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September 13th, 2005
Green Energy Offers to Purchase One Million Tons of Hurricanes’
Wood Debris – Faces Challenges Even Though Disasters Debris Could Power 10 Percent of America’s
Energy Needs
Green Energy Resources (Pink Sheets:GRGR) has offered to purchase up to one million tons
of the storm-damaged wood from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Although the plan on the surface, to turn the debris into electrical
energy, appears to be one of the more cost-effective solutions to the debris problem, it apparently faces opposition from
FEMA. Green Energy states, “Green Energy Resources has challenged FEMA to have vision and abandon its present policy
of dump and burn, according to Joseph Murray, CEO. Last year FEMA, and its cozy relationship with certain contractors, according
to a Wall Street Journal report, failed to take advantage of the opportunity to benefit and protect Florida residents and
U.S. taxpayers. Each hurricane provides a new opportunity to strengthen our economy, energy security, and develop new export
markets to improve our balance of trade deficits. The abundance of biomass for renewable energy from each natural weather
event could power up to 10% of America's total energy demand.”
Green Energy Resources with the announcement also reported that
it has developed a software program that is used to manage and track wood biomass sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
September 13th, 2005
Greenshift Forms Tornado Trash Corporation – to Eliminate
Need for Trash and Sewage Infrastructure
Greenshift Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: GSHF) has formed Tornado
Trash Corporation. The new company’s charter is to replace landfill disposals with a system that converts trash into
metals, chemicals, plastics, fuels and energy. Today’s trash, unlike trash of the pre-industrial age, is rich in chemicals,
metals and energy sources, which left unused, is a potential health and environmental hazard.
As part of the company’s plan, Greenshift plans to license
to Tornado Trash the Tornado Generator and Ovation Product's Clean Water Appliance. Greenshift also indicated that it plans
to take Tornado Trash public in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Kevin Kreisler, CEO of Greenshift Corporation, alluded to the potential
to eliminate the need for trash collection through a home trash-to-energy conversion device, "While the technology has demonstrated
an environmentally friendly and cost effective method to eliminate the need for additional land fill sites, our ultimate objective
is to scale the technology for residential and commercial applications. Imagine the quantum changes made when these Greenshift
Technologies are taken to the source (our homes and businesses). We essentially eliminate the need for Water, Sewage and Trash
Removal Infrastructures."
Such quantum changes could result in competition for your trash
and sewage. The pay toilets of today could be turned into RFID based pay-you toilets. Similar scenarios are viewed in the
world of trash – such as pay-you trashcans.
September 9th, 2005
New Energy Capital Finances 40 Million Gallon Ethanol
Facility – Over 300 Farmers and Businesses Invest Also
New Energy Capital Investment at a recent groundbreaking ceremony in Indiana attended
by United States Congressman Peter Visclosky, reported on the close of financing and the start of construction of a corn based
ethanol facility in Rensselaer, Indiana. New Energy itself provided financing for the Iroquois Bio-Energy Company (IBEC) through
a $38.6 million loan through the Farm Credit Services of Mid-America. The corn, to be supplied from local farmers, will be
used to produce ethanol and distillers grains, used as a feed supplement for the dairy industry.
Those involved in the project, which is estimated to
cost $70 million, include Fagen Inc., which will construct the facility, ICM, Inc, which will provide the plant design and
process technology, and The Andersons Inc., which will provide grain origination and risk management services. The facility
is expected to employ 60 in the construction phase.
Besides the major investment from New Energy Capital,
the project’s financing differentiates itself from others in that nearly 300 local farmers and businesses joined in
the financing along with Fagen Inc.,
The Andersons Inc., Noble Americas Inc. and Indeck Energy Services Inc. A grant was
also provided by The U.S. Department of Energy, partly through the efforts of U.S. Congressman Visclosky, who also offered
his comments about the project,: "This ethanol plant is a perfect example of communities using their resources to create new
economic opportunity. The success of this facility is a shared success between the local farmers, the people who will be put
to work, and the entire region."
New Energy Capital Corp., based in New England, operates
a number of renewable energy facilities in the United States. The company also invests in renewable energy projects. Investors
in New Energy include VantagePoint Venture Partners and the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS).
September 9th, 2005
US BioEnergy Breaks Ground on Corn Ethanol Plant
US BioEnergy Corporation has scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony for its US Bio
Superior Corn ethanol plant located near Lake Odessa, Michigan. US Bio Superior Corn will produce 45 million gallons of ethanol
a year from the facility, along with 136,000 tons of dried distiller’s grains. The facility will require about 16 million
bushels of corn to produce the fuel and grains. That corn is expected to be supplied from farms within a 60 mile radius
of the facility.
