By Mike Federman

Depending on where you live, the primary source of electricity varies greatly. In the Northwest, hydropower is king. In the Great Basin, coal is widely used. In Alaska, diesel plays an important role.

But these primary resources are supplemented by numerous other types of electrical generation that are owned and operated by small, locally owned utilities.

Consumers of public power in the Northwest—who depend on low-cost, renewable energy from federal hydroelectric dams—might not realize that nearly 10 percent of their electricity comes from nuclear power produced at the Columbia Generating Station near Richland, Washington.

That nuclear power is marketed by the Bonneville Power Administration, but the 1,150-megawatt nuclear plant is owned by Energy Northwest, a coalition of public Washington utilities, including Klickitat PUD and Kittitas PUD.

Energy Northwest also owns a hydro project at Packwood Lake, a wind farm and a small solar station.

Green Energy

Besides enjoying the benefits of these systems, Klickitat PUD also co-owns with Northern Wasco PUD of The Dalles, Oregon, a small hydro project within the larger hydro complex at McNary Dam on the Columbia River; with Tanner Electric Cooperative of North Bend, Washington, a portion of the
205-MW White Creek Wind Farm; and has sole ownership of the H.W. Hill landfill gas facility in eastern Klickitat County.

KPUD and Tanner Electric bundle their output of White Creek into an energy package sold on the open market at a premium, reserving the lower-priced wholesale power purchased from BPA for their consumers.

Both utilities have the versatility of using White Creek power to cover baseload growth should it make financial sense in the future.

A second publicly owned landfill gas project in the Northwest is Coffin Butte near Corvallis, Oregon. This 5.66-megawatt renewable energy project is operated for the benefit of electric cooperatives that are part of PNGC Power, a generation and transmission cooperative that helps its members manage their power resources.

The capacity at Coffin Butte was doubled in 2007 after consumers showed strong support for renewable energy. The project has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of the most efficient plants in the country.

Solar Power

Okanogan County Electric Cooperative of Winthrop, Washington, and Umatilla Electric Cooperative of Hermiston, Oregon, recently added solar energy to their renewable portfolios.

In 2010, OCEC took advantage of Washington state legislation that allows for a utility-owned solar energy system that is voluntarily funded by ratepayers.

Building the first system of its kind under the Washington State Renewable Energy Cost Recovery program, OCEC had a 20.28-kilowatt photovoltaic array installed near its office.

Participating ratepayers receive a cost-recovery incentive payment per kilowatt-hour for their share of the energy produced for 10 years. Recovery payments come from funds OCEC otherwise would pay to the state as excise taxes on retail power sales.

In 2009, UEC had a solar energy demonstration project installed next to its office headquarters. The 52.5-kilowatt
photovoltaic array allowed UEC to offset more than 10 percent of the office building’s total electricity use in 2010.

“We’re gaining institutional knowledge about photovoltaic systems and how they operate,” says Nate Rivera, UEC community relations representative. “Solar has a lot of potential for UEC and our members if the costs continue to decline.”

Hydroelectricity

While there has been a push for developing new resources, such as wind and solar, hydropower remains a staple for Northwest utilities.

In addition to the hydropower it buys from BPA, Northern Lights Inc. of Sagle, Idaho, owns the Lake Creek Hydroelectric Project in Lincoln County, Montana.

The first of two Lake Creek powerhouses was built in 1917. The facility’s capacity grew to 4.5 MW after a second powerhouse was built in 1949.

“Since 1996, Northern Lights’ Lake Creek Hydroelectric Project has served approximately 10 percent of the cooperative’s load at low cost, and in an environmentally friendly manner,” says NLI General Manager Jon Shelby.

Cogeneration

One of the public power hallmarks is using energy efficiently to conserve resources. Nowhere is this principle more focused than at the High Sierra Cogeneration Power Plant in Susanville, California.

The 6-MW power plant was brought online last year by owner Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative of Portola. The natural-gas fired plant will provide up to 20 percent of the co-op’s energy needs, and is the first utility-owned cogeneration facility in California.

In addition to generating electricity, the High Sierra facility uses the waste heat produced by its two engines to heat water for the nearby High Desert State Prison and the California Correctional Center. This added efficiency allows PSREC to receive credit for emissions reductions, which will help reduce the cost of compliance with pending state and federal climate regulations.

“The High Sierra Cogeneration Power Plant provides much- needed voltage support and line loss reduction, while adding additional capacity to help restore service to our members during winter storms,” says Jim Rice, PSREC’s electric technical services manager. “The plant also supplies competitively priced power that is not subject to transmission charges levied by California, thereby helping the cooperative to control the cost of power.”

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Compiled by Pam Blair

Each May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month to increase public awareness of electrical hazards around us. Check the following areas:

The Heart of the Home

The kitchen is where families gather to cook favorite recipes, share meals and reconnect. It also is where two-thirds of home fires start.

• Keep your stove, oven and exhaust hood clean. Keep the cooking area around the stove/oven clear of combustibles, such as towels, napkins and pot holders, and keep appliance cords away from hot surfaces.
• Plug counter top appliances into GFCI-protected outlets and unplug them when not in use.
• Keep all appliances away from the sink. Do not use electrical appliances that have been wet. Water can damage the motors in electrical appliances.
• Make sure there is room behind the refrigerator for air to circulate. Vacuum refrigerator coils.
• Even a slight shock from an appliance can indicate a hazardous wiring condition. Turn the power to the appliance off at the circuit breaker. Do not touch it until it has been checked by a licensed electrician.

Plug Into Safety in Your Family Room

The family room is where many people go to unwind and relax, but a lot of appliances are powered there. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, the average home has three televisions, two DVD players, at least one digital camera, one desktop computer and two cell phones. Many homes and their electrical systems were built before most modern-day home electronics and appliances were invented.

• Make sure electronics and computer equipment have plenty of space around them for ventilation.
• Examine extension cords before each use. Replace cracked or damaged cords. Do not place extension cords in high traffic areas, under carpets or across walkways. Extension cords are for temporary use, not as a permanent power supply.
• Use a surge protector to protect your computer and other electronics from voltage changes. Look for surge protectors with cable and phone jacks to protect your phone, computer modem and television.
• Heavy reliance on power strips is an indication you have too few outlets to meet your needs. Have additional outlets installed by a licensed electrician.
• Keep liquids, including drinks, away from electrical items such as televisions and computers.

Wake Up to Safety in the Bedroom

The average adult spends one-third of every day in the bedroom. We are vulnerable while asleep. Thirty-six percent of people killed in home fires never wake up.

• Before installing a portable air conditioner, make sure the electrical circuit and the outlet can handle the load. Large window units should have their own electrical circuit so the system is not overloaded. Clean the unit at the beginning of every season.
• Check ceiling fans for a wobble, which will wear out the motor. To fix the wobble, turn off power to the ceiling fan and tighten the screws.
• Replace any lamp whose cord is damaged or cracked. Use the correct bulb wattage in fixtures. Bulbs with wattages too high for the fixture can overheat and start a fire. Always turn lamps off when you leave the room for an extended time.
• Unplug battery chargers or power adapters when equipment is fully charged. Use the proper charger for the size and type of battery you have.

Build a Foundation of Safety in the Basement

The basement is where some of your most essential—and expensive—home electrical equipment is kept. Heating equipment and electrical distribution systems are two of the leading causes of home fires.

• Check inside your electrical service panel to see when your system was last inspected.
• Be sure circuit breakers and fuses are correctly labeled with their amperage and the rooms, circuits or outlets they service. Use correct size and current rating for breakers/fuses. Consider replacing standard circuit breakers with AFCI breakers.
• Have your furnace cleaned and inspected annually by a licensed professional.
• Make sure all fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside. Install carbon monoxide alarms on each level and outside each sleeping area.
• Clean the dryer lint filter after each load. Check periodically for excessive vibration or movement when the washing machine or dryer is operating, which can stress electrical connections.

Electrical Safety Calendar Provides Year-Round Reminders

When a light goes out, it is hard not to notice the bulb needs to be replaced—unless you like sitting in the dark. But how can you tell if your power outlets are working properly? You don’t want an electrical fire to serve as your wake-up call that something is amiss.

"Many homes are equipped with new technologies to help prevent electrical fires and injuries," explains Brett Brenner, president of the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). "Unlike a light bulb that goes dark when it needs to be replaced, there may not be any indication when these safety features aren’t working properly. That’s why ESFI recommends testing them every month."

Ground fault circuit interrupter outlets and combination-type arc fault circuit interrupter circuit breakers are just some of the safety features in your home that need regular attention.

"It’s possible an outlet or circuit may work, but the protection isn’t there," says Brenner. "The only way to know is to push the ‘test’ button."

May is National Electrical Safety Month—a time when public utilities educate consumers on ways to stay safe at home and on the job. But safety awareness shouldn’t stop on May 31.

ESFI’s home safety calendar will help you remember when to perform routine maintenance and safety checks around the house. Some things—vacuuming coils and changing furnace or air conditioning filters, for instance—should be done every three months. Other items—such as testing GFCI outlets and smoke alarms—need to happen monthly.

"Taking care of these safety items on the first of the month when you’re paying bills is a great time to knock a few things off the list," says Brenner. "Then you don’t have to worry about them for the rest of the month."

You can put the calendar on your refrigerator as a reminder of simple steps to take every month to keep your family safe.

To learn more about home electrical safety, visit ESFI’s website at http://www.esfi.org or take the virtual home tour at http://virtualhome.esfi.org.

— Megan McKoy-Noe

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By Magen Howard

Tighter government regulations—and the high cost to comply with new rules—may signal lights-out for many of the nation’s older coal-fired power plants at a time when forecasters predict energy demand will eventually outpace supply.

"Americans could see power shortages by the end of the decade if new generation sources don’t materialize," cautions Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service organization of the nation’s more than 900 not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

To meet the challenge, public utilities are using energy-efficiency measures and innovative technology to reduce electric demand. But these measures will go only so far. Eventually, the need to build new generation to keep the lights on will take center stage.

An Investment of Time and Money

The North American Electric Reliability Corp.—the bulk power grid watchdog for the United States and most of Canada—estimates the country will need to build 135,000 megawatts (MW) of new generation by 2017 to meet demand. However, facilities on the drawing board will deliver only 77,000 MW. That will leave an energy gap.

