More than two-dozen companies responded to a request for proposals (RFP) by the V.I. Water and Power Authority to purchase solar photovoltaic generation from independent power producers, the utility announced.
WAPA's bid process for the project closed Tuesday, and Executive Director Hugo Hodge Jr. said the utility received 27 bids.
“We are excited about the large number of respondents who have made submissions and are looking forward to diversifying our generating portfolio by adding renewables to the mix,” he said.
This is a blog supporting discussion surrounding the EDIN (Energy Development in Island Nations) USVI (United States Virgin Islands) EEWG (Energy Efficiency Working Group). We welcome Virgin Island residents, businesses, government officials, utilities, and relevant consultants and commerical interests to participate. We are in the process of introducing the "VIenergize" campaign; energizing the Virgin Islands' pursuit of reduced fossil fuel consumption.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Solar Decathlon Kicks off in DC
University Teams to Showcase Affordable, Energy Efficient Living in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011
September 22, 2011
Collegiate teams featuring over 4,000 students from around the world have descended on the National Mall's West Potomac Park to showcase the highly energy efficient solar-powered houses they created for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Today's opening ceremony kicks off the biennial competition that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate houses powered by the sun that are affordable, energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in.
"The Solar Decathlon collegiate teams are showing how clean energy products and efficient building design can help families and businesses reduce energy use and save money," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The event challenges talented students to become pioneers of clean energy technology and helps ensure that our nation remains competitive in the workforce of tomorrow."
In addition to educating the public about how to save energy and save money, the Solar Decathlon also provides unique training to the next generation of engineers and architects. Over the last decade, the competition has prepared approximately 15,000 students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs in clean energy technology and efficient building design.
"This award-winning competition engages students from across the nation, and around the world, to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the clean energy workforce," said Arun Majumdar, Senior Advisor to Secretary Chu, while surrounded by hundreds of students and VIPs at the event's opening ceremony. "These collegiate teams are demonstrating the talent and ingenuity required to expand our nation's clean energy economy and keep America competitive in the race to solve our global energy challenges."
Student teams in the 2011 competition hail from five countries across four continents, including the United States, Belgium, Canada, China, and New Zealand. The competition involves 10 contests during 10 days that gauge each house's performance, livability and affordability. New this year, an affordability contest rewards teams that build houses with estimated costs at or below $250,000. The teams will have to perform everyday tasks, including cooking, laundry, and washing dishes to test the energy efficiency of their houses. The winner of the overall competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
Thousands are expected to visit the houses, which will be open to the public free of charge from Friday, September 23, through Sunday, October 2. The houses are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors are able to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today. The overall winner will be announced on Saturday, October 1. This Solar Decathlon is the fifth such competition since 2002.
This year's university-led teams were chosen nearly two years ago through a competitive process. The selected teams and their projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, and geographic locations, climates and regions – including urban, suburban and rural settings. They also aim to reach a broad range of target housing markets, including lower-income, disaster relief, retirement, and single family. Teams have gathered their combined interdisciplinary talents to design and build the houses as well as to raise funds, furnish and decorate the houses, and optimize the houses' performance.
Media interested in covering the Solar Decathlon 2011 may visit the Solar Decathlon Press Room online for more information, to arrange an interview, or to schedule a personalized tour of the solar village. For full event information, current standings, high-resolution photos, videos, an event schedule and daily results, visit the Solar Decathlon website. You may also follow the competition in real time on Facebook and Twitter.
More about the Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate students from around the world to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The competition shows consumers how to save money and energy with affordable clean energy products that are available today. The nearly two-year projects culminate in an unprecedented display of affordable green living and design on the National Mall's West Potomac Park from September 23 – October 2, 2011. The Solar Decathlon also provides participating students with hands-on experience and unique training that prepares them to enter our nation's clean energy workforce, supporting the Obama Administration's goal of transitioning to a clean energy economy while saving families and businesses money.
September 22, 2011
Collegiate teams featuring over 4,000 students from around the world have descended on the National Mall's West Potomac Park to showcase the highly energy efficient solar-powered houses they created for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Today's opening ceremony kicks off the biennial competition that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate houses powered by the sun that are affordable, energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in.
"The Solar Decathlon collegiate teams are showing how clean energy products and efficient building design can help families and businesses reduce energy use and save money," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The event challenges talented students to become pioneers of clean energy technology and helps ensure that our nation remains competitive in the workforce of tomorrow."
In addition to educating the public about how to save energy and save money, the Solar Decathlon also provides unique training to the next generation of engineers and architects. Over the last decade, the competition has prepared approximately 15,000 students to become future innovators and entrepreneurs in clean energy technology and efficient building design.
"This award-winning competition engages students from across the nation, and around the world, to develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the clean energy workforce," said Arun Majumdar, Senior Advisor to Secretary Chu, while surrounded by hundreds of students and VIPs at the event's opening ceremony. "These collegiate teams are demonstrating the talent and ingenuity required to expand our nation's clean energy economy and keep America competitive in the race to solve our global energy challenges."
