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Public Utility District
www.PublicUtilityDistrict.com

What is a Public Utility District?

A Public Utility District, or "PUD" is a special-purpose district or a jurisdiction established by a governmental body that provides for public utilities (such as electricity, natural gas, water, sanitary sewers/waste water treatment plants, municipal solid waste collection, and more recently, wholesale telecommunications) for the residents of that Public Utility District.

PUDs are created by a local government body, such as a city, county, or metropolitan service area (two or more communities joining together for public utility purposes). Normally the districts are non-profit.

PUDs are often governed by a commission, which may be appointed or elected.

Again, a "Municipal Utility District" or "MUD" is very similar to a PUD, but MUDs are created by private developers instead of government.

In the past, some of the Public Utility Districts in the Pacific Northwest were created with the purpose of taking over the electric power service territory served by investor-owned utilities - and then serving those customers within that newly-created PUD's territory. The creation of many of these Public Utility Districts were possible due to favorable laws in those states at the time and with the direct assistance of individuals in various federal agencies that were strong proponents of public ownership of electric utilities such as Dr. Paul J. Raver of the Bonneville Power Administration.

What is a Municipal Utility District, also referred to as a "MUD"?

A Municipal Utility District, or "MUD" is a district that has been created and authorized by a developer that may provide for one or more utilities or services, to those residing within the MUD.  Examples of utilities or services that may be provided to resident and businesses within the MUD may include one or more of the following; energy and renewable energy in the form of natural gas, electricity, solar power/energy, water, wastewater treatment plants, storm water drainage, telecommunications, as well as other services deemed necessary within that specific MUDs boundaries that could include police, fire and ambulance services.

How is a MUD created?

This depends upon the state that the proposed MUD is located in.  Typically, a majority of the property owners in the proposed MUD's boundaries district petition that state's respective governing body for creating the MUD.  The regulating body that provides the oversight for MUDs will evaluate the petition, conduct one or more public hearings, and then determine whether to grant or deny the petition. If the MUD is approved, a temporary MUD Board of Directors (or Commissioners, again, dependingon the state) is established that may be comprised of three to five temporary members to the MUD's Board of Directors.  This is only until an election is called to permanently elect the MUDs Board of Directors, and to confirm/ratify the MUD's creation. After which time, the MUD may authorize bonds and levy taxes for the repayment of the bond(s). 

How does a MUD work?

The publicly elected Board of Directors of a MUD manages and controls all of the affairs within that MUD as it relates to the charter for that MUD.  The Board of Directors will establish policies, rules and other guidelines on behalf of the residents and utility customers of their MUD.  A MUD will adopt and enforce all necessary charges, fees and taxes in order to provide for the MUDs facilities and services it was created for providing.

How do MUDs provide for parks and recreation facilities?

In addition to their common functions of water and wastewater service, MUDs may be empowered to engage in conservation, electrical power generation, irrigation, firefighting, solid waste collection and disposal, stormwater drainage, as well as recreational activities such as parks, bicycle/jogging paths, swimming pools, tennis courts and basketball courts/gymnasiums. 

What are the developer's responsibilities to the MUD they helped create?

This will depend on the state that the MUD is located in.  In general, a developer petitions the appropriate governing body for that state, to create the MUD. 

Developers are usually prevented from serving or placing employees, business associates, or family members on the MUD's Board of Directors that the help create. 

Developers must pay for or put up a letter of credit equal to 30% of the cost of subdivision utilities. This requirement ensures against "fly-by-night operators" who are not committed to the success of the MUD. The "30% rule" also offers protection to MUD residents in the event that a subdivision is not built according to schedule. Unless they are voting residents within a MUD, developers have no authority or control over the MUD's Board of Directors. If they are voting members of a district, they have the same power to vote and attend Board metings as any other resident. 

What are Solar Power Parks?

A Solar Power Park is a large photovoltaic power plant installation that is located near a "load center" such as a city or community, that sends all of its "dedicated" power to that city or nearby load center. 

More About Municipal Utility Districts and Public Utility Districts 

Introduction

As electric utilities continue to raise electric rates on their ratepayers/customers - citizens, cities, and municipalities are asking companies such as ours to assist them in building their own power generation plants and distributing the electricity to themselves. For most cities and municipalities, the creation of a Municipal Utility District (MUD) or a Public Utility District (PUD) will quickly enable a city or municipality to send the "dis-connect" notice to their respective electric utility. 

A Municipal Utility District (MUD), and a Public Utility District (PUD) are very similar in that they are both like a school district, and are governmental entities, which are created under State law. Each state has its' own laws regarding MUD or PUD creation, and the requirements vary from state to state. MUD's and PUD's may also supply water and wastewater treatment systems.

As a public entity, a MUD or PUD can exercise certain governmental powers, including the levy and collection of property taxes, charging for authorized services, the issuance of bonds for water, sewer, wastewater and electrical power facilities, and the adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations as appropriate to accomplish the purposes for which the district was created.

