Maryland regulators OK 1,600 MW nuclear power plant
30 June 2009 -- The Maryland Public Service Commission approved a proposed 1,600 MW European pressurized reactor (EPR) at Calvert Cliffs in southern Maryland. It would be the third nuclear power reactor at the site.
The application for the proposed nuclear energy facility was submitted by UniStar Nuclear Energy, a joint venture of Constellation Energy and EDF Group.
Maryland regulators also asserted June 11 they have authority to review Constellation's proposed 49.99 percent sale of three nuclear reactors to EDF. Constellation argues that state regulators lack jurisdiction because the asset sale would have no material effect on Baltimore Gas & Electric, Constellation's regulated Maryland utility.
"Simply put, Constellation Energy's potential investment in a new nuclear facility at Calvert Cliffs 3 and the successful close of the Constellation-EDF joint nuclear venture are inseparable,"said Michael J. Wallace, vice chairman and chief operating officer of Constellation Energy and chairman of UniStar Nuclear Energy.
On May 19, the Calvert Cliffs project was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of four projects to enter final due diligence and detailed negotiations for a portion of $18.5 billion in federal loan guarantees for advanced nuclear projects. Receipt of a conditional loan guarantee commitment by the end of 2009 would position UniStar to make a final decision to proceed with the project.
Related ARticles of Interest
DOE narrows list of nuclear project favorites
Five nuclear plants on DOE's short list
Constellation, EDF enter investment agreement
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Secretary Chu describes life in a carbon-constrained world
EEI expo: Secretary Chu describes life in a carbon-constrained world
By Teresa Hansen
Editor-in-chief
Electric Light & Power, Utility Automation and Engineering T&D
Last Thursday, June 25, energy secretary Dr. Steven Chu addressed industry executives at the annual Edison Electric Institute (EEI) conference and expo held in San Francisco.
The secretary, who speaks like the scientist he is and not the political figures who in past years filled the secretary position, talked primarily about climate change. He thanked EEI for supporting the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, which passed the House of Representatives the following day, and emphasized that the industry's outlook is not doom and gloom, but instead one of optimism and hope.
Chu said that "sooner or later we will be living in a carbon constrained world." He listed five things that "we need to do to get where we need to be."
1. Alignment of financial incentives "We need to break the business as usual model of making more money by selling more energy," he said. Policies that provide utilities with return-on-investment incentives on things other than energy sales need to be developed. He said the DOE's goal is to create demand response programs that will lower peak demand by 20 percent. Chu said this goal is one of the reasons the department is allotting $3.9 billion in stimulus funding for smart grid investment. He also said that the minimum grant amount is $200 million per grant and the office has made $615 million available for smart grid demonstration projects.
2. Energy efficiency Chu stressed that energy efficiency is important, announcing that the department was making $90 million available to California for state-wide energy programs. As an example of how effective energy efficiency can be, Chu said that efficiency gains made in household refrigerators has saved more energy than all the energy currently produced by non-hydro renewable energy sources in the United States. "Energy efficiency does matter," Chu said.
3. Renewable energy Chu said that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is designed to double all non-hydro renewable energy generation in the next three years. He said that 20 percent of U.S. energy can be supplied by wind power. For renewables to meet their full potential, Chu said the nation's grid must be modernized and the smart grid must be developed. He discussed the need for smart grid standards, saying that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has already identified more than 80 of these standards.
4. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and nuclear energy The United States leads the world in coal reserves, so much so that little prospecting for new coal supplies is being done, Chu said. He said an international collaboration in CCS technologies is necessary and it needs to occur right away. "Even if the United States turns its back on coal, and I don't believe it will, China and India will not," Chu said. He said there is a worldwide goal to have 20 CCS pilot plants operating, which is one of the reasons the DOE is reviving FutureGen. Chu said it is also important to find technologies to retrofit existing plants with stack capture technology. As for nuclear power, Chu said that it is needed for carbon free baseload generation. He said the nuclear waste issue is solvable both scientifically and politically, but didn't elaborate on how the DOE plans to handle it.
5. Transformational energy technologies Chu said that the DOE has always funded basic science and it provides an opportunity to enlist "knowledge horsepower" to solve the nation's and world's energy problems. Because buildings consume 40 percent of the energy produced in the United States, the department and industry should be looking for new ways to design them. He also said the new energy crops being developed for biofuel have much potential and make more sense than corn-based biofuels.
Chu talked about the DOE's history of employing some of the world's smartest scientists and researchers, including 30 Nobel Laureates (including Chu himself). He emphasized that the organization is ready and able to address the energy challenges our nation and world face. He also emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges.
"For the first time in human history, science has shown that human beings are altering the destination of our planet. The consequences of what we are doing today will not be fully realized for at least 100 years from now," Chu said.
"One of the ironies about climate change is that the ones who will be hurt the most are those yet to be born," he added.
