Jan 12

18

Solarize the Future

Posted by Mac on January 18, 2012
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar | Tagged With: David Sweet, linkedin, mr sun solar, Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, ron mcdowell, Solar Ambassador, Solar Oregon, Solarize NE Portland, solarize portland | 1 Comment

easy payday loans and secure !

: Sabin Green

By David Sweet, Solar Oregon member and Solar Ambassador

Ralph Nader famously remarked, “The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.” But that was before we created the Solarize Portland model that has opened up solar energy to hundreds of Portland households and is about to open it to hundreds more.

Solarize Northeast had its start in the fall of 2009, when my friend Kelly Rodgers and I decided to see if we could replicate the Solarize model that had been created in Southeast Portland. We brought our plan to the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, which took it on, and the result was 204 solar installations in Northeast Portland.

The idea has really taken off, and over the last 2½ years, neighborhood-based Solarize projects in Portland have resulted in over 700 solar installations. In all of 2008, by comparison, there were 38 installations. But the Solarize totals are only part of the story, because the number of non-Solarize installations in Portland is exploding as well—there were more than 500 in 2010 and more than 1000 in 2011.

What’s going on? Social scientists call it “innovation diffusion”—the spread of a new idea. Typically, innovations are championed by activist “change agents,” and first tried by so-called “early adopters.” Our goal with the Solarize projects is to move solar technology to the “tipping point,” where it spreads beyond early adopters and into the mainstream. Among the factors that determine whether and how quickly an innovation spreads are its complexity and its visibility. The Solarize model addresses these factors.

We simplify the complex decision making with a predetermined contractor, a fixed price, and community workshops to demystify the process. We also make solar technology more visible through our outreach, our workshops, and the number of panels going up in our neighborhoods. People are also encouraged to try something new if it’s being done by people they know—people like them—their community. Which is another reason that the Solarize community model is so successful.

Solarize is also a model for the cultural transformation we need to make. The end of the oil age is upon us. The subsidy of ancient sunlight that has brought us the wealth and wonders of a global industrial society is ending. In the very near future, we will need to be locally self-reliant and self-sufficient. We will need to produce most of what we need, including energy, very close to home. We will also need strong bonds of community to support us through this challenging change. Solarize Northeast is a shift toward local self-sufficiency and it is an exercise in community. And community, like a muscle, becomes stronger when it is exercised.

Eighty years ago, Thomas Edison told Henry Ford, “I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that.” Well, we haven’t quite run out, and we’re beginning to tackle it. Solarize Northeast Phase II is going to be even more successful than Phase I, and I’m excited that I get to be part of it. My gratitude to NECN and to everyone here who is working to create a more resilient, self-reliant, and stronger community.

The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is proud to announce a second round of Solarize Northeast, a community driven project to simplify solar electric installation for North & Northeast Portland residents. Mr. Sun Solar has been selected as the solar contractor for this effort.

Interested neighbors enjoy savings through a community-driven bulk purchase of solar panels. Solarize Northeast hosts workshops to educate residents about solar options, site assessment, installation, and financing options. For more information, including dates and times of workshops see … http://solarize.necoalition.org/

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Nov 11

24

Hundredth Monkey Syndrome

Posted by Mac on November 24, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • About • naturehouse • Rants, Raves & Musings • Uncategorized | Tagged With: China solar, Hundredth Monkey Snydrome, linkedin, ron mcdowell, Solar Oregon, solarflareblog, solarize portland, SUSTAINABILITY | 2 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving from Mac & Cap'n T

I’m thinking of changing the tag line of this blog to “on the path to a meaningful life”.

In an attempt to live more sustainably, I’ve morphed into someone with a better sense of purpose.

Along the way, I’ve met others just like me. Okay, I live in Portland Oregon which is a kind of lab for all things sustainable. [Would that make me a lab rat?] I also get that it isn’t so damn easy in the bread basket of America, or in the land of Dixie, but there’s a good chance the term “sustainability” will come to define the Pacific Northwest region of America.

Did you ever learn about the “Hundredth Monkey Syndrome” in high school or college? Or at a management seminar perhaps? Well, it has something to do with awareness, social learning, sweet potatoes, and Japanese monkeys on the island of Koshima.* I liken this syndrome to how Americans are becoming aware of our cultural ills, especially as it relates to over-consumption and living more sustainably. I do see evidence that we’re (slowly) changing our behavior. One can see the results of what I’m talking about, if one looks for it. I’ve been (rightly) accused of being an amateur socialist, because I am looking for it, and I am learning from it, and I am doing it, and I am modeling this behavior on the blog for others to consider, follow, dispute, or whatever. I have a purpose to serve.

Call me monkey number 503.

This month marks two years that I’ve been writing this blog. It has become my conscious, my voice.

Since I started (Nov ’09) I’ve posted 167 articles. Some of the posts are quite personal, but most have to do with me trying to live more sustainably, including; my learnings, teachings, successes, and failures. I’d suppose I’d have to put solarflareblog.com firmly in the success bucket. Working on this blog lifted my spirits and kept me going when times were hard. May sound weird, but it helped keep me focused and grounded. Yes, I’ve/we’ve had some difficult and challenging times here at naturehouse recently, but who hasn’t? That’s life. I know disappointment, but as my father used to say, ‘you gotta take the bad with the good.’

Although my blog is a journal of sorts, I rarely offer a peek too far behind the curtain. I realize that can make my content a bit too dry for some people’s taste, and it’s not like there’s a lack of this of subject matter available on the internet. It is literally everywhere. So, I feel blessed people have stopped by my blog to read something that I wrote.

Readership has grown from 25 visitors a month to over 3,000 a month (on average) – amounting to almost 40,000 post reads by 25,000 readers so far. In addition, solarflareblog.com readers are scattered across the globe.

According to my “count per day” software, the global readership top ten breaks down as

USA
China
United Kingdom
Ukraine
Russian Federation
Germany
Canada
Sweden
Latvia (!)
Romania

Runner-ups are France, Japan, Poland, India … and Brazil is coming on strong. That’s global, baby!

: On the road in Southeast China – 2011

It never occurred to me this might happen when I set out to tell my story here in Oregon. I figured I might get a few looky-loos from outside America via the www, but I never counted on 25% of my readership coming from outside the United States! It is a small world indeed.

It makes sense about China, however, as I did visit there last Feb/March and met hundreds of people over a two-week period. The Chinese want to live how we do here in America. The people there look to American living standards as a model for their future. [For both good and/or bad, I’m afraid.] I like that they’re reading my blog, ‘cuz if any place needs to embrace the notion of less polluting, sustainable solutions, it is China. I’m happy to see India and Brazil moving up on the list, for that matter.