Planning, building and launching a baseload power plant is no small feat. Even if the permitting process is noncontroversial—meaning there are no significant objections to a facility—a coal-fired generating station takes six to seven years from start to finish, a combined cycle natural gas plant three to four years, and a nuclear plant 10 years at minimum, says John Holt, NRECA senior manager for generation and fuels.

While wind farms and large solar projects often require less time to complete—about two years total—they are handicapped by intermittency issues.

Even with a good location, wind generation is available no more than 40 percent of the time. It seldom operates during periods of peak consumption: hot, humid summer weekday afternoons or weather below minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Solar systems operate only during daylight and are affected by cloud cover.

Wind and solar resources must have back-up "firming" generation—such as natural gas plants—ready to come on-line when the wind stops blowing or the sun stops shining. That adds extra expense.

Federal Rules Impact Energy Prices

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking will affect electric bills and put affordability and reliability at risk.

According to a report commissioned by NERC, four pending EPA rules would place new and costly hurdles on power generators. In fact, regulations impacting cooling water intake, coal ash disposal, interstate transport of air pollutants and using Maximum Achievable Control Technology to curb emissions from power plants could force electric utilities to retire or retrofit 33,000 MW to 70,000 MW of generating capacity by 2015.

A fifth hurdle—reducing power plant emissions of carbon dioxide—presents an even greater challenge since no viable, commercially tested solution exists.

The Electric Power Research Institute, an electric utility research consortium, contends if EPA designates coal ash—a residue produced by coal-fired power plants that is used as a Portland cement substitute—as hazardous, it could cost utilities and consumer electric bills $5.32 billion to $7.62 billion a year.

"Because of these new rules, we’re expecting a number of existing coal plants be shut down," says Kirk Johnson, NRECA vice president of energy and environmental policy. "The cost of compliance will simply be too much."

Only two alternate baseload generation options currently are available to meet America’s demand for safe, reliable and affordable electric energy: natural gas, which is priced in a volatile commodities markets; or nuclear power, which requires a long lead time for construction and continues to bump up against ghosts of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979 and issues involving disposal of spent fuel.

At present, natural gas seems like an attractive option to satisfy the nation’s energy appetite. The fuel is relatively cheap, plants that use it can be brought on-line more quickly, and burning gas produces less carbon dioxide than coal.

"But right now, we’re in a natural gas price bubble," Holt cautions. "While economics today favor natural gas, my concern is just two or three years ago natural gas was three times as expensive. So it could easily and rapidly go up in cost. Over the long term, I expect nuclear power—since it only emits water vapor into the atmosphere—will make a comeback. But there are a lot of ifs."

Working to Keep Bills Affordable

To reduce the need for new power plants, electric co-ops are fashioning a variety of innovative solutions to reduce load during times of peak demand. That is the electric utility industry’s equivalent of rush-hour traffic, when wholesale power costs skyrocket.

The strategies include:

• Direct control of electric water heaters, air conditioners, electric thermal storage units and other appliances in the homes of volunteer consumers.
• Interruptible contracts with commercial and industrial accounts—such as irrigation pumps, large retailers and factories—that are able to temporarily shut down or run emergency generators.
• Calling on consumer-owned (distributed) generation to start up.
• Personal energy management—notably in-home displays, web portals and smart thermostats—that inform consumers, in real time, when load peaks are happening, allowing them to voluntarily decide when and how to curtail electric use to save money.

Most co-ops also are ramping up energy-efficiency programs. According to NRECA Market Research Services, nearly all electric co-ops offer efficiency educational resources, and 77 percent offer residential energy audits.

To find out about energy-efficiency programs in your state, visit your utility’s website or the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at www.dsireusa.org.

Magen Howard writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for NRECA. Her colleague, Megan McKoy-Noe, contributed to this story.

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By Mike Federman

In the world of television electronics, change came quickly.

Analog TV sets, in homes since the 1940s, became obsolete in 2009 without a digital convertor.

Television makers now entice consumers with claims of high definition, surround sound and multimedia compatibility.

Bigger screen, better picture, more options—and more energy consumption.

High-definition TV sets generally use more power because of better picture clarity. Energy consumption also relates to screen size. The larger the screen, the more electricity required.

Four general types of TVs are available: cathode ray tube (CRT) plasma, liquid-crystal display (LCD) and rear projection.

CRT televisions are the most difficult to find because they employ old technology. Screen sizes rarely top 40 inches.

Plasma screens often are cited as the largest energy user, mainly because their large 42-inch to 65-inch screens typically draw between 240 watts to 400 watts. Most consume electricity even when turned off.

LCD TVs don’t need much power to operate—111 watts on average. Most LCD screens range in size from 21 inches to 49 inches. These TVs fall into two categories: those with cold-cathode fluorescent lamps to illuminate the screen, and backlit models employing a light-emitting diode (LED). LED units offer several benefits, notably better picture quality, and thinner and lighter screens. They also use slightly less energy, at 101 watts.

Rear-projection televisions tend to be the most energy efficient and boast the largest screen sizes. However, due to their overall weight, rear projection sets are not as readily available as plasma and LCD models.

An American Tradition

Despite the growth of entertainment offerings on the Internet, television enthusiasts have not dimmed.

While overall television viewing in America grew less than 1 percent between 2009 and 2010, time-shifted viewing through the use of a digital video recording device increased 18.4 percent during the same period, according to the Nielson Co.

A 2009 Nielson report revealed the average American watches about 153 hours of TV every month at home.

With all of these televisions burning electricity, finding energy-efficient models is important to consumers who don’t want to burn a hole in their pocketbooks.

A good place to start saving money is at Energy Star, http://www.energystar.gov. The joint program of the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency identifies energy-efficient electronics and appliances. The Energy Star label ensures a product meets efficiency guidelines and consumes less electricity than similar products that do not carry the Energy Star label.

Even more consumer information about televisions will be available this spring. Beginning May 11, all newly manufactured televisions must carry an EnergyGuide label. These familiar-looking yellow labels already are required on many home appliances, including washing machines, refrigerators and water heaters.

Because the mix of LCD, plasma and rear-projection televisions vary widely in the amount of energy they use, the Federal Trade Commission determined the label was necessary.

“By comparing information on the EnergyGuide labels, consumers will be able to make better-informed decisions about which model they choose to buy, based on how much it costs to operate per year,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz says on the commission’s website.

The FTC will require a label with two main disclosures on new TV sets: the television’s estimated annual energy cost and a comparison with the annual energy cost of other televisions with similar screen sizes.

The rule requires the new labels to be visible from the front of televisions. Manufacturers can use either a triangular label or a rectangular label.

Beginning July 11, 2011, the amended rule will require websites that sell tele-visions to display an image of the full EnergyGuide label.

Shop For Energy Savings

Consumers in the Northwest can look for the orange “most efficient” label at participating retailers. The Energy Forward program identifies the most efficient televisions, computers and monitors on the market—those that surpass Energy Star ratings by up to 30 percent.

Internet Resources

• Energy Forward website: http://www.energyefficientelectronics.org
• Efficient electronics ratings: http://www.toptenusa.org
• Clearinghouse of efficient products: http://www.energystar.gov
• Technology industry online journal: http://www.cnet.com

Consumer Awareness
Televisions manufactured after May 10, 2011, must display EnergyGuide labels so consumers shopping for TVs can compare energy use.

Efficiency Quick Tip
Plug bundled devices—such as a TV and DVD player, or a computer, monitor and printer—into the same power strip. Turn off the power strip when you are not using the devices to conserve energy used by internal phantom power sources.

Brian Sloboda, a program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, contributed to this report.

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By Perry Stambaugh

The cost of electricity hinges on several things: availability; the price for power plant fuels and materials such as poles, wire and equipment; and the amount of power consumers demand.

Add federal rulemaking to the list.

Perhaps the most pressing challenge facing electric utilities involves U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as pollutants under the federal Clean Air Act.

On January 2, EPA began—on a case-by-case basis—restricting the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuel-burning power plants and other stationary industrial sources, such as factories, refineries and cement kilns.

Overall, electric utilities rank first—just ahead of cars and trucks—in carbon dioxide emissions intensity, so the new EPA rules will significantly impact electricity production.

Fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, account for about 70 percent of the electricity generated nationally. This number is much lower in the Northwest—where hydropower is the primary source of electricity for public utilities—but could increase as new generation sources are needed.

The result will be higher electric bills.

"Co-ops expect EPA’s rulemaking will eventually have the practical effect—absent breakthrough technology—of eliminating coal as a power plant option," said Glenn English, CEO of the National Rural Electric Association. "On top of this, the cost of switching from coal—which has traditionally been plentiful and affordable—to other fuels will be high."

The only other baseload generation sources that can meet America’s demand for safe, reliable and affordable electricity are natural gas, which is priced on a volatile commodities market and also has carbon dioxide emissions to contend with, and nuclear power, which requires a long lead time for construction.

"Electric co-ops are urging Congress and the White House to approve a two-year moratorium on EPA regulation of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases—a delay giving lawmakers the opportunity to fashion climate change legislation that protects consumers and keeps electric bills affordable," English said.

Evolution of Intervention

A series of events led EPA to regulate carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, but the course was set when a cap-and-trade bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2009 died for lack of U.S. Senate action.

Unlike problems related to smog and acid rain, no commercially tested solution exists when it comes to removing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

To industry experts, EPA’s actions seem like déjà vu. In 1978, Congress passed the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act, blocking the use of natural gas to generate electricity—a policy that stood until 1987.

"The law went in effect just as America’s energy needs were growing and power plants had to be built to keep the lights on," said Kirk Johnson, NRECA vice president of energy and environmental policy. "Congress effectively removed natural gas as a fuel option, leaving electric co-ops no choice but to build coal-fired power plants or invest in nuclear power reactors."

Co-ops added 15,600 megawatts of coal-based summer capacity during the natural gas ban. The cost of upgrading or shuttering coal plants built in the 1970s, 1980s and before will hit consumers.

