[CoolCommunities] Fwd: Energy project news from NH
Diane Brandon
diane.brandon at gmail.com
Fri Apr 10 18:39:26 PDT 2009
Hi All,
While this group is in Plymouth NH, they offer lots of interesting
news and ideas that might be useful in our area.
Diane
Begin forwarded message:
> From: "Sandra Jones, PAREI" <sandra at plymouthenergy.org>
> Date: April 10, 2009 3:48:47 PM EDT
> To: "Sandra Jones, PAREI" <sandra at plymouthenergy.org>
> Subject: PAREI Membership Update - Energy Exchange Friday Night
> April 17th
>
>
> Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative
> Membership Update
> April 10, 2009
>
>
> Upcoming PAREI Events
>
> Energy Exchange Membership Meeting– Friday Night April 17th
> 6:00pm Plymouth Senior Center, Plymouth, NH. Potluck and BYOB.
> PAREI will provide non-alcoholic drinks and several pizzas. Please
> bring an appetizer, main dish or dessert to share. Dishes, bowls
> and serving utensils are available for our use. NH Electric Coop is
> the financial sponsor of our April and May Energy Exchanges. Thank
> you NHEC!
>
> The purpose of these meetings is to utilize local knowledge by
> sharing information and advice on energy conservation, energy
> efficiency and/or renewable energy issues. This is a meeting for
> members and/or potential members. Please bring information to
> share, a lesson learned or a question to pose to the group. If you
> would like to be on the agenda for an announcement or info sharing
> just let us know that night.
>
> 6:00 - 6:30pm Food, Drinks and Conversations
> 6:30pm – 7:15 pm Round Table Member Discussion and Info Sharing.
> Peter Adams: A word from our Board President
> Tom Palma, NH Electric Coop – An Update on NHEC Solar and Wind
> Rebates
> Irene Garvey – Discussion on Design for PAREI T-Shirts, Fundraising
> Raffle
> 7:15pm Video from PAREI’s TOOL KIT – The Solar Energy Raiser (15
> min) Featuring many PAREI and STAMREI members
> 7:30ish - 8:15 pm Break Out Sessions
> 1) Solar Hot Water – Come discuss the feasibility of a solar
> water heating installation at your home. We’ll have a demo
> collector on hand and will cover the basics of solar water heating
> and answer your questions.
> 2) Wind Power Generation Dave Horton of DNL Energy of
> Holderness, NH will answer your questions and show you some
> pictures of wind energy installations. For more information you can
> reach Dave at hortond at dnlenergy.com
> 3) Local Foods – How to Grow Them, How to Buy Them Melissa
> Greenawalt-Yelle will be on hand to answer all your questions about
> where to find certain foods locally and how to sign up and buy
> foods from the Local Foods Plymouth website. Melissa will also
> share gardening tips, and answer questions about seed purchases,
> seed starting and more.
>
> Solar Energy Raiser**, Saturday May 2nd Home of Todd and Amy
> Bickford, Campton, NH. Gather 8:30am Start 9:00am - 3:30pm To all
> of you who have RSVP’d to volunteer, you will receive an email with
> directions, team assignments and additional information at least
> one week prior to the event. The Set Up Night has been set for
> Tuesday, April 28th. Questions? E-mail Irene Garvey at grace at ncia.net
>
> Solar Water Heating Information Session Saturday, May 2nd 12:00
> noon, Home of Todd and Amy Bickford in Campton, NH. All are welcome
> to come tour an Energy Raiser in progress and learn about an
> Apricus Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heating System. Information will
> be handed out about installing a solar water heating system and
> utilizing NH Electric Coop’s solar rebate program. Please RSVP to
> Irene Garvey grace at ncia.net Directions will be sent out to all
> those who RSVP. This info session is sponsored by NH Electric
> Coop. Thanks NHEC for helping us cover the cost s of organizing
> our educational events.
>
> PAREI News
>
> Thermal Imaging Project Grant Denied by NHCF: Unfortunately, we
> did not receive the Express Grant for $5000 from the NH Charitable
> Fund for the purchase (and training) of a Thermal Imaging Camera.
> But we still have another grant possibility with the Public
> Utilities Commission that includes the purchase of this equipment.
