Indiana Renewable Energy Association

Electric Utilities Fight Rooftop Solar; Will it happen here in Indiana?

2014-03-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Electric Utilities Fight Rooftop Solar

Rooftop solar arrays are a small but fast growing sector of the US energy portfolio. (birgstockphoto.com)

CURWOOD: From PRI and the Jennifer and Ted Stanley Studios in Boston, this is Living on Earth. I’m Steve Curwood. The electric grid provides power to everyone who’s connected, and homeowners with rooftop solar can also give some power back to the grid. So when the solar panels are generating more electricity than a grid-connected house can use at that moment, net metering kicks in. The billing meter spins backwards, and homeowners get credit for what they produce. Of course, when the sun isn’t shining or household electric demand is high, the meter spins forward to show what’s owed to the power company. So net metering is a key economic incentive for individuals to invest in solar, along with rebates and tax credits. But Bryan Miller of the Alliance for Solar Choice says utility companies don’t like net metering and are now fighting back.

MILLER: Net Metering is the core policy for rooftop solar in the entire country. It is the most important policy. It ensures that people are properly credited for the power that their solar systems produce.

CURWOOD: So what are the reactions that you see when it comes to net metering?

MILLER: The utility companies don’t like solar, period. And net metering is their preferred way lately of trying to stop solar. There’s no better example of this than the piece of legislation that just died in Washington State, where utilities literally tried to write a law that said they were the only ones legally able to provide solar in the state. So that’s just a very clear example of what the fight’s about. It's about utilities trying to stop competition and rooftop solar is the first form of true competition that they have ever faced.

CURWOOD: Now, the utilities would say, look, if we are providing wires to these devices, we ought to make some money on it...they’re costing us money. What do you say to those arguments?

MILLER: Well, they do make money. Rooftop solar customers continue to pay for power when they buy it, but the utilities’ position seems to be that people should buy power whether they need it or not. Let me just give you an analogy. A lot of homeowners these days are switching to natural gas appliances and natural gas heating because of the low price of natural gas. We don’t hear utilities complaining about that at all, and that’s far more disruptive in terms of the amount of power that’s migrating to a different source right now. Of course, the reason utilities aren’t complaining about that at all is they own the natural gas as well. Their problem with solar is that they don’t own it. They don't own the sun. So that’s what this fight is about and policymakers are going to recognize that the utilities have changes that they have to accommodate all the time, but that’s not an excuse to stop competition.

CURWOOD: Well, tell me about a couple of specific battles that you’re seeing across the country. What’s going on in the northeastern part of the United States about Canadian hydropower?

MILLER: Well, I think what’s going on in the northeastern United States is the utilities are trying to build billions of dollars of transmission through environmentally sensitive lands to import, in this case, foreign hydropower from Canada. And the utilities want to do that because if they get to build those billions of dollars of transmission lines, they’ll make more money. So at the same time they’re trying to build that transmission line, they’re launching an attack against rooftop solar and net metering specifically because they know that rooftop solar helps avoid the cost and undermines the argument for those expensive transmission lines.

CURWOOD: Now, this debate has a life of its own in sunny Arizona. What’s going on there?

MILLER: Arizona’s a very strange story. It has been revealed that the largest utility in the state, APS, or Arizona Public Service, has actually been lobbying to increase property taxes on rooftop solar customers. A senior member of the Republican leadership in the legislature has confirmed that as well as the governor’s office. APS continues to deny that despite the fact that there’s these highly placed Republican officials who are saying that APS has lobbied them for a tax increase on rooftop solar.

CURWOOD: There have even been some presidential campaign-like attack ads airing in Arizona. Let’s have a listen to this one put out by the utility.

[MUSIC AND VOICES FROM AD]

WOMAN: We’ve seen this before.

OBAMA: The true engine of economic growth will always been companies like Solyndra.

WOMAN: Connected companies getting corporate welfare. Now, California’s new Solyndras, Sunrun and SolarCity are getting rich on hardworking Arizonans. Out-of-state billionaires using your hard-earned dollars to subsidize their wealthy customers. It’s not right. We don’t need this California-style corporate welfare in Arizona.

MILLER: Not a word of that ad is true, and the utilities at first actually denied that they funded that ad and many others like it. And after months of denials, eventually were caught funneling money through what we call “dark money organizations” that don’t disclose the source of their donations.

Net metering is the system by which utilities keep track of how much energy is produced by an individual rooftop solar array. It’s crucial to the economic viability of residential solar production. (bigstockphoto.com)

CURWOOD: I suppose anyone opposing solar power would want to use dark money.

MILLER: [LAUGHS] They certainly don’t want to do it in the sunlight. That’s definitely true.

CURWOOD: As solar companies fight back, you have an unexpected advocate. Barry Goldwater, Jr. is on this particular ad I want you to listen to now.

GOLDWATER: Conservatives want no, they demand, freedom of choice, whether it’s healthcare, education, or even energy. We can’t let solar energy be driven aside by monopolies who want to limit that choice. It’s not the American way. It’s not the conservative way.

MILLER: The reason conservatives support solar so much is because it’s competition, and the idea that conservatives should be told that they have to purchase power from a regulated monopoly and not have the option for competition is exceptionally offensive to conservatives. And so that’s why we see rooftop solar just polling far higher in popular support than any other form of energy.

CURWOOD: How large is the percentage of the American electric supply that’s solar at this point?

MILLER: It’s small. It’s less than one percent. And so when utilities launch these really over-the-top attacks like the ones that you have played, it is a very strange situation for them to try to explain why they can’t even tolerate a small amount of competition. It’s small, but on the other hand, it’s growing. It grew about 60 percent last year. The rate of employment growth in the rooftop solar industry was ten times the national average last year. We expect that number to grow rapidly over the coming decade.

CURWOOD: Bryan Miller, come on, you work for a major solar installation company. Obviously you really like this stuff.

MILLER: I do. I actually used to work for the largest utility in the country as well, and I’m certainly proud to be on this side of these issues. There’s no question that people of good faith on both sides have legitimate disagreements, but we should have an open and honest fair conversation. Reasonable people on both sides can agree to disagree on some things, but the utilities should stop the political attacks.

CURWOOD: Bryan Miller is Vice President for Public Policy and Power Markets for Sunrun, a solar solutions company headquartered in San Francisco. Bryan, thanks so much for taking the time with us today.

MILLER: You're welcome. Thank you for having me.

Email or call your Indiana State Rep. to oppose HB 1234

2014-02-03T09:05:00.002-08:00

The Indiana House is in session today for the last day for third reading or final passage on House Bills in the House. STate legislators broke for caucus and lunch and will return early this afternoon.

Get details on why HB 1234 is BAD for residential home owners with solar and geothermal systems by visiting

http://www.indianadg.net/in-action-alert-hb-1234-will-cut-property-tax-deduction-for-residential-solar-by-50-contact-house-members-asap/

Would you to be a contributor to the IndianaRenew blog?

2014-02-01T07:20:00.002-08:00

I am reaching out to find out who might like to be a contributor to the IndianaRenew blog. What types of information are we seeking?

Information and photos about your solar and other renewable energy energy installations in Indiana (and perhaps neighboring states, etc.)
Events and activities such as meetings and conferences our readers might like to attend but not just our own events and activities. Is there a community event where IndianaRenew can attend or participate with a booth?
Are there educational programs or webinars IndianaRenew might be interested in?
Do you have an opinion about pending state legislation or state regulatory issues you would like to share with readers?

