Bush's Energy Reduction Executive Order Includes Provisions Requiring Purchase of Plug-in Vehicles

On Wednesday President Bush issued an executive order stating that:

"It is the policy of the United States that Federal agencies conduct their environmental, transportation, and energy-related activities under the law in support of their respective missions in an environmentally, economically and fiscally sound, integrated, continuously improving, efficient, and sustainable manner."

He instructed government agencies to take eight steps to reduce energy consumption, two of which I am focusing on.

1) If agencies operates a fleet of at least 20 motor vehicles 

(i) reduce the fleet's total consumption of petroleum products by 2 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015,
(ii) increases the total fuel consumption that is non-petroleum-based by 10 percent annually, and
(iii) use plug-in hybrid (PIH) vehicles when PIH vehicles are commercially available at a cost reasonably comparable, on the basis of life-cycle cost, to non-PIH vehicles

The reduction in use of petroleum products sounds quite reasonable, but not very aggressive. As pointed out in Autopia the order does not require that total fuel consumption go down, only that petroleum consumption be reduced. I find the order remiss in that it does not require any increases in the fuel efficiency of vehicles. This requirement could be interpreted as being included in my point two, as being part of the overall energy efficiency of the agency. I do not find this interpretation specific enough.

I find the increased use of non-petroleum-based fuel is extremely aggressive, as it could require the purchase of flex-fueled vehicles before the current vehicles would normally be replaced.

I am especially encouraged that the order included plug-in vehicles. The term "use of plug-in hybrid vehicles" does not define how much they must be used and thus leaves a potential loop hole. The life-cycle cost of PHEVs should allow well engineered PHEVs to be purchased at an early date, although there may be some ambiguity as how to calculate life cycle cost. I wish the clause requiring PHEVs to be available commercially had been worded differently. I interpret it as meaning that they could be purchased from any company, large or small, offering the vehicles in any quantity, domestic or foreign made. This would be a fine policy, but I would like it spelled out as I have done, avoiding other interpretations of the policy.

2) Reduce energy intensity of each agency by:

(i) 3 percent annually through the end of fiscal year 2015, or
(ii) 30 percent by the end of fiscal year 2015, relative to the baseline of the agency's energy use in fiscal year 2003.

It is hard to judge whether these are reasonable goals, but they sound OK to me and I am supportive of such goals.

Thanks to the tip from Wired News Autopia

Comments

[Jimmi]

The one thing I really liked about his executive order is in section 9... Definitions : As used in this order...

"(h) "renewable energy" means energy produced by solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project;"

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I've alway been a pro for maximizing hydro electric power. Looking at the Hoover dam, why not add a couple more penstocks and double the generators. We could engineer addition dams on either side of Hoover dam (doesn't have to be the same size or even a full dam, just build a structure large enought to add additional penstocks and generators). Than cycle the water to the existing river flow.

Hoover damn has 4 penstocks and 17 main turbines capable of generating a maximum annual net generation of 10,348,020,500 kilowatt-hours which was acheived in 1984. Would be nice to double or even tripple that!

This is a breakdown of how electricity is distributed from the Hoover Dam... I added additional numbers considering doubling its capacity (I rounded up and excluded areas less than 1% fyi)...

Arizona - 19%/38%
Nevada - 23%/46%
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California - 29%/58%
Burbank, CA - 1%/2%
Glendale, CA - 2%/4%
Pasadena, CA - 1%/2%
Los Angeles, CA - 15%/30%
Southern California Edison Co. - 6%/12%
Anaheim, CA - 1%/2%
Riverside, CA - 1%/2%
Vernon, CA - 1%/2%
Boulder City, NV - 2%/4%

Global warming may affect dam electricity production in a good way. With warmer temperatures and melting polar caps... atmospheric moisture levels should increase rainfall being captured by mountain ranges. Thus increasing water levels and water flow for rivers like the Colorodo. Hydro electric energy produced by dams have a unique advantage considering the impending effects of global warming.

No need to discuss if hydro is safe. No need to discuss environmental impact cause the damage is already done when considering increasing power generation at an existing site. No need to discuss emmisions. Maybe even utilize this technique to all dams where it is geologically feasible. I'm not a structural engineer but if we can build the Panama Canal, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, the floating bridge (I-90 outside Seattle, WA), and not to forget the Hoover Dam itself... we can do this!!!

[Jimmi]

Bah... sorry to waste you time... I see some engineering tasks that seem impossible to overcome and my numbers are wrong... don't mind me... going back to reading financials =b

[Jon Dale]

There's another big story, HR 550, that was just introduced into congress by McNulty and Camp. It calls for a dramatic increase in residential tax credits and shortens the write-off period from 5 to 3 years.

The impact from this will be HUGE (to borrow an expression from Donald Trump).

[nabh]

The following is an interesting idea: a plug-in can be just as simple and animating enough to visualize to vehicle users that their current emission requires how large an area on earth to absorb.

Joshua M. Pearce, Sara J. Johnson, and Gabriel B. Grant, "3D-Mapping Optimization of Embodied Energy of Transportation", Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 51 pp. 435-453, 2007. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDX-4MFKD8J-1&_user=1025668&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050549&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1025668&md5=6ecd35aab63837a900a6231cda3a9c51

[nabh]

An alternative link to the above article is:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16338568/3Dmapping-optimization-of-embodied-energy-of-transportation-

[Android Tablet PCs]

Jason,
You can discover what Steven Carew "has got" by visiting wholesale the website for Rhino Hydro. There are a few "update" items there, dated 2004.

But, the essence of Steve's invention is described under the "technical" menu selection, as follows:

"This electro generating plant employs magnets and springs to help create a perpetual motion which hiphone drives a generator. Thus giving you the electricity you need."

Get the picture, Jason? Hard to imagine Steve can't get funding . . .2945abc45 0422