By Teresa Hansen
Editor-in-chief
Electric Light & Power, Utility Automation and Engineering T&D
Last Thursday, June 25, energy secretary Dr. Steven Chu addressed industry executives at the annual Edison Electric Institute (EEI) conference and expo held in San Francisco.
The secretary, who speaks like the scientist he is and not the political figures who in past years filled the secretary position, talked primarily about climate change. He thanked EEI for supporting the Waxman-Markey climate change bill, which passed the House of Representatives the following day, and emphasized that the industry's outlook is not doom and gloom, but instead one of optimism and hope.
Chu said that "sooner or later we will be living in a carbon constrained world." He listed five things that "we need to do to get where we need to be."
1. Alignment of financial incentives "We need to break the business as usual model of making more money by selling more energy," he said. Policies that provide utilities with return-on-investment incentives on things other than energy sales need to be developed. He said the DOE's goal is to create demand response programs that will lower peak demand by 20 percent. Chu said this goal is one of the reasons the department is allotting $3.9 billion in stimulus funding for smart grid investment. He also said that the minimum grant amount is $200 million per grant and the office has made $615 million available for smart grid demonstration projects.
2. Energy efficiency Chu stressed that energy efficiency is important, announcing that the department was making $90 million available to California for state-wide energy programs. As an example of how effective energy efficiency can be, Chu said that efficiency gains made in household refrigerators has saved more energy than all the energy currently produced by non-hydro renewable energy sources in the United States. "Energy efficiency does matter," Chu said.
3. Renewable energy Chu said that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is designed to double all non-hydro renewable energy generation in the next three years. He said that 20 percent of U.S. energy can be supplied by wind power. For renewables to meet their full potential, Chu said the nation's grid must be modernized and the smart grid must be developed. He discussed the need for smart grid standards, saying that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has already identified more than 80 of these standards.
4. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) and nuclear energy The United States leads the world in coal reserves, so much so that little prospecting for new coal supplies is being done, Chu said. He said an international collaboration in CCS technologies is necessary and it needs to occur right away. "Even if the United States turns its back on coal, and I don't believe it will, China and India will not," Chu said. He said there is a worldwide goal to have 20 CCS pilot plants operating, which is one of the reasons the DOE is reviving FutureGen. Chu said it is also important to find technologies to retrofit existing plants with stack capture technology. As for nuclear power, Chu said that it is needed for carbon free baseload generation. He said the nuclear waste issue is solvable both scientifically and politically, but didn't elaborate on how the DOE plans to handle it.
5. Transformational energy technologies Chu said that the DOE has always funded basic science and it provides an opportunity to enlist "knowledge horsepower" to solve the nation's and world's energy problems. Because buildings consume 40 percent of the energy produced in the United States, the department and industry should be looking for new ways to design them. He also said the new energy crops being developed for biofuel have much potential and make more sense than corn-based biofuels.
Chu talked about the DOE's history of employing some of the world's smartest scientists and researchers, including 30 Nobel Laureates (including Chu himself). He emphasized that the organization is ready and able to address the energy challenges our nation and world face. He also emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges.
"For the first time in human history, science has shown that human beings are altering the destination of our planet. The consequences of what we are doing today will not be fully realized for at least 100 years from now," Chu said.
"One of the ironies about climate change is that the ones who will be hurt the most are those yet to be born," he added.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
4 Green Technology Tips That Will Save You Money
4 Green Technology Tips That Will Save You Money
Mar 3, 2009 PC World
Save money on batteries and find a new use for your old PC with these tips.
Rick Broida
PC World
Tuesday, March 3, 2009; 12:19 AM
Save energy. Save the environment. Save money. Sounds good, huh? Savvy use of technology can help you do all three.
These days it's not uncommon for laptops to serve desktop duty. But here's the rub: If you leave the battery inside the system 24/7, it'll keep drawing power, even when fully charged. That's not only a waste of energy and money, but also bad news for the battery: Constant charging will reduce its capacity to hold a charge and its overall longevity.
Fortunately, there's a fast and simple solution: Pull the battery out. Most notebooks can run off AC power when there's no battery present, so take the latter out of the equation. It'll stay in pristine condition and save you a kilowatt or two.
PCs and landfills go together like oil and water--or, more accurately, like mercury (which can leak out of computer circuitry) and groundwater. Unfortunately, more and more unwanted computers and monitors end up in landfills every year, and the environmental impact is considerable.
Before you consign your unwanted system to the dump, consider giving it new life. One option: Wipe the hard drive and install a Linux-based operating system like gOS, which has such modest system requirements, it makes even a six-year-old Pentium 4 feel like a modern Core 2 Duo. With that done, the system could go to a student, a tech-challenged senior, or anyone with basic computing needs.
