Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 01, 2014 by Robert F. Shields, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard (retired)
The Ohio Senate plans to freeze in place the progress Ohio has made in energy consumption and utilization of renewable energy sources. In addition to the economic arguments against it, passage of Ohio Senate Bill 310 runs counter to the national security needs of the United States.
In the Department of Defense’s recently published Quadrennial Defense Review, climate change is identified as a national security threat as it will lead to increased economic and political instability throughout the world, changes that will affect the United States. The Armed Forces are already implementing improvements in energy consumption and use of renewables from Afghanistan to Ohio. The military is leading the way.
SB 310 is intended to keep coal as the primary energy source for electricity in Ohio, much to the benefit of First Energy. A 19th century energy source, coal is a major factor in this security threat to the United States in the 21st century. Our Senators can either place the wants of First Energy and the 19th century over our 21st century needs, or they can guide the Senate to stand as one with the young men and women who serve our country. SB 310 is bad for Ohio and bad for our national security.
At long last, the Koch brothers and their conservative allies in state government have found a new tax they can support. Naturally it’s a tax on something the country needs: solar energy panels.
For the last few months, the Kochs and other big polluters have been spending heavily to fight incentives for renewable energy, which have been adopted by most states. They particularly dislike state laws that allow homeowners with solar panels to sell power they don’t need back to electric utilities. So they’ve been pushing legislatures to impose a surtax on this increasingly popular practice, hoping to make installing solar panels on houses less attractive.
Oklahoma lawmakers recently approved such a surcharge at the behest of the American Legislative Exchange Council, the conservative group that often dictates bills to Republican statehouses and receives financing from the utility industry and fossil-fuel producers, including the Kochs. As The Los Angeles Times reported recently, the Kochs and ALEC have made similar efforts in other states, though they were beaten back by solar advocates in Kansas and the surtax was reduced to $5 a month in Arizona.
But the Big Carbon advocates aren’t giving up. The same group is trying to repeal or freeze Ohio’s requirement that 12.5 percent of the state’s electric power come from renewable sources like solar and wind by 2025. [The bill trying to repeal clean energy requirements is SB-310.] Twenty-nine states have established similar standards that call for 10 percent or more in renewable power. These states can now anticipate well-financed campaigns to eliminate these targets or scale them back.
The coal producers’ motivation is clear: They see solar and wind energy as a long-term threat to their businesses. That might seem distant at the moment, when nearly 40 percent of the nation’s electricity is still generated by coal, and when less than 1 percent of power customers have solar arrays. (It is slightly higher in California and Hawaii.) But given new regulations on power-plant emissions of mercury and other pollutants, and the urgent need to reduce global warming emissions, the future clearly lies with renewable energy. In 2013, 29 percent of newly installed generation capacity came from solar, compared with 10 percent in 2012.
Renewables are good for economic as well as environmental reasons, as most states know. (More than 143,000 now work in the solar industry.) Currently, 43 states require utilities to buy excess power generated by consumers with solar arrays. This practice, known as net metering, essentially runs electric meters backward when power flows from rooftop solar panels into the grid, giving consumers a credit for the power they generate but don’t use.
The utilities hate this requirement, for obvious reasons. A report by the Edison Electric Institute, the lobbying arm of the power industry, says this kind of law will put “a squeeze on profitability,” and warns that if state incentives are not rolled back, “it may be too late to repair the utility business model.”
Since that’s an unsympathetic argument, the utilities have devised another: Solar expansion, they claim, will actually hurt consumers. The Arizona Public Service Company, the state’s largest utility, funneled large sums through a Koch operative to a nonprofit group that ran an ad claiming net metering would hurt older people on fixed incomes by raising electric rates. The ad tried to link the requirement to President Obama. Another Koch ad likens the renewable-energy requirement to health care reform, the ultimate insult in that world. “Like Obamacare, it’s another government mandate we can’t afford,” the narrator says.
That line might appeal to Tea Partiers, but it’s deliberately misleading. This campaign is really about the profits of Koch Carbon and the utilities, which to its organizers is much more important than clean air and the consequences of climate change.
Ohio voters favor green energy, efficiency and political candidates who do the same, poll finds
By John Funk, The Cleveland Plain Dealer
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans overwhelmingly favor replacing coal-fired power plants with wind farms and solar arrays, and requiring utilities to help customers use less electricity, a poll released Wednesday has found.
The random telephone survey of 600 Ohio voters found:
• That 72 percent favor renewable energy over traditional power plants, with 52 percent strongly in favor.
• That 86 percent of Ohio voters support mandated utility energy efficiency programs, with 49 percent strongly supporting the rules.
• That two-thirds of voters say they would more likely support legislative candidates this fall who promote renewable energy over those who think the state’s utilities should continue to emphasize traditional coal-fired and nuclear power plants.
The Hatfield’s Ferry power plant in Pennsylvania has the capacity to generate more than 1,700 megawatts. The power plant’s three boilers are fueled with coal. FirstEnergy has closed the plant.
“The findings present a very clear picture of where Ohioans stand when it comes to energy policy and some of the debates going on in the state legislature,” said David Metz, a principal in the polling firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates. Known as FM3, the firm is based in California.