A MUD or PUD may also be a customer-owned utility, committed to providing electricity on a cost of service basis as a customer service -- not to make a profit for stockholders or shareholders of Independently-Owned Utilities, which have a responsibility to make a profit, and then share those profits to their shareholders, via dividends. This only occurs after they pay their enormous overhead costs and along with overly-generous, and even outrageous salaries to their top management - whose responsibilities are to generate as much of a profit for their shareholders, at the expense of their customers, or ratepayers, that are paying these increasingly greater electric rates. 

MUD's and PUD's are typically governed by a Board of Commissioners. The board sets MUD/PUD policy, employs the General Manager and guides the district's operations. Members serve a term from 2-4 year terms, and normally elected by voters in that district. The General Manager is directly responsible to the Board of Commissioners. In carrying out the policies of the Board of Commissioners and in conducting the business operations of the district, the General Manager is supported by a trained staff, which includes approximately 45 employees. 

Purpose of the Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution District 

The chief purpose of electric power MUD's or PUD's is to generate, transmit and distribute electrical power for the citizens and ratepayers of that specific district. The district owns and operates an electric distribution system serving its' ratepayers. 

Overview on California Municipal Utility Districts (MUD) 

California cities are increasingly turning towards “Municipal Utility Districts” (MUD) as a way to lower utility costs and increase energy efficiencies. This is because a Municipal Utility District is an independent agency – or a public power agency -- that provides for one or more essential public services, such as electricity, to residents and businesses. 

Environmental responsibility 

Municipal Utility Districts and public power agencies can rely more on renewable sources of energy than investor-owned utilities. If a community is environmentally aware, MUD’s will explore alternative energies such as cogeneration and trigeneration. 

Accountability

As public-owned agencies, Municipal Utility Districts must comply with state open-meetings and public-records laws. Public power systems are governed democratically at the local level. Most -- especially the smaller ones -- are governed by a city council, while others are governed by an independently elected board. Control stays in the hands of the community. 

Savings for customers

Municipal Utility Districts charge less than private enterprise. On a national average, private power company residential customers pay about 18% more for electricity than public power customers. Public power utilities, on average, return to state and local governments in-lieu-of tax payments and other contributions that are equivalent to state and local taxes paid by private power companies. 

To establish a Municipal Utility District, the developer or community must strictly follow their respective state's regulations. 

The Steps and Process How We Help Communities and Developers and Establish a MUD or PUD

Again, each state is unique, and have their own respective laws and regulations relating to the establishment of MUDs and PUDs.  

In general, we follow the following steps: 

1. Commission a feasibility study to:

* Evaluate a community's needs for services after which we will design a solution which is better, more efficient, environmentally-friendly and sustainable.

* Determine whether the public entity should be a Municipal Utility District (MUD) or a Municipal Utility (the latter can be created exclusively by an action of the City Council or County Board of Supervisors). 

2. Assuming community opts for a MUD, draft a qualifying petition seeking the creation
of a MUD in accordance with that state's MUD regulations. 

3. Coordinate governmental agencies, including the Board of Supervisors, the Office of the Clerk of the Board, the Department of Elections and the Office of the City Attorney, if there is one. 

4. Obtain enough signatures to equal 10 percent of the total votes (or whatever the state's requirements are) that were cast in the last general election to enable placement of a ballot measure for the creation of a utility district.

5. Sponsor election and elect the temporary Board of Directors.

6. Create “wards” of equal apportionment in the community (or City).  For some states they may be referred to as districts. 

7. Assist the Board of Directors and a newly appointed General Manager for the MUD to handle operations and necessary approvals. 

8. Determine the benefits of incur indebtedness, issuing bonds and investing funds. 

9. Implement all aspects of conversion and installation of new "clean" power generation system. 

As it relates to Solar Power and Energy Services we have an interest in providing communities, MUDs and PUDs, we provide the following services:

I. Concept of Distributed Generation and Dispersed Generation of Solar Power and Energy

a. Problems with central power plants
b. Future power constraints
c. Transmission & Distribution constraints
d. High Voltage Direct Current
e. Smart Grid

II. Solar Power & Energy generation - electricity only or total energy solution required?

a. Straight PV power generation system

b.  Solar Cogeneration - generation of power and hot water.

c. Solar Trigeneration - generation of "cooling, heating and power.

d. Overall system efficiencies increased through:

i. elimination of transmission line losses
ii. valuable thermal energy is recovered
iii. enormous amount of pollution is eliminated

III. Methods for implementation

a. Parallel with utility company - keep utility, stay connected
b. Island mode - utility is no longer providing any power - total self-generation
c. Problems - standby charges and fees, no more utility company but system needs
to be larger for redundancy

