Emphasis on Promoting Renewables, Partnerships with Traditional Industries
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today joined House Majority Leader Rick Berg and Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem to detail a comprehensive $43.5 million Renewable Energy Plan. Legislators in both houses are working to fund an inclusive package of programs promoting renewable energy, including programs aimed at supporting the 25 X 25 Initiative, the national goal of generating 25 percent of the nation’s energy from renewable sources and doubling the state’s energy output from all sources by the year 2025.
Joining Hoeven and the legislative leaders were Sen. Jerry Klein; Sen. Terry Wanzek; Sen. Bob Erbele; Sen. Tim Flakoll; Rep. Todd Porter; Rep. Wes Belter; Rep. George Keiser; Rep. Craig Headland; Rep. Chet Pollert; Rep. Dave Monson; Rep. Chuck Damschen; and Rep. Mike Brandenberg.
Also participating were U.S. BioHankinson’s Randy Schneider, president of the North Dakota Ethanol Producers Association; Executive Director of the Northern Canola Growers Barry Coleman; and Kim Christianson, Director of the North Dakota Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, N.D. Department of Commerce.
“These initiatives will both expand renewable energy development in North Dakota, and link those new industries with traditional industries to lift all of our resources together,” Hoeven said. “We’re the sixth largest energy producing and exporting state in the country, and this plan will help build on our position of leadership to create more opportunities for our citizens and achieve greater energy independence for our nation.”
“The renewable fuels industry in North Dakota is expanding,” Berg said. “This exciting package of incentives and goals highlights our commitment to further enhance its growth, and foster dynamic partnerships between the energy resources of the future and established industries.”
“This plan builds on North Dakota’s strengths – agriculture and energy – and it helps where the help is most needed: by promoting investments and collaboration,” Stenehjem said. “By harnessing all of our energy resources, we are moving the state forward in a steady, balanced and focused way.”
PROMOTING RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable Energy Investment programs – $13.3 million
A $5 million Biofuels PACE interest buy-down in ethanol, biodiesel facilities; livestock operations and grain storage (HB 1014 and SB 2180) will support a minimum of $25 million, but potentially $750 million of new investment in biofuels
A $7.3 million ethanol production incentive fund; counter-cyclical support for ethanol plants.
Alternative Energy Development – $7.25 million
$3 million general fund appropriation, with authority to leverage an additional $17 million for a renewable energy grant fund within the Industrial Commission for projects promoting North Dakota-produced energy, including: biodiesel, biomass, coal, ethanol, geothermal, hydroelectric, hydrogen, natural gas, oil, solar, and wind (SB 2288).
$2.5 million appropriation for a biomass demonstration project and biomass incentives (HB 1515)
$200,000 toward the establishment of a hydrogen energy production and fueling station in Fargo. (HB 1458)
$1 million for biomass and hemp research and education efforts at the NDSU experiment station and extension service. (HB 1020)
A $550,000 sales tax exemption for materials used to construct a waste heat electric generating facility. (SB 2141)
Renewable Energy Research & Development – $7 million
A $7 million agriculture greenhouse at NDSU to help develop new sources of raw materials for biofuels, including cellulose and switchgrass; as well as agronomic research on oilseeds and corn to achieve higher biofuels production per acre (HB 1020)
Investment Tax Credits – $15 million
Investment Tax Credits with the potential to generate investments in 10 renewable energy projects per year. If five projects with $10 million in investments qualify annually, $100 million in projects could be initiated during the biennium. (SB 2081).
