John D. Roethle, FIMC
Chairman
The Roethle Group, Inc.
163 Country Ridge Road
Hendersonville, NC 28739
phone 828.698.2861
fax # available upon request
email john@theroethlegroup.com

The Roethle Group (TRG)...
• Dedicated to developing partnerships with technology-based businesses in a dynamic world
• Experienced professionals focusing on energy systems and engineered products
• Skilled at:
— Strategic plans
— Product and market assessments
— Customer satisfaction studies
— Action programs
• Assisting our partners in achieving their future goals
TRG Introduces Wisconsin Educators, Consultants and Contractors to One of the Outstanding Renewable Energy Centers in the U.S. via Wisconsin's New Cross-Lake Catamaran

The highly renowned Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) is an outstanding example of the use of combining fuel cells, photovoltaics and stationary batteries to provide electricity and heat on a highly efficient basis for a new business incubator in renewable energy technologies.
June 2, 2004
TRG organized and established a special tour, with the help of Dr. Imad Mahawili, the Executive Director, and Heather De Nio, of the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (MAREC) in Muskegon, MI. The party was comprised of seventeen attendees from around the state of Wisconsin, who had great interest in renewable energy. Nine of these visitors were from technical colleges -- these were predominantly made up of Milwaukee Area Technical College professors and administrators. They have been exploring renewable energy and its applications to their institution. The remainder of the individuals who attended were Wisconsin energy consultants and industrial contractors.

TRG has been involved in assisting the technical colleges to educate their constituencies in the emerging fuel cell technologies.

Dr. Imad Mahawili (above) is the Executive Director of the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center (below) of 

Grand Valley State University.  

This monitor (above) displays the Photovoltaics, NiMH battery bank and Fuel Cell as well as the activity and power output level for each.  This distributed power 

generation system was designed and implemented 

by Dr. Mahawili and his two colleagues.

The Center has been designated a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Transportation on the June 2nd trip also included a voyage across Lake Michigan utilizing Wisconsin-to-Michigan's new high-speed catamaran - the Lake Express.  This new form of transportation, which runs between Milwaukee and Muskegon, has been operating since June 1st.  It will make three round-trips each day and is anticipated to operate from May 1st-December 31st.  This ship has reduced the time for sea travel between the two cities almost in half, compared to prior commercial vessels.

 

TRG has worked with the Port of Milwaukee for the past five years developing the research to justify the MARAD investment in this high-speed catamaran to bring Michigan and Wisconsin closer together.  This investment is especially appropriate with the major expressway construction in progress, in both Milwaukee and Chicago, dramatically increasing the time required to drive from Wisconsin around the lake to Michigan over the next three years.   

 

The Lake Express has the capacity 

to carry 46 cars and light trucks 

and 250 passengers at a speed of 

34 knots (40 mph).  
 

Website Last Updated:

February 15, 2005