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March 2018 to CURRENT:
December 2017 Newsletter:
November 2017 Newsletter:
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Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association December 6, 2016 (#12)
Dear solar enthusiasts;
As 2016 winds down, we wanted to update you about our activities. As you know we offered a Bulk Buy of solar panels to our community and that successfully went ahead with 17 families participating and a total of 247 panels purchased. Gerry Pageau, with input from the board, created a method of rating 12 separate bids to fairly evaluate them: cost, creating local jobs, and dedication to community-building were key factors, but several other values were also incorporated. We have heard back from many participants about how pleased they are with their panels and we are busily planning for a second bulk buy so stay tuned!
Gerry with assistance from others ran workshops to discuss the pros, cons and technical details of going solar in advance of the bulk buy process. Both Gerry and Jim Pawley taught courses at Elder University with a solar and climate change focus. Two BCIT students completed a solar project as part of their coursework and again this year again, a small group of BCIT students are currently working with Pender Harbour Secondary, looking to fund-raise for a solar array on the school.
The SCCSA received a small SC Community Foundation grant to investigate best options for developing a cooperatively owned community a solar array, and a sub-committee has been established to oversee the grant and work with Johan Stroman, hired to carry out the work.
The SCCSA board and and some trusted advisors attended a great session on governance in June 2016 offered to us by the SC Credit Union. We all came away with a greater understanding of the challenges to be aware of. The board has also been ensuring a smooth transition to the new Society’s Act. The SCCSA continues to connect with other organizations and early in the new year will help to organize a Green Jobs Forum for the Coast. Two of our board members attended a wonderful two-day forum in New Westminster and came back enthused about initiatives occurring across the country in moving towards an equitable, greener economy.
Please visit our website at: http://suncoastcommsolar.weebly.com and our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SCcommunitysolar/?fref=ts
Sending best wishes for the holiday season and New Year,
Gayle Neilson, Chairperson, on behalf of the SCCSA
As 2016 winds down, we wanted to update you about our activities. As you know we offered a Bulk Buy of solar panels to our community and that successfully went ahead with 17 families participating and a total of 247 panels purchased. Gerry Pageau, with input from the board, created a method of rating 12 separate bids to fairly evaluate them: cost, creating local jobs, and dedication to community-building were key factors, but several other values were also incorporated. We have heard back from many participants about how pleased they are with their panels and we are busily planning for a second bulk buy so stay tuned!
Gerry with assistance from others ran workshops to discuss the pros, cons and technical details of going solar in advance of the bulk buy process. Both Gerry and Jim Pawley taught courses at Elder University with a solar and climate change focus. Two BCIT students completed a solar project as part of their coursework and again this year again, a small group of BCIT students are currently working with Pender Harbour Secondary, looking to fund-raise for a solar array on the school.
The SCCSA received a small SC Community Foundation grant to investigate best options for developing a cooperatively owned community a solar array, and a sub-committee has been established to oversee the grant and work with Johan Stroman, hired to carry out the work.
The SCCSA board and and some trusted advisors attended a great session on governance in June 2016 offered to us by the SC Credit Union. We all came away with a greater understanding of the challenges to be aware of. The board has also been ensuring a smooth transition to the new Society’s Act. The SCCSA continues to connect with other organizations and early in the new year will help to organize a Green Jobs Forum for the Coast. Two of our board members attended a wonderful two-day forum in New Westminster and came back enthused about initiatives occurring across the country in moving towards an equitable, greener economy.
Please visit our website at: http://suncoastcommsolar.weebly.com and our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SCcommunitysolar/?fref=ts
Sending best wishes for the holiday season and New Year,
Gayle Neilson, Chairperson, on behalf of the SCCSA
Solar Panel Installations Have Begun + Climate Change Forum July 23, 2016 (#11)
Hello dear friends,
We’re thrilled to let you know that SCCSA bulk buy panel installations have begun! Judy Hoeppner’s system went up last week (see photos attached) and Will Brooke, Clear Energy Solutions COO, is currently drawing up a schedule for the remaining 16 households! It’s so exciting to see this remarkable community effort coming to fruition – and just in time for the summer sun! Watch for tours of solar neighbourhoods, coming soon!
We also strongly encourage everyone to attend Monday evening’s ‘Democracy Talks Together – Climate Change Solutions from the Sunshine Coast’, to be held at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall from 6 – 8 pm. The event is being organized by our MP, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, who describes it as follows:
We want to hear from you! In the spirit of the Government of Canada's open consultation mandate, provincial, territorial and federal governments are working together with Indigenous Peoples and the public to find ways to encourage clean economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
This event will be a combination of insightful presentation and constructive discussion. MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, accompanied by expert panelists, will discuss climate change milestones to date, the Paris COP21 agreement, the Government of Canada's targets, the ongoing role of the community, and where we go from here.
The solutions-oriented discussion component of the event will be designed for group collaboration with a view to gather policy proposals and ideas that will inform Canada’s Climate Change policy.
1st Hour:
* Pamela Goldsmith-Jones: Opening comments
* Panelist introductions
* Open mic question period and discussion with the panelists and community
2nd Hour: Innovation Hour - Policy solutions
* Participants break up into roundtable groups of 5-6 people
* Using prompts presented by the moderator (Pamela), roundtable groups will be tasked with collaboratively writing down 3 ideas/solutions for Canada to achieve their targets/inform their policy
* At the end of the hour, groups may share their ideas/progress with the broader group
Sechelt First Nations Band Hall
5432 Xenichen Ave - Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0
Monday, July 25, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (PDT)
Please register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/democracy-talks-climate-solutions-from-the-sunshine-coast-tickets-26567989572
The SCCSA has been invited to make a presentation, and Matt Rockall, SCCSA Board member, will speak about our undertakings to date.
More importantly, this is a tremendous opportunity for everyone to share ideas, brainstorm about a wide range of approaches to tackle the increasingly urgent issue of climate change, and let our MP know what her constituents want! Democracy only works when we participate!
We truly look forward to seeing our amazing community members there, and send our great thanks to you all. ... Joanna, on behalf of the SCCSA
We’re thrilled to let you know that SCCSA bulk buy panel installations have begun! Judy Hoeppner’s system went up last week (see photos attached) and Will Brooke, Clear Energy Solutions COO, is currently drawing up a schedule for the remaining 16 households! It’s so exciting to see this remarkable community effort coming to fruition – and just in time for the summer sun! Watch for tours of solar neighbourhoods, coming soon!
We also strongly encourage everyone to attend Monday evening’s ‘Democracy Talks Together – Climate Change Solutions from the Sunshine Coast’, to be held at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall from 6 – 8 pm. The event is being organized by our MP, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, who describes it as follows:
We want to hear from you! In the spirit of the Government of Canada's open consultation mandate, provincial, territorial and federal governments are working together with Indigenous Peoples and the public to find ways to encourage clean economic growth, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
This event will be a combination of insightful presentation and constructive discussion. MP Pamela Goldsmith-Jones, accompanied by expert panelists, will discuss climate change milestones to date, the Paris COP21 agreement, the Government of Canada's targets, the ongoing role of the community, and where we go from here.
The solutions-oriented discussion component of the event will be designed for group collaboration with a view to gather policy proposals and ideas that will inform Canada’s Climate Change policy.
1st Hour:
* Pamela Goldsmith-Jones: Opening comments
* Panelist introductions
* Open mic question period and discussion with the panelists and community
2nd Hour: Innovation Hour - Policy solutions
* Participants break up into roundtable groups of 5-6 people
* Using prompts presented by the moderator (Pamela), roundtable groups will be tasked with collaboratively writing down 3 ideas/solutions for Canada to achieve their targets/inform their policy
* At the end of the hour, groups may share their ideas/progress with the broader group
Sechelt First Nations Band Hall
5432 Xenichen Ave - Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0
Monday, July 25, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (PDT)
Please register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/democracy-talks-climate-solutions-from-the-sunshine-coast-tickets-26567989572
The SCCSA has been invited to make a presentation, and Matt Rockall, SCCSA Board member, will speak about our undertakings to date.
More importantly, this is a tremendous opportunity for everyone to share ideas, brainstorm about a wide range of approaches to tackle the increasingly urgent issue of climate change, and let our MP know what her constituents want! Democracy only works when we participate!
We truly look forward to seeing our amazing community members there, and send our great thanks to you all. ... Joanna, on behalf of the SCCSA
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Sunshine Coast Community Solar update -- great news! June 27, 2016 (#10)
Hello friends,
The SCCSA is delighted to share some exciting developments with you!
--We are thrilled to announce that our first community bulk-buy has finally launched: after many long months of research and organizing, solar panel installations will begin in early July! Seventeen Sunshine Coast households are participating, for a combined total of 247 panels!
The SCCSA Board reached out to 7 potential suppliers. We explained our mandate, outlined the specific purpose for this bulk purchase, and requested bids. We are extremely grateful for the responses received from Alternative Power Systems, Clear Energy Solutions, GabEnergy, Novo Solar Solutions, Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op and Viridian Energy Co-op. In addition to material quotes, several bidders provided outstanding cover letters, company profiles, mission statements and work histories, all of which were inspirational and helpful in our decision making process.
SCCSA Board member Gerry Pageau, P.Eng., developed a simple but rigorous algorithm to help our small, all-volunteer Board evaluate the bids. The following criteria (variously weighted) were considered:
Co-op
Cost
Delivery Date
Distribution
Local
Relationship
Reputation
We did our utmost to make the best possible choice on behalf of our community. After lengthy, careful deliberations, Clear Energy Solutions was ultimately selected. Costs came in substantially below what we had anticipated, averaging $1.678/watt for all materials, including taxes (installation charges separate)! We are relieved and immensely grateful to CES: their expertise and commitment to supply, distribute and arrange installations up and down the Coast has been exemplary! Committed to community-building on every level, CES plans to engage other local contractors, and is even hoping to provide summer employment to a Pender Harbour Secondary School student who studied PV using the portable PowerCan trailer that CES loaned the school as a solar lab!
