Book Review – Who Turned Out the Lights?

Joanna Schroeder

Should we be entertained when reading about America’s energy crisis? Dare we be regaled by clever cliches, fun word pairings and sarcasm when learning our basic Energy 101 facts? Yes to infinity. And I experienced just these things when reading “Who Turned Out the Lights?” by Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson. Reading this book  was a guilty pleasure because I enjoyed the lighthearted book just a bit too much when technically the topic of energy, tends to be, well, a bit dull.

The book was a “guided tour” through the country’s energy crisis.  Beginning with reasons why the U.S. needs to get its act together, the book chronicles the country’s failed attempts at energy security and diversity, discussed three flawed ideas that could get the country off track, and laid out 10 facts all people should know about energy. Did you know that one out of four Americans can’t name a fossil fuel? Yikes.

The tour then takes you through a discussion of various types of energy and alternative energy sources. While this section was good, the book was published in 2009 so some of the information was outdated so reader, digest this will a sprinkle of salt. For example, in the section about ethanol (a biofuel that surprisingly the authors don’t hate) they mentioned subsidies and the tariff on Brazilian ethanol (neither of which still exist).

However, there was one element of this section that really stood out. Many argue that the low hanging solution is to improve fuel economy and some go so far to declare that this has been accomplished. While on the outside, yes, this is correct, on the inside, it is not actually the case. As Bittle and Johnson aptly point out, when fuel economy gets better, people drive more. So at the end of the day, actual fuel consumption doesn’t actually go down, it remains virtually the same.

There were other areas this book addressed, and explained well, that other books have not. Read More

Alternative energy, book reviews, Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy

Should We Shush Wind Turbines?

Joanna Schroeder

Scientists in Australia are studying where wind turbine noise comes from and how it might be reduced. Not a new concern, researchers from the University of Adelaide in the Flow and Noise Group at the School of Mechanical Engineering are building a scale-model turbine in a wind tunnel. They are also building an acoustic test room around the turbine.

In a statement, Associate Professor Con Doolan said he believes this will be the most sophisticated wind turbine noise experiment in the world. The team will recreate the environment of a wind farm in the lab, including all the various noises you hear and their sources. From there, the team will use advanced measuring techniques to measure the aerodynamics and microphone arrays for the acoustics. This will help determine which noises are the strongest and their sources. Understanding this will also help the industry learn how to control or eliminate the noises.

The goal of the project is to be able to advise wind turbine manufactures and wind farm developers on design strategies. In addition, Doolan believes they can provide recommendations to governments about wind farm regulation and policy.

Wind power has been criticized for alleged noise impacts on health known as “wind turbine syndrome”. Although largely discounted by several research studies, there is still attention to the issue: Oregon compiled a report on possible health issues of wind turbines as has Massachusetts.  The Oregon report concluded that “sound from wind energy facilities in Oregon could potentially impact people’s health and well-being” when it exceeds state standards.

I recently visited a wind farm in Joice, Iowa and while there, on a very windy day, I filmed a wind turbine in action. I’ll let you be the judge  – should we shush wind turbines?

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Renewable Energy, Wind

New EV Charging Station App

Joanna Schroeder

ChargePoint has launched a new free electric vehicle (EV) charging station mobile app for all iPhone and Android smart phones. The app features a redesigned look and features all EV charging stations installed in the U.S. The user can browse information about the stations including distance and the cost to charge.

“ChargePoint is the world’s largest electric vehicle global charging network,” said Pat Romano, president and CEO of ChargePoint. “One feature EV drivers have requested is the ability to navigate, access and charge at any electric vehicle charging station, not just those on the ChargePoint network. With more than ten thousand EV charging spots on the ChargePoint network and thousands more out of the network this is the easiest way to find any EV charging station anywhere in North America.”

The EV charging station mobile app also gives drivers real-time charging station status, detailed station information including pricing and the ability to view your home charging station. EV drivers can make EV charging station reservations, payments and find location information as well.

Alternative energy, Electric Vehicles, Renewable Energy

Algae. Tec Facility Continues to Attract Attention

Joanna Schroeder

Parliamentary Secretary for Defence and Member for Eden-Monaro Dr Mike Kelly recently visited Alage.Tec facility in Shoalhaven (Australia). The plant is proving out technology that produces low cost, high grade algae-based biofuels. While on site, Dr. Kelly was briefed about the technology by company representatives.

