Thursday, December 10, 2009

Lowe’s Launches+First+Energy+Centers

Nordic Windpower's First Turbines Ship

 

 

 

            Nordic Windpower’s First Utility Scale Wind Turbines Headed for Uruguay

 

Berkeley, CA, and Pocatello, ID, December 7, 2009 – Nordic Windpower announced today that the first three of its two-bladed wind turbines, destined for community and distributed wind energy projects in North and South America, have begun their journey to Rocha, Uruguay.  Nordic Windpower marked the event with a ceremony today at its Pocatello, Idaho facility, attended by state and local dignitaries.  The company plans to deliver 16 more N1000 wind turbines to community wind projects as well as a school system, a municipal utility and a military base beginning in early 2010.  The company is presently firming up the rest of its 2010 order-book.   In July 2009, Nordic Windpower was the only wind energy company to be awarded a Loan Guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy.

 

The N1000 turbines, 1 MW each, were purchased by Nuevo Manantial S.A. as part of the 13 MW Nuevo Manantial Wind Farm located in Paraje Ojos de Agua, Uruguay.   The project will reduce GHG emissions by displacing fossil-fuel based electricity generation in the connected system of the Uruguayan utility, UTE. 

 

“Nordic Windpower has emerged as the only wind turbine manufacturing, sales and service company purely focused on the community and distributed wind energy sector,” said Tom Carbone, CEO of Nordic Windpower.  “We have earned the trust of some of the most innovative wind energy developers worldwide as our initial customers. We are grateful to have attracted an experienced and capable team, solid order-book, and supportive investors.  Together, they enable us to serve our customers with wind energy solutions that are affordable, reliable and simple to install and operate.  We are very pleased to be working with a company as prominent as Nuevo Manantial as one of our first customers”.

 

“The Nordic Windpower turbines are a very good match for our company’s need for reliable and cost-effective wind energy generation,” said Diego Martinez, COO of Nuevo Manantial. “We are very pleased to be working with Nordic Windpower’s dedicated team, which has very deep expertise in the wind sector.  We look forward to a productive and continuing relationship”.

 

About Nordic Windpower

Nordic Windpower designs, manufactures and sells innovative, two-bladed utility-scale wind turbines for community and distributed wind markets worldwide. The company’s N1000 turbine has the lowest installed cost of any similarly sized turbine on the market, combined with high reliability. Nordic Windpower’s patented, flexible teeter hub significantly extends mechanical life and lowers the cost of maintenance. With headquarters in Berkeley, CA, and a technology office in Bristol, UK, Nordic Windpower operates an assembly plant in Pocatello, Idaho. Visit www.nordicwindpower.com, or contact info@nordicwindpower.com, toll-free at (888) 322-2080 or (510) 665-9463 in Berkeley, CA.

 

Media contact: Martha DiSario, Pacific Communications Group, 415.235.1230, Martha@greenpacificpr.com

 

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

NV Energy Increases Wind Energy Rebates

Residential customers can now earn rebates for up to 60 kilowatts of wind-generated power to help offset the cost of installation. That's double the previous incentive.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Spain’s wind turbines supply half of the national power grid - Times Online

Spain’s wind turbines supply half of the national power grid - Times Online

Vermont's First On-Site Ski Resort Wind Turbine Commissioned Today at Bolton Valley | Alteris Renewables

Vermont's First On-Site Ski Resort Wind Turbine Commissioned Today at Bolton Valley | Alteris Renewables

Two new Vertical Axis Turbines installed in the Bay Area




I am pleased to announce that there are two new Vertical Axis Wind Turbines installed in the Bay Area. I had the chance to go out and see the two new installs yesterday. They are both UGE 4kw turbines, one is at a private residence in Pittsburg and the other is at a State Park in the Delta. The turbines are are great for both urban and rural applications, and can be pole mounted or roof mounted. It's great to see small wind turbine installations growing in numbers across California.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Golden Gate [X]press Article on Urban Wind Power

