Michigan Energy News
“Already, we are seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11th, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert’s words, “We reinvented ourselves.” 2011 State of the Union address by President Obama http://lumaresources.com/
MPSC data shows that Michigan’s utilities are on track to meet the state’s goal of 10% renewable sources by 2015. Estimates for 2009 show 3.63% of Michigan’s electricity was produced by renewable sources compared to 2.9% in 2007. Consumers Energy has contracted for 396 MW of renewable energy: 8 MW already in operation and 388 MW more by the end of 2012 . Detroit Edison has contracted for 252 MW of renewable energy: 44 MW already in operation and 208 MW more by the end of 2011 . Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy have contracted for a combined total of 648 MW: 598 MW of wind, 45 MW of biomass, 4 MW of PV, and 1 MW of hydro. www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2009_renewable_energy_estimate_341820_7.pdf
Green Communities Conference presentations are now available at http://www.mml.org/resources/educenter/2010-green_communities_conference.html
Green Garage in Detroit will serve as a green business incubator. Visible from Second Ave. is the new three-season room, with windows that fully open and walls and floor made from reclaimed bricks. All new windows, made by Detroit-based Kelly Windows, are triple-pane, made from sustainable wood and low-VOC. Solatubes installed in the ceiling provide daylighting. Old drywall is used as a thermal mass between the subfloor and flooring, providing added insulation and Quick Trak is being installed above the subfloor to run radiant heating tubes. Solar thermal collectors are in, but not yet operational. Earth Day is targeted for the grand opening of the Green Garage. www.greengaragedetroit.com
Energy Priorities for Michigan, my own personal views, can be found at www.micheeen.org under Blogs. Check it out and share your own priorities.
Energy Works Michigan will promote energy efficiency and assist in the installation of PV, solar thermal, and wind systems in 90 Michigan schools during the next 3 years. The Michigan Renewable Schools Program, operated by Energy Works, assisted in the installation of 30 renewable energy systems at 24 school districts in 2009 and 2010, generating over 40,000 kWh’s. Another 40 school districts received energy audits and technical assistance to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency. The upcoming expansion of services, which will include renewable energy assistance for colleges and universities for the first time, will be made possible by a $4.4 million contract with the Michigan Public Service Commission.
Contact info@EnergyWorksMichigan.org or(734) 369-9699. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/energy-works-michigan-gets-4-4-million-deal-with-mpsc/
First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor has installed a 2.5 kW wind turbine in its parking lot and 48 solar panels on the church roof that generate an additional 10.8 kW. Together, they are expected to save the church up to 20% on its annual energy costs, according to Dave Friedrichs, chair of the congregation’s renewable energy committee and managing member of Homeland Builders of Michigan. The $30,000 wind turbine portion of the project was funded almost entirely through the sale of personalized paving stones to be used in a renewable energy plaza on the premises. Next in the energy pipeline, although no start date has been set yet, will be an amping up of the solar panel installation to accommodate up to 100 kW. The church is a member of Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, a non-profit coalition supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the faith community statewide.
University of Michigan has another great resource to offer Michigan industrial energy managers. DOE funding through DELEG has enabled U of M, in partnership with Shepherd Advisors, to establish the Michigan Industrial Energy Center (MIEC). The MIEC website offers a wealth of information including news, events, and case studies. The MIEC will be offering FREE Save Energy Now energy assessments for large companies to identify energy saving opportunities. In addition, the MIEC will be offering low or no-cost training, including an online Industrial Energy course and four DOE Qualified Specialist or End User training sessions. Participation in the training and free energy assessments is limited; so check out the MIEC website and sign up now! http://www.miec.engin.umich.edu/
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has dedicated its 100-ft training tower for wind technicians. Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Levin sponsored the congressionally directed $550,000 grant awarded to the project through the U. S. Department of Education. With the basic tower structure provided by the college, the federal funds financed $280,000 worth of tower-related apparatus, while the balance of the funding provided specialized equipment for KVCC’s Wind Turbine Technician Academy.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Detroit Edison and Blue Water Renewables, an affiliate of the utility, has been approved by the MPSC. The PPA is for 3.2 MW from a unique landfill gas project in St. Clair County believed to be the first commercial scale septage injection landfill gas source in the US, that is, one that will use material extracted from septic tanks to promote faster landfill gas production.
