A personal quest to promote the use of wind energy and hydrogen technology in the Great Lakes area of the United States. The Great Lakes area is in a unique position to become an energy exporting region through these and other renewable energy technologies.
"One thing that many people do not realize is that states like Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan are sitting on a gold mine of wind energy potential. Or, more properly, next to the mine. The Great Lakes are probably the area in the USA with the third largest inland wind energy potential. Think of just the nickname for Chicago. "The Windy City". Milwaukee is even windier, I can tell you. Why? Because they sit on the edge of a great flat area where there is both a land-water temperature differential, and a large flat expanse of water that is comparably shallow. Oilrigs certainly operate in deeper waters. And you won't have to construct transmission lines all the way from the plains of Montana to put it to use. The Great Lakes area has an opportunity to get the jump on wind energy's future, if that fact is recognized and exploited. Wind energy means jobs for construction and maintenance workers, thousands of them. Wind energy means leasing rights and extra money for family farmers struggling to make it on agriculture alone. In most cases farmers can grow crops right up to the base of a windmill. The land footprint has a small impact on total farm acreage. Wind energy also means freedom from fluctuating fuel prices. Wind is free. The cost of a barrel of polluting oil can be raised or lowered drastically based on fears or political whims. The potential gains are enormous. We've all seen the flow of good manufacturing jobs out of the area. Well, they can't tell the wind to blow in another country so it's more "convenient" or cheaper to produce. The wind is perfectly happy to whip up opportunities for us right around here. Most of all, because we here in the Great Lakes region have the potential to have a huge positive impact on U.S. energy industry emissions' contribution to global warming."
Archives
05/11/2003 - 05/17/2003
05/18/2003 - 05/24/2003
05/25/2003 - 05/31/2003
06/01/2003 - 06/07/2003
06/08/2003 - 06/14/2003
06/15/2003 - 06/21/2003
06/22/2003 - 06/28/2003
06/29/2003 - 07/05/2003
07/06/2003 - 07/12/2003
07/13/2003 - 07/19/2003
07/20/2003 - 07/26/2003
07/27/2003 - 08/02/2003
08/03/2003 - 08/09/2003
08/10/2003 - 08/16/2003
08/17/2003 - 08/23/2003
08/24/2003 - 08/30/2003
08/31/2003 - 09/06/2003
09/07/2003 - 09/13/2003
09/14/2003 - 09/20/2003
09/21/2003 - 09/27/2003
09/28/2003 - 10/04/2003
10/05/2003 - 10/11/2003
10/12/2003 - 10/18/2003
10/19/2003 - 10/25/2003
10/26/2003 - 11/01/2003
11/02/2003 - 11/08/2003
11/09/2003 - 11/15/2003
11/16/2003 - 11/22/2003
11/23/2003 - 11/29/2003
11/30/2003 - 12/06/2003
12/07/2003 - 12/13/2003
12/14/2003 - 12/20/2003
12/21/2003 - 12/27/2003
12/28/2003 - 01/03/2004
01/04/2004 - 01/10/2004
01/11/2004 - 01/17/2004
01/18/2004 - 01/24/2004
01/25/2004 - 01/31/2004
02/01/2004 - 02/07/2004
02/08/2004 - 02/14/2004
02/15/2004 - 02/21/2004
02/22/2004 - 02/28/2004
02/29/2004 - 03/06/2004
03/07/2004 - 03/13/2004
03/14/2004 - 03/20/2004
03/21/2004 - 03/27/2004
03/28/2004 - 04/03/2004
04/04/2004 - 04/10/2004
04/18/2004 - 04/24/2004
04/25/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/02/2004 - 05/08/2004
05/09/2004 - 05/15/2004
05/16/2004 - 05/22/2004
(!Not tax deductible!
The AWEA's annual expo:
Global WINDPOWER 2004
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois, USA
March 28-31, 2004
I was there...
---------------
Dan Stafford - Publisher
WE WELCOME ENERGY STORY SUBMISSIONS!
