News for March 25, 2003

Solar Energy International sponsored a workshop at Walden West Outdoor School..
A group of 23 women, including (from left) Michelle Large, Nicole Clock, Angie Stuart
and Kate Lathan, installed solar panels at the school.

California Electricity plan calls for partial regulation

Women put energy to good use at Walden West [Saratoga]

City Hall, JFK Library solar-powered up [Vallejo]

L.A. Gets New Fuel Cell Power Plant

City of Sebastopol partners with Cooperative Community Energy to launch solar energy program

OK Produce installs 231kW PV system on Distribution Facility [Fresno]

City of Chico looks to the skies for power

Study Finds Green-Power Methods Won't Raise LADWP Rates

A Greener LADWP Is Needed [Los Angeles Editorial]

CPUC to rule on Solar Exit Fees April 3rd

Los Angeles Announces Plans to Build 120 MW Wind Power Facility

Capitol Area East End Project Nears Completion [Sacramento]

IN BRIEF

BP Solar achieves new record for solar cell efficiency - BP Solar announced it has achieved a world record in solar cell efficiency for a 125mm size cell. The 18.3 percent efficiency was verified by the Fraunhofer Institut Solare Energiesysteme in Germany. The 18.3 percent efficiency represents an 11 percent improvement over the 16.5 percent efficiency currently available with Saturn solar cells. Researchers at BP Solar's Technology Center in Sunbury, UK developed the 18.3 percent efficiency cell. Improved efficiency remains the underlying foundation for future BP Solar production of premium solar cells. This new technology will form the basis for the new BP Solar Tres Cantos facility in Madrid, Spain, as well as underpinning efficiency improvements at the existing Alcobendas facility near Madrid. "BP Solar continues to demonstrate innovative ways to improve technology that benefits the industry by paving the way toward improved products delivering lower costs to our customers," said John Mogford, BP group vice president, Renewables and Alternatives. "BP Solar is proud of this world record and will work hard to bring it to production, but it is not the only efficiency improvement on which we are working. Customers can expect to see the next generation of Saturn laser-grooved technology in the near term." BP Solar has manufacturing facilities in the US, Spain, India, and Australia. Its headquarters are located in Linthicum, Maryland. [ref. solarbuzz 2003.3.24]

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. The market survey was published in the March edition of the magazine.

BII makes progess with solar in New Home Building market [California] - The Building Industry Institute (BII) is pleased to provide the following summary report from our 2001-2002 Million Solar Roofs (MSR) project. During this time period, the BII and our MSR management team negotiated groundbreaking benefits for solar builders-benefits never before offered to solar builders in California. We were able to persuade six local California governments to offer new benefits to builders who offer photovoltaics (PV) on new residential homes. These six local governments include some of the busiest, fastest-growing communities in the State of California-the Cities of Corona, Lake Elsinore, Palmdale, Palm Desert, and Paso Robles and the County of Riverside. We also promoted photovoltaic policy, and worked on photovoltaic technical issues with leading production builders likely to build in these six jurisdictions in the future. These builders include Pardee Homes, Griffin Communities, Centex and Estrella Homes. Through individual meetings with City and County officials in each of the six jurisdictions, our MSR team negotiated special benefits for solar builders. These benefits include faster plan check, reduced and/or waived fees, guaranteed (special) inspections and formal recognition. In the past, these benefits were only offered to homebuilders who build energy-efficiently and substantially above (15-30 percent) California's aggressive Title 24 Energy Code, and who benefit from third party inspections of installed energy efficiency improvements. MSR team members were able to arrange these benefits for solar builders, based on the economic and environmental community-wide benefits that accrue from solar building.

Loves me, loves me not, loves me...[Federal Solar Budget] - February started with the Bush administration calling for a decent– albeit accidental – 4.1 percent increase to its PV R&D budget request for 2004 of $76.7 million. Then the US Congress finally put the 2003 budget to bed at the same amount. It must be love...more at Photon Magazine March 2003 issue

Solar Decathlon Request for Proposal 2005 - The Solar Decathlon is an intercollegiate competition among student teams that 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

4/1 and 4/2: Solar Schools: PV as a Learning Tool [San Francisco and San Jose] - 1 to 4:30 pm. This workshop will present information on how to use photovoltaics (PV or solar electric) as a learning tool in the classroom. Topics to be covered include: PV equipment options, financing & incentive options, Division of the State Architect (DSA) design and approval process, metering options to bring data into the classroom, display options to make PV a permanent learning tool, classroom curriculum, and special projects. Agenda/Flyer. Co-Sponsored by the Rahus Institute/Solar Schoolhouse and Pacific Energy Center. Register Online

[4/16] Million Solar Roofs - Solar for Affordable Housing - Conf Call Seminar. The next Million Solar Roofs Conference Call Seminar will be Wednesday, April 16, 2003 at 2 p.m. EDT . The seminar will last for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The topic, Solar for Affordable Housing, will feature two very different perspectives on how such projects can be done. The seminar will focus on the institutional and financial aspects of the solar installations rather than the technical issues. The seminar is free for Million Solar Roof partners, but you must register to attend. Robin Raida of the Community Corporation of Santa Monica, California and the project architect, Angie Brooks of Pugh, Scarpa, Kodama will discuss Colorado Court, a five-story, 44-unit affordable housing development. Energy features include extensive energy efficiency measures, passive solar design, a natural-gas-powered microturbine generator, and 204 photovoltaic panels. The photovoltaic system was funded by the California solar rebate and funds from the City of Santa Monica. The utility, Southern California Edison, the City, and State and Private rebates funded the other energy features, The Community Corporation has applied for a Gold LEED rating from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design voluntary rating system. Dave Bickham of the Mississippi Development Authority's Energy Division, will explain programs to install 53 solar hot water systems on existing residences to make the homes more affordable to low-income and fixed-income families. The solar program is integrated with housing and development programs to create an integrated economic development program for rural communities.