Neil Armstrong & the Moon-We're Missing the Point

Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of one of the most inspiring collective human achievements in history. It's etched in our memories or, if we weren't born yet, we all know the famous words behind this achievement: "Tranquility Base. The Eagle has landed," and "That's one small step for man...one giant leap for mankind." More importantly, less than 10 years earlier, a President incredibly challenged our nation "to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade." At the time he uttered those words, there were so many reasons that it couldn't be done. It was impossible, but yet he made the declaration, not because it would be easy, but because it was a challenge.

And on the 40th anniversary of the accomplishment of this impossible feat, the Apollo 11 astronauts were paraded in front of the press. They were guests at the Oval Office, where President Obama praised NASA, fortunately, without getting into specifics about future plans, while at Cape Canaveral these astronauts and their colleagues complained that there should be more support and commitment to go to Mars.

Eugene Cernan, the last astronaut on the moon in 1972, told a news conference at NASA headquarters that the nation could "recapture the kind of spirit" that infused the risk-taking, cutting-edge Apollo program. "We had to accept challenges, we had to be bold, we had to take risks, we had to make sacrifices," Cernan said.

The world's priorities today are very different from what they were in the '60's, but the spirit and example set by NASA and the 30 or so astronauts like Cernan is exactly what the solar tribe should embrace today. There have been numerous blogs comparing the challenge of putting a man on the moon in the '60's to that of bringing our climate under control today. There have also been members of the solar tribe taking action to bring this analogy into the publics conscience. In the blog entry below this one, I have posted a letter from RePower America which plays to the same line of thinking.

The point is: we've done this before. Then it was "man on the moon in 10 years." Today it's "Reduce CO2 dramatically in 10 years." This may not be a universally popular idea at the moment. It may not even seem possible to some. But neither was "putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade" in 1961. And for those of us who remember living through that decade, it wasn't like everybody was a part of the daily effort. There was political will and out of that came lots of jobs and technological breakthroughs that not only made it possible for Armstrong to step onto to the lunar surface that summer of '69, but also changed the way a generation lived, improving the quality of life.

Together, we stand with a passion toward something even more important than "man on the moon." Are we just going to read about it and think about and take no action? What are we waiting for? What have we got to lose? Let's celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 by committing to ourselves and each other to renew the same political will that made that history possible. Political will is a renewable resource and it's up to each one of us to bring it forth.

Repower America - Historic Anniversary

Yesterday was July 20, the 40th anniversary of man's historic walk on the moon. It was a day to contemplate the great things that can be accomplished when a nation makes a bold commitment. Yesterday, I also received the following letter:

Dear Roy,
Forty years ago today, America put a man on the moon. A giant leap for mankind, those first steps captivated the attention of 600 million people around the world, proving that with dedication and inspiration, America can achieve great things. Today, we need your help to move our country forward again. America must decide whether 2009 will be a year for change, or a year for more of the same. As our economy struggles, as we wage a multi-front war in unstable oil-rich regions of the world and as our planet suffers, the choice is clear. We need less pollution. We need more jobs. We need to do right by America. Will you help us set a new course for our country?
Visit our action center and learn how you can help Repower America.
Just one year ago, Al Gore challenged us to make a new start - to Repower America with a plan that calls for investment in renewable energy resources that will create jobs, end our dependence on foreign oil and preserve our planet for our children. It is a bold plan, and it will take great determination to achieve it. But with new leadership in Washington, we are closer than ever. Now is the time to make our voices heard.Will you share our message and help build the movement to Repower America?
Take action today.
Like the space race, the rest of the world is watching to see what we will do. In just 139 days, the global community is meeting in Copenhagen to determine global solutions to the climate crisis. The United States needs to be part of that discussion. More than that, we need to lead it. America is about innovation and ingenuity. Courage and leadership. About knowing when to make tough choices about what's right for our country and what's wrong.Today we are at a moment of decision. Ten years from now - even one year from now - it will be too late to wish we had taken action sooner. With so many big problems that need to be solved, we need to move our country forward now. And it's going to take you, and everyone you know, to get this done.America can rise and meet this challenge together. We put a man on the moon.
Thanks,
Maggie L. Fox
President & CEO

We're the solar tribe, what are we going to do? What are YOU going to do?

Duke Energy Model: It Makes Too Much Sense

We just got back from an RFP Conference with Southern California Edison, followed by the InterSolar trade show. Aside from keeping us busy, the two events were thought-provoking.

