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EPA
Moves Closer To Regulating Greenhouse
Gas Emissions
April 18, 2009
By: Webmaster
www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.com
WASHINGTON
— In a major reversal of years of government policy regarding Greenhouse
Gas Emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency today proposed regulating
Greenhouse Gas Emissions to
combat and reverse global warming and climate change.
"In
both magnitude and probability, climate change is an enormous problem" said
E.P.A's Administrator Lisa Jackson in their 130 page report on Greenhouse
Gas Emissions. She found that projected levels of Greenhouse
Gas Emissions "endanger the public health and welfare of current and
future generations."
The finding came two years after the Supreme Court ruled the EPA had the authority to regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions under the Clean Air Act.
"Renewable Energy Technologies such as; Anaerobic Digesters, Biomethane, Concentrating Solar Power, Geothermal Power Plants are "carbon neutral energy" technologies, and generate no new Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Power generated from Biomass Gasification power plants, are "carbon negative energy" solutions which actually remove carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere, according to the Founder and Chairman of the Institute for Climate Solutions, and the Renewable Energy Institute's Mont Goodell.
For more information, see the Greenhouse Gas Emissions website at: www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.com
_____________________________________________________________________
“spending
hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars every year for oil,
much of it from the Middle East, is just about the single stupidest thing that
modern society could possibly do. It’s very difficult to think of anything
more idiotic then that.”
R. James Woolsey, Jr., former Director of the CIA
__________________________________________________________________
The Renewable Energy Institute is a Non-Profit, 501 (c)(3) organization that is Changing The Way The World Does Energy by Providing Research & Development, Funding and Resources That Create Pollution Free Power, Carbon Free Energy & Renewable Energy Technologies. We fund important research that leading professors, grad students and universities are conducting that will make America energy independent and end our dependence on foreign fossil fuels. The Renewable Energy Institute is available to perform Renewable Energy Feasibility studies and Front-end engineering design services - including solar co/trigeneration plants, geothermal power plants, concentrating solar power plants, and biodiesel/biomethane/syntheis gas fueled cogeneration or trigeneration power plants. The fee for this is dependent on a number of factors. Call or email us for more information.
The Renewable Energy Institute plans to open new locations in several states in 2009, including California, Minnesota, New York and Washington. More details will be provided in our next quarterly newsletter and Press Release.
ANNOUNCING THE FORMATION OF:
Wind
Energy Institute
www.WindEnergyInstitute.com
Biomass
Energy Institute
www.BiomassEnergyInstitute.com
&
International Institute for
Climate Solutions
www.InstituteForClimateSolutions.com
The
members of the Board of Directors of the Renewable Energy Institute ("REI")
have formed and founded the International Institute for
Climate Solutions, the Wind Energy Institute and we are now forming the Biomass
Energy Institute. The International Institute for Climate Solutions
and Wind Energy Institute have been incorporated as non-profit Texas
companies. The Biomass Energy Institute will also be a Texas non-profit company.
Like the Renewable Energy Institute, one of our first objectives is the creation of our Scientific Advisory Board which will be a "Who's Who" of professors, universities and researchers that are involved with climate change and seeking to provide solutions for reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Watch for new developments of the International Institute for Climate Solutions and Wind Energy Institute at the following new websites:
www.InstituteForClimateSolutions.com
www.BiomassEnergyInstitute.com
and
www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.com
or www.GreenhouseGasEmissions.org
_____________________________________________________________________
Vision Statement for
the Renewable Energy Institute
To end America's dependence on unsustainable sources of energy, lead and formulate public policy that promotes greater use of renewable energy, and develop strategic partners that share and advance the goal of making the United States energy independent.
Mission
Statement for
the Renewable Energy Institute
To educate the public stakeholders that include residential, commercial, industrial and governmental organizations who are consumers of energy the many benefits and uses of renewable energy and to promote the expanded use of renewable energy technologies in the United States and around the world.
Goals
and Objectives of
the Renewable Energy Institute
The specific goals and objectives of
the Renewable Energy Institute, a 501 (c) 3 corporation shall be:
1. To expand the use of renewable energy technologies in the United States and
around the world.
2. To end America's dependence on unstable, unsustainable foreign sources of energy, and make the United States energy independent.
3. To lead and formulate public policy that promotes greater use of renewable energy.
4. To lead the research and development of new renewable energy technologies that lead to patents and the ability to license the renewable energy technologies we develop and invest.
5. To coordinate the research and development of renewable energy between universities so as to
minimize redundancy and maximize results.
6. To facilitate and promote dialog between universities and professors in the free flow of research to enhance
results and breakthroughs in renewable energy research and development.
7.
To educate and inform the public, including stakeholders that include residential, commercial, industrial and governmental organizations who are consumers of power and energy, the many benefits and uses of renewable energy.
