The carbon fiber and aluminum turbine was designed by Marcos Madia, Sergio Ohashi and Juan Manuel Pantano.  The Eolic’s designers haven’t divulged how much their product would cost, but chances are it will be significantly more expensive than the tiny $75 HYMINI wind-powered gadget charger. Still, we’re always happy to see new tools added to our portable alternative energy arsenal.

Send us your practical innovation.

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Artists view of proposed solar panels installed on the Fairhaven Landfill

Every once in a while a project comes along that everyone can support. The Town of Fairhaven, MA has just such a project. They are proposing to build a solar power plant on top of the town landfill turning a ‘brown site’ – ‘green’.

The proposed plant will generate about 500kw of energy which the town can use to off-set a portion of the municipal electricity load. Panels will be placed mainly on the flat, top portion of the landfill which has very good southern exposure. Access to the site is through a commercial zone and there are only a few houses nearby so impact to neighbors will be minimal. The panels will be nearly invisible to most of the town because of the location of the landfill and the low profile of solar panels as compared to wind turbines. And the energy generated will not be just electric, the Selectmen hope to excite local school children with educational programs on solar power using the plant as a real-world teaching tool.

Representatives from the Town of Fairhaven, Mass DEP, Blue Sky Power, Smith Energy LLC, and Nexcepts visited the site on a rainy day

Under the leadership of Dr. Brian Bowcock, Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, a Request for Proposals (RFP) to install solar panels on the town’s closed landfill was issued over the summer. The town received one qualified proposal from a team of Massachusetts renewable energy developers led by Blue Sky Power and including Smith Energy, local solar firm Lighthouse Electrical, which has installed numerous solar projects in the Commonwealth, and the nationally known engineering firm Nexcepts. The Board will present the proposal and the developer(s) to the Town at it’s Fall Town Meeting for approval. Once the town has voted to approve the project construction is projected to start in the spring of 2010.

View of Hastings Middle School (top left) from the Landfill

The project is expected to receive strong support from all levels of State government. Governor Deval Patrick has been a strong supporter of renewable energy. In April 2007, Governor Patrick established a goal for installed solar power of 250 MW by 2017, up from 4 MW installed at the time he took office.   Also, on June 17, 2009, The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Department of Energy Resources (DOER) presented a workshop for municipal officials, solid waste consultants and renewable energy project developers about the unique issues surrounding the development of solar or wind installations at closed landfills – a representative from the Town of Fairhaven and one of the proposed project developers attended this session. The Mass DEP is planning more similar sessions further demonstrating their interest in seeing projects like Fairhaven’s succeed.

Artists view of porposed solar panels installed on the Fairhaven landfill

Fairhaven is located along the south coast of Massachusetts, about 50 miles south of Boston During the 1800s, the whaling industry and its related marine trades contributed greatly to the town’s growth making it one of the wealthiest communities in the world. Between 1885 and 1906, Fairhaven benefited greatly from the gifts of magnificent European style public architecture donated by native son Henry H. Rogers, a multimillionaire from his career in the Standard Oil Company. A grammar school, library, town hall, high school, Unitarian Church, and the public water system were among the gifts given by Rogers.

The generosity of Rogers and the can-do spirit of the town bode well for the success of this project.

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Fenwick Island, Delaware (image from Guy Schmidt on Flickr)

The owner of the Nantuckets Restaurant in Fenwick Island, Delaware is also the operator of a “personal power plant” for the business.  Instead of waiting for his utility companies to go green,” Dave Twining took matters into his own hands, with a distributed generation renewable energy installation of 48 rooftop solar panels and a 45-foot tall wind turbine in the parking lot.

The combined wind-solar project generates one-third of the business’s electricity, minimizing Nantuckets Restaurant’s carbon footprint.  In its first month, the personal power plant can already be said to be a success.  It will produce about 12 kilowatts (kW) of power (consider that an average house requires 4-6 kW of energy).

Thanks to federal stimulus funds set aside for renewable energy projects, Twining was able to secure funding to help defray the costs of the $104,000 installation.  Considering that Delaware businesses spend an average of $830/month on electricity, it makes sense for owners like Twining to consider distributed generation renewable energy projects like the one at the Nantuckets Restaurant.

A personal power plant could include solar panels (image from OiMax on Flickr)

The benefits of installing a distributed generation “personal power plant” vs. drawing from a utility that purchases or generates clean energy are several.  First, you can immediately reduce your carbon footprint with your own solar panels and/or wind turbine.  It can take years for centralized power plants to be sited and permitted.  Second, you have more control over the costs of your system, and ultimately will be able tap into free renewable energy with your own system.  Utilities will still charge you, even for clean energy, and you will be at their mercy when it comes to rate increases in the future.

