U.S. Department of Energy
Free Resources Available: The 1995 NREL Information Resources Catalogue is intended to inform anyone interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies of NREL's outreach activities, including publications and services. The services section of the catalogue represents many ways in which NREL makes information available to the public, including a visitors' center, electronic networks, and information hotlines. Documents listed were published by NREL in fiscal year 1995 and include general interest publications, technical reports, conference papers, journal articles, and patents.

The EnergyPubs Disk is produced by NREL and the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Technical Information Program. It is a compilation of general interest publications produced during fiscal year 1995 on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Files are in an ASCII format that is compatible with any word processing software. Users are encouraged to pull information from these files for use in their own publications.

The catalogue and disk are free in limited quantities and can be obtained through the document distribution service at (303) 2754363 (phone), (303) 2754053 (fax), or evanss@tcplink.nrel.gov (email).

Contact: Anne Jones, (303) 275-3678

Promoting Technologies to Reduce Greenhouse Gases:
USDOE has initiated several international cooperative agreements to accelerate the worldwide deployment of technologies that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, which many believe are contributing to global warming.

The Greenhouse Gas Technology Information Exchange, or GREENTIE, was formed by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in 1993. USDOE became a member in 1994. The program's objectives are to identify greenhouse gas mitigation technologies that have potential to be deployed internationally and to publicize these technologies to decision makers. GREENTIE has highlighted renewable energy technologies and technologies that increase the efficiency with which fossil fuels are converted to useful energy. The primary product will be a directory of suppliers of products, technologies, and information related to the mitigation of greenhouse gases. For more information contact Marilyn A. Brown, Oak Ridge National Lab, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, phone (615) 5745204, email: brownma@ornl.gov.

The Center for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies (CADDET) was formed by the IEA in 1988 to collect data on successful energy demonstration projects around the world. Oak Ridge National Lab and the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado, provide technical support for U.S. involvement. The fifteen member countries have established national teams of experts to search for demonstrations of new energy saving technologies. For more information about CADDET energy efficiency technologies, contact Julia Shaver, Oak Ridge National Lab, phone (615) 5746966, email: J4U@ornl.gov. For more information about CADDET renewable energy technologies, contact David J. Warner, NREL, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 804013393, phone (303) 2754373, email: david_warner@nrel.gov.

The International Energy Agency's Heat Pump Program sponsors collaborative projects to improve heat pump efficiency and design heat pumps that do not contain fluorocarbons (CFCs and HCFCs). One project, the Heat Pump Center, publishes a quarterly journal, organizes workshops, provides an inquiry service, and conducts studies on heat pumps.

Contact: Melissa Voss, (615) 574-1013

Colorado
New Study Identifies Colorado's Top Ten Wind Energy Sites:
A study released by the Governor's Office of Energy Conservation (OEC) identifies and characterizes ten sites in Colorado that appear to have the highest utility wind farm development potential.

With the exception of one location near Grand Junction, the ten sites with the highest wind energy potential are spread across the eastern half of the state in Cheyenne, El Paso, Elbert, Huerfano, Larimer, Las Animas (two sites), Logan, Mesa, and Prowers Counties.

Based on the study findings, Public Service Co. of Colorado will join several other Colorado utilities in conducting a long-term wind data gathering project at potential sites beginning this spring. Once wind resource monitoring is completed and analyzed, participating utilities will have a strong basis for determining the feasibility of specific wind farms in Colorado. A $100,000 matching grant from the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Utility Wind Resource Assessment program will help fund the two year project.

The study was a collaborative effort of OEC, Public Service Co. of Colorado, Colorado Springs Utilities, TriState Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. of Denver, Platte River Power Authority of Fort Collins, West Plains Energy of Pueblo, and Arkansas River Power Authority of Lamar.

Contact: Jennifer Harrison,(303) 620-4292
Matt Roper (303) 620-4292

Governor Announces $80,000 in Grants to Help Communities and Regions Tackle Growth:
Governor Roy Romer has awarded another $80,000 in grants to help Coloradans tackle the growth related concerns of transportation, land use and the environment.

