In the West, Climate and Energy Policy Is Water Policy

7/19/2010

Dan Grossman and Bart Miller

As the West continues to struggle with a decade-long drought, declining river flows have left major storage reservoirs--like Powell and Mead--only 55% full. Whether these important storage vessels will ever be full again is in question as scientists are concluding that the extended droughts of the past may become the norm of the future. So what should we do about this bleak situation?

If we are serious about avoiding the biggest looming crisis of meeting the water needs of the West, we have to understand the energy-water connection and advance clean energy solutions.

Intermountain Wind & Solar, a UtSEA business member, recognized for work on Solar for Schools!!!

7/8/2010

Elise Bassett

SALT LAKE CITY — Going green is the new wave in education, and 73 public schools across the state have solar panels being installed.

Salt Lake City's Rowland Hall became one of the first private schools in the state to become part of the trend Thursday, when the school began installation of 48 solar panels.

"In terms of how much it's going to offset our power, it's a small amount. It's less than 5 percent," said Mary Jacquin, director of sustainability at Rowland Hall.

"What we're just hoping to accomplish is to educate and set an example. It's a great learning opportunity for these kids."

Every teacher on the campus will have computer access for their students so that they can monitor all the data that comes from the solar panels.

"There's a vast amount of data they'll be able to manipulate," Jacquin said. "Like, this amount of power represents x number of cars being taken off the road, or x amount of carbon being produced."

They'll also be able to monitor how much power is generated on each day, and how it is affected by the weather.

"Not only will that data be available to all the teachers and students," Jacquin said, "but there will also be a panel available here in the lobby so that anyone coming into the school can just take a look at that information."

The panels are part of a project that has been in the works for two years. The school has several other sustainability programs in the works.

— Elise Bassett

Sign on to the Solar Bill of Rights

7/1/2010

SEIA

http://www.solarbillofrights.us/

This Fourth of July, before you fire up the grill and light up the fireworks, we are asking you for one more act of patriotism to help with a new kind of American independence –energy independence. It is more evident now than ever that we need to move to clean, safe and abundant renewable sources like solar energy.

But we need your help to make it a reality. Please ask your work colleagues, friends and family to join the cause. Take these easy, but significant steps to help guide America toward a clean energy future. Here’s what you can do:

· Send an email to 10 of your work colleagues, friends and family with your note inviting them to sign the Solar Bill of Rights.
· Post a comment on your Facebook profile or tweet about why you signed the Solar Bill of Rights and encourage your friends to sign on too.
· Add the Solar Bill of Rights link to your company’s site if you work in solar or a related field.

These simple steps will help spread the word about our new struggle for independence this Fourth of July weekend.

Thanks for your support!

Visit the Solar Bill of Rights page and sign it! http://www.solarbillofrights.us/

LDS Church unveils green meetinghouse prototype

4/27/2010

Kristen Moulton

Farmington » LDS Church leaders Tuesday unveiled the meetinghouse of the future -- and it's a "green" one. They showcased one of five prototypes, a Farmington stake center that sports 156 solar panels, xeriscaped landscaping, even designated parking for electric cars.

"There is something very doctrinally sound when we talk about conservation of resources," said H. David Burton, presiding bishop of the 13.8 million-member faith. Latter-day Saints, he said, might consider their own environmental stewardship. "This is a teaching moment," Burton said. "This aspect of our culture has become a vital part of our DNA."

Journalists from along the Wasatch Front toured the new meetinghouse, which the church built to silver standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
It will be the second LDS building to earn such status. The first was the new Church History Library, completed last summer in downtown Salt Lake City.

The stake center, which can serve three wards, or congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is one of five such buildings under construction in Utah, Nevada and Arizona to assess the benefits of going green.

New Utah State Energy Program Renewable Energy Rebate Application is now available!

4/19/2010

Utah Solar Energy Association

If you attended the Utah Solar Energy Association's Utah Renewable Energy Conference 2010 you learned about the Utah State Energy Program's new Renewable Energy Rebate. You also learned that the application was not yet available, but as of Monday, April 19th 2010 the new rebate application is available!

To see the new application and learn more about the details to qualify for this new rebate visit the Utah State Energy Program's wesite:

http://geology.utah.gov/SEP/stimulus/sep_formula/renew_energy_rebate.htm

Make sure and contact a certified solar contractor in Utah to help you with the application process. For a list of solar contractors visit our Business Member Directory by clicking on the "Directory" tab at the top of this page.

