Researchers at the University of Georgia have won a $1.34 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to attempt to increase the productivity of trees by genetically modifying certain proteins critical to wood formation. The study could have important implications in using trees as biofuel.
The research will be conducted by Scott Harding and Chung-Jui Tsai, who are both faculty members at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources.
They became interested in the possibility that manipulating sucrose transporter proteins—which shuttle food from leaves throughout the rest of the tree—during a separate, unrelated project conducted by Raja Payyavula, a graduate student working for the pair. The student’s research led to the discovery of a connection between sucrose transporter genes and certain stimuli.
Sucrose transporter genes have been known about for a long time because they enable leaves to send the sugars they produce during photosynthesis to other parts of the growing plant that do not carry out photosynthesis. This would include grain or tubers in food crops. In a key, and somewhat surprising finding by Harding and Tsai, sucrose transporter genes were found to be very abundant in developing the wood of young trees. They now want to know how a tree will react—positively or negatively—to further modification of those proteins.
They hope that tweaking the proteins will modify the way trees divide their photosynthate (sucrose and other sugars) between wood-forming and other organs like roots and bark. Wood is the raw feedstock for biofuels, and the research is being funded to learn about the potential of this gene for affecting wood growth, and thus tree growth, under a variety of environmental conditions.
“We know there’s a connection,” said Harding. “We just don’t know much about that connection right now.”
The research team already has begun its experiments with the award from the joint Plant Feedstock Genomics 2010 program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and DOE. This program funds projects that accelerate plant breeding and improve biomass feedstocks to lay the groundwork for a new class of biofuels that are low-cost, high-quality and maximize the amount produced per acre.
More information about the Plant Feedstock Genomics for Bioenergy program can be found at http://genomicscience.energy.gov/.
In announcing the award—which is part of the Obama administration’s efforts to diversify the nation’s energy portfolio and accelerate the development of new energy technologies—leaders of the two funding federal agencies commented on their hopes that such research will help reduce the U.S.’s dependence on foreign oil.
“Cost-effective, sustainable biofuels are crucial to building a clean energy economy,” said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. “By harnessing the power of science and technology, this joint effort between DOE and USDA will help accelerate research in the critical area of plant feedstocks, spurring the creation of the domestic bio-industry while creating jobs and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”
“Developing a domestic source of renewable energy will create jobs and wealth in rural America, combat global warming, replace our dependence on foreign oil and build a stronger foundation for the 21st century economy,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “This scientific investment will lay the foundation for a source of fuel made from renewable sources.”
The $1.34 million grant is part of a larger, $9 million grant package awarded to multiple agencies and universities across the U.S.
Harding, senior research scientist, and Tsai, a professor Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar who also has a joint appointment in the department of genetics, joined the Warnell School in 2008. Their work focuses on forest biotechnology with an emphasis on creating high-energy trees for use in biofuel.
Tsai’s interests also include determining how trees defend themselves by using chemical compounds to ward off bugs and grazing animals. Harding also has led a DOE-research project on carbon sequestration, where carbon dioxide emissions from facilities such as power plants are captured by trees rather than released into the atmosphere.
If they are successful in genetically modifying the sucrose transporter genes to create faster-growing trees, it could have tremendous implications for using trees as biofuels.
“We know the sucrose transporter genes are connected to tree growth, and we also know that there are three different such proteins present in the tree stems,” Harding explained. The team plans to manipulate those proteins to learn about their division of labor and to see how the manipulations affect tree growth, especially the competition between leaves, stems and roots for photosynthate. The project will involve an assistant research scientist, a postdoctoral scientist, two graduate students and several undergraduate students.
This investigation is just beginning, Tsai said, and findings during the course of this three-year project will add immensely to the understanding of how tree biomass is produced.
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Showing posts with label renewable. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewable. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
New Report Shows Significant Potential for Renewable Energy in South
The South could generate 20-30 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources within the next 20 years – up from less than 4 percent today -- if strong federal policies are enacted, according to a report released July 27 by researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology and Duke University. The analysis, “Renewable Energy in the South,” finds that conventional wisdom has underestimated the available renewable resources in the region and that a federal renewable electricity standard (RES) would enable the South to capitalize on this untapped renewable energy potential.
Read the Full Report Here: http://www.spp.gatech.edu/aboutus/workingpapers/renewable-energy-in-the-south
The South lags behind all other regions in renewable electricity, obtaining 3.7 percent of its power from renewable sources, compared to 9.5 percent for the country as a whole. Only four states (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Texas) have a state-level renewable portfolio standard, while three others have voluntary renewable energy goals. The fate of renewables in the South is not only important for the region, but for the nation as a whole since, in 2008, the region accounted for 44 percent of the country’s energy consumption.
Opponents of renewable energy production claim that the South lacks the renewable energy resources to capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy. However, the report finds that there are abundant renewable energy resources available that can be tapped if supportive policies are put in place. The report shows that if a 25 percent (by 2025) federal RES is enacted, the amount of electricity supplied by power companies from renewable sources could increase more than 250 percent above the level expected in 2030 if no new federal renewables policies were enacted.
A number of other studies have shown a large potential for renewable energy in the South,” said Etan Gumerman of Duke University’s Nicholas Institute and co-lead researcher of the study. “Our study shows that significant increases can actually be achieved, particularly through supportive local or federal policies.”
The report, using a customized version of the economic modeling system used by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, finds that a federal renewable electricity standard and carbon pricing system would increase the proportion of electricity derived from renewable sources by power companies in every state, particularly in wind and biomass. By 2030, the report shows, federal carbon pricing policy would increase renewable electricity production in the South by 390 percent.
“Countries around the world are already tapping into the potential of renewable energy, and are capturing export markets and generating jobs in the process,” said Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-lead researcher of the study. “The report demonstrates that although many states in the South are off to a slow start, renewable initiatives are now underway across the region, and the potential for expansion is promising.”
In addition, the report finds that electricity produced by end-users, such as households and businesses using small-scale solar electric and heating facilities, would also benefit from federal policies and could supply a substantial portion of the region’s renewable electricity. Under a 25 percent RES, for example, renewable electricity supplied by utilities and end-users could increase by 154 percent. Carbon pricing policy could lead to a 266 percent increase above the total level of renewable electricity expected in the absence of federal policy changes.
“In the future, households and businesses have the potential to become major suppliers of clean, renewable electricity,” added Dr. Brown. “This changes the way we need to think about the South’s renewable energy potential.”
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Read the Full Report Here: http://www.spp.gatech.edu/aboutus/workingpapers/renewable-energy-in-the-south
The South lags behind all other regions in renewable electricity, obtaining 3.7 percent of its power from renewable sources, compared to 9.5 percent for the country as a whole. Only four states (Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, and Texas) have a state-level renewable portfolio standard, while three others have voluntary renewable energy goals. The fate of renewables in the South is not only important for the region, but for the nation as a whole since, in 2008, the region accounted for 44 percent of the country’s energy consumption.
Opponents of renewable energy production claim that the South lacks the renewable energy resources to capitalize on the growing demand for clean energy. However, the report finds that there are abundant renewable energy resources available that can be tapped if supportive policies are put in place. The report shows that if a 25 percent (by 2025) federal RES is enacted, the amount of electricity supplied by power companies from renewable sources could increase more than 250 percent above the level expected in 2030 if no new federal renewables policies were enacted.
A number of other studies have shown a large potential for renewable energy in the South,” said Etan Gumerman of Duke University’s Nicholas Institute and co-lead researcher of the study. “Our study shows that significant increases can actually be achieved, particularly through supportive local or federal policies.”
The report, using a customized version of the economic modeling system used by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, finds that a federal renewable electricity standard and carbon pricing system would increase the proportion of electricity derived from renewable sources by power companies in every state, particularly in wind and biomass. By 2030, the report shows, federal carbon pricing policy would increase renewable electricity production in the South by 390 percent.
“Countries around the world are already tapping into the potential of renewable energy, and are capturing export markets and generating jobs in the process,” said Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology and co-lead researcher of the study. “The report demonstrates that although many states in the South are off to a slow start, renewable initiatives are now underway across the region, and the potential for expansion is promising.”
In addition, the report finds that electricity produced by end-users, such as households and businesses using small-scale solar electric and heating facilities, would also benefit from federal policies and could supply a substantial portion of the region’s renewable electricity. Under a 25 percent RES, for example, renewable electricity supplied by utilities and end-users could increase by 154 percent. Carbon pricing policy could lead to a 266 percent increase above the total level of renewable electricity expected in the absence of federal policy changes.
“In the future, households and businesses have the potential to become major suppliers of clean, renewable electricity,” added Dr. Brown. “This changes the way we need to think about the South’s renewable energy potential.”
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Friday, May 21, 2010
Chevron Energy Solutions and Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Announce First Navy Landfill Gas Project
/PRNewswire/ -- Chevron Energy Solutions, a unit of Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) , and the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) Albany today announced the start of construction for the Department of Navy's first landfill gas cogeneration project.
