Sunday, September 9, 2012 6:30-8:30 pm Orlando, FL
Details percolating. Stay tuned.
from the editor... Jane Pulaski
DOE's SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership + Local Governments: the perfect recipe for solar communities
For the past several years, city and county governments have been some of the most engaged proponents for solar. And now, with help from DOE's SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership, more comprehensive approaches are in the works, providing innovative models to help communities as they continue to go solar throughout the U.S.
The International City-County Management Association (ICMA), and International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), are managing this initiative. ICMA, with help from the American Planning Association (APA) and the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), and ICLEI, with help from IREC, North Carolina State University, the Solar Electric Power Association, the Solar Electric Power Association, Meister Consultants Group, and The Solar Foundation, are developing tools, sharing best practices, holding webinars and workshops, on solar technologies, reaching out to thousands of local governments and local communities across the country that will help them speed up solar energy adoption.
Through the Solar America Cities program, a partnership of 25 U.S. cities, the Department of Energy developed Solar Powering Your Community: A Guide for Local Governments, a compilation of best practices and an essential guide for those looking to develop and implement solar programs at the local level.
You can find an enormous amount of information about the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership on the ICMA website, including podcasts, webinars, fact sheets.
Until we see each other again, here's to your continually inspiring work.
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The READY Program: transforming young lives in Detroit
By Dr. Pam Carpenter, Guest Author
 Dr. Pam Page Carpenter is one of those who never seems to have a shortage of energy. I should know. I get accused of that all the time, but Pam's got me beat by miles. She and I were talking a few months ago about her work with the K-20 community, and as if she didn't have enough to do, volunteered to pen a series of pieces on the issue. How fortunate for us all. Here's her piece on The READY Program (Renewable Energy Advancement for Detroit Youth), an immersive environment where 9th grade boys learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and which is having a profound impact on the lives of young people. Read more.
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Connecting to the Grid
Governments may not always be able to change course as quickly as the private sector, but once they put their policies behind an idea, they have the ability to make things happen on quite a large scale. Over the last decade, government agencies have worked to put in place a number of renewable energy policies and goals; now I think we are about to see a few of them change course in a major way. From the CTTG newsletter (editor: Laurel Varnado)
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It was an unusually busy March for our friends at DSIRE. Here, a small sampling of recent incentive news:
WY - Utility solar rebates program rides off into the sunset
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IREC ISPQ Credentialing Program: JTA #9
The RISE Certified Solar Roofing Professional (CSRP) JTA is currently available for candidate use and is posted on the IREC website. JTAs are listings of the skills and knowledge that a practitioner needs in order to perform a given job safely and effectively. Certain IREC ISPQ credentials require that the candidate align their curriculum with an IREC-accepted JTA.
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SITN's Joe Sarubbi sat down with Meg Cichon at PV America West in San Jose and talked about the Solar Instructor Training Network.
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Small Wind News
Looking for current information about certified small wind turbines? Check out the Small Wind Certification Council's website. It's easy to find information for consumers, applicants and other stakeholders. It also lists current certified turbines, and those in the application process.
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of note...
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals project is facilitating development of national guidelines for home energy retrofits designed to grow a high-quality residential energy upgrade industry and a skilled and credentialed workforce. One aspect of this project is to develop guidelines for professional certification, and in June, the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will make available four new home energy professional certifications for the weatherization and home performance workforce. If you're interested in being certified to this credential, applications are due May 1, 2012. Click here for more information.
ICMA surveys local governments on solar In the fall of 2011, ICMA conducted a solar survey of more than 10,000 local governments with populations over 2,500 and all counties, to find out what local governments are doing to go solar. What the data show is a picture of the solar landscape in local governments- the challenges, the initiatives underway, and areas where local governments can still take steps to help increase the spread of solar PV in their communities.
Solar Energy Resource Center
SunShot, through the Solar Energy Resource Center, maintains a collection of resources on solar technologies and best practices to implement solar, both at the local level and with large-scale deployment. Resources include articles, case studies, fact sheets, how-to guides, model rules and ordinances, presentations, sample government documents, technical reports, tools, and webinars.
These resources were developed by industry, local government, university, and national laboratory partners through the support of the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Program to help accomplish the goals of the DOE SunShot Initiative.
Deadline Extended for $2/Watt RFI
Responses to DOE's request for information (RFI) on the actions, timeline, and inducements required to drive down the installed cost of residential photovoltaic systems are being accepted through Wednesday, April 11. Provide your input today!
Webinar on 4/17: PV systems and firefighter safety
This free ICLEI webinar will share the results of research conducted by UL to examine the fire service concerns of PV systems and the potential impact of firefighting operations. The need for this project is significant due to the increasing use of PV systems, growing at a rate of 30% annually. Presenters Bob Backstrom from UL's Corporate Research Department, and Dennis Grubb, Assistant Fire Marshal from the Orange County Fire Authority will share data and specific examples that will assist local governments and the fire service community to develop best practices to reduce firefighter death and injury.
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 Call for presentations due TODAY
April 2, 2012
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Developed by Dr. Sarah White and IREC for the Solar Instructor Training Network, explores the many job opportunities available in the solar industry.
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Assuring Quality for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Training
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Read IREC's Newsletters
The IREC Report
Connecting to the Grid
Small Wind News
The ISPQ Insider
The SITN Quarterly subscribe |
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Where in the world is IREC?
April
May
5/7-5/9: NAWDP, Las Vegas
June
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Thanks these very generous sponsors for our Annual Meeting. Want to see your name here? Contact Jane Pulaski for sponsorship details.
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Like what you see here? Have suggestions or comments? We want to know. Let us hear from you.
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September 10-13
Orlando, FL
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ABOUT IREC
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is a non-profit organization accelerating the use of renewable energy since 1982. IREC's programs and policies lead to easier, more affordable connection to the utility grid; fair credit for renewable energy produced; best practices for states, municipalities, utilities and industry; and quality assessment for the growing green workforce through the credentialing of trainers and training programs. Visit us at www.irecusa.org.
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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