Category Archives: Green Government Podcast Series

Green Government Podcast Episode 22: A Focus on Renewable Energy with the President of ACORE

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Interview with Retired Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn,
President, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)

Green Government Podcast

To listen to the podcast, visit: http://www.ceileadership.org

In Episode 22 of the Green Government Podcast we with Retired VIce Admiral Dennis V. McGin,, the president of ACORE, about renewable energy, renewable energy in the military, and how the U.S. government can work toward a more renewable future. Admiral McGinn served 35 years with the U.S. Navy in a range of capacities, most recently with the Navy was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs at the Pentagon, where he oversaw the development of future U.S. Navy capabilities.

“I hope that everyone that works in this field in the federal government really feels good about what they are doing,” said Admiral McGinn. “This is all about the future. This is creating an energy technology and an energy economy that is fit for the 21st century.”

More About Today’s Guest

dennis_mcginn

Retired Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn, President, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), is joining us today. Admiral McGinn served 35 years with the U.S. Navy in a range of capacities, most recently with the Navy was Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Requirements and Programs at the Pentagon, where he oversaw the development of future U.S. Navy capabilities.

In a previous role, Admiral McGinn commanded the U.S. Third Fleet, responsible for some 50 million square miles of the eastern and northern Pacific Ocean. As Third Fleet Commander, he was recognized for leading great advances in operational innovation, rapid prototyping of sea-based information technology, and international naval force experimentation and coordination.

Admiral McGinn is actively engaged in efforts at the national level to highlight the close link between energy, climate and national security. He is a strong advocate for innovative government policy, public and private partnerships, and investments that will promote clean energy growth and innovation. He has testified before the U.S. Congress on the national and economic security implications of climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels, highlighting the need for action on clean energy.

Top Resources from the Podcast

We’ve compiled a list of key links and resources referenced in this most recent podcast:

CEIL is the sponsor of GOVgreen Conference and Exposition (November 30 – December 1, 2011, Washington Convention Center) is the one event where government stakeholders connect to learn how to transform green policies into actionable plans and programs in order to achieve the interrelated goals of sustainability in energy, water/wastewater, facilities and transportation. Tracks for 2011 are Procurement, Contracting and Financing; Workplace and Workforce; Policies, Planning and Implementation and Measuring, Tracking and Reporting. GOVgreen’s conference program open to all and free to government and military professionals. The exhibit floor is free to all.

About CEIL
Inform. Educate. Enable.
The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL) is an independent organization designed to facilitate information and education exchange among government stakeholders charged with identifying, specifying, and buying green goods and services and with the vendors, contractors, and consultants that provide green goods and services. CEIL provides an interactive environment for government and industry professionals engaged in green activities that includes educational events, website, podcasts, webcasts, news and a social media. Learn more about CEIL at www.CEILeadership.org.

 

Green Government Podcast, Episode 21: A Focus on Water and Water Infrastructure with G. Tracy Mehan of the Cadmus Group

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Green Government PodcastInterview with G. Tracy Mehan,
Principal, The Cadmus Group, Inc.

To listen to the podcast, visit: http://www.ceileadership.org

In Episode 21 of the Green Government Podcast we talk water, wastewater and the role of water in green infrastrucutre and urban planning with Tracy  Mehan of the Cadmus Group. Tracy has been involved in the regulation of  wastewater and drinking water infrastructure for decades, and he is  currently leading the Cadmus Group in advising clients on water–related  issues, including the Safe Water Drinking Act and Clean Water Act. Tracy  is also a former Assistant Administrator for Water at the U.S. EPA.

“I  think the sale still has to be made,” said Mehan when asked about the  comfort level of traditional builders in using green water strategies in  their infrastructure projects.  “I think as we’re seeing more and more  communities — Portland, Cincinati, Philadelphia — where the engineers,  regulators and the attorneys are getting comfortable with it. I think  it’s going to get better and better, and see this become a more broadly  used approach.”

More About Today’s Guest

Tracy Mehan Green Government Podcast

G. Tracy Mehan III is a principal in the Drinking  Water and Water Quality Group and an expert in the implementation of the  Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and Clean Water Act (CWA). He joined Cadmus in 2004. As the assistant administrator for water at the U.S.  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 2001 to 2003, Mr. Mehan  directed the SDWA and CWA programs, including permitting, wetlands  regulation, and standards. He developed new policies and guidance on  watershed-based permitting and water quality trading. And he expanded  ambient water quality monitoring and innovative approaches to address  the shortfall in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure  investments.

Mr. Mehan was director of the Michigan Office of the  Great Lakes from 1993 to 2001 and director of the Missouri Department of  Natural Resources from 1989 to 1992. He served briefly as associate  deputy administrator of EPA in 1992. Mr. Mehan contributes to a variety  of professional and general interest publications, and he often makes  presentations on environmental issues.

