U.S. Alternative Energy Specialist speaks at T’Sou-ke Nation, Vancouver Island

August 27, 2009

The T’Sou-ke Nation at the picturesque southern end of Vancouver Island hosted a gathering of local experts on alternative energy to meet with U.S. State Department speaker Carl “Rick” Schwerdtfeger. Schwerdtfeger, based in New Hampshire, has expertise in solar energy, LED materials and Smart Grid technology. The T’Sou-ke have the largest solar installation in B.C.

The T-Sou-ke Nation is a combination of old traditions and new, with their traditional 52-foot, red cedar K’wa-Quy-ag canoe stored in a shed below a solar installation which has an output of 75 kilowatts. The T’Sou-ke are using using solar panels from Day4 Energy to generate power into the grid.

Following a community lunch of traditionally alder-smoked salmon, Dr. Schwerdtfeger described to the gathering on August 27 how important small players can be contributors to clean energy. He described the start-up of Advanced RenewableEnergy Company (ARC) in New Hampshire where he is vice president of engineering.

The company was started with a partnership and infused with financing by a customer who provided a large down payment. His company designed a furnace, a three-by-four foot stainless steel unit, which is part of a larger unit which converts aluminum oxide into sapphire crystals in an economic way. The crystals are used to produce new-generation LEDs (light emitting diodes). His message was that small companies can find places to grow in the new renewable-energy marketplace.

The T’Sou-ke are a great example of how a small village can create a “huge amount of power.” Schwerdtfeger says, “I think it’s awesome.”

Attendees at the discussion with Dr. Schwerdtfeger included representatives from Solar BC; the chief executive officer of Pacific Carbon Trust; City of Colwood, District of Sooke, Home Energy Solutions www.heshomeenergy.com, First Power, and University of Victoria intern Jessica Bekker who is studying engineering. She is a member of the Piikani Nation in Alberta which has a 900 kw wind turbine on reserve land.