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DOE 11 Lab Study on technology, greenhouse gases

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At long last, DOE’s “11 Lab” study has been released.
The DOE press release is attached below.

The report is on the web (pdf acrobat format) at
http://www.ornl.gov/climate_change

Oak Ridge will have hardcopies available shortly.
Contact Brenda Campbell, 423-574-4333, xbd@ornl.com

Here’s a part of an UFTO Note (11/97).
————-
The work began in June 96 following Clinton’s speech to the U.N. Each of the 11 labs that worked on the study took the lead on a specific technology area, such as efficiency in buildings, efficiency in transportation, fossil power generation, nuclear, renewables, cross-cutting areas, basic research, and carbon sequestration. It was a bottom-up effort, looking in depth at the technology itself. There was no analytical modelling of the overall energy system or economy.

NREL and ORNL were the lead labs for the effort, with direction and involvement at the lab director level.

The report concludes that science and technology can do a lot, but that appropriate policies and funding are needed for commercialization. Appendices detail 50 separate technology categories, with order-of-magnitude range estimates of carbon emission reductions to the year 2030 and beyond. ————

————————————————————–
| ** UFTO ** Edward Beardsworth ** Consultant
| 951 Lincoln Ave. tel 650-328-5670
| Palo Alto CA 94301-3041 fax 650-328-5675
| http://www.ufto.com edbeards@ufto.com
————————————————————–

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 1998

WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES COULD REDUCE GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS, STUDY FINDS

National Laboratories Highlight Pathways to Cleaner Environment

The United States has many options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through new, cleaner energy technologies, the directors of 11 of the Department of Energy’s national laboratories conclude in a study released today. The directors recommend aggressively developing a wide range of technologies over the next several decades.

The directors’ report, Technology Opportunities to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, outlines almost 50 technology pathways that could eliminate the emissions of hundreds of millions of tons of carbon per year. They include such near-term practical technologies as electric hybrid vehicles, high-efficiency lighting, super-insulating windows, and passive solar heating and cooling of buildings. They also include mid-term to longer term technologies that need further development, such as fuel cells for transportation, microturbines, broad use of biomass fuels and hydrogen-fueled energy systems.

“Technologies already being developed by industry and by national laboratories are key to meeting President Clinton’s challenge to reduce greenhouse gases while contributing to economic growth,” said Secretary of Energy Federico Pe–a. “This report lays out what we need to do to bring our nation’s best scientific and engineering talent to bear on solving this problem. With the support of American consumers and businesses, we can have a major impact on the kind of world we leave for future generations.”

The 11 laboratory directors recommend that the federal government lead a vigorous national push to develop energy technologies during the next three decades to achieve a major reduction in the risk of global warming. While the study does not recommend specific funding levels for technology research, development and deployment, it estimates some increases will be needed to push critical technologies to the commercialization stage. A report issued last year by the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology reached a similar conclusion about the need for increased investment in energy research and development. Also, government-industry partnerships are essential, the laboratory study says, to overcome scientific, technical and commercial challenges to developing the recommended technologies.

The United States emits 23 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Some 90 percent of those emissions come from energy use, and about 85 percent of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere comes from burning fossil fuels. The study examines technologies that can reduce emissions in three ways — by using energy more efficiently, reducing the amount of carbon released through energy use and increasing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere.

Technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will become available at different times over the next 30 years, according to the study. In the first decade, significant advances in energy efficiency technologies — such as in appliances, heating and cooling systems, and transportation — would produce the greatest reductions in emissions. During the following 10 years, research-based advances in clean energy technologies could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These could include high-efficiency natural gas systems, renewable energy such as solar and wind, and fuel cells. And by 2030, research in carbon sequestration — carbon storage, carbon absorption and carbon removal by oceans, forests and soils — could produce valuable results.

The study stresses the importance of pursuing a number of technologies at each stage to provide choices and flexibility for energy users. The 47 options the lab directors recommend cover almost all sectors of the economy, including buildings, industry, transportation and agriculture.

Admiral Richard Truly, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Dr. Alvin Trivelpiece, director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, co-chaired the technology study. The participating labs were Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Federal Energy Technology Center, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

NOTE: The study, Technology Opportunities to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, is on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ornl.gov/climate_change The files are in PDF format and can be read in Acrobat Reader.
-DOE-

R-98-051

DOE 11 Lab Study on technology, greenhouse gases

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Subject: UFTO Note – DOE 11 Lab Study on technology, greenhouse gases
Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998
At long last, DOE’s “11 Lab” study has been released. The DOE press release is attached below.

The report is on the web (pdf acrobat format) at http://www.ornl.gov/climate_change

Oak Ridge will have hardcopies available shortly.