Please note the E-mail link by the title of the webpage. Comments, stories, and article submissions are welcome. Any accepted submission entitles the submitter to a link on the Journal page included at the bottom of their submitted entry when published to the journal. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal makes no claim as to the accuracy of submitted material. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal neither endorses nor opposes opinions expressed in submitted material. Submitter must provide name, city, and state or country. The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal imples no promise to publish all submissions. Adult content wil definitely NOT be published. Submitted material will be screened and appropriate entries published at the owner's discretion.
Safe, healthy, good for the economy, good for the environment, good for farmers, good for you, and just downright good produce:
State-by-state directory of farmers' markets
-----------
For additional information and resurces, please visit my Wind Energy links page at: Whizzyrds.com
T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, cards, and posters are available at: Wind Energy T's
Wind Energy poetry is located at: Wind Poems
(Both mp3 and text versions are available in some cases, we are working on doing mp3 for all of them.)
I strongly encourage those seriously interested in learning about the technology, players, politics, and issues of Wind Energy to spend time browsing the American Wind Energy Association website. They are the premier industry trade organization and have extensive resources available.
(www.awea.org)
Alpha Solar
Clean energy generation systems for off-grid living and environmental impact reduction.
The Great Lakes Information Network:
*PING*
The Distributed Resources & Green Power weBlog by Bruce Irving
P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit your question at www.emagazine.com;
or e-mail Earth Talk at earthtalk@emagazine.com.
OTEC News weBlog: Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion
The Green Ocean Project: Using solar energy to distill water for agriculture.
Other weBlogs by Daniel Stafford:
The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal
*Spell Book*
Affirmation Station
Remembering Mom
Save Hotel Baker
Uncle Harold's Farm
The Last Legend of Memphis
The Great Lakes Zephyr - Wind Energy & Hydrogen Journal
From Back Yard To Wind Farm...Win-Wind!
E-mail Your Comments & Stories!
After an extensive review of proffessed policy intentions, I will reverse myself and offer my personal endorsement of Democratic Candidate Dennis J. Kucinich for President of the United States.
His environmental policy alone is excellent, but this candidate is on every issue statement I have so far seen solidly for human rights, civil rights, workers' rights, sound environmental and energy policy that will result in a much cleaner and more sustainable economy, support of family sustainable agriculture over industrial agricultural operations, clean water, investment in critical infrastructure, and much, much more. This is a candidate that supports a liveable world for all, and a world at peace. I strongly urge you to review his platform statements at: http://www.kucinich.us
Alternatively, you can view the ten key points of his campaign at: Ten points acrobat
Try this: http://www.presidentmatch.com It will run you through a series of poll questions and then show how close each candidate is to your views.
Anyone interested in interviewing Dennis Kucinich please write to: interviews@kucinich.us
24/7 Dennis Kucinich Internet Radio - Progressive Mojo
MP3 clips of rhetorical history, musicians' songs on the state of politics in the USA, and more:
http://www.benfrank.net/nuke/Free_Peace_mp3s.html
In the Primary, you ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
In the General Election, you TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET!
(Until this one because Dennis Kucinich is going to win!)
Progressive Newswire: http://www.commondreams.org/newswire.htm
"Prayer For America" Speech
(Real Audio)
Air America Radio - Listen Live!
Saturday, November 29, 2003
All eyes on Russia as U.N. climate talks begin
U.N. climate talks get under way Monday amid evidence global warming may be accelerating and concern Russia could scuttle a key pact aimed at tackling the problem.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-28/s_10857.asp
Round-the-world balloonist looks to solar power for next challenge
Bertrand Piccard, pilot of the first balloon to fly nonstop around the world, announced Friday that he has a new goal: to complete the same exploit in a solar-powered plane.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-28/s_10851.asp
Friday, November 28, 2003
"Earth's Future Climate" by H Willis - Free E-book.
This book is for the person who wants to understand the complex issues surrounding global climate change, but who does not have an academic background to aid in that understanding. I wanted to level the playing field and provide a discussion on this subject that is not filled with scientific terminology that tends to be incomprehensible to the average person. To assist in that endeavor, there is an extensive glossary of terms. Further, much of the bibliography contains references to Internet websites. This will permit people without access to a university library to see what I saw when I conducted my research.
