North Carolina Utilities Commission Wins Praise For Helping Unleash the Power of the Sun

Peter Hanlon

Contact: Regina Weiss, 212-991-1069, regina@gracelinks.org; Peter Hanlon, 212-991-1831, peter@newenergychoices.org

National advocacy group zeros in on state’s progress

August 4, 2008 – The New York based Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) commends the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s (NCUC) on its recent decision to advance clean energy. New standards adopted by NCUC will reduce fees and shorten waiting periods for North Carolina electric customers who want to connect their solar or wind generators to the electric grid. The effect will be to ease restrictions on customer-sited electricity generation, expanding residents’ choices for managing their energy consumption and keeping their bills low.

"According to preliminary analysis for our upcoming report, Freeing the Grid: 2008 Edition, North Carolina is on the right track," said NNEC’s James Rose. Freeing the Grid, which tracks government actions to promote renewable energy in all 50 states, is due out in the fall. "The standards the Commission adopted meet and exceed federal guidelines designed to promote clean energy production," Rose added. "The new standards push North Carolina to the head of the class, with a grade of B, up from last year’s F."

The new interconnection standards are an important building block that will help bring the solar industry to the state. Solar energy creates more jobs per megawatt than any other source of energy. Under the newly adopted Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (Senate Bill 3), demand has been created for clean, renewable energy. The new interconnection standards are the first step in meeting this demand.

"Under the specter of a lagging economy, the NCUC has put the state a step closer to a thriving solar industry," said Claudia Eyzaguirre of the Vote Solar Initiative, a national group working to bring solar power to the mainstream. "The emerging solar industry promises green collar job creation and investment in the state’s economy."

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) issued a statement saying, "The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) congratulates the North Carolina Utilities Commission for taking a strong step forward with its new interconnection standard. IREC believes that the Commission's new standard will help move North Carolina to the front of the pack in facilitating the growth of renewable distributed generation."

"The improvements to the interconnection rules fit with the broader policy reforms that we have seen in North Carolina over the last year," said Rosalie R. Day, Policy Director of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. "The regulatory environment is clearly signaling an interest in adopting renewable technologies."

"Easy to understand and use interconnection standards are critical for achieving the goals of the North Carolina Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards," said Richard Harkrader, owner of Carolina Solar Energy. "The new standard makes the process for larger systems predictable and gives new renewable energy businesses, such as mine, confidence in our ability to plan and install new renewable energy generation systems."

"We are excited to see the North Carolina Utilities Commission making strides to meet the renewable energy goals set forth in the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards," said Maria Kingery, Co-founder of Southern Energy Management. "By making it easier for businesses to invest in renewable power generation, these new standards will help spur growth in North Carolina’s fledgling green economy and encourage the creation of more good jobs for our state."

"North Carolina has proven itself again a leader in the South on renewable energy policy," said NNEC’s Rose. "The next logical step is to update the state’s net metering rules."

The commission will re-evaluate net metering in late August and has the opportunity to improve the state’s current grade of F in this category, according to NNEC. Net metering allows electricity consumers to help meet clean energy goals by crediting the excess electricity produced by private solar systems connected to the grid.

With EPA Ruling on Ethanol Looming New Research Highlights Environmental Costs

With EPA Ruling on Ethanol Looming New Research Highlights Environmental Costs

Contact: Regina Weiss – 212-991-1069; 917-288-5251; regina@gracelinks.org

Study indicates corn ethanol more polluting than regular gasoline

July 29, 2008 - With the EPA about to announce whether it will waive a federal requirement that would increase the amount of biofuel drivers get at the pump, some analysts are pointing to the environmental costs of ethanol.

Recent debate over corn ethanol has focused on its role in higher food prices, with environmental costs taking a back seat. However, research published in the journal Science indicates that producing corn ethanol creates twice the global warming emissions of regular gasoline due to the conversion of forest and grassland to cropland. At the same time, a report by the Network for New Energy Choices details current environmental costs of corn ethanol production, including soil erosion, depletion of fresh water supplies and destruction of ocean habitat endangering fish and other marine life.

