tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87020236303149864862024-03-06T15:02:13.746-05:00Solar Power in DCThe solar renewable energy movement in the Washington DC metro area is very strong, but the process of going solar and getting proper credit for produced solar energy is a continual struggle. There are 12 neighborhood cooperatives are playing a big role in advocating for solar energy. These coops have joined together to form DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN). Mike Barrette and Anya Schoolman, of DC SUN use this blog to keep you informed of key issues. Visit www.dcsun.org for more info.Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-67391929568632398912013-05-15T19:09:00.001-04:002013-05-15T19:09:19.273-04:00<b>READY to Go Solar?</b><br />
<b>Been thinking about it for a while? Know someone who should really do it? </b><br />
The prices are really low!<br />
This may be the last year of a grant of the DC Government<br />
Neighbors are getting together buying in bulk!<br />
We are helping each other through the process. Selecting an installer and helping each other make each decision along the way. Talk to people who have been through the process already. Make an impact! Do something real! Become more self sufficient!<br />
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This is easy.... <br />
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Go through the process now, you will never regret it. There is nothing like that first Pepco bill after going solar!<br />
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<a href="http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50105/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=8032" target="_blank">SIGN UP to ATTEND MEETING HERE</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><u>Upcoming Meetings</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">May: Ward 4 Meeting (Petworth)</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monday, May 20th</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">7:30 to 8:30 PM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">Petworth Library (Large Meeting Room) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">4200 Kansas Ave NW, Washington, DC 20011.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="color: #993300;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">June: Ward 1 Meeting (Mt. Pleasant & Columbia Heights)</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday, June 1st </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">2:00 PM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt. Pleasant Library</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">3160 16th St NW </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;">Washington, DC 20010</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50105/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=8032" target="_blank">Meeting Info and Sign UP</a> </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-43581894700496022432013-03-06T22:42:00.001-05:002013-03-06T22:46:28.254-05:00Last Chance To Get a Solar Rebate in Washington DC?<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the last week, I had four different friends ask me what they needed to do to go solar. I thought it was a good time to send out an update on the <a href="http://green.dc.gov/service/renewable-energy-incentive-program-reip-residents" target="_blank">DC Rebate Program</a> and the economics of solar. Here are the basics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Getting a Solar Rebate in Washington DC </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The District of Columbia's original 4-year Renewable Energy Incentive Program (REIP) came to an end in 2012. Those that were able to get in on this program got a very sizable rebate at the beginning of the program, and those at the end received a good rebate, but at about half the amount originally offered.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DC has decided to continue with a rebate program in 2013 (which also includes solar thermal), but again, the rebate amounts have been cut substantially.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recent drops in solar panel prices have somewhat offset the drop in the DC rebate amount.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The market for solar renewable energy credits (sRECS) remains strong in DC, meaning that the combination of sRECs, the available 30% Federal tax credit and the DC rebate continues to make solar an attractive investment. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All signs seem to point to the gradual phase-out of rebates as panel prices fall and solar comes much closer to grid parity (when solar generation costs are equal to other non-renewable sources).</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even if you have not completely decided to go solar, you should put your name on the waiting list for the DC Rebate program. You can decline later if you decide not to move ahead. When applying for the rebate, if you have not yet selected a contractor, you can indicate on the application that you are with the DC Solar United Neighborhood (DC SUN) cooperative. See www.dcsun.org for more about going solar, finding a contractor and applying for a DC Rebate. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Costs </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most homeowners are putting on systems that are in the range of 3-6kW. Installed systems can be found below $4 per watt.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A very simplified cost scenario for a 4kW system goes as follows -- $16,000 system cost - which would receive a $2,000 DC Rebate, a $4,800 Federal Tax credit, and more than $4,200 in sRECs. Considering rebates and subsidies, out of pocket expenses fall to $5,000. Your electricity bill would be reduced by more than $600 per year. Under this scenario, your break even point would be about 8 years. Finding a contractor a bit cheaper than $4 per watt, and selling your sRECs on a quarterly basis (rather than an up front lump sum) might shave that break even point down to about 5 years.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some companies will offer leases if you are not able to pay for or finance your system. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More About the DC Rebate</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking back out the DC Rebate program, it was a bumpy road in regard many aspects of the program. Solar advocates in DC had to keep fighting each year to ensure that dedicated funds were not raided for other purposes. However, in the end, more than 700 projects were funded by the DC Department of Environment (a small amount of additional rebates, not included in the table below, were issued by the DC Sustainable Energy Utility). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program 2009 -2012:</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fiscal Year Funded</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">System Type</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"># of Incentives</span></i></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Capacity (MW)</span></i></b></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-top: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Incentive Amount</span></i></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
<tr style="min-height: 15.0pt;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 92.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="123"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2009</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photovoltaic</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="100"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">61</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">0.2</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">$542,890.00</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
<tr style="min-height: 15.0pt;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 92.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="123"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2010</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photovoltaic</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="100"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">216</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">0.9</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">$2,364,965.00</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
<tr style="min-height: 15.0pt;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 92.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="123"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2011</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photovoltaic</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="100"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">144</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">0.9</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">$1,932,349.00</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
<tr style="min-height: 15.0pt;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 92.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="123"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">2012</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: none; border-left: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Photovoltaic</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="100"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">278</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">1.4</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; min-height: 15.0pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">$1,747,788.00</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody>
<tr style="min-height: 15.75pt;"><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 92.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="123"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 65.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="87"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Thermal</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 75.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="100"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">15</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border-top: none; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 80.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="107"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">-</span></div>
</td><td nowrap="nowrap" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid #7030a0 1.0pt; border: none; min-height: 15.75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 91.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="121"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;">$71,214.00</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 537px;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: .5in;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It looks like 2013 might turn out to be the highest year in regard to systems receiving rebates. </span>There are currently, 386 people on the waiting list for photovoltaic systems (<a href="http://green.dc.gov/publication/reip-waiting-list" target="_blank">link</a>). DC indicated that rebate offers would begin going out in February 2013, so some people on the waiting list may be getting approval letters. The funding levels are as follows:</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For calendar year 2013, DDOE will offer the following solar incentives:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">$0.50/watt for photovoltaic systems, with a cap of $10,000 (equivalent to a 20kW)</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 1.5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">20% of total system cost up to $2,000 for residential thermal and, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">·<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">20% of total system cost up to $6,000 for non-residential thermal systems</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The REIP was given $1 mi<span style="font-size: small;">llion</span> in the Sustainable DC Act of 2012, so assuming an aver<span style="font-size: small;">age rebate of $2,500 per system, there will be 400 rebates available. Assuming there is no other funding available, now would be a good time to get on the <a href="http://green.dc.gov/service/apply-renewable-energy-incentive" target="_blank">Wa</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://green.dc.gov/service/apply-renewable-energy-incentive" target="_blank">iting List</a>.