The other purpose of this book is to help people see through so much of the “hype” and personal agendas that currently surround any discussion of global climate change. I have tried to present a balanced discussion for both sides of the issue so the reader will have tools at his or her disposal to know what is true and what is not.
Henry Willis
(Available for free at: http://ww2.green-trust.org:8484/)
Thursday, November 27, 2003
Project NatureConnect, Institute of Global Education:
New Environmental Education Book Enables People to Think in Balance with Natural Systems
U.S. products to carry new "made with renewable energy" logo
At the recent 8th National Green Power Marketing Conference, the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions introduced an initiative to place the Green-e logo on packages of consumer products manufactured by companies purchasing certified renewable energy.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-27/s_10599.asp
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Global warming's sooty smokescreen revealed
Smoke is clouding our view of global warming, protecting the planet from perhaps three-quarters of the greenhouse effect. That might sound like good news, but experts say that as the cover diminishes in coming decades, we are in for a dramatic escalation of warming that could be two or even three times as great as official best guesses. http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/climate/climate.jsp?id=ns99993798
Great Lakes Daily News: 26 November 2003
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium
Note: Daily News will not be published Nov. 27-28. Happy Thanksgiving!
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Millions could be spent to correct contaminated groundwater
----------------------------------------
The quest to replace a dwindling supply of contaminant-plagued groundwater
has been a costly and time-consuming concern for eight Green Bay, Wis.,
suburbs, but those municipalities aren't alone. Source: Green Bay
Press-Gazette (11/26)
$10M swath intended to cut off ash borer advance
----------------------------------------
Forestry officials desperately hope a $10-million project to raze as many as
70,000 ash trees in Chatham-Kent will stop the emerald ash borer's deadly
advance to London and the rest of Ontario. Source: The London Free Press
(11/26)
Judge halts water bottling operation
----------------------------------------
A Michigan judge on Tuesday ordered the company that produces Ice Mountain
bottled water to stop drawing water from a shallow aquifer in Michigan's
Mecosta County, saying the operation could damage the environment in
neighboring lakes, streams and wetlands. Source: The Holland Sentinel
(11/26)
EDITORIAL: Take action promptly to OK study of Lorain sewage plant move
----------------------------------------
For the city of Lorain, Ohio, hopes for a better future are riding on wise
development of its Lake Erie shoreline. Moving its sewage plant may be the
first step in a long line of improvements. Source: The Lorain Morning
Journal (11/26)
COMMENTARY: Preserve area's forests with wise management
----------------------------------------
An update on forest health conditions in the Great Lakes states is
especially important to ensure citizens are aware of the challenges facing
our national forests in the East. Source: Duluth News Tribune (11/25)
Canadian planners see gold in brownfields
----------------------------------------
Abandoned, derelict and badly contaminated industrial sites known as
brownfields -- there are an estimated 30,000 of them across Canada -- are
beginning to appeal to the pluckiest of developers and municipalities.
Source: The Globe and Mail (11/25)
Finned invader hits Lake Ontario
----------------------------------------
Biologists have discovered a grass carp, a dangerous invasive fish
originally from Eastern Asia, living in Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Don
River in Toronto. Source: The Globe and Mail (11/24)
Hydroelectricity viewed as boon for city's economy
----------------------------------------
Suffering from a budget shortfall, city leaders say hydroelectricity from
the Great Lakes could help boost Buffalo's economy in the future. Source:
The Buffalo News (11/24)
'Schooner' carries cargo of holiday spirit, legend
----------------------------------------
Milwaukee's Skylight Opera Theatre will sail into the holiday season with a
musical that combines the spirit of Christmas with local Great Lakes legend.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (11/23)
EDITORIAL: Aid for the lakes
----------------------------------------
Congressional legislation that would bring $6 billion to restore the Great
Lakes deserves widespread support. Source: The Toledo Blade (11/22)
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html
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Great Lakes Daily News is a collaborative project of the Great Lakes
Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TO SUBSCRIBE and receive this Great Lakes news compendium daily, see
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GreenBiz and BSR Launch New Online Business Resource on Climate Management
Two leading organizations have launched ClimateBiz.com, a free Web site to help companies address climate change in a way that aligns environmental responsibility with business success.
