All Entries Tagged With: "Renewable Energy"
Clever Accounting Lets Utilities Cash In When You Go Solar
August 13, 2011 Reprinted with Permission Copyright, all rights reserved I recently got a copy of a utility bill for a Minnesota business that has a 40-kilowatt (kW) solar PV array. I wanted to learn how quickly he’d pay off his array with the electricity savings. I was shocked. Payback time was 30 years. Even [...]
The Next Logical Step in Solar PV Adoption
I recently ran a small, informal poll on a couple of solar (and related) online discussion groups, asking if respondents had installed solar on their own property, and if not, why not. Results showed, without a doubt, the two most frequent reasons people had not already implemented solar were: (1) the cost; and (2) they [...]
Department of Energy Solar America Communities Report Available
As part of the Department of Energy’s ongoing research and development efforts, it has also been focusing on accelerating a robust nationwide market for the currently available technologies. As a result of those efforts DOE released the Second Edition of its SOLAR POWERING YOUR COMMUNITY: A GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS in January of this year. [...]
Germany Passes New Renewable Energy Law for 2012
Ups Renewable Energy Target: Between 35% and 40% by 2020 Raises Payments for Biomass, Geothermal, & Offshore Wind Applies Standard Degression to Wind on Land and Solar PV Despite widespread rumors in North America that Germany was abandoning its system of Advanced Renewable Tariffs, the country’s upper chamber of parliament, the Bundesrat, approved the latest [...]
Ontario Solar PV Attracting $8 Billion in Private Investment
Solar PV Creates 12 Times More Jobs Than Nuclear–15 Times More Than Coal Ontario Solar PV Attracting $8 Billion in Private Investment Clean Generation Saves Ratepayers 20% November 23, 2010 By Paul Gipe Using a measure of cost that all Canadians understand, a provocative new report says the impact of Ontario’s feed-in tariffs for solar [...]
Ontario Feed-In Tariff Program: $8 billion of Deals So Far
(This article originally posted April, 2010, and is even more pertinent today; reprinted with permission.) Derek Wong is a Toronto based sustainability consultant. He holds an Engineering degree from University of Melbourne and is a CSA America certified greenhouse gas professional. See contact info and more posts like this at Carbon49.com. Ontario, the largest province [...]
Vermont Sees No Conflict between Feed-in Tariffs and Federal Law
October 8, 2010 By Paul Gipe In a big win for Vermont’s nascent feed-in tariff program, the state’s Public Service Board (PSB) ruled today that they see no conflict between the state’s program and the federal government. A challenge by Vermont’s Department of Public Service (DPS) had jeopardized several megawatts of solar PV projects that [...]
Ontario’s FIT Program a Success After One Year
By Tyler Hamilton Energy and Technology Columnist Ontario’s feed-in-tariff program is one year old on Oct. 1 and most would call it a success, judged strictly by the number of green-power projects it has attracted. But the word “success” can be good or bad depending on where you stand. For many, the success of this [...]
A Textbook Example: Why American Schools Must Go Green
Schools across the country – including many in California and Colorado – are utilizing their rooftops and PPAs to go green in an affordable and socially responsible way. by Michael Laine, MP2 Capital and Clint Montgomery, Superintendent, Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 Published: September 8, 2010 (This article was originally published by RenewableEnergyWorld.com and [...]
It’s Official: Ontario Third in North American 2009 Solar PV Capacity
Now in a Race for Second with New Jersey August 23, 2010 By Paul Gipe Finally, it’s official. Last year Ontario was the third largest market for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in North America. The Canadian province pushed aside Florida with an installation of 46 MW of solar PV and was only behind New Jersey, [...]
2010: The Year of Feed-In Tariff Legislation
A number of state legislatures attempted passage of Feed-In Tariff legislation last year. A few succeeded, but not anywhere near as many as should have. There were a number of lessons to be learned from the efforts. What we at Northern States Solar Services learned from all the attempts, whether they were successes and failures, [...]
Germany Is Shooting for 100% Renewables
With time, effort, and the spark of new ideas, it appears those brilliant researchers in Germany have once again found the basis for a realistic shot at taking Germany to 100% renewable energy. Please watch this video in it’s entirety. It’s only 7 minutes. Thanks to YOUTUBE at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR8gEMpzos4&feature=player_embedded As you can see, this is [...]
Want to Understand Feed-In Tariffs?
Thanks to Craig Lewis, at Right Cycle, here is a great presentation on the how’s, why’s, what works and what doesn’t: Craig Lewis FIT & WDG presentation April 2009 from Joshua LaForge on Vimeo. Also, here’s a great analysis for further understanding: REESA The Renewable Energy & Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 Contact us [...]
PACE — Will It Work?
The last year has brought about a new idea for enabling the growth of renewables. It is known as Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE, for short. Here’s how it works. Actually there are a number of variations that a PACE program can be drafted as. The most common form is where a municipality, township, [...]
Minnesota CORE Legislation Is Ready to Go!!!
After a full year of planning and many hours of hard work, Minnesota’s CORE Bill (House File 3618) is now introduced. The companion bill is Senate File 3320. The CORE Bill is commonly known as a Feed-In Tariff. If you are interested in having Renewable Energy in Minnesota on a grand scale, THIS LEGISLATION IS [...]
MN Energy Trust – Letter of Introduction to Potential Participants
Greenenergycafe.com Bloomington, MN 952-292-1930 March 5, 2010 Introduction Letter New MN Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy Organization I am writing to this group today because I believe some members may be interested in being a potential stakeholder in a new energy efficiency and renewable energy organization, which is in its beginning stages of development in the state [...]
Nine Things You Should Consider Before Purchasing a Small Solar System
After being around the renewable energy industry for four years, a period of intense and dedicated research and study, working with installers, associations, manufacturers, and legislators to name a few, it is clear to me that the industry is still in what could be termed a ‘long-term infancy’. It is only now beginning to mature, [...]
Leasing a Solar System: Some Questions You Might Want to Ask First
There are a number of new solar leasing companies arriving on the scene lately. Many claim to offer solar energy options that may appear much less complicated and cost less than installing one’s own system, and therefore be more affordable while still being able to contribute to the improvement of our environment. Are such opportunities [...]
Hiring Managers! Time to Adjust!!
January 8, 2010 by Richard Carter I communicate with a couple hundred people each week. They span a range of occupations, nearly all in the renewable energy industry or related, and they can span anywhere from business owners, engineers, architects, researchers, politicians, recruiters, and the otherwise interested. In the last few weeks a common theme [...]
The Lesser Known Solar Sister
We all know Solar Energy is in. Not only is it “In”, it’s two steps and a jump from being ‘required’. We all know Solar Energy is the most dependable energy source we have, and it’s free. We all know that our days on fossil-based and carbon-based fuels are coming to a very abrupt end, [...]
