Algae Biofuels and Biotech - Stephen Mayfield UC San Diego

This video is a little old (2010), but it still has some good information.

Northrop Grumman Receives Highest Assurance for Accuracy of Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

Press release:

News Releases

Northrop Grumman Receives Highest Assurance for Accuracy of Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug. 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) received the rating of Reasonable Assurance from Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, a third-party verification body, of its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for calendar years 2010 and 2011. Reasonable Assurance is the highest assurance level currently issued by third-party verifiers for GHG data management and reporting accuracy. Third-party verification is an important element of assuring accuracy of a GHG emissions inventory. According to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), an independent not-for-profit organization working to drive greenhouse gas emissions reduction by businesses and cities, "The climate change debate has moved past the stage of simply stating claims. Third party assurance of publicly reported declarations can boost credibility with external stakeholders." "Northrop Grumman is committed to providing solutions that advance environmental security and reduce the impact of our own business operations on the environment. We are on track to achieve our goal of a 25 percent reduction of GHG emissions, relative to sales, by year-end 2014," said Gloria Flach, corporate vice president and president, Enterprise Shared Services. "The third-party verification of our GHG inventory is a reflection of our commitment to transparency and accountability." Northrop Grumman publicly discloses its annual GHG emissions reductions and related environmental performance through CDP and the company's Corporate Responsibility Report. Northrop Grumman's GHG inventory was prepared according to the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14064-3:2006 standard. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Superior Streets: City of Superior, Neb., reduces energy costs by nearly 70 percent with move to GE LED street lighting

Press release:

09 May 2012

Superior Streets: City of Superior, Neb., reduces energy costs by nearly 70 percent with move to GE LED street lighting

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SUPERIOR, Neb. — May 9, 2012 — (NYSE:GE) — Like most municipalities, the City of Superior was looking for ways to save scarce tax dollars and keep utility rates down. The solution—a citywide streetlight replacement project, moving from high-pressure sodium lights to GE’s energy-efficient LED streetlights, ultimately reducing the city’s electricity costs by more than $20,000 annually.

The high-pressure sodium lights had lit Superior’s city streets and parks for many years, but the city wanted to reduce electricity costs while maintaining or improving light quality. Superior received 13 bids and accompanying light samples from the top four candidates. The city performed side-by-side testing of each light sample for two weeks before measuring light output and energy usage, balanced with pricing. The GE Evolve™ LED Medium Roadway fixture emerged as the clear winner. Superior had applied for and received an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to cover part of the cost of the lighting upgrade. The grant program is a federal initiative to help fund energy efficiency and conservation programs across the country.

In 2009, Superior spent $30,260 on electricity for streetlights. The city expects the more than 600 LED fixtures installed will reduce electricity costs to approximately $9,300 annually, with the project paying for itself in just seven years. In addition to energy savings, the city will realize reduced maintenance costs, with the GE LED system expected to provide 11 years of service, based on a 50,000-hour life and 12 hours of operation per day.

Larry Brittenham, utility manager for Superior, acknowledges the monetary payback is important, but says the real payback is in reducing the city’s carbon footprint.

“We are saving 156 tons of CO₂ per year from just the electrical generation of our streetlights, which doesn’t include the reduced impact from the transportation and manufacturing of parts, or installation every few years with our old lighting. Just imagine what larger cities could save in greenhouse gasses with GE’s LED systems,” says Brittenham. “For the combination of light output and cost, no other LED manufacturers came close to the GE lights.”

GE Evolve LED Roadway fixtures improve visibility on Superior’s roads with better horizontal and vertical lighting uniformity, reduced glare and light pollution, and less light trespass. As part of a major initiative for the state of Nebraska to move to green technology, Superior and five other Nebraska cities are retrofitting various mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium streetlights with GE LED systems.

“We’re seeing a rapid adoption of LED systems for roadways. In fact, 29 states have already installed or are evaluating GE’s Evolve™ LED fixture as a replacement for less-efficient lighting sources. This replacement project will improve visibility for Nebraska drivers, which can create a brighter environment. It will also reduce maintenance costs and lower energy consumption,” says Tim Miller, GE global product manager, outdoor lighting fixture platforms.

For more information on the GE Lighting products used in this project, visitwww.gelightingsolutions.com.

About GE LightingGE Lighting invents with the vigor of its founder Thomas Edison to develop energy-efficient solutions that change the way people light their world in commercial, industrial, municipal and residential settings. The business employs over 17,000 people in more than 100 countries, and sells products under the Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Evolve™, GTx, Immersion™, Infusion™, Lumination® and Tetra® commercial brands, all trademarks of GE. General Electric (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter to build a world that works better. For more information, visitwww.gelighting.com.