Alternately, an aged PC plugged into a router can double as a fine file and/or print server for your home network (see "Get More Out of Your PC"). If you're willing to spring for a TV tuner, you can install free media-center software like Media Portal and turn the old girl into a DVR--no monthly TiVo fees required.
Bills that arrive via snail mail represent a massive waste of resources (paper, printing, hauling, postage) on both the biller's part and yours, if you're still mailing back written checks. Maybe security concerns kept you from switching to electronic bill-pay services early on, but financial institutions have had plenty of time to work out the kinks, so there's no excuse for continued use of paper checks, envelopes, and postage.
Banks do charge for online bill-pay service, but some will give it to you for free if you do enough business with them. If not, take a look at MyCheckFree, which lets you pay many major billers free of charge. Alternatively, set up automated bill pay with the many utilities and banks that will happily collect their monthly fees, credit card, and mortgage payments via direct withdrawal from your bank account.
Game controllers, kids' toys, digital cameras, and other electronics chew through batteries faster than beavers chew through balsa wood. Consequently, they chew through your wallet as well: A four-pack of Duracell AA batteries sells for around $6. Buy just one pack per month and you're out $72 a year.
Or you could invest about $25 on an Energizer four-slot battery charger (which comes with a pair of rechargeable AAs) and a four-pack of extra rechargeables. Sure, you'll pay for the electricity to recharge them, but compared with disposable batteries, outlet electricity costs pennies on the dollar--and new disposables, remember, are destined for landfills.
Mar 3, 2009 PC World
Save money on batteries and find a new use for your old PC with these tips.
Rick Broida
PC World
Tuesday, March 3, 2009; 12:19 AM
Save energy. Save the environment. Save money. Sounds good, huh? Savvy use of technology can help you do all three.
These days it's not uncommon for laptops to serve desktop duty. But here's the rub: If you leave the battery inside the system 24/7, it'll keep drawing power, even when fully charged. That's not only a waste of energy and money, but also bad news for the battery: Constant charging will reduce its capacity to hold a charge and its overall longevity.
Fortunately, there's a fast and simple solution: Pull the battery out. Most notebooks can run off AC power when there's no battery present, so take the latter out of the equation. It'll stay in pristine condition and save you a kilowatt or two.
PCs and landfills go together like oil and water--or, more accurately, like mercury (which can leak out of computer circuitry) and groundwater. Unfortunately, more and more unwanted computers and monitors end up in landfills every year, and the environmental impact is considerable.
Before you consign your unwanted system to the dump, consider giving it new life. One option: Wipe the hard drive and install a Linux-based operating system like gOS, which has such modest system requirements, it makes even a six-year-old Pentium 4 feel like a modern Core 2 Duo. With that done, the system could go to a student, a tech-challenged senior, or anyone with basic computing needs.
Alternately, an aged PC plugged into a router can double as a fine file and/or print server for your home network (see "Get More Out of Your PC"). If you're willing to spring for a TV tuner, you can install free media-center software like Media Portal and turn the old girl into a DVR--no monthly TiVo fees required.
Bills that arrive via snail mail represent a massive waste of resources (paper, printing, hauling, postage) on both the biller's part and yours, if you're still mailing back written checks. Maybe security concerns kept you from switching to electronic bill-pay services early on, but financial institutions have had plenty of time to work out the kinks, so there's no excuse for continued use of paper checks, envelopes, and postage.
Banks do charge for online bill-pay service, but some will give it to you for free if you do enough business with them. If not, take a look at MyCheckFree, which lets you pay many major billers free of charge. Alternatively, set up automated bill pay with the many utilities and banks that will happily collect their monthly fees, credit card, and mortgage payments via direct withdrawal from your bank account.
Game controllers, kids' toys, digital cameras, and other electronics chew through batteries faster than beavers chew through balsa wood. Consequently, they chew through your wallet as well: A four-pack of Duracell AA batteries sells for around $6. Buy just one pack per month and you're out $72 a year.
Or you could invest about $25 on an Energizer four-slot battery charger (which comes with a pair of rechargeable AAs) and a four-pack of extra rechargeables. Sure, you'll pay for the electricity to recharge them, but compared with disposable batteries, outlet electricity costs pennies on the dollar--and new disposables, remember, are destined for landfills.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Homeowners Can Cut Federal Income Taxes up to $1,500
Homeowners Can Cut Federal Income Taxes up to $1,500 and
Reduce Home Energy Bills with Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Washington, D.C., June 18, 2009 – The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) urges U.S. homeowners to enjoy the “triple crown” of energy efficiency – lower home energy bills, lower federal income taxes, and increased home comfort – by making energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits.
Savvy consumers who make such energy efficiency upgrades can also be proud of reducing their personal carbon footprint – because using less energy in their homes means emitting less pollution, too.
The federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which extended energy efficiency tax credits available in 2006 and 2007 but not 2008.
“The ARRA tax credits are very similar to those that were in effect a few years ago and renewed for 2009 only in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TRP) last fall,” said Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a TIAP founder.
