GLREA News
GLREA has partnered with FreeCharityAuctions.com to host a fundraiser. We have had donations from many members and some local Lansing businesses. More items will be added as the week progresses, but check out our current offerings. Funds raised will be used for general operations. Happy bidding! http://www.freecharityauctions.com/view-auctions?id=glrea
Interested in presenting or exhibiting at the Michigan Energy Fair in Ludington on June 22-24? Contactsamantha.keeney@glrea.org
GLREA Member Highlight
Renovo Power Systems, a collaboration of U of M Engineering and Business School alumni, is bringing a new paradigm to the PV market with the Digiwatts line of Transformerless Grid-Tie inverters. The designs are leading a wave of digital technology that matches sales leader SMA Sunnyboy’s combination of performance and features PLUS brings BIG ADVANTAGES in WEIGHT (50 lb. vs. 150 lb.) and FLEXIBILITY (dual MPPTs, up to 4 strings and a low 200 VDC startup voltage). And the best part is Digiwatts material and design efficiencies generate SAVINGS of $1200 and more on a 5kW system. Developers and PV panel manufacturers can leverage Renovo’s Engineering team in customizing an inverter solution optimized for their application. Contact VP of Operations, Shane LaHousse, at 810-923-2643 or shane.lahousse@renovo-usa.com. www.renovo-usa.com
Michigan News
Detroit Free Press Michigan Green Leaders award winners in 2012 include small and large companies, individuals and public organizations. The 17 awards, given for the third year, will be handed out at a breakfast ceremony on April 27 at MGM Grand Detroit. The Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program will be recognized for providing free and confidential pollution prevention assessments to businesses with 500 or fewer employees. Interested businesses should contact David Herb, DEQ at 517-241-8176 or herbd@michigan.gov. Individual award winners include Anne Woiwode of the Sierra Club, Arn Boezaart, director of GVSU’s Michigan Alternative & Renewable Energy Center, and Matthew Grocoff, founder of the websitewww.greenovation.tv. Clean Energy Coalition’s received an award for a range of efforts promoting clean technology. http://www.freep.com/article/20120311/BUSINESS06/203110469/Anti-idling-campaign-is-just-one-of-many-efforts-to-clean-Michigan?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
Governor Snyder recently saw first hand the Better Buildings for Michigan pilot program. He declared it a “great win” for energy and the environment after touring the home of Elizabeth and Chris Kushman, participants in Traverse City. The Kushmans are retrofitting their 118-year-old home in order to make it more comfortable—and cut their annual energy costs by as much as $1,000. TC Saves is one of 27 BBFM pilot programs in neighborhoods around the state. http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/03/12/michigan-governor-hails-efficiency-program-everybody-wins/
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on offshore wind in the Great Lakes was signed by the heads of 10 federal agencies and the governors of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania. The purpose of the MOU is to promote the efficient, orderly and responsible evaluation of offshore wind proposals for the Great Lakes. http://www.glc.org/announce/12/03wind.html
Wind Safety Training is being offered at Grand Rapids Community College. A 2-day Competent Climber & Tower Rescue and 1-day Specialist Hub Rescue training will be offered April 9-11, May 14-16, and June 25-27. http://cms.grcc.edu/workforcetraining
University of Michigan architects, civil engineers and materials and environmental scientists will start this fall on a two-year collaborative project they call Integrated Responsive Building Envelopes (IRBE). They will explore the potential of intelligent building exteriors that are capable of monitoring weather, daylight and occupant use to manage heating, cooling and lighting in dynamic ways. The IRBE team will examine a range of materials and assemblies. These could include transparent and opaque materials, glazing and pressurized film systems as well as new types of green, ductile concrete. The team will also explore the use of sensing and actuation devices within these envelope systems to enable them to instantly respond to shifting conditions inside and out. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/03/22/smart-building-exteriors-for-reduced-energy-costs-cleaner-environment/
Heron Wind has received a $948,233 six year loan from the Michigan Strategic Fund to assist the company in the development and manufacturing of its 750 kW wind turbine, the H-777. The turbine will have an advanced “sweep twist adaptive rotor” and STAR blade technology that is expected to increase production between 10 and 15%. The estimated installed cost for the wind turbine system will be approximately $2,000/kW. www.heronwindmfg.com
Hydrobike Commuting Pilot is being considered for a Michigan city. The hydrobike is a bike on two pontoons, (http://www.funwatercraft.com/). This green commuting alternative would be applicable to the many Michigan cities built around rivers.
