The latest reading from the Mauna Loa observatory shows March at 397.34ppm.
As April is generally the highest reading of the year and is always higher than March, indication are that it will reach 400ppm either this year or next.
The important point is that acceleration is continuing — there is no place to go but up.
Here is the latest chart from CO2Now.org
Be afraid. Be very afraid. -js
from 5:45-7pm at Satisfied, 301 W. Broughton (second floor). In addition to the postcard campaign locally to warn owners of commercial and industrial buildings that a 50% first year depreciation bonus ends Dec. 31, I’m putting together a script for a national whiteboard animation that Solar Champions of Savannah will make available free to any solar organization or installer in the country. The first pass will be discussed at the meeting. We can get it out there by Earth Day — but your views are important. Make the effort to join us. — js
For the month ending April 7, Yahoo reports that searches for solar panels increased by 36 percent from the month prior.
It also found that searches on the cost of the panels are up a whopping 335 percent from the same period a year ago. (That’s not a typo!!)
Users in New York, Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington DC are heavily performing searches on the website, but Los Angeles tops the list of cities showing interest in solar panels by far. It has 25 percent more searches than the rest of the
metro areas tracked by Yahoo combined.
There are some innovations in solar cells coming out of the lab that have the potential to raise efficiences of solar panels to over 30%, but without any signficant increase in costs. I suspect this game changer will start seeing some pilot projects
as early as next year — and, as they say, “we’re off to the races”. Don’t be a bystander – be part of the action.
The next meeting of Solar Champions will be held from 5:45-7pm Tuesday, Mar 19 at Satisfied, 301 E. Broughton, in the spacious 2nd floor area. Management likes us – and we return the favor. Food is good, service is pleasant. We should have drawings from Sav Tech on hand for our major educational project — with the hope that a prototype will be ready by Earth Day. I’ll have more postcards available — these warn commercial property owners that a special first year 50% bonus depreciation expires at the end of this year. Lots to talk about. Call me if you have any questions: 912-233-4288 or email jack@solarcitiesusa.com
We had a very lively group at the January meeting. A number of good ideas. While there were some good things about the Flip Flop Tki Bar – the noise level was too high. So for the next meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 5:45-7pm we are going to try Satisfied, 301 West Broughton – meeting space is on the second floor.
I’ve been talking to Lester Wiggins of Savannah Tech about an interactive display that will show how siting, panel angle, and shadows affect solar generated eletricity. I should have some sketches and really need your input.
As you probably don’t know, the 50% f irst year bonus depreciation for commercial solar installations was renewed through Dec. 31, 2013. That may well be the last renewal given the mood of Congress. I prepared a postcard notice to send to builders, developers, architects and should have them at the meeting. We need to identify companies and decision makers. The combination of lowered cost of solar panels, 30% federal tax credit, 5-year accelerated depreciation, and streamlined installation with the first-year bonus means that many installations will pay for themselves in as little as 5 years, with free electricity for the next 20.
All this and an update on the efforts in the Legislature to bring more solar to Georgia
Make a note in your calendar and come join us.
As a bill has been re-introduced to allow solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) is now beginning to wnd its way through the Georgia Legislature, there is some misunderstanding of what a PPA means. I hope the following helps clarify the issue:
A solar company works with a home owner who has sufficient unobstructed roof space for a solar installtion and makes the following offer: we will install, maintain and service a solar system at no cost to you. We will enter into a long-term supply contract and we will guarantee that you will pay less than the utility charges for electricity. Our system is integrated with the utility grid, so that you will not be without power on cloudy days or at night (except for a utility power outage). You save money. You have more long-term predictable costs for electricity. You cut electricity consumption from the utility leading to a lower carbon footprint. We benefit from current tax credits. — js
Following is a letter to the editor of the Savannah Morning News that was never published:
The year 2013 should be a great year for solar energy in Savannah and the Low Country.
First, the price of solar modules continues to drop. For example, a 5kW system, enough to provide over 60% of the electricity for the average home, is down to $15,000 installed.
Second, the Federal tax credit of 30% is still in place. Bringing the after tax cost of the system to $10,500.
Third, local banks are providing low interest home equity loans that can be paid off through savings on electricity.
Fourth, commercial sales should really start to pick up as the additional 50% bonus first year depreciation that expired in Dec. 2012 has just been renewed for the balance of 2013. This is on top of the existing 5-year accelerated depreciation already in place. For many commercial installations that means a payoff in around 5 years, with free electricity for the next 20 years.
Fifth, Georgia Power is committed to purchase a substantial amount of solar generated electricity at a modest premium of about 13-cents per kWh.
Sixth, there are millions of square feet of existing sun-drenched roof space, in addition to more millions either under construction or planned – warehouses, libraries, big-box retailers like Whole Foods, expansions at Gulfstream, hotels, schools, medical facilities – that can take advantage of substantial savings.
Let’s all start singing “Here Comes the Sun”.
It is now possible to see exactley how solar power is being generated in Savannah, Chatham County and the Low Country. Paul Wolff of Tybee Island, in cooperation with Savannah’s Solar Champions, is allowing us to peek at the performance of his rooftop system.
Go to http://siteapp.fatspaniel.net/siteapp/simpleView.jsf?eid=506540
and you will see the amount of electricity being produced in real time.
A new report from GlobalData reports that investments in solar power in 2011 accounted for 49% of the $209 billion global renewable energy industry, compared to the once dominant wind sector, which claimed 34%. Biopower, geothermal and small hydro investments made up the remaining 17%.
Emerging markets across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Eastern Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia plan to grow their renewable energy production with heavy emphasis on solar power. It makes sense that in the solar rich areas MENA nations UAE and Algeria were singled out. India’s National Solar Mission is set to drive investment there, and the Malaysian government sets a renewable energy target of more than 3,140 megawatts by 2020, with solar power expected to account for one-third of the total capacity.
Why this explosion in solar power’s popularity? The glut of PV modules that hit the market last year due to over production lowered prices and vastly increasied capacity installations. Cost of generation now approaches grid parity in certain locations and is attracting a wealth of asset financing investments.
GlobalData pinpoints Japan, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, and in particular, China, as major solar equipment manufacturers in the years to come.
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Let’s hope that American know-how – particularly in the area of nanotechnology – can stimulate production of significantly more efficient solar panels at highly competitive prices, so the US does not fall behind as a solar power equipment producer. — js
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