GLREA News
Annual Michigan Energy Fair, June 7 & 8 in Ludington, will have workshops for energy and facility professionals on Friday followed by a reception and remarks by Steve Hilfinger, COO for Michigan Economic Development Corp.
There is a $25 fee for the Friday workshops and reception and you can register now on line at www.glrea.org. Saturday will be free for attendees and, in addition to workshops and exhibits, will include a Mayors energy panel, kids’ activities, an alternative fuel vehicle showcase, Green School art contest winners, and music.
GLREA Member Highlight
Patriot Solar Group, located in Albion, engineers and maufactures solar tracking systems including fixed pole mounts, single and dual-axis trackers and ground mounts for large commercial or utility scale projects. www.patriotsolargroup.com Call 517-629-9292.
Michigan News
Cherryland Electric Cooperative (CEC) has announced a new community solar program that will start April 15. CEC will start with an offering of 48 panels to be built on land next to the CEC headquarters building. Individuals will be able to sign a 25-year lease agreement for a one-time fee of $470 per solar panel. CEC will be offering an energy optimization rebate of $75 that will drop the member’s cost to $395. CEC members that commit to a lease will receive a monthly billing credit for the solar electricity produced in that particular month. The vendor, Contractors Building Supply of Copemish, estimates that one solar panel can produce 25 kWh per month on average. Individual CEC members will receive the prior year’s average wholesale power cost less a small amount to cover distribution costs and line losses. www.cecelec.com Traverse City Light & Power has decided to partner with Cherryland and let its customers also participate in the program. www.tclp.org/Mutual/CommunitySolar/Commercial
Grand Valley State University is the only university in the state and one of 45 in the country to receive gold status after completing a sustainability program developed by the Assoc. for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System is designed to help gauge the progress of colleges and universities toward sustainability in all sectors. The full report can be viewed by searching “Grand Valley” at www.stars.aashe.org/institutions. Watch a video about sustainabilty at Grand Valley at http://youtu.be/hReYULfUoTM
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/grand-valley-among-nations-top-schools-for-sustainable-practices/
Contractors Building Supply of Copemish has signed an agreement with India-based Sonali Energees to produce solar panels at its facility. Contractors Building Supply will be the exclusive manufacturer and assembler of the Sonali solar panels in the U.S.
Consumers Energy electric customers, beginning April 1, can submit applications for non-residential capacity in Phase 11 and residential capacity in Phase 12 of the Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP). This standard-offer contract program allows electric customers to sell the output of customer-owned solar generating systems to Consumers Energy for a fixed price over a contract length of 15 years. Applications must be submitted by May 8 and are available on the EARP website. www.consumersenergy.com/EARP
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light celebrated its 10th anniversary at a March 7 dinner at the First UU of Ann Arbor. Founders’ Awards were given to Rev. Charles Morris & Mark Clevey. Outstanding Earth Steward Awards were given to Peter Boogaart-Holland, Joyce Hayes Giles-Detroit, & Steve Lavender-Ann Arbor. Outstanding Green Congregation Awards were given to Pilgrim Baptist-Detroit, Temple Kol Ami-West Bloomfield, & Faith Clinic COGIC-Detroit. www.miipl.org
Holland Board of Public Works has approved an agreement to purchase energy from a second wind farm. The BPW board of directors voted to recommend approval of a 20-year agreement with Bebee Wind LLC, which is developing a wind farm in Gratiot County. Holland would join 4 other member utilities of the Michigan Public Power Agency in purchasing 26.4 MW of power from the Bebee 1B site. Holland would be the largest user with 16.8 MW. Under the Bebee 1B contract, BPW will pay less than 4.5 cents/kWh. BPW late last year purchased 15 MW from Wildcat 1, a wind farm under construction about 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. The Wildcat 1 and Beebe 1B projects together will bring in nearly 32 MW for BPW, accounting for 16% of the city’s total electric portfolio. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/03/holland_inks_agreement_to_purc.html
Central Michigan University engineering students are constructing an electrical panel that will be a vibrational energy harvester to create renewable energy for a temperature display. The panel, which will be located in the entrance of CMU’s Engineering and Technology building, will generate electricity by using the vibrations of pedestrian footsteps. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2013/03/04/cmu-students-harness-footfalls-vibrations-to-create-energy/
Floating Wind Turbine will be installed later this year in the middle of Lake Michigan on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin. The wind turbine will float between the two states so both can claim the first wind turbine in the Great Lakes. Illinois might be interested in supporting the project if the turbine can be moved to the joint 3 state border in Lake Michigan. Until recently it was thought that the LEEDCo project 7 miles off Cleveland would be the first wind energy project in the Great Lakes.
