USSI would like to share some very important news regarding fuel efficiency standards, biofuel, and the LARGEST solar energy project EVER from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) weekly newsletter. The EERE Network News is also available on the Web at: www.eere.energy.gov/news/enn.cfm.  Please READ ON…

EPA, DOT Seek First U.S. Truck Fuel Efficiency Standards

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced on October 25 the first U.S. standards to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and improve fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and buses, beginning with the model year 2014. The standards are projected to reduce emissions by about 250 million metric tons and to save 500 million barrels of oil over the lives of the vehicles produced within the program’s first five years. The heavy-duty sector, from the largest pickups to 18-wheelers, emits about 20% of U.S. transportation emissions, according to the EPA.

EPA and DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are proposing new standards for three categories of heavy trucks: combination tractors (the semi trucks that typically pull trailers), heavy-duty pickups and vans, and vocational vehicles. For combination tractors, the agencies are proposing engine and vehicle standards that begin in the 2014 model year and achieve up to 20% reductions in both CO2 emissions and fuel consumption by 2018 model year. For heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, the agencies are seeking separate gasoline and diesel truck standards, which phase in starting in the 2014 model year and achieve up to 10% reductions for gasoline vehicles and 15% reductions for diesel vehicles by 2018 model year. Lastly, for vocational vehicles, EPA and DOT are requesting engine and vehicle standards starting in the 2014 model year that would achieve up to 10% reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 2018 model year.

The technologies fostered by this program would also yield economic benefits, enhance energy security, and improve air quality. Such new technologies include widespread use of aerodynamic improvements and decreased tire rolling resistance, as well as engine and transmission upgrades. EPA and NHTSA are providing a 60-day comment period that begins when the proposal is published in the Federal Register. As part of the process of developing this proposed rulemaking, NHTSA has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed fuel efficiency standards. The draft EIS compares the environmental impacts of the agency’s proposal with those of a number of regulatory alternatives. Comments may be submitted on the draft EIS through January 3, 2011, and information on the submission of comments for this document may be found at the NHTSA Web site. See the EPA press release, the proposed regulations and standards, and the NHTSA Corporate Average Fuel Economy Web site.

USDA Readies Expanded Biofuels Initiatives, Including FAA Jet Fuel Project

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a series of measures on October 21 to promote production of biofuels from renewable sources. USDA will publish a final rule to implement the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which has operated as a pilot since 2009. Under the BCAP final rule, USDA will resume making payments to eligible producers. Authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, BCAP is designed to ensure that a sufficiently large base of new, non-food, non-feed biomass crops is planted to meet future demand for renewable energy consumption. The overall goal of the measure is to create jobs and mitigate the effects of climate change.

BCAP uses a dual approach to support the production of renewable energy. First, BCAP assists with the establishment and production of eligible renewable biomass crops within specified project areas. Producers who enter into BCAP contracts may receive payments of up to 75% of the cost of establishing eligible perennial crops. Further, they can receive payments for up to five years for annual or non-woody perennial crops and for up to 15 years for woody perennial crops. In addition, BCAP assists agricultural and forest landowners and operators by providing matching payments for the transportation of certain eligible materials that are sold to qualified biomass conversion facilities. The facilities convert the materials into heat, power, bio-based products, or advanced biofuels.

USDA also announced jointly with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a five-year agreement to develop aviation fuel from forest and crop residues and other green feedstocks in order to decrease dependence on foreign oil and stabilize aviation fuel costs. Under the partnership, the agencies will work together to assess the availability of different kinds of feedstocks that could be processed by bio-refineries to produce jet fuels. The cooperative agreement supports a larger research plan led by USDA through its five regional biomass research centers, which will help accelerate the development of a commercial advanced biofuels industry across the United States. A report by the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) determined that replacing more petroleum with cost-competitive domestic biofuels reduces crude oil imports, thereby lowering prices for energy and benefiting the U.S. economy. See the USDA press release, the ERS report, the BCAP Web site.

Interior Department Approves Largest Solar Project on U.S. Public Lands

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) approved on October 25 the largest solar energy project ever to be built on U.S. public lands. When completed, the Blythe Solar Power Project, which will be the world’s largest concentrating solar power facility, will produce up to 1,000 megawatts of solar power. The output will be enough to power 300,000 to 750,000 homes. The installation will cover 7,025 acres of public lands eight miles west of Blythe in Riverside County, California. The developers, Palo Verde Solar I, a subsidiary of Solar Millennium, LLC, expect it to create 1,066 jobs at the peak of construction and 295 permanent jobs.

The Blythe project uses parabolic trough technology with rows of parabolic mirrors focusing sunlight on collector tubes, heating oil in the tubes. The tubes carry the oil to a boiler, which sends live steam to a turbine to produce electricity. A new 230-kilovolt transmission line will be constructed to connect the power to the grid. The approval means the Bureau of Land Management will offer Solar Millennium a right-of-way grant to use the public lands for 30 years if all rents and other conditions are met. BLM is requiring that Solar Millennium provide funding for alternative habitat for desert tortoise, western burrowing owl, bighorn sheep and Mojave fringe-toed lizard habitat to mitigate the project’s environmental impacts. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the builder is eligible to secure $1.9 billion in conditional loan guarantees from DOE for the project. See the DOI press release, a project fact sheet , and the DOE Concentrating Solar Power Web site.

USSI Comments:

We are very excited about all of the changes that will have a positive impact on the environment.  As a solar educator, we were particularly thrilled to read about the US Department of Interior’s (DOI) approval of the largest ever solar energy project that will power 750,000 homes in California!  With more and more emerging solar projects, it is becoming increasingly important to have trained solar technicians for solar installations.  It is evident that the solar industry is growing and the magnitude of its impact is truly something to think about.  Why not get the training needed now to be a part of this rapidly growing industry?  The future is solar.