Even as the city of Boston announces plans to ease regulations in order to expand urban use of wind turbines, as reported today in the Herald, a school north of the city is beginning to plan one of the biggest alternative energy installations in the state.

Triton Regional High School in Byfield is considering a deal with a Colorado based company, Eye-On Energy, Ltd. to install 2,600 solar panels on the school’s roofs.
The approximately $4 million cost would be paid up front by EyeOn Energy which would then sell the power back to the school. According to the Newburyport Daily News , preliminary figures would have Triton paying about 14 cents per kilowatt hour in the first year, increasing 4% annually after that. EyeOn Energy has given the school district a window of about 10 days to close on the deal in order to take advantage of federal energy incentives which are due to expire in December. School officials are set to meet today to discuss the feasibility of moving ahead on such a large project so quickly.
Eye-On energy has also proposed a solar installation at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis , Minnesota.

The proposed installation at Triton is notable for its scale, which would be one of the largest in the state. But it also represents a good example of one of the business models in the alternative energy market making an appearance here. So called, third party arrangements, or power purchase agreements, PPAs, work through a contract negotiated to allow outside company come in to develop a solar array on an existing building. The developer pays the upfront cost of the solar equipment and installation and strikes a deal to sell the power to user at the site. This development structure is being used to build out solar installations on big box stores across the country, notably Wal Mart, but it has not had been prevalent here in Massachusetts.

PPAs are something schools, businesses and local governments may be seeing more of, said Phil Giudice, Commissioner of the Department of Energy Resources for the state.

“This is a market innovation to simplify the way people can get solar power up and running,” Giudice said. As an option, PPAs increase the viability of solar development by shifting the upfront costs to a third party.

The benefit to a developer like Eye-On Energy are: numerous state and federal tax credits, a set contract to sell the power the host user, and the ability to sell excess renewable energy on the grid.

Think of project at Triton. The school would be buying nearly all of the power generated by the solar array during the school year. During July and August, however, when school is out and consumption at the building is lowest, the array would generating its maximum capacity and that electricity could be sold on the grid.
Giudice said PPAs will likely have a larger and larger role in the state’s alternative energy development. They are part of Governor Patrick’s Commonwealth Solar program. Additionally, he said the state’s schools will increasingly be identified as options for energy development. How many square feet, or acres, are there on the state’s school? No idea, said Guidice, but there are “Megawatts and megawatts of potential.”

From the no global warming desk, an AP report in the Herald today discusses Coast Guard steps to open new far north outposts in the Arctic to provide support for newly navigable waters. “We have to prepare for the world coming to the Arctic,” said Rear Adm. Gene Brooks, commander of the Coast Guard’s Alaska district.

Power when the heat is on

Newton-based GMZ energy looks to generate electricity from waste heat lost up smoke stacks and in other places where heat is a by-product. The start-up, which was founded by researchers from Boston College and MIT, uses nanotechnology in a chip that creates an electric current when exposed to heat. via CNet

Fire up the diesel
The LA Times Rumbling seat blog reports that sales of Volkswagen’s 2009 clean diesels have begun. This marks a return of Volkswagen diesels to this country after two years of no sales due to environmental regulations. During that time, the US has switched its diesel fuel to a new low-sulfur grade at the pump and Volkswagen has developed a new engine technology to reduce exhaust gases.

Green gauntlet
NY mayor and Medford native Michael Bloomberg announced a plan to generate power with wind turbines on the city’s buildings, bridges and waterways. Bloomberg made the proposal at the National Clean Energy Summit , in Las Vegas, which also hosted the news announcement that Google would be making a $10M investment in geothermal energy
That got the attention in Boston of Mayor Thomas Menino who weighed in on behalf of Hub clean energy efforts, including plans to build windmills at four city schools and install $1 million of solar panels on city buildings.

Bloomberg’s proposal has been received some derision, as creative types everywhere have endeavored to photoshop windturbines on landmarks across the Big Apple, as I did here. Others have said it’s a great idea, but he is near the end of his term, making it a near political impossibility.
But the key in making progress is not trying to reach the finish line with just one step. There is something worth exploring in small-scale energy projects in urban settings. MassPort has a small-scale wind project up and running at Logan airport - 20 turbines, about 90 pounds apiece - on Logan’s office building. It doesn’t cover the building’s entire power demand by a longshot. But it’s a start in the renewable direction.