These are just a few of my thoughts right now. Let us know what you would like to see featured on this blog.

IndianaRenew has a Facebook group, a Facebook page, a LinkedIn Group and a Twitter account. This blog is being reactivated because not everyone likes or wants to participate in these other forums. OK?

Hoping to hear from you.

Laura Ann Arnold

Would you like to help design and build a booth display for Indiana Renew?

2014-01-31T15:53:00.001-08:00

Indiana Renew members David Mann and Amie McCarty participated in the Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) Greening the State House conference held at IUPUI.

Laura Arnold tries to explain what all the abreviations mean that are used in energy and utility lingo.

Lee Saberson talks to participants at the HEC Greening the State House conference.

Saberson hopes to work with other members to design and build a booth and information materials

so that Indiana Renew can participate in similar events during 2014.

Would you like to volunteer to help?

Email us at info@indianarenew.org.

2014-01-31T14:50:00.004-08:00

Solar PV Installation done by Morton Solar based in Evansville, IN.

IndianaRenew Blog Reactivated Again

2014-01-31T14:36:00.000-08:00

After a few years, I am returning to reactivate the IndianaRenew Blog.

I hope will join me in sharing your ideas and suggestions.

The Indiana Renewable Energy Association (InREA) has experienced numerous problems with the so-called "official" website at www.IndianaRenew.org. So until those problems are fixed I will attempt to provide some information and and avenue for sharing information.

Is that OK with you? Great!

Laura Ann Arnold

Deppert with Pew Environment Group Urges Contacting President Obama about Fuel Efficiency Standards

2011-07-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog Readers:

I received this message from Chuck Deppert who is the Indiana Representative for the Pew Environment Group. Deppert has attended and participated in many of our programs and activities. Will you join me in watching the video and then contacting President Obama about this important issue?

If you want more information or would like to help with more of the Pew Clean Energy Program Campaigns, please contact Deppert.

Laura Ann Arnold

This Pew Clean Energy Program video highlights the benefits of increasing fuel efficiency—or miles-per-gallon (MPG)—standards for cars and light trucks to as high as 60 MPG by 2025. It would increase investments in new technologies, save consumers money at the pump and help the United States break its cycle of addiction to foreign oil by saving more than 1.3 billion barrels.

Opponents are lobbying President Obama to adopt the weakest possible fuel efficiency standards. Please help counteract these efforts by urging President Obama to set the highest mileage standards of up to 60 mpg that will save American families money at the pump and decrease the amount of oil imported from overseas. He needs to hear your voice!

Charles 'Chuck' Deppert, Indiana Representative, Pew Environment Group
9112 Behner Brook Drive
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1450
317-594-1776 (Home & office)
317-850-7197 (iPhone)

IBJ: Eco-friendly downtown supply store closes

2011-06-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

Original article: http://www.ibj.com/ecofriendly-store-closes/PARAMS/article/27652

Chris O'Malley, Indianapolis Business Journal
June 9, 2011

Green Way Supply, a pioneering green construction products store, has gone out of business, but one of its partners is planning a new building supply store with mix of green and traditional products.

The city’s pioneering store in eco-friendly building products, Green Way Supply, has closed its doors.

Selling everything from rain barrels to urban wind turbines, Green Way opened in 2007 as the green-building and remodeling trend began to catch on locally.

But the faltering economy and departure of business partner Terry Black, who moved back to his native Chicago to launch Live Green Now, left the other partners—the father-and-son team of Fred Gray and Randy Gray—to re-evaluate the direction of Green Way. [Actually, the name of Terry Black's new business is called Living Green Now.]

“I backed away from the business and my son is going to start a new business,” said Fred Gray.

Randy Gray’s business will open in a new, to-be announced location, and sell a mixture of eco-friendly and more traditional products such as skylights, the elder Gray said.

Green Way, with a 1,200-square-foot showroom at 620 N. Delaware in downtown Indianapolis, had six employees. In 2008, its partners told IBJ they were projecting sales of $3 million annually within three years.

“I was sad to hear it closed. I really was,” said former Green Way partner Black, who had been a fixture on morning television news programs with advice on eco-friendly building materials. “We had some pretty good growth for the first two and a half years.”

The recession hurt sales at Green Way, Black said, but he noted that he thinks the long-term future for green businesses remains strong. “I said [at Green Way] we’re on the right path here. We had a formula I thought was working.”

Fred Gray said his former business partner wanted to continue to invest in expanding the business, something he was not as inclined to do at the time.

Green Way was believed to be the only such store of its kind in the Indianapolis area, with the nearest being in Chicago.

The store was a good place to showcase Indiana-made, eco-friendly products, said Laura Arnold, former president of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association, a group of more than 60 renewable energy product manufacturers and related firms in the state. In fact, the association held its kickoff at the store.

Among Green Way’s customers was the Indianapolis Museum of Art, to which it sold products such as recycled tire flooring for the 544-seat Randall L . and Marianne W. Tobias Theater, better known as “The Toby.”

While the number of eco-friendly products has blossomed in recent years—many available via the Internet—Green Way gave shoppers a place to check out such relatively exotic products such as countertops made of concrete and recycled glass.

Big home-improvement stores have widened eco-product offerings in recent years, although they often don’t have the knowledgeable store personnel, Black said.

His new business in Northbrook, Ill., also has an e-commerce site with more than 300 products.

Black said he continues to partner with firms in the Indianapolis area to supply products, and recently finished installing a 40,000-watt solar array atop a parking canopy of an Evansville apartment complex.

The Chicago market offers more sales opportunities and Illinois offers broader incentives for green products, Black said. “There’s still a market down [in Indianapolis]” though, he added.

Among the ever-expanding array of products Black sells these days is a device that sprays water vapor onto outdoor air conditioning compressors, to make their heat-transfer more efficient.

Green Way Suply was a founding member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

IU Law Student planning a Tiny House

2011-05-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

From an email to InREA.  If you can help please contact
Chris at his email.
-------------------------------------------------------
Good morning!  I will be a first year law student at
IU-Indy this coming fall. To keep my long-term housing
costs down and limit my overall environmental impact,
I will be spending the bulk of this summer building a
tiny house modeled on the "Popomo" designed by
Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company
(http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/popomo/).

While the iteration I will end up with will look
a bit different,it will still be a solar-powered,
172 square foot house on a flat bed trailer. I
already have preliminary arrangements to "dock" my
home, but thought I'd inquire as to whether the INREA
has seen this type of sustainable housing in use in
Indy before among students or others? Perhaps there
are individuals or organizations affiliated
with INREA that would be interested in the development
and implementation of a project like this.

Any resources or individuals' contact info you would
feel comfortable passing along would be received with
great interest. Thank you again for any help you can
offer!

Christopher Chrzan cchrzan@umail.iu.edu

Watch This Space! An open letter from INREA President

2011-05-03T19:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to the beginning!

Many INREA members have been wondering where we went as instability in membership on the board has slowed both progress and communications. But, if you watch this blog and our soon-to-be-new website, you will soon see the results of a new ground swell of activity in INREA. Since the new board was voted in at the end of February, momentum has been building.

We will soon be asking for you, our membership, to become more engaged, and we will provide ample and specific opportunities for that engagement.