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lastly, if you live in <span style="font-size: small;">MD, you may be able to get a state rebate<span style="font-size: small;">. sREC prices in MD are much lower than in DC. If you are in VA, solar incentiv<span style="font-size: small;">es are very poor<span style="font-size: small;">, but you can ask the governor to fix that using this <a href="http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/o/50105/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9517&utm_source=Solar+Citizen%3A+Issue+3+-+2%2F15%2F13&utm_campaign=Solar+Citizen&utm_medium=email" target="_blank">petition</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mike Barrette</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">DC SUN </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #888888;"><br /></span>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-58815633932539286572012-07-12T01:04:00.000-04:002012-07-12T01:04:09.071-04:00Is Now the Time for a New Solar Hot Water System?The number of solar electricity-producing homeowners in the District of Columbia now reach close to one thousand. The main reason DC residents have flocked to solar electric was the rebate program that has been available through the DC Department of the Environment. While solar electric installations have become commonplace and widely discussed, you don't hear too much about solar hot water - until now. Earlier this year, DC changed the rules of its solar rebate program to include a solar hot water rebate equal to 20% of the system's cost. Because there are no guarantees this rebate will last beyond 2012, many homeowners are taking a crash course in the basics of solar hot water -- trying to decide whether to get in on the rebate before it disappears. On June 25th, several Capitol Hill neighbors along with two solar hot water installers put on a city-wide public meeting about solar hot water technology, installation costs and available subsidies. The meeting marked the first effort by DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DCSUN) to negotiate price discounts for solar hot water installations. <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/solar-hot-water" target="_blank">Materials</a> from the meeting are now available at www.dcsun.org. Below are some highlights, but much more information is available on the website.<br />
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To kick off the meeting, I provided some photos of the new solar hot water system that I had installed in May 2012. Like most solar enthusiasts in the District, I started out with solar electric. However, I made sure that my contractor left enough room for later installation of solar hot water panels. I was able to save some money on the solar hot water installation because the mounting supports for my solar electric were pre-designed to also support the solar hot water panels. I can now check my new (very large) solar hot water tank to see how well the sun is doing -- it has been reading at about 120-140 degrees depending on the time of day. Goodbye cold showers! My family loves the new system because I'm not bugging them about saving enough hot water for everyone to shower. My old (and small) gas powered water tank is still intact as a back-up, but especially in the summer, we won't need to fire that up at all.<br />
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Resident Capitol Hill solar guru, Andy Kerr, also had a solar hot water system installed earlier this year. He has developed a nice presentation explaining the initial cost of his system, the rebates that he was eligible for (the DC rebate, a 30% Federal tax credit and the sale of solar renewable energy credits), and the return on investment that he expects from his system. Because solar hot water systems need to be sized to the hot water needs you may have, Andy has also developed a <a href="http://www.andykerr.net/solardc" target="_blank">spreadsheet</a> allowing you to punch in your own numbers to calculate the economics of solar hot water. In his case, he paid about $8,500, but with the three rebates, his cost dropped to about $3,000 -- which works out to an 8 year simple payback, and a 7.7% return on investment over 20 years.<br />
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Andy's calculations will now get slightly better because DC SUN has developed a partnership with two vendors, <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxkY3NvbGFydW5pdGVkbmVpZ2hib3Job29kc3xneDoyM2JhOWUyNjVkZDBhMzNm" target="_blank">Solar Energy Services</a> and <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxkY3NvbGFydW5pdGVkbmVpZ2hib3Job29kc3xneDo3MzdlMDFjMmYzMTMxNzE1" target="_blank">Clean Currents</a>. Both companies are offering additional discounts of between $100 and $400 for homeowners affiliated with DC SUN or local co-op chapters. For each contract signed with DC SUN members, both companies have generously offered to donate to DC SUN's EmPowerment Fund that helps provide solar grants to low-income families.<br />
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Please take a look at the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/solar-hot-water" target="_blank">materials</a> on the website and decide for yourself whether solar hot water will be in your future. As we advised with solar electric installations, it is always good to get multiple bids before jumping into a purchase. If you are on the fence and need more time, we recommend you put your name on the <a href="http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/apply-renewable-energy-incentive" target="_blank">list for a DC rebate</a> while you are making your decision. Lastly, please join our listserve from the <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/" target="_blank">DC SUN</a> webpage, where you can post questions and help us start a new dialogue on solar thermal. <br />
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Mike BarretteMike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-80451026640456348282012-06-25T17:52:00.000-04:002012-06-25T17:52:23.026-04:00DC SUN Holding Forum on Solar Hot Water<div style="text-align: left;">
DC residents have really embraced solar photovoltaic systems - more than 500 systems have gone up throughout the District. There is much less information out there about solar hot water - although by most accounts, solar hot water may be an even better investment than solar PV. Several homeowners that have recently installed solar hot water will be coming together to discuss their experiences, and put interested residents in touch with solar hot water installers. The meeting is Tuesday, June 26th at 7pm at Headquarters DC, 528 F Street Terrace SE, Washington, DC 20003 - which is just a few blocks away from the Eastern Market Metro. I hope you will be able to join other members of DC SUN and the Capitol Hill Energy Coop -- the two organizations sponsoring this forum. Please note that the DC government has just opened a limited window for getting solar thermal rebates, so if you are thinking about it, now is the time to educate yourself. More information and a map are at this link... https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/project-updates/solarwaterheatingeducationforum </div>
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On the agenda is a discussion by Joanna Kendig and Gene Imhoff about the solar hot water system they have had for several years. Andy Kerr will then discuss the economics and payback for solar hot water. Matt Carlson of Sunnovations will discuss the technology of solar hot water, then two installers, Solar Energy Services and Clean Currents will discuss their capabilities and discounts that will be available to co-op members. This meeting is open to the public and no pre-registration is required. I hope to see you there.<br />
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Mike Barrette<br />
Vice President - DC Solar United NeighborhoodsMike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-80252109892587344742012-04-17T23:18:00.001-04:002012-04-17T23:33:38.866-04:00Solar Thermal Rebates added to the Mix for DC residentsThe District of Columbia has announced a <a href="http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/apply-renewable-energy-incentive">rebate for solar thermal</a> - something that has been in the works for quite some time. With the new 20% DC rebate, the available 30% Federal tax credit, and the solar renewable energy credits (srecs) that you can sell -- the three subsidies will pay for a large chunk of your system. Your energy savings from reduced hot water or space heating will quickly allow you to quickly recoup your investment.<br />
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Because of the previous DC rebate structure, many residents opted to go for solar photovoltaic panels first (or instead of solar thermal). For those that have available room left on your roof, now is the chance to move out solar thermal. It is unclear how long the window will be open for DC rebates. What I've been told by the Department of the Environment is that approximately $150,000 of the $2 million available for solar rebates in 2012 will be carved out for solar thermal. This might fund about 75 residential projects (less if funding goes to larger commercial projects). Hopefully, this is the start of more rebates to come in future years.<br />
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According to DDOE officials, if you have recently installed a solar thermal system, you might still be eligible for a rebate - so do put your name on the waiting list. DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN) and the Capitol Hill Energy Coop are working on some solar thermal pilot projects now, and more information will be available about those installations soon. To learn more, below is the information sent by DDOE, along with a link to the program website where you can put your name on the waiting list. Before moving forward, you will want to look over the new <a href="http://ddoe.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/ddoe/publication/attachments/District%20Guide%20to%20Solar%20Thermal%20Incentives.pdf">solar thermal program guide</a>. Also, be sure to review the list of registered, approved installers (getting multiple bids is always a good idea). If you have questions, experiences to share on solar thermal installations, comments, or ideas on how DC SUN can leverage bulk purchases for solar thermal, please do <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/solardc">join our discussion </a>forum. <br />
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Mike Barrette<br />
<a href="http://www.dcsun.org/">www.dcsun.org</a><br />
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DDOE email communication regarding solar thermal rebates<br />
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The District of Columbia‚s Renewable Energy Incentive Program Solar Thermal Incentive For 2012<br />
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Effective, Wednesday, April 11, 2012, and in accordance with the Clean and Affordable Energy Act of 2008, the District Department of the Environment Renewable Energy Incentive Program (REIP) will provide financial incentives to eligible applicants in the District to help install Solar Thermal systems. <br />
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Eligible projects may include, but are not limited to, the installation of systems on single and multi-family dwellings as well as commercial buildings and institutional organizations.<br />
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Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and/or biomass can help to reduce dependence on a shrinking supply of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. <br />