“But the ARRA tax provisions include some ‘new wrinkles’ that are important for consumers to be aware of, so they can be sure to install the specific products and equipment that qualify for the 2009-10 tax credits. TIAP is making it easy for taxpayers to purchase eligible products by providing all the needed information on the TIAP website (www.energytaxincentives.org), which also includes links to other helpful sites.
“The ARRA tax credits are potentially worth three times as much as the 2006-07 tax credits, at up to $1,500,” noted Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, another TIAP founder. “This more generous dollar amount puts energy- and money-saving home improvements within reach for more American homeowners. And the longer time frame, through 2010, gives homeowners more than a year to plan and budget for the more costly energy efficiency upgrades, which will then provide a terrific return on investment in lower energy costs for years to come.”
Some of the important details on the home improvement tax credits are as follows:
For each type of qualifying equipment, the credit is for 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500.
It is a one-time tax credit that can be claimed in part or in whole for tax year 2009 and/or tax year 2010.
Homeowners who claimed the $500 credit available in 2006-7 can claim the remaining $1,000 credit for additional products bought and installed in 2009 and/or 2010.
There are two basic categories of qualifying equipment – “building envelope” products and heating and cooling equipment.
Building envelope products are replacement windows (including storm windows, storm doors, and skylights), certain ENERGY STAR asphalt and metal roofs, insulation, and other sealing products.
Heating and cooling equipment includes furnaces, boilers, ground source or geothermal heat pumps, gas or propane water heaters, central air conditioning systems (but not window air conditioner units), and biomass stoves.
Installation costs are not covered for building envelope products.
Installation costs are covered for heating and cooling equipment.
For some products, the qualifying criteria are more stringent than they were in 2006 and 2007 and in early 2009 under TARP. For example, all ENERGY STAR windows no longer qualify; now they must meet additional energy efficiency criteria (spelled out on the TIAP website at http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/insulation_etc.php.)
Specific efficiency criteria also apply to heating and cooling equipment; (http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php).
Under TARP, the 2006-7 criteria for qualifying products were in effect from January 1, 2009 through February 17, 2009, when the ARRA was signed.
The TARP criteria, however, apply to exterior windows and skylights purchased and put into service before June 1, 2009.
Homeowners who purchased and put into service equipment under the TARP criteria between January 1 and February 17, 2009, can claim the higher ($1,500) tax credit amount.
Please see TIAP website for additional details (www.energytaxincentives.org).
####
The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP), sponsored by a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy-efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy-efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amended by subsequent legislation.
The Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org) is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ACEEE was involved in the legislation establishing federal efficiency standards, and has been active in all rulemakings since then. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.
Reduce Home Energy Bills with Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
Washington, D.C., June 18, 2009 – The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP) urges U.S. homeowners to enjoy the “triple crown” of energy efficiency – lower home energy bills, lower federal income taxes, and increased home comfort – by making energy efficiency home improvements that qualify for up to $1,500 in federal income tax credits.
Savvy consumers who make such energy efficiency upgrades can also be proud of reducing their personal carbon footprint – because using less energy in their homes means emitting less pollution, too.
The federal income tax credits for specific home improvements are available now through 2010, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), which extended energy efficiency tax credits available in 2006 and 2007 but not 2008.
“The ARRA tax credits are very similar to those that were in effect a few years ago and renewed for 2009 only in the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TRP) last fall,” said Steve Nadel, executive director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a TIAP founder.
“But the ARRA tax provisions include some ‘new wrinkles’ that are important for consumers to be aware of, so they can be sure to install the specific products and equipment that qualify for the 2009-10 tax credits. TIAP is making it easy for taxpayers to purchase eligible products by providing all the needed information on the TIAP website (www.energytaxincentives.org), which also includes links to other helpful sites.
“The ARRA tax credits are potentially worth three times as much as the 2006-07 tax credits, at up to $1,500,” noted Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, another TIAP founder. “This more generous dollar amount puts energy- and money-saving home improvements within reach for more American homeowners. And the longer time frame, through 2010, gives homeowners more than a year to plan and budget for the more costly energy efficiency upgrades, which will then provide a terrific return on investment in lower energy costs for years to come.”
Some of the important details on the home improvement tax credits are as follows:
For each type of qualifying equipment, the credit is for 30 percent of the cost up to $1,500.
It is a one-time tax credit that can be claimed in part or in whole for tax year 2009 and/or tax year 2010.
Homeowners who claimed the $500 credit available in 2006-7 can claim the remaining $1,000 credit for additional products bought and installed in 2009 and/or 2010.
There are two basic categories of qualifying equipment – “building envelope” products and heating and cooling equipment.
Building envelope products are replacement windows (including storm windows, storm doors, and skylights), certain ENERGY STAR asphalt and metal roofs, insulation, and other sealing products.