First--restating our mission. We are renewing our focus on building public awareness and aiding in the education on issues of renewable energy in all its forms.

How will we do that? This year, we will focus on two very high-profile activities:

1. The Indiana Renewable Energy Conference, July 20-21. Discussion panels are being formed now on topics of geothermal, small wind, solar thermal, and PV thermal. There will be many opportunities to teach, learn, and most of all, HELP!

2. The National Solar Tour, October 1. You can see details from previous solar tours on the indianarenew.org. We will need local organizers throughout the state to help and/or host tours in their own communities, to showcase real people who own real renewable systems and allow-close-up experiences.

Next--mobilizing our membership. This may be the first you have heard of these events. Why might that be? We have not gotten the word out as effectively as we should. Well, we're making some significant mechanical changes to improve communications to our members. Here is what is happening:

*** The new members of the board have gotten acclimated and are starting to gain traction. Those new board members are:

- Chris Rohaly, President

- Chris Maher, Vice President

- Mark Oehler, Treasurer

- Travis Murphy, At Large Member

*** The website, indianarenew.org, is undergoing a refresh, and should be updated in the near future. If you are web-savvy and can volunteer of your time to help with upkeep once the transition is complete, please let us know.

*** The ASES convention in May -- INREA will represent the state of Indiana in the person of Chris Maher, Vice President.

*** Our IRS tax status, which has been a bit of a soap opera, appears close to being resolved after the resubmission of lost paperwork.

*** For those who are following energy legislation, this has been a busy year in the State House. Please see the IDEA blog (indianadg.wordpress.blog) for all the details.

I'm pleased to trusted to serve as your president. We (the Board of Directors) have great plans: more programs, face-to-face meetings with members, membership drives, newsletters: but these plans cannot be executed by a board of directors. We welcome your input, invite your suggestions & expertise, and more than anything, request your involvement. That alone will enable the resurgence of INREA and further renewable energy understanding across the state.

Please feel free to contact any of the board members with questions or input. Information on every member, including contact information, will be included on the updated website, or you can reply to me via this blog post.

Thanks for your past and future support. Let's get the word out!

Best Regards,

Chris Rohaly

Green Alternatives, Inc

2011 President, Indiana Renewable Energy Association

Save the Dates: July 20-21, 2011 for Indiana Renewable Energy Conference

2011-03-02T13:15:00.000-08:00

For more details and updates CLICK HERE.

WIndiana 2011 will be even Even Bigger and Better!

After 3 years of being Indiana's only statewide wind industry conferences WIndiana 2011 is expanding to include the Indiana Renewable Energy Conference. Plus this year the Indiana Renewable Energy Association will be involved in the planning and presentation of entire track of "how-to" sessions for residential and small business owners on wind, solar PV and solar thermal systems.

DATES: July 20-21, 2011

PLACE: Indianapolis Convention Center

This year's conference will include:

Sessions on Utility-level Wind, Solar, Biomass
How-to sessions for residential/small business Wind-Solar PV- Solar Thermal
National and State Speakers
Wind farm Tour-Solar Installation Tour-Biomass Tour
Expanded Exhibition Floor and hours
Continuing Education sessions for K-12 teachers

Registration Opens Soon!

Come back here and check for the opening of registration, or follow us on Twitter: IndianaEnergy

Interested in being a sponsor or exhibitor at WIndiana 2011? Click Here for Details.

This information brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Delaware County Company Wants to Start Battery Production

2011-01-25T05:12:00.000-08:00

January 24, 2011

News Release

Yorktown, IN. – January 24, 2011 – Enertek Solutions, Inc. a Portland, Ore.-based company specializing in Safer, Smarter Advanced Battery and anti-idling technology via the InfiniGEN™, today announced an exclusive collaboration with Xtreme Energy Products, LLC, an Indiana-based battery and energy distribution company and green energy power integrator.

Enertek Solutions began the process of working full-time with the principals of Xtreme Energy Products in searching for a manufacturing building in Indiana, which can facilitate production of the InfiniGEN™ next generation lithium batteries. This announcement is believed to be the first collaboration of its kind in North America.

XfiniGEN Power Systems Technologies (www.xfinigen.com) is the collaborative name of the new company. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.

The patented Infini-Gen® anti-idling solutions are the next generation in auxiliary power units for multiple applications and initial tests of InfiniGEN™ products have been encouraging. The Infini-Gen™ uses only batteries for storage of the electrical power, and is power-charging agnostic, meaning it doesn‟t matter where it gets it charge, but accepts charging in record time, with the safest smartest battery storage technology currently available in the marketplace.

The new XfiniGEN entity stands to capitalize on the many advances made by Enertek. Markets where these products will be utilized include: refrigerated trucks, wind, solar, energy storage centers, US military, police and fire emergency equipment. XfiniGEN also plans to expand the lithium technology into Xtreme Energy‟s current line of alternative energy products to develop solutions including all-electric source of green power for cab heating, cooling and load power, mobile cell tower sites, solar trailers, and off grid power/lighting systems utilizing advanced battery technology originally developed for the military.

“We are excited to bring this next generation lithium battery technology to Indiana,” said Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products, “and are anxious to find a home to start the manufacturing process.” Xtreme Energy Products is currently looking for cities within Indiana that provide the infrastructure and workforce that will best suit the manufacturing process of not only these next generation Lithium batteries but also the future expansion of a Lithium cell manufacturing facility, which could facilitate new job growth in the thousands.

About Xtreme Energy Products

Xtreme Energy Products is an energy storage and alternative energy distribution center specializing in products ranging from small household batteries to automotive/commercial batteries and large stationary power systems (www.batteryxpress.com). The family owned business has been in the battery and energy storage-distribution business for 40+ years in the Indiana region, and expects to capitalize on its long-standing and vast experience in commercial, industrial and residential contacts for not only manufacturing, but distribution of their proprietary energy systems and services.

About Enertek Solutions and InfiniGEN®

Originally created 5+ years ago, the Infini-Gen® advanced energy storage solutions have been specifically designed to supply power in a variety of applications across the board in many industries. Known for it‟s compact, light-weight and high-energy density of its advanced Lithium Polymer Batteries, these customized energy storage systems can be configured in any voltage and power requirements. The systems are designed as „plug-n-play‟ for field-use without the necessity of a field engineer to re-set should power parameters change. For more information, please contact Enertek Solutions, Inc. at 503-525-4942 or email info@enerteksolutions.com .

Source: Xtreme Energy Products

Ryan Stout, a principal of Xtreme Energy Products has two other renewable energy companies which are members of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

Greenfield Daily Reporter: McCordsville family looks to slice electric bills with solar energy

2011-01-17T13:02:00.000-08:00

Nick Hofmeister's home uses 24 photovoltaic
(PV) panels to generate an estimated
7,500 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.
(Photo/Joe Hornaday/Greenfield Daily Reporter)

By JOE HORNADAY
jhornaday@greenfieldreporter.com

McCORDSVILLE – In an effort to help the environment while at the same time lower their energy bills, Nick and Lisa Hofmeister have recently turned the roof of their McCordsville home into a small power station.

The residence now utilizes 24 photovoltaic panels to generate an estimated 7,500 kilowatt hours by harnessing the energy delivered by the galaxy’s largest power supplier – the sun.

