Illinois solar tour shines on rising downstate trend

The 2012 Illinois Solar Tour is coming up on October 6th. The Illinois Solar Energy Association tells us:

The Illinois Solar Tour is a FREE public educational event to generate awareness and knowledge of how solar and other forms of renewable energy are being used by home and business owners throughout the state. It is the best event to attend if you are planning to install a system or are looking to learn more about renewable energy. 

The self-guided tour features a rising number of downstate Illinois sites this year, including the new installation at the Taylorville airport. The description for one hints at why there are several around Springfield this year by mentioning the CWLP Solar Rewards rebate program.

It seems like solar systems are getting mainstream enough that you can buy them anywhere. They should become a standard part of any home with a suitable spot to place one.

Of course, you should contact your utility before deciding what sort of system to purchase, and if you're in Springfield, you'll get invaluable information from the experts at the Energy Services Office.

Congressman Shimkus called energy loan guarantees "imperative" before voting against them

House Republicans continue to ignore the American Jobs Act, but they found plenty of time for their ongoing effort to gin up a phony scandal around Solyndra. Today they passed the "No More Solyndras Act," mostly along partly lines. They want to end the Department of Energy loan guarantee program because one solar project failed.

Next month I expect them to pass the "No More Restaurants Act" because O'Boys Bar-B-Q chain in central Florida just closed their final location. Also, the "No More Movies Act" will be voted on in response to "Think of the Cold Light of Day" earning far less at the box office than it cost to make. As long as we're irrationally overrating to minor setbacks, then why not?

Illinois Congressman John Shimkus has been making noise about Solyndra during the House's desperate search for a scandal. He voted for the bill today that would ban the Department of Energy from approving loan guarantee applications filed after 2011. That's an important deadline. It means the act won't apply to a loan guarantee Shimkus enthusiastically supported in 2010 that's five times bigger than Solyndra's.

Shimkus lent his support to a $2.5 Billion DOE loan guarantee for Tenaska's failed coal plant in Taylorville, Illinois. The Taylorville Energy Center is stalled indefinitely after failing to get the special subsidies and fixed rate increases they need from the Illinois legislature. In other words, it's a failed project the market can't support that's far, far more expensive and unrealistic than Solyndra. But, that doesn't register as a scandal to Shimkus and other House Republicans.

Shimkus went beyond giving tepid support for the loan guarantee. He sent a member of his staff, Rodney Davis, to speak in favor of Tenaska's application at a Department of Energy public hearing in Taylorville. In a message about the loan guarantee, he said it's "imperative that we move forward with policies and financial assistance to projects like" the Taylorville Energy Center.

Yes, that's right. Shimkus just voted to end a policy he called "imperative" two years ago when it might have helped a "clean coal" hoax in his district. That double standard is what he calls an "all of the above" energy policy.

Incentives for rooftop solar and plug-in hybrids could be coming to Springfield

City Water Light & Power's Smart Energy Forum on Tuesday featured previews of forward thinking programs that could be coming to Springfield soon if they're approved by the city council.

The first portion of the meeting focused on existing efficiency programs including a limited time rebate for efficient appliances. The new project manager for water conservation programs was present as well.

Two renewable energy programs are being developed. One would add incentives for distributed renewable generation such as rooftop solar panels. CWLP would add to existing state and federal incentives to lower the up-front costs.



Distributed solar would help develop more clean energy locally so that we don't have to rely on buying wind power from other states. One benefit of distributed generation is that it uses power more efficiently because it doesn't require transporting energy across long distances. Also, solar will produce the most energy on long, hot summer days when energy demand is high. That's why even the coal plant engineers like it better than wind power that peaks at night.

The next program would provide rate incentives and develop infrastructure for plug-in hybrid and electric cars. This is an economic development opportunity if we use it to attract businesses with plug-in hybrid fleet vehicles. There aren't many on the road yet, but it's a chance for Springfield to jump ahead of other cities.

Besides facilitating vehicles that pollute less it could also promote the market for wind power. One drawback to wind is that it often produces the most output at night when power demands are lower. So, when does it make sense to power up a plug-in vehicle that drives around all day? Oh yeah! Overnight when utilities are trying to figure how to use all that extra wind!

That makes it a good plan for tree-huggers like me who want more wind farms and are concerned about how much extra power demand electric cars will create. It also makes sense to the utility engineers who want to balance out demands on their energy load.

Both programs are in the development stage so contact the Energy Services Office for more details. All of this will need approval by the Springfield city council. Since there's a city council election happening right now this would be a good time to ask candidates where they stand on developing Springfield's clean energy future.

