[]

[]


A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>www.eere.energy.gov/news/


June 01, 2005




News and Events

     * DOE Announces $64 Million in Hydrogen Research Projects
     * DOE and USDA to Cooperate on Producing Hydrogen from Biomass
     * DOE and USCAR Launch $70 Million Project for Lightweight Vehicles
     * DOE Initiates Six Projects to Boost Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
     * Seven Teams Qualify for the North American Solar Challenge
     * Offshore Wind Power Plant Slated for Georgia's Coast


Energy Connections

     * DOE to Offer Loan Guarantees for Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline
[]



News and Events




DOE Announces $64 Million in Hydrogen Research Projects

DOE announced last week the selection of 70 hydrogen research and
development projects that will receive $64 million in funding from the DOE
Office of Science over the next three years. The projects will tackle five
main research areas: materials for hydrogen storage; membranes for fuel
cells and for separating hydrogen from other gases and purifying it;
nanoscale catalysts for hydrogen production, storage, and use; production
of hydrogen from solar energy; and hydrogen production processes that mimic
or make use of biological processes that generate hydrogen. More than 50
research organizations in 25 states are participating in the projects,
including industrial research laboratories, academic institutions, and DOE
national laboratories. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=17971&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release and the full list of awardees
(<http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/BES_Hydrogen_FY05_Awards_25MAY05.pdf>PDF 23 KB)
on the DOE Office of Science Web site.
<http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader.
[]

President Bush and Rick Scott stand by a pump marked 'Shell Hyd


President Bush talks to the media as he stands with Rick Scott of Shell
Hydrogen, LLC at Shell's hydrogen fueling station in Washington, D.C.
Credit: Paul Morse, White House

The 70 projects are part of a portfolio of basic and applied research,
technology development, and learning demonstration projects that will
significantly advance the President's Hydrogen Fuel Initiative, which aims
to make hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and refueling stations available,
practical, and affordable for U.S. consumers by 2020. For more information,
see the <http://www.hydrogen.energy.gov/presidents_initiative.html>DOE
Hydrogen Program Web site.

President Bush marked the occasion by touring a Shell hydrogen fueling
station in Washington, D.C. The President called hydrogen "the wave of the
future" and noted that the United States leads the world in hydrogen
research. See the
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050525-1.html>White
House press release.


DOE and USDA to Cooperate on Producing Hydrogen from Biomass

DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced last week that
they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at developing more
cost-effective ways to produce hydrogen from biomass resources. Under the
MOU, DOE and USDA experts will meet regularly to share information on
technologies and activities of mutual interest related to reducing the cost
of chemically converting biomass to hydrogen. Biomass sources that can be
used for hydrogen production include ethanol, crop and forest residues, and
dedicated energy crops, such as switchgrass or willow. Transitioning to
hydrogen technologies in the agriculture industry and in rural communities
is important for a number of reasons: Renewable, farm-based biomass can
fuel hydrogen production; agricultural vehicles could one day be fueled by
hydrogen; and hydrogen fuel cell technology could potentially provide power
for rural communities and remote locations on farms and ranches. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=17972&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

The DOE and USDA effort is part of the President's $1.2-billion Hydrogen
Fuel Initiative. DOE and USDA are also working together through the
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research and Development Interagency Task Force,
which is part of the President's National Science and Technology Council.
For more information, see the federal
<http://www.hydrogen.gov/taskforce.html>Hydrogen.gov Web site.


DOE and USCAR Launch $70 Million Project for Lightweight Vehicles

DOE announced last week a $70-million, five-year agreement with the U.S.
Council for Automotive Research (USCAR)­a cooperative research organization
formed by DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General
Motors Corporation­to develop lightweight, high-strength materials that
will reduce the weight of vehicles without compromising safety. As one
example, improved manufacturing and the use of advanced high-strength steel
can reduce vehicle weight by 15 to 25 percent. DOE estimates that every 10
percent reduction in vehicle weight cuts fuel consumption by about 7 percent.

DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program and USCAR's U.S.
Automotive Materials Partnership will split the cost of research and
development for a number of new materials, including advanced high-strength
steel; lightweight metals such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium; and new
materials such as carbon fiber and polymer matrix composites. None of the
DOE funds will go to the automakers; instead, the funds will be directed to
government labs, universities, and suppliers to help develop the nation's
technology base. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=17978&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.


DOE Initiates Six Projects to Boost Vehicle Fuel Efficiency

DOE announced last week its agreement with industrial and academic
organizations to pursue six projects aimed at significantly improving the
fuel efficiency of cars and trucks. DOE is providing $7.35 million in
funding to the six partnerships, which have a total value of $14 million.
Four of the projects focus on developing advanced combustion engines,
including an exhaust gas recirculation control system for diesel engines, a
variable valve actuation system for low-temperature combustion in diesel
engines, a fast-response actuator system for adjusting the compression
ratio in engines, and an engine that operates on a high-compression-ratio,
modified Atkinson combustion cycle­an approach used in the Toyota Prius and
Ford Escape Hybrid­in which the intake valve is held open longer than
normal to allow a reverse flow into the intake manifold.

In addition, International Truck and Engine Corporation will develop idle
reduction equipment for trucks that will be available as a factory-ordered
option, and Clarity Group, Inc. will conduct field performance evaluations
for a wide variety of advanced technology vehicles, and will evaluate the
infrastructure needed to support the vehicles. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=17976&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

DOE estimates that these technologies could reduce fuel use for all highway
vehicles by 10 percent, saving more than one million barrels of oil per day
by 2025. The six projects are part of DOE's FreedomCAR and Vehicle
Technologies Program, which aims to improve the efficiency of internal
combustion engines for light-duty vehicles (passenger cars, pickup trucks,
and sport utility vehicles) by at least 30 percent by 2010. For heavy-duty
vehicles, such as trucks and buses, the program's goal is at least a 40
percent improvement in fuel efficiency by 2013. See the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/>FreedomCAR and Vehicle
Technologies Program Web site.


Seven Teams Qualify for the North American Solar Challenge

[]


Photo of a low, nearly flat vehicle, covered with solar panels,


The University of Minnesota's solar car hits the raceway in Topeka.
Credit: Richard King, DOE

University teams and their solar-powered cars had their first chance to
qualify for the 2005 North American Solar Challenge in May, and seven of
the teams met the challenge. The American Solar Challenge is a solar car
race held every other year and normally taking place within the United
States; this year's race runs from Austin, Texas, to Calgary, Alberta, and
has appropriately been renamed the North American Solar Challenge. Solar
racers attempted to qualify for the race by competing in the sixth annual
Formula Sun Grand Prix 2005, held at Heartland Park Raceway in Topeka,
Kansas, from May 18th to 20th. The seven qualifying teams include the
University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, and Auburn University (of
Alabama)­the three race leaders at the Formula Sun Grand Prix­as well as
the University of Missouri-Rolla, the "CalSol" team from University of
California at Berkeley; the University of Michigan; and Northwestern
University (of Illinois).

Thirty solar car teams from across North America were blessed with perfect
weather at the Formula Sun Grand Prix. The event was dominated by a strong
performance from the University of Minnesota solar car team, which logged
more than 850 miles on the track during the three-day solar marathon. See
the press release
(<http://www.formulasun.org/fsgp/event/fsgp2005/history/fsgp2005summary.pdf>PDF
31 KB) and for the full race results, see the
<http://www.formulasun.org/fsgp/event/fsgp2005/history/index.html>Formula
Sun Grand Prix Web site.
<http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader.

The 2005 North American Solar Challenge will start in Austin on July 17th
and end in Calgary on July 27th. Currently, 32 teams intend to face the
challenges of the 2,500-mile race, which will be not only the longest solar
car race in the world, but also the first to cross an international border.
The race is sponsored by DOE, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory,
and Natural Resources Canada, and includes five Canadian solar car teams.
Teams that failed to qualify in Kansas will have a final chance to qualify
at a pre-race event in Texas. See the
<http://www.americansolarchallenge.org/event/asc2005/>2005 North American
Solar Challenge Web site.


Offshore Wind Power Plant Slated for Georgia's Coast

Southern Company and the Georgia Institute of Technology announced last
week that they will collaborate on the Southeast's first offshore wind
power project, to be located off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Southern
Company is an electric utility serving most of Georgia and Alabama, as well
as southeastern Mississippi and the Florida panhandle. The wind project is
expected to include three to five wind turbines with a total generating
capacity of about 10 megawatts. The first step of the project, a design and
conceptual engineering phase, will start in July using technical expertise
from both Georgia Tech and Southern Company.

The project is a continuation of research conducted by Georgia Tech's
Strategic Energy Initiative, a research group devoted to testing both the
scientific and economic feasibility of innovative technologies. Although
the Southeast in general lacks good wind resources, the Georgia Tech group
found an offshore wind resource by analyzing six years of wind data
collected from Navy platforms located off the Savannah coast. According to
Southern Company, the strong westerly winds that blow along Georgia's coast
make this offshore region the best site in the Southeast for a wind
demonstration project. The company says the area is also ideal for offshore
wind because of its extensive area of shallow water at distances beyond
view from the shoreline. See the
<http://newsinfo.southernco.com/article.asp?id=1740>Southern Company press
release.

