energy company SINAE, valued at more than 77 million euros (about $96.1 million), under which Gamesa will supply SINAE with wind turbines...

West African States to Update Local Hydropower Facility.
March 1, 2004... The South African Press Association (SAPA) recently reported that a government official in Benin, West Africa said the governments of both Benin and the West African state Togo are planning to modernize the local Adjaralla dam and hydropower...

IN Lawmakers Approve Renewable Energy Measure.
March 2, 2004... Local officials in Indiana recently reported that the state House of Representatives has approved, by a vote of 92 to one, a measure that would allow homeowners and businesses to connect renewable energy systems with generating capacities of up...

Entergy Official Urges Congress to Support Nuclear Power.
March 2, 2004... Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production, retail distribution operations, energy marketing and trading, and gas transportation, recently announced that its president Don Hintz commented...

PA Governor Promotes Waste Coal Power.
March 2, 2004... Pennsylvania governor Edward Rendell recently promoted "advanced energy technologies" while touring a 119-acre coal refuse pile in Plum Borough, most of which will be consumed by a Reliant Energy coal refuse-burning power plant under...

Azerbaijan Launches Wind Power Pilot Project.
March 2, 2004... Interfax recently reported that the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has informed the news agency that it plans to install a new one-megawatt wind power facility at the local Amirov Oil and Gas Production Department. According to...

Australia Launches Renewable Energy Expansion Project.
March 2, 2004... Australian minister for environment and heritage David Kemp, on behalf of the Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH), recently welcomed the King Island Renewable Energy Expansion Project, $6.85 million project comprising two new...

New York City Mayor Unveils Waste-to-Energy Program.
March 3, 2004... The New York Daily News recently reported that New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has introduced a new $13-million waste-to-energy program involving the conversion of city sewage treatment plant waste gas. "We are using the fumes generated...

AZ Corporation Commission Boosts Renewable Energy Requirement.
March 3, 2004... The Arizona Corporation Commission recently announced it has voted to raise the state's Environmental Portfolio Standard, which requires regulated utilities to generate a minimum percentage of their total retail energy sales from renewable...

Texas Port Considers New Wind Farm Project.
March 3, 2004... The Houston Business Journal recently reported that Texas' Port of Galveston is looking to develop a $300-million, five-turbine wind farm on Pelican Island. However, the paper noted that federal conservationists have expressed concern with...

Konarka Licenses Intellectual Property for PV Cell.
March 3, 2004... Konarka Technologies, Inc. recently announced it has licensed certain intellectual property from DuPont Electronic & Communication Technologies to compliment its organic polymer-based photovoltaic (PV) program. According to Konarka, the...

EWEA Issues Call for Abstracts.
March 3, 2004... The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) recently announced it has issued a call for abstracts for the 2004 European Wind Energy Conference (EWEC) scheduled to take place November 22 to 25 in London. According to EWEA, the deadline to...

MD Lawmaker Introduces Renewable Energy Legislation.
March 4, 2004... The Baltimore Sun recently reported that Maryland House speaker Michael Busch has introduced a measure that would require electrical utilities to increase the percentage of their renewable energy generation from 3.5 percent in 2006 to 7.5...

OH City Establishes Partnership for 'Green Pricing' Program.
March 4, 2004... Green Mountain Energy Company recently announced a partnership with the city of Cuyahoga Falls, OH and American Municipal Power-Ohio (AMP-Ohio) to offer its "green pricing" program to local residents. According to Green Mountain, the...

EWEA Announces Release of WindEnergy Study 2004.
March 4, 2004... The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) recently announced the release of the WindEnergy Study 2004, which indicates that the international wind energy industry is expected to grow by 110,000 megawatts (MW) of installed power by 2012. ...

Report Says Wind Could Power Every Home in Europe by 2020.
March 4, 2004... Greenpeace recently announced that researchers with wind energy consultant Garrad Hassan and Partners, Ltd. have released a new report, titled "Sea Wind Europe," which predicts that every home in Europe could be powered by offshore wind energy...

Welsh School Installs New PV System.
March 4, 2004... BBC News recently reported that the Gwaun Cae Gurwen Primary School in Amman Valley, Wales has installed photovoltaic (PV) solar panels with the help of a 36,666-pound (about $67,035) grant from the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry and a...

