Energy on my Mind

State’s Future is Blowin’ in the Wind

Gary Glynn — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:55:55 +0000

Commercial wind power in Montana dates back to the early 1980s, when a half dozen windmills were erected south of Livingston. Although windmills have been used to pump water and generate power on Montana farms and ranches for decades, the Livingston windmills were part of a demonstration project designed to test the feasibility of commercial wind power in Montana. Unfortunately, those early windmills, plagued by weak propeller blades and exploding turbines, soon fell victim to the relentless winds of the upper Yellowstone Valley.
Windmill technology has advanced considerably since then, and the state’s first industrial wind farm opened at Judith Gap in 2005. This operation, which is now slated for expansion, produces 135-megawatts (MW) of electricity. Montana ranks fifth among the states in potential wind energy production, but only 18th in actual generating capacity. However, wind generation in the state nearly doubled last year, and similar growth is expected in 2009. Currently the state’s wind turbines generate 271 MW, enough to power approximately 75,000 homes.
Wind energy in America has enjoyed a 25% annual growth rate over the past five years, and within 20 years could provide as much as one-fifth of the country’s electricity. The US Department of Energy predicts that Montana alone may produce 10,000 MW of wind energy by 2035, which would result in an annual reduction of almost 30 million tons of CO2 pumped into the atmosphere.
Approximately 17 million acres (one-fifth of the state) are suitable for wind development, with most of this land located east of the Continental Divide. The highest wind speeds are often found near relatively pristine areas like the Rocky Mountain Front and the Absaroka, Beartooth and Crazy Mountains, but millions of acres of suitable land lie in less-sensitive areas as well.
There are several downsides to wind farms. They are noisy, detract from the Treasure State’s scenery, and are often deadly to migratory birds and bats. The numerous roads needed for large wind farms fragment wildlife habitat, although this can be minimized by siting wind farms on the 9 million acres of suitable cropland in the state. Another disadvantage of wind is that no electricity is produced when the wind doesn’t blow, so dams or conventional coal and gas plants are needed to “firm up” the unpredictable load.
An Irish company thinks they have found a partial solution to this problem. Gaelectric is interested in building several large-scale wind farms in Montana, and is also planning to test a Compressed-Air Energy Storage system (CAES) in the state. CAES is a method of storing energy by using electricity to compress air, which is then stored in underground caverns until needed, when it is converted back into electricity.
Gaelectric is not the only foreign company interested in Montana’s wind. Last fall a Spanish company named NaturEner finished construction of 71 wind turbines at the Glacier Wind Project southeast of Cut Bank, the first phase of a planned 210-megawatt wind farm, and a German company has announced plans to break ground this spring on a plant to manufacture wind turbines in Butte.
A number of proposed large-scale wind developments got a boost last fall when a new 214-mile-long power-line between Great Falls and Lethbridge received final approval. Gov. Brian Scheweitzer has predicted that this power-line could spur construction of an additional 600 MW of wind-power, and an infusion of nearly $1 billion into the Montana economy.
Every 100 MW of new wind generation supports up to 500 jobs, and both the Wind Applications Center (WAC) at Montana State University and the Great Falls College of Technology are developing programs to train technicians and engineers. The WAC has already installed a small wind turbine on the MSU campus, and plans to install windmills at schools in Livingston, Stanford, Cascade, and Fairfield as part of a national pilot program called Wind for Schools.
By next year Montana utilities will be required to obtain 10% of their total energy production from renewable energy, up from the current 5%. Montana also has specific tax breaks for installing wind turbines, and small generators are exempted from property taxes for 5 years. However, local wind producers recently suffered a setback when a House committee in the state legislature killed HB 491, a bill that would have required Northwestern Energy to buy wind-power from small wind farms.
Large-scale commercial wind farms, which didn’t exist in Montana five years ago, face a brighter future however, and it appears they will play an increasingly important part of the state’s economy for many years to come.