http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release-m.asp?objid=||D1D1366D000000F8FA167957597A4168
Energy Efficient Holiday Lighting Now Available
Two energy efficient options now offer consumers better ways to decorate their homes and businesses.
http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release-m.asp?objid=||D1D1366D000000F9150F9C60D3CCE1B5
Gray squirrels' faulty memories help forests, says study
CHICAGO — Gray squirrels' faulty memories turn out to be good for forests, but the nut-hoarding habits of their red cousins are not, U.S. scientists said Tuesday.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-26/s_10791.asp
Judge orders halt to Ice Mountain bottling operation in Michigan
A judge ordered the company that produces Ice Mountain bottled water to stop drawing water from wells in a Michigan county on Tuesday, saying the operation has damaged the environment.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-26/s_10793.asp
House members urge Bush to retain Clean Water Act protections
Half the 435-member House, including 26 Republicans, wrote President Bush on Tuesday urging him to scrap his administration's efforts to change Clean Water Act regulations that could reduce the scope of waterways protected nationwide.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-26/s_10794.asp
Industry needs a push to build better cars
It's that time of year. Late fall means a crisp chill in the air, frost on the ground — and automakers rolling out their latest, largest creations.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-26/s_10788.asp
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Great Lakes Daily News: 24 November 2003
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Fish diet down in Diporeia die-off
----------------------------------------
One of the basic building blocks of the Great Lakes food chain, tiny
crustaceans known as Diporeia, is disappearing. Source: Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (11/24)
EPA to relax sewage treatment rules?
----------------------------------------
Conservation groups are criticizing a move by the Environmental Protection
Agency to relax sewage discharge rules. Source: Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (11/24)
Lake effect snow tied to global warming?
----------------------------------------
A recent study shows a possible link between global warming and lake effect
snow in the Great Lakes region. Source: Great Lakes Radio Consortium
(11/24)
Active campaign keeps invading species out
----------------------------------------
Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources fights an uphill battle to
prevent non-native plants and animals from gaining a foothold. Source:
Duluth News Tribune (11/24)
E. coli levels dangerously high near water source for London, Ont.
----------------------------------------
Dangerously high E. coli levels surrounding a main London drinking water
source should not be ignored, a London water quality official says. Source:
The London Free Press (11/24)
Michigan fails to preserve wetlands
----------------------------------------
Michigan has lost hundreds of wetlands to development, land that is vital to
everything from providing homes for animals to preventing pesticides from
seeping into the groundwater. Source: The Detroit News (11/23)
Water pressures divide a Great Lake state
----------------------------------------
The invisible line that wraps around the Great Lakes, defining the watershed
known as the Great Lakes Basin, determines who is entitled to drinking water
from the Great Lakes. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (11/23)
Carps' damage could be huge
----------------------------------------
If silver and bighead carp get into Minnesota, they could have a profound
impact on the region's fishing and recreational industries. Source: Duluth
News Tribune (11/23)
Cross-lake ferry is nearly half built
----------------------------------------
Ship construction of the Muskegon-Milwaukee ferry is on schedule, Austal
officials said, and work is about halfway done. Source: Muskegon Chronicle
(11/23)
Weighing unsavory options to clean water supply
----------------------------------------
Beginning next month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency intends to
rigorously enforce the levels of radium in the public water supply. Source:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (11/22)
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html
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Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TO SUBSCRIBE and receive this Great Lakes news compendium daily, see
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Great Lakes Daily News: 25 November 2003
A collaborative project of the Great Lakes Information Network and the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium.
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
FirstEnergy says Davis-Besse ready
----------------------------------------
FirstEnergy Corp. told the Nuclear Regulatory Commission that its
Davis-Besse nuclear power plant is ready to restart, even as a grand jury is
investigating the company for possible wrongdoing in regard to the plant.
