Va. Solar Program Gets New Life

Virginia has restarted its energy rebate program as of March 22. Approximately $3.5 million will fund the Virginia Solar and Wind Incentive Program, which defrays the costs of solar electric, solar thermal and small wind energy systems for residents, businesses and non-profits. Another $6.5 billion is available for the Virginia Energy Efficiency Rebate Program. The first round of $20 million in rebates for the two programs was sold out in three weeks when it was offered in October.

Massachusetts is on a roll when it comes to solar: The solar electric market there has experienced triple-digit growth for two straight years!

The outlook for solar power in California just got sunnier. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation February 26 that raises the cap on the amount of customer-generated solar power utilities must reimburse through net-metering credits. Net-metering allows homes and businesses to receive credits if they generate more solar power than they can use. In effect, the customer sells the excess power to the electric grid and gets credit for it.

Updated March 22: The revamped SolarGenerations incentive program being run by NV Energy will now start taking applications April 21 at 12 p.m. PT. NV Energy moved the date back from March 24 in order to provide a better opportunity for customers to submit a more complete application.

The orders are piling up for at least one solar installer in Allentown, Pa., all because of snow on the rooftops. His company can’t put up solar panels until all that white stuff from the Blizzard of 2010 melts.

This week 32 solar powered cars from 17 countries have converged on Australia's outback to compete for the title of World Solar Car Champion. The race, the "World Solar Challenge" takes place every two years - giving teams ample time to raise money, design, build and test their dream vehicles. It's a unique event and there are 5 reasons to love every part of it.

If there ever was an event for our time, it is the Solar Decathlon (original post w/video) on the National Mall in Washington DC, the fourth one of which just concluded. Begun in 2002, with support from the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE), The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and BP Solar, the Solar Decathlon brings together 20 universities from the U.S., and some from overseas, to erect innovative, full sized, green, solar powered, energy efficient homes in a "solar town" on the expanse of grass in front of the Nation's Capitol.

Last week I had the honor and privilege of attending the invitation-only 5th Clinton Global Initiative in New York City (video). No event in history brings together so many current and former heads of state, non-government organization heads, international development professionals, corporate CEOs, investment bankers, Nobel prize winners, foundation executives, philanthropists, peace makers, energy leaders, environmental activists, and the media. It was no less mind-boggling for me this time than it was my first time, four years ago (I missed the first one). President Obama opened the event, and talked about how he had learned from his mother about international development. Hillary closed the CGI on Friday with a rousing speech about the role of women and girls as they relate to the world's problems (this year's overarching theme).

The idea is great, and it works, but the name is terrible. It came out of Germany in English translation. We should call it "clean energy purchase" or "solar buy back" or at least Feed-in Rate, since we pay electric utility rates, not tariffs.