Large wind power plants of all types will have an easier time connecting to
power grids under new rules approved last week by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC). The new interconnection requirements apply to
wind power facilities larger than 20 megawatts, and most requirements will
take effect in early 2006. According to FERC, the new rule removes
unnecessary obstacles to further wind power development, while ensuring
that electric reliability is protected. See the
<http://www.ferc.gov/press-room/pr-current/05-25-05-E-1.asp>FERC press release.
[]



Energy Connections




DOE to Offer Loan Guarantees for Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline

DOE announced last week that it is seeking public comment on a program that
will guarantee loans of up to $18 billion for the construction of a
pipeline to bring Alaskan natural gas to the lower 48 states. The loan
guarantee simplifies financing for developers interested in building the
pipeline, which would provide access to Alaska's 35 trillion cubic feet of
proven natural gas reserves. According to DOE, such a pipeline could add
nearly 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to supplies in the contiguous
United States, helping to further stabilize natural gas prices. DOE
published a Notice of Inquiry in the Federal Register on May 27th and will
accept comments through July 26th. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=17980&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release, and for additional information, see the DOE Fossil Energy
Web site for the Notice of Inquiry
(<http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/alaska_pipeline/pipeline_no\
i.pdf>PDF
35 KB) and the <http://www.fossil.energy.gov/alaskangpipeline/>online form
to respond to the Notice of Inquiry.
<http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download Acrobat Reader.

This newsletter is funded by DOE's <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>EERE news page. You can
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/about.cfm>subscribe to the EERE Network
News using our simple online form, and you can also
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/changes.cfm>update your email address or
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/unsubscribe.cfm>unsubscribe online.

If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/editor.cfm>contact the editor.
[]

You are currently subscribed as: tomgray@...

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Houston Sustainability Solutions

Sustainable solutions for Houston are only a conversation away.
Houston Sustainability Solutions is a mini-conference that brings
people together to talk about sustainable solutions for the bioregions
that intersect in Houston.  We'll begin with a series of conversations
about our bioregions then later in the evening hear from experts about
some solutions to make Houston a sustainable city.

Bioregional Conversation

1-5 pm Bioregional Conversations

Talk about what's going on in your environment.  Houston is the nexus
of three major bioregions.  Bioregions are defined by unique soil,
plant and animal life.  Feel connected with other concerned residents
of these bioregions to work toward solutions for improving the quality
of life for people and nature.  Get connected with other citizens
working toward solutions for our bioregion.

5:00 pm Dinner break

8:30 pm Houston Sustainability Solutions Speakers

What would it take to make Houston a sustainable city?  Hear some of
Houston's experts speak about solutions for Houston.  Get inspired by
speakers such as Cath Conlan of Bioneers and Blackwood Land Institute,
Pat Greer of the Central City Co-op, Shawn McFarland, green architect,
and Bob Randall of Urban Harvest and the Permaculture Guild.  Attend
this unique event and begin to become part of the solution.

This event is sponsored by The Artery and the Houston Sustainability
Network which is committed to connecting and informing Houston's
citizens about sustainability.

Donations $5-$20 no one turned away for lack of funds.
To RSVP or for more information contact info@...
or 713-480-6303 or
www.houstonsustainability.net/congress.html .

The Artery 5401 Jackson at Prospect in the Museum District

Houston Sustainability Solutions

Sustainable solutions for Houston are only a conversation away.
Houston Sustainability Solutions is a mini-conference that brings
people together to talk about sustainable solutions for the bioregions
that intersect in Houston.  We'll begin with a series of conversations
about our bioregions then later in the evening hear from experts about
some solutions to make Houston a sustainable city.

Bioregional Conversation

1-5 pm Bioregional Conversations

Talk about what's going on in your environment.  Houston is the nexus
of three major bioregions.  Bioregions are defined by unique soil,
plant and animal life.  Feel connected with other concerned residents
of these bioregions to work toward solutions for improving the quality
of life for people and nature.  Get connected with other citizens
working toward solutions for our bioregion.

5:00 pm Dinner break

8:30 pm Houston Sustainability Solutions Speakers

What would it take to make Houston a sustainable city?  Hear some of
Houston's experts speak about solutions for Houston.  Get inspired by
speakers such as Cath Conlan of Bioneers and Blackwood Land Institute,
Pat Greer of the Central City Co-op, Shawn McFarland, green architect,
and Bob Randall of Urban Harvest and the Permaculture Guild.  Attend
this unique event and begin to become part of the solution.

This event is sponsored by The Artery and the Houston Sustainability
Network which is committed to connecting and informing Houston's
citizens about sustainability. 

Donations $5-$20 no one turned away for lack of funds. 
To RSVP or for more information contact info@...
or 713-480-6303 or
www.houstonsustainability.net/congress.html . 

The Artery 5401 Jackson at Prospect in the Museum District

Charlie,

As you may have heard, Senators McCain and Lieberman have unfortunately
added significant nuclear energy subsidies as a zero emission resource in
the Climate Stewardship bill.

We hope that a wide range of environmental, consumer, religious and public
interest groups can sign on to send the message that there is no need to
jeopardize our health, safety and economy with increased nuclear power when
we have cleaner, cheaper solutions to reduce global warming pollution.

Please let me know if we can add the Houston Renewable Energy Group's
endorsement of the attached statement. We currently have about 85 signers
including the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Clean Water
Action, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Nuclear Information and Resource
Service, Public Citizen, Sierra Club, U.S. Public Interest Research Group
(U.S. PIRG). We are working to get 100 signers nationally by tomorrow COB.

Luke

************************************************************
Luke Metzger
Advocate
Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG)
700 West Avenue
Austin, Texas 78701
(512) 479-7287
(512) 479-0400 fax
www.texpirg.org
*************************************************************

Environmental Statement on Nuclear Energy and Global Warming

As national and local environmental, consumer, and safe energy
organizations, we have serious and substantive concerns about nuclear
energy.  While we are committed to tackling the challenge of global warming,
we flatly reject the argument that increased investment in nuclear capacity
is an acceptable or necessary solution.  Instead we can significantly reduce
global warming pollution and save consumers money by increasing energy
efficiency and shifting to clean renewable sources of energy.

For at least thirty years, the public, policymakers and private investors
have viewed nuclear power as uneconomical, unsafe, and unnecessary.  As a
result no new reactors have been ordered in this country.  With respect to
these serious concerns, nothing has changed. While we urgently need to
reduce our global warming emissions, nuclear power still remains the least
attractive, least economic, and least safe avenue to pursue.

*Nuclear Power is Unnecessary:  We can meet our future electricity needs and
reduce global warming pollution without increasing our reliance on nuclear
energy.  For example, a 2004 study by Synapse Energy Economics found that
the US could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation by
more than 47% by 2025 compared to business as usual and meet projected
electricity demand, while saving consumers $36 billion annually.  In fact,
we can do this while cutting our reliance on nuclear power by nearly half.

The states are moving forward with clean energy solutions.  Nineteen states
have passed renewable electricity standards requiring an increasing
percentage of energy to be generated by renewable energy sources.
Replicating this effort nationally would increase our ability to reduce
global warming emissions, while benefiting public health, consumers and the
environment.  Several states are working to increase efficiency standards
for appliances, while many are working to reduce global warming pollution
from cars. The states are demonstrating that there is an effective arsenal
of clean energy solutions that can significantly curb our global warming
emissions; it is these ideas that we need to draw upon.

*Nuclear Power is Too Expensive:  The economics of nuclear power remain so
unattractive that without additional federal subsidies, no new plants will
be built.  Despite fifty years and more than $150 billion in federal and
state support, the nuclear power industry is still seemingly incapable of
building a new plant on its own.  In fact, the U.S. DOE's Energy Information
Administration stated in its 2005 Annual Energy Outlook that "new [nuclear]
plants are not expected to be economical."

Dominion CEO & Chairman Thomas Capps has stated that:

"If you announced you were going to build a new nuclear plant, Moody's and
Standard & Poor's would assuredly drop your bonds to junk status, hedge
funds would be bumping into each other trying to short your stock."

Not surprisingly, private investors have shown such disinterest in
supporting new nuclear power plants that the industry is, yet again, at the
mercy of federal handouts.  Last year, Senator Domenici included extensive
federal incentives in his original energy bill, including loan guarantees
and power purchase agreements covering up to half the cost of building a new
plant, as well as clean air credits and federal lines of credit.  Despite
this, Standard & Poor's concluded:

"Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has found that an electric utility with
a nuclear exposure has weaker credit than one without and can expect to pay
more on the margin for credit.  Federal support of construction costs will
do little to change that reality. Therefore, were a utility to embark on a
new or expanded nuclear endeavor, Standard & Poor's would likely revisit its
rating on the utility."

Due to the lack of private investment, it is the inevitable that any new
nuclear construction will result in significant public cost to taxpayers.
Between 1950 and1998, the federal government spent 56% of the energy supply
research and development on nuclear energy, while only 11% was invested in
all renewable technologies.  If the federal government is going to spend any
money on energy, those dollars should be focused on clean and safe
technologies.

