H-P's newest data center in Wynyard England is cooled ENTIRELY by wind blowing off the nearby North Sea.  The North Sea is cold and so are its winds. It is H-P's greenest data center yet ...

The " ... new 360,00 sq. ft. Wynyard center is 40 percent more energy-efficient than conventional data centers ..."

" ... Traditional data centers use thousands of megawatt hours per year ... if they were classed as a separate industry, they would be the sixth-largest user of electricity ... "

 Other energy saving / carbon saving features of the Wynyard data center are: " ... harvesting rainwater ... to maintain proper humidity levels in the air that’s brought in from outside ... light-colored server racks because they reflect light, allowing for 40 percent less lighting to be installed compared to using black cabinets."

"HP had previously announced that it plans to reduce the combined energy consumption of operations and products by 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2010."

Via:  SmartPlanet LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Samsung and Korea Electric Power Corp. will invest $6.6 billion into wind and solar projects in Ontario ... will build and maintain power plants as well as erect four new factories in North America for making the equipment for the power plants ... plants will employ 1,440 and building and maintaining the power plant will keep 16,000 busy ..."

" ... 2.5 gigawatts of renewable capacity ... triple renewable capacity in Ontario."

" ... Samsung hopes to translate its expertise in electronics, deep financial pocket, and manufacturing heft into a leading role in building management systems, energy efficient electronics and solar power ... "

"Samsung has already stated a public goal of becoming number one in solar in 2015 ... laid out an ambitious carbon reduction plan ... wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from both its operations and from the use of its products by 50 percent by 2013 on a normalized sales basis...."

In 2008, Samsung and its products emitted 9.4 million tons of greenhouse gases with about 60 percent of the emissions coming indirectly through products. ..."

Via:  Greentechmedia  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 04:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... inhabitants on the small Danish island of Samso have ... become one of the first industrialised places in the world to qualify as being totally energy self-sufficient ... Denmark ... can now boast a region that can be used by the rest of the planet as the blueprint for future green energy production ... started in 1997 when Samso won a competition ... to become Denmark's "Renewable Energy Island" by presenting a 10-year plan to convert its energy consumption from oil and gas to clean technology ... 21 wind turbines have been built on Samso ..."

" ... houses in Samso's 22 villages are heated by power plants that rely on furnaces fired by wood chips and straw and farms of man-sized solar panels inhabit the fields ... project also creates new jobs as ... island's plumbers and carpenters have now all become experts in energy-saving home conversion and insulation techniques, and even get the opportunity to carry out installations in mainland Europe and the US ..."

For more on this project check out this video ...

Via: Power and Energy News LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The proposed Manzana Wind Project, with a power capacity of up to 246 megawatts, would be the first wind project owned by PG&E. It follows a proposal by the utility in February, 2009 to develop and own 250 MW of solar photovoltaic power. The Manzana project would be located on about 7,000 acres in the Tehachapi region of Eastern Kern County, a site with favorable wind resources. If approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, the project could begin producing power by December 2011. " ...

Continue reading "California Wind Power" »

Posted by Green Tech at 07:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "As part of that initiative, the energy department awarded the Restoration Institute and its partners a $45 million grant Nov. 23 to build and operate a large-scale wind turbine drive train testing facility at the institute’s research campus on the former Navy base in North Charleston. " ...

Continue reading "South Carolina Wind Power Opportunity" »

Posted by Green Tech at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "they have targeted to devote approximately $4 billion to building new wind farms in the United States through 2012. Such investment will help create thousands of jobs to develop, build and operate the new projects, as well as to manufacture the equipment that will be installed in such projects. The target will build on the record amount of new capacity the company has already installed and has under construction in 2009 ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good Energy is a British " ... independent renewable energy company based in Wiltshire. ... started by a group of people ... committed to addressing climate change."

" ... Mission ... is to fight climate change by EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS to make a difference, ... giving them practical ways to make positive changes in their attitude towards energy, and the way they use it ... switching to pure 100% renewable electricity ... improving their energy efficiency ... generating their own renewable energy, and ... playing a part in the campaign for

renewable energy in the UK"

Via: GoodEnergy LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The EPA has recognized Applied Materials with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award for its dedication to green power from on-premise generation and renewable energy procurement.  Applied has responded to the EPA Fortune 500 challenge with solar energy generation and the purchasing of green power.  ...

 ...   "Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects. Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the company’s California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use. "   ...

Via Applied Materials: EPA Green Power Leadership Award

Continue reading "On-Site Green Power Generation Leadership at Applied Materials" »

Posted by Green Tech at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

As both wind and solar power are intermittent - unlike gas, coal, oil or nuclear fired power plants - there is a need for an effective way to store these energy sources until they are needed.  The ability to smooth the supply with the demand is becoming more important as solar and wind start to power the grid.

Compressed Air Energy Storage - CAES " ... stores off-peak energy, in the form of compressed air in an underground reservoir, and releases this energy during peak hours. ... used for load management of intermittent renewable energy resources or as a stand-alone intermediate generation source for capturing energy arbitrage, capacity payments and ancillary services. ..."

"Renewable power sources are critical to addressing climate change. CAES greatly enhances the value of renewable power sources by (1) storing energy produced by renewables when demand is low and releasing it when it is needed, and by (2) rapidly providing power in the event of a sudden loss of renewables generation. ..."

Posted by Green Dude at 04:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The researchers proposed that the country could produce 640 gigawatts from wind farms, assuming they ran at 30 percent average capacity ... " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 03:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Placencia's project proposal aims to resolve three issues: remounting of the existing photovoltaic panels and reinstalling a wind turbine at David Douglas High School; designing and installing the monitoring system; and designing and installing the human-machine interface, which will provide the interactive features of the system. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "A second phase for the Loveall farm will add more solar panels, plus move an existing 66-foot wind turbine next to the barn to produce wind power to allow the farm to be 100 percent energy independent. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 Prairie Bunkers LLC is repurposing WWII ammunition depots into secure energy efficient data centers.  These structures are built to withstand force 5 tornadoes.

In addition to the green aspect of repurposing an existing building ... there are others green features.

"Saves approximately 5000 cubic tons of carbon emission which would be produced by construction of a similar structure ... electrical provider .... has a high percentage of renewable energy, including hydro, wind and nuclear ... On-site solar and wind energy systems in planning stages ... Air Economizers to use “free cooling” from average annual temperature of 54 degrees ... Optional active geothermal ... heat pump system ... Passive Geothermal, provided by the bermed earth covering on three sides and top of bunkers ..."

" .... Native vegetation landscaping minimizes irrigation ... Fire suppression agent has zero carbon foot print ... UPS Options including flywheel technology ... Recycled building products including flooring tiles and cable trays ..."

Via:  Prairie Bunkers, LLC LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Welcome to the 1st 100 % Wind Powered City in the U.S. !!

