PATH Transmission Line Plans Indefinitely Suspended

In 2007 American Electric Power and FirstEnergy Corp  proposed building a transmission line from the John Amos Power plant in Putnam County across West Virginia and part of Virginia to a substation in Maryland. The Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline, or PATH, was intended  to meet future power demands in the East by transmitting West Virginia power along the new transmission line. Brian Farkas of AP reports that plan has come asunder, due to lower demand for power brought about by the recession.

Will Heat Balls Warm America?

Many people may be unaware that the US will begin phasing out most common  incandescent lights - the light bulbs that are ubiquitous in most American homes - beginning January 1, 2012.  It will do so through energy efficiency requirements that, while not outright banning incandescents,  will make them more expensive.   Don't blame it on Obama - President Bush approved the ban as part of  energy legislation in 2007.  This is from the Daily Caller, reporting on GOP attempts to repeal the ban. 

The same restrictions are going into place in Europe, but one German entrepreneur is trying to get around this by repackaging the incandescent lamps as "heat balls".  The following is taken from the Mother Nature Network:

You gotta hand it to German businessman Siegfried Rotthaeuser, who came up with a brilliant run around the European Union ban on conventional incandescent light bulbs — he rebranded them as "Heat Balls" and is importing them for sale as a "small heating device."

The funny thing about this is that incandescent bulbs are fairly efficient when they are used as heaters, throwing off around 95 percent of the energy they draw as heat. In colder climates, using the bulbs for lighting isn't always an inefficient choice as the bulbs add to the warmth of the home.

Perhaps the day will come when we install incandescents in the winter, and replace them in the  summer with CFLs and LEDs.

Corps of Engineers Proposes Changes to Nationwide 404 Permits

The US Army Corps of Engineers proposed in the Federal Register on February 16 to change certain Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for activities resulting in fill material being placed in waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. NWPs are the general permits that allow minor wetlands filling without a full permit, and often require only a notification to the Corps. Here is a short summary of some of the changes proposed: 

current acreage limits for the NWPs and

propose to modify some of the NWPs

acreage limits. We are also proposing to

modify the language concerning the use

of waivers in NWPs 13, 29, 36, 39, 40,

42, and 43 by clarifying that a waiver

may be granted only after the district

engineer makes a written determination

concluding that the discharge will result

in minimal adverse effects. The

modified waiver language will also be

applied to NWPs 21, 44, and 50, as well

as proposed new NWPs A and B. We are

proposing to replace the 25 cubic yard

limit for temporary pads in NWP 6 with

a

NWP 50 we are proposing a

limit on non-tidal waters of the United

States including the loss of no more

than 300 linear feet of stream bed,

unless for intermittent and ephemeral

stream beds the district engineer waives

the 300 linear foot limit by making a

written determination concluding that

the discharge will result in minimal

adverse effects. In NWPs 40 and 44 we

are proposing to increase protection of

streams by adding a 300 linear foot limit

for losses of stream bed, which can be

waived for intermittent and ephemeral

stream beds if the district engineer

makes a written determination

concluding that the discharge will result

in minimal adverse effects.

Proposed NWP A, Land-Based

Renewable Energy Generation Facilities,

and proposed NWP B, Water-Based

Renewable Energy Generation Pilot

Projects, have a

of non-tidal waters of the United States,

including the loss of no more than 300

linear feet of stream bed, unless for

intermittent and ephemeral stream beds

the district engineer waives the 300

linear foot limit by making a written

determination concluding that the

discharge will result in minimal adverse

effects. Both of these proposed NWPs

require PCNs.

In NWP 48, we are proposing to add

another PCN threshold for proposed

expansions of the project area for the

production of shellfish.1⁄10-acre limit for temporary pads. For1⁄2-acre1⁄2-acre limit for losses

We are proposing to retain most of the

Of particular interst to West Virginians is the proposed reissuance of NWP 21, with  the following preferred option:

Option 2 (Preferred Option)

—21.

Surface Coal Mining Activities.