October 21st article on San Francisco's urban wind potential. Quotes from our very own Robin Wilson!

http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/arts/013781.html

San Francisco Urban Wind Power Directive

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Directive 09-07 outlines the city’s plan to reach 50 MW of in-city renewable energy generation. Released on October 23, 2009, the directive includes the following:


Goals:

  • Maximize renewable energy technologies in areas of the City where they make the most sense

  • Reduce polluting fossil fuel power generation

  • Reduce CO2, NOx and particulate emissions and smog generation


Challenges:

  • Overall, San Francisco has only a moderate medium- to large-scale wind resource, and small-scale wind potential has not been fully realized yet


The Department of the Environment Actions:

  • Develop an SF Wind Map that maps the city’s wind resource at the finest possible resolution

  • Explore the feasibility of implementing an anemometer loan program to help potential wind customers better understand their wind resource

  • Work with the Department of Building Inspection and Planning Department to explore permitting cost refunds


San Francisco Public Utilities Commission directives:


  • Make data from its 20 wind monitoring stations publicly available

  • Install more anemometers in particularly windy parts of the City

  • Work with City departments (like the SF Zoo, Port Authority, Parks and Recreation, and others) to develop a site plan for installing small municipal wind demonstrations


Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection tasks:


  • Convene a small wind permitting subcommittee comprised of representatives from the small wind industry, bird advocates, and permitting authorities, to review permitting requirements

  • Make permitting requirements and application procedures publicly accessible

  • Consider revising city-wide height limits to exceed what is currently allowed, thereby allowing for greater wind power generation

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

New F.I.T. info....

Schwarzenegger Signs New Feed-In Tariff Subsidy and Interior Department Agreement:

Solar PanelsThe modification of the feed-in tariff (FIT) in S.B. 32 revises and expands the program from 1.5 MW to 3 MW. This "new" FIT guarantees that utility owners will pay producers an estimated 15 to 17 cents per kilowatt hour. This FIT will help drive new renewable energy projects moving forward.

Schwarzenegger entered into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to speed up the environmental, permitting and transmission issues associated with renewable energy projects.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Urban Wind Task Force Releases Report

Mayor Newsom today announced recommendations from San Franciscos Urban Wind Power Task Force, charged with finding ways to encourage the expansion of local wind power generation in San Francisco.

Check out the video for the full press release.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Whirligig is now on Twitter!

Whirligig just joined the social networking site Twitter. Our account
name is: WhirligigWind

"Follow" us for our most recent updates and happenings!


Posted by:

Julia
Whirligig Inc.
http://www.trustinthewind.com

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Here is our blog http://trustinthewind.blogspot.com/

 

You can post things to it whenever you want.  You can do it on the site or email to  share15.trustinthewind@blogger.com

 

 

 

 

Robin Wilson

Whirligig Inc.

415-525-3800 office

http://www.trustinthewind.com

"The answer my friend is blowing in the Wind"

 

 

http://www.sfgov.org/site/mayor_index.asp?id=111579

 

Robin Wilson

Whirligig Inc.

415-525-3800 office

http://www.trustinthewind.com

"The answer my friend is blowing in the Wind"

 

http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/politics/2009/09/mayor_gavin_newsom_directs_win.html

 

 

Robin Wilson

Whirligig Inc.

415-525-3800 office

http://www.trustinthewind.com

"The answer my friend is blowing in the Wind"

 

San Francisco turns to wind power to hit carbon neutrality by 2030 | VentureBeat

San Francisco turns to wind power to hit carbon neutrality by 2030 | VentureBeat

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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Contact: Mayor's Office of Communications,

(415) 554-6131

*** PRESS RELEASE ***

Mayor Newsom Announces Recommendations of San Francisco’s

Urban Wind Power Task Force

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Mayor Newsom today announced recommendations from San Francisco’s Urban

Wind Power Task Force, charged with finding ways to encourage the expansion of local wind power generation

in San Francisco. The Task Force’s 29 recommendations include working at the state-level to exempt small

wind turbines from property tax increases, installing more City-owned small wind demonstration sites, and

exploring offering permitting cost refunds.

