(BUSINESS WIRE)--POWER4Georgians yesterday announced that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued draft permits for Plant Washington, a 850 megawatt coal-fired power plant being developed near Sandersville, in Washington County, Georgia.
The EPD issued a variety of draft permitting documents related to the 1,600-acre energy facility, including what are considered to be the four primary permits for the plant: the surface water withdrawal permit, the groundwater withdrawal permit, the water discharge permit, and the air permit. POWER4Georgians, a consortium of Georgia electric membership corporations (EMCs), filed the Plant Washington permit applications with the Georgia EPD in January 2008.
“This is an important step in the development of this power plant, which is critical to making sure that affordable and reliable power continues to be available to the citizens of Georgia,” said Dean Alford, spokesperson for POWER4Georgians. “While we recognize there is a lot of work remaining to be done, the draft permits are a very positive indication that Plant Washington is moving forward.”
“Given the economic challenges our state is facing, the jobs created during the construction of this plant will provide a tremendous benefit to Washington County and the surrounding region,” said Alford. “These jobs are part of a more than $2 billion investment in providing affordable energy, which is critical to a productive, competitive state economy. Once operational, Plant Washington could help attract new industry and jobs to Georgia and even help retain existing businesses and jobs because of availability of dependable and affordable electricity.”
Plant Washington will be one of the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the country, generating enough electricity to meet the annual needs of 500,000 to 700,000 Georgia homes.
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Georgia Southern University to Host Energy Panel August 24
As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Georgia Southern University will host an Energy Panel on August 24 from 6-8 p.m. in the assembly hall of the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building.
The event, which will feature five panelists with different perspectives on energy usage and long-term solutions, is free and open to the public. Panelists will give their positions on energy issues facing the Southeast, then respond to each other’s comments as well as questions from the moderator, and field questions from the audience.
The panelists are:
Congressman John Barrow – U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia’s 12th District
James Marlow – CEO, Radiance Energies
Ronny Just – Environmental Issues Manager, Georgia Power Company
Mary Carr – Renewable Energy Coordinator, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Pat McDermott – Vice President, Viracon
Congressman Barrow sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which deals with national energy policy and related legislation.
“Our panelists will have different viewpoints on energy and where it should come from to have the least possible impact on the economy and the environment,” said Dr. Lissa Leege, director of the Center for Sustainability in the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology.
“Panelists will also be able to provide a balanced view of the promise and limitations of renewable energy sources and give the audience some perspective on what the future holds for energy use in Georgia.”
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The event, which will feature five panelists with different perspectives on energy usage and long-term solutions, is free and open to the public. Panelists will give their positions on energy issues facing the Southeast, then respond to each other’s comments as well as questions from the moderator, and field questions from the audience.
The panelists are:
Congressman John Barrow – U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia’s 12th District
James Marlow – CEO, Radiance Energies
Ronny Just – Environmental Issues Manager, Georgia Power Company
Mary Carr – Renewable Energy Coordinator, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Pat McDermott – Vice President, Viracon
Congressman Barrow sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which deals with national energy policy and related legislation.
“Our panelists will have different viewpoints on energy and where it should come from to have the least possible impact on the economy and the environment,” said Dr. Lissa Leege, director of the Center for Sustainability in the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology.
“Panelists will also be able to provide a balanced view of the promise and limitations of renewable energy sources and give the audience some perspective on what the future holds for energy use in Georgia.”
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Friday, August 14, 2009
Experts discuss breaking US’s oil addiction
No single renewable energy source, such as biofuel, solar or wind, will break the country’s massive dependence on foreign oil. Industry experts, scientists and policymakers gathered to discuss how the three sources combined could at the 2009 Southeast Bioenergy Conference Aug. 11 at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Ga.
Right now, oil is the “trump card” that beats all others in world power, said keynote speaker and prominent astronautics engineer Robert Zubrin, whose recent book “Energy Victory” outlines a plan to break the decades-long economic grip the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has had on the U.S. economy.
More than any other OPEC country, he said, Saudi Arabia is the strongest, making $400 billion from its oil last year, which costs only 50 cents per barrel to pump from the ground. Saudi Arabia produces more oil than the next four OPEC countries combined and uses its dominance to monopolize the market and fund terrorism.
OPEC’s power is very dangerous for the U.S. and the world, he said. For example, the 1973 Arab oil embargo sent the U.S. into economic chaos. At the time, the U.S. only received 30 percent of its oil from foreign countries.
Today, such an embargo would devastate the U.S., which now gets 65 percent of its oil from OPEC. Adding to the threat, OPEC has trillions of dollars in cash reserves and could implement a prolonged embargo.
“They can keep us shut down until you’re gone,” he said.
Oil control has been the key to success or defeat for many conflicts in the past century, particularly WW II. In 1940, the U.S. produced 60 percent of the world’s oil. Its allies Russia and England controlled another 15 percent. Germany lost the war because it literally ran out of gas.
To turn the tide, Zubrin said, alcohol-based fuels like ethanol and methanol must become the new trump card in the energy game. U.S. agriculture’s fertile ground could take a big lead in growing biomass to turn into fuel to power the world.
The first thing the U.S. can do, he said, is mandate all vehicles be equipped to run on flex-fuel, or a mix of gasoline and an alcohol-based fuel. Within a few years of such an action, gas stations would carry more alcohol-based fuels to meet the growing demand, which would help farmers, drastically increase the bioenergy markets and reduce carbon emissions.
Zubrin also estimates it would put 50 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. highways and millions more around the world.
Every resource for energy independence must be considered in terms of tax incentives or ways they are promoted, said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).
“Whether it’s 50 percent of our cars by 2015 burning alternative fuels or whether it’s a voluntary system of protocols to reduce carbon emission into our atmosphere or whether it is tax incentives to promote bioenergy, all of those ought to be promoting every single resource so we in the United States can become energy independent,” Isakson said.
