Topics in this November 2011 Green Power Update.

• Go directly to Solar news
• Go directly to Energy Efficiency news
• Go directly to Clean Transportation news
• Go directly to Other Clean Energy news
• Go directly to Funding Opportunities and Announcements
• Go directly to information about upcoming Events

Solar Energy Update

Update on the Solar Jobs Bill
Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester) introduced the Solar Jobs Bill (House Bill 1580) in October with 107 co-sponsors – a majority of the 203-member Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The bill was referred to the Consumer Affairs Committee chaired by Representative Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery) on October 20, and a hearing on the bill will take place November 17.

The Solar Jobs Bill adjusts the solar ramp of Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) to bring demand for solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) in line with supply. Solar energy installations in the state have grown from just three megawatts (MW) in 2008 to over 115 MW as of October 21 thanks to a combination of federal tax credits and state rebates and grants. However, the current supply of solar energy far exceeds the AEPS solar requirements for at least the next two years, contributing to a decline in the value of SRECs. This combination of depleted state and federal funding for solar, combined with low SREC prices, is driving solar jobs out of Pennsylvania. Consequently, we are at risk of losing this rapidly-expanding industry and our edge in the development of clean, renewable energy.

The Solar Jobs Bill does not change the overall AEPS solar goal of 0.5% by 2021, rather, it tweaks the requirements for three years (2012/2013, 2013/2014, 2014/2015) in order to stabilize the market. The bill will also change the AEPS requirement to allow Pennsylvania solar energy alone to qualify for AEPS credits. The latter will help bring Pennsylvania in line with similar requirements in surrounding states such as New Jersey and Maryland.

The PennFuture Energy Center will continue its work to support the Solar Jobs Bill throughout the fall. To learn more about this important bill and how you can help, click here.

Pennsylvania ranked 4th in the nation for solar jobs
The Solar Foundation released its second annual Solar Jobs Census in October and according to the report, Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the nation behind California, Colorado and Arizona with 4,703 solar jobs.

While the U.S. as a whole saw a 6.8 percent increase in solar jobs, Pennsylvania experienced a decline from the previous year's census, when it showed 6,700 jobs. This job loss can be attributed to the crash of the solar renewable energy credit (SREC) market due to an oversupply of credits in the region. The value of solar renewable energy credits has dropped from $300 to $107.83 for long-term contracts, and $10 on the spot market. This lean pricing is making it difficult to finance solar projects and places the industry, and its jobs, at risk.

The 2011 Solar Jobs Census is available at: http://thesolarfoundation.org/sites/thesolarfoundation.org/files/TSF_JobsCensus2011_Final_Compressed.pdf


Energy Efficiency Update

New state energy efficiency ranking revealed
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard in October. Pennsylvania lost some ground in this year's ranking, dropping to 25th in the nation for best practices and leadership in energy efficiency policy and program implementation. The rankings are based on scores in policy areas including utility programs and policies; transportation policies; building energy codes; combined heat and power; state government initiatives; and appliance efficiency standards.

While Pennsylvania's ranking dropped several spots, it only lost 3 points in overall score. Pennsylvania ranked high in the energy code category, for meeting up-to-date residential and commercial building energy codes. The state also scored well for combined heat and power due to strong net-metering and interconnection regulations that allow for the growth of distributed generation resources.

Pennsylvania ranked 32nd in the nation for utility efficiency programs and policy. The state can improve this score by removing the sunset on Act 129 energy efficiency goals; removing the two percent spending cap on Act 129 energy efficiency programs; implementing statewide gas conservation programs; and creating a decoupling mechanism to help break the link between electricity sales and revenues (it is the absence of this mechanism that creates a disincentive for utilities to invest in energy efficiency).

To view the full report click here.

Energy efficiency loan financing: a win-win
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a study early this fall detailing the success of energy efficiency loan financing as a low risk investment with significant upside potential. Even with the recent turbulence in the real estate market, default rates for these loan programs are effectively unchanged.

The 24 energy efficiency loan programs reviewed by the study have invested over $1.5 billion toward building upgrades, which lower energy bills and reduce annual energy costs by an average of 12 to 17 percent. The goal for the future is that larger financial institutions package these types of loans, leading to an expansion of loan programs and the good work they facilitate.

To view the full report click here.

