SMALL WIND E-NEWSLETTER
January 2004
Issue No. 8, December 31, 2003
Editor: Larry Sherwood, Interstate Renewable Energy Council
The current Small Wind Newsletter is also available on the web at http://www.irecusa.org/smallwindenergy/e-newsletter.html. If you have trouble with the links in this e-mail message, try the web version of the newsletter.
Editor's Note
With this issue, the Small Wind Newsletter begins bi-monthly publication. The next issue will be March 2004 and will be delivered in late February. Current news will be posted on the Small Wind Web Site. Send your submissions to Larry Sherwood.
Article summaries follow the Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
(1) NEW YORK Corporate Executive Powers Home and Company with Wind
(2) NORTH CAROLINA Solar Center Raises Wind Turbine for Student Workshop
(3) MISSOURI Wind Maps Now Available
(4) WISCONSIN Ag Agency Studies Wind Turbine for Madison Headquarters
(5) Are Rebates, Grants, Incentives for Homeowners and Businesses Taxable?
(6) Global Windpower 2004 Conference
(7) AWEA Establishes Small Wind Certification Committee
(8) Appropriate Technology Faculty Position at Appalachian State University
(9) Northwest SEED Executive Director Position Available
(10) Upcoming Small Wind Events
INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
(11) IOWA - FERC Orders Electric Cooperative to Provide Net Metering
(12) HAWAII - PUC Opens Distributed Generation Proceeding
(13) NARUC Issues Modified Interconnection Rules
(14) NEW JERSEY - BPU Proposes Increasing, Expanding Net Metering, Interconnection Rules
INCENTIVES
(15) CALIFORNIA Small Wind Rebates Decrease
RESOURCES
(16) Renewable Energy Atlas of the West
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(17) Springfield (MO) News-Leader
(18) Reno Gazette-Journal
(19) Holland (MI) Sentinel
(20) Missoula (MT) Independent
ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER
Includes information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe.
NEWS
(1) NEW YORK Corporate Executive Powers Home and Company with Wind
In June 2001, Harbec Plastics, Inc. CEO Bob Bechtold put up a 10 kW Bergey Excel at his old farmhouse home in Webster, New York. The turbine provides up to 70 percent of the electricity used in the home, which has a geothermal heating and air conditioning system. Full article.
(2) NORTH CAROLINA Solar Center Raises Wind Turbine for Student Workshop
The North Carolina Solar Center recently installed the first wind turbine on the North Carolina State University (NCSU) campus. The 1000-Watt turbine from Bergey Windpower sits atop a 104-foot tower and will supply power to the adjoining NCSU Solar House and Alternative Fuel Vehicle Facility. Full article.
(3) MISSOURI Wind Maps Now Available
Interim maps of Missouri's Wind Energy Resources are now available on
the Missouri Energy Center's webpage. Full article.
(4) WISCONSIN Ag Agency Studies Wind Turbine for Madison Headquarters
Visitors to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection won.t likely miss the display about wind turbines in the agency.s lobby, even though they probably won.t notice the tiny wind monitor (anemometer) atop a skinny tower a hundred yards from the entrance. If the monitoring proves that the wind blows long enough and hard enough on the department.s hilltop site, visitors may see the blades of a wind turbine perched atop a prominent tower as soon as a year from now. Full article.
(5) Are Rebates, Grants, Incentives for Homeowners and Businesses Taxable?
There is strong evidence that incentives are not taxable. In fact many states noted that even though they also did not think the incentives were taxable, a 1099 form was sent to the recipient of the incentive as a mater of policy implemented by the state's legal counsel. This article was written for Million Solar Roofs Partners, but the information also applies to small wind rebates, grants, and incentives. Full article.
(6) Global Windpower 2004 Conference
The American Wind Energy Association presents Global Windpower 2004 on March 28-31 in Chicago, IL. Pre-conference seminars will include a full-day session, Taking Small Wind to the Next Level: Reaching Industry Goals. Full article.
(7) AWEA Establishes Small Wind Certification Committee
The American Wind Energy Association recently established a Small Wind Certification Committee, chartered with the development of a U.S. certification standard for small wind turbines. Full article.
(8) Appropriate Technology Faculty Position at Appalachian State University
A tenure-track Appropriate Technology faculty position is open in the Department of Technology at Appalachian State University. The ASU Appropriate Technology program includes renewable energy and the recently announced Small Wind R&D Initiative. Full article.
(9) Northwest SEED Executive Director Position Available
Northwest SEED is looking for an experienced executive-level manager to provide primary oversight of organizational programs, operations, finances and personnel for this young, growing non-profit. Full article.
(10) Upcoming Small Wind Events
Listing of upcoming small wind events.
INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
Check the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.s Connecting to the Grid web site for the latest interconnection news.
(11) IOWA - FERC Orders Electric Cooperative to Provide Net Metering
In a strongly worded opinion, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently ordered Iowa.s Midland Power Cooperative to provide net metering to a customer with a wind energy system. Full article.
(12) HAWAII - PUC Opens Distributed Generation Proceeding
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has opened two formal proceedings to examine the potential benefits and effects of distributed generation on Hawaii's electric distribution system and the development of a competitive bidding process to acquire or build new electric generating capacity in Hawaii. Full article.
(13) NARUC Issues Modified Interconnection Rules
In November 2003, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) issued a substantial modification of its model interconnection procedures and contracts. Full article.
(14) NEW JERSEY - BPU Proposes Increasing, Expanding Net Metering, Interconnection Rules
On December 1, 2003, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) formally proposed raising the state's net metering limit to 2 MW for all "class I" renewable energy technologies (defined as wind, solar, fuel cells, ocean, sustainable biomass and landfill gas). The BPU also proposed a simplified interconnection standard to accommodate the 2 MW rule. 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.
(15) CALIFORNIA Small Wind Rebates Decrease
California Rebates for Small Wind Systems less than 30 kW decrease on January 1, 2004. The new rebate amount is $2.10 per Watt for the first 7.5 kW and $1.10 per Watt above 7.5 kW. The rebates are scheduled to drop $0.20 per Watt every six months. Full article.
RESOURCES
Click here for archived articles and links to Small Wind Resources.
(16) Renewable Energy Atlas of the West
The Renewable Energy Atlas of the West is an 80-page, full-color presentation of the renewable energy resources in the West, including newly-released high-resolution wind maps of the Pacific Northwest. The Atlas profiles wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass power. Full article.
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(17) Springfield (MO) News-Leader, December 14, 2003, Is power from wind in CU.s future? Full article.
(18) Reno Gazette-Journal, December 14, 2003, Wind-energy experience draws admiration of strangers. Full Article.
(19) Holland (MI) Sentinel, December 17, 2003, High school dedicates new wind turbine. Full article.
(20) Missoula (MT) Independent, December 25, 2003, Wind.s a-comin.. Full article.
ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER
The Small Wind Newsletter is published electronically every other 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 have comments or news items, please send them to Larry Sherwood.