The project will produce 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions will also complete industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expand the existing energy management control system. When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures will reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce MCLB's carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.
"This project is important to the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and Dougherty County. And with the help of Chevron Energy Solutions we will surpass our federal renewal energy goals, and fulfill our aspiration of becoming the 'greenest' Marine Corps installation in the nation," said Col. Terry V. Williams, commanding officer, MCLB Albany. "In addition to providing renewable power and energy security and reliability to MCLB, the project provides a valuable long-term source of revenue for Dougherty County. It took the hard work of many different partners to make this project a reality."
Chevron Energy Solutions developed and designed the project and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and landfill gas processing equipment. The new facility will house a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. MCLB's use of renewable power will increase to 19 percent, which exceeds the EPAct of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandate of 7.5 percent renewable power use by 2013.
Chevron Energy Solutions and MCLB will share in the operation of the generator and steam-producing equipment. Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), Chevron Energy Solutions arranged the financing for the project, which is repaid through the energy costs avoided. The company also guarantees system performance for 22 years.
"MCLB Albany is harnessing the power of an important renewable energy source through a partnership with the local community and we are proud of this effort," said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. "The project is funded entirely by energy savings and demonstrates how military bases and local governments can work together with private industry to meet federal mandates without increasing taxpayer costs."
Dougherty County will extract and sell the landfill gas to MCLB from the Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill, which receives approximately 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The biological decomposition of the waste generates landfill gas that is approximately 50 percent methane gas by volume.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held today and military, government and business officials attended. The project is expected to be completed by April 2011.
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The project will produce 1.9 megawatts of renewable electric power and steam by burning landfill gas collected from a nearby landfill. Chevron Energy Solutions will also complete industrial lighting retrofits in 82 buildings and expand the existing energy management control system. When combined with the cogeneration project, these measures will reduce the base's purchase of utility power and reduce MCLB's carbon emissions by 19,300 tons annually, equivalent to removing 16,000 cars from the road.
"This project is important to the Department of the Navy, the Marine Corps and Dougherty County. And with the help of Chevron Energy Solutions we will surpass our federal renewal energy goals, and fulfill our aspiration of becoming the 'greenest' Marine Corps installation in the nation," said Col. Terry V. Williams, commanding officer, MCLB Albany. "In addition to providing renewable power and energy security and reliability to MCLB, the project provides a valuable long-term source of revenue for Dougherty County. It took the hard work of many different partners to make this project a reality."
Chevron Energy Solutions developed and designed the project and will maintain the landfill gas-to-energy facility, pipeline and landfill gas processing equipment. The new facility will house a dual-fuel engine generator, a stack heat recovery steam generator and two dual-fuel boilers. The primary equipment can operate on landfill gas or natural gas, which provides energy security benefits. MCLB's use of renewable power will increase to 19 percent, which exceeds the EPAct of 2005 and Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandate of 7.5 percent renewable power use by 2013.
Chevron Energy Solutions and MCLB will share in the operation of the generator and steam-producing equipment. Through an Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC), Chevron Energy Solutions arranged the financing for the project, which is repaid through the energy costs avoided. The company also guarantees system performance for 22 years.
"MCLB Albany is harnessing the power of an important renewable energy source through a partnership with the local community and we are proud of this effort," said Jim Davis, president of Chevron Energy Solutions. "The project is funded entirely by energy savings and demonstrates how military bases and local governments can work together with private industry to meet federal mandates without increasing taxpayer costs."
Dougherty County will extract and sell the landfill gas to MCLB from the Fleming/Gaissert Road Landfill, which receives approximately 100,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The biological decomposition of the waste generates landfill gas that is approximately 50 percent methane gas by volume.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held today and military, government and business officials attended. The project is expected to be completed by April 2011.
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Southern Company and Ted Turner Join Forces to Explore Renewable Energy Projects
/PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company CEO David Ratcliffe and visionary business leader and environmentalist Ted Turner today announced a strategic alliance to pursue development of renewable energy projects in the United States.
"This alliance unites our common goal to explore and develop new renewable energy projects," said CEO David Ratcliffe. "We have said for some time that renewable energy should play an increasing role in this country's energy mix and that Southern Company would seek opportunities to expand our renewable portfolio where it makes sense. This is evidence of that commitment."
"I've always been passionate about developing renewable energy, and I'm excited to join forces with Southern Company to explore our renewable energy potential," said Ted Turner, owner of Turner Renewable Energy. "Southern Company's experience in power project development, construction and operations, and customer relations help make this a strong alliance, and I look forward to working together."
Initially, Southern Company and Turner will focus on developing and investing in large scale solar photovoltaic projects in the U.S. Southwest where solar resources are currently most efficient and in demand, with the goal of further commercializing the technology and making it more cost competitive.
Southern Company and Turner also may consider developing other renewable technologies.
Turner is the largest individual landowner in North America with more than two million acres. The alliance will explore renewable projects both on Turner land as well as other suitable sites.
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"This alliance unites our common goal to explore and develop new renewable energy projects," said CEO David Ratcliffe. "We have said for some time that renewable energy should play an increasing role in this country's energy mix and that Southern Company would seek opportunities to expand our renewable portfolio where it makes sense. This is evidence of that commitment."
"I've always been passionate about developing renewable energy, and I'm excited to join forces with Southern Company to explore our renewable energy potential," said Ted Turner, owner of Turner Renewable Energy. "Southern Company's experience in power project development, construction and operations, and customer relations help make this a strong alliance, and I look forward to working together."
Initially, Southern Company and Turner will focus on developing and investing in large scale solar photovoltaic projects in the U.S. Southwest where solar resources are currently most efficient and in demand, with the goal of further commercializing the technology and making it more cost competitive.
Southern Company and Turner also may consider developing other renewable technologies.
Turner is the largest individual landowner in North America with more than two million acres. The alliance will explore renewable projects both on Turner land as well as other suitable sites.
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Friday, December 18, 2009
Georgia Power Expands Green Energy Partnership with State's Largest Logistics Base
/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power recently signed a two-year contract with Robins Air Force Base to increase the amount of renewable energy the base will use. In order to meet challenging federal renewable mandates for military installations, Robins AFB will purchase 5 percent of the base's annual kilowatt-hour consumption, or more than 16 million kilowatt-hours, of Green Energy annually.
Robins AFB, one of three U.S. Air Force Air Logistics Centers and the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employs a work force of more than 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members. It is now the largest participant in Georgia Power's Green Energy program, purchasing more than 40 percent of the renewable energy sold through the program. The military base made its most recent purchase through the large volume option of the Green Energy program.
"Robins Air Force Base is proud to support the development of renewable generation in Georgia," said Paul Kelley, director of the Civil Engineering Squadron for Robins Air Force Base.
Green Energy is environmentally friendly electricity generated from sources like the sun, landfill methane and biomass. Customers who participate in the program help reduce the environmental impact of energy production, conserve natural resources and support domestic energy self-reliance. Georgia Power is currently getting most of its electricity for the program from a landfill methane-to-energy plant at the Seminole Landfill in DeKalb County.
"Robins Air Force Base is meeting its renewable energy goals through Georgia Power's Green Energy program," said David Dykes, Georgia Power's federal segment manager. "Their participation is a huge commitment toward the development of renewable energy in the Southeast and a clear demonstration of the Air Force's commitment to renewable energy. This action raises awareness of the importance Green Energy plays in protecting our environment now and into the future," said Dykes.
Since Georgia Power began the Green Energy program in October 2006, nearly 4,300 customers have committed to purchase in excess of 3 million kilowatt-hours of green energy, or enough electricity to power approximately 3,100 homes using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.
Residential customers can purchase 100-kilowatt-hour blocks of Green Energy for $3.50 per block which is added to their monthly electricity bill. They may also choose Green Energy that includes a solar component for $4.50 per block.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
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Robins AFB, one of three U.S. Air Force Air Logistics Centers and the largest industrial complex in Georgia, employs a work force of more than 25,584 civilian, contractor, and military members. It is now the largest participant in Georgia Power's Green Energy program, purchasing more than 40 percent of the renewable energy sold through the program. The military base made its most recent purchase through the large volume option of the Green Energy program.
"Robins Air Force Base is proud to support the development of renewable generation in Georgia," said Paul Kelley, director of the Civil Engineering Squadron for Robins Air Force Base.
Green Energy is environmentally friendly electricity generated from sources like the sun, landfill methane and biomass. Customers who participate in the program help reduce the environmental impact of energy production, conserve natural resources and support domestic energy self-reliance. Georgia Power is currently getting most of its electricity for the program from a landfill methane-to-energy plant at the Seminole Landfill in DeKalb County.
