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UPDATE
A Local Organizing Committee has been formed for the
2009 American Solar Energy Society's national conference, SOLAR 09, in Buffalo,
May 11 - 16, 2009. The LOC will be responsible for planning the Public Days
as well as the tour for conference attendees. Volunteers will be needed and
an conference orientation
meeting is being planned. The LOC activities are being coordinated by Laurie
Dann, who did such an
excellent job of organizing Solar Splash, the international intercollegiate
solar/electric boat competition which was held in Delaware Park for five years in
a row - 2001 - 2005.
Trustee Elizabeth Nichols organized an outstanding 2007
Tour of Solar Homes and Green Buildings which included several popular sites:
SteelWinds wind farm in Lackawanna and Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House.
WNYSEA held a press conference at the Darwin Martin House to recognize their outstanding
leadership in installing a geothermal heating and cooling system in our national
landmark complex!
WNYSEAT members attended both the Northeast Sustainable
Energy Association conference in Boston in March, and the American Solar Energy Society's
national conference in San Diego in May 2008. Meetings were arranged with leaders
of their organizing committee. Earlier this year members of the Local
Organizing Committee traveled to Cleveland to meet with leaders of their organizing
committee for the 2007 ASES conference to learn what worked and what didn't work
at their conference.
WNYSEAT teamed up with the Industrial Heritage Committee
and the Buffalo Harbor Cruises to propose the illumination of the grain elevators
along the Industrial Heritage Trail, building on our 2001 demonstration project when
we lit the Connecting Terminal Grain Elevator with solar power for the Pan American
Exposition Centennial Celebration. Please see proposal below:
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cars.
In 1901 Buffalo celebrated the transmission of clean
renewable hydro power from Niagara Falls to Buffalo with a spectacular light show
by lighting the buildings of the Pan Am with tiny light bulbs. The City of Light
welcomed 8 million visitors from around the world who came to see this lighting extravaganza
In 2001 the Connecting Terminal grain elevator in the Buffalo
harbor was illuminated by clean renewable solar power to celebrate the centennial
of the 1901 Pan American Exposition. Huge undistorted images of the Pan
American Exposition were projected onto the grain elevator on summer weekend evenings
Today the possibility of illuminating all the
grain elevators along the industrial heritage trail again with renewable energy
is being explored. Buffalo can have as sensational a sound and light
show as the one taking place this summer in Quebec City where they will
celebrate the city's 400th birthday with 2000-foot-long grain silos serving
as projection screens for images of the city. (described in the New York Times Travel
Section on June 1, 2008.) .
The proposed renewable energy-powered Buffalo Industrial
Heritage Sound and Light Show would link two very important industrial eras of
our city. Imagine learning about the impact the Erie
Canal had on America and Buffalo at the new Erie Canal Harbor
exhibit, and learning about the role our grain elevators played in
Buffalo's industrial past and their role in the future economy of our region.
A Sound and Light Show would enhance the popular Industrial Heritage Boat Tour on
the Miss Buffalo and would be an exciting waterfront attraction. It would
tie in with the proposed Buffalo/Niagara Renewable Energy Demonstration Park Featuring
the Solar Powered Herschell Carrousel.
Demonstrating the use of cutting-edge clean-air technologies
to power the Sound and Light Show will enhance our image as a forward-looking
region by focusing on innovations in solar technology - catalysts for change.
We need to keep our region globally competitive in the transition from fossil fuels
to new clean air technologies by attracting renewable energy technologies businesses
and jobs.
There is some evidence that Buffalo may be on the verge
of a new life and can once again rise to its greatness of the past with development
related to renewable energy: increased ridership on hydro-powered light rail,
the decision to locate a new silicon plant in Niagara Falls, the installation of
geothermal heating and cooling at the Darwin Martin House, the installation of SteelWinds
in Lackawanna, solar installations on homes, and the increasing number of energy
efficient new buildings, and the interest in developing "green jobs"
The rising cost of energy is impacting every aspect of our lives - travel,
commerce, housing, driving, etc.
These developments contributed to the decision of the American
Solar Energy Society to bring its national conference to Buffalo in 2009. The
National Solar Conference is the oldest and most inclusive solar and renewable energy
conference held in the United States. Buffalo will be in the limelight while
the American Solar Energy Society explores the role of renewable energy in
addressing climate change, growing our economy, and reducing our carbon footprint.
The conference will have a significant impact on our economy and the continuing
development of renewable energy technologies in our region. |
The WNYSEAT takes two big steps forward!
We have officially become an affiliate of the Buffalo Museum of Science!
