Climate Challenge Logo

Climate Challenge Participation Accord

DOE's Energy Partnerships for a Strong Economy

Climate Challenge Participation Accord

This participation Accord describes the commitments that Central and South West Corporation (CSW), on behalf of its electric operating subsidiaries, and the U.S - Department of Energy (DOE) have made to participate in the Climate Challenge Program in pursuit of the President's goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Challenge Program is a joint, voluntary effort of DOE and the electric utility industry to reduce, avoid or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. The framework of the Climate Challenge Program was established by the Climate Challenge Program Memorandum of Understanding and exhibits thereto dated April 20, 1994. (For the Climate Challenge Program MOU, see Attachment A to this Participation Accord)

1. CSW Commitments

  A. Consistent with paragraph II.B. I (a and f) of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, CSW has undertaken specific activities and has made specific expenditures on projects that are expected to produce reductions or offsets in greenhouse gas emissions. These activities and programs are described below. CSW will continue all these activities as long as benefits are deemed cost-effective and supporting business circumstances exist.

CSW is participating in the following industry-wide Climate Challenge initiatives:

  • The Utility Forest Carbon Management Program with a $5,000 initial commitment in 1994 and $20,000 per year for 1996 through 2000.
    • The National Earth Comfort Program with $50,000 in funding each year for 1994, 1995 and 1996. Participation in this program is re-evaluated on an annual basis.
CSW has undertaken or will undertake a variety of activities that are expected to produce an estimated total of 731,425 short tons Of C02 reductions/offsets in the year 2000. Projects for which CSW has estimated these CO2 reduction/offsets are:
    • Demand Side Management (DSM) activities - CSW currently has several DSM programs which promote efficient electricity use and result in reduced C02 emissions. These programs range from evaluating potential efficiency improvements to providing incentives to adopt more efficient equipment for individual homeowners, commercial and industrial customers. T-he current projection for C02 reductions resulting from DSM programs in the year 2000 is 329,000 short tons.
    • Coal combustion by-product use - Coal combustion by-products (fly ash) often can be used as a substitute for portland cement in concrete production. This eliminates the need to dispose of the fly ash and also eliminates the emissions associated with manufacturing portland cement. Projected year 2000 fly ash sales of 370,000 tons from CSW facilities for use as a substitute for portland cement will result in a reduction of 293,000 short tons of CO2.
    • Renewable generation - In 1993, CSW began a series of renewable energy projects that will provide additional future C02emission reductions/offsets. These projects include a state-of-the-art wind and solar energy project CSW has constructed in West Texas. Attachment B provides further details on CSW's renewable projects. As these technologies are evaluated over time, those which are found to be cost-effective will be implemented as opportunities occur. In response to customer feedback, CSW is also proposing a program in 1997 of "green power" choices which will provide a means for customers to select a greater portion of their personal consumption from environmentally beneficial renewable generation. CSW will undertake this program once it is approved by tile Texas Public Utility Commission. Expected CO2 emissions offset by renewable electricity generation in the year 2000 is 77,500 short tons.
    • Transmission efficiency improvements - CSW. has undertaken operation and equipment changes to the CSW transmission system that are expected to result in 30,000 short tons of CO2 reduction in the year 2000 through reduced load losses.
    • Tree planting activities - CSW's land management activities include planting approximately 179,000 around facility sites and in urban areas, which will sequester 1,925 short tons of C02 in the year 2000.
    • Research activities - CSW annually provides research funding to the Electric Power Research Institute, approximately $2,500,000 of which supports R&D projects (electro-technologies, environmental controls, etc.) that are expected to result in greenhouse gas emission reductions.
The projects for which C02 reductions have been quantified are summarized in Table 1.B.

CSW will report annually on activities and achievements under the Climate Challenge Program. Results achieved during each year shall be reported in a clear and understandable manner that is consistent with the guidelines adopted pursuant to subsection 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act and the Climate Challenge accounting protocols in Exhibit B of the Climate Challenge Program MOU. The first such report may include a description of the activities and achievements of CSW prior to becoming a participant in the Program, expressed on an annual basis to the extent possible

CSW will confer with DOE on or before October 1, 1998, to evaluate jointly the progress of CSW in achieving its Climate Challenge Program goals and to discuss possible adjustments to its voluntary commitments.