Links:

Montana wind farms – http://dnrc.mt.gov/trust/wind

Montana Wind Working Group – http://www.deq.mt.gov/Energy/

Wind powering America (US Dept. of Energy) – http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov

American Wind Energy Association – http://www.awea.org/

Energy Conservation Tax Credits – http://mt.gov/revenue/energyconservation.asp

Montana Wind Action Center – http://www.coe.montana.edu/wind/

Wind for Schools Program – http://www.westerncommunityenergy.com

Tax credits and rebates encourage conservation

Gary Glynn — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:53:52 +0000

Whether or not you were farsighted enough to invest in energy conservation during the past year, there may be some good news come tax time. Both the Federal government and Montana state offer homeowners tax breaks for improving energy efficiency. In addition, many utility companies offer rebates for conservation. Homeowners who have taken a deduction on their Federal tax credits in year’s past may find there are a few changes since last year. And if you haven’t yet upgraded the efficiency of your home, don’t despair. The 2009 tax year comes with new tax breaks.
Federal tax credits can help homeowners who have installed solar panels or fuel cells during the past year. The credits are applied 30% of the cost, although there are caps on the total amount applicable for a credit. There are still Federal tax credits for the installation of solar, wind, and fuel cell systems. There are deductions allowed for a variety of alternative fuel vehicles, including a new tax credit for plug-in electric hybrid cars, which will underwrite up to $7,500 of the purchase price.
In previous years homeowners could also get Federal tax credits for improving the energy efficiency of their homes, including such things as upgrading windows and doors, purchasing more energy efficient furnaces and air conditioners, and adding insulation to roofs, walls, and water heaters. This tax credit covered 10% of the purchase price for these improvements, but expired at the end of 2007, so any improvements made during the 2008 tax year do not qualify. The good news is that the tax credits have been renewed for 2009, now may be a good time to consider upgrading.
The state of Montana offers homeowners a variety of tax breaks for undertaking a wide variety of energy conservation projects. The Montana Dept of Public Health & Human Services administers the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), which provides help with utility bills and weatherization costs to both homeowners and renters. In order to qualify for this program, your income should be less than 175% of the Federal poverty level. A family of 4 making less than $37,100 qualifies for the program.

The state of Montana now offers a 25% credit to promote a wide variety of energy improvements, including new doors, windows, insulation, weatherstripping, caulking, water heaters and furnaces. A couple who own their home jointly can receive up to $1,000 in rebates under this program. To qualify you will need to complete Form ENRG-C.
A similar tax credit is also available for installing alternative energy systems such as pellet stoves, wind and solar systems, and others. Form ENRG-B. Businesses can qualify for credits related to residential installation of geothermal

Various utility companies have programs to help conserve energy. Northwestern Energy’s e-plus program offers rebates for everything from purchasing compact fluorescent light bulbs to purchasing programmable thermostats. They also offer rebates for the purchase of Energy Star rated appliances and conversion of electric furnaces to gas-fired. Also new home rebate, insulation, efficient water measures.

Montana Dakota Utilities has several different incentive programs that promote installation of programmable thermostats, efficient Energy Star gas furnaces, commercial lighting programs, Their electrical incentive program helps defray the cost of replacing an inefficient air-conditioner with an Energy Star one. They also have a commercial lighting incentive that assists commercial establishments install more efficient lighting.

The Montana Electrical Cooperative Association (MECA) supports Energy Share of Montana, a non-profit organization that raises donations to help pay power bills for low-income homeowners and renters. Much of the funding for this program comes from the Universal Systems Benefit (USB) program, which distributes funds contributed by electrical cooperatives, utility companies, mining and petroleum companies, and large users of electricity.

Air Can Save You Money

Gary Glynn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:28:13 +0000

The simplest way to boost your gas mileage and save money is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. The resistance of tires rolling along the road can account for as much as 30 percent of your fuel consumption. A fully inflated tire will roll better, and will require less power to start rolling.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that one of every three cars is running on a seriously under-inflated tire. According to Goodyear, running a tire with only 80% of the recommended air pressure will cost motorists two to three miles per gallon. An economist working for the US Department of Energy determined that American drivers waste 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline each year, simply by driving on low tires. That’s more than 3 million gallons of gasoline wasted every day. At current prices, that means Americans are wasting $6 billion annually by driving on under-inflated tires.