In discussions with Museum leaders we concluded that we share some of the
same goals and objectives, and we are excited about the opportunity to help add more
contemporary science and technology topics to their programs, and about the many
opportunities for us to reach the public through Museum exhibits, demonstrations,
publications, etc., especially those related to their rooftop solar array!
The WNYSEA has organized as a Trust and the IRS has determined that we are
tax exempt under section 501 (c) (3) and that contributions to the Trust are
now tax deductible!
Tour of Green Homes and Buildings
The Western New York Sustainable Energy Asociation's
kickoff event for the Tour of Green Homes and Buildings at The Church on Saturday,
October 7, 206, was a success!
Misha Hoffman accepted the WNYSEA award for Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records
for their installation of an energy-efficient geothermal heating and cooling system,
and she spoke about their commitment to making the Church an environmentally-friendly
building. The award saluted Righteous Babe Records for its leadership in utilizing
renewable energy technology in its beautiful renovation of The Church, thereby setting
an example for other building owners in the region.
We were so pleased that Asemblyman Robin Schiminger and County Legislator Cynthia
Locklear joined us for the presentation.
The eye-opening film, "The Maine Solar House," provided by owner Bill Lord,
was shown. The film answered the question most commonly asked around Buffalo: "can
solar work in cold climates?" (Please see the website at www.solarhouse.com)
Following the film, Architect Denis Andrejko spoke about design strategies to maximize
energy conservation, and described how older homes can be redesigned to take advantage
of solar exposures. He also described his own award-wining passive solar home in
Amherst.
Kevin Neumeier, VP of Ecology and Environmenta, whose building in Lancaster is not
only beautiful but energy efficient, gave an inspirational presentation about their
environmentally-friendly building features and programs.
Arnold Clubine, M/E Enginering, who designed the geo thermal system, made a helpful
and understandable presentation about the geothermal system.
Hallwalls, located at The Church, was the perfect setting for our program and we
thank Ed Caldoni, its Executive Director, for his help and cooperation. We look forward
to holding our December Speakers Series at Hallwalls.
We thank Cassie Wilson, volunteer extraordinair, who has stepped in to provide invaluable
leadership in many WNYSEA administrative, development and membership projects,
and whose creative ideas have helped move the organization forward. She played a
major role in moving WNYSEA into the recently-announced affiliate relationship
with the Buffalo Museum of Science.
We also want to thank Chuck Lachiusa, our wonderful webmaster, for taking such good
care of our website! We are so fortunate to have a community leader with
such a commitment to the quality of life in our region help us get our message
out through the attractive website he has created for us.
Thanks to the hard work of citizen Bill Henry, a solar advocate, the state real property
tax exemption for the installation of renewable energy technologies (solar, wind,
etc.)_ was reinstated this year. According to Bill, the legislation was passed unanimously
and signed by the Governor in July 2006.
SOLAR SPLASH, which was hosted by Buffalo for five years in a row (2001 - 2005) moved
to Fayettevile, Arkansas, University of Arkansas, in June 2006 where it will
be again in 2007. Many who participated in Solar Splash in Buffalo including organizer
Laurie Dann, helped organize the event in Arkansas!
"Buffalo/Niagara Renewable Energy Playground and Learning
Park -
Featuring the Solar-Powered Carrousel"
Planning is underway for meetings with the Mayor and city leaders to discuss our
need for an acre of waterfront land with full sun exposure and accessibility to light
rail and bicycle paths.
Please call 881 1639 if you would like to volunteer for this exciting project.
!In the meantime, partners in this exciting project, WNYSEA, UB School
of Architecture, and Herschell Carrousel Museum, are progressing on plans for
the carrousel on the waterfront to showcase the use of solar energy as well
as offer recreation to families and tourists. The carrousel, a 1904 Herschell
Museum factory mechanism which is one of the largest ever made with four rows of
animal figures, has been donated by the Herschell Museum in NOrth Tonawanda.
The figures can be changed to historical characters which reflect the heritage of
our region.
Architect Steven Strong, who put solar panels on the White House complex, will
donate his services to make the carrousel run on solar power. Whenever there
is no sunshine, it will run for a few days on stored energy, and it will be glass-enclosed
in the event of inclement weather. Small onsite windmills will provide the
power for l.e.d. lighting. If more power is needed, a connection to the grid
will bring it from off-site windmills.
The carrousel and learning park will illustrate how energy from the sun and wind
can provide electricity with clean-air technology. Solar features in the playground
might include a solar-powered robot, lighting, fountains, and perhaps a solar-powered
ice cream cart. The goal is for visitors to have fun and learn at the same
time, while adding to waterfront attractions and promoting our region. All
that is needed is the acre of land!
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