Comments on: Guest Post – Solar Coops Emerge in the District: Is There a Bright Future? http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/ Welcome to the beautiful life Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:59:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John Macgregor http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-189000 John Macgregor Sat, 27 Mar 2010 03:09:34 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-189000 Looks like Petworth might really launch a third solar coop. DC may run out of rebate funds, at this rate! As Anya noted, the economics of solar are superb right now. I read today about a company that is selling polychrystalline silicon PV panels (to utility-scale buyers) for $1.11 per watt - and that's not a typo. With recent production capacity increases and the economic downturn, there are just more cells coming on the market that have to be sold at some price, almost any price! This suggests that purchases in large quantities - something at or close to utility scale - ought to enable coops to get lower prices. I'd like to know the extent to which coops reduce unit prices for materials or labor. The more certain benefit I think I see on the cost side is in making the sale of solar RECs easier (cutting the net cost), but I'm not even sure about that. Not to sound negative - I'm not at all. The most important benefits of solar coops might be (i) mobilizing a lot more people to take action sooner to install solar roofs than they otherwise would, and (ii) pulling together information better on technologies, suppliers, contractors, city regs, the various rebate-type programs, etc. These are not trivial benefits! John Looks like Petworth might really launch a third solar coop. DC may run out of rebate funds, at this rate!

As Anya noted, the economics of solar are superb right now. I read today about a company that is selling polychrystalline silicon PV panels (to utility-scale buyers) for $1.11 per watt – and that’s not a typo. With recent production capacity increases and the economic downturn, there are just more cells coming on the market that have to be sold at some price, almost any price!

This suggests that purchases in large quantities – something at or close to utility scale – ought to enable coops to get lower prices.

I’d like to know the extent to which coops reduce unit prices for materials or labor. The more certain benefit I think I see on the cost side is in making the sale of solar RECs easier (cutting the net cost), but I’m not even sure about that.

Not to sound negative – I’m not at all. The most important benefits of solar coops might be (i) mobilizing a lot more people to take action sooner to install solar roofs than they otherwise would, and (ii) pulling together information better on technologies, suppliers, contractors, city regs, the various rebate-type programs, etc. These are not trivial benefits!

John

]]> By: ah http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-183017 ah Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:39:30 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-183017 I suppose that's one way to characterize it . . . the FCC's purpose was to limit restrictions on satellite dishes because they (DirectTV, Dish) would help provide competition with cable. Some cable systems had gone so far as to pay buildings to prohibit satellite dishes . . . I suppose that’s one way to characterize it . . . the FCC’s purpose was to limit restrictions on satellite dishes because they (DirectTV, Dish) would help provide competition with cable. Some cable systems had gone so far as to pay buildings to prohibit satellite dishes . . .

]]> By: ontarioroader http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182949 ontarioroader Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:10:57 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182949 Interesting, so the panels can't be visible at all from the ground? Seems kinda restrictive. And yeah, the dishes are far more of an eyesore IMO, but the telecom industry paid off the FCC and Congress really well and had a law passed that prevents almost any restrictions to where you can place a dish. Interesting, so the panels can’t be visible at all from the ground? Seems kinda restrictive.

And yeah, the dishes are far more of an eyesore IMO, but the telecom industry paid off the FCC and Congress really well and had a law passed that prevents almost any restrictions to where you can place a dish.

]]> By: MPinDC http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182945 MPinDC Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:01:58 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182945 Depending on the kind of roof - if they're not visible then HMP wouldn't object. I have a flat roof so it wouldn't be a problem. Interesting that dish antennas on visible porch roofs are permitted but solar panels and green roofs are not. captcha = "schoolteacher cereals" the more you eat, the smarters you get. Depending on the kind of roof – if they’re not visible then HMP wouldn’t object. I have a flat roof so it wouldn’t be a problem.

Interesting that dish antennas on visible porch roofs are permitted but solar panels and green roofs are not.

captcha = “schoolteacher cereals” the more you eat, the smarters you get.

]]> By: ontarioroader http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182942 ontarioroader Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182942 Doesn't Historic Mount Pleasant/Historic Preservation Review Board prevent solar panels from being used on most rooftops in Mt P? Doesn’t Historic Mount Pleasant/Historic Preservation Review Board prevent solar panels from being used on most rooftops in Mt P?

]]> By: Mike Barrette http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182917 Mike Barrette Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:24:08 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182917 In just the last 6 months, the prices have dropped significantly. I went to visit one of our new installations on Capitol Hill last weekend. As it turns out, the homeowner will actually be making money immediately because the three rebates/incentives available are more than the system cost. If anyone in Petworth wants to follow our progress on Capitol Hill and look at our materials/price sheets, they are on a private google group -- to view -- use the "Join" link at http://sites.google.com/site/capitolhillenergycoop/solarroofproject In just the last 6 months, the prices have dropped significantly. I went to visit one of our new installations on Capitol Hill last weekend. As it turns out, the homeowner will actually be making money immediately because the three rebates/incentives available are more than the system cost. If anyone in Petworth wants to follow our progress on Capitol Hill and look at our materials/price sheets, they are on a private google group — to view — use the “Join” link at http://sites.google.com/site/capitolhillenergycoop/solarroofproject

]]> By: Anya Schoolman http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182873 Anya Schoolman Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:18:40 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182873 I few comments- 1. RE Petworth Coop. I have a few names. If there are others interested--send me your emails, in a week or two I will send an email to the whole group putting you in touch with one another. Solarcoop@yahoo.com put Petworth Coop in the subject line. 2. Solar Thermal- Soon, DC will have a program with rebates for solar thermal. They are required to by law, but they haven't done the regs yet. 3. The economics of solar are crazy good right now!!! I few comments-
1. RE Petworth Coop. I have a few names. If there are others interested–send me your emails, in a week or two I will send an email to the whole group putting you in touch with one another. Solarcoop@yahoo.com put Petworth Coop in the subject line.