In case you’re wondering … the top ten reads on this blog (in order) are:

1. A glimpse into the future http://solarflareblog.com/?p=968

2. In every endeavor there is conflict http://solarflareblog.com/?p=929

3. Living with Solar – Winter is a time of doubt http://solarflareblog.com/?p=1772

4. SolarCity http://solarflareblog.com/?p=1150

5. The Landscape of My Dreams http://solarflareblog.com/?p=1346

6. Put your money where your mouth is http://solarflareblog.com/?p=2369

7. Solarflare – News Flash (BETC / RETC) http://solarflareblog.com/?p=2136

8. Kevin Costner to the Rescue http://solarflareblog.com/?p=871

9. DIY – Independence Day, indeed http://solarflareblog.com/?p=2316

10. Baby Boomer Boomerang http://solarflareblog.com/?p=531

Out of this lot, the only post I’d like to edit is “In every endeavor there is conflict”. This is only because I felt I was a little too harsh in my criticism of a fellow solar advocate, Andrew Koyaanisqatsi. He had the gall to challenge the Portland Solarize campaigns and he called them unjust and some other things. I and others took exception to his point of view and his message. I’ve since gotten to know Mr. Koyaanisqatsi better and I think
he’s a good and principled man. We are both passionate about what we believe, and what we do, and that passion got the best of us. Hey, I’m Irish, what else can I say?!

Solar Beaverton Workshop presentation

My Akismet spam filter informs me it caught/ counted 4,426 messages during these two years. My assumption is the high number of visitors from the Ukraine, Russia and Romania might be responsible for this. I got nothing bad to say about those countries, but this is the result of an audit. Yep, I reviewed a sampling of the spam, and I ask you, how many fake passports, fake Gucci bags, fake Rolex watches, Ugg boats, Viagra, and porno movies does one person really need?

You know, the work to keep up a blog like this is a labor of love. However, the time and effort put into this blog has been equaled by what I’ve gotten out of it – or better. I hope you readers feel the same. Please let me know by making a comment on a post you like, or hate, or whatever. Okay?

#####

: Lovely Noriko, my “bag lady”

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do whatever I wanted. Think about that! As a full-grown adult, how many of us ever have this luxury?! It wasn’t done with smoke ‘n mirrors, it was because I devoted myself to the cause, and to my passion and objectives. Mostly, it is because of my wife, Noriko.

This blog, like everything else I’ve done, or will do, is only possible because of Noriko’s love, dedication, and generousity. Whatever I accomplish, she gets much of the credit, because I couldn’t do this without her support.

So, today, Thanksgiving Day in America, I thank God for Noriko for being my love and my life.

And … may God bless you and your family too.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

* The story of “The Hundredth Monkey” has become popular in our culture as a strategy for social change. It is also referred to “Hundredth Monkey Effect” or the “Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon.

Want to know more … see http://www.i-change.biz/100monkey.php

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Sep 11

5

Leadership in Sustainable Business

Posted by Mac on September 5, 2011
Posted in Rants, Raves & Musings • Solar | Tagged With: Energy Trust of Oregon, John Patterson, linkedin, mr sun solar, ron mcdowell, Solar Oregon, solarize portland, Sustainability Leadership, Sustainable Business Oregon | No Comments yet, please leave one

Today I submitted a nomination for an annual leadership award sponsored by Sustainable Business Oregon. http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/awards.html

Every year, Sustainable Business Oregon recognizes an individual for their leadership in creating a thriving sustainable business environment in Oregon. They asked our help in finding the leader most worthy of recognition by submitting a nomination for the annual Leadership in Sustainable Business award. Yeah, they honor one individual that has been instrumental in leading the Oregon sustainable economy.

John Patterson speaks at the Oregon State Capital

It should come as no surprise that I nominated Mister Sun himself – John H. Patterson.

The online submission form had two small boxes for answers to two questions. The box read “1000” so I assumed it meant I had 1000 words to make my case and I prepared what is posted below. However, to my chagrin, the box only held 1000 letters! So I had to greatly reduce my input, which is a shame and doesn’t serve Mr. Sun justice.

Who knows, maybe I can convince the award committee to read my full submission, but in the meantime I posted it here for you solarflareblog.com readers. If I made my case, and you support this nomination, I implore you to submit one for John Patterson yourself. [Or for whomever you think is a person that has played a crucial role in moving Oregon towards a sustainable future.] Better hurry ‘cuz they close the nomination on September 11^th.

****************************************************************************************

Mr. Sun Solar has been in the solar business for three decades

Q: How has this person contributed to Oregon sustainability economy?

John Patterson has been an innovator, influencer and a leader for renewable energy in Oregon for 31 years. Patterson is President of Mr. Sun Solar and for many he’s known simply as “Mister Sun”. For the past three decades, Mr. Sun has shown leadership for renewables and sustainability in the Pacific Northwest. His company has sold, installed, and serviced thousands of solar energy systems of every type and his solar experience is unparalleled in the industry. http://www.mrsunsolar.com/

John Patterson has shown leadership with a focus on sustainable practices since the beginning (1980) including some of these “firsts”:

Mr. Sun became the first net-zero business west of the Cascades.
Mr. Sun was the very first photovoltaic system in the Energy Trust program.
Mr. Sun Solar was selected 3 times for the innovative residential Solarize programs.
Patterson invented and manufactures Sol Reliant™ the most advanced technology in solar hot water heating in the industry.

Patterson is regarded as one of the foremost experts in the world on solar water heating (SHW). He’s presented and lectured in America and now he’s chairing a panel at the invitation of the Chinese for the First Low Carbon Earth Summit, which will be held in October 2011 at World Exposition Center, in Dalian China. This is evidence that his influence is expanding.

Mister Sun, John Patterson, in Shanghai, China

Mr. Sun Solar was selected as the solar contractor for Solarize Northwest and Solarize Southwest Portland programs. These were innovative, volunteer-driven, community efforts to bring affordable solar electricity and weatherization to Portland homes. Part of the reason both selection committees chose Mr. Sun Solar was because of the company’s commitment to sustainability and local economy.

The Solarize Southwest campaign was one the largest neighborhood solar projects in the nation, resulting in revenue generation of $2.8M and 480kW installed PV on 168 Portland rooftops. Much of this revenue stayed in the local community for product and labor because Mr. Sun used local solar manufacturing for modules (SolarWorld-Hillsboro), Inverters (PV Powered – Bend) and electrical components (Platt Electric); plus he hired and trained a number of local employees to support this business growth.

Mr. Sun Solar started as a one-man operation and has now grown to a team of over 25 employees and subcontractors. Patterson uses sustainable business practices and drives a Prius, in fact, most of the company’s full-time employees drive hybrid or biodiesel vehicles, and three of the company’s vans use bio-diesel. Mr. Sun recently celebrated their 31 year anniversary and held an event to commission their new (additional) 10 kW photovoltaic system and give rides for the kids in their electric vehicle (truck) which is 100% powered by the sun!

As one Energy Trust administrator said, “Mr. Sun Solar walks the talk.”

