Renewable Energy Today articles from October 2003

Renewable Energy Today archives from October 2003

RSS Awarded BPU Grant to Develop Network of Solar Dealers in NJ.
October 1, 2003... Rocklin, CA-based RWE SCHOTT Solar, Inc. (RSS) recently announced that its plan to develop a network of dealers in New Jersey has received a $270,354 grant from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) Office of Clean Energy's Renewable...

Habanero #1 Geothermal Well Reaches Depth of 4,421 Meters.
October 1, 2003... Geodynamics, Ltd. recently announced that its Habanero #1 geothermal well in Australia has reached a depth of 4,421 meters (about 14,504 feet), which "exceeds the minimum target depth for carrying out the full hydraulic stimulation program" as...

EWEA President Touts Wind Sector Expansion in Europe.
October 1, 2003... While speaking at the recent opening of the 2003 Husum Wind Exhibition, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) president Arthouros Zervos noted that although the German wind industry "has many global opportunities for expansion," taking...

Daio Paper to Increase Biomass Use.
October 1, 2003... Tokyo, Japan-based Daio Paper Corporation recently announced it is investing 3.5 billion yen (about $31.5 million) at its production plant in Mishima, Japan to build a "fluidized-bed boiler" that is expected to allow the facility to generate...

CHA to Host Hydropower Forum in Ottawa.
October 1, 2003... The Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) will host "Forum on Hydropower 2003 -- Water Management and Hydropower Development: Integrating Environmental and Social Concerns" on October 21 at the Sheraton Ottawa Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario. ...

Senatorial Request for Inclusion of RPS Rejected.
October 2, 2003... U.S. government officials recently reported that a letter signed by 53 U.S. Senators and delivered earlier this week to Energy Bill Conference Committee chairmen Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Representative Billy Tauzin (R-LA) urging...

UCSY to Acquire Majority Interest in GiraSOLAR BV.
October 2, 2003... Miami, FL-based Universal Communication Systems, Inc. (UCSY) recently announced it has signed a letter of intent (LOI) to acquire an initial 51 percent ownership in Dutch photovoltaic (PV) company GiraSOLAR BV. According to UCSY, GiraSOLAR...

NM Governor Dedicates New Wind Energy Center.
October 2, 2003... PNM Resources recently announced that New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, executives of FPL Energy and Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), area ranchers and state residents recently gathered to dedicate the New Mexico Wind Energy...

Brown Ranch Installs GeoExchange System.
October 2, 2003... Brown Ranch, a new master-planned community in Montrose, CO, recently announced plans to conduct an open house on Saturday, October 4 to showcase the newly installed "GeoExchange" system at the information center of Brown Ranch community...

Solar Model Home Opens in MA.
October 2, 2003... Real estate developer DiPlacido Development Corporation, in conjunction with Conservation Services Group (CSG), recently hosted the model home opening of "the first new Energy Star Homes development in Massachusetts to incorporate a solar...

SunWize Sponsors Installers for NABCEP Certification.
October 3, 2003... SunWize Technologies recently announced it is sponsoring qualified photovoltaic dealers and installers who pass the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) voluntary certification examination. SunWize said it "will...

Manifesto Advocates Biomass Use in Ireland.
October 3, 2003... Ireland's Office for the Regulation of Electricity & Gas (OFREG) recently announced that the Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER), Northern Ireland Electricity and three local companies have produced a joint manifesto...

GE Wind Energy Supplies Turbines for 30-MW Japanese Project.
October 3, 2003... GE Power Systems subsidiary GE Wind Energy recently announced it is supplying 20 1.5-megawatt (MW) wind turbines to Rokkasyomura Wind Development Company, Ltd., a subsidiary of Japan Wind Development Company, Ltd., for the Rokkasho-mura Wind...