"Robins Air Force Base is meeting its renewable energy goals through Georgia Power's Green Energy program," said David Dykes, Georgia Power's federal segment manager. "Their participation is a huge commitment toward the development of renewable energy in the Southeast and a clear demonstration of the Air Force's commitment to renewable energy. This action raises awareness of the importance Green Energy plays in protecting our environment now and into the future," said Dykes.
Since Georgia Power began the Green Energy program in October 2006, nearly 4,300 customers have committed to purchase in excess of 3 million kilowatt-hours of green energy, or enough electricity to power approximately 3,100 homes using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.
Residential customers can purchase 100-kilowatt-hour blocks of Green Energy for $3.50 per block which is added to their monthly electricity bill. They may also choose Green Energy that includes a solar component for $4.50 per block.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
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Monday, November 16, 2009
Georgia Power, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Forge Green Energy Partnership
/PRNewswire/ -- The nation's premier public health agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has signed a two-year contract with Georgia Power to purchase renewable energy for its centers nationwide.
The purchase of more than 364,600 blocks of green energy, or 5 percent of the organization's annual kilowatt-hour consumption, will make the CDC Georgia Power's largest Green Energy customer.
"This recent purchase by the CDC really demonstrates the agency's commitment to the environment and the development of renewable energy in Georgia and around the country," said Ervan Hancock, Georgia Power's renewable and green strategies manager. "By purchasing such a large number of blocks of green energy, the agency has clearly taken a leadership role among its counterparts and given a significant boost to the program."
By using environmentally friendly green energy generated from sources like the sun, wind, water, landfill methane and biomass, the CDC will help protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help promote the use of renewable energy in Georgia and support domestic self-reliance.
The CDC made its purchase through the large volume option of the Green Energy program. Georgia Power is currently getting most of its electricity for the program from a landfill methane-to-energy plant at the Seminole Landfill in DeKalb County.
Since Georgia Power began the Green Energy program in October 2006, more than 4,300 customers have committed to purchase in excess of 3 million kilowatt-hours of green energy, or enough electricity to power approximately 3,100 homes using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.
Residential customers can purchase 100-kilowatt-hour blocks of Green Energy for $3.50 per block, which is added to their monthly electricity bill. They may also choose Green Energy that includes a solar component for $4.50 per block.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
The CDC is the nation's disease prevention and wellness promotion agency, protecting people's health and safety, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and improving health through strong partnerships. The agency includes 18 institutes, centers and offices, with approximately 14,000, full-time, part-time and contract employees. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and in 54 countries.
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The purchase of more than 364,600 blocks of green energy, or 5 percent of the organization's annual kilowatt-hour consumption, will make the CDC Georgia Power's largest Green Energy customer.
"This recent purchase by the CDC really demonstrates the agency's commitment to the environment and the development of renewable energy in Georgia and around the country," said Ervan Hancock, Georgia Power's renewable and green strategies manager. "By purchasing such a large number of blocks of green energy, the agency has clearly taken a leadership role among its counterparts and given a significant boost to the program."
By using environmentally friendly green energy generated from sources like the sun, wind, water, landfill methane and biomass, the CDC will help protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help promote the use of renewable energy in Georgia and support domestic self-reliance.
The CDC made its purchase through the large volume option of the Green Energy program. Georgia Power is currently getting most of its electricity for the program from a landfill methane-to-energy plant at the Seminole Landfill in DeKalb County.
Since Georgia Power began the Green Energy program in October 2006, more than 4,300 customers have committed to purchase in excess of 3 million kilowatt-hours of green energy, or enough electricity to power approximately 3,100 homes using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.
Residential customers can purchase 100-kilowatt-hour blocks of Green Energy for $3.50 per block, which is added to their monthly electricity bill. They may also choose Green Energy that includes a solar component for $4.50 per block.
Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.
The CDC is the nation's disease prevention and wellness promotion agency, protecting people's health and safety, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and improving health through strong partnerships. The agency includes 18 institutes, centers and offices, with approximately 14,000, full-time, part-time and contract employees. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and in 54 countries.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Biodiesel Returns More Energy To The Earth Than Ever, Study Finds
/PRNewswire/ -- Biodiesel is better than ever at harnessing the power of the sun and turning it into fuel. In fact, a study shows the fuel is returning more than four times the energy that it takes to make biodiesel.
Newly published research from the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 4.5 units of energy. This energy-in, energy-out ratio is "energy balance."
Biodiesel made from soybean oil has a high energy balance because the main energy source used to grow soybeans is solar.
"This gives Americans even more reason to put their faith in the environmental and societal benefits of biodiesel," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. "The Environmental Protection Agency should take this into account when considering biodiesel's greenhouse gas reductions," he said.
Jobe was referring to EPA's proposed rule to implement the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). EPA used 2005 baseline numbers for petroleum and biodiesel to project carbon impact 22 years in the future. That stacks the deck in favor of petroleum.
"In its rulemaking, EPA should recognize that biodiesel production is growing more efficient, while oil exploration and drilling becomes more intensive each day," Jobe said.
The USDA/Idaho study finds key drivers that continue to make biodiesel an efficient fuel choice:
-- New seed varieties and management practices are upping soybean yields.
-- Farmers have minimized cultivation of the soil. These reduced tillage
practices have cut how much fuel they need to grow soybeans.
-- Modern soybean varieties have reduced the need for pesticides.
-- Today's soybean processing and biodiesel plants are more energy
efficient.
"Our research shows continued progress in the renewability of biodiesel production," said University of Idaho Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Dev Shrestha. "Farmers, soybean processors and biodiesel producers are getting even better at using non-fossil resources and adopting other efficiencies that are leading to greater energy returns."
The new study is based on biodiesel produced from soybean oil, the largest share of the biodiesel market. Other abundant sources used for biodiesel included recycled cooking oil, fats and other plant oils, such as canola oil. Biodiesel is a clean-burning renewable fuel for diesel engines. It improves air quality and creates green-collar jobs. The NBB is the national trade association of the industry.
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Newly published research from the University of Idaho and U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that for every unit of fossil energy needed to produce biodiesel, the return is 4.5 units of energy. This energy-in, energy-out ratio is "energy balance."
Biodiesel made from soybean oil has a high energy balance because the main energy source used to grow soybeans is solar.
"This gives Americans even more reason to put their faith in the environmental and societal benefits of biodiesel," said Joe Jobe, CEO of the National Biodiesel Board. "The Environmental Protection Agency should take this into account when considering biodiesel's greenhouse gas reductions," he said.
Jobe was referring to EPA's proposed rule to implement the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). EPA used 2005 baseline numbers for petroleum and biodiesel to project carbon impact 22 years in the future. That stacks the deck in favor of petroleum.
"In its rulemaking, EPA should recognize that biodiesel production is growing more efficient, while oil exploration and drilling becomes more intensive each day," Jobe said.
The USDA/Idaho study finds key drivers that continue to make biodiesel an efficient fuel choice:
-- New seed varieties and management practices are upping soybean yields.
-- Farmers have minimized cultivation of the soil. These reduced tillage
practices have cut how much fuel they need to grow soybeans.
-- Modern soybean varieties have reduced the need for pesticides.
-- Today's soybean processing and biodiesel plants are more energy
efficient.
"Our research shows continued progress in the renewability of biodiesel production," said University of Idaho Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Assistant Professor Dev Shrestha. "Farmers, soybean processors and biodiesel producers are getting even better at using non-fossil resources and adopting other efficiencies that are leading to greater energy returns."
The new study is based on biodiesel produced from soybean oil, the largest share of the biodiesel market. Other abundant sources used for biodiesel included recycled cooking oil, fats and other plant oils, such as canola oil. Biodiesel is a clean-burning renewable fuel for diesel engines. It improves air quality and creates green-collar jobs. The NBB is the national trade association of the industry.
-----
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
UGA licenses technology to make fuel from dead forests and agricultural waste
An innovative process for turning waste biomass—such as dead trees, agricultural waste and lumber byproducts—into a liquid fuel to power conventional engines has been licensed by the University of Georgia Research Foundation, Inc. to Tolero Energy, LLC, a private biofuels company based in Sacramento, Calif. The technology represents a leap forward for the biofuels industry: the ultra-low-sulfur biofuel does not require additional refinement or processing before blending with biodiesel and petroleum diesel.
The exclusive license provides Tolero Energy global rights to the technology, including the right to grant sublicenses.
Tolero CEO Chris Churchill said the company will focus on the transportation fuels market as it completes development of the UGARF bio-oil technology. He expects to make product based on the technology available in the first half of 2010.
Lead inventor of the technology is Tom Adams, a retired member of the University of Georgia Faculty of Engineering. Co-inventors are John Goodrum, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Dan Geller and Joshua Pendergrass—all presently or previously associated with the UGA Faculty of Engineering.
“Fuel produced through this efficient technology, which uses dead biomass as the starting material, holds the promise of being highly economical, carbon-negative and environmentally acceptable,” said Adams, now an engineering consultant.
