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1. NYTimes Editorial on SUV fuel efficiency changes
2. Cape Wind project faces new threat
3. DaimlerChrysler Is the Only Manufacturer Building Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
4. "ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES: COMMERCIAL PRACTICALITIES" Forum, April 28
5. "Russian Oil: Up or Down? State or Market?" April 19, 7-9 pm
6. Job: Technical Science Advisor, Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose
7. Volunteer for solar-electric project in Thai/Burma refugee camps
8. Jobs: Renewable Energy with Renewable Ventures, meet at "green drinks"
9. Google wants renewable energy interns
10. Research Internship Opportunity -- Energy and Water Policy
11. Job: Energy Efficiency Specialist
***********************************************************
1. NYTimes Editorial on SUV fuel efficiency changes
On Wednesday, the Bush administration published new standards for S.U.V.'s and other light trucks, except for the very biggest. Officials called the standards "the most ambitious fuel economy goals for light trucks ever developed." Measured against the need, as well as against what manufacturers are capable of doing with off-the-shelf technology, they are also extremely disappointing.
The standards call for an 8.1 percent increase in miles per gallon over the four model years from 2008 to 2011. That change will save 10.7 billion gallons of gasoline over the lifetime of the new vehicles, the administration says, equal to about 227 million barrels of oil. That's useful, of course, but it really amounts to only about 25 days' worth of gasoline at today's consumption rates, and less than three weeks' worth of current oil imports - a baby step toward President Bush's goal of reducing America's dependency on foreign oil.
Buried deep in the rules is one other disappointment: a reassertion of the administration's view that only the federal government has the authority to set fuel efficiency standards and that any state program that has the effect of changing these standards is illegal.
This is a direct challenge to a recent California law requiring automakers to cut greenhouse gas emissions from new cars by 30 percent by 2016 - a target that can be reached, as a practical matter, only by significant increases in efficiency.
This matter will ultimately be resolved in the courts or by Congress. In the meantime, the administration has missed another opportunity to address the twin problems of oil dependence and warming.
*****************************************************************
2. Cape Wind project faces new threat
Apr 3 - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News - Beth Daley The Boston Globe
Washington legislators are considering a measure that could give Massachusetts veto power over the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm, a move that may be the most significant threat yet to the 130-turbine project.
The developers, Cape Wind Associates, said yesterday they have confirmed that an amendment in a conference committee bill would allow state officials to nix the project if it interferes with navigation.
The proposed amendment to the Coast Guard Authorization Bill is written only to include the proposed wind farm and allows the state to kill the project within one year of the bill's passage, according to Cape Wind. It gives the state veto power over the 24-mile footprint of the project, even though the wind farm would stand in federal waters.
A far more detrimental version of the amendment was introduced this year by US Representative Don Young of Alaska that would have killed the project, the nation's first offshore wind farm, by prohibiting wind farms within 1 1/2 miles of a shipping or ferry lane.
"It appears if this language goes through, it most likely will be the end of the project," said Sue Reid, a lawyer at the Conservation Law Foundation, which has endorsed the project. "At the minimum, it is an intolerable level of uncertainty for the developer, especially given vows that have been made by the Romney administration to kill the project."
*************************************************
3. DaimlerChrysler Is the Only Manufacturer Building Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 30, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall
Up to 40 Dodge Sprinter Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) will be placed in operation with customers in California, Kansas City and New York among other locations within the United States. As part of a test fleet program DaimlerChrysler is placing the Dodge Sprinter PHEV with a variety of customers around the world. The company is the only auto manufacturer to investigate the feasibility of plug-in hybrid technology in real world tests.
Based on Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle technology, The Dodge Sprinter PHEV has the ability to drive up to 20 miles on electric only power. It accomplishes this with a switch on the dashboard giving the operator the ability to manually switch between modes as needed or automatically by the vehicle control system. Two different combustion engines are being mated to the PHEV system, a five cylinder diesel and a V6 gasoline. The diesel version will yield the highest fuel economy benefit and is the first fleet test of a diesel plug-in hybrid system.
********************************************************
4. "ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES: COMMERCIAL PRACTICALITIES" Forum, April 28
A SUSTAINABLE SILICON VALLEY EDUCATIONAL FORUM
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2006
8:30 AM - 1 PM
APPLIED MATERIALS GLOBAL UNIVERSITY FACILITY
3050 BOWERS AVENUE
SANTA CLARA
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS:
Making Dollars and Sense of On-Site Photovoltaic Systems
State rebates, federal incentives, tax implications: how can you determine if it makes
financial sense for your business to invest in solar energy?
