2004 Solar Energy Calendar Now Available!

SEI's Solar Energy 2004 Calendar is here! A beautiful calendar filled with photos of past renewable energy workshops, solar facts, quotes and renewable energy event dates. It makes a great holiday gift for your environmentally minded friends. $15 each. Discounts for orders of 20 or more. To order your calendar click here or give us a call 970-963-8855.

Natural Building in New Mexico

SEI recently held our first Natural House Building Workshop at the Black Range Lodge, Bed & Breakfast, and home of Catherine Wanek and Pete Fust. Students got their hands on numerous natural building materials including rammed earth, cob, straw bale and natural plasters. The numerous natural building developments at the Lodge property gave students an amazing opportunity to participate in on-going projects such as 'Casa Chica', the cob cottage.

We would like to congratulate Catherine & Pete for beautifully orchestrating the Natural Building Colloquium 2003, a week of presentations and projects that directly followed the SEI workshop. SEI feels blessed to have been a part of the celebration to honor the pioneers and to usher in the well-represented newcomers. For more information about the Black Range Lodge click here.

Affordable Solar in California!

Affordable housing projects in California can now qualify for a 75% rebate on a solar photovoltaic system. Housing units that are rented or purchased by low and moderate income people, have their own electric utility meter, and have measures to reduce energy use by 10% are eligible. These units can receive $4.75/watt rebate until December 2003, when the rebate level decreases by $0.20/watt every six months. For more information click here .

Black Mesa: Coal or Solar?

Black Mesa, home to the Hopi and Navajo people in southern Arizona, is also home to the largest coal deposit in the United States. Unfortunately, the Mohave Generating Station has wreaked ecological devastation; the water supply on Black Mesa is shrinking; thousands of archeological sites have been destroyed; and close to 14,000 Navajos have been removed from their homes.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is currently deciding the fate of the coal plant. Black Mesa Trust has submitted a plan to install two 500 MW solar thermal energy systems for less than it would cost to refurbish the 30 year old Mohave power plant and its associated coal slurry pipeline.

To convince the CPUC to shut down the Mohave power plant and to go solar, send an email to public.advisor.la@cpuc.ca.gov with Mohave Generating Station in the subject line, and your views will be passed on to th! e commissioners who will decide the fate of power generation on Black Mesa. Let them know California can do better with renewable, clean energy that doesn't destroy the environment and the lives of the people at Black Mesa.

Your Generosity Ensures our Success!

SEI would like to welcome our new members! As a membership-based non-profit, SEI's members are the heart of our organization and allow us to continue our educational programs. SEI staff is passionate about the work that we do and membership dues help sustain our renewable energy endeavors.

Please join us! Become an SEI member and support our important work (and receive a free one year subscription to Home Power magazine.)

Click here for more details on how you can become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!