Advances In Hybrid Electric

Posted on | March 15, 2010 | No Comments

An advancement in hybrid electric vehicle technology is providing powerful benefits beyond transportation.

Researchers at DOE’s’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed, fabricated and demonstrated a PHEV traction drive power electronics system that provides significant mobile power generation and vehicle-to-grid support capabilities.

“The new technology eliminates the separate charging mechanism typically used in PHEVs, reducing both cost and volume under the hood,” said Gui-Jia Su of ORNL’s Power Electronics and Electric Machinery Research Center. “The PHEV’s traction drive system is used to charge the battery, power the vehicle and enable its mobile energy source capabilities.”

Providing more power than typical freestanding portable generators, the PHEV can be used in emergency situations such as power outages and roadside breakdowns or leisure occasions such as camping. Day-to-day, the PHEV can be used to power homes or businesses or supply power to the grid when power load is high, according to Su.

The charging system concept, which is market ready, could also be used to enhance the voltage stability of the grid by providing reactive power, Su said. The Power Electronics and Electric Machinery Research Center is DOE’s broad-based research center helping lead the nation’s advancing shift from petroleum-powered to hybrid-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The center’s efforts directly support DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Program and its goal to provide Americans with greater freedom of mobility and energy security while lowering costs and reducing impacts on the environment.

by Kathy Graham, DOE

Bust the Hump in Santa Monica

Posted on | March 12, 2010 | No Comments

The plan to bust the Hump restaurant in Santa Monica was launched months ago when Sea Shepherd Outreach Coordinator Zoli Teglas first told me about a Santa Monica restaurant serving whale meat. I thought he was joking.

But it was not a joke, and Zoli set about organizing a sting operation recruiting Charles Hambleton from the production of the Academy Award winning film “The Cove” to help organize the covert purchase of a plate of Sei whale for $600.

The sale of whale meat in clear violation of U.S. Federal law illustrates the incredible arrogance of the Japanese businessmen involved in the illegal worldwide trade in whale species. They have become so greedy and so confident they can get away with anything that they have even invaded the United States with smuggled whale products.

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society will work towards permanently shutting down the Hump restaurant and will be investigating the sale of whale meat in other Japanese restaurants in the United States.
– Sea Shepperd News

Reduce U.S. Consumption of Petroleum

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | Comments Off

The price of oil is currently hovering near $80 per barrel, but that doesn’t include the potential economic costs to the United States that would be caused by disruptions in oil supply, according to a recent discussion paper by Resources for the Future (RFF), an independent research group. That report estimated the oil security premium for domestically produced oil at about $2.28 per barrel in 2008, rising to $4.45 by 2030, in constant 2007 dollars. In contrast, the oil security premium for imported oil starts at about $4.45 per barrel in 2008 and rises to $6.82 by 2030. While that analysis suggests that emphasizing domestic oil production over foreign imports has some advantages, the authors note that the security premium is minor compared to the current and future direct costs of oil, which the authors project to increase to more than $130 per barrel by 2030. Given that high price, the report concludes that the best policy would be to emphasize reductions in U.S. petroleum consumption, regardless of the source of oil.

Energy-Efficient Home Heating

Posted on | March 10, 2010 | Comments Off

HARRISBURG, PA — Starting in April, funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will make it possible for tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians to reduce their energy consumption and save money through a new rebate program for home heating equipment, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

The $11 million program will provide rebates of between $100 and $500 on the purchase of new, Energy Star-rated non-electric residential hot water heaters, furnaces and boilers. The higher the equipment’s efficiency rating, the larger the rebate will be.

“Last fall, the U.S. Department of Energy asked all states to develop rebate programs for items that would help residents achieve the greatest energy savings,” said Governor Rendell. “Because the average Pennsylvania household spends 44 percent of its energy budget on heating and cooling, offering these rebates will provide a real and lasting benefit for consumers.”

Governor Rendell added that the rebate program could benefit 33,000 Pennsylvanians and could create 120 jobs by boosting demand for heating equipment and related installation work. It could also save more than 257 trillion British thermal units of energy.

Once finalized, the rebate program’s guidelines and applications will be posted on www.recovery.pa.gov.

The rebates complement existing or planned programs by Pennsylvania’s electric utilities that are required under Act 129, which Governor Rendell signed in 2008 to help consumers save money through energy conservation.

“All regulated electric utility companies are now offering—or will soon—rebates on typical appliances like refrigerators and dishwashers,” said Governor Rendell. “Because Pennsylvania has many older homes that use a variety of heating and cooling methods, offering rebates for non-electric heating equipment is another financial incentive that will ensure all Pennsylvanians will have the opportunity to upgrade their heating systems and achieve greater energy efficiency and financial savings, regardless of the type of fuel they use.”

Through a competitive bid process, the Department of Environmental Protection selected Resource Solutions Group to manage the new rebate program along with its partners, Resources Development and Management Inc. of Pittsburgh and the Electric Gas Industries Association.

Resource Solutions Group is a woman-owned environmental consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations balance economic and strategic goals through awareness, action and energy sustainability, while protecting the environment. The company has managed similar energy-related rebate programs, such as the Chicagoland Natural Gas Savings Program.

Resources Development and Management Inc. operates the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County and is a leading management consulting firm for public utilities and government agencies in Pennsylvania. With 30 years of experience administering rebate programs, EGIA has implemented some of the nation’s largest and most successful resource efficiency rebate programs and contractor training services.

“RSG and its partners have the expertise and the resources to put this financial incentive into the hands of energy-conscious citizens all across Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on Energy Rebates.

To learn how federal Recovery Act funds are being invested to benefit Pennsylvania residents, businesses and communities, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.