--We are equally thrilled to announce that the SCCSA was awarded a $3,500 grant from the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation to research options for establishing a community solar co-op! Gayle Neilson and I were honoured to accept the cheque on behalf of the SCCSA at the June 22nd awards ceremony. It was humbling and inspirational to learn of all the remarkable initiatives being undertaken in our community: a total of 47 awards were granted that evening! The SCCSA could not have applied for the grant without the kind support of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, whose charitable status enabled them to sponsor us. We are enormously grateful to the Community Foundation for their generosity. The funds they have provided will be used to hire Johan Stroman (founder of the Coast Car Co-op) on contract. Together, we will begin exploring various options for a community solar array. Collaboration with VREC’s Rob Baxter to create a Sunshine Coast branch of SolShare is one of several exciting possibilities! See: http://solshare.ca/
--We are incredibly grateful to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union for offering a Governance Session free-of-charge to the SCCSA Board! SCCU CEO
Shelley McDade along with Jodi Fichtner (VP, Marketing) led us through a powerful, dynamic, five-hour workshop. We emerged understanding the pragmatic steps necessary to ensure that we continue moving forward on a solid foundation. Talk about a credit union going ‘above-and-beyond’ to support their community!! As mentioned in previous mail-outs, the SCCU is also offering excellent financing options to community members who may otherwise not be able to participate in upcoming bulk buys. (Yes, we`re hoping that this will be the first of several!)
Lastly, we want to acknowledge the crucial role that Mark Giltrow (founder and head of BCIT’s Sustainable Business Leadership Program) and students Alicia Sebel and Maria Salo played in all of the above-mentioned successes. Alicia and Maria devoted a capstone project to the SCCSA: they researched best practices and bulk buys in other communities, created our first web page, introduced us to the SCCU and infused our Board with enthusiasm, energy and terrific ideas! We are so very grateful to you!
Other great news from a bit further afield:
--Squamish was officially named Canada’s 5th ‘Solar City’ at an all-day celebration on June 26th. Check out the Squamish Alternative Energy Facebook page for details and photos. https://www.facebook.com/groups/863198877047901/?fref=nf Huge kudos to Matt Blackman who spearheaded this awesome initiative!
--Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op worked on a student-led initiative to install a 4.1 kW grid-tied array at Quest University – just in time for the Squamish Solar City celebrations! See: http://www.vrec.ca/blog/2016/06/22/solar-powers-education-squamish/ Congratulations, Rob Baxter!
--The inter-community connections established during Salt Spring Island’s inspirational Community Solar Summit last April continue to develop. We have kept in touch with participants from Port Alberni all the way to Haida Gwaii, as well as the Gulf Islands. Kjell Liem—organizer par excellence—is arranging a follow-up conference for next October. A tremendously uplifting spirit of generosity permeates the renewable energy community, and our brainstorming sessions have proven truly empowering!
With great thanks to everyone in our beautiful extended community as we move forward to solarize the Sunshine Coast and beyond. ... Joanna, on behalf of the SCCSA
The SCCSA is delighted to share some exciting developments with you!
--We are thrilled to announce that our first community bulk-buy has finally launched: after many long months of research and organizing, solar panel installations will begin in early July! Seventeen Sunshine Coast households are participating, for a combined total of 247 panels!
The SCCSA Board reached out to 7 potential suppliers. We explained our mandate, outlined the specific purpose for this bulk purchase, and requested bids. We are extremely grateful for the responses received from Alternative Power Systems, Clear Energy Solutions, GabEnergy, Novo Solar Solutions, Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op and Viridian Energy Co-op. In addition to material quotes, several bidders provided outstanding cover letters, company profiles, mission statements and work histories, all of which were inspirational and helpful in our decision making process.
SCCSA Board member Gerry Pageau, P.Eng., developed a simple but rigorous algorithm to help our small, all-volunteer Board evaluate the bids. The following criteria (variously weighted) were considered:
Co-op
Cost
Delivery Date
Distribution
Local
Relationship
Reputation
We did our utmost to make the best possible choice on behalf of our community. After lengthy, careful deliberations, Clear Energy Solutions was ultimately selected. Costs came in substantially below what we had anticipated, averaging $1.678/watt for all materials, including taxes (installation charges separate)! We are relieved and immensely grateful to CES: their expertise and commitment to supply, distribute and arrange installations up and down the Coast has been exemplary! Committed to community-building on every level, CES plans to engage other local contractors, and is even hoping to provide summer employment to a Pender Harbour Secondary School student who studied PV using the portable PowerCan trailer that CES loaned the school as a solar lab!
--We are equally thrilled to announce that the SCCSA was awarded a $3,500 grant from the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation to research options for establishing a community solar co-op! Gayle Neilson and I were honoured to accept the cheque on behalf of the SCCSA at the June 22nd awards ceremony. It was humbling and inspirational to learn of all the remarkable initiatives being undertaken in our community: a total of 47 awards were granted that evening! The SCCSA could not have applied for the grant without the kind support of the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, whose charitable status enabled them to sponsor us. We are enormously grateful to the Community Foundation for their generosity. The funds they have provided will be used to hire Johan Stroman (founder of the Coast Car Co-op) on contract. Together, we will begin exploring various options for a community solar array. Collaboration with VREC’s Rob Baxter to create a Sunshine Coast branch of SolShare is one of several exciting possibilities! See: http://solshare.ca/
--We are incredibly grateful to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union for offering a Governance Session free-of-charge to the SCCSA Board! SCCU CEO
Shelley McDade along with Jodi Fichtner (VP, Marketing) led us through a powerful, dynamic, five-hour workshop. We emerged understanding the pragmatic steps necessary to ensure that we continue moving forward on a solid foundation. Talk about a credit union going ‘above-and-beyond’ to support their community!! As mentioned in previous mail-outs, the SCCU is also offering excellent financing options to community members who may otherwise not be able to participate in upcoming bulk buys. (Yes, we`re hoping that this will be the first of several!)
Lastly, we want to acknowledge the crucial role that Mark Giltrow (founder and head of BCIT’s Sustainable Business Leadership Program) and students Alicia Sebel and Maria Salo played in all of the above-mentioned successes. Alicia and Maria devoted a capstone project to the SCCSA: they researched best practices and bulk buys in other communities, created our first web page, introduced us to the SCCU and infused our Board with enthusiasm, energy and terrific ideas! We are so very grateful to you!
Other great news from a bit further afield:
--Squamish was officially named Canada’s 5th ‘Solar City’ at an all-day celebration on June 26th. Check out the Squamish Alternative Energy Facebook page for details and photos. https://www.facebook.com/groups/863198877047901/?fref=nf Huge kudos to Matt Blackman who spearheaded this awesome initiative!
--Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op worked on a student-led initiative to install a 4.1 kW grid-tied array at Quest University – just in time for the Squamish Solar City celebrations! See: http://www.vrec.ca/blog/2016/06/22/solar-powers-education-squamish/ Congratulations, Rob Baxter!
--The inter-community connections established during Salt Spring Island’s inspirational Community Solar Summit last April continue to develop. We have kept in touch with participants from Port Alberni all the way to Haida Gwaii, as well as the Gulf Islands. Kjell Liem—organizer par excellence—is arranging a follow-up conference for next October. A tremendously uplifting spirit of generosity permeates the renewable energy community, and our brainstorming sessions have proven truly empowering!
With great thanks to everyone in our beautiful extended community as we move forward to solarize the Sunshine Coast and beyond. ... Joanna, on behalf of the SCCSA
Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association news! April 21, 2016 (#9)
Hello friends,
It’s been a long while since the SCCSA has sent an update out to the 400+ people on our interest list: apologies for having left you without word during this period of regrouping, research and development. Our small, all-volunteer Board—with wonderful help from community members and institutions—has been steadily moving initiatives forward. There’s quite a bit to catch up on!
In our last mail-out we had expressed hope that some meaningful renewable energy incentives might be introduced post-COP21, and decided to delay launching our bulk buy in anticipation of that possibility. Alas, as you are all no doubt aware, no such government financial incentives materialized.
Cost is by far the biggest barrier to wide-spread adoption of solar PV in our otherwise eager community. But as Hydro rates continue to increase—they just went up 4% on April 1st and are projected to rise 28% over the next 5 years—installing PV makes ever-increasing financial (not to mention ethical) sense.
See, eg, http://www.desmog.ca/2016/04/13/premier-clark-s-proposal-electrify-oilsands-site-c-dam-has-air-desperation-panel-chair
and also Peace Energy Co-op’s inspirational recent article ‘Solar Cheque’ (attached), about a grid-tied system in Hudson’s Hope, BC.
Currently, 10 households on the Coast have signed up for our bulk buy. That’s fewer than we originally hoped for, but is a good solid number for this first iteration. We are delighted and immensely grateful that the Sunshine Coast Credit Union has thrown their support behind our initiative. SCCU is offering a special loan offer for community members who may otherwise be unable to participate: prime + 1% for those with a mortgage at the Credit Union; prime + 3% for others. This generous offer covers both installation and material costs! If you would like to learn more, please contact the branch nearest you:
Gibsons
Sarah Duro – Branch Manager P- 604-886-4387
Kelsey Dunn- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604-886-4397
Sechelt
Vic Etcheverry- Branch Manager P- 604- 885-8780
Kathey Gallagher- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604- 885-8763
Pender
Carie Veley- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604-883-6811
Note that the SCCSA is confident that other bulk buys will follow, so please don’t feel pressured to participate before you are ready. There will be future opportunities!
