SEI's New PV Manual!

Hot off the presses, SEI now has a new textbook - "Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual". The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity, and a detailed description of PV system components. It also includes chapters on sizing PV systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems, as well as detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting, and solar insolation data for over 300 sites around the world. $60 + shipping.

To order SEI's new manual click here.

Coloradans May Get to Vote Renewable

Two Colorado congressmen have put forth an exciting ballot initiative called "Coloradans for Clean Energy". The proposed initiative for the November election requires 10% of the state’s electricity to be generated by renewable energy by 2015.

Colorado is the first state to attempt to establish a minimum requirement for renewable energy on a ballot initiative. Currently there are sixteen states with such a requirement in place, and renewable energy advocates note that the market for renewable energy systems is thriving in all of these states.

See the wording of the proposed ballot initiative published by Environment Colorado by clicking here.

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Certification for Solar Energy Installers Gains Momentum

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) announced the successful completion of a second round of its Solar PV Installer Certification Exam. As a result of the exam, 44 additional individuals have now become NABCEP certified. This brings the total number of NABCEP certified installers across the United States to 106.

For information on NABCEP certification click here.

Solar Incentives in New England

The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has approved $2 million for a new residential solar photovoltaic program to complement its existing commercial solar PV program. By making PV technology more affordable for homeowners, the new funding is expected to significantly boost residential use of solar PV statewide.

Connecticut is joining other neighboring states - Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania - in funding incentives that will reduce the cost of solar PV installations for state residents. The subsidy level of $5 per watt, with a funding cap of $25,000 per residence (up to 5 kilowatts), will likely result in installation of systems across a broad spectrum of Connecticut residents.

It isn't just existing-home owners who can get incentives for installing PV systems. A new Massachusetts Technology Collaborative incentive program, called "Sun Power for New Homes," offers qualified home builders the same types of incentives for PV systems as existing-home owners can get.

Even better, developers get all incentives in one lump sum, rather than waiting three years for some items as individual homeowners do.

The Apollo Project - For Energy Indepence

The New Apollo Project is a $300 billion, public-private program to create three million new, clean energy jobs to free America from foreign oil dependence in ten years. The project is headed by the Apollo Alliance, an organization building a broad coalition within the labor, environmental, business, urban, and faith communities in support of good jobs and energy independence. The Alliance is developing public education campaigns and communications strategies to link allies and build a national constituency for a bold, broad based, and immediate program of public policy.

The Apollo Alliance's ten point plan includes: promoting advanced technology and hybrid cars, encouraging high performance building, increasing the use of energy efficient appliances, expanding renewable energy development, and planning for a hydrogen future.

To see the Apollo proposal for yourself, check out www.apolloalliance.org.

Upcoming RE events

Check out these upcoming renewable energy events!

• CRES 2004 Conference June 25 - 27, 2004 in Denver, CO

  More than a dozen workshops on topics ranging from biodiesel to small wind turbines. The main sessions are on Saturday, with a keynote address by Senator Tim Wirth. There is a social event Saturday evening and tours on Sunday.

  For info click here.

• 2004 Natural Building Colloquium - East June 26 - July 3, in Bath, NY Experience 8 days of intimate connection with the Earth learning the hands-on wisdom of our ancestors and building the wave of the future.

  For more info click here

• Earthship-Building Seminar July 23 - 25 in Taos, NM presented by Earthship Biotecture

  An Earthship^TM is a sustainable, autonomous dwelling that gets its power from the sun and the wind, water from rain and snow, and treats its own gray- and black-water sewage.

  Seminar attendees will be shown how to build an Earthship through hands-on involvement and demonstrations of construction methods.

  Click here for more information or to register.

• ECO WAVE 2004 The Third Global Interdisciplinary Conference on the Next Great Wave in Architecture August 5-8, 2004 Merritt College, Oakland/Berkeley, California Sponsored by the San Francisco Institute of Architecture

  Three days of visual presentations, seminars, workshops, and exhibits on the most important architectural transformation of modern times. Plus one optional day of self-guided tours to eco design showplaces of Northern California. SFIA@aol.com

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!