Solar Sisters in California

The Women's PV workshop in Santa Cruz, California was a huge success, thanks to all of the participants and co-sponsors. It is the hard work and tight networking of our past women alumni that makes this class so special and ongoing! This year’s students not only successfully put up a 2..5 kilowatt grid-tied system on St. Francis Church and School, but their humor and musical talents kept spirits high in and out of class!

Special thanks go out to Kathleen and Carlos at Akeena Solar who put in a lot of work to ensure the completion of our installation. Thanks also to Mike Arenson at Eco Energies, and Cynthia Loweburg from Offline Energy for sharing their wisdom with the class. As always, thanks to Vivian Gratton for all her hard work.

There's still space left in the Women's PV Design & Installation workshop in Colorado. For information or to register click here.

US Citizens Prohibited from Attending Cubasolar Conference

As you read this newsletter, scientists, engineers, and renewable energy advocates from around the world will be converging in Guantanamo, Cuba for an international renewable energy conference. Twelve US citizens were planning to travel on a Global Exchange delegation led by SEI staff member Laurie Stone to attend this conference organized by Cubasolar. Global Exchange (GX) is a non-profit organization which has sponsored legal, licensed delegations to the last five Cubasolar conferences. One week before the conference, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), an agency within the US Treasury Department, told GX they are prohibited from sending a delegation to the conference.

This latest blow to Americans legally traveling to Cuba is a part of a growing trend to halt communication between the US and Cuba. According to Rachel Bruhnke, coordinator of GX’s Eco-Cuba Exchange program, “At a time when the need for fossil fuel resources are so obviously fueling war, to restrict our access to discuss alternatives is unconscionable”.

Please tell your congressperson to support easing travel restrictions to Cuba, and sign a petition to lift a travel ban to Cuba at www.cubacentral..com/petition.

To download articles on Cuba's inspiring work in renewable energy click here.

Learn Renewables at Mercey Hot Springs

Mercey Hot Springs, a beautiful resort in central California, is offering a series of 2-day workshops on everything from photovoltaics to biodiesel. The workshops are taught by SEI alum Kelly Larson, RE expert Michael Hackelman, and Larry Ronneberg, the owner of Mercey Hot Springs which runs on a combination of biodiesel, PV, and wind power.

If you would like more information on RE workshops in this natural and unspoiled recreational area click here.

Wind Energy Strong in Europe

The Earth Policy Institute reports that Europe is leading the world into the age of wind energy. In its late 2003 projections, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) shows Europe's wind-generating capacity expanding from 28,400 megawatts in 2003 to 75,000 megawatts in 2010 and 180,000 megawatts in 2020. By 2020, just 16 years from now, wind-generated electricity is projected to satisfy the residential needs of 195 million Europeans, half of the region's population.

To read the entire article by Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute click here.

Stay Informed and Take Action

The Union of Concerned Scientists has formed an energy network aimed at advancing clean energy solutions. This free resource, called Energy Net, will help you stay informed and take action on renewable energy issues while expanding your skills and expertise. When you sign up you will receive one to three email updates monthly about RE developments around the world.

For more information or to sign up click here.

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 either Home Power magazine or E magazine.)

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

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!

SEI Wishlist

Thanks to everyone who has donated time and materials to help SEI in our mission. SEI is always looking for ways to make our work more efficient and effective. If you'd like to help out, our latest wishlist includes: Adobe photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, a diesel work truck, and a new laptop computer.