The time to construct the facility has been estimated
to be 16 months. The opening of the facility has been planned for the fall of 2006. The facility will employ 40.
US BioEnergy also
has a 100 million gallon per year facility under construction in Albert City, Iowa. As the company seeks to add more sites,
the company has entered into negotiations for a site in Janesville, Minnesota. That facility is also expected to be a 100
million gallon a year site.
September 8th, 2005
Microgy Begins Construction of Multi-Digester Biogas Facility
Microgy, Inc., a subsidiary of Environmental Power Corporation (AMEX:EPG)
has begun construction on a multi-digester biogas production and gas conditioning facility. The facility, called the Huckabay
Ridge facility, located near Stephenville, Texas, is to be used for the production of one billion cubic feet of biogas per
year, which works out to the approximate equivalent of 12,700 gallons of heating oil per day, according to the company.
The digester will convert the manure from up to 10,000 cows to produce
the biogas. The facility is located next to Producers Compost Incorporated (PCI), a composting site used to process manure
from over 20,000 cows. Microgy has also signed an exclusive rights agreement with PCI to source all of its manure from the
facility.
The facility is also next to a gas pipeline. According to Kam Tejwani,
CEO of Environmental Power Corporation, stated, "This is a significant step forward for our company on several fronts. The
interconnection to a natural gas pipeline will be a first for us, and will open new doors for the development of reliable,
non-subsidized clean energy projects across the country. We believe that this project will cement our position as a leader
in the emerging marketplace for clean, renewable energy that is cost-effective, secure and reliable."
The completion of the facility depends on the obtainment of financing
for the project.
September 8th, 2005
The United States Department of Energy has selected SRI International
to develop a low-cost hydrogen technology in a contract valued at $2.2 million. The four year project is for the development
of a modular industrial system based on steam electrolysis. The goal of the project is to generate hydrogen that would produce
delivered fuel at a cost of to $2 to $3 per gallon gasoline equivalent. Current costs to produce delivered hydrogen
are estimated by SRI to be $4 per gallon gasoline equivalent.
Iouri Balachov, SRI senior research engineer noted that SRI has
proven expertise in the field, "SRI has a scientifically proven approach, expertise in industrial implementation, and a clear
understanding of the technical issues related to prototype development,". "A modular, efficient hydrogen generation system
will address some of the technological and economic constraints that are impeding advancement of a hydrogen-based economy."
August 30th, 2005
Florida County Sees Revenue Sharing from $106 Million Landfill-Energy
Contract
Danielson Holding Corporation, through its subsidiary Covanta Energy
Corporation has retained contracts from Hillsborough County, Florida to construct, operate and maintain an additional $106
million Solid Waste Energy Recovery Facility. The facility is expected to be completed 28 months after regulatory permits
are obtained for the project. The contract is for twenty years and includes an amendment the company’s original 20-year
contract.
The new contract will add a fourth boiler to the facility, which
has been operational since 1987, provided by. The new boiler will increase waste-to-energy capacity an extra 190,000 tons
of solid waste per year. Currently, the three boiler units, based on technology from Martin GmbH, process 372,000 tons per
year. The waste is first converted to steam and then to electricity, which is then sold to Tampa Electric Company.
Adding a twist to the contract is a non-ferrous metal recovery
system that Covanta is to design, build and operate. That recovery system is able to extract non-ferrous metals from the solid
waste. Covanta reports that it will market the non-ferrous metals and once it recovers the investment will share the resulting
revenue with the County.
The trend for landfill energy companies to offer revenue sharing
to counties is expected to continue as newer technology is able to more economically extract the valuable minerals, chemicals,
and metals that are associated with new millennium waste.
August 26th, 2005
Green Energy Receives $6
Million Order – New Energy Tax Credits and Oil Prices a Plus, $38 Per Barrel is Renewable
Energy Price Point
Green Energy Resources (Pink Sheets:GRGR) along with a report that it has received a $6 million order from a Dutch
company for wood pellets, has also reported that as part of the United States Energy Bill, the United State Forest Service
has been allocated 20 cents per ton for the removal of wood to prevent forest fires. Although the company did not indicate
how this would benefit the company, the dangerous dead wood from forests is a potential source of energy for the company.
