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Project Descriptions & Project Status

Chico News and Review

Updated: March 6, 2002

• Project started in October 2000.


• Project ended October 2001.


• Funds distributed: $69,178.


• Match/in-kind funds: $32,518.



• A 16-page spot-color insert, "The Road to Renewable Energy" was placed in the Chico News and Review in October 2000.


• A series of weekly one-page spot-color articles have been placed in the CN&R to reinforce the elements of the 16-page insert. Articles in October and November 2000 included:

• "A Solar Power Plant on your Roof"


• "Buying 'Green' Electricity"


• "Capturing the Wind"


• "Fuel Cells: The Next Revolution?"

• A local energy system retailer estimated that about half of customer inquiries were a result of this series.


• An Energy Conservation Guide was placed on January 25, 2001. Information on the Emerging Buydown Account ran in a full color 2-page spread in the center of the Guide called "Looking for an Energy Alternative?"


• A draft case study was developed in March 2001 to showcase a hybrid solar photovoltaic and wind generating system.


• Case studies highlighting solar electric on homes and businesses have appeared in early 2001 articles.

• One-page spot-color articles continue to be placed in the CN&R, building consumer interest in renewable energy options, especially relevant during the energy crisis, and providing information to help consumers make informed energy decisions. Weekly articles placed from January through May, 2001, including a special Earth Day supplement, included:

• "Power Your Home, Farm or Business by Capturing the Wind"


• "Rolling Blackout Proof?"


• "Fuel Cells: The Next Revolution?"


• "Most Schools Spend More Money on Energy Each Year than on School Supplies!"


• "Solar Beer for a Solar State"


• "California, Renewable Energy, and You"

• Weekly articles placed from June to September 2001, included case studies and others such as:

• "Conservation and Renewable Energy is the Key"


• "Solar PV Taking Hold in Butte County"


• The King of Butte County Residential Solar PV?"


• California Residents Supplementing Energy Use by Adding Solar Electric Power Generation

• The ongoing weekly campaign featuring full-page articles on solar PV, small wind energy, fuel cells, and buying renewable energy from the grid was completed with the October 4, 2001 edition. Estimates of 50 to 70 percent of consumers in Butte County are aware of renewable energy technologies, most notably PV, and an average of 60 to 75 percent of those consumers interested in purchasing a system mentioned this project as their source of information.

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Evergreen Energy LLC

Updated: July 9, 2002

• Project scheduled to start by January 2001.



• Draft outline developed February 2001.



• Draft report circulated for review September 2001.



• Draft outline for a consumer buying guide for wind energy systems was developed February 2001.



• Draft guide circulated for review to wind energy industry experts September 2001.



• The 20-page Buying a Small Wind Electric System: A California Consumer's Guide was finalized and delivered to the Energy Commission March 2002. Copies are available online at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/documents/archive/marketing_materials/2002-04-26_WIND_GUIDE.PDF or by calling (800) 555-7794. The American Wind Energy Association mailed about 5,000 copies in its targeted marketing campaign in California in spring 2002.



• Draft report circulated for review September 2001.

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Northern California Solar Energy Association (NCSEA)

Updated: November 8, 2001

• Publicity activities (press releases, media contacts, flyer distribution) for the Northern California Solar Home Tour, which took place on October 14, 2000.



• Registration and information services for the Tour.



• Development and Production of the Tour Booklet distributed to tour participants on the day of the tour.



• Project ended October 30, 2000. No deliverables or reports have been submitted yet.

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Pathfinder Communications

Updated: October 3, 2001

• Project started on October 1, 2000.



• Solar energy profile was published in the November/December 2000 issue of the Currents newsletter put out by the Local Government Commission.



• A 3-page article on the energy crisis entitled "You Say You Want A Revolution" in the November/December 2000 issue of green@work magazine.



• A one-page article on wind power entitled "Clean Power Enjoys Its Day in the Sun (&Wind)" in the November/December 2000 issue of BusinessEthics magazine.



• A 3-page article entitled "California’s energy crisis, A Blessing For Green Power Technologies" in the Fall 2000 issue of S.E.E. Green Directory.



• Wind technology profile is in the January/February 2001 issue of the Currents newsletter.



