MontNews.com

HARRISBURG, PA — A well-established financial management firm with a successful track record of investing in green technologies and sustainable forms of energy has been chosen to manage Pennsylvania’s new Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund, according to Governor Edward G. Rendell.

The Reinvestment Fund—known as TRF—will manage the loan program and provide much needed financial capital to support cost-effective, energy conservation and renewable energy projects in existing, non-residential buildings.

The new revolving loan fund is made possible through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In announcing TRF’s selection, the Governor said the firm’s track record and its pledge to providing double the federally required match for the new program is evidence of its commitment to building a green economy in Pennsylvania.

“President Obama and Congress had the foresight to make renewable energy and energy conservation a key part of the federal Recovery Act because these are areas that are critically important to the nation’s future,” said Governor Rendell. “This new revolving loan fund is the latest opportunity to be born of that wise decision and, under TRF’s management, the program will put hundreds of people to work incorporating green technologies into buildings that ultimately, will save consumers millions of dollars each year.”

The federal Recovery Act will provide $12 million to the state for the Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund, but it required any firm applying to manage to provide a minimum match of $18 million in private funds. TRF committed to investing $36 million, which will allow for a $48 million pool of funds in the loan program.

That level of investment is expected to help support 500 jobs on projects that will reduce energy consumption by nearly 800 billion British Thermal Units of energy, or enough to power more than 23,000 average homes in Pennsylvania for one year.

The new revolving loan fund will supply necessary capital for developing cost effective, energy-saving and renewable energy projects in existing, non-residential buildings throughout Pennsylvania. The projects create and retain jobs, and must cut an entire facility’s energy consumption by at least 25 percent or develop and install technologies on-site that produce electricity from renewable resources.

The Department of Environmental Protection and TRF are finalizing the loan fund’s guidelines. More information, as well as a form for non-residential building owners who may be interested in learning more, is available at www.PaGreenEnergyLoanFund.com.

Single-family dwellings are not eligible for financing under the new Green Energy Loan Fund. Homeowners interested in obtaining low-interest loans to help finance home-energy efficiency projects should seek assistance through the Keystone HELP program by visiting www.keystonehelp.com.

TRF has extensive experience in with the green energy industry and in integrating high-performance energy measures into its community development portfolio. Its Collaborative Lending Initiative, a regional loan consortium comprised of 13 banks, has provided energy efficiency and renewable energy construction financing for numerous affordable housing and charter school projects.

The firm has also provided advice since 1993 to its customers on energy efficiency and the sustainability of their capital improvements and equipment purchases. In the last five years, TRF has focused its expertise on developing clean energy projects and technologies in a way that brings affordable and financially viable options such as solar, wind and quality energy efficiency projects to market.

TRF is also responsible for administering the Sustainable Development Fund, a $32 million energy fund created by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in its final order in the PECO Energy electric utility restructuring proceeding.

All told, TRF has financed more than 2,526 projects, delivering $939 million in capital to projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

For more information on how the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is creating jobs and making green energy projects a reality, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

The Ambler Green Committee is part of the Ambler Main Street Business Association. The Green Committee works toward helping local businesses pursue green initiatives and earth-friendly practices.

You do not need to be a resident of Ambler to participate. The Committee is in need of volunteers. Please contact us for further information.

Meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will be:
February 4, 1:00 PM
The Ambler Theater
108 East Butler Avenue, Ambler, PA

Energy Star and LEED EBOM: A Toolkit for Existing Buildings, Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 8:30 AM — 10:30 AM

Building Owners and Managers are currently faced with the challenge of making their existing buildings more energy efficient, while keeping a close eye on capital expenditures in an unstable economy. There are tools available to help you get started, but which ones should you be using? Energy Star? LEED? This session will demonstrate how both of these tools are an important part of your toolkit and how you can use them to achieve favorable results. Andrew Kreider from the EPA will give you an overview of Energy Star Portfolio Manager, and Bill Craig from Re:Vision Architecture will review how LEED EBOM (Existing Building, Operations & Maintenance) tackles energy efficiency, and beyond. Marla Thalheimer, Sustainability Manager from Liberty Property Trust will provide an example of how Liberty is using these tools to measure, set goals and track the results throughout their portfolio. Together well look at the advantages, the differences, and how they work together to ultimately create a high performance building.

