Renewable Energy Conference 2009 Videos

“The 7th annual Renewable Energy Conference was held at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute on March 21, 2009. The following are links to a selection of the presentations given by speakers at the conference. Support for the videos and the webpage has been provided by a Community Energy Project Grant from the Michigan Energy Office. Special thanks to the volunteers who helped with recording and editing the videos: Aaron Wissner, Stephan Rairigh, and Bonnie Bucqueroux.”

New and Emerging Energy Technologies for Automobiles

Phil Rairigh

Change is quickly coming to the automotive energy. Hear from an automobile insider as he discusses the ins and outs of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, biofuels, new infrastructure and other efficient transportation technologies on the horizon.

Options for Electrical Generation at Your Home

Mark Bauer

This session explores a number of ways homeowners and businesses have made their own electricity, including wind turbines, solar photovoltaic panels, and solar hot water. Mark Bauer is the founder of Bauer Power, an installer of Renewable Energy Technologies.

Feed-in Tariffs

Kathleen Law

Feed-in tariffs have been successfully used in Germany to help promote renewable energy sources. This session covers how feed-in tariffs work, how they could benefit Michigan, and how to make them happen here. Kathleen Law is a former Representative for the State of Michigan and scientist.

State of Renewable Energy

Tom Stanton

Tom Stanton, of the Michigan Public Service Commission, provides an update of where Michigan is at in regards to legislation concerning renewable energy.

Sustainability in Affordable Housing

Thom Phillips

Thom Phillips, Sustainable Building Specialist with Habitat for Humanity presents ways that they are inexpensively creating energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes. This presentation includes information on how homes work and how to make homes more energy efficient.

Small Wind Power

John Patten

Western Michigan University has operated a small wind turbine for years. Dr. Patten discusses issues with installing small wind turbine/energy systems in Southwest Michigan; including contractor and site selection, utility inter-connections, zoning regulations, costs, and maintenance.