Rock Port, Missouri get's its renewable energy from

" ... four wind turbines ... within the city limits ... Rock Port uses approximately 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year ... predicted that ... turbines will produce 16 million kilowatt hours each year."

"Excess ... electricity ... is expected to be move onto the transmission lines to be purchased by the Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities for use in other areas.

"A map published by the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that northwest Missouri has the state's highest concentration of wind resources and contains a number of locations potentially suitable for utility-scale wind development."

Via: ScienceDaily LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:12 AM | Permalink

Continue reading "NREL Wind Tech Center in Colorado" »

Posted by Green Tech at 12:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The small German town of Dardesheim (fewer than 1,000) and neighbors in Halberstadt in what was East Germany "... want to become 100% renewable using solar, wind, and biomass."

" ... Four pioneering wind turbines were installed in the mid-1990s, collectively producing one million kWh per year ..."

"In 2006 they developed a 62 MW wind project comprising 28 Enercon E70s and one E112, a giant 6 MW turbine ... wind turbines will generate from 120 to 130 million kWh annually, enough to meet the needs of nearly all the 80,000 residents of the county."

" ... also installed nine different solar PV plants ... During their first year of operation the combined 380 kW of solar PV generated nearly 250,000 kWh, about one-third of the Dardesheim's domestic electricity consumption."

Via: Wind-Works LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Energy Ball is a wind turbine that generate electricity at very low speeds.  Read on for more about this Netherlands based company.

" ... low-noise turbine ... six curved rotor blades which are attached to the rotor hub with both ends ... the wind blows parallel to the rotor hub through the rotor. ..."

"... creates a wind flow pattern that converges ... then accelerated through the rotor, resembling the rapids in a river ...translates into a higher aerodynamic efficiency compared to conventional wind turbine designs. "

" ... producing electric energy as from very low wind speeds and has therefore a very low standstill time. ..."

Via: Home-Energy Link

Posted by Green Dude at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Imaging a ZERO energy home.  Sound realistic? GE thinks so !

GE's “Net Zero Energy Home” ..." ... combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, GE’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies. ... together, the system will enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015."

" ... the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home. ... smart thermostats will also be introduced ... to work in tandem with the energy manager. ... plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products that will also contribute to the net zero concept."

" ... respondents in the U.S. and ... in the U.K. say they are willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology if there is a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15 percent."

Via:  GE  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A current trend in office space for smaller companies or those looking for a remote presence is to rent by the day.  the HUB offers "GREEN Meeting and Event Centers" on an as needed basis.

" ... only privately-held LEED Silver Rated Meeting and Event Facility in the U.S. ...[LEED is] ... nationally accepted standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, ... less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint ...achieved a LEED-CI Silver rating at its Cira Centre location ..."

There are many GREEN design elements incorporated including use of recycled materials, reduced water usage, brownfield redevelopment, and use of local materials.

"... The Hub is 100% wind powered, ... aggressively recycles ... discontinued the use of plastic water bottles in all of its facilities  ... More than 15% of the new materials ... were recycled ... More than 20% of the materials ... are of local origin (manufactured within 500 miles of the location) ... constructed on a rehabilitated "brownfield" railyard ..."

Via:  the HUb  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ace Hardware is teaming up with Honeywell to sell a home sized wind turbine.

" ... Honeywell Wind Turbine is a gearless, "free wheeling'' turbine that generates power from the blade tips ... By practically eliminating mechanical resistance and drag ... creates significant power (2000 kWh/yr) operating in a greater range of wind speeds (2-45 mph) than traditional wind turbines. The highest output, lowest cost per kWh installed turbine ever made. ..."

"installed cost is approximately 1/3 of the cost of traditional turbines with a lower installed cost per kWh than any turbine on the market. Adding to the value are federal and state rebates covering anywhere from 30% to 100% of the overall cost."

Via: Earthtronics  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is an interesting non turbine wind power generator.  I saw the idea for this in the TerraPass Blog; another one of the Blogs I follow.

See the link below for a video with the details ... basically the vibrating film causes a magnet to move between coils ... which is effective in light breezes ...

Windbelt Video

" ... Shawn Frayne, a 28-year-old inventor ... saw the need for small-scale wind power to juice LED lamps and radios in the homes of the poor. ...took a new tack, ... Frayne's device, ... is a taut membrane fitted with a pair of magnets that oscillate between metal coils. Prototypes have generated 40 milliwatts in 10-mph slivers of wind, making his device 10 to 30 times as efficient as the best microturbines. ..."

Via:  Popular Mechanics  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "He called for Britain to make smart investments through greater technology prioritisation and to move away from technology neutrality. This new approach, outlined in a new report, means public support will be focused on emerging low carbon technologies and industries that will have the maximum impact on cutting carbon and generating UK economic benefit. " ...

Continue reading "Shift to Low Carbon Technology in UK" »

Posted by Green Tech at 09:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... Dell now powers its 240,000 square-foot Oklahoma City campus with 100-percent wind energy, the latest action in its commitment to become the 'greenest' technology company on the planet. ...  partnering with Oklahoma Gas and Electric on the use of renewable energy and expects to avoid nearly 5,100 tons of CO2 emissions per year."

" ... Dell now sources about 35 percent of its U.S. energy use from green power and approximately 20 percent globally. ... continuing to purchase enough green power, verified emission reductions and renewable energy certificates globally to cover its total electricity use. ... also helping suppliers achieve their environmental goals. ... was the first IT company to join the Carbon Disclosure Project's Supply Chain Leadership Collaboration to help suppliers with emissions reporting."

Via:  Dell  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Want to support GREEN energy with your web site? 

Check out CO2 stats ...

"CO2Stats is the only service that automatically calculates your website's total energy consumption, helps to make it more energy efficient, and then purchases audited renewable energy from wind and solar farms to neutralize its footprint carbon ..."

" ...Neutralize your site's carbon footprint with audited renewable energy.... With CO2Stats, your visitors can see live reports on your site's CO2 emissions.

Via:  CO2stats LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Dude at 06:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "This project will be an integral component to ITC's efforts to create a high-voltage backbone that can meet America's renewable energy goals and eliminate costly inefficiencies in the grid. The Green Power Express transmission project will traverse portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana and will ultimately include approximately 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage (765kV) transmission. The entire project is currently estimated to cost approximately $10 to 12 billion. Portions of the Green Power Express fall within the service territory of ITC Midwest, an ITC subsidiary. ITC has been working with many of the Upper Midwest wind developers over the last year in assembling a realistic accounting of their wind development plans and sites, which resulted in the design of the Green Power Express. As ITC continues to work with wind developers and other local utilities in the region to identify their project needs, there may be additional lines and stations identified that would effectively accumulate the available wind generation within the region. " ...