According to Green Energy over 40 million acres of forestland are destroyed each year from forest fires.
The company also reported with the order that oil priced at $70 a barrel is nearly twice the cost of renewable energy
on a per kilowatt basis.
August 25th, 2005
Global Environmental Outlines $4 Billion in Annual Sales
from Land Fills in China
Global Environmental Energy Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: GEECF) reported
that it’s the directors of its subsidiary, Biosphere Development Corp., will visit China from August 23rd through August
29th 2005 to finalize contracts with their joint ventures there. These include joint ventures the Shenzhen Branch of Yankuang
Group Co., Ltd., and the Shenzhen Rayes Group Co. Ltd.
The company indicated that the joint venture agreements involved
four stages. Stage One involves the establishment of a manufacturing facility in China for Biosphere Process Systems. Stage
Two, which is to be executed on or before February 2006, involves the deployment of 20 to 30 Biosphere Process Systems. Stage
Three, planned between 2006 and 2008, will deploy 300 Biosphere Process Systems estimated to generate sales of $700 million
per year. Finally Stage Four, planned between 2008 and 2010, is for the deployment of an additional 1,000 Biosphere Process
Systems, expected to generate over $4 billion in annual sales.
Global reported that China will need 800 to 900 million kilowatts
a year by 2020, but now only has the capacity to generate 350 million kilowatts per year. Global in the announcement noted
the large budgets the cities of Beijing and Shenzhen have planned for solid waste gasification projections. These include
a $6.6 billion solid waste gasification investment for Beijing. Shenzhen’s plan is to build seven municipal solid waste
gasification facilities in 2005 as it closes a number of existing municipal solid waste landfills.
Global also noted that China’s economy has been growing at
a rate of 10 percent annually over the last two decades and that waste has been growing at a rate of between 8 and 10 percent
a year. Today it is estimated that for every person in China, 440 kilograms of solid waste is produced every year.
August 24th, 2005
INSEQ Agrees to Manufacture Ethanol Production Equipment
for Crude Corn Oil Company
INSEQ Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: INSQ) has entered into an
agreement to manufacture crude corn oil extraction systems for Ethanol Oil Recovery Systems, LLC (EORS). The order is valued
at over $30 million over the next 24 months. The systems sell for $1 million each, and EORS is expected to need over 30 systems
over the same 24-month period. Shipments of the systems is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2005.
EORS plans to use the equipment in a process that is central to
the steps required in the conversion of crude corn oil to biodiesel fuels. EORS and INSEQ are owned in part by GreenShift
Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: GSHF), a business development corporation focused on the environment and renewable energy
technologies.
August 23rd, 2005
Los Angeles Water and Power Enters into 81 Megawatt Landfill
Energy Agreement
As part of its goal to utilize more renewable energy and to
solve growing landfill problems, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Board of Commissioners approved the
purchase of 81,843 megawatt-hours produced from landfill gas-to-energy technology. The agreements approved were with Penrose
Landfill Gas Conversion, LLC's and with WM Solutions Inc. The Penrose contract is valued between $19.4 million and $23.4 million
and is for a seven year period. The WM Solutions contract is valued between $19.7 million to approximately $29 million
and is for a 10-year period with an option to renew. The yearly amount of electricity purchased through
both agreements is to be in the order of 81,843 megawatt-hours annually or enough to power 10,000 homes.
The contracts are the first of many that are expected to follow
from the city of Los Angeles. The city is currently open to reviewing proposals from other renewable energy companies.
August 23rd, 2005
Soybean Oil Offers Benefits as Fluid Replacement for Transformers
Cooper Power Systems reported that Monroe County Electric Co-operative has joined a number
of other utilities to switch the fluid in their overhead transformers to a soy oil based dielectric fluid, referred to as
Envirotemp FR3 fluid. Others that have already selected the product included the Sacramento Municipal Utility District and
Tipmont REMC.
Commenting on the safety and efficiency benefits of the soy based
fluid was Alan Wattles, CEO at Monroe County Electric Co-Op. "This changeover makes sense for us on a number of levels. The
benefits of Envirotemp FR3 fluid correspond to issues that matter greatly to our constituency, including fire safety and environmental
stewardship. The communities we service are growing rapidly, over three percent annually for the past eight years, and FR3
fluid allows us to run heavier loads through the current system without having to purchase additional equipment, keeping capital
expenditure costs down."