Heating and cooling equipment includes furnaces, boilers, ground source or geothermal heat pumps, gas or propane water heaters, central air conditioning systems (but not window air conditioner units), and biomass stoves.
Installation costs are not covered for building envelope products.
Installation costs are covered for heating and cooling equipment.
For some products, the qualifying criteria are more stringent than they were in 2006 and 2007 and in early 2009 under TARP. For example, all ENERGY STAR windows no longer qualify; now they must meet additional energy efficiency criteria (spelled out on the TIAP website at http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/insulation_etc.php.)
Specific efficiency criteria also apply to heating and cooling equipment; (http://energytaxincentives.org/consumers/heating-cooling.php).
Under TARP, the 2006-7 criteria for qualifying products were in effect from January 1, 2009 through February 17, 2009, when the ARRA was signed.
The TARP criteria, however, apply to exterior windows and skylights purchased and put into service before June 1, 2009.
Homeowners who purchased and put into service equipment under the TARP criteria between January 1 and February 17, 2009, can claim the higher ($1,500) tax credit amount.
Please see TIAP website for additional details (www.energytaxincentives.org).
####
The Tax Incentives Assistance Project (TIAP), sponsored by a coalition of public interest nonprofit groups, government agencies, and other organizations in the energy-efficiency field, is designed to give consumers and businesses information they need to make use of the federal income tax incentives for energy-efficient products and technologies passed by Congress as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and amended by subsequent legislation.
The Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org) is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ACEEE was involved in the legislation establishing federal efficiency standards, and has been active in all rulemakings since then. For information about ACEEE and its programs, publications, and conferences, contact ACEEE, 529 14th Street N.W., Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20045 or visit www.aceee.org.
CORRECT DISPOSAL OF BROKEN COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS
Compact fluorescent lights (CFL’s) are a good choice and provide good energy savings. Incandescent and CFL’s are being phased out in favor of LED/SSL (light emitting diodes solid state lighting). It will be a long slow process to convert to LED lamps. CFL’s are a good value & save energy over incandescent bulbs. The only drawback is toxic chemicals--they contain Mercury, Lead & Cadmium, three of the most toxic chemicals. Correct disposal and safe handling are paramount when dealing with ALL florescent bulbs. ANYONE installing florescent lamps should wear a pair of heavy duty commercial grade rubber gloves and a face mask that covers the nose and mouth (N95 or better). You should also have a roll of paper towels, a few small paper bags, window fan and heavy duty freezer ZipLock bags. Have ALL residents of the rooms where the CFL’s are being installed move to other rooms with the door closed or outdoors. If a CFL is broken, immediately turn HVAC (air conditioning/heating) unit off so toxic chemicals will not be “pulled” into the return air vent coating the unit’s filter and spreading toxic chemicals throughout the building. Open all windows in the room where the CFL is broken, set a fan in a window exhausting room air to the outdoors, leave room and close door behind you. Stay out of the room for 10 minutes. Dampen two paper towels and lay them over the broken CFL and carefully collect the broken CFL and chemical residue with towels and place in a paper bag. Use additional dampened paper towels to collect ALL chemical residues. Place paper bag and paper towels in a heavy duty freezer ZipLock bag & seal bag. All broken or expended (burned out) florescent bulbs should be recycled. Home Depot, Lowe’s & other home improvement stores accept florescent bulbs for recycling. If you would like additional information on the advantages and energy savings of LED over incandescent & fluorescent, email me and I will return information via email. James M. Butch Coger chce@ch-ce.com
Energy-saving bulbs light up recycling puzzle
Energy-saving bulbs light up recycling puzzle
Jun 18, 2009
USA Today
Tina Irgang
More states are moving to establish safe recycling programs and address the mercury content of the popular curly, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The bulbs, known as CFLs, generally use less power than incandescent light bulbs. CFLs use trace amounts of the toxic metal mercury to produce light, says Mark Kohorst, senior manager for environmental health and safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. If a bulb breaks, he says, there is a "minimal" risk from exposure to mercury, which can damage the lungs and central nervous system if inhaled.
In May, Maine became the first state to pass a law requiring manufacturers to limit mercury levels in the bulbs and pay for recycling them safely.
Elsewhere:
• The Illinois Legislature passed a law in May that requires recycling information on CFL labels.
• In Nevada, a special committee is working on regulations that would require utilities to inform consumers on how to recycle CFLs.
• A committee in the Massachusetts Legislature is debating a law that would require manufacturers to provide consumers convenient drop-off locations for spent bulbs and labels that educate consumers about recycling, says Democratic state Rep. William Straus.
• In California, a bill regarding CFL recycling has passed the State Assembly and awaits Senate approval.
CFLs' mercury content has been reduced by nearly 80% since they were introduced in the 1980s, Kohorst says.
