Dear Blog Readers:
I received this message from Chuck Deppert who is the Indiana Representative for the Pew Environment Group. Deppert has attended and participated in many of our programs and activities. Will you join me in watching the video and then contacting President Obama about this important issue?
If you want more information or would like to help with more of the Pew Clean Energy Program Campaigns, please contact Deppert.
Laura Ann Arnold
This Pew Clean Energy Program video highlights the benefits of increasing fuel efficiency—or miles-per-gallon (MPG)—standards for cars and light trucks to as high as 60 MPG by 2025. It would increase investments in new technologies, save consumers money at the pump and help the United States break its cycle of addiction to foreign oil by saving more than 1.3 billion barrels.
Opponents are lobbying President Obama to adopt the weakest possible fuel efficiency standards. Please help counteract these efforts by urging President Obama to set the highest mileage standards of up to 60 mpg that will save American families money at the pump and decrease the amount of oil imported from overseas. He needs to hear your voice!
Charles 'Chuck' Deppert, Indiana Representative, Pew Environment Group
9112 Behner Brook Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1450
317-594-1776 (Home & office)
317-850-7197 (iPhone)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
IBJ: Eco-friendly downtown supply store closes
Original article: http://www.ibj.com/ecofriendly-store-closes/PARAMS/article/27652
Chris O'Malley, Indianapolis Business Journal
June 9, 2011
Green Way Supply, a pioneering green construction products store, has gone out of business, but one of its partners is planning a new building supply store with mix of green and traditional products.
The city’s pioneering store in eco-friendly building products, Green Way Supply, has closed its doors.
Selling everything from rain barrels to urban wind turbines, Green Way opened in 2007 as the green-building and remodeling trend began to catch on locally.
But the faltering economy and departure of business partner Terry Black, who moved back to his native Chicago to launch Live Green Now, left the other partners—the father-and-son team of Fred Gray and Randy Gray—to re-evaluate the direction of Green Way. [Actually, the name of Terry Black's new business is called Living Green Now.]
“I backed away from the business and my son is going to start a new business,” said Fred Gray.
Randy Gray’s business will open in a new, to-be announced location, and sell a mixture of eco-friendly and more traditional products such as skylights, the elder Gray said.
Green Way, with a 1,200-square-foot showroom at 620 N. Delaware in downtown Indianapolis, had six employees. In 2008, its partners told IBJ they were projecting sales of $3 million annually within three years.
“I was sad to hear it closed. I really was,” said former Green Way partner Black, who had been a fixture on morning television news programs with advice on eco-friendly building materials. “We had some pretty good growth for the first two and a half years.”
The recession hurt sales at Green Way, Black said, but he noted that he thinks the long-term future for green businesses remains strong. “I said [at Green Way] we’re on the right path here. We had a formula I thought was working.”
Fred Gray said his former business partner wanted to continue to invest in expanding the business, something he was not as inclined to do at the time.
Green Way was believed to be the only such store of its kind in the Indianapolis area, with the nearest being in Chicago.
The store was a good place to showcase Indiana-made, eco-friendly products, said Laura Arnold, former president of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association, a group of more than 60 renewable energy product manufacturers and related firms in the state. In fact, the association held its kickoff at the store.
Among Green Way’s customers was the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to which it sold products such as recycled tire flooring for the 544-seat Randall L . and Marianne W. Tobias Theater, better known as “The Toby.”
While the number of eco-friendly products has blossomed in recent years—many available via the Internet—Green Way gave shoppers a place to check out such relatively exotic products such as countertops made of concrete and recycled glass.
Big home-improvement stores have widened eco-product offerings in recent years, although they often don’t have the knowledgeable store personnel, Black said.
His new business in Northbrook, Ill., also has an e-commerce site with more than 300 products.
Black said he continues to partner with firms in the Indianapolis area to supply products, and recently finished installing a 40,000-watt solar array atop a parking canopy of an Evansville apartment complex.
The Chicago market offers more sales opportunities and Illinois offers broader incentives for green products, Black said. “There’s still a market down [in Indianapolis]” though, he added.
