The tragic disaster in Japan has captivated the country’s attention for the last two weeks but is also reminded us how quickly our lives can be changed. From someone who makes their living in the solar renewable energy industry, I could not help but reflect on how off-grid solar can help in emergency situations. I […] Read more
Viewing: March 2011
03/22/2011
Solar works great but much of the energy produced is lost during the peak demand time of day. Solar panels on your house are busy from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM pumping out free clean electricity. Utility companies are straining at 3 – 7 to provide enough community power without having to go outside their […] Read more
03/16/2011
Whenever I vote these days I feel a little like Charlie Brown must feel when Lucy tells him to go ahead and kick the football and then she pulls it away. From about 2008 until the spring of 2010, thousands of homeowners in 23 states were able to go solar because of a unique long-term […] Read more
03/12/2011
One of the many services the Sierra Club routinely performs is to survey local and government solar installers permit fees to determine if they are excessive. In February the Sierra Club took a look at local municipalities in San Luis Obispo County (Central coast area of California) and discovered huge disparities between local government home […] Read more
03/09/2011
A recent report was released by an Iowa State University research showing solar having a significant jobs impact. We think that Iowa is not only soon to be know for its tall corn and presidential politics but also as a leader in renewable energy. Wind as well as solar is really getting a foothold in […] Read more
03/05/2011
Traveling this week to a meet with a group of solar installers near Tehachapi California, you cannot help noticing the hundreds of large and small wind turbines turning as you ascend the grade in the Sierra Mountains. The sheer number of large wind turbines is impressive enough, but when you get off the main highway, […] Read more