Last year alone 12 million new acres of corn were brought into production in the U.S., contributing to the depletion of fresh water supplies and adding to agro-chemical runoff from the nation’s corn belt that has already created an enormous "dead zone" – the size of New Jersey and growing – in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The environmental damage caused by the rapid conversion of land for corn production, including recent analysis showing that ethanol will increase, rather than decrease greenhouse gas emissions, strongly argues against new federal mandates for additional ethanol production," said Dulce Fernandes, associate director of the Network for New Energy Choices. "Meanwhile, there are immediate steps we believe our nation should take to balance energy demands with the need to address climate change and preserve the nation’s farmland and water supply."

The Network’s report, "The Rush to Ethanol: Not All Biofuels Are Created Equal," is available here. In a letter sent to members of Congress last week accompanied by the report, Network analysts advised that the EPA should be allowed to waive the corn-based component of the federal biofuels mandate and initiate research authorized by the 2007 federal energy bill to study the impacts of expanding corn ethanol production. In addition, they proposed that sustainability criteria be established for the production of ethanol and the feed stocks grown to make it.

"Biofuels will undeniably play a part in our energy future," Fernandes said. "Now is the time to study the effects, so that we adopt them in ways that are beneficial, rather than destructive."

NNEC supports Task Force's call for expanded net metering in NY

NNEC supports Task Force's call for expanded net metering in NY

James Rose

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 26, 2008

CONTACT: James Rose (212) 991-1832

Focus on Net Metering Expansion in Lt. Governor’s Task Force Report Draws Praise from The Vote Solar Initiative and Network for New Energy Choices

NEW YORK, NY - The Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) and the Vote Solar Initiative applaud the Renewable Energy Task Force and Lieutenant Governor David A. Patterson’s heavy support for expanded net metering in their first report. The report entitled, Clean, Secure Energy and Economic Growth: A Commitment to Renewable Energy and Enhanced Energy Independence, speaks encouragingly about New Yorker’s ability to run their meters backwards with clean technologies, like solar and wind. Net metering is the billing arrangement by which customers realize savings from their renewable energy systems, where 1-kWh (kilowatt-hour) generated by the customer has the exact same value (in cents/kWh) as 1-kWh consumed by the customer.

“Energy policy, with its direct impact on the economy and the environment, is one of the key issues facing New York State and we commend Lt. Governor Paterson and the Task Force for the report’s recommendations”, says NNEC Director Kyle Rabin. “In addition to the obvious benefits for the environment, a strong net metering policy will also aid in the development of New York’s clean energy industry which in turn can help to reinvigorate the state’s economy, in particular revitalizing the upstate economy.”

“New York’s leaders have a real opportunity to transform what is one of the country’s most restrictive net metering programs into one of the nation’s strongest”, states NNEC’s James Rose. “If the state fails to make the necessary changes to its net metering policy, then New York is essentially telling the renewable energy industry, with its great potential for job creation, that the state is closed for business. Neighboring states, like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, have very strong net metering programs. In fact, New Jersey continues to look for ways to improve its program. New York must not get left behind.”

As noted and recommended in the Task Force’s report, there are several ways in which New York can improve its net metering policy. The commitments mirror NNEC’s Freeing the Grid 2007 report, which lays out the best practices embodied within some state net metering programs. The most notable ways in which New York can improve its net metering program are:

• Increase system size to at least 2-MW (megawatts): System sizes should be expanded to meet customer needs. Large commercial operations have loads that can run in the tens of megawatts. A good net metering program should allow these customers to have at least a 2-MW clean energy system.

• Open up net metering to ALL customer classes: NY’s net metering program currently is limited to residential and agricultural, meaning businesses cannot benefit from this important energy cost hedge. New York and Indiana are the only two states, out of 40, with net metering programs this restrictive.

