“Brad Swalwell has been hired as director of market development for Tangent Energy Solutions, a Kennett Square firm that is developing sustainable-energy strategies. Swalwell was director of corporate accounts at Atlanta-based Comverge Inc.”

Read the post here.

“Tangent Energy Solutions, the Kennett Square-based solar technology provider, launched last week solar energy generation installations at three Colonial School District schools in suburban Montgomery County.

The three schools are the sites for two separate solar energy projects; one at the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School/Elementary School Campus, and a second at the Colonial Middle School. Combined, the projects will provide CSD with more than 825,000 kWh per year of clean electricity, which annually saves more than 1.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. CSD is projected to save more than $1.5 million over the course of the 20 years agreement.”

Read the full post here.

The three schools are the sites for two separate solar energy projects; one at the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School/Elementary School Campus, and a second at the Colonial Middle School.  Combined, the projects will provide CSD with more than 825,000 kWh per year of clean electricity, which annually saves more than 1.2 million pounds of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.  CSD is projected to save more than $1.5 million over the course of the 20 years agreement.

Tangent is also implementing a technology platform at CSD that actively manages the solar assets.  This technology monitors conditions on the electric grid to predict peak demand periods when energy costs are highest.  Since solar energy enables CSD to source less of its power from the grid, the district is less exposed to high costs during these peak periods.

However when solar energy is not available or sufficient, like on cloudy days, Tangent’s technology triggers efficiency measures that automatically reduce the amount of energy the schools use until grid conditions improve.  This technology is projected to drive hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional savings.

“Colonial School District is showing great leadership in the area of renewable energy, and is also using our innovative approach to significantly cut their operating budget in these tough economic times,” said Tangent President and CEO Dean Musser.  “We are confident that this partnership and approach will become a model for other schools and institutions across Pennsylvania and the United States.”

The solar generation assets were provided to CSD at no capital cost through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).  The PPA enabled Tangent’s third party project investor to purchase the assets, and then sell the energy generated to CSD at a fixed rate for the next twenty years.

“We’re very excited to be working with Tangent to save money, while helping the environment,” said Terry Yemm, Director of Operations at CSD.  “In addition, the solar panels provide significant educational opportunities for our students, who will soon become the next generation of leaders working to solve our nation’s energy issues.”

This Project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.

About Tangent Energy Solutions

Tangent Energy Solutions (www.tangentenergy.com) reverses the traditional utility driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves C&I energy customers 10% to 20% while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods.  As a result both the end-customer and the utilities benefit.   Tangent is a venture-backed company founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years.

“Tangent Energy Solutions today announced the completion of a 240 kilowatt (kW) rooftop solar array at Yuasa Battery, Inc.’s manufacturing facility in Laureldale, PA.

The system generates 299,438 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power, and over the 20 year term of the agreement Tangent estimates it will save Yuasa more than $300k in energy costs. Environmentally, the system eliminates 455,209 lbs of CO2 emissions – about the same as removing 40 cars per year from the roads.

Tangent saves commercial and industrial companies 20% on energy costs, by combining technology and clean on-site generation assets to balance supply and demand in response to grid pricing conditions and facility energy needs. Generation assets are provided at no capital cost, and the energy produced is sold to customers at a discount to retail rates through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.”

Read the full story here.

Swalwell will analyze solar and clean, gas-fired generation projects to maximize the economic opportunities they present for Tangent and its customers, especially in the PJM, ISO New York and ISO New England markets.  He will also evaluate clean energy financial opportunities arising from Renewable Energy Certificates (RECS) and net metering.

Prior to joining Tangent, Swalwell was Director of Corporate Accounts at Atlanta-based Comverge, Inc. Working out of the company’s Kennett Square, PA location he evaluated, developed and implemented energy initiatives for demand response (DR) and energy efficiency (EE) programs.  He has completed DR and EE projects with utilities and energy service providers, as well as end use customers in both the industrial and commercial sectors.

