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Join the E4S Network on August 13 as we explore when solar makes sense and cents for commercial and industrial applications in our region. What are the solar myths, realities, and resources available? E4S has asked local architects, installers and end-users to join us to share their experience and stories on commercial solar projects. We'll talk about photovoltaics, solar thermal hot water heating and passive solar technology.

Register here.

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Several leading experts in the field present their views and engage you in a panel discussion about the challenges facing the wind energy industry and the opportunities that these challenges offer to Northeast Ohios instrumentation, controls and electronics firms. Panelists include Richard Stuebi, BP Fellow for Energy and Environmental Advancement, The Cleveland Foundation, Dr. Larry Viterna, Lead, Center Strategy and New Business Development, NASA Glenn Research Center and Ed Weston, Director, Great Lakes Wind Network.

Free. To regeister, contact Olivia Robinson-Bulls at 216/363-6881 or orobinson-bulls@nortech.org

For more information, go here.  

The Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina clearly sees the value of bikes and local infrastructure, taking steps to add more cycling access on area bridges. Earlier, the South Carolina state transportation officials added bike access to a federally funded bridge, a step ODOT refused to consider. The federally funded bridge has proven to be so popular, they have even hosted wedding groups. Building on the success, the Mayor announced more plans for bikes on bridges.

Here's the information:

Win for Charleston, SC: Old Bridge to Be Retrofitted: According to the Charleston Moves E-News, "Mayor Joseph Riley has announced the city's plan to add a cantilevered 10-ft wide bicycle and pedestrian lane to the southernmost of the two Ashley River bridges." The bridge is the primary conduit for travel between the downtown Charleston and West Ashley, but has been a roadblock to cyclists and pedestrians. Charleston Moves has actively championed access for cyclists and pedestrians to this important bridge. They report that the City of Charleston is now seeking funding for construction.

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/may/14/create_better_bridge_links40740/

Kevin Cronin
ClevelandBikes : When ClevelandBikes, Cleveland Benefits!
www.clevelandbikes.org

• What lessons can the U.S.–and Cleveland–take from the offshore wind power sector in Europe? This article in North American Clean Energy notes that, despite growth and 1 gigawatts of installed capacity, the European offshore wind market is “seen largely as the domain of strong balance sheet utilities who could handle the significant construction and operational issues.” Issues for off-shore wind include high capital costs, high construction risk and grid interconnection. Why, then, chase after offshore wind?
  

• Cameron Sinclair told last night’s MOCA Cleveland Talalay Series that he launched Architecture for Humanity to be a virtual, viral network responding to natural disaster around the world with thoughtful housing solutions. With only five full-time staff, Sinclair relies on an army of 5,000 volunteers—architects who organize local chapters around the globe and then move nimbly into the field whilst forming relationships with local residents before they design and build homes, community centers, soccer fields— whatever is most needed to restore the community—from Zimbabwe to Biloxi. Whenever possible they use existing plans, local materials and off-the-grid technology. Their AFH Rangoon chapter has already raised $30,000 and is gearing up to face the aftermath of the Myanmar typhoon. Their motto is ‘design like you give a damn’.
• The city of Toledo is investing in green energy. Its new Bay View cogeneration plant will burn methane piped in from a sanitary landfill to provide power to the city’s waste water treatment plant. The biogas, which is currently being flared into the atmosphere, will provide 4.5 mega watts for water treatment and provide electricity to the landfill and the new Veteran’s Skyline Memorial Bridge lighting. Read more.
• They grow up so fast. This season’s peregrine falcon chicks are leaving their nestbox and walking around the ledge on the 13th floor of Terminal Tower. Falcons are cliff-dwellers and are adapted to high places, so the chicks instinctively know how to avoid falling over the edge. Pretty soon they’ll be fledging, that is, learning to fly.
  
  

• After decades of pulling up the drawbridge, University Circle’s big institutions—Cleveland Clinic, Case, University Hospitals, Cleveland Museum of Art, Judson—want to be better neighbors. The Greater Circle Living initiative will give full-time employees up to $10,000 to buy a home in an adjacent neighborhood. And the Cleveland Foundation is kicking in $5,000 for full-time employees of a non-profit institution in University Circle. Read more.
• Kenston High School’s Envirothon academic club collected enough wind velocity data from an anemometer installed on top of a giant cell tower to propose at a recent school board meeting that the district build a wind turbine that would generate twice the renewable energy as the 225 kW wind turbine at the Great Lakes Science Center.