“It’s something I had considered for a long time,” Nick Hofmeister said. “With all the talk on the consumption of natural resources and the impact on our environment as a whole, our family made a conscience effort to make some changes around the house. If there was an option that would help us reduce our long term expenses while reducing pollution, we should consider it.”

Though the Hofmeisters sought a way for their home to run on cleaner energy, part of their green effort was stimulated by the green that was leaving their wallets. They also wanted to decrease their energy bills.

According to Nick Hofmeister, during the past eight years, the family had taken several steps to reduce their electrical consumption, and were successful in decreasing their usage by 20 percent. Their efforts might have made things easier on the town’s electrical grid, it did little to help their bills.

“Our electric bill still grew from $75 a month to an average of $153,” Nick Hofmeister explained. “Once I realized the impact on my wallet, I started an all-out project to find a way to control current and future utility expenses.”

And that is when he began the necessary steps to make the solar power project a reality.

“I researched options and companies on Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Midwest Renewable Energy Association’s websites,” he explained.

After crunching the numbers, he realized that the implementation of any reduced-energy project was going to be costly. The Hofmeisters ended up fronting about $25,000 to make the solar panels happen.

“The upfront cost stings a little bit,” Hofmeister said. “It was the main reason I decided to take a class. I wanted to make sure I understood the investment I was considering.”

He traveled to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and took a class on renewable energy so that he could better understand the technology and the impact it would have on both his life and bank account.

Initally, Hofmeister was interested in both wind and solar energy, before deciding that solar power was the way to go for his plan. Wind power was ruled out because it was not going to be asthetically appropriate in his McCordsville neighborhood. A wind tower needs to be about 80 feet in the air and the wind has to be blowing at least 20 miles an hour to work. The wind turbine would also be very noisy.

“I pursued solar panels because the back of my house faces south. I could fit enough panels on the back of my house to cover at least 50 percent of my electrical needs,” Hofmeister said.

And with some adjustments, he could one day get up to 75 percent of his electrical needs covered.

After communicating with McCordsville officials to make sure the project met the permit and code requirements and ensuring that his original homeowner’s covenants did not restrict solar panel use, Hofmeister began looking at panel providers.

He asked several solar panel system installers to provide estimates and recommendations, before settling on Green Works Energy LLC out of Yorktown. Hofmeister started working with Ryan Stout and looked at the three options for solar energy: grid-tied; off-grid; and grid-tied with battery backup.

“I decided on the grid-tied solution,” Hofmeister explained.

Grid-tied panels use a combination of the production their own energy and then using the utility company’s power when the sun is not available. The off-grid solution uses a combination of solar panels, batteries and generators to provide the home with energy. The grid-tied with battery backup proposition allows the user to consume solar energy during the day and batteries at night while the utility company is used as a backup.

Initially, Hofmeister wanted to use the off-grid option, but was told by Stout that a truly cost-effective battery solution was still five to 10 years away.

Working with Hofmeister and Stout, Central Indiana Power’s engineering department devised a plan to create a safe interconnection of the solar panel generation equipment to the grid as well as a metering plan to allow the utility to “net-meter” the energy usage. By net-metering, the utility deducts any excess energy generated by the equipment from the member’s total energy usage for the billing cycle.

Even though the solar panels result in lower energy costs and provide a way to protect the environment, there are other advantages to harnessing the sun’s rays for power. Through 2016, Hofmeister will be able to get a 30 percent federal tax credit, and not just a deduction from income. He will be able to get back that money in taxes that he paid this year.

“I also learned that power companies that are owned by investors must create or buy energy created through renewable processes,” he said.

Companies can buy the energy credits from someone producing it, if they are unable to produce or buy the amount of actual energy from a renewable process.

“That meant that even though I am using the solar energy I create, I can sell them credit for creating the energy,” Hofmeister explained. “Whatever I produce more than I’m using, it goes back into the grid.”
Those “credit dollars” from energy companies are wide ranging currently, which is why the payoff on Hofmeister’s system could be anywhere from five to 11 years.

“We are just starting the process of setting up the sale of my credits. Once that is completed, I will be able to nail down the payback period.”

Once the system payback period is complete, there are a few things that could happen. Hofmeister will either make money on the system, produce enough energy and make enough by selling credits that his electricity is completely paid for, or produce enough energy that Hofmeister at least limits increases in his energy bill.

“Since the dawn of human kind, I don’t know that energy has ever reduced in cost. If it did, it didn’t last long. So I’m guessing that the long term impact of my system will be a much smaller utility bill than those not utilizing some sort of renewable energy production,” Hofmeister explained. “After we get it paid off, we will have control over the electricity bill.”

Even though the installation of solar panels was the right move for the Hofmeisters, it might not be the right thing for everyone. With a steep upfront cost, the investiture in renewable energy might not fit into many budgets.

“It’s not a cheap investment,” Hofmeister said. “If you are more concerned about the environment, or simply (reducing) natural resources consumed to produce energy, then don’t worry about the tax credit or selling the green credits and install it. If I ignored the tax credit and the option to sell the green credits, my system would have taken 25 years to pay off.”

Any Central Indiana Power customer who is interested in information about member owned generation can contact Central Indiana Power’s energy adviser Darrin Couch at 317-477-2218 or at couch@cipower.com .

Ryan Stout and GreenWorks Energy, LLC in Yorktown is a member of the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

ECI Wind and Solar Selected to Install Wind and Solar Systems at Taylor University

2011-01-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

January 11, 2011

News Release

Upland, Ind. -- ECI Wind and Solar, owned by Craig Porter and Eric Cotton of Lafayette, has been awarded a contract to install two wind turbines as part of Taylor University’s $41.5 million science construction project. Additionally, students from Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus will serve internships during the project.

According to company CEO Eric Cotton, ECI Wind and Solar, based in Fairmount, Ind., has installed a number of renewable energy systems throughout the State of Indiana. Taylor officials say the renewable wind energy is a component of their efforts to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification for the new complex, scheduled for opening in the fall of 2012.

At a cost of $700,000, the Taylor University project consists of two Endurance E-3120 50 KW wind turbines, which will be installed on 120 foot monopole towers. ECI will also install a 10 KW solar photovoltaic system on the new science complex.

Cotton said the project represents a significant milestone in the growth of ECI Wind and Solar. “This project will allow us to expand our workforce. It is a great example of how renewable energy projects lead to real economic development while providing energy independence, educational experience, and environmental benefit,” he said.

Isaac Slaven, Program Chair for the Sustainability program at Ivy Tech’s Lafayette campus said, “This is the exactly the kind of opportunity for which we have been preparing our students; first as interns, then as graduates ready for the renewable energy workforce.”

About ECI Wind and Solar: ECI Wind and Solar designs and installs turnkey renewable energy solutions and has installed some of the most notable Renewable Energy Systems in the State of Indiana, including the largest battery based system in the Midwest.

Source: ECI Wind and Solar INC

ECI Wind and Solar is a founding member of both the Indiana Renewable Energy Association and Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates.

Purdue Researchers Say US lacks infrastructure to consume more ethanol

2011-01-05T12:32:00.000-08:00

Tue, 2011-01-04 10:56
Byline: Brian Wallheimer, Purdue University

The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.

The United States doesn't have the infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels, according to a Purdue University study.