• A 6-page article entitled "California’s New Energy Legacy: A Desperate Innovator?" in the January 2001 issue of California Journal.



• A 4-page article entitled "Power Solutions In Our Own Backyards" in the January/February 2001 issue of Solar Today.



• An article entitled "Only Shades Of Gray When What California Needs is Something Bold and Green" in the Forum section of the Sacramento Bee, January 21, 2001.



• "Grid and Bear It: The Answer Lies In Investing in New Power Technologies, Not Finger-Pointing Over Outmoded Systems," San Jose Mercury News, Business Soapbox, January 14, 2001.



• "Let There Be Light: Alternative Fuels Can Come to Our Rescue," The Sacramento Bee, January 21, 2001.



• "We Need More Electricity Deregulation – Not Less," Corporate Strategy Today, Vol. 1, Issue 1, February 2001.



• "Bring Our Electricity Grid Into the 21^st Century," In Business Magazine, Jan/Feb 2001.



• "Lend Us Your Roofs and We’ll Power The State," Sacramento Business Journal, March 2, 2001.



• "Power Solutions In Our Own Backyards," The Light Connection, March 2001.



• "Power Solutions In Our Own Backyards," Sirus Mandarin, an online CD-ROM company that reprinted the same Solar Today story.



• Promoted the "buy-down program" on several radio and TV show appearances during the book tour.



• "Fuel Cells: The Perfect Power Source For the 21^st Century?" in the Mar/Apr/May issue of the Currents Newsletter.



• An article entitled "Distributed Generation: Reaching the Market Just in Time" was published in the March 2001 issue of The Electricity Journal under the by-line of Energy Commission Commissioner Robert A. Laurie.



• An article was published in the April 2001 issue of The Electricity Journal titled "California Crisis: The Best Argument Yet for Wind Power".



• Interviewed Torkil Olsen in April 2001, a residential customer whose use of buydown rebates will exempt him from proposed rate increases. Developed profile and additional copy for Home Power magazine.



• "The California Energy Crisis: A Guide to Conservation and Renewable Energy" was published in the Spring 2001 issue of Eco-Opportunities, the newsletter of the BAA+PCCF Business Environmental Network).



• An Ecologue column posted in May 2001 on the GreenBiz.com website titled "Current Crisis Sparks Innovation."



• Developed and produced an Emerging Buydown Program brochure for Local Governments titled " Empowering Local Governments" (May 2001). Hard copies are available by contacting Lynette Esternon at lesterno@energy.state.ca.us or by downloading it from the web at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/marketing/2001-05_LOCAL_GOVT_BUYDOWN.PDF



• An article was published on solar thermal titled "Solar Thermal For Local Energy" in the June issue of the Current’s Newsletter. An additional case study highlighting the interaction between solar PV and energy efficiency upgrades was also published in this issue.



• Drafted website contents on Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies for Local Governments and New Economy Businesses in June 2001. Organizations looking to integrate the content into their websites: Local Government Commission; Global Green USA; International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives; Global Futures; The Horn Group; Natural Logic and Clean Edge.



• Produced an Emerging Buydown Program brochure for "New Economy" businesses titled "How To Cut Your Renewable Energy Costs In Half" (July 2001). Hard copies are available by contacting Lynette Esternon at lesterno@energy.state.ca.us or by downloading it from the web at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/marketing/2001-07-30_ERT_00_004_BROCH.PDF.



• Guest feature on The Global Exchange titled "Time To Turn To the Sun". This piece was published when attention was focused on the Bush administration’s cuts in renewable energy spending.



• An article titled "The Power of Distributed Thinking" was published in the July 2001 issue of The Green Business Letter.



• Roundtable interview with seven energy experts for CIO Magazine, a Ziff-Davis publication, one of the world’s largest business publishers. Pathfinder Communications’ comments were focused on emerging renewable energy success stories made possible by the Energy Commission Buydown funds. The article will appear in the August issue.



• Website article on the GreenBiz.com titled "It’s the Summer of Sun in Innovative California County" published in August 2001.



• An article in the Corporate Environmental Strategy, Vol. 8, No. 4, titled "Capturing Markets and Delivering Value in the Electric Utility Industry."