Tolero will use this low-cost, on-site process to turn non-food, waste biomass into sustainable and renewable forms of energy and industrial products. The biomass is heated at carefully controlled high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, a process known as fast pyrolysis. The vapors produced during pyrolysis rapidly condense into a bio-oil that can be added to biodiesel or petroleum diesel. Other pyrolysis by-products are gas and bio-char, which can be used as a soil amendment.
Dead trees are one of the major sources of waste biomass for Tolero, said Churchill. He explained, “Infestations of the mountain pine beetle have devastated forests in the western United States and Canada, killing over 40 million acres of pine trees. As the trees decompose and decay, they release millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, and the devastation has created a significant and dangerous fire hazard in the western forests.
“Harvesting dead trees and forest residue and converting them to renewable fuel and soil amendment products will help reduce the CO2 released into the atmosphere and reduce the fire danger. The recent fire in the Los Angeles foothills, which was fueled by years of highly flammable dead biomass build-up, is a prime example of a situation where this technology can be put to use. Tolero has the capability to establish pyrolysis facilities to process the dead underbrush and convert it to a renewable fuel that is easy to transport,” Churchill said.
Tolero also will convert other types of cellulosic biomass, such as agricultural waste and waste wood pallets, into renewable transportation fuels, heating fuels, soil amendments and industrial products.
“We are glad that our new business partner, Tolero, will be using biomass waste as starting material for the production of biodiesel,” said Gennaro Gama, senior technology manager at UGARF charged with the management of UGA’s bioenergy technologies. “Not only is this approach socially responsible, since it does not employ food crops as the source of biofuels, it also is ecologically sound, as it will open areas to reforestation and at the same time lead to the production of cost-efficient, sulfur-free fuels,” he said.
“This commercialization approach perfectly reflects the social and ecological concerns of UGA’s bioenergy researchers and the research partnership formed with Tolero,” Gama concluded.
UGARF performs the technology transfer function for the University of Georgia, taking assignment of patents and licensing such patents to the private sector in return for royalty income to support the research mission of the university. To learn more about technology commercialization at the University of Georgia, see http://www.ovpr.uga.edu/tco/industry/.
Tolero Energy LLC focuses on renewable transportation fuel from waste biomass. More information is available at www.toleroenergy.com.
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The exclusive license provides Tolero Energy global rights to the technology, including the right to grant sublicenses.
Tolero CEO Chris Churchill said the company will focus on the transportation fuels market as it completes development of the UGARF bio-oil technology. He expects to make product based on the technology available in the first half of 2010.
Lead inventor of the technology is Tom Adams, a retired member of the University of Georgia Faculty of Engineering. Co-inventors are John Goodrum, Manuel Garcia-Perez, Dan Geller and Joshua Pendergrass—all presently or previously associated with the UGA Faculty of Engineering.
“Fuel produced through this efficient technology, which uses dead biomass as the starting material, holds the promise of being highly economical, carbon-negative and environmentally acceptable,” said Adams, now an engineering consultant.
Tolero will use this low-cost, on-site process to turn non-food, waste biomass into sustainable and renewable forms of energy and industrial products. The biomass is heated at carefully controlled high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, a process known as fast pyrolysis. The vapors produced during pyrolysis rapidly condense into a bio-oil that can be added to biodiesel or petroleum diesel. Other pyrolysis by-products are gas and bio-char, which can be used as a soil amendment.
Dead trees are one of the major sources of waste biomass for Tolero, said Churchill. He explained, “Infestations of the mountain pine beetle have devastated forests in the western United States and Canada, killing over 40 million acres of pine trees. As the trees decompose and decay, they release millions of tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, and the devastation has created a significant and dangerous fire hazard in the western forests.
“Harvesting dead trees and forest residue and converting them to renewable fuel and soil amendment products will help reduce the CO2 released into the atmosphere and reduce the fire danger. The recent fire in the Los Angeles foothills, which was fueled by years of highly flammable dead biomass build-up, is a prime example of a situation where this technology can be put to use. Tolero has the capability to establish pyrolysis facilities to process the dead underbrush and convert it to a renewable fuel that is easy to transport,” Churchill said.
Tolero also will convert other types of cellulosic biomass, such as agricultural waste and waste wood pallets, into renewable transportation fuels, heating fuels, soil amendments and industrial products.
“We are glad that our new business partner, Tolero, will be using biomass waste as starting material for the production of biodiesel,” said Gennaro Gama, senior technology manager at UGARF charged with the management of UGA’s bioenergy technologies. “Not only is this approach socially responsible, since it does not employ food crops as the source of biofuels, it also is ecologically sound, as it will open areas to reforestation and at the same time lead to the production of cost-efficient, sulfur-free fuels,” he said.
“This commercialization approach perfectly reflects the social and ecological concerns of UGA’s bioenergy researchers and the research partnership formed with Tolero,” Gama concluded.
UGARF performs the technology transfer function for the University of Georgia, taking assignment of patents and licensing such patents to the private sector in return for royalty income to support the research mission of the university. To learn more about technology commercialization at the University of Georgia, see http://www.ovpr.uga.edu/tco/industry/.
Tolero Energy LLC focuses on renewable transportation fuel from waste biomass. More information is available at www.toleroenergy.com.
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Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Energy Industry Icon Calls for Lower U.S. Natural Gas Prices; Industry at Record Storage Levels and No Demand Drivers
/PRNewswire/ -- Karl W. Miller, a senior energy executive and institutional investor, today issued the following statement through his advisor VBCC, regarding the fact that U.S. natural gas is at record storage levels and overpriced.
Mr. Miller re-affirms expectations for natural gas to correct to the $2.50 to $2.75 mmbtu price range and will continue getting cheaper, as there will be no sustainable drivers either by natural gas fired electricity generation or industrial demand in the U.S. for the next 6-8 quarters.
The natural gas pipeline companies, master limited partnerships (MLP's) and natural gas producers will suffer substantially reduced earnings during the next 6-8 quarters and are substantially overvalued at the current time.
Oil is dollar based, but has no linkage to the price or demand of natural gas in the U.S.
Mr. Miller retains a sell recommendation on U.S. publicly listed renewable energy companies. He predicts we will see many of these companies, which are reliant upon massive government subsidies, state approval of pass through price increases, and highly levered fail and/or will be purchased at distressed prices.
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Mr. Miller re-affirms expectations for natural gas to correct to the $2.50 to $2.75 mmbtu price range and will continue getting cheaper, as there will be no sustainable drivers either by natural gas fired electricity generation or industrial demand in the U.S. for the next 6-8 quarters.
The natural gas pipeline companies, master limited partnerships (MLP's) and natural gas producers will suffer substantially reduced earnings during the next 6-8 quarters and are substantially overvalued at the current time.
Oil is dollar based, but has no linkage to the price or demand of natural gas in the U.S.
Mr. Miller retains a sell recommendation on U.S. publicly listed renewable energy companies. He predicts we will see many of these companies, which are reliant upon massive government subsidies, state approval of pass through price increases, and highly levered fail and/or will be purchased at distressed prices.
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Monday, August 3, 2009
Tapping New Sources of Energy
Can microbes that live in swamp mud help us produce green energy?
Chemistry Professor Brian Dyer is researching that possibility, through his work at the intersection of chemistry, physics and biology. “I’m really into blurring the lines between traditional disciplines,” he says.
Formerly with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Dyer joined Emory this summer to help unite the University’s multi-disciplinary research into renewable energy sources. “The need for renewable energy is one of the key problems of our time,” Dyer says, “and Emory is well-positioned to really make an impact in this area.”
Dyer uses laser spectroscopy to study how light can interact with materials. Early in his career, he began working with proteins that can do photochemistry, drawing his inspiration from natural photosynthesis.
“Ultimately, plants are taking light and storing it as chemical energy,” Dyer explains. “The elegance of some of these reactions is astounding. It’s an incredibly complex process, done with a series of proteins that are highly optimized for a specific function, such as light harvesting and water oxidation. The proteins are like tiny machines. A good analogy is an internal combustion engine, where you actually have integrated, working parts.”
Artificial photosynthesis
In recent years, science and industry have started searching for ways to develop systems of artificial photosynthesis, to help solve the energy shortage and reduce carbon emissions. So far, man’s attempts at tapping the sun’s power have fallen far short of Mother Nature’s.
While living in Los Alamos, located at 7,500 feet above sea level on the Pajarito Plateau, Dyer installed solar panels on his family home. “I wanted to understand the issues of solar energy at the practical level of a home owner,” he says. Even with 320 days a year of New Mexico sunshine, he found conventional solar panels to be inefficient and not cost effective.
“An even bigger problem is the batteries required to store the intermittent solar flux,” Dyer says. “Their storage capacity is limited and their lifetime is short. They also contain hazardous chemicals, like lead and sulfuric acid.”
Mimicking Mother Nature
Dyer is focused on solving this solar energy storage problem. He wants to covert solar energy to fuel, using a particular protein to develop a photocatalyst for solar hydrogen production — which brings up the swamp bugs.
