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from the editor...
Jane Pulaski
Just a week away, IREC's Annual Meeting in Orlando is a one-day whirlwind of insight, information and inspiration, Monday, September 10th
The program brings IREC's own nationally-recognized expertstogether with IREC partners like Paula Mints, Navigant Consulting, and Vote Solar's Adam Browning to offer perspective on the past year and spirited look at what's ahead.
Expect a lively, interactive format as the IREC team updates us on the most pressing issues that affect state and local governments, including rapidly changing trends in national policies and incentives, and the dynamic regulatory landscape. Hear how despite some high-profile negative news stories about solar in 2011, solar markets continue to boom in the U.S. And IREC's credentialing team will focus on the value of the IREC credential for training programs and trainers in both the renewable energy and energy efficiency space.
You'll hear how the Solar Instructor Training Network is training today's solar instructors to build a globally competitive solar energy workforce in the U.S. Learn how innovative strategies being implemented across the United States help increase the efficiency of permitting procedures for rooftop solar systems. And we'll walk through the new interactive web version of Freeing the Grid, the renowned national policy guide that grades all 50 states on net metering and interconnection.
We'll honor the 2012 IREC Innovation and Special Recognition Awards winners, individuals and organizations responsible for inspirational work that makes a difference in our lives, increasing the understanding and use of renewable energy in our neighborhoods and communities.
If you haven't registered yet, there's still time, and there's still room for you. IREC's Annual Meeting has become so much more than a gathering of friends and colleagues. For our 30th birthday, experience a full day maximized with engaging experts and thought leaders in an energy-enhanced environment. Won't you join us?
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Industry expert, Paula Mints, Director/Energy, Navigant Consulting, will open the meeting. Adam Browning, Executive Director and co-founder of the Vote Solar Initiative, will close out the day. Other presenters include:
- Jane Weissman, IREC, on IREC from 30K feet
- Joe Wiedman, Keyes, Fox & Wiedman, LLP, on regulatory updates
- Amanda Vanega, DSIRE, on policy and incentive trends
- Larry Sherwood, Sherwood Associates, on the 2011 U.S. Solar Market Trends Report (August release date)
- Pat Fox, IREC, on IREC's Credentialing Program
- Joe Sarubbi, IREC, on the Solar Instructor Training Network
- Andrea Luecke, The Solar Foundation, on their 2012 Solar Job Census
- Laurel Varnado, Keyes, Fox & Wiedman, LLP, on the new Freeing the Grid
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The latest news from our friends at DSIRE
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Connecting to the Grid
by Laurel Varnado
Direct Transfer Trips: A Primer
A lot is required of policymakers these days - in order to get policies right they often need to understand the basics of science and technology, sociology and economics, legal terminology and a host of other issues that can affect policy decisions. As a result, they often rely on experts like Michael Sheehan, who participates in state commission proceedings on behalf of IREC, helping policymakers understand how engineering principles should be incorporated into interconnection policy decisions. I recently had a chance to ask him about Direct Transfer Trips (DTT or Transfer Trip), a technical term I'd heard often but didn't really know much about. MORE
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IREC Credentialing Program
by Tricia King
With the continuing evolvement of licensing requirements for photovoltaic and solar thermal installers, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council provides a database of specific state-by-state licensing information. This valuable resource for policy makers, practitioners, consumers, and anyone else looking for solar licensing information in the United States, inventories the licensing requirements to become a solar thermal or photovoltaic installer. MORE
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Solar Instructor Training Network
by Joe Sarubbi
 KVCC awarded $1M grant for solar energy training program
Kennebec Valley Community College was recently awarded a $1 million federal grant that will, over the next two years, fund the training of solar electric instructors across the state.
"This is a training the trainer program," said Dana Doran, director of the college's energy programs. MORE
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Small Wind News
by Larry Sherwood
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently published 30-meter height, high-resolution wind resource maps for the U.S., including all 50 states.
Wind resource maps are now available on the DOE's Wind Powering America website for small (30-meter height), community (50 meters), utility-scale land-based (80 meters), and utility-scale offshore (90 meters) wind power assessments. The 30-meter height maps were made available in collaboration with AWS Truepower. MORE
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of note...
From IREC's highly anticipated annual report, U.S. Solar Market Trends Report 2011, report author, Larry Sherwood extracts the report's top five highlights.
Now in its fifth year, this annual report compiles and analyzes public data on U.S. solar installations by technology, state and market sector for 2011. It covers solar technologies that produce electricity, including photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP). In this webinar you'll have the opportunity to hear directly from the report's author, Larry Sherwood. There will be ample time for Q&A. Register for the webinar.
Beginning in September, the SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership will present 11 regional workshops designed to provide actionable information on overcoming local-level barriers to solar, addressing soft costs, and implementing a successful local solar program. From Dubuque, Iowa to Kansas City, Missouri, areas of focus will include: 1) revising zoning codes and ordinances to allow for solar; 2) streamlining permitting processes to facilitate solar installations; 3) financing solar projects; and 4) installing solar on municipal and other community facilities. Case study examples will highlight successful practices and lessons learned from communities that have undertaken solar projects in these focus areas. Find out where the workshops are.
Local governments are becoming an increasingly crucial part of solar's success story. Unfortunately, a recent focus on
an international solar trade dispute and federal support for Solyndra, a bankrupt solar company, may have many
wondering if solar technology is worth supporting. This issue brief provides readers with an up-to-date assessment of
the state of the solar industry and of the policies supporting it, and connects readers to resources they can use to
promote a healthy local solar market.
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In November,
IREC brings you
84 presenters
over 3 days
 From Nov. 13-15, the nation's most innovative clean energy educators will offer the latest information and insight on instructional strategies, curricula development, credentialing and best training practices.
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Happy Birthday, IREC
We're celebrating 30 years of vision and wisdom
Sunday, September 9, 2012
the groove
6:30-8:30 pm
Orlando, FL
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In their own words: credential holders talk about the value of the IREC Credential
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Read IREC's Newsletters
The IREC Report
Connecting to the Grid
Small Wind News
The Credentialing Chronicle
The SITN Quarterly subscribe |
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Where in the world is IREC?
Sept
Nov
Dec
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IREC thanks these very generous sponsors for our Annual Meeting.
Patrons
Supporter Friends
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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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