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PROPOSAL:

Execute Contract to Cosponsor Production of an Educational Video Film on Renewable Energy

SYNOPSIS:

Hydrogen 2000 Inc. has proposed to produce two educational video films on "Renewable Power: Earth's Clean Energy Destiny." A 25-minute film will be produced for schools and colleges, while a shorter, condensed 6-minute film will be produced for use at conferences and seminars. These films would cover renewable energy technologies that are expected to play an important role in the recently deregulated electricity market: solar, wind, hydro, biomass and hydrogen. Total cost of this project is $118,000. The project is cosponsored by DOE ($60,000), Engineering Advancement Association of Japan ($23,000) and Hydrogen 2000 (in-kind cost-share, in terms of video-footage from previous projects). The proposed AQMD cost-share is $35,000.

COMMITTEE:

Technology, December 11, 1997, Recommended for Approval

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Authorize the Executive Officer to execute a contract with Hydrogen 2000, in an amount not to exceed $35,000, to cosponsor the production of two educational video films on renewable energy.

Barry Wallerstein, D.Env.
Acting Executive Officer

Background

Under AB 1890 provisions, the utility industry in California was recently deregulated. Independent producers offering renewable energy will compete with diesel engines for market share. Gas turbines are expected to gain the highest market share, followed by diesel engines, renewable energy and fuel cells. As costs of renewable energy decline, their importance in the energy mix is expected to increase.

Renewable energy sources, in particular photovoltaics, wind and hydro, are among the cleanest sources of electricity with minimal, if any, emissions of criteria pollutants, toxic pollutants, or greenhouse gases. The awareness of these enormous benefits associated with renewable energy is generally limited to a small group, which includes most environmental organizations, that regularly follow this technology. There is thus a need to expand the awareness of these technologies to a broader audience.

Under the new utility deregulation law, customers have the power to choose among various providers, and can choose a generator that provides a fairly large share of renewable energy in its package. Increasing customer awareness, through the proposed educational films, has the potential to increase the demand for electricity from renewable energy, with accompanying clean-air benefits to the Basin.

In late 1995, under Contract # 96049, along with other cosponsors, AQMD contributed $50,000 to an earlier Hydrogen 2000 production, "Element One," a film on hydrogen as a potential renewable transportation fuel. On completion, this broadcast-quality film was successfully distributed worldwide: domestically to many public TV channels, and internationally. The film has met with acclaim at several conferences where it was aired.

Proposal

Hydrogen 2000 has proposed to develop two educational films on renewable energy. The objective of the proposed effort is to increase the awareness of the ultra-clean emission benefits of renewable energy technologies, such as wind, photovoltaics, solar thermal and hydro-electric. Besides renewable energy, the films will also emphasize hydrogen as an energy storage medium to address and offset the intermittent nature of some types of renewable energy.

The 25-minute film will be titled, "Renewable Power: Earth's Clean Energy Destiny." It will rely on animated graphics and video-footage illustrating:

a. the brief history of energy

b. the advantages and the trade-offs of using fossil fuels

c. an introduction to various forms of renewable energy

i. solar ii. wind iii. hydro iv. biomass

d. the advantages of renewable energy

e. the main drawback of some renewable energy sources (intermittency)

f. the role of hydrogen storage in overcoming this drawback

g. the other potential applications of hydrogen, including transportation fuel cells

h. a summary of renewable energy and hydrogen in stationary and mobile applications.

The 6-minute film will be a condensed version of the above.

The 25-minute video film will be made available to educational establishments including junior high schools, high schools, and colleges. The distributor, The Video Project, is a non-profit organization that has successfully distributed educational and environmentally related material to schools, colleges, and community groups. The condensed version, i.e. the 6 minute film, will be used at exhibits, conferences, and seminars.

The proposed project is included in the September 1997 update of the Technology Advancement Plan within the proposed program, 97TT-1 "Assessment of Advanced Technologies and Information Dissemination". There are several expected benefits of the proposed project. If the project is successfully implemented, it will increase the awareness of zero-emission electricity generation through renewable energy technologies. It has the potential to encourage customers to buy electricity from renewable energy providers. This larger market for clean technologies could, in turn, attract further investment and development of these technologies.

Sole Source Justification

Section II, Step 3,(C) of the Consultant Selection Policy and Procedure identifies four provisions under which a sole-source award may be justified: (1) cost to prepare documents exceeds cost for consultant, (2) delay would result in the endangerment of public health, (3) services are only available from sole source, and (4) other circumstances exist identifying sole source as in the best interests of the AQMD. This request for sole-source award is made under provision (4).

The proposed project includes several elements that make it unique. The proponent was a key participant in an earlier successful film production, has access to considerable raw film videotape on renewable energy from their earlier work, and offers substantial in-kind cost-sharing.

Hydrogen 2000 Inc. established its credentials by raising enough funds to produce "Element One," a film on hydrogen energy. On completion, this broadcast quality film was successfully distributed worldwide: domestically through satellite feed to many public TV channels, and internationally, through one of Europe's most prestigious distributing agency, Jane Balfour Films, Ltd. The film was met with acclaim at several conferences where it was aired. Hydrogen 2000, Inc. is also using considerable unedited video-footage, remaining from the production of "Element One," which otherwise would be too costly to reproduce. In addition, Dr. Michael Tobias, a noted documentary film-maker and co-producer of "Element One," will be a consultant to the new educational films. The new films will be co-funded by DOE ($60,000), with translation and distribution support from NEDO in Japan, and potential support from Natural Resources, Canada.

Resource Impacts

The total direct cost of this proposed project is estimated to be $118,000. The breakdown of the cosponsors and estimated support is as follows:

Sufficient funds are available in the Advanced Technology Fund to cosponsor this project in an amount not to exceed $35,000.

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