Rulemaking Promises Higher Bills

Even if Congress grants a reprieve on greenhouse gas regulations, other EPA and government rulemaking efforts promise to trigger higher electric bills:

• Clean Air Transport Rule. Released in 2010, it targets 180 coal-fired power plants across 31 eastern states and the District of Columbia. The regulation enables "downwind" areas whose air quality is compromised by power plants to their west to meet federal standards. By 2014, EPA claims that rule—combined with other state and federal measures—will reduce power plant sulfur dioxide emissions 71 percent and nitrogen oxides emissions 52 percent from 2005 levels.

The cost to utilities: $2.8 billion a year. It requires plants to install new pollution-control technology, activate existing pollution controls or shut down. A second-round version under consideration could impose even tighter standards.

• Cooling water intake requirements. Power plants use water from lakes or rivers to cool generating equipment. The federal Clean Water Act sets standards for cooling structures, requiring plant operators to use "best available technology" to protect the environment.

In 2010, EPA launched a cost-benefit analysis of imposing stricter regulations. The North American Electric Reliability Corp., the nation’s power grid watchdog, says if strictly enforced, one-third of U.S. electricity capacity may need to be retired.

• Coal ash debate. To ensure the safe disposal of fly ash and other residues produced by coal-fired power plants, EPA is considering designating the 130 million tons of coal combustion byproducts as hazardous waste. That could cost billions and severely hamper recycling.

Currently, one-third of fly ash is used as a cement replacement and one-fourth of scrubber sludge is converted into synthetic gypsum for wallboards. For every ton of cement replaced by fly ash, a ton of greenhouse gas emissions is avoided.

Perry Stambaugh writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for NRECA, the Arlington, Virginia-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned electric cooperatives. Megan McKoy-Noe contributed to this story.

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By Mike Federman

Heating a home evenly is as important as heating it efficiently. No one wants to be comfortably warm in one room, then move to another and be forced to wear a parka, mittens and earmuffs to ward off the cold.

Homes with uneven temperatures have zonal heating problems. For homes with a central heating system, such as a furnace or heat pump, the culprit often is the distance between the heat source and vent.

This is not a major problem if a cold room doesn’t get much use. Closing the room’s door will keep cool air from circulating to other parts of the house. Closing the room’s vent will conserve heat that can be distributed elsewhere.

But zonal cold spots are a nuisance when they occur in areas of high use, such as the kitchen, dining room or living room. A space heater will work fine in small areas, such as a bedroom, but for larger rooms, a ductless heating system could be the answer.

Ductless systems—also called mini-splits because they are suitable for smaller areas and are comprised of two separate units—give homeowners the ability to control an area’s temperature efficiently, without sacrificing design aesthetics that are lost with portable units.

A recent study by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) shows a ductless heating system is as much as 25 percent more efficient than a ducted heating system. Compared with resistance heaters, a ductless system can be 50 percent to 60 percent more efficient.

Resistance heaters are baseboard and wall-mount heaters. These units have heating elements that degrade over time. They are expensive to operate and often do a poor job of warming a room, let alone a hallway or large living space.

Most ductless systems operate as both a heating and cooling unit. For homes that rely on air conditioning during summer, a ductless system can replace a window-mounted air conditioner, which can be a noisy eyesore and an energy hog.

Ductless systems include:

• An outside compressor unit.
• One or more indoor air-handling units mounted on a wall or ceiling. Most ductless systems sold for residential installation are 1.25 ton or smaller capacity, single-zone units. One ton of capacity is 12,000 Btu per hour.
• A refrigerant line running from the compressor to an air-handling unit. The hole size for connecting a refrigerant line is 3 inches.
• A hand-held wireless remote or wall-mounted control unit with a programmable thermostat. This allows a homeowner to turn down the thermostat in one part of the house, while maintaining a comfortable temperature in another area.

Ductless systems can be installed for:

Retrofits:Full or partial replacement of an existing zonal electric heating system, especially in manufactured homes or vacation homes where space is unavailable to run ducts.

Additions:New rooms or attic/garage conversions, where existing ductwork or heating system piping would otherwise have to be extended to provide heating and/or air conditioning.

New construction:Ductless systems offer greater environmental control and lower operating costs than other heating and cooling systems. In new construction, a multizone ductless system can be integrated into the architectural design and floor layout.

Cost and Incentives

Ductless systems are not cheap. For new homes, a ductless heating/cooling system can cost as much as 30 percent more than a ducted system, according to the Cooperative Research Network. The total installed cost of a 1.25-ton ductless system—the average size for heating and cooling a single zone—is about $4,000.

Once a ductless system is in place, consumers can expect significant savings every year compared with electric resistance heating, according to NEEA.

The table at right shows typical savings for a home paying 7 cents per kilowatt-hour and 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. Higher kilowatt-hour energy costs result in higher savings for ductless systems and a quicker payoff in terms of recouping the initial investment.

In the Northwest, a consortium of energy providers, including the Bonneville Power Administration, works with NEEA to offer discounts to consumers. If you are thinking of installing a ductless system, check with your electric utility first to see whether it offers a rebate on qualifying ductless units.

The website http://www.goingductless.com has a wealth of information about ductless systems, their expected cost for installation, and a list of companies and contractors in the Northwest that can offer consultation and expertise on these systems.

Other rebates could be available on a state-by-state basis. Check whether your state offers rebates at the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, http://www.dsireusa.org.

A federal tax credit for heating/cooling units is available for all qualifying systems and products installed in 2011. The credit is worth 10 percent of the cost of a ductless system, including labor, up to $300. 

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By Mike Federman

Anyone who has driven through the Columbia River Gorge in the past couple of years can attest to the rapidly changing landscape, as wind turbines have sprouted like rabbitbrush on both sides of the river.

Turbines not only have been raised along the river, but also on rolling hills and through canyons for several miles north and south of the river in Washington and Oregon.

The Bonneville Power Administration has about 3,000 megawatts of wind power running along its transmission system. That is a nearly 2,000 MW increase in two years. To put that into perspective, Bonneville Dam, the first federal hydro project in BPA’s portfolio, has a total generating capacity of just under 1,100 MW.

While the majority of wind power is produced by independent energy companies for markets in California, a few smaller wind farms are operated for public utilities in the Northwest that participated in their development.

The pace of construction is not slowing. Several more wind farms are in the works.

BPA is expanding its transmission system to meet the growth of wind power. The federal agency predicts wind capacity could double by 2013, with as much as 10,000 MW of wind power on its system by 2016, if development trends continue.

“Wind was one of the major driving forces behind requests for more transmission,” says BPA spokesman Doug Johnson.

A potential for other types of power generation, such as natural gas, also is a factor in expanding transmission, Johnson says. With BPA’s traditional energy resources of hydro and nuclear power reaching capacity, new sources of energy in the Northwest will need to be explored. Natural gas is considered one of the least expensive options and one that is quick to develop.

“We are looking at the most strategic and cost-effective way to meet future needs of utilities of all sizes that use BPA transmission lines,” Johnson says. “Anytime you expand the capacity of your network, you improve your ability to serve the needs of our preference customers.”

Balancing Requirements

BPA must address state mandates for more renewable energy, while maintaining its obligation to its customers who buy wholesale power.

BPA’s wind integration program not only assesses line expansion, but how energy producers work within the system, balancing their needs with BPA’s mission of maintaining a steady flow of electricity.

The intermittent nature of wind often creates a generation imbalance that must be met through another resource, typically hydroelectricity. Wind operators in BPA’s balancing authority pay for integration services that use hydroelectricity to balance their loads— one of the reasons California consumers pay a premium for wind power.

The integration program places more burden on wind producers to solve balancing problems.

“As this moves forward, there are pretty good measures in place so that public utilities won’t get hit with costs they shouldn’t have to bear,” Johnson says.

An agreement in 2010 with Iberdrola Renewables compels the multinational energy company to manage its generation imbalance using nonfederal resources. Iberdrola, the largest wind producer in the Northwest, generates about 1,100 MW of wind power in the region. The Iberdrola agreement frees up 300 MW of federal power for flexible use by BPA.

While BPA’s wind integration program is in its infancy, a system where more wind operators supply their own generation imbalance would increase the availability of low-cost hydropower—a potential component of future contract negotiations with distribution utilities in the Northwest, Johnson says.

Job Creation

The federal stimulus bill paved the way for transmission projects by raising BPA’s borrowing authority by $3.25 billion. The total amount of bonds that can be outstanding at any one time is $7.7 billion.

The $246-million transmission line being built between McNary and John Day dams on the Columbia is expected to create 700 construction jobs, according to BPA. The 79-mile McNary-John Day project is scheduled for completion in 2012.

In all, the agency is planning 225 miles of new transmission line. Three other projects in the planning stage must clear public input on placement and environmental reviews before construction begins.

Big Eddy-Knight is a proposed 28-mile transmission line that would connect a substation near The Dalles, Oregon, with a new substation near Goldendale, Washington.

Central Ferry-Lower Monumental is a proposed 40-mile transmission line that would start at a new substation near Pomeroy, Washington, and run to Pasco, Washington.

The I-5 Corridor Reinforcement is a proposed 70-mile transmission line between new substations in Castle Rock, Washington, and Troutdale, Oregon. This would be the first new high-voltage transmission line built in the Interstate 5 corridor near Portland in 40 years.  

Electric Highway Upgrade

The United States is linked by 300,000 miles of transmission lines, connecting 3,000 utilities to 10,000 power plants and 1 million megawatts of electricity, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

There is a national push to repave this electric highway, with the goal of allowing electric systems to operate at peak efficiency, while giving consumers better choices for keeping bills affordable.

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funding from the U.S. Department of Energy is being used by the Bonneville Power Administration for a smart grid project with 12 Northwest utilities to monitor the efficiency of smart appliances, smart meters, distributed generation, electric vehicles and automated distribution.

Updating the transmission grid with new technology is expected to help meet load growth and reduce demands on the hydro system, according to BPA.

Other Northwest electric coopera-tives—12 members of PNGC Power—are using DOE funds to implement a smart grid project that includes installation of more than 97,000 smart meters, the first step in developing automated two-way communications with consumers.

In Arizona, Southwest Transmission Cooperative, based in Benson, is using DOE funds to add a fiber-optic communications system to its 600-plus miles of transmission that will improve the reliability and efficiency of its facilities, says Bill Riley, co-op manager of transmission, operations and maintenance.

