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Archive for East Tennessee News

IMPORTANT – REAP Larger Budget Authority Than First Announced

I just got off a call with D.C.

They have indicated to us that we should have a larger budget authority than the amount stated in the Notice of Funding Authority for the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP). In 2012 there was a limitation on funding but that limitation is not imposed on 2013 so budget authority will be higher. This translates to more money for our statewide allocation, in particular, for $20,000 or less grants. At this time I do not know how much more money, I just know we will have more funds and the deadline for the program will be moved back from the current deadline of April 30, 2013 to May 31, 2013 in order to solicit more applications.

I will send you more information as I find out. Towards early May I should get a better account of what our allocation will look like and will let you know that amount. In the meantime, if you have some projects that you were holding off on sending that are in the $20,000 or less range or can apply for that amount I would encourage you to submit them as it looks like we will have more funding at this point and your projects will be more competitive for funding.

Will Dodson | Business & Energy Programs
Rural Development – Tennessee State Office
U.S. Department of Agriculture
3322 West End Avenue, Ste. 300 | Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-783-1350 | Fax: 615-783-1395
www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn

Solar PV Training in Knoxville Saturday May 11th

John Kemmery, our latest business member, is hosting a solar PV training workshop at the Jubilee Banquet Hall, 6700 jubilee Center Way, Knoxville for the beginner planning to break into Sales or Installation. The workshop schedule is below:
8 am – 8:30 am Registration
8:30 am Introduction and Overview with films and slides
9:30 – 10 am Systems available by John Kemmery
10:00 am – 11:00 am System Sizing with Garret Hendrix PE
11:00 – 12:00 Requirements for Connection to the Grid (John Kemmery and Garret Hendrix)
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 2 :00 pm Newest developments; Best choice options (John Kemmery)
2:00 – 4:00 pm Comprehensive off grid Program Design, sizing including proper equipment selection
4:00 – 4:30 Open discussion

Cost for an individual is $90.
Cost for two or more reservations is $80 each

Who should attend?
Green businesses
Engineers planning to be working with PV equipment
Architects
Contractors planning to add PV installing to their business
Homeowners thinking about adding solar for their home
Business owners planning for a future PV system
Electricians needing the tools and information to be successful in expanding into PV
Sales people needing an understanding of PV in order to sell PV systems
Anyone wishing to learn the newest advancements

Knoxville Green Drinks April 16th @ 5:30PM

Join us at Green Drinks in the Bearden Beer Market 5:30PM!!

James Rose, Senior Lecturer & Interim Director for the Institute for Smart Structures in the College of Architecture and Design at the University of Tennessee, will provide a presentation on the UT Solar Decathlon team. Find out more info on the team here: www.livinglightutk.com

Enjoy a beer and green conversation AND check out Bearden Beer Market’s brand new 5 kilowatt solar array!

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we will congregate in the Yazoo Room. Don’t let the rain or cold weather keep you away!!

Please help us spread the word, and don’t forget to Like us on Facebook to make sure you get all the updates!

Solar Summit to Explore Past and Future of Solar Power in Tennessee

A UT group is partnering with the US Department of Energy and statewide leaders to explore the growing field of solar energy.

UT’s SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge is sponsoring the Tennessee Solar Summit in Chattanooga on Wednesday and Thursday, April 10 and 11. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Read House.

The goal of the conference is to educate attendees about the past and future of solar energy in Tennessee. It will include several speakers and breakout sessions. Breakout sessions will include historic zoning and land issues, impact of solar energy on property appraisals, large-scale solar installations, and unique case studies.

“Attendees will meet the diverse group of solar stakeholders we have in Tennessee and form new partnerships to keep the momentum going in moving solar power forward in our state,” said Bruce Tonn, principal investigator for UT’s Rooftop Solar Challenge grant at the Howard Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy.

original article

Notice of Funding Availability for the Rural Energy for America Program

The Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) Grant & Guaranteed Loan Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) published this morning. The program sets up an April 30, 2013 deadline for submission of REAP Grants and July 15, 2013 deadline for submission of REAP Guaranteed Loan.

Complete applications should be submitted to the Business Programs Specialist in the Area Office serving the County in which the project is located. A map of our Area Offices and their respective areas can be found at the following link, click on the map of Tennessee to find the applicable office:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/TN-Contacts.html

Application material may be found online at the following link:

http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/TN-Energy.html

The NOFA is attached in this email and indicates that the program will have $10.4 Million available Nationally for REAP Grants and $43.4 Million for REAP Guaranteed Loans. At this time we do not know what Tennessee’s allocation level will be.

Competition will be very intense with limited funds this year. Please contact the Business Programs Specialist in the applicable Area Office for further information. Please share this
e-mail with any interested parties.

