Audit Finds Only 8% of U.S. Stimulus Funds for Energy Efficiency Spent
A recent audit by the U.S. Department of Energy’s inspector general indicates that only 8.4% of the energy and conservation block grants Congress budgeted for local and state governments has been spent as of August 1st. Source: Environmental Leader
Cheers! Scottish Team Concocts Whiskey Car Fuel
No, they aren't wasting your favorite vice: The butanol fuel is made from whiskey by-products that would otherwise be discarded. Source: cnet
Apple’s Batteries Over-Hyped
The Apple Battery Charger seems like the perfect product to sell, but what rubs the author the wrong way is that Apple decided to sell batteries for its devices with claims that its product is better than any other. Source: The Apple Blog
Reliant Energy Offers Cap-and-Save Plan
Reliant Energy announced it is introducing Cap-and-Save, the first rate plan in Texas that caps customers’ rates when they sign up and automatically reduces their rates no matter how low prices go. Source: SmartMeters
U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions to Increase 3.4% in 2010
Carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are projected to increase by 3.4% in 2010, according to a new report by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Photo by wsimmons
Expect Higher Priced Electricity, Gas
Prices of residential electricity, motor gasoline and natural gas are expected to rise in the short term and over the next few years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's latest Energy Outlook Report.
Energy Use Drops: It's Not Just the Economy
We've been hearing a lot about a drop in energy consumption as a result of the economic downturn. But lately, several reports have noted that the economic slowdown is not the only reason energy consumption is falling. Aggressive energy efficiency efforts also have impact.
Payback for Lighting Controls: Less than Three Years
Even in places where power is cheap, you can save money with lighting controls pretty quickly.
LED Lighting Targets Walk-in Freezers
PowerSecure International's EfficientLights business has expanded its LED lighting portfolio with the introduction of two new LED lighting products, targeted at walk-in freezer/coolers and open refrigerated shelves at retailers including grocery and drug stores.
Giving Green Buildings a Smarter Skin
New research inspired by principles from nature aims to make buildings smarter and more efficient. A proposed new building membrane would monitor and use moisture and sunlight to control humidity, light and temperature without using electrical power or mechanical equipment.
The New, Improved Senate Climate Bill
A U.S. Senate compromise bill aimed at battling global warming would cut emissions of greenhouse gases 17 percent by 2020, according to a summary given to senators and obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.
Global Leaders Meet to Collaborate on Energy Efficiency Goals
Leaders from 16 countries and the European Commission met this week for the first Policy Committee meeting of the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC) to promote global collaboration on energy-saving programs and policies.
EIA Examines the Impacts of Alternate Future Scenarios on Energy Trends
What impact will future economic trends and policies have on the amount and type of energy use in 2035? That's a question addressed by 38 alternative cases included in the full Annual Energy Outlook 2010, released on May 11 by DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Apology for Smart-Meter Foul-up Shows Utilities Are Learning to Listen
After almost three years of customer complaints, Pacific Gas & Electric has come to an unprecedented conclusion: the customer is always right.
Ontario Addresses Smart Grid Privacy
In her 2009 Annual Report, Ontario, Canada's Information and Privacy Commissioner, Dr. Ann Cavoukian, calls privacy a crucial element of the Smart Grid being developed in the province. Ontario.
Photo by oedipusphinx
In December, even as energy prices were spiking on colder-than-normal temperatures, Prenova's analysis pointed out a number of bearish indicators in the energy markets. Despite expected skepticism from some, we predicted a 33% decline in prompt month prices by the end of the winter heating season. So how are we doing with this prediction?
Following that very cold December, January temperatures were warmer than normal in many key regions. This eased demand for energy and caused prices to fall by 8.6% through February 1st. Then some colder-than-normal temperatures in early February increased demand for natural gas once again, causing concern that the March NYMEX prompt-month price would rise. But due to the aforementioned bearish forces, natural gas prices continued to fall, declining another 990 basis points thru the end the month, down about 18.5% from the December highs.