8. The Renewable Energy Institute will promote higher energy and
electric power efficiencies and renewable energy technologies including;
Anaerobic Digesters, Automated Demand Response, Biodiesel, Biomass
Gasification, BioMethane and BioMethane Recovery, Cogeneration, Concentrating Solar Power,
Demand Side Management, Dispersed Generation, Distributed Generation (onsite
power generation), Fuel Cells, Geothermal, Hydrogen, Landfill Gas to Energy,
Ocean and Tidal energy, Supply Side Management, Thermal Gasification,
Trigeneration, Waste to Energy, Waste To Watts and to promote the use of energy crops and oilseed crops for producing
biofuels and related
technologies whenever a renewable fuel may be used in an internal
combustion engine or gas turbine to produce clean power and energy.
The Renewable Energy Institute will promote Carbon Dioxide Sequestration
technologies, also called Carbon Capture and Sequestration.
9. To help farmers and growers in determining the optimum energy crops and oilseed crops they should consider for their specific locations, soils, climate and energy markets.
10. To adopt a goal of providing the U.S. with 50% of its' power and energy requirements from renewable energy sources by 2025, and
75% by
2050. Texas will lead the way with a goal of 50% of its' power and energy requirements from renewable energy sources by
2020, and 75% by
2040.
11. To seek funding, investments and donations for the REI from concerned
citizens, organizations and companies that will fund the REI's grants, research and
development.
12. To seek and develop strategic partners/partnerships that share and advance our common goals.
13. To seek out qualified companies and people that want to utilize our products and services under our license.
14. To provide Engineering Feasibility and Economic Analysis studies for customers - through a separate entity affiliated with the Renewable Energy Institute.
15. To develop renewable energy projects on behalf of customers - through a separate entity affiliated with the Renewable Energy Institute.
16. To remain committed as a trusted supplier of research, development and technologies and be committed as a "vendor-neutral" resource of information - until such time we identify "optimum" companies, products and/or technologies.
17. To promote and integrate the use of renewable energy technologies in creating "sustainable communities," "renewable energy districts," and "green buildings."
18. To be committed to ending global warming, eliminating carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and advance technologies such as carbon dioxide sequestration to end global climate change.
The Renewable Energy Institute will fund research
and development of all renewable energy technologies, as well as provide
leadership in the areas of "Pollution Free Power," "Carbon Free
Energy," and "green tags" also known as a Renewable Energy
Credit.
The Renewable Energy Institute will also conduct testing of renewable energy technologies, that compare various manufacturers products' and determines which products have the highest efficiencies, and fastest returns on investment (ROI). And, the Renewable Energy Institute will conduct "vendor-neutral" Engineering Feasibility and Economic Analysis, for specific renewable energy projects, for our customers, to determine the best technologies, and best equipment, for each new renewable energy project.
Please contact M o n t y G o o d e l l, President, Executive Director and Founder of the Renewable Energy Institute by email or phone to learn more about upcoming meeting that will be open to the public. Tel. (832) 758 - 0027
Comparison
Chart of Renewable Energy Technologies
& Potential Return on Investment
Type of Renewable
Energy
Cost for 100 MW *Capacity
Cost of
Footprint
Net Carbon
Power
Plant
Power
Plant Factor
Energy
Space
Emissions
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentrating Photovoltaic
$500 million
25%
$0.00
400 – 800
Zero
acres
Concentrating Solar Power $400 million 25% $0.00 700 acres Zero
Wind Turbines/WindFarm
$300 million
25%
$0.00
500 – 3,000 Zero
acres
Biomass
Gasification Plant
$150 million
100% could
be paid
½ acre
Zero
as much as
$30 - $80/ton
for some feedstock
ex. (sewage sludge)
* Capacity Factor: number of hours per day, or per year that power could be generated from renewable resource
_____________________________________________________________________
The Unlimited Potential for Biomethane and Renewable Natural Gas
-
Sweden is now leading Europe and the rest of the world in the pursuit of cellulosic biomethane.
-
According to recent studies by researchers, professors and universities in Sweden, cellulosic biomethane is significantly more economic and less energy intensive to produce today than any biofuel (i.e. E100 Ethanol, B100 Biodiesel, Dimethyl Ether, etc.).
-
If the U.S. were to similarly emphasize the production of cellulosic biomethane as Sweden is now doing, the U.S. could significantly increase the supply of Biomethane - a renewable, clean fuel with an unlimited supply.
-
Biomethane can be produced from landfill gas, sewage and animal and crop waste. Besides supplementing our existing natural gas supplies, Biomethane would provide huge greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
-
Based on an analysis conducted for the Department of Energy in the 1990's, it appears that at least 1¼ quadrillion BTUs of methane could reasonably be produced using exiting landfill gas to energy sites, wastewater treatment systems and animal waste sources (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) alone.
-
If the Biomethane produces in the U.S. were used for natural gas vehicles, it would displace approximately 10 billion gallons of gasoline, per year! This is 10 times the amount (1 billion gallons of gasoline) per year projected for natural gas (the fossil fuel) in the Annual DOE outlook.