A tradable income tax credit for installation of geothermal, solar or wind energy devices. (HB 1233)
Livestock Incentives (renewable energy byproduct) – $1 million
A $1 million interest buy-down loan program on new or expanding livestock or dairy operations (HB 1135)
Up to $250,000 of interest buy-down on loans for each new or expanding livestock or milking operations that use byproducts of biofuels (part of Biofuels PACE) (SB 2180)
A 30 percent Investment Tax Credit for livestock feeding and milking operations that use biofuels facility byproducts (HB 1027)
Wind- regulatory relief, tax treatment
A property tax reduction for wind generation units from 3 percent to 1.5 percent of assessed value. (HB 1317)
PARTNERING RENEWABLES WITH TRADITIONAL ENERGY INDUSTRIES
Additional measures leverage renewable and alternative fuels by partnering with traditional energy industries:
Traditional-Renewable Energy Partnerships
A new Pipeline Authority to assist private industry construct additional capacity to ship crude oil, natural gas, carbon dioxide ethanol, biodiesel and other energy products to market. At current levels of production, North Dakota could realize an additional $230 million by increasing pipeline capacity to larger markets. (HB 1128)
A strengthened Transmission Authority to encourage new wind farm and coal generation development. Provides additional flexibility for the Authority to build new power transmission lines. (HB 1127)
New research dollars through Lignite Vision 21 and the Oil and Gas Research Fund to accelerate development of environmentally friendly production of electricity, natural gas, and alternative fuels, like wind, coal-to-liquid, coal gasification and carbon sequestration technologies. (HB 1093)
A COMMITMENT FOR THE FUTURE
Hoeven in his State of the State Address endorsed the national 25X25 Initiative, which is included in HB 1462. The measure sets a goal to derive 25 percent of the nation’s energy from renewable sources by the year 2025. To achieve that goal, the Governor and legislators set an additional goal of doubling North Dakota’s energy production from all sources by the year 2025.
Currently, North Dakota wind producers are working with power companies to expand transmission capacity for both industries. Similarly, biofuels producers are partnering to use clean coal technology to provide affordable power to biofuels facilities at Blue Flint Ethanol, Spiritwood Ethanol, and Red Trail Energy. Farmers in turn benefit from new markets for corn, canola and soybeans, and ranchers and dairy producers are provided with high quality feed as a byproduct of biofuels production. For example, the ADM biodiesel facility at Velva will use more than 1 million acres of canola annually.
“Biofuels, wind power, Lignite Energy 21 projects, and Oil and Gas Research into clean, environmentally sound technologies – all of these incentives work together to lift our state’s economy and reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Hoeven said. “They provide the leverage we need to collaborate and carry us to our goals.”
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MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R13
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy Sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, retrofits etc. The source of energy must be by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, Ocean-Tidal, Hydrogen-Fuel Cell etc. This includes the utilizing of water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products and energy efficiency should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors’ commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Feb. 16, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
"the way we produce and use energy must fundamentally change."
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
The Oil Companies should be required to invest a substantial percentage of their profit in renewable energy R&D and implementation. Those who do not will be panelized by the public at large by boy cutting their products.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 2
4 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance based”).
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing a renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
The head of the U.S. government's renewable energy lab said Monday (Feb. 5) that the federal government is doing "embarrassingly few things" to foster renewable energy, leaving leadership to the states at a time of opportunity to change the nation's energy future. "I see little happening at the federal level. Much more needs to happen." What's needed, he said, is a change of our national mind set. Instead of viewing the hurdles that still face renewable sources and setting national energy goals with those hurdles in mind, we should set ambitious national renewable energy goals and set about overcoming the hurdles to meet them. We have an opportunity, an opportunity we can take advantage of or an opportunity we can squander and let go,"
solar energy - the direct conversion of sunlight with solar cells, either into electricity or hydrogen, faces cost hurdles independent of their intrinsic efficiency. Ways must be found to lower production costs and design better conversion and storage systems.
FEDERAL BUILDINGS WITH SOLAR ENERGY – Renewable Energy
All government buildings, Federal, State, County, City etc. should be mandated to be energy efficient and must use renewable energy on all new structures and structures that are been remodeled/upgraded.
"The goverment should serve as an example to its citizens"
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: renewableenergy2@msn.com
Government mandates are rarely, if ever, a good thing. I think billionaire liberals like George Soros (sp?) should put their money where their mouth is.
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