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We encourage you to apply to the program. Please visit <a href="http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/renewable-energy-incentive-program-reip-residents">http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/renewable-energy-incentive-program-reip-residents</a> for more information.Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-81478516742815650242012-03-07T16:59:00.000-05:002012-03-07T17:00:25.840-05:00Expanding Access to Solar in DCAs many of you know the central mission of DC SUN is to make <span class="il">Solar</span> <u>affordable</u> and <u>accessible </u>to all residents of DC. We are working on a lot of different things and we always have room for more volunteers and leaders of more projects and initiatives. <b>ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY</b> they must go together.<br /><br />To give a sense of a few highlights.<br /><b><br />1. Community <span class="il">Solar</span> Legislation:</b> This is our big push right now. In partnership with the Sierra Club and with technical assistance from Vote <span class="il">Solar</span> and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) we are working to make it possible to develop <span class="il">solar</span> gardens. It will let people who live in apartments or rent participate in community <span class="il">solar</span> gardens and "virtually" net meter their <span class="il">solar</span> production to their energy bill. For more info see DC SUN website <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/community-renewable-energy-act-of-2012" target="_blank">http://sites.google.com/site/<wbr>dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/<wbr>key-issues-and-committees/<wbr>community-renewable-energy-<wbr>act-of-2012</a> . Stay tuned for more updates soon!<br /> <b><br />2. Community emPOWERment Fund:</b> This fund is made up of 'referral fees' from many of the installers that have a close working relationship with our members. The money goes to help non-profits, churches, schools and independent businesses go <span class="il">solar</span>. It has the potential of helping reduce costs for organizations that our essential to our local communities. We are working with a number of non-profits based in Ward 8 that provide basic services such as food, childcare and medical services.<br /> <b><br />3. Non Profit Bulk Purchase:</b> We are Developing a bulk purchase program for non-profits that want to go <span class="il">solar</span>. By working together we will <span class="il">lower</span> costs for all of the participants. We have been focusing mostly on organizations in Wards 7 and 8 but the project is open to non-profits city wide.<br /><br />4. <b>REBATE Program Phase II</b>: We have proposed to the DDOE and the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) to develop a second phase <span class="il">solar</span> rebate program for FY 13. We feel that we need to take care of the hundreds of people on the waiting list, <b>AND</b> we have proposed that 50% of the new rebate program be a higher level of reimbursement and be reserved exclusively with <span class="il">low</span> <span class="il">income</span> families. Combined with the Community <span class="il">Solar</span> legislation-- this has the potential to expand <span class="il">solar</span> much more broadly in DC<br /><br /><b>5. Proposals to the DC SEU</b>: The DC SEU is supposed to develop programs specifically aimed at <span class="il">low</span> <span class="il">income</span> <span class="il">solar</span>. We have been pushing them to engage with us in developing those programs. DC SUN met with the DC Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and began discussions on ways to collaborate directly. We will be participating in their outreach fair this Spring and we are discussing the exciting possibility of adding <span class="il">solar</span> to their <span class="il">low</span> <span class="il">income</span> roof replacement program. We have proposed to the SEU that they partner with DHCD to make this project a reality. It is a perfect match as DHCD has all of the administrative programs in place for <span class="il">low</span> <span class="il">income</span> roof replacement and the DC SEU has u- allocated funding for <span class="il">low</span> <span class="il">income</span> <span class="il">solar</span>. DHCD is very enthusiastic about this idea. So far we have not gotten a response back from the SEU or DDOE which approves SEU programs.<br /><br /><b>6. Outreach in Ward 7:</b> Ward 7 has been our top priority for outreach this year. We have worked in partnership with a number of local organizers including Irv Sheffy and Dennis Chestnut. We have recruited a dynamic new leader of the Ward 7 <span class="il">Solar</span> Coop and we have been conducting outreach meetings in the Ward. We are actively looking for more Ward 7 participants to join and strengthen the Ward 7 Coop. The culmination of this effort will be the June 16th <span class="il">Solar</span> Fair at HD Woodson HS. Stay tuned for exciting news alerts on this initiative over the next few weeks. Voliunteers needed for this effort.<br /><br />In the works:<br />Innovative Financing for <span class="il">Low</span> <span class="il">Income</span> Housing and Community <span class="il">Solar</span>...<br />Other bulk purchase programs?Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-39559899937851800222012-01-02T21:06:00.002-05:002012-01-03T08:31:22.483-05:00Grab Your $6,000 Solar Rebate While You Still Can!<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now is the time to get in line for a DC Solar Rebate - before the funding is gone! Prices of solar panels are at an all-time low, making the decision to go solar a great long-term investment. A recent <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/one-roof-solar-evaluation">comparison of solar costs</a> in the District indicates that the return on investment from installing solar panels varies from 6-10%. The existing 30% Federal tax credit, along with renewable energy credits that accrue with your solar project, make the economics of solar very favorable. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Strengthening the economic case for solar even more is the District government’s rebate program. These DC rebates are designed to encourage renewable energy and foster a new homegrown industry (jobs in DC!!). If you are able to get in on the DC solar rebate, your rate of return rises into the double digits, and your initial investment can be paid back in 6-7 years. For many DC homeowners on the fence about going solar, the DC rebate is the incentive that motivates them to move forward. Below, I examine your chances of getting a DC solar rebate – and it looks like time is running out! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">As background, realize that the DC rebate program is a four-year program, which is now in its last year. DC is authorized to release $2 million dollars this year for rebates. Rebates for a typically-sized system are about $6,000. Rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from a waiting list that you can join on the <a href="http://rrc.dc.gov/green/cwp/view,a,1244,q,461562.asp">DDOE Website</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Last week, I asked the DC Department of the Environment for an update on their progress for releasing those funds now that we are one quarter of the way through the fiscal year. It is important that these projects continue to be funded at a rapid pace, otherwise the program will expire before funding is released to those on the waiting list. DDOE reports as follows:</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>$25,000 has been paid out (5 requestors have received checks)<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>$598,000 are in the final approval stages (86 requestors will receive checks soon)</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>383 additional projects are on the waiting list. </li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>DDOE reports that usually about 40% of those that submit the initial application actually decide drop out of the process. </li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>Projections</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><ul><li>Assuming that 230 of the 383 people on the waiting list are funded at an average of $6,000, then the full $2 million will be expended and new entrants to the waiting list will not be funded.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>If the average rebate award and/or the acceptance rates are higher, some at the bottom of the existing waiting list may not receive funding from the $2 million pot.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>If the average rebate or acceptance rate is lower, new entrants to the waiting list may get funding (so act fast and get your name on the list).<b> </b></li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b>What If You Miss Out???</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><ul><li>It is possible that the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will add funding for additional solar rebates – they added a small amount last year.<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span> </li>
<li>Community activists with DC SUN are calling upon the DC Council, Mayor, Department of Environment, and the SEU to work together to renew the DC solar rebate program for another four years.<span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span> </li>
<li>DC SUN’s proposal is discussed in this <a href="http://solardc.blogspot.com/2011/11/neighborhood-groups-call-on-dc-to-renew.html">blog post</a>.</li>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">To help demonstrate the effectiveness and interest in this program, DC SUN urges residents to put their names on the DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program Waiting List (<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xm0rOvax0jw0RbfKt8VnqgRkLYuC-808Xz7LMDs4DJM/edit">Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to reserve your place the list</a>). This will help in our effort to get this great job creating program back on track for those residents that were not able to participate in the first four years of the program. Because the solar rebate program is funded by electricity surcharges that are NOT scheduled to go away, DC SUN thinks that the extension of the program is an important way to promote a sustainable future for DC -- a future that involves renewable power coming from the people of the City.<br />
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Mike Barrette<br />
Vice President - DC SUN <br />
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</div>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-70537694782151734522011-11-22T17:30:00.000-05:002011-11-22T17:30:38.139-05:00Neighborhood Groups Call on DC to Renew Solar Rebates and Quadruple Solar Installations<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;"></span><br />
<div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Rebates for residential solar installations in Washington DC have spurred job creation and have literally energized almost 1,000 homeowners across the City. The highly successful <a href="http://rrc.dc.gov/green/cwp/view,a,1244,q,461562.asp">four-year rebate program</a> will end in 2012 – casting uncertainty over the prospects for solar energy in the District. DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN - <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/" target="_blank">www.dcsun.org</a>), a grassroots coalition of residents that promote solar energy in the District, are urging the City Council and Mayor to extend this effective program for four more years – allowing 4,000 new projects to be completed. DC SUN believes that in four years, falling prices for solar panels will make the economics of solar so good, that rebates can be completely phased out.</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">To reach specific goals in four years, DC SUN is proposing rebate reductions, which will essentially double the number of installations supported each year until the program is phased out. In addition, DC SUN proposes that half of the solar rebates be dedicated specifically to go to low income homes. DC SUN proposes that DC offer fixed rebates of - $4,000 per project in 2013, $3,000 in 2014, $2,000 in 2015, and $1,000 in 2016. These rebates, in conjunction with available Federal tax credits and solar Renewable Energy Credits, will make solar an unbeatable investment that allows the City to shift to renewable, locally-produced energy. The rebate program has created jobs in DC, and will create more jobs if renewed. Atta Kiarash, Vice President of DC-based installer Solar Solution LLC, remarked that the rebate program has been essential to creating demand for solar projects -- indicating that it would be foolish for DC to discontinue a program with such broad support and a record of success. He stated, "taking away this grant not only hurts DC homeowners, but also local businesses that provide services to residents."</span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">While solar is still a good investment without DC rebates, our analysis shows that DC residents that are considering solar are looking for a 6-year payback period. Current solar prices offer about a 10-year payback period – and DC rebate program will tip the scales for many consumers (see <a href="http://ww.dcsun.org/" target="_blank">www.dcsun.org</a> “One Roof” solar price evaluation). This investment will not require the City to raise new funding because the energy surcharge that exists on your bill is already being used to fund solar rebates. Under DC SUN’s proposal, this existing funding stream would continue to be used to fund solar rebates. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">The existing program has created jobs in DC! Atta Kiarash of DC-based installer Solar Solution, LLC has directly attributed the rebate program to job growth for his business, indicating that failure to renew the rebate program with such strong support base . Atta Kiarash, Vice President of Solar Solution, LLC</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.5pt;"></span></div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">DC SUN is urging the Mayor, Department of the Environment, and the Sustainable Energy Utility to implement this proposal plan as part of the Sustainable DC initiative. DC SUN thinks the plan can be announced and implemented quickly with funding that is already coming into the City. You can register your support for solar rebates as part of the <a href="https://sustainabledc.uservoice.com/forums/130073-define-it/filters/top">Sustainable DC voting process</a>. As November 22nd, the continuation of solar rebates has received the second highest number of votes of all submitted ideas.</span></div></div>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-83899605476246640812011-11-15T22:01:00.000-05:002011-11-15T22:01:43.682-05:00“One-Roof Solar Evaluation” Documents Dropping Solar Costs in DC<span id="internal-source-marker_0.7394863653745559" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 11/16/11</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> “One-Roof Solar Evaluation” Documents Dropping Solar Costs in DC</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN), a consortium of cooperatives, has completed a cost comparison by inviting vendors to bid on the same job. Four vendors participated in the bidding (Lighthouse Solar, SolarCity, Solar Solution and Astrum Solar), while several other vendors completed an online survey. The </span><a href="http://www.dcsun.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">DC SUN website</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> documents the findings in more detail, provides bid information and provides an online evaluation tool for your solar project (</span><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/one-roof-solar-evaluation"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">click here for One Roof Evaluation information)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Key Findings </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Now is the time to invest in a rooftop solar electric system in Washington, DC. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Panel prices are a record-lows, installer competition is high, and Solar Renewable Energy Credits, along with a 30% federal income tax credit and the monthly savings in your electric bill all combine to allow you to do well while doing good.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Return on investment can be far better than one can receive for most other investments.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Compared to the current rates for savings accounts, certificates of deposits or stocks and bonds, investing is a rooftop solar electric system has great financial returns. The returns from solar electricity are tax-free in that money you don't have to spend on your electric bill is money you don't have to earn and pay taxes on.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">• Even if you don't have cash upfront to purchase a photovoltaic system at this time, a leasing option can still reduce your monthly electricity bill. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">You'll pay PEPCO less and generate renewable energy on your own roof.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Details</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<ul><li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gross system cost (before any incentives) for purchasing a system averaged $25,061, ranging from $19,382 to $34,320. Since 2009, the costs to install have dropped more than 20%.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Net system cost (after tax and other incentives) for purchasing a system averaged $12,854, ranging from $9,922 to $16,784. The reduced net costs factor in Federal tax credits and solar Renewable Energy Credits (sRECs) that vendors will help you leverage.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For the lease options, the Initial System Cost averaged $3,639, ranging from $0 $7,278. Two of the lease options had annual payments, averaging $44/month, ranging from $516 to $816 per year.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Simple Payback for purchase averaged 13 years, ranging from 12 to 15 years. For leasing, the average was ~11 years, excluding the $0 down option.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Internal Rate of Return for purchase averaged 5.8%, ranging from 4.6% to 7.5%. For leasing, the average was 10.0%, excluding the $0 down option.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Energy savings ranged from 29% to more than 100% - your vendor can help you with this calculation, which depends on system size, energy consumption patterns and weatherization.</span></li>
<li style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">DC SUN suggests that weatherization be done prior to, or in conjunction with solar installations. DC SUN also recommends that systems not be sized greater than 100% because current DC laws do not allow you to take advantage of “overproduction” that occurs over a year’s time frame.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Analysis</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Solar is a great long-term investment and DC SUN believes now is the time to go solar! DC SUN, in previous surveys and member polls, has determined that despite the favorable return on investment, that many homeowners are motivated by the need to re-coup their investment on a shorter time horizon than currently achievable – closer to 6-8 years. Because the District of Columbia’s solar rebate program sunsets this year and has a full waiting list, explosive growth in residential solar will likely require a re-commitment to providing small rebates over the next 4 years to bring the payback down to the 6-8 year time horizon. Within four years, the price of panels is projected to continue dropping – which will drive solar installations without additional rebates from the District. If you want to urge DC to establish a new solar rebate program, </span><a href="https://sustainabledc.uservoice.com/forums/130073-define-it"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">click here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> and register your vote for new solar incentives.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The detailed results of each bid, and additional worksheets allowing consumers to calculate their own rate of return are now posted on </span><a href="http://www.dcsun.org/"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">www.dcsun.org</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. DC SUN strongly suggests getting multiple bids before going forward.</span>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-58788199280237136682011-11-03T18:57:00.002-04:002011-11-03T19:08:26.116-04:00DC SUN sets up fund for solar!<style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:77; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 2 1 2 1 8 4 8 7 8; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; 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font-family: Verdana; color: black;">Well, in a way, we have grown tired of waiting for rebates that come and go, so we decided to set up our own program. Our target is to expand the solar market-- especially by funding high profile projects in organizations that are important to our communities. What do I mean?? Well-- churches, schools, non-profits, small local businesses. Many of these organizations can go solar now, but they don't know it. DC SUN can help.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;"><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Times; color:black">What is it? DC SUN has now launched the NEW </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/sites\.google\.com\/site\/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods\/key-issues-and-committees\/dc-sun-community-empowerment-fund\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><span style="color:#1155CC;border:none"><span style="border:none">Community emPOWERment Fund</span></span></span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:#222222;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">. Many local installers will now provide a donation to DC SUN’s</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in"><span style="mso-field-code:"HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/sites\.google\.com\/site\/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods\/key-issues-and-committees\/dc-sun-community-empowerment-fund\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><span style="border:none"><span style="border:none">emPOWERment Fund</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222"> <span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">if their customer is a member of DC SUN. Money in the fund goes to support solar projects for non-profits, churches, and other community organizations.</span> </span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in; padding:0in">So, when you talk to an installer, tell ‘em DC SUN or your local solar coop sent you! </span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#222222"></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:#222222"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: black;">The six charter installers contributing to the Fund are:</span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"></span><span style="font-size:0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black; border:none black 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none black 0in;padding:0in;background: black;mso-font-width:0%;mso-ansi-language:X-NONE;mso-fareast-language:X-NONE; layout-grid-mode:line"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span><span style="font-family:Arial;mso-bidi-font-family:Arial"></span> <span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222"></span></p> <ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc"><ul style="margin-top:0in" type="square"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvMlUE-W_ofiu4UIDc5iewYJX51wDiGrf3rpyqLTRqwndk=\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">Kenergy Solar</span></u></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvMlUE-W_ofiu6qIsczKsRzqclEDgFrbCbyZjLl5qYyBI1ECZSq0LNbag==\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">Lighthouse Solar</span></u></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvMlUE-W_ofiu7LnmTbr8sy2fIwoDPJba1vyJzF2JBxCNojIkTKAtw5dw==\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">Skyline Innovations</span></u></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvMlUE-W_ofiu77ZcMPw_cXmBbKU4dgUSr19KbtncYOrxoR_CQEFqGJDcZEA0UoQJk7OlhRySaSp5BwN7CJv0lgXg==\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">SolarCity</span></u></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvMlUE-W_ofiu4pk-b9Vai-xR0lQnAtnGIIunNjpoV63fi7kyDKVi9Nrw==\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">Solar Solutions</span></u></span></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:#4F604F;line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level3 lfo2; tab-stops:list 1.5in"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman""><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022http\:\/\/r20\.rs6\.net\/tn\.jsp?llr=glh86ncab&et=1108435925961&s=0&e=001Wzl5O_sgK3sYPt9k6K3KpogAJdE_NqJdCMbeKZoLCVPrhZHBSKkqMYkR6ZHTmgvM-aA-RRTOQ0yey65qzjMLG8gsI6e6BnBf9ZLA4qf7VDc=\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><u><span style="color:blue">Volt Energy</span></u></span> </span></li></ul></ul></ul> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style="">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> <br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Symbol; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><span style=""><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.0in;mso-add-space:auto; text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal;mso-list:l1 level2 lfo1;vertical-align: baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family:Symbol;mso-bidi-font-family:Symbol;color:#222222"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:#222222">Click <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/key-issues-and-committees/dc-sun-community-empowerment-fund">here</a> to learn more</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:0in;mso-add-space:auto; line-height:normal;background:white;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222"> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size:8.