Northrop Grumman Announces Significant Achievements in Environmental Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Community Engagement

News Releases

Northrop Grumman Announces Significant Achievements in Environmental Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion and Community Engagement Company Releases 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report

FALLS CHURCH, Va., May 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has released its 2011 Corporate Responsibility Report (CRR), a comprehensive publication that highlights the company's ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility, including environment sustainability, support for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, community service, corporate philanthropy and employee volunteerism, among other activities. It is the fifth year the company has published this report. "At Northrop Grumman, responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do. It exists in the way we serve our customers, our employees, our shareholders, the communities where we live and operate, and our business partners," said Wes Bush, chairman, chief executive officer and president. "In all that we are doing to position our company for continued success, corporate responsibility is central–a key component of the value of performance we provide to all of our stakeholders." The report also details several aspects of the company's corporate responsibility mission, including ethics leadership and governance; inclusion and diversity in the workplace; supply chain management; community partnerships; support for education; commitment to our troops and military families; and environmental, health and safety stewardship. "Corporate responsibility has been a long-standing commitment and is very important for Northrop Grumman's business and operating strategies," said Sandra Evers-Manly, vice president of Corporate Responsibility. "As we continue to grow as a company, we remain focused on maintaining the highest of ethical standards, embracing diversity and becoming an ideal corporate citizen of the environment and of our communities. This report highlights the company's range of activities, and our continuing growth as a socially conscious enterprise." Northrop Grumman's CRR is available online at: http://www.northropgrumman.com/corporate-responsibility/reports/index.html. Here are some key highlights: Northrop Grumman's performance in environmental sustainability produced several important outcomes in 2011  Northrop Grumman's score from the Carbon Disclosure Project has improved from 42 in 2009 to 80 (out of a top score of 100) in 2011. The company's greenhouse gas reduction performance has been ahead of plan and continues to be a primary objective of its sustainability strategy. The company rose from #337 in 2009 to #51 in Newsweek magazine's 2011 comprehensive environmental ranking of the 500 largest American businesses.  Computerworld magazine ranked Northrop Grumman #7 in its list of top 12 Green IT organizations in 2011, moving up from #11 in 2010. For commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, and supply chain, the company has been recognized by several organizations Ranked #37 among Top 50 Companies in Diversity by DiversityInc magazine. Ranked #2 among Top 50 Employers by Minority Engineer magazine. Ranked #3 in the Top 50 for positive working environment for members of minority groups by Minority Engineer. Ranked Top 3 most admired companies for minority engineers by Black Engineer magazine. Ranked Top 100 corporations for providing opportunities for Hispanics by Hispanic Network magazine. Ranked #9 as best employer for graduating engineers by Black Collegiate magazine. Ranked #7 Top 50 for "Multicultural Business Opportunities for 2011" by DiversityBusiness.com. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more information.

Nextiva Maintains its Environmental Leadership Position by Renewing Participation in Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Program

Nextiva, the leading unified communications and business VoIP service provider, announced today that it is offsetting its carbon emissions with Carbonfund.org Foundation, a leading nonprofit carbon reduction and climate solutions organization. By renewing its participation for the fourth consecutive year in Carbonfund.org’s CarbonFree® Partner program, Nextiva demonstrates its commitment to the fight against global warming.

http://www.nextiva.com/news/2012-news-archive/carbonfund-partnership-renewal.html

Industry Milestone: GE’s Heavy Duty Gas Turbines Surpass 2 Million Fired Hours on Low Carbon-Intensity Fuels

28 March 2012

Industry Milestone: GE’s Heavy Duty Gas Turbines Surpass 2 Million Fired Hours on Low Carbon-Intensity Fuels

 

• Waste Fuels from Industrial Operations Like Steelmaking Produce Power with Zero Incremental CO₂ Emissions
• Power from Coal Gasification Enables Future Generations of Low Carbon Coal-Fired Plants
• GE Low-Carbon Technologies Demonstrate Maturity, Reliability and Affordability

ATLANTA, GA.—March 28, 2012—GE’s (NYSE: GE) fleet of 47 heavy duty gas turbines operating on low British thermal unit (BTU) fuels has accumulated more than 2 million fired hours, an operational milestone that underscores GE’s commitment to developing specialized solutions that meet the demands of today’s evolving energy industry.

Low BTU, or low calorific value fuels have significantly less heating values than natural gas. Examples include syngas, steel mill gases and dilute natural gas. These fuels are lighter than natural gas and have less energy per unit volume.

The fuel flexibility inherent in GE’s B, E and F-class turbines has allowed these units to operate on low BTU fuels in a variety of applications, including integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC), refinery-based IGCC and steel mills.

“In a carbon-constrained environment, the technology trend is for combustion systems capable of burning syngas and other nontraditional fuels while also delivering the required operability. In this context, the strong operational experience gained by GE gas turbines with a wide variety of fuels creates favorable prospects, both for robust E-class machines and for F-class machines that deliver high performance,” said Paul Browning, president and CEO—Thermal Products for GE Energy.

To achieve the same heat input as natural gas-fired units, low BTU fuels need increased fuel flow. This flow rate requires the fleet to use GE’s Multi Nozzle Quiet Combustion (MNQC) and standard (single nozzle) syngas combustors, which provide robust and reliable operation on low BTU fuels.