Among the ever-expanding array of products Black sells these days is a device that sprays water vapor onto outdoor air conditioning compressors, to make their heat-transfer more efficient.
Green Way Suply was a founding member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.
Chris O'Malley, Indianapolis Business Journal
June 9, 2011
Green Way Supply, a pioneering green construction products store, has gone out of business, but one of its partners is planning a new building supply store with mix of green and traditional products.
The city’s pioneering store in eco-friendly building products, Green Way Supply, has closed its doors.
Selling everything from rain barrels to urban wind turbines, Green Way opened in 2007 as the green-building and remodeling trend began to catch on locally.
But the faltering economy and departure of business partner Terry Black, who moved back to his native Chicago to launch Live Green Now, left the other partners—the father-and-son team of Fred Gray and Randy Gray—to re-evaluate the direction of Green Way. [Actually, the name of Terry Black's new business is called Living Green Now.]
“I backed away from the business and my son is going to start a new business,” said Fred Gray.
Randy Gray’s business will open in a new, to-be announced location, and sell a mixture of eco-friendly and more traditional products such as skylights, the elder Gray said.
Green Way, with a 1,200-square-foot showroom at 620 N. Delaware in downtown Indianapolis, had six employees. In 2008, its partners told IBJ they were projecting sales of $3 million annually within three years.
“I was sad to hear it closed. I really was,” said former Green Way partner Black, who had been a fixture on morning television news programs with advice on eco-friendly building materials. “We had some pretty good growth for the first two and a half years.”
The recession hurt sales at Green Way, Black said, but he noted that he thinks the long-term future for green businesses remains strong. “I said [at Green Way] we’re on the right path here. We had a formula I thought was working.”
Fred Gray said his former business partner wanted to continue to invest in expanding the business, something he was not as inclined to do at the time.
Green Way was believed to be the only such store of its kind in the Indianapolis area, with the nearest being in Chicago.
The store was a good place to showcase Indiana-made, eco-friendly products, said Laura Arnold, former president of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association, a group of more than 60 renewable energy product manufacturers and related firms in the state. In fact, the association held its kickoff at the store.
Among Green Way’s customers was the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to which it sold products such as recycled tire flooring for the 544-seat Randall L . and Marianne W. Tobias Theater, better known as “The Toby.”
While the number of eco-friendly products has blossomed in recent years—many available via the Internet—Green Way gave shoppers a place to check out such relatively exotic products such as countertops made of concrete and recycled glass.
Big home-improvement stores have widened eco-product offerings in recent years, although they often don’t have the knowledgeable store personnel, Black said.
His new business in Northbrook, Ill., also has an e-commerce site with more than 300 products.
Black said he continues to partner with firms in the Indianapolis area to supply products, and recently finished installing a 40,000-watt solar array atop a parking canopy of an Evansville apartment complex.
The Chicago market offers more sales opportunities and Illinois offers broader incentives for green products, Black said. “There’s still a market down [in Indianapolis]” though, he added.
Among the ever-expanding array of products Black sells these days is a device that sprays water vapor onto outdoor air conditioning compressors, to make their heat-transfer more efficient.
Green Way Suply was a founding member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
IU Law Student planning a Tiny House
From an email to InREA. If you can help please contact
Chris at his email.
-------------------------------------------------------
Good morning! I will be a first year law student at
IU-Indy this coming fall. To keep my long-term housing
costs down and limit my overall environmental impact,
I will be spending the bulk of this summer building a
tiny house modeled on the "Popomo" designed by
Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
(http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/popomo/).
While the iteration I will end up with will look
a bit different,it will still be a solar-powered,
172 square foot house on a flat bed trailer. I
already have preliminary arrangements to "dock" my
home, but thought I'd inquire as to whether the INREA
has seen this type of sustainable housing in use in
Indy before among students or others? Perhaps there
are individuals or organizations affiliated
with INREA that would be interested in the development
and implementation of a project like this.
Any resources or individuals' contact info you would
feel comfortable passing along would be received with
great interest. Thank you again for any help you can
offer!
