GLREA News
Exhibitor information for the Michigan Energy Fair is now posted at www.glrea.org. The call for workshop presenters has been issued. If you are interested in exhibiting or presenting, you can send me an email at johnsarver3@gmail.com.
The Board of Directors elected new officers on Jan. 22: Todd O’Grady as president, Allan O’Shea as vice-president, Mary McGraw as treasurer, and Samantha Keeney as secretary.
Michigan News
Governor Snyder has begun a process to gather public input on Michigan’s energy future. There is a website http://michigan.gov/energy/ and there will be 7 public forums around the state. Governor Snyder will rely on the results of this process when making his comprehensive recommendations regarding Michigan’s
energy future in December 2013. Commenters are encouraged to submit their factual questions, information, reports, and suggestions on what information is needed to make good energy decisions. To help guide the process, specific questions have been provided on the website. To keep the focus on verifiable facts, commenters are asked to refrain from advocating or recommending a particular policy.
http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/01/michigan_officials_to_study_fu.html#incart_river
University of Michigan has an array of 1,800 DTE solar panels (annual generating capacity of 750,000 kWh’s) on Plymouth Road. These panels were installed in the fall and UM is planning to install another large array this spring. That array will be on the school’s north campus and will be visible from Fuller Road. U-M also has solar installations on the School of Natural Resources building and a building near the school’s central power plant.
http://annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-dte-to-install-additional-solar-panel-field-off-fuller-road/?cmpid=mlive-@mlive-business-a2&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+annarbornews-business+(Ann+Arbor+News+Business)&utm_content=Google+Reader
3rd Annual My Green School Art Contest is open to any child in a Michigan school or homeschooled program – grades K-5. Create a picture to show what makes your school green, or how your school could be green. Use paper or card stock, up to size 12 x 18. Any medium can be used: paint, crayons, pencil, collage, photos, stencils, etc. Online submissions are due Earth Day, Monday, April 22, 5 p.m. or mail (postmarked by April 20). Contact Connie Lilley at 248-830-0476 or connie@ecoprgroup.com
New Thermoelectric Material developed by Michigan researchers may soon make it possible to use wasted heat from your vehicle’s tailpipe to power electronics in your car. That’s just one of many potential uses of the new material, which is based on tetrahedrites, natural minerals found in abundance. According to Donald Morelli, an engineering professor at Michigan State and the lead researcher on the project, the material provides a cheaper way to turn heat energy that would have been wasted into electricity.
http://greatlakesecho.org/2013/01/10/recycled-tailpipe-heat-may-power-car-electronics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greatlakesecho%2Fall+%28Great+Lakes+Echo+%28All%29%29
Four Elements Energy has completed the installation of a solar electric array for the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan. The solar array mounting system was designed to prevent snow from accumulating on the panels in the winter time and allows for continuous year round power production. Those interested in learning more about this project can contact Four Elements Energy at 269-267-1804 or info@fourelements-energy.com.
SolarYpsi has been written about by three UM bloggers. Check it out at http://www.metromodemedia.com/features/solarypsi0284.aspx
Lake Effect Energy Corp. is planning to work together with New York-based Wind Products to install two wind turbines on property owned by Ann Arbor Public Schools. The $1.4-million project would feature an Endurance 50-kW turbine and a Gaia 11-kW turbine. The City Council agreed to set aside up to $951,500 in federal grant money for the project. http://annarbor.com/news/michigan-based-company-says-14m-wind-energy-project-in-ann-arbor-in-good-hands/
EPA’s Green Power Partnership has identified Michigan companies and organizations that are using green power. Custom Printers, Industrial Woodworking Corp., and Printing and Packaging are using 100% wind power. City of Grand Rapids ranks #20 on the cities list with 22% green power.
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/partner100.htm
Beyond Michigan
“The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition. We must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries. We must claim its promise.” President Obama’s second inaugural address.
U.S. Wind Energy Industry installed 13.124 GW of capacity in 2012, eclipsing the previous record of 10 GW installed in 2009.
U.S. Renewable Energy Use – including from wind, solar, biomass and hydropower – jumped from 6.4% in 2007 to 9.4% in 2012. In comparison, natural gas rose from 23.4% to 27.2% during that time period. Meanwhile, U.S. consumption of coal declined from 22.5% in 2007 to 18.1% in 2012, and oil consumption fell from 39.3% to 36.7%. http://nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.11060
Renewable Energy Trust has asked the IRS to classify solar farms as the type of “real property” that may be included in real estate investment trusts, or REITs. A ruling is imminent. A solar REIT would own and operate PV systems just as standard REITs acquire buildings and other assets.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-21/solar-costs-to-fall-as-reits-emerge-as-source-of-funding.html
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s 15th annual comprehensive environmental ratings for cars can be found at greenercars.org. The list is dominated by new models this year, with the Toyota Prius C securing the top spot with a Green Score of 58.
