The Solar and Wind Expo wraps up in Massachusetts and now looks to Maryland



The kids had fun on
Ted Dillards Custom



It was a beautiful weekend in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on November 4-6th. Over 2000 people interested in renewable energy came through the door and were welcomed by solar and wind energy companies, Segways, electric cars, an electric motorcycle and electric bikes.

The free seminars were very popular and all classes were well attended. The most popular classes were those on solar leasing, wind and geothermal.

The weather cooperated the entire weekend had sun and temperatures in 60s. A week earlier they had a 30-inch snowfall and all was melted by the time we arrived. The folks at the Royal Plaza Trade Center were great and treated us very well. The guys at Capital Convention Services even threw in the wall-to-wall carpeting. We extend a big thank you to Pat Silva and Erik Palm and the entire staff of the Trade Center.

A week earlier due to the storm Massachusetts had been hit with a massive power outage and the Hotel had become one of the staging areas for the reconnection efforts. While folks on TV lamented about how the electric company was not doing enough, we were treated to an incredible demonstration. I have never seen so many boom trucks in one location in my life. The parking lot had generators running around the clock with staging area for poles and other needed items. The lobby was deployment central for hundreds of workers from all over the country. The poor guys had to take their clothes with them every day because they did not know if they would come back to this hotel or another. By the time the Expo began setting up, the entire state of Massachusetts had power. My hat goes off to National Grid and all the guys who gave their all to get it done.

Now we focus on Maryland and the plans are taking shape. We are putting together a great event, bigger and better than last year. The first ever “Electropalooza” will take place in May along with the Expo. We are expecting electric motorcycles and cars from all over to descend on Timonium Fairgrounds. Stay tuned.

George Lopez

 in our Key West Headquaters.

HEADLINES

SolarCity to Launch Largest Residential Rooftop Project

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NJ Solar Giant Hopes to Make It Big Out West

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O'Malley to swear in new PSC members

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Department Of Energy Finalizes Loan Guarantee To Cogentrix

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by SI Staff on Monday 12 September 2011 US Department Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu says that the DOE has finalized a $90.6 million loan guarantee to Cogentrix of Alamosa LLC. The loan guarantee will support the Alamosa solar project, ...
 
DOE to fund 32 US geothermal energy research projects

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The US Energy Department (DOE) is providing $38m in funding over three years for projects that aim to accelerate the development of promising geothermal energy technologies. The 32 innovative projects in 14 states will develop and test new ways to ...
 
Developing Offshore Wind Technology in NE Ohio

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Electric car hype hiding a quiet revolution

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DOE invests in electric cars

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Deutsche Post Contracts for Electric Delivery Vehicles

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Construction begins on 63MW wind farm in Vermont

BrighterEnergy.org

Energy utility Green Mountain Power (GMP) has begun construction of its Kingdom Community Wind (KCW) project, a 63 MW renewable wind energy project in Lowell, Vermont. The 21 turbine wind project will provide power for more than 24000 homes with the ...

SOLAR AND WIND EXPO OFFERS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY EXHIBITS AND SEMINARS

Second Annual Expo brings consumers and experts together, May 13-15, Timonium Fairgrounds

Expo opens with Governor Martin O’Malley’s Energy Summit: A Roundtable on Maryland’s Energy Future

From Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s roundtable on the future of renewable energy in Maryland, to a keynote address on electric vehicles, to exhibits by national solar and wind energy companies to fun rides on all-electric Segways, there is something for everyone at the Second Annual Solar and Wind Expo, held May 13-15 at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

Governor O’Malley will open the Expo at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13, with his energy summit, a review of strategies, and a discussion of industry trends and opportunities. The governor seeks public input on Maryland’s energy future as we continue to create a smarter, greener, more sustainable and prosperous Maryland.

 “The Solar and Wind Expo is a clearinghouse of information for the public on the latest news and information regarding green energy,” said Solar and Wind Expo Executive Director George Lopez. “This is the right time to bring consumers and experts together, given technology advancements and government financial incentives. There are affordable technologies on the market right now so we want to show the public that the time for these investment is now.”