Contact Brenda Campbell, 423-574-4333, xbd@ornl.com

 

Here’s a part of an UFTO Note (11/97).

————-

The work began in June 96 following Clinton’s speech to the U.N. Each of the 11 labs that worked on the study took the lead on a specific technology area, such as efficiency in buildings, efficiency in transportation, fossil power generation, nuclear, renewables, cross-cutting areas, basic research, and carbon sequestration. It was a bottom-up effort, looking in depth at the technology itself. There was no analytical modelling of the overall energy system or economy.

NREL and ORNL were the lead labs for the effort, with direction and involvement at the lab director level.

The report concludes that science and technology can do a lot, but that appropriate policies and funding are needed for commercialization. Appendices detail 50 separate technology categories, with order-of-magnitude range estimates of carbon emission reductions to the year 2030 and beyond.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 22, 1998

WIDE RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES COULD REDUCE GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS, STUDY FINDS

National Laboratories Highlight Pathways to Cleaner Environment

The United States has many options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions through new, cleaner energy technologies, the directors of 11 of the Department of Energy’s national laboratories conclude in a study released today. The directors recommend aggressively developing a wide range of technologies over the next several decades.

The directors’ report, Technology Opportunities to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, outlines almost 50 technology pathways that could eliminate the emissions of hundreds of millions of tons of carbon per year. They include such near-term practical technologies as electric hybrid vehicles, high-efficiency lighting, super-insulating windows, and passive solar heating and cooling of buildings. They also include mid-term to longer term technologies that need further development, such as fuel cells for transportation, microturbines, broad use of biomass fuels and hydrogen-fueled energy systems.

“Technologies already being developed by industry and by national laboratories are key to meeting President Clinton’s challenge to reduce greenhouse gases while contributing to economic growth,” said Secretary of Energy Federico Pe–a. “This report lays out what we need to do to bring our nation’s best scientific and engineering talent to bear on solving this problem. With the support of American consumers and businesses, we can have a major impact on the kind of world we leave for future generations.”

The 11 laboratory directors recommend that the federal government lead a vigorous national push to develop energy technologies during the next three decades to achieve a major reduction in the risk of global warming. While the study does not recommend specific funding levels for technology research, development and deployment, it estimates some increases will be needed to push critical technologies to the commercialization stage. A report issued last year by the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology reached a similar conclusion about the need for increased investment in energy research and development. Also, government-industry partnerships are essential, the laboratory study says, to overcome scientific, technical and commercial challenges to developing the recommended technologies.

The United States emits 23 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Some 90 percent of those emissions come from energy use, and about 85 percent of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere comes from burning fossil fuels. The study examines technologies that can reduce emissions in three ways — by using energy more efficiently, reducing the amount of carbon released through energy use and increasing the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere.

Technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will become available at different times over the next 30 years, according to the study. In the first decade, significant advances in energy efficiency technologies — such as in appliances, heating and cooling systems, and transportation — would produce the greatest reductions in emissions. During the following 10 years, research-based advances in clean energy technologies could greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These could include high-efficiency natural gas systems, renewable energy such as solar and wind, and fuel cells. And by 2030, research in carbon sequestration — carbon storage, carbon absorption and carbon removal by oceans, forests and soils — could produce valuable results.

The study stresses the importance of pursuing a number of technologies at each stage to provide choices and flexibility for energy users. The 47 options the lab directors recommend cover almost all sectors of the economy, including buildings, industry, transportation and agriculture.

Admiral Richard Truly, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Dr. Alvin Trivelpiece, director of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, co-chaired the technology study. The participating labs were Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Federal Energy Technology Center, Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

NOTE: The study, Technology Opportunities to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, is on the World Wide Web at: http://www.ornl.gov/climate_change The files are in PDF format and can be read in Acrobat Reader.

-DOE-

 

R-98-051

Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan

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On Wed, DOE announced the Clinton Administration’s plan for the Electric Power Industry. The Summary, complete text, and Q&A, appear on the DOE’s home page (attached) at:

http://www.hr.doe.gov/electric/cecp.htm

———————————————————-
Here is the press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 1998

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Welch, 202/586-5806

Administration’s Plan Will Bring Competition
To Electricity, Savings to Consumers

$20 Billion a Year in Savings for Consumers

The Clinton Administration today announced a proposal to bring competition and consumer choice to the electricity industry, saving consumers roughly $20 billion a year and improving the environment by reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Administration’s Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan will provide customer choice by 2003, but will allow states to opt out of competition if they believe that their consumers would be better off under the status quo. Replacing a regulated monopoly system with competition will also encourage efficiency, bring new products and services, strengthen reliability of service and protect consumers.

