Clean Line Energy received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval to begin selling space on their Rock Island Clean Line high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project that will run from northwest Iowa to Illinois. It will move 3500 MW of power from the best wind resources in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota to communities in Illinois and other states east.
We’re excited to see clean energy moving across the plains and can’t wait for the Grain Belt Express Clean Line through Kansas to get up and running! According to their website, this line could be ready for commercial operation in 2017. Imagine moving 3500 MW of renewable energy (more than we currently have installed) across the state to help power our friends to the east.
Michael Skelly, Jimmy Glotfelty and the rest of the Clean Line team have worked hard and deserve congratulations on their progress so far.
Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director, Climate + Energy Project
Maui Wind Farm Includes Storage
May 18, 2012
Great news for Sempra, BP Wind and Siemens as Sempra and Maui Electric announced development of a new wind farm including 4 MW of energy storage. The announcement stated ”the 21 MW wind farm will utilize eight Siemens wind turbines to generate enough renewable energy for approximately 10,000 average Maui homes.”
Bravo to Hawaii for a great move like this to create a secure energy future for its residents.
Read more about this new wind farm here.
Other great news:
Looks like New Mexico is preparing for a new renewable energy transmission line. The proposed project and associated upgraded facilities would make it possible to transport New Mexico’s wind and solar energy to electricity users across the Western states according to the announcement.
Well with all this great new news, we hope you have a great weekend!
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Dir of Communications & Special Projects
This is a wonderful opportunity presented by the Wind Powering America project of the US Department of Energy. Please share this opportunity with recent graduates or others interested in all the opportunities in the wind industry.
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Careers in Wind Energy Webinar
Wednesday, May 16 at 3 p.m. EDT (1 p.m. MDT)
This free webinar is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America 2012 webinar series. It will provide an overview of the wind energy careers from an industry perspective. The webinar will focus on recent work in defining wind energy careers while highlighting some of the critical, but lesser known, career paths in the wind industry.
Andy Swift, with the engineering department at Texas Tech University, will discuss graduates entering the workforce in resource assessment and project design and development. Jonathan Miles, James Madison University, will discuss careers in policy and finance related to renewables. Derek Johnson, Redstone College, will discuss the career of a wind smith, where graduates are employed, and what the college is hearing from graduates and the industry about the technical training program. Jonathan Bartlett, Wind Powering America national director, will discuss wind-related careers in law, banking, archaeology, biology, environmental consulting, and more. The webinar is free; no registration is required. Log-in information is below.
Audio Access Toll-free #: 800-988-9387 Toll #: 1-773-756-4665 Participant passcode: 5263973
Web Access URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join.php?i=RW9341550&p=5263973&t=c
If you have trouble with the above link, try going to this website and enter the information separately: URL: https://www.mymeetings.com/nc/join/ Conference number: RW9341550 Audience passcode: 5263973
Save the date for a future webinar. June 20: Success Stories
The US Department of Energy has announced funding to support the adoption of alternative fuels, including electric vehicles, in towns and cities across America. As stated in the announcement, “The funding will help cut red tape and streamline permitting processes for homeowners and businesses, provide training for mechanics and first responders, and support community planning to expand fueling infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles. The Administration’s investments in electric drive and alternative fuel vehicles are part of a comprehensive strategy to increase America’s energy security, reduce emissions, and help families and drivers save money.”
The program also encourages partnering with the Clean Cities coalitions across the country. In the Heartland there are Clean Cities coalitions in Tulsa, Central OK, New Mexico and Kansas City. Learn more about the location of these coalitions.
The DOE expects to award grants to 10-20 projects which will be implemented over the next 2 years.
Read more about this new opportunity.
posted by Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Communications Director
We Have an Opportunity for You!
May 7, 2012
This Spring has been especially busy for CEP and our staff and we now have an opportunity to hire a full-time Program Director. This is an exciting opportunity to grow programming across the Heartland region.
SO, if you are a hard worker who cares about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the future of the Heartland send us your resume.
Download the position description here.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Energy Conservation: The 5th Fuel
May 4, 2012
We hope you have heard our exciting news about the ENERGY QUEST USA documentary that has been premiered on PBS. We are thrilled to have the work in Kansas by Kansans highlighted on this national stage. We think you should be proud too.
