SMALL WIND E-NEWSLETTER
October 2005
Issue No. 19, September 29, 2005
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 links in this e-mail message, try the web version of the newsletter.
Article summaries and links follow the Table of Contents.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
(1) NORTH CAROLINA - First Grid-Tied Wind Energy System in Coastal NC
(2) ALASKA Coop Pays Renewables Producers
(3) NEW YORK – NYSERDA Seeks Small Wind Business Input
(4) USDA Announces nearly $21 Million for Renewable Energy
(5) NEVADA Report Addresses Small Wind Development
(6) NEW ENGLAND Wind Forum Debuts
(7) NORTH CAROLINA – TV Reality Show Race Ends at Wind Facility
(8) AWEA Accepting WINDPOWER Abstracts
(9) KidWind Moves to Minnesota
(10) NORTH CAROLINA - Wind Energy Workshop Concludes First RET Diploma Series
(11) Upcoming Small Wind Events
INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
(12) Commentary: Making Sense of EPAct 2005’s Nebulous Net Metering, Interconnection Provisions
(13) COLORADO - Consensus Filings Include Net Metering, FERC Interconnection Rules
(14) MADRI Adopts Interconnection Standard
INCENTIVES
(15) VERMONT Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program
(16) CONNECTICUT Operational Demonstration Program
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(17) Huerfano (CO) World
(18) Cleveland Plain Dealer
(19) Toledo Blade
(20) Martha’s Vineyard Times
(21) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
INDUSTRY NEWS
(22) Financing and Leasing for on-Site Energy Solutions
ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER
Includes information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe.
NEWS
(1) NORTH CAROLINA - First Grid-Tied Wind Energy System in Coastal NC
The North Carolina Solar Center held a workshop August 25 and 26 for federal, state and local park facility personnel where they installed coastal North Carolina's first grid-tied wind energy system at the Coquina Beach Bathhouse in South Nags Head. Full article.
(2) ALASKA Coop Pays Renewables Producers
The Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) in Fairbanks, Alaska now offers the Sustainable Natural Alternative Power (SNAP) Program for its members. The program is modeled on the successful SNAP program offered in Chelan County, Washington. Full article.
(3) NEW YORK – NYSERDA Seeks Small Wind Business Input
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has funds for a $2 million program to support market transformation and business development projects for small wind and PV. The program will support development of innovative business strategies for PV and small wind companies. NYSERDA requests your input as they assemble the request for proposals. Please take a few moments to answer the questions in the attached survey. Full article.
(4) USDA Announces nearly $21 Million for Renewable Energy
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the selection of 150 applicants to receive almost $21 million in USDA Rural Development grant assistance for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in 32 States. Included is $100,000 for six small wind projects in Iowa, Idaho, and Minnesota. Full article.
(5) NEVADA Report Addresses Small Wind Development
DEVELOPING SMALL AND COMMUNITY-SCALE WIND IN NEVADA summarizes the challenges to develop small and community-based wind and offers strategies and recommendations. Full article.
(6) NEW ENGLAND Wind Forum Debuts
The New England Wind Forum consists of two components: the New England Wind Forum Web Site and a biannual electronic New England Wind Forum Newsletter. Full article.
(7) NORTH CAROLINA – TV Reality Show Race Ends at Wind Facility
The pilot episode of THE HUMAN RACE SHOW will feature Willie Nelson and explore bio-diesel. The first episode journey will end at the top of Beech Mountain, NC at the Small Wind Research and Demonstration Site operated by Appalachian State University. Full article.
(8) AWEA Accepting WINDPOWER Abstracts
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is now accepting abstracts for the WINDPOWER 2006 Conference and Exhibition to be held in Pittsburgh, PA, on June 4 – 7, 2006. The deadline for abstract submission is October 3. Full article.
(9) KidWind Moves to Minnesota
Over the past fourteen months Kidwind has held sixteen workshops and presentations for more than 500 teachers. These events have been as short as 2 hours and as long as 4 days. Full article.