A type of anaerobic bacteria that lives deep in the mud of swamps, where there is little oxygen, survives by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. While humans need to use expensive systems to perform this process on a large scale, the bacteria does it naturally by generating the protein hydrogenase — the most efficient catalyst known for making hydrogen.
By studying the biological system, Dyer hopes to find ways to adapt the microbial catalysis of hydrogenase so that it can be harnessed for solar hydrogen production.
“You can trick bugs to make lots of certain kinds of proteins, like a little factory,” Dyer explains. “It’s called ‘directed evolution,’ where you push bacteria a certain way, forcing it to adapt and to produce an evolved protein that has the properties you need.”
His goal is to generate hydrogenase in a form that allows the protein to bind to quantum dots, which are good at absorbing light and could provide the energy to drive the reaction.
“We envision producing hydrogen in a photochemically driven process, where the electrons and protons needed to produce the hydrogen are furnished by water,” Dyer explains. “You could then burn the hydrogen as fuel and get water back. It would be a perfectly clean cycle.”
Renewable energy center
At Emory, Dyer is teamed with other scientists in his experiments, including Tim Lian, William Henry Emerson Professor of Chemistry and a leader in quantum dot technology, and Stefan Lutz, an associate professor of biomolecular chemistry who specializes in protein engineering.
Dyer will also serve as the director of a renewable energy center on campus, to launch this fall. The aim is to further integrate ongoing energy research among chemists, physicists, biologists and computer scientists.
“The energy field has suffered from 30 years of people saying that the search for more energy is an engineering problem,” Dyer says. “Actually, it’s primarily a science problem. Emory has a good track record of bringing together interdisciplinary teams, and tremendous strengths in the bio-sciences, as well as the physical sciences. Most of the advances in renewable energy are going to be made at that interface.”
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Chemistry Professor Brian Dyer is researching that possibility, through his work at the intersection of chemistry, physics and biology. “I’m really into blurring the lines between traditional disciplines,” he says.
Formerly with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Dyer joined Emory this summer to help unite the University’s multi-disciplinary research into renewable energy sources. “The need for renewable energy is one of the key problems of our time,” Dyer says, “and Emory is well-positioned to really make an impact in this area.”
Dyer uses laser spectroscopy to study how light can interact with materials. Early in his career, he began working with proteins that can do photochemistry, drawing his inspiration from natural photosynthesis.
“Ultimately, plants are taking light and storing it as chemical energy,” Dyer explains. “The elegance of some of these reactions is astounding. It’s an incredibly complex process, done with a series of proteins that are highly optimized for a specific function, such as light harvesting and water oxidation. The proteins are like tiny machines. A good analogy is an internal combustion engine, where you actually have integrated, working parts.”
Artificial photosynthesis
In recent years, science and industry have started searching for ways to develop systems of artificial photosynthesis, to help solve the energy shortage and reduce carbon emissions. So far, man’s attempts at tapping the sun’s power have fallen far short of Mother Nature’s.
While living in Los Alamos, located at 7,500 feet above sea level on the Pajarito Plateau, Dyer installed solar panels on his family home. “I wanted to understand the issues of solar energy at the practical level of a home owner,” he says. Even with 320 days a year of New Mexico sunshine, he found conventional solar panels to be inefficient and not cost effective.
“An even bigger problem is the batteries required to store the intermittent solar flux,” Dyer says. “Their storage capacity is limited and their lifetime is short. They also contain hazardous chemicals, like lead and sulfuric acid.”
Mimicking Mother Nature
Dyer is focused on solving this solar energy storage problem. He wants to covert solar energy to fuel, using a particular protein to develop a photocatalyst for solar hydrogen production — which brings up the swamp bugs.
A type of anaerobic bacteria that lives deep in the mud of swamps, where there is little oxygen, survives by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. While humans need to use expensive systems to perform this process on a large scale, the bacteria does it naturally by generating the protein hydrogenase — the most efficient catalyst known for making hydrogen.
By studying the biological system, Dyer hopes to find ways to adapt the microbial catalysis of hydrogenase so that it can be harnessed for solar hydrogen production.
“You can trick bugs to make lots of certain kinds of proteins, like a little factory,” Dyer explains. “It’s called ‘directed evolution,’ where you push bacteria a certain way, forcing it to adapt and to produce an evolved protein that has the properties you need.”
His goal is to generate hydrogenase in a form that allows the protein to bind to quantum dots, which are good at absorbing light and could provide the energy to drive the reaction.
“We envision producing hydrogen in a photochemically driven process, where the electrons and protons needed to produce the hydrogen are furnished by water,” Dyer explains. “You could then burn the hydrogen as fuel and get water back. It would be a perfectly clean cycle.”
Renewable energy center
At Emory, Dyer is teamed with other scientists in his experiments, including Tim Lian, William Henry Emerson Professor of Chemistry and a leader in quantum dot technology, and Stefan Lutz, an associate professor of biomolecular chemistry who specializes in protein engineering.
Dyer will also serve as the director of a renewable energy center on campus, to launch this fall. The aim is to further integrate ongoing energy research among chemists, physicists, biologists and computer scientists.
“The energy field has suffered from 30 years of people saying that the search for more energy is an engineering problem,” Dyer says. “Actually, it’s primarily a science problem. Emory has a good track record of bringing together interdisciplinary teams, and tremendous strengths in the bio-sciences, as well as the physical sciences. Most of the advances in renewable energy are going to be made at that interface.”
-----
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Monday, June 1, 2009
Georgia Power Launches Solar Research Project
/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power's corporate headquarters will begin harnessing the sun in 2009 as the company partners with Southern Company to launch a rooftop solar demonstration program aimed at increasing the use of renewable energy in Georgia.
Adding to the building's energy-efficient construction and architecture, Georgia Power has begun installing seven different commercially viable photovoltaic (PV) panels on its roof to test which solar technologies perform best with Georgia's weather patterns and climate.
The project, funded by Southern Company and Georgia Power, will generate cost and performance data of leading solar technologies and will assist customers interested in purchasing photovoltaic panels for their own homes or businesses. The project will collect data from the panels for a minimum of one year.
Energy generated by the PV panels will partially offset the electricity needs of Georgia Power's corporate headquarters. Each test technology will be capable of producing approximately four kilowatts. Four of the solar technologies have been installed, while the remaining technologies will be implemented as they become available.
"We continue to explore ways to increase our renewable-energy portfolio," said Ervan Hancock, manager of renewable and green strategies. "This solar research project will provide us with valuable data on a small scale of some of the leading-edge solar technologies on the market. What we learn from this project will undoubtedly give better insight into actual performance and economics to further the consideration of solar energy in Georgia."
Georgia Power designed and constructed its corporate headquarters in the 1980s with energy efficiency in mind. The building boasts environmentally friendly features such as:
-- Cantilevered architectural design that allows for the floor above to
shade the windows on the floor below. Aluminum tubes on each floor
indention also aid in reducing solar heat.
-- Heavily insulated windows on the east and west sides of the building
to further reduce solar heat.
-- Fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts for interior lighting.
-- A 300,000 gallon water storage system that chills water at night
during off-peak electrical demand then runs the chilled water through
a heat exchanger during the day to help cool the building.
The company also recently expanded its Green Energy program to include a premium option that allows customers to purchase renewable energy - 2 percent of which is solar - at a cost of $4.50 per 100-kilowatt-hour block. This solar research project will augment Georgia Power's existing renewable energy strategy.
The company plans to make the solar demonstration production data available to the public via an interactive kiosk that will be set up in the lobby of the corporate headquarters. The kiosk will provide real-time information and up-to-date results, along with Web data. Georgia Power will work with an independent consultant to evaluate the performance of each technology and may consider expanding the project at the end of the evaluation stage.
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Adding to the building's energy-efficient construction and architecture, Georgia Power has begun installing seven different commercially viable photovoltaic (PV) panels on its roof to test which solar technologies perform best with Georgia's weather patterns and climate.
The project, funded by Southern Company and Georgia Power, will generate cost and performance data of leading solar technologies and will assist customers interested in purchasing photovoltaic panels for their own homes or businesses. The project will collect data from the panels for a minimum of one year.
Energy generated by the PV panels will partially offset the electricity needs of Georgia Power's corporate headquarters. Each test technology will be capable of producing approximately four kilowatts. Four of the solar technologies have been installed, while the remaining technologies will be implemented as they become available.
"We continue to explore ways to increase our renewable-energy portfolio," said Ervan Hancock, manager of renewable and green strategies. "This solar research project will provide us with valuable data on a small scale of some of the leading-edge solar technologies on the market. What we learn from this project will undoubtedly give better insight into actual performance and economics to further the consideration of solar energy in Georgia."
Georgia Power designed and constructed its corporate headquarters in the 1980s with energy efficiency in mind. The building boasts environmentally friendly features such as:
-- Cantilevered architectural design that allows for the floor above to
shade the windows on the floor below. Aluminum tubes on each floor
indention also aid in reducing solar heat.