On other fronts:
-- Pender Harbour Secondary School now has its very own ‘solar lab’, on loan from the wonderful crew at Clear Energy Solutions! Owen, Will and Adam delivered their PowerCAN trailer (the same one that powered the Gibsons Green Party office during the final weeks of the election campaign) to the school a few weeks ago. Attached are a few photos of the Principle April McKnight, science teachers John Fawcus and Jay Walls and some keen students getting a tour/introductory teaching session from Will. If you look carefully, you’ll notice 3 Nissan Leafs (100% electric cars) parked near the trailer in one of the photos. PHS art teacher Keith Shaw commutes daily to the school from Roberts Creek in his Leaf, I had driven up in mine, and George Connell – EV and solar enthusiast from Earls Cove – happened to be passing by in his Leaf and pulled over to join the fun! It’s heartening to know that as far as PHS students are concerned, driving electric is completely ‘normal’!
--SCCSA Board member and bulk-buy-organizer-extraordinaire Gerry Pageau is currently teaching a solar course at Capilano University’s Elder U (the 3rd of 4 sessions takes place this Friday). There are 40 students in his class – maximum enrollment! From the youngsters at PHS to the seniors at Elder U, knowledge and support for solar technology continues to spread through our community!
--A few weeks ago Rob Baxter, founder of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op, launched SolShare, BC’s first solar community investment co-op! This followed years of research and negotiations, and is truly a game-changer. We are so grateful for Rob’s pioneering work!
http://www.vrec.ca/blog/2016/04/03/bcs-first-community-owned-solar-energy-project-launch-march-30-2016/
http://www.theprovince.com/business/blue+skies+ahead+canadian+solar+power+counts+million+homes/11858556/story.html
The SCCSA has been eager to establish some form of local solar community investment co-op since our inception, and have been pursuing various options. We have just begun speaking with Rob about the possibility of collaborating with VREC to establish a Sunshine Coast branch of SolShare, or some variation there-of.
--Jim Pawley and I will be participating in a very exciting Community Solar Conference on Saltspring Island this weekend. As the attached program shows, a remarkable array of speakers will take part. We are thrilled to be involved, and look forward to sharing all insights and knowledge gained with the community on our return.
--Lastly, to pull various threads in this message together, and to help put PV prices in to real-life perspective, I’ve decided to share a bit of personal solar history. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be one of the participants in our upcoming bulk buy. In 2008, I had asked the Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op for a rooftop PV assessment/estimate for my home (see 3 pages of documents, attached). At that time, the cost of having 7 panels @ 180W each (1.26 Kw total) installed came to . . . $15,268.00!! After receiving this quote (and catching my breath!) I quickly opted instead to put 2 solar-thermal arrays (30 tubes each) on the roof, at 1/3 the price. Those thermal arrays have served me beautifully, helping to heat my domestic hot water for the past 8 years!
Last week I took one of the arrays down to make more room for the PV I’ll be purchasing through our bulk buy: 12 panels @ 260W each = 3.12 Kw. We estimate that the total installed cost on my roof will be between $9,000,00 – $10,000. That’s ~1/4 the price per Kw compared to a mere 8 years ago! Also note: I had just moved in to the house at the time of VREC’s 2008 estimate. As you’ll see on their document, average Hydro consumption for the household at that time was 60 Kwh/day. It’s a large, old house and when I bought it, it had single pane windows, poor attic insulation, ancient appliances and incandescent light bulbs throughout. I immediately began incremental energy upgrades, and the impact has been significant: average household consumption is now half the original, down to ~30 Kwh/daily. This means that whatever energy the PV panels generate will ‘go twice as far’ – for ~1/4 the cost per Kw!
With great thanks to everyone for your spirit of generosity and commitment as we continue on towards a sustainable, equitable future for all. ... Joanna on behalf of the SCCSA
It’s been a long while since the SCCSA has sent an update out to the 400+ people on our interest list: apologies for having left you without word during this period of regrouping, research and development. Our small, all-volunteer Board—with wonderful help from community members and institutions—has been steadily moving initiatives forward. There’s quite a bit to catch up on!
In our last mail-out we had expressed hope that some meaningful renewable energy incentives might be introduced post-COP21, and decided to delay launching our bulk buy in anticipation of that possibility. Alas, as you are all no doubt aware, no such government financial incentives materialized.
Cost is by far the biggest barrier to wide-spread adoption of solar PV in our otherwise eager community. But as Hydro rates continue to increase—they just went up 4% on April 1st and are projected to rise 28% over the next 5 years—installing PV makes ever-increasing financial (not to mention ethical) sense.
See, eg, http://www.desmog.ca/2016/04/13/premier-clark-s-proposal-electrify-oilsands-site-c-dam-has-air-desperation-panel-chair
and also Peace Energy Co-op’s inspirational recent article ‘Solar Cheque’ (attached), about a grid-tied system in Hudson’s Hope, BC.
Currently, 10 households on the Coast have signed up for our bulk buy. That’s fewer than we originally hoped for, but is a good solid number for this first iteration. We are delighted and immensely grateful that the Sunshine Coast Credit Union has thrown their support behind our initiative. SCCU is offering a special loan offer for community members who may otherwise be unable to participate: prime + 1% for those with a mortgage at the Credit Union; prime + 3% for others. This generous offer covers both installation and material costs! If you would like to learn more, please contact the branch nearest you:
Gibsons
Sarah Duro – Branch Manager P- 604-886-4387
Kelsey Dunn- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604-886-4397
Sechelt
Vic Etcheverry- Branch Manager P- 604- 885-8780
Kathey Gallagher- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604- 885-8763
Pender
Carie Veley- Assistant Branch Manager P- 604-883-6811
Note that the SCCSA is confident that other bulk buys will follow, so please don’t feel pressured to participate before you are ready. There will be future opportunities!
On other fronts:
-- Pender Harbour Secondary School now has its very own ‘solar lab’, on loan from the wonderful crew at Clear Energy Solutions! Owen, Will and Adam delivered their PowerCAN trailer (the same one that powered the Gibsons Green Party office during the final weeks of the election campaign) to the school a few weeks ago. Attached are a few photos of the Principle April McKnight, science teachers John Fawcus and Jay Walls and some keen students getting a tour/introductory teaching session from Will. If you look carefully, you’ll notice 3 Nissan Leafs (100% electric cars) parked near the trailer in one of the photos. PHS art teacher Keith Shaw commutes daily to the school from Roberts Creek in his Leaf, I had driven up in mine, and George Connell – EV and solar enthusiast from Earls Cove – happened to be passing by in his Leaf and pulled over to join the fun! It’s heartening to know that as far as PHS students are concerned, driving electric is completely ‘normal’!
--SCCSA Board member and bulk-buy-organizer-extraordinaire Gerry Pageau is currently teaching a solar course at Capilano University’s Elder U (the 3rd of 4 sessions takes place this Friday). There are 40 students in his class – maximum enrollment! From the youngsters at PHS to the seniors at Elder U, knowledge and support for solar technology continues to spread through our community!
--A few weeks ago Rob Baxter, founder of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op, launched SolShare, BC’s first solar community investment co-op! This followed years of research and negotiations, and is truly a game-changer. We are so grateful for Rob’s pioneering work!
http://www.vrec.ca/blog/2016/04/03/bcs-first-community-owned-solar-energy-project-launch-march-30-2016/
http://www.theprovince.com/business/blue+skies+ahead+canadian+solar+power+counts+million+homes/11858556/story.html
The SCCSA has been eager to establish some form of local solar community investment co-op since our inception, and have been pursuing various options. We have just begun speaking with Rob about the possibility of collaborating with VREC to establish a Sunshine Coast branch of SolShare, or some variation there-of.
--Jim Pawley and I will be participating in a very exciting Community Solar Conference on Saltspring Island this weekend. As the attached program shows, a remarkable array of speakers will take part. We are thrilled to be involved, and look forward to sharing all insights and knowledge gained with the community on our return.
--Lastly, to pull various threads in this message together, and to help put PV prices in to real-life perspective, I’ve decided to share a bit of personal solar history. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be one of the participants in our upcoming bulk buy. In 2008, I had asked the Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op for a rooftop PV assessment/estimate for my home (see 3 pages of documents, attached). At that time, the cost of having 7 panels @ 180W each (1.26 Kw total) installed came to . . . $15,268.00!! After receiving this quote (and catching my breath!) I quickly opted instead to put 2 solar-thermal arrays (30 tubes each) on the roof, at 1/3 the price. Those thermal arrays have served me beautifully, helping to heat my domestic hot water for the past 8 years!
Last week I took one of the arrays down to make more room for the PV I’ll be purchasing through our bulk buy: 12 panels @ 260W each = 3.12 Kw. We estimate that the total installed cost on my roof will be between $9,000,00 – $10,000. That’s ~1/4 the price per Kw compared to a mere 8 years ago! Also note: I had just moved in to the house at the time of VREC’s 2008 estimate. As you’ll see on their document, average Hydro consumption for the household at that time was 60 Kwh/day. It’s a large, old house and when I bought it, it had single pane windows, poor attic insulation, ancient appliances and incandescent light bulbs throughout. I immediately began incremental energy upgrades, and the impact has been significant: average household consumption is now half the original, down to ~30 Kwh/daily. This means that whatever energy the PV panels generate will ‘go twice as far’ – for ~1/4 the cost per Kw!
With great thanks to everyone for your spirit of generosity and commitment as we continue on towards a sustainable, equitable future for all. ... Joanna on behalf of the SCCSA
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COMMUNITY SOLAR UPDATE and BULK BUY SURVEY December 16, 2015 (#8)
Hello friends,
How wonderful it feels to be able to write that for the first time in years, Canada played an important, positive role at the recent UN climate talks in Paris. Reaching consensus, 195 countries agreed to work towards limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But while the words on paper put forth an encouraging framework, they are not binding and the magnitude of the climate crisis we face is enormous. Time is short. It will be up to people all over the world to not only hold our governments accountable, but to actively work in our own communities for a just and sustainable future for all.
