Columbus CEO Magazine Article on Renewable Energy

Columbus CEO Magazine recently did a feature article on renewable energy in Central Ohio.  Tipping Point CEO Eric Zimmer was quoted several times throughout the article, including this nugget:

The bigger challenge: "We have very low [conventional] power costs here," lessening the incentive to seek other sources, says Eric Zimmer, CEO of Dublin-based Tipping Point Renewable Energy.

Cost also hampers adoption: Not everyone can afford a solar array. Third-party agreements are a popular option, especially for entities such as school districts and government that may lack the upfront capital and don't get the tax benefits to make renewable projects affordable. Under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), a developer pays to purchase, operate and maintain the system on property owned by a business, school or government. The host typically agrees to buy the system's energy output, generally at a discount over conventional utilities. Tax credits and RECs may be used by the developer to defray the system's cost.

Zimmer says government and schools are particularly well-suited to participation in PPAs. "They plan long term, they know the buildings are going to be there for the long term, they have good credit," he says.

Check out the full article for a really well-done summary of where we stand now.

SW Licking School District and Tipping Point Working on Solar Installation

Tipping Point Renewable Energy and the Southwest Licking School District recently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a solar energy installation at Watkins Memorial High School.

The Newark Advocate wrote an excellent story covering the potential benefits and protections built into the agreement for the District:

If the district follows through on the proposal, it could save at least $10,000 a year in electric costs at the high school, Treasurer Richard Jones said.

"Every little bit helps," Jones said, adding the $10,000 figure could balloon to $30,000 or more in annual savings, depending on the price of electricity.

Said school board member Roger Zeune: "This is the future -- alternative energy."

Read the full story in the Newark Advocate.

Pickerington and Tipping Point Working on Solar Deal

Despite the expiration of the Ohio Advanced Energy Fund at the end of 2010, Tipping Point Renewable Energy and the City of Pickerington continue to work toward a project that could save the City a considerable amount of money.

Harnessing the power of the sun to provide "clean" energy to the Pickerington Water Plant on Diley Road could save the city up to $20,000 in its first year of operation if the state-of-the art technology makes it off the drawing board.

Pickerington City Manager Bill Vance is exploring the "public-private partnership" with Tipping Point Renewable Energy, a Dublin project developer, who currently has other solar contracts with the city of Columbus, Upper Arlington and Dublin.

Click here for the full story in the Pickerington Times-Sun.

Update on the City of Dublin Service Center

The City of Dublin posted an update on their plans to use Tipping Point Renewable Energy to install a 100kwe solar photovoltaic installation on the roof of their Service Center.

City Council approved the City moving forward with the application process in a unanimous vote on Aug. 9. These installations - scheduled for this fall at the Service Center and in the spring at the Recreation Center - are a positive step toward achieving Council’s goals of reducing energy costs and implementing sustainable building practices, and of educating the community about green living.

Read the whole story here.