BY EVAN WILLIAMS ewilliams@floridaweekly.com
Representatives of six county governments and 16 cities have all agreed on a single, long-term project that could affect virtually every homeowner in Southwest Florida. The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council on Wednesday applied for a federal grant that, if awarded, would put in motion a plan to offer tens of thousands of homes throughout the region the option to get rid of their old electric water heaters.
They could choose to get solar thermal hot water heaters instead, the Planning Council proposes. Half the cost would be paid for by the grant and the other half by savings on the electric bill. The project could create jobs, reduce carbon emission, eventually shear an estimated one-third off homeowners’ electric bills. “It’s a great idea,” said Howard Kunik, city manager of Punta Gorda. “It’s one of our strategic plan initiatives here in the city of Punta Gorda. Whatever can be done through grants to help keep down the cost of the homeowner is good for the whole community.”
If the grant money is awarded as early as February, plans to retrofit an initial 11,000 homes throughout Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades and Sarasota counties could begin. Upfront costs are the most significant barrier. Most homeowners wouldn’t start to see savings on their energy bills for five to eight years.
The Planning Council estimates the heaters will cost $3,800 each.
“The one thing that hit me between the eyes is, it’s awfully expensive,” said Cape Coral Mayor John Sullivan. “Cape Coral decided to support (the grant application) because it’s alternative energy. It’s going to create jobs and reduce our dependency on foreign oil. We’re not going to keep on burning gas and oil into the next century.” Because of the initial cost, The Southwest Florida Solar Energy Retrofit Initiative won’t happen anytime soon without federal funding. The grant, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is part of a pool of $390 million set aside for local energy-saving projects nationwide. Competition for the dollars is stiff, although there are a few points that may give Southwest Florida an edge over other areas.
“(The Department of Energy) is looking for projects that have significant energy savings, stimulate the economy, are regional in nature, and set up a protocol that can be adopted elsewhere in the country,” said Paul Wingard, project manager for the Southwest Florida Solar Energy Retrofit Initiative, and Lee County deputy director of transportation. “Other things we’ve got going for us: Our economy is near the bottom nationwide, foreclosure is near the bottom. Because we’ve been hit harder economically, it will help us float to the top a little more.”
Wilber Smith Associates, an engineering, planning and economics firm (not related to the former mayor and attorney), helped prepare the grant. The firm also collecting feedback from vendors and homeowners interested in the program on its Web site, www.solarswf.com.
“We can get a number of businesses involved, so it’s not just one company producing the water heaters and one company doing installation,” said Amy Davies, the company’s Fort Myers office manager. “Homeowners can choose which vendor they would like to install their solar hot water heater. We want to put solar hot water heaters into mainstream use (so) plumbers or some type of contractor can make this mainstream, as part of their business. We want to make it very simple for homeowners.”
Workers will be needed for jobs like manufacturing, installation and maintenance, some based on competitive bids. For example, Fort Myers-based Storm Smart Industries developed a solar thermal water heater that can be attached to your old one for about $2,000.
“It’s one of the things that will help us jumpstart the economy again,” said Storm Smart President Brain Rist. “More people will be able to reduce their energy cost by using these systems, but more important in our eyes is that we’ll be able to put more people back to work.”
The federal money will pay for half the cost of each heater and cover the full price for low-income households. Property owners’ initial energy savings, roughly one-third of their electricity bills, will go to pay off a loan from the county or city on the new heater. Homeowners will start seeing the savings in five to eight years. They would also have the option of paying it off all at once.
A portion of the money would be held in a revolving loan fund used to keep installing more heaters.
“The better a municipality does as far as their participation, the higher their numbers (of solar water heaters) are going to go,” Mr. Wingard said.
Getting the entire region to agree on the project was a crucial first step to compete for the grant money alongside other areas that boast larger cities and greater resources.
“We’re hoping that through a 20-year period we can eventually get everyone onto solar energy if they choose to be,” Ms. Davies said. ¦ view the whole story:
http://charlotte.floridaweekly.com/news/2009-12-24/Top_News/Southwest_Florida_aims_for_a_switch_to_solar_hot_w.html
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Seminole Electric wins low-cost funding via the IRS - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
Seminole Electric wins low-cost funding via the IRS - Tampa Bay Business Journal:
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service selected a solar project being studied by Seminole Electric Cooperative for access to up to $34 million in low-cost project funding.