Georgia has the agricultural knowledge, climate, infrastructure and business-friendly atmosphere to lead the country in alternative-energy production, said Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
“Georgia has been uniquely blessed with the natural resources, intellectual capital and entrepreneurial spirit that can make growing, producing and using our own energy a reality right here in our state,” Perdue said.
The three-day conference drew 450 attendants from across the country and world to hear scores of speakers discuss topics such as biofuel crops and biomass, vehicles and farm equipment, conservation strategies, finance, current bioenergy development in the area and career opportunities.
Several entrepreneurs provided workshops on how to make ethanol and biodiesel on the farm. Dozens of vendors participated in the trade show, including Tesla and Gaia Transport, which displayed their cutting-edge renewable energy vehicles entered in the prestigious X Prize competition.
"I believe that now is the most exciting and profitable time to take advantage of renewable energies, and the Southeast Bioenergy Conference is one of the most comprehensive and affordable ways to learn how,” said Craig Kvien, a professor with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and conference organizer.
By Brad Haire
University of Georgia
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Right now, oil is the “trump card” that beats all others in world power, said keynote speaker and prominent astronautics engineer Robert Zubrin, whose recent book “Energy Victory” outlines a plan to break the decades-long economic grip the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has had on the U.S. economy.
More than any other OPEC country, he said, Saudi Arabia is the strongest, making $400 billion from its oil last year, which costs only 50 cents per barrel to pump from the ground. Saudi Arabia produces more oil than the next four OPEC countries combined and uses its dominance to monopolize the market and fund terrorism.
OPEC’s power is very dangerous for the U.S. and the world, he said. For example, the 1973 Arab oil embargo sent the U.S. into economic chaos. At the time, the U.S. only received 30 percent of its oil from foreign countries.
Today, such an embargo would devastate the U.S., which now gets 65 percent of its oil from OPEC. Adding to the threat, OPEC has trillions of dollars in cash reserves and could implement a prolonged embargo.
“They can keep us shut down until you’re gone,” he said.
Oil control has been the key to success or defeat for many conflicts in the past century, particularly WW II. In 1940, the U.S. produced 60 percent of the world’s oil. Its allies Russia and England controlled another 15 percent. Germany lost the war because it literally ran out of gas.
To turn the tide, Zubrin said, alcohol-based fuels like ethanol and methanol must become the new trump card in the energy game. U.S. agriculture’s fertile ground could take a big lead in growing biomass to turn into fuel to power the world.
The first thing the U.S. can do, he said, is mandate all vehicles be equipped to run on flex-fuel, or a mix of gasoline and an alcohol-based fuel. Within a few years of such an action, gas stations would carry more alcohol-based fuels to meet the growing demand, which would help farmers, drastically increase the bioenergy markets and reduce carbon emissions.
Zubrin also estimates it would put 50 million flex-fuel vehicles on U.S. highways and millions more around the world.
Every resource for energy independence must be considered in terms of tax incentives or ways they are promoted, said U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).
“Whether it’s 50 percent of our cars by 2015 burning alternative fuels or whether it’s a voluntary system of protocols to reduce carbon emission into our atmosphere or whether it is tax incentives to promote bioenergy, all of those ought to be promoting every single resource so we in the United States can become energy independent,” Isakson said.
Georgia has the agricultural knowledge, climate, infrastructure and business-friendly atmosphere to lead the country in alternative-energy production, said Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue.
“Georgia has been uniquely blessed with the natural resources, intellectual capital and entrepreneurial spirit that can make growing, producing and using our own energy a reality right here in our state,” Perdue said.
The three-day conference drew 450 attendants from across the country and world to hear scores of speakers discuss topics such as biofuel crops and biomass, vehicles and farm equipment, conservation strategies, finance, current bioenergy development in the area and career opportunities.
Several entrepreneurs provided workshops on how to make ethanol and biodiesel on the farm. Dozens of vendors participated in the trade show, including Tesla and Gaia Transport, which displayed their cutting-edge renewable energy vehicles entered in the prestigious X Prize competition.
"I believe that now is the most exciting and profitable time to take advantage of renewable energies, and the Southeast Bioenergy Conference is one of the most comprehensive and affordable ways to learn how,” said Craig Kvien, a professor with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and conference organizer.
By Brad Haire
University of Georgia
------
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
State-by-State Analysis of Waxman-Markey Cap and Trade Legislation Paints Dour Picture for Nation's Economy
/PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF) today unveiled a comprehensive study on the impact of The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill (HR 2454). The bill aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to cap the amount of carbon that is emitted by U.S. industry. The legislation does so by mandating a cap and trade program and other provisions governing fuel choices available to businesses and consumers. This bill passed the House of Representatives by a slim margin (219-212) earlier this summer. The Senate is expected to release its version of climate legislation in September.
The study, which was commissioned by the NAM and ACCF and conducted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) using NAM and ACCF input assumptions, assesses the impact of the Waxman-Markey Bill on manufacturing, jobs, energy prices and our overall economy. The NAM and ACCF released national data as well as the analysis for 15 industrial states that would be impacted greatly if this or similar legislation is signed into law. The full report, including the data covering the remaining 35 states will be released in the coming weeks.
Jay Timmons, executive vice president of the NAM said, "Climate change is a very complex issue and I hope Senators will look closely at this study as they consider climate change legislation this fall. At a time when our country is struggling to come out of our longest and deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, lawmakers should be focused on policies that provide incentives for businesses so they can create jobs and grow. Unfortunately, this study confirms that the Waxman-Markey Bill is an 'anti-jobs, anti-growth' piece of legislation. Further, leaders of countries such as China and India have made it clear they have no intention of reducing their own emissions. Waxman-Markey would give an edge to overseas competitors, discouraging domestic investment and the creation of American jobs."