Christopher Chrzan cchrzan@umail.iu.edu
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Watch This Space! An open letter from INREA President
Welcome back to the beginning!
Many INREA members have been wondering where we went as instability in membership on the board has slowed both progress and communications. But, if you watch this blog and our soon-to-be-new website, you will soon see the results of a new ground swell of activity in INREA. Since the new board was voted in at the end of February, momentum has been building.
We will soon be asking for you, our membership, to become more engaged, and we will provide ample and specific opportunities for that engagement.
First--restating our mission. We are renewing our focus on building public awareness and aiding in the education on issues of renewable energy in all its forms.
How will we do that? This year, we will focus on two very high-profile activities:
1. The Indiana Renewable Energy Conference, July 20-21. Discussion panels are being formed now on topics of geothermal, small wind, solar thermal, and PV thermal. There will be many opportunities to teach, learn, and most of all, HELP!
2. The National Solar Tour, October 1. You can see details from previous solar tours on the indianarenew.org. We will need local organizers throughout the state to help and/or host tours in their own communities, to showcase real people who own real renewable systems and allow-close-up experiences.
Next--mobilizing our membership. This may be the first you have heard of these events. Why might that be? We have not gotten the word out as effectively as we should. Well, we're making some significant mechanical changes to improve communications to our members. Here is what is happening:
*** The new members of the board have gotten acclimated and are starting to gain traction. Those new board members are:
- Chris Rohaly, President
- Chris Maher, Vice President
- Mark Oehler, Treasurer
- Travis Murphy, At Large Member
*** The website, indianarenew.org, is undergoing a refresh, and should be updated in the near future. If you are web-savvy and can volunteer of your time to help with upkeep once the transition is complete, please let us know.
*** The ASES convention in May -- INREA will represent the state of Indiana in the person of Chris Maher, Vice President.
*** Our IRS tax status, which has been a bit of a soap opera, appears close to being resolved after the resubmission of lost paperwork.
*** For those who are following energy legislation, this has been a busy year in the State House. Please see the IDEA blog (indianadg.wordpress.blog) for all the details.
I'm pleased to trusted to serve as your president. We (the Board of Directors) have great plans: more programs, face-to-face meetings with members, membership drives, newsletters: but these plans cannot be executed by a board of directors. We welcome your input, invite your suggestions & expertise, and more than anything, request your involvement. That alone will enable the resurgence of INREA and further renewable energy understanding across the state.
Please feel free to contact any of the board members with questions or input. Information on every member, including contact information, will be included on the updated website, or you can reply to me via this blog post.
Thanks for your past and future support. Let's get the word out!
Best Regards,
Chris Rohaly
Green Alternatives, Inc
2011 President, Indiana Renewable Energy Association
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Save the Dates: July 20-21, 2011 for Indiana Renewable Energy Conference
For more details and updates CLICK HERE.
WIndiana 2011 will be even Even Bigger and Better!
After 3 years of being Indiana's only statewide wind industry conferences WIndiana 2011 is expanding to include the Indiana Renewable Energy Conference. Plus this year the Indiana Renewable Energy Association will be involved in the planning and presentation of entire track of "how-to" sessions for residential and small business owners on wind, solar PV and solar thermal systems.
DATES: July 20-21, 2011
PLACE: Indianapolis Convention Center
This year's conference will include:
Registration Opens Soon!
Come back here and check for the opening of registration, or follow us on Twitter: IndianaEnergy
Interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor at WIndiana 2011? Click Here for Details.
This information brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.
WIndiana 2011 will be even Even Bigger and Better!
After 3 years of being Indiana's only statewide wind industry conferences WIndiana 2011 is expanding to include the Indiana Renewable Energy Conference. Plus this year the Indiana Renewable Energy Association will be involved in the planning and presentation of entire track of "how-to" sessions for residential and small business owners on wind, solar PV and solar thermal systems.
