GLREA News
Have you been on a wind farm tour? Tours of the Consumers Energy Lake Winds Energy Park will be part of the Michigan Energy Fair this year.
You will also learn the latest on technology, products, policy, education, and training. Children’s activities will be on Saturday. June 22-24 in Ludington. Go to www.glrea.org for more information.
Solar workshops will be held in Lansing and Saginaw. Look under Events.
GLREA Member Highlight
MIAT is a private school founded in 1969 and accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. The original school, Detroit Institute of Aeronautics, was located on the West Side of Willow Run Airport. In 2008, the energy industry approached MIAT and asked for a niche program in power generation, wind technology, and power plant operations. Due to this additional growth, MIAT relocated to Canton to a 125,000 square foot facility which includes 19 classrooms and 5 computer labs. In 2010, the school also opened a branch campus in Houston. The school specializes in 3 industry-driven training programs: Aviation Maintenance Technology, Global Logistics & Dispatch, and Power Technology. More than 700 students attend day or evening classes and the school graduates 250 students a year. www.miat.edu
Michigan News
Michigan Saves is launching its statewide commercial energy efficiency financing program. The program focuses on businesses in the food industry (grocery stores, convenience stores, restaurants, and food wholesalers), but all types of businesses and nongovernmental entities are eligible for the financing. Contractor enrollment is now open and contractor trainings are scheduled around the state beginning in mid June. http://www.michigansaves.org/
E Challenge and a $250,000 prize have been announced by DTE Energy and the Engineering Society of Detroit. The contest aims to find excellence in technology that will help DTE customers save energy and money. Electronic entry is preferred, at www.esd.org/echallenge. All entries must be submitted by June 29. The initial entry is an essay of up to 1,000 words, describing the product, material or system’s impact on energy use and the type of businesses or organizations that would benefit, expected economic impact, and supporting data. Initial screening of entries will be completed by Aug. 17. Qualifiers will move on to a demonstration in November and will be judged between November and the DTE – ESD Energy Conference in May 2013 where a winner will be presented. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/05/02/dte-esd-set-250k-e-challenge-to-save-energy/
Grand Valley State University’s offshore wind research buoy was placed 35 miles offshore on May 7 where it will be in the middle of Lake Michigan until December.
It will collect data about offshore wind continuously, along with meteorological, marine and avian data, to help assess the viability of commercial-scale wind energy. The buoy can now collect wind measurements up to 175 meters high, which is the same height as next-generation wind turbines. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/05/08/grand-valley-wind-study-buoy-now-35-miles-offshore-in-lake-michigan/
State Rep. Marcia Hovey-Wright is co-sponsoring legislation to kick-start alternative energy development in Michigan. Hovey-Wright, D-Muskegon, is joining fellow Democrats Reps. Charles Brunner of Bay City and Mark Meadows of East Lansing in introducing a “green to gold” Michigan revolving loan fund program for small business energy start-ups. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/05/state_rep_marcia_hovey-wright.html
Energetx Composites has started manufacturing the 150 ft blades that are part of the company’s first major order from a wind turbine supplier. The company is investing more than $5 million in machinery and equipment at its Holland facility and has hired 60 workers, with plans to add up to 60 more in the coming year. http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2012/05/hollands_energetx_builds_150-f.html
Hospital 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide has been released by DOE. This latest guide will help architects, engineers, and contractors design and build highly efficient hospital buildings. http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/progress_alerts.cfm/pa_id=725
Gamesa Energy USA, a subsidiary of a Spanish-based wind farm developer and wind turbine manufacturer, has signed an agreement with Muskegon County to investigate constructing a 150 MW wind farm on the 11,000-acre county wastewater site. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/05/gamesa_energy_muskegon_county.html
Wyandotte Municipal Services has dedicated a 212 kW PV system on the roof of the city’s water settling basin building. Rep. Dingell attending the dedication indicated “First, this is the largest municipally-owned solar array in the state of Michigan. And, we know these things do work.” The project cost more than $600,000 and was fully funded with federal grant dollars.http://wyandotte.patch.com/articles/wyandotte-unveils-state-s-largest-solar-energy-project
Eastern Michigan University’s energy conservation projects over the last four years has resulted in a $5 million reduction in energy expenditures – a 42% cost savings – over that timeframe.http://www.concentratemedia.com/devnews/easternmichiganuniversity0194.aspx?utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=EMU+reduces+energy+costs+by+42%25+over+4+years&utm_content=%7bEmail_Address%7d&utm_campaign=Crossing+Borders
Art Toy, Four Elements Energy, has earned the industry’s leading recognition as a Certified Level 3 Wind Installer ™ from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Currently, there are 21 NABCEP Certified PV Installers in Michigan, but Art is the only NABCEP Certified Wind Installer in the state. Four Elements Energy, Inc. also includes Dan Alway, a NABCEP Certified PV Installer. www.fourelements-energy.com/
Michigan Energy Appraisal: Summer 2012 from the MPSC projects that energy demand in Michigan will experience modest decreases for all energy sources in 2012. Assuming normal summer temperatures, Michigan’s total electric sales are projected to decrease by 0.2% in 2012. This would mark the second year in a row of declining electricity demand. Total natural gas sales in Michigan for 2012 are projected to be 717.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf) across all sectors, a decrease of 4.8% over 2011 sales. The Energy Appraisal is available at: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy
Beyond Michigan
Starwood Energy Group Global, a private investment firm focused on energy infrastructure projects, has completed the final phase of its 69 MW PV project located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
US Commerce Dept has ruled that Chinese manufacturers are guilty of dumping solar panels in the US market for less than it cost to make them, a violation of World Trade Organization rules. As a result, the Chinese manufacturers – including Wuxi Suntech Power Co., Ltd. and Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Col, Ltd. – will have to start paying a tariff of more than 31% when their products enter the US market. PV module production in the US dropped from 1,273 MW in 2010 to 1,219 MW in 2011. During the same time, imports of Chinese solar cells and modules into the US more than doubled from $1.5 billion to $3.1 billion. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2012/0517/US-imposes-tariff-on-Chinese-solar-panels-a-victory-for-US-manufacturers
U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has also issued a preliminary determination that the Chinese government provided massive subsidies to Chinese producers of utility-scale wind turbine towers. The DOC said that Titan Wind Energy and CS Wind China received countervailing subsidies from the Chinese government at rates of 26.0% and 13.74%, respectively. For all other Chinese producers of utility-scale wind towers, the countervailing rate is 19.87%. http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.9908
Interested in a hybrid? The website fueleconomy.gov shows how much a hybrid adds to the sticker price vs a comparable model, how much money it will save, and how long it takes to repay the initial cost. www.fueleconomy.gov
Undersea Turbine using tidal power has performed successfully in initial tests off the coast of Scotland. The 100-ft-high, 1-MW turbine, was lowered into position off the Orkney Islands. The test is part of a plan to create a 10-MW tidal power array in the Sound of Islay. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/05/undersea-turbine-powers-scottish-island&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=RB_DAILY2&utm_term=Original-Member
Google recently received permission from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to build an underwater power line that will eventually stretch 380 miles from Virginia to New Jersey. Other federal and state permits are still necessary. The offshore wind deal, known as the Atlantic Wind Connection, would take place over at least 10 years and would have the potential of delivering 7,000 MW of wind energy to states along the East Coast,
http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/05/googles-business-approach-building-wind-energy-0&utm_medium=eNL&utm_campaign=RB_DAILY2&utm_term=Original-Member
Fuel Economy is now the leading consideration in car shopping according to a new study by Consumer Reports. 37 percent of respondents indicated fuel economy is most important, followed by quality at 17%, safety at 16%, and value at 14%. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/survey-says-fuel-economy-is-1-factor-when-buying-a-car/
Events
Intro to Photovoltaics Workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 6th, 6pm – 8pm at the Downtown Capital Area District Library, 401 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing. Register by emailing samantha.keeney@glrea.org or calling 517-646-6269.
West Michigan Bioenergy Consortium will meet on June 7 noon at Varnum in Grand Rapids. Email chaplar@rightplace.org
Solar Heating and Electric Workshops will be conducted by GLREA on June 9, 9:00 am- 12:00 n at Saginaw Valley State University. Following a lunch break, there will be a tour of a net zero energy home in Midland from 2:00-3:00 pm. The workshops and tour are designed for homeowners considering purchasing a solar system or building a new home with energy efficiency and solar features. There is no cost for the workshops or tour, but please RSVP to samantha.keeney@glrea.org.
Mission Zero Fest will take place Sat., June 9 from 10 am to 6 pm and Sun., June 10 from 11 am to 4 pm in Ann Arbor’s Water Hill neighborhood. Tour six ultra-green homes, attend workshops led by renowned sustainability experts, grab some delicious local food, and dance in the streets with an incredible array of top musical acts. www.missionzerofest.org
Traverse City Wind Energy Tour will be held on June 9, 1- 5 PM. Cost: $19. Registration through Extended Education – 995-1700
Energy Innovation Business Council Innovation through Collaboration will meet on June 11, 10 am at MAREC in Muskegon.www.mieibc.org
Intro to Wind Energy Workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 13th, 6pm – 8pm at the Downtown Capital Area District Library, 401 S. Capitol Ave., Lansing. Register by emailing samantha.keeney@glrea.org or calling 517-646-6269.
Energy Efficiency Summit will be held on Thursday, June 14, 8:00-11:00 am at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City. The Michigan Land Use Institute and SEEDS will share new research on the economic benefits of energy efficiency and keynote speaker Peter Garforth will inspire with lessons from his decades of consulting on energy efficiency with communities and major corporations. https://www.mlui.org/summit.asp
Southeast Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will meet on June 14. Speakers will cover a variety of topics including alternative clean energy options, incentives and funding for clean energy, and business testimonials from clean energy adopters. Contact: info@smsbf.org http://www.smsbf.org/
West Michigan Wind Manufacturing Network will meet on June 14 noon at Varnum in Grand Rapids. Email chaplar@rightplace.org
West Michigan Solar Supply Chain will meet on June 21 noon at Varnum in Grand Rapids. Email chaplar@rightplace.org
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
Energy Academy, designed for high school students, will be held on July 8-13 at Ferris State. www.ferris.edu/summercamps
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Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)