"The Vote Solar Initiative is thrilled with Lt. Gov Paterson's leadership on renewable energy. The recommendation to improve net metering, with the clear goal of giving all customer classes, most importantly New York businesses, the ability to receive credit for producing clean energy is welcomed progress. Expanded net metering rules are a good first step towards the goal of being a national leader. With all the proper policies in place, the sky is the limit for solar power in New York." says Shaun Chapman, East Coast Campaign Director for the Vote Solar Initiative.

NNEC and the Vote Solar Initiative applaud the Lieutenant Governor and the Task Force for doing the important daily work to improve New York’s clean energy future and looks forward to working with leaders in 2008 to make essential changes to New York’s net metering policy to help reinvigorate our economy, and bring more clean power to New Yorkers.

Governor Supports Clean Energy for New York

Governor Supports Clean Energy for New York

Shaun Chapman

Governor Supports Clean Energy for New York: Renewables an Important Part of State of the State Address

NEW YORK, NY - The Network for New Energy Choices (NNEC) is delighted about Governor Eliot Spitzer’s support of clean energy technologies and policies in his State of the State speech. Specifically, NNEC is pleased with his mention of net metering. The Governor spoke encouragingly about New Yorker’s ability to run their meters backwards with clean technologies, like solar and wind. Net metering is the billing arrangement by which customers realize savings from their renewable energy systems, where 1-kWh (kilowatt-hour) generated by the customer has the exact same value (in cents/kWh) as 1-kWh consumed by the customer.

“Energy policy, with its direct impact on the economy and the environment, is one of the key issues facing New York State and we commend Governor Spitzer’s initiatives and comments”, says NNEC Director Kyle Rabin. “In addition to the obvious benefits for the environment, a strong net metering policy will also aid in the development of New York’s clean energy industry which in turn can help to reinvigorate the state’s economy, in particular revitalizing the upstate economy.”

“New York’s leaders have a real opportunity to transform what is one of the country’s most restrictive net metering programs into one of the nation’s strongest”, says Rabin. “If the state fails to make the necessary changes to its net metering policy, then New York is essentially telling the renewable energy industry, with its great potential for job creation, that the state is closed for business. Neighboring states, like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, have very strong net metering programs. In fact, New Jersey continues to look for ways to improve its program. We’d hate to see New York get left behind.”

There are several ways in which New York can improve. NNEC’s Freeing the Grid 2007 report, a coalition piece, lays out the best practices embodied within some state net metering programs. The report also grades net metering programs across the nation. The most notable ways in which New York can improve its net metering program:

Increase system size to at least 2-MW (megawatts): System sizes should be expanded to meet customer needs. Large commercial operations have loads that can run in the tens of megawatts. A good net metering program should allow these customers to have a 2 to 3-MW clean energy system.

Open up net metering to ALL customer classes: NY’s net metering program currently is limited to residential and agricultural, meaning businesses can not benefit from this important energy cost hedge. Indiana and New York are the only two states, out of 40, with net metering programs this restrictive.

“As Freeing the Grid 2007 points out, without exception, significant deployment of clean, customer-sited, renewable energy only occurs in states with modern net metering policies”, comments James Rose, Policy Analyst for NNEC. He goes on to add, “Because of neighborhood NIMBY-ism, it is a struggle to settle disputes about power plant and transmission line siting. Net metering is a way to get people to say, ‘YES! In my back yard!’”

While NNEC understands the importance of support in this critical speech, NNEC recognizes that speech without action is simply rhetoric. NNEC applauds the Governor’s administration for doing the important daily work to improve New York’s clean energy future and looks forward to working with leaders in 2008 to make essential changes to New York’s net metering law to help reinvigorate our economy, and bring more clean power to New Yorkers.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition Stopping the Solar Photovoltaic Waste Stream Before It Starts

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition Stopping the Solar Photovoltaic Waste Stream Before It Starts

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is evolving rapidly to address today’s global climate and energy challenges. The industry’s dramatic expansion and its use of new and increasingly complex materials raise serious health and environmental issues, both in product manufacturing and throughout product lifecycles. A major concern is the fate of millions of PV panels currently in use.

