GLREA News
GLREA is in fundraising mode here at the beginning of 2012. Our new board of directors has raised $2,000 to match donations from the membership.
We are looking at doing improvements to the building, including paying for a new furnace, marketing funds for the Michigan Energy Fair, and helping us to continue providing quality information and programming to you our membership. You can donate by mailing in a check to 257 S. Bridge St. PO Box 346, Dimondale, MI 48821 or calling the office at 517-646-6269 and donating by credit card.
GLREA will also be holding an online charity auction beginning in late February/ early March. We are currently accepting donations for the auction. If you have any like new items, gift certificates, or other items that you would be willing to donate to the organization for this event it would be greatly appreciated AND tax deductable. To donate items contact Samantha Keeney at Samantha.keeney@glrea.org or 517-646-6269.SAVE THE DATE!
- Michigan Energy Fair, June 22 through the 24, Ludington, MI, More information coming soon!
Michigan News
Proposed Ballot Language has been filed for the Nov. 6 election that would require the state’s electric utilities to reach 25% renewable energy by 2025. The current law passed in 2008 requires 10% of Michigan’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2015. The coalition Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs includes public health, labor and farming groups and wants to raise more than $1 million to collect about 500,000 signatures. The petition must be filed by July 9 and contain at least 322,609 valid signatures. http://mienergymijobs.com/
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for FY 2012 has been announced. Financial assistance includes grants, guaranteed loans, and combined grants and guaranteed loans for the development and construction of renewable energy systems and energy efficiency projects; grants for conducting energy audits or renewable feasibility studies; and grants for conducting renewable energy development assistance. $25.4 million is available which will support at least $12.5 million in grants and up to $48.5 million in guaranteed loans. Energy audits and renewable energy development assistance applications are due February 21. Renewable energy and energy efficiency grant applications and combined grant and loan applications are due March 30. Renewable energy system feasibility study applications are due March 30. Guaranteed loan only applications will be accepted on a continuous basis up to June 29.http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=7L2nPvJQ1wVQqTQJ5J1hx9DV9yV8qvfsJwZnrxgBnBMcvDCf4R5g!1154909517?oppId=140654&mode=VIEW
Michigan’s Thumb, which now has wind farms near Ubly and Elkton, does not enough capacity on the transmission grid to handle new wind farms. ITC Holdings will be building a $510 million Thumb Loop Project that will have 140 miles of 345 kilovolt lines and four new substations. The system, due to be in operation by 2015, will be capable of supporting up to 5,000 MW of capacity, or more than 2,800 additional wind turbines. http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/01/10/new-michigan-transmission-line-to-multiply-wind-capacity/
Energy Innovation Business Council, a trade organization of Michigan businesses engaged in clean energy manufacturing and other areas of the new energy economy, has just been launched. The EIBC aims to diversify and accelerate the growth of Michigan’s energy sector and create partnerships to expand business opportunities, secure access to capital, engage the public and policymakers, advocate and build consensus for policy, and advance energy innovation with the goal of generating jobs and economic development. http://www.mieibc.org/about-us
Grand Valley State University’s Wind Sentinel research buoy has spent two months on Lake Michigan collecting data for the offshore wind assessment project. It was retrieved and moved onshore, where it will continue to operate this winter. The project now has two months of one-second wind measurement data up to 150 meters using state of the art laser technology. Around mid-March, the buoy will be deployed at the mid-lake plateau, a shallow area in Lake Michigan between Muskegon and Milwaukee approximately 35 miles offshore. www.gvsu.edu/marec
MSHDA now has Low Income Housing Tax Credits for developments that are promoting safe, decent, affordable housing. Integral to this effort are specific policies that pertain to healthy, green, and sustainable building practices. http://www.alliancees.org/2011/12/13/qualified-allocation-plan-qap-mshda-leed-green-verification/
Exelon Power’s 90 MW, 50-turbine wind farm in Minden City has begun commercial operation. The completion of the project means Exelon has about 212 MW of wind power online in the state, making it the largest wind generator in Michigan.http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/01/06/New-wind-farm-online-in-Michigan/UPI-40431325864667/#ixzz1jHRMNFrw
Smart Meter investigation has been launched by the MPSC which noted that some electric customers and several municipalities have expressed concerns. The order directs all regulated electric utilities to submit to the MPSC the utility’s plans for the deployment of smart meters, estimated cost of deploying smart meters, estimate of the savings to be achieved, safety information, type of information that will be gathered, steps to safeguard privacy, and ability to opt out. Interested persons have until April 16 to file comments. www.michigan.gov/mpsc
Ikea has announced plans to install solar energy panels on five more of its Midwestern stores including the store in Canton. The five new installations will total 4.8 MW, approximately 20,400 panels. The Canton store will have 4,157 panels generating 977 kW. Installing solar panels atop these five locations will increase the company’s total generating capacity to 31.6 MW in the U.S. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/01/12/ikea-adding-solar-power-in-canton-other-midwest-stores/
4th Annual Green Builder Home of the Year Awards were recently announced by Green Builder Media. The judges chose ten outstanding projects including the “River Escape Project” in Stanwood. This home is a 1,267 sq. ft. passive solar home built with Insulated Concrete Forms from the frost protected shallow foundation to the SIP roof. The project is a Zero Energy Home thanks to the Passive Solar Design, 4.1 kW of PV, Solar Hot Water and a 98% efficient boiler for the radiant floor heat and hot water backup. http://www.alliancees.org/2011/12/29/2011-greenbuilder-home-of-year-in-stanwood-michigan-seeks-leed/
Lenawee Intermediate School District is developing a zero-energy-use school. The district hopes to break ground in April on a 9,000-sq.ft. classroom and laboratory building in Adrian Township. The building will use photovoltaic arrays for electricity and geothermal and solar thermal systems for heat. There will be an emphasis on the building envelope and earth berms on two sides of the building. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/01/26/lenawee-isd-working-on-two-green-initiatives/
