District Energy Now

Volume 13 Number 5 December 1997

Welcome New Members!

We hope you will join us in welcoming the following new members of IDEA!
Michael Levine

President

Atometrics Engineering

2 Crosfield Avenue, Suite 209

West Nyack, NY 10994

914-353-4040

914-353-0287 fax

referred by Anthony Trocchia of Columbia University

Calendar of Events

"District Heat Technology '98"

February 17-19, 1998

Essen Trade Fair Grounds, Germany

Contact: AGFW, 0049-201-7244-532

IDEA Marketing Workshop

February 25-26, 1998

Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel, Redondo Beach, California

Contact: IDEA, (202) 429-5111

11th Annual College/University Conference

February 25-27, 1998

Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach & Marina Hotel, Redondo Beach, California

Contact: IDEA, (202) 429-5111

89th Annual IDEA Conference & Trade Show

June 13-16, 1998

San Antonio Convention Center & Hilton Palacio del Rio Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

Contact: IDEA, (202) 429­5111

Trigen Plans Expansion and Implements Reorganization

Trigen has begun laying the groundwork for a major expansion of the company and has organized the company into three profit centers. Steven G. Smith, who currently heads the Philadelphia operating company, has been named president of the Operating Assets Division. The Project Development Division will be headed by Jean M. Malahieude, previously executive vice president of engineering, and Stephen K. Swinson, president of Trigen's Western Region, and current IDEA Chairman, will serve as president of the Technology Division. Separately, it was announced earlier in the quarter that James B. Abromitis, head of Trigen's Baltimore operating company, will be president of the Federal Energy Projects Division to pursue energy related projects for the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency and the General Services Administration.

Give the Gift of Knowledge this Holiday Season

IDEA has begun a program where members can give the gift of Personal Membership in IDEA to their valued customers for the bargain price of $50 per year. This will entitle your customers to receive all IDEA publications, including "District Energy Now" and District Energy magazine, all mailings and meeting notices, and the membership directory. It will not allow them to receive "member" benefits, such as reduced conference admission. For more information on this program, contact IDEA at 202-429-5111.

11th Annual College/University Conference Planned in Conjunction with Marketing Workshop for February

Make your plans now to attend IDEA's 11th Annual College/University Conference, February 25-27, 1998 in Redondo Beach, California. Be sure to register before January 30 to save $50!

This conference is for those college/university professionals who operate or are considering installation of a district heating, cooling or cogeneration system and for consultants and others involved with district energy systems. The technical sessions will focus on problems and solutions applicable to a campus environment as identified by the College/University Forum of IDEA. Key people having experience in the subject areas will provide information on new technologies and design approaches. The format of the conference will encourage participation of all attendees.

In order to allow the most members to attend the various IDEA meetings held throughout the year, the IDEA Board of Directors has decided to bundle some conferences and workshops. The Marketing Forum will precede the College/University Conference and will include a joint, overlapping session on Thursday morning to address restructuring of the electric industry.

The IDEA Board of Directors will also meet during this time. In 1999, the College/University Conference will bundle with a different IDEA Forum.

If you are planning on attending the Marketing Workshop and have a special topic that you would like to be addressed, contact Jon Wohl at Trigen-Philadelphia Energy Corp., (215) 875-6900 ext. 169 or Marie Williams at IDEA, (202) 429-5111.

If you would like to attend both conferences, IDEA is offering a reduced rate to do so.

Sponsorship opportunities are available to those who wish to sponsor breaks or lunches. Please contact Marie Williams, IDEA, at (202) 429-5111 if you would like further information on these marketing opportunities.

For the third year, table top exhibits will be part of the College/University Conference. If you are interested in purchasing a table top exhibit, and already are an exhibitor at the 89th Annual Conference and Trade Show in June, please call Tammie Jackson, Marketing Manager, at (301) 464-0059. Act fast, space is very limited!

Following is a list of companies that have already made their commitment to exhibit at the conference:

CBI

DriTherm, Inc.

Rovanco Piping Systems

Spence Engineering Co.

The Trane Co.

Urecon Ltd.

Watch your mail this month for a copy of the preliminary program and registration brochure!!

9th Annual Distribution Workshop a Huge Success

Last month's Distribution Workshop proved to be a great success with almost 40 distribution professionals participating. The workshop took place at the Mayflower Park Hotel, Seattle, November 5-7, 1997.

IDEA would like to thank Seattle Steam Company for its' generous sponsorship of the Welcoming Reception, as well as acting as our hosts in Seattle.

We would also like to thank Dave Urke, Distribution Forum Chairman and Carlos Torres, Distribution Forum Vice-Chairman for their hard work in ensuring a successful meeting.

Thanks to the feedback received from the evaluations, next year's 10th Annual Distribution Workshop should prove to be a real winner!!

World's Largest Lignite Powered Plant

Schwarze Pumpe cogeneration power plant in Brandenburg, Germany, the world's largest lignite-fired facility, comprises two 800-MW steam turbine generators, 55 percent fuel efficiency. In addition, the plant supplies process steam for lignite benefaction and district heat for nearby communities. VEAG Vereinigte Energiewerke AG awarded Siemens/KWU a DM 600-million contract in 1992 to provide overall planning for the power plant, as well as to supply the turbine generators, a Teleperm XP future-oriented I&C system, and generator transformers.