So, here we are near the end of March. We've been waiting patiently, and the NYMEX prompt-month price has now declined by nearly 31% from the highs experienced in December. The April 2010 contract expires in a little over a week, and the prompt month price of $5.996 per mmbtu on December 28th has now fallen to $4.086 per mmbtu as of March 18th.
Why did this happen? Well, it's simple. The fundamentals of supply & demand kicked in.
- Even with colder-than-normal temperatures this winter, there has been ample natural gas production and more than enough storage to accommodate demand.
- Advancements in the process of extracting natural gas from shale formations have significantly increased reserves, boosting production yields and capacity.
- Continuing recessionary pressures have limited demand for natural gas from the commercial and industrial sectors.
There are a few other factors, but suffice it to say that both natural gas supplies are abundant and demand is down. As a result, we're seeing prompt and forward 12-month natural gas strip prices at six-year lows. While we believe the outlook for natural gas is still bearish, we also see less downside opportunity and greater upside risk.
Natural gas underground storage currently stands at 1,615 bcf. To reach an end-of-season storage level of 1,350 bcf, withdrawals would need to average 88 bcf per week for the remainder of the heating season. For the last five years, late season withdrawals have only averaged 19 bcf per week, and the 15-year average is only 27 bcf per week. So it's very unlikely we'll get as low as 1,350 bcf. This means natural gas prices should stay at or near $4 per mmbtu for the next few month.
Electricity prices are tied to natural gas prices, so look for prices to remain low through April and May. We will see the typical Spring Bounce in prices as we move into June, when the peak electric consumption season begins.
Oil futures are slightly over their recent trading range of $70 to $80/bbl, in part bolstered by OPEC and IEA announcements raising their projected oil demand levels in late 2010 on improving global economies.
In this edition, Michael Roberts, Prenova's lead energy analyst updates his market forecast based on recent data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and other sources.
Report Emphasizes Need to Reduce U.S. Consumption of Petroleum
An attempt to account for the energy security costs of domestic and imported oil finds higher security costs for imported oil. However, the costs are low compared to the direct cost of oil, implying that U.S. energy security efforts should focus on lower petroleum use, regardless of its source.
Demand Side Energy Management Gains Converts
David Konkle, Energy Office Director of the ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability - speaks at a Northwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum workshop focusing on demand side energy management.
T-RECs Invade California Energy Market
To meet renewable goals, California utilities can buy power from Arizona households. It's a new ball game.
Doors Open to Offshore Energy Production in Virginia
The National Ocean Industries Association announced its support of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) and the Virginia General Assembly for their bipartisan agreement in enacting two state laws supporting energy development off the state's coast.
Smart Grid May Need Security Tutoring
Smart meters have the potential to both lower electrical costs for consumers around the world and promote emerging M2M applications for the corporate world. But at last week's RSA Security Conference in San Francisco, a panel of experts also outlined some key areas of vulnerability for IP-based smart grids.
Home Depot Works to Further Reduce Energy Use
Home Depot already has made changes that reduced its energy use by 16% -- enough to power more than 200,000 U.S. homes for a year. Other plans include lowering lighting wattage and upgrading heating and cooling systems.
California to Regulate Potent GHG Emitted By Utility Equipment
California will regulate the emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) from electric utility equipment starting in 2011, reports the New York Times. SF6 is used to insulate switches typically found in high-voltage transmission systems, which accounts for about 80 percent of California's total SF6 emissions.
Strategizing for the Ethanol Industry
Should Congress extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC), which essentially pays petroleum producers for complying with US law? The Corn industry thinks so, but not everyone agrees.
Is Energy Storage a Product or Service?
Why sell utilities the cow when they can get the electricity for a fee?
Is Nuclear Necessary? Duke Study Touts Power of Renewables
How necessary is nuclear power? A new study from Duke University suggests renewable energy, including solar, wind and hydroelectric, can meet all but 6% of North Carolina's electricity needs.