The NAM/ACCF study accounts for all federal energy laws and regulations currently in effect. It accounts for increased access to oil and natural gas supplies, new and extended tax credits for renewable generation technologies, increased World Oil Price (WOP) profile, as well as permit allocations for industry and international offsets. Additionally, the provisions of the stimulus package passed in February are included in this study. Key findings include:
-- Cumulative Loss in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to $3.1 trillion
(2012-2030)
-- Employment losses up to 2.4 million jobs in 2030
-- Residential electricity price increases up to 50 percent by 2030
-- Gasoline price increases (per gallon) up 26 percent by 2030
Dr. Margo Thorning, senior vice president and chief economist for ACCF, highlighted the importance of reviewing economic findings while debating the climate change legislation. "This data shows that we cannot divorce the environmental impacts from potential economic damages. Policymakers may have the best of intentions when it comes to the environment, but it's crucial that we compare the economic cost to the legislation's actual impact on global GHG reductions. Considering that developing countries such as China and India have publicly stated that they will not undertake similar emissions policies, there would be almost no global environmental benefits from the bill. Ultimately, this study shows that Waxman-Markey, would significantly decrease employment and increase energy prices at a time when we can least afford it."
Further, this study shows industrial states would be disproportionately impacted by high energy prices, loss of jobs and income. The 15 states analyzed in the initial study include:
1. Arkansas
2. Illinois
3. Indiana
4. Iowa
5. Kentucky
6. Michigan
7. Minnesota
8. Missouri
9. North Carolina
10. Ohio
11. Pennsylvania
12. Tennessee
13. Virginia
14. West Virginia
15. Wisconsin
SAIC used a modified version of the National Energy Modeling System, NEMS/ACCF-NAM 2, and the NAM and ACCF input assumptions, to quantify the impact of the Waxman-Markey bill.
"Policymakers and the public must have a clear understanding of the potential impact of climate change legislation to assess whether it will cause more economic harm than environmental good," concluded Timmons.
The national and 15 state-by-state economic impacts can be found by visiting: http://www.accf.org/publications/126/accf-nam-study
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The study, which was commissioned by the NAM and ACCF and conducted by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) using NAM and ACCF input assumptions, assesses the impact of the Waxman-Markey Bill on manufacturing, jobs, energy prices and our overall economy. The NAM and ACCF released national data as well as the analysis for 15 industrial states that would be impacted greatly if this or similar legislation is signed into law. The full report, including the data covering the remaining 35 states will be released in the coming weeks.
Jay Timmons, executive vice president of the NAM said, "Climate change is a very complex issue and I hope Senators will look closely at this study as they consider climate change legislation this fall. At a time when our country is struggling to come out of our longest and deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, lawmakers should be focused on policies that provide incentives for businesses so they can create jobs and grow. Unfortunately, this study confirms that the Waxman-Markey Bill is an 'anti-jobs, anti-growth' piece of legislation. Further, leaders of countries such as China and India have made it clear they have no intention of reducing their own emissions. Waxman-Markey would give an edge to overseas competitors, discouraging domestic investment and the creation of American jobs."
The NAM/ACCF study accounts for all federal energy laws and regulations currently in effect. It accounts for increased access to oil and natural gas supplies, new and extended tax credits for renewable generation technologies, increased World Oil Price (WOP) profile, as well as permit allocations for industry and international offsets. Additionally, the provisions of the stimulus package passed in February are included in this study. Key findings include:
-- Cumulative Loss in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) up to $3.1 trillion
(2012-2030)
-- Employment losses up to 2.4 million jobs in 2030
-- Residential electricity price increases up to 50 percent by 2030
-- Gasoline price increases (per gallon) up 26 percent by 2030
Dr. Margo Thorning, senior vice president and chief economist for ACCF, highlighted the importance of reviewing economic findings while debating the climate change legislation. "This data shows that we cannot divorce the environmental impacts from potential economic damages. Policymakers may have the best of intentions when it comes to the environment, but it's crucial that we compare the economic cost to the legislation's actual impact on global GHG reductions. Considering that developing countries such as China and India have publicly stated that they will not undertake similar emissions policies, there would be almost no global environmental benefits from the bill. Ultimately, this study shows that Waxman-Markey, would significantly decrease employment and increase energy prices at a time when we can least afford it."
Further, this study shows industrial states would be disproportionately impacted by high energy prices, loss of jobs and income. The 15 states analyzed in the initial study include:
1. Arkansas
2. Illinois
3. Indiana
4. Iowa
5. Kentucky
6. Michigan
7. Minnesota
8. Missouri
9. North Carolina
10. Ohio
11. Pennsylvania
12. Tennessee
13. Virginia
14. West Virginia
15. Wisconsin
SAIC used a modified version of the National Energy Modeling System, NEMS/ACCF-NAM 2, and the NAM and ACCF input assumptions, to quantify the impact of the Waxman-Markey bill.
"Policymakers and the public must have a clear understanding of the potential impact of climate change legislation to assess whether it will cause more economic harm than environmental good," concluded Timmons.
The national and 15 state-by-state economic impacts can be found by visiting: http://www.accf.org/publications/126/accf-nam-study
-----
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Monday, August 10, 2009
Southern Company Seeks $362 Million in Federal Funds to Advance 'Smart Grid' Initiatives
/PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company (NYSE:SO) today announced it has applied for $362 million in federal infrastructure funds to advance the company's 'Smart Grid' initiatives across its four-state service territory.
Southern Company submitted its applications to the U.S. Department of Energy, which has allocated $4.5 billion to award grants to advanced infrastructure projects nationwide as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Specifically, Southern Company has requested $197 million for its advanced metering or 'Smart Meter' initiative, and $165 million to increase automation of electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Smart meters enable two-way communication between the company and its customers. Southern Company began deploying smart meters in its Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi operating subsidiaries in 2008 and have installed more than one million to date. Over the next three years, the company will install more than 4,000 meters per day and will have more than four million in place by 2012.
