Green Power Network Update - April 2012

DOE Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation sent this bulletin at 05/02/2012 05:07 PM EDT
U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy The Green Power Network U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, The Green Power Network

April 2012

This update summarizes recent green power marketing activity, including news and information on competitive green power marketing, utility green pricing programs, renewable energy certificates, green power purchasing, and related market activity. Additional information on green power markets and products, as well as links to the companies mentioned below, can be found on the U.S. Department of Energy's Green Power Network website.
News Renewable Energy RFPs in May

News


Michigan State University Commits to Green Power

The Michigan State University (MSU) Board of Trustees voted to adopt the university's Energy Transition Plan, which requires the campus to acquire 40 percent of its energy use from renewable sources by 2030, with the ultimate goal to be eventually powered by 100 percent renewable energy. The plan was created by the Energy Transition Steering Committee; a 24 member group of students, faculty and staff who developed the plan to help MSU meet its future energy needs while addressing energy costs and environmental impacts.

PG&E Announces New Green Power Program

Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) is seeking approval from the California Public Utilities Commission to offer a new green power program to begin in early 2013. PG&E will purchase renewable energy certificates to match the portion of each participating electric customer's energy that is not already covered by PG&E's eligible renewable energy deliveries. The Green Option program would allow customers to support 100 percent renewable energy and PG&E expects that residential customers will pay about $6 each month to participate. PG&E plans to certify the Green Option through Green-e Energy, a program of the Center for Resource Solutions.

Maine Launches Green Power Program

The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) and 3Degrees announced the launch of Maine Green Power, a new state-wide voluntary green power program, which gives residents and businesses the opportunity to purchase locally produced renewable energy from solar, hydro, wind, biomass or other renewable energy projects located in the state. The Maine Green Power program will be available to customers of Central Maine Power, Bangor Hydro Electric Company, and Maine Public Service Company.

Maine Green Power participants can purchase green power in 500 kilowatt-hour blocks. Each block costs $7.50 per month, and residential customers can purchase between 0.5 and 4 blocks of renewable energy each month. Commercial customer can also purchase green power blocks at a rate of $7.50, though they must purchase a minimum of one block per month.

Microsoft and McDonald's Join EPA Green Power Partnership

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its updated National Top 50 Green Power Partnership rankings, which recognize leading organizations for their voluntary green power efforts. Microsoft and McDonald's, who joined the EPA Green Power Partnership in March, both made the National Top 50 rankings. Microsoft ranked 3rd, with more than 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of annual green power usage, while McDonald's ranked 11th overall with 306 million kWh of annual green power usage. Intel and Kohl's retained the top two spots.

Cincinnati (OH) Offers 100% Green Power Option for Customers

The City of Cincinnati, Ohio announced the launch of its community choice aggregation (CCA) program, which will provide a 100 percent green electricity option for the city's eligible residents and small businesses. Percentage of income payment plan customers, as well as small business customers who use more than 700,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year are not eligible to participate in the program. CCA allows local governments to aggregate electricity demand within their jurisdictions in order to procure alternative energy supplies while maintaining existing transmission and distribution services.

Cincinnati selected FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) to be the city's green power provider, and will now negotiate a contract for a 100 percent green electricity supply. The city's CCA program is expected to begin in June, and it is estimated that eligible residential households who remain in the program will save about $133 per year on electricity costs. The city's program is an opt-out program, which means that eligible customers will be automatically enrolled in the program, and must decline if they do not want to participate.

A portion of FES's green power product will come from local renewable energy sources, including renewable energy certificates generated from the Cincinnati Zoo Solar canopy project.

Wellesley (MA) Program Achieves 10% Participation

Wellesley, Massachusetts residents and businesses are voluntarily supporting renewable energy. The town has achieved a 10 percent green power participation rate through Wellesley's Renewable Energy Program. Wellesley Municipal Light Plant customers have the power to choose renewable energy, generated primarily from the Spruce Mountain Wind Farm, for a portion or all of their electricity usage.