The hours accumulated by the fleet include projects totaling more than 4 gigawatts of installed power generation capacity at 21 plants. One million of those hours have been achieved on GE’s E-class turbines. Roughly 600,000 hours have been accumulated on GE’s B-class while the remaining 400,000 hours were amassed on the F-class. Some of the turbines have been running on syngas or other fuels for more than a decade including a large coal-based IGCC facility in Florida and an Italian refinery. Others are newer installations operating at locations in the United States, Germany, Italy, Canada, Netherlands, Czech Republic, China, Middle East,and Singapore.

A case in point is the Wuhan Iron & Steel Group Corp. (WISCO) steel mill near Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China. To comply with China’s goals to reduce energy consumption and emissions, WISCO installed a combined-cycle power plant—powered by two GE 9E Gas Turbines—at the Wuhan mill.

Reusing the mill’s own “blast furnace” and “coke oven” waste gases (BFG and COG) as “free” fuel, the two GE 109 combined-cycle systems each generate 164 megawatts of onsite power to support the mill’s activities. Currently, the power plant’s annual output is 1 billion kWh/a, with a guaranteed electrical efficiency greater than 42 percent (LHV).

The key benefits of this project for WISCO include a reduction in emissions associated with the waste gases created during the steel production process and new revenues generated by the sale of some of the power plant’s electricity to the local grid.

GE’s fleet of heavy duty gas turbines operating on low BTU fuels continues to grow, as customers look to do more with less.

GE Heavy Duty Gas Turbine Hours Fired on Low BTU fuels
Experience by frame:

• 1 million hours on GE E-class turbines.
• 600,000 hours on GE B-class turbines.
• 400,000 hours on GE F-class turbines.

Experience by application:

• 450,000 hours at coal-based IGCC facilities.
• 860,000 hours at refineries.
• 700,000 hours at steel mills.

Experience by region/country:

• 250,000 hours at facilities operating across Asia.
• 280,000 hours at facilities operating across North America.
• More than 1 million hours at facilities operating across Europe.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

GE Energy works connecting people and ideas everywhere to create advanced technologies for powering a cleaner, more productive world. With more than 100,000 employees in over 100 countries, our diverse portfolio of product and service solutions and deep industry expertise help our customers solve their challenges locally. We serve the energy sector with technologies in such areas as natural gas, oil, coal and nuclear energy; wind, solar, biogas and water processing; energy management; and grid modernization. We also offer integrated solutions to serve energy- and water-intensive industries such as mining, metals, marine, petrochemical, food & beverage and unconventional fuels.

Follow GE Energy on Twitter @GE_Energy.

Verizon Announces Aggressive Sustainability Goal

Verizon Announces Aggressive Sustainability Goal: Cutting Carbon Intensity in Half by 2020

Company Issues Its First Combined Annual and Corporate Responsibility Report; Outlines Strategy for Delivering Long-Term Shareholder Value by Addressing Social Issues Such as Health Care and Energy

News Release ShareThis

NEW YORK – March 19, 2012 –

Verizon announced today that it will cut its CO2 intensity in half by 2020, as part of the company's broad sustainability efforts.  Sustainability is a key aspect of the company's new strategy for delivering shareholder value.  The other aspects are developing marketplace solutions to address social issues like health care and energy, and aligning the company's philanthropic work with these issues to maximize community benefits.
"This is the era of big data," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam. "Our business continues to grow at a rapid pace, but we're committed to innovating our way to growing responsibly by becoming more energy efficient, even as our business expands."  McAdam also took part in a "CEO Sit-Down" with Bloomberg TV correspondent Alix Steel today at the fifth annual Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit.
Carbon intensity - the amount of energy needed to move data across Verizon's network - is a measurement of energy efficiency. It is improved by reducing the absolute amount of energy and by moving more data with the same unit of energy. Verizon is using its 2009 carbon intensity level as the benchmark for the company's 50 percent reduction by 2020.
To reinforce its commitment to its new shareholder-value strategy, the company today issued its first combined annual and corporate responsibility report, which is available at http://responsibility.verizon.com.

Fueling Social Innovation

Verizon believes that creating healthy, sustainable communities is the surest path to creating a healthy and sustainable business. 
"For Verizon, our most exciting growth opportunities occur where business and social interests intersect," McAdam said in a shareowners letter in the report. "As we look at how technology is transforming business and society, we see expanding opportunities ahead for us to use our unique network platforms to make a difference in the world. We believe we can become an even bigger force for good in the world - and, in doing so, extend our legacy of growth and shareowner value for many years to come."
By focusing on mobility, broadband and global connectivity, Verizon is breaking down old technology barriers and empowering businesses and communities.  Verizon's annual report describes the following initiatives:

Removing Barriers to Health Care

Neurologist Andy Southerland, M.D., participates in telemedicine encounter made possible by a Verizon Foundation grant to develop one of Virginia's first telehealth nursing curricula at the Department of Nursing at the University of Virginia-Wise. Telehealth is emerging as a way of providing patients in rural locations with access to specialty consultations.

