August 2008

This in from Forbes.com writers Joshua Zumbrun and Brian Wingfield, in their piece "Solar's Convention In The Sun":

Beneath the blazing August sun, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took the stage in front of Coors Field's outfield bleachers and said that importing energy "is the principal drag on American capitalism and American prosperity."

The solution to the problem was literally beating down on him. At least that's the message at solar energy's keystone event at the Democratic National Convention. Kennedy, environmental lawyer and son of Robert F. Kennedy Sr., was the keynote speaker at the Solar Energy Industries Association's SunFest 2008.

SEIA's Wednesday afternoon event epitomized just how far and how fast the industry has come. In addition to Kennedy, several congressmen, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., spoke at the event.

"People have been saying solar is out in left field, and today we are out in left field of Coors Field," said SEIA President Rhone Resch.

In Denver, at least, the solar industry is feeling loved, seizing on the twin issues of energy and the environment to boost its profile. "It's great to be wanted at a convention," Resch remarked. "By Tuesday, I'd lost my voice talking to people. It's a fundamentally different convention than in the past."

Click here for the complete story.

Editor's note:  HelioPower's Steve LoRusso reported from the scene after his performance, "It was hot.  It was exciting and it was very gratifying to see the kind of support the industry garnered here today!"  See HelioBlog post dated August 22 for more info.

By Scott Gordon, Director of Sales, HelioPower

Every Monday morning I hear the procession of truck engines and hydraulic arms working their way through my neighborhood. One truck comes for my trash, a second for my green waste (lawn clippings and such), and the last picks up my recycling. The trash is eventually buried, the green waste composted, and the recycling, well, recycled. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, and all that jazz, but have you ever wondered what happens to all that recycled stuff we throw away? That’s right – throw away. Just because the bin’s a different color doesn’t change the significance of this wasteful action. One could argue that while recycling has its virtues, it actually goes a long way toward encouraging waste. We throw our recycling in the blue or green bin, and a trash truck (I mean recycling truck) hauls it out of sight and out of mind. We hope these materials are eventually refashioned into something useful once again, but is the process of recycling itself really green? Sure it’s better than the alternative (burying it), but how green is recycling? I guess it depends. In an attempt to answer this question, let’s take a look at the afterlife of a discarded plastic bottle.

After you’ve enjoyed that cold bottle of water and tossed it in the recycling bin a lengthy chain of events kicks off to convert that plastic bottle into something new and exciting, right? Well, 80% of the time, your bottle winds up in the landfill anyway regardless of your intentions. For the 20% that make the journey to resurrection, it’s a long arduous road.

Your bottle is tossed into a container marked for recycling. Once a week, a large diesel fueled truck rumbles through your neighborhood and collects these relics and hauls them off to a sorting center. There your bottle is separated from the riffraff and joins ranks with millions of bottles just like it and is compacted into large cubes or shredded and baled. From here, your bottle is placed onto another diesel truck or train and usually exported to China for use in manufacturing plastic stuff. After arriving in China via container ship, your bottle is loaded on another diesel truck where it is transported to a facility that processes the bales into plastic pellets. These pellets are the primary ingredient used in molded and extruded plastic. The pellets are eventually shipped to a factory where they are molded into something you might find useful again, packaged, and loaded onto a diesel truck; taken to the port; loaded onto a container ship; sent across the Pacific, loaded onto another diesel truck, taken to a distribution center, loaded onto another truck, delivered to the store, purchased by you, brought home in your SUV, used for a brief time, and finally re-recycled.

The amount of energy consumed to recycle your bottle is immense. So immense in fact, that the earth would’ve been significantly better off if you drank that water out of the tap from a glass rather than from a bottle. More on this later.

Wednesday, August 27^th HelioPower’s own Steve LoRusso will

join solar power industry executives and political dignitaries at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) SunFest Party in Denver for the Democratic National Convention.  The event is billed as an outdoor concert and solar festival powered by the sun and will be held at Coors Field.

Clean energy sector venture capitalist and musical talent, Chuck McDermott, opens the show.  Steve follows with two songs supporting the environmental movement, Wake Up Neighbor, which he wrote and Wonderful World.

Steve said, “I played Wake Up Neighbor 2 years ago at the Sharp Annual Meeting.  Rhone Resch, President of the SEIA was a guest speaker.   Armstrong’s Wonderful World has become somewhat of a theme song for Earth Day, so it is very appropriate as a vision for the solar power industry.”

