alternative energy news v1i6
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EMERGING TECH SEE PAGE 23 WIND POWER SEE PAGE 20 SOLAR SEE PAGE 6 SEE PAGE 30 ■ Meritage Homes Introduces Energy-Efficient Communites in Tucson, Ariz. ■ E-Tracer Wins Automotive X Prize ■ New York’s Newest Wind Farm Now Under Construction ■ Largest ‘Pre-Pay’ Contract for Wind Power ■ Southern Arizona Red Cross First in the Nation to Go Solar ■ U.S. Wine Industry Welcomes Solar Energy BY LORRIE BAUMANN Transitioning to Wind Energy BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO BY DANIELLE D’ADAMOTRANSCRIPT
INDUSTRY CALENDAR
NOVEMBER 2010VOLUME 1, NO. 6
www.A l t e r n a t i v e En e r g yNewsOn l i n e . c om
Next Issue:VA Hospital Welcomes Solar Installation in Tucson, Ariz.
MONEY MATTERS SEE PAGE 28
■ Ormat Technologies, Inc. Received $108Million Cash Grant Under the 1603 Program
■ Grace Receives DOE Biofuels Grant
SOLAR SEE PAGE 6
■ Southern Arizona Red Cross First in the Nation to Go Solar
■ U.S. Wine Industry Welcomes Solar Energy
WIND POWER SEE PAGE 20
■ New York’s Newest Wind Farm Now Under Construction
■ Largest ‘Pre-Pay’ Contract for Wind Power
BY LORRIE BAUMANNSolar Power International 2010 was
marred by a heated and very public series
of altercations involving show security,
this magazine’s editorial and circulation
staff, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department and, eventually, even the
attendees arriving at the Los Angeles
Convention Center for workshop sessions
and time in the exhibit hall.
Except for this First Amendment dispute
over Solar Power Daily News’ rights to
distribute copies of its publication on
public sidewalk in front of the Los
Angeles Convention Center, Solar Power
International appeared to be a success for
its exhibitors and attendees as well as Los
Angeles itself. Exhibitors who were
interviewed for this story were unanimous
in reporting that the trade show and its
associated conference met their goals for
the event. “It’s been real busy,” said
Michael Noonan, the Manager of the
Siting and Land Rights Group for
Westwood, which exhibited at the show to
New Wind Farm in Michigan to be the Largest in State BY DANIELLE D’ADAMODetroit Edison, an investor-
owned electric utility and a
subsidiary of DTE Energy, has
partnered with Invenergy Wind, a
company that develops, owns and
operates large-scale renewable
generation facilities in North
America, to build a 200-MW
wind farm in Gratiot County,
Mich. Detroit Edison recently re-
ceived approval on a 20-year
agreement from the Michigan
Public Service Commission
(MPSC) to purchase renewable
energy, increasing the utility’s
renewable energy portfolio to
4 percent. Invenergy Wind will
install and operate the 30,000-acre
wind farm comprised of 125 1.6-
MW GE wind turbines, making it
the largest wind farm in the state.
Continued on Page 10
Continued on Page 10
Continued on Page 21
OTHER ALTERNATIVES
POWER PROFILES: Transitioning to Wind Energy
NEW PRODUCTS
SEE PAGE 26 SEE PAGE 29SEE PAGE 25
Solar Power International Marred by Dispute
EMERGING TECH SEE PAGE 23
■ Meritage Homes Introduces Energy-Efficient Communites in Tucson, Ariz.
■ E-Tracer Wins Automotive X Prize
SEE PAGE 30
© Solar Power International 2010
BY DANIELLE D’ADAMOIn 1992, the Canadian Solar
Industries Association and
Canadian Photovoltaic Indus-
tries Association joined forces
to promote the professional and
practical use of solar technolo-
gies in Canada. Focusing on
solar thermal and emerging PV
technologies, the merger created
the Canadian Solar Industries
Association (CanSIA) as it is
known today. In 2006, CanSIA
debuted its first solar confer-
ence and exhibition in Ottawa,
Canada, to a few hundred
people. Now, four year later,
Solar Canada 2010 has ex-
panded to the Metro Toronto
Conference Centre in Ontario to
accommodate the expected
3,000 delegates on Dec. 6 and 7.
Solar Canada 2010 Expands intoMetro Toronto Conference Centre
Continued on Page 10
4 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
Lee M. Oser
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Steve Cox
Senior Associate Publisher
Director of Media
Lorrie Baumann
Editorial Director
Danielle D’Adamo
Editor
Carrie Bui
Justyn Dillingham
Associate Editors
Valerie Wilson
Art Director
Yasmine Brown
Graphic Designer
Selene Pinuelas
Traffic Manager
Laura Colony
Circulation Manager
Alternative Energy News is published by Oser Communications Group
©Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
BPA Worldwide membership applied for February 11, 2010.
Executive and editorial offices located at: 1877 N. Kolb Rd., Tucson, AZ 85715
T 520.721.1300, F 520.721.6300www.oser.com
European offices located at: Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini,
11 50125 Florence, Italy T 055.657.5629, F 055.657.5631
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) are just about the last groups we’d
expect to trample over the First Amendment rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution. Yet, that’s exactly what they’ve been
doing in a dispute between this publishing company and those two organizations that’s been going on for over a year now. In short, we
insist on exercising our First Amendment rights and our rights to do business in a free marketplace, and the two trade associations, along
with Solar Energy Trade Shows (SETS), the entity created last year to manage Solar Power International and PV America for the two
associations, insist on trying to prevent that.
The arrogance shown by these organizations has been beyond belief.
Here’s how it all started: We bought a license from the City of Anaheim last year that gave us the rights to distribute a trade show
daily on the grounds of Anaheim Convention Center. When SEPA employees running the Solar Power International show heard about
it, they insisted that we violate our promises to our advertisers and refrain from distributing our magazine outside the building. We
insisted on keeping our promises, and the show managers retaliated by denying us the right to exhibit in their show in 2010. When we
appealed that decision, the new SETS Show Manager Brian Tully, who wasn’t involved in last year’s show, insisted that he’d only talk
to us through legal counsel.
So we all brought our lawyers into the discussion. When our lawyer insisted that denying us the right to exhibit amounted to a breach
of public policy, Tully offered to sell us a booth after all, but only if we’d sign a promise not to distribute our magazines anywhere
except from our booth and acknowledge that we’d broken show rules by doing that in the past. We were also required to waive our
seniority points. We refused.
We have expressed our objections to show managers and
all the way up the line at SEIA, which insists
that even though the association co-owns the
show, SEIA has no power to intervene. Show
Manager Tully says he’ll never talk to us
about anything, even off the record,
unless his lawyer is present, which isn’t
just arrogant; it’s silly.
When we wouldn’t buckle under, the show managers retaliated
again by sending an untruthful e-mail urging the show’s exhibitors not
to do business with us. Being adults who are smart enough to decide for
themselves how they want to invest their money, they refused to be intimidated
by the lies.
The show managers’ insistence that they have the right to limit speech
everywhere at all times during the show is both offensive and deeply
un-American. It comes to this: SEIA is wrong, Solar Power International
is wrong, and until they recant, we’re not renewing our membership
in the SEIA, my personal donation to the SEIA political action
committee will not be repeated, and we’re not going to stop telling the
truth about the matter.
And we will be in Dallas during Solar Power International 2011.
We encourage you to do the same.
Lee M. Oser
Publisher
www.A l t e r n a t i v e En e r g yNewsOn l i n e . c om
First Amendment Showdown
FROM THE PUBLISHER
6 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
SOLAR POWER
Photo courtesy of Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross. Photo courtesy of Net Zero Solar.
7Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
SOLAR POWER
In times of crisis and disaster, our nation has long relied on the American Red Cross to
provide relief to victims and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergen-
cies. The Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross has been assisting children
and families for the last 94 years in Tucson, Ariz. Now, it is the first Red Cross in the United
States to be solar-powered with a rooftop PV system measuring just under 40 kW-DC. The
PV panels are expected to generate at least 80 to 100 percent of the Chapter’s electrical needs,
allowing the organization to redirect funds to help those in need.
“We are very proud to be the first Red Cross in the nation to utilize solar energy,” said
Richard White, Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red
Cross. “We knew this would be a difficult road to go down as our financial resources were very
limited, but thanks to our wonderful partners, this dream became a reality.”
The dream of a solar-powered facility began back in February after the Chapter moved its head-
quarters to its current location in Tucson. The organization made a commitment to make its new
facility as green as possible, which included renovations like double-pane windows, the highest-
quality ceiling insulation and a flagpole integrated with solar lighting. But the biggest long-term
goal was to install a solar system, and that meant overcoming some difficult financial hurdles.
“As a not-for-profit organization, we knew that the cost to do a solar installation would be
prohibited,” said White. “The available tax credits and funding opportunities for solar proj-
ects are currently set up for residential or for-profit companies. So we had to get creative.”
After 10 months of planning, the funding for the PV roof panels was made possible through
a unique public-private partnership that didn’t cost the social service agency a single penny. The
partnership included a gift from the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation Inc., the
world’s largest publicly-traded copper company; a grant from the State of Arizona Department
of Commerce, in partnership with the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act; and
Tucson Electric Power’s (TEP) Non-Residential Solar Electric Up-Front Incentive Program.
In September, the Red Cross hosted a solar dedication ceremony that welcomed Arizona Gov.
Jan Brewer, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and representatives from Freeport-McMoRan,
TEP and Net Zero Solar, the installer of the project. Freeport-McMoRan was the first partner to
commit as the company recognized the important role copper plays in solar energy systems.
“We are fortunate to have a longstanding relationship with the Southern Arizona Chapter
of the American Red Cross, so it was an extremely easy decision on our part to be involved,”
said Tracy Bame of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation at the dedication
ceremony. “And since solar energy systems can be made with copper, brass and bronze, we
felt that our green tech materials would be an excellent fit for the Red Cross. It’s wonderful
to see an organization like this make the effort to become sustainable.”
“It just goes to show you that solar leadership means more than just megawatts,” said
Paul Bonavia of TEP at the event. “It’s the value of bringing any amount of solar to our
community, and the Red Cross achieved that with a combination of generous product support,
stimulus money and your neighborhood utility.”
During Net Zero Solar’s presentation, President Chad Waits explained the benefits of using
micro inverters on the rooftop project as they generally allow 15 percent more energy
because of their ability to maximum power point track (MPPT) each individual solar panel.
“We felt that our Enphase Energy micro inverters worked very well for this installation
because of the system’s ability to mitigate shading on the modules,” said Waits. “This partic-
ular rooftop had a tremendous amount of shade that will now only affect one module versus
the entire system. We’re able to capture as many kWh as possible, make our footprint a little
lighter and allow the Red Cross more money in their pockets for a faster return on investment.”
Another feature of Net Zero’s solar package is a data monitoring portion. The Red Cross
will be able to view how the system is performing in real-time, and be alerted to any issues
before they are able to set in and cost the organization extra money. With a savings of close
to $20,000 annually, the Red Cross will be able to redirect funds to fulfill its mission of
saving lives and helping those in need. AEN
BY DANIELLE D’ADAMO
“We are very proud to be the first Red Cross
in the nation to utilize solar energy.” Richard White, Executive Director of the Southern Arizona Chapter of the American Red Cross
First in the Nation to Go Solar
Southern Arizona Red Cross
Photo courtesy of Net Zero Solar.
8 Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010
10 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
SOLAR POWER
talk with attendees about the company’s full
spectrum of services to develop alternative
energy projects. He noted that his booth had
a continuous flow of visitors and he ex-
pected to realize future business as a result.
That opinion was endorsed by Westwood
President Paul Greenhagen, who was pres-
ent in the booth. “Business has been steady
and good,” he said.
Teresa Maher of ETA International,
which offers certification services for in-
stallers noted that her booth didn’t attract
a great deal of interest from attendees, but
overall, traffic on the show floor was
satisfactory and the keynote sessions for
the conference were excellent. “I always
get a lot of good information from the
keynotes,” she said.
