The Future of Farming in Maryland



Center for Leadership in
Environmental Education (CLEEn)

 The future of farming came to the Eastern Shore of Maryland Monday as a group of farmers accepted the invitation of ATech Energy to see a presentation about small scale wind. The presentation was enlightening, covering everything from how a small wind turbine is built and installed, the footprint it requires on the land, and of course, the combination of state and federal incentives that make this a good financial deal for the farmers.


Of course, sustainability and stewardship of the land are cornerstones of farming so it is no wonder that farmers are interested. The sweetener is that wind power can save them money with an investment that will pay off in a relatively short period of time. Farmers are very financially savvy – they have to be – so they are open to new ideas and new technologies.

ATech is part of the Atlantic Tractor company so farmers are long-time customers anyway and the meeting was replete with easy-going familiarity and common interests.

ATech is in the midst of an installation of a wind turbine at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, just a few miles from where the presentation was given, in Cambridge. The concrete foundation is currently in its month-long curing process and the turbine should be functional by late September, saving the college money on its utility bill and acting as a focal point for the College’s Center for Leadership in Environmental Education (CLEEn).

The turbine will be a stunning addition to the landscape, visible by Eastern Shore locals and thousands on the way to the ocean on busy Route 50.

Endurance E-3120

The College has ambitious plans for its Center: “A wind and solar education facility, CLEEn … will model emerging renewable energy technologies while providing education and training opportunities for students and small businesses. A leader in energy conservation and sustainability initiatives, Chesapeake College continues to demonstrate with this proposed facility its commitment to environmental sustainability as a global and regional responsibility, and to enhancing economic development on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.”

The ATech presentation focused on “small wind” vs. utility-sized turbines. Small wind turbines are typically 37 meters (approx. 121 feet) high, rather than the 110 meters (approx. 362 feet) high turbines typically seen at the top of ridgelines out West. Small wind turbines are referred to as “distributed wind,” that is, producing electricity that is generated and used on-site, “behind the meter,” offsetting the retail cost off electricity. By contrast “big wind,” projects, such as off-shore turbines, produce electricity that must be transmitted, typically by utility lines, for use on the grid elsewhere.

The presentation answered many questions on the mind of anyone new to the concept of wind power.

For example, how much wind is needed and what if it doesn’t blow all the time? ATech Wind Specialist Gary Sorrelle explained that the company uses scientifically produced wind maps along with ground-truth methods to determine where the turbine would be sited. And not that much wind is needed for these units to generate power. At a height of 10 meters, away from trees, buildings and other obstructions that produce turbulence, even wind at 5 and 10 mph can be put to work. Of course, more is better. The math behind it indicates that a doubling of wind speed results in eight times the power produced. So, each little bit of breeze helps.

What about noise? Will there be a thump-thump sound that will bother people and animals? The answer is that even as close as 66 feet from the base, the sound is no louder than a home air conditioner or ambient noise at a crowded restaurant.

What about maintenance? The expected life of a small wind machine is 25 to 30 years if yearly maintenance is done conscientiously. Think of it as you would your car. You have to take care of it to keep it running.

Andrew Gohn, Clean Energy Program Manager of the Maryland Energy Administration discussed net-metering legislation, which is county-by-county in Maryland. That is the legislation that allows private entities such as farms to sell back excess energy produced to the utility. The formulas are too complex and county-specific to go into here, but the presentation showed that money can be made from this process.

State and federal incentives were discussed as well. In Maryland in particular, the incentives are very favorable. Some of the biggest federal incentives, however, are about to expire so farmers would be wise to get projects started before the end of the calendar year to take full advantage of what’s available. The estimated payback period for a typical wind turbine installation, with all available incentives in place today, could be as little at four to six years.

The point of the story is that farmers are seeing that Now is the Time to invest in renewable energy. It just makes sense, from an environmental stewardship point of view and a financial point of view. And frankly, it makes a lot more sense than giving up acres of land to the installation of a Marcellus shale fracking operation. And wind will blow forever… long after the gas in the shale has run out. Plus, a wind turbine will not poison your drinking water. Now, there’s something to think about.

By Elvia Thompson

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

Solar-wind hybrid system in Maryland goes online on Eastern Shore

There’s a new “hybrid” on the street. And though this one also involves energy, it’s not a motor vehicle. It’s the first commercially available solar-wind hybrid system in Maryland sized for a home or small business, and it just began generating power on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.


Under the right conditions, this grid-tied device, which features a residential-size wind turbine with six solar panels attached to the turbine’s post, can produce one-third to one-half the power used by the average Maryland home. That’s because the because the device employs two clean-energy sources at once; and because it uses sun-tracking technology created by Advanced Technology & Research (based in Columbia, Md.) that enables the system’s solar array to produce up to 30% more power than fixed panels.

“Some days it’s windy; some days it’s not,” said Rob Lundahl, an ATR vice president, at the June 29th unveiling of the device. “Many days it’s sunny, sometimes it’s not. The combination of the two, as we like to say, provides more power more often,” Lundahl said, adding that he believes this is also the first such commercially available system in the U.S.

This hybrid sits at the home of Dewayne and Dawn Stewart, easily visible about 150 feet from the road. Fluharty’s Electric of Tilghman, Md., where Dewayne also works, installed the Southwest Wind Skystream wind turbine about four years ago, and the tracking solar system was just added. “Now not only are we taking advantage of the wind power but also sun power,” said Dewayne Stewart. “My wife is a day care provider out of our home and she uses electric all day, every day. Our use of green power is not only saving on our electric bill, but more importantly, it is setting a good example for our children and the children in her day care,” he added.