Royal Society Questions MoD's Wind Farm Objections.
March 5, 2004... The Royal Society, "the independent scientific academy of the U.K. dedicated to promoting excellence in science," recently warned that the federal government's targets for developing renewable energy in the U.K. may be at risk if the Ministry...

Rajasthan to Construct Wind Project in India.
March 5, 2004... Industry officials in India recently reported that the Rajasthan State Power Corporation, Ltd. plans to construct a new 1-billion-rupee (about $22-million), 25-MW wind farm in the district of Jaisalmer. According to officials, the...

Canadian Hydro, Nexen Sign Agreement for RECs.
March 5, 2004... Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc. recently announced it has entered into a multi-year agreement to sell renewable energy certificates (RECs) worth approximately 40,000 MWh per year to global energy firm Nexen, Inc. According to Canadian...

Mitsubishi Launches Stand-alone PV System.
March 5, 2004... Mitsubishi Electric Corporation recently announced the launch of a stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation system targeted for use in areas with insufficient local electrification infrastructures. According to Mitsubishi...

Ethiopia Launches New Local Hydropower Plant.
March 5, 2004... Local Ethiopian newspaper the Addis Tribune recently reported the launch of the new 184-megawatt (MW) Gilgel-Gibe hydroelectric power plant near Addis Adaba. According to the paper, the facility, the construction of which cost more than 2...

Weekly Update.
March 5, 2004... BUILDING ENERGY 2004: THE 29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE NORTHEAST SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ASSOCIATION, March 10-13, 2004, Boston University, Boston, MA 3rd EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON GREEN POWER MARKETING, March 18-19, 2004, Lausanne Palace & Spa,...

SunAmp Announces Partial Acquisition of NativeSun.
March 8, 2004... Southern States Power Company, Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary SunAmp Power Company, Inc. has reached an initial agreement to acquire 24 percent of Native American solar energy company NativeSUN. According to Southern States,...

DKR Announces Commercial Operation of TX Wind Project.
March 8, 2004... Houston, TX-based clean energy development company DKR Development, LLC recently announced the closing of the take-out equity funding and commercial operation for its first U.S. wind project development -- a 25-turbine, 37.5-megawatt wind farm...

WY Hydro Project Receives Low Impact Certification.
March 8, 2004... The Low Impact Hydropower Institute (LIHI) recently announced it has granted low impact certification to Lower Valley Energy's 1,500-kW Strawberry Hydroelectric Project in Lincoln County, WY. According to LIHI, the voluntary certification...

NREL Verifies Efficiency of SunPower Silicon Solar Cell.
March 8, 2004... SunPower Corporation recently announced that its A-300 silicon solar cell has been verified at 21.5-percent efficiency by the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). According to SunPower, A-300 solar...

NESEA to Host 'Building Energy 2004' Conference.
March 8, 2004... The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) will host Building Energy 2004, a conference focusing on "the intersection of renewable energy and green building," March 10 through 13 at Boston University's George Sherman Union Student...

Gamesa Considers Building Wind Turbine Plant in PA.
March 9, 2004... Local Pennsylvania newspaper the Tribune-Democrat recently reported that officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection (PA DEP) have revealed that Gamesa, a Spanish manufacturer and supplier of products, installations and...

Constellation NewEnergy to Supply Green Power to MPO Members.
March 9, 2004... Constellation NewEnergy recently announced it will supply renewable electricity to three additional Maine PowerOptions (MPO) members -- the University of Maine, Unity College and the Old Orchard Beach School Department. According to...

MTC Partners With Brockton to Build Solar Energy Park.
March 9, 2004... The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) recently announced plans to partner with the city of Brockton for the construction of the Brightfield project, a planned solar energy park at a 27-acre remediated brownfield site in Brockton. ...

Evergreen Solar Reports 4th-quarter, Year-end Results.
March 9, 2004... Marlboro, MA-based photovoltaic products developer, marketer and manufacturer Evergreen Solar, Inc. recently announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003, reporting a quarterly net loss attributable to...

Canada to Host Third Annual AltEnergy Conference.
March 9, 2004... Canada will host AltEnergy 2004, the third annual alternative energy conference and exhibition, March 24 at the University of Calgary's Red & White Club in Calgary, Alberta. Conference organizers noted that the event will focus on "the...

