Archive for 2007

On October 22, 2007, the Energy Information Administration, a division of the Department of Energy, released its 2006 Electric Annual Report. The report shows that about 5,000 commercial and industrial distributed generators, with a capacity of about 9,600 MW, are connected to the grid. 38 percent of this capacity is internal combustion, with the remainder ... Read More

On November 7, 2007, solar developer Cleantech America announced that it has selected the city of Mendota for California’s first utility-scale photovoltaic solar facility. The 5-MW facility, called CalRENEW-1, will be operational by spring 2009 and will sell its energy to Pacific Gas and Electric under a 20-year purchase power agreement. The energy produced by ... Read More

On November 9, 2007, Lockheed Martin and Starwood Energy Group announced that they will jointly pursue utility-scale solar generation projects in North America. Lockheed Martin will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, and manufacturing; while Starwood Energy will arrange long-term purchase power agreements, site selection, permitting, and debt and equity financing. The companies estimate that ... Read More

On October 14, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger signed legislation (A.B. 1613) which facilitates both customer- and utility-owned combined heat and power (CHP) systems. This legislation encourages the use of CHP waste-heat capture in furtherance of the state‚ s GHG reduction objectives. The California Public Utilities Commission must finalize rules by January 1, 2010, which ... Read More

On October 24, 2007, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission heard a case (Docket 07-04005) which may prove instructive for other states considering the implementation, or expansion, of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Nevada‚ s RPS legislation requires that the two operating companies of Sierra Pacific Resources‚ Nevada Power (NP) in southern Nevada and Sierra Pacific ... Read More