Where: Temple University Center City (TUCC), 1515 Market Street, Room 222

Perkasie, Pennsylvania (based on an AP news release) — Although it is environmentally responsible to dry clothing by hanging it out on a line, many local municipalities and homeowner’s associations are attempting to ban the practice.

There are no laws in Perkasie against drying laundry outside; however, a town official called Carin Froehlich and ask her to stop drying clothes in the sun. She received two anonymous notes from neighbors saying they did not want to see her underwear flapping about.

“They said it made the place look like trailer trash. They said they didn’t want to look at my ‘unmentionables.’”

“If my husband has a right to have guns in the house, I have a right to hang laundry,” said Froehlich, who is writing a book on the subject.

from NASA

Astronomers using NASA’s Swift satellite and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope are seeing frequent blasts from a stellar remnant 30,000 light-years away. The high-energy fireworks arise from a rare type of neutron star known as a soft-gamma-ray repeater. Such objects unpredictably send out a series of X-ray and gamma-ray flares.

“At times, this remarkable object has erupted with more than a hundred flares in as little as 20 minutes,” said Loredana Vetere, who is coordinating the Swift observations at Pennsylvania State University. “The most intense flares emitted more total energy than the sun does in 20 years.”

The object, which has long been known as an X-ray source, lies in the southern constellation Norma. During the past two years, astronomers have identified pulsing radio and X-ray signals from it. The object began a series of modest eruptions on Oct. 3, 2008, then settled down. It roared back to life Jan. 22 with an intense episode.

Because of the recent outbursts, astronomers will classify the object as a soft-gamma-ray repeater — only the sixth known. In 2004, a giant flare from another soft-gamma-ray repeater was so intense it measurably affected Earth’s upper atmosphere from 50,000 light-years away.

Scientists think the source is a spinning neutron star, which is the superdense, city-sized remains of an exploded star. Although only about 12 miles across, a neutron star contains more mass than the sun. The object has been cataloged as SGR J1550-5418.

While neutron stars typically possess intense magnetic fields, a subgroup displays fields 1,000 times stronger. These so-called magnetars have the strongest magnetic fields of any known object in the universe. SGR J1550-5418, which rotates once every 2.07 seconds, holds the record for the fastest-spinning magnetar. Astronomers think magnetars power their flares by tapping into the tremendous energy of their magnetic fields.

“The ability of Fermi’s gamma-ray burst monitor to resolve the fine structure within these events will help us better understand how magnetars unleash their energy,” said Chryssa Kouveliotou, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The object has triggered the instrument more than 95 times since Jan. 22.

Using data from Swift’s X-ray telescope, a team led by Andrea Tiengo of INAF-IASF (Milan, Italy) captured a series of “light echoes” from the object. Images acquired when the latest flaring episode began show what appear to be expanding halos around the source. Multiple rings form as X-rays interact with dust clouds at different distances, with closer clouds producing larger rings. Both the rings and their apparent expansion are an illusion caused by the finite speed of light and the longer path the scattered light must travel.

“X-rays from the brightest bursts scatter off of dust clouds between us and the star,” said Jules Halpern at Columbia University. “As a result, we don’t really know the distance to this object as well as we would like. These images will help us make a more precise measurement and also determine the distance to the dust clouds.”

The Russian KONUS instrument on NASA’s Wind satellite, the joint NASA-Japan Suzaku mission, and the European Space Agency’s INTEGRAL satellite also have detected flares from SGR J1550-5418.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the Swift satellite. It is being operated in collaboration with partners in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and Japan. NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope is an astrophysics and particle physics observatory developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and with important contributions from academic institutions and partners in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.

