The days of coal being used as the main power source in Upper Kittitas County are coming to an end, thanks to plans for a large solar installation just four miles northeast of the Cle Elum city limits. It’s to be built on 580 acres of logged timberland.

The Teanaway Solar Reserve was proposed by businessman Howard Trott. Once it is approved by the county, he will install 400,000 photovoltaic panels which are expected to generate enough energy for 45,000 households. The proposal has received mixed reactions from local residents and businesses.

The proposed project should result in 225 construction jobs which would span the following three years. Additionally, the city of Cle Elum and Kittitas County would get at least two million dollars in new property tax revenue. Businesses in the area are also eyeing contracts to make parts needed for the project.

But some residents and environmental groups are concerned about the impact the proposed solar installation may have on the environment. It might disrupt elk migration, and some trees will need to be cut down. However, according to the proposal, each tree felled will be replaced by three trees. Some residents worry that the view from their home will be obstructed by the solar panels, but the solar arrays will be placed amidst the vegetation below the ridge lines.

The question in most skeptics’ minds is “Will the solar installation project ever see the light of day?” They’ve said that the proposed solar farm sounds too good to be true. Trott tells these detractors that the solar power installation will indeed become a reality. He plans to start the construction in April of next year. All he needs is that a commitment be made by the big utility companies, and then the project will be pushed through.

According to Trott, the primary reasons why the Teanaway Solar Reserve is possible are favorable solar panel pricing, federal and state tax incentives, and the Obama administration’s green agenda. He saw the opportunity, and he wants to capitalize on it.

According to a study conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory at the University of California, prices for rectangular solar panels have been on a decline for the last several years. The average cost of going solar in the United States decreased by more than thirty percent between 1998 and 2008. This can be attributed to successful market-building policies at local and state levels. Such policies include federal and state tax credits and a voter-approved renewable energy mandate.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Eastern Washington Goes Solar.

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Colorado residents can now enjoy cheaper solar power, with the entry of SunRun Inc. in their area.

SunRun is a company that allows homeowners to use solar energy, without having to shoulder heavy start up costs.

It does this by leasing solar power systems to homeowners. People can thus save on the cost of initial installation of the solar panels, as well as on repair and maintenance. To date, the company is already serving residents in Massachusetts, Arizona, and California. As of now, there are no plans of expanding into other states.

Even with all the government subsidies, homeowners typically pay around $17,500 for a solar power system. SunRun clients pay a maximum of $1,000 for the installation of the solar power system, and then they are billed monthly for their solar energy usage. The company is in charge of monitoring, insurance, and repairs of their system. Homeowners don’t have to worry about other expenses.

Colorado’s new Senate Bill 51 allows companies such as SunRun to operate in the state. The law states that solar companies are permitted to own solar panels on the property of another entity. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter states that this law can lead to creating new jobs, lower energy costs, and increase the state’s energy security. Colorado hopes to lead America towards a new future in energy.

SunRun partnered with local Colorado companies, such as Namaste Solar, Real Goods Solar, and REC Solar, to install solar power systems in homes. This is in alignment with the state government’s goal of producing more sustainable jobs. The green industry in the state will be given its much-needed boost from this project.

Sunrun Inc. relies on outside tax equity investors to run their business. Due to the global recession, the market of tax equity investors has decreased in number. Thus, customers have had to wait for a solar power system to be leased from the company. They hope to raise enough money to accommodate those on the waiting list.

For their Colorado venture, SunRun has secured $105 million from U.S. Bank. That’s enough fund for 2,500 new solar power systems. The company also managed to raise $18 million, in a round of venture funding, with Accel Partners leading the pack. Companies such as SunRun (and its rival, SolarCity Corp), are needed to make solar power systems affordable for those who don’t have enough money for them. This will make sustainable energy available for the masses. Hopefully, more companies will venture into this business as well.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at SunRun Expands to Colorado.

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green way and energy street from Stock Photography

It is agreed among all scientists that there has been a temperature rise on our planet since the year 1000.  Since the year 1850, when more accurate temperate readings have been taken worldwide, the rise has been small.  But it’s indicative of temperature rises that will occur in our lifetime, and in the next generation.

These temperature rises have of course been partially caused by our production of CO2.  The issue is being addressed by various governments around the world, with the introduction of carbon taxation, but is it really helping reduce the carbon foot print we produce everyday?

Some leading global countries still produce far too much pollution, and therefore add to the ongoing problem.

So, what can we do to resolve these issues?

Well, we could cut down on unnecessary use of carbon-creating energy. Scientists are researching solar power stations, but costs outweigh benefits at present, and technology is sill in its infancy.

How can we help? Individuals like you and me can adopt available solar technologies, making it popular, helping to reduce the production costs, and proving that we can be climate conscious.

Current solar technology is available, and is coming down in price – becoming more and more efficient at providing additional energy that could be fed back into the electrical grids, and in turn could reduce the huge reliance we have on fossil-fuel powered stations.

Our reliance on hot water is also important.  It’s the power stations that are taking the strain for our hot showers, but solar technology is also available to do this job for us.

Climate change can be tackled, but we need to think about the energy we use and how we can apply solar energy to these needs.

Yes, it will cost something initially, but over the life-span of the equipment, the savings can not only be good for our pockets but good for our environment as well. If enough of us adopt the available technology, we can make the planet a better place for ourselves and for future generations to come.

Climate change is happening, and we do need to do something about it.

So the answer to the leading question is – yes, we can solve it.

- This post was written for Blog Action Day 2009.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Climate Change – Can We Solve It?.

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- a Guest post by Tony Kawaguchi

In September 2008, my power bill was $625.79. When I opened the bill I just about blew a gasket, and out of pure frustration I began thinking about how to reduce this massive monthly payment.

I changed out all the light bulbs to CFL. I went from three computer monitors to two. I lowered the temperature on the water heater by about 20 degrees. But those steps were nothing compared to what I found available right on my roof.

After contacting multiple solar power companies, I found one that offered to finance the cost of a solar water heater, and even a photovoltaic system, at a mere 2% interest rate until it paid for itself. I knew about the the 35% Hawaii State tax credit, and the 30% Federal credits, but this near free financing made the decision easy. I put the 2 solar water panels and 9 photovoltaic panels with converters onto my home, for very little money out of pocket.

The panels were installed in 2 stages in October ’08, and as you can see, my power bill was cut in half within the first full 30 days of use!

It helps that we live in a very sunny part of Oahu, just East of Diamond Head. Even here in Hawaii, the amount of sun you get throughout the year can vary quite a bit, depending on the location. Areas like Manoa and Kailua, that are often overcast, might have trouble producing as much power as my house does. Sunny Hawaii Kai and Kapolei do great, especially in the winter.

To make the purchase even easier (read: cheaper), I got 3% financing, to purchase two solar hot water systems for low-income families (found by the solar contractor) that would pay me a low monthly payment equal to the financing.

So I received the 65% tax credits on the two water systems, which actually exceeded what I paid up front, by quite a bit. In essence I am getting free money from the government. I made sure to run this by my CPA, whom I was glad to find was already familiar with type of solar power financing for lo- income families. It’s a great tax advantage for me, and a great cheap hot water system for two low-income families.

Fast forward 1 year, and I was so pleased that added 9 more PV panels to bring the total to 18, lowering the power bill to $153.27 in September 2009! That’s a difference of $472.52 a month! Add to that the fact that for 2009, the Federal Tax credit for solar power is no longer capped at $2000, and the savings just add up even faster. I also purchased yet another hot water system for a lo- income family, bringing my total to three systems on other people’s homes, and two on my own.

Here are the 18 PV panels:

Notice the bars hanging out of the left side. Those are for the addition of  future panels.

It will probably take 36 total panels to get off the grid, and maybe even sell power to my neighbors. Fortunately, I have a very large flat roof. (Bonus – the panels even protect my roof!)

This is the Sunny Boy converter, installed by Mercury Solar:

The installation took about 4 hours, and sits next to Hawaiian Electric’s meter, which now spins a lot slower than it used to. I’m looking forward to the day it never spins at all!

Here is a close up – you can see that the Sunny Boy has produced 2908 kwh (kilowatt hours) over the last year, most of it with just 9 PV panels. With my current 18 panels, I am producing about 16 kwh a day now:

More great news – the PV system alone has saved 4944 lbs of CO2. Save money, save the Earth!

Think of all the carbon that won’t be entering our atmosphere, and thus, the oceans. The greatest danger of carbon emissions may be the acidification of the oceans, which leads to the death of massive amounts of sea life. That means – Goodbye food chain!

So, by saving Co2 emissions, I get to save money and help the ocean as well!

One last benefit of solar power is the added value to my home. Imagine if you were a buyer, comparing two similar homes in Hawaii, and one of them allowed you to have almost no power bill. That monthly savings would be a huge factor in the value you would see in that home. Very few homes in Hawaii have PV today, but many have solar water heaters. It really makes sense for every home to a solar water heater, as almost every family will be able to recover the cost in under two years.

About the Author:

Tony Kawaguchi lives in Oahu and normally blogs about Hawaii real estate.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Hawaii Homeowner Saves Thousands with Solar Power.

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There are many applications for solar power, from your humble calculator, to chargers for cell phones and iPods, to automobiles using panels to top up batteries. Solar panels can even be found on road side signs where it can be impractical to run an electrical cable.

Even in space you will see wide-spread use of solar panels on space stations, where they are more cost-effective than using generators.  Imagine the shuttle having to go up every month with oil.

The most important use, and probably the one most people are becoming familiar with, is panels that appear on the roofs of private residences and office buildings.

In today’s current economically and energy-conscious climate, many people are becoming very aware of the cost of energy. While the initial cost of installing solar panels can be somewhat prohibitive, the long-term savings are apparent.

One of the most important considerations for solar power is location; obviously for countries in the extreme northern and southern hemispheres, it may prove to be a bit pointless, given that they can be subjected to darkness for six months of the year.  But the rest of the planet can avail itself of the sunlight, and even on overcast days can still be effective.

There are various types of solar collecting applications available on the market today; such as panels for collecting sunlight to create power to charge batteries, run small household devices, or even (in some countries) feed power back into the electrical grid. This can have good economic benefits as the user can have their own power supplied by the sun and make some money back from the power companies.  Incentives are available in the UK, and while the sums of money are not huge, it can make reductions in bills received from the electricity supplier. If these initiatives where incorporated into more private houses, offices, and factories, then the strain on the power stations could be eased, therefore less reliance on coal, gas and oil.

There are evacuated-tube collectors that can be used to heat water in the house, or even in your swimming pool;  there can usually be a savings of 66% on energy costs associated with water heating.

In energy-conscious countries there are subsidies to be had for taking part in these popular green-energy initiatives. These initiatives are employed in countries that do not produce their own oil.

Oil, as we all know, is a commodity that is not going to be around for much longer; according to the experts, 50–80 years.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Solar Power – A Social History.

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You may have heard of the Toyota Prius – the basic hybrid car for those on a tighter budget. But breaking news tells us that solar panels are being added to this hybrid car, and that the the Solar Powered Toyota Prius can get up to 70 MPG.  In fact, it’s theoretically possible to that one could drive this car regularly – without ever needing any gas at all. Watch the video to learn more.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Solar Powered TOYOTA Prius.

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As technology advances, the use of a solar charger on your RV or camper is becoming an easy way in to keep your batteries at peak performance, and to prevent them from running down while not in use.  Solar chargers can also be used on camping trips, hiking trips, and boating trips, to charge electronic devices when there is no access to regular power grids.  There is an quite a variety of solar camping gear available on the market today.

Solar chargers come in many shapes and sizes. Some are the size of the palm of your hand. Others, with slightly larger solar panels, easily fit on a small section of the roof of your camper or the cabin of your boat.

The size of the solar panel will determine the amount of solar energy collected and converted into electricity. The more surface available for the sun to strike, the more energy can be collected.

This solar powered electricity can either be used to trickle charge batteries (which prevents them from running down), or to recharge dead batteries (or even banks of batteries). How many batteries can be charged depends on the size and power output of the solar panels you use.

The right solar panel set-up will allow you to power sizable electrical devices: such as TVs, VCRs, Laptops, etc. This can be a great alternative to a noisy generator.

Solar Powered Equipment for Camping

There is also a range of solar powered devices available, which can be used during camping trips or other outdoor activities.

This includes solar-powered radios, solar-powered flashlights, solar-powered fans, solar backpacks (which can be used to charge regular electronics while you are traveling), solar-powered watches, and numerous other devices that operate on solar power.

Solar powered equipment is usually set up with rechargeable batteries which are charged by built-in solar panels and can then continue to run equipment even when the sun is not shining on the panels. (This is fortunate, as a solar-powered flashlight that only works in the sun is not the most exciting gadget to own.)

To learn more, please see our page on Solar Camping Gear.  You can also see examples of solar-powered camping equipment at the Solar Camping Gear section of our store.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Solar Camping Gear.

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Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants to make his city the greenest and cleanest in the United States, but that goal could be jeopardized, after several environmental groups have protested against the plan to install a power line that would bring power from the desert into the city.  This issue has been one of the major headaches of desert solar development groups.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power plans to build an 85 mile transmission line, known as the Green Path North, through the Yucca Valley and the San Bernardino National Forest.  Two wildlife preserves would be affected by this power line.  Conservationists are saying that endangered species could become extinct as a result of the project.

It is Villaraigosa’s promise to lessen Los Angeles’ dependence on coal-based power plants and to attain at least 40 percent of its power from sustainable resources by the year 2020.  This is a higher percentage than what California aims to achieve as a whole – one-third of its power from renewable energy sources.  The mayor’s objective might be for the good of the city, but environmental groups state otherwise.

Deputy Mayor David Freeman, who is in charge of the city’s environmental agenda, stated that they are reevaluating the proposed Green Path North Transmission Line and the overall program to achieve the most cost-efficient and effective method of reaching the goal set by the city.  The power line project has a budget of more than $500 million.

Environmental groups are worried about the dangers the Green Path North could cause in desert areas.  This has always been the case for projects constructed within deserts. Proponents of the transmission line might need to find a compromise, in order to turn their goals into a reality.  Freeman is thinking of Owens Valley as a possible location for solar power projects.  They can also move into Utah, for geothermal power projects.

Conservationists say that destroying unspoiled lands is unnecessary, and that there are other ways to provide the city with clean energy.  They can use alternatives, such as solar systems on rooftops, as are found in other major cities.  There’s also the Southern California Edison transmission corridor, which is located along Interstate 10.

Los Angeles will need to work on these alternatives if their goal is to be reached before 2020.  The city’s intentions are good, but the implementation still needs work on.

Hopefully, they come up with a plan that will benefit everyone, including the desert wildlife.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Holdup on the LA Green Power Line.

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Image by alex lichtenberger via Flickr

There’s a plan to build a 400 billion euro ($569.1 billion) solar power plant in the Sahara Desert.  But even in the early stages of the planning there are already some objections to the project. 

Desertec, said to be the name of the proposed project, would be the largest solar power project in the world.  Fields of mirrors would be placed in the desert to gather solar rays which would heat and boil water.  The steam created would turn turbines to generate energy for use in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Desertec is financed by groups based primarily in Germany.  This solar power project could put Europe as the leader in the fight against global pollution problems and climate change.  It would also help limit the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere across the region. 

Once completed, the Desertec Solar Farm is said to be able to deliver 15 percent of Europe’s energy.  The construction will be done in small stages, and the target completion date will be 2050.

Critics of the proposed solar plant say that Desertec will meet several obstacles.  These include Saharan sandstorms, Maghreb politics, and the endangering of desert wildlife if the region’s water is diverted to be used for the solar mirrors.

People are criticizing the concentrated solar power (CSP) technology that will be used in the Desertec.  They say that it will be more expensive than the usual photovoltaic solar panels that are widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. Then there’s the risk of corruption and bureaucracy hiking up the energy prices.

People behind Desertec are stating that more energy falls on the world’s desert in six hours than what the world utilizes in a year.  The Sahara Desert is the ideal location for solar farms because of its proximity to Europe, and the intense sunlight found there.

Desertec was first proposed by the Club of Rome, a group of experts that thinks of solutions to global problems.  The project became closer to becoming concrete when reinsurer Munich Re announced the proposal that was held in their headquarters.

Although the group hasn’t drawn up any business plans yet, or stated how the project will be funded, they are still hoping to attract partners and shareholders from across the globe. 

With European governments looking to cut down on their carbon footprints, interest in these types of projects should increase.  Let’s hope that all parties concerned with this project come up with a win-win situation.

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at The Heat is on the Saharan Solar Power Plant.

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North Carolina’s latest solar power farm was officially opened last week, near Roxboro.  It is located on a 5 acre facility in Person County Business and Industrial Center.  Progress Energy has a two-year contract to purchase the energy generated from the solar farm.

The state’s newest solar farm has the capability of generating 650 kilowatts from its 3,240 photovoltaic panels.  This is enough energy to power at least 60 homes.  They estimate that around 837,000 kilowatt-hours will be produced in the first year alone.  North Carolina is definitely serious in its efforts to switch to sustainable energy.

The solar power facility will be operated by the Carolina Solar Energy of Durham.  It will be the most public solar facility in the state at present.  People can view it from the U.S. 501.

When construction was underway, people thought that this area was just another vineyard because of the poles that could be seen being put up.  (To view the construction photos of the Person County Solar Project, please visit the Carolina Solar Energy web site.)

The public are welcome to view the ground-mounted solar panels from afar. But BB&T, the bank that financed the solar project, required that the $4 million property be enclosed with barbed wires, in order to protect the expensive solar panels.

Carolina Solar Energy is also planning to launch a web site that will give real-time readouts to show how much energy is being generated by the solar power plant. Visitors to the site would also be able to check on the total power generated to date, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions which have been reduced by using solar power – instead of Progress Energy’s coal power plants. The website will also use this data to inform Progress Energy clients of the amount of energy available to them.

What about the Sheep?

To further lessen environmental pollution, Progress Energy will use sheep to trim the grass on the property.

Their first use of a herd of sheep to maintain the grass was around a solar farm on the campus of software developer SAS, located in Cary. Sheep can move around the panels with ease without damaging them, and they don’t emit pollution.

The use of sheep does seem like a practical and environmentally-friendly approach to maintaining the solar power plant. It fits in with the overall goal of Carolina Solar Energy, to promote green technology and decrease emissions of pollution into the atmosphere.

Source:
http://www.carolinasolarenergy.com/

This post was originally published on Solar Power Updates & News at Sheep-Maintained Solar Power Plant in North Carolina.

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