-- Heavily insulated windows on the east and west sides of the building
to further reduce solar heat.
-- Fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts for interior lighting.
-- A 300,000 gallon water storage system that chills water at night
during off-peak electrical demand then runs the chilled water through
a heat exchanger during the day to help cool the building.
The company also recently expanded its Green Energy program to include a premium option that allows customers to purchase renewable energy - 2 percent of which is solar - at a cost of $4.50 per 100-kilowatt-hour block. This solar research project will augment Georgia Power's existing renewable energy strategy.
The company plans to make the solar demonstration production data available to the public via an interactive kiosk that will be set up in the lobby of the corporate headquarters. The kiosk will provide real-time information and up-to-date results, along with Web data. Georgia Power will work with an independent consultant to evaluate the performance of each technology and may consider expanding the project at the end of the evaluation stage.
-----
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Thursday, May 14, 2009
Environmental Radicals Are Obama's Achilles Heel: Blocking New Oil Drilling Will Bring Back $3-4 a Gallon Gas
/PRNewswire / -- President Obama has put America into the hands of "environmental radicals." It is only a matter of time before "his vast popularity runs aground on his energy policies," according to a column by Jon Basil Utley posted at Reason magazine's site, http://www.reason.com/news/show/133458.html.
"In the name of saving the planet from global warming, [Obama] has delayed new oil drilling, an action that will have major political repercussions once the world economy recovers. Instead of using some of the stimulus billions to produce more gas and oil, Obama's appointees dream of 'renewable' energy derived from corn, wind, sunshine, and even grass," Mr. Utley says in an article entitled "Obama and the Alternative Energy Fiasco."
"It's essential to remember that so-called renewable energy cannot replace oil and natural gas in any significant way. For example, corn-based ethanol production 'costs' nearly as much to produce as it saves in oil and can only exist with the help of costly and unending subsidies. ... In contrast, oil and gas drilling could provide hundreds of thousands of solid, well-paying, blue-collar jobs -- and would produce millions in new tax revenue," Mr. Utley says.
"Instead of producing more of the cheap, abundant energy that fueled America's dynamic growth, the extremists ... dream of drastically cutting American consumption. All of these things are happening at a time when natural gas is abundant and cheap. ...The new technology of horizontal fraccing has made it economically feasible to drill into vast shale deposits in many states."
"Windmills depend upon a two-cent-per-kilowatt taxpayer subsidy to remain competitive. They also require backup gas generators (in case the wind isn't blowing when needed). Solar power is even more expensive and also would need billions for back-up generators and new transmission lines," Mr. Utley explains.
"It's little more than socialist Malthusianism to argue that the world is running out of energy. Science will always find and harness new sources." Producing from America's vast oil reserves could "transform our trade deficit and ... (prevent) lower living standards for most Americans."
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"In the name of saving the planet from global warming, [Obama] has delayed new oil drilling, an action that will have major political repercussions once the world economy recovers. Instead of using some of the stimulus billions to produce more gas and oil, Obama's appointees dream of 'renewable' energy derived from corn, wind, sunshine, and even grass," Mr. Utley says in an article entitled "Obama and the Alternative Energy Fiasco."
"It's essential to remember that so-called renewable energy cannot replace oil and natural gas in any significant way. For example, corn-based ethanol production 'costs' nearly as much to produce as it saves in oil and can only exist with the help of costly and unending subsidies. ... In contrast, oil and gas drilling could provide hundreds of thousands of solid, well-paying, blue-collar jobs -- and would produce millions in new tax revenue," Mr. Utley says.
"Instead of producing more of the cheap, abundant energy that fueled America's dynamic growth, the extremists ... dream of drastically cutting American consumption. All of these things are happening at a time when natural gas is abundant and cheap. ...The new technology of horizontal fraccing has made it economically feasible to drill into vast shale deposits in many states."
"Windmills depend upon a two-cent-per-kilowatt taxpayer subsidy to remain competitive. They also require backup gas generators (in case the wind isn't blowing when needed). Solar power is even more expensive and also would need billions for back-up generators and new transmission lines," Mr. Utley explains.
"It's little more than socialist Malthusianism to argue that the world is running out of energy. Science will always find and harness new sources." Producing from America's vast oil reserves could "transform our trade deficit and ... (prevent) lower living standards for most Americans."
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Americas Waste to Energy, Corp. Announces Project Site in Toombs County, Georgia & Partnership with Freedom Renewable Energy Corp.
Americas Waste to Energy, Corp. Announces Project Site in Toombs County, Georgia & Partnership with Freedom Renewable Energy Corp. for Sites Throughout United States
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americas Waste to Energy, Corp. (AW2E) announced yesterday that it will be deploying the first Biosphere Gasification System in Georgia at a project site in Toombs County. The agreement, made with the Toombs County Board of Commissioners, calls for a two phase construction plan that will include up to three Biosphere Gasification Systems. An Energy Purchase Agreement with Georgia Power Company was also executed in conjunction with this project which states that Georgia Power Company will purchase the 24 megawatts of renewable energy produced onsite. The Toombs County Project represents the creation of 30 new green collar jobs and approximately $34 million in new capital investment to the State of Georgia.
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Americas Waste to Energy, Corp. (AW2E) announced yesterday that it will be deploying the first Biosphere Gasification System in Georgia at a project site in Toombs County. The agreement, made with the Toombs County Board of Commissioners, calls for a two phase construction plan that will include up to three Biosphere Gasification Systems. An Energy Purchase Agreement with Georgia Power Company was also executed in conjunction with this project which states that Georgia Power Company will purchase the 24 megawatts of renewable energy produced onsite. The Toombs County Project represents the creation of 30 new green collar jobs and approximately $34 million in new capital investment to the State of Georgia.
“This agreement marks the first step in a revolutionary approach for ‘waste to power’ production in Georgia and the world,” says Paul Hester, CEO of AW2E. “We are a privately funded corporation that is presenting a zero waste – zero cost solution to communities in Georgia and beyond.”
AW2E is a subsidiary of Freedom Renewable Energy Corp (FREC) with full marketing and deployment rights to the Biosphere Gasification System throughout the United States. FREC enjoys agreements with system manufacturer Global Environmental Energy Corporation (GEECF) for the sales and distribution of the Biosphere Gasification System and just finalized a partnership agreement with AW2E and their sister organization, Global Waste to Energy, Corp. (GW2E).
“An order and a deposit have been made on the first Biosphere Gasification System for the Toombs Project and we currently have private funding for 50 systems in Georgia alone,” states Ms. Noreen Griffin, CEO of FREC. “AW2E has identified at least 19 sites in Georgia that would represent the deployment of 73 Biospheres, create at least 730 new green collar jobs and generate approximately $803 million in new capital and 584 megawatts of renewable energy. In any type of economy, that is a tremendous investment! We are currently finalizing our nationwide and global marketing and deployment strategy.”
Via agreements with GEECF, FREC intends to market and deploy Biosphere Gasification Systems in communities around the world through its subsidiaries AW2E and GW2E.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Pres. Obama to Nation - Our Economic Recovery 'Begins With Energy'
/PRNewswire/ -- President Obama's first speech to a Joint Session of Congress last night was almost entirely devoted to the troubled economy. Amid a deepening recession Obama described the $787 Billion stimulus as one of the bold steps his five week old administration is implementing to turn the US economy around.
In the speech, Obama vowed to spend $15 billion a year to develop renewable energy. "We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century," he said. The administration's Secretary of Energy, Stephen Chu, announced on Monday an immediate fast-tracking of all applications from wind and solar companies for stimulus dollars to kick-start the construction of more projects.
Assuming wind companies receive the lion's share of stimulus dollars (wind power accounted for 95% of the renewable energy built over the last five years), the stimulus is expected to lead to the construction of 30,000-megawatts of additional capacity, according to Hugh Wynne, an analyst at Bernstein Research - enough new wind power to supply 9 million American homes.
Wind farm developer NACEL Energy (OTC:NCEN) (BULLETIN BOARD: NCEN) CEO Brian Lavery said, "We ran the numbers and the impact as we understand the new stimulus incentives for wind power are really quite significant." NACEL has four wind power projects underway in the Texas Panhandle. Advisory Research has a positive rating on NACEL and a $3.07 valuation.
Accelerating construction of wind farms is also expected to lead to a recovery in the turbine market in the second half of 2009. In recent months manufacturers General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Vestas (Pink Sheets: VWDRY), as well as companies which supply the carbon fiber for turbine blades such as Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) and Zoltek (NASDAQ:ZOLT) , have all experienced slowing demand. Yesterday KeyBanc Capital Markets announced a new buy rating on Hexcel and a $10 valuation.
