2008 Year in Solar Report

GREAT article on what happened in solar in 2008. Here’s a preview or download the full report:

http://gosolar.cc/solar_universe/solar2008.pdf

The U.S. solar energy industry grew to new heights in 2008 and many industry observers expect that growth to continue in 2009. Total capacity grew by 1,265 megawatts (MW)1 in 2008, up from 1,159 MW installed in 2007.2 This brings the total installed capacity up by 17 percent to 8,775 MW. Capacity in both photovoltaic (PV) and solar water heating systems grew at record levels. And while no new concentrating solar power (CSP) plants were completed in 2008, projects totaling more than 6 ,000 MW are in the pipeline with signed purchase power agreements. 

Green Bank Coming Soon?

U.S. Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) this week introduced the Green Bank Act of 2009. If passed, the legislation would create the Green Bank as an independent, tax-exempt, wholly owned corporation of the United States. The Bank's mandate would be to provide a range of financing support to qualified renewable energy and energy efficiency projects within the territorial United States.

" By creating the Green Bank, we will accelerate the development, deployment and production of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies across the country."

-- Rep. Chris Van Hollen

The Green Bank Act of 2009 would provide the Green Bank with an initial capitalization of US $10 billion through the issuance of Green Bonds by the U.S. Department of Treasury, with a maximum authorized limit of $50 billion in Green Bonds outstanding at any one time.

“Energy independence is central to our security, our economy and our environment. By creating the Green Bank, we will accelerate the development, deployment and production of clean energy and energy efficiency technologies across the country,” Rep. Van Hollen said. “Last week, I introduced the National Home Energy Savings Revolving Fund Act, which will enable over one million households across the country to save money and make their homes more energy efficient. Today, with the introduction of the Green Bank Act of 2009, we are taking another step towards America’s clean energy future.” 

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/green-bank-act-of-2009-introduced-in-us-house?src=rss  

Berkeley First - City Sponsored Financing

Berkeley hands out solar checks

Berkeley on Friday hands over checks to the first two homeowners who tapped the California city’spioneering solar financing program to install solar arrays.

The city fronts the cash for rooftop solar panels for any Berkeley business or homeowner, who pays back the cost through a 20-year surcharge on their property tax bill. If a home is sold, the surcharge rolls over to the new owner. The city council created a Sustainable Energy Financing District and launched a $1.5 million pilot program for the Berkeley FIRST Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology) in November to finance 40 rooftop systems. It took all of nine minutes for those 40 slots to be filled when the online application went live.

Berkeley issued a bond for the programs that was bought by Oakland-based Renewable Funding, which financed the solar arrays and whose president, Francisco DeVries, devised the Berkeley program when he served as Mayor Tom Bates’ chief of staff. Renewable Funding now is taking the program nationwide as cities from Portland to Tuscon consider adopting similar solar financing schemes. Under legislation enacted last year, any California city can implement a Berkeley-style program.

Municipal financing of solar arrays has become even more attractive since October when Congress lifted a $2,000 cap on federal tax credits for residential systems. Homeowners now can claim a tax credit for 30% of the cost of a solar system. When a state rebate is added, the cost of going solar in California has fallen by half.

http://greenwombat.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/27/berkeley-hands-out-solar-checks/?source=yahoo_quote

Featured in Loomis News - Check out this ground mount system

Loomis company offers the positive of solar power

Joyia Emard, Loomis News Staff Writer

Karina Williams/Loomis News Solar Universe president Luke Emard, left, supervises his sales director, Steve Hansen, right, as he positions a solar panel during an installation for Loomis homeowner Cuong Vu.

Why rent your electricity when you can make your own?

That’s a question being asked by Steve Hansen, who goes by the moniker of Captain Solar. Hansen is the regional sales director with the Loomis-based franchise of Solar Universe, an installer of both ground- and roof-mounted solar panels.

“Solar allows people to take control of their power needs and help the environment,” Hansen said.