John Patterson’s leadership has left a big imprint on Oregon’s solar policies and on the residential solar market. He served as Chairman and President (3 times!) of the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association and remains actively involved in energy policy legislation in Oregon. He lobbies local policy-makers and legislators in Salem to invest in Oregon’s future by keeping solar tax credits so that individuals and businesses will continue to invest in our employees, our economy, and our environment. He helped to create solar supportive legislation by testifying at state budget committee hearings and the Oregon PUC, is often invited to advocate for solar energy, and is a featured speaker at many public events and rallies.

Q: In what ways does this person help business thrive while embracing sustainability?

John Patterson leads by example. He educates and teaches at every opportunity. He promotes, evangelizes and testifies. He supports public-private partnerships. He is a thought-leader.

Patterson firmly believes that education is key to promoting renewable energy. He shares his own three decade solar story with others and has a direct influence on the local “green” economy. I personally know of three existing solar businesses that were started by ex-Mr. Sun employees, and when a group of solar professionals gather in Portland, it often has the air of Mr. Sun Solar employee re-union.

John has trained thousands over the years

Patterson strives to further solar energy causes and awareness through educational outreach and workshops offered through Portland Community College. He teaches others how to thrive using sustainable practices and is the instructor for the PCC Green Living workshop series entitled, “Solar Thermal & Electric Systems Installer Training Series” This series of workshops provides an overview of existing solar systems and how to build, install, and service them from the individual components to completed projects. Students learn system sizing, orientation, configuration, load analysis, installation and service from basics to the completed project. Indeed, John Patterson has trained more Oregon Limited Renewable Technician (LRT) apprentices than any other contractor in the Portland metro area.

SOLAR OREGON

When Solar Oregon hosted our 4th annual Goal Net Zero Tour in May, Mr. Sun became the tour’s major supporter / sponsor. The tour is an innovative way to educate area homeowners, designers, builders, and real estate professionals that allow a firsthand look at remarkable homes on the path to carbon neutrality. Patterson also has experience working with local architects who design solar into new construction, most notably the Dolph Creek townhomes in Portland in which Sol Reliant water heating systems were part of the blueprints.

Patterson has written and published a number of articles on solar energy topics and recently published a book about the dangers of global warming called, “FOOTPRINT: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Extinction”. His book is about climate change and the need to shift to a renewable energy economy very quickly. It places the responsibility on individuals and shows them exactly what steps to take in order to reduce their carbon footprint and how to influence others in their community to do the same. It is one of the best books written on climate change and has been endorsed by Dr. James Hansen – our nation’s leading climatologist. [See my book review http://solarflareblog.com/?p=828]

About writing the book, Patterson said, “Over the years, my focus has shifted from saving money to saving the planet. As I was researching for the book, I realized that global warming is a clear and present danger to human life. Fossil fuels and rampant consumerism are two things we must give up if we hope to derail the runaway train of global warming and climate change.”

: John stands beside our solar system – His company installed it

On Oregon’s sustainable and economic future, Patterson says, “I see Oregon leading the nation and even the world, into its new clean energy future. Our legislation that promotes non-polluting energy will vault us into the forefront of a growing market, and help steer us away from using fossil fuels. Renewable energy is no longer just an option for the individual; it’s a necessity for the greater society. I feel blessed to be a part of the clean energy revolution, and that solar energy has been the place for me to shine.”

Not only does he do what he sees as necessary to create a sustainable world, both environmentally and economically, John Patterson teaches and influences others to do same.

That’s why I nominated the guy.

John Patterson (L) circa early 1970s

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Sep 11

1

SOLARIZE USA: The Paradigm Shift – Part 3

Posted by Mac on September 1, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar • Solmac Solar | Tagged With: 1BOG, Community Environmental Council, Dave Llorens, Energy Trust of Oregon, group energy, Imagine Energy, Jessie Denver, kacia brockman, lee rahr, linkedin, Lizzie Rubado, Megan Birney, mr sun solar, Neighborhood Solar, NW SEED, residential solar, ron mcdowell, Solar Beaverton, Solar Oregon, solarize corbett, solarize eugene, Solarize Guidebook, Solarize North-Northwest Portland, solarize pendelton, solarize portland, solarize salem, Solarize Santa Barbara, solarize seattle, solarize southwest portland, Solarize USA, Tim O'Neal | No Comments yet, please leave one

Solar power and Santa Barbara are a good fit!

Santa Barbara Goes Solar!

The headline read … “The Community Environmental Council counts Solarize Santa Barbara a Success! ”

I’ve been writing about solarizing neighborhoods for awhile now, but with a Pacific Northwest slant because that’s where I live and work. I moved to Portland Oregon twenty years ago after living in Santa Barbara California for nearly half my life. [This is when most people just shake their head at me.] I’ve never looked back, but I still have love for my old hometown. Therefore, I’m quite proud that SB has taken a page out of Portland’s sustainability book and completed their first residential solarize campaign, quite successfully too, I might add.

The Community Environment Council (CEC) of Santa Barbara sponsored this program and it was expertly managed by Megan Birney, who is the renewable energy specialist for the organization.

She told me, “As I’m sure you can tell, we have borrowed quite a bit from the Solarize Portland and Solarize Salem projects. The people in Portland and Salem that we have spoken with have been extremely helpful in getting this program up and running. I honestly don’t know if we could have done it without them.”

Here’s the synopsis …

Solarize Santa Barbara

http://www.cecsb.org/solarize-santa-barbara

Campaign Started: May 2011

Sponsored by: Community Environmental Council (Non-profit)

Coordinator: Megan Birney

Chosen Contractor: REC Solar & Sun Pacific Solar Electric

Participation: 187 sign-ups 75 workshop attendees

Contracts signed: 49

Total or projected installed: 205 kW

(Note: 4 contracts are on hold, if they move forward the total will be 220 kW)

[Note: For your reference, I’ve posted below the results of a number of residential solarize program/projects, many I am personally involved or familiar with so I validated the numbers. Judge for yourself whether or not these programs do as advertised or are worth the effort.]

Imagine Energy was the first solar contractor to engage

Has Solarizing Gone Viral?

The first Portland campaign, Solarize Southeast Portland (2009), was sparked by a homeowner who wanted to install solar power and partnered with Tim O’Neal (SE Uplift) and Lizzie Rubado (Energy Trust of Oregon) to create a neighborhood group purchase program. They borrowed from 1BOG, put a Portland spin on it, and the program received lots of media attention (Solarize SE in USA Today) as it was seen as innovative and a potential market game-changer. Over this past year, many individuals who participated in a Solarize Portland program have traveled to national conferences to present and explain this successful model to others.

