Domestic solar energy industry achieved a record for installations and growth in the third quarter of 2011, according to a new report
Released by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. Solar Market Insight: 3rd Quarter 2011 report reveals that the US solar market installed more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in the first three quarters of 2011, already surpassing the 2010 annual total of 887 MW.
In the third quarter, 449 MW was installed, a record for quarterly installations and more new solar electric capacity than was added in all of 2009. This also represents 140pc growth over the same quarter last year.
Looking forward, however, the outlook for continued strong growth is uncertain. The market impact of cheap Chinese solar panels and the potential expiration of the 1603 program weigh heavy on the industry. The SEIA report predicts that if there is no extension of the 1603 program, a tax equity bottleneck for projects will happen in 2012, leading to a possible slowdown in installations in late 2012 and into 2013.
“The US solar industry is on a roll, with unprecedented growth in 2011,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Solar is now an economic force in dozens of states, creating jobs across America. But our industry needs stable policy on which to make business decisions, and unfortunately an underlying mechanism for financing solar projects is scheduled to expire on December 31.
“To keep the industry growing and creating jobs in the U.S. we need Congress to extend the 1603 program. The 1603 programme has done more to expand the use of renewable energy than any other policy in U.S. history.”
Friday, December 23, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
BLM to hold Colorado hearing on western solar plan
SUMMIT COUNTY —Colorado residents will get one more chance to offer input on a plan that could potentially open more than 111,000 acres of public lands in Colorado for industrial solar development.In response to strong public outcry, the Bureau of Land Management recently reversed its decision not to hold a Colorado public hearing on a supplemental environmental study to the Draft Solar Programatic Environmental Impact Statement in Colorado. The meeting is set for Jan. 11, 2012 at the Inn of the Rio Grande in Alamosa (7 p.m.)
In November and December, 2011, BLM held public hearings in Las Vegas, El Centro, CA, and Palm Desert but no Colorado hearing was scheduled.
Numerous citizens appealed to the BLM on the grounds that Colorado was not being treated fairly under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Nearly all the Colorado lands eyed for solar development are in the rural, high-altitude San Luis Valley, including over 16,000 acres in 4 Solar Energy Zones. The San Luis Valley is home to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who oversees the BLM’s increasingly controversial solar development proposal on public lands.
The supplemental study addresses impacts for large-scale industrial solar development that will have significant impacts on a broad range of individuals, communities and environments. The plan will affect areas in the San Luis Valley subject to industrial solar development.
Critics say the proposal also impacts ratepayers and taxpayers who could be deprived of the benefits of locally produced solar energy development as a result of the disproportionate allocation of scarce public resources for remote, centralized solar power plants on public lands.
“We are pleased that BLM listened to that people and reversed its position”, said Ceal Smith, founder of the grassroots, San Luis Valley Renewable Communities Alliance. “Interest in the San Luis Valley is very high and now Coloradans will have the same chance as citizens in California, Nevada and Arizona to express their concerns about the proposed large-scale privatization of public lands for industrial energy development,” Smith said.
“A lot more is known now about impacts and less destructive and costly point of use alternatives for solar development. It’s important that the BLM give full consideration to this new information,” she added.
More than 100 citizens attended the March 7th, 2011 public scoping hearing on the Draft PEIS in Alamosa, CO. Participants included adjacent landowners, ranchers and farmers, local government officials, student and community environmental groups, solar installers and business representatives, global climate change and clean energy advocates and professionals, including 24 individuals who came prepared to speak.
The Alamosa meeting drew more attendance than any of the other public hearings held throughout the country, with the possible exception of the Feb. 8th Indian Wells hearing in California.
The Supplement to the PEIS and other related documents can be downloaded here: http://solareis.anl.gov/documents/supp/index.cfm
The deadline for public comment on the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS is January 23, 2012.
In November and December, 2011, BLM held public hearings in Las Vegas, El Centro, CA, and Palm Desert but no Colorado hearing was scheduled.
Numerous citizens appealed to the BLM on the grounds that Colorado was not being treated fairly under the National Environmental Policy Act.
Nearly all the Colorado lands eyed for solar development are in the rural, high-altitude San Luis Valley, including over 16,000 acres in 4 Solar Energy Zones. The San Luis Valley is home to Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar who oversees the BLM’s increasingly controversial solar development proposal on public lands.
The supplemental study addresses impacts for large-scale industrial solar development that will have significant impacts on a broad range of individuals, communities and environments. The plan will affect areas in the San Luis Valley subject to industrial solar development.
