Long Island Business News speaks with David Schieren about the Solar Industry

David Schieren in the new fully electric Chevy Volt

LIBN: Do you think today’s young people will be a sort of “Generation Green” who accept solar from the start?

David Schieren:  It’s part of your DNA. I was with an executive from the American Petroleum Institute. I said there’s one thing the oil industry should be worried about. I pointed to the mind. The mindset is shifting, especially with students. Sustainability is becoming part of the DNA. While we’re starting to make progress today, I think we’re going to see this as the renewable energy century. You have a mindset shift.

Click here to read the full interview.

LIPA Restarting Solar Rebates: Possibly December 1st

On November 23, 2010 Governor Paterson announced  that $15 million has been allocated to the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) for residential and large-scale solar energy projects.   $8.3 million will go directly to LIPA’s Solar Pioneer program that provides rebates for residential installations.  Strong statements of support by numerous political leaders in New York indicate the growing significance of solar energy to the state.  Please see the Press Release below for further details.

With a fresh injection of funds, we expect  that LIPA will restart the solar program on December 1^st, most likely at $1.75 / watt up to 10 kW for residential customers.  We will notify you as soon as we hear official details.  Please stay tuned for further information.

Official Press Release

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/11232010-15MillionFederalStimulusFunds.html

750 kw of Residential Solar Rebates Obligated in just 11 Minutes

As was mentioned in the previous post, LIPA made rebates of $1.75/watt available for 750kW of Residential Solar for the rest of 2010 as part of the Solar Pioneer Program.  Rebate applications were accepted beginning at 8:00am on October 1, 2010, and were fully subscribed 11 minutes later, at 8:11am!  Contractors across Long Island waited at their computers to press “send” right at 8, and those applications that were received first will be processed in the coming weeks and months.  All other rebate applications will have to wait until January 1, when the 2011 Solar Pioneer Program will re-start.

It may seem as though solar on Long Island is doomed for the rest of the year.  But we at EmPower see it as quite the opposite.  Just for reference: it used to take almost a whole year for 750kW to go, and now it’s going in less than a quarter of an hour!  This is great news for the clean energy industry.  Demand is high, which means Long Island is on its way to achieving energy independence, reduced energy costs, and a cleaner, greener environment.  We are excited to continue working with LIPA in 2011 and beyond to further these goals.  In the mean time, feel free to contact us as we are still doing site visits and proposals, and stay tuned for an announcement regarding the 2011 Solar Pioneer Program rebate details.

Important note: LIPA rebates are still available for commercial and non-profit projects.

LIPA REBATE CHANGE

We are pleased to announce that LIPA has extended the 2010 solar rebate program.  Here are the program details:

1. Solar Pioneer (Residential):

There will be one (1) additional 750 kW block at $1.75/Watt for the Solar Pioneer Program. The 750 kW block will become effective 8:00 AM EST on October 1, 2010. Once the block is fully subscribed no further applications will be accepted until January 1, 2011.

For up-to-date information on the Residential Solar Pioneer Program, please refer to LIPA’s website at http://www.lipower.org/residential/efficiency/renewables/solar.html

2. Solar-Entrepreneur (Commercial/Munis/NFPs/Schools)

There will be one (1) additional 750 kW block at $1.75/Watt For Profit, $2.75/Watt Non-Profit, for the Solar Entrepreneur Program. The 750 kW block will become effective 8:00 AM EST on October 1, 2010. Once the block is fully subscribed no further applications will be accepted until January 1, 2011.

For up-to-date information Commercial and Non-Profit Solar Entrepreneur Program can be found here:            http://www.lipower.org/commercial/efficiency/solar.html

If you would like to proceed with a solar electric system this year we encourage you to contact us soon.  Please call our Sales Manager Joe Cordes at (516) 286-1477 at your earliest convenience to get started.

Affordable Solar Electric via Feed-in Tariffs?

The National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) reports that feed-in tariffs are responsible for 75% of solar photovoltaic and 45% of wind projects worldwide.  Feed-in tariffs (FITs) require utilities to pay per kilowatt-hour to purchase electricity from renewable energy generators.  They enable stable and reliable pricing, and small generators and large plants have an equal opportunity to compete. Countries in Europe, especially Germany, France, and Spain, have used feed-in tariffs to greatly increase renewable energy production because of their increased cost-effectiveness.  For example, California receives 70% more sunlight for producing solar energy than Germany does, though the latter installs 15 times as many solar electric systems per year due to the effective use of FITs.

Generally, green markets in the United States lack strong federal support, and instead, progressive states like California create markets and regulations that eventually spread to the rest of the country.  Though many states have established FITs before, institutional resistance, too high or too low pricing, and bureaucracy have rendered them virtually ineffective. California is again taking the lead and has recently proposed to launch a new variation of the tariff.  In California, investor-owned utilities will be required to purchase electrical energy from renewable generators that are 1MW-20MW in size.

New York recently pushed a bill for FITs on Long Island, but it did not pass. The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) already awards large rebates (up to half of system cost!), and the 25% New York State and 30% federal tax credits have already made solar systems incredibly cost-effective.  We can only hope that pushes for cost-effectiveness like the FIT can get the United States on par with our European friends.