California Ethanol & Power (CE&P) has commissioned a study to better understand the role sugarcane and sweet sorghum may play in producing ethanol and electricity for the state of California. The Economic Impact Analysis report was conducted by Solution Mountain, Inc., and sponsored in part by the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation along with the California Association for Local Economic …
Cimarron Solar Facility Begins Commercial Operation
The Cimarron Solar Facility is online in New Mexico and is now powering nearly 9,000 homes with solar energy. The project is a partnership between Southern Company and Ted Turner (Turner Renewable Energy) and the power is being supplied through a 25-year power purchase agreement to member electric cooperatives of Denver-based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. First Solar developed and …
Part 1: An Overview of Waste-to-Energy
Earlier this week, I announced that I was kicking off a series on waste-to-energy and many people have already expressed comments and feedback on the subject. It is probably no coincidence that the hot button was the term incineration, aka combustion or burn. No one can see this term and not think pollution. While incinerators are still in use today, …
Perdue to Install Solar Installation Spanning 2 States
In what Perdue believes to be one of the largest commercial solar installations on the East Coast, the company has announced they are installing 11,000 solar panels divided between two different facilities. The agribusiness company has entered into a 15-year agreement with Washington Gas Services, Inc. (WGES) to purchase the electricity generated by the solar panels at a set price. …
Rooftop Solar Farm Under Construction In Florida
One of the largest rooftop solar farms in Florida is now under construction in Gainsville, Florida as part of a new Publix-anchored shopping center. Once complete, the 350 kW solar array will have nearly 1,500 panels spanning 46,000 square-feet atop the Exchange shopping center. The solar panels will begin providing electricity by the end of March 2011 and will be …
An In-depth Look At Waste’s Role in Energy
A few months ago, I did a review of the book, The Story of Stuff. While the book was good, I was alarmed at the author Annie Leonard’s, unflattering views of waste-to-energy. For decades, municipal waste companies have been burning their trash. Known as incineration, Leonard says that this causes a multitude of problems, the first being burning pollutes and …
First Home Wind Turbine Approved in San Diego
San Diego, California has approved the first vertical axis wind turbine for the county. Not soon after, the first one has gone live at the home of Tim Williams, who has a personal mission to “go green”. His 3.4 kW Falcon turbine from WePOWER was installed on an 18′ pole on his property by Joe Moore Construction, an authorized WePOWER …
Southwest Windpower Launches Home Wind Turbine
Southwest Windpower has released the Skystream 600 – their most efficient and small wind turbine product. The Skystream is designed to provide personal wind energy for homeowners and businesses. According to the company, the Skystream 600 produces 74 percent more energy than its predecessor, which makes it the most efficient power grid-connected turbine in its class. On average, it can …
South Dakota Road Trip Set to Drive Off in 2011
When nearly 5,000 South Dakota fourth graders return to school after the holidays, they will be getting some new lesson plans. They will be learning about alternative energy including ethanol, wind and hydroelectricity as well as conservation and other green practices. The lessons have been added to the 2011 “South Dakota Road Trip,” a 13-week virtual tour of the state …
Wind Industry Forecast Looks Good as Year Ends
The wind industry has gained some momentum as the year comes to a close. Last Friday, President Obama signed into law the tax bill that includes a one-year extension of the 1603 investment tax credit for developing renewable energy sources including wind. Denise Bode, the CEO of the American Wind Energy Association said of the event, “This is a great …