USDA REAP
Grant Deadline
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Farmers, ranchers, and other rural small businesses have until July 31, 2009
to apply for grants or loan guarantees to assist with energy efficiency
and renewable energy projects through the United States Department of
Agriculture Rural Energy for America Program.
See details at Windustry |
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Windustry E-Newsletter
June 2009
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The Clean Energy Economy
Green Jobs growing faster than other sectors
There's lots of talk about Green Jobs, but is it just hype or can the
renewable energy industries really help us out of the economic crisis?
Over the past decade the clean energy economy grew some 2-1/2 times
faster than the overall jobs market in the U.S., according to a new
report by The Pew Charitables Trusts. With continuing business failures
and job losses slowing economic recovery, a thriving energy economy
fueling green jobs -- a mix of white and blue-collar positions, from
scientists and engineers to electricians, machinists and teachers -- is
good news for our economic future.
The Clean Energy Economy: Repowering Jobs, Businesses and Investments Across America reports
how
clean energy jobs increased at a national rate of 9.1 percent
between 1998-2007, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent.
"The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth," said Lori
Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States. "These
jobs are driving economic growth and environmental sustainability at a
time when America needs both. There is a potential competitive
advantage for federal and state policy leaders who act now to spur
jobs, businesses and investments in the clean energy sector."
Pew's research forecasts that the clean energy economy will expand
significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital
infusions, and federal and state policy reforms. Between 2006 and 2008,
about $12.6 billion of venture capital investments was directed toward
clean technology businesses in 40 states and the District of Columbia.
Read More about The Clean Energy Economy and get the report.
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American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Bill fights global warming and helps farmers and landowners
The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), designed to
create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global
warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy, is expected
to be brought to a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday,
June 26, prior to Congress's Fourth of July recess. The bill includes a
cap-and-trade system requiring companies to buy
carbon emissions permits from the federal government, and it sets
targets to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent in 2020, by 42 percent in
2030, and by 83 percent in 2050.
The
bill has gained support from utilities, energy companies, labor unions,
environmentalists, and farm groups. House Agriculture Chairman Collin
Peterson (D-Minn.) led negotiations for a shift in agency oversight of
rural carbon offset programs from the EPA to the USDA, which would pay
farmers and landowners for environmentally friendly projects.
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U.S. Representative Collin Peterson (middle),
chairman of the House Agriculture Committee
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"We have something that I think works for agriculture," said
Representative Peterson. "A lot of the work we did was getting this
offset program so it would work." Peterson said farmers will be able to mitigate higher energy prices by
selling pollution offsets earned by tilling and conservation practices
that keep carbon dioxide stored in the soil. Another revision to the
bill that Peterson negotiated would give rural electric cooperatives
and other small utilities a portion of
the pollution allowances that businesses would use to meet the bill's
cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
Read More including links to Clean Energy legislative resources
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Windustry Webinar
Wind Energy Facility Permitting and Siting
Minnesota - North Dakota - South Dakota Network Webinar Series
- What permits are necessary?
- Who issues permits for wind energy projects?
- How are wind energy projects sited?
- What is the process to get a permit?
Learn the answers to these and other questions on Friday, June 26, 2009
at 10 a.m. (CDT) in the second part of this Windustry webinar series. This
webinar will discuss the rules, processes, and challenges for
permitting and siting utility-scale wind energy facilities in
Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. We will have expert
presenters from each state to provide an overview of the process and to
answer your questions. This webinar is free of charge.
Speakers:
Minnesota: Deborah Pile, MN Department of Commerce
North Dakota: Jerry Lein, ND Public Service Commission
South Dakota: Tim Binder, SD Public Utilities Commission
The Minnesota - North Dakota - South Dakota Network promotes
dialogue between stakeholders in each state on polices affecting
sustainable wind development and is facilitated by Windustry.
Get information & register for the webinar.
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The Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair
Join us at the Wind Energy Center as a volunteer
Minnesotans rightfully become nervous in summertime when the word
"tornado" is uttered, but hungry State Fair goers can relish a
whirlwind of the spudly variety with the Tornado Potato on-a-stick.
This deep-fried delicacy will be served up at the 2009 Minnesota State
Fair, Aug. 27 through Sept. 7, alongside macaroni and cheese
on-a-stick, deep-fried banana splits and the traditional corn dog.
Visitors
to the Great Minnesota Get-Together can partake in non-caloric wind
offerings at the Windustry Wind Energy Center in The Eco Experience
building. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency coordinates The Eco
Experience, an educational exhibit showcasing cutting-edge,
environmentally-friendly services and products.
Windustry
presents a dynamic, engaging, museum-quality Wind Energy Center with a
lively variety of information, education and activities related to wind
power and other renewable energy technologies. Come visit us at the
Minnesota State Fair, and better yet, please volunteer with us to staff
the exhibit! Volunteers will receive a FREE t-shirt and a FREE ticket
to the fair, valid for the day you volunteer.
Volunteers play a
vital role in making our exhibit a success. Serving as a collective
voice for Windustry, volunteers help fairgoers interact with our
exhibit and answer questions regarding wind energy. Don't know much
about wind energy? Don't worry! We will host training sessions at
Windustry's Minneapolis office to get our volunteers up to speed on
wind energy, frequently asked questions and everything you'll need to
know about the Fair.
See our Wind Energy Center web page for more information and
Sign Up as a Volunteer! |
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Windspiration
what if a much
of a which of a wind
gives the truth
to summer's lie;
bloodies with
dizzying leaves the sun
and yanks
immortal stars awry?
Which
great american poet was accused of espionage for espousing anti-war
views in Paris during World War I and was imprisoned in France for
months?
Find out at Windspiration
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On the Windustry Trail...
Windustry staff had a busy month working on Community Wind:
- We presented at two Landowner Forums and at a workshop on Small/Personal Wind Generation Options in Dawson, Minnesota.
- We
had an adventure in Appalachia where we made a lot of new friends while
presenting and networking at the Energy Independence Day in West
Virginia hosted by The JOBS Project. Also, we toured a mountaintop
removal site and met with local community members to plan for
development of a Community Wind project.
- We met with several members of the small wind
industry in advance of the 2009 Small Wind Power Conference in Stevens Point, Wisconsin hosted by
the Midwest Renewable Energy Association.
- We presented at the Northwest Ohio Green Energy & Green Jobs Workshop in Perrysburg, Ohio.
- We presented and tabled at the Renew 09: Empowering the Land Conference & Expo, in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
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Photograph & illustration credits:
Green Jobs Now by greenforall.org, some rights reserved
Collin Peterson by U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture
Tornado Potato by unsure shot, some rights reserved
The Great Nebula in Orion by mike.in.ny, some rights reserved
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