In this March 2009 Issue
Incentives can cut the net cost of many solar systems in half, or more. Financing helps bridge the gap until incentive payments are received from government agencies.
Homeowners in Maryland and the District of Columbia now have the option of securing a "bridge loan" at no cost for 12 months to help finance the purchase of solar electric systems through Standard Solar's new "Go Solar Payment Program."
This first-of-its-kind unsecured loan program for solar electric systems in Maryland and DC is offered exclusively through Standard Solar. It makes as much as $45,000 available to qualifying homeowners to use while waiting for incentive payments being offered by government programs. These programs include, but are not limited to, the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit, the Maryland Solar Grant program, property tax credits in certain Maryland counties and the District's new Renewable Energy Incentive Program.
"For homeowners who repay the loan within 12 months, this essentially is free money," said Standard Solar President and Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Clifford. "Our friends at EnerBankUSA share our vision for helping people realize now the benefits of solar electric systems without it costing them more out of pocket."
If you know of neighbor, co-worker, a friend in one of your many networks or even a fellow worshiper who might be interested in this program, please have them call us at (301) 944-1200 or email us at info@standardsolar.com. Alternatively, pass along this newsletter or have them go to this URL: http://www.standardsolar.com/News-and-Events/Press-Releases/Go-Solar-Payment-Program.aspx.
Logo for Washington, DC's New Renewable Energy Incentive Program, REIP Banner for Standard Solar's new microsite dedicated to DC's new REIP
The District of Columbia has launched its long-awaited Renewable Energy Incentive Program. Under the "GreenDC" banner, the District's newly forming Office of Policy and Sustainability, is offering one of the nation's leading solar incentive programs -- while the money lasts.
The announcement by the DC Department of Environment puts home solar panel systems within reach for thousands of District homeowners and hundreds of businesses. It's funding however, is not likely to last long so interested parties should move very quickly to secure what essentially is an up-front rebate.
The new incentives are based on the kilowatt output of the system to be installed. It pays $3 for each of the first 3,000 watts, $2 for each of the next 7,000 watts and $1 for each of the 10,000 watts after that. The program is designed to make the largest incentives available for typical home systems including arrays of panels that can fit on the roofs of row houses that are prevalent throughout many District neighborhoods.
In response to the new DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program, we have content packaged online expressly for District homeowners and businesses. On these web pages, we spell out the combined value of the Federal and DC incentives, provide examples of systems and what incentives they would qualify for and outline the steps needed to secure the DC incentive payment. Check it out at www.standardsolar.com/dc.
A provision in the Federal economic stimulus legislation signed into law by President Obama includes a provision that offers commercial entities the option of taking a cash grant equal to 30% of the cost of a solar system from the U.S. Treasury rather than wait to declare a 30% credit on their 2009 or 2010 tax returns.
The new 30 percent grant in the $790 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is a compelling reason to invest in rooftop solar electric systems if businesses can begin the construction of such systems before year-end 2010. The much celebrated 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit which became law January 1, 2009 has been rendered useless to many businesses interested in going solar because those systems were to be financed largely by investors seeking equity stakes in solar systems largely for tax reasons. The market for these "tax equity" financings has all but dried up amid the turmoil in the financial markets and the U.S. banking system.
This 30% solar grant option is widely viewed to be favoring small- to mid-sized solar photovoltaic projects -- a Standard Solar speciality -- because they can be designed and permitted over a few months, enabling construction to begin this year or no later than 2010.
Business owners wanting more information should contact Standard Solar's Rob Busler at robert.busler@standardsolar.com or Jim Pierobon at jim.pierobon@standardsolar.com. Alternatively, call (301) 944-1200.
Vice President Joe Biden kicking off his Middle Class Task Force meeting on green jobs Feb. 27.
This concert hall at the University of Pennsylvania hosted the Middle Class Task Force meeting
A newly-created Middle Class Task Force chaired by Vice President Joe Biden kicked off in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania Friday, February 27 and focused on how "green jobs" for the middle class can help fuel an economic recovery.