Solarizing supports city sustainability goals and helps meet RPS

The Northwest cities that adopted this same model, like Beaverton, Salem, and Seattle all got press and accolades for their own successes too, but my favorite coverage was for Solarize Pendleton which had their story told in an Associated Press article that was picked up and broadly published in the New York Times, CBS News, Huffington Post, and scores of other outlets. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/09/pendleton-oregon-solar-energy_n_847061.html

And, as recently as last week the Huffington Post Green section published an article entitled, “Group Buying the New Thing in Residential Solar – And Beyond?” By Lewis Milford and Anne Margolis of Clean Energy Group http://www.cleanegroup.org/blog/group-buying-the-new-thing-in-residential-solar-and-beyond/. It is a good article on the subject and I’ll leave it up to you to read, but I do want to call attention to this quote:

“The [Solarize Portland] model is potentially replicable by communities across the U.S., and is particularly important to study in light of declining state incentives and challenges to the PACE residential financing program … Since then, several other “Solarize” -type programs have popped up all over the U.S. (and beyond), in cities, states, and utility territories, and, based on their apparent success, these programs may be just the ticket to keep up the solar energy momentum in these times of diminishing state and federal incentives.”

Solarize campaigns create buzz and bring attention to renewable energy

Then it goes on to ask, “So what is so great about the Solarize model?” and provides the appropriate answers.

Yeah, we get the headlines and deservedly so. I think we’ve proven this model will stimulate and create demand, while promoting awareness and educating residents, but now we’ll see if it is sustainable.

This guidebook was published in January 2011

One tool that will certainly help keep the solarize momentum going is …

The Solarize Guidebook: A community guide to collective purchasing of residential PV systems

Authored by Linda Irvine, Alex Sawyer and Jennifer Grove of NW SEED (Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development ) and sponsored & funded by DOE/NREL’s Solar America Communities program, The Solarize Guidebook describes key elements of the Solarize campaigns in Portland, and offers several program refinements from projects beyond Portland.

Educational workshops are crucial for a successful solarize program

Contributors include: Lee Rahr, Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability; Lizzie Rubado, Energy Trust of Oregon; Ross Swartzendruber, Salem Creative Network; Lee Jorgenson, Solarize Pendleton; Jessie Denver, City of San Jose; and Dave Llorens, 1BOG.

The guidebook provides lessons, considerations, and step-by-step plans for project organizers to replicate the success of solarizing. If you’re considering doing something similar for your community, you owe it to yourself to do the homework and this book is it. [Including reading solarflarebog.com of course !]

Download The Solarize Guidebook (PDF)

The results of solarizing are obvious - a raising tide lifts all boats

Solarizing: Results and Comparisons (These are the campaigns I know about – there are others, no doubt!)

Solarize SE Portland (2 campaigns)

http://www.southeastuplift.org/content/solarize-se

Campaign Started: 1 – 2009 2 – 2010

Sponsored by: SE Uplift & Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association

Coordinator: Tim O’Neal, Jonathan Cohen

Chosen Contractor: Imagine Energy

Participation: 1 – 350 sign-ups 2 – 300

Contracts signed: 1 – 130 2 – 109

Total or projected installed: 1– 350 kW 2 – 358 kW

Solarize NE Portland

http://solarize.necoalition.org/

Campaign Started: January 2010

Sponsored by: Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN)

Coordinators: David Sweet, Kelly Rogers

Chosen Contractor: Solar City

Participation: 1000 sign-ups

Contracts signed: 204

Total or projected installed: 549 kW

The City of Portland was a good partner - this promo was in the Portland Curbsider

We had over 100 people at this Earth Day Solarize SW Portland workshop

Solarize SW Portland

http://www.solarizesouthwestportland.org/

Campaign Started: April 2010

Sponsored by: Southwest Neighborhood Inc.

Coordinators: Todd Farris, Leonard Gard, Ron McDowell

Chosen Contractor: Mr. Sun Solar

Participation: 700 sign-ups 300+ workshops

Contracts signed: 168

Total or projected installed: 480 kW

Solarize North Portland

http://www.nwnw.org/solarizenorthnw/introduction-north/

Campaign Started: January 2011

Sponsored by: North Portland Neighborhood Services and Neighbors West-Northwest

Coordinator: Mary Kelly, Carrie Richards Andrews

Chosen Contractor: Imagine Energy

Participation: 200 sign-ups 150-175 site assessments

Contracts signed: 32 (+15 more possible)

Total or projected installed: Estimate = 100 kW

Solarize NW Portland

http://www.nwnw.org/solarizenorthnw/introduction/

Campaign Started: February 2011

Sponsored by: Neighbors West-Northwest and North Portland Neighborhood Services

Coordinator: Alison Wallisch

Chosen Contractor: Mr. Sun Solar

Participation: 157 sign-ups 110 site assessments

Contracts signed: 26 (plus 1 SHW & 3 solar pool heating)

Total or projected installed: 74.6 kW

Solar Beaverton

http://livelightenergy.com/solarbeaverton/

Campaign Started: March 2011

Sponsored by: City of Beaverton (Community driven)

Project Coordinator: Rebecca Fitzsimmons

Chosen Contractor: Livelight Energy (2009 = SolarCity)

Participation: 580 sign-ups (2009 pilot = 400 sign-ups)

Contracts signed: 75 (2009 pilot = 50)

Total or projected installed: 225 kW (2009 pilot = 150 kW)

Solarize Corbett

http://corbettoregon.com/news/solarize-corbett/

Campaign Started: July 2011

Aug 11

20

Solarize USA: The Paradigm Shift – Part 2

Posted by Mac on August 20, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar • Solmac Solar | Tagged With: 1 block off the grid, 1BOG, group energy, linkedin, Neighborhood Solar, Open Neighborhoods community solar program, ron mcdowell, Solar Beaverton, SolarCity, solarize portland, Solarize Santa Barbara, solarize seattle, solarize southwest portland, Solarize USA, Ten Million Solar Roofs and Ten Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act | No Comments yet, please leave one

: Solarize N-NW Portland just ended (photo by Event Image Photography)

If done right residential solarizing has a community feel about it.

It is something neighbors can do together and it engages and binds a community. Solarizing is more than just bulk purchasing (lowering the cost barrier for homeowners) and putting solar panels on our home’s rooftop, solarize programs also drive local market transformation, create jobs, and generate collateral business. These are all bonus in times of economic morass.

Above all, solarizing stimulates demand for solar energy in the residential heartland of America.

It is one of the paths our citizens need to move ourselves from the early adopter phase to mainstream. After being involved in several solarize projects myself, including consultation with other communities’ solarize project leaders; hours spent in discussion with key solar stakeholders and policy-makers; plus tons of research and analysis; I see no major obstacles to achieving proliferation of solar panels on U.S. residential rooftops by 2016.

Ten million rooftops, indeed. * It may happen.

The Solarize Approach

: Solar seeds were planted by DOE/NREL and harvested by the Portland Community

Solarizing is leveraging the buying power of a community.

It promotes and coordinates group purchasing programs for home owners interested in solar power. Neighbors leverage their collective purchasing power to negotiate bulk discounts with local solar installation companies while securing their energy future with low-cost, grid-tied solar installations.

Over the past two years we’ve proven this concept here in rainy Oregon, to the tune of hundreds of houses and megawatts installed of distributed rooftop solar power in cities such as Beaverton, Pendleton, Portland, Salem, and now rural Corbett (pop 2,300).

