Recently in Incentives Category

The solar panels on top of the community center at Colonia San Martin, in Sacramento, CA is the newest project of the housing nonprofit Mercy Housing California, will produce six times more power than the average residential solar electric system. This is the first solar-power system on an affordable housing complex in Sacramento, and the housing complex was built in a partnership with the AIDS Housing Alliance.

An essential part of a total energy solution is to back up solar installations with energy efficiency so that the total amount of energy required for heating, cooling, and water service is optimized...before determining the size of the PV installation required or effective.

Each low income housing unit in this exemplary solar and efficiency project, has high-efficiency water heaters and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. The units  also have windows, insulation and radiant heat barriers rated to reduce energy use. The energy efficiency measures exceed California's Title 24 building codes for energy efficiency by at least 25%.  And that's significant because the Title 24 requirements include a 25% savings over conventional construction!

The 12-kilowatt solar PV system will generate an estimated 18,700 kilowatt-hours per year, cutting electric bills at the complex by an estimated $2,000 per year.

The photovoltaic solar system qualified for California state rebates, and SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility Department) negotiated a rebate package that helped the developer install the energy-efficient equipment.

Renewable energy is a high priority for President Elect Obama.  His jobs program emphasizes rebuilding the infrastructure, including roads and bridges, schools and weatherizing homes.  This slideshow synthesizes the energy priorities established by Obama during his campaign and in the days of the transition. Renewable energies, including solar figure prominently in his energy plan.

"This is the breakout growth sector of the next generation," said the author of Next 10's report, "Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California".

David Roland-Holst, a professor of agriculture and resource economics at UC Berkeley. "We cannot afford to miss this market opportunity."

California's per-capita electricity use is about 40% less than the national average, Roland-Holst said, largely because of government-mandated energy efficiency standards for utilities, buildings and appliances put into effect over the last four decades.

Roland-Holst found that the lower use has enabled Californians to save $56 billion on energy since 1972. That money was spent in the local economy, he said, instead of on imported oil, out-of-state electricity or building new power plants. The result: 1.5 million additional California jobs with a total payroll exceeding $45 billion.

Programs like AB 32 will have a multiplier effect

Next 10's report calculates that energy innovation required by AB 32 will create 403,000 green-collar jobs over the next 12 years as companies spend big on renewables and energy efficiency. Roland-Holst said that would increase household income in California by as much as $48 billion by 2020 and boost the state domestic product by $76 billion.

California's Environmental Innovation Advantage

Some of California's leading companies agree with Roland-Holst's assessment that environmental innovation could become a pillar of the California economy.

Read more about the report: Energy Efficiency, Innovation, and Job Creation in California (by David Roland-Holst, UC Berkeley, Oct. 2008)

Solar Energy
Solar energy is one of the most abundant and visible renewable resources on Earth. Many national, state, and local governments are engaged in programs to expand programs that enable homes, businesses, and large-scale project developers to make use of this clean energy resource.

Solar power technologies convert radiant light energy to into more usable forms of energy such as electricity or hot water. Photovoltaic cells made from silicon are the most well know, and can leverage mature silicon electronics manufacturing technology to lower their manufacturing cost in order to expand their market reach. Other solar technologies concentrate the sunlight into a small area to heat a working fluid such as water to generate electric power or provide useful hot water for space conditioning.

Ardour Global Alternative Energy Indexes provide investment fund information.

Government incentive programs are getting spotty for solar and wind energy.  With the changing of the guard during election seasons, old programs are ended so that new administrations can write and endorse their own versions of funding programs.  And, I assume you know that taxes and incentives are structured to control behaviors of the populace, right?

What's unusual in today's political world is the EXTENT of corporate level incentives.  Not long ago incentives were extended to consumers who were in need of assistance.  Today, with the escalating speed and technological prowess of startup technologies, more and more sectors such as alternative energy and alternative transportation are being subsidized at the venture funding stage...and the commercialization stage to encourage rapid payback for the venture capital firms.

The question is why are companies with record levels of income having to ask for government handouts? I'm just saying.... :-)  It seems we as taxpayer citizens without a corporate lobby behind us,  pay at least twice:  taxes and than again when we pay higher prices for new technology.

I'm just saying.... :-)

 

Federal incentives for solar, wind, geothermal, and other sustainable technologies are set to expire this December.

That means these sustainable energy sectors, some of the most promising and strategically important industries in America, are at risk of losing Federal support - unless we act now.

The facts are clear. Solar energy, wind, geothermal, energy efficiency, and other sustainable energy technologies are key components in powering green-collar jobs, promoting energy independence, and tackling climate change. At a time when fossil fuel costs continue to rise, the costs for renewable energy continue to fall.

But legislation to extend these sustainable energy tax incentives (H.R. 5351) is currently stalled in the Senate and time is running out.

That's why we urgently need your help.

The best way to break this stalemate is for grassroots supporters of solar, wind, geothermal, and others to stand together and take action.


Here's how you can help:
1) Contact your Senators to urge them to extend the renewable energy and energy conservation tax incentives to help generate green collar jobs, promote energy independence, and strengthen national security.

Click here to find the contact information for your Senators via Vote-Smart.org (simply enter your zip code on the left side and click 'go').

While the vote of each Senator is important, for your convenience, the list below represents key Senators who could provide the swing votes needed to break the stalemate. If you live in one of the states listed below, click the Senator's name to find the phone numbers of the District Senate office(s) near you so you can call them and add your voice.

Alaska: Senator Murkowski & Senator Stevens
Arizona: Senator Kyl & Senator McCain
Colorado: Senator Allard
Florida: Senator Martinez
Idaho: Senator Craig & Senator Crapo
Indiana: Senator Lugar
Kansas: Senator Brownback & Senator Roberts
Kentucky: Senator Bunning & Senator McConnell
Nevada: Senator Ensign
New Mexico: Senator Domenici
New Hampshire: Senator Gregg & Senator Sununu
North Carolina: Senator Burr & Senator Dole
Pennsylvania: Senator Specter
Tennessee: Senator Alexander & Senator Corker
Utah: Senator Bennett & Senator Hatch
Virginia: Senator Warner

2) Submit a brief letter to the editor of your local newspaper to encourage others to urge their Senators to extend the renewable energy and energy efficiency tax incentives. One key point to highlight: failure to promptly extend renewable energy tax incentives puts 116,000 solar & wind industry jobs and $19 billion in energy investment at risk.

3) Encourage your friends to get involved with the steps listed above to help end the stalemate in the Senate.

This is a critical time for supporters of solar energy. And your help is needed now more than ever. We can create a sustainable energy economy, but only if we work together.

Thank you for getting involved and adding your voice to the large and growing numbers of citizens in support of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable energy technologies.

Best regards,
Neal Lurie
Director of Marketing & Communications
American Solar Energy Society
303.443.3130 x105
www.ases.org