News for February 11, 2003

***Fee Proposal Could Harm California Solar Power***
[Send a Fax or Email letter today]

Legislators and Lockyer Collide on Energy Funds - Solar Schools Program in question

BP Solar Launches Solar Home Solutions in California

Los Angeles Unveils Plan for 180 MW Wind Power Facility

Military Base Upgrades with 1.1 MW Solar Array [Twentynine Palms]

Women pursue power with solar sisterhood

New Roseville Fire Station Doubles as Power Generator

Historic Helms Bakery Building Taps Into the Sun With New Solar Power System [Los Angeles]

Setting Up a Windmill in LA County Is Almost Quixotic, Builders Say

Can a New [Hydrogen] Economy Save the World?

Solar Panels To Empower Santa Barbara Showgrounds

CPUC issues Proposed Decision on Distributed Generation Interconnection [incl Solar]

IN BRIEF

CEC Renewable Energy Program Decision Summary online- This report [~490kB pdf]summarizes the Renewables Committee (Committee) decisions regarding the final proposed guidelines for continuing the California Energy Commission’s Renewable Energy Program (REP) under Senate Bill 1038 (SB 1038, Sher, Chapter 515, Statutes of 2002). The decisions were made in response to parties’ comments at Committee hearings on December 12 and 13, 2002. This report is designed to help parties understand the reasoning behind the Committee’s decisions with respect to the Committee Draft Guidebooks for the Existing Renewable Facilities Program and the Emerging Renewables Program. This report does not address the Committee Draft Guidebook for the Consumer Education Program or the Overall Program Guidebook for the REP, as no comments were received with respect to these guidebooks. The Energy Commission is scheduled to adopt the four Committee Draft Guidebooks at its February 19, 2003 Business Meeting.

CEC Releases Rule 21[Interconnection] Supplemental Review Guideline - The California Energy Commission (CEC) has released a draft Supplemental Review Guideline for the Rule 21 interconnection process. The draft is available for download on the CEC's Rule 21 website. The CEC also scheduled a meeting of the "Rule 21" Working Group for February 11, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. at the offices of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in Oakland, CA to discuss the latest draft of the Guideline. The Supplemental Review Guideline is intended support the standardized implementation of interconnection requirements defined in the California Electric Rule 21. In particular, this Supplemental Review Guideline addresses generating facility Interconnection Applications that have failed one or more of the Rule 21 Initial Review Process screens and are undergoing Supplemental Review. In October 1999, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued an order instituting a new DER rulemaking (99-10-025) to address interconnection standards. This rulemaking progressed into the rewriting of Rule 21, part of each investor-owned utility's tariff, by the Rule 21 working group, a stakeholder group that helps to develop interconnection policies for distributed generation in California including representatives from the California Energy Commission and the state's electric utilities. The new version of Rule 21 specifies standard interconnection, operating, and metering requirements for DER generators. [source: Steve Kalland IREC Feb 2003 interconnections newsletter]

Solar cell production increases significantly in 2002 - The PV industry has continued to soar in 2002. Judging by responses from the leading manufacturers to PHOTON International's annual market survey on solar cell production, we estimate a minimum total production of 540 MW in 2002 - a 35 percent growth compared to 2001, when 401.4 MW was produced. As in previous years, the largest cell manufacturer was Sharp Corporation from Japan, which reported an impressive 66 percent growth rate from 74 MW in 2001 to 123.1 MW in 2002. BP Solar followed at a distant second with 66.8 MW, a 23 percent increase over the previous year. Kyocera, with which it fought a neck-and-neck battle in 2001 for the second spot, was only able to increase its production to 60 MW. While the growth of most companies was rather modest compared to Sharp, one top ten company even outdid the leader: Sanyo increased cell production nearly 88 percent to 30 MW, which catapulted it from rank 8 to 5 - the only company to improve its position among the top ten cell manufacturers. The complete survey with background information on companies, a break-down on production by country and cell technology, and an outlook for 2003 will be published in the print edition of PHOTON International in March.

Solar Decathlon Request for Proposal 2005 - The Solar Decathlon is an intercollegiate competition among student teamsthat will design, build, and operate solar-powered houses. This competition is open exclusively to colleges, universities and other post-secondary educational institutions. Let's get a California team there this time! more info on the RFP

Events

3/3-8 Workshop: Women's Photovoltaic Design and Installation [SEI -Santa Cruz, California] - Participants in the PV Design & Installation workshop learn how to use PV (photovoltaic) technology to produce their own electricity from the sun. The workshop focuses on the practical design and installation of home PV systems. Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification and component selection. The workshop covers typical applications and case study examples. March 7 and 8 will be a hands-on grid tied installation working with local installer, Akeena Solar. Click here for more information.

3/14, 4/1, 4/2 Solar Schools - PV as a Learning Tool: Rahus's Solar Schoolhouse program will be conducting several workshops this Spring on how to implement a solar energy education program at your school, with a greater focus on smaller systems and classroom curriculum. Dates are: March 14 in San Diego at SD Regional Energy Office, April 1 (San Francisco Pacific Energy Center), and April 2 (San Jose - IBEW). follow the links to register. workshops are offered at no cost.

Installer Training offered throughout California by Solar Living Institute - SLI is offering solar installer training throughout California, starting in March and going through August. If you are a contractor, an electrician, or affiliated in any way with affordable housing, this class is for you. These day-long classes are geared to those with previous electrical experience who need the code and installation information specifically related to photovoltaic installations. The goal of the program is to increase the pool of qualified installers available to serve the public throughout the state. The recommended prerequisite for attending this class is apprentice or journeyman level electrician status or equivalent experience.The course covers basic PV concepts, site analysis, performance calculations, pv array and balance of system installation issues, special wiring considerations, wiring methods, and issues relating to the NEC code and utility interconnection. Photovoltaic system equipment will be available to demonstrate the principles shared in class. Classes are taught by a pool of experienced instructors who have years of hands-on solar electric experience, including Bill Brooks of Endecon Engineering, Douglas Livingston, veteran PV instructor, Jeff Oldham, Project Manager of the Real Goods Solar Living Center and 20 year PV veteran Douglas Bath. More information and registration details.

3/1 Salton Sea RE Tour - The League of Women Voters of San Diego will be hosting a bus tour on Sat., March 1 to discuss regional energy and water issues. The tour is limited to the first 47 registered attendees. The first stop on the tour will be the Covanta Geothermal plant in Heber, CA where we will tour the facility and discuss renewable energy and regional energy planning. We then depart for the Salton Sea Refuge while discussing the proposed Water Transfer with a representative of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). A picnic lunch will be provided as we discuss the effects of the transfer with a representative from the Sonny Bono Refuge. The tour will include informative videos, background information on local energy issues and water resources, and area experts on hand to answer your questions. Departing at 8 am on Saturday, March 1 from the League office at 1094 Cudahy Place off of the Morena Blvd. exit.We expect to return by 5:00 pm. Cost of the trip is $30 for League members and $40 for non-members. For more information, call the League office at 619-275-1147 or email lwvcity@tns.net.