NEMA Currents : electricity

Congressional Unveiling of Major Energy Savings and Carbon Reduction...

Hansen, Dain — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:22:00 GMT

Do you want to save 4.48-7.95 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon annually (equivalent to removing approximately between 3-5.4 million automobiles annually)?

Do you want to save 25 to 42 Terawatt hours (billion kWh) per year (equivalent to 3 to 6 nuclear power plants or 6 to 10 coal-fired plants)?

Do you want to drive innovation and spur technology?

If you do, see NEMA’s newly unveiled consensus agreement outdoor lighting standard.

Today, Senator Bingaman, Senator Murkowski, Senator Pryor, Representative Harman, Representative Upton, NEMA’s President and CEO Evan Gaddis, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the National Resources Defense Council announced a consensus agreement for federal outdoor lighting standards. For the first time ever, pole-mounted outdoor lighting will have federally mandated efficiency standards.

For many months, NEMA has led negotiations with manufacturers, energy advocates, utilities, lighting designers and others to develop thoughtful and thoroughly vetting consensus standards. As you can see from the statistics mentioned, this agreement will have a monumental impact on energy savings, carbon reduction and technological innovation.

Let There Be (Incandescent) Light: A Different View

Silcox, Clark — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:27:00 GMT

An editiorial in today's Washington Post, Let There Be (Incandescent) Light, declared, "Banning traditional light bulbs as used in private homes seems an effort in the name of environmental protection that has very little payoff." Earlier, the author, David Henderson, a teacher of environmental ethics in the philosophy and religion department at Western Carolina University, stated and asked, "Light bulbs are a poor choice for regulation. Is there an overriding reason to regulate how Americans light their homes?"

I have a different view. There is a larger payoff than Henderson recognizes. First, environmental concerns -- reducing power plant emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases -- is not the only benefit gained from energy conservation standards. They are not even the primary benefit recognized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, which is the statute that regulates lighting efficiency. Economic benefits to utilities who are able to avoid capital costs and ordinary expenditures because of reduced electricity consumption from more efficient lighting can be substantial. Lower utility bills to consumers and businesses can be substantial as well; the relative total cost to the consumer of owning and operating a more energy efficient compact fluroescent lamp over its life versus a traditional incandescent lamp favor the compact fluorescent lamp. Yes, the CFL is different from incandescent lamps: acquisition costs are higher, there are differences in the color of the light, and generally they have not been dimmable, but product innovation is underway and will continue and prices have been coming down significantly as production and sales volume have increased. Consumers have many more choices today with CFLs than they did just a couple of years ago, and consumers should take a look at the variety and quality of some of the CFLs now on the market, and remember that a higher price may represent additional value in the product.

The cost of shifting production away from incandescent lamps to other lighting products is borne largely by the lamp manufacturers and the towns with factories that will no longer be manufacturing incandescent lamps. One of those costs is research and development, but that may generate benefits down the road from innovative lighting products that consumers find even greater value in. Lamp manufacturers are already engaged in that race.

The public can thank our organization, NEMA, for that. Initial proposals in States and to Congress here in the U.S. were similar to the incandescent product ban that recently went into effect in Europe. The US Congress, encouraged by NEMA and its lamp manufacturer members, took a different approach: regulate the performance of the lamp; do not specify which products or technologies manufacturers can make and sell and consumers can buy. Banning the "traditional" light bulb --- the "A" line incandescent lamp that is still available on the U.S. market today but will be phased out beginning in 2012 --- merely banned an inefficient lamp, which will mean significant economic benefits to electric utilities and utility customers, allow consumers to spend their money on other things beside electricity, and encourage the development of innovative lighting products and possibly more efficient incandescent lamps. So let there be light --- incandescent light, fluorescent light, and light emitting diodes --- and may the best products win.

And, oh by the way, the regulation of lamp efficiency will reduce the output of carbon dioxide from coal-fired power plants if consumers and businesses will buy and use more energy efficient lamps. Henderson suggests banning coal-fired power plants. I am not sure that he meant that, because it is not practical. But he is right if he meant that we need to start reducing our dependency on coal-fired power plants as a percentage source of electricity output. With the recent Stimulus legislation and pending "clean energy" legislation, Congress is legislating to increase the share of renewable sources of electricity. But this will make only a dent. America needs to start increasing the share of that other source of "clean energy" --- nuclear power, which represents only 20% of our current power sources for electricity. That's material for another blog.

Tamper-Resistant Receptacle Requirements in 2008 NEC Adopted in 29 States

Moldoveanu, Andrei — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:20:00 GMT

With 30 states having completed adoption processes for the 2008 National Electrical Code® (NEC), support for section 406.11, which requires tamper-resistant receptacles to be installed in new homes, has been overwhelmingly positive.

