MSTE lunch presentation on renewables
Morgan Johnston gives a MSTE Friday Lunch presentation called "Renewable Energy at the University of Illinois".
Morgan Johnston gives a MSTE Friday Lunch presentation called "Renewable Energy at the University of Illinois".
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides, waves and geothermal heat, which are naturally replenished. Carbon mitigation efforts need to introduce substantial amounts of clean, renewable energy. Possibilities include wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, as well as off-campus renewables. Investing in renewable energy research and technology can contribute to a reduction in emissions on our campus so that we can meet our future goals. The U of I will satisfy at least 5 percent of all its electrical energy needs through renewable energy generation systems by 2015, and add more renewable energy sources during the future.
Renewable energy can supply a considerable amount our energy needs. It also creates many public benefits, including environmental improvement, increased fuel diversity and economic development benefits. Renewable energy produces no anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and reduces some types of air pollution. It also reduces dependence on imported fuels, which increases our national security. Renewable Energy is a secure, local and inexhaustible resource that can also result in lower fuel bills and heating system-running costs.
The Office for Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education in the College of Education hosted Morgan Johnston as a guest speaker on February 27. One part of the overall Climate Action Plan is to increase the use of renewable energy generation for our campus power requirements. This presentation reviewed the progress toward increased use of renewables for our campus, and discussed current efforts underway, including the forthcoming Solar Farm.
House Bill 2427, once signed by the Governor, will authorize a $30M renewable energy fund in Illinois.
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Illinois Power Agency Act to provide for a supplemental procurement process for the procurement of renewable energy certificates from new or existing photovoltaics. Authorizes the expenditure of up to $30,000,000 from the Illinois Power Agency Renewable Energy Resources Fund for that purpose. Provides that renewable energy certificates from new photovoltaics that are procured pursuant to the supplemental procurement process must be procured from devices installed by a person who meets certain qualifications. Requires public hearings. Provides for a procurement administrator, a procurement monitor, pre-qualification of bidders, establishment of standard contract terms, benchmarks, and contingencies in the event of a default by a supplier. Effective immediately.
The electric hedge purchase for campus will include an option to buy RECs. The decision will be made by campus leadership when prices are known.
Here is a memo from Scott Tess to the Urbana Sustainability Advisory Commission addressing functioning and efficacy of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
To really understand the cost avoidance from clean energy, campus needs to compare the renewable electricity costs to the specific costs for buying electricity from the grid. To do that we need to know that AMIL.peic is the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign MISO Node.
In May 2010, iCAP was completed with the following goals (for the wind project):