NW Renewable Energy Group

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Comment by Robert Schultz on January 30, 2010 at 12:03am

Here's the info I received in an e-mail from John Miedema at Pacific NW Biochar Google group...

Biochar will have two sessions at the Harvesting Clean Energy
Conference, one on Sunday afternoon 07Feb focused on the intro/
production/use of biochar, and one on Tuesday afternoon 09Feb that
focuses on commercialization/economics/carbon-credit issues.

Draft Agenda for Biochar Workshop HCE 10 Feb 7-9 2010


Sunday Afternoon Moderator Jeff Schahczenski
Speaker and Topic
Jim Amonette Introduction to biochar
Tom Miles Biochar production techniques
Hal Collins Agricultural applications of biochar
Mark Coleman Forestry applications of biochar

Tuesday 130-330 pm

Moderator Jim Amonette
Speaker and Topic
Jeff Schahczenski Economics of biochar
Peter Weisberg Biochar and the carbon market
Eric Twombly Starting the Biochar Products company in northeastern Oregon
John Miedema Developing biomass energy for the Thompson Timber Company
in the Willamette Valley

Comment by Robert Schultz on January 21, 2010 at 7:15am

Harvesting Clean Energy Conference X

February 7 - 9, 2010 | Kennewick, WA | Three Rivers Convention Center


The Harvesting Clean Energy Conference is the Northwest’s premiere gathering to advance rural economic development through clean energy production. Clean energy offers practical, profitable opportunities for our farmers, ranchers, rural utilities and towns, tribes, and regional economy. Click here to view this year's exciting agenda.
The early bird deadline has passed, but you can still enjoy low rates thanks to the support of our sponsors. Cost is just $110 for farmer, ranchers and other individuals, or $140 for professionals (organizations paying for employees and representatives to attend).

Promote your company, your ideas and exhibit your wares at the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference! For an exhibitor application and more information click here. Questions? Contact Dana Colwell at 253.445.4575 or dana.colwell@wsu.edu

Comment by Robert Schultz on January 17, 2010 at 12:10am

Hexavalent Chromium Used for Hydraulic Fracturing in Iraq
Oregon Nat'l Guard troops among those exposed

In April 2003, the Army assigned members of the IN, OR, and SC National Guard to escort and protect KBR contractors working on the "Restore Iraqi Oil" contract. This contract was for the assessment and repair of Iraq’s oil infrastructure. Repairing the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant, which maintained pressure in nearby oil wells, was a key part of this mission.

Weeks after soldiers arrived at Qarmat Ali, a newly arrived KBR safety officer complained of widespread orange and yellow dust piled feet deep in places. That powder was sodium dichromate, a hexavalent chromium compound used as a corrosion fighter in the oil pipes. The same deadly chemical made famous by the movie Erin Brockovich. The safety officer at Qarmat Ali reported that 60 percent of the soldiers and staff at the site reported suffering adverse health effects including nose perforations, nose bleeds, spitting up blood, and itchy lungs.

According to the Army, KBR did not test conditions at Qarmat Ali until August 2003 -- and waited to notify the military of the potential sodium dichromate exposure until one month later, in September 2003. The Indiana Guard learned of the contamination when KBR managers arrived in protective suits in August.


Soldiers in Iraq who were exposed to Cr-6 that was used by KBR for hydraulic fracturing.

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 16, 2009 at 8:17am

The Largest Wind Energy Project in the U.S. Announced for Oregon

The Shepherds Flat wind farm is the first in North America to deploy GE’s 2.5xl wind turbine, which has been proven in Europe and Asia.

“The 2.5-MW wind turbine is the latest evolution of GE’s wind turbine technology and provides customers with greater efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities. The 2.5-MW builds upon the success of GE’s 1.5-MW wind turbine, the world’s most widely deployed wind turbine with more than 12,000 installed,” said Bolze.

Caithness Energy estimates that the $2 billion project will inject $16 million annually of direct economic benefits into Oregon, and will employ 400 workers during construction and 35 during operation. Construction will be on a grand scale not only because of the large number of turbines, but because 85 miles of road and 90 miles of power connection to the grid will be built. Construction will begin in 2010 and will be completed in 2012.
turbines

Read the full story here.