*Nuclear Energy is Too Dangerous:  Nuclear energy has never been safe, but
post 9-11 nuclear power plants and radioactive waste storage facilities y
have become terrorist targets as well.  Al-Qaeda operatives were surveying
nuclear power plants as potential terrorist targets; in the post 9-11 world
these risks are only elevated.  The National Academy of Sciences has raised
serious concerns about the safety of irradiated nuclear fuel storage
facilities from terrorist attacks in its report entitled "Safety and
Security of Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage."  Furthermore, protecting the fuel
from terrorists as it is moved to longer term storage facilities, if they
are ever built, will be nearly impossible.

Reactors in the U.S. are also deteriorating with age and inadequate
oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission provides further reason for
concern.  Just three years ago, for example, a nuclear reactor in Ohio came
within one-fifth of an inch of stainless steel from a rupture that would
have vented radioactive steam into the reactor's containment building and
could have led to a meltdown.

*Nuclear Power is Too Polluting: Beyond operating concerns remains the
unsolved and disturbing issue of waste disposal.  Some 95% of the
radioactivity ever generated in the US is contained in the nation's civilian
high-level atomic waste. Despite almost two decades of pushing to make Yucca
Mountain in Nevada the nation's high-level waste repository, it has not been
shown scientifically to be suitable to safely store the waste. The Yucca
Mountain project is further thrown into doubt by the recent revelations of
the falsification of scientific data by USGS scientists, as well as the
court ruling that found EPA's public health standards for the site to be
illegal. No country in the world has solved its nuclear waste problem. It
makes little sense to begin building new reactors when we don't know what to
do with the lethal waste from the ones we have.

*Using Nuclear Power to Address Climate Change Would Exacerbate the
Problems:

Major studies, such as those by MIT, agree that using nuclear power to have
any significant effect on climate change would require building at least
1,000 new reactors worldwide. This would exacerbate all of the problems of
the technology: more terrorist targets, more cost (potentially trillions of
dollars), less safety, need for a new Yucca Mountain-sized waste site every
4 or 5 years, more proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies,
dozens of new uranium enrichment plants, and even then, a severe shortage of
uranium even within this century--while displacing the resources needed to
ensure a real solution to the climate change issue.

*Conclusion:  We believe that the financial and safety risks associated with
nuclear power are so grave that nuclear power should not be a part of any
solution to address global warming.  There is no need to jeopardize our
health, safety and economy with increased nuclear power when we have
cleaner, cheaper solutions to reduce global warming pollution.

Signers to date:

National:  Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Clean Water Action,
Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Nuclear Information and Resource Service,
Public Citizen, Sierra Club, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG)

One possible, even probable future is rapidly rising energy prices this
year or very soon.  This encourages use of renewable energy.

Nan Hildreth 713-443-3104

Are you prepared for rising gasoline prices?

Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005
1-5 p.m.
First Unitarian Universalist Church
5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004

What is Peak Oil?

After growing for a century, global oil production will
peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil
will rise drastically changing our property values, food
prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part
of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the
next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).

Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts
Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.
The US government thinks the peak may be decades
from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005
or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is
until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary
film, The End of Suburbia.

This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,
shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of
suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and
shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue
forever. It will take more than a decade for the US
economy to adapt to declining oil production
according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a
February report to US Department of Energy.

For decades, movements have been growing that offer
wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,
alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local
food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston
representatives of these solution movements.

Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your
questions and ideas as we face the challenges of
transition and envision a future without cheap oil.

Schedule of Activities
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak
Oil
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia
2:35 - 3:15 p.m. Panel discussion
3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical
issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.

Panelists
Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA
Dan Barnum, architect and city planner
Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance
Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net
Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org
Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas
Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center
Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org

Sponsors
Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian
Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org
Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org
Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org
Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org
TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,
www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp

Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned
away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First
Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.
coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups

Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...
713 726-9009
Updates: www.ProgressiveActionAlliance.org

Nan Hildreth, Houston
713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
713-443-3104 cell
3939 Luca St.
Houston, Tx 77021

I've seen this Documentary earlier this year.  It was made in 2004 and I
would say it is the most informative, interesting and shocking documentary
of last year (and so far this year too).  After I saw it I purchased it on
DVD, while my mind was racing as I was trying to figure out how I had become
so uninformed.

  This film is a "Do Not Miss"

    Jacques


-----Original Message-----
From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Nan
Hildreth
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:36 PM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th


One possible, even probable future is rapidly rising energy prices this
year or very soon.  This encourages use of renewable energy.

Nan Hildreth 713-443-3104

Are you prepared for rising gasoline prices?

Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005
1-5 p.m.
First Unitarian Universalist Church
5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004

What is Peak Oil?

After growing for a century, global oil production will
peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil
will rise drastically changing our property values, food
prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part
of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the
next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).

Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts
Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.
The US government thinks the peak may be decades
from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005
or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is
until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary
film, The End of Suburbia.

This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,
shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of
suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and
shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue
forever. It will take more than a decade for the US
economy to adapt to declining oil production
according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a
February report to US Department of Energy.

For decades, movements have been growing that offer
wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,
alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local
food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston
representatives of these solution movements.

Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your
questions and ideas as we face the challenges of
transition and envision a future without cheap oil.

Schedule of Activities
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak
Oil
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia
2:35 - 3:15 p.m. Panel discussion
3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical
issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.

Panelists
Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA
Dan Barnum, architect and city planner
Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance
Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net
Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org
Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas
Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center
Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org

Sponsors
Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian
Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org
Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org
Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org
Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org
TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,
www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp

Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned
away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First
Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.
coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups

Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...
713 726-9009
Updates: www.ProgressiveActionAlliance.org

Nan Hildreth, Houston
713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
713-443-3104 cell
3939 Luca St.
Houston, Tx 77021






Yahoo! Groups Links

Thanks Jacques for raving about this topic.   Peak Oil is good news for
renewable fans.   Rising energy prices makes alternatives, like wind more
attractive.  Yes, much of electricity is natural gas, coal, but they say
that US natural gas has already peaked, explaining why the price has gone
up so recently.    Crisis=opportunity.

On your being uninformed, everyone is because folks assumed Saudi figures
on reserves were accurate and the peak wouldn't be for decades.   But
responsible folks passionately question their ability to keep us
supplied.    Matthew Simmons expects the peak in a year or two.   A
consultant hired to study how long it would take the economy to adjust
reported to  the Federal Government reported that it would take at least
ten years.

For folks that have already seen the movie, during it we offer a chance to
connect with like minds.  Bob Randall will give a presentation on food and
energy.   Brian Herod will facilitate our breaking up into interest
groups.   Dan Barnum and Robin Holzer will be there to tell about smart
growth and transportation issues.  Etc.  After the movie we'll have a panel
and then more conversations.

Nan Hildreth

At 07:59 PM 6/12/2005, Jacques Huard wrote:

>   I've seen this Documentary earlier this year.  It was made in 2004 and I
>would say it is the most informative, interesting and shocking documentary
>of last year (and so far this year too).  After I saw it I purchased it on
>DVD, while my mind was racing as I was trying to figure out how I had become
>so uninformed.
>
>  This film is a "Do Not Miss"
>
>    Jacques
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Nan
>Hildreth
>Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:36 PM
>To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th
>
>
>One possible, even probable future is rapidly rising energy prices this
>year or very soon.  This encourages use of renewable energy.
>
>Nan Hildreth 713-443-3104
>
>Are you prepared for rising gasoline prices?
>
>Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE
>SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005
>1-5 p.m.
>First Unitarian Universalist Church
>5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004
>
>What is Peak Oil?
>
>After growing for a century, global oil production will
>peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil
>will rise drastically changing our property values, food
>prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part
>of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the
>next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).
>
>Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts
>Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.
>The US government thinks the peak may be decades
>from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005
>or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is
>until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary
>film, The End of Suburbia.
>
>This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,
>shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of
>suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and
>shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue
>forever. It will take more than a decade for the US
>economy to adapt to declining oil production
>according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a
>February report to US Department of Energy.
>
>For decades, movements have been growing that offer
>wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,
>alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local
>food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston
>representatives of these solution movements.
>
>Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your
>questions and ideas as we face the challenges of
>transition and envision a future without cheap oil.
>
>Schedule of Activities
>1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak
>Oil
>1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia
>2:35 - 3:15 p.m. Panel discussion
>3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical
>issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.
>
>Panelists
>Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA
>Dan Barnum, architect and city planner
>Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance
>Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net
>Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org
>Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas
>Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center
>Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org
>
>Sponsors
>Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian
>Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org
>Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org
>Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church
>Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org
>Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org
>TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,
>www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp
>
>Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned
>away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First
>Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.
>coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups
>
>Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...
>713 726-9009
>Updates: www.ProgressiveActionAlliance.org
>
>Nan Hildreth, Houston
>713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
>713-443-3104 cell
>3939 Luca St.
>Houston, Tx 77021
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


Nan Hildreth, Houston
713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
713-443-3104 cell
3939 Luca St.
Houston, Tx 77021

----- Original Message -----

From: Jacques Huard

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 7:59 PM

Subject: RE: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th

  I've seen this Documentary earlier this year.  It was made in 2004 and I
would say it is the most informative, interesting and shocking documentary
of last year (and so far this year too).  After I saw it I purchased it on
DVD, while my mind was racing as I was trying to figure out how I had become
so uninformed.

