1. Merger of Progress Energy and Duke Energy
Created Largest U.S. Electric Utility - The July 2, 2012 merger of Duke Energy and
Progress Energy created the largest electric utility in the United States
(measured by number of customers). Now called the Duke Energy Corporation
(Duke), the new company has over 7 million retail customers spanning six
states. It also owns about 67 gigawatts of generating capacity across the
eastern United States. This merger follows the recent merger between
Constellation and Exelon, which created the third largest utility in the United
States.
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7650
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, based on
SNL Energy.
2. Romney
Says He Will Introduce Energy Plan Next Week - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told a
luncheon gathering of about 125 people that his No. 1 priority as president
would be "to take full advantage of our energy resources." Romney assured his listeners at the
high-dollar fundraiser, that he tells Ohio audiences the same thing he tells
Texas audiences about the importance of energy. He also said he would be
introducing a comprehensive energy plan during a visit to New Mexico next
week. 8/21 Houston
Chronicle
3. What Lamps Will
Be Phased Out? - Results of a recent survey of
energy-efficient lighting professionals across the country in December by
Hudson, Wis.-based Precision-Paragon (P2), an online source for lighting
retrofit systems and information, reveals the demand for energy-efficient
lighting is growing, despite the sluggishness of the recovery of the general
U.S. economy and the severe downturn in the construction industry. Although
most respondents disclosed they don’t expect growth to occur until after the
first quarter of 2012—predicting the second and third quarters will be the
most lucrative—they are confident this year will be even better than last
year. More than 80% of survey respondents predict increased opportunities for
growth, both in the industry as a whole and in their individual companies. http://ecmweb.com/content/what-lamps-will-be-phased-out
4. NEMA Asks DOE to Set Motor
Efficiency Standards - The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA),
Rosslyn, Va., its members who manufacture electric motors and a coalition of
other groups filed a petition August 15 with the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) recommending both new and more robust energy-efficiency standards for the
types of electric motors used in commercial and industrial applications such as
pumps, conveyors, and fans. The petition seeks increased standards for some motors and a
significant increase in the scope of motors that will be covered by efficiency
standards. http://livewire.electricalmarketing.com/
5. Bay
Bridge to Outshine ‘That Other Bridge’ -
Ea rly in 2013, the public will be allowed to
revel in The Bay Lights, an art installation that will turn the classically
gray Bay Bridge into a spectacular display of flashing, pulsating and moving
lights. Created by artist Leo Villareal, the Bay Bridge’s west span
will be dressed with more than 25,000 energy-efficient, individually controlled
white LED lights that will play out mesmerizing patterns without repeating. The display won’t be a one-night or even
six-month event. It will last from dusk to midnight every day for two years. The $8 million project was the brainchild of Ben Davis, the founder of
San Francisco’s Words Pictures Ideas creative agency that branded the Bay
Bridge east span. http://sfbay.ca/2012/08/19/bay-bridge-to-outshine-that-other-bridge/
6. City Converts Streetlights to Energy-Saving
LEDs - Going block by block, crews in
bucket trucks are converting 70,000 city streetlights from sodium vapor lights
to long-lasting, energy-saving LEDs. The bright side: Baltimore
expects to reap an annual savings of $1.9 million on its electric bill and $275,000
in maintenance costs. Also, advocates say the lights produce less glare and are
more focused, meaning less light pollution that drowns out the night stars and
can disrupt ecosystems. The dimmer side: Critics say the
new lights don't illuminate the area as well. The first phase of the three-year
project is about 80 percent completed, with 8,000 new lights in place. Switching
the 10,000 city-owned streetlights was the first step. Next up are the lights
owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. 8/17 The Baltimore Sun
7. Connecticut Debuts New Energy Program - State
officials have announced the launch of a new program to make sure state
buildings use less power, at the same time a Connecticut-wide program to
promote residential energy enters its second year. Connecticut's energy savings program for
government buildings allows state agencies and municipalities to enter into
performance contracting agreements with energy service companies. The program will allow state and local