“And relative to other polling we have done in Ohio and around the country, these results are consistent in the strong support that Ohio voters offer for more use of clean energy and greater use of energy efficiency,” said Metz during a news conference.
Ohio Advanced Energy Economy, an advocacy group for efficiency and renewables, commissioned the poll. Ohio Advanced Energy has been battling against a proposal supported by the Republican leadership in the Ohio Senate — Senate Bill 310 — to amend state rules requiring power companies to help customers switch to more efficient equipment and lighting.
The law, which received bipartisan support by all but one lawmaker in 2008, requires utilities to help customers reduce power consumption through energy efficiency by 22 percent by 2025, compared with 2009 levels. And by the same year, the law requires that 12.5 percent of the power sold in the state to have been generated with renewable technologies. The percentages began at less than 1 percent in 2009 and are increasing annually.
But Republican lawmakers, in response to complaints from some large industrial companies and pressure from the utilities, led by FirstEnergy Corp. of Akron, want to freeze things at this year’s levels and then study the issue for three years.
FirstEnergy has been clear that it believes the efficiency rules have cut into normal market growth. Some large industries say it is costing too much in extra charges to fund the mandated programs. Proponents dismiss that complaint, saying the current law allows utilities to halt efficiency programs if they cost more than what they save customers.
Ford and other advocates for keeping the law argue that the bill pending in the Ohio Senate will effectively kill the efficiency and renewable industries that have sprung up since 2009.
“Ohio is home to some 400 advanced energy companies employing 25,000 Ohioans,” said Ted Ford, president and CEO of Ohio AEE. “Ohio’s clean energy law is working. It’s saving money for consumers, creating jobs, and making Ohio competitive. And now, we can demonstrate that the voting public strongly supports it, too.”
But the poll, Ohio Statewide Survey, also found that despite the efforts of energy efficiency advocates like Ford, almost half of the electorate haven’t heard anything at all about what lawmakers are considering. About 20 percent said they were aware of the debate.
Still, almost three-quarters of those polled said they support the current state law that requires utilities to switch to an increasing percentage of renewable energy.
And when asked what percentage of Ohio’s energy should come from wind and solar, on average, Ohioans said they would like to see a majority of the state’s electricity come from renewable sources, as much as 56 percent, said Metz.
“We saw a similar pattern when we asked about energy efficiency, he said. “Most Ohio voters see this (the current law) as something that could benefit them personally.”
“When we ask whether they would be interested in taking advantages of incentives to weatherize their homes, become more energy efficient and not waste energy, 90 percent of voters said that they personally would be interested.
This past week, we received notification that our B-Corp certification has been renewed. This is an annual process whereby we are reviewed, as a company, for adherence to the B-Corp “triple bottom line” principles — that we are dedicated to practices that benefit People, Planet, and Profit. You can read our B-Corp profile here.
We went through a thorough review process for our original B-Corp certification, and we’re proud to be upholding the principles of this national “ethical business” certification, and to be wearing the B-Corp logo with honor.
I have a 36 panel ground mount 9 KW solar system. I wanted American made products so I had to pay slightly more. I went with Sharp solar panels and Enphase Microconverters. The solar panels are connected in series and so far my output slightly exceeds the prediction by Third Sun Solar, so I am very pleased. It was installed by Third Sun Solar in cooperation with my electric provider, Butler Rural Electric. It is a ground mount in a field with no shade and serves my home in Butler County, Ohio. The solar panels are located around 450 ft from my house. They ran three large underground cable wires that connect to my meter at the house.
I contacted three solar companies before making a decision. I was surprised by the differences in layout that each of the three companies proposed. One company for example insisted I would lose a lot of energy by having such a long distance between the panels and my house and insisted the panels needed to be connected in parallel. The other two companies agreed that connecting them in series was better, but <company name deleted> insisted they could only run a cable that far if they used my barn as a substation.
As mentioned earlier in my review of <company name deleted>, I was seriously misled by the salesperson who has since left the company and that would have charged several thousand dollars more than my quote from Third Sun Solar, for a smaller system (32 solar panels), vs 36 panels and a true 9 K system.
I chose Third Sun Solar and I can’t say enough positive comments about this company. They were very professional in all my dealings with them and I could not be happier with the result. It took them a full week to install the solar system (36 panels). I elected not to have the panels put on my roof as that has a disadvantage in terms of needing to take them down and reinstalling when the shingles on the roof need to be replaced, and heat build-up from the roof can also reduce efficiency. I did not want to replace my shingles which should be good for another 15 years or so, while the life span of the solar panels which should be maintenance free for 30 years or more. Don’t trust a salesman when he says their company will take the panels off and reinstall for no cost when your shingles do need replacing.
Anyway, for the month of March which is still not quite done, I am exceeding the predicted output. So far my panels have produced 1,061 kWh so I will receive a check for 1 SREC for March and most likely a total of 12 SREC credits per year. My system is reducing my electric use from Butler Rural Electric by 75% and some months I will not use any net electric from my electric company. After choosing to go with Third Sun Solar, I noticed that my electric company has a small 2.3 K solar system installed at their facility in Hamilton, Ohio and that was installed by Third Sun Solar as well.
Bottom line, all solar companies are not the same. I have full trust in Third Sun Solar which is located in Athens, Ohio.
