Renewable Energy Assessment for Jackson & Josephine Counties, Oregon December 2011
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSESSMENT FOR JACKSON & JOSEPHINE COUNTIES, OREGON DECEMBER 2011 Prepared for: Rogue Valley Council of Governments Geos Institute Energy Trust of Oregon Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District City of Ashland Prepared by: Good Company 65 Centennial Loop, Suite B Eugene, Oregon 97401 (541) 341-4663 x213 [email protected] Renewable Energy Assessment for Jackson and Josephine Counties (December 2011) 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 GLOSSARY.......................................................................................................................................... 4 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 7 3 PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 11 3.1Description................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2Approach ..................................................................................................................................... 11 3.3Report Structure .......................................................................................................................... 13 3.4Other Project Deliverables........................................................................................................... 13 4 PROJECT CONTEXT......................................................................................................................... 14 4.1History of U.S. Energy Consumption........................................................................................... 14 4.2Regional Electricity Generation ................................................................................................... 15 4.3Rogue Valley Electricity Renewable Generation and Consumption............................................ 15 4.4General Factors Affecting Renewable Energy Development ...................................................... 16 5 EXISTING REWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS ................................................................................... 26 5.1Summary of Existing Projects...................................................................................................... 26 5.2Energy Efficiency and Conservation............................................................................................ 28 5.3Hydropower ................................................................................................................................. 30 5.4Biomass (Direct Fired)................................................................................................................. 33 5.5Landfill Gas-to-Energy................................................................................................................. 34 5.6Anaerobic Digestion .................................................................................................................... 36 5.7Solar Electric ............................................................................................................................... 36 5.8Wind…......................................................................................................................................... 37 5.9Geothermal.................................................................................................................................. 38 6 FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT OF RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES................................................ 39 6.1Summary of Findings................................................................................................................... 39 6.2Energy Efficiency and Conservation............................................................................................ 43 6.3Hydropower ................................................................................................................................. 55 6.4Biomass (Direct Fired)................................................................................................................. 62 6.5Landfill Gas-to-Energy................................................................................................................. 74 6.6Anaerobic Digestion .................................................................................................................... 78 6.7Solar Electric ............................................................................................................................... 88 6.8Wind…......................................................................................................................................... 97 6.9Geothermal................................................................................................................................ 104 BIBLIOGRAPHY, BY TECHNOLOGY................................................................................................... 109 APPENDIX A: JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS ANALYSIS........................................................... 116 Methodology.................................................................................................................................... 116 Summary of Results ........................................................................................................................ 117 Renewable Energy Assessment for Jackson and Josephine Counties (December 2011) 2 The project team would like to thank all those who contributed to this effort, including the project sponsors Rogue Valley Council of Governments, Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, Energy Trust of Oregon, Geos Institute, and the City of Ashland, as well as all of the local businesses and public employees who generously contributed their time, expertise, and data to this effort. We would also like to thank the numerous agencies and authors of the literature and resources cited in this report. The following people generously shared their time and expertise for this report: Phil Degens, Energy Trust of Oregon Mike Murphy, City of Grants Pass Thad Roth, Energy Trust of Oregon Terry Haugen, City of Grants Pass Jed Jorgensen, Energy Trust of Oregon Tom Schauer, City of Grants Pass Dick Wandersheid, Bonneville Environment Ron Fox, SOREDI Foundation Buzz Thielemann, RHT Energy Solutions Rick Wallace, ODOE Emily Ackland, AOC Gary Marcus, Frontier Technologies Dan Moore, RVCOG Matt Kremenauer, ODOE Dennis Alexander, Green Jobs Council Lori Tella, JSWCD Don Sheppard, Grants Pass Irrigation District Frank Vignola, UO Jim Pendelton, Talent Irrigation District John Lund, OIT Carol Bradford, Medford Irrigation District Blair Moody, BLM Ben Scott, Energy Trust of Oregon John Pine, Dept. of Forestry Amy Wilson, NRCS Al Densmore, Medford City Council Jack Leroy, Forest Energy Group Monty Mendenhall, Pacific Power George McKinley, Small Diameter Collaborative Steve Vincent, Avista Natural Gas Tom Suttle, City of Medford Adam Hanks, City of Ashland Brian Hampson, Rogue River Irrigation Don McCoy, Exit Reality Group Larry Holzgang, Business Oregon Jeff Allen, Drive Oregon George Peltch, Amy’s Kitchen Dick Gordon, City of Medford Neff Russel, Tree Top Bill Hoke, City of Medford Lee Fortier, Rogue Disposal & Recycling Cory Crebbin, City of Medford Jon Meadors, Wine Growers Association Brian Sjothun, City of Medford Good Company (http://www.goodcompany.com) led this study with significant contributions from Kendall Energy Consulting and Columbia Business Resources. If you have any questions about this study please contact Joshua Proudfoot, Principal at Good Company ([email protected]). Renewable Energy Assessment for Jackson and Josephine Counties (December 2011) 3 1 GLOSSARY1 Avoided cost: The cost the utility would pay on the open market for its next new kilowatt hour of electricity. Average Megawatt Hour (aMWh): 8,760 megawatt hours, or 1 megawatt times 8,760 hours in a year. Balance of system (BOS): All components of a photovoltaic system except the panels, including wiring, the inverter, support racks, and switches. Baseload: The minimum amount of power that a utility or distribution company must make available to its customers, or the amount of power required to meet minimum demands based on reasonable expectations of customer requirements. Baseload values typically vary from hour to hour in most commercial and industrial areas. British Thermal Unit (Btu): A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is the amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree F. This is the standard measurement used to state the amount of energy that a fuel has as well as the amount of output of any heat-generating device. Bone Dry Ton (BDT): A unit of measurement for the quantity of woody biomass having zero percent moisture content. Wood heated in an oven at a constant temperature of 100°C (212°F) or above until its weight stabilizes is considered bone dry or oven dry. Capacity factor: A value used to express the average percentage of full capacity of an energy generation facility used over a given period of time. For example, a generating facility, which operates at an average of 60% of its normal full capacity over a measured period has a capacity factor of 0.6 for that period. Capital cost: Includes the costs for land, taxes, surveying, construction, inspection, materials, labor, and interest on loans or bonds for new projects. Capital costs generally do not include any costs incurred