LADWP Considers Modifications to Proposed CA Wind Farm.
October 3, 2003... The Los Angeles Department of Wind and Power (LADWP) recently announced it is considering modifications to a proposed 120-megawatt (MW) Pine Tree Canyon wind farm in Kern County, CA in order for the project to conform with height restrictions...

IL to Host 8th National Green Power Marketing Conference.
October 3, 2003... The Eighth National Green Power Marketing Conference, the theme of which is "Increasing Access, Appeal and Awareness," will be held November 3 through 5 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago in Chicago, IL. According to event officials, the goal of...

SEC Urges White House to Increase Renewables Funding.
October 6, 2003... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) recently called upon President Bush and officials in the Department of Energy (DOE) and Office of Management and Budget "to double funding for DOE's renewable energy and energy efficiency programs over the...

Konarka Collaborates With EDF to Launch PV Products.
October 6, 2003... Lowell, MA-based photovoltaic products developer Konarka Technologies, Inc., recently announced it has entered into a cooperation with French utility Groupe Electricite de France (EDF) "to develop and launch Konarka's polymer photovoltaic...

Lockheed Martin to Participate in PaloAltoGreen.
October 6, 2003... The City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU), in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recently announced that U.S. defense and aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin will participate in the utility's clean renewable energy...

Lowe's Honored for Energy Initiatives.
October 6, 2003... Wilkesboro, NC-based home improvement retailer Lowe's Companies, Inc., recently announced it has been honored for its "corporate energy initiatives and leadership." At a ceremony in Springfield, TN, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)...

EWEA Survey Says Wind Power 'Extremely Popular' Across Europe.
October 6, 2003... The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) recently published a survey indicating that "wind power and renewables are extremely popular across Europe and beyond, typically hitting positive scores of 60 percent to 80 percent across a range of...

Black Hills Sells Ownership of Hydroelectric Assets in New York.
October 7, 2003... Rapid City, SD-based energy and communications company Black Hills Corporation recently announced "the completion of the sale of its ownership interests in seven hydroelectric power plants located in upstate New York." According to...

Researchers Develop Ways to Lower Wind Energy Costs.
October 7, 2003... Researchers at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Sandia National Laboratories recently announced they are "developing ways to lower the cost of [wind] energy and enable turbines to produce more power." According to Sandia, today's most...

A.T. Biopower to Begin Biomass Plant Construction.
October 7, 2003... A.T. Biopower Company, a consortium formed by Rolls-Royce Power Ventures, Al Tayyar Energy, Private Energy Market Fund, Fin Fund and Flagship Asia Corporation, recently announced plans to begin construction of a biomass power plant in Phichit,...

WWF Fears EU May Miss Renewables Target.
October 7, 2003... The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently expressed concern that the 15 European Union (EU) member states "are unlikely to hit their target -- set under the Kyoto Protocol -- of generating 22 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by...

ST Research Program Targets Low-Cost Solar Cells.
October 7, 2003... STMicroelectronics (ST) recently released details of "an advanced research program that it hopes will substantially reduce the cost of generating electricity from solar power." According to the company, the research team -- based in Catania...

'Renewable Pioneers' Program Supports Local Green Power in OR.
October 8, 2003... Nonprofit organization Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) recently announced that residents and businesses in Ashland, OR now have the opportunity to support local and regional green power by participating in "Renewable Pioneers," a...

Endesa to Begin Operating New Wind Farm in Spain.
October 8, 2003... Madrid, Spain-based private electrical group International Endesa recently announced it plans to begin operating the new 9.24-megawatt (MW) San Just wind farm in Teruel, Spain "within the next few months." According to Endesa, the...

Talisman to Conduct Wind Power Pilot Project.
October 8, 2003... Calgary, Alberta-based international oil and gas producer Talisman Energy, Inc. recently announced plans for an offshore wind farm pilot project at the company's Beatrice oil field in the North Sea. According to Talisman CEO Jim Buckee, the...