Andy Black, OnGrid Solar Financing
Fitting Solar into your Overall CO2 Reduction Planning
Learn about upcoming opportunities to put your PV system into the context of overall
energy efficiency.
Bill Scott, Akeena Solar
Co-generation Practicalities and Paybacks
This efficient use of fuel to generate electricity, heating and cooling can pay for itself in a
fairly short period. Would it be useful in your facility?
Breene Kerr, Mayor of Los Altos Hills and Environmental Consultant
Fuel Cell Applications for Stationary Use
What is the current technology of stationary fuel cells, and what advantages and costs are
associated with their use for on-site power generation?
Ed Lieberman, Ion America
Sally Tomlinson, Executive Director
Sustainable Silicon Valley
224 Airport Parkway Suite 620
San Jose, CA 95110
HYPERLINK
650-321-3846
********************************************************
5. "Russian Oil: Up or Down? State or Market?" April 19, 7-9 pm
The 2006 Horn Lecture will be held at Kresge Auditorium, 555 Nathan Abbot Way, Wednesday April 19th, 2006 at 7-9PM.
Fifteen years after the collapse of the USSR, Russia has returned as one of the top two suppliers to the world. Holding more oil resources and exporting at the highest rate of any country outside OPEC, Russian supply is and will remain a central determinant of oil prices. It is a large part of the fulcrum on which world markets balance.
In the last six years, the Russian oil industry accomplished a striking recovery of production. It collapsed in the waning Soviet regime from a 1988 peak of 11.4 million barrels of oil per day (bopd). By 1996, it found bottom at 6 million bopd. Germinated by devaluation of the Russian ruble in 1998, a five-fold rise in world oil prices lavishly fed the Russian industry since, bringing it to 9.5 million bopd in 2005. Yet there are good technical and economic reasons to believe this growth cannot be sustained.
The Soviet demise released the nation's oil assets. Some stuck to only slightly morphed Soviet organizations; others were captured through corrupt deals between Boris Yeltsin's government and freewheeling financiers who became known as Russia's "Oligarchs." When Vladimir Putin succeeded Yeltsin in 2000, he found a mandate to end the chaos and rebalance power between the state and its oil industry.
***********************************************************
6. Job: Technical Science Advisor, Tech Museum of Innovation, San Jose
>Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment has an opening for an
>environmental science advisor to collaborate with The Tech Museum of
>Innovation in San Jose for the creation of a cutting edge exhibition on
>sustainable energy. This is a great opportunity for a scientist to
>collaborate with museum designers, developers, and educators to
>communicate directly with the general public on issues affecting all of
>our lives.
>
>This is a half-time position, for a duration of six months, with the
>potential to expand into a full time multi-year position. The hours are
>flexible and the position starts as soon as possible.
>
>Qualifications:
>PhD in Environmental Science
>Extensive lab experience
>
>Additional Skills preferred but not required:
>Experience and enthusiasm for communicating science to non-scientists,
>especially kids
>Some management experience
>Post-doc. Experience
>Interest in and/or appreciation for informal education in a museum
>context.
>
>Responsibilities:
>-Review sustainable energy content in programs and field trip activities
>for accuracy and currency.
>-Provide expertise on sustainable energy for museum community.
>-Work with programs and learning group to help test museum programs and
>field trip activities directly with museum visitors.
>-Test extension of energy field trip experiences through the Web, by
>providing expert feedback on student projects.
>-Develop and coordinate an "Ask an Environmental Scientist" online
>program.
>-Identify and communicate with other scientific advisors in related fields
>within Stanford and from other institutions.
>-Transportation to and from San Jose (parking provided)
>
>If interested contact Jennifer Nyman at jnyman@stanford.edu.
*************************************************
7. Volunteer for solar-electric project in Thai/Burma refugee camps
The Border Green Energy Team (BGET) is seeking a volunteer project
manager for an exciting year-long solar electric project in Thai/Burma refugee camps.
*Project Title*: Establishment of hybrid solar/diesel systems for
powering computer rooms and skills training for refugees in using
renewable energy in 7 Karen refugee camps along the Thai - Myanmar border.