These communities have seen the potential and/or garnered results when taking this approach, such as; an increase in demand, reduction in softcosts, volume pricing, local job creation, and overall process improvement. Portland’s certainly had our share of sucess and national attention, and I’m happy to report that this approach is being replicated and quickly expanding across America.

: Solarized Smart Meter (Image by Event Image Photography)

Here’s the reason why … it helps communities with:

- Market transformation
- Reaching RPS objectives
- Stimulating local economy and creating “green” jobs
- Providing education and lowering costs for participants
- Removing and/or streamline barriers to ubiquity
- Engaging neighborhoods and creating a sense of community

All community-wide projects will have some direct benefit and cost that result from the goods and services it produces and the resources it uses. My own experience working with on Solarize Portland taught me about social benefits gained by the local community.

Solarize campaigns create jobs and produce results

I learned that a community solarize program not only creates jobs, it generates collateral business. Besides the obvious labor involved with solar system installations, others shared in this economic opportunity, some associated with upstream activities like marketing, education and support activities. (e.g. promotional and educational printed materials, yard signs, database support, and workshops.)

In our case it also included job referrals for roofers, tree trimmers, inspectors, and electricians, who were hired as a result of one of our solar resource assessments. The City of Portland itself received a financial benefit from the collection of required permit fees and so on.

Net direct social benefits for communities derived from this approach include:

Solar demand creation and impact on the region
Local market transactions and business for local tradespeople
Educating and creating outreach opportunities that increase awareness of renewable energy
Local job creation like use of an electrical company who employs local residents
Engaging students at local schools and then hiring to support outreach efforts like sign-making, distributing flyers, tabling at farmer markets, etc…
Sponsoring of public events
Lowering of CO2 emissions
Promotion of the objectives and accomplishments of the community project itself in local, regional, and national publications and media outlets
Revenue generated from permits, inspections, ads placed in local media, etc…

Lee Rahr (Portland BPS) presents the Solarize program concept

There are many paths to the mountain top …

The group purchase models recently deployed in the U.S. have all been designed to make it easier for the end-user to get solar installed on their home. This approach has been modified and tested in several different markets and geographic locations, and by varied sponsors using group purchasing strategies to accelerate the number of solar installations in a given community or subset.

For example:

The SOLARIZE Guidebook

The Solarize model used so successfully in Oregon has been replicated by non-profit organizations – in Seattle by Northwest Sustainable for Economic Development (NW SEED) and in Santa Barbara by the Community Environmental Council (CEC) – and now also by enterprises like the Clean Energy Logistics Lab’s Solarize Now! group discount campaign (Gainesville, FL). www.SolarizeNow.org

Coordinated by our Solar Oregon buddy, Hadley Price, Clean Energy Logistics Lab, also called CELL, is an American-owned entrepreneurial business which partners with nonprofit organizations, community organizations and other solar initiative programs to promote installation of solar power photovoltaic (PV) and hot water systems.

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society coordinated a different kind of a group purchase in Minneapolis – a residential solar water heating (solar thermal) system program. And, the City of San Jose developed a group purchase program organized to encourage its employees to install PV systems on their homes utilizing a special financing deal with partners San Jose Credit Union, SunPower Corporation and SunWater Solar.

1BOG has now gone national!

For-profit enterprises are well-established in this methodology and are competing for homeowner or end-user participation and dollars. The top companies in this category are …

One Block off the Grid (1BOG) http://1bog.org/. Started in San Francisco in 2008, 1BOG is in many respects the pioneer of the solar group discount approach. The name “One Block off the Grid” is a metaphor for freeing the world from its dependency on non-renewable power sources one block at a time. They continue to aggregate group buying initiatives based on demand generated through their website, promotions and partnerships. Just last month 1BOG expanded their services to the entire country. Company founder Dave Llorens explains 1BOG’s success by stating “If you get 200 people getting the same deal, and they know experts have negotiated it, they’re a lot more comfortable taking the plunge.”

Backed by the same early investors in Groupon, New Enterprise Associates, 1BOG draws frequent comparisons. 1BOG charges solar project contractors .25 cents per watt on a closed customer contract for the marketing, pre-assessment, online infrastructure and customer experience management, and says the discount value proposition to the solar contractor and homeowner comes from group purchasing.

Neighborhood Solar Discount Power Program http://neighborlysolar.com/. One of the very first group purchase programs in America was formed to educate homeowners and promote residential solar energy installations in the Denver Metro area. Neighborhood Solar organized homeowners into collective solar purchasing groups and negotiated significant discounts with local solar installation companies on their behalf. Neighborhood Solar is not affiliated with any solar installation company and does not perform solar installations. They act as an independent buyer’s agent with the goal of providing the best value to residential solar purchasers while helping installers put up more solar at reduced overhead costs.

Solarize is ... neighbors helping neighbors

Open Neighborhoods http://openneighborhoods.net/gosolar. The Open Neighborhoods community solar program began with a group of eco-minded Los Angeles residents who joined together to flex their group purchasing power and make a bigger impact in their community. Over 130 residents participated in a series of events and free solar assessments in 2009. Solar panels were installed on 32 homes in what became the largest group solar installation in LA history.

Group Energy http://mygroupenergy.com/. A new company (established in July 2011) GroupEnergy pioneered the employee solar group-buy model to help organizations nationwide achieve corporate social responsibility and sustainability goals. [nee Jessie Denver / San Jose] GroupEnergy enables their client companies the benefit of home energy improvements to their workforce or community while achieving the sustainability goals of the organization.

Solar Contractor / Installer – SolarCity Of course solar contractor companies, large and small, have initiated their own residential solar group buy programs too. SolarCity, a leader in this category, has partnered with Northern California communities like the Mountain View (CA) Solar Buyer’s Group Co-op, and has expanded that approach across the entire country, including here in Oregon.

Residential Solarize Campaigns – by State

California Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Davis, San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View
Colorado Denver
Florida Gainesville
Louisiana Baton Rouge
Massachusetts MassCEC – Harvard, Winchester, Scituate, Hatfield
Minnesota Minneapolis: Kingsfield
Oregon Portland: Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, North-Northwest; Beaverton, Pendleton, Salem, Corbett, Eugene
Washington Seattle: Queen Anne, Magnolia
Wisconsin MadiSUN – Madison

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

* Ten Million Solar Roofs and Ten Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act

The U.S. Senate has introduced the “Ten Million Solar Roofs and Ten Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act” by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) chairman of the Senate’s green jobs subcommittee, along with nine co-sponsors. This legislation will encourage the installation of 10 million solar power (PV) systems and 200,000 solar water heaters (SWH) on the rooftops of homes and businesses over the next decade. It would authorize rebates and other incentives to cover up to half the cost of the solar power and heating systems. If made into law, non-profit groups and state and local governments would also be eligible.

http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/SEIA_10million_Factsheet.pdf

As of this post date, this legislation has not been passed by the U.S. Congress.