To see the related images, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/swift/bursts/gammaray_fireworks.html

For more information about the Swift satellite, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/swift

For more information about the Fermi mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/fermi

Gamma-ray

SUBJECT: The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

In 2007, the Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). This law mandates that, as part of the Nation’s efforts to achieve energy independence, the Secretary of Transportation prescribe annual fuel economy increases for automobiles, beginning with model year 2011, resulting in a combined fuel economy fleet average of at least 35 miles per gallon by model year 2020. On May 2, 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks; Model Years 2011-2015, 73 Fed. Reg. 24352. In the notice and comment period, the NHTSA received numerous comments, some of them contending that certain aspects of the proposed rule, including appendices providing for preemption of State laws, were inconsistent with provisions of EISA and the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, 549 U.S. 497 (2007).

Federal law requires that the final rule regarding fuel economy standards be adopted at least 18 months before the beginning of the model year (49 U.S.C. 32902(g)(2)). In order for the model year 2011 standards to meet this requirement, the NHTSA must publish the final rule in the Federal Register by March 30, 2009. To date, the NHTSA has not published a final rule.

Therefore, I request that:

(a) in order to comply with the EISA requirement that fuel economy increases begin with model year 2011, you take all measures consistent with law, and in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, to publish in the Federal Register by March 30, 2009, a final rule prescribing increased fuel economy for model year 2011;

(b) before promulgating a final rule concerning model years after model year 2011, you consider the appropriate legal factors under the EISA, the comments filed in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the relevant technological and scientific considerations, and to the extent feasible, the forthcoming report by the National Academy of Sciences mandated under section 107 of EISA; and

(c) in adopting the final rules in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, you consider whether any provisions regarding preemption are consistent with the EISA, the Supreme Court’s decision in Massachusetts v. EPA and other relevant provisions of law and the policies underlying them.

This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

The Secretary of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.

BARACK OBAMA
THE WHITE HOUSE, January 26, 2009

Energy Sources
Energy is the vital force powering business, manufacturing, and the transportation of goods and services to serve the American and world economies. Energy supply and demand plays an increasingly vital role in our national security and the economic output of our nation. It is not surprising that the United States spends over 500 billion dollars annually on energy.

Increasing energy supplies.
As America’s need for energy grows, the Department of Energy is meeting the challenge by establishing clean fuel initiatives to make the most of traditional fossil fuels while investing in cutting edge research to develop sustainable sources such as fusion and to employ hydrogen (an energy carrier like electricity) which can be produced from diverse, domestic sources and greatly reduce our dependence on imported oil.

Modernizing our energy infrastructure.
By developing the infrastructure to support these fuels, DOE is striving every day to protect our nation’s energy needs and our planet’s environment.

Ensuring the productive and optimal use of energy resources, while limiting environmental impact.
In addition, the Department of Energy is harnessing the power of the earth itself to meet our energy needs. Advances in wind, hydro and geothermal energy allow us to take advantage of clean, abundant energy.

Cooperating on international energy issues.
The Department’s activities are instrumental in establishing the safety, reliability, and efficiency of energy supplies in a global marketplace.

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania – Net Metering
Incentive Type: Net Metering
Eligible Renewable/Other Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Fuel Cells, Municipal Solid Waste, CHP/Cogeneration, Waste Coal, Coal-Mine Methane, Anaerobic Digestion, Other Distributed Generation Technologies
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential, Nonprofit, Schools, Local Government, State Government, Fed. Government, Agricultural, Institutional
Limit on System Size: Residential: 50 kW; Non-residential: 3 MW; Customers with systems that are part of microgrids or are available for emergency use: 5 MW
Limit on Overall Enrollment: No limit specified
Treatment of Net Excess: Credited to customer’s next bill at retail rate; customer receives compensation for remaining NEG at “price-to-compare” at year-end
Utilities Involved: Investor-owned utilities
Interconnection Standards for Net Metering? Yes
Authority 1: 73 P.S. § 1648.1 et seq.
Date Enacted: 11/30/2004; amended 2007
Authority 2: 52 Pa. Code Chapter 75, Subchapter B
Date Enacted: 06/22/2006
Effective Date: 12/16/2006
Authority 3: PUC Rulemaking Order L-00050174
Date Enacted: 05/22/2008
Effective Date: 11/28/2008

Summary:
The PUC adopted net-metering rules and interconnection standards for net-metered systems and other forms of DG in 2006, pursuant to the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards (AEPS) Act of 2004. In 2007, H.B. 1203 amended the Pennsylvania AEPS and also expanded net metering. Revised rules consistent with these amendments became effective in November 2008.

