Climate Bill Passed in Congress: Clean Energy

Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act in a vote of 219-212.  This is a broad-based bill that essentially provides incentives and more programs to advance renewable energy in this country.  It includes a National Renewable Portfolio Standard (or, RPS) to mandate that utility companies get at least 15% of their energy from renewables, such as solar and wind.  This is a great accomplishment for the advancement of clean energy, although some critics say that the 15% is not high enough.  Still, its a start and a definite win for progressive and environmentally conscious citizens.

ETM: A Day in the Life

Learning from the Best: SUNY Ulster PV Installer's Class 2009

An innovative design: day-lit solar panel roofing

Whats a great way to cut back on energy needed for lighting your building? Making your roof out of solar panels with transparent sections to let the sun shine through, for natural lighting!
ETM installed this type of roof on a large facility in Riker's Island, NY. It is aesthetically, economically, and environmentally awesome.

ETM Staff Spotlight: Francine V. Notte

Fran has been with ETM for over 13 years, serving as the Vice President and resident palm reader. Born in Newark, NJ, she has a brother named Bob and sister named Carol. In 1965 she and Bob rode a Honda 305 motorcycle across the country to California.

Favorite High School Class: Trigonometry

Favorite Brand of Sneaker: Sketchers

Favorite year of her life: 1971

Music: really funky blues, Bands: Queen and the Eagles

Favorite place to eat around here: Wingz

Instruments she plays: Ukulele

Favorite ETM moment: When opened up the envelope from NABCEP and and learned that she passed the exam.

Strange fact: Can read palms

Advice for youngsters: Follow your heart...and don't do anything that you wouldn't want pubished on the New York Times

Travels: Fromentera, Ibiza, riding bicycle back from the cantina. had an oppulent experience in Mexico---bar in pool. tijuana with brother Bob.

If she could have Dinner with any three people from history: Jesus, Hitler, Johannes Kepler

Drink of choice: Vodka martini

Favorite Books: A Sexual Persona--Camille Paglia,
Cats Cradle- Kurt Vonnegut
Grimm's Fairy Tales

Spotlight: Germany and the Solar Revolution

Its hard to believe that Germany, which gets fewer full days of sun than Binghamton, NY, is the center of the solar energy movement, coming only in second place to Japan. More than just household PV systems, it has an expansive industrial scale (mega-watts) solar power generation throughout the countryside. Just how many solar plants are there in Germany??
Over 1 million, according to a government publication.

How will the credit crisis affect the solar industry?

With economic downturn, one might think that funding for research and market viability of renewable energy would diminish, yet the PV industry is still predicted to boom. Business at ETM has certainly blossomed recently--more people are becoming aware of the connection between fossil fuels and global warming. Or perhaps people see the need to invest in alternative energy because coal and oil are at their last drops, and that foreign wars and predicaments are all too often involving the securing of petroleum. All of these are good reasons-- the seed of the green energy economy has been planted.
According to David D. Martin of the SEMI PV group, "venture capital investment in green energy technologies exceeded $2.8 billion in the third quarter of 2008, far exceeding any previous quarter on record" (renewablenergyworld.com). Luckily, many other global leaders like China, India, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates are developing incentive plans for massive solar generation. While we are in an econmic crisis, Marin argues, the solar industry is still in the beginning phases of its development, which is good: "Nevertheless, long-term fundamentals will make the PV market attractive to a wide variety of players for the next few years..." With more investment and attention to solar energy, costs of production will go down, and regular people like us can enjoy cheaper PV systems on our residences, all the while promoting the integrity of the planet.

source: Martin, David D. "Speculation on Solar Future Hits Overdrive" Renewable Energy World Magazine. 18 June 2009.

ETM Staff Spotlight: Wendy Barnum

Wendy has been with ETM for the last 2 years as the Sales & Marketing master, and loves every minute of her job.
Born in Ontario Canada, she came "kicking and screaming" with her parents to the United States at the ripe young age of 16, moved to Bucks County, PA...She has one younger sister, Shannon.

Currently, she lives in Vestal and has three dogs: Rudy, Spencer, Tucker.

Lets see what else we can find out about Wendy:
Favorite place to go to lunch: (provided she got her morning workout) somewhere she can get a salad so her psyche will be fine for the rest of the day. just vingear as a dressing.

Favorites brand of sneaker: Aasics

Least favorite body part: Feet

Favorite part of body: Smile

Loves road trips, and perfectly ripe peaches.

Where she sees herself in 10 years: Here in the solar energy field!

"Its the only job I've ever had that doesn't feel like a job"

Books: Who Moved My Cheese, by Spencer Johnson

Music: Tracy Chapman, George Michael, Justin Timberlake, The BeeGees

Youtube Video: Justin Timberlake Video with Beyonce--All the Single Ladies

Fav (current) TV shows: Criminal minds, NCIS, Friday Night Lights, NHL Hockey

Fav (all time) TV show: Bionic Woman with Lindsey Wagner

Likes Vlasic brand kosher dill pickles, not Claussen! Likes Stacey's Pita Chips, that they unfortuately don't sell at the Price Chopper down the road.

Favorite Condiment: Spicy Brown Mustard (not garlic--we learned this last week)

Favorite Color: Red, Orange, Yellow

Favorite College Memory: Playing mud football in the quad at night! (disclaimer: this is the most she was allowed to say for a work blog :) )

What she likes most about the job: Meeting new people. "The people who are interested in going solar are THE coolest people that I've ever met!!"

Greetings!

Hello friends! We are thrilled to have our new blog up and running! We hope you'll enjoy learning more about ETM, renewable energy, and the power of the sun. Soon to come: photos from our recent installations such as the Lime Hollow Nature Center in Cortland, NY and the Waterman Conservation Center in Apalachin. We welcome your comments and feedback!
We hope to see you again soon!

Sincerely,

Andrea & Kate
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