This Thursday July 22nd Thursday 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
FOR ALL MEMBERS IN NJ, PA, & DE
(Attendees Must be in Good Standing – 2010 Dues Paid)
4:00 PM
Addressing Impediments to PV Deployment - With Special Emphasis on “Solar Farms” and the new RPS
• State Updates
• Pennsylvania’s Next Steps After the Legislature Fails to Act
• Status of Prevailing Wage in New Jersey- AG decision, unions, examples
• Forthcoming Solar Legislation in NJ and PA
• Municipal & Technical Issues
6:00 PM SPECIAL SREC REFORM FORUM:
THE FUTURE OF SOLAR RECS, Rebates, and PV Growth as Each State Faces Economic Crisis
Featuring Michael Winka, Director, NJ Clean Energy Program
With Q & A
6:45 – 8:00 PM Panel of Speakers; PV Installers; SREC Aggregators; Solutions; Q&A/Feedback Forum
Location: Rutgers EcoComplex, Bordentown, NJ (Off Rt.295 N)
Hope to See You!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
House Bill 2405
June 29, 2010
Dear Friends,
I wish I had better news to share on the fate of House bill 2405. Despite our efforts, the bill will not pass before summer legislative recess. Moments ago, it was announced that the House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, and the Governor agreed to a budget which will allow the legislators to pass a budget on time. In turn, that means that it is not likely legislators will stay around to pass any pending legislation not associated with the budget including HB 2405.
Many of you followed the ups and down of this bill and its predecessor (HB 80) over the last year and one-half and understand when I tell you the bill got amended to death, not once, but twice. The coal industry, the PA. Chamber of Commerce, most of the utilities, the Commonwealth Foundation and their allies all fed the disinformation campaign carried out by their legislative allies in the House. We knew we were up against powerful, well-funded allies but we have prevailed on three solar bills in the recent past and my hope was we could do it again.
We owe much to our allies at DEP; particularly John Hanger, Andrew Place, Robert Maiden, Dan Griffiths and Paula Sviben and in the legislature; Representatives Eugene DePasquale, Greg Vitali and Chris Ross, and in the Senate; Senator Ted Erickson.
I hope you will take the time to thank them. They did an amazing amount of work on this bill.
Maureen
Dear Friends,
I wish I had better news to share on the fate of House bill 2405. Despite our efforts, the bill will not pass before summer legislative recess. Moments ago, it was announced that the House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, and the Governor agreed to a budget which will allow the legislators to pass a budget on time. In turn, that means that it is not likely legislators will stay around to pass any pending legislation not associated with the budget including HB 2405.
Many of you followed the ups and down of this bill and its predecessor (HB 80) over the last year and one-half and understand when I tell you the bill got amended to death, not once, but twice. The coal industry, the PA. Chamber of Commerce, most of the utilities, the Commonwealth Foundation and their allies all fed the disinformation campaign carried out by their legislative allies in the House. We knew we were up against powerful, well-funded allies but we have prevailed on three solar bills in the recent past and my hope was we could do it again.
We owe much to our allies at DEP; particularly John Hanger, Andrew Place, Robert Maiden, Dan Griffiths and Paula Sviben and in the legislature; Representatives Eugene DePasquale, Greg Vitali and Chris Ross, and in the Senate; Senator Ted Erickson.
I hope you will take the time to thank them. They did an amazing amount of work on this bill.
Maureen
Monday, June 28, 2010
Sharp Solar's Letter of Support for HB 2405
Dear Representative,
Sharp Solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world, with U.S. offices in New Jersey, California, and Tennessee. The solar factory in Memphis, Tennessee employs a diverse workforce of 500 people and has experienced significant growth over the last year, increasing employment by 50%. Our business was growing in the middle of a recession due to high demand created by incentives provided by state and federal governments. The solar incentives provided by Pennsylvania contributed to this demand, creating hundreds of jobs at our factory and other offices, and also within the dozens of Sharp dealers and contractors in the state.
