Coal Talking Points

Use these points to counter arguments that coal is making against solar:

1) PA exports 50% of its coal (from EIA); HB2405 will have no impact on that export business.

2) Wind and solar are intermittent resources which do not compete with baseload plants like coal. Solar competes with peak power plants, which are natural gas or oil fired plants. Coal plants are baseload power, and baseload will not be impacted by this bill.

3) Wind and coal co-exist just fine – look at TX. TX is the #1 user of coal in the US, and also the #1 state for wind generation. In addition, brownfields sites are perfect locations for solar farms.

4) PA is #4 in the US in using coal as a source of electricity and #2 in the US for nuclear. The real threat to coal is nuclear and maybe gas at some point!

5) Renewables have nothing to do with the slide in coal demand – according to coal industry’s own data (Capital Watch), coal peaked in 1918. Today only 25% of the peak is mined (65 million tons/year in 2007 vs. 277 million tons/yr in 1918). Yet, according to DOE, electricity growth in PA. is expected to increase by 1.1% each year.

6) Coal is almost 55% of Pennsylvania’s current generation. Nuclear is over 30% . Even if solar is phased in to 3% by 2024, that is a very small fraction of Pennsylvania’s energy resource.

7) Like any investment, it is important to diversify the portfolio (think of retirement accounts), would you put almost all your money into one of two stocks? Think of coal and nuclear as the dominant energy sources in PA and that won’t change during the lifetime of this AEPS requirement.

PASEIA Lobby Days

This past Monday and Tuesday (June 7th and June 8th) were PASEIA's HB2405 lobby days. There were 22 meetings scheduled with 21 Representatives over the two days, and about 15 Pennsylvania (and a few out of Pennsylvania) Solar Businesses made it out! Everyone lobbied for the bill quite successfully, and we were able to generate additional support from the Representatives for the bill. And we are happy to inform you that the bill passed out of committee Tuesday morning! Please see the ERE Committee Vote blog entry for more information on the committee vote. We still have a ways to go to pass this bill, but it is now clear that our efforts are truly making a difference. Thank you to all of the people that were at the lobby days, and we will be sure to notify you soon about our next lobbying efforts.

-Drew Gardner on behalf of PASEIA




(This last picture is sarcastic, obviously)

Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Votes on HB2405

The following is a list of the Representatives in the ERE committee with their respective votes on HB2405 when it was voted out of committee Tuesday morning. Please consider calling the Yes Representatives to thank them and/or calling the No Representatives to try to generate support for the Bill.

Rep.	D/R	Vote
B. George	D	Y
J. Hornaman	D	Y
M. Gerber	D	Y
T. Harhai	D	Y
J. Yudichak	D	Y
S.E. Hutchinson	R	N
M. Gabler	R	N
M.T. Causer	R	N
G.D. Everett	R	Y
J.P. Pyle	R	N
B. Barbin	D	N
M. Carroll	D	Y
S.H. Conklin	D	Y
E. DePasquale	D	Y
T. Houghton	D	Y
D.R. Kessler	D	Y
S.J. Santarsiero	D	Y
T. Seip	D	Y
G. Vitali	D	Y
J. Wansacz	D	Y
J. Christiana	R	N
K. Harper	R	Y
K.L. Rapp	R	N
D. Reed	R	N
C. Ross	R	Y
R. Vulakovich	R	N

Rep. Cutler Amendment (Need Calls to the Rep.)

An important matter has just come to our attention. Most of you are probably unaware that House Bill 2234 which allows solar in homeowner associations that have restricted solar on the past, passed out of ERE committee last week. It apeears this bill could be taken up by the full House in the very near future BUT Rep. Cutler (717-783-6424 in Harrisburg and 717 786 4551 in District or http://www.repcutler.com/Contact.aspx for letters) has a very damaging amendment which would virtually kill the intent of the bill by grandfathering in all existing restrictive homeowner covenants. We need calls into Cutler's office and ask him to withdraw his amendment if it comes up for a House vote. The amendment is attached. The bill is available at www.legis.state.pa.us , go to general session, and in the right hand cover enter HB2234 to see the bill. Also, please see other states facing the same policy issue and attempts to remove this barrier to solar deployment: http://solar.coolerplanet.com/News/19777073-states-acting-to-head-off-solar-panel-bans.aspx

-Drew Gardner on behalf of Maureen Mulligan and PASEIA

Press & Media for the HB2405 Push

Solar Installers Urging Pennsylvania House of Representatives To Vote For Alternative Energy Legislation, House Bill 2405

500 Solar Companies Are Standing Ready To Help More Homeowners and Businesses Better Control Their Electricity Costs

HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Companies striving to build a stronger solar energy industry throughout Pennsylvania are converging on Harrisburg to persuade lawmakers to pass House Bill 2405 by sharing personal stories and demonstrating the role that tax incentives and state grants are playing in creating new, sustainable, good-paying jobs and helping homeowners and businesses better control their electricity costs.