D. The Climate Challenge Program representative for CSW will be Mr. Bruce W. Moore, Central and South West Services, Inc., PO Box 660164, Dallas, Texas 75266-0164, (214)777-1288. CSW agrees to notify DOE prior to or, in any event, no later than 30 days after any change in the contact.

DOE Commitments

A. DOE's commitments to CSW are those set out in section III of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, which are hereby, incorporated in this Participation Accord by reference.

B. DOE will consider CSW requests to intervene in regulatory proceedings of federal, state and local commissions and boards on issues pertinent to the Climate Challenge Program.

Before DOE intervenes in regulatory and other programs pertaining to CSW for purposes of addressing Climate Challenge Program issues, it will provide notice to CSW.

C. DOE will provide an annual report to CSW describing the actions that it has taken to fulfill its commitments under section III and Exhibit C of the Climate Challenge Program MOU and the results of those actions.

D. The Climate Challenge Program representative for DOE, who will serve as liaison to CSW, will be Mr. Larry Mansueti, Director, Climate Challenge, Office of Utility Technologies (EE-10), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202)586-2588. DOE agrees to notify CSW prior to or, in any event, no later dm 30 days after any change in liaison responsibilities or personnel.

III. General Provisions

A. Use of DOE-developed materials by CSW will be governed by the provisions of section W of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, which are hereby incorporated in this Participation Accord by reference.

B. In addition to the foregoing provisions, DOE and CSW agree to act in accordance with the principles set out in section I of the Climate Challenge Program MOU and the general provisions set out in subsections V.A-V.D, V.F and V.G of the Climate Challenge Program MOU, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

C. Either party may withdraw from this Participation Accord or any of its activities under the Climate Challenge Program without penalty and without being subject to remedies at law or equity.



E. R. Brooks 
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Central and South West Corporation


Federico Pena
Secretary of Energy
U.S. Department of Energy
____________________________________[date] October 8, 1997 _______________________[date]

 

Attachments:
Attachment A - Climate Challenge Program, MOU
Attachment B - Wind and Solar Project Fact Sheets

TABLE I

Activity
CO2 reduced/offset
(short tons in year 2000)
Demand Side Management 
Coal Combustion By-products
Renewable Generation 
Transmission Efficiency Improvements 
Tree Planting 
329,000
293,000
77,500
30,000
1,925
TOTAL
 731,000


Attachment B

CENTRAL & SOUTHWEST

Renewables Project
Information Sheets
And Cost Estimates


CSW Wind Farm – 6.6 MW

Location 20 miles west of Fort Davis, Texas on Highway 166
Manufacturer Zond, Inc. of Tehachapi, California. The 550 kW Zond Z40 (40 meter rotor diameter) was the largest wind turbine commercially manufactured in the United States at the time it was, selected. Zond is now manufacturing 750 kW turbines for a project in Minnesota.
How It Works Twelve 3 blade fixed speed turbines on 40m lattice tower capture wind energy to drive an electric generator.
Annual Capacity 20%
Cost - $900 to $1000/kW currently
- $600-700/kW high volume commercial production (year 20)
Attributes - Intermittent energy production
- Large, highly visible structures
- Lowest cost renewable technology available today
- Avian interaction must be considered
Status Commercial today (CSW project tests state-of-the-art advanced turbine designs as part of the DOE's Turbine Verification Program)
Related Studies Wind Noise Study
Avian Study
Wind Performance Study
In Service Date Began operation in September 1995
Expected Production in year 2000 11,500,000 kWh
Production 1995 594,640 kWh
1996 8,614,249 kWh

Proposed CSW Wind Farm - 1.2 MW

Location Undetermined at this time. Oklahoma or Texas most likely.
Manufacturer Cannon Inc. will supply 4 Cannon Wind Eagle 300 wind turbines. Texas Wind Power Co. and CSW will provide balance of plant construction and operations.
How It Works Four 2 blade fixed speed turbines on 50m guyed-pole tower capture Wind energy to drive an electric generator.
Annual Capacity 30% is expected
Cost $900 to $1000/kW currently $400-500/kW high volume commercial production (year 2005)
Attributes Lower initial capital cost
Intermittent energy production
Less Visible structures
Avian interaction must be considered
Status Early commercial units today (CSW project tests state-of-the-art advanced turbine designs as part of the DOEs Turbine Verification Program)
Related Studies Wind Noise Study
Avian Study
Wind Performance Study
In Service Date Expect operation by early 1998
Expected
Production in
year 2000
3,153,600 kWh

