Windspire Makes Second Television Appearance

SHARON SPRINGS, NY (March 29, 2011): With the installation of a Windspire wind turbine, the Beekman Boys are one step closer to the self-sustaining farm they have dreamed of. This means they are also one step closer to Josh being able to leave his job in the city and live at the farm full time.

Beekman Boys get Windspired

The Beekman farm is in the perfect location for a Windspire vertical axis wind turbine.

Situated on top of a knoll in the Mohawk Valley where wind speeds reach an average 10 mph year round, the Windspire will be used to offset costs incurred during milking operations.

Not only will the Windspire work hard on the farm producing energy, it will also be pleasing to the eye, “It meets my aesthetic requirements for the farm.” Brent said, “It looks like a piece of kinetic sculpture. Mesmerizing really!” Josh added in, “And it’s going to make Martha jealous!!” (evil laugh).

The installation of the Windspire will air on Tuesday, March 29^th at 10:00 PM (EST), and will re-air on April 5th at 5 and 6:30, on Planet Green channel; the episode is titled “A Martha Makeover”. Windspire Dealer, Rick Anderson from Titan Construction, located in Melrose, NY, donated his time to the installation. Rick is assisting the “gentleman farmers” to design and implement new technologies that will make the farm one of the “greenest” small farms in America.

About Planet Green:

Planet Green is the multiplatform media destination for people looking for something new.  Launched on June 4, 2008, Planet Green is following the evolving conversation about sustainability and is the entertainment brand that champions the visionaries who move our world forward in small and large ways.  Planet Green and its two robust Web sites, planetgreen.com and TreeHugger.com, offer unique, insightful and inspiring content related to how we can evolve to live a better, brighter future.  Planet Green’s original programming, digital tools and content will entertain, educate and activate.

About Windspire Energy

Windspire Energy, Inc. (formerly Mariah Power, Inc.) is the developer of the innovative Windspire wind turbines.  Made in the USA, Windspires are designed for use in urban, suburban, and rural settings.   The propeller-free, vertical-axis design enables silent operation and features patented technology that maximizes energy conversion from wind into electric power, regardless of changing wind speed and direction.  The Windspire has been featured in The New York Times, Fortune, Popular Science, and on “20/20”, CNN and NPR. For more information, visit www.WindspireEnergy.com.

Reno, NV (November 15, 2010)- Mt. Rose- Ski Tahoe unveils its newest energy source – the Windspire® (http://www.windspireenergy.com)  wind turbine! The three 33-foot tall turbines were installed on the north side of its Winters Creek Lodge. The turbines will help offset the lighting costs for the new Winters Creek Lodge during the upcoming season.
“Mt. Rose- Ski Tahoe is a large advocate for using the Earth’s natural resources in its daily activities” said Ron Cox, Director of Sales at Windspire Energy. “We are excited that the Windspire will now be a part of their efforts to move more towards environmental sustainability and stewardship.”

Considered a relatively small wind turbine, the Windspire provides a low-cost, safe and energy efficient method for harnessing power from the wind. It produces approximately 2000 kilowatt hours per year in 12 mph average winds. This is approximately one-third to one –fifth of the energy usage of an average U.S. Home for an entire year.

Becoming a sustainable ski resort is an effort that Mt. Rose- Ski Tahoe has been making for the past decade. According to a statement by General Manager, Paul Senft, “Mt Rose- Ski Tahoe continues its dedication toward maintaining a sound and successful environmental policy that will both sustain and strengthen its precious natural resources.” Some of their initiatives include restoring native vegetation, a recycling and waste reduction program and transportation initiatives that decrease air pollution. To learn more about how you can Mt. Rose- Ski Tahoe’s initiative to “Go Green” log on to http://www.mtrose.com/on-the-mountain/green-rose and read “Sustainable Slopes.”

About Mt. Rose- Ski Tahoe

Mt. Rose is Tahoe’s closest skiing to Reno, located 25 minutes away from Reno and 15 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Mt. Rose boasts over 1200 acres of terrain, including the 200+ acre Chutes, and the new Winters Creek Lodge.
About Windspire Energy

Windspire Energy, Inc. (formerly Mariah Power, Inc.) is the developer of the innovative Windspire wind turbines.  Made in the USA, Windspires are designed for use in urban, suburban, and rural settings.   The propeller-free, vertical-axis design enables silent operation and features patented technology that maximizes energy conversion from wind into electric power, regardless of changing wind speed and direction.  The Windspire has been featured in The New York Times, Fortune, Popular Science, and on “20/20”, CNN and NPR. For more information, visit www.WindspireEnergy.com.

Berwyn, Illinois — November 22, 2010— Cermak Plaza has joined the green revolution by adding 12 new wind turbines in the parking lot located at Harlem Avenue and Cermak Road.

“Cermak Plaza has long provided public art for its patrons and the neighborhood to enjoy. When I saw the elegant wind spire turbines – it clicked, we could generate electricity while at the same time keeping true to the David W. Bermant (Cermak Plaza’s original developer – 1957) philosophy of ‘Color, Light and Motion’,” states Michael Flight of Concordia Realty Corporation (the principal developer for Cermak Plaza Associates LLC), “The interplay of light bouncing off the rapidly spinning turbines really adds to our $10 million renovation. And the really fantastic thing is they will also reduce our common area energy costs. It really is a homerun!”

