| SEES Programs and Activities: SEES is an educational professional energy society that meets six times a year to learn about regionally-relevant energy topics: energy production, conservation, and marketing; legislative & regulatory developments; new products, technology, and government programs. |
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| Photos courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, www.nrel.gov |
The primary purpose of the Southeastern Energy Society is to advocate and to promote a greater
awareness of competitive energy generation options and to provide a forum for discussion,
education and exploration of relevant industry issues.
awareness of competitive energy generation options and to provide a forum for discussion,
education and exploration of relevant industry issues.
| Southface Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables |
Southeastern Energy Society
Covering the Southeast from Atlanta
Covering the Southeast from Atlanta
Southface's Sustainable Atlanta Roundtables (SARs) are
held the first Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at All
Saints Church-Ellis Hall, 634 West Peachtree St., Atlanta,
GA 30308. To RSVP for round- tables, call 404/872-3549 or
register on-line.
For other Southface events, check the Southface
calendar.
held the first Friday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at All
Saints Church-Ellis Hall, 634 West Peachtree St., Atlanta,
GA 30308. To RSVP for round- tables, call 404/872-3549 or
register on-line.
For other Southface events, check the Southface
calendar.
| Energy Events |
To RSVP for meetings, please contact Alston and Bird (404) 881-7761, fax (404) 253-8593
or e-mail janice.shaw@alston.com with your name, company and phone number.
Directions.
or e-mail janice.shaw@alston.com with your name, company and phone number.
Directions.
| Spring, 2009 Meetings |
| Energy News |
| Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management Blog |
Alston & Bird's Climate Change and Carbon Management
team has launched a blog which focuses on rapidly
emerging issues associated with greenhouse gas
emissions.
team has launched a blog which focuses on rapidly
emerging issues associated with greenhouse gas
emissions.
SEES 2009 Fall Series of Meetings
| Links |
| Missed any meetings & would like to get the presentation materials? Click here. Need professional development documentation? Click here. |
At the March 16th SEES meeting, Dr. Emanuele Di Lorenzo .
This presentation updated a program given by Dr. Kim Cobb in
September, 2007. (The presentation file is 7.8 MB).
This presentation updated a program given by Dr. Kim Cobb in
September, 2007. (The presentation file is 7.8 MB).
April 20th: Brad Spooner, Manager of Environmental Affairs, MEAG Power, discussed the
Proposed Federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). (For presentation in PDF, click here).
Proposed Federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). (For presentation in PDF, click here).
This innovative new website, aptly called "Speak
Without Interruption," provides a "place for everyone
to finish their thoughts." Unlike TV programs, where
guests constantly talk over each other and interrupt, this
website provides a forum in which contributors can
complete their thoughts about topics of interest.
SEES members are truly the current "energy gurus," and
your input would be very much appreciated. You do not
need to be a professional writer or blogger; your
knowledge is what is important. SEES members are
invited to post thoughts and share expertise on critical
energy issues.
Without Interruption," provides a "place for everyone
to finish their thoughts." Unlike TV programs, where
guests constantly talk over each other and interrupt, this
website provides a forum in which contributors can
complete their thoughts about topics of interest.
SEES members are truly the current "energy gurus," and
your input would be very much appreciated. You do not
need to be a professional writer or blogger; your
knowledge is what is important. SEES members are
invited to post thoughts and share expertise on critical
energy issues.
| Have your heard about solar coffee roasting? |
Dave and Mike Hartkop invented their first solar coffee
roaster in the summer of 2004. They built it in their
parents' backyard using mirrors, a broccoli steamer, and
an old satellite dish. Today, they use their newest
custom-built machine, which roasts at temperatures
between 450 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This may well
be the only carbon neutral coffee roasting facility in the
world.
While photovoltaics are no where near economically
viable in most applications, passive solar applications,
such as developed by the Hartkok brothers, may offer a
wide range of economic, environmentally friendly
options.
roaster in the summer of 2004. They built it in their
parents' backyard using mirrors, a broccoli steamer, and
an old satellite dish. Today, they use their newest
custom-built machine, which roasts at temperatures
between 450 and 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This may well
be the only carbon neutral coffee roasting facility in the
world.
While photovoltaics are no where near economically
viable in most applications, passive solar applications,
such as developed by the Hartkok brothers, may offer a
wide range of economic, environmentally friendly
options.
Dr. Di Lorenzo is an associate professor in the School of Earth
and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech. He holds a
doctorate in Climate Sciences from the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech. He holds a
doctorate in Climate Sciences from the Scripps Institution of
Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego.
Nearby parking lots.
The May 18th meeting featured Lauren (Bubba) McDonald, a
member of the Georgia Public Service Commission. Mr. McDonald
gave an update on important current issues facing the Georgia
PSC.
member of the Georgia Public Service Commission. Mr. McDonald
gave an update on important current issues facing the Georgia
PSC.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, in conjunction
with the DOE, has released six maps that could help
determine the location of the next big push in solar
energy in the U.S. More . . .
with the DOE, has released six maps that could help
determine the location of the next big push in solar
energy in the U.S. More . . .
| U.S. Government maps solar energy future |
| German firms interested in N.African solar project |
A consortium of 20 blue chip German firms may invest in
what would be the biggest ever solar energy initiative.