This film is a "Do Not Miss"

   Jacques


-----Original Message-----
From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Nan
Hildreth
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:36 PM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th


One possible, even probable future is rapidly rising energy prices this
year or very soon.  This encourages use of renewable energy.

Nan Hildreth 713-443-3104

Are you prepared for rising gasoline prices?

Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE
SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005
1-5 p.m.
First Unitarian Universalist Church
5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004

What is Peak Oil?

After growing for a century, global oil production will
peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil
will rise drastically changing our property values, food
prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part
of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the
next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).

Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts
Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.
The US government thinks the peak may be decades
from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005
or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is
until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary
film, The End of Suburbia.

This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,
shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of
suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and
shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue
forever. It will take more than a decade for the US
economy to adapt to declining oil production
according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a
February report to US Department of Energy.

For decades, movements have been growing that offer
wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,
alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local
food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston
representatives of these solution movements.

Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your
questions and ideas as we face the challenges of
transition and envision a future without cheap oil.

Schedule of Activities
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak
Oil
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia
2:35 - 3:15 p.m. Panel discussion
3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical
issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.

Panelists
Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA
Dan Barnum, architect and city planner
Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance
Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net
Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org
Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas
Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center
Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org

Sponsors
Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian
Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org
Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org
Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church
Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org
Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org
TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,
www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp

Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned
away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First
Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.
coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups

Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...
713 726-9009
Updates: www.ProgressiveActionAlliance.org

Nan Hildreth, Houston
713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...
713-443-3104 cell
3939 Luca St.
Houston, Tx 77021






Yahoo! Groups Links

What is the title of this Documentary, and from where can one obtain this DVD?
 
Bashir A. Syed
Vice-President, R&D
EnerTech Enterprises, Inc.
1120 NASA Parkway, Suy=uite 220W
Houston, TX 77058
Bus. 281-333-9889/Direct: 281-286-3726.
P.S. I will be out of the U.S. till August 8th, 2005, attending Inter Solar, Freiberg, Germany, and other International Consulting.

----- Original Message -----

From: Jacques Huard

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 7:59 PM

Subject: RE: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th

  I've seen this Documentary earlier this year.  It was made in 2004 and I

would say it is the most informative, interesting and shocking documentary

of last year (and so far this year too).  After I saw it I purchased it on

DVD, while my mind was racing as I was trying to figure out how I had become

so uninformed.

This film is a "Do Not Miss"

   Jacques

-----Original Message-----

From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Nan

Hildreth

Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:36 PM

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [hreg] Peak Oil Conference July 9th

One possible, even probable future is rapidly rising energy prices this

year or very soon.  This encourages use of renewable energy.

Nan Hildreth 713-443-3104

Are you prepared for rising gasoline prices?

Peak Oil MINI CONFERENCE

SATURDAY, JULY 9, 2005

1-5 p.m.

First Unitarian Universalist Church

5200 Fannin Street @ Southmore, Houston, Texas 77004

What is Peak Oil?

After growing for a century, global oil production will

peak soon and begin to decline. Then the price of oil

will rise drastically changing our property values, food

prices, and our economy. "Cheap oil is now just part

of history. Expect $5.00 a gallon gasoline within the

next few years" said Time magazine (5/9/05).

Peak oil will be between 2007 and 2009 forecasts

Houston oil investment banker, Matthew Simmons.

The US government thinks the peak may be decades

from now. Other experts predict the peak in late 2005

or 2007. We'll never agree about when the peak is

until it's well behind us say experts in the documentary

film, The End of Suburbia.

This movie, to be shown at the mini conference,

shows how the aftermath of peak oil will be the end of

suburbia. When we built the suburbs far from work and

shopping, we assumed that cheap oil would continue

forever. It will take more than a decade for the US

economy to adapt to declining oil production

according to energy analyst Robert L. Hirsch in a

February report to US Department of Energy.

For decades, movements have been growing that offer

wise responses to peak oil: energy efficiency,

alternative energy, sustainability, organic and local

food, and smart growth. Come meet Houston

representatives of these solution movements.

Are you ready for rising energy prices? Bring your

questions and ideas as we face the challenges of

transition and envision a future without cheap oil.

Schedule of Activities

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Workshops on how to prepare for the changes caused by Peak

Oil

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Screening of The End of Suburbia

2:35 - 3:15 p.m. Panel discussion

3:15 - 5:00 p.m. Open Space Technology - When attendees identify critical

issues, learn from each other, & find solutions.

Panelists

Reginald Adams, Sierra Club BEC campaign & Pres. of LARA

Dan Barnum, architect and city planner

Bill Crosier, Progressive Action Alliance

Brian Herod, www.HoustonSustainability.net

Robin Holzer, www.citizenstransportation coalition.org

Alfred Molison, Co-Chair of Green Party of Texas

Juan Parras,,TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center

Dr. Bob Randall, Urban Harvest, www.UrbanHarvest.org

Sponsors

Community Involvement Committee of First Unitarian

Universalist Church, www.firstuu.org

Green Party of Texas, www.txgreens.org

Green Sanctuary, First Unitarian Universalist Church

Harris County Green Party, www.harriscountygreenparty.org

Progressive Action Alliance, http://progressiveactionalliance.org

TSU Environmental Law & Justice Center,

www.tsu.edu/academics/law/clinics/clinics/environment.asp

Donation of $5.00 is suggested, but no one will be turned

away. Funds in excess of expenses will be given to First

Unitarian Universalist Church for the use of the facility.

coming soon to gas stations near you... $100.00 Fill-ups

Contact: Don Cook 713 705 5594 or Alfred Molison, AlfredM123@...

713 726-9009

Updates: www.ProgressiveActionAlliance.org

Nan Hildreth, Houston

713-842-6643   NanHildreth@...

713-443-3104 cell

3939 Luca St.

Houston, Tx 77021

Yahoo! Groups Links

---

Yahoo! Groups Links

• To visit your group on the web, go to:
• http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hreg/
•  
• To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
• hreg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
•  
• Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

----- Original Message -----

From: LaVerne Williams

To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;

Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2005 9:09 PM

Subject: [hreg] Funding for NPR  

 

Subject: funding for NPR  

On NPR's Morning Edition, Nina Tottenberg announced that if the Supreme Court supports Congress, it will, in effect, be the end of the National Public Radio (NPR), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS). PBS, NPR and the arts are facing major cutbacks in funding. In spite of the efforts of each station to reduce spending costs and streamline their services, some government officials believe that the funding currently going to these programs is too large a portion of funding for something which is seen as not worthwhile.
 
This is for anyone  who thinks NPR/PBS is a worthwhile expenditure of $1.12/year of their taxes. The only way that our representatives can be aware of the base of support for PBS and funding for these types of programs is by making
our voices heard. Please add your name to this list and forward it to friends who believe in what this stands for. This list will be forwarded to the President and the Vice President of the United States. This petition is being passed around the Internet. Please add your name to it so that funding can be maintained for NPR, PBS, and the NEA.
 
HOW TO SIGN: IT'S EASY:
First SELECT all of the text in this message, then COPY and PASTE it into a new email (DO NOT FORWARD). ADD your name to the bottom of the list and SEND it to everyone in your list.
 
DON'T WORRY ABOUT DUPLICATES.  
This is being sent to several people at once to add their names to the petition. It won't matter if many people receive the same list as THE NAMES ARE BEING MANAGED. If you decide not to sign, please don't kill it. Send it to the email address listed here: wein2688@...  
If you happen to be the 150th, 200th, 250th, etc., signer of this petition, please, forward a copy to the above address. This way we can keep track of the lists and organize them. Send this to everyone you know, and help us to keep these
programs alive. Thank you!