“Fiber optics give us the ability to communicate and transfer vast amounts of data across the system,” Riley says. “We will be able to analyze changes in the system remotely and greatly reduce the amount of time of an outage.”

With greater reliability, Riley says, outage prevention will increase.

Alaskan Independence

While some smart grid technology is universal, big changes to the nation’s grid will bypass Alaska, where utilities are on their own for transmitting electricity from power plants to substations, then to homes and businesses.

Lower 48 utilities are linked by a multistate transmission network. Isolated communities in Alaska, however, have no transmission connection to other regions. The only multi-utility transmission network in the state is the vertical interties between the Kenai, Anchorage and Fairbanks.

The northern portion of the transmission system, beginning at Healy, is owned and operated by Golden Valley Electric Association based in Fairbanks. Construction of the newest segment, the Northern Intertie, began in 2000. The system was energized in 2003.

The Northern Intertie is one of GVEA’s initiatives to improve system reliability. GVEA is the northern control point for the Fairbanks/Anchorage Intertie, which interconnects with the other Railbelt communities. Both interties allow GVEA to augment its 296-megawatt generation capacity with an additional 78 megawatts from the Anchorage area.

GVEA also sends power from its system to the Anchorage area during emergencies, such as one that occurred in November when GVEA supplemented energy to Anchorage when the city lost transmission lines to its largest generating plant.

“We do whatever we can for our neighbors in the south,” says Henri Dale, GVEA power systems manager.

Two separate lines connect Healy and Fairbanks. Both will become increasingly important as the co-op’s energy mix begins to change.

Besides its coal plant in Healy, GVEA is awaiting final approval for a second unit in Healy—the long-awaited clean coal project that would add about 55 MW to GVEA’s system.

“We have enough capacity to meet our needs into the 2020s,” Dale says. “Clean coal will reduce our energy costs, so that is why we are heading in that direction now.”

Once the Healy Clean Coal Plant is operating, GVEA estimates it will decrease the amount of oil used for power generation by 25 million gallons a year, resulting in annual savings of about $10 million. Assuming oil prices will rise again as the economy improves, annual savings could reach $60 million.

Also in development is the 24-MW Eva Creek Wind Farm north of Healy. The project became an economic reality after GVEA was certified through the federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds program. The project calls for the equivalent of 16 turbines rated at 1.5 MW each.

In 2010, GVEA completed a spring avian migration field study, evaluation of turbine siting and selection, coordination of rail access and geotechnical investigation for road and site improvements.

“We’ve done whatever studies we’ve been asked to do,” Dale says.

GVEA has gone to bid for turbines and plans to build tower foundations in 2011.

“Some people in the community have been vocal about having wind power,” Dale says. “We have a goal of getting that in during 2012.”

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By Pam Blair

Did you plan to make energy-efficiency improvements to your home during 2010, but procrastinated so long you lost out on the maximum $1,500 federal tax credit that expired on December 31?

The good news is you still have a chance to cash in on federal energy tax credits, thanks to an extension by the outgoing U.S. Congress.

The bad news is amounts have shrunk dramatically.

With electricity prices likely to increase in the years ahead, doing what you can now to improve the energy efficiency of your home will be worthwhile, regardless of incentives.

A Bit of History

Since 2005, Congress has enacted a series of tax breaks for consumers who take steps to make their homes more energy efficient.

The highest levels came as a result of passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009—the federal stimulus bill.

While the renewable energy tax credit provisions included in that bill do not expire until December 2016, residential energy-efficiency credits did.

However, on December 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010.

The far-reaching tax bill extends tax credits for energy efficiency into 2011, but at much lower levels.

It reduces the total lifetime credit that can be claimed on energy-efficiency improvements made between 2006 and 2011—excluding 2008, when no credit was available—from $1,500 to $500.

It also lowers the percentage of efficiency upgrade costs consumers can recover, from 30 percent in 2009-2010 to 10 percent in 2011.

Those are the same levels in place prior to the stimulus bill.

Specific Provisions

Like last year, energy-efficiency improvements must be made to an existing home—your principal residence.

New construction and rentals do not qualify.

If you received $500 or more in energy-efficiency tax credits from 2006-2010, you are not eligible for any more. That is a lifetime limit.

The latest legislation sets maximum allowances for different upgrades. They range from $50 to $300.

Highlights of the limits:

• Windows, 10 percent of the cost (not including installation), up to $200.
• Insulation, roofs and doors, 10 percent of the cost (not including installation), up to $500.
• Water heater, $300 for gas, oil or propane with an energy factor of at least 0.82 or a thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent; 10 percent, up to $500, for an electric heat pump water heater.
• Natural gas, propane or oil furnace and gas, propane or oil hot water boiler, $150; must have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of at least 95 percent.
• Advanced main air circulating fan, $50; must use no more than 2 percent of a furnace’s total energy.
• Air-source heat pump, $300; must have a heating seasonal performance factor of at least 8.5, an energy efficiency rating (EER) of at least 12.5 and a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of at least 15 for a split system and an HSPF of at least 8, an EER of at least 12 and a SEER of at least 14 for a package system.
• Central air conditioner, $300; must have a SEER of at least 16 and an EER of at least 13 for a split system and a SEER of at least 14 and an EER of at least 12 for a package system.
• Biomass fuel stove, $300; must have a thermal efficiency of at least 75 percent.

Others Benefit, Too

The December bill also reinstates a credit of up to $2,000 for builders of energy-efficient residences in 2011 and retroactive to 2010. The credit had expired in 2009.

To qualify, homes must use no more than half the energy of a 2003 national model energy code home.

Manufacturers of clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators will receive credits ranging from $25 to $225 for efficient models produced in the United States during 2008, 2009 and 2010.

While consumers do not get these credits, they could benefit as manufacturers, state or utility efficiency programs promote the efficient models.

Renewable Credits Remain

Under the stimulus bill, tax credits for renewable energy projects cover 30 percent of the cost of materials and installation for geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, solar water heaters and residential solar panels.

Unlike credits for energy-efficiency improvements, new construction and secondary homes qualify, as do existing and principal homes.

Specific efficiency levels are required to take advantage of the tax credits. Details are available at energystar.gov/taxcredits.

Tax credits directly reduce, dollar for dollar, any taxes you owe. Keep your receipts and your manufacturer’s certification statement—a signed statement from the manufacturer certifying that the product or component qualifies for the tax credit—for your records. Claim the credit on your taxes using IRS Form 5695.

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By Alice Clamp and Pam Blair

Cold showers aren’t a pleasant way to start the day. Hot water plays a big role in cooking and cleaning, too. As a result, water heating has become the second-largest user of energy in an average home, accounting for about 20 percent of residential energy consumption.

To save energy, consumers have wrapped water heaters in blankets or hot water pipes in insulation. While those practices should continue, a heat pump water heater promises to lower energy consumption and save consumers money.

It is the only type of electric water heater to earn the Energy Star rating.

Major water heater manufacturers and appliance companies have introduced a new generation of the water heaters.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a qualified integrated heat pump water heater uses one-third to one-half the electricity of a standard electric resistance model. As a result, it can save the average household almost $300 a year on its electric bill compared with a conventional model. Larger families—which typically use more hot water—can save even more.

This added efficiency comes with a hefty price tag. Integrated heat pump water heaters sell for $1,400 to $2,000—well more than twice the cost of a standard electric resistance water heater.

DOE says the payback can be as little as three years. It is fastest in areas with high energy prices, where a heat pump water heater replaces a lower-efficiency water heater, where more hot water is used, or where cooling and dehumidification is of value. Cool exhaust air can be released into the area surrounding the water heater, helping cool the home, or simply be returned outside via ducts.

In areas with low electricity rates and limited financial incentives, payback can be much longer. The technology does not offer peak efficiency in all climates.

A Bit of Background

A patent for a heat pump water heater was recorded in 1950, but the technology failed to achieve commercial success.

A few small companies produced units in the 1980s and 1990s, but random failures and other issues—such as the need for utilities to install special electric service to power the devices—left consumers sour on the technology.

Because they had no capability to store heated water, heat pump water heaters also posed a problem for electric utilities that offered load management programs dependent on briefly shutting off water heaters during times of peak demand.

Those programs helped keep electric bills affordable, while not inconveniencing consumers, because standard water heaters can store hot water for hours.

How They Work

To understand the concept of a heat pump, imagine a refrigerator working in reverse. A refrigerator removes heat from an enclosed box and expels it to the surrounding air. A heat pump water heater takes the heat from surrounding air and transfers it to water in an enclosed tank.

A low-pressure liquid refrigerant is vaporized in the heat pump’s evaporator and passed into the compressor. As the pressure of the refrigerant increases, so does its temperature. The heated refrigerant runs through a condenser coil within the storage tank, transferring heat to water stored there. As the refrigerant delivers its heat to the water, it cools and condenses, and then passes through an expansion valve, where the pressure is reduced and the cycle starts

A more expensive "integrated" heat pump water heater replaces an electric resistance water heater with one that combines a heat pump and a storage tank. A second type adds a heat pump unit to an existing electric water heater.

The electric resistance element in the tank takes over when outside air becomes cold or consumers need extra hot water.

Because a heat pump water heater uses electricity to move rather than generate heat, it consumes less electricity.

Factors to Consider Before Buying

As the air temperature decreases, less heat can be captured. That compromises the efficiency of a heat pump water heater.

In the Pacific Northwest, for example, if the water heater is designed to work at an ambient air temperature of 45 F or higher, the electric element will operate whenever air temperatures drop below that level.

That reduces performance and savings.

According to DOE, heat pump water heaters require installation in locations with a year-round temperature between 40 and 90 F. That excludes Alaska.

They have proven to be most efficient in warm, damp climates, such as Hawaii.

At least 1,000 cubic feet of space is needed around the heat pump water heater to ensure adequate air exchange, so installation is recommended in an open basement, utility room or garage.

Noise should be considered when selecting where to place it. An electric resistance water heater operates quietly, but the noise of a heat pump water heater is similar to a window air conditioner.

Utilities are testing the new heat pump water heaters to determine if they have overcome the problems of the past, and whether they can help consumers save energy and trim electric bills.

Alice Clamp is a technology writer for the Cooperative Research Network, which monitors, evaluates and applies technologies that help electric utilities control costs, increase productivity and enhance service to consumer-members. Pam Blair is an assistant editor for Ruralite.