Recently, Hansen and his crew installed a ground-mounted solar system for Cuong Vu, who has lived in his rural Loomis home for 25 years. Vu said the tax credit of 30 percent offered by the federal government, along with a 10 percent rebate from the state, prompted him to choose solar panels. The tax credit and rebate cut the $82,000 cost of the solar installation almost in half for Vu.

“Solar is a better investment than stocks or the bank right now,” Vu said.

Vu said that his average monthly electric bill was $550, and more than $700 in the summer. Hansen estimates that the system will have paid for itself in six years.

Hansen said those with electric bills over $200 to $300 per month are good candidates for solar installation. He also said those who have two-plus acres of land are usually able to have ground-mounted solar panels.

According to Hansen, ground panels are cheaper to install and more effective than roof-mounted panels because they can be positioned to face due south.

Hansen explained that solar panels work on a system of “sell high, buy low” because the panels create an abundance of electricity during summer daylight hours. He called summer “solar harvest season.”

http://theloomisnews.com/detail/109056.html

Plugin/Hybrid Scooter at 140mpg - I need one of these!

The Piaggio MP3 500 scooter is a 3-wheeler with 2 wheels at the front.

(Credit: Piaggio)

Piaggio Group Americas, a subsidiary of the Italian manufacturer known for the Vespa, has a highway legal plug-in hybrid scooter in the works that could be available in the U.S. for early 2010.

While Paolo Timoni, the president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas, has made mention of this plan in interviews the company has made no formal announcement making it hard to gauge whether you can hold it to the timeline.

The plug-in hybrid version in the works is a modified version ofPiaggio's MP3 500 (the Gilera Fuoco in Europe). The MP3 500 scooter in plug-in hybrid version will get about 140 mpg, have a range of 40 miles per charge when running on electric alone and be priced between $8,000-$9,000, according to Timoni.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-10199961-72.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Resource guide to Stimulus Package for CA

See link below to a 23 page document that outlines the stimulus package and what it means to California. Very informative!

Download the Guide Here

Ontario (Canada) Feed In Tariff proposal

TORONTO, March 12 /CNW/ - Ontario is poised to introduce new electricity pricing to encourage the development of renewable energy from a diverse range of producers including homeowners, community-based groups and larger scale commercial generators.     As North America's first guaranteed pricing structure - called a feed-in tariff (FIT) - for various forms of electricity production, it would offer a stable, competitive price combined with a long term contract. A FIT would establish prices for energy generated from renewable sources, including on-shore and off-shore wind, hydroelectric, solar, biogas, biomass and landfill gas. Proposed prices and program guidelines announced today will form the basis of an eight-week consultation process with renewable energy stakeholders and several general information sessions for the interested public.     "The proposed feed-in tariff program would help spark new investment in renewable energy generation and create a new generation of green jobs," said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. "It would give communities and homeowners the power and tools they need to participate in the energy business in the new green economy."     "Ontario has made great progress in procuring renewables, becoming Canada's leading province for wind power," added Colin Andersen, CEO of the Ontario Power Authority. "This proposed FIT program would build on our success and ensure that more contracts turn into projects sooner."     The proposed Green Energy Act (GEA), if passed, would establish Ontario as North America's leader in renewable energy, drive green investment in the province and create 50,000 jobs in the first three years. Additional changes proposed under the GEA would also make it easier and faster for projects to get connected to the grid. Other countries - particularly Germany, Spain and Denmark - have successfully used FITs to encourage the development of renewable energy projects.     The proposed FIT prices were developed based on experience here in Ontario and in other jurisdictions. Prices differ based on project size and type of renewable energy technology. They cover capital, operating and maintenance costs and allow for a reasonable rate of return on investment over an approximate 20-year period. They also provide special categories for community based projects.     To view chart, please go to http://files.newswire.ca/792/OEB1.jpg     Solar micro-generation, 10 kilowatts and under, will enjoy the highest tariff in order to incent Ontarians to participate. If the proposed FIT program leads to 100,000 residential solar rooftop installations, it will amount to one percent of Ontario's supply mix.     The OPA will begin consulting with renewable energy stakeholders on the proposed design of a FIT program, including eligibility criteria and proposed pricing next week. Weekly sessions run from March 17 to May 5, 2009.