Wattles also mentioned the benefits it would have in his country
and local farmers, "FR3 fluid comes from a renewable source that lessens our dependence on foreign oil. This decision supports
the soybean farmer, both locally and across the nation. Soybean plays an important role in the agricultural landscape of Illinois
and we're proud to do our part to keep it vital and strong."
According to Cooper Power, the transformer industry requires 75
million gallons a year of fluid for its transformers. This represents about 1.2 million acres of soybean.
Each acre of soybeans produces enough oil for four overhead transformers.
The U.S. transformer industry requires almost 75 million gallons a year for all new transformer installations - equivalent
to 1.2 million acres of soybean production.
The Envirotemp FR3 fluid is a biodegradable dielectric fluid and
is classified as an Underwriters Laboratories less-flammable fluid. The company also indicates the fluid extends paper insulation
life five to eight times resulting in increased transformer life and hence offers utilities a way to lower capital expenditures.
August 22nd, 2005
Diesel Secret Energy, LLC reports that its new additive enables the home production of diesel
gas at a very low price of 46 cents per gallon. The kit, which the company sales for $39.95 that includes the additive and
instructions, requires the customer to procure their own used vegetable oil – which restaurants and food processing
houses have to dispose of on a regular basis. Used vegetable oil has become more of a concern as a potential water pollution
source and is one burden many food processing concerns want to dispose of more easily.
Diesel Secret indicates that the fuel is not available through retail fuel stations, because
it has not been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. However, the company did indicate that the fuel exhibited
excellent emission properties. The secret of the fuel is stems from the company’s research of fuel shortages in Germany
shortly after World War II.
August 19th, 2005
Colorado to Use Forest Brush as BioEnergy Source - Receives Grants from Governors Association
The costs of brush removal has always been an issue to weigh against the risk of forest fires.
Now though, the enormous energy potential of kindling may be able to be captured cost-effectively and turned into clean energy.
Through a grant program initiated by the Western Governors Association (WGA) and the U.S. Department of Energy through the
National Biomass State and Regional Partnership, the Colorado Partnership for Biomass Utilization has received a $100,000
grant from the WGA to increase the use of bioenergy from forest fuels.
Governor Bill Owens of Colorado noted a number of potential benefits for Colorado, "Encouraging
bioenergy production will lead to healthier forests and offer a clean, renewable energy source for Colorado. It could also
benefit economic development in many of our state's rural areas."
The Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) and the Colorado State Forest
Service will participate in the program through technical assistance, industry surveys and biomass courses.
The WGA's Western Regional Biomass Energy Program provides grants through cooperative programs
related to energy development from sources such as forest and agricultural crop residues and wood and food processing wastes.
Four states have already received funding under the program.
August 18th, 2005
Boralex Renewable Energy Revenues
Increase 28%
Boralex Inc. (TSX: BLX.A), considered the largest private producer
of wood residue energy in North America, has announced a 28 percent increase in energy sales for its latest quarter,
ended June 30, 2005. For the quarter, revenues were recorded as $20.4 million compared to $15.9 million for the same
period in 2004.
Boralex attributed gains in its earnings in part to $2.2 million
in revenue from renewable energy certificates (RECs) and $5.1 million in United States tax credits. The company indicated
that the tax credits in the first and second quarter represented the equivalent of $9.00 per megawatt hour produced at its
wood-residue power stations.
Summarizing the broad base of Boralex’s operations in the
quarter was Claude Audet, who serves as President and Chief Operating Officer, "Operations wise, during this quarter, Boralex
has achieved significant milestone steps to improve the wood-residue supply, to improve productivity and record additional
revenue from RECs. Moreover, Boralex is in the process of adding equipment to all its wood-residue power stations in order
to qualify these facilities for the various US RECs programs."
He continued with wind energy operations, "As for the wind power
segment, the end of 2005 will mark the commissioning of the new Massif Central and Plouguin wind power sites which will add
65 MW of installed capacity, taking Boralex's total capacity in this segment to nearly 90 MW. In addition, the recently concluded
(euro) 190 million master credit agreement will give Boralex more flexible access to funds required to develop other wind
power projects in France."
The company has power stations for the generation of hydroelectric,
wood residue, natural gas and wind power. Wood residue generated the most electricity in terms of megawatt hours. For the
quarter ended June 30, 2005 wood residue energy generated 190,952 megawatts hours compared to 153,896 megawatt hours over
the year ago quarter. Hydroelectric power came in second at 31,108 megawatts, down from 38,164 megawatt hours for the year
earlier quarter. Wind power increased the most percentage wise to 9,479 megawatts in the recent quarter from 4,969 megawatts
for the quarter a year earlier. Total power generation for the quarter was 231,626 megawatt hours up from 211,387 megawatts
over a year ago.