DATES: July 20-21, 2011
PLACE: Indianapolis Convention Center
This year's conference will include:
- Sessions on Utility-level Wind, Solar, Biomass
- How-to sessions for residential/small business Wind-Solar PV- Solar Thermal
- National and State Speakers
- Wind farm Tour-Solar Installation Tour-Biomass Tour
- Expanded Exhibition Floor and hours
- Continuing Education sessions for K-12 teachers
Registration Opens Soon!
Come back here and check for the opening of registration, or follow us on Twitter: IndianaEnergy
Interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor at WIndiana 2011? Click Here for Details.
This information brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Delaware County Company Wants to Start Battery Production
January 24, 2011
News Release
Yorktown, IN. – January 24, 2011 – Enertek Solutions, Inc. a Portland, Ore.-based company specializing in Safer, Smarter Advanced Battery and anti-idling technology via the InfiniGEN™, today announced an exclusive collaboration with Xtreme Energy Products, LLC, an Indiana-based battery and energy distribution company and green energy power integrator.
Enertek Solutions began the process of working full-time with the principals of Xtreme Energy Products in searching for a manufacturing building in Indiana, which can facilitate production of the InfiniGEN™ next generation lithium batteries. This announcement is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in North America.
XfiniGEN Power Systems Technologies (www.xfinigen.com) is the collaborative name of the new company. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.
The patented Infini-Gen® anti-idling solutions are the next generation in auxiliary power units for multiple applications and initial tests of InfiniGEN™ products have been encouraging. The Infini-Gen™ uses only batteries for storage of the electrical power, and is power-charging agnostic, meaning it doesn‟t matter where it gets it charge, but accepts charging in record time, with the safest smartest battery storage technology currently available in the marketplace.
The new XfiniGEN entity stands to capitalize on the many advances made by Enertek. Markets where these products will be utilized include: refrigerated trucks, wind, solar, energy storage centers, US military, police and fire emergency equipment. XfiniGEN also plans to expand the lithium technology into Xtreme Energy‟s current line of alternative energy products to develop solutions including all-electric source of green power for cab heating, cooling and load power, mobile cell tower sites, solar trailers, and off grid power/lighting systems utilizing advanced battery technology originally developed for the military.
“We are excited to bring this next generation lithium battery technology to Indiana,” said Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products, “and are anxious to find a home to start the manufacturing process.” Xtreme Energy Products is currently looking for cities within Indiana that provide the infrastructure and workforce that will best suit the manufacturing process of not only these next generation Lithium batteries but also the future expansion of a Lithium cell manufacturing facility, which could facilitate new job growth in the thousands.
About Xtreme Energy Products
Xtreme Energy Products is an energy storage and alternative energy distribution center specializing in products ranging from small household batteries to automotive/commercial batteries and large stationary power systems (www.batteryxpress.com). The family owned business has been in the battery and energy storage-distribution business for 40+ years in the Indiana region, and expects to capitalize on its long-standing and vast experience in commercial, industrial and residential contacts for not only manufacturing, but distribution of their proprietary energy systems and services.
About Enertek Solutions and InfiniGEN®
Originally created 5+ years ago, the Infini-Gen® advanced energy storage solutions have been specifically designed to supply power in a variety of applications across the board in many industries. Known for it‟s compact, light-weight and high-energy density of its advanced Lithium Polymer Batteries, these customized energy storage systems can be configured in any voltage and power requirements. The systems are designed as „plug-n-play‟ for field-use without the necessity of a field engineer to re-set should power parameters change. For more information, please contact Enertek Solutions, Inc. at 503-525-4942 or email info@enerteksolutions.com .
Source: Xtreme Energy Products
Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products has two other renewable energy companies which are members of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.
News Release
Yorktown, IN. – January 24, 2011 – Enertek Solutions, Inc. a Portland, Ore.-based company specializing in Safer, Smarter Advanced Battery and anti-idling technology via the InfiniGEN™, today announced an exclusive collaboration with Xtreme Energy Products, LLC, an Indiana-based battery and energy distribution company and green energy power integrator.
Enertek Solutions began the process of working full-time with the principals of Xtreme Energy Products in searching for a manufacturing building in Indiana, which can facilitate production of the InfiniGEN™ next generation lithium batteries. This announcement is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in North America.
