Growing Demand for Waste to Energy Plants

The commercialization of innovative and modern biological waste to energy systems and technologies is promoting a new wave of growth in the green energy sector globally. The biological waste to energy plant represents an excellent option to treat biological waste and produce energy. Indeed, many governments acknowledge that these plants are an ideal solution to help fight climate change and guarantee energy independence. Driven by government regulation and support, demand for biological waste to energy plants in the world is growing and the market is becoming more competitive.

According to new analysis from Frost & Sullivan the market for biological waste to energy plant in Europe – which is the largest in the world - is expected to reach $3.6 billion in 2016 under an optimistic scenario. The German market was worth $998.3 million in 2009 and represented 76.8% of the European market. The market in Germany has grown exponentially over the last 10 years driven by government policies and a supportive banking sector. The same policies are being introduced in other European countries, such as Italy, and we can expect strong growth in these markets over the next 5-10 years.

In other areas of the world the biological waste to energy market is an embryonic stage. Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Nuno Oscar Branco says: "In the Asian, North, and South American regions the market remains underdeveloped, for three main reasons: first, governments in these regions have yet to introduce biogas or green energy policies; second, quantity, availability, quality and management of feedstock are not appropriate for investments or long term growth of this market; and finally the biogas industry, mostly European and German based, is not committing resources to develop these markets".

However, the situation is changing in some countries or municipalities where there have been improvements in the business environment for biological waste to energy. In the USA for example, the federal government launched programme AgSTAR that "encourages the use of methane recovery (biogas) technologies (...) reduce methane emissions while achieving other environmental benefits" and in India, the Punjab government, is promoting the construction of modern biological waste to energy plants to supply electricity to the state. "These two examples are evidence to the type of projects likely to take place across the world over the next decades", says Nuno Oscar.

The market potential for biogas generated by anaerobic digestion in a biological waste to energy plant is very high and market growth in some countries of Europe, such as Italy or Czech Republic; North and South America, such as Brazil, USA, Canada; and the Asia Pacific region, such as India and Australia, can be exponential. Companies operating or investing in this industry should weight the risk of missing the expected growth in demand in these countries and draw plans for international expansion and investments.

On this subject Frost & Sullivan has just published a comprehensive study that looks at the global market analyzing the different areas of the world with trends, challenges and forecast. If you are interested in more information and would like to receive a complimentary brochure, please send an e-mail to Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications, at chiara.carella@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, telephone number, company e-mail address, company website, city, state and country.

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Iowa Blazes Trail From Cornfields to Wind Fields

Iowa innovation and leadership moving wind energy toward next stage of transmission frontier

Iowa's leadership in wind energy continues to gain momentum as the state looks to ramp up efforts to export wind energy beyond its state lines – all while moving toward exceeding national goals of the amount of energy produced from wind. With 14 percent of Iowa's in-state energy produced by wind, the state is looking to make significant strides in transmission infrastructure policy as the industry matures in the United States.

As a result of Iowa's efforts, regions looking to increase their renewable energy portfolios, like the Tennessee Valley Authority and WE Energies of Milwaukee, can tap into wind energy from Iowa to meet their renewable energy standards. The next frontier will be efficient transmission of wind power across multiple state lines to East Coast population centers that need wind power most.

"As wind energy matures from a revolutionary idea into a dependable and pivotal resource for our nation, it only makes sense to ensure its availability where energy demand is greatest," said Iowa Gov. Chet Culver. "In the last five years, eight wind manufactures have relocated to Iowa, further demonstrating our state's strength in the industry.

"TPI Composite's plan for an additional facility in Sioux City is the most recent example of increased momentum and continued growth of Iowa's wind manufacturing capacity," Culver added.

In fact, Iowa leads the nation in wind industry manufacturing facilities and workers employed in wind industry manufacturing, and the state comes in second in the nation in wind industry construction and operations management jobs. More jobs are on the horizon, with approximately 14,569 more megawatts of generating capacity projects planned.

In keeping with the world's growing demand for wind power, Iowa has unveiled a new, aggressive plan to generate 50 percent of its electricity from wind, using 20 percent within state lines and exporting the additional 30 percent to other states. To meet the infrastructure demands of this goal, Iowa's government, economic development department and business leaders have focused efforts to attract wind turbine production companies and the accompanying logistics support to the state.

The results include up to 10,000 jobs in the wind energy sector, supported in 2009 with annual property tax payments by wind project owners of $16.5 million, and annual land lease payments of $11 million.

