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If state governors sanction the company’s 2009 fuel-cost projections, clean-air expenses, nuclear pre-construction costs and other elements, the residential monthly bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) would increase $34.27 (31 percent) over present-day charges of $110.59 to $144.86 starting in January 2009.

Approximately $21.12 of the increase is for projected fuel costs in 2009 (including under-recovered amounts from this year); $11.42 is for new nuclear-plant construction; and $2.50 is for environmental projects, including the installation of the latest clean-air technology at the company’s coal-fired power plants.

The company’s long-run scheme to invest in carbon-free nuclear power will step-up fuel variety, decrease dependence on fossil fuels and help avoid fuel-cost increases like this in the future. When new nuclear reactors are in commission, they will generate an estimated savings of more than $1 billion yearly for buyers.

Approximated cost hikes for the company’s two planned nuclear reactors in Levy County, Fla. are largely due to payment for critical equipment necessary for their building. Progress Energy Florida took the initiative to secure in advance several pieces of high-demand equipment needed to build the reactors. Securing and paying for these items now ensure they will be accessible when needed during the building process and will finally lower the total cost of the project for customers.

The $17-billion gross cost of the Levy nuclear project, including $3 billion for related transmission facilities, has not changed since it was announced earlier this year. Dialogues continue between Progress Energy Florida and other utilities for joint possession of the reactors, which would also decrease costs for customers. If joint-ownership agreements are reached, the company will update its cost estimates.

The company has also expanded its back up of the Energy Neighbor Fund to provide assistance to customers who are fighting to pay their electric car bills. Employees and customers have given generously to this fund for years to help neighbors in need. Progress Energy doubled its corporate contribution to $1 million in 2008.

The company filed its 2009 projections for fuel and other disbursements with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) recently. The PSC has scheduled hearings in September to review nuclear costs and separate hearings in November to review the company’s projected fuel, environmental and energy-efficiency expenses.
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Read more about China Renewable Energy Market Outlook-

During the Olympic Games, China is going to showcase a strong mixture of renewable energy and energy efficiency characteristics. More than one quarter of all energy consumed at Olympic locales will come from renewable sources, including solar energy, which will yield nearly 8 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of power for Olympic facilities and wind power, which will provide 20% of the power requirements of the Olympic locales.

Suntech Power of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province provided the 130 kW solar system for the Olympic Stadium, also known as the “Bird’s Nest.” In addition, Canadian Solar provided 66 kilowatts (kW) of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) for the lampposts along Olympic Boulevard.

The wind energy facility that will provide power to the Olympic venues in Beijing is Beijing’s first; it is made up of 43 wind turbines (each 1.5 megawatts (MW)) developed and manufactured by a Chinese wind turbine company.

The solar power hot water system that is been installed in the Olympic Village is designed to allow for adequate hot water to satisfy the washing needs of the Olympics’ 12,000 athletes, trainers and other personnel, and to supply drinkable water.

Eighty to ninety percent of the streetlights in the vicinity of Olympic venues will be solar-powered streetlights. A different system that is being displayed at the Olympics is a new solar technology known as the SolarWall hybrid PV/thermal system that produces both electricity and heat.

The National Aquatics Center, known as the “Water Cube”, was constructed to allow the roof and the outer surfaces of the building to collect and reprocess as much as 140,000 tons per year (tpy) of rainwater, clean water and pool water. Advanced building techniques are said to allow Olympics venues to save 50% or more of the energy consumed by typical buildings. One outstanding example is the high efficiency thermal polymer skin encasing the National Aquatics Center, that greatly lessens energy consumption at that Olympic venue.

More than 500,000 trees were planted in and around Olympic venues and on the Olympic green. There will be 500 unconventional energy vehicles operating within the Olympic Village and some of the fans that attend the Olympic competitions in Beijing may ride to the events in one of the 1000 new Beijing public transportation vehicles that run on biodiesel.

The renewable energy vehicles being used at the Olympics include 20 hydrogen fuel cell, 55 electric and 25 hybrid passenger vehicles. In Qingdao, the Olympic Sailing Center, which was constructed at a cost of more than 11 million Yuan [US $1.6 million], uses solar energy technology to operate the air conditioning system in summer, provide heat in the fall and winter and supply hot water year-around; the system will save an estimated 900,000 kWh and 700,000 Yuan [US $102,000] each year, allowing for a 15-year recovery of the investment in that Olympic facility. The Qingdao Olympic Sailing Center also employs a seawater-source heat pump technology.

As is so often the case in China, the Summer Olympics in Beijing present two conflicting views of China’s environmental and energy stewardship.

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