In April I started working for Power Trip Energy Corp. In July we put an 8.38 kW solar PV array installation on the roof of our house. David and I were initially thinking of ourselves, really. We love the idea of getting energy for free and in putting a solar system on our roof we understand the economic benefit to our household’s bottom line but in my heart of hearts I wanted to believe we were making a difference in the bigger picture. I want to see that we are having a positive impact on the bad news that surrounds us on a daily basis.

In this very green minded corner of the world we worry about climate change, forest fires, drought and severe storms. We worry about the future availability of resources and the equity of their management and dis

tribution. We conserve, we recycle, take our own bags shopping where we buy local and organic. We understand the true costs of goods and services but this is not enough. We all know it isn’t enough.

Like many of you, I followed the recent story of the grieving mother orca with a heavy heart and a morbid fascination. The many conversations surrounding the news reflected my feelings that this story is yet another sign of what will be more disastrous news to come for all species. The unhealthy conditions of what should be pristine waters of the Puget Sound fills me with embarrassment and overwhelms me with thoughts of helplessness but this recent ecological hit so close to home has stiffened my resolve to do more. My commitment to clean energy and to the removal of Hydroelectric dams is high on my priority list and I’m hoping to share information and learn from anyone who is willing to converse on the subject.

We have always believed ourselves lucky to have such an abundant, affordable resource for energy in the form of Hydroelectricity, but upon closer examination the unforeseen and true cost of cheap electricity become more apparent. There are studies showing that in addition to the dams impeding the passage of fish there is also damage to the habitat upstream effecting many species. The river’s temperature is altered, oxygen levels are changed, land being cleared and flooded causes methane gasses to be released, contributing to global warming.

Rising greenhouse gas emissions and a warming world affect the entire hydrological cycle—surface and ground water, glaciers, precipitation, runoff and evaporation. Shifting precipitation patterns and increased droughts are changing water levels in rivers and behind hydro dams.

The solar PV array we installed affords me a small bit of relief from the guilt of our modern life. With the on-line reporting that came with our system I see an accumulation of numbers I can feel good about. The system tells me the amount of energy our system produced and the equivalent of miles not driven that equates to, the amount of CO2 not pumped into the atmosphere. The coal not burned, etc. These number are not exact, and a little generic or presumptive – but none the less I plan to celebrate this as a success.

Some of you may argue that to produce the solar panels was not without pollution or without harvesting of precious resources. Which is true, but I can also rest a bit easier in the knowledge that the solar PV array we installed was manufactured and certified as the most sustainable available. The manufacturer; SunPower is a B-Corp! Look it up if you are unfamiliar, it is something worth knowing more about – https://bcorporation.net/

Maybe you’ll make the argument that it’s expensive – you’re not wrong and we are not wealthy. Here’s how we made it work within our budget. We took advantage of a low interest loan specific to energy efficiency upgrades through Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union. Our plan includes applying the incentive money coming back to us; 30% federal tax credit on the cost of the system and the annual payment we will receive from the Washington State incentive program at $0.14 per kilowatt produced, to the loan allowing us to pay it off in a shorter time. We will also see a reduction in our monthly electricity bills as we will get to use the power we generate first, the excess will be purchased by our local public utility at the current market rate, so our monthly utility bill will be reduced and that previously budgeted money can be applied to the loan too. We anticipate paying the 10-year loan off in 8 years without ever being stressed by the monthly payments.

I hope that you will agree that as humans we need to examine our lifestyle and the modern conveniences we all feel entitled to. We need to see our individual responsibilities in the endeavor to bring about the change we want to see. We must recognize our individual opportunities to participate in the solutions, celebrate the successful changes we make and continue to reach-out and bring others on-board.

How can it happen if you and I are not making it happen?