Some 200,000 Americans die every year from treatable chronic disease, many because they lack ready access to medical care due to barriers of distance, time or availability of doctors and nurses. In one example of how Verizon is using 4G LTEtechnology to overcome these barriers, the company is working with health insurance provider WellPoint to change the model for delivering patient services via secure videoconferencing. WellPoint subscribers will soon be able to use their smartphones and tablets to consult with nurse managers for help in managing chronic conditions.
Through a grant from the Verizon Foundation, the University of Virginia launched its first telehealth nursing program to train medical personnel at the school's Wise County campus on the use of emerging telehealth technologies to improve health care access and services in rural regions of the state.
(NOTE: To view a video of just some of the ways that Verizon is transforming the way health care is delivered, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ck6XX0qeNc.)

Making Education Accessible

Using technology to prepare students for success in the 21st century has long been a focus of the Verizon Foundation. Rapid deployment of 4G LTE mobile networks will be a game-changer in education, as it enables the adaptation of various technologies in the education setting. At St. Phillips Academy in Newark, N.J., for example, a VGo telepresence robot helps solve several classroom challenges including helping a homebound student undergoing medical treatments stay involved with the class.
And Verizon's award-winning educational website, Thinkfinity.org, will evolve into more than just one of the most popular Web resources for teachers. The foundation is working to develop an integrated solution that brings education to life on smartphones and tablets.

Verizon worked closely with Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Baltimore, MD, where teachers like Ryan Kloetzer use 4G LTE tablet computers to build excitement for learning science. Studies show that increasing student engagement with mobile learning devices such as tablets and smartphones brings improved academic achievement.	Verizon provided St. Philip's Academy in Newark, NJ, with a VGo telepresence robot to solve a variety of classroom challenges, including helping a homebound student stay involved with his teachers and peers while recovering from medical treatments. The VGo robot was developed with support from the Verizon LTE Innovation Center.

For more information about how Verizon is helping to make communities stronger and more sustainable and building on a foundation for long-term growth, visit http://responsibility.verizon.com/. Information on the Verizon Foundation is available at www.verizonfoundation.org.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with nearly 108 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 194,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Post from Dept. of Energy Blog

Veolia and Johnson Controls Get the Job Done with Clean, Fuel Efficient Fleets

March 9, 2012 

With their presence in almost every neighborhood and community, refuse trucks, like the one shown above, can benefit from alternative fuels and advanced technology. | Photo courtesy of Veolia Environmental Services.

What are the key facts?

• Veolia operates four compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and more than 100 CNG vehicles.
• Johnson Controls operates more than 500 hybrids, together saving $500,000 in fuel costs.

With a total of 18 members that run more than a million vehicles across the country, the National Clean Fleets Partnership addresses a wide variety of transportation needs.  The program, part of the Vehicle Technologies Program’s Clean Cities initiative, works to help partners reduce their vehicle fleet’s petroleum use, whether they use telecommunications repair vans or soda delivery trucks.  With Secretary Chu’s announcement on Monday of the Partnership’s expansion, this is the second of two posts highlighting our four new members.

Veolia Environmental Services

With their presence in almost every neighborhood and community, refuse trucks can benefit from alternative fuels and advanced technology, which this National Partner knows well.  The Solid Waste division of Veolia Environmental Services maintains a fleet of more than 3,000 trucks, heavy equipment, and support vehicles that service both households and businesses. The company is dedicated to reducing petroleum use and emissions through route optimization, alternative fuels, and hybrid vehicles. As of 2012, the company operates four compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and more than 100 CNG refuse-collection and support vehicles. Veolia joined the partnership in December 2011.

Johnson Controls, Inc. 

As a leading supplier of battery systems for hybrid electric vehicles, Johnson Controls is committed to designing and delivering increasingly sustainable products, services and solutions that will help its customers improve their energy efficiency, reduce their carbon footprint, and achieve their environmental goals. Leading by example, Johnson Controls has implemented several greenhouse gas reduction strategies in its global fleet of 19,000 vehicles. It first introduced hybrid electric vehicles into its fleet in 2009. Today, it operates more than 500 hybrids, each reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30%, and together saving $500,000 in fuel costs during the first two-and-a-half years of operation. In 2011, it deployed 20 all-electric vans, which are estimated to achieve a 61% GHG reduction per vehicle. Other strategies include the use of CNG vans, and higher MPG vans and trucks. In 2012, Johnson Controls will pilot the use of telematics —allowing them to better collect and share geographic and other data with drivers—and continue with the deployment of additional alternative fuel vehicles, including propane-fueled units. Johnson Controls joined the partnership in February 2012.