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:black"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""></span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; color:black">There are lots of ways to get engaged. We will start on-line fundraising for specific project. You can volunteer with DC Sun and get trained to be a solar ambassador to help worthy organizations go solar.. Or you can nominate you favorite local community organization to receive a grant toward a new solar system.</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;color:black"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222;border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Fill out our</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> <span style="border:none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><span style="mso-field-code: "HYPERLINK \0022https\:\/\/docs\.google\.com\/spreadsheet\/viewform?hl=en_US&formkey=dDl6c0w4RG9uejVWYVl5alp1VUNBV1E6MQ\0022 \\l \0022gid=0\0022 \\t \0022_blank\0022""><span style="color:#1155CC;border:none"><span style="border:none">onlin<span style="border:none">e<span style="border:none"> <span style="border:none">form</span></span></span></span></span></span></span> to nominate an organization YOU think should receive a Community emPOWERment Fund grant.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The market and prices are there to go solar now! It is just going to take a bit of effort to get the word out to ALL parts of the city. JOIN US!</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent:-.25in;line-height:normal; mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial;color:#222222">--Anya<br /></span></p>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-72715498206407998102011-08-29T10:46:00.001-04:002011-08-29T10:47:47.014-04:00Film Screening Hosted by DCSUN -- The 4th Revolution<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: black; width: 700px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top" width="700"> <td align="center" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: LEFT;" valign="middle" width="350"><div style="color: white; font-size: 14pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13<br />
Screening of THE 4TH REVOLUTION<br />
Directed by Carl A. Fechner </div></td> <td align="center" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: LEFT;" valign="top" width="30"></td> <td align="center" bgcolor="#000000" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;" valign="top" width="200"></td> <td align="LEFT" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: LEFT;" valign="top" width="100"></td> </tr>
</tbody> </table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: black; width: 700px;"><tbody>
<tr valign="top"><td align="LEFT" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: LEFT;" valign="top" width="20"></td> <td align="center" style="color: white; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: LEFT;" valign="top" width="650"><a href="http://sites.google.com/site/dcsolarunitedneighborhoods/" title="DC Solar United Neighborhoods">DC Solar United Neighborhoods</a> and the WASHINGTON FILM INSTITUTE’s <a href="http://dcfilminstitute.org/greenscreen/" title="Green Screen">Green Screen Series</a> invite you to a screening of Carl Fechner’s <i>The 4th Revolution — Energy Autonomy</i>, courtesy of the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=GOETHE+INSTITUT+DC&fb=1&gl=us&hq=GOETHE+INSTITUT&hnear=District+of+Columbia&cid=15227496142508866302&z=14" target="_blank" title="MAP TO GOETHE INSTITUT"><i>Goethe Institut</i></a>, at 700 Eye Street, NW on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 6:30 PM.<br />
<i>Scott Sklar</i>, of <i><a href="http://thestellagroupltd.com/" title="The Stella Group">The Stella Group</a></i>, will introduce the film and moderate a panel discussion — “A global context for US renewable advocacy” — immediately after the film. <br />
If Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth begged the central question of climate change “What is to be done?” Fechner’s lushly photographed film provides a substantive answer that is well worth the wait.<br />
The late Dr. Hermann Scheer, German Bundestag member and Chair of the World Council for Renewable Energy presents proofs that renewables can replace fossil and nuclear fuels, while offering a way out of the environmental rock and the economic hard place in which oil dependence has trapped developed and developing countries alike. <br />
The film goes directly to Mali, the Amazon Rainforest, China, Bangladesh and Europe — to show how renewables are doing just that.<br />
A reception will be held afterward, provided by the <i><a href="http://www.fesdc.org/" title="Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung">Friedrich Ebert Stiftung</a></i>, DC.<br />
<i>Seating is limited so please RSVP now to reserve a space. Click Below for More Info and Online Registration.... </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://dcfilminstitute.org/the4threvolution/#.TlulVwILa10.blogger">The 4th Revolution</a></span>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-63018214947681833962011-08-26T18:27:00.000-04:002011-08-26T18:27:51.175-04:0015 Solar Projects to be Funded by the Sustainable Energy UtilityIn my previous blog post, I discussed the need for the new Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) to step up to the plate in helping promote residential solar installations. It appears that the SEU is listening as they have launched a solar area on their website and have made some money available for those on the solar rebate waiting list. See http://dcseu.com/programs/Solar.aspx for program details. <br />
<br />
While funding 15 projects is not going to put the City on the fast track for continued growth in solar installations, it is a positive start. We will continue to reach out to the SEU in hopes: a) that additional rebate funding can be made available in 2012 -- possibly allowing the wait list to re-open; b) that the SEU and DDOE can devise a replacement program for the existing Renewable Energy Incentive Program starting in 2013; and c) that solar becomes a key part of the Mayor's sustainability push. More details are below regarding the status of the rebates and wait list.... <br />
------------------------------------<br />
<br />
1. 414 homeowners are in the queue for a DC solar rebate. Waiting list is now closed. <br />
2. 2011 funding for REIP from DDOE is gone, so the 414 will be considered for 2012 fiscal year rebates (at half the original level). <br />
3. The SEU will fund about 15 projects at the top of the list of 414 in the next few weeks (at full rebate).<br />
If you are in the top 15 of the waiting list, please monitor your email closely for information from the SEU. At the old rebate levels, you will be getting a great deal that has almost an immediate payback. You will have 6 months to complete the install. If you want to know your place on the <br />
waiting list, see <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http://rrc.dc.gov/green/lib/green/pdfs/REIP_Waitlist_Feb_8_2011.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://rrc.dc.gov/green/lib/green/pdfs/REIP_Waitlist_Feb_8_2011.pdf</a><br />
<br />
Questions regarding the 15 SEU funded projects should go to Damon at 202-479-2222, ext. 1022 or toll-free 855-MY-DCSEU (855-693-2738), ext.1022. Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-348453692823300702011-07-07T12:41:00.000-04:002011-07-07T12:41:58.423-04:00DC Government Inaction Stifles the Explosive Growth of Solar in DC<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Thanks in part to a generous solar rebate program offered by the District of Columbia, more than 450 families have installed solar panels since 2009.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is exactly why the DC Council originally passed the legislation creating the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As an organizer of one of many solar neighborhood cooperatives, I had been receiving questions about going solar from neighbors and residents from across the City on a daily basis. Last year, installation crews from local businesses were seen all over DC -- with new projects being completed every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the numbers from across DC, 68 projects were completed in 2009, then 218 projects in 2010.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Projections were that solar installs would double each year – rising to 500 in 2011 and more than 5,000 per year by 2015.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solar energy became a frequent conversation topic on the street, in the workplace, and on social networking sites – with solar enthusiasts like myself boasting about receiving a “credit balance” on our pepco bills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, the solar revolution had finally hit DC, but this year has been much different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">As businesses ramped up their hiring and more people began doing the research needed to go solar, all of a sudden, a significant slowdown occurred in the solar industry here in DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why did this happen, and what are the prospects for those that missed out on the first wave, but are still interested?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a nutshell, a series of missteps and planning problems within DC government is primarily responsible for the slowdown in solar growth and job loss within the industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lack of decision-making and planning has created significant uncertainty, which is holding residents back from signing contracts to install solar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s examine first how the solar slowdown happened, and then go through some ideas on how to restart our solar momentum in DC. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">For those of you new to solar, the economics of financing your project rests on what I will call a four-legged stool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The legs are: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">a 30% Federal Tax Credit on the full amount of the system cost;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">local DC rebates (which during the boom averaged $11,000 per project);</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">carbon credit sales (known as solar Renewable Energy Credits or sRECs) that allow you to “sell” the green attributes of your solar system for cash, and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">future costs savings that accrue as solar panels produce electricity – essentially net metering that reduces your pepco bill typically in half.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The first wave of solar installs in DC received an almost too good to be true deal in which the subsidies above would pay for 70% – 100% of the average system cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The DC Rebate was an essential component drawn from a $2 million per year trust fund which is financed by a small surcharge on your pepco bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not difficult to imagine why the DC Rebate program became quickly over-subscribed. The combination of high demand for rebates, and the raiding of the energy trust fund by the Mayor and DC Council (essentially cutting the $2 million yearly total in half) caused the Department of the Environment to close the waiting list to new projects, and propose a reduction in the rebate amounts for those that were on the waiting list before it closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The proposed rebate reduction, which has not officially been finalized, would allow more projects to receive rebates at a smaller amount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rebate program sunsets in 2012 (though the pepco energy surcharge does not), meaning that those not on the list now have no current option for applying for funding, but that ratepayers will still be funding a program that will not exist after 2012.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">What does this mean for those of you stuck on the existing DC rebate waiting list, or those of you that want to now want to apply for a rebate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First the good news:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">solar prices are dropping fast – a system that would have cost $35,000 in 2009 will now cost only about $22,000;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">the Federal Tax Credit is still available;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">the value of sRECS, which had dipped recently, will gradually stabilize when the DC Council passes the Distributed Energy Generation Bill (19-10) next week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">So, assuming $22,000 for an average system, minus $6,600 in Federal tax credits leaves an upfront system cost of $15,400.