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 14, 2009 at 2:23pm

Here is the website for the current readings of the wind turbine.

*** Pocatello Community Charter School Current Readings ***

http://wind-for-schools.caesenergy.org/windforschoolsweb/Pocatello.html

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 14, 2009 at 2:16pm

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 14, 2009 at 8:42am

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mr-wayne

Link for the Green Revolution with Mr. Wayne, on Blog Talk Radio 12/16/09 at 11am Pacific.

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 10, 2009 at 8:45am

Profiting from new rural energy opportunities
Learn how at the 2010 Harvesting Clean Energy Conference

Learn from a host of experts gathered in one place at the Harvesting Clean Energy Conference – February 7-9, 2010, in Kennewick, WA at the Three Rivers Convention Center.

* How can farmers, ranchers, food processors and rural communities prosper as new technologies come to market?
* Where are your best opportunities in wind power, solar, geothermal, small hydro, biomass or biofuels, and to upgrade to energy-efficient equipment?
* What financing, technical expertise, and partners are available to help?

Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, registration for the conference is remarkably affordable. Farmers, ranchers and other private individuals can register early (by Jan. 4th) for just $90, professionals for $140.

Register on line at www.harvestcleanenergy/conference, or call Dana Colwell at 253-445-4575 for more information.

Hope to see you there!


Pat Gibbon
Harvesting Clean Energy Program Manager

Comment by Robert Schultz on December 2, 2009 at 9:36am

Electric Vehicles, Infrastructure Power 2009 "Beyond Oil" Conference
Reported by Keith Arterburn, Idaho National Laboratory- Communications & Governmental Affairs
November 24, 2009

Shiny new electric vehicles, emitting only low-whirring sounds, glistened as they darted among the few sun breaks in Seattle outside a Cascadia Center conference titled Beyond Oil: The Sustainable Communities Initiative.

The all-electric Ford Focus made its debut at the late-October event, co-sponsored by Idaho National Laboratory. Ford's Focus added to a charged atmosphere around the Department of Energy's $100 million grant for a 36-month transportation study in five states. The Pacific Northwest is jointly pursuing a vision of electrified transportation in the I-5 corridor from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene, Ore., as part of the study.

More than 300 attendees convened on the Microsoft Redmond campus near Seattle to hear from more than 50 experts about innovative transportation strategies, e-car technologies, infrastructure challenges and the vulnerability of the nation's reliance on oil. One presenter argued for vehicles capable of operating on a full spectrum of alternative fuels that includes electricity.

INL is a strong partner in helping the region pursue the electrified transportation vision by managing e-vehicle demonstrations, collecting data to adjust strategies for transportation systems, and devising new clean energy systems appropriate for the Pacific Northwest.

Most recently, INL joined eTec's electric vehicle infrastructure demonstration project with the Nissan automotive company and regional partners. The project will analyze performance and infrastructure data for 1,000 Nissan "LEAF" zero-emission vehicles.

The forum built on previous planning sessions and joined with the Clean Cities Conference. Its goal was to learn from regional governments and organizations about activities to realize the vision of electrified transportation systems, new clean energy systems and new infrastructures for improving communities. As part of DOE's larger study, Puget Sound's Clean Cities received a $15 million grant for its petroleum reduction project to create a regional sustainable market for renewable alternative fuel and advanced vehicle technologies.

INL Gets Senatorial Endorsement

Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah addressed the forum via recorded video message and opened his remarks by saying how pleased he was to see INL as a major sponsor.

"I am sure that you all are aware of the old phrase, ‘Hi, I'm with the government, and I am here to help,'" he said. "Well, if you hear someone from the Idaho National Lab say that, you can believe it because they mean it. And, they can really help."

INL joined Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, the University of Washington, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the Cascadia Center in sponsoring the forum.

NL speakers opened and closed the conference. INL Deputy Lab Director David Hill joined representatives from Microsoft, Ford and the National Transportation Policy Project to welcome participants.

"The Pacific Northwest is a tremendous place to focus on electric vehicle integration where there are grand transportation challenges and a strong advocacy for change," Hill said.

