MPSC Press Release
The Michigan Public Service Commission today reminded utility customers that Michigan utilities now offer bigger and better energy efficiency programs (http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-52495—,00.html) to help them reduce their energy usage.
“Energy efficiency is more than just using compact fluorescent light bulbs,” said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu. “Utility customers now have available to them bigger and better energy efficiency programs because utilities have given customers new and expanded options. From ENERGY STAR appliance rebates, to heating and cooling options, to home weatherization, customers can take advantage of programs to cut energy usage. Low-income customers also have programs available to them.”
While energy efficiency programs have been available to utility customers for several years, Michigan’s two largest utilities – Consumers Energy and DTE Energy — have expanded their energy efficiency programs. Other companies also have added options.
On the MPSC’s energy efficiency website (http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-52495—,00.html), utility customers can find out what is available to them. Also featured there is information on the Michigan Saves (http://michigansaves.org/) home energy loan program, now available statewide.
Each utility’s energy efficiency program is different, so customers are encouraged to check periodically with their utility on what is currently available.
The goal of Michigan’s energy efficiency programs is to delay the need for new electric generation. Conservatively speaking, every dollar spent on a utility’s energy efficiency program yields $3 in savings.
Michigan residents are encouraged to take the ENERGY STAR pledge on the “Change the World” website: energystar.gov/changetheworld (http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=globalwarming.showPledgeHome). There, people have the opportunity to pledge to switch to energy efficient lighting, make improvements to their heating and cooling systems, weatherize their homes, and purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products. Pledgers should select “State of Michigan” as the organization that referred them.
The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
From the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. www.glrea.org
Michigan News
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light Founder, Father Charles Morris, has been named as a “2011 Green Leader” from the Detroit Free Press. This is the second year for the Detroit Free Press to present these awards, meant to recognize efforts to make Michigan cleaner, economically diverse and sustainable. Other winners include Meadowlark Builders, the Ecology Center, and Gloria Rivera and Paula Cathcart, Immaculate Heart of Mary.
http://www.freep.com/article/20110313/BUSINESS06/103130427/Meet-Detroit-Free-Press-Michigan-Green-Leaders?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
PlugInMichigan.org, funded by a grant from the MPSC, serves as a location for all things PEVs – from basic information to detailed information on what’s required to ensure a positive experience as a PEV customer. http://pluginmichigan.org/
Northern Power Systems has introduced their new 2.3 MW permanent magnet, direct drive wind turbine at the European Wind Energy Assoc. Annual Event in Brussels. Northern Power Systems has installed its first prototype turbine at the Stoney Corners wind farm in McBain. This prototype turbine, shipped from the new Northern Power factory in Saginaw, is the largest direct drive wind turbine in North America. Tour the turbine online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyBBDBN4wnw
Ann Arbor City Council recently approved installing solar panels on the roof of a fire station, purchasing 500 new LED streetlights, and launching a new energy efficiency program for businesses. An 8 kW PV system and a solar domestic hot water system will be installed on a fire station in early June. The Council approved a $482,800 loan loss reserve fund to be used in conjunction with the city’s new Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program that’s being developed. Ann Arbor could issue revenue bonds to pay for upgrades on private property and property owners would repay the loans through special assessments added to their property tax bills. The loan loss reserve fund will allow the city to leverage 10 times as much private funding for PACE.
http://www.annarbor.com/news/going-green-solar-panels-led-lights-new-energy-program-win-support-of-ann-arbor-city-council/
University of Michigan will test an energy-saving lighting technology in the Hill Street parking structure. The new LimeLight system, developed by a Michigan company, makes use of a sophisticated computer management system that allows individual lights to be turned off and on by program settings, motion sensors and photocells
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/03/15/um-wireless-lighting-control-system-to-save-energy-money/
Environmental Law and Policy Center study finds that 121 Michigan companies are engaged in the solar industry and 120 Michigan companies are part of the wind energy supply chain. The solar and wind industries provide over 10,000 jobs in Michigan.
http://elpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ELPCMichiganSolarandWindReport2011.pdf
Michigan Complete Streets Coalition recently won the Campaign of the Year from the Alliance for Biking and Walking. The Complete Streets approach means road construction and improvements will take into account non-motorized uses. A total of 32 Michigan communities have passed ordinances or resolutions in support of Michigan Complete Streets. That’s the most in the nation, says John Lindenmayer, co-chair of the Michigan Complete Streets Coalition.
http://www.metromodemedia.com/devnews/0317micompletestreets0201.aspx
Gratiot County has three major wind developments. The first wind farm, a $440 million project with more than 125 turbines, will be up and spinning by the end of 2011. The first stage of the project will provide 150 skilled construction jobs, 15 full-time technician jobs, and $1.2 million in annual revenue for the county and municipalities. Landowners will get $80 per acre for leasing space for a turbine and a percentage of gross royalties. The project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 54,000 homes annually. . Two more projects are in different stages of development and could bring several hundred additional turbines within the next few years. http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/03/22/michigan-county-welcomes-wind-farm-with-open-arms/
Grand Valley State University’s Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon is acquiring a wind assessment buoy that will collect wind data. MAREC has received final federal approval to proceed with the three-year, offshore wind assessment study. The buoy will deploy into Lake Michigan in September and will come equipped with a laser wind sensor to measure offshore wind conditions.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/03/27/marec-gets-federal-ok-for-offshore-wind-study/
Beyond Michigan
Interactive Institute, a Swedish non-profit, had developed the Power-Aware Cord which embeds wires around a cable that pulse light in relation to how much electricity is being used. The more current, the brighter and faster the blue light spirals. In testing the device, researchers found that making the invisible visible tuned customers in to high energy usage.
Wisconsin is leading the nation in turning livestock manure into power. During 2009 methane gas produced by anaerobic manure digesters generated 657.1 million kWh’s compared to 110.1 million kWh’s in 1995. There are 26 farms in the state that have manure digesters, with 35 digesters total in the state.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110330/OSH0101/103300454/1128&located=rss
Wind Turbines have been shown to result in increased libido in both men and women according to Swedish researcher Lars Hillson. The unanticipated findings came from a survey Dr. Hillson conducted on residents within a half mile of a Swedish wind farm. The Swedish Research Council has established a committee to determine if the impacts should be considered positive or negative.
Purdue University researchers say they’ve produced a new class of solar cells by using carbon nanotubes and DNA that can repair themselves much like plants do through photosynthesis. Photoelectrochemical cells that convert sunlight into electricity contain light-absorbing dyes called chromophores that degrade due to exposure to sunlight. The new technology gets around this problem in the same way nature does, by continuously replacing the photo-damaged dyes with new ones. The new technology could lead to cells that can operate at full capacity indefinitely.
Italian Lingerie Company Intimissimi is providing 4 dollar credits toward a new bra for recycled bras. The program is like Cash for Clunkers. The recycled bras will pad walls as soundproof insulating panels.
The Fun Theory campaign by Volkswagen awarded 2,500 euros (about $3,345) to Kevin Richardson for his “Speed Camera Lottery,” which proposed that people who were caught on camera driving within the speed limit would be entered into a lottery to receive cash prizes — with the winnings being drawn from the fines of drivers caught speeding. They tried it in Stockholm, Sweden and it worked. Average speeds went from 20 to 15 mph during the three-day experiment, a reduction of 22%.
iFan has been conceptualized by designer Tjeerd Veenhoven to charge an iPhone with wind energy. The modified PC fan is molded into a rubberized iPhone case which can charge the phone attached to it every time the wind blows. However, the iFan takes around 6 hours. One can speed up the process by popping it into the case of a bicycle in order to generate the kind of breeze needed to charge the application.
Events
Learn from Experience: Improve your Building’s Energy Efficiency with Rebuild Ypsilanti will be held at the Ypsilanti District Library on April 5, 10am-12n.
www.ypsilibrary.org
2nd Turbine Supply Chain Conference 2011 will be held on April 5-6 in Detroit. http://www.windenergyupdate.com/supplychainusa/
How Emerging Technologies are Impacting West Michigan’s Energy Future will be held on April 6, 7-9 pm at Muskegon Community College. How are new developments in solar, hydrogen, biomass, nuclear and other alternative forms of power generation changing the economics of energy?
http://www.misustainable.com/calendar/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=637&year=2011&month=4
Michigan Energy Forum – Solar Technology: Powering the Future will be held at Ann Arbor SPARK on April 7, 5:00-7:00 PM. A panel of experts will discuss key issues and strategies associated with solar energy ranging from innovative product development to funding opportunities for start-ups. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=10752
University of Michigan’s Industrial Energy Center is hosting the 2nd in its series of industrial energy efficiency training events – Process Heating Assessment training – on April 12. This workshop provides an introduction to process heating and equipment, such as furnaces, dryers, and heaters, and highlights the use of DOE’s Process Heating Assessment and Survey Tool (PHAST). http://www.miec.engin.umich.edu/?q=node/210
Energy Efficiency as a Business Solution and How to Take Advantage of Incentive Rebates will be topic of the April 12 meeting of the East Michigan Assoc. of Energy Engineers. The meeting will be held at 5:30 pm at the Alfred Taubman Student Service Center at Lawrence Technological University Rm C406.