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In the speech, Obama vowed to spend $15 billion a year to develop renewable energy. "We know the country that harnesses the power of clean, renewable energy will lead the 21st century," he said. The administration's Secretary of Energy, Stephen Chu, announced on Monday an immediate fast-tracking of all applications from wind and solar companies for stimulus dollars to kick-start the construction of more projects.
Assuming wind companies receive the lion's share of stimulus dollars (wind power accounted for 95% of the renewable energy built over the last five years), the stimulus is expected to lead to the construction of 30,000-megawatts of additional capacity, according to Hugh Wynne, an analyst at Bernstein Research - enough new wind power to supply 9 million American homes.
Wind farm developer NACEL Energy (OTC:NCEN) (BULLETIN BOARD: NCEN) CEO Brian Lavery said, "We ran the numbers and the impact as we understand the new stimulus incentives for wind power are really quite significant." NACEL has four wind power projects underway in the Texas Panhandle. Advisory Research has a positive rating on NACEL and a $3.07 valuation.
Accelerating construction of wind farms is also expected to lead to a recovery in the turbine market in the second half of 2009. In recent months manufacturers General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Vestas (Pink Sheets: VWDRY), as well as companies which supply the carbon fiber for turbine blades such as Hexcel (NYSE:HXL) and Zoltek (NASDAQ:ZOLT) , have all experienced slowing demand. Yesterday KeyBanc Capital Markets announced a new buy rating on Hexcel and a $10 valuation.
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Monday, February 9, 2009
Global Energy Systems Consummates Georgia Landfill Gas Purchasing Agreement with Republic Services
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Global Energy Systems, a subsidiary of the diversified renewable energy company Global Energy Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: GNH), today announced it has acquired the right to purchase landfill gas from Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG) , the owner and operator of the Hickory Ridge landfill in Conley, Georgia. Global Energy will process the landfill gas to convert it into a saleable energy product. Global Energy paid Republic a total of $3,350,000 for the landfill gas purchase rights and will pay Republic a royalty based on revenues collected from the sale of the processed gas.
Methane, a greenhouse gas that is produced naturally during the decomposition of landfill waste, is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Often, this landfill gas is isolated and flared to prevent its release into the atmosphere. Rather than flaring the methane from Hickory Ridge, Global Energy will construct a pipeline to transport this gas to its gas conditioning facility. Global Energy will then process the landfill gas into an energy product that may be sold for a variety of uses.
"Republic is very excited to add this project to our portfolio of 80+ landfill-gas-to-energy projects. It complements our operations in the Atlanta area and the services and relationships we have with our customers there, and furthers our goals of contributing to energy independence, sustainability and environmental stewardship," says Bill Held, Senior Director of Renewable Energy for Republic.
Landfill gas is recognized as a source of renewable energy by a number of State renewable portfolio standards and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The U.S. EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has identified 23 landfills in the state of Georgia that are promising candidates for landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) systems.
"Global Energy intends to work with a number of waste service providers to develop LFGTE projects at landfills across the Southeast United States," said Mike Ellis, President of Global Energy Systems. "Global Energy's expert staff including our management team and engineers will help us develop the Southeast's energy potential."
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Methane, a greenhouse gas that is produced naturally during the decomposition of landfill waste, is 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Often, this landfill gas is isolated and flared to prevent its release into the atmosphere. Rather than flaring the methane from Hickory Ridge, Global Energy will construct a pipeline to transport this gas to its gas conditioning facility. Global Energy will then process the landfill gas into an energy product that may be sold for a variety of uses.
"Republic is very excited to add this project to our portfolio of 80+ landfill-gas-to-energy projects. It complements our operations in the Atlanta area and the services and relationships we have with our customers there, and furthers our goals of contributing to energy independence, sustainability and environmental stewardship," says Bill Held, Senior Director of Renewable Energy for Republic.
Landfill gas is recognized as a source of renewable energy by a number of State renewable portfolio standards and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The U.S. EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has identified 23 landfills in the state of Georgia that are promising candidates for landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) systems.
"Global Energy intends to work with a number of waste service providers to develop LFGTE projects at landfills across the Southeast United States," said Mike Ellis, President of Global Energy Systems. "Global Energy's expert staff including our management team and engineers will help us develop the Southeast's energy potential."
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Study: Billions Needed to Deliver Wind Power to Eastern Interconnection
/PRNewswire/ -- The Joint Coordinated System Plan (JCSP'08), the first step of a transmission and generation system expansion analysis of the majority of the Eastern Interconnection, estimates the electricity sector will need over $80 billion in new transmission infrastructure to obtain 20% of the region's electricity from wind generation.
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This initial analysis, which was performed with participation from major transmission owners and operators in the Eastern U.S., looked at two scenarios to examine transmission and generation possibilities between 2008 and 2024. The first, a Reference Scenario, assumes "business as usual" with respect to wind development, with approximately 5% of the region's energy coming from wind. The second was a 20% Wind Energy Scenario and was based on the U.S. Department of Energy's Eastern Wind Integration and Transmission Study.
"We believe that, although JCSP'08 examined a small set of scenarios with limited variables, this study nonetheless gives a clear idea of the scale of commitment it will take to integrate large amounts of renewable resources into the grid," said John Bear, President and CEO of the Midwest ISO. "This is information we believe that our leaders need to consider as they begin work under a new administration and start defining our energy future."
JCSP'08 estimates that incorporating 5% wind energy (the "Reference Scenario") will require the addition of approximately 10,000 miles of new extra-high voltage transmission at a cost of approximately $50 billion, in addition to nearly $700 billion in total generation capital costs by 2024.
The 20% Wind Energy Scenario is estimated to require 15,000 miles of new extra-high voltage lines, at an estimated cost of $80 billion, in addition to $1.1 trillion in total generation capital costs by 2024.
Under both scenarios, the generation capital costs would be borne by developers, while the funding source for the needed transmission is not known at this time.
The study represents the collaborative efforts of Midwest ISO, Southwest Power Pool, Inc., PJM Interconnection, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Mid- Continent Area Power Pool (MAPP), and participants within SERC Reliability Corporation (SERC). Among the key features of the study are:
-- It used a collaborative, transparent, stakeholder process to develop and screen assumptions and postulate transmission expansion possibilities.
-- It used a common approach with system condition assumptions to characterize the majority of the Eastern Interconnection in a single multi- regional analysis, rather than conducting parallel, region-specific analyses.
-- It used study tools and databases that are in common use in the electric power industry.
As previously stated, this is only the initial phase of the analysis that must be performed to derive the most effective and efficient answer. A follow- on phase of the study will be initiated in the first quarter of 2009 to investigate additional scenarios that must be analyzed to develop a better understanding of the possible solutions available, perform a detailed reliability assessment, better refine the existing assumptions, and recommended new transmission facilities and the costs and benefits.
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Monday, January 26, 2009
Ocean Power Technologies and Lockheed Martin Announce Collaboration for Utility Wave Power Project
/PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) and Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (OPT) (NASDAQ:OPTT) (NASDAQ:and London) (NASDAQ:Stock) (NASDAQ:Exchange) (NASDAQ:AIM:) (NASDAQ:OPT) announced they have signed a letter of intent to collaborate in the development of a utility-scale wave power generation project in North America.
Lockheed Martin and OPT intend to enter into an agreement under which OPT would provide its project and site development expertise, build the power take-off and control systems of the plant, and provide its proprietary PowerBuoy(R) technology. Lockheed Martin would provide construction, systems integration and deployment of the plant, as well as operations and maintenance services.
This is the first agreement between the two companies for a utility-scale renewable energy project and builds on their previous work together on systems for U.S. homeland security and maritime surveillance consisting of OPT's unique autonomous PowerBuoy integrated with Lockheed Martin's advanced acoustic sensors, signal processing and communications systems.
OPT's PowerBuoy wave generation system uses a "smart" buoy to capture and convert wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable. The prospective wave power project between Lockheed Martin and OPT is expected to be off the coasts of either California or Oregon.
Dr. George W. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of OPT, said "We are pleased to announce these plans to work with Lockheed Martin to pursue a utility-scale power station using our PowerBuoy technology. This collaboration will serve to draw on the key strengths of each company, and leverage our respective commitments to renewable energy as both the U.S. federal and state governments increase their investment in the sector. We believe that our existing and prospective customers will highly value the combined innovation and execution capability this match brings to the marketplace."
"This agreement is another step in Lockheed Martin's effort to support our national security through energy independence built around zero-emission renewable energy sources," said Howard Luebcke, Lockheed Martin director of Renewable Energy Business Development. "The depth and breadth of Lockheed Martin's systems engineering, procurement, manufacturing and process improvement capabilities, combined with OPT's innovative PowerBuoy technology and their project development experience, will promote the rapid deployment of utility-scale systems."
In November 2007, Lockheed Martin teamed with Starwood Energy Group to pursue utility solar generation projects in North America and has been pursuing multiple utility-scale opportunities. In December 2008, Lockheed Martin broke ground for construction of a solar power test bed to support these efforts, demonstrating its systems engineering and resources commitment to the renewable power generation market.