“In order to meet our ambitious renewable energy and climate goals, we need to pursue all technologies

available to us,” said Mayor Newsom. “Anyone who’s ever been San Francisco knows that we have parts of the

city that get a lot of wind. It’s time for San Francisco to start harnessing its collective ingenuity to construct

small-scale urban wind sites on city and private property.”

Other recommendations include developing a “San Francisco Wind Map,” implementing a wind anemometer

(wind meter) loan program to allow potential wind customers to borrow anemometers from the City to better

understand their wind resource, and exploring the possibility of revising city-wide height limits to allow for

greater wind power generation.

The Task Force, comprised of representatives from the small wind industry, environmental community, bird

advocates, green building, labor, workforce development, research labs, prospective residential and business

customers, State regulatory agencies, PG&E and relevant City departments, was created by Mayor Newsom and

then-Supervisor Tom Ammiano in July 2008 to explore the potential for small-scale wind generation and

identify barriers to expanding small-scale wind power generation in the City. The Task Force met monthly for

nearly a year to explore key issues facing small-scale wind power development in urban environments, and

addressed a number of key issues, including small wind technologies, testing and certification, understanding

the wind resource and data collection, permitting; costs and incentives, potential impacts on flying animals;

clean tech and workforce development opportunities, increasing public awareness, and possible City

demonstration sites.

“We currently have only two City-owned small wind turbines—one at the Randall Museum and one at the San

Francisco Zoo, but several other City sites might make good wind demos,” said Jared Blumenfeld, Director of

San Francisco’s Department of the Environment.

The complete Urban Wind Power Task Force Recommendations Report is available online, where it is posted

on the Environment Department’s homepage, www.SFEnvironment.org.

###

 

Robin Wilson

Whirligig Inc.

415-525-3800 office

http://www.trustinthewind.com

"The answer my friend is blowing in the Wind"

 

San Francisco tilts toward wind power

San Francisco tilts toward wind power

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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

scott@trustinthewind.com has shared: San Diego wind turbine maker to buy two companies

San Diego wind turbine maker to buy two companies
Source: sdnn.com

 
scott@trustinthewind.com sent this using ShareThis.

CNET News.com: A fix for wind turbine outlay - CNET News

This email was sent from Scott@trustinthewind.com

Message from sender:


A fix for wind turbine outlay - CNET News
URL: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10318155-54.html

Helix Wind to offer loans for small businesses and individuals looking to make the jump into wind energy.


CNET: The source for computers and technology http://www.cnet.com

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

FW: Information on ITC and Accelerated Depreciation for 2009 Projects

Hello all,

I’m sending you the attached information on the ITC and the 2009 Federal Accelerated Depreciation so you can apply for these two grant programs.  Here are a couple key highlights of these programs if you apply for and are granted the awards in 2009:

 

ITC:

What is the amount of the tax credits?

30% of the total installed cost of the system.

Can a system owner use the credit in addition to a state credit or rebate, federal grant, or other

government incentive? If so, how does this work?

Pursuant to ARRA, for periods after December 31, 2008, a system owner can use either credit in

addition to a state credit or rebate, federal grant, or other government incentive. Under prior law,

in determining the amount of credit allowable with respect to certain government-subsidized

projects, the taxpayer was required to reduce the cost of the project to reflect the government

subsidy.

 

Also, you can choose to take this as a one-time cash grant if done in 2009.

 

Accelerated Deprecation:

What percentage of my wind turbine system can I depreciate on my tax forms?