Source: Akron Beacon-Journal (11/25)
Ship fest turns out a wreck for Toledo
----------------------------------------
Toledo's tall ships festival is a tale of confusion, missing money, too much
security and too few festival goers, according to a newly released special
audit. But other lakefront cities that welcomed tall ships last summer are
hailing the events as a success. Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer (11/25)
Official: Restoration a tough sell
----------------------------------------
Explaining the benefits from a proposed $6 billion in federal funding for
water restoration programs in the Great Lakes region to Ohio farmers will be
a big task, an official with the Ottawa River Coalition says. Source:
Wapakoneta Daily News (11/25)
Smart growth gathering applauds W. Lafayette
----------------------------------------
West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County were among the Indiana communities
recognized as models for smart growth during the Indiana Land Use
Consortium's sixth annual conference last week. Source: The Star Press
(11/25)
Only one of six proposed plants is nearing completion
----------------------------------------
Only one of six natural gas power plants proposed for southwest Michigan has
been built, and four of those could be scrapped unless there is a market for
their electricty. Source: The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Herald-Palladium
(11/25)
Taconite plant offer goes before judge today
----------------------------------------
Creditors have approved a cash offer for bankrupt EVTAC Mining Co., a deal
that could put more than 300 employees back to work producing taconite
pellets by Christmas. Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune (11/25)
EPA water office chief resigns
----------------------------------------
In an announcement that surprised environmental groups and U.S. EPA staff,
G. Tracy Mehan, the agency's top water official, said that he would resign
effective Dec. 29. Source: Engineering News-Record (11/24)
Ferry has high-tech gear for emergencies
----------------------------------------
Crossing Lake Michigan at 35 mph in six-foot seas sounds as gut-wrenching as
an amusement park thrill ride. But the owners of Lake Express high-speed
ferry service are promising a safe and comfortable ride in all kinds of
weather and sea conditions. Source: The Muskegon Chronicle (11/23)
Species survivors
----------------------------------------
Minnesota is working to keep out invasive plants and animals, but the global
economy means the 100-year-old battle will never end. Source: St. Paul
Pioneer Press (11/23)
Debate over lake trout crash lives on
----------------------------------------
Though a recently published study suggests that dioxin contamination was
reponsible for the decline of lake trout populations in the 1950s, many
remain skeptical about applying the study's findings beyond Lake Ontario.
Source: Wausau Daily Herald (11/23)
For links to these stories and more, visit http://www.great-lakes.net/news/
Did you miss a day of Daily News? Remember to use our searchable story
archive at http://www.great-lakes.net/news/inthenews.html
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Great Lakes Daily News is a collaborative project of the Great Lakes
Information Network (www.glin.net) and the Great Lakes Radio
Consortium (www.glrc.org), both based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
TO SUBSCRIBE and receive this Great Lakes news compendium daily, see
www.glin.net/forms/dailynews_form.html or send an e-mail message to
majordomo@great-lakes.net with the command 'subscribe dailynews' (minus
the quotes) in the body of the message.
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a message to majordomo@great-lakes.net with the
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SMALL WIND E-NEWSLETTER
December 2003
Issue No. 7, November 25, 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.
Article summaries follow the Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
(1) FERC Denies Iowa Co-op Waiver – Orders Net Metering
(2) Illinois Wind Grants and Rebates
(3) Small Wind Installer Task Analysis Proposed
(4) Wisconsin Site Assessment Program
(5) Wisconsin Site Auditor Certification
(6) Public Renewables Partnership
(7) Upcoming Small Wind Events
INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
(8) Jacksonville (FL) Utility Offers Net Metering for Wind
INCENTIVES
(9) New Vermont Incentive
RESOURCES
(10) School Wind Energy Project Ideas
(11) Acoustic Tests of Small Wind Turbines
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(12) Detroit News
(13) Enterprise (Brockton, MA)
(14) KXMC-TV (Minot, ND)
(15) Harwich (MA) Oracle
(16) South Bend Tribune
ABOUT THE SMALL WIND NEWSLETTER
Includes information on how to subscribe and unsubscribe.
NEWS
(1) FERC Denies Iowa Co-op Waiver – Orders Net Metering
In two strongly worded decisions, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) denied a request of an Iowa G&T cooperative to have a waiver of PURPA requirements and ordered the subsidiary distribution cooperative (Midland Electric) to offer net metering to a customer with a small wind generator. Full article.
