GREEN ENERGYNOVEMBER 2007 YOUR GUIDE TO GREEN ENERGY

Think Green actGreen

Across the country, homeowners are turning to greenenergy and also seeking waysto boost energy efficiency inheating and cooling to keepmoney in their pockets.

Page 2

Green is big business

According to Healthy Prod-ucts, Healthy Planet, a reportby the Environmental Busi-ness Journal, the green mar-ket in the U.S. alone reached$440 billion in 2003

Page 4

Oil hits $ 160

The U.S., with less than 5% ofthe world’s population, con-sumes 25% of the world’s oilproduction, yet average U.S.fuel economy for cars andlight trucks has declined.

Page 15

Solar and wind power gainmomentumThe Solar Energy Industries Association sees expanding markets for the three main forms of solar power. Read more on page 8

2

GREEN ENERGY

Thinking Green and Acting GreenDear reader,

The Green Energy supple-ment will be the firstpaper published by Medi-

aplanet in Washington Times.Mediaplanet will give you moretopical driven supplements ontopics, industries and issues.We believe that this paper will

give the insight on what we allcould do for the environment.With growing concerns about

global warming and surging oilprices, more people are lookingat green energy alternatives, andtaking action. The Nobel prizeaward to Al Gore symbolizesthose concerns for many, andeven those unconvinced aboutclimate change are alarmedabout dependency on oil im-ports.

Green energy sourcesGreen energy is entering the

mainstream, driven by newtechnologies and widening busi-ness opportunities with globalhorizons, and creating job op-portunities across dozens of sec-tors.This Green Energy supplement

looks at green energy sources,including solar, wind, and waterpower. We also examineprospects for cleaner fossil fuels,nuclear energy, and a greenerfuture with hydrogen power.With oil nearing $100 a bar-

rel, the possibilities of a spike to$160 a barrel is no longer as re-mote as it might have two yearsago when a high-powered panelin Washington weighed a sce-nario that included the impact ofterror attacks and weather dis-asters suddenly squeezing sup-plies.As the supplement points out,

oil price escalation is giving en-vironmentalists and national se-curity hawks common cause in

pushing for a big expansion ofdomestic energy sources, thoughdiffering on how green theyshould be.

Shift to greener vehiclesOn the road, drivers are

pumping more ethanol andother biofuels, made from or-ganic materials ranging fromcorn to recycled cooking oil,into their fuel tanks. On the re-lated push for greater fuel effi-ciency, we hear from a hybridcar owner about the switch to avehicle running on a combina-tion of battery and conventionalpiston power.With energy policy on the

table in Washington, MichaelEckhart, president of the Amer-ican Council on Renewable En-ergy, discusses the issues andoutlook for new policies to stepup the shift towards green en-ergy, as well as private sector in-

vestment. We also highlight thebig role of public transit in theshift towards greener vehicles.Green energy is no longer a

marginal business sector, with

major companies making in-vestments, and smaller compa-nies finding niches for growth.The supplement surveys thesetrends, covering both energysector businesses and ways thatnon-energy businesses are turn-ing to green power options.Across the country, home

owners are turning to green en-ergy and also seeking ways toboost energy efficiency in heat-ing and cooling to keep moneyin their pockets. The supplement

points out how the Departmentof Energy makes it easier to gogreen with its Energy Star andEnergyGuide programs thatshow consumers the efficiencylevels of various types andbrands of appliances.While state and national

measures can set a green energypolicy framework, there is greatscope for individual and busi-ness energy conservation thatcan add up to savings for budg-ets and the environment. Home-owners can cut energy use up to25 percent through energy effi-cient steps, and businesses canachieve similar gains.While global warming and

dependence on fossil fuels posegreat challenges, we alreadyhave the technology to signifi-cantly reduce emissions byusing less and greener energy inthe coming decades.

New economic opportunitiesGreen energy technology is

steadily improving and the solar,wind, biofuels, and hydro sec-tors are proving themselves inthe marketplace. Rather thanslowing economic growth, pro-moting wider use of green en-ergy offers tremendous neweconomic opportunities.Green energy alternatives and

energy conservation are safe-guards against increasing eco-nomic and social costs fromclimate change and pollutionfrom fossil fuels, as well as therisks growing out of dependenceon uncertain supplies of oil andincreasing demand worldwide.Now is the time to think green

and act green.

Best Regards

Bjorn Soderstrom,US Director Mediaplanetbjorn.soderstrom@mediaplanet.com

CONTENTS

Green business Page 4

Greener homes Page 6

Solar and wind power Page 8

Nuclear power industry Page 9

Alternative fuels Page 11

Hybrids cars Page 12 and 13

Greener energy Page 14

Oil hits $160 Page 15

GREEN ENERGYA TITLE FROM MEDIAPLANET

Project Manager: Kristen Larkin646 454 2726kristen.larkin@mediaplanet.com

Editor: Richard Leonardrleonardnyc@yahoo.com

Design: Corinne Meiercorinne.meier@mediaplanet.com

Print: Washington Times

Photos: istockphoto.com

Mediaplanet is the leading pub-lisher in providing high quality andin-depth analysis on topical indus-try and market issues, in print,online and broadcast.

