================================================= EREN NETWORK NEWS -- August 28, 2002 A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN). <http://www.eren.doe.gov/> =================================================
Featuring: *News and Events Renewables Cause Controversy at World Summit Deregulation Paves Way for Renewables, Study Says Energy Secretary Abraham Visits Michigan Fuel Cell Plant *Site News National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition *Energy Facts and Tips Drought Drains Power *About this Newsletter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS AND EVENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Renewables Cause Controversy at World Summit As 60,000 delegates kick off the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa this week, wrangling over the best ways to implement solutions to the world's most dire problems is in full swing. At issue is whether the summit's implementation plan--addressing energy, biodiversity, food security, clean water and health care--will carry specific targets and timetables. Monday, the U.S., Saudi Arabia and other oil states lobbied for voluntary goals in place of a proposed specific target that calls for nations to increase worldwide production of renewable energy to 15 percent of total energy production by 2010. Currently in the U.S., strictly speaking, renewables provide one percent of the nation's power. However the language in the summit implementation plan allows hydropower and wood burning to be counted as renewable energy. Using this definition of renewable energy, 14 percent of world power is supplied by renewables. To meet the target proposed for the implementation plan, production of renewables world-wide would need to increase by one percent. While developed nations debate the targets, participants seem to agree that in the short term the two billion people in developing nations who lack access to electricity or liquid fuels stand to gain most from the widespread deployment of renewables. For daily coverage of the Summit, see the United Nations World Summit Web site at <http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/> Renewable energy was not even on the agenda at the Rio summit ten years ago, but a Worldwatch Institute policy briefing prepared for the Johannesburg summit points out how energy markets have transformed. Renewable energy markets have seen growth rates averaging more than 30 percent annually in the last five years. Worldwatch Institute says renewable energy represents roughly the same share of overall energy supply--and the same prospect for future growth--as petroleum did a century ago. In 1902 petroleum accounted for about two percent of the total, but was growing fast. See Worldwatch's policy brief: "From Rio to Johannesburg, Renewable Energy for the 21st Century" on their Web site at: <http://www.worldwatch.org./worldsummit> Deregulation Paves Way for Renewables, Study Says A new state-by-state analysis of electricity markets released August 22nd by Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) found consumers pay less for energy and have greater access to cleaner energy than in 1996, prior to deregulation. The study found that states with the most competitive markets pay the least for energy and have the most access to clean energy. According to the report, clean energy policies are in place in 17 restructured states, and only 2 monopoly states. Such policies include creating state funds for renewable energy development and requirements that electricity companies produce increasing ratios of clean energy. The report concludes that deregulation is a misnomer: "Typically electricity restructuring is a combination of increased use of wholesale and retail competitive markets with continued regulation and public policy interventions." PennFuture is an advocacy organization that advances policies to protect and improve Pennsylvania's environment and economy. Copies of the PennFuture report are available on the organizations Web site at: <http://www.pennfuture.org/> Energy Secretary Abraham Visits Michigan Fuel Cell Plant Fuel cells received some recognition earlier this week when Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham toured the fuel cell/hydrogen storage technology manufacturing plant of Energy Conversion Devices (ECD), Inc in Rochester Hills, Michigan. ECD researches hydrogen storage technologies and hydrogen refueling infrastructure, which will be required for automotive fuel cell technology. "President Bush has encouraged the department to undertake public-private technology partnerships in pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable energy future that is ultimately independent of foreign sources of energy, " Secretary Abraham told the Detroit-area audience, adding, "The automotive industry must be one of the most important partners in this effort." See the August 23rd press release at: <http://www.energy.gov/press/sub/hqreleases.html> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SITE NEWS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition <http://www.e85fuel.com/> The National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition promotes the use of 85 percent ethanol as a renewable alternative transportation fuel to enhance agricultural profitability, advance environmental stewardship, and promote national energy independence. Its Web site features a newsletter on E85, as well as information on flex-fuel vehicles, and E85 refueling locations across the country. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ENERGY FACTS AND TIPS ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Drought Drains Power As of the end of July, moderate to extreme drought affected 49 percent of the 48 contiguous states, according to the National Climatic Data Center, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Significant below-average rain fell in 27 states in July, and drier than average conditions have persisted in some parts of the country for several years. The average temperature in July for the contiguous United States was 76.4 degrees, 2.2 degrees above average for the period 1895-2001. That made it the fifth warmest July since national records began in 1895. The effects of the drought are far-reaching, causing more than 75 Percent of range and pasturelands in five Western states to be classified by the Department of Agriculture as poor or very poor. The lack of water has also had dramatic impacts on energy, most obviously in the area of hydropower, but fossil-fueled and nuclear power plants also use huge volumes of water to cool steam pipes, boilers and other power generation equipment. Low water levels in the Piedmont section of North Carolina and South Carolina, for example, have caused Duke Power to reduce its reliance on hydroelectric generation by as much as 70 percent and close access to the lakes it manages. Since hydropower is Duke's least expensive source of fuel, consumers may soon be paying more. Duke Power is one of the nation's largest electric utilities and provides electricity to approximately two million customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information about Duke' s hydro operations and water restrictions, see the August 14th news release in the News Center at: <http://www.duke-energy.com> For detailed temperature and precipitation trends for the United States, see the National Climatic Data Center, the "world's largest archive of weather data," at: <http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html> Elsewhere in the southeast, Delaware has instituted mandatory residential and commercial water usage restrictions, and drought- stricken University of Delaware took measures to conserve water and energy. Installing Maytag Commercial Neptune high-efficiency washers in the campus laundry facilities will save 8,000 gallons of water a day on the campus, adding up to a savings of 3.5 million gallons of water a year. For more information on the Neptune see Maytag's Web site at: <http://www.maytagcommerciallaundry.com.> The Neptune is an Energy Star rated appliance. Energy star qualified washers use 35-50 percent less water and 50 percent less energy per load. Using less water also means less energy is needed to heat the water. For more information see the Energy Star Web site at: <http://www.energystar.gov/products/clotheswashers/> For tips on water and energy use during a drought, see the Alliance to Save Energy Web site at: <http://www.ase.org/> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can subscribe to this newsletter using the online form at: <http://www.eren.doe.gov/news/subscribe/>. This Web page also allows you to update your email address or unsubscribe to this newsletter. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) home page is located at <http://www.eren.doe.gov/>. 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