EmPOWER CLEAN ENERGY Communities Grant Winner to Dedicate and Explain New Thermal-Solar System on location with an energy legislation update by Maryland Assembly Delegate Sue Hecht and an update on Maryland’s Clean Energy Center Executive Director,  I. Katherine Magruder.

Curtis Nelson, Principle of NCP Solar/Nelson Commercial Plumbing of Frederick, local vendor/installer of the Claggett Center’s thermal solar system, will provide a program about the features and benefits of thermal solar systems. He will have a cutaway model of a thermal solar system and photos available to demonstrate the Claggett Center installation.   EmPOWER CLEAN ENERGY Communities  grant supported installation of a thermal solar hot water system that now uses the renewable energy of sunshine to pre-heat water used in the Bishop Claggett Center’s institutional kitchen dishwashing system. The system is expected to offset annually the need for approximately 100 therms of gas with clean renewable energy. According to Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration who toured the installation earlier, “The Maryland Energy Administration is thrilled to partner with the Bishop Claggett Center through the O’Malley-Brown administration’s EmPOWERing Clean Communities initiative to make continued strides in realizing our shared energy efficiency goals,” commented MEA Director Malcolm Woolf, “This marks yet another big step forward in meeting our State’s EmPOWER Maryland goal of 15% reduced energy consumption by 2015.”  Come and learn about the new thermal solar installation “pre-heating” the water used in the Bishop Claggett Center’s kitchen.

Location:  Bishop Claggett Conference Center 3035 Buckeystown Pike , Buckeystown, 21717

The program is free and open to the public.

Please RSVP to Stuart at 301-874-5147 X103

The Sugar Loaf Conservancy asks that you write letters and attend the House Economic Matters Committee public hearing on HB 1535 this coming Tuesday, March 30^th at 1 pm in ANNAPOLIS!

This bill will prohibit the Public Service Commission (PSC) from accepting an application from a company that is not an electric company doing day-to-day business as an electric company – no paper LLCs and it will insure that the company have sufficient liability insurance for any eventuality.

PLEASE PLAN ON ATTENDING THIS HEARING IF YOU CAN.  Details as to location and room number will be sent over the weekend. Whether or not you can attend, we need to flood the legislators on this committee with emails and faxes thanking Sue Hecht for sponsoring this bill and asking all other legislators to support the bill.  In your letter to Sue Hecht please thank her for the letter she sent to the PSC asking them to delay its consideration of the PATH procedural issues until after the General Assembly completes it session.

You can go to the Maryland General Assembly site http://mlis.state.md.us/mgaweb/mail32.aspx and you can email legislators directly from there or see our attached list of committee members. A suggested form letter will be sent this weekend.

Douglas S. Kaplan

President

Sugarloaf Conservancy

www.sugarloafconservancy.org

www.nomoretowers.org

For information, or to help, contact:  Douglas Kaplan, President, Sugarloaf Conservancy,  Doug.Kaplan@SugarloafConservancy.org,  (301) 874 –0584

The staff of the State Corporation Council (SCC) has filed its testimony with the Commission.  In the testimony they stated that there is no need or justification for PATH.   Previously expert testimony also proved that there was no need for PATH.

We first want to thank all those in Virginia who have worked so hard to reach this milestone.  The battle is far from over, but this news is very welcomed.  The testimony is voluminous and the following are a few of the conclusions that can be found in the testimony

Based on the testimony of Staff Witness Wilson as well as my own observations regarding PJM Mid-Atlantic electric loads, I believe that PJM’s peak load forecast is too high. My view is that load levels in PJM that would necessitate the construction of this project will not be realized until at least two years later than stated by the Applicants in their original Application in this matter. As such, net ratepayer benefits of at least $320 million are obtained by deferring this project for at least those two years.

Based on my transmission planning experience and professional judgment, it is my opinion that an adequate transmission reliability/needs justification has not been established for the PATH Project. I explain in my testimony that the electrical needs analysis falls short as a result of: 1) unrealistic, overly-stressed 2013 and 2014 base cases due to flawed data and modeling assumptions; 2) insufficient, missing and inconclusive studies; and 3) inadequate alternatives analysis.

If you would like to look at the testimony please click on:  http://docket.scc.virginia.gov/vaprod/main.asp and “Search” for case number PUE-2009-00043 and click on “Documents” .  The documents are dated December 8, 2009 and are marked Parts 1-5.