For more information, pleasecontactBjorn.Soderstrom@mediaplanet.com

www.mediaplanet.com

Bjorn Soderstrom, US Director Mediaplanet publishing House Inc

The Nobel pricewinner Al Goresymbolizes thoseconcerns for many””

Green business opera-tions that promote theuse of green energy

help reduce global warming,keep air and water clean, andpreserve forests and biodiver-sity. This also helps the bottomline, environmentalists say, be-cause green businesses are effi-cient businesses.How big is green business?

According to Healthy Products,Healthy Planet, a report by theEnvironmental Business Jour-nal, the green market in theU.S. alone reached $440 billionin 2003, including the indus-trial and consumer sectors andsales of recycled materials, andnow represent more than 4 per-cent of the whole economy.

Demand for healthierlifestylesStarting from virtually noth-

ing about three decades ago,

these products and services are“driven by a segment of thepopulation seeking companiesand solutions that reflect theirconcern for both personal andenvironmental health," said thejournal’s founder and publisherGrant Ferrier. "Consumer de-mand for healthier lifestylesand a healthier planet have alsoimpacted government policyand product development creat-ing opportunity for two or threegenerations of entrepreneurs."Green businesses are offering

solutions to some of the biggestchallenges of our time such assustainable energy generation,resource use and escalatinghealth care costs, said Ferrier.Green market growth is ex-

pected to continue at more thantwice the rate of the economy,the report says, because theyare still a tiny fraction of theirconventional counterparts. Or-ganic food is less than 2 percent of food sales and green

buildings are less than 2 percent of new construction, forexample.

Green business pioneer JoelMakower, who has launchedClimateBiz.com and sister green

business sites, blogs that with awelter of products and servicesoffering ways of neutralizingthe carbon impacts of pur-chases, consumers “find them-selves in an informationalmorass.”

Buy at retail priceHe spotlights Cooler, a new

online service that enables cus-tomers to buy at retail pricesfrom major companies. Theservice uses an innovativeproduct carbon calculator todetermine fees that the compa-nies then pay to Cooler, whichinvests the funds in renewableenergy and pollution preven-tion projects approved by envi-ronmental groups.These initiatives show that

business can make being greeneasier for everyone.

4

Green business is big businessThough an environmental motto says that “small is beautiful,” green business has become bigbusiness. Growth comes from businesses greening their workplaces, and from business venturesranging from neighborhood stores to major companies launching green products.

GREEN ENERGY

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Target offerswindmills forhomes andbusinessTo help consumers combatrising energy costs and helpconserve resources, TargetCorporation is selling wind-mills and other energy-sav-ing products. Consumers canalso buy other items de-signed to help conserve en-ergy such as solar poweredtoys and portable genera-tors. "Everyone's concernedabout energy prices, andnow you can do somethingabout it," says Jerry Storch,Target’s Vice Chairman. Thewindmills can produce up to1,000 watts of power atwind speeds of 24 miles perhour. They are just overeight feet in diameter andcost about $1,700. Towersfor mounting the windmillsare available in two sizes:one 32 feet high costing$490 and a 40 foot modelfor $690.

Paint As Insulat ion?

T h e G re e n B u i l d i n g C o u n c i l a n d e v e n t h e E PA a c k n o w l -edge tha t one o f t he bes t way s to beg in to save moneyon energy b i l l s i s to insu la te your home or bu i ld ing very

wel l . The “p ink stuff , ” b low- in , or bat t insu lat ion that we mostcommon ly use have s ome ma jo r f l aws .

D i d y o u k n o w t h a t m o s t i n s u l a t i o n i s n o t m a d e t o w i t h s t a n dh u m i d i t y ? A t o n e p e rc e n t h u m i d i t y, m a n y o f t h e i n s u l a t i o n son the marke t fa i l . The “R” va lue goes down as the humid i t ygoes up .

O v e r t i m e , m a n y i n s u l a t i o n s c a n d e v e l o p m o l d a n d m i l d e w.Some a re even be ing t es ted fo r ca rc inogen ic p rope r t i es . I ne i t he r case , you r hea l th may be a t s e r i ous r i sk .

When the sun ’s hea t bea ts down on y ou r house a l l day, you ri nsu la t i on does no t s top i t , i t s to res i t .

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It’s Inexpensive and Gives you R-20 at less than $1 per square foot.

Mult iCeramics™ provides an incredible R-20 equiv-

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l a t i o n a t a t h i c k n e s s o f 1 0 i n c h e s o r m o re .

M u l t i C e r a m i c s ™ i s t h e u l t i m a t e i n s u l a t i o n m a t e r i a l . I t i sa space-age formulated material made with a blend of n a n o - a c r y l i c sa n d p o l y m e r s . T h i s E n e r g y S t a r r a t e d i n s u l a t i o n i s f l e x i -b l e , y e t t o u g h . M u l t i C e r a m i c s ™ t e c h n o l o g y i s n o t o n l yref lect ive of infrared heat but most important ly, non-conduct iveo f r a d i a n t h e a t . Yo u n o w h a v e t h e u l t i m a t e c o n t r o l o fh e a t a n d c o l d .

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6

GREEN ENERGY

Americans spend morethan $160 billion a yearto heat, cool, light, and

live in their homes, and this costaccounts for about 21 percent oftotal national energy consump-tion. The Department’s EnergyStar program that promotes en-ergy efficient products and prac-tices helped prevent theequivalent of greenhouse gasemissions from 25 million carslast year alone, while savingcustomers $14 billion on utilitybills.If every U.S. household

changed just one light bulb orfixture to an Energy Star quali-fied compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL), each year the coun-

try would save $600 million inenergy costs, enough energy tolight 3 million homes, and pre-

vent greenhouse gases equiva-lent to the emissions from morethan 800,000 cars.

