Friday, April 30, 2010

DC Council Budget Hearing on Renewable Energy Cuts

At the DC Council Hearing today, I will provide testimony indicating that the demand for solar rebates appears to be growing at an 85% clip.  Projecting that out over four years (2009-2012) will put the demand for rebates at almost 1,800 residents.  This projects to a total demand for solar of $20 million over the four years.  DC originally allocated $8 million and are trying to take $2.3 million away (by using 2009 and 2011 money for other purposes).  This means that about 1,200 people will not get rebates, and that installations will come to a grinding halt by the middle of 2011.  I've posted some charts and graphs over on the Capitol Hill Energy Coop page at www.capitolhillenergycoop.org  Help us let the Council know that we need to grow this program out, not kill it.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Good News and Bad News!

First the good news. Another new solar coop is forming--in Petworth! I spoke at their first organizational meeting yesterday! It seems to be a great group. They have started a listserve for petworth ---petworthgreencoop@yahoogroups.com so please pass the word on to others.

Bad News! Right after we thought we won (or were winning) the battle to make sure the DC Solar program stays funded. The Mayor comes out with a new proposed budget for 2011! That cuts half the money from solar and guts the Sustainable Energy Utility which is the organization the DC Council created to manage future renewable and efficiency programs in the City. So PLEASE email your council member -- sign up to testify!

Write to the Mayor and the DC Council -- membersonly@dccouncil.us and tell them to disapprove the proposed cuts to the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund in the Mayor’s FY ’11 Supplemental Budget. Please write your own message or cut and paste the message below!

My name is _______________________. I am a member of (______ Solar Coop or other). I am extremely disappointed that the Mayor’s current proposed budget for 2011 removes $13 million -- about 60% from programs designed to promote green energy and green jobs. We need to build an energy future. Not be held back by the past! Of the $2 million statutorily allocated for the Renewable Energy Incentive Program, only about half remains or $1.1 million.

Testify against the cuts to the SETF at the Budget Hearings on April 30, 2010, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in Room 500 at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.; to do this, contact Aukima Benjamin of Councilmember Cheh’s office at 202.724.4902 and ask to be listed as a public witness to testify at the Budget Hearings that will be held on DDoE’s budget on April 30, 2010.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Waiting for the DC Solar Energy Rebate Check?

I just got my approval letter tonight at about 8:30pm (I hope they are paying Emil King overtime.).  It says I will get a check within 30 days of signing the letter.    I've heard from others that many approval letters went out today, so hopefully DDOE is cutting into their backlog.  If you got an approval today, please post a comment.   I am on the 2009 waiting list.  Did anyone on the 2010 waiting list get an approval letter?

Sunday, April 11, 2010

First day generating power - Project Pics and Info

Late yesterday, my new 4.4 kW system was connected to my electrical box.  This morning, I was happy to see my meter spinning backwards.  Please see attached link for pictures and more info.  I will eventually be posting more information about the pepco meter installation, rebate check, and monitoring data in the comments to this post.  The system was installed by Solar Solution, LLC.  It took one day for framing/prep, one day to install the panels, and half a day for the electrical work.  Click Here for Photo Gallery and feel free to leave comments or questions.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

NEW Solar Coop Forming Palisades! Pls Pass the Word

Dear interested person,
The recent sunny, hot days make me wish I was already an 'energy
entrepreneur' with solar panels on my roof. With the generous D.C.
program, federal tax credit, and the opportunity to band together for
some group discounts, that goal seems affordable right now.
There will be an initial organizational and informational meeting of the
Palisades Solar Energy Coop (I hesitate to capitalize the last three words
before we really have a group!) on Thursday evening, April 29th, at 7 pm.
I reserved the upstairs meeting room at our neighborhood library on V Street.
I'm inviting Ms. Cheh or a representative from her City Council office
to give us any updates on the Renewable Energy Incentive Program.
I'm also asking our friends at the Mt. Pleasant Solar Coop, who have led
the way for us, to attend and share 'lessons learned' from their start-up and
subsequent successes of recent years.
I welcome your thoughts. If you have expertise on the technology or on
the details of organizing ourselves, please share those with me. See you
on the 29th!

Steve Waller
Washington, DC 20007
stevewaller@rcn.com

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Climate Event--April 15th

I thought this CCAN event might be of interest to many of you. I am looking forward to the event, especially the reception before hand.

The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is honored to host international climate leader Bill McKibben as he begins a national tour for his newest book, Eaarth: Making A Life On A Tough New Planet.

Reviews of Eaarth, including Alan Weisman's on the right, hint at what we can expect to hear from Bill on the evening of April 15th.

You won't want to miss this event! Join us at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC on April 15th at 7:30 PM: www.chesapeakeclimate.org/Artists4Climate

In addition to Bill McKibben, you'll also have the chance to hear from Jeff Biggers, a leader in the fight to end mountaintop removal coal mining, and CCAN director and author Mike Tidwell.

Just $10 for students. $15 for everyone else.

You will have the opportunity to purchase copies of Bill McKibben's Eaarth, Jeff Biggers' new book Reckoning at Eagle Creek: The Secret Legacy of Coal in the Heartland and Mike Tidwell's Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Lousiana's Cajun Coast. Plus, the authors will stick around after to program to sign their books.

I'm also pleased to announce that Lissy Rosemont of the Junior League Band will perform. Lissy has been referred to as one of the "most promising up and coming vocalists on the Americana scene." Check out one of her songs.

Purchase tickets at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/Artists4Climate

Finally, please also consider joining us for a special reception with the authors themselves catered by Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora, America's first certified organic restaurant. The reception will take place from 6:00 - 7:00 PM and space is extremely limited.

Get details and purchase tickets at www.chesapeakeclimate.org/Artists4Climate

Heads up! New Process for Solar Rebates

Thought this note might be of interest to some. Not exactly sure what it means.


From: King, Emil (DDOE)
Subject: RE: Of Interest -- new procedure for me with green energy office
To: "anya schoolman"

Date: Monday, April 5, 2010, 9:58 AM

Hello Anya,

The new process will be clearly outlined on the website shortly, as will an updated waiting list. Notification emails are now the method by which we communicate reservation numbers and request a full application. This is only after funds are proven to be available for the project. Note that some of your members are very close to that point.

The new “approval letter” comes after full review and approval of the application and rebate request; it is the very last stage before payment. That letter is then signed and returned to DDOE. The change to this approach eliminates a host of problems with last year’s letter, back-and-forth communication, etc. Apologies for any confusion.

Regards,

Emil King

Policy Analyst

Office of Policy and Sustainability

District Department of the Environment

Followers