News for January 7, 2005

Happy New Year 2005!!

Santa Monica sunset. 2004 is behind us, and 2005 is here. We're anticipating
great new things in the coming year in our efforts to capture more of that abundant radiant
energy source for use here on Earth. [photo: T. Allen - Rahus]

One million solar homes doable by 2018, state says [California]

Local winemaker turns to solar power to run winery [Lodi]

Germany shines a beam on the future of energy - Nation gambles on amped-up push for renewable power

Eco-warriors - Co-founder of Rainforest Action Network and activist spouse take fight for environment one step at a time [Hayes]

Solar homeowners paying little or nothing for electricity [Sacramento]

Sundial is no friend to the clock watcher

Costco helps kick- start solar power market

Auburn firms brighten Flyers gas stations

NowHouse, a safer and greener alternative [San Francisco]

Kyocera Holds Grand Opening for North American Solar Product Manufacturing

IN BRIEF

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!.

Register to Become a Certified Solar PV Installer [January 7th Deadline] - North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) - January 7, 2005 is the postmark and electronic transmittal deadline to apply for the next Solar PV Installer Certification Exam given by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). The exam is scheduled for March 19, 2005 with locations to be determined by the geographic locations of candidates. The number of current NABCEP certified installers is 143. Applicants may visit the NABCEP website: www.nabcep.org or call: (518) 889-8126 for the exam application and more information.

2004 Solar and Wind Energy System Tax Credit Update - The Franchise Tax Board has posted the 2004 solar and wind energy system tax credit form FTB 3508 2004 (www.ftb.ca.gov/forms). You'll need minimum Adobe 5.0 to view it. The form asks for something called the rated peak generating capacity. To calculate this number, you will need the Energy Commission's solar and wind energy system tax credit worksheet and the equipment certification numbers from the lists of approved equipment for the tax credit. The lists of approved equipment for the tax credit are different from the equipment lists for the Emerging Renewables Program, which only show currently eligible equipment and change frequently over the year. An updated worksheet and lists of approved equipment for the 2004 tax year will be available by late January at: www.consumerenergycenter.org/renewable/tax_credit.html. The tax credit for the 2004 and 2005 tax year is 7.5% of net system cost or $4.50 per watt, whichever is less. For your reference, view this fact sheet on the solar and wind energy system tax credit.

New Self-Generation Program Rules established for 2005 - On Thursday, December 16, 2004, the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) approved a decision which adopts a number of important modifications to the Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) (per AB1685). In anticipation of questions participants are likely to have as a result, the SGIP Working Group (composed of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison Company (SCE), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), San Diego Gas and Electric Company (SDG&E), San Diego Regional Energy Office (SDREO), California Public Utilities Commission Energy Division Staff, and California Energy Commission Renewables Program Staff) have put together this question and answer (Q&A) summary sheet[pdf]. The Q&A is designed to assist those in need of immediate guidance about what the decision means in terms of submitting a new 2004 or 2005 Conditional Reservation Request to the SGIP, as well as those who are currently on a waiting list. If you have questions which are not covered in the Q&A, please direct your question to one of the SGIP Program Administrators by email or phone shown at the end of the Q&A list.

Inspector Guidelines for PV Systems - Inspector Guidelines for PV Systems(pdf) have been prepared for the Renewable Energy Technology Analysis Project of the Pace University Law School Energy Project. The document was prepared by Bill Brooks, Endecon Engineering, with input and review by experts and inspectors. Installers of solar electric systems often cite local permitting as a barrier to the growth of the industry. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the process of obtaining local approval for such systems can be cumbersome, costly, time consuming and quite variable with requirements differing from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide a potential means of making permitting costs and procedures easier, faster, and less expensive. A good companion piece to these guidelines is IREC's “Connecting to the Grid – A Guide to Distributed Generation Interconnection Issues.”[pdf] For more information on interconnection issues check the IREC interconnection site.

