MAREC Seminar: How to Survive in a Carbon Constrained Economy
Carbon Specialist Dan Kuipers and Project Manager Kyle Denning will present a ‘carbon survival guide’ outlining the future of the carbon credit market, policies and possible regulations at Grand Valley State’s MAREC facility.
Date: September 10, 2009
Time: 8:30am-11:30am (Viability’s presentation at 10:15am)
Location: GVSU’s MAREC facility, 200 Viridian Dr., Muskegon, MI 49440
Event Sponsor: MAREC and MISBTDC
Important Information: Event is free, but attendees must RSVP by September 8 to either 616-331-6900 or 616-331-6905
Denning to Talk Carbon Credits, Footprints at Holland WEST Energy Group
Kyle Denning, Viability Project Manager, will deliver a lecture and answer questions on determining one’s carbon footprint and navigating the carbon credit market at Holland’s WEST Energy Group
Date: September 8, 2009
Time: 7pm-8:30pm
Location: DeGraaf Nature Center, 600 Grafschaap Road, Holland, MI 49423
Event Sponsor: Holland WEST, http://www.westmichiganenergy.org/, 616-335-2686
Important Information: The event is open to the public.
Viability Grows Quickly, Acquires Valuable Personnel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 24, 2009
Contact: Chris Byrnes, President
616-396-6101, chris@viabilityonline.com
Green Enterprise Grows Fast
Viability, LLC expands its staff fivefold in spite of recession
Holland, MI – The Green energy sector has surged, and Viability, a Holland, MI based economic and environmental consulting firm, is growing to meet the demand. Viability’s staff has gone from three to 15 through the course of the last year.
In October of 2008, Viability moved to its new office overlooking downtown Holland, but now the company is stretching the confines of that space. “Our growth is in response to the demands of large energy users, like agribusiness, food processors, and greenhouses,” said Viability President Chris Byrnes. Viability partners with businesses to secure alternative and energy efficiency grants and manage carbon emissions.
“With energy prices rising and grants available for project development, businesses are looking for ways to cut energy costs and install innovative equipment,” said Byrnes, “And our expertise can make that happen.”
The new staff includes a combination of carbon specialists, grant writers, engineers, researchers and support staff.
Viability has also surpassed its mid year grant submissions record, with $3.1 million for 2009, which was $1 million more than in 2008.
Since 2003, Viability, LLC has partnered with a wide range of businesses in over 20 states and secured more than $10 million in grants and incentives. Viability’s services include grant and tax incentive research and preparation, carbon credit development, sustainability plans, and project development and implementation.
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Click here to download the PDF of this release
Post on Aug 24 in Press ReleasesViability Expands Into Ohio With New Representative Lotliker
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 18, 2009
Darshan Lotliker, a Masters of Engineering Management from Cleveland Heights, OH, will serve as Viability's face in the Buckeye state
Contact: Chris Byrnes, President
616-396-6101, chris@viabilityonline.com
Green Michigan Grant Firm Becomes a (Partial) Buckeye
Viability, LLC expands into Ohio with new Representative and offers free preliminary assessments for stimulus funds
Holland, MI - A Midwest green energy firm is placing its first physical presence in Ohio ahead of that state’s $96 million in State Energy Program stimulus funds. Viability LLC, a Holland, Michigan based economic development firm, is offering free preliminary grant and tax incentive research for energy projects through its new Ohio representative.
Although originally from Michigan, Viability has experienced dramatic growth as the demand for alternative energy and energy efficiency technologies has boomed. Darshan Lotliker, a Cleveland Heights resident and 2009 Case Western Masters of Engineering Management graduate, recently joined Viability and will serve as the company’s face in Ohio.
Lotliker has experience in engineering and tech fields, including work with Cleveland based NeuroWave Systems, Entrepreneurs EDGE, DuPont and Indian automotive manufacturer Tata Motors. “More and more industries in the region are moving towards attaining sustainable technologies, and Viability is at the forefront of providing services that may help these companies achieve their goals,” said Lotliker.
“I completely believe in the growth of the niche service that Viability offers to companies,” said Lotliker, “Viability has a very passionate team and I am proud to be part of it.”
Lotliker will operate out of Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.
Viability’s expansion into Ohio is part of its move to partner with energy efficiency, alternative energy, and carbon offset projects in the Midwest region and beyond. Businesses interested in the free preliminary research and consultation must contact Viability directly either through its website www.viabilityllc.com or 616.396.6101.
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Post on Aug 18 in Press ReleasesKuipers to Navigate The Two Worlds of Carbon Credits
Viability Carbon Specialist Dan Kuipers will address the audience at United Growth Coalition’s monthly meeting on the two current models of carbon credits (the voluntary and mandated markets) and how they will impact businesses, communities and consumers.
Date: August 18th, 2009
Time: 8:30am – 9:30am
Location: Kent MSU Extension Office, 775 Ball Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Event Sponsor: United Growth for Kent County
Important Information: The event is open to the public
Viability Posts Record Amount of Green Energy Grants
Green Scene Staff Report
Holland Sentinel – August 16, 2009
Holland, MI – August 10, 2009 – Although the federal and state fiscal year is winding down, an 8th street company’s numbers are looking up. Viability, a Holland based environmental and economic consulting team, has set a new company record for clean energy grant applications.
As of July 31, Viability had applied for over $3.1 million in federal and state grant and incentives for alternative energy and energy efficiency projects for the first six months of 2009. This year’s total surpassed the $2 million from the same period in 2008. Viability’s clients include companies that are large energy users, including agribusiness, biomass wood fuel producers, and others throughout the U.S.
Federal and state energy grants range can in size and scope from $5,000 for a feasibility study to $1,000,000 for a state of the art complete renewable energy system.
“With energy prices soaring, businesses are searching for ways to lower costs without reducing production,” said Viability President Chris Byrnes. “These energy grants help businesses implement innovative equipment to curb carbon emissions that they otherwise would not undertake.”
Click here to Read Full Article (PDF file)
Post on Aug 16 in Viability in the NewsViability client, Eagle Creek Wholesale, noted for sustainability
Viability helped Eagle Creek Wholesale win a grant for a 120 ft. tall wind turbine that produces 81,600 kWh a year.
Greenhouse Management & Production – August 6, 2009
John Bonner, general manager of Eagle Creek Wholesale Growers in Mantua, Ohio, is looking to remove risk from his business. One of the biggest risks he has removed is the fluctuating cost of fuel to heat the 5 acres of greenhouses operated by the company.
“We made the decision four years ago to eliminate the risk associated with the fluctuating cost of natural gas,” Bonner said. “We were paying $15 per million cubic feet. It was a big stress on us financially. We wanted to free ourselves from those fluctuating costs.”
Eagle Creek chose to install a 300-horsepower, 5-million Btu Hurst biomass boiler that burns a fuel consisting of dried horse manure, wood chips and sawdust. Bonner said the biggest issue for a grower looking to install a biomass boiler is what fuel source is available.
Click here to Read Full Article
Post on Aug 06 in Viability in the NewsRisk and reward for manufacturers: Viability’s Byrnes talks energy policy
Joe Boomgaard
MiBiz – August 3, 2009
One Holland-based company is helping clients pay for reducing their carbon footprints or for switching to renewable energy.
Chris Byrnes, president of Viability LLC, said much of Lansing’s focus on climate change has been getting manufacturers to make widgets for alternative energy machines – like wind turbines and solar panels – but he advocates for the state to take a look at companies that have installed the wind turbines and solar panels and “are really going green.”
“We need to be incentivizing them as well,” Byrnes told MiBiz.
Viability works with clients all over the country to help manage alternative and renewable energy projects from financing to construction and through implementation.
“Part of what we do is help clients through…what’s their best project,” he said. “Everyone is trying to hedge their energy costs and switching from fossil fuels to renewables is a great thing to do.”
Post on Aug 03 in Viability in the News