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assuming $2,000 per year in energy credit payments to you and savings on your utility bill, then a simple payback will be reached in about 8 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Feedback from residents interested in solar indicates that the “tipping point” for deciding to go solar is a 4-5 year payback -- which is where the DC rebate program comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of you waiting in the wings do not want to move forward with an installation with an 8-year return on investment, knowing that you might miss out on rebate money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you are patiently waiting to hear what DC is doing with the rebates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Patiently” is the operative word as there has been no information shared on the program’s direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For argument’s sake, let’s assume that DC were to provide you a $4,000 rebate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your return on investment would then inch closer to that magical 5-year payback, and perhaps the solar revolution would enter a second phase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> While those on the existing waiting list will probably get some rebate money in 2012, r</span>e-opening the DC Solar Rebate program to new applicants will spur homeowners to spend a significant amount of money on projects that will employ DC workers and bring tax money back into the city.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Our city-wide cooperative organization, DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN), has met with government officials to question what the future plans are for solar rebates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, we are still paying the energy bill surcharge to fund investment in solar – so why aren’t the benefits being dispersed through a renewed solar rebate program?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a public meeting on January 19th with DC Department of the Environment head Christophe Tulou, we were told that little or no long-term planning for DC solar rebates was being done because DDOE was awaiting approval of a contract with the new “Sustainable Energy Utility” – an organization that was being created to chart the path forward on sustainability in DC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told that the SEU would fully engage on solar once they were formed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier this Spring, the contract for the SEU was awarded to Vermont Eneregy Investment Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were very excited to sit down with the new Director, Scott Johnstone, and engage on a long-term vision for solar in DC. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Despite Mr. Johnstone’s firm grasp of renewable energy issues, we were disappointed to find out from him that; a) DC Department of the Environment was still in fact calling the shots on the long-term prospects for solar in DC; and that b) the SEU would be focus its 2012 spending to exclusively promote weatherization rather than carving out some funding for solar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our clear message to Mr. Johnstone was that the SEU needed to get out of the box fast on solar, and could jump-start the industry again about targeting some funds into the depleted solar rebate program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, we were told that any such decision to replenish funds in the solar program would need to go through DC Department of the Environment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, back we went to DDOE asking about their plans to replenish funding in the rebate program from money that exists now and could be immediately available to those sitting on the waiting list.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">This is where the bureaucratic maze really becomes difficult to navigate, as it appears that DDOE and the Mayor’s office are working on several very large “vision-setting” documents, of which solar is a small part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than trying to get some short-term wins by funding popular and highly effective carbon cutting solar projects, progress forward appears completely stalled as the “grander scheme” is developed on a myriad of sustainability projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What this means is the funding available for the SEU to spend on sustainability projects (like solar) may revert back to the general fund because no one will make the decision to fund the solar waiting list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funding the solar waiting list with 2011 SEU money would mean that solar projects could start right way, and the $2 million that will become available next year under the original rebate program could be used for new applicants to the waiting list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, it looks like inaction by the Mayor, DDOE, and SEU will allow the SEU funds to lapse back to the general fund – essentially heading off the possibility of getting more rebates to more people.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">DC SUN continues to fight for solar incentives, but until there is a real commitment by our elected leaders, the program will continue to operate under a cloud of uncertainty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is unfortunate given that there is a clear path forward that will bring green jobs, carbon reductions, and locally-produced energy to meet peak summer demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is lacking is a decision-maker willing to make this happen. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On July 11<sup>th</sup>, the SEU has announced a public meeting at 3pm at 1325 G St NW, Suite 500.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think it is great that the SEU is reaching out the public, but it is about time that DDOE and SEU were in the same room offering a vision for the program rather than pointing back at each other when flaws in the existing program are pointed out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">If you want to go solar, please consider attending and using some of our key messages:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">DDOE needs to immediately announce what the planned rebate level is for next year, and re-open the waiting list for rebates.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">that DC needs measurable goals for attaining solar milestones (residential, schools, businesses, gov’t),</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">that existing 2011 SEU funding should be used to fund the waiting list now to re-energize the program,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">that 2012 rebate funding should be supplemented by SEU funding to provide more rebates (smaller rebates can fund more projects)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">that a new 4-year plan (2013-2016) must be developed now to provide certainty for homeowners and industry and ensure that pepco surcharges are used for intended purposes, and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">that more creative ways to fund projects for low income residents must be developed to supplement existing rebate programs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We are not quite at the point that explosive growth in installations will occur without a DC rebate program; however, with dropping prices and technology innovations, after another 4-year rebate program, it is likely that solar prices will drop to the point where rebate incentives may no longer be needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the rebate program was up and running, it was extremely successful, so why not continue it as a way to move the city toward a renewable energy future. Solar is the gateway for DC residents from every ward in the city to dramatically reduce their carbon, and for people to take control of their energy costs to become more prosperous and self sufficient. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Solar has the potential to bring great green jobs to this city, instead of exporting our energy dollars out of our economy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time for bold, clear and decisive action, not more delay and finger pointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>City officials need to re-open and properly fund DC’s Solar Rebate Program!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Mike Barrette</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative Solar Project Director</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Founding Member of DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN)</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Join our listserve at <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/">www.dcsun.org</a> to learn more about going solar</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Follow our blog and post comments at <a href="http://solardc.blogspot.com/">http://solardc.blogspot.com/</a></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Let the following DC officials know that you want the DC Solar Rebate to re-open!</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="mailto:Christophe.tulou@dc.gov">Christophe.tulou@dc.gov</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="mailto:sjohnstone@dcseu.com">sjohnstone@dcseu.com</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="mailto:Vincent.gray@dc.gov">Vincent.gray@dc.gov</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-5501442334051848652011-06-06T13:08:00.003-04:002011-06-06T13:16:14.786-04:00Distributed Generation Bill Goes to the Full Council!<p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">So the First Reading of the Distributed Generation Act of 2011 (Bill 19-10) is tomorrow morning.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">The bill passed unanimously out of committee with votes from Alexander, Bowser, Graham and Mendelson. The following Council members have also affirmed strong support for the legislation: Cheh, Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas, and Marion Barry. So at this point.. we are assuming that tomorrows first reading will be a CELEBRATION!!!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Pass the word! Bring sunflowers to show your support for solar! Turn out to let the DC Council know that this is just the beginning of the DC Solar movement.</span></p><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;">When:<span> </span>Tuesday, June 7th at 11:00 AM (Council meeting begins at 10:00 AM).</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></strong><p><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;">Where:<span> </span>Room 500 at The Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (Closest Metro: Federal Triangle on Orange/Blue Line)</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;">Why:<span> </span>First Reading of the Distributed Generation Act of 2011 (Bill 19-10)</span><br /></strong></p><p><strong>RSVP:<span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span>E-mail <a>solarcoop@yahoo.com</a><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 13px;">Visual:<span> </span>Bring bouquets or single sunflowers so members of Council see your support.</span></strong><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13px;">This legislation will create a healthy D.C. market for Solar Renewable Energy Credits for the next 10 years. What does that mean?</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size: 13px;"><strong>JOBS</strong>: A healthy solar market in D.C. will mean 2,000 new jobs over the next 10 years.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 13px;"><strong>CITY REVENUE</strong>: A healthy solar market in D.C. could generate more than $150 Million in tax revenue over the next 10 years.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 13px;"><strong>SOLAR FOR ALL</strong>: A healthy solar market in D.C. will enable affordable financing and leasing options for solar installations. This means that any D.C. resident could take advantage of solar energy.</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size: 13px;"><strong>MORE SOLAR</strong>: Clean and renewable energy from the sun, not dirty coal.</span></li></ul><span style="font-size: 13px;"></span>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-21404160934616174702011-05-27T11:36:00.002-04:002011-05-27T11:41:13.180-04:00Solar on the Move!