For more on this subject, check out my March ’11 post entitled “Solar Rooftops” http://solarflareblog.com/?p=1894

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Aug 11

13

Solarize USA: The Paradigm Shift – Part 1

Posted by Mac on August 13, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar • Solmac Solar | Tagged With: 1 block off the grid, 1BOG, linkedin, mr sun solar, ron mcdowell, Solar Beaverton, Solar Oregon, solarize corbett, solarize pendelton, solarize portland, solarize salem, Solarize Santa Barbara, solarize seattle, Solarize USA | No Comments yet, please leave one

Let's Solarize the USA!

It is time to take residential rooftop solar from the early adopter to the mainstream America phase.

For the past thirty years, the U.S. residential solar market was built by American blue collar tradesmen. History will call them solar pioneers. These folks came from varied skill-sets and backgrounds: real estate, roofing, construction, plumbing and electrical, and they morphed into what is known today as solar contractors, solar installers and/or solar integrators. Most of these were small companies with fewer than ten employees, yet these mom & pops literally owned the residential solar market. They created it customer-by-customer, rooftop-by-rooftop, panel-by-panel and system-by-system. A solar contractor might install a couple systems per month (average) for residential photovoltaic (electric) solar. That’d be a good year back in the day, but no more.

I admire these early pioneers and give them their due. They suffered years of doubt and discrimination from just about everyone: the government, utilities, politicians, oil companies, HOAs, permit bureaus, public officials, on and on. Add to this equation the enormous product cost and customer acquisition costs, well, it was a labor of love for many. However, in spite of all this these pioneers prevailed, carved out an industry and built a market. Many are still in business today.

One reason these guys prospered was that they completely controlled (owned) the customer experience. Their sales pitch was cleverly crafted and catered to a particular potential buyer. Every solar sale was sized contingent upon a customer’s ability to pay and every install was a one-off and a priority all its own.

While this approach was beneficial for the solar contractor, it was often hell for the potential customer. [Not quite the car sales experience we all know and love, but similar.] There just wasn’t a whole lot of useful information available for the customer and not many options either. There was some truth behind the “only rich people can buy solar” moniker put on solar by its opponents.

Not to over simplify, but this was one reason why we had a whopping 38 solar electric systems installed on Portland single family homes before the first Solarize Portland campaign began in Summer of 2009.

This paradigm was crying out for change … and change it has.

Two years ago in the Pacific Northwest, homeowners were paying $10/watt (system install price) and today it is almost half that amount. Yes, the solarize projects in Portland, Beaverton, Salem and Seattle had something to do with it, and it is one reason solarizing has had such a successful launch.

Note: The lowest residential pricing in America is contained within group purchasing projects and Dave Lorens (1BOG CEO) told me that pricing for their residential group projects currently range between $4.75/w (NJ) to $ 6.65/w (CA), and he even sponsored one project for $4.60/w saying it was a “special pricing situation”. * Here in the Pacific NW it is closer to $5.25/w.

Naturally, some of the solar old timers are chagrined about what has happened to their business model. See blog post “In every endeavor there is conflict” http://solarflareblog.com/?p=929 . I do understand their distress. The solar business is changing rapidly, with more players entering the market on a daily basis, and the established business model of yesterday has been shattered.

Clearly the customer experience has changed, but solarizing is not for everyone.

Some people require much more of a protracted experience. For them a bit of handholding and coddling is required. After all, this is big ticket purchase for any household. I think people realize that large-scale residential solar programs don’t always allow for a high-quality, individually satisfying, experience. [In the case of Northeast Portland they were working with a list of over 1000 potential customers, and for the Southwest Portland program we had 700 families sign up.] So, I believe there is still room in the marketplace for a solar business that caters to this demographic, we’ll soon see.

: Image from “Deep Green” a movie by Oregon’s Matt Briggs

I am someone who believes all of the science that points to AGW regardless of the misinformation campaigns that proliferate the internet, and anything that gets us to economies of scale and gets us off fossil fuels sooner, is on my radar. With respect to the solar old-timers who are very unhappy about community group purchasing or solarizing programs, they need to understand that this is the quickest path to ubiquity. We simply cannot achieve what is required by installing a dozen homes a month! In my view, we need to scale up and do it very quickly and the solarize approach helps facilitate this objective like no other.

This is the first post of a five-part series entitled “Solarize USA: The paradigm shift”

*From a panel session at American Solar Energy Society “Solar 2011” annual conference entitled “Community-based Group Purchase Models for Solar – what’s working? – Forum” (moderated by Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon & Solar Oregon Boardmember) - May 18, 2011

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Aug 11

2

Oregon, we look good on paper

Posted by Mac on August 2, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings • Solar | Tagged With: claire carlson, Energy Trust of Oregon, Glenn Montgomery, jeff friedman, kacia brockman, lee rahr, linkedin, Mark Pengilly, mr sun solar, ron mcdowell, Solar Oregon, solarize pendelton, solarize portland, Solarize USA, susan anderson | 1 Comment

TRAILBLAZERS: Oregon Charts the course for market innovations

(Recent magazine cover title about Oregon’s solar energy innovations)

: Portland Oregon – • “Bright Ideas: Many of the innovative policies in Oregon originate in Portland.”

Travel Oregon manages the tourism campaign that brands our state with slogans like the current tagline “Oregon – We Love Dreamers” which does a good job of promoting our idealism, something many of us living here can relate to. Although Travel Oregon has told many stories of dreamers through the Book of Oregon campaign, they haven’t produced anything like what I just read in the recent issue of Photon – The Photovoltaic Magazine (2011 Issue #6). It was pure eye-candy reading for a pacific northwest solar advocate like me.

You’ve probably never heard of this industry magazine, and it is doubtful if many of my readers subscribe to Photon which is published by Photon USA Corp, a subsidiary of the PHOTON Group AG. So I’d like to call your attention to this particular issue as it spotlights Oregon’s advancements in solar energy as part of the publication’s PV Coast to Coast Series.

http://www.photon.info/mus_aktuell_en.photon

: Oregon is a leader in solar energy

The State of Oregon finally got our due … and I must say we look really good on paper!

Yes … we do have a great story to tell and congratulations to all of Oregon’s solar advocates, solar companies, workers, policy makers, NGO/NPOs, and local government officials who all made this possible. Good on ya.

It takes a village, right?!

: Innovative solar applications are popping up all over Oregon

Several articles highlighted some of Oregon’s important solar energy mover-shakers such as: Susan Anderson & Lee Rahr (City of Portland BPS); Jeff Friedman (Livelight Energy); Lee Jorgenson & Bob Patterson (City of Pendelton); Mark Pengilly (OREP); Glenn Montgomery (OSEIA); and Kacia Brockman, Energy Trust of Oregon’s Senior Solar Program Manager.