*Project Description*: Each of the seven refugee camps are already
equipped with a diesel generator and a computer room with as many as 9
computers. This project involves surveying, designing, purchasing,
expediting, and supervising the installation of appropriate solar
panels, inverters, control equipment and wiring to augment the existing
system. The result will be computer room power systems that consume far
less diesel fuel than currently used, in a fashion that can be expanded
with further solar panels in the future. These installation projects
will be combined and become part of an overall solar / renewable energy
training program that BGET has initiated in the refugee camps.
*Funding Organization*: UNHCR through ZOA Refugee Care projects. BGET is
a ZOA sub-contractor for this project. (For information on BGET see:
*Project Duration*: May 2006 to May 2007
*BGET Project Manager *
Task description:
He / She will be able to communicate with BGET Program Director and ZOA
Program Manager, set up the schedule for surveying the existing systems
(computer center and diesel generator) in at least 2 refugee camps, help
to design the solar power portion of each system, getting quotations,
purchase equipment, and carry on the implementation and training for all
7 camps.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in engineering (preferred but not necessary)
- Literal / Fluent in English (speaking Thai preferred but not crucial)
- Able to teach hands-on workshops
- Familiar with PV-generator systems
- Able to purchase equipment, and implement the systems
- Experienced in project management
- Willing to relocate to Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand
(We are expecting to fill this position with a volunteer-- who will
receive a stipend to help cover local expenses)
Contact: Salinee Tavaranan <salinie@gmail.com>
******************************************************
8. Jobs: Renewable Energy with Renewable Ventures, meet at "green drinks"
Opportunities in Renewable Energy with Renewable Ventures
Renewable Ventures, a financier and operator of renewable energy assets is looking to meet potential hires to fill positions as they become available within our organization. We are encouraging anyone interested in renewable energy to meet us at Green Drinks this Wednesday, April 5th, at Varnish Fine Arts on Natoma ST.
Wednesday, April 5th
From 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Varnish Fine Arts at 77 Natoma Street:
Between 1st and 2nd Street in San Francisco; Natoma Street is in between Howard and Mission Streets.
About Renewable Ventures LLC
Renewable Ventures LLC owns and operates profitable renewable energy assets in the United States. We partner with top-tier investors, project developers, and customers to build distributed green energy generation plants and to sell the electricity and renewable energy credits to the site-host under a power purchase agreement. Renewable Ventures is dedicated to providing competitively priced, green energy for customers and exceptional investment opportunities in the renewable energy sector. For more information about Renewable Ventures, visit www.renewableventures.com
About Green Drinks
Every month people who work in the environmental field meet up for a beer at informal sessions known as Green Drinks. We have a lively mixture of people from NGOs, academia, government and business making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network. It's a great way of catching up with people you know and also for making new contacts.
For more information on Green Drinks, or if you would like to be added to the email distribution list for monthly email reminders, visit www.greendrinks.org or contact Robin Park at the Trust for Public Land at robin.park@tpl.org or 415-495-5660 ext. 339.
*****************************************************************
9. Google wants renewable energy interns
Google is looking for a few summer interns to help
research and evaluate renewable energy technology and
market options for Google's data centers. They are
looking for people with a strong technical background
along with the ability to understand and analyze
non-technical issues (economic, business, regulatory,
etc).
One of our HR folks will follow up and send a real job
description, but I wanted to give you a heads-up
first. I think this is an exciting opportunity for
students to learn about Google and to be involved in a
very exciting project -- people might not think of us
as being involved in green energy, but energy costs
(both direct financial costs and the environmental
costs) are a big concern for us, and I think we're in
a position to do some very interesting and creative
things about it.
Contact Bill Weihl
Energy Strategy
Google, Inc.
weihl@google.com
650-253-0632
*********************************
10. Research Internship Opportunity -- Energy and Water Policy
Attached is a research internship opportunity for the right person interested in issues of access, rural electrification, privatization, service provision, infrastructure and reforms in Africa with an excellent group of researchers in Cape Town.
Ive worked closely with this research team at the Graduate School of Business of the University of Cape Town & they are developing some of the best, reality-based assessments of energy and infrastructure policy in Africa. They are a great group to work with and well-connected to the international and regional policy process.
