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Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
New Report: A Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy/Part 2
"The Turning Point for Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy includes detailed reports on each Atlantic Coast state. Among the highlights of the report:Offshore wind energy will be an economic powerhouse for America. Harnessing the 52 gigawatts of already-identified available Atlantic offshore wind energy – just 4 percent of the estimated generation potential of this massive resource – could generate $200 billion in economic activity, create 300,000 jobs, and sustain power for about 14 million homes. (Europe already produces enough energy from offshore wind right now to power 4 million homes.)America is closer than ever to bringing offshore wind energy ashore. Efforts are underway in 10 Atlantic Coast states, with over 2,000 square nautical...
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Listen to this Week's radio show
Great radio show live this week (WARL 1320 and Blog Talk Radio/Renewable Now channel) with Jim Murphy from RI College and reps from The Apeiron Institute. Listen in and join us every Weds live, 12-1p EST as talk about the business side of green: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2012/09/26/sustainable-educat...
RENEW Raps We Energies’ Radical Proposal to Restrict Net Metering
(Madison) - In testimony submitted to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) on Wednesday, RENEW Wisconsin objected to We Energies’ proposal to weaken its net-metering service to new customers seeking to generate electricity on-site using solar panels and other renewable energy systems. In its current rate proceeding, We Energies proposes not to pay a new customer-generator for any electricity produced in excess of the amount consumed on site. “We Energies’ proposal is a radical departure from its current practice paying the full retail rate for energy that’s fed back to the utility’s system,” said Michael Vickerman, director of programs and policy for RENEW Wisconsin, a statewide renewable energy advocacy organization. “This proposal is the most extreme example yet of We...
Press Release from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
For Immediate Release - September 26, 2012Contact: Kristin Ruesch or Matthew Pagel (608) 266-9600Kristin.Ruesch@Wisconsin.gov or Matt.Pagel@Wisconsin.govPSC Upcoming Public Hearings MADISON - The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) will hold two public hearings in Southeastern Wisconsinon regarding the Wisconsin Electric Power Company and Wisconsin Gas (WEPCO) request to adjust its electric and natural gas rates. Citizens are encouraged to attend the hearings, which will be held at the following locations and times:Monday, October 1, 20121:00 p.m.Ambassador InnMarquette Room2301 West Wisconsin AvenueMilwaukee, WisconsinMonday, October 1, 20126:00 p.m.Best Western Plus Midway Hotel and SuitesUnderwood I Room1005 South Moorland RoadBrookfield, WisconsinCustomers attending...
NWF Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Report
Thanks so much to the National Wildlife Federation for a great look at using clean energy here in the US. We will break this up into two reports here on the blog given the story's length.Energy policy will drive much of our future economic and environmental choices. Now is the time to evaluate an energy policy based on today's realities, not assumptions we've used for many decades. As pointed out here, technology allows us to make decisions and investments not available to us till now. We can put people to work in the new, green economy. We can build a very different source of power and distribution system. And we can marry this innovation with much higher efficiency standards to dramatically reduce...
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Update from Terra Pass
Carbon offsets are a great, simple way for everyone to help get cleaner air. Here's an update from one group we've worked with in the past. If you have a child in college, this is a great issue to read.The ‘Too Cool for School’ NewsletterSeptember 13, 2012As the new school year begins...Take a look at what the country’s greenest universities are doingGet some handy, easy-to-implement tips that you can use on and off campusAnd don't forget to provide your feedback on our latest projectUniversities go greenThe Sierra Club put together a list of the Top 10 Coolest Schools. Check out the innovative solutions that administrators and students are implementing for tangible, sustainable change.Did you know that a typical dorm room uses enough energy during an academic year to generate...
Monday, September 24, 2012
Researchers testing zero-net energy home
The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has come up with a very interesting concept after unveiling brand new laboratory designed to prove that a typical-looking suburban home for a family of four can generate as much energy as it uses in a year. After an initial year-long experiment, this prototype of a home should serve to improve test methods for...