News Release from GE - Landfill Gas

23 February 2012

GE Gas Engine Technology to Power China’s Largest Landfill Gas Project

 

• GE’s Jenbacher Gas Engines to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions by More than 340,000 Tons per Year and Greenhouse Gas by Nearly 19 Million Cubic Meters Each Year
• Project Supports Chinese Government’s 12^th Five-Year Plan to Invest More than RMB260 Billion in the Waste Treatment Industry by 2015
• GE Cements Leadership Position in China with Latest Alternative Power-to-Energy Project

SHANGHAI, CHINA—February 23, 2012

GE (NYSE: GE) today announced that its ecomagination-qualified Jenbacher gas engines will power China’s largest landfill gas (LFG) power generation project. The Laogang LFG project is owned by Laogang Renewable Energy Co., a joint venture formed by Veolia and Shanghai Environment Group, and supports the Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year Plan, during which China plans to invest more than RMB$260 billion in the waste treatment industry including waste-to-energy initiatives by 2015[1].

“Traditionally, landfill methane as a potent greenhouse gas has been released directly into the air,” said Chen Hongzhang, general manager, Laogang Renewable Energy Co. “By using GE’s gas engines fueled by LFG, we expect to save emissions by over 340,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, significantly improving the local environment in Shanghai.”

Seven of GE’s ecomagination-qualified Jenbacher J420 gas engines, which will provide about 10 megawatts of electricity, will power the new Laogang LFG facility located in Shanghai. Each J420 engine combusts 2.7 million cubic meters (m³) of methane each year, providing an overall yearly reduction of greenhouse gas of around 18.9 million m³ for the seven gas engines. The Renewable Energy Company will sell any excess electricity generated to the grid. This project is an example of how GE’s portfolio of innovative distributed power solutions, ranging from 100 kilowatts (kW) to 100 megawatts (MW), gives businesses and communities around the world the ability to generate reliable and efficient power anywhere, whether on or off the grid.

GE’s Jenbacher landfill gas engines use the gas—consisting of methane, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrogen—created during the decomposition of organic substances in a landfill. Methane has a global warming factor 21 times greater than carbon dioxide, the most widely recognized greenhouse gas affecting climate change. With a calorific value of approximately 5 kWh/Nm³, landfill gas constitutes a high-value fuel for gas engines that can be effectively used for energy generation. One of GE’s Jenbacher J420 gas engines running on landfill gas can generate 1.4 MW electricity while saving the emissions of more than 49,000 metric tons of CO₂-equivalent per year through methane destruction and displaced grid electricity production; this is equivalent to the annual CO₂ emissions of more than 9,500 passenger cars on U.S. roads.

“This important project underscores our commitment to providing alternative energy solutions to help China meet its energy goals and cements our position as a leader in this segment,” said Rafael Santana, president and CEO—Gas Engines for GE Energy. “Our Jenbacher gas engines combine high efficiency and reliability with fuel flexibility to meet our customers’ needs with positive environmental impact. The seven Jenbacher J420 gas engines running on landfill gas are designed to generate almost 80 megawatt hours of electricity per year, which could power more than 46,000 Chinese households per year[2].”

The gas engines are scheduled to begin shipping in the second quarter of 2012 with commercial operation expected in December 2012.

This project is the latest in GE’s landfill gas solutions using Jenbacher gas engines. On October 31, 2011, GE announced that it had supplied a fourth J420 Jenbacher gas engine to Asja Brasil’s new 4.3-megawatt Belo Horizonte landfill-gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project in Brazil, helping to meet the country’s goals to increase the production of renewable and alternative energy.

On October 11, 2011, GE announced that it joined government officials and utility representatives at the Golden Triangle Regional Landfill in northeastern Mississippi in the United States to mark the commercial start up of the state’s first LFGTE project that will support the regional grid. Owned by the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (GTRSWMA), the LFGTE facility uses an ecomagination-qualified, GE J320 Jenbacher landfill gas engine to generate nearly 1 MW of renewable power sold through Tennessee Valley Authority’s renewable power initiative—enough to support about 700 average U.S. homes.

GE’s alternative gas-to-power portfolio includes its Jenbacher andWaukesha gas engines, which are specifically designed to provide the fuel flexibility needed to accommodate the use of alternative fuels such as landfill gas while offering high levels of electrical efficiency. GE’s Jenbacher landfill gas engines are part of the ecomagination portfolio for successfully demonstrating that converting landfill gas to electricity demonstrates both improved value and environmental performance. Ecomagination is GE’s commitment to invest in a future that creates innovative solutions to global environmental challenges.

Leaders of the Fuel Cell Pack

Strictly speaking, fuel cells may not be renewable energy, but they are still of interest.

Leaders of the Fuel Cell Pack

February 17, 2012 - 10:32am

Fuel cell forklifts like the one shown here are used by leading companies across the U.S. as part of their daily business operations. | Energy Department file photo.

Sunita Satyapal

Program Manager, Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Program

What does the report show?

• The 34 companies profiled used more than 250 fuel cells totaling 30+ MW of stationary power -- enough to supply electricity for over 21,000 households.

What do WalMart, Coca-Cola, Sysco, and Whole Foods have in common?

They’re leading the pack when it comes to hydrogen and fuel cells.