Utah Renewable Energy Conference 2010

2/15/2010

Utah Solar Energy Association

Now is the time to go solar! Take advantage of the new renewable energy rebate for home & business owners while it lasts!

The Utah State Energy Program will be offering a new rebate for home and business owners that install solar energy. That means if you install solar energy on your home or business you could get a check in the mail for thousands of dollars back! Whether or not you have ever thought about solar energy now is the time to learn about how it can save you money on your monthly bills and increase the value of your home. This year might also be the best time to go solar as more than 50% of the cost may be covered with the available tax credits and the new rebate.

The solar rebate is an exciting new program intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs, but it will not last forever and everyone will have questions about how it works. To help answer those questions the Utah Solar Energy Association's Utah Renewable Energy Conference 2010 will focus on the new rebate and provide a physical location where you can come and learn about the details of the new rebate and how much money it could save you. In addition, the conference will have information sessions on energy efficiency upgrades for your home, different solar technologies, and other topics. Solar installers and other renewable energy companies will also be on site so you can ask specific questions about how energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades would work for your home or business.

This event will be held on Saturday, March 27th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and it will be located at the Salt Lake Community College Miller Campus off I-15 at 9750 South in Sandy. Admission is $5 for an individual or $10 for a family, and your conference admission will get you $100 off a solar energy system from any of the solar installers participating in the conference! Register now, and check back often for updates! To register and pay via PayPal use the button below:

Registration Type

Individual $5.00 Couple or Family $10.00

Utah Makes the Grade for Solar and Distributed Renewable Energy

1/12/2010

Utah Clean Energy

Utah Makes the Grade for Solar and Distributed Renewable Energy
Utah Clean Energy helps Utah earn an ‘A’ for net metering policies

In the school of distributed solar and renewable energy, Utah is moving to the head of class, thanks to the efforts of Utah Clean Energy, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and numerous supporters. In a recent report published by the Network for New Energy Choices, Freeing the Grid: Best and Worst Practices in State Net Metering Policies and Interconnection Procedures, 2009, Utah received a distinguished ‘A’ grade on the state net metering report card (redeeming itself from the ‘F’ and ‘D’ it received in the 2007 and 2008 reports, respectively). This annual report evaluates each state’s distributed generation policies and regulations and highlights state efforts to enact best practices and encourage the adoption of renewable energy. Additionally, IREC’s legal team of Keyes & Fox placed Utah in its list of top four states that deserve high fives for their interconnection and net metering best practices. After years of hard work and perseverance, Utah is finally making the grade and getting noticed.

Provo Utah Passes Net Metering

9/23/2009

DANNY CHANDLER

Provo City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a policy which will allow simultaneous use of electricity from renewable sources and from the city.
The ordinance amends a section of the Provo City Code that formerly banned residential homes with power generators, like solar panels or windmills, from being interconnected with Provo City’s power system.
“This would really allow renewable resources to offset a portion or all of the customer’s energy expenses,” said Kevin Garlick, executive director of Provo City Electric Energy.

Solar cell phones take off in developing nations

8/21/2009

By Moni Basu and Faith Karimi

(CNN) -- Peter Gathungu walks more than a mile to a shopping center, where he pays a sizable sum to charge his cell phone.

St. George ‘SunSmart’ solar project earns award

8/19/09

David Emille

ST. GEORGE - The city of St. George's Energy Services Department has been recognized with a "Smart Energy Innovation Award" for its new solar farm.

SunSmart, a joint program between the city and Dixie-Escalante Electric that was completed in January, is built around the state's largest solar farm, a 100-kilowatt facility housed on 17 acres on the south side of Bloomington.

During a meeting of the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems - UAMPS - Aug. 13, St. George received the agency's newest award, which recognizes a municipal utility for "excellence in implementing energy efficiency programs and/or renewable projects."

"St. George's SunSmart solar program is a brilliant concept," said Doug Hunter, UAMPS general manager. "It provides a very viable means for the city's residents to invest in renewable solar generation at a central plant location, and to enjoy all of the benefits, including tax credits, without the hassle and complications of building and maintaining a system in their own back yards. Everyone benefits."

Feed-in Tariffs for Solar Continue To Spread (NY Times Article)

7/23/2009

Felicity Barringer

Nestor Bachmann/European Pressphoto Agency

A technician on a rooftop solar power station in Hassleben, Germany.

Variations on the policy that jumpstarted Germany’s decade-long boom in rooftop solar systems are taking root in more cities in the United States.