Judith Ruderman
Vice Provost for Academic and Administrative Services
220 Allen, Box 90005, Duke University
(919) 684-3296 (phone) (919) 684-4421 (fax)

1401 Ian Brister, NewYork, NY 10011
1402 John Cardoni NYC, NY 10009
1403 Rob Jackson Westport, CT 06880
1404 Donna Jackson Westport, CT 06880
1405 John R. Finegan, Weston, CT 06883
1404 Valerie FineganWeston, CT 06883
1405 Roni Zimmer Ridgefield, CT 06877
1406 Marki Knopp, Telluride, CO 81435
1407 Julie Houck, Telluride, CO 81435
1408 Joanne Losse, Mount Holly, NJ 08060
1409 Sue Shilling, North Wales, PA 19454
1410 Joan Violante, Lansdale, PA 19446
1411 Mary JoCoblentz, Richland, WA 99352
1412 Katherine Hardy, Bellingham, WA 98225
1413 John T. HardyBellingham, WA 98225
1414 Rotha L. Miles, Bellingham, WA 98226
1415 John C. Miles, Bellingham, WA 98226
1416 Brad Tuininga, Bellingham, WA 98225
1417 Adam Lorio, Bellingham, WA 98225
1418 ReneeTommila, Portland, OR 97217   
1419 Kristin Anderson, Bellingham, WA 98225
1420 Jill Cermele, MountainLakes, NJ 07046
1421 Robert Cermele, NewYork, NY 10021
1422 Nancy Atlas, New York, NY10021
1423 Joseph Newirth, NewYork, NY 10022
1424 Beth Dorfman, Rego Park, NY 11374
1425 Jenny Putnam,Brooklyn, NY 11220
1426 Amy Rosenthal, Brooklyn, NY 11217
1427 Amy Menell, Boulder, CO 80302
1428 Sharon Breslau, Bearsville, NY 12409
1429 Chuck Cornelis, Bearsville, NY 12409
1430 Joyce Culver,NewYork, NY 10025
1431 Susan Dooley, MillerPlace, NY 11764
1432 Stella Russell, Hilton Head, SC 29928
1433 Arthur L. Friedman,Rego Park, NY 11374
1444 Tracey Simon, Oceanside, NY
1157 1445 Jessica Ley, Locust Valley, NY 11560
1446 Suzanne Ponzini, Port Washington, NY 11050
1447 Jackie Kelly, Port Washington, NY 11050
1448 Jonathan Fields, NewYork, NY 10022
1449 Betsy Davis, Kendall Park, NJ 08824
1450 Catherine Nash, Rowayton, CT 06853
1451 Shaun Jackson, Rowayton, CT 06853
1452 Marti Grubb, Berkeley, CA
1453 Betsy Cotton , Berkeley, CA 94705
1454 Alison Dilworth, Philadelphia, PA 19147
1455 patti Dilworth, NewYork, NY 10002
1456 Steve Osman
1457 John Gonnella
1458 Carol Gonnella
1459 Baldo Lucaroni
1460 Indi Lucaroni
1461 Edward Lucaroni
1462 C. S. White, Ketchum, ID 83340
1463 Rebekah Sullivan
1464 Jim Mindling, Weston, CT 06883
1465 Diana Heisinger, Weston, CT 06883
1466 Nancy Eisenbud, Golden, Colorado 80401
1467 Marina Poling, Fort Collins, CO 80525
1468 Deborah Davis, Fort Collins, CO 80521
1469 Selene, Lafayette, CO 80026
1470 Twinkle Saltzman, Boulder,CO 80301
1471 Carol Kenney, Marblehead,MA 01945
1472 blaine ellis san francisco,ca
1473 ellen koment santafe NM
1474 Mario Quilles, Santa FeNM
1475 Christine Jager, Greenbrae, CA
1476 Bryan Hendon, San Anselmo, CA
1477 Michael C. Borse, Petaluma, CA
1478 Richard A. Moeller, Petaluma, CA
1479 Arthur F. Schanche, MD, Los Angeles, CA 90068   
1480 Constance Moffatt, Culver City, CA 90232
1481 Danita Fleck, San Jose, CA
1482 Terry Thompson, Milpitas, CA 95035
1483 Steven Sicular, S. San Francisco, CA 94080
1484 Nancy Reynolds, 539Edgecliff Way, Redwood City, CA 94062
1485Laurel Nomura, 6194 Blossom Ave,San Jose, CA 95123
1486 Ken Davis, 1911Tweed Place, Anacortes, WA 98221
1487 Nigel Llewellyn-Smith, 2687 W 29th Ave, Eugene, OR 97405
1488 Ken Murchison, 1006 Jennifers Meadows Ct, Danville, CA 94506
1489 Nicole Barbounis, 959 Padua Way, Livermore, CA 94550
1490 Maria Pavlick-Larsen, San Jose, CA 95126
1491 David Middleton Hayward, CA 94541
1492 Anne Mueller, Portland, OR 97218
1493 Lee Howard, Portland, OR 97214
1494 Janice Howard, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
1495 Terry Fontenot, Louisville, KY 40205
1496 Nancy Fontenot, Louisville, KY 40205
1497 Gisela De Domenico, Oakland, CA 94602
1498 Lorin Alder, Lincoln, VT 05443
1499 kerrie boodt, tempe, AZ 85281
1500 Lauren Manning, OH 45227
1501 Colin Taylor, OH 44321
1502 Claire Smither, KY 40206
1503 Bob Smither, Jr. KY 40206
1504 Cindy Plappert, KY 40204
1505 Alan Plappert, KY 40204
1506 Lindsey Ronay,KY 40205
1507 Norma Gaskey, KY 40220
1508 Robert Lawrence, KY 40205
1509 Gail Bonnell, KY 40202
1510 Donna Edgar, KY 40241
1511 Donna Woods, KY 40204
1512 Judy Atwood, Woodstock, NY 12498
1513 Jan Bernhardt,Bearsville, NY 12409
1514  Ronnie Shushan, Woodstock, NY 12498
1515 Carola Polakov, New York,NY 10030
1516 Olivia Polakov Joseph New York, NY 10029
1517 Samantha Stone, New York, NY 10031
1518 Kenneth Cifone, New York, NY 10031
1519 Camilo Marquez, Phoenicia, NY 12464
1520 Renelda Higgins Walker, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603
1521 Sherry Gauldin, Philadelphia, PA 19143
1522 Emily Ramsey-North, Philadelphia, PA 19146
1523 Christine M. Ramsey, Narberth, Pa.
1524 Ralph Walin, Chicago, IL 60660
1525 Julia M. Davis, Iowa City, IA 52245   
1526 Tom Clayton St, Paul, MN 55104
1527 F. R. P. Akehurst, Eden Prairie, MN 55346
1528 Daniel Brewer, Golden Valley, MN  55422
1529 Anne E. Carayon, Minneapolis, MN
1530 Debra L. Cohen, Minneapolis, MN
1531 Karen E. Pieper, Minneapolis, MN 55409
1532 Thomas E. Pieper, Minneapolis, MN  55409
1533 Charles E. Pieper, Minneapolis, MN 55409
1534 Frances X. Durkin Minneapolis, MN 55419
1535 Alison Constant, Minneapolis, MN 55407
1536 Caroline Constant, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
1537 Julia Czerniak, Syracuse, NY 13210
1538 Linda Pollak, New York NY 10013
1539 Sandro Marpillero, New York NY 10013
1540 Giuseppe Lignano, New York, NY 10011
1541 Alice Weiner, New York, NY 10014
1542 Jack A. Massing, Houston, Texas 77009  
1543  Tom Warren, Woodside, NY  11377
1544 Barbara A. Jones, Houston, Texas, 77081
1545 Jim Ohmart, Houston, Texas, 77020
1546 Laurel Smith, Houston, Texas 77098
1547 Suzy Fischer, Houston, Texas 77019

1548 Gary Edmondson, Houston, Texas 77035

1549 LaVerne Williams, Houston, TX 77092

 

--
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Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.1 - Release Date: 6/13/2005

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Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.3/15 - Release Date: 6/14/2005

[]

[]


A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>www.eere.energy.gov/news/


June 15, 2005




News and Events

     * 18 Student Teams to Participate in DOE's Second Solar Decathlon
     * Energy Secretary Bodman Visits "Net-Zero Energy Home" Near Denver
     * USDA awards $4.4 Million for Woody Biomass Projects
     * New Tax Credit Sparks First Biodiesel Plant in Oklahoma
     * University of Waterloo wins First Year of Challenge X
     * Report on Bat Mortality at Wind Plants Yields New Insights


Site News

     * DOE Launches New State Portal for Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Energy Connections

     * DOE: Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be Full in August
[]



News and Events




18 Student Teams to Participate in DOE's Second Solar Decathlon

DOE announced last week that 18 teams from colleges and universities in the
United States, Canada, and Spain will participate in the second Solar
Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C. The event runs from October 7th
through the 16th and requires each Solar Decathlon team to build and
operate an energy-efficient solar-powered home on the National Mall,
forming a temporary "solar village." As the name suggests, each Solar
Decathlon team will compete in 10 contests that will judge architecture,
livability, comfort, and power generation for heating and cooling, water
heating, and powering lights and appliances, including an electric car. The
event, which is open to the public, will feature cutting-edge architecture,
engineering, and technology that could be applied in homes today, allowing
them to generate their own energy, not simply consume it.
[]

Photo of three team members on scaffolding and the roof of a sm


The University of Puerto Rico team installs solar electric panels on the
roof of its house during the
2002 Solar Decathlon.
Credit: NREL

For the past two years, the 18 teams have worked on the design, research,
and testing necessary to construct and power these homes. Fifteen teams are
representing colleges and universities in 13 states: California, Colorado,
Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The remaining
three teams are from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico; Montreal, Quebec;
and Madrid, Spain. Because of time constraints, the teams partially build
their entries on or near their campuses and then ship the entries to
Washington, D.C.­a necessity that creates special challenges for the teams
from the West, Puerto Rico, and Spain. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18032&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is sponsoring the
Solar Decathlon, along with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the
American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home
Builders, BP, the DIY Network, and Sprint. The first-ever Solar Decathlon
in 2002 featured examples of ingenuity such as homes with translucent walls
that provided light and insulation, solar-heated fluid that flowed under
floors to provide warmth, and fiber optic cables that transmitted light
from solar collectors into a home. This year's competition will once again
employ a wide-range of innovative technologies to demonstrate the
tremendous possibility of solar power and other renewable energy sources.
To learn more about the teams, the 10 contests, and the event in general,
see the <http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/>Solar Decathlon Web site.