General Electric, a major manufacturer of the bulbs, advocates federal legislation, spokeswoman Kim Freeman says. "We do not believe a patchwork or state-by-state approach will work," she says.
EnergyStar, a federal program on energy efficiency, says CFLs use up to 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. CFLs' market share has increased from about 5% to just over 20% in the past five years, EnergyStar reports.
Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Latisha Petteway says the EPA "strongly encourages" proper recycling of CFLs because it "prevents the release of mercury into the environment."
Jun 18, 2009
USA Today
Tina Irgang
More states are moving to establish safe recycling programs and address the mercury content of the popular curly, compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The bulbs, known as CFLs, generally use less power than incandescent light bulbs. CFLs use trace amounts of the toxic metal mercury to produce light, says Mark Kohorst, senior manager for environmental health and safety at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. If a bulb breaks, he says, there is a "minimal" risk from exposure to mercury, which can damage the lungs and central nervous system if inhaled.
In May, Maine became the first state to pass a law requiring manufacturers to limit mercury levels in the bulbs and pay for recycling them safely.
Elsewhere:
• The Illinois Legislature passed a law in May that requires recycling information on CFL labels.
• In Nevada, a special committee is working on regulations that would require utilities to inform consumers on how to recycle CFLs.
• A committee in the Massachusetts Legislature is debating a law that would require manufacturers to provide consumers convenient drop-off locations for spent bulbs and labels that educate consumers about recycling, says Democratic state Rep. William Straus.
• In California, a bill regarding CFL recycling has passed the State Assembly and awaits Senate approval.
CFLs' mercury content has been reduced by nearly 80% since they were introduced in the 1980s, Kohorst says.
General Electric, a major manufacturer of the bulbs, advocates federal legislation, spokeswoman Kim Freeman says. "We do not believe a patchwork or state-by-state approach will work," she says.
EnergyStar, a federal program on energy efficiency, says CFLs use up to 75% less energy than traditional bulbs. CFLs' market share has increased from about 5% to just over 20% in the past five years, EnergyStar reports.
Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Latisha Petteway says the EPA "strongly encourages" proper recycling of CFLs because it "prevents the release of mercury into the environment."
Wireless Firms Eye 'Smart Grids'
Wireless Firms Eye 'Smart Grids'
Apr 16, 2009 Wall Street Journal
By REBECCA SMITH
Cellphone Carriers Cut Prices in Aggressive Push for Deals With
Wireless carriers such as AT&T Corp. are setting their sights on so-called smart grids as a big business opportunity that could juice up earnings by utilizing excess capacity on their cellphone networks.
The upshot for consumers is they may eventually be able to monitor and control home-energy use through a cellphone that talks to a digital meter and other devices, though that service is still in development.
AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unit, Verizon Wireless (a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group) and other carriers are making an aggressive push to provide the wireless communications link to millions of "smart meters" being installed by electric and gas companies. Unlike older electric meters that tallied up energy use until a utility employee came to read the meter, smart meters record more information, such as when the power is being consumed and at what price. This can help utilities manage the power, and potentially aid consumers in finding cost savings.
Associated Press
Wireless carriers are looking to provide service for 'smart meters.' Above, a meter is installed in Boulder, Colo.
Under the Obama administration's stimulus package, Congress has authorized roughly $4.5 billion to propel smart-grid development.
Utilities in California and Texas alone are spending $6 billion on advanced, digital meters and related systems, a key building block in a smart electric grid.
"Smart metering is a big deal for the big four wireless companies," said Steve Hilton, a consultant at the Yankee Group in Boston, referring to top U.S. wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless.
To win smart-grid business from utilities, wireless companies are slashing the monthly fee they charge to provide the communications link, providing that service, in some cases, for pennies a month for each meter. As a result, the latest technology is being pushed down to the household level instead of being restricted to commercial or industrial customers who have typically paid about $5 a month for that service.
"Wireless companies are being very aggressive with their pricing," says Neal Walker, vice president of operations for utility Texas New Mexico Power Co., or TNMP.
Texas is getting a first taste of what's ahead with a small, 10,000-meter rollout by TNMP, a unit of PNM Resources Inc., of Albuquerque, N.M. The company is expected to announce a contract Thursday with SmartSynch Inc., a smart-grid technology company from Jackson, Miss., that's working AT&T on the TNMP deal. SmartSynch has also said it's working with T-Mobile.
New smart meters installed in customers' homes will allow TNMP to read meters frequently, receive alerts about outages, and terminate or restore service remotely. Customers will be able to sign up for rate plans with peak and off-peak prices, or set appliances and lighting to turn on and off with the help of controllers installed on appliances or electric outlets.
So far, wireless companies mostly are working with meter and software companies including SmartSynch, Echelon Corp., Landis + Gyr Group and Itron Inc.
AT&T says it also wants to develop software and data-management systems of its own to help utilities and consumers mine meter information. "There's a burgeoning opportunity for us in the IT space," said Chris Hill, vice president of mobility products in AT&T's business solutions unit.