Michigan Energy Conference will be held at Ferris State on April 13 & 14. This conference will be attended by industry leaders in the fields of education, energy, energy management, public policy/governance, construction and transportation. http://www.ferris.edu/mec/
Kurt Cobb, novelist and founding member of the Assoc. for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas will discuss Prelude, “a new novel about secrets, treachery and the arrival of peak oil. This tale of suspense provides a startling reinterpretation of contemporary events as it dramatizes the central issue of our age–our troubled energy future” on April 19, 5:30 –7 p.m. at Michigan Energy Options. RSVP to info@michiganenergyoptions.org or call 517.337.0422 x1303
Discover Your Future in the Great Lakes Bay Region’s Solar System will be held at SVSU on April 19, Noon – 7:00 PM. The SVSU Solar Summit is a business network seminar in which solar industry experts and businesses interested in installing solar can learn, share, and collaborate on the existing solar industry and its future in the Great Lakes Bay Region. Contact Linda Haas at lhaas@svsu.edu or (989) 964-7015.
Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing will be held on April 21-22 at the Michigan League, University of Michigan.
http://energy.umich.edu/news-events/events/
BioEnergy Conference will be hosted by Oakland University’s Clean Energy Research Center on April 26th. Information will be presented on energy crop production / fuel procurement, combustion, torrefaction, pyrolosis, gasification, anerobic digestion, and biochar. www.oakland.edu/bioenergyconference
Green Living Festival will be held on May 13-15 in downtown Rochester. Learn about green living and wellness, and healthy, eco-friendly products, services and programs. http://migreenteam.com/glf
Smart Grid Symposium will be held at the Dearborn Inn on May 18-20. www.ipu.msu.edu/programs/MIGrid2011
Great Lakes Energy Service has Energy Camps beginning June 13-17 http://www.greatlakesenergyservice.org/pages/camps.html
Michigan Energy Fair will be held this year on June 24-26 at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. Get your booth now before prices increase at www.glrea.org!
2011 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, a global forum for power and energy professionals, will be held at the Detroit Marriott, Ren Cen on July 24-29.
www.pes-gm.org/2011
April Fools! There is no increased libido from wind farms. At least as far as I know. This newsletter is prepared by John Sarver for GLREA. It is free. If you would like to subscribe, send a note to johnsarver3@gmail.com.
Great Lakes Energy News – March 2011
From the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. www.glrea.org
GLREA Update by Jennifer Alvarado
On February 23rd, over 50 companies were represented at GLREA’s networking event in Grand Rapids with partners, The Right Place and The Varnum Law Firm. Hosted by The Varnum Law Firm, the agenda included updates from Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and on behalf of US Senator Debbie Stabenow, Kali Fox reviewed current federal policy initiatives and budget items.
Bruce Goodman of The Varnum Law Firm, reviewed the Michigan Public Service Commission’s 1st Report to the Michigan Legislature on the Implementation of the PA 295 Renewable Energy Standard and the Cost-effectiveness of the Energy Standards. A highlight of the report is the requirement of comparing renewable energy options cost, required under PA 295, to those of a 40 year conventional coal plant. The report stated that the cost of a conventional coal plant is at $133 per MWh while average costs for renewable generated energy are coming in at $101.78 per MWh for wind energy and $98.94 per MWh for biomass energy. The full report can be found at:
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/Report_on_Implementation_of_PA_295_RE_345746_7.pdf
On Friday, February 26, 2011, Consumers Energy amended their initial filings at the Michigan Public Service Commission and submitted a report that drops the residential surcharge per customer per month for renewables over 70% from $2.50 to 0.70 cents per month. Commercial and Industrial Class customers will see drops in the renewable energy surcharges from 25%-95% depending on their current electricity rates.
Planning for the 2011 Michigan Energy Fair is underway! The fair will be June 24th-26th in Ludington Michigan. Please sign up for your booth now at www.glrea.org.
Prices start to increase after April 4th. Workshop proposals are due March 7th. You can submit online at www.glrea.org or contact us if you have any questions.
Michigan Energy News
Clean Energy Prize, established by DTE Energy and UM in 2008, encourages entrepreneurship and the development of clean energy technologies. The winning company, CSquared Innovations, is a UM start-up project that has developed a faster, cheaper, laser-based method of making nano-structured materials and coatings for lithium-ion battery electrodes, solar cells, and industrial coatings. Three other teams were honored in the 2011 contest. Team Smart Energy won second prize for a new financing model to retrofit municipal buildings. Team Impact Card won third for its funding mechanism that aggregates consumer credit card reward points as project financing for renewable energy development. Team Perennial BioEnergy finished fourth for its plan to develop a pennycress-based biodiesel industry.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/18/battery-technology-firm-wins-um-dte-clean-energy-prize/
Governor Snyder by executive order has moved energy and labor functions out of the state Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. There will be a smaller Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Parts of the state energy office have been transferred to DEQ and other parts of the office and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Fund have been transferred to the Michigan Strategic Fund, MEDC.
2009 Michigan Building/Residential, Rehabilitation and Energy Code Rules were filed with the Secretary of State on November 8, 2010, and become effective March 9, 2011. The State has adopted as its building energy code the IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) 2009 for residential buildings and ASHRAE 90.1-2007 for commercial buildings.
DTE Energy has issued a Request for Proposal to identify qualified companies to work with DTE Energy on large-scale solar energy installations. DTE Energy plans to install up to 12 MW over the next 4 years at locations throughout the company’s Southeast Michigan service area. Detroit Edison will own and operate the solar energy systems, which will be ground-mounted or on rooftops of commercial, industrial or DTE Energy buildings. DTE is seeking respondents who have significant experience in the engineering, development and installation of 150-kW and larger solar energy systems.
Respondents must register at www.poweradvocate.com to submit a bid. Any questions about this RFP should be submitted to renewsuppliers@dteenergy.com. Responses are due by noon April 1, 2011.
United Solar has announced that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has confirmed an initial 12% conversion efficiency of a large-area solar cell using Uni-Solar Nano-Crystalline silicon. To date, this is the highest large-area cell efficiency confirmed by NREL for thin-film silicon technology. Uni-Solar’s triple-junction technology incorporates nano-Ccystalline silicon layers on a flexible stainless steel substrate and increases the cell’s efficiency by about 50% relative to current Uni-Solar cells..
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/01/31/united-solar-achieves-world-record-12-efficient-thin-solar-cell/
America’s Oldest Net Zero Energy Home – check it out at http://greenovation.tv/.
Ludington Pumped Storage Plant, owned by Consumers Energy and DTE, will have a major upgrade begining in 2013. The maintenance and efficiency upgrade will increase the generating capacity of the plant from its current level of 1,872 MW to 2,172 MW. The Ludington plant plays an increasingly important role as a storage facility for energy produced during off-peak periods, making renewable energy more affordable and reliable.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/07/consumers-energy-detroit-edison-to-refurbish-ludington-power-plant/
Roush Manufacturing has begun the mass manufacturing of the Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging station. Roush was selected as the manufacturer by their designer, San Francisco-based Ecotality.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/11/roush-industries-ramps-up-ev-charger-production/
Michigan Public Service Commission has issued a Request for Proposals for Low‑Income Energy Efficiency Grants. The RFP makes available up to $18 million and invites proposals from non‑profit and public organizations that will improve energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption of Michigan low‑income residents. The deadline for submission of proposals is no later than April 29.
http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-52493—,00.html
NextCat Inc., a Detroit-based company, announced that it has secured a license agreement for advanced biofuel catalyst technology developed at the National Biofuels Energy Lab at Wayne State University. The license agreement will allow NextCAT to commercialize a class of catalysts that enable biodiesel producers to use cost-effective raw materials such as waste vegetable oil, animal fats and residual corn oil.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/16/biodiesel-firm-licenses-wayne-state-technology/
College of Engineering at Wayne State will be the first in the country to offer graduate and undergraduate certificate programs in advanced energy storage systems as the state’s automotive industry transitions into producing more electric drive vehicles.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/17/wayne-state-offers-nations-first-certificates-in-advanced-energy-storage/
Michigan Public Service Commission has granted ITC Transmission an expedited siting certificate for a double circuit 345 kilovolt transmission line and four new substations to facilitate the transmission of electricity from wind turbines in the state’s primary wind resource zone, located in the Thumb. The approval marks the first time the MPSC has granted an expedited siting certificate since Public Act 295 of 2008 was enacted.
