And a big solar industry Thank You for co-sponsoring the Amendment for the Extension and Expansion of the Federal Treasury 1063 Grant!

This program was originally part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The program is set to expire in the end of 2010. The benefit to this program is that it allows a qualified parties who invest in renewable energy, such as solar, to receive a grant in lieu of a 30% Federal Tax Credit.

Extension of this program is estimated to create over 143,000 jobs by the end of the year and enable 4,250 megawatts of renewable energy power projects to come on line.

Amendments offered also extends the Treasury Grant Program to non-profit power producers, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Real Estate Investment Trusts and provides technical clarification and elimination of a rule (“normalization”) and that normally would allow utilities to pass the grant money income to shareholders rather than reduce the cost of the project to the ratepayers.

As Floridians celebrate Earth Day, state leaders and renewable power producers pushed for legislation to promote clean energy.

Florida CFO Alex Sink said today that she has asked legislators to approve funding for the Florida Solar Rebate Program. Measures to extend the program, which expires in June, are stuck in committees with just over a week left for the state’s legislative session.

Justin Hoysradt, of Abundant Energy, a Jupiter-based solar installer, also called for extending the program as his company prepares to turn on what may be the largest, privately owned, non-utility solar array in South Florida. The kick off will be held today at Sawgrass Business Park in Stuart, which now has more than 500 solar panels on its buildings that will produce 150 kilowatts of power. (See a photo provided by the company below.) A third of the nearly $900,000 cost of the project will come from federal stimulus funds and the developers have applied for a Florida solar rebate.

As for other key measures to increase the state’s renewable energy production, the House is scheduled to debate HB 7229 on Friday. The Senate bills, SB 992 and SB 1186, are not ready to be debated yet.

Proponents of the measures say they can jumpstart Florida’s alternative energy industry and reduce the state’s dependence on fuel and fluctuations of fuel costs. Some environmentalists say the legislation doesn’t go far enough in requiring targets for renewable energy production in the coming years.

The bills allow utilities to pass to customers the costs of plants that produce roughly 700 megwatts of renewable energy in the next few years without full regulatory scrutiny. Provisions in the first two bills would allow other renewable energy producers to sell their electricity to utilities at 80 percent of the price of the utility’s electric rates and require utilities to share 75 percent of the money it makes from renewable energy credits with its customers. A provision in the third would allow utilities to earn an extra profit margin on clean energy projects.

Some environmental groups say the state should focus on saving energy as much as creating more clean power.

Florida is already on its way to being the second largest solar energy producer in the country. By year-end, Florida Power & Light will open the final of three solar plants built under a 2008 law that streamlined cost recovery for the projects.

FPL said today that its power generators produced 845 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt hour of electricity — 35 percent less than the industry average of 1,297 pounds.

The PSC has to hear out the requests of Nweze and most likely conduct an additional study to prove their decision is not going to affect the lower income working class Floridians as harshly as Ms. Nweze condemns. Her letter attacks solar panels, stating that only the rich and affluent can afford them and “he bottom line is simple. Forcing low- and middle-income Floridians to subsidize energy-efficiency upgrades for those who can afford them is immoral and wrong.”

To be clear to the public, the program Nweze is attacking, estimates at this time, an 18cent per month, per meter charge or rate impact measure to fund the program. This is more that 20X less than storm clean up.

However, in order to humor, Ms. Nweze’s rant and fight for the poor who in her words, “are not the source of the problem because they do not own energy hogging pool pumps, plasma tv’s and don’t even have air conditioning”, let’s just see how much money the PSC is robbing from the poor so the rich can live so lavishly.

Just on the Florida Power and Light grid alone the program would generate approximately $13.8 Million annually to help subsidize energy efficiency upgrades. Let’s also assume 10% of that money must go to administration and marketing to make people aware of the program and ensure money is paid out timely and fairly. That would leave around $12.4 Million available annually for the investment.