Babson College, Massachusetts, recently joined Wellesley's Renewable Energy Program. Babson will join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Green Power Partnership, and the town of Wellesley is also in the process of applying to be an EPA Green Power Community for its voluntary green power achievements. Green Power Communities must collectively use green power in amounts that meet minimum EPA percentage requirements, based on base load electricity use.

Lowe's Green Power Purchasing Increases 34%

Lowe's increased its annual green power purchasing by 34 percent, according to the company's 2011 Social Responsibility Report. Lowe's purchased more than 148 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy in 2011, compared to 111 million kWh in 2010. The increase in green power purchasing allowed Lowe's to move up from 34th to 31st on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Top 50 Green Power Partner rankings. Lowe's currently ranks 8th on the Top 20 Retail Green Power Partner list.

Clean Currents Launches Green Passport Promotional Campaign

Clean Currents announced the launch of its Green Passport D.C. promotional campaign, which runs from April 3rd through May 6th. The Green Passport D.C. contest combines social media with in-person activities to promote Washington D.C. area businesses that utilize renewable wind energy provided by Clean Currents.

Green Passport D.C. uses smart phone applications which allow participants to scan a quick response (QR) code to "check in" to participating locations. Participants will earn $2.50 each time they check in to any of the forty-eight participating companies, with a maximum award of $50, and a chance to win a $2,000 grand prize. In addition to rewards, participants also have the option to choose one of four local charities to receive a matching donation from Clean Currents each time they check in to a Green Passport D.C. destination.

Austin Energy Offers 100% Renewable Electrical Vehicle Charging

Austin Energy, located in Austin Texas, now has 100 public-access charging stations in the Plug-in EVerywhere network for plug-in electric vehicles, all powered by 100% renewable energy. The 100 electric vehicle charging stations are located at Austin Community College campuses, City of Austin public facilities, and retail and commercial businesses throughout the city.

Austin area electric vehicle drivers can purchase pre-paid Plug-in EVerywhere network cards for $25 each, which allows unlimited public station charging for six months. Electricity for the Plug-in EVerywhere charging network is generated from 100 percent renewable energy provided by GreenChoice, Austin Energy's renewable energy option offered to its electric customers.

 

Renewable Energy RFPs in May


Deadline: May 10, 2012

Ameren Illinois RFP seeking suppliers to deliver 523,376 MWh of renewable energy certificates (RECs) generated by renewable energy resources as defined in Illinois Pubic Act 95-0481, for the compliance period June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013.
Contact: John Bitler, 617-531-2818 ext. 22

Deadline: May 11, 2012

Western Area Power Administration RFI, acting under authority of the EPAct 2005 and at the request of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Citizens Energy Corporation, is seeking interest from its customers in the Upper Great Plains Region regarding the purchase of renewable energy generated from the proposed 99-MW Tate Topa Wind Energy Project located on the tribal reservation.
Contact: Michael Radecki, 406-255-2930

Deadline: May 24, 2012

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) RFP seeking qualified parties for power purchase agreements (PPAs) to design, permit, finance, install, own, operate, and maintain photovoltaic power generation facilities on MBTA properties. The solar installations will be located at the Wonderland Station Parking Garage in Revere, Massachusetts, and at Readville Yard 5, in Dedham, Massachusetts. The minimum annual generating capacity of the PV systems is 200 kW for the Wonderland Garage site, and 2.3 MW for the Readville Yard 5 site.
Contact: Phil Jean, 617-482-2525

Deadline: May 29, 2012

Tucson Airport Authority RFP (#10112269) seeking qualified parties to design and build a 1 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic array on a canopy structure in the Daily Parking Lot at the Tucson International Airport, which will export all generated electricity to the utility grid. The project will require canopy structures, solar photovoltaic panels, electrical equipment including combiners, inverters, metering and utility interconnect, and control and communications equipment including an energy production monitoring system.
Contact: Sylvia Granillo, 520-573-4821



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