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Sun Volt Solar Blog

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 with a higher return on investment for your hard earned money. It is what I believe in, it is why I am in the solar business.

Solar Nation

27 Sep 07 | General Business, Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water

I found this website by accident when I was looking up the Solar Energy Industries Association web site. It is called Solar Nation and is a policy group that puts together information about pending federal legislation. From there website:

Solar Nation will speak up to advance the use of renewable — especially solar — energy by encouraging policy change, informing political leaders and candidates about solar power, and helping to shape policy platforms at the local, state and federal level. Solar Nation will also speak out, not only against the competing use of dirty and dangerous fossil fuels or nuclear power, but also in opposition to lobby-influenced legislation or policy that favors such energy choices.

This is the type of presence that is needed to keep the energy issues front and center with Congress. The only way we can move ahead with solar, especially photovoltiacs, is to have subsidies to help defray the large initial costs of a solar system. This is because competing energy, such as coal and oil, also get huge subsidies from the federal government.

If you are in the renewable energy industry, or are thinking about getting into it, it is important to be involved in the policy end of things. The more people that write to their state and federal legislators about renewable energy, the more those legislators will pay attention to what we want.

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27 Sep 07 | General Business, Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water | Comments (0)

Homepower Magazine

22 Sep 07 | Commentary, General, Training

I received my first issue of Homepower Magazine in the mail last Saturday. I am not disappointed. This issue had lots of good information on photovoltaics and renewable energy installations in the Northeast.

Homepower Magazine cover

Many people feel that since the Northeast is not in the sun belt, solar power will be a poor investment. They could not be more wrong. Our cost for electricity is around 14.9 cents per kWh. This is one of the more expensive rates in the US. Even though we typically get less insolation than areas in the south and southwest, the fact that our electricity rates are much higher than most makes solar a good investment.

There is also a great article on how photovoltiacs are made and what is being done to make them more efficient and less expensive. If, for example, renewable energy received the same subsidies that oil or coal received, the prices would be about half of what they are today. Make you wonder, doesn’t it. Also, the fact that more and more renewable energy manufacturing is coming on line, will drive prices down eventually anyway.

I am very pleased with Homepower Magazine and recommend it to anyone interested in renewable energy.

Here is a list of all the articles in this issue:

  1. Affordable Solar
  2. Efficiency Details
  3. Cashing in
  4. Sunshine states
  5. plug-in hybrids
  6. PV parts
  7. Buyers guide
  8. Pump primer
  9. REview
  10. Solar savings
  11. System monitoring

The there are the regular departments such as:

  1. From us to You
  2. Ask the Experts
  3. Mailbox
  4. Code Corner
  5. Independent Power Providers
  6. Power Politics
  7. Word power
  8. Home and heart
  9. RE happenings
  10. Marketplace
  11. Installers directory
  12. Advertisers index
  13. RE people

Overall a very good trade publication for anyone in the RE business, whether just getting started or a veteran of many years.

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22 Sep 07 | Commentary, General, Training | Comments (0)

SEI Newsletter

05 Sep 07 | Commentary, Solar Electric

I received my first SEI newsletter yesterday. It was a relatively small thing, but worth the read. The first article titled Solar power set to shine brightly was an interesting read.

There are several pluses for photovoltiacs right now. The first mentioned is the growing production capacity in both raw materials (Polysilicon) and finished products (photovoltaic panels). The growth in 2006 in production of photovoltaic panels rose by 40 percent. That is enormous. China manufacturer Suntech Power is now the fourth largest producer of photovoltaics and continues to expand.

All of that is good news and should bring the price of photovoltiacs down. A check of some online solar retailers show prices of between $4.50 per watt to 5.70 per watt. I think the main problem is that demand will continue to outstrip production for the forseable future and prices will remain at $4-5 dollar per watt range.

The thing that may also shape people’s opinion is higher electricity costs due to higher fuel prices and more pollution control measures being installed on newer electrical generating stations. Additionally, as more and more states deregulate the electric power industry, rates are likely to go higher, as we have seen in California and New York.

The solar industry is set to grow, no doubt about that. My plan is to get established before the major growth occurs in the next few years because then I will be able to grow with it.

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05 Sep 07 | Commentary, Solar Electric | Comments (0)

Membership in Solar Energy International

07 Jul 07 | Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water, Training

I decided that I should join some of the solar groups out there for several reasons. One, I think it is wise to support the efforts of these groups in spreading the word and offering workshops. Two, I think it is a good way to network. The easiest one to join is Solar Energy International or SEI. They have several levels of membership, beginning at $25.00 and going all the way to $1000.00. I chose the $75.00 “Sustaining member” level. With this membership, I will get a discount at the workshops I plan to attend, and I also get a subscription to Home Power Magazine.

Home Power Magazine looks to be one of the more interesting magazines that cover renewable energy. I have visited their web site many times and they always of interesting up to date content.

There are other organizations out there that are also interesting, but for right now I am going to hold off sending in lots of membership dues until I get my feet on the ground.

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07 Jul 07 | Solar Electric, Solar Hot Water, Training | Comments (0)