Energy Secretary Bodman Visits "Net-Zero Energy Home" Near Denver

[]


Energy Secretary Bodman, wearing a hard hat, applies caulk to t


Energy Secretary Bodman lends a hand at the Habitat for Humanity house as
NREL's Paul Torcellini looks on.
Credit: Jack Dempsey, NREL

Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman visited Habitat for Humanity's first
"true net-zero energy home" in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, on Monday. The
home, which is currently under construction, will be super-insulated, very
tightly constructed, and designed for passive solar gain to reduce heating
loads. In addition, a heat-recovery ventilation system will assure indoor
air quality while recovering ventilation air thermal energy. To meet its
energy needs, the home will be equipped with a solar water heating system
and a grid-connected 4-kilowatt solar power system, sized to produce excess
energy in the summer to balance out winter consumption, leading to net zero
annual energy consumption.

"The Habitat for Humanity Zero Energy Home is a glimpse into the future of
home construction in America," said Secretary Bodman. "Inefficient
buildings and homes waste a tremendous amount of energy. Home energy
efficiency can save families money by reducing energy consumption."

Habitat for Humanity is building the "true net-zero energy" home with
technical assistance from DOE's Building America Program and National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. Habitat plans to adopt many of the techniques
used in this home into its standard construction practices. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18041&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release and the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/>Building America
Web site.


USDA awards $4.4 Million for Woody Biomass Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in early June that it
has selected 20 small enterprises to receive a total of $4.4 million to
develop innovative uses of woody biomass as a source of biomass energy and
new products. The projects will draw on tree parts and scrub removed from
national forests as part of forest thinning activities for ecological
restoration and hazardous fuel reduction. The projects will be carried out
in nine western states, as well as Louisiana, Minnesota, and South
Carolina. See the <http://www.usda.gov/2005/06/0195.xml>USDA press release.


New Tax Credit Sparks First Biodiesel Plant in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed into law last week a bill that will
provide tax credits for the production of biodiesel within the state,
creating an incentive that has already spurred construction of the state's
first biodiesel facility. House Bill 1398 will provide a tax credit of 20
cents per gallon of biodiesel for the first five years of production, up to
$5 million per year. It applies to new and expanded facilities producing at
least 25 percent of their capacity. Biodiesel plants placed into production
after 2012 will earn a smaller tax credit: 7.5 cents per gallon for the
first three years of production, capped at $750,000 per year. The bill's
passage in the legislature led Apollo Resources Inc. to announce that its
subsidiary, Earth Biofuels, had completed the purchase of four acres of
land in Durant for construction of a biodiesel refinery that will produce
10 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Construction will begin
immediately, and the plant could start producing biodiesel in October. See
<http://www.apolloresources.com/NewsDetail.asp?newsid=35>Apollo Resources
press release and House Bill 1398
(<http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/50th/2005/1R/HB/1398.pdf>PDF
698 KB). <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download
Adobe Reader.

Biodiesel is already firmly rooted in Iowa, but the state will gain another
biodiesel plant if Cargill's newly announced plans come to fruition. The
company plans to build a plant in Iowa Falls capable of producing 37.5
million gallons of biodiesel per year. The plant will initially draw on
soybean oil but could eventually accept animal fat or waste grease as its
biodiesel source. If approved, construction will begin this summer, and
biodiesel production will start in April 2006. See the
<http://www.cargill.com/news/news_releases/050608_biodiesel.htm>Cargill
press release.

According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), U.S. biodiesel plants can
currently produce 110 million gallons of biodiesel per year, but idled
chemical industry facilities could potentially double U.S. biodiesel
production; these facilities are increasingly contributing to U.S.
biodiesel supplies. Meanwhile, the NBB estimates that dedicated biodiesel
production capacity could double within the next year. See the NBB Fact
Sheet, "U.S. Biodiesel Production Capacity"
(<http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/Production%20Capacity_Updated_May2005.pdf>P\
DF
68 KB).


University of Waterloo wins First Year of Challenge X

The University of Waterloo is the winner of the first-year competition for
"Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainability," a three-year contest to
reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox with the goal of improving fuel economy and
reducing emissions while maintaining performance and safety. Challenge X
closely mirrors real-world automotive engineering processes, so the first
year of the competition, which concluded last week, emphasized vehicle
simulation, powertrain testing, and the engineering trade-offs that occur
in the early stages of vehicle design. The Waterloo team's winning
propulsion system design combines a fuel cell with a nickel-metal hydride
battery. The University of Akron took second place with a parallel hybrid
design that pairs an electric motor with a biodiesel-fueled Volkswagen
diesel engine, and Ohio State University came in third with a similar
design based on a Fiat diesel engine.

DOE and the General Motors Corporation (GM) are the lead sponsors for
Challenge X, in which 17 teams of North American engineering students are
participating. Because all of the teams met the minimum requirements for
last week's design competition, each team was handed the keys to a new 2005
Chevrolet Equinox. The teams will spend the next two years converting the
vehicles to match their design plans. See the
<http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/g\
mnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=15673>GM
press release and see the complete first-year results on the Challenge X
Web site.


Report on Bat Mortality at Wind Plants Yields New Insights

The Bat and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) released its 2004 report on bat
interactions with wind turbines last week. The peer-reviewed study involved
daily and weekly searches for bat carcasses at wind power sites in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia from July 31st to September 13th of 2004. In
addition, thermal imaging cameras were used to study bat, bird, and insect
activity at the West Virginia site for most of August.

The study found a total of 765 dead bats at the two sites, but estimated
the total number of bat fatalities at between 1,764 and 2,900 for the
six-week period. None of the bat species found are listed as threatened or
endangered. The study found that most of the bats were killed on low-wind
nights, when power production was minimal but the blades were turning near
their maximum speed. Bat fatalities increased just before and after the
passage of storm fronts, and bat activity was highest in the first two
hours after sunset. The presence or absence of aircraft warning beacons on
the wind turbines did not affect the results. The researchers recommended
that future studies be conducted over the entire season of bat movement and
activity, namely April through October, to further study these correlations
and to help determine "high-risk" times that may be used to mitigate the
impacts of wind turbines on bat populations.

BWEC was formed in late 2003 by the American Wind Energy Association, Bat
Conservation International, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Based on the 2004 findings, the BWEC
scientists recommended studying the effects of "feathering" wind turbines
during low winds to cut their speeds, but no wind project owner has been
willing to conduct such experiments. The BWEC also plans to test the
reliability of acoustic detectors at wind power sites and to evaluate the
potential for using alerting or deterring devices at wind power sites. See
the full report, a summary of findings from the report, and a joint BWEC
statement on the report on the
<http://www.batcon.org/wind/research.html>BWEC Web site.
[]



Site News




<http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/>DOE Launches New State Portal for
Efficiency and Renewable Energy

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has opened a
new portal to Web-based state information. Called "EERE State Activities &
Partnerships," the new Web site organizes links to hundreds of
state-specific Web pages published by EERE and its technology development
programs, including such information as DOE grants to the states, resource
maps, project databases, and contacts. The new portal also includes the
latest state energy news, publications, and statistics. See the new
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/>EERE State Activities & Partnerships
Web site.


Energy Connections




DOE: Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be Full in August

DOE announced last week that the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)
will be full by August, when it reaches 700 million barrels of oil.
President Bush ordered the fill in November 2001 as a means to strengthen
the nation's energy security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Since then, DOE has continuously added oil to the SPR, except when
deliveries were deferred due to an oil workers' strike in Venezuela and
when Hurricane Ivan disrupted the oil supply last fall. When the fill is
complete, the President's decision will have added approximately 159
million barrels of crude oil to the nation's emergency stockpile. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18039&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASE\
S&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

Established in the aftermath of the early 70s oil embargo, the SPR is the
world's largest inventory of emergency crude oil. The oil is stored in deep
underground caverns in salt formations along the Gulf Coast of Texas and
Louisiana, and in the event of a severe oil supply disruption, the SPR can
be called upon to protect U.S. residents from economic harm and to provide
fuel for national defense. For more information, see the
"<http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/reserves/index.html>Petroleum Reserves"
page of the DOE Fossil Energy Web site.

According to the latest "Short-Term Energy Outlook," published by DOE's
Energy Information Administration, the price of crude oil is expected to
average $53 per barrel for the third quarter of 2005, which places the
value of the SPR at about $37 billion. See the
"<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html>Short-Term Energy
Outlook."

This newsletter is funded by DOE's <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>EERE news page. You can
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/about.cfm>subscribe to the EERE Network
News using our simple online form, and you can also
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/changes.cfm>update your email address or
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/unsubscribe.cfm>unsubscribe online.

If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/editor.cfm>contact the editor.
[]

You are currently subscribed as: tomgray@...

----- Original Message -----

From: EERE Network News (by way of Tom Gray <tomgray@...>)

To: tomgray@...