The U.S. generates an estimated 2.2 million tons of e-waste annually…

Today’s solar PV sector bears striking similarities to the emerging electronics industry of the 1980s, when supposedly “clean” manufacturing plants polluted Silicon Valley groundwater, causing death and illness in nearby communities. The high-tech industry’s failure to plan for safe end-of-life product disposal has resulted in a global flood of electronic waste (e-waste). The U.S. generates an estimated 2.2 million tons of e-waste annually, and this will continue to grow with the industry’s rapid rate of technological change.i U.S. e-waste is currently shipped to the poorest parts of the world for manual disassembly and recovery of valuable scrap materials. It is anticipated that in 30 years the world’s poorest in cities like Nairobi, Delhi, and Manila (and also in U.S. prisons) may be sorting our solar PV waste.

The solar PV industry is poised to produce clean and renewable energy to meet the challenges posed by climate change. With the solar PV sector still emerging, we have a limited window of opportunity to address both manufacturing and end-of-life issues and create a truly clean and sustainable solar energy sector. Our failure to do so will risk repeating the disastrous environmental legacy of the electronics industry.

To ensure that this new industrial sector is safe and sustainable, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) is launching the Clean and Just Solar Industry initiative. As a leader in the fight for a clean and safe high-tech industry, SVTC brings more than 25 years of experience to the environmental, health, and safety issues now facing the solar PV sector. Modeled on SVTC’s landmark work in the electronics industry, the project’s goals are to ensure that:

• Solar PV manufacturers implement programs to take back decommissioned solar panels and recycle the panels responsibly.

• Manufacturers address potential end-of-life hazards in the product design and production processes. Requiring manufacturers to take back their own panels will create incentives to design products that can be recycled in a safe and cost-effective manner.

• Solar PV manufacturers work to eliminate the use of materials that are hazardous to human health and to the environment.

• Solar sector jobs are “green jobs” throughout the supply chain,ii and workers are treated in a socially just manner. The minimum acceptable guidelines would be those outlined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.iii

• Workers and communities are not exposed to harmful materials in the manufacturing, use, disposal, and recycling of PV products.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the potential hazards posed by current PV technology and lays out some of the challenges the industry faces in addressing end-of-life disposal and recycling. SVTC is also preparing an in-depth report that examines environmental, health, and safety impacts associated with the solar industry throughout the entire lifecycle of solar products.

Lawmakers want to explore sun, wind

Submitted by lstolzen on Thu, 10/30/2008 - 11:18am

• News Item

By Anton Caputo - Express-News
January's legislative session could be a big one for renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal.

That's the message state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, Rep. Mike Villarreal and others brought to the Solar San Antonio Legislative Breakfast Thursday morning.

Lawmakers said they expect to build next session on the recent political momentum generated by the state's decision to spend $5 billion on transmission projects to move wind generated power from West Texas and the Panhandle to the state's larger cities. The results could mean several pieces of new legislation to help jumpstart a wide array of renewable energy sources. Texas already leads the nation in wind production.

The legislation will likely include a $250 million state bond for renewable energy projects, an expenditure that would also have to be approved by voter referendum. The bond nearly passed last session, said Van de Putte, but was dropped late in the session in favor of other spending priorities.

Renewable energy proponents are also eyeing a statewide requirement to produce a certain amount of energy, possibly 3,000 megawatts by 2020, by renewable energy other than wind.

Such requirements have been key in the state's wind energy success, which proponents like Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, are seeking to emulate with solar.

“Next session I think we're really going to be looking at solar in a different light,” she said. “It is no secret to anyone that we have the perfect weather conditions.”

The Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association will also lobby the legislature to boost the market for residential solar power by requiring that a certain amount of energy be produced by small-distributed power projects like home solar panels and small-scale windmills.