THE INTERSTATE RENEWABLE ENERGY COUNCIL'S PV4YOU, MSR AND GOING SOLAR NEWSLETTERS

www.irecusa.org - Newsletter - Friday, February 21, 2003 - Issue #4-2003

TODAY'S TOP NEWS

--North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) seeks Executive Director

--IREC’s Innovation Awards Application is now on line. Entries are due March 15^th.

--Massachusetts releases “open PV installation” solicitation

--Move Nevada to unprecedented energy independence and national leadership

--North Carolina approves first statewide green pricing program

--The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund recently unveiled its new web site.

--The North Carolina Solar Center unveils a new enhanced website. In addition to more in-depth information about its programs, research and services, the new site features downloadable fact sheets and research papers on a variety of renewable energy technologies, reflecting the NC Solar Center’s expanding mission.

--Texas PUC approves minor changes to the Renewable Credits Program.

SCHOOLS GOING SOLAR

--More Wisconsin schools go solar

--Read the latest month-in-review issue of IREC’s Schools Going Solar e-newsletter.

INTERCONNECTION/NET METERING NEWS

--Minnesota Dept. of Commerce files DG report with PUC

--New Jersey BPU considers revisions to RE interconnection rules

--Update on Interconnection Standards: the IEEE P1547 Series

--New York PSC seeks comments on utility net metering tariff proposals for farm-based biomass projects.

--Iowa district court orders co-op to provide net metering for small wind generator

--Joshua Bills, Kentucky MSR partnership, tells us that a net metering bill (HB 382) was introduced into the Kentucky legislature with two sponsors. It’s not expected to pass this year; however, it is anticipated that the issue will be sent to an Interim Committee for further study.

--Read the latest issue of IREC’s Interconnection Newsletter

MSR UPDATES

--Glenn Strahs was recently named DOE’s new MSR HQ Champion. Watch for a newsmaker interview with Glenn.

--The first MSR Conference Call Seminar, held on Wednesday, February 19, 2003, was a huge success. More than 75 people signed up for the first seminar, focusing on tax exempt financing for renewable energy systems.

--Hilo Bay Front MSR project completed.

--Newsmaker interview with NREL’s Christy Herig

--The Asheville group of the North Carolina MSR Partnership recently sponsored a Solar Public Forum on the latest solar technologies, renewable energy tax credits, and practical solar applications. Eric Soderberg of the NC Solar Center, Chris Carter of Solar Village Institute, Beach Barrett of Thermocraft, and Bill Guiney of Duke Solar were the featured speakers. In addition, attendees were invited to meet local solar contractors and other experts in the field.

--Southface Energy Institute hosts solar workshop with Steven Strong.

--The Philadelphia MSR partnership scored a home run by co-exhibiting with the Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) at the recent Philadelphia Home Show. Sandra Burton, Green Plains Energy tells us that the partnership distributed nearly 900 SDF program brochures, some 650 MSR solar services guildes, and exactly 586 DOE Clean Energy Choices. In addition, more than 240 attendees completed a brief registration form to be contacted by partnership mebers to learn more about solar energy options for their homes. “We all win when events like these are successful,” said Burton. And Steve Miller, DOE Philadelphia Regional Office says: “Society gains better informed citizens, contractors gain educated consumers, and environmentally, we make a small step to a sustainable existence.”

--Kentucky MSR partnership presents solar water heating design and installation workshop for freezing climates, May 31^st

--Is your MSR partnership interested in a pre-designed web site template? One more slot is available! Nine MSR partnerships including Nebraska, Little Rock, Tucson, Bay Area Solar Coalition, Montana, Martha’s Vineyard, Delaware, Alameda and Marin Counties have responded to the offer. If your partnership is interested, contact your DOE Regional Office for details.

OTHER NEWS

--Save the Dates! The IREC & Million Solar Roofs joint Annual Meeting will take place on June 22, 2003 in Austin, Texas prior to the start of the Solar 2003 Conference. A special IREC forum on Understanding & Improving the PV Permitting Process is scheduled for the afternoon of June 21, 2003. Agendas and details will be posted soon.

--Educational video, This Renewable House, to air on KCET on Saturday, April 19^th. –The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) has a new web site.

--A couple of solar babies have arrived lately, and we’re happy to let you know about them. Charlotte Michelle Cook was born during the Blizzard of ’03 in Virginia on February 6^th, weighing in at 9 lbs., 15 oz. Daddy Chris Cook and his wife are a bit sleep deprived, but extremely happy. And Eric Robert McCabe, aka “baseball Bob,” was born on December 27, 2002 to Joe McCabe and wife.

MSR CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, EVENTS

--Net Energy Home Conference, May 6-8, 2003 in Stevenson, Washington. Partners include Oregon Energy Office and Washington State University Energy Program. View the conference brochure in PDF format.

--The Southeast Regional MSR Partnerships meeting on improved marketing techniques.

--SUNY/Farmingdale PV workshops Spring 2003 schedule.

--Solar Energy International (SEI) spring/summer solar and wind workshop schedule

--Greater Tucson Coalition for Solar Energy third annual Solar Adventure

--Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) 2003 Tour de Sol in May

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION

Many of the items in this newsletter are posted on the IREC or the MSR web sites. Visit both sites daily for the freshest news. Know someone who might find the information in this bi-weekly newsletter useful? Send me their name and I'll subscribe them directly. Continuing sponsorship depends on accurate reader counts. Send comments and news, or to unsubscribe to this newsletter, to Jane Pulaski