Feed-in Tariffs, Solar Boon or Boondoggle

by n8lew on July 28, 2009

A feed-in tariff, or FiT, is designed as an incentive to energy producers to develop renewable energy sources, and usually consists of a rate, fixed by legislation, that guarantees higher returns than conventional energy sources.
For example, if energy from fossil fuel generation were billed to customers 0.10 cents per kilowatt hour, energy from renewables would [...]

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Power Purchase Agreements Drive Solar Energy

by n8lew on July 27, 2009

A recent analysis by Alexander von Welczeck, the CEO of Mill Valley, California-based Solar Power Partners Inc., the third largest solar energy developer in the United States, highlights the importance of power purchase agreements, or PPAs, in driving the solar energy industry to new heights.
As Welczeck points out, the current recession has had an impact [...]

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Why was Pueblo, Colorado Left out of WREZ Renewable Report?

July 20, 2009

A Western Renewable Energy Zones (WREZ) Phase 1 Report lists 54 locations between British Columbia in the north and New Mexico in the south that the Western Governor’s Association (WGA) and various energy groups (including renewable groups) pinpoint as prime locations for the development of solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and biomass projects.
It doesn’t list Pueblo, [...]

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Solar LED Lamps

June 22, 2009

Q: Hi,
I want to help the 2 million displaced Pakistanis by buying Solar LED lamps and replacing them with the Kerosen Lamps that are burning down many tents.
Do you who are the manufacturers of these Solar LED lamps?
Thanks
Atif
Asked by atif

A: We do not know the manufacturers, but we do know the operators of: http://www.solarlighting.com/
They are [...]

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Is the Federal 30% Tax Credit applied to the gross or net cost of a system?

June 9, 2009

Q: Is the 30% tax incentive applied to the amount before or after the utility company rebate. Some companies are saying before some companies like yours say after. It seems as though no one has the facts. I also wonder if a business can apply for both a 30% residential and 30% [...]

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Are DIY solar panels worth the effort to save money?

June 9, 2009

Q: A 3-4KW residential grid tied PV system costs about $25-$39,000 for panels & install. That is still too much $ even w/incentives, payback being 12+ years. So I keep reading about DIY panels (100W apparently you solder cells & assemble yourself). Intended more to power specific appliances, they can be connected & grid tied [...]

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