Please take the time to watch your local Kansas PBS station this Sunday, May 6th at 6:00pm. Make sure to share your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter. Stay in the loop with #earthtom and #takechargeKS.
Here is a quick peak at some of the Kansas work covered in the documentary:
Let us know what you think about the coverage of this work in Kansas.
Are you surprised? Impressed? Wish you knew more about this work?
Have a great weekend!
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Communications and Special Projects Director
CEP on Primetime? Not Quite
May 2, 2012
This week we are counting down to the Kansas PBS showing of ENERGY QUEST USA, the third installment of the acclaimed documentary Earth: The Operators’ Manual.
CEP’s innovative Take Charge Challenge is one 5 programs from across America highlighted in by the filmmakers.
All of the Kansas PBS stations will air Energy Quest USA this SUNDAY, MAY 6th, 6pm. We encourage you to watch, host a watch party or share with your classroom.
Tomorrow we will share how you can host a watch party and some snippets of the national documentary.
Stay tuned!
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Communications Director
Happy Earth Day week to everyone!
The Farm Bill markups are beginning to circulate and we have a request from 25×25 coordinator Brent Bailey – particularly for folks in Kansas. Please take a second to read this note from Brent about the Energy Title programs in their future in the Farm Bill.
Senate Ag Committee Releases FarmBill for Markup; No Funding for Energy Title Programs
Last Friday, the Senate Ag Committee leaders released their version the next Farm Bill. According to the Chairwoman’s Summary of the 2012 Farm Bill Committee Print, the bill would reduce the deficit by $23 billion. Markup will begin on Wednesday, April 25 with consideration of a package of managers’ amendments offered by Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts.
While we are still processing the details of the bill, the Senate mark would reauthorize most of the Energy Title programs with the exception of the Repowering Assistance Program and Forest Biomass for Energy Program. However, the Senate’s draft bill provides no mandatory funding for any Energy Title programs (although it does transfer any remaining funding from the Repowering Assistance Program to REAP).
While we are pleased that the majority of the Energy Title programs were reauthorized in the 2012 Farm Bill mark, getting them funded will be a major challenge. The Senate bill would place Energy Title programs at the mercy of discretionary spending controlled by the Appropriation Committees. Today, we need your support and help to move a bipartisan amendment that would provide some mandatory funds for the core programs of REAP, BCAP and the Biorefinery Assistance Program.
Please reach out to Senator Pat Roberts at (202) 224-4774 or email the Senator and ask him to support an amendment that will provide some mandatory funding for REAP, BCAP, and BAP. If you, your members, or colleagues have utilized these programs, then you understand the multiple benefits and value these programs provide. REAP and BCAP has been utilized by scores of farmers and ranchers in Kansas to implement energy efficiency measures and renewable energy projects and to supply sustainable sources of biomass for energy. It is extremely important that these programs remain available to Kansas producers.
Thank you for your support and for your time.
Brent Bailey
25x’25 State Facilitator
601-573-4815
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Posted by Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications & Special Projects
Flat Ridge 2 Celebration IS Reason to Celebrate
April 11, 2012
Last week Dorothy, myself, and a couple of hundred Kansans had reason to celebrate in the Harper County Sale Barn. BP invited us all to celebrate the fact that the Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in now in full construction.
We pulled out of Hutchinson to a kinda gray and wet morning headed out to the Kingman-Harper area. As we headed south and west the sky brightened a bit and then we saw them – right there. I have to let my bias hang out here and say they were beautiful. Beautiful giants of the prairie! The wheat so green and waving in a gentle breeze with a few cattle here and there.
The sight at the sale barn was just as hopeful. All the requisite elected and corporate officials were milling around
. But more important were the dozens and dozens of local farm families. So many of them older and reserved, as you would expect a long time farmer in western Kansas to be. But there was an undeniable pep in the collective step in that sale barn and a few more newer model cars and trucks in the parking lot as well. It was evident all around us that this wind farm is having an economic impact in this community – for these families in this room with us. I don’t know which felt better – the view of those turbines or feeling of hope that comes with an economic boost.