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By Pam Blair

Commitment to community is more than rhetoric for public utilities. It defines who they are, and is evidence of how they are different from other types of businesses.

Below are a few ways they and their employees add value beyond providing electricity to the communities served.

Big Bend Electric Cooperative, Ritzville, Washington—Employees and family members participated in seven community parades and are involved in a blues festival, a quilt guild and Relay for Life.

Blachly-Lane Electric Co-op, Junction City, Oregon—The co-op was selected Large Business of the Year by the Junction City/Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce for its support of community events and economic development.

Central Electric Cooperative, Redmond, Oregon—More than 2,000 people witnessed safety demonstrations offered by CEC at the Deschutes County Fair.

Clearwater Power, Lewiston, Idaho—Seventeen staff and family members participated in the United Way Day of Caring. It was the largest showing of volunteers from a single organization. The co-op sent eight high schoolers to the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utilities Association Youth Rally.

Coos-Curry Electric Co-op, Port Orford, Oregon—CCEC hosted a Be Prepared Fair during its annual meeting featuring health and emergency responders. Employees and board members donated a quilt that was raffled, with proceeds going to CCEC’s energy assistance fund.

Hood River Electric Cooperative, Odell, Oregon—HREC sponsors the annual drug- and alcohol-free graduation party. Office staff members save stamped envelopes for rehabilitation work with veterans.

Lassen Municipal Utility District, Susanville, California—LMUD hung dozens of banners honoring local enlisted men and women along Main Street.

Midstate Electric Cooperative, La Pine, Oregon—Health screening and tips on living a healthy lifestyle were offered during the annual meeting.

Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, Nespelem, Washington—Linemen were involved in career day at the high school and a safety display at the fair. They hang lights and flags in Nespelem and Elmer City. Staff participated in the Mill Pond Days parade. NVEC sponsors several youth and civic programs.

Ohop Mutual Light Co., Eatonville, Washington—The basic charge is waived for seniors 62-plus who qualify based on income level. CFLs, showerheads and faucet aerators are given to members for the cost of taxes and shipping.

Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative, Portola, California—PSREC and its telecommunications subsidiaries donated funds to the county’s search and rescue program and three volunteer fire departments. Employees cooked and served a free community dinner. Several serve as volunteer firefighters.

Raft River Electric Cooperative, Malta, Idaho—The co-op sent 10 students to the Idaho Consumer-Owned Utility Association Youth Rally and donates to the bookmobile and supports.

Salmon River Electric Co-op, Challis, Idaho—SREC donated $15,000 to the Good Neighbor Fund to help members pay their electric bills.

Surprise Valley Electrification, Alturas, California—Staff time and equipment are given to put up decorations and banners, replace lights and install playground equipment.

Tillamook PUD, Tillamook, Oregon—Since 1993, a volunteer group of employees and their families have adopted 15 to 20 families a year during the holidays. Funds come from voluntary payroll deductions and employee fundraisers.

Umatilla Electric Cooperative, Hermiston, Oregon—UEC offers a two-week Hydromania summer science camp for fourth- and fifth-graders. This year, 76 students participated. Each fall, supplies are donated to area elementary schools.

United Electric Cooperative, Heyburn, Idaho—Employees clean up a section of the highway, and collect mittens, hats and food items for Christmas.

Wasco Electric Cooperative, The Dalles, Oregon—The co-op funded economic/community grants totaling more than $10,000. It buys 4-H animals at county fairs and sponsors students to national and regional youth programs.

West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Vernonia, Oregon—Employees voluntarily took a one-year wage freeze in exchange for half of the cost savings being donated to the co-op’s energy assistance program. WOEC helped sponsor the Bear Creek Run, raising more than $2,000 for the local food bank.

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By Pam Blair

An electric space heater can be an excellent source of supplemental heat for your home, increasing your comfort during cold months—especially in chilly garages, basements, workshops and other areas that may not have central heating.

But don’t blindly accept some manufacturers’ claims that they can significantly cut a home’s heating bill. Understand the advantages as well as the shortcomings of space heaters before deciding what is appropriate at your home.

And always pay attention to safety.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that more than 25,000 residential fires a year are associated with the use of space heaters, causing more than 300 deaths. About 6,000 people a year receive emergency room care for burn injuries associated with contacting hot surfaces of room heaters.

Operate Units Safely

Even though electric space heaters don’t have an open flame, the heating elements can get hot enough to ignite nearby combustibles. Periodically check surrounding objects—including carpeting and flooring materials—to see if they feel hot.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offer the following safety tips:

• To prevent electrocution, always keep heaters away from water. Never use them in a bathroom or near a sink.

• Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from household combustibles.

• Do not use extension cords, if possible. If absolutely necessary, use a heavy-duty cord of 14-gauge wire or larger.

• Check for a secure plug/outlet fit. If the plug becomes very hot, the outlet may need to be replaced.

• Inspect the cord for frayed wire or damaged insulation. Replace missing guards and controls. Never operate a defective heater.

• Place the heater on a level surface and out of high traffic areas, where people could trip over it.

• Do not use an electric heater as a dryer or to thaw pipes.

• Do not place the heater where children or pets might play near it.

• Buy a unit with a tip-over safety switch, which automatically shuts off the heater if the unit is tipped over, and an overheat sensor that shuts off the heater if it gets too hot.

• Look for a model with a screen or grill around the heating coil to prevent kids from reaching inside or putting toys in the heater. Make sure the openings are small enough children’s fingers can’t get through to touch the heating element.

• Maintain at least one working smoke detector on each floor.

• Look for the UL mark. This means samples of the heater have met stringent safety standards.

• Turn the space heater off when you go to bed or leave the room.

Maximizing the Benefits

Space heaters work best as a supplement to a furnace or heat pump. Rarely are they used as the primary heating source.

Before purchasing a space heater, determine how and where it will be used, and which type will do the job best.

Combination units are versatile, but you likely will get better performance from a radiant or convection heater. Use a radiant heater if you want heat instantly and will not move from one spot. To warm an entire room, choose a convection heater.

But can a space heater cut your home’s heating bill? Maybe, says Brian Sloboda, program manager specializing in energy efficiency for the Cooperative Research Network, a service of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Most space heaters use 600 to 1,500 watts of electricity. At medium power of 1,000 watts at 10 cents a kilowatt-hour, used eight hours a day, five days a week, it would cost $16 a month, Sloboda says.

But space heaters can only heat a small space. If you turn the thermostat of your central heating system down to as low as 50 degrees and place the space heater in a room that is occupied by people, then close that room off from the rest of the home, this method of "zone heating" will save money, Sloboda explains.

While space heaters have their place in warming a house, they cannot replace energy-efficient central heating or weatherization improvements to the home.

All electric space heaters produce one unit of heat for every unit of electricity consumed, meaning they are 100-percent energy efficient. Those that use natural gas are 80 percent efficient.

By comparison, geothermal heat pumps can produce more than three units of heat for every unit of electricity consumed, making them 300-percent efficient.

As with any technology, before buying a space heater, understand how the device is to be used, and understand the energy claims of the manufacturer.

While it technically may be possible to cut your heating bill by 50 percent using a space heater, it generally is impractical.

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By James Dulley

People don’t often think about lighting and energy efficiency when remodeling bathrooms, but it is as important as installing proper plumbing fixtures.

If the lighting in your bathrooms is like most older bathrooms, it consists of an overhead light, perhaps built into a vent fan, if there is no window.

If there is a window in the bathroom, few builders went to the expense of installing a vent fan. Today, vent fans are almost always installed to address indoor air quality concerns in modern, more airtight houses. While remodeling, install a vent fan.

The lighting for your children’s bathroom will be simpler, so tackle it first. A basic overhead light should be adequate until they get old enough to shave or wear makeup. There is likely already an incandescent overhead light-only or fan/light fixture. In either case, replace it with a new Energy Star-qualified fan with a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL). It will use 75 percent less electricity for lighting.

Planning efficient and effective lighting for your master bathroom and dressing area is more complicated. Use the basic lighting design technique called layering to provide proper lighting.

The three basic lighting layers are task, ambient, and accent or decorative. Bathrooms are relatively task oriented— showering, shaving, applying makeup, general grooming—so adequate task lighting is most important. Other than showering or bathing, the task lighting at the mirror and vanity is used most often.

Ideally, place lighting on both sides of the mirror and perhaps on top for three-direction lighting. This eliminates shadows that can be a problem when shaving or applying makeup. If the mirror is not too wide, wall-mounted vertical fluorescent tube lighting on each side of the mirror is best and efficient.

Several companies offer efficient decorative T2 or T5 fluorescent fixtures. Some are designed to be attached to wide mirrors, and decorative sconces with CFLs are effective around narrow mirrors.

Daylight-type CFLs provide the best color rendition for makeup. Halogen bulbs may be used. They offer a longer life, are more efficient and provide a whiter light.

For over-the-mirror task lighting, Kichler offers a new decorative rail light design, which also works well for accent lighting. It is similar to track lighting, with three or four directional fixtures, but is mounted on a rail that hangs down a couple of inches from the ceiling. It mounts to the ceiling over a standard ceiling electrical box. Several of the rail fixtures use super-efficient, long-lasting, white light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

For the bath/shower area, recessed overhead task lighting works well. Consider installing low-voltage fixtures for safety and easy installation.

For ambient lighting, lower-wattage incandescent fixtures—either overhead or sconces—are effective. They can be controlled by dimmer switches to save energy. The new Lutron Eco-Minder dimmer is a good choice. As the lights are dimmed, an LED on the faceplate changes from red to green to remind you to dim the lights to save energy. On some models, the switch also functions as an efficient night light. It is wise to install separate dimmer switches for the various layers of light. Another daytime ambient light is an ODL tubular skylight with a solar-powered remote dimmer.

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By Mike Federman

Whether it is crossing arctic tundra to serve tiny fishing villages in Alaska or traveling stark dusty roads in Southeastern Oregon to serve remote cattle ranches, rural electric cooperatives cover a lot of ground.

They have to. Without co-ops, many Americans would have no electricity.

Within memory of many senior co-op members, electricity was at one time a luxury for rich people and city folk.

Although large urban areas had been lighted by electricity for nearly 50 years, by the 1930s, electricity still was not available at any cost for most rural areas.