XfiniGEN Power Systems Technologies (www.xfinigen.com) is the collaborative name of the new company. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.
The patented Infini-Gen® anti-idling solutions are the next generation in auxiliary power units for multiple applications and initial tests of InfiniGEN™ products have been encouraging. The Infini-Gen™ uses only batteries for storage of the electrical power, and is power-charging agnostic, meaning it doesn‟t matter where it gets it charge, but accepts charging in record time, with the safest smartest battery storage technology currently available in the marketplace.
The new XfiniGEN entity stands to capitalize on the many advances made by Enertek. Markets where these products will be utilized include: refrigerated trucks, wind, solar, energy storage centers, US military, police and fire emergency equipment. XfiniGEN also plans to expand the lithium technology into Xtreme Energy‟s current line of alternative energy products to develop solutions including all-electric source of green power for cab heating, cooling and load power, mobile cell tower sites, solar trailers, and off grid power/lighting systems utilizing advanced battery technology originally developed for the military.
“We are excited to bring this next generation lithium battery technology to Indiana,” said Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products, “and are anxious to find a home to start the manufacturing process.” Xtreme Energy Products is currently looking for cities within Indiana that provide the infrastructure and workforce that will best suit the manufacturing process of not only these next generation Lithium batteries but also the future expansion of a Lithium cell manufacturing facility, which could facilitate new job growth in the thousands.
About Xtreme Energy Products
Xtreme Energy Products is an energy storage and alternative energy distribution center specializing in products ranging from small household batteries to automotive/commercial batteries and large stationary power systems (www.batteryxpress.com). The family owned business has been in the battery and energy storage-distribution business for 40+ years in the Indiana region, and expects to capitalize on its long-standing and vast experience in commercial, industrial and residential contacts for not only manufacturing, but distribution of their proprietary energy systems and services.
About Enertek Solutions and InfiniGEN®
Originally created 5+ years ago, the Infini-Gen® advanced energy storage solutions have been specifically designed to supply power in a variety of applications across the board in many industries. Known for it‟s compact, light-weight and high-energy density of its advanced Lithium Polymer Batteries, these customized energy storage systems can be configured in any voltage and power requirements. The systems are designed as „plug-n-play‟ for field-use without the necessity of a field engineer to re-set should power parameters change. For more information, please contact Enertek Solutions, Inc. at 503-525-4942 or email info@enerteksolutions.com .
Source: Xtreme Energy Products
Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products has two other renewable energy companies which are members of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Greenfield Daily Reporter: McCordsville family looks to slice electric bills with solar energy
 |
| Nick Hofmeister's home uses 24 photovoltaic (PV) panels to generate an estimated 7,500 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. (Photo/Joe Hornaday/Greenfield Daily Reporter) |
jhornaday@greenfieldreporter.com
McCORDSVILLE – In an effort to help the environment while at the same time lower their energy bills, Nick and Lisa Hofmeister have recently turned the roof of their McCordsville home into a small power station.
The residence now utilizes 24 photovoltaic panels to generate an estimated 7,500 kilowatt hours by harnessing the energy delivered by the galaxy’s largest power supplier – the sun.
“It’s something I had considered for a long time,” Nick Hofmeister said. “With all the talk on the consumption of natural resources and the impact on our environment as a whole, our family made a conscience effort to make some changes around the house. If there was an option that would help us reduce our long term expenses while reducing pollution, we should consider it.”
Though the Hofmeisters sought a way for their home to run on cleaner energy, part of their green effort was stimulated by the green that was leaving their wallets. They also wanted to decrease their energy bills.
According to Nick Hofmeister, during the past eight years, the family had taken several steps to reduce their electrical consumption, and were successful in decreasing their usage by 20 percent. Their efforts might have made things easier on the town’s electrical grid, it did little to help their bills.
“Our electric bill still grew from $75 a month to an average of $153,” Nick Hofmeister explained. “Once I realized the impact on my wallet, I started an all-out project to find a way to control current and future utility expenses.”
And that is when he began the necessary steps to make the solar power project a reality.
