FIT in California and Bills on the Docket in Arizona

The Solar Alliance and the Vote Solar Initiative announced support for four bills designed to advance solar energy in Arizona. The new legislation would allow Arizona's schools, homes and businesses to take full advantage of the state's strong solar potential.

In California, the CPUC took another step toward a state level feed-in tariff.

“Thanks to the leadership of the Arizona Corporation Commission, Arizona has the fundamental policies in place to support a healthy and robust solar market. These bills are turbo-chargers: they reduce the cost of doing business, attract new customers, and help bring new jobs to the state,” said Adam Browning, executive director of the Vote Solar Initiative.

The four Arizona bills designed to foster in-state economic opportunity in the growing solar energy market include:

HB 2335: Would allow municipalities to set up voluntary, opt-in financing programs for solar and energy efficiency investments on home. This type of city-run financing program helps property owners overcome solar’s upfront cost by spreading the system price over an affordable 20-year property tax assessment.

HB 2332: Would let schools implement solar and energy efficiency improvements by removing the upfront cost which would be paid back through monthly savings on the school’s utility bills.

HB 2329: Would cap permit fees for solar at US $375.

SB 1403: Degisned to give incentives to attract solar manufacturing companies to Arizona.
In California, the CPUC took another step toward a state level feed-in tariff. Key elements of a new set of rules created by the CPUC raises project size that will qualify for any tariff from 1.5 MW to 10 MW, and adds another 1000 MW (in addition to the 500 MW for the under 1.5 MW program).

The program would be limited to a 1,000 MW overall cap, allocated across the three utilities according to the share of coincident peak demand. Projects meeting the tariff requirements would be permitted to sign a standard form contract, which would not require CPUC approval.

"After a 8 month process, the Energy Division of the CPUC issued a proposed decision for its inquiry to expand the state’s feed-in tariff program," Browning said. "We will have some comments and recommendations in reply to the proposal, but the program’s general approach treats solar as if itwere a resource that can be the foundation for California’s renewable energy future: it integrates solar into the long term renewable planning process, and looks to provide a framework that providessecurity for solar project developers, utility planners, and regulators."

Browning noted however that the decision by the CPUC does not address price, which is likely to be the next step. Rulemaking should take place in the next few months.

South Africa introduces feed-in tariff

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has announced that the Energy Regulator approved the Renewable Energy Feed-In Tariff guidelines for the country.

The feed-in tariff for electricity from wind energy will be 1.25 South African Rand (EUR0.098;$0.131) per kWh over a period of 20 years.

The World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) welcomed the news. Stefan Gsänger, Secretary General of WWEA, said: "Many small and big investors will now be able to contribute to the take-off of the wind industry in the country. Such decentralised investment will enable South Africa to overcome its current energy crisis."

Sunshine State plans world's first solar-powered city

Plans have been unveiled for the world's first solar-powered city, a $2 billion (£1.4 billion) emission-free community in Florida. The Sunshine State, which sees 2,700 hours of sun a year, promises a "city of tomorrow" in which every aspect of residents' lives will be driven by solar energy.Located near Fort Myers, on Florida's Gulf coast, the carbon-neutral Babcock Ranch development will house 49,000 people and be powered by its own $300 million (£205 million) photovoltaic plant that will convert sunlight into electricity using a 400-acre field of solar panels."Babcock Ranch will be a true living laboratory of the new-energy economy," said Syd Kitson, the chairman of the developers, Kitson & Partners.According to the plans, the community's 19,500 homes and six million square feet of commercial and civic premises will be fed energy directly from the on-site facility, which, unlike conventional plants, will not require water or produce waste by-products. A fossil fuel plant of the same size and capacity yields 61,000 tonnes of carbon emissions and consumes six million barrels of oil a year.

All residential, civic and business properties will be built using energy-efficient methods and materials, and plants for landscaping the area will be grown on site. Street lamps will be specially adapted to reduce light pollution. Homes will be topped off with "green" roofs that minimise energy loss.Residents will travel in electric cars, rechargeable at roadside kiosks, or on Segways, bicycles, or on foot. Homes, which will range from apartments to detached houses, will be computer-controlled to manage energy consumption and will even take care of some of the chores.

"Throw out your alarm clock in a home that can be programmed to rise and shine, turning on the lights, raising the shades and rousing you with music from the digital server," Mr Kitson said."Stop by the local store on your way home armed with a digital shopping list from your automated inventory system or, better yet, let your smart home place the order for you and schedule delivery."

More than half of Babcock Ranch's total area will be devoted to green spaces, farmland, waterways and wildlife preservation areas. Plans for the world's most environmentally friendly city have been welcomed by conservation agencies including the American branch of the WWF and the country's National Audubon Society.