VCs still keen on green tech, thanks to Uncle Sam

 

Even after a massive jolt from the U.S. government for green technologies, investors are tempering their expectations.

Consulting company KPMG on Tuesday is expected to release results of a survey that reflects the conflicted feelings of many venture capitalists.

 

The societal forces toward clean energy--including energy security and climate change--continue to gain momentum. But the financial crisis has hit the clean-energy industry so hard that even the recently passed stimulus plan cannot completely reverse its course.

 

"There is no doubt that the green-tech sector remains an attractive investment area, but the lack of available credit and the difficult economic environment has investors operating in a cautiously optimistic fashion," Brian Hughes, KPMG partner, said in a statement.

 

KPMG said it expects the level of green-tech venture investment will grow in 2009, one of the few technology sectors that will. But the survey showed that investors and entrepreneurs are far less optimistic than they were last year.

In September, 93 percent of survey respondents said they expected investment to increase. In a similar poll in February, the percentage of people who thought green-tech investment would rise slipped to 53 percent, with 26 percent forecasting a decrease.

Data from the survey also reflects the changing attitudes toward government involvement in energy technology.

Just over 90 percent of respondents expect that federal funding for green tech will increase and 93 percent said that there will be more "public/private partnership activity."

 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10191899-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Solar Power Finance - through tax assessment in NM

Solar energy financing proposal clears House

By BARRY MASSEY Associated Press Writer

Posted: 03/06/2009 01:03:51 AM PST

SANTA FE, N.M.—Residential and commercial property owners will have a new option for financing solar power systems under a proposal approved Thursday by the House.

Under the bill, a homeowner or commercial property owner could use a special property tax assessment to repay a private loan for making a solar energy improvement, such as installing a photovoltaic system that generates electricity or a solar thermal system for heating water.

"This will remove the greatest hurdle to the expansion of solar in New Mexico," said Rep. Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, who sponsored the bill.

If the legislation is enacted, it will be optional for counties to establish the special assessment programs for solar energy improvements. Property owners would request a county to make the property tax assessment, which would be in an amount necessary to cover the solar system and administrative costs.

The legislation is patterned after programs in California and Colorado, although the New Mexico proposal is based on private financing rather than governmental bonding.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11850858?nclick_check=1

Green Jobs in LA - Measure B

Proposal
Measure B, the Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program, is a proposed City Charter amendment and ordinance that that would require production of at least 400 megawatts (MW) of solar power by 2014. The measure is set for the March 3, 2009 ballot in Los Angeles.

If approved by voters, Measure B requires the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to install, operate and maintain solar power on properties within the City and on City-owned airports, to produce at least 400 MW by 2014. The measure also allows for voluntary participation by commercial, industrial and institutional customers for solar installations on their property that would be operated and maintained by LADWP in exchange for potential incentives. It establishes a jobs program and training academy, bid preferences for local solar equipment manufacturers, oversight committees and an annual audit by the City Controller.

Solar LA Initiative
Measure B is one of five programs designed to develop a total of 1,280 MW of solar energy plants serving Los Angeles by 2020. The comprehensive Los Angeles Solar Plan, known as Solar LA, includes:

• 400 MW - LADWP-owned solar projects (Measure B)
• 500 MW - Large-scale solar projects outside L.A., located in areas with prime solar resources
• 380 MW - Customer Solar Programs
• 130 MW - expansion of residential incentive program, through which customers receive incentives to install solar panels on their rooftops
• 150 MW - feed-in tariffs, which allows third-party ownership of solar projects on private property throughout the City
• 100 MW - SunShares, which offers an opportunity for customers to purchase a share of a LADWP solar power facility

Of the total 1,280 MW, only about one-third is designated for LADWP installation, ownership and maintenance. The remainder-880 MW-is available to be developed by the private sector. This plan will create new green jobs, alleviate stress on LADWP's power distribution infrastructure, and help mitigate the City's vulnerability to natural gas volatility and reduce LADWP's historic dependence on fossil fuel generation, among other potential benefits.

 

 

http://www.ladwpnews.com/go/doc/1475/256343/