“I researched options and companies on Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s websites,” he explained.
After crunching the numbers, he realized that the implementation of any reduced-energy project was going to be costly. The Hofmeisters ended up fronting about $25,000 to make the solar panels happen.
“The upfront cost stings a little bit,” Hofmeister said. “It was the main reason I decided to take a class. I wanted to make sure I understood the investment I was considering.”
He traveled to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and took a class on renewable energy so that he could better understand the technology and the impact it would have on both his life and bank account.
Initally, Hofmeister was interested in both wind and solar energy, before deciding that solar power was the way to go for his plan. Wind power was ruled out because it was not going to be asthetically appropriate in his McCordsville neighborhood. A wind tower needs to be about 80 feet in the air and the wind has to be blowing at least 20 miles an hour to work. The wind turbine would also be very noisy.
“I pursued solar panels because the back of my house faces south. I could fit enough panels on the back of my house to cover at least 50 percent of my electrical needs,” Hofmeister said.
And with some adjustments, he could one day get up to 75 percent of his electrical needs covered.
After communicating with McCordsville officials to make sure the project met the permit and code requirements and ensuring that his original homeowner’s covenants did not restrict solar panel use, Hofmeister began looking at panel providers.
He asked several solar panel system installers to provide estimates and recommendations, before settling on Green Works Energy LLC out of Yorktown. Hofmeister started working with Ryan Stout and looked at the three options for solar energy: grid-tied; off-grid; and grid-tied with battery backup.
“I decided on the grid-tied solution,” Hofmeister explained.
Grid-tied panels use a combination of the production their own energy and then using the utility company’s power when the sun is not available. The off-grid solution uses a combination of solar panels, batteries and generators to provide the home with energy. The grid-tied with battery backup proposition allows the user to consume solar energy during the day and batteries at night while the utility company is used as a backup.
Initially, Hofmeister wanted to use the off-grid option, but was told by Stout that a truly cost-effective battery solution was still five to 10 years away.
Working with Hofmeister and Stout, Central Indiana Power’s engineering department devised a plan to create a safe interconnection of the solar panel generation equipment to the grid as well as a metering plan to allow the utility to “net-meter” the energy usage. By net-metering, the utility deducts any excess energy generated by the equipment from the member’s total energy usage for the billing cycle.
Even though the solar panels result in lower energy costs and provide a way to protect the environment, there are other advantages to harnessing the sun’s rays for power. Through 2016, Hofmeister will be able to get a 30 percent federal tax credit, and not just a deduction from income. He will be able to get back that money in taxes that he paid this year.
“I also learned that power companies that are owned by investors must create or buy energy created through renewable processes,” he said.
Companies can buy the energy credits from someone producing it, if they are unable to produce or buy the amount of actual energy from a renewable process.
“That meant that even though I am using the solar energy I create, I can sell them credit for creating the energy,” Hofmeister explained. “Whatever I produce more than I’m using, it goes back into the grid.”
Those “credit dollars” from energy companies are wide ranging currently, which is why the payoff on Hofmeister’s system could be anywhere from five to 11 years.
“We are just starting the process of setting up the sale of my credits. Once that is completed, I will be able to nail down the payback period.”
Once the system payback period is complete, there are a few things that could happen. Hofmeister will either make money on the system, produce enough energy and make enough by selling credits that his electricity is completely paid for, or produce enough energy that Hofmeister at least limits increases in his energy bill.
“Since the dawn of human kind, I don’t know that energy has ever reduced in cost. If it did, it didn’t last long. So I’m guessing that the long term impact of my system will be a much smaller utility bill than those not utilizing some sort of renewable energy production,” Hofmeister explained. “After we get it paid off, we will have control over the electricity bill.”
Even though the installation of solar panels was the right move for the Hofmeisters, it might not be the right thing for everyone. With a steep upfront cost, the investiture in renewable energy might not fit into many budgets.
“It’s not a cheap investment,” Hofmeister said. “If you are more concerned about the environment, or simply (reducing) natural resources consumed to produce energy, then don’t worry about the tax credit or selling the green credits and install it. If I ignored the tax credit and the option to sell the green credits, my system would have taken 25 years to pay off.”