Extending lines into the countryside was expensive, with no profit in sight for investor-owned utilities (IOU) that served more populated areas. In 1935, only 10 percent of farms enjoyed the “privilege” of electricity, and they paid dearly for it.

In many cases, farmers and their rural neighbors were forced to pay up to $3,000 per mile to build lines to their homesteads, then charged monthly rates as much as four times higher than what city dwellers paid. This was during a time when per capita income averaged around $1,800 a year.

All that changed in 1935 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the federal Rural Electrification Administration (REA)—now Rural Utilities Service.

The goal of the REA was to provide low-cost loans, as well as engineering and administrative support to help electrify rural regions.

“Electricity is a modern necessity of life and ought to be in every village, every home, and every farm in every part of the United States,” Roosevelt said.

To meet the challenge, farmers and other rural community leaders joined forces to form electric cooperatives. A fee of $5 was collected from each family—making them members and owners of the co-op—to generate the capital needed to qualify for an REA loan.

Three-quarters of a century and more than 2.5 million miles of line later, electric co-ops are still defying the odds with a tried-and-true record of delivering affordable electric service to members.

It happens in places like McDermitt, a small town on a lonely stretch of highway with a dual personality, existing on both sides of the Oregon and Nevada border.

McDermitt—in both states—is served by Harney Electric Cooperative, based in Burns, Oregon, which specializes in small towns and long distances between members in its service territory of roughly 20,000 square miles.

It happens in places like Toksook Bay, on Nelson Island in Alaska, where wind turbines integrated with diesel generators have reduced the village’s use of fossil fuel since installation in 2005.

Toksook Bay is one of 53 villages served by Alaska Village Electric Coop-erative (AVEC), based in Anchorage, which has the largest service area in the world for a retail cooperative. Only one AVEC community is accessible by road. The other 52 villages are accessible only by airplane or marine vessel.

Not all cooperatives are this isolated. Suburban co-ops serve 12 percent of Americans and maintain 42 percent of all poles and distribution lines across the nation.

Even with their suburban counterparts, rural electric cooperatives serve an average of just seven customers per mile, or about $10,500 of business a year. Compare that with urban areas, where an average mile of line maintained by IOUs—built for profit—brings in $62,600 a year by serving five times the number of consumers.

The disparity is glaringly obvious, making member-owned cooperatives all the more important to consumers who champion local service, affordable prices and reliable infrastructure.

Seven Cooperative Principles

October is Cooperative Month, celebrating not just electric co-ops, but all cooperative businesses, from agricultural and financial institutions to grocery markets.

The modern cooperative movement traces its roots to a store started by weavers in the town of Rochdale (pronounced Rotch-dale) in northern England in 1844. The group was guided by a set of principles drawn up by one of its members, Charles Howarth.

Although stated in many ways, the seven cooperative principles require:

• Voluntary and open membership.
• Democratic member control.
• Members’ economic participation.
• Autonomy and independence.
• Education, training and information.
• Cooperation among cooperatives.
• Concern for community.

The last principle might be the best. It is the reason co-ops were created in the first place.

Concern for community means helping with economic development, funding scholarships, supporting local charities and other countless ways co-ops work
to make life better in the areas they serve.

It is the principle that best reflects the heart of the cooperative difference.

Ruralite associate editor Mike Federman contributed to this report.

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By Mike Federman

Today, more than 80 percent of our nation’s 900-plus co-ops and other publicly-owned electric utilities provide electricity produced by green power sources. By tapping resources such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and biomass—including landfill gas, livestock waste, timber byproducts and crop residue—electric co-ops nationally get 11 percent of their power requirements from renewable sources, compared with 9 percent for electric utilities as a whole.

But most new renewable generation is expensive compared with traditional sources of generation. As a result, many publicly owned utilities are hard at work finding ways to integrate renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass into their power supply, while keeping retail rates affordable.

The Price of Wind

Wind power remains the second most prevalent renewable energy resource in the United States, after hydro. More than 35,000 megawatts (MW) of wind generating capacity had been installed by the end of 2009, enough to serve 9.7 million homes. Electric co-ops account for 2,060 MW of that capacity.

Minnkota Power, a generation and transmission co-op based in North Dakota, uses wind to supply 31 percent of its member-owner load—tops among utilities in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2008 Wind Technologies Market Report.

In the Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration expects the region’s nearly 3,000 MW of wind capacity to more than double by 2012. Alaska Village Electric Cooperative has installed wind generating capacity of 2,564 kilowatts (kW). Kotzebue Electric Association, also in Alaska, has 1,155 kW and is contracting for two 900 kW units to be installed next year.

But wind doesn’t always blow when electricity is needed—a condition referred to as "variability." Transporting wind energy from reliably windy spots to where the electricity is needed—population centers sometimes hundreds of miles away—also costs money.

If the nation were to draw 20 percent of its electricity from wind, a huge amount of new transmission capacity would need to be built. For the eastern half of the country alone, this kind of build out could require up to 22,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission, with a price tag as high as $158 billion, according to a report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

"It costs less to build transmission on that scale than to build wind turbines built where there’s less wind," explains Jay Morrison, senior regulatory counsel at the Arlington, Virginia-based National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. "But it will be difficult to get that done. The industry and policy-makers will first have to reach agreement as to how to plan, site and allocate the costs of all of that transmission."

High-End Energy

Solar power also experiences variability challenges. A fraction of 1 percent of the nation’s electricity comes from solar—just more than 500 MW of capacity—although some electric co-ops are finding ways to make the sun work for their members.

Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, based in Willcox, Arizona, was honored for increased use of solar power based on watts per customer during 2009. Unranked in 2008, the co-op took the top spot in a national top 10 list by the Solar Electric Power Association, with 56 solar watts per customer.

Another Arizona co-op, Graham County Electric Cooperative, ranked 10th, with 14.8 watts. Joining those two in the top 10 for solar capacity per customer in 2009 among cooperatives were Trico Electric, Mohave Electric and Duncan Valley Electric, all of Arizona; Douglas Electric of Oregon; and Anza Electric of California.

Co-ops around the country are tapping into the potential of solar. During the past two decades, Verendrye Electric in North Dakota has installed 200 solar-powered livestock water-pumping systems to serve remote pasture wells, saving the co-op thousands of dollars in line construction costs. Building a power line to serve a well averages $20,000 per mile. A solar water pumping system costs $4,000.

Colorado-based United Power has devised a system that eliminates the headaches and expense of installing a home solar system. Under its Sol Partners program, members can pay $1,050 to have a 21-watt panel added to an array on the grounds of the co-op’s headquarters in a Denver suburb. United Power estimates those who join can earn a 3-percent annual return on their investment, or roughly $32 in electric bill credits. The co-op covers maintenance and liability costs.

"I think a lot of consumers come into solar thinking it’s the answer—and that they won’t have electric bills anymore," says United Power’s Laurel Eller. "This program establishes a living laboratory for demonstrating what they realistically can expect."

Even with such innovative projects, less than 1 MW of electric co-op power nationwide comes from the sun. But a project launched by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association in Colorado will change that. The generation and transmission co-op plans to have a 30-MW solar facility completed by the end of the year. When complete, 500,000 photovoltaic panels on a sunny patch of northeastern New Mexico will generate enough power to serve 9,000 homes.

Another Log on the Fire

Electric co-ops boast a capacity of 255 MW of biomass, which consists of any biological material that can be burned as fuel to produce electricity.

In 2003, the Port of Tillamook Bay constructed a waste digester to biologically process manure from 4,000 of the county’s 30,000 dairy cows. The facility biologically breaks down the manure, converting the resulting natural methane gas to electricity.

The Coffin Butte Resource Project—owned and operated by Power Resources Cooperative, with support by PNGC Power—began operating in 1995, converting gas from a landfill near Corvallis, Oregon, into energy. The 9,000 square-foot plant has a generating capacity of 5.66 MW. The regional landfill takes in about 550,000 tons of waste a year, providing a steady source of landfill gas.

Green Power Electric Membership Corp., a partnership of 38 Georgia co-ops, is purchasing 17 MW from a waste wood-fired biomass generator. A former Fruit of the Loom manufacturing facility houses the power plant, which is creating nearly 100 jobs in a community economically crippled in 2006 when the garment maker left town.

"We will generate cleaner, greener energy, which on its own has tremendous merit," says Green Power’s Michael Whiteside. "But when you factor in the refurbishing of an abandoned plant for a useful purpose and the revitalization of a small town economy, the value becomes untold."

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The best windows improve a home's energy efficiency and its comfort

Windows provide ventilation, light and warmth, but also can drive up your electric bill. Efficient windows can reduce heating, cooling and even lighting costs, while improving overall comfort.

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the best window glazings today insulate almost four times as well as the best commonly available windows 20 years ago.

In climates with a significant heating season, windows can be a major source of unwanted heat loss, discomfort and condensation. In climates that mainly require cooling, windows are a major source of unwanted heat gain.

High-performance windows help reduce peak heating and cooling loads. That determines the size of the furnace, heat pump, air conditioner and fans that must be installed. Smaller units can cost less.

Reducing the peak load also benefits your electric utility, which must have enough power to meet customers’ maximum requirements.

According to the Efficient Windows Collaborative, several houses built in Las Vegas with energy-efficient improvements, including windows, allowed the total size of the air conditioning system to be reduced by 30 percent.

Measuring Performance

• Key window energy performance measures include:
• U-value or U-factor, which measures how well a window prevents heat from escaping. It is similar to the R-value for insulation. The lower the U-value, the better the overall insulating value of the window. Ratings usually range from 0.20 to 1.20.
• Windows with lower U-factors result in a higher interior window temperature in winter and greater comfort. Proper installation with weatherstripping also reduces cold air leakage.
• An older, less-efficient window with a lower glass temperature feels colder because more heat is radiated from a person’s body to the window. Cold glass also can create uncomfortable drafts as air next to the window is cooled and drops to the floor.
• Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which measures how well a window blocks heat. The lower the SHGC, the less heat gain. Values range from 0 to 1.
• In summer, strong direct sunlight strikes people and interior surfaces, creating overheating and discomfort. Windows with a low SHGC reduce the heat coming through the glass.
• Air infiltration or air leakage, which is listed in cubic feet of air per minute per foot of window edge. A product with a low air leakage rating is tighter than one with a high air leakage rating.

