Alternative Energy Expo in Delta Friday, Saturday

Alternative Energy Expo in Delta Friday, Saturday


By Sharon Sullivan
ssullivan@gjfreepress.com
Grand Junction, CO Colorado

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Generating electricity with micro-hydro power, building a solar-powered “not-so-big” house, and creating heating and cooling solutions in your own backyard via geoexchange, are a few of the various workshops offered Friday and Saturday at the 2008 Alternative Energy Expo in Delta.

Twenty-six exhibitors from around the state, and 11 alternative energy workshops — all free — will be featured at the energy expo to be held at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center. The expo opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. both days.

The event is being hosted by the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council — a Paonia-based organization that works primarily on environmental issues in Delta County. The group is being sponsored in part by the Delta-Montrose Electric Association who held a similar energy expo last year in Montrose.

Other workshops will include biofuels, wind power, capturing coal mine methane to create power, green building, energy efficiency, solar heating, and hybrid and electric vehicles.

People will be able to learn about what types of alternative energy would best suit their needs, said Barbara Silverman of WSERC.

“We’re not dealing with a lot of theory. We’re really trying to give people very practical information,” Silverman said.

The Grand Junction-based Atlasta Solar will be among the exhibitors at the energy expo.

Atlasta will be letting people know about Xcel energy rebates that make installing solar more affordable for both residential and commercial properties, said Andy Whipple, of Atlasta Solar.

Congress recently extended and removed the cap on tax credits for people who want to install solar power on their properties. The amount of credit residential property owners have been able to recoup has been capped at $2,000. Starting in January, homeowners will be able to enjoy the same level of tax credits as commercial properties.

“It’s huge,” Whipple said. “It’s going to be a boost for the industry. It’ll make it that much easier for the average guy to get into it and produce his own energy.”

“It’s the silver lining in the $700 billion bailout package,” Whipple said.

U.S. senators added the tax breaks for alternative energy to the bailout package to drum up support from constituents for the controversial plan, Whipple said.

“Amp Up Your Energy IQ” is the title of a presentation by Randy Udall to be given Friday at 7 p.m. at the Delta County Center for the Performing Arts, 822 Grand Ave.

Cost for this event is $20 for the general public, and $15 for WSERC members.

Randy Udall has directed the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE), a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy since 1994.

“He’s the energy guru,” Silverman said. He’s funny and he’ll definitely have a message about increasing our energy sources and decreasing our dependence on foreign oil.”

To see a schedule of the two days of free workshops visit www.wserc.org.

Pre-registration is not required to attend the event.