“We’ve made valuable progress with the state’s alternative energy requirement, the Federal Investment Tax Credit and the state’s Sunshine solar grant program,” said Kira Costanza of SunPower Builders based in Collegeville, PA. “Reducing carbon emissions in an energy economy heavily dependent on fossil fuels takes time. House Bill 2405 helps the state with the necessary next steps to do what many neighboring states are doing by boosting their commitments to renewable energy and enabling consumers to generate some of their own electricity.”

House Bill 2405 is expected to be voted on in committee next Tuesday, June 8^th. “Time is running short in this legislative session to pass this timely energy legislation for Pennsylvania. Due to the success of the federal and state solar incentive programs, the solar industry needs the requirement for utilities and electric generation suppliers to purchase renewable energy be increased to match the supply of projects waiting to be developed while there are still incentives to help bring down the cost,” said Maureen Mulligan, a lobbyist for the two key solar trade associations active in Pennsylvania. HB#2405’s principal focus is on advancing coal combustion technologies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But it also would set the fee utilities must pay if they do not sell a requisite amount of electricity generated by renewable sources such as solar and wind. Those fees can help sustain renewable energy programs in the Commonwealth.

For each 1,000 kilowatt hour shortfall, the fee, called an alternative compliance payment, would be $450 in 2011, and decline 3% percent annually. In addition, HB 2405 would enhance the role that Alternate Energy Credits would play in helping finance renewable energy projects. A solar system earns one Alternate Energy Credit for each 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity it generates. Those credits can be sold for cash, in some cases in advance based on projected generation to help defray up-front installation costs.

Just last month, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed a new solar bill into law that boosts the state’s ability to achieve its 20% renewable electricity mandate by 2022 (2% from solar) with a compliance payment set at $400 through 2014. This month, Delaware is expected to pass legislation that could set the compliance fee at $500 and raise the amount of electricity to be generated from renewable sources to a region-leading 25% by 2025, with 3.5% of that coming from solar. As with other states, Maryland and Delaware are incentivizing in-state solar projects designed and installed by companies in their states. Under this bill, Pennsylvania would also restrict projects to those built within the state and would increase the solar share from .5% to 3%.

The twenty solar businesses organized by PA Solar Energy Industries Association, who will be attending legislative meetings in Harrisburg next week, will be discussing the benefits of passing HB 2405 before the legislature recesses for the summer and will hand out a one-page summary of testimonials by solar energy professionals who attribute their growth to past legislative actions that promoted solar energy.

“Before the Pennsylvania Sunshine solar grant program began, there were about 15 certified solar installation companies in Pennsylvania. Today there are more than 500. And many of those employ more than 10 employees,” said Ron Celentano, a solar expert and troubleshooter in Wyndmoor, PA who chairs the Pennsylvania Division of the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association. “That is a testament to the job engine that the solar industry is becoming throughout the Commonwealth.”

Contacts

Pennsylvania Division of the Solar Energy Industries Association
Maureen Mulligan, 717-512-5365
maureenm@pa.net
or
SunPower Builders
Kira Costanza, 610-489-1105
kira@sunpowerbuilders.com

Source: Pennsylvania Division of the Solar Energy Industries Association

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-News from the House Democrats-

LEGISLATION TO RAISE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STANDARDS ADVANCES
HARRISBURG, June 8 - State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, said that his bill to strengthen Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Act today was reported out of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, with a bipartisan vote of 17-9.

DePasquale said his legislation, HB2405, would significantly boost the amount of energy in Pennsylvania derived from cleaner, alternative energy sources. This shift would help create manufacturing jobs in the Commonwealth and provide enough clean energy to power 2.1 million homes.

"The bipartisan support shown for this bill today proves the value placed in maintaining and improving our alternative energy standards," DePasquale said. "We must reinforce our position as an alternative energy leader in order to maintain competitiveness in terms of job growth and investments in this field."

DePasquale said his legislation would strengthen the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 by requiring 28 percent of Pennsylvania's energy come from clean sources by 2024; the current requirement is 18 percent by 2020. It would nearly double the share of energy that must come from the cleanest sources by requiring 15 percent - increased from 8 percent - of energy be derived from wind, low-impact hydro, geothermal, biologically derived methane gas, fuel cells, biomass energy, coal mine methane and solar. This includes a six-fold increase in the solar requirement from 0.5 to 3 percent.

In addition, this legislation would provide a pathway for cleaner coal technologies by requiring 3 percent of energy come from carbon capture and sequestration. This would allow coal to be used in a way that is better for our environment while maintaining critically important industry jobs in southwestern Pennsylvania, DePasquale said.

Consumers also would be protected in this legislation by requiring the state Public Utility Commission to delay the alternative energy requirements by the utilities if it determines the cost of compliance is too high or there isn't enough alternative energy ready for the grid.

This legislation also would build upon DePasquale's Alternative Energy Investment Act of 2008, which invested $650 million into alternative energy resources. That law provides consumers and businesses with low-interest loans for geothermal, wind and solar installation, creating alternative energy manufacturing jobs across the state all while saving consumers money and boosting Pennsylvania's economy.

HB2405 is expected to go before the full House for a vote.

Solar Talking Points on HB2405

Solar Talking Points on HB 2405

HB2405 increases the solar share from 0.5% to 3.0% by 2025. With unemployment on the rise, accelerating the solar requirement at this time offers the prospect of new and enhanced jobs within the Commonwealth.