_____________________________________________________________________
Regarding
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Biomethane/Renewable Natural
Gas vs. Gasoline
-
Gasoline produces about 110% more Greenhouse Gas Emissions than Biomethane which would have otherwise been flared or vented to the atmosphere.
-
In the U.S., it is now feasible to capture and use about 1.25 quadrillion Btu's of Biomethane from landfills, animal waste and POTWs (wastewater treatment systems) alone. This is equivalent to about 6% of all of the natural gas presently used in the U.S.
-
If this Biomethane were used as a transportation fuel in natural gas vehicles, the Biomethane would displace 10 billion gallons of gasoline per year!
_____________________________________________________________________
The
Potential for Cellulosic Biomethane is
Almost Unlimited
Europe
(especially Sweden) is leading the way in cellulosic
biomethane production.
Sweden’s goal is to displace all natural gas use with Biomethane
and also all gasoline and diesel with renewable fuels.
European studies conclude that cellulosic
biomethane production is far more energy efficient and less costly
than other cellulosic energy -- already, today!
The potential for cellulosic
biomethane is practically unlimited.
Other Benefits and Incentives for Biomethane:
The Federal Biogas/Biomethane Tax Credit:
Equal to 2.0 cents per KWH (approximately $5.66 per MMBtu) for electricity
produced on-site from Biomethane.
All other uses of biogas and Biomethane
in vehicles and producing electricity off-site) do not presently qualify for the
Federal Biogas/Biomethane Tax Credit.
Biomethane,
NOT Coal, is America's True "Ace in the Hole" when it comes to our
energy future, economics, the environment, sustainability and America's
“Energy Independence.”
For years now, the coal industry has been touting "coal is America's 'Ace
in the Hole'" when they discuss the abundance of our coal reserves here in
the U.S. and the role they hope coal will play in America's energy future.
But coal is far from being the “Ace in the Hole” the coal lobby would have everyone believe. That’s due to the proverbial “black eye” not to mention the “black lungs” and other problems that are inherent with “dirty coal."
While
there may be a place for coal in America's energy future, coal must become
"clean" for America to value it as a possible energy resource. Plans
or building 18 new Coal fired power plants were cancelled in Texas last year due
to the fact that coal isn't clean, and utilities aren't interested in investing
the extra costs for building power plants that use "Clean Coal
Technology" or "Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle" power
plants that also now need to include "Carbon Capture and
Sequestration" technologies to remove the carbon dioxide emissions from the
stacks. Plans for many other coal fired power plants are being cancelled. And
even now, owners of coal fired power plants (pulverized coal) are switching from
coal, to biomass, and biomass gasification technologies, as the writing is on
the wall.
Unless
our society relishes the thoughts of moving back to the caves, and using
candles, and foregoing our modern-day comforts, we need to move forward with
renewable energy technologies such as Biomethane, as the alternative is power
shortages and blackouts.
We
believe biomethane represents the best and greenest of all biofuels. There are
no supply problems with biomethane, and we have a virtually unlimited supply for
using biomethane wherever natural gas is presently used as a fuel.
It's
time to start increasing our country's Biomethane supplies and our country's
Biomethane infrastructure.
Biomethane
is chemically no different than natural gas from the "fossil fuel"
variety of natural gas. Biomethane starts out as Biogas and is
"cleaned-up" for use in compressed natural gas vehicles, or any other
use that natural gas may be used for - by removing the impurities found in the
biogas such as hydrogen sulfides, siloxanes, and carbon dioxide. When the
impurities are removed, we then have Biomethane, an unlimited clean renewable
fuel that is now being reclassified as one of the low carbon fuels, to a new
classification;
Biomethane
is produced from many sources including anaerobic digesters, wastewater
treatment systems, landfills and most agricultural and forestry operations.
Many
trade groups and associations are calling for Biomethane to be reclassified from
the Low Carbon Fuels category to that of "Super Ultra Low Carbon
fuel." This category and definition is from the California Air Resources
Board stating that Biomethane provides at least an 82 percent reduction in
Greenhouse Gas Emissions based on CARB’s analysis of landfill gas.
Biomethane
has a carbon dioxide emissions intensity of only 11 as compared with:
67.9 for natural gas
95.8 for diesel
96.7 for gasoline
Biomethane
can displace and substitute the equivalent of 29% percent of all petroleum
diesel transportation fuel used - almost immediately.
According
to the California Energy Commission and the Biomass Collaborative, landfills,
wastewater treatment, and dairy waste sources - which are "developable
today" and can start producing Biomethane almost immediately, with low
investment/high returns, could yield 121 billion cubic feet of Biomethane. At
$8.00/mmbtu, that's a $1 billion market opportunity in California alone.
The 121 billion cubic feet of Biomethane equals about 860 million gallons
of petroleum diesel. California alone uses about 3 billion gallons of diesel
annually for transportation. Emerging biomass gasification and Biomethanation
technologies could more than double Biomethane supplies. (Some of the above
information from the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition.)