NOTE:.
March 9, 2004... NOTE: The February 23 issue of Renewable Energy Today mistakenly quoted California Energy Commission comissioner John Geesman as saying that the Western Renewable Energy Generation Information System (WREGIS) "will ensure that renewable...

Germany's Sunset Orders Uni-Solar Products.
March 10, 2004... German photovoltaic (PV) module and system company Sunset Energietechnik GmbH recently ordered 1.25 megawatts (MW) of PV panels from United Solar Ovonic, LLC (Uni-Solar). Sunset also committed to buying an additional five MW of Uni-Solar...

PGE Ranks Second on NREL's Green Power 'Top 10' List.
March 10, 2004... Green Mountain Energy Company recently announced that Portland General Electric (PGE) has ranked second on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) annual "Top 10" list, which evaluates more than 500 utilities offering green pricing...

National Wind Power Receives Permission for New U.K. Wind Farm.
March 10, 2004... Local U.K. newspaper the Burnley Express recently reported that National Wind Power has received permission to erect three wind turbines on Hameldon Hill in Hapton. According to the publication, the turbines are expected to be capable of...

AWEA to Host Global WINDPOWER 2004 in Chicago.
March 10, 2004... The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) will host the Global WINDPOWER 2004 conference and exhibition March 28 through 31 at the McCormick Place convention center in Chicago, IL. On Sunday, March 28, AWEA will offer three pre-conference...

New Alliance Seeks to Protect Bats From Wind Turbines.
March 10, 2004... The American Wind Energy Association recently announced it has formed an alliance with Bat Conservation International (BCI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)...

WorldWater to Ship PV Equipment to CA School.
March 11, 2004... Pennington, NJ-based WorldWater Corporation will ship $1 million in photovoltaic (PV) equipment to the Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, CA later his month for use in a new one-megawatt project. The project is expected to be...

ORMAT Geothermal Facilities Receive Environmental Awards.
March 11, 2004... ORMAT Nevada, Inc. recently announced that its Mammoth Pacific, LP geothermal facilities have been selected to receive an award from the California Department of Conservation (DOC) in recognition of their "outstanding record of environmental...

First Solar Receives State Funding for Plant Expansion.
March 11, 2004... Perrysburg, OH-based solar module developer and manufacturer First Solar recently announced it has received $5 million of funding from the state of Ohio, the proceeds of which will be applied to the expansion project currently underway to...

Global Change, MYA Group to Host GreenTrading Summit.
March 11, 2004... Global Change Associates and The MYA Group will host the "Third Annual GreenTrading Summit: Emissions, Renewables and Negawatts" March 22 through 24 at the McGraw-Hill Conference Center at Rockefeller Center in New York, NY. The event will...

Report Says Clean-Energy Markets Will Reach $92 Billion by 2013.
March 11, 2004... San Francisco, CA-based energy research firm Clean Edge, Inc. recently announced the release of a new report, titled "Clean Energy Trends 2004," which predicts that three "high-growth" clean energy markets -- wind, solar and fuel cells -- are...

New U.K. Report Estimates Costs of Renewable Power.
March 12, 2004... The U.K.'s Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) recently announced the publication of a new report, titled "The Costs of Generating Electricity," which reveals that electricity from offshore wind farms "will cost at least twice as much as that...

Expert Says World Bank May Offer More Support for Renewables.
March 12, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Extractive Industries Review author Emil Salim has expressed his belief that, even though a draft note released last month indicates that the World Bank is considering rejecting his report's recommendation to...

AWEA, EWEA Say Wind Power Growth Continues to Strengthen.
March 12, 2004... The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) recently announced the release of new figures which reveal that the global wind power industry installed 8,133 megawatts (MW) in 2003, bringing the...

Kenyan Cut-flower Exporter to Develop Geothermal Project.
March 12, 2004... East Africa's Financial Standard recently reported that Kenyan cut-flower exporter Oserian Development Company, Ltd. is planning to develop a new geothermal power plant that will help expand the company's production area by 50 percent. ...

Solarbuzz Report Details PV Market Growth in 2003.
March 12, 2004... A recent photovoltaic (PV) market report by Solarbuzz, Inc. reveals that worldwide PV installations increased to 574 megawatts (MW) last year, a 34-percent rise over 2002. According to the report, Germany, Japan and the U.S. accounted for...