“This proposal will provide incentives for increased efficiency in the electricity market, saving American consumers $20 billion a year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Both the economy and the environment will benefit,” said President William J. Clinton.

“We will bring America’s electric industry into the modern era and save consumers money. A family of four will save $232 a year — about two weeks of groceries. For the average family, this is the equivalent of getting a 5 percent income tax cut,” said Secretary of Energy Federico Pe–a. “Competitive forces will also create a more efficient, leaner and cleaner industry. And the environment will benefit as reduced emissions accompany this increased efficiency.”

“This comprehensive plan is the Clinton Administration’s blueprint to Congress so that together we can design legislation that protects the environment, public health and the economy,” said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. “In addition to bringing competition to the electricity industry, this plan will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in cost-effective ways and march in lockstep with our previous commitments to clean air.”

“Sixteen states have already moved to provide for electricity industry competition. There are, however, issues that only the federal government can deal with,” said Secretary Pe–a. “Federal legislation is needed to enable states to implement retail competition effectively. And only federal legislation can modify or repeal outdated federal laws, cover regional electricity markets, address concerns about market power, ensure that the interstate electricity grid is reliable, and establish uniform standards so that all Americans are receiving the same information about their utility suppliers. We want to work with Congress to get comprehensive legislation that benefits all consumers.”

The Administration’s Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan:

– Provides for customer choice by January 1, 2003, but allows states to opt out of the competitive market structure if they believe that their consumers would be better off under the status quo system or their own unique restructuring proposal. This will give states the freedom to structure retail competition that works best for their citizens.

– Supports stranded cost recovery for utilities that might not otherwise be able to recover the costs of certain past investments that are no longer economic in the low-cost competitive market. The plan encourages states to provide for recovery of stranded costs, supporting their fundamental authority in these matters.

– Strengthens electric service reliability by requiring that all participants in physical electric transactions on the grid comply with mandatory standards. The plan improves reliability by building on the industry’s tradition of self-regulation and giving the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority to approve and oversee a private, self regulating organization that develops and enforces mandatory reliability standards.

– Gives FERC authority to require transmitting utilities to turn over operational control of transmission facilities to an independent system operator. The plan also includes a proposal to amend federal law to encourage the development of regional transmission planning and siting groups.

– Requires all utility companies to disclose, in a consistent format, information about the services they offer so customers can comparison shop and know what they are buying. Just as the Food and Drug Administration requires manufacturers to disclose nutrition information on a cereal box, utilities will use a standard consumer label that will include information on prices, terms, conditions, and the environmental impacts of the electric power being sold.

– Establishes a Renewable Portfolio Standard to ensure that at least 5.5 percent of all electricity sales include generation from renewable energy sources by 2010. This would double the projected amount of energy from non hydroelectric renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass. If companies cannot generate power from their own renewable sources, they can purchase credits from those who exceed their targets. The proposal includes a backup cost cap to limit program costs.

– Cuts pollution and greenhouse gases. When costs start to matter, there will be increased economic incentives to cut the two-thirds of energy currently wasted in fossil fuel electricity generation. Greater power plant efficiency saves fuel, cuts oil imports and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

– Establishes a Public Benefits Fund to provide matching funds of up to $3 billion to states for low-income assistance, energy-efficiency programs, research and development, and renewable technologies. These costs are currently passed on to consumers by regulated utilities in their rates. For example, many utilities include in their rates the cost of programs that make sure the poor and elderly do not have their heat shut off during the winter months. This funding approach will no longer work under competition because utilities will have to compete with new suppliers who do not have to pay for these costs. Many states that are moving to competition intend to continue funding these programs through a separate distribution fee on all electricity customers. The Public Benefit Fund would encourage and support states to ensure that the current level of funding for these programs, estimated at about $6 billion in 1996, is preserved.

– Gives EPA authority to provide interstate nitrogen oxide trading authority to assure that we achieve NOx reductions as cost-effectively as possible and enhance air quality.

– Modernizes federal electricity law to get the right balance of competition without market abuse, including giving FERC the authority to mitigate market power in the event that some companies begin to acquire excessive control over retail electricity markets and repealing outdated laws like the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 and the “must buy” provision of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.

“The electricity industry is still operating under a regulated, monopoly system — rules, regulations and laws that were first enacted decades ago. Consumers can’t choose their own suppliers and there is little incentive for companies to be cost- and energy-efficient. Why? Because a regulated monopoly supplier doesn’t have to compete and essentially has a guarantee that its costs will be recovered.

“If you’re the only game in town, you set the rules of the game,” Pe–a said. “With competition, we’re going to change this. With competition, the customer will come first.”

