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VENUE CHANGE for THIS Month!

Carlos Fernandez, owner of Potomac Wind Energy located in Dickerson, MD will be here to discuss the potential for wind energy in Frederick County. Dr. Fernandez has sold and installed over 30 SKYSTREAM small wind energy systems.

Also, after Green Drinks there will be a free film about how we grow and develop our community shown at the MET. The film is the final showing of the Spring film series on sustainability. It is part of the OurCommonWEalth film series. For more information go towww.ourcommonwealth.us.
Brewer’s Alley upstairs “Booking Room” (5 to 7p.m.)
124 North Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701

Every month people who work in the sustainability field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It can be a force for good in our community.

The spirit of green drinks is that anyone can come, and this makes for interesting interactions. If you are interested in green, ecological, environmental, organic, renewable, and sustainability issues, you are welcome to attend.

RSVP is not required, but it would be helpful to get a head cou

Frederick Green Drinks is a great success!

At our April gathering, Michelle L. Liefke a local EcoBroker/Ecosociate launchedwww.leafkey.com. Fred Ugast president of U.S. Photovoltaics, Inc., discussed incentives available in Maryland with an emphasis on the changes enacted by the legilsature last week.

Our NEXT event is on: May 19, 2010 (Wednesday) from 5 to 7pm

Dr. Carlos Fernandez, owner of Potomac Wind Energy located in Dickerson, Frederick County, MD will be here to discuss the potential for wind energy in Frederick County. Dr. Fernandez has sold and installed over 30 SKYSTREAM
small wind energy systems.

Also, after Green Drinks there will be a free film about how we grow and develop our community shown at the MET. The film is the final showing of the Spring film series on sustainability. It is part of the OurCommonWEalth film series. For more information go towww.ourcommonwealth.us.
Quynn’s Attic
10 East Patrick Street (side entrance)
Frederick, MD 21701

Every month people who work in the sustainability field meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks.

These events are very simple and unstructured, but many people have found employment, made friends, developed new ideas, done deals and had moments of serendipity. It can be a force for good in our community.

The spirit of green drinks is that anyone can come, and this makes for interesting interactions. If you are interested in green, ecological, environmental, organic, renewable, and sustainability issues, you are welcome to attend.

RSVP is not required, but it would be helpful to get a head count…

Contact:
Rich Maranto
rich [at] mdgoesgreen.org

What’s the Green Neighborhood Effect?: Clean Currents  – through its Green Neighborhood Effect – is partnering with the local organization Friends of Frederick County to offer clean power for your home!   Please let your friends and neighbors know about this so we can reduce our demand for dirty and non- renewable energy and promote clean currents!

Sign-up your Home for Wind Power at www.CleanCurrents.com

HELP THE ENVIRONMENT

By default right now your home’s electricity is coming  from a mix of coal and nuclear sources. The average home is responsible for putting about 15,000 lbs of carbon dioxide, the main global warming gas, into the atmosphere each year.  That’s a 15,000 lb carbon footprint or the equivalent of 4 cars on the road for a year!  By switching to Clean Currents you personally eliminate your home’s carbon footprint.  Pass this around to your friends and neighbors -  and you can see results like these or better:  10 homes = 150,000 Ibs of CO₂ (or the equivalent of taking over 40 cars off the road!).

SAVE MONEY

The really good news is that right now, Clean Currents Wind Power for Home rates for Maryland and Washington, DC are lower than Pepco and BGE’s rates and there are no sign-up or switching fees!Your neighbors will thank you for telling them how to save money (most homes see $100 to $300 a year savings) And…it’s easier than you think.  Direct you neighbors to www.CleanCurrents.com and click on Wind Power for Home to enroll.

AMPLIFYING THE EFFECT

For each household that enrolls between now and the end of June 2010 Clean Currents will donate$10 to Friends of Frederick County for land and water conservation.

TAKE 3 MINUTES TO SIGN UP ONLINE

All you need to do to enroll your household in Clean Currents wind power is to go to our website,http://www.cleancurrents.com.  Click the “Wind Power for Home” link to access the signup page and fill out the requested info. (Clean Currents provides a packet of support materials for your community!). We can’t wait to help you get started!

