BRIT and Green Mountain Energy Company “Flip Switch” for new 3-Kilowatt Solar Array

June 2, 2011
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS — The Botanical Research Institute of Texas’ (BRIT’s) http://www.brit.org/ new headquarters in the Fort Worth Cultural District is now being powered partly by the sun, thanks to Austin-based Green Mountain Energy Company and its customers. Green Mountain, Texas’ first competitive retail electric provider to offer cleaner energy, donated $130,000 through its Big Texas Sun Club® to help fund the 52 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
Green Mountain Energy® Solar at BRIT will help reduce the building’s commercial energy use and carbon footprint, as well as educate people visiting BRIT about the benefits of solar energy.
“Green Mountain is especially pleased and proud to make a donation toward the photovoltaic system for BRIT, an organization that’s dedicated to conserving our natural heritage and educating the public about the value of plants,” said Kelly Brcka, director of Residential Sales, Green Mountain Energy Company. “Green Mountain has been serving customers throughout the Fort Worth metropolitan-area since 2002. Donating to help build solar systems like this one allows us give back to the communities where our customers live, work, shop and play, while supporting our mission to change the way power is made.”

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Brian Ching Completes Campaign to Build a Green Upgraded Home for a Houston Family

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HOUSTON (May 20, 2010) – Last year, Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching set a goal to raise $75,000 in order to build a green-upgraded home for a Houston family in need. Through a partnership with Houston Habitat for Humanity and with the support of Dynamo Charities, sponsors, and his teammates, Ching achieved his goal and takes part in a formal dedication today at the site of the new home for Theresa Urbano and her two young children.
“I would just like to thank everyone who has contributed to this project,” Ching said. “It has been a true community effort and I am so happy for the Urbano family to finally have a place to call home. Theresa has worked hard for this house and I could not be happier for her and her family.”
This Houston Habitat green-upgraded home, located in northeast Houston in the Milby Park subdivision, is the result of a partnership that includes: KHOU, BMC Software, Turner Construction, CompuTech, Avalon Wine, MLS W.O.R.K.S, Wasserman Media Group and Dynamo Charities.

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A123 Systems to Supply Battery Modules to Smith Electric Vehicles for All-Electric Commercial Trucks

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A123 Systems, developer and manufacturer of Nanophosphate® lithium ion batteries and systems, announced a production agreement with Smith Electric Vehicles to supply battery modules for Smith’s portfolio of zero-emission all-electric commercial vehicles. A123 expects to begin shipping its 5kWh automotive-class prismatic modules to Smith for integration into battery packs in the second half of 2011.
“We selected A123 Systems as a strategic supplier of lithium ion battery technology because it offers cost-competitive, high-quality solutions that meet the performance, safety and life requirements for our electric vehicles,” said Bryan Hansel, president and CEO of Smith Electric Vehicles. “The highly scalable, building-block design of A123’s modules also enables us to build customized battery packs to meet individual customers’ range specifications. This allows our customers to maximize the performance of their electric vehicles while realizing a faster return on investment.”
According to Smith Electric Vehicles, A123’s battery technology will be first implemented in the Smith NewtonTM truck, an all-electric, 7.5 ton (16,535 GVWR)—15 ton (33,000 GVWR) vehicle that has been commercialized globally. Smith’s customers include Frito-Lay (a division of PepsiCo), Staples, Coca-Cola, Sainsbury’s and Dairy Crest, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps.

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Solar Energy Cost Process Explained for Homeowners

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WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Obama Administration’s SunShot Initiative to make solar energy cost-competitive with fossil fuels within the decade, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the availability of more than $27 million in new funding that will reduce the non-hardware costs of solar energy projects, a critical element in bringing down the overall costs of installed solar energy systems.
The funding will support a $12.5 million challenge to encourage cities and counties to compete to streamline and digitize permitting processes, as well as $15 million that will be made available to advance innovations in information technology systems, local zoning and building codes and regulations, and more. These process improvements and innovations will help increase U.S. competitiveness in the global solar industry and will play an important role in achieving President Obama’s goal of doubling America’s electricity from clean energy sources.
“These investments under the SunShot program can help to transform the solar energy industry by addressing significant challenges to solar energy deployment, including permitting and installation,” said Secretary Chu. “Innovations in IT and local business processes, such as online permit applications, can deliver significant savings for solar energy systems and will help America to compete globally in this growing market.”

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Oregon Protects Shark Fins with New Legislation

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Oceana Commends Action to Prevent Shark Fin Trade
Today the Oregon State Senate voted 30-0 to ban the sale, trade, and possession of
shark fins within the state. The bill (HB 2838) previously passed the State House of
Representatives by a unanimous vote. The bill’s passage moves the U.S. West Coast closer to a
full ban on the trade of shark fins, thereby helping to protect global populations of at-risk shark
species currently targeted in unsustainable and unregulated fisheries worldwide. Oceana
commends Oregon Representative Brad Witt (D-Clatskanie) for his extraordinary leadership to
protect a species that has been swimming the world’s oceans for more than 400 million years.
“With the global trade in shark fins pushing sharks toward extinction, it will take strong actions
such as this to prevent us from making irreversible changes to our ocean ecosystems,” said Whit
Sheard, Senior Advisor and Pacific Counsel for Oceana. “The unanimous passage of this bill once
again demonstrates that support for healthy oceans is a non-partisan issue,” added Sheard.

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