Continue reading "Green Power Express Transmission Grid" »

Posted by Green Tech at 08:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The 6th Renewable Energy World Conference is March 10 - 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

 " ... Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America (formerly POWER-GEN Renewable Energy & Fuels) ... now in its 6th year ... offers a worldwide audience who will hear papers, panel discussions and presentations during technical sessions related to technology, markets, business strategies and policy covering the wind, solar, biomass, hydro, geothermal, ocean/tidal/wave, bio-power, bio-fuels hydrogen and energy sectors. ... Connecting 5,000 renewable energy power professionals with 300 exhibitors for three days of networking, new business negotiation and the exchange of important ideas and information impacting the renewable energy industry today.

Listen to why YOU should attend ... .

Via: Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America Link

Posted by Green Dude at 10:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Global wind energy capacity grew by 28.8% last year, even higher than the average over the past decade, to reach total global installations of more than 120.8 GW at the end of 2008. Over 27 GW of new wind power generation capacity came online in 2008, 36% more than in 2007. The United States overtook Germany as the world's green superpower by installing 8,358 MW in 2008, a 50% increase over the previous year. 8,000 MW is enough wind energy to power two million homes in the US. " ...

Continue reading "Wind Power Trends" »

Posted by Green Tech at 10:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There are several "limitations" to wind power --- one is that the source is concentrated far from the using population (issue with transmission).  Another is that wind is available when demand for power is not; so there for the need to "store the wind energy".

Check out this possible solution from Iowa ...

" ... municipal utilities ...are planning to build a new energy park that would integrate a 75-150 megawatt wind farm with Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) technology."

" ... Iowa Stored Energy Park (ISEP), will use ... wind energy that is not being sold on the grid at that time -- to store air in an underground geologic structure of porous rock. ... as demand for electricity rises, the stored air will be released, heated, and used to drive generators -- in turn producing electricity for residents in Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas."

"F ... hopes that construction on the park will commence in two years. ... expected to be fully operational and providing electricity to Iowa and surrounding states by May 2011."

Via:  Renewable Energy World Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ...  uniquely interactive format and high caliber of participants, ECO:nomics debuted last year as the premier forum for CEOs and entrepreneurs driving growth at the intersection of business and the environment...."

Snippets of the Program ... "... Green People - What do consumers want, and what will they pay for it? ... Power Play - What will keep the lights on: nuclear energy or "clean coal"? ... Fresh Juice - Can wind and solar grow big enough to matter? ... The Future of Coal ... The Future of Biofuels ... The Future of Solar ..."

Via:  eco-nomics LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is the first I have read about Green Dentistry ... an established practice (over 50 years) in Aston, Pa that is renovating to become GREEN.

" ...Dental Health Care Associates ... undergoing a major renovation ... and will soon become the first LEED certified "green" dental office on the East coast."

"... measures are being taken to create a state-of-the-art facility that will meet or exceed the Gold certification standards for LEED  ... buildings. ... renovations include, but are not limited to:

    " ... recycled building materials ... Geothermal HVAC ... Solar and wind-powered energy ... No-VOC cabinetry, carpets, flooring, and paints ... rainwater collection tank ... Water-free landscaping ..."

Via:  PAGreenDentist.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... Czech power group CEZ plans to build a 1.1 billion euro ($1.62 billion) wind park in Romania, the largest of its kind in Europe ... the two-stage, 600 megawatt project ... built 17 km (10 miles) from the Black Sea shore, ... twice the size of the next biggest onshore wind farm in Europe."

" ... half the wind park would come on line in 2009 and the rest a year later ..."

"Investment into renewables is one of the strategic measures we are taking to respond to the adopted energy-climactic package of the EU ..."

Via:  Reuters  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Pennsylvania Wind Power from Coal Mine" »

Posted by Green Tech at 04:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 06:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Successful development in wind energy has allowed B&B to acquire all the competencies and skills necessary along the solar value chain for a successful entrance (i.e., site identification, engineering, project management, procurement and project finance) " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 06:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "GSOE’s proposal calls for 96 wind turbines arranged in a rectangular grid 16 to 20 miles off the coast of Cape May and Atlantic counties. At this distance, the wind farm would be barely visible from shore, addressing one of the major concerns of beach communities. The wind farm could begin generating energy in 2012 with the entire project operational in 2013. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 05:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Czech power group CEZ plans to build a 1.1 billion euro ($1.62 billion) wind park in Romania, the largest of its kind in Europe ... the two-stage, 600 megawatt project ...  north of the port of Constanta, and would be around twice the size of the next biggest onshore wind farm in Europe."

" ... half the wind park would come on line in 2009 and the rest a year later, ..."

" CEZ has some 80 wind farms in the Czech Republic at various stage of completion, with a total capacity of 150-220 MW, and the company plans to have 1,000 MW installed capacity in wind farms by 2020."

Via:  Reuters  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

"Founded in 2005, Bullfrog Power is a leading provider of 100% green electricity, with service available to Ontario and Alberta residents and businesses. ... power comes from clean, green sources like wind power and low-impact water power. ... generators have received Environment Canada’s Environmental Choice Program EcoLogo^M certification.

" ... committed to increasing the amount of green power on our regional electricity grid systems in Canada by helping to develop new renewable generation facilities. ..."

Via: bullfrogPower   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The New York City Economic Development Corporation, on behalf of the City, today released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) that will call for innovative ideas to help New York City develop sources of renewable energy. In addition to off-shore windfarms, these ideas could involve wind turbines on top of New York City's bridges and skyscrapers and the generation of tidal power, solar power and geothermal energy. Responses to the RFEI are due September 19. " ...

Continue reading "New York City Renewable Energy Developments" »

Posted by Green Tech at 09:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) selected a transmission scenario that will eventually transmit a total of 18,456 megawatts of wind power from West Texas and the Panhandle to metropolitan areas of the state. The PUC selected scenario 2, which is estimated to cost $4.93 billion, or approximately $4.00 per month per residential customer once construction is complete and costs are reflected in rates. It is expected that the new lines will be in service within four to five years. " ...

Continue reading "Texas Wind Power Transmission" »

Posted by Green Tech at 08:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wyoming's first wind powered data center uses 100% renewable energy and was built built with efficiency in mind a

Green Datas House' data center " ...  is 60% more energy efficient than the average."

"100% Renewable Energy ...  powered by wind ... will own several wind turbines to the north of its facility and purchase the excess energy needs from the local power company's wind farm or through grid tied green-e tags"

" ... the largest wind powered public data center in the nation with over 10,000 square feet of high-density computing facilities. "

"Energy Efficiency Built In ...Water-Side Economizers: Free cooling from Cheyenne's average annual temperatures of 45.6 degrees. ...Ground Source Heat Pumps - provide up to 25% more energy efficient cooling than traditional HVAC cooling equipment.(Phase 2)."

Via:  Green House Data Link

Posted by Green Dude at 04:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here are some links for more information about Wind Energy.  These came from Good Energy, a UK based 100% renewable energy provider.