Beyond Michigan
Energy Literacy Framework will be developed by DOE. The goal of this initiative is to compile a set of national standards for energy literacy, which can then be used to improve understanding of energy, energy sources, generation, use, and conservation. DOE will host two public meetings to gather information for this initiative. Space is limited and participation is available in-person only. For those that cannot participate in person, more information and opportunities to contribute are available through
https://wiki.citizen.apps.gov/Energy_Literacy/index.php/Main_Page
100% Renewable Energy? Can it be done? Check out my blog on this topic at www.micheen.org and share your thoughts.
Silver Spring Networks and Oklahoma Gas & Electric have teamed up in Norman, Okla., to test smart grid solutions, allowing users to get feedback on their energy consumption using different technologies and pricing plans. Smart thermostats which can self-adjust based on energy needs, prices, and overall demand used 57% less energy at peak times. Some of the 2,500 homes in the study used web portals and simple energy use displays and they cut their usage 11-33%.
http://www.grist.org/article/2011-02-16-knowing-what-you-spend-on-energy-can-cut-usage-by-more-than-half
Ontario has ruled out offshore wind projects at this time indicating further scientific research is needed. Applications for offshore wind projects in the Feed-In-Tariff program will no longer be accepted and current applications have been suspended. www.news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2011/02/ontario-rules-out-offshore-wind-projects.html
Open PV Project is a collaborative effort between government, industry, and the public to develop a comprehensive database of PV installation data for the US. The project is the largest installation database with over 50,000 entries. Users may add their own PV data, browse PV data entered by others, and view statistics. http://openpv.nrel.gov/
IKEA Group will soon have its own wind farm in Dalarna County, Sweden. The Swedish furniture retail giant has announced it’s partnered with Stockhom-based O2 to oversee the construction and maintenance of a 9 turbine wind farm slated to be completed in 2012. The wind farm will power the equivalent of 17 IKEA stores. IKEA has an ultimate goal of running on 100% renewable energy and has already bought 3 wind farms in France and 6 wind farms in Germany. IKEA’s 52 wind turbines generate about 10% of its total energy use. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20032930-54.html
Events
Exploring Our Energy Future – Panel Discussion on Economics of Energy will be held by WMEAC on March 2, 7-9 pm at Grand Rapids Community College, ATC Auditorium.
Michigan Energy Forum Electric Vehicle 101 will be held at Ann Arbor Spark on March 3, 5-8 pm. http://www.annarborusa.org/events/details?e=10751
Engineering Society of Detroit Alternative Energy Conference will bring together leaders in the industry on March 2, 9-5 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn to discuss legislation, the future of the industry in Michigan, and growth and funding opportunities.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/02/20/esd-to-host-alternative-energy-conference/
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held by GLREA on Saturday, March 5th, 9-5 at Kellogg Center, MSU. The workshop includes sessions on solar hot water, photovoltaic, and wind energy systems. www.glrea.org
Advanced Management of Compressed Air Systems is offered by UM Industrial Energy Center, in partnership with DOE on March 8 – 9. Learn how to develop a system profile and address point-of-use issues, implement a maintenance program, determine compressor control strategies, align the supply-side to demand-side operation, and gain an understanding of heat recovery. http://www.miec.engin.umich.edu/?q=registration
State of the Science Workshop on the Ecological Effects of Wind will be hosted by the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative and the Richard P. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, IUPUI on March 9-10 in Indianapolis. http://www.glc.org/energy/wind/sosworkshop/index.html
March 10th, GLREA will co-host a seminar with AFFEW and West Shore Community College on Wind Turbines Development and Education. Participating in the forum are Dr. Robert McCunney, MD, Research Scientist at the MIT Department of Biological Engineering and on staff at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Erik Nordman, Principal Investigator, GVSU Natural Resources Management Program, Dr. Jerry Punch, MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences, Mr. Ben Hoen, economist on staff with Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and Mr. Joe Behrn, area resident in McBain, MI. The Forum begins at 6:30 at West Shore Community College’s Center Stage Theatre. Contact GLREA for questions. www.affew.org
9th Renewable Energy Conference will be held at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute near Hastings on March 19, 8:30-4:00. A diverse cast of speakers and topics will be featured at the conference and keynote sessions will highlight new projects in Michigan.
www.cedarcreekinstitute.org/programming/renewable_energy_conference/index.html
MADE in MICHIGAN, Renewable Energy Technology Show will be held at MAREC in Muskegon on March 21-23. The show will highlight renewable energy technologies and sustainable products from Michigan companies. Mark Clevey, DELEG will present on March 23. www.gvsu.edu/marec
2nd Turbine Supply Chain Conference 2011 will be held on April 5-6 in Detroit.
http://www.windenergyupdate.com/supplychainusa/download-brochure.shtml?utm_source=Energy+Central&utm_medium=External+email&utm_content=brochure&utm_campaign=18+Jan
Michigan Energy Conference will be held at Ferris State on April 13 & 14. This conference will be attended by industry leaders in the fields of education, energy, energy management, public policy/governance, construction and transportation. http://www.ferris.edu/mec/
Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing will be held on April 21-22 at the Michigan League, University of Michigan.
http://energy.umich.edu/news-events/events/
Green Living Festival will be held on May 13-15 in downtown Rochester. Learn about green living and wellness, and healthy, eco-friendly products, services and programs. http://migreenteam.com/glf
Smart Grid Symposium will be held at the Dearborn Inn on May 18-20.
www.ipu.msu.edu/programs/MIGrid2011
Michigan Energy Fair will be held this year on June 24-26 at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. Get your booth now before prices increase at www.glrea.org!
Join GLREA at www.glrea.org. This newsletter is prepared by John Sarver for GLREA. It is free. If you would like to subscribe, send a note to johnsarver3@gmail.com
From the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. www.glrea.org
GLREA Member Highlight
Mechanical Energy Systems (MES) based out of Canton joined GLREA soon after it opened its Lansing office in 2000. MES has been installing, and educating people about solar products for 25 years. Recently MES has been chosen to provide 15 Solar Demonstration Centers to the Laker School District, received certification from the Womens Business Enterprise National Council, and helped to retrofit a 110 year old Victorian home. For additional information about MES please visit them at
www.by-solar.com.
If you or a business you know would like to be the featured GLREA member, please send an e-mail to samantha.keeney@glrea.org with information regarding the business and recent achievements.
Michigan Energy News
“Already, we are seeing the promise of renewable energy. Robert and Gary Allen are brothers who run a small Michigan roofing company. After September 11th, they volunteered their best roofers to help repair the Pentagon. But half of their factory went unused, and the recession hit them hard. Today, with the help of a government loan, that empty space is being used to manufacture solar shingles that are being sold all across the country. In Robert’s words, “We reinvented ourselves.” 2011 State of the Union address by President Obama http://lumaresources.com/
MPSC data shows that Michigan’s utilities are on track to meet the state’s goal of 10% renewable sources by 2015. Estimates for 2009 show 3.63% of Michigan’s electricity was produced by renewable sources compared to 2.9% in 2007. Consumers Energy has contracted for 396 MW of renewable energy: 8 MW already in operation and 388 MW more by the end of 2012 . Detroit Edison has contracted for 252 MW of renewable energy: 44 MW already in operation and 208 MW more by the end of 2011 . Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy have contracted for a combined total of 648 MW: 598 MW of wind, 45 MW of biomass, 4 MW of PV, and 1 MW of hydro. www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2009_renewable_energy_estimate_341820_7.pdf
Green Communities Conference presentations are now available at
http://www.mml.org/resources/educenter/2010-green_communities_conference.html
Green Garage in Detroit will serve as a green business incubator. Visible from Second Ave. is the new three-season room, with windows that fully open and walls and floor made from reclaimed bricks. All new windows, made by Detroit-based Kelly Windows, are triple-pane, made from sustainable wood and low-VOC. Solatubes installed in the ceiling provide daylighting. Old drywall is used as a thermal mass between the subfloor and flooring, providing added insulation and Quick Trak is being installed above the subfloor to run radiant heating tubes. Solar thermal collectors are in, but not yet operational. Earth Day is targeted for the grand opening of the Green Garage. www.greengaragedetroit.com
Energy Priorities for Michigan, my own personal views, can be found at www.micheeen.org under Blogs. Check it out and share your own priorities.