Higher heating bills"The cleanest, most abundant

and affordable energy availableis the energy we waste every-day,” says Energy SecretarySamuel W. Bodman. “Switchingto CFLs, which use less energy,last longer, and reduce energycosts for consumers, is a quickand easy way that Americanscan save energy every day."With warnings of higher heat-

ing bills this winter, the Ameri-can Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy says that tosave, it is important to find anenergy auditor or heating sys-tem contractor who understandsthe homeowner’s heating sys-tems and needs."Most equipment is vastly

oversized, and most forced air

systems are so leaky, under-in-sulated, and badly installed thatthey waste about 20 percent ofthe expensive fuel you buy,"says ACEEE buildings programdirector Harvey Sachs.Environmentally friendly, en-

ergy efficient products are in-creasingly available fromretailers big and small. OurGreen House, a store in SandyHook, CT, that also sells online,evolved from the owners’ envi-

ronmental testing company.“After years of helping peoplekeep their homes safe, we dis-covered many wonderful prod-ucts that we could share,” saysPam Davis, who started the busi-ness with her husband. “We de-cided to open a retail store thatsells everything we believed in.”

Greener homes save money and theenvironmentEnergy efficient homes are less costly to own, operate and maintain, and they are more comfort-able. Many households could save 20 to 30 percent on their household energy bills by implement-ing energy efficiency improvements, according to the Department of Energy.

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Saving customers$ 14 billion onutility bills”

”

TheDowChemical Companyis a diversified chemicalcompany that harnesses

the power of innovation, sci-ence and technology to con-stantly improve what isessential to human progress.Dow is dedicated to developinggreen building and design solu-tions, and this commitment isparamount in Dow’s 2015 Sus-tainability Goals, an ambitiousmulti-part program to addresssome of the most pressing eco-nomic, social and environmen-tal concerns facing the globalcommunity over the next 10years.Dow Building Solutions, a

business unit of The DowChemical Company, is a leaderwithin the building industryand is at the forefront, demon-strating its commitment to ad-vancing better building systemsthrough ongoing developmentof differentiated, integrated so-lutions-based building productsthat address such critical issues

as energy efficiency, moisturemanagement and overall per-formance.Dow invented STYROFOAM™

brand insulation over 60 yearsago. Since that time, Dow hasbeen in the field evaluating andanalyzing industry needs, build-ing upon the STYROFOAM™brand flagship and leveragingthe extensive research and de-velopment infrastructure of TheDow Chemical Company. TodayDow Building Solutions’ com-prehensive portfolio of solu-tions includes: STYROFOAM™extruded polystyrene and poly-isocyanurate ENERGY STARqualified foam insulations,WEATHERMATE™ housewraps,tapes, flashings and sill pan,GREAT STUFF PRO™ foamsealants and adhesives, andspray polyurethane foam insu-lation. Dow solutions can beused individually or together tohelp make homes and buildingsmore comfortable and energyefficient.

Facts:STYROFOAM™ brand insu-lation

Proven Energy SavingsInstalled in millions of build-ings around the world, sav-ing more than $10 billion inenergy costs every yearSaves 300 trillion Btu of en-ergy every year

Fuel ConservationEvery 1 million homes insu-lated with STYROFOAM™insulation saves the equiva-lent of 1 billion barrels of oilover the life of the homes.

Reduced EmissionsOne square foot ofSTYROFOAM™ insulationcan save up to 1 ton of CO2

emissions over the life of thehome.

Conserving Energy at HomeOil prices have risen substan-tially over the past few years.And, the costs to heat and coolhomes are at an all-time high.It’s no secret, energy is a realissue – especially for homeown-ers and builders as homes nowaccount for more than 20 per-cent of the nation's energy con-sumption**. It’s not surprisingthen, that after the mortgagepayment, most homeowners paymore for heating and cooling

than any other bill.A home’s energy efficiency is

most often compromised by thequality and quantity of insula-tion. Many homes are not prop-erly insulated, particularly thosebuilt prior to the 1970s, whenthe issue of energy conservationand home energy performancefirst came to the forefront.Fortunately, the latest insula-

tion and weather barrier solu-tions can actually make a homebetter able to withstand the ex-treme cold and warm weathermonths without consuming asmuch energy. Whether you arebuilding a new home or under-taking a major remodeling proj-ect, you can help reduce utilitybills and improve the perform-ance of the home withSTYROFOAM™ extruded poly-styrene and polyisocyanuraterigid foam insulations.Cavity insulation, like fiber-

glass batts, only insulates be-

tween the framing. In fact,wood framing, wiring andplumbing account for approxi-mately 25 percent of an averagehome's exterior wall, whereheat can escape in cold climatesand intrude in warm climates.Rigid foam insulation is a

safety net for the home as itblankets the exterior wall –minimizing heat loss throughthe studs. In warm climates, theinsulation is installed to keepthe inside cool and minimizeheat gain from the outside intothe air-conditioned space.Insulated sheathings maxi-

mize heating and cooling effi-ciency while reducing thepotential for moisture problems.Across the nation, housing

and building design continuesto shift towards the develop-ment of high-performing, sus-tainable and energy-efficientbuilding systems. Dow BuildingSolutions is dedicated to ad-dressing some of the most criti-cal issues facing our nationtoday by developing technolo-gies that not only address theneeds of its customers, but alsothose of the environment.

