Climate and energy

More wind forums coming soon in Kansas. Dan Nagengast of the Kansas Rural Center has to take a bit of a break on holding community wind forums – it’s planting season right now, and that takes precedence – but he has several others in the planning stages.

Stay tuned for dates and locations.

Conference calls on wind power. The National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) and DOE/EERE’s Windpowering America are sponsoring a series of webcast/ conference calls on wind power, targeted at the ag community. The next is Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 11:00am, with time for Q&A.

The topic, “Wind Farming,” will be presented by David Kolsrud, who has helped to develop, organize and fund over 20 renewable energy projects – primarily ethanol, biodiesel and wind projects. He will talk the steps in getting wind farming projects underway.

If you want the info on how to connect to the call, just email Maril at “hazlett at climateandenergy dot org” EDIT: Or, I found the info online as well – click here. You can easily attend this webinar from a computer at home – as long as you have access to both a phone and an internet connection at the same time (dial-up users with one line, this might be tough for you). If you are in search of a better connection, ask your local librarian.

How to negotiate power purchase agreements (PPAs). Windustry has added a new tool to its Community Wind Toolbox – tips on negotiating PPAs. A PPA is a contract where energy providers enter into long-term agreements with energy purchasers. Getting a PPA signed is a crucial part of getting a wind farm developed.

How businesses can adapt to climate change. Is your business possibly at risk from climate change? If so, is that risk short or long-term? How can you adapt?

As a recent report by the Pew Center observes, not all business sectors are at the same level of risk. Their conclusions:

The report finds that susceptibility to the physical effects of climate change varies considerably across sectors of the economy. For example, higher demand for air conditioning during prolonged heat waves could stress and possibly overwhelm the electricity grid. Longer and more intense rains could restrict access to construction sites and slow productivity in the buildings sector. And the agriculture industry is at risk of extreme drought that could render previously arable land unusable. While some sectors are more at risk than others, all businesses face the possibility of property damage, business interruption, and changes or delays in services provided by electric and water utilities and transport infrastructure.

The Pew report is based on three different case studies of large corporations trying to adjust to environmental concerns.

Another – slightly scarier – scenario-based report was also released last year by Global Business Network and the EPA. It’s aimed at corporate business management, but right up front the report offers concrete strategies that businesses and entrepreneurs of any kind would also find helpful.

— Maril Hazlett, www.climateandenergy.org