One element with great promise is the fact that algae “eat” carbon to grow. In Israel and China, for example, the carbon-hungry algae are being used to abate emissions from coal-fired power stations that are a similar size to the ones used in Australia.

“This region is fast becoming a flagship for renewable energy in Australia,” said Dr. Kelly during his visit. “We have already seen over $1 billion being invested in renewable energy projects in Eden-Monaro and the lower Shoalhaven region – that includes wind and wave energy, solar, biomass and geothermal.”

Dr. Kelly continued, “To have a company like Algae.Tec here in Bomaderry, which recently signed a collaboration agreement with Lufthansa to produce aviation biofuels and also with Holcim Lanka, is a wonderful boon. The possibilities of this technology are extremely exciting. Their algae technology has almost no impact on the environment and could potentially eliminate emissions from coal-fired power stations.”

Roger Stroud, executive chairman of Algae.Tec noted that that the biofuels technology being used in Shoalhaven is the same technology that will be used by the company to produce aviation and other transportation fuels.

“We currently have feasibility studies underway with interested parties in Texas, Brazil, China, Sri Lanka and Germany, as well as another site in New South Wales,” said Stroud. “The Shoalhaven facility has already had VIP visits from some of the world’s largest companies wanting to see how the technology delivers sustainable low cost fuel, carbon capture, and energy security.”

advanced biofuels, algae, Alternative energy, aviation biofuels, Carbon, International, Renewable Energy

Propel Receives $21M in Investments

Joanna Schroeder

Propel Fuels has closed on the initial phase of its Series D round of funding with $11 million in equity capital from existing investors Nth Power, Craton Equity Partners, and @Ventures as well as a new investor, Gentry Venture Partners. In addition, the company has secured $10 million in debt financing from CapX Partners. With the additional funds, Propels plans to accelerate its build out of its network of alternative energy stations.

Operating on the west coast, Propel has stations that offer E85 and biodiesel blends along with conventional fuels. In addition, the stations help people with other facets of transportation including carbon offsets, tips on improving fuel economy, rideshare opportunities, services for bicyclists, and recycling.

“The continuing support of our existing investors, the new investment from Gentry, and the access to additional debt capital from CapX is a strong endorsement for our vision, our accomplishments, and team,” said Matt Horton, CEO of Propel. “This new funding, combined with grant funding from the State of California, will enable us to accelerate the build out of our alternative fuel stations across state, offering consumers true choice and a better experience at the pump.”

As part of the investment by Gentry, Thomas B. Raterman, a Partner, has joined Propel’s Board of Directors. Raterman has more than 30 years of corporate finance, investment banking, and executive management with rapidly growing entrepreneurial companies.

Raterman added, “We’re witnessing a revolution in transportation, whether it’s innovative new enzymes to create clean fuels, or whole new drivetrains and power systems in the vehicles themselves. Propel is creating a position as a trusted source of the most advanced fuels on the market today – no matter what type of vehicle you drive. We’re excited to help them succeed.”

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, Carbon, E85

Just the Ethanol Facts

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Corn Growers Association has created a simple website that offers just the facts about ethanol.

The website EthanolFacts.com offers information about E15, food versus fuel, energy security, jobs in rural America and more. There is a lot of discussion about ethanol these days, and plenty of need for a look at the facts. That’s why the National Corn Growers Association has created the EthanolFacts.com website as a simple place to get the facts and links to a lot more information about our favorite domestic renewable fuel.

“For years, NCGA has been at the forefront of promoting ethanol as an important choice for today’s drivers, who are demanding fuels that are not only cleaner-burning, but powerful and made right here in the United States,” said Chad Willis, a Minnesota corn farmer who serves as chairman of NCGA’s Ethanol Committee. “EthanolFacts.com provides the key information to people who want to know the simple truth about a very complex subject so they can continue the conversation about how farmers are not only helping feed the world, but fuel it, too.”

