World Energy Solutions, Inc. has named Martha Danly as its Chief Operating Officer, promoting her from Chief Product Officer. As COO, Danly will oversee company-wide operations, product strategy, product marketing, software development, IT and the ongoing delivery of the Company’s signature online energy platform, the World Energy Exchange.- Mounting Systems has introduced the ground mount system Sigma II GO Kits – the pre-packaged versions of its Sigma II open terrain photovoltaic substructure. With an inclination angle of 25 degrees, the Sigma II GO Kits arrive with a Professional Engineer (PE) certification and are ready to be installed on ballast blocks or concrete piers, and configurations and are designed to accept all 60-cell, crystalline modules.
- @RealGoodSolar and Smart Energy Capital are installing solar power systems at Stockton Unified School District buildings. The 5.1 megawatt combined systems are expected to save the school district nearly $600,000 in energy costs during the first year.
- American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has appointed Tom Kiernan as the new Chief Executive Officer. He officially takes the helm on May 28, 2012.
- Legislative Bill 104 is sweeping through the Nebraska, Legislature, a bill if passed, would provide more than $300 million in tax breaks for the wind energy industry. Similar tax breaks are offered to wind companies in Iowa, Kansas and Oklahoma.
Florida Axes State Renewable Fuel Standard
Earlier this week, the Florida Legislature passed HB4001, a bill that repeals the state Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Senator Greg Evers was a huge supporter of the bill, that allows Florida consumers the ability to purchase gasoline that is ethanol free.
In a statement, Evers said, “The bill eliminates the unnecessary power of the government to force Florida citizens to buy and sell ethanol blended gasoline. It returns that power to the people and restores the power of the free market by giving consumers and retailers a choice regarding what fuel they wish to buy.”
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy responded to the news in a joint statement:
“Today’s Senate vote was a pyrrhic victory for ethanol detractors. It substantively changes nothing because the state mandate was redundant. The federal Renewable Fuel Standard will still apply and, thankfully for consumers who will continue to see savings at the pump, ethanol and other renewable fuels will be sold in Florida.
All this bill has done is put politics and oil industry profits ahead of economic opportunity and jobs in the state. The only result of this legislation will be a loss of jobs and economic opportunity in Florida. Florida has made it clear — biofuels and the valuable jobs that are created in the renewable fuels industry are no longer welcome in Florida.”
Mosaic Releases Large Solar Project for Investment
Mosaic, an online marketplace that connects investors to high-quality solar projects, has released its largest solar project to date with $700k in investment opportunities. This is the company’s second project in its Golden State Series, a $100 million series of solar investments available to residents of California. Mosaic’s 
first offering, a $153,000 project for a charity in San Diego, sold out in less than six hours.
The company’s newest investment offering is a 487 kW solar project that will be located on the roof of the Wildwoods Convention Center. Wildwoods has hosted over a million visitors since it first opened in 2002 and is within a day’s drive of one-third of America’s population.Their project provides 24 percent of the convention center’s electricity and reduces the facility’s CO2 emissions by 179 tons annually, equating to 387,500 vehicle miles not traveled.
“We want to give people the opportunity to do good and do well at the same time,” said Mosaic CEO and Founder Dan Rosen. “Investing in real, tangible, solar projects, that generate electricity, is a great way to do that.”
In January, Mosaic launched its first return on investment solar projects to the public, selling out all three in less than 24 hours with over $300,000 invested. Since then, Mosaic has partnered with Standard & Poor’s, DuPont and Distributed Sun, among others, as part of the truSolar working group to standardize risk assessment and develop a score — similar to a credit rating — for each solar project.
Facebook Blows Into Iowa with the Wind
According to a story from Radio Iowa, Jay Parikh, vice president of infrastructure engineering for Facebook, was in Altoona, Iowa earlier this week to officially announce they will be constructing a 476,000 square-foot data center. One of the reasons cited for the social media giant to choose Iowa: it’s commitment to renewable energy including wind energy. Parikh said the company is committed to achieving a 25 percent renewable energy mix by 2015 for its data center footprint.
“The site has ample access to power and water. It is also very close to great network connectivity, which will allow us to connect to all of the billions of people out there,” Parikh said. “Most importantly, we’re very excited about the talent pool in the surrounding area.”
The data center is expected to create approximately 31 full-time operations jobs and Parikh said Facebook plans to build up to two more data centers in Altoona over the next few years.