Wally Tyner, the James and Lois Ackerman Professor of Agricultural Economics, and co-authors Frank Dooley, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, and Daniela Viteri, a former Purdue graduate student, used U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency data to determine that the United States is at the "blending wall," the saturation point for ethanol use. Without new technology or a significant increase in infrastructure, Tyner predicts that the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced.

The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires an increase of renewable fuel production to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. About 13 billion gallons of renewable fuel was required for 2010, the same amount Tyner predicts is the threshold for U.S. infrastructure and consumption ability.

"You can't get there with ethanol," said Tyner, whose findings were published in the December issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

Tyner said there simply aren't enough flex-fuel vehicles, which use an 85 percent ethanol blend, or E85 stations to distribute more biofuels. According to EPA estimates, flex-fuel vehicles make up 7.3 million of the 240 million vehicles on the nation's roads. Of those, about 3 million of flex-fuel vehicle owners aren't even aware they can use E85 fuel.

There are only about 2,000 E85 fuel pumps in the United States, and it took more than 20 years to install them.

"Even if you could produce a whole bunch of E85, there is no way to distribute it," Tyner said. "We would need to install about 2,000 pumps per year through 2022 to do it. You're not going to go from 100 per year to 2,000 per year overnight. It's just not going to happen."

And even if the fuel could be distributed, E85 would have to be substantially cheaper than gasoline to entice consumers to use it because E85 gets lower mileage, Tyner said. If gasoline were $3 per gallon, E85 would have to be $2.34 per gallon to break even on mileage.

There is talk of increasing the maximum amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline for regular vehicles from 10 percent to 15 percent. But Tyner said that even if the EPA does allow it, the blending wall would be reached again in about four years.

Tyner said advances in the production of thermo-chemical biofuels, which are created by using heat to chemically alter biomass and create fuels, would be necessary to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard. He said those fuels would be similar enough to gasoline to allow unlimited blending and would increase the amount of biofuel that could be used.

"Producing the hydrocarbons directly doesn't have the infrastructure problems of ethanol, and there is no blend wall because you're producing gasoline," Tyner said. "If that comes on and works, then we get there. There is significant potential to produce drop-in hydrocarbons from cellulosic feedstocks."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture funded Tyner's research.

Source URL: http://westernfarmpress.com/rice/us-lacks-infrastructure-consume-more-ethanol

Renewable energy ordinance passed in Naperville, IL

2010-12-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

Original article: http://napervillesun.suntimes.com/news/2985851-418/wind-council-ordinance-systems-solar.html

By Jenette Sturges

jsturges@stmedianetwork.com

Last Modified: Dec 23, 2010 03:12AM

There was a lot of wind blowing through the council chambers Tuesday night, but after an hour and a half’s discussion, council members finally agreed — small wind turbines are in.

The Naperville City Council voted 6-3 Tuesday to approve an ordinance that adds a Small Wind and Solar Energy Systems chapter to the city’s code book.

The new ordinance permits small wind roof-mounted turbines in commercial and industrial districts and ground-mounted wind systems in industrial districts. Both ground and roof-mounted turbines are allowed in all other zoning districts — including residential neighborhoods — so long as owners are willing to have their proposed turbines vetted through the city’s lengthy conditional use process.

“I think we made the right decision in not eliminating it from the residential areas, but to take each individual case as it comes along,” said Mayor A. George Pradel. “Because we don’t even know how much interest there is in it or how viable it is for the area.”

The conditional use process, which requires a hearing before the Plan Commission and City Council approval before a turbine could be installed, would give the city and nearby neighbors opportunity to weigh in on individual proposals.

Two options were presented to the council Tuesday night, both more restrictive than the ordinance finally passed. One proposed wind ordinance would have prohibited wind systems entirely from Naperville until they could be studied further, and the other prohibited wind systems in residential districts.

Both also include a plethora of other restrictions for wind turbines and solar panels, including height, setbacks, signage and color.

But council members ultimately came down in favor of wind, or at least considering different wind systems in an effort to spur further improvement of the technology.

“We need to put the issue out there to challenge people on the issue of sound,” said Councilman Doug Krause. “We could still be using Apple IIe computers, but things change. We’re looking for something that’s compact, that’s quiet, and if you don’t challenge them, it’s not going to happen.”

Exactly what criteria the Plan Commission and council will use to determine if a wind system is appropriate for Naperville residences was not decided upon, but guidelines established in a previous version of the ordinance included 60-foot height restrictions and a setback 1.1 times the height of the turbine. Sound was another concern for council members who feared disruption in neighborhoods from a noisy turbine.

Council members also discussed the return on investment for these systems, which cost thousands, even tens of thousands of dollars, but did not determine whether an individual’s ability to save money with a turbine or solar panels would be a factor in approval.

“When you look at our consumption, there’s zero return on investment now,” said Jodi Trendler of Naperville for Clean Energy and Conservation, the group that has been pushing for approval of renewable energy. “Everything you do will be a return compared to what you have now.”

Councilmen James Boyajian, Paul Hinterlong and Richard Furstenau voted against the ordinance’s adoption.

“There is a place for research and development. I’m just not sure it’s in my backyard or my neighbor’s backyard,” said Boyajian. “It’s like we’re not ready for this yet, which is why I’m not supportive of the wind element.”

Most council members did favor the ordinance’s new guidelines for how solar panels should be implemented.

Both ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar systems would be permitted in commercial areas but would need to go through the conditional use process before being built in neighborhoods.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

WYANDOTTE, MI: City breaks ground on areas first geothermal utility

2010-12-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Editor's note: This is a very interesting concept. I wonder if this might work in Indiana. Is anyone interested into looking at this? Let me know. Laura Ann Arnold

The News Herald (thenewsherald.com), The Voice of Downriver

Saturday, December 4, 2010

By Jim Kasuba

WYANDOTTE, MI — The city has broken ground — literally and figuratively — on the area’s first geothermal utility.

But unlike a ceremonial groundbreaking that involves politicians digging a few inches into the topsoil with fancy shovels, the work recently wrapped up at Lindbergh and Alkali involved going a bit deeper, about 600 feet or so.

City Engineer Mark Kowalewski said the geothermal project is believed to be the first for residential customers in this part of the state.

Advanced Energy Group of Ann Arbor is involved in the joint venture.

“We received a (Neighborhood Stabilization Program Grant) for $560,000,” Kowalewski said. “Every city had some money allocated as part of a Community Development Block Grant formula.”

Wyandotte decided to use its grant money for this relatively small project, which includes two houses the city is rehabilitating, one on Lindbergh and the other on Lincoln.

But that’s just the beginning of what is expected to become a growing project.

This summer, the City Council approved the creation of a geothermal utility, although it’s likely to take several years for it to become readily available and financially feasible for most residents.

A geothermal utility works by circulating water through pipes buried deep in the ground, where temperatures are a constant 54 to 56 degrees. The water is either heated or cooled to a desired temperature, depending on whether it’s winter or summer.

“In the summer, instead of trying to cool down with 80-degree air, you are cooling with 50 degree-water,” said Melanie McCoy, general manager of Wyandotte Municipal Services. “The opposite is true in the winter. The system uses water as its mechanism instead of air, which offers better heat transfer.”

McCoy said there are many reasons to be excited about geothermal energy, among them its heating and cooling efficiency and affordability after start-up costs.