Known as Desertec, the project is estimated to cost
around €400. The project would develop solar power in
the deserts of north Africa and transport electricity to
Europe.
what would be the biggest ever solar energy initiative.
Known as Desertec, the project is estimated to cost
around €400. The project would develop solar power in
the deserts of north Africa and transport electricity to
Europe.
This year’s Renewable Energy Markets Conference took place
September 13-16, 2009, at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta.
September 13-16, 2009, at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta.
Rick Burkhalter, Director of Utility, Municipal, and Retail Programs at Sterling Planet,
Inc., provided “An update on Renewable Energy Certificates” at the October 19th SEES
meeting. Some questions which were addressed included:
* How is the economy effecting the environmental commitments of companies and
private citizens?
* What is the status of the climate bill and how might it impact renewable energy?
* What are the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the trading of renewable
energy certificates?
* What is the future for the trading of environmental attributes as commodities?
Inc., provided “An update on Renewable Energy Certificates” at the October 19th SEES
meeting. Some questions which were addressed included:
* How is the economy effecting the environmental commitments of companies and
private citizens?
* What is the status of the climate bill and how might it impact renewable energy?
* What are the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the trading of renewable
energy certificates?
* What is the future for the trading of environmental attributes as commodities?
The September 21st SEES meeting featured David R. Wentworth, founder, president,
and chairman of Renewable Solutions Group, LLC. Mr. Wentworth provided “An Update
on the Winder Renewable Methane Facility," focusing on the development of landfill gas
to pipeline-quality gas projects.
For over a decade, Mr. Wentworth’s career has been dedicated to the commercial and
technical development of landfill gas (LFG) projects, including LFG to electricity, LFG
cogeneration, and sales of medium-Btu and pipeline quality landfill-derived gas.
and chairman of Renewable Solutions Group, LLC. Mr. Wentworth provided “An Update
on the Winder Renewable Methane Facility," focusing on the development of landfill gas
to pipeline-quality gas projects.
For over a decade, Mr. Wentworth’s career has been dedicated to the commercial and
technical development of landfill gas (LFG) projects, including LFG to electricity, LFG
cogeneration, and sales of medium-Btu and pipeline quality landfill-derived gas.
David S. Godfrey, State Utilities Program Manager at the Georgia Environmental Facilities
Authority, provided "An Update on Stimulus Projects in Georgia" at the November 16th
meeting.
Authority, provided "An Update on Stimulus Projects in Georgia" at the November 16th
meeting.
Georgia will receive $49.9mm for Weatherization Assistance Programs (WAP) and $32.9 mm
for State Energy Programs (SAP) from the Department of Energy to improve energy
efficiency and renewable energy across residential, commercial, industrial, and
governmental sectors. Together these programs will advance the country's energy
independence and create and support jobs statewide.
The state will use a large portion of the Recovery Act funding to implement the State
Utilities Retrofit Program, administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.
In this new program, the state of Georgia proposes to allocate $65 million to retrofit state
government facilities. This funding will be used to conduct energy audits and assessments
and capital projects to pay for the incremental cost difference between standard and
high-efficiency technologies.
for State Energy Programs (SAP) from the Department of Energy to improve energy
efficiency and renewable energy across residential, commercial, industrial, and
governmental sectors. Together these programs will advance the country's energy
independence and create and support jobs statewide.
The state will use a large portion of the Recovery Act funding to implement the State
Utilities Retrofit Program, administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.
In this new program, the state of Georgia proposes to allocate $65 million to retrofit state
government facilities. This funding will be used to conduct energy audits and assessments
and capital projects to pay for the incremental cost difference between standard and
high-efficiency technologies.
Green Houseboats
While more popular in
Europe and Asia,
house boats may
provide an interesting
alternative in the
U.S.for homes as well
as recreation. These
zero-emission house
boats provide much
the same facilities as
loft-style homes.
Europe and Asia,
house boats may
provide an interesting
alternative in the
U.S.for homes as well
as recreation. These
zero-emission house
boats provide much
the same facilities as
loft-style homes.
The Silberfisch houseboat is a floating home by
Bernhard Urich and design firm Confused-Direction
architects Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann. This eco-
friendly project represents a balanced mix of design and
maritime romance. Two of the primary “green”
methods used in the house’s construction are a green
roof planted with vegetation and the use of reclaimed
wood wherever possible.
Bernhard Urich and design firm Confused-Direction
architects Flo Florian and Sascha Akkermann. This eco-
friendly project represents a balanced mix of design and
maritime romance. Two of the primary “green”
methods used in the house’s construction are a green
roof planted with vegetation and the use of reclaimed
wood wherever possible.