Monday, June 29, 2009

What is the so talked Waxman-Markey bill?

Chairman Henry A. Waxman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee drafted a clean energy legislation in March 2009 that had certain very important subject matters addressed. The Bill claimed that it will create jobs, help end the US's dependence on foreign oil, and fight and tackle global warming.

This began to be known as The American Clean Energy and Security Act. The legislation itself had four titles:

Clean Energy: Renewable Energy Sources promotion, low-carbon fuels, clean electric vehicles, the smart grid and electricity transmission, and carbon capture and sequestration technologies, ;
Energy Efficiency: Increasing energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including transportation, appliances, buildings, and industry;
Global Warming: Limiting emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and
Transitioning: Transition to a clean energy and in the process create green jobs and protect interests of U.S. consumers and industry.

The above bill seems to be all positive and encouraging as it seems, however, recently some Texas businesses have shown worries and have felt uncertain about climate change bill. These business are the Airlines, Ranch owners in Texas etc.

Some business like the Railroad giant BNSF Corp., based in Fort Worth feel that the bill is too complex. John Fainter, the president of the Texas Association of Electric Companies has indicated worries about the bill too. His organization is of the belief that the bill is "certain to mean higher costs for consumers."

Whether the Waxman Markey Bill would successfully address the concerns of these troubled businesses is yet to be seen.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Electricity and Cars

It seems that the competition in electric cars will soon be the next big race for companies. Just when ZENN Motor Co declares its plan for a better energy technology for cars , its the turn of ExxonMobil, the oil and gas behemoth.

ExxonMobil is all set to back up Electrovaya with around $500,000 investment on their electric car project - the Altcar. Electrovaya is a low-speed electric vehicle maker making a larger push for vehicle technology. The team seems to work out a fuel efficiency through synthetic blends and lightweight plastics unlike Texas based EEStor which intends on better battery technology.

The car that Electrovaya intends to launch with these joint endeavors is Maya 300. The launch is scheduled for 2011 and a 4 seater Maya 300 may cost anywhere around US$ 25000. Now this is not a highway capable elctric vehicle like other companies are planning to launch. It seems electrovaya have their own strategy with these low speeders.

Though there are many other companies getting funded for their plug-in vehicles and ready to launch in the next few years, the biggest rivalry may come from China-based automakers like BYD Auto.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Where is The Texas Energy Planning Council?

In late November 2003, Governor Perry signed for the initiation of a Government body that would keep a check on every energy need in Texas called the Texas Energy Planning Council. This was a great initiative as was recognized at that time mainly because the council was supposed to be a step towards creating efficient energy resources, cleaner energy technologies and to keep Texas ahead of any other state or country in terms of energy production or energy regulation.

The council's birth was actually a good step in this direction because deregulation in 2002 had anyways led to a major competitive force of energy companies flocking Texas like anything. There are hundreds of retail energy providers, energy consultants and energy brokers right now in Texas. A governing body that could help Texas utilize the resources to a maximum was actually necessary and this happened by the launch of TEPC.

One of the key roles of TEPC was also to check the gaps between the energy demand and supply in Texas. The last Texas Energy Plan that we see anywhere on the internet was in 2005 by Victor Carrillo, the Chairman of the Railroad commission of Texas and also of the TEPC. But after 2005, there seems to be no news of TEPC anywhere on the internet. Even the TEPC pages on the TEPC website is updated only till Dec 2004. I wonder if they have disappeared into thin air!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

The Energy Bill encourages clean energy technologies.

The energy bill that was approved by Senate last week approves and includes money for clean energy technologies. This is really great and something that was needed in the age of global warming. However, there is still one thing which the bill lacks and something which has become very essential - mandatory reductions in emissions of heat-trapping gases. Unless a reduction is sought for such gases, we may not be able to stop the dangerous warming threats.

By 2021, the bill instructs utilities to produce up to 15 percent of electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power. The bill is found to be designed to combat carbon pollution threatening the planet.

The bill is being said to be a compromise between the Democrats and Republicans. And this is good specially when it is serving the interests of both the parties. While the Democrats seek to reduce energy use and emissions linked to global warming, the Republicans are more keen on increasing production of oil, gas and nuclear power. I specially like this approach mainly because the interests do not clash and both the parties have resolved to only strengthen the bill.

