PV Workshop in Southern CA

Learn PV Design and Installation in Fontana, California at the SunEarth Inc. facility. SunEarth Inc., manufactures industry standard solar water heating collectors and systems for residential and commercial applications. At their facility, SunEarth has installed 178 kW of PV. Workshop participants will have the great fortune of touring this commercial installation.

PV Design & Installation, Fontana, CA - Feb. 6 - 10

Extending Solar Tax Credits

Congressmen Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) has just introduced HR 4300, a bill to extend the federal tax credits for residential solar applications through 2011. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized federal tax credits to homeowners and businesses that install solar panels on their properties. However, these tax credits expire after 2008.

The complete text of the legislation can be found by clicking here and searching for HR 4300. Please call or email your member of congress if you would like them to support this bill.

SEI's Newest Advisory Board Member

SEI would like to welcome Phil Livingston to our Advisory Board. Phil is an alumni of SEI and a returned Peace Corps volunteer. He spent two years in the Philippines implemeting renewable energy projects including PV, micro-hydro and solar drying. We are honored to have him join the SEI Advisory Board.

For information on the solar dryer project click here.

State Database on Buying Green Power

Would you like to buy green power, but you don't know how? Finding out about green power providers in your area just got easier. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently developed a database that provides access to information on green power availability in all 50 states. Click here to enter the interactive website which includes utility green pricing programs, retail green power products, and renewable energy certificate (REC) products.

Oops! . . . SEI Makes Alum Mistake

For those of you who received our catalog in the mail, there is a mistake in the alumni section. SEI alum Benjamin Cook is the CEO of the Solar Electric Light Company, not SELF as we had written. SEI associate Robert Freling is the Executive Director of the Solar Electric Light Fund. Our sincerest apologies to both Robert and Benjamin.

SEI Executive Director Appointed to IREC ISPQ Advisory Board

IREC, a non profit organization, is responsible for the ISPQ Standard for Renewable Energy Training Accreditation and Instructor Certification Programs. The goal of IREC´s ISPQ assessment work is to ensure that practitioner training courses are designed to provide instruction that leads to defined workplace knowledge and skills and appropriately addresses issues of safety and codes.

SEI director Johnny Weiss has been apointed to the IREC ISPQ Executive Advisory Board which includes trainers, industry,and credentialing and education experts. Its role is to provide strategic guidance to IREC as the ISPQ licensee for North America.

New SEI Membership Benefits!

SEI would like to invite you to become a member! 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 are passionate about the work that we do and membership dues help sustain our renewable energy endeavors.

Please join us! Membership benefits include (depending on membership level) a one year subscription to either Home Power magazine or E magazine, the Renewable Energy Handbook for Homeowners, an organic cotton/hemp SEI t-shirt, an SEI bumpersticker, and more!

Click here for details on how to become an SEI member.

To all SEI members . . . SEI sends thanks!