Alberta Offers $100 Million in Green Power Financing.
October 8, 2003... Calgary, Alberta-based Sustainable Energy Technologies, a developer and manufacturer of "intelligent power electronics products" for renewable energy technologies, recently announced that the province of Alberta has elected to make $100 million...

SEPA Announces Solar Business Achievement Award Winners.
October 8, 2003... The Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) recently announced the recipients of its 2003 Awards for Solar Business Achievement, which will be presented October 9 at its annual Solar Electric Power Experience Conference and Technology...

Locus Technologies Wins Geothermal Facility Closure Contract.
October 9, 2003... San Francisco, CA-based environmental consulting and construction services firm Locus Technologies recently announced it has been awarded a three-year contract to provide design-build services for the Geothermal, Inc. (GI) Facility Closure...

Northern Power to Build Solar System for AFH Facility.
October 9, 2003... Waitsfield, VT-based electric power system solutions provider Northern Power Systems recently announced it has been hired to engineer, build and commission an "advanced, solar-based, on-site power system" for nonprofit organization Artists for...

Scotland Residents Protest Planned Wind Turbine Installation.
October 9, 2003... The Blackridge Community Council in Blackridge, Scotland recently announced plans to file an objection to a proposal introduced by utility Scottish Water that calls for the installation of a 91-meter-high wind turbine atop a local hill. ...

Kyocera Expands PV Panel Production to Mexico, Europe, China.
October 9, 2003... Photovoltaic (PV) manufacturer Kyocera Corporation recently announced plans to begin producing solar panels in both Mexico and Europe next year. In addition, the company reported that a new solar panel production plant in Tianjin, China is...

IndiaCore to Host 'Green Power 4' Conference in New Delhi.
October 9, 2003... IndiaCore will host "Green Power 4 -- Sustainable Energy Development for Improved Quality of Life," the fourth in a series of biannual conferences, October 16 and 17 at the Hotel Hyatt Regency in New Delhi, India. According to IndiaCore,...

XsunX Completes 'Major' Corporate Reorganization.
October 10, 2003... The company formerly known as Sun River Mining, Inc. recently announced it has completed a "major" corporate reorganization, changing its name to XsunX, Inc. and its trading symbol to XSNX. XsunX said it has acquired the patents for a...

PPL to Sell Hydroelectric Dams in Maine.
October 10, 2003... Allentown, PA-based energy and utility holding company PPL Corporation recently announced it has reached an agreement with a coalition of government agencies and private groups to sell three of its nine hydroelectric dams in Maine. ...

Spanish Locality Opposes Wind Farm Project.
October 10, 2003... Residents of Luzaga, Spain recently expressed their opposition to a proposed project by Danish wind turbine producer and distributor NEG Micon, which calls for the construction of a 48-million euro (about $56.2-million), 49.5-megawatt (MW)...

GE to Supply Wind Turbines for Inner Mongolia Project.
October 10, 2003... GE Power Systems subsidiary GE Wind Energy recently announced it will supply 10 of its 1.5-megawatt (MW) wind turbines for the 15-MW Huitengxile Wind Power Plant in Inner Mongolia, China. According to GE, the project, developed by Inner...

Green Power EMC Delivers Electricity From Renewable Sources.
October 14, 2003... Consumer-owned utility Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) recently announced that Green Power EMC, a partnership of 16 Georgia electric membership cooperatives, has delivered the state's "first electricity from renewable sources." ...

Carlson & Associates Purchases Ely Wind Project in NV.
October 14, 2003... Las Vegas, NV-based energy development company Carlson & Associates recently announced its purchase of the Ely Wind project from NEG Micon subsidiary Global Renewable Energy Partners. However, while Ely Wind was awarded a "50-megawatt power...

Iberdrola to Expand Larouco Wind Farm by 11.9 MW.
October 14, 2003... Madrid, Spain-based energy firm Iberdrola recently announced that the regional government of Galicia, Spain has approved the second phase of the company's Larouco wind farm in the province of Orense. According to Iberdrola, expansion of the...

