News for May 2, 2005

Happy Earth Day 2005!! (isn't it everyday?)

High School Students from throughout California recently visited Legislators
and Legislative Analysts at the Capitol in Sacramento to seek support for SB1-
The California Million Solar Roofs Initiative, asking legislators to "vote for our future".
Read more about SB1 below. [photo: T. Allen/Rahus]

Students from Calipatria High School welding class pose
with their winning solar fountain design at the recent
Imperial Valley Solar Schoolhouse Olympics [photo:H.Aronson/Rahus]

Brawley ROP students building solar-powered home [Rahus -Solar Schoolhouse - Imperial Valley] Sunlight. That's one thing we have plenty of here in the Valley. Yet, few locals have bottled up the precious commodity and turned it into a source of energy and cash. That's changing. Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program students at Brawley Union High spent a week, four hours a day, learning how solar energy works and how to install the rare system. ...read more

Solar-powered gizmos and gadgets rule at Earth Day Festival [Solar Schoolhouse Olympics - Imperial Valley] At the seventh annual Earth Day Festival at the Imperial Valley Expo on Saturday (April 9th), there was no shortage of sun and no shortage of gizmos and gadgets running on solar power....read more

Roseville homes harness the sun [Premier Oaks] It's easy to overlook the new homes going up across the street from the Galleria mall in Roseville. Peer closely at the horizon, however, and you may catch rays of sunlight glinting off patches of solar roof tiles. This unobtrusive power system has turned all 49 homes in Roseville's Premier Oaks subdivision into a miniature power plant, giving owners some of the lowest bills in the city.With Roseville slated to build as many as 30,000 new homes in the next decade or so, city officials want to make neighborhoods that generate more power than they consume standard practice for future development....read more

Solar power angling for a cool image [Legislation - SB1 - Sacramento 2005.4.21] Would you like solar panels to go along with those granite countertops and hardwood floors? That's an option Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and two state lawmakers want future buyers of new homes to have under their "Million Solar Roofs Initiative."...read more

Time to turn to solar energy [Op-ed: Mayors from 6 large CA cities 2005.4.25] ON Tuesday, the Legislature will consider the most ambitious solar energy legislation ever introduced in the United States: the California Million Solar Roofs Initiative (SB 1).The bill would provide a decade's worth of incentives to help Californians install 1 million rooftop solar energy systems by 2018. As mayors of six of the state's largest cities, we believe this is an idea whose time has come. ...read more.

[CA] Senate Energy Committee OKs solar roof plan [2005.4.27] Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to power a million homes and businesses with the sun moved forward Tuesday, despite concerns that ratepayers would be stuck subsidizing the ambitious expansion of solar energy....read more

Martinez couple adopts sustainable energy lifestyle [John Muir Birthday/Earthday] On the surface, husband and wife Bob Zimmerman and Mary O'Hara-Zimmerman seem to live in your average all-American energy-gulping and trash-making dream country dwelling. Look closer and you'll see worms eating kitchen scraps in a "worm barn" in their foyer, goats and sheep grazing their yard, and 16 shiny solar panels and a windmill powering their home.... read more

City of Lodi introduces rebates for homes with solar energy During the height of summer when a Central Valley sun blazes down day after day, Therese Connolly and her husband John don't have to sweat over their energy bill. "We can see the meter run backwards," she said. "It's kind of neat." When most people's energy meter wheels start spinning like a record set on 78 rpm during the summer, the Connollys' moves in the opposite direction because they're actually generating power at their home thanks to about a dozen rooftop solar energy panels. "There is an abundant energy supply from the sky, known as the sun," said Rob Lechner, customer service and programs manager for the Lodi Electric Utility. "Solar is an untapped resource and one that may truly solve a lot of America's energy needs." ...read more

Free Market in Energy - Check the Math [A special commentary on the Energy Bill from Scott Sklar] Free market politics in energy? Nope, a "Pork Barrel Extravaganza" would be a better description. The House of Representatives just passed the Energy Bill, HR 6, on April 22nd by a vote of 249 - 183, and even the President of the United States was quoted earlier that the bill would do little to solve energy price increases. Skeptics on renewable energy often use the excuse that renewables cost more - so why support them? It's important to remember that the traditional energy industries are subsidized by billions of dollars each year in today's tax code....read more