As the cost and pressure to conserve energy and natural resources continue to escalate, home-builders and contractors are looking for efficient, economical solutions that will reduce monthlyburdens for homeowners and building owners, and increase affordability and sustainability.

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Conserve Energy. Reduce Energy Costs.Energized by Dow.

For more information, visit www.insulateyourhome.com**US Department of Energy-2007 Buildings Energy Data Book

®™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow

Colorado Governor BillRitter says that CedarCreek is “a welcome addi-

tion to Colorado's New EnergyEconomy and will help our stateachieve its goal of 20 percent re-newable energy by 2020.”

Wind-energy quadrupledThe nation's wind-energy ca-

pacity more than quadrupled be-tween 2000 and 2006, accordingto a new report from the Na-tional Research Council. Thoughwind energy still generates lessthan 1 percent of the nation's

electricity, by 2020 it will offsetclose to 5 percent of the carbondioxide that would otherwise beemitted by other energy sources.Wind energy is such a recent

addition to the energy mix thatmost states are relatively inex-perienced at planning and regu-lation. Setting national policiesto enhance the benefits of wind

energy and minimize its harmswould help guide state and localregulatory efforts, the reportsays.

Solar powerThe Solar Energy Industries

Association sees expandingmarkets for the three main formsof solar power: photovoltaic,concentrating solar power withmirrors or lenses, and solarwater heating.

Investment and job growthGlobal photovoltaic power

market growth has averaged 25percent annually over the last 10

years, with worldwide growthrates for the last 5 years wellover 35 percent (meaning in-stalled power doubles every 4years or less), notes SEIA. How-ever, this rapid growth is from avery small base; and photo-voltaic still accounts for a smallpercentage of electricity genera-tion.A Senate Finance Committee

tax package would extend the30 percent investment tax creditfor businesses through 2016, ex-tend the tax credit for home-owners through 2014, anddouble the maximum dollarlimit on the residential credit to$4,000. The SEIA say that pro-posed long-term extension ofthe credits would create a stableclimate for investment and jobgrowth in the photovoltaics,solar thermal, and concentratingsolar power industries.

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Tax credits on going greenWith 274 huge wind turbines being installed by Babcock & Brown and BP America at their newCedar Creek wind farm to supply power for 90,000 homes near Denver, and Acciona Solar PowerInc. opening a 64 megawatt concentrating solar power plant, one of the world’s largest, in Marchin Boulder City, NV, it is no surprise that wind and solar power are growth industries.

Hydropower generation in theU.S. has grown steadily, increas-ing by nearly 60 percent since1970, according to the HydroResearch Foundation. Today,hydro is the largest provider ofrenewable energy in the country,generating about 7 to 9 percentof the nation’s electricity, notesthe National Hydropower Asso-ciation (NHA).

The Department of Energysays that the nation’s undevel-oped water power capacity isequal to more than a third of thepresent level. Innovative proj-ects are seeking power aroundthe country, including PugetSound in Washington State, SanFrancisco’s Golden Gate, theMississippi River, and the EastRiver in New York City.An Electric Power Research

Institute report details the po-

tential of hydropower throughconventional and emergingtechnologies estimates hy-dropower can add at least an-other 23,000 megawatts to thetable by the year 2025. Thiswould be an increase of nearly30 percent above the presentlevel of hydro generation, andthe report estimates a greaterpotential of nearly 90,000megawatts.The NHA says that reaching

that higher level of generationdepends on a blend of federaland local support of policies, taxincentives and research funding.“This reinvestment will require astrong federal commitment tolong-term investment policy tosupport this development,” saysNHA executive director LindaChurch Ciocci.This commitment needs a

long-term tax incentive, accord-ing to NHA, so that projects can

be built within a reasonable timeframe that allows for the neces-sary regulatory process and con-struction required. New hydrotechnologies also need to be in-cluded in both energy produc-tion tax credits and CleanRenewable Energy Bonds, alongwith increased funding for thebond program.Big dam projects around the

world face scrutiny and protestsfrom environmental groups andcommunities, and even smallerscale hydro projects are hardlyimmune from pressures.Responding to these concerns,

U.S. hydroelectric installationsthat meet standards to minimizetheir effect on rivers, fish, andwildlife can now seek recogni-tion as low impact under a vol-untary certification programdeveloped by the Low ImpactHydropower Institute.

Changing currents for hydropower

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Water power, symbolized by massive dams and turbine generators, has played a major role in thegrowth of American energy production, industrial might, and our sprawling cities. Now a varietyof technologies look to tap the clean, renewable power of waves, tides, and water flows (hydroki-netic power), and the industry is also improving the efficiency of present installations.