Any Central Indiana Power customer who is interested in information about member owned generation can contact Central Indiana Power’s energy adviser Darrin Couch at 317-477-2218 or at couch@cipower.com .
Ryan Stout and GreenWorks Energy, LLC in Yorktown is a member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
ECI Wind and Solar Selected to Install Wind and Solar Systems at Taylor University
January 11, 2011
News Release
Upland, Ind. -- ECI Wind and Solar, owned by Craig Porter and Eric Cotton of Lafayette, has been awarded a contract to install two wind turbines as part of Taylor University’s $41.5 million science construction project. Additionally, students from Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus will serve internships during the project.
According to company CEO Eric Cotton, ECI Wind and Solar, based in Fairmount, Ind., has installed a number of renewable energy systems throughout the State of Indiana. Taylor officials say the renewable wind energy is a component of their efforts to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification for the new complex, scheduled for opening in the fall of 2012.
At a cost of $700,000, the Taylor University project consists of two Endurance E-3120 50 KW wind turbines, which will be installed on 120 foot monopole towers. ECI will also install a 10 KW solar photovoltaic system on the new science complex.
Cotton said the project represents a significant milestone in the growth of ECI Wind and Solar. “This project will allow us to expand our workforce. It is a great example of how renewable energy projects lead to real economic development while providing energy independence, educational experience, and environmental benefit,” he said.
Isaac Slaven, Program Chair for the Sustainability program at Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus said, “This is the exactly the kind of opportunity for which we have been preparing our students; first as interns, then as graduates ready for the renewable energy workforce.”
About ECI Wind and Solar: ECI Wind and Solar designs and installs turnkey renewable energy solutions and has installed some of the most notable Renewable Energy Systems in the State of Indiana, including the largest battery based system in the Midwest.
Source: ECI Wind and Solar INC
ECI Wind and Solar is a founding member of both the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.
News Release
Upland, Ind. -- ECI Wind and Solar, owned by Craig Porter and Eric Cotton of Lafayette, has been awarded a contract to install two wind turbines as part of Taylor University’s $41.5 million science construction project. Additionally, students from Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus will serve internships during the project.
According to company CEO Eric Cotton, ECI Wind and Solar, based in Fairmount, Ind., has installed a number of renewable energy systems throughout the State of Indiana. Taylor officials say the renewable wind energy is a component of their efforts to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification for the new complex, scheduled for opening in the fall of 2012.
At a cost of $700,000, the Taylor University project consists of two Endurance E-3120 50 KW wind turbines, which will be installed on 120 foot monopole towers. ECI will also install a 10 KW solar photovoltaic system on the new science complex.
Cotton said the project represents a significant milestone in the growth of ECI Wind and Solar. “This project will allow us to expand our workforce. It is a great example of how renewable energy projects lead to real economic development while providing energy independence, educational experience, and environmental benefit,” he said.
Isaac Slaven, Program Chair for the Sustainability program at Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus said, “This is the exactly the kind of opportunity for which we have been preparing our students; first as interns, then as graduates ready for the renewable energy workforce.”
About ECI Wind and Solar: ECI Wind and Solar designs and installs turnkey renewable energy solutions and has installed some of the most notable Renewable Energy Systems in the State of Indiana, including the largest battery based system in the Midwest.
Source: ECI Wind and Solar INC
ECI Wind and Solar is a founding member of both the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Purdue Researchers Say US lacks infrastructure to consume more ethanol
Tue, 2011-01-04 10:56
Byline: Brian Wallheimer, Purdue University
The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.
The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.
Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, and co-authors Frank Dooley, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, and Daniela Viteri, a former Purdue graduate student, used U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency data to determine that the United States is at the "blending wall," the saturation point for ethanol use. Without new technology or a significant increase in infrastructure, Tyner predicts that the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced.
The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires an increase of renewable fuel production to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. About 13 billion gallons of renewable fuel was required for 2010, the same amount Tyner predicts is the threshold for U.S. infrastructure and consumption ability.