• Helped put together the Santa Rita Jail Case Study with PowerLight Corporation and CMS Viron Energy Services.



• Developed and printed a brochure for rural self-reliance promoting renewable energy technologies and the state incentive titled "Do Your Part and Become Your Own Power Producer" (September 2001). Hard copies are available by contacting Lynette Esternon or by downloading it from the web at http://www.energy.ca.gov/renewables/marketing/2001-10-16_CEC_SELF_RELIANT.PDF



• A column on the GreenBiz.com website (September issue) titled "Nothing to Chance: An Argument for Distributed Systems."



• Website content for "rural self-reliance buffs" submitted to the Energy Commission’s webmaster.



• Radio and television appearances in California, Washington DC, and Wisconsin reinforced the message that the Energy Commission’s Buydown Program was an excellent model for other states and the nation.



• Developed Print, Radio, TV and Web-based Media Database over the course of one- year public education effort.



• An article in the Electricity Journal titled "The War Against Terrorism Helps Build the Case for Distributed Renewables" will be published in the December 2001 issue.



• Ghost-wrote three columns: "Why Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail Is a Model for California" by Matt Muniz, "Clean Energy For a New World Economy" by Martin Whittaker, and "How To Set a Shining Example" by Torkil Olsen.



• Submitted Final Report to the Energy Commission.



• Project completed on October 1, 2001 with over $182,000 in matching funds.

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Rahus Institute

Status:

Project started September 2000.

Project ended September 2001.

Funds distributed: $71,964

Match funds: $170,400

Goal: Raise awareness about personal renewable power using photovoltaics and small wind energy systems by delivering messages through partners to their constituents.

Lessons learned are briefly summarized below:

• By having a variety of partners, greater opportunities exist for maximizing the potential outcome of a task.
• Materials that are well-designed and timely are useful to many partners.



• Guiding the accuracy of information and providing content to newspaper writers was the most useful media relations strategy for this project.



• Simple and portable demonstration units are extremely successful in helping visitors visualize how solar electricity works and increasing understanding of the technology. It is critical to educate visitors with informational information (sign, poster, etc.) where PV or wind energy systems power a public building.



• It is important to market a Web Site to increase interest and generate traffic. A weekly news digest is a successful method to keeping a Web Site dynamic.

• United States Postal Service SunPower Poster Project

• Poster distribution to the Regional Environmental Office of the United States Postal Service, originally planned for December 2000, were delayed while stickers were printed and added to the posters in February 2001. Stickers directing poster readers to the californiasolarcenter.org website were added to the posters before they were distributed in April 2001.



• Posters will be displayed in 1100 California post office lobbies to educate their customers about photovoltaics beginning Spring 2001.



• USPS Environmental Coordinator is conducting a survey to locate offices with poster displays.

Summary: In the absence of a direct access market for green power, the USPS is reevaluating its energy strategies. Meant to compliment the switch to green power for 1,000 USPS offices, the poster may not be as effective for the USPS in the absence of its green power campaign. The survey revealed that most posters were displayed in non-public areas. However, the SunPower poster has been distributed to many others, and will continue to be broadly distributed in upcoming projects including schools and other organizations.

Tasks:

• The Regeneration Project

• SunPower Posters were distributed in October 2000 to the Episcopal Power and Light Initiative and California Interfaith Power and Light Initiative coordinators for display in churches throughout California.



• Construction began on solar cell demonstration kits in October 2000.



• Two solar cell demonstration units were delivered to the initiative coordinators in February 2001 for display at schools and church meeting rooms. One powers a popular solar music box that is displayed at church-related events, fairs and conferences.



• Posters continue to be distributed at a rapid rate at initiative events throughout California.

Summary: Posters and demonstration units have been successful in teaching about PV applications, and will continue to be useful as interest continues to grow about installing PV on churches and homes of church members and their guests.

• UCSB Environmental Sciences Center Photovoltaic Display Project - Cancelled

• Design work began in October 2000 on the interactive PV display. Several site options were identified.



• Project alternatives continued to be discussed in April 2001.



• July 2001: Project cancelled due to delay in PV installation. Funds for this task redirected to educational displays in two new locations below:



• Chabot Space and Science Center: design and build a display to educate visitors about Center's 25 kW rooftop system. The interactive display was delivered in September.



