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Sun Volt

Sun Volt Solar

earth, the final frontier

Clean Energy, Clean Environment

We are at a cross roads in human history, we can choose to continue on as we have been, or we can make a change to improve our future and quite possibly the future for several generations to come. We are here to promote energy independence, a better environment, a secure future and a higher return on investment for your hard earned dollar. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

The outcome hangs in the balance

11 Dec 07 | Commentary, General Business

It seems that Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has the interests of Big Coal and Big Oil at heart. Being the Republican Senate minority leader, this position is not unexpected. Senator McConnell has supported George W. Bush in most things, including the Iraq war (that is until it became unpopular to do so, at which time he changed his mind on Iraq).

What McConnell and the other Republicans are missing is the fact that change is in the air. The environmental and energy issues are too large to ignore, and enough people have taken notice that it can no longer be business as usual. Momentum favors the things that are in motion. At the risk of creating a public backlash to the Republican party in general, these Senators are on the road to greater dependence on oil and coal, not less. I hope and pray that the voters of this country are paying attention, taking notes and looking at the alternatives. If so, I would postulate that these stalwart Republican Senators, who are only interested in voting the party line as defined by Bush, are treading the path to their own reelection defeat and subesquent retirement ceremonies.

For myself, the decision on whether or not to jump fully into the solar business hinges on whether or not the tax incentives will be renewed. Without the tax incentives, both federal and state, it would be difficult to make a living in the solar business. We rely on incentives to even the playing field and make solar thermal, photovoltaic and wind turbine technology affordable to the average home owner. Even with the incentives, it can be a tough sell, especially to someone who does not fully understand the technology, or appreciate the environmental benefits of a solar installation.

If the big oil and coal companies were not receiving huge incentives from the government to produce cheap energy, these renewable energy incentives would not be necessary. This is the European economic model, they have very high energy prices, which makes renewable energy competitive with conventional energy systems including nuclear power. This would be what I would call, a true market system. Something to think about.

New York State has an excellent photovoltaic incentive program through NYSERDA. Unfortunately for those just starting, in order to qualify for those incentives, you have to be a certified photovoltaic installer through NABCEP. As they advertise in all the trade magazines, it is the certification “that is hard to get” mostly due to the experience requirements. Of course, this is a catch 22, how do you get the experience if you can not be a certified installer without experience?

Solar Thermal installations also have a tax incentive through New York State, but not enough to make it viable without the additional federal tax incentive.

As of now, my business plan includes both installation work and some type of retail sales. Without both these components, the business model does not work, I will not make enough money to feed my family and cover all my expenses, so my future in the solar business hangs in the balance. Here are some particularly critical swing votes that could push support for the energy bill over the critical, filibuster-proof 60 votes mark. If one of these Senators “belongs” to you, call, call and call again:

Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
Ensign (R-NV)
Greg (R-NH)
Grassley (R-IA)
Levin (D-MI)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCaskill (D-MO)
McCain (R-AZ)
Sessions (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevents (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Thune (R-SD)

Anything you can do would be a help.

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11 Dec 07 | Commentary, General Business
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