Small wind turbine owners are entitled to deduct 50% of the adjusted basis of the property in

2008 and 2009. The remaining 50% of the adjusted basis of the property is depreciated over the

ordinary MACRS 5 year accelerated depreciation schedule. Before calculating depreciation for

such a project, including any bonus depreciation, the adjusted basis of the project must be

reduced by one-half of the amount of the energy credit for which the project qualifies.

 

So if you install projects this year you could potentially get 75% or more returned through these grants and tax credits.  That’s not to mention the SGIP or CA Net Metering potentials.

 

Please let me know if you need any help or want more info.  I will also send you information on a Webinar put together by Windustry this Thursday on the ITC, PTC, and Cash Grants.  I’d highly recommend taking part.

 

Take care,

Andrew

 

 

Andrew J. Hammen

Regional Director, Western Region

Northern Power Systems

Direct:  (619) 846-2135

Fax:     (619) 923-2296

Email:  ahammen@northernpower.com

 

Monday, August 24, 2009

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/wal-mart-commits-to-wind-power-5232/

Wal-Mart Commits to Wind Power

The world's largest retailer signs up its first major wind power purchase from Duke Energy to supply its Texas stores and facilities.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to buy wind-generated electricity from Duke Energy Corp. to power up to 15 percent of its 360 stores and facilities in Texas – a first for the retailing giant.

Under the four-year agreement, Bentonville, Ark.-based Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) will buy power directly from Duke's Notrees Windpower Project in Ector and Winkler counties in Texas starting in April 2009, the companies reported Thursday.

It will be Wal-Mart's first direct purchase of wind-generated electricity and make up about 226 million kilowatt-hours per year, the company said.

The 150-megawatt Notrees project is expected to start producing power in December and be fully operational next year. It's part of a total of 500 megawatts of wind power Charlotte, N.C.-based Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) plans to have up and running by year's end, including its Ocotillo project in Howard County, Texas and the Happyjack project near Cheyenne, Wyo.

Duke Energy spokesman Rick Rhodes wouldn't disclose how much Wal-Mart will pay for the power or the cost of its wind power projects.

The utility plans to have its next wind power project, the 99-megawatt Campbell Hill project near Casper, Wyo., up and running by the end of 2009, and plans to announce more projects in the coming months, he said.

As for the effect of the financial crisis on Duke's wind power plans, "We don't really see the economy affecting our goals," Rhodes said. Duke has already ordered turbines for projects planned through 2010, he said.

Danish wind turbine maker Vestas will supply turbines for the Notrees project, and Duke has also purchased turbines from India's Suzlon and U.S. manufacturer General Electric Co., Rhodes said.

Wind power is a fast-growing source of renewable energy for the United States, doubling to more than 20 gigawatts in the last two years, the American Wind Energy Association reported in September (see U.S. Wind Power Doubles in Two Years).

While wind turbines still provide only about 1.5 percent of the nation's power, the U.S. Department of Energy in May forecast that wind power could make up 20 percent of the nation's supply by 2030.

The ongoing financial crisis and economic downturn may put a crimp in wind power's short-term growth, however (see Energy Financing Gone With the Wind).

T. Boone Pickens has said he may have to hold off on plans to develop a 4-gigawatt wind farm in Texas that was meant to begin producing electricity in 2011. The massive project is part of the Texas oil billionaire's plan to wean America from its dependence on foreign oil (see Knocking the Wind Out of Pickens and T. Boone Pickens Has a Plan).

Pickens had planned to spend about $10 billion on the project, but the economic downturn has led to his hedge fund, BP Capital, losing about $2 billion and investors fleeing the fund, the Wall Street Journal reported last month.

In October, major wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa said it would temporarily halt production at some of its factories while it waited for customers to confirm their purchase plans before setting its future production and sales targets (see Wind Turbine Shortage Over?).

And FPL Group (NYSE: FPL), which owns utility Florida Power and Light Co., said in October that it would scale back its 2009 wind power installation goals to 1.1 megawatts, down from 1.5 megawatts previously planned, as part of an overall cut in capital expenditures for next year (see FPL Cuts Wind Power Plans).

