Port Moves To Higher Grade Diesel

SEATTLE

Ships at the Port of Seattle have reduced emissions of sulfur dioxide by at least 80 % and diesel particulate matter by 60 % through an innovative program called At-Berth Clean Fuels.

At-Berth Clean Fuels (ABC Fuels) was devised by the Port and shipping lines that call Seattle home in order to meet the goals of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a joint effort by the Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver (Canada) and their private sector partners to reduce maritime related air emissions.

Vessels participating in ABC Fuels agree to use low sulfur fuel (0.5% or less) in their auxiliary engines while docked in Seattle. In exchange, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency helps defray the cost of the more expensive low sulfur fuel by providing participating vessels with $1,500 for each port call.

Solar Roofing Under Study at PNNL

RICHLAND

A transparent thin film barrier used to protect flat panel TVs from moisture could become the basis for flexible solar panels that would be installed on roofs like shingles.

The flexible rooftop solar panels - called building-integrated photovoltaics, or BIPVs - could replace boxy solar panels that are made with rigid glass or silicon and mounted on thick metal frames. The flexible solar shingles would be less expensive to install than current panels and made to last 25 years.

“There’s a lot of wasted space on rooftops that could actually be used to generate power,” said Mark Gross, a senior scientist at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

The agreement also calls for researchers to develop a manufacturing process for the flexible panels that can be readily adapted to large-scale production.

PNNL’s research efforts will be paid for with up to $350,000 from the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology Commercialization Fund. Last year, DOE announced that up to $1.5 million from the fund would be available to PNNL for projects that help commercialize technologies that reduce energy use or tap renewable energy sources. PNNL is also working to enable power generation from low-cost geothermal sources.

Lake Osweg Working To Increase Alternative Energy

LAKE OSWEGO

The city is challenging its citizens to purchase more environmentally friendly green power through the Green Power Challenge and Portland General Electric. The goal is to generate 300 new signups in PGE’s residential and small business renewable programs.

The city currently purchases more than 1.7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of renewable energy of wind power annually for its city operations, which equals nearly 8% of Lake Oswego’s annual electricity usage for its city facilities. This green power purchase is enough power to offset approximately 1.5 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions in one year, which is equivalent to not driving 1.7 million miles. CO 2 is a major contributor of global warming.

Kilowatt Challenge Winner: Unico Properties

Portland architect ZGF is moving into the 12W Building which it designed. The building will be LEED platinum rated. Turbines on the roof provide wind energy. (Image courtesy of ZGF.)

SEATTLE

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Seattle King County announced the winners of the 2009 Kilowatt Crackdown, which recognizes Puget Sound-area office buildings that have achieved a superior level of energy efficiency. Winners were chosen from among 53 competing properties, representing over 18 million sq ft or 20% of the Puget Sound office market. The combined energy savings from the participating buildings is equal to the annual electric consumption of 1,000 Northwest homes or over 700,000 gallons gasoline.

Challenged to assess their buildings’ energy performance, all participants demonstrated market leadership in quantifying their energy use and establishing baseline data that can be used to track future gains in operating efficiency. Commercial properties in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Bothell, Everett, Issaquah and Tacoma participated in the competition.

Electric Car and Infrastructure Projects Receive Stimulus Funds

PORTLAND

The Northwest’s reputation as an environmental stronghold paid off yesterday, when the Obama administration awarded Oregon and Washington state stimulus funds to build charging stations for electric cars and to private companies for battery development. Oregon is expecting about $40 million. The exact amount in Washington was not disclosed, but it is expected to be enough to build 2,550 charging stations.

The Northwest will also be the site of a pilot project for Nissan North America’s Leaf, an electric car that can go 100-miles on a single charge.

Individuals buying electric cars are also entitled to a charging station at their home, installed at no cost.

Politics played a role in the decision as well. Earlier this year, Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski visited Nissan on a trade mission.

He also signed a bill into law Wednesday that gives a $1,500 tax credit to Oregonians who buy electric cars.

Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. received about $100 million in federal funds to study electric car use and administer the pilot program.