This post is part of a series in which LinkedIn Influencers analyze the state and future of their industry. By Jigar Shah, founder SunEdison.
In 2003, I was beating my hand against doors to convince businesses to install solar, and my head against the wall trying to get investors to put their money into no-money-down solar contracts.
Eleven years later, I am watching people who are now switching to solar. However, the solar switch is not based only on their values – these energy consumers are also simply anxious to save money on energy. When and where solar makes economic sense, it is being deployed. And the places to deploy it are increasing – 300 utilities in 30 states are now cost-effective for solar power.
The result is that the state of the solar industry has never been better. The facts and figures below reflect that solar has hit the tipping point.
29 Percent
Solar accounted for 29 percent of all new electricity generation capacity added in 2013, up from 10 percent in 2012. Solar was the second largest source of new electricity generating capacity behind natural gas. In ten states, including Illinois and Missouri, solar power represented virtually 100 percent of new electrical capacity added in 2013.
2.2 Million Homes
There is now enough solar capacity to power more than 2.2 million average American homes. Cumulative solar electric capacity operating in the U.S. reached more than 13,000 MW.
Solar is Cheaper
Year-over-year, the national average solar PV (photovoltaic) installed system price declined by 15% to $2.59/W in Q4. The average price of a solar panel has declined by 60 percent since the beginning of 2011.
2014, Another Record Year
Close to 6,000 MW of solar PV is forecasted to come online throughout 2014, which represents 26% growth over 2013’s record installation totals.
2014 will be a record year for CSP (concentrating solar power) as 840 MW are expected to be commissioned by year’s end.
Together, new solar electric capacity projected to be added in 2014 will generate enough clean energy to power over 1.13 million average American homes.
143,000 Solar Workers in the U.S.
According to The Solar Foundation’s Solar Job Census 2013, there are nearly 143,000 solar workers in the U.S., a nearly 20 percent increase over employment totals in 2012. These workers are employed at 6,100 businesses operating at over 7,800 locations in all 50 US states and territories. The solar industry is expecting to hire for over 2,000 new jobs per month in 2014. The increasing value of solar installations has injected life into the U.S. economy as well. In 2013, solar electric installations were valued at $13.7 billion, compared to $11.5 billion in 2012 and $8.6 billion in 2011.
The Top Ten States:
According to SEIA’s U.S. Solar Market Insight 2013 Year in Review, the Top 10 Solar States based on solar capacity installed in 2013 are as follows:
California
Arizona
North Carolina
Massachusetts
New Jersey
Hawaii
Georgia
Texas
New York
Colorado
Solar Tipping Point
Being able to report these numbers is a thrill. For me, solar started an uphill battle to convince top companies to install it. Today, companies like Walmart, Kohl’s, and Staples are the largest users of solar power in the United States. With rapidly rising electricity rates, solar is turning out to be the right technology at the right time. It is making solar a no-brainer for many businesses and residents – even if you are only installing solar to save money.
Yes, solar has reached its tipping point moment as defined by Malcolm Gladwell.
We’ve just received a copy of a new study by SolarCity and CleanEdge. It’s a broad survey of American attitudes about solar, renewable energy, and clean energy. We felt these results were important enough to share. Some excerpts from the report appear below, and the full report can be found here.
The most surprising and important finding involves perception. Only 45% of American homeowners believe that solar power is more affordable today than it was three years ago—even though during the past several years prices for solar panels dropped by more than half. Perhaps the solar industry has been slow to communicate effectively just how far solar prices have dropped. Here is one example:
Recently, we quoted a homeowner $25,990 for a 9.12kW rooftop solar electric system
3 years ago, we quoted that same homeowners $49,263 for a 7.2kW system on the same rooftop
This example system represents an almost 50% price drop!
Other key highlights from the 2014 U.S. Homeowners on Clean Energy Survey include:
Homeowners Want Energy Options
Majority of homeowners (69%) want more choices when it comes to their energy and electricity supply.
Three out of four respondents believe that utilities should not be able to block individual residential customers from installing distributed solar power, energy storage, and other onsite systems. Such sentiments were strongest among respondents that identified themselves as Republicans, Conservatives, the middle-aged (55-69), and elderly (70+), at 80%, 83%, 89%, and 94%, respectively.
73% of homeowners would welcome an inexpensive and reliable form of energy provided by someone other than their current utility.
62% of homeowners want solar power for their homes.
50% of homeowners are interested in backup power for their homes.
Support for Renewable Energy is Strong and Widespread
88% of homeowners believe that renewable energy is important to America’s future.
Support is high among all major political affiliations,with respondents that identified themselves as Republicans, Democrats, and Independents coming in at 87%, 93%, and 83%, respectively.
Homeowners Weigh Environmental Impact, but Economics Rule
Homeowners say they care about the environmental impact of their car, home, and other major purchases. 70% consider or investigate the environmental impact/sustainability of big-ticket items when making purchasing decisions.
Such environmental considerations are increasing. Nationwide, more than half of homeowners said they were more likely to make such considerations today than three years ago.
While homeowners say they care about the environment, economics drive most purchasing decisions. Respondents cite zero up-front costs and ongoing cost savings as the top two reasons for considering a solar power installation.