The Senate however intends to wait for the House to respond on the more comprehensive energy and global warming legislation before the fate of this Bill is decided. President Obama was noted urging the House of representatives to pass the energy bill: (Video courtesy of Fox News.)

Monday, June 22, 2009

Its all about Energy – The ‘intel inside’ of cars.

Ian Clifford is the founder and CEO of Toronto based ZENN Motor Co. As he reveals in an interview with Michael Vaughan on what it takes to start a revolution is very motivating and the next generation stuff.

ZENN Car which expands as Zero Emissions No Noise is betting upon a unique energy storage device from EEStor, a Texas based company! ZENN has about 500 cars on the road right now. These are all electric mostly in the places with low speed regulations and travel about 60 Kms on an 8 hour charge. ZENN is looking out to increasing it to 400 Kms with the help of EEStor. As revealed from his interview, Ian seems to be an energy passionate guy who is really keen to working out a never-seen-before item very soon to hit the roads and thus, solving the pollution problem for once and for all.

When asked whether they are improving the battery, Ian replies that yes, it has nothing to do with the cars but its all about energy storage. The focus of EEStor’s technology is to create a battery that can store energy for a relatively longer period of time.
Ian is positive that even battery companies has no clue about a 50 KWH of energy storage in a car. The ultra capacitor technology by EEStor is the key to the whole project and Ian is very optimistic with a firm belief in EEStor.

He says “But we don't want to be in the car-building business. We've used the Intel model — our idea is that our drive system becomes kind of ubiquitous. The Intel inside of the car.”

EEStor is in Austin Texas and have a state-of-the-art production facility that's ready to deliver production units in 2009.

Read the whole interview here.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Do Energy Providers or Government have a solution to Greenhouse Gases?

What greenhouse gases are and how could they affect the atmosphere is now very commonly known even to a school going child of Grade III. This was important because I guess it would have been cruel to pass something harmful to your generation without a notice. So they have to prepare themselves for 'some' of our careless and reckless behavior.

Greenhouse gases started to be known from the 19th century when Tyndall put forth his theories. Since then, these have only been increasing and the main sources are the fossil fuels. Its rising on an average rate of 1.8% annually. That looks like a conversion rate for pretty cool business on the internet. There are gases in the environment from ever since and there are some that are human made like ChloroFluoro Carbons. The industrialization and economic growth has led to increased demand for energy and the biggest source of energy as we all know are the fossil fuels. Incidentally Fossil fuels are the highest emitters of these greenhouse gases that will keep us sweltering one day, round the year.

Almost all electricity producing companies use fossil fuels like Natural gas, Petroleum and coal to produce electricity and that is the reason they have a 40% share in increasing the greenhouse gases globally. US alone has 85% share in all the greenhouse gases. The energy usage is only rising every day especially in the developing countries. So while USA may have restrained itself and implemented Greenhouse gas checks, the developing countries are not in a mood to do so simply because they do not want to be left behind in the age of globalization and development.

The top five emitters of greenhouse gases are all in the energy production business using fossil fuels. Even when Uranium is known to emit considerably less green house gases during energy production, fossil fuels still remain the best way to produce energy. However, many alternative sources of energy are being explored around.

Who is to be blamed is not known - people want energy and cant live without it, Producers are producing energy through fossil fuels, government is working out for alternative methods. Energy producers and government together can reach out a point where they can minimize greenhouse gas emissions to a considerable extent. For instance, government should encourage producers for alternative energy sources and should restrain the use of fossil fuels.

A recent study stated that U.S. energy companies invested $58.4 billion from 2000 to 2008 in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The amount is 44% of the total investment in US. Responsible for 40% emissions, energy producers are being very calculative

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Reliant Energy - Endeavors towards better Summer.

I was comparing the Annual Summer Program of Reliant Energy of 2008 to 2009 and incidentally there is something that I noticed.

Reuters mention in their 2008 release of Reliant Summer Program that "In Texas, the company provides service to approximately 1.8 million retail electricity customers, including residential and small business customers and commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional customers."