Twenty-nine of the 30 states have adopted the 2008 NEC with the tamper-resistant Code intact. These include: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming. Alabama, Illinois and Texas jurisdictions are enforcing the Code at local levels. Wisconsin adopted the Code last year, but put a delay on implementation until Jan. 1, 2010.

In addition, 14 states are presently considering NEC adoption.

To date, only Indiana has rejected section 406.11, and electrical safety advocates hope the decision might be overturned when the state's residential code is revised. Officials in Georgia, Kentucky and Ohio initially resisted the tamper-resistant Code adoption, but the decisions were overturned after considering feedback from electrical experts, medical professionals and local citizens.

The officials in those 29 states should be commended for embracing a greater level of child electrical safety. But the real credit goes to the local representatives of supportive organizations like the American Burn Association, Safe Kids USA, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, the National Electrical Contractors Association, and Electrical Safety Foundation International. Without their help, the Code adoption status at "half-time" probably wouldn't be the same.

For more information, visit www.childoutletsafety.org.

Crush for Credit - Rebate Program for NEMA Premium Motors

Hansen, Dain — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Before Congress left town, a NEMA advocated provision was adopted into the U.S. Senate's new energy bill. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) offered an amendment that would create a NEMA-Premium "crush for credit" motor rebate program. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) set new efficiency standards beginning in December 2010, that mandates motor efficiencies.

If enacted into law, this motor rebate program would provide a $25 per horse power rebate for the purchase of NEMA premium motor. Additionally, the program would also provide a $5 per horse power rebate for the disposal of the older inefficient motor. This amendment allows $350 million to be spent on this rebate program.

Smart Grid Depends on Standards. . . Soon

Scolnik, Alvin — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:56:00 GMT

If you heard the term Smart Grid 12 months ago, you might have wondered what it meant. Now, the term is everywhere. Even President Obama referred to Smart Grid in his first address to the Nation after his inauguration. Newspapers, magazines, websites, blogs, domestic and international, are all discussing Smart Grid. Why? Because Smart Grid holds the promise of providing electricity to homes and businesses more efficiently, more reliably, and more securely. Smart Grid promises to eliminate blackouts, brownouts, sags and surges. Smart Grid goes hand in hand with use of renewables, and reduction of ozone depleting and global warming chemicals. And Smart Grid may very well help the long suffering energy consumer pick and choose from available services in order to better manage his/her exploding monthly electricity bill.

But, none of this is possible until the various stakeholders reach agreement on how power generation, transmission and distribution equipment will be integrated with communications and control devices and software to enable seamless and instantaneous interoperability within and between local and regional grids. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 directed NIST to work with NEMA and other key stakeholders to develop a framework for identifying and coordinating the many Smart Grid standards produced by dozens of interest groups. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) recently created a high-level strategy group to do the same thing for international standards.

Yes, Smart Grid standards are on the drawing board. But timing is critical and the work must get done quickly in order for consumers to see any benefits. NEMA stands ready to bring stakeholders together to write the standards that will make the electricity grid Smart. To quote a well known maker of athletic wear -- Just DO IT!!

Phantoms and Vampires

updykec — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Several months ago I wrote about a new utility program my family has joined that gives us more information about our electricity usage. So on Tuesday we received our bill for the mid-December to mid-January period. On the back of the statement was a helpful reminder about the "energy "vampires" most of have in our homes: appliances that, even when turned "off", are consuming electricity in a stand-by mode. This was something I was aware of but I had not really taken to heart -- until I turned the bill over to look at our day-by-day usage.

Even when we are not home, as we were for several days over New Year's, we use as much as 20 kilowatt-hours in one day(with refrigerator, CFL security lights, plug-in clocks, etc.). However, I am pretty mystified by how we could use 20 kWH one day after having used only 13 kWH the previous day -- without being home either day to switch on anything that would easily explain the increase.

While I am complating phantom(s), it goes almost without saying that I'm now in the market for some multi-plug surge protectors (without lighted switches) that will make it easier for our family to turn more things (like TV digital converter boxes) completely off when not in use. I hope that will cut down on our vampire load.

