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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 2005)
| National update | Users of renewable energy are content as oil prices rise BY BRAD FOSS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS For people like Ronald Cascio, who fuels his pickup with a soybean oil derivative, and J.D. Doliner, whose home is partly solar powered, the high price of energy isn’t a worry. That doesn’t mean their renewable energy preferences come cheap. In fact, it requires an extra financial commitment to wean one’s home or vehicle off fossil fuels. Nonetheless, a growing number of Americans are embracing cleaner technologies and more energy-effi cient lifestyles. They say it makes them feel good and, depending on how high prices rise for traditional energy sources, they say renewables might even make economic sense over the long haul. “Some people spend their money on Jet Skis and boats,” explained Cascio, who lives in Berlin, Md. “So say we spend another $1,000 a year on fuel than we have to, what’s the big deal? We feel good about it. You can’t put a price on that.” Cascio regularly spends about $3.35 a gallon for pure biodiesel, chemically altered soybean oil that is fully compatible with the standard diesel engine in his 1989 Ford truck. But because diesel vehicles are nearly a third more efficient than those that run on gasoline, Cascio said his choice of fuel isn’t looking so bad, now that gasoline averages more than $2.20 per gallon nationwide. In the case of Doliner, who lives in Arlington, Va., it may take more than three decades for the $18,000 solar panel system she and her husband installed to pay for itself. But the for mer venture capitalist said the invest ment is worth it merely for the “psy chic income” she enjoys. The Doliners recently renovated their home to be about 50 percent more energy efficient, but they still get about two-thirds of their electrici ty from the grid and rely on natural gas for home heating and to back up their solar water heater. “But we are having an impact on the number of power plants that are built,” Doliner said. That’s a claim backed up by Paul Torcellini, who researches residential and commercial building designs for Alternative fuel Growing numbers of Americans are using renewable energy. Annual U.S. consumption of biodiesel fuel 30 million gallons ’99 00 01 02 '03 04 Cumulative U.S. residential photovoltaic installations* 300.000 homes 250.000 200.000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0. * Estimated equivalent based on manufacturers’ output ’99 00 01 02 03 04 SOURCES: National Biodiesel Board: AP Solar Energy Industries Association the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Re ducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels requires two behavioral changes: adopting renewables and boosting energy efficiency, he said. “It is much cheaper to save energy than it is to make it, by at least a fac tor of two to one,” Torcellini said. Anyone considering solar panels should buy the most energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs and make sure their walls and windows are properly insulated, he said. Those interested in biodiesel simply need a diesel-engine vehicle. To show its support of the technology, Daimler Chrysler ships its new Jeep Liberty off the assembly line fueled with B5, which contains 5 percent biodiesel. The most common grade of biodiesel at the pump, B20, is 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent regular diesel. The amount of biodiesel sold in the United States has grown from 500,000 gallons in 1999 to roughly 30 million gallons in 2004, said Jenna Higgins, a spokeswoman for the National Biodiesel Board. By compari son, the United States bums more than 100 billion gallons of gasoline each year and 4 billion gallons of ethanol, a fuel additive derived from corn. The Solar Energy Industries Association es timates there are enough photovoltaic panels installed in the United States to power about 286,000 homes, up from 60,000 homes in 2000. A considerably smaller group of enthusiasts — per haps 20,000 homeowners nationwide — have erected wind turbines on their property, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Wider acceptance of alternative energy by consumers will require a significant expansion of what is now only a limited patchwork of govern ment refunds and tax incentives. “If the government subsidized re newable energy the way it does oil and gas, it would be mainstream in no time,” said Mark Prebilic, of Poolesville, Md. He received a $2,000 refund from the state govern ment and a $2,000 tax credit from the federal government when he installed solar panels in 2001 that now provide about a third of his home’s power needs. Prebilic expects to make back the $13,000 investment he made in a little more than 20 years. Relatively generous government incentives — and ample sunshine — in California has led to the construction of entire neighbor hoods with homes that harness the sun’s energy, said Rhone Resell, executive director of the Solar Ener gy Industries Association in Wash ington. In Sacramento, Premier Homes sold 95 homes over the past year in the $250,000-$450,000 range that were equipped with solar panels for electricity. Indeed, Americans tanking up with biofuel or installing solar panels are hardly back-to-the-land types denying themselves modern ameni ties and living off the grid. Doliner’s 1,500-square-foot suburban home is “green,” with roof shingles made from recycled tires, carpet made from corn starch and insulation that is partly soy-based. “Our house isn’t made of twigs and granola,” she said. IN BRIEF Bush wants refineries at former defense bases WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Bush is offering to make closed mili tary bases available for new oil refiner ies and will ask Congress to provide a “risk insurance” to the nuclear indus try against regulatory delays to spur construction of new nuclear power 2005 Season UO Student Theatre Absolut Improv April 28-30 The Portrait of the Virgin Mary Feeding the Dinosaurs May 5-7 Philip Glass Buys a Loaf of Bread May 12 and 14 Telluric May 19-21 Two Rooms May 26-28 Villard 102 All Shows 5 pm $1 Suggested Donaton plants, senior administration officials said Tliesday. The officials, who spoke on condi tion of anonymity, said the president will outline his proposals in a speech Wednesday in which he intends to em phasize how new technologies can be used to ease the energy supply crunch. White House officials acknowl edged that none of the initiatives was expected to provide any short-term re lief from soaring gasoline and oil prices. It is Bush’s second speech on energy within a week, reflecting grow ing concern within the White House regarding the political fallout over high energy prices. Officials said the president be lieves the country needs a diverse supply of energy, including expan sion of aggressive nuclear power. There has not been a new commer cial nuclear reactor ordered in the United States since 1973. — The Associated Press 022099 Evolution Gaming Eugene’s Premier Game Store Cards! Minis! RPGs! Anime! Open ’till 2 AM Friday and Saturday night! 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