Hemenway Turns on Solar Power
154 years young! Hemenway United Methodist Church turned on the first solar photovoltaic plant (PV Plant) in Evanston at a church. Another milestone reached in the rich history of the church.
The PV Plant is owned by Realgy which leases the church’s roof. Hemenway receives the energy from the PV Plant supplemented by any excess demand from Realgy. The arrangement reduces the Church’s utility bill as compared to COMED by about $1,250 / year. The PV Plant consists of about 50 panels which are not visible from the street. The PV Plant will produce about 18,250 kWh each year for the next 25 years. This replaces about 50 pickup trucks worth of coal generated electricity.
The PV Plant was installed by Eco Solar and developed by Terry Black.
Pastor Richard Mosley was a gracious host and is excited to plow the savings from the PV Plant back into the community.
Realgy is proud to continue our service of providing clean, renewable power in Illinois.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM and Index, Fixed pricing.
Additional Information:
http://www.evanstonroundtable.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=11668&SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&S=1
Michigan solar industry set to increase 14% this year, long term not as clear.
Michigan solar is gaining, currently Michigan ranks 18th in the Country in terms of solar jobs. However, Michigan is in the top 10 states for good to great wind resources (steady strong winds). So, it would seem possible to have more jobs.
Most of the current solar growth has come from small projects developed and installed by smaller businesses.
With the change in Federal tax policy approved for 5 years; utilities and large entities can propose must larger projects. Michigan utilities have begun proposing investing in larger solar projects and want policy changes to favor them.
The policy changes mean eliminating net metering and allowing larger projects favorable treatment.
Michigan will be reviewing their energy policy and should strive to following successful states that favor local midsize and small projects over utility size projects. This means keeping net metering and expanding customer choice programs.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM and Index, Fixed pricing.
Additional Information:
http://midwestenergynews.com/2016/02/23/advocates-say-policy-changes-could-stunt-michigans-solar-job-growth/
http://realgyenergyservices.com/go-michigan/
http://realgyenergyservices.com/michigan-energy-overhaul-wont-happen-in-2015/
Solar Invitation
You are cordially invited to the solar power installation at
Hemenway United Methodist Church
of Evanston Illinois
Date: 17 February 2016
Time: 11 AM
Location: 933 CHICAGO AVE, EVANSTON, IL 60202
Reverend Mosley is the current Pastor of Hemenway UMC, which has provided services to the Evanston community and beyond for 143 years. Come and see how the Church is preparing the next 100+ years.
A tour of the installed 15.4 Kw PV solar power plant on the roof will be offered.
You can meet the PV Plant builder: Eco-Solar and Realgy Energy Services that supplies the Church’s solar power.
Hemenway UMC
Pastor: Rev. Richard Mosley
Eco-Solar Solutions, Inc.
Paul Szczesny
President
847.220.8786
www.eco-solar-solutions.com
Realgy Energy Services, LLC
Michael Vrtis
President
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Hemenway United Methodist Church completes installation of its solar power project.
Hemenway United Methodist Church is now powered by 15.4 kW of solar energy.
Realgy, LLC today announced the completion of a 15.4 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system for Hemenway UMC, an active parish serving the Evanston community and beyond for 143 years.
The solar PV system was installed on the roof of the main church building located in Evanston, Illinois. Pastor Mosley stated: “We share our building with several non-profits who provide vital services to the community. The solar panels provide energy to reduce our energy costs so that we can redirect resources to life saving endeavors. It’s really exciting to see the roof area with the panels installed, as it builds on our commitment to sustainability.”
The solar PV system was installed by Eco Solar Solutions of Chicago, Illinois. This is a smaller project than ECO Solar normally installs but it will make a big impact for the church. “Hemenway’s church building is a flat roof and southern exposure which was a great building to install the solar PV system,” said Paul Szczesny, President of Eco Solar Solutions. “Adding solar to the church so that it will now be able to generate most of its ongoing energy needs for the next 25 years is very exciting and a great investment.”
Realgy, LLC is an alternative energy service supplier in Illinois and is the owner of 5 solar PV systems, including our newest at Hemenway UMC. Realgy supplies Hemenway their electricity and selected them for this installation. Realgy paid for the installation so as to generate renewable energy locally as part of its sustainable commitment in Illinois.
