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Utility Rates API Version 2 is Live!
Posted: 17 May 2013 - 12:14 by Sfomail
Group: Utility Rate, Developer

After several months of development and testing, the next generation web service for the utility rate database is finally here! I encourage you to check out the V2 Utility Rates API at http://en.openei.org/services/doc/rest/util_rates
The new API includes support for the latest V2 Utility Rates input fields (including tiered time-of-use rates, tiered demand charges, new category for lighting, and many more improvements). Just a reminder that you can view (And contribute!) rate database entries at http://en.openei.org/wiki/Gateway:Utilities
If you are a developer still using the V1 web service, I strongly encourage you to switch to the V2 platform as the V1 web service will be made unavailable in the future. Further details will be provided in the near future. Additionally, the V1 data is currently static, meaning that any new rates or updates contributed to the utility rate database will not be reflected in V1 outputs.
Now that the V2 API has been released, it's time to start thinking about V3. Current ideas include geolocation capabilities within the API (example: providing the API with address, zip code, or latlong, and getting utilities/rates back), daily tiers (in addition to the current monthly approach), applicability fields (i.e. a particular rate's eligibility cirteria for voltage, power, and energy levels), and others. If you have any pressing needs or bright ideas for V3, we'd love to hear them! (note, some of the above items may be included in a "V2.5" update).
Feel free to reply to this post if you have any other questions or comments.
Photo by flickr user miheco.
Multicolor Maps from Compound Queries
Posted: 16 May 2013 - 15:22 by Jweers
Group: OpenEI Community Central, Developer

Hi all,
Recently, a couple of people on OpenEI have asked me how to do compound (or multicolor) maps like this one:
Thanks to the new Google Maps v3 API, this is really easy. I put together a quick sample of how this is done, complete with code snippits, here: http://en.openei.org/wiki/User:Jweers/Test5. First, create a compound query, then atttribute a custom marker icon to each query using the ;param=value syntax. The new OpenEI maps extension will take care of the rest.
Here is an example of it in use on OpenEI by NREL's Geothermal team: http://en.openei.org/wiki/Map_of_Low_Temperature_Direct_Use_Geothermal_Facilities
Custom marker icons use a relative wiki path, like 'File:Blue_marker.png'. After a quick search for existing icons, if you don't see the one you want, just upload it!

Happy coding,
Jon
GRR 2nd Quarter - Stakeholder Update Meeting
Posted: 2 May 2013 - 15:06 by Kyoung
Group: Geothermal Regulatory Roadmap

Last week, we held the GRR Stakeholder Update at the Denver Renaissance Hotel in Denver, CO. The meeting was well-attended with over 50 attendees, including in-person and webinar attendance. Thanks to all who attended!

Presentation
During the meeting, we reviewed the current status of the GRR efforts, including:
* Roadmap Development: expansion to Colorado and Texas
* Regulatory Analyses: including NEPA, Funding Mechanisms, and Permit Coordination Offices
* NEPA Database: collection of geothermal NEPA information to be made available on OpenEI
* Technical White Papers: outlining technology and environmental characterizations for geothermal techniques
* GRR Web Interface: improvements for a more user-friendly experience
More details on each of these topics can be found in the attached presentation.

Meeting Minutes
The time constraints of the Peer Review restricted the meeting to 1 hour, limiting time for thorough discussion of topics. Instead, questions and comments were collected and assembled in the attached document. We thank everyone for their comments and input, and for their patience with the shortened meeting format. Efforts will be made in future updates to allow for more discussion time, so that conversations can be had real time.
Meeting Minutes are attached.

3rd Quarter Meeting
The next Stakeholder Update Meeting will be held in conjunction with the GEA National Geothermal Summit. We will provide updates on progress of the Texas roadmap, NEPA database, Web interface, and our other efforts.
Date: June 26, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. (webinar option will also be available)
Location: Grand Sierra Resort and Casino (Reno, NV)
If you would like to be added to the invitation list, please email us!
OpenEI Showcased in Geothermal Exploration Best Practices Workshop
Posted: 26 Apr 2013 - 12:05 by Graham7781
Group: OpenEI Community Central

This week, Denver hosted the US DOE Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) 2013 Peer Review. The purpose of the peer review is to offer geothermal stakeholders an opportunity to learn about the projects funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) across a wide spectrum of technical complexity and funding magnitude, from research and development to demonstration and analysis.
This year, Kate Young of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Eric K. Hass of the Golden Geothermal Technologies Office held a workshop aimed at getting experts to use OpenEI for the best practices exploration knowledge exchange through a crowdsourcing effort.
The participants at Wednesday's workshop were divided into 6 groups based on different areas of expertise, such as remote sensing, drilling, etc., and each had one NREL facilitator at their table to guide the knowledge exchange, and facilitate the use of OpenEI.
Users were all able to create log-ins and edit numerous pieces of content on OpenEI within the 3 hour workshop. Along with expanding different techniques, the OpenEI Geothermal gateway has also added NEPA documents and geothermal regulations in the western states. The overall feedback from the workshop was positive, and was a great experience for OpenEI to engage with new users.
OpenEI launches new Water Power Gateway and Community Forum
Posted: 28 Mar 2013 - 16:16 by Graham7781
Group: Water Power Forum

OpenEI has launched a new Water Power Gateway, which contains links to critical public data sets, up-to-date information on technologies and events, a community forum to discuss topics of interest, links to major research and industry reports, and more.
The resources provided in the Water Power Gateway cover both hydropower and marine & hydrokinetic power, which refers to technologies that harness energy from waves, tidal currents, river currents, or ocean thermal gradients. While many of the resources included in the launch of the Water Power Gateway were provided by the U.S. Department of Energy's Water Power Program, the wiki platform also allows the larger user community to contribute other valuable, reliable sources of information that will further advance the development of the hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic industries.
View the Water Gateway on OpenEI to explore the latest information on hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic power.