The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal

November 2003 Small Wind Newsletter

Issue No. 6, October 29, 2003

Editor: Larry Sherwood, Interstate Renewable Energy Council

The current Small Wind Newsletter is also available on the web. Click Here If you have trouble with links in this e-mail message, try the web version of the newsletter.

Article summaries follow the Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS
(1) New Jersey Funds for Renewable Energy
(2) Montana's First Cooperative Wind Turbines Dedicated
(3) North Carolina Small Wind R&D Initiative
(4) Vermont Bank Announces New Renewable Energy Home Equity Loan
(5) Wisconsin Rebate Helps Fund 6-kW Turbine
(6) Ohio Distributed Energy Grants Include Small Wind Projects
(7) Idaho Energy Division and Tribe Launch Wind Power Evaluation Project
(8) Rural Coops and USDA Agree to Encourage Alternative Energy Sources
(9) Upcoming Small Wind Events

INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
(10) Small Generator Coalition Files Comments With FERC On Interconnection NOPR
(11) FERC Issues Order on Green Tags Ownership

LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(12) Inter-County Leader (WI)
(13) Idaho Statesman
(14) Montana Kaimin
(15) KXMC-TV (North Dakota)
(16) Albany Times Union

INCENTIVES

RESOURCES

ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER
Includes information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe.

NEWS

(1) New Jersey Funds for Renewable Energy
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities recently announced the Renewable Energy Advanced Power Program, a competitive incentive and financing program to encourage development of distributive renewable electricity generation projects in New Jersey. The Board allocated up to $50,000,000 as a combination of incentive and guaranteed financing for this solicitation. Full article.

(2) Montana's First Cooperative Wind Turbines Dedicated
Montana's first cooperatively-owned wind turbine installation was dedicated recently. Fourth generation farmer Jess Alger installed a 10 kW turbine on his 1200 acre cattle ranch and wheat farm in Stanford. The turbine is predicted to produce 18,000 kWh of energy each year, enough to offset all of the electricity used on the Alger Ranch. Any surplus electricity generated will feed into the power grid for use by other utility customers. Full article.

(3) North Carolina Small Wind R&D Initiative
Appalachian State University and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) are teaming up to establish a Small Wind R&D Initiative in western North Carolina. A site for the research and demonstration center has been identified and two turbines have been purchased. This year, the Small Wind Initiative hopes to install six small wind turbines representing the various companies and technologies in the US marketplace. The Initiative is developing an overall plan and raising funds. Full article.

(4) Vermont Bank Announces New Renewable Energy Home Equity Loan
Chittenden Bank (Vermont's largest bank) recently announced a reduced interest rate home equity loan when used for renewable energy projects (including solar hot water, PV, wind, and others). Chittenden's current rate for home equity loans is 5.76% on a five-year loan. If a homeowner receives a renewable energy home equity loan the rate would be only 4.75%. The minimum loan amount is $5,000.

(5) Wisconsin Rebate Helps Fund 6-kW Turbine
A new Proven 6-kW grid-connected wind turbine supplies electricity to Jerry and Deb Brucaya's home in rural Dane County, Wisconsin. The turbine, installed by Seventh Generation Energy Systems (SGES), is expected to provide all their energy requirements – approximately 1,000 kWh per month. Excess electricity will be sold to Alliant Energy at the full retail rate in accordance with Wisconsin's net metering law. Full article.

(6) Ohio Distributed Energy Grants Include Small Wind Projects
State Development Director Bruce Johnson announced that the Ohio Department of Development’s (ODOD) Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) has awarded $924,019 for 26 statewide innovative distributed energy projects. Included are nine small wind projects. Full article.

(7) Idaho Energy Division and Tribe Launch Wind Power Evaluation Project
The Idaho Energy Division and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe launched a resource measurement project to learn whether wind power can provide a new source of economic development. Full article.

(8) Rural Coops and USDA Agree to Encourage Alternative Energy Sources and Greenhouse Gas Reductions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to identify and advance cost-effective, voluntary opportunities for rural electric cooperatives to partner with farmers and ranchers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Full article.

(9) Upcoming Small Wind Events
Listing of upcoming small wind events.

INTERCONNECTION

Headlines from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Connecting to the Grid web site.

(10) Small Generator Coalition Files Comments With FERC On Interconnection NOPR
On October 3, 2003, the reconstituted small generator coalition (SGC) filed comments with the FERC on their Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) on Standardized Small Generator interconnections. Full article.

(11) FERC Issues Order on Green Tags Ownership
On October 1, 2003, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an Order regarding the status of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), also known as Green “Tags,” in relation to generation contracts entered into under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). Full article.

LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS

(12) Inter-County Leader (WI), October 22, 2003, Commission tables wind energy application. Full article.

(13) Idaho Statesman, October 26, 2003, Energy experts to look at N. Idaho for wind power. Full article.

(14) Montana Kaimin, October 24, 2003, COT's wind turbine blows through campus. Full article.

(15) KXMC-TV (North Dakota), October 25, 2003, Wind turbine planned. Full article.

(16) Albany Times Union, October 25, 2003, RPI graduate got energy idea spinning. Full article.

INCENTIVES

New Incentives reported by DSIRE. The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy. To access state-by-state incentives and policies that promote wind energy technologies, click here and select "wind" from the drop-down menu.

RESOURCES

Click here for archived articles and links to Small Wind Resources.

ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER

The Small Wind Newsletter is published electronically every month by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. The Small Wind Web Site contains news, resources, and links.

To subscribe, go to http://www.irecusa.org/smallwindenergy/newslettersub.html, fill in the subscription form, and then click on subscribe. There is no fee for subscriptions. If you wish to unsubscribe, fill in your e-mail address and click on unsubscribe.

If you have comments or news items, please send them to Larry Sherwood.