IV. Other Renewable Energy Technologies that we will consider include;

a. Gas turbines - fueled by clean B100 Biodiesel or Biomethane or "renewable natural gas."
b. Reciprocating engines - fueled by clean B100 Biodiesel or Biomethane or "renewable natural gas."
c. Hydrogen fuel cells
d. Solar
e. Geothermal
f.  Biomass Gasification

V. Risks and Rewards

a. The City and community benefits through lower costs of energy
b. Increased power reliability
c. Projections of Present and Future natural gas prices and electric power prices
d. Maintenance costs - can be controlled and guaranteed through maintenance contracts

VI. Selecting the Best Course of Action... How Do We Move Forward?

a. Supply us with past 12 months energy costs for municipal buildings to provide
initial analysis and economic feasibility
b. Maps of facilities
c. Community or City simply flips the switch and we will take care of everything else.
d.  We provide your community or city with flexibility, options and attractive alternatives.

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What is a Power Purchase Agreement? 

A Power Purchase Agreement is a legal agreement wherein our clients agree to buy either the power (electricity) or the power and energy (hot water, steam and/or chilled water for air-conditioning) - or both - directly from us, for a term of 10 to 20 years, where we have installed, own and operate our solar energy systems. 

The Best Site Available for Public Utility District, Information, 
Resources and Turnkey Renewable Energy Project Development

The Best Site Available for Public Utility District,  Information, 
Resources and Turnkey Renewable Energy Project Development

Advertise Your  Company, Product, or Legal Services
at the BEST website address for Public Utility Districts!

www.PublicUtilityDistrict.com

info@PublicUtilityDistrict.com

More about Power Purchase Agreements

A Power Purchase Agreement is "behind" almost every power plant.  A PPA is a contract involving the generation and sales of electricity - which is normally developed between the owner of a power plant generating the electricity, and the buyer of the electricity. PPA's can be quite lengthy agreements that may exceed 100 pages in length and take several months to even 1-2 years to finalize.  

The basic information contained in a Power Purchase Agreement include the following items:

          * Definitions
          * Purchase and Sale of Contracted Capacity and Energy (such as steam, hot
             water and/or chilled water in the case of cogeneration and trigeneration
             plants
          * Operation of the Power Plant
          * Financing of the Power Plant
          * Guarantees of Performance
          * Penalties
          * Payments
          * Force Majeure
          * Default and Early Termination
          * Miscellaneous
          * T&C's

For more information about Power Purchase Agreements, call or e-mail us today.

What is "Net Zero Energy^sm?"

Net Zero Energy^sm - when applied to a home or commercial building, simply means that the home or buildings generates as much power and energy as they consume, when measured on a monthly or annual basis, and with an onsite, renewable energy system, such as our Solar Trigeneration^sm Energy System. 

The hot water from the Solar Thermal Collectors on the roof of the Audubon is pumped here for producing 
the building's heating, cooling and domestic hot water.  Hot water is stored in the tank on the left for overnight.

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Absorption Chillers 
&
Adsorption Chillers

For Solar Trigeneration Applications

What Absorption Chillers and How Does They Work?

Absorption chillers use heat instead of mechanical energy to provide cooling. A thermal compressor consists of an absorber, a generator, a pump, and a throttling device, and replaces the mechanical vapor compressor.

In the chiller, refrigerant vapor from the evaporator is absorbed by a solution mixture in the absorber. This solution is then pumped to the generator. There the refrigerant re-vaporizes using a waste steam heat source. The refrigerant-depleted solution then returns to the absorber via a throttling device. The two most common refrigerant/ absorbent mixtures used in absorption chillers are water/lithium bromide and ammonia/water.

Compared with mechanical chillers, absorption chillers have a low coefficient of performance (COP = chiller load/heat input). However, absorption chillers can substantially reduce operating costs because they are powered by low-grade waste heat. Vapor compression chillers, by contrast, must be motor- or engine-driven.

Low-pressure, steam-driven absorption chillers are available in capacities ranging from 100 to 1,500 tons. Absorption chillers come in two commercially available designs: single-effect and double-effect. Single-effect machines provide a thermal COP of 0.7 and require about 18 pounds of 15-pound-per-square-inch-gauge (psig) steam per ton-hour of cooling. Double-effect machines are about 40% more efficient, but require a higher grade of thermal input, using about 10 pounds of 100- to 150-psig steam per ton-hour.

In single-effect absorption chillers, all condensing heat cools and condenses in the condenser. From there it is released to the cooling water. A double-effect machine adopts a higher heat efficiency of condensation and divides the generator into a high-temperature and a low-temperature generator.

Actions You Can Take

Determine the cost-effectiveness of displacing a portion of your cooling load with a waste steam absorption chiller by taking the following steps:

• Conduct a plant survey to identify sources and availability of waste steam

• Determine cooling load requirements and the cost of meeting those requirements with existing mechanical chillers or new installations

• Obtain installed cost quotes for a waste steam absorption chiller

• Conduct a life cycle cost analysis to determine if the waste steam absorption chiller meets your company's cost-effectiveness criteria.