In this spirit, the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association is eagerly moving forward with three major interrelated initiatives: i) collaborating with the schools and regional districts; ii) putting together a plan for a community owned solar investment co-op and; iii) gathering interested parties for a bulk purchase of PV panels for residential installation.
The primary focus of this email is the bulk purchase (more detailed updates on all three initiatives will follow in the new year). Currently, we have a list of 82 community members who have expressed an interest in participating in the bulk buy. We agreed that postponing the purchase until after the federal election would be prudent, and we are very glad that we did! The SCCSA board recently decided to wait another 3 months – a timeframe sufficient for federal and provincial governments to develop specific, climate-related legislation. We are hopeful that financial incentives for purchasing renewable energy equipment, including solar panels, will be announced. To all of you who have been waiting so patiently, thank you!
In the meantime, three wonderful students in the BCIT Sustainable Business Leadership Program—Alicia Sebel, Jordan Timmer and Maria Salo—are researching various approaches to help optimize and expedite residential PV installations on the Sunshine Coast. Below you’ll find a link to a short, preliminary survey they developed. Please take a few minutes to complete it. The results will be integrated into their broader overall analysis, which we trust will be of real value to our community and beyond.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCCSABulkBuy
If you are interested in getting on the bulk buy list, please contact:
Gerry Pageau [email protected]
Also please note that our newest board member, James Pawley, will be giving a free public lecture on January 12 at Chatelech High School: ‘Responding to Paris. How will the UN Climate Treaty Affect us on the Sunshine Coast’ (poster with details attached).
All indications are that we are on the brink of a global energy paradigm shift of epic proportions. As Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org said after the Paris agreement, "We know where we’re going now. No one can doubt that the fossil fuel age has finally begun to wane, and that the sun is now shining on, well, solar. But the question, the only important question, is: how fast."
What an honour it is for each one of us to be able play a small part in expediting this powerful transition in our own community!
With great thanks, and wishing you all a wonderful holiday on behalf of the SCCSA Board. ... Joanna
How wonderful it feels to be able to write that for the first time in years, Canada played an important, positive role at the recent UN climate talks in Paris. Reaching consensus, 195 countries agreed to work towards limiting the average global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But while the words on paper put forth an encouraging framework, they are not binding and the magnitude of the climate crisis we face is enormous. Time is short. It will be up to people all over the world to not only hold our governments accountable, but to actively work in our own communities for a just and sustainable future for all.
In this spirit, the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association is eagerly moving forward with three major interrelated initiatives: i) collaborating with the schools and regional districts; ii) putting together a plan for a community owned solar investment co-op and; iii) gathering interested parties for a bulk purchase of PV panels for residential installation.
The primary focus of this email is the bulk purchase (more detailed updates on all three initiatives will follow in the new year). Currently, we have a list of 82 community members who have expressed an interest in participating in the bulk buy. We agreed that postponing the purchase until after the federal election would be prudent, and we are very glad that we did! The SCCSA board recently decided to wait another 3 months – a timeframe sufficient for federal and provincial governments to develop specific, climate-related legislation. We are hopeful that financial incentives for purchasing renewable energy equipment, including solar panels, will be announced. To all of you who have been waiting so patiently, thank you!
In the meantime, three wonderful students in the BCIT Sustainable Business Leadership Program—Alicia Sebel, Jordan Timmer and Maria Salo—are researching various approaches to help optimize and expedite residential PV installations on the Sunshine Coast. Below you’ll find a link to a short, preliminary survey they developed. Please take a few minutes to complete it. The results will be integrated into their broader overall analysis, which we trust will be of real value to our community and beyond.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCCSABulkBuy
If you are interested in getting on the bulk buy list, please contact:
Gerry Pageau [email protected]
Also please note that our newest board member, James Pawley, will be giving a free public lecture on January 12 at Chatelech High School: ‘Responding to Paris. How will the UN Climate Treaty Affect us on the Sunshine Coast’ (poster with details attached).
All indications are that we are on the brink of a global energy paradigm shift of epic proportions. As Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org said after the Paris agreement, "We know where we’re going now. No one can doubt that the fossil fuel age has finally begun to wane, and that the sun is now shining on, well, solar. But the question, the only important question, is: how fast."
What an honour it is for each one of us to be able play a small part in expediting this powerful transition in our own community!
With great thanks, and wishing you all a wonderful holiday on behalf of the SCCSA Board. ... Joanna
| pawley_forum__climate_change_treaty.pdf |
Solar update + Electric Vehicle Festival September-15-2015 (#7)
Hello friends,
This quick note is just to let you know that Matt and Will from Clear Energy Solutions http://clearenergysolutions.ca/ have been busy doing assessments up and down the coast in anticipation of our bulk purchase. People continue to contact me with assessment requests, and it’s not too late to add your name to the list. We have decided to wait until after the Federal Election on October 19th to proceed with the actual purchase: a new government will almost certainly provide significant incentives for renewable energy initiatives, and we are hopeful that buying solar panels will be more affordable than ever. Please be sure to have your assessment completed so you’ll be in a position to participate when we launch our first bulk buy, and please be sure to vote in the upcoming election, the outcome of which is so crucial for the future of our country and our planet!
Also, we hope to see you at the electric vehicle (EV) festival taking place in Sechelt this Saturday, September 19, from 11 – 4 (poster attached). The event is part of a North-America-wide ‘Drive Electric Week’ initiative, celebrating the transition to a fossil fuel free future.
https://driveelectricweek.org/events.php
The relationship between solar power and electric vehicles is clear: panels on your roof can generate enough electricity to completely charge your car and then some. But there is another very promising interconnection between the two. EVs have the potential to function as battery storage units capable of sending power back to the grid (vehicle-to-grid, or ‘V2G’) and to power our homes during power-outages (‘V2H’). This technology has been studied for a number of years, and Nissan has developed working prototypes (NOT YET AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA).
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/11/20131129-leaf.html
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/vehicle_to_home.html
Many of us were excited when Tesla announced the release of their new Powerwall home battery systems, available in 2 residential sizes: 7 Kw hr and 10 Kw hr. Note that Nissan Leaf batteries currently store significantly more energy: 24 Kw hr.
with great thanks to all of you for helping to facilitate the transition to renewable energy here on the Sunshine Coast. ... Joanna
This quick note is just to let you know that Matt and Will from Clear Energy Solutions http://clearenergysolutions.ca/ have been busy doing assessments up and down the coast in anticipation of our bulk purchase. People continue to contact me with assessment requests, and it’s not too late to add your name to the list. We have decided to wait until after the Federal Election on October 19th to proceed with the actual purchase: a new government will almost certainly provide significant incentives for renewable energy initiatives, and we are hopeful that buying solar panels will be more affordable than ever. Please be sure to have your assessment completed so you’ll be in a position to participate when we launch our first bulk buy, and please be sure to vote in the upcoming election, the outcome of which is so crucial for the future of our country and our planet!
Also, we hope to see you at the electric vehicle (EV) festival taking place in Sechelt this Saturday, September 19, from 11 – 4 (poster attached). The event is part of a North-America-wide ‘Drive Electric Week’ initiative, celebrating the transition to a fossil fuel free future.
https://driveelectricweek.org/events.php
The relationship between solar power and electric vehicles is clear: panels on your roof can generate enough electricity to completely charge your car and then some. But there is another very promising interconnection between the two. EVs have the potential to function as battery storage units capable of sending power back to the grid (vehicle-to-grid, or ‘V2G’) and to power our homes during power-outages (‘V2H’). This technology has been studied for a number of years, and Nissan has developed working prototypes (NOT YET AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA).
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/11/20131129-leaf.html
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECHNOLOGY/OVERVIEW/vehicle_to_home.html
Many of us were excited when Tesla announced the release of their new Powerwall home battery systems, available in 2 residential sizes: 7 Kw hr and 10 Kw hr. Note that Nissan Leaf batteries currently store significantly more energy: 24 Kw hr.
with great thanks to all of you for helping to facilitate the transition to renewable energy here on the Sunshine Coast. ... Joanna
| evposterlarge.pdf |
Sunshine Coast Community Solar update August 12, 2015 (#6)
Hello friends,
This update has been a long time coming: individuals on the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association’s all-volunteer steering committee have been busy with crucial election campaign and drought mitigation initiatives as well as our solar work. We are grateful for your patience!
The SCCSA continues to work on three distinct but inter-related projects, and we’re making steady—if slow—progress on all fronts: 1) bulk buy, 2) collaboration with SD46, and 3) development of a community solar investment co-op.
The bulk buy—which we are finally on the verge of launching—is the primary focus of this mail out. Information about the other 2 projects will be summarized at the end of the message.
1) BULK BUY
Over the past couple of months, 30+ people have been in correspondence with me hoping to participate in the bulk buy. Several local contractors have been providing free site assessments to determine:
- site-suitability for solar
- number of panels your roof (or land, if ground-mount) can accommodate
- number of Kw these panels will generate
- approximate costs
Some of you have received detailed quotes. Please note that these were NOT based on bulk purchase prices, which are only available now.
**Those of you who have had assessments, please fill in the attached Purchaser’s Form (huge thanks to Bill Davis for putting it together!) If you have not yet had your site assessed and you would like to be included in the bulk buy, please contact me immediately. Needless to say, the order can only be placed once we’ve determined the exact number of panels required.** That said, we are confident that this will be the first of many such purchases, so don’t panic if for any reason the time is not right for you.
In keeping with SCCSA’s vision, we’ve made every effort to source equipment of the highest quality at the lowest possible prices, while factoring in ethical considerations such as the environmental impact of panel production as well as employment conditions (safety,wages etc) at the manufacturing plant. We’ve had to process diverging opinions from trusted contractors—one of several reasons that organizing this purchase has taken so long. We had hoped that the Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition’s ‘Solar Score Card’ http://www.solarscorecard.com/2014/ would be a key guide. However, not everyone we’ve consulted agrees on its accuracy or usefulness. Ultimately, a decision had to be made. It isn’t—and can never be—perfect, but we’re confident that it’s pretty darned good!
