ASES Chapter News
California Moves Ahead. The California Public Utilities Commission has taken up where the California Legislature left off earlier this year regarding the California Solar Initiative. Read more here (160KB PDF download).

NorCal Releases Solar Guide. NorCal Solar offers its Solar Energy Resouce Guide for PDF download in three large files. This guide is full of information on PV, passive solar design, solar hot water and much more. Download the files from the NorCal Solar website: www.norcalsolar.org.

CRES Announces New Program. The Colorado Renewable Energy Society announces the Energy Star “Change a Light Program.” Find more information at www.cres-energy.org/clips/clips_05Oct12_li.html.

Minnesota Announces Banner Year. The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society had a banner year. Find the details here (44KB PDF download).

Mississippi Back on Track. The Mississippi Solar Energy Society has been on hiatus for the last few months but Darrel Bracey is back from the Antarctic and the organization is moving forward. Read more here (72KB PDF download).

MREA Offers RE Site Assessor Certification. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association is now offering certification for individuals and businesses that conduct site assessments for PV, wind, and solar domestic hot water systems. Certification documents that site assessors have completed training requirements, skills testing, and a written exam. To learn more visit www.the-mrea.org/resources_assessors.php.

NESEA Conference Approaches. The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association announces plans for the 2006 Building Energy Conference and Trade Show. For details, access www.buildingenergy.nesea.org.

Looking for a Job? NESEA and TXSES are both looking for new executive directors. Visit the ASES website at www.ases.org and click on "Employment Opportunities" for more information.

NMSEA Releases Calendar. The New Mexico Solar Energy Association is offering a 2006 Renewable Energy Calendar. Visit http://www.nmsea.org/Retail/calendar06.htm for details.

N.C. Finishes 2005 Strong. North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association had a remarkable year as well. Find out more here (80KB PDF download).

Oregon Releases Incentive Information. The Solar Energy Association of Oregon offers a fact sheet on incentive programs from the Energy Trust of Oregon. http://www.solaror.org/ftp/ETOfacts.pdf

Chapters Publish Newsletters. Several ASES chapters publish periodic newsletters that are available on line. Below are some recent issues:
• December newsletter from the Arizona Solar Energy Association (96KB PDF download)
• Heliographs from the Illinois Solar Energy Association http://www.illinoissolar.org/newsletters/Heliographs-2005-December.pdf
• The inaugural newsletter of the Long Island Solar Energy Society, the new NESEA subchapter (60KB PDF download)
• The latest news from the Maine Solar Energy Association (312KB PDF download)
• Green Energy Ohio’s Winter 2005 newsletter http://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=642



ASES News
ASES Seeks Volunteers. ASES is seeking volunteers, tour organizers and home/building owners to grow the next National Solar Tour. Help the National Solar Tour expand to meet the public’s growing need for information on renewable and sustainable energy. Have a great time and be part of the solution while helping neighbors reduce heating and energy costs, become more self-reliant, and protect the environment. New tour locations more than 20 miles from existing tours are especially needed (see 2005 tours at www.nationalsolartour.org for current tour locations). The next National Solar Tour will be on/around Saturday, October 7. For more information, to volunteer, offer to organize a new tour, or submit your home/building for considered on a tour, send an email with your location and contact information to the National Solar Tour manager, Mike DiGrazia, at tour@ases.org.

ASES Advocates for RE. ASES has been actively involved in advocacy efforts in three states and at the Federal level during the last weeks. The big news is the $3.2 billion allocation for a million solar roofs program in California. $2.8 billion from the California Public Utilities Commission and $400 million from the California Energy Commission — all funds for this program are from ratepayers. This will lead to 3000 megawatts of PV during the next 11 years. Vote Solar, ASES and NorCal Solar worked collaboratively with others to launch an advocacy effort that provided 43,000 messages to the California Public Utilities Commission in support of this program. For more information, access www.votesolar.org and www.renewableenergyaccess.com.

Another large initiative that is in the works is in New Jersey. Here the current RPS provides 4% renewable portfolio standard by 2008 with a 1% solar carve out. The new RPS proposal is for 20% by 2020 and a 4% solar set aside. This would lead to 1500 megawatts of solar. ASES has encouraged its New Jersey members to support this effort through utilizing a link at www.renewableenergyaccess.com. ASES is also organizing an effort in Illinois to help protect the systems benefit fund monies from further re-allocation to the general fund.

