Raleigh Solar Guy

National REC-Trading?

2010-07-22T15:52:00.000-04:00

Having a national rather than a local market for SRECs has long been the goal of many REC traders. Even though there are still many hurdles to overcome, recent inter-registry cooperation seems to have brought it a lot closer to reality.

For the first time different regions are working together to allow SREC transfers to occur across their respective states and registries. North Carolina's renewable energy tracking platform recently implemented by the NCUC was developed around an APX engine that is also widely used by other registries in the southeast, mid-Atlantic, mid-west and even Canada. These platform similarities facilitate the the movement of SRECs between registry boundaries. Once that happens, the REC market would likely become more liquid with market pricing driving the flow of RECs from one registry to the next. North Carolina's new RETS system looks like it is one of the key components in the move toward a regional, if not a national SREC market.

Original Source: SREC Trade Blog 7/21/2010

Solar Cheaper than Nuclear

2010-07-09T12:44:00.002-04:00

Solar electricity is finally cheaper than nuclear! According to former Duke Chancellor Dr. John Blackburn, an "historic cross-over" in pricing has been reached and that utilities should stop rejecting solar. With the cost of nuclear energy creeping up and the cost of solar energy going down (50% in just 10 years), the argument for solar has just become more persuasive than ever.
And according to Blackburn, nuclear utilities are seeking massive public subsidies and transferring the financial risk of nuclear energy to customers and tax payers. Adding "This state should place a cost cap on nuclear and remove the cost cap on solar". Sam Cunningham, Duke University master's candidate and co-author of the study by WARN, says that energy cost will rise less under a clean energy approach than with other approaches.
It seems environmental insanity to be constructing coal power plants in light of the mounting evidence linking fossil fuels and global warming. And financial prudence would dictate greater emphasis on solar now that the cost cross-over point with nuclear has been reached.

Source: WARN Report Solar and Nuclear Costs

National Metering Proposed

2010-07-07T08:05:00.000-04:00

National Net Metering

Legislation establishing a national standard for residential and commercial net metering has been introduced by Jay Inslee, Rep Washington.

The AMP Act (Americans Making Power Act) proposes to set a national net metering standard as well as an interconnection policy by modifying section 113 of the PURPA (Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act). The intention appears to be to set a minimum national standard while still allowing the flexibility for states to set their own higher standards.

Congressman Inslee's website has the following Summary of the AMP Act.

NC REPs Standards Too Timid

2010-07-06T12:21:00.008-04:00

The 2007 Renewable Energy Portfolio standard's law (REPs) has apparently missed its mark and has ended up disadvantaging our state's solar industry beyond what it anticipated. Originally intended to help the industry, the standards set for renewable energy have proved way too timid. And by suggesting that 25% of REPs could be met by out-of-state renewable energy sources, the NC Utility Commission compounded the problem for local energy integrators.
Duke Energy, for example, has chosen to 'own' all its own solar installation - preferring to simply rent the roofs of solar 'hosts' rather than encouraging developers to support solar generators of their own - as is the case in many other states. Because nothing stops Duke from having their installations designed, supplied and constructed by out-of-state companies, little benefit accrues to the state's fledgling solar integrators.
We should remind ourselves that the income for public utilities come from us - the utility consumers. And right now a whole lot of North Carolina's money is headed out of state to support neighboring solar providers rather than encourage our own. As proof the standard have been too low - the REPs for Duke Energy have apparently already been met through the year 2014, and these largely.
Can North Carolina really afford these policies when our state's unemployment rate is this high? I really don't think so.
An excellent summary from NCSEAs website can be found at: REPs Goals through 2014

RECs take another step forward in North Carolina

2010-06-17T16:33:00.000-04:00

North Carolina will launch their new Renewable Energy Tracking Systems (NC-RETS) on July 1st 2010. The system, designed to track Renewable Energy Credit (RECs) and Energy Efficiency Certificates (EECs), will play a vital part in the growth of the solar industry in North Carolina.

A REC is equivalent to 1 MWH of solar energy. And the tranparent and verifiable free sale of RECs from a solar energy producers in the state (and almost anyone with photovoltaic panels qualify) will be facilitated by the NC-RETS. Investor-owned utilities in North Carolina are required to produce about 12.5% of all their electricity production from renewables by the year 2021, and many think a well developed REC system in the state will assist the solar industry meet their renewable portfolio standards.

The administrator of the system will be APX. For more details, see the North Carolina Utilities Commission website.

NC DOE Announces $2.3 in Solar Stimulus Funds

2010-05-29T07:58:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, Gov. Beverly Perdue announced that 17 solar and a landfill-gas project would receive $2.3 million in ARRA stimulus funds from the NC Dept of Energy.

The 18 North Carolina projects, valued at approximately $26 million, would produce 32 million kWh of energy per year from renewables, enough to power 2,600 homes. The funds for these projects originate from President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

A Great Week for North Carolina Solar

2010-05-29T07:33:00.002-04:00

What an excellent week this has been for the North Carolina solar industry. The proposed substitute to Senate Bill 388 clarifying that federal stimulus grant money should not be considered “public funds” by NC Dept of Revenue was unanimously approved by the House Finance Committee earlier this week.

Senator Dan Clodfelter and Representative Hugh Holliman together with other North Carolina legislators had been working on a bill that addresses the NC Department of Revenue’s unfavorable opinion on the federal stimulus grant for weeks.

North Carolina's Dept of Revenue had previously opined in a way that negatively affected solar investment in the state by ruling that investors who took advantage of the 30% Federal grant would have to reduce the state's investment tax credits (ITCs) from 35% to around 24.5%. The effect was to reduce the original stimulative intent of the the state's ITCs for solar and renewable investments in North Carolina.

The bill will now return to the Senate for final passage, hopefully by next Tuesday.

The efforts of these, to name a few, should be recognized in this victory:

Senator Dan Clodfelter
Representative Hugh Holliman,
Ivan Urlaub, Theresa Kostrzewa, Tom Bean of NCSEA

Source: http://raleighsolarguy.blogspot.com/

Nat'l Solar Conference Comes to Raleigh

2010-05-18T21:43:00.000-04:00

Economic impact in Raleigh $3 - 6 million

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has selected Raleigh, North Carolina as the location of its National Solar Conference in 2011.

It's America's leading conference on the emerging trends, technology, and opportunities shaping the new energy economy and is widely recognized by solar energy professionals for its cutting-edge educational content. SOLAR 2011 will take place at the Raleigh Convention Center during May 16-21, 2011.

This is one of the largest solar conferences in America, expecting to attract more than 5,000 solar professionals, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to downtown Raleigh, with participants traveling from across the U.S. and internationally. It is forecasted to pump $3-6 million into the region, benefiting local businesses, boosting the economy, and generating tax revenue.

Becky Campbell-Howe, Director of Professional Education at ASES said ".... we were particularly impressed by the excitement about renewable energy in the Triangle region and across North Carolina."

Reasons for selecting Raleigh include:

Passionate support for renewable energy by local leaders
Recent economic development within the region
The opportunity to partner with policy-makers to expand the use of renewable energy

ASES will partner with several North Carolina organizations to make SOLAR 2011 a success, including the NC Sustainable Energy Association, NC Solar Center, NC Department of Commerce, and NC State Energy Office.

"North Carolina is leading the Southeast in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and clean energy jobs, and with the right legislative and regulatory policies, we can become a national leader," said Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director of the NC Sustainable Energy Association. "SOLAR 2011 will be a great opportunity for North Carolina's valuable sustainable energy consumers, businesses and employees to 'shine' before a national and international audience."

The huge solar exhibit hall will be open to the general public. Others interested in learning about solar energy will be able to choose from dozens of educational sessions and by hundreds of leading renewable energy experts and network with top industry leaders.

Before this conference reaches Raleigh, the solar energy industry will head to Phoenix for SOLAR 2010, coming up May 17-21, 2010. Conference details are at www.solar2010.org

A recent economic report by ASES determined that in 2007, the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors generated about 9 million jobs and a trillion dollars in annual revenue in the U.S.

About the American Solar Energy Society

Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals and grassroots advocates. Supported by more than 13,000 members, ASES' mission is to speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. ASES advances education, research and policy, inspiring the nation to go solar. ASES publishes the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, presents the National Solar Conference, and leads the National Solar Tour - the largest grassroots solar event in the world.

Reprinted and abridged from ASES Article

"Utilizing Solar Energy in Buildings"

2010-05-17T23:24:00.000-04:00

Seminar for Architects & Engineers

NCBA-approved for 6 hrs continuing ed. credit

Argand Energy's Instructors
Chatham Olive, Dennis Isemonger, Gabriel Cantor

Register here

TOPICS

A Broad Overview of Renewable Energy Technologies
Utilizing a Photovoltaic (PV) Solar Energy System
Solar Thermal (ST) Systems: Theory, Practice, and Economics

TUITION

$259.00 for one, or $239.00 each for 3 or more from the same company or firm registering at the same time (discount by pre-registration ONLY). Please make check payable to Argand Energy Solutions, LLC. Each registration includes one copy of Utilizing Solar Energy In Building Professions. Pre-registration is recommended to ensure receipt of a textbook. Walk-in registrations will be accepted at the program if seats are available, and by credit card payment ONLY. Further inquiries regarding credit eligibility to info@argandenergy.com.

Raleigh attracting more top-notch solar companies

2010-05-16T16:38:00.000-04:00

Raleigh, N.C., May 16, 2010 – Argand Energy Solutions, a leading solar and energy-efficiency company in the Carolinas since 1999, has just announced the opening of its Raleigh office.

"North Carolina is an innovative and rapidly growing solar market. And it makes good sense for us to put ourselves in the middle of a growing commercial, municipal and residential solar business in the central and eastern North Carolina", according to Dennis Isemonger, director of commercial sales and manager of the new Raleigh office.

Argand Energy Solutions is one of the oldest and most respected solar companies in the south east when it comes to large scale grid-tied solar projects. But unlike most other solar integrators, they are also experienced in off-grid systems for solar lighting, solar electric generation and back-up, and solar water pumping. Argand has a manufacturing facility producing a line of solar water pumps.

Almost all solar system design work, permitting, contracting and maintenance is handle by their own personnel, and all their installations are overseen by their NABCEP-certified installers. "I believe our reputation for quality is directly linked to our in-house expertise", said Isemonger.

“The Triangle area is one that is embracing solar and renewable energy,” said Erik Lensch, president and CEO of Argand Energy Solutions. “We see this as a market area with abundant opportunities for quality renewable energy solutions.” The Triangle office is one of four offices for Argand which is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and has offices in Columbia, S.C., and Sante Fe, N.M. Their clients include Siemens Energy, Progress Energy Carolinas, Johnson Controls, and The University of South Carolina.

Argand Energy provides regular training and continuing education classes to architects, engineers and contractors. They will be conducting a continuing education program “Solar for Building Professionals” in Durham on June 2, 2010, at the Durham Marriott at the Civic Center, 201 Foster St.

For more information, contact Argand Energy Solutions in Raleigh office.l