8

GREEN ENERGY

The Nuclear Energy Insti-tute (NEI), the policy or-ganization for the nuclear

technologies industry, calls nu-clear power “a key tool in reduc-ing greenhouse gas emissions.”No U.S. company has yet de-

cided to build a new reactor, but17 companies and consortia areexploring the licensing and fi-nancial issues associated withnew plant construction. The U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commissionwill begin reviewing the firstwave of applications in 2007.Among companies involved

are Detroit Edison, Florida Powerand Light, the Georgia-basedSouthern Company, and TexasUtilities.Looking beyond the large

light water reactors operatingtoday, the promise of nuclearenergy technology extends be-yond electricity production toinclude production of hydrogenand heat for other uses. “Next-generation high-temperature re-actors, using advancedhydrogen production technolo-gies, can produce hydrogen fortransportation or for upgradingcoal and heavy crude oils intousable products,” NEI Presidentand CEO Skip Bowman toldCongress this year. “High-tem-perature reactors also can gen-erate heat for desalination, toextract oil from tar sands andfor scores of other industrial ap-plications.”Building the next generation

of U.S. nuclear plants will differ

markedly from the old process,when companies built plants asthe designs and regulations wereevolving. Unlike the old licens-ing process, the new process al-lows companies to re-evaluate

their decision to proceed at var-ious points in the process with-out debilitating losses. The entireprocess, from starting the appli-cation to completing the newpower plant, will take an esti-mated nine years. Actual con-struction will take about fouryears, excluding about 18months for pre-constructionpreparation.

Security of nuclear plantsSome environmentalists are

pointing to the role of nuclearpower. Dr. Patrick Moore of theCASEnergy Coalition, co-founder of Greenpeace, says,“There are a tremendous numberof respected people who are stat-ing that nuclear energy can playan important role in reducinggreenhouse gas emissions andair pollution.”President Bush, presidential

candidates and politicians onboth sides of the aisle are voic-ing at least qualified support fornuclear power.“I think nuclear power has to

be part of our energy solution. …I just want to be sure that we do

it right, as carefully as we canbecause obviously it’s a tremen-dous source of energy, “ Sen.Hillary Clinton, Town Hall Meet-ing, Allen College Columbia, SC,February 19, 2007Sen. John McCain told a Sen-

ate committee hearing in Janu-ary: “The fact is nuclear energyis clean. It produces zero emis-sions in operations. It has thelowest carbon footprint and is,therefore, undeniably a valuabletool for reining in greenhousegas emissions both quickly andeconomically.”

Stored for 50 yearsIn urging federal assistance

for new nuclear plants andtechnologies, NEI notes that thesize of the capital investments(at least $3 billion to $4 billioneach for new nuclear plants) isvery large relative to the size ofthe companies making the in-vestments, and a loan guaranteeprogram for the electricity sec-tor will provide the credit sup-port necessary to finance newplants.Although nuclear power

plants produce no CO2 or other

greenhouse gases, according tothe Union of Concerned Scien-tists, “nuclear power is not thesilver bullet for solving theglobal warming problem.” Theysay that even under an ambi-tious deployment scenario, newplants could not make a sub-stantial contribution to reducingU.S. global warming emissionsfor at least two decades.Until long-standing problems

regarding the security of nu-clear plants—from accidents toacts of terrorism—are fixed, thepotential of nuclear power toplay a significant role in ad-dressing global warming will beheld hostage to the industry'sworst performers.The disposal of spent nuclear

fuel also remains an unresolvedissue. Spent fuel rods can, how-ever, be stored safely in steelcylinders (“dry casks”) aboveground for at least 50 years.Permanent storage should be indeep underground “geological”sites, according to UCS, but theYucca Mountain geological fa-cility in Nevada may never belicensed.UCS says that an expansion

of nuclear power under effectiveregulations and an appropriatelevel of oversight should beconsidered as a longer-term op-tion if other climate-neutralmeans for producing electricityprove inadequate. Nuclear en-ergy research and developmentshould therefore continue, witha focus on enhancing safety, se-curity, and waste disposal.

UCS =http://www.ucsusa.org/as-sets/documents/global_warming/npp.pdf

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Nuclear power looks to newgeneration reactorsWith oil prices rising and concerns about global warming increasing, a push is on for a majorexpansion in the U.S. nuclear power industry. Today, 103 existing nuclear plants provide about20 percent of the country’s electric power and account for 8 percent of total energy consumption.

I think nuclearpower has to be part

of our energysolution””

9

GREEN ENERGY

EXCEL DRYER Inc.357 Chestnut Street · P. O. Box 365East Longmeadow, MA 01028 (USA)Tel: 1.800.255.9235 Fax: 1.413.525.2853Email: sales@exceldryer.comWeb: www.exceldryer.com

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EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS. – Excel

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ator of the industry standard XLERATOR®

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completely made in the United States, energy

efficient, represents a major cost savings and

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Under the Schedules Program (also referred

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long-term government-wide contracts with

commercial firms to provide access to over 10

million commercial supplies and services at

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“We’re very pleased to receive this recogni-

tion from the GSA,” said Denis Gagnon,

president, Excel Dryer, Inc. “The Schedule

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product in their facilities, allowing them to

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ter environmental responsibility.”

Unlike conventional hand dryers, which av-

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Currently, XLERATOR is installed in a vari-

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XLERATOR® Hand Dryer Recognized by the U.S. GovernmentExcel Dryer is the first dryer manufacturer to be awarded a Schedule Contract by the GSA

The main type on the U.S.market now is ethanol,made from corn kernels,

which is often sold blended withgasoline. However, biofuels aremade from all kinds of organicmaterials (known as biomass),including recycled cooking oilused to make diesel fuel.Among other crops used are

flaxseed, soybeans, rapeseed,sugar cane and palm oil.Biodegradable outputs from in-dustry, agriculture, forestry andhouseholds can also be used, in-cluding straw, timber, manure,rice husks, sewage, andbiodegradable waste and foodleftovers.

