Breaking News

The latest Demand-side Management Technology Workshop, Advances in Water Heating Technologies, is coming to Western’s Rocky Mountain region August 31.

Learn about the latest developments that are making water heaters an even more valuable tool in demand-side management programs. This one-day event at Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association in Westminster, Colo., will cover different types of units, including solar and heat pump water heaters, program design and marketing and best practices.

Registration is free to Western customers ($100 for other attendees), but space is limited, so reserve your place now. Class materials, continental breakfast and lunch are included.

Municipal utility Silicon Valley Power will join investor-owned San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric as host utilities at the upcoming Smart Energy International Conference & Technology Expo in San Jose, Calif., Sept. 7–9, 2010.

Among the agencies sending speakers are California Public Utilities Commission, Department of Energy, Austin Energy, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, Portland General Electric, DTE Energy and the European Union.

This year’s Smart Energy International Conference and Technology Expo is focusing on three key areas: energy sustainability, operational excellence and customer engagement. The agenda targets professionals who work in the field of renewable energy, electric vehicles, smart grid, energy storage, Home Area Networks, standards, AMI or smart energy investment.

Attendees will gain valuable information, insights and intelligence about how the smart energy movement is changing the role of traditional utilities and bringing about an evolution that will significantly change the utility and energy “playing field.”  The Technology Expo is an opportunity to “kick the tires” of the latest and greatest technology solutions that are driving the smart energy market today and tomorrow.

More than 300 people are expected to attend the event at the San Jose Marriot. For information about the program, contact Nazya Ayaz  at 347-801-5258.

EcoAlign, a marketing company focused on energy and the environment, has released the latest Project Energy Code report, Nudges for Energy Conservation.

Defining a nudge as mechanism to promote desirable outcomes while respecting individual choice, the report explains why nudges work, what makes for a good nudge and how utilities can use nudges to create measurable energy conservation savings. The report is part of Project Energy Code, EcoAlign’s research program developed to analyze consumer motivations and engagement regarding energy consumption and the environment from a social sciences perspective.

You can download the report at no charge. EcoAlign is interested in readers’ feedback, and so is Energy Services. Tell us in the “Comments” section if Nudges for Energy Conservation provides you with useful insight in planning your demand-side management strategy.

Green Energy Leaders is hosting a webinar Tuesday, June 29, that will look at ways towns, counties, campuses and facilities can develop clean energy.

Beginning at noon Eastern Time, the 90-minute webinar will cover energy planning, wind power and anaerobic digesters in three presentations. Western customer Fowler, Colo.’s plan to move entirely off-grid is the topic of  Small City .. Big Green Energy Plans. Town Administrator Wayne Snider will explain how Fowler’s clean energy plan is attracting industry, creating jobs and saving thousands in energy costs.

Learn about a new wind turbine design that fits both urban and rural applications in An Unusual Wind Tower With Multiple Fans Cuts Initial Costs and Maintenance. David Hurwitt, vice president of Marketing for Optiwin, will describe his company’s mid-sized turbines, including performance, costs, financing and return on investment.

The third presentation explores different types of anaerobic digesters and how they might benefit municipalities.

While researching carbon monoxide alarms for National Safety Month, an alert website visitor discovered a broken link in an archived issue of Energy Services Bulletin–sadly, an all-too frequent occurance in the fast-changing world of energy efficiency and renewable energy. 

Happily, this reader sent Energy Services an e-mail to let us know about the broken link. Even better, she shared a resource that she found during her research: Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer. This page has a wealth of valuable information about how to identify and prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

We at Energy Services greatly appreciate hearing from our readers, whether you are reporting a broken link, sharing a helpful resource or commenting on a story. Breaking news and the Energy Services website  are meant to be interactive, so please do talk back.  And Happy National Safety Month!

If you were unable to attend Opening Transmission Constraints for Solar Development Locally and in the West on June 17, you can now download the agenda and presentations.

The Department of Energy Solar Technologies Program and Western Area Power Administration presented this workshop to bring stakeholders together to discuss transmission issues surrounding solar development in the West.

More workshops on transmission are being planned for later this summer. Check Breaking News for the announcements.

Western Area Power Administration is looking to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on behalf of several Federal agencies.

In the Request for Proposals (RFP), Western is seeking up to 584,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of RECs, over a 6 year period.  Learn more about the solicitation and about RECs from Western’s press release.

Western must receive offers submitted in response to this RFP via mail or fax on or before July 2, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. MDT to be considered for evaluation. See the current RFP for full details about submitting a proposal.

The Virtual Energy Forum is bringing together energy professionals, potential customers, policy makers and investors June 16 and 17 to share ideas for implementing renewable and energy-efficient practices in business. This is a free online event with live video presentations, real-time Q & A and a virtual exhibit floor.

The conference meets entirely online, making it time- and cost-efficient, and offering a greener way to learn about sustainability strategies and energy-saving best practices.  The Virtual Energy Forum features :

• Live video keynote presentations from renewable energy and sustainability thought leaders.
• Experts answering questions in real-time!
• Live video track presentations featuring case studies in industries such as consumer goods, healthcare, government, education and retail.
• Virtual exhibit floor with product and service solutions from energy innovators.
• Live chats and networking opportunities with exhibitors or other attendees.

Energy Services looks forward to hearing from Western customers who participate in the Virtual Energy Forum, since we are always on the lookout for effective and affordable education opportunities. Let us know what you think.

EcoAlign, a strategic marketing agency focused on energy and the environment, has released an EcoPinion survey report on consumer perceptions and expectations of smart grid. Utilities face the challenge of not only educating consumers about what the smart grid is, but also of meeting consumer expectations about what the technology can do for them.

Is It Time To Separate Smart Meters from Smart Grid?, the eighth EcoPinion survey from EcoAlign, concludes with recommendations on how to implement a “smart” communications and marketing strategy aligned with the smart grid roll out.

Download the report for free.