Biomethane
- like natural gas from "fossil fuels" - can be compressed or
liquefied. And using "Compressed Biomethane" is a significantly
better choice as a transportation fuel than traditional "natural gas."
Biomethane
is the "natural, natural gas" and is far better for the environment
and the economy than natural gas. Biomethane, when "vented" to the
environment, is 21 times more hazardous to the climate than carbon dioxide
emissions which is the only emission from compressed natural gas vehicles'
engines when used as a fuel.
Again,
Biomethane is the same chemical compound as natural gas: CH4, and completely
replaces and substitutes for natural gas. Engines, turbines, boilers and every
other natural gas appliance can use Biomethane without any adjustments or
modifications - just like natural gas.
Biomethane
supplies, as opposed to natural gas supplies from the fossil fuel industry, are
available in an unlimited supply.
Moving
forward with a Biomethane Infrastructure is the direction our country needs to
be moving as one of our fuel choices as we become energy-independent.
Every MCF of Biomethane that we use displaces about 8 gallons of gasoline
and creates jobs that will never be outsourced or downsized.
Please
Support H.R. 7097, the Renewable Biogas and
Biomethane Production Incentive Act To Help Create our Nation's
Biomethane Infrastructure & Biomethane Reserves
Dear Senator or Representative ________
The
following companies and organizations recommend that Congress develop and pass
legislation providing a $4.27 per MMBTU tax credit for the production of
"Renewable Natural Gas", also referred to as "Renewable
Biogas" or "Biomethane."
H.R. 7097, the Biogas Production Incentive Act introduced by
Representative Higgins (D-NY) would establish such a credit.
Senator Nelson (D-NE) and Representative Kind (D-WI) have also introduced
similar legislation.
The
U.S. Congress has wisely supported the expanded use of domestic renewable
resources through a variety of tax incentives and other programs.
Up to this point, Congress has focused primarily on measures that support
the production of renewable liquid transportation fuels or electricity.
In the U.S., however, natural gas represents 23 percent of the energy
consumed.
Natural gas is the fuel of choice to provide residential and commercial
heat for space and hot water in most applications and is used to produce steam
in a variety of commercial and industrial applications. Natural gas is also the
fuel that provides the energy to manufacture many industrial products including
aluminum, steel, glass, chemicals, fertilizer, and ethanol.
Incentivizing the production of renewable natural gas or "Biomethane" from sources that include animal manure, landfills, renewable biomass and agricultural wastes will support expanding the role of renewables into this existing energy sector, where little opportunity exists today. It will also create another business investment prospect for renewable project developers and the potential to expand rural economies while supporting existing industrial jobs and dramatically reducing carbon emissions.
Please
consider the following:
•
Renewable Biomethane is a versatile form of bio-energy. It can be used
directly at the site of production, or placed in the pipeline to support a
variety of residential commercial or industrial applications.
•
Renewable Biomethane produced from renewable sources including animal
manure, landfills, renewable biomass and agricultural wastes can be produced at
high efficiencies ranging from 60–70 percent.
Additionally, all of the technology components to produce renewable gas
from this variety of sources exist today.
•
Renewable Biomethane can be delivered to customers via the existing U.S.
pipeline infrastructure.
•
Renewable Biomethane can provide a renewable option for many heavy
industries, which could save existing industrial jobs in a carbon constrained
economy - while creating new rural green jobs to produce Renewable Biomethane.
•
Renewable Biomethane production in digesters provides the agricultural
sector additional environmental benefits by improving waste management and
nutrient control.
We believe this is a fiscally responsible proposal that will provide the
following benefits:
•
Jump-start new biomethane gas production
•
Begin the creation of the biomethane infrastructure and biomethane
industry
•
Increase biomethane “reserves”
•
Creation of green jobs
•
Expand the rural economy and increase revenues for farming and
agricultural operations
•
Increase energy independence
•
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Thank
you for your support and consideration of this legislation.
Sincerely,
_______________________
Signature and address
Please write to your Representative and Senators, and ask them to support H.R. 7097 and the $4.27 per MMBTU tax credit for the production of Renewable Natural Gas, using the above letter as a suggested letter which you are welcome to use as your own.
Thank you.
_____________________________________________________________________
Why We Need Renewable Energy, NOW!
Mont Goodell, President of the Renewable Energy Institute, along with the Renewable Energy Institute's Scientific Advisory Board, which is comprised of our nation's leading experts, engineers, attorneys, professors and universities, is calling for our nation and all 50 states to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) of at least 25% by 2025. According to Mr. Goodell, our nation is at a crossroads and we have been 'over the Middle Eastern barrel of their fossil fuels' long enough. We must shift from energy dependence to energy independence and place significant emphasis and investments in our national energy security and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, we need to implement a "Feed In Tariff" in lieu of a Renewable Portfolio Standard and build the 'Transmission Superhighway' or 'Unified National Grid' and dramatically increase the nation's power supply as well as implement greater use of 'Energy Conservation Measures' and 'Demand Side Management' programs. Failure to move in these areas and to do so immediately increases the risks to our country, our national security and the climate" according to Mr. Goodell.