Ron Orozco, Manager of Engineering for
the Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Coop-
erative, came to Solar Power International
to look for contacts in the software side
of the solar power industry and for infor-
mation on industry trends for power pur-
chasing arrangements. The conference met
his information needs admirably, he said.
Orozco noted that the event has changed
markedly through the years. The Solar
Electric Power Association, a co-owner of
the trade show along with the Solar Energy
Industries Association, has grown enor-
mously from its starting base of utility op-
erators and now involves members from
across the solar energy industry, according
to Orozco. “Today the vendors have be-
come larger than the utilities,” he said. “The
utilities are getting outnumbered, both in
numbers and monetarily.”
A conference and trade show hosted
by a pair of solar energy industry trade as-
sociations probably isn’t the setting you’d
imagine for a dispute over First Amend-
ment rights serious enough to require law
enforcement assistance. The confrontation
at the Los Angeles Convention Center
began when SPI Security Director Demond
Gooch ordered a team handing out copies
of Solar Power Daily News to vacate the
public sidewalk at the intersection of Pico
Boulevard and Figueroa Street, which is
directly in front of the main entrance to the
South and Kentia Halls of the convention
center. Solar Power Daily News is a sister
publication of Alternative Energy News.
Both magazines are published by Oser
Communications Group.
While Gooch persisted, the team refused
to leave citing their right to peaceably oc-
cupy the public sidewalk, and requested
assistance from a Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department sergeant who was on
hand to direct traffic away from a No
Standing zone on Figueroa Street. The
sheriff’s deputy affirmed that the distribu-
tion team was on city property rather than
convention center property and ordered
Gooch to refrain from further contact with
the Solar Power Daily News team. Gooch
retired to observe from a distance and then
left the scene.
Later in the day, Gooch accosted
Alternative Energy News Editor Danielle
D’Adamo in the trade show exhibit hall
after a meeting with one of the magazine’s
advertisers at his booth. During the meet-
ing, D’Adamo handed the advertiser a copy
of Solar Power Daily News, and immedi-
ately after she left the booth, was stopped
in the aisle by Gooch, who accused her of
distributing the magazine.
D’Adamo protested that she wasn’t distrib-
uting the magazine to attendees; she had
merely handed the advertiser a single copy
of the magazine that was labeled with his
name. Gooch replied that, “You’re not allowed
to be here. You’re not allowed to distribute
anything. If you want to send your client
anything, it has to be in the mail.” He then
demanded that D’Adamo surrender her expo
badge and escorted her off the show floor.
The following day, Liz Renn of Experi-
ent, who was wearing a “Staff” ribbon on
her badge and an Experient tag on her shirt,
accosted the distribution team on the pub-
lic sidewalk. Experient provides meeting
planning services to its clients. An Experi-
ent email address is listed on the show’s
website as a registration contact. Renn
shouted at distribution team members that
they were not allowed to be where they
were. Carsheenah Jefferson, a member of
the distribution team, responded that the
team was on public property and that Secu-
rity Director Gooch was aware of that.
“Talk to him. He knows,” she said.
“That’s who I am talking to,” Renn
replied, indicating her cell phone.
Renn then began shouting at the arriving
attendees that they should not accept
copies of Solar Power Daily News. She
was joined by an unidentified woman in a
black suit who shouted at attendees:
“Don’t read that. That’s not a legitimate
publication.” The black-suited woman
then attempted to snatch a copy of SolarPower Daily News from the hand of an at-
tendee and force a copy of Solar Industrymagazine, a Solar Power Daily News com-
petitor, on him. “Read this instead,” she
howled. “We’re the legitimate magazine.
We’re an industry partner.”
The attendee replied, “I’m illiterate any-
way,” pushed past the black-suited woman
and continued toward the convention cen-
ter. The black-suited woman then departed
toward the convention center. Renn re-
mained on the scene until approached by
Oser Communication Group’s Editorial
Director Lorrie Baumann. As she ap-
proached, Renn turned her name badge to
face her body and then covered it with her
hands. “You don’t have any right to use my
name,” she said.
Baumann informed her that the First
Amendment protects a publisher’s right to
print the name of an individual involved in
a news event. “This is a public place;
you’re wearing a nametag; and we’re
news-gathering,” she said. “The First
Amendment also allows us to publish your
picture,” she continued. At that point,
Renn retreated about ten yards, continued
to observe a few minutes longer, and even-
tually left. The distribution team continued
to hand out copies of Solar Power DailyNews as attendees arrived. AEN
DISPUTE (Continued from Page 1)
“The conference and trade show has
really exploded over the years to the point
where we had to move to a larger venue
because of space issues,” said Elizabeth
McDonald, President of CanSIA. “We
started this event in Toronto because that’s
where all the solar business is, and the
green energy activity has continued to gain
momentum and interest in establishing
Canada as a true solar marketplace. Fortu-
nately, the Canadian economy has been
steadier than the U.S., and our dollar is now
fairly competitive. We are starting to be
seen as a big player in the solar industry.”
After the impressive turnout of more
than 2,000 attendees at last year’s event,
CanSIA already sold out the exhibitor
space for the upcoming show with
175 registered companies. And while the
majority of attendees are solar industry
veterans, leading government representa-
tives, lawyers and investment bankers,
CanSIA is also drawing a younger crowd
of recent college graduates and new
professionals. The show has established a
job fair and job board in order to reach out
to those new recruits looking for the best
way to enter the industry as upcoming
contractors, engineers or architects.
According to McDonald, Solar Canada
2010 is the ideal place for them to mingle
with influential leaders, and hear the latest
industry news and technical updates from
the best in the business.
“Since its inception, we have tried to
maintain a balance between the conference
and trade show, and not put too much
focus on the conference aspect,” she ex-
plained. “The exhibitors can speak for
themselves and promote their products, but
it’s our job to present the most current and
useful information on technologies and
policy at the session tracks. People come
from all over the world to get a good pulse
on the industry and see who has actually
invested in the market. At the heart of this
solar show, it’s a real networking place.”
New this year is SolarVision 2025, an
in-depth presentation on the opportunities
and challenges facing the Canadian solar
industry over the next 15 years. The pres-
entation will cover all technologies—solar
PV, solar thermal and solar air—and
afterward, a panel of Canadian CEOs will
comment on the strategic plan, and their
thoughts on where the industry is headed.
There will be a track on the challenges
of solar thermal in the Canadian market,
and the future help of federal and provin-
cial government incentives. Also, CanSIA
will present a session on North America’s
renewable energy strategy and how the two
neighboring countries can help the other in
an ongoing clean tech dialogue.
“There is a real opportunity to learn
from other countries who are doing re-
markably well in the solar market, and for
Ontario to refashion its economy and dive
into new areas of energy resources,” said
McDonald. “We have a lot of catching up
to do with the Europeans, but the solar in-
dustry is coming into a new era, and there
is potential to draw new business to
emerging solar markets like ours.” AEN
SOLAR CANADA (Continued from Page 1)
Photo courtesy of CanSIA
12 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
SOLAR POWER
Project will Demonstrate Cost-Effectiveness ofCombined Solar-Storage Integration on Com-mercial Buildings for Peak Demand Reduction.
Ice Energy, a leading provider of smart-grid
enabled, advanced energy storage solutions
to the electric utility industry, will work with
SunPower Corp. on a unique pilot project
funded by the California Public Utilities
Commission that will combine its Ice Bear
energy storage technology with SunPower’s
photovoltaic (PV) solar systems.
The project, part of the California Solar
Initiative’s Research, Development, De-
ployment and Demonstration Program,
seeks to demonstrate the economic and op-
erational benefits of integrating advanced
energy storage systems with existing
PV systems for peak demand reduction
directly on commercial buildings. Ice
Energy is one of three energy storage
companies selected to participate in the
program, which will be implemented by
SunPower in conjunction with PG&E,
KEMA, Sandia National Laboratories and
a major national retailer.
“Think of it as sun plus ice plus wind,”
said Greg Tropsa, Executive Vice President
and Co-Founder of Ice Energy. “All three of
these technologies have the potential to be
more valuable together than any single one
of them alone, and that’s what this project
sets out to demonstrate.”
“As the sun begins to set in the afternoon,
the Ice Bear units will deliver stored energy
to bridge the gap between increasing build-
ing electrical demand and decreasing solar
energy production,” Tropsa explained. “The
project will demonstrate that the combina-
tion of solar and ice storage will significantly
reduce a building’s peak demand charge,
saving money for the consumer and helping
the environment by reducing the need for
utilities to dispatch fossil fuel-fired peaking
generators. The bonus is the Ice Bear storage
units are recharged during the off-peak
hours, absorbing wind and surplus low-cost
base load generation.”
The goal of the CPUC California Solar
Initiative (CSI) is to create 1,940 MW of
new, solar-produced electricity by 2016,
moving the state toward a cleaner energy fu-
ture and helping to lower the cost of solar
systems for consumers. The CSI RD&D
program provides grants to fund solar re-
search and demonstration projects that will
measurably reduce the cost and accelerate
the adoption of solar, or other distributed
technologies, such as storage that could
employ solar for alternative generation, and
reduce the use of natural gas and other
fossil-fuel generation. AEN
Ice Energy to Provide Energy Storage Technology for SunPower Project
Solar Monkey and Kyocera Solar, Inc. an-
nounced the completion of a solar energy
system at the San Clemente, Calif. headquarters
of Rainbow Sandals, Inc. Comprised of 1,170
Kyocera KD210GX-LPU high-output 210-watt
modules, and designed and installed by Solar
Monkey of Irvine, Calif., the 245.70-kW system
is expected to produce 340,000 kWh annually.
Mounted on the roof of Rainbow Sandals’
corporate office, the system is projected to
offset 87 percent of the building’s energy usage.
With a 35-year commitment to environmen-
tal preservation and sustainable energy, solar
energy has become Kyocera’s fastest-growing
business globally with new production opera-
tions recently added in San Diego, Calif.
“Rainbow Sandals joins a growing num-
ber of business and residential consumers
who are turning to solar power to meet
their energy needs, “ said Steve Hill,
President of Kyocera Solar, Inc. “With
solar energy offering a safeguard against
the rising costs of electricity and being an
environmentally- sustainable alternative to
fossil fuels, the demand for solar energy
systems is rapidly increasing.”
An experienced system integrator, Solar
Monkey has helped Kyocera meet a grow-
ing demand for its products. According to
Matthew McCullough, CEO of Solar Mon-
key, “We are focused on providing the
highest quality and most efficient solar
energy systems available. Kyocera was a
natural partner for this project as they have
a proven track record of outstanding
module performance and have a 35-year
history in the industry that backs up their
offerings in the market.”
The environmentally-conscious Rainbow
Sandals will derive a majority of its energy
needs from the newly installed solar sys-
tem. “The trio, Rainbow Sandals, Solar
Monkey and Kyocera share a core philoso-
phy—to make a better product while
reducing the impact on the environment,”
said Jay “Sparky” Longley, President and
Founder of Rainbow Sandals. “That,
coupled with Solar Monkey’s engineering
expertise and outstanding service, created
a formidable task force to achieve our
sustainable energy goals. We are thrilled
with how this project turned out.” AEN
Solar Monkey and KYOCERA Solar Bring the Power of the Sun to Rainbow Sandals
Ice Energy storage technology displayed at at a Cinemark movie Cineplex in Lancaster, Calif.
New Solar Installations to Produce the Largest Amount of Solar Energy in the U.S. Wine Industry
Constellation Wines U.S., the country’s
leading premium wine company, an-
nounced a major expansion of its solar energy
initiative as part of its ongoing commitment
to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The company plans to invest in three new
solar energy installations across California at
its Clos du Bois winery in Geyserville;
Ravenswood winery in Sonoma; and Estancia
winery in Monterey County. The projects
build on the company’s solar initiative which
began in 2009, with the inaugural installation
at the Gonzales winery in Gonzales, Calif.
Approximately 17,000 solar panels will be
installed at the four wineries by the end of
2010, making the initiative the largest solar
footprint in the U.S. wine industry.