Still, wind power analysts say that its longer-term outlook remains bright, given wind's proven ability to provide power and the one-year renewal of tax credits for wind power projects by Congress last month (see Lawmakers Approve Energy Tax Credits, Bailout).

Wal-Mart isn't the first retailer to make a move into wind power. San Antonio, Texas-based grocery chain H-E-B is installing vertically spinning wind turbines at its distribution center in Weslaco, Texas (see Wind Energy Corp. Raises Cash, Installs First Small-Wind Turbine).

But that small wind turbine, a prototype built by startup Wind Energy Corp., is meant to produce between 25 and 50 kilowatts, much less power than Wal-Mart intends to buy from Duke Energy.

 

 

Robin Wilson

Whirligig Inc.

415-525-3800 office

http://www.trustinthewind.com

"The answer my friend is blowing in the Wind"

 

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Actual turbines showcased at the SF Family Day Kite Festival

 

DC Power will be bringing the following turbines for us to showcase at the Kite Festival on Sept 19th & 20th

 

Evance Iskra R9000 5kw turbine

http://www.evancewind.com/

 

 

 

And a Kestrel  e400  3kw turbine

http://www.kestrelwind.co.za/

 

 

 

 

I also am going to try to bring one of our smaller turbines.  The small turbines are for charging a battery.  They are great for boats.

 

x


Friday, August 14, 2009

come see us at SF FAMILY DAY KITE FESTIVAL sept 19 and 20th


Home Contests Performers Proclamation Partners Volunteers Schedule Site Plan Exhibitors
Latest News:
Wind Power Makes Historyon San Francisco Bay
Volunteers: Sign up now
Contact Us: Staff
Family Day Kite Festival
415.383.0500 (office) 415.381.9329 (fax)
info@fdkf.org
Saturday and Sunday
September 19 and 20
11 am - 6 pm
Family Day Kite Festival 2009
The Family Day Kite Festival is a free, open-air, panoramic, eco-friendly event for San Francisco Bay Area families. Watch spectacular kites flown high above the Marina Green—from the acrobatic kites of world champions to the hand-made entries of amateurs. The Festival features all forms of kiting from kite-flying to kite-boarding to kite-boating. This year we plan to build on the green heritage of the FDKF by adding exhibits promoting windpower, renewable energy and sustainability.
Since 1978, when the FDKF inspired Mayor George Moscone to first proclaim “Family Day” in San Francisco, to 2009 when we will host thousands of professional and amateur kite fliers, renewable energy advocates and sustainability enthusiasts from all over the world, this American Kitefliers Association (AKA) sanctioned festival has been providing beautiful, educational and healthy entertainment for families of all ages.
Event Highlights:
Free kite-making for kids at the ABC Channel 7 Make-a-Kite Pavilion
Sing Tao Chinese Kite Pavilion
Kite-flying for kids and adults alike
Contests for kite-making and -flying, presided over by celebrity judges
Professional performers flying high-tech and exotic kites
Kid attractions: Monster inflatable rides from Astro Jumps and the Spider Zone climbing structure from Steve and Kate's Camp
Hands-on, kid-focused activities presented by XXXXX Howtoons, Lawrence Hall of Science and Da Vinci - An Exhibition of Genius
Wind Power Exhibits
SF Department of the Environment Pavilion
Sustainable Food and non-alcoholic beverage booths
⇒ A local micro-breweryDate: Saturday & Sunday, September 19 and 20, 2009
Hours of Event: 11 am - 6 pm
Venue: Family Day Kite Festival takes place on the Marina Green, San Francisco’s panoramic waterfront park located just 2 miles east of the Golden Gate Bridge. A beautiful, open and well-established kite-flying venue, the Marina Green features steady breezes, easy access, public transportation and free parking.Contests and Prizes:
Funniest
Biggest
Smallest
Longest Tail
Most Innovative or Unique
Best Ground Display
Most Beautiful
Best of Show (Spectators' Vote)
Directions: The Marina Green extends 0.4 miles east to west, between Scott and Webster Streets, along Marina Boulevard, San Francisco’s picturesque northern shoreline.
Transportation: San Francisco Municipal Railway (MUNI) services the Marina Green. To plan your trip on public transit, visit Transit.511.org: Trip Planner or call 415.673.6864.
Parking: More than 600 free parking spaces are immediately adjacent to the Marina Green. Another 500 spaces are available at Crissy Field, 0.5 miles west of the Marina Green.
© 2008 Family Day Kite Festival - All Rights Reserved. Website powered by the Digital Marketing Manager.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Residential Loan With Cal Green Lending