Speakers included Van Jones, president of Green for All, Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund and Carol Brown, President Obama's special adviser on energy and climate change. Standard Solar CEO Tony Clifford attended as did several members of the President's newly formed Cabinet including Energy Secretary Steven Chu. Tony submitted these six recommendations:
- Create a national Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). A RPS is a requirement that retail electricity providers (i.e. electric utilities) must secure a minimum portion of their electricity from renewable sources -- solar, wind and geothermal. Right now about half the states have some form of mandatory RPS; but only a dozen have solar-specific requirements. A national Renewable Portfolio Standard will make the entire nation a marketplace for photovoltaics.
- Standardize Utility Interconnection Requirements. Interconnection standards dictate the administrative process and technical specifications that a homeowner or solar installer must follow to install a PV system and connect that system to the local utility's distribution system. These standards vary from state to state and often from utility to utility. Requiring PV installation companies to know and follow many sets of rules and regulations increases the costs to consumers and creates a market barrier, inhibiting widespread adoption of photovoltaics.
- Recognize the True Costs of All Sources of Energy With a Carbon Tax. The delivered costs of fossil fuels do not reflect their true costs to our society -- global warming, other environmental impacts, increased healthcare costs, national defense, government subsidies (oil depletion allowances, rail freight subsidies for coal, etc.). However, established energy sources are wealthy, powerful and heretofore have certainly been able to out-lobby solar energy advocates on the local, state and national level. The result being that the out-of-pocket costs of renewable energy are definitely more than those of fossil fuels. Practically speaking, the most expeditious way to address this issue is with some form of carbon tax.
- Create a National Standard for Net Metering. Net metering programs allow customers who generate more electricity than they consume to sell the excess electricity back to their local utility. While about forty states currently have some kind of net metering program, the amount of electricity that can be sold back varies widely. A single national standard for net metering will eliminate this barrier to rapid market growth.
- Revitalize Tax Equity Financing. Tax equity is a financial term describing investors, typically profitable corporations, who seek out investments that allow them to reduce their federal income taxes. Virtually all of the commercial wind farms and major commercial solar projects that have been installed in the past several years have been financed with tax equity. Until the fourth quarter of 2008, the tax equity financing for renewable energy projects had been provided largely by major banks and other financial institutions that, until that time, were quite profitable. At present there is no viable large-scale source of tax equity to fund renewable energy projects. As a result, growth of the commercial wind and solar business has slowed dramatically.
- Increase DOE funding for Renewables. In the late 1970s the United States was the world leader in renewable energy. Beginning in 1980, the US began to substantially reduce the amount of research funding and other forms of support for renewable energy. Now the middle classes of Germany, Japan, Spain, Denmark and other countries are enjoying the benefits of continued investments in renewables by their countries. We can turn this around. There is plenty of opportunity for innovation in photovoltaics and other renewable technologies. Additional investment in research and development will insure that PV becomes cost competitive with fossil fuels by 2015 and will help create those sustainable green jobs for our Middle Class.
visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/energy_and_environment/ for more information.
The Discovery Sports Center doubles as a facility hosting events near Germantown There is plenty of free parking at the Discovery Sports Center
The growing number of homeowners desiring to build more sustainability into their homes and the household products they use is coming to central Montgomery County Friday, March 13 through Sunday, March 15 and Standard Solar will be exhibiting to help attendees see the light -- and the sunshine.
At this American Consumer Home Show you can see how more energy efficient, less wasteful, greener and more recyclable materials are finding there way into everything from windows and water services to sun rooms and yes, solar panels. You can find us in booth #118.
Pick up a free pass by visiting Standard Solar on any weekday on or before that Friday at our offices at 202 Perry Parkway, #7, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, just off Exit 10 on I-270, about 5 miles south of the exit for Sports Center.. Alternatively, adults pay $9 at the door; anyone under 16 will be admitted free.
Directions to the Sports Center off I-270:
- I-270 Exit 15-B toward Germantown
- Take Rte. 118 South for 2.8 miles
- Right on Richter Farm Rd. and follow 1 mile
- Left on to Schaeffer Rd, and follow the signs
Visit http://www.acshomeshow.com/HGExpo/DSS.html for more information.
The Go Green America Expo at the Montgomery Country Fairgrounds will have Ride-On bus shuttle service to and from the Shady Grove station on the Metro subway.
The Go Green America Expo is holding its first-ever Go Green America Expo Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg. The Expo is partnering with CBS Radio's 94.7 FM "The Globe" to attract individuals, families and businesses who might consider themselves �light green� and want to become more genuinely involved to "Live Greener Every Day!"