 
 

Proposed CSW Wind Farm - 50 NM p

Location Location undetermined at this time. Most likely West Texas.
Manufacturer Unknown at this time
Annual Capacity 35% is expected
Cost $900 to $1000/kW currently
* $400-500/kW high volume commercial production (year 2005)
Status RFP to be released in April 1997
In Service Date Expect operation by late 1999
Expected
Production in
Year 2000.
153,300,000 kWh

  PV for Grid Support - Flat Plate Technology (100 kW)
Location CSW Solar Park located 10 miles northwest of Fort Davis near McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118
Manufacturer Utility Power Group is the system integrator using Siesmen’s single crystal silicon modules and integrated tracking system</td>
How It Works Sunlight shines on semiconductor material causing a flow of electrons through an electrical circuit
Efficiency 10-12% of the sun’s energy converted to electrical energy
Cost - $7,000-10,000/ kW currently
- $2,500/kW high-volume to commercial production
Attributes - Sunlight is accepted from a wide angle
- Modules track east to west daily
- Low noise
- Operation at partial capacity on cloudy days
- Ease of construction with short lead time
- PVUSA host system
Status Early commercial deployment
In Service Date Began operation in September 1994
Expected Production in year 2000 262,800 kWh
Production 1994 32,735 kWh
1995 160,343 kWh
1996 227,333 kWh

PV for Grid Support - Concentrating Technology (83 kW)


Motion CSW Solar Park located 10 miles northwest of Fort Davis near McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118
Manufacturer ENTECH, D/FW Airport, TX
How It Works Plastic fresnel lens is used to concentrate the sun’s energy 21 times on a single crystal silicon cells, causing a flow of electrons through an electrical circuit
Efficiency 14% of the sun’s energy converted to electrical energy
Cost $10,000-13,000/ kW currently
Attributes * Modules track east to west daily, north to south seasonally
* Less semiconductor material than flat plate FV
* Requires direct sunlight
* PVUSA host system
* Well-suited to West Texas climate
Status Early field trial
In Service Date Began operation February 1995
Expected Production in year 2000 147,000 kWh
Production 1995 92,800 kWh
1996 87,296 kWh

PV for Grid Support-Integrated High Concentrating System (18 kw)

Location CSW Solar Park located 10 miles northwest of Fort Davis near McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118
Manufacturer AMONIX, Torrance, California 
How It Works Lens is used to concentrate the suns energy 250 times on semiconductor material, causing a flow of electrons through an electrical circuit 
Efficiency 18% of the sun's energy converted to electrical energy
Cost $20 to $30/W currently for prototype systems; EPRI projects costs to decline to $2 to $3/W when the system is mass produced.
Attributes Large platform, dual axis tracking system
Utilizes existing semiconductor industry
Potential for mass production
Status Demonstrations by CSW, Arizona Public Service, and Nevada Power. Early commercialization by year 2000.
In Service Date November, 1996.
Expected Production in year 2000 30,660 kWh

 
 

Rooftop PV - Fixed Flat Plate Technology (2 kW Each)

Location All systems are located in Fort Davis, Texas on residential and commercial properties.
Manufacturer Modules by:
Siemen's
Solarex
Astropower
Mobil
Unisolar.
Ascension Technology is the system integrator.
How It Works The fixed flat plate modules are mounted on customers' rooftops.Sunlight shines on semiconductor material causing a flow of electrons through an electrical circuit
Efficiency 10-12% of the sun’s energy converted to electrical energy
Cost $7,000-8,000/kW currently
$2,000/ kW high volume commercial production
Attributes Low cost mounting systemNo additional real estate requirementsUltimately, a replacement for roofing material
Generation close to usage site
Status Early commercial applications
In Service Date 2nd quarter 1994 - installed
Expected Production in year 2000 26,280 kWh