(10) NORTH CAROLINA - Wind Energy Workshop Concludes First RET Diploma Series
The Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) Diploma Series finished its first full cycle of courses this month, with five students receiving their diploma after participating in the Distributed Generation: Wind Energy Workshop. Full article.
(11) 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.
(12) Commentary: Making Sense of EPAct 2005’s Nebulous Net Metering, Interconnection Provisions
Nestled in the landmark 1,724-page Energy Policy Act of 2005 are Section 1251, which pertains to net metering, and Section 1254, which addresses interconnection. Rather than mandating federal net-metering standards and interconnection standards, the two sections direct states to undertake consideration and make a determination with respect to each standard. It is impossible to say with certainty if states will have broad or narrow discretion in meeting the requirements of these sections. Full article.
(13) COLORADO - Consensus Filings Include Net Metering, FERC Interconnection Rules
As part of the implementation of Colorado's citizen-initiated renewable portfolio standard (RPS), passed in November 2004 and known as Amendment 37, the state's utilities are required to adopt net metering and interconnection standards. During summer 2005, representatives from the Colorado environmental community and renewable-energy community met with utility representatives from Xcel and Aquila to discuss implementation of Amendment 37. From these discussions, the parties reached agreement on several key items for implementation, including net metering and interconnection. Wind systems are included in the net metering and interconnection rules. However, the parties did not reach agreement on other key program areas. Full article.
(14) MADRI Adopts Interconnection Standard
The Mid-Atlantic Distributed Resources Initiative (MADRI), established by the public utility commissions of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, along with the U.S. Department of Energy and PJM Interconnection, has issued an interconnection standard for use in each state and in the District. According to MADRI representatives, the initial draft of the final interconnection standard was based largely on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) recently promulgated interconnection rules for small generators. Full article.
INCENTIVES
New Incentives reported by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE), 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) VERMONT Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program
Vermont's Solar and Small Wind Incentive Program was originally established in June 2003. The initial round of the program, which funded the installation of more than 200 renewable-energy systems, was fully subscribed by summer 2004. A second round of program funding, totaling about $800,000, was made available in September 2005. Approximately $460,000 in incentives will support qualifying small wind-energy systems for individuals, businesses, schools and municipalities. Full article.
(16) CONNECTICUT Operational Demonstration Program
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) created the Operational Demonstration Program in August 2005 to enable early-stage companies to demonstrate the effectiveness of their own near-commercial, clean-energy technologies. Through the end of 2006, the program will provide a total of $4 million in funding for projects installed in Connecticut. The program will support proposals for demonstration projects that have a high likelihood of developing into a commercial product within a reasonable period of time -- generally, five years for fuel cells and three years for most other clean-energy technologies. Funding for the Operational Demonstration Program will be provided in the form of a non-recourse, unsecured debt instrument repaid upon the achievement of commercial success, a level of annual product sales defined by mutual agreement between the CCEF and successful applicants. Full article.
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(17) Huerfano (CO) World, August 25, 2005, Windy. Raising anemometer tower in southern Colorado with San Isabel Electric Cooperative. Full article.
(18) Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 30, 2005. Pole to test lake’s wind power. Anemometer tower raised on Cleveland water intake crib in Lake Erie. Full article.
(19) Toledo Blade, September 4, 2005, Lake-based wind tower raises hope, concern. Anemometer tower raised on Cleveland water intake crib in Lake Erie. Full article.
(20) Martha’s Vineyard Times, September 15-21, 2005. Wind turbine to give school alternative energy model. High school plans installation of 10-kW turbine. Full article.
(21) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 18, 2005. Supervisors to appeal ruling to prohibit wind turbine in park. Appeal of zoning board ruling to deny request for wind turbine in Pine Community Park. Full article.
INDUSTRY NEWS
(22) Financing and Leasing for on-Site Energy Solutions
Until now, consumers wanting clean, on-site distributed electric and thermal solutions needed to "pay their own way" - but Stella Capital LLC has developed a cadre of leasing companies and banks willing to focus on the commercial and industrial users as well as local governments. 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.
Disclaimer: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is referred to or linked to in this newsletter. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply IREC's endorsement or recommendation.
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