Student teams in the 2011 competition hail from five countries across four continents, including the United States, Belgium, Canada, China, and New Zealand. The competition involves 10 contests during 10 days that gauge each house's performance, livability and affordability. New this year, an affordability contest rewards teams that build houses with estimated costs at or below $250,000. The teams will have to perform everyday tasks, including cooking, laundry, and washing dishes to test the energy efficiency of their houses. The winner of the overall competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
Thousands are expected to visit the houses, which will be open to the public free of charge from Friday, September 23, through Sunday, October 2. The houses are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekends, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors are able to tour the houses, gather ideas to use in their own homes, and learn how energy-saving features can help them save money today. The overall winner will be announced on Saturday, October 1. This Solar Decathlon is the fifth such competition since 2002.
This year's university-led teams were chosen nearly two years ago through a competitive process. The selected teams and their projects represent a diverse range of design approaches, building technologies, and geographic locations, climates and regions – including urban, suburban and rural settings. They also aim to reach a broad range of target housing markets, including lower-income, disaster relief, retirement, and single family. Teams have gathered their combined interdisciplinary talents to design and build the houses as well as to raise funds, furnish and decorate the houses, and optimize the houses' performance.
Media interested in covering the Solar Decathlon 2011 may visit the Solar Decathlon Press Room online for more information, to arrange an interview, or to schedule a personalized tour of the solar village. For full event information, current standings, high-resolution photos, videos, an event schedule and daily results, visit the Solar Decathlon website. You may also follow the competition in real time on Facebook and Twitter.
More about the Solar Decathlon
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate students from around the world to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The competition shows consumers how to save money and energy with affordable clean energy products that are available today. The nearly two-year projects culminate in an unprecedented display of affordable green living and design on the National Mall's West Potomac Park from September 23 – October 2, 2011. The Solar Decathlon also provides participating students with hands-on experience and unique training that prepares them to enter our nation's clean energy workforce, supporting the Obama Administration's goal of transitioning to a clean energy economy while saving families and businesses money.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Walking the Talk
Since Governor de Jongh announced his aggressive goal to reduce the U.S. Virgin Islands' fossil fuel-based energy use 60% by 2025, there have been skeptics who have rolled their eyes and dismissed it as so much more empty talk. But there has been a great deal of work going on behind the scenes of the Energy Development in Island Nations (EDIN) project in the USVI, and the comprehensive EDIN-USVI Energy Road Map published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) last week offers tangible evidence of that. Founded on in-depth analysis performed by the NREL team over the past year, the Road Map outlines in detail the path for achieving the territory's clean energy goals.
Now that there is a road map to follow, it will be imperative that the VI government and founding EDIN partners the VI Energy Office (VIEO) and the VI Water and Power Authority (WAPA) lead the way by "walking the talk." One way to do this is by adopting aggressive energy efficiency policies, programs, and projects that demonstrate leadership by example. When they do, they will be the first to reap the benefits of such action, and when they can demonstrate those benefits in real and tangible ways, the community will follow enthusiastically.
Not everyone has the means to install wind turbines and solar panels, but every individual, business, government agency, and community organization can make simple changes that reduce their energy use, lower their utility bill, and help preserve the islands' precious natural resources -- with little to no up-front investment. There are many things people can't control, but their own energy footprint is not one of them.
While end-use efficiency represents a relatively small percentage of the overall USVI goal, the USVI Energy Road Map demonstrates that tactics for increasing government, residential, and commercial energy efficiency are by far the most cost effective. Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit. In leading by example, government agencies, the utility, and forward-thinking businesses like Quality Electric Supply, Luis Huertas architectural design, Horizon Energy Systems VI, Asencios Construction, and Silva Energy have an opportunity to demonstrate how lots of little behavioral changes can add up to a big impact on the economy and the environment. What is required in the USVI is a cultural shift, and such shifts don't happen without bold and decisive action by visionary leaders.
No one understands this better than NREL. As the only national laboratory dedicated exclusively to energy efficiency and renewable energy research and deployment, it is essential that we walk the talk. That means living and breathing energy efficiency in every aspect of our work in a sincere and committed collective effort to make the laboratory a global model for sustainability.
Through the Sustainable NREL program, we strive to exemplify sustainability by maximizing efficient use of all resources, minimizing waste, preventing pollution, and serving as a positive force in economic, environmental, and community responsibility. Our leadership team takes the vision seriously, and we see and experience evidence of that every day. Sustainablility is literally infused into our organizational culture, and that means everyone, from the top down, is committed to walking the talk.
The Sustainable NREL site on NREL's intranet provides employees with a wealth of information on ways to walk the walk at work and at home, including tips on alternative commuting, alternative work schedules and telecommuting, parking, reducing energy and waste through recycling and composting, and reusing office supplies, as well as training on how to help NREL achieve near-zero waste. We live those tips at work, and we end up taking them home with us and sharing them with our families and friends. Amazingly, it doesn't take long before we see evidence that they too are "drinking the kool-aid."