• Santa Cruz City Hall: design educational display for visitors to learn about 16.8 kW PV system and solar electricity.

Summary: It is too early to measure the impact of these displays. Rahus plans to seek partnerships with others to offer new solar displays for other public buildings.

• Community Environmental Council/Gildea Resource Center Photovoltaic Display Project

• Design issues were discussed and the meter and spotlight were installed in October 2000.



• Construction began on interactive solar cell in October 2000.



• All parts of the display have been purchased and the solar cell display has been constructed, including a real-time meter for the roof-mounted PV system, interactive solar cell demonstration, and a description of the various solar technologies demonstrated in the building.



• Display assembly was completed, delivered and installed at Gildea Resource Center in February 2001.

Summary: PV display enhances visitor awareness about solar technologies, providing real-time data and accumulated energy production feedback. The Council is expanding its efforts to establish the Center as a local resource for information on solar energy, and in exploring ways to promote PV applications in Santa Barbara County.

• Solar and Small Wind Media Article Project

• Contributed to article titled, "Soaring Cost of Electricity Sparks Interest" printed in San Diego Union-Tribune on November 26, 2000.



• Contributed to article titled, "International Space Station Set for Solar Wings" placed on www.ENN.com on November 30, 2000.



• Contributed to article titled, "Solar Electricity Could Help California" placed in the San Diego Union-Tribune on December 27, 2000.



• Two new articles on small wind energy systems completed in July 2001 but not yet published; one has been posted on californiasolarcenter.org Web Site as Solar e-clips article.

Summary: Due to the increase in energy in the news in summer 2001, Rahus recognized that that free media was taking place, and additional news articles were not needed. Rahus focused its attention on compiling news for online editions for its Web Site, providing articles on solar energy issues throughout the state.

• California Solar Center - Website Development Project

• Design team met to discuss outline and architecture. Database design and programming began in October 2000.



• Incentive program database completed; viewer enters zip code/city name to learn about appropriate incentive programs.



• Plan to actively advertise website in February 2001.



• An interactive solar incentive program database was completed in April 2001.



• The site has moved to a new host server for integration ease and added features.



• The Web site is temporarily down in April 2001 for reorganization.



• A table of financial incentives for PV replaced the database in July 2001.



• Launched solar e-Clips summer 2001, a weekly electronic news service highlighting solar energy news from around the state. Subscribe online at www.californiasolarcenter.org/solareclips/solareclips.html



• Added a section in summer 2001 on the history of solar energy. Visit www.californiasolarcenter.org/history



• Added legislation page providing summaries and links to solar energy legislation. Visit www.californiasolarcenter.org/legislation.html



• Find reports, consumer guides, net metering tariffs, and other documents about solar energy in California at www.californiaenergycenter.org/downloads.html



• An events page can be found at www.californiaenergycenter.org/events.html



• A membership program is being developed as one way to fund on-going maintenance and site development.



• Initial feedback suggests that a combination of ads and membership fees should provide a sufficient base of funding for ongoing maintenance and Web Site development.

Summary: The website has attracted over 10,000 page views in September. Marketing the website was stepped up to include a press release, placing links on environmental websites, and flyer distribution. The subscriber list is growing rapidly, with about 1,000 subscribers by October.

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San Diego State University Foundation

Updated: NOVEMBER 9, 2001

• Developed outline for a website dedicated to photovoltaics (PV) in February, 2001
• Web team will began work in March 2001

Website: The URL for the PV Website is http://www.sdenergy.org/pvweb/index

The Website is a one-stop shop for information on installing a photovoltaic system on your home or business. Information on the site includes:

• What is PV?
• Is PV right for my building or home?
• How much electricity will it produce?
• What does it cost?
• Net metering
• 10 steps to PV
• Examples and case studies

A lecture on Building-Integrated Photovoltaics for architects was conducted on October 4, 2001. Gregory Kiss of Kiss+Cathcart presented case studies on building-integrated photovoltaics. A panel also discussed Zero Energy Buildings. Approximately 180, mostly architects, attended this event.

The San Diego Solar Home Tour was held on October 20, 2001. The event was a great success with 5 times the attendance compared to last year. ICF Consulting, under contract to the California Energy Program provided media support for the tour.