The IRS awarded Tampa-based Seminole Electric the right to issue up to $34 million in new Clean Renewable Energy bonds to finance a potential 1.5-megawatt solar energy project, a release said.
Seminole Electric is evaluating its natural gas-fueled Midulla Generating Station in southwest Florida as a site for the facility, which would consist of an array of solar photovoltaic panels and associated energy storage capabilities.
Seminole Electric, the wholesale power supplier to 10 Florida distribution cooperatives, currently meets about 4 percent of its member systems’ energy needs with renewable energy. The solar facility would have about a 20 percent capacity factor, the release said.
Seminole Electric has published a request for proposals for the photovoltaic portion of the project. Bidding is open to prequalified vendors with experience in large-scale PV projects, the release said.
The cooperative said it expects to make a final decision on developing the project by March.
A total of $2.2 billion of congressionally authorized new Clean Renewable Energy bonds was awarded to 805 proposed projects, the release said. The bond program originally was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and has been refunded, most recently through a $1.6 million stimulus allocation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service selected a solar project being studied by Seminole Electric Cooperative for access to up to $34 million in low-cost project funding.
The IRS awarded Tampa-based Seminole Electric the right to issue up to $34 million in new Clean Renewable Energy bonds to finance a potential 1.5-megawatt solar energy project, a release said.
Seminole Electric is evaluating its natural gas-fueled Midulla Generating Station in southwest Florida as a site for the facility, which would consist of an array of solar photovoltaic panels and associated energy storage capabilities.
Seminole Electric, the wholesale power supplier to 10 Florida distribution cooperatives, currently meets about 4 percent of its member systems’ energy needs with renewable energy. The solar facility would have about a 20 percent capacity factor, the release said.
Seminole Electric has published a request for proposals for the photovoltaic portion of the project. Bidding is open to prequalified vendors with experience in large-scale PV projects, the release said.
The cooperative said it expects to make a final decision on developing the project by March.
A total of $2.2 billion of congressionally authorized new Clean Renewable Energy bonds was awarded to 805 proposed projects, the release said. The bond program originally was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and has been refunded, most recently through a $1.6 million stimulus allocation in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Florida, Mississippi biomass projects move forward
By Lisa Gibson
Posted December 17, 2009, at 8:39 a.m. CST
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3337
Georgia-based Biomass Gas & Electric LLC’s proposed Northwest Florida Renewable Energy Center has met initial threshold requirements for part I of the U.S. DOE’s Loan Guarantee program and the company will now actively pursue the part II application. Elsewhere, BlueFire Ethanol’s DOE funding for its Mississippi biorefinery was increased. The 47-megawatt Florida power plant will gasify woody biomass and energy crops, selling its power to Progress Energy of Florida under a 20-year power purchase agreement, according to Biomass Energy Holdings, owned by BG&E and Bianchi Energy Solutions. The plant will be located at Port St. Joe in Gulf County and is construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2010, with an operation date in the following 18 to 24 months. The facility is expected to create 200 jobs during construction and another 25 to 30 permanent positions once completed. BG&E will grow 50 percent of the 735 bone dry tons of biomass per day required for the plant using a micropropagation technology applicable for up to 50 species of perennial grasses. The growing will be done at its subsidiary AgTech Renewable Fuels LLC. The remaining feedstock will come from local wood providers and farmers, according to BEH. BlueFire Ethanol Inc.’s DOE funding for phase II of the construction process for its ethanol biorefinery has been increased to $81.8 million. That’s in addition to about $7 million for phase I. The biorefinery will produce about 18 MMgy from nonfood cellulosic wastes in Fulton, Miss., according to the company. The plant was originally planned for a California site, but was moved to Mississippi because of a challenging business climate and licensing process, according to the company. BlueFire is currently working on licensing and permitting the facility.