Iowa's educational system has also ramped up to meet the demand for skilled workers. The first and only two-year training program in wind energy and turbine technology in the country is offered at Iowa Lakes Community College. The first-of-its-kind Iowa Alliance for Wind Innovation and Novel Development (IAWIND) connects Iowa's three Regents universities, seven of its community colleges, the state government, and the wind energy industry to offer options ranging from certifications to bachelor's and master's degrees that support wind energy companies and their research and training needs.

All of these efforts are building on the momentum from nearly three decades of pioneering efforts in wind energy policy. Iowa was one of the first states to enact a renewable energy standard by passing the Alternative Energy Production Law in 1983. The law requires investor-owned utilities to purchase a shared total of 105 MW of in-state renewable generating capacity and associated energy production.

Today, Iowa has a wealth of wind energy to sell. In 2009, Iowa produced more wind energy as a percentage of overall production than any other state and was second only to Texas in total amount of energy produced from wind, with 3,670 MW of installed capacity.

Iowa generated 14.2 percent of the state's overall electricity from wind in 2009, far ahead of the nation's figure of 1.8 percent. The U.S. Department of Energy established a national goal of generating 20 percent of the nation's energy from wind by 2030 and Iowa is well on its way of exceeding that goal.

"Iowa's standard for wind energy propelled the industry into the robust economy it is today and is helping to fuel future growth," said Bret Mills, director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED). "Consumers want more renewable energy sources, and Iowa leaders in the private and public sectors are making that happen."

Follow the latest news from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED) on Twitter (@IowaWind) and Facebook (Facebook.com/IowaWind) before and during AWEA's 2010 WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition. For more information visit www.IowaLifeChanging.com

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Urban Genetics: Cities as Laboratories for Sustainability

Guided by the principle that today's cities are laboratories and their leaders are researchers in the new science of urban sustainability, Arizona State University's (ASU) Jonathan Fink, along with two British colleagues, will lead Comparative Urban Genetics: Towards a Common Methodology for Pragmatic Analysis of Cities. The workshop event takes place this weekend, May 21-23, at University College London (UCL) in London, England.

Fink, who is the Director of the Center for Sustainability Science Applications within the Global Institute of Sustainability, Foundation Professor for the School of Sustainability, and Foundation Professor of Geological Sciences for the School of Earth and Space Exploration, will bring together government and business representatives, researchers, and urban experts to contrast the experiences of two cities: London and Phoenix. From a comprehensive perspective, the group will consider new ways to collect complex data streams that feed information into models, help envision the future and, ultimately, translate those visions into improved urban policies.

"No matter how different urban environments may look on their surface, they typically share innumerable points of similarity," said Fink. "When we uncover these shared paths and patterns--the "genetic code" of cities--we move significantly closer to curing urban ills and putting our successful practices to the highest and best use."

Guided by experts in their fields, and funded in part by the British Consulate in Los Angeles, workshop participants will address four key questions:

* How can urban decision-making be transformed by new datasets and analysis tools?
* Can cataloguing and classifying urban traits help city leaders learn from each other?
* Which tools are most appropriate and useful for which stages of urban development?
* How can we build multi-sector (corporate, government, NGO, academic) urban partnerships?


These questions build on a long series of applied urban research projects, including a recently-published Tyndall Centre report that studied Greater London's vulnerability to climate change and a U.S. National Science Foundation project at ASU titled "Decision Center for a Desert City," which evaluates ways that arid region water managers allocate their scarce resource in the face of uncertainty due to the heat island effect, population growth, and climate change.

Co-convenors Mike Batty from UCL and Jim Hall from Newcastle University have both spent the past few years working with ASU researchers and a global network of collaborators to develop a common urban methodology that can help all cities address their long-term sustainability.

"Cities are where most people live and work; most innovation takes place; most pollution and wealth are generated; and most vulnerability to climate change occurs," said Batty. "We need to study these phenomena and make a more common practice of compiling, publishing and comparing this critical information."

Along with leaders from American and European public and private sectors, key workshop speakers and panelists from ASU include Philip Christensen, Regents Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration; Matthew Fraser, co-director of research development, Global Institute of Sustainability and associate professor, School of Sustainability; Subhajit Guhathakurta, Professor, School of Sustainability and Professor, School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning; Rob Pahle, Assistant Professor of Research, Decision Theater; and Lela Prashad, Director, 100 Cities Project

More information on Comparative Urban Genetics workshop is available at https://cssa.asu.edu/ucl_may2010.

