| Today's Top Stories
1. CDP names PHI first in S&P 500 utility carbon management index
2. Utility launches hurricane preparedness app
3. ComEd playing games with energy efficiency
4. AEP energized transmission upgrade to increase power capacity 40%
5. APS AZ Sun Project working on 6th solar facility Also Noted: Spotlight On... Net-zero energy building in surprising states
Privatization of local hydro; delayed LNG reporting and much more... Retailers harness renewable energy
Harnessing renewable energy sources is a huge part of energy efficiency, and as energy costs constantly rising, the importance of sustainability is going to remain dominant in the industry. Many utilities are embracing these sources and doing their part to invest in renewable energy and offer it to their customers. But utilities aren't the only ones who can make a difference, as large national retailers across the U.S. have started committing themselves to renewable energy and establishing "green" business practices.Slideshow California continues renewable energy push
California is one of the largest states in the U.S., and a huge consumer of electricity. Perhaps that's also why it's frequently among the nation's most aggressive pursuers of renewable and efficient energy policy, especially when it comes to solar power. State lawmakers are looking to add to that reputation and recently sent three pieces of renewable-energy-inspired legislation to the desk of Governor Jerry Brown. The bills all touch on solar energy policy and, if signed into law, would extend existing policies designed to encourage wide-scale adoption of solar energy technology. Feature
Utilities go retail
Energy is an important pillar of the connected home market, and big box retailers are capitalizing on emerging trends to converge upon the energy market. The proliferation of smart appliances, smart meters, and devices such as smart thermostats as part of the connected home will be further driven by growth in smartphone and tablet applications that allow users to more easily monitor, manage and control these technologies while away. Feature News From Across the Energy Industry:
1. The impact of broadband
2. USDA beats smart grid financing goal
3. Successful smart grid optimization
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Today's Top News 1. CDP names PHI first in S&P 500 utility carbon management index
The Carbon Disclosure Project's annual carbon performance and disclosure ratings place Pepco Holdings Inc. (PHI) first among S&P 500 utility companies for carbon management and performance. Beginning in 2011, PHI sharpened the focus on its carbon footprint, conducting a thorough and complete emissions inventory using tools developed by the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development to identify sources of greenhouse gas emissions from its operations and to track progress in reducing emissions over time. PHI reduced its total carbon emissions by 12 percent between 2010 and 2011 while direct emissions from the company's operations dropped 39 percent. For more:
- visit this website Related Article:
Climate change lessons utilities can learn from Europe Read more about: Carbon Disclosure Project S&P 500 utility carbon management index, Pepco Holdings Inc.
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2. Utility launches hurricane preparedness app
If a utility can't guarantee the reliability of its grid at the peak of hurricane season, at least it can make preparing for a storm easier and more convenient for its customers.  | | Credit: Kissimmee Utility Authority. View the full-size image. | That is exactly what Kissimmee Utility Authority (KUA) is doing with its newly released iPad app, which includes information on emergency shelters, evacuation routes, generator safety and power outage restoration, as well as helpful telephone numbers, a disaster supplies checklist and a hurricane tracking chart. The app is produced in-house by the utility's information technology department who made sure the app will work even when there is no mobile service. "This app provides important safety information about what to do before, during and after a storm," said Jef Gray, KUA's vice president of information technology. "Preparedness is the best tool we can have in any emergency situation." For more:
- see this article Related Article:
ComEd customers take to Facebook to report outages Read more about: hurricane preparedness app, Kissimmee Utility Authority
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3. ComEd playing games with energy efficiency
ComEd doesn't play around when it comes to energy efficiency. Well, actually, they do. In an effort to teach customers about energy efficiency, the benefits of grid modernization, and managing a modern utility, ComEd has launched a series of four digital games (the first of eight) -- "Energy Efficiency 101," "Fast Fridge," "Smart Home," and "Power On!" "The new games are a great preview for what's possible with the new smart grid technology and the smart home, as well as teaching players about existing ways to save energy and money," said Jennifer Montague, director of marketing for ComEd. "They were designed to be fun for players, but also to teach them about the amount of energy required to power their appliances and how new technology will allow them to better manage their electricity usage." Additional games will be released in October, November, December and January 2013. The games are available at ComEd.com and ComEd's Facebook page. Select games will also be available on Android Tablets and Apple iPads. For more:
- preview the games Read more about: ComEd energy-efficiency games
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4. AEP energized transmission upgrade to increase power capacity 40%
American Electric Power (AEP) has selected Quanta Services to rebuild 66 miles of its 345,000-volt power line near Corpus Christi, Texas -- the longest span of transmission line in the U.S. to be rebuilt while remaining in an energized state. This project is the first phase of five energized transmission upgrades planned in the area by AEP. This work is part of a program to upgrade a total of 240 miles of line in South Texas spanning from Harlingen, Texas, to Corpus Christi, Texas, and ending in Edinburg, Texas. Once in service, the transmission line upgrade is expected to increase the line's power capacity by more than 40 percent. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2012. The project is expected to be completed by March 2016. For more:
- see this article Related Articles:
AEP, Duke transmission project an MVP
Transmission investment nearly $200B by 2020 Read more about: American Electric Power energized transmission upgrade
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5. APS AZ Sun Project working on 6th solar facility
As part of the AZ Sun Project, McCarthy Building Cos. has started the permitting process for the sixth solar photovoltaic facility, the Hyder II Solar Power Plant, for Arizona Public Service. The 14 MW Hyder II plant is another step toward APS' goal of adding 200 MW of solar photovoltaic power plants across the state by 2015 – bringing the total under development thus far to 68 MW. The plant, located on 240 acres, will include more than 71,000 single-axis tracker PV panels that will generate enough solar energy to power more than 3,500 Arizona homes. "We expect that these plants will generate clean energy for at least the next 30 years," said Barbara Lockwood, APS general manager of energy innovation. Construction should begin in April 2013 with commercial operation beginning by the end of the year. For more:
- visit this website Related Articles:
APS pays $10M for solar project on state land
Arizona Public Service - Community project acts as interconnected solar power plant
Read more about: AZ Sun Project, Hyder II solar power plant
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Also Noted SPOTLIGHT ON... Net-zero energy building in surprising states Net-zero energy building is gaining popularity in California due in large part to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. In South Carolina, some of the credit goes to Nexus EnergyHomes who is building the state's first geothermal communities, featuring such energy-efficient technologies as geothermal (ground sourced) heat pumps, photovoltaic solar panels, super insulated building shells, state-of-the-art electronic and web-based controls and monitoring systems, and Energy-Star rated appliances. Article
Quick news from around the Web >U.S. solar installations double in Q2 2012. Article
>Ontario debates privatizing local hydro utilities. Article
>The Department of Energy has delayed the release of an LNG export impact report. Article
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