(2) Illinois Wind Grants and Rebates
Illinois has both a grant and a rebate program for wind projects. Grant proposals are due December 22, 2003 and the wind rebate program will start around January 2004. Full article.
(3) Small Wind Installer Task Analysis Proposed
Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) proposes to facilitate the development of a Task Analysis for practitioners who specify, install and maintain small wind (i.e., 100 kW or less) power generation systems and equipment nation-wide. REV will partner with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners to coordinate the development of the Small Wind Task Analysis. Full article.
(4) Wisconsin Wind Site Assessment Program
Small businesses and homeowners in Wisconsin have an innovative program to help them determine if wind power can meet their energy needs. The Wisconsin Wind Site Assessment Program provides low cost wind system consulting and site assessments for people who purchase their electricity from utilities who are participating the Focus on Energy program. Full article.
(5) Wisconsin Site Auditor Certification
Wisconsin certifies wind site assessors through a program administered by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Full article.
(6) Public Renewables Partnership
The Public Renewables Partnership is an initiative to enable public organizations, co-operatives, and Tribal utility authorities to effectively integrate renewable energy into their power portfolios and business strategies. PRP's primary objective is to better inform utility decision makers about renewable energy technology options and potentials. Small wind is one of the renewable energy technologies that PRP promotes. Full article.
(7) Upcoming Small Wind Events
Listing of upcoming small wind events.
INTERCONNECTION AND NET METERING
Headlines from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s Connecting to the Grid web site.
(8) Jacksonville (FL) Utility Offers Net Metering for Wind
JEA (Jacksonville, FL) offers net metering for residential PV and wind generation systems up to 10 kW. JEA will install a meter that runs backward when a customer's system generates more electricity than the customer uses. Customers receive credit at the full retail rate for electricity generated by eligible systems. If a system generates more electricity than its owner consumes during a billing cycle, the customer pays only the basic charge for service, and the excess credit is carried forward to the following billing cycle. 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.
(9) New Vermont Incentive
Launched on October 24, 2003, Vermont incentives are now available for qualifying solar electric, solar hot water, and small wind systems. Solar electric system and wind incentives for systems installed by a Vermont Solar and Wind Partner are $2.50/W up to 40% of total installed cost, not to exceed $12,500. For other installers, the incentive is set at $1.50/W up to 40% of the total installed system costs, with a maximum amount of $7,500. The program is expected to support the installation of approximately 120 to 150 new renewable energy systems in the state within a 12- to 24-month period. Full article.
RESOURCES
Click here for archived articles and links to Small Wind Resources.
(10) School Wind Energy Project Ideas for Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) Settlements
This two-page fact sheet from the U.S. Department of Energy provides a list of 10 school wind project ideas for Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) settlements. Some of the ideas on the list are appropriate for small wind systems. Full article.
(11) Acoustic Tests of Small Wind Turbines
Eight small wind turbines ranging from 400 watts to 100 kW in rated power were tested for acoustic emissions at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Rigorous test procedures based on international standards were followed for measurements and data analyses. Full article.
LINKS TO SMALL WIND IN THE NEWS
(12) Detroit News, November 20, 2003, Wind energy firm signs its first state customers. Full article.
(13) Enterprise (Brockton, MA), November 20, 2003. Turbine at new W-H approved. Full article.
(14) KXMC-TV (Minot, ND), October 25, 2003, Wind turbine planned. Full article.
(15) Harwich (MA) Oracle, November 18, 2003, Town officials weigh wind power’s possibilities. Full article.
(16) South Bend Tribune, November 18, 2003, It’s written on the wind. Full article.
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 have comments or news items, please send them to Larry Sherwood.
Senate gives up on energy legislation for this year
The Senate dropped efforts Monday to pass energy legislation this year after repeated attempts failed to find the two additional votes needed to push the bill through Congress.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-25/s_10746.asp
Global warming could cause trouble in California in 20 years and other stories
California could be feeling the heat within 20 years, many scientists report through many publications. Global warming would primarily affect California through fire and water.
http://www.enn.com/news/2003-11-25/s_10408.asp
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