Weekly Update.
March 12, 2004... 3rd EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON GREEN POWER MARKETING, March 18-19, 2004, Lausanne Palace & Spa, Lausanne, Switzerland ALTENERGY 2004 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION, March 24, 2004, Red & White Club, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta GLOBAL...

CVPS Seeks Approval for Renewable Energy Service Option.
March 15, 2004... Central Vermont Public Service (CVPS) recently announced it has asked the Vermont Public Service Board to approve a new voluntary renewable energy offering for the company's 148,000 customers dubbed "CVPS Cow Power." "Together with our...

NYSERDA Announces Incentive Program for Small Wind Systems.
March 15, 2004... The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently announced the launch of the New York Energy $mart Wind Incentive Program, which offers technical and financial assistance for small, non-commercial, grid-connected...

Local MT County Approves Wind Power Project.
March 15, 2004... Local Montana newspaper the Great Falls Tribune recently reported that the Cascade County Board of Commissioners has granted a commercial development permit for the construction of a new nine-megawatt wind power project near Great Falls...

Greenwind to Merge With Optimal Subsidiary.
March 15, 2004... Vancouver, British Columbia-based independent power project developer Greenwind Power Corporation recently announced plans to merge with 680713 BC, Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of Nevada-based Optimal Ventures, Inc. Greenwind and 680713...

Zambian, Chinese Companies to Co-develop Hydro Stations.
March 15, 2004... Local Zambian newspaper the Lusaka Post recently reported that Zambian power utility Zesco, Ltd. has reached an agreement with China Machine-Building International Corporation (CMIC) for the development of new mini hydropower stations,...

Notice.
March 15, 2004... EIN Publishing is launching a new newsletter feature known as the "Corporate Profile" that will offer subscribers an opportunity, in a few brief paragraphs, to spotlight their company. For consideration in highlighting your company, we ask...

NREL Releases Annual Ranking of Green Pricing Programs.
March 16, 2004... The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently announced the release of annual "Top 10" rankings of utility green pricing programs in the following categories -- total sales of renewable energy to program...

Mass Megawatts Reports Quarterly Financial Results.
March 16, 2004... Worcester, MA-based wind energy power plant developer, builder and operator Mass Megawatts Wind Power, Inc. recently announced its financial results for the three months ending January 31, 2004, reporting a quarterly net loss of $382,849, or 13...

Alinta Announces New Wind Project in Western Australia.
March 16, 2004... Perth, Western Australia-based natural gas and distributed liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) provider Alinta, Ltd. recently announced it has signed a power purchase agreement with Renewable Power Ventures Pty, Ltd. (RPV) to enable RPV to develop a...

Isofoton Enters U.S. Solar Market.
March 16, 2004... During the Northwest RE Installer Tech Forum held earlier this month, Grants Pass, OR-based Energy Outfitters, a "leading North American value-added distributor of the world's top renewable energy products," featured information about Malaga,...

Wheeler McMillan Award Presented to TVA Employee.
March 16, 2004... Robert Harris of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently received the Wheeler McMillan Award from the New Uses Council for "his leadership in supporting the development and use of biomass for bioenergy and other renewable energy sources."...

Bankruptcy Court Approves AstroPower Asset Sale.
March 17, 2004... Newark, DE-based solar electric power product manufacturer AstroPower, Inc. recently announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court presiding over the company's Chapter 11 proceeding approved the sale of most of its U.S. business assets to General...

SMA America Training Courses Approved by NABCEP.
March 17, 2004... The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) recently approved SMA America's three training courses for NABCEP continuing education credits. Grass Valley, CA-based SMA America, a leading U.S. inverter manufacturer,...

Kyocera Releases SAMURAI BBS Solar Power Generation System.
March 17, 2004... Kyocera Corporation recently announced that its solar energy division is offering SAMURAI BBS, a domestic solar power generation system featuring "exclusive specifications," from now until April 10 in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of...

Local Indonesian Company to Build New Geothermal Plant.
March 17, 2004... Local officials in Indonesia recently reported that Amoseas Indonesia, Inc. has announced plans to construct a new geothermal power plant, to be dubbed PLTP Drajat III, in the region of Jawa Barat. According to officials, Amoseas director...

