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Solar Wind Energy Tower has been awarded an allowance of Patent Application Number 13/098,476, titled "Atmospheric Energy Extraction Devices and Methods", by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The patent covers a structure for producing electricity, specifically a tower capable of adding moisture at the top of the structure to hot-dry air so as to generate a downdraft of wind within the interior of the Tower, vanes coupled to the exterior of the Tower that at least partially define a plurality of elongated pockets at the exterior of the Tower, flaps located within the pockets configured to redirect incident wind downwards, and at least a first wind tunnel configured to receive the redirected wind so as to convert such wind to electricity.

Ronald W. Pickett, President, Chief Executive Officer of SWET, stated, "We are pleased to have received notice that our patent application for the Tower structure design has been allowed, and that a patent will be issued shortly.

The patent application incorporates the entire core Tower structure, including the injection of moisture as a catalyst to generate the downdraft wind, and the additional exterior dual wind capture vanes.

In the future, as we expand our geographic footprint, the dual wind technology will provide us with the ability to construct our power plant in locations with potentially more variable weather conditions, since we can now incorporate the power created by the ambient wind captured along the outer surface of the Tower structure with the power generated internally.

This external wind capture boosts the overall power output. This patent allowance, along with our previously issued patent titled 'Efficient Energy Conversion Devices and Methods', encompasses our overall basic system architecture.

"We intend to continue to protect our technology as we develop enhancements to it. Our business plan has always been to efficiently extract the maximum energy generated by the captured wind, with the least loss of power while compensating for the normal differentials in atmospheric conditions."

KDC Solar LLC, headquartered in Bedminster, New Jersey, through its wholly owned subsidiary, KDC Solar NJMG, has commenced commercial operations at North Jersey Media Group's (NJMG) printing facility in Rockaway, New Jersey.

The solar project is the largest PV solar system (4.96 megawatts) at any printing facility in the State of New Jersey. The new system, which will generate approximately 6.2 million kilowatt hours of solar electricity per year, will allow North Jersey Media Group's facility to receive approximately 60% of its annual electric needs from clean renewable solar energy and substantially reduce its carbon footprint.

This is the equivalent of 700 homes being supplied with all their electricity for the year. In addition, there are discussions underway to add additional solar capacity when a new roof is installed on a portion of the facility.

A ribbon cutting ceremony marking the commencement of commercial operations was held at NJMG's facility on May 6th. Among the local dignitaries in attendance were Don Reddin, Rockaway Township Council Member, Dave Washington, Rockaway Township Council Member, Gregory Poff, Rockaway Township Business Administrator, Vincent Brennan, Rockaway Township Police Captain and Planning Board Member, Jim Lutz, Rockaway Township Engineer and Craig Babcock, Rockaway Fire Marshall.

KDC Solar signed an engineering and construction contract for the installation of the facility with Samsung C and T. J. Fletcher Creamer and Son, a fifth-generation contractor headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, was the general contractor.

The solar facility uses over 20,400 photovoltaic panels, 10 SMA America 500 kilowatt inverters and is ground mounted, roof mounted and on car ports across 50 acres of land.

"North Jersey Media Group is pleased and proud to have served as the host and electric off-taker of this solar project," said Stephen Borg, President of NJMG.

"This use of clean energy helps us continue our environmental stewardship as well as reduce costs. KDC Solar is a wonderful partner and I strongly recommend them to those considering similar projects," he said.

"We are very pleased to have worked with North Jersey Media Group and, in particular, the Borg family to bring this concept to reality. This facility is the largest PV solar facility at any printing facility in the State of New Jersey and will supply clean, lower cost, long-term solar energy to North Jersey Media Group for many years," said Hal Kamine, KDC Solar's Chief Executive Officer.

"This project is another example of a successful 'behind-the-meter' clean solar electric system for business/government and institutions, which in turn create or preserve both short and long-term jobs for the state."

Dominion Virginia Power has selected Old Dominion University to be the first participant in the company's Solar Partnership Program. More than 600 solar panels will be installed this summer on the roof of ODU's Student Recreation Center in the heart of the campus and generate 132 kilowatts for the electric grid.

"This installation will pave the way for us to assess the benefits of solar facilities on our electrical distribution system," said Ken Barker, Dominion Virginia Power vice president-Customer Solutions.

"This new program is already encouraging the growth of solar energy in Virginia as many other customers have contacted us and shown interest."

The Solar Partnership Program was approved by the Virginia State Corporation Commission last November. Dominion will construct and operate up to 30 megawatts of company-owned solar facilities on leased rooftops or on the grounds of commercial businesses and public properties throughout the company's Virginia service area. Fully implemented, the program would generate enough power for 7,500 homes. Each installation could generate as much as two megawatts of electricity.

"When the program was announced last year, it was readily apparent that Old Dominion University was a perfect fit for this innovative project," said ODU President John R. Broderick.

"Our Student Recreation Center is one of the main hubs of activity on our campus and our university, as a whole, is a hub of alternative energy research. This installation is yet another example of ODU's leadership in the development of solar installations and ground-breaking solar energy research."

The 132-kilowatt solar project should generate enough power during daylight hours to supply the energy needs of approximately 35 homes. The project is expected to be completed late this summer. Energy information from the installation will be available at a lobby kiosk inside the Student Recreation Center and in Kaufman Hall, ODU's engineering school.