“Brad is a strong asset for our growing team,” said Tangent’s Chief Operating Officer Dave Turner. “He is one of the few people in this industry who can evaluate the complex regulatory, energy and operational variables involved in these projects to the economic advantage of all stakeholders.”

Tangent is an energy company that saves commercial and industrial (C&I) companies 20+ percent on energy costs by combining technology with on-site, clean generation assets to analyze energy usage and avoid peak pricing periods on the energy grid.

“Tangent is providing a remarkable and unmatched service for its C&I customers – providing them clean energy assets at no capital cost, lowering their energy costs, and helping them meet sustainability goals –

while also relieving the congested energy grid,” said Swalwell.  “I’m honored to be a part of this innovative company.”

This year, Tangent has signed long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) for projects totaling 9 megawatts (MW) of on-site renewable energy; many of which are completed or under construction. Letters of intent have been signed for projects totaling an additional 17 MW with a pipeline of nearly 90 MW in active discussion. 

A Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP), Swalwell is regarded as an industry expert on retail and wholesale energy markets, including their relationships with FERC regulations.

Swalwell holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Davidson College.

About Tangent Energy Solutions

Tangent Energy Solutions (www.tangentenergy.com) reverses the traditional utility driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves C&I energy customers 10 percent to 20 percent while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods.  As a result, both the end-customer and the utilities benefit. Tangent is a venture-backed company founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years.

The system generates 299,438 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power, and over the 20 year term of the agreement Tangent estimates it will save Yuasa more than $300k in energy costs. Environmentally, the system eliminates 455,209 lbs of CO2 emissions – about the same as removing 40 cars per year from the roads.

Yuasa Battery, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of its ultimate parent GS Yuasa, and Yuasa Brand motorcycle batteries have been manufactured to uncompromising standards in the United States since 1979.   GS Yuasa Corporation and its affiliates are committed to managing the environmental impact of products throughout their lifecycle on a global basis.  This solar installation is another example of Yuasa Battery, Inc’s commitment to environmental responsibility that will reduce the carbon footprint of the energy used in producing its Powersports batteries.

Tangent saves commercial and industrial companies 20% on energy costs, by combining technology and clean on-site generation assets to balance supply and demand in response to grid pricing conditions and facility energy needs.  Generation assets are provided at no capital cost, and the energy produced is sold to customers at a discount to retail rates through a long-term Power Purchase Agreement. 

“We’re very excited to be working with Yuasa, to supply their manufacturing facility with a clean generation source, and the latest energy efficiency technologies,” said Dean Musser, President and CEO of Tangent Energy.  “As conditions on the energy grid become more complex, it’s important to have forward-thinking companies like Yuasa.  They serve as a model for others on how to become active participants in the energy market.”

The project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority. 

About Tangent Energy Solutions

Tangent Energy Solutions (www.tangentenergy.com) reverses the traditional utility driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves C&I energy customers 10 percent to 20 percent while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site, assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods.  As a result both the end-customer and the utilities benefit.  Tangent is a venture-backed company founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years.

About Yuasa Battery, Inc.

Yuasa Battery, Inc. is the largest American manufacturer and the largest distributor of batteries for motorcycles, snowmobiles, scooters, all-terrain vehicles, and personal watercraft.  Most of the large capacity Powersport batteries are manufactured in the Laureldale, PA plant.  All other Powersport batteries are produced in a Yuasa state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in various countries throughout the world.  Each Yuasa facility follows the same rigorous manufacturing processes to insure the highest Yuasa quality standards are met.  Additionally, Yuasa distributes the Yuasa brand (original and true) NP Series batteries, a sought after power source for security and alarm systems, UPS Systems, emergency lighting, CCTV’s and electronic applications.

From now on you may see East Marlborough Township officials smiling on bright, sunny days—partly because the weather is nice, and partly because they know that renewable energy is flowing into the township building.