Absorption Chillers Refrigeration Cycle

The basic cooling cycle is the same for the absorption and electric chillers. Both systems use a low-temperature liquid refrigerant that absorbs heat from the water to be cooled and converts to a vapor phase (in the evaporator section). The refrigerant vapors are then compressed to a higher pressure (by a compressor or a generator), converted back into a liquid by rejecting heat to the external surroundings (in the condenser section), and then expanded to a low- pressure mixture of liquid and vapor (in the expander section) that goes back to the evaporator section and the cycle is repeated.

The basic difference between the electric chillers and absorption chillers is that an electric chiller uses an electric motor for operating a compressor used for raising the pressure of refrigerant vapors and absorption chillers use the heat for compressing refrigerant vapors to a high-pressure. The rejected heat from the power-generation equipment (e.g. turbines, microturbines, and engines) may be used with an absorption chiller to provide the cooling in a CHP system.

The basic absorption cycle employs two fluids, the absorbate or refrigerant, and the absorbent. The most commonly fluids are water as the refrigerant and lithium bromide as the absorbent. These fluids are separated and recombined in the absorption cycle. In the absorption cycle the low-pressure refrigerant vapor is absorbed into the absorbent releasing a large amount of heat. The liquid refrigerant/absorbent solution is pumped to a high-operating pressure generator using significantly less electricity than that for compressing the refrigerant for an electric chiller. Heat is added at the high-pressure generator from a gas burner, steam, hot water or hot gases. The added heat causes the refrigerant to desorb from the absorbent and vaporize. The vapors flow to a condenser, where heat is rejected and condense to a high-pressure liquid. The liquid is then throttled though an expansion valve to the lower pressure in the evaporator where it evaporates by absorbing heat and provides useful cooling. The remaining liquid absorbent, in the generator passes through a valve, where its pressure is reduced, and then is recombined with the low-pressure refrigerant vapors returning from the evaporator so the cycle can be repeated.

Absorption chillers are used to generate cold water (44°F) that is circulated to air handlers in the distribution system for air conditioning.

"Indirect-fired" absorption chillers use steam, hot water or hot gases steam from a boiler, turbine or engine generator, or fuel cell as their primary power input. Theses chillers can be well suited for integration into a CHP system for buildings by utilizing the rejected heat from the electric generation process, thereby providing high operating efficiencies through use of otherwise wasted energy.

"Direct-fired" systems contain natural gas burners; rejected heat from these chillers can be used to regenerate desiccant dehumidifiers or provide hot water.

Commercially, absorption chillers can be single-effect or multiple-effect. The above schematic refers to a single-effect absorption chiller. Multiple-effect absorption chillers are more efficient and discussed below.

Multiple-Effect Absorption Chillers

In single-effect absorption chillers, the heat released during the chemical process of absorbing refrigerant vapor into the liquid stream, rich in absorbent, is rejected to the environment. In a multiple-effect absorption chiller, some of this energy is used as the driving force to generate more refrigerant vapor. The more vapor generated per unit of heat or fuel input, the greater the cooling capacity and the higher the overall operating efficiency.

Double-effect absorption chillers uses two generators paired with a single condenser, absorber, and evaporator. It requires a higher temperature heat input to operate and therefore they are limited in the type of electrical generation equipment they can be paired with when used in a CHP System.

Triple-effect absorption chillers can achieve even higher efficiencies than the double-effect chillers. These absorption chillers require still higher elevated operating temperatures that can limit choices in materials and refrigerant/absorbent pairs. Triple-effect chillers are under development by manufacturers working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy.

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What is Polycrystalline Silicon?

• Anaerobic Digester

• Automated Demand Response

• Biomass Gasification

• Biomethane 

• Carbon Dioxide Emissions Consulting

• Carbon Emissions Consulting & Solutions

• Carbon Free Energy

• Clean Energy Parks

• Clean Power Generation

• Concentrated Solar Power

• Concentrating Photovoltaic

• Concentrating Solar Power

• Decentralized Energy

• Demand Side Management

• Distributed Generation

• Evacuated Tube Collectors

• Geothermal Power Plants 

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions consulting

• Ground Source Heat Pumps

• High Concentration Photovoltaic

• Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells

• Onsite Power Generation

• Natural Wastewater Treatment Plants 

• Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cells

• Pollution Free Power

• Power Purchase Agreements

• PPA Funding

• Renewable Energy Capital

• Renewable Energy Centers

• Renewable Energy Credit consulting

• Renewable Energy Funds

• Renewable Energy Investments

• Renewable Energy Parks

• Renewable Energy Technologies

• Solar Cogeneration

• Solar Desalination

• Solar Electric Power Systems

• Solar Energy Systems

• Solar Heating And Cooling

• Solar Power And Energy

• Solar Power Purchase Agreements

• Solar Thermal Collectors

• Solar Trigeneration

• Synthesis Gas

• Thin Film Photovoltaics

• Trigeneration

• Waste To Energy 

• Waste to Fuel 

• Wind Farm Development

• Wind Power Generation

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Sewage Sludge
www.SewageSludge.com