Smart meter benefits include reduced operating costs associated with monthly meter reading, off-cycle meter reading and the ability to use advanced technologies to improve the reporting and response to electric distribution system events, such as power outage detection and power restoration. Moreover, smart meters offer a technology platform that enables future services and options, such as customer access to data, rate and pricing options encouraging reductions of peak demand and consumption, and access to enabling technologies such as home area networks, among others.
"In addition to reducing operating costs that help keep our customers' rates lower than the national average, smart meters help reduce environmental impact," said Wes McDowell, Georgia Region Chief Information Officer and Smart Grid Program Coordinator, Southern Company. "By moving from conventional to smart meters, we expect to reduce the vehicle fleet used for meter reading by at least 500, saving 12.5 million miles of driving annually and producing direct benefits in lower vehicle emissions."
Southern Company has also undertaken a series of initiatives to accelerate deployment of Smart Grid technologies in each of its operating affiliates. Funds awarded for these efforts will be used to bolster system reliability and grid efficiency, reduce peak demand, optimize asset utilization and improve the anticipation and response to system disturbances.
For example, line devices with two-way communication will be installed to enable system operators to isolate faulted lines remotely. Moreover, some of these devices will be placed in self-healing network schemes. These schemes will automatically isolate trouble areas and then restore power to unaffected portions of the circuit, all without operator intervention.
The company's 'Smart Substations' program will focus on updating targeted substations and equipment with improved smart monitoring, protection, and control devices. These technologies will produce a leap forward in implementing smart technologies with the intent of improving the monitoring and control capabilities of the system while enhancing its proven grid reliability.
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Southern Company submitted its applications to the U.S. Department of Energy, which has allocated $4.5 billion to award grants to advanced infrastructure projects nationwide as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Specifically, Southern Company has requested $197 million for its advanced metering or 'Smart Meter' initiative, and $165 million to increase automation of electric transmission and distribution infrastructure.
Smart meters enable two-way communication between the company and its customers. Southern Company began deploying smart meters in its Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi operating subsidiaries in 2008 and have installed more than one million to date. Over the next three years, the company will install more than 4,000 meters per day and will have more than four million in place by 2012.
Smart meter benefits include reduced operating costs associated with monthly meter reading, off-cycle meter reading and the ability to use advanced technologies to improve the reporting and response to electric distribution system events, such as power outage detection and power restoration. Moreover, smart meters offer a technology platform that enables future services and options, such as customer access to data, rate and pricing options encouraging reductions of peak demand and consumption, and access to enabling technologies such as home area networks, among others.
"In addition to reducing operating costs that help keep our customers' rates lower than the national average, smart meters help reduce environmental impact," said Wes McDowell, Georgia Region Chief Information Officer and Smart Grid Program Coordinator, Southern Company. "By moving from conventional to smart meters, we expect to reduce the vehicle fleet used for meter reading by at least 500, saving 12.5 million miles of driving annually and producing direct benefits in lower vehicle emissions."
Southern Company has also undertaken a series of initiatives to accelerate deployment of Smart Grid technologies in each of its operating affiliates. Funds awarded for these efforts will be used to bolster system reliability and grid efficiency, reduce peak demand, optimize asset utilization and improve the anticipation and response to system disturbances.
For example, line devices with two-way communication will be installed to enable system operators to isolate faulted lines remotely. Moreover, some of these devices will be placed in self-healing network schemes. These schemes will automatically isolate trouble areas and then restore power to unaffected portions of the circuit, all without operator intervention.
The company's 'Smart Substations' program will focus on updating targeted substations and equipment with improved smart monitoring, protection, and control devices. These technologies will produce a leap forward in implementing smart technologies with the intent of improving the monitoring and control capabilities of the system while enhancing its proven grid reliability.
-----
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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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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas Launches a New Website
Company takes its transparency and exceptional customer service online
Coweta-Fayette EMC (CFEMC) Natural Gas, known for its simple pricing structures and easy to understand bills, has launched a new website at www.cfemcnaturalgas.com that makes it easier for all Georgians on the Atlanta Gas Light distribution pipeline to get competitively priced natural gas service.
Customers can see how much they can save each year on the most commonly used natural gas powered appliances, which include the water heater, oven range, furnace, and gas grill compared to other natural gas marketers. Making this information readily available helps customers make informed decisions about their natural gas marketer selection.
“CFEMC Natural Gas has provided competitive, easy to understand pricing with exceptional customer service since natural gas was first deregulated in Georgia,” said Dan Hart, President and CEO of Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas. “It was a natural decision to take that same approach to our new website, and the initial response has been fantastic. People really appreciate the opportunity to quickly and easily see the cost difference between natural gas marketers, regardless of where they live in Georgia.”
CFEMC Natural Gas consistently offers some of the most competitive prices among all natural gas marketers on the Atlanta Gas Light pipeline. Rates and sign-up information are prominently displayed on every page of the website in an intuitive, user-friendly design. Energy saving tips, safety information and the Kids Korner section for children also are easily found from anywhere on the site.
The company’s spirit of transparency and full disclosure is experienced through quick links to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s (PSC’s) list of current gas prices from certified natural gas marketers, the PSC’s Gas Marketers’ Scorecard, and the section of the Atlanta Gas Light website that details how monthly base charges are calculated.
Consumers statewide were given the ability to select the natural gas marketer of their choice when the State of Georgia deregulated natural gas service in 1998. As a result, any Georgia resident or business that receives natural gas from the Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) pipeline can select their natural gas marketer. CFEMC Natural Gas was founded to fill that need for Coweta-Fayette EMC customers as well as residents and businesses throughout the state that are not in the EMC’s service territory.
Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas is a natural gas marketer registered with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) that offers customers easy to understand bills, simple pricing structures, and local customer service. Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas customers can choose monthly variable-rate pricing without a contract or fixed pricing that allows them to lock in their natural gas price for the winter heating season.
