Renewable Energy Atlas Series: Guides to the Nation

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Renewable Energy Atlas Series Guides to the
Nations Resource Potential
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Renewable Energy Atlases A Quick History

• 1979 1980
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
  Produces 12 Regional Wind Energy Atlases for US
  Territories
• 1986
• Wind Energy Resource Atlas of the United States
  210 page, national wind resource assessment of
  the United States
• Created for Dept. of Energy, Assistant Secretary,
  Conservation and Renewable Energy by PNNL

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2002 Bringing Together Partners

• Renewable Energy Atlas of the West produced by
• Western Resource Advocates
• Northwest SEED (Sustainable Energy for Economic
  Development)
• GreenInfo Network
• Contributions of Time and Resources
• DOE Regional Offices
• NREL Staff
• A Project of
• Hewlett Foundation
• The Energy Foundation

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Building a Successful Series

• Goals
• Create a single comprehensive resource for
  Western States of latest renewable resource maps,
  energy data, and policy for public use.
• Highlight the issues affecting the development of
  renewable energy in the West for planning
  considerations.
• Provide a user-friendly resource and tool for
  policymakers, advocates, landowners, developers
  and the general public interested in increasing
  the use of renewable energy.

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First Edition Distribution

• Print Distribution
• 3,000 copies printed and distributed
• less than 25 printed copies remain
• Electronic Distribution
• Website with interactive map tool (zoom-in
  interface and data layering capabilities)
• State Guides
• Washington and Idaho

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Contents of the 1st Edition

• Defining Renewable Resources
• RE Development in West
• Generation facilities
• Installed Capacity
• Location / Type
• Policy review
• Development Considerations
• Grid, load growth, transmission constraints, land
  use, and environmental impacts of fossil fuels

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Contents of the 1st Edition (cont.)

• State Summaries
• Installed capacity summary
• Existing generation mix
• State renewable energy policies
• Electricity consumption
• Case studies
• Solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass summaries
• Most current maps of each potential resource

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The Vision for the Series

• The West 2nd Edition
• Update critical needs
• Diversify distribution
• Additional State Level Supplements
• The Mid-West Edition
• A National Edition

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2nd Edition Highlights

• Critical Updates to Resource Maps
• New biomass resource maps needed
• New 2004 wind maps for Western States
• New geothermal maps and data
• New Data Analysis Capabilities
• Changes and Updates to State Policies
• Electronic Distribution Capabilities
• Interactive map tool functionality and on-going
  upgrades
• New Forms of Distribution

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Biomass Maps and Data Update
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Wind Maps and Data Update
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2004 Wind Maps and Data Update
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New Geothermal Maps and Data
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Web Presence and New Media Technology

• Web and new media are the primary means to
  communicate and educate
• Advantages Wide Access, Affordability
• Since 11/01/03
• 30,000 total visitors to www.energyatlas.org
• 83 From United States
• 10 from Canada, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom,
  China, and the Netherlands

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energyatlas.org
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New Electronic Distribution

• New Options CD-ROM Based Distribution
• Cost effectiveness transition from print to
  electronic
• The Toolkit Concept a web page on a disk with
  resources for remote use
• Future supplements and updates can be given
  electronically

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Becoming an Educational Series

• Provide useable information to inform and
  motivate policymakers and legislators
• Information for the public that is easy to digest
  and comprehend
• Reach the next generation
• Teaching in rural areas agricultural training
  (i.e. Young Farmers of America)

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Whats Next?

• A 2nd Edition of Western Atlas Additional State
  Level Supplements
• Secure funding for on-going state and federal
  involvement
• Identify all new information
• Publish and distribute 2nd Edition and state
  supplements for 2005 state and federal
  legislative sessions

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Join the Effort!
If you would like to support this effort or tell
us how you might be able to use the new editions
of the Atlas in your state please let us know.
CONTACT US

• Northwest SEED
• Ph 206.267.2215
• Don Andre don_at_nwseed.org
• Thom Wallace thom_at_nwseed.org