One of the fastest paths to jump-start the renewable energy industry, according to the Renewable Energy Institute, is through a "Feed In Tariff." A Feed In Tariff is superior to a Renewable Portfolio Standard, according to Mr. Goodell. "Just look at Germany, they adopted a Feed In Tariff, are further north from the Equator than we are here in the U.S., and they are placing solar panels on every rooftop and wind turbine generators throughout their country. They are leading the world in renewable energy technologies, primarily due to their early adoption of a Feed In Tariff."
Renewable energy, and renewable energy only provides significant economic and environmental dividends, whether this is through a Renewable Portfolio Standard, or through a Feed In Tariff, some of the economic and environmental dividends include:
-
Creation of more than 3 million new jobs in the U.S..
-
Generate more than $1 trillion in economic impacts
-
Significant reductions of oil imports
-
Reduce energy prices and save consumers as much as $50 billion on their energy bills
-
Elimination of billions of pounds of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gas emissions
-
Stimulate rural economies
-
Conserve natural gas supplies
-
Creates a clean, safe energy future
-
Position the US as a world leader in renewable energy technologies
According to the Energy Information Administration, the total US primary energy consumption is expected to increase from 100 quadrillion Btu (quads) in 2005 to 131 quads in 2030. However, the renewable electricity generation remains at 9% while use of coal increases 50 percent in 2030 to 57%. Ethanol use is expected to increase from 4 billion gallons in 2005 to 14.6 billion gallons in 2030, yet that is only about 8% of total gasoline consumption.
In January (2008) the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) blamed the burning of fossil fuels as a key contributor to global warming and accelerating climate change. The NCDC warned that the rate of the warming is accelerating and that the rise in temperatures over the past 9 years is “unprecedented in the historical record." This was underscored in February (2008) in the consensus report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that concluded with near certainty that human activity was the main contributor to global warming.
The renewable energy industry, single-handedly, provides a powerful argument and solutions for these problems.
Global warming and climate change are symptoms of a sick planet and the results of unrestrained "dumping" of huge amounts of pollution - in the form of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
The vast majority of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions comes from "dirty" fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) used in making electricity at power plants and dirty fuels (gasoline and petroleum diesel) that run our internal combustion engines in our cars, trains, planes, and trucks. Our planet is home to millions and millions of internal combustion engines that run on dirty fossil fuels - whether they are fueled with gasoline for running our cars and lawnmowers or running on diesel fuel in the engines of trucks and ships like the very large crude carriers that transport the crude oil all around the world...... every internal combustion engine that is running on dirty fossil fuels is dumping millions and millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gas emissions into our atmosphere - which is aggravating and exacerbating our sick planet - and making manmade climate change and global warming more difficult to resolve through manmade remedies and solutions.
Renewable Energy is needed now as renewable energy and only renewable energy, solves the problems of today and and problems that will only become exponentially more exacerbated and difficult to solve in the future.
Renewable energy is about making businesses, communities, and countries more efficient. Renewable energy technologies
solve the world's problems which includes climate change, geopolitical tension over
fossil fuels, water quality, water use and reuse, drought and declining aquifers,
economic strife, starvation and energy poverty. Renewable energy technologies are an absolute no brainer that
will create the next "new economy" here in the U.S. on both sides of
the supply side and demand side equation.
A growth in renewable energy investments, combined with "feed in
tariffs" ( or Advanced Renewable
Tariffs or, less preferable, a Renewable Portfolio
Standard) along with federal tax credits and other government incentives such as advanced depreciation and
continued use of a Production Tax
Credit, will create the urgent solutions needed by every country today.
Features of the Advanced Renewable Tariff include:
• Prices are set by a political process while market forces determine the total installed capacity of renewable energy generation. This is the opposite of the Renewable Portfolio Standard.
• The Advanced Renewable Tariff must be sufficiently high to drive development by making the return on investment as an economic incentive for equity investors - while avoiding windfall profits.
• Long term contracts with minimum prices with an initial period of higher prices, followed by a period of lower prices after the loan has been paid off.
• Advanced
Renewable Tariffs are rate-based - no state taxes are included.
A superior and well thought-out Advanced Renewable Tariff provides the following benefits:
• Promotes the development of distributed energy resources by small companies, investment co-ops, public entities and individual citizens although large corporations can also benefit from Advanced Renewable Tariffs.
• Builds a strong constituency in favor of renewable energy technologies and developments and reduces or eliminates NIMBY syndrome.
• Supports a diversified portfolio of renewable energy technologies.
Germany, with a population of 80 million people, has profited from the use of Advanced Renewable Tariffs by:
• Renewable energy supplies over 14% of Germany's energy requirements.
• Renewable energy is now are generating about 70,000,000 MWh/yr.