Revenue for each of these energy segments for the most part tracked
megawatt growth quarter-over-quarter. Hydroelectric power dropped to $2.63 million from $2.75 million, Wood-residue power
increased to $14.46 million from $10.04 million and wind power to $1.27 million from $0.70 million.
August 18th, 2005
Biofriendly Corporation reported that its Green Plus diesel fuel
enhancer has been approved for on-road and off-road use in the State of Texas. The Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) approved the product, which can now be used in the 110 counties designated as EPA non-attainment areas to meet
Texas Low Emission Diesel law that will go into effect on October 1 of this year. The approval of the fuel is said to
simplify procedures for fuel providers in Texas.
With the announcement, Biofreindly also announced that it was awarded
two grants, totaling over $300,000 for the testing of its GreenPlus enhancer with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel and Biodiesel fuel.
The grants were awarded based on test results that indicated that the enhancer has the ability to significantly reduce air
pollution. The use of GreenPlus is estimated to reduce NOx in the State of Texas by over 13,000 tons per year.
GreenFuel has been approved for use in on-road trucks, off-road
construction equipment, school buses and even locomotives and marine vessels.
August 16th, 2005
Environmental Power Corporation (AMEX:EPG) partly as a result of its subsidiary, Microgy, Inc.,
increased revenues for the second quarter 28 percent to $14.9 million from the $11.6 million it brought in the second quarter
of 2004. Microgy, which has the license to Anearobic Digester Energy technology, which effectively gives your standard dairy
cow the ability to generate almost all of the electricity needed for one home, contributed $945,316 in revenue in the
latest quarter as opposed to the same quarter last year when it did not make a financial contribution.
Power generation revenue from the company’s other unit, Buzzard Power Corporation
generated $13.9 million compared to $11.6 million for the same quarter last year. That increase was however attributed to
rescheduling of the annual planned maintenance outage at the Buzzard Scrubgrass facility.
For the latest six month period ended June 30, 2005, total revenues at Environmental Power,
were $30 million compared to $25.9 million for the same period last year. For the six month period, Microgy’s total
revenue was $2.2 million.
Summarizing the quarter was Kam Tejwani, CEO at Environmental Power, "Environmental Power achieved
significant milestones towards establishing leadership in the emerging market for profitable renewable energy in this second
quarter, decisively moving from the conceptual to the operational phase. We formally launched a fully operational digester
facility that is serving as a compelling example of what we believe to be the superior quality of our technology and the numerous
benefits of Microgy's solutions, designed to minimize waste management problems while providing a renewable source of energy
for utilities and consumers. With the addition of Randy Hull and John O'Neill to our management team, we now have a team in
place that we believe can accelerate our growth initiatives. We feel confident that the project completion experience we have
gained, and the management team that we now have on board, will enable us to take advantage of the market opportunities and
establish a position of leadership in the renewable energy market."
For the rest of 2005, the management indicated that it expected Microgy’s revenue to increase as a result of
additional projects and agreements, subject to finalization and financing considerations.
Mr. Tejwani in the financial announcement, also gave his thoughts on the impact of the recent United States Energy
Bill as well as specific information on the new tax credits available, "We expect that the new policy, the accompanying tax
credits and related benefits should serve to further drive adoption of Environmental Power's renewable energy solutions. For
example, the law provides a ten-year, $0.009/KWH tax credit for certain types of "open loop biomass" renewable power projects
placed in service by the end of 2007. Also, the law provides a number of incentives designed to spur adoption of renewable
energy projects, including, for example, accelerated depreciation provisions for gas gathering projects. We believe that projects
based on our technology will qualify for some or all of these tax credits and other benefits. The economics of our projects,
which we believe will be attractive even without government incentives, are expected to be further enhanced by these benefits.
As a first mover in the emerging market for profitable, renewable energy production, we welcome this initiative, which we
believe will drive market interest in environmentally smart energy. Our goal is to offer a reliable long term, renewable source
of energy that is cost-effective and has less price volatility than traditional resources. "
August 15th, 2005
Xethanol Secures $1.6 Million
– Plans to Increase Ethanol Production 60 Percent
Xethanol Corporation (OTCBB:XTHN), a company that is focused on
the conversion of biomass to biofuels from landfills, has closed $1.6 million in the form a senior secured royalty income
note financing for its Xethanol BioFuels facility in Blairstown, Iowa. That facility currently has a production capacity of
6 million gallons of ethanol per year. With planned expansions, the facility is expected to increase the production at the
facility 60 percent in 2006.