This is the second in a series of grants being offered by the Governor's Office of Energy Conservation's (OEC) Transportation Partnerships launched last fall. OEC created the program to help communities across the state develop innovative approaches to managing transportation demand.

Recipients of grants for the second round of Transportation Partnerships are:

• The City of Colorado Springs: The city was awarded $34,000 to develop a regional park and ride facilities plan with communities in the Pikes Peak area, including Monument, Fountain, Woodland Park, and nearby military bases. Creation of park and ride facilities is expected to increase transit ridership, alleviate growing traffic congestion, and improve air quality in the region.
• Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC): The RAQC in Denver received $20,000 to assist cities within Jefferson County in developing model land use guidelines that consider the air quality impacts of proposed developments. The RAQC also will work with local elected officials to ensure consideration of the guidelines by land use decision makers throughout the metropolitan area.
• Douglas County: The county was granted $26,000 to develop a prototype school entrance site design that will promote energy efficiency, traffic and pedestrian safety, and alternative travel modes. This prototype will be made available to school districts and community land use planners statewide to address growing congestion problems near schools.

Applications were received from seven Front Range organizations requesting nearly $210,000 in grants by the governor's Transportation Partnership Program. Funding decisions are based on criteria that proposed projects:

• be innovative;
• are part of an overall community or regional plan;
• offer environmental and energy efficiency benefits;
• enjoy broad community interest and financial support;
• offer long term impacts on transportation demand; and
• facilitate transfer of knowledge to other Colorado communities.

Transportation Partnerships' third funding cycle ends April 30, 1996, at which time grant applications must be received at OEC, 1675 Broadway, Suite 1300, Denver, CO 80202. OEC will offer funding of up to $100,000 depending on the quality and volume of applications received.

Contact: Matt Sugar, (303) 866-4572 or Jennifer Harrison, (303) 620-4292

Florida
Third Local Government Alternative Fuel Vehicle Initiative Funding:
Six local governments in Florida were selected from a field of 17 applicants to receive funding to initiate or advance an alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) program. A total of $738,973 was awarded for the purchase or conversion of vehicles and fueling or charging facilities. Training, technology transfer, public outreach, and record keeping are included as a part of each project. Matching funds of $1,355,149 have been pledged by the local governments. Awards were made to the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority, Fort Pierce Regional Utilities, Lee County, and the cities of Hollywood, Coral Springs, and North Bay Village. This third initiative will fund an additional 314 AFVs and eight fuel or charging facilities in Florida.

Contact: Jan Rickey, (904) 922-4086.

Effects of Energy Code Assessed:
A study of the impacts of ASHRAE Standard 621989 on the baseline heating, ventilation and air conditioning system performance for Florida schools has been completed. The goals of this investigation were:

Contact: Don B. Shirey, III, (407) 638-1451

Iowa
1996 Iowa Energy Plan Update:
The 1996 Iowa Energy Plan Update has been published by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The report, a biennial update to the Iowa Comprehensive Energy Plan, addresses Iowa's energy efficiency and renewable energy goals. The update evaluates progress toward the goals set in 1990 to:

An addendum to the plan update covering Iowa energy data is also available. To obtain a copy of the plan or the addendum, contact Patti Cale, DNR, Wallace Building, Des Moines, IA 50319.

Contact: Patti Cale, (515) 281-8665

Energy Accounting and Monitoring Services Offered to Schools and Hospitals:
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Energy Bureau offers energy accounting and monitoring services to schools and hospitals participating in the Iowa Energy Bank Program. Institutional Conservation Program funds wee used to do utility bill analysis and provide on site monitoring services. The program enables Energy Bank participants to verify that energy savings are being achieved and maintained.

For example, at the Northwest Iowa Community College, the energy accounting and monitoring program has verified a decrease of 19 percent in electrical usage and a 42 percent decrease in fossil fuel usage from improvements installed. At Greene County Medical Center, overall energy consumption was reduced 37%, and at Manson High School consumption was reduced 30 percent.

