HEADLINES

SolarCity to Launch Largest Residential Rooftop Project

CleanTechnica

Renewable Energy World reports that SolarCity owns, operates and maintains the systems, and sells the electricity to the end-user. In working with investment banks to pool together often-complicated state and federal incentives, the company streamlines ...
 
NJ Solar Giant Hopes to Make It Big Out West

New York Times

In an effort to combat climate change and encourage renewable energy use, New Jersey's public utility commission launched a landmark solar renewable energy certificate market in 2001. Ten years later, a state that could then only count six total ...
 
O'Malley to swear in new PSC members

abc27

Speakes-Backman has most recently worked as the clean energy director at the Maryland Energy Administration. She also has worked in the private sector for ...
 
Department Of Energy Finalizes Loan Guarantee To Cogentrix

Alternative Energy Retailer magazine

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

Recharge

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

Today's Energy Solutions

Case Western Reserve University, Freshwater Wind, and Nautica Windpower have been awarded new federal resources to research advanced wind turbine systems to spur the development of clean energy technology. The US Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy ...
 
Electric car hype hiding a quiet revolution

Moneycontrol.com

Daimler and BMW have been field testing electric cars. But battery-powered vehicles will likely remain only a small niche as long as batteries make the car prices prohibitively expensive. Why would anyone in their right mind pay more for a car that ...
 
DOE invests in electric cars

CivSource

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is making a big investment in electric cars nationwide. The investment is part of DOE's Clean Cities initiative which is supporting the growth of energy efficient and renewable energy measures in America's cities. ...
 
Deutsche Post Contracts for Electric Delivery Vehicles

EV World

PAPILLION, NE -- Frankfurter Allgemeine is reporting that the German Postal Service has awarded a contract to Street Scooter GmbH to develop delivery vehicles for the service, with the possibility of ordering up to 20000 of the electric vehicles. ...
 
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 ...

The Solar and Wind Expo arrives in Pennsylvania

The Solar and Wind Expo will make its Southeast Pennsylvania debut in less than two weeks with exhibits, informative seminars and lots of excitement about renewable energy!

Our indoor-outdoor consumer show is uniquely devoted to renewable energy and has been created to bring the manufacturer, installer, lender and consumer together under one roof. It’s all about saving energy, saving money, and being good to the Earth.

The Solar and Wind Expo in Pennsylvania will feature companies – many of them local –knowledgeable in renewable energy solutions. Experts in this evolving field will conduct free, informative educational seminars for Expo attendees on topics such as: Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy, Financing Programs Available Right Now, Green Building Design, Energy Affordability, Wind Power 101, The Benefits of Weatherization, Geothermal 101, and more.

The Expo, at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., will run Saturday and Sunday, June 11 & 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.

Our headline speaker, Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester), will discuss his initiatives to keep the solar energy industry strong in Pennsylvania including his recently introduced legislation (House Bill 1580, the Solar Jobs Bill). Rep. Ross, along with a bipartisan group of legislative co-sponsors developed the legislation to fix the crippled solar energy credits market in Pennsylvania. It is expected to create jobs, protect Pennsylvania’s businesses, and clean up the Commonwealth’s air and water.

Rep. Ross is an environmental champion for the state, having sponsored a recently enacted bill to mandate electronic equipment recycling, and having been appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to serve on the agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee. The 30-member committee provides advice to the EPA on environmental issues affecting communities.
Rep. Ross will precede the keynote address by Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, Kansas, a town that chose to rebuild in a sustainable manner after devastation by a major tornado in 2007. His talk is timely given the recent tornado damage in Missouri and surrounding states. Mayor Dixson will address how Greensburg rebuilt and how that experience can be a blueprint for rebuilding in the Midwest.

