I recently had the opportunity to meet Senator Susan Collin’s energy policy expert, Amy Carroll. At the meeting was Richard Silkman of GridSolar. There I learned about what GridSolar is up to, and what it’s up against.

GridSolar has submitted an alternative proposal to CMP’s $1.4 billion dollar proposal to increase the transmission corridors in Maine.

Projections show that as demand increases for electricity, Maine will experience brownouts during periods of peak demand over the coming decade. To address this concern, CMP has proposed Bigger Wires to move electricity around the state and avoid problems like brownouts.

These bigger wires would come at a big cost, $1.4 billion on the backs of ratepayers, as well as much wider corridors than today. Perhaps the biggest cost of all is what it is we’re buying into. If we purchase these transmission corridors, we will be compelled to use them. This will result in much less incentive to conserve, to produce our own energy, or to implement smart grid technology.

GridSolar has offered a very interesting alternative. For less money, they’ll ensure that we don’t face rolling brownouts, AND, we’ll get clean, renewable solar electricity out of the deal. Rather than expand transmission facilities, they would install fields of solar electric arrays that would feed into the grid. The beauty of this concept is that maximum solar electricity production roughly matches peak demand (both occur on the sunniest days of the summer), so the solar electricity would not only avoid brownouts, but would also lessen our overall need for fossil fuel electricity.

No one doubts that GridSolar’s plan would result in grid dependability. No one doubts that it’s less expensive. The big challenge with the proposal is that CMP’s proposal would only cost the state 8% of the project total because it would be funded through ISO New England.

While that sounds like a great deal for Mainers, it is a serious problem. True, we only pay 8% of the cost for our transmission upgrades, but we also pay 8% of the cost of Massachusetts’ upgrades. We don’t get to vote on the MA decisions, and MA does not vote on ours. This communist era funding mechanism allows the people who decide to put in transmission capacity to only pay a fraction of the real cost, and it creates a huge incentive to make power lines that no one really needs. As Richard Silkman said; “If every school district were offered 92% funding to put up a Giraffe farm, there would be a Giraffe farm in every district.”

This is crazy. At a time when we need more than ever to invest in renewable energy, conservation, and smart grid technology, the cards are stacked in favor of even bigger wires. Wires that we pay for, ultimately, and that keep us from making the important investments that will keep the lights on AND save the planet. Tell your friends and your elected officials, particularly Snowe and Collins, that we don’t want bigger wires feeding an ever bigger habit, but that now is the time to start weaning ourselves from the habit, every way we can.

UPDATE: We had a chance to interview Dr. Richard Silkman at MABEP’s training conference, Jan 2010.  View the video!

The price of solar electric panels in the global marketplace is dropping, and systems that were once out of reach are now a more affordable opportunity.

For solar electricity, the most costly component of the system is the photovoltaic panels. According to a recent article in the New York Times, “panel prices have fallen about 40 percent since the middle of last year. The price drops – coupled with recently expanded federal incentives – could shrink the time it takes solar panels to pay for themselves to 16 years, from 22 years”.

The cost reduction is due to two key factors: increased production of polysilicon, the raw material that enables solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity and a panel glut due to a decrease in worldwide demand as a result of the economic downturn.

Although many manufacturers are continuing to see profit losses in 2009, according to the New York Times, some “say that cheaper panels could be a good thing in the long term, spurring enthusiasm among customers and expanding the market”.

What does this mean for people in Maine and New Hampshire who want to invest in a grid-tied photovoltaic system for their home? The timing is perfect because you have the advantage of an all-time low installed cost combined with generous state and federal financial incentives. It is important to remember that grid-tied PV is the most reliable renewable energy technology (no moving parts anywhere in the system) that comes with a 25-year warranty and expected lifespan of 40 years. This means you can lock in your own electric rate for decades and reduce your CO2 emissions.

In Maine there is a $2,000 rebate for solar electricity. In New Hampshire there is a $6,000 rebate through the NH Public Utilities Commission and a $3,500 incentive if you are a NH Electric Co-op member. The federal tax credit improved in 2009, lifting the cap for solar electric (and solar thermal) installations. The federal tax credit now totals 30% of the total system cost.

David Dickey, owner of the Camden Riverhouse, knows a good investment when he sees one. When he saw ReVision Energy’s financial analysis and projected returns on a solar hot water system, he decided to have us design and install a system that will produce roughly 60% of the hotel’s domestic hot water.

The recently installed system takes advantage of a 30% federal tax credit, accelerated depreciation, $1,000 state rebate and low interest financing from Efficiency Maine.