Posted December 17, 2009, at 8:39 a.m. CST
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=3337
Georgia-based Biomass Gas & Electric LLC’s proposed Northwest Florida Renewable Energy Center has met initial threshold requirements for part I of the U.S. DOE’s Loan Guarantee program and the company will now actively pursue the part II application. Elsewhere, BlueFire Ethanol’s DOE funding for its Mississippi biorefinery was increased. The 47-megawatt Florida power plant will gasify woody biomass and energy crops, selling its power to Progress Energy of Florida under a 20-year power purchase agreement, according to Biomass Energy Holdings, owned by BG&E and Bianchi Energy Solutions. The plant will be located at Port St. Joe in Gulf County and is construction is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2010, with an operation date in the following 18 to 24 months. The facility is expected to create 200 jobs during construction and another 25 to 30 permanent positions once completed. BG&E will grow 50 percent of the 735 bone dry tons of biomass per day required for the plant using a micropropagation technology applicable for up to 50 species of perennial grasses. The growing will be done at its subsidiary AgTech Renewable Fuels LLC. The remaining feedstock will come from local wood providers and farmers, according to BEH. BlueFire Ethanol Inc.’s DOE funding for phase II of the construction process for its ethanol biorefinery has been increased to $81.8 million. That’s in addition to about $7 million for phase I. The biorefinery will produce about 18 MMgy from nonfood cellulosic wastes in Fulton, Miss., according to the company. The plant was originally planned for a California site, but was moved to Mississippi because of a challenging business climate and licensing process, according to the company. BlueFire is currently working on licensing and permitting the facility.
Low-income homes get Solar
By Neil GonzalesSan Mateo County Times
Posted: 12/30/2009 06:26:20 PM PST
Updated: 12/30/2009 07:29:18 PM PST
DALY CITY — Two low-income families will save money on monthly utilities after their houses are fitted with solar panels.
Next week, the nonprofit clean-energy organization GRID Alternatives will start work on the houses in the area of Miriam Street and Parkview Avenue, group co-founder and program director Tim Sears said.
GRID, which brings solar-power systems to underprivileged neighborhoods, is working on the houses being built by the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, Sears said.
GRID will first put in a metal framework and workers will return later to install the panels, he said. The solar panels are being provided at no cost to the homeowners.
Typically, families who qualify for solar panels receive a 2-kilowatt system that produces 75 percent of the household's electricity, he said. That translates to a monthly savings of about $40.
Such a program is "very important because low-income households spend a much higher percentage of their income on energy than middle-income households," Sears said. "These savings make a big difference."
GRID is able to bring solar energy to needy homes by teaming up with other groups such as Habitat for Humanity and government agencies, tapping suppliers for discounts on materials and drawing in community donations, he said.
GRID also provides community members with training and hands-on experience with renewable energy technologies. Councilman David Canepa praised GRID's effort in his city.
"It's a complete win-win for the Daly City community by training community volunteers and job trainees in solar installation and by providing a low-income family with solar energy for their home," Canepa said.
For more information, visit the Web site http://www.gridalternatives.org/home.
Posted: 12/30/2009 06:26:20 PM PST
Updated: 12/30/2009 07:29:18 PM PST
DALY CITY — Two low-income families will save money on monthly utilities after their houses are fitted with solar panels.
Next week, the nonprofit clean-energy organization GRID Alternatives will start work on the houses in the area of Miriam Street and Parkview Avenue, group co-founder and program director Tim Sears said.
GRID, which brings solar-power systems to underprivileged neighborhoods, is working on the houses being built by the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity, Sears said.
GRID will first put in a metal framework and workers will return later to install the panels, he said. The solar panels are being provided at no cost to the homeowners.
Typically, families who qualify for solar panels receive a 2-kilowatt system that produces 75 percent of the household's electricity, he said. That translates to a monthly savings of about $40.
Such a program is "very important because low-income households spend a much higher percentage of their income on energy than middle-income households," Sears said. "These savings make a big difference."
GRID is able to bring solar energy to needy homes by teaming up with other groups such as Habitat for Humanity and government agencies, tapping suppliers for discounts on materials and drawing in community donations, he said.
GRID also provides community members with training and hands-on experience with renewable energy technologies. Councilman David Canepa praised GRID's effort in his city.
"It's a complete win-win for the Daly City community by training community volunteers and job trainees in solar installation and by providing a low-income family with solar energy for their home," Canepa said.
For more information, visit the Web site http://www.gridalternatives.org/home.
World solar energy to grow 19.8%
Tom Stundza 12/30/2009 11:24:58 AM
The global market for residential and commercial solar-thermal technologies, estimated to be $8 billion in 2009 purchasing, will increase to $20 billion in 2014, according to a market forecast by BCC Research. The Wellesley, Mass. researcher forecasts a 5-year compound annual growth rate of almost 20%, with the largest segment, water heating, growing from $7.9 billion in 2009 to $19.6 billion in 2014.The smaller segment, air heating, is expected to reach nearly $92 million in 2014, up from $62.5 million in 2009. BCC Research says residential and commercial solar-thermal technologies are products that capture, concentrate, and/or absorb sunlight to provide thermal energy to a particular process or system. These include unglazed solar collectors, flat-plate solar collectors, evacuated-tube solar collectors, integral collector storage, concentrating solar collectors, glazed solar air collectors and transpired solar air collectors.
The global market for residential and commercial solar-thermal technologies, estimated to be $8 billion in 2009 purchasing, will increase to $20 billion in 2014, according to a market forecast by BCC Research. The Wellesley, Mass. researcher forecasts a 5-year compound annual growth rate of almost 20%, with the largest segment, water heating, growing from $7.9 billion in 2009 to $19.6 billion in 2014.The smaller segment, air heating, is expected to reach nearly $92 million in 2014, up from $62.5 million in 2009. BCC Research says residential and commercial solar-thermal technologies are products that capture, concentrate, and/or absorb sunlight to provide thermal energy to a particular process or system. These include unglazed solar collectors, flat-plate solar collectors, evacuated-tube solar collectors, integral collector storage, concentrating solar collectors, glazed solar air collectors and transpired solar air collectors.
More China Companies Are Going Green
BY JASON DEAN
31 December 2009
BEIJING -- Chinese entrepreneurs and private citizens are starting to become more active in trying to address concerns over global warming, a nascent trend that could have significant long-term impact on the ability of the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitter to curb its effects on the climate.
The shift is most pronounced among a small-but-growing group of private business executives, who are adjusting their business practices and helping to spread awareness more broadly among the public.
31 December 2009
BEIJING -- Chinese entrepreneurs and private citizens are starting to become more active in trying to address concerns over global warming, a nascent trend that could have significant long-term impact on the ability of the world's largest greenhouse-gas emitter to curb its effects on the climate.
The shift is most pronounced among a small-but-growing group of private business executives, who are adjusting their business practices and helping to spread awareness more broadly among the public.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Energy Stocks Climb to 15 month
ArcelorMittal AdvancesDecember 28, 2009, 12:12 PM EST
By Adria Cimino
Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- European stocks climbed for a fourth day, sending the Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index to its highest level in almost 15 months, after China raised its economic growth forecast and Japan’s industrial production increased.
ArcelorMittal, the world’s biggest steelmaker, and Norsk Hydro ASA led basic-resources companies higher as metals prices rose. OMV AG and Aker Solutions ASA gained more than 1 percent as crude oil traded above $78 a barrel. Vestas Wind Systems A/S, the world’s biggest maker of wind turbines, and Repower Systems AG rallied as China approved new rules to encourage the growth of renewable energy sources.
The Stoxx 600 added 0.5 percent to 253.17, the highest level since Oct. 3, 2008. The gauge is set for its biggest annual increase in a decade, having risen 28 percent this year, on mounting evidence that the global economy is recovering from its worst recession since World War II. China on Dec. 25 raised its 2008 growth estimate to 9.6 percent from 9 percent and said this year’s quarterly figures will also increase, narrowing the gap with Japan, the world’s second-biggest economy.
Emerging markets’ economies “will support global growth,” said Arnaud Scarpaci, a fund manager at Agilis Gestion in Paris, which oversees about $150 million. “That’s good for stocks. We expect another year of gains in 2010.”
Japan’s Cabinet Office said on Dec. 25 that the economy will expand for the first time in three years and today said industrial production improved for a ninth month in November.
U.S. Economy
A 60 percent rally in the Stoxx 600 since March has been spurred by record-low interest rates in the U.S. and Europe and as governments committed about $12 trillion worldwide to revive credit markets and stimulate economic growth.
