Climate Challenge Participation Letter

DOE's Energy Partnerships for a Strong Economy

January 26, 1995

The Honorable Hazel O'Leary
Secretary
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20585

Subject: Blue Earth Light & Water Department Climate Challenge Program

Dear Secretary O'Leary:

Blue Earth Light & Water Department agrees to participate in the Climate Challenge Program. The following list identifies the actions that our utility has taken since 1991, or will take by the year 2000 to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions. The worksheet(s) and attachment(s) enclosed provide more specific information on these options.

Tree Planting Program

• Tree Planting

Demand-side Management

• Compact Fluorescent Lighting

• New Diesel Generator Efficiency

• Boiler Improvements

Transmission and Distribution System Improvements

• Reconductoring Distribution System

Other

• Shower Flow Restrictors

• Water Heater Insulation Blankets

• Street Lighting Improvements

Blue Earth Light & Water Department expects that the combination of these actions will reduce or prevent annual emissions of 861.8 tons of carbon dioxide, including 5,391 MCF of natural gas, in the year 2000. Furthermore, Blue Earth Light & Water Department will report annually, on a form provided by the Department of Energy/Energy Information Administration, on activities and achievements under the Climate Challenge Program.

Sincerely,

(Original signed by)
BLUE EARTH LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT

Jeffrey Jansen
General Manager

Enclosures

CC: American Public Power Association ATTN: Rebecca Blood
2301 M Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20037

BLUE EARTH LIGHT & WATER DEPARTMENT'S CLIMATE CHALLENGE WORKSHEET 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                        OIL     # OF    OTHER   EMISSION   TONS

ITEM #  DESCRIPTION                    KWH      MCF     (GAL.)  TREES   ITEMS   FACTOR     OF CO2

  1     TREES                                                    200              0.068  13.5

  2     DISTRIBUTION                 437,223                                      1.626   355.5

  3     STREET LIGHT RETROFIT         94,853                                      1.626    77.1

  4     COMPACT FLUORESCENTS           1,425                                      1.626     1.2

  5     NEW DIESEL GEN. EFFICIENCY                     9,072                      22.33   101.3

  6     BOILER IMPROVEMENTS                    5,035                              116.2   292.5

  7     HWH BLANKETS                             231                              116.2    13.4

  8     SHOWER FLOW RESTRICTORS                  125                              116.2     7.3

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

TOTAL                                533,501   5,391   9,072     200     0                861.8

1. TREE PLANTING PROGRAM (see attached)

• 200 trees planted by the year 2000

• 13.5 tons/year

• Total 1994 system usage 39,400,000 KWH/year

• Assumed 1.75 % KWH growth per year

• Total system usage in the year 2000 = 43,722,272 KWH/year

• Saving 1 % of the total KWH used by the year 2000 = 437,222.7 KWH/year

  (437,223 KWH/year)(1.626 lbs/KWH)/(2000) = 355.5 tons

• Saving 94,853 KWH/year

  (94,853 KWH/yr)(1.626 lbs/KWH)/(2000) = 77.1 tons

• 25 lamps distributed saving 57 watts each

• Average use = 1000 hrs/yr

• Energy Savings = 1,425 KWH/year

  (1,425 KWH)(1.626)/(2000) = 1.2 tons

• New efficiency = 8,900 Btu/KWH

• Old efficiency = 11,000 Btu/KWH

• Used 604,800 KWH/year

  (2100 Btu/KWH)(604,800 KWH/yr)(1 Gal/140,000 Btu) = 9,072 Gal of Diesel/yr

  (9,072 Gal)(22.3 lbs CO₂/Gal)(1 ton/2000 lbs) = 101.3 tons

• Consumed 39,023 mcf/yr

• Changing from 62% efficiency to 70% efficiency

• Saving 5,035 mcf/yr

  (5,035 mcf/yr)(116.2 lbs/mcf)/(2000) = 292.5 tons

7. HOT WATER HEATER INSULATION BLANKETS

• 30 Blankets distributed saving 7.71 mcf/yr each

• (231 mcf/yr)(116.2 lbs/mcf)/(2000) = 13.4 tons

8. SHOWER HEAD FLOW RESTRICTORS

• 5 Flow restrictors distributed saving 25.05 mcf/yr

• (125 mcf/yr)(116.2 lbs/mcf)/(2000) = 7.3 tons

TOTAL of 861.8 tons of CO₂ reduced in the year 2000.

43,560 Ft² per acre or roughly 208' x 208'.

Assume trees in a forest are roughly 5' apart.

208/5' = 41.6 trees per row.

Assume 42 x 42 trees per acre = 1,764 trees per acre.

If there are 200 trees 200/1,764 = 0.113 equivalent acres.

The average age of the trees in 2,000 planted in this program is 10 years, assuming started in 1990 at age 4.

Conversion from carbon to CO₂ is 3.67 tons CO₂/ton C

The average tree will reduce the flow of carbon by 65 lbs x 10³/acre.

Conversion to CO₂ = (65 lbs x 10³/acre)(3.67 tons CO₂/ton C)/2000 = 119.3 tons of CO₂ flow reduction per acre.

(0.113 acres)(119.3) = 13.5 tons/year.

Please send comments to:
Lawrence.Mansueti@hq.doe.gov