Richard Moss, managing director for the climate change wing of the WWF, said: "There is an urgent need for the private sector, electric utilities and government at every level to recognise and address the causes and impacts of climate change."Renewable energy, smart grid technology, and energy efficiency are crucial to this effort."

Florida, with its 9.74 per cent unemployment rate and high level of domestic repossessions, is one of America's most depressed states, but the Babcock Ranch project would generate thousands of construction jobs and up to 20,000 permanent jobs in the education, retail and technology sectors serving the community.

The development is planned in partnership with Florida Power & Light, the state's biggest utility company, and comes as Charlie Crist, the state's governor, pushes for legislation that would require electric companies to generate 20 per cent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.If the plans are approved, construction of the energy plant should be under way by the end of this year, with homes and businesses to follow in 2011.

Florida Developer plans all-solar city

Given that Florida has accurately been coined The Sunshine State, it's not at all shocking to hear that America's first "solar city" will be built in the state's southwest corner. Or, at least that's the plan. According to a new report, West Palm Beach-based Kitson & Partners is currently developing a new city near Charlotte County, which will get juiced by a massive 75-megawatt solar plant. The plant will cost around $300 million to build and will be installed by Florida Power & Light; if all goes well, homes will begin construction on a sizable plot of land dubbed Babcock Ranch by 2011. If things don't go so well, we're told that the actual power plant will still be erected and fed into the larger grid. In other words, Florida's gettin' some solar power, with or without this newfangled concrete jungle.

The Florida developer says he wants to build a 19,500-home city powered entirely by solar energy. Babcock Ranch will be developed by Kitson & Partners on 17,000 acres northeast of Fort Myers, Fla. The developer said it will be the "first city on Earth powered by zero-emission solar energy," The Miami Herald reported Saturday. The city will include the world's largest photovoltaic power plant, to be operated by Florida Power & Light. The facility will cost about $300 million. "We're out to prove that it works economically," developer Syd Kitson was quoted as saying. "And it's the right thing to do for the long-term solutions in this country." The newspaper said researchers are working to develop storage capability for sunlight-generated power since solar electricity is available only during daytime hours. Solar panels to power the city will sit on 350 acres within the development. The newspaper said more than half of the city's 17,000 acres will be permanently protected as greenways and open space, and will adjoin the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve, which has been purchased by the state.

Track a PV System in Action with Live Data

Robert Brown, a retired Information Technology person, and his wife have used solar water heaters for fifteen years or more. In November of 2007 they installed a 4.4 KW Photovoltaic system on their home. He has kept detailed daily data on the system and has developed a pretty good feel for the practicality of solar as an energy source. Their house is over 40 years old and does not have a particularly efficient envelope. Even so, since start up they have averaged almost 41 percent of our energy from solar. That is not counting the solar water heating. Visit his website at http://www.bbbrown.com/ and you can track their solar output at http://bbbrown.mysolarlog.com/ -- good stuff, check it out!

Media Contact:

Maureen McHale

Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Manager

Advanced Solar Photonics

mmchale@advancedsolarphotonics.com

407-829-2613 x317

Advanced Solar Photonics Was Featured in Texture Magazine!

Page 14 of the Metro Orlando Economic Commissions' Texture magazine has a write up about Advanced Solar Photonics...

Click on the picture to the left to read the article.

Advanced Solar Photonics Featured on Fox35 News - WOFL - Orlando, Fl

Advanced Solar Photonics was featured on the 6, 7 and 8am news here in Orlando, Florida on Tuesday, March 31, 2009. The four spots featured Demitri Nikitin, CEO of ASP, Edgardo Rodriguez, VP of ASP, Kristen Breunig, Market Development Manager of ASP and Maureen McHale, Corporate Marketing and Public Relations Manager.

Following the segments, Steve Gelbach, the reporter for Fox 35 wrote and posted the following piece on their website:






Business Ramps Up to Make Solar Panels

Last Edited: Tuesday, 31 Mar 2009, 12:26 PM EDT
Created On: Tuesday, 31 Mar 2009, 12:25 PM EDT
STEVE GEHLBACH FOX 35 News Reporter

LAKE MARY, Fla. - Advanced Solar Photonics will soon be the only place in the Sunshine State to make panels to capture energy from the sun. Solar power is becoming more popular on homes and businesses, but installers have to get the high-tech panels from outside Florida.

The company hopes to start making the panels by June and plans to add hundreds of jobs. President Barack Obama promised billions in funding to great new green jobs and make alternative energy sources more available. Advanced Solar Photonics hopes to cash in on some of those federal dollars.

The company is also working to get legislation passed to make it cheaper for homeowners to switch to solar power by paying them a premium for power they make, but don't use and sell back to power companies. The cost to install solar panels onto your house can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the size of the house and system used.