<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Solar Bill Passes Committee</b></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Distributed Generation Amendment Act of 2011 <span style=""> </span>Bill 19-10</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fantastic news! Thanks to all the hard work from solar supporters like you, the solar legislation we need to put more solar panels on DC rooftops passed unanimously out of committee in the D.C. City Council yesterday! <span style=""></span>Council members ( CM Graham CM Bowser, CM Mendelson, and CM Alexander) went out of their way to comment on the solar businesses in their Wards and all the strong reasons to support the bill! <u><br /></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">The bill was changed slightly from the original draft but it is still a strong step forward—a victory. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> How strong a step is this? This legislation will essentially guarantee a stable solar market for years to come allowing for solar to proliferate across all eight of the Districts wards.<span style=""> </span>This legislation will enable the district to go from about 500 homes being powered by solar today to 15,000 homes being powered by solar in 2014.<span style=""> </span>THat would be a solar boom! <span style=""> </span>This bill takes us one step closer to a day in which we can all afford solar in DC! This bill is good for green jobs and the bill and even according to DC's own fiscal analysis -- the bill will have a positive impact on the DC Budget!!<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The bill markup in committee is just the next step. We still need to pass the legislation out of the Council. <b style="">Stay tuned for a notice asking you to show up to show your support at the City Council on June 7<sup>th</sup></b>.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> The DC Solar Movement is getting stronger every day!</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Anya Schoolman<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Anya%20Schoolman" datetime="2011-05-27T11:24"></ins></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mt. Pleasant Solar Coop</p> <p class="MsoNormal">DC SUN</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">P.S. Thanks to everybody who showed up at the Pepco shareholders meeting. Here is an article about the meeting.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.examiner.com/solar-energy-in-washington-dc/dc-residents-pressure-pepco-to-provide-solar"><span class="Hyperlink1"><span style="">http://www.examiner.com/solar-energy-in-washington-dc/dc-residents-pressure-pepco-to-provide-solar</span></span></a></p>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-85631599351690933232011-05-20T17:43:00.001-04:002011-05-20T17:45:44.543-04:00DC Sun Sends Message to Pepco!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> 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name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">For those of you who missed the rally in front of Pepco today-- you missed a great event!<br />There was an awesome turn out, fantastic banners, great chanting and great spirit! The DC Police Department closed off a lane in the street in front of Pepco-- Their flashing bright lights and quiet, calm presence helped make the event even more substantial than it would have otherwise. Pepco sent out a security guard to film the participants. Local TV was there to cover the event. DC RISE UP was there, with megaphones and bags of coal to pass out to share holders as they entered the building. Tom Kelly-our fearless DC SUN Pepco trouble shooter—rocked sun shaped temporary tatoos <span style=""></span>on his recently bald head! Tom brought his custom printed "Power from the People" signs with lightning bolts to the event. Thanks to all of you that showed up! YOU REALLY MADE MY DAY!!!<br /><br />Inside John Capozzi (Ward 7 Coop leader) spoke about his intention to introduce a shareholder resolution to require Pepco to affirmatively address climate change. He spoke about his interest as a shareholder in seeing Pepco embrace solar as a money making enterprise and suggested that Pepco might help finance and or market solar to residential customers. John said that Pepco was missing huge opportunities in this area.<br /><br />John Rigby Pepco CEO expressed concern and said he wanted to address John's issues before John felt compelled to come back to the shareholder meeting next year! He offered to personally meet with John in the near future!<br /><br />Inside, Anya Schoolman (DC Sun and MTP Solar Coop leader) spoke about Pepco's roll out of smart meters and smart grid and their apparent hostility to solar in general. She said that as a shareholder she was concerned that Pepco was turning the environmental and solar advocacy community into enemies instead of potential allies in the building of a new energy economy. She mentioned that there had been a number of complaints filed with the PSC. She also mentioned that Pepco's actions were engendering resentment that would translate into real regulatory risk affecting the bottom line of Pepco shareholders.<br /><br />After the meeting, both John and Anya were approached by a number of senior executives from the Pepco team. Charles R. Dickerson, Vice President, Customer Care mentioned the November 2010 meeting with DC Sun and Pepco management in the office of DC Council member Bowser. Anya replied that there has been zero follow up since that meeting. Important news however, he announced that the staff of the Green Power Connection Team has been tripled! So maybe Lisa Bladen will have some help, and you won't be put on hold for 45 minutes any longer? I look forward to your reports.<br /><br />Also, <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; color: black;">John Huffman, President of Pepco Energy Services</span> expressed interest in meeting with us and working collaboratively with the Coops. Although PES works on efficiency and solar for large commercial and government buildings we suggested there might be ways to collaborate--for example, by bringing the Solar Coops in on a bulk purchase of PV panels to bring our price/watt down significantly. We would love your ideas on how we might take advantage of PES new <span style=""> </span>“interest” in finding common ground with the Coops.</p>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-68110661674675978632011-05-16T10:40:00.001-04:002011-05-16T12:22:20.898-04:00DC SUN Meets with Sustainable Energy Utility<div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) was established by DC Council to chart a path forward for the District with regard to renewable energy and energy efficiency. While the solar Renewable Energy Incentive Program (REIP) has provided rebates to help more than 400 DC residents go solar, the program is set to expire next year and it is already over-subscribed. With 440 more people on the waiting list (which has now closed due to the popularity of the program), what is next for solar incentives in DC? </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Anya Schoolman, Akili West and I recently sat down with the Managing Director of the SEU to discuss this very question. DC SUN is advocating that the SEU develop a long-term set of goals for reaching solar adoption rates that will make the District a leader in locally-produced renewable energy. While it is important that the SEU advocate for BOTH energy efficiency AND solar energy (among other things), our message was clear – “Get out of the box quickly on solar!” We have momentum, a diverse installer base, and a long waiting list of citizens ready to go. DC SUN has offered to help develop ideas for a second round of REIP that can fix some of the problems we saw in round one – in particular, the lack of an independent trust fund, and uneven distribution of solar projects across all eight Wards. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is clear that the price of solar will continue to drop, so rebates can be less generous than Round 1. Within 4-5 years, it may be that the economics of solar will work without any DC rebate. However, in the near term, smaller rebates are important. Funding for solar rebates continue to come in from utility ratepayers, but there is currently no mechanism with the expiration of REIP to direct that funding to solar projects. We need REIP Round 2 to leverage that funding and ensure continued solar growth – which we have seen double from year to year. Because of the uncertainty regarding the rebates, many homeowners are putting projects on hold until a new program is announced.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We left the meeting with the SEU very encouraged that they understand the issues and dynamics of the solar market in DC. They understand that stabilizing the sREC market is critical, that community involvement is a must, and that certainty in regard to future rebate programs needs to happen quickly. That said, they are just getting off the ground and have not yet determined how to transition into programs that have been traditionally run by DDOE. While these issues play out, we are hopeful that DC SUN will continue to have a strong voice in developing solar programming in the City. Please comment with any thoughts you have.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mike Barrette</div>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-61100354179126122392011-05-03T14:58:00.002-04:002011-05-03T15:01:57.675-04:00DC Petition;s City Council --Don't Let Solar Die<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">DC Sun Fights for DC Solar!<br /></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yesterday, nearly a dozen solar advocates met at the Wilson Building to present members of the DC Council with a petition asking: </span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span>"We the undersigned residents of the District of Columbia urge our City Council to pass the Distributed Generation Amendment Act of 2011 to help put more solar on the rooftops of our homecity. Let's build DC solar to create jobs, grow DC businesses and protect the environment.”</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span> To date we have 2,104 signatures on the petition—but the numbers continue to grow! It is not too late to sign!<span> <br /></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span><span> </span><span> </span><a href="http://signon.org/sign/build-dc-solar-dont-let" target="_blank">http://signon.org/sign/<wbr>build-dc-solar-dont-let</a></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We were very surprised by the reaction we got at CM Cheh’s office—as she has been the long standing champion in the DC Council on renewable energy. We have been in conversations with her office about the need to fix the SREC market for </span><u><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">one year now</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">. We went to her office to ask why it is taking so long. She seemed severely annoyed to see us there and told us the bill was more complicated than we thought! We left wondering if Cheh had lost interest in being Washington’s solar champion.</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">After the meeting we got the following statement from CM Cheh’s office: </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">“As the primary author and lead introducer of this bill, I fully support moving forward. I have been advised by Councilmember Alexander’s office that she plans to move the bill in front of the Committee for markup this month.”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span> </span><span style="color: black;">-Mary Cheh</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">CM Alexander warmly welcomed our delegation, and agreed to take pictures with our group handing over the 175 page petition! She said the bill would be marked up and moved in May and promised the bill would be done before summer recess. This is good news, however, the bill mark up still has not been scheduled, and we are getting conflicting reports on how strong the bill will be when finished.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">We also visited with staff from CM Wells and CM Graham’s offices as we had strong representation in our group from Ward’s 1 and 6. They assured us they would look into why the bill appeared to be stalled and see what they could to do help.<span> <br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">Stay tuned!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">Anya Schoolman</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">President DC Sun</span></p> <span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; color: black;">PS If anyone wants to help deliver the petition to the other members of the DC Council please contact me! We need constituents to educate their representatives in all of the DC Wards.</span>Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-51696252339386447552011-04-26T12:09:00.004-04:002011-04-26T12:25:11.994-04:00Solar in the NEWS in DC!There has been some good coverage of our efforts in the press lately! Now Alexander's office is saying the SREC bill will be marked up in May. That is progress-- but the date keeps slipping! DC Sun is working to get the Council to move and stop sitting on the bill.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/04/26/solar-bits-move-the-bill-lease-a-panel-skyline-wins/comment-page-1/#comment-72665">City Paper</a><br /><br />Cheh sounds like she isn't strongly supportive of the bill! What gives? Has Cheh backed away from being our solar champion?<br /><br /><a href="http://wamu.org/news/11/04/22/dcs_solar_industry_seeks_protection_from_council.php">WAMU</a><br /><br />Also: signatures on city-wide petition to push the DC Council to act now has more than 1,673 people! To see the <a href="http://signon.org/sign/build-dc-solar-dont-let">petition click here </a><br /><br />We are hoping to get to 2,000 signatures by Monday!Anya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-40793604012023766322011-04-19T22:29:00.000-04:002011-04-19T22:29:07.084-04:00Growing list of 1,000+ DC Residents Urging DC Council to Pass Solar BillWe have seen a HUGE display of support behind efforts to solarize DC. People understand that the Distributed Generation Amendment Act is the key step in keeping the momentum going for solar in DC. It is puzzling that after a huge crowd of supporters took the day off work to speak in support at the committee hearing (during which there was little opposition to the Bill), that Council is sitting on their hands.<br />