Here is a wind energy fact from Good Energy (might only apply to a typical household in the UK but significant nonetheless ... "A typical 850KW turbine ... could provide the amount of power used by 500 homes or to boil 28 million pints of water or run a computer for 7 million hours - that's 810 years."

www.good-energy.co.uk

www.sec.eu.com

www.bwea.com

www.embracewind.com

www.yes2wind.com

www.westmill.coop

www.scottishrenewables.com

www.windpower.org

www.fi.edu

Via:  Good Energy  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good Energy is a provider of various sources of GREEN energy from all over Britain  They make it easy for the homeowner or business to lower their impact on the environment by cutting CO2 emissions from power generation.

All their energy " ... comes from wind, small scale hydro and solar power generators from all over Britain. ... either small or medium sized sites  ... Home Generation scheme supports the smaller generator and home owner.

" ...we offer both our supply and purchasing products. We are always on the lookout for new ways we can help you reduce your impact on climate change."

Formed in 1999 they currently serve approx. 24,0000 customers.

Their current power mix is " ...  generators in Cornwall, Devon, Cumbria, the Midlands, North Wales and Scotland.... approximately 92% wind power, 7% small hydro and 1% solar. We also own our own wind farm at Delabole in Cornwall."

Via:  Good Energy  Link

Continue reading "Good Energy - 100% Green Energy for Britian" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mackie's (of Scotland) makes all natural ice cream ... right down to the wind powered energy.

" ... have their own energy supply - three Vestas V52 wind turbines  ... have a 45 metre turbine and three 25 metre blades ... capacity to produce 850KW of power - so a total capacity at the farm of 2.5 MW."

".... previously installed a smaller turbine which powered the business's former piggery unit until 1997. That was one of the first grid connected wind turbines in the UK but did not have a very large output."

" ... wind turbines makes good sense for our business because our consumers have told us that it is important for them to know that our ice cream is made with 100% renewable energy. ..."

Continue reading "Mackie's - Scotland's Wind Powered Ice Cream Company" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wind Farms are a clean source of renewable energy.  Ever wonder Just what a wind farm is ... Read on for more >>>

WHAT:  A wind farm is " ...  a cluster of wind turbines. ... the blades collect the wind’s kinetic energy. Wind flows over the airfoil shaped blades causing ... causing them to turn. ... are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity."

TIME TO BUILD:  " ...actual construction time ... is much less than a conventional power plant. The Wege Wind Energy Farm ( Link ) see took less than six months to build." ... land at a wind farm still be used for farming ... Farming and cattle grazing can go on right up to the turbine footprint. ... "

NEGATIVES:  "There used to be concern about wind turbines causing a lot of bird deaths, but studies show that’s not the case. The largest drawback seems to be their effect on the natural view of the landscape. To some, wind turbines are an eyesore; to others they’re majestic, a pleasant alternative to a conventional
power plant.

WHERE ARE THEY IN THE US:  " ... 25 [states have wind turbines in operation] ... Most are in California, Texas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Oklahoma, where state policies encourage wind power development and wind speeds are high and consistent."

Via:  Steelcase  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steelcase manufactures furniture.  They also sponsored a windfarm?!?

Read on for more >>>>

Operations are planned to start in the spring of 2008; the "farm" is near Panhandle, Texas, Steelcase is the "sole sponsor of this farm, Steelcase will be the largest buyer of wind power in the furniture industry."

"Steelcase is making a tangible contribution to a wind farm before it’s operational and will support it after it’s up and running. ... a much closer relationship with this project than a typical renewable energy investor ...,”

The turbines " ... standing 243 feet high will produce enough power for nearly 3,000 homes in the Panhandle area without using any fuel and without producing any emissions or pollution.... plenty of room for wheat and grain sorghum to grow underneath the quietly turning blades. The stars will remain easy to see over Panhandle, Texas."

For Steelcase " ... the wind farm is a natural evolution of its commitment made nearly a century ago to be stewards of the environment. ... complements its on-going energy reduction efforts. In North America alone, the company has cut electricity usage by over 30% in the past 5 years."

Via:  Steelcase  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Electric cars and windmills are the most complementary products in the green world. Windmills generate a lot more energy at night, as wind picks up when the air cools down. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Besides assessing the wind resource on the Lewes campus, the college also is studying other aspects of the project, including the economics of wind power, the government regulatory process and community engagement. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

March 11, 2008 - FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. -Presidential Candidate Obama spoke at the US site of Spanish Wind Turbine Company Gamesa.

" ... spoke in a cavernous facility that ... is home to an arm of the Spanish company Gamesa, which makes giant turbines that generate electricity ... "

"Obama repeated his call to spend $150 billion over 10 years to create "a green energy sector." He said it would "create up to 5 million new jobs, including jobs in Pennsylvania.""

"We should be building windmills all across the country,... " 

Via:  news.yahoo.com  Link

Continue reading "Obama Speaks in PA About Green Energy @ Wind Turbine Plant" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wind powered sailing ships are not new - the first effective ships to cross the oceans were wind powered vessels.  Now with crude oil reaching and passing the $US100 / bbl mark they are getting closer attention as a viable "assist" to modern freight vessels.

"... SkySails represents the only suitable model: no bothersome masts on deck, no restriction of stowage space, no hindrances to loading and discharging, no risk to the crew, cargo or ship as well as reliable overall performance. ... wind energy ... makes it possible to provide relief to the main engine ... when the sail is scaled up to 320 square metres ... potential savings of 20 to 30 percent are definitely feasible and realistic. ..."

An interesting observation is that in the picture to the left the vessel is carrying wind turbine equipment!

Via:  SkySails   Link 

Via:  The Beluga Group  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 05:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Xcel Energy has contracted with enXco Development Corp., an EDF-EN company, to build the wind farm. The project will consist of 67, 1.5-megawatt wind turbines to be located approximately 15 miles east of Austin, Minn. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in December determined the project was needed and last week granted a site permit for the wind farm. Those approvals cleared the way for construction to begin in spring. The project remains on schedule to begin producing power by the end of the year. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 
Antarctica is probably one of the last pure pristine place on earth.  It is also home to the Belgian research station Princess Elizabeth, in Utsteinen, Antarctica. 

Can the two exist in harmony?  Can a research station be GREEN?

Read on for more >>>

"... will use only 20% of the energy used by a comparable station. Heating will be done via a mixture of passive and active systems, including a heat recovery system ..."

Via: Inhabitat  Link

Continue reading "Zero Emision Research Station" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Continue reading "Wind Farm Tour Scotland" »

Posted by Green Tech at 09:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Based on returns obtained by Meridian Energy in testing the water auctions of carbon credits on Trade Me, he believes the council's joint-venture Turitea windfarm could earn about $2m a year in carbon credits. " ...