AT&T doesn't yet offer a way for consumers to use cellphones as a means of controlling the meters, but Mr. Hill said it's under development.
Under the arrangement AT&T has with TNMP, each meter will be able to send and receive information through the AT&T wireless network. The meters will be programmed to upload data to the utility once a day, most likely during off-peak times when there is plenty of spare network capacity.
This differs from a more commonplace approach in which utilities install meters that funnel meter readings and other data via unlicensed radio spectrum to collectors that aggregate the data and pass it along to utilities, referred to as the "RF mesh" approach.
Big Texas utilities, as well as Pacific Gas and Electric, a unit of PG&E Corp., in San Francisco, are taking the mesh approach. PG&E plans to spend $2.2 billion to install more than five million smart electric meters by 2012.
Paul Moreno, PG&E utility spokesman, said the cellphone-carrier wireless approach was explored in 2007, but the cost was "way too high." If the cost drops to pennies per month, he said, "we would review that really closely."
Write to Rebecca Smith at rebecca.smith@wsj.com
Apr 16, 2009 Wall Street Journal
By REBECCA SMITH
Cellphone Carriers Cut Prices in Aggressive Push for Deals With
Wireless carriers such as AT&T Corp. are setting their sights on so-called smart grids as a big business opportunity that could juice up earnings by utilizing excess capacity on their cellphone networks.
The upshot for consumers is they may eventually be able to monitor and control home-energy use through a cellphone that talks to a digital meter and other devices, though that service is still in development.
AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unit, Verizon Wireless (a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group) and other carriers are making an aggressive push to provide the wireless communications link to millions of "smart meters" being installed by electric and gas companies. Unlike older electric meters that tallied up energy use until a utility employee came to read the meter, smart meters record more information, such as when the power is being consumed and at what price. This can help utilities manage the power, and potentially aid consumers in finding cost savings.
Associated Press
Wireless carriers are looking to provide service for 'smart meters.' Above, a meter is installed in Boulder, Colo.
Under the Obama administration's stimulus package, Congress has authorized roughly $4.5 billion to propel smart-grid development.
Utilities in California and Texas alone are spending $6 billion on advanced, digital meters and related systems, a key building block in a smart electric grid.
"Smart metering is a big deal for the big four wireless companies," said Steve Hilton, a consultant at the Yankee Group in Boston, referring to top U.S. wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint Nextel Corp. and Verizon Wireless.
To win smart-grid business from utilities, wireless companies are slashing the monthly fee they charge to provide the communications link, providing that service, in some cases, for pennies a month for each meter. As a result, the latest technology is being pushed down to the household level instead of being restricted to commercial or industrial customers who have typically paid about $5 a month for that service.
"Wireless companies are being very aggressive with their pricing," says Neal Walker, vice president of operations for utility Texas New Mexico Power Co., or TNMP.
Texas is getting a first taste of what's ahead with a small, 10,000-meter rollout by TNMP, a unit of PNM Resources Inc., of Albuquerque, N.M. The company is expected to announce a contract Thursday with SmartSynch Inc., a smart-grid technology company from Jackson, Miss., that's working AT&T on the TNMP deal. SmartSynch has also said it's working with T-Mobile.
New smart meters installed in customers' homes will allow TNMP to read meters frequently, receive alerts about outages, and terminate or restore service remotely. Customers will be able to sign up for rate plans with peak and off-peak prices, or set appliances and lighting to turn on and off with the help of controllers installed on appliances or electric outlets.
So far, wireless companies mostly are working with meter and software companies including SmartSynch, Echelon Corp., Landis + Gyr Group and Itron Inc.
AT&T says it also wants to develop software and data-management systems of its own to help utilities and consumers mine meter information. "There's a burgeoning opportunity for us in the IT space," said Chris Hill, vice president of mobility products in AT&T's business solutions unit.
AT&T doesn't yet offer a way for consumers to use cellphones as a means of controlling the meters, but Mr. Hill said it's under development.
Under the arrangement AT&T has with TNMP, each meter will be able to send and receive information through the AT&T wireless network. The meters will be programmed to upload data to the utility once a day, most likely during off-peak times when there is plenty of spare network capacity.
This differs from a more commonplace approach in which utilities install meters that funnel meter readings and other data via unlicensed radio spectrum to collectors that aggregate the data and pass it along to utilities, referred to as the "RF mesh" approach.
Big Texas utilities, as well as Pacific Gas and Electric, a unit of PG&E Corp., in San Francisco, are taking the mesh approach. PG&E plans to spend $2.2 billion to install more than five million smart electric meters by 2012.
Paul Moreno, PG&E utility spokesman, said the cellphone-carrier wireless approach was explored in 2007, but the cost was "way too high." If the cost drops to pennies per month, he said, "we would review that really closely."