Countering global warmingTechnologies are improving

rapidly, and biofuels made fromcellulose in leaves, stems andstalks of plants promise big ben-efits in countering global warm-ing.

"As a nation, we need to re-duce our dependence on foreignoil by producing fuel domesti-cally," says Sean O'Hanlon, ex-ecutive director of the AmericanBiofuels Council. "In addition,biofuels are virtually carbon

neutral, contributing little in theway of greenhouse gases toglobal warming, unlike fossilfuels.” Producing biofuels fuelcreates jobs and helps reduce thetrade deficit, he says.

Environmentalists worryAlong with opposition to

mandating use of renewablefuels from oil companies and theU.S. Chamber of Commerce,charges have been aired that di-verting food crops and moreland for fuel drives up foodprices and can worsen poverty.Environmentalists worry that

fertilizer used to grow hugeamounts of corn for fuel willpollute water sources and add togreenhouse gases, and that nat-

ural ecosystems may become asource for biofuel or convertedto grow biofuel crops. Some saythat more energy is used to pro-duce corn ethanol than it deliv-ers in engines, resulting ingreater greenhouse emissions.The Renewal Fuels Associa-

tion, representing the ethanolindustry, counters that high oilprices underscore the need forrenewable alternatives and arefar more responsible for any in-creases in food prices than bio-fuels.

Reduction with ethanolNoting environmental issues,

the Natural Resources DefenseCouncil supports an expandedrenewable fuels standard thatincludes environmental andpublic health safeguards to ad-

dress concerns. Their key re-quirement is that ethanol fromcorn result in 20 percent lessgreenhouse gas emissions thanoil, and that more energy-effi-cient advanced biofuels achieveat least a 50 percent reduction.

11

Reducing dependency onforeign oilEthanol and other biofuels are in the spotlight as renewable alternativesto increasingly scarce and costly gasoline and diesel fuel. They are alsogenerating controversy as Congress considers legislation to strengthenand extend the 2005 renewable fuel standard that mandates that biofuelsfill a small part of the nation’s fuel supply by 2012.

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

GREEN ENERGY

20 percent lessgreenhousegas emissionsthan oil””

High oil pricesunderscore the need

for renewablealternatives””

12

GREEN ENERGY

“Hybrids are being adoptedby vehicle buyers in all re-gions at an increasing rate

for many factors, which includefuel prices,” said Lonnie Miller,Polk director of industry analy-sis.While the overall U.S. vehicle

market is down, Miller calls hy-brids “a bright spot in the auto-motive industry.” Hybrid salesprojected to exceed 300,000 ve-hicles this year, and at this pointthey account for more than twopercent of the total U.S. vehiclemarket.Hybrids use the combined

power of a gasoline engine with

a battery-driven electric motor.The gasoline engine is smallerthan those of conventional cars,saving fuel, and the electricmotor provides a significantboost, particularly at low speeds.

When hybrids come to a stop,the gasoline engine shuts offwhile the battery-poweredmotor keeps the car’s systemsrunning. While moving, thegasoline engine charges the bat-

tery, and hybrids also captureenergy from the wheels duringbraking that also charges thebattery.

Fuel economySeveral hybrid models use a

new type of transmission thatreplaces the standard five orgears with technology that en-ables the engine to run at itsmost efficient speeds to maxi-mize fuel economy.By 2008, 15 hybrid models

from 10 different car brands areexpected to be on the market.Mileage varies considerably,mainly due to variations in thesize and design of the vehiclesand their gasoline engines.

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Hybrid cars are justthe right way

Offering improved fuel economy, reduced greenhouse gases emissions,tax credits, and an eerily quiet ride, hybrid cars are moving towards thefast lane as a drivers’ choice. New hybrid vehicle registrations grew morethan 49 percent nationwide in the first seven months of 2007, comparedto the same timeframe in 2006, according to R. L. Polk & Co.

How did you decide on a hy-brid?Gas mileage was the numberone factor. I compared thePrius to other hybrids and ithad the best mileage. Thissaves money, and anything tolessen our dependence on pe-troleum is good as far as I amconcerned, both for nationalsecurity and environmentalreasons.I also liked the futuristic designand technology when I saw afriend’s Prius. For example, theinstrument display is on a stripjust below the windshield foreasy viewing, almost like the“heads up” display on an air-plane cockpit window.When I talked to a Prius ownerparked next to me at a store,he turned out to be a formertest pilot who was very enthu-siastic about the car’s technol-ogy and performance.

Weren’t you wary of buyinga car based on new technol-ogy?I felt that hybrids had been onthe road for several years andhad proven themselves. In fact,the Prius appealed because itwas specifically designed as ahybrid, with lighter weight anda streamlined body to maxi-mize mileage. Most other cur-rent hybrids, including theToyota Camry, are based onstandard models.

How has your choice workedout so far?So far the car is great, espe-cially when I pull up to the gaspump. I get about 50 mpg.When I brought the car in forregular servicing, I asked themechanic what they do withbattery and electric motor. Hesaid, “Nothing, unless there is aproblem.” The gasoline engineis serviced like any other.