Via Manawatu Standard: NZ Wind Farm

Posted by Green Tech at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Portsmouth Abbey was founded in 1926 and has +/- 340 students in grades 9 - 12.  They have a beautiful 500 acre campus and are just 10 miles from Newport Rhode Island. 

>> And they are near a windy coast ...

>> And they have a Windmill to generate electricity ...  

Construction started in November 2005 for ... "Rhode Island’s first-ever utility-scale wind turbine ...165 foot tall, 660 kilowatt (kW) wind turbine will be the largest single investment ever made by the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund, producing 1.25 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year."

"... is expected to generate 40 percent of the annual electricity demand of the ... School, one of Rhode Island’s largest consumers of electricity."

on the one year anniversary --- "statistical data that showed how Portsmouth Abbey saved nearly $223,000 in the first year of the wind turbine's operation, through lower electricity payments to the utility, electricity sold back to the grid, and renewable energy credits."  

"... there are several cities and towns in Rhode Island, including the town of Portsmouth, that are considering the installation of a wind turbine to help lower municipal energy costs, ... have cited the Portsmouth Abbey wind turbine as a clear example of such success."

I visited the windmill this July (2007) and will post my pictures (shortly).

Thanks to my good friend Doug for telling me about the windmill in town ....  

Via:   Portsmouth Abbey School Web - Announcement  Link
Via:  Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund  Link
Via:  My friend Doug

Posted by Green Dude at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "GE will provide 52 of the 2.5xl machines to Zorlu Enerji Elektrik retim A.S. for the wind park in Bahce, about 40 kilometers from Osmaniye province. This will be the largest wind power project to date in Turkey. The project’s estimated annual electricity production of 500 million kilowatt-hours will be purchased by independent power consumers. Interest in wind-generated electricity has been increasing in Turkey. According to the European Wind Energy Association, the country had 84 megawatts of installed wind capacity at the beginning of 2007, an increase of 65 megawatts from the start of 2006. The 2.5xl wind turbines will be manufactured at GE Energy’s facilities in Salzbergen, Germany and Noblejas, Spain and shipped to the project site for installation beginning in March of 2008. " ...

Via GE: GE Energy's 2.5xl Wind Turbine Technology Selected for Largest Wind Project in Turkey

Posted by Green Tech at 09:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Posted by Green Tech at 08:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "In 2006, for the second straight year, the U.S. led the world by installing 2,454 MW of wind power capacity, enough to power the homes in a city the size of Philadelphia. The U.S. produced roughly 16 percent of the worldwide wind market, followed by Germany, India, Spain, and China. The Report specifically analyzes trends in the marketplace including wind power prices compared to wholesale electricity prices, project costs, turbine sizes, and developer consolidation. It also describes the increasing performance of wind projects, current ownership and financing structures, and trends among major wind power purchasers. By collecting this information in one publication, the report will provide a valuable resource to industry participants, energy regulators, and state and local policymakers. " ...

Via Department of Energy: U.S. Continues to Lead the World in Wind Power Growth

Posted by Green Tech at 09:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) estimates that, after installing over 2,400 megawatts (MW) in 2006, the industry will install over 3,000 MW in 2007. About 31 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) will be generated by wind power in the U.S. in 2007, enough electricity to power the equivalent of nearly 3 million average homes. " ...

Via American Wind Energy Association: Wind Powers America (PDF)

Posted by Green Tech at 09:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Electricity users in New Jersey (that means JUST ABOUT EVERYONE) can choose to use "clean power".  It's easy to do and good for the environment.

"... is a statewide program that allows you to choose clean, renewable sources of energy. ... Solar power. Wind power. Low-impact or small hydro power. Landfill gas power. Clean power, that's good for the environment, good for the climate, and good for New Jersey. ... Importantly, the ... Office of Clean Energy verifies that renewable energy is delivered into the Mid Atlantic power pool that serves your needs. ... Also, each household that participates in the CleanPower Choice Program can reduce CO2 emissions by over 10,000 lbs. per year, which is equivalent to planting 1.35 acres of trees!*"

"*This is an estimate that varies by product selection and household energy usage."

For more information see the programs FAQs Link

Some of the Clean Power Providers are:

Via:  New Jersey Clean Power Choice Program   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 05:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "That change has been evident as Delaware ponders its power choices. Lawmakers in Delaware decided to launch the competition last year after electricity prices spiked 60 percent. They emphasized that bids should use environmentally friendly technology. " ...

Via NPR: Delaware Offshore Wind Proposal

Posted by Green Tech at 08:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Although the use of wind energy to generate electricity is increasing rapidly in the United States, government guidance to help communities and developers evaluate and plan proposed wind-energy projects is lacking, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council. To inform the development of guidelines, the report offers an analysis of the environmental benefits and drawbacks of wind energy, along with an evaluation guide to aid decision-making about projects. As a case study, the committee that wrote the report looked at the mid-Atlantic highlands, a mountainous area that spans parts of West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. " ...

Via National Research Council: Wind Energy Planning and Guidelines Are Lacking

Posted by Green Tech at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Green "web hosting" is growing ...

From ThinkHost: "changing the world by providing high quality earth-friendly web hosting services & supporting social change activism".

Their Mission Statement:  " ... I founded the company based on 3 simple principles - Honesty, Integrity and Trust. I'm proud to say that while we have grown substantially over the years, we have not outgrown the original ThinkHost objectives - and never will."

Some of the ways they contribute to a low impact on the earth:  "... All our hosting plans are 100% wind/solar powered.  ... most of our team members "telecommute" - saving thousands of gallons of fuel annually ... use very little in terms of paper and encourage the use of notebook computers by our team to conserve electricity.  We recently also implemented a tree planting initiative - we plant a tree for every new client!"

Via:  Thinkhost.com   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 07:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's that time of year when stockholders are getting deluged with annual reports and related materials.  That means lots of paper.  

Many companies are allowing stockholders to receive all shareholder / proxy materials in electronic form ....

 But suppose you feel the need to feel the paper ... Can an annual report be "green"?
>>> GE might be getting close ...

From GE's 2006 Annual Report:  " ... This document was printed on paper that contains from 10% to 100% post-consumer material. The majority of the power utilized was renewable energy, produced with GE’s wind and biogas technologies, and powered by GE steam engines and turbine engines. The paper was supplied by participants of the Sustainable Initiative Programs. GE employed a printer that produces all of its own electricity and is a verified totally enclosed facility that produces virtually no volatile organic compound emissions."

"Visit our interactive online annual report at www.ge.com/annual06 "

So - here's the big question:

Do you chose paper or electronic?  Sort of a twist on the old paper or plastic question they ask at the supermarket! 

Via:  GE.com    Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A Given:  Wind Power is one solution to our energy needs.
 
Good:  Off Shore Windmills
Better:  FAR off shore Windmills where the winds are stronger and the windmills are not visible?