Sugarloaf Conservancy supports this testimony and asks Allegheny Energy and PJM to review these filings with an open mind.  We ask that they go beyond the guaranteed rate of return on their investment and withdraw the applications in Virginia and West Virginia.  We do not believe it is in the best interest of their customers who will continue to pay for the costs of continuing these cases.  The time has come for PJM and Allegheny to accept the fact that these lines are not needed.

To be in that category, you must have to be New York City, but the more than 1,200 homes in the radius of the substation site are indeed there whether or not Allegheny acknowledges this fact. There are also the many other lives, schools, homes and land all along the rest of the route line.

Later, he took questions, but provided no answers. He claimed to not know the substation size and said other sites were considered, but didn’t know where. As to if only 15 percent was the amount of electricity from PATH that would go to Maryland, Frisby said it was incorrect, but had no correct answer. He was “unfamiliar” with health studies mentioned. To other questions, he said we would have to ask the technical staff at Allegheny. This has already been done by many, with no results. In short, Frisby’s attitude was one of “tough luck.” He attempted to tell us that any future issues with well water, security, etc. would be addressed by the EPA and other government entities. Yeah, that’s comforting.

So was any “education” or “awareness” provided? No. It was more like “smoke” and “mirrors.” The impassioned citizenry deserve better than the lack of transparency and accountability, to use the current buzz words, that they continue to get from Allegheny. If there is nothing to hide, then why are there still no answers?

SUSAN DENNY

Mount Airy

http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/opinion/display_lte.htm?storyid=97878

This month’s forum subject  is the Potomac Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH).  Mr. Russell Frisby, Jr. of the PATH Education and Awareness Team (PEAT) and Frederick County Board of County Commissioners President, Jan Gardner, will be present  to discuss the PATH project in Frederick County.  Mr. Frisby will present the plans for about ten minutes.  There will be time to address county concerns and specific questions that have been raised by citizens.  Some of the questions we’ve been given thus far are:

• electricity usage was down 4.4% the first six months of 2009 on top of a 2.7% decline in 2008.  With economists projecting future growth in our economy being slow for the foreseeable future; what economic information do you have that our energy needs will increase to justify a new transmission line?
• Will renewable energy power be brought in with PATH and if so, from what source?
• There are studies done on electric and magnetic fields from power lines with voltages 400 kV and less that show a definite connection to childhood leukemia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Isn’t it risky to pair a 500kV line along side a 765 kV line?
• What alternate sites were considered for the substation? Was the East Alcoa site considered?
• What mitigation can be done to protect the residents surrounding the substation from dangers associated to terrorism, fire, leaks, etc.?
• What is total cost of Path A. to build and B. the cost of annual maintenance.
• Who owns the coal used to create Path Energy?
• What is the cost to generate energy from coal at the Path starting point?
• How much money does the Path owner earn just from building the Path line?
• How much energy is lost transporting it from the start of Path to the end – (275 miles)
• Why was the dirtiest method of creating energy (coal) selected as the source of Path energy?
• Where exactly will the energy sent along Path be used?
• If the Governor has asked for a reduction in the use of energy and there is potential for clean energy from wind and solar and the ocean waves and wind – how are we going to get these alternative sourced energy (  Ocean Mountains wind sourced energy) to the mainstream ?
• At $1.8 Billion cost to build $654,000 per mile how many wind generators in western Maryland would we be able to build ? Or out to sea along our coast? How where does the money made off energy sale go -  and how much of that same amount would buy us in free energy sources?

Please join us!

Where:  4 E Church Street, Community Room

When:  1st Monday of every mont 7:30-9pm

Free and all interested parties are invited to participate.

PRESS RELEASE: May 22, 2009

PJM Agrees to Study underground HVDC;

10 Governors Unite;

PATH Application is filed in Maryland

155-Acre Farm in Kemptown sold to AE for Substation

On May 19^th, Allegheny Energy filed a Certificate for Public Convenience and Necessity with the Maryland Public Service Commission (MPSC) for the PATH transmission project.   It has been assigned Case #9198 and can be seen by going to www.psc.state.md.us and entering the above case number.  See also their Maillog numbers 116780 and 116782.  The next step for affected property owners is to file a request with the MPSC to become an Intervener.  Please see our website on how to do this. (www.nomoretowers.org). The MPSC will hold a pre-hearing conference to set a hearing location, schedule for collecting evidence and for holding public meetings.  We will get that information out as soon as it becomes known.