We are writing to encourage your support for House Bill 2405 and the solar provisions in the bill that encourage long term contracts, increase the solar requirement, and set a firm alternative energy compliance payment at this time when rebates and other incentives are mostly fully subscribed.
Unemployment remains high, and Sharp is committed to increasing jobs both at our plant but also by using local, Pennsylvania based solar installers. Accelerating the solar requirement from 0.5% to 3.0% of total electricity sales by 2025 and other provisions help move the solar industry to a market based, competitive clean energy source with well paid local jobs, enhanced economic development benefits, increased tax revenues, and timely development of locally sourced low-carbon energy.
We hope that you will help us continue this impressive growth and vote in favor of House Bill 2405 now while we are making decisions where Sharp will be focusing our efforts.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Johnson
Senior Manager, Policy and Government Relations
Sharp Solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world, with U.S. offices in New Jersey, California, and Tennessee. The solar factory in Memphis, Tennessee employs a diverse workforce of 500 people and has experienced significant growth over the last year, increasing employment by 50%. Our business was growing in the middle of a recession due to high demand created by incentives provided by state and federal governments. The solar incentives provided by Pennsylvania contributed to this demand, creating hundreds of jobs at our factory and other offices, and also within the dozens of Sharp dealers and contractors in the state.
We are writing to encourage your support for House Bill 2405 and the solar provisions in the bill that encourage long term contracts, increase the solar requirement, and set a firm alternative energy compliance payment at this time when rebates and other incentives are mostly fully subscribed.
Unemployment remains high, and Sharp is committed to increasing jobs both at our plant but also by using local, Pennsylvania based solar installers. Accelerating the solar requirement from 0.5% to 3.0% of total electricity sales by 2025 and other provisions help move the solar industry to a market based, competitive clean energy source with well paid local jobs, enhanced economic development benefits, increased tax revenues, and timely development of locally sourced low-carbon energy.
We hope that you will help us continue this impressive growth and vote in favor of House Bill 2405 now while we are making decisions where Sharp will be focusing our efforts.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Johnson
Senior Manager, Policy and Government Relations
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Solar Thermal Letter Opposing Hutchinson Amendment
June 21, 2010
As business leaders in the Pennsylvania Solar Thermal industry, we applaud the Pennsylvania legislature for including SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) for Solar Thermal in the PA House Bill 2405 for Clean Energy and Green Jobs and we want to express our support for passage of the original HB 2405 bill.
We also request that you vote NO to the Hutchinson Amendment that among other damaging languages, removes the value of Solar Thermal from the bill.
There are 174 solar thermal installers registered with DEP in Pennsylvania and we strongly support House bill 2405 which will help our businesses to grow and survive with good local jobs that can’t be shipped to other countries or to other states. Solar thermal systems cut fossil fuel use and are a hedge against volatile electric, gas and oil prices.
Several major solar collectors are currently made in the US although China holds 70% of the market share, Europe has 15%, and the U.S. has less than 1%. Furthermore, of the 29 states with Renewable Portfolio Standards, 12 include solar thermal in their portfolio in part due to the following reasons:
Reduce the costs rate-payers bear from the Renewable Portfolio Standard
1. Jobs. There are 129 solar thermal businesses registered in Pennsylvania - all of which will be directly impacted by this amendment. Furthermore, solar thermal installations are very labor intensive often requiring system engineers, panel installers, plumbers, welders and carpenters, and roofers; and many tradesman, such as plumbers, are adding solar thermal services as a means to increase revenue during these hard economic times.
2. Low Cost AEPS Compliance. Solar thermal provides a lower cost solution for achieving Pennsylvania AEPS solar carve-out requirement. Solar thermal is the most cost effective solar energy source and can reduce compliance cost.. Therefore, the dollar cost that Pennsylvania utilities need to pass along to consumers is lower meaning rates also will remain lower. While we do not advocate one technology over the other as a robust blend of solar technologies will make it plausible for Pennsylvania to achieve its solar goals.