The Expo is designed to attract, educate and inspire a change in behavior toward eco-friendliness -- one purchase or decision at a time. To further validate these green purchases, thought-provoking speakers -- including leaders from Standard Solar -- are being assembled on the following topics: Green Building Principals, Eco-Business Efforts, Eco-Sustainability, Eco-Transportation & Mass Transit Alternatives, Organic Food & Nutrition, Eco-Chic Fashion & Beauty, Recycling, Earth-Friendly Kids Topics and more!
All exhibitors must meet eco-friendly criteria prior to participating in the show and all waste generated by the show will be composted with the help of BARC -- Beltsville Agricultural Research Center. Additionally, on behalf of TreesInstead, all attendee's carbon footprint from their participation will be offset by planting 1,200 trees on their behalf. As a further incentive to attend, a portion of ticket sales will go to The Chesapeake Bay Foundation - This non-profit charity provides educational and research dollars toward the efforts to save this 64,000 square mile national treasure.
Tickets and updated information are online at www.gogreenamericaexpo.com or via telephone at 301-294-1640.
Directions to the parking lot for the Expo:
From Frederick and points north:
- Take Exit 11 off I-270 and head east on Montgomery Village Ave.
- Turn right on to Frederick Ave., Route 355
- Turn right on to Perry Parkway, go around the circle and look for the main entrance to the parking lot
From Rockville and points south:
- Take Exit 10 off I-270, circle around and turn left on to Clopper Road
- Take a quick left on to Perry Parkway and follow around, under the train tracks and look for the main entrance to the parking lot
Nightly Business Report Producer Dana Bate stands up for the concluding remarks of her segment on green jobs atop the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, DC. The solar electric system installed by Standard Solar is in the foreground, backed up by the U.S. Capitol.
Nightly Business Report Producer Dana Bate reported on the job engine that clean energy industries are becoming first from the front yard and sun room of one of our newest customers in Potomac, Maryland and then from the rooftop of the U.S. Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, DC
Standard Solar CEO Tony Clifford earned two on-camera appearances in this segment about green jobs. The segment is expected to be viewable in the Nightly Business Report's archive online until around March 10. To view it, go to the URL below and:
http://www.pbs.org/nbr/info/video.html
- Scroll to find the Feb. 26 program
- Locate the thin horizontal bar just above the episode clock ticker.
- Drag the yellow marker to the right to 21 minutes and 50 seconds into the program and start watching in the normal play mode from there.
(Rich Maranto is the brain trust behind MDGoesGreen)
We're privileged to be associated with a new web portal for many things green in Maryland just launched by one of our friends, Rich Maranto, at the URL below. There you will find a "rich" menu of interesting reads about sustainable design, energy efficiency, solar and other forms of renewable energy. The portal includes a listing of local events in Maryland, including actor Ed Begley Jr. speaking and promoting his new book in Annapolis on April 5th.
If you're up to it, you can also ride the green wave to experience the "Twitter" phenomenon that enables people to keep in touch through the exchange of quick, frequent text messages. This is especially useful if you and friends or colleagues are attending some event and want to know what else is going on in two or more places simultaneously (such as our two home shows this month).
Visit and add http://mdgoesgreen.org/ to your favorites.
Standard Solar CEO Tony Clifford argued March 3, 2009 against re-regulating a portion or all of Maryland's electricity market largely because such a move would not address the root causes of current problems in Maryland and other states determining the supply and cost of electricity.
What follows are excerpted responses by Clifford to questions facing Maryland lawmakers amid rising electricity prices:
This bill is bad for renewable industries in Maryland because it "would essentially make the Maryland wind and solar industries hostage to the electric utility industry"... Tying their future to electric utilities "is effectively killing the growth prospects for these now vibrant and potentially very important industries in the state. I do not think this is what the Maryland legislators had in mind when they passed several pro-solar pieces of legislation in the past two sessions. It is certainly now what their constituents are looking for either."
Re-regulation in Maryland will not have an impact on electricity prices because "the costs of fuels currently used to generate electricity are determined by global supply and demand constraints"... These economic facts would not be any different if Maryland had never chosen to deregulate. Likewise, it will be the same in the future whether or not Maryland chooses to re-regulate."
