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: PENNSYLVANIA SET TO OPEN IN JUNE

The Solar and Wind Expo is coming to Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., on June 11 and 12. This Maryland-based indoor-outdoor consumer show is uniquely devoted to renewable energy and energy savings and was created to bring the manufacturer, installer, lender and consumer together under one roof. Extending the Expo to the Philadelphia area will reach more consumers in the region and give added exposure to local renewable energy businesses.


"The Philadelphia area's use and knowledge of renewable energy solutions is exemplary. After last year's success of the Solar and Wind Expo: Maryland, we were compelled by consumer demand to identify a second location,” said George Lopez, founder and executive director of Expo. "Bringing The Solar and Wind Expo to the Philadelphia area made the most sense from a renewable energy consumer perspective."

The keynote speaker at The Solar and Wind Expo Pennsylvania is Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, Ks. In 2007, this Midwestern town was decimated by an F5 tornado. The Mayor and township decided to make the best of a terrible situation and rebuild using all renewable and alternative energy practices. This resulted in more than LEED certification for a few buildings. Instead, but the majority of the town’s structures are now LEED Platinum, the highest rating granted by the United States Green Building Council.

Greensburg, the first city in the country to go entirely green, is a shining example of how becoming sustainable is both viable and economically beneficial. Mayor Dixson's presentation inspired last year's Maryland Expo attendees to make their own switch to renewable energy.

The Solar and Wind Expo: Pennsylvania also will feature respected companies and vendors knowledgeable in renewable energy solutions. Experts in this evolving field will conduct valuable educational seminars for Expo attendees.

“Never has there been a better time for this kind of show in Pennsylvania,” declares Lopez. “With all the continuing technological advances, government-sponsored incentives and so much interest on the part of many to save money on energy and reduce their carbon footprint, we created a place for all to connect and learn ... the Valley Forge Convention Center June 11 and 12!”

More information is available at thesolarandwindexpo.com/Pennsylvania.html

Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Launch Three-Year, $550,000 Partnership with YouthBuild USA

Yesterday, Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed announced that they are joining forces with YouthBuild USA to support its green education and job-training program for low-income youth. At a national kick-off event in Philadelphia, Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed announced they are providing a three-year, $550,000 grant to support YouthBuild USA and its Green Initiative program.

Before

After

"As the world's largest building materials company, Saint-Gobain is committed to helping communities build and renovate energy-efficient, comfortable, healthy, cost-efficient and durable buildings," said Gilles Colas, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain in North America. "With the help of our subsidiary CertainTeed, North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, we hope to help YouthBuild USA achieve its mission of rebuilding the lives and communities of low-income, disconnected young adults, through its green building and job training program."

In addition to funding from the Saint Gobain Corporation Foundation, the three-year partnership includes a commitment to provide energy-efficient products, building science and technical expertise, employee volunteer support and more. The partnership will support YouthBuild USA in its national efforts as well as undertake green home renovation projects in four local communities where Saint-Gobain has business concentrations, including: YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), YouthBuild Akron Summit (Akron, Ohio), YouthBuild Schenectady (Schenectady, New York), and Worcester YouthBuild (Worcester, Massachusetts).

Each of the four local YouthBuild programs will receive $100,000 in pass-through grants over the next three years to engage YouthBuild students to learn green building techniques and build energy-efficient affordable housing. Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed employees based in these communities will volunteer to assist YouthBuild students in renovating green homes.

Ten thousand disadvantaged 16- to 24-year-olds work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas annually in YouthBuild programs. These young adults learn job skills by building affordable, and increasingly green, housing for homeless people and low-income families. Since 1994, approximately 100,000 YouthBuild students have built 20,000 housing units across the country.

Through the YouthBuild USA Green Initiative, YouthBuild students build green, energy-efficient and healthy homes in their neighborhoods, gain green job skills and industry-recognized credentials, and develop environmentally focused leadership skills. YouthBuild homes are increasingly earning high ratings from Energy Star Homes, the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Built, National Association of Home Builders and other local and regional green building associations.

"Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed are playing a key role in helping prepare YouthBuild students for jobs and entrepreneurship in the green economy," said Dorothy Stoneman, president and founder of YouthBuild USA. "This crucial support enables local YouthBuild programs to reach more young people who are out-of-work and out-of-school, providing leadership and life skills, as well as preparing them for careers in construction and other fields."

The YouthBuild Philadelphia green home renovation project at 4620 Greene Street was the location for the kick-off of this national partnership. The project, which will be seeking LEED certification from the US Green Building Council, will consist of the green renovation of a dilapidated building, vacant for nearly 20 years. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, Philadelphia Neighborhood Housing Services, Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed.

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

Governor Rendell Welcomes European Home Energy Efficiency Leader, 300-Plus New Jobs to Philadelphia Navy Yard

Harrisburg – Governor Edward G. Rendell today welcomed one of Europe’s biggest home energy efficiency companies to its new home at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, saying the company expects to hire nearly 320 workers over the next three years as it expands on South Broad Street.

The Governor said the arrival of Mark Group, based in Leicester, United Kingdom, marks the latest positive development at the Navy Yard as it continues establishing itself as one of the nation’s leading hubs for innovation in the clean energy and energy efficiency fields.

“Helping consumers reduce their energy use is one of the best things we can do to help people and employers save money while improving our environment,” said Governor Rendell. “After all, the cheapest and cleanest energy is that which we don’t use. We’ve made great strides in the past eight years to help energy users do that, but the work being done here at the energy innovation hub and by Mark Group will take those efforts to an entirely new level.

“Mark Group’s decision to locate its U.S. headquarters here and become one of the first companies tied to the Department of Energy’s energy innovation hub is an excellent partnership. Each complements the other and each offers a host of great opportunities for the other,” the Governor said.

Since its founding in 1974, Mark Group has improved the energy efficiency of more than 2 million homes and the company says it installs more than 6,000 measures every week that help consumers save. The company’s debut in Philadelphia follows its recent opening of an Australian headquarters.

The company picked the Navy Yard with the help of the Department of Community and Economic Development’s international trade office, the Governor’s Action Team, as well as the City of Philadelphia, Select Greater Philadelphia, TeamPA Foundation, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

“The creation of alternative energy sources is key to America’s economic future, and Greater Philadelphia is the nation’s hub of energy efficiency research and development,” said Mark Group U.S. CEO Jeff Bartos. “We are excited to launch our business from Philadelphia and to deliver energy efficiency upgrades to homes

throughout the nation, and we thank the Rendell administration for the state’s investment in our company.”

The Governor’s Action Team offered Mark Group a $3.28 million funding offer that includes a $2 million Pennsylvania Industrial Development loan, a $500,000 opportunity grant, a $638,000 job creation tax credit, and $143,550 from WEDnet, which is a workforce web portal that is devoted to advancing the training and education needs of workers and employers in Pennsylvania.

Since 2003, the Governor’s Action Team, or GAT, has successfully completed 56 projects in Philadelphia County. The projects account for commitments of 7,342 new and 20,125 retained jobs. The commonwealth has offered more than $192 million in funding to these projects, which will leverage nearly $1.2 billion in additional investment.

Statewide since 2003, GAT has successfully completed 1,188 projects, representing commitments for 130,000 new jobs and 300,000 retained jobs. The commonwealth has offered more than $2.2 billion in funding to these projects, which will leverage more than $16 billion in additional investment.

For more information on the Governor’s Action Team and Pennsylvania’s economic development opportunities, visit http://www.newpa.com/.

 

Also visit http://www.thesolarandwindexpo.com/