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Coweta-Fayette EMC (CFEMC) Natural Gas, known for its simple pricing structures and easy to understand bills, has launched a new website at www.cfemcnaturalgas.com that makes it easier for all Georgians on the Atlanta Gas Light distribution pipeline to get competitively priced natural gas service.
Customers can see how much they can save each year on the most commonly used natural gas powered appliances, which include the water heater, oven range, furnace, and gas grill compared to other natural gas marketers. Making this information readily available helps customers make informed decisions about their natural gas marketer selection.
“CFEMC Natural Gas has provided competitive, easy to understand pricing with exceptional customer service since natural gas was first deregulated in Georgia,” said Dan Hart, President and CEO of Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas. “It was a natural decision to take that same approach to our new website, and the initial response has been fantastic. People really appreciate the opportunity to quickly and easily see the cost difference between natural gas marketers, regardless of where they live in Georgia.”
CFEMC Natural Gas consistently offers some of the most competitive prices among all natural gas marketers on the Atlanta Gas Light pipeline. Rates and sign-up information are prominently displayed on every page of the website in an intuitive, user-friendly design. Energy saving tips, safety information and the Kids Korner section for children also are easily found from anywhere on the site.
The company’s spirit of transparency and full disclosure is experienced through quick links to the Georgia Public Service Commission’s (PSC’s) list of current gas prices from certified natural gas marketers, the PSC’s Gas Marketers’ Scorecard, and the section of the Atlanta Gas Light website that details how monthly base charges are calculated.
Consumers statewide were given the ability to select the natural gas marketer of their choice when the State of Georgia deregulated natural gas service in 1998. As a result, any Georgia resident or business that receives natural gas from the Atlanta Gas Light (AGL) pipeline can select their natural gas marketer. CFEMC Natural Gas was founded to fill that need for Coweta-Fayette EMC customers as well as residents and businesses throughout the state that are not in the EMC’s service territory.
Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas is a natural gas marketer registered with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) that offers customers easy to understand bills, simple pricing structures, and local customer service. Coweta-Fayette EMC Natural Gas customers can choose monthly variable-rate pricing without a contract or fixed pricing that allows them to lock in their natural gas price for the winter heating season.
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Monday, July 20, 2009
U.S. energy legislation forward thinking, limiting
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 charges the U.S. to add 36 billion gallons of biofuels to the country’s transportation fuel mix by 2022. Continued investment in research, development and deployment are required to achieve this goal.
Recent scientific studies warn that increasing land use for producing biomass for biofuels would increase greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions compared to gasoline. Some may disagree with these studies. However, they do show the weakness in expanding a crop-based fuel system without planning for sustainability.
If we continue to try to produce more biomass from the current spectrum of crop choices, GHG emission restrictions could put small biofuel producers and family farms at a disadvantage. Reduced emissions require crops that are easier to grow; require less money to plant, harvest and water; and are easier to process.
Needed production improvements
Corn ethanol production in the U.S. consumes a quarter of the country’s corn crop. Increasing ethanol production to the targeted 15 billion gallons a year by 2022 will double the corn required. That increase will impact land and water needs and create environmental concerns.
We need to improve the productivity of corn and other biofuels crops and incorporate improvements into the production process.
Producing lignocellulosic ethanol or other advanced biofuels, or green diesel, is a challenge. Technology development in this field has advanced, but most U.S. facilities are still in the early-demonstration phase.
Using existing forestry and agriculture residues for biofuels would have minimal environmental impact while creating opportunity for small businesses and farms.
Forestry and agriculture generate significant biomass. According to the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, forestlands can produce 368 million dry tons of biomass annually. Current legislative definitions make renewable forest biomass off-limits to biofuels companies. Definitions must be changed, while maintaining the resources' sustainability.
Data from the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources suggests collecting residues and producing chips for biofuel production costs $11 to $12 per ton delivered to mills.
Food v. fuel
It’s crucial that we have a diverse source of biomass that doesn’t compete with food supplies. Diversity allows different geographical regions to focus on crops best suited to local conditions. Current federal funding often favors specific feedstocks, hampering development and transfer technology for novel crops.
Many novel crops are being explored. For example, a recent UGA study looked at using a multi-benefit winter cover crop, oil seed radish, for its biofuels potential. UGA scientists led a global team in sequencing the sorghum genome and are now working toward understanding how we can use the information to produce biofuels at lower costs in poor soils.
Targets eliminate possibilities
Targeted GHG reductions can unintentionally eliminate some promising technologies that are lagging behind because of late starts, such as algae-based biofuels.
Anaerobic digestion, a well-developed technology, is not considered because the energy output (methane gas) isn’t a liquid transportation fuel at room temperature. A similar process called landfill bioreactor produces methane biogas which can be converted to compressed natural gas. Its GHG emissions are 17 percent less than its fossil-based equivalent.
Anaerobic digestion can create jobs and produce net income to farms and small biofuels producers. UGA researchers are developing a system that combines anaerobic digestion with algae production.
Current regulatory policies don’t readily support developing such integrated solutions in early development. More pilot-scale testing could help move them to the marketplace faster. Federal agencies seem focused on large-scale demonstrations before pilot-scale research is completed.
Welcomed policy change
Carbon sequestration is a welcomed change in national policy. Current regulatory emphasis favors carbon capture and storage through geological storage of compressed CO2. Although potentially a reliable technique, this approach favors larger-scale sequestration.
One example of a smaller-scale method is using biochar, a byproduct of pyrolysis, a high-temperature breakdown of cellulosic materials that produces a liquid hydrocarbon, which could be converted to green diesel or other liquid fuels.
Biochar has high carbon content and stays in the soil for decades, increasing agricultural productivity and sequestering carbon for a long time. However, the regulatory framework doesn’t favor developing this technology.
There is great promise for biofuels to augment our energy supply. New ideas, technologies and discoveries are emerging from universities and research centers daily. Development and use of these discoveries could be faster if regulatory framework would support deeper exploration into novel crops that don’t pit fuel against food.