What about performance andcomfort?The car is agile and handleswell, and has decent accelera-tion. The sitting position seemssomewhat high and differentfrom other cars, but that is allright. I am six feet and find thePrius has good leg room, but areally tall person might find ittoo tight. The car has a sur-prising amount of space, andthe hatchback and rear seatsthat fold down make it con-venient for carrying loads backfrom shopping.

Have you found any draw-backs?I find that view out the rear isnot so good when backing up.But there is a television cam-era facing to rear that turns onwhen the car is put in reversewith a small screen on thedashboard. I always check thatfor kids or other surprises be-fore backing up.

By 2008, 15 newhybrid models from10 different carbrands... expected””

Why pick a hybrid?We ask an owner

Why does a buyer select a hybrid car andhow has it worked out? We talked with JohnLeonard, a retired government official livingin San Diego, who bought a Toyota Prius inFebruary 2007.

Toyota Prius - number oneTopping the hybrid fuel econ-

omy list for 2008 are the ToyotaPrius, which accounts for abouthalf of hybrid sales, with an es-timated 48 mpg in the city and45 mpg on the highway, accord-ing to the Department of Energy.Ranked second is the new HondaCivic hybrid, rated at 40 mpg inthe city and 45 mpg on thehighway.

Energy legislation pending inCongress would require au-tomakers to meet a 35 mpg fleetaverage by 2020, which wouldbe the first mandated increase indecades. Hybrids are a showcasefor available technology to at-tain such standards, though theAlliance of Automobile Manu-facturers, favors scaled-back re-quirements.

Hydrogen:fuel for the future

With $1.2 billion for thefirst five years, theaim is to develop hy-

drogen production, delivery,storage, and fuel cell technolo-gies to enable automotive andenergy companies to commer-cialize fuel cell vehicles and hy-drogen fuel infrastructure.Fuel cell vehicles and buses arein demonstration and validationprograms in California, NewYork and other states, and alsoEurope and Asia. Most au-tomakers expect to have fuelcell vehicles in their showroomsbetween 2018 and 2020. Hydro-gen fuel cell buses should seeregular service sooner, and useof fuel cells to generate powerfor building and other facilitiesis gaining ground.Hydrogen can be used to fuelconventional combustion en-gines, producing minimal emis-sions, but fuel cells are moreefficient. They create electricitythrough a chemical process. Ve-hicles powered with hydrogenfuel cells can be twice as fuel ef-ficient as similarly-sized con-ventional vehicles, according tothe Department of Energy.FreedomCAR, a joint researcheffort by the Department of En-ergy and the U.S. Council forAutomotive Research (Ford,General Motors, and Daimler-Chrysler), promotes researchinto advanced automotive tech-nologies, including fuel cell ve-hicles. Another effort is the

California Fuel Cell Partnership,a collaboration of 31 organiza-tions to promote the commer-cialization of the technology forvehicles.Hydrogen can be extracted froma variety of sources, includingnatural gas, water, biomass, and

also oil and coal. Currently,most hydrogen is produced fromnatural gas, oil, and coal, whilereleasing carbon dioxide fromthose fuels into the atmosphere.The National Hydrogen Associa-

tion says that hydrogen can beproduced with near-zero emis-sions from natural gas, coal andother fossil fuels, using carboncapture technology at the hy-drogen production site.The Natural Resources DefenseCouncil (NRDC) and other envi-ronmental groups urge that em-phasis be placed on producinghydrogen from intrinsicallyclean sources, such as wind,solar, and sustainable biomasscrops. NRDC says that hydro-gen’s potential should be “ex-plored aggressively,” but thefocus now should be on con-ventional and hybrid vehiclefuel economy, estimating thatthis could save almost 25 timesmore oil between now and 2020than fuel cell vehicles.

Federal agenciesadd hybrid vehiclesFollowing an executive order by President Bush in Januarymandating federal agencies to increase alternative fuel use by10 percent each year, the General Services Administration fleetmanagement division delivered 3,601 new vehicles to regionalfederal agencies by mid-year. “Using fuel efficient vehicles likethe Saturn Aura hybrid we’re receiving just makes sense. Notonly does it protect the environment by reducing emissions, butusing less fuel strengthens our energy security,” said Environ-mental Protection Agency regional administrator John B.Askew.

The potential of hydrogen for fuel gained sudden prominence in 2003,when President Bush announced a new initiative in his State of theUnion address, saying that “the first car driven by a child born todaycould be powered by hydrogen.”

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

Fuel cell vehiclesand buses are now

in validationprograms””

13

GREEN ENERGY

Oil provides 40 percent ofour total energy and coaland natural gas each

provide 23 percent. Coal domi-nates electricity generation, pro-ducing over half our electricpower. Oil is king of the road --and the rest of the transporta-tion sector -- providing fully 98percent of the power for ourcars, boats, planes and trains.States have taken the lead on

emissions and mileage standardsand Washington is strugglingover new national policies. Fos-sil fuel industries generally

stand with the White House insupporting new technologies butopposing strong mandatorystandards as too costly for theeconomy.