The Hemenway PV Solar system will produce over 18, 250 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually and more than one million kWh over the next 25 years. That is enough energy to power about 2 average Illinois homes every year. The environmental benefits associated with the PV system is the reduction of 50 pickup trucks of coal or 12,775 lbs. of carbon dioxide each year for the next 25 years of operation!
“We are excited to announce the completion of the Hemenway solar PV project,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy, LLC. “Realgy made this investment as a continuation of our commitment to Illinois, and especially Evanston.” It is Realgy’s second project in Evanston. Vrtis continues; “The Hemenway PV project builds on our commitment of reducing the cost and proving the environmental benefits of renewable energy to our customers in Illinois.”
Realgy entered into a long term agreement with Hemenway UMC under which Hemenway pays nothing for the Solar PV plant’s installation and maintenance. Hemenway simply remains a customer of Realgy and pays only the market based cost of power it uses (averaging 5% below COMED). In addition, the church will receive a discount of about 10% as a result of having the solar energy displace energy that would otherwise be delivered (and charged) by COMED.
Contacts:
Hemenway United Methodist Church
Reverend R. Mosley
933 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60202
847-328-2600
ECO SOLAR Solutions
Paul Szczesny
President, Co-Founder
773.733.4110
www.eco-solar-solutions.com
Realgy Energy Services, LLC
Michael Vrtis
President
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com
Solar Panel Luddites
Woodland, North Carolina rejected a proposal to rezone land just outside its borders for the use of a solar farm. Three solar farms have already been approved in the area, but local residents are not impressed. The council defeated the motion for the rezoning of an area on US Highway 258 for an additional solar farm after a public comment period, where members of the town could give their opinions.
Retired science teacher (?) Jane Mann sighted rising risk of cancer deaths in the area (despite reports showing cancer rates in NC fell over the 2008 to 2012 period) as that no one could tell her solar panels were not causing the cancer.
She’s also concerned photosynthesis would slow due to solar panels stopping plants from growing in solar farm fields. “I want to know what’s going to happen. I want information. Enough is enough. I don’t see the profit for the town,” Mann said at the meeting, according to The Roanoke-Chowan News Herald.
“People come with hidden agendas. Until we can find if anything is going to damage this community, we shouldn’t sign any paper,” she added. Bobby Mann (it’s not clear if he’s related to Jane), said that he was worried local communities would dry up. “You’re killing your town,” he said. “All the young people are going to move out.”
He also argued that solar farms would suck up all the energy from the Sun, and new businesses would not come to Woodland. (Editors Note – If he’s that wrong about something so basic, he should not have a say in anything).
The area just outside Woodland is a popular spot for solar farm developers, because it has an electrical substation, which means the panels can be hooked up to the national grid. While construction has started on one of the three farms that have already been approved for the area, it’s unlikely this forth one will get the go-ahead.
Unfortunately, this dislike of solar is not new. The New York Times reported in 2011 that when Oradell, New Jersey began putting up solar panels on power poles, many residents were unhappy. “I hate them,” Eric Olsen told The New York Times. “It’s just an eyesore.”
Other residents were also reported as calling the panels “ugly” or “hideous”, and said they were worried about their property value declining because of it.
However, these panels pushed New Jersey closer to their renewable energy target, which is one of the highest in the US. As of earlier this year, New Jersey also approved a bill that requires the state to get at least 80 percent of all its energy from renewable sources by 2050.
And not all New Jersey residents have been against these changes, with some seeing the panels as a badge of pride representing their switch to clean energy.
Hopefully, with increased exposure and better education, we can outline the positives of having solar panels installed in both big cities and country towns. We don’t want another fiasco like this Wind Turbine Syndrome travesty.
Quoted from: http://www.sciencealert.com/us-town-rejects-solar-farm-amid-worries-it-would-suck-up-all-the-energy-from-the-sun
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM and Index, Fixed pricing.
A race car in the Australian outback improves solar performance in US
Engineering, sometimes forgotten but is the cause of so much of the “cool” gadgets, buildings, machines and working stuff in the world.
Ever wonder what gets engineers excited, it’s to win!
In this case, the World Solar Challenge run in Australia challenges the world’s engineering schools to develop a car to run 1,800 miles on only solar power.
….and, if you are going to compete you want to win.