More Consumers Plugging Into Solar Power - Easy Financing Makes PV Technology Accessible [GE] Derek Parker’s electric meter has become a neighborhood attraction. Residents on Camborne Way in Rocklin, Calif., are stopping by the Parker house regularly these days to watch the electric meter spin backward. Parker and his wife, Kimberly, recently installed a photovoltaic power system on their 3,700-square foot house and are now enjoying electricity bills that often read “zero” in the “amount due” column. “The people who installed the system told me the meter would run backward on sunny days and it’s true,” said Parker, a firefighter with the Sacramento Fire Department. “My electric bill used to be around $130 to $150 per month. Over the winter we actually produced more electricity than we used.” Alot of California homeowners may have considered alternative power sources but were discouraged by the cost of installation and the difficulty of obtaining financing. A residential solar electric system can range from $20,000 to $60,000 in unsubsidized costs, depending on the size and type of system. That price would be manageable for many people if financed over time, but until recently, financing for a solar electric power system was not readily available....read more

IN BRIEF

Credit Union installs solar on own roof, offers financing to members [Santa Barbara] - The Santa Barbara County Federal Credit Union has installed a PV system on their own rooftop. In addition, a new financing option for solar rooftops is available to members.

Solar Forum presentations online - Presentations from the February Solar Forum in Anaheim are available online. The range of topics include: CEC Rebate program, Self Generation Program update, State Solar Policy, City of Anaheim Solar activities, Zero Energy Homes, buying Solar Renewable Energy Credits, and recent Solar Schoolhouse activities..

New 'Your Solar Home' DVD available from Rahus - 'Your Solar Home- The Art and Science of Heating, Cooling and Powering Your Home with the Sun'. An incredible amount of energy comes to earth in the form of sunlight. Every house is a potential solar collector, ready to harness this endless supply of energy and put it to work for us. 'Your Solar Home' helps to demystify the concept of a solar home, providing us with the scientific basis for understanding the many ways you can capture this energy to heat, cool, and power your home…in a comprehensive and entertaining format. Support the Rahus Institute and demystify the wonders of a solar home. Order this great new DVD now!.

New Report: California Can Make Solar Power Affordable In 10 Years [Environment California] - April 25, 2005 - A new report, released by Environment California Research & Policy Center, maps out how California can make solar power affordable for the average homeowner and business within ten years. The report also details how developing a thriving, self-sufficient solar power market can have huge benefits for the state - reducing air pollution, protecting consumers from volatile electricity prices, and reducing the need for expensive upgrades to electricity transmission and distribution systems.

The Solar High-Impact National Energy (SHINE) Project report - [Clean Edge - 2005.2.28]outlines a three-pronged federal program to regain American leadership in the high-growth global solar PV industry. If enacted, the plan would create up to 580,000 new American jobs and generate up to 9 percent of the country’s total electricity needs by 2025. The report outlines a ten-year plan to aggressively push solar PV over the tipping point -- making solar cost-effective for businesses, homeowners, industry, and utilities far faster than current, business-as-usual trends. It includes an innovative federal block-grant program; an aggressive federal solar procurement commitment; and a high-stakes/high-reward competition to develop and deploy low-cost solar solutions.

PV Grid Connected Market Potential in 2010 under a Cost Breakthrough Scenario - [Energy Foundation & Navigant] This report describes the vast market potential for rooftop solar PV systems in the United States. The report concludes that rooftop space is not a constraining factor for solar development. Residential and commercial rooftop space in the U.S. could accommodate up to 710,000 MW of solar electric power (if all rooftops were fully utilized). For comparison, total electricity-generating capacity in the U.S. today is about 950,000 MW.

SDG&E Solar files request to boost solar in San Diego [2005.4.18] - San Diego Gas & Electric has filed a request with the California Public Utilities Commission to place solar panels on its roofs and other property to bolster the use of renewable energy resources in the San Diego region. If the request is approved, SDG&E will ask for bids to place the panels on its buildings and will use the energy to power both its facilities and its customers' homes and businesses. If the request is approved, SDG&E will ask for bids to place the panels on its buildings and will use the energy to power both its facilities and its customers’ homes and businesses. SDG&E is estimating that the solar displays will generate 1 megawatt to 3 megawatts, enough to supply 1,000 to 3,000 homes with electricity. Three megawatts of solar energy would represent an increase of almost 40% over today’s use of solar energy within San Diego County...read more

USDA Farm Bill offers funding for Renewables Projects - March 28, 2005, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the availability of grants under the Renewable Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Program (Farm Bill Section 9006). Within this NOFA, the USDA Rural Development announces the availability of up to $22.8 million in competitive grant funds for fiscal year 2005 to purchase renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Grant applications must be postmarked no later than June 27, 2005. Full information on this program is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/