General Assembly gives Illinois solar industry jobs to other states

One of the best things the Illinois General Assembly did this year was to pass bills in support of solar energy including one that adds more solar power to the renewable energy portfolio standard. The standard requires utilities to gradually increase their use of clean energy and the new law sets minimum targets for how much comes from solar. Awesome!

The original bill required solar power generated in Illinois. That means more jobs building utility scale solar, rooftop panels, and maybe a manufacturing plant. What more could you want than building clean energy and creating Illinois jobs?!

Recent advances make solar more cost effective in the Midwest. The industry is ready to explode across the region. This is Illinois' time to think ahead and grab all the solar jobs we can.





But what did our state leaders do? The provision requiring Illinois solar was removed. Utilities can buy solar generated elsewhere because it might be slightly cheaper. Now we don't know how many of those jobs will go to other states.

I don't get it. Maybe they were doing a favor for the coal or utility industry. Maybe they don't understand how popular clean energy and green jobs are with the public. Polls show that most people are willing to pay a little more on their utility bill if it means converting to clean energy.

Removing the in-state requirement will bring more bad news when a cap-and-trade program is passed. Utilities generating clean energy will be in better shape when there's a price on carbon. Coal-dependent utilities, and their customers, will be hit hardest. We should be building as much wind and solar inside Illinois as possible, not just buying from elsewhere.

The legislature deserves credit for passing the bill. But, it's obvious that some of our Democratic legislative leaders just don't get it.

Solar Day at Fit Club!

Fit Club South is hosting the public July 24th to show off their new solar panels. They're doing a rooftop tour and presentation on the benefits of solar power, plus a bicycle prize drawing.

I believe they're the first local business to install commercial rooftop solar. They join the new IBEW Local 193 hall that has solar panels and a geothermal system.

It looks like solar power is on the rise in Springfield! Developing local sources of renewable energy should be one of the city's top priorities for job creation and in preparation for likely regulation of carbon.

Check out this video and all the nerdy details at Haenig Electric if you can't wait for the tour.

Sierra Solar Power Tower

Speaking of 5MW solar farms, the climate crossroads blog happened to post yesterday about Sierra SunTower, the new solar thermal power tower. They use mirrors to direct heat into a steam boiler.



The company's news page has an impressive quote from their CEO.

"eSolar's primary business goal is nothing short of making solar electricity for less than the price of coal, without subsidies. This is not only attainable, but will truly change the world."

That's a stark contrast to the coal industry's strategy. Even if the billions of dollars in government subsidies for clean coal projects ever produces a working carbon capture gassification plant, the energy it produces will likely cost more than new solar that's already on the market.

The company fact sheet brags that the unique PowerTower can be built quickly, produces energy at competitive rates, creates jobs, and can be built on small pieces of land. Although, 20 acres for 5MW of power seems like a large footprint to me.

I have no idea if this system is the best option if Springfield builds solar. But, I always like reading that there are many realistic options out there.

Springfield Solar Farm

People are talking about the possibility of CWLP building a solar farm in Springfield. The city council passed ordinance 2009-395 at their August 5th meeting to study the feasibility of a 5MW solar project. It supplements funds CWLP is receiving from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.





Eventually, CWLP's contract for wind power will run out at a time when clean energy is in high demand. I hope the city renews its commitment to wind energy, but we need something lasting built in Springfield. A solar farm would take advantage of federal stimulus dollars and the trend of new solar becoming more price competitive.

I'll be interested to see if they look at new concentrated solar technology and something bigger than 5MW. Either way, it would put Springfield out front as an environmental leader again with our own source of renewable energy. The coal industry talks about the large supply of U.S. coal but our supply of sunlight is endless.

Grant Middle School Solar Panels

When I went to Grant Middle School I remember thinking that it was the ugliest building on earth. That was partly because I didn't enjoy middle school (does anybody?) but it really was an eyesore. They did some improvements after I went to school there that helped, but the building is looking much better to me now that they're adding solar panels.

Solar panels make a lot of sense for schools. Electricity demand is high during hot, sunny summer days when many schools aren't being used. With CWLP's buy-back program they can sell the unused solar power they generate back to the utility.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has an aggressive clean energy program with solar panels on many schools and colleges in their territory. This has already worked in other areas.

It makes even more financial sense with incentives from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and CWLP. The Grant panel is a good, small start but if larger solar panels were put on every school in the district they could spend more money directly on educating children and less on paying utility bills.