California Energy Commission Contract for $2 Million Integrated Cooling and Heating Module Development Project Awarded to BluePoint Energy
El Dorado Hills, Calif., June 16, 2004 - Chapeau, Inc. dba BluePoint Energy announced today that it was awarded a $1.2 million contract in connection with a $2 million project from the California Energy Commission (The Energy Commission) with respect to The Energy Commission's RFP 500-03-503 effective June 2, 2004. The contract award, issued in connection with The Energy Commission's Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER), is entitled PIER Program, Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation. The award is based upon BluePoint's proposal submitted by DE Solutions on behalf of BluePoint Energy, YORK International Corporation, Integrated CHP Systems Corp., and its gas utility partner. Of the twenty-three applicants that submitted proposals to the RFP, only four applicants were selected by The Energy Commission for contract awards. In being awarded the contract, the BluePoint/DE Solutions team placed ahead of such noteworthy and prestigious scientific institutions as The Gas Technology Institute, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, among others. The product to be developed with The Energy Commission's PIER funding support will be a YORK International absorption-based heating and cooling package that will be optimally interfaced with BluePoint Energy's 260kW ultra-low emission Lean-One® CHP Module to create a state-of-the-art integrated cooling and heating module (ICHM).
BluePoint CEO, Guy A. Archbold, commented, "We at BluePoint are exceptionally pleased to have received the California Energy Commission PIER contract award for our proposal. We recognize that there were a number of technologically advanced submissions for this highly visible RFP from the California Energy Commission, thus we are exceptionally proud to have our team placed so highly in the award selection rankings. Recognizing that the majority of California 's remaining combined heating and power (CHP) potential is in the commercial and light industrial sectors, economic integration of thermally activated cooling will be important to obtaining the operating benefits necessary for cost effective CHP and ICHM projects in the future. California public benefit will begin accruing in 2005 assuming ICHM development is successful. Such benefits over the next 10 years should include: (i) $700 million in CHP capital cost savings to commercial/industrial adopters; (ii) $210 million annual electricity savings to commercial/industrial adopters; (iii) 22 Bcf (billion cubic feet) annual natural gas savings; (iv) 1.6 million tons annual CO2 reduction: (v) $900 million in deferred central station plant and transmission costs; (vi) strengthening of California's economy and energy security; and (vii) customer choice. The total market size in California alone over the next ten years is projected to be in excess of 4,000 megawatts."
Archbold continued, "To receive the California Energy Commission's recognition at this stage of our commercial development further validates our plan to provide state-of-the-art CHP and ICHM solutions while meeting the most stringent emission requirements in California and the U.S. through the use of our advanced emissions strategy utilizing BluePoint's proprietary SC-EGRT (Super-Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation) technology. We are very grateful for the cooperation and assistance we received from DE Solutions and our manufacturing and gas utility team partners. As of this date, under The Energy Commission contract, Normandie Casino in Southern California has been selected as the host site for the initial commercial ICHM package. The proposal includes engineering and installation by next>edge, Inc. and maintenance by PPS Energy, Inc.
"We recognize that as California 's primary energy policy and planning agency, The Energy Commission's critical roles include oversight of funding programs that support public interest energy research, advancing energy science and technology through research, development and demonstration, and providing market support to existing, new and emerging renewable technologies. We are highly honored to be recognized in the furtherance of these efforts by the California Energy Commission."
About YORK International Corporation
YORK International Corporation is a full-line, global provider of heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) products and services. YORK is the largest independent supplier of HVAC&R equipment in the United States and a leading competitor in the industry internationally. The Company's products are sold in more than 125 countries and YORK has approximately 22,300 employees worldwide.
About the California Energy Commission
Based in Sacramento, the California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. It was created by the Legislature in 1974 to fulfill five major responsibilities: forecasting future energy needs and keeping historical energy data; licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts or larger; promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building standards; developing energy technologies and supporting renewable energy; and planning for and directing state response to energy emergencies. Through its "Public Interest Energy Research" program, the Commission conducts public interest energy research that seeks to improve the quality of life for California 's citizens by providing environmentally sound, safe, reliable, and affordable energy services and products. PIER's Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation (EPAG) unit has the objective of facilitating widespread use of non-renewable distributed generation (DG) and improving California 's air quality by developing reliable, inexpensive, emission-reduction technologies for reciprocating engines, small turbines and microturbines, fuel cells, and hybrid fuel cell-microturbine technologies. DG is the application by which the EPAG program will provide initial, tangible public benefits in the form of clean and reliable on-site electricity generation.
About DE Solutions
DE Solutions, Inc. is a professional services company serving the needs of the distributed energy marketplace. DE Solutions services include application engineering, project management, market analyses, technology assessments, business and market strategy support, and technology deployment assistance. Its client base includes equipment suppliers, project developers, utilities, government agencies, research organizations and end users.
About Integrated CHP Systems Corp.
Integrated CHP Systems Corp. is a systems integrator specializing in the design and provision of prepackaged thermally activated technologies for integration with a variety of on-site electric generating technologies. The company's founding mission is to popularize the application of combined cooling, heating and power technology by optimizing the performance, reducing the cost and simplifying the installation and maintenance of thermal technologies.