There are other advantages of checking your tire pressure as well. A vehicle with properly inflated tires will handle better and will be safer. Filling your tires with (usually) free air will save you money and prolong the life of those expensive tires. It will also reduce your likelihood of having a flat tire and reduce the amount of oil needed to manufacture new tires. Conservative estimates suggest that having properly inflated tires can add thousands of miles to the life of a tire. Depending on a number of factors such as weather, temperature, and road conditions, tire life can vary from 4 to 6 years, but proper tire inflation can add several months to that.

All new cars sold in the US are now required to have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System to warn motorists when a tire is seriously low on air. Once found only on high-end luxury cars, there are several different types of monitoring systems, and they differ in terms of accuracy and reliability. Designed to warn when tires become unsafe, some models may not be accurate enough to detect the slight changes in air pressure that can affect mileage. Even if your car is equipped with TPMS, it’s a good idea to periodically check your tire pressure with a manual gauge.

The recommended air pressure is specified by your car’s manufacturer, not the tire maker, and is usually found on a sticker on the driver’s doorjamb, as well as in the owner’s manual. (Note: there may be a difference between this number and the maximum tire pressure listed on the sidewall of the tires.) Some manufacturers recommend different pressures for front and rear tires. Invest in an inexpensive tire pressure gauge, and check your tires at least once a month. Tires should be checked at a cold temperature, preferably before the tire has run more than a mile. Air pressure drops with temperature, so check your tires more often in the winter months. The kind of tires can also make a difference. Radial tires get only slightly better mileage than bias-ply tires, but enough better to add up to significant savings over the life of the tires.

Squeeze Every Mile From That Pricey Gallon of Gas

Gary Glynn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:24:59 +0000

The price of gasoline seems to be on everyone’s mind these days, and it’s easy for the average motorist to feel helpless in the face of the spiraling price of oil on the global market. In fact, there are a number of actions the average driver can take to cut their fuel bill. Obviously, walking, biking, and alternative transportation are all good options, but when you absolutely have to drive your gas-guzzler across town, how do you make sure that you get the best mileage possible?

In large part, the type of mileage you can expect from your vehicle depends on the way you maintain your vehicle, and the way you drive. It is entirely possible to increase your mileage by up to 30% just by making sure you are driving a tuned up, stripped down vehicle, and by practicing efficient driving habits.

Before you even pull out of your driveway, there are several important steps that can be taken. Make sure your vehicle is well maintained. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a tune-up can boost mileage by 10% or more. If your car is more than a few years old, you should consider having your tailpipe emissions analyzed on an annual basis. Dirty emissions indicate a car is not running as efficiently as it should be. Among the common culprits are dirty spark plugs, clogged air filters, and faulty oxygen sensors. Sparks plugs should be replaced at least every 30,000 miles, while air filters (which can reduce mileage by as much as 10%) should be changed every 15,000 miles, more often if you regularly drive on dirt roads. A faulty oxygen sensor can decrease mileage by as much as 40%. While oxygen sensors on vehicles manufactured in the last ten years should last up to 100,000 miles, those mounted on cars ten years or older should be replaced every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.

Another factor that will affect your mileage is the amount of gasoline that evaporates from your tank, so check your gas cap on a regular basis. The Car Care Council estimates that 147 million gallons ($600 million) of gasoline are wasted each year due to faulty or missing gas caps. One way to minimize evaporation is to park in the shade when possible. Gasoline is sold by volume, and expands when warm, so the smart consumer will purchase gasoline early in the morning or at night.

The weight of your vehicle has a direct impact on your mileage, so remove any unnecessary objects from your trunk and pickup bed. Drag is another culprit, so detach bike racks and roof racks when not needed. When driving in town, avoid using your air conditioner and roll the windows down, but on the highway it may be better to turn on the AC rather than driving with the windows open, which increases drag. Contrary to urban legend, pickup trucks are more aerodynamic with their tailgates up.

Cruise control is perhaps the most effective method of conserving fuel on the highway. Using cruise control will ensure that your vehicle travels at a steady speed over long distances, and is one of the most efficient ways to save money while traveling. While this may not be a popular suggestion in wide-open Montana, driving a little slower on the highway will boost your fuel efficiency. Most vehicles get their best mileage at about 65 miles per hour, with fuel efficiency dropping approximately 1% for every additional mile per hour. In other words, traveling at 85 mph is 20% less efficient than traveling at 65 mph.