We Turn Your City or County's Sewage Sludge 
Problems  into Profits and Green Energy

Sewage Sludge problems are a thing of the past!  and other organic waste streams with one or more of the following: Anaerobic Digester, Anaerobic Lagoon, Biogas Recovery, BioMethane, Biomass Gasification, Biosolids to Energy, Landfill Gas To Energy and Sewage Sludge "problems into profits"  project development services.  We provide the following power and energy project development services:

• Project Engineering Feasibility & Economic Analysis Studies  

• Engineering, Procurement and Construction

• Environmental Engineering & Permitting 

• Project Funding & Financing Options; including Equity Investment, Debt Financing, Lease and Municipal Lease

• Shared/Guaranteed Savings Program with No Capital Investment from Qualified Clients 

• Project Commissioning 

• 3rd Party Ownership and Project Development

• Long-term Service Agreements

• Operations & Maintenance 

• Green Tag (Renewable Energy Credit, Carbon Dioxide Credits, Emission Reduction Credits) Brokerage Services; Application and Permitting
  

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Biomethane: the Perfect Renewable Fuel!
Biomethane Far Better than B100 Biodiesel or E100 Ethanol

As Biomethane is a near perfect fuel, and since Biomethane represents the best of all biofuels in terms of Recycling Carbon, and has the highest Net Energy Balance, and as Biomethane technologies such as Anaerobic Digesters and Biomass Gasification development increases and becomes even more commonplace, one of the fundamental questions is: what is the size of the potential biomass resource supply in the U.S.?

In April 2005, the DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) co-published a report assessing the potential of the land resources in the U.S. for producing sustainable biomass: Biomass as Feedstock for a Bioenergy and Bioproducts Industry: The Technical Feasibility of a Billion-Ton Annual Supply. Looking at forestland and agricultural land, the two largest potential biomass sources, this study estimates that the U.S. can sustainably produce up to 1.3 billion tons of biomass feedstock by mid-century. This would be enough feedstock to produce 60 billion gallons of B100 Biodiesel and E100 Ethanol with today's technologies.

This study doesn't address the opportunities for Biomethane production from biomass feedstock or Biomass Gasification technologies. Some recent estimates indicate that Biomethane could replace up to 50% of present natural gas consumption in the U.S. and in some countries, such as Iceland, Biomethane already provides 100% of the natural gas requirements.

There are many assumptions in the Billion Ton Study report that impact these estimates, but we believe the estimates reasonably reflect the potential availability and impact of biomass resources.

Of the total estimated resource, the study suggests that forestlands in the contiguous United States can produce approximately 368 million dry tons annually. This projection includes 52 million dry tons of fuelwood harvested from forests and woodlands, 145 million dry tons of residues from wood processing mills and pulp and paper mills, 47 million dry tons of urban wood residues including construction and demolition debris, 64 million dry tons of residues from logging and site clearing operations, and 60 million dry tons of biomass from fuel treatment operations.

Biomass to Biofuels

By "converting" biomass wastes – such as municipal solid waste, sewage sludge, crop residues, energy crops, and manure – into biofuels, this will resolve the energy, environmental and political problems in an economical and environmentally sound manner - that will produce over one million new jobs.

According to Jeff Seisler, Director of the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association, "Biomethane has an outstanding potential as a multifaceted solution to multifaceted social problems: urban and agricultural waste management, water purification, and clean air. Urban and agricultural waste can be processed into usable methane, as can the sewage during the water purification process. Cleaning and compressing the gas for use in vehicles then provides cleaner air than petroleum-consuming vehicles."

Continuing, Mr. Seisler states about Biomethane; "this environmental 'closed loop waste-to-energy-to-fuel used in vehicles that again truck the next load of waste to the energy processing plants-substitutes fossil fuels with a renewable resource and reduces greenhouse gases 100% as compared to over gasoline vehicles (on a well-to-wheel basis).

According to Peter Boisen Chairman, of ENGVA, "various well respected European research institutes now estimate more than three times better fuel output per hectare of land used than if going for ethanol or biodiesel. Sweden currently has a 51% Biomethane share, and Switzerland 37%. France, Norway, Germany and Austria use smaller amounts for vehicles. Iceland, completely without natural gas, uses 100% biomethane in its NGVs," Boisen says.  Continuing, Boisen adds, "China, India, Korea, the Ukraine, Spain and Italy are other examples of countries now starting up projects where Biomethane will be used as a vehicle fuel." 

"With the energy efficiency of the gas production process at 50% to 70% it's hard to think of a more socially acceptable and economic energy value for the transportation sector," Boisen says.

