Johnson Controls helps Michigan school afford solar power

From an article by Jim Kasuba in The News Herald (Southgate, MI):

WYANDOTTE — The sun was shining brightly on the day the city and school district kicked off their first-ever solar energy project.

It was just as fitting that officials chose Earth Day to highlight the installation of a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof of Wilson Middle School.

Melanie McCoy, general manager of Wyandotte Municipal Services, said her department received a $50,000 Michigan Energy Office matching grant earlier this year for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the renewable energy system.

She said Wyandotte Municipal Services was pleasantly surprised by an offer from Johnson Controls, a Milwaukee-based company working with the district to integrate the project into the school's curriculum.

"Wyandotte Municipal planned on spending 50 percent of the cost of the grant, but Johnson Controls picked up a substantial amount of it," McCoy said.

Photovoltaics, or PV as it is sometimes referred to in the industry, is a technology in which light is converted into electrical power. In such a system, photons from sunlight knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity.

Such a system rarely generates enough power to fill the needs of a building the size of Wilson Middle School, but it can be used to supplement coal burning and natural gas.

The Wyandotte Municipal Service Commission awarded installation of the system to Kulick Enterprises Inc. of Wyandotte.

This hybrid energy conservation system will be a learning tool both for the energy providers at Wyandotte Municipal Services and students at the school.

The first 12 months will offer a learning curve that should provide data for future years, indicating how much the system can offset energy costs.

"For the first year, we are leasing the roof for $1 so we can get an idea how much energy it produces," McCoy said. "We can then share the savings down the road so we can all benefit from it."

She envisions the city-owned Wyandotte Municipal Services and the school district entering a financial agreement after the first year of the solar PV system's operation.

McCoy speculates that the reason solar energy isn't used more extensively is because of the start-up costs and the time it takes to recoup those costs.

Because of that, McCoy said solar power is expensive on a per-kilowatt scale.

"Coal is 5 to 7 cents per kilowatt, wind (power) is 10 cents a kilowatt and solar is 23 cents a kilowatt," McCoy said. "This system cost $100,000 and we think it's going to be $2,000 per year (in energy savings). If we were paying this ourselves, it would take 50 years until we regained our investment."

McCoy said silicon in the solar panels is a major component that makes them so expensive. She said panels made without silicon would make them considerably less expensive.

However, in this case the state grant and financial support from Johnson Controls have made the system extremely affordable.

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Racine City Council votes to allow electric vehicles

From an article by Stephanie Brien in The Journal Times (Racine):

RACINE — Julie Conigliaro is the proud new owner of a neighborhood electric vehicle, thanks to a City Council decision Tuesday night. Following the City Council’s vote to allow electric vehicles to drive in city limits, Conigliaro signed the dotted line on her new car.

“I’m really happy with it,” said Conigliaro, 41, literally jumping off the ground outside the City Council chambers after they unanimously approved the ordinance. In accordance with state law, the city had to approve an ordinance before neighborhood electric vehicles could be driven within city limits. The new ordinance allows electric cars on all city streets with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.

Madison adopted a similar ordinance in April and Union Grove is in the process of drafting its own ordinance.

“It’s good for the environment, but it’s also good for my pocketbook,” Conigliaro said.

The car cost her $10,500 and will only cost her pennies each time she charges it.

She bought her car from a dealer in Wausau, which is currently only one of five in the state.

Conigliaro lives on 3335 Victorian Dr. and drives four miles every day to her job at SC Johnson.

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Waukesha home installs solar panels on shingles of recycled diapers

From an article by Linda McAlpine on GM Today:

WAUKESHA - From the faux-slate shingles made of recycled baby diapers and rooftop solar panels to its engineered wood floors, the house being built at 1512 Rock Ridge Way in Waukesha is anything but traditional.

The 2,100 square-foot house is the 2008 Wisconsin Trend Home and when completed later this summer will house the latest in energy-saving and environmentally-friendly technology.

Starting at the top, Tim O’Brien, of O’Brien Homes, Waukesha, builder of the home, walked through some of its cutting edge highlights.

"The shingles, which look like slate, are made of recycled baby diapers, tires and plastic bottles," he said. "Because they’re light, they don’t need the structure to support them so you need less wood. You’re doing something good for the environment by using product made from recycled material. They also have a 50-year life span."

According to Lisa Schaal, solar site assessor for Sol Power, Milwaukee, the 20 solar panels on the roof enable the house to use about 500 or less kilowatts per month, compared with the average home electricity usage of 800 kilowatts per month.