  With world-wide demand for turbines creating a two-year waiting list, more of these homegrown projects will make the case for a local wind turbine manufacturer. Read more.

• “The soaring price of gas is helping jump start a transportation revolution in Columbus, and we are proud to promote biking as an alternative to the automobile for commuters as well as recreation,” said Columbus Mayor Coleman, unveiling the city’s Bicentennial Bikeways Plan during Bike-to-Work-Week. “We’ve committed $20 million by 2012, and are looking to making biking a safer, easier way to get around Columbus’ neighborhoods and to jobs and activities downtown.”

  Similar to Cleveland’s $13 million carve out for bicycling amenities in its five-year capital budget, the biggest difference is Columbus’ plan has clearly stated goals:

  
  

Greater Ohio reports that it added staff to "monitor and present to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as it develops rules to implement" a renewable portfolio standard. The group also reports that it played a role in upcoming legislation that deals with the siting of renewable energy generation, such as wind turbines:

• Cleveland Botanical Garden and Kent State University will unveil a collaborative partnership exploring the potential of liquid crystal technology for creating more sustainable, energy-efficient greenhouses tomorrow at 10 am. Two greenhouses located in front of the Garden on Wade Oval will be used to begin the experiment. 
• From Cleveland Restoration Society: Robert C. Gaede, FAIA, November 6, 1920 - April 16, 2008. Cleveland has lost its "senior statesman" for historic preservation with the death of Bob Gaede. He was a founding member and an Honorary Life Trustee of the Cleveland Restoration Society and served as editor of its publication, Facade, for nearly three decades. Bob saved many endangered landmarks through his engaging prose and kind demeanor, always backed by solid architectural ideas and hand-drawn illustrations. He built a successful practice in architecture, both new design and historic rehabilitation. He volunteered extensively at nonprofit organizations and under-funded preservation causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m.
  
  

The Plain Dealer editors examine Ohio's energy bill that passed this week — including an 11th hour amendment that handed utilities an easy way out of producing renewable energy. They write:

A 3 percent cap on advanced energy costs that includes the costs of next-generation coal and nuclear plants is far too open-ended and likely to smother the bill's laudable incentives for local renewable energy development.

This unwise provision will undo most of the benefits of otherwise far-seeing renewable energy incentives. So much for the spur to renewable-energy jobs, Cleveland wind power and other important investments in Ohio's future that this legislation was supposed to provide.

Before he signs the bill into law, Gov. Strickland must fix this inequity and restore balance to what could be the most beneficial part of Ohio's energy reform.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson agreed, adding in a statement that “in creating a loop hole in the renewable energy benchmarks, the House has seriously compromised Ohio’s ability to attract renewable energy companies. This loop hole undermines our ability to build an economy around alternative energy that would have materialized into jobs for Clevelanders and residents throughout Ohio.”

Some of the other 29 states that have Renewable Portfolio Standards have a cap on costs for utilities—Indiana, for example, has a 2% cap. What bothers Cleveland’s Sustainability Program director Andrew Watterson is how the bill lost its edge when lawmakers slipped in the cap.

“Instead of a policy that reflects our desires as a community and a region where we’re placing a big bet on renewable energy manufacturing, we’ve slipped into the back of the pack,” Watterson said.

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What will a new Ohio RPS law look like? How can wind power bring billions to Ohio's economy? What's up with Ohio advanced energy grants?

Ohio policymakers, business and institutional power users, energy professionals, community leaders, and consumers are invited to attend this day-long Central Ohio workshop co-hosted by Green Energy Ohio and the Ohio Department of Development Office of Energy Efficiency. Experts will review and discuss of Ohio renewable energy policy and legislation. Ohio case studies on wind, solar electric and thermal systems, and biomass are featured, along with companies providing renewable energy development, consulting and system installation, sustainable design, and energy efficiency products and services will be displayed in the exhibit area.

Registration.