Energy Works Michigan will promote energy efficiency and assist in the installation of PV, solar thermal, and wind systems in 90 Michigan schools during the next 3 years. The Michigan Renewable Schools Program, operated by Energy Works, assisted in the installation of 30 renewable energy systems at 24 school districts in 2009 and 2010, generating over 40,000 kWh’s. Another 40 school districts received energy audits and technical assistance to reduce costs and increase energy efficiency. The upcoming expansion of services, which will include renewable energy assistance for colleges and universities for the first time, will be made possible by a $4.4 million contract with the Michigan Public Service Commission. Contact info@EnergyWorksMichigan.org or (734) 369-9699. http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/01/20/energy-works-michigan-gets-4-4-million-deal-with-mpsc/
First Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor has installed a 2.5 kW wind turbine in its parking lot and 48 solar panels on the church roof that generate an additional 10.8 kW. Together, they are expected to save the church up to 20% on its annual energy costs, according to Dave Friedrichs, chair of the congregation’s renewable energy committee and managing member of Homeland Builders of Michigan. The $30,000 wind turbine portion of the project was funded almost entirely through the sale of personalized paving stones to be used in a renewable energy plaza on the premises. Next in the energy pipeline, although no start date has been set yet, will be an amping up of the solar panel installation to accommodate up to 100 kW. The church is a member of Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, a non-profit coalition supporting energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the faith community statewide.
University of Michigan has another great resource to offer Michigan industrial energy managers. DOE funding through DELEG has enabled U of M, in partnership with Shepherd Advisors, to establish the Michigan Industrial Energy Center (MIEC). The MIEC website offers a wealth of information including news, events, and case studies. The MIEC will be offering FREE Save Energy Now energy assessments for large companies to identify energy saving opportunities. In addition, the MIEC will be offering low or no-cost training, including an online Industrial Energy course and four DOE Qualified Specialist or End User training sessions. Participation in the training and free energy assessments is limited; so check out the MIEC website and sign up now! http://www.miec.engin.umich.edu/
Kalamazoo Valley Community College has dedicated its 100-ft training tower for wind technicians. Sen. Stabenow and Sen. Levin sponsored the congressionally directed $550,000 grant awarded to the project through the U. S. Department of Education. With the basic tower structure provided by the college, the federal funds financed $280,000 worth of tower-related apparatus, while the balance of the funding provided specialized equipment for KVCC’s Wind Turbine Technician Academy.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Detroit Edison and Blue Water Renewables, an affiliate of the utility, has been approved by the MPSC. The PPA is for 3.2 MW from a unique landfill gas project in St. Clair County believed to be the first commercial scale septage injection landfill gas source in the US, that is, one that will use material extracted from septic tanks to promote faster landfill gas production.
Comfort Suites Hotel of Southgate has received the “Greening Downriver” award presented by the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber to the hotel for its extensive efforts in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The hotel has done many efficiency measures such as low flow toilets and shower heads, CFL lighting and waste recycling. The hotel wanted to do more and hired the Starpak Group to install an 18-panel solar thermal system for the hotel’s domestic hot water and a 4-panel solar thermal system to heat the indoor pool. In addition, Starpak designed and installed a heat recovery system on the swimming pool dehumidification system.
http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2011/01/24/southgate-hotel-slashes-energy-spend-with-new-technology/
Beyond Michigan
Milwaukee officials are considering having 1-3 wind turbines on the lakefront. The city has selected two potential locations – next to the Lake Express ferry terminal and next to the Port Administration building. The turbines would be smaller than typical utility scale turbinies. One turbine would be 115 feet tall at the tip of the blade, while the other would be 156 feet. http://www.jsonline.com/business/113172839.html
Made With 100% Wind Power could be on the next box of Legos you buy. Other goods you buy could bear the Windmade stamp, which — like Fair Trade, Organic, Recycled, etc. — is competing to become one more differentiator for goods made with sustainability in mind.
http://www.grist.org/article/2011-01-19-windmade-is-the-next-fair-trade-gets-backers-like-lego
Coca-Cola Japan Co. announced the launch of new eco-friendly “green roof” beverage vending machines, By attaching green sheets containing a combination of moss known as “sunagoke” and artificial turf onto the top of the machine, the company expects to lower the unit’s surface temperature and improve cooling efficiency. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030468.html
Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. (LEEDCo), a nonprofit spearheading NE Ohio’s efforts to develop offshore wind, and Freshwater Wind LLC, a private developer, have signed an option with the State of Ohio to lease specified acreage for an initial offshore wind project in Lake Erie. The signed lease option gives LEEDCo and Freshwater Wind the exclusive right for up to 4 years to apply for and negotiate a final submerged land lease for the project, approximately 7 miles NW of Cleveland Browns Stadium. LEEDCo expects to install five wind turbines (20 MW) beginning in late 2012. By 2020, LEEDCo aims to see 1,000 MW of offshore wind energy installed in Lake Erie.
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7155
World Oil Demand reached an all-time quarterly high in the third quarter of 2010, according to Wood Mackenzie analysts. Economic growth in Asia, particularly China, caused world oil demand to reach an average of 88.3 million barrels per day in the third quarter. Chinese demand for gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil grew at about 8% annually in 2010. In India, the demand for diesel fuel and heating oil is growing at 7% per year, while the demand for gasoline is growing at 11% per year.
www.woodmacresearch.com/cgi-bin/corp/portal/corp/corpPressDetail.jsp?oid=2520004
World’s First Electric Vehicle (EV) circuit race series, the EV Cup, will launch in summer 2011, with 7 races, including one planned for the US. The event will include two classes of racers: a city class of EVs for drivers in race-prepared Think cars, and a sport class with teams racing Westfield iRacers that can reach top speeds of 115 mph. A third category, the prototype class, will not feature races, but will hold time trials showcasing the latest non-production EVs. http://www.evcup.com/
Carbon Minus House in Japan will use lithium-ion batteries recycled from the Nissan Leaf. The use of storage batteries is promising for second-life use of EV batteries and will make energy self-sufficiency possible for homes. http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/030051.html
Events
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held by GLREA on Saturday, Feb. 9th, 9-5 at Grand Rapids Community College. The workshop includes sessions on solar hot water, photovoltaic, and wind energy systems. www.glrea.org
PV Electric Systems One-Week Intensive will be offered by Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) on Feb. 7-11. The training provides a technical view of solar energy, site assessment, systems components, and system designs. Upon completion, participants will have the option to take the NABCEP Entry Level Exam on Feb. 12.
http://www.nmc.edu/resources/extended-education/find-a-class/energy-construction/index.html
Advanced Solar PV Installation course is offered by NMC in a new weekend format and covers in-depth solar installation training designed for licensed electricians, electrical engineers, and those preparing for the NABCEP PV Installation Exam. The course runs two weekends February 24 to March 5.
http://www.nmc.edu/resources/extended-education/find-a-class/energy-construction/index.html
Lawrence Tech’s Center for Sustainability, Engineering Society of Detroit, & Detroit ASHRAE Chapter are sponsoring the 7th annual sustainability conference on February 22-25. ASHRAE classes of value to Architects, Engineers and Code Officials: Complying with ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 on February 22 and Implementing Standard 189.1-2009 for High Performance Green Buildings on February 23. Std. 90.1-2007 will be incorporated into the state building code in March. www.sos2011.ltu.edu
Introduction to Renewable Energy will be held by GLREA on Saturday, March 5th, 9-5 at Kellogg Center, MSU. The workshop includes sessions on solar hot water, photovoltaic, and wind energy systems. www.glrea.org
State of the Science Workshop on the Ecological Effects of Wind will be hosted by the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative and the Richard P. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy, IUPUI on March 9-10 in Indianapolis. http://www.glc.org/energy/wind/sosworkshop/index.html
2nd Turbine Supply Chain Conference 2011 will be held on April 5-6 in Detroit. Focus will be on applying robust lean manufacturing strategies to reduce costs, maintain margins and increase attractiveness to Wind Turbine OEMs. http://www.windenergyupdate.com/supplychainusa/download-brochure.shtml?utm_source=Energy+Central&utm_medium=External+email&utm_content=brochure&utm_campaign=18+Jan
Revitalizing Innovation in Michigan for Clean Energy Manufacturing will be held on April 21-22 at the Michigan League, University of Michigan.
http://energy.umich.edu/news-events/events/
Smart Grid Symposium will be held at the Dearborn Inn on May 18-20. www.ipu.msu.edu/programs/MIGrid2011
Michigan Energy Fair will be held this year on June 24-26 at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. Save the date!
This newsletter is prepared by John Sarver for GLREA. It is free. If you would like to subscribe, send a note to johnsarver3@gmail.com
Prepared by John Sarver for the GLREA.