Before their monthly meeting Monday night, the township supervisors officially unveiled a new solar-panel array mounted above the township building parking lot. The array was built by Tangent Energy Solutions, which is located in the township, and the power it generates will be sold to the township for 25 years at a locked-in, discounted rate. The construction was paid for solely with federal grants.

The array will produce 24,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year—about half of the township building’s needs. According to Tangent Energy, the clean energy it produces will reduce the township’s CO2 output by about 37,000 pounds a year, the equivalent of recycling six tons of waste instead of sending it to a landfill.

Cuyler Walker, the chairman of the township’s board of supervisors, said he was glad to have a source of renewable energy at a fixed rate, since energy prices are due to rise. He also said he hoped the project would serve as an example for other municipalities.

Read more at The Kennett Paper.

Green technology is giving a local school a boost to its bottom line.

Career Institute of Technology said the solar panel project will also teach students the tools of the trade.

“Today, we have a beautiful day to start to grow electricity,” said Joe Stemrich, CIT instructor.

At the school in Easton, that electricity is growing in a field of solar panels and soon, on the rooftop of the school.

“We are going to be able to generate electricity and buy it at a fixed rate for 20 years,” said Ron Roth, CIT director.

CIT officials expect the savings to reach $640,000, or 18 percent of its energy usage in that time, helping it to use its money for other things.

Read the full story and watch a video of the official unveiling at WFMZ.

Easton, PA (October 5, 2011) – The Career Institute of Technology (CIT) today unveiled two solar arrays completed by Pennsylvania-based energy company Tangent Energy Solutions.   The rooftop and ground mounted arrays, installed and managed by Tangent, will provide about 18% of the school’s energy needs and save approximately $640,000 on energy costs over a 20-year period.

The deal with Tangent not only generates cost and energy-saving solutions for CIT, it also provides educational value.  Electric Technology Program teachers are using a 4 kilowatt (kW) solar training module donated by Tangent to enhance their renewable energy training curriculum.  The training system, valued at $15,000, will be assembled and disassembled by students and provide hands-on experience with solar technology for years to come.

A display mounted in the cafeteria will provide students with the ability to observe real-time changes in the facility’s energy supply; between the grid and the solar arrays, based on weather and building power needs.   The 496 kW system produces 627,289 kilowatt hours (kWh) per year of solar power, which eliminates 953,611 lbs of CO2; the equivalent of removing 85 cars from the road per year.

The school’s system will be fully operational the week of October 10, following the completion of the rooftop array, a perimeter fence for the ground mounts and some tree planting.

“CIT is setting a strong economic and environmental example for its students,” said Dave Turner, Chief Operating Officer of Tangent.  “Schools are finding it increasingly necessary to find ways to cut costs, and solar energy usage is a financially and environmentally responsible way to do so.”

CIT students come from five districts and two private high schools in Northampton County.  Most students are in 10-12th grade, although the school sometimes teaches 9th graders.

The solar project was financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority.

About Tangent Energy Solutions

Tangent Energy Solutions (www.tangentenergy.com) reverses the traditional utility driven approach to developing the smart grid by partnering with commercial and industrial customers to optimize the “grid behind the meter.” By providing clean energy assets and technologies at no capital cost, Tangent saves C&I energy customers 10% to 20% while increasing the amount of renewable content in their supply. Tangent actively manages on-site assets to decrease a customer’s reliance on grid sourced energy, especially during peak demand periods.  As a result both the end-customer and the utilities benefit.   Tangent is a venture-backed company founded in 2009 by a management team that has been providing commercially successful energy innovations to mainstream C&I customers for 30 years.

“The Career Institute of Technology is going solar.

The Forks Township technical school unveiled a set of solar panels Tuesday that educators say will save money and energy, and provide students with skills to someday become “green collar” workers.

Dave Turner, the COO for Tangent Energy — which installed the panels — said the set-up will also help educate CIT students on how to install solar systems. And as the green jobs field expands, its workers will need to know skills like carpentry and drafting, skills the CIT is already teaching.”

Read the full story here.