Beyond Michigan
Seeing RED in Communities Contest is a national contest open to non-profit organizations that have innovative community development projects that promote sustainability. With support from sponsors, the Midwest Renewable Energy Assoc. is offering a fully installed, 2 kW photovoltaic system to the winning applicant! To learn more and to enter the contest, visit the Seeing RED in Communities webpage.
Scientists at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts have decided to develop a system that can put heat energy captured in roads to good use. By using special piping technology they can turn streets into giant solar collectors. Water is pumped through pipes that are buried a few centimetres below the surface of the road. The heat absorbed by the asphalt warms the water, which can be used to generate electricity. The transfer of the heat energy from the road to the water also helps to cool the road surface and prolong the lifespan of the asphalt.
Green Sun Rising Inc., Windsor’s longest operating renewable energy company, recently added a Chevrolet Volt to their vehicle fleet. Green Sun Risings Level 2 Charging Station is the first electric vehicle charging station in Essex County. Also shoppers will soon be able to pick up more than clothes, books and jewelry at Devonshire Mall. Starting April 13, they’ll also be able to charge their iPhones, iPads, computers and other mobile devices as well as e-bikes at a pair of charging stations being installed by Green Sun Rising. www.GreenSunRising.com http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2013/03/26/e-bike-charging-ports-coming-to-devonshire-mall/
Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) got a record-setting boost from wind power on Friday Nov. 23, when output from wind turbines reached 10,012 MW and comprised more than a quarter of the ISO’s total generation. MISO only began integrating wind onto its grid in 2006. MISO now manages more than 11,000 MW of installed wind generation , with another 7,000 MW of projects advancing through the interconnection process. https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#inbox/13d2855a5c70fff9
Siemens has built the B75, a record-breaking 75-metre blade. When three of them are combined with a new 6 MW turbine, these fiberglass blades will be able to generate 65% more energy than Siemens’ previous best models. Siemens’ engineers have devised a new manufacturing process in which glass-fiber-reinforced epoxy and balsa wood are poured into a single mold, eliminating the need for adhesives or overlapping materials. Cast in one piece, each blade weighs 20% lighter than conventional blades. Last summer three B75 blades were transported to Siemens’ offshore test site at Østerild. http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2013/02/start/danish-energy-gets-super-sized
April Fools if you thought a floating wind turbine will be installed this year in Lake Michigan on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin! Not this year, but maybe in the future?
Events
Energy Efficiency & Applications Seminar sponsored by McNaughton-McKay Electric will be held on April 10th at their Madison Heights location (1357 E. Lincoln Ave.) and April 11th at their Ann Arbor location (4670 Runway Blvd.). The seminar will provide the latest information on rebates and financing, LEED points, Michigan Saves program, variable frequency drives, lighting upgrades, building automation, and more. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Space is limited. Contact Pam Goniwicha at goniwicp@mc-mc.com to register.
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/
SOLAR 2013, American Solar Energy Society annual conference, will be in Baltimore on April 16-20. SOLAR 2013 is the best opportunity all year for investors, businesses, policy analysts and researchers to exchange ideas and explore new concepts. www.ases.org
2013 Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. on April 16-18. The conference will focus on how to grow the clean economy and the role of strategic partnerships. http://www.greenjobsconference.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 April 26-28 in downtown Rochester. The celebration will highlight green and healthy-living products, services and programs. It will feature 150+ exhibits, 20+ presentations, entertainment, concessions, kids’ activities, and many special events. www.migreenteam.com
American Wind Energy Assoc. annual conference will be in Chicago on May 5-8. http://www.windpowerexpo.org/2013/
Midwest Solar Instructor Training will be held May 6-10 at Northwestern Michigan College, Aero Park Lab. Contact: Bill Queen at bqueen@nmc.edu or 231-995-1701.
NABCEP Solar Thermal Entry Level One Week Intensive Training will be held May 13-17 at Northwestern Michigan College, Aero Park Lab. The NABCEP Entry Level Exam will be available on May 18. Contact: Bill Queen at bqueen@nmc.edu or 231-995-1701.
Michigan Energy Fair is the largest & longest running event of its kind in Michigan and will take place in Ludington on June 7-8. 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
4th Annual EV Event at the RET Center Windsor will be held on June 8, 10 am – 2 pm. See the latest in electric vehicle technology. www.RET-center.com
Annual Ann Arbor Green Fair will be held on Friday June 14th from 6-9 pm. www.a2gov.org/greenfair
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/
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Source/Prepared by: John Sarver for Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA)