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Posts Tagged ‘Columbia Energy Partners’

In today’s tough economic times it is a thing of joy to see a business doing well, especially one that is in the business of good. Columbia Energy Partners (CEP) develops renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms. They have partnered with Vestas and other significant industry giants to allow them to grow in this fiercely competitive market. This team of brilliant and experienced individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds is thriving during one of the worst economic situations in history. I say Kudos!

It had been a few months since I checked in with my friends at Columbia Energy Partners, so I was quite pleased to receive a last minute invite to their office “house warming” party. I must say the turnout was excellent, the people wonderful and the food splendid. It was a great opportunity to network with alternative energy pioneers in a town known for its green credentials.

There was a palpable sense of looming prosperity following the election of Obama. Many people were wearing Obama shirts and Obama posters covered the walls. It seems that the Alternative Energy crowd which has long been on the fringes, and has now found itself at the center, is filled with vigor and hope. You could see it in the eyes of everyone present, and it pushed the natural synic in me into hiding for an evening.

It was my sincere pleasure to meet people from all over the renewable energy market and as a direct result I will soon be doing a series of articles with Jeff Hawkins of Timna Energy Corp on how you can reduce your energy footprint. We will also be making a video of a residential solar PV system installation with Jeff. Look for other articles with Portland General Electric, Precision Wind, Frontier Wind, Portland Biodiesel, and of course Columbia Energy Partners in the near future as well.

CEP is on the cusp of greatness, the excitement that was visible at their shin dig was obvious and even long term adversaries were in attendance looking to work with them. CEP looks to be moving ahead with quite a few exciting projects including a wind farm and an Algae from smokestack system that will help Portland General Electric clean the emissions of one of their existing coal fire plants.Thier future is bright.

The Algea plant itself is an interesting idea, that frankly I’m suprised has not gained wider acceptance in the energy market. it has a two fold benefit, it cleans the emissions from smokestacks reducing CO2 and other gasses, and it produces an algea that can be used for biofuels, as well as other “green” products. This single technology could drastically reduce the US CO2 emissions from existing coal plants. It seems like a no-brainer, and as CEP is showing, it is a fantastic business oportunity.

I want to thank Chris Crowely from Columbia Energy partners for inviting me to their event and hope that they continue to prosper, and show the rest of the energy industry how to be great by doing good.