Discharges of dredged or fill material

into waters of the United States

associated with surface coal mining and

reclamation operations provided the

activities are already authorized, or are

currently being processed by states with

approved programs under Title V of the

Surface Mining Control and

Reclamation Act of 1977 or as part of an

integrated permit processing procedure

by the Department of Interior (DOI),

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation

and Enforcement (OSMRE).

The discharge must not cause the loss

of greater than

waters of the United States, including

1⁄2-acre of non-tidalKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES2

the loss of no more than 300 linear feet

of stream bed, unless for intermittent

and ephemeral stream beds the district

engineer waives the 300 linear foot limit

by making a written determination

concluding that the discharge will result

in minimal adverse effects. This NWP

does not authorize discharges into tidal

waters or non-tidal wetlands adjacent to

tidal waters.

This NWP does not authorize

discharges of dredged or fill material

into waters of the United States

associated with the construction of

valley fills.

Notification:

submit a pre-construction notification to

the district engineer and receive written

authorization prior to commencing the

activity. (See general condition 30.)

(Sections 10 and 404)The permittee must

Comments are  being accepted until April 18.  Hit the hypertext above to find out information about commenting.

Fourth Circuit Rules On Clean Water Act Citizen Suit Recovery

Under the Clean Water Act, citizens can sue dischargers who are not complying with their permit limits.  Before doing so, they must give 60 days notice to the discharger to allow it to come into compliance or to allow the State environmental agency to start its own lawsuit.  In the notice, the citizens have to identify the violations that they are alleging have occurred. If they file suit after the 60 day waiting period, citizens can recover their attorney fees for bringing the suit.

The  Fourth Circuit has recently ruled in the case of Friends of the Earth Inc. et al. v. Gaston Copper Recycling Corp., No. 06-1714, 2011 WL 18368 (4th Cir. Jan. 5, 2011) that the citizens must give notice of the violations for which they are bringing their citizen suit. If they fail to do so, the citizen suit cannot seek penalties for those violations. The following passage  is taken from Westlaw's News and Insights blog, which reports that the Court  

found the plaintiffs had failed to include in their notice letter alleged violations involving the release of cadmium, zinc, iron, and oil and grease.  The letter also gave insufficient notice of alleged monitoring and reporting violations, the appeals court found.

The panel also agreed with Gaston that the lower court erred in finding a violation based upon the late submission of the final improvement plans in December 1991.

By the time the plaintiffs filed their complaint in September 1992, the plans had been submitted, thereby depriving the District Court of jurisdiction over a “wholly past” violation, the appeals court said.

Marcellus Gas Bill Taken Up By House

The natural gas industry has received lots of attention this year, as the Legislature grapples with regulating Marcellus Shale drilling.  Marcellus Shale wells are almost always horizontally-drilled wells, often with several wells to a drill pad, resulting in larger pads and ponds for holding fracking flowback.  Bringing drill rigs to the pads, hauling frac water and materials to the well sites, and everything else associated with this energy bonanza has occasionally caused problems for residents of the drilling area.

The DEP proposed legislation to more closely regulate horizontal drilling, and the Senate Judiciary Committee  proposed a bill of its  own. The House currently is working on a bill, HB 2878.  Here is an article from the Charleston Gazette explaining where things stand on the House bill, which may become the workhorse bill.

The only thing that is certain is that things will change a lot before any bill regulating gas drilling is finalized.

Cellulosic Biomass Fuel Proves Elusive

One of the environmental saviors that has been promoted in recent years is cellulosic biomass - alcohol derived from plant wastes, like corn stalks, wood slash, and other nonfood material. The idea was to produce methanol from what would otherwise be waste material, and use the methanol as fuel, replacing petroleum and ensuring domestic energy security.

It hasn't happened, and this story from the Atlanta Journal Constitution  shows how difficult it will be to achieve  the ambitious targets that Congress set for cellulosic fuel.  There's no reason it can't happen in the future, and we hope they'll keep trying, but this debacle underscores the need to keep mining coal and drilling for gas.