• Approximately 300,000 photovoltaic power system installations
• Approximately 2,500 Biomass Plants (Biomass Gasification, Biomethane and Biogas Plants which have Anaerobic Digesters at the heart of their system.
• 6,000 Hydroelectric power plants
• 25,000 wind turbine generators
• Significant numbers of new jobs, including: 50,000 employed in their wind industry (predicted to grow to 110,000 jobs in 2010), 30,000 now employed in their photovoltaic industry, and presently, over 150,000 people are now employed in Germany's renewable energy industry.
As to the increased costs of a Advanced Renewable Tariff in Germany - Germany's impressive results in renewable energy deployment have been achieved with a surcharge of only 0.5 eurocent/kWh or about $3.00 US$ per month for an average household that uses 3,500 kWh per year. The average electricity use in the U.S. is about 3 times higher than Germany's.
Germany's Advanced Renewable Tariff represents a 3% "surcharge" over the previous amounts customers were paying before Germany's Advanced Renewable Tariff was enacted.
Large, electricity intensive industries pay a lower surcharge. This surcharge is expected to increase through 2017 because of a push to increase solar power, which is more expensive than the other resources.
After 2017, the surcharge is expected to decline and “primarily only especially innovative and young renewable energy technologies will remain dependent on this special support”. (quote from “Renewable Energy Sources Act– EEG“ by the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety). Another publication from the same Ministry is “What electricity from Renewable Energies Costs, February 2006).
_____________________________________________________________________
Section
45 Tax Credits
Renewable Energy Tax Credits
Our renewable
energy project development expertise has made us a leading authority of
helping our clients with Section 45 Tax Credits. Our company and our
attorneys are skilled in the areas of renewable energy project finance and
tax issues relating to renewable energy projects. We are able to assist
our clients in connection with Section 45 tax credit project finance.
Our experience in Section 45 tax credits has helped us structure optimal
renewable energy project solutions that match our clients unique economic
and tax goals and requirements, which include regulatory constraints and
regulatory compliance for most any state.
Section 45 tax credits generate $.021 cents per kwh of electricity
produced by the taxpayer and sold to an unrelated person or company.
Section 45 tax credits are available for renewable electricity produced
from certain renewable energy projects including, closed-loop biomass,
open-loop biomass, geothermal power plants, solar energy, small irrigation
power, municipal solid waste, and qualified hydro power production,
refined coal and wind power generation.
See one of our following sites at: www.Section45TaxCredits.com or
www.RenewableEnergyTaxCredits.com
for more information
or call: (832) 758 - 0027 for more information
______________________________________________________________
2-Bladed
Wind Turbines
Versus
3-Bladed Wind Turbines
Out-dated, Inefficient 2-Bladed Wind Turbines Are "Extinct."
Why 3-Bladed Wind Turbine Generators are Far Superior and More Efficient
than 2-Bladed Wind Turbines
The argument has been settled and the debate is over.
Today's "modern" 3-bladed wind turbines represent the latest technological improvements in wind turbine generators, and are superior to the 20-30 year old technology that 2-bladed wind turbines represent.
First of all, it is important to remember that 2-bladed wind turbines may generate only about 90% of the power of a 3-bladed wind turbine of comparable size. While a 2-bladed wind turbine saves the weight of one extra blade when compared with a 3-bladed wind turbine, engineers of the most efficient wind turbines have determined that the extra blade used on 3 bladed wind turbines provide the optimum wind turbine efficiency and wind turbine design for the "ideal" wind turbine generators of today.
Secondly, the top-3 leading wind turbine manufacturers have standardized on the 3-bladed wind turbine. They do not manufacture any 2-bladed wind turbines. Plainly stated, a wind turbine with an even number of blades (2 blades or 4 blades) are NOT of optimum design or efficiency. In fact, this debate was settled years ago when the wind turbine engineers and designers began building wind turbines over 600 kW in power output.
The leading wind turbine manufacturers and their engineers have decided that 3 bladed wind turbines are the optimum number of wind turbine blades due to the stability of the wind turbine as well as the significant wind loads and stresses placed on a 2-bladed wind turbine. A wind turbine that has an odd number of blades is similar to a disc when calculating the computational fluid dynamics of the wind turbine. Engineers have learned that wind turbines that have an even number of blades - such as the 2 bladed wind turbines of the past - have stability problems for a machine with a stiff structure. The reason for this problem is simple, engineers recognized that when a 2-bladed wind turbine's top blade bends backwards - when the wind turbine's 2 blades are in the vertical position - since it is now generating the maximum power from the wind - that the lower or bottom blade is now aligned with the tower and the blade is hidden or blocked from the wind - and this generates a huge amount of stress and loads on the wind turbine and its' primary components such as the bearings, shaft, transmission etc.
Because of the extreme wind loads and stresses placed on 2-bladed wind turbines, the remaining 2-bladed wind turbine manufacturers have had to resort to a "teetered hub" that helps remove some of the stress and loads placed on 2-bladed wind turbines. While there are some very fine 2-bladed wind turbines, of smaller power output, the bottom line is, 3 bladed wind turbines are inherently better and more efficient than 2-bladed wind turbines.
