Author Archives: Leslie Rylke

5/25 – Ever Wonder What Energy Costs Right Now?

Posted on by

Friday, May 25th 2012

Ever wonder what the cost of energy is at this very moment? Valley Forge-based PJM (whose grid covers much of Southeastern Pennsylvania) has a new tool allowing consumers to monitor real time energy pricing, thereby encouraging the shifting of energy-intensive activities to less expensive times of the day and leveling demand and electricity prices.

Bookmark the Electricity Price Ticker now and check back at different times of the day and as the weather warms this weekend. To convert $/MWh to cents/kWh simply divide the number by 10. Remember this is only the generation portion of your total electricity price.

Click to see real-time energy pricing from PJM

5/21 – BP Breaks Ground on Pennsylvania’s 2nd Largest Wind Farm

Posted on by

Monday, May 21st 2012

BP has officially begun construction of the 141MW Mehoopany wind project in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania, west of Scranton. When commissioned (probably early 2013) the project will consist of 88 1.6MW turbines, producing enough clean energy to power 40,000 homes. The project will create 250 jobs during the construction and commissioning phases.

The costs are around $2.00 per megawatt, making the energy produced cost-competitive despite a record low natural gas prices.

For more information click here (via citizensvoice.com)

 

5/4 – Advanced PV Design & Installation Training Scheduled in June

Posted on by

Friday, May 4th 2012

Infinite Solar (Philadelphia) is hosting Advanced PV: Techniques and Certification Exam Preparation from June 25th to June 29th. From their website:

“This 5-day course will cover the subject matter that most frequently appears on the Full NABCEP Installers Certification Exam. The Exam will take place on September 22nd and this course will act as both a refresher and provide you with valuable study resources to ensure you earn this valuable certification before the education requirements to sit for the test are increased.

This class will be taught by IREC Master Trainer Ken Thames. Ken is a veteran of the industry with a PV instructional experience spanning 7 years and a solar electric business going back even further. He is one of the nation’s foremost experts in solar PV battery backup systems and will soon publish a solar PV textbook that is expected to become an indispensible resource for students across the country.”

It is strongly recommended that attendees complete the entry-level, 40 hour NABCEP course before enrolling in the Advanced course.

Click here for more info. If you are interested in attending please contact us regarding grant funding to help offset the costs.

4/26 – SEI’s 2nd Annual Smart Energy Tour a Success

Posted on by

Thursday, April 26th 2012

The Smart Energy Initiative hosted the second annual Smart Energy Tour (SET)  on Saturday, April 21st at the Downingtown STEM Academy. 21 students and about a dozen parents attended the career-oriented sessions on the efficiency, geothermal, solar and biofuels industries. All presenters are members of our industry-respective Working Groups.

Special thanks to presenters from This Leaky House (efficiency), Sinton Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. (geothermal), Waste Oil Recyclers (biofuels), and Alternative Energy, Inc. (solar).

4/19 – John Hanger presents on Marcellus Shale at the CCEDC

Posted on by

Thursday, April 19th 2012

John Hanger, former PUC Chairman and Secretary of Pennsylvania DEP, presented on Thursday morning to a group of 80+ at the Chester County Economic Development Council. John’s presentation covered national energy trends including booms in renewable energy and natural gas development, and weighed economic benefits with the environmental impacts of further development of the Marcellus Shale region.

The event was covered in the Daily Local News.

Click here to download John’s presentation: John Hanger – Smart Energy Initiative – April 19, 2012

We’d like to thank Mr. Hanger for presenting at the Smart Energy Initiative. If you we’re unable to attend this morning, we hope to have John return in 2013.

Special thanks to our event sponsors Gawthrop Greenwood and Alternative Energy Inc.

4/10 – Neighboring New Jersey Now Boasting World’s Largest Rooftop PV System

Posted on by

Tuesday, April 21st 2012

Taking advantage of progressive subsidies, the Cloucester Marine Terminal’s new 9 MW rooftop solar PV array has 27,526 panels and it’s own name: Riverside Renewable Energy, LLC.

“The Riverside project is an outstanding example of how we can create jobs that move us towards cleaner, more efficient and cost-saving energy that doesn’t come from overseas,” said Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ).  “By partnering with the federal government, private industry is able to make strides that are good for job creation and the economy right now, and also for a cleaner, healthier and more energy efficient future here in South Jersey and the country.”

Source: Clean Technica