DEP Releases Water Quality Assessment Report

The West Virginia DEP has released the biennial report on water quality in the state.  One of its important features is the 303(d) list, which is a list of all streams that are not meeting water quality standards, and the reasons they are not meeting standards. The listing is important for any permitted discharger, as it could mean much more  stringent permit limits will be put into effect.  The DEP's press release follows.

A comprehensive report detailing the health of the state’s waters and a listing of impaired streams and lakes statewide has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Department of Environmental Protection submitted the West Virginia 2010 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report to the federal agency for review and approval after soliciting public input. The report was approved Feb. 8.

The report fulfills requirements of Section 303(d) and Section 305(b) of the federal Clean Water Act. Section 303(d) requires the creation of a list of impaired streams and lakes in the state and Section 305(b) necessitates an overall assessment of West Virginia’s waters.

The DEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management’s Watershed Assessment Branch compiled, evaluated and summarized all readily available water quality data for West Virginia’s waters. The integrated report contains assessment methodologies and results, information on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development, water pollution control programs and various other water resource management issues. The 303(d) list is used for TMDL selection and development in West Virginia. A TMDL is a plan of action used to clean up streams not meeting water quality standards.

Individuals may request a CD version of the West Virginia 2010 Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report or download all or part of the report from www.dep.wv.gov/WWE/303d. 

For more information about the report or to request a CD version, please contact Steve Young at (304) 926-0495, ext. 1042.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Drop, EPA Seeks Comments on GHG Inventory

This press release is from EPA.  The good news, for those concerned about greenhouse gas emissions, is that they are the lowest in 14 years, and they've only grown 7% in the last 20 years.  

West Virginia has its own GHG inventory process, which doesn't align exactly with EPA's.  Anyone interested in learning  more about it should contact Anne Blankenship at acb@ramlaw.com

EPA Seeks Public Comment on the 16th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on the annual Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2009 draft report. This report will be open for public comment for 30 days after the Federal Register notice is published.

The draft report shows that in 2009, overall greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions decreased by 6 percent since 2008. This downward trend was attributed to a decrease in fuel and electricity consumption across all U.S. economic sectors. Total emissions from GHGs were about 6,640 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) equivalent. Overall, emissions have grown by 7.4 percent from 1990 to 2009. Emissions in 2009 represent the lowest total U.S. annual GHG emissions since 1995.

The inventory tracks annual greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 to 2009 at the national level. The gases covered by this inventory include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The inventory also calculates carbon dioxide emissions that are removed from the atmosphere by “sinks,” e.g., through the uptake of carbon by forests, vegetation, and soils.

This annual report is prepared by EPA in collaboration with experts from other federal agencies. After responding to public comments, the U.S. government will submit the final inventory report to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report will fulfill the annual requirement of the UNFCCC international treaty, ratified by the United States in 1992, which sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html

Understanding Risk, Part 2

Watts Up With That carried an interesting article on something I'd never heard of before - the banana equivalent dose (BED) as a measure of radiation.  Bananas are naturally radioactive, and eating them exposes one to the full effects of that radiation. People have an unreasoning fear of radiation, and don't seem to realize that they are surrounded by radiation sources that are far greater than any exposure they receive from nuclear power plants. By comparing radiation levels of feared radiation sources, like nuclear plants, to the levels found in a banana, people can more fully weigh the risk that's posed, or lack thereof.

China Moves Into North American Gas Market

The Wall Street Journal reports that China is moving aggressively into the North American gas market.

Technological advances have opened up massive new gas fields in North America, creating opportunity for Asia's energy-hungry countries. The technology taps gas trapped in rock, called shale gas. Energy consulting firm Wood Mackenzie Ltd. estimates that potential U.S. shale-gas resources total 650 trillion cubic feet. By comparison, proved U.S. gas reserves at the end of 2009 totaled 244.7 trillion cubic feet, according to the BP Statistical Review.