Energy Storage Technology Is Vital For "Smart" Grid Efforts

Schweitzer, Eric — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:08:00 GMT

NEMA is taking the lead in making Smart Grid and Energy Storage technologies a reality. The NEMA Energy Storage Council (ESC) has held successful meetings where attendees have drafted a list of application categories that help define where Energy Storage (ES) and Distributed Generation (DG) technologies should play a role. The NEMA ESC consisting of manufacturer, utility and government representative stakeholders further established and tasked a NEMA ESC Technical Committee (Stationary and Mobile Subcommittee) to identify specific action items aimed at facilitating the promotion of ES/DG technology to commercial and non-commercial markets. The result of the NEMA ESC Technical Committee meeting January 15, 2009 was an agreement to present a proposal for an all encompassing ES/DG demonstration program to prove the criticality of ES/DG technologies to the Department of Energy. It was fully agreed and can not be understated here that without the complete integration of ES/DG technologies to our ailing National electricity grid there can be no realized “Smart Grid.” Through this proposed demonstration program ES/DG manufacturers aim to prove the essentiality of ES/DG technologies to Smart Grid functionality and to demonstrate to the Government and Federal Agencies that ES/ DG technology can drive increased grid reliability, further reduction of carbon emissions, advanced T/D/G (Transmission/ Distribution/ Generation) capability, islanding capability, renewable energy penetration, interconnection realization, voltage support for public transportation systems, remote area power system capability (RAPS), zero net energy building capability, energy security, economic studies/ cost benefit analyses, and where electrical standards are required. The NEMA ESC has asked the Government Relations Department at NEMA to immediately get the message to Capitol Hill, The Obama Administration, DOE, FERC, NERC and other governmental agencies that NEMA is leading an effort to ensure Smart Grid success in addition to facilitating Energy Storage tax incentives equivalent to those being awarded to renewable technologies such as wind, solar, and hydro. For more information please contact Eric Schweitzer, NEMA Technical Program Manager at Eric.Schweitzer@NEMA.org

SEMI Gets It!

leibowitzm — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:21:00 GMT

Recently, the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) released an article announcing the publication of a white paper prepared by its SEMI PV Group. This group supports SEMI members "serving the crystalline and thin film photovoltaic (PV) supply chains." In describing the "Perfect Industry," the paper rightly looks to standards (along with materials and process innovation and productivity improvements) as a means for accelerated cost reductions, identifies efffective international standards as a requirement for enabling innovation, and cites how standards contribute to economic growth and competitiveness.

SEMI is to be commended for their vision of how standards bring benefit to an industry. With an official working relationship with IEC TC 113 already in place, the SEMI PV group should work with TC 113 Working Group 3 to develop international performance assessment standards for their industry.

Water, Water, Where?

updykec — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:06:00 GMT

You may have noticed that the future of our water supply has been getting more attention lately. What does that have to do with electricity?

Of course, quite a bit of electricity is generated by the flow of water and even more can be into the future. But electricity also plays a major role in whether populations have and will have adequate water at hand. This is the case not only because water pumps need electricity, but also in conversion of sea water to potable water. In this direction, I got to thinking about the nexus of water and power in terms of tidal generation and desalinization. Could a desalinization plant be run by tidal energy? After some minimal research I am not sure, but I think the answer at this point is "not yet."

As it turns out, according to the Department of Energy the U.S. is not a prime area for tidal generation. On the desalinization side, it turns out that modern techniques are apparently quite energy intensive. According to this page from the U.S. Geological Survey, renewable energy sources are becoming more important in powering desalinization plants.

Did you know that Tampa, Florida, now has an operating desalinization plant? The utility has an informative website and some other purported technical specs are available here.

Potential Nanotechnology Breakthrough for Li-Ion Battery Safety

leibowitzm — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:29:00 GMT

I read a recent article, "Planar Energy Devices Plans to Produce PowerBlade Advanced Battery in U.S.", announcing a breakthrough in lithium-ion battery safety, showing promise in a new generation of battery technology that meets the power output demands of large energy storage systems while at the same time assures safe operation. As exciting as this development might be, international battery and energy storage stakeholders will need the confidence of safety regulators, environmental advocates and the general public if mass commercialization of this technology is to ever take hold. This confidence will grow through the recognition and adoption of IEC standards that have been developed within IEC Subcommittee 21A, Lithium-ion batteries, that verify their operational safety.

The next step for this new technology however, is the development of a method for determining the reliability and durability of the nanoscale-subassembly of the composite separator, which was the key to the safety breakthrough. IEC TC 113, Nanotechnology standardization for electrical and electronic products and systems, is the forum for this to take place. Standards drive the commercial landscape and whoever drives standards holds the commercial high ground for their products. U.S.-based stakeholders have an opportunity to lead the international nanotechnology community in the development of such a method through the U.S. National Committee Technical Advisory Group to IEC TC 113 (TC 113 TAG). The TAG, led by Technical Advisor Dr. Brent Segal, is responsible for the introduction of U.S-led standardization projects for nano-scale electrical and electronic products and subassemblies.