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QR Code for Email Newsletter

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:54:52 +0000

Hire Electric is moving into the mobile web age. We just got a QR code for our Email Newsletter sign up:

I still don’t get it.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Hood River Middle School + 1 Year

Jonathan Lewis — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 04:26:36 +0000

The “Goal Net Zero” Music and Science wing at Hood River Middle School has been on line for one year now. The production (solar) and consumption of the building seem to be nicely in balance. The 35kW solar array has produced 46.23MWH to date. Here are some pictures from my visit to the site on this beautiful January day:

Kadlec Medical Center Gets Solar and Wind

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:45:43 +0000

We’ve been working with Apollo Solutions Group to install a 5kW, Washington made solar array with Silicon Energy solar panels and 2 – 2.5kW Energy Ball V200′s at Kadlec Medical Center in Richland, WA. The project was completed in December 2011. Here are some photos:

Solar Seminar in Richland, WA. Dec. 15th

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:30:22 +0000

Thursday, December 15, 2011 • 6:30 p.m.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel

1970 Center Pkwy. (behind Staples)

Richland, WA 99352

Free Solar Seminar!

Our first three seminars were a great success with about 20 people excited to learn about the new Washington State incentive programs. Our next seminar will be at the same, central Tri Cities location on the 15th of December.

Bob Skinner and Jonathan Lewis of Hire Electric will cover the basics of going solar in today’s economy, the Washington State incentive program, Washington manufactured inverters and solar panels, community solar options, federal tax credits, electric vehicle charging coupled with solar and much more! Munchies provided. Bring lots of questions.

Please RSVP here: hireelectric.com/rsvp/

138kW Solar Array in Christmas Valley

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 06:24:20 +0000

The Christmas Valley Project in the news:

For the past several months we have had the great privilege of working on a large commercial solar array for the Oregon Military Department with Randolph Construction Services and Bradford Engineers. The project uses all Oregon Manufactured solar equipment with solar panels form SolarWorld in Hillsborough, OR and inverters from PVPowered in Bend. Here are a few photos of the Horizon/Desert Solar Project:

Path to Net Zero Workshop

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:36:06 +0000

Energy Alternatives and Efficient Building

a workshop and tour to help reduce energy consumption …the Path to Net Zero!

Energy Alternatives and Efficient Building will include a day of presentations, discussions, demonstrations and tours to learn about technologies used in net-zero home construction and low- to net-zero energy use by businesses.

Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011. Program begins at 8 a.m. at Columbia Basin College, in the new Center for Career & Technical Education, 2600 N. 20th Avenue off Argent Road on Tech Way.

Cost: $5 for morning session only (includes refreshments) $12 for the afternoon session, which includes demonstrations, tours, and lunch $15 for both morning and afternoon sessions!

AGENDA & DEMONSTRATION LOCATIONS: 8am – 8:45am: Introduction to the Sustainable Energy & Environmental Network and ways to get involved

8:45am – 9:30am: Tyson Pischel with Pischel Construction and Green Builder Warehouse, will share his hands-on, real-world experience of building affordable, energy efficient homes.

9:30am – 10:15am: Jonathan Lewis with Hire Electric will explain the benefits and use of solar photovoltaic (electric energy).

10:15am – 11:30am: Ray Lam with Silk Road Environmental will present and demonstrate the company’s solar thermal system.

LUNCH / 12pm to 1pm: Meet at Entrees Made Easy, 127 Gage Blvd (not far from Costco and next to Bonefish Grill), in Richland

1:15pm: Tour of net-zero home, built by Pischel Construction, in the Creekstone Community of Kennewick.

2:15pm: Badger Mountain Winery, demo of solar PV sytem installed by Hire Electric and tour of winery with no- host wine tasting!

IMPORTANT! Transportation is not provided. Carpooling is encouraged.