3. Reduced Energy Costs. Solar thermal systems are a hedge against volatile electric, gas and oil prices potentially reducing 50% - 80% of water heating costs and this is a technology accessible to low income and low margin-business customers.
4. Greater constituent participation in the AEPS. Because solar thermal is such a cost effective solar technology, more Pennsylvania residents and businesses can actively participate in the AEPS. Adding solar thermal to a home may improve the home value should the home be sold. Once the solar system is paid for, there are no fuel costs, which means lower bills for consumers.
5. Environmental Benefits. RETScreen estimates that each 4 x 10 solar hot water heating panel installed can eliminate up to 2 tons of carbon dioxide each year. NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs) estimates that solar thermal can eliminate the equivalent of 50 – 75 million metric tons of CO2 emissions reductions nationwide annually.
6. Solar Thermal does not create any incremental cost for this bill and reduces the need for tax-payer funded incentives. This bill will help Pennsylvania’s solar thermal industry transition away from costly state funded programs to market based incentives. (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10711028/1/shelter-from-solars-political-storms-is-new-jersey.html
Sincerely from the following Solar Thermal installers in PA:
Jan Marie Rushforth
Partner, Rushforth Solar LLC - Member of PA SEIA
Jan@RushforthSolar.com - www.RushforthSolar.com
3700 Darby Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
.
Bob Elwell
Hickory Ridge Solar
www.hickoryridgesolar.com
belwell@windstream.net
**********
Adam Rossi
Adam Solar Resources
1912 Mayview Road Bridgeville PA 15017
412-220-1900 Office
412-334-6519 Cell
Adam@AdamSolarResources.com
www.AdamSolarResources.com
*********************
Mike Healy
Skyline Innovations
2451 18th Street
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202.306.7900
www.skylineinnovations.com
mhealy@skylineinnovations.com
*******************
Mark Bortman
Exact Solar -- Harness the Power of the Sun!
www.exactsolar.com
267-825-0918
mark@exactsolar.com
*******************************
William H Fitch III
fcfcfc@prolog.net
www.WeAreSolar.com
1072 Fowlersville Rd
Berwick, PA 18603
570-752-4827
************************
Karen Foltz
General Manager
Vox Energy Solutions
8890 Peebles Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
Phone - 412-366-4361
Fax - 412-366-4362
kfoltz@voxcom.us
www.voxenergysolutions.com
****************************
John Collins
Certified Energy Consultant
H.B. McClure
600 S. 17th St
Harrisburg, Pa 17104
Office (717)214-3169
Fax (717)2149218
Cell (717)554-2528
jcollins@hbmcclure.com
**********************************
Bryan Elwell
Hickory Ridge
O: (610)-845-9360
C: (215)-519-2111
www.HickoryRidgeSolar.com
bryan@hickoryridgesolar.com
************************************
HB2405, if passed (minus the Hutchinson Amendment) will tremendously help solar hot water growth in PA, adding to local job creation, energy savings, and emission reductions. It makes sense on many levels. Please vote for it.
Alan Rushforth
Rushforth Solar LLC
3700 Darby Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
As business leaders in the Pennsylvania Solar Thermal industry, we applaud the Pennsylvania legislature for including SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) for Solar Thermal in the PA House Bill 2405 for Clean Energy and Green Jobs and we want to express our support for passage of the original HB 2405 bill.
We also request that you vote NO to the Hutchinson Amendment that among other damaging languages, removes the value of Solar Thermal from the bill.
There are 174 solar thermal installers registered with DEP in Pennsylvania and we strongly support House bill 2405 which will help our businesses to grow and survive with good local jobs that can’t be shipped to other countries or to other states. Solar thermal systems cut fossil fuel use and are a hedge against volatile electric, gas and oil prices.