The SunFest program includes Rhone Resch, who will deliver the welcome remarks followed by presentations from Denver Mayor John W Hickenlooper, Congressman Paul W. Hodes of New Hampshire, Arizona Governor Jane Napolitano, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, Bobby Kennedy Jr., Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Congressman John Hall of New York.

Excerpts from Steve’s song Wake Up Neighbor (printed with his permission):

Wake Up, Wake Up Neighbor don’t let it get you down

Work with solar energy and there will be enough to go around…

 

Look Up, Look Up Neighbor and see what can be found

If we work with solar energy there’re be enough to go around…

 

If you look up in the sky you’ll see the sun shining the light of liberty

There’s power in the sun, it’s not just rainbows in the sky.

 

If we’d only learn to work with the light, we’d set our nation free

Freedom, energy of the light, giving us all that we need!

James L. Price, retired Senior Master Sergeant, USAF, lives in Lompoc, CA.  In May he started his research on solar energy systems, envisioning a system to save him money on his household electricity bill.  His search brought him to the HelioPower team.

Initially he talked with Kyle Lynn, the company's sales coordinator.  "Kyle, you were the first person I talked to that got me started on an exciting journey.  Thanks for taking the time to answer all my fact finding questions" said Mr. Price.

Kyle asked HelioPower energy consultant, Vanessa Wendling to work with James on his new system.  Mr. Price said, "Vanessa, thank you for being so patient with me.  I've lost count of how many times I called you at work and at home, late in the evening, not to mention the numerous times you called me keeping me well informed about what was going on.  I finally had the chance to meet you after (your) five hour drive to Lompoc for the on-site evaluation.  You had no fear when you climbed up onto my roof to take the necessary measurements.  After crunching all the numbers for the roof instsallation, the pole and ground mount systems and reviewing all the pertinent dates, I decided that the ground mount would be the best way to go."

Next Vanessa worked with New Resource Bank to secure the financing for James' system.  Rebates are a critical component to savings on a new solar power panel system.  On the HelioPower team, Jane Kamangar assisted James with his rebate paperwork.  He says, "Jane thanks for all the documents you sent to me and keeping me well informed on what was happening with the extremely important rebate program."

Bert Paddie, project manager, moved the Mitsubishi 185 Photovoltaic ground mounted system forward with his design drawings and project implementation.  Bert kept the track record on this project going well with, as Mr. Price describes, "impressive paperwork and drawings.  When I submitted the plans to the city for review I was informed that it would take at least 2 weeks for approval.  The permit to install the system was issued to me in just one week."

The project was now in the installation phase.  Tim Molek was the Lead Supervisor, working with technical assistants Tony Molek and Ryan Williamson.

Mr. Price describes the installation process:

On 5, 6 and 7^th August 08, I had a ground-mounted Photovoltaic System installed in my back yard. 

After obtaining all the necessary materials and equipment, they (the crew) immediately went to work filling ten pre-dug holes with galvanized pipe and concrete.

The first thing I noticed was how well they worked together as a team.  The work was hard and dirty but the coordination of the crew was phenomenal.  They continued to work until the concrete was poured and the posts properly distanced and perfectly aligned according to the post detail specification drawing.

All went well the following day, with the installation of the solar modules, inverter, three electrical disconnect boxes, conduit and all the necessary wiring required for final inspection.

Thanks to everyone for a job well done. You’re the BEST!”

James L. Price, pictured here, with his new solar power system in Lompoc, CA

With electricity rates rising dramatically in response to accelerating oil and natural gas prices, seniors can use reverse mortgages to save on their electric bill and stabilize their household budget.  Volatile electricity bills can blow the top off the average senior’s fixed income budget.  Southern California Edison, the largest electricity provider in California, has requested a 25-30% price increase this year alone.  By installing a solar panel system utilizing photovoltaic technology, a homeowner’s electricity bill can be greatly reduced or eliminated altogether. 

With a reverse mortgage, seniors can generate much needed cash while reserving the right to remain in their home until they die without having to make any payments to the bank. Many seniors qualify for reverse mortgages of between $200K and $300K.

“If a senior qualifies for a $250K line of credit via a reverse mortgage, that individual could take an estimated 10% of the amount and purchase a solar system for his home,” said Scott Gordon, Director of Residential Sales for HelioPower, a leading solar panel installation company in California.  “This is smart since most seniors live on a fixed income and their electric bill represents a highly inflationary monthly expense. Since there is no obligation to pay the loan back, buying a solar system with a reverse mortgage is cash flow positive day one and thus frees up other income otherwise dedicated to paying for electricity.”