The end result is a solar investment that Dickey anticipates will be cash flow positive based on annual oil savings of roughly 750 gallons. As a nice bonus, the system will also reduce the hotel’s ‘carbon footprint,’ eliminating roughly 21,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions per year.

The system consists of eight Chromagen flat plate solar hot water collectors that heat two Stiebel Eltron super-insulated solar storage tanks. The tanks have 3″ of rigid foam insulation, reducing overnight heat losses to less than .5 degree F per hour. This means that there will be plenty of piping hot water available for the tourists’ morning showers!

UpComing Events

September 19th – Wonder of Wood in Portland

With over 90% of Maine’s land covered by trees, the forest defines and directs our daily view of life. This one day expo brings together all those that have an appreciation of our great resource in the ‘Wonder of Wood’ fair. This event combines exhibits, workshops and informative displays and will be free to the public. This event is being held at the Sullivan Gym at USM Saturday September 19th from 10 am – 3 pm.

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September 24th – Maine’s Energy Future Forum at Maine Audubon, Falmouth

Four panelists will discuss Maine’s Energy Future with emphasis on the “historic” LD 1485, An Act Regarding Maine’s Energy Future, passed in the last state legislative session. This event will be held at the Gilsland Farm and starts with breakfast and networking at 7:30am. Other pertinent energy legislation from last session also will be discussed.

The following four individuals, central in the formation of this legislation, will be the panelists: Senator Barry Hobbins, Senate Chair of the Utilities and Energy Committee, Senator Philip L. Bartlett II, Co-chair, Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Energy Future, Dylan Voorhees, Clean Energy and Global Warming Project Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Chris Jackson, Senior Governmental Affairs Specialist, Maine State Chamber of Commerce.

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September 25th-27th – Common Ground Fair in Unity

If you love the coast of Maine, you won’t want to miss this show, where Tradition Meets Innovation. Celebrate Rural Living with MOFGA. Make connections with organic farmers in the state of Maine. See hundred of vendors, exhibitors and demonstrations; compete in various activities during this three day event.

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September 29th – Fall Sustainability Festival in Standish

St. Joseph’s College of Maine’s newly formed “E-team” has decided to kick off the school year with a Fall Sustainability Festival. Organizations and businesses that promote sustainability will have booths set up and be available to answer questions. This event will be held rain or shine and is from 11am-2pm.

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September 30th – Half Moon Seminar in Portland

This is a one day solar energy course for Architects, Engineers, and Contractors. Topics to cover include: solar photovoltaics, solar hot water systems, solar heating and cooling systems, economics of solar energy systems, and evaluating actual case studies. Fortunat Mueller and Bill Behrens, partners of ReVision Energy will be conducting the seminar.

For more information or to register for this event visit www.halfmoonseminars.com.

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October 3rd – Green Buildings Open House throughout Maine and New Hampshire

The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) invites the public to visit local sustainable buildings across New England including Maine and New Hampshire to talk with energy-saving experts during the 2009 Green Buildings Open House on Saturday, October 3.

NESEA’s Green Buildings Open House, a part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, is an opportunity to learn first-hand how to reduce heating costs, increase energy conservation, and even generate surplus clean energy. Private homes, businesses, nature centers and public buildings will be open for the public to tour.

One can ask questions and discover ways people are conserving energy, saving money and protecting the environment. Examples of what you may see on the Green Buildings Open House include passive solar heating and design, solar hot water collection and storage, radiant floor heating, the generation of electricity using photovoltaics (solar panels) or wind, use of energy-saving appliances and techniques (super-insulation and sealing air spaces), use of sustainable and healthy building materials, and the use of water-saving fixtures. A complete list of Green Buildings Open House host sites is available at www.nesea.org.

Use this list to plan a single visit or design your own tour of several local green buildings. Tours are to be self-guided; buildings can be viewed from 10am – 4pm. ReVision Energy will also post to its website homes that are participating on this year’s tour.

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October 3rd – 2009 Conference “Cool Congress”, University of Maine Augusta
8:30am-4pm; The “Cool Congress” is an opportunity for Cool Teams, municipal leaders, energy committee member and citizens interested in getting involved in their Cool Community or starting one in their town to come together for a day of networking, workshops, and sharing of ideas & experiences. You can register the day of or online at Maine Partners for Cool Communities.

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October 3rd-4th – Green Home and Living Show at the Portland Expo
Green Home & Living Shows exclusively feature the latest energy-saving, eco-friendly products, services and strategies. View more than 100 exhibitors that are leading the way to a smarter, more sustainable future, and who are eager to help your family live well and live wisely. Learn more here.