Mayor Dixson is a native Kansan and he has been a resident of Greensburg since 1985. Dixson took office as Mayor of Greensburg in May 2008 and he is leading the way in the process of rebuilding the community after the May 4, 2007 tornado. Sustainable building, renewable energy and “green” technologies are the cornerstones of the recovery of Greensburg. Mayor Dixson retired from the US Postal Service after 26 years after serving as Postmaster of Greensburg for 16 years and Pratt, Kansas for 6 years. He served on the USD #422 School Board for 12 years and was President for eight years.
The Solar and Wind Expo in Maryland last month was a great success with several thousand people attending, most of them already well-informed on solar, geothermal and wind energy, and interested in making an investment now. We were delighted that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley opened the Expo with his summit on renewable energy – bringing in an additional 500 people, many of them experts in the field, to the Expo for a lively roundtable discussion.

We know that the Expo in Pennsylvania will be a success too, bringing together those who want to make the change to renewable energy with those who have the know-how and technology to help do so.

Through our partnership with enerG magazine. enerG would like to offer you a complimentary 2-year subscription!

As a Media Partner for the Solar and Wind Expo, we hope you enjoyed the event!

Click here www.altenerG.com/subscribe/form/c2ysf/ to start receiving your complimentary subscription.

enerG, now heading into its 6^th year, is an exciting bi-monthly magazine that delivers the big picture and bright future of alternative energy in North America—be part of that future now! Reaching more than 24,000 decision-makers in energy and related businesses, enerG covers all areas of alternative energy, including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and biofuels. 
Visit our website for more information: http://thesolarandwindexpo.com/Pennsylvania.html.

See you at the Expo. Let’s make Green a Reality!

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.

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

Governor O’Malley Appoints Leading Educator, Solar Innovator to Board of Maryland Clean Energy Center

Gov. Martin O’Malley

Gov. Martin O’Malley has appointed a prominent academic researcher and a solar industry finance expert to fill two vacancies on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Clean Energy Center.

Eric Wachsman, PhD, Director of the University of Maryland’s Energy Research Center, will serve through June 2015.

 

George Ashton, co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Sol Systems, Inc., a national leader in aggregating solar renewable energy credits, is fulfilling a term that runs through September 2012.



Eric Wachsman, PhD



Wachsman and Ashton join existing members of the Center’s Board of Directors who oversee its mission of helping consumers, supporting businesses and advising lawmakers in Maryland as the state scales up its clean energy industries and energy efficiency initiatives. Other Board members include Jeremy Butz, Carol Collins, Ken Connolly, Jeff Eckel – who serves as the current Board Chairman – and Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration.

“I am so proud to announce the appointment of two very talented individuals to the Board of the Maryland Clean Energy Center,” said Governor O’Malley. “As Maryland continues to emerge as a national leader in clean energy, their leadership will help us move toward a better and more sustainable future for our children. I’d like to thank them for their willingness to step up and serve the people of our State as we work to find innovative ways to reach our clean energy goals in the toughest of times.”

I. Katherine Magruder

“We are privileged to have two such high-caliber and forceful clean energy advocates join us as we move into our second year of operation,” said I. Katherine Magruder, Executive Director of the Maryland Clean Energy Center. “They will help facilitate the adoption and generation of clean energy along with the new jobs, consumer savings and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that come with it.”

George Ashton

In addition to his leadership of UM Energy Research Center, Wachsman holds the William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research at the University of Maryland, College Park. Previously, Wachsman was Director of the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy and a professor of materials science and engineer at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He has authored dozens of research papers since beginning his career as an engineer for chip-maker Intel. He earned his PhD and Masters of Science from Stanford University. Wachsman is filling out the remainder of the Board term served by Dan Goodman.

Ashton has been instrumental in growing Sol Systems into one of the country’s leading aggregators of solar renewable energy credits, or SRECs. Solar system owners earn 1 SREC for every 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity their systems generate each year. Before Sol Systems, Ashton was a Senior Account Executive at Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored enterprise chartered by Congress chartered to provide liquidity and stability to the U.S. housing and mortgage markets. Ashton earned his MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University Maryland in College Park.

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