The Energy Department’s "Business Case for Fuel Cells 2011" report illustrates how top American companies are using fuel cells in their business operations to advance their sustainability goals, save millions of dollars in electricity costs, and reduce carbon emissions by hundreds of thousands of metric tons per year.

The report profiles 34 companies and highlights how they incorporate fuel cell technologies into their business models. According to the report, in the last year, profiled companies used more than 250 fuel cells totaling 30+ MW of stationary power -- enough to supply electricity for over 21,000 households. In addition, companies in the report purchased or deployed more than 240 fuel cells at telecommunication sites and more than 1,030 fuel cell-powered lift trucks.

Walmart, Coca-Cola, Sysco, and Whole Foods are leading the pack:

·      Walmart -- 6.8 MW for CHP (17 stores) and 70+ forklifts
·      Coca-Cola -- 2.1 MW (4 locations) and 70+ forklifts
·      Sysco Corporation -- 600+ forklifts at several locations, one hundred more on order
·      Whole Foods Market -- 1.2 MW (4 stores) and 60+ forklifts

So how do these companies deploy fuel cell technologies in their daily operations? Many use fuel cells as a cost-saving alternative to power lift trucks in their warehouses and distribution centers. The Department’s analysis of fuel cell-powered lift trucks deployed via the Recovery Act concludes that fuel cells provide eight times lower refueling/recharging labor cost and two times lower net present value of total system cost compared to batteries.

In addition, Combined Heat and Power systems are another attractive application of fuel cell technologies. When fuel cells generate electricity they give off waste heat. In a combined heat and power system, the waste heat is captured for a wide variety of applications, including space heating and hot water.  

You can read more about how fuel cells are beneficially impacting these companies’ bottom line while further promoting the use of clean energy technologies by checking out the report.

Electrofuels

From the blog of the U.S. Dept. of Energy:

Electrofuels: Tiny Organisms Making a Big Impact

February 16, 2012

Alexa McClanahan

Communications Support Contractor to ARPA-E

They say a picture is worth a thousand words — but what happens when what you want to look at is impossible to see?

That’s where the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s Electrofuels program comes in. The 13 projects that make up the program seek to develop renewable liquid fuels that use microorganisms to harness chemical or electrical energy to convert carbon dioxide into liquid fuels, without using petroleum or biomass. For example, scientists at Columbia University are using bacteria to optimize the conversion of carbon dioxide and ammonia into a liquid transportation fuel similar to gasoline.

If successful, the projects supported by ARPA-E could change the game – breaking our dependence on imported oil and powering our vehicles with homegrown fuels.

Check out the infographic above to see how tiny organisms are making a big impact, or see electrofuels projects in action at ARPA-E’s 2012 Energy Innovation Summit, held February 27-29 right outside Washington, D.C. For more information, visit http://energyinnovationsummit.com/

Norfolk Southern Deploys Renewable Diesel

News release from Norfolk Southern:

February 14, 2012

Norfolk Southern pens deal with Dynamic Fuels and Mansfield Oil
Norfolk Southern becomes first fleet user in the U.S. to deploy clean renewable diesel

NORFOLK, VA. - Dynamic Fuels, LLC and Mansfield Oil Company have signed an agreement to supply renewable diesel to Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE / NSC), one of the nation’s largest transporters of coal and industrial products. Norfolk Southern has primarily been using a 100% pure Dynamic Fuels renewable diesel at its Meridian, Mississippi rail yard since early January.

Dynamic Fuels, a 50/50 venture owned by Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE / TSN) and Syntroleum Corporation (NASDAQ / SYNM), recently signed commercial off-take and strategic alliance agreements with Mansfield to market renewable diesel to fleet customers. Dynamic Fuels, operator of the first commercial advanced biofuels plant in the United States, produces next-generation renewable and synthetic fuels from animal fats and greases. The company’s Geismar, La., plant produces renewable diesel as “drop in” fuel that can replace 100% of petroleum diesel in a diesel engine without engine modification.

“Norfolk Southern is pleased to be the first fleet user of renewable diesel in the United States,” said Gerhard Thelen, Norfolk Southern vice president operations planning and support. “Our locomotive engines are completely compatible with the pure renewable diesel provided by Dynamic Fuels and Mansfield. Together, they have provided seamless integration of renewable diesel supply into our Meridian, Miss., yard. Norfolk Southern has been at the forefront of the railroad industry in evaluating synthetic and renewable diesel fuels for many years. This effort exemplifies Norfolk Southern’s commitment to reducing carbon and other emissions, while further integrating sustainability throughout the operations of the company.”

“The contract with Norfolk Southern is the first manifestation of Dynamic Fuels’ partnership with Mansfield,” said Ron Stinebaugh, senior vice president of Syntroleum Corporation. "We look forward to working with Norfolk Southern to lower their emissions and increase the renewable content of the fuel they burn. Renewable diesel is a sustainable, ultra clean burning, high cetane fuel that reduces carbon emissions and significantly reduces particulates and NOx when combusted in existing diesel engines. Supplying a prestigious company like Norfolk Southern validates our belief that customers are looking for renewable options that increase sustainability and lower emissions without sacrificing fuel quality.”