National benchmark indexes rose in 13 of the 16 western European markets that were open today. Ireland and the U.K. were closed for holidays. France’s CAC 40 climbed 0.9 percent, while Germany’s DAX advanced 0.8 percent.
Metals Prices
ArcelorMittal rallied 2.4 percent to 32.05 euros. Norsk Hydro, Europe’s third-largest aluminum producer, increased 2.4 percent to 48.78 kroner. Boliden AB, the region’s second-biggest zinc producer, gained 1.5 percent to 91.2 kronor.
Basic-resources shares were the best performers among 19 industry groups in the Stoxx 600. Copper rose to its highest level in more than 15 months in New York on speculation that demand will strengthen and drain stockpiles.
OMV, central Europe’s largest oil company, climbed 1.1 percent to 30.29 euros. Aker Solutions, Norway’s biggest maker of oil platforms and equipment, advanced 1.3 percent to 76.40 kroner. Tenaris SA, the world’s largest maker of seamless pipes used to extract oil and gas, added 1.8 percent to 15.04 euros. Crude oil climbed for a fourth day as U.S. retail sales climbed over the holiday season.
Vestas, which is among companies expanding in China, increased 1.1 percent to 304.25 kroner. China’s National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature, on Dec. 26 approved new rules compelling the country’s grid operators to buy power generated from renewable energy sources including solar, wind and geothermal.
Renewable Energy
Repower, the German wind-turbine maker controlled by India’s Suzlon Energy Ltd., jumped 4.7 percent to 129.20 euros. Renewable Energy Corp. ASA, a Norwegian maker of solar energy components, rallied 2.9 percent to 43.70 kroner.
PSA Peugeot Citroen, Europe’s second-biggest carmaker, rose 1.5 percent to 23.82 euros. French new car sales increased by about 40 percent between Dec. 1 and Dec. 23, helped by scrapping incentives, French daily Les Echos reported, without citing anyone. By Christmas, December car sales in France reached 180,000, meaning that 2009 as a whole will show a gain of about 9 percent, according to the newspaper.
Areva SA dropped 1.8 percent to 344.40 euros after a group of French companies including Areva lost a $20 billion contract to build four nuclear plants it designed in the United Arab Emirates to a group of Korean companies.
MAN SE slipped 1.2 percent to 53.81 euros. Scania AB Chief Executive Officer Leif Oestling sees little potential for synergies in a tie-up with Europe’s third-largest truckmaker, Welt am Sonntag reported. He said it would be “unrealistic” to expect savings of 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion), or even 500 million euros, from a merger with MAN in the “short term,” the newspaper reported. Scania fell 0.2 percent to 93.20 kronor.
--With assistance from Julie Cruz in London. Editor: Christiane Lenzner
To contact the reporter on this story: Adria Cimino in Paris at +33-1-5530-6297 or acimino1@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: David Merritt at +44-20-7673-2639 or dmerritt1@bloomberg.net.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Kennedy Space Center going Green
Kennedy Space Center plans by late next year to start building one of the largest solar power plants of it's kind in the world, providing over 900 plus jobs in construction jobs. This project will take over 3 years (in FLA plus 3 yrs) to complete this massive plant.
The Cost of this project will reach well in excess of hundreds of million dollars all of which will be funded through Florida Power and Light, which as we know will increase rates, starting as early as this summer.
This Massive project will be spread out over 500 acres, (prior acres were used as orange trees) just north of NASA causeway west of State road 3.
DOE Awarding more Energy contracts
By Amy R. RemoPhilippine Daily Inquirer
Posted date: December 27, 2009
MANILA, Philippines--The Department of Energy may award more renewable energy service contracts for biomass and hydropower sources to 32 firms, should these companies’ proposals pass government evaluation. Documents from the DOE identified the companies engaged in biomass projects as Bacavalley Energy Inc.; Basecom Inc.; Bataan 2020; Busco Sugar Milling Co.; Capiz Sugar Central; Central Azucarera de Don Pedro; Central Azucarera de La Carlota; Central Azucarera De Tarlac; Cotabato Sugar; Davao Sugar Corp.; First Farmers Holding Corp.; Hawaiian Philippines Co.; Lopez Sugar Corp.; Sagay Central Inc.; Sweet Crystal Integrated Sugar Mill Corp. and Victorias Milling Co. Based on their submissions, these companies target to produce or are producing a combined 201.6 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from biomass.