> We are going to forge ahead with finding the funding locally and
> will be in touch next week with those of you who pledged $80 to
> help with the camera’s purchase (these folks will be the first
> homes to receive the service) This technology will help PAREI
> members easily identify the air leaks in their home and help them
> create a list of easy weatherization fixes. A Thermal Imager costs
> $4500.
>
> Big Thanks to Sustainability of Laconia (see green box below) for
> letting us know the great news about the IRS Solar Tax Credit Cap
> being lifted for solar water projects. For those of you with
> estimates from PAREI – you should recalculate your IRS tax credit.
> It is figured by first deducting the NHEC Rebate (25% up to $1500)
> for the total installation cost and then 30% of the remaining
> project cost will be the IRS federal tax credit amount. This tax
> credit can carry over to the following year if you can’t take the
> whole credit in one year.
>
> FEDERAL REBATE CAP LIFTED For SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS too Last
> October, the Economic Stimulus bill removed the $2,000 limit on
> rebates for Solar electric (PV) systems, but left it in place for
> solar hot water heaters. Just recently, new legislation removed
> that cap too. Now ALL solar electric (PV) and solar hot water
> systems are eligible for a 30% rebate from the Federal Government.
> In addition, there is a State of New Hampshire rebate of up to
> $6,000 available, and if you are a NHEC customer, up to $3,500
> (Solar electric PV) or $1,500 (solar hot water systems) are
> available. www.sustainabilitynh.com
>
> PAREI Fundraising Committee is Working on Getting PAREI T-Shirts:
> More information will be presented at the April Energy Exchange
> about cost and sizes. If interested in joining this committee e-
> mail Irene Garvey at grace at ncia.net .
>
>
> Plan Now for Your Energy Future
>
> NH Public Utilities Commission website has posted questions and
> answers about the NH Renewable Energy Rebate. (not including solar
> water) Applications have not been released yet. To check out their
> Q and A go to: http://www.puc.state.nh.us/Sustainable%20Energy/
> RenewableEnergyRebatesQAs-residential.htm#5
>
> The NH Electric Coop Solar and Wind Rebate Programs applications
> will be mailed very soon! NHEC will be offering customers up to
> $1500 on a solar water heating installation and up to $3500 on a
> solar photovoltaic installation in the year of 2009. If you are
> interested in installing in 2009 through PAREI’s volunteer energy
> raiser process or through PAREI’s profession installation crews,
> it’s important to start planning early so you can get in the queue
> for an NHEC rebate. (A limited number of projects will be funded
> this year.) We can help you get started with your project. As a
> membership benefit of PAREI, we will conduct an initial solar site
> visit at no additional cost to get you on the road to installing
> solar water or photovoltaics. If interested in signing up for a
> solar site visit e-mail Sandra Jones at Sandra at plymouthenergy.org
> ATTENTION SOLAR PROJECTS UNDERWAY - If you’re project is already
> underway, Sandra will send you the application soon after they are
> released with PAREI’s portion filled in and with directions as to
> what you need to complete the rebate process.
>
> Local and Regional Events
>
> PSU’s Earth Month Activity Calendar is Attached to this E-mail
>
> "Why Nuclear Power Still is not the Answer." April 14th-Paul
> Gunter, Director of the Reactor Oversight Project for Beyond
> Nuclear at the Nuclear Policy Research Institute. All Sidore
> Lectures are in the Smith Recital Hall located in the Silver
> Cultural Arts Center at Plymouth State University at 7pm.
>
> “Earth Jam 2009 and Environmental Fair” Sunday, April 19, 2:00 –
> 10:00 PM, lawn in back of Silver Center for the Arts
> Come celebrate Earth Month with solar-powered music and friends!
> Musical performances by: Pongo’s Groove, D Acres Family Band, Jay
> Moskowitz, Wet Revelation, Forging Reverie, and Big Love Monster.