Beyond Michigan
AWEA will hold its first regional wind energy conference in Chicago on March 6 – 7 demonstrating that this region is considered critical to the development of wind power in the U.S. http://www.awea.org/events/AWEA-Midwest-Wind-Energy-Markets-Seminar-2012.cfm
Could Wind and Solar complement each other and produce electricity more reliably? Ecos Energy will begin construction of a 13-acre, 2 MW solar array in southwest Minnesota in April that should be completed by July. Xcel Energy will purchase all of the solar power and will study how its output compares with that of three nearby wind farms. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/01/energy-firm-put-solar-array-near-wind-farms&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=RB_DAILY2&utm_term=Original-Member
Retail Stores’ 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient retail buildings. The 50% AEDG series provides a practical approach for retail stores, and other commercial buildings to achieve 50% energy savings. http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/aedg50pct
Distributed Wind Site Analysis Tool, developed by the Cadmus Group, allows users to input location and terrain information about a potential wind system site and predict the energy output and environmental benefits of that site. The tool is designed to help choose the most effective site for a wind energy project. The standard version of the tool was developed in partnership with NREL and Encraft, and is free to site visitors. A version with more advanced features is available for an annual subscription fee.http://dsat.cadmusgroup.com/
Generation Y, those born from 1980 to the early 1990s, prefer hybrids and electric cars according to a new global study by Deloitte LLP. 57% of Gen Y prefer an electrified vehicle. Automakers and other marketers are keen on selling to Gen Y, a group who will purchase one in four new automobiles sold in the U.S. this year and 40% of the vehicles sold in the next 10 years. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/gen-y-consumers-favor-hybrids-connected-vehicles-survey-shows.html
Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, a Japanese non-profit, has announced that 52 municipalities now belong to “energy sustainable zones” in Japan. An energy sustainable zone is defined as an area where energy demands for households and business activities can be completely satisfied by renewable energy generated within the area. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/031557.html
Events
Michigan Energy Forum – Financing Your Commercial Energy Project will be held on Feb. 2, 5-7 pm at Ann Arbor SPARK ,330 East Liberty, Lower Level. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=11310
“Tightest Home Around?” Tour will be held on Feb. 3, 10 am-12n at the Pobst House, 13691 Beckwith Drive NE, Lowell. http://www.alliancees.org/
Energy Innovation Business Council will be launched on Feb. 8, 11:45am-1:15pm at the Michigan State Capitol, Speaker’s Library, 2nd floor. Ed Clemente, President of the Council and a number of business representatives will speak. RSVP tomieibc@mieibc.org
Detroit Re-Nailed: A Symposium on Deconstruction will be held on Friday Feb. 17, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST at M-Tech at Henry Ford Community College. The symposium will present case studies of existing programs and pose questions to panelists and participants on how to move the deconstruction industry ahead. Participants can view renovation projects utilizing recycled materials during an afternoon tour and enjoy a reception at the conclusion of the day. https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e5jwjwri29b3e914&oseq=
Revenge of the Electric Car will be shown at Macomb Community College on Feb. 24, doors open at 6:00pm and movie starts at 7:00pm. This is the sequel to the 2006 documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?”, and it picks right up where he left off, going behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars and its link to America’s future. Preregistration is requested. http://www.cvent.com/d/rcq9vn
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held on Sat. March 3, 9:00am-5:00pm at Kellogg Center, MSU. Workshop will cover energy efficiency, solar, and wind options. https://php.glrea.org/seminars/renewableEnergyIntro.php?id=33
AWEA Midwest Wind Energy Summit will be held in Chicago on March 6 – 7. Providing a comprehensive view of the wind energy markets in the Midwest, the conference will be AWEA’s first regional event focusing on critical wind power issues. Hear from experts in the fields of siting, policy, manufacturing, supply chain, transmission, and utility power. http://www.awea.org/events/AWEA-Midwest-Wind-Energy-Markets-Seminar-2012.cfm
Sustainable Ann Arbor Forum on Climate and Energy will be held on March 8, 7:00-8:30 pm at the Ann Arbor District Library, 343 South Fifth. www.a2gov.org/sustainability
Pierce Cedar Creek Institute’s Sustainability Conference will be held on Saturday, March 17, 8:30 am – 4 pm. Pierce Cedar Creek’s annual conference is changing to help individuals face environmental and social challenges and find sustainable solutions for their communities. The keynote speaker is Peter Bane, a permaculture consultant and editor of Permaculture Activist. There will be a variety of energy related breakout sessions and exhibits. http://www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/sustainability-conference
PV Systems Integrators Course will be held by GLREA on March 19-21 at Washtenaw Community College. The course will cover advanced topics of systems design and performance standards, including PV array/inverter matching, inverter interconnections with single and three-phase power systems, busbar loading, mechanical supports and other design and application practices. https://php.glrea.org/seminars/siCourse.php?id=21
Photovoltaic Course will be held by GLREA on April 23-27 at Washtenaw Community College. The apprentice workshop is a 5-day program combining classroom sessions with field experience to introduce the participant to distributed generation technologies and interconnection issues. https://php.glrea.org/seminars/pvCourse.php?id=25
MIAT (Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology) will be hosting the 7th Annual Career Expo on Tuesday, May 8 at the MIAT Canton campus. The event draws employers from Michigan and across the U.S. in the aviation, energy, and transportation industries. More than 5000 Veterans are invited to this event and the event is open to all job seekers. For more information or an exhibitor packet, contact Amy at akienast@miat
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Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
