PV Workshops Around the US

SEI has more PV workshops than ever before in 2006. Upcoming workshops are being held in California, Arizona, Texas, New York and Utah. Check them out at www.solarenergy.org

Also, SEI's Maryland affiliate, the Green Building Institute, is offering several spring workshops. Click here for info.

Appropriate Technology Workshop in Mexico

SEI is teaching a spanish/english bilingual workshop on Appropriate Technology for the Developing World, March 13 - 16. This workshop is being held in Mexico City in conjunction with the International Renewable Resources Institute. Learn about solar hot water, biodigestors and biogas, manual pumps, ecological water treatment, and solar, wind, and water power.

For more information click here.

The workshop proceeds the World Water Forum, being held in Mexico City March 16 - 22. The forum aims to raise awareness of water issues all over the world.

Whole Foods and Walgreens Going Green

Whole Foods Market is now going greener. 100% of the company's electricity used in all of its stores, facilities, bake houses, distribution centers, regional offices and national headquarters in the U.S. and Canada will be supplied by the purchase of wind energy credits. The natural and organic foods supermarket claims it is the only Fortune 500 Company to date to do so. As of December 9, 2005, Whole Foods Market purchased more than 458,000 MWh of renewable energy credits from wind farms. This purchase will avoid more than 700 million pounds of CO2 pollution this year. To have the same environmental impact, more than 60,000 cars would have to be taken off the road or more than 90,000 acres of trees would have to be planted.

Furthermore, Walgreens and ImaginIt Inc., a Denver-based clean-energy solutions company, have agreed to install solar electric systems in 96 stores and two distribution centers in California and 16 stores in New Jersey. The new systems will generate more than 13.8 million kWhs per year, which according to the companies would make this the largest solar project ever completed in the United States.

Permaculture at SEI!

The Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute (CRMPI) will be holding its 20th annual permaculture design course this August. Participants in the course will be using SEI's new property in Paonia, Colorado for their design exercise. Permaculture is an approach to land-use design that integrates plants, animals, landscapes, structures, and humans into permanent systems. Anyone insterested in permaculture and helping design SEI's landscaping at our new facility is encouraged to visit CRMPI's website or call 970-927-4158.

Help Protect Shoshone Lands

In 2005, SEI provided hands-on solar PV training for the Western Shoshone in Nevada. The Western Shoshone have long maintained that the US government is violating their rights to ancestral lands — rights that had been recognized as belonging to this Native American Nation by the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. The government has allowed gold mining and military testing of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons; all on Western Shoshone lands without their consent. Denied fair resolution in US courts, the Western Shoshone have appealed to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

The Western Shoshone have launched a nationwide petition calling CERD to act immediately to address the human rights violations the Western Shoshone have long endured. You can help support the Western Shoshone by signing the petition on Oxfam America's website.

For more information on the Western Shoshone struggle visit the Western Shoshone Defense Project website.

Your Generosity Ensures our Success!

SEI would like to welcome our new members! As a membership-based non-profit, SEI's members are the heart of our organization and allow us to continue our educational programs. SEI Staff are passionate about the work that we do and membership dues help sustain our renewable energy endeavors.

Please join us! Membership benefits include (depending on membership level) a one year subscription to either Home Power magazine or E magazine, the Renewable Energy Handbook for Homeowners, an organic cotton/hemp SEI t-shirt, an SEI bumpersticker, and more!

Click here for details on how to become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!