Critics say the proposal also impacts ratepayers and taxpayers who could be deprived of the benefits of locally produced solar energy development as a result of the disproportionate allocation of scarce public resources for remote, centralized solar power plants on public lands.
“We are pleased that BLM listened to that people and reversed its position”, said Ceal Smith, founder of the grassroots, San Luis Valley Renewable Communities Alliance. “Interest in the San Luis Valley is very high and now Coloradans will have the same chance as citizens in California, Nevada and Arizona to express their concerns about the proposed large-scale privatization of public lands for industrial energy development,” Smith said.
“A lot more is known now about impacts and less destructive and costly point of use alternatives for solar development. It’s important that the BLM give full consideration to this new information,” she added.
More than 100 citizens attended the March 7th, 2011 public scoping hearing on the Draft PEIS in Alamosa, CO. Participants included adjacent landowners, ranchers and farmers, local government officials, student and community environmental groups, solar installers and business representatives, global climate change and clean energy advocates and professionals, including 24 individuals who came prepared to speak.
The Alamosa meeting drew more attendance than any of the other public hearings held throughout the country, with the possible exception of the Feb. 8th Indian Wells hearing in California.
The Supplement to the PEIS and other related documents can be downloaded here: http://solareis.anl.gov/documents/supp/index.cfm
The deadline for public comment on the Supplement to the Draft Solar PEIS is January 23, 2012.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Colorado Solar Industry Faces Challenges
Colorado's San Luis Valley, an alpine desert, is rapidly becoming a leading producer of solar energy in the United States. The sun shines more than 340 days a year in the San Luis Valley. So the solar industry is booming here.
Several solar facilities in the region generate electricity on an industrial scale and others are under construction. Under Colorado law, 30 percent of power used in the state must be generated from renewable sources by 2020. But given the demand for electricity, Alamosa County's year-round sunshine still won't be enough.
Nick Thiel, plant manager of San Luis Solar Ranch, said, “We are sitting on 220 acres [89 hectares] with roughly 110,000 panels, equivalent to a 30-megawatt site,” said Thiel.
The company says that's enough to supply power to more than 7,500 homes.
“In the mornings, when the sun rises over those mountains, their sensors attract the sun, so they move in concordance with the sun. In the morning they face the east, and as the day falls, it will follow all the way to the west until it sets,” said Thiel.
In this valley, solar farms are expanding rapidly, making Colorado the third-largest solar energy producing state in the US, after California and New Jersey.
But the sun is not enough.
Alamosa County, one of the largest in the region, has six solar farms. County Commissioner Darius Allen said 650 hectares have been allocated for solar power and more could be dedicated, if the infrastructure were better.
“Right now, the transmission lines we have in here is pretty much maxed out,” said Allen.
But that's not the only problem. San Luis Valley is an agricultural area producing potatoes, grain, alfalfa and pasture for cattle. Farmers are concerned about land going to the solar industry.
Steve Vandiver is General Manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. He said, “If agriculture goes away here, we have nothing left."
Agriculture in this valley is under another threat. The land, rivers and aquifers under the Valley are drying out. That also affects solar power.
“Some of the bigger plants - the solar thermo plants - take a significant amount of water. You have to dry up a lot of farm land in order to create a water supply that is large enough to support those types of plants,” said Vandiver.
Solar panels also need to be washed because dust accumulates on them.
The water shortage has forced authorities to draw up plans that will close hundreds of wells and retire agricultural land.
“Valley wide we are probably looking at 60 to 80,000 acres [24,000 to 32,000 hectares] that will have to come out of production in the long term,” said Vandiver.
Farmers are concerned. George Whitten is his family's third generation on this organic ranch.
Recently, he and his wife Julie Sullivan, an environmental activist and educator, recruited neighbors in a bid to fight the construction of an 800-hectare solar farm adjacent to their land. They won their case, and the project failed.
“I never thought I would be fighting solar energy, and so it was very bizarre,” said Sullivan.
“It’s giant parabolic mirrors. They are the size of a drive-in theater, and there were going to be 9,000 of those right along that power line,” said Whitten.
The Whittens say industrial sites - even solar ones - should not replace agriculture.
They say instead of saving energy, Americans are trying to figure out how to use more.
Several solar facilities in the region generate electricity on an industrial scale and others are under construction. Under Colorado law, 30 percent of power used in the state must be generated from renewable sources by 2020. But given the demand for electricity, Alamosa County's year-round sunshine still won't be enough.
Nick Thiel, plant manager of San Luis Solar Ranch, said, “We are sitting on 220 acres [89 hectares] with roughly 110,000 panels, equivalent to a 30-megawatt site,” said Thiel.
