Bayfield Electric Coop's Community Solar Farm
Article From Bayfield County Journal-
"Last week, Larry Roecker, energy management advisor for BEC, said the questionnaires coming back daily are very positive.
“We’ve had a couple negatives that didn’t want us to do it, but all in all it’s ninety-five percent positive,” he said.
Of course, that’s only two percent of the membership so far, but he’s hoping more people will respond before the March 2 deadline. If it’s a go, many decisions will need to be made regarding size, location, etc. Speaking of location, Roecker said it’s too early to say, but he suspected it might be somewhere close to BECs largest customer base in Cable or Herbster.
Add more detailed information, link to survey, and Ashland Daily Press article. Keep updated as things progress."
Northland College plans for carbon neutrality by 2030
Article from Duluth Tribune News
"Just as world leaders are meeting in Geneva to address climate change on a global scale, so too are leaders at colleges and universities across the country taking bold steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at their institutions," Northland College regional sustainability coordinator Nathan Engstrom said. Read More Here
Northland slide presentation describing the carbon future plan for 2030.
Madeline Island Microgrid
Original article summarizing events to date and planning process. Also larger significance and importance of Microgrids in Distributed generation paradigm. {Pending}
What is a Micro Grid?
What is a micro grid? Simply put it is a sub network for electricity distribution that includes generation locally and allows the network to be self-sustaining for a period of time. For example; in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, power outages continued for weeks affecting customers from Michigan to Maine. Micro grids correct this inherent security defect in our current grid system, by allowing islanding of power in the case of emergency or on a day to day basis to use energy more efficiently. A micro-grid works in conjunction with the larger grid exchanging energy as needed for market efficiency.
Many smaller cities around the US are reevaluating their utility structure and taking actions to insure that their power remains competitive over the next decade. This movement is driven by increasingly lower costs for wind and solar energy, a desire for more energy and rate stability and the increasing realization that the damage done by fossil fuel generation is an unacceptable risk going forward.
The grid as we know it today is modern but largely unchanged in structure since if was developed in the early 20th century. The new technology associated with renewables and storage has altered the formula that many regulated utilities have relied upon for the last century. The Utility industry has been slow to respond to changing conditions in some areas, fearing loss of profits, leaving the choice in the hands of citizens who are anxious to make changes now while interest rates and prices remain stable. Some examples of micro grid projects include the cities of Boulder and Aspen Colorado; the states of Hawaii and New York, and the US Military which has initiated over 20 micro grid projects with various cooperating public entities.
More on Microgrids -
Original article summarizing events to date and planning process. Also larger significance and importance of Microgrids in Distributed generation paradigm. {Pending}
What is a Micro Grid?
What is a micro grid? Simply put it is a sub network for electricity distribution that includes generation locally and allows the network to be self-sustaining for a period of time. For example; in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, power outages continued for weeks affecting customers from Michigan to Maine. Micro grids correct this inherent security defect in our current grid system, by allowing islanding of power in the case of emergency or on a day to day basis to use energy more efficiently. A micro-grid works in conjunction with the larger grid exchanging energy as needed for market efficiency.
Many smaller cities around the US are reevaluating their utility structure and taking actions to insure that their power remains competitive over the next decade. This movement is driven by increasingly lower costs for wind and solar energy, a desire for more energy and rate stability and the increasing realization that the damage done by fossil fuel generation is an unacceptable risk going forward.
The grid as we know it today is modern but largely unchanged in structure since if was developed in the early 20th century. The new technology associated with renewables and storage has altered the formula that many regulated utilities have relied upon for the last century. The Utility industry has been slow to respond to changing conditions in some areas, fearing loss of profits, leaving the choice in the hands of citizens who are anxious to make changes now while interest rates and prices remain stable. Some examples of micro grid projects include the cities of Boulder and Aspen Colorado; the states of Hawaii and New York, and the US Military which has initiated over 20 micro grid projects with various cooperating public entities.
More on Microgrids -