National News
| 1) March 11, 2008 Telephone Seminar - State Solar Policy Trends
The next IREC Telephone Seminar will be held Tuesday, March 11, at 2pm EDT (1pm CDT, noon MDT, 11am PDT, 10am Alaska, 8am Hawaii) on State Solar Policy Trends. The seminar will last for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Pre-registration is required. 2) New Ideas for Educating the Green Jobs Workforce - A National Conference
"Green" jobs are the foundation for the new clean energy sector emerging across the country. Join us for a unique and timely conference on "New Ideas in Educating a Workforce in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency." This national conference will take place on March 19 and 20, 2008 at Hudson Valley Community College (outside of Albany), New York. 3) NABCEP Launches Search for Executive Director
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is pleased to announce that it has opened a search for an Executive Director. Submit your resume electronically to Karen Christopher, NABCEP's Operations Manager, by March 1, 2008. 4) ASES Small Wind Webinar on Zoning Issues March 14
On Tuesday, March 4th at 1:00 pm EST, the American Solar Energy Society's Small Wind Division will be offering its second webinar on zoning issues for small wind. This session will offer more specific information on understanding optimal siting issues, such as tower height, as they relate to zoning. 5) New LBL Report in the Series: Case Studies of State Support for Renewable Energy
This new case study, 'Property Tax Assessments as a Finance Vehicle for Residential PV Installations: Opportunities and Potential Limitation,' describes the mechanics of a new type of photovoltaic (PV) financing program recently proposed by the City of Berkeley, California, and being considered by other cities throughout the U.S. 6) Economic Stimulus Package Allows Bonus Depreciation for Projects Completed in 2008
Late last week, Congress passed the Economic Stimulus Package of 2008 (the Act), which President Bush is expected to sign into law this week. Although the proposed extensions of the production tax credit (PTC) and investment-based energy credit were removed from the bill before it was passed, the final version of the Act does contain a bonus depreciation provision that could provide significant economic benefit for certain renewable energy projects that are acquired and placed in service in 2008. (current DSIRE summary of MACRS for background) 7) EPA Calculator Puts Greenhouse Gas Savings into Everyday Terms
EPA's new Greenhouse Gas Calculator converts greenhouse gas-related savings estimates, typically presented in "million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents," into familiar terms. 8) Solar ABCs: A Primer
The Solar ABCs is one of the major projects of the U.S. DOE's Solar America Initiative (SAI) Market Transformation efforts. The Solar America Board of Codes and Standards (Solar ABCs) is a central body to address solar codes and standards issues. Its activities improve the responsiveness, effectiveness, and accessibility of solar codes and standards to U.S. PV stakeholders at all levels. | State & Local News
| | 9) CA: Oakland High School Solar on a Stick
Recently I have spent a lot of time at Oakland High School because our solar school team has been working to install a system as a part of the PG&E Solar Schools Program. The system is in and there will be a solar celebration this spring, but I have been privileged to go into the school and to get to talk to some of their students and staff. 10) CO: Colorado Energy Office Launches Residential Solar Program
GEO will partner with interested cities, municipalities, utilities, and non-profits by offering matching grants of up to $25,000 to develop local solar electric and solar domestic hot water rebate programs. In total, this will create a $1,000,000 fund from which to initiate a solar rebate incentive and training program. 11) CT: Mansfield Unveils Solar Electric System Awarded Under the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), Town of Mansfield and Edwin O. Smith High School hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil a 3-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system earned by the Town of Mansfield and installed at Edwin O. Smith High School. The solar array was provided by CCEF and installed by PV Squared. 12) MD: Frostburg State University (FSU) Wind - Solar Energy (WISE) Certified Education Program
Frostburg State University is offering a certified training program for practical installation of residential PV and wind generation systems. "Wind and Solar Energy Certified Education Program" will start on March 31 with eight weeks of online portion followed by an on-site training between May 29th and June 1st. The applications will be accepted between February 1st and March 15th. 13) NM: BP Grants Pay for Energy Curriculum in NM
Thanks to $15,000 in grants from BP, Farmington High School (NM) teachers are revolutionizing the way students learn about energy and, in the process, introducing new sources of electricity. 14) Solar Boston: Creating a Citywide Solar Strategy for the City of Boston