Encourage innovation
We need policies to encourage processes and technologies that create jobs and income for farms and small businesses. We need support that allows us to investigate diverse feedstocks and low-cost, efficient production methods that protect and enhance the environment.
If we are to reach 36 billion gallons of biofuels in our transportation fuel mix by 2022 while reducing GHG emissions, all avenues of exploration must be open and barriers to development removed.
By K.C. Das
University of Georgia
K.C. Das is director of the Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Program with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Engineering. This editorial was presented as testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business’ subcommittee on regulations and healthcare.
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Recent scientific studies warn that increasing land use for producing biomass for biofuels would increase greenhouse gas, or GHG, emissions compared to gasoline. Some may disagree with these studies. However, they do show the weakness in expanding a crop-based fuel system without planning for sustainability.
If we continue to try to produce more biomass from the current spectrum of crop choices, GHG emission restrictions could put small biofuel producers and family farms at a disadvantage. Reduced emissions require crops that are easier to grow; require less money to plant, harvest and water; and are easier to process.
Needed production improvements
Corn ethanol production in the U.S. consumes a quarter of the country’s corn crop. Increasing ethanol production to the targeted 15 billion gallons a year by 2022 will double the corn required. That increase will impact land and water needs and create environmental concerns.
We need to improve the productivity of corn and other biofuels crops and incorporate improvements into the production process.
Producing lignocellulosic ethanol or other advanced biofuels, or green diesel, is a challenge. Technology development in this field has advanced, but most U.S. facilities are still in the early-demonstration phase.
Using existing forestry and agriculture residues for biofuels would have minimal environmental impact while creating opportunity for small businesses and farms.
Forestry and agriculture generate significant biomass. According to the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, forestlands can produce 368 million dry tons of biomass annually. Current legislative definitions make renewable forest biomass off-limits to biofuels companies. Definitions must be changed, while maintaining the resources' sustainability.
Data from the UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources suggests collecting residues and producing chips for biofuel production costs $11 to $12 per ton delivered to mills.
Food v. fuel
It’s crucial that we have a diverse source of biomass that doesn’t compete with food supplies. Diversity allows different geographical regions to focus on crops best suited to local conditions. Current federal funding often favors specific feedstocks, hampering development and transfer technology for novel crops.
Many novel crops are being explored. For example, a recent UGA study looked at using a multi-benefit winter cover crop, oil seed radish, for its biofuels potential. UGA scientists led a global team in sequencing the sorghum genome and are now working toward understanding how we can use the information to produce biofuels at lower costs in poor soils.
Targets eliminate possibilities
Targeted GHG reductions can unintentionally eliminate some promising technologies that are lagging behind because of late starts, such as algae-based biofuels.
Anaerobic digestion, a well-developed technology, is not considered because the energy output (methane gas) isn’t a liquid transportation fuel at room temperature. A similar process called landfill bioreactor produces methane biogas which can be converted to compressed natural gas. Its GHG emissions are 17 percent less than its fossil-based equivalent.
Anaerobic digestion can create jobs and produce net income to farms and small biofuels producers. UGA researchers are developing a system that combines anaerobic digestion with algae production.
Current regulatory policies don’t readily support developing such integrated solutions in early development. More pilot-scale testing could help move them to the marketplace faster. Federal agencies seem focused on large-scale demonstrations before pilot-scale research is completed.
Welcomed policy change
Carbon sequestration is a welcomed change in national policy. Current regulatory emphasis favors carbon capture and storage through geological storage of compressed CO2. Although potentially a reliable technique, this approach favors larger-scale sequestration.
One example of a smaller-scale method is using biochar, a byproduct of pyrolysis, a high-temperature breakdown of cellulosic materials that produces a liquid hydrocarbon, which could be converted to green diesel or other liquid fuels.
Biochar has high carbon content and stays in the soil for decades, increasing agricultural productivity and sequestering carbon for a long time. However, the regulatory framework doesn’t favor developing this technology.
There is great promise for biofuels to augment our energy supply. New ideas, technologies and discoveries are emerging from universities and research centers daily. Development and use of these discoveries could be faster if regulatory framework would support deeper exploration into novel crops that don’t pit fuel against food.
Encourage innovation
We need policies to encourage processes and technologies that create jobs and income for farms and small businesses. We need support that allows us to investigate diverse feedstocks and low-cost, efficient production methods that protect and enhance the environment.
If we are to reach 36 billion gallons of biofuels in our transportation fuel mix by 2022 while reducing GHG emissions, all avenues of exploration must be open and barriers to development removed.
By K.C. Das
University of Georgia
K.C. Das is director of the Biorefining and Carbon Cycling Program with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and Faculty of Engineering. This editorial was presented as testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business’ subcommittee on regulations and healthcare.
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Friday, July 17, 2009
What They Are Saying About Electricity Costs
/PRNewswire/ -- Since the House's recent passage of the American Energy and Security Act of 2009, which now heads to the Senate for consideration; many have voiced concerns about the potential financial impacts of the measure on consumers. The following is a sample of what some are saying:
U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). The Wheeling (VA) News-Register (7/9, King): "Those of us who understand coal's great potential in our quest for energy independence must continue to work diligently in shaping a climate bill that will ensure access to affordable energy for West Virginians."
Rapid City Journal Editorial. The Rapid City (SD) Journal (7/14): "While the end goal of the bill might have merit, it's a rushed piece of legislation that could have a serious impact on the people of South Dakota mainly in the form of higher utility bills."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The Des Moines Register (7/14): "The fact is the House bill, I think, does disproportionately hurt some of our Midwestern states, and we're going to have to get that rectified in the Senate."
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Twitter (6/27): "I hope we can fix cap and trade so it doesn't unfairly punish businesses and families in coal dependent states like Missouri."