The company says that's enough to supply power to more than 7,500 homes.
“In the mornings, when the sun rises over those mountains, their sensors attract the sun, so they move in concordance with the sun. In the morning they face the east, and as the day falls, it will follow all the way to the west until it sets,” said Thiel.
In this valley, solar farms are expanding rapidly, making Colorado the third-largest solar energy producing state in the US, after California and New Jersey.
But the sun is not enough.
Alamosa County, one of the largest in the region, has six solar farms. County Commissioner Darius Allen said 650 hectares have been allocated for solar power and more could be dedicated, if the infrastructure were better.
“Right now, the transmission lines we have in here is pretty much maxed out,” said Allen.
But that's not the only problem. San Luis Valley is an agricultural area producing potatoes, grain, alfalfa and pasture for cattle. Farmers are concerned about land going to the solar industry.
Steve Vandiver is General Manager of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. He said, “If agriculture goes away here, we have nothing left."
Agriculture in this valley is under another threat. The land, rivers and aquifers under the Valley are drying out. That also affects solar power.
“Some of the bigger plants - the solar thermo plants - take a significant amount of water. You have to dry up a lot of farm land in order to create a water supply that is large enough to support those types of plants,” said Vandiver.
Solar panels also need to be washed because dust accumulates on them.
The water shortage has forced authorities to draw up plans that will close hundreds of wells and retire agricultural land.
“Valley wide we are probably looking at 60 to 80,000 acres [24,000 to 32,000 hectares] that will have to come out of production in the long term,” said Vandiver.
Farmers are concerned. George Whitten is his family's third generation on this organic ranch.
Recently, he and his wife Julie Sullivan, an environmental activist and educator, recruited neighbors in a bid to fight the construction of an 800-hectare solar farm adjacent to their land. They won their case, and the project failed.
“I never thought I would be fighting solar energy, and so it was very bizarre,” said Sullivan.
“It’s giant parabolic mirrors. They are the size of a drive-in theater, and there were going to be 9,000 of those right along that power line,” said Whitten.
The Whittens say industrial sites - even solar ones - should not replace agriculture.
They say instead of saving energy, Americans are trying to figure out how to use more.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Colorado industry group gets $491,000 grant to cut red tape and costs for solar installations
Colorado industry group gets $491,000 grant to cut red tape and costs for solar installations
The Denver Post
A Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association team today received a $491,000 federal grant to develop a system that will cut red tape and cost for solar panel installations.
"Every municipality has been going about trying to set standards in a piecemeal fashion and that has added to cost," said Neal Lurie, executive director of the Colorado solar association.
Non-hardware costs, such as permitting, installation, design and maintenance account for up to 40 percent of the total cost of installed rooftop system, according to the US Department of Energy, which awarded the grant.
In a report released earlier this year, San Francisco-based SunRun, a company that leases solar panels, estimated local permitting and inspection added $2,500 to the average residential installation nation-wide.
The average residential solar installation is now between $12,000 and $18,000 and half the costs are now for permitting, regulatory, interconnection, customer acquisition, installation, and other similar charges, Lurie said.
The COSEIA team will work with municipalities to develop consistent lists of best practices, on-line tools and other standards, with the goal of cutting application costs by 25 percent, Lurie said.
"The Energy Department is investing in this Colorado project to unleash the community's solar potential by making it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association team also includes: the Rocky Mountain Institute, Denver, Boulder County, Fort Collins, Golden, and the American Solar Energy Society.
The Denver Post
A Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association team today received a $491,000 federal grant to develop a system that will cut red tape and cost for solar panel installations.
"Every municipality has been going about trying to set standards in a piecemeal fashion and that has added to cost," said Neal Lurie, executive director of the Colorado solar association.
Non-hardware costs, such as permitting, installation, design and maintenance account for up to 40 percent of the total cost of installed rooftop system, according to the US Department of Energy, which awarded the grant.
In a report released earlier this year, San Francisco-based SunRun, a company that leases solar panels, estimated local permitting and inspection added $2,500 to the average residential installation nation-wide.
The average residential solar installation is now between $12,000 and $18,000 and half the costs are now for permitting, regulatory, interconnection, customer acquisition, installation, and other similar charges, Lurie said.
The COSEIA team will work with municipalities to develop consistent lists of best practices, on-line tools and other standards, with the goal of cutting application costs by 25 percent, Lurie said.
"The Energy Department is investing in this Colorado project to unleash the community's solar potential by making it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a statement.
The Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association team also includes: the Rocky Mountain Institute, Denver, Boulder County, Fort Collins, Golden, and the American Solar Energy Society.
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