I’m proud to say that I sit with both Jeff and Kacia on the Solar Oregon Board of Directors, but I didn’t get a mention [hey, where’s the love?] Neither did Claire Carlson, Executive Director, which is a shame as she’s been directly involved in many of these stories and deserved a mention. http://solaroregon.org/about/our-team

: Claire Carlson (l) with ETO’s Kacia Brockman

What is inside: PV Coast to Coast Series: Part 19: Oregon (magazine pages 84-107)

Ideas for export – Oregon leads in innovative programs for solar power, but could fall behind in installation

Oregon tries out a feed-in tariff – Oregon is leading the charge with a statewide feed-in tariff, but when will it lift the cap?

PV goes viral – A group-purchase in Oregon uses community connections to spread solar power

Manufacturers flock to Oregon – Location, infrastructure and generous incentives help Oregon attract PV production

Paving the Solar Highway – Innovators from Oregon developed a solar program that has gone beyond state lines

It was the article titled “PV goes viral – A group-purchase in Oregon uses community connections to spread solar power” (by Melissa Bosworth) that caught my attention, probably because I was closest to the subject matter and the people interviewed. The cities of Portland, Salem and Pendleton were featured and Lee Rahr, Portland’s Residential Solar Manager, was spotlighted for her effort & results of the six completed Solarize Portland campaigns. Ms. Rahr is certainly deserving of this recognition. Because of these programs we’ve been able to greatly expand residential solar to hundreds of houses and approx 1.5 MW installed on area rooftops over the past year. (See graph)

Solarize Portland! This innovative approach created an impact and is now being copied in other cities and states. I’ll blog about this more in my next post so readers can get a better sense of the order of magnitude and do some comparisons. In the meantime, take a read of this Photon Magazine piece on solar innovations in our beloved state. It shows that we can make a difference if we work together for a common goal like transitioning to clean energy.

Hey, call me a “dreamer” … I don’t mind. I’m an Oregionian and damn proud of it.

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Jul 11

11

Put your money where your mouth is

Posted by Mac on July 11, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Rants, Raves & Musings • Solar | Tagged With: Blaine Bartholomew, Energy Trust of Oregon, GreenStreet Lending, linkedin, ron mcdowell, Solar Oregon, solarize portland, Umpqua Bank | No Comments yet, please leave one

Have you ever heard that old idiom “put your money where your mouth is”?

It is commonly interpreted as to do something rather than to just talk about it, often heard in the context of supporting something one believes in, especially by giving money. Although I believe in this concept, I rarely stop to think or act upon it outside the occasional donation to a worthy cause. Today I am, however, and as a result I’m ending one of the longest relationships of my entire life.

Wells Fargo Bank provided me my first credit card, and later on when I was able to buy a home, they financed my first mortgage too. I’ve been a loyal customer of Wells Fargo for so long that thinking about going to another bank felt a bit like cheating on my spouse. I can’t say it’s been a warm and fulfilling relationship, but it has served a purpose for thirty years and now all that is about to change. You see, my eyes have wandered and I’ve found another, so I am embarking on a new and exciting [and presumably more fulfilling] relationship.

Today I closed my business with WFB and opened a new account at Umpqua Bank.

Calling themselves the world’s greatest bank, Umpqua Bank is a community bank focused on consumer and small business lending at 200 locations in California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Although I’ve been aware of Umpqua for some time, there hasn’t been a convenient location until last February when they opened a branch office close to my neighborhood (Multnomah Village – SW Portland). http://www.umpquabank.com/

Over the past two years I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with employees of Umpqua Bank in the residential solar programs I’ve been involved with here in Portland metro area. Umpqua launched the GreenStreet Lending Program in order to invest in our local communities while finding meaningful ways to foster sustainability. GreenStreet Lending began as collaboration between the Energy Trust of Oregon and Umpqua Bank (2008) to encourage renewable energy and efficiency projects for home and small business owners to help cover associated upfront costs.

GreenStreet Lending combines two of Umpqua’s favorite things – local & sustainable – which are values I share and see as important to a healthy community. Given the recent experience we’ve all had with financial institutions this is a big difference and an example of a bank putting their money where their mouth is. At almost every solar event I’ve attended I’ve run into an Umpqua Bank representative, most notably Blaine Bartholomew, who is the store manager for their Pearl location. Blaine participated in Solarize Portland and Solar Beaverton workshops explaining how homeowners can finance renewable energy or energy efficiency projects for their own residence and business.

GreenStreet Lending Program

Provides financing options for energy-efficient (weatherization) and renewable (solar) projects
Three consumer loan products are available as well as two small business products
No prepayment costs, loan origination costs, or fees
Borrowers need to provide a bid from a licensed contractor
All utility companies are eligible
100% financing is available if 51% of the total project is used for energy efficiency or solar power on Home Equity products

Umpqua Bank wants to be a catalyst for economic recovery and they decided that the path out of the recession starts locally, therefore they infused a billion dollars into the neighborhoods they serve with their Community Lending Campaign. They figure these loans can spark billions of dollars more in new local business and jobs that will have a lasting impact. I agree and I appreciate that a bank sees the potential to turn ideas and passion of local entrepreneurs, innovators and small businesses into prosperity. Umpqua Bank is saying … hey, we’re all in this together, folks.

I received this email from Blaine a few weeks ago…

“Mac, I wanted to thank you again for your feedback at our last Solarize NW meeting. I appreciate you recognizing Umpqua’s efforts in the solar industry, and very much appreciate you wanting to bank with us because of this. I believe you will continue to see even more support from Umpqua as we continue to build our reputation in the industry. Thanks again and please contact me directly if there is ever anything you need (banking related or otherwise).”

So, when’s the last time your banking institution made a commitment like this or treated you in this manner? My guess is … probably never. Umpqua Bank walks the talk!

Today I met a charming member of the Umpqua community, Universal Associate Kalei Augustine, who guided me through the process of setting up my very first account. She took the time to sit down with me and explain the multitude of possibilities this new relationship offers for both personal and business. I felt welcomed and appreciated. This alone was a much different experience than any I’d received from Umpqua’s competitors, including WFB.

We’ve all been told that we shouldn’t get emotional about money, but why is that? I think it is good idea to take a moment to (re)evaluate our actions regarding where we put our money. It should match up with our priorities, the things we care about, and what we wish to achieve. If we’re not doing this then it is time to make a change.

Hey, call me emotional, but today I put my money where my mouth is and I’m a lot happier for it! Try it yourself and see what I mean.

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May 11

14

SunRun offers financing alternatives

Posted by Mac on May 14, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar | Tagged With: Chance Currington, linkedin, Residential PPA, residential solar, Solar Oregon, solarize portland, SunLight Solar, SunRun | 1 Comment

By Chance Currington, Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc. chance.currington@sunlightsolar.com

Chance Currington conducting workshop at NW Solar Expo 2011

At the 2011 NW Solar Expo we were thrilled to announce our partnership with SunRun, Inc. http://www.sunrunhome.com/. Sunlight Solar is one of five solar contractors who now offer financing through SunRun in Oregon. Our partnership with SunRun and the SunRun Total Solar program is a breakthrough for residential solar power in Oregon and a complete shift in the way we buy solar power. Customers will find that using SunRun to finance their systems will not only decrease paperwork and redtape, but it will also increase the value of their system by adding system monitoring and an industry-leading warranty.