Several major solar collectors are currently made in the US although China holds 70% of the market share, Europe has 15%, and the U.S. has less than 1%. Furthermore, of the 29 states with Renewable Portfolio Standards, 12 include solar thermal in their portfolio in part due to the following reasons:
Reduce the costs rate-payers bear from the Renewable Portfolio Standard
1. Jobs. There are 129 solar thermal businesses registered in Pennsylvania - all of which will be directly impacted by this amendment. Furthermore, solar thermal installations are very labor intensive often requiring system engineers, panel installers, plumbers, welders and carpenters, and roofers; and many tradesman, such as plumbers, are adding solar thermal services as a means to increase revenue during these hard economic times.
2. Low Cost AEPS Compliance. Solar thermal provides a lower cost solution for achieving Pennsylvania AEPS solar carve-out requirement. Solar thermal is the most cost effective solar energy source and can reduce compliance cost.. Therefore, the dollar cost that Pennsylvania utilities need to pass along to consumers is lower meaning rates also will remain lower. While we do not advocate one technology over the other as a robust blend of solar technologies will make it plausible for Pennsylvania to achieve its solar goals.
3. Reduced Energy Costs. Solar thermal systems are a hedge against volatile electric, gas and oil prices potentially reducing 50% - 80% of water heating costs and this is a technology accessible to low income and low margin-business customers.
4. Greater constituent participation in the AEPS. Because solar thermal is such a cost effective solar technology, more Pennsylvania residents and businesses can actively participate in the AEPS. Adding solar thermal to a home may improve the home value should the home be sold. Once the solar system is paid for, there are no fuel costs, which means lower bills for consumers.
5. Environmental Benefits. RETScreen estimates that each 4 x 10 solar hot water heating panel installed can eliminate up to 2 tons of carbon dioxide each year. NREL (National Renewable Energy Labs) estimates that solar thermal can eliminate the equivalent of 50 – 75 million metric tons of CO2 emissions reductions nationwide annually.
6. Solar Thermal does not create any incremental cost for this bill and reduces the need for tax-payer funded incentives. This bill will help Pennsylvania’s solar thermal industry transition away from costly state funded programs to market based incentives. (http://www.thestreet.com/story/10711028/1/shelter-from-solars-political-storms-is-new-jersey.html
Sincerely from the following Solar Thermal installers in PA:
Jan Marie Rushforth
Partner, Rushforth Solar LLC - Member of PA SEIA
Jan@RushforthSolar.com - www.RushforthSolar.com
3700 Darby Road, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
.
Bob Elwell
Hickory Ridge Solar
www.hickoryridgesolar.com
belwell@windstream.net
**********
Adam Rossi
Adam Solar Resources
1912 Mayview Road Bridgeville PA 15017
412-220-1900 Office
412-334-6519 Cell
Adam@AdamSolarResources.com
www.AdamSolarResources.com
*********************
Mike Healy
Skyline Innovations
2451 18th Street
Second Floor
Washington, DC 20009
202.306.7900
www.skylineinnovations.com
mhealy@skylineinnovations.com
*******************
Mark Bortman
Exact Solar -- Harness the Power of the Sun!
www.exactsolar.com
267-825-0918
mark@exactsolar.com
*******************************
William H Fitch III
fcfcfc@prolog.net
www.WeAreSolar.com
1072 Fowlersville Rd
Berwick, PA 18603
570-752-4827
************************
Karen Foltz
General Manager
Vox Energy Solutions
8890 Peebles Road
Allison Park, PA 15101
Phone - 412-366-4361
Fax - 412-366-4362
kfoltz@voxcom.us
www.voxenergysolutions.com
****************************
John Collins
Certified Energy Consultant
H.B. McClure
600 S. 17th St
Harrisburg, Pa 17104
Office (717)214-3169
Fax (717)2149218
Cell (717)554-2528
jcollins@hbmcclure.com
**********************************
Bryan Elwell
Hickory Ridge
O: (610)-845-9360
C: (215)-519-2111
www.HickoryRidgeSolar.com
bryan@hickoryridgesolar.com
************************************
HB2405, if passed (minus the Hutchinson Amendment) will tremendously help solar hot water growth in PA, adding to local job creation, energy savings, and emission reductions. It makes sense on many levels. Please vote for it.