J.W. "Bill" Rogers Jr., INL's associate laboratory director for Energy and Environment, closed the conference with a presentation that connected the need to develop clean energy systems with transportation advances such as both electric and plug-in electric vehicles. He also detailed INL's groundbreaking research in hybridizing clean energy systems, as well as the potential contributions by both light-water and high-temperature gas nuclear reactors.

"Over the past few years, INL has built partnerships in the Pacific Northwest to support its DOE customer and continues today to serve as a key regional asset in providing clean energy solutions," said Mike Hagood, INL's program development manager. "Our growing relationships in the area will provide INL an opportunity to identify and address key research challenges associated with advanced transportation integration and their connection with clean energy sources."

The combined forum offered more than 20 sessions about the challenges in electric vehicle technologies, infrastructure and marketplace competition.

Anne Korin of Set America Free advocated ending oil's monopoly in the transportation sector by replacing the nation's transportation fleet with flex fuel vehicles so the marketplace can determine which feedstock, fuel generation processes and fuels are most competitive. Korin cited the volatile impact exerted on global economies by OPEC's 1973 oil embargo and high oil prices during 2008. She added that there is an excellent business case for vehicles operating on electricity and flex fuels made from a combination of gasoline and a variety of alcohols (ethanol, methanol and butanol made from renewable energy sources).

Tim Murphy, INL's Energy Storage and Transportation Systems manager, described INL's ongoing plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicle infrastructure demonstrations across America. He explained how INL's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity and Vehicle Data Management System are used to collect and analyze vehicle, battery and infrastructure data critical to the successful implementation of the eTec-Nissan-INL electric demonstration in the region.

"We are growing our relationships in the West and Pacific Northwest," he said, "where we have found exceptionally receptive and proactive partners for researching e-vehicle technologies."

In addition to the new electric Ford Focus, Cascadia hosted displays of Tesla's electric roadster, Ford's Hybrid Plug In SUV and Ranger EV truck, Toyota's Prius, Rapid Electric Vehicles (REV), and Véhicule Électrique. Other alternative vehicles included Western Washington University's biomethane compressed natural gas-powered vehicle and several propane-propelled vehicles.

Infrastructure demonstrations included charging station technologies from Plug In America, Charge Northwest, as well as vehicles and support technologies from Pacific EV, Evergreen Fleets, MC Electric Vehicles and more.

INL presented a large graphic display on transportation and clean energy systems, which detailed the Pacific Northwest vehicle testing programs, DOE/INL's Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity and INL's Hybrid Energy System concept with a proposed testing laboratory to research various combinations of energy systems.

Keith Arterburn is a senior media consultant with the Idaho National Laboratory.

Comment by Robert Schultz on November 27, 2009 at 10:59am

Tidal power starting to roll in for Washington
by Ear to the Ground

Harnessing the tides to make electricity is getting a close look in Washington state. Grants from the federal government and energy agencies are funding studies to find prime locations for tidal energy in the state and federal waters of Washington. A podcast on KCTS-9’s Science Cafe explains why Puget Sound is considered one of the best spots in the nation for tidal energy generation. Because the people of Washington own most of the bedland under Puget Sound, DNR is getting involved in the groundwork in its role as aquatic lands manager.

There are several methods of turning tidal power into energy says the U.S. Department of Energy. Which method will produce the best energy and environmental results remains to be seen. The University of Washington has tested the potential at several sites around Puget Sound. Admiralty Inlet is getting close attention. The Whidbey News-Times and Everett Herald report that Snohomish County Public Utility District No. 1 and the U.S. Navy are moving closer to building separate test projects, but a large-scale effort may still be a few years off. Also slowing matters could be the Obama administration’s proposal for less research funding than advocates had hoped for.

Expect harnessing the tides to be a series of small-but-important steps. For example, the engineering firm of Golder Associates recently gained an award from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to develop a system to assess the best locations and types of devices to generate tidal power in waters off of Southwest Washington. DNR also is part of the BPA’s cost-sharing contract along with public utility districts from Pacific and Grays Harbor counties, the University of Washington Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center, and the Coastal Communities of Southwest Washington.

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