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Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation

Updated: July 25 2002

• Project started on October 1, 2000.


• Twin Pines worked with an Economic Analysis firm and completed a study showing the stores (North Coast, Davis, Santa Monica, Ocean Beach and Briarpatch) the financial picture of installing a system. The study showed projected yearly savings on their energy bills, and potential payback. Twin Pines started to set up meetings with each co-op board to do a formal presentation of the program. The program is housed on Clean Power Research website, but will be moved to Twin Pines website and adjusted to allow consumers to use it. Twin Pines will have access to this program for one year. Twin Pines also distributed posters to co-ops that were produced by Rahus Institute, another grantee.


• Formal presentations were completed at Davis Food Co-op, Cooportunity and Briarpatch. North Coast and Ocean Beach were able to make the decisions without Twin Pines coming to their board meeting to do a formal presentation. Twin Pines followed up with the other three co-ops, sending them all needed information to help them make a decision.


• All five Coops were interested and have agreed to install systems: Davis has committed to install a 4kW system, Briarpatch (Grass Valley), North Coast (Arcata), Cooportunity in Santa Monica, and Ocean Beach have committed to install a 2kW system on each of these stores. Target date of installation is 2nd quarter of the year 2001. Ocean Beach is in new construction of their new store so they may be on a different time line than the other stores.


• A Quarterly Progress Report was submitted on March 2001.


• Twin Pines worked as a liaison in the bid and system installation process.


• Twin Pines sent the bid requests to companies listed on the Energy Commission website and CALSEIA's membership. Over 100 companies received the bid requests. Twin Pines received bids back from over 23 companies.


• Briarpatch, North Coast, Davis and Cooportunity have signed contracts with companies to provide the installations for their individual stores. Ocean Beach will be signing a contract in the fall to coincide with the building of their new store.


• Implementation of Media Campaign and educational component for each store has begun. Twin Pines will develop an informational wall mounted sign with brochure boxes at the meter site. The signs have been installed both at Grass Valley and Santa Monica stores. Davis and Arcata stores will install their signs by the end of February 2002. Informational brochures will be developed for consumers to take with them to further research how they can install their own system. A checklist has been developed for each co-op to use for a consistent statewide media campaign. It includes a general message, who the co-op should contact, steps needed to prepare a media campaign and ribbon cutting ceremony. Twin Pines will work with each store to develop press on the installation of the PV system including TV, radio and print coverage. Twin Pines is also coordinating this effort with the Energy Commission's Media office.


• A Quarterly Progress Report was submitted on July 2001.


• Briarpatch store in Grass Valley has completed the installation of their 2 kW system. Davis is currently installing their 4 kW system to be finished by end of this week (10/6/01). North Coast plans to have approval from the city's design review committee at the October 10th meeting and can start installation immediately afterwards. Cooportunity should be installing around the 10th of October.


• A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on October 13, 2001 in Davis. This is the first of the five coop stores to do a press event of the PV solar panels installed on their coop store. Energy Commission staff were invited. The Mayor of Davis and some media were present.


• Grass Valley held a fair on October 14, 2001. The fair included booths, music and food.


• A Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Santa Monica coop store was scheduled for November 28, 2001. Press event for the dedication of the system was held.


• A Quarterly Progress Report for January 2002 was submitted.


• Twin Pines has created the informational wall mounted signs, with brochure boxes at the meter site. Signs are large and eye catching and give consumers important information explaining how to read the meter, how the state program works and how homeowners or businesses can get their own systems. Signs were installed at Briarpatch and Cooportunity stores in Grass Valley and Santa Monica, respectively.


• A Progress Report for February 2002 was submitted.


• North Coast is in the midst of building a new store, and Twin Pines' timeline did not meet theirs. Twin Pines expects that the store will install a system when they get to that point of their project. However, North Coast sponsored an energy fair on January 31, 2002 called "Power Down 3 Day", which has been designated by the co-op as a day to educate consumers on how to "Save Energy, Save Money and Save Resources." Several articles were published regarding this event.


• A Final Report was submitted to Energy Commission dated July 2002.


• Project completed on May 3, 2002 with over $ 60,000 in matching funds.

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Page Updated: July 25, 2002