February 23, 2017 | IGSHPA News | Geothermal News
From the President

There are less than three weeks until the IGSHPA “Dig-In” Conference in Denver starts. I wanted to highlight a few of the reasons why we are so excited about this conference. First, just the change from Fall to Spring, which was suggested by membership, should be more convenient for many of our contractors. There are also a number of new opportunities for education, training, and networking.

Just a few of the highlights include:

  • 45 research presentations
  • 34 general presentations
  • IGSHPA 30th Birthday Welcome Reception on Tuesday evening
  • Manufacturers’ Awards Dinner on Wednesday evening
  • Leadership Panel General Session on Tuesday
  • Dealer/Contractor Panel General Session on Wednesday
  • General Membership Meeting on Thursday morning
  • IKEA Tour on Tuesday evening
  • Grouting Class Tour
  • New Courses to complement our standard CGD, Installer, & Inspector Classes- these include a Grouting class, NEW Residential Designer class, Open Loop class, and DX
  • Exhibit hall featuring many new product innovations- All Booths Sold!

I hope to see you all in Denver!

John

IGSHPA News

Committee Updates

Conference Planning Committee
The conference committee is finalizing the details for the IGSHPA Conference and Expo in Denver, March 14-16 at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center. We hope to see everyone there.

International Chapters Committee
The International Committee will meet on Monday March 13th @ 11:30 in Breckenridge. At that meeting we will formalize a communication schedule for the committee and discuss the various issues in each chapter. I look forward to seeing you there.

Standards Committee
The Standards Committee would like to request proposals for updates to the Closed-Loop GSHP Design and Installation Standards document.

Everyone is invited to review the standards and recommend updates, additions, etc. as necessary. If you have suggestions, please follow the procedure outlined in Chapter 8 of the standards document to initiate a change.

Proposals should be submitted to the committee during the annual meeting, which will be held on Monday, March 13 from 2:00-4:30 pm in the Telluride room at the Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention Center. The meeting is open to all members.

Board of Directors Voting

The elections for the two new IGSHPA Board of Directors will finalize today, February 23. If you have not cast your vote for your choice of candidates in the dealer contractor and GHEX sector, now is the time to do so. You will login using your IGSHPA login information to vote for the candidates of your choice at http://www.igshpa.okstate.edu/membership/login.asp.

2017 IGSHPA Conference and Expo Agenda

The 2017 IGSHPA Conference and Expo is 18 days away! There will be 7 training classes, 34 general session presentations, 45 research session presentations, an IKEA tour, a welcome reception and manufacturers' awards dinner all in Denver! To view the conference agenda, visit the program on the website. Join us in Denver to celebrate the association's 30th birthday!
Register now!

IGSHPA Training and Accreditation Opportunities

IGSHPA has several opportunities across North America for you to become certified or accredited through one of our programs. Please visit our training homepage for more info and to register to attend a class.


Conference Training Workshops
March 13-14


Short Courses

March 13

Trainer: Ryan Carda, P.E.
Date: Rolling - Begin Immediately
Location: Online

IGSHPA CERTIFIED GEOEXCHANGE DESIGNER (CGD PLUS) TRAINING - HeatSpring
Trainer: Ryan Carda, P.E.
Date: Rolling - Begin Immediately
Location: Online

Geo Outlook Available!

Request to Finalize Regulation in Massachusetts
IGSHPA, along with 13 other organizations and associations, signed on to a letter to Secretary Matthew Beaton in the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to finalize the regulation that would make renewable thermal technologies eligible for the Massachusetts Alternative Portfolio Standard. The regulation was signed into law in August of 2014 and has had it's first round of review for public comment. The letter asks for finalization of the law to help facilitate the development of projects that use renewable fuels to generate thermal energy.

Geothermal News

Expansion Tanks for Geothermal Ground Loop Systems White Paper

Geo-Flo recently published a white paper on sizing/selecting expansion tanks for geothermal systems. This white paper specifically addresses bladder type expansion tanks used in geothermal systems with ground loop piping. Although this paper mentions traditional hydronic expansion tanks as they compare to ground loop systems, it is not meant to provide exhaustive coverage of expansion tanks. Traditional hydronic expansion tank application, sizing, and installation are well documented in existing HVAC literature.

You can read the entire white paper here.

Governor Cuomo Rescues Geothermal Jobs as Washington Drops the Ball

Albany, NY – February 7, 2017 Governor Cuomo has announced an emergency program to rescue geothermal jobs in New York State, setting aside $15 million over two years in geothermal heating and cooling rebates for New Yorkers. Geothermal installations use the constant temperature under the ground’s frost line to renewably heat and cool homes and businesses without producing greenhouse gases on site. This industry is key to New York reaching its 40% greenhouse gas reduction goal by 2030 as more than a third of the State’s greenhouse gases come from the heating sector. Over 1,000 New York jobs in the industry had been put at risk by the sunset of a 30% federal tax credit which faces dim prospects of renewal with federal energy policy now firmly controlled by fossil fuel interests.

