Letter from the Executive Director In his State of the State address Tuesday night, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger laid out his vision for energy policy in the coming years. While the worst of the 2001 energy crisis is behind us, he reminded us that energy is still an important issue for the State and our region.
read more >> 2004-2005 Energy Efficiency Programs Approved $14 Million in Total Funding The California Public Utility Commission ( CPUC) has approved five of the ten proposals submitted by the San Diego Regional Energy Partnership (SDREP) -- a coalition formed by CCSE, the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, and the Cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside to facilitate energy efficiency program development and implementation.
read more >> A Hot Commodity Gets The Chill LNG Projects Planned to Ease Natural Gas Shortages Liquefied natural gas ( LNG) is not only taking center stage nationally but is in the spotlight locally in our region. The western United States and especially California are undergoing a tremendous increase in demand for natural gas as plans unfold to build several thousand megawatts of new natural gas-fired electric capacity.
read more >> | Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center | Featured Display Name: Tate Access Floors “Building Technology Platform”
Description: 4 foot x 4 foot raised access floor section.
Systems Addressed: Mechanical, electrical & communications.
Illustrates: An underfloor distribution approach to heating and cooling, voice, data and cable management. Benefits include improvement of indoor air quality, reduced energy consumption, higher worker productivity and increased flexibility.
Featured Instrument  Name: Dwyer Series 475-3 Mark III Handheld Digital Manometer
Description: This Handheld Digital Manometer is used to measure positive, negative and differential pressures of air and natural gases in ranges from 0 in. w.c. to 199.9 in. w.c. at up to 11 PSI, and includes an accessory kit.
Benefits: Rugged case yet lightweight and easy to use.
Examples of Use: For field calibration, monitoring and trouble-shooting HVAC systems, clean rooms or a wide range of other low-pressure pneumatic systems.
Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 5 business days. Remember: safety first!
Featured Book The Natural House: A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes is written by Daniel D. Chiras and published by Chelsea Green Publishing Company and its 468 pages of material provide a tour of the construction, costs, and pros and cons of fourteen natural building methods, including straw bale, cordwood, rammed earth and adobe. Greywater systems and various construction methods are also addressed. Aimed at home builders, contractors and architects, The Natural House offers in-depth information on how you can gain energy independence and reduce your environmental impact. Featured Periodical Lighting Design + Application is a monthly magazine published by The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America for professionals involved in the art, science, study, manufacture, teaching, and implementation of lighting. LD+A features articles on design projects, technical articles on the science of illumination, new product developments, industry trends, and information about the illuminating profession. Featured Video Name: Tyvek Weatherization Systems: Basic to Better Building
Description: A guide for builders and contractors to improve homes through applications of weather barrier systems that act as a secondary layer of protection and improve energy efficiency. The video is hosted by Construction Consultant Steve Easley and illustrates methods to reduce air infiltration and manage moisture both inside and outside building structures.
Length: 16 minutes NOTE: Books, Periodicals and Videos can also be checked out free of charge. Please call Toll Free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. - TOP - | Letter From the Executive Director In his State of the State address Tuesday night, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger laid out his vision for energy policy in the coming years. While the worst of the 2001 energy crisis is behind us, he reminded us that energy is still an important issue for the State and our region. The Governor noted that California has a flawed regulatory structure, which has led to higher energy prices than our western neighbors. He predicted that without wholesale and retail energy market reform, California could face energy shortfalls as soon as 2006 and he vowed to renegotiate energy contracts signed by the Davis administration. Schwarzenegger was also critical of the state’s energy bureaucracy, stating, “it is easier to create energy agencies than power plants” and suggested he would work to consolidate the state’s energy agencies. To demonstrate how California could grow its economy and protect the environment, Schwarzenegger proposed a “Hydrogen Highway” of hydrogen fueling stations to promote alternative fuel vehicles. He would also encourage homebuilders to include solar power on all new homes in California while setting up a “Green Bank” to provide financing for projects that improved the energy efficiency of older buildings. The issues raised by our new Governor will affect the San Diego region. Reforming the retail market could allow businesses to choose their preferred power provider again. This ability – called direct access – could save them millions of dollars. The “hydrogen highway” could be a winner provided the fueling stations are located strategically (including San Diego) to allow widespread testing and demonstration. We also encourage the Governor to promote hydrogen from clean power sources wherever possible. And, his solar homes proposal will continue a trend that started right here in San Diego with the first solar-powered new home community in 2001. As we begin 2004, the San Diego region must be engaged in energy issues at the state level. Reaching regional consensus