2. Solar Thermal- Soon, DC will have a program with rebates for solar thermal. They are required to by law, but they haven’t done the regs yet.
3. The economics of solar are crazy good right now!!!

]]> By: Actual solar owner http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182750 Actual solar owner Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:15:35 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182750 Dear Rock Creek, I believe that right now solar is at a price point where it makes economic sense to do an installation. 1. Federal tax credits are available and you can get 30% of your solar installation costs back. We got around $9000 from that. 2. You can sell your renewable energy credits back to different energy aggregator firms, we got about $6000 from that. 3. DC has set aside $2 million a year for the next several years for residents who go solar. The DC solar grant we got for our install was about $11000. There is a long wait list however. Our panels cost us $6000 out of pocket and we got a 4KW system. On a recent sunny day in March we produced over 26 kwh of electricity. And actually DC gets a lot of sunlight, which a commenter below is incorrect on. See: http://www.astrumsolar.com/basics/sunshine_in_washington_dc It was pretty much a turnkey operation for us for the installation. We used Astrum Solar who recently presented, along with several other companies, to the capitol hill solar coop. Other than some issues dealing with Pepco (and seriously who doesn't have issues with Pepco?) solar has been a great experience for us. Hope this helps. Dear Rock Creek,
I believe that right now solar is at a price point where it makes economic sense to do an installation.

1. Federal tax credits are available and you can get 30% of your solar installation costs back. We got around $9000 from that.

2. You can sell your renewable energy credits back to different energy aggregator firms, we got about $6000 from that.

3. DC has set aside $2 million a year for the next several years for residents who go solar. The DC solar grant we got for our install was about $11000. There is a long wait list however.

Our panels cost us $6000 out of pocket and we got a 4KW system. On a recent sunny day in March we produced over 26 kwh of electricity. And actually DC gets a lot of sunlight, which a commenter below is incorrect on. See: http://www.astrumsolar.com/basics/sunshine_in_washington_dc

It was pretty much a turnkey operation for us for the installation. We used Astrum Solar who recently presented, along with several other companies, to the capitol hill solar coop. Other than some issues dealing with Pepco (and seriously who doesn’t have issues with Pepco?) solar has been a great experience for us.

Hope this helps.

]]> By: David http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182746 David Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:42:53 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182746 If anyone is thinking about installing a solar unit at their house, we tried it and were thrilled with it. We just moved to Petworth from Oakland, CA where we had installed a solar electric system on our house. We didn't have a lot of money so we ended up installing a relatively small unit - I think it was 3KW or so - ten panels in all. Now Oakland gets a lot of summer fog and it is a few degrees farther north than DC, but we were still able to produce enough power to zero out our power bill each month. The state gave us a about $5000 to offset the cost - the cost to us was around $10,000 after the grant. I figured out the system would pay for itself in about 7 years at current power rates. If anyone is thinking about installing a solar unit at their house, we tried it and were thrilled with it. We just moved to Petworth from Oakland, CA where we had installed a solar electric system on our house. We didn’t have a lot of money so we ended up installing a relatively small unit – I think it was 3KW or so – ten panels in all. Now Oakland gets a lot of summer fog and it is a few degrees farther north than DC, but we were still able to produce enough power to zero out our power bill each month. The state gave us a about $5000 to offset the cost – the cost to us was around $10,000 after the grant. I figured out the system would pay for itself in about 7 years at current power rates.

]]> By: 4nature http://www.princeofpetworth.com/2010/03/guest-post-solar-coops-emerge-in-the-district-is-there-a-bright-future-by/#comment-182691 4nature Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:05:06 +0000 http://www.princeofpetworth.com/?p=12323#comment-182691 I'm in Petworth, and several of us have remarked that we're interested in doing a group buy of solar panels in order to get discounts. I just converted from buying my electricity direct from Pepco to 100% wind-powered via Pepco, but I still need to convert my hot water heater to something more efficient. So my first goal is for solar hot water, then later to explore some additional solar panels. I am not sure what I am going to do about my radiator system, which relys on natural gas. I’m in Petworth, and several of us have remarked that we’re interested in doing a group buy of solar panels in order to get discounts.

I just converted from buying my electricity direct from Pepco to 100% wind-powered via Pepco, but I still need to convert my hot water heater to something more efficient. So my first goal is for solar hot water, then later to explore some additional solar panels. I am not sure what I am going to do about my radiator system, which relys on natural gas.

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