Doug Haugh, president of Mansfield Oil Company added, “Mansfield and Norfolk Southern have had a strong relationship on the refined products side and we’re excited to supply them with a next-generation fuel like renewable diesel. We believe Dynamic Fuels is a leader in renewable diesel production and our partnership affords us the opportunity to further diversify our portfolio of transportation fuels for our customers.”

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 20,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers. Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

About Mansfield Oil Company
Ranked as one of the Top 50 privately held companies in America by Forbes magazine and a multiple category finalist in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Platts Global Energy Awards, Mansfield defines the next generation transportation fuels company. Founded in 1957, the company has achieved double-digit growth for three decades by focusing on optimizing and controlling fuel-related costs for its customers using innovation, technology and high touch service. For more information, visitwww.mansfieldoil.com.

About Tyson Foods 
Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest processors and marketers of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and services to customers throughout the United States and more than 130 countries. The company has approximately 115,000 Team Members employed at more than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. The Tyson Foods, Inc. logo is available athttp://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3224.

About Syntroleum 
Syntroleum Corporation owns the Syntroleum® Process for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) conversion of synthesis gas derived from biomass, coal, natural gas and other carbon-based feedstocks into liquid hydrocarbons, the Synfining® Process for upgrading FT liquid hydrocarbons into middle distillate products such as synthetic diesel and jet fuels, and the Bio-Synfining(R) technology for converting animal fat and vegetable oil feedstocks into middle distillate products such as renewable diesel and jet fuel using inedible fats and greases as feedstock. The 50/50 venture -- known as Dynamic Fuels -- was formed to construct and operate multiple renewable synthetic fuels facilities, with production on the first site beginning in 2010. The Company plans to use its portfolio of technologies to develop and participate in synthetic and renewable fuel projects. For additional information, visit the Company's web site at www.syntroleum.com.

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The Rise of Landfill Gas to Energy

The following is an excerpt of an article with the above title in the January 2012 issue of Waste Age magazine:

Landfill gas (LFG) provides power for one million homes and heat for 737,000 homes across the country.  It provides 14 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 102 billion cu. ft of LFG for direct use by industry.  It contributes to the nation’s supply of natural gas and clean-burning fuel for vehicles.

The environmental benefits of these LFG uses are huge.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the use of LFG reduced the consumption of oil in the United States by about 229 million barrels of oil last year.

Using LFG also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.  EPA says that landfills rank as the third-largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States.  Among greenhouse gases, methane, the fuel component of LFG, is one of the most potent.  For instance, it is 21 times stronger than carbon dioxide.

The EPA also estimates that a typical LFG energy project collects and uses 60 to 90 percent of the methane emitted by a landfill.

Thanks to the environmental benefits of putting LFG to use, landfill-gas-to-energy has begun to emerge as a renewable energy industry.

Consider the landfill-gas-to-energy (LFGTE) project at the Newton County Landfill in Brook, Ind., for example.  There, LFG is helping to manufacture egg cartons.

One of the largest landfills in the country, Newton County, owned by Phoenix-based Republic Services, Inc., receives nearly 2.7 million tons of trash per year.  Recently, the landfill began sending LFG to the neighboring Newton County Renewable Energy Park through a 2,500-foot pipeline.

At the industrial park, Canadian firm Urban Forestf Recyclers Inc. (UFR) of Swift Current, Sask., manufactures packaging, such as egg cartons, from recycled fiber.  The process blends mixed newsprint and cardboard into a slurry that is poured into molds.  The LFG fuels the system of blowers used to dry the molds.

Airlines Emissions System May Be Adjusted in Europe

Excerpt from an article in The New York Times
Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Airline Emissions System May Be Adjusted in Europe 

By JAMES KANTER

BRUSSELS — The European Union could suspend parts of a new law requiring airlines to account for their greenhouse gas emissions if countries were to make clear progress this year toward establishing a global emissions control system, a senior official said Tuesday.

The comments, by Jos Delbeke, the director general for climate action at the European Commission, came the day after China announced that its carriers would be forbidden to pay any charges under the European emissions system without Beijing’s permission.

The comments were the clearest sign yet that Europeans were considering how to defuse a mounting conflict over the new emissions law with its most important trading partners.

The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, requires airlines to account for all emissions on flights using European airports. Its goal is to speed up the adoption of greener technologies at a time when air traffic, which represents about 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is growing much faster than gains in efficiency.

But Europe’s bold climate initiative also could push nations heavily reliant on air travel into a trade war because of the effect of the new law on flights outside of European airspace.

Mr. Delbeke said at a conference in Brussels that he could recommend “a conditional suspension” of parts of the system, in which polluters can buy and sell a limited quantity of permits, each representing a ton of carbon dioxide, by the end of the year if nations sped up adoption of an effective global system.