> Audio powered by solar power from Sunweavers. Vendors providing
> organic, locally-made, eco-friendly food and products. Also: An
> Environmental Fair will take place from 2-6 PM, with many New
> Hampshire environmental groups staffing tables showing their
> activities. PAREI will have a table at the Fair. E-mail PAREI’s
> Intern, Zak Brohinsky if you’d like to help out for an hour or so:
> zabrohinsky at plymouth.edu
>
> Kilowatt Ours April 28th, 7:00pm as part of Plymouth State
> University’s green movie series. The movie will be in Boyd Hall
> with a discussion after the movie. It is open to everyone and is
> FREE. For more information contact: Madeline McElaney Tel: (603)
> 22NHSEA (226-4732) email: madeline at nhsea.org
>
> Workshop for NH agricultural and forest land owners to learn about
> Farm Bill conservation programs New Hampshire conservation
> districts and the Natural Resources Conservation Service will host
> informational workshops on conservation programs available through
> the 2008 Farm Bill. Local farmers, forest and land owners, and
> other interested parties are invited to attend the workshops. New
> provisions in the legislation simplify existing programs and create
> new opportunities to address high priority environmental protection
> goals such as pollinator habitat, wildlife and energy. Targeted
> assistance is also available to minority, limited resource and
> beginning farmers. Grafton County Workshop details are as follows:
> Thursday, April 30, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Grafton County Coop Extension
> Conference Room, 3855 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill
> NH. Contact Dean Bascom at 747-2001 ext. 106 for more information.
> Conservation district and/or NRCS representatives will be on-hand
> to explain how landowners can apply for financial and technical
> assistance from NRCS through the 2008 Farm Bill to promote
> conservation on farmland and forest land.
>
> Local Energy Solutions 2009
> A one-day conference for local energy committees, municipalities
> and schools June 20, 2009 at the Grappone Center in Concord
> The Local Energy Committee Working Group of the Carbon Coalition is
> hosting a multi-track conference to help New Hampshire communities
> reduce energy use, curb greenhouse gas emissions and save taxpayer
> dollars. This day-long conference will include examples of projects
> and provide participants with tools for action aimed at empowering
> local energy committees. More info at: http://
> www.carboncoalition.org/Conference/index.php
>
>
> Where does your electricity come from?
> Tuesday, June 30th 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Squam Lakes Natural Science
> Center, Holderness, NH Flip the switch, the electrons flow and the
> lights are on, but where do those electrons come from? Learn how
> the New England bulk power system and region's wholesale energy
> markets work. Hear Steve Kaminski, Vice President of Power
> Resources and Access at New Hampshire Electric Co-op, explain how
> the Co-op goes about buying the energy its members use and the Co-
> op’s efforts to increase the role of renewable resources in "Co-op
> Power."
>
> Save the Date: Solarfest, Tinmouth, VT July 10, 11, 12
> www.solarfest.com It’s a great time. A favorite of PAREI members
> – join us for a weekend of camping, music, learning and fun.
>
> Member Sharing
>
> Craig Cadieux: The test run for the truck is schedule for next
> weekend. I finished the battery and low voltage wiring this
> weekend. Plugged it in, turned on switches, and there was no smoke
> or sparks.! If the weather is decent next weekend we’ll get the bed
> back on the truck and take it for spin. The batteries are currently
> charging and I have a truck on jack stands. Tomorrow I’ll see if
> the wheels spin. I updated the website with new pictures. http://
> www.evalbum.com/2141
>
>
> PAREI Membership
>
> Not a member yet? Please consider joining. Download our membership
> form at: http://www.plymouthenergy.org/member2.pdf Or call Robbin
> Adams at the office at 603-536-5030 ext 3 and we’ll mail you a
> membership form. Thank you to everyone who has become a new member
> recently and to all of you who continue to support PAREI through
> your membership renewals. Membership dues totaled over $13,000 in
> 2008. This money supports our mission to increase access to
> renewable energy in our community and provide education and
> guidance to help all of our members plan for their energy future.
>
> Local Foods Plymouth
>
> Local Foods Plymouth (LFP) is a project of PAREI and all members
> are encouraged to utilize this innovative resource. Reducing the
> amount of distance your food travels from farm to kitchen is a
> great way to reduce your household’s overall energy footprint. The
> next date to purchase food at the on-line marketplace is April 13th
> and 14th. To do so, create an account at: http://
> www.lfp.dacres.org You can use a credit card or paypal account.