Christopher d'Arnaud-Taylor, Xethanol's CEO named some of the financiers
as well as commented on the company’s cash flow position, "This represents a true vote of confidence on the part of
our lending partners, Lucas Energy Total Return Master Fund and Lucas Energy Total Return Partners, in both the company and
the Blairstown facility. Prior to the plant's opening, the company decided that investment in the future expansion would reduce
downtime as the plant is slated for a major expansion in early 2006 when we introduce our extractive fermentation process
and other technologies. The capital invested by the company, which was recouped in expanding the plant financing from $5 million
to $6.6 million, should be sufficient to take Xethanol through positive cash flow which is estimated to occur by the end of
the calendar year, although no assurances can be made given the dynamics of the ethanol market."
Xethanol’s business strategy is to produce ethanol at a lower
cost than corn-based ethanol products with plants located closer to the coasts. The company besides its Blairstown, Iowa facility
also owns an ethanol production facility at its Biomass Technology Center in Hopkinton, Iowa.
August 11th, 2005
Kruger Will Proceed with $85 Million Biomass Facility
Kruger Incorporated’s Energy Group has announced through its
Chief Operating Officer, Jacques Gauthier, that it has started the construction of a 23 megawatt biomass cogeneration plant
at the Kruger Brompton mill. According to Mr. Gauthier, "This project represents a substantial investment of more than $85
million." The new energy plant is expected to reduce the demand for landfill needed for paper mill sludge, bark and particle
waste. Up to 600 dry tons a day according to the company. Other benefits include a reduction of the risk of leachate contamination
that can result from bark landfill and a reduction of fossil fuel consumption. Mr. Gauthier indicated that the biomass facility
will permit Kruger’s Brompton mill to remain competitive, as well as create a market for wood waste, "In addition to
the $85-million investment, the biomass cogeneration project will allow the company to maintain the competitiveness of its
Brompton mill through reduced production costs. Also, it will consolidate 470 direct jobs and create a market for wood waste."
Kruger Incorporated, founded in the early 1900s and now has over
10,000 employees, is a diversified paper products company with operations in the energy industry. The company has existing
hydro energy plants and a wood residue energy power generation facility. The company’s mission is to expand into other
environmentally conscience energy generation markets, which include hydroelectric, thermal and wind energy.
July 20th, 2005
Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) has opened a new experimental supercenter in McKinney, Texas. That store, complete with everything
from a tire and lube service, to vision center and a standard full line of grocery products with deli, also will be the experimental
center to test and measure a variety of on-site renewable power generation capabilities.
Among the power sources considered for the facility are the used cooking oil from the restaurant at the supercenter,
which is planned to be combined with recycled oil from the lube service center. That blend is planned to provide power for
the supercenter. According to Don Moseley, PE, Wal-Mart's experimental projects manager, "We want to make the best use of
renewable and alternate sources like wind and solar energy to generate electricity to supplement the power needs of the store.
The store at McKinney will draw its energy first from on-site resources and systems, and then from conventional utility sources
as a secondary service. For example, the waste cooking oil which had been used to fry chicken will be recycled by mixing it
with used automotive oil from the Tire and Lube Express to serve as fuel to heat the building."
Mike Duke, Executive VP and CEO at Wal-Mart Stores – USA explained that the program will also include real
estate development and the sharing of energy information, "As the world's largest retailer, we are excited that we can lead
the way in promoting the use of sustainable building and business practices in retail and the real estate development process.
We will share our experiences with the industry, the general public and government agencies, and will apply best environmental
practices to future Wal-Mart facilities."
As part of the program, Wal-Mart also reported that it has entered into a three year agreement with Oak Ridge National
Laboratory, noted for its research in the energy area. Oak Ridge will provide standardized testing and analysis on store systems
and materials.
Wal-Mart apparently doesn’t end or begin here with its environmental efforts. The company reports a number of other
programs. These include preserving an acre of wild-life habitat for every development acre, a program to find new uses for
the stores it leaves and a massive recycling program, which according to the company involves the recycling of 2.8 million
tons of cardboard, 9,416 tons of plastic, 262 million aluminum cans, glass containers and plastic bottles and 49 million disposable
cameras.
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