Solar is Sexy, Financing Is Not Sexy

Unless you are in the business of helping people put a solar array on their homes, you might not think much about some of the other things that have to line up for these projects to make sense.  The technology itself is fairly straightforward, but some other significant factors that support these projects are:

• Utility policy and the state laws that allow or prevent obstruction of solar installation
• Natl. Electric Code that supports solar photovoltaic (PV) equipment and provides guidance for safe installations
• Federal tax policy recognizing the value of clean energy
• State laws preventing HOA’s from interfering with the installation of solar
• Sensible loan packages in the case someone needs outside financing

Here in Washington State, we are blessed with a confluence of these factors that all come together making the installation of solar PV relatively attractive for our clients.  At this moment I would especially like to give appreciation to two local credit unions for putting together some very low interest energy efficiency financing programs, and the WA State Dept of Commerce, which has implemented a program enabling these loans in partnership with the credit unions.

Until a few years ago, we did not have any attractive credit options to recommend for our clients.  The only option our state’s solar industry had was consumer credit along the lines of how you might finance an appliance, perhaps from GE Capital, and those loans were not anything we would ever recommend to our clients.  Within the last couple of years however, we now have some excellent low interest rate, long term financing designed specifically for these projects and some of the other incentives they receive.

Both Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union and Generations Credit Union have received high reviews from our clients that have used these loans.  The rates are low and the terms are variable to work with your needs.  The key is that each of these loans is supported through a loan guarantee from WA Dept of Commerce, and each is structured to work specifically with other available incentives in order to maximize the economic benefits of the solar electricity being made on your roof.

At this point, nearly 1/3 of our customers are using financing from one of these two credit unions.  Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union has let us know they are writing solar loans for solar at the pace of of $2 Million per month.  That is a lot of solar here in Washington State, and that is a big turn on.

So for some of us solar geeks, financing actually can be sexy.  Links to each credit union’s program is below. 

https://www.psccu.org/Borrow/Energy-Smart-Loans.aspx

https://www.generationscreditunion.com/solar-cash-flow-loan.htm

On Jan 10th we were surprised to receive a letter from Clallam PUD indicating that on January 8th, the PUD Board of Commissioners resolved to discontinue retail net metering as of February 1st.  This action appears to have been taken without notice nor with request for input comment from the public, and the resolution does not appear to be on the agenda for the meeting.  http://powertripenergy.com/wp-content/uploads/1-8-18-Commissioners-PreAgenda-FINAL-1.pdf

Last month in Bellevue, leaders in the state’s solar industry gathered along with legislators, regulators, and solar advocates for the annual Washington Solar Summit.  This year was notable for several reasons including much discussion of the transition from the legacy incentive program to the new and improved incentive program, a review of the status of net metering across the 60+ utility territories in Washington state, and a keynote speech from Gov Inslee, a supporter of renewable energy during his entire political career.

The state’s small-scale renewable energy incentive program, originally passed in 2005, has been successful in raising awareness, and recognizing the benefits of distributed generation, but had reached the end of its useful life as a program due to its 2020 sunset date.  The new incentive program will provide certainty for another few years while keeping the state’s overall investment low and making sure the state is getting the best results for its support of the industry.  The downside to the new program is that it appears the overall caps are low enough that the local solar industry will experience two very busy years until the program closes.  When programs open and close and dramatically affect demand suddenly, it presents a challenge to businesses that serve that market.  We are happy to forecast however that the new program could result in an additional 100 solar homes each in Jefferson and Clallam Counties in the next two years.

While the state’s new incentive programs are encouraging another wave of distributed solar installations, the state’s net metering law is outdated and does not provide the necessary support for the potential new projects which have now been incentivized.  Updating the state’s Net Energy Metering laws is the most important issue the solar industry faces, and with over 60 utilities statewide now left to develop their own policies, the utility industry would also benefit from stronger state guidance.

Gov. Inslee spoke about the importance of renewable energy from a climate change perspective, but also highlighted the economic benefits to the state of being a leader in clean energy, in terms of jobs and high tech facilities like the REC Silicon facility in Moses Lake.  While federal policy remains unpredictable, at the state level, Gov Inslee has provided leadership on this issue through partnership with several other states in the United States Climate Alliance.  More information is available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Climate_Alliance

With the brief moment in which I had the Governor’s ear, I expressed support for carbon pricing as a way to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets.   It makes economic sense to me to tax things we wish to discourage, like carbon emissions, rather than taxing things we want to encourage, like individual income and home ownership.