In short, independent business owners like Twining are making wise decisions by investing in their own renewable energy resources.  Why not pay them a visit, enjoy some New England Chowder, and marvel at Nantucks Restaurant’s personal power plant next time you’re in Fenwick Island?

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Texas Wind Power Lowering Electricity Costs (image from zudark on Flickr)

Who says renewable energy cannot make a positive difference?  Just this week, a report was issued by a Wall Street research group, Bernstein Research, to evidence that Texas wind power is lowering electricity costs in the Lone Star State.  Texas is considered a national leader with respect to wind power.  And, world-wide it ranks as number 6 with respect to harnessing the energy of the wind.  As if Texas was a sovereign state!

With more Texans using wind power, there has been less reliance on natural gas-fueled generators which has, in turn, had the effect of lowering electricity costs.  As explained in the Bernstein Research report:

[A]t hours of relatively low power demand, it will no longer be necessary to dispatch high cost gas fired generators to meet the prevailing load; rather, the system’s wind, nuclear and coal fired power plants will be sufficient to meet demand. As power prices are set by the variable cost of operation of the last unit dispatched, wind can have a material impact on the price of power.

Because its so costly to run natural gas (and/or coal) generators to meet peak demand, the explosive growth of Texas wind power will significantly impact power prices, further lowering electricity costs.  When demand for natural gas declines, there will be a resulting glut in its production.

The Bernstein Research report predicts that “The growth of wind power in ERCOT over the next three years will markedly lower the consumption of gas and coal by conventional generators.”  In other words, Texas wind power will continue to lower electricity costs, while also depressing the demand for natural gas and coal.

Renewable energy news like this is just the kind of spark we need to continue interest and investment in wind power.  The rest of the world will be watching the number 6 wind energy producer, and perhaps to take a few notes from the Bernstein report, as well.

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Pennsylvania Building Economy on Clean Energy

With the current recession and concerns about global climate change, its clear that we need to change our approach to both energy and the economy.  Pennsylvania is building its economy on clean energy, focusing on renewable energy distributed generation, creation of green jobs and, as a result, coming out on top when it comes to economic expenditures and a clean, bright future.

The Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act includes the following requirements, which will help speed a transition to renewable energy:

• Utilities must reduce demand for electricity by 1% by 2011 and 3% by 2013
• Utilities must reduce peak electricity demand by 4.5% by 2013 through energy conservation programs that help customers install energy-efficient technologies
• Eight percent of all electricity must come from clean renewable resources like solar and wind

Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Investment Act is Building the Economy (image from ellenm1 on Flickr)

Last year, Pennsylvania passed the Alternative Energy Investment Act and Act 129, known as the “energy savings bill.”  The new legislation provides incentives for renewable energy development and also helps fund the Pennsylvania Sunshine program, which allows consumers to recoup up to 35% of the cost of installing solar panels.  The Act authorizes $92.5 million for energy efficiency improvements for homeowners and small businesses, and more than $200 million for solar photovoltaic systems.

Even better, Pennsylvania was one step ahead of the federal government when it comes to providing incentives for renewable energy.  As noted in an article published yesterday:

“When the federal government provided even more incentives for renewable energy and energy conservation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Pennsylvania already had programs in place to take immediate advantage of the extra funding. Now, Pennsylvania families and businesses can use a combination of tax credits, rebates, loans and grants to generate more renewable energy and invest in energy conservation.”

Given that Pennsylvania has been on the leading edge with respect to alternative energy, its no wonder that there is already evidence of the building economy on a clean energy basis.  The state already has 11 wind farms in operation, with two more under construction.  For one wind project alone, 150 people have been employed.  Overall, the wind energy generated in Pennsylvania can power over 200,000 homes.

Solar energy also provides an economic boost to the citizens of Pennsylvania.  Currently, the largest photovoltaic solar array on a sports facility in the world is under construction at the Pocono Raceway.  It will generate 3 MW of clean electricity each year, feeding in excess power into the grid.  Smaller solar panel installations are also on the rise.  Thanks to the generous state and federal tax incentives, homeowners and businesses are switching to solar energy with rooftop panels.

Even with all this new alternative energy development, Pennsylvania remains focused on building its economy on clean energy.  A new bill is currently being considered by the General Assembly that would double the state’s renewable energy requirements and significantly increase the amount of solar energy generated.  Sounds like a win-win-win for the state, with respect to clean renewable power, green jobs and less reliance on foreign oil and other fossil fuels.

