Climate Challenge Participation Accord

DOE's Energy Partnerships for a Strong Economy

The Climate Challenge Program is a joint, voluntary effort of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the electric utility industry undertaken in pursuit of the President's goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The framework of the Climate Challenge Program was established in the Climate Challenge Memorandum of Understanding dated April 20, 1994 (Climate Challenge MOU) (see Attachment A to this Participation Accord).

This Participation Accord describes the actions that Nebraska Public Power District (Utility) and DOE have committed to undertake under the Climate Challenge Program. Utility's commitments include specific activities and efforts to reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. DOE's commitments include specific actions designed to assist Utility in achieving its Climate Challenge commitments.

I. Utility Commitments

A.
Consistent with paragraph II.B.1 and Exhibit B of the Climate Challenge, Utility has undertaken or will undertake the following specific projects or actions to reduce, sequester or avoid greenhouse gas emissions:

- Submerged Chain Conveyor (SCC) on Unit 1 and Unit II;
- Electrostatic Precipitator (intermittent energization versus full wave on Unit 2 precipitator);
- Hard surface coating;
- Streetlight conversions & transformer changeout;
- Transmission and distribution improvements; and
- Hydroelectric efficiency improvements.


These projects are described further in Attachment B. Utility estimates that these projects will result in a cumulative reduction of 122142 tons of CO₂ from 1995-2000 and an annual reduction of 19364 tons of CO₂ in 2000.

B.
Utility will report to DOE 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 model accounting protocols in Exhibit B of the Climate Challenge MOU. The first such report may include a description of the activities and achievements of Utility prior to its becoming a participant in the Program, expressed on an annual basis to the extent possible.

C.
No later than March 15, 1997, Utility will meet with DOE regarding its participation in the Climate Challenge Program. The purpose of such meetings will be to evaluate Utility's progress towards achieving the Climate Challenge commitments and possible adjustments to these commitments based on the availability of reasonable, cost-justified activities for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

D.
The Climate Challenge representative for Utility will be Frank Thompson, Nebraska Public Power District, 1414 15th Street, Columbus, Nebraska 68601. Utility will notify DOE prior to or, in any event, no later than 30 days after any change in the contact.

A.
DOE will perform the actions and fulfill the commitments set out in section III of the Climate Challenge MOU.

B.
The Climate Challenge representative for DOE will be Allan Hoffman, U.S. Dept. of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. S.W., Washington, DC 20585, 202-586-1786. DOE will notify Utility prior to or, in any event, no later than 30 days after any change in representative.

C.
DOE will meet with Utility upon request regarding possible adjustments of the Climate Challenge commitments set forth in subsection I.A. of this Participation Accord.

D.
DOE will consider requests to intervene in proceedings of federal, state and local commissions and boards on issues pertinent to the Climate Challenge Program. Before DOE intervenes in regulatory and other proceedings pertaining to Utility for purposes of addressing Climate Challenge Program issues, it will provide notice to Utility.

E.
To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations and by the availability of funds, DOE will consider Utility's participation in Climate Challenge as a factor to be weighed positively in evaluating applications for financial and other assistance submitted to DOE in support of commitments made by Utility under this Participation Accord.

F.
DOE agrees to provide public recognition to Utility for its Climate Challenge activities. DOE will, among other things, prepare an annual report summarizing results achieved under Climate Challenge and highlighting any outstanding achievements or innovative approaches of Utility.

A.
Use of DOE-developed materials by Utility will be governed by the provisions of section IV of the Climate Challenge MOU.
B.
In addition to the foregoing provisions, DOE and Utility 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.

  		(Original signed by) 
		______________________________			____________
		Nebraska Public Power District			Date
   


  		(Original signed by) 
		______________________________			____________
		U.S. Department of Energy			Date

The following projects have been and will be undertaken to reduce CO₂ emissions by the utility.

1.
SUBMERGED CHAIN CONVEYOR (SCC)
The bottom ash removal systems at Gerald Gentleman Station's Unit I and Unit II were replaced with systems requiring less energy to perform their functions whenever the station is operating.

Reduction in CO₂ emissions: 1995-2000 9168 tons 2000 1528 tons

2.
ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR MODIFICATION
The Unit II electrostatic precipitator has been modified to allow intermittent energization which reduces the amount of energy consumed, when the unit is operating.

Reduction in CO₂ emissions 1995-2000 18006 tons 2000 3001 tons

3.
HARD-SURFACE COATING
The Unit II turbine has had hard surface material applied to sections vulnerable, to particulate erosion in 1994. The hard surface application reduces the rate of efficiency degradition of the turbine. These sections will be recoated in 10 years versus repaired in 5 years.

Reduction in C02 emissions: 1995-2000 29200 tons 2000 1842 tons

4.
STREETLIGHT .CONVERSIONS TRANSFORMER CHANGEOUT
The Utility has and will continue to changeout mercury vapor streetlights to more efficient high pressure sodium streetlights and changeout old transformers to new more efficient transformers.

(Streetlights)

Reduction, in CO₂ emissions: 1995-2000 10987 tons 2000 2664 tons

(Transformers)

Reduction in CO₂ emissions: 1995-2000 15823 tons 2000 3836 tons

5.
TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION IMPROVEMENTS
Utility has converted substation feeders from 4.16 kV to 12.5 kV, added additional substation sources and reconductored several miles of lines.

Reduction of CO₂ emissions: 1995-3000 12708 tons 2000 2118 tons

6.
HYDRO ELECTRIC EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT
The Utility has improved the efficiency of the hydro electric generation station in North Platte, Nebraska by 9.78% on average. The increased output will require less generation from coal fired facilities.

Reduction in CO₂ emissions: 1995-2000 26250 tons 2000 4375 tons

Total reductions for years 1995-2000 = 122142 tons of CO₂

Reductions in. the year 2000 = 19364 tons of CO₂

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