SUN-WIND NEWSLETTER

Renewable Energy News & Events in the Puget Sound Rainshadow

September 2005

You are no doubt aware of the mounting energy challenges facing our society. More and more it is apparent that our insatiable thirst for energy cannot be met indefinitely. China and India's rapidly growing demand for energy and the effects of Hurricane Katrina have exposed our vulnerability to energy shortages.

Of course there is no shortage of energy. There is energy available – free to all – all around us. There will, increasingly, be a shortage of fossil fuels to meet the demand. That's why it is vitally important that we reduce our demand by using energy wisely and move away from dependence on fossil fuels toward sustainable energy sources.

Whidbey Sun & Wind is busier than ever. That's good news as it means more of our energy in this region is being produced sustainably. In order to keep up with the growth and provide even more renewable energy for our community we need help! We're looking for a highly organized, energetic person who is passionate about helping to create a sustainable world to anchor our office operations. The position, available immediately, is for Office Manager and will start at 1 to 3 days per week, growing into 3 to 5 days as soon as the person comes up to speed on our operations. Email me at kelly@whidbeysunwind.com to request a full job description, qualifications and compensation information.

New incentive programs for renewable energy have recently been made law in Washington State and the Federal government. With all of the incentives now available a typical 1 to 3 KW grid-tied photovoltaic (solar electric) system located within Puget Sound Energy's service area will have a direct system cost savings of approximately $3,000 to $5,000, while the energy production from the system will be worth 5 times more than the energy you buy!

As of July 1st Washington State has the most progressive production incentive program in the United States for grid-tied (electric) renewable energy systems. The program is modeled after Germany's very successful feed-in tariff law. For solar photovoltaic, wind, or anaerobic digester (methane) power production that is connected to the power grid the State will (through the Utility) pay 15 cents/KWH. If the inverter used in the system is made in WA the payment is 18 cents/KWH.

There are a couple of details in this new law that are delaying participation by the utilities. One such hurdle is that electric utilities serving 80% of the customer load in the State must agree on common grid interconnection standards for renewable energy systems. As utilities are big, slow beaurocracies this process may take awhile. However, I urge those of you with existing grid-tied RE systems to apply for the program as soon as possible, to "push" the process along. Note your green tag production meter readings as of July 1 (a little extrapolation will be necessary) as the payments, once they start, will (hopefully) be retroactive to that date. The information bulletin explaining the law in detail and application for this new State incentive are available on our website, www.whidbeysunwind.com .

The Federal energy bill recently signed into law, while including an obscene (in my opinion) amount of pork for the oil industry (they are making record profits), also included tax credits for solar. From Jan 1 2006 through Jan 1 2008 solar electric and solar heating (excluding pool heating) systems are eligible for a 30% tax credit. The credit is capped at $2,000 for residential systems. There is no cap for commercial systems. This is a tremendous financial incentive for solar. For those of you with RE systems now being installed, or scheduled to begin this year we can delay final commissioning of the system until after January 1 so that you may take advantage of this tax credit.

This year's National Solar Tour, is will be happening on Saturday, October 1st. Last year's Solar Tour was a success, with 101 sites Statewide, and 5 on Whidbey Island. Whidbey Sun & Wind is coordinating Solar Tour sites on and around Whidbey Island this year. We're hoping to have several more sites available on the Tour this year on Whidbey Island . If you have a "solar" home (passive solar, solar water heating or photovoltaic) and are interested in being a tour site location, please contact me. You may open your home to visitors, or restrict the tour to the outside where folks can see, for example, the collectors and control equipment. See our website (soon) and www.solarwashington.org for more information on the National Solar Tour.

My home and the (adjacent) Whidbey Sun & Wind office will be on the Solar Tour this year. WSW will have an open house all day, with refreshments provided. Solar-electric, solar domestic water heating and radiant floor heating, solar lighting, wind power, gray water irrigation, and other sustainable practices will be demonstrated.