Three turbines a day are being installed currently at the Flat Ridge 2 farm. That is great news. We had an opportunity to leave our little mark on this farm as BP had a blade for a turbine displayed on Main Street and available to each of us to sign. Walking along that huge blade and reading the notes posted by the community was my favorite part of the day: local elementary students, a 4th generation Harper county farm family, elected leaders, and teenagers alike left their mark on the blade.
Read more about the breadth of the economic investment BP and Sempra are making with the Flat Ridge farms and how the Governor sees the future of wind in Kansas. There has also been a recent announcement that the wid farm has another customer to purchase energy. Keep it comin’!
posted by Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects
Huelskamp and Kerr Spar on Wind
April 11, 2012
The lunchtime meeting of the Hutchinson Rotary Club was a little more electric than usual. Representative Huelskamp attended the meeting and provided a bit of a legislative update (Hutchinson is Congressman Huelskamp’s hometown). The Republican Representative of the district known as the Big First (and the former district of Senator Moran) took a few questions from the crowd. One Rotarian asked the Mr. Huelskamp to clarify his lack of support of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) which has been vitally important to economic growth in Hutchinson and the Big First more broadly. Rep. Huelskamp has repeatedly taken a Tea Party stance to cut all subsidies (as he calls them) for energy development yet not addressing questions about how exactly he proposes and to eliminate tax support for oil and gas development or clearly articulating the impact of eliminating the PTC will have on the growing wind industry in his district. The representative then faced a follow-up question from about major job loss in the community.
The Hutchinson community later learned that the discussion about wind didn’t end with the Rotary lunch. The Hutchinson News later reported that former state Senate leader and retired chamber director Dave Kerr and Rep. Huelskamp continued a debate about the PTC and wind industry in the Big First after lunch. We have included the full text of the Hutch News article below:
Leaders face off on wind energy
Kerr, Huelskamp air differences on tax break after local Rotary lunch.
By Mary Clarkin – The Hutchinson News – mclarkin@hutchnews.com
Two former Kansas state senators went toe-to-toe in debate after a Hutchinson Rotary Club lunch Monday, about the merits of extending a federal tax break for wind energy.
Tim Huelskamp, the past state senator from western Kansas now serving in Congress, regards the wind production tax credit as an example of a flawed tax code that picks “winners and losers.”
Dave Kerr, who was president of the state Senate before leading the local chamber of commerce that helped bring the Siemens Energy plant to Hutchinson, contends wind energy is “a startup industry” and needs the incentive that is to end in December.
The two remained polite as they made their points, including:
Huelskamp: The wind energy subsidy is about 20 years old and was supposed to have been phased out.
Kerr: But the oil sector has benefited from 90 years of a tax break.
Huelskamp: The wind tax credit is a direct subsidy, and “the oil and gas guys” don’t get a 40 percent subsidy.
Kerr: This is an issue of fairness.
Huelskamp: You’re certain Siemens won’t close its doors if the tax credit goes away?
Kerr: They have never said anything about that.
Huelskamp: You put the original contract with Siemens together.
Kerr: We have 400 jobs (Siemens) here, with energy jobs coming to Newton. The 1st Congressional District is perhaps the richest district in the U.S. in terms of wind energy economic potential.
Huelskamp: I don’t know of a transmission line being built by wind energy, and wind energy won’t help this region avoid “brownouts.”
Kerr: Gov. Sam Brownback is in favor of extending the tax credit for wind energy.
Huelskamp: He doesn’t have to pay for it.
The wind energy tax break has split Republicans in Kansas. Kerr and Brownback and U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, Hays, are for the extension, while Huelskamp and U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Wichita, want to end energy subsidies.
Huelskamp is one of the 23 co-sponsors of a House bill Pompeo introduced in November 2011. The “Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity Act” would take an ax to numerous energy tax credits and subsidies.
Whether it’s wind or oil and gas or electric cars, Huelskamp said, those special interests shouldn’t have to hire lobbyists to secure or keep a tax break.
Mark Richardson, a stakeholder in the Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission and an advocate for the wind tax credit extension, stood next to Kerr and occasionally added arguments.
Richardson said the wind energy sector in Kansas was not like a young adult, ready to leave home.
Just “moderate” your position, Richardson said to Huelskamp.
At the end of the day, those in favor of the extension could prevail, Huelskamp concedes.
