QUICK NEWS, 11-10: WHY TO BUY AN EV; $100MIL FROM WELLS FARGO TO SUN; WIND MUST BUILD RIGHT; BIG TOBACCO FUNDS VA BIG SOLAR

WHY TO BUY AN EV
Will Masses Buy Electric Cars? Plug In America Releases PSAs to Prime the Market; Seven 30-Second Spots Entertain and Educate About Benefits of Plug-In Electric Vehicles
Zan Dubin Scott, November 9, 2010 (Plug In America)

"With history's first mass-produced plug-in vehicles just weeks away from delivery, Plug In America is releasing a series of smartly humorous, educational Public Service Announcements (PSAs) created by people who have driven the gas-free vehicles for years…

"The PSAs were written and produced by a professional cast and crew of 60, many of whom have driven EVs for up to nine years. They donated their time to Plug In America, the nonprofit organization leading the nation's plug-in vehicle movement. Starting Nov. 30, one new spot will be released roughly every three weeks through February...Spearheaded and produced by actress and founding Plug In America board member Alexandra Paul, the PSA's spoof Apple's "Mac vs. PC" ads…Driving home the superiority of plug-ins, they address topics such as the true cost of gasoline, the endless maintenance of gas cars, the ease of plugging in to charge, oil spills and range anxiety…"

“Cell Phone”

From Plug In America via YouTube

"…The spots all link to Plug In America's recently updated website…which includes pages tracking global production and delivery of plug-in vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) and chargers, state and federal purchasing incentives, common plug-in vehicle myths and congressional support for plug-ins.

"Actors featured in the spots…Stephen Zimpel…[and] Marvin Campbell…Campbell has driven a Toyota RAV4 EV for years and owns two of them. The PSAs were directed by Eric Swenson, a visual effects supervisor and Tesla owner; written by Swenson and fellow Plug In America executive committee member Jeff U'Ren, an Emmy Award-winning editor and former GM EV1 driver; and edited by U'Ren."

“Ocean Crude”

From Plug In America via YouTube

"In a matter of days, Plug In America raised thousands of dollars from its members and supporters around the globe to pay the hard costs of production…"

[Dan Davids, President, Plug In America:] "We're at a historic turning point with the imminent delivery of the cleanest-running vehicles ever manufactured…Our most important job now is to educate consumers about their value. Our goal is rapid mass adoption."


$100MIL FROM WELLS FARGO TO SUN
Wells Fargo to Fund Over $100 Million in U.S. Solar Projects Developed by GCL Solar
November 8, 2010 (Business Wire)

"…Wells Fargo will invest over $100 million by the end of 2011 to fund the development of solar photovoltaic power projects throughout the U.S. by [GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited] subsidiary GCL Solar Energy Inc…

"Financing provided by Wells Fargo will enable GCL Solar to cost-effectively provide a clean and reliable source of electricity to its customers, including schools, municipalities, corporations, and utilities. GCL Solar will build and operate solar power plants, and its customers will purchase the electricity under long-term power purchase agreements at rates equal to or lower than traditional utility rates…"

GCL’s Xuzhou 20MW Solar Farm (click to enlarge)

"GCL Solar Energy, Inc., based in San Francisco, California, builds, owns, and operates solar photovoltaic power plants. Established in late 2009, the company plans to become a leading investor and operator of solar power generation projects in North America…[It] is a U.S.-based subsidiary of GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited and a member of the GCL Group."

