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Elec Reliability TF 6th meeting Nov 6

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Electric System Reliability Task Force 6th Meeting
Notice of Open Meeting — Advance Notice

The sixth meeting of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board Task Force on Electric System Reliability will be held on Thursday, November 6, from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM at the ANA Hotel, 2401 M Street, NW, Washington DC 20007. The draft agenda is available on line http://vm1.hqadmin.doe.gov:80/seab/esr6ann.html

The meeting will build on the task force’s Interim Report and will include discussions of the following items:

Draft Position Paper on a Self-Regulating Reliability Organization
Draft Paper on Technology Issues Affecting Reliability
A Panel Discussion on the Role of ISOs in Maintaining Reliability

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I just received this note from DOE, with the draft papers as attachments. If you want copies of these documents, let me know, and I’ll forward them to you individually (the full set of both versions is over 600K). Tell me if you want the WP or Word versions…

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Attached are three documents for discussion at the November 6 meeting of the Task Force on Electric System Reliability. These documents are:

* Draft Position Paper on Maintaining Bulk Power Reliability through Use of a Self-Regulating Organization;

* Discussion Paper on Maintaining Reliability in a Restructured Electric Power Industry: The Role of Transmission System Operators; and

* Draft Outline for a Position Paper on Technical Issues in Transmission System Reliability.

Each document is provided in both WordPerfect and Word formats. The documents are best viewed in WordPerfect format. Since the documents were prepared in WordPerfect, the Word files may not contain all graphics.

Ceramicrete Phosphate Ceramic

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Ceramicrete Phosphate Ceramic (…particularly applicable to fly-ash)

Argonne has developed this low-cost, ceramic binder which can be used in a wide variety of commercial applications, ranging from hazardous waste disposal to low-cost insulation. Since it won the R&D 100 award in 1996, Argonne has had more than 100 serious licensing inquiries, so they are setting strict conditions that applicants have a specific application and a well developed business plan. They’re open to collaboration for development and testing to see what specifications can be met with the particular materials in question.

Called CERAMICRETE, the binder — developed to stabilize and solidify radioactive and hazardous wastes — can also join ceramics together and convert nonhazardous wastes into useful construction products and nonflammable structural materials. It is formed by mixing magnesium oxide powder and soluble phosphate powder (common low cost materials) with water.

It is particularly applicable to fly-ash, because it is completely insensitive to the pH level, and it immobilizes virtually any type of contaminant, including mercury and other heavy metals. It forms a nonporous leach-resistant, hard, and dense ceramic which lab tests indicate meet or pass the EPA TCLP leaching standards.

CERAMICRETE can be manufactured at a low cost compared to other ceramic binders because it is made at room temperature and does not need high-temperature treatment. The setting times are short. Equipment needed is conventional (much like for cement) and hence is readily available, and training required for operations is simple.

The final material can be cast in any shape, and is very dense and strong. It can be used as a structural material in buildings, roads or other structures, or as brick, blocks, or tiles. It has compressive strength ranging from 2000 psi with binder to 6-8000 psi and even more with binder plus additives. In fact, the materials properties can be tailored, with strength increased by compaction during formation.

Besides solidifying wastes, the process can be used to convert lumber wastes into non-flammable particle board or to recycle waste plastic into blowable insulation that is fire- and moisture-proof. CERAMICRETE has already been used to make insulation products with thermal resistance (R values) of 4.5 per inch.

Argonne is using the CERAMICRETE process to stabilize low-level radioactive waste, such as soil, sludge, and lead bricks in a 55-gallon drum mixer. Contaminated wastes that contain radioactive contaminants and hazardous volatiles, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium are solidified in the binding process at room temperature to form a ceramic, noncorrosive, and final waste form. The process is unique because contaminants are converted and stabilized chemically into their natural minerals in a single step. Once encapsulated, the chemicals do not dissolve in groundwater and are isolated from the environment. Performance tests show that the waste forms far exceed the regulatory performance criteria set by DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Contact: Don Johnson, Director, Center for Industrial Technology Systems 630-252-3392

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>From the 18th U.S. Department of Energy Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, on May 20-22, 1997.