The solar power generated is projected to
cover most, if not all, of the wineries’ energy
needs. Specifically, the systems will provide
the Estancia and Ravenswood wineries with
100 percent of their annual power and 75
percent of the needs of Clos du Bois and 60
percent of Gonzales.
“The four systems will have a combined
solar power of 3.95 MW-DC, which is equiv-
alent to 4.5 million pounds of emitted carbon
being removed from the atmosphere. This
amount equates to 9 million miles not driven
annually or 226 million miles not driven over
the next 25 years, a sizeable reduction,” said
Greg Fowler, Senior Vice President of Oper-
ations, Constellation Wines U.S.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisor Paul
Kelley added, “This solar project for a pre-
mium wine operation in Sonoma County is
an exciting project showing Constellation’s
commitment to quality wine, energy effi-
ciency and greenhouse gas reduction.”
Constellation has retained California-based
Genesis Renewable Energy to design, install,
operate, monitor and maintain the three new in-
stallations. Genesis will work with locally-
based contractors to complete the project,
further utilizing community resources and cre-
ating local jobs. An integral part of the invest-
ment in this multi-million dollar initiative is
incentives provided by the federal government
and the California Solar Initiative. Constella-
tion will be utilizing an incentive program af-
forded by the American Recovery Act that
allows a 30 percent tax incentive for starting
the solar project this year. In addition to the
federal program, Constellation will also partic-
ipate in a rate incentive program made avail-
able by the California Solar Initiative, which
provides significant rate incentives for solar
power through Pacific Gas and Electric.
“These tax incentives, which help spur
investments in alternative energy produc-
tion, are an important way to help green
our economy,” said Congressman Mike
Thompson (D-Napa), who helped draft the
federal incentives and supported the Re-
covery Act. “Constellation’s solar initiative
is a great example of how these tax incen-
tives are helping the environment while
also creating jobs in California.”
Constellation is participating in a number
of efforts under its sustainability pillar,
which have resulted in
significant accom-
plishments, such as the
recent certification of
all of Constellation’s
wineries and vineyards
as part of the California
Sustainable Wine-
growing Alliance’s
third-party certification
program. Additionally,
Constellation wineries
also participate in local
programs, such as
the Sonoma Green
Business program, the
Napa Green program and the Fish Friendly
Farming program, which certified more than
1,300 acres of Constellation’s vineyards.
“We are extremely proud of this solar
initiative, especially in California where
many of our brands, employees and
customers are located.” said Jay Wright,
President, Constellation Wines North
America. “We are committed to investing in
technologies that will allow us to protect our
environment while we produce our wines in
the most sustainable way possible. Not only
will this initiative have a positive impact on
the environment, but it is also cost effective,
saving approximately $1 million in energy
costs per year.” AEN
A total of 17,000 solar panels will be installed at four Constellation Wines U.S. wineries making it the largest solar footprint in the U.S. wine industry.
Iberdrola Renewables recently began construction at its newest wind farm project, in
Herkimer County, N.Y. Large wind turbine components arrive almost daily by truck, lay-
ing the groundwork for the 74-MW Hardscrabble Wind Power Project in the towns of
Fairfield, Norway and Little Falls.
The nearly $200 million wind project, which is expected to complete construction and begin
delivering emission-free electricity at the end of the year, is one of seven new wind farms
Iberdrola Renewables currently has under construction around the United States.
The project has already created nearly 200 construction jobs so far, which includes pour-
ing turbine foundations, transporting components, installing electrical systems and building
roads with the on-site crew increasing now that turbine installation has begun. Once com-
plete, the project will permanently employ a staff of six technicians to operate the site.
In addition to job creation, the Hardscrabble Wind Power Project will make a number of
one-time and recurring payments to landowners and local jurisdictions over the life of the
project. Annual payments to the jurisdictions, which include the towns of Fairfield, Norway
and Little Falls, the West Canada School District, the City of Little Falls School District and
Herkimer County, will total approximately $592,000 and escalate with inflation. Annual lease
payments to participating landowners are projected to average $650,000 a year for the life of
the project.
Hardscrabble will feature 37 American-made Gamesa wind turbines, which will stand on
100-meter towers. The tower sections are manufactured in Wisconsin, while the rest of the tur-
bine—the blades, nacelle, and hub—is manufactured in Pennsylvania. When complete, the
project will produce enough electricity to power more than 25,000 typical New York homes
each year. The clean, renewable energy produced at Hardscrabble will have a pollution-
offset equal to removing an estimated 26,000 cars from the road.
Iberdrola Renewables Inc. is an American company, incorporated in the U.S. and
headquartered in Portland, Ore., with more than 800 employees. It is part of the Iberdrola
Renovables global group, the world’s leading provider of wind power with more than 11,000
MW of renewable energy in operation around the world, and more than 3,800 MW of that
wind power located in the United States. AEN
New York’s Newest Wind Farm NowUNDER CONSTRUCTION
20 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
WIND POWER
21Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
WIND POWER
“The area near Breckenridge in Gratiot
County has an excellent wind resource with
flat, consistent winds and good access to
transmission lines,” said Kevin Parzyck,
Senior Development Manager for Invenergy
Wind. “More importantly, there has been a
tremendous amount of participation from
municipal leaders, landowners and everyone
involved to develop more wind farms in the
area and boost Michigan’s presence in the
wind industry. We’ve seen little to no resist-
ance to the project.”
The idea for a new wind farm began sev-
eral years ago with a long-term development
plan for Gratiot County. The community
wanted to be ahead of the curve with zoning
and wind power requirements in order to de-
velop a platform for wind development in the
state, according to Parzyck. Initially, Inven-
ergy Wind worked with Michigan developer
Wind Resource LLC, who started early work
on the wind project. In 2009, Invenergy Wind
purchased the wind assessments and prelimi-
nary work for the farm, and has continued to
work closely with Wind Resource. Around the
same time, Detroit Edison issued an RFP for
wind development in Michigan and Inven-
ergy Wind happened to place the winning bid.
“Since Michigan has an RES requiring
electric providers to achieve a retail supply
portfolio that includes at least 10 percent
by 2015, it made sense for Detroit Edison
to issue multiple RFPs not only to help the
state meet its goal, but to expand our re-
newable energy portfolio as well,” said
Scott Simons, Spokesman for DTE Energy.
“We are excited to work with Invenergy
Wind on this new project to help make
Michigan a greener state and develop a
brand new wind industry here.”
The new wind farm is actually the first of
three wind farms being planned in Gratiot
County. The other two are expected to be de-
veloped in the middle of the county and in the
southwest part. During construction of the
Invenergy project, more than 150 workers
will be employed. In addition, 15 full-time,
local high-tech jobs servicing the turbines
will be created and housed in an on-site op-
erations and maintenance facility comple-
mented by local vendors to
maintain the turbines and
the project’s infrastructure.
“Promoting green jobs
and reviving the local econ-
omy is one of the great
things about projects like
this,” said Parzyck. “The
fact that there was such
good leadership early on
from participating members
of the community, it gave
everyone the understanding
that this wind farm was
going to provide good bene-
fits to the area. This is a true
community effort that we
can play a part in.”
With the engineering analysis and per-
mitting process already in progress,
Parzyck expects groundbreaking to begin in
early November and the wind farm to be
completed by the end of 2011. AEN
Siemens Energy has been awarded its first
order for the supply of two SCC6-5000F
Flex-Plant 10 combined cycle power is-
lands. The order for the two power islands in
El Segundo, Calif., comes from the U.S.
power company NRG Energy. The advanced
design of the Flex-Plant 10 offers an
environmentally-compatible solution for the
peaking to intermediate market through fast-
start technology, and low start-up emissions
and water usage. The two Flex-Plant 10
power islands can generate an output of
300 MW within 10 minutes. When the plant
goes online in the spring of 2013, these units
will be able to supply environmentally-
friendly power to 240,000 households.
At the heart of the Flex-Plant 10 is the
SGT6-5000F gas turbine, integrated with a
single-pressure, non-reheat bottoming cycle.
Together with an air-cooled heat exchanger
for steam condensing, the Flex-Plant 10
provides a net efficiency of nearly 49
percent, making it the most efficient peaking
plant technology available today. Compared
to a traditional simple cycle plant, and
because of its higher efficiency and low
water consumption, the Flex-Plant 10 is
the most competitive solution for peak- to
intermediate-duty cycles, including the
10-minute non-spinning reserve market.
The natural gas-fueled power plant in
El Segundo will have a nominal rating of 560
MW. The Siemens scope of supply includes
the main power island components—each
featuring a SGT6-5000F gas turbine-generator,
an SST-800 steam turbine-generator, a heat
recovery steam generator and an air-cooled
condenser—along with the complete electri-
cal and power plant instrumentation and
control systems. Siemens also will provide
the engineering services and commissioning
of the plant.
“Our Flex-Plant peakers are specifically
designed to meet the U.S. market needs for
extremely short start-up times and deliv-
ery of high efficiency and low emissions.
We are proud to be working with NRG to
launch the Flex-Plant 10, making their
company the first to have the benchmark
for peak- to intermediate-duty range power
plants in its portfolio,” said Michael Suess,
CEO of the Fossil Power Generation Divi-
sion at Siemens Energy.
“The Siemens Flex 10 technology pro-
vides the California grid what is needed to
meet aggressive environmental goals,”
said Steve Hoffmann, President of NRG’s
West Region. “The fast-start features help
firm intermittent renewable resources
while the high efficiency meets new clean
air standards.”
Flex-Plant 10 plants are part of Siemens’
Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009,
revenue from the portfolio totaled about
EUR23 billion, making Siemens the
world’s largest supplier of eco-friendly
technologies. In the same period, the com-
pany’s products and solutions enabled cus-
tomers to reduce their CO² emissions by
210 million tons. This amount equals the
combined annual CO² emissions of New
York, Tokyo, London and Berlin. AEN
MICHIGAN WIND FARM (Continued from Page 1)
Siemens Wins Order for Two Flex-Plant™ 10 Combined Cycle Power Islands
Del Mar-based Cannon Power Group
announced the closing of the sale of
a 20-year block of renewable power to
Southern California Public Power Authority
(SCPPA) for $547 million. This is believed
to be the largest transaction of its kind in the
power industry.
The power will be provided from Cannon
Power Group’s 262-MW Windy Flats wind
project in Goldendale, Wash., under a long-
term power purchase agreement entered into
last year by the parties.
The transaction involves SCPPA “pre-
paying” for a 20-year block of power,
representing more than 70 percent of the pro-
ject’s expected annual production. In return
for such “pre-payment,” SCPPA obtained a
discounted power price. The balance of the
power from the project also will be sold by
Cannon Power Group to SCPPA at a formula-
based price. As part of the transaction,
SCPPA also received an option to purchase
the project after five years.
“This uniquely structured transaction is a
true win-win for both parties,” said Gary
Hardke, President of Cannon Power Group.
“It combined SCPPA’s low-cost, tax exempt
bond financing with the federal stimulus
grant program to produce a very attractive
long-term cost of renewable power.”
SCPPA reportedly closed its 20-year bond
financing at the end of August at
pricing of less than 4 percent, according to
Bloomberg News. Cannon Power Group
received total federal stimulus grants of $220
million in connection with the project.
“This was really a remarkable and
innovative transaction,” said attorney
Tom Trimble, Partner and Co-Head of the
Renewable Energy Practice at Washington,
D.C.-based Hunton & Williams, who
represented Cannon Power Group in the
transaction. “It allowed the parties to navi-
gate the credit crisis and take advantage of
the low interest rate environment.”
Cannon Power Group’s Windy Flats proj-
ect went on line earlier in 2010. It is part of
the company’s 500-MW Windy Point/Windy
Flats project. The project, one of the largest
wind projects in the U.S., and representing
an investment of more than $1.2 billion,
spans more than 26 miles along the Columbia
River. It is expected to be completed in 2011
and has provided more than 350 new jobs to
the local area. Cannon Power developed and
constructed the project. AEN
Cannon Power Group Closes Largest ‘Pre-Pay’ Contract for Wind Power
Siemens’ SGT6-5000F gas turbine at a manufacturing plant.