On the federal level, ASES supported Congressman Ferguson’s current effort to extend the federal solar tax credits (solar electric and solar thermal) from sun setting in 2007. The extension is proposed through 2011. It is expected that this amendment will not be considered in the current shortened session of Congress.




Educational Opportunities
• Ken Sheinkopf is a long-time ASES member and national newspaper columnist whose column, "The Home Energy Source," appears regularly in Knight Ridder syndicated newspapers. He has recently agreed to share his columns with ASES. You can find them posted on the ASES website at http://www.ases.org/askken/dates.htm and published in SOLAR TODAY magazine's "Ask Ken" column (www.solartoday.org). If his column does not appear in your local Knight Ridder newspaper, contact them and ask them to add it.

• Solar Energy International, Tucson Electric Power and the Solar Store are offering a 6-day, hands-on Solar Electric Design & Installation workshop in Tucson in February 2006. Visit www.solarenergy.org/workshops/location.php?id=58 for details on how your can participate.

• The Interstate Renewable Energy Council is a nonprofit organization that supports market-oriented services targeted at education, coordination, procurement, the adoption and implementation of uniform guidelines and standards, workforce development, and consumer protection. Find out about one of their latest efforts here (52KB PDF download).

• More and more states and recently, even the federal government, are offering incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy home projects. To educate yourself on what may be available to you, visit the DSIRE web site at http://www.dsireusa.org/index.cfm?&CurrentPageID=3.

Related articles
• From Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/personalfinance/taxes/free_forbes/2005/1212/192.html
• From Renewableenergyaccess.com: November 22, 2005. High Home Heating Prices: Issues and Solutions http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story;jsessionid=am0GT0wE8Slh?id=39679A



A Peek at SOLAR TODAY
SOLAR TODAY Feature
In the November/December issue of SOLAR TODAY magazine, Dan Bihn explained how European pellet boiler technology can make sense for applications large and small in "Wood Heating for All?". Read the article at www.solartoday.org/2005/nov_dec05/wood_heating.htm.

"View From Washington"
In his last column for SOLAR TODAY, Joel Stronberg makes the connection between current energy costs to the consumer and the need for even more emphasis on the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Click here to download the article (48KB PDF).



News From the States and Cities
• Renewableenergyaccess.com, December 5, 2005. Colorado Could be the Next Solar State. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=40089

• The New York Times, December 11, 2005 by Anthony DePalma. It Never Sleeps, but It’s Learned to Douse the Lights. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/nyregion/11efficiency.html?ex=1291957200&en=24658a0ae5a6cdd4&ei=
5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss.

• Refocus, December 7, 2005. Capital of Texas becomes first city to pledge 50% from renewables. http://www.sparksdata.co.uk/refocus/redesign/showdoc.asp?docid=24348086&accnum=1



Politics and Policy
• LAtimes.com, December 6, 2005. State Looks to Lead Pollution Fight, by Miguel Bustillo. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-warming6dec06,1,5626098.story?coll=la-news-environment

• Renewableenergyaccess.com, December 5, 2005. “The Human Right to Renewable Energy” Means “Energy Independence for All”. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=40096

• Renewableenergyaccess.com, December 6, 2005. Congressional Testimony Reflects Solar Decathlon. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=40156



Global Climate Change News
• Washingtonpost.com, December 11, 2005 by Juliet Eilperin. U.S. Won’t Join in Binding Climate Talks. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/10/AR2005121001405.html

• The New York Times, December 8, 2005 by Andrew C. Revkin. U.S. Resists New Targets for Curbing Emissions. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/08/science/earth/08climate.html?ex=1291698000&en=
c6f5caa4b50eca34&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

• Rocky Mountain News, December 13, 2005, by Jim Erickson. Earth's uneasy breathing measured on Niwot Ridge.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_4310949,00.html



International News
• Swissinfo, December 7, 2005. Football stadium receives solar prize. http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=41&sid=6297486



Hot Solar Projects
• Solarbuzz.com, December 12, 2005. Atlantic City, NJ, USA: Renewable Project Inaugurated at Wastewater Treatment Plant. http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsNAPR589.htm



New or Innovative Products and Applications
• Renewableenergyaccess.com, December7, 2005. Nepal: Solar Tukis Bring “Light for All”, by Mallika Aryla. http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=40172

• SeaCoastonline.com, December 12, 2005. Solar Breakthrough by Michael McCord. http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/12082005/business/76971.htm

• Renewableenergyaccess.com, December 7, 2005. Research Advances Hydrogen Fuel Production. http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=40207