Asian companies are looking to tap these resources and know-how. Chinese companies have been the most aggressive to date, signing joint ventures in the U.S. and China as well as supply agreements. PetroChina Co. (NYSE: PTR - News) said last week it will pay US$5.4 billion for a stake in Calgary-based Encana Corp.'s shale and deep-well gas assets. This follows a shale-gas deal between China's Cnooc Ltd. (NYSE: CEO - News) and U.S.-based Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK - News) Corp. in January. Bankers expect similar deals this year as China continues to seek energy security and reduce its dependence on dirtier coal.

China is looking for energy supplies, but it is also trying to learn more about the advanced drilling and production techniques that have unlocked some gas reservoirs that were not cost-effective to develop.

Bankers say the price may be worth it. The deals could potentially let the Chinese buyers learn new techniques to get at hard-to-reach shale gas by explosive or hydraulic force, known as fracking.

DEP Offers Appliance Rebate Program

More than $300,000 in funding has been re-loaded into three categories in the West Virginia Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.

The funds became available from customers who purchased an appliance, completed an online rebate reservation form but never mailed in the proper paperwork. Money also became available from customers who applied for rebates but did not meet eligibility requirements.

Rebate funds have been re-loaded for ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators. Rebates of $50 and $75 are available for both clothes washers and dishwashers. Qualified refrigerators carry a $100 rebate. Rebates are no longer available for freezers and room air conditioners.

Administered by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Appliance Rebate Program kicked off in June 2010. It offers mail-in rebates to consumers to help them replace older, inefficient appliances with ENERGY STAR- qualified appliances.
To qualify for rebates, consumers must be West Virginia residents, purchase appliances from participating West Virginia retailers and certify on the rebate application that the new appliance is replacing an existing appliance. Participating retailers have agreed to take old appliances out of service and recycle them.

The Appliance Rebate Program is being funded with federal stimulus money through the U.S. Department of Energy. A total of $1.6 million has been dedicated to West Virginia’s rebate program, which will run through February 2012 or until funds are depleted.

For more information visit www.WVApplianceRebate.com or call (877) 335-9153.

Understanding (And Not Overestimating) Risk

Two stories to report on today that illuminate one another.  The first is an article from the Orange County (CA) Register about a report done by University of California at Irvine public health and social ecology professor Oladele Ogunseitan about the dangers posed by LED bulbs, such as those used on Christmas trees.  The article says that

Although immediate risk from a broken bulb is low, Ogunseitan still advises consumers to wear a mask and gloves and use a special broom when sweeping up the pieces. Emergency crews also should use protective equipment when dealing with car crashes and broken traffic lights, and should consider the material hazardous waste, Ogunseitan said.

I question whether most people are going to keep a mask, gloves and a dedicated broom for sweeping up Christmas tree lights.  Either people are going to be exposed to real danger from broken tree lights, or there really isn't a great danger there.

Which brings us to the second posting, one from EPA which is a notice about a new study of risk analysis.  Many of us are poor estimators of risk - we are more scared of dying in a plane crash than a traffic accident, even though we know the risk of the former is much less than the risk of an auto fatality.  (For anyone interested in understanding risk assessment, the Harvard Center for Risk Assessment is a great place to start.) Here's hoping that EPA is able to develop good information about the real risks posed by chemicals in our environment, to rebut the popular myth that every chemical produced by man is an uncontrollable toxin.

EPA Hosts Conference on Advancing the Next Generation of Risk Assessment

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a two-day conference to discuss the Next Generation (NexGen) of Risk Assessment. NexGen is a program that aims to create an inexpensive, faster system for chemical risk assessment by incorporating new knowledge about molecular biology. EPA scientists are using molecular biology, the study of how cells function, to help them interpret the risk to Americans’ health from exposure to chemicals in our air, water and soils. Through NexGen, EPA is collaborating with federal and state agencies to help people understand risks posed by chemicals in our environment so they can make more informed decisions about their health.

