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renewable target and support Europe’s
cogeneration industry.
Sweden plans to reach an agreement
with the parliament before the year’s end
on key energy-efficiency proposals mapped
out in the Commission’s Second Strategic
Energy Review in November 2008. The
president hopes to present the European
Commission’s blueprint, if ready in November,
at the December Energy Council.
TES to Help Florida Campus
Cut Energy Costs
The University of Central Florida (UCF)
in Orlando expects to save around $700,000
a year in energy costs once its new thermal
energy storage facility is completed on campus this fall. The facility – the only one of
its kind at a Florida university – will hold 3
million gal of chilled water at night to be
used during daytime hours to cool most
buildings on UCF’s main campus.
Using the TES facility will allow UCF to
chill water for its circulatory underground
cooling system at night, taking advantage
of Progress Energy’s nighttime energy rates,
which are approximately 50 percent lower
than daytime energy rates.
The $3 million cost of the tank will be
recouped in approximately four years When
finished, the facility will have a more attractive brick exterior to coordinate with other
UCF buildings.
Courtesy Ball State University Photo Services.
Senator Helps Start Drilling for Ball State Geothermal Project. Sen. Richard Lugar, R.-Ind., took
part in the May 9 groundbreaking for the country’s largest geothermal heating and cooling system
being constructed at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. Within a decade, the system is expected to
heat and cool more than 40 buildings on the 660-acre campus. A proponent of greater U.S. energy
efficiency and independence, Lugar controlled the drilling machine that drove the first of up to 4,000
boreholes required by the project. He also spoke at commencement exercises and received the
President’s Medal of Distinction. Lugar is sponsor of the Energy Patriot Award given to individuals
and organizations that have demonstrated leadership and initiative in taking concrete action to
improve America’s energy security.
U.S. Joins International
Renewable Energy Agency
The United States officially joined the
International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) June 29, increasing the number of
participating countries to 136. IRENA was
initially founded Jan. 26 with 75 member
nations. The new agency will engage governments around the world in promoting a
rapid transition toward the widespread and
sustainable use of renewable energy on a
global scale. U.S. participation is an important element of the Obama administration’s
effort to support clean energy technologies
and the development of low-carbon
economies needed to address climate change.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
said that the U.S. will work closely with
other signatories, IRENA’s leadership and
members of Congress to ensure that the
new agency’s work augments and complements other renewable energy efforts. U.S.
Ambassador Reno Harnish signed the IRENA
statute at the second session of the IRENA
Preparatory Commission in Egypt.
At the Egypt meeting, IRENA member
nations determined that Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates, will serve as the agency’s
interim headquarters location; Bonn,
Germany, will host IRENA’s center for technology and innovation; and Vienna, Austria,
will host a liaison office for IRENA’s cooperation with other organizations that are active
in the field of renewable energy. Hélène
Pelosse, who designed the renewable energy
plan for France, was chosen as the first
head of the agency.
Cedar Rapids Moves Two
Ways on Downtown Energy
Reporter Rick Smith, who covers the
Cedar Rapids, Ia., City Hall for The Gazette,
posted a blog entry July 1 (rickmsmith.word
press.com) commenting that the City
Council seems to be moving in two directions
at once on energy. It recently awarded a
contract to Sebesta Blomberg & Associates
Inc., Roseville, Minn., for a downtown energy
system feasibility study, and the council is
also overseeing a program to help businesses
convert from the downtown steam system.
The feasibility study, which will be
funded by the state, will look at creating a
new downtown district energy system
that may use renewable fuels. The council
had discussed the possibility of burning
sewer sludge and municipal garbage.