Solar Agent

Be an agent of solar change and help clients navigate their choices to determine whether and how to put grid-tied pv on their house.

You will have technical sales expertise, a driver’s license and clean driving record, and a desire to help our clients understand and make choices to harvest solar energy on their homes and businesses.  You will be joining a small company and working alongside the owners.  You will professionally represent us with integrity, positive attitude, and excellent communications skills utilized for coordinating with the public, our clients, utilities and government regulators, and other departments within the company.  You will be brutally honest, have excellent math and writing skills, be in prime physical shape, and comfortable using a 32’ extension ladder to reach second story roofs.  You will use company laptop and vehicle.  You will live in or around Port Townsend.

Specific tasks include:

• educating and qualifying customers over the phone and in person
• site analysis using ladder, hand tools, compass, camera, and cool high-tech shade analysis tools
• conceptual design and communication of financial cost, incentives, savings, and financing options during site visit
• detailed system design including performance estimates, requires good math skills including trigonometry and basic understanding of electricity and physics
• preparation of proposals, contracts using Word, Excel, SketchUp and solar design software
• answering questions in order to close the sales
• creating detailed project binders for the installation crew, including basic electrical calculations and one-line drawings
• creating basic permit applications using manufacturer’s engineered specs, shepherding applications through various jurisdictions

Additional marketing tasks may include graphic design of marketing materials, writing press releases, event coordination, and public speaking at indoor and outdoor events.

We provide a competitive compensation and benefits package including health insurance, phone stipend, paid sick and vacation time, paid and unpaid holidays throughout the year, quarterly bonuses based on profitability, 3% company IRA matching contribution, and continuing education funding.

Send resume and brief statement of your thoughts regarding renewable energy and grid-tied pv.

Typical Happy Solar Agent In the Field

The annual Washington solar production incentive payments are based on the fiscal year from July 1 – June 30, so everybody with a grid-tied pv system is about to read their meters for the 2016/2017 year.

You will get a letter from your utility containing a form similar to the one below.  If you are a PSE customer, the form will be filled out for you.  We are not certain what the Jefferson and Clallam PUD’s are planning this year.  We have highlighted some of the important fields.

The main thing you want to bear in mind is to go read your production meter on June 30.  Even if you are in PSE territory and they are going to read your meter and provide the information for you, we recommend reading your meter yourself at least annually.  Then you will want to compare that figure with last year’s June 30 reading in order to get your annual production figure for this year.  You will also be able to copy your DOR Tax Reporting Number from the top of last year’s form.

Unless you are among the minority of our clients who have the Made in Washington PV modules, you will use the field highlighted to report your total kilowatt-hours for the year.  Although the base rate is stated as $0.15, all utilities in which we operate are or will be seriously pro-rating this base rate due to the fact that the applications are now exceeding the available incentive pool,  of 0.5% of taxable utility revenues.

In the early morning Saturday July 1st, a couple of hours after passing the budget, both houses of the state legislature passed SB 5939, which will raise the caps on the currently over-subscribed solar production incentive, lowering incentive rates overall, but providing longer term certainty.  There are several other aspects of this bill, which should be signed into law by Gov. Inslee soon.  Until the Governor signs it, and even during the administrative rule-making process, anything can happen, however this looks as certain as things can get.  Overall this is a major improvement over the existing program and great news for people who install grid-tied solar PV in the next couple of years.  Lower rates but with a longer guaranteed result are helpful to everyone, however there are challenges in this new program.  

The solar industry in Washington has been working with the legislature at least four years to implement many of these changes.  A brief initial summary is in order:

• For new projects, incentive payments will be paid at a guaranteed rate for 8 years, rate determined by the date of commissioning as per the following table (Sec 5 (10))
• Sales tax exemption expires Sept 30, 2017 (Sec 15 3))
• Incentive cap per utility increases from 0.5% to 1.5% of the utility’s taxable power sales (Sec 4(2))
• Responsibility for administration of the program is being moved from Dept of Revenue to WSU Energy Extension (Sec 3 (9))
• People with existing systems may install additional systems and enroll them in the new program (Sec 6 (3)(b))
• People enrolled in the existing program will be able to re-enroll to have their rates stabilized at the 2015-2016 rates until June 30, 2020. (Sec 3 (10))

One important take-away is that there is a golden moment right now.  It appears people who install between now and Sept 30 will not pay sales tax, but will still get the benefit of the 8 year guaranteed rates.  Meaning…if installing solar pv on your home or business has been something you have been considering, and that you would like to do “some day”, there has never been a better time than right now.

