Date: 1/20/2010

The issue of possible health effects from the sound from wind turbines has received much controversy of late. A recent peer review of the medical literature on the subject has recently been completed. Dr. McCunney provided a Webinar on the peer-review findings and answered questions on this issue. Additionally, Lawrence Mott, chairman of Renewable Energy Vermont, addressed how this issue can be effectively addressed at public meetings and with public officials.

Audio and text versions of the Webinar are available on this important, yet often misrepresented and misunderstood, issue of social acceptance of wind energy (WMV 15.3 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 01:21:22. Text Version (PDF 178 KB), Dr. McCunney’s presentation (PDF 232 KB), Lawrence Mott’s presentation (PDF 283 KB) Download Adobe Reader.

Kristy Wesh Wind Power Dr. McCunney's, health effects, Renewable Energy Vermont, webinar, Wind Power

solarCraft is proud to play a part in helping Sonoma County achieve its goal of energy independence. The 2009 passage of the Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (SCEIP) gives Sonoma County residential and commercial property owners the opportunity to easily finance renewable energy projects.

Kristy Wesh Solar finance renewable energy, SCEIP, Solar, Sonoma County, Sonoma County Energy Independence Program

More announcements about how the renewable energy industry plans to use the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Manufacturing Tax Credit are emerging. ReflecTech Inc. this week said that it is set to receive a $750,000 credit, which it will use to expand its existing production facility.

Kristy Wesh Solar mirror, ReflecTech, Renewable Energy, Solar, tax credit

Date: 1/14/2010

Source: Stacia Cudd, National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.

Audio with John Moore, Environmental Law & Policy Center Senior Attorney (MP3 2.8 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 00:02:57

Early last decade, the Environmental Law and Policy Center recognized wind power and other renewable energies as great solutions for diversifying income, improving environmental quality, and rural economic development. That’s when ELPC Senior Attorney John Moore says they created a report on “Repowering the Midwest,” which focused on the different types of government policies that could move renewable technologies — like wind power — forward.

“The Repowering Midwest report was really a major spark for Senator Harkin from Iowa and Senator Lugar from Indiana to think more about what the Farm Bill could do for clean energy development, and develop the Energy Title in the Farm Bill.”

Among the programs included in the Energy Title of the Farm Bill was the Rural Energy for America Program, or REAP. Moore says it’s one of the few federal programs that helps farmers and small businesses with grants and loan guarantees for the complete range of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. It provides as much as 25-percent of a project’s cost — up to $500,000 per project — and loan guarantees for project development. Wind power, according to Moore, has been a major part of REAP projects since 2003.

“REAP has funded more than $53,000,000 in wind projects, or about 350 projects both large and small. The REAP program is very popular now, with project rewards in virtually every state in the country. And the Administration supported more funding, so for 2010, REAP funding is going to be up another 40% or so, close to $100,000,000 dollars.”

Moore says the 2009 Recovery Act also included important financial incentives for wind development. From a farmer’s perspective, he says the most important program is the Treasury Grant Program, which provides up front cash grants for 30-percent of a project’s total capital costs.

“That’s new and it’s important because it doesn’t require owners of these projects to have the really substantial tax appetite and expenses that are necessary to take advantage of another important program called the Production Tax Credit, which the Recovery Act extended through 2012. It also expanded something called the Investment Tax Credit, also through 2012. And it also made it easier for rural electric cooperatives and public power companies and towns and cities and states to also borrow money and build clean energy projects.”

Moore calls the Treasury Grant Program a game-changer but says it’s only effective for a couple more years for most wind power projects. For smaller projects, however, he says the program is effective through 2016. This covers individual turbines of 100 kilowatts or less, which Moore says are nicely sized for many farm operations. He encourages producers to give that serious consideration.

More Information

• Rural Energy for America Program

  The 2008 Farm Bill, enacted by Congress in May 2008, converted the federal Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Program (formerly Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill) into the Rural Energy for America Program. The program allows farmers to apply for grants and loan agreements to help fund renewable energy projects and energy efficiency on the farm, including wind projects. The program also provides grants for energy audits and renewable energy development assistance.

Kristy Wesh Wind Power environmental law and policy center, Renewable Energy, Repoering the Midwest, Wind Power

EnergyPeriscope.com is a robust, professional-level performance estimating and financial analysis engine. Use it to create financial performance reports for single- or multiple-technology energy solutions. Accommodates retrofit applications, new construction buildings, and “Energy Farms” for selling solar PV or wind generated electricity. Models solar electric (PV), solar water heating, solar pool/spa heating, solar hydronic radiant floor systems, wind turbines and energy efficiency projects.

Kristy Wesh Solar Energy Periscope, energy solutions, financial analysis, Solar, water heating

2010 is shaping up to be the Year of Building Performance, but it could also be called the Year of Ongoing Relationships.