The policy, called a feed-in tariff, offers small-scale producers of solar energy long-term contracts (usually at above-market rates) for the electricity they sell. Last week, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, which serves 1.4 million people, approved a feed-in tariff that allows homeowners with solar panels a chance to sign up for 10, 15 or 20 years of guaranteed payments. The policy will take effect next January. The city of Gainesville, Fla., adopted a feed-in tariff this spring, as did Vermont. Washington state also has such a policy, and Hawaii is currently considering one.

New National Requirements For Energy Efficient Light Bulbs!

7/8/09

A.P.

It is a good day for Energy Efficiency! President Obama recently announced the new national minimum energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs. The new requirements will make the hundreds of millions of fluorescent tube lamps that light offices, stores, and factories more efficient, not to mention the millions of reflector lamps sold each year used for flood lighting and spot lighting. According the Department of Energy, the new standards will save up to 1.2 trillion kilowatt-hours over thirty years, an amount about equal to the total consumption of all homes in the U.S. in one year. Businesses and consumers will gain up to $35 billion in net savings and global warming carbon dioxide emissions will be cut by up to 594 million metric tons, an amount equal to the annual emissions of nearly 110 million cars.*


For more information, see ASAP/ACEEE/NRDC press release.

Click here to read the DOE final rule

Click here for the full White House announcement


* The President's announcement cited 594 million metric tons as equivalent to the emissions of 166 million cars. It is likely that their calculation used a higher mpg per vehicle (e.g. 30 mpg).

Talk to your representative about America’s Clean Energy Security Act of 2009

5/27/2009

UtSEA

Critical decisions are currently being discussed that will have far reaching impact on renewable energy nationwide and in Utah. The Waxman-Markey bill (America's Clean Energy Security Act of 2009) is an exciting first step, but as it has made its way to congress it has been pulled apart and weakened. It is important that we tell our representatives where we stand and how we want them to represent us on this issue.

As part of the American Solar Energy Society we have partnered with Solar Nation in an effort to make our voice heard nationwide. However, this only happens when we take the necessary steps at the state level to tell our representatives how we want them to vote on important issues. The link below to Solar Nation's site provides further information on this issue and an easy way to take action. Please take time to read about this issue, enter your zipcode at the bottom of the page and it will automatically find your representative and you can easily send them a message urging them to take a strong stance on this issue.

http://capwiz.com/re-action/go/HR2454

Google announces Google PowerMeter partners

5/19/2009

Ed Lu

Google Announces Google PowerMeter Partners!!!

Google PowerMeter is a Google gadget that can show consumers their personal electricity consumption right on a home computer. The software relies on "smart meters" (or other metering devices) as a data source. Over the past several months they've been looking to partner with utilities that are installing (or have already installed) this equipment in their customers' homes. They're energized by their very first Google PowerMeter partners:

* San Diego Gas & Electric® (California)
* TXU Energy (Texas)
* JEA (Florida)
* Reliance Energy (India)
* Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (Wisconsin)
* White River Valley Electric Cooperative (Missouri)
* Toronto Hydro–Electric System Limited (Canada)
* Glasgow EPB (Kentucky)

Solar 101 thank you and slides from the presentation

5/6/2009

UtSEA Executive Committee

The Utah Solar Energy Association's Solar 101 event at Salt Lake Community College on April 16th was a great success. Thank you to all the presenters and attendees who made it an effective learning environment.

U.S. To Establish Clean Energy Investment Agency

5/6/2009

Clean Tech Brief

U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would establish a new independent agency to oversee government investment in clean energy.

Introducing the Green Academy at Salt Lake Community College

4/30/2009

Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College has launched The Green Academy, offering education, training, and workshops in Energy Management, Green Design and Construction, Environmental Health and Safety, and Sustainability across many disciplines.

Bill to Help Californians Pay for Home Solar Systems and Energy Efficiency Initiatives Passes Senate

4/28/2009

California Political Desk

Bill to Help Californians Pay for Home Solar Systems and Energy Efficiency Initiatives Passes Senate

Sacramento, CA – A bill by Senator Loni Hancock (D-Oakland) allowing cities and counties to help property owners pay for solar energy systems and energy efficiency improvements passed the Senate today. The vote on SB 279 was 26-13.

"My bill will remove the primary financial hurdle that deters most homeowners from installing solar panels or making energy efficiency improvements – the upfront costs," said Senator Hancock. "Through this measure, cities and counties can assist homeowners by making solar energy and energy efficiency improvements much more affordable."

