1.   Amory Lovins will be MAP/Ming Visiting Professor of Energy and Environment

2.  Energy and Environment Ice Breaker, Wednesday, April 5, 5-7 pm

3.  Green Dorm Feasibility Study Released!

4.  LBNL Report:  Exploring the Economic Value of EPAct 2005's PV Tax Credit

5.  Shaving utility demand with capacity curtailment commitments  (Virtual Power Plants)

6. 2 Jobs:   Energy Solutions in Oakland

7. 4 Jobs:  Heschong Mahone Group:   Energy Efficiency in Buildings

8.  Guatemala Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship Interns (AIDG.ORG):

9.   New Positions at Congressional Research Service, Washington

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Deans Plummer and Matson have extended their invitation to Amory Lovins to be next year's MAP/Ming Visiting Professor of Energy and Environment, and Amory has accepted.  Stay tuned for details, but the arrangements include a talk during Fall Winter quarter next year to lay out the plan, an intensive week-long course during spring break, and a spring quarter project-based course.   This should be an exciting year!

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The next Energy and Environment Ice Breaker is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5th, 5-7 pm.

Please join us for some refreshments, a little visiting with Stanford colleagues and a welcome home to the China Energy class!

Where:  Faculty Club
When:   April 5, 2006
Time:   5-7pm

We hope to see you there!

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The Feasibility Study for the Green Dorm has just been released.  It is available at the Green Dorm web site as a full report [150 pages with faculty demonstration/research project descriptions], appendices, and mini report [41 pages] in versions suitable for both screen viewing and printing.

The site address for the mini report in screen-view version is given below,

The site for all reports is [the students call this project activity the Lotus Living Laboratory]:

This is a significant milestone for this project and something we we can all point to with pride.  Like all successful ventures, this was a team effort with lots of different parties contributing and working together.  This was a real group effort by a first-class team of architects and engineers, a fantastic group of students (take your bows, Lauren, Mike, Jonas, Emily... et al !!), a number of CEE, ME and EE faculty, who worked closely with a strong Stanford Project Management , Student Housing, Campus Utilities team, with support from the School of Engineering and the Provost.

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The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) has provided at least a

temporary (through 2007) economic boost to photovoltaic (PV) system

purchasers by instituting a new 30% residential tax credit (capped at

$2000), and increasing the existing 10% commercial tax credit to 30%.

But how much economic value do these new and expanded federal tax

credits really provide to PV system purchasers?

Perhaps surprisingly, the answer to this question is not at all

straightforward, and depends on a number of factors, including:  whether

the system is for residential or commercial use; system size; the tax

status of the system owner; whether or not the IRS considers grants made

by state and utility PV programs to be taxable income; and finally,

whether state and utility PV incentive programs move to capture some of

the value of EPAct's credits by reducing grant size.

This brief report analyzes each of these factors to derive a generic

estimate of the grant-equivalent ($/W) value of EPAct's PV tax credits.

Our findings have important implications for both PV system purchasers

and state and utility administrators of PV incentive programs.

This study is available for download at:

For those of you with a deeper interest in how the concepts presented in

this study can be applied to an individual state (California), see Ryan

Wiser and Mark Bolinger, "Federal Tax Incentives for PV:  Potential

Implications for Program Design"

(http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/emp/reports/Wiser_Bolinger_CPUC_PV_Tax_03_2006.pdf)

and Mark Bolinger and Ryan Wiser, "Calculating After-Tax Parity Under

EPAct 2005:  Potential Implications for the California Energy

Commission's PV Rebate Levels" (forthcoming from the California Energy

Commission).

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NEW YORK, March 27, 2006 /PRNewswire

ConsumerPowerline (http://www.consumerpowerline.com) has announced that it is actively amassing capacity curtailment commitments from significant energy users in the New York metropolitan region in advance of the imminent demand response capacity auction scheduled to close on March 31st.