Statkraft to Expand Smoela Wind Farm in Norway.
October 14, 2003... Oslo, Norway-based electricity producer Statkraft recently announced plans to expand the Smoela wind farm in the county of Moere og Romsdal with the construction of up to 55 additional turbines. Upon completion of the expansion, Statkraft...

House RE/EE Caucus Announces 222nd Participant.
October 15, 2003... The Sustainable Energy Coalition (SEC) recently announced that U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO) has joined the House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE/EE) Caucus as its 222nd participant, "bringing membership up to a majority of...

IBERINCO to Construct Three Wind Farms in Spain.
October 15, 2003... Energy firm Iberdrola recently announced that its subsidiary Iberdrola Ingenieria y Consultoria (IBERINCO) has been awarded a contract for turnkey construction of three wind farms, with an aggregate installed capacity of 124.1 megawatts, in...

MVV Energy, REpower Plan Seven Joint Wind Farms in Spain.
October 15, 2003... Mannheim, Germany-based energy services company MVV Energy AG and Hamburg, Germany-based wind turbine manufacturer REpower Systems AG recently announced they have signed an exclusive contract to jointly erect 230 wind turbines with a total...

Contact Energy Announces Investment to Upgrade Geothermal Plant.
October 15, 2003... Wellington, NZ-based geothermal energy generator Contact Energy, Ltd. recently announced a new investment to increase electricity generation at its Wairakei power station "using the same amount of geothermal energy as at present." ...

New Zealand Official Encourages Small-scale Electricity Generation.
October 15, 2003... New Zealand energy minister Pete Hodgson recently released a discussion paper indicating that distributed generation, or small-scale electricity generation connected to local lines networks, "will be helped along by new regulations." ...

Summit Participants Seek to Establish 'Green Power' Group.
October 16, 2003... Participants at last week's Western States Renewable Energy Summit in Reno, NV recently reported they are establishing a steering committee with the aim of creating a permanent, nonprofit organization that is expected to promote "green power"...

Nathaniel Energy to Build Thermal Combustors for Power Plant in Italy.
October 16, 2003... Castle Rock, CO-based renewable energy company Nathaniel Energy Corporation recently announced it is under contract to build two 1800 Thermal Combustors to be sold for a power plant fueled by refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in Cologna, Veneta, Italy....

Residents Rally to Support Wind Energy in Australia.
October 16, 2003... Melbourne, Victoria, Australia-based renewable energy company Pacific Hydro, Ltd. recently announced that the Portland Progress Association (PPA) organized a rally earlier this month in Portland, Victoria to showcase an "overwhelming vote of...

e7 to Construct Micro-Hydro Plant in Himalayas.
October 16, 2003... Columbus, OH-based American Electric Power (AEP) recently announced that e7, an "international group of leading energy companies," has finalized plans to construct a micro-hydro power plant that is expected to "bring electricity for the first...

CA to Host Distributed Energy Resources Conference.
October 16, 2003... The California Alliance for Distributed Energy Resources (CADER) and the California Clean Distributed Generation (DG) Coalition are co-presenting "Distributed Energy Resources: Sustaining the Momentum, Delivering the Benefits," an event to be...

OG&E Brings OK Wind Energy Center Online.
October 17, 2003... Oklahoma electric utility OG&E Electric Services recently announced the dedication of the new 68-turbine Oklahoma Wind Energy Center in Woodward, OK. According to the utility, Florida-based FPL Energy owns and operates the wind center,...

Konarka Appoints New Executive Vice President.
October 17, 2003... Lowell, MA-based photovoltaic products developer Konarka Technologies, Inc. recently announced that former Hyperion Catalysis chief operating officer and general manager Daniel McGahn has been appointed to serve as Konarka's executive vice...