Texas Senate Passes $500 million Solar Incentive Bill

4/22/2009

Jim Vertuno

Texas Senate passes $500M solar incentive bill

Texas Senate passes $500 million solar energy rebate bill to help residents and businesses

Renewable Energy Fair at Milford High School

4/22/2009

UtSEA News

UtSEA NEWS - Monday April 20, 2009 Milford, located in Beaver County Utah, was the site for a Renewable Energy fair where Milford Valley was designated as one of Utah's Renewable Energy Zones by a legislative joint resolution. Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. supported and acknowledged this historic occasion at the first renewable energy fair at Milford High School.

The Utah Renewable Energy Zone (UREZ) task force invited members of the Utah Solar Energy Association to attend and support the State’s legislative body in its plan to increase the expansion of renewable technology on a commercial scale. Utah Solar Energy Association's (UtSEA) new executive director Levi Belnap and board members Orrin Farnsworth, David Smith and Joan Somerville represented the Utah Solar Energy Association to help establish key relationships with the local and regional educational institutions to help promote an integrated approach to proper training and education of solar PV and Thermal technologies.

Cap and trade OK, with strings attached

Jeff Postelwait

The idea of a federal cap-and-trade system is becoming more accepted in the power generation industry as a way of cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. But industry leaders favor a scheme they say will be less expensive to implement.

In a carbon cap-and-trade scheme, emission credits (also called permits or allowances) can be given away freely to regulated entities, sold at a federal auction or distributed using a combination of auctions and allocations.

In general, power producers open to cap and trade favor a system in which the credits are distributed freely rather than auctioned off. They say such a system would allow them to pass on fewer costs to their customers.

Attitudes are changing perhaps because of growing signs from the Obama administration and the Environmental Protection Agency that carbon and other GHGs will be regulated at the federal level soon.

Solar 101 Today at the Salt Lake Community College!!!

4/16/2009

UtSEA

The Utah Solar Energy Association will host its annual Solar 101 training and panel discussion at the SLCC Taylorsville Redwood Campus, 4600 S. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City, April 16, 2009, TODAY!

The general public is invited to learn and discuss Solar energy and how light and heat energy provided by the sun. The Utah Solar Energy Association has reserved Room TB203 in the Rampton Technology Building on April 16 from 6:00-9:00 PM. This event is free, and free parking will be available in the lots north of the building. Parking Validations will not be required.

MAP http://www.slcc.edu/locations/images/redwood_map.pdf

Photovoltaic Systems Classes at SLCC

Jan Harris

Basic Photovoltaic Systems. Session One begins on May 12th and ends on June 4th. Session Two begins on June 2, 2009 and ends on July 2, 2009. Classes will be held at SLCC's Larry H. Miller campus in the MFEC Building, room 207 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Classes start at 6:00 pm and end at 9:00 pm. Thirty hours of instruction will be provided. Tuition is $499.00, the textbook is $80.00. Information contained in the textbook includes material for both the Basic Photovoltaic Systems course and the Advanced Photovoltaic Systems course. This class provides an overview of the design and installation of basic solar photovoltaic systems. Students will learn how to evaluate a suitable site, prepare a basic electrical and mechanical design, choose the electrical and mechanical components required, and assemble them. This class is preparatory to more advanced knowledge and experience needed to become a licensed solar contractor in the State of Utah. Students who successfully complete this class will be eligible to take NABCEP's (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) Entry Level Certificate Program.

Renewable energy bills piling up

March 27, 2009

Jeremy Duda

Advocates in the Legislature are making a push to lower residents’ utility rates, attract businesses to Arizona and ease the burden on the state’s power grid with a series of bills aimed at promoting renewable energy.

Solar Company Shares Jump On Chinese Energy Subsidy

MARCH 26, 2009

Shara Tibken

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Shares of solar companies soared Thursday after the Chinese Ministry of Finance said on its Web site that it will offer a subsidy for solar energy.

The subsidy will provide RMB20 ($2.93) per watt for projects over 50 kilowatts, according to analysts. Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov said the subsidy is comparable to what California is paying as part of its solar-rebate program.

Soar Energy Giants Discovering Ontario

Mar 19, 2009

TYLER HAMILTON

A coming green-energy law and the promise of long-term incentives for producers of renewable power have put Ontario on the radar of some big-name solar companies looking for certainty in a volatile marketplace.

This month alone, Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar Inc., one of the world's leading suppliers of next-generation solar modules, and solar power supplier Recurrent Energy Inc. of San Francisco have acquired and plan to develop multi-megawatt solar projects in Ontario.