PEPCO and Trigen Energy Announce Joint Venture

A joint venture to study the feasibility of serving the heating and cooling needs of downtown Washington D.C. has been announced by a subsidiary of Potomac Electric Power Company - PEPCO Services, Inc. and Trigen Energy Corporation. The energy supply would be excess steam generated by PEPCO's Potomac River Power Plant, located in Alexandria, Virginia.

PEPCO President and CEO John M. Derrick, Jr. described the joint venture as a response to President Clinton's recent call for the energy industry to help the federal government reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Thomas R. Casten, President and CEO of Trigen Energy Corporation explained, "The federal government spends millions of dollars each year to run steam plants in downtown Washington that serve many government buildings. The plants are expensive, they pollute downtown Washington's air, and they produce the greenhouse gas emissions that President Clinton is seeking to reduce. At the same time, PEPCO generates electricity in an environmentally responsible way at its Alexandria plant, but does not sell the large steam output that results from electricity production. This could be a perfect match."

Electric Utility Restructuring

The Energy Information Administration has published a 7-page "Status of State Electric Utility Deregulation." It can be found on the web at http://www.eia.doe.gov/new.html.

Electric Deregulation Energized Hollywood

In anticipation of the deregulation of California's electric industry, energy experts at Los Angeles-based Energy Pacific are taking the lead in improving efficiency, while lowering energy costs. Energy Pacific, an affiliate of Southern California Gas Co. and IDEA member Atlantic Thermal Systems Inc. (ATS) in Atlantic City, New Jersey, are working with DreamWorks SKG on making the studio's 350,000-square foot, five-building animation campus--currently under construction in Glendale--into a prototype model for the "turn-key" energy management system of the future. Energy Pacific and ATS, through a new joint venture called Atlantic/Pacific, will finance, build and own virtually all of the campus' energy systems--including an on-site central plant for heating and air conditioning--and then manage those systems and all of the complex's related energy needs.

It is planned for Atlantic/Pacific to handle all aspects of energy use at the new animation complex for at least the next 10 years. The joint venture company will:

-Finance and own the energy systems and controls for DreamWorks, including the central plant and in-building systems, such as heating and air conditioning (HVAC), controls and standby powers.

-Operate and maintain the central plant. An on-site team of senior operating engineers will perform all scheduled preventive maintenance, as well as all daily operating functions.

-Handle operations and maintenance responsibilities for all facility systems and controls, including HVAC, mechanical and electrical systems throughout the campus,

-Serve as DreamWorks' buying agent for both electricity and natural gas.

Nalco Buys Chemco Water

IDEA member Nalco Chemical Co. signed a letter of intent to acquire Chemco Water Technology Inc., a provider of water treatment chemical products and services.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Nalco said it expects to complete the deal by year-end.

Based in Vancouver, Washington, Chemco manufactures and markets boiler and cooling water treatment chemicals and services to steel, paper, cogeneration, chemical, petrochemical, food and beverage facilities. Chemco has 1997 estimated annual sales of more than $7 million.

Ted Mooney, Nalco chairman and CEO said the purchase is expected to expand Nalco's core water treatment business throughout the U.S.

EPA Global Warming Web Site

EPA has announced a new global warming web site at http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming. You will find a glossary of climate change terms, as well as information on the science of climate change, its projected impacts, international and U.S. government policies and programs, other global warming Web sites, easy ways to obtain more information, opportunities for your involvement, quick facts, and the latest climate change developments.

Public Service Co. of Colorado Breaks the Ice

On November 13, both Public Service Co. Chairman Bill Helton and Denver Mayor Wellington Webb broke ground on a seven story chiller plant to cool downtown office buildings. The plant will provide an alternative to traditional air conditioning and the use of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants.

Mayor Webb noted that "by offering its customers an energy efficient alternative to the use of CFC refrigerants, Public Service Co. is engaging in a forward thinking effort that improves the quality of life we all enjoy here."

The Denver Pavillions, a retail and entertainment complex currently under construction, announced plans to use the centralized chilled water cooling system. In addition, the company has received letters of intent from the Tabor Center complex, (including the office tower, retail mall and the Westin Hotel), Writer Square and the Monoco Hotel.

Using 20,000 tons of chilled water, the facility will be able to handle the cooling needs of about one third of downtown office buildings. The chiller plant will produce huge blocks of ice at night, when electricity is least expensive. During the day the ice will melt and the resulting cold water will be pumped to the buildings, where a heat exchanger will convert the cold water into cool air.

The plant is expected to be cooling buildings by the summer of 1998.

Secretary Cohen Reshapes Defense for the 21st Century

On November 10, 1997 Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced a sweeping program to reform the "business" of the Department of Defense, from corporate headquarters at the Pentagon to the many agencies that support servicemembers and their families.

The Defense Reform Initiative has four pillars: (1) reengineer by adopting the best private sector business practices in defense support activities; (2) consolidate organizations to remove redundancy and move program management out of corporate headquarters and back to the field; (3) compete many more functions now being performed in-house, which will improve quality, cut costs, and make the Department more responsive; and (4) eliminate excess infrastructure.

As part of this program, Secretary Cohen announced that by January 1, 2000, the Department will privatize all utility systems (electric, water, waste water and natural gas) which it currently owns and operates with limited exceptions. The Department's goal will be managing energy, not power infrastructure. To do this, the Defense Fuels Supply Center will be re-formed into the Defense Energy Management Center and tasked to develop a blueprint for regional demonstrations of integrated energy management within the next six months.