For the complete statement from NY-GEO, AGREE and New Yorkers for Clean Power click here

Reed Bill Will Reinstate and Extend Federal Clean Energy Tax Credits for Several Industries

Feb. 15, 2017 (Springfield, IL) – The geothermal heat pump industry and several other clean energy technology industries are a step closer to saving thousands of jobs with the reintroduction of tax credit legislation by Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY), Mike Thompson (D-CA), and 18 additional cosponsors (12 Republicans and 6 Democrats).

HR 1090 will reinstitute and extend through 2021 commercial and residential installation tax credits geothermal heat pumps, fuel cells, microturbines, small wind and combined heat and power. Included are a 10% commercial Investment Tax Credit under Sec. 48 of the tax code, and a 30% residential Income Tax Credit under Sec. 25D.

The legislation is meant to remedy the inequity created in December 2015 when Congress extended similar tax credits for commercial solar energy and residential solar energy installations, but neglected to include geothermal heat pumps and other qualifying clean energy technologies. Tax credits for the “orphaned” clean energy technologies ended at midnight on Dec. 31, 2016.

"We care about ensuring that we can produce reliable, clean and affordable energy that our nation needs right here at home. By implementing common sense policies like this one, we can ensure that this can be accomplished," said Reed. "As we move forward with tax reform, having a structure that encourages this kind of development creates the quality, family-sustaining jobs that people throughout our country deserve, all while helping meet the energy demands of today and tomorrow. It's a win-win." (GEO)

Whisper Valley Update

Construction on the Whisper Valley geothermal housing community in Austin, Texas, has started. This will be the largest geothermal project in North America with 7500 homes and 2 million sq ft of commercial development when completed. Look at the time lapse video provided by Taurus for an update.

China's Geothermal Energy Development and Utilization Plan

The Chinese government recently rolled out its national Geothermal Energy Development and Utilization Plan in the 13th Five-Year Period for Economic and Social Development (hereinafter referred to as "Plan"). This plan was jointly prepared by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Land and Resources, and the National Energy Bureau ( http://www.mlr.gov.cn/xwdt/jrxw/201702/t20170207_1439676.htm). Below is some highlights of this plan, which I think may be useful for IGSHPA membership and policy makers.

The "Plan" sets following goals for the 13th five-year period (2017-2021):

  • 1.1 billion square meters (12 billion square foot) more buildings will be heated and cooled with geothermal heating (cooling); 500MW new geothermal power will be installed.
  • By 2020, 1.6 billion square meters (17 billion square foot) buildings in total will be served by geothermal heating (cooling), and there will be 530MW cumulative geothermal power generation capacity.
  • In 2020, the annual utilization of geothermal energy will be equal to 70 million tons of standard coal and 40 million tons of standard coal will be replaced with geothermal heating.

The plan estimated that the development of geothermal energy will bring a total of 260 billion Chinese yuan (38 billion US dollars) investments. In this process, geothermal energy development franchise bidding system and the PPP model will explored, and restrictions on urban heating market access will be lifted, and geothermal energy development enterprises will be encouraged to get into the urban heating market.

The "Plan" stated that during 13th Five-Year period, China will (1) complete an effective management and policy system for the development and utilization of geothermal energy, (2) master core technology of geothermal industry, (3) establish a more complete industry chain for geothermal energy development and utilization, including equipment manufacturing and monitoring systems. China will also carry out dry hot rock (DHR) development (i.e., EGS) and testing work, construct DHR demonstration project. It is expected that, through the construction of demonstration projects, breakthroughs can be achieved in the DHR resources potential evaluation, drilling target selection, DHR drilling engineering, DHR reservoir high-efficient heat extraction, and other key technologies.

The "Plan" described following key tasks for geothermal energy development:

  1. identify China's major hydrothermal geothermal area (field) and shallow sub-surface geothermal energy resources, including their geological conditions, thermal storage characteristics, quality and quantity of geothermal resources in DHR development area; evaluate the technical and economic conditions of its exploitation to provide a basis for rational exploitation and utilization.
  2. promote hydrothermal geothermal heating in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei-Shandong-Henan and fragile ecological environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and adjacent.
  3. promote the use of shallow sub-surface geothermal energy (i.e., geothermal heat pump).
  4. develop high-temperature geothermal power generation projects in Tibet, Sichuan and other high-temperature geothermal resources areas; implement a number of low-temperature geothermal power projects in the North China, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong and other regions. Establish and improve mechanisms and policies to support geothermal power generation system.
  5. strengthen key technology research and development.
  6. strengthen information monitoring system construction.
  7. complete a full industrial chain for geothermal energy development and utilization, including standards, personnel training and services.

Have News?

Do you have news you want to share with IGSHPA for consideration for The Loop or Geo Outlook? Email Erin with your news.
Facebook
Google Plus
Twitter
View this email in your browser
You are receiving this email because of your relationship with International Ground Source Heat Pump Association. Please reconfirm your interest in receiving emails from us. If you do not wish to receive any more emails, you can unsubscribe here.
This message was sent to igshpa@okstate.edu by igshpa@okstate.edu
1201 S Innovation Way Dr., Ste 400, Stillwater, OK, 74074


Unsubscribe | Manage Subscription | Forward Email