Individual Utility Case Studies
Case study collections and reports
Technology-specific case study

Technology-specific case study compilations and reports

Wind

California state law requires the California Energy Commission to serve as a central repository in state government to collect and disseminate information on energy supplies. The report, "Wind Performance Report Summary" is one of the most comprehensive statewide databases of wind operator information. The annual report also contains data summary tables reflecting performance statewide and by resource area; turbine size, type and origin; manufacturer; and project operator.

While there is a growing body of information about the local impacts of wind power, the economic impacts from existing wind power developments have not yet been documented and analyzed thoroughly and consistently. The primary objective of the study, Assessing the Economic Development Impacts of Wind Power is to provide examples of thorough and consistent analysis and documentation of economic impacts from wind power development in three case studies. The highlights of this study are also available in a PowerPoint presentation.

In early 2001 the Colorado Public Utility Commission ordered Xcel Energy to undertake good faith negotiations for a wind plant as part of the utility’s integrated resource plan. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory report, Colorado Public Utility Commission’s Excel Wind Decision summarizes the key points of the Public Utility Commission decision, which addressed the wind plant's projected impact on generation cost and ancillary services. The Public Utilitiy Commission concluded that the wind plant would cost less than new gas-fired generation under reasonable gas cost projections.

Wind Powering America List of Electric Cooperatives that are using wind power.

Many communities around the country are exploring the possibility of generating their own energy using wind and other renewable resources. Community wind projects are already working for municipal utilities, schools and other public buildings in many states. Windustry's Community-based Wind site includes examples of towns and schools that have already installed wind turbines or have plans in the works.

Wind Power and Impacts on Economic Development, an article from The Daily Oklahoman, shares the benefits of Wind Farms in Oklahoma.

Case Studies on Native Americans Using Wind Power

New Mexico Case Study of the Cost, Price, and Value of Wind-Generated Electricity

Solar

Many communities around the country are taking action to remove barriers and provide incentives to foster the widespread use of solar energy. The Million Solar Roofs Success Stories contains valuable project-level information on financing, installed cost, optimum maintenance costs, direct savings, environmental benefits, and contact information.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has created solarmidwest.org a Web site of resources for solar projects in the midwestern United States.

Powerlight, a leading designer, manufacturer and installer of PV systems provides case studies of some large and high-profile PV installations which include details on the challenges, benefits and special design considerations of each project.

Stimulating Public-sector Implementation of Renewable Energy, a California entity which educates local governments on the procurement options, including state-level aggregation for public purchases, includes case studies of local government experiences with PV projects. Although the program has been discontinued due to the expiration of a grant, information related to procuring and installing PV is still updated and available on the SPIRE website.

Geothermal

Commercial and Industial Geothermal Heat Pumps:

Geothermal Heat Pump Economics

Geothermal Heat Pump

Why Utilities Choose Geothermal Energy

Biomass

The United States Department of Energy began the Biomass Power Program in 1991 to expand the use of renewable energy from biomass. The program also provides case studies of active co-firing, gasification and small modular projects in which it is involved in cost-sharing.

As of June 2003, over 340 landfill gas energy projects were operational in the United States . EPA estimates that more than 600 other landfill sites present attractive opportunities for project development. The EPA has a listing of current landfill gas projects and candidate landfills .

 

The Agricultural Biogas Casebook presents profiles of farms using anaerobic digesters for animal manures in the Great Lakes States (Illinois, Indiania, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin). The purpose of this casebook is to provide a picture of the current state of on-farm anaerobic digester use in these states in the spring of 2002. The summary information provided in these profiles can help those considering using anaerobic digester technologies to make informed choices and provide a general improvement in implementation efficiency and operator success.

This site contains publications that highlight some of the most successful projects conducted by the Regional Biomass Energy Program. Included in each is a brief discussion of the reason for the project, the RBEP solution, the results, and the benefits of the project. There are five regional biomass programs. The Southeastern Regional Biomass Program has listing of current biomass projects. The Northeast Regional Biomass Program provides a listing of reports on regional biomass issues and projects.

The report Biomass Co-firing with Coal at Lakeland Utilities details a project that evaluates the major agricultural, power plant engineering, and business development issues associated with energy-crop biomass (i.e., "closed loop") co-firing with coal at Lakeland Utilities' McIntosh-3 unit in Polk County in central Florida.

St. Paul, Minn., is now drawing on wood waste to heat and cool most of its downtown buildings while also generating electricity, thanks to a new facility owned and operated by St. Paul Cogeneration, LLC.

Partnering to co-fire woody biomass in central Florida In central Florida, numerous partners have combined to demonstrate the potential for growing short rotation woody crops for co-firing at utilities with up to 13,000 MW of capacity.

DTE Biomass Energy develops, owns and operates landfill gas recovery systems throughout the United States and lists two of its Energy Success Stories on its website.

The Biomass Research and Development Initiative provides an extensive list of government, industry, non-profit and academic biomass links.

Economic Feasibility Study for a Biodiesel Production Facility