Heritage Sustainable Energy’s Stoney Corners Wind Farm.
22 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
WIND POWER
New Plant Will Serve as a DevelopmentHub for TPI’s Operations Worldwide.
TPI Composites Inc., a leading global sup-
plier of wind turbine blades, announced
plans to open a wind blade innovation cen-
ter in Fall River, Mass., that will support
TPI’s manufacturing facilities around the
world. The Fall River plant will serve as a
center for development of advanced blade
manufacturing technology and a launching
pad for new wind blade products. The
facility will also offer limited production
capacity for land-based as well as offshore
wind turbine blades. Gov. Deval Patrick,
U.S. Representative Barney Frank and Fall
River Mayor William Flanagan took part
in the announcement.
The 69,000-square-foot Fall River de-
velopment center will initially allow TPI
to manufacture blades as long as 62 meters
with even larger blades possible with fur-
ther expansion. Prototype blades produced
at this location will be delivered by barge
to the new Wind Technology Testing
Center in Charlestown, Mass., for testing
and optimization.
“We are very pleased to have the
opportunity to expand our wind blade
development and prototype capabilities
through this new innovation center,” said
Steve Lockard, President and CEO of TPI.
“The efficient access to the water, proxim-
ity to an outstanding work force and
support received from the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts and the city made Fall
River the ideal place for TPI’s expansion.
The addition of this facility will position
TPI well for the future as the demand for
larger, higher-performance wind turbine
blades continues to grow.”
“I welcome TPI Composites to Massa-
chusetts, where they become part of our
growing wind energy industry,” said Gov.
Patrick. “With facilities like the Wind
Technology Testing Center and companies
like TPI, Massachusetts will lead the
nation in the next generation of wind
energy technology.”
To support this facility, the Massachusetts
Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has
awarded TPI a $250,000 grant, contingent
upon creating and maintaining 30 jobs.
The facility, located at the Tillotson Com-
plex at 63 Water St., is expected to open in
early 2011 and will initially employ 30 to
50 associates. Neil Tillotson, who the com-
plex is named for, was one of TPI’s initial
investors in 1968. TPI built recreational
boats in the building during the 1970s and
1980s.
“Bringing a major wind blade manufac-
turer to the state to carry out development,
testing and training for the advanced
manufacturing of wind blades will help build
the wind blade cluster in Massachusetts,
and provide a local customer for our Wind
Technology Testing Center,” said Mass-
CEC’s Executive Director Patrick Cloney.
The innovation center will operate as a
sister facility to TPI’s Warren, R.I. plant
located approximately 10 miles away
and will serve as a base for offshore wind
blade deployment. TPI also operates
wind blade manufacturing facilities in
Newton, Iowa; Taicang, China and Juarez,
Mexico. The company employs approxi-
mately 2,500 worldwide. AEN
TPI Composites to Announce Plans for Wind Blade Innovation Center in Massachusetts
Bechtel Development Company, CavalloGreat Lakes Ohio Wind and Great LakesWind Energy Form Company to AddressAll Stages of Development.
Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation
(LEEDCo) announced that it has selected
a team of three companies to develop an
offshore wind farm on Lake Erie, the first
project of its kind in North America.
The three partner companies are Bech-
tel Development Company, Inc. (Bechtel),
Cavallo Great Lakes Ohio Wind, LLC
(Cavallo) and Great Lakes Wind Energy,
LLC (GLWEnergy). The announcement
was made by LEEDCo President Dr. Lorry
Wagner, who called the developer selec-
tion a major step forward in the process of
establishing an offshore wind industry,
which began with a feasibility analysis and
study, initiated nearly four years ago.
“Our ambitious goals demand a world-
class execution team,” said Dr. Wagner.
“With these three major contributors in
place as the developer, we now have the
talent and broad range of expertise neces-
sary to start this exciting endeavor.”
Bechtel, Cavallo and GLWEnergy have
formed Great Lakes Ohio Wind, LLC
(GLOW), the company that will own and
develop the project. Speaking on behalf of
the developer team, GLWEnergy Manag-
ing Director Chris Wissemann said, “We
are looking forward to collaborating with
all partners, and providing our combined
expertise to help bring Northeast Ohio an
exciting project and significant alternative
source of energy.”
“This is historic. This is the first fresh
water offshore wind project in North
America,” said Bill Mason, Cuyahoga
County Prosecutor and Chair of Great
Lakes Energy Development Task Force, a
unit, created by Cuyahoga County, for the
purpose of exploring the legal, technical,
environmental, economic and financial
aspects of developing and implementing
advanced energy technologies in the
county. “I believe it will be the catalyst
to drive economic development in our re-
gion and create the next generation of jobs
for our children.”
The initial project will be a five-turbine,
20-MW pilot wind farm five to 10 miles
offshore of Cleveland. Construction on the
initial phase is tentatively scheduled to
commence in late 2012. By 2020,
LEEDCo aims to see 1,000 MW of renew-
able electricity being generated from lake
winds, and believes the economies of scale
that can be obtained when building such
large projects will reduce the cost of that
energy to attractive levels.
The selection of the developer follows
LEEDCo’s May 2010 announcement that
General Electric (GE) is the intended sup-
plier of the project’s direct-drive offshore
wind turbines and maintenance.
“We want Northern Ohio to be the
epicenter of a new freshwater offshore wind
power industry with associated manufac-
turing, shipping and construction jobs,”
said Dr. Wagner. “This milestone will posi-
tion our region as a model for innovation in
clean energy and help spur economic
development in Northern Ohio.” AEN
Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation AnnouncesSelection of a Developer for Lake Erie Wind Farm
A row of TPI Composites wind blades.
Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern)
announced that MetLife has made an
equity partnership investment in Pattern’s
Gulf Wind project. Gulf Wind is a fully
operational 283-MW wind farm located in
Kenedy County, Texas, that produces clean
energy equivalent to the power needs of
80,000 Texas homes. The terms of the
investment were not disclosed.
“We welcome MetLife’s involvement in
the Gulf Wind project. MetLife’s partici-
pation allows the partnership to efficiently
use the tax benefits associated with the
project and, together with Pattern’s recent
operational improvements, continues our
commitment to ensuring Gulf Wind is a
premier wind energy project. This financ-
ing also demonstrates Pattern’s ability to
consummate creative but practical financ-
ing structures in these uncertain financial
markets,” said Mike Garland, CEO of Pat-
tern Energy. “Pattern is well positioned,
with our $800 million corporate equity an-
nounced in May, to continue developing
world-class premium growth renewable
energy projects.” The current financing
with MetLife represents an evolution
of the AB structure developed previously
by Pattern management. The current
transaction incorporates project debt and
consistent cash flows.
“MetLife recognizes the importance of
investing in renewable energy ventures that
will have a positive impact on the environ-
ment,” said Steve Kandarian, Executive
Vice President and Chief Investment Offi-
cer for MetLife. “This investment in Gulf
Wind builds upon the more than $1 billion
that MetLife has already invested in renew-
able energy projects. It also demonstrates
our commitment to support growth in the
wind energy market.” MetLife was advised
by CP Energy Group in the transaction.
Pattern’s Gulf Wind project is strategically
located on the Gulf Coast in Kenedy County,
Texas, where favorable wind conditions
allow the project to maximize energy
production during times of peak demand
and peak pricing. Gulf Wind is pioneering
the world’s first use of groundbreaking
MERLIN SCADA radar technology to
protect avian populations. AEN
Pattern Energy Announces Financing Investment in Gulf Wind Project by MetLife
23Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
now talking true building science rather than
just adding a product to a home. Builders like
Meritage Homes are looking at buildings as a
system, not individual pieces. This really ad-
dresses the way people live.”
Another high-performance feature is the
ECHO Solar Electric/Thermal System from
PVT Solar. For Meritage Homes, aesthetics
was paramount and the builder was initially
uncertain of installing a rooftop PV system.
However, PVT Solar’s unique ECHO Solar
System is flush-mounted and resembles
something of a seamless skylight. In
addition, the ECHO Solar System produces
up to 10,000 kWh energy offset annu-
ally. “The ECHO System delivers twice as
much energy compared to other systems on
the market,” said Gordon Handelsman of
PVT Solar. “This really was the best solution
for Meritage Homes because in a production
home, you don’t have an unlimited amount
of roof space—it’s actually quite con-
strained. A basic system won’t make enough
energy to be meaningful for the consumer,
but our system makes the financial aspects
of solar much more valuable. By utilizing
solar energy, Meritage Homes has proved in
execution that these homes can be built and
transform a market.”
The Meritage Green Homes are located in
communities throughout Tucson with prices
varying by community, but some homes are
available for as low as the mid $120s. AEN
California-based Power-One, the world’s
second-largest manufacturer of power
inverters for the renewable energy industry,
will open its first North American manufac-
turing facility in Phoenix. This marks the
sixth such company to move to Phoenix since
January, drawn by the state’s landmark Re-
newable Energy Tax Incentive Program.
Power-One is the leading provider of re-
newable energy and energy-efficient power
management solutions and currently holds 11
percent of the global photovoltaic inverter
market share, according to IMS Research. The
company manufactures a wide range of in-
verters, which make electricity from solar and
wind sources usable, for residential, commer-
cial and utility-grade solar and wind markets.
Power-One’s Phoenix facility will produce its
industry-leading photovoltaic and wind in-
verters, including single-phase string inverters
(2-6 kW), three phase string inverters, and
NEMA 3R 250 kW, 300 kW and 400 kW cen-
tral inverters. In the future for wind applica-
tions, the product range will include 2.5 MW
inverters. Production at the Phoenix facility
will commence in October 2010 and will
reach a capacity of 1 gigawatt by mid-2011.
“With a strong workforce, access to intel-
lectual resources through our relationship
with Arizona State University, and support
from Gov. Jan Brewer, the Arizona Com-
merce Authority and the Greater Phoenix
Economic Council (GPEC), we are confident
that Phoenix is the best place for Power-One
to establish its first manufacturing base in the
U.S.,” said Richard Thompson, President and
CEO of Power-One. “We are excited to bring
our field-proven products to the United States
and Canadian markets as we see tremendous
growth opportunities in North America.”
Power-One is the 12th California-based
company to establish an operation in Greater
Phoenix in the last two years. The 120,000-
square-foot facility will employ more than
350 workers to support the company’s strong
growth in the inverter market. The company
recently achieved record net sales of $215
million for 2010’s second quarter, a 135 per-
cent increase from the same time last year.
“Power-One brings the quality jobs I am
committed to attracting for Arizonans,” said
Gov. Brewer. “Arizona has a dynamic mix
of resources, human capital and knowledge
assets to optimize any company’s perform-
ance. Power-One is one more significant
milestone along Arizona’s path toward
strengthening our market position in the
global solar industry.”
“Power-One’s decision to open this facil-
ity in the Valley of the Sun is not only great
for the economy, it also brings us a step
closer to turning Phoenix into a solar city,”
said Mayor Phil Gordon. “This move creates
350 new high-wage jobs, fills vacant indus-
trial space and places a top solar company in
our city, where we're working hard to har-
ness this renewable energy and technology
for a greener Phoenix.” AEN
Power-One Opens First U.S. Manufacturing and Technology Center in Phoenix
Meritage Homes Introduces Energy-EfficientCommunities in Tucson, Ariz.
The new Power-One manufacturing and technology facility in Phoenix, Ariz.
EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES
BY DANIELLE D’ADAMOMeritage Homes recently unveiled its new
high-performance, energy-efficient homes
in five communities in the Tucson market.
With approximately $50,000 of energy-
efficient features included in every home at
no additional cost to the buyer, these
ENERGY STAR® Meritage Green Homes
will save homeowners up to 75 percent in
energy costs and allow them to be eligible
for $5,500 in tax credits. As the only builder
in the nation offering the most advanced
energy-efficient features available today,
Meritage Homes is ushering in a new era in
production homebuilding.