New energy efficiency fund unveiled
Earlier this month, State Treasurer Rob McCord unveiled a new financing opportunity, the Campus Energy Efficiency Fund. Blue Hill Partners will manage the fund alongside the Pennsylvania Treasury Department and hopes to leverage its total investment to $45 million. The fund will invest in energy efficiency projects at nearly a dozen schools over the next two years. Schools eligible for the fund must meet requirements such as high efficiency lighting, energy efficient windows, heating/cooling systems, and advanced control systems.

Participating schools are expected to save as much as $150 million in utility costs over the 20-year useful life of the projects while reducing their carbon footprint by 1.4 million tons. Drexel University is the inaugural participant in the fund and plans to upgrade six buildings across its campus.

The Campus Energy Efficiency Fund is made possible thanks to $1 million from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and $211,000 in grant funds from the Rockefeller Foundation.

For more information on the fund click here.


Clean Transportation Update

Electric vehicle charging station opens at King of Prussia Mall
Two self-serve electric vehicle charging stations became operational in October at the King of Prussia Mall. The stations are located on the Upper Level Parking Deck of the Plaza in front of Nordstrom. The mall partnered with 350Green, a developer of wide-scale electric vehicle charging networks, to deploy "Level 2" chargers standard to all electric cars. Two additional units will be installed later this fall on the Upper Level Deck of the Court, near Bloomingdale's.

The charging stations are capable of topping off a customer's electric vehicle in 1-2 hours, providing customers the opportunity to shop as they charge. 350Green is offering free charging for a limited time and will develop pricing options for consumers into the future.

One of the greatest obstacles for consumers considering the purchase of an electric vehicle is the lack of charging stations. These installations are a step in the right direction.

Biomass headquarters to open in King of Prussia
Renmatix, a biomass startup, recently held a launch event at the site of its planned headquarters in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The company plans to develop and sell cellulosic sugars made from wood chips and other biomass.

Thanks to venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, which has made a significant investment in the company, Renmatix is poised for commercial success in large markets.

The championing of Renmatix means less dependence on foreign oil and more jobs. The company plans to create 150 jobs at its new headquarters.

Governor Tom Corbett, who attended the launch, noted that "Energy plus innovation equals jobs." It is this job growth in the renewables sector that is keeping Pennsylvania at the forefront of this burgeoning industry.

Economic analysis of clean fuel standard reviewed
On October 12, PennFuture convened a meeting of representatives from Pennsylvania's alternative fuels industry and the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) to discuss the Northeast regional Clean Fuels Standard (CFS).

The Clean Fuels Standard is a unified effort among eleven northeastern states to develop a policy framework that would reduce our region's dependence on foreign oil and create jobs and investment for Pennsylvania. A representative from NESCAUM, the organization facilitating the effort, was on hand to present NESCAUM's findings from the CFS's economic impact study released earlier this year.

NESCAUM is taking public comments on the economic analysis through October 31, 2011. PennFuture urges alternative fuel stakeholders in Pennsylvania to provide their perspective to NESCAUM.


Other Clean Energy News

U.S. reaches significant renewable energy milestone
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Monthly Energy Review, domestic production of renewable energy has now surpassed nuclear power and is continuing to close in on oil.

Renewable energy, including biomass, biofuels, geothermal, solar, water and wind, made up 12.25 percent of U.S. energy production. Among the renewable energy sources, biomass and biofuels were the majority of production at 46.04 percent, with solar coming in at 1.22 percent. Renewable energy production was 17.91 percent greater than energy produced from nuclear power and now equals about 79.83 percent of the energy produced from domestic crude oil production.

Pennsylvania continues to follow this national trend. Policies such as Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) have helped promote the development of 115 megawatts of solar with close to 5,000 solar installations. The state is also home to 16 wind farms generating 1,966,006 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean electricity annually, enough to power approximately 218,445 homes. Eight additional wind farms are expected to become operational by the end of 2012, bringing another 650 MW of wind energy to Pennsylvania.

We trust our state will continue to support the development of renewable energy. Policies such as the AEPS are creating jobs, growing the economy and making our air cleaner and safer for all Pennsylvanians.

PUC reinstates AEPS credits for rural coops and munis
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) quietly conducted an investigation this summer to determine the fate of small-scale alternative energy systems installed in the service territory of a rural electric cooperative or a municipal electric utility.

Since the passage of the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) in 2004, customers in these jurisdictions who installed a solar system, small wind turbine or methane digester were able to register their systems and receive alternative energy credits (AECs) and solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) for electricity produced. The customers could then defray the cost of their system by selling these credits to regulated electric utilities in the state that need to comply with the AEPS.