A Buyers' Guide

• When shopping for new windows, look for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) label and compare ratings on Energy Star-labeled windows for your climate.
• Look for windows with double panes; low-emissivity coatings; low-conductivity gas-fill between panes; and wood, vinyl or fiberglass frames.
• Windows manufactured with low-e coatings reduce energy loss by as much as 50 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• They also reduce the ultraviolet rays that filter through the window by up to 75 percent. That can reduce fading of materials such as carpet, fabrics, paper, artwork and wood.
• A special type of low-emissivity coating is spectrally selective, filtering out up to 70 percent of the heat normally transmitted through insulated window glass or glazing.
• Both allow the full amount of light to be transmitted.
• Windows with warm edge technology and insulating frames have such a warm interior glass surface that condensation on interior surfaces is significantly reduced.
• To maximize energy performance, choose windows with larger unbroken glazing areas instead of multi-pane or divided-light windows. If you want to simulate the multi-pane look, use applied grills. They do not reduce energy efficiency.
• Choose windows with good warranties against the loss of the air seal. If the glazing seal is lost, window fogging will occur and any low-conductivity gas between the layers of glass will be lost.
• To ensure your new windows perform as well as they should, hire a skilled contractor to install them.

For information about the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they work, selection recommendations and links to rebate information, visit the Efficient Windows Collaborative at http://www.efficientwindows.org.

Save Even More With Stimulus Funds

Homeowners can claim a tax credit of up to $1,500 for upgrading their primary residence with energy-efficient windows through 2010, reducing their income tax by up to 30 percent of the purchase price, not including installation costs. To qualify, windows must be accompanied with a signed statement certifying they have a U-factor and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) rating that does not exceed 0.30.

Take Care to Be Safe

• Windows and young children are not a good combination. Keep furniture—especially cribs or anything children can climb—away from windows.
• Never leave children unsupervised around open windows.
• Play areas in a child’s room should be focused in the center of the room or against a solid wall, rather than near windows.
• For ventilation in rooms with young children, open the top sash of double-hung windows so children cannot reach them. Keep the bottom sash (closest to the floor) closed.
• Don’t paint shut or nail shut windows. Every window in the home must be operational in case of emergency.
• Never allow teenagers to crawl out of windows to sit on the roof, or "pop out" screens to hang items out of the window.
• Plant shrubs, grass and "soft landscaping" items like bark and mulch directly underneath windows to help lessen the impact should someone fall out of the window.
• When buying new windows, order sturdy, easy-to-operate multi-point locks to provide more protection against intruders and make it more difficult for children to operate.
• Teach children window screens are there to keep insects out. They cannot sustain the weight of a child or pet pushing against them.
• As people get older, pushing up a double- or single-hung window may be more stressful on the back and hands. Easy-to-operate casement windows require no lifting. The crank-out system with a side-hinged sash opens outward for ventilation. Slider windows also are a great option.
• For ease of maintenance, order windows with vinyl frames. You never need to worry about scraping and repainting.
• Practice safety drills regularly. Small children tend to "hide" from fire, so make sure children are familiar with escape routes and know how to move quickly out of the home. Make sure safety escape chain ladders are under the bed in every room on the second floor or higher.
• If a door is not safe to exit through during a fire, exit through an open window or use an escape ladder. Do not break the glass of the window. It could cause injury.
• For added security, order impact-resistant glass in windows. 

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By Pam Blair

When designing and building a new home, attention to energy-efficiency details matter. Good decisions will reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions, adding up to decreased utility bills and increased comfort.

More than 1 million homes in the United States have been built to Energy Star standards since the program began labeling homes in 1995.

Families living in Energy Star-qualified homes will save more than $270 million this year on their utility bills, while avoiding greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 370,000 vehicles.

Typical energy savings are $200 to $400 a year per home.

To earn the Energy Star label, a home must meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines certifying it as at least 15 percent more energy efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential Code. Typically, they are 20 percent to 30 percent more efficient than homes built to standard codes.

Energy-saving opportunities continue to grow.

A "dream home" in Boise, Idaho, raffled off as a fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital was built as a "net zero" home. That means it produces as much energy as it consumes during a year.

Every component was selected to ensure the home uses as little energy as possible. It is connected to the grid, both to draw power and share surplus generation.

While styles vary, most energy-efficient homes have some common basic elements: a well-constructed and tightly sealed thermal envelope; controlled ventilation; properly sized and installed heating and cooling systems; and energy-efficient appliances.

Thermal Envelope

The walls, roof, insulation, air and vapor retarders, windows, weatherstripping and caulking combine to shield the living space from the outdoors.

An energy-efficient house has much higher insulation R-values than required by local building codes. R-value is the ability of a material to resist the transfer of heat.

Properly installed insulation in floors, walls and the attic ensures even temperatures throughout the house, reduced energy use and increased comfort. Gaps and compaction of insulation reduce its effectiveness.

Using caulk, weatherstripping, foam and gaskets to seal holes and cracks in the home’s envelope and heating and cooling duct systems helps reduce drafts, moisture, dust, pollen and noise.

Energy-efficient windows use at least double panes, with protective coatings and improved frames, to help keep heat in during winter and out during summer. Awning and casement styles often close tighter than sliding types.

Controlled Ventilation

Water vapor condensation is a threat to the structure of a house, regardless of climate.

Because an energy-efficient home is tightly sealed, controlled mechanical ventilation is needed not only to reduce air moisture infiltration, but to prevent health risks from indoor air pollution.

Heat or energy recovery ventilators salvage energy from the stale air exhaust and transfer it to fresh air entering from a heat exchanger.

Heating and Cooling

Airtight homes require relatively small heating and cooling systems. Generally, a heat pump is more efficient than separate heating and air-conditioning systems.

In addition to using less energy, energy-efficient systems are engineered to be quieter, reduce indoor humidity and improve the overall comfort of the home. When properly installed into a tightly sealed home, the equipment won’t have to work as hard.

In warm climates, light-colored exterior siding and roofing can reduce cooling requirements by up to 15 percent. Carefully selected and placed vegetation lessens cooling and heating loads in any climate.

Appliances

Although higher-efficiency appliances often are more expensive to buy, operating costs usually are lower. That will add up to savings over the life of the appliance—and is especially important for water heaters, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers and refrigerators, which are used often.

All major appliances are required to display an EnergyGuide label. Read it carefully to determine which model is most efficient.

Appliances that also have an Energy Star label exceed the federal government’s minimum efficiency standards.

Make your home even more energy efficient by looking for the Energy Star label when shopping for electronics.

Other Considerations

Before building a home, carefully evaluate the site for optimum orientation.

If you live in a climate that requires heating most of the year, face the windows toward the sun. If you live in a climate more dependent on cooling, position the windows away from the sun.

Although not factored into Energy Star certification, house size matters. The smaller the home, the less energy is needed to heat and light it. n

Because energy-efficient homes require less money to operate, many lenders offer energy-efficient mortgages. They typically have lower points and allow the borrower’s debt-to-income ratio to be stretched.

Get the Ultimate Home Assessment

Does your existing home have drafty windows and doors, and rooms that are too hot or cold? Do you have high energy bills?

Installing replacement windows, a new heating or air-conditioning system, or more insulation may fix part of the problem. But for a truly energy-efficient home, greater comfort and lower utility bills, take a whole-house approach.

Using state-of-the-art equipment, a contractor certified to Building Performance Institute standards will evaluate all components of your home:

• Exterior. Inspects for moisture, proper attic and crawl space ventilation and window inefficiencies.
• Interior. Inspects for moisture, proper room ventilation, air leaks and insulation levels.
• Attic. Inspects insulation levels and ventilation.
• Crawl space and basement. Inspects for moisture, insulation levels and air sealing.
• Combustion safety. Tests for efficiency and any natural gas leaks or gaseous toxin levels.
• Blower door and duct blaster tests. Measures the volume of air leaking from your home and through your ducts, and helps identify locations of leaks.

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Despite different pathways, proposals claim emissions can be significantly reduced

In a contentious midterm election year, U.S. senators are debating climate legislation on many fronts.

Political pundits joining the fray have predicted Senate legislation could be approved anytime from this summer to long after the election is over.

For several months, Sens. John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham—a Democrat, Independent and Republican, respectively—worked together to develop legislation that included a mechanism for pricing carbon emissions.

Graham dropped out of that coalition in May because of differences, in part, over oil and transportation industry restrictions. His focus now is setting limits on just the electricity sector to supersede regulations proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“That is what I will be pushing next year, a utility-only bill,” Graham said in a Greenwire report in June.

The Kerry-Lieberman bill seeks to reduce carbon pollution by 17 percent in 2020 and by more than 80 percent in 2050. Those benchmarks are identical to goals laid out in climate legislation passed last year by the U.S. House.

Both bills would set limits and establish emissions allowances that companies would be required to hold in the amount of greenhouse gases they produce.

A more recent bill, sponsored by Sen. Dick Luger, seeks emissions reductions without regulating greenhouse gases. Luger’s emissions goals are about half the amount of the Kerry-Lieberman bill.

Luger and fellow Republicans say strict emissions regulations would amount to a carbon tax. He believes reductions can occur, in part, through greater diversity of domestic energy resources and “a voluntary retirement program for the nation’s most-polluting coal plants,” according to his legislative outline.

Investment in domestic resources, especially nuclear energy and wind power, is also a key element of the Kerry-Lieberman bill.

A third option has been proposed by Sens. Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins, a Democrat and Republican, respectively. Their bill would establish “a target amount of carbon from fossil fuels that can be emitted into the atmosphere without disrupting the economy, using a gradually declining ‘cap,’” according to a white paper describing the legislation on Cantwell’s website.

The cap would limit the amount of fossil fuel producers and importers of coal, natural gas and oil can sell into the U.S. economy.

The bill’s “upstream” point of regulation limits regulatory compliance to 2,000 to 3,000 fossil fuel producers and importers, which would include monthly auctions of carbon permits, according to Cantwell.

The emissions allowances in the Kerry-Lieberman bill are similar to the carbon permits, but are arrived at through a different formula and would be required for a much larger group of energy-related companies.