In the meantime, companies engaged in hydropower projects that were applying for service contracts included: Antique Electric Cooperative Inc.; Conal Holdings Corp.; Cordillera Hydroelectric Power Corp.; First Gen Prime Energy Corp.; Hedcor Tamugan Inc.; Kalinga Hydropower Inc.; Langogan Holdings Corp.
Misamis Oriental II Electric Cooperative Inc.; Oriental Energy and Power Generation Corp.; PhilCarbon Inc.; Renouvel Development Corp.; SKI Mini Hydro Corp.; Smith Bell Mini-Hydro Corp.; SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc.; SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., and Vivant Corp.
These hydropower projects—which are either operating commercially or are still on the drawing board, have a combined capacity of over 900 MW.
When a project is given a renewable energy service contract, the proponent can avail itself of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
Does anyone know how to bid for these contracts
Posted date: December 27, 2009
MANILA, Philippines--The Department of Energy may award more renewable energy service contracts for biomass and hydropower sources to 32 firms, should these companies’ proposals pass government evaluation. Documents from the DOE identified the companies engaged in biomass projects as Bacavalley Energy Inc.; Basecom Inc.; Bataan 2020; Busco Sugar Milling Co.; Capiz Sugar Central; Central Azucarera de Don Pedro; Central Azucarera de La Carlota; Central Azucarera De Tarlac; Cotabato Sugar; Davao Sugar Corp.; First Farmers Holding Corp.; Hawaiian Philippines Co.; Lopez Sugar Corp.; Sagay Central Inc.; Sweet Crystal Integrated Sugar Mill Corp. and Victorias Milling Co. Based on their submissions, these companies target to produce or are producing a combined 201.6 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from biomass.
In the meantime, companies engaged in hydropower projects that were applying for service contracts included: Antique Electric Cooperative Inc.; Conal Holdings Corp.; Cordillera Hydroelectric Power Corp.; First Gen Prime Energy Corp.; Hedcor Tamugan Inc.; Kalinga Hydropower Inc.; Langogan Holdings Corp.
Misamis Oriental II Electric Cooperative Inc.; Oriental Energy and Power Generation Corp.; PhilCarbon Inc.; Renouvel Development Corp.; SKI Mini Hydro Corp.; Smith Bell Mini-Hydro Corp.; SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc.; SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Inc., and Vivant Corp.
These hydropower projects—which are either operating commercially or are still on the drawing board, have a combined capacity of over 900 MW.
When a project is given a renewable energy service contract, the proponent can avail itself of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
Does anyone know how to bid for these contracts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Restaurants Going Renewable Saving Profits
Chipotle working with Standard Renewable Energy to add solar panels to around 75 restaurants
Associated Press10/20/09 6:15 PM EDT
DENVER — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. plans to add solar panels on about 75 of its restaurants over the next year.
The Denver-based fast-casual chain said Tuesday that it is partnering with Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy to install enough panels to produce 500 kilowatt hours of electricity.
Installations are already under way in Denver and in Texas, in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
Chipotle says the goal is to reduce how much traditional energy the restaurants use from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., when demand for energy is greatest.
Chipotle has had other "green" initiatives. Its restaurant in Gurnee, Ill., has a wind turbine on site and an underground cistern to harvest rainwater for irrigation.
Find this article at: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/economy/ap/65076467.html
Associated Press10/20/09 6:15 PM EDT
DENVER — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. plans to add solar panels on about 75 of its restaurants over the next year.
The Denver-based fast-casual chain said Tuesday that it is partnering with Houston-based Standard Renewable Energy to install enough panels to produce 500 kilowatt hours of electricity.
Installations are already under way in Denver and in Texas, in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.
Chipotle says the goal is to reduce how much traditional energy the restaurants use from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., when demand for energy is greatest.
Chipotle has had other "green" initiatives. Its restaurant in Gurnee, Ill., has a wind turbine on site and an underground cistern to harvest rainwater for irrigation.
Find this article at: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/economy/ap/65076467.html
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