– DOE –

R-98-035

————————————————————
[Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan]

Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan on-line
Download a copy of the Comprehensive Electricity
Competition Plan (*PDF format)

Summary on-line
Download a copy of the Summary (*PDF format)

Questions and Answers about the Plan 0n-line
Download a copy of the Questions and Answers about
the Plan (*PDF format)

News Release on the Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan

Fact Sheets
————————————————————

Benefits of Plan
Need for Federal Action
Retail Competition Policy – Flexible Mandate
Stranded Cost Principle
Consumer Information
Strengthen Electric System Reliability
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Public Benefits Fund
Air Quality
Download a copy of all Fact Sheets (*PDF format)
Download a copy of Fact Sheets about Impact of Plan on
Consumers by Identified Regions (*PDF format)

Charts

Second DOE study on Greenhouse Gases

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DOE is preparing another major study on greenhouse gases for release by the end of Novermber, called “Technology Opportunities to Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions”, also known as the “11-Lab Study”.

———————
| This is separate from the “5-Lab Study” released in September
| (see UFTO Note Sept 10)
| “Scenarios of U. S. Carbon Reductions Potential Impacts of Energy-
| Efficient and Low-Carbon Technologies by 2010 and Beyond”
| Full text available in pdf Acrobat at
| http://www.ornl.gov/ORNL/Energy_Eff/CON444/
| Copies available on request from Tonia Edwards, 423-241-5961
——————–

The work began in June 96 following Clinton’s speech to the U.N. Each of the 11 labs that worked on the study took the lead on a specific technology area, such as efficiency in buildings, efficiency in transportation, fossil power generation, nuclear, renewables, cross-cutting areas, basic research, and carbon sequestration. It was a bottom-up effort, looking in depth at the technology itself. There was no analytical modelling of the overall energy system or economy.

NREL and ORNL were the lead labs for the effort, with direction and involvement at the lab director level.

The report concludes that science and technology can do a lot, but that appropriate policies and funding are needed for commercialization. Appendices detail 50 separate technology categories, with order-of-magnitude range estimates of carbon emission reductions to the year 2030 and beyond.

Principal contact for the study at DOE is:
Robert San Martin
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency
202-586-9277 fax 202-586-9260
robert.sanmartin@hq.doe.gov

Request for copies can go to his office, once the report is released.

DOE Public Meetings on Restructuring

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Subject: DOE Public Meetings on Restructuring
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 09:21:58 -0700
From: Ed Beardsworth

—————————————————————
| *** UFTO *** Edward Beardsworth * Consultant |
| 951 Lincoln Ave. tel 415-328-5670 |
| Palo Alto CA 94301-3041 fax 415-328-5675 |
—————————————————————

Your company may have received mailings about one or more of these four public input meetings. I just noticed a press release from PSE&G last week reporting their CEO’s comments to the first meeting in New Jersey, and contacted DOE Office of Policy. The focus is LEGISLATION in connection with electric utility industry restructuring.

————————————
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DOE Press Releases R-96-144 September 27, 1996

DOE Sets Electricity Restructuring Meetings

First Two Regional Sessions Planned in New Jersey, New Mexico;
Public Input to Help Department Craft Restructuring Legislation

Input from four public meetings across the country will help the Department of Energy formulate electricity restructuring legislation that the Clinton Administration plans to submit to Congress next year.

“Many difficult issues must be addressed as we build a foundation for the new U.S. electricity industry,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Hazel R. O’Leary, who will lead the first two meetings. “Public involvement will help ensure that the transition to electricity competition strengthens our nation’s economy, protects the environment and improves the quality of life for all Americans.”

To encourage public discussion on a wide range of restructuring issues, each meeting will focus on different topics. However, regional and local participants at each of the meetings can examine other topics related to electric industry restructuring. Dates, locations and times are:

Oct. 10 New Brunswick, N.J., area 1:30-5:00 p.m.
location to be announced
Focus: public purpose programs and issues, with particular emphasis on environmental protection, consumer interests, low-income assistance, retail choice and renewable energy.

Oct. 22 Sante Fe, N.M. 3:00-6:00 p.m
Sweeney Convention Center
Focus: jurisdiction and rate regulation, with particular emphasis on stranded cost recovery, retail choice and state/federal jurisdiction. This session will follow the DOE/National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners meeting in Sante Fe.

Two more regional meetings will be held in mid-November.

(CHICAGO) One will explore issues related to reliability and producers, with particular emphasis on reform of the Public Utility Holding Company Act, regulation of affiliate transactions, retail and wholesale competition in regional markets, competition-related functions of independent transmission system operators and bulk power system reliability.

The final meeting (ATLANTA) will provide an opportunity to revisit the full set of issues involved in electricity industry restructuring.

Questions about these meetings can be directed to an information hotline, 423/576-3610.