Roof Ray launched last week which gives everyone the immediate ability to calculate their solar potential and start dreaming, or scheming, their own solar build out. Count yours truly as one such individual. I’ve already calculated two systems on this eminently easy to use website.

Green World caught notice of the launch on CNET’s GreenTech blog, but notice has been blazing through the environmental technology blogosphere since Wednesday.

Roof Ray is an ingenious mashup of Google Maps and a technical solar system calculator developed by founders Chris Bura and Jeff Moss .

Google Maps is used to locate an individual property. In my case, it was my home in Haverhill. Enter your address and a Google satellite image brings you into the neighborhood where you can zero in on your house. Then, using a cursor, you click out the roof area available for a solar array. Using another arrow you click to place the N-S-E-W orientation of your roof. It’s a very easy website to jump in and start using. No registration necessary unless you want to save your system plans.

From that point on, Roof Ray will calculate a solar system for your property, estimates power generation using national weather statistics for cloud cover, sunny days, temperature etc. You enter your monthly energy costs, and Roof Ray will generate a return on investment. In the case of my Haverhill home, which has about 500 sq. feet of south facing roof, Roof Ray sketched out a system 6.5 kWh system that would cost about $48,000 to install, about $35,000 after federal and state incentives. Way out of line for our humble condo association.

The second system I designed was a much smaller 3.5 kWh system, also facing south, in Byfield. That came out to $27,000 cost, $19,000 net after rebates, which broke even in about 20 years. Much more reasonable on a single family home.

In order to calculate rebates, Roof Ray uses information provided by DSIRE, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency. This provides federal information as well as state-by-state information.

Without a doubt, this is a ballpark calculator. How, for instance, would Roof Ray know about the looming black walnut trees in the backyard of my Haverhill home. And what effect would that have on the calculations. Also, the calculator sketched out a full-size system for the roof area I calculated. My interest, as a condo occupant of a four-unit building, would be more in line creating a solar system that could run our water heater from May to October so we could shut down the oil burner completely during those months of the year. No problem. On its calculations page, Roof Ray provides the ability to edit all fields and scale down the system you’re interested in developing.

Ultimately, anyone interested developing their own solar system will have to do their homework and likely work with a designer.

Roof Ray gets the ball rolling. It’s a great example of putting green technology in people’s hands, and minds, and reducing the distance between an idea, a plan and an actuality. It’s also an awesome website that makes use of Web resources, public information and the ingenuity of the developers behind it.

It’s been a while since I started blogging and it’s been fun, but I find I just don’t have as much time to put into doing a decent blog post as I would like and you can only get away with that for so long and now with new projects I am just getting even busier so I will have to let this me my last blog posting. Unfortunately, many wonderful people have sent me fantastic nature and ‘green living’ items which I just never got around to blogging about and which I regret. But I want to thank everyone who gets out and enjoys nature throughout the region and when traveling, because that helps support the many organizations dedicated to protecting the environment. I also hope the seemingly limitless ‘green’ developments going on in the world catch on to help maintain this beautiful planet - Keep reading BostonHerald.com for more on ‘green living’ and other environmental news.

For bird lovers, you may not know about the Wickham Park and Aviary in in Hartford, Connecticut, which is worth visiting if ever you are in that area. Here are some photos:

There’s plenty to do in the area this month. Check out some of the links below to the right for more ideas! Always check ahead for cost, other times, cancellations and directions.

Monday June 9 at 7 p.m.
Celebes Sea Research with Greg Stone
Location: Harborside Learning Lab at New England Aquarium in Boston

Early last fall, Greg Stone took part on an expedition to the Celebes Sea in Southeast Asia. Until recently, most of our knowledge of marine biodiversity in this area had from shallow water environments, leaving the deep sea almost entirely unexplored. This mission explored one of the most intriguing parts of the deep sea—the deep basin of the Celebes Sea south of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Greg will discuss his exploration of the Celebes Sea. The researchers used a combination of tools to penetrate and sample the depths. A remotely operated vehicle (ROV) took photographs and video and collected specimens down to 3,000 meters. Additional samples were collected with a mid-water trawl net or photographed with baited cameras. Fragile animals in surface waters were filmed and collected by SCUBA divers, with additional samples of zooplankton taken with plankton nets. Call Vickie Cataldo at 617-973-0235 or email vcataldo@neaq.org for more information. Click here to register.