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has announced that the province will shut down 17 of 19 coal plants by the end of this year and eliminate coal as a source of electricity production by the end of 2014. The last of the coal plants in the southern part of the province will be retired by the end of this year – a year ahead of schedule. The early losure of Ontario’s two largest coal-fired electricity plants comes as a result of the province’s improved, smarter electricity grid,
increased efficiency, strong conservation efforts and diversified supply of clean energy, the provincial government says.
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10954
Scientists in U.S. & EU are racing to develop a lightweight superconducting wire that would boost the performance of wind turbines while reducing their weight. Turbines wound with superconducting wire instead of regular copper could turn today’s 2 to 3 MW generators into 10 MW turbines.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729005.600-wind-turbines-supercharged-with-superconductors.html
Events
Kent County Municipal Waste Combustor tour will be Feb. 7, 8:00-9:30 a.m. https://www.accesskent.com/YourGovernment/PublicWorks/wte.htm
Contact pontm@rightplace.org
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Thurs., February 14, 1-5 p.m. at Library of Michigan, 702 W. Kalamazoo St., Lansing. http://michigan.gov/energy/
Gordon Foods – Visit to their GeoThermal System will be Feb. 14, 8:00-9:30 a.m. http://greensleevesllc.com/case-studies/ Contact pontm@rightplace.org
Fremont Community Digestor tour will be Feb 21, 8:00-9:30 a.m. http://www.fcdbiogas.com/ Contact pontm@rightplace.org
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Monday, Feb. 25, 1-5 p.m. at Grand Valley State University, Loosemoore Auditorium, 401 Fulton
St. West, Grand Rapids. http://michigan.gov/energy/
Building Operator Certification (BOC) training course is scheduled beginning in March at Lansing Community College. Tuition rebates (up to $350) for Rebuild Michigan participants are offered to building operators that complete training and receive certification. This amount is in addition to tuition rebates being offered by a number of utilities. Contact Tim Shireman with questions, at 517-241-6281 or shiremant@michigan.gov. http://www.boccentral.org/training-michigan
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Monday, March 4, 1-5 p.m. at Delta College, Lecture Theater,1961 Delta Rd., University Center.
http://michigan.gov/energy/
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light will have its 10th Anniversary Awards Dinner on March 7th, 6-9 pm at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4001 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd., Ann Arbor. There will be awards, dinner, multicultural music, and inspiring talks on the future of sustainability. www.miipl.kintera.org/AnniversaryRegistration
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on March 18, 1-5 p.m. at Western Michigan University, Fetzer Center, Kirsch Auditorium, 2350 Business Ct., Kalamazoo. http://michigan.gov/energy/
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Monday, March 25, 1-5 p.m. at NextEnergy, 461 Burroughs Street, Detroit. http://michigan.gov/energy/
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Friday, April 12, 1-5 p.m. at Northern Michigan University, Don H. Bottum University Center, Brule & Cadillac Conference Rooms, 1401 Presque Isle, Marquette. http://michigan.gov/energy/
American Solar Energy Society annual conference will be in Baltimore on April 16-20. www.ases.org
Michigan Energy Policy Forum will be held on Monday, April 22, 1-5 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College, Hagerty Conference Center, 715 E. Front St., Traverse City. http://michigan.gov/energy/
MI Earth Day Fest hosted by the MI Green Team will be held the weekend of April 26-28 in downtown Rochester. Thousands of people will learn about green and healthy living, products, services and programs. www.migreenteam.com
American Wind Energy Assoc. annual conference will be in Chicago on May 5-8. http://www.windpowerexpo.org/2013/
Michigan Energy Fair is the largest & longest running event of its kind in Michigan and will take place in Ludington on June 7-8. Interested in learning more about solar, wind, energy efficiency, alternative fuel vehicles, saving $ on energy? Exhibits and workshops will provide the latest information on products, financial assistance, and programs that can help you. Friday, June 7 will be for energy professionals and businesses and there will be a $25 charge to attend
workshops. Saturday, June 8 will have exhibits and workshops for the general public and will be free. www.glrea.org
International High Performance Building Conference (IHPB 2013) is being held at Lansing Community College on June 19 and 20. Building academics, researchers, and practitioners will come together to discuss cutting edge technology and its impacts on the design-engineering-construction process as well as the implications for education. http://www.ihpbc2013.org/
Click here to be introduced to GLREA
Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)
