IREC State & Stakeholder Newsletter

State & Stakeholder Newsletter May 14, 2008 Volume 7, Issue #10
In This Issue National News State & Local News Grants/RFPs Other News Upcoming Events About this Newsletter/How to Subscribe		Dear Daniel, The IREC State & Stakeholder Newsletter tracks a range of market-oriented news, services and outreach tools valuable to the renewable energy community. From webinars to white papers to workkshops and interviews with renewable energy newsmakers, you'll find the latest news about IREC members and other renewable energy stakeholders in this newsletter which is distributed semi-monthly to email subscribers and published on IREC's website. There is no fee for this newsletter. If you have comments or if you would like to submit a news item, email Jane Pulaski at janep@irecusa.org.    As always, thanks for your interest in and support of IREC.     Jane Pulaski Editor
National News (1)  Registration Open for IREC's 2008 Annual Meeting-- State & Local Issues & Trends Registration is now open for IREC's 2008 Annual Meeting on Monday, October 13, in San Diego, CA as part of the Solar Power 08 Conference.  This year, IREC is aligning its annual meeting with the Conference's workshop schedule.  The agenda includes an in-depth discussion on interconnection and net metering, the effectiveness of different state policies and best practices, update on market trends for solar installations, perspectives on the programs underway on certification for hardware, practitioners, and training programs, and new ideas and models in educating the renewable energy workforce.  IREC's Annual Updates & Trends Report will be distributed and the winners of the IREC Innovation and Special Recognition Awards will be announced.  REGISTER NOW. (2)  NABCEP's ANSI Accreditation: A Conversation with PTI's Dr. Lynn Webb Since 2003, when NABCEP offered its first certifying exam, NABCEP has used Professional Testing, Inc. (PTI) as a full-service provider of assessment, evaluation and certification services.  PTI helped NABCEP prepare its application for ISO 17024 American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Accreditation that NABCEP was awarded last year. NABCEP visited with Dr. Lynn Webb, Ed.D, psychometrician at PTI, to discuss the ANSI process for an organization like NABCEP. (3)  PG&E's Solar School March Science Madness Event Pleases Everyone PG&E's Karalee Brown is proud of the opportunities for teachers thanks to the PG&E Solar Schools Program. "Since the program began," writes Brown, "we have awarded almost $500,000 in grants that go directly to teachers. Their dedication, creativity and enthusiasm continue to amaze me." (4)  IREC Team Well Represented at ASES 2008 IREC's Executive Director, Jane Weissman, has just returned from the ASES '08 conference in San Diego.  IREC was well represented at the conference, presenting papers and moderating sessions.  Here's Jane's conference log, along with team presentations.  (5)  Rahus Institute Produces New DVD of 2007 Solar D-- A Solar Village on the National Mall Tor Allen, Rahus Institute, reports that they've just published a new edition of its Solar Decathlon DVD to include features from 2007. (6)  DOE's SAI Offers TA for Solar America Showcases The DOE Solar America Initiative is offering Technical Assistance for Solar America Showcases through a competitive notice of opportunity for technical assistance (NOTA). The estimated value of the Technical Assistance under this NOTA is approximately $1,000,000 for FY2008.  Applications are due June 12, 2008. State & Local News (7)  Florida Legislature Passes Sweeping Energy Bill--Awaits Crist's Signature On April 30, Florida lawmakers passed HB 7135, a sweeping energy bill aimed at slowing global warming by providing perks to utilities, local governments and consumers to produce and use renewable energy. (8)  PAREI's (NH) Community Energy Raisers Modeled After Traditional Barn Raisers The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) has carved out a unique niche for itself with its Community Energy Raisers, bringing community members together to install solar thermal energy systems.  modeled after a "barn-raising" following the tradition of neighbor helping neighbor. (9)  Texas Comptroller issues Energy Report on Texas' Energy Future Options The Energy Report provides an overview of the many energy resources Texas can use to meet its future energy demands. This new energy portfolio will include renewable resources, nuclear power and traditional fossil fuels linked with new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. News from Solar America Cities (10)  "Tiger Teams" Support DOE's Solar America Cities "Tiger Teams" from Sandia National Laboratories, the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), the Florida Solar Energy Center, New Mexico State University, and private sector partner CH2M Hill, aid Solar America City managers and staff with practical savvy as DOE personnel push the higher vision of "making solar mainstream."  