For these reasons, community wind farm owners and developers, along with utility-scale wind farm owners and developers, would be wise to only consider 3-bladed wind turbines.
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California and Canada Each Announcing their own
"Institute for Climate Solutions"
The State of California has recently announced the formation of their new "Institute for Climate Solutions."
California's
Institute for Climate Solutions is not to be confused with the Institute for Climate
Solutions located in Texas, now presently located at the Renewable Energy
Institute.
The California "Institute for Climate Solutions" has received a total
commitment of $1.2 Billion for solving climate problems. This $1.2 billion
for California's Institute for Climate Solutions is made-up from $600 million in funding via their state's ratepayers - the California "Institute for Climate Solutions" will receive the $600 million at the rate of $60 million/year over the next 10 years.
The Institute for Climate Solutions is responsible for raising an additional
$600 million for its' funding requirements, for a total of $1.2 billion or $120
million/year for their operations, research and development.
The Press Release for California's Institute for Climate Solutions is found at
the following: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/published/News_release/81168.htm
Also announcing their new "Institute for Climate Solutions" is the Country of
Canada. Their new Institute for Climate Solutions has received $94.5 million in funding thus far.
The link to this Press Release is found here: http://www.pics.uvic.ca
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Introduction
to Biodiesel,
Biomethane or Synthesis Gas
The Renewable Energy Institute is now offering its' "Introduction to Biofuels" for those considering building a new biodiesel, biogas/biomethane or synthesis gas/biomass gasification plant. Call (832) 758 - 0027 for more information. The Renewable Energy Institute - through our Scientific Advisory Board members, offers three types of Feasibility Reviews & Studies:
Phase I Preliminary Screening Review - Depending on the specific type of study, location, amount of time we require, and any additional requirements that may be added by the client. This review requires 30 to 60 days to complete and may include a site visit to one of our affiliated facilities.
Phase II Feasibility Study and Analysis - Provides a solid basis for moving a potential renewable energy project forward. The cost for this depends on the type, location, amount of time we require, and any additional requirements that may be included by the client. This study requires a number of inputs for us to estimate the cost and requires 90 to 180 days, on average, to complete. Final result is usually a basis for a loan or other investment funding.
Phase III Detailed Concept, Engineering and Design Analysis - the actual renewable energy project is conceived, designed and engineered. Final result is usually ready for a company to start construction. A Phase III can take about 6 months to complete and will cost anywhere from 10% to 15% of the overall cost of the project.
Our Feasibility Reviews, Studies and Analyses are led by one of our engineers and PhD's that serve on our Scientific Advisory Board. They are each recognized leaders in the renewable energy industry and/or academia. Our goal is to help you determine whether your renewable energy is viable, identify the merits of your proposed renewable energy project, identify weak points, provide our recommended course of action, as well as our recommendations for products and equipment that need further review or consideration.
Our Feasibility Studies are an excellent "foundation" for building your next renewable energy project. Feasibility Studies and reviews that are available for most renewable energy projects include:
-
Biodiesel Plants
-
Energy Efficiency
-
Renewable Energy Technologies - product evaluations
-
Solar Power Plants
-
Sustainable Urban Living developments
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The Renewable Energy
Institute is presently providing leadership, engineering or renewable energy
project development consulting services for the following:
-
Completion of the "world's best" Anaerobic Digester
-
Anaerobic Digester feasibility studies for customer facilities located in California, Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and New York
-
(2) new Biodiesel plants in New York and Texas
-
"Natural Wastewater Treatment" plants - available only through the Renewable Energy Institute
-
Multiple Demand Side Management and/or Automated Demand Response projects in California, Texas, New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
-
Multiple Biomass Gasification plants located in the U.S., Europe and Central America
-
Trigeneration power plant for dairy in Texas
_____________________________________________________________________
As a non-profit
organization, you can help support of our mission with your
tax-deductible contribution. Please send to:
Renewable
Energy Institute
P.O. Box 684669
Austin, Texas 78768-4669
Thank
you!
_____________________________________________________________________
The
Renewable Energy Institute Is The
Founding Company of the Following:
Renewable Energy Association
Institute for Climate Solutions
Charter Memberships & Advertising
Opportunities Now Available
Please inquire for More Information
Call (832) 758 - 0027
_____________________________________________________________________
The
Renewable Energy Institute is Developing
The "Sustainable
Urban Living"
Model of
Community Sustainability
In
association with the University of Texas School of Architecture, the Renewable
Energy Institute has started the research and development of "Sustainable
Urban Living" and "Sustainable Redevelopment." In our first
introduction of Sustainable Urban Living and Sustainable Redevelopment, the
Renewable Energy Institute along with graduate students of the University of
Texas School of Architecture and Professor Michael Garrison, entered their
"Sustainable Urban Living" entry in the Brad Pitt & Global Green
Rebuild New Orleans Competition. Watch for more details and information on
Sustainable Urban Living at: www.SustainableUrbanLiving.com
or www.SustainableRedevelopment.com
_____________________________________________________________________
What
is "Renewable Energy?"