After Two Year Dispute, Los Gatos Approves Installation of Akeena's Rooftop Solar System - Los Gatos, CA (March 14th, 2005) - The Town of Los Gatos has fully approved the installation of Akeena Solar's 6 kw rooftop solar electric system. Designed as a sloped mansard roof, the system also screens rooftop HVAC and electrical equipment from view at street level. This system provides all the electrical power required for the company's office and warehouse operations. Pictures of this newly completed solar installation are at http://www.akeena.net/about/losgatossolarfinal.html. "Although it took over two years, we are very glad that we were able to come to an amicable resolution of the situation with the Town of Los Gatos," said Barry Cinnamon, president of Akeena Solar. "By encouraging solar systems on both residential and commercial buildings, Los Gatos is indeed 'solar friendly' and sets a notable example for the way in which environmentally friendly building practices can be integrated with charming, home-town aesthetics."... read more.

The Near Zero-Energy House - Savy production builders are turning dream into reality - and winning an edge with customers - [Rob Hammon - Consol - May/June 2005 Solar Today] - For a glimpse of the houses of tomorrow, one need look no further than the work of a few forward-thinking production builders. Combining solar energy technologies with energy-efficient features and energy-saving construction techniques, these builders are constructing houses that generate nearly as much electricity as they consume on an annual basis. ...read more

PV Manufacturing Conference Presentations Online [EPIA] - Presentations and videos from the 1st International Advanced Photovoltaic Manufacturing Technology Conference held in Munich (April 13th) at SEMICON Europa 2005 are online at the EPIA website.

Water district in California’s Central Valley powered by the sun - 2005.4.29 - Shell Solar and the Semitropic Water Storage District announce the dedication of a 980-kilowatt solar electric power system at the water district’s treatment and storage facility in Wasco, California. Designed and installed by Shell Solar, the system utilizes a unique patent-pending single-axis tracking system. read more

BP Solar expands Home Depot California Offering - BP Solar said it would expand its BP Solar Home Solution to virtually all The Home Depot stores in California. The program was launched in mid-October 2004 with 40 stores in the San Diego region and expanded in December to an additional 42 stores, with the latest expansion to include an additional 76 stores between Bakersfield and San Luis Obispo in the south and Red Bluff and Redding in the north.

Top 10 Green Power Programs [NREL] - The National Renewable Energy Laboratory released its annual ranking of leading utility green power programs. Using information provided by utilities, NREL develops "Top 10" rankings of utility programs in the categories of: total sales of renewable energy to program participants, total number of customer participants, customer participation rate, and the lowest price premium charged for a green pricing service using new renewable resources. California programs that made the lists include: City of Palo Alto Utilities, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Los Angeles Department of Water &Power, and Roseville Electric. read more [download rankings pdf] previous year rankings.

NABCEP PV Entry Level Certificate [2005.4.12] - The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners announced the launch of its newest program, The NABCEP Photovoltaic (PV) Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge.

Santa Barbara launches 'Fossil Free by '33' initiative [2005.4.4] Santa Barbara-based Community Environmental Council (CEC) has launched a campaign with the goal of of making Santa Barbara county "Fossil Free by '33". The CEC is one of the US Department of Energy - Million Solar Roofs Partners, working in California. read more

PG&E Solar School grants [due May 15th] - PG&E announced it has issued a request for proposals and will fund $1.5 million in Solar Schools Program grants to assist local public schools with energy resources, science projects, and specialized solar science curriculum for teachers. $2500 and $5000 grants are available for teachers implementing energy projects in the classroom. Schools may also apply for a ~1kW grid-tie solar electric system. more information

Events

5/7/2005 Lodi Solar Schoolhouse Olympics - @ Lodi High School - 3 S. Pacific Ave, Lodi - The 2nd Annual Lodi Solar Schoolhouse Olympics, sponsored by The Rahus Institute and City of Lodi Electric Utility Dept. Students from Lodi schools compete in a variety of events: model solar cars, model homes, solar fountain design, open design, solar cookers, and an art event. FREE to attend. 10am -1pm.

5/13-15/2005 MWD Solar [Boat] Cup [Lake Skinner] - Solar Cup is a competition for public and private high school students throughout Southern California, sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its member cities and water agencies. In its third year, Solar Cup is the only event of its kind in California. Student teams construct and compete solar-powered boats, involving the students with alter native energy sources, solar conversion, electrical and mechanical systems, stewardship of natural resources, teamwork, creative thinking, problem solving, sportsmanship, and numerous other attributes.
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Place: Lake Skinner Recreation Area, 33740 Borel Road. read more

6/1/2005 California Forum: Powering New Communities with PVs [San Francisco - @PCBC conference] - Wednesday June 1, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM How do photovoltaic systems work? Are there installation issues for production housing? What about the warranties and buy-downs? Moderator Rob Hammon, ,ConSol, Addison Marks, GE Energy, Arthur Rudin, Sharp Solar, John Ralston, Premier Homes, and Bob Raymer, California Building Industry Association - will discuss building integrated photovoltaic solutions (BIPV) and the system’s components. Are buyers willing to pay for the cost of “free” electricity? What’s the publicity worth?” Find out how a small builder got into the business of protecting the environment with unexpected marketing results.

Solar Schoolhouse Summer Institute for Educators [June & July]- 5 day sessions for Educators. Participants will build various solar projects through the week, with the intent of incorporating hands-on lessons and projects for their classroom and school. 2 Sessions scheduled: June 19-24 (Cambria), and July 10-15 (Petaluma). read more

6/23-24/2005 Renewable Energy Finance Forum [New York]- "Renewable Energy Finance Forum - Wall Street" is set for 23-24 June in New York City, sponsored by the American Council On Renewable Energy and Euromoney Energy Events.

8/6-12/2005 ISES/ASES Solar World Congress [Orlando, FL] - "Bringing Water to the World" - Please join the American Solar Energy Society, the International Solar Energy Society and all of the other participating organizations in Orlando, Florida, August 6-12, 2005 as we welcome the ISES Solar World Congress back to the United States. Join leading researchers, scientist, engineers, architects, designers and other renewable energy professionals from around the world at this comprehensive program.

8/20-21/2005 SOLFEST - 10th Annual Event - [Hopland, CA] - Hosted by the Solar Living Institute and Real Goods.

10/1/2005 - Solar Home Tours - at various locations. Check nationally at ASES website for location near you. NorCal Solar hosts a number of tours in Northern California

6/25 Summer Solstice Parade [Santa Barbara] - For a colorful, musical time, this is it. Come celebrate the longest day of the year. Maybe you'll see the PV powered brigade, or Solar cell string band? parade starts at Noon on State Street. If you're local, attend the workshop, make a costume and join the parade. more

10/7-16/2005 Solar Decathlon [The Mall - Washington DC] - The Solar Decathlon brings 18 college and university teams from around the globe to compete to design and build houses that demonstrate the advantages of a solar lifestyle. The students will show us how we can live with abundance and comfort in beautiful, energy-efficient, completely solar-powered homes. In fall 2005, teams transport their competition solar houses to Washington, D.C., where they construct a "solar village" on the National Mall. The teams compete against each other in 10 contests that range from architecture and livability and comfort to how well the solar homes perform in providing energy for space heating and cooling, hot water, lights, and appliances. Each solar house must also power an electric car. The teams will build their houses to accomplish all this using only energy from the sun. The solar village is open to the public October 7-16, 2005. The teams' houses will be open for touring everyday except October 12, when they will close for competition purposes.

10/6-9/2005 SOLAR POWER 2005 [Washington DC] - National Conference. "Strategies for U.S. Market Growth" - SOLAR POWER 2005 is the can't-be-missed event for anyone involved in or interested in learning about solar technologies and markets. Solar electric (photovoltaics), solar water heating, and concentrating solar power will all be covered. .Solar Power 2005 includes: Sessions on technology, markets, and policy, Expo, Manufacturer training, and Product demonstrations. Solar Power 2005 will also be held in conjunction with the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon, where 18 college and university teams will build solar homes on the National Mall.

Solar Living Center [Hopland - Ongoing Workshops] - a wide variety of topics offered in 1-5 day workshops. check website for current offerings.

Pacific Energy Center [San Francisco - Ongoing Workshops] - in addition to offering FREE workshops on solar topics, the Pacific Energy Center also has a wide variety of workshops on energy efficient design for the architectural and engineering audience. check website for current offerings.

Diablo Valley College [Pleasant Hill - recurring RE courses] - Photovoltaic System Design and Installation. Check DVC Website and search under Schedule of Courses for "Alternative Energy Technologies". Tom Chatagnier is the instructor.

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