Other Small Scale PV Applications

· PV-operated lighting at the HEB grocery store in Laredo, TX - 4 kW

· PV-assisted heat pump in Marfa, TX - 2 kW0 Rooftop PV system on PS(Ys district office in Lawton, OK - 18 kW (co-funded by EPA)

BP Solar Off-Grid Residential PV (1.5kW each)


Location CSW Solar Park located 10 miles northwest of Fort Davis near McDonald Observatory on Hwy 118
Manufacturer BP Solar is the system integrator using BP Solar modules, Absolyte batteries, and Kohler generator.
How It Works The fixed flat plate modules are ground mounted on single pole. Sunlight shines on semiconductor material causing a flow of electrons through an electrical circuit. 
Efficiency 14% of the sun’s energy converted to electrical energy
Cost $15,000/kW currently w/ batteries and back-up generator
Attributes Low cost mounting system
Ultimately, a replacement for roofing material
Generation close to usage site
Status Early commercial applications
In Service Date 3rd quarter 1996 -'installed'
Expected Production in year 2000 5,000 kWh

Other Off-grid PV Applications

PV-powered water pumping for irrigation in Marfa, TX
PV street lighting in Marfa, TX
PV-powered stock watering near Fort Davis, TX

7.5 kW Solar Dish/ Stirling Engine System
Manufacturer Cummins Power Generation, Abilene, TX
How It Works Solar dish concentrates sunlight, providing a heat source. Heat is transferred to a Stirling engine, which drives an electric generator. The Stirling cycle uses an external heat source rather than internal combustion to drive the engine's pistons.
Efficiency *25% of the sun's energy converted to electrical energy*
Cost Approximately $1,500/kW in commercial production 
Attributes Lends itself to distributed generation ("putting generation where you need it')
Potential for gaseous co-firing
Highly efficient conversion from sunlight to electricity 
Status Early field trial 
In Service Date In 1995, a Dish Stirling system was completed and interconnected to the West Texas Utilities grid in Abilene, Texas. The Stirling engine component of the system operated poorly due to quality control and metallurgy problems. Also in 1995,,a solar dish was installed at the CSW Solar Park in Fort Davis, Texas, but the Stirling engine that was to be incorporated with the system was not completed before Cummins Power Generation went out of business in mid-1996. The system at the CSW Solar Park was disassembled and removed in 1996.

Renewables Project Funding Summary

Research Project
CSW Ren.
Proj. ($)
Other ($)
PV End-use
65,000
0
0
HEB System (4kW)
17,000
0
40,000 CSW Marketing
PV Assisted Heat Pump (2kW)
100,000
100,000
0
PV EPA-DSM Lawton (18kW)
51,000
51,000
102,000 EPA
Resource Monitoring
370,000
>0
0
Cummins Sterling Dish (7.5 kW)
218,000
218,000
323,000 Cummins
PV Grid Flat Plate – UPG, Hardware only (100 kW)
510,000
510,000
0
PV Concentrating – Entech, Hardware only (18kW)
671,000
671,000
0
PV Covered Parking – Unisolar (2-4kW)
225,000
225,000
67,000
PV Rooftop (9-2kW)
124,250
124,250
8,000
Installed Cost
172,750
0
26,000
Consulting/Monitoring 
30,000
0
0
Wind Farm (6MW)      
Installed Cost of Monitoring, Distribution Sys
3,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000 DOE
Line Extension, Monitoring Equipment      
Wind Noise Study – University of TX at El Paso
55,000
55,000
0
       
Avian Study – Sul Ross/Clemson University
40,000
40,000
0
EPRI Wind Oversight
150,000
150,000
0
       
1.2MW Wind Farm (Proposed Lawton, OK)
106,000
656,000
1,594,000 DOE/Cannon
Project Communications
515, 000
0
0
Power Quality Study – University of Arkansas
80,000
80,000
0
Solar Performance Study – New Mexico State Univ.
119,000
119,000
>0
Solar Site Preparation (Other Costs)
540,000
150,000
0
EPRI Solar Oversight
98,000
98,000
0
Database, Overall Report, Societal Study (TX Tech)
376,000
0
0
Wind Rights
200,000
0
0
CSW
2,012,000
0
0
Total
10,000,000
6,402,250
4,160,000
 

Return to the Climate Challenge Front PageReturn button


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