PV Status Report 2004 is now available on-line. This Third Edition[pdf] expands to the enlarged European Union and to China, and gives an overview of current activities in research, manufacturing, and market implementation. Per the Preface, in 2004 the worldwide production of PV modules is expected to break the 1 GW annual sales mark, continuing the average growth of over 30% per year during the last 6 years, and making PV one of the fastest growing industries. See: http://streference.jrc.cec.eu.int/html/EventsMain.htm [by the European Commission - Research Centre]

Installing Solar Panels in New Homes Could Save Thousands, Study Finds [Environment California] - Dec. 20, 2004 - Contrasting public beliefs that solar panels are far too expensive for the average homeowner to install, a new report quantifies the great economic benefits of doing so. Published by the Environment California Research and Policy Center, the report demonstrates that installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems protects customers from volatile energy prices. Other benefits to be gained include reduced air pollution, reduced dependence on imported natural gas, and a reduced need for expensive upgrades to electric transmission and distribution systems. As part of Governor Schwarzenegger's Million Solar Roofs initiative, incentive programmes such as rebates and net metering compensate solar home owners for the initial cost of installation, due to the huge benefits that they bring to their home state as a whole. "The bottom line is solar power is a smart investment for everyone, homeowners and ratepayers," said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California Research and co-author of the report. "Our research shows that with the right policies and incentives, installing a solar PV system on a new home can save the average homeowner more than a thousand American dollars." The report used a National Renewable Energy Laboratory economic model in analysing the cost and benefits of installing a solar PV system on a new home built in California's fastest growing areas, assuming that the homeowner would receive a grant of at least $2,800 per kilowatt. On average, the model showed savings to the homeowner of over $4,500 over the lifetime of the solar investment, with savings of $68 in the first year. "By providing incentive in the near term for installing solar, the state can reap public benefits such as clean air and energy independence, while helping the bottom line of homeowners," Del Chiaro concluded. The report was released at the recent Solar Summit hosted by the state Department of Resources and the California. Environmental Protection Agency.

Energy Payback for PV - This new NREL fact sheet, Energy Payback for PV, describes how long it takes for four different types of installed photovoltaics to produce more energy than it initially cost to make the PV cells. The longest is four years, the shortest is one. Two of the types are available; the other two are anticipated. The payback for pollutants/emissions is also considered.

Green Jobs - new website - A new recruitment service for renewable energy - greenjobs - has been launched.

CEC to approve Performance Based Incentive Pilot on Jan. 19th - As part of the January 19, 2005, Business Meeting, the Energy Commission will consider adopting revisions to the Guidebook for the Emerging Renewables Program (Guidebook). Public comments were solicited on the draft Guidebook revisions as part of a committee workshop held on December 1, 2004. The Committee has considered these public comments in recommending the proposed Guidebook revisions. In summary, these proposed revisions would address the following: * Implement a $10 million Pilot Performance-Based Incentive program to be administered concurrently with the current rebate program. * Establish a test protocol for eligible inverters to require that each model of inverter be tested and verified for ratings by a qualified Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory to verify the inverter's ratings. * Eliminate time extensions for all applicants submitting reservation requests after the adoption date of the proposed Guidebook revisions.

Information Request - Online Performance Data from PV systems. Please send an email and url link to any public webpages posting performance data from gridtie PV systems in California. We hope to post these links to these via a single webpage on the californiasolarcenter.org site. send email to pvonline@rahus.org

Events

2005.02.23 CSC Solar Forum [Anaheim] - Mark your calender. The next Solar Forum is scheduled for Anaheim, February 23rd from 9am to 3pm, hosted by Anaheim Public Utilities. Issues to be presented and discussed include: Information on the Governor's proposed Million Solar Roof - California Initiative will be presented and discussed. Proposed legislation for 2005, progress in solar school projects, solar for new homes, solar rebate program updates, and an opportunity to network with others involved in the solar industry. $40 and lunch is included. Register online Now. Presentations from earlier Solar Forums are posted here. If you've been before, you'll know this is a great place to network and learn about developments in the California solar market. The CSC Solar Forum is organized by The Rahus Institute. Questions can be sent to Tor Allen at forum@californiasolarcenter.org

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