May 01, 2009

It may be a lot hot air. But the Obama administration says that wind facilities placed offshore along the East Coast could replace most of the coal-fired power plants now in the United States. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says that the technology to do so currently exists and that it would be a "very real possibility."

The message is consistent with that of the White House, which is that exponential growth in the renewable sector would cut emissions as well as create good jobs. Such highfalutin' comments by officials, however, are getting lampooned by critics. While wind energy will become a more integral part of the nation's energy landscape, it is unlikely for the foreseeable future to dethrone coal, or other natural resources.

April 29, 2009

National Renewable Energy Laboratory to receive more than $100 million from Recovery Act

In an ongoing effort to expand domestic renewable energy, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced plans to provide $93 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support further development of wind energy in the United States during a visit to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory today. Secretary Chu also announced more than $100 million in funding from the Recovery Act for NREL facility and infrastructure improvements.

The funding will leverage the Department of Energy's national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to help improve reliability and overcome key technical challenges for the wind industry. These projects will create green jobs, promote economic recovery, and provide the investments needed to increase renewable energy generation.

April 28, 2009

Drivers trained in mileage-maximizing techniques achieved 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid from Saturday through Tuesday, averaging 81.5 mpg in the Washington D.C. area, setting a world record for a gasoline-powered, midsize sedan.

Ford Motor Co. officials said the results prove that fuel-efficient driving techniques can nearly double a vehicle's EPA-rated fuel economy

The event also raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

The challenge team, which included NASCAR star Carl Edwards, high mileage trailblazer Wayne Gerdes and several Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) engineers, raised more than $8,000 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by exceeding the goal of 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas. The Fusion Hybrid's official estimated range is approximately 700 miles per tank.

April 29, 2009

When wind farm developers lined up at a grid operator's or utility's door a few years ago, plans to add a new project didn't cause undue concern. After all, 10 megawatts here, 50 megawatts there, weren't going to significantly change the scheduling.

Now that wind projects are measuring in the hundreds of megawatts in recent years, they are not only creating interconnection issues on their own, but are also occupying a more prominent place in the overall resource mix in large or multi-state regions.

And while utilities are still adding smaller projects, they present their own challenges as many are even smaller than the original wind projects, like solar PV installations on a warehouse roof or hundreds of individual homes.

For Imediate Release
April, 28 2009

BRIGHTON – Michigan GREEN Executive Director, Douglas Russell, is pleased to announce the first recipient of the 2009 Michigan GREEN Eco Award to Strategic Energy Solutions of Berkley, Michigan.

Strategic Energy Solutions (www.sesnet.com) provides mechanical and electrical engineering design services, and energy systems for educational, municipal, commercial, and healthcare markets involving both new construction and redevelopment construction.

Strategic Energy Solutions completed twenty of the forty initiatives identified by Michigan GREEN for Michiganders to "Go Green." Included in their initiatives were a company wide recycling program, relocation into an envisioned LEED Gold certified building, weekly discussions on green and sustainable energy practices, and the design and installation of a geothermal ground source heat pump system. Additionally, the company has recently purchased a Swift wind turbine for installation this spring.

"Strategic Energy Solutions exemplifies what forward thinking Michiganders can do to help Green our environment, and position themselves to help rebuild Michigan's economy," stated Russell.