We’re interested in hearing from Pennsylvania’s citizens with respect to its clean energy requirements.  Have you personally seen more wind and solar installations?  Is it making a positive difference?

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William Kamkwamba (image from African Leadership Academy)

Follow this link to read about and/or watch the video story of a 14 year-old Malawi drop-out, William Kamkwamba. William used borrowed library books and readily available materials to build a windmill to bring electricity to his family’s home. He has since built more windmills and added solar panels to their family compound, and is looking to spread his entrepreneurial energy efforts to other villages across the continent.

A truly inspiring story for us all!

At the African Leadership Academy website, it explains young Kamkwamba’s plan to build windmills and install solar panels, hatched after reading a couple of library books:

Using the knowledge he could gather from two textbooks at the local library and locally-available materials costing about 2200 Malawian Kwacha (approximately $15 USD), William began constructing a five-meter tall windmill outside his family’s modest home in rural Mastala village. “They all thought that maybe I’m going mad and that maybe I am crazy,” he says. But he persevered and two months later, he had built a windmill that could power two light bulbs and a radio for his family of 20. William’s neighbors soon noticed the sounds of Malawian reggae music emanating from his home.”

His entrepreneurial spirit continues!  William aspires to found a windmill company that can help bring clean energy across his native African continent.

Somehow, we think he’ll reach his dreams, and also help others achieve theirs, as well.

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The Progress of Wind Power (image from ellenm1 on Flickr)

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chu released new statistics showing the progress of wind power.  Last year, 42% of all new electricity was generated by wind.

Other wind power statistics are also very impressive.  In Texas, 7,118 megawatts of wind capacity was installed, leading the nation in new electricity from wind.  Next is Iowa, with 2791 megawatts, and California, with 2517 megawatts.  Overall, seven U.S. states have the capacity to generate over 1,000 megawatts from wind energy.

(To put this into perspective, a megawatt is the measure for one million watts.  A typical household uses 8,900 kilowatt-hours of energy per year.  Since a kilowatt is one thousand watts, a megawatt is 1,000 times more energy.  A single megawatt theoretically can power 8,900 homes)

All of this new electricity from wind (8,558 megawatts in total) provide a needed boost to the economy.  Approximately 8,400 wind jobs have resulted – showing that renewable energy investment indeed leads to green jobs.  In fact, the American Wind Energy Association estimates that half the components required to manufacture wind turbines are made right here in the U.S.A.

Wind power statistics are impressive

photo credit: 416style

The United States leads the world with respect to added capacity.  The progress of wind power is impressive on an international scale, particularly given that this is the fourth year in a row that our nation has held the fastest growing wind power market.  In 2008, the U.S. surpassed Germany with respect to new electricity from wind; it now has about 30% of the global wind market.

Describing the $16 billion government investment in wind energy, Secretary Chu stated:

“Wind energy will be a critical factor in achieving the President’s goals for clean energy, while supporting news jobs.  While the United States leads the world in wind energy capacity, we have to continue to support research and development to expand renewable energy deployment.”

While these wind power statistics are encouraging, we need to continue the progress of wind power.  Renewable energy tax credits and incentives help defray the costs, but localities and even individuals should consider ways to encourage wind power installations at the local, grassroots level.  Whether streamlining the permitting process, or simply educating consumers about the need to switch from fossil-fuel based energy, you can help make next year’s numbers even more impressive than those in 2008.

Related posts:

1. Green Job Statistics

Jobs in Minnesota are blowing in the wind (image courtesy of eidt on Flickr)

After losing approximately 35,000 manufacturing jobs last year due to the economic recession, hope for many people in the North Star State appears to be renewed.  Jobs in Minnesota are blowing in the wind.  Literally.  Recent reports are advising that low-skill workers who have been furloughed in recent months should consider employment in the state’s wind energy industry.

According to “Winds of Progress,” published by Minnesota 2020, 10-15% of the recently lost jobs could be recouped if the state continues to expand wind energy development.  And no – this is not a “pie in the sky” wish.  An article in the MinnPost this month observed:

“Minnesota can make the transition fast. So far, the state ranks fourth in installed wind capacity, producing enough wind energy to power about 450,000 homes. Only Texas, Iowa and California create more energy from wind. Minnesota’s natural wind resources, especially along the prairie, our manufacturing base and high-tech workforce position the state well to capitalize on becoming a wind center.”