Ski Area Powered by Renewables
It’s spring and most people are tired of the snow, but not Berkshire East, who has completed a solar installation that enables the Massachusetts family ski run area to be powered entirely from onsite renewable energy. The year-round resort recently developed a 500kW solar tracker farm that will produce 700,000kWh 
annually. The solar farm will supplement a 900kW wind turbine the company installed in 2011. Together, the two systems will cover the area’s entire annual electric demand. The solar farm is expected to produce 700,000 kWh annually and the wind turbine produces 1.4 million kWh annually.
“We view on-site renewable as a hedge against the rising price of power,” said Jon Schaefer, Berkshire East, located in Charlemont, Massachusetts and hosts over 100,000 skiers annually, has six lifts and two lodges. “Energy is our largest non-labor expense and it’s the one thing we are most dependent on beyond the snow.”
The recently commissioned 500kW solar farm consists of 90 dual-axis AllSun Trackers, which are manufactured in Vermont and follow the sun throughout the day to boost energy production by up to 45 percent more than rooftop installations. Sustainable Energy Development Inc. (SED) of Ontario, NY developed the project. SED chose the solar trackers for the project and managed the design and installation. The solar trackers at the farm use GPS and wireless technology to position the more than 2,000 solar panels directly into the sun throughout the day, boosting production by up to 45 percent over rooftop installations.
“We built our product produce more energy from the sun each day and withstand the harshest of northeastern climates,” said David Blittersdorf, CEO of AllEarth Renewables. “We were particularly excited to be involved in this unique project and thrilled to have AllSun Trackers helping power Berkshire East’s operations.”
Kevin Schulte, CEO of SED, added, “Berkshire East Ski Area is a prime example of how distributed energy projects like wind and solar can help small, family-owned businesses thrive.”
Heliae Reveals Volaris – Algae Production Platform
Heliae has revealed its latest microalgae production platform, Volaris, the result of five years of research and development. The technology was designed to produce high purity microalgae at competitive prices. According to the company, Volaris will enable large-scale production for diverse markets and provide a natural, sustainable and consistent supply of alage-based products to meet worldwide demand.
“Good science takes time,” said Dan Simon, Heliae’s president and CEO. “We’ve developed a technology platform that finally delivers on what the industry has been promising for more than a decade. With Volaris technology, we’re now able to offer algae solutions for a range of markets, which have not been possible with existing technology. This technology will unlock the industry.”
Volaris combines the best of existing algae production pathways, utilizing both sunlight and waste carbon feedstocks to optimize facility economics according to Lee Tonkovich, Heliae’s vice president of research and development. “The algae industry has been hindered by the limits of conventional technology. Phototrophy and heterotrophy, both have their weaknesses – namely contamination and low growth rates in phototrophy and extremely high capital and operating expenses in heterotrophy.”
Tonkovich continued, “We’ve developed a hybrid mixotrophic pathway which drives down capital costs, reduces contamination, and increases productivity to dramatically improve the economics of algae production. The productivity gains Volaris provides will reduce much of the land required for a commercial facility.”
Volaris will play an important role in Heliae’s new 20-acre commercial facility currently under construction in Gilbert, Ariz., slated to open in late Q3 of 2013.
“Volaris is the next generation in algae growth technology,” added Adrian Galvez, vice president of operations for Heliae. “With it, we can drop the dollar per kilogram cost to a point that makes algae immediately attractive. The flexibility we have in this technology allows us to control output traits and deliver exactly what a customer needs from our algae. This increased product optionality will open new markets for algae.”
Biodiesel Key in Wash. State DOT Sustainable Energy
In honor of Earth Week, the Washington State Department of Transportation has outlined some key points in how to have a clean, sustainable supply of energy. And a couple of items from the top of the list of things the department is doing itself include biodiesel:
Some recent WSDOT initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and conserve natural resources include:
* Fueling agency fleet vehicles, such as work trucks, dump trucks and snowplows, with up to 20 percent biodiesel
* Changes in ferry-vessel operations, such as reducing speeds along some routes; testing reduced-throttle push turns at the dock during loading; and using five percent biodiesel for all vessels to conserve fuel and reduce emissions
“WSDOT is already considered a national leader in transportation technology and sustainability,” said Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson. “I hope to build on this strong reputation by partnering with communities to help us maintain our previous investments and continue building a smart multimodal system for the future.”
WSDOT also says people can do their parts by driving alternative fuel and electric vehicles, among other energy-saving initiatives.