The open house will extend into an evening social event (OK, party) around the campfire with home-made music, etc. All are welcome, during the day, evening or both! Unfortunately Janie & Teo (my wife and son), and Brian Vick (WSW employee) will all be away for the Solar Tour. Anyone interested in volunteering to help out for part of the day please contact me!

The Northwest Renewable Energy Fair will be happening in Walla Walla September 23-25. See www.nwrefest.org for details. The nearby Stateline Wind Farm, one of the largest in the world, is a great tour that's available from the NW RE fair.

We will be giving one or two presentations on renewable energy at the annual (and very popular) Sound Waters "University" on February 4, 2006 in Coupeville. Sound Waters is presented by the WSU Beachwatchers/WSU Extension. Keep an eye out for notices of this event after the first of the year. There are many great classes available.

Solar Energy International is offering renewable energy workshops on Guemes Island, near Anacortes this October. Whidbey Sun & Wind designed the off-grid photovoltaic system for the solar-electric workshop this year and will coordinate the installation. Please note that the solar-electric workshop registration is already full . For a good overview of renewable energy systems along with a great tour of existing RE systems I highly recommend the one-day Intro to Renewable Energy workshop. Also, there's a free public potluck on Friday, October 14, 7 PM, at the Guemes Island Community Center (walking distance from the short ferry ride). I will be giving a presentation entitled "Renewable Energy in the Northwest" at the potluck. All are welcome.

• October 8: Intro to Renewable Energy * Tuition $75; 1/2 for spouse/SO
• October 10-15: Solar-Electric Design & Installation * Tuition $600
• October 17-21: Micro-Hydro Power * Tuition $550
• October 24-29: Wind-Electric Design & Installation * Tuition $600


• January 23-29, 2006: Renewable Energy for the Developing World.

This is a special workshop opportunity at Rancho Mastatal, Costa Rica, www.ranchomastatal.com . Hands-on solar electricity, solar hot water, solar cooking, biogas, other RE technologies. An educational eco-vacation! Tuition: US$650

To find out more about these and many other renewable energy workshops check out the Solar Energy International website, www.solarenergy.org for details, or stop by our office for a program catalog. For specifics on the listed workshops, logistics and lodging contact local workshop coordinator Ian Woofenden, PO Box 1001, Anacortes, WA 98221; 360-293-7448 (home/office), ian@solarenergy.org.

Biodiesel is now available on Whidbey Island from Island Clean Energy, www.islandcleanenergy.com. Paul Mathews and Ryan Goodman started Island Clean Energy this year to bring biodiesel to the Island. This is great news for us biodiesel users who have had to rely on a distant supply chain in the past. Island Clean Energy operates a biodiesel filling station located at South Whidbey's Bayview Corner (next to Bayview Hall) and also delivers BD in bulk to your own home tank. The filling station is solar-powered and includes automatic pump shutoff and security lighting for night operation. You pre-pay for a block of fuel and fill at your convenience. To arrange for delivery, or filling station orientation, fuel pre-purchase, and key issuance call 221-6727 or email iscleanenergy@whidbey.com.

Paul and Ryan can also supply tanks and pumping equipment for your own home system and will answer any questions that you have about biodiesel. Please support this Island sustainable business if you burn diesel! If you have a diesel vehicle and would like to try biodiesel you are welcome to purchase any amount from our tank here at Whidbey Sun & Wind. FYI, right now our tank is almost empty (Paul & Ryan, please come fill us up!).

If you have any information that you think may be of interest for future newsletters please forward it to us. We're happy to include any local and regional information about other sustainable practices besides renewable energy.

Please forward our newsletter to anyone who might be interested. If you've received this as a forward and would like to be on the mailing list Please let us know. Names on this list will not be given out, nor used for blatant marketing. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, or want to change your email address, please let me know. These newsletters are posted on our website.

Cordially,

-- Kelly