Photo by Gideon Tsang
01.23.2010 - Labor leaders Raise Concerns about Maine Smart Meter Project
Labor union leaders in Maine have expressed concerns that a planned smart meter installation will result in substantial job losses. Central Maine Power (CMP) plans to install smart meters for all 600,000 commercial, industrial, and residential customers.
01.22.2010 - Autodesk, Sharp, Itron, Henkel Among 10 ‘Greenest' Public Companies
After a review of more than 2,000 companies, mutual fund Portfolio 21 has identified what it considers to be the 10 greenest publicly traded companies in the world, according to a press release. Here's a look at the list (in alphabetical order).
01.21.2010 - Organizations Bring Energy Efficiency to Their Buildings
Motion sensors, living walls, solar rooftop panels and energy conservation measures are growing trends in many federal office buildings, corporate offices and airport terminals. This piece offers a few examples.
1.20.2010 - Eleven Governors Commit to a Regional Low-Carbon Fuel Standard
Governors of 11 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states have signed an agreement to develop a regional low-carbon fuel standard. The standard would follow the example of a similar standard adopted by California, which went into effect on January 12.
01.19.2010 - Prices of Various Energy Sources
As we continue to develop biomass as a renewable source of energy, it is important to keep the cost of energy in mind, because this has a very strong influence on the choices governments and individuals will make.
01.18.2010 - Economists Try to Put a Price Tag on Nature
The concept that nature provides valuable services is nothing new, but putting a monetary value on "ecosystem services" is adding a twist. Ecologists and economists are trying to put a price tag on nature because much of mankind's harm may simply be a misallocation of resources.
Photo by sylvar
Commodity futures have rebounded a bit after bottoming out in the late August, early September timeframe. Still, energy prices are at the lowest they've been since 2002. The fall off in prices is being driven in large part by a decrease in demand due to current economic conditions. The higher consumption that resulted from cold weather earlier in the year has been more than offset by the recession. Other factors influencing prices include a cooler-than-normal summer across most of the country, and a relatively quiet hurricane season.
Wholesale energy prices have fallen significantly this year, with the prompt months dipping by over 70% vs. the all-time high prices in July 2008. In April 2009, natural gas futures bottomed out and rebounded slightly in mid-June as we entered the summer, which is the peak electric consumption period. The markets then traded relatively flat, but again hit new lows for 2009 in late August and early September.
The September 2009 contract recently expired at $2.843/MMBtu, the lowest contract expiration price since March 2002, when it was $2.38/ MMBtu. The October 2009 contract followed suit and traded below $2.50/ MMBtu for a short period before speculation drove prices back up.
Oil futures bottomed out in December 2008 and traded relatively flat through mid-March due to weaker worldwide demand for oil. But they have rebounded significantly as the result of OPEC production cuts, the return of speculative trading from hedge funds, and anticipation of new demand for oil as global economies recover. Oil futures are up over 80% from their lows in the mid $30/bbl back in December, with current prices in the $68-$73/bbl range.
Fortunately, oil prices do not impact utility rates to a significant degree. Natural gas fundamentals are dominating futures prices, with oil prices having minimal effect. This is fortunate, because while oil prices are shaped by global events, fluctuations in natural gas prices tend to be regional.
As stated above, the hurricane season has been uneventful thus far in 2009. More important than not having any named storms before August 1st is the fact that we've only had six named storms (two strengthened to hurricane status) as of September 18th. And meteorologists have concluded that most hurricanes in the Atlantic basin this year are unlikely to impact the natural gas and oil producing regions in the Gulf of Mexico (where 40% of U.S. natural gas production originates).
Recent wholesale market price trends influenced wholesale electricity rates from coast to coast, especially in deregulated regions, which were up between 18% and 33% in 2008. Regions with ample sources of nuclear and
hydroelectric generation experienced smaller price spikes than those with coal and natural gas-fired generation.
Where electricity is regulated, utilities have either raised their rates already or are keeping rates the same in 2009 until the prior year's under-collections are trued-up.
Graph courtesy Energy Information Administration