G. Tracy Mehan is a  graduate of Saint Louis University and its law school. He is an adjunct  professor in environmental law at George Mason University School of Law  and a member of the Water Environment Federation and the Environmental  Law Institute. And he is a member of the Water Science and Technology  Board for the National Academies’ National Research Council. Mr. Mehan  received the 2004 Environment Award from the Association of Metropolitan  Sewerage Agencies and the 2003 Elizabeth Jester Fellows Environmental  Partnership Award from the Association of State & Interstate Water  Pollution Control Administrators.

Top Resources from the Podcast

We’ve compiled a list of key links and resources referenced in this most recent podcast:

About CEIL

The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (CEIL) is an independent organization designed to facilitate information and education exchange among government professionals charged with identifying, specifying, and buying green goods and services and with the vendors, contractors, and consultants that provide green goods and services.  CEIL provides an interactive environment for government and industry professionals engaged in green activities that includes educational events, website, podcasts, webcasts, news and a social media.  Learn more at www.CEILeadership.org.

CEIL is the sponsor of GOVgreen Conference and Exposition (November 30 – December 1, 2011, Washington Convention Center) which offers educational tracks on facilities, energy, transportation and conservation and an exhibit floor of companies that provide green products and services to the government.  GOVgreen’s conference program is free to government and military professionals.    Learn more about CEIL at www.GOVgreen.org.

Federal Sustainability Podcast: Grid Friendly Charger Controller for Electric Vehicles

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Interview with Peter Christensen,
Commercialization Manager at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Green Government PodcastWelcome back to another edition of CEIL’s Federal Sustainability and Green Government Podcast. In our latest episode, we chat with Peter Christensen, Commercialization Manager at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Peter is an electrical power systems engineer by training and worked for many years as a systems protection and control engineer for a regional utility. In his position with PNNL he looks at how to partner with industry to develop new technology in the energy sector. We talk with Peter about PNNL’s recently patented Grid Friendly Charger Controller for electric vehicles.

More About Today’s Guest

peter_christensenPeter Christensen is an electrical power systems engineer by training and worked for many years as a system protection and control engineer for a regional utility. In addition to designing protection and control schemes for generation, transmission, and distribution systems, he also performed a large number of interconnection studies for distributed independent power producers. After earning a law degree, Peter then worked for an energy consulting company where he helped large industrial users prepare for and take advantage of the increasingly complex and changing electrical power markets during the mid to late 1990’s. During that time, Peter became well known as a national expert on competitive power markets.

Recognizing the value of distributed generation in a restructured market, Peter then went to work for a leading PEM fuel cell developer as its VP of engineering and intellectual property. Eventually, this experience led him to his new position with PNNL where he looks at how to partner with industry to develop new technology in the energy sector.

Electric vehicle owners can plug in their cars and forget about them, knowing they’ll get the cheapest electricity available and won’t crash the grid – using a new technology called the Smart Charger Controller. Developed at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the controller automatically recharges electric vehicles during times of least cost to the consumer and lower demand for power. Widespread use of these devices could help advance a smart power grid.

Electric vehicles will ultimately reduce the nation’s dependency on oil. While the new vehicles will serve as an additional source of power demand, they also could contribute to an even “smarter” grid if equipped with controller technology.

If a million owners plug in their vehicles to recharge after work, it could cause a major strain on the grid,” said PNNL engineer Michael Kintner-Meyer. “The Smart Charger Controller could prevent those peaks in demand from plug-in vehicles and enable our existing grid to be used more evenly.”

That efficiency translates to a more stable grid and cheaper power.

“Using the device could save up to $150 a year for electric vehicle owners who pay based on when they charge their vehicle,” Kintner-Meyer said.

How it Works

Electric vehicles will become widely available starting in 2011. The current Administration supports a goal of one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. A previous PNNL study showed that America’s existing power grid could meet the needs of about 70 percent of all U.S. light-duty vehicles if battery charging was managed to avoid new peaks in electricity demand.

The Smart Charger Controller does just that. Owners program the controller to charge at a specific time of day or night or at a set price point. The controller uses a low-range wireless technology to communicate with the power grid and determine the best and cheapest time to recharge vehicles. By charging vehicles during off-peak times, the controller saves consumers money.

Previous PNNL studies with household appliances show that “smart” technologies also save the grid from brown-outs with little impact to the consumer. Grid Friendly™ technology inside the Smart Charger Controller senses stress conditions on the grid. When the grid says more power is needed, the controller can temporarily stop charging the vehicle until the stress subsides.

This instant reduction in charging load, multiplied on a large scale with many vehicles, could serve as a shock absorber for the grid. The technology would relieve load instantly and give grid operators time to bring new power generation sources on line to stabilize the grid – a process that usually takes several minutes.

To learn more about the Grid Friendly Charger Controller and other available technologies from PNNL, visit: http://availabletechnologies.pnnl.gov/default.aspx

At the EDTA 2011 Conference & Annual Meeting? Check out this technology at booth #635!

Welcome back to another edition of CEIL’s Federal Sustainability and Green Government Podcast. In our latest episode, we chat with Peter Christensen, Commercialization Manager at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Peter is an electrical power systems engineer by training and worked for" data-image="http://blog.ceileadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/GreenGovernmentPodcastIcon.jpg" data-site="Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership">