GLREA News
The GLREA Board of Directors has voted unanimously to endorse the 25 x 25 ballot initiative. Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs submitted 529,840 signatures to the state Bureau of Elections for the ballot initiative that would require 25% of utility power to come from biomass, hydro, solar and wind turbines by 2025. The coalition needed a minimum of 322,609 signatures to win a spot on the November general election ballot. You can sign up as a supporter at http://mienergymijobs.com/ and find suggestions on how you can help.
GLREA Member Highlight
Wind Energy continues to be a growing market for southeast Michigan-based Metro Consulting Associates (MCA). Since the firm opened in 2009, its wind energy business has more than tripled across the state. Recent projects in Michigan span more than 87,000 acres including 300 wind turbine generators producing 530 MW. MCA performs multiple tasks based on client needs including interconnection studies, ordinance due diligence, surveys, community outreach, design, transportation planning, infrastructure analysis, permits and T-line routing. MCA is a full service land surveying & civil engineering consultant. For more information including case studies on wind energy projects, contact Damon Garrett, Operations Manager at 800-525-6016 or visitwww.metroca.ne
Michigan News
IKEA has officially plugged in the PV system at its Detroit area store in Canton – the state’s largest PV array. The 122,200 sq.ft. array consists of a 977.6 kW system, built with 4,160 panels. IKEA will produce approximately 1,114,943 kWh per year. The Canton installation represents the 20th completed solar energy project for IKEA in the US, with 19 more locations underway. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/michigans-largest-solar-array-now-plugged-in-atop-ikea-canton-2012-07-10
Meridian Township is working with Ian Olmstead from Peninsula Solar, Michigan Energy Options, U.S. Dept. of Energy, Mother Nature, Consumers Energy, and others to create a solar demonstration and educational project at Harris Nature Center. The demonstrations will include a solar-powered webcam system, grid-connected photovoltaic system, and an indoor educational exhibit. The separate 135 Watt PV panel will power two webcams pointed at the bird-feeding area and the hawk cage.http://recycle.meridian.mi.us/energy/harris/SOLARWEB.htm
Consumers Energy reached a level of electric demand never seen before in the company’s 125 year history. Customer demand hit a peak of 9,086 MW on July 17 between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., a level that surpasses a previous all time record of 8,930 MW set on July 21, 2011.
Southfield City Council has voted to become the first city government to join Lean & Green Michigan, a public-private partnership to finance energy efficiency projects and renewable energy improvements for commercial buildings. Southfield’s membership in Lean & Green Michigan allows for the adoption of a citywide Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, which enables property owners to take on voluntary special assessments in order to finance energy and water improvements. Lean & Green Michigan is a project of Levin Energy Partners, LLC. www.leanandgreenmi.com http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/07/09/southfield-businesses-get-new-tool-to-save-energy-and-money/
MCV Holding Co. LLC, the parent company of Midland Cogeneration Venture Limited Partnership, applied to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for an air permit for the installation of a 640 MW combined-cycle natural gas power plant to be located at the MCV site in Midland. MCV currently owns and operates a 1,630 MW combined-cycle natural gas plant at its Midland site. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/07/11/midland-power-plant-owners-apply-for-expansion/
New Biofuel production process created by Michigan State University researchers produces energy more than 20 times higher than existing methods. A novel approach uses microbes to consume agricultural wastes and produce biofuel and hydrogen. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/07/10/msu-offers-breakthrough-in-biofuel-production/
University of Michigan Solar Car Team has won the 2012 American Solar Challenge with their car Quantum for a fourth consecutive American title. The eight day, biennial 1,650 mile competition started in Rochester, N.Y., on July 14 and ended in St. Paul on July 22. The UM car crossed the finish line for a final elapsed running time of just under 45 hours. Western Michigan University’s Sunseeker finished eighth and also won the event’s Sportsmanship Award. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2012/07/22/um-solar-car-team-wins-a-rainy-american-solar-challenge/
Ypsilanti Heritage Festival this year will be semi-powered by a 6 kW PV system. Working with Stefan Graf from IlluminArt , SolarYpsi will install a 26 panel, ground mount system that will help power the festival. SolarYpsi volunteers will be on hand to explain solar power and answer any questions. The festival is Aug 17, 18, &19 in Riverside Park.http://www.ypsilantiheritagefestival.com/ Also SolarYpsi made the August/September issue of Home Power magazine. SolarYpsi is featured in the “Returns, giving back with renewables” section on page 28 and again in the “Solutions, ingenuity in renewable energy” section on page 32.