Huelskamp predicted a tax package eventually will be worked out behind closed doors in Washington.
There are “hundreds and hundreds” of subsidies and tax breaks, he said, and potentially a two- or three-year wind production tax credit extension could be rolled into an overall package presented to the U.S. House for an up-or-down vote, he said, critical of the process.
“I really believe it will probably be in a package,” Huelskamp said.
The community member, Mark Richardson, mentioned in the article is a stakeholder in the HART (Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission) which is a project to increase transmission lines for renewable energy projects, especially wind, and to encourage energy efficiency in the Heartland states of the Southwest Power Pool. HART is a project coordinated by the Climate + Energy Project. Mr. Richardson is a tireless volunteer, a local farmer and holds oil and gas leases on his property and hopes one day to also benefit from wind farm leases. He had been personally researching the subsidies/tax credits that benefit oil, gas and wind industries. Just thought we should share this information for full disclosure’s sake.
Please contact Rep. Huelskamp if you feel strongly that the PTC and the wind industry is an important mix to the economic viability of Kansas. Let us know if you do!
posted by Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects
EPA Proposes Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants
March 30, 2012
The proposed rule will require all new power plant to emit no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity produced. Existing plants or new power plant units that have permits and start construction within 12 months of this proposal are considered “transitional” units and will be grandfathered in.
The rule is rooted in a 2007 directive from the Supreme Court instructing the E.P.A. to decide whether carbon dioxide was a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. In late 2009, the agency declared that it was, and so had to be regulated.
Hailed by some as “nothing short of an historic step toward creating healthier, more secure communities” the first ever national industrial carbon pollution standard get’s poor marks from others including the Edison Electric Institute, representing the majority of U.S. electric utilities.
Even some environmental organizations believe the proposal is too weak because it fails to address existing power plants.
Policy makers as usual seem to be split across party lines and already have said they’ll seek to overturn the rule through legislative means.
You know where we stand – and regardless of whether you support the new rule or not, deploying substantial amounts of renewable energy and energy efficiency across the nation is both good for the environment and the economy; creating jobs, prosperity and security for America.
EPA is accepting comments on the proposal for the next 60 days, so do your homework and let them know how you feel about the Carbon Pollution Standard for new power plants.
Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director, Climate + Energy Project
@CEPheartland
More on the impacts of PTC on the wind industry
March 26, 2012
The Wichita Eagle posted another story about the impacts in Kansas a failure to pass the PTC will have on jobs and renewable energy production. The story includes these comments from KS Senator Moran:
Moran said he actually favors a law that would phase out a subsidy over four or five years to give the industry the time it needs to become cost competitive. After that, he said, they’re on their own.
But doing it this way, just dropping them off a cliff on Jan. 1, 2013, makes no sense when the state has so much to gain, he said. “There is no state in the country that had more at stake in this than Kansas,” Moran said.
Written by Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications & Special Projects
Solar in the Region
March 23, 2012
While large national solar projects may have taken some hits in the press over the past year or so, there are some projects in area that innovative and successful. One such project recently brought to our attention is the retirement community of John Knox Village in Kansas City, MO. The retirement community is installing the largest solar collection system in KC and one of the largest in Missouri. The community has installed six 25-kilowatt systems since mid-December on the roofs of apartment buildings, an assisted-living facility and a skilled-nursing facility within the retirement community. In addition to the solar installation, the community has replaced almost 1,000 light fixtures in its skilled-nursing center with LED bulbs, resulting in estimated savings of 185,000 kilowatt hours a year.
A true bonus for the bottom line of the John Knox solar project was the upfront investment for the solar installation was zero – made possible by an innovative financing program of Brightergy. Read more about their project in the Lee’s Summit Journal and more about Brightergy solar installation company headquartered in Kansas City.
In case you are in the central Kansas area, tomorrow there is a Small Scale Solar and Wind Symposium in Hesston at the beautiful Dyck Arboretum. Things get started at 8:30, find the schedule here. Find all the information about registration and purpose here.
Written by Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications & Special Projects
PTC – the Fight Continues
March 19, 2012
Last week saw the defeat of the PTC amendment to the Senate transportation plan. We were disappointed by the KS senator’s votes, but appreciative of Senator Moran’s public support of the PTC.