An analysis of the bill by the Peterson Institute for International Economics predicts the cost of carbon emissions per metric ton would start at $16.47 in 2013 and increase to $55.44 by 2030.

Despite a price increase of up to 7 percent by 2030 for U.S. consumers—depending on the type of fossil fuel being used and for what purpose—the overall effect for households could be negligible because of efficiency improvements and returned revenue from emissions allowances, according to the Peterson Institute.

In the Cantwell-Collins bill, the carbon permits could not be traded and would be auctioned only to entities with a compliance obligation.

The Kerry-Lieberman bill’s emission allowances would be used to offset cost increases across several energy-related industries. Even small electric distribution utilities would need allowances to keep rates in check.

The flood of emissions allowances could create a new arm of the finance industry focused solely on marketing those credits, says Scott Corwin, executive director of the Public Power Council, a policy and advocacy group supporting public electric utilities in the Northwest.

“One of our concerns is how does that whole thing get gamed over time, and how does that affect the consumer?” Corwin says. “You could see all kinds of financial investments and hedging.”

Public utilities in the Northwest could be at a disadvantage when the initial allowances are made available because of their historic use of emissions-free energy from nuclear and hydropower.

The federal government will give away several billion allowances at the beginning of the process. After that, allowances would be sold or traded at market price. If a fair system is not established, utilities with historically low use of carbon-based fuels would receive very few allowances to start with, and would be forced to buy more at market price as their emissions increase.

Baseload generation from hydro and nuclear has reached capacity in the Northwest. As utilities grow, they will need to find generation from other sources, including fossil fuels.
“If you look at the (energy) portfolio most of our utilities have, a 10-percent baseload increase met through natural gas could triple their carbon use,” Corwin says. “In seven to 10 years, their emissions will have grown to the point where you will need significant allowances.”

EPA and the Clean Air Act

A 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling determined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

That decision was challenged this year by some lawmakers and the power industry, who say the Clean Air Act is not the proper tool for regulating emissions released from the burning of fossil fuels during electricity generation.

A resolution sponsored by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, to block EPA action on emissions failed to garner the 51 votes necessary for approval during a June 10 vote in the Senate.

Several federal climate proposals, including a bill passed by the U.S. House in 2009, have regulatory limits built into them, although the extent of those limitations vary by proposal.

The EPA announced in May an emissions rule it intends to enforce beginning in July 2011 for stationary sources, such as power plants and refineries.

Existing plants that annually emit 75,000 tons of greenhouse gases or new plants with 100,000 tons of emissions a year would be regulated by the EPA rule.

For comparison, a 500-megawatt capacity coal-fired plant emits about 3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Several states continue to pursue legal roadblocks, questioning EPA’s stance that greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to human health. Other states, however, led by California, have indicated support for federal emissions controls and are looking to implement their own automobile emissions standards.

Read more about proposed climate legislation mentioned in this story at kerry.senate.gov, luger.senate.gov and cantwell.senate.gov.

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By Mike Federman

Imagine going to work and finding your workspace cluttered with debris: stacks of other people’s paper, office furniture blocking your computer, heavy industrial bins jammed in front of your power tools or farm equipment, electronics broken and in need of repair.

Before you can begin the workday, you have to rearrange everything and make repairs, possibly causing injury in the process, but certainly wasting time.

This is the kind of scenario utility workers encounter when people abuse rights of way.

The open space around power poles, transformers and meters is necessary for utility workers to do their jobs quickly and efficiently.

When homeowners plant shrubs that block a meter or trees that interfere with power lines, it requires extra work for a utility to provide service. When recreationists rip up rights of way by using them as an off-road race track, it makes access more difficult and creates safety concerns.

Ultimately, additional costs borne of rights of way abuse must be covered by a utility and likely passed on to ratepayers.

A right-of-way agreement with a property owner allows utilities access to utility equipment for service and repairs. The space, however, is still private property and not open to the public.

"We have individuals using them for ATVs," says Nancy Favors, customer service manager at Nushagak Cooperative, based in Dillingham, Alaska. "Running them up and down the right of way upsets property owners. They run ATVs in the summer and snow machines in the winter."

Favors says repetitive reminders that rights of way are off limits to the public is beneficial in maintaining good relations with property owners. It also is important for safety issues.

"Some of our poles have guy wires," Favors says. "If you don’t see the guy wire, you could have an accident. You would not only tear up your machine, but could cause personal injury."

Favors also worries about snow berms that get piled up around power poles. Berms near Dillingham schools that grow during winter become piled so high that children playing on the mounds come dangerously close to overhead lines.

Regular Trimming Minimizes Outages

Maintaining a buffer zone near power poles is always important. Tree and brush trimming is one of the most challenging and expensive maintenance items for utilities that serve areas with many residential trees or have lines passing through forest land.

Trees and tree limbs are conductors of electricity and increase the potential for fires, blinking/dimming lights, power outages and personal injury.

Northern Lights Inc., based in Sagle, Idaho, spends about $1 million a year to clear trees and limbs from overhead and underground power line rights of way.

"Enjoying the lush forests and the trees is a big reason many of us live in northern Idaho," says Northern Lights General Manager Jon Shelby. "But trees and overhead power lines do not mix, especially during wind and snowstorms. Tree-related outages are an inconvenience and expensive for our members. That is why Northern Lights has professional tree contractors and a certified arborist on staff to assure rights-of-way maintenance tree trimming is done in an professional manner."

Electric utilities ask property owners not to trim trees near power lines. If a tree is growing into a line, contact your utility. A crew also will assess the situation for other dead or overgrown vegetation that pose a threat to power lines and work with the property owner to remove it.

Homeowners can take a proactive approach to rights of way maintenance simply by buying trees and shrubs whose growth habits will not interfere with utility equipment and service operations.

When landscaping near power lines, it is important to remember that trucks and equipment need enough room to access electrical facilities. Gardens planted in rights of way can be damaged when utility work is performed.

Fences are important and often necessary for a property owner’s privacy. If a fence is built around the perimeter of a lot so it crosses or runs adjacent to a power line, use the following guidelines:

• Do not pile or stack building materials in the right of way.
• Do not attach fencing or posts to power poles.
• Retain a minimum distance of 10 feet from all poles or underground transformer boxes.
• Gates should be at least 12 feet wide for truck access. Utilities will need a lock key or combination for locked gates.

By respecting rights of way, ratepayers can help ensure they continue to receive quality service and an uninterrupted flow of electricity.

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When taking a vacation, do you think about giving your meter a break, too?

It’s easy to forget about conserving electricity when you and your family pack up the car to head off on vacation or a lengthy trip. But if you don’t think about it before you leave, you could face an unpleasant—even irritating—surprise when you return.

While it seems to make no sense, your energy bill can be the same or even higher when your home is unoccupied. Some equipment, motors and electrical devices use power, whether or not anyone is home.

Let your meter know you are gone by preparing your home before you leave. Then you can enjoy your vacation knowing you are not wasting energy—or your money.

Preparing the Home for Your Absence

Air conditioning and heating are the top users of electricity. Before you pull out of the driveway, you turn the thermostat to its lowest possible setting, thinking you have effectively turned off the system.

In reality, you have only turned it to the lowest setting—generally 55 degrees. That means it will come on each time the temperature inside the house drops below 55 degrees. In the fall, winter and even spring, that could be every day. The same principle applies to your air conditioning system.

To really disable your heating and cooling system, shut them off at the breaker panel. Before you do that, though, make sure the house won’t get so cold your plumbing is at risk.

If you fail to shut off the breaker, your heating costs could actually rise when you are not home. That is because clothes drying, cooking, bathing and human activity give off heat that contributes to a home’s temperature. Without a human presence, the heating system must work harder.

The second-biggest user of electricity is your water heater. Because it is out of sight, it is easy to forget. If you will be gone for more than two days, turn the heater off at the breaker. Left on, the water heater will work to keep all 50 or more gallons of water in the tank heated to 120 to 140 degrees, 24 hours a day.

Refrigerators and freezers draw electricity to keep your food cold and frozen in your absence. If you will be gone for a prolonged time, empty them out, shut them off at the breaker and prop open the doors to prevent mildew from growing inside.

Anything that uses clocks, memory, remote control, microprocessors and instant-on features—such as televisions and VCRs—consume small amounts of electricity even when turned "off." Unplug those items before you leave.

Rather than leave lights on all day, use a timer.

Detecting Other Reasons for High Bills

Staying home and trying to figure out what is behind an increase in your electric bill? Consider these possible causes:

• Did your bills go up dramatically at the beginning of summer or winter, when you regularly began running the air conditioning or electric heat? Perhaps temperatures are extreme. Your system also may need help. Change filters and check window caulking. If that doesn’t stabilize your bill, call your utility or a heating/air-conditioning professional for help with more complicated things, such as thermostat operation and compressor cycling.
• A defective water heater thermostat can prevent the heating element from cutting off, causing continuous operation. In two-element heaters, failure of one element can cause the other to operate more.
• Do you live in a rural area and have a well? The cushion of air above the water in the pressure tank can be lost, or waterlogged, causing the tank pressure to drop rapidly when the pump cycles off. When this occurs, the pump continuously cycles on and off, causing higher-than-normal electric usage.
• Consider your living habits. Do you love gadgets? Most are powered by electricity. Perhaps you have a growing family, and you recently purchased a computer and a dishwasher. Do you love to cook? Do you and your family spend hours surfing the Internet? Did you have guests who stayed for weeks on end, and who left on the lights and did laundry? All of these activities add to your electricity usage.
• Has anything changed in your household? Spring or fall cleaning, holiday activities, sickness or convalescence at home, and changes in the size of the family—for example, a new baby or a college student returning home—often result in increased electrical usage.
• If you have moved into a new home, consider whether your new dwelling is larger than your former home, is in a location with more extreme temperatures or wind, has a larger water heater and/or heating equipment, is less well insulated, has fewer draperies or has manual heating controls.
• Billing periods can vary from month to month. Note whether the month contained five weekends or a holiday—time when usage tends to be greater.
• Other causes of bill variations are defective appliances, frost on a refrigerator unit, home repairs, lack of good appliance maintenance, defective house wiring, exposure of pipes and the water heater to cold air, and leaking hot water faucets.

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