“As a builder in today’s market, you either
have to strip out the amenities of a house in
order to stay competitive or you have to start
from scratch and create something new for
the buyer that hasn’t been done anywhere
else,” explained CR Herro, Meritage Homes
Vice President of Environmental Affairs.
“Meritage created this position I currently
have in order to challenge the way they build
homes. We spent a year analyzing what we
can do to give true value to customers. As it
turns out, roughly $150,000 of utilities go
into a home, so we decided to create a good
thermal envelope and not compromise the
floor plan or beauty of the home.”
The result was a trend-setting program that
offered an all-inclusive package of energy-
efficient features, materials and appliances,
making Meritage Homes the only top-10
homebuilder that is 100 percent ENERGY
STAR qualified at no additional cost. And
while other production builders incorporate
green features into their building design, the
majority only offer energy-efficiency technol-
ogy as options or costly upgrades. Meritage
even took a reduced profitability on these
new homes because it was the corporate-
responsible thing to do, according to Herro.
“A home is the most expensive thing a
consumer will ever buy, and to look at the
housing market and see that builders have not
adapted that for the last 30 years is rather
surprising,” said Herro. “Builders need to
look for fundamental principles to drive back
to the consumer. Once consumers understand
that there is something better that they can get
priced competitively, they will make better,
greener choices.”
In order not to incur expenses that weren’t
going to translate into direct value for the
consumer, Meritage Homes looked at all the
indicators needed for energy efficiency, water
conservation and green building practices,
without sacrificing style and comfort. Part-
ners such as Tucson Electric Power (TEP),
PVT Solar, Demilec and several others
played significant roles in the development
of the environmentally-friendly communities.
Meritage Homes worked closely with TEP to
qualify for its enhanced Guarantee Home
Program, which ensures the homes were built
to standard.
“When Meritage Homes was looking to
build these highly efficient homes, it was
natural for us to work together and put our
official stamp on the project,” said Joseph
Barrios, Spokesman for TEP. “Since the
housing market has slowed, builders need
to look for creative ways to distinguish
themselves. And at TEP, we want to help our
customers use less energy, so working on an
environmentally- and economically-friendly
project like this just made sense.”
Meritage Green Homes incorporates many
advanced building science practices like
spray foam technology into its insulated wall
system and attic. Since air movement in a
building is the greatest source of energy loss,
home builders are constantly looking for bet-
ter options to increase the insulated value.
Demilec’s SEALECTION® 500 is spray-
applied as a liquid and it expands within
seconds to 120 times its volume to fill every
nook and cranny, providing excellent energy
efficiency and improved indoor air quality
by eliminating air movement through walls.
“Unlike other materials in the past, if I
wanted to put on a cool screen door, it was
done as a built-on application,” said Ken
Allison, Spokesman for Demilec. “But when
you use spray foam in creating a new envelope
for the building, you have to bring in other
trades and treat it as another assembly—you
can’t just add it to the existing house. We’re
The ECHO Solar System from PVT Solar at Meritage Green Homes Communities
The new Power-One manufacturing and technology facility in Phoenix, Ariz.
24 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
EMERGING teCHNOLOGIES
SkyBuilt Power to Provide Rapidly Deployable, Renewable Energy Mobile Power Stations
SkyBuilt Power announced that it has
been awarded a contract by the U.S.
Army to provide rapidly deployable re-
newable energy power stations for
Afghanistan. The contract provides for
both products and services. System details
are not being released at this time.
David Muchow, SkyBuilt’s President
and CEO, noted that, “This is another ex-
ample of how SkyBuilt’s unique, rapidly
deployable, renewable energy power
systems can support our troops in the field.
These patented systems can reduce the
threat from IEDs by reducing the need for
fuel convoys, while saving operating
expenses, maintenance and spare parts re-
quired with diesel generators. SkyBuilt’s
quiet systems also are ideal for night
watch in remote Forward Operating Bases
(FOBs) and other locations, and for sensor
systems. And they can have minimal heat
and radar signatures.”
SkyBuilt is a product and system integra-
tion company for advanced power systems.
It is the leader in rapidly deployable, hybrid
renewable energy power stations. Bill Buck,
SkyBuilt’s Chairman, noted that, “SkyBuilt’s
systems have been saving up to 97 percent
on fuel for years in the field with the military
and other customers.”
These systems can be fixed or mobile, on-
or off-grid. They use any kind of renewable
energy (solar, wind, biomass), fuel or other
sources. They are rugged, and reduce fuel and
maintenance in any climate worldwide. They
can pay for themselves in months to a few
years in operating cost savings, depending on
the solar and wind resource at the site.
They are designed for military uses (Army,
Navy, USCG, USAF and USMC), as well as
telecommunications, intelligence, disaster
relief and reconstruction, Homeland Security,
mobile health clinics, water pumping and
sustainable economic development in Iraq,
Afghanistan and worldwide.
These unique, patented systems come in
various platforms, from low-power to high-
power and micro grid systems:
SkyStation is a containerized system of-
fering solar, wind, batteries and/or genera-
tors and other options, and used for tactical
operations centers, telecom, mobile clinics,
base load and backup power, disaster relief,
telecom power and rapidly deployable
micro grid power.
SkyTrailer provides mobile renewable
power on trailers—sets up in as little as
45 minutes.
SkySkid provides lightweight power on
fork liftable skids for remote communica-
tions and other uses.
SkyCase is a man-portable power station
in an airline-checkable case with high effi-
ciency SkyPAK solar blankets three times
more efficient than others.
SkyWater combines far more efficient
water treatment technology (500 W provides
10 gal./min. continuous from gray water)
with a mobile or fixed power system.
SkyStructures are panelized, insulated,
fire resistant, rapidly deployable structures
with renewable energy power systems. They
provide longer life and lower HVAC needs
than tents to cut power use in the field.
SkyBuilt and its products above are
trademarks of SkyBuilt Power. AEN
Solar Powered Water Purifier for Disaster ReliefAmerican Manufacturing Company Re-sponds to World’s Demand for Potable Water.
Finding uncontaminated drinking water is
one of the biggest problems in disaster re-
lief according to USAID, CARE, the United
Nations and other disaster relief organiza-
tions. The Solar Container is a solution; it
would eliminate the spread of water trans-
mitted diseases, negate “the second wave of
deaths,” give farmers desalinated water that
wouldn’t kill their crops, reduce logistical
planning, and produce enough excess energy
to charge communication equipment.
Trunz/Spectra Watermakers’ Solar Container
is cutting-edge field technology designed to
meet the requirements FEMA outlined in
their Operational Requirements Document
released in April of 2009.
The Solar Container is powered by
renewable solar or wind energy and can
produce more than 8,000 gallons of virus-
free drinking water per day. Currently in
Pakistan, clean water is trucked in over
rough roads and contaminated flood water
is treated with single-use water purification
tablets. Haiti relies on above ground pipes
that often rupture. These are temporary so-
lutions; the Solar Container can operate
without generator or fuel which eliminates
follow-up logistical attention during
emergencies. The Solar Container has been
designed for the harshest desert conditions;
the equipment is installed in a sealed, lock-
able, air-conditioned container.
The product is a joint venture of Spectra
Watermakers Inc., a California company
known within the marine industry for its re-
verse osmosis water-making equipment and
Trunz Water Systems, a Swiss manufactur-
ing company. The Solar Container is made
possible by the integration of the Spectra
Pearson pump, a revolutionary water treat-
ment technology that dramatically reduces
the power required for desalination. The
Spectra Pearson pump, found in several of
Spectra’s watermakers, is a new proprietary
pump developed by Spectra to meet the needs
of a thirsty world. It is
an environmentally-
clean solution for any-
one in need of water
where energy is expen-
sive or inaccessible;
all you need is water,
sunlight and a cup.
The Solar Container
works by placing a
pump into a brackish
or saltwater source.
The water is pumped
through a series of fil-
ters to remove large
matter then filtered
through eight reverse
osmosis membranes,
which purify the water at an ionic level, elim-
inating bacteria, viruses, salts and dangerous
chemicals. The Solar Container runs on self-
sustaining green technology. The integrated
photovoltaic solar panels charge the water
purifier’s 24-volt batteries.
The Solar Container is presently on-site at
Spectra Watermakers in San Rafael, Calif. AEN
AC Propulsion CEO. “Both the vehicle
and our drive system excel in performance
and efficiency, and that is what it takes to
compete successfully for the X PRIZE.”
The goal of the Progressive Insurance
Automotive X PRIZE is to inspire a new
generation of viable, super fuel-efficient
vehicles that offer more consumer choices.
Ten million dollars in prize money was
awarded to the teams that won their class
competition for clean, production-capable
vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon
energy equivalent (MPGe).
The Progressive Insurance Automotive X
PRIZE puts added global focus on efficiency,
safety, affordability and the environment. It
is about developing real, production-capable
cars that consumers will want to buy, not sci-
ence projects or concept cars. This progress
is needed because today’s oil consumption is
unsustainable, and automotive emissions sig-
nificantly contribute to global warming and
climate change. AEN
E-Tracer Wins Progressive Automotive X Prize Powered by AC Propulsion’s Electric Drive System Spotlight Shines on AC Propulsion for itsHigh-Performance Electric Drive System.
AC Propulsion, a global leader in electric
drive development, design and manufac-
turing, announced the winner of the 2010
Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE,
Alternative Class (Tandem), the Peraves
E-Tracer, powered by AC Propulsion’s
state-of-the-art electric drive system. The
E-Tracer outlasted and outperformed more
than 30 entries over the grueling four-
month X PRIZE competition.
Widely known for the drive system tech-
nology powering the Tesla Roadster, MINI E
and eBox electric vehicles, AC Propulsion
added another winner to the list of vehicles
using its tzerotm technology as the innova-
tive E-Tracer ascended the podium to receive
the coveted 2010 Progressive Insurance
Automotive X PRIZE.
“The Peraves E-Tracer is a perfect match
for our electric drive system,” said Tom Gage, The AC Propulsion E-Tracer car was the winner of the 2010 Automotive X PRIZE.
The Solar Container can produce more than 8,000gallons of virus-free drinking water per day.
OTHER alternatives
25Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
U.S. Geothermal Announces Partnership with Enbridge on 35-MW Geothermal PlantU
.S. Geothermal Inc., a leading
renewable energy company focused
on the development, production
and sale of electricity from geothermal en-
ergy, announced that it has entered into a
strategic and financial partnership with En-
bridge (U.S.) Inc., a subsidiary of Enbridge
Inc. The partnership involves Enbridge
investing up to $23.8 million in the 35-MW
Neal Hot Springs geothermal project in
eastern Oregon.
Enbridge transports and distributes energy
across North America, and operates the
world’s longest crude oil and liquids
transportation system. The company, which
is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, has
expanding interests in green energy technolo-
gies, including wind and solar energy, hybrid
fuel cells and waste heat recovery projects.
The Enbridge equity investment in the Neal
Hot Springs project will fully fund the re-
maining equity share of the construction costs,
with the balance of the construction costs
being funded by the previously announced
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conditional
commitment for a project loan. Subject to
adjustment, Enbridge will acquire 20 percent
direct ownership interest in the project and will
receive 24 percent of the Investment Tax
Credit cash grant. U.S. Geothermal has now
already invested approximately $13 million in
USG Oregon LLC, its subsidiary that owns
the project. A total of up to $36.8 million in
equity, together with up to $102.2 million of
project debt provided under the loan guarantee
program from the DOE, is now invested in
or available for completion of the $124.3
million project.
“Our strategic partnership with Enbridge
assures full financing for the successful con-
struction and operation of the Neal Hot
Springs geothermal project,” said Daniel
Kunz, President and Chief Executive Officer
of U.S. Geothermal Inc. “We look forward
to a long and successful partnership with
Enbridge on this and potentially other
geothermal projects in our portfolio. Upon
achieving commercial operation, Neal Hot
Springs will be our third operating geother-
mal asset and will build upon our track record
of successfully developing our existing
pipeline of quality resources.”