In Pennsylvania, investor-owned utilities must offer net metering to residential customers that generate electricity with systems up to 50 kilowatts (kW) in capacity; nonresidential customers with systems up to three megawatts (MW) in capacity; and customers with systems greater than 3 MW but no more than 5 MW who make their systems available to the grid during emergencies, or where a microgrid is in place in order to maintain critical infrastructure. Net metering is available when any portion of the electricity generated is used to offset on-site consumption (i.e., system size is not limited by the customer’s on-site load).

Systems eligible for net metering include those that generate electricity using photovoltaics (PV), solar-thermal energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, biomass energy, fuel cells, combined heat and power (CHP), municipal solid waste, waste coal, coal-mine methane, other forms of distributed generation (DG) and certain demand-side management technologies.

Net metering is achieved using a single, bi-directional meter that can measure and record the flow of electricity in both directions at the same rate. Net excess generation (NEG) is carried forward and credited to the customer’s next bill at the full retail rate. Customer-generators are compensated for remaining NEG at the utility’s “price-to-compare” at the end of the year. The price-to-compare includes the generation and transmission components — but not the distribution component — of a utility’s retail rate. In order to reconcile net metering with Pennsylvania’s broader renewable energy goals, the “year” referenced above is defined to coincide with the compliance year (June 1 – May 31) used for Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS).

The utility must provide this meter if a customer’s existing meter does not meet these requirements. If a customer agrees, a dual-meter arrangement may be substituted for the bi-directional meter. Utilities must provide net metering at nondiscriminatory rates identical with respect to rate structure, retail rate components, and any monthly charges to the rates charged to non-net-metered customers. Utilities may not charge net-metered customers any fees or other charges that do not apply to non-net-metered customers. Furthermore, utilities may not require customers to install any additional equipment or carry liability insurance.

Any customer net excess generation (NEG) will be credited at the utility’s retail rate and carried over to the customer’s next bill during a 12-month period. Customers retain ownership of alternative-energy credits (commonly referred to as “renewable-energy credits” or “RECs” when associated with renewable energy) unless there is a contract with an express provision that assigns REC ownership to another entity, or unless the customer expressly rejects REC ownership. If a net-metered customer chooses to take ownership or transfer ownership of alternative-energy credits, then the customer is responsible for installing metering equipment required to measure alternative-energy credits.*

Pennsylvania’s rules allow meter aggregation on properties owned or leased and operated by a customer. This primarily benefits farms that are commonly owned and operated. Aggregation is limited to meters (in a single utility’s service territory) that are located on properties within two miles of the boundaries of the customer’s property. The utility must provide the necessary equipment for physical meter aggregation, but the customer must pay the costs. In addition, “virtual meter aggregation” is allowed for properties owned or leased and operated by a customer and located within two miles of the boundaries of the customer’s property and within a single utility’s service territory. For virtual meter aggregation, the customer is responsible only for any incremental expense involved in processing the account on a virtual meter aggregation basis.

If a net-metered customer’s self-generation results in a 10% or higher reduction in the customer’s purchase of electricity for an annualized period, the customer must pay for its share of stranded costs to prevent interclass or intraclass shifting.

*In November 2008 amended rules for the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) became effective. These rules exempt PV systems of 15 kW or less from a requirement that alternative energy credit (AEC) certification be verified by metered data, and instead provide a more general instruction that it be verified by the system administrator. Thus, despite the reference to “required” equipment that remains in the net metering rules, small solar facilities may not be required to install additional metering equipment in order to generate AEPS eligible credits.

Contact:

Calvin Birge
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
P.O. Box 3265
Harrisburg, PA 17105-3265
Phone: (717) 783-1555
Fax: (717) 787-5813
E-Mail:> cbirge@state.pa.us
Web site: http://www.puc.state.pa.us

The vertical wind turbines for Ricoh’s Time Square billboard project were designed by PacWind of California.

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