Alternative Fuels in Colorado

SEI held it's first Alternative Fuels workshop last month, and it was a huge success. Participants in the workshop learned about electric and human powered vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, biodiesel and more. Guest instructors included EV expert Carl Lawrence, hydrogen expert Cathy Gregoire Padro from NREL, Eric Gricus from the Fuel Cell store, Joshua Tickell, author of From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank, and other biodiesel advocates Charris Ford, Martin Stenflo and David Max. Charris also entertained the public with an evening presentation of his "eco-rap."

If you missed the workshop, there's still room available in SEI's Biodiesel workshop in Montana. For more information click here.

Photo: Participants in the workshop show off their homemade biodiesel

Natural Building Workshop and Colloquium in NM

This fall, SEI will be traveling to the heart of the Black Range mountains near Kingston, New Mexico to teach a Natural House Building workshop, and participate in the 2003 Natural Building Colloquium at the Black Range Lodge. The Black Range Lodge is a center for sustainable design, demonstration and outreach. Participants in SEI's workshop will be surrounded by inspiration and can focus on one natural building technique or explore them all. The five day workshop will be full of guest instructor presentation, experimentation, open discussion, and hands-on instuction. To learn more click here

Following SEI's workshop, the Black Range Lodge will host the 2003 Natural Building Colloquium. The Natural Building Colloquium is a gathering for those who share a concern for our earth, through creating sustainable shelter and empowering people to live within ! their personal and planetary means. For more information click here

Photo courtesy of Catherine Wanek, former editor and publisher of The Last Straw Journal and co-editor of The Art of Natural Building.

Sustainable Resources Conference to Host Amazing Keynotes

SEI Advisory Board memeber Neville Williams is one of the keynote speakers at the upcoming Sustainable Resources Conference in Boulder, Colorado (Oct. 1 - 4). Neville founded the Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO) to deliver PV power to households and businesses in developing countries where there is little or no access to the electric grid. Currently operating in India, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, SELCO has brought solar power and light to over 100,000 people. Prior to launching SELCO, Neville was founder and Executive Director of the Solar Electric Light Fund, the country's first non-profit organization devoted exclusively to bringing non-polluting, wireless solar electric power to rural areas of developing countries.

Other keynote speakers at the conference include Amory and Hunter Lovins, Paul Hawken, and Paolo Lugari from Gaviotas in Colombia. For more informat! ion about this exciting conference click here.

New Jersey Initiates Incredible Solar Incentives

New Jersey will soon have a $60 million package of initiatives to encourage both small and large business owners to install renewable energy equipment and make energy efficiency modifications. The intent will be to make $45 million available for long-term loans to encourage the development of large-scale renewable energy production that will feed directly into the grid; $10 million for low interest loans for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that will be below market rate to encourage businesses to install renewable energy by providing the up front capital costs; and $5 Million for an innovations fund to enable renewable energy companies to bring their products and technologies to market.

According to Lyle Rawlings, President of the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association, "New Jersey is in line to become the leader in solar energy installations and production in the U.S. with this package of incentives for bu! siness".

Sustainable Communities Symposium

High Country Citizens' Alliance holds its 5th annual Sustainable Communities Symposium in Crested Butte and Gunnison, September 19-21, 2003. SEI Advisory Board member Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute will be this year's Symposium keynote speaker; discussing "How to live on top of a watershed - in a mountain resort community". The goal of the Symposium is to share sustainable business practices across a wide spectrum of business sectors, showing that business can be successful while protecting the environment and the community. Workshop topics focus on sustainable practices in tourism, skiing, construction, farming, economic alternatives, community development, education, utilities, solar energy, finance, and consumer alternatives. The weekend includes tours of energy efficient and sustainable homes and businesses in the area.

For more information email gesa! @hccaonline.org

SEI Membership

Please join us! Become an SEI member and support our important work (and receive a free one year subscription to Home Power magazine.) Help us continue our programs educating and promoting renewable energy around the world. Click here for more details on how you can become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!