Archive for June, 2011
Training and jobs in the 21st Century: neither your father’s training (nor job)
Thursday, June 30th, 2011You cannot plant an acorn in the morning and expect that afternoon to sit in the shade of the oak. Antoine de Saint-Exupery Back in March, NPR ran a story about the disconnect between the current inventory of jobs in the U.S. and the skills required to do those jobs. I listened to it again, ... Read More
California PUC issues proposed decision on Virtual Net Metering
Thursday, June 30th, 2011On June 14, the California PUC issued a proposed decision on the California Solar Initiative (CSI) phase one modification, which includes expanding virtual net metering to all customers and a bill credit transfer option. Under this proposed decision, all multi-tenant buildings may be eligible for Virtual Net Metering (VNM), which was first established as part ... Read More
Florida PSC reports huge growth in distributed solar
Thursday, June 30th, 2011 Florida homeowners and businesses using renewables to generate electricity grew by 75 percent last year, according to electric utility reports filed with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC). To promote customer-owned renewable generation, in 2007 the PSC established rules making it easier to interconnect a customer’s system with the utility’s grid. The net-metering rules are ... Read More
IREC ISPQ Announces Recent Awardees
Thursday, June 30th, 2011June 30, 2011 The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) announced today that twenty organizations and trainers nationwide have been recognized recently with the prestigious IREC ISPQ credential. IREC’s ISPQ accreditation and certification program uses an international framework to assess content, quality, and resources across a broad range of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and weatherization ... Read More
Solar Markets in the U.S: big, booming, and oh so bright
Wednesday, June 29th, 2011Thanks to strong consumer demand and financial incentives at the federal and local levels, the U.S. solar market is booming. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. released today the Solar Market Trends report for 2010. The report includes 2010 installation data for solar electric (photovoltaic), solar heating and cooling, and concentrating solar technologies. “The ... Read More
DOE to offer webinars on Rooftop Solar Challenge FOA
Tuesday, June 28th, 2011In June, DOE announced the availability of more than $27M to help cities and counties deploy more solar through a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). Known as the SunShot Initiative, the goal is to make solar energy cost competitive with fossil fuels within the decade. Letters of Intent (LOI) are due July 29th; applications are due ... Read More
IREC ISPQ to Offer Two Webinar Opportunities
Monday, June 27th, 2011Are you wondering what the IREC ISPQ credentialing process is all about? Daunted by the IREC ISPQ application form? Mystified by the language of the ISPQ 01022 International Standard? Uncertain where your credentialing journey should begin? We can help! Please join the IREC ISPQ Team for an interactive webinar about the IREC ISPQ credentialing program ... Read More
News from DSIRE: week of 6/27/11
Saturday, June 25th, 2011ARIZONA – Tucson Resurrects Solar Permit Fee Waivers In 2005, the city of Tucson began waiving building permit fees for solar installations, capped at $1,000 for a single project and $5,000 for a subdivision. The funds allocated for this program ran dry in January 2011, and the city stopped providing waivers at that time. But the ... Read More
Arizona
Friday, June 24th, 2011Licensing (General) A contractor must possess the general license that is appropriate to the type of solar device being installed. Installers of a solar water heater or a photovoltaic device shall possess an appropriate contractor’s license. A contractor must qualify as a solar contractor to install, alter or repair a solar device. Licensing (PV) An ... Read More