The firm aggregates curtailable electrical capacity and then bids this power into the twice annual Reliability Demand Response Market. The firm pays large end-users who commit to participate. The most lucrative season of this market is the upcoming bid; it is known as the 'summer strip,' and is held by the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). The demand response market creates an insurance policy for energy providers to be called upon in times of grid crisis. This program is used to avoid costly and disruptive potential rolling brown- or blackouts.

This year, ConsumerPowerline, the nation's largest demand response provider, with an estimated 550 megawatts of electricity capacity under management .  These virtual power plants' are comprised of dozens of hospitals, hotels, high-profile commercial buildings, apartment complexes, and other residential, industrial and commercial properties in New York City. These consumers  commit to curtail their power usage, in the event of a crisis that can potentially threaten supply. This commitment helps support the reliability of the electrical power grid in the region and, those who commit, get a bonus: they take better control over their energy expenses, turning what were cost centers into recurring revenue generators.

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Energy Solutions is a fast paced and innovative consulting firm, specializing in energy efficiency program design, implementation, and marketing. We are currently seeking to fill two (2) Project Manager positions. Our offices are located in Oakland, California.

 

As a member of the Energy Solutions team, you will experience all of the benefits of working for a small company: opportunities to manage projects, close working relationships with colleagues, an active role in shaping company direction and your own future, and flexibility in work schedules.  At the same time, you will have a broad impact on energy efficiency markets through our work for major California utilities, the California Public Utilities Commission, and other national leaders in energy efficiency.  This unique blend creates a perfect environment for individuals who want to have an active voice in shaping the future of energy efficiency in California and beyond.

 

The ideal candidate for the first Project Manager position should possess a degree in engineering.  We are seeking candidates that have two to five years of professional experience in the areas of commercial HVAC and other building energy system audits and engineering analysis.  Interest in and experience with local government energy efficiency projects and local government energy policy is very desirable.

 

For the second Project Manager position, candidates should possess a degree in an energy-related discipline. Engineering, business, and natural resource backgrounds are all applicable.  We are seeking candidates with up to three years of professional experience.   For both positions, good writing and verbal skills are required. Ability to communicate effectively with clients and work independently is essential.

 

After training and orientation, Energy Solutions expects employees to manage project tasks with minimal oversight.  Responsibilities may include working with Energy Solutions' management to identify and schedule resources to complete projects, conducting literature searches, interacting regularly with customers, monitoring the progress of projects, communicating progress to management and clients, and bringing projects to a conclusion.  The Project Manager role also entails overall responsibility for projects, including overall direction and management, quality control, and completion of deliverables.

 

Salaries are competitive and commensurate with experience.  Energy Solutions offers medical benefits and an excellent retirement package.  Please email a cover letter stating your start date availability and your resume to Richard Watts at richard@energy-solution.com.

 

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The Heschong Mahone Group, Inc. (HMG), located in Sacramento, CA is a professional consulting firm specializing in building energy efficiency. We are seeking motivated individuals to fill the following positions.

 

Program Manager

We seek a seasoned professional to provide Energy Efficiency Program Management on projects to promote energy efficiency in multifamily housing.  This position requires significant interaction with architects, engineers, developers and housing authorities.  Qualified candidates should have a minimum of three-to-five years of relevant professional experience at the program management level which demonstrates excellent planning and management abilities.  A planning, business, economics, or energy-related Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's degree is preferred.  Experience should be in the areas of affordable housing, energy efficiency programs or research, or construction/real estate/property management.  Familiarity with California Title 24 Building Energy Codes is a plus. The successful candidate will have professional-level communication skills, including an excellent command of English.  Computer literacy is a must.

The successful applicant will be responsible for a new construction multifamily program and will lead a team of professionals, most of whom have had training in architecture and energy.  Duties will include supervision, training and mentoring of several program staff; marketing; customer recruiting and outreach; building energy performance analyses and reporting; management and reporting on program/project activities and expenditures to clients and HMG principals.  Project work is located throughout California, so travel will be necessary.  This position will initially be based at our offices in Fair Oaks, CA; however there may be relocation to HMG's Oakland office based on program needs.

