WIRED FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES. It is safe to say that in the United States, most cars and trucks travel between buildings. For example: a commuter travels from his or her home (a building) to a place of work (usually another building); a vacationer travels from home to hotel; or a truck driver from a warehouse to a retail store. You get the idea.

It is also safe to say that most of these buildings are wired for electricity and are connected to the power grid. If so, isn't it also safe to say that most of the infrastructure needed for electric vehicles is already in place? That is, aside from the last connection between building and EV charging station, most of the wires needed to carry electricity from power plant to electric cars have already been installed - and have been for some time. Even the remotest parking lots are often electrified for security lighting.

If completed with that last connection, the infrastructure for "refueling" electric vehicles would be far more extensive than that for fossil fuel powered cars and trucks.

Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Inc. (EVI) has announced that to date it has shipped over 3000 conductive charging stations worldwide. EVI claims that no company is more committed to making the electric vehicle a real, more practical alternative to present day hydrocarbon vehicles. Visit EVI at http://www.evii.com .

EASY SELL FOR RENEWABLES. While convincing motorists that they should buy electric, fuel cell, hybrid, or just more efficient cars might be an ominous task, convincing utility companies that they should invest in renewable energy seems relatively easy.

When ScottishPower completes its merger with PacificCorp, it has pledged to invest $60 million for renewables over the next five years to develop 50 megawatts of additional green power. Already ScottishPower has 92 megawatts of windpower capacity installed in the United Kingdom. Visit PacificCorp at http://www.pacificorp.com/ .

Wisconsin Electric will begin installing two more large Vestas-American Wind Technology turbines on the farm of Douglas and Cynthia Decker - as soon as the ground thaws near Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

The two turbines will stand 290 feet tall to the top of the turning 150 foot diameter rotors. Each turbine under ideal conditions will generate 660 kilowatts of power, enough for about 300 homes. The wind generated electricity will eliminate 1956 tons of carbon dioxide otherwise emitted by fossil fuel burning power plants.

Says Mr. Decker,"Our family believes renewable resources are a critical part of our energy future and we're very proud that the wind turbines will be located on our farm. Too many people have the 'not in my backyard' attitude." Visit Wisconsin Electric at http://www.wisconsinelectric.com/ .

Back Issues ENERGIES...the free weekly e-letter of products, innovation, issues and education in clean, renewable and efficient energy. Visit Green Energy News on the Web at http://www.nrglink.com for past issues. For free subscription contact bmulliken@nrglink.com. Copyright Green Energy News Inc. 3/14/99 vol.3 no.49.