"Governments need to get out of their liquid fuel paradigm to refocus and balance their policies and communications to support the development of a Biomethane infrastructure. In Europe Biomethane has the potential to replace 20% of the petroleum consumed in the transport sector by 2030."

1.  Biomethane is One of the Most Common and Harmful of All Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

2.  Biomethane is 21 Times More Harmful to the Climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions. Stated another way, Biomethane Causes Global Warming and Climate Change to Increase 21 Times Faster than Carbon Dioxide Emissions. 

3.  Biomethane Is A "Renewable Natural Gas."

4.  Biomethane is One of the Easiest and Most Profitable of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Recover and Control and is the perfect fuel for heating your home, drying your clothes, cooking your dinner, water heating, and even fueling your car!  Biomethane is also the cleanest of all fuels or biofuels for generating electricity in power plants.

Thursday, 29 June 2006
Sacramento, California USA and Sweden 

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of the Environment in Stockholm, representatives of the Kingdom of Sweden and the State of California signed an agreement pledging the two governments and their related industries to work together to develop bioenergy, with a particular emphasis on Biomethane. 

“Through a strong working relationship between its industry and government, Sweden is showing how bioenergy can be developed in a cost-effective manner that benefits its economy and environment. We are extremely pleased to have signed this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will provide a basis for intensified collaboration between Swedish and California officials to develop a thriving bioenergy industry in California,” said Joe Desmond, Undersecretary for the California Resources Agency.

In particular, Sweden has been a global leader in terms of converting biowaste, largely agricultural material and residues, into usable Biomethane. This gas is then used to either generate electricity, residential heating, or as a transportation fuel.

More than 8,000 vehicles in Sweden are powered by a combination of natural gas and Biomethane. The vehicles include transit buses, refuse trucks, and more than 10 different models of passenger cars. There are more than 25 Biomethane production facilities in Sweden and 65 filling stations. The Swedish Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of about 20 percent over the last five years.

According to the Swedish Gas Association, more than 50 percent of the methane used to power Sweden’s natural gas vehicles now comes from biological sources, up from 45% last year. Natural gas vehicle sales in Sweden are increasing at the rate of 25% per annum. 

Sweden was motivated to develop its Biomethane industry because it has no natural gas reserves, to more efficiently manage its waste, and to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Accord. Since Biomethane is developed from methane sources that would normally release into the atmosphere, it’s considered one of the most climate friendly fuels. Methane (and Biomethane) is 21 times more reactive as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2). Sweden is currently meetings its objectives and schedule as outlined in the Kyoto accord.

Biomethane is developed by heating up and breaking down biomaterials in an (Anaerobic Digesters) digester. Among other raw materials, Swedish operators feed their Anaerobic Digesters with slaughterhouse waste, swine manure, and even grassy crops. After the materials breakdown over a 20 day period, technology is then used to remove the impurities and produce Biomethane. Once cleaned-up, Biomethane is 98 percent methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

The Memorandum of Understanding can be accessed on the California Resources Agency Web site: http://resources.ca.gov/press_documents/CaliforniaSwedenBiofuelsMOU.pdf

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Anaerobic Digesters recover valuable and toxic Biomethane from organic materials and prevents the Biomethane - which has a Global Warming Potential that is 21 times more harmful to our climate than Carbon Dioxide Emissions - from entering the atmosphere.  

Biomethane, which we also refer to as "Renewable Natural Gas" is used as a renewable fuel for our cogeneration and trigeneration power plants. Alternatively, we may sell the Biomethane to a customer and transport it to them from our Anaerobic Digesters via natural gas pipelines.

We believe Anaerobic Digesters and Biomethane represent exciting opportunities for generating renewable natural gas and profits - for multiple reasons:

1.  Anaerobic Digesters take an existing liability and waste (Biomethane) and convert it into an asset and " profit generator."

2.  Anaerobic Digesters mitigate and reverse climate change and global warming by preventing Biomethane to escape into the atmosphere, which is one of the major causes of climate change and global warming.  

Of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biomethane is 21 times more harmful to the environment than Carbon Dioxide Emissions.

3.  Anaerobic Digesters are vital for renewable energy production and helping our country's drive for energy independence. 

4.  EVERY wastewater treatment plant as well as ALL Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's) - IN EVERY COUNTRY - will soon be installing Anaerobic Digesters to prevent Biomethane from entering the atmosphere and help reverse climate change as well as for use as a renewable fuel. Or, they will be replacing their existing inefficient and inferior mechanical wastewater treatment plants, with our "Natural Wastewater Treatment" plants! 