There are no real benefits to re-regulation because "in an era of re-regulation, where is the competitive pressure going to come from to hold prices down? Nowhere -- and the cost of electricity will inevitably rise more quickly than it will in an otherwise competitive market."
Read Clifford's entire statement submitted for the record here: http://www.standardsolar.com/News-and-Events/Press-Releases/Opposing-ReRegulating-MD-s-Electricity-Market.aspx
The recent heavy snowfall in Annapolis belies the impacts of global warming on the Chesapeake Bay nearby.
Delegate Sue Hecht, D-Frederick County, is a co-sponsor of two measures that could boost prospects for more renewable energy in Maryland.
For clean energy advocates in Maryland, the state's legislature is weighing several bills that could impact the future growth of solar energy, including a proposal to launch a statewide loan payment program using a surcharge on property tax bills. What follows are brief synopses, the lead sponsor and/or co-sponsors as of March 2 and the web link to their status. A list of energy-related bills is online at: http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/subjects/energym.htm
- Maryland Clean Energy Loan Payment Program With a New Surcharge on Property Tax Bills -- House Bill 1236: Would provide financial assistance to residential and commercial property owners for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects; authorize a residential or commercial property owner to repay a specified loan through a clean energy surcharge on the owner's property tax bill; authorize the State to impose a clean energy surcharge on specified property; etc. Not cross-filed with a Senate bill by March 1.
Sponsor: Delegate David Rudolph, Cecil County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1236.htm
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2009 -- House Bill 315: Would require the Department of the Environment to publish and update an inventory of statewide greenhouse gas emissions for calendar year 2006; require the State to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 2006 levels by 2020; require the State to develop and adopt a specified plan, adopt specified regulations, and implement specified programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; altering specified requirements; provide for the termination of a specified provision of the Act; etc. Cross-filed with Senate Bill 278.
Delegate Kumar Barve of Montgomery County and the Speaker Michael Busch (By Request - Administration) and Delegates Ali, Barkley, Barnes, Beidle, Benson, Bobo, Branch, Bronrott, Cane, Cardin, Carr, V. Clagett, Feldman, Frick, Frush, Gaines, Gilchrist, Gutierrez, Guzzone, Healey, Hecht, Holmes, Howard, Hubbard, Hucker, Ivey, Kaiser, Kramer, Lafferty, Lee, Levi, Levy, Malone, Manno, McIntosh, Mizeur, Montgomery, Morhaim, Niemann, Pena-Melnyk, Pendergrass, Ramirez, Reznik, Rosenberg, Ross, Schuler, Stein, Stukes, Taylor, F. Turner, V. Turner, Valderrama, Vaughn, and Waldstreicher.
- Maryland Electricity Reregulation and Energy Independence Act of 2009 -- House Bill 1312: Would re-regulate electric markets in Maryland by requiring the Public Service Commission to evaluate plans regarding electric generating needs; requiring the Commission to approve a certificate of public convenience and necessity application only after consideration of need; making a finding and declaration regarding a goal to return to a regulated electric market; requiring that new electric generation facilities be owned by electric companies except under specified circumstances. Cross-filed with Senate Bill 795 , Co-sponsored by Senator E. J. Pipkin, Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne's Counties; and Senator Jim Rosapepe, Prince George's County & Anne Arundel Counties.
Co-sponsored Delegates Michael Smigiel, Caroline, Cecil, Kent & Queen Anne Counties; and Herman Taylor, Montgomery County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1312.htm.
- Public Service Commission - New Electric Generation Facilities - Rate Regulation and Contracts -- Senate Bill 844
Would require the Public Service Commission to evaluate plans regarding generating needs; require the Commission to approve a specified application only after a consideration of specified need; state a goal to return to a regulated electric market; require that new electric generation facilities be owned by electric companies or a consortium; allow new generation facilities to be owned by other specified entities; require electricity to be offered for sale first to electric companies or a consortium. Not cross-filed with any House bill as of March 4.
Lead sponsor: Senator Thomas Middleton, Charles County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0844.htm
- Maryland Environmental Service-Energy Generation Projects -- House Bill 314: Would authorize the Maryland Environmental Service to engage in energy projects and services; authorize counties and municipalities to enter into agreements with the Service without regard to specified limitations or provisions regulating the procurement or awarding of public contracts; etc. Cross-filed with Senate Bill 14.