After meeting with representatives, Feb 2017

With Jeremy Smithson, March 2015, after testifying regarding net metering and renewable energy incentives’ effect on small businesses.

Our state’s Net Metering law was originally passed in 1998.  All utilities in Washington State are required to allow their customers to install solar photovoltaic (or PV for short) renewable energy systems and provide “net metering” to their customers.  Net metering allows you to use the solar electricity your system is generating and to sell any surplus to the electrical utility at the same retail rate they charge you for their electricity. Net metering regulations have dramatically improved the average person’s ability to create and use their own solar power.  Here in the northwest our peak energy usage is typically during the wintertime when the days are shortest, while our peak sunny days and highest solar production occur in the summertime.  With net metering, it doesn’t matter.  Net metering allows us to earn credits on our monthly utility bills in the summertime with our grid tied solar PV system and use those credits in the fall and winter as the days get shorter and our energy needs start rising again.  During the winter when your solar PV array isn’t producing as much power as your home or business requires, the grid provides steady, reliable power. 

In this way, we are using the grid as a “virtual battery.”  This virtual battery has many advantages over having an actual physical chemical battery in your home.

1. It is infinitely sized, at least practically infinite relative to our 5-25 KW residential grid-tied pv system.  Our solar electricity will never “fill” the grid, unlike an actual off-grid battery bank which may be at full charge early on a summer morning, not giving us anywhere to store our summer day’s energy unless we make certain to use the energy at the same rate at which it is being produced.
2. It is 100% efficient.  Energy stored in the form of a kwh (kilowatt-hour) credit on your meter is later used, and because there is no conversion from electrical to chemical energy and back, there is no loss due to inefficiency, which may be as low as 75% in some battery systems.
3. We can seasonally store energy.  There is no loss of energy over time when it is stored as a credit on your meter.  So you can use summertime energy in the wintertime when you need it and your array is not producing as much power.
4. You already pay a small monthly fee for the use of the grid.  The grid construction and maintenance is a socialized cost shared by all utility customers, you will see you monthly service charge on your existing bill.  This flat fee ranges from about $12 per month in progressive utilites, up to nearly $30 per month in utilities that keep kwh rates low by using high flat fees.

While in some states, there have been political battles over net metering, but there is no conversation along these lines in Olympia and it seems Net Metering is the law of the land for good.

Here is the underlying RCW 80.60: http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=80.60

This is a good question, and one that is commonly asked.

Yes, solar power works just very well in our area of Washington State.  Here on the north Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas we average approximately 3.5 hours of full sun per day.  That is about 70% of the solar resources of southern California.  However, unlike southern California most of our sunshine arrives between March and September when our electricity needs are low, especially for homes designed to not require air conditioning.  If your system is tied to the grid, your summertime excess electricity generation can go back onto the grid, and may be used by your neighbor or effectively by Californians during their peak energy usage.  You will get a a credit for every kwh you put onto the grid, and you will use those credits later, perhaps that night, perhaps not until winter.

For another comparison, western Washington on average receives more yearly sunshine than does Germany on average.  This is significant because for the 10 years 2005 – 2014, Germany led the world in the number of installed solar modules with over 50% of the world’s deployed solar modules during that time (China has now become the world’s top installer of solar pv.)  If Germany can effectively utilize solar power so can western Washington.

We see an annual variation of up to 15% even among the same solar pv systems due to weather variation of one year to the next.  The summers are predictably good, the winters are predictably winter, and we see the variation mostly in the spring – some springs are notably sunny and some are cloudier extensions of winter.  Depending on exactly where you live on the Peninsula, if your home is unshaded, you can count of seeing 1000-1200 kwh/year-KW.

Murney Residence