SEI's Women's PV in CA a Huge Success

The California solar industry just gained more savvy solar sisters. Earlier this month SEI completed its 2nd annual Santa Cruz Women's Photovoltaic workshop. Twenty-four women came from around California and the U.S. to learn about solar electricity.

The first four days of class were held in downtown Santa Cruz at Ecology Action, a non-profit organization dedicated to energy efficiency and waste reduction. The women heard from guest speakers in the renewable industry, took tours of PV installations and participated in lab exercises. The 1.3 kilowatt grid tied system was field installed at Walden West outdoor educational school in Saratoga. A special meter will be used for kid's education.

The energy was high when the women completed the installation, and in the last light of day saw the meter spin. Thanks to Akeena Solar, Ecology Action, Offline energy, Eco Energies, Walden West, Astropower, Vivian Gratton, Minda Lee, Ela! ine Herbert and the NCSEA.

Click here for more information on SEI's women's workshops.

SEI's Renewable Energy Youth Camp

SEI is pleased to announce our third annual Renewable Energy Youth Camp, August 4th - 8th. The Youth Camp provides a week-long program for low-income and Native American youth ages 16-19. The program emphasizes the value of energy conservation while promoting the wonders and uses of solar, wind and water power. Participants also get to experience camping, hiking and rafting in the beautiful outdoor environment of the Rocky Mountains.

SEI believes that given information about clean energy options, youth can make smart choices. Your donation is critical to keeping this program alive. Please consider making a donation of $25 or more. All funds will go to providing scholarships for Youth Camp participants.

Click here for more information

Renewable Energy for Rural Development

Anyone interested in rural electrification should check out the latest issue of Solar Today magazine. Along with SEI instructor Laurie Stone's article on "Light for the Powerless", there is an article about SELCO's sustainable business model for developing countries, and an article about Grameen Shakti's work electrifying rural Bangladesh. SEI will also be offering a "Renewable Energy for the Developing World" workshop in June. For more information on the workshop, click here.

To read Laurie Stone's article in Solar Today magazine, click here.

CPUC delays ruling on Exit Fees

The California Public Utilities Commission delayed the decision on Exit Fees until April 3, 2003. The deferral has been requested by three California State Senators. The two alternate proposals under consideration would make significant moves toward the exemption of exit fees for clean energy technologies.

If unchanged from an earlier ruling, the exit fees would potentially add between two and five cents per kilowatt to PV systems in California.

The campaign to exempt PV systems from exit fees has so far elicited over 7000 emails from industry supporters to the Commission. Click here to find out how you can make your voice heard.

Photo courtesy of Solar Works, Occidental, CA

The Energy of Food

When we think of the terms renewable energy and energy conservation we usually think of solar electricity, wind power, and alternativally powered vehicles. How about the energy of food? On average, the food Americans eat travels 1300 miles before it reaches our mouths. The industrialized food production system in the US uses 10 to 20 times more energy than locally produced small scale farming. A great way to save energy and reduce the amount of fossil fuels each of us requires is to eat local, organically grown, whole foods as frequently as possible.

Renewable Energy News from Solaraccess.com

Read the latest renewable energy news from Solaraccess.com. Click here

SEI Membership

Please join us! Become an SEI member and support our important work (and receive a free one year subscription to Home Power magazine.) Help us continue our programs educating and promoting renewable energy around the world. Click here for more details on how you can become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!