green energy

As going "green" is becoming more popular, REALTORS have followed that trend to keep pace with the ever-changing needs of home buyers and sellers.  Agents can get training through the "EcoBroker" program or utilize the National Association of REALTORS'  educational track to obtain a "Green" designation. NAR introduced this program in 2008. In addition to the multitude of services an agent already provides, the additional designation helps them point sellers and buyers to tax credits and energy-efficient mortgages, a mortgage that credits a house’s efficiency in the loan.

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County officials in Tazewell recently meet to discuss how the windmills could be taxed to help them make their decision on welcoming windmills into the county.

Bringing windmills to Tazewell could benefit homeowners by providing a new energy source, but also an opportunity for jobs.

Hopefully Dominion/BP Wind Energy, county officials and residents can work together for a solution.

"A key question about the financial impact of windmills on the county’s finances was answered at the Dec. 10 meeting of the planning commission.

Supervisor Seth White, who also serves on the planning commission, distributed a letter from Dominion\BP Wind Energy outlaying how the windmills could be taxed. The letter was signed by Emil Avram, director of business development for Dominion and Jim Madden business developer for BP Wind Energy.

The letter summarized the company’s view of the state and county tax code as they applied to the asset valuation process and the applicable tax rates associated with the assets.

White said the company made some major assumptions because wind farms were new to the state and there was no precedent to go on. The letter stated the company planned to depreciate the windmills over a 25 year period and said the State Corporation Commission assesses electric generating equipment in January of each year.

The company used the example of a 60 megawatt Wind Farm that cost $120 million to build. They classified roads and buildings, substations and transmission lines and the foundations and towers as real property and estimated the value at $40 million.

The collection system, Nacelles and Blades and transportation\delivery costs would be classified tangible personal property and valued at $80 million.  They said the SCC’s tax division would ultimately decide the useful life of the personal property but 20-25 years was the most common for that type of equipment.

In the analysis the company used straight line depreciation with a ceiling of 90 percent of the initial fair market value and a floor of 25 percent. They attached a copy of the state code outlining how electric generating facilities are treated for tax purposes."

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Going green could help farmers in rural areas like Soutside, according to GoDanRiver.com.

Last week officials from the VA Commission on Energy & Environment met in Gretna to learn about the area's green and energy initiatives. One key point addressed in the meeting is how these initiatives can help farming communities.

This is an important topic for all homeowners in farming communities because there are key legislative changes that would have to be made to make these efforts able to have a positive impact on the state's energy consumption and economy. It's important because it could lead to more affordable, renewable energy sources, but could also help farmers who support many of the state's rural communities.

"Generating renewable energy from local sources could help rural areas like Southside, business leaders told policymakers Thursday.

The Renewable Energy Subcommittee of the Virginia Commission on Energy and Environment met in Gretna on Thursday to learn about the area’s 'green' and energy initiatives, said subcommittee chairman and Delegate Charles Poindexter, R-9th District. The subcommittee will report back to the commission, which will later make recommendations on legislation for the upcoming session of the General Assembly.

Ken Moss of Piedmont BioProducts in Gretna told the subcommittee that second-generation biofuels, those using biomass like wood or grass, would bring prosperity to farming communities in Southern Virginia."

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Federal funding for energy projects could bring thousands of jobs to Virginia, according to the Lynchburg News Advance.

Virginia will receive over $16 million in federal stimulus funds that will help fund projects for producing clean power from wind and nuclear sources. If turbines were built off Virginia’s coast, 10,000 to 20,000 jobs could be created and they would stay in Virginia.

Homeowners can get excited about this news because it means more jobs for Virginia, which will increase home values by making the area more marketable. But, its also good news because these projects will help produce sustainable, affordable energy for residents.

"Virginia has excellent potential for producing clean power from wind and nuclear sources, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Thursday as he announced the state would receive $16.1 million in block grants of federal stimulus funds.

The funding total places Virginia third among the 11 states so far to receive stimulus funds under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program.

Virginia already has received $94 million to weatherize homes and $70 million for other energy-related programs through the stimulus package.

Chu sounded optimistic about Virginia’s energy stance during a conference call to announce the block grants.

'Virginia is a perfect example of having real economic opportunities in clean energy,' Chu said. 'The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech are at the forefront of clean-energy engineering,' he said.

In addition, 'Virginia is a national leader in nuclear power,' and one-third of the state’s electrical energy comes from nuclear power, he said.

'We are eager to restart the nuclear program in the United States and we look forward to Virginia being part of that,' Chu said.

'We are in the final negotiations' for the federal government’s $18.5 billion in loan guarantees for the first utility companies that build new reactors, Chu said, 'and I would personally like to see that loan guarantee program extended or renewed with additional money.'

The funds would help pay for new reactors such as one that Dominion Power hopes to build at North Anna. Areva in Lynchburg also is designing a reactor for a Maryland utility company, based on plants now under construction in Finland and France."

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A Lynchburg company is considering the possibility of developing wind power off the coast of Virginia, as reported by the Lynchburg News & Advance.

Initiatives like this could be great for Virginia by providing alternative energy and bringing new jobs to the Commonwealth. Homeowners should encourage government officials to work with businesses in pursuing this idea and making it a reality that will boost the state's economy and protect home values.

"A Lynchburg firm best known for its nuclear power plants just might be interested in developing wind power off the Virginia coast. That was the news last week from a meeting of Virginia’s Manufacturing Development Commission, which met at Areva’s offices on Old Forest Road.

The potential for a wind energy project off the coast could benefit the state in two ways. First, the wind farm would add to the state’s alternative sources of power generation, which would reduce the state’s and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. Second, it could generate as many as 8,000 manufacturing and construction jobs in the state.

Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, told the commission he wants to clear the way for offshore wind energy projects in the state. He presented a draft of a bill that would create a state agency to coordinate such offshore wind farms.

While Areva is far better known for manufacturing nuclear power plant components that span the world, the firm is keeping abreast of wind power developments as well. Kim Stein, Areva’s wind business development director, told the commission that Areva would like to build wind turbines in the state. He said that building and installing the structures could create at least 8,000 jobs in the state."

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