News for October 9, 2001

Torrance condo group relies on solar panels for less grid-dependent lifestyle

New FERC chief sparks hope for troubled agency - Solar panels installed on agency headquarters

State energy needs clash with environmental concerns

Yosemite Supports Alternative Energy by Installing Solar Panels

San Francisco Ballot Measures Target Energy Crisis

Heating Bills This Winter to Ease Sharply

Energy giant Shell prepares for end of oil era

Siemens Signs Memorandum of Understanding With Nextek Power Systems Inc

The new surge for energy: Solar power company sets up shop in Rocklin

Energy Independence Now - We Need A New Energy Revolution

Chevron to use fuel cell for power in Bay Area first - Going off the grid assures reliability, but price is steep

What the governor could do to prevent the next energy crisis

IN BRIEF

Solar Home Tours - October 13th. Tours are occuring in many locations around the state.

Legislation - The 3rd Session of the State Legislature will not occur in October due to the Edison Deal that was negotiated with the California Public Utility Commission last week. Thus approval for continuing the PV/Wind Rebate Program (aka the California Energy Commission Emerging Renewable Buydown Program) will wait until the legislature reconvenes in January 2002. Funds not spent under the current program will still be available to support ongoing rebate applications, until the funds run out. Funds for larger systems have already been reserved (ie. sold out) and await the start of the new program next year to fund additional projects.

PV in Building Efficiency Standards? The California Energy Commission is holding a workshop to start the process of revising the state building efficiency codes (Title-24), among the most strigent in the nation, on October 22nd. Up for consideration is whether to include photovoltaics in the code. This could be an important step to the day when every new home built has a clean power roof by defualt. Feedback via email or in person, is encouraged. Follow the 'workshop' link for instructions.

UCAN Study identifies wide variety in permiting fees for solar in San Diego County- proposes standardization to help region achieve goal of energy efficiency and self-sufficiency.

A Performance Calculator for Grid-Connected PV Systems VERSION 2 . PVWATTS v.2 can be used for locations within the 48 Contiguous States, Alaska and Hawaii. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed PVWATTS to permit non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems.

Silicon Valley Power is now offering a rebate for Solar or Wind systems for business customers. $4/watt, up to $400,000, is available. [Other State/local incentives]

California PUC Decision Prohibits New Green Power Marketing
The California Public Utility Commission (PUC) decided in late September to suspend so-called direct access in the state, thereby prohibiting current utility customers from buying their electricity from other power providers. The decision effectively prohibits the marketing of green power products directly to consumers in the state, although it allows green power companies to continue existing agreements with their customers. California's Department of Water Resources (DWR) started buying power for the state in January when financial difficulties hit the state's largest utilities. To stabilize power prices, DWR then entered into long-term contracts to purchase power. This power will be sold to California consumers through their utilities, but alternative power providers offered a way for consumers to avoid buying that power. To assure that consumers continue to buy power from their utilities and thus repay the state for those long- term power contracts, a state bill required that the PUC suspend direct access and cut off those alternative ways of buying power. Although some had hoped that the PUC would make an exception for the green power market, no exception was included in the PUC's final decision.

Two New Wind Installations Online in California
SeaWest WindPower, Inc. and PG&E National Energy Group announced Monday that two new wind projects -- Mountain View Power Partners I and II -- are now online in California. With a total capacity of 66.6 megawatts, the wind installations will produce enough power for more than 40,000 homes. The projects are located near the San Gorgonio Pass in the Palm Springs area, a strong wind resource area that has been producing wind power since the early 1980s. The California Department of Water Resources will buy the power from the projects under a long-term contract.