Increasing solar allows for timely development of locally sourced low-carbon energy in Pennsylvania.

Increasing the solar share sends solar developers the message that opportunities in Pennsylvania for jobs and job growth will not phase out soon. An investment in Pennsylvania is a competitive one. Other states are increasing their portfolios. Now that we have over 450 solar businesses operating today in Pennsylvania, we don’t want to lose the jobs to states with more aggressive portfolio standards. "My company has ___ and last year we had ____."

The bill sets a yearly value for the Alternative Compliance Payment and allows for long term contracts. These are two key provisions in the new bill to control the cost of solar. It helps my business attract the necessary capital to build projects. Right now, capital markets are tight; my business often has to pay a premium for capital because it is not clear what the value of the renewable energy credits will be. Setting an ACP and allowing for long term contracts helps with financing and lowers lenders risks.

HB 2405 limits the purchase of solar and other credits for the compliance market to projects developed in Pennsylvania, like many of the surrounding states. This ensures the benefits remain in Pennsylvania.

The bill includes solar thermal which is a lower cost technology and allows for more job development as well as additional options for residential and businesses interested in solar.

HB 2405 adds consumer protection measures to ensure any solar system installed in Pennsylvania must use an approved participating contractor and a licensed electrician in municipalities that license electrical contractors.

General Solar Points:

Solar can provide some relief from dependence on foreign energy resources. In addition, Solar helps decentralize and diversify our power supply. Solar helps to break our reliance of foreign energy sources coming from unstable countries that aren’t friendly to the US.
Centralized power plants are more vulnerable to security breaches and can be targets of terrorists.

Decentralized or distributed solar power can alleviate grid congestion.

Solar is locally “home growth” and the jobs can be developed in all of the 67 counties in Pennsylvania that are not easily exported.

Diversifies our energy supply and provides a hedge against higher cost fossil fuels as prices rise for coal and other fossil fuels. Costs are going up for coal and oil as more fossil fuels are exported to China and India to meet their growing demands.

Solar development contributes to the economy in many ways including a new source of tax revenue and the creation of direct and indirect jobs.

Since solar is almost perfectly coincident with peak energy demand in our region, it can contribute to downward pressure of wholesales rates which are most expensive during peak usage on hot, sunny, summer days. This is exactly when solar is most efficient and operating at peak performance.

Solar has zero fuel costs and near the bottom of the electricity supply curve. When solar enters the electricity market, resources with higher costs are displaced resulting in lower cost electricity prices. When higher cost resources are displaced all electricity consumers benefit since the reduction in price applies to all electricity traded through the grid.

Financial impacts of increasing solar have been falsely represented in the past. The utility analysis circulated earlier this year did not include the inclusion of the lower cost of solar thermal, nor did it recognize that the cost of the solar renewable energy credits are predicted to continue to decline over time. The analysis done did not accurately represent declining costs of solar renewable energy credits over time. Solar prices are rapidly falling, going from over $10 per watt in 1998 to about $5 per watt for large projects now.

Maureen Mulligan

PASEIA Action Alert: AEPS Legislation HB2405 – Now or Never

AEPS Legislation HB2405 – Now or Never

May 5th, 2010

Last week, over 75 PA solar stakeholders gathered in Harrisburg for 2 strategy sessions with DEP Sec. Hanger surrounding HB2405. This “new HB80” is similar to the previous bill, but is even stronger for solar and a new sponsor (Rep. Eugene DePasquale, York) and recent coalition building has created a large and effective group to counter our well-mobilized opponents.

PASEIA is gearing up for a 2 month push to pass HB2405, which increases the solar share of PA’s AEPS to 3%, front loads SREC requirements in the early years of the ramp-up to avoid a saturated market, and sets a firm ACP. HB2405 positions PA to be a leading solar market in the Mid-Atlantic region!

Attached you will find resources to begin making calls and drumming up support for the bill. CALLS AND PERSONAL VISITS are most effective, and repetition is reinforcing.

Simple talking points are:

• Because of effective solar policy the cost of solar is coming down – my business/the company I work for has created XX number of jobs in the past year.
• This month marks the one-year anniversary of the Sunshine Program. One year ago there were approximately 20 solar installers, most of them not full time, in PA. Now there are nearly 500.
• TELL YOUR OWN SOLAR STORY

Over the next few days and weeks, we will continue to disseminate talking points and updates on status of the bill, targeted votes and strategy.

Please keep in touch– contact Maureen Mulligan at maureenm@pa.net or Kira Costanza at kira@sunpowerbuilders.com with questions, concerns or feedback.

We, the PA solar industry, continue to grow at exponential rates and the time has come to make our voice heard!

Thank you for your help! Please contact pennsylvania@mseia.net to be added to our HB2405 advocacy distribution list and/or to receive documents outlining targeted votes, how to set up meetings with your reps. and TALKING POINTS.

We will have this information posted on http://www.mseia.net/ as soon as the new site is live, but in the interim will be posting critical information here on this blog.

Thank you for being engaged!

The PASEIA Steering Committee