CERAMICRETE STABILIZATION OF LOW-LEVEL MIXED WASTES – A COMPLETE STORY

A. S. Wagh, D. Singh, S. Y. Jeong, and R. V. Strain
Energy Technology Division, Argonne National Laboratory

ABSTRACT

During the last three years, Ceramicrete (chemically bonded phosphate ceramics) has been investigated at Argonne-East for low-temperature stabilization and solidification of U.S. Department of Energy (DOE’s) mixed wastes, for which conventional high-temperature treatments cannot be used because of volatiles and pyrophorics present in these wastes. This paper summarizes the development of Ceramicrete and provides the current technology status. We discuss our early investigations with surrogates that are typical of DOE mixed wastes, subsequent testing with actual waste streams, and scale-up of the process to an operational level. Current efforts include testing the process at an operational level for an ash waste stream from the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory and obtaining sufficient information to prepare a technology performance report.

Complete paper available at:
http://www.inel.gov/resources/research/.llrw/1997Conference/TRACK1/TRACK1-21.htm

Next Meeting, Reliability TF

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We just received this advance notice of the next meeting.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Secretary of Energy Advisory Board –
Electric System Reliability Task Force

Thursday, November 6, 1997, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM.
ANA Hotel, Ballroom I, 2401 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard C. Burrow, Secretary of Energy
Advisory Board (AB-1), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, D.C. 20585, (202) 586-1709 or (202) 586-6279 (fax).

Background
The electric power industry is in the midst of a complex transition to competition, which will induce many far-reaching changes in the structure of the industry and the institutions which regulate it. This transition raises many reliability issues, as new entities emerge in the power markets and as generation becomes less integrated with transmission.

Purpose of the Task Force The purpose of the Electric System Reliability Task Force is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board regarding the critical institutional, technical, and policy issues that need to be addressed in order to maintain the reliability of the nation’s bulk electric system in the context of a more competitive industry.

Tentative Agenda
Thursday, November 6, 1997
8:30 – 8:45 AM Opening Remarks & Objectives —
Philip Sharp, ESR Task Force Chairman
8:45 – 9:45 AM Briefing: Reliability Council Progress in
Addressing Key Issues —
David Nevius, Vice President, NERC
9:45 – 10:00 AM Break
10:00 – 11:30 AM Working Session: Discussion of a Draft Position
Paper on a Self-Regulating Reliability Organization
11:30 – 12:00 PM Public Comment Period
12:00 – 1:15 PM Lunch
1:15 – 2:30 PM Working Session: Discussion of Draft Outline
of Technology Issues Affecting Reliability
2:30 – 3:45 PM Panel Discussion: The Role of ISOs in
Maintaining Reliability
3:45 – 4:00 PM Public Comment Period
4:00 PM Adjourn
This tentative agenda is subject to change. The final agenda will be
available at the meeting.

Public Participation: The Chairman of the Task Force is empowered to conduct the meeting in a fashion that will, in the Chairman’s judgment, facilitate the orderly conduct of business. During its meeting in Washington, D.C., the Task Force welcomes public comment. Members of the public will be heard in the order in which they sign up at the beginning of the meeting. The Task Force will make every effort to hear the views of all interested parties. Written comments may be submitted to Skila Harris, Executive Director, Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, AB-1, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20585.

Minutes:
Minutes and a transcript of the meeting will be available for public review and copying approximately 30 days following the meeting at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room, 1E-190 Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C., between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday except Federal holidays. Information on the Electric System Reliability Task Force and the Task Force’s interim report may be found at the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board’s web site, located at http://www.hr.doe.gov/seab.

CURC Tech. Exchange Conf. Brochure

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Here is the detailed brochure recently mailed out for the CURC Technology Exchange Conference, in case you didn’t receive it in the mail.

Please let me know if you’ll be there. I do plan to attend on behalf of UFTO, and will report what I see and hear.
California Utility Research Council
Technology Exchange Conference

November 3-5, 1997
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, CA

Sponsored by: California Utility Research Council (CURC)

Co-Sponsored by
Electric Power Research Institute
Gas Research Institute
U. S. Department of Energy

— Who is CURC?
CURC (California Utility Research Council) was established by the California Legislature in 1981 to:
• Promote consistency of utility RD&D programs with
state energy policy
• Prevent unnecessary duplication of research efforts
• Encourage the free exchange of information related to
utility RD&D projects, where appropriate
• Identify opportunities for research coordination between
energy utilities and for joint funding of RD&D projects
of benefit to California ratepayers

CURC Board includes representatives from the CPUC, CEC, PG&E, SDG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas.

