The Vote Solar Initiative

Check out the “Securing America’s Energy Independence Act.”

The climate is right to be ambitious when it comes to clean energy.

The “Securing America’s Energy Independence Act” is the largest, most important solar legislation ever introduced in this country. It represents the biggest opportunity yet to jumpstart solar. The bill does what it says. The bi-partisan legislation (introduced in the House as HR. 550 and the Senate as S. 590) would make America’s energy future a lot brighter by making solar energy more affordable across the country. In many states, solar would be cheaper than buying electricity from the grid.

Specifically, the bill (pdf) extends the 30% federal investment tax credit (currently set to expire at the end of 2008) for another 8 years, modifies the distributed photovoltaics incentive to $1500 per half-kW of capacity and removes the $2,000 residential cap.

Translated from wonk-speak, think of it as a 30%-off sale for solar. Solar energy has the potential to provide much of the electricity our country needs. Temporary financial incentives are necessary to build economies of scale--and extending the tax credits over a longer period of time gives the solar industry the market certainty necessary to make long-term investments.

Please click here for more information. You might want to make sure your friends know about this too. Our future is too important to leave it up to others!

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All Solar NV members are invited to participate on our committees. In fact, we urge you to join a committee and make a difference. You will make friends, learn new things and help Nevada move toward energy independence!

Here's a list of our committees and respective chair persons:

• Communications Committee - Les Lazareck, chair

• Education Committee - Gary Wood, chair

• Membership Committee - Frank Tepper, chair

• Programs Committee - Allison Gray, chair

• Solar Home Tour Committee - Deidre Radford, chair

You can send an email to any chair person if you would like more information. Keep in mind that you do not have to be an expert in solar energy or have any particular skills. If you are passionate and want to help create positive change, then you have all the qualifications!

Solar Today : Nevada Solar One Goes Online

Could this landmark plant herald a U.S. boom for utility-scale solar power?

Boulder City, just outside of Las Vegas, has been known as a city of promise since the Depression Era, when workers flocked there to build the legendary Hoover Dam. Today this oasis in the desert is the site of the nation’s newest large-scale renewable energy project, Nevada Solar One.

The 64-megawatt (MW) solar thermal power plant, among the largest of its kind to date, broke ground just one year ago, in March 2006. Nevada Solar One’s groundbreaking came three years after the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved a power purchase agreement among utilities Nevada Power Co. and Sierra Pacific Power Co. and project leader Solargenix Energy, now a subsidiary of Spain’s Acciona Group. The utilities will use credits from the solar power plant to meet their obligations under Nevada’s renewable portfolio standard.

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Watch These Presentations! 2010 Imperative

A plan to handle climate change. Pay attention, we might save ourselves!

This ground-breaking event was broadcast live over the internet to hundreds of thousands of people in 47 countries. Don't miss these three powerful presentations.

The 2010 Imperative, the 2030 Challenge and the ASES report "Tackling Climate Change in the U.S." all work together to solve mankind's biggest issue. Watch, learn and share. We are in this together. We created this problem. We'll create the solution!

www.2010imperative.org

SPEAKERS:

Dr. James E. Hansen

Dr. James Hansen is arguably the world's leading scientist on global warming. He is the head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City. Ralph Cicerone, president of the National Academy of Sciences said of Dr. Hansen’s climate science work, "I can't think of anybody who I would say is better than Hansen. You might argue that there's two or three others as good, but nobody better.” launch presentation

Edward Mazria AIA

Edward Mazria, founder of Architecture 2030, is an internationally recognized architect, author and educator. His architecture and planning projects span a thirty-year period, each employing a cutting-edge environmental approach to its design. After the AIA, USGBC and ASHRAE recently adopted the 2030 Challenge to address the Building Sector’s role in the global warming crisis, Mazria wrote "The task we face is daunting. Working separately, we could accomplish something significant in each of our respective spheres. But by working together, we actually have a chance to influence the course of history." launch presentation

Chris Luebkeman AIA

Chris Luebkeman is a Director and leader of Arup’s global Foresight and Innovation initiative. He is tasked with exploring and synthesizing the trends affecting society’s development. Luebkeman is a senior fellow of the Design Futures Council and in a recent article wrote, “There is no doubt that, as our built environment has transformed from a local phenomenon to a global one, we are now confronted with more pressing social, technological, economic, environmental and political change forcing us to a local mindset - on a global scale.”

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Upcoming Events

Solar NV Mission Statement

Our Mission is to educate the public regarding the benefits of renewable energy; to promote the use of renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies; and to function as a clearinghouse and local resource for renewable energy information.

Some Things to Think About

Please don't just skip over this, or read it and think, "Oh yeah, somebody else will do this." We REALLY want your involvement! Keep in mind that what we do is a group effort. Empower yourself! Remember, WE are the ones we've been waiting for. Let's not let us down!

We welcome ideas and submissions for articles for the newsletter and the Solar NV web site. If you would like to contribute something of interest (articles, links, photos or ideas), and we hope you will, please email it to us at info@solarnv.org.

If you appreciate the Solar NV eNewsletter, we encourage you to become a member. Please visit our membership page and sign up today. We are a pending 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.