Additionally a solar panel system adds value to the home the day it is turned on! According to the Appraisal Journal, a home's value is increased by $20,000 for every $1,000 reduction in operating (energy) costs. Money saved from the reduction in energy costs can be spent on a larger mortgage or home, with no net change in the monthly cost of owning the home. In addition, the resale value of adding a solar system can be the highest of all possible home improvements. For more information click here.

You can calculate how much money a solar power panel system will save you by clicking here.

In today's news, Helio Energy Management Solutions, (HelioEMS), an energy services company, announced its Energy Efficiency contract with food ingredient manufacturer, Amoretti®, the Title Sponsor of the National as well as the World Pastry Team Championships since 2005.

To support Amoretti’s sustainable energy goals, the Energy Efficiency contract will implement lighting, HVAC and monitoring facility improvement measures based on the findings of an initial Energy Audit conducted by HelioEMS.  The company engineers and installs energy solutions designed to provide sustainable energy, improve facility efficiency and reduce energy costs.

“Amoretti manufacturers over 1800 ingredients for the food industry in one facility located in Oxnard, CA explained HelioEMS Managing Director, Thomas R. (TR) Bietsch.  “The Energy Audit we conducted revealed we could help them manage their energy usage more efficiently and reduce their overall energy consumption. The essential deliverables included using less energy, intelligently controlling the load and shedding load per the utility request in demand response. These objectives support both their company financial and environmental goals.”

The contract calls for the reduction of HVAC and refrigeration costs and related engineering including lighting improvements, monitoring and long term energy planning, aimed at reducing peak demand and developing a demand response strategy which will include load shifting and other strategies.

“Perfection is the mission we bring to our food ingredient preparation,” said Amoretti Chief Executive Officer, Jack Barsoumian.  “Working with the HelioEMS team, we are able to bring this same passion to our sustainable energy goals.”

Both the wind and solar industries depend on these credits — which expire in December — to scale their businesses and become competitive with coal, oil and natural gas. Unlike offshore drilling, these credits could have an immediate impact on America’s energy profile.

From "Eight Strikes and You're Out," by New York Times Op Ed Columnist, Thomas L. Friedman.  For the entire article including information on the presidential candidates voting records on the Federal Investment Tax Credits for renewable energy, click here.

Out on the wires this morning, comes a major announcement from Citi and Helio Micro Utility…

Citi and Helio Micro Utility Announce

the Green Energy Community Investment Fund ^™

Initial Phase of new Fund will Power up to Four Megawatts of Commercial and Public Sector

Solar Energy System Installations

New York, NY and Berkeley, CA, August 14, 2008/ Citi Community Capital, a division of Citi, and Helio Micro Utility today announced the creation of the Green Energy Community Investment Fund to initially finance up to four megawatts of solar electricity production this year.  Through this new initiative, solar power systems will be installed on qualifying commercial and public sector facilities throughout the U.S., with an emphasis on underserved communities.   Helio mU, headquartered in Berkeley, CA, provides solar electricity to commercial, residential and not-for-profit customers with little or no initial capital outlay through long term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

The first of its kind in the clean energy sector, the Green Energy Community Investment Fund™ puts a special focus on commercial, non-profit and public entities in low and moderate income areas.  The Fund will follow the same model as the established Helio Green Energy Plan™, enabling qualifying entities to buy the power generated from a solar installation rather than the panels themselves, thus providing upfront savings and smoothing the path to solar adoption. 

“Energy is a major concern in the everyday operation of businesses and organizations across America,” said Andrew Ditton, Managing Director of Citi Community Capital.  “This Fund is an excellent opportunity for us to expand the mission of our community development efforts to bring affordable green energy solutions to facilities primarily in low and moderate income areas. It also supports Citi's 2007 announcement of $50 billion in investment and financing over 10 years to address global climate change. We are pleased to work with the Helio Micro Utility team on this vital environmental and economic initiative.”

Helio Micro Utility Chairman, Ian Rogoff, explained “we created Helio Micro Utility in order to introduce innovative renewable energy finance and supply chain offerings to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy solutions.  With the Green Energy Community Investment Fund, we have partnered with Citi to combine their environmental and community goals, and global financial strength, with our first-of-their-kind financial products for dramatically accelerated solar power adoption among traditionally under-served markets.”