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). National Ledger (7/14): "Rather than directly raising taxes on Americans, cap-and-trade raises the cost of living for everyone by raising energy costs and consumer prices for virtually everything. The effect is the same as if they had had their taxes raised."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). AP (7/14): "Coal-burning utilities ought to be allowed more allowances to cushion the impact on customers."
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U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.). The Wheeling (VA) News-Register (7/9, King): "Those of us who understand coal's great potential in our quest for energy independence must continue to work diligently in shaping a climate bill that will ensure access to affordable energy for West Virginians."
Rapid City Journal Editorial. The Rapid City (SD) Journal (7/14): "While the end goal of the bill might have merit, it's a rushed piece of legislation that could have a serious impact on the people of South Dakota mainly in the form of higher utility bills."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). The Des Moines Register (7/14): "The fact is the House bill, I think, does disproportionately hurt some of our Midwestern states, and we're going to have to get that rectified in the Senate."
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Twitter (6/27): "I hope we can fix cap and trade so it doesn't unfairly punish businesses and families in coal dependent states like Missouri."
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.). National Ledger (7/14): "Rather than directly raising taxes on Americans, cap-and-trade raises the cost of living for everyone by raising energy costs and consumer prices for virtually everything. The effect is the same as if they had had their taxes raised."
U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). AP (7/14): "Coal-burning utilities ought to be allowed more allowances to cushion the impact on customers."
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Politicians to Drive on Straw-Based Bioethanol at the Climate Change Conference
/PRNewswire/ -- When world political leaders are being transported all over Copenhagen during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2009, environmentally friendly fuel will power their vehicles. Members of the Partnership for Biofuels, a co-operation between Danisco's biotech division Genencor, Inbicon, Novozymes and Statoil, have joined forces to deliver 2nd generation bioethanol for 40 of the cars that the Danish Foreign Ministry will provide during the conference. The cars will be supplied by Volvo.
"As host nation, Denmark is working to create a green and climate friendly Conference in December," says Svend Olling, Head of Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We also plan to showcase to the conference delegates some of the new technologies that could contribute to solving the climate challenge. Second-generation bioethanol -- ethanol made from agricultural waste -- is one example of such a new technology. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is therefore happy that, in co-operation with the Partnership for Biofuels, it has succeeded in reserving some of the first litres of 2nd generation bioethanol produced in Denmark for the transportation of important guests within Copenhagen during the Conference."
Inbicon, the DONG Energy subsidiary that is commercializing its technology for converting straw into bioethanol, will produce the new fuel at its pilot plant in Denmark. With this technology, a car's emission of CO2 is reduced by 85% compared to that from conventional petrol. The fuel blend used at the Climate Change Conference will be E85, which is composed of 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol.
The Partnership's capabilities to produce 2nd generation bioethanol represents considerable potential in the climate debate, as conventional fuel such as petrol can be replaced. Second-generation bioethanol can be produced from residual products from forestry, agriculture and other industries.
Novozymes and Danisco will supply the enzymes for ethanol production and Statoil will provide the distribution facilities.
The development of the 2nd generation bioethanol technology represents an important business potential through the export of technological solutions and knowledge within the development and use of enzymes.
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"As host nation, Denmark is working to create a green and climate friendly Conference in December," says Svend Olling, Head of Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We also plan to showcase to the conference delegates some of the new technologies that could contribute to solving the climate challenge. Second-generation bioethanol -- ethanol made from agricultural waste -- is one example of such a new technology. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is therefore happy that, in co-operation with the Partnership for Biofuels, it has succeeded in reserving some of the first litres of 2nd generation bioethanol produced in Denmark for the transportation of important guests within Copenhagen during the Conference."
Inbicon, the DONG Energy subsidiary that is commercializing its technology for converting straw into bioethanol, will produce the new fuel at its pilot plant in Denmark. With this technology, a car's emission of CO2 is reduced by 85% compared to that from conventional petrol. The fuel blend used at the Climate Change Conference will be E85, which is composed of 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol.
The Partnership's capabilities to produce 2nd generation bioethanol represents considerable potential in the climate debate, as conventional fuel such as petrol can be replaced. Second-generation bioethanol can be produced from residual products from forestry, agriculture and other industries.
Novozymes and Danisco will supply the enzymes for ethanol production and Statoil will provide the distribution facilities.
The development of the 2nd generation bioethanol technology represents an important business potential through the export of technological solutions and knowledge within the development and use of enzymes.
-----
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Wednesday, July 8, 2009
American Clean Skies Foundation Issues Statement On Today's Introduction of the Natural Gas Act of 2009 in the Senate
/PRNewswire/ -- The American Clean Skies Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is clean energy and environmental education, issued the statement below in conjunction with the introduction of the historic NAT GAS Act of 2009 in the Senate by U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). A companion House bill was introduced in April 2009 by Congressmen John Larson (D-Conn.), Dan Boren (D-Okla.) and John Sullivan (R-Okla.).
This bi-partisan bill provides incentives that will lead to the greater use of domestically produced natural gas as a transportation fuel. It will replace higher-cost and higher emitting gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles with newer, cleaner, and lower cost natural-gas powered vehicles. This bill, which would increase the manufacturing of natural gas vehicles, will also create American jobs, strengthening the U.S. automotive industry and the overall economy.
Included in the bill are key elements that would: extend the tax credit for natural gas used as a transportation fuel; expand a tax credit for 80 percent of the additional incremental cost when purchasing any dedicated natural gas vehicle and increase the refueling property tax credit from $50,000 to $100,000 per station; create incentives for manufacturers to sell natural gas vehicles in the United States; and require that a percentage of the vehicles the federal government buys over the next five years run on natural gas.
"We applaud U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Orrin Hatch for introducing the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) today. We appreciate their leadership, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, for recognizing the critically important role American-produced, clean-burning natural gas can play in helping reduce carbon emissions. This bill addresses our country's economic and security priorities in a way that benefits all Americans.