EthanolFacts.com was designed for simplicity and clarity on a number of platforms, especially mobile platforms such as tablets and smartphones – and NCGA also has print versions available.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Solectria Renewables Named A Top Job Creator

Joanna Schroeder

Solectria Renewables has been named by Inc.’s Hire Power List, as a top job creator. The awards recognized private businesses that have generated the most jobs in the past three years. The company generated 105 jobs between 2008-2011, ranking them #1 Energy Sector job creator in Massachusetts. The company was also one of the top 10 private business job creators within the U.S. Energy Industry during the same time frame. Today, Solectria has more than 160 employees in various positions including engineering, quality, customer service, assembly, administration, sales, marketing and management.

“Solectria Renewables is extremely honored to receive this prestigious award from Inc. Magazine,” said Aybike Doganci Crott, Chief Operating Officer of Solectria Renewables, who accepted the award during an award ceremony. “Solectria Renewables has been profitable for over 6 years, doubling or tripling sales each year. With this amount of growth, our staff has grown tremendously and we predict this will continue.”

The inaugural Hire Power Awards were sponsored by Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. The awards were created to honor American companies who have increased their workforces.

Eric Schurenberg, Inc. editor-in-chief added, “The top 100 companies on the list have created 73,032 American jobs in the three-year period from 2008 to 2011 – an amazing feat, given that much of that job growth came during the heart of the recession. And it isn’t just the big guys that are adding jobs. Companies with less than $50 million in annual revenue make up nearly one-third of the Hire Power list.”

Clean Energy, Solar

Movie Review – Chasing Ice

Joanna Schroeder

I spent the weekend in the Twin Cities attending several environmental events. The first event was a screening of the documentary Chasing Ice, produced by environmental photographer James Balog who founded Extreme Ice Survey. It is hard for me to put my emotions into words after watching this moving. It was simultaneously incredibly beautiful and yet horrific. Beautiful in that the imagery of the ice was stunning and horrific because the crew caught on film the melting of glaciers.

James Balog, along with several teams, installed 25 cameras in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska and Montana and over the course of three plus years, the cameras took photos every 20-30 minutes and as I write this, have taken thousands of photos of the glaciers. Every six months, the teams traveled in oftentimes heralding weather to check the cameras, take additional photos and video and switch out memory cards. The results was stunning time lapse photography – who knew that ice could be so beautiful.

Yet what might have been most amazing, was that his cameras and crew caught what is to believed the largest calving incident ever recorded on film. A portion of a glacier in Greenland broke off (nearly the size of Manhattan) over the course of 75 minutes. It was amazing to watch but then the reality of what you are witnessing takes hold  – watching the disappearance of the glaciers. While glaciers have calved for centuries, they typically stay about the same in size – one piece breaks off while more ice forms. Yet today, these glaciers are not being replenished, per say, they are vanishing.

One element of the film that could be most interesting, was that James Balog began as a climate skeptic and now believes that climate change is real, and a major part of it is caused by human actions. For those who already believe in climate change, or those who continue to be climate skeptics, this is a must see film. And for those climate skeptics who still deny that climate change is real after seeing this film, well then nothing will change your mind.  (I would like to thank the Will Steger Foundation for providing 840 free tickets to see Chasing Ice).

Climate Change, Education, Environment, global warming, Video

Solar Exceeding Performance Expectations

Joanna Schroeder

According to SunPower Systems, who has solar systems operating at 25 California Water Agencies, their power systems have exceeded expectations for overall performance. The company estimates that the systems have saved the state’s public agencies a cumulative total of approximately $5.3 million over the past 12 months.

SunPower has designed and built nearly 25 megawatts of solar power systems at 43 water facility sites over the past decade. The company says on average, those systems are generating 102 percent of expected production.

“Water agencies and facilities typically have huge energy demand and a responsibility to rate payers to minimize operational costs,” said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. “SunPower delivers the most efficient and reliable solar technology on the market today, with guaranteed performance that ensures these facilities lock in positive financial returns. We are very pleased that our water agency and district customers are seeing returns above and beyond expectations, delivering added value to the public agencies and their ratepayers.”

SunPower has two new water agency projects currently under construction in California: a 922-kilowatt system for Western Municipal Water District located in Riverside, California, and a 1.2 megawatt system for Oceanside, California. This system is estimated to provider between 25-30 percent of electricity for the facility and save more than $1.6 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years.

Both systems will use the SunPower T0 Tracker, a ground-mounted technology that rotates the solar panels to follow the sun during the day, that the company says increases energy capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while reducing land use requirements.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Solar