"You can't get there with ethanol," said Tyner, whose findings were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Tyner said there simply aren't enough flex-fuel vehicles, which use an 85 percent ethanol blend, or E85 stations to distribute more biofuels. According to EPA estimates, flex-fuel vehicles make up 7.3 million of the 240 million vehicles on the nation's roads. Of those, about 3 million of flex-fuel vehicle owners aren't even aware they can use E85 fuel.
There are only about 2,000 E85 fuel pumps in the United States, and it took more than 20 years to install them.
"Even if you could produce a whole bunch of E85, there is no way to distribute it," Tyner said. "We would need to install about 2,000 pumps per year through 2022 to do it. You're not going to go from 100 per year to 2,000 per year overnight. It's just not going to happen."
And even if the fuel could be distributed, E85 would have to be substantially cheaper than gasoline to entice consumers to use it because E85 gets lower mileage, Tyner said. If gasoline were $3 per gallon, E85 would have to be $2.34 per gallon to break even on mileage.
There is talk of increasing the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline for regular vehicles from 10 percent to 15 percent. But Tyner said that even if the EPA does allow it, the blending wall would be reached again in about four years.
Tyner said advances in the production of thermo-chemical biofuels, which are created by using heat to chemically alter biomass and create fuels, would be necessary to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard. He said those fuels would be similar enough to gasoline to allow unlimited blending and would increase the amount of biofuel that could be used.
"Producing the hydrocarbons directly doesn't have the infrastructure problems of ethanol, and there is no blend wall because you're producing gasoline," Tyner said. "If that comes on and works, then we get there. There is significant potential to produce drop-in hydrocarbons from cellulosic feedstocks."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded Tyner's research.
Source URL: http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/us-lacks-infrastructure-consume-more-ethanol
Byline: Brian Wallheimer, Purdue University
The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.
The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.
Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, and co-authors Frank Dooley, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, and Daniela Viteri, a former Purdue graduate student, used U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency data to determine that the United States is at the "blending wall," the saturation point for ethanol use. Without new technology or a significant increase in infrastructure, Tyner predicts that the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced.
The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires an increase of renewable fuel production to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. About 13 billion gallons of renewable fuel was required for 2010, the same amount Tyner predicts is the threshold for U.S. infrastructure and consumption ability.
"You can't get there with ethanol," said Tyner, whose findings were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.
Tyner said there simply aren't enough flex-fuel vehicles, which use an 85 percent ethanol blend, or E85 stations to distribute more biofuels. According to EPA estimates, flex-fuel vehicles make up 7.3 million of the 240 million vehicles on the nation's roads. Of those, about 3 million of flex-fuel vehicle owners aren't even aware they can use E85 fuel.
There are only about 2,000 E85 fuel pumps in the United States, and it took more than 20 years to install them.
"Even if you could produce a whole bunch of E85, there is no way to distribute it," Tyner said. "We would need to install about 2,000 pumps per year through 2022 to do it. You're not going to go from 100 per year to 2,000 per year overnight. It's just not going to happen."
And even if the fuel could be distributed, E85 would have to be substantially cheaper than gasoline to entice consumers to use it because E85 gets lower mileage, Tyner said. If gasoline were $3 per gallon, E85 would have to be $2.34 per gallon to break even on mileage.
There is talk of increasing the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline for regular vehicles from 10 percent to 15 percent. But Tyner said that even if the EPA does allow it, the blending wall would be reached again in about four years.
Tyner said advances in the production of thermo-chemical biofuels, which are created by using heat to chemically alter biomass and create fuels, would be necessary to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard. He said those fuels would be similar enough to gasoline to allow unlimited blending and would increase the amount of biofuel that could be used.
"Producing the hydrocarbons directly doesn't have the infrastructure problems of ethanol, and there is no blend wall because you're producing gasoline," Tyner said. "If that comes on and works, then we get there. There is significant potential to produce drop-in hydrocarbons from cellulosic feedstocks."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded Tyner's research.
Source URL: http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/us-lacks-infrastructure-consume-more-ethanol
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