Dave Schwabenlender, of Arch Electric, LLC of Plymouth, said the panels will generate power even on cloudy days.

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We Energies offers renewable energy feasibility study grants

From Amy Flom, We Energies Consultant:

We Energies is offering Renewable Energy Feasibility Study Grants to its business and not-for-profit electric customers, as well as to organizations teamed with We Energies business and non-profit electric customers. This program helps to cover the costs of studying the feasibility of installing a renewable electricity generation project at a customer's facility. Funds also can be used to conduct research on a renewable energy product or technology, or to help demonstrate or commercially advance a renewable energy product or technology into the marketplace.

How much grant money is available per project?

We Energies will fund half the cost that remains after other funding sources are applied to the cost of the study or project, up to a maximum grant of $200,000. Although matching funds are not required for this grant program, any additional funding that can be added to the proposal will be considered a favorable element of the project and increase the chances for a successful grant. In addition, the We Energies grant funds may be used as matching funds towards a larger State, federal or private grant program, provided the activities of the project meet this program's objectives, occur in We Energies service territory, and the applicant is teamed with a We Energies business or not-for-profit electric customer.

How do I apply for a We Energies grant?

Please complete the Feasibility Study Grant Application.

Grant proposals will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability of funds.

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Nuclear energy safety report for Congress

Recently I found an interesting document called "Nuclear Power Plants: Vulnerability to Terrorist Attack" which was made for US Congress, which I think you may find interesting:CRS Report for CongressNuclear Power Plants:Vulnerability to Terrorist AttackCarl Behrens and Mark HoltSpecialists in Energy PolicyResources, Science, and Industry DivisionUpdated February 4, 2005SummaryProtection of

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Manitowoc wind-tower company set to expand

From an article by Tom Content in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

More expansion is in the works for Tower Tech Systems Inc. of Manitowoc after its parent company raised $100 million in a stock sale.

Tower Tech is a manufacturer of towers used in wind power projects, a growth area within the manufacturing sector given the record pace in the expansion of wind power generation projects across the country.

For Tower Tech, growth is buoyed in part by an agreement it signed this month to supply wind towers to a subsidiary of the Spanish company Gamesa, a leading player in the global wind industry.

Financial terms of the deal weren't disclosed, but Broadwind says it is the largest single order for towers placed by Gamesa with a North American tower manufacturer. Delivery from Manitowoc of the 256-foot, four-section wind towers for Gamesa begins this month.

"That's a significant arrangement to lock in with one of the premier and major wind developers in the U.S.," said Jeff Anthony of Milwaukee, a manager at the American Wind Energy Association and an active participant in Wisconsin's renewable-energy sector.

"Gamesa is establishing their presence in the U.S. and is one of the fastest-growing wind turbine suppliers and project developers in the U.S."

Broadwind Energy Inc. of Naperville, Ill., Tower Tech's parent company, said it planned to raise $100 million through sale of stock to investment funds managed by Tontine Associates. A separate agreement with an unidentified partner would result in additional financing, Broadwind said.

The proceeds will be used to "accelerate . . . current expansion plans" as well as acquisitions and investments in plans to grow production, the company said.

Lars Moller, chief operating officer, said the company would be poised to expand its production of towers and gears from current locations in Manitowoc and elsewhere, as well as through new factories "strategically placed throughout North America. . . ."

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Blue Sky Green Field Wind Farm almost operational

From an article by Brett Rowland in The Reporter (Fond du Lac):

JOHNSBURG — The status of the Blue Sky Green Field Wind Farm has generated a lot of hot air from locals, but operator We Energies said the 88 turbines haven't started generating power.

Blue Sky Green Field remains under construction as We Energies tests the turbines, said company spokesman Barry McNulty.

In recent weeks, locals have called and e-mailed The Reporter with rumors about the project, including that it had been shut down due to stray voltage. Another rumor presented to The Reporter stated the turbines were not constructed properly and the blades could come loose.

McNulty denied those rumors and said the project is progressing according to schedule.

"It just goes to show that it doesn't matter the type of fuel — nuclear, solar, wind — there will always be those who subject themselves to rumor," he said.

The wind farm is located about 15 miles northeast of the city of Fond du Lac in the towns of Marshfield and Calumet.

A contractor has erected all the turbines and now We Energies is conducting comprehensive tests on each unit. Some have been spinning during test runs, while others remain dormant. McNulty said 60 of the 88 turbines are able to rotate, while work on the others remains in progress.

"The turbines have been spinning at times, but have been taken offline at times," McNulty said.

McNulty said commercial operations at Blue Sky Green Field would begin about the end of May. . . .

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