The 25 Solar America Cities met for the first time in Tucson on April 14-16. Grants/RFPs (11)  Pennsylvania Grant Applications Available Applications are now available for the Energy Harvest and Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant programs, as well as funding from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority. (12) Renewables RFPs A number of new renewables RFPs are posted at DOE's Green Power Network.  Scroll down to sign up to receive RFP updates. (13) NYSERDA Funding Opportunities The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has several Program Opportunity Notices (PONs) on the street. To see full details on any of these solicitations, visit the NYSERDA website and scroll through the listings to find them: ➢    PON 1124:  Clean Energy Business Growth & Development offers $6M for three rounds intended to help clean energy companies achieve success, grow and develop new markets through expanding their business, attracting new companies to New York, etc.  Due dates are 8/4/08.  For information contact:  Vicki Colello, vac@nyserda.org or 518-862-1090, xt. 3273. ➢    PON 1176:  Renewable, Clean Energy, and Energy Efficiency Product Manufacturing Incentive Program offers $10M to expand the level of manufacturing of renewable, clean, and energy-efficient products in New York State.  Proposals will be accepted through June 30, 2011 by 5:00pm (ET) or until funds run out, whichever is first.  Proposals will be evaluated on a first come, first served basis as they are received.  Contact Jennifer Harvey at (518) 862-1090, ext. 3264 or jlh@nyserda.org. Other News (14)   Small Wind Events at AWEA's WINDPOWER Conference & Exhibition A number of events at this year's AWEA WINDPOWER Conference Exhibition have been created specifically for the small-wind community.  The conference and exhibition will be held in Houston, TX this year from June 1-4, 2008. (15)  Recent DOE Report-- 20 Percent Wind Energy by 2030 This report examines some of the costs, challenges, and key impacts of generating 20% of the nation's electricity from wind energy in 2030. Specifically, it investigates requirements and outcomes in the areas of technology, manufacturing, transmission and integration, markets, environment and siting. Upcoming Events NOTE. For details about these and other upcoming events throughout the year, click the calendar icon on IREC's home page. (16)  May 11-16        IEEE PV Specialists Conference,, San Diego, CA (17)  May 15            Renewable Energy Vermont Dist. Energy Conference, Stratton Mtn. Resort (18)  May 17            GLREA Introductory Renewable Energy Seminar, Hastings, MI (19)  May 21-22       Fuel Cell 2008, Long Beach, CA   (20)  June 1-4        Wind Power 2008, Houston, TX (21)  June 3            Small Wind Stakeholders Meeting, WINDPOWER 2008, Houston (22)  June 10-11        Geothermal Technologies Workshop, Westminster, CO    (contact Guy Nelson at (541) 994-4670) (23)  June 17        NY Solar Summit, Manhattan, NY (24)  June 20-22        19th MREA Energy Fair, Custer, WI (25)  June 21-25        APPA National Conference and Public Power Expo, New Orleans (26)  June 26        SEPA Call Seminar  National PV Incentive Program Survey What do Solar Customers Think? (27)  June 27-29        Michigan Energy Fair,, Onekama, MI (28)  July 11-13        SolarFest 2008, Tinmouth, VT (29)  July 25-27        SolWest Energy Fair, John Day, OR (30)  Oct. 5-8            Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting,, Reno, NV (31)  Oct. 13             IREC Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (32)  Oct. 13-16        Solar Power 2008, San Diego, CA (33)  Oct. 15             Renewable Energy Vermont 7th Annual Conf. & Trade Show, Burlington About this Newsletter/How to Subscribe The State & Stakeholder Newsletter is published electronically on a semi-monthly basis by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.  To subscribe to this newsletter, click here and follow the instructions. There is no fee for subscriptions.  If you have comments or news items, please send them to Jane Pulaski.  Disclaimer: The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) does not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process that is referred to or linked to in this newsletter. Reference to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply IREC's endorsement or recommendation.

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