1998 Forms and Software Now Available The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is pleased to announce the launch of the 1998 reporting cycle for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. To be included in the 1998 Public Use Database, certified reports must be submitted by July 1, 1998. Paper copies of Forms EIA-1605 and EIA-1605EZ were mailed on May 11. The 1998 Electronic Form and Public Use Database software is currently being duplicated. By the week of May 18, we hope to mail copies of this software on CD-ROM and diskettes to all previous reporters and those who have contacted the Communications Center to request it. If you are anxious to get started before the software arrives in the mail, you can download everything you need from the Program's FTP (File Transfer Protocol) site at: ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oiaf/1605/cdrom. New users of FTP sites should consider starting with our FTP Help page at http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ftphlp.html. We strongly recommend that all users begin their visit to the FTP site with the read1605.txt file, which contains documentation and instructions for accessing the necessary files. The site also contains PDF (Portable Document Format) files of other program materials, such as the Guidelines and Supporting Documents, the first two annual reports, copies of the paper reporting forms, and a worksheet to assist reporters in calculating carbon sequestration achieved by urban tree-planting projects.

New Deadline for 1998! The EIA is committed to releasing the information reported to the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program in a more timely manner. With the goal of making reports on activities occurring through 1997 available before the end of 1998, we have moved up the deadline for submitting reports to be included in the 1998 Public Use Database to July 1, 1998. This accelerated schedule means we will not be publishing a formal annual report on the results of the 1997 reporting cycle this year. Instead, we will issue a special edition of The Greenhouse Gas Volunteer that will provide an overview and summary of last year's reports. We will also post more detailed summary information on the program's web site. The results of the 1998 reporting cycle will be documented in a formal annual report to be issued before the end of the year. Greenhouse Gas Brochure Available The Energy Information Administration is pleased to announce the release of Greenhouse Gases, Global Climate Change, and Energy, a brochure that provides a basic overview of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, paying particular attention to energy-related emissions. For free copies, please contact the Communications Center, or click here.

A future issue of The Greenhouse Gas Volunteer will provide a detailed summary of what was reported in 1997.

New Features for 1998 We have filled some of the unused space on the CD with materials you may find useful. The following documents and software have been added for 1998: Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Voluntary Reporting The Program's second Annual Report, which summarizes the reports received in the 1996 reporting cycle Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 1996 The EIA's latest estimates of emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and other greenhouse gases. Climate Wise Reporting Primer A guide to voluntary reporting for Climate Wise participants. The Kyoto Protocol The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which established binding emissions targets for developed countries. The Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Reference Manual Comprehensive and consistent methodologies for countries to estimate and update their national greenhouse gas inventories in order to comply with UNFCCC Articles 4 and 12. Factor Information Retrieval (FIRE) 6.0 A database management system containing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) recommended emissions factors for criteria and hazardous air pollutants, including greenhouse gases. E-Plus 1.0a A software tool, developed by EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program, for conducting preliminary evaluations of the feasibility of landfill gas-to-energy projects. Looking to Download the Reporting Software? Visit http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/ftphlp.html for instructions and a direct link to the Program's FTP site.

Welcome New Reporters! 1997 saw the addition of 26 new reporters. We would like to welcome them, and thank them for joining all our repeat reporters in participating in the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program: AES Hawaii AES Shady Point AES Thames American Municipal Power-Ohio CLE Resources Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Dragon Products Company, Inc. Duke Engineering & Services Enron Renewable Energy Corporation Fayetteville Gas Co, LLC Granger Electric Company GSF Energy, LLC LAHD Energy, Inc. Lucent Technologies MCNIC Oil & Gas Co. Minnesota Resource Recovery Association Monteco Gas, LLC NC Muni Landgas Partners, L.P. Newton Landfill Gas, LLC North American Carbon, Inc. Public Service Company of New Mexico Sacramento Municipal Utility District Science Applications International Corporation Separation Technologies Vanalco, Inc. Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. Sulfur Hexafluoride Reductions Can Help the U.S. Meet Kyoto's Goals In addition to reducing emissions of the more widely recognized greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, the Kyoto Protocol recognizes reducing sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions as a legitimate way to meet national emissions reduction targets. One of the clearest opportunities for achieving reductions of SF6 emissions can be found at substations on electricity transmission and distribution systems. Improved maintenance and replacement of SF6-charged breakers can decrease normal leakage. Both Duquesne Light and General Public Utilities have reported successful efforts to reduce SF6 emissions from this source. Annual reductions typically total several short tons. But, because sulfur hexafluoride has a heat trapping capacity 23,900 times that of carbon dioxide, just a few tons can make a world of difference. GAO Reviews Voluntary Reporting Program Recently, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) released a review of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. The GAO acknowledged DOE's efforts to help ensure the quality of the data reported, including developing guidelines, establishing a review and assistance process to check arithmetic accuracy and internal consistency of information reported, and requiring certification. The GAO noted that DOE and reporters believe that adequate incentives exist for reporting reliable data because of public scrutiny and legal sanctions for intentionally falsifying data on a federal form. Copies of this report (GAO/RCED-98-107R, Department of Energy: Voluntary Reporting Program for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions, March 24, 1998) can be obtained from GAO by calling (202) 512-6000 or by clicking here.

For More Information About Voluntary Reporting... Voice: 1-800-803-5182 or 202-586-0688 Fax: (202) 586-3045 E-mail: infoghg@eia.doe.gov Internet: http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/frntend.html FTP: ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oiaf/1605/cdrom Mailing Address: Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, EI-81, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20585.