Months ago the Frederick County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and our State Delegation asked Allegheny Energy to conduct an independent study on the merits of using High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) underground technology supporting the request previously made by the Sugarloaf Conservancy.  On May 14, PMJ finally responded to the BOCC request from last January and agreed to have this study done by the firm, Black and Veatch.  More information will be available, as it becomes known.  See the attached copy of the PJM letter.

The Conservancy has also worked long and hard to get government leaders involved with our concerns over PATH and recently ten governors, including Maryland’s Governor O’Malley, sent a joint letter to House and Senate leaders in Washington, D.C.  This letter expressed their concern that Federal Laws favoring bringing Midwest and Western wind generated electricity into their state would be counterproductive to their efforts to establish locally generated renewable sources such as off shore wind generation.  See attached copy of the Governors’ letter.

Sugarloaf Conservancy’s next meeting will be June 6, 2009.  Yard Signs are available this Saturday. See our websites for information on where, when, cost and much more – go to www.SugarloafConservancy.org and www.nomoretowers.org. For more information contact Doug Kaplan at 301-874-0584.

.

By BRUCE NILLES

Richmond

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Discussion about transmission line planning and green power is popular in Washington these days. A vast network of new high-voltage transmission lines is needed, we’re told, to bring renewable energy to market. But does that mean that any new transmission line is good for the environment and the new “green economy”?

There’s now controversy over the planned Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) transmission line ["Down to the Wires," editorial, April 10], with some saying environmentalists oppose what will bring much-needed clean energy to market. Yet a quick review of the facts reveals that the PATH line has nothing to do with clean energy and everything to do with profit-seeking coal companies.

The PATH line doesn’t originate at a wind farm or solar installation. PATH begins at West Virginia’s 3,000-megawatt John E. Amos coal-fired power plant. Among the nation’s 1,400 coal-fired plants, the Amos plant ranks among the worst emitters of sulfur dioxide, mercury and global warming pollution. And the Amos plant isn’t the only dirty power plant that would benefit from new transmission lines. Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and West Virginia are dominated by old coal-fired power plants.

PATH is a joint venture of American Electric Power Co. Inc. and Allegheny Energy Inc., both of which rely heavily on coal. Allegheny Energy officials have said that 95 percent of the company’s electricity is generated by coal — not what we’d called a “green power” company.

These companies will make extraordinary profits from the PATH line. First, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has guaranteed a high rate of return on the construction of the multibilliondollar line, which will be paid for by ratepayers. Second, the utilities will earn much higher profits for their coal-based electricity once PATH enables access to higher-priced markets in other East Coast states.

This combination of high returns for zero-risk investments makes it abundantly clear why coal utilities want PATH and other transmission lines, and why they encourage the misconception that these lines are needed to move clean energy power.

While some will say that local residents are opposing PATH out of “NIMBYism,” there is much more at stake for them than their backyards. The opposition is about coal’s air and water pollution and the devastating practice of mountaintop removal coal mining. It is about our obligation to curb global warming pollution. This is why national groups such as the Sierra Club are joining forces with local groups to oppose the line. Sierra Club supports responsible transmission planning for clean energy, but the PATH line does not fall into that category.

PATH is also not needed to meet the Washington region’s growing electricity demand. Recent reports show that demand in the region has actually been declining. Any fear-mongering about power blackouts is based on bad data — official studies traced the 2003 blackout to utility operating and maintenance errors, not a need for new transmission lines.

There are other solutions to meet power needs in the mid-Atlantic region rather than linking up with dirty coal plants, including the vast East Coast offshore wind resources.

The price of offshore wind electricity is competitive with coal and can be delivered into the grid via transmission lines that are only tens of miles long instead of the hundreds of miles needed for moving coal-fired power. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has also found that many East Coast states, including Virginia, could meet 100 percent of their electricity needs with offshore wind.

If Virginia and the nation are serious about supporting clean energy, then transmission reform must be part of that policy, but it must result in new lines that serve our vast clean energy resources rather than expand the carbon-intensive power generation as the PATH line would.

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