A Problem:  NIMBY (who can blame them?)

The Solution:  Part windmill.  Part floating platform. 

"Offshore wind turbines are an excellent source of power that could potentially serve hundreds of thousands of consumers ... (using) floating platforms hundreds of miles out to sea, where the winds are even stronger? That is where Paul D. Sclavounos comes in. The MIT professor of mechanical engineering and naval architecture spent decades designing and analyzing large floating structures for deep-sea oil and gas exploration."

"... could work in water depths ranging from 30 to 200 meters, Sclavounos said. In the Northeast, they could be 50 to 150 kilometers from shore. And the turbine atop each platform could be big, which is an economic advantage in the wind-farm business. The MIT-NREL design assumes a 5.0 megawatt (MW) experimental turbine now being developed by industry. (Onshore units are 1.5 MW; conventional offshore units are 3.6 MW.)"

"  ... Computer simulations show in hurricane conditions the ... bottom of the turbine blades would remain well above the peak of even the highest wave."

"... Because of the strong offshore winds, the floating turbines should produce up to twice as much electricity per year (per installed megawatt) as wind turbines now in operation. And because the wind turbines do not permanently attach to the ocean floor, they are a movable asset. If a company with 400 wind turbines serving the Boston area needs more power for New York, it can unhook some of the floating turbines and tow them south."

Via:   ISA     Link  and
         MIT    Link

Posted by Green Dude at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The requests for proposals (RFP) are for up to 260 megawatts of wind energy for AEP’s Appalachian Power utility unit and up to 100 megawatts of wind energy for AEP’s Indiana Michigan Power utility unit. The 360 megawatts of wind energy included in the two RFPs equals almost 60 percent of the currently installed wind generation in the PJM Interconnection, a regional transmission organization that covers all or parts of 13 states ranging from Illinois to North Carolina to New Jersey. " ...

Via AEP: 1,000 megawatts of new wind energy by 2011

Posted by Green Tech at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

 In addition to using Solar Power (see GreenTechnolog Blog) Whole Foods Market is big on Wind Power. 

"In January, 2006, we made a landmark purchase of renewable energy credits from wind farms to offset 100% of the electricity used in all of our stores, facilities, bakehouses, distribution centers, regional offices and national headquarters in the United States and Canada. This is the largest wind energy credit purchase in the history of North America and makes Whole Foods Market the only Fortune 500 Company purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100% of its electricity use."

Via:  WholeFoodsMarket.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Philadelphia International Airport announced on March 5th, 2007 that it will "buy 13,000 megawatts a year of wind energy from the PECO wind program.  City officials said they believe that the five-year deal was the largest renewable-energy purchase by a U.S airport.  ... equivalent to the electric power used by 1,300 homes. ... generated at PECO's wind-energy facility at Waymart, Pa. ..."
 

Via:  The Philadelphia Inquirer   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 09:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

General Electric Energy Financial Services recently announced investments in Wind Farms in CA, IL, NM and PA.

"... announced today (19-Feb--07) that it has committed to invest in a 410-megawatt wind farm portfolio, among its single largest wind investments."  Details by State and MegaWatt  are below.

Wind Farm Details (State, MW Rated, Utility Served and Turbine):

"Aragonne Mesa (90 megawatts) in Guadalupe County, New Mexico. Built with Mitsubishi 1000A turbines, Arizona Public Services is the project’s off-taker."

"Allegheny Ridge I and II, (80 and 70 megawatts respectively), in Pennsylvania’s Cambria and Blair counties. FirstEnergy Solutions, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has contracted to purchase the output of the two wind farms, which use Gamesa G87 turbines."

"GSG (80 megawatts), in Illinois’ Lee and LaSalle counties. Using Gamesa G87 turbines, the output will be sold at market prices."

"Mendota Hills (52 megawatts), in Lee County, Illinois. The wind farm uses Gamesa G52 turbines and will sell output at market prices."

"Buena Vista (38 megawatts), in the Altamont Pass area of Northern California. The output is contracted to PG&E Corporation and uses Mitsubishi 1000A turbines."

"All the wind farms have either been completed or will be completed by the end of April, except Allegheny Ridge II, expected to be finished by December."

Via: huliq.com    Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Naturener's first announcement was its intention to more than double the size of the proposed McCormick Ranch Wind Park from 120 to 300 megawatts. " ...

Via Great Falls Tribune: Wind Energy Expansion

Posted by Green Tech at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sail Power may be the next big thing in energy savings for ocean going cargo vessels. 

"A simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, ... it is not presently being used by cargo ships ... "

"SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies."

"By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average ... Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%. Even on a small, 87 metre cargo ship, savings of up to 280,000 euros can be made annually.

"In 2007 the first SkySails-Systems with towing-kite areas of up to 320m² for cargo vessels, superyachts and fish trawlers will be available. Series production will start in 2008."

"Virtually all cargo ships can be retrofitted with the SkySails technology trouble-free."

Via: SkySails GmbH & Co.   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 08:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I like beer, so I did not need an excuse to try another brand.

However, I am going to try one of the beers from New Belgium of Fort Collins, Colorado.  I think it will be a Fat Tire Amber Ale ...

What makes New Belgium so unique among brewers?

->>>  How about the fact that they ...

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions • " ... took an employee vote and decided to commit to being the nation’s first 100% wind-powered brewery. ... after our engineers, l... discovered that city’s power  plant, which supplied the brewery with electricity, created the bulk of our emissions. Employee owners voted to dip into their bonus pool to help finance the conversion."

Have a Green Building • "New Belgium has been a long-time participant in green building techniques. ... From sun tubes and daylighting throughout the facility to reusing heat in the brewhouse, we continue to search out new ways to close loops and conserve resources."

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • "Our reuse program includes heat for the brewing process, cleaning chemicals, water and much more. Recyling at New Belgium takes on many forms, from turning “waste” products into something new and useful (like spent grain to cattle feed), to supporting the recycling market in creative ways (like turning our keg caps into table surfaces).  We also buy recycled whenever we can, ... Reduction surrounds us – from motion sensors on the lights throughout the building to induction fans that pull in cool winter air to chill our beer – offsetting our energy needs is the cornerstone to being environmentally efficient."

I will let you know if I can find the beer locally (Western Suburbs of Philadelphia) and my humble opinion.

Via:  New Belgium Brewery   Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The largest single shareholder of REpower Systems AG, French AREVA S.A., announced its intention to make a friendly takeover offer to all shareholders of REpower Systems AG. This offer represents a cash offer of EUR 105.00 per share and a premium of 44 per cent on the three-month average of the stock price. " ...

Via REpower Systems AG: AREVA Group S.A. announces takeover offer for shares of REpower Systems AG

Posted by Green Tech at 09:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Texas accounted for nearly a third of the new wind power installed in 2006, taking over the lead from California in cumulative installed capacity. Texas hosts the world’s single largest operating wind farm, the 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, located in Nolan and Taylor counties. " ...