“Cermak Plaza has always enjoyed a rich history of breaking the mold and providing more than an average shopping experience,” Robert J. Lovero, Mayor of the city of Berwyn, announced, “The use of green energy continues their innovative pursuits. The City of Berwyn encourages their pursuit of sustainable development.”

“We are thrilled too that we were chosen to install the new turbines and help promote our green initiative,” said Bernie Schmidt, CEO of Renewable Energy Alternatives, located in Northbrook, IL. “It’s exciting to see that going green is no longer just a fad but rather something that Chicago and it’s surrounding areas are embracing and moving forward with such as the Cermak Plaza has done this year. With a variety of both State and Federal incentives currently available for new customers, our energy specialist are able to assist each client in making sure that they receive the maximum incentives available to them” states Mr. Schmidt.

The 12 new turbines, manufactured by Windspire Energy, will produce an approximate total between 18,000-24,000 kilowatts of electricity per year. They work best where average winds are 11 mph. Unlike the traditional wind turbines, the unique monopole vertical-axis is a result of years of research, plus a creative strategy to turn renewable energy into an everyday realtiy.

About Renewable Energy Alternatives LLC
Renewable Energy Alternatives LLC is the Midwest’s largest and most experienced Windspire installer. We perform wind and site evaluations, design the projects and perform the installations and commissioning. Our innovative engineering team can design custom and standard Windspire installation for residential and commercial. Our in house financial team will calculate electricity cost savings and payback information as well as procure all available grants for our clients. Bernie Schmidt, BSCE our founder and CEO has been featured on several local TV news spots for his innovative Zero Energy Homes in Chicago, found on You tube under “Solar Verde”. Or you can go tour website at www.renewableenergyalt.com for more information.

About Windspire Energy
Windspire Energy, Inc. is the developer of the innovative Windspire wind turbines. Made in the USA, Windspires are designed for use in urban, suburban, and rural settings. The propeller-free, vertical-axis design enables silent operation and features patented technology that maximizes energy conversion from wind into electric power, regardless of changing wind speed and direction. The Windspire has been featured in The New York Times, Fortune, Popular Science, and on “20/20”, CNN and NPR. For more information, visit www.WindspireEnergy.com.

Windspire installed at Universal Academy in Irving, TX

In partnership with Green Education Alliance (GEA), Concept Renewable, LLC recently installed a Windspire vertical axis wind turbine at Universal Academy in Irving, Texas (UA Irving).

This turbine will be connected to the grid, reducing the school’s electricity demands. Concept Renewable will also supply a computed-based real time montoring system, that will log hourly, daily, and monthly electricity production.

Learn more about this installation.

To date, we have no reported bird incidents with the Windspire wind turbine, and actually have one story of a bird who built a nest below the generator housing.  We believe the slow speed in which the Windspire turbine’s blades spin in comparison to the wind speed, also known as Tip Speed Ratio, allows birds to see the blades so they can fly clear of them.  We don’t have a specific bird safety study to cite, but we think this picture says a whole lot (maybe even 1000 words) on the subject.

A car wash in Oklahoma that recently installed a Windspire wind turbine

Last week the US Treasury and Energy departments made a major announcement regarding incentives for businesses that install renewable energy, including Windspire wind turbines.  $3Billion dollars will now be made immediately available to reimburse businesses, which is a change from the former tax credit model.  Treasury will pay reimbursements within 60 days of receiving an application if the project is complete. If the project is not complete, Treasury will pay within 60 days of completion.  This will make installing Windspire wind turbines even more affordable.

The Windspire is included in the program based on this definition:

Qualified small wind energy property: Qualified small wind energy property is property that uses a qualifying small wind turbine to generate electricity. A qualifying small wind turbine is a wind turbine that has a nameplate capacity of not more than 100 kilowatts.

Here are some excerpts from the press release posted on the Department of Energy EERE News website.  According to Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner the direct payments are available for both large and small companies. The major change in the program is that businesses will forgo tax credits in favor of immediate reimbursement.

As part of an innovative partnership aimed at increasing economic development in urban and rural areas while setting our nation on the path to energy independence, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy today announced an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects around the country and made available the guidance businesses will need to submit a successful application. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 biomass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities.

The Recovery Act authorized Treasury to make direct payments to companies that create and place in service renewable energy facilities beginning January 1, 2009. Previously, these companies could file for a tax credit to cover a portion of the renewable energy project’s cost; under the new program, applicants would agree to forgo tax credits down the line in favor of an immediate reimbursement of a portion of the property expense. This direct payment program allows for an immediate stimulus in local economies.

They are not yet accepting applications, but there is a website available with more information http://www.treas.gov/recovery/1603.shtml.

Here are links to a guidance document and a sample application:

Guidance document

Sample application

Raising the first red Windspire in Reno, NV

Recently, we celebrated the launch of a new green building company in Reno, Nevada with the raising of a Windspire at the home of the new company’s owner.  Better Building Company will perform energy audits for homeowners to help them understand what they can do to make their homes more efficient.  Their team of contractors will make changes to the home and will also be installing Windspires for customers who have a good location with adequate wind that want to use wind power to generate clean energy.  With over 50 people in attendance, we raised the Windspire- custom painted in RED! A representative from the local power company, NV Energy, was on hand to talk about the $3000 rebate the owners will receive once the Windspire is hooked up to their net meter.  With bright sun and a strong 15-18mph wind blowing during the event, it was a great day to celebrate renewable energy.