A more detailed discussion of equipment considerations and options will take place among those people committed to purchasing.
Two absolutely wonderful, generous and extremely experienced contractors—Dave Neads of GabEnergy http://www.gabenergy.com/ and Rob Baxter of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op http://www.vrec.ca/ —have each offered us a great price for excellent, warrantied products. Gerry Pageau, steering committee member extraordinaire, undertook a rigorous analysis using his own rooftop PV array to determine the optimal wattage of panels and micro-inverters for our latitude, including a cost differential of various options. If we purchase a minimum of three hundred 250 watt panels, our cost will be ~$1.89/watt. That price includes everything EXCEPT installation, i.e. panels, micro-inverters, harness wiring, mounting racks, taxes and delivery to a central Gibsons location.
To give you a sense for the savings this represents, I include a note that I received a few weeks ago:
**
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for the reply.
We had our quote from xx. For our average size house a 6 volt system [sic: that should be 6 Kw system] would cost $18,000. plus GST. The price is too high at this time of our lives. We’re both retired!
I know some people are installing their own but this is beyond our capabilities.
Hopefully, in the near future the price will become affordable.
Regards, ... Linda
**
--> Linda’s installed cost would have been $18,000 + GST = $18.900
--> Our bulk-buy cost (delivered to Gibsons, including GST but NOT installed) would be $11,340
The cost difference is: $18,900 – $11,340 = $7,560
Installation costs will vary with each home, but it is safe to say that labour / permits involved in installation of a 6Kw roof mount system will be considerably less than $7,560. In other words, the bulk buy should confer significant savings.
We have several options for wonderful, highly experienced contractors who have agreed to do installations of bulk buy systems.
We are also most hopeful—indeed, determined—that community members can become skilled in assisting with their own — and their neighbours’ — installations (with professional guidance/supervision) whenever feasible. Dave Neads of GabEnergy has reiterated his very generous offer to lead a hands-on workshop here after our bulk order arrives, at which point we’ll be in a position to begin actual installations. For those interested, please see:
i) notes from the 1 – day course Dave gave on Gabriola Island in June
http://www.gabenergy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Course-Notes-Solar-workshop-ISBA-May-302015.pdf
ii) a short video of a recent workshop Dave led during a recycling depot installation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-0VPQYPwcU
2) SD46
Matt Rockall and I met with Richard Biel, VP of Chatelech High School, transferring to VP Elphinstone in September. Rick is very enthusiastic about working with SCCSA to get solar arrays on school rooftops, and is eager to develop a meaningful renewable energy curriculum that will allow graduates to connect with BCIT and other programs.
For those of you who aren’t already familiar with the similar undertaking on Salt Spring Island, please see:
http://saltspringcommunityenergy.com/
and be sure to watch the inspiring Shaw TV video that appears ~1/2 way down the page!
We’re currently exploring several possibilities and concomitant funding sources. It’s in the early stages, but we’re making progress. If anyone is seriously interested in helping with this exciting initiative, please get in touch with me.
3) COMMUNITY SOLAR INVESTMENT CO-OP
After reading Christine Wood’s Coast Reporter article in June (many thanks, Christine!),
http://www.coastreporter.net/news/local-news/public-gets-turned-on-about-solar-power-1.1805147
Bob Bull, a retired realtor who owns a 3.5 acre parcel in downtown Sechelt, contacted us. His property has high voltage power lines running through its centre, making it challenging to utilize. It is essentially flat, with a relatively unobstructed south-facing exposure. Gerry Pageau—who took Dave Nead’s Gabriola workshop last June—did a preliminary site assessment and determined that the lot can accommodate PV panels with a total capacity of ~.65 MW. Bob is delighted at the possibility of developing a community solar co-op on his here-to-for unutilized parcel, and we are thrilled that he reached out to us! Larry Koopman and I have initiated the complex process of establishing how best to proceed. The vision is for a grid-tied, community owned investment co-op, based very roughly along the lines of a similar initiative in Saskatchewan
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/saskatchewan-s-first-solar-power-cooperative
Individuals would purchase shares and receive cheques in proportion to their investment, based on an annual payback rate determined by BC Hydro. This project is a very significant, long-term undertaking. We welcome anyone with a serious interest in researching community solar co-ops to join us.
4) BONUS!
The Green Party approached us inquiring if a temporary solar array could be installed to run the office they’re renting at 706 Gibsons Way. Matt Hutchings and his colleagues at Clear Energy Solutions have come up with a brilliant, simple off-grid design. During office hours, the system will serve as a small scale solar demonstration / information project for members of the public—so keep your eyes open for this terrific, unexpected development that we hope will be up and running within a few weeks!
With great thanks to our wonderful community for your interest and support, we look forward to hearing from you. ... Joanna
This update has been a long time coming: individuals on the Sunshine Coast Community Solar Association’s all-volunteer steering committee have been busy with crucial election campaign and drought mitigation initiatives as well as our solar work. We are grateful for your patience!
The SCCSA continues to work on three distinct but inter-related projects, and we’re making steady—if slow—progress on all fronts: 1) bulk buy, 2) collaboration with SD46, and 3) development of a community solar investment co-op.
The bulk buy—which we are finally on the verge of launching—is the primary focus of this mail out. Information about the other 2 projects will be summarized at the end of the message.
1) BULK BUY
Over the past couple of months, 30+ people have been in correspondence with me hoping to participate in the bulk buy. Several local contractors have been providing free site assessments to determine:
- site-suitability for solar
- number of panels your roof (or land, if ground-mount) can accommodate
- number of Kw these panels will generate
- approximate costs
Some of you have received detailed quotes. Please note that these were NOT based on bulk purchase prices, which are only available now.
**Those of you who have had assessments, please fill in the attached Purchaser’s Form (huge thanks to Bill Davis for putting it together!) If you have not yet had your site assessed and you would like to be included in the bulk buy, please contact me immediately. Needless to say, the order can only be placed once we’ve determined the exact number of panels required.** That said, we are confident that this will be the first of many such purchases, so don’t panic if for any reason the time is not right for you.
In keeping with SCCSA’s vision, we’ve made every effort to source equipment of the highest quality at the lowest possible prices, while factoring in ethical considerations such as the environmental impact of panel production as well as employment conditions (safety,wages etc) at the manufacturing plant. We’ve had to process diverging opinions from trusted contractors—one of several reasons that organizing this purchase has taken so long. We had hoped that the Silicon Valley Toxic Coalition’s ‘Solar Score Card’ http://www.solarscorecard.com/2014/ would be a key guide. However, not everyone we’ve consulted agrees on its accuracy or usefulness. Ultimately, a decision had to be made. It isn’t—and can never be—perfect, but we’re confident that it’s pretty darned good!
A more detailed discussion of equipment considerations and options will take place among those people committed to purchasing.
Two absolutely wonderful, generous and extremely experienced contractors—Dave Neads of GabEnergy http://www.gabenergy.com/ and Rob Baxter of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-op http://www.vrec.ca/ —have each offered us a great price for excellent, warrantied products. Gerry Pageau, steering committee member extraordinaire, undertook a rigorous analysis using his own rooftop PV array to determine the optimal wattage of panels and micro-inverters for our latitude, including a cost differential of various options. If we purchase a minimum of three hundred 250 watt panels, our cost will be ~$1.89/watt. That price includes everything EXCEPT installation, i.e. panels, micro-inverters, harness wiring, mounting racks, taxes and delivery to a central Gibsons location.
To give you a sense for the savings this represents, I include a note that I received a few weeks ago:
**
Hi Joanna,
Thanks for the reply.
We had our quote from xx. For our average size house a 6 volt system [sic: that should be 6 Kw system] would cost $18,000. plus GST. The price is too high at this time of our lives. We’re both retired!
I know some people are installing their own but this is beyond our capabilities.
Hopefully, in the near future the price will become affordable.
Regards, ... Linda
**
--> Linda’s installed cost would have been $18,000 + GST = $18.900
--> Our bulk-buy cost (delivered to Gibsons, including GST but NOT installed) would be $11,340
The cost difference is: $18,900 – $11,340 = $7,560
Installation costs will vary with each home, but it is safe to say that labour / permits involved in installation of a 6Kw roof mount system will be considerably less than $7,560. In other words, the bulk buy should confer significant savings.
We have several options for wonderful, highly experienced contractors who have agreed to do installations of bulk buy systems.
We are also most hopeful—indeed, determined—that community members can become skilled in assisting with their own — and their neighbours’ — installations (with professional guidance/supervision) whenever feasible. Dave Neads of GabEnergy has reiterated his very generous offer to lead a hands-on workshop here after our bulk order arrives, at which point we’ll be in a position to begin actual installations. For those interested, please see:
i) notes from the 1 – day course Dave gave on Gabriola Island in June
http://www.gabenergy.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Course-Notes-Solar-workshop-ISBA-May-302015.pdf
ii) a short video of a recent workshop Dave led during a recycling depot installation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-0VPQYPwcU
2) SD46
Matt Rockall and I met with Richard Biel, VP of Chatelech High School, transferring to VP Elphinstone in September. Rick is very enthusiastic about working with SCCSA to get solar arrays on school rooftops, and is eager to develop a meaningful renewable energy curriculum that will allow graduates to connect with BCIT and other programs.
For those of you who aren’t already familiar with the similar undertaking on Salt Spring Island, please see:
http://saltspringcommunityenergy.com/
and be sure to watch the inspiring Shaw TV video that appears ~1/2 way down the page!
We’re currently exploring several possibilities and concomitant funding sources. It’s in the early stages, but we’re making progress. If anyone is seriously interested in helping with this exciting initiative, please get in touch with me.