In total, over 150 buildings are enrolled in the program and site visits have been made by the monitors to 118 of them. The visits are made to identify which recommended energy efficiency improvements have been implemented and whether they are operating as intended. The monitors also identify other equipment and operating factors which could be affecting energy usage and provide general information on improving operational efficiency.

In many of the buildings, numerous changes have occurred since the original technical engineering analyses were completed. These changes include more computer labs, more fax machines and changes in hours of operation. Given these changes, it was difficult to generate accurate utility analyses without updating the energy consumption baseline. The monitors update the baselines and these updated baselines were provided to the accounting contractor. The accounting and monitoring program is also expected to provide usable information about which improvements are achieving energy savings as predicted and which are not. This information will be incorporated into future technical engineering guidelines.

Contact: Mary Leite, (515) 281-8416\

Kentucky
Legislature Approves Energy Efficiency Bills:
The Kentucky General Assembly has passed three bills that will enable state and local governments and schools districts to finance energy efficiency improvements in public buildings. House Bill 264 requires the state's Finance and Administration Cabinet to assess the energy use of state buildings and implement energy efficiency improvements that are cost-effective. If state appropriations are not available, measures may be financed by third parties through performance or shared savings contracts. The bill establishes a training program for state building maintenance staff. and directs the Division of Energy to assist in implementation.

Local government agencies and school districts have been unable to utilize third party financing because shared savings contracts extend beyond their one year budgetary time frame. Senate Bill 157 allows state and local government agencies to enter into shared savings contracts for energy efficiency measures that extend for longer periods than one year.

House Bill 655 authorizes local government agencies to issue energy conservation revenue bonds to finance energy efficiency measures in their buildings.

All three bills passed with virtually no opposition and are likely to be signed into law by the governor.

Contact: John Stapleton, (502) 564-7192

Mississippi
1995 Statistical Energy Review:
The Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development (MDECD), Energy Division has released its 1995 Statistical Energy Review. The Statistical Energy Review, prepared by the Policy Analysis Bureau of the Energy Division, serves as a comprehensive reference for individuals interested in a historical perspective of the state's energy patterns. This edition contains information reported to the United States Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, and to the MDECD, Energy Division.

Contents of the publication include statistical data about the State of Mississippi's oil and gas production and the energy consumption and costs for all end users by sector and by source. Also, it features articles on Mississippi's 'newest' energy resource, the declining oil and natural gas industry, transportation sector alternative fuel developments, the state energy management plan, and geographical information systems.

Copies of the 1995 Statistical Energy Review can be obtained by contacting the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development, Energy Division at Post Office Box 850, Jackson, Mississippi, 392050850.

Contact: Carl Burnham, (601) 359-6600 or Marilyn Wash, (601) 359-6600

North Carolina
Solid Fuel Inventory Taken to Further Promote Renewables:
After an exhaustive survey of emerging energy technologies and the solid fuels being used by consumers to soften the bite of high energy bills, the North Carolina Energy Division has published a Solid Fuel Inventory in North Carolina. This is a companion to a document currently under development that will provide sources of low cost waste wood suitable for use as boiler fuel. The document will promote biomass development in the state. The Energy Division undertook the solid fuel inventory project to provide a backdrop on solid fuels such as wood, which have gained wider use as the price of oil has risen and stricter environmental regulations have gone into effect. The report provides consumers with fuel sources that can help lead to a diversified economy and cleaner environment. The report can be applied by a broad spectrum of the state's economy, including the industrial and commercial sector, institutions and individuals. The solid fuels in the report included wood, coal, municipal solid waste, agricultural wastes, refuse derived fuels and tire derived fuels.

Contact: Al Ebron, (919) 733-1892

Oregon
Oregon School District Gets $1.3 Million Credit Line for Money Saving Lighting:
Schools in the Salem/Keizer School District are benefitting from a $1.3 million line of credit from the Oregon Department of Energy's Small Scale Energy Loan Program (SELP). The credit line will allow the Oregon school district to make energy saving improvements in 46 of their 49 buildings over the next six months.

