IPP HP 47

by Don Loweburg

As is the usual case, things get very busy this time of year. I feel like just making this issue sort of a chat about what's been going on.

First, I want to thank all the members who responded to our survey about ownership, especially the great comments of support. I don't have time to write to you individually, but thanks! Also, I read the letters to the editor and pay attention to the opinions that disagree with IPP. I'd like to make a couple of points as a general reply. I don't think we are anti utility. It's just that this is new territory and I believe the rules of the game must be worked out. Because the utilities are regulated monopolies, they can't just be given carte blanc to do everything they wish. There are ways for the utilities to work in this field and I think definite progress is being made here in California and other states. More on this later.

Solar Energy International (SEI) conducts workshop year round on a wide range of subjects involving renewable energy. In March they conducted a week long workshop in

Sacramento, California on utility connected systems. Many of the workshops were technical covering inverters, batteries, code and safety concerns and grid tied systems- both large and small.

Bob O and I were invited to present the IPP view. I spent the latter part of the afternoon presenting many of the points familiar to readers of this column. A good discussion followed. Several attending worked for utilities and there was much agreement about the state of the utility industry. It was a diverse group with participants from other countries in addition to a wide variety of professional backgrounds. Anyway, I want to thank SEI for being open to all the issues around this topic. They are pursuing a very important part in developing the renewables industry, education and training.

On April 22, Cynthia and I went to the Arcata Energy Fair in Arcata, California. In addition to talking to folks about IPP, we held our very first IPP board meeting. Besides fulfilling our legal requirements, we had an exciting time planning our work for the coming year. More on this in future issues. On our return to North Fork, Cynthia and I made two stops. The first at the new AEE building in Redway, CA. David Katz, the owner, kindly gave us a tour. The building houses all operations, warehouse, offices and production. The entire place runs on a grid tied PV system with solar thermal water and space heating. Very impressive! Our second stop was at the new Real Goods development in Hopland, CA. The basic site work is complete and building has begun. John Schaefer showed us the model of the completed facility. Stunning architecture and landscaping coupled with daylighting, passive solar heating and photovoltaics will show what is possible for total renewable design. These two projects are commendable. Additionally, because they both represent prospering companies serving the renewable energy market (end-users), they serve as indicators of what the future can be. The renewable energy industry is flourishing and we can expect to see many more grid connected systems.

There may be some positive changes in the Southern California Edison offgrid program. At a recent meeting of contractors and other interested parties, it was suggested that contractors could bring customers to Edison for financing. Additional flexibility in system design would be allowed. The feeling was that more flexibility would generate more business. Since those of us in the PV business have access to customers and are more able to design systems fitting their needs, our contacts could have a higher success rate than experienced under the present program. This could be a win-win arrangement. In fact, it is a possibility that the ongrid program could be run like the offgrid. Edison could provide financing while PV contractors take the lead in customer contact and system design. With customer ownership of the system and net metering, we welcome utility partnership as a financier of PV. There are hurdles still, but we are cautiously optimistic.

We also want to thank Edison for their active support of the California net metering bill. While several California utilities strenuously opposed the bill, SCE gave Senate testimony in it's support. At this time the bill is moving through the Senate. Californians, be sure to write your letters of support!

Members, write with news from your area. IPP is a national thing but we need your input to know what is happening. Thanks