Another benefit, McCoy said, is that geothermal helps Wyandotte Municipal Services improve the operation of the electric system and reduce power supply costs. The other benefit is to the environment.

“According to the Department of Energy and the (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), geothermal systems are the most environmentally friendly to heat and cool your home,” McCoy said. “They emit no CO2, CO or other greenhouse gases. Geothermal energy has been used to heat and cool for decades, but not provided as a utility service.”

McCoy said each house requires 1 1/2 wells, each containing plastic pipe, 5 inches in diameter, with water going up one side and down the other. Using the dirt around it as a heat transfer, water is recirculated in a closed loop.

In such a system, a geothermal heat pump, powered by electricity, takes the place of a furnace or air conditioning unit.

Wyandotte Municipal Services is partnering with Hardin Geothermal to develop the well fields and assist in connecting to customers.

As part of $7.8 million in federal stimulus money the city was awarded earlier this year in NSP2 funds, officials are expected to either rehabilitate or build more than 40 houses for low- to moderate-income families. City officials see this as an ideal opportunity to utilize geothermal energy in these houses.

The city also is expected to use geothermal energy to heat and cool Bacon Memorial District Library and the Wyandotte Museum, among other public buildings.

One of the downsides of geothermal systems is the startup cost. McCoy estimated that an average heat pump costs about $12,000, which is considerably more expensive than a furnace or air-conditioning unit. The other expense is the wells, which cost about $8,000.

However, the federal government is offering consumers a 30 percent tax credit on the cost of a geothermal pump through 2016, which makes the system more affordable.

McCoy said tentative plans call for Municipal Services not charging $8,000 for each well, but instead charging a monthly fee.

Kowalewski added that more savings can be realized when wells are shared, as four houses can utilize three wells.

“That’s when it makes sense,” the city engineer said. “We will be the first municipality with geothermal, but why not? We are used to being first.”

Contact Staff Writer Jim Kasuba at jimk@heritage.com or 1-734-246-0881

Ball State University (BSU) receives 'Technology Innovator of the Year' award

2010-11-17T05:44:00.000-08:00

Original article: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20101108/LIFESTYLE/11080325
THE STAR PRESS • November 8, 2010

MUNCIE -- The Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC) recognized Ball State University as its "Technology Innovator of the Year" during the Third Annual Green Policy Forum Nov. 6 in Indianapolis.

In 2009, Ball State broke ground on a new ground-source geothermal district heating and cooling system that, once completed, will be the largest district system in the country.

The system will replace four coal-fired boilers and save the university about $2 million every year in operating costs, not to mention reduce its carbon footprint by about half.

"Ball State is truly leading by example," said HEC Executive Director Jesse Kharbanda. "When it came time to make a decision about future energy needs, the university made a choice that not only benefits its bottom line but the environment as well."

In a press release, Gora cited not only the geothermal project but also the all-electric vehicle used to distribute campus mail as ways to lessen Ball State's environmental impact and encourage others to do the same.

More information about Ball State's district geothermal project can be found at www.bsu.edu/geothermal .

Powers Energy Hires Three Lake County Construction Firms for Garbage-to-Ethanol Plant in Schneider, IN

2010-11-13T06:42:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2010

BY DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK, (219) 648-3076 Powers Energy on Tuesday named the three Lake County construction firms that will hire 400 union workers to build a $254 million garbage-to-ethanol plant in Schneider.

Superior Construction Co., Inc., of Gary; Morrison Construction Co., of Hammond; and Continental Electric Co., Inc., also of Gary have formed a joint venture, SMC LLC, for the project, according to a news release Powers issued late Tuesday afternoon.

Powers Energy has also contracted with Robinson Engineering Ltd., Merrillville, to provide civil engineering support during design and permitting.

Powers has a 20-year-renewable contract with the Lake County Solid Waste Management District to process 8,000 tons of municipal waste into ethanol per day.

Funding for the project should be completed some time next month, according to company president Earl Powers, who promised no taxpayer dollars would be involved.

"One hundred percent of the project funding is from debt financing," Powers said, adding that financial backers, none of whom are from Indiana, would be identified after funding documentation is finalized.

"Lake County residents and public entities will have no financial liability for any portion of the project before or during construction and operation, or after facility closure," Powers said.

The plant is projected to operate for 30 years.

Powers hopes to break ground on the two-year project next summer, Powers engineer Ken Bosar said. The company must first apply for various permits from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, which should take place early next year, Bosar said.

"We're pleased the project is moving forward and happy that Powers Energy is keeping its promise," Solid Waste attorney Cliff Duggan said Tuesday.

Northwestern Indiana Building & Construction Trades Council Business Manager Randy Palmateer said all three companies are contractors with the council.

"They employ local building trades men and women," Palmateer said.

"We've looked at manpower projections with Mr. Powers," Palmateer said. "It's going to be a great project for our trade council. We're not at full employment, so this will be a nice jump-start."

Palmateer said a building trades presence will attend the Nov. 18 Solid Waste Board meeting in support of the project.

Powers Energy is scheduled to attend the meeting to answer questions submitted regarding the project.

"We're 100 percent behind this," Palmateer said, adding that 20 percent of the 50,000 union trades workers are currently unemployed.

"Hopefully, individual municipalities will sign into these local agreements to send their trash there," he said. "We're in a green era now."

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Richmond Power & Light (RP&L) might buy excess power

2010-11-13T05:43:00.000-08:00

Original Article: http://www.pal-item.com/article/20101108/NEWS01/11080320

Utility considers allowing customers with wind, solar power or generators to sell power back

By Pam Tharp • Correspondent • November 8, 2010

Richmond Power & Light customers who also generate their own power might soon be able to sell extra kilowatts to RP&L.

Customers with wind or solar power systems or generators could sell their excess power back to the electrical grid if RP&L adopts a net metering ordinance, RP&L general manager Steve Saum said. The RP&L board will review a proposed ordinance for net metering at its Nov. 15 meeting.

The amount of electricity a customer could sell to the grid is limited to 10 kilowatts at any one time. Customers with higher generation capacity would need an agreement with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency, Saum said.

RP&L charges its customers 7.5 to 8 cents per kilowatt hour. Customers with extra power to sell would be paid at half of that rate, about 4.5 cents, because the higher rate includes the utility's fixed costs for line maintenance and overhead, Saum said.

Saum's unsure how many customers are generating power using solar panels or wind turbines but said he's had some inquiries about selling power back to the grid.

"Green" energy systems that power the sustainable living house at Centerville's Cope Environmental Center have transferred 540 kilowatts to Whitewater Valley REMC since April 2009, said Cope executive director Stephanie Hays-Mussoni. A 1-kilowatt wind turbine and a 900-watt solar panel power the sustainable living house.

Cope staff gets numerous inquiries about wind and solar power for home use, Hays-Mussoni said. Few follow through because of the substantial capital investment required -- about $20,000 to $25,000 for the systems and extra insulation, she said.

"We aren't currently selling the power back, but it does go back to the grid," Hays-Mussoni said. "It's not a whole lot of power. The turbine and solar panel provide 60 percent of the energy used by the residents of the sustainable house throughout the year. The systems don't provide energy all the time because sometimes the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow."

A disconnect switch is required for any system that would send power back to RP&L or other utilities. The switch automatically disconnects the private system line from the utility during a power failure, Saum said. Without the switch, a lineman working on a power failure issue could be injured by electricity flowing back into the line from a home generation system. The disconnect switch also must be inspected by the city building inspector before power sales can begin, Saum said.

RP&L board member Larry Parker was concerned earlier this week about the safety of RP&L linemen if a power outage occurred.

"How will we know if the disconnect switch has been installed?" Parker asked. "I don't want one of our linemen being killed because of this."

Those who enroll in the net metering program would be required to sign a form verifying the disconnect switch was installed, Saum said. Linemen also are trained to be cautious during outages, he said.

"If the line is out and we see lights, they know there's a generator or something producing power in the home," Saum said.

Board member Jack Elstro questioned the wisdom of the program.

"Why do we want to do this? To me, it's foolish," Elstro said.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is encouraging utilities to allow customers who generate excess electrical power to sell it to the power grid, Saum said.

"The IURC is trying to push it pretty hard. They've had complaints from customers whose utility didn't have a net metering ordinance," Saum said. "It's not mandatory yet for utilities to do this. We're trying to be proactive and be ready to handle it."

For more information

A customer interested in selling electricity to Richmond Power & Light should contact the utility for additional information, RP&L manager Steve Saum said. The net metering agreement is a legal document that includes acceptance of liability, and the required disconnect switch must be inspected and approved by the city of Richmond's building inspector, Saum said.

Comment on this story at palitem@pal-item.com.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Imperial e-Biofuels Subsidiary Nearing Twenty Five Million Gallon Annual Sales Pace

2010-11-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

EVANSVILLE, Ind.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Imperial Petroleum, Inc. (OTCBB:IPMN.ob – News) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, e-biofuels, LLC, a Middletown, Indiana biodiesel producer, sold 1.98 million gallons of biodiesel in October 2010 resulting in revenues of approximately $6.3 million for the month. First quarter revenues from biodiesel sales represent approximately $16.7 million on 5.2 million gallons sold.

“It’s been very exciting to see the daily increases in activity at the e-biofuels plant translate into increased sales and revenues for the Company,” said Jeffrey T. Wilson, President of Imperial. “Sales in calendar 2009 averaged 7 million gallons and we are now on pace to maintain biodiesel sales at around an annual pace of 24 million gallons with revenues approaching $70 million per year. We’ve been able to use the increased cash flow to mitigate some of the past financial issues faced by e-biofuels and strengthen our financial position in the industry.”

Mr. Wilson went on to say, “Our proto-type tests are going very well on process enhancements and we hope to finish our financing initiatives in the short term to position the Company for even more explosive growth going forward.”

Imperial is an energy company headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein. Although the Company believes that the expectations in such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Contact:

Imperial Petroleum, Inc.
Jeffrey T. Wilson, CEO
Phone 812-867-1433 Fax 812-867-1678
email: jtwilsonx1@aol.com

The price of solar in California

2010-10-20T06:42:00.000-07:00

Original article: http://www.renewablesinternational.net/the-price-of-solar-in-california/150/511/29293/
California's Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) says that although the price of solar has plummeted in recent years, the bids for utility-scale projects in the state are paradoxically rising.

In the study (PDF) released last Tuesday entitled "California's solar PV paradox: declining California solar initiative prices and rising investor owned utilities bid prices," the DRA authors Nika Rogers and Derek Fletcher of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) find that the price of retail solar PV – the small rooftop systems on family homes and small businesses – dropped by 19-22 percent from Q4 2008 to July 2010. However, the price of utility-scale solar projects (defined as “mostly 10 MW or more”) slightly increased from 2007 to 2009.

The authors identify three main risks behind the latter:

difficult credit markets,
deadlines for California's RPS, and
the CPUC’s “reluctance to reject high-priced contracts providing a disincentive for developers to price their bid competitively.”

The authors also make a number of recommendations about how to fix the problem, including having the CPUC reject pricey bids. The authors recommend that California's solar market be compared to New Jersey's “with a specific eye toward whether New Jersey experienced the same discrepancy in utility and consumer-side price trends,” although the authors stop short of saying that the California market should be compared to other markets abroad, such as Ontario's booming PV sector or the many thriving solar markets in Europe. In the final sentence of the report, the authors do, however, recommend "further research" into "expanded feed-in tariff provisions to allow for excess solar energy to be sold back to the grid," which clearly shows that the authors are bound to the notion of net-metering and that feed-in tariffs should only be paid for power not consumed by the array owner – even though no such provisions apply to any solar feed-in tariffs anywhere.

John Geesman, a former member of the California Energy Commission (CEC), says he is not surprised by the study's findings as his criticism of California's RPS goes along similar lines: "the lack of transparency creates little downward pressure on price; the feel good, happy talk about contracts signed creates little pressure for actual delivered energy; and the distinction between flexible compliance and regulatory capture remains murky.” It is interesting to note that, while feed-in tariffs for solar have been accused of overpaying, feed-in tariffs have been plummeting in countries like France and Germany during the timeframe under investigation here, whereas the policy used in the US has apparently been overpaying solar.

The California Solar Initiative at the heart of the study only covers solar rooftops, not utility-scale field arrays, and some of the largest solar projects announced recently concerned concentrated solar power (CSP), not photovoltaics, but one of the study's authors Nika Rogers told Renewables International that "we only looked at solar PV projects and filtered out any solar thermal or solar trough projects.” Overall, the study provides an interesting overview of the California solar market for anyone looking to understand it better.

By Craig Morris (cm)

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Pre-election Look at Federal Energy Legislation Options by Neil Brown with Office of Sen. Lugar

2010-10-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

Join us for a Webinar on October 21

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar Seat Now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/792913553

The Indiana Renewable Energy Association in conjunction with Indiana Distributed Energy Advocates are sponsoring a Special Webinar with Neil Brown with the Office of Sen. Dick Lugar of Indiana.

Sen. Lugar and his proposed federal energy policy was the subject of a recent Indianapolis Star Guest Editorial by John Mutz. See http://indianarenew.blogspot.com/2010/10/mutz-says-lugar-plan-outshines-other.html

Although no one can predict the outcome of the November 2nd elections and its impact on federal energy policy, we can look back at what policies and proposals were introduced and look forward to see those that might be on the table during the lame duck session of Congress.

In early June, Sen. Lugar introduced his Practical Energy and Climate Plan or S. 3464. Later in June, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) prepared a memorandum that provided a short summary and comparison of four legislative proposals that were under some level of consideration in the U.S. Senate. Sen. Lugar's proposal was one of the four discussed. While all four proposals fall within the broad category of energy and climate change policy, the specifics of the proposals vary significantly, and their approaches vary in many ways.

For more details and a link to the CRS report, visit http://indianadg.wordpress.com/2010/06/27/crs-comparison-of-selected-energy-climate-change-bills/

Brown will both look back and look forward on these federal energy and climate change proposals.

Neil Brown is an advisor to Senator Dick Lugar of Indiana. He serves as a Senior Professional Staff Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with responsibility for energy security and the Nunn-Lugar non-proliferation program. Neil earned masters degrees in political theory and forced migration while studying as a Rhodes Scholar at University of Oxford (UK). He also holds a BA from Harvard University. He has done substantial field work while living in South Asia, Namibia and Egypt, and he has previously worked with the Harvard Institute for International Development and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. In 2009, Neil was a Washington Fellow of the National Review Institute. He is a board member of the Association of American Rhodes Scholars, a trustee of the Merton College Charitable Corporation. Neil is from Iowa, where his family farm is located.

Webinar Title: Pre-election Look at Federal Energy Legislation Options by Neil Brown with Office of Sen. Dick Lugar

Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Duke Energy, Integrys Energy Services and Smart Energy Capital Launch Partnership to Build and Finance Solar Projects Throughout U.S.

2010-10-18T05:16:00.000-07:00

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Duke Energy, Integrys Energy Services and Smart Energy Capital today announced the launch of a partnership to build and finance distributed solar projects throughout the United States.

Through the partnership, Duke Energy Generation Services (DEGS) and Integrys Energy Services (Integrys) will focus on jointly owning rooftop and smaller ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar projects that deliver electricity to investment-grade commercial, government and utility customers under long-term power purchase agreements. Smart Energy Capital will develop the projects and arrange financing, enabling DEGS and Integrys to create a streamlined, end-to-end approach to bringing solar projects to market.

"What makes this partnership unique in the marketplace is its focus on distributed solar solutions that produce renewable electricity close to where it is used, rather than at centralized power plants," said Greg Wolf, DEGS senior vice president and head of the unit's commercial solar business. "The companies involved bring a wealth of project development, construction, management and financing expertise to the partnership."

DEGS, part of Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE: DUK) Commercial Businesses, and Integrys Energy Services, a subsidiary of Integrys Energy Group (NYSE: TEG), believe the majority of PV solar growth over the next several years will involve commercial-scale ground-mounted and rooftop applications. While DEGS and Integrys will continue to independently develop commercial solar projects pursuant to their respective strategies, this partnership will serve as a way to cooperatively boost growth in an attractive segment of the solar market.

"We have invested more than $65 million in 20 different distributed generation solar projects across the U.S. with a combined capacity of more than 10 megawatts," said Joel Jansen, managing director and head of energy assets at Integrys Energy Services. "Partnering with DEGS and Smart Energy Capital enables us to expand our presence in this market in an efficient, strategic manner."

DEGS and Integrys will equally supply the necessary equity capital for construction and ownership of the distributed solar projects. Over the next two years, the companies intend to invest up to $180 million in total project capital. Individual project size is expected to be 500 kilowatts and up, depending on the needs of the customer. DEGS and Integrys will be responsible for operating and maintaining the projects.

Smart Energy Capital will work with its strategic origination partners, including CB Richard Ellis (under the name CBRE Solar) and Tremco Roofing, to help customers achieve their sustainability and energy objectives on optimal terms. The financing structure of the partnership enables DEGS and Integrys to monetize all available federal tax benefits associated with the distributed solar projects.

"We believe this partnership provides a solution to one of the fundamental challenges in the commercial segment of the solar market – reliability and certainty of financing," said Rob Krugel, managing partner of Smart Energy Capital. "We are excited to form a strategic partnership with such large, experienced and well-capitalized power project owners as DEGS and Integrys to pursue distributed solar projects wherever market opportunities in the U.S. present themselves."

About Duke Energy Generation Services

Duke Energy Generation Services, part of Duke Energy's Commercial Businesses, is a leader in developing innovative renewable energy solutions, including wind, solar and biopower projects. DEGS builds, owns and operates electric generation for large energy consumers, municipalities, utilities and industrial facilities. DEGS is also working to build commercial transmission capacity to help the U.S. meet its energy needs of the future. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: www.duke-energy.com.

About Integrys Energy Services, Inc.

Established in 1994, Integrys Energy Services, Inc. provides competitive energy supply solutions, structured products, and strategies that allow retail residential, commercial, and industrial customers to manage their energy needs. Its principal energy marketing operations are in the northeastern quadrant of the United States. Through its subsidiary, Integrys Energy Services – Natural Gas LLC, Integrys offers natural gas products to a full range of end-users throughout the Midwest. Areas of generation expertise include cogeneration, distributed generation, renewables such as solar and landfill gas, as well as clean fuel generation, with facilities in selected markets throughout the United States. More information about Integrys Energy Services is available online at www.integrysenergy.com.

About Smart Energy Capital

Founded in 2009, Smart Energy Capital is a leader in the financing and development of solar energy projects. The company manages the development, financing, installation and operations of distributed power plants throughout the United States and Canada using proven photovoltaic technologies. The company delivers fully managed, predictably priced solar energy services for its commercial, government and utility customers. More information about Smart Energy Capital is available at www.smartenergycapital.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Duke Energy:
Greg Efthimiou 704-382-1925
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This article brought to by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.

Mutz says Lugar plan outshines other energy bills

2010-10-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.indystar.com/article/20101012/OPINION01/10120313/Lugar-plan-outshines-other-energy-bills

Written by John Mutz

It's no secret that Indiana's economy is struggling to regain its footing. Like the rest of the country, we've lost a lot of jobs and our unemployment rate is higher than it has been in many years.

What may be surprising to some, though, are the great strides our state is making in the area of clean energy industries during these difficult economic times.

Relatively quietly, Indiana is making a name for itself as an outstanding place to manufacture electric cars and the batteries that run them, not to mention solar panels and parts for wind turbines.

Gov. Mitch Daniels and his team have rightly begun to focus on this area of opportunity for Hoosiers. Over the last year, Abound Solar in Tipton, Wind Stream Technologies in New Albany, EnerDel in Central Indiana, Anderson-based Bright Automotive, Brevini USA in Muncie, and Elkhart's Think North America have made headlines for creating jobs and giving our economy a much-needed boost.

A number of well-established companies are also having a huge impact.

Remy International in Pendleton just entered a partnership to bring a new-generation electric drive system to market. Cummins just received more than $38 million in federal grants to develop a highly efficient and clean diesel engine. Allison Transmission's new hybrid drive manufacturing plant in Indianapolis will employ 100 when it reaches full production.

Duke Energy is investing more than $2.8 billion into its coal gasification plant, which will burn a cleaner gas to produce power.

With these innovations, we're ahead of the clean energy curve, but now we need some changes to federal policy to remain there. Energy independence should be a priority in Washington. So far the House has passed a bill, and the Senate has not reached a consensus on climate change energy legislation.

One bright spot has been the fact that Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar is among those who believe that the country needs to take steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He's filed a bill that will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent, or about 1.6 billion metric tons -- the equivalent of taking more than 240 million cars off our roads. His bill is a balanced approach that provides a reasonable step toward this goal, and it provides economic incentives that will support the growing Indiana clean energy business.

The evidence that clean energy leads to good, high-paying jobs for Hoosiers is clear. However, if you need more evidence consider this: China vaulted past Denmark, Germany, Spain and the United States last year to become the world's largest maker of wind turbines and is poised to expand even further. In addition, the Chinese have emerged as the world's largest manufacturer of solar panels and are pushing hard to build nuclear reactors and the most efficient types of coal power plants.

No matter what the case, we do need additional legislation at the federal level. It is better to consider an approach that doesn't threaten Hoosier jobs, such as cap-and-trade, but still moves us toward the goal of energy independence. Lugar's bill does this.

Mutz is a consultant and private investor, former two-term lieutenant governor of Indiana, former president of Lilly Endowment and former president of Cinergy/PSI Indiana.

This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.