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Weekly Energy Newsbriefs

Articles for March 30, 2009


ENERGY NEWSBRIEFS is a weekly current awareness service provided by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program Library and written by Angela Santamaria, WSU Energy Library Manager, to assist users in tracking developments in the energy field. To view past issues or to subscribe to receive an email notification of the publication of a new issue, go to Energy Newsbriefs archives at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.

Please be aware that although every URL is checked for accuracy prior to the publication of Energy Newsbriefs, URLs are, for various reasons, subject to change. Further, servers sometimes fail to connect to working URLs.



BIOMASS

The following three articles appeared in the March 2009 issue of Biomass Magazine:

  1. "The Art of Biomass Pelletizing," by Ryan C. Christiansen, Staff Writer, Biomass Magazine , covers the challenges of pelletizing both in terms of the different requirements for different materials to be pelletized and in terms of liquid content. The article includes a link to the sidebar, "Biomass Pellets in Europe." See the article at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2465&q=&page=all.
  2. "Biomass Equipment Options for Steam and Power," by Arnie Iwanick, Senior Process Engineer, Harris Group Inc., focuses on the conversion of biomass to steam and power (electricity) as opposed to chemicals and fuel. The author discusses the equipment required for the conversion including boilers, various gasifiers, and combustion controls. Additionally, the problems posed by contaminants, emissions, and higher capital costs are addressed. View this article at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2470&q=&page=all.
  3. "Making the Switch," by Anna Austin, Staff Writer, Biomass Magazine, presents some of the comparisons between coal and renewable sources of energy including cost, percent of power generated, and emissions. The article includes a link to the sidebar, "Supporting Clean Energy in the South." This article is at http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2466&q=&page=all.



DATA CENTERS

"Legacy Data Centers," by Marcus Hassen, is a two-part article in the February 2009 issue of Building Operating Management on addressing energy efficiencies given the specific limitations of older data centers:

Part 1 - Ten Tips to Make a Legacy Data Center More Energy Efficient is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/datacenters/article/Ten-Tips-To-Make-A-Legacy-Data-Center-More-Energy-Efficient--10606.

Part 2 - Focus on Operations to Improve Data Center Efficiency is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/datacenters/article/Focus-On-Operations-To-Improve-Data-Center-Efficiency--10607.


DISTRIBUTED CONTROLS

The following two articles appeared in the February 2008 issue of Power:

  1. "Distributed Control Technology: From Progress to Possibilities" was written by Robert Yeager, President, Power & Water Solutions division of Emerson Process Management. The author describes the advances made in this field over the last two decades. See this two web-page article at http://www.powermag.com/issues/cover_stories/Distributed-Control-Technology-From-Progress-to-Possibilities_1678.html.
  2. "Optimize Your Plant Using the Latest Distributed Control System Technology" is an article by Ralph Porfilio, Director of Technology and Applications Engineering, ABB's Power Generation (North America Division). While there is some overlap between this and the article, above, this article includes other information and a focus on developments in this field that are coming down the pike. See this three web-page article at http://www.powermag.com/issues/cover_stories/Optimize-Your-Plant-Using-the-Latest-Distributed-Control-System-Technology_1679.html.



POLICY

"Energy Partners Launch 'Clean and Efficient Energy Program' [CEEP] for Public Power" is a February 23, 2009, press release from the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE). The release is about the CEEP program, which is jointly operated by ASE, APPA (American Public Power Association), and LPPC (Large Public Power Council). This program was developed to accommodate the requirements that come with the money that the new federal stimulus act will send to municipalities all over the country to increase efficiencies and the clean energy use. See the press release on the ASE website at http://www.ase.org/content/news/detail/5402.

"Obama's Energy Agenda" is a six-part article in the February 2009 issue of Building Operating Management :

Part 1 - Obama Focuses on Energy Efficiency is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Obama-Focuses-on-Energy-Efficiency--10600.

Part 2 - Cap and Trade Challenges is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Cap-And-Trade-Challenges--10601.

Part 3 - How Buildings Can Prepare for Cap and Trade is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/How-Buildings-Can-Prepare-For-Cap-And-Trade--10602.

Part 4 - Obama's Green Promises is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Obamas-Green-Promises--10603.

Part 5 - Climate Change Resources is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Climate-Change-Resources--10604.

Part 6 - Who's Obama's Environmental Team? Is at http://www.facilitiesnet.com/energyefficiency/article/Whos-Obamas-Environmental-Team--10605.


RENEWABLES DEVELOPMENT

"PTC, ITC, or Cash Grant? An Analysis of the Choice Facing Renewable Power Projects in the United States" is a 21-page, March 2009, report co-produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The government can provide a renewable project developer a production tax credit (PTC) or an investment tax credit (ITC) in lieu of a PTC as a necessary incentive, given the high capital costs of renewable projects. (A developer may, alternatively, choose a cash grant of the same value of a PTC instead of the PTC.) This report examines the value of the two incentives, PTC and ITC/cash grant, to provide guidance to developers of different kinds of renewables projects. See this report, which may take a minute or so to load, at http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/emp/reports/lbnl-1642e.pdf.


WIND

Two articles about wind projects in Washington State appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of Connections, the PDF of which may take two or so minutes to load:

  1. "Wind Power Blows into Pacific County" was written by Rochelle Olson, Public Information Officer, Pacific Northwest. The author describes the wind project that Pacific Northwest is planning for Willapa Hills, in Pacific County. To see this article scroll down to article-page 9 (or PDF-page 11) at http://www.wpuda.org/PDF_files/Connections/Conn_Wint09_final.pdf.
  2. "Wind That Makes a Difference" was written by Liz Anderson, Community Relations Manager, Grays Harbor, PUD. The author describes the effort of the non-profit Coastal Community Action Program (CCAP) to provide heating for those in Grays Harbor and Pacific counties who cannot afford it. The CCAP's wind project will use the money from the sale of wind energy to Grays Harbor Public Utility District to pay the heating bills. To see this article, scroll down to article-page 15 (or PDF-page 17) at the same URL as above, http://www.wpuda.org/PDF_files/Connections/Conn_Wint09_final.pdf.


Past issues of Energy Newsbriefs are available at http://www.energy.wsu.edu/library/newsbriefs.cfm.

Generally, subscription information for the journals cited above can be found at the home page of their web sites.

© 2009 Washington State University Extension Energy Program. This publication contains material written and produced for public distribution. Permission to copy or disseminate all or part of this material is granted, provided that the copies are not made or distributed for commercial advantage, and that each is referenced by title with credit to the Washington State University Extension Energy Program. Copying, reprinting or dissemination, electronic or otherwise, for any other use requires prior written permission from the Washington State University Extension Energy Program.