Clean-Energy Purchases are Becoming Mainstream, but Perceived Price Barriers Persist
Perceived price barriers have kept some homeowners from adopting clean-energy products. Less than half of all homeowners nationally (45%) believe that solar power is more affordable today than it was three years ago—even though during the past several years prices for solar panels dropped by more than half.
As noted above, homeowners state that low up-front costs, and savings over time, would drive increased adoption of solar power and other clean-energy purchases.
This report brought to you by SolarCity and Clean Edge in collaboration with NASDAQ
Today’s life expectancy in America is eight years longer than it was in 1970. That’s eight more years to enjoy retirement; and eight more years of savings to put away. In a challenging economy, there are various factors that can threaten a comfortable retirement, such as declining property values and interest rates, higher living and health care expenses, and a lower percentage of employer contributions. A well-planned retirement strategy is crucial.
Stuart Ritter, vice president of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, says it can be difficult to stay on budget while trying to make a lump sum last 30 years, especially in the first years of retirement. “That’s why we encourage people to think of it more in terms of income [stream], and not as a balance,” he tells USA Today.
One source that can be used to generate steady revenue — a source we can rely on for millions of years—is sunshine. More people are discovering that by purchasing their own solar panels and harnessing the sun’s energy to produce their own power, it’s possible to collect a paycheck without lifting a finger.
On the Rooftop
Orange County, Calif. residents Wendy Moonier and her husband Fidel Garza were brainstorming how to manage their money for retirement. After the mortgage was paid off, the electricity bill would remain — and increase as the years progressed. With a roof that needed replacing and the attractive California solar rebates, it was the ideal time to go solar. Moonier and Garza purchased a 30-panel solar photovoltaic (PV) rooftop system from Southern California Edison. They’re saving several thousand dollars each year on electricity and expect their system to pay for itself in 15 years. “It’s the best investment we’ve ever made on our home,” Moonier reveals. “When I saw how well this works, I thought everybody should have this … It’s the only thing we’ve done on our home where we’ve seen an immediate return.”
Newt and Inez Stevens, a couple in their 80s, utilize the sun in multiple capacities. Living in a retirement community in Phoenix, Ariz., the Stevens use solar PV and solar thermal panels to charge their electric vehicle, heat 90 percent of their hot water and power half of their duplex. “For us, solar was a practical solution,” Newt tells The Daily Green. “Our primary motivation was economic … And if we produce more than we use, the power company will pay us the difference. We’re seeing a better return on our investment than anything I can get at the banks or stock market.”
Community-Owned Solar
Installing solar on your home or business may not be practical. Community-owned solar allows anyone with a utility bill to own solar panels, offset their electric bill, and collect income for the clean energy they produce. “It seems the cost of electricity has only and is only going up, as well as how much electricity we need,” said Jim McDaniels of Colorado Springs, Colo. “I wanted to reduce my electricity cost and help the environment at the same time. I wanted to plan for my future.”
McDaniels began researching online, reading newspaper articles and posting questions on solar energy forums when he discovered community solar developer Clean Energy Collective. He purchased 25 solar electric panels in the Colorado Springs Community Solar Array with a 10-year loan, offsetting 120 percent of his electricity use (the maximum percentage that Colorado Springs allows). “I decided it was a great deal so I went with the maximum and surplus months,” McDaniels said. After his projected 13-year payback period, he’ll receive free electricity, earning an estimated $160,000. “The savings should give me a better chance at an affordable retirement,” McDaniels said.
Do-It-Yourself
For the hands-on, ambitious type like Rich Herr, a retired electrical engineer, constructing a solar system from scratch was the most appealing option. “For the money I put in it, the return on [the solar system] is better than the return I get on my 401(k),” Herr said. “I’m not getting money in my hand, that’s just money I don’t have to pay.”
(Re-posted from Renewable Energy World, Emily Hois, February 17, 2014)
We have found farmers to be long-term thinkers and planners (moreso than many other kinds of business people) so, in general, people in agriculture are more attuned to the long-term financial benefits of solar. With lots of barn roof space and open ground space, many farmers have a very good solar potential. We have built many successful agricultural solar systems, at a cost that beats our competitors. Increasingly, the most successful farmers and agricultural thought leaders are going solar!
What solar power can do for your farm:
Insulate your operation against rising energy costs
Work side by side with utility power to lower and stabilize energy costs
Pay for itself and then some (20+ years of free electricity)
Generate profits from your home, barn, and outbuilding rooftops
Increase the value of your farm property
Turn this year’s farm revenue into a long-term asset with strong tax benefits
Gain energy independence with power that pays you…
What can we do to help you capture these benefits?
We’ll help you determine whether solar can lower your long-term energy costs.
If so, we’ll design/install the best clean solar energy system for your operation.
What about the costs of solar for my farm?
Here is a “base case” example of current solar costs. This is only an example. Every system we build is customized to the site and energy needs of each customer, so here is one example you can use to get a general sense of solar costs and payback.
20.16 kilowatt solar electric system on a barn roof, total installed cost, with 250-foot trenching:
for 30 years of secure power & protection against rising energy rates!
Annual utility savings $2,600—30 year lifetime utility savings $129,000
Lifetime operations & maintenance cost $15,400
Lifetime cost of fuel $0—it comes up every morning!