Registration: Contact Kelsey Myers 509.542.4832, kmyers@columbiabasin.edu Deadline: October, 30th 2011

Net Zero Event Flyer FINAL

Woody Guthrie in The Columbia River Gorge

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:08:27 +0000

Lots of people don’t know that Woody Guthrie once worked for the BPA here in the Columbia River Gorge. BPA’s idea was to make music about the changes and advantages of electrification and get people excited about what was coming. At the time there was huge political resistance to spending money on the dams and the power lines. Politicians didn’t see the need for spending money and creating jobs. They thought that the investment would never pay for itself. That the demand for electricity would never be that great. The debate really hasn’t changed much.

Guthrie Film Debut & Musical Tribute

Saturday, October 22nd
@ The Discovery Center

The Discovery Center invites you to attend:

“Roll on Columbia” Woody Guthrie’s Film Debut & Musical Tribute

(Saturday, October 22nd, 2011) Join us as we host the Gorge debut of “Roll on Columbia,” the new film about folk musician Woody Guthrie, and the songs inspired by his work for theBonneville Power Administration.———————————-

Guthrie tribute groups “The Wanderers” and “The Renegade String Band” will perform LIVE between the 5PM and 7:15PM movie screenings. Cost of attendance is $7 (movie and music included).

An optional salmon buffet dinner will be served by the Basalt Rock Cafe, for $15. Dinner and music begin at 6:15PM in the Meyer Memorial Trust River Gallery. Beer/wine will be available for purchase. Advance RSVPs are required, and seating is limited.

For more tickets, call: 541.296.8600 x201

www.gorgediscovery.org

EV Charging in Stevenson, WA

Jonathan Lewis — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:57:06 +0000

We just got this email from our friends in Stevenson, WA:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

First Electric Vehicle Charger Comes to Stevenson in the Scenic Columbia River Gorge

Stevenson, WA – October 11, 2011 – The City of Stevenson, the Stevenson Business Association (SBA), and the Port of Skamania County partnered to bring the first Level II Electric Vehicle Charging Station to Washington’s side of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

The station is located at Teo Park along the Columbia River Waterfront in the City of Stevenson, adjacent to shops, restaurants, spas, and art galleries. This station is the result of cooperation among local business leaders and local government. SBA President Scott Anderson stated that “As a small town, Stevenson has been forward thinking and on the cutting edge, such as being one of the first cities to offer city-wide free WiFi access, and now the EV Charging Station.” Moli Thomas, of MST Consulting, who managed the project, said “Stevenson is a wonderful, eco-friendly tourism destination. This charger is another way that we can help support healthy tourism activity in the area. Our goal is to bring people out to one of the most beautiful places on the planet and let them recharge while taking advantage of all that Stevenson has to offer.” This station is especially important because it will allow people to reach the area from the I-5 corridor (50 miles west) and recharge for their return trip.

The ribbon cutting for the station will be on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011 at 4:00 pm, followed by an after party in the park. All are welcome to come and look at the station, at the electric cars, and enjoy some great food, local wines and beer, and music.

Contact:
Moli S. Thomas

MST Consulting

Bergey Wind Machine in Ellensburg

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 03:10:53 +0000

Hire Electric Completes Bergey 10kW Wind Machine at Ellensburg Renewable Energy Park.

Right off I-90 in Ellensburg Washington you might have noticed the worlds first Community Owned Solar Farm. Hire Electric recently helped the city add something a bit more eye catching than solar panels at their Renewable Energy Park: An 80′ tower with a 10kW Bergey Excel-S wind machine on top. Hire Electric will not be responsible for any distracted driving. Here are some photos of the installation.

Inside the OutBack

Jonathan Lewis — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:12:17 +0000

OutBack Power Systems of Arlington, WA makes a mean inverter system for off grid or battery back up applications (UPS - Uninterruptible Power Supply). We installed this grid tie, battery back up Outback inverter for a customer 2006. It ran flawlessly until a few weeks ago when it started making a loud noise and the warning light began to flash. Just a bit of troubleshooting reaveled a failed cooling fan. Outback promptly sent out a new (upgraded) fan and we changed it out. All’s well. There’s more to the inside of an OutBack than one might think. Really great machine.