In 2009 release it is - "Reliant Energy provides electricity and energy services to more than 1.7 million retail customers-including homes, small and large businesses, manufacturing facilities, government entities and institutions across Texas."

This makes me wonder if Reliant lost 0.1 million customers in the past year. Though, the figures will be a close approximation to actuals, however, it would have looked better if the approximations too increased with the actual customer base. For one, I really feel good about the Summer Program that Reliant launches very year.

While the Summer initiatives of 2008 were limited to only "Beat the Heat" centers, this year, they have only diversified this program to another initiative - "Heat Relief Family Fun". Who ever said that power supply is a boring subject to think about any innovation are wrong. I pretty much like these initiatives by Reliant. Such initiatives serves all -
a. government initiatives for energy conservation since many consumers flicking these centers would only mean that energy is being saved when not used at home.
b. consumers are also satisfied since they do not have to think of ways to reduce their energy bills.
c. Reliant also benefits by earning money through these centers as also it is a great way of branding oneself.

Though complete program details for Heat Relief Family Fun would only be exposed during the end of this month, here is an overview that has been released by Reliant Energy for its critical care customers that includes seniors, lower income groups:

Cool Way to Stay Cool Community Event - Reliant Energy is presenting a free program in Dallas and Houston this summer, offering entertainment and skating fun for families who have decided to save money by taking a "stay-cation" close to home this summer.

Discounted Family Fun Tickets ─ Reliant Energy will offer discounted tickets online for visits to local museums, waterparks or other entertainment venues. This is a great way to promote activities that Reliant likes. So it could enter tie-ups with museums, waterparks and such entertainment venues in return for branding or probably a corporate / industrial contract.

I would say this is a perfect example of Nash Equilibrium.

Retail Electricity for Dallas Fortworth Airport

If you have been wondering who just bagged the contract for electricity supplies to Dallas FortWorth Airport, it is none other than Champion Energy Services LLC. I greatly admire Champion Energy Services especially since last year when I got to know that their annual revenues went sky high. (US$ 350m). Now, this is really something for a company with just about 70 employees.

Anyway, Champion is now the proud owner of the contract which it won in a reverse auction. Champion Energy is a houston company and is one of the top 5 unaffiliated retail electric suppliers. The bid closed at 5.925 cents per kilowatt-hour. Currently, the suppliers for the airport are Texas General Land Office and Houston-based Reliant Energy.

Champion Energy boasts of embracing deregulation and creating value for its customers.They have a peak load of about 1000 megawatts.

Dallas Fortworth International Airport is the world’s third-busiest airport. Apparantly, this new electricity and green energy contract was purchased through World Energy Exchange, operated by World Energy Solutions in Worcester, Mass. While DFW has done this, other airports too are after such green energy initiatives.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Vertical Axis Wind Turbine in Texas

To your left is an image of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine. The other form is rather commonly known and is the Horizontol Axis Wind Turbine. Both the forms derive energy from wind by same basic principles of physics but they sure do act in different ways. And one form has advantages over the others.

Recently, a VAWT has been erected at West Texas A&M University at Canyon. A Fort Worth-based renewable energy solutions company is behind this idea.

Luckily for them, and unlucky for many of the electricity customers in Texas who faced power outage, the Turbine moved its blade owing to the Texas thunderstorm. Though it is still not known about the level of noise that it may create but surely things would be done to keep them to a minimum. Technologists are always working on it. The main reason behind that is because the first Texas VAWT has been erected in an Urban area. Another area of exploration in the coming months would be the level of energy efficieny we are going to get with the new machine.

The Texas based energy company that has made this possible is a start up by the name of Skydrill (suitable name!). Though, the machine is still under testing phase, Skydrill is sure they will soon bag Target Corp as their first customer.

Being a Wind Energy Company or a Solar Energy Company is a thing of the past now, what is being more stressed upon and what really is more important is being a Renewable Energy Company. While the non-renewable sources of energy have rendered the prices to drill the sky, I am sure companies like Skydrill would be a relief for many of us.

Inevitable Power Outages

Even today while the world has entered into 21st century, uninterrupted power supply is yet to be accomplished on a 100% level. It is only the natural calamities that are unexpected and take off the authorities by the collar, out of the blues. No matter how good services we offer and no matter how technological advancements we make, nature would still stand higher to mankind.