Local U.K. Villagers Oppose Area Wind Farm Development.
March 17, 2004... Local U.K. newspaper the Eastern Daily Press (EDP) recently reported that village residents of Guestwick, Norfolk have expressed frustration with the continued development of a new six-turbine wind farm despite outspoken opposition. ...

Southwest Windpower Receives Financing From Altira.
March 18, 2004... Colorado venture capital firm the Altira Group has provided a Series A round of financing to Flagstaff, AZ-based Southwest Windpower, Inc. The company will put the financing to use in its ongoing development of small wind turbines and in...

YourVitamins Dedicates New Solar Electric System.
March 18, 2004... YourVitamins, Inc. recently announced the dedication of a new 215-kWp solar electric system atop its new headquarters in Henderson, NV. According to the company, the 23,000-square-foot solar system, which will generate enough electricity...

EC Presents State of Renewable Energy Research.
March 18, 2004... The European Commission (EC) recently presented "the state of play" on its research programs in such alternative energy sources as solar, wave and geothermal, noting that "the threat of global climate change and the warnings about energy...

Scottish Power Considers U.S. Wind Power Projects.
March 18, 2004... The Scotsman recently reported that a Scottish Power spokesman has revealed the company may consider pursuing future wind power projects in the U.S. as a result of U.K. planning approval delays for its proposed wind farms in Scotland. "We...

Powergen Considers Wind Site in Local U.K. Village.
March 18, 2004... Coventry, U.K.-based Powergen Renewables recently held an exhibition in the village of Elsham in Lincolnshire, England on a proposal to construct a new local wind farm. "It's early days for this proposal but we're keen to make sure that...

Local OR Engineering Firm to Purchase Green Tags.
March 19, 2004... The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), together with the Renewable Northwest Project (RNP), recently announced a commitment by Portland, OR-based architectural and engineering firm David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA) to purchase...

Scottish Executive Denies Local Hydro Proposal.
March 19, 2004... The Scotsman recently reported that the Scottish Executive ruled against Highland Light and Power's (HLP) proposal to construct a 3.5-megawatt hydropower project in the Scottish Highlands on the grounds that it would compromise the area...

Boralex to Open New Wind Facility in France.
March 19, 2004... Montreal-based Boralex, Inc. recently announced plans to build and operate a new wind power facility in France with a 12-megawatt capacity. According to Boralex, the plant will double the wind power generation capacity of the company's...

Leader Wind Group Proposes Ontario Wind Farm.
March 19, 2004... Local Ontario newspaper the Shoreline Beacon recently reported that Leader Wind Group of Toronto has informed officials in the municipalities of Saugeen Shores and Kincardine of its intent to construct a 112- to 130-turbine wind farm in the...

ABI Says Wind Turbines, PVs Winners in DG Market.
March 19, 2004... ABI Research recently announced the release of a new study, titled "Distributed Generation: Growth Projections for Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Wind Turbines, Reciprocating Engines and Small Gas Turbines," which finds that wind turbine and...

Weekly Update.
March 19, 2004... ALTENERGY 2004 CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION, March 24, 2004, Red & White Club, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta GLOBAL WINDPOWER CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, March 28-31, 2004, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL GLOBE 2004: 8TH BIENNIAL...

OPT, Iberdrola to Collaborate on Spanish Wave Power Project.
March 22, 2004... Reuters recently reported that Pennington, NJ-based Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) and Spanish utility Iberdrola have agreed to collaborate on a new pilot wave power project located in the Bay of Biscay. According to the news...

Officials Dedicate New Solar Power System.
March 22, 2004... San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom and representatives from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) recently joined city and state officials in dedicating a new solar power system atop the city's Moscone Center. Power generated...

U.K. EST Discusses Solar Power Potential.
March 22, 2004... The U.K. Energy Savings Trust (EST) recently announced it is offering homeowners grants worth up to 50 percent of the total installation cost of a residential solar photovoltaic (PV) system in an effort to promote the use of such renewable...

CIBART to Construct Bamboo-based Power Plants in India.
March 22, 2004... The Indo-Asian News Service recently reported that the Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology (CIBART) has announced plans to construct bamboo-to-energy biomass power plants in the Indian states of Manipur and Tripura. According...