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Lockheed Martin and OPT intend to enter into an agreement under which OPT would provide its project and site development expertise, build the power take-off and control systems of the plant, and provide its proprietary PowerBuoy(R) technology. Lockheed Martin would provide construction, systems integration and deployment of the plant, as well as operations and maintenance services.
This is the first agreement between the two companies for a utility-scale renewable energy project and builds on their previous work together on systems for U.S. homeland security and maritime surveillance consisting of OPT's unique autonomous PowerBuoy integrated with Lockheed Martin's advanced acoustic sensors, signal processing and communications systems.
OPT's PowerBuoy wave generation system uses a "smart" buoy to capture and convert wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable. The prospective wave power project between Lockheed Martin and OPT is expected to be off the coasts of either California or Oregon.
Dr. George W. Taylor, Chief Executive Officer of OPT, said "We are pleased to announce these plans to work with Lockheed Martin to pursue a utility-scale power station using our PowerBuoy technology. This collaboration will serve to draw on the key strengths of each company, and leverage our respective commitments to renewable energy as both the U.S. federal and state governments increase their investment in the sector. We believe that our existing and prospective customers will highly value the combined innovation and execution capability this match brings to the marketplace."
"This agreement is another step in Lockheed Martin's effort to support our national security through energy independence built around zero-emission renewable energy sources," said Howard Luebcke, Lockheed Martin director of Renewable Energy Business Development. "The depth and breadth of Lockheed Martin's systems engineering, procurement, manufacturing and process improvement capabilities, combined with OPT's innovative PowerBuoy technology and their project development experience, will promote the rapid deployment of utility-scale systems."
In November 2007, Lockheed Martin teamed with Starwood Energy Group to pursue utility solar generation projects in North America and has been pursuing multiple utility-scale opportunities. In December 2008, Lockheed Martin broke ground for construction of a solar power test bed to support these efforts, demonstrating its systems engineering and resources commitment to the renewable power generation market.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
Obama Stimulus Package to Include $25 Billion for Renewable Energy
/PRNewswire/ -- Congressional leaders together with Barack Obama's new Cabinet are planning a $25 Billion stimulus package in order to meet the President-elect's goal of doubling renewable energy production in the next three years, according to a report in Sunday's Washington Post.
President-elect Obama's Cabinet favors an $8.6 billion extension of the Federal Production Tax Credit, a program that speeds-up the building of new wind power generation projects. In addition, a bi-partisan initiative first backed by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) for a National Clean Energy Lending Authority, is likely to be approved by the Obama team. The new agency could receive as much as $10 billion to extend low-interest loans, grants or guarantees to wind, solar and other renewable energy projects.
In the wind sector, most turbine manufacturers are foreign owned and not likely to qualify for stimulus dollars. Analysts expect U.S. based wind power project builders, to be big winners. New Jersey's NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) which just completed its second wind project in the Texas Panhandle, has received a buy recommendation from UBS. Another wind power company with two projects underway in the Texas Panhandle is Denver based Nacel Energy (OTC Bulletin Board: NCEN). CNBC guest analyst Francis Gaskins has a $4 price target on the company. Nacel Energy closed yesterday at $1.15.
There are even more U.S. companies to like in the solar sector. Analysts at Stanford Capital have issued a buy on Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) with a $3.70 target. Evergreen is based in Marlboro, MA, and is a leading manufacturer of integrated solar modules. Needham and Co. has a buy on New Mexico's Emcore (NASDAQ:EMKR) and a $2 price target. Both Emcore's semiconductors and Evergreen's solar modules expected to benefit from increasing demand as the Obama stimulus plan is implemented over the coming months.
A Before the Bell(TM) renewable energy update.
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President-elect Obama's Cabinet favors an $8.6 billion extension of the Federal Production Tax Credit, a program that speeds-up the building of new wind power generation projects. In addition, a bi-partisan initiative first backed by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) for a National Clean Energy Lending Authority, is likely to be approved by the Obama team. The new agency could receive as much as $10 billion to extend low-interest loans, grants or guarantees to wind, solar and other renewable energy projects.
In the wind sector, most turbine manufacturers are foreign owned and not likely to qualify for stimulus dollars. Analysts expect U.S. based wind power project builders, to be big winners. New Jersey's NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) which just completed its second wind project in the Texas Panhandle, has received a buy recommendation from UBS. Another wind power company with two projects underway in the Texas Panhandle is Denver based Nacel Energy (OTC Bulletin Board: NCEN). CNBC guest analyst Francis Gaskins has a $4 price target on the company. Nacel Energy closed yesterday at $1.15.
There are even more U.S. companies to like in the solar sector. Analysts at Stanford Capital have issued a buy on Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ:ESLR) with a $3.70 target. Evergreen is based in Marlboro, MA, and is a leading manufacturer of integrated solar modules. Needham and Co. has a buy on New Mexico's Emcore (NASDAQ:EMKR) and a $2 price target. Both Emcore's semiconductors and Evergreen's solar modules expected to benefit from increasing demand as the Obama stimulus plan is implemented over the coming months.
A Before the Bell(TM) renewable energy update.
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Friday, January 9, 2009
Obama Inauguration to Highlight Dramatic 'Green Energy' Agenda
/PRNewswire/ -- President-Elect Barack Obama will take office January 20th with the strongest commitment to renewable energy of any President in history. Obama's widely anticipated inauguration speech is expected to highlight bold new national policies to speed America's transition to a renewable energy economy.
-- Construction of a high-voltage "interstate highway" system to bring more wind and solar energy to America's major cities.
-- A national policy mandating America's electric utilities to buy a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind - the most readily available, abundant and affordable sources of green energy.
-- Aggressive near-term targets to reduce America's dependence upon imported oil to address both global warming and national security.
Wind and solar energy companies, already coming off a year of record growth in 2008, are expected to gain new momentum through the inauguration and first 100 days as the new Obama administration implements its green agenda.
Growth and investment in the solar industry is focused on manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) laminate - which convert sunlight to renewable energy. Analysts at Lazard Capital Markets confirmed buy ratings on leading PV suppliers Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ:ENER) and First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) .
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-- Construction of a high-voltage "interstate highway" system to bring more wind and solar energy to America's major cities.
-- A national policy mandating America's electric utilities to buy a percentage of their electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind - the most readily available, abundant and affordable sources of green energy.
-- Aggressive near-term targets to reduce America's dependence upon imported oil to address both global warming and national security.
Wind and solar energy companies, already coming off a year of record growth in 2008, are expected to gain new momentum through the inauguration and first 100 days as the new Obama administration implements its green agenda.
Growth and investment in the solar industry is focused on manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) laminate - which convert sunlight to renewable energy. Analysts at Lazard Capital Markets confirmed buy ratings on leading PV suppliers Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ:ENER) and First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) .
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Global Energy Systems Signs Subcontractor Agreement with Georgia Utility
(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global Energy Systems, a subsidiary of the diversified renewable energy company Global Energy Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE Alternext US: GNH), today announced it has signed a subcontractor agreement with AGL Services Company, a subsidiary of AGL Resources, the parent company of six natural gas utilities including Atlanta Gas Light. Under the terms of the agreement, Global Energy will develop a variety of services involving energy conservation measures at Atlanta Gas Light’s customer owned facilities.
“This agreement with AGL Resources opens up a number of opportunities for Global Energy in the stable gas utility market,” said Mike Ellis, President of Global Energy Systems. “We are committed to developing energy conservation initiatives and providing alternative energy to AGL Resources’ customers.”
Atlanta Gas Light serves more than 1.5 million residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in 243 communities throughout Georgia. Global Energy will institute conservation measures to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency at Atlanta Gas Light’s service locations. Global Energy Systems will also identify and market energy management services to U.S. Government facilities affiliated with AGL Resources and Atlanta Gas Light. The subcontractor agreement runs through November 2011.
“AGL Resources is looking forward to working with Global Energy in our efforts to reduce our environmental impact and expand our renewable energy offerings,” said Donna Peeples, Chief Marketing Officer, AGL Resources.
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“This agreement with AGL Resources opens up a number of opportunities for Global Energy in the stable gas utility market,” said Mike Ellis, President of Global Energy Systems. “We are committed to developing energy conservation initiatives and providing alternative energy to AGL Resources’ customers.”
Atlanta Gas Light serves more than 1.5 million residential, commercial, industrial and governmental customers in 243 communities throughout Georgia. Global Energy will institute conservation measures to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency at Atlanta Gas Light’s service locations. Global Energy Systems will also identify and market energy management services to U.S. Government facilities affiliated with AGL Resources and Atlanta Gas Light. The subcontractor agreement runs through November 2011.
“AGL Resources is looking forward to working with Global Energy in our efforts to reduce our environmental impact and expand our renewable energy offerings,” said Donna Peeples, Chief Marketing Officer, AGL Resources.
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