SunRun is a national solar power company that specializes in making solar affordable for everyone by vastly lowering the out-of-pocket cost for a residential solar power system while also providing a long-term operations and maintenance agreement that includes a 20-year 100% performance, equipment, and labor warranty. They are able to do this in Oregon by accepting the Energy Trust of Oregon incentive as well as the 30% federal tax credit.

Since SunRun is a corporation, they can depreciate the equipment and pass the discount on to you. For the 20-year agreement, SunRun will maintain ownership of the solar equipment on your roof and you will reap all of the benefits of having solar power without the cost or hassle of ownership. This is also referred to as a residential PPA (power purchase agreement) or a solar power finance program. Essentially you are pre-paying for 20 years of electricity and hedging against future rate increases from Portland General (PGE) or Pacific Power (PPL).

This program is available for any Oregon resident whose electricity is provided by PGE or Pacific Power.

Can I buy the equipment?

Of course, however, with SunRun you can buy electricity from a clean renewable source, and at a lower cost than you would pay for the same power from your utility. You will never have to worry about the equipment as it is insured by SunRun and has a 20-year 100% warranty.

What are my options at the end of the 20-year agreement?

At the end of 20 years you will have three options:

Renew with SunRun at a guaranteed 10% less than the utility’s baseline at that time
Buy the equipment at Fair Market Value (determined by 3rd party)
Remove the equipment at no cost to you

What if SunRun were to go out of business?

If SunRun were to go out of business you are completely protected. An escrow account is created to completely protect your system today and for the entirety of the agreement.

Sunlight Solar is a Solar Professional member of Solar Oregon: www.sunlightsolar.com.

Solar Oregon

Mac’s Comments: A big thank you to my first guest blogger, Chance Currington, of Sunlight Solar. I hope your relationship with SunRun is a huge success. Anything that will get rooftop solar installed sooner than later is a good thing in my book!

I visited SunRun’s downtown San Francisco headquarters last October at the invitation of Annie Swift, SunRun’s acquisition marketing manager. She told me they were interested in learning more about our “solarize” initiatives and wanted to evaluate whether there might opportunities for us to work together. I jumped at the opportunity and met with Annie in SunRun’s downtown offices. Upon my arrival, I couldn’t help but notice the rather large call center buzzing with activity with the ample space allocated for expansion [which Annie said was coming soon].

I knew SunRun had their eye on Oregon because I had pinged both SunRun and Sungevity prior to my October visit. Sungevity told me flat out that they had “no interest in Oregon or the Pac NW”, but SunRun invited me to a meeting – if for no other reason than to get info about what was going on in our area. Digging into SunRun’s business model, I discovered that they are well-established, have deep funding, and existing relationships with solar players 1 Block Off the Grid www.1bog.com and Cooler Planet http://solar.coolerplanet.com/ .

SunRun currently partners with the five Oregon solar companies to provide local expertise and high quality design and installation.

Imagine Energy
REC
RS Energy
Sunlight Solar Energy
Sunwize

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Apr 11

25

Our Days in the Sun

Posted by Mac on April 25, 2011
Posted in A Sustainable Life • Solar | Tagged With: Energy Trust of Oregon, linkedin, mr sun solar, NW Solar Expo 2011, OSEIA, ron mcdowell, Solar Ambassador, Solar Beaverton, Solar Oregon, SolarCity, solarize portland | No Comments yet, please leave one

This is the time of year for clean-energy conferences in the Pacific NW. We at Solar Oregon are very busy these days and we’re hustling to manage a number of events we’re sponsoring, or are participating in, and these next two weekends are fully booked with activities and opportunities. Come join us!

This week, Solar Oregon is sponsoring the 6^th Annual NW Solar Expo & Clean Energy Showcase here in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center – Hall E. This solar expo is the largest in the Northwest and is organized and presented by Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) for professional green collar types, homeowners, and business owners alike. Solar Oregon is offering a $2.00 off admission coupon for anyone wishing to attend the exhibit hall this weekend.. You can download this coupon at www.nwsolarexpo.com … or bring three cans of food for the Oregon Food Bank to get $2 off your admission at the door.

Something new this year organized by Solar Oregon and local 4-H … which is free to participants (thanks to the sponsorship of SolarCity!) … is the Solar Car Rally. This activity is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday from 11:00-2:00 and is located at the 4-H/Solar Oregon promotional racing booth next to the Solar Café. We’re hoping young and old will stop by and design, build, and race a model solar-powered car. 4-H students are volunteering to be “pit crew” at this fun and hands-on activity. Everyone will receive a souvenir button and a photo of themselves with their race car. Children under ten will need to be assisted by an adult.

I’ll be giving a presentation on Saturday, April 30 at 2:00pm called “Solarize: Going Solar through Volume Purchasing” at the Solar Stage. My colleagues will be conducting several “Basics of Going Solar” workshops on the Main Stage throughout the weekend. I’ve looked at the educational class schedule for homeowners and consumers and it is jam-packed with great presentations by knowledgeable folks and great professionals.

Be sure to stop by our exhibit booth (space 204 – close by the Main Stage) which we will be sharing with our friends – the Energy Trust of Oregon.

In these tough economic times the solar industry is one of the bright spots as residential, community, commercial and industrial solar continues to inspire new business ventures and opportunities for jobs in the expanding “green jobs” sector. You can be part of it!

The following weekend, on Saturday, May 7^th, is the 4^th annual Goal Net Zero Home Tour 2011 sponsored by Solar Oregon and Mr. Sun Solar. This all-day event is very special and we have only enough space for 75 people. Please check out the details and register at http://solaroregon.org/workshops-and-education/tours/goal-net-zero-tour/goal-net-zero-tour-2011.

A shout-out to our friends at Solar Beaverton … for their FREE special event entitled “Interactive Family Solar Open House” scheduled for this Saturday, April 30^th, from 10:30-Noon, located at the German American School (3900 SW Murray Blvd, Beaverton). This one is for the kids… and will feature SolarLab, which is full of interactive learning experiences and activities, sponsored by LiveLight Energy. Check it out before you come to the NW Solar Expo.

For more details http://livelightenergy.com/solarbeaverton/?event=interactive-family-solar-open-house

Note: I attended and participated in last year’s NW Solar Expo and blogged about it if you’d like to take a peek – “All in all a good show” http://solarflareblog.com/?p=764

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Solarize USA: The Paradigm Shift – Part 1

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Oregon, we look good on paper

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Put your money where your mouth is

May 11

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SunRun offers financing alternatives

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Our Days in the Sun