Interested in learning about, using, and promoting renewable energy?
Interested in learning about solar energy?
Interested in learning about the vast wind energy in Texas that is already being utilized?
A really good way is to get involved locally.
A really good way to get involved locally is to attend a NTREG meeting?
Which leads to the question --- What is NTREG?
NTREG
is the North Texas Renewable Energy Group. It was established in 2001
with the primary goal of educating North Texans about the power of
renewable energy ("RE"). As the NTREG webpage states - "NTREG members
come quite literally from all walks of life. You need not be an engineer
or the proverbial rocket scientist to be an active and productive
participant with us." NTREG is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer
organization, and is the local chapter of the Texas Solar Energy Society
(TXSES), which is the state chapter of the American Solar Energy
Society (ASES). NTREG monthly meetings are currently being held at the
REI store in Dallas on LBJ Freeway. Information about upcoming meetings
is available at their website - http://www.ntreg.org/events.htm
At
the most recent meeting on Saturday, February 11, the presentation
"Denton Municipal Electric's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Initiatives" was lead by Lisa A. Lemons. Lisa is the Energy Efficiency
& Sustainability Manager for Denton Municipal Electric. This was a
very informative presentation and interactive discussion about Denton's
initiative to become the "Greenest City in Texas" which began in
earnest in 2007. Denton's municipal electric utility now obtains 40% of
its electricity from renewable sources, which is one of the highest, if
not the highest percentage in Texas. Most of this renewable energy in
Denton is coming from the Wolf Ridge Wind Farm, which sits in rural
Cooke County, north of Muenster, Texas, only about 30 miles from Denton.
Denton has also recently issued a request for proposal (RFP)
for a purchase power agreement for 10-20MW of solar generation. The
responses for the RFP are due February 21, 2012 (VERY SOON). If the
responses are within the financial objectives of the project, the
objective is to have the system online by June 2013. Denton's RFP was
modeled after the recent RFPs that San Antonio, Texas has issued for
larger solar generation systems (up to 400MW).
As we know, the
sun shines a lot in Texas! And, we also know that we generally have the
biggest demand for electricity when the sun shines a lot in the summer.
So spend some time to learn about solar energy and other renewable
energy - come to the next NTREG meeting!
Plano Solar Energy Advocate (LH)
(original post - http://livegreeninplano.blogspot.com/2012/02/renewable-energy.html)