Wind Energy Industry in MN stands to gain some ground

photo credit: Ramanathan.Kathiresan

Minnesota has fertile ground for the wind energy industry.  It already ranks in the top third of the U.S. with respect to companies doing business in related industries.  If Minnesota continues investing in wind energy, more green jobs will result.  As indicated in the MinnPost article:

“Minnesota’s fabricated metal production, which is vitally important for the construction of wind turbines, has endured job losses peeking near 11 percent over the past year. These out-of-work manufacturers have skills that transfer well from their old jobs. It’s easy for a welder to look at a tower diagram and know where and how to seal the seams.”

These type of jobs are not easily outsourced, given the fact that wind turbine blades and towers are extremely expensive to ship, given their size and bulk.  As a result, Minnesota businesses will prefer to build manufacturing plants near wind farms sited in the state.  Even better – Minnesota 2020 encourages local ownership of wind farms given the positive economic impact.

By the year 2020, Minnesota may have created a wind energy industry that does far more than simply create green jobs.  Winds of Progress expects expansion of local economies, as well as R&D at state colleges and universities.

Do you live in Minnesota?  Have any thoughts about the future of the wind energy industry and/or jobs in Minnesota?  We’d love to respond to your comments!

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Michigan factories retool (images courtesy of Crossingthecontinent on Flickr)

$15 million from the federal government will help Michigan factories retool with stimulus funds.  Automotive industries that have been hit hard by the recession now will be able to manufacture wind turbines and other renewable energy parts with help from the federal government.  Governor Jennifer Granholm announced yesterday that auto suppliers, seriously hurt by the current market, should be boosted by the new plan.

Michigan auto suppliers find it difficult to obtain loans because banks and investors are uncertain with respect to the automobile industry in the U.S.  But now, $15 million in Michigan stimulus funds will be provided to help Michigan factories retool, stay afloat and even move ahead.

Not only with the money help the Great Lakes State by providing jobs for its struggling economy, but the hope is that Michigan will emerge as a leading manufacturer of wind energy equipment.  Many believe that former auto parts workers are uniquely qualified to work in the retooled factories to build renewable energy parts for wind and solar energy.

Michigan wind farms are literally springing up everywhere:

photo credit: KaiChanVong

With respect to the Michigan stimulus funds and opportunities for Michigan factories to retool, Governor Granholm observed:

“We have a natural asset not just in wind, but in manufacturing capacity.  We have vacant factories, we have suppliers who need to be able to put people to work and to stay open.”

If you live or work in Michigan and want to take advantage of some of the federal stimulus funds, Michigan-based companies with 500 or less employees can submit a proposal to the state Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG).  You must also be able to show that your company can obtain private funding.

Don’t delay – you only have until August 14, 2009 to apply for a grant.  For more information, call the Bureau of Energy Systems at 517-241-6228 or visit www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.

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1. Federal Funds for Green Projects

San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program

In July 2008, the City of San Francisco launched a solar energy incentive program – the first of its kind in the nation.  A year later, the results are in.  And they are very encouraging for the future of solar power.

Mayor Gavin Newsom claims a huge success with GoSolarSF.  In a Reuters publication yesterday, he observed:

“In the year since our solar energy incentive program GoSolarSF launched, we have seen a 450% increase in applications for solar installations in San Francisco over the previous year, from 200 to 850. And despite the current recession, 56 applicants met our low-income standards and will receive incentive payments.”

Solar installations have gone up at a number of nonprofit and affordable housing organizations, including the San Francisco Housing Authority and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission over the past year.  In addition to a huge increase in the number of PV panels installed last year, the City of San Francisco also has rolled out plans for large-scale solar arrays on municipal-owned properties.  Overall, San Francisco solar advances place it third in state of California, behind the sunnier locations of L.A. and San Diego.

On a per-capita basis, San Francisco leads the state’s large cities for rooftop solar.

San Francisco, CA

Major kudos go to the City’s Solar Energy Task Force, which is the brainchild behind GoSolar SF.  The idea to give incentives to push solar panel installations in San Francisco is clearly a model for other municipalities to emulate and adopt.
photo credit: virtuallykc

Perhaps most impressive is the fact that the Solar Energy Incentive Program was funded at a very high level, despite the budget problems both in San Francisco and California as a whole.  Of course, many people recognize that the creation of green jobs will help pull the economy out of the recession.  Just in SF alone, dozens of green jobs were created by the GoSolarSF program.

As Mayor Gavin Newsom noted, just think what smart, solar investments can do for the local economy (and economies across the nation), as well as the environment, after a number of successful years like the past 12 months.  Success for San Francisco Solar Energy Incentive Program should spur similar programs in other cities and counties.

Thank you for leading the way, San Francisco!

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1. Energy Locavores in San Francisco
2. Solar Subsidies in San Diego