Navigant Consulting Releases Ontario Wind Power Study.
October 17, 2003... Chicago, IL-based specialized independent consulting firm Navigant Consulting, Inc. recently announced the release of a multi-client study "examining opportunities for large-scale wind power development in Ontario." According to the...

Statkraft to Seek Hydropower Assets in Sweden.
October 17, 2003... Industry officials in Norway recently reported that energy company Statkraft plans to seek hydropower assets in Sweden. "We need assets outside Norway and hydropower is what we know," said Statkraft spokesman Ragnvald Naeroe. "There isn't...

DOE Awards $1.3 Million for Mid-Atlantic Green Projects.
October 17, 2003... The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that its Philadelphia Regional Office (PRO) has awarded $1.3 million for 15 energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the Mid-Atlantic region, with funding being provided through the...

Farmington Office Associates Purchases RECertificates.
October 20, 2003... New York-based marketer of renewable energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) certificates EAD Environmental recently announced that Farmington Office Associates, the "owner and operator of an office complex housing many of Connecticut's premier dental...

Endesa Discontinues Search for Renewable Energy Financial Partner.
October 20, 2003... Madrid, Spain-based private electrical group Endesa recently announced a decision to discontinue its search for a renewable energy financial partner as the company has decided to "address on its own its renewable energies plan," which...

IWEA Conference Explores Irish Wind Industry.
October 20, 2003... The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) recently reported that attendees of last week's IWEA annual conference in Salthill, Ireland praised the country's renewable energy progress and explored ideas for further wind industry growth. "This...

Proven Engineering to Power New Plant With Renewables.
October 20, 2003... Stewarton, Scotland-based renewable energy systems manufacturer and installer Proven Engineering Products, Ltd. recently announced plans to generate power for its new 10,000-square-foot facility, which the company moved into earlier this year,...

Sharp Opens New Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant in TN.
October 21, 2003... Sharp Corporation and its U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary Sharp Electronics Corporation recently announced the official opening of a new solar panel manufacturing facility in Memphis, TN. According to Sharp Corporation, the new facility...

Earth Assets Group Offers Wind Energy Certificates.
October 21, 2003... Renewable energy certificates provider EAD Environmental recently announced that Earth Assets Group, a newly launched ecological asset management service firm, plans to offer 500 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind energy certificates to its first 300...

AES Announces Plans to Purchase Wind Power in Spain.
October 21, 2003... Arlington, VA-based electric utility AES Corporation recently announced plans to purchase electric generation facilities in Spain, including those powered by wind energy. According to AES Spanish unit managing director Gerrit Nicholas, the...

BWEA Presents Wind Energy Industry Research.
October 21, 2003... The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) recently presented new research to the U.K. House of Lords Select Committee indicating that "urgent action on financing is needed for wind energy to contribute fully to the government's 10 percent...

Forum for the Future Analyzes Renewables for BT.
October 21, 2003... U.K. sustainable development organization Forum for the Future recently announced the release of a new report commissioned by U.K. telecommunications group BT "to address the increasing difficulty [the company] is experiencing in sourcing...

La-Z-Boy Completes Installation of New PV System in CA.
October 22, 2003... RWE SCHOTT Solar, Inc. (RSS) recently announced that its customer La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries in Rancho Cordova, CA has completed installation of a 30-kilowatt (KW), non-penetrating SunRoof FS flat-roof photovoltaic (PV) system "capable of...

WPPI, MGE Issue Joint RFP for 80 MW of Wind Energy.
October 22, 2003... Wisconsin Public Power, Inc. (WPPI) and Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) recently issued a joint request for proposals (RFP) that could potentially add up to 80 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity in Wisconsin. "MGE has joined forces with WPPI in...

Nathaniel Energy Closes $5.5 Million Funding.
October 22, 2003... Castle Rock, CO-based renewable energy company Nathaniel Energy Corporation recently announced it has closed a $5.5 million funding. According to the company, the funding will be used to "expand both U.S. and international projects to be...