Communities collaborate on solar projects
Great story in USA Today on communities collaborating on solar projects. We'd love to bring one of these projects to RI. Give us your thoughts.The link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012/09/18/communities-collaborate-on-solar-projects/57804724/1Part of the story: ROCKFORD, Minn. -- David Schmidt has been intrigued by the idea of generating power from the sun for a long time, but he had never taken the next step.Clean Energy CollectiveThe Poudre Valley REA Community Solar Farm in northern Colorado.EnlargeClean Energy CollectiveThe Poudre Valley REA Community Solar Farm in northern Colorado.The research engineer teaches a course on renewable energy at the University of Minnesota. He had already cut back...
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Thursday, September 20, 2012
. Good news on the natural gas front
Thank you to Kathy Frazier, who works at the Arpin Group, for sending us this positive story on "America's natural gas highway" getting built out from coast-to-coast. Switching vehicles over to natural gas--cars as well as trucks--helps in two ways; reducing imported oil and using domestic fuel; cleaning the air.This is a very positive step, and works hand-in-hand with our use of bio-fuels, buying more energy efficient cars and, ultimately, buying EV's. Our best wishes to Clean Energy as they build out our natural gas highway.Here's the story:We are building LNG truck fueling stationscoast-to-coast and border-to-borderClean Energy is America’s connection to natural gas fueling — the largest provider of natural gas for transportation....
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thanks to Seth Handy
For sending us a really good article on crunching the true numbers on natural gas versus renewables. We re-produced only part of the article; the balance can be found on their site (rmi.org).We are going to follow this up with an interesting piece on an effort to build out a natural gas filling station network across the US for cars and trucks. Ironically, as we do that and move away from imported oil (a very good thing) we compete, in transportation, head-on with EV's...a clean, renewable source. Should we? We'd love to hear from you.Also, we are on the road this week and found a great Hampton Inn, Sarasota, FL, out by the airport, with solar panels, full recycling, flush-less toilets and car-charging stations. ...
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
How to build wind turbine blades at home?
Large wind farms are being installed in many parts of the world but the popularity of small wind turbines among homeowners and commercial businesses is also rapidly growing as small wind turbines are now being increasingly used to supplement energy consumption and also serve as an alternative mean to help our environment from pollution caused by fossil fuels.If we look at the current numbers...
Are you ready to plug in?
We are proud to support this event and our move towards EV's:Will You Join Us for Plug In Day?For the last few weeks, we have been celebrating the new vehicle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards that mark President Obama's biggest climate accomplishment yet. Tens of thousands of Americans have sent letters to the White House thanking the president for new policies that will ensure that automakers produce much more efficient vehicles as well as cars that run on little or no oil at all. Now there's another way to celebrate.Sunday, September 23rd, is National Plug In Day, a nationwide celebration of electric vehicles (EVs). By turning their back on the pump, oil spills, and tailpipe emissions, these vehicles are a huge step toward moving America beyond oil. They...
Monday, September 17, 2012
Dairyland Power Purchasing Energy from New Solar Operation
From a Dairyland Power Cooperative news release:LA CROSSE, WI— Dairyland Power Cooperative is purchasing the excess energy output from a new 368 kW solar photovoltaic installation at the City of Galena (Ill.) Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility is interconnected with Jo-Carroll Energy (Elizabeth, Ill.), a Dairyland member cooperative.The solar units’ production at the wastewater treatment plant is expected to produce sufficient power to satisfy the facility’s energy needs. Dairyland has a power purchase agreement in place with the City of Galena for all energy produced beyond that required to power the wastewater treatment plant.Eagle Point Solar, based in Dubuque, Iowa, installed the photovoltaic system. The project installation was partially funded...
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Great radio show this week
As we welcomed guests from the Rocky Mountain Institute. Here's some information on the show: On ReNewable Now, this week was Albert Chan of the Rocky Mountain Institute. We’ll be discovering what the Rocky Mountain Institute is all about, as well as focusing on one of their special projects and visions called “Reinventing Fire Take a listen to this show, and our others, at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/renewable-now/2012/09/12/reinventing-fireAlso, listen live each Wed's, 12-1p, EST on WARL 1320 (and their stream: http://1320warlradio.com)Listen 24/7 at Blog Talk radio to all of our archived show on the Renewable Now chann...