Well, this week has seen the PTC introduced as a stand alone bipartisan bill in the Senate. (whew) The bill has been named the American Energy and Job Production Act and will extend the PTC for 2 years and includes a one year extension of credits for PTC for biomass, geothermal, hydro, landfill gas and marine energy. Read more about the new Senate bill over at the rechargenews blog.
Kansas elected leadership, Senator Moran and Governor Brownback, have released an op-piece calling for support of domestic energy production particularly the PTC. We appreciate the leadership expressing support for such critical legislation. We also appreciate the leadership’s response to other elected representatives claims that the PTC is picking winners and losers. Kansas needs as many winners in the renewable energy field as we can create and the PTC and wind industry is a big win for all Kansans. Read below for the op-ed piece from Senator Moran and Gov. Brownback.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 2012
Strengthening our Nation’s Domestic Energy Supply
By: Governor Sam Brownback and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran
The increasing cost of conducting business in the United States threatens innovation and investment in new technologies. In today’s unstable business environment, American industries are understandably reluctant to invest the time and resources necessary to grow their businesses. This is especially true for domestic energy production.
Energy production is one of the most highly regulated markets in the United States today. Government policies are hurting our country’s ability to compete within the global economy, limiting our domestic energy supply and driving up the cost of energy for consumers. To ensure Kansans have access to a reliable and affordable supply of energy, we must develop more of our nation’s natural resources.
One resource that is plentiful in Kansas is wind. Our state has the second highest wind resource potential in our country and leads the nation in wind production capacity currently under construction. If we expect the wind energy industry to provide for our country’s future energy needs and make long-term investments in their businesses, Congress must reauthorize the wind production tax credit (PTC) that expires this year. By extending the wind PTC, Congress will allow the wind industry to complete its transformation from being a high tech startup to becoming cost competitive in the energy marketplace. Failure to do so will result in a tax hike on wind energy companies and will only further delay this industry’s ability to compete.
There are those who view government intervention in the energy sector as picking winners and losers. But the wind PTC is a winning solution because it allows companies to keep more of their own dollars in exchange for the production of energy. These are not cash handouts; they are reductions in taxes that help cover the cost of doing business. Unlike President Obama’s failed stimulus plan that rewards individual, unproven companies like Solyndra with cash handouts, the wind PTC is an industry tax credit that has led to $20 billion in annual private investment in our energy infrastructure.
Today, the American wind industry includes more than 400 manufacturing facilities in 43 states. In 2005, just 25 percent of the value of a wind turbine was produced in the United States compared to more than 60 percent today. Because of their close proximity to wind farms, American workers can produce the critical components at a lower cost than their European and Asian counterparts. As more components are manufactured in the United States and not overseas, the cost to produce electricity from wind farms will be further driven down.
If the wind PTC is allowed to expire, local economies across our state will suffer. Kansas counties will lose $3.7 million in annual payments from wind companies. Kansas landowners will lose nearly $4 million annually in additional income they earn from leasing or selling their land for wind farms. And every Kansan will ultimately be affected because the power generated by these wind facilities contributes to our supply of electricity. By eliminating additional sources of electricity, utility rates will climb.
To meet our country’s energy needs and remain competitive in the global market, Congress must develop a national energy policy. Recent events in the Middle East have demonstrated once again the importance of having access to an ample domestic energy supply so we are less dependent on foreign sources. If Congress fails, Kansans will soon be paying much higher energy prices – for the gas to fill up our cars, for the fuel to power our farm equipment, and for the electricity to turn on our lights.
Temporarily extending the wind PTC is not about picking winners and losers – it is about preparing our country to meet our growing energy demand. Rather than make it more difficult for the private sector to develop energy sources, we should lower taxes, reduce regulations, and allow the private sector to succeed in the free market. In turn, the wind industry will grow and become fully competitive – no longer needing the wind PTC. By strengthening American energy production, our country’s future will be stronger and more secure.
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Check back with us as we keep you updated on the PTC in the Senate.