Alan Rushforth
Rushforth Solar LLC
3700 Darby Road
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
HB2405 Update, Calls Needed!
Many of you are probably aware of House Bill 2405's recent progress in the PA government and that there was a possibility of it being voted on the floor (second consideration) this past Tuesday (yesterday). Unfortunately, the bill was not voted on yesterday due to the fact that the Bill does not have enough votes to pass. Also, due to new damaging amendments, the bill's passage is in jeopardy. In better news, the Bill did pass out of appropriations committee favorably with a vote of 28 to 5. However, if the bill is going to pass this session, it must reach the floor in the next week or two. Now more than ever we need to ramp up our efforts. We need your phone calls today and probably until the end of this week to see if we can get it through the House and over to the State Senate. Calls are coming from the opposition.
-So please, if you have a Representative in Pennsylvania, call them
-If you met with any Representative at one of our lobby days, call them
-If you have a project in Pennsylvania, please call the Representative of that district
-If you are able to, please inform your clients about the Bill and encourage them to call their Representatives as well
To look up a Representative of an area, please use this link: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm .
Thank you and please act NOW,
Drew Gardner on behalf of PASEIA
-So please, if you have a Representative in Pennsylvania, call them
-If you met with any Representative at one of our lobby days, call them
-If you have a project in Pennsylvania, please call the Representative of that district
-If you are able to, please inform your clients about the Bill and encourage them to call their Representatives as well
To look up a Representative of an area, please use this link: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm .
Thank you and please act NOW,
Drew Gardner on behalf of PASEIA
More Press for HB2405 Push
OPINION / PERSPECTIVES
Diversify Pa. energy sources
House Bill 2405 would spur new developments in renewables
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
By Michael Jones
Pennsylvania faces an important choice this week as the state House of Representatives takes up alternative-energy legislation. We can remain stuck in the past by letting the bill die or move faster into the future by diversifying Pennsylvania's energy mix.
As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh and whose family co-founded the Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., I look back fondly on the role my family played in creating a pillar of our state and national economy. But there comes a time when all of us must look ahead and see how things must be done differently to assure our economic future. Cleaner sources of energy, including solar and wind, must be a part of that picture.
Consider the company I work for -- Standard Solar Inc. -- as one example of the economic and job-creating engine that solar energy is becoming. Since Pennsylvania in 2007 updated a law requiring electricity suppliers to sell a certain percentage of power generated by "alternative" fuels, a fledgling industry has sprouted throughout much of the state. Today, more than 500 companies like Standard Solar are certified to install solar electric and hot water systems in Pennsylvania. Back in 2008, Standard Solar had seven employees. With the growth in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region, we now have more than 75.
That growth, however, may soon slow to a crawl -- and certainly would fall behind that of other states -- if the Pennsylvania General Assembly does not pass legislation expanding the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.
House Bill 2405 would enhance the development of "advanced coal combustion" technologies, with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and increase the percentage of the state's electrical generation that comes from renewable sources of energy. It would set a goal of producing 15 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2025, with financial incentives for suppliers to meet their share of that goal.
We hear claims and counterclaims about how this legislation might affect the number of coal jobs vs. renewable-energy jobs. We can argue well into the night whose numbers are more
accurate. But we need to ask ourselves: Do we want Pennsylvania to remain tethered to, and subsidizing, a heavily polluting fuel source while the rest of the world is moving in the opposite direction? Or do we want to devote a small portion of the types of incentives that got coal and nuclear power started to continue growing cleaner, healthier and, in the long run, more cost-effective ways to generate electricity?