CHECK OUT THESE LOAN PRICES for RESIDENTIAL!   These turbine owners would likely have a positive cash flow every month!!

 

We can offer no cost equity lines at 4%, and fixed seconds for 15 and 20 year terms, but I do believe our unsecured programs are reserved for PV...

 

$55k = $183

$85k = $283

 

 

Scott Cooper

President

Tel (707) 942-6300

(707) 709-2318

www.calgreenlending.com

 

SMALL WIND TURBINE LOANS FROM CAL GREEN LENDING

I have some options for systems under $100k, as follows:

 

-  the turbine is the collateral

-  10 year term

-  6%

-  1% point cost with a $250 application fee

 

$55,000 = $610 per month

$85,000 = $943 per month

 

This would be using the CA small business energy improvement loan, so the underwriting could take up to 60 or 90 days.  This is the original lender that I had been using before the new commercial programs became available, so while they can do it, their customer service is less than adequate, so be ready for this.

 

However, it is a viable program based on financing renewable, so your wind turbines will fit their guidelines.

 

Let me know what else I can help you with, and I'll be standing by as needed.


Thanks,

Scott

Scott Cooper

President

Tel (707) 942-6300

(707) 709-2318

www.calgreenlending.com

 

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Yesterday was a great day for the Pickens Plan!

From the desk of T. Boone Pickens

robin:
 
Monday’s “Clean Energy Summit 2.0” in Las Vegas was amazing.  Everywhere we turned, leaders including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, president of the Progress for America Action Fund John Podesta, and former Vice President Al Gore were talking up natural gas as the way to help get us off foreign oil.  It was a great day for the Pickens Plan.

Click here to email your Members of Congress about the NAT GAS Act today!

The Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Energy Future Coalition released a memo about natural gas titled, Natural Gas: A Bridge Fuel for the 21st Century.  It was almost like it had been written as part of the Pickens Plan!  It calls for:

 

- Natural gas as the principal fuel for heavy trucks
- Natural gas as a significant fuel for power production
- Natural gas as a fuel for municipal and school bus fleets

 

The memo points out that “Natural gas is ‘by the far the cleanest burning’ fossil fuel, and produces slightly more than one-fifth of all U.S. energy.”  And it says natural gas should play a larger role in our energy mix.

If you agree, click here to email your Members of Congress about the NAT GAS Act today!

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) is on board.  The Wall Street Journal noted that Senator Reid said, “I’ve been converted. I now belong to the Pickens church.”  Don’t forget he’s an original co-sponsor of the NAT GAS Act, too.  Energy Secretary Steven Chu called natural gas a possible ‘transition’ to a future filled with electric cars and biofuel-powered vehicles.  

Click here to email Congress NOW and tell them to support an energy plan that will create thousands of new jobs right here in the United States.

There’s no August recess for us.  We’re gaining ground every day and I need you by my side to keep up the pressure.  Email your Members of Congress about the NAT GAS Act today!

--Boone

If you feel you have received this message in error, we apologize.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Pickens Plan
P.O. Box 12123
Dallas, TX, 75225, UNITED STATES