By Kate Van Cantfort, Director of Communications and Special Projects, CEP
Kansas Senators Disappoint on Production Tax Credit
March 14, 2012
Last month we gave kudos to Senator Jerry Moran for stepping up and joining with Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado on an amendment to the transportation bill extending the Production Tax Credit (PTC). Unfortunately that amendment didn’t make the cut to be voted on.
Next we alerted you about the Stabenow amendment on the transportation bill extending the Production Tax Credit (not Senator Moran’s amendment, but a chance to save the PTC and create and save jobs in Kansas).
How disappointing to wake up this morning and find that not only did Senator Moran vote no on the Stabenow amendment which would have extended the PTC for Kansas, but not a single Republican voted for job creation in their state!
Not only did Senator Roberts vote no on the Stabenow amendment, but he offered an amendment himself in opposition. The measure would have extended tax credits for the oil and gas industries, as well as approved the Keystone XL Pipeline and opened up other areas for domestic oil and gas production. I can’t find any mention of support for the wind industry in his amendment.
Kansas (nor the rest of the Heartland states) can not afford another boom and bust cycle for an industry that has more than sixty Kansas companies with wind energy jobs in engineering, electrical, turbines, concrete suppliers, wind farm developers, operations and maintenance, educators and many more!
Landowners can not afford to lose an opportunity to diversify their income by hosting turbines and Counties can not afford missing out on millions of dollars annually in payments in lieu of taxes for hosting wind farms in their counties.
Governor Brownback has been an outspoken advocate for renewing the Production Tax Credit, we hope he will continue to do the right thing for Kansas and perhaps can encourage our Kansas Senator’s to do the same.
Dorothy Barnett, Executive Director CEP
Production Tax Credit Gets Action
March 8, 2012
An urgent update from AWEA this afternoon:
We alerted you this morning to contact your Senators in support of Stabenow amendment (S. AMDT 1812).
Things continue to move very quickly and we want to make sure our supporters have all the information. This afternoon, the Senate is voting on several amendments to the transportation bill. Senator Stabenow (D-MI) has introduced an amendment (S. AMDT 1812) which proposes to extend the renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) for one year. At the same time, Sen. DeMint (R-SC) introduced his own amendment (S. AMDT 1589) that would immediately end the PTC.
In order to avoid layoffs it is critical for the PTC to be extended immediately, as included in the Stabenow amendment. Conversely, Senator DeMint’s amendment would destroy jobs and shut the door on future investment in states across the country. Again, we urge you to vote in favor of the Stabenow amendment and against the DeMint amendment to S. 1813.
Click here to send a personal email to your Senators right now.
You can also watch CSPAN live – they are voting on amendments right now.
Cuppa Joe for your CFL?
March 5, 2012
Sometimes a story comes across your email that is just smart. And this is one I don’t think will save the world but it is a smart idea and I wouldn’t mind having one in my neighborhood.
I love those innivative thinkers who approach common problems in new ways. Read more about the reverse vending machince which recycles CFL bulbs.
From the blog Triple Pundit:
Very often people want to recycle but aren’t sure how. This area of untapped recycling potential is a business opportunity that many companies are jumping in to fill. For example, what are you supposed to do with fluorescent light bulbs? CFLs are widely encouraged as a replacement for incandescent light-bulbs but, they do contain small amounts of mercury and we all know about the dangers of mercury poisoning.
Things like batteries and CFLs should not be thrown away with household hazardous waste (HHW) but many consumers don’t know what they should be doing instead. This is what UK company reVend hopes to change – they are the first company in the world that specializes in supplying “reverse vending machine systems, installation, material recovery and recycling through their experienced management team in RV technology, recycling and waste management.”
What all this means is very simple: when you put your CFL into a big slot in the vending machine, a video camera fitted inside identifies the bulb so it can be sorted, and then you receive a voucher for a free cup of coffee. Swapping an old CFL for a cup of coffee sounds like a good deal to me. In addition to recycling, reVend also provides regular maintenance services for their machines. The machine also comes with an extractor filter to capture any mercury vapour in case of accidental breakage of a light bulb.
reVend claims that there are are over 100,000 Reverse Vending Recycling machines installed throughout the world. The company also says that in addition to the mercury, virtually all the components in a CFL can be reused. The metal bits are sold for scrap, the glass is recycled and the phosphor powder is recycled as well.