Driving habits are important around town as well. Higher gas prices have given birth to a new movement called hypermiling, which is the art of driving in such a way as to maximize vehicle mileage. One of the key principles of hypermiling is to know what kind of mileage you are getting. At the very least you should track your mileage every time you fill your tank, by dividing the number of miles traveled since the last fill-up by the number of gallons consumed. Digital trip computers that track gas mileage have been around for 20 years, and are pretty much standard on new cars, but there are also aftermarket computers that can be added to most older cars via a data port. These computers can record the rate of fuel consumption, amount of fuel remaining, time and distance to running out of gas, and other information.

Another principle of hypermiling is to avoid tailgating and aggressive driving. Minimize braking and take your foot off the gas as soon as you see a traffic light turn red or a driver brake in front of you. Accelerate slowly away from traffic lights and stop signs. A little forethought and route planning can eliminate unnecessary trips. Whenever possible combine errands, drive at non-peak hours, and get an early start so you’re not feeling rushed.

Which brings us to those gas-savings devices advertised on late night television and on the Internet. Some of these are outright scams. In fact the Environmental Protection Agency has tested more than 100 such devices and additives and “has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage.” Significant may be the key word there. At $4 per gallon, even a marginal improvement might be worth investigating. The Missoula County Sheriff’s department has been testing a cold air intake device, which they estimate could save the County about $40,000 annually if installed on all of its vehicles.

More information:

www.hypermiling.com – Information on how to dramatically increase your mileage and save money by changing your driving habits.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ - This government website provides mileage estimates for new and used cars, information on hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer.htm – This Environmental Protection Agency website has a green vehicle guide, and a wealth of information on vehicle emissions and gas-saving devices

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/ – US Dept. of Energy website on alternative vehicles and fuels

Northwestern Energy looks at options

Gary Glynn — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:36:18 +0000

Northwestern Energy is considering building a natural gas fired electrical generating plant adjacent to the Mill Creek substation near Anaconda. They are considering a plant in the 120 to 220 MW range, which would help stabilize their existing power lines and firm up the power produced by wind generation. If the plant is built, construction will probably begin in 2009, with a completion date of 2010. It is expected to cost more than $100 million, and employ 10 full-time workers after construction is complete.Northwestern has also retained the service of Credit Suisse to evaluate their “strategic options” with regard to their stake in the Colstrip 4 plant. Northwestern leased this power until 2007, when they purchased 222 MW outright. Approximately 40% of this power is used in Montana, with another 40% shipped to the Seattle area. The Montana Consumer Council believes that Northwestern violated the terms of the 2004 agreement that brought the company out of bankruptcy when they purchased this power without first receiving permission from the Montana Public Service Commission.

Skeptics of human-caused global warming meet in New York

Gary Glynn — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:36:18 +0000

The Heartland Institute recently hosted the 2008 International Conference on Climate Change, subtitled “Global Warming is Not A Crisis.” The intent of the conference was clearly aimed at debunking the “myth” of global warming.

With presentations like “Oceans, Not Carbon Dioxide, Are Driving Climate” by William Gray, and “Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate” by S. Fred Singer, the conference was cleverly designed to downplay the impacts that industrial emissions are having on our climate. Singer, a George Mason University professor who has long railed against “junk science” showing tobacco smoke causes lung cancer, and sun exposure causes melanoma, is now intent on proving humans are not responsible for climate change. “Most climate change is natural,” he contends. The human contribution is not significant. Therefore, climate change is unstoppable.” In other words, Don’t Worry. Be happy.

For more information on the sponsorship of this conference by large tobacco and oil companies, see http://www.prwatch.org/node/7072. A list of the sponsors of this conference (mostly industry front groups with innocuous sounding names) can be found at: http://www.heartland.org/NewYork08/sponsorships.cfm.