“Enbridge is already heavily involved in
renewable and alternative energy projects
through our interests in 810 MW of wind,
solar, waste heat recovery and fuel cell proj-
ects,” said Patrick D. Daniel, Enbridge’s
President and CEO. “This investment is our
initial entry into geothermal energy, which
we think has an important role to play in
North America’s shift toward a greener en-
ergy production mix. We look forward to our
relationship with U.S Geothermal and the po-
tential that we may find further opportunities
to partner together.”
At Neal Hot Springs, USG Oregon is
constructing a new modular, air-cooled
binary cycle power plant manufactured by
TAS Energy Inc. of Houston, Texas, with
gross capacity of 35 MW and an average
annual output subject to seasonal and other
variations of 23 net MW of electricity.
Fixed-price equipment supply and firm-
price construction prices for the plant and
the other associated costs have been
secured from the equipment supplier and
the construction contractor. The anticipated
commercial operations date is the fourth
quarter of 2012.
The Neal Hot Springs development project
is the first geothermal project to be offered a
conditional commitment for a loan guarantee
under DOE’s Title XVII loan guarantee
program, which was created by the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 to support the deployment
of innovative clean energy technologies.
Issuance of the loan guarantee is subject to
the satisfaction of certain conditions prece-
dent. Once issued, the DOE loan guarantee
will guarantee the project loan from the U.S.
Treasury’s Federal Financing Bank. Up to 25
MW of the electrical output from the Neal
Hot Springs project is sold through 2032
under the terms of a previously announced
power purchase agreement with Idaho Power
Company, a subsidiary of IdaCorp. AEN
which obviously created some severe envi-
ronmental problems over the years,” said
Gerry Greathouse of the PVBC. “The nitrate
levels in the water were unacceptable, so we
decided to form this Cooperative and explore
options on how to put all the waste and
potential methane gas to good use in an
environmentally-friendly way. A biogas plant
seemed like the best road to go down.”
With the ample supply of nearby dairy
waste biomass, the system can provide cost-
effective bio-methane. The renewable gas
can be utilized through the national natural-
gas pipeline system or for transportation bio-
fuels. While representatives at the PVBC are
still researching the best technology to install
at the facility, the bio-refinery center will
Pecos Valley Biomass Cooperative Receives Grant to Develop New Biogas PlantBY DANIELLE D’ADAMOA new biogas initiative has been given the
green light with a $2.4 million dollar grant by
the U.S. Department of Energy that will in-
volve 50,000 cows from 25 dairy farms near
Roswell, N.M. The Pecos Valley Biomass
Cooperative (PVBC) plans to establish a dairy
cooperative management system for the col-
lection, storage and the bio-conversion of cow
manure and other agricultural waste products
into methane gas. The Cooperative was formed
five years ago after members decided it was
time to clean up the excess manure waste that
was piling up at existing dairy farms in the area
and contaminating the ground water.
“In just a 12-mile radius, there is a hefty
amount of manure being produced daily,
likely include a combination of anaerobic di-
gestion and gasification techniques for the
production of bio-methane and fertilizer
granules. Anaerobic digestion is a fairly com-
mon technique for biogas projects as it uses
a biochemical process where specific kinds
of bacteria digest biomass in an oxygen-free
environment and break down the waste.
Greathouse also discussed the possibility of
utilizing fluidized bed reactors or compost.
“The challenge we’re faced with is zero-
ing in on the best technology for the proj-
ect,” Greathouse said. “Since we started
down this road, technology has changed so
much. But we now have access to personnel
and engineers who have identified holes in
our original technology plans. We are in the
process of determining the best system for
the best energy value.”
The PVBC has 10 months to identify a spe-
cific technology and complete performance
assessments before the group can dip into the
grant funds, and move forward with prelimi-
nary designs of the bio-refinery center. After
construction, the project is expected to
produce dozens of local green jobs, and help
diversify New Mexico’s dairy industry and
consolidate management of manure waste.
“It’s very critical that we get this project
off the ground because I see a great future
in biogas facilities,” said Greathouse. “In
order to have a sustainable agriculture,
projects like this will be a crucial part of
the energy industry.” AEN
Photo courtesy of U.S. Geothermal Inc.
POWER PROFILES
26 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
AEN: Please
tell our readers
a little bit
about yourself
and how you
became in-
volved in the
alternative en-
ergy industry.
DM: I am the
General Man-
ager of GE’s
Wind Services
business. In my job, I start working with
the wind turbines as they are being
installed, up through the end of their life
cycle. My team is continually evolving
GE’s global wind service strategy across
field services, parts, operations and main-
tenance, and sales. With close to 14,500
GE turbines installed to date, there is a lot
of opportunity out there for meeting the
diverse needs of our customers.
My background is in power generation
services. I joined GE in 1993, as a mem-
ber of the Field Engineering Program.
Since then, my career has taken me to a
variety of global service roles in the U.S.,
Asia and Europe. Prior to working in
renewable energy, I most recently was the
Energy Services Region General Manager
for Western Europe.
AEN: What can you tell us about
your company and its commitment to
wind energy?
DM: GE is one of the leading providers of
renewable energy equipment in the world
and the number one wind turbine manu-
facturer in the U.S. We are working hard
on our portfolio of wind turbines so that
we can offer more options for wind sites
that might be, for instance, located in cold
weather temperatures, near shore, etc.
We are also working to grow our portfolio
of after-market solutions. We want to be
with our customers throughout the life
cycle of their equipment. One of the major
things that my team has been working on
is flexibility. We are developing the main-
tenance programs, operational support,
turbine upgrades and parts programs with
the goal of having something for everyone.
We are also working to speak the language
of the customer in providing solutions that
will not only help them run their turbines
better, but also get more production out of
existing equipment, which translates into
greater profitability.
AEN: Are there any new products your
company is currently working on?
DM: GE will spend the same amount of
money in researching and developing new
wind service solutions in the upcoming
year as we have in the previous two
combined. We have more than 40
programs underway through our Global
Research Centers. Two big areas of focus
are going to be on preventative mainte-
nance on both the gearbox and on blades.
These can be costly things to repair and/or
replace. By focusing on early detection,
maintenance can be done up front to avoid
major repairs later on.
In addition to this, a big focus is ensuring
that our customers have high levels of pro-
duction at their wind farms. At GE we
pride ourselves on having the most avail-
able and reliable fleet in the industry, but
now we want to take that one step further.
A wind farm is a big investment, and in-
creased productivity brings success to our
customers, and to us in turn. We have
some of the most sophisticated software in
our turbines and through our remote oper-
ations centers, and we also have the most
highly-trained technicians in the industry,
so we are working on programs that will
deploy these resources in strategic ways.
AEN: What are the biggest challenges
facing the wind industry today?
DM: The current economic environment
has had major implications for the wind
industry. Though the past year has been
tough across the industry, at GE, we took
this opportunity to focus on developing a
broader portfolio of offerings so that we
are more competitive than ever as the in-
dustry picks up.
AEN: Where do you see the wind indus-
try headed in the next five to 10 years?
DM: I may be a bit biased, but I see an
increased focus on maintaining units in
addition to developing new products.
Unlike the thermal business where I came
from, the wind industry is a relatively new
one. We are growing with our equip-
ment—getting a sense of the true lifespan
and what can be done to prolong this. As
we make improvements to new equipment,
we have to make sure that we drive this
technology back into our existing fleet.
I also think that we are going to see more
and more of a focus on the grid as we add
more variable energy to it. Grid codes
have already been made in Germany,
Spain and the U.S. GE has been the
first to offer solutions to meet these grid
codes and our customers tell us that we
have the most comprehensive solutions as
well. We are going to have to continue to
design with the grid in mind and similarly
drive these improvements back to the
installed base. AEN
Diarmaid MulhollandGeneral Manager, GE Wind Services
AEN: How
did you be-
come involved
in the renew-
able energy
industry?
JB: I’ve been
President and
CEO of NRG
Systems since
2004, prior to
which I served
as the com-
pany’s Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer. For many years I had an internal
focus, developing our financial and organi-
zational systems, and ensuring they could
support our growth. Since taking over as
CEO, I’ve had to delegate more of that inter-
nal role, but I still find great satisfaction in
building an effective team. From an early
age, I knew I wanted to make positive change
through my life’s work. My formal training
was in human development and nursing—an
unusual start for a wind energy CEO—but it
provided me with the mindset and tools to
build a vibrant organization from the bottom
up, one that’s focused on people and sup-
porting their growth.
AEN: Please tell our readers about
NRG Systems.
JB: NRG Systems is an independently-
owned company that has served the global
wind energy industry for more than 28
years. Our wind measurement systems help
customers measure the wind and are used
during the exploratory stage of a wind
farm’s development. We serve electric
utilities, wind farm developers, research
institutes, government agencies and
universities in more than 140 countries
around the world. Wind power isn’t just our
business, it’s also our passion. Our com-
mitment to environmental stewardship is
expressed every day. Whether it’s through
our state-of-the-art green manufacturing
facilities, our lean practices, or our green
benefits, we strive to walk our talk. We
don’t see environmental stewardship and
profitability as trade-offs, but rather as two
mutually supportive goals. It’s one way we
support the sustainability of our company
and the sustainability of our planet.
AEN: What new projects are you currently
working on?
JB: Data gathered from wind resource as-
sessment campaigns is under tighter
scrutiny from developers, utilities, banks—
anyone who cares about the reliability and
profitability of wind farms. With more wind
farms in production, taller turbines going in
the ground, and more regions of the world
expanding offshore, the demands placed
upon the wind resource assessment phase
have intensified. Over the past few years,
NRG Systems has responded to industry
demand by forming a partnership with
Leosphere and offering a lidar remote sen-
sor to measure accurately and reliably at
heights up to 200 meters. At the same time,
we’ve taken steps to improve our legacy
products, particularly the SymponiePLUS
data logger that now includes 15 channels,
and our WindLinx wireless service which
simplifies the management of met tower
data transfer.
AEN: What are the biggest challenges fac-
ing the wind industry right now?
JB: Right now the entire industry is under-
going contraction. In 2008 and 2009, there
were many strong competitors brought in
from all over the globe, and with energy de-
mand down and energy prices low, competi-
tion in 2010 is more fierce. At NRG Systems,
we’ve adjusted to this new environment by
staying focused on lean manufacturing
processes, continuous improvement and in-
vesting heavily in research and development.
We’ve also stayed focused on our core com-
petency—wind resource assessment—and
fostered customer loyalty by continuing to
offer unsurpassed technical support.
AEN: Where do you see the industry headed
in the next five to 10 years?
JB: In the next five years, I believe trends in
energy demand and energy prices will drive
what happens in the wind industry. However,
we can’t underestimate the challenges of sit-
ing and permitting. There’s an urgent need
for environmental advocates and wind en-
ergy professionals to work together. Organi-
zations like the American Wind Wildlife
Institute show great promise in bringing dif-
ferent stakeholders together and facilitating
the responsible development of wind energy.
In addition to permitting, another obstacle is
U.S. federal policy. Without long-term, con-
sistent federal policy to support renewable
energy, wind power will not be able to com-
pete on a level playing field with coal, natu-
ral gas and nuclear power—energy sectors
that enjoy lucrative federal subsidies. Wind
can become more cost competitive, but until
Congress levels the energy subsidy playing
field, wind will continue to rise and fall with
the whims of the energy markets and elected
officials. That’s the mid-term scenario.
In the long-term, I see a great future for wind
power. We know fossil fuels are in limited
supply and that gaining access to dwindling
stores of oil, natural gas and coal is only get-
ting more costly and hazardous to our envi-
ronment. As this transition continues to
unfold, abundant, renewable wind power will
become more and more attractive. AEN
Transitioning to Wind EnergyJan BlittersdorfPresident and CEO, NRG Systems
Alternative Energy News ■ October 2010
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
27
NEI Welcomes Approval of Nuclear R&D Bill by House Scienceand Technology Committee
can help make more efficient use of this
energy-rich resource.