Beyond Michigan
Ian Baring-Gould, the National Technical Director with Wind Powering America at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, posted a new article on the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative blog www.glwcblog.blogspot.com. Ian discusses three recently released studies that look at the future of renewable energy and natural gas for power generation and how wind energy can hedge against fluctuations in the price of natural gas.
New Jersey utilities will be required to buy more solar energy under legislation signed by Governor Chris Christie. Utilities will need to get 2.05% of their electricity from solar projects in 2014, up from less than 0.5% now. New Jersey developers added 174 MW of PV in the first quarter, surpassing California as the largest solar state with 34% of all U.S. installations. Prices for SREC’s (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates) sank to less than $100/MWH this year from more than $500 a year ago because installed PV systems were producing twice the amount that utilities needed. The state’s solar requirement will increase to 4.1% by 2028. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-23/christie-signs-solar-bill-increasing-n-j-energy-requirement-1-.html
Governors from six New England states have agreed to release a request for proposals (RFP) next year for a large amount of wind power and other sources of renewable energy. Gov. Deval Patrick, D-Mass., proposed the resolution calling for the RFP at the New England Governors’ Conference. This resolution will result in the release of an RFP for renewable energy in 2013. http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10209
Events
West Michigan Bio-Energy Consortium will conduct a site visit to the Scenic View Diary in Freeport on Thursday August 2, 9:00am – 10:30am. The Scenic View Diary is at 10560 Freeport Ave. in Freeport (Not Fennville location). Please RSVP by August 1 to Rick Chapla at chaplar@rightplace.org
Made in Michigan: A Clean Energy Future panel discussion will be held in the Heritage Room at the Kellogg Center, MSU on August 7, 6:30 p.m. Join experts from the renewable energy, transportation, and labor fields for a panel discussion about local and federal energy policies and the potential to create jobs and revitalize the Michigan economy. RSVP at www.ucsusa.org/Lansingcleanenergy
Introduction to Solar & Wind Power workshop and tour will be held Saturday, August 11, 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Laker Schools, 6136 Pigeon Rd (M142) Pigeon, 2 miles west of Elkton. The workshop will be held in the auditorium and a tour will follow. The workshop is designed to provide an overview to persons who have an interest in solar or wind energy or persons considering the purchase of a solar or wind electric system for their home or business. There is no cost for the seminar, but you need to RSVP to johnsarver3@gmail.com
REC Aggregation Briefings will be held on August 14 in Ann Arbor and August 16 in Muskegon to explain the Renewable Energy Certificate aggregation process for small renewable energy systems. The meetings will go from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. August 14 meeting will be at the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority, 150 S. Fifth Ave. third floor conference room. August 16 meeting will be at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC), 200 Viridian Drive in Muskegon. There is no cost to attend the briefing, but please RSVP to John Sarver at johnsarver3@gmail.com.
Solar & Wind Energy Tour and Presentation will be conducted at the First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor,4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., on August 15, 10:00-12:00. UUAA has a 2.5 kW wind turbine and 48 solar panels installed on the south facing roof. A dual-axis tracking solar array stands next to the parking lot and a tiled Energy Plaza honors the many private contributors who made these energy installations possible. Dave Friedrichs, Homeland Builders of Michigan, and John Wakeman, SUR Energy, will share their experiences, provide an overview of PV and wind energy systems, and take you on a tour of the UUAA solar and wind systems. There is no cost. Please sign up at: http://UUAA-Aug.15.kintera.org/
Solar Workshops will be held at the Chelsea District Library, 221 South Main St. on August 23rd from 6-8 pm. The workshops are designed to provide an overview to persons who have an interest in solar energy or persons considering the purchase of a solar electric or hot water system for their home or business. There is no cost, but please RSVP to samantha.keeney@glrea.org.
Michigan Wind Working Group will meet on Thurs. August 23, 9:30-12:00 at the Secondary Complex, General Office Building, Conference Room B. Map at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/SOS_Secondary_110281_7.pdf. This meeting will focus on small wind systems and include an update on net metering and presentations on NABCEP certification, Michigan’s landmark small wind trial and a new Michigan medium size wind turbine. There is no cost to attend.
Michigan Energy Forum will host a panel discussion on the 25 x 25 Renewable Energy Ballot Initiative on Sept. 6, 5:00-7:00 p.m at Ann Arbor Spark, 330 East Liberty, Lower Level. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=11317
2012 International Conference on Sustainability, Transition & Culture Change: Vision – Action – Leadership will be held on Friday, November 16 – Sunday, November 18 at the Prince Conference Center at Calvin College. Save the date.
Click here to be introduced to GLREA
Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