We're not talking about replacing coal. In fact, the legislation we support would help the coal industry remain competitive by helping it to become cleaner. I'm simply urging us to further diversify our sources of energy by increasing the percentage of those that are naturally clean and safe.
President Barack Obama visited Carnegie Mellon University earlier this month to outline a national plan that could put Pennsylvania in the front seat -- maybe the driver's seat -- of the clean economy that's beginning to emerge in the eastern United States. This legislation would help speed that process.
Pennsylvania was deeply involved in the startup of the nuclear and oil industries. Now we are poised to breathe new life into natural gas with Marcellus Shale projects in much of the state. Let's do something similar for solar and renewables by passing HB 2405 and then getting it approved in the Senate and signed into law.
Michael Jones is the lead sales representative in Western Pennsylvania for Standard Solar Inc., which is based in Rockville, Md. (www.standardsolar.com).
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10173/1067235-109.stm
Diversify Pa. energy sources
House Bill 2405 would spur new developments in renewables
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
By Michael Jones
Pennsylvania faces an important choice this week as the state House of Representatives takes up alternative-energy legislation. We can remain stuck in the past by letting the bill die or move faster into the future by diversifying Pennsylvania's energy mix.
As someone who grew up in Pittsburgh and whose family co-founded the Jones & Laughlin Steel Co., I look back fondly on the role my family played in creating a pillar of our state and national economy. But there comes a time when all of us must look ahead and see how things must be done differently to assure our economic future. Cleaner sources of energy, including solar and wind, must be a part of that picture.
Consider the company I work for -- Standard Solar Inc. -- as one example of the economic and job-creating engine that solar energy is becoming. Since Pennsylvania in 2007 updated a law requiring electricity suppliers to sell a certain percentage of power generated by "alternative" fuels, a fledgling industry has sprouted throughout much of the state. Today, more than 500 companies like Standard Solar are certified to install solar electric and hot water systems in Pennsylvania. Back in 2008, Standard Solar had seven employees. With the growth in Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region, we now have more than 75.
That growth, however, may soon slow to a crawl -- and certainly would fall behind that of other states -- if the Pennsylvania General Assembly does not pass legislation expanding the state's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard.
House Bill 2405 would enhance the development of "advanced coal combustion" technologies, with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and increase the percentage of the state's electrical generation that comes from renewable sources of energy. It would set a goal of producing 15 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2025, with financial incentives for suppliers to meet their share of that goal.
We hear claims and counterclaims about how this legislation might affect the number of coal jobs vs. renewable-energy jobs. We can argue well into the night whose numbers are more
accurate. But we need to ask ourselves: Do we want Pennsylvania to remain tethered to, and subsidizing, a heavily polluting fuel source while the rest of the world is moving in the opposite direction? Or do we want to devote a small portion of the types of incentives that got coal and nuclear power started to continue growing cleaner, healthier and, in the long run, more cost-effective ways to generate electricity?
We're not talking about replacing coal. In fact, the legislation we support would help the coal industry remain competitive by helping it to become cleaner. I'm simply urging us to further diversify our sources of energy by increasing the percentage of those that are naturally clean and safe.
President Barack Obama visited Carnegie Mellon University earlier this month to outline a national plan that could put Pennsylvania in the front seat -- maybe the driver's seat -- of the clean economy that's beginning to emerge in the eastern United States. This legislation would help speed that process.
Pennsylvania was deeply involved in the startup of the nuclear and oil industries. Now we are poised to breathe new life into natural gas with Marcellus Shale projects in much of the state. Let's do something similar for solar and renewables by passing HB 2405 and then getting it approved in the Senate and signed into law.
Michael Jones is the lead sales representative in Western Pennsylvania for Standard Solar Inc., which is based in Rockville, Md. (www.standardsolar.com).
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10173/1067235-109.stm
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