“Today, our nation relies on nuclear en-
ergy for one-fifth of its total electricity
supply, and more than 70 percent of the
supply that comes from carbon-free
sources of electricity. This legislation rec-
ognizes that it would be foolhardy not to
ensure that nuclear energy remains a key
component of a diversified clean-energy
portfolio for generations to come.” AEN
The House Committee on Science and
Technology approved H.R. 5866, the
Nuclear Energy Research and De-
velopment Act of 2010. The bill authorizes
the Department of Energy to fund ad-
vanced research and development pro-
grams on various aspects of nuclear energy.
Following is a statement from Alex Flint,
the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Senior
Vice President of Governmental Affairs.
“The nuclear energy industry thanks
Chairman Bart Gordon and ranking
member Ralph Hall for their leadership in
gaining the Science and Technology
Committee’s approval of the Nuclear
Energy Research and Development Act. It
is gratifying that the committee, on a
bipartisan basis, recognizes that federal
investment in clean-energy technologies
will pay immense dividends for the
American people, the U.S economy and
the global environment.
“It is hard to overstate the importance of
this significant federal investment in pur-
suit of advances in innovation, safety and
efficiency that will help nuclear energy
technologies play an even greater role
in our modern society. This legislation
authorizes nearly $1.3 billion in nuclear
energy research and development through
fiscal year 2013 to help take state-of-
the-art technologies from the laboratory
and make them available for commercial
application. This includes support on a
cost-shared, government-industry basis
for smaller reactor designs that hold
great promise.
“Notably, this legislation also increases
investment in fuel cycle research and
development pro-
gram activities to
improve our ability
to recycle used
nuclear fuel with
technologies that
have enhanced
non-proliferation
characteristics. As
the Massachusetts
Institute of Tech-
nology noted in a
new study released
last week, there are
‘many viable tech-
nological choices’
worth studying that
Department of Energy Commits $1 Billion in Recovery Act Funding to FutureGen 2.0 U
.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu
announced that the Department of
Energy has signed final cooperative agree-
ments with the FutureGen Industrial
Alliance and Ameren Energy Resources
that formally commit $1 billion in
Recovery Act funding to build FutureGen
2.0. The FutureGen 2.0 project will help to
position the United States as a leader in
innovative technologies for reducing car-
bon emissions from existing coal-fired
power plants. As part of this new initiative,
the Department of Energy will partner with
the FutureGen Industrial Alliance to select
an Illinois host community for the carbon
storage site, as well as a geologic seques-
tration research complex and a craft labor
training center. This site could eventually
become a regional CO² storage site in
downstate Illinois. The project partners
estimate that FutureGen 2.0 will bring
900 jobs to Illinois and another 1,000 to
suppliers across the state.
“This milestone will help ensure the
U.S. remains competitive in a carbon con-
strained economy, creating jobs while re-
ducing greenhouse gas pollution,” said
Secretary Chu. “Developing innovative,
cost-effective carbon capture and storage
technologies is critical to the country’s
transition to a clean energy future.”
“This $1 billion federal commitment is
a critical step to bringing FutureGen to
Illinois. We look forward to demonstrating
to the world that we can use one of our great-
est natural assets in a way that protects our
environment and puts more people to work,”
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said.
“If there was any remaining question as
to whether FutureGen is really coming to
Illinois, now we have the answer,” said
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “Soon, we will
announce a process to evaluate the more
than two dozen Illinois communities that
have expressed interest in hosting the
sequestration, research and training facili-
ties for FutureGen 2.0. I thank President
Obama and Secretary Chu for their leader-
ship on this project and for putting Illinois
at the forefront of cutting-edge technology
that will improve the environment and
create good-paying jobs.”
In August, DOE announced its intention to
fund FutureGen 2.0 as part of an integrated
strategy to repower America’s coal industry.
Ameren Energy Resources, Babcock &
Wilcox, and Air Liquide Process & Construc-
tion Inc. are leading the project to repower
Ameren’s 200-MW Unit 4 in Meredosia, Ill.,
with advanced oxy-combustion technology.
The plant’s new boiler, air separation unit,
CO² purification and compression unit will
deliver 90 percent CO² capture, and eliminate
most nitrogen oxide, mercury and particulate
emissions. The Ameren Energy Resources
team estimates that the retrofitting of the plant
is expected to create approximately 500
construction jobs and allow Ameren to add
approximately 50 workers to the plant
staff, once the repowered unit is opera-
tional. The FutureGen Industrial Alliance
and the Ameren, B&W, and Air Liquide
team are developing a technical coopera-
tion agreement to ensure coordination
among each element in FutureGen 2.0, and
to provide the foundation for rapid com-
mercial deployment for this exciting new
technology once this first-of-a-kind facil-
ity is operational.
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance,
working with the state of Illinois, will
develop a permanent CO² sequestration
facility, research and visitors facilities and
a labor training center at the site. The
Alliance will also build a CO² pipeline
network from Meredosia to the sequestra-
tion site. The pipeline and storage site will
transport and store more than 1 million
tons of captured CO² per year. The project
partners estimate the new pipeline network
is expected to create additional construc-
tion and permanent jobs. The pipeline net-
work, along with the storage site to be
selected in early 2011, will help to lay the
foundation for a regional CO² network.
The Illinois storage site will be used to
conduct research on site characterization,
injection and storage, and CO² monitoring
and measurement. AEN
BY JACK JACOBS AND SASCHA YIMThe Property Assessed Clean Energy
(PACE) program is an innovative way to
‘incentivize’ commercial and residential
properties to embrace solar technology,
and energy efficiency measures by
overcoming the upfront financial costs
associated with such actions.
The PACE program allows local govern-
ments to fund energy efficiency retrofits by
extending loans to property owners for qual-
ified green projects. Property owners agree
to repay the amount of their financing
through their annual property taxes, usually
over a period of 15 to 20 years. This arrange-
ment is permissible through state laws that
allow city and county taxing authorities to
levy assessments for public purposes.
There is a long-standing tradition for
local governments have used their assess-
ment powers to finance improvements that
serve a public purpose, such as paving
roads, fixing sidewalks and burying util-
ity lines. In some states, improvements to
privately-owned property can be financed
through the levying of assessments if they
serve a valid public purpose, like seismic
and fire-related improvements.
The PACE program was set up as a
modern iteration of this well-established
governmental power, and to encourage the
widespread adoption of renewable energy.
So far, 22 states have passed laws
facilitating PACE programs. Even in its
nascent state, the PACE programs repre-
sented a successful initiative encouraging
over 3,600 projects, 900 of which were
PV installations across the country. But
despite the benefits to the PV industry,
environment and economy, Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac are concerned that in the
event of a default, the local government
would be repaid prior to the mortgagor. As
a result, the Federal Housing Finance
Agency issued a letter that echoed Fannie
and Freddie’s concerns, urging state and
local governments “to reconsider these
programs.” Almost overnight, the PACE
program was effectively halted.
But all is not yet lost. The California At-
torney General’s Office in Sonoma County
(one of the last remaining PACE programs
left in the country) and the Sierra Club each
recently filed lawsuits, and the town of
Babylon, N.Y., is also planning to file suit
later this year. The cases basically allege
unfair business practices, and violations of
the National Environmental Policy Act and
Administrative Procedures Act.
There is also a bill currently before
Congress aimed at protecting such clean
energy initiatives. The PACE Assessment
Protection Act of 2010 would require
lenders to adopt standards that support
PACE programs.
Perhaps now is a good opportunity for
lawmakers to seriously consider
enacting comprehensive climate change
legislative that could ‘incentivize’ the
widespread installation of solar arrays
and ensure the sustainable growth of the
renewable energy industry.
Jack Jacobs is the Founder and ManagingPartner of Cleantech Law Partners, a boutique law firm that represents renewableenergy project developers and cleantechcompanies. Sascha Yim is an attorney withCleantech Law Partners. AEN
Keeping up withthe PACE Program
POLICY PERSPECTIVES
MONEY MATTERS
28 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
Michigan Community Action Agency
Association (MCAAA) was recently
awarded two grants related to energy effi-
ciency and low-income families, including
a $15 million grant to administer a federal
Department of Energy-ARRA program to
weatherize low-income, multi-unit housing
across the state. The duration of the grant is
21 months, which began in August 2010.
MCAAA will work with CLEAResult
Consulting of Okemos, Mich., to provide
outreach to residents and building owners.
Eligible buildings will include Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) Qualified
Assisted Housing. The majority of build-
ing residents must be income-eligible for
the federal Weatherization Assistance Pro-
gram, currently at 200 percent of the fed-
eral poverty guidelines. Eligible buildings
and units will undergo an energy audit per-
formed by certified Michigan inspectors to
determine what measures should be taken
to increase energy efficiency. MCAAA
and CLEAResult Consulting will issue a
Request for Quotations to identify and
select qualified contractors to perform the
work. Weatherization measures typically
include furnace repair or replacement, in-
stallation of insulation and reduction of air
leaks around windows and doors, among
other improvements.
“This work will extend the great success
our member agencies have had in the home
weatherization program over the last four
decades,” said MCAAA Executive Direc-
tor James E. Crisp. “Now low income res-
idents and owners of apartment buildings
will start receiving the savings and other
benefits of energy efficiency, and Michigan
contractors will be doing the work.”
MCAAA was also named the adminis-
trator of a $1.9 million grant that will fund
a pilot program for the Michigan Public
Service Commission on energy affordabil-
ity in southeast and western Michigan. This
program will engage households that are in
arrears in their utility bills and provide case
management to the residents in an effort to
improve the energy efficiency of their
homes and management of their finances.
It will also help determine if the MPSC
should establish separate utility rates for
low-income households. MCAAA is part-
nering with DTE Energy, The Heat and
Warmth Fund and CLEAResult Consulting
on the pilot program.
Michigan Community Action Agency
Association is the state association of the 30
Community Action Agencies that provide
programs and services to low-income fam-
ilies and individuals in all 83 Michigan
counties. Its website includes links to CAAs
around Michigan at www.mcaaa.org. AEN
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies
Worldwide, Inc. (Quantum) announced
that the California Energy Commission
(CEC) has approved a low-interest loan for
the amount of $4.4 million under the state’s
Clean Energy Business Financing Program
(CEBFP) for California-based manufacturers
of solar products. The low-interest funds will
go toward manufacturing equipment for the
solar module facility in Irvine, Calif., to im-
plement a plant capacity of 45 MW annually.
Further to this award, the office of
Gov. Schwarzenegger stated, “California’s
leadership in clean energy technology is
supported by these manufacturers who are
investing millions to develop and produce
advanced energy products.” The Gov. added
that, “I commend these innovative compa-
nies for the work they are doing in advanc-
ing clean energy technology and creating
jobs for Californians.”
The manufacturing facility, located in
Irvine, will replicate the proven equipment,
processes and quality control measures
employed at Quantum’s affiliate Asola’s state-
of- the-art 45-MW solar facility in Germany.
The facility will build solar modules incorpo-
rating proprietary technologies and the best
practices from Germany, the largest solar
market in the world. Key materials including
silicon solar cells are expected to be centrally
purchased by Asola in Germany, from global
sources to benefit from economies of scale, in
line with the global strategic plan of Quantum
and Asola. Quantum currently holds a 25
percent equity stake in Asola.
“I am thankful to Gov. Schwarzenegger
and the CEC for this award,” said Alan P.
Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quan-
tum. “Manufacturing in California allows us
to quickly introduce innovative products to
support our business development efforts in
a number of segments including automotive,
residential, commercial and utility-scale
solar energy projects.” AEN
Michigan Community Action AgencyAssociationAwarded Low-IncomeEnergy Grants
Ormat Technologies Inc. is pleased to
announce that it has received $108.2
million for Specified Energy Prop-
erty in Lieu of Tax/Credits relating to its
North Brawley geothermal power plant
under Section 1603, Division B of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
of 2009 (ARRA).