Chelsea Sexton, the electric vehicle’s top advocate and star of the popular “Who Killed the Electric Car” documentary film, will present the keynote address on Saturday, May 14, at noon. She will update Expo attendees on the future of electric vehicles. Sexton is a veteran clean transportation and energy advocate. She has served as Director of the Automotive X PRIZE, Senior Advisor to VantagePoint Venture Partners’ Cleantech practice, and co-founder of Plug In America, the largest consumer-oriented electric drive advocacy group. She founded the Lightning Rod Foundation, an advisory and educational organization. Sexton is a Consulting Producer on Chris Paine’s just-released film, “Revenge of the Electric Car.”

Consumer seminar topics include topics such as:

·        Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy

·        Solar, Wind and Geothermal Power and Why Now is the Time

·        The Consumer’s Checklist for Saving Energy and Sustaining our Environment

·        Financing Programs Available Right Now

·        Solar Purchasing Plans to Fit Your Budget

·        Benefits of Weatherization

·        Energy Efficiency/Clean Energy Quiz

·        Solar Water Heating: A Mature Technology with Enormous Potential

·        Community-Initiated Solar PV Systems Using a Power Purchase Agreement

·        Green Building Design

·        Design, Procure, and Construct an Innovative Renewable Energy System

The Expo will host seminars for renewable energy professionals on Friday, May 13.

The Solar and Wind Expo received accolades from Expo attendees and exhibitors in May 2010 when it brought top-quality clean energy advocates to consumers in the east coast region. This year’s Expo promises to do so again.

The Solar and Wind Expo’s hours are 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 14 & 15. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 if purchased online; children under 12 admitted free. Discounts are available online.

 
Information is available at www.thesolarandwindexpo.com.

Maryland Emerging As A National Leader In Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - Governor O'Malley's vision of a Maryland fueled by a clean energy, innovation economy is bearing fruit as the Maryland based company, SemaConnect, unveiled the state's first privately developed, publicly accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging station today in Baltimore. The station joins a wave of 65 public EV charging stations being built by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) and its partners by June 2011 to encourage adoption of this new technology and help Marylanders escape rising gasoline prices, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and enhance our energy security.


Maryland's success in becoming a national leader in EV readiness is made manifest by today's announcement that the first privately developed, publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations in a residential community will open in Baltimore's Midtown community. The charging stations are part of a new, mixed-use development that is affiliated with the University of Baltimore and on-track to become the largest LEED-certified apartment community in the Baltimore area. This substantial private investment in both electric vehicles and energy efficiency is the result of years of Governor O'Malley's efforts at moving Maryland forward into the new innovation conomy by promoting clean, renewable energy and cost-saving investments in energy efficiency.

"Our goal in investing in electric vehicles has always been to ‘prime the pump'," said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. "With today's announcement, it's clear that we've been successful."

Last June, MEA awarded $500,000 in grants to promote Maryland's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. These investments were designed to attract and support the emerging electric vehicle market by building 65 electric vehicle charging stations around the state, as well as to support Maryland's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. These investments complimented the newly enacted Electric Vehicle Tax Credit and Electric Vehicle HOV bills which were passed by the General Assembly during the 2010 Legislative Session under the leadership of Governor O'Malley.

The Governor has continued to build on these efforts in 2011 by introducing to the General Assembly a package of three EV bills to prepare Maryland for the array of electric vehicles coming on the market in the next few years. The bills, currently moving through the legislature, would provide consumers a $400 tax credit towards installation of electric vehicle charging stations in their homes, require the Public Service Commission to conduct pilot studies of how best to encourage off-peak charging of electric vehicles, and to establish a statewide electric vehicle planning council.

Two public EV charging stations are already operational at the Community College of Baltimore County and by June 2011 construction will have been completed on 65 publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations funded by grants from the Maryland Energy Administration. These charging stations, which are to be located throughout the Baltimore Metropolitan Area, will equip Maryland with the second largest installed charging station capacity in the nation and cement its position as a national leader in EV readiness.

"By making smart investments in electric vehicle technologies we have attracted private investment, created jobs, and reduced our dependence on costly foreign-oil," said Mr. Woolf. "Since electric vehicles cost about 75 cents per gallon to charge, EVs are good for our household budgets as well as America's energy security. Today's announcement in Baltimore underscores the wisdom of these investments and helps to cement Maryland's reputation as a leader in electric vehicle readiness."