3) COMMUNITY SOLAR INVESTMENT CO-OP
After reading Christine Wood’s Coast Reporter article in June (many thanks, Christine!),
http://www.coastreporter.net/news/local-news/public-gets-turned-on-about-solar-power-1.1805147
Bob Bull, a retired realtor who owns a 3.5 acre parcel in downtown Sechelt, contacted us. His property has high voltage power lines running through its centre, making it challenging to utilize. It is essentially flat, with a relatively unobstructed south-facing exposure. Gerry Pageau—who took Dave Nead’s Gabriola workshop last June—did a preliminary site assessment and determined that the lot can accommodate PV panels with a total capacity of ~.65 MW. Bob is delighted at the possibility of developing a community solar co-op on his here-to-for unutilized parcel, and we are thrilled that he reached out to us! Larry Koopman and I have initiated the complex process of establishing how best to proceed. The vision is for a grid-tied, community owned investment co-op, based very roughly along the lines of a similar initiative in Saskatchewan
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/saskatchewan-s-first-solar-power-cooperative
Individuals would purchase shares and receive cheques in proportion to their investment, based on an annual payback rate determined by BC Hydro. This project is a very significant, long-term undertaking. We welcome anyone with a serious interest in researching community solar co-ops to join us.
4) BONUS!
The Green Party approached us inquiring if a temporary solar array could be installed to run the office they’re renting at 706 Gibsons Way. Matt Hutchings and his colleagues at Clear Energy Solutions have come up with a brilliant, simple off-grid design. During office hours, the system will serve as a small scale solar demonstration / information project for members of the public—so keep your eyes open for this terrific, unexpected development that we hope will be up and running within a few weeks!
With great thanks to our wonderful community for your interest and support, we look forward to hearing from you. ... Joanna
| sccs_bulk_buy_purchasers_form.docx |
Sunshine Coast Community Solar:
Bulk-buy launch / general update May-18-2015 (#5)
Hello friends,
65% of you who responded to our survey last month said you’re interested in a bulk buy of solar panels: we’re now in a position to get organized!
Costs are yet to be determined precisely, but we should be able to provide PV panels and other necessary components at wholesale costs + shipping/handling expenses.
If you are interested and able to go in on a purchase at this point, please let me know as soon as possible.
We’ve been enormously inspired by the folks at GabEnergy on Gabriola Island. They first formed as a legal non-profit society in April 2014, at which time there were no solar panels on the island. Now, one year later, over 500 PV panels have been installed. They’ve achieved this by offering panels and other components at wholesale costs +5%, educating and empowering people in their community in DIY, hiring electrical contractors to do the electrical hook-ups.
They’re offering a one day course at the end of the month, and some of us are considering going.
Solar PV Installation Course
Saturday, May 30th, 9 am to 4 pm, Island School of Building Arts
Want to live off grid? Reduce your hydro bills? Be involved in the solar revolution? Then ISBA has a course for you. After a brief overview of home solar options, students will do a site assessment, discuss equipment choices, mount solar panels and tour Gabriola’s largest solar installation. Join Dave Neads of GabEnergy as he shares his knowledge gained during 27 years of using solar energy and living off grid. Cost: $125. For more information or to register, call ISBA at 250-247-8922.
If you’d like to attend, please let me know.
Other local developments:
--Last month we submitted a proposal to School District 46, seeking to partner with them in getting solar arrays on to school rooftops as part of their 4 year strategic plan. Our submission (attached) was very well received: ‘renewable energy’ is now integrated in to three different sections of the strategic plan. We’re exploring funding possibilities.
--BC Hydro’s net-metering expert, Alevtina Akbulatova, will be giving a presentation at this year’s ‘Greener, Brighter, Better’ Home and Garden Expo at the Gibsons Recreation Centre on June 13th. Alvetina is an extremely knowledgeable resource person, eager to answer all solar-related questions. Anyone interested in solar power—particularly if you’re planning to install grid-tie panels on your home—is strongly encouraged to come hear her talk. Dennis Olson (Olson Electric) will have a couple of booths dedicated to solar installations at the show. We expect 6 - 8 electric vehicles to be parked outside, with owners happy to answer questions and possibly take you for a drive. Huge thanks to Dennis for organizing the solar/EV aspect of the Expo, and for arranging Alevtina’s presentation.
--Those of you planning to build homes and/or re-roof your home with the intention of installing solar panels: there are architects and roofers on the Coast who are now specifically working to optimize PV efficiency and minimize installation costs. Check in with us first!
--A small group of us viewed a terrific 2014 documentary, ‘The Future of Energy, Lateral Power to the People’. http://www.thefutureofenergy.org/ If you’d like to watch it with others in the community followed by a discussion, let me know and we can arrange a movie night (s ).
As the threat of Site C dam and BC LNG plans loom large (on the latter, see this startling article http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/local-news/lng-opportunities-outlined-locally-1.1935474), every community that begins generating its own power through renewables proves these destructive options to be unnecessary and obsolete. We’ve got an amazing opportunity on the Sunshine Coast to make a real difference—and enjoy all the benefits!
With great thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you soon. ... Joanna
FYI: As of October 2014, there were 18 industry projects proposing to produce LNG for export along B.C.'s coast. The National Energy Board has granted export approval to nine of the proposals so far. There are already two LNG facilities in BC serving domestic needs - FortisBC's Mt. Hayes natural gas storage facility in Ladysmith and the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta. These projects are so significant that they represent the largest private sector investment proposals in the province's history - See more at: http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/local-news/lng-opportunities-outlined-locally-1.1935474#sthash.cXGDRSiw.dpuf
65% of you who responded to our survey last month said you’re interested in a bulk buy of solar panels: we’re now in a position to get organized!
Costs are yet to be determined precisely, but we should be able to provide PV panels and other necessary components at wholesale costs + shipping/handling expenses.
If you are interested and able to go in on a purchase at this point, please let me know as soon as possible.
We’ve been enormously inspired by the folks at GabEnergy on Gabriola Island. They first formed as a legal non-profit society in April 2014, at which time there were no solar panels on the island. Now, one year later, over 500 PV panels have been installed. They’ve achieved this by offering panels and other components at wholesale costs +5%, educating and empowering people in their community in DIY, hiring electrical contractors to do the electrical hook-ups.
They’re offering a one day course at the end of the month, and some of us are considering going.
Solar PV Installation Course
Saturday, May 30th, 9 am to 4 pm, Island School of Building Arts
Want to live off grid? Reduce your hydro bills? Be involved in the solar revolution? Then ISBA has a course for you. After a brief overview of home solar options, students will do a site assessment, discuss equipment choices, mount solar panels and tour Gabriola’s largest solar installation. Join Dave Neads of GabEnergy as he shares his knowledge gained during 27 years of using solar energy and living off grid. Cost: $125. For more information or to register, call ISBA at 250-247-8922.
If you’d like to attend, please let me know.
Other local developments:
--Last month we submitted a proposal to School District 46, seeking to partner with them in getting solar arrays on to school rooftops as part of their 4 year strategic plan. Our submission (attached) was very well received: ‘renewable energy’ is now integrated in to three different sections of the strategic plan. We’re exploring funding possibilities.
--BC Hydro’s net-metering expert, Alevtina Akbulatova, will be giving a presentation at this year’s ‘Greener, Brighter, Better’ Home and Garden Expo at the Gibsons Recreation Centre on June 13th. Alvetina is an extremely knowledgeable resource person, eager to answer all solar-related questions. Anyone interested in solar power—particularly if you’re planning to install grid-tie panels on your home—is strongly encouraged to come hear her talk. Dennis Olson (Olson Electric) will have a couple of booths dedicated to solar installations at the show. We expect 6 - 8 electric vehicles to be parked outside, with owners happy to answer questions and possibly take you for a drive. Huge thanks to Dennis for organizing the solar/EV aspect of the Expo, and for arranging Alevtina’s presentation.
--Those of you planning to build homes and/or re-roof your home with the intention of installing solar panels: there are architects and roofers on the Coast who are now specifically working to optimize PV efficiency and minimize installation costs. Check in with us first!
--A small group of us viewed a terrific 2014 documentary, ‘The Future of Energy, Lateral Power to the People’. http://www.thefutureofenergy.org/ If you’d like to watch it with others in the community followed by a discussion, let me know and we can arrange a movie night (s ).
As the threat of Site C dam and BC LNG plans loom large (on the latter, see this startling article http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/local-news/lng-opportunities-outlined-locally-1.1935474), every community that begins generating its own power through renewables proves these destructive options to be unnecessary and obsolete. We’ve got an amazing opportunity on the Sunshine Coast to make a real difference—and enjoy all the benefits!
With great thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you soon. ... Joanna
FYI: As of October 2014, there were 18 industry projects proposing to produce LNG for export along B.C.'s coast. The National Energy Board has granted export approval to nine of the proposals so far. There are already two LNG facilities in BC serving domestic needs - FortisBC's Mt. Hayes natural gas storage facility in Ladysmith and the Tilbury LNG facility in Delta. These projects are so significant that they represent the largest private sector investment proposals in the province's history - See more at: http://www.comoxvalleyecho.com/news/local-news/lng-opportunities-outlined-locally-1.1935474#sthash.cXGDRSiw.dpuf
| strat_plan_submission_to_sd46_from_sunshine_coast__community_solar.pdf |
Sunshine Coast Solar Co-op Initiative Mar 14, 2015 (#4)
Dear friends,
Our first public meeting will take place in one week! I’ve pasted the announcement below.