At the SCE RFP Conference, I learned a lot about the limitations that current transmission capacity has on expanding solar and wind power. SCE intends to purchase 250MW of renewable energy from private sources under PPA arrangements. one of the major criteria in awarding contracts will be interconnectivity. Much of their power grid is pretty close to being maximized. At the Intersolar show, we saw many, many German, Spain and China companies who are highly motivated to break into the U.S. solar market. One exhibitor had taped a handwritten sign that said "Solar Panels $1.50/Wp." Although the name of the exhibitor did not sound like that of a solar company, it was an example of how competitive things are getting for the "have nots" in the industry.

All of this got me to thinking about the pilot rooftop program that Duke Energy announced several weeks ago, where they plan to rent rooftops of their customers and install PV solar modules, thereby creating a distributive solar energy capability. There are other utilities around the country who have announced similar programs. It makes a lot of sense. And while they're at it, why not take advantage of potential new entrants into the U.S. market, thereby keeping the cost down?

There are very good companies, such as CEEG and Best Solar, offering top quality solar panels, offering insured warranties, who would make compelling bids to get their panels on the Duke Energy or other utility rooftops. And there are companies like WholeSolar, who could facilitate these types of deals and help to select qualified installers at the best prices to do the installations.

It makes too much sense. This will clearly be one of the paths to solar energy ubiquity.

National Net Metering: Another Goal for the Tribe

In an earlier blog post, I shared about California AB560 a net metering bill being considered by the California state senate. The bill moved through the California Senate Energy Committee 9-1 yesterday, but still has a couple of critical votes to clear. This is an important bill for at least three reasons that I can think of. First, its passage will further open up the solar residential and commercial market. Second, its passage is essential in order for another bill, AB920 (a bill that is about creating fairness within California’s solar market and about spurring ever greater consumer interest in investing in solar power bringing with it important environmental and economic benefits to the state) to pass, bringing a little more logic and sanity to solar energy policy. Finally, I believe that the nation looks to California as a leader in energy and climate control legislation.

A national net metering policy would make a lot of sense. It sets up the classic debate about Federal government versus state's rights, but the quality of the environment is clearly a national, if not global issue that begs for a national net metering policy. In addition, any energy policy that moves us away from fossil fuel energy is really a national security issue. There are many issues, where I argue passionately for state's and local community rights and against big government, but this is not one of them.

The net metering issue is really quite simple: just think of being able to turn your electricity meter backwards when your solar panels generate power. Why should anyone be afraid of this? Clean energy channeled into the grid, thereby reducing the demand for energy that comes from other sources. We're worried that we'll convert to solar too fast? Now wouldn't that be a nice problem to have?

A national net metering policy would perhaps have the effect of further accelerating the development of a national (intra-national) and international smart grid. Admittedly, this will take time, but in theory a global smart grid will solve one of the largest problems facing the industry: wasted energy...energy generated but not used. Until we develop advanced energy storage technologies or a global smart grid, this will remain a large cost item to the utility industry.

Clearly there are many issues facing us as we all work to make solar power mainstream. National net metering is one of the vital issues. It is important that we keep talking and blogging about it. Let's join together and keep the drums pounding.

Video: Marketing Solar Energy to the Public Remains a Challenge - Renewable Energy World

Video: Marketing Solar Energy to the Public Remains a Challenge - Renewable Energy World

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Repower America - Independence Day

It seems like things have been so busy lately, running the business, networking and rallying the solar tribe to go into action, that I have not had time to write the next blog. I want to pass along the letter I received today from Al Gore:

Dear Roy,

This Independence Day, we have a lot to celebrate -- including a major victory for our planet.

The historic vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act in the House of Representatives last Friday moves this bill to the Senate. Now, we must continue to build momentum and work for its passage.

Just as our founders struggled to achieve our nation's independence, we must encourage our leaders to stand up to the entrenched special interests in another struggle of great historical importance -- the fight for our energy independence.

Tell Senate leaders Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell that you support bold action on clean energy legislation. This July 4th, declare your energy independence and demand that they work to do the same in the Senate.

Declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell.

Today, our nation lives under the oppressive thumb of foreign oil, dirty energy and a climate crisis that could change life as we know it.

We are held hostage to volatile gas prices, as Americans send hundreds of billions of dollars overseas each year. This dependence on foreign oil leaves our nation vulnerable to unstable and hostile regimes, burdening our military and their families.

And our reliance on dirty energy continues to cost us -- average annual household energy spending increased approximately $1,000 between 2001 and 2007.

It doesn't have to be this way, and clean energy is the path we need. Add your voice and declare your energy independence now:

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration

Repowering America with clean energy can revitalize our economy by creating millions of clean energy jobs, stabilizing energy costs, strengthening our national security and addressing the climate crisis.

Show our Senate leaders that we mean business: stand together with us and demonstrate your support for change.

Our founders fought to live in a free nation -- and they succeeded. The clean, prosperous and energy independent America we seek now and for future generations is closer than ever, but this legislation must succeed in the Senate.

