Monday, June 6, 2011
No Meeting in June
There will be no regularly scheduled monthly meeting this Thursday. Join us on July 14 for our annual summer picnic/networking event at the Duck Club in Irvine.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
ASES Advocacy: Keep Funding for DOE's Loan Guarantee Program
Just when we were breathing a sigh of relief over the Dept. of Energy's Loan Guarantee Program for Renewables having survived the Congressional budget bloodbath, ASES hears that some worthy projects that were counting on it may well fall by the wayside.
DOE has informed dozens of loan guarantee applicants that their applications will be put on hold indefinitely. Unless applicants can start their projects and close their loan guarantees by September 30, they won't be considered for a guarantee under the program.
To date, DOE has committed nearly $30 billion in guarantees for 27 clean energy projects, representing some $40 billion in private investment. These projects will be responsible for the creation of tens of thousands of jobs over 21 states; they include utility-scale solar power plants in the southwest and solar manufacturing facilities in California, Colorado and Indiana. But now some 40 applications, representing $15 billion in investments and thousands of jobs, have been placed on hold; the companies involved have together spent millions of dollars to this point, preparing their applications.
To maintain and build on the success of the Loan Guarantee Program, and to ensure that as many viable clean energy projects as possible become reality, it's essential that the program be adequately funded through FY2012.
Can you send a message to the President and Congress, letting them know how much good this program does for jobs and our energy future? It's too good to be allowed to die.
How to send a message:
1) (Simplest way): You can go to the Solar Nation advocacy site and enter your ZIP code.
2) You can copy and paste the message below into any or all of the following links to send it to:
a) the President:
b) your U.S. Senators:
c) your U.S. Representative:
Message:
The Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program has enabled many vital renewable energy projects to obtain sufficient private investment to proceed; these include utility-scale solar power plants in the southwest and solar manufacturing facilities across the nation. It's a great example of a successful government program that is generating not only clean power but thousands of jobs for Americans.
The Department of Energy has now restricted loan guarantees only to those projects that can be ready by September 30, excluding dozens of worthy, viable clean energy projects from securing funding.
Please use your influence to provide appropriate funding to allow this successful program to continue. Good jobs and our energy future are hanging in the balance.
DOE has informed dozens of loan guarantee applicants that their applications will be put on hold indefinitely. Unless applicants can start their projects and close their loan guarantees by September 30, they won't be considered for a guarantee under the program.
To date, DOE has committed nearly $30 billion in guarantees for 27 clean energy projects, representing some $40 billion in private investment. These projects will be responsible for the creation of tens of thousands of jobs over 21 states; they include utility-scale solar power plants in the southwest and solar manufacturing facilities in California, Colorado and Indiana. But now some 40 applications, representing $15 billion in investments and thousands of jobs, have been placed on hold; the companies involved have together spent millions of dollars to this point, preparing their applications.
To maintain and build on the success of the Loan Guarantee Program, and to ensure that as many viable clean energy projects as possible become reality, it's essential that the program be adequately funded through FY2012.
Can you send a message to the President and Congress, letting them know how much good this program does for jobs and our energy future? It's too good to be allowed to die.
How to send a message:
1) (Simplest way): You can go to the Solar Nation advocacy site and enter your ZIP code.
2) You can copy and paste the message below into any or all of the following links to send it to:
a) the President:
b) your U.S. Senators:
c) your U.S. Representative:
Message:
The Department of Energy Loan Guarantee Program has enabled many vital renewable energy projects to obtain sufficient private investment to proceed; these include utility-scale solar power plants in the southwest and solar manufacturing facilities across the nation. It's a great example of a successful government program that is generating not only clean power but thousands of jobs for Americans.
The Department of Energy has now restricted loan guarantees only to those projects that can be ready by September 30, excluding dozens of worthy, viable clean energy projects from securing funding.
Please use your influence to provide appropriate funding to allow this successful program to continue. Good jobs and our energy future are hanging in the balance.
Monday, May 16, 2011
May Meeting Summary: SB 32 and Feed-In Tariffs
Allison Arnold from Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA spoke with OC Renewables on Thursday, May 12. We had a good conversation about the implementation of SB 32 and the California Feed-In Tariff (FIT).
For a good summary of the passage and status of the FIT, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency's write up of SB 32.
Allison indicated that SB 32's FIT would be available through the publicly owned utilities until the combined statewide cumulative capacity of eligible generation installed equals 750 MW, up from 500 MW. The maximum size of a renewable energy system is increased to 3 MW.
The tariff itself - and the price referent for calculating the tariff - is where the fight is happening now. It's very complicated. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has made a recent ruling (October 2010) for guidance on how the California PUC can set this tariff. Allison mentioned the name of Kevin Fox, a lawyer, working on these issues. The most comprehensive article I could find regarding what it all means can be read here: What Utility Involvement in the Distributed Solar Market Means For the Future of the Solar Industry.
So now the FIT is legal, and under consideration by the CPUC. The proceedings can be followed on the CPUC website. We at OC Renewables will keep track of this issue in the near future.
Finally, some links to share that Allison brought up in her presentation:
The Los Angeles Business Council's two studies regarding proposed FIT's
1. Designing an Effective Feed-in Tariff for Greater Los Angeles
2. Bringing Solar Energy to Los Angeles: An Assessment of the Feasibility and Impacts of an In-basin Solar Feed-in Tariff Program
California Solar Statistics Site. The official public reporting site of the California Solar Initiative (CSI).
Volunteer on a GRID Alternatives solar installation crew! Help make the benefits of solar power accessible to low-income families while learning new skills and having fun outside.
Great meeting! See you on Thursday, June 9 at the Duck Club
For a good summary of the passage and status of the FIT, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency's write up of SB 32.
Allison indicated that SB 32's FIT would be available through the publicly owned utilities until the combined statewide cumulative capacity of eligible generation installed equals 750 MW, up from 500 MW. The maximum size of a renewable energy system is increased to 3 MW.
The tariff itself - and the price referent for calculating the tariff - is where the fight is happening now. It's very complicated. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has made a recent ruling (October 2010) for guidance on how the California PUC can set this tariff. Allison mentioned the name of Kevin Fox, a lawyer, working on these issues. The most comprehensive article I could find regarding what it all means can be read here: What Utility Involvement in the Distributed Solar Market Means For the Future of the Solar Industry.
So now the FIT is legal, and under consideration by the CPUC. The proceedings can be followed on the CPUC website. We at OC Renewables will keep track of this issue in the near future.
Finally, some links to share that Allison brought up in her presentation:
The Los Angeles Business Council's two studies regarding proposed FIT's
1. Designing an Effective Feed-in Tariff for Greater Los Angeles
2. Bringing Solar Energy to Los Angeles: An Assessment of the Feasibility and Impacts of an In-basin Solar Feed-in Tariff Program
California Solar Statistics Site. The official public reporting site of the California Solar Initiative (CSI).
Volunteer on a GRID Alternatives solar installation crew! Help make the benefits of solar power accessible to low-income families while learning new skills and having fun outside.
Great meeting! See you on Thursday, June 9 at the Duck Club
Monday, April 25, 2011
May Meeting: "Selling Your Power to the Grid"
Thursday, May 12th
Speaker: Allison Arnold, Senior Manager, Marketing and Public Policy, Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA
Topic: "Selling Your Power to the Grid: The Latest on SB 32"
6:45pm Networking
7:00pm Speaker
Irvine Ranch Water District Duck Club
5 Riparian Way - Irvine, CA
** Enter off of Campus Drive (not Michelson) due to construction
FREE and open to the public!
In 2009 Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 32, establishing a feed-in tariff for renewable energy facilities up to 3 megawatts in size. The law allows renewable energy system owners to receive payment from the local utility for electricity fed into the grid at a (yet-to-be-determined) fixed price over 10-20 years. A similar law helped make Germany (a country with less average sunlight than Seattle) a world leader in renewable energy. If implemented successfully, the law would boost California's distributed renewable energy generation capacity by 750MW. Join us at our May OC Renewables meeting, where Allison Arnold, of solar products manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric, will explain how home and business owners can get paid for creating clean energy. You'll get an update on the rule-making process currently taking place at the California Public Utilities Commission, and find out how you can give your input as a stakeholder.
Allison Arnold, Solar Photovoltaic Division, Senior Manager, Marketing and Public Policy, Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA
Allison leads marketing, communications, and public policy for the solar photovoltaic products manufacturing business of Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA. She also heads the office Green Team, which helps employees adopt environmentally friendly practices at the company’s Cypress, California headquarters and in the community. Allison serves on a number of boards and committees in support of local and national deployment of photovoltaic technology, including the Board of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the Executive Committee of the Solar Alliance, Grid Alternatives of Greater LA’s Advisory Council, and the Los Angeles Business Council. Prior to joining the solar industry, Allison worked in ocean conservation policy as a Program Officer for WWF in Wellington, New Zealand, and as a consultant to government agencies and environmental organizations in New Zealand and the U.S. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a Master of Environmental Studies degree from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar. During her career Allison has sought to advance policies that support environmentally sustainable technologies and policies..com
Speaker: Allison Arnold, Senior Manager, Marketing and Public Policy, Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA
Topic: "Selling Your Power to the Grid: The Latest on SB 32"
6:45pm Networking
7:00pm Speaker
Irvine Ranch Water District Duck Club
5 Riparian Way - Irvine, CA
** Enter off of Campus Drive (not Michelson) due to construction
FREE and open to the public!
In 2009 Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 32, establishing a feed-in tariff for renewable energy facilities up to 3 megawatts in size. The law allows renewable energy system owners to receive payment from the local utility for electricity fed into the grid at a (yet-to-be-determined) fixed price over 10-20 years. A similar law helped make Germany (a country with less average sunlight than Seattle) a world leader in renewable energy. If implemented successfully, the law would boost California's distributed renewable energy generation capacity by 750MW. Join us at our May OC Renewables meeting, where Allison Arnold, of solar products manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric, will explain how home and business owners can get paid for creating clean energy. You'll get an update on the rule-making process currently taking place at the California Public Utilities Commission, and find out how you can give your input as a stakeholder.
Allison Arnold, Solar Photovoltaic Division, Senior Manager, Marketing and Public Policy, Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA
Allison leads marketing, communications, and public policy for the solar photovoltaic products manufacturing business of Mitsubishi Electric and Electronics USA. She also heads the office Green Team, which helps employees adopt environmentally friendly practices at the company’s Cypress, California headquarters and in the community. Allison serves on a number of boards and committees in support of local and national deployment of photovoltaic technology, including the Board of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, the Executive Committee of the Solar Alliance, Grid Alternatives of Greater LA’s Advisory Council, and the Los Angeles Business Council. Prior to joining the solar industry, Allison worked in ocean conservation policy as a Program Officer for WWF in Wellington, New Zealand, and as a consultant to government agencies and environmental organizations in New Zealand and the U.S. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University and a Master of Environmental Studies degree from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar. During her career Allison has sought to advance policies that support environmentally sustainable technologies and policies..com
Friday, April 22, 2011
ASES, Sierra Nevada Brewery, and Five Thousand Dollars
We're so close to winning $5,000!
If you haven't already done it, sign the Sierra Nevada Earth Day Pledge today and then forward this email to all your friends and relatives. This will only take a minute and won't cost you a thing.
It's a race to get the most votes and WE CAN WIN TODAY
Earth Day Fundraiser for the Month of April
This Earth Day, Sierra Nevada is helping people get out for a good cause. For every person who takes an online pledge to get outside in April, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. will donate $25 to the American Solar Energy Society. The organization with the most votes will receive $5,000. Click here and select ASES from the list of supporting organizations.
Take the pledge today!
Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues or visit ASES' Facebook page and share the post with all your Facebook friends.
There has never been a better time than right now to make nationwide solar power a reality.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Earth Day Event A Success!
The Earth Day event was a big success! Team OC Renewables had a lot of fun at Crystal Cove State Park. We opted to remove a rusty trail fence, and after completing what they thought would take until noon by 10:30am, we removed another fence!
Next time (2012?), we need OC Renewables T-shirts! (Groups from Home Depot & SCE had matching shirts)
Here is an article from the OC Register. Wendy was in our group:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/park-296725-volunteers-state.html
Next time (2012?), we need OC Renewables T-shirts! (Groups from Home Depot & SCE had matching shirts)
Here is an article from the OC Register. Wendy was in our group:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/park-296725-volunteers-state.html
Friday, April 8, 2011
OC Renewables Meeting Is An Earth Day Volunteer Event!!!
Saturday, April 16
Friends and family invited to join the OC Renewables team for the annual California State Parks Foundation’s Earth Day 2011 Restoration & Cleanup.
*Registration required*
*Update: One Location - Crystal Cove*
For Crystal Cove, contact:
Dr. Lori Greene, lgreene@ocrenewables.org
___________________
Crystal Cove
Saturday, April 16, 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Volunteers of all ages are needed at Crystal Cove State Park on Saturday, April 16th for the 14th annual California State Parks Foundation’s Earth Day 2011 Restoration & Cleanup. Projects include: removal and replacement of ½ mile of old rusty ranch fencing, planting coastal bluff plants and painting gates and curbs. Registration is required.
Location: Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach. Check-in at Los Trancos parking lot (Pacific Coast Highway, turn inland at stoplight at Los Trancos).
Bring: Water bottle, sunscreen, hat, garden gloves, snacks
REGISTER: Dr. Lori Greene, lgreene@ocrenewables.org
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