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Southwest
Renewable Energy Fair to be held Aug. 9, 10 and 11
By Lisa Rayner
Tea Party Publisher
The Southwest Renewable Energy Fair is back. The fair will be
held at Northern Arizona University’s duBois Center August
9, 10 and 11.
The fair, which was held annually in 1998, 1999 and 2000, was
put on hold last year as the fair organizer, the Greater Flagstaff
Economic Council, responded to feedback from fair participants by
expanding the event and adding an academic conference. The Southwest
Renewable Energy Conference is a technical and policy conference
that will focus on sustainable community development through
renewable energy. It will be held on August 8 and 9.
GFEC says the Southwest Renewable Energy Fair “brings
together renewable energy and green building companies, associations
and enthusiasts. The event promises a unique integration of science,
technology, cultural and policy topics. …
“The future of energy is certain: Fossil fuels and
nonrenewable sources of energy eventually will be exhausted; it's
not a matter of if, but when. Renewable energy is the future of our
world.”
Lead fair and conference sponsors are APS, Kyocera Solar,
Southwest Windpower, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority, Sandia
Laboratories, and the Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office.
Admission for pedestrians and bicyclists is free.
A $5 Parking fee will be charged for people wishing to park
motor vehicles near the Dubois center.
So far, 80 exhibitors have signed up for the Fair. In
addition, there will be several dozen working demonstrations and
seminars on renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building
technologies open to the public, as well as workshops and
entertainment for children and families:
Product Expo - Leading-edge companies from throughout the Southwest
will showcase the latest products and technologies for home,
commercial and industrial use:
• wind, solar and biomass energy
• alternative fuel vehicles
• green building materials and construction
• technical and policy topics
• how-to’s from planning through implementation.
Learn about clean energy breakthroughs at the largest
regional expo of alternative fuel cars powered by hydrogen,
electricity, and compressed natural gas. Discover how wind turbines
and solar panels work, and find out if your home is already powered
by the wind and sun.
The
Coconino County Green Development Committee, which is developing
green building guidelines and incentives for county builders will
have a booth displaying sustainable building materials, a solar
powered water system, floor plans of built houses, a resource
checklist compiled by the Education Subcommittee, the committee’s
draft green building checklist, and more. The Fair will be the
committee’s first
public exposure.
Keynote speakers - Dennis Weaver, actor and
founder of the Institute of
Ecolonomics, will speak on hydrogen fueled
transportation and the symbiotic relationship between a strong
economy and a healthy ecology. Weaver is scheduled to speak twice:
Friday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. In
addition, Robert "Bud" Annan will draw
on a 35-year career with the Federal Department of Energy to discuss energy incentives and how solar fits into the overall Arizona electricity structure.
Workshops and seminars address diverse topics such as
solar heating and cooling applications, the basics of wind energy,
environmental architecture, incentives to go solar in Arizona,
hydrogen and biodiesel fuels, 21st century
transportation, and the cost advantages of going green.
Find out about Arizona’s environmental technology industry
and Native American renewable energy initiatives.
Tour APS’s
Flagstaff solar plant, learn about straw bale construction,
discover what goes on in a wind energy lab, understand how recycled
household materials are reprocessed, and learn about composting.
Kids Fair - Youth will enjoy interactive solar car and wind
turbine projects, green earth magic shows, amazing science feats,
and arts and crafts.
Renewable Energy Conference
The first annual Southwest Renewable Energy Conference will
be held August 8-9, at Northern Arizona University. The Conference
will provide information on and be a forum for discussion on
national, tribal, state, and local renewable energy projects,
policies, and technologies.
According to promotional materials distributed by GFEC,
“This is an opportunity for elected officials, policy-makers,
businesses, utilities and renewable energy advocates to meet each
other while they learn and debate the multitude of issues
surrounding the beginning of the historic transition from
fossil-fuels to clean, renewable energy.”
The conference format will include plenary sessions, luncheon
speakers, two tracks of panel sessions and networking opportunities.
The Plenary Sessions will focus on policies available to stimulate
development of renewable energy projects and provide an overview of
current technology. The Luncheon speakers will provide context for
conference sessions and present information on national energy
legislation and renewable energy’s importance to national
security. The Tribal Track will look at issues like the air quality
implications of renewable energy, Native American experiences with
renewable energy projects, and the economic benefits of renewable
energy on Indian lands. The Policy Track will take on issues such as
the appropriate role of government to encourage renewable energy,
solutions and barriers to bringing additional sources of renewable
energy on line, and the status of different renewable energy
portfolio standards. Two evening receptions will provide a chance
for participants to network in a casual atmosphere.
The conference is open to academics, government and tribal
leaders and interested citizens. Visit www.cba.nau.edu/ses/swrec/
for registration fees and other conference information.
Making Flagstaff a renewable energy mecca
The Southwest
Renewable Energy Fair and Conference are not just ways to educate the
public about renewable energy design and technology. The events are
key parts of GFEC’s economic development strategy to interest
renewable energy companies to relocate or expand in Flagstaff. In an
Energy Fair press release, GFEC says it is seeking to make Flagstaff
“a center for the development and testing of these technologies
that will become so crucial in upcoming years.”
An Airport Marketing Committee policy recommendation released
in January 2001 says that the city of Flagstaff, through GFEC, is
interested in “supporting and attracting companies that will
provide high quality career opportunities for its residents. As a
result the City supports and undertakes a variety of initiatives to
further the goal of job creation that benefits the citizens of
Flagstaff.” Renewable energy is one of GFEC’s identified
“industry clusters,” along with information technology,
biotechnology, and university and scientific institution-business
linkage opportunities.