>
> If you are unfamiliar with the Local Foods Plymouth project send
> your name and e-mail address to our LFP Coordinator, Melissa
> Greenawalt-Yelle at localfoodsplymouth at gmail.net This will sign you
> up for the “Buy Local” e-mail that comes out regularly to remind
> you of when the LFP site is active for buying, what is being
> offered, when the farmers market is taking place (winter pick up is
> at the UPS Store in Plymouth), recipes for local foods and all
> kinds of newsy bits about the local agricultural scene. If you have
> questions about how to use the LFP site for ordering, don’t
> hesitate to call Melissa at 536-5030 ext 1. She is also happy to
> meet with you one-on-one to help you learn how to use the website.
> Melissa will be hosting a Break Out Session at our Energy Exchange
> on April 17th to answer questions about Local Foods Plymouth – see
> above.
>
> Repeated from last month’s update………..
>
> PAREI Energy Advisors are available anytime to meet one on one with
> fellow members to give tours of their Apricus solar water heating
> systems (as well as wood boilers, solar photovoltaic systems,
> energy efficient home building materials/techniques, solar air
> circulators, and more). Just send an e-mail with the info you are
> seeking to Sandra at plymouthenergy.org and we’ll make the
> arrangements for you to meet with them.
>
> Apricus Solar Water Heating Collectors Bulk Order: Deadline April
> 28th for shipment on May 1st. E-mail Sandra at plymouthenergy.org for
> a current price list that includes a PAREI Membership Discount.
> Collectors must be paid in full by April 28th. Shipping cost will
> be divided by the number of families who participate in the order –
> roughly $65. PAREI can help you install a solar water heating
> collector via our volunteer energy raiser process, do it yourself
> support and mentoring or coordinate a professional installation
> with our sub-contractors. If you are new to solar water heating, we
> urge you to attend the Solar Water Heating Break Out Session at our
> April Energy Exchange, or call us to set up an appointment with a
> nearby PAREI volunteer Energy Advisor to tour a solar water heating
> installation at a time that works for you.
>
> PAREI adds a Community Partner Membership Category: To answer the
> call from communities around New England, PAREI has developed a new
> membership category called Community Partner. For $150, people/
> communities can join PAREI and will receive the above DVD/CD Rom
> package as well as initial over the phone consultation by their
> assigned Partner Advisor on how to start their own organization/
> energy raiser group. PAREI has also added a list of services that
> will provide guidance for others looking to run volunteer energy
> raisers in New Hampshire and New England communities. Check out the
> services for partners at http://www.plymouthenergy.org/support.htm
>
>
> ***
>
> ** PAREI’s Community Energy Raisers are modeled after a “barn-
> raising” following the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor. The
> goals of the Energy Raisers are: to increase the community’s
> accessibility to solar energy, bring down the cost of installing
> renewable energy systems, to provide hands on education for the
> homeowner so they end up with a strong understanding of how their
> system works, to develop a support network of knowledgeable
> families; to provide local tradespeople an avenue to learn about
> installing renewable energy systems and to build community
> connections while we all prepare for life in a lower energy world.
> Energy Raiser hosts have volunteered at previous installations and
> will pay the favor forward at future Raisers. The teams for the day
> are Rack Installers (wall or roof), Wiring/Controller Install,
> Basement Plumbing, Chase Plumbing, Pipe Insulating, Tube Assembly
> Line, Observers/Extra Hands. Tradespeople and Handypersons with
> tools are encouraged to bring suitable tools. Others should bring
> when feasible a tool belt with work gloves, black sharpie, tape
> measurer, rag and utility knife. Thus far PAREI members have
> conducted 33 volunteer Energy Raisers; 1 solar air circulator, 28
> solar hot water, three solar photovoltaic and one wind generator.
>
> The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative was organized to
> encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency practices and
> promote the use of renewable energy in homes, businesses and other
> buildings in the Plymouth region through education, community
> outreach, accessibility and service coordination. The office is
> located at 69 Main Street in Plymouth, NH and is open by
> appointment or by chance. To make an office appointment or for more
> information call: 603-536-5030 or visit www.plymouthenergy.org
> Membership Forms are available on line. To be removed from this e-
> mail list just reply with "Remove" in the subject line.
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