Dow Chemical and University of Michigan will bring together 300 students to help solve some of the world’s most pressing sustainability challenges in a new fellowship program. Dow will provide a gift of $10 million over six years to support the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program at UM. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/03/12/dow-um-establish-sustainability-fellows/
Beyond Michigan
Wisconsin has new statewide wind siting rules after attempts to change them failed. The new rules were originally going to become effective last March, but opponents who wanted more restrictive requirements blocked them in the legislature. An effort to change the rules in the legislature failed, but critics were able to send the new rules to the Public Service Commission where officials unsuccessfully attempted to broker a compromise. http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/with-legislative-session-ended-wind-turbine-placement-rules-take-effect/article_e65e6566-6eed-11e1-8808-0019bb2963f4.html
Minnesota could supply all of its power needs with renewable energy if combined with demand-slashing improvements in the grid and energy storage, according to a study from the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. The shift would raise power costs by about 3 cents/kWh, but it would cost roughly the same to replace the state’s aging coal and natural gas plants, the study showed. http://www.ieer.org/
Gamesa Energy has won state approval to construct a 479-foot wind turbine prototype off Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission unanimously approved the 5 MW wind turbine in the lower Chesapeake Bay about 3 miles off the town of Cape Charles. The project still needs the approval of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a review by the Coast Guard. The project has a late 2013 completion date, which would make it the first wind turbine in offshore U.S. waters. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-03/D9TP22981.htm
Events
“Our Most Important Policy Failure – Energy” will be presented by Frank Zarb, President Ford’s “Energy Czar” on Wed, April 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, 1000 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor. Admission is free, reception to follow.
Great Lakes High Performance Building Conference will be held on April 5 at the MSU Kellogg Conference Center. Dave Konkle, GLREA Board Member, will be presenting on solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Register today at www.greatlakes-hpb.org
West Michigan Bioenergy Consortium will meet on April 5, noon, at Varnum’s Grand Rapids office. Email:chaplar@rightplace.org
East Michigan Assoc. of Energy Engineers will hold their Spring meeting on Tuesday, April 10 at Alfred Taubman Student Service Center at Lawrence Tech. Free for chapter members, $25 for guests, and $19 for students or seniors. Meeting begins at 5:30 with social time/chapter business and dinner is 6:00. John Sarver will be the guest presenter and provide an overview of Green Energy Jobs in Michigan.
5th Annual Michigan Energy Conference will be held on April 12, 7:00-4:00 at Frederik Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. This annual conference will be attended by industry leaders in the fields of education, energy, energy management, public policy/governance, construction and transportation. www.ferris.edu/mec/
West Michigan Wind Manufacturing Network will meet on April 12, noon, at Varnum’s Grand Rapids office. Email:chaplar@rightplace.org
West Michigan Solar Supply Chain will meet on April 19, noon, at Varnum’s Grand Rapids office. Email: chaplar@rightplace.org
Michigan Wind Working Group will meet on April 19, 9:00-3:00 at the MPSC Office, 4300 W. Saginaw, Lansing, Hearing Room 1. Meeting will include a MPSC update, presentations on DTE and Consumers Energy RPS plans, a Michigan Energy Office update, and presentations on the 25% by 2025 ballot initiative. www.michigan.gov/mrep
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
Renewable Energy Workshops will be held on April 23 at Rochester Hills Public Library. John Sarver, GLREA, will present on wind and solar energy systems, at 3pm and 5pm. Larry Kaufman, energy expert for DTE Energy, will offer his personal experience with geothermal heating/cooling systems at 7pm. The public is welcome to attend any of these free seminars. Space is limited and reservations encouraged. On-line registration: www.migreenteam.com/greenevents
Michigan Energy Forum – “Manufacturers in the Wind Industry: Why Michigan” will be held on May 3, 5:00-7:00 pm at Ann Arbor Spark, 330 E. Liberty. http://www.annarborusa.org/events
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 akienast@miat.edu or 734.423.2100.
Good Jobs, Green Jobs Midwest Conference will be held on May 10-11 at the Detroit Marriott, Renaissance Center. The conference will have two days of workshops and plenaries focused on building a green economy and creating good jobs. http://www.greenjobsconference.org/node/902
Michigan Energy Fair will be held on June 22-24 at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Ludington. If you want to learn about renewable energy and energy efficiency, the Fair exhibits, workshops, and special activities will keep you up to date on the latest in products, policies, and educational/training opportunities. This year GLREA will have a separate exhibit building for non-profit and public organizations that are involved in education, advocacy, and training. www.glrea.org
Green Living Festival will be held in downtown Rochester on June 22-24. The Festival is a green/wellness event that offers a wide variety of exhibits, attractions and activities. http://migreenteam.wildapricot.org/glf
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Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)