Their win thou give us all benefits. Improving solar performance for automobiles will improve solar performance on your house and will ultimately be used in cars.
So, Go Blue….University of Michigan and bring home the win and the benefits to us all.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM and Index, Fixed pricing.
Additional information: www.realgyenergyservices.com
Supporting Article:
http://www.wired.com/2015/10/car-racing-outback-can-boost-solar-us/
Solar Energy is Gaining in Scale
Solar Energy scale of deployment is accelerating.
Solar energy’s share of the total electricity supply has been gaining for years. Now, it becoming so mainstream that entire companies and even States are not only committing to buying solar energy but to building it.
Amazon is building the largest solar farm in Virginia. It is part of their commitment to run their company using 100% renewable energy.
Hawaii will be the first state that will run entirely on renewable energy.
A trend, certainly.
The cost is at or below fossil fuel costs. Taking into account environmental and health benefits of solar energy, the commitments are becoming easier to make and implement.
Supporting documentation:
In 10 years, your job probably won’t exist
Happy New Year, the future continues!
So with that in mind, here is an interesting question…will your job (career) exist in 10 years, how about 20?
Change is relentless and with the new comes obsolescence.
In energy, the prediction has been that solar will continue to advance in price and efficiency. While this is true, other technology is not standing still.
· The internal combustion engine (cars, trucks, buses, electric generation) is getting more efficient. The US Government has set the average fleet MPG at over 50 within the next 15 years. Currently, it is around 30 MPG.
· Light bulbs have radically changed, such that the incandescent is no longer available. The average LED light bulb will operate continuously for 5 years and would consume less energy over those 5 years than 1 incandescent light bulb operating for just 6 months. In the US, adoption to all LED light bulbs could eliminate the need for over 80 coal fired power plants.
· Of course, fracking has changed the landscape of the oil industry and has cut US importing oil by nearly 30% over the last 5 years.
So change touches us all. It’s exciting to forecast into the future and equally exciting to see it be wrong and right!
Cheers to change.
by David Tuffley a lecturer in applied ethics and socio-technical Studies at Griffith University
Illinois continues to use legislation to pursue energy policy
Illinois has current legislation on renewal energy that sets aside a percentage of supply; that is, a percentage each year of the total energy used in Illinois must come from renewable (wind or solar) generation sources. However, the spirit of this program relies on the utilities passing through the costs of acquiring the renewable energy to their customers. Customer Choice, municipal aggregation, and the IPA itself changed how the utility acquires power for their customers (which is dwindling due to choice and municipalization). Therefore the current renewable legislation’s intent has been blunted.
This effort seems to be another bite of the same apple. Renewable energy should be supported by open and competitive process and we are heartened to see that this legislation will be overseen by the ICC. Past legislative efforts have bypassed the ICC’s oversight and expertise in favor of the utilities (real-time metering) or municipalization (allowing towns to aggregate energy purchases).
Realgy owns 120 kw of solar energy in Illinois and invests annually in the creation of new renewable solar projects.
Read the whole Crain’s Chicago Business article, “Here comes the sun: Rooftop solar panels get jump-start in Illinois”.
The First Electric Generator of Its Kind
The Ivanpah solar power plant in the Mojave Desert officially opened Thursday February 13, 2014 after almost four years of construction, and is the first electric generator of its kind.
A field of mirrors at the Ivanpah power plant in California. Jim Wilson/The New York Times
“…focuses sunlight from 350,000 mirrors onto 2,200-ton boilers 339 feet in the air to make steam that drives turbines to produce electricity”
To imagine what this is, put yourself at the beach, you are 6 feet tall (or you’re standing on a beach chair), and you look as far as you can to the horizon; that should be about 4 miles. From this spot on the beach, 350,000 mirrors are spread over a distance farther than you can see (5 miles in all directions) and all those mirrors direct the sun’s rays onto the surface of a boiler that gets hot enough to produce steam which is used to drive a turbine to produce electricity.
That is cool!
It will take bold and imaginative ideas and, while some ideas may prove to be impractical, we will find ways to continue to create energy for the world’s consumers that can be sustained (without damaging the earth for the next 100 years).
Realgy has invested in photovoltaic (PV) solar generation where the sun light is converted into electricity within the solar panel.
Check out the NY Times article: “A Huge Solar Plant Opens, Facing Doubts About Its Future”