Kristy Wesh Green Communitites, Green Living green building

Date: 1/7/2010

In this issue of the New England Wind Froum newsletter, you will find:

• New England Wind Forum Returns
• Wind Projects Sprout throughout New England
• Hot Topics
• Commercial-Scale Wind Project Update
• Community-Scale and Customer-Sited Wind Project Update
• State and Regional Wind Policy Updates
• Federal Policy Initiatives
• Perspectives
• Small Wind Corner
• Events

Kristy Wesh Wind Power Federal Policy Initiatives, New England, Wind Forum Returns, Wind Project

Most of us love houseplants, and our homes feel so much more cheery and alive with indoor greenery surrounding us. Plants cleanse our air, remove toxins, and generally make us feel calmer and more in tune with nature. But are there are plants that are more effective than others at accomplishing the task? Apparently so… read on!

I can’t imagine a better suited natural pollution fighter than a beautiful, natural living plant. They enhance our living space, are aesthetically pleasing and some may even provide  provide pleasant aromas for our sense of smell. Given that there are so many choices out there, we did a little research to come up with some of the shining stars that seem to provide exceptional benefits to indoor living spaces. According to the New Ecologist, here is a list of some of the top ten air-cleansing houseplants:

Feston Rose Plant. The The Feston rose plant is one of the top 10 purifying plants according to The New Ecologist. The plant bears plethora of varying colors of flowers,  a pleasing scent, and is able to tolerate heat and lack of water very well.

Devil’s Ivy. This fast-growing vine is toxic if ingested, so if you have pets or young children might not be the best choice. It is also know as the Golden Pothos, and is known to be an effective natural cleanser against common pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide.

Phalaenopsis. What makes this plant unique is it possess relatively little “real estate” as far as leaves, but has a overabundance of beautiful white and pink hued flowers.

English Ivy. This houseplant is the best choice for those with canine companions, according to the New Ecologist. The plant  is know for being an effective filter for indoor pollutants like fecal particles, formaldehyde aerosols, and other nasty items.

The Parlor ivy. This cleansing houseplant is also know as the heartleaf Philodendron, and is hearty both in its leaf-shape as well as its care and (low) maintenance requirements.

African Violets. This popular, lovely plant comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and requires only minimal light and mild temperature conditions.

Christmas Cactus. This plant blooms in the Christmas season hence its name, but bears no resemblance to a cactus with its richly colored flowers that may come in violet, pink, red, orange, or fuschia.

Yellow Goddess. This plant provides large, abundant yellow flowers to enhance the beauty and aroma of any indoor space.

Garlic Vine. Garlic vine serves a two in one purpose of air purification and health treatments, according to common lore. It can even protect your home from vampires! 

Peace Lily. Last but not least, the oval white flowers generated by this plant provide peace, serenity, and air-cleansing properties to your home.

This list is by no means all-inclusive, but provides a good start for individuals interested in selecting eco-friendly houseplants. If any of you readers out there have any to add to the list, please do so by leaving a comment!

Cindy Green Living air cleansing houseplants, cleansing air, green plants, indoor pollution removal, refresh indoor air, remove indoor toxins

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) last week introduced a bill that she says will improve the federal permitting process to advance large-scale wind and solar development on suitable lands. But opponents argue that it will simply block renewable energy development on some federal lands in California.

Kristy Wesh Solar, Wind Power legislation, Senate, Solar, Wind

Lightspeed has invested across several cleantech areas, including solar (Stion), biofuels (LS9, Solazyme), clean coal (Coaltek), LED lighting (Exclara), and energy storage (Leyden Energy, f/k/a Mobius Power). Here are some of our cleantech predictions for 2010:

Kristy Wesh Solar cleantech, Lightspeed, predictions

Welcome to Clean Future Solutions!
We are the premier online superstore for clean green living. We specialize in clean energy solutions and environmentally friendly products for your home or business. We have everything you need from eco-friendly gift ideas to complete grid-tie and off-grid renewable energy systems. We can outfit your home or business with the latest in solar and wind power technology!

Clean Future Solutions is dedicated to providing affordable alternatives that help eliminate our country’s dependence on foreign supplied oil, contribute to a cleaner healthier environment and alleviate the effects of rising energy costs. Our goal is to educate individuals and businesses about today’s pressing energy and environmental issues, and to offer them the opportunity to participate in making a positive impact on the world.

Clean Future Solutions works with only the most reputable distributors of renewable energy equipment, and energy efficient and eco-friendly products to ensure the best possible customer experience. Every product we carry is thoroughly researched, and meets or exceeds our strict requirements for quality and performance.
Whether you’re looking to “go green” or just want to save money on your electricity bill, you can find everything you need right here at Clean Future Solutions. We invite you to browse our inventory, shop with confidence, and be sure to return often to get the latest updates on new products.

Please see the data below, and come to your own conclusions about what the future holds in respect to our current Energy Policies as they stand now, and how we have been allowed to progress to our current state of Global Concern. We are in the midst of a Global Climate and Energy Crisis because of the way we have chosen to use Energy. It is time to look at better alternatives for our energy sources and implement superior technologies that will sustain our energy needs, not threaten and deplete them.

Making a change is easier than you might think. Change is the only constant in this world…And Change is possible. The support is in place and the tools are readily available. Most importantly we have a reason to change…It is US, it is our own CHILDREN, and, last but not least, it is our own PLANET!!!!

-Noria Serafini, Owner of CleanFutureSolutions.com

Kristy Wesh Solar CleanFutureSolutions.com, Energy Crisis