Fluharty’s began installing wind turbines about five years ago and is a Southwest Wind dealer and installer, said owner Tim Fluharty, and the idea of combining wind and solar power intrigued the company. “’If someone could come up with a good hybrid system, we’d like to give it a try,’ and this is it,” Fluharty said. “In addition to the energy and cost savings, the hybrid system will remove about 10,000 pounds a year of greenhouse gases from the environment, something that’s important in an area as vulnerable to climate change as the Eastern Shore,” added Fluharty, a life-long Tilghman resident. He said that for the average buyer, the solar part of the system should pay for itself in about six years with the availability of good solar renewable energy credits (SRECs), while the wind component should take 10-15 years because the wind credits aren’t as strong.

Talbot County Engineer Ray Clark said that the Department of Public Works also is interested in the idea of combining wind and solar power in the same system. The agency is finalizing the design of a 50-kilowatt wind turbine for Tilghman Island’s wastewater treatment plant, also is looking at incorporating a solar array producing up to 50 kilowatts more of electricity. “Being here today allows me the opportunity to learn more about the sun-tracking system that could be used within our proposed solar energy system,” Clark added.

In addition to helping consumers and small businesses cut their energy costs with clean energy, the hybrid’s solar module—along with three other ATR tracking solar offerings—can benefit Maryland by helping generate jobs, since nearly all of the trackers’ components are made and assembled right in the state, Lundahl said. He thanked the Maryland Energy Administration, which awarded ATR a CEEDI (Clean Energy and Economic Development Incentive) grant to help defray initial production costs, and Governor Martin O’Malley for their support. “The MEA really stepped up,” he said. “This tracking technology is exportable not only to all counties in Maryland, but to the entire U.S. and even beyond,” Lundahl added.

For more information visit http://www.atrsolartech.com/
To make green a reality visit http://www.thesolarandwindexpo.com/

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.

The Solar and Wind Expo 2010: Large, interested crowds see cool exhibits, hear informative speakers – and ride Segways

It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since The Solar and Wind Expo 2010 wrapped up on a beautiful spring day at the Timonium Fairgrounds north of Baltimore. Throughout the three-day event, we saw large, steady crowds keeping the show’s vendors occupied, with attendees saying they were excited by what they saw and learned, and vendors commenting that visitors to their booths seemed well-informed and serious about renewable energy.

Among the highlights inside and outside Exhibition Hall:

• ATR’s innovative solar tracking device, where you could see, right before your eyes, several pole-mounted panels turning to face the sun from sunrise to sundown;

• The candy-red Tesla roadster that drew constant “oohs” and “ahhs” just sitting on the exhibition floor, and even more excitement when it left noiselessly for brief but thrilling rides, courtesy of owner Bill Harris;

• The numerous excited attendees zipping around on Segways, provided by SegZone;

• The many folks touring the Living Zero Home set up just outside the Exhibition Hall (by Daylight Solar) to get tons of energy-saving ideas, and checking out the solar-powered carport (Timber Rock) next to the home;

• The futuristic-looking Extreme Bug-E – a sleek, three wheeled electric motorcycle pulling a trailer covered with solar panels – that Charlie Garlow unveiled at the Expo and will drive across the U.S. in June;

• The visitors taking advantages of free rides to the Exhibition Hall in all-electric e-Cruisers;

• The steady flow of attendees checking out the powerful and sleek-looking Endurance wind turbine propeller prominently displayed by Atech Energy; Astrum Solar’s online calculator; Groundloop/A+ Solar’s combined wind, solar and geothermal exhibit; the Electric Vehicle Association of D.C.’s all-electric Toyota RAV-4; the U.S. Department of Energy’s informative exhibit; Green Rider’s snazzy collection of electric bikes and scooters; Viridian’s innovative model for buying renewable energy and getting off the grid; and the many other informative and interesting exhibits throughout the Expo.

The Expo was also fortunate to land three wonderful and gracious main speakers. Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, in addition to giving a very informative presentation about Maryland’s extensive renewable energy activities (and participating in our press conference) stuck around for much of the afternoon, making himself available for the numerous folks who wanted to speak with him.

Our great keynote speaker, Mayor Bob Dixson of Greensburg, Kansas, kept a large crowd enthralled with the story of how his town was utterly devastated by a tornado three years ago, and then decided to start rebuilding as the first all-green town in America, with environmental stewardship as its guiding principle. It was one of the most inspiring talks we’ve ever heard (and one of the most inspiring people this writer has ever met), and any community or city that wants to become truly sustainable can look to Greensburg as a wonderful living laboratory and example. (For more information, visit www.greensburggrows.com.)

Paul Scott, vice president of Plug In America, first related the gripping story of how electric vehicles (EVs) such as General Motors’ EV-1, started catching on like wildfire in California in the late ‘90s, only to be squashed – literally – by the car manufacturers (also told in the documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”). He then spoke of how the new generation of EVs, such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt and Tesla that are coming out now, are picking up where the EV-1 left off and paving the way for a transportation future based on renewable energy. California is already developing a network of charging stations where EV owners can recharge their vehicles, and other states are going to have to do the same for EVs to truly take off and reach their potential.

And last but certainly not least, let’s not forget the many informative, well-attended seminars – all given by experts – held throughout the Expo, such as “Solar 101,” “Wind Energy 101,” “Geothermal 101,” “Intro to Going Green,” “Green Building Design,” “Why Now is the Time to Go Solar” and “Will a Wind Turbine Work for Me?”

make green a reality!

http://www.thesolarandwindexpo.com/