Last week the power outage in North Texas due to a storm rendered 245,000 electricity customers sit in the dark. Though the American companies are very active in handling such unforeseen situations, the people too show resilience during such times as these. Due to heavy wind and rain, many trees fell down and power lines knocked.

The power restoration was being done by Oncor power company. Oncor Power company is a unit of Energy Future Holding. Energy Future Holdings operates 3 business divisions:

1. TXU Energy, a competitive electricity retailer;
2. Luminant, a competitive power generation business; and
3. Oncor, a regulated power distribution and transmission business.

Oncor employed extra crew for power restoration , but heavy rains and lighting kept them restrained for a while.

While this is a scene of 1 out 365 days in North Texas, some places in India RECEIVE power for 1 day out of 365! Can you believe there are still a lot of interior villages in India that are deprived of energy resources. There primary source of energy is Wood and Sun. But that doesnt suffice, does it?

The contrast in the living standards keeps me wondering sometime.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Energy Rates on a rise.

The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration predicted on Tuesday that consumers will be paying a national average of $2.70 a gallon by July, before prices level off. In California the price is already $3 per gallon. In this recession hit economy the worst fear is the rising cost - when you got to pay more than what you have been doing. Energy costs almost 6% of American consumer spending and that is what shall keep the people off road.

The rising fuel prices, gas and other sources of energy give a tough time to all directly related companies like Shipping and Trucking companies. However, no one is spared. Due to unemployment and high energy cost, many people would rather stay inside than go out and spend on fuel.

So, what is your strategy this summer to save yourself from spending this extra? Would you save less or would you spend less? I mean whatever it is, the rising energy cost makes one believe that there is no turnaround from such economic conditions soon. It is still gonna be an era before we take a sigh of relief.

A possible way out is to lock your energy price for a year or two. TXU energy lets you do that. There are other utilities that offer you to pay bills in equal installments over the course of the year instead of dealing with huge swings in air conditioning and heating bills. Will you take this gamble?

Friday, June 12, 2009

Texas Energy Companies

Here is a list of some of the Texas Energy Companies that can help you offer electricity / power / gas in Texas. I am not sure whether the list is complete. May be, you could add a few yourself:

Power to Choose
TXU Energy
Texas Energy Company
Save on Energy
American Electric Power
Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO)
Noble Energy, Inc. (NBL)
Reliant Energy, Inc
Energy Future Holdings Corporation
Stream Energy
Gexa Corporation (also known as Gexa Energy)
Arbusto Energy (sometimes referred to as Arbusto Oil)
Cirro Energy
CPS Energy
Valero Energy Corporation

Since Energy is an unincorporated sector in Texas, the growth of energy companies in Texas has been huge. The increase in the no of Retail Electric Providers created a confusion among buyers and so there is a need for a service that could take away all the hassle determining which Energy Company shall best suit you based on your requirements etc. Do you know of any such companies? Please list them here, if you do.

Also, lets make this blog an interactive one. For sure, I may not have all the knowledge about Texas Energy but whatever little research I could do, I have jotted that down here. I look for volunteers and partners in making this blog to become a launch pad of one of the best Texas Energy Service Provider companies (who knows? may be!)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Texas Energy Rates - Whistling for Heads up.

Have you been spending the time trying to find the best electricity rates on your own? Well, here is a blog that will do it for you. My intention with this blog is to down only the Best Affordable Energy Prices in Texas to Compare with Other Texas Electricity Rates. For this, I will need your help and support to make this blog a successful one. Your comments and reviews about anything and everything for Texas Energy.

Let me give you some interesting facts today

Did you know that World energy consumption growth has fallen to lowest in 8 years?
Did you know that Tennessee reported one of the three highest growth rates nationwide for green energy jobs over the past 10 years?
The electricity rates under a cap-and-trade system would, as President Barack Obama said in January 2008 "necessarily skyrocket," by some estimates up to $4,300 each year.
Duke Energy has asked state regulators to allow the utility to raise North Carolina customer rates by about 12.6 percent.

In the next post, I shall most definitely put across more such interesting facts and insights.