The introduction of the NAT GAS Act today in the Senate represents one more major step toward putting one of our most valued natural resources in our country to greater use. The Act proposes that vehicles, especially heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks and buses, run on natural gas.
Natural gas is clean, American and affordable and multiple recent ground-breaking studies have confirmed we have abundant reserves in the United States to power our economy for decades to come. This legislation lays the groundwork to begin reducing our troublesome dependence on foreign oil and puts America on track towards a more promising energy future. No energy source can do more for America's environment and economy in the immediate future than natural gas."
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This bi-partisan bill provides incentives that will lead to the greater use of domestically produced natural gas as a transportation fuel. It will replace higher-cost and higher emitting gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles with newer, cleaner, and lower cost natural-gas powered vehicles. This bill, which would increase the manufacturing of natural gas vehicles, will also create American jobs, strengthening the U.S. automotive industry and the overall economy.
Included in the bill are key elements that would: extend the tax credit for natural gas used as a transportation fuel; expand a tax credit for 80 percent of the additional incremental cost when purchasing any dedicated natural gas vehicle and increase the refueling property tax credit from $50,000 to $100,000 per station; create incentives for manufacturers to sell natural gas vehicles in the United States; and require that a percentage of the vehicles the federal government buys over the next five years run on natural gas.
"We applaud U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Orrin Hatch for introducing the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) today. We appreciate their leadership, along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, for recognizing the critically important role American-produced, clean-burning natural gas can play in helping reduce carbon emissions. This bill addresses our country's economic and security priorities in a way that benefits all Americans.
The introduction of the NAT GAS Act today in the Senate represents one more major step toward putting one of our most valued natural resources in our country to greater use. The Act proposes that vehicles, especially heavy, medium, and light-duty trucks and buses, run on natural gas.
Natural gas is clean, American and affordable and multiple recent ground-breaking studies have confirmed we have abundant reserves in the United States to power our economy for decades to come. This legislation lays the groundwork to begin reducing our troublesome dependence on foreign oil and puts America on track towards a more promising energy future. No energy source can do more for America's environment and economy in the immediate future than natural gas."
-----
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New UPS Sustainability Report Sets Carbon Reduction Goal
(BUSINESS WIRE)--In a significant move that once again demonstrates its environmental leadership, UPS (NYSE:UPS) has adopted a plan to cut the carbon emissions of its airline by an additional 20 percent by 2020, for a cumulative reduction of 42 percent since 1990.
The goal is laid out in the latest edition of UPS’s Sustainability Report, released today at the website http://www.responsibility.ups.com/sustainability. The report shows the UPS Airlines already is a leader in fuel efficiency in the package delivery sector with an efficiency factor of 1.42 CO2 pounds per Available Ton Mile.
The report further discloses UPS’s total global carbon inventory including Scope 1 (direct) emissions as well as Scope 2 and 3 (indirect) emissions, a level of reporting unusual for its industry.
“We believe this is important not just for UPS but also for our customers and society,” UPS Chairman and CEO Scott Davis writes in the Sustainability Report. “The fact is that customers rely on the transportation and logistics industry as part of their supply chains. They need accurate information from the industry in order to calculate their own CO2 inventories and report them to the public. For that reason, we advocate full disclosure (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) for the entire transportation and logistics industry.”
The aircraft goal is the first of a series of carbon reduction goals that the company plans to set in the coming years, according to Bob Stoffel, UPS senior vice president and the executive responsible for UPS’s sustainability program.
“We set our first goal for aircraft emissions because our jet planes are the source of 53% of UPS’s carbon output,” Stoffel added.
UPS intends to achieve its 2020 airline goals by investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft types and engines; fuel-saving operational initiatives, and the introduction of biofuels.
The report extensively outlines UPS’s approach to reducing its environmental impact and explains how the company intends to make improvements going forward. The report also discusses in detail how the company uses an integrated and flexible transportation network to reduce its carbon intensity and save fuel.
“This is the most comprehensive, data-rich and global report we have ever produced since UPS released the industry’s first report in 2002,” Stoffel said. “It is a showcase of our renewed commitment to transparency and sustainable business practices.”
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The goal is laid out in the latest edition of UPS’s Sustainability Report, released today at the website http://www.responsibility.ups.com/sustainability. The report shows the UPS Airlines already is a leader in fuel efficiency in the package delivery sector with an efficiency factor of 1.42 CO2 pounds per Available Ton Mile.
The report further discloses UPS’s total global carbon inventory including Scope 1 (direct) emissions as well as Scope 2 and 3 (indirect) emissions, a level of reporting unusual for its industry.
“We believe this is important not just for UPS but also for our customers and society,” UPS Chairman and CEO Scott Davis writes in the Sustainability Report. “The fact is that customers rely on the transportation and logistics industry as part of their supply chains. They need accurate information from the industry in order to calculate their own CO2 inventories and report them to the public. For that reason, we advocate full disclosure (Scopes 1, 2 and 3) for the entire transportation and logistics industry.”
The aircraft goal is the first of a series of carbon reduction goals that the company plans to set in the coming years, according to Bob Stoffel, UPS senior vice president and the executive responsible for UPS’s sustainability program.
“We set our first goal for aircraft emissions because our jet planes are the source of 53% of UPS’s carbon output,” Stoffel added.
UPS intends to achieve its 2020 airline goals by investing in more fuel-efficient aircraft types and engines; fuel-saving operational initiatives, and the introduction of biofuels.
The report extensively outlines UPS’s approach to reducing its environmental impact and explains how the company intends to make improvements going forward. The report also discusses in detail how the company uses an integrated and flexible transportation network to reduce its carbon intensity and save fuel.
“This is the most comprehensive, data-rich and global report we have ever produced since UPS released the industry’s first report in 2002,” Stoffel said. “It is a showcase of our renewed commitment to transparency and sustainable business practices.”
-----
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