Let’s assume that 25% of that money is used to subsidize the cost of solar water heaters with a $500 rebate. Resulting in just over 6,000 new solar water heating systems installed to replace old, high energy using, electric hot water heaters.

Now if Ms. Nweze looked deeper into this pool of money, passed her self serving reflection, she would promote and encourage this program to her under paid constituents which she represents. She would also recommend they take advantage of the State low cost loan program for solar water heating. By doing so, those she is looking to protect could actually benefit from  a 5-10% rise in their income by not having to pay for electric water heating. Be it as it may, she is talking about people who make a mere $10k on paper, but being able to keep an extra $1000 per year might mean a lot to that person, especially since it means a lot to MOST people…

As for the remaining 75% of the money not used for marking, administration or solar water heaters, this money could be used for an additional 930 solar photovoltaic generating systems for the “rich people”. Rich people like the postal worker, boat engine mechanic, school administrator, retired van line sales person, aerospace engineer, body shop technician and high school sports coach we just installed solar energy systems for.

All in all, the program would offset approximately 20MW of dirty power consumed each year for a mere 18cents per meter per month. If the power company could build power plants in mini-doses, according to Moody’s Investor Services, the cost would range around $6000 per kilowatt. (See article).

In other words, here is a chart which severely disproves Nweze’s claim that building new generation will cost the poor 1/3rd less than energy efficiency. But perhaps, what she means is that if new plants are built the PSC should charge higher income earners more…

It is letters like Nweze’s, while her intent is good, her information and accuracy to clearly represent her cause will result in more tax dollars spent by all income classes to give the public service commission more time to research what they already know is false. Just the simple task of drafting more proof will cost money. Please take 10 minutes of your time to support the PSC decision to create a rebate program for energy efficiency upgrades to your home, such as solar water heaters, photovoltaic’s, high efficiency air conditioners and compact florescent light bulbs. (Contact the PSC Here)

We are proud to announce our Sponsorship of Palm Beach County’s first ever Build for the Cure. The home is going to be built as a private residence and show home for the South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The home will be used to raise funds for the Komen South Florida Affiliate, the largest grass roots initiative for finding a cure for breast cancer.

The home which is under construction will be located in the Ibis Country Club Community of Bent Creek. Abundant Energy will be contributing a complete solar energy system to the project used for water heating. There will be a ribbon cutting held on February 25th 2010 from 4:30-6:30pm and the project is expected to be completed by August 15th 2010. For more information about becoming a sponsor, making a donation or just taking at tour check out the website www.buildforthecurepalmbeach.com

Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the world’s largest and most progressive grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists.  The South Florida Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has a service area of Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties. They partner with many local nonprofit organizations to help raise breast cancer awareness and provide much needed funds to serve our community and save lives. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s single largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage — from the causes, to the cures, to the pain and anxiety of every moment in between.

Most solar professionals and environmentalists love this idea. For Hawaii, an energy restricted state it makes a lot of sense also. Being and island state has its benefits, but not when it comes to energy. The cost of energy is pretty substantial in comparison to many places in the continental United States since most of the fuel has to be imported and there are no major grid lines to connect the islands to the mainland.

The use of a solar water heater vs. a conventional electric water heating system will save a home owner in most cases nearly $1,000 annually based on current electric rates. With electricity rates constantly on the move (typically upward), the lower overall cost of ownership of the home is reduced by hundreds of thousands of dollars over, providing a significant lifetime value for the solar water heater.

New homes are not the only ones who are able to benefit from solar water heating. Making the switch can be just as easy and as cost effective as replacing your existing energy-hog hot water heater. Typically solar has been branded as significantly more expensive, but solar energy tax credits and rebates as well as other creative financing vehicles have made the up front costs competitive to conventional. Long term, the solar water heater will pay for itself and then some.

Do you think home builders should be required to use solar energy in all states? You can make a comment below, just by clicking “add comment”.

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