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Texas to Become First State with Offshore Wind Energy

October 6, 2010

 

The First Texas Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable (TOWER) Conference in Houston to Feature Major Players from the Wind Sector

Houston, Texas – October 6, 2010: The first offshore wind energy turbine in the United States will be installed off the Texas coast near Galveston Island in late 2010. The 2.75 MW turbine is a precursor to the 300 MW Galveston Wind Project and 3500 MW of areas already leased for Texas offshore wind operations.

According to the latest reports from the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. has the potential to generate over 4,150 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind, which would fulfill four times the current energy demand through wind energy. "Texas has many favorable conditions, such as its own transmission network and plant sites in a 10 mile zone off of its coast. This area is governed by Texas state laws, making it unlike any other U.S. state since it does not need the approval of the Department of the Interior. This creates many opportunities for entering the ever growing wind industry," said Jan Wiedemann, Managing Director of the German American Chamber of Commerce in Houston, Texas.  The NREL also projects that Texas has the potential to generate 1.06 gigawatts of energy within this 10 mile zone.

The first Texas Offshore Wind Energy Roundtable (TOWER) Conference and the Offshore Wind Law (OWL) Conference will be held from October 19-22, 2010 in Houston, Texas.  The four-day, joint-conference will evaluate the potential of Texas's offshore wind energy market and address the expected wind energy boom in the Gulf of Mexico. The conference has attracted the interest of many key players in the off-shore wind industry, including: E.ON Climate & Renewables Europe, SIEMENS, Hochtief, Vestas, Thales and Siag, all of which have confirmed their participation and support.

Among other speakers, the conference will feature Michael Lewis, Managing Director of E.ON Climate and Renewables Europe, who will speak about their experiences as a European offshore wind energy supplier. William Keating, General Manager Sales North America of Vestas Offshore, will also highlight state-of-the-art technological capabilities and experiences in offshore wind from the perspective of a turbine manufacturer.

The conference is organized jointly by the German American Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse and is supported by the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Wide Open for Business, the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA), the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP), the German Wind Energy Association and the German Energy Agency, as well as Continental Airlines.

Further information about the conference, including registration information, can be found on its website: www.tower-conference.com.

Contact Person:

Julia Schulz
German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc.
1900 West Loop South, Suite 1185
Houston, TX 77027
Phone: +1 (832) 384-1211
Fax: +1 (713) 715-6599
E-Mail: jschulz@gaccsouth.com
URL: www.gacctexas.com

# # # # # # # # # # #

About the German American Chambers of Commerce:

The German American Chambers of Commerce (GACCs) in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco all work together under the AHK USA network.. With approximately 2,500 members and an extensive national and international business network, the GACCs offer a broad spectrum of activities and services. AHKs are closely connected to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce (IHKs) in Germany.  The German Chamber Network (AHK) provides experience, connections, and services worldwide through 120 locations in 80 countries. 

The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US (GACC South), Texas office, works mainly with companies in the energy sector, especially in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency, and organizes several annual conferences and other events in these fields.


About the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse:

The Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse (www.texaswindclearinghouse.us) is a private, statewide alliance of stakeholders in the Texas wind energy industry.  Its members cover the full geography of the state and include ports, railroads, colleges & universities, counties, school districts, attorneys, ranchers & farmers, heavy manufacturers, small businesses, wind companies, economic development corporations, among others.

The Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse works with its members to provide many services to the Texas industry, including organizing several annual conferences across the state; promoting the state's capabilities through national & international media; participating in trade shows in North America and Europe; assisting domestic and international manufacturing & service company expansions; and more.
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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Recycle:10 toughest things to get rid of

 

By Lori Bongiorno

Posted Tue Oct 5, 2010

(Photo: Getty Images)

It's hard to know what to do with cans of leftover paint or electronics that have seen better days. You know you shouldn't throw them in the trash, but they're not typically recycled at the curb. So how exactly do you get rid of them?
Luckily, if you're armed with the right info, it can be easier than you think to dispose of these things. It's worth any extra effort because many of the items on this list contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate the environment or cause other damage if not carefully disposed of.
The laws for disposing of household waste vary depending on where you live, but here are some general guidelines and resources:

1. Batteries
Recycling rechargeable batteries is fairly easy. It's a good thing because throwing out lead-acid batteries is illegal in 41 states, according to Trey Granger at Earth911. Home Depot, Staples, Radio Shack, Best Buy, and many other retailers take them back free of charge.
There are fewer options for single-use batteries, but look for bins at your local library. Otherwise, your best bet is a nearby household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off site.

2. ElectronicsEvery retailer that takes back rechargeable batteries also accepts mobile phones, as do most wireless providers. For computers, cameras, televisions, and others it's worthwhile do a little homework because some stores charge fees depending on item and brand. Check out Best Buy, Staples, and Office Depot to see what's the best fit.
Some places, like Radio Shack, have trade-in programs where you can receive store credit for your old gadgets. You can also turn your old electronics into cash thanks to a growing number of websites designed to help you easily sell them.