For that to happen, any global system would have (to) be better for climate protection than simply applying the European system that is already in force, Mr. Delbeke said. A global system also would have to treat all airlines similarly and to set emissions reduction targets for a near-term date like 2020 rather than midcentury.

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China Balking at EU Airline Emissions Charges

Excerpt from an article in The New York Times

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

E.U. Rebuffs China's Challenge to Airline Emission System

By JAMES KANTER

BRUSSELS — The European Commission said Monday that it would continue charging airlines for their greenhouse gas emissions, despite an announcement from China that its carriers would be forbidden to pay without its permission.

The E.U. program, which began Jan. 1, requires airlines to account for all emissions on flights using European airports and represents the Union’s boldest move to protect the environment.

“We’re not backing down in our legislation,” said Isaac Valero-Ladrón, a spokesman for the commission, the executive body of the European Union. “We’ll apply this to companies operating in Europe.”

Europe says its system is less costly than portrayed and would speed up the adoption of greener technologies at a time when air traffic, which represents about 3 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions, is growing much faster than gains in efficiency.

Earlier Monday, the Chinese air regulator effectively prohibited the country’s carriers from paying those charges or other fees, or increasing ticket prices in response to the E.U. system, without permission from the government.

The Chinese government said it was also considering unspecified measures to protect Chinese companies, something Europe can ill afford as it looks to China to help ease its debt crisis. European countries also want access to China’s fast-growing economy, including free-spending Chinese tourists who might not show up.

The intensifying dispute is another sign that European environmental regulations could lead to a trade war if governments start retaliating against carriers or products.

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GM to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T

News release from AT&T.  Once again, while natural gas is not really renewable energy, its use may be of interest to readers because of its lower carbon footprint, as compared to gasoline or diesel.

GM Wentzville Plant to Build New CNG Vans for AT&T

Order shows AT&T's "continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri," says AT&T Missouri President John Sondag

St. Louis, Missouri, February 01, 2012

Fresh on the heels of the announcement that is has deployed its 5,000^th alternative fuel vehicle, AT&T* announced today that it plans to take delivery of 1,200 Chevrolet Express dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) cargo vans to be deployed to AT&T service centers nationwide. It is the largest-ever order of GM CNG vehicles.

“St. Louis is home to AT&T’s Fleet Operations and we have more than 200 alternative fuel vehicles in the state,” said AT&T Missouri President John Sondag.  “This order shows AT&T’s continued commitment to alternative fuels and to investing right here in Missouri.”

AT&T, which has announced its intention to invest up to $565 million to deploy approximately 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles over a 10-year period through 2018, will use the vans to provide and maintain communications, high-speed Internet and television services for AT&T customers. Last week, the company announced the milestone deployment of its 5,000th alternative-fuel vehicle, a Chevrolet Express van, as part of the commitment.

 “CNG technology is important to AT&T because it helps us reduce our fleet-based carbon emissions,” said Jerome Webber, AT&T vice president of Fleet Operations. “It is also cost-effective and readily available in our country right now.” 

According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, CNG-powered vans can produce approximately 25 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than similar gasoline and diesel-powered vans, which supports AT&T’s corporate commitment to minimize its impact on the environment.

In 2010, AT&T and other large U.S. fleet operators joined in the Department of Energy’s Clean Cities’ National Clean Fleets Partnership as part of a national challenge launched by President Obama to cut America’s petroleum imports by one-third by 2025. Through 2013, AT&T anticipates it will have purchased up to 8,000 CNG vehicles at an estimated cost of $350 million. Additionally, over the life of the commitment, AT&T expects to invest $215 million to replace approximately 7,100 fleet passenger cars with alternative-fuel models.

According to a 2009 Center for Automotive Research report, AT&T’s planned alternative-fuel vehicle initiative would:

• Save 49 million gallons of gasoline over the 10-year deployment period
• Reduce carbon emissions by 211,000 metric tons – the greenhouse gas equivalent of removing 38,600 passenger vehicles from the road for one year

More Sustainable Service Garages

Beyond the AFV deployments, AT&T is turning to its service garages to help minimize its environmental footprint and cut operating costs within its overall fleet. These programs include:

• Redirecting an estimated 60,000 old tires annually through a new recycling program that turns old rubber into fuel and consumer products
• Recycling all primary garage products, including 180,000 pounds of oil filters; 200,000 gallons of oil; and 23,000 gallons of antifreeze annually
• Eliminating the purchase of 9,000 pounds of lead annually that were being used to balance new fleet vehicle tires at high speeds

For more information about AT&T’s sustainability efforts and to view a copy of AT&T’s 2010 Sustainability Report, please visit www.att.com/csr.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.


About AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. With a powerful array of network resources that includes the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile broadband and emerging 4G capabilities, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse^® and AT&T |DIRECTV brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world. In domestic markets, AT&T Advertising Solutions and AT&T Interactive are known for their leadership in local search and advertising.

Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com. This AT&T news release and other announcements are available at http://www.att.com/newsroom and as part of an RSS feed at www.att.com/rss. Or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT.