PASEIA Members and Solar Enthusiasts!
We need calls TODAY!
To increase PA's solar share to 1.5% (from .5%) with an ammendment to HB1128, please call your Senators TODAY and ask them to SUPPORT THE HB1128 SOLAR AMMENDMENT WITH THE 1% FREEZE LANGUAGE.
Members please visit www.mseia.net for targeted calls.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
As Solar Installations Increase, Generation Costs Continue to Decrease!
Solar Projects Drive $1.4 Billion into PA’s Economy in 2009
Solar Share of Generation Market Increases 350 Percent -
As Installations Increase, Generation Costs Continue to Decrease
HARRISBURG -- Sustained growth and declining costs are driving Pennsylvania's solar market to generate an ever-increasing amount of clean, renewable energy, which is saving consumers money, according to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.
The secretary said that in 2009, the share of solar energy generation among Pennsylvania's power pool increased by 350 percent, attracting $1.4 billion into state’s economy last year alone. “The cost of solar power is plummeting, making solar power increasingly a sound alternative for businesses and families that seek to stabilize and control their electricity costs,” said Hanger. “Right now, thanks to sharply lower solar power prices, it is a great time to consider solar power for a home or business.”
The median installed costs for small business and residential photovoltaic (PV) projects in the state dropped from about $9 per watt in 2008 to as low as $6 per watt in August; the lowest-cost projects are as much as $1 per watt less than this most recent figure. Large solar projects of one megawatt or more now cost about $4.50 per watt. The lower costs can be attributed in part to the PA Sunshine Solar Rebate Program, which reimburses up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs for residential and small business PV and solar hot water systems.
Since the program’s opening in May 2009, more than 2,000 projects have been installed, representing nearly 20 megawatts of new capacity. An additional 2,300 projects, representing 53 megawatts of capacity, have been applied for or are under construction.“Since energy from the sun is free, lower equipment costs lead to lower electricity costs,” said Hanger. “The cost of electricity from the latest generation of projects in Pennsylvania is between 12 to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, and that price is locked in for the 25-year life of the panels.
“Today the cost of electricity from a utility company to a small business or home ranges between 10 and 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. But how much will electricity cost two years from now? How about five, 10 or 25 years from now? For families and businesses using solar power, they know their electricity will not be more than what they are paying for solar today. For those businesses and families not using solar, most likely prices for electricity will go up and possibly by a substantial amount.”
Hanger also noted that solar power emits zero air pollution, which cuts soot, smog, mercury and heat-trapping pollution that can sicken and kill Pennsylvanians. In addition, solar power helps to keep the power grid reliable by providing more power on the hottest days of the year when very high demand can cause brownouts and blackouts.
For more information, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ <http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/> , or call DEP’s Office of Energy Technology and Deployment at 717-783-8411. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=14173&typeid=1
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau Room 308
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09/14/2010
CONTACT: John Repetz, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323
Solar Share of Generation Market Increases 350 Percent -
As Installations Increase, Generation Costs Continue to Decrease
HARRISBURG -- Sustained growth and declining costs are driving Pennsylvania's solar market to generate an ever-increasing amount of clean, renewable energy, which is saving consumers money, according to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.
The secretary said that in 2009, the share of solar energy generation among Pennsylvania's power pool increased by 350 percent, attracting $1.4 billion into state’s economy last year alone. “The cost of solar power is plummeting, making solar power increasingly a sound alternative for businesses and families that seek to stabilize and control their electricity costs,” said Hanger. “Right now, thanks to sharply lower solar power prices, it is a great time to consider solar power for a home or business.”
The median installed costs for small business and residential photovoltaic (PV) projects in the state dropped from about $9 per watt in 2008 to as low as $6 per watt in August; the lowest-cost projects are as much as $1 per watt less than this most recent figure. Large solar projects of one megawatt or more now cost about $4.50 per watt. The lower costs can be attributed in part to the PA Sunshine Solar Rebate Program, which reimburses up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs for residential and small business PV and solar hot water systems.
Since the program’s opening in May 2009, more than 2,000 projects have been installed, representing nearly 20 megawatts of new capacity. An additional 2,300 projects, representing 53 megawatts of capacity, have been applied for or are under construction.“Since energy from the sun is free, lower equipment costs lead to lower electricity costs,” said Hanger. “The cost of electricity from the latest generation of projects in Pennsylvania is between 12 to 20 cents per kilowatt-hour, and that price is locked in for the 25-year life of the panels.
“Today the cost of electricity from a utility company to a small business or home ranges between 10 and 14 cents per kilowatt-hour. But how much will electricity cost two years from now? How about five, 10 or 25 years from now? For families and businesses using solar power, they know their electricity will not be more than what they are paying for solar today. For those businesses and families not using solar, most likely prices for electricity will go up and possibly by a substantial amount.”
Hanger also noted that solar power emits zero air pollution, which cuts soot, smog, mercury and heat-trapping pollution that can sicken and kill Pennsylvanians. In addition, solar power helps to keep the power grid reliable by providing more power on the hottest days of the year when very high demand can cause brownouts and blackouts.
For more information, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/ <http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/> , or call DEP’s Office of Energy Technology and Deployment at 717-783-8411. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/newsroom/14287?id=14173&typeid=1
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau Room 308
Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 09/14/2010
CONTACT: John Repetz, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323
Friday, September 10, 2010
All Hands on Deck - PA SOLAR JOBS BILL to run in Senate!
The time has come to start sending letters, making phone calls, and setting up meetings with Senators to push the PA SOLAR JOBS BILL! PASEIA will also be organizing a lobby day in the coming weeks.
MSEIA members can access attached are talking points, sample letters, lobby day information and other materials in the PA Forum of members section of the MSEIA website. If you are not an MSEIA member and are intersted in participating in the campaign please contact us! Please email paseia@mseia.net and we will get right back to you.
In addition, if you have not yet made a contribution to the PASEIA Solar Bill Campaign, we encourage you to do so, to support our lobbying budget and make this campaign as effective as possible. Please see the attached fundraising letter. Checks can be made out to MSEIA PA Division and mailed to the PA Office: 80 Pechins Mill Road / Collegeville, PA / 19426.
Please call your senators to let them know how important a yes vote on HB1128 is for solar's future in PA! Jobs and reduced energy costs depend on it!
MSEIA members can access attached are talking points, sample letters, lobby day information and other materials in the PA Forum of members section of the MSEIA website. If you are not an MSEIA member and are intersted in participating in the campaign please contact us! Please email paseia@mseia.net and we will get right back to you.
In addition, if you have not yet made a contribution to the PASEIA Solar Bill Campaign, we encourage you to do so, to support our lobbying budget and make this campaign as effective as possible. Please see the attached fundraising letter. Checks can be made out to MSEIA PA Division and mailed to the PA Office: 80 Pechins Mill Road / Collegeville, PA / 19426.
Please call your senators to let them know how important a yes vote on HB1128 is for solar's future in PA! Jobs and reduced energy costs depend on it!
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