<br />
Click here to send the Council a wake up call<br />
<br />
http://signon.org/sign/build-dc-solar-dont-let?source=c.fwd&r_by=58010Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-453180640387743302011-04-11T18:48:00.005-04:002011-04-11T19:01:30.734-04:00Will DC Council Flush the Whole Solar Industry down the Drain?Down to the Wire. DC Council <span style="font-weight: bold;">sits</span> on Distributed Generation Bill. DC SUN asks its members and all residents of DC to wake up the DC Council and protect our interests!<br /><br />The Distributed Generation Act (Bill 19-10) builds the foundation necessary for the sustained growth of the industry and the solar market in the District. Folks this is much bigger than a small rebate program. This is ten years of growth for the sector! It means solar opportunities across every Ward in the City. The bill increases the amount of solar energy the District of Columbia is required to use from 0.4% to 2.5% by 2020, which aligns the District’s goals with those in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and elsewhere. Most Significantly-- the bill would fix the loop that current allows the District to meet it's solar targets with installations from out of STATE! The bill requires utility companies to purchase solar energy solar systems located within the District to ensure the District receives the benefits of solar energy<br /><br /><br /> * The Council hearing on the Bill 19-10, the Distributed Generation Amendment Act of 2011 was held <span style="font-weight: bold;">over a month ago</span>. At that time, an over-flowing crowd of over 50 people representing local solar installers, DC Solar United Neighborhoods (DC SUN), homeowners, community leaders, and environmental organizations showed up and testified in support of the bill. Council Member <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alexander</span> ended the hearing by stating, <span style="font-weight: bold;">“We will pass this bill.”</span><br /><br /> * Since that time, whatever limited concerns raised at the hearing have been fully addressed.<br /><br /> * This bill is a Green Jobs-- No BRAINER for the DC Council. This bill is projected to create up to 2,000 green jobs in the District over the next nine years and will generate approximately $50 Million in sales tax revenue and more than $100 Million in income tax revenue over the next nine years. The bill is TIME SENSITIVE, and without quick action, we will lose an industry our city has worked so hard to create.<br /><br />Why Hasn't the Council ACTED to pass the bill?<br /><br />Post here if you take action to support the bill. If you call your council member post responses, if you email post their responses for others to share.<br /><br />Call, Write, Visit in Person and ask your Council member and Kwame Brown to Please Pass this the Distributed Generation Amendment Act of 2011 immediately! Tell them to Act now before it is too late!!!!<br /><br />dccouncil@dccouncil.usAnya --Mt Pleasant Solar Coophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14567851745497421400noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-23220217805430199452011-04-07T10:53:00.000-04:002011-04-07T10:53:17.605-04:00Public Service Commission seeks comments on utility billing statements<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK1" style="width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 0in; padding-left: 0in; padding-right: 0in; padding-top: 0in;" valign="top"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Office of People's Council circulated this consumer alert on proposed changes to pepco billing statements. Those of you with solar are aware that it is very difficult to understand how much power you are being credited for during a given billing cycle. If you have ideas on how pepco's billing statement could be improved, please see the info below on how to comment. The initial proposals floated by the PSC don't seem to deal with improving bill readability for solar producers. If you want others to see your comments, please feel free to post them below in the comments box, or on the DCSUN listserve (www.dcsun.org). In case the link below doesn't work, you can also click <a href="http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103326742639-33/FC%231078+PSC+Notice.pdf">HERE</a>.</span></span></strong></div><div style="color: black; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;"><strong><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">- Mike </span></span></strong></div><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #000099; font-size: 18pt;">OFFICE OF THE PEOPLE'S COUNSEL</span></strong></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">1133 15th Street, NW, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20005</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Phone: 202.727.3071; Fax: 202.727.1014; TTY/TDD: 202.727.2876</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Website: <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=pdcmwrdab&et=1105056967868&s=230&e=001OEu4wF-Tw4FehSJ_Q6G0GNi-HVL-4OpmTwRXYkIfXXyz5aq-Mdcipey5_KNp1_8IRdZooRHBl_rUpIBZacWpIB0_WjRwjAVho84JldmMGtg=" target="">www.opc-dc.gov</a>; Email: <a href="mailto:ccceo@opc-dc.gov" target="">ccceo@opc-dc.gov</a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Brenda K. Pennington, Interim People's Counsel</div></td></tr>
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<tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 3.75pt; padding-left: 3.75pt; padding-right: 3.75pt; padding-top: 3.75pt;" valign="top"> <div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: white; font-size: 36pt;">Consumer Alert</span></strong><span style="color: #ddd2b7; font-size: 18pt;"></span></div></div><div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: 24pt;">April 4, 2011</span><span style="color: #ddd2b7; font-size: 18pt;"></span></div></div></td></tr>
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<tr> <td style="padding-bottom: 11.25pt; padding-left: 11.25pt; padding-right: 11.25pt; padding-top: 11.25pt;" valign="top"> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Dear Consumers,</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia wants to hear from you! The DC PSC would like to hear from residential ratepayers regarding your concerns about understanding your utility bills. The Commission has made a number of proposals regarding new, revised and additional information to all D.C. consumers' monthly bills from PEPCO and Washington Gas. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Please follow the link provided to view all of DC PSC's proposed bill changes. All comments regarding the proposed bill changes should be submitted the following address:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Public Service Commission for the District of Columbia</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Office of the Secretary</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">1333 H Street, NW, Second Floor</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Washington, DC 20001</span></strong><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Initial comments of the DC PSC's proposed revisions to monthly utility bills are due by April 25, 2011. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Please follow the link to view the Notice in its entirety - <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=pdcmwrdab&et=1105056967868&s=230&e=001OEu4wF-Tw4HBc8Cz3nlR4NCIXMXkfcMZi59pS01TTe-e1EghOQY0sWzp8BvvIwPM9NluhkRjamz5yW5YFZtNweZUPiisqOX2luq8yY0ta7AuxyHPng1FMNGvu7yHfuX5Uz4FN_ar6sn4a0HvpYTMhvg1AYMu_cdUhFpwcXxTklLgn2lDfkjVVZ6A1XYyLGNp" target="">Formal Case No. 1078, In the Matter of an Investigation into the Adequacy of Billing Information on Monthly Utility Bills.</a></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span></div></td></tr>
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</tbody></table>Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-9553391802223131012011-04-01T12:42:00.000-04:002011-04-01T12:42:33.432-04:00DC Selects Vendor to lead Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU)DC's selection of a vendor to run the SEU (read <a href="http://imt.org/files/SEU_Announcemnt_32811.pdf">announcement here)</a> has been long awaited by the DC solar community. Why? Because the SEU is supposed to be the organization charting a path forward for solar. As you know, the current Renewable Energy Incentive Program (solar rebates) expires next year. DC has never charted a path forward for solar in DC beyond 2012. We have high hopes that a rebate program can be extended beyond 2012, that the renewable energy credit market will be stabilized, and that the SEU will set and work toward goals for reaching solar milestones to make DC the #1 solar city in the US. We urge the new SEU to work with DC SUN and our member cooperatives to creatively bring solar to a wider range of citizens (for example, promoting community solar projects for renters, for those that don't have the correct building orientation, and for those that don't have the financial means to purchase a complete system). We welcome Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and its partners. Let's get started!Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-31301601282084981962011-03-08T11:41:00.000-05:002011-03-08T11:41:34.550-05:00WAMU Program on Solar with guest Christophe Tulou (today at noon)Today's Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU will cover the topic of residential<br />
solar in DC, Maryland and Virginia.<br />
<br />
I would like to encourage everybody to listen and CALL IN with your<br />
experience and comments. Show that the DC Solar community is strong<br />
and active.<br />
<br />
What: Kojo Nnamdi show on WAMU<br />
<br />
When: Today, Tuesday, March 8; Noon - 2:00 PM<br />
<br />
How: Listen 88.5 FM WAMU or listen online at http://www.wamu.org/<br />
<br />
CALL: dial 1-800-433-8850 or e-mail kojo@wamu.orgMike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8702023630314986486.post-81087058128006780002011-03-02T22:57:00.001-05:002011-03-02T22:58:13.669-05:00Excellent Showing Today at DC Council HearingToday's DC Council hearing on increasing the solar carve out (Renewable Portfolio Standard) was strongly attended by citizens across the City, testifying in favor of the raising the solar RPS up to 4%. I believe there were more than 40 people testifying in favor of the Bill. Other than the utilities, who predictably do not want to lose business to citizen-produced solar power, there were not many negative comments about the bill. The Public Service Commission did raise some concerns that did not seem completely on point. However, the PSC noted in their comments that they believe that DC's recent decision to remove funding out of the Sustainable Energy Trust Fund may not have been legal. DDOE Commissioner Tuluo testified in favor of the bill -- giving it his strong support. There is also an article discussing the issues in City Paper. <a href="http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/03/02/the-bill-that-could-make-or-break-solar-in-d-c/comment-page-1/#comment-64572">See link here</a>. Were you there? If so, please comment with your impression.Mike Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04005546815979774343noreply@blogger.com0