The goals of the conference are to engage the public and key stakeholders in the early stages of the program, share information, receive feedback and help direct the next phases of NexGen. Members of the public may participate in the conference, which will consist of presentations followed by group breakout sessions. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
WHO: Dr. Paul Anastas, assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development

Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

WHAT: Advancing the Next Generation of Risk Assessment: Public Dialogue Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, February 15, 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Wednesday, February 16, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WHERE: Embassy Suites Convention Center; 900 10th Street N.W., Washington, D.Cm.

More information on how to register for the conference: http://epa.nexgen.icfi.com

More information on NexGen: http://www.epa.gov/risk/nexgen

Coal Alternative Produced from Wood Debris

This from the San Francisco Chronicle - February 9, 2011.  I wonder what the net energy cost is, when one takes into account the energy used in the torrefaction process.

Renewable Replacement for Coal Successful in Test Burn; First of its Kind in Western U.S.

California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and power generator GWF Power Systems, L.P. today reported a successful test burn of RFT's BioCoal, a new clean, high-energy renewable fuel. Twelve hundred pounds of BioCoal were co-fired during the two-hour test at GWF's Pittsburg petcoke power plant, and was the first of its kind test in the western United States. The test generated approximately one megawatt hour of electric energy, which was delivered to PG&E without changes in operations.

The BioCoal was produced from woody debris provided by PG&E's vegetation management team using RFT's demonstration mobile torrefaction processor. BioCoal is a carbon-neutral, coal-grade fuel that is free of mercury, sulfur and toxic ash.

KEMA, a leading global authority on energy consulting, testing and certification, witnessed the test burn and verified that the power plant stayed within its normal operating range during the test. No power plant modifications were needed.

Thursday's test burn comes at a critical time both economically and politically: California legislation requires utilities and their power providers to significantly reduce CO2 emissions, even as they increase renewable energy production. They need to evaluate emerging renewable technologies that can help them achieve these challenging goals.

"It is important that we develop renewable energy solutions that can leverage our existing power generating infrastructure," said Renewable Fuel Technologies CEO Mark Wechsler. "Power providers can use BioCoal in their existing power plants exactly as they've been using their traditional solid fossil fuels. Viable renewable fuel solutions that increase fuel diversity and supply and are simultaneously economically attractive can be an important part of California's future."

KEMA believes torrefied biomass shows good promise as a renewable fuel. Dick Bratcher, KEMA Senior Principal Consultant said, "Our studies in North America and Europe indicate that torrefied biomass can be a high-value replacement for coal or other solid fossil fuels used in generating electricity. The process being developed by RFT has the potential to create a cost-effective supply of renewable biomass that also provides other environmental benefits."

Proprietary mobile torrefaction technology

Torrefaction is a heat process that removes water and breaks down wood, producing a dry, solid material with high energy content. RFT's patent-pending process is unique in the industry: its trailer-based mobile torrefaction processors can convert woody debris at its source in the forest, safely and economically.

"Converting forest waste into a cost-effective renewable fuel serves a dual purpose," said RFT's Wechsler. "It enhances the health of forests across the state and creates a large new source of renewable fuel that can help the state achieve its renewable energy objectives."

Mobile torrefaction is compatible with forest management protocols: American forests are overgrown with brush and small trees, putting them at risk of out-of-control forest fires. Removing slash, as forestry debris is known, is critical to restoring healthy forest conditions. Until now, slash had little commercial value, so each season; most of it was gathered up and burned - at significant expense to the state.

EPA Prepares Plan for Studying Hydraulic Fracturing

The following is an EPA press release about review of its hydraulic fracturing study plan.  Hydraulic fracturing is one of the key techniques, along with horizontal drilling, that is allowing development of large amounts of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.  Most of the frac material is water, but there are a few other chemicals that make the frac water more effective.  Some persons have alleged that those additional  chemicals cause contamination of underground water sources. EPA has developed a plan for studying the process of fracking and the chemicals used, and is making the plan available for comment.