5.  The country of Sweden is the global leader in Biomethane production.  Sweden has identified the Biomethane opportunities and is converting biowaste derived from agricultural material and residues into usable Biomethane. The Biomethane is used to generate clean, renewable electricity, residential heating, and also as a transportation fuel. Biomass sources make up 45% of Sweden’s Biomethane.  Sweden's Biomethane industry has been growing at an annual rate of around 20% over the last five years.  Biomethane powers more than 8,000 transit buses, garbage trucks, and 10 different models of passenger cars in Sweden. Sweden now has more than 25 Biomethane production facilities and 65 filling stations. The country believes that since Biomethane is developed from natural, organic sources that would have been released into the atmosphere, that Biomethane is considered one of the most climate-friendly fuels. Biomethane is 98% methane and easily meets the Swedish and California pipeline standards.

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How we make and distribute electricity is changing! 

The electric power generation, transmission and distribution system (the electric "grid") is changing and evolving from the electric grid of the 19th and 20th centuries, which was inefficient, highly-polluting, very expensive and “dumb.”  

The "old" way of generating and distributing energy resembles this slide:

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Greenhouse Gas Emissions Linked to 
the Loss of Polar Bears

Monty Goodell, MBA
Founder and Chairman
Renewable Energy Institute

The Renewable Energy Institute (REI) does not take a stand in the debate on global warming, and if there is global warming, is it "anthropogenic" or is it caused by the sun, or the sun's normal cycles.  Or, if there is " climate change," is it "global cooling" caused by the water vapor in the atmosphere? The stand we take is that we need to invest in renewable energy technologies, producing clean, renewable energy that doesn't pollute the planet, and end America's addiction to crude oil from foreign countries where we now spend OVER $1 Billion/day, to buy the oil we need, and some of those suppliers (muslims in foreign countries) take our dollars and make bombs and bullets and send our boys back in body bags. We need to stop this, and put American's back to work, generating "green power and energy" right here at home.

At the Renewable Energy Institute, we are waiting for the "true" scientists who doing the real research, to provide us with the science and answers critically needed to formulate correct policy - and not the phony " scientists" who are following politically-motivated and profit-driven agendas of the United Nations and government leaders. These phony scientists are not interested in conducting real scientific research.  Their very livelihoods are dependent on the government grants to fund their phony research that have pre-determined conclusions before and "research" is conducted.  

Political-interference by governments, governmental agencies, and bureaucrats that hand out billions of tax-payers dollars to phony scientists to conduct "junk science" and research,  expect the conclusions that supports anthropogenic global warming, or climate change. 

When scientists conclude in their research that they find no evidence of anthropogenic climate change or global warming, they are summarily dismissed, and black-balled from their communities and colleagues, and never again receive funding or grants.  Grants and funding by government bureaucrats with politically-driven agendas to "scientists" expecting their pre-determined results and conclusions supporting anthropogenic global warming must stop.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2007

• the solar industry received $198 million in subsidies.

• the oil and natural gas industry collected $2.1 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

• the coal industry coal received $3.2 Billion in tax-payer subsidies.

And since 1960:

• the nuclear industry has received nearly $70 billion in tax-payer incentives and tax-payer subsidies. 

Taxpayers have bankrolled the oil and gas industry, and the coal industry for 100 years now, and the nuclear industry for 50 years, to keep these dirty fuels and energy "cheap." Take away the tax-payer incentives and tax dollars, and we believe the real cost of gasoline, would be similar to the gasoline cost in Europe - $7.00 - $8.00/gallon!

In the meantime, our U.S. Military is spending billions of tax-payer dollars each year protecting the Straits of Hormuz where much of the world's crude oil is produced and shipped through the straits' international shipping lanes.  Each day, hundreds of "very large crude carriers" pass through the Straits of Hormuz carrying oil from OPEC and the Middle-East to the U.S. and many other countries. 

Isn't it time we take some of the tax-payer dollars supporting the nuclear, coal and oil and gas industries, and start incentivizing clean, renewable energy technologies that don't pollute or harm the environment in any way?  Isn't it time that America ends its reliance on non-sustainable energy sources and stop over $1 billion every day, to oil suppliers from foreign countries, and start putting this money in "solar on every rooftop?!?

Mercury Emissions from Coal Fired Power Plants Far More Harmful to the Planet and People than Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Regarding the harm being caused to our planet from energy use, far more harm is being done to the planet, as well as to people and plants and animals, particularly fish, from the mercury emissions from coal fired power plants than from the coal fired power plants' greenhouse gas emissions.  We surmise that if any polar bears have died as a result of an environmental problem, it was more likely from the high levels of mercury in their food chain, than from greenhouse gas emissions. 

The Renewable Energy Institute is supporting and advancing renewable energy technologies, as well as reducing and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and the fossil-fuel problems related to America's oil addiction and ending our dependence on foreign oil.  The renewable energy technologies we support are already deemed to be economic, viable and practical. Solutions such as Solar Trigeneration energy systems (see www.SolarTrigeneration.com for more information) for any kind of facility or building - office buildings, shopping centers, data centers, university campuses, etc. 

Since 2003, a Solar Trigeneration energy system has been providing 100% of the power and energy for a 5,300 sq. ft. office building near downtown Los Angeles, and doing so without any connection to the electric grid, whether its 12 noon or 12 midnite!  