ANNOUNCING the third program in a series of Community Education Programs about Small Wind Energy Systems  and is relevant for any person, small farm, non-profit organization (i.e. churches, clubs), school, municipality or rural small business enterprises interested in how to keep power on in the event of a grid failure/power-loss emergency.  This community education program is free and open to the public.

When:  Thursday, November 19th   7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Where: Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, 19801 Beallsville Road, Beallsville, Maryland 20839.

Support for this program came from Maryland Energy Administration, EmPOWER Clean Energy Communities Program to the Land and Cultural Preservation Fund/Friends of Frederick County.

There is well-known loss-of-power risk due to hurricanes and other disasters. In addition, we have risk of repeating the massive North-East Blackout of 2003 and experiencing centralized power-source failures like the recent Brazilian Blackout.  During the next few years, Maryland will likely experience rolling brownouts due to the chronic shortage of electricity supply, according to the Maryland Public Service Commission. This is because we use more electricity than the existing sources of power can deliver. This may be simply an inconvenience for some or represent a critical loss-of-potential income and unsafe conditions for municipalities, farms and businesses. This situation can be alleviated by more locally-produced power from renewable energy sources.

Presenters :

Dr. Carlos Fernandez of Potomac Wind Energy will discuss how a small wind energy system can use batteries…or be totally off-the-grid… and thereby provide power without dependence on the GRID network. Potomac Wind Energy is a leader in decision support, sighting, sales and installation of small-wind turbines.

James G. Holt of Holt Electrical Contractors, Inc. is an expert in standby emergency generators. Jim served as Chair for the Independent Electrical Contractors Association – Chesapeake Chapter, Apprentice and Training Committee and was involved in founding the Fire Lite Fire Alarm training lab and serves on IEC’s Renewable Energy Committee.

Additional speakers will discuss the importance of distributed generation with renewable energy systems to solve critical infrastructure challenges in municipalities, emergency services, farms and commercial/industrial settings during extensive and/or extended electrical grid failures.

Mr. Andrew Gohn, Clean Energy Program Manager for Maryland Energy Administration says, “This educational component is an important step to raise awareness and support the development of renewable energy within the regional agricultural community.”

Rebecca Rush, Outreach Coordinator for OURcommonWEalth Programs said,  ” This is a timely public education program about replacing electricity that otherwise would need to come from the GRID with clean, local, renewable power sources like small wind energy systems. Incentives are much better, too, making the clean-energy investment an even better value.”

A courtesy RSVP is requested by email to info@ourcommonwealth.us or by telephone to 301-797-4146 so that we may ensure sufficient refreshments and seating.

CO-GRANTEES ARE HOSTS

OURcommonWEalth™ Programs is an alliance of organizations that co-coordinates, co-hosts and co-promotes educational programs for the public to encourage smarter growth, renewable energy, energy conservation, environmental stewardship and a higher quality of life throughout the region.

For additional information: Rebecca Rush, OCW Outreach Coordinator   Phone: 301-797-4146  Email at info@ourcommonwealth.us.

On April 28, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners voted 5 to 0 in favor of the text amendment as presented.

OURCommonWEalth has had the privilege of hosting two public information programs about Solar and Wind 101, the first one in December 2008 at the Urbana Fire Station and the most recent program was in April 2009 at the C. Burr Artz Library in Frederick City..

Special thanks go to:

The Board of County Commissioners and Planners who visited Potomac Wind Energy to understand and to learn first hand about what is a “small wind” turbine.

Our  Program Presenters:

• Eric Soter,  Frederick County Planning Director (December presenter)
• Dr. Carlos Fernandez, Potomac Wind Energy, Inc.
• Rick Lank, Renewable Energy Stewardship, Inc.
• Jim Pierobon, Standard Solar, Inc.

Educational Process Facilitators and People who Presented Favorable Opinions:

• Larry Smith, Planning and Zoning
• Bob White, Friends of Frederick County/Frederick County Planning Commission
• Nick Pace, Oakdale Elementary School (solar arrays)
• Colby Ferguson, Frederick County Economic Development
• Rich Maranto, MDGoesGreen.org for filming/hosting the December Program.
• Special Thanks to Friends of Frederick County - FOUNDING SPONSOR of OURCommonWEalth Programs

We look forward to making further progress toward a Sustainable Frederick County and believe this is an important first step.