— Background
Restructuring of the electric and natural gas industries is having a dramatic effect on the energy RD&D landscape in California. Previously, most of this work was funded by ratepayers and managed by the four largest investor-owned California utilities: PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas. Supplemental funding for California RD&D interests was provided by GRI, EPRI, and DOE.

Restructuring is providing new opportunities for collaboration of energy RD&D efforts. Recent California legislation (AB1890) has made available $62.5 million per year for public interest energy RD&D to be managed by the California Energy Commission (CEC). Utilities will continue to fund ratepayer RD&D activities, although on a lesser scale. It is also expected that there will be an increasing interest in shareholder-funded technologies by energy companies seeking a competitive advantage. Finally, restructuring will have a direct effect on programs offered by EPRI, GRI, and perhaps even DOE.

— Purpose
The 1997 CURC Technology Exchange Conference will help attendees better understand how all of the energy RD&D pieces will fit together in a restructured environment. The conference will also provide participants with an overview of technology trends and energy RD&D collaboration activities which benefit California. Attendees will get a first hand look at how the California PIER (Public Interest Energy Research) program will be implemented. Just as important, individuals will have an opportunity to network directly with peers and funding agencies.

— Who Should Attend
The conference will be of major interest to engineers, scientists, investors, inventors, RD&D policy makers, government representatives, product and business development specialists.

— General Information

The conference will be held at:
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, 3777 La Jolla Village Drive,
San Diego, CA 92122

Early registration will be available on Monday, November 3 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Registration on Tuesday, November 4 will begin at 7:30 a.m. along with a continental breakfast. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4 and will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 5.

Accommodations
Attendees are responsible for making their own reservations before October 12, 1997 (after this date the rates will increase or rooms may not be available). Mention the conference by name to ensure receiving the group rate:
Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Phone: (619) 552-1234 Fax: (619) 552-6066
Group Room Rate: $144 single/double occupancy
Reservation Deadline: October 12, 1997

Airline Discount
United Airlines is offering discounted fares to attendees flying into San Diego International Airport (20 minutes from the Hyatt La Jolla). For reservations and information, call 1-800-521-4041 and refer to meeting #511HD. These discounts are available only through United’s Meeting Desk and apply to travel between October 31 and November 8, 1997.

Registration
The conference fee is $350 and includes the conference preceedings, continental breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch each day, as well as a reception on Tuesday evening with poster papers.
To register, complete the registration form and mail it with your payment. Checks should be made payable to Southern California Gas Company. Unfortunately, we cannot accept credit cards or purchase orders for this conference. If registering by fax and sending a check separately, be sure to identify the attendee when sending the check.
Cancellations: No refunds will be given for cancellations received after October 28, 1997.

Poster Session
Space will be available for Poster Presenters to present during the reception on Tuesday evening and during lunch on Wednesday (with setup scheduled for Tuesday morning). The fee for poster presenters is $500 which includes one full conference registration. For further information, please contact the Conference Manager, Maureen Barbeau at (650) 855-2474 Fax: (650) 855-2166.

Spousal Attendance
No formal spousal programs are planned. However, for spouses accompanying attendees to San Diego there will be an informal continental breakfast on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings with information available about San Diego attractions. Please indicate on the registration form if your spouse will accompany you. Spouses are invited to attend the reception on Tuesday evening.

An informal golf outing will be held on Monday, November 3, 11:30 am, at the Coronado Municipal Golf Course, followed by a no-host dinner at a local restaurant. Coronado is located just a few minutes drive from the airport and downtown. Reservations for the event must be received by Friday, October 17, by mailing a check for $37.50 payable to “Coronado Municipal Golf Course” to Kurt Kammerer, c/o SDG&E, P.O. Box 1831, San Diego, CA 92124. Questions can directed by E-Mail to kkammere@sdge.com or by calling (619) 696-1891.

Technical Information
David Berokoff, The Gas Company
(213) 244-5340 Fax (213) 244-8242

Meeting and Logistical Information
(650) 855-2474 Fax (650) 855-2166

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PRELIMINARY AGENDA

All Day – Optional Social Outing (Golf) on Coronado Island
4:00 – 7:00 p.m.Conference Registration