Via Compositesworld: Link

FPL owns the 220.5-megawatt Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center which uses 147 1.5-megawatt wind turbines that are arranged over 22,500 acres.  The site is 15 miles southwest of Abilene.

Posted by Green Tech at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Under the agreement, TransAlta will construct, own and operate a wind power facility in New Brunswick. Terms of the agreement are confidential. The capital cost of the project is estimated to be $130 million. The project is subject to regulatory and environmental approvals and is expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2008. Natural Forces Technologies Inc., a local Atlantic Canada wind developer is TransAlta's co-development partner in this project. " ...

Via TransAlta: TransAlta awarded power purchase agreement with New Brunswick Power

Posted by Green Tech at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So you already know your Carbon Footprint (see prior posts on this blog).

Now you want to take action ... What can YOU do to reduce your Carbon Footprint?

 
Here are 3 Easy, Simple Tips from ClimateCrisis.Net   There are MANY MORE on the website.

"Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family in the U.S. made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90 billion pounds!"

"Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment."

"Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year."

Via:  ClimateCrisis.Net    Link 

Posted by Green Dude at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "TransCanada Corp., based in Calgary, Alberta, is proposing to erect 44 wind turbines on 13.7 miles of ridge line on Kibby Mountain and Kibby Range ... " ...

Via Boston Herald: Read

Posted by Green Tech at 10:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Consisting of 137 GE 1.5 megawatt turbines, the Fenton wind farm will be operated and maintained by enXco Service Corporation. The wind farm will annually produce electrical energy estimated to be sufficient for more than 66,600 homes, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 550,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, compared with equivalent fossil fuel generation. Union Bank of California, GE Energy Financial Services and other equity investors are financing the project. " ...

Via enXco, Inc: enXco Closes Financing of Minnesota's Largest Wind Farm, with Union Bank of California and GE Energy Financial Services

Posted by Green Tech at 09:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

European venture capital firm, 3i, invests in Electrawinds to support renewable energy projects in Europe.  Electrawinds has installed base of wind and biomass energy with a capacity of 45 MegaWatts with plans for expansion up to 400 MW.  The renewable energy market has been growing at excellent rates and Electrawinds is positioned to benefit from this trend.  ... 

... "3i’s investment will allow Electrawinds to construct and develop additional wind and biomass projects across Europe. The company currently has branches in Portugal, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Africa and today’s investment will allow these activities to be expanded. Over the coming year, Electrawinds is planning to invest a further €100m in renewable energy projects. Electrawinds is aiming for turnover of €22.8m in 2006, €50m in 2007 and €100m in 2008. The worldwide market for renewable energy is estimated at $100bn pa and has been growing at 30% pa over the last 5 years. This growth is driven by concerns over global warming and carbon emissions, the impact of high oil prices and the desire to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. " ...

Via 3i: 3i invests €30m in Electrawinds

Posted by Green Tech at 09:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The wind farm would generate electricity to be sold to a Pennsylvania utility company. White said the total acreage that is needed for the turbines is estimated to be 150 acres. " ...

Via Daily and Sunday Review: Read

Posted by Green Tech at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Enel has signed a contract with the Spanish company Gamesa for the purchase of 195 wind generators. The generators, which have a total capacity of 166 MW, will be installed in a number of wind plants in Italy, avoiding the emission of 249,000 metric tons of CO2 per year. The transaction is worth more than 138 million euros and is part of the plan to invest more than 4 billion euros to make Enel the world’s most advanced energy company in the search for innovative solutions to reducing the environmental impact of power generation and distribution. " ...

Via Enel SpA: ENEL PURCHASES 195 WIND GENERATORS FOR 138 MILLION ...

Posted by Green Tech at 09:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The consent gives the go ahead for the offshore sections of the 1,000MW wind farm which, if built, will displace nearly 2 million tonnes of CO2 a year. The wind farm would also generate enough electricity to power 750,000 homes, equivalent to a quarter of Greater London’s households or every home in Kent and East Sussex. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tierra Energy and Cheyenne Light collaborate to bring renewable energy to Cheyenne, Wyoming through wind power at its Happy Jack Project.   ...

...   "The 30-megawatt (MW) Happy Jack Windpower Project will be the first generating project of its kind for Cheyenne Light, providing the region with a reliable source of environmentally friendly renewable energy. On becoming fully operational in 2008, the project will provide Cheyenne and the surrounding community with roughly 100,000,000 kilowatt-hours per year of safe, reliable wind energy at a competitive price. Happy Jack will benefit the local community by creating opportunities for area businesses, contributing to the local tax base, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and foreign oil consumption, while reducing air pollution. "   ...

Via Tierra Energy: New Wind Power Project to Provide Cheyenne With Renewable Energy (PDF) ...

Posted by Green Tech at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Wind farm project gets closer to fruition in Maryland as local utility commission gives the nod.  The need for alternative energy and potential impacts on local flora and fauna are being considered and balanced.  An unusually high number of bird and bat deaths have been seen in nearby wind farms as the area supports migration path.  ...  

... "And in Maryland, that somewhere may be remote Backbone Mountain, at 3,360 feet the highest point in the state's Appalachian Plateau and the proposed site for Annapolis-based Synergics Inc.'s mountaintop wind farm. " ...

Via Baltimore Sun: Link

Per NPR Podcast: Wind Farms Blamed for Killing Migrating Bats: "But as wind power becomes more popular, biologists say the windmills kill thousands of bats. "

Via Washington Post: Wind Turbine Bat Deaths: "Thousands of bats have died at Backbone and on another nearby wind farm in Meyersdale, Pa. "

Posted by Green Tech at 08:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

GE achieves sales milestone with its 1.5 MW wind turbine design and forecasts accelerated growth.  The Enron team was on the right track with this business.  The GE Six Sigma improvement culture continues to evolve the technology, and the company's focus on innovation is driving its design evolution.  The product line has been expanded with designs for low-wind situations and the rotor size can be varied to the situation.   

... "The first 1.5-megawatt machine was installed in 1996 in Germany. In 2002, GE gained ownership of the technology as part of its acquisition of Enron's wind business. Since then, GE has increased its wind engineering team three-fold and has applied experience from other business units such as GE Aviation, GE Transportation, GE Oil & Gas, GE Plastics and GE Global Research. Much of the surge in 1.5-megawatt orders has occurred in the United States, where the wind industry received a major boost with the extension of the federal production tax credit at the end of 2005. GE expects to ship more than 5,000 1.5-megawatt machines globally in 2006 and 2007, and anticipates that the total of 1.5-megawatt wind turbines operating worldwide could reach 10,000 by the end of 2008. " ...

