Carolina Sun
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Volume 22 No. 1 Spring 1999 Carolina Sun Published by North Carolina Solar Energy Association Solar and Renewable Sales Skyrocketing GOAL by by Tom Mincarelli, Renaissance-Works, Inc. 20% 2010 15% 2005 There is a race going on in North Ca- 10% 2000 rolina — have you heard about it? North 8.7% 1999 Carolinians are buying renewable energy 0% systems and high efficiency appliances as fast as they can, making 1999 a record year for purchases and installations in old and new homes and businesses. A call to some of the dealer/instal- lers in North Carolina will inform you quickly that they are so busy that you may have to wait from four to six weeks for some system components, and up to sixteen months for a SunFrost refrigera- tor/freezer! Installation times are usually backlogged four to six weeks, if you are lucky, with two months being the norm. Many factors are making the public pay now for systems and wait for deliv- Typical Photovoltaic (PV) modules on a home. ery and installation. Maybe the biggest power in the near future. Other factors are many parts of North Carolina this year, of these factors is the “Y2K bug” and hurricanes, tornadoes, and ice storms, bringing awareness of the delicacy of the potential of unreliable public grid which have caused power outages in utility power lines. Demand across the country and abroad has increased in the past two NCSEA Gets Ready to Rumble years beyond the production rate of many renewable energy system and by Chris Larsen, NC Solar Center The popular new bumper sticker in The bottom line for the Policy Com- Continued on page 11 Minnesota reads: “Our Governor Can mittee is increasing the use of solar and Beat Up Your Governor.” Perhaps other renewables in North Carolina in NCSEA can adopt that spirit with the support of the 20% by 2010 goal. Toward new tag line: “Our Policy Team Can this end, changes in state policies play a Inside: Beat Up Your Policy Team.” Yes, the critical role. Sunrayce ’99 3 NCSEA Policy Committee is keeping Electric Utility Restructuring Letters to the editor 4 & 5 in very good shape these days with end- less activity. This activity currently 1998 saw the ebb and flow of activity ASU Gang Takes Solar to Ossabaw Island 6 spans four areas: on electric utility restructuring. The year began with the optimism that the Study NC Solar Center News 7 • Electric Utility Restructuring Commission on the Future of Electric- Calendar Events 9 & 10 • Net Metering ity in North Carolina would finish its • work and submit a recommendation to Harris Lake Goes Solar 15 Tax Credits the full legislature by January 1999. NCSEA T-Shirt 16 • Solar Center Funding Continued on page 11 NORTH CAROLINA SOLAR Chair’s Column ENERGY ASSOCIATION 2501 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 150 Raleigh, NC 27607 by Richard Harkrader Tel. (919) 832-7601 Fax. (919) 863-4101 Spring is a time of renewal and anti- the environmental community, has not E-Mail: [email protected] cipation of the future. NCSEA began met in months and will probably only http://www.mindspring.com/~ncsea 1999 with a two-day Board retreat in reconvene after the Legislative session 1999 Board of Directors January where we restructured commit- ends. In the meantime, NCSEA has be- Chair: Richard Harkrader tees and designed a very active schedule. come recognized as an important player. New Morning Solar Realty We entered the new year with four new Frequently we are asked for our opinion Vice Chair/Chair-Elect: Hank Wall board members — Van Crandall, Tom and support by stakeholders. Hopefully, WoodWise Design & Remodeling Wills, Lisa Wilson and Jon Zubizaretta we can turn our position into gains for Secretary: Parie Hines — and four new committees: Sunrayce, renewables and protection for the envi- Brown and Jones, Architects Million Solar Roofs, Website, and Edu- ronment and small electric customers. Treasurer: Wayne Jones cation. With all these new committees Brown and Jones, Architects Outreach by NCSEA is going to and dedicated people, NCSEA is plan- Director, NC Solar Center: Larry Shirley greatly increase this year. In addition to ning lots of new activities this year. Joyce Brown the October 16 solar home tours, we are Chapel Hill Town Council With the North Carolina Legislature planning a huge event when Sunrayce Van Crandall Pioneer Electronics in session we have begun several initia- comes to Raleigh and Charlotte June 21 Arnie Katz tives. Several legislators have introduced and 22 with a Renewable Energy Fair Advanced Energy Corp. House Bill 63 to repeal tax credits inclu- complete with exhibits, demonstrations, Chris Larsen ding the solar and renewable tax credits. music, and food. We also want to make NC Solar Center The NCSEA Policy Committee was al- educational presentations in several NC Sherri Zann Rosenthal ready planning to propose revisions to cities on US Department of Energy’s Eno Commons the tax credits before this happened, but Million Solar Roofs if we can get DOE Scott Suddreth Appalachian State University Bill 63 has lit a fire. We believe that in to help cover some of our costs. this case the best defense is a strong of- Lisa Wilson All these activities take lots of volun- Design Collaboration fense, so we are currently writing a pro- teers and money. That’s why we have re- Tom Wills posal to integrate, simplify and equalize cruited a Board of hard working, solar/ Solar Consultants the state tax credits for renewable energy renewable activists and we are working Jon Zubizaretta and the manufacturing of renewable en- Innovative Design on fundraising more diligently. We need ergy equipment. Executive Director: Susan Luster the participation of all NCSEA members Our work before the North Carolina at our events, and we need to continue Administrative Services: Your Office USA Utilities Commission on “net metering” to enlarge our membership. We now is advancing. Board members Joyce have a beautiful new NCSEA T-shirt Brown and Sherri Zann Rosenthal were and hat that you can wear and a new able to get the Town of Chapel Hill and membership brochure you can give the City of Durham respectively to inter- your friends when they see you in your vene in support, and several other impor- new duds and ask you about NCSEA. CAROLINA SUN is a publication of the NC tant groups such as the City of Greens- Or you can tell them to check out our Solar Energy Association (NCSEA), a private boro, the American Solar Energy Society, web site www.mindspring.com/~ncsea nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to communicate with solar enthusiasts and solar Solar Energy Industries Association and where they can learn about all our ac- building professionals in North Carolina. American Wind Energy Association tivities. NCSEA carries out many of its activities in joined us too. As expected, Duke Energy, Solar, renewables and energy cooperation with the NC Solar Center, and CP&L and Virginia Power had many ob- encourages the public to contact the Solar efficiency are our future! Center (1-800-33-NC SUN) for solar informa- jections. We have responded to these tion. (The NC Solar Center is sponsored by objections and expect the Utilities Com- Let’s go get it! the Energy Division of the NC Department of Commerce in cooperation with NC State Uni- mission will hold a public hearing this versity.) summer. You will be hearing from NCSEA asking for your support in the Managing Editor: Susan Luster Editorial Board: Chris Larsen, Tom Mincarelli, form of letters and attendance at the Fred Stewart, Scott Suddreth public hearing. We can win this one! Desktop composition: Klaus Holder Join Our work on electric utility restructu- CAROLINA SUN accepts unsolicited ring and deregulation is also advancing, manuscripts, artwork, and photographs. NCSEA All materials are subject to editing. although much slower. The Legislative Study Commission, where I represent 2 CAROLINA SUN Spring 1999 Come to the biggest solar event in North Carolina this year! See futuristic solar cars and solar equipment that is ready now! Schedule of Events for Sunrayce 99 Location of all events: NC Solar Center at NCSU’s McKimmon Center, Gorman Ave. at Western Blvd., Raleigh Monday, June 21 3:00 p.m. Solar cars begin to arrive 2:00-9:00 p.m. Solar Now! Festival Renewable Energy Exhibits and Demonstrations Electric Car Ride and Drive SnoCones, Barbecue, Vegetarian Specialties, Cold Drinks Solar Powered Live Music: Sue Witty, Contemporary Folk Artist Solar Power J’Azure, Contemporary Jazz Trio Solar Power Moment’s Notice, Lively Jazz Quintet providedprovided byby Larry Hutcherson, Rock ‘N Blues Band SolarSolar Village Village InstituteInstitute 5:45-6:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony for Sunraycers 7:10 p.m. Last cars arrive 4:00 & 7:00 p.m. Sunrayce Slide Show, Room 6, McKimmon Center 9:00 p.m. Cars are locked up for the night Tuesday, June 22 9:15-9:45 a.m. Cars line up for start in McKimmon parking lot 10:00-11:00 a.m. Sunrayce cars leave for Charlotte Motor Speedway Cars are flagged off in one minute intervals Exhibit space is still available. Cost is $25. Volunteers are needed! Jobs include setting up tents Call now to sign up: 919-832-7601. and banners, staffing booths, serving food and cleanup. Call today: 919-832-7601. Spring 1999 CAROLINA SUN 3 Letter to the Editor The Case Against Tax Credits We all want to see more houses and be accomplished through regulations or cases making a bad reputation for businesses use solar energy—it’s why we codes, as in Israel’s requirement that solar in general.