 

Project Manager

We are looking for professionals to provide Energy Efficiency Project Management on projects to promote energy efficiency in multifamily housing.  You will interact with architects, engineers, developers and housing authorities on a daily basis.  Qualified candidates should have a minimum of three-to-five years of relevant professional experience as a project manager which demonstrates excellent planning and management abilities.  A planning, business, economics, or energy-related Bachelor's degree is required; a Master's degree is a plus.  Experience should be in the areas of affordable housing, energy efficiency programs or research, or construction/real estate/property management.  The successful candidate will have professional-level communication skills, including an excellent command of English.  Computer literacy is a must.

Responsibilities will include marketing; customer recruiting and outreach; building energy performance analyses and reporting; management and reporting on project activities and expenditures.  Project work is located throughout California, so travel will be necessary.

 

 

Evaluator

We offer a career opportunity for an experienced evaluator to provide measurement and evaluation services for HMG's energy efficiency programs across the United States.  Our clients include utilities, state and federal agencies, and other energy efficiency organizations, and our evaluation practice is expanding.  The position requires a working knowledge of evaluation practices, including sampling and survey methods, statistical analysis, gross and net impact analysis, process evaluation, and market analysis.  Responsibilities will include project management, technical direction and analysis, as well as report preparation and presentations of findings.

Research Associate

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or related degree required.  Excellent oral and written communication skills are necessary.  Must be comfortable interacting with high-level decision makers.  Position involves significant travel, primarily in California.  Skill with MS WORD and EXCEL a must; skills in the use of computerized analysis tools desired.

 

Responsibilities:

Successful candidate will assist in analyzing energy and cost impacts of potential energy efficiency measures; developing marketing campaign materials; reporting and tracking progress in databases, conducting interviews and/or surveys of market players including building owners, developers, architects, engineers, and housing authorities.

 

Salary and Benefits: These positions, which are based in Sacramento, CA, are full time, permanent positions. Starting salary range is dependent on qualifications and experience.  A highly competitive benefits package is included. Sacramento is well situated and affordable, compared to California's other major metropolitan areas.

Application Process or Questions: Please email a cover letter indicating which position you are interested in, three professional references, and resume to Alice Crawford at crawford@h-m-g.com.  Please visit our web site at http://www.h-m-g.com/  to find out more about our current projects.

We hire people to become the leaders in the field of buildings and energy efficiency.  We expect our employees to become members of an accomplished, multi-disciplinary team.

 

 

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This summer, join a dynamic NGO in Guatemala that has a model of business

incubation of renewable energy and clean water technologies. The Appropriate

Infrastructure Development Group (www.aidg.org) is seeking interns to be

involved in numerous tasks, depending on the interests of the intern. From

networking amongst other NGO's and government, hands-on building of wind,

solar, gas, and hydro systems, to the business development and marketing of

these technologies, to learning how to write grants, AIDG is your one-stop

shopping experience for sustainable development experience.

Cheap Spanish Language schools abound in Quetzaltenango/Xela (classes/lodging

total $125/week), which could be done concurrently with the internship, (or

possibly at an orphanage near the Caribbean coast pending funding). Must be

flexible and friendly and have a good work ethic. These are unpaid, although we

do provide occasional cold beer.

Send Resume and brief coverletter describing your interest and background to

Peter Haas at phaas@aidg.org. Questions, contact Benny Lee, blee@aidg.org.

Please see our website for more info on our unique sustainable development

model, photos, video, etc.

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CRS is currently hiring for several positions in the

Resources, Science, and Industry Division, including Analysts in Energy

Policy, Environmental Policy, and Science and Technology Policy.  Some

of the closing dates are rather soon (April 4), but some do not close

for a few weeks.  If you know of anyone who would be interested, please

direct them to  website:  http://www.loc.gov/crsinfo/

Brent D. Yacobucci

Specialist in Energy Policy

Congressional Research Service

(202) 707-9662

Fax:  (202) 707-7289