Write to Rebecca Smith at rebecca.smith@wsj.com
WHAT IS THE SO-CALLED "SMART GRID" ?
What is the so-called “smart grid” I've been hearing about, and how can it save energy and money?
Larry Burger, Litchfield, CT
The smart grid concept is predicated on a two-way flow of energy –- and information –- between electricity generators and end users. The system not only delivers power to end users as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own -– such as this homeowner here who generates solar power –- when they have more than they need.
© sakraft1, courtesy FlickrAmerica’s electricity grid is built upon what many consider to be an antiquated principle: Make large amounts of electricity and have it always available to end users whether they need it or not. It’s much like the way most home water heaters work in keeping water constantly hot even when it is not being used. It is also a strictly one-way relationship with utilities supplying power to end users, but not also vice-versa.
The smart grid concept is predicated on a two-way flow of energy—and information—between electricity generators and end users. The system not only delivers power to end users as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own—homes and businesses that generate solar, wind or geothermal power themselves—when they have more than they need.
Some 42 states and Washington, DC already require utilities to have systems in place to buy excess energy generated by their customers. But, writes journalist Michael Prager in E – The Environmental Magazine, “because they can’t know in real time that power is coming in, utilities generate as much as they would have anyway.” He adds that when information flows both ways, end users will be able to send information back to the grid specifying how much power they need and when they will need it. They’ll also be able to communicate when they have excess power available to upload to the grid.
On the forefront of research into the feasibility of the smart grid on a large scale is the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center, established in 2008 by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at North Carolina State University. FREEDM is partnering with universities, industry and national laboratories in 28 states and nine countries to develop technologies they say will “revolutionize the nation’s power grid and speed renewable electric-energy technologies into every home and business.” So far, some 60 utilities, alternative energy startups, electrical equipment manufacturers and other firms have signed onto the new partnership.
One such utility, Colorado-based Xcel Energy, has even begun to put smart grid technology into practice on a trial basis for a small percentage of its customer base. The utility has spent some $100 million outfitting 35,000 homes and businesses in and around the city of Boulder with automation and communications capabilities to enable two-way communication of electricity needs.
Xcel won’t have enough data to assess energy and cost savings until early 2010, but analysts are optimistic that the utility’s costly experiment will reap benefits down the road for consumers, utilities and the environment. Indeed, environmentalists and economists alike have high hopes that widespread implementation of such “intelligent” systems could help usher in a new age of unprecedented energy efficiency, emissions reductions and cost savings around the United States and beyond.
Larry Burger, Litchfield, CT
The smart grid concept is predicated on a two-way flow of energy –- and information –- between electricity generators and end users. The system not only delivers power to end users as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own -– such as this homeowner here who generates solar power –- when they have more than they need.
© sakraft1, courtesy FlickrAmerica’s electricity grid is built upon what many consider to be an antiquated principle: Make large amounts of electricity and have it always available to end users whether they need it or not. It’s much like the way most home water heaters work in keeping water constantly hot even when it is not being used. It is also a strictly one-way relationship with utilities supplying power to end users, but not also vice-versa.
The smart grid concept is predicated on a two-way flow of energy—and information—between electricity generators and end users. The system not only delivers power to end users as needed, depending on demand; it also gathers power from end users that produce their own—homes and businesses that generate solar, wind or geothermal power themselves—when they have more than they need.
Some 42 states and Washington, DC already require utilities to have systems in place to buy excess energy generated by their customers. But, writes journalist Michael Prager in E – The Environmental Magazine, “because they can’t know in real time that power is coming in, utilities generate as much as they would have anyway.” He adds that when information flows both ways, end users will be able to send information back to the grid specifying how much power they need and when they will need it. They’ll also be able to communicate when they have excess power available to upload to the grid.
On the forefront of research into the feasibility of the smart grid on a large scale is the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center, established in 2008 by the National Science Foundation and headquartered at North Carolina State University. FREEDM is partnering with universities, industry and national laboratories in 28 states and nine countries to develop technologies they say will “revolutionize the nation’s power grid and speed renewable electric-energy technologies into every home and business.” So far, some 60 utilities, alternative energy startups, electrical equipment manufacturers and other firms have signed onto the new partnership.
One such utility, Colorado-based Xcel Energy, has even begun to put smart grid technology into practice on a trial basis for a small percentage of its customer base. The utility has spent some $100 million outfitting 35,000 homes and businesses in and around the city of Boulder with automation and communications capabilities to enable two-way communication of electricity needs.
Xcel won’t have enough data to assess energy and cost savings until early 2010, but analysts are optimistic that the utility’s costly experiment will reap benefits down the road for consumers, utilities and the environment. Indeed, environmentalists and economists alike have high hopes that widespread implementation of such “intelligent” systems could help usher in a new age of unprecedented energy efficiency, emissions reductions and cost savings around the United States and beyond.
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