The Small Scale Entrepreneur (Small business is the American little engine that could)

Comment

Comment by David Smith on July 14, 2008 at 11:53am

Hi Skip,

I agree, with T Boone Pickens pushing a specific agenda that goes against both political parties will create a groundswell of support that will kill the partisanship that has created this mess. I do not like to talk politics because it gets in the way of the solution process. Identifying roadblocks in the form of legislation, regulation and incentives takes a clear vision without the blinders of party affiliations. Political parties do not exist in the Small Scale Entrepreneur (Small business is the American little engine that could) group.

Identifying specific problems will be very important to all of us. As you well know the current state of regulations and incentivizes is stacked against a broad distribution of current technologies (especially in the small business arena).

Comment by Skip Lambert on July 14, 2008 at 8:11am

It is exciting to see someone with TPBs money, credibility and contacts get involved in the alternative energy industry. Now it is up to us to make it work at the local level with businesses that make the alternatives viable.

Comment by Dan Gilmore on July 12, 2008 at 8:53am

Thanks David.

Comment by David Smith on July 12, 2008 at 8:49am

Here are some sites that can be helpful in establishing a viability study of an area using average wind velocity to discern average output of a given device.

By calculating the percentage of the rated power (RP) produced at the average wind speed, one can arrive at a rough capacity factor (RCF) for the wind turbine at that site. Moreover, by multiplying the rated power output by the rough capacity factor by the number of hours in a year, (8,760), a very crude annual energy production can be estimated. For example, for a 100 kW turbine producing 20 kW at an average wind speed of 15 mph, the calculation would be:

100 kW (RP) x .20 (RCF) = 20 kW x 8760 hours = 175,200 kWh

http://www.awea.org/faq/basicen.html

The Derive 6 Calculator or excel are good products for performing the mathematics and business model calculations.

Here is a project calculator.

http://www.windustry.com/sites/windustry.org/files/WindProjectCalculator-091007.xls

http://www.windustry.com/your-wind-project/community-wind/community-wind-toolbox/chapter-3-project-planning-and-management/wi

http://www.bergey.com/Technical.htm

http://www.spiraxsarco.com/pdfs/TI/p023_48.pdf

http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/33638.pdf

Comment by Dan Gilmore on July 12, 2008 at 7:52am

Michigan has some excellent areas for wind power generation. Primarily along the western coast of the lower penisula and the southern coast of the upper penisula. Two major problems facing the industry here and if I am correct nationally, is; 1. The ability to transmit the power over long distances and 2. Getting proper reimbusement from the power companies for the energy created.

I see three opportunities here.

1. Small scale wind generation tied to the electical grids. If we can have cell phone towers, why not wind turbines? Nimby is not an issue in my opinion. Michigan has lots of space.

2. National and state legislation forcing power companies to pay for the energy supplied to the grid.

3. The development of better (more efficient) means of power transmission. It is my understanding that it takes roughly three times the energy produced to transmit for usage. (e.g. If you use 100 watts of energy, 300 watts needs to be produced due to the loss during transmission of that power.) There are obviously many better educated people out there regarding the science involved.

Comment by Craig Beyer on July 11, 2008 at 2:26pm

I live in Colorado and although residential solar is beginning to take hold, there is very little development in the residential wind turbine arena. Does anyone else think that there is opportunity here?

Comment by David Smith on July 11, 2008 at 11:33am

Mike,

Below are a couple of great web sites concerning hydro power.

http://www.rise.org.au/info/Tech/hydro/small.html

http://www.canyonhydro.com/Resources/Guide/HydroGuide1.htm

Comment by Mike McCarthy on July 11, 2008 at 8:48am

Help us Flip that City © 2008 BRE

Comments and suggestions wanted.

Comment by David Smith on July 11, 2008 at 5:28am

Welcome to the group Larry. I am hoping we can educate ourselves on what is needed to develop a successful small business plan that can work across our great nation. Small business is the key to creating a widespread use of CNG. Regulations that constrict the market for the small Entrepreneur must be identified and studied. When the regulations become small business friendly, the cost of a conversion will be reduced and many individuals will be able to contribute in the success of the nationwide transition.

Comment by Larry R. Smith on July 10, 2008 at 6:06pm

DavidHappy to join, from the Nashville,Tn. area

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