BetterBuildings for Michigan has been launched to create more than 2,000 jobs over the next 3 years and provide more affordable energy efficiency options for homes and businesses. The program is supported by a $30 million ARRA grant. BetterBuildings has two programs: $143 million residential program in targeted communities and $46.8 million commercial program in Detroit. The residential program targets Detroit, SE Michigan suburbs, Grand Rapids and other communities to be determined. The program will “sweep,” or canvass up to 420 homes in targeted neighborhoods to market the program and share financing incentives. The program will offer energy efficiency improvements to more than 11,340 homes. The commercial program will concentrate on 3 centers along Woodward Corridor in Detroit. www.michigan.gov/energyoffice
City of Rochester has installed a solar roofing system on the city’s Fire Station #1. The city awarded the contract to New Energy Solutions, LLC of Milford for installation of a 9.2 kW integrated LUMA Resources PV roofing system. www.lumaresources.com
PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) Legislation HB 5640 has been signed into law by Governor Granholm. The new law gives local governments authority to issue revenue bonds to pay for energy improvements on commercial property. Property owners repay local government loans through special assessments added to their property tax bills. Andrew Brix, Ann Arbor’s energy programs manager, said the PACE program estimated energy savings must be greater than the cost of the special assessment and there will be an immediate cost savings for the property owner. Proponents of PACE still hope to extend the law’s scope to residential properties. The state Senate revised and limited the legislation to commercial properties in September, citing the fact that federal officials still are working to resolve larger issues surrounding PACE on a national level.
Home Seminars & Tours Grants make possible suggestions and resources for residents on how to make homes more energy efficient. $15,000 grants have been awarded by Bureau of Energy Systems, DELEG, to four Michigan Energy Demonstration Centers: Clean Energy Coalition, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc., Michigan Energy Options, and WARM Training Center. DELEG has recently designated two new energy demonstration centers – Clean Energy Coalition in Ypsilanti and the GVSU Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon. http://www.warmtraining.org/medc/
Bay City District Office of DNRE has completed installation of a 10 kW PV array which includes two rows of 22 panels sitting atop a seven-pylon structure. The solar array vendor was NOVA Consultants of Novi, and the contactor was Mid-Michigan Solar of Flint. The facility already has a 50 kW wind turbine. The improvements qualify the building to be upgraded to Platinum-certified LEED.
Utility Energy Optimization (EO) Programs report has been issued by the MPSC.. 2009 EO program savings exceeded their targets by 37% and customers will see savings of $404 million over the lifetime of the measures installed. Utilities expanded spending on EO programs from $89 million in 2009 to $137 million in 2010. The Commission is exploring potential improvements to EO programs through its ongoing EO Collaborative including creating a statewide buying consortium for efficient lighting, such, examining fuel switching, and trading EO credits. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/eo_legislature_report2010_339568_7.pdf
Shanna & Andy Draheim are building what will be the first LEED certified home in East Lansing. The house expected to be completed in April will receive a cash benefit through a Green Building Incentive Program recently approved by the East Lansing City Council. The policy provides $1300 for projects that are certified or silver and $2600 for homes that are gold or platinum.
Michigan Public Service Commission has approved power purchase agreements between Consumers Energy and Heritage Sustainable Energy for Garden Wind Farm (28.6 MW in Delta County) and Stoney Corners II (12.3 MW in Missaukee and Osceola counties). The agreement will result in the first large-scale production of utility-scale wind turbines fully made in Michigan by Northern Power Systems and key supplier Merrill Technologies Group. Northern Power Systems will build the direct drive wind turbines in its Saginaw plant, where it will employ up to 137 workers by 2014.
Jackson Community College installed a 10 kW Bergey on an 80-foot tower on the main campus in Summit Township. The cost of buying and installing the wind turbine is about $65,000 with about $53,000 covered by a federal grant and the remainder paid for by JCC. Lawrence-based Four Elements Energy installed the turbine. JCC has about 65 students in its sustainable energy program which offers an associate’s degree. www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2010/12/jackson_community_college_inst.html
Preliminary Michigan State research shows that employees working in buildings with LEED certification are less likely to suffer from asthma, allergies and stress. The employees also reported higher levels of productivity, and took fewer days off, according to the study, published by the American Journal of Public Health in August 2010. http://ejmagazine.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/fall-2010/
Peak Oil Webinar by David Gard, Michigan Environmental Council, can be viewed at www.environmentalcouncil.org/priorities/hotTopicDetails.php?x=30
Low Interest Loans between $100,000 and $2.5 million are available to Michigan cities and villages to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Interest on approved loans is fixed at 3% for a maximum of 6 years. Projects must involve a commercially available and proven technology at buildings, facilities, and properties owned and operated by a city or village. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2011. Applications and loan specifications are available at: www.michiganadvantage.org/PSS.
Wyandotte Geothermal project is covered by Michigan Now at http://www.michigannow.org/2010/12/17/wyandotte-geothermal
Michigan Saves officially launched the Home Energy Loan Program on September 16, 2010. Since the launch, 72 loans have been approved, averaging $6,500 per loan, and 95 contractors are trained and authorized to offer the program to their customers. Four participating lenders currently serve 36 of the 83 counties. Michigan Saves plans to expand coverage to the entire state in early 2011. Contractor enrollment continues. www.michigansaves.org
“Tips for Writing a Grant Application” was recently written by me and can be found at www.micheen.org. Go to blogs, page 2.
Beyond Michigan
United Solar has installed a 130 kW PV system on the rooftop of the Moon Palace Hotel in Cancun, Mexico, host site for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. 20,000 participants from around the world gathered on Nov. 29 – Dec. 10 to discuss future commitments to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Kristianstad, Sweden uses virtually no oil, gas, or coal to heat its homes and businesses. The city has switched to biogas and has cut the region’s overall fossil fuel use by 50%. The city used to spend $7 million to heat municipal buildings, but that bill has been cut to $3.2 million.
| Events
Michigan Energy Fair will be held this year on June 24-26 at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Ludington. Save the date!
This newsletter is prepared by John Sarver for GLREA. It is free. If you would like to subscribe, send a note to johnsarver3@gmail.com. |
|
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today released data (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mpsc/2009_renewable_energy_estimate_341820_7.pdf) showing the progress that Michigan’s electric utilities are making to meet the state’s renewable energy portfolio standard of 10 percent by 2015.
“Michigan’s electric utilities are on track to meeting the state’s goal of having 10 percent of its electricity produced by renewable sources,” said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu. “The state’s utilities are taking steps to build wind farms, promote solar energy and net metering, and purchase renewable energy credits.”
Electric providers reported renewable energy data estimates to the MPSC for 2009, showing some 3.63 percent of Michigan’s electricity was produced by renewable sources. That amount is consistent with what Michigan’s electric utilities’ plans are for ramping up to reach the 10 percent goal.
Previous data gathered by the MPSC estimated Michigan’s renewable energy percentage was 2.9 percent in 2007.
Michigan’s two largest electric utilities – Consumers Energy Company and The Detroit Edison Company – report the following: Consumers Energy has contracted for 396 MW of renewable energy: 8 MW already in commercial operation and 388 MW more in commercial operation by the end of 2012 . Detroit Edison has contracted for 252 MW of renewable energy: 44 MW already in commercial operation and 208 MW more in commercial operation by the end of 2011 . Detroit Edison and Consumers Energy have contracted for a combined total of 648 MW of renewable energy: 598 MW of wind energy, 45 MW of biomass energy, 4 MW of solar PV energy, and 1 MW of hydroelectric energy.
The data summary contains a breakdown by utility. Data were submitted by electric providers and are estimates. Alternative Electric Supplier (AES) data are not included.
The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
Great Lakes Energy News
from the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. www.glrea.org
“Energy Tidbits” continues under a new name and is now a GLREA newsletter. GLREA Annual Meeting will be held on Saturday, December 4, 1:00-4:00 at Connor O’Neils in Ann Arbor. The meeting will feature an update on GLREA’s activities and goals for 2011, Annual Awards Presentation, and new GLREA board member results. We would like to thank the following top sponsors, DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and LGI Consultants. GLREA’s Annual Award nominations, featuring the introduction of the Jennifer M. Granholm Award, are due today (December 1st). Nomination forms can be obtained by calling GLREA at 517-646-6269. You can also call GLREA for ballots for the board member elections, but you must join or be a current member to vote.
