November 19th 7pm (Thursday) “Keeping the Lights On…”

Using wind turbines and other emergency energy systems when the power goes down

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.