First, however, I need to alert you to a recent set back: the March 5th announcement by Canada Border Services Agency of steep import tariffs on PV panels and components manufactured in China (which comprise the vast majority of Canadian installations). It’s not yet known how these duties will translate in to panel costs—our contractors should have more information by the time of the meeting—but prices will certainly increase.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/i-e/ad1405/ad1405-i14-np-eng.html
This development puts us out of synch with the overall global trends. A recent report from one of the biggest banks in the Middle East states that solar power is now cheaper than oil, even at $10/barrel.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/even-at-10barrel-oil-cant-match-solar-on-cost-37540
In the US, average system prices have dropped 53% since 2010,
http://ecowatch.com/2015/03/10/rhone-resch-solar-shattering-year/
and US federal policy includes solar investment tax credits.
http://www.seia.org/policy/finance-tax/solar-investment-tax-credit
***
Solar power on the Sunshine Coast – public meeting to be held
Around the world, utilization of solar power has been growing at an exponential rate, as efficiency of photovoltaic panels improves and costs decrease. In BC, solar powered communities are a real, viable and urgently necessary alternative to the Site C Dam, as well as the Northern Gateway and Keystone XL pipelines. Sunshine Coast residents are eager to investigate options: several homes already have rooftop arrays of pv panels installed, most grid-tied, some off-grid
The Gibsons Green Team and Sunshine Coast in Transition are hosting a public meeting on Saturday, March 21, 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Gibsons & Area Community Centre to explore the development of a local Solar Cooperative. It will provide an opportunity to discuss exciting possibilities for solar projects on the Coast, have a look at pv panels and ask questions of electrical contractors.
Lee Ann Johnson, former Gibsons Councillor with decades of experience in the co-op sector, will facilitate the meeting. Joanna Zilsel will provide a summary of current solar initiatives in BC, outline challenges to overcome, and highlight potential solar options for our community. Julie Clark, SCRD Sustainability & Education Coordinator, will give a ‘big picture’ overview of how a solar cooperative aligns with the SCRD ‘We Envision’ sustainability plan. Matt Hutchings, Dennis Olson and Wayne Slingerland - local electrical contractors with decades of experience in alternative energy systems – will discuss current issues and answer questions.
Everyone is welcome!
***
Below are a few updates and news clips from various sources. I’ve included them in the hope that they’ll inspire questions and ideas for discussion at the meeting.
Michael Klein’s recent first-hand report from Hawaii underscores the need for serious government engagement/subsidies if wide-spread renewable energy adoption is to occur:
Dear Joanna. Please share with group.
Bonnie and I are on vacation in The Big Island where solar panels are everywhere, small homes to large factories. Panels run from two to three to 100s per house or factory.
Here in Hawaii these are subsidized by government. Here the home owner can generate so much electricity that the meter runs backwards and in two years the owner gets to pay off his investment in the panels.
In the Sunshine Coast significant electricity is generated in the summer, spring and early fall. Yet even in winter some electricity is generated. If the Coop is just about getting a good price for panels it will not be enough. The SRCD needs to become involved and BC Hydro as well. For a house like ours on the Straight it will cost $20,000 today without subsidy to install. We could not afford it even with cheaper panels. It will take a much greater engagement with government to allow it all to become affordable.
Aloha ... Michael
On this theme, I just learned that the town of Lancaster, California is fast approaching ‘Net Zero Energy’ (generating as much energy as it consumes), through the mandated installation of PV panels on government buildings and schools, as well as all new residential buildings. The program was launched several years ago by the town’s conservative, Republican mayor!
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/lancaster-calif-focuses-on-becoming-solar-capital-of-universe.html?pagewanted=all
There is a rapidly increasing number of such towns and cities around the world, not all of them in a ‘sun belt’. The truly inspirational town of Freiburg, Germany—which gets LESS solar irradiance every single month of the year than Gibsons—is a beautiful example of what can happen when there is visionary town planning. Freiburg has, among many other exemplary features, at least sixty ‘plus-energy’ homes (i.e. they produce more energy than they consume), generating income for their owners.
http://www.ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/germany-freiburg-sustainability-transportation-energy-green-economy.html
I used the Solar Irradiance Calculator below to compare relative insolation values between Gibsons and Freiburg (selecting south-facing panels for both towns.)
http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html
--The remarkable achievements of Vancouver Island’s T’Sou-ke Nation directly confirm the amazing potential for local solar power:
http://www.tsoukenation.com/
Other recent developments:
--The city of Kimberely, BC, began generating revenue in February from a huge solar farm:
http://www.journalofcommerce.com/Technology/News/2015/1/Western-Canadas-largest-solar-farm-earns-its-place-in-the-sun-1005293W/
--A PV array was recently installed on the Salt Spring Island high school, revenues from which will fund scholarships for graduates:
http://www.bcsea.org/solar-pride-on-salt-spring%E2%80%99s-school
-- A major Vancouver roofing company has begun solar panel installation.
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/technology/roofers+into+solar+panel+business/10824070/story.html
There is much more, but I’ll close with one last bit of interesting news: the town of Banff, Alberta just launched a small, innovative program to promote solar power:
http://www.rmoutlook.com/article/20150226/RMO0801/302269990/-1/rmo/banff-harnesses-power-of-the-sun
We are eager to see you next Saturday, and hear your thoughts: there are number of solar possibilities—all still in the early conceptual stage—for us to consider for our own wonderful community!
With great thanks and looking forward. ... Joanna
Our first public meeting will take place in one week! I’ve pasted the announcement below.
First, however, I need to alert you to a recent set back: the March 5th announcement by Canada Border Services Agency of steep import tariffs on PV panels and components manufactured in China (which comprise the vast majority of Canadian installations). It’s not yet known how these duties will translate in to panel costs—our contractors should have more information by the time of the meeting—but prices will certainly increase.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/sima-lmsi/i-e/ad1405/ad1405-i14-np-eng.html
This development puts us out of synch with the overall global trends. A recent report from one of the biggest banks in the Middle East states that solar power is now cheaper than oil, even at $10/barrel.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/even-at-10barrel-oil-cant-match-solar-on-cost-37540
In the US, average system prices have dropped 53% since 2010,
http://ecowatch.com/2015/03/10/rhone-resch-solar-shattering-year/
and US federal policy includes solar investment tax credits.
http://www.seia.org/policy/finance-tax/solar-investment-tax-credit
***
Solar power on the Sunshine Coast – public meeting to be held
Around the world, utilization of solar power has been growing at an exponential rate, as efficiency of photovoltaic panels improves and costs decrease. In BC, solar powered communities are a real, viable and urgently necessary alternative to the Site C Dam, as well as the Northern Gateway and Keystone XL pipelines. Sunshine Coast residents are eager to investigate options: several homes already have rooftop arrays of pv panels installed, most grid-tied, some off-grid
The Gibsons Green Team and Sunshine Coast in Transition are hosting a public meeting on Saturday, March 21, 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Gibsons & Area Community Centre to explore the development of a local Solar Cooperative. It will provide an opportunity to discuss exciting possibilities for solar projects on the Coast, have a look at pv panels and ask questions of electrical contractors.
Lee Ann Johnson, former Gibsons Councillor with decades of experience in the co-op sector, will facilitate the meeting. Joanna Zilsel will provide a summary of current solar initiatives in BC, outline challenges to overcome, and highlight potential solar options for our community. Julie Clark, SCRD Sustainability & Education Coordinator, will give a ‘big picture’ overview of how a solar cooperative aligns with the SCRD ‘We Envision’ sustainability plan. Matt Hutchings, Dennis Olson and Wayne Slingerland - local electrical contractors with decades of experience in alternative energy systems – will discuss current issues and answer questions.
Everyone is welcome!
***
Below are a few updates and news clips from various sources. I’ve included them in the hope that they’ll inspire questions and ideas for discussion at the meeting.
Michael Klein’s recent first-hand report from Hawaii underscores the need for serious government engagement/subsidies if wide-spread renewable energy adoption is to occur:
Dear Joanna. Please share with group.
Bonnie and I are on vacation in The Big Island where solar panels are everywhere, small homes to large factories. Panels run from two to three to 100s per house or factory.
Here in Hawaii these are subsidized by government. Here the home owner can generate so much electricity that the meter runs backwards and in two years the owner gets to pay off his investment in the panels.
In the Sunshine Coast significant electricity is generated in the summer, spring and early fall. Yet even in winter some electricity is generated. If the Coop is just about getting a good price for panels it will not be enough. The SRCD needs to become involved and BC Hydro as well. For a house like ours on the Straight it will cost $20,000 today without subsidy to install. We could not afford it even with cheaper panels. It will take a much greater engagement with government to allow it all to become affordable.
Aloha ... Michael
On this theme, I just learned that the town of Lancaster, California is fast approaching ‘Net Zero Energy’ (generating as much energy as it consumes), through the mandated installation of PV panels on government buildings and schools, as well as all new residential buildings. The program was launched several years ago by the town’s conservative, Republican mayor!
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/lancaster-calif-focuses-on-becoming-solar-capital-of-universe.html?pagewanted=all
There is a rapidly increasing number of such towns and cities around the world, not all of them in a ‘sun belt’. The truly inspirational town of Freiburg, Germany—which gets LESS solar irradiance every single month of the year than Gibsons—is a beautiful example of what can happen when there is visionary town planning. Freiburg has, among many other exemplary features, at least sixty ‘plus-energy’ homes (i.e. they produce more energy than they consume), generating income for their owners.
http://www.ecotippingpoints.org/our-stories/indepth/germany-freiburg-sustainability-transportation-energy-green-economy.html
I used the Solar Irradiance Calculator below to compare relative insolation values between Gibsons and Freiburg (selecting south-facing panels for both towns.)
http://solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-irradiance.html
--The remarkable achievements of Vancouver Island’s T’Sou-ke Nation directly confirm the amazing potential for local solar power:
http://www.tsoukenation.com/
Other recent developments:
--The city of Kimberely, BC, began generating revenue in February from a huge solar farm:
http://www.journalofcommerce.com/Technology/News/2015/1/Western-Canadas-largest-solar-farm-earns-its-place-in-the-sun-1005293W/
--A PV array was recently installed on the Salt Spring Island high school, revenues from which will fund scholarships for graduates:
http://www.bcsea.org/solar-pride-on-salt-spring%E2%80%99s-school
-- A major Vancouver roofing company has begun solar panel installation.