Via GE: GE Announces Industry Milestone: More Than 5000 1.5-Megawatt Wind Turbines Installed ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Construction started on what will be Europe's largest onshore wind farm, as the Government set out proposals outlined in the Energy Review to see a five-fold increase in the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources in the UK. The GBP300m Whitelee Wind farm when built will be largest onshore wind farm in Europe with 140 turbines producing 322MW, enough for 200,000 homes and saving an estimated 250,000 tonnes of CO2 each year. The site is situated on Eaglesham Moor, South of Glasgow and will cover 55km2 of open moorland. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Live view of New Jersey wind farm with Atlantic City in the background ...

Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm

Posted by Green Tech at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Some wind turbines can affect radar systems, but thousands of wind turbines generating electricity nationwide demonstrate that impacts can be, and have been, mitigated through measures such as relocating turbines or upgrading radar systems. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) also advocates exploring additional technical options that can either be used today or developed in the future to address this issue. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power needs a culture change to reach its targets for renewable energy.  ...

...   "The Pine Tree wind farm - a $162-million plan proposed in 2001 to erect 80 windmill turbines in Tehachapi - is not expected to supply power until late 2007, two years behind schedule. "   ...

Via KTLA : DWP at an Energy Crossroads ...

Posted by Green Tech at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Debate continues about the effectiveness of wind power in West Virginia.  For a positive view, read on ...

...   "Wind projects currently proposed in West Virginia would generate as much electricity as 200,000 households use. "   ...

Via The Herald-Dispatch: Wind power is good investment for W.Va. ...

Posted by Green Tech at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PPL Corporation expands its portfolio of energy generation with renewable energy from a power purchase agreement for wind power from the Locust Ridge Wind Farm.  ...

...   "PPL EnergyPlus has signed the agreement with Locust Ridge Wind Farm, LLC. The agreement calls for PPL EnergyPlus to purchase energy, capacity and renewable attributes from the Locust Ridge Wind Farm Project for 20 years once the project achieves commercial operation, which is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2007.  Locust Ridge will be located in Mahanoy City, Schuylkill County, Pa., and is expected to have a capability, when running to maximum capacity, to produce 26 megawatts of electricity, which is enough electricity to power about 20,000 homes.  The project is being developed by Community Energy, Inc., which is owned by IBERDROLA, of Spain. Gamesa Corp., also of Spain, is the manufacturer of the turbines for the project. "   ...

Via PPL Corp: PPL Signs Agreement to Purchase Additional Wind Power ...

Posted by Green Tech at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Oklahoma has made commendable progress in the introduction of renewable energy, such as wind power, into the state's energy mix.  ... 

...   "Oklahoma's renewable energy industry has boomed in recent years, but industry leaders are looking to ever-improving technology to fully tap the capacity of the state's wind farms and other projects.  Within two years, Oklahoma went from having no significant renewable energy to No. 5 in the country in terms of wind-generated electricity production. All four of the state's large utilities buy power from local wind farms and all are eager to consider future projects. "   ...

Via Oklahoma State Energy Office: Despite Technology Challenges, State's Wind Energy Efforts Remain Strong ...

Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority Wind Power Update: Through the use of OG&E's transmission system and a long-term contract with FPL Energy LLC, OMPA owns, purchases and transmits wind electricity output from 34 General Electric 1.5 megawatt turbines from the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center located northeast of Woodward.

Posted by Green Tech at 08:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "Two Wisconsin wind power projects that were stalled by concerns that rotating turbines would interfere with military radar have received the go-ahead from the Federal Aviation Administration. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Deepwater offshore wind farm project will be demonstrated off the coast of Scotland.  The turbines are pushing the limits of what has been previously achieved.  The pilot test will show the technical and economic feasibility of deepwater wind farms in water depths of about 45 meters.  Wind turbines of 5 megawatts, which are approximately 85 meters high, will be sited in the Moray Firth area of Scotland.  This wind farm project seeks to demonstrate the distant offshore wind farm in deepwater that has no visual impact from the shore.  ...

... "The project, a joint venture between Talisman Energy (UK) Limited and Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), will use two of the largest turbines installed anywhere in the world to test the technical and economic feasibility of deepwater wind farms in water depths of about 45 metres. Electricity generated by the demonstrator project will be used to power the Beatrice platform. " ...

Via Beatrice Wind Farm: Beatrice Wind Farm Demonstrator Project

Wind Farm Structures En-Route To Moray Firth From Fife: "When installed, the wind turbine will have a  height of approximately 85 metres above sea level and the blades a rotational equivalent of two football pitches.The turbines will be sited in the Moray Firth more than 23 kilometres from shore in water depths of around 45 metres. This is a step change from existing offshore wind developments, which are located in territorial waters close to shore in water depths of less than 10 metres. Commissioning should be complete and first power available in the fourth quarter of 2006. "

Posted by Green Tech at 07:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

... "The idea of supplementing Delaware's energy supply with an off-shore wind farm is gaining popularity among experts, politicians and residents. " ...

Via The Delmarva Daily Times: Delaware wind farm generates backing ...

Offshore Wind Power: "The University of Delaware has created a working group on offshore wind power in the College of Marine Studies. "

Posted by Green Tech at 03:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SKF makes improvements to bearings that improve the efficiency and extends the life of wind turbines.  ...

...   "To solve the problem with passage of electrical current through the generator bearings, causing expensive repair and downtime, SKF has developed a range of large hybrid bearings especially for wind turbine generator applications that do not allow the passage of electrical currents. Such currents would lead to electrical erosion of the raceways and eventual bearing and generator failure. They also tend to break down the structure of the lubricant, which also heavily affects bearing performance. "   ...

Wind Turbine Power Generation: SKF launches several new solutions and announces a new order at Wind Energy Fair ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Invenergy is executing on its wind energy development program. It has a number of wind projects in development in more than twenty states in the U.S.  GE is supplying its wind turbine technology.  Invenergy is making significant capital investments in wind energy assets, such as the Judith Gap project in Montana.  The Judith Gap wind farm can generate 135 MW and is located in central Montana.  The facility was constructed across 14,300 acres, approximately 100 miles east of Helena, Montana. The project includes 90 GE 1.5 MW sle wind turbines.  ...

...   "Now, wind energy is a whole new ballgame. This is big business, with corporate America investing $150 million. It's major industry and it's here for the long haul. Wind farms already are scattered from coast to coast, and now they've landed in Montana in a major way. "   ...

Wind Energy Farm Investments: FARMING THE WIND: New and massive, Judith Gap project typifies the growth spurt of wind energy ...

Additional resources on the Judith, Montana wind farm ...

Via State of Montana: Judith wind farm facts: "The farm sits on both sides of Highway 191 between Harlowton and Judith Gap and 13 of the 90, 1.5 megawatt towers will be on state land. According to terms of the lease the project will contribute nearly $20,000 to the school trust for a one-time installation fee, and future revenues range from about $35,000 to 50,000 annually depending on the volume of power produced. "

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