A 20.16kW solar electric system produces about 23,600 kWh of clean electricity in the first year year. Because it is grid-connected, solar does not change the way you use electricity—you can power everything you do now:
Milking pumps
Grain dryers
Grinders
Barn fans
Barn lighting
Anything you now run on grid power runs exactly the same on solar power. The only difference is—you’ll see long-term savings in your electricity costs!
With over 400 successful installations and many repeat customers, we are licensed, insured, and bonded—with designers and installers who are NABCEP-certified to the highest standard in our industry. So call us today at 877-OWN-SOLAR (877-696-7652) extension 59.
Interested homeowners often begin looking into solar by going on the web. There are many good resources on the web for investigating solar, for gathering basic information, and for beginning the process of considering whether a PV solar electric system is a good choice for you. You’ll find some good links below for continuing your research.
Here are some basic qualifiers for solar — if you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, then solar is worth investigating further:
Do you own your home?
Do you pay high electric bills? More than $100 in the average month?
Are your electric bills higher in the summer than in the winter?
Is your house unshaded or only lightly shaded (by trees or other nearby structures)?
Does your house have a large roof surface facing south, southeast, or southwest?
Does your property have open, unshaded ground near the house (within 100 feet)?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is “yes,” then you may be a good candidate for solar.
Here are a few questions that answering “yes” means you are a prime candidate for solar:
Does your house have a large, open, unshaded roof facing directly south?
Does your house (or garage) have a standing-seam metal roof?
Do you think your electric rates are likely to rise in the next 5-20 years?
Do you plan to be in your home for the next 10+ years?
Are you green-leaning? Do you want to take steps to live a greener lifestyle?
Are you concerned about power outages? Would you like to have power during grid blackouts?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you should definitely take a good, hard look at solar. You can begin by getting in touch with us through our web form:
Interested homeowners often begin looking into solar by going on the web. There are many good resources on the web for investigating solar, for gathering basic information, and for beginning the process of considering whether a PV solar electric system is a good choice for you. You’ll find some good links below for continuing your research.
Here are some basic qualifiers for solar — if you answer “yes” to one or more of these questions, then solar is worth investigating further:
Do you own your home?
Do you pay high electric bills? More than $100 in the average month?
Are your electric bills higher in the summer than in the winter?
Is your house unshaded or only lightly shaded (by trees or other nearby structures)?
Does your house have a large roof surface facing south, southeast, or southwest?
Does your property have open, unshaded ground near the house (within 100 feet)?
If the answer to one or more of these questions is “yes,” then you may be a good candidate for solar.
Here are a few questions that answering “yes” means you are a prime candidate for solar:
Does your house have a large, open, unshaded roof facing directly south?
Does your house (or garage) have a standing-seam metal roof?
Do you think your electric rates are likely to rise in the next 5-20 years?
Do you plan to be in your home for the next 10+ years?
Are you green-leaning? Do you want to take steps to live a greener lifestyle?
Are you concerned about power outages? Would you like to have power during grid blackouts?
If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions, you should definitely take a good, hard look at solar. You can begin by getting in touch with us through our web form:
A home energy rating applies a number score to a home’s energy efficiency, using the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index.
The HERS Index is the nationally-recognized scoring system for measuring a home’s energy performance. The HERS Index Score can be described as a sort of miles-per-gallon (MPG) sticker for houses, with long-term energy performance rated on a scale of highly-wasteful (a high score) or energy effective (a lower score). You can learn more about getting a HERS Index Score for your home here. The index is administered by RESNET (the Residential Energy Services Network).
If you add solar — particularly if you can achieve net-zero status — you can dramatically improve your HERS score. This can raise your home’s resale value AND make it easier to get a mortgage. Lenders now know that energy-efficient homes — including those using solar — have a much lower mortgage default risk. 32% lower, according to a study by The University of North Carolina’s Center for Community Capital and the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT). The combination of energy efficiency and solar raises your home’s profile as a low-risk investment. RESNET Executive Director Steve Baden said of the study, “This is a real game changer. The finding that the lower the HERS Score, the lower the mortgage risk should increase consumer, builder, lender, real estate agent and appraiser confidence.”
A widely-accepted guideline for solar impact on home resale value reasons that for every $1 your home saves in annual energy cost , its value rises by $20. Saving $1,500 a year by using solar panels could mean a $30,000 increase in home value.
Take a look at these illustrations of a worst and best HERS scores. The worst-case “150” score means the house is bleeding energy and money. The best-case “0” score means the home is net-zero, producing as much energy as it uses, eliminating its owner’s electric bill, saving over $2,000 each year. You can use the live-action scale here.
WORST CASE — BLEEDING WATTS AND DOLLARS
BEST CASE — PRODUCING ALL IT USES — TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE SAVINGS
Recently, we held a couple Open House events at our offices. We met with past customers and prospective customers, and stood back while our customers talked about their experience in going solar. We displayed some hardware, answered some questions, ate some snacks — then very much enjoyed getting this note a few days later:
Dear Third Sun:
Thank you for inviting us to your open house. Your invitation was especially generous because we were not your customers.
We enjoy meeting other homeowners and sharing experiences.
We’ve a net-zero, all-electric home with geothermal, passive solar, super insulation, and a 9 KW solar panel system. With a little effort, we could produce more electricity than we use. But we don’t want to lose our net meter.
Our president, Geoff, responded this way:
We are very glad you could come, almost as glad as we are that you went solar and built an exemplary home! While we would like to be the people that install systems for area families (because our jobs depend on it), our most important goal is that people learn about their options and make the move to solar (because our planet depends on it).
We know for certain that nothing is as inspiring and reassuring for someone considering solar than to chat with someone that has already made the switch.
Previous statements suggested that solar panels protect and prolong the life of roof surfaces. This seemed to be the only other benefit of installing solar panels on a roof surface. But a new study published in the journal Solar Energy states that installing solar panels on the surface of a building or structure may serve another purpose, in addition to producing clean renewable energy and prolonging roof life.
This study by a team of researchers led by Jan Kleissl, a professor of environmental engineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering explain the cooling benefits provided by solar photovoltaic panels. “There are more efficient ways to passively cool buildings, such as reflective roof membranes. But, if you are considering installing solar photovoltaic, depending on your roof thermal properties, you can expect a large reduction in the amount of energy you use to cool your residence or business. For example, in winter, the panels would keep the sun from heating up the building. But at night, they would also keep in whatever heat accumulated inside. For warmer climates, the two effects essentially cancel each other out.” said Kleissl (ref). In other words, solar panels shield the rooftop in warm weather, reducing heat build-up. The panels lower the power usage inside the building for cooling, while also protecting roof surfaces from the long-term destructive effect of direct sunlight. All while producing lots of clean electricity with no emissions and no noise.
This study is beneficial in understanding the huge reduction in energy use on hot days for some facilities explained by the shading benefit of PV systems. With the exponential growth in rooftop PV, it becomes more important to consider the effect of rooftop PV systems on building HVAC costs and longer roof life, on top of the environmental benefits.
Solar energy is on the rise. America has more than three times as much solar photovoltaic capacity today as in 2010, and more than 10 times as much as in 2007. In the first three months of 2013, solar power accounted for nearly half of the new electricity generating capacity in the United States. The price of solar energy is falling rapidly, and each year tens of thousands of additional Americans begin to reap the benefits of clean energy from the sun, generated right on the rooftops of their homes or places of business.
America’s solar energy revolution has been led by 12 states – the “Dazzling Dozen” – that have used public policies to open the door for solar energy and are reaping the rewards as a result.
The Dazzling Dozen states account for only 28 percent of the U.S. population but 85 percent of the nation’s installed solar electricity capacity. These 12 states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina and Vermont – possess strong policies that are enabling increasing numbers of homeowners, businesses, communities and utilities to “go solar.”
The pathway to a solar future laid out by the Dazzling Dozen is open to every state. By following their lead and implementing a new wave of public policies to expand access to solar energy, the United States can work toward the goal of getting at least 10 percent of our energy from the sun by 2030.
Solar energy is good for the environment, consumers and the economy.
Solar photovoltaics (PV) produce 96 percent less global warming pollution per unit of energy than coal-fired power plants over their entire life cycle, and 91 percent less global warming pollution than natural gas-fired power plants.
Solar energy benefits consumers by reducing the need for expensive investments in long-distance transmission lines.
Solar energy can lower electricity costs by providing power at times of peak demand.
Solar energy costs are falling rapidly. The cost of installed solar energy systems fell by 27 percent during 2012, on top of a 20 percent decline between the beginning of 2010 and the end of 2011.
Solar energy creates local clean energy jobs that can’t be outsourced. More than 119,000 people currently work in America’s solar energy industry, most of them in jobs such as installation that are located in close proximity to the places where solar panels are installed.
Solar energy is on the rise – especially in states that have adopted strong public policies to encourage solar power.
The amount of solar photovoltaic capacity in the United States has increased more than tenfold in the last six years.
America’s solar energy revolution is being led by 12 states – the Dazzling Dozen – which have the highest per-capita solar electricity capacity* in the nation. These 12 states – Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico, California, Delaware, Colorado, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Maryland – account for 28 percent of the U.S. population and 21 percent of U.S. electricity consumption, but 85 percent of total U.S. solar electricity capacity and 87 percent of the solar photovoltaic capacity installed in 20
America’s leading solar states have adopted strong policies to encourage homeowners and businesses to “go solar.” Among the Dazzling Dozen states:
• 11 of the 12 have strong net metering policies. In nearly all of these states, consumers are compensated at the full retail rate for the excess electricity they supply to the grid. Net metering ensures that consumers receive reliable and fair compensation for the excess electricity they provide to the grid.
• 10 of the 12 have strong statewide interconnection policies. Good interconnection policies reduce the time and hassle required for individuals and companies to connect solar energy systems to the grid.
• 11 of the 12 have renewable electricity standards that set minimum requirements for the share of a utility’s electricity that must come from renewable sources, and 9 of them have solar carve-outs that set specific targets for solar or other forms of clean, distributed electricity.
• The vast majority of the states allow for creative financing options such as third-party power purchase agreements and property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing.
• States in the Dazzling Dozen are far more likely to have each of these key solar policies in place than other states, reinforcing the conclusion of U.S. Department of Energy research linking the presence of key solar policies to increases in solar energy deployment.
Strong public policies at every level of government can help unlock America’s potential for clean solar energy. To achieve America’s full solar potential:
Local governments should adopt policies guaranteeing homeowners and businesses the right to generate power from the sunlight that strikes their properties and (where permitted) implement property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing programs to expand access to solar energy.
Local governments with municipal utilities should promote solar energy by providing financial incentives – such as feed-in-tariffs – to customers and investing in community-scale and utility-scale solar projects. In addition, local governments should adopt solar-friendly zoning rules and streamlined permitting procedures to eliminate red tape and make it easier and cheaper for Americans to “go solar.”
State governments should set ambitious goals for solar energy and adopt policies to meet them. State governments should also use their role as the primary regulators of electric utilities to encourage utility investments in solar energy, implement rate structures that maximize the benefits of solar energy to consumers, and support smart investments to move toward a more intelligent electric grid in which distributed sources of energy such as solar power play a larger role.
The federal government should continue key tax credits for solar energy, encourage responsible development of prime solar resources on public lands in the American West, and support research, development and deployment efforts designed to reduce the cost of solar energy and smooth the incorporation of large amounts of solar energy into the electric grid.
All levels of government should lead by example by installing solar energy technologies on government buildings.
We are sometimes asked, “why should I buy solar now? Prices have been falling, won’t they keep falling?” Well, prices cannot drop forever — and now may be the best time to buy. The cost of solar panels has fallen 80% over the past 5 years, driving some manufacturers out of business. Now, prices are stabilizing as the global glut in solar panels is easing. Those who are waiting for solar panel prices to drop further may miss the boat if they wait too long — as demand heats up (as it currently is) we may see prices rise.
Even with the recent price drop, we’ve had customers who added panels five years ago tell us, “We’re happy we acted when we did — our energy savings alone make solar a great investment.”
For more on this, see this story from Bloomberg News:
Solar-panel manufacturers are back on upswing
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
BY EHREN GOOSSENS
BLOOMBERG NEWS
Solar industry manufacturers are rebounding from a two-year slump faster than technology companies recovered from the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s.
The benchmark BI Global Large Solar Energy Index of 15 manufacturers, which slumped 87 percent from a February 2011 peak through November 2012, has regained 55 percent of its value in the past year. The technology-dominated Nasdaq Composite index reached its post-bubble low in October 2002 and regained 37 percent of its March 2000 peak value in the next year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Suppliers including California’s SunPower Corp., which has gained more than fivefold this year, and China’s Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. are driving the rally as panel prices stabilize. Installations at power plants and on roofs will swell 40 percent this year from a 6.1 percent pace last year.
“The worst is probably behind us,” Jenny Chase, lead solar analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, said in an interview. “We’ve just gone through a big trough in solar supply.”
Investors poured $205 billion into clean-energy projects in the past year, soaking up some of the global oversupply of panels. The recovery will continue in 2014 with prices remaining stable, Chase said. Manufacturers are “a lot less depressed.”
Optimistic analysts
Analysts have become more optimistic about solar shares in recent months. The average rating for SunPower, the biggest U.S. supplier of poly-silicon-based solar panels, is 3.5, up from 2.4 in December and the highest in more than two years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. A 5 rating indicates investors should purchase the shares, and 1 means they should sell.
Jinko Solar Holding Co., the only Chinese solar manufacturer to report a profit in the second quarter, has an average rating of 3.7, up from 2.3 in May, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Its shares have more than tripled this year.
Investors have rushed back into shares of the biggest panel makers even before they’ve returned to profit. Yingli, which has more than doubled, is forecast to report narrowed losses compared with 2012. Canadian Solar Inc., which has risen almost sevenfold, is forecast to return to a profit of $27 million from a $195 million loss in 2012.
“…even if solar isn’t the lowest cost energy you can buy, and even if it doesn’t provide the best ROI, you should still buy solar for the same reason you need to have Bonds and T-Bills making up ~20% of your investment portfolio. It’s not about how you feel, it’s just the math. The math is the same for energy as for financial investments. You’ll get the best long term performance by investing in a mix of instruments.” Amory Lovins
Amory Bloch Lovins is an American physicist, environmental scientist, writer, and Chairman/Chief Scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute. He has worked in the field of energy policy and related areas for four decades. Lovins is a McArthur “Genius Grant” Fellowship winner and the author of Reinventing Fire, Natural Capitalism, Small is Profitable, and Factor Four.
Solar offers a fixed-cost hedge against future energy cost increases. It makes your future energy costs more predictable, and lower.
Are Solar Panels Worth It?
Solar energy systems have high up-front costs, but once installed, the fuel (the sun) is free forever. Due to the thirty-year system life and very low maintenance costs, once the system is purchased, the cost of energy is fixed at a known quantity. This compares with conventional electric energy costs, which have been rising at around 5% per year. We expect this number to rise even faster in the future. Is solar worth it? Well, conventional energy prices, with their dependence on fossil fuels (coal, gas, and oil) are subject to the volatility of those markets, as well as any future costs of environmental remediation or carbon emissions penalties.
Why Solar Is Smart
Several states have tiered energy prices in which the price per kWh of electrical energy consumption is lowest at night (when demand is lowest) and highest during the afternoon (when demand is highest). Because solar systems produce maximum energy during midday and afternoon hours, solar electric systems offset the highest-priced energy in a tiered pricing market. In Ohio, a solar electric system is a great bet on future adoption of tiered pricing in the Ohio electric utility and co-op markets. Solar is worth it. Install solar now, and if tiered pricing comes in, you’re equipped to offset the highest-cost energy and thereby save the most money on your electric bill.
Solar is a smart investment that rises each day with the sun. There are not many other investment vehicles showing returns as good as solar now, on a mid- to long-term basis. The savings from a smart move to solar now could add up to tens of thousands of dollars in the 10-25 year outlook, and if utility rates rise faster/more than projected in our financial models, the savings will be higher and ROI will arrive faster. Solar is worth it. Solar is a smart, secure power buy and a great long-term investment in your family, home & planet.
Veterans Group Cites National Security in Debate Over Changing Ohio’s Renewable Energy Standards
Ideastream.org, Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Opponents are lining up to voice their opinion on a proposal [SB58] to change Ohio’s energy efficiency laws. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Bill Seitz of Cincinnati, says the measure simply reforms existing policies, but others say the bill will weaken efficiency standards [spelled out in SB221].
[The Ohio Manufacturer’s Association has come out in opposition to SB58.]
Critics have slammed the proposed law, saying it’ll lead to higher utility bills and less investment in efficiency projects.
Zach Roberts, an Ohio Air National Guard veteran, has a different take on the issue. Roberts is now the Ohio director of Operation Free, a national campaign that gathers veterans to advocate for clean energy policies. The group says the advancement of clean energy is in the best interest of national security.
Roberts says reliable and long-lasting energy resources overseas is important for the safety of the troops. He adds that that same kind of reliability is needed on the state level.
“In the event we have catastrophes in Ohio, whether they’re man-made or nature, the National Guard is often times the first ones who are called to respond. We are part of the first responder community,” Robert’s said, “And it’s incredibly difficult for the National Guard to respond to domestic issues if we’re having our own issues with energy being supplied to the bases.”
Some say the bill could weaken the efficiency standards that utilities must follow. It also proposes a repeal of the Buy Ohio provision which requires utilities to obtain a certain amount of renewable energy from Ohio-based projects.
Roberts says these changes could destabilize the civilian grid on which military bases also rely.
Republican Sen. Cliff Hite represents the Findlay area which has several pending efficiency projects. He wants to hear about every possible outcome to changing the state’s energy policies because of the impact it could have on these projects.
Hite agrees that it’s important to reevaluate the state’s policies. With the major push for natural gas development and the recovering economy, Hite says the legislature should make sure the policies created in 2008 are still working with today’s changing energy environment.
“Are there cost savings for the taxpayers and the ratepayers in the state of Ohio? Have we made progress? Are many of these projects being beneficial? Are they creating jobs?” Hite said, “All these different things…This bill has definitely raised a lot of those questions and more. And we just need to get the bottom of it, find out exactly not only where we’re at, but where we want to go with this.”
As a veteran, Roberts says he’s also concerned about the amount of clean energy jobs that could be lost if the standards were to pass. He says these are jobs that members of the military can fit into after serving overseas.
When it comes to evaluating the dangers of solar, fire safety is one of several key reasons why experience, proper training and attention to detail matter when it comes to quality solar installations.
We can point you to several solar system fires that have occurred on commercial solar systems. ALL of these fires were preventable. But an unfortunate set of factors came together to spark the fires. In general, all of these fires can be attributed to a combination of two or more of these three elements:
Inadequate solar installation standards (NEC and others)
Inexperienced solar designers and/or installers
Severe pressure to cut costs
The solar industry has grown so fast that it has outpaced development of industry standards. Unfortunately, there are far too few standards all across the board (from National Electric Code issues and building code issues to development of standards for solar performance predictions, solar system reliability, and solar financial accounting).
This lack of standards means safety and quality are in the hands of the designers and installers of solar systems. Worse yet, it also means that potential customers have very few means with which to evaluate the veracity of competing claims from everyone peddling solar, and very little protection from incompetence.
Couple the above with the massive number of new solar companies entering the market with little or no depth of experience, and you have the recipe for problems.
Having been in the business of building solar systems since 1997, we foresaw a lot of these problems unfolding. These issues have been an ongoing topic of internal company discussion for us.
At Third Sun Solar we are passionate about solar energy, and solar PV is our sole line of business. So we take the long term health of the solar industry very seriously. Our president, Geoff Greenfield, sits on the NABCEP board of directors (NABCEP is one of the original bodies working to develop industry standards and best practices for solar) and we have engaged wherever we can in supporting solar industry best practices. We have long partnerships with some of the solar industry’s most experienced veterans and we are constantly striving to learn from everyone’s mistakes and improve our game.
We have given local fire departments solar-specific training on actual solar installations and we have been following development of solar fire code issues in CA since they got started. We’ll continue to do so.
Eventually, the standards will be put in place to alleviate these concerns, but that is yet several years away. Meanwhile, we are confident that our attention to detail, strict refusal to cut corners, and our devotion to safety and quality have always and will continue to bridge the gap between where the industry is today and where it needs to be in terms of solar safety, reliability and quality. The simple fact is, a well-designed, well-constructed solar power system poses no more risk of fire than any other commercial building component. Know your solar installer. Hire an experienced solar company and get good advice when installing solar.
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