News Update – July 16, 2012

Greenerpalooza Event- Gilford, NH July 18th

Greenerpalooza V, a showcase of New Hampshire companies leading the way in energy efficiency at the Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion, will feature legendary guitarist and humanitarian Carlos Santana at the annual event on July 18. The highlight of Greenerpalooza is the eco-village at the pavilion, where dozens of green businesses and agencies can display their products, services and inventions.

Space is available for this year's event and a capacity crowd is expected for Santana, a potential audience of over 5,000 people. A 10x10-foot booth is $200; a 10x20-foot booth is $300 and includes promotional space; inclusion in the Brookbeat email, with over 70,000 subscribers, and the opportunity to see the Santana performance.

Santana is a natural fit for the fifth annual Greenerpalooza. For the past two years, he has partnered with Project Sole, which distributes shoes to people who need them. "By thinking about recycling and conservation in ways beyond paper and plastic materials, we move toward a planet that is healthier for everyone," he said. "I am inspired to now find more ways to recycle and I hope that others will be too."

The event is coordinated by the New Hampshire Division of Economic Development and Meadowbrook, with sponsorship from Public Service of New Hampshire. For more information, call Lorna Colquhoun, communications director for the Division of Economic Development, at 271-2341 or visit http://www.nheconomy.com/success-stories/greenerpalooza.aspx.

Feasibility Study on Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Potential at State Facilities

OEP is pleased to announce the completion of a detailed feasibility study on the potential for renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency improvements to state owned buildings and lands. After a desktop analysis of all state properties, based on information from the state's energy database, five sites were selected for in-depth study. Working closely with state employees from the agencies whose buildings were selected, Tighe and Bond, and their sub-contractors Borrego Solar, and Acadia Engineers and Constructors performed detailed site analyses to determine both the technical and economic feasibility of the projects. The results are contained in a 600-page report located on OEP's web site.  

In brief, the study finds that a variety of energy efficiency measures at the Health and Human Services Building on Hazen Drive in Concord, and the Cannon Mountain Ski Resort can be cost-effectively undertaken by the State. Two other projects, installation of a community-scale wind tower at Odiorne Park in Rye, and a photovoltaic array on three buildings also on Hazen Drive in Concord, were found to be technical feasible, but not economically sound given the lack of financial incentives for renewable energy development in New Hampshire. The existence of such incentives in neighboring states draws significant investment. The final study investigated the potential for a co-generation plant (producing electricity and heat) using the methane that is a natural by-product of the operations at the wastewater treatment plan in Franklin. The Wastewater Treatment Plan is owned and operated by the Department of Environmental Services on behalf of several municipalities in the Lakes Region. The results of this study were mixed, showing a potential for cost-effective development of a project, but which would result in a need for the purchase of significantly more heating oil to offset the fuel that would be diverted for electricity production.

The State Department of Administrative Services is now reviewing the results of the study and developing a plan to implement those measures that were found to be cost effective. For more information about the study, please feel free to contact OEP at 603-271-2155.

Administrator of Energy Programs - OEP

OEP is seeking applicants for the position of Administrator of Energy Programs.  If you are interested, please see the position description on our web site or pass this information along to anyone whom you think might be interested. 

All information provided by the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) is made available for the convenience of interested persons. While OEP makes every effort to provide information that is reliable, human or mechanical error remain a possibility as does delay in the posting or updating of information. Therefore, OEP makes no guarantee as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the information. Neither OEP nor any of the sources of the information shall be responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the use or result obtained from the use of this information. We believe we are sending this e-mail with your permission.