The district will save an estimated $212,000 annually by project completion. Measures include retrofitting fluorescent light fixtures with energy saving T8 lamps and electronic ballasts, replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescents, converting exterior fixtures to high pressure sodium or metal halide fixtures, and replacing exit signs with low wattage light emitting diodes. In addition to the line of credit, Portland General Electric Co. (PGE), which provides electricity to the schools in the area, will provide a $462,000 rebate for lighting measures, significantly reducing the district's costs.

This is the district's first line of credit, although it has taken advantage of two state energy loans in the past. The added flexibility of a line of credit makes it simpler to fund installations and start reducing utility costs.

To date the district has drawn $528,000 to fund its projects. The five high schools have been targeted first for improvements because of their high energy saving potential.

Salem/Keizer School District serve more than 31,000 students and is the second largest district in the state, and growing. Several other school districts in Oregon also have taken advantage of energy loans.

The Oregon Department of Energy offers information, technical expertise and financial incentives to help Oregon households, businesses and government agencies save energy and protect Oregon's quality of life.

Contact: Linda Jordan, (503) 373-7980

South Carolina
New Energy Curriculum on the Horizon:
Over 5,000 teachers throughout the state had new energy lessons in their classrooms this March. The ten lessons for grades K12 are the product of a partnership between the South Carolina Energy Office and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

The new lessons were incorporated into DHEC's award winning Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow environmental curriculum supplement. Teacher training sessions on the curriculum supplement have begun and will continue through the summer.

The Energy Office and DHEC also sponsor a graduate education course for teachers, which provides in depth environmental education instruction. Dr. John Carpenter is teaching the course this semester at the University of South Carolina. The same course will be offered during future semesters at USC as well as other colleges and universities around the state.

Also highlighting the newly energized Action curriculum supplement are the two minute "Project Environment" spots that WISTV Columbia is airing. Every Saturday morning viewers can tune in as a different Action lesson is featured. New energy lessons are scheduled to appear on the program during March.

Contact: Reneé Sharpe, (803) 737-8030

Wisconsin
New Program Encourages Switch to Efficient Water Heaters:
Does it matter whether you have an electric or natural gas water heater? Only if you care about how much money you are spending, how much pollution you are responsible for contributing to the environment, and how much energy you are wasting. Many people are surprised to learn that a typical natural gas water heater costs the average household about $100 per year to operate, while an electric water heater costs about $300. The $200 difference would nearly pay for the cost of switching from electric to natural gas in one year, and every year after that the $200 savings would be free and clear.

As it happens, however, that $200 built-in annual incentive doesn't seem to be enough, because more than 400,000 single family dwellings in Wisconsin still have electric water heaters. According to estimates by the Wisconsin Energy Bureau in the state Department of Administration, 40 percent of these, or 160,000, are in homes with natural gas furnaces or appliances. Most of the rest could hook up to nearby natural gas lines or switch to LP gas, which costs about the same as natural gas.

To learn more about what it takes to get people to switch from an electric to a natural gas water heater, the Wisconsin Energy Bureau is developing a program which will use a variety of methods and incentives to encourage people to make the switch. Using a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Energy Bureau is aiming to convince homeowners to switch from electric to natural gas or LP. If 625 water heaters are converted, total savings over their 15year lifetimes are estimated at $1,875,000. Also, they will annually save 564 metric tons of carbon equivalent greenhouse gas emissions and 18 billion Btus of resource energy.

Contact: Jim Mapp, (608) 266-8020

PSC Approves Blueprint for Electric Utility Restructuring:
Citing consumer protection as its paramount consideration in the industry restructuring debate, the Public Service Commission recently announced a 32 point action plan designed to move Wisconsin's electric industry toward a more competitive market. The plan adopted by the commission on December 19, 1995 is an expanded version of the "sequential" approach previously recommended by one faction of the PSC's Industry Restructuring Advisory Committee. Generally acknowledged to be the "goslow" approach to industry restructuring and deregulation, the proposal crafted by Commissioner Scott Neitzel calls for a fully competitive generation market, a single system open access transmission network, competitive energy services and full retail access for all customers by 2001. The commission's 32point timeline for industry restructuring will be outlined in detail in a forthcoming report to the legislature. The report will explain the plan, but the PSC doesn't plan to call for any legislation to implement the plan until it establishes some of the consumer safeguards.