However, the PUC put a hold on issuing credits to these alternative energy systems as a staff member indicated it could be illegal. The argument was made that since rural electric cooperatives and municipal electric utilities do not have to comply with the AEPS, alternative energy systems in those territories should not qualify for AEPS credits.

Fortunately, in September the PUC ruled that alternative energy systems located within a rural electric cooperative or municipal electric utility are eligible under the AEPS and can receive AECs and SRECs. The PUC stated it will retroactively apply credits to all applications that were held up during the investigation. The decision affects more than 600,000 rural residents currently served by coops and municipal utilities. If the PUC had not ruled favorably, customers such as these would most likely never be able to afford to install an alternative energy system.

Awards luncheon honors clean energy heroes
PennFuture hosted two Green Power Award events this year, one in Philadelphia on October 6 and the other in Pittsburgh on October 27. Awardees included educational institutions, religious organizations, businesses large and small, government, green power producers, green power leaders and public interest organizations and it's safe to say that all went above and beyond the call of duty to support clean energy.

A list of individuals and organizations receiving awards can be found at: http://www.pennfuture.org/content.aspx?MenuID=1&SubSectionID=231&SectionID=345.
Congratulations to these Green Power Heroes for showing leadership in their communities. If you have a nomination for next year's event, contact Mary Kane.


Funding Opportunities and Announcements

Keystone HELP offers special rates to Pennsylvania flood victims
The Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (Keystone HELP) offers below market-rate financing to qualifying homeowners to make energy efficiency improvements on their homes. Keystone HELP is now offering special interest rates, up to four percent lower than standard, to Pennsylvania homeowners affected by Hurricanes Irene and Lee.

These special rates are available to flood victims through December 14, 2011 to facilitate home repairs. For more information visit http://www.keystonehelp.com/index.php

Apply Now! Pennsylvania State Clean Diesel Grant Program
The Department of Environmental Protection is currently offering reimbursement grant funding for mobile source diesel emission reduction projects throughout the state. The primary goal of this grant is to improve Pennsylvania's air quality by decreasing emissions from diesel-powered mobile sources. This is a great opportunity for municipalities or school districts to upgrade vehicle fleets and take advantage of new emissions-reducing technology.

The grant funds are available to numerous entities registered in Pennsylvania and support projects as follows:

• projects that re-power or retrofit fleet vehicles to lower emissions of pollutants
• purchase and install idle reduction technology
• purchase clean alternatively-fueled fleet vehicles
• upgrade engines
• re-power diesel-powered vehicles to alternative fuel vehicles

Additional information and application guidelines can be found at www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: clean diesel.

Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority awards announced
The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) Board of Directors selected the winners for the 2010 PEDA solicitation on Friday, August 27. Thirteen projects received funding toward advanced clean energy projects located in Allegheny, Bedford, Dauphin, Lawrence, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Snyder, Union and Washington counties.

The funding was awarded via Growing Greener II, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and a Duquesne Light settlement.

For a full list of awards visit: http://www.pahouse.com/PR/049101211.asp


Events

Transmission and wind energy webinar
Mark your calendar for an informative webinar on Friday, November 18 brought to you by the Mid-Atlantic Wind Energy Institute (MAWEI). This webinar will focus on transmission development and its importance to wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic region.

The hour-long webinar features top experts and will cover the costs and benefits of transmission; an overview of how PJM plans for transmission; and a summary of new FERC Order No. 1000.

Follow the link to register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/356836918

PennFuture's Annual Southeastern Pennsylvania Climate Conference
Date:         Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Time:         7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location:    The Franklin Institute
                 222 N. 20th Street, Philadelphia

PennFuture and the Franklin Institute are co-sponsoring a conference on global warming titled "Climate, changed: Extreme weather and the need to take action." The conference will feature world-renowned experts on climate change discussing the extent of already-ongoing climate change, how to adapt to it, and what we must do to prevent it from getting worse.

Features speakers include:

• Dr. Heidi M. Cullen, vice president for external communications, Climate Central
• Dr. Howard Kunreuther, James G. Dinan professor of Decision Sciences & Public Policy and co-director of the Risk Management and Decision Processes Center at the Wharton School
• Katherine Gajewski, City of Philadelphia director of sustainability
• Jan Jarrett, president and CEO, PennFuture

This conference is open to the public, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. Admission fee is $10 for the general public; $5 for seniors and students; and free for PennFuture and Franklin Institute members. Register at http://my.pennfuture.org/site/Calendar?id=108341&view=Detail or by calling 1-800-321-7775.