That's why I'm asking you to declare your energy independence to Senators Reid and McConnell today:

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/declaration

Thanks for all you do,

Al Gore

As soon as I post this, I'm going to follow the links to declare my energy independence. What are you waiting for? Join me by taking action at RepowerAmerica.org

Californians: Act Now on AB560 - Another Step Toward Solar Ubiquity

From today's San Francisco Chronicle Editorial Page:

Legislature must act to keep solar glowing

Sunday, June 28, 2009

One of the keys to the expansion of solar power has been the opportunity for homeowners and businesses to receive credits for the amount of excess electricity they send back to the grid. This incentive - known as a "net metering" requirement - was broadened under the 2006 California Solar Initiative, which was designed to put the state in the forefront of alternative energy generation.

That law required investor-owned utilities, such as the Pacific Gas & Electric Co., to provide such credits to its customers, within certain constraints. The intent was to give homeowners the chance to lower their energy bill, not to turn single-family residences into major power stations. The offsets - which owners of solar panels gleefully refer to as "spinning the meter backward" - could not exceed a customer's historic peak demand.

The program has been so successful that it is about to bump up against another limitation in the California Solar Initiative: Utilities were required to accept as much as 2.5 percent of their total electricity load from net-metering customers.

PG&E is expected to reach that 2.5 percent threshold next year.

The end of net metering would deprive Californians of a economic incentive to install solar panels on their roofs.

To keep the solar momentum rolling, Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, introduced AB560 to raise the net-metering limit to 10 percent of a utility's load. Her bill, which cleared the Assembly on a 47-22 vote, is scheduled to face its first Senate hearing this week.

This bill would seem to be a slam dunk, but it has encountered resistance from several fronts, some predictable and some unexpected.

One of the arguments against net metering is that it is a subsidy for the rich. As Skinner noted, however, there is a significant public benefit to the net-metering projects installed on schools, jails, post offices and small businesses.

"They made that investment because it hedges them against future utility costs," she said. "They're not doing this just to be green, they want the security of lower electricity bills for 20 to 25 years."

Also, the expansion of the solar industry - which is accelerated by incentives such as net metering - is the key to driving down the price and making the solar option more inviting to middle-class customers.

The other barrier to passage of AB560 is opposition from investor-owned utilities - including PG&E and Southern California Edison. In a letter to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, PG&E suggested it would be premature to raise the net-metering cap without a "complete understanding of the costs associated with such an increase." PG&E asked legislators to withhold action until the California Public Utilities Commission completed a study on the costs and benefits of net metering.

However, the CPUC position on AB560 is clear: Its commissioners voted unanimously to endorse the measure.

This is hardly a radical move. Eighteen other states with net metering do not put any ceiling on the amount of customer-generated electricity that utilities can accept. Utah recently raised its net-metering limit to 20 percent of a utility's load.

"California has had almost 500 megawatts of solar installed to date, most of that in the last two years as a result of the California Solar Initiative," said David Hochschild, a leading solar advocate. "So a failure to get this bill out of the state Senate would undermine all the job creation and clean air benefits that the solar industry can provide to California."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to take an official position on AB560, but Skinner is confident he will sign it if it reaches his desk.

"It completely aligns with his goal of a million solar roofs," she said.

It's now up to the California Senate to keep this laudable goal on track.



Contact: Encourage your state senator to support AB560. You can find names and contact information at www.senate.ca.gov. Sen. Alex Padilla, chair of the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, can be reached via e-mail at senator.padilla@sen.ca.gov.

This article appeared on page E - 10 of the San Francisco Chronicle

And a little further expanation (also from the Chronicke):

SOLAR INCENTIVES
Spinning the meter backward

Sunday, June 28, 2009

How it works:
Customers with solar panels are provided credits for the full retail value of the electricity they send back to the grid.

Over a 12-month period, a net-metering customer pays only for the net amount of utility electricity they consumed at their location.

The annual credits cannot exceed a customer's utility bill.

Who uses net metering?
There are more than 40,000 net-metering customers statewide, including more than 100 government and public entities (cities, water districts, counties, schools, federal installations) and hundreds of private companies of all sizes.

Are state incentives working?
Of the 500 megawatts of solar installed to date, most of that has been in the past two years, since the adoption of the California Solar Initiative, which set an ambitious target of 3,000 megawatts of solar by 2017.

What happens without AB560?
Electricity generated by net metering is expected next year to reach 2.5 percent of PG&E's load - which means the utility would no longer be required to accept new net-metering customers.

States without net-metering limits:
Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The District of Columbia also has a net-metering program without a cap.

Source: www.solaralliance.org

I'm calling my State Senator. Are you?