3. PaintThis is among the harder items to dispose of, but it's still totally doable. Some ideas to try first: Do your best to make sure it gets used. Give it to a friend. Use it for primer. Donate it to a charity, such as Habitat for Humanity or a school theater group. If you can't reuse it, then search to see if you can recycle it.
If you just can't reuse it, you might need to throw dried paint in the trash if it's not against the law in your community. Remove the lid from a latex paint can and let it dry out until it's completely hard. Take any oil-based paints directly to your household hazardous waste center.

4. CFLsFluorescent bulbs contain tiny amounts of mercury that can leach out if broken, so it's important to properly recycle them. Luckily, these energy-sipping light bulbs are relatively easy to get rid of. Just drop old bulbs off at any Home Depot or Ikea for free recycling, or search for other nearby solutions.
If you have absolutely no other options and must throw them in the trash, then the Environmental Protection Agency suggests sealing CFLs in two plastic bags before disposing.

5. MedicationsDon't flush them down the toilet or pour them down the drain because tiny amounts of pharmaceuticals are making their way into our streams, rivers, and lakes. Your best bet is to find a program that will take back unused medications. Check with your local government to see if it's hosting a collection event. Ask if your pharmacy or HHW collection program will accept old prescription drugs.
Otherwise you'll have to throw them in the trash. Remove all personal info before chucking bottles to avoid identity theft. Crush pills and try these other tricks to make medicines unusable in case they accidentally get into the wrong hands.

6. Cooking oilBacon grease or cooking oil can clog up your pipes and ultimately back up sewer systems. Rinsing with hot water as you pour it down the drain won't help. Once that grease cools down, it solidifies and sticks to pipes. Your best bet is to absorb small amounts of grease with shredded paper or kitty litter before throwing in the trash.
Or you can pour oil or bacon grease in a coffee can or other metal container and throw it out once it solidifies. Here are some other suggestions on disposing and recycling.

7. Aerosol cansEmpty cans can be recycled fairly easily through your curbside program or at your local recycling facility. Partially full cans are harder to get rid of. Don't try to empty them yourself. Instead, see if your recycling or HHW drop-off center will take them.
It's also not a good idea to send pressurized cans (empty or not) to a landfill because they can explode if a fire breaks out.

8. AppliancesMost retailers will take away your old refrigerator, dishwasher, or other large appliance when you purchase a new one. Also check with your municipality because many cities and towns offer free curbside pick-up. For small appliances, try Best Buy or Goodwill.

9. Packing materialsBring packing peanuts and bubble wrap to a local mailing center (such as the UPS Store or Mail Boxes Etc) if you don't have room to store them for future use. You can also give them away by listing on Freecycle or in the free stuff section on Craigslist.
Here are tips for what to do with annoying clamshell packaging, non-paper FedEx envelopes, and more.

10. Car stuffWal-Mart, Autozone, JiffyLube, and others recycle used motor oil. Ask if they'll take your old filters back for recycling too.
Return dead car batteries to the store where you are purchasing a new one and ask if they'll recycle it. If not, check with your local HHW center.

Environmental journalist Lori Bongiorno

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com

 

Thu, Oct 7, 2010

Which Cities Face Biggest Housing Risks?

by Phil Izzo
Tuesday, October 5, 2010

provided by

Four years into the U.S. housing bust some communities hardest hit initially remained under stress in 2009, particularly in California and Florida, according to recently released data from U.S. Census Bureau.

[Click here to check home loan rates in your area.]

Real Time Economics has worked up a simple housing-stress indicator for most of the major U.S. metropolitan areas that combines three factors — the fraction of mortgage-holding homeowners in a community with a monthly housing payment in excess of 30% of income, the percentage of all people in the region without health insurance and the fraction of the population without a job. The indicator uses 2009 data from Census's American Community Survey.

More from WSJ.com: • Mobile-Home Industry Seeks Comeback • A New Way to Cut a Mortgage • Higher Education at a Lower Cost

Within more than 500 metro areas, the top 20 most stressed include nine in California and six in Florida, where the housing bust has been particularly acute. Among the most populous cities, Miami tops the list, followed by California's Inland Empire, Los Angeles and San Diego.

California and Florida ranked third and fourth, respectively, in foreclosure rates in the third quarter, according to real-estate web site RealtyTrac. Nevada, which has the nation's highest foreclosure rate (1 in every 23 households), and No. 2 Arizona also are well represented on the list. Among the 49 most populous cities in the nation, Las Vegas has the fifth highest stress index number, Phoenix is 11th.