Michigan News
Michigan Energy Efficiency Network, supported by the State of Michigan, has been launched to help local governments, schools, and businesses save time, effort, and energy. The MichEEN is a tool for sharing and creating energy efficiency strategies. Check it out at www.micheen.org
Offshore Wind Energy Legislation and a bipartisan plan have been announced by State Rep Dan Scripps (D) and Senator Patty Birkholz (R). The plan will help guide the development of offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes from site assessment all the way to decommissioning. The plan will prohibit wind projects from being built within six miles of the shoreline unless the county nominates an area that is 3-6 miles from the shoreline. The legislation introduced is based on recommendations by the Michigan Great Lakes Wind Council. On November 30 the House had a hearing on the legislation, but no vote has been taken at this time. Muskegon Chronicle reported on the hearing. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/11/offshore_wind_debated_but_stat.html HB 6564 can be found at www.legislature.michigan.gov/
Biomass Energy Demonstration Grants up to $24,500 per project are available from the Bureau of Energy Systems, DELEG. Proposals are due no later than December 15th. The Michigan Biomass Energy Program seeks to fund projects that advance the commercial supply and use of a proven biomass energy/fuel technology. Only public and non-profit entities are eligible. RFP can be accessed at www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/Biomass_Energy_Demo_Grant_RFP_FY_2011_338774_7.pdf
Detroit Edison has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to obtain Michigan-based renewable power. The utility is seeking 245 MW of renewable energy from wind, solar, hydro, biomass or landfill gas that would be operating by the end of 2014. Of that amount, approximately 120 MW would be operating by the end of 2012. The notice of intent to bid this RFP is due by Jan. 21, 2011. Potential bidders can view the RFP at www.dteenergy.com/renewsuppliers. To meet the state’s renewable energy goals, Detroit Edison expects to add about 1,200 MW of renewable power. The company plans to own facilities to supply up to half of that power and contract with third parties for the rest.
Michigan Strategic Fund board approved a new Center of Energy Excellence designation and $6 million for Dow Corning to establish the Solar Valley Research Enterprise in the Midland area in collaboration with Hemlock Semiconductor and Oak Ridge National Lab. The center will speed innovation and commercialization in the PV value chain. The project is contingent upon DOE funding to be announced early next year.
MSF also approved a COEE designation and $3 million for the Metamora-based Grid Logic, which will collaborate with Oak Ridge National Lab to develop, test, certify and manufacture a fault current limiter that shores up the power supply in the event of a major disruption to the grid. The project will receive $5 million in funding from the DOE Clean Energy Advanced Manufacturing program. The sale of fault current limiters represents a $1-3 billion annual market opportunity.
Energy Works Michigan will receive a $4,400,000 from the MPSC to continue and expand its currently operating Michigan Renewable Schools Program available to schools throughout Michigan. Great Lakes Energy Service will receive a $600,000 grant to continue to provide educational opportunities, mobile renewable energy classroom visits and conduct energy camps for schools throughout Michigan.
Net Metering report for the last six months of 2009 shows that the number of net metering customers jumped by 85%. Net metering customers increased from 137 at the end of June 2009 to 254 at the end of December 2009. Wind proved the most popular with the number of installations increasing from 96 to 163 installations during the six-month period, while solar installations increased from 39 to 89. www.michigan.gov/netmetering
DTE Energy will install an additional 100,000 electric meters to provide the backbone for its SmartCurrents program. The meters will eliminate manual meter reading, provide remote monitoring, and allow customers to better manage their energy usage. In total, 150,000 meters will be installed by the end of 2010, including those already installed during pilot programs. DTE plans to install 600,000 smart meters by the end of 2011. The project is being funded, in part, through an $84 million DOE grant. www.smartcurrents.com
2.2 MW Wind Turbine was unveiled at a Merrill Technologies Group facility. The 70-foot-long, 300,000-pound turbine will sit atop a tower in Stoney Corners near Cadillac to generate power for more than 250 homes for DTE energy. The turbine is the first utility-scale wind generator manufactured in Michigan and components come almost entirely from Michigan companies. The turbine is the centerpiece of a 2.2 MW wind system built by Northern Power Systems.
Non-Profit Organizations looking to finance lighting upgrades may be eligible for funding through a program at WARM Training Center. DTE will fund 75% of the project cost for their customers. WARM will provide a lighting audit of the building and walk the organization through the financing process. The non-profit must own the building or have a long term lease and the project must be completed by December 31, 2010. Contact Erinn Fahey at (313) 894-1030 ext. 120 or efahey@warmtraining.org
Farmington Hills new city hall has many green features including skylights, translucent wall panels, 40-well geothermal system, solar hot water heating, PV system, and green roof. Annual energy savings are estimated to be $30,000 off the previous average annual bill of $80,000.
Huron County Voters on election day approved two new wind energy overlay districts. 59% of voters in the districts, one district for Bloomfield, Rubicon and Sigel townships and one for McKinley Township, approved the decision by Huron County. This was the first voter referendum in this region for wind energy.
Energy Management Certificate Program has been launched by the School of Business and Administration and the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Oakland University. It is a six week program that will start January 14, 2011 and is held on Fridays & Saturdays, 9 am- 5 pm. The cost is $1500. Learn more at www.oakland.edu/energymgmt or contact Maureen Callaghan mpcallag@oakland.edu or (248) 412-3235
Community Energy Coordinator position is available at Michigan Energy Options. The position will perform field work and assist in the coordination of programs that improve energy efficiency in residential, commercial and municipal sectors. Work will primarily be in Greater Lansing and Grand Rapids areas, as well as the southern tier of the state. Send resume with a brief statement to hlove@michiganenergyoptions.org http://www.michiganenergyoptions.org/newsevents/news/378-meo-job-opening-
Beyond Michigan
General Electric will roll out an LED bulb to replace 60-watt incandescent bulbs next year. Later this year, GE will release its first LED bulb designed for general use, such as desk lamps and overhead lights. This 40 watt-equivalent bulb will last over 20 years and meet the upcoming EnergyStar standard for LED bulbs.
Bicycle Highway is being planned for Copenhagen in an effort to encourage more commuters to leave their cars at home. Copenhagen has more bicycles than people and the city’s numerous bike paths can become congested. Crowded Noerrebrogade will be widened up to four yards on either side for bikes and the road will be reserved for buses only. The goal is to hike the percentage of suburban commuters cycling to and from the city from the 37% today to over 50% by 2015. Within the city, 55% of all commuters already travel by bike.
Skip Pruss has been named to the new federal Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee. Skip, former director of the Michigan Dept. of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth, is one of 19 members from academia, industry, and the public. The committee will advise Energy Secretary Chu on plans, priorities, and program funding.
Algae-Based Biofuels will reach 61 million gallons by 2020 according to a recent report by Pike Research. The report indicates that the inevitable resurgence of oil prices, volatility in the energy markets, and climate change policy and legislation will combine with algae’s productivity and scalability to yield a $1.3 billion market a decade from now. Widespread scale-up will be hampered by a number of challenges, including access to nutrients, water, and private capital.
GE will buy 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015 including 12,000 from GM, starting with the Chevy Volt next year. This plan will support GE’s new business of WattStation electric vehicle chargers.
| Events |
|
| Solar Domestic Hot Water Workshop will be held on Dec. 2-3, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm at Washtenaw Community College. The course will introduce the equipment, tools, and procedures required to safely work with solar domestic hot water systems. This course can help prepare for entry-level work in the solar water heating field or help maintenance and facilities managers, architects, planners, homeowners, and public officials understand solar hot water systems www.glrea.org. |
|
This newsletter is prepared by John Sarver for GLREA. It is free. If you would like to subscribe, send a note to johnsarver3@gmail.com
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today released the “Michigan Energy Appraisal: Winter 2010-2011.” The appraisal, published since 1978, reviews the projected prices and availability of energy in Michigan over the winter months.
The outlook shows that energy supplies in Michigan this winter will be more than adequate to meet anticipated demand. Demand in almost every energy sector is projected to increase over 2009 levels, due to a return to normal weather, stable prices and a slight rebound from the economic recession of 2009. Assuming a return to normal winter weather, most Michigan residents will see a slight to no increase in average winter heating bills. The largest increases will be seen in No. 2 heating oil and propane, whose pricing is largely tied to crude oil.
Electricity - Michigan’s electricity sales are expected to increase by 7.6 percent in 2010, reflecting growth in the residential and industrial sectors. Weather remains a major determinant of summer electricity demand. Michigan’s summer weather for 2010 was 32 percent warmer than normal, which increased the demand for electricity. The projected sales increase in 2010 comes after a decline of 7.5 percent in 2009 and returns demand to levels seen in 2007.
Natural Gas – Natural gas sales in Michigan for 2010 are projected to see a 6 percent increase over 2009. Unlike recent years, the bulk of the natural gas demand increase can be attributed to the industrial and electric generation sectors, which should see 15 and 34 percent increases, respectively. Natural gas storage levels are projected to be sufficient to meet anticipated demand for the coming winter. Natural gas prices are expected to average $9.96 per Mcf this winter, a 4 percent decrease, though prices could vary based on market conditions and pending rate cases.
