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. New Development Combines Green Construction, Renewable Energy And Solar Powered Boats

The developer is working with the Australian solar powered boat designer, Solar Sailor, to develop solar/biodiesel hybrid powered catamaran houseboats for use at the resort.
by Staff Writers
McGregor IA (SPX) Feb 19, 2008
An environmental engineer/developer plans to construct a unique lifestyle "Green" condotel development on the banks of the main channel of the Mississippi River in the historic River city of McGregor in northeast Iowa. The site is within a 4 hr drive of a combined population of approx. 20 million, including the cities of Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee and Madison, WI.

While close to several urban areas, it is tucked away in the beautiful Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge; 240,000 acres and 260 river miles of protected wooded islands, marshes and backwaters.

The site is presently occupied by the Holiday Shores motel, a 40+ year old mom and pop business that is planning to take a leap into the future with construction of the unique high tech, multi-story "Green" Holiday Shores Condotel condo development that includes the use of renewable energy such as heating by groundwater, electric power partially supplied by solar cells and the use of solar power boats.

Condotels give condo owners the option of having their condos managed and rented by on-site staff. People often take advantage of the condotel option to help subsidize their cost of purchase. Condo prices are planned to start at $126,900 for 411 sq ft studio units up to $581,900 for 2 level - 2041 sq ft loft units.

Plans include offering condo owners use of several luxury time share houseboats. The project's location provides condo owners access to the quaint river city of McGregor, the Upper Mississippi Refuge and the rest of the Mississippi River down to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond. Because of the developer's interest in renewable energy, he is working with the Australian solar powered boat designer, Solar Sailor LLC, to develop solar/biodiesel hybrid powered catamaran houseboats for use at the resort.

The solar powered boats will be available to condo owners as part of the timeshare program and will be available for sale to the general public. Plans include having a solar hybrid boat to provide tours into the park. The boats when not in use will be docked at the adjacent marina and generate electricity by solar cells and on-board wind turbines for use by the condos. Use of the solar powered boats for recreation and to generate electricity makes this an absolutely unique project.

Condo owners will be offered the option of being part of the Holiday Shores' Southern Horizons program in which a flotilla of houseboats will travel south down the Mississippi River every fall, stopping along the way at Riverfront cities such as Memphis, TN and New Orleans, LA. The boats will exit the Mississippi River at the Gulf of Mexico and travel along the coast to wintering destinations as far south as Mexico and Central America.

Houseboat timeshare participants will be able to accompany the houseboats for the trip and can get off anywhere during the trip or stay for the winter season. In the spring, the boats will return to McGregor, Iowa for the summer and fall.

Related Links
Solar Powered Boats
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com



Solar Cell Directly Splits Water For Hydrogen
University Park PA (SPX) Feb 19, 2008
Plants, trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, Penn State researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen.

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