Tax credits for renewable energy

Gary Glynn — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:14:26 +0000

Tax time is here, and many folks don’t realize that there are federal and state tax credits available for energy conservation projects and the production of renewable energy. The Federal government has a tax credit for businesses that install solar, wind, microturbines, or fuel cells. This credit is due to drop to 10% by the end of this year, but currently the credit is set at 30% to encourage the installation of solar, wind, and fuel cells. More information can be found at www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

The Montana Department of Revenue offers incentives for individuals and corporations. Individuals can get an income tax credit worth 25% of their investment in qualifying renewable energy projects for their home or other building, up to $500. Individuals can also qualify for an Alternative Energy Systems Credit for installing solar panels, windmills, pellet stoves, biomass generators, or other forms of renewable energy. Both individuals and corporations can qualify for tax credits for converting a vehicle to alternate fuels, crushing oilseeds, production and blending of biofuels and a number of other activities that may save energy. There is even a tax credit for equipment used to manufacture materials from recycled goods. While most of the above credits apply to income tax, there is a property tax exemption for the installation of non-fossil fuel generating systems in homes and businesses. More information can be found at www.mt.gov/revenue/energyconservation. For information on other states, check out the Database of state incentives for renewable energy at www.dsireusa.org.

Global temperature rise constitutes serious threat to planet

Gary Glynn — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:06:45 +0000

According to an article in today’s Washington Post, professor Andreas Schmittner of Oregon State is predicting that if carbon emissions continue to rise, by 2100 the earth’s average temperatures will be more than 7 degrees (Fahrenheit) warmer than prior to industrialization. Most scientists agree that a temperature change of this magnitude will be catastrophic for humans. Schmittner said. “I was struck by the fact that the warming continues much longer even after emissions have declined.

In a separate study, Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institute found that the only way to keep the earth from further warming involves, “a much more radical change to our energy system than people are thinking about.”

While half of human carbon emissions naturally dissipate within a century, a significant percentage of carbon emissions will last for thousands of years.

Caldeira and his co-author, University of Montreal researcher H. Damon Matthews, wrote “each unit of CO2 emissions must be viewed as leading to quantifiable and essentially permanent climate change on centennial timescales.”

Caldeira and Matthews paper was published in Geophysical Research Letters – http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/ .
Schmittner’s article appeared in Global Biogeochemical Cycles – http://www.agu.org/journals/gb/

Two Dot Wind asks for regulatory relief

Gary Glynn — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:53:07 +0000

On Thursday, Two Dot Wind LLC of Billings asked the Montana Public Service Commission to reject Northwestern Energy’s plan to charge what they feel is an exorbitant integration fee to add power from the company’s wind generators into Northwestern’s electrical grid. Northwestern’s position is that if they are required to buy the four megawatts of power generated by Two Dot Wind at Martinsdale and Livingston, they will also need to purchase an equal amount of regulating reserve power to make up for times when the wind isn’t blowing, and that Two Dot Wind should be responsible for paying for the extra costs of integrating that power output. Two Dot Wind and representatives of other small wind generating companies contend that the cost of integrating their power into the grid is small, and that they should not have to pay unless Northwestern comes up with a study that shows the actual cost. They fear that if the Public Service Commission allows the higher cost, wind energy companies will abandon projects in Montana in favor of neighboring states with lower integration costs. Two Dot Wind was founded by Billings doctor David Healow, and owns wind turbines at the Martinsdale Hutterite Colony and just north of Two Dot. More information on Two Dot Wind LLC can be found at: http://twodotwind.com/.

The Helena Independent Record article by Mike Dennison on this story can be found at www.helenair.com/articles/2008/03/07/top/55st_080307_wind.txt

Update on recent biomass conference

Gary Glynn — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:48:19 +0000

Jay Toups of the Big Sky Coalition reported a successful turnout at last weekend’s symposium on biomass production in Hamilton. Some 250 attendees heard presentations on bio-energy, turning woody fuel into power, plasma conversion technology, turning manure into methane, bio-fuels from algae. There was also a presentation on America’s energy future by a member of the 25×25 Organization, which hopes to generate 25% of America’s energy needs from bio-fuels by the year 2025. Most of these presentations can be viewed at: http://www.bigskycoalition.org.