Best Regards,
Will
Will Dodson | Energy Coordinator
Business & Energy Programs
Rural Development – Tennessee State Office
U.S. Department of Agriculture
3322 West End Avenue, Ste. 300 | Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-783-1350 | Fax: 615-783-1395
www.rurdev.usda.gov/tn

Nominate an expert to the TVA board — Are you kidding?

personal note: I would have never guessed that our U.S. Senators would oppose the nomination of one of this country’s most outstanding expert in the area of money saving energy efficiency. Why?? I ask each of our readers to let their two senators hear their opinion as the Brown nomination

Our Tennessee senators don’t like whom our president is trying to reappoint to the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors: an expert on energy issues. Dr. Marilyn Brown, a Georgia Tech professor and former research administrator at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with a long list of work and research mostly ending in “energy efficiency,” has been re-nominated by President Obama to a term on the TVA board after she’d been vetoed here at home back in January.

The nomination, sent to Capitol Hill Thursday night, comes more than two months after Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker used Senate procedures to block Obama’s previous attempt to appoint her to a six-year term.

Brown, who came to the board in 2010 to fill out the a vacated term and served through the end of 2012, is widely recognized for her expertise in energy efficiency and other “sustainable” energy policies. She teaches in Georgia Tech’s School of Public Policy after formerly working for the Department of Energy at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“This is another example of the Obama White House not listening,” Alexander said in a statement Friday.

“I told the White House in advance that the TVA board needs a nominee with a better understanding of the relationship between low electricity rates and better jobs in the Tennessee Valley. The Senate now has the responsibility to exercise its constitutional role of advice and consent on the nominee.”

Corker was even more critical.

“TVA needs leaders who enthusiastically support the mission of producing economical electricity and have an abiding appreciation of its important economic development role and impact on the well-being of Valley residents,” he said.

“Unfortunately, during my discussions with Dr. Brown, it was clear she does not share that point of view.”

original article here and Sundog Blog

Peak Solar completes a 100Kw Solar Energy Kit in Knoxville Tennessee

PeakSolar.com is proud to announce the completion of two 50KKw solar energy system in Knoxville Tennessee. These solar kits will provide enough green power to the two office buildings that are housed on them. Payback for the systems will be 5~7 year due to TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) incentive programs and 30% tax benefit from the federal government.
PeakSolar.com is a regional expert in solar development and engineering as well as a leading supplier of Photovoltaic components and solar kits. Providing turnkey PV systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. Peak Solar has developed systems from the home consumer to corporate energy development parks.
website for PeakSolar

Solar Workshop at the New Spectrum Solar Exhibit

Saturday, March 23 at 10:00AM and 1:00PM

 

Join ARiES Energy for a workshop to learn how to lower your energy bill, improve the environment, and increase the value and marketability of your home. Topics include the fundamentals of solar power, installation, warranties, maintenance, and economics.
ARiES is working with local banks to make a solar investment more feasible for you by providing financing options so you can lower your bills right away, with little to no money down.

RSVP: www.ARiESEnergy.com/Spectrum.html

For more information about the Spectrum exhibit:
http://solarfarm.tennessee.edu/education/spectrum/

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the Knoxville Center mall near the JC Penney entrance and giant Power T.  Knoxville Center mall is located near I-640 Exit 8 at 3001 Knoxville Center Drive.

Solar PV Training All Day Saturday May 11th

Kemery Company, our newest business member, is having an all-day training program beginning at 8 am and continuing through lunch (included in the price) until 4:30. The location of this training will be the Jubilee Banquet Hall, 6700 jubilee Center Way, Knoxville TN 37912. The cost of the all day training is $90.00 per person. Two or more individuals registering together reduces the price of each reservation to $80. Attendees will get a binder with important information for installing PV systems. Reservations are limited so call Kemery Company at 865-933-6261 or go to the following website which contains more information on the training and the link to the reservation form.

Volkswagen Unveils Solar Park Near Chattanooga, Tennessee Automobile Assembly Plant

German automaker Volkswagen on Wednesday flipped the on switch for a new solar park at its Tennessee assembly plant. The 33-acre installation next to the Chattanooga plant has a capacity to produce more than 13 gigawatt hours of electricity per year. That’s the equivalent of the amount of energy used by 1,200 area homes each year, according to Volkswagen.

“We are proud to power up the biggest solar park of any car manufacturer in North America today,” Frank Fischer, the chairman and CEO of VW’s Chattanooga operations, plant said in a release.

The new solar park will meet about 12.5 percent of the plant’s electricity needs during full production, and will power all of its operations during off-peak periods. Volkswagen will consume all of the electricity produced by the park, unlike a more common arrangement where electricity is sold back to utilities.

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