LOCAL ENERGY NEWS: Summer 2005
Santa Fe Community College To Use Local Fuels
This winter, while most of America is shelling out their hard-earned dollars to pay record prices for natural gas, the Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) will be keeping warm with renewable, locally produced biomass. On May 23, 2005, Santa Fe Community College's governing board officially approved Local Energy's proposal to add a high-efficiency, one megawatt (3.4 million BTU/hour) biomass boiler to their heating system. This new boiler will supply approximately 90 percent of the College's total heating demand, and will be housed in a newly built 800 square-foot building near the existing boiler room. Learn more about the SFCC Microgrid Project.
Monastery of Christ in the Desert Completes Solar Upgrade
Following our mission of helping communities become energy self-reliant, Local Energy Director Mark Sardella has been developing renewable heating and electricity systems for a new 10,000 square foot wing of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. 
With the completion of the new wing, the solar electricity at the monastery will be generated from several independent systems consisting of a total of 340 photovoltaic panels and having a generating capacity of 27.54 kW of power. The heating systems at the monastery consist of flat-plate solar collectors that absorb the sun's energy to heat water. The energy stored in the heated water is then used for space heating and domestic hot water. Learn more about this project
Local Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) Unveils Green Energy Upgrade at St. Elizabeth Shelter.
Local Energy and the Saint Elizabeth Shelter are proud to announce the dedication of the solar hot-water heating system recently installed at Sonrisa Apartments, an eight unit housing facility operated by the Shelter. The system was donated to the Shelter under Local Energy's Local Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), which focuses on helping reduce the burden of high utility bills on low-income residents and nonprofit organizations in Santa Fe. The expected cost savings to Sonrisa is about $550 per year, but if natural gas prices continue rising at the average rate seen over the past five years, Saint Elizabeth could save more than $220,000 in utility costs over the thirty-year life of the system. Join us in thanking our project contributors and learn more about our 2005 LEAP award.
Downtown Biomass Study Nears Completion
After two years of extensive research, the Feasibility Study for a downtown District Heating System is approaching a conclusion. With the help of a $1.3 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture, Local Energy has completed a number of studies that investigate the potential for a biomass-fueled district heating system in downtown Santa Fe. Some of this work is available on our website, including our Fuel Study and our Heat Demand Inquiry. This fall, Local Energy will release a video documenting the project and begin a series of presentations to share our conclusions.
Research Update!
Here at Local Energy, we are continuing our research on the relationship between energy and economics, particularly the impact that imminent resource degradation may have on the health of our local and national economies. This research has led us to conclude that local production of energy is an invaluable asset for a community's economy, security, and sustainability. With this in mind, we have begun exploring various strategies for transforming the way that Santa Fe produces, consumes and values its energy. Currently, we are doing preliminary research which will help us develop a non-governmental Local Renewable Energy incentive program. Stay tuned for more developments on this exciting project!