For more information, visit the Maryland Energy Administration.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SEMINARS FOR CONSUMERS & PROS

Whether you can afford alternative energy in this economy or whether a wind turbine will work in your situation are just two of the many topics to be covered by experts in solar and wind energy at the upcoming Solar and Wind Expo at the State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md., running May 13-15, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily.

“The Solar and Wind Expo is bringing the public the latest news and information regarding green energy,” said Solar and Wind Expo Executive Director George Lopez. “There will be something for everybody. Your questions will be answered and you’ll learn about affordable new technologies on the market now.”

Additional renewable energy and related topics seminars for consumers:

• The Consumer’s Checklist for Saving Energy and Sustaining our Environment

• Financing Programs Available Right Now

• Electric Vehicles are Here: Learn All About Them

• Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy

• Solar, Wind and Geothermal Power and Why Now is the Time

• Community-Initiated Solar PV Systems Using a Power Purchase Agreement

• Green Building Design

• Design, Procure, and Construct an Innovative Renewable Energy System

Chelsea Sexton, the electric vehicle’s top advocate and star of the popular “Who Killed the Electric Car” documentary film, will present the keynote address. She will update Expo attendees on the future of electric vehicles. Sexton is a veteran clean transportation and energy advocate. She has served as Director of the Automotive X PRIZE, Senior Advisor to VantagePoint Venture Partners’ Cleantech practice, and co-founder of Plug In America, the largest consumer-oriented electric drive advocacy group. She founded the Lightning Rod Foundation, an advisory and educational organization. Sexton is a Consulting Producer on Chris Paine’s next film, “Revenge of the Electric Car.”

Topics covered in the professional seminars:

• Engage and Educate Employees

• Green Building Design

• Overview of Passive House Energy Performance Standard & Methodology

• Electrifying Your Fleet Charging Stations

• Turbine Basics & Installation Techniques

• Start-Up Workshop: Where to Find Technical Skills & Funding Sources

• Geothermal Basics & Installation Techniques

• The Latest Info. & Incentives That Increase Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Production

The Solar and Wind Expo received accolades from Expo attendees and exhibitors in May 2010 when it brought top-quality clean energy advocates to consumers in the east coast region. This year’s Expo promises to do so again and to reach out to professionals in the field as well.

Information is available at www.thesolarandwindexpo.com.

Don't get rid off your small turbines!



Offshore wind farm

 Here we go again! How many times can our leaders take a good and noble idea and totally mess it up. The latest and some may say the most important subject to come around (offshore wind farm) is finally a stone’s throw away from becoming a reality. But already, as it happened with slots, the subject of conversation in Annapolis’s State Circle is how can we give it to a few and how do we control the money rather than focusing on the greater good.

Offshore wind has every group looking to profit from it. Maryland’s governor has proposed a rate hike to the consumer, or a tax as I like to call it, to make wind energy happen. Even his fellow democrats are apprehensive to this approach. When energy prices are through the roof, this rate hike looks eerily like more of the same. The explanation is that the investment will spur development. I think that the turbines will happen either way and the open market will do its thing. Better yet, why doesn’t Maryland build them and lease out the maintenance and power delivery in short ten year contracts.


Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley

 Increasing your energy bills should be the last thing any governor in Maryland talks about, especially after the promises and accusations that went on in past elections. Maryland has a history of using prevailing wages in State contracts and I suspect that this is one of the reasons the cost to build offshore wind will be so high causing outside investors to ask the Governor for this kind of contribution from the public.

We need these projects to come to Maryland because of the jobs they will generate, the energy competition they will bring which should lead to more competitive pricing for the consumer and the environmental benefits that cannot be overlooked. So with all due respect Mr. Governor, no rate hikes just true competition and diversity. You worked hard for renewable energy to come to Maryland. Was it to benefit the masses of people, or was it for the few investors? Please allow the citizens who have tolerated rate hike upon rate hike to have their day, a choice in energy supply, and a cleaner world.



Small wind turbine by Windtamer



  One final point to homeowners: don’t give up on individual solar panels and small wind turbines. This kind of business as usual posturing by the powers that be is a sign that true competition will only happen if you have your own horse in the race.