From the desk of Rebecca Rush, President, Renewable Energy Stewardship, Inc.
204 West Main Street Middletown, MD 21769   PHONE: 301-371-9853

Frederick County lays the groundwork for achieving energy independence and a “green economy” with the kick off of a presentation and discussion on the cost-savings and value of small scale wind and solar power. On Tuesday, April 21st, a coalition of representatives from nonprofits, green business entrepreneurs and development specialists will host a 2nd presentation and discussion aimed at educating interested Frederick County residents, farmers and businesses owners about harnessing the power of renewable energy for everyday uses. But we can no longer delay putting a framework for a clean energy economy in place.

Solar and Wind 101 comes as the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) are scheduled (4/28/09) to vote on a landmark text amendment that puts in place the beginnings of a framework for a clean energy economy in Frederick County. The text amendment, if passed, would permit electrical net-metering on small-scale wind turbines and pole-mounted solar, and pave the way for residents and businesses alike to qualify for financial assistance through the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) – to make -wind turbines and solar panels more affordable. “Smart Grid technology investments will help both energy conservation and provide green collar jobs. Clean, renewable energy produced and used locally enhances America’s energy security,” said Richard Lank, Vice President of Business Development for Renewable Energy Stewardship, Inc.

Presentations on the 21st will include key elements of the zoning text amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.

OURCommonWEalth is pleased to host the following experts:
• Jim Pierobon of Standard Solar, Inc, a company that has designed and installed more than 100 residential solar electric systems throughout the mid-Atlantic region. They recently completed the installation of 205 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic panels covering nearly 1/3 acre of roof space of the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters.
• Carlos Fernandez, Potomac Wind Energy, Inc, the #1 supplier of the Skystream small-wind systems. The company installed a wind turbine at the U.S. Botanical Gardens and was featured in the “Windmill on the Potomac” segment for Clean Skies TV.
• Richard Lank, Renewable Energy Stewardship, Inc, a company that is developing model distributed power production facilities using wind and solar devices for net metering and homeland security purposes.

“Developing and sustaining clean, safe, secure and affordable power sources is essential for supporting our quality of life,” said Rebecca Rush, Outreach Coordinator for OURCommonWEalth programs.

The OURCommonWEalth meeting will be held on April 21st at the C. Burr Artz Library, at 110 East Patrick St, Frederick City from 7:00 – 8:30 pm. The event is free and is held in the (handicap accessible) Community Room. There is ample public parking in the adjacent parking garage.

Event sponsors: Friends of Frederick County, Renewable Energy Stewardship Company (RESCO), Standard Solar, Potomac Wind, East Frederick Rising CDC, Maryland Goes Green

 
http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-09-2009/0004984952&EDATE=
 
Note that Dr. Fernandez was one of the featured speakers for the Solar and Wind 101 program co-hosted last December by OURCommonWEalth-Friends of Frederick County and Renewable Energy Stewardship at the Urbana Fire Station.  
 

From the Desk of Friends of Frederick County, Rebecca Rush, Outreach Coordinator for OurCommonWEalth     Rebecca is also President of the Renewable Energy Stewardship, Inc,  204 West Main Street Middletown, MD 21769   PHONE: 301-371-9853

A farm energy audit collects and analyzes data about a farm’s energy use and recommends actions to increase the energy efficiency of your farm operation. The process begins when an EnSave representative conducts a phone interview with a farmer to collect basic information about the operation, such as the size of the facility, the current energy use, and any plans for the future. A data collector will then visit the farm to capture energy end-use information. Following the visit, EnSave will generate a customized, multi-page energy audit report which will provide information about energy use and the potential for energy savings. EnSave will follow up to review the report, answer any questions, and discuss next steps.

Farmers will pay $300 for an energy audit, with the cost refunded if they install any of the measures recommended through the audit. The energy efficient equipment incentives will be available whether producers receive an energy audit or not. The program’s equipment incentives will be based on $0.06 per kilowatt hour of electricity saved for any qualifying lighting projects, $0.08 per kilowatt hour saved for all other eligible electric saving projects, and $1.50 per gallon of propane saved for eligible gas saving projects. The incentives cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.

For more information interested producers can visit www.ensave.com/
call Corey Conant, EnSave’s Program Manager, at (800) 732-1399, or e-mail Corey at coreyc@ensave.com