Friday, September 14, 2012
Utility's renewables program judge 'average,' We Energies disputes 'C' grade
From a blog post by Tom Content on JSOnline: We Energies and other Wisconsin utilities are getting average grades from a renewable energy advocacy group in ratings released this week. Renew Wisconsin announced a renewable energy performance report card that judges how utilities have performed on a variety of levels, including the compliance with the state’s renewable energy mandate as well as a variety of other policies. Most of the utilities in the state, including Milwaukee-based We Energies, received “C” grades from Renew Wisconsin, said Don Wichert, executive director of the non-profit organization that seeks to expand development of solar, wind and other types of renewable energy. We Energies was praised for its construction of wind farms within the state,...
Thursday, September 13, 2012
U.S. electric car market set for future growth
United States is currently far behind China in clean energy race, especially when it comes to manufacturing renewable energy technologies. Chinese have recently managed to become the world's largest manufacturers of not only wind turbines but also solar panels, and are looking to even further expand their lead in production of different renewable energy technologies. The two main reasons why...
Great reminders from Terra Pass
From the most recent electronic newsletter from Terra Pass. We are glad to share their good advice:The ‘Too Cool for School’ NewsletterSeptember 13, 2012As the new school year begins...Take a look at what the country’s greenest universities are doingGet some handy, easy-to-implement tips that you can use on and off campusAnd don't forget to provide your feedback on our latest projectUniversities go green The Sierra Club put together a list of the Top 10 Coolest Schools. Check out the innovative solutions that administrators and students are implementing for tangible, sustainable change. Did you know that a typical dorm room uses enough energy during an academic year to generate 6,678 lbs of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions?...
Firms unite to showcase Wisconsin solar sector
From an article in the Journal Sentinel by Thomas Content:A coalition of Wisconsin firms involved in the solar power and solar hot water industry are joining together to market the state at the solar sector's major annual conference. "We want to raise awareness of what Wisconsin has to offer the solar industry," said Amy Heart of Milwaukee Shines, the city's solar program. "In Milwaukee, we are known for making things, and making things well. We are taking that tradition and reputation to the solar supply chain."Milwaukee Shines previously launched a business council focused on the solar hot water industry, including Johnson Controls Inc. and Caleffi Solar, based in the Menomonee Valley . The new partnership, the Wisconsin Solar Initiative, is broader, focusing on the solar sector...
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Pope Benedict XVI goes green with fuel efficient cars
We applaud the Pope's progress in reducing the Vatican's carbon footprint, with many positive changes, and his terrific attitude about get sustainable. We need this type of leadership, across the globe, from our key players in every sector; including religion and other non-profits..We have no doubt Jesus led a natural life with great respect for our base resources. The Vatican, like all of us, got away from some of those early lessons, but thanks to the Pope and his personal commitment to simplify and streamline, we are coming full circle back to humbler beginnings.The story: BY BOB HOLTNEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM"Green Pope” Pope Benedict XVI has gotten some new wheels.It’s not a new tricked-out Popemobile, but the electric cars he has...
Grothman would take state backward
An editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:No, Mr. Grothman, wind energy is not tearing the state apart, and in fact, most of the state's utilities are well-positioned to meet the state's renewable standard requirement in 2015. Increasing the use of renewable energy in Wisconsin is needed to reduce the state's reliance on fossil fuels and to thus meet the challenges posed by climate change. The state needs more wind farms and solar panels and other renewable sources - for energy reasons and for the jobs these industries can produce. But Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) wants to take the state backward, perhaps largely because he's heard from constituents upset over a proposed small wind farm in his district. He said he will introduce legislation to freeze the state's renewable energy...
Great News in RI
Rhode Island Top 50 Project:Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Rhode IslandThe TOP 50 project intends to implement a network of 50 charging stations that will allow Rhode Islanders to drive and re-charge electric vehicles throughout the state.We need your support to find locations that will best serve Rhode Island. If there is a location that you think would be great for electric vehicle charging, please suggest it by clicking the link below:Suggest a Charging Station location!More InformationWhy Electric Vehicles in Rhode Island? Small State = less range anxiety: The small size of Rhode Island make it the ideal location for electric vehicles with a limited range.Energy Security: Using hybrid and plug-in...
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
We Energies Gets Lowest Score on Renewable Energy Report Card
Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} RENEW Wisconsin announces the following for immediate release: Churches and other nonprofits in We Energies’ service area will have difficulty following the renewable-energy example of the Unitarian Universalist Church West in Brookfield, because the utility unilaterally ended the incentive program which helped the church absorb the cost of a solar system...