It would be a great position to launch a range of energy/water/infrastructure policy work that would be relevant to on-the-ground realities in Africa and informing national and international policy. Im happy to chat more with anyone interested in more info on the group. Please pass it on to other interested colleagues.
best,
-- Rebecca Ghanadan
Live and work in Cape Town, South Africa for a minimum of ten weeks and gain invaluable experience as a researcher at Africa's leading Business School. This is the perfect opportunity for aspiring academics, development professionals, and policy makers seeking experience related to infrastructure reform and regulation in Africa.
Position: Research intern
Location: University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business, Cape Town, South Africa
Job description: to contribute to the research platform of the Management Programme in Infrastructure Reform & Regulation (MIR) at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business (GSB) by:
… Conducting literature reviews for one or more of the following new studies to be undertaken by MIR related to: private sector participation in infrastructure (concessions and management contracts), electrification funds and agencies, regulation of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and/or benchmarking performance of African regulators
… Developing research methodologies for new studies along with a team of in-house academics
… Completing preliminary data collection for new studies (including possible travel)
… Drafting first stage of reports (provided time allows)
… Completing short, discrete research tasks related to MIR's work programme
Duration: minimum ten weeks
Qualifications:
… Masters work (towards completion of Masters degree) at an accredited university in any of the following fields: Energy an/or Water Policy, Economics, Law, Environmental Engineering, Finance OR three years experience in sectors related to the abovementioned academic fields
… Prior experience in conducting independent research
… Excellent writing skills (English)
… Mastery of all MS Office applications
… Overseas experience, preferably in a developing country
… Ability to work independently
… Ability to approach new topics and quickly distil the essence of the topic
Stipend: US$1000/month, airfare not included
Application instructions:
Review MIR's recent publications page available at: http://www.gsb.uct.ac.za/gsbwebb/default.asp?intpagenr=309. Select one of the MIR publications (not including news articles) and provide a 1-2 page commentary indicating how the paper may be improved. Improvements should relate to both form and content.
Send MIR review together with a copy of your CV and a cover letter to: kgratwick@yahoo.com
Applications should be submitted no later than Wednesday April 12th. Eligible candidates will be contacted the week of April 17th for interviews via telephone.
*******************************
11. Job: Energy Efficiency Specialist
Salary: $2,527-$3,072 Biweekly; $65,702 - $79,872 Annual
Appointment Type: Provisional
Filing Deadline: 04/21/06
Date Issued: 3/16/06
(see attachment)
Position Description: Under general supervision, performs a variety of duties related to the administration and implementation of complex energy conservation and renewable energy programs in the private sectors of the City, including initiating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating complex energy conservation and renewable energy programs in the private sectors of the City. This position serves as a senior staff level position in the City and County of San Francisco Department of the Environment (www.sfenvironment.com). This is the advanced journey level in the series. Class 5642 Senior Environmental Specialists work under the supervision of Class 5644 Environmental Program Managers, meet weekly with Program Managers, and have day to day decision making responsibilities for projects as well as the ability to negotiate within project scopes. Positions in this class are assigned to six distinct specialties: This position is an Energy Specialty position.
Examples Of Important And Essential Duties:
According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.
… Initiating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating complex energy conservation and renewable energy programs in the private sectors of the City;
… Overseeing the work of subordinates to ensure that the energy projects are adhering to established timelines and prescribed policies and procedures;
… Determining the priority of subordinates' work assignments and coordinating the activities of subordinates to ensure maximum use of resources, time, and personnel;
… Providing resource information for research and energy planning projects to subordinates; assisting the Energy Program Manager in the preparation of grant proposals and annual program budgets;
… Maintaining an overview of individual project expenditures and resources; generating research studies, reports, contracts and other written materials with the use of computer; monitoring projects and the work of contractors hired by the Department; planning, conducting, and /or evaluating energy projects in order to ensure work is in compliance with program goals and timetables;
… Interacting with City departments and other government agencies to provide technical assistance, facilitate, and maximize the implementation of energy programs, codes, regulations, and procedures;
… Consulting with the private sector and government agencies regarding training, forums, and workshops for private sector energy professionals;
… Soliciting grant funds from non-City agencies to finance the development of energy projects. Performs other related duties as required.
Supervision Exercised: May be assigned to supervise daily activity of staff and contractors, including Class 5640, 5638 and trainees.
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