EPA Submits Draft Hydraulic Fracturing Study Plan to Independent Scientists for Review

The draft plan is open to public comment

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today submitted its draft study plan on hydraulic fracturing for review to the agency’s Science Advisory Board (SAB), a group of independent scientists. Natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and the process known as hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing that vital resource. EPA scientists, under this administration and at the direction of Congress, are undertaking a study of this practice to better understand any potential impacts it may have, including on groundwater. EPA announced its intention to conduct the study in March 2010 and use the best available science, independent sources of information, a transparent, peer-reviewed process and with consultation from others. Since then, EPA has held a series of public meetings across the country with thousands attending and the agency has developed a sound draft plan for moving forward with the study.
The scope of the proposed research includes the full lifespan of water in hydraulic fracturing, from acquisition of the water, through the mixing of chemicals and actual fracturing, to the post-fracturing stage, including the management of flowback and produced or used water and its ultimate treatment and disposal.

The SAB plans to review the draft plan March 7-8, 2011. Consistent with the operating procedures of the SAB, stakeholders and the public will have an opportunity to provide comments to the SAB during their review. The agency will revise the study plan in response to the SAB’s comments and promptly begin the study. Initial research results and study findings are expected to be made public by the end of 2012, with the goal of an additional report following further research in 2014.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process in which large volumes of water, sand and chemicals are injected at high pressures to extract oil and natural gas from underground rock formations. The process creates fractures in formations such as shale rock, allowing natural gas or oil to escape into the well and be recovered. Over the past few years, the use of hydraulic fracturing for gas extraction has increased and has expanded over a wider diversity of geographic regions and geologic formations.

For a copy of the draft study plan and additional information: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/02ad90b136fc21ef85256eba00436459/d3483ab445ae61418525775900603e79!OpenDocument&TableRow=2.1#2
More information on hydraulic fracturing:

www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing

Environmental Groups File Notice of Intent to Sue Over Alleged Clean Water Act Violations

The following is an AP report from the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.  I tried to find the notice of intent on the potential plaintiffs' websites, but had no luck.

Three environmental groups are warning Allegheny Energy that they plan to sue for violating the Clean Water Act unless it cleans up alleged arsenic releases at its coal-fired power plant in Albright.

The West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, West Virginia Rivers Coalition, and the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club announced the lawsuit notification Monday. Federal law requires a 60-day notice of intent to sue for Clean Water Act violations.

Pennsylvania-based Allegheny had no immediate comment.

The three groups claim Allegheny is releasing illegal amounts of arsenic into the Cheat River from coal ash dumps at a small power plant in Albright in Preston County. They say the releases also make it impossible to monitor for other pollutants.

DEP to Host Webinars on Energy Efficiency

News from the DEP:

The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and ENERGY STAR®, is providing three free Webinars to help West Virginians save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices.

Webinar participants will exchange ideas on a teleconference, while logged into a presentation on the Internet. Sessions run from 60 to 90 minutes and include experienced energy and/or financial consultants.

The Webinars are designed for individuals who have a vested interest in business, industry and academia; community members involved in development; environmental, social and community non-government organizations; natural resource, planning and government officials; hotel owners, tour operators, guides and transportation providers; and representatives from other related services in the private sector.

Webinar participants will better understand how ENERGY STAR can help lower operating costs, improve energy management programs and expand professional development. Webinar

Schedule:
Thursday, March 10, 1 p.m.

Overview of ENERGY STAR Program (90 minutes) -- Webinar provides introduction to energy conservation and energy efficiency and discusses the ENERGY STAR Program.

Thursday, April 28, 1 p.m.

ENERGY STAR -- Changing Behaviors and Getting Buy-In (60

minutes) -- Webinar discusses ENERGY STAR tools for promoting energy awareness and behavior change among building tenants, employees and staff and residential homeowners.

Tuesday, May 24, 10 a.m.

Using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (90 minutes) -- Webinar provides detailed introduction to the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager building benchmarking tool, what buildings are most suited to it, information it can provide to users and opportunities for recognition for buildings that improve their performance.
To register for one or more of the Webinars go to:

http://apps.dep.wv.gov/registration. For more information contact Greg Adolfson, DEP sustainability officer, at 866-

568-6649 (ext. 1332) or gregory.e.adolfson@wv.gov.