Make it happen!
by George Lopez

Constellation Energy to Develop 1.25 MW in Solar Installations for Anne Arundel County and Coppin State University



Typical rooftop installation

 Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) today announced the development of a 750-kilowatt on-site solar installation at Anne Arundel County’s Combined Support Services Complex in Millersville, Md., and the development of a 500 kilowatt on-site solar installation at Coppin State University in Baltimore. Both projects are funded, in part, by grants through the Maryland Energy Administration’s Project Sunburst initiative, which promotes the installation of large-scale solar photovoltaic energy systems on state buildings. Constellation Energy will finance as well as own and operate the on-site solar installations. In return, both organizations will purchase the electricity produced by the systems at a reduced cost from Constellation Energy over a 20-year period.


.“This is a great example of how collaborations between the state and local businesses can support clean, renewable energy generation and help keep electricity prices affordable,” said Ron Melchior, vice president of renewable energy for Constellation Energy's retail business. “By structuring solar projects as power purchase agreements, we can offer energy solutions that involve no upfront capital from customers and provide them with fixed power costs over the long term, which is critical as county governments and public universities work to control rising costs for taxpayers.”

The Combined Support Services Complex building houses Anne Arundel County’s facilities and maintenance, fire protection and school storage departments. The facility’s on-site solar power system will utilize approximately 3,060 roof-mounted crystalline photovoltaic solar panels and supply an estimated 900,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The new solar installation is expected to offset 90 percent of the building’s annual electric consumption, saving the county an estimated $80,000 per year in utility costs.

“Fiscal discipline and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive goals," said Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold. "This project promotes clean energy and provides a savings to taxpayers."

Coppin State University’s on-site solar power system will supply electricity for its new Physical Education Complex, utilizing approximately 2,040 roof-mounted crystalline photovoltaic solar panels. The system is expected to supply more than 600,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.

Rendition of Coppin State University's
Physical Education Complex

Coppin State University, one of 11 campuses comprising the University System of Maryland, is committed to sustainable energy production and conservation. “All of our facility improvements and new construction have a focus on sustainability and energy conservation,” said Maqbool Patel, director of facilities management at the Coppin campus. “This is part of a larger effort to contain costs and maximize resourcefulness of campus resources during this period of fiscal austerity.”

In total, the Anne Arundel and Coppin State solar installations are expected to generate roughly 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Generating the same amount of electricity using non-renewable sources would result in the release of 1,077 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the equivalent emissions from 206 passenger vehicles. Both on-site solar power systems are scheduled to begin producing electricity in spring 2011.

Constellation Energy currently owns and operates 60 megawatts of solar installations that have been completed or are under construction for customers in Maryland and throughout the U.S. Commercial customers, universities, school systems, hospitals and government agencies interested in on-site solar installations of 1 MW or larger can contact Constellation Energy at sustainable-solutions@constellation.com or 1-877-427-2005. To watch a brief video about Constellation Energy’s solar power systems, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyaXDmgM55M. 

New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland are leading the U.S. in a joint effort with China to launch cooperation on Subnational Climate Action

U.S. states and Chinese provinces launch focused effort to cooperate on comprehensive climate action planning.


The Center for Climate Strategies (CCS), a U.S.-based non-profit, and its Chinese partner the Global Environment Institute (GEI), a China-based Non Government Organization, have teamed up to lead the subnational effort between states and provinces in the two nations. CCS and GEI will showcase cooperative work between U.S. states and Chinese provinces. Presentations by key national and subnational government leaders from China and the U.S. will focus on the challenges and opportunities for cooperative engagement at the subnational level.

"The potential for economic, energy and environmental gains through state and provincial cooperation on bottom-up policy solutions in the U.S. and China is vast, and can be realized by cooperative programs such as the current pilot program involving the state of New York and Guangdong Province," said Tom Peterson, president and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies. "This is exactly the kind of work needed right now at the subnational level to curb greenhouse gas emissions and advance economic growth while helping the global community develop an effective post-Kyoto agreement."

Teams of provincial and state officials have traveled between the Guangdong Province of China and the U.S. states of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland to focus on the transfer of knowledge and techniques that each needs to attain economic growth and emissions reduction goals simultaneously through advanced climate action planning and analysis. A climate action plan pilot for the Guangdong Province is now underway with CCS and GEI assistance.

"Working together, states and provinces can capitalize on the opportunities binational cooperation offers through advanced climate action," said Mr. Su Wei, Director General, Department of Climate Change, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

"make green a reality"  visit http://www.thesolarandwindexpo.com/