government buildings to get energy-efficiency upgrades with no money paid up
front. The cost of the upgrades are paid for through the energy savings that the service companies guarantee to their government clients. 8/10 New Haven Register
8. NORPAC, BPA, and Cowlitz PUD Partner on Largest Ever
Northwest Energy Efficiency Project - The project is referred to as a "Chip Pre-Treatment
Interstage Screen Project." Executives from Weyerhaeuser, Nippon Paper
Industries, Cowlitz County Public Utility District, and the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) will gather today at the North Pacific Paper Corporation
(NORPAC) facility to celebrate the largest industrial energy efficiency project
in BPA history and one of the largest energy efficiency projects in the United
States to date. When complete, the project is expected to save 100,000,000
kilowatt-hours per year. The first phase of the project was completed in June 2011 and the second and final phase is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2013. BPA will fund about $21 million and Cowlitz County PUD
will contribute up to an additional $3.9 million towards the project. The money
contributed by both BPA and Cowlitz comes from their respective conservation
funds, which provide financial incentives to their customers for the development
and installation of electrical energy savings projects. NORPAC is funding the
remaining $35 million of the $60 million project. 8/09 PRNewswire
9. LIGHTFAIR International 2013 Call
for Speakers Deadline: September 7 - Submit to speak at the world’s largest annual
architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference
OR suggest a speaker or topic that
you’d like to see at LIGHTFAIR International (LFI
®).
There are 16 tracks to choose from OR you can select
OFF TRACK to submit your own idea. http://www.lightfair.com/convdata/lightfair/brochures/lfi2013-cfs-brochure.pdf
10. Philips and
Daintree Take Lighting to the Next Level with Open Standards-based Wireless
Lighting Controls - Daintree Networks, Inc. and
Philips recently announced an agreement to develop advanced lighting controls
products for commercial buildings through the use of open standards such as
ZigBee, helping customers to avoid vendor lock-in and ensure that their
lighting systems are interoperable today and well into the future. Building
owners and managers will have access to a full complement of ZigBee-based
products. http://lightingcontrolsassociation.org/
11. City Project Helps Cut Energy Costs - From small
laundromats and gas stations to residential complexes, Milwaukee Energy
Efficiency is signing on city businesses looking to save on the bottom line. The program has 27
projects funded across the city, such as helping gas stations switch to
energy-saving LED lights for their canopies. The program, known as ME2, has attracted strong interest for projects
that deploy LED technology because the paybacks on the investment is so quick.
A maximum of $300,000 is available for a large project that would generate
energy savings of at least 25%. 8/15 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
12.
The Search for Energy Takes a
Turn Underwater - The fearsome tides that sweep out from the easternmost
shores of the United States have for more than 80 years teased engineers and
presidents like FDR, who have dreamed of harnessing their force to make
electricity. And next week, a device
that looks a bit like an eggbeater turned sideways will be lowered into the
water here to catch the energy of the rushing water, spinning a generator that,
come September, is scheduled to begin sending power to the grid. The first
turbine generator unit has a maximum output of 180 kilowatts, which would power
about 30 homes. That is one-sixth the output of a typical wind turbine. Workmen
lower a turbine to be placed in waters off Eastport, Me.
13. One
World Trade Center Under Construction - Virtually every inch of the 16-acre site is under
construction, and every day brings new changes to the site, whether it’s the
first steel columns for One WTC being raised or the concrete footings being
poured for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/progress.html
14. UL
Expands Capacity with New Lab - Underwriters Laboratories (UL),
has opened a new 38,000 square-foot laboratory located in Allentown, PA. The
Photometric Testing & Technology Center will be a testing and certification
hub for all of North America. The lab conducts testing of lighting products to
various global energy efficiency programs such as ENERGY STAR, DesignLights
Consortium, Lighting Facts, Zhaga, California Energy Commission, CAP (MSHA) and
National Resources Canada. The Allentown facility is also globally recognized
as one of the first Zhaga-approved testing laboratories and offers testing to
various IES standards, including LM-79.
http://www.lightnowblog.com/
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