Date: 8/25/2010

Location: CO

Audio and text versions of the Webinar are available (WMV 35.1 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 02:02:40. Text Version (PDF 234 KB) Download Adobe Reader.

This free Webinar provided information on how utilities can develop renewable energy education programs for schools and enhance existing programs. Webinar participants:

• Got an overview of renewable energy opportunities in schools,
• Received information on national and regional energy education outreach programs and activities,
• Understand how to communicate the benefits of renewable energy technologies, and
• Learned about the experiences that utilities have had in implementing renewable energy education outreach programs.

School districts everywhere are installing, or at least considering installing, renewable energy systems as a way to reduce operating costs, and those that haven't thought about it might if they knew more about the benefits.

Lower electric bills are only one of the advantages renewable energy offers schools, but installing a system is a significant investment. This Webinar gave pointers on communicating the benefits of a variety of renewable systems to educators and their communities. A wind turbine or solar panel is a great tool for teaching science, and can also be incorporated into lessons on geography, economics and social studies.

Students get to discover a field that offers future job opportunities, and communities can take pride in generating some of their own power. Also, the Western Area Power Administration and the other contributors to the Webinar — National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Learn Energy, and the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) — recognize the importance of providing renewable energy education at all levels of learning. With this knowledge, future generations will be able to make more informed and long-range decisions.

"Renewables for Schools" is an overview of renewable opportunities, rather than a "how-to" for project development. In addition to wind and solar systems, the agenda also touched on geothermal power and power production from biomass. The Webinar's target audience was utility professionals; however, teachers, school administrators and other interested individuals were welcome to attend. People who are not in the utility industry may prefer to participate in the September 22nd Webinar, which will focus specifically on answering educators' questions.

Agenda

• 10:00 am Welcome and Introductions, Guy Nelson, Western Support Contractor
• 10:05 K-12 Solar Energy Education, Glen Kizer, LearnEnergy
• 10:25 K-12 Wind Energy Education, Larry Flowers, NREL
• 10:45 Higher Education Energy Programs, Tom Weirich, ACORE
• 11:05 Western's Equipment Loan Program for Schools, Gary Hoffmann, Western
• 11:20 Utility Outreach Panel, Guy Nelson, Chair
• 11:50 Q&A

Sponsors

Western Area Power Administration, US DOE Wind Technologies Program, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and American Council on Renewable Energy.

Date: 9/7/2010

Hundreds of Montana students will have a new tool to learn about renewable energy when they return to school. Wind turbines were installed at six K-12 schools across the state this summer as part of the Wind powering America's Wind for Schools project. With blades that span 12 feet across and reach 51 feet in the air, each turbine will offset a portion of the schools' energy use while teaching students and neighbors about renewable energy. The 2.4-kW Skystream 3.7 wind turbines now generate clean, renewable energy and provide a teaching platform for host schools in Forsyth, Glasgow, Lewistown, Townsend, Valier, and Wolf Point.

Funding for the Glasgow, Lewistown, Townsend, and Valier wind projects came primarily from Northwestern Energy's Universal Systems Benefits (USB) public purpose fund. The Forsyth and Wolf Point wind systems were funded by a grant from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which currently administers a portion of the Montana-Dakotas Utilities USB fund. Each host school also contributed between $1,500 and $2,500 toward the project cost.

State Facilitator Sean Micken (REsolve Energy) worked with Montana Wind Application Center (WAC) at Montana State University-Bozeman (MSU-B) interns Nate Cox and Phillip Johnson to construct the wind energy systems over about five weeks this summer. In addition to providing student summer internships, the Wind Application Center supports Wind for Schools activities by acting as a technical resource for host schools and also helps with development and funding for MSU-B courses in alternative energy and wind energy for engineering students considering a wind industry career.

The U.S. Department of Energy launched the Wind for Schools project in 2008 and now has affiliate programs in Montana and 10 other states. Participating schools each host a small wind turbine on campus and are introduced to curriculum that brings renewable energy principles and activities into the classroom. The goals of the program are to engage local communities in a discussion of wind energy and encourage the development of a technical skill base for the growing wind industry.

Governor Brian Schweitzer was on hand to commemorate the new wind turbine at Lewistown's Fergus High School, which was supported in part by a donation from Invenergy LLC, owner of the near-by Judith Gap Wind Energy Center. "Montana's on the move," said Schweitzer. "This important program will not only provide a small amount of wind energy for rural Montana schools, but will also educate tomorrow's leaders on the value and importance of this renewable energy source. I'm proud that our state has been chosen for this program." After the assembly, the Governor ran the winch that tilted the school's wind turbine into place.

If you would like more information about the Wind for Schools project in Montana, please contact Sean Micken at (406) 581-8460 or sean@resolveenergy.net. For more information on the Wind Applications Center at MSU-Bozeman, contact MSU-WAC Director Robb Larson at (406) 994-6420 or rlarson@me.montana.edu.

Date: 8/18/2010

Location: CO

Audio and text versions of the Webinar are available (WMV 22.5 MB) Download Windows Media Player. Time: 01:16:27. Text Version (PDF 170 KB) Download Adobe Reader. Ryan Wiser's presentation (PDF 2.0 MB) Download Adobe Reader.

This Webinar on the U.S. Department of Energy's annual, "2009 Wind Technologies Market Report," was presented by Dr. Ryan Wiser of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the report's principle author. The information in the market report is critical for representing wind information accurately to stakeholders.

The full report, a stand-alone executive summary of the report, and some of the data underlying the report can also be downloaded from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Web site.

Date: 9/8/2010 to 9/9/2010

Location: Austin, TX

Wind Powering America's technical director, Ian Baring-Gould, will be a keynote speaker.

This will be a gathering of influential stakeholders from industry, education, and legislature. The conference is designed to provide attendees with up-to-date information on the state of the wind energy industry in Texas and around the globe, including:

• innovative technologies and practices,
• new approaches to wind energy education,
• necessary skill sets,
• and career pathways for employment in the wind energy industry.

Date: 9/14/2010 to 9/16/2010

Location: Santa Fe, NM

The Southwest Renewable Energy Conference offers thoughtful evaluation and discussion of renewable energy development on tribal, federal, state, and private lands. A diverse range of conference sessions, receptions, and exhibitions will provide opportunities to network and share ideas with leaders in industry, research, and government.