Contact: Pat Meier, (608) 266-8870

Energy Bureau Goes OnLine with Home Page:
The Wisconsin Energy Bureau has gone online! The energy bureau's home page can be found on the world wide web (http://www.doa.state.wi.us/depb/boe/index.asp). Stop in and see the Wisconsin Energy Statistics 1995Highlights, press releases and background information about the energy publications and links to other useful energy sites. We welcome you to come and browse our home page and let us know if you have suggestions for additional information.

Contact: Chris Connor, (608) 266-9518

State Energy Bureau Will Direct Review of LIHEAP:
At the direction of Governor Tommy Thompson, the Wisconsin Energy Bureau is coordinating "a thorough exploration of alternatives aimed at achieving a more sustainable low income energy assistance funding strategy that will continue to meet the needs of Wisconsin as federal funding declines." This activity will cover three to six months of planning and experimenting prior to piloting a new approach. The process will include representatives from all stakeholder organizations. Pilot concepts may include end use providers making lighting or heating available at the lowest cost over a period of time. Integrating energy assistance payments, weatherization and rehabilitation funding for low income households into a comprehensive approach will also be among the ideas considered for the pilot.

The Energy Bureau is also about to pilot a home energy rating system that will be able to facilitate access to new financing sources for low income weatherization. As the Energy Bureau continues its shift from a role of grantor to a role of energy broker, new ways will be sought to meet immediate needs, as well as address the source of the need, with less or no government funding.

Contact: Pat Meier, (608) 266-8870

Advance Plan 7 Directs State's Electricity Future:
Ending a three year process, including six months of formal hearings and 45 volumes of written testimony, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in December issued 44 orders to the state's electric utilities which will direct their plans for electricity generation, transmission and use for the next 20 years. Wisconsin's Advance Plan process, which has been completed seven times since its inception in 1978, is considered to be one of the most successful in the nation and has served as a model for many other states. Through this process, Wisconsin's Public Service Commission has made reasoned, timely electricity decisions that have led to some of the lowest electrical rates in the country. These low rates are a key component in the state's successful economic development and national competitiveness.

Advance Plan 7 approves construction of 46 new power plants between 1996 and 2013, which will have the capacity to generate 5,127 megawatts. Of this new capacity, 322 megawatts will come from renewable energy, primarily biomass and wind. In addition, the plan calls for 1,441 megawatts of new electricity service to be met from energy efficiency measures. Wisconsin's total electric capacity in 1995 was 11,156 megawatts. This amount of forecasted electricity service is based on the PSC accepting Wisconsin utilities' projected electricity growth rate of 2.0 percent per year in the first ten years of the plan and 1.6 percent per year in the second ten years.

Contact: Pat Meier, (608) 266-8870

Traffic Light Synchronization Helps Save Time and Energy:
Since 1987, the Wisconsin Fuel Efficient Transportation Program has helped more than 50 cities and communities throughout Wisconsin synchronize their traffic signals. As a result, motorists using the improved travel corridors use less fuel, make fewer stops and spend less time waiting at red lights. Funded by money returned to Wisconsin by oil companies that overcharged for their products during the 1970s, the program is administered by the University of Wisconsin Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering under a contract with the Wisconsin Energy Bureau. The program provides traffic engineers in participating communities with sophisticated new computer programs to optimize the signal timing. Also provided is training in the use of the computer software and help in collecting the required data on traffic movement. The program also has provided funding for new traffic signal hardware in order to link the traffic signals together in coordinated systems. Perhaps the program's greatest success has been in showing traffic engineers all over Wisconsin that modest investments in synchronization can save significant amounts of fuel as well as reduce stops and delays.

Contact: Jim O'Neal, (608) 266-8971

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