The Renewable Energy Institute is also involved in research and advocacy of "Net Zero Energy" (see: www.NetZeroEnergy.com for more information) and "Net Zero Energy Buildings" (see:  www.NetZeroEnergyBuildings.com for more information).  Net Zero Energy Buildings generate as much (or more) energy than they use, and export their excess power to the grid, which we believe needs to be updated into a "Transmission Superhighway."

Climate Change, Global Warming or Global Cooling?

The past 10 years indicates the opposite of "global warming" has occurred - that the "Earths Fever" has and that global cooling has taken place. 

Weather, on a daily basis, or even an annual basis, is not climate, and climate is not weather. 

"Climate change" is always taking place, from one day to the next, and one week to the next, as well as one year to the next. The planet's climate is an ever-evolving, changing and dynamic process.  

Again, researchers and scientists need to refrain from being political, and stay out of politics, and politicians need to stay out of the way of the scientists and researchers, and let them do their work.  Politicians, government leaders and bureaucrats scientists need true and accurate data and climate research from scientists that do not have a political agenda.

In the meantime, as there may still be 30 years of research before there are conclusive answers concerning anthropogenic climate change, can we "risk" 30 years of our children and grand children's future, should there is a link between climate change and greenhouse gas emissions?  Should we not err on the side of caution?

Hubbert's Peak Oil Predictions Now Proving True?

Marion King Hubbert was a geologist and scientist who worked at Shell Oil company's research lab in Houston, Texas.  Hubbert made several important contributions to geology, geophysics and petroleum geology.  Hubbert is most recognized for the "Hubbert Curve" and " Hubbert Peak Theory" which is now referred to as " Peak Oil. 

Hubbert's life work determined that the world has a finite amount of petroleum that can be produced.  (Similarly, there is a finite amount of coal.) Many scientists and engineers believe we have reached Hubbert's "peak oil" limit.  Hubbert's espouses that when 50% of domestic crude oil production has been reached, that there will be such significant upward demand on prices of the limited supplies of oil production, that the U.S. economy will experience severe economic, social, and political turmoil.

Hubbert's Peak Oil predictions have proven to be true and this is validated as the U.S. in the early 1970's produced about 60% of its' oil demand and imported 40%.  That equation has flipped since then, because our domestic oil production has been on the decline since 1970, so now, due to our declining domestic oil production, we have to import 60% of our oil supplies, to meet our country's oil/energy demands.

The Next Oil Shock Could be the "mother" of All Oil Shocks

How severe our economic calamity and next "oil shock" will depend upon a number of factors, including when this occurs, as well as the following:

1.  the dependence of the individual country upon its own crude oil production to meet its energy needs and to subsidize consumer imports; 

2.  the rate of relative decline in crude oil production; 

3.  the degree of difficulty encountered in replacing missing energy inputs; 

4.  the degree to which our country had prepared in advance for this inevitable geological and economic calamity.

Examples of past "oil shocks" and the economic and political calamities that followed:

United States: Our peak crude oil production of domestic oil occurred in 1970; the first "oil shock" and oil crisis followed in 1973 with the Arab/OPEC Oil Embargo.

Iran: Their peak crude oil production occurred in 1974; They had their islamic revolution 1979 that overturned government and replaced it with radical islam.

Soviet Union: Their peak crude oil production was in 1989; what happened next? 
Their country disintegrated and the collapse of the Soviet Union followed in 1991. 

Indonesia: Their peak crude oil production was in 1991; their financial and government crisis followed in 1997.

Iraq: Iraq's crude oil production was in 1989; they then invaded Kuwait (for their oil) in 1991.

Using Mr. Hubbert's predictions, that beginning around 2000  we would see peak (global) oil production, then, if the country's not weaning themselves off of their oil addiction, and had not begun making the switch to renewable energy, that the negative economic and political calamities would soon follow, including ever-increasing prices of energy that is from fossil fuels. 

Now is the time to begin weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels and making the transition to and increasing the use of renewable energy. If you don't believe in climate change, or global warming, GREAT! Join us in the switch to renewable energy and a fossil-free economy!

America's "Clear and Present Danger"

America Has INCREASED its' Dependence on Foreign 
Sources of Energy by 50% Since 1973.

America is even more "addicted" to foreign oil today, than we were in 1973 - 1974 when OPEC, Saudi Arabia and other suppliers from the Middle-East  stopped selling us their fossil fuels, and created a significant blow to our economy.

* forever change the way energy is generated and used.

We support the Renewable Energy Institute by donating a portion of our profits to the Renewable Energy Institute in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel use through renewable energy and their goals to end pollution from Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. 

The Renewable Energy Institute is "Changing The Way The World Makes and Uses Energy by Providing Research & Development, Funding and Resources That Create Pollution Free Power, Carbon Free Energy & Renewable Energy Technologies."

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