Saturday, June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us for the 5th Annual Chelsea River Revel!
Meridian St. Bridge between East Boston and Chelsea

The 5th Annual Chelsea Creek River Revel, a community festival celebrating environmental justice in East Boston and Chelsea takes place Saturday, June 14th from 9:30-3 on the Meridian St. Bridge between East Boston and Chelsea. The event features a 5K Race, boat tours, kayaking, live music, and a rock climbing wall, and local organizations doing outreach and activities from Boston and Chelsea. Each year this event attracts hundreds of residents from the community and admission is free.

Saturday, June 14 at 9 a.m. to noon
Spring through Fall in the Gardens of the Stevens-Coolidge Place
Location: Stevens-Coolidge Place on Andover Street, North Andover

Dig in the dirt with this series of gardening and planting workdays and take home some fruits of your labor from the Fall Harvest in October! Fees: FREE. Call 978-682-3580 or e-mail: needucation@ttor.org for more information.

Saturday, June 14 at 9:30 a.m.
Roxbury in Bloom
Departs at Back Bay Station at 9:30 a.m and at Roxbury Heritage State Park at 10 a.m.

Our famous garden tour-check out Roxbury’’s gorgeous flower and vegetable gardens including a small farm!! $7-10. More information here.

Butterfly Landing to open June 14
One Franklin Park Road, Dorchester

At Butterfly Landing, guests have the unique opportunity to stroll through this tranquil environment filled with nearly 1,000 free-flight butterflies. This tented, outdoor exhibit also features several garden beds, a waterfall and pond, and soothing surround-sound music. This seasonal exhibit is free with paid admission to the zoo.

Thursday , June 19 at 7 p.m.
Cambridge Premiere of Abandoned in the Arctic DVD Screening
Science Center Hall B, One Oxford Street

This documentary tells the harrowing story of Adolphus Greely and his team of 24 men who set out in 1881 to build an arctic research station. What began as an ambitious expedition descended into a three-year journey of starvation, mutiny, and cannibalism, which only six men survived. The screening will be followed by a discussion with director Gino Del Guercio, executive producer Geoffrey Clark, and James Shedd, great-great-grandson of Adolphus Greeley. Free and open to the public at Science Center Hall B, One Oxford Street.

Thursday, June 19 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Marsh Family Cruise
Orleans, Nauset Marsh (sponsored by Wellfleet Bay MassAudubon at 291 State Highway, Route 6

Take the family (children 3-12 years old) on a fun-filled afternoon cruise through Nauset Marsh aboard a pontoon boat. Along the way we’ll stop to pull up an eel pot and check out what crabs and other animals have crawled inside. We’ll also get off the boat and explore the tidal flats for crabs and snails, as well as dig for clams and sea worms. Explore a barrier beach, see the power of the waves, and stroll the tide line in search of shells. What a fun way to spend a day with your family! Maximum group size: 15 people. Fee: Adults $35.00 m/ $40.00 nm, Children $25.00 m/ $30.00 nm

Sunday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Canoe the Neponset
Signal Hill in Canton

Bring your family and experience the beauty of nature while enjoying a relaxing paddle on the river. Canoe rentals available. Call 781.821.2996 or Blue Hill Adventures at 781.326.0079 for details.Telephone: 781-821-2996 or E-mail: seregion@ttor.org. Directions here.

Saturday, June 28 from 9 a.m. to noon
Land Ho! Tour the Wildlands of Worcester
Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester

Geared for adults Fee: Adults $9.00 m/ $12.00 nm

Herald photo above by Jess Gatley: Sam Emenger of South Boston spends a beautiful afternoon at Castle Island throwing a frisbee for her dog, Josey, recently.