“We are delighted with Citi’s support, and especially proud to work with them to expand the use of solar energy to help our planet while also serving local communities,” said Mo Rousso, President & CEO of Helio mU.   “With budget cuts, rising energy and gasoline prices and economic pressures, it is more crucial than ever for businesses, schools and non profit organizations of all types to receive assistance now.  With this support from Citi Community Capital, we are able to offer much needed help to reduce and stabilize energy costs and reduce dependence on brown energy.”

In 2007 Citi Community Capital (CCC), formerly Citibank Community Development, provided up to $5 billion for affordable housing and community revitalization projects in locations around the country.  The Green Energy Community Investment Fund is part of Citi’s U.S. initiative to support business and community improvement with programs that also include environmentally positive objectives.

The Green Energy Community Investment Fund was created to support the installation of solar electricity systems on commercial and public sector buildings. Ideal criteria for participation in this new program include:

• Solar projects that can be completed prior to the end of 2008 so that the benefits of the Federal Incentive Tax Credit (ITC) program can be applied to the solar power system installation cost.
• Customer sites that are owner occupied or have more than 10 years remaining on the building lease.
• Sites that have adequate roof space for a solar electricity system capable of generating at least 50 kW, or approximately 9,000 square feet of space.
• Sites that have unobstructed sun exposure year round.
• Sites that are paying over $2,000 per month in electricity bills.
• Sites in California, New Jersey, or other states with existing state-level solar incentive programs

Tom Millhoff, Vice President of Business Development for Helio mU will lead the qualification process of facilities for the fund.  “We will move quickly to evaluate building sites and install solar power systems this year. We encourage interested customers to contact us, particularly for projects that can be completed by the end of this year.  In addition to end customers, solar power integration firms who have non-residential projects which might qualify for support from the Green Energy Community Investment Fund™ should contact us immediately,” said Mr. Millhoff.

For more information:

Citi Community Capital

The community development division of Citi was created to fulfill the diverse community development lending and investment activity in one distinct business unit. The business, now called Citi Community Capital (CCC), was launched in 2000.  In 2007, CCC merged with the Affordable Housing unit of the Municipal Securities Division which made available an even wider array of financial products that can be structured to fit our clients’ objectives.

CCC helps community development financial institutions, real estate developers, national intermediaries and non-profit organizations achieve their goals through a broad, integrated platform of debt and equity offerings.  Within CCC is a dedicated investment team that specializes in renewable energy, New Markets, and other community development oriented investing.  For more information, please visit www.citi.com/citigroup/citizen/community or contact Danielle Romero-Apsilos at 212-816-2264.

Citi
Citi, the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries, providing consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth management. Citi's major brand names include Citibank, CitiFinancial, Primerica, Citi Smith Barney and Banamex. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com or www.citi.com.  
 

Helio Micro Utility (Helio mU) 

Helio mU is a green power pioneer, selling solar energy without the upfront cost of panels.  The Company provides solar electricity to commercial, residential and not-for-profit customers with little or no initial capital outlay through its Green Energy Plan ^TM.  The Helio Green Energy Plan guarantees customers receive cost-effective and predictable energy pricing and maximum system performance over the life of the agreement. Helio mU is headquartered in Berkeley, CA.  For more information please visit: www.HeliomU.com and www.BuyPowerNotPanels.com or call toll free at 1.866.862.2806.

From New York Times Op Ed Columnist, Thomas L. Friedman, this weekend came his comparison to energy policy creation after the '73 oil embargo between Denmark and the U.S, and the results of each countries policies:

Frankly, when you compare how America has responded to the 1973 oil shock and how Denmark has responded, we look pathetic.

“I have observed that in all other countries, including in America, people are complaining about how prices of [gasoline] are going up,” Denmark’s prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told me. “The cure is not to reduce the price, but, on the contrary, to raise it even higher to break our addiction to oil. We are going to introduce a new tax reform in the direction of even higher taxation on energy and the revenue generated on that will be used to cut taxes on personal income — so we will improve incentives to work and improve incentives to save energy and develop renewable energy.”

Because it was smart taxes and incentives that spurred Danish energy companies to innovate, Ditlev Engel, the president of Vestas — Denmark’s and the world’s biggest wind turbine company — told me that he simply can’t understand how the U.S. Congress could have just failed to extend the production tax credits for wind development in America.

Why should you care?

“We’ve had 35 new competitors coming out of China in the last 18 months,” said Engel, “and not one out of the U.S.”

For the complete article, published August 9, click here.