Petroleum - The sluggish economic recovery and subsequent decline in oil demand have helped keep inventories high and prices low in 2010. Since a low of $34 per barrel in January 2009, prices have ranged between $70 and $80 per barrel over the past few months. It is expected that the price of crude oil will remain relatively flat in 2010, with an average crude oil price of $85 per barrel in 2011. Assuming normal weather and absent major supply disruptions, it is expected that the price and supply of petroleum products should be stable through the winter season.
Motor Gasoline - After a six year slide in demand, gasoline sales are expected to grow 2.3 percent over sales in 2009. This growth can be attributed to relatively stable prices and a slight rebound in the economy. On October 26, the average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in Michigan was $2.80, seven cents above the price a year ago and $1.41 below the record high.
Distillate Fuel Oil – Following the trend set by gasoline sales in 2010, distillate sales are projected to increase by 8.5 percent to 1,043 million gallons in Michigan. Although robust, Michigan demand is still 5.5 percent lower than it was in 2008. The largest determinant of distillate sales is industrial production, along with price and winter weather.
Propane – Michigan consumes more propane for residential heating than any other state in the country. Michigan consumed 372.6 million gallons in 2009, a dip of about 5.8 percent compared to 2008. This corresponds to the 9.9 percent drop in heating degree days last winter. Based on a return to normal winter weather, propane demand should rise this winter heating season.
__________________________________________________________
The Michigan Energy Appraisal is prepared every six months. The Energy Appraisal is available on the Commission’s website at: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy (http://cis.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy) . The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
By John Sarver of the MI DELEG.
Solar Energy Jobs in Michigan is fourth largest in the country, according to a report by the Solar Foundation. As of August, 6,300 workers in the state were spending at least half of their time designing, manufacturing, selling, installing or maintaining solar energy systems. Only California, Pennsylvania and Texas had more workers employed in this booming sector. Michigan has 76 solar energy businesses, far fewer than many other leading states. Many of Michigan’s solar jobs are generated by two large companies, Hemlock Semiconductor and United Solar. www.thesolarfoundation.org/
California still ranks at the top of the North American PV market with a total installed capacity of 768 MW, but New Jersey and Ontario are jockeying for the leading position as the top PV growth market. In 2009, Ontario installed 48 MW and trails only California, New Jersey (128 MW), and Colorado (59 MW). As much as 200 MW of PV could be installed in Ontario this year. According to New Jersey’s Clean Energy program, 125 MW of capacity will be installed in the state by the end of the year if the current pace holds up, bringing total installed capacity in New Jersey to nearly 250 MW.
Ostermann family from Michigan was one of 3 families from across the country who were selected as winners of the Anybody Can Serve, So Let’s Conserve 30-60-90 Day Challenge pilot program, a way to promote energy efficiency with ordinary families. Under the program, families from across the country competed against each other to see which could conserve the most energy over the April, May, and June period. The Ostermanns reduced their utility bills by more than 42% and were the overall winner. The winners from Michigan, Delaware, and Maryland, will get all or part of their utility bills paid for the months of April-June.
Monroe County Community College is set to go solar as DTE Energy soon begins installing 500 kW of PV panels on the South Raisinville Road campus. Groundbreaking on the $3 million project is scheduled for Nov. 15. The college is the first educational institution to take part in the utility’s $100 million pilot program, SolarCurrents. The solar energy systems will be owned, installed, operated, and maintained by the utility. The college will get an annual credit on its energy bill, as well as a one-time, upfront construction payment to cover any inconvenience during installation. The community college is looking at the project to help develop solar training and study programs.
Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) is partnering with Michigan State University to provide energy audits to rural small businesses under a USDA REAP grant. For a limited time, RETAP can provide energy audits to 15 rural small businesses. A $250 payment to MSU is required for the energy audit as required under the 2008 Farm Bill. Contact David Herb, RETAP Manager, at (517) 241-8176 or herbd@michigan.gov.
Industrial Plants in Michigan with at least 500 billion Btu’s annual energy use can receive no-cost Save Energy Now (SEN) energy assessments and follow-up technical assistance from the Michigan Industrial Energy Center (MIEC). SEN assessments when implemented can typically lead to energy savings of 6–10%. Contact Dr. Arvind Atreya at (734) 647 4790 or aatreya@umich.edu.
Energy Efficient City of the Future was a big attraction at Japan’s premier electronics show. The Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies had a vision of urban life in 2020 and beyond. The Japanese version of the so-called “smart city” exists in a post-fossil fuel world that uses the sun, wind and nuclear power. That power is distributed to buildings, homes and electric cars connected to each other through “smart grids.” Japan hopes the “smart city” will become its next big export. The city of Yokohama, just southwest of Tokyo, is the site of a five-year, social and infrastructure experiment to create a smart city for the rest of the world to emulate. Japan is not alone. Australia has committed $100 million and is developing its first commercial-scale smart grid in Newcastle. South Korea is embarking on a $200 billion smart grid project on Jeju Island. China is expected to invest $7.3 billion toward smart grids in 2010, ahead of Washington’s $7.1 billion in DOE grants.
Plymouth Cultural Center and Ice Arena has installed a geothermal heating and cooling system and the savings are already running into the thousands of dollars. Steve Anderson, the city’s recreation director, says the 2008 and 2009 September gas bills were $4,600 and $4,100; last month’s was about $800. The $1.1 million project was paid for by the city’s general fund.
HelioFocus & Capstone have demonstrated using a solar system to drive a microturbine. The demonstration in Israel was conducted with a Capstone C65 microturbine on a fixed optical tower using heliostats. The traditional Capstone microturbine uses gaseous or liquid fuels to heat combustion air. The HelioFocus Solar Concentrator focuses enough sunlight energy to provide heat to drive the microturbine. The concept scales to all Capstone microturbine products from 30 kW to 5 MW.
Google, Good Energies, and Marubeni Corp. have proposed the construction of the Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC). The project would be a series of offshore wind turbines in the Atlantic that would connect to transmission nodes on land, distributing about 6,000 MW of power to the congested mid-Atlantic states. Google notes that the area is uniquely suited to offshore wind because of the extended shallow waters. Trans-Elect, the company that will head construction of the project, will be able to build turbines as much as 15 miles offshore.
Biomass Waste to Energy Summit will be held on December 7, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, MSU. DELEG is hosting a one day summit in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and MSU focused on the opportunities, challenges and crucial next steps in securing a thriving biomass-waste-to-energy industry in Michigan. The event will highlight recent projects, lessons learned and strategies for moving forward. Registration will start mid-November. www.michigan.gov/energyoffice
GreenERville Project is a partnership between Uni-Solar, City of Greenville, and Greenville Public Schools. Uni-Solar modules will be installed on a total of five city-owned properties, plus two schools — totaling nearly 500 kW. The power has been turned on at Lincoln Heights Elementary, Greenville High School, and City Hall/Public Safety Complex. The city airport, waste water treatment plant, city well field and Greenville Community Center are next on the list. Greenville has two Uni-Solar manufacturing plants.
Consumers Energy has provided $116,000 in energy efficiency incentives to 13 non-profit agencies throughout the Lower Peninsula. The incentives were used for 29 energy efficiency projects involving 27 facilities in 19 cities. Agencies receiving incentives included Goodwill, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, United Way agencies, YMCA organizations, Flint Housing Commission, World Mission and several food banks. By having energy efficient lighting installed, the agencies will save a combined total of more than 1.4 million kWh’s annually and achieve a 26% reduction in their electric usage. www.consumersenergy.com
5,300 Charging Stations are planned to be installed in Michigan as the state prepares for electric vehicles. DTE Energy pledges to install 2,500 240-volt home charging stations for plug-in vehicles, and Consumers Energy is matching that pledge. The utilities will cover up to $2,500 of the cost of the charging station and installation. Lansing Board of Water and Light will provide 25 charging stations to its customers. General Motors plans to have almost 350 charging stations in place for employees at its facilities in Michigan, with more than 100 already installed. GM-installed charging stations will include 34 at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly center where the Volt is built and 140 in the homes of employees. Many of the stations at GM plants and offices will be powered by solar energy. The Detroit-Hamtramck assembly center already has 10 stations in place powered by PV systems from SunLogics. Envision Solar International will provide its Solar Tree with EnvisionTrak system for use at the Warren Technical Center and Milford Proving Ground. https://nextenergy.groupsite.com/link/go/83758974
GLREA’s 2010 Annual Meeting will be taking place on Saturday December 4th 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Connor O’Neils, Celtic Room, 318 S. Main St, Ann Arbor. www.glrea.org
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority which runs the transit system in Philadelphia, is piloting a smart grid technology that could cut its electricity bills by up to 40% and generate millions of dollars a year. A massive battery installed at one of the authority’s substations will store electricity generated by the braking systems on trains (as the trains slow down the wheels drive generators). The battery will help trains accelerate, cutting power consumption, and will also provide extra power that can be sold back to the power grid. The pilot project is expected to bring in $500,000 a year.