The City of Boston is one of thirteen DOE Solar America Cities in the U.S., promoting the development of large scale solar energy market growth within the city through a combination of research, marketing, training, project facilitation, and policy development. | | Grants/RFPs | | 15) Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Invites Schools to Apply for Solar Power Installation
As part of Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) ongoing efforts to advance renewable energy generation, on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008, PSE issued a request for proposals (RFP) to provide up to five schools in PSE's service area each a 1 kilowatt to 5 kilowatt photovoltaic solar system. The deadline to submit proposals is March 3, 2008, 5 p.m. PST. 16) NYSERDA Funding Opportunities
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has several Program Opportunity Notices (PONs) on the street, including: - PON 1124: Clean Energy Business Growth & Development offers $6M for three rounds intended to help clean energy companies achieve success, grow and develop new markets through expanding their business, attracting new companies to New York, etc. Due dates are 8/4/08. For information contact: Vicki Colello, vac@nyserda.org or 518-862-1090, xt. 3273.
- PON 1176: Renewable, Clean Energy, and Energy Efficiency Product Manufacturing Incentive Program offers $10M to expand the level of manufacturing of renewable, clean, and energy-efficient products in New York State. Proposals will be accepted through June 30, 2011 by 5:00pm (ET) or until funds run out, whichever is first. Proposals will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis as they are received. Contact Jennifer Harvey at (518) 862-1090, ext. 3264 or jlh@nyserda.org.
To see full details on any of these solicitations, visit the NYSERDA website and scroll through the listings to find them. 17) SMUD Releases 2008 Renewable Energy RFO
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) has released a Request for Offers (RFO) of renewable energy for power purchase agreements (PPA). Proposals are due April 7, 2008. 18) SPS Issues RFP for Solar, Biomass, Geothermal, Other Energy
The RFP seeks approximately 40 - 50 MW of solar and 9-12 MW of biomass/geothermal/other, with commercial operation dates beginning on or before January 2011. For those planning to submit a proposal in response to this RFP, email a completed NOIB form by Monday, March 3. Although NOIB forms are not required as a prerequisite to bidding, they are strongly encouraged. Proposals must be submitted by: Monday, May 5th, 2008 - 5:00 Mountain Time. | Other News
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19) WIREC 2008: March 4-6, Washington, DC
The U.S. Government will host the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) at the Washington, DC Convention Center on March 4-6, 2008. The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), and the leading U.S. renewable energy trade associations will host the Trade Show to be co-located with WIREC 2008. The Trade Show at WIREC 2008 is anticipated to be the largest business to business and business to government conference and exposition ever held on renewable energy in the U.S. It will be global in scope, hosting exhibitors, speakers and delegates from more than 70+ countries from around the world. 20) Energizing NC Industries Through Efficiency and Advanced Technologies April 9
This day-long conference at NC State University's McKimmon Conference and Training Center is for North Carolina industries to learn how the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) will affect industrial operations. A workshop on Combined Heat and Power (CHP) will be followed by an afternoon workshop on energy efficiency. Participants of the day will also get an overview of the future costs of energy and will learn of state, federal and utility programs that can benefit their efficiency and innovation efforts. For more information, contact Maureen Quinlan 21) Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit, March 12-14, 2008
This year's summit, titled "Green Jobs-Growing Wisconsin's Economy," will focus on the role renewable energy such as wind power, solar energy, geothermal, green buildings and bio-energy technologies, will play in expanding Wisconsin's economy. Attendees will explore how the growth of renewable energy businesses will create new "green-collar" jobs across the state, boosting manufacturers, installers, consultants, engineers and associated professions. Renewable energy has the potential to produce 35,000 green jobs in Wisconsin over the next 10 years. 22) NESEA's Building Energy '08 Conference March 11-13, 2008
NESEA's 33rd annual conference will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, March 11-13, 2008. NESEA says the updated conference website will be updated later this month. Stay tuned.
| Upcoming Events
| | NOTE: For details about these and other upcoming events throughout the year, click the calendar icon on IREC's home page. 23) Feb. 19-21 Power-Gen 2008, Las Vegas, NV 24) Feb. 20-21 2008 National Electricity Development Forum, Washington, DC 25) Feb. 23 GLREA Intermediate Solar Heating Seminar, Dimondale, MI 26) Mar. 1 GLREA Introductory Renewable Energy Seminar, East Lansing 27) Mar. 4-6 WIREC 2008, Washington, DC 28) Mar. 11-13 NESEA Building Energy '08 Conference, Boston, MA 29) Mar. 12-14 Wisconsin Renewable Energy Summit, Milwaukee, WI 30) Mar. 14 ASES Small Wind Division Webinar on Zoning Issues 31) Mar. 15 NABCEP PV and Solar Thermal Certification Exams, TBD 32) Mar. 17-18 Geothermal Heat Pump Workshops, Redwood Falls, MN 33) Mar. 18-20 Workforce Development Conference, Troy, NY 34) Mar. 20-21 Geothermal Heat Pump Workshops, Sioux Falls, SD 35) Mar. 27 SEPA Call Seminar: Decoupling Utility Profit from Sales - Issues for the Photovoltaic Industry 36) Mar. 25-29 CoSEIA Annual Meeting & Conference and SEI Solar Industry Seminar, Ft. Collins, CO 37) Apr. 7-8 EIA's Annual Energy Conference, Washington, 38) Apr. 9 Energizing NC Industries Through Efficiency and Advanced Technologies, NC State, Raleigh, NC 39) Apr. 10 SEPA Call Seminar: 2007 Solar Year in Review and Future Trends 40) Apr. 12 GLREA Intermediate PV Seminar, Dimondale, MI 41) Apr. 14-16 Solar America Initiative Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ 42) Apr. 14-16 Windustry's Community Wind Energy 2008, Albany, NY 43) Apr. 19 GLREA Intermediate Wind Seminar, Dimondale, MI 44) Apr. 21-24 IEEE T&D Conference & Expo, Chicago, IL 45) Apr. 30-May 2 28th Annual Utility Energy Forum, Tahoe City, CA 46) May 3-8 Solar 2008: ASES Annual Conference, San Diego, CA 47) May 8 SEPA Call Seminar: Utility Solar Business Models - Final Report 48) May 11-16 IEEE PV Specialists Conference, San Diego, CA 49) May 17 GLREA Introductory Renewable Energy Seminar, Hastings, MI 50) May 21-22 Fuel Cell 2008, Long Beach, CA 51) June 1-4 Wind Power 2008, Houston, TX 52) June 3 Small Wind Stakeholders Meeting, WINDPOWER 2008, Houston 53) June 20-22 19th MREA Energy Fair, Custer, WI 54) June 26 SEPA Call Seminar: National PV Incentive Program Survey - What do Solar Customers Think? 55) June 27-29 Michigan Energy Fair, Onekama, MI 56) Oct. 5-8 Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting, Reno, NV 57) Oct. 13 IREC Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA 58) Oct. 13-16 Solar Power 2008, San Diego, CA |
| About this Newsletter/How to Subscribe
| The State & Stakeholder Newsletter is published electronically on a semi-monthly basis by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. To subscribe to this newsletter, click here and follow the instructions. There is no fee for subscriptions. If you have comments or news items, please send them to Jane Pulaski. Disclaimer: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is referred to or linked to in this newsletter. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply IREC's endorsement or recommendation.
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