Who Knew? Morocco & Environment Go Together
I have this urge to travel to Morocco if nothing for the sheer desire to re-enact Casablanca as Ilsa Lund, played by Ingrid Bergman. (Who wants to come along and play my husband Victor Laszlo played by Paul Henreid and Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart? Apply to @jmschroeder) While many people will be mumbling to themselves this is the stupidest idea they have ever heard, I now have a better reason to go: Morocco was one of the major cities selected to host major environmental events to celebrate Earth Day. Who knew that Morocco and the environment go together like Pringles and applesauce (Try it; it’s tasty!).
Rabat, the country’s capital was one of six cities around the world representing Global Earth Day for its environmental initiatives. For instance, Morocco has launched a $9 billion project to harness the Sahara sun; the solar farm is expected to supply 42 percent of its power by 2020. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, one of Green Morocco’s strongest advocates, has launched a project to plant a million palm trees by 2015. He has also directed creation of a national agency for the development and safeguarding of oases zones and Argan trees across the country.
In fact, back in 2010, then EPA Administer Lisa Jackson praised Morocco as a model for “its commitment to a clean, green economy.” She also praised Morocco’s leadership on the environment and sustainable development and noted that their projects offer a great example for how sustainable ideas can be spread around the globe.
Leading up to Earth Day, the city held dozens of events including environmental awareness workshops, seminars and presentations on innovative, environmentally friendly technologies. On April 22nd, Morocco unveiled its “National Charter for the Environment and Sustainable Development,” the first of its kind in Africa and the Arab and Muslim work, according to Earth Day Network President Kathleen Rogers. As part of this charter, 10 major new environmental projects were announced ranging from preserving ecosystems to environmental education in schools to fighting desertification to establishing rural development through environmental programs.
Today is the Day of Global Celebration and internationally known musician Seal, along with Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai as well as other celebrities joined Moroccans for Earth Day celebrations and asked the country to support the commitment for a Green Morocco.
I’m ready to celebrate a Green Morocco. I’m just going to arrive circa 1942 style.
USDA Renews Dairy Energy Pact
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today renewed a historic agreement with U.S. dairy producers to accelerate the adoption of innovative waste-to-energy projects and energy efficiency improvements on U.S. dairy farms, both of which help producers diversify revenues and reduce utility expenses on their operations. The pact extends a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2009.
USDA support for agricultural and waste-to-energy research has played a key role in the agreement’s success to date. Since signing the MOU, USDA has made nearly 180 awards that helped finance the development, construction, and biogas production of anaerobic digester systems with Rural Development programs, such as the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan Program, Value Added Producer Grants, amongst others. These systems capture methane and produce renewable energy for on-farm use and sale onto the electric grid. Additionally, during this period, USDA awarded approximately 140 REAP loans and grants to help dairy farmers develop other types of renewable energy and energy efficiency systems at their operations.
Anaerobic digester technology is a proven method of capturing methane from waste products, such as manure, and converting into heat and electricity. The technology utilizes generators that are fueled by the captured methane. Dairy operations with anaerobic digesters routinely generate enough electricity to power hundreds of homes per year.
The Secretary was joined on a conference call to make the announcement by The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy CEO Tom Gallagher and Doug Young, a farmer from NY who has benefited from this MOU.
Listen to that call here: USDA/Dairy MOU press call
Food Label Needs
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is the #1 thing you look for on a food label?”
Our poll results: Nineteen percent said other, sixteen percent said Low Sodium, fourteen percent Don’t Read Labels, thirteen percent said Reduced Fat, ten percent said Saturated Fat Content, and we had a tie at nine percent saying Non-GMO and Organic. Three percent said Heart-check Mark, Fat Free, and No Synthetic Hormones and one percent said All Natural. The majority of our viewers chose Other. Based on responses, “other” constituted calories, carbohydrates, and ingredients. Evidently our viewing audience has a different outlook than the audience being interviewed by media about the “big debates” such as antibiotics, hormones, and non-GMO foods.
Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Does celebrity media attention sway your purchasing/listening/watching decisions? (e.g. Carrie Underwood supporting HSUS)?” Recently in Tennessee, Carrie Underwood has been a big voice for HSUS by publicly pressuring the Governor to veto a bill that would possibly end undercover investigations of animal abuse in the state. Carrie has used Twitter to its fullest, tweeting “@BillHaslam It’s not all about big business. Please look out for the little guys! Show TN that you have a heart…#NoAgGag”. She goes on to explain to questioners and agvocates that she is not against agriculture just against animal abuse. Would you not purchase a ticket to a Carrie Underwood concert based on her recent rant? Let us know.
ZimmPoll is sponsored by 
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