Tuesday, November 4
7:30-8:30 AM-Registration, Continental Breakfast
8:30-9:00 AM-Opening Remarks-Frank A. Spasaro (CURC Chair)
(PIER Program Evolution, Overview of Objectives,
Strategic Plan)
David L. Rohy, Commissioner,
California Energy Commission
Representative,
California Public Utilities Commission
9:45-10:00 AM-Break
10:00-12:00 PM-California Utility RD&D Programs
(Utility RD&D Program Highlights, Technology Trends,
Collaboration Opportunities.)
Frank Spasaro, Southern California Gas
Jim Reilly, Southern California Edison
Kurt Kammerer, San Diego Gas & Electric
Bud Beebe, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

12:00-1:15 PM-Lunch, Keynote Presentation

1:15-3:00 PM-Other California Energy RD&D Programs
(Program Focus, Technology Trends, Collaboration
Opportunities)
Jim Cole,
California Institute for Energy Efficiency
Renewable Technologies
Terry Winter,
California Independent System Operator
Representative, Southern California Air
Quality Management District
3:00-3:15 PM-Break
Maurice Gunderson, Nth Technologies
John Burns, Scripps Consulting Group
Joseph Walkush, Science Applications
International Corp. (invited)

5:00-8:00 PM-Reception, Poster Sessions

Wednesday, November 5
7:30-8:30 AM-Continental Breakfast, Poster Sessions
8:30-9:30 AM-Keynote Presentation: Future Technology Needs & Trends
9:30-10:45 AM-National Energy RD&D Funding Agencies
(RD&D Program Highlights, Technology Trends,
Richard Rudman, Elec. Power Research Institute
Bill Burnett, Gas Research Institute
Representative, U.S. Department of Energy
10:45-11:00 AM-Break
11:00-12:30 PM-The Customer Perspective
Ralph Cavanagh,
Barbara Barkovich, California Large
Energy Consumers Assoc. (invited)
Richard Brent, Solar Turbine Systems
Richard Sperberg, On-Site Energy
Carl Weinberg, Weinberg & Associates
Ron Ishii, Technology Committee Chairman, CADER

12:30-2:00 PM-Lunch, Poster Sessions

2:00-4:30 PM-PIER Program Implementation Status

4:30 PM Conference Concludes

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REGISTRATION

(Please complete and return a copy with your payment)

CURC Technology Exchange Conference
November 3-5, 1997
Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, California

(Please print or attach a business card)

Name ___________________________________________________
Preferred Name for Nametag _____________________________
Title _______________________________________
Organization ________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City/State/Zip ______________________________
Telephone ___________________________________
Fax ___________________________________

Registration Fees
___ Attendee-$ 350
___ Poster Presenter-$500 (includes one conference registration)
___ Speaker-$ 0 (fee waived, one speaker per presentation)

Credit cards and purchase orders are not acceptable.
Checks should be made payable to Southern California Gas Co.

___ Check attached ___ Check being mailed separately

If registering by fax and sending check separately, BE SURE TO IDENTIFY THE ATTENDEE WHEN SENDING THE CHECK.

Refunds will be given for cancellations received on or before Oct. 28, 1997.

___ My spouse will accompany me.
___ I am interested in playing golf on Monday.
___ I have a disability and may require accommodation to fully participate. (You will be contacted by the conference manager.)
___ I have the following dietary requirements:

Please return this form or a copy with your check payable to
Southern California Gas Co. to:

Maureen Barbeau
Electric Power Research Institute
3412 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 855-2474
Fax (650) 855-2166
mbarbeau@epri.com

DOE Carbon Reduction Study

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The note quoted below just arrived today via the AESP mail-list..giving an online link to the just released DOE report.

Energy Folks-

After a pretty extensive search, I have managed to track down the DOE study released last week that you have probably heard about, “Scenarios of U. S. Carbon Reductions Potential Impacts of Energy-Efficient and Low-Carbon Technologies by 2010 and Beyond”

Find a link to it on Sustainable Minnesota’s Climate Change Resources Page at: http://www.me3.org/issues/climate/

John.

Here is some from the Executive summary:

The study documents in detail how four key sectors of the economy – buildings, transportation, industry, and electric utilities – could respond to directed programs and policies to expand adoption of energy efficiency and low-carbon technologies, an increase in the relative price of carbon-based fuels by $25 or $50/tonne (e.g., as a result of a cap on domestic carbon emissions and a market for carbon “permits”), and an aggressive program of targeted research and development. Current projections suggest that a carbon emissions reduction of 390 million metric tons per year (MtC year) is required to stabilize U.S. emissions in 2010 at 1990 levels.