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 8:40 AM

Subject: [hreg] EERE Network News -- 06/15/05

[]

[]


A weekly newsletter from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE)
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy (EERE). The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at:
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>www.eere.energy.gov/news/


June 15, 2005




News and Events

    * 18 Student Teams to Participate in DOE's Second Solar Decathlon
    * Energy Secretary Bodman Visits "Net-Zero Energy Home" Near Denver
    * USDA awards $4.4 Million for Woody Biomass Projects
    * New Tax Credit Sparks First Biodiesel Plant in Oklahoma
    * University of Waterloo wins First Year of Challenge X
    * Report on Bat Mortality at Wind Plants Yields New Insights


Site News

    * DOE Launches New State Portal for Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Energy Connections

    * DOE: Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be Full in August
[]



News and Events




18 Student Teams to Participate in DOE's Second Solar Decathlon

DOE announced last week that 18 teams from colleges and universities in the
United States, Canada, and Spain will participate in the second Solar
Decathlon competition in Washington, D.C. The event runs from October 7th
through the 16th and requires each Solar Decathlon team to build and
operate an energy-efficient solar-powered home on the National Mall,
forming a temporary "solar village." As the name suggests, each Solar
Decathlon team will compete in 10 contests that will judge architecture,
livability, comfort, and power generation for heating and cooling, water
heating, and powering lights and appliances, including an electric car. The
event, which is open to the public, will feature cutting-edge architecture,
engineering, and technology that could be applied in homes today, allowing
them to generate their own energy, not simply consume it.
[]

Photo of three team members on scaffolding and the roof of a sm


The University of Puerto Rico team installs solar electric panels on the
roof of its house during the
2002 Solar Decathlon.
Credit: NREL

For the past two years, the 18 teams have worked on the design, research,
and testing necessary to construct and power these homes. Fifteen teams are
representing colleges and universities in 13 states: California, Colorado,
Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. The remaining
three teams are from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico; Montreal, Quebec;
and Madrid, Spain. Because of time constraints, the teams partially build
their entries on or near their campuses and then ship the entries to
Washington, D.C.­a necessity that creates special challenges for the teams
from the West, Puerto Rico, and Spain. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18032&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is sponsoring the
Solar Decathlon, along with DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the
American Institute of Architects, the National Association of Home
Builders, BP, the DIY Network, and Sprint. The first-ever Solar Decathlon
in 2002 featured examples of ingenuity such as homes with translucent walls
that provided light and insulation, solar-heated fluid that flowed under
floors to provide warmth, and fiber optic cables that transmitted light
from solar collectors into a home. This year's competition will once again
employ a wide-range of innovative technologies to demonstrate the
tremendous possibility of solar power and other renewable energy sources.
To learn more about the teams, the 10 contests, and the event in general,
see the <http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/>Solar Decathlon Web site.


Energy Secretary Bodman Visits "Net-Zero Energy Home" Near Denver

[]


Energy Secretary Bodman, wearing a hard hat, applies caulk to t


Energy Secretary Bodman lends a hand at the Habitat for Humanity house as
NREL's Paul Torcellini looks on.
Credit: Jack Dempsey, NREL

Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman visited Habitat for Humanity's first
"true net-zero energy home" in a suburb of Denver, Colorado, on Monday. The
home, which is currently under construction, will be super-insulated, very
tightly constructed, and designed for passive solar gain to reduce heating
loads. In addition, a heat-recovery ventilation system will assure indoor
air quality while recovering ventilation air thermal energy. To meet its
energy needs, the home will be equipped with a solar water heating system
and a grid-connected 4-kilowatt solar power system, sized to produce excess
energy in the summer to balance out winter consumption, leading to net zero
annual energy consumption.

"The Habitat for Humanity Zero Energy Home is a glimpse into the future of
home construction in America," said Secretary Bodman. "Inefficient
buildings and homes waste a tremendous amount of energy. Home energy
efficiency can save families money by reducing energy consumption."

Habitat for Humanity is building the "true net-zero energy" home with
technical assistance from DOE's Building America Program and National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. Habitat plans to adopt many of the techniques
used in this home into its standard construction practices. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18041&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release and the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america/>Building America
Web site.


USDA awards $4.4 Million for Woody Biomass Projects

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in early June that it
has selected 20 small enterprises to receive a total of $4.4 million to
develop innovative uses of woody biomass as a source of biomass energy and
new products. The projects will draw on tree parts and scrub removed from
national forests as part of forest thinning activities for ecological
restoration and hazardous fuel reduction. The projects will be carried out
in nine western states, as well as Louisiana, Minnesota, and South
Carolina. See the <http://www.usda.gov/2005/06/0195.xml>USDA press release.


New Tax Credit Sparks First Biodiesel Plant in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed into law last week a bill that will
provide tax credits for the production of biodiesel within the state,
creating an incentive that has already spurred construction of the state's
first biodiesel facility. House Bill 1398 will provide a tax credit of 20
cents per gallon of biodiesel for the first five years of production, up to
$5 million per year. It applies to new and expanded facilities producing at
least 25 percent of their capacity. Biodiesel plants placed into production
after 2012 will earn a smaller tax credit: 7.5 cents per gallon for the
first three years of production, capped at $750,000 per year. The bill's
passage in the legislature led Apollo Resources Inc. to announce that its
subsidiary, Earth Biofuels, had completed the purchase of four acres of
land in Durant for construction of a biodiesel refinery that will produce
10 million gallons of biodiesel per year. Construction will begin
immediately, and the plant could start producing biodiesel in October. See
<http://www.apolloresources.com/NewsDetail.asp?newsid=35>Apollo Resources
press release and House Bill 1398
(<http://www.sos.state.ok.us/documents/Legislation/50th/2005/1R/HB/1398.pdf>PDF
698 KB). <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/alternate.html>Download
Adobe Reader.

Biodiesel is already firmly rooted in Iowa, but the state will gain another
biodiesel plant if Cargill's newly announced plans come to fruition. The
company plans to build a plant in Iowa Falls capable of producing 37.5
million gallons of biodiesel per year. The plant will initially draw on
soybean oil but could eventually accept animal fat or waste grease as its
biodiesel source. If approved, construction will begin this summer, and
biodiesel production will start in April 2006. See the
<http://www.cargill.com/news/news_releases/050608_biodiesel.htm>Cargill
press release.

According to the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), U.S. biodiesel plants can
currently produce 110 million gallons of biodiesel per year, but idled
chemical industry facilities could potentially double U.S. biodiesel
production; these facilities are increasingly contributing to U.S.
biodiesel supplies. Meanwhile, the NBB estimates that dedicated biodiesel
production capacity could double within the next year. See the NBB Fact
Sheet, "U.S. Biodiesel Production Capacity"
(<http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/Production%20Capacity_Updated_May2005.pdf>PDF
68 KB).


University of Waterloo wins First Year of Challenge X

The University of Waterloo is the winner of the first-year competition for
"Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainability," a three-year contest to
reengineer a Chevrolet Equinox with the goal of improving fuel economy and
reducing emissions while maintaining performance and safety. Challenge X
closely mirrors real-world automotive engineering processes, so the first
year of the competition, which concluded last week, emphasized vehicle
simulation, powertrain testing, and the engineering trade-offs that occur
in the early stages of vehicle design. The Waterloo team's winning
propulsion system design combines a fuel cell with a nickel-metal hydride
battery. The University of Akron took second place with a parallel hybrid
design that pairs an electric motor with a biodiesel-fueled Volkswagen
diesel engine, and Ohio State University came in third with a similar
design based on a Fiat diesel engine.

DOE and the General Motors Corporation (GM) are the lead sponsors for
Challenge X, in which 17 teams of North American engineering students are
participating. Because all of the teams met the minimum requirements for
last week's design competition, each team was handed the keys to a new 2005
Chevrolet Equinox. The teams will spend the next two years converting the
vehicles to match their design plans. See the
<http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=74&docid=15673>GM
press release and see the complete first-year results on the Challenge X
Web site.


Report on Bat Mortality at Wind Plants Yields New Insights

The Bat and Wind Energy Cooperative (BWEC) released its 2004 report on bat
interactions with wind turbines last week. The peer-reviewed study involved
daily and weekly searches for bat carcasses at wind power sites in
Pennsylvania and West Virginia from July 31st to September 13th of 2004. In
addition, thermal imaging cameras were used to study bat, bird, and insect
activity at the West Virginia site for most of August.

The study found a total of 765 dead bats at the two sites, but estimated
the total number of bat fatalities at between 1,764 and 2,900 for the
six-week period. None of the bat species found are listed as threatened or
endangered. The study found that most of the bats were killed on low-wind
nights, when power production was minimal but the blades were turning near
their maximum speed. Bat fatalities increased just before and after the
passage of storm fronts, and bat activity was highest in the first two
hours after sunset. The presence or absence of aircraft warning beacons on
the wind turbines did not affect the results. The researchers recommended
that future studies be conducted over the entire season of bat movement and
activity, namely April through October, to further study these correlations
and to help determine "high-risk" times that may be used to mitigate the
impacts of wind turbines on bat populations.