Comfort Suites Hotel of Southgate has received the “Greening Downriver” award presented by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber to the hotel for its extensive efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The hotel has done many efficiency measures such as low flow toilets and shower heads, CFL lighting and waste recycling. The hotel wanted to do more and hired the Starpak Group to install an 18-panel solar thermal system for the hotel’s domestic hot water and a 4-panel solar thermal system to heat the indoor pool. In addition, Starpak designed and installed a heat recovery system on the swimming pool dehumidification system. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/southgate-hotel-slashes-energy-spend-with-new-technology/
Beyond Michigan
Milwaukee officials are considering having 1-3 wind turbines on the lakefront. The city has selected two potential locations – next to the Lake Express ferry terminal and next to the Port Administration building. The turbines would be smaller than typical utility scale turbinies. One turbine would be 115 feet tall at the tip of the blade, while the other would be 156 feet. http://www.jsonline.com/business/113172839.html
Made With 100% Wind Power could be on the next box of Legos you buy. Other goods you buy could bear the Windmadestamp, which — like Fair Trade, Organic, Recycled, etc. — is competing to become one more differentiator for goods made with sustainability in mind. http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-19-windmade-is-the-next-fair-trade-gets-backers-like-lego
Coca-Cola Japan Co. announced the launch of new eco-friendly “green roof” beverage vending machines, By attaching green sheets containing a combination of moss known as “sunagoke” and artificial turf onto the top of the machine, the company expects to lower the unit’s surface temperature and improve cooling efficiency. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030468.html
Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo), a nonprofit spearheading NE Ohio’s efforts to develop offshore wind, and Freshwater Wind LLC, a private developer, have signed an option with the State of Ohio to lease specified acreage for an initial offshore wind project in Lake Erie. The signed lease option gives LEEDCo and Freshwater Wind the exclusive right for up to 4 years to apply for and negotiate a final submerged land lease for the project, approximately 7 miles NW of Cleveland Browns Stadium. LEEDCo expects to install five wind turbines (20 MW) beginning in late 2012. By 2020, LEEDCo aims to see 1,000 MW of offshore wind energy installed in Lake Erie. ttp://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7155
World Oil Demand reached an all-time quarterly high in the third quarter of 2010, according to Wood Mackenzie analysts. Economic growth in Asia, particularly China, caused world oil demand to reach an average of 88.3 million barrels per day in the third quarter. Chinese demand for gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil grew at about 8% annually in 2010. In India, the demand for diesel fuel and heating oil is growing at 7% per year, while the demand for gasoline is growing at 11% per year. www.woodmacresearch.com/cgi-bin/corp/portal/corp/corpPressDetail.jsp?oid=2520004 World’s First Electric Vehicle (EV) circuit race series, the EV Cup, will launch in summer 2011, with 7 races, including one planned for the US. The event will include two classes of racers: a city class of EVs for drivers in race-prepared Think cars, and a sport class with teams racing Westfield iRacers that can reach top speeds of 115 mph. A third category, the prototype class, will not feature races, but will hold time trials showcasing the latest non-production EVs. http://www.evcup.com/
Carbon Minus House in Japan will use lithium-ion batteries recycled from the Nissan Leaf. The use of storage batteries is promising for second-life use of EV batteries and will make energy self-sufficiency possible for homes. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030051.html
GLREA Member Highlight
Mechanical Energy Systems (MES) based out of Canton joined GLREA soon after it opened its Lansing office in 2000. MES has been installing, and educating people about solar products for 25 years. Recently MES has been chosen to provide 15 Solar Demonstration Centers to the Laker School District, received certification from the Womens Business Enterprise National Council, and helped to retrofit a 110 year old Victorian home. For additional information about MES please visit them at www.by-solar.com.
If you or a business you know would like to be the featured GLREA member, please send an e-mail to samantha.keeney@glrea.org with information regarding the business and recent achievements.
Events
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held by GLREA on Saturday, Feb. 9th, 9-5 at Grand Rapids Community College. The workshop includes sessions on solar hot water, photovoltaic, and wind energy systems. www.glrea.org
PV Electric Systems One-Week Intensive will be offered by Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) on Feb. 7-11. The training provides a technical view of solar energy, site assessment, systems components, and system designs. Upon completion, participants will have the option to take the NABCEP Entry Level Exam on Feb. 12. http://www.nmc.edu/resources/extended-education/find-a-class/energy-construction/index.html
Advanced Solar PV Installation course is offered by NMC in a new weekend format and covers in-depth solar installation training designed for licensed electricians, electrical engineers, and those preparing for the NABCEP PV Installation Exam. The course runs two weekends February 24 to March 5. http://www.nmc.edu/resources/extended-education/find-a-class/energy-construction/index.html
Lawrence Tech’s Center for Sustainability, Engineering Society of Detroit, & Detroit ASHRAE Chapter are sponsoring the 7th annual sustainability conference on February 22-25. ASHRAE classes of value to Architects, Engineers and Code Officials: Complying with ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 on February 22 and Implementing Standard 189.1-2009 for High Performance Green Buildings on February 23. Std. 90.1-2007 will be incorporated into the state building code in March.www.sos2011.ltu.edu
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held by GLREA on Saturday, March 5th, 9-5 at Kellogg Center, MSU. The workshop includes sessions on solar hot water, photovoltaic, and wind energy systems. www.glrea.org
State of the Science Workshop on the Ecological Effects of Wind will be hosted by the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative and the Richard P. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, IUPUI on March 9-10 in Indianapolis. http://www.glc.org/energy/wind/sosworkshop/index.html
2nd Turbine Supply Chain Conference 2011 will be held on April 5-6 in Detroit. Focus will be on applying robust lean manufacturing strategies to reduce costs, maintain margins and increase attractiveness to Wind Turbine OEMs. http://www.windenergyupdate.com/supplychainusa/download-brochure.shtml?utm_source=Energy+Central&utm_medium=External+email&utm_content=brochure&utm_campaign=18+Jan
Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing will be held on April 21-22 at the Michigan League, University of Michigan. http://energy.umich.edu/news-events/events/
Smart Grid Symposium will be held at the Dearborn Inn on May 18-20. www.ipu.msu.edu/programs/MIGrid2011
Michigan Energy Fair will be held this year on June 24-26 at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. Save the date!
Click here to be introduced to GLREA
Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