Lead sponsor: Delegate David Rudolph, Cecil County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0314.htm
- Net Energy Metering for Micro Power and Combined Heat Installations -- House Bill 1057: Would apply net metering to any customer that uses a micro heat and power electric generating facility that meets specified conditions among the list of eligible customer-generators.
Lead sponsor: Delegate Sue Hecht, Frederick County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1057.htm
- Alternative Energy Tax Incentive Act of 2009 -- House Bill 1171: Would exempt from the sales and use tax the sale of residential wind energy equipment; clarifying that solar energy property that uses solar thermal electric energy is exempt from the State and local property tax; exempting from the State and local property tax residential wind energy equipment; and exempting from the State and local property tax methane digesters.
Co-sponsored by Delegates Bartlett, Boteler, Cardin, Carr, Carter, Conaway, George, Haddaway, Ivey, Kullen, Murphy, O'Donnell, Olszewski, Rice, Walker, and Walkup; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1171.htm
- Green Jobs Workforce Training Program -- House Bill 814: Would require the Maryland Energy Administration to administer such a training program; require the Administration to consult regularly with the Governor's Workforce Investment Board, the Maryland Clean Energy Center, and the Department of Business and Economic Development concerning the activities of the Program. Standard Solar's Chief Marketing Officer Jim Pierobon testified February 25 before the House Economic Matters Committee for funds to be budgeted for this program, including a portion of funds coming to Maryland from the Federal economic stimulus legislation signed into law in February by President Obama. Cross-filed with Senate Bill 856.
Co-sponsored by Delegates Thomas Hucker, Montgomery County; Brian Feldman, Montgomery County; and Roger Manno, Montgomery County; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0814.htm
- Renewable Energy Generation on Agricultural Preservation Easements -- House Bill 290: Would authorize a landowner whose land is subject to an agricultural preservation easement to use the land for the generation of power or heat from solar or wind energy under specified circumstances; and making the Act an emergency measure. Cross-filed with Senate Bill 358.
Sponsored by the Southern Maryland delegation; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0290.htm
- Jane E. Lawton Conservation Fund-Renewable Energy Projects -- House Bill 1442: Would expand the purposes of the Conservation named for the late Jane E. Lawton who served Chevy Chase, MD in the House of Delegates to include support of specified renewable energy projects by specified entities; altering the local jurisdictions that may be eligible to receive a loan from the Fund for specified purposes; authorizing specified loans to be deposited in specified revolving loan funds under specified circumstances; authorizing a local jurisdiction to trade specified electricity on a specified energy market under specified circumstances. Not cross-filed with any Senate bill by March 1.
Delegates Walkup, Feldman, Frank, Haddaway, Hecht, McComas, McConkey, Myers, Norman, Riley, Shewell, Smigiel, Sophocleus, and Sossi; http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB1442.htm
The Solar Energy Industries Association is urging solar users and advocates to press their elected officials in Congress to sign letters, linked below, supporting solar initiatives in these three clean energy legislative initiatives:
- Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard that will deploy solar energy in all forms(photovoltaics, solar hot water, utility-scale)
- Strong Climate Safeguards that will cap carbon emissions while growing our economy and deploying unprecedented amounts of solar generating assets.
- Bold new commitments to our transmission grid-Green Power Superhighways-that will connect solar rich areas with electricity customers.
House Letter: http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/House_letter_3_4_09.pdf
Senate Letter: http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/Senate_letter_3_4_09.pdf
To locate your Senator or Representatives' Washington phone number, go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm or http://www.house.gov/.
Alternatively, you can reach your Representatives' offices through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121. Email addresses can also be obtained at the above websites.
Quick Note: Standard Solar Is Operating a New Phone System and Individual Extensions Have Changed. To make it easier and faster to stay in touch, you can now reach specific employees at our Gaithersburg, Maryland headquarters using their new direct-dial numbers. You no longer need to go through the main number. If needed, you can always call our main number, (301) 944-1200 and listen to the prompts; or email us at info@standardsolar.com. Thank you for your patience during our transition to the new phone system.