Bringing down emissionsThe coal industry, spurred by

regulations and environmentalaction, has been bringing downemissions of some pollutants,but remains a major source ofgreenhouse gases, mainly CO2.In October, a Kansas state reg-

ulator denied a permit for alarge coal power plant becauseof greenhouse emissions, an in-dustry first. Stronger standards

are bringing innovative coaltechnologies, such as gasifica-tion and advanced combustiontechniques.The Department of Energy has

just launched three large-scalecarbon sequestration projects tocapture carbon and store it deepin the earth. “Coal is vitally im-portant to America’s energy se-

curity and this technology willenable our nation, and futuregenerations, to use this abun-dant resource more efficientlyand without emitting green-house gases,” said Deputy En-ergy Secretary Clay Sell.With scores of new U.S. coal

power plants planned, NationalResources Defense Council pres-ident Frances Beinecke told Con-

gress in October that continuedinvestments in old technology,particularly with coal, “will lockin high carbon emissions formany decades.” She urged stepsto halt U.S. emissions growthwithin the next few years andcut them by approximately 80percent over the next 50 years.

Higher mileage standardsCompared to coal, natural gas

produces less than half the car-bon emissions per unit of energyproduced, and a third less thanoil, and has accounted for about10 percent of all global warmingemissions. Greater efficiency ingas-fired power plants, and byelectricity systems and their cus-tomers, can help curb emissions.With oil, there is great scope

to improve the efficiency of con-ventional engines and encour-age use of alternative fuels andfuel-saving hybrid cars. Pushedby state actions, Congress isweighing higher mileage stan-dards to speed these efforts.

Fossil fuels today account for 86 percent of the nation’s energy supply, and a key issue is whatpart our current energy staples will play in a transition to a greener future, now and in comingdecades.

Greener energy and the future offossil fuels

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

14

GREEN ENERGY

WashingtonMetro Transitgets greener

Public transit has a big roleto play in getting cars off theroad and the WashingtonMetropolitan Area TransitAuthority (WMATA), createdin 1967, has grown to oper-ate the nation’s secondlargest rail transit system andfifth largest bus network.

WMATA carries more than athird of federal employees inthe area to work and millionsof tourists around the na-tion’s capital. The 103 mileMetrorail network uses morethan 1,100 clean, electric-powered railcars to cover 86Metro stations.

Metrobus has 439 buses fu-eled by clean-burning com-pressed natural gas in its fleetof 1,500, along with 50 newdiesel electric hybrid busesintroduced last year and 500more coming in the next fiveyears. New Flyer of America,Inc. builds the new buseswith hybrid systems fromGM’s Allison Transmission.

"We are committed to beinga leader when it comes to im-proving regional air quality,"says Metro Board MemberCharles Deegan.

Nationwide, for every pas-senger mile public transit istwice as fuel efficient as pri-vate cars, reports the Ameri-can Public TransportationAssociation, and savesenough oil each year to pro-vide energy to heat and coolone fourth of all Americanhomes.

She urged stepsto halt U.S emissionsgrowth within thenext few years””

The blue-ribbon panel,which included formerC.I.A. director Robert

Gates prior to his appointmentas Secretary of Defense, warnedthat an oil shock of that magni-tude could do “significant dam-age to the economy,” costingtwo million jobs.

Prices have quadrupledThe impact would include a

major stock market plunge,falling GDP, reduced consumerspending and crumbling con-sumer confidence. Automakers,airlines, and the travel and hos-pitality industry would be hard-est hit.Increases in recent years have

been less dramatic, yet oil prices

have quadrupled since 2002,driven by middle east crises, de-mand from fast-growingeconomies such as China andIndia, and the shrinking value ofthe dollar. Oil is priced in dol-lars, and in part the market iscompensating for that decline.

Nonetheless, current prices arestill below the inflation-adjustedprice of about $100 a barrel hitduring the 1979-80 price spiketriggered by the OPEC oil em-bargo.Alarm about sky high oil

prices reflects our dependenceon oil. The U.S., with less than5% of the world’s population,

consumes 25% of the world’s oilproduction, yet average U.S. fueleconomy for cars and lighttrucks has declined since its1988 peak of 22 mpg and na-tional standards have not beenraised since 1990.On oil dependence national

security hawks and environmen-talists find some commonground in calling for urgentsteps to reduce consumption,and promote energy efficiencyand alternative fuels.

1.2 millions of barrels of oildailyCongress is grappling with

new energy legislation, includ-ing a Senate measure to boostthe fuel economy standard to 35mpg by 2020. This would save1.2 million barrels of oil daily in2020, notes Deron Lovaas, theNational Resources Defense

Council’s vehicles campaign di-rector, an annual reduction ofnearly half the oil as we cur-rently import from the MiddleEast, and cut global warmingpollution by 200 billion tons. Itmight also help forestall that$160 a barrel price tag.

Just two years ago, a crisis simulation by the National Commission onEnergy Policy and the group Securing America’s Future Energy foundthat a sudden supply disruption from political unrest, terror attacks andviolent weather could push oil prices above $160 a barrel. With priceshitting $90 a barrel this month, that seems far from academic.

TEXT: RICHARD LEONARD

15GREEN ENERGY

Sky high oilprices reflects ourdependence

on oil””

GREEN ENERGY

Californiawineries going solar

The sun that ripens grapes is also providing power for a grow-ing number of California wineries, including Robert Mondavivineyards. Sunlight Electric has installed 1,000 200 watt solarpanels at the Staglin Winery in Napa Valley at a cost of $1 mil-lion, reports ABC News. The panels produce almost enoughpower to meet all the small winery’s energy needs. The vine-yard hopes to recover the cost of the panels within 15 yearsthrough a combination of savings on electricity costs, statesubsidies, federal tax breaks, and cash incentives from PacificGas & Electric.

What if oil hits $160 abarrel?