“The funding we received will go toward
our continued expansion, including the con-
struction of new projects that will be eligible
for future funding under the ITC cash grant
program,” commented Dita Bronicki, Chief
Executive Officer of Ormat. “Our goal has al-
ways been to seek out innovative and low-
cost funding sources; and in this regard, we
have successfully demonstrated our capabil-
ities many times. Last month, we raised ap-
proximately $142 million in seven years,
7 percent private bond offering, and we
initiated with John Hancock the application
for up to $350 million senior secured
construction and term loan facilities. These
loans will be supported by the DOE Loan
Guarantee under the financial and construc-
tion plans of additional geothermal projects
in the U.S., and will enable our new projects
to qualify for Institution Partnership Program
(FIPP) in the framework of Section 1705 of
the ARRA. We also continuously seek out
funding from programs like the ARRA that
help support development of geothermal
projects in the U.S. We expect that by the end
of the year we will start construction of more
than 100 MW of new projects in the U.S.,
which will make them eligible to receive ITC
cash grants. The DOE programs are impor-
tant and great support to the renewable en-
ergy market for as long as they are available.”
The Section 1603 program of the ARRA
enables qualifying renewable power projects
eligible for either the federal production tax
credit or investment tax credit to instead elect
a 30 percent cash grant administered by the
U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Update on the North Brawley Project
Since it was placed in service in January
2010, Ormat Technologies have improved
both the power generation and the operat-
ing costs of the plant, with the net output
exceeding 25 MW in September 2010. The
gradual increase in generation was accom-
plished through the deployment of efficient
solids removal equipment that began in late
March and allowed for the stable operation
of the production wells. The shift from dis-
posable filtration to the high efficiency
hydro clones has substantially reduced the
operating expenses, and as additional units
are installed on the production wells they
expect further reduction.
Generation is expected to increase late in
the fourth quarter when the tie-in of wells
that were drilled east of the existing field
is completed. AEN
Ormat Technologies, Inc. Received $108 Million Cash Grant Under the 1603 Program
Quantum Selected by California Energy Commission for $4.4 Million Financing for Solar Manufacturing in California
W. R. Grace & Co. has been selected
to receive up to $3.3 million from
the U.S. Department of Energy for the
evaluation and enhancement of advanced
biofuel technologies.
Grace will work with Pacific North-
west National Laboratory (PNNL) to de-
velop technologies for thermochemical
conversion of biomass to advanced bio-
fuels that are compatible with existing
fueling infrastructure. The technologies
will upgrade bio-oils into gasoline, diesel
and jet fuels using a specialized catalytic
reactor designed to resist corrosion and
extend catalyst lifetime. Also on the team
are VTT Technical Research Centre of
Finland, who will be providing pyrolysis
oils, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
who will study corrosion.
The funding is a component of the
Department of Energy’s strategy to ac-
celerate the development of sustainable
biofuels, and is coordinated by the Office
of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy’s Biomass Program.
Grace and PNNL researchers will use a
thermochemical process known as pyroly-
sis, which breaks down biomass using heat
to produce bio-oils that can be further
processed in existing petroleum refineries
into transportation fuels.
Susan Ehrlich, Business Director of
Grace Renewable Technologies, com-
mented, “We are excited to be selected for
this funding and look forward to collabo-
rating with Pacific Northwest National Lab-
oratory. Our understanding of catalysts,
combined with their pyrolysis and process
development expertise, will position us to
accelerate the commercialization of this
new technology and production process.”
Ms. Ehrlich continued, “Pursuing and
receiving this grant is validation of Grace’s
strategy to grow the renewables business,
explore open innovation with high-caliber
researchers and become a global supplier to
the biofuels industry.”
Grace has more than seven decades of
experience with catalysts used in the
production of transportation fuels, such as
gasoline and diesel fuels, and other
petroleum-based products. In 2006, the
company expanded its work in the biofuels
industry with the introduction of a renew-
ables product line that provides technologies
for purification, drying and biofeed-
stock conversion. Some current products
include the company’s EnSieve® desiccants
for ethanol dehydration and EnPure®
absorbents for biodiesel purification. AEN
Grace Receives Department of Energy Biofuels Grant
New Flexible CIGS Modules
SoloPower has launched a line of CIGS-based thin-film, lightweight, flexible SFX1-i photovoltaicmodules. Manufactured in San Jose, Calif., themodules use a low-cost, roll-to-roll electroplatingprocess that offers unique cost advantages, in-cluding low capital expenditures, high line through-put and excellent material utilization. This low-coststructure combined with the optimized product de-sign creates an unbeatable value proposition. The80-watt strip weighs 5 lb (2.3 kg), the 170-wattversion weighs 8 lb (3.6 kg) and the 260-watt mod-ule weights 13 lb (6 kg).
SoloPower(tel) 408-281-1582 www.solopower.com
Wireless Technology in Renewable Energy
FreeWave Technologies now provides the FGR2-PEradio for renewable energy applications. This recentaddition to FreeWave’s FGRplus family of radios alreadyhas been successfully used in applications within thewind energy, solar energy and smart grid markets. Itoffers two ports each of serial and Ethernet connectiv-ity and the radio uses license-free spread spectrummodulation in the 900 MHz band for long distance datacommunication (up to 60 miles). The FGR2-PE also isvery well-suited for SCADA applications in other mar-kets, such as water/wastewater and oil and gas.
FreeWave Technologies (tel) 866-923-9948www.freewave.com
Ultracapacitor-Based Energy Storage Solutions for Wind Turbines
Maxwell Technologies Inc., is supplying BOOSTCAP®
cells and multi-cell modules to several wind energysystem integrators and turbine OEMs in Europe, Asiaand North America. Available in a range of sizes andmodular configurations, the BOOSTCAP ultracapaci-tors bring new levels of efficiency and power to a widerange of applications, including consumer electronics,hybrid cars and renewable energy sources. BOOST-CAP technologies can maximize system lifetime byprotecting the individual cell against over voltageduring rated system use. The ultracapacitors are com-patible with BCAP3000, 2000, 1500, 1200 and 650.
Maxwell Technologies Inc.(tel) 877-511-4324 www.maxwell.com
29Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
NEW PRODUCTS
New Surge Protector with High DC Breaking Capability
DEHN has developed and introduced a new tech-nology and SPD product, specifically designed tofunction at these higher DC voltages used on PVsystems. The new DEHNguard M YPV-SCI modeladdresses those issues by incorporating aswitched fused circuit in parallel to the MOV dis-charge circuit, permitting the internal disconnectto operate arc-free. DEHN’s unique SPD is UL 1449third edition compliant, as supplemented by theCRD for these new and higher DC voltage applica-tions, and therefore necessary for obtaining compliance to UL 1741 containing SPDs.
DEHN Inc.(tel) 772-460-9313 www.dehn-usa.com
Arista Mounting System for Solar PVCommercial Flat Rooftop Applications
Cooper B-Line introduced its revolutionary and highlyflexible new ARISTA™ Mounting System for solarphotovoltaic (PV) commercial rooftop applications.The ARISTA system is Cooper B-Line’s first availablestocked solar PV mounting system, designed to meetbudgetary and installation requirements. Constructedof standard, pre-assembled electrical components,the ARISTA system’s lightweight frames providedurable support for solar PV panels, effectively angling panels from 5 to 35 degrees at 5 degree increments for maximum performance. With a combination of standard pre-assembled componentsand no loose hardware, the ARISTA system is unparalleled when it comes to time and labor savingsduring installation.
Cooper B-Line(tel) 800-851-7415 www.cooperblinesolar.com
Commercial Solar Thermal Systems
Lochinvar Corporation, a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency water heaters, boilers and pool heaters,and TiSUN, a global leader and specialist in solar heating technology, have joined forces to bring newsolar thermal systems to North America. Combiningcutting-edge technology and superior quality with anoutstanding distribution and service network, this successful collaboration provides mechanical andplumbing design engineers and contractors the opportunity to offer their clients innovative, advancedrenewable energy solutions. The Lochinvar/TiSUNproduct includes solar thermal panels specifically engineered and designed for commercial use, solarthermal storage tanks, pumping stations used to control and move the solar energy throughout the system, as well as a wide array of system accessories.
The Lochinvar Corporation(tel) 615-889-8900 www.lochinvar.com
Rubber Umbilical for Water Heaters
Butler Sun Solutions released a new flexible umbilical composed of two three-eighths-inchinterior diameter rubber hoses that meet the SAE J20R3 D2 Heater Hose Rating (-40°C to125°C; -40°F to 257°F), combined with a three-conductor power cable, all enclosed in an Armaflexinsulating jacket. This SAE tubing is rated for sys-tems with a 16-psi pressure limit and is not ratedfor bladder expansion tank systems running 75 psithat can reach maximum antifreeze temperaturesof 182°C (360°F).
Butler Sun Solutions(tel) 858-259-8895 www.butlersunsolutions.com
Digital Monitoring System for PV Solar
The Suntrol digital system from SolarWorld collects, logs and displays power-generation statistics, including total electricity yields and displaced carbon dioxide. The display receives thereal-time output information from the solar powersystem and provides an ideal way to show whatyour system is doing. Whether for public buildingsor private households, indoors or outdoors, Suntrolcan be used in a variety of applications. The dis-play can be connected to a data logger using anRS-485 RS-232 interface or to a transmitter (suchas a supply meter) using a pulse input.
SolarWorld(tel) 503-844-3400 www.solarworld-usa.com
Let us know about it! E-mail [email protected] with “AEN: New Product” in the subject line for a list of what to include and deadlines.Are you launching a new product?
WHEN WHAT WHERE WEBSITE
NOVEMBER
November 2-4 Clean Energy Expo Asia Singapore www.cleanenergyexpoasia.com
November 2-4 RenewableUK 2010 Glasgow, Scotland, UK www.renewable-uk.com/events/annual-conference/index.html
November 15-16 Community Wind Across America Conference (Midwest Region) St. Paul, Minnesota, USA www.windustry.org/cwaa
November 17-19 AWEA Wind Energy Fall Symposium Phoenix, Arizona, USA www.awea.org
Novemer 17-19 Build Boston Boston, Massachusetts, USA www.buildboston.com/ResPlus/BuildBoston
November 18-19 Third Concentrated Photovoltaics Summit Europe Seville, Spain www.cpvtoday.com/eu
November 18-20 11th China Solar PV Conference and Exhibition 2010 Nanjing, China www.ch-solar.com
November 22-23 International Green Energy Conference & Exhibition Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www.greenenergyconference.org
November 24-26 RENEXPO South-East Europe Bucharest, Romania www.renexpo-bucharest.com
November 30-December 1 3rd Thin Film Solar Summit USA San Francisco, California, USA www.thinfilmtoday.com
November 30-December 2 Community Wind Across America Conference (Mid Atlantic Region) State College, Pennsylvania, USA www.windindustry.org/cwaa
DECEMBER
December 1-2 PV Power Plants 2010 USA Las Vegas, Nevada, USA www.solarpraxis.de/en.conferences
December 4-8 2nd International Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources
Napa Valley, California, USA www.2ndintegrationconference.com
December 6-7 Solar Canada 2010 Toronto, Ontario, Canada www.cansia.ca
December 6-10 4th International Conference on Integration of Renewable and Distributed Energy Resources
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA www.4thintegrationconference.com
December 7-9 AWEA Small and Community Wind Conference Portland, Oregon, USA www.smallandcommunitywindexpo.org
December 8-9 ACORE Phase II of Renewable Energy in America National Policy Forum Washington, D.C., USA www.acorephaseii.com
December 8-10 World Energy Engineering Congress Washington, D.C., USA www.energycongress.com
December 9-12 RENEX 2010 Istanbul, Turkey www.renex-expo.com
December 14-16 Intersolar India Mumbai, India www.intersolar.in
December 15-16 SEIA Sitting Workshop San Diego, California, USA www.seia.org/cs/seia_siting_workshop_general_information
JANUARY
January 17-20 World Future Energy Summit 2011 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates www.worldfutureenergysummit.com
January 18-19 Wind Power Romania Bucharest, Romania www.greenpowerconferences.com
January 24-25 Inverter and PV System Technology Berlin, Germany www.solarpraxis.de/en/conferences
January 25-26 Solar Power Generation USA Las Vegas, Nevada, USA www.greenpowerconferences.com
INDUSTRY calendar • 2010-11
30 Alternative Energy News ■ November 2010
UPCOMING EVENTS
FEBRUARY