"Renewable Energy is defined as any energy resource that is naturally regenerated over a short time scale and derived directly from the sun (such as thermal, photochemical, and photoelectric), indirectly from the sun (such as wind, hydropower, and photosynthetic energy stored in biomass), or from other natural movements and mechanisms of the environment (such as geothermal and tidal energy). Renewable energy does not include energy resources derived from fossil fuels, waste products from fossil sources, or waste products from inorganic sources."
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Why We Need A "Unified Smart Grid" or "Transmission Superhighway," NOW!
According to Mont Goodell, President of the Renewable Energy Institute, "our country desperately needs to upgrade its' national electric grid. The grid of today is a relic from the past, that is inefficient and costly. Originally built in the 1930's, it is costing our nation approximately $120 billion every year due to its' outdated and out-lived existence. The national power grid as designed and built in the 1930's does not have the efficiencies and capabilities to keep pace with the national power grid's demands of today."
"What we
need" according to Mr. Goodell, is a "unified smart grid" or
"transmission superhighway" that is buried underground
that wheels or moves the renewable power ("green electricity") from
the wind farms of the midwest, and solar farms of the southwest, and geothermal
farms of the west, to load centers throughout every corner of the U.S."
According to many estimates, the "unified smart grid" or
"Transmission Superhighway" could be built for about $400
billion. Through its' increased efficiencies, savings and reliability improvements
that it will provide, the nation's new "unified smart grid" will be
paid in full, in less than 4 years.
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According
to the United Nations: "It
is estimated that Greenhouse Gas
Emissions trading markets could be worth $2 Trillion by 2012."
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=433&ArticleID=4792&l=en
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ANNOUNCING
THE OPENING OF THE
RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTITUTE
FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA!
The State of Florida joins the State of Texas and now has its' own Renewable Energy Institute!
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Dugas has been elected to serve as the Executive Director of the Renewable Energy Institute for the State of Florida. More information can be found on their new website at:
www.RenewableEnergyInstitute.org/Florida.htm
The Renewable Energy Institute in Florida, like the REI in Texas, will be focused on identifying the unique Renewable Energy Resources of Florida (such as solar, biomass and wind), along with the unique Renewable Energy Technologies (like Anaerobic Digesters, Bioenergy Centers, Biogas Plants, Biomass Gasification, Demand Side Management, Geothermal Power Plants, Ground Source heat Pumps, Hydrogen fuel Cells, Solar Trigeneration, etc.) that will help Florida and Floridian's by providing them with "carbon free energy" and "pollution free power" that will end carbon dioxide emissions, greenhouse gas emissions, which will help mitigate and reverse climate change and global warming.
The Renewable Energy Institute is leading the engineering and design to develop the world's best Anaerobic Digesters.
Anaerobic
Digesters recover Biomethane from organic
materials and prevents the Biomethane - which has a
Global
Warming Potential that is 21 times more harmful to our climate than Carbon
Dioxide Emissions - from entering the atmosphere.
The Biomethane, which we also refer to as "Renewable
Natural Gas" is then used as a fuel for our cogeneration
and trigeneration power plants. Alternatively,
we may sell the Biomethane to a customer and
transport it to them from our Anaerobic
Digesters via natural gas pipelines. We believe Anaerobic
Digesters are so vital for renewable energy production and preventing
climate change, that all wastewater treatment plants as well as most CAFO's (concentrated
animal feeding operations) - no matter what country - will be installing Anaerobic
Digesters to prevent Biomethane from entering
the atmosphere and help reverse climate change.
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Carbon
Dioxide Emissions Since the year 1750
##
World CO2 since 1750 (cubic feet)
The
carbon clock tracks total carbon dioxide emissions in metric tons since 1750.
Since 1750, humans have emitted over 5 trillion pounds of carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere. Roughly half of this has ended up in the oceans where it is
beginning to damage the coral reefs. The other half is still in the atmosphere
and causing global warming. Each pound of CO2 takes up as much space as a 500
pound person.
The formula (which should be good for a year or two) is:
C(t) = 2.58 ×1012 + 1240×t, where t is seconds since the start of 2007.
C is tonnes (metric tons) of carbon dioxide emissions.
2205 x C gives pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
That comes to over 43 billion tons/year or over 86 trillion pounds/year.
Carbon dioxide (2) = 1 carbon atom with 2 oxygen atoms.
Carbon has relative weight 12 and Oxygen 16.
So it takes only 12 pounds of carbon to make 12+16+16 = 44 pounds of CO2.
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"The
basic insight is to realize that global warming, the geopolitics of oil, and
warfare in the Persian Gulf are not separate problems --- they are aspects of a
single problem, the West's dependence on oil."
- R. James Woolsey, former CIA Director