BWEC was formed in late 2003 by the American Wind Energy Association, Bat
Conservation International, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Based on the 2004 findings, the BWEC
scientists recommended studying the effects of "feathering" wind turbines
during low winds to cut their speeds, but no wind project owner has been
willing to conduct such experiments. The BWEC also plans to test the
reliability of acoustic detectors at wind power sites and to evaluate the
potential for using alerting or deterring devices at wind power sites. See
the full report, a summary of findings from the report, and a joint BWEC
statement on the report on the
<http://www.batcon.org/wind/research.html>BWEC Web site.
[]



Site News




<http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/>DOE Launches New State Portal for
Efficiency and Renewable Energy

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has opened a
new portal to Web-based state information. Called "EERE State Activities &
Partnerships," the new Web site organizes links to hundreds of
state-specific Web pages published by EERE and its technology development
programs, including such information as DOE grants to the states, resource
maps, project databases, and contacts. The new portal also includes the
latest state energy news, publications, and statistics. See the new
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/states/>EERE State Activities & Partnerships
Web site.


Energy Connections




DOE: Strategic Petroleum Reserve will be Full in August

DOE announced last week that the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)
will be full by August, when it reaches 700 million barrels of oil.
President Bush ordered the fill in November 2001 as a means to strengthen
the nation's energy security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Since then, DOE has continuously added oil to the SPR, except when
deliveries were deferred due to an oil workers' strike in Venezuela and
when Hurricane Ivan disrupted the oil supply last fall. When the fill is
complete, the President's decision will have added approximately 159
million barrels of crude oil to the nation's emergency stockpile. See the
<http://www.energy.gov/engine/content.do?PUBLIC_ID=18039&BT_CODE=PR_PRESSRELEASES&TT_CODE=PRESSRELEASE>DOE
press release.

Established in the aftermath of the early 70s oil embargo, the SPR is the
world's largest inventory of emergency crude oil. The oil is stored in deep
underground caverns in salt formations along the Gulf Coast of Texas and
Louisiana, and in the event of a severe oil supply disruption, the SPR can
be called upon to protect U.S. residents from economic harm and to provide
fuel for national defense. For more information, see the
"<http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/reserves/index.html>Petroleum Reserves"
page of the DOE Fossil Energy Web site.

According to the latest "Short-Term Energy Outlook," published by DOE's
Energy Information Administration, the price of crude oil is expected to
average $53 per barrel for the third quarter of 2005, which places the
value of the SPR at about $37 billion. See the
"<http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html>Short-Term Energy
Outlook."

This newsletter is funded by DOE's <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and is also available on the
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/>EERE news page. You can
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/about.cfm>subscribe to the EERE Network
News using our simple online form, and you can also
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/changes.cfm>update your email address or
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/unsubscribe.cfm>unsubscribe online.

If you have questions or comments about this newsletter, please
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/editor.cfm>contact the editor.
[]

You are currently subscribed as: tomgray@...

---

---

========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists

June 15, 2005
========================================

Special alert:
Tell your senators to add global warming pollution limits to the energy bill
Take action now at
http://www.nrdcaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=52824

======================================================

"The Debate's Over" declared USA Today in its June 13th front-page story
reporting that corporations, religious groups and politicians now agree with
scientists that global warming is real and action is necessary. The story ran
just days after the White House accepted the resignation of a top
administration advisor with ties to the oil lobby after he was found to have
altered government climate reports in order to cast doubt on global warming
science.

The ground is shifting just as the Senate is debating its version of the
energy
bill, and this year we have a real opportunity to pass meaningful legislation
that would reduce global warming pollution and promote clean energy solutions.
A number of senators (both Republicans and Democrats) are expected to offer
amendments that would set limits for carbon dioxide emissions responsible for
increasing global temperatures, rising seas, droughts and the resulting
harm to
fish and wildlife.

Some of these plans, however, also would give huge subsidies to the nuclear
power industry. Another proposal calls for voluntary action and industry self-
policing, which is no substitute for a real limit on emissions. Other
amendments would set mandatory limits, but need to be strengthened if they are
to stop the growth of emissions levels.

The Senate is scheduled to vote on the various climate amendments to the
energy
bill early next week, but the schedule could change at any time, so please
contact your senators right away.

== What to do ==
Send a message *right now* urging your senators to support mandatory limits on
global warming pollution without massive subsidies for nuclear power.

== Contact information ==
You can email or fax your senators directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdcaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=52824
If you prefer to call your senators, the Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-
3121.

Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers, and urge them
to contact their senators as well.

Thank you!

==================================================

To update your email address or other information, go to:
http://www.nrdcaction.org/profileeditor/. To unsubscribe from Earth Action,
send an email message to earthaction@... with REMOVE in the subject
line.

==========
About NRDC
==========

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with more than one million members and online activists, and a staff of
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Also visit:
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A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org

For your information, your Earth Action subscription number is 512921
(you do not need this information to unsubscribe).

===========

MoveOn.org is sponsoring a REAL petition. You can sign it
at:

http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/

You can also read the Washington Post report on the
threat to NPR and PBS at:

  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=745


Make a Difference: Help Make Poverty History –
Sign the ONE Declaration: http://www.care2.com/go/z/endpoverty

http://www.Care2.com  Free e-mail. 100MB storage.  Helps charities.

SBT Designs
25581 IH-10 West
San Antonio, Texas 78257
(210) 698-7109
www.sbtdesigns.com

----- Original Message -----

From: Steven Shepard

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:57 PM

Subject: Re: [hreg] Funding for NPR  

Moot point.

Public radio is done so poorly in San Antonio there is no way I would consider supporting it either personally or through legislation.  It really is awful programming here. 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: David Power

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 9:52 PM

Subject: Re: [hreg] Funding for NPR  

I've lived near San Antonio for almost a year and didn't even know that there was a public radio station here. I do miss KPFT. Now I get NPR on XMradio and its not the same.

----- Original Message -----

From: Steven Shepard

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 7:57 PM

Subject: Re: [hreg] Funding for NPR  

Moot point.

Public radio is done so poorly in San Antonio there is no way I would consider supporting it either personally or through legislation.  It really is awful programming here. 

 

Dear All:

Mark your calendars - we are starting the effort for the 2nd Annual HREG
Houston Solar Tour (he, Houston and Solar all in one sentence!) -
October 30th!

Is there anyone amongst us that owns a sign company and will produces
great yard signs?  It would be great if we can get consistant Bold yard
signs which can be used from year to year, that can be placed infront of
the homes on tour day.  I'd like to get the sign for each location, plus
a couple of signs with arrows which we can place on the main street
corners giving some direction.  Please email me at
Lunce@... if you do.

Thanks,
Lunce

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005

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No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005

----- Original Message -----

From: Amanda Tullos

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 7:57 PM

Subject: [hreg] Houston solar companies

Someone called me asking if there is any reliable companies that can provide solar and/or pv's panels for residential or commercial projects in the Houston region. Anyone out there fit this description?

 

Thanks,

 

Amanda Tullos, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
co-Chair
AIA COTE - Houston
American Institute of Architects
Committee on the Environment
http://www.aiahouston.org/cote

Amanda Tullos, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
Heights Venture Architects, LLP
1111 North Loop West, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77008
713.869.1103 x169
amanda.tullos@...

 

 

 

---

From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert Johnston
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 7:22 PM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Hot Water Heaters

Has anyone on our list used a “heat pump water heater”?  Is this a good option for our climate (e.g., pump cool air into the house as you heat your water)?  It looks to me like the major downside is the initial cost and the slow recovery rate.  But properly sized, it should save a lot of money, seems to me.  If anyone has any experience and/or contractors, manufacturers, I’d like to know.

 

Also, what is the latest thinking on cost/payback on solar water heating in the Houston area, and again, manufacturers/contractors.  I’d be pleased to hear from any vendors in our group.

 

Robert Johnston

 

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005

----- Original Message -----

From: Amanda Tullos

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 7:57 PM

Subject: [hreg] Houston solar companies

Someone called me asking if there is any reliable companies that can provide solar and/or pv's panels for residential or commercial projects in the Houston region. Anyone out there fit this description?

 

Thanks,

 

Amanda Tullos, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
co-Chair
AIA COTE - Houston
American Institute of Architects
Committee on the Environment
http://www.aiahouston.org/cote

Amanda Tullos, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP
Heights Venture Architects, LLP
1111 North Loop West, Suite 800
Houston, TX 77008
713.869.1103 x169
amanda.tullos@...

 

 

 

---

From: hreg@yahoogroups.com [mailto:hreg@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Robert Johnston
Sent: Monday, June 20, 2005 7:22 PM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Hot Water Heaters

Has anyone on our list used a “heat pump water heater”?  Is this a good option for our climate (e.g., pump cool air into the house as you heat your water)?  It looks to me like the major downside is the initial cost and the slow recovery rate.  But properly sized, it should save a lot of money, seems to me.  If anyone has any experience and/or contractors, manufacturers, I’d like to know.

 

Also, what is the latest thinking on cost/payback on solar water heating in the Houston area, and again, manufacturers/contractors.  I’d be pleased to hear from any vendors in our group.

 

Robert Johnston

 

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005

--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.8/22 - Release Date: 6/17/2005