NJ Teachers Can Apply for PSEG Environmental Education Grants

New Jersey teachers are encouraged to apply for funding through PSEG's Environmental Education Grant Program. The program provides funding to educators who can link their students' understanding of math, science, computer science, and technology with an enthusiasm and appreciation for the environment.

"We've long been committed to education and the environment, and this program, which provides direct funding for hands-on environmental education, is one we're particularly proud of," said Vaughn McKoy, president of the PSEG Foundation. "Now in its 20th year, this program is a prime example of PSEG's commitment to sustainability, and of the ways in which we're working to improve the communities in which our employees live and work."

Teachers of grades K-9 are encouraged to apply. The grants, which may be as large as $3,500, can be used to purchase materials and equipment, fund field trips, and develop curriculum-related activities. Applications that focus on the development of one or more classroom units, the expansion of an existing course or curriculum, or the extension of classroom work to community or after-school activities will be considered. Projects must be conducted over at least two years.

Teachers from schools in PSE&G's utility service area, PSEG's estuary enhancement program area and PSEG's emergency planning zone may apply. Applications, which are available online, must be postmarked by Wednesday, June 30th. For more information on the towns, and to download an application, visit www.pseg.com/eegrants.

PSEG has awarded more than $335,000 to 143 project grantees since the program began twenty years ago.

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Global Clean Energy Investments Exceed $27.3 Billion

Global investments in clean energy reached $27.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010 according to an analysis issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance on April 12.  This represents a 31% increase over the first quarter of 2009, but is 13.6% lower than the 4th quarter of 2009.

The figures include asset financing of wind farms, solar, biofuel production facilitiees plants, as well as public and private investments in clean energy companies.  China was the leader in clean energy asset financing in the first quarter of 2010 with investments of $6.5 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in US.

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Mylar Balloons and Power Outages

With the spring graduation season upon us and outdoor summer parties being planned, utilities are reminding customers to keep Mylar balloons tethered at all times. This helps reduce the chance of metallic balloons making contact with electrical lines and causing power outages, fires and possible injuries.

In the last four years, metallic balloons have caused about 200 outages affecting more than 100,000 Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) customers in Northern Illinois alone. This included about 28,000 customers in 2009. The most recent outage occurred Sunday night and left 3,825 customers without power for two hours after a Mylar balloon made contact with a power line near Laramie Avenue and Belden Street on Chicago's northwest side.

When Mylar balloons touch a power line or float into substation equipment, their metallic properties cause a surge of electricity. This can cause equipment to short circuit and lead to power outages, fires and possible injuries.

To reduce these outages and help keep customers' lights on, ComEd offers the following tips:

* Keep balloons tethered at all times and attached to a weight.
* When disposing of Mylar balloons, make sure to puncture them to ensure lingering helium doesn't cause them to float and blow around if the garbage container is overturned.
* If a balloon or another toy becomes entangled in an overhead power line, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE IT. CALL THE UTILITY COMPANY AND LET THEM HANDLE IT.
* Always assume power lines are live, and keep yourself, your equipment and all other items at least 10 feet away from power lines.


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Source: Commonwealth Edison Company

We Cannot Drill Or Mine Our Way To Energy Security

U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy from Vermont issued the following statement today, the clearest statement yet on the need to transform our energy infrastructure for the 21st Century.

"The unfolding disaster of the sinking and leaking of a drilling platform off the Louisiana coast, together with the recent tragedies at coal mines in West Virginia, remind us of some of the high human, environmental and economic costs associated with the extraction of fossil fuels. These incidents are all the more troubling because the evidence is clear that we cannot drill or mine our way to long-term energy security.

"Many workers have lost their lives and their families have lost loved ones and breadwinners. In the Gulf right now we have delicate ocean and coastal ecosystems at risk, as well as wildlife and fishery populations and the livelihoods of communities in several states. This accident may be the worst environmental disaster in recent years and brings into question the many claims about safety and advanced technology in the industry.

"This is a disaster for all concerned and especially for the people of the Gulf Coast. It should also be a learning experience. I strongly support the hearings that are being organized in the Senate and the House, and I hope there will be further significant inquiries as the situation develops.

"We need to adopt a comprehensive energy strategy that addresses the challenges of the 21st Century and does not simply rely on the energy sources of the past. We need to be more creative and in ways that strengthen our economy, our security and our environment. Our long-term energy security depends on promoting energy efficiency and supporting domestic sources of clean, renewable power such as biomass, solar, and wind energy. Instead of focusing so much on securing more fossil fuels, it is crucial that we address our dependence on oil, invest in renewable energy, and offer incentives for utility companies and others to use these clean, domestic forms of energy."

Source: Office of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

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