FOA: $20 Million for Innovative Geothermal Technologies
The U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) today announced up to $20 million for research, development, and demonstration of cutting-edge geothermal technologies. DOE want projects that demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of certain non-conventional geothermal energy technologies, such as low-temperature fluids, geothermal fluids recovered from oil and gas wells, and highly pressurized geothermal fluids.
Specifically, the funds will be allocated to research in the following areas:
- Low-temperature geothermal fluids at temperatures up to 300° Fahrenheit (F) or approximately 150° Celsius (C).
- Geothermal fluids produced from productive, unproductive, or marginal oil and gas wells, mining operations or other hydrocarbon or mineral extraction processes.
- Highly pressurized or "geopressured" fluid resources that show potential for cost-effective recovery of heat, kinetic energy, and gas.
- Innovative cooling systems; systems with more efficient heat exchanging materials or systems that maximize energy output through a combination of electricity generation and direct-heat technologies.
All US entities are eligible including universities, nonprofit and for-profit private entities, State and local governments and federally funded contractors. The cost share is 20%. Applications are due July 9, 2010.
The complete funding opportunity announcement can be viewed here: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/PublicPages/PublicSearch/Public_Opportunities.aspx
Show me the Money: $162 million Deployed to Seven State Energy Programs
From our colleague Christina Asavareungchai:
Today, the Department of Energy announced more than $162 million in Recovery Act funding to seven states and territories under their State Energy Programs (“SEPs”). Here is how the funds will be used in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico:
Colorado will use its SEP funds to remove financial barriers to the rapid acceleration of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Colorado will also help state agencies cut their energy use, in addition to significantly expanding an existing rebate and grants program for renewable energy projects. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Colorado will receive additional funds of over $24 million, for a total of more than $49 million.
Delaware will use its SEP funds to help finance energy efficiency measures in homes, small businesses, commercial buildings, and manufacturing facilities. Delaware will also offer additional rebates for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, small wind applications, and geothermal systems for buildings. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Delaware will receive additional funds of over $12 million, for a total of more than $24 million.
Indiana will use its SEP funds to offer financial assistance for the deployment of energy efficient technologies and to finance training programs and educational outreach about the merits of energy conservation. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Indiana will receive additional funds of over $34 million, for a total of more than $68 million.
Louisiana will use its SEP funds to support energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings, as well as new and existing homes. Louisiana will also finance energy efficiency retrofits for government buildings and will encourage the use of efficient street lighting. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Louisiana will receive additional funds of over $35 million, for a total of almost $72 million.
Massachusetts will use its SEP funds to promote energy efficiency statewide, finance energy efficiency upgrades of public facilities, and facilitate the demonstration of energy efficiency solutions. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Massachusetts will receive additional funds of over $27 million, for a total of almost $55 million.
Pennsylvania will use its SEP funds to help finance clean energy projects initiated by businesses, nonprofit organizations, universities, local governments, and utilities, in addition to establishing a revolving loan fund aimed at facilities projects, resource efficiency, and clean energy technologies. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Pennsylvania will receive additional funds of almost $50 million, for a total of almost $100 million.
Puerto Rico will use its SEP funds to provide financial assistance for private sector energy projects, as well as for building retrofits in both the public and private sectors. Puerto Rico will also support the revision of building codes, the switch to more energy efficient traffic lights, and the establishment of an education and mass media outreach program. After demonstrating success in the execution of its plan, Puerto Rico will receive additional funds of over $18 million, for a total of over $37 million.
Strategies for Tapping the West's Renewable Energy Potential
The Western Governors' Association ("WGA") gathered in Park City, Utah for its annual meeting, which was held on June 14-16, 2009. Attendees at the meeting included Governors Bill Ritter (Colo.); C.L. "Butch" Otter (Idaho); Brian Schweitzer (Mont.); Dave Heineman (Neb.); Bill Richardson (N.M.); Benigno Fitial, Northern Mariana Islands; Ted Kulongoski (Ore.); Mike Rounds (S.D.); Dave Freudenthal (Wyo.); and Jon Huntsman, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert (Utah) , along with Canadian Premiers Ed Stelmach, Alberta; Gary Doer, Manitoba; and Brad Wall, Saskatchewan.
The morning session on Monday, June 15, 2009, was kicked off with the unveiling of the Western Renewable Energy Zones-Phase 1 Report, which was a product of a joint initiative between the WGA and the U.S. Department of Energy (the "WREZ Initiative"). The intention of the WREZ Initiative is twofold: (1) to identify Western Renewable Energy Zones in the Western Interconnection and (2) to facilitate the development of high voltage transmission to those areas with abundant high-quality renewable resources and low environmental impacts. Governor Schweitzer provided an overview of the WREZ Phase I report, which included a summary of the process for obtaining feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders to provide the analysis and tools for constructing a plan to facilitate the construction of new, utility scale renewable energy facilities and any needed transmission to deliver that energy across the Western Interconnection. The WREZ Initiative has developed a modeling tool for evaluating the relative economic attractiveness of costs of delivered renewable energy, including transmission costs, from specific renewable resource areas delivered to specific load centers.
With the WREZ Phase I Report as the backdrop, the Western Governors were joined by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, and FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff for an insightful and fulsome discussion on the current challenges faced by the Western states in developing renewable energy projects and building the necessary transmission infrastructure, along with policy recommendations to assist in overcoming those challenges through collaboration between the federal and state agencies.
Governor Freudenthal indicated that from his perspective, there were several major challenges to building transmission in the West, but that the largest hurdle was permitting transmission lines or other renewable energy projects on federal lands. Another issue of concern for Governor Freudenthal was in "right sizing" the transmission lines and how Stimulus monies could be used to jumpstart the process of transmission upgrades. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar responded that the Department of Interior will be establishing renewable energy offices throughout the West, including one in Wyoming, that will be staffed by employees familiar with renewable energy project development. The goal is to be able to fast track renewable energy applications and to obtain quick decision making. Secretary of Energy Chu indicated that the Department of Energy would be announcing funding opportunities related to transmission, including:
- $80 Million for Regional and Interconnection Transmission Analysis and Planning
- $50 Million for Assistance to State Electricity Regulators
- Approximately $40 Million to Support Energy Assurance Capabilities for States
Secretary Chu also indicated that several of the federal agencies under his watch, including WAPA and BPA, are not moving in a timely manner in facilitating funding opportunities for renewable energy and transmission development. Secretary Chu expressly requested that the Governors contact him directly if any of these agencies are taking actions that will deter private investment in renewable energy and related transmission projects so that he can address these potential impacts immediately.
Overall, the presence of the three cabinet members from the Obama Administration, along with FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghof and Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Nancy Sutley at this conference was a strong indication of the Administration's desire to partner with the Western Governors to address the country's long-term energy challenges, create jobs, and to cut the country's carbon emissions by unlocking the enormous potential for renewable energy in the Western United States. The Western Governors passed Policy Resolution 09-1 (Energy Policy, Renewable Energy and Transmission for the West) with directives to WGA staff:
- To work with Congress, the Administration, and other appropriate entities to implement the policies contained in the resolution;
- To continue to implement the Western Renewable Energy Zones initiative and to report on the progress of the initiative at the next scheduled meeting;
- To work with the federal government as necessary to create and implement a long-term, comprehensive-energy policy that ensures that the WGA moves toward affordable and environmentally responsible energy security and independence;
- To work with WECC to establish future transmission scenarios;
- To work with Congress to extend the duration and amount of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) existing federal loan guarantee program and to expedite the issuance of loan guarantees in all energy sectors.
