JUNE 12-16: SOLAR 99 – GROWING THE MARKET, Portland, Maine. American Solar Energy Society (303) 443-3130, e-mail: ases@ases.org, web: www.ases.org/solar.

PATAGONIA PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR SYSTEM Another recent initiative is a groundbreaking cooperative agreement between CSTRR and Patagonia’s Reno-based international distribution facility. Patagonia is a Ventura, California-based outdoor clothing company widely known for its commitment to environmental causes. The agreement will allow a photovoltaic solar system at Patagonia’s Reno, Nevada distribution facility to be the first application to be used in the trade of solar credits under the Renewable Portfolio Standard portion of utility deregulation legislation passed during Nevada’s 1997 legislative session.

FIRST MILLION SOLAR ROOF PARTNERSHIP IN NV. In December 1998, Rose McKinney-James, President & CEO of CSTRR, formally notified US Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson of CSTRR’s commitment to form a partnership with the Million Solar Roofs Initiative (MSRI). As a part of its commitment, CSTRR projected that Nevada could pledge a goal of 10,000 installations by the year 2010.

President Clinton announced the MSRI on June 26, 1997; the intent of the initiative is to install solar energy systems on one million U.S. buildings by 2010. The goals of the MSRI are to reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions, create high-tech jobs, and keep the United States’ solar industry competitive. CSTRR, working with the Nevada State Energy Office, has identified a variety of partners that have expressed interest in joining the MSRI effort.

The MSRI goals complement CSTRR’s mission to advance the commercial application of solar technologies within the state. For additