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5/11/10 San Francisco, CA
California PUC authorizes use of tradeable renewable energy credits (TREC)
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today authorized the use of tradable renewable energy credits (TRECs) for use in the California Renewables Portfolio standard (RPS) program. The CPUC's RPS program requires utilities in California to obtain 20 percent of their retail sales from renewable energy sources by 2010. RECs are a certificate of proof that one unit of renewable energy has been generated and an accounting tool used to prove that electricity sellers have complied with the RPS program.
In today's decision, the CPUC established the structure and rules for a TREC market. The rules approved create a market in which tradable RECs can be used for for RPS compliance for given investor-owned utility's annual procurement obligation. Today's decision also allows tradable RECs from existing RPS contracts to be unbundled and sold under certain conditions. The framework includes an interim price cap of $50 on RECs used for RPS compliance by investor-owned utilities.The price cap will sunset at the end of 2011 unless action to retain or modify it is taken by the CPUC.
In New Jersey, RECs have been traded for more than 10 times the California price cap of $50 per REC. If the TREC market is extended beyond 2011, the value of the TRECS may become more significant than the state rebates and federal tax credit, combined. A complete version of the press release can be found at the CPUC website.
5/2/10 Santa Cruz, CA
People in Business: Mike Arenson receives NABCEP Solar Installer Certificate
As reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, "Santa Cruz resident Mike Arenson has received the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners' solar photovoltaic installer certificate. The owner of Arenson Solar, he was among 287 people to pass the exam in March. Arenson has more than 33 years experience working in the solar energy field."
4/1/10 Sebastapol, CA
Solar design tool is an iPhone app
Software specialist Andrew Mackenzie had a great idea last year, when he developed a handy application for Apple's iPhone, which calculated the effect of shading on a solar electric system. Selling for just $15, it was the lowest-cost solar design product on the market.
It didn't take long for Solmetric, developer of the SunEye solar site analysis tool, to acquire the app, and rebrand it under their own name as the SolmetricIPV. It sells for $30. Although the price doubled, it is still much less expensive than the SunEye, which retails for about $2000. Solar Mike downloaded the app as soon as he heard about it, and thinks it works great. Available from Apple's iTunes store. Worth a try.
2/11/10 Sacramento, CA
Solar Loan Program in California Counites
The California Energy Commission has announced a grant that will fund the administration of an innovative loan program for solar and energy efficiency projects. Homeowners and businesses will pay for the loan through an assessment on their property taxes. The debt will stay with the property if the property is sold.
The solar financing program will be available in 14 counties, including Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Monterey, Sacramento, San Benito, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Ventura, and Yolo County. Read more about this as reported in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, or at PACE program funding.
1/29/10 San Francisco, CA
PG&E offers customers AB920 Solar Sell Back
Selected California customers received a letter from Pacific Gas and Electric Customers (PG&E) explaining new options for selling solar electricity to the utility. Existing solar net metering customers are now eligible to receive compensation for electricity they generate beyond their annual consumption, meaning customers will actually get paid for all the excess solar electricity they generate.
Popularly known as AB920, (Assembly Bill 920 - Huffman - Solar and Wind Generation), the landmark bill was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2009.
In a letter to their solar net metering customers dated 1/29/2010, PG&E wrote "If you provide more energy to PG&E's electric system than you receive on a 12 month basis, you would be identified as a 'net generator'. As a result, you would have the ability to receive a once-per-year compensation for the excess electricity you supply to the PG&E grid. Starting in 2010, this compensation will be calculated at the time of your normally scheduled, annual true-up. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) still has to determine the details before [full] implementation."
Updates may be available at PG&E's solar webpage, or by contacting their Customer Service Center at 1-877-743-4112.
1/22/10 Sacramento, CA
Solar Water Heating on It's Way Back In
The California PUC is launching a Solar Thermal Incentive Program, to stimulate the market for solar water heating in the state.
The incentives are paid up front based on the estimated first-year therms displaced, and incentives decline in four steps based on program participation. Details forthcoming from the CPUC CSI Thermal Program .
11/24/09 Richmond, CA
 Job Training
Solar Mike helped prepare students in the Solar Richmond job training program for their first job interviews. Mike emphasized "Be prepared, be brief and be clear" when making that first call for a solar job. Solar Richmond offers a pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and work opportunities in solar energy.
4/15/09 Castroville, CA
 Electrical Workers Get Solar Training
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 234 offered a two-day training in solar electric systems at their Salinas Valley facility for two hundred union members. There were ten training stations covering a range of solar topics and activities, such as solar site analysis and PV design.
11/2/09 Washington, DC
U.S. Treasury Allocates $2.2 Billion in Bonds for Renewables
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds go to 805 recipients across the country. The list of recipients include projects in many states. Funded by the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, these energy bonds help government agencies, public power providers, and cooperative electric companies obtain lower cost financing for clean energy development projects.
9/15/09 Sacramento, CA
Governor Schwarznegger Orders California Renewables to 33 Percent
In a move to dramatically carry California toward a renewable energy future, the governor signed an Executive Order, to increase the state's renewable energy portfolio standard to 33 percent by 2020.
9/04/09 Santa Cruz CA
Green Living in Santa Cruz Presentation to be held on 9/09/09
Mike Arenson will be giving a talk on solar energy at the Green Living series Wednesday night. His presentation will include highlights of his own green living choices, and the different ways to use solar energy in your home and business, such as solar electricity, solar water heating and cooking with the sun. He will answer your specific energy questions and emphasize the financial considerations of using solar, including prices, rebates, tax credits and other incentives. Time: 6 :00- 8:00 p.m. Location SC41 2647 41st Ave. Santa Cruz, CA.
8/28/09 Sacramento CA
Solar Rebate Dropping for PG&E Residential Customers
The California Solar Initiative (CSI) incentive for solar electric systems in the PG&E territory is dropping from $1.55/watt AC to $1.10/watt AC at any moment. This applies to residential and small commercial PV systems. According to the CSI's incentives tracking website, Trigger Tracker, the funds remaining at the higher rate are less than funds under review for allocation. In other words, it is very unlikely there are any $1.55/watt AC funds. The rebate will drop to the next step of $1.10/watt AC.
Over the past 10 years, the rebates for solar electric systems have changed significantly. They started at $3.00/watt, and increased to $4.50/watt AC several years ago. They have declined steadily since.
7/12/09 Washington DC
Federal government publishes guidelines for payment in lieu of tax credit
Following rumors and debate about cash payments to businesses going solar in lieu of receiving the 30% tax credit, the feds have published
new guidelines on how to receive these stimulus funds. Instead of waiting for a tax credit, eligible businesses will receive a payment check from the US government.
7/2/09 Sacramento, CA
California Solar Initiative releases Statistics Wonderland
There are great solar installation statistics available at your fingertips at the new CSI website, California Solar Statistics. If you are wondering how many PV systems have been installed in the state, or what the average size or cost of PV systems are, this is the place for the updated information.
4/15/09 Santa Cruz, CA
 Solar power at Santa Cruz Harbor
O'Neill Sea Odyssey is adding solar power to their non-profit ocean education center at the harbor in Santa Cruz. The organization will use the electricity to power their office and other businesses located in their building at the Santa Cruz harbor.
More than 500 students a year take part in the OSO educational programs, teaching students from schools throughout Central California about the marine habitat and the importance of the relationship between the living sea and the environment. The organization's founder, Jack O'Neill, is widely recognized as the inventor of the wetsuit which helped revolution the surfing and ocean sports industry.
The solar electric system will be installed by Ron Goad of Solar Construction. A cash rebate from California will pay for about 25% of the cost of the system. Solar Mike and Solar Construction are contributing $3500 of in-kind contribution toward the installation.
3/20/09 Washington, DC
Guidelines for Solar in Federal Recovery
The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) has released a guide to the federal American Recovery and Investment Act as it pertains to solar energy. Download a copy of their guide here. Download a copy of the guide.
2/22/09 Washington, DC
Department of Energy Secretary Chu Announces Changes to Expedite Economic Recovery Funding. A sweeping reorganization of the DOE dispersal of direct loans, loan guarantees and funding contained in the new recovery legislation is planned. The Department of Energy will begin offering loan guarantees under their previous loan guarantee program by late April or early May, loan guarantees under the new Recovery legislation by early summer, and disperse 70 percent of the investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment plan by the end of next year.
2/12/09 Santa Cruz, CA
 Author and energy activist Van Jones spoke at the Martin Luther King Convocation in Santa Cruz nearly filling to capacity the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The free event drew people from throughout the Bay Area to hear Jones emphasize the quality of change needed to bring about "The Green Collar Economy."
12/28/08 Santa Cruz, CA
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported on solar tax credits and featured Solar Mike's new customer, councilmember Rotkin, who installed his own solar electric system. See the article here.
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