Financial advisers warn against spending more than 30% of a household's income on housing costs, as it can crimp other expenditures and savings. It also leaves little room for unexpected shocks to income, such as illness or unemployment. Miami was at the top because it had the highest percentage of mortgage holders spending more than 30% on housing among large metro areas — 57.7% compared to the national average of 37.5%. At the same time, a quarter of the city's residents are without health insurance — compared to the national average of 15% — making it difficult to deal with a the expense created by an illness and still pay a mortgage.

[How To Buy a Home at a $100,000 Discount]

The problems also can feed on one another. A housing bust can lead to unemployment as construction and other real-estate related jobs dry up, which then pushes more people into foreclosure. For example, Redding, Calif., has more than half of its mortgage holders paying more than 30% for housing, a 2.7 percentage point increase from 2007, as the ratio of unemployed-to-population in the city jumped six percentage points over that time to 41.6%, compared to a national average of 33.1%.

To be sure, a high level of income can make crossing the 30% threshold of housing costs-to-income less risky for a borrower. New York, for example, is in the top 10 for the housing-stress indicator among the 49 most populous cities, but the percentage of people without health insurance and unemployment are both below the national averages in the region. The New York area has one of the highest median incomes in the nation, allowing residents to apportion more to housing while maintaining wiggle room to deal with other expenses.

Continued stress, especially in the prime markets for foreclosures, could mean more trouble ahead for housing, which has recently showed signs of stabilization. Indeed, Fannie Mae has reported that since the Census data were collected in 2009, the number of mortgages delinquent for more than 90 days has started to drop. But past-due mortgages remain at extemely high levels, and some of the decline over the course of 2010 was accompanied by a rise in foreclosures, as moratoriums in several states expired.

Below is a chart of the 49 most populous U.S. metro areas with their stress readings and components, sorted by the cities with the highest housing-stress indicator to the least.

Metro Area	Spending >30% of Income on Housing	Without Health Insurance	Population Not Working	Housing-Stress Indicator
United States, average	37.5%	15.1%	33.1%	85.7
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	57.7%	25.6%	33.3%	116.6
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	54.3%	20.5%	39.5%	114.3
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA	54.3%	21.5%	33.5%	109.3
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA	53.9%	17.0%	36.4%	107.3
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV	49.6%	22.3%	32.2%	104.1
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL	47.6%	21.2%	32.6%	101.4
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	46.6%	18.5%	34.4%	99.5
Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville, CA	48.4%	12.6%	35.4%	96.4
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	50.5%	12.3%	31.6%	94.4
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA	48.8%	12.9%	32.2%	93.9
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	41.3%	17.9%	33.5%	92.7
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	50.2%	11.9%	30.6%	92.7
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI	39.0%	12.9%	39.1%	91
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA	38.0%	18.8%	33.7%	90.5
Jacksonville, FL	40.0%	16.8%	33.3%	90.1
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL-IN-WI	42.9%	14.4%	31.9%	89.2
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	42.1%	11.7%	34.6%	88.4
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA	36.5%	19.2%	32.4%	88.1
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX	32.2%	24.6%	31.1%	87.9
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	35.9%	16.3%	35.4%	87.6
Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA	40.9%	14.8%	31.3%	87
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	32.0%	24.0%	29.6%	85.6
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	43.0%	12.1%	29.9%	85
San Antonio, TX	30.1%	20.0%	34.4%	84.5
Providence-New Bedford-Fall River, RI-MA	42.9%	9.0%	29.9%	81.8
Austin-Round Rock, TX	31.6%	20.5%	27.7%	79.8
Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor, OH	35.2%	11.5%	32.7%	79.4
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	37.4%	10.0%	31.7%	79.1
Richmond, VA	34.1%	12.8%	31.5%	78.4
Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO	35.0%	15.3%	27.3%	77.6
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	31.0%	12.3%	34.2%	77.5
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC	31.7%	15.7%	30.1%	77.5
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	38.3%	11.0%	27.2%	76.5
Baltimore-Towson, MD	36.8%	10.1%	29.4%	76.3
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	32.4%	13.3%	30.5%	76.2
Oklahoma City, OK	26.4%	17.9%	30.6%	74.9
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI	35.3%	9.9%	28.6%	73.8
Columbus, OH	30.6%	12.7%	30.1%	73.4
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH	40.2%	4.7%	27.6%	72.5
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN	28.2%	13.6%	29.9%	71.7
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	35.5%	7.6%	28.4%	71.5
Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN	27.5%	12.4%	31.6%	71.5
Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN	28.1%	11.8%	30.9%	70.8
St. Louis, MO-IL	29.7%	10.5%	30.4%	70.6
Rochester, NY	29.4%	7.9%	31.9%	69.2
Kansas City, MO-KS	27.6%	13.2%	27.8%	68.6
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	34.7%	9.1%	24.7%	68.5
Pittsburgh, PA	28.1%	8.6%	31.0%	67.7
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY	27.8%	7.9%	31.2%	66.9

___

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com