Companies like Home Depot have CFL recycling programs where customers can put used CFLs into drop-off boxes. With the gradual and planned phasing out of incandescent light-bulbs, the use of CFLs will only increase thereby exacerbating the problem of mercury pollution. A single CFL has only a small quantity of mercury but in bulk, they pose a problem.
Recycling companies like reVend play an important role in changing public perception towards recycling. Everybody knows what to do with paper and plastic, but when it comes to hard-to-recycle items like CFLs, most people need is a little direction and companies like these can bridge the gap towards safer recycling.
Image Credit: reVend
Energy Innovation Summit Brings Top Thought Leaders
March 2, 2012
Bill Gates and former President Bill Clinton, among others, highlighted important innovations and future trends in the American energy future at the Energy Innovation Summit earlier this week.
Katherine Tweed with Green Tech Media reports:
“His [Clinton's] most novel suggestion revolved around transmission, another sticky issue for the federal government that Bill Gates brought up the previous day at the conference. There are more than 300,000 megawatts of wind power waiting to come online due to transmission constraints, according to the American Wind Energy Association. Clinton suggested the best way to finance transmission was to build an infrastructure bank, an idea that he said once had bipartisan support. He suggested the government put in a small (for the government) amount of money of a few billion dollars and have corporations match the funds or exceed them to get future returns on the investment.”
Other keynote speakers included Bill Gates, Steven Chu – US Secretary for Energy, and several corporation CEO’s. I hope more information from this summit is made available on-line. Some of the very questions CEP as been asking lately were break out session topics for this summit. I would love to know what some of the nation’s leaders have to add to discussions about water, energy and agriculture; the financing of energy efficiency; to name a few.
Have a great weekend all!
Written by Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications & Special Projects
Water and Such
February 29, 2012
Seems an appropriate topic after our first tornado of the year (in FEB!) and the requisite rain and flooding – which in truth we need so badly.
I am headed off to the Kansas Water Office forum on Water and the Economy. I will be tweeting from that event at HART_energy. There is another chance to catch this forum in Hays tomorrow. With water and energy issues so closely tied – particularly on the farm – it will be interesting to see what our State Water Office presents in this forum.
Fracking is on the agenda for the forum today – I look forward to hearing what is presented. Fracking has become quite the hot topic in central Kansas and information on how it can impact water issues and our local economy are timely topics, indeed.
There has been continued coverage of the KS congressional delegation’s stance(s) on the PTC. The Hutch News and KC Star have recently published editorials on the issue. Green jobs, and the wind industry in general, can be a power house for the future economy of Kansas. Please make sure your elected officials know what you think about the topic.
Have a great Leap Day!
Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications & Special Projects
Congressional Rep’s in Wind States Split on Tax Credit
February 24, 2012
The Heartland Alliance for Regional Transmission (HART) stakeholders have been busy reaching out to congressional representatives in hopes of extending the much-needed Wind Production Tax Credit set to expire in 2012. Please see our previous blog posts about this issue or check out the AWEA web page for information about your individual state.
The stakeholder’s work has paid off in terms of getting some local, state and regional press coverage and even getting some elected officials on the record about their position. On Monday of this week, Senator Jerry Moran (R, KS) was part of a tour of the Siemens’ nacel production plant in Hutchinson, KS. This is exactly the type of job creating manufacturer who is impacted by the PTC. CEP wants the thank Siemens’ for including us in that tour of the facility. See the coverage of this visit.
Most recently, Representative Huelskamp visited KS during the President’s Day recess of Congress. He held several town hall meetings (cancelling the 2 in the wind friendliest counties) and some of the HART stakeholders made it two of the town hall meetings. Rep. Huelskamp is of interest because his district is the Big 1st and includes the most wind resources in the country’s 2nd”windiest” state (in terms of wind for renewable energy). Rep. Huelskamp has been difficult to publicly pin down on his support or lack thereof the PTC. A Hutch News reporter was able to ask him some direct questions at his recent town hall meeting in Greensburg, KS. Read more here.
And we want to direct attention to the letter in the Arkansas Business Journal from one of the HART stakeholders, Alese Stroud. Thank you for your effort, Alese.
Posted by Kate Van Cantfort, CEP Director of Communications and Special Projects
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