and offering a unified voice in Sacramento will ensure that we are not left out of the Governor’s energy agenda. Sincerely, Irene M. Stillings - TOP - 2004-2005 Energy Efficiency Programs Approved The California Public Utility Commission ( CPUC) has approved five of the ten proposals submitted by the San Diego Regional Energy Partnership (SDREP) -- a coalition formed by CCSE, the City of San Diego, the County of San Diego, and the Cities of Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, and Oceanside to facilitate energy efficiency program development and implementation. The following programs were approved by CPUC on December 18: a renewed Cool Communities Shade Tree Program; a renewed and expanded San Diego Energy Resource Center (SDERC); a new Green Action Program that reaches out to local high school students to teach them the importance of energy conservation; a new Green Building Education and Technical Assistance (GBETA) Program that provides training, design assistance and technical support for green building projects; and a new San Diego Local Government Energy Efficiency Program (LGEEP) which is designed to reduce the upfront cost of comprehensive energy efficiency retrofit projects in city and county owned buildings in the San Diego region. Two of the ten proposals submitted by SDREP were deferred for further analysis by the CPUC before granting approval. CCSE expects the CPUC will make a final decision regarding the following programs by 2/26/03 for the existing Best Energy Services Team Program (B.E.S.T.), a program providing energy saving retrofits to small businesses; and a new Technical Assistance Program (TAP), which provides energy efficiency information and technical assistance to local public agencies and businesses. In addition to the SDREP Programs, the CPUC also approved a new Rebuild a Greener San Diego Program; a partnership between CCSE, SDG&E, the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego that offers fire victims technical assistance, education and training, information, and cash rebates to design and incorporate energy efficient and photovoltaic systems into home reconstructions. The selection criteria for the 2004-05 round of Energy Efficiency Programs funded by the CPUC focused on cost-effectiveness, long-term annual energy savings, equity, ability to overcome market barriers, ability to reduce peak demand, innovation, coordination with other programs, and demonstrated success in implementation of energy efficiency programs. Each of these Programs for the 2004-2005 period are undergoing planning and approval of their Program Implementation Plans, and will commence over the coming weeks. - TOP - A Hot Commodity Gets the Chill Liquefied natural gas ( LNG) is not only taking center stage nationally but is in the spotlight locally in our region. The western United States and especially California are undergoing a tremendous increase in demand for natural gas as plans unfold to build several thousand megawatts of new natural gas-fired electric capacity. In fact, 90% of all new (conventional) power plants in the country are being fueled by natural gas. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to about minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit for shipment and/or storage as a liquid. LNG is more compact than the gaseous equivalent with a volumetric difference of approximately 610 to 1. The advantages of LNG allow long-distance transport of LNG by ship across oceans to markets such as the United States and local distribution by truck onshore. The storage advantages allow for use of LNG to meet peak demand needs and certain niche markets such as a replacement to propane. When natural gas prices soared last year, several companies said they were looking at plans to import LNG. The table below summarizes the five LNG projects that have been announced recently for the Northern Baja Mexico Region. | Company(s) | Terminal Location | | Capacity | Target Date | Remarks | | Chevron Texaco | TBD | Australia | 500 MMcfd | 2006 | Waiting for other deals to collapse before proceeding. | | El Paso - Phillips | Rosarito | Australia
Indonesia | 680 MMcfd | 2005 | Paid $16 MM for 74-acre plot, leasing adjacent lot. | | Marathon Oil | Tijuana | Indonesia | 1,300 MMcfd – enough for 15 medium-size power plants | 2005 | $500-million receiving terminal planned. | | Royal Dutch/Shell and Sempra – CMS
Co-Own | 14 miles north of Ensenda in Costa Azul on Baja’s west coast | Indonesia
Bolivia | 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day | 2007 | Joint project would eliminate duplication of pipelines and docks, reduce dredging and has potential for expansion. | It is anticipated that not all of these projects will be approved and it is too speculative to determine which ones might actually be built. What is clear is that the capacity output of these plants is higher than the gas supply needs within Northern Mexico, at least for the next couple of decades. This implies that gas supply from these LNG plants could potentially serve customers in California. Overall, growth in the use of LNG technology by the natural gas industry and consumers is very likely. The need for additional supply sources to meet projected U.S. demand generally coincides with numerous developments in LNG trade on a worldwide basis. These developments include lower liquefaction costs as well as lower shipping costs. LNG storage facilities will also continue to be important in meeting peak demand needs of local utilities and as a way to store gas until needed. For more information on natural gas supply and demand issues affecting our region and a discussion on LNG developments, click here (a PDF file that is an excerpt from a recent infrastructure study).
- TOP - |
"The plan calls for a cable suspension structure that creates an open area above the building's 70 floors of office space, and houses windmills to generate energy. The windmills could provide 20 percent of the building's energy." To view the entire article, please 
News 
Green Workshops & Events 