In 1997, the GFEC Competitiveness Task Force recommended a
set of eligibility criteria for economic development assistance for
businesses wishing to locate on city-owned property. The
“Community Impact Index,” which rates company’s proposed
economic impact on the greater Flagstaff area by assigning points to
various factors, including environmental impacts, water usage and
wage scales. One of the questions asks, “Does the project fit with
(GFECs) industry targets/clusters?”
GFEC cites the following attributes that make Flagstaff a
good contender in its energy fair press release:
• Flagstaff has nearly 300 days of sunshine per year.
• The mountainous terrain and climate conditions provide some
of the best mountain test sites for renewable energy in the
country.
• Our community is directly linked to crucial markets, most
notably California, via Interstates 40 and 17.
• Our community is home to educational resources vital for
companies developing renewable energy solutions, including
Northern Arizona University's College of Engineering, which
houses Sustainable Energy Solutions, a research, education and
consulting agency specializing in renewable energy.
Additionally, Coconino Community College offers degrees and
certificates in alternative energy.
Southwest Renewable Energy Fair Hours
Friday, August 9: 9 am – 5 pm
Saturday, August 10: 9 am – 5 pm
Sunday, August 11: 10 am – 4 pm
For a complete 2-page, downloadable Fair schedule, click
here.
Visit the GFEC Southwest Renewable Energy
Fair
Web page at www.gfec.org.
State
renewable energy incentives for homeowners
The State of Arizona and local electrical utility Arizona
Public Service now offers several financial incentives to help
homeowners in northern Arizona afford the cost of solar energy:
Arizona Public Service Solar Partners Plus EPS Credit
Purchase Program
The Environmental Portfolio Standards Credit Purchase Program is a
utility rebate program for residential grid-tied photovoltaic
systems. The program offers a one-time EPS Energy Purchase Credit of
$2 per watt of DC electricity (based on the manufacturer’s rating)
for purchasing and installing a photovoltaic system capable of
producing 5 kilowatts or less.
For example, customers installing a new 1,000-watt PV system
on their home will receive a one-time payment of $2,000 from APS.
The program gives APS the credits associated with the energy
generated by these systems. These energy credits will be used to
meet APS EPS requirements.
To qualify for this program, homeowners must meet the
following criteria:
• Customers must purchase a new photovoltaic solar system rated
at 5 kW or less.
• Installations must meet APS interconnection requirements.
(For information on interconnection requirements call Bryan
Gernet at 602-371-6959).
• Customers must sign an interconnection agreement with APS.
• The system must use UL-rated components and meet IEEE 929
specifications.
• A licensed contractor must install the system.
• The system generation must be metered separately and the kWh
credits may, at APS' option, be recorded annually.
• The meter (not provided by APS) must be placed adjacent to
the existing meter and marked "solar meter."
For remote systems rated at 5 kW or less:
• The system must use UL components and meet IEEE 929
specifications.
• A licensed contractor must install the system.
For more information contact
www.aps.com/my_community/Solar/solar_35.html
Arizona Public Service Company
Janet Crow, Solar Energy Services
Mail Station 8378
P.O. Box 53999
Phoenix, AZ 85072-3999
Phone: (602) 250-4990
Fax: (602) 250-3255
E-Mail: janet.crow@pinnaclewest.com
APS Remote Solar Electric Services
The Remote Solar Electric Services program was created by Arizona
Public Service (APS) in 1997. It is designed to provide solar power
to off-grid residential customers (those located more than one-third
mile from power lines). APS stand-alone systems are available for
purchase and include photovoltaic (PV) panels, 120/240 VAC
electronic power conditioning equipment, a battery bank that stores
electricity for use at night, and a backup propane generator for
extra power when needed. APS service and maintenance can be
purchased for an additional annual fee. To date, approximately 35 PV
units have been sold to customers.
www.aps.com/my_community/Solar/Solar_7.html
Contact: Janet Crow (see above address and phone number
Solar and Wind Energy Systems Personal Tax Credit
This statute provides a credit against the personal income tax in
the amount of 25% of the cost of a solar or wind energy device. The
credit can be claimed in the year of installation and has a maximum
allowable limit of $1,000. If the amount of the credit exceeds a
taxpayer’s liability in a certain year, the unused portion of the
credit may be carried forward for up to five years. Qualifying
technologies include passive solar heating, active solar space
heating, solar water heating, photovoltaics, and wind systems. Tax
credit forms and guidelines can be found on the Arizona Solar Center
"Benefits" Web page.
Eligible Technologies: Residential Passive Solar Space Heat,
Active Solar Water Heat, Active Solar Space Heat, Solar Thermal
Electric, Photovoltaics and Wind devices
www.azsolarcenter.com/benefits/solartaxcredit.html
Contact: Jim Arwood
Arizona Department of Commerce
Energy Office
3800 North Central Avenue, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 280-1409
Fax: (602) 280-1445
E-Mail: jima@ep.state.az.us
Solar and Wind Equipment Sales Tax Exemption
This retail sales tax exemption applies to solar and wind energy
equipment. Solar includes passive solar heating, active solar space
heating, solar water heating, and photovoltaics. Qualifying wind
systems include wind electric generators and wind-powered water
pumps. This exemption is allowed on equipment up to $5,000. www.azsolarcenter.com/benefits/solarsalestax.html
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