Over the course of the past year, the EDIN-USVI partners have already implemented energy efficiency programs and projects that have made a significant impact in the territory. Some of those projects are highlighted in the latest issue of the EDIN-USVI Clean Energy Quarterly. But much more bold and decisive action will be required to engender the community buy-in, support, and participation that are needed to solve the USVI's energy crisis.
By adopting high-visibility internal programs that demonstrate organizational accountability, sincere commitment, and leadership by example, the VI government, WAPA, and visionary business leaders in the territory have an opportunity to create a ripple effect that will move the territory ever closer to reaching its agressive clean energy goal.
Now that there is a road map to follow, it will be imperative that the VI government and founding EDIN partners the VI Energy Office (VIEO) and the VI Water and Power Authority (WAPA) lead the way by "walking the talk." One way to do this is by adopting aggressive energy efficiency policies, programs, and projects that demonstrate leadership by example. When they do, they will be the first to reap the benefits of such action, and when they can demonstrate those benefits in real and tangible ways, the community will follow enthusiastically.
Not everyone has the means to install wind turbines and solar panels, but every individual, business, government agency, and community organization can make simple changes that reduce their energy use, lower their utility bill, and help preserve the islands' precious natural resources -- with little to no up-front investment. There are many things people can't control, but their own energy footprint is not one of them.
While end-use efficiency represents a relatively small percentage of the overall USVI goal, the USVI Energy Road Map demonstrates that tactics for increasing government, residential, and commercial energy efficiency are by far the most cost effective. Energy efficiency is the low-hanging fruit. In leading by example, government agencies, the utility, and forward-thinking businesses like Quality Electric Supply, Luis Huertas architectural design, Horizon Energy Systems VI, Asencios Construction, and Silva Energy have an opportunity to demonstrate how lots of little behavioral changes can add up to a big impact on the economy and the environment. What is required in the USVI is a cultural shift, and such shifts don't happen without bold and decisive action by visionary leaders.
No one understands this better than NREL. As the only national laboratory dedicated exclusively to energy efficiency and renewable energy research and deployment, it is essential that we walk the talk. That means living and breathing energy efficiency in every aspect of our work in a sincere and committed collective effort to make the laboratory a global model for sustainability.
Through the Sustainable NREL program, we strive to exemplify sustainability by maximizing efficient use of all resources, minimizing waste, preventing pollution, and serving as a positive force in economic, environmental, and community responsibility. Our leadership team takes the vision seriously, and we see and experience evidence of that every day. Sustainablility is literally infused into our organizational culture, and that means everyone, from the top down, is committed to walking the talk.
The Sustainable NREL site on NREL's intranet provides employees with a wealth of information on ways to walk the walk at work and at home, including tips on alternative commuting, alternative work schedules and telecommuting, parking, reducing energy and waste through recycling and composting, and reusing office supplies, as well as training on how to help NREL achieve near-zero waste. We live those tips at work, and we end up taking them home with us and sharing them with our families and friends. Amazingly, it doesn't take long before we see evidence that they too are "drinking the kool-aid."
Over the course of the past year, the EDIN-USVI partners have already implemented energy efficiency programs and projects that have made a significant impact in the territory. Some of those projects are highlighted in the latest issue of the EDIN-USVI Clean Energy Quarterly. But much more bold and decisive action will be required to engender the community buy-in, support, and participation that are needed to solve the USVI's energy crisis.
By adopting high-visibility internal programs that demonstrate organizational accountability, sincere commitment, and leadership by example, the VI government, WAPA, and visionary business leaders in the territory have an opportunity to create a ripple effect that will move the territory ever closer to reaching its agressive clean energy goal.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tuesday Webcast for Industry: Unveiling of the Implementation Guide
Join us for a Webinar on October 11
Space is limited.
Reserve your webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/588884192
This webcast will provide a high-level overview of a new resource from the Industrial Technologies Program, Guiding Principles for Successfully Implementing Industrial Energy Assessment Recommendations. This guidebook provides industry with guidance on how to successfully implement the recommendations identified during energy assessments. The webcast will address critical aspects of preparation and implementation before, during, and after an assessment and will focus on key strategies for ensuring not only implementation of recommendations but continuous energy efficiency improvement.
Title: Tuesday Webcast for Industry: Unveiling of the Implementation Guide
Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
Space is limited.
Reserve your webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/588884192
This webcast will provide a high-level overview of a new resource from the Industrial Technologies Program, Guiding Principles for Successfully Implementing Industrial Energy Assessment Recommendations. This guidebook provides industry with guidance on how to successfully implement the recommendations identified during energy assessments. The webcast will address critical aspects of preparation and implementation before, during, and after an assessment and will focus on key strategies for ensuring not only implementation of recommendations but continuous energy efficiency improvement.
Title: Tuesday Webcast for Industry: Unveiling of the Implementation Guide
Date: Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer
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