East Michigan Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers will be meeting on November 9th in Rm C406 of the Alfred Taubman Student Service Center at Lawrence Tech. Meeting is Free to Chapter Members and $25 for guests. Meeting begins at 5 pm , with dinner at 6 pm followed by a presentation. www.emaee.org
I have worked in the Michigan Energy Office for 35 years and been writing Energy Tidbits for over 15 years. I have retired effective November 1, 2010. It has been my pleasure to keep you informed about all the energy happenings in Michigan and beyond. I still plan to stay involved in promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency. Until our paths cross again…….John Sarver
By John Sarver of the Michigan DELEG.
Michigan Sustainable Homes and Business Tour, part of the ASES National Solar Tour, is Saturday, October 2, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. If you’re in the Lansing area, come see my PV system. http://www.glrea.org/events/solarBuildingTour2010/tours/
Time Has Run Out for State Rebates for Furnaces and Hot Water Heaters! They’re gone. We’re at 83% for clothes washers, refrigerators, and dishwashers. More than 85,000 Michigan citizens have received rebates through the Michigan Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. To date, the program has spurred over $63.8 million in consumer spending in Michigan and generated more than $6.5 million in rebates to Michigan consumers. www.mirebates.com or 866-621-8782 for refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers.
Coulomb Technologies has unveiled its first public electric vehicle charging station at NextEnergy in Detroit. Coulomb is installing hundreds of free ChargePoint America stations across the country made possible by a $15 million federal stimulus grant. The company said it also has plans for stations in Ann Arbor, Lansing and Grand Rapids. The Michigan Public Service Commission on the south side of Lansing now has two charging stations.
Michigan Home Energy Loan Program provides easy, affordable financing to homeowners for energy saving improvements. Visit www.michigansaves.org to learn more and find a Michigan Saves authorized contractor. The website provides a one-stop shop for customers, contractors, and lenders.
Clean Energy Coalition and Sean Reed were mentioned in the Sept. 20 issue of Time Magazine. CEC helped the City of Ann Arbor with a hydraulic hybrid recycling truck. The energy from deceleration is stored in a pressurized tank called an accumulator, which is full of hydraulic fluid and nitrogen. When the truck starts moving, pressure released from the tank drives the wheels, saving the diesel engine from kicking in. Annual fuel savings should reach 1,000 gallons of diesel per truck per year, about a 30% improvement. Also the truck should need only one expensive brake job a year, not four.
Village of Spring Lake has retrofitted 91 streetlights with energy efficient LED lamps. The project received a $48,800 grant from the state’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The village replaced 175W bulbs with 55W Sylvania LED lamps on decorative streetlights. Michigan has obligated $17.6 million to 128 EECBG projects to assist smaller communities. These grants support energy efficiency measures in municipal buildings and street lighting, creating or expanding community recycling programs, and installing renewable energy systems. List of selected projects and funding at www.michigan.gov/energyoffice. Look under EECBG, What’s New.
Largest Wind Farm in the state will be built near Breckenridge and operational late next year. Detroit Edison will purchase 200 MW of energy created by 125 wind turbines. The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved DTE to buy the power from Invenergy Wind. The wind farm will have the capacity to power more than 50,000 homes.
Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe will install their first wind turbine this fall in Mt. Pleasant. It will be a commercial three-bladed wind turbine from Heron Wind Manufacturing and will be located near the Elijah Elk Cultural Center. http://www.heronwindmfg.com/
Offshore Wind Energy Potential has been estimated by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to be over 4 million MW, four times the entire capacity that is currently online in this country (1 million MW). The state with the highest potential is Hawaii (637 thousand MW), followed by California (587 thousand MW) and Michigan (483 thousand MW). http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=7537
President Obama congratulated A123 Systems in Livonia for opening the largest lithium ion automotive battery manufacturing plant on the continent in a surprise phone call during the company’s grand opening. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, U.S. Representatives Sander Levin and John Dingell, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu addressed the hundreds of employees and guests. A123 Systems received a $249 million DOE grant and $125 million in state incentives from the 21st Century Job Fund. A123 Systems makes a prismatic cell, a thin white rectangular battery about the size of a license plate. It produces 20 amp hours and 66 watt hours. 300 to 400 of the prismatic cells are needed for one electric car battery pack.
DTE Energy has announced a contest seeking customer-made videos illustrating ways to save energy. A grand prize of $1,500 toward an energy efficient Energy Star appliance will be awarded to the winner. A second prize of $1,000 toward an Energy Star appliance will also be awarded and 10 contestants will receive honorable mention prizes of home energy efficiency kits valued at $25. Contestants can review contest rules and submit their videos at www.dteenergy.com/videocontest. Entries are being accepted through Oct. 15 and will be posted so viewers can vote for their favorites. Voting will end Oct. 22 with winners announced Oct. 29.
General Motors has announced an agreement with Zurich’s ABB Group to work together on pilot projects for re-using the batteries from the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. The two companies are collaborating to determine how the Volt’s 16-kWh lithium-ion batteries can provide stationary electric grid storage systems.
Two Lansing Firms have won funding from DOE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBTT) programs. Niowave received $300,000 in phase one grants for three projects involving superconducting particle accelerators and their components, plus $1.75 million in phase two grants for two more projects. Technova received a grant of $954,510. Technova works in materials science and will use the grant to develop sustainable building construction products through nanotechnology. Researchers will work with phase-changing materials that absorb energy during the day and release heat at night.
Michigan will receive nearly $5 million to boost energy efficiency at restaurants and food retailers. The money comes from a $28.5 million fund through the DOE State Energy Program, to boost programs in 12 states and territories. In Michigan’s case, the state will use the money to create a “self-sustaining financing program” that will help business owners retrofit cooling and cooking equipment. It’ll be administered through Michigan SAVES. The nonprofit aims to get at least 2% of the state’s food businesses — stores and restaurants — to upgrade to energy efficient equipment by 2013. http://www.michigansaves.org/
Solar Homes Workshop will be held at Michigan Energy Options in E. Lansing on October 13, 6:30-8:00 PM. This May the time was right for me to have Luma Resources http://lumaresources.com/ install a 1.3 kW photovoltaic system on my roof. I will share my experiences and discuss 10 Things To Do Before You Buy Solar including looking at your energy use, becoming more energy efficient, doing background research, evaluating your site, and economics. www.michiganenergyoptions.org
East Michigan Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers will be meeting on November 9th in Room C406 of the Alfred Taubman Student Service Center at Lawrence Tech. Meeting is Free to Chapter Members and $25 for guests. Meeting begins at 5 pm with dinner at 6 pm followed by a presentation. www.emaee.org
ISO Energy Management Standard (ISO 50001) offers a mechanism to help end users assess, measure and manage their energy consumption. Once finalized in 2011, the ISO 50001 Standard will be able to help a wide variety of organizations in multiple sectors implement an energy management system for continuous improvement. http://ase.org/efficiencynews/energy-management-standard-coming-your-organization-ready
Xcel Energy has released preliminary results from its wind-to-battery storage project in Minnesota. In October 2008, Xcel began testing a one-MW battery to demonstrate its ability to store wind energy. The battery installation is connected to a nearby 11 MW wind farm. Collectively, the 20 50-kW battery modules are roughly the size of two semi trailers and weigh approximately 80 tons. They are able to store about 7.2 MWH’s, enough electricity to power 500 homes for more than 7 hours. The sodium-sulfur battery is commercially available, but this is the first U.S. application of the battery as a direct wind energy storage device. www.xcelenergy.com
Exelon Corp. has purchased the renewable energy unit of Deere & Co. for an estimated $860 million. The acquisition gives Exelon 735 MW of wind capacity to add to its clean energy portfolio. John Deere owned the two existing wind farms in the Thumb.
Certified Energy Manager (CEM) 5 day course and Exam will be offered in Detroit October 25–29 at Westin Book Cadillac, 1114 Washington Blvd. Go to: https://www.aeeprograms.com/seminars/calendar.htm
Energy Tidbits is prepared by John Sarver, Michigan Dept. of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth. Previous copies can be found at www.michigan.gov/energyoffice under Publications.
