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DOE has developed an Internet-based information network known as the Green Power Network. Accessible through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy home page, the network provides and exchanges information on successful green power programs and provides network links to utilities, power marketers, public entities, and consumer and environmental organizations that have already developed or are interested in developing green power programs. The provision of this information and the information links will help encourage electricity suppliers and customers to form green power supply and buyer groups.

The electric power industry is undergoing unprecedented change, with the regulated monopoly structure of the industry becoming increasingly subject to competition. Wholesale competition has resulted in a price-dominated market in which renewables, which generally have high front-end cost structures, are being disadvantaged.

At the same time, retail competition should lead to a greater number of service options for electricity customers, some of which will include renewable energy. Since utility customers and public opinion surveys have identified strong public support for the development of clean energy sources, the ability of customers to express a market preference for renewable-energy sources can be a key driving force in moving greater amounts of renewables into the market. Already, several utilities have developed customer-oriented "green pricing" programs, and a handful of municipalities have taken action to acquire renewables-based power to serve their loads.

These "green marketing" approaches employ market-based mechanisms to promote greater adoption of renewables and are entirely compatible with ongoing attempts to introduce greater competition into the generation and delivery of electricity. However, only a handful of power providers and customers have attempted to tap into this market. There is a need to more broadly disseminate information and experiences with green power programs, so that other organizations and market entities can apply this information to design and implement successful green power

programs.

The Green Power Network is a site dedicated to providing information and points of contacts on green power programs and activities. DOE has worked with electricity-sector organizations in the development of the web site, and is linking to other green power-oriented businesses and organizations. This web site can be accessed at http://www.eren.doe.gov/greenpower. To qualify for a link to the web site, businesses and organizations should have an existing green power program underway.

Contact: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Customer Service Center, 1-800-363-3732 (Domestic) or 703-287-8391 (International).

Natural Gas
STAR

(Climate Plan Action 32)

Natural Gas

EPA POLLUTION PREVENTER

The Action Plan expanded the Natural Gas STAR program. In the year 2010, the full program is expected to generate:

■ Methane savings of 55 billion cubic feet

■ Energy cost savings of $100 million

Carbon-equivalent savings of 6.0 MMT

Through the Natural Gas STAR program, EPA encourages natural gas companies to adopt cost-effective technologies and practices that reduce emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In March 1995, the program was expanded from the transmission and distribution sectors to include the production sector. In addition to providing implementation support, EPA provides partners with public recognition and works to remove unjustified regulatory barriers. Companies submit an implementation plan to EPA after becoming a partner and implement the plan over the next three years.

By working with the natural gas industry, Natural Gas STAR has identified nine cost-effective, methane-reducing best management practices (BMPs). EPA has developed a series of tools to help partners implement these BMPs, including an implementation guide measurement program and a series of "lessons learned" studies that communicate superior implementation of BMPs by program partners.

Achievements

G In 1996, the Natural Gas STAR program reduced methane leakage from natural gas pipelines by over one million metric tons of carbon-equivalent emissions.

The expanded program includes 65 corporate partners representing.

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"The American Gas Association, the American Petroleum Institute, the Interstate Natural Gas Association, the International Centre for Gas Technology Information, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, the Natural Gas Supply Association, and the Southern Gas Association have endorsed the Natural Gas STAR program.

In addition, the Gas Research Institute endorsed the program in April 1994, pledging $4 million of its annual budget to projects that reduce methane emissions.

Contact: Rhone Resch, EPA, Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division, 202-233-9793

Landfill Rule and Landfill
Methane Outreach Program

(Climate Plan Actions 33 and 34)

In the year 2010, the Landfill Methane Outreach Program is expected to generate:

■ Methane savings of 26 billion cubic feet

Energy cost savings of $50 million

■ Carbon-equivalent savings of 2.9 MMT

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Landfills are the largest source of U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions. Because methane is a fuel, landfills also represent a tremendous energy resource. Through the Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), launched in December 1994, EPA is encouraging landfills across the nation to capture and use their landfill gas emissions. This voluntary effort works hand-in-hand with EPA's landfill New Source Performance Standards and Emissions Guidelines (also known as the "Landfill Rule") to promote cost-effective reductions in methane emissions. Promulgated in March 1996, the Landfill Rule requires large landfills to capture and combust their landfill gas emissions. By providing potential project partners reliable technical and economic information on the opportunities to use landfill gas as a fuel, creating innovative financing opportunities, and demonstrating the many benefits of converting landfill gas to energy, the LMOP is helping landfills affected by the Landfill Rule to achieve the maximum benefit at the lowest cost.

EPA works with state energy and environmental agencies, landfill owners, utilities, trade associations, and industry to lower the barriers to landfill gas-to-energy project development. The LMOP disseminates reliable information, identifies project opportunities, and creates momentum for increasing the economically and environmentally benefi cial use of landfill gas.

Together the LMOP and the Landfill Rule are expected to achieve reductions of over 35 MMTCE in the year

2000.

Achievements

· Allies include 18 state agencies in 13 states, 15 utilities, and more than 70 industry representatives, includ ing project developers, equipment suppliers, financiers, and landfill gas end users.

6 State Ally workshops have been held, and several more are scheduled.

■ A wide range of focused products have been developed and distributed, including: - a project development handbook;

- profiles of landfills that are good candidates for energy recovery in 20 states;

- primers outlining key state regulatory and incentive information for 3 states;

- software to evaluate the most attractive project options for specific landfills, including estimation of costs and benefits, and

fact sheets and issue papers providing guidance on critical issues.

Provided Landfill Rule guidance and workshops for state agencies and affected landfills.

■ Catalyzed development of at least 24 new landfill gas-to-energy projects.

Contact: Tom Kerr, EPA, Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division, 202-233-9768.

Coalbed Methane

Outreach Program

(Climate Plan Action 35)

In the year 2010, the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program is anticipated to generate:

■ Methane savings of 29 billion cubic feet

Energy cost savings of $55 million

Carbon-equivalent savings of 3.2 MMT

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In 1990, methane emissions associated with coal mining operations accounted for approximately 18 percent of human-related U.S. methane emissions. Launched in spring 1994, the Coalbed Methane Outreach Program is reduc ing these emissions by (1) working with the coal industry and other stakeholders to identify and remove obstacles to increased investment in coalbed methane recovery projects, and (2) raising awareness of opportunities for profitable investments.

Currently, at least 13 U.S. mines are recovering and using methane. Under this program and as a result of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, an additional 47.8 trillion Btus of methane energy are expected to be recovered annually, representing approximately 25 new or expanded projects by 2000.

Coal mine methane projects must meet site-specific technical and market conditions to be profitable. Many general market barriers and opportunities can either hinder or encourage projects. The program works on a mine-by-mine basis to identify and overcome the specific technical, legal, market, and financial barriers to project implementation. Program staff works directly with the coal mine staff to prepare technical, financial, and market analyses that identify profitable project opportunities. The program also works with developers, state and local governments, and potential gas markets to identify and overcome the various generalized technical, market, financial, and legal barriers.

Achievements

■During 1995 and 1996, at least seven new or expanded-use projects were initiated at coal mines. These projects included introducing coalbed methane into the nation's natural gas pipeline supply, generating power from abandoned mine gas, and using methane to replace coal as a fuel source for drying at a coal mine preparation plant. In 1996, a contract was signed to upgrade lower-quality mine gas from two active mines and two abandoned mines for pipeline injection—the first project of its kind.

■EPA worked with operators of several mines to develop detailed technology and financial assessments of the profitable opportunities for coal mine methane projects. These assessments are catalyzing project develop

ments.

EPA developed guides for state, local, and federal assistance programs that pinpoint sources of loans, grants, and technical assistance for profitable coal mine methane projects. In addition, EPA prepared a comprehensive guide for private-sector financing of coal mine methane projects.

■ EPA evaluated and reported on technological options for enhanced coalbed methane recovery, use, and markets that have lowered the informational barriers to profit-making coalbed methane projects.

In 1996 and 1997 EPA hosted two national conferences that focused on key financial and policy issues related to coalbed methane project development.

Contact: Karl Schultz, EPA, Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division, 202-233-9468

Methane Recovery
Systems-Coal Mining

(Climate Plan Action 36)

DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and EPA (Climate Plan Action 35) have jointly supported outreach, cost-shared demonstrations, and market-entry projects to investigate and apply technologies for capturing and using methane emitted during coal mining. Methane is highly explosive and, when emitted into the mine workings during coal mining operations, can be a serious safety hazard. Within DOE the Office of Fossil Energy is primarily responsible for the methane recovery program. Management of the program is coordinated with EPA, the National Mining Association, fuel cell, gas turbine, and internal combustion engine manufacturers; private industry; utilities, and others.

The program has supported partnership teams, led by the coal industry, that are developing the application of evolving and existing technologies for recovery and use of coal mine methane gas. The program has three operational phases: Phase I-feasibility study of the proposed program and solicitation of cost-shared demonstrations, Phase II— detailed design of the proposed demonstrations, and Phase III—implementation of pilot demonstrations.

The program involves partners in planning, implementation, and financing. Coal mining and natural gas production industries are included as potential partners for gas recovery and sales. Natural gas transmission, electrical power, and coal mining companies are the potential users of the recovered gas. Power-generation equipment vendors may join in partnerships to provide the hardware for recovery and use. Local communities may also be partners for providing local fuel or power in the community or for industrial/energy parks.

Achievements

■Five Phase II coal mine methane projects with multiple partners are currently completing detailed designs for field recovery and use demonstration efforts in 1998. Project partners include a coal operator, a utility, an engineering firm, and an engine manufacturer.

■Two of the project efforts have partly completed the design of the field demonstrations and are beginning to recover initial quantities of coal mine methane.

- One of these projects involves DOE, Northwest Fuel Development, an active coal mine and an electric utility in Harrison County, Ohio. The present installed capacity of this facility is 500 kilowatts, or about one-quarter of the coal mine's total power consumption. The existing generators are driven by automobile-derivative internal combustion (IC) engines. Design work is currently underway in cooperation with Energy Research Corporation to develop a demonstration unit with a capacity of 300 kilowatts. It is anticipated that the use of the fuel cell will allow for more flexible operation of the IC engines.

- The second project intends to use methane contained in the mine ventilation exhaust and gas from gob wells drilled into the strata just above the longwall mining face. The total methane emissions from the Emerald mine (Greene Co., Pa.) are capable of generating 50 or more megawatts. The specific hardware for the prototype is being determined, and a test plan is being developed for operation.

Contact: DOE, Office of Fossil Energy, 202-586-4756, or DOE Federal Energy Technology Center, 304-285-4547.

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