GCL Solar polysilicon production facility in Xuzhou (click to enlarge)

"Wells Fargo has provided more than $2 billion in tax equity financing for renewable energy projects since 2006. That includes funding for 30 wind projects, more than 190 commercial-scale solar projects and 1 utility-scale solar thermal project…

"GCL-Poly Energy Holdings Limited (3800.HK) is China's largest polysilicon producer, one of the world's leading wafer suppliers, and a top green energy enterprise in China. Annual polysilicon production capacity is expected to reach 21,000 MT by the end of 2010, and the quality of its polysilicon products has reached electronic grade level. The Group's wafer production capacity will achieve 3.5 GW by the end of 2010. In addition, the Group owns a 20MW solar farm in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province, which is currently the largest solar farm in China…"


WIND MUST BUILD RIGHT
Wind energy's ripple effects; Once I learned how turbines can affect people, I had to speak up.
Gary Carlson, November 8, 2010 (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

"I just returned from a meeting of my county planning committee, where we debated the pros and cons of our neighbor's proposal to put up two 400-foot wind turbines, with the closest about 1,300 feet from our property line…

"I am an integrative physician who mainly works with patients suffering chronic problems. Often, they have seen many traditional doctors who have not been able to help them; they come to me as a last resort. They have "functional problems" -- irritable bowel syndrome, chronic headaches, fibromyalgia. Often their doctors "can't find anything wrong" with X-rays, blood tests or biopsies. But nonetheless these people are sick. Many of them are very sensitive to environmental stimuli, probably as an adaptive reaction to their chronic problems."

click to enlarge

"…I also fancy myself an environmentalist. We placed a geothermal heat pump in our house 12 years ago…I regularly walk the 6-mile round trip to work to save on CO2 emissions. So six weeks ago when we heard about the plan to put up these turbines, I was a little ambivalent. My brother, who lives nearby, didn't like it. I have always liked wind power, and though I didn't really want such large structures in my morning sky, I kind of let it go.

"Then I got hit over the head. I was reading the New York Times and came upon an article about multiple lawsuits against wind farms all over the United States because of health concerns…Three hours of intense Internet research later, I was shocked…I know environmental sensitivity…I have discovered the dark medical underbelly of industrial-sized turbines…"

click to enlarge

"…They produce a lot of infrasonic and low-frequency noise…[I]t can make you sick…[S]ome experts suggest that 15 percent of people living within one-half to one mile of one of these turbines will develop some sort of symptom. Sleep disturbance is the most common problem. If you are old, or young, tend to get carsick easily, or have a chronic medical disease, you are at higher risk. Some are affected so severely that they have to move.

"Minnesota's wind turbine setbacks are ridiculously outdated, although the Public Utilities Commission is trying to catch up. Some European countries have listened to their citizens and have moved setbacks to between half a mile and a mile. We listen to the big wind energy companies and are stuck around 500 feet…[W]e can have wind turbines, but don't place them closer then one-half mile from residences, or these people, especially vulnerable people, will get sick…"


BIG TOBACCO FUNDS VA BIG SOLAR
Dominion Virginia Power Ready to Take Next Step in Solar Power Station Project; Virginia Tobacco Commission approves $5 million grant for demonstration project…
November 1, 2010 (PR Newswire via Dominion Virginia Power)

"Dominion Virginia Power is ready to take the next step in developing a solar power facility in Halifax County with the approval of a $5 million grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission.

"The $35-million integrated solar and advanced energy storage facility is expected to begin operating in 2012, pending regulatory approvals. The company plans to ask the Virginia State Corporation Commission for approval in 2011."

click thru to NREL's Open PV project

"PJM Interconnection, the independent regional transmission company that operates the electric grid in Virginia and 12 other states between Chicago and Washington, D.C., has reported that Dominion's service area is expected to have the strongest annual growth rate in electric demand of any of its regions at 2.5 percent. Dominion is exploring several resources to close a gap of about 5,600 megawatts between the available supply of electricity and customer demand in 2019.

"Dominion Virginia Power and the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority applied in June to the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission for the [now approved] $5 million grant…[O]ther project participants are the University of Virginia Center for Electrochemical Science and Engineering and an advanced energy storage manufacturer."

click thru to the Open PV project Virginia page

"Dominion will issue a request for proposals for the engineering, procurement and construction of the 4-megawatt solar facility, which is anticipated to be located on up to 50 acres of land in Halifax County. This acreage would make it the largest solar project in Virginia. The company estimates that it will take about 100 construction jobs to build the solar facility…

"Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,600 megawatts of generation, 12,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline and 6,000 miles of electric transmission lines…"