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/technology/roofers+into+solar+panel+business/10824070/story.html
There is much more, but I’ll close with one last bit of interesting news: the town of Banff, Alberta just launched a small, innovative program to promote solar power:
http://www.rmoutlook.com/article/20150226/RMO0801/302269990/-1/rmo/banff-harnesses-power-of-the-sun
We are eager to see you next Saturday, and hear your thoughts: there are number of solar possibilities—all still in the early conceptual stage—for us to consider for our own wonderful community!
With great thanks and looking forward. ... Joanna
Here Comes the Sun: Solar Co-op Meeting set! Mar 2, 2015 (#3)
Hello friends!
We’re delighted to announce that our Solar Co-op public meeting/workshop has finally been organized!
Saturday, March 21, 1:30 – 4 pm, Gibsons Recreation Centre
I’ll be sending out details shortly, but wanted to let everyone know the date right away so that you can all mark your calendars and start spreading the word! It’s going to be an amazing, informative and energizing gathering!
More to follow soon.
With great thanks and looking forward! .... Joanna
We’re delighted to announce that our Solar Co-op public meeting/workshop has finally been organized!
Saturday, March 21, 1:30 – 4 pm, Gibsons Recreation Centre
I’ll be sending out details shortly, but wanted to let everyone know the date right away so that you can all mark your calendars and start spreading the word! It’s going to be an amazing, informative and energizing gathering!
More to follow soon.
With great thanks and looking forward! .... Joanna
Solar Co-op Update Jan 2, 2015 (#2)
Hello friends,
This is another general update to keep everyone (there are currently 137 of us on the interest list) informed of basic developments in the solar co-op project.
Since the screenings of ‘Powerful: Energy for Everyone’, our small seed group has continued to do some research and establish connections in the community, and a number of exciting possibilities are emerging. We plan to hold a workshop/general meeting in early Spring, at which time a full discussion and Q&A will take place, and anyone interested in joining a working group will be whole-heartedly welcomed. For now, here’s a broad overview of developments. The links provide an opportunity to explore various aspects in greater detail, if you’re interested. ( tw: for those who haven’t yet seen the film, it’s available at the Sechelt Library—highly recommended!).
--There are at least three electrical contractors on the Coast with experience in alternative energy systems who have expressed a willingness to participate in the Co-op: Dennis Olson, (Olson Electric), Matt Hutchings (Clear Energy Solutions) and Wayne Slingerland (Suncoast Electrical Management and Industry Consulting). We are incredibly fortunate to have these awesome experts in our community: between them they have many years of hands-on experience with not only photovoltaics (on and off grid) but also wind turbines and solar thermal.
--For those of you who are interested in simply installing PV panels on your own property, we have a terrific opportunity to purchase panels in bulk, at considerable savings. Efficiencies keep going up, prices are still going down (see the Dec 17th article in Sustainable Business http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/26060?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Enewsletter&utm_campaign=E-Newsletter%202012 ), and with a volume discount, it really feels like the time is right to act.
--We are convinced that first and foremost it’s important to conserve energy, and will be encouraging everyone to think in those terms. Along with bulk purchases of PV panels, we have the opportunity to bulk-buy items such as LED lights (which have also improved dramatically and seen significant price reductions in the past few years). Solar thermal (for domestic hot water and hydronic heating) as well as ductless heat pumps are other items that may be available for bulk purchase, depending on interest.
--BC Hydro now runs a program enabling individuals and businesses to generate up to 100Kw of power and sell it back to the grid. https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/acquiring_power/current_offerings/net_metering.html
This means that ‘Community Solar Gardens’ – one of our original visions – are now a real option. In theory, CSGs could provide an opportunity for people who aren’t in a position to buy panels for their own home to purchase one or more panels for a CSG installation, and get a pro-rated portion of the annual pay-back. Over a period of years, the investment could be recouped and eventually surpassed: a truly ‘green’ investment. To get a sense for the general workings of a solar garden on a much, much larger scale, see the Jan 1st article from Clean Technica http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/01/uks-biggest-solar-farm-now-connected-grid/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=420decd5fc-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-420decd5fc-332029273
(For those who would like to read a more detailed discussion of the need to conserve energy first, as well as a pragmatic financial analysis, I’ve taken the liberty of including at the very bottom of this message an informative note from Mike Isbrucker of Alternative Electric in Duncan, BC. )
--Glen McClughan of Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living, who has helped bring to fruition so many wonderful community initiatives, has expressed a preliminary interest in the co-op, citing the potential for panels at Persephone Brewery or on a SCACL building.
--Collaboration with schools—including possibly Capilano University—in green-tech-trade training, with the possibility of tapping in to job training grants, is another exciting possibility.
http://www.coastreporter.net/news/local-news/cap-u-a-source-for-job-training-1.1663686
--On the ‘down side’: the issue of negative environmental impacts of manufacturing PV panels and components (mostly in China) has been raised, and needs to be seriously examined so that when the time comes to purchase, we can make the very best choices possible. See attachment for some details.
That’s a lot of information, and it doesn’t even cover everything we’ve been up to! Please take in as much or little as suits you, but the more knowledge you have when you attend the workshop, the better: we are eager for everyone to contribute ideas, questions and concerns. We have a great line up of speakers (details to follow), and are genuinely excited about the possibilities.
I’ll be away until mid-February, and others in the seed group will also be in and out of town. Therefore, if you’d like more information during that time period, please hit ‘reply all’: that way you’ll be sure to catch one of us home.
With great thanks for your enthusiasm and interest, and looking forward to a wonderful 2015. ... Joanna
This is another general update to keep everyone (there are currently 137 of us on the interest list) informed of basic developments in the solar co-op project.
Since the screenings of ‘Powerful: Energy for Everyone’, our small seed group has continued to do some research and establish connections in the community, and a number of exciting possibilities are emerging. We plan to hold a workshop/general meeting in early Spring, at which time a full discussion and Q&A will take place, and anyone interested in joining a working group will be whole-heartedly welcomed. For now, here’s a broad overview of developments. The links provide an opportunity to explore various aspects in greater detail, if you’re interested. ( tw: for those who haven’t yet seen the film, it’s available at the Sechelt Library—highly recommended!).
--There are at least three electrical contractors on the Coast with experience in alternative energy systems who have expressed a willingness to participate in the Co-op: Dennis Olson, (Olson Electric), Matt Hutchings (Clear Energy Solutions) and Wayne Slingerland (Suncoast Electrical Management and Industry Consulting). We are incredibly fortunate to have these awesome experts in our community: between them they have many years of hands-on experience with not only photovoltaics (on and off grid) but also wind turbines and solar thermal.
--For those of you who are interested in simply installing PV panels on your own property, we have a terrific opportunity to purchase panels in bulk, at considerable savings. Efficiencies keep going up, prices are still going down (see the Dec 17th article in Sustainable Business http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/26060?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Enewsletter&utm_campaign=E-Newsletter%202012 ), and with a volume discount, it really feels like the time is right to act.
--We are convinced that first and foremost it’s important to conserve energy, and will be encouraging everyone to think in those terms. Along with bulk purchases of PV panels, we have the opportunity to bulk-buy items such as LED lights (which have also improved dramatically and seen significant price reductions in the past few years). Solar thermal (for domestic hot water and hydronic heating) as well as ductless heat pumps are other items that may be available for bulk purchase, depending on interest.
--BC Hydro now runs a program enabling individuals and businesses to generate up to 100Kw of power and sell it back to the grid. https://www.bchydro.com/energy-in-bc/acquiring_power/current_offerings/net_metering.html
This means that ‘Community Solar Gardens’ – one of our original visions – are now a real option. In theory, CSGs could provide an opportunity for people who aren’t in a position to buy panels for their own home to purchase one or more panels for a CSG installation, and get a pro-rated portion of the annual pay-back. Over a period of years, the investment could be recouped and eventually surpassed: a truly ‘green’ investment. To get a sense for the general workings of a solar garden on a much, much larger scale, see the Jan 1st article from Clean Technica http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/01/uks-biggest-solar-farm-now-connected-grid/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=420decd5fc-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-420decd5fc-332029273
(For those who would like to read a more detailed discussion of the need to conserve energy first, as well as a pragmatic financial analysis, I’ve taken the liberty of including at the very bottom of this message an informative note from Mike Isbrucker of Alternative Electric in Duncan, BC. )
--Glen McClughan of Sunshine Coast Association for Community Living, who has helped bring to fruition so many wonderful community initiatives, has expressed a preliminary interest in the co-op, citing the potential for panels at Persephone Brewery or on a SCACL building.
--Collaboration with schools—including possibly Capilano University—in green-tech-trade training, with the possibility of tapping in to job training grants, is another exciting possibility.
http://www.coastreporter.net/news/local-news/cap-u-a-source-for-job-training-1.1663686
--On the ‘down side’: the issue of negative environmental impacts of manufacturing PV panels and components (mostly in China) has been raised, and needs to be seriously examined so that when the time comes to purchase, we can make the very best choices possible. See attachment for some details.
That’s a lot of information, and it doesn’t even cover everything we’ve been up to! Please take in as much or little as suits you, but the more knowledge you have when you attend the workshop, the better: we are eager for everyone to contribute ideas, questions and concerns. We have a great line up of speakers (details to follow), and are genuinely excited about the possibilities.
I’ll be away until mid-February, and others in the seed group will also be in and out of town. Therefore, if you’d like more information during that time period, please hit ‘reply all’: that way you’ll be sure to catch one of us home.
With great thanks for your enthusiasm and interest, and looking forward to a wonderful 2015. ... Joanna