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John Bailey, Research Associate
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
1313 Fifth Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Tel: 612-379-3815 Fax: 612-379-3920

New DOE study on Green House Gases

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New DOE study on Green House Gases

DOE is expected to release a new study on greenhouse gases next week. It outlines a scenario for major reductions in CO2 emissions over the mid to long term that may have overall net costs that are at or below zero. The study recognizes that the transition won’t be easy and will require a vigorous national commitment, but indicates that it is feasible and holds many important opportunities for the nation.

Five major national laboratories have been working for over a year to identify and evaluate demand and supply side technologies that are available now or will be in the next decade, and to analyze prospects for their implementation. These technologies taken together with a carbon trading system (at significantly lower prices than earlier analyses have suggested) make a workable combination involving end use and supply-side efficiency improvements, some conversion of coal fired power plants to natural gas, and renewable sources.

(This advance notice is off the record. Please don’t contact DOE until the report is released.)

CURC Technology Exchange Conference

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(note–I am tentatively planning to attend. EB)

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1997 CURC TECHNOLOGY EXCHANGE CONFERENCE
November 3-5, 1997
La Jolla Hyatt Regency
San Diego, California

For the first time ever, the California Utility Research Council (CURC) is hosting a comprehensive conference to present energy technology trends in California and exciting RD&D collaboration opportunities.

(For those unfamiliar with CURC, it is comprised of the CPUC, CEC, and California utilities. Established several years ago to coordinate utility R&D in the state, CURC was asked by CEC Commissioner David Rohy to host an event designed to present technology activities, trends, and collaboration opportunities related to California’s interests.)

Restructuring of the electric and gas industries in California has had a dramatic effect on the energy RD&D landscape in California. Previously, most of this work was funded by ratepayers and managed by the four largest investor-owned California utilities: PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and SoCalGas. Supplemental funding for California RD&D interests was provided by GRI, EPRI, and DOE.

Restructuring is changing how RD&D will be done in California, creating many new opportunities for collaboration. Most notable is the effect of California legislation (AB1890) recently passed in California which has made available $62.5 million per year for public interest energy RD&D activities. In addition, some utilities will continue to fund RD&D activities using ratepayer benefits. Overall, ratepayer-funded RD&D is on the decline as utilities continue to prepare themselves for competition under performance-based ratemaking. Finally, shareholder-funded technology development opportunities are abound for energy companies seeking a competitive advantage.

Purpose: The 1997 CURC Technology Exchange Conference will provide participants with an overview of technology trends and energy RD&D collaboration activities which benefit California. The conference will present collaboration opportunities and update participants on the implementation of the California PIER (Public Interest Energy Research) program. Participants will also have an opportunity to network directly with peers and funding agencies who are active with energy technologies.

Speakers will include CPUC and CEC commissioners, representatives of the major California utilities, Federal agency officials, equipment vendors, and R&D and technology investment specialists.

There will also be a poster/table session for presentations of relevant technologies and services.

Who Should Attend:
Engineers, scientists, investors, inventors, RD&D policymakers, government representatives, product and business development specialists.

Though the emphasis is clearly on the California situation, all interested parties from around the country (and world) are encouraged to attend, both for collaborative opportunities, and to understand how public interest issues are being addressed, as a model for what might happen elsewhere.

To be put on the mailing list for the agenda and registration forms, contact:

David Berokoff, So. Calif. Gas Co.
213-244-5340, dberokoff@pacent.com
fax (213)244-8242

Next Meeting of Elec Reliability Task Force

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I just received the note attached below from Paul Carrier at DOE. He also tells me that the minutes from the July meeting in San Francisco and the two agendas for Plymouth should be available September 12.

We generally get meeting notices and minutes a day or two before they’re posted on the SEAB Task Force Website: http://vm1.hqadmin.doe.gov:80/seab/electSys.html

I am thinking seriously about attending the technology briefings on Sept 24, which will cover hardware and software for the grid, plus some distributed resources. Note that it is on the day after Tech 2007 in Boston, which I do plan to attend.

EB

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The next meeting of the Electric System Reliability Task Force will be on Thursday September 25, at the Sheraton Inn, (508)747-4900, in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The meeting will be preceded by a day of technology briefings for the Members beginning at 10:00 am on the 24th.

Please let me know, via e-mail, if you would like to sit in on the briefings.

I will send you an agenda for both days as soon as they are available.

Call me at (202)586-5659 if you have any questions.

Paul Carrier, Task Force Staff Director
paul.carrier@hq.doe.gov