Kinko's Increases Green Power Use by Nearly 80 Percent.
October 22, 2003... Kinko's, Inc. recently announced "substantial" new green power and green tag agreements in North Carolina, South Carolina, Wyoming and Virginia, which are expected to increase the company's estimated annual renewable power purchases by nearly...

Evergreen Solar Announces Three New Appointments.
October 23, 2003... Marlboro, MA-based Evergreen Solar, Inc., a developer, marketer, and manufacturer of photovoltaic products, recently announced new appointments in three positions in its marketing and sales force. According to the company, Chet Lyons has...

EKPC Opens New Methane Power Plant in KY.
October 23, 2003... The East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) recently announced the official opening of a new $4-million methane power plant in Boone County, KY. According to EKPC, the 3.2-megawatt plant, located at the Bavarian landfill, is expected to...

Groundwork Begins on Solar Power Project in Australia.
October 23, 2003... Australian utility Power and Water Corporation recently announced it has begun the "groundwork" for a $6-million project involving the installation of 30 "solar dishes" in the Northern Territory communities of Hermannsburg, Yuendumu and...

Canadian Hydropower Association Elects New President.
October 23, 2003... The Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) recently announced that its board of directors has elected Al Snyder, vice president of transmission and distribution (T&D) at Manitoba Hydro, to serve as CHA's new president. Snyder replaces...

Small Hydropower Plant Reopens in Belarus.
October 23, 2003... Local officials in Lepel, Belarus recently reported the reopening of a 320-kilowatt (kW) hydroelectric plant that had initially been commissioned in 1958 and then shut down in 1975 as a result of the former Soviet Union's focus on the...

Howard Dean Presents Renewable Energy Plan.
October 24, 2003... Democratic presidential candidate nominee and former Vermont governor Howard Dean recently announced his six-point plan to create a "thriving renewable energy industry to provide clean, reliable and secure power for millions of Americans." ...

Clean Energy Secures Rights to Market, Develop UEP Hydro Systems.
October 24, 2003... Clean Energy, Inc. recently announced it has secured exclusive rights to market and develop projects within the continents of Africa and Europe, and nonexclusive rights elsewhere, for an "innovative" hydroelectric system developed by Universal...

CHA Forum Highlights Hydropower, Environment Issues.
October 24, 2003... The Canadian Hydropower Association (CHA) recently announced that environmental, governmental and industry representatives met earlier this week at its "Forum on Hydropower 2003" to discuss ways to "effectively balance different water uses,...

U.K. Approves Development of Four New Wind Farms.
October 24, 2003... The U.K. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently announced that the federal government has approved the development of four new wind farms to be built off the coast of Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Essex. According to DTI, the Lynn,...

MPE, TREIA, Solar San Antonio to Host Renewables Conference in TX.
October 24, 2003... The Metropolitan Partnership for Energy (MPE), the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) and Solar San Antonio will host San Antonio Energy Leadership/Texas Renewables 2003, "an event combining the first annual conference of...

FERC Relicenses St. Lawrence-FDR Hydro Project.
October 27, 2003... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently announced it has relicensed the 912-megawatt (MW) St. Lawrence-FDR hydroelectric project on the St. Lawrence River near Massena, NY. "The fact that such a large, complex project could...

SunWize Opens Northern CA Sales Office, Expands Sales Team.
October 27, 2003... Kingston, NY-based solar manufacturer SunWize Technologies recently announced the opening of a new sales office in Willits, CA, which will offer "a stocked warehouse for the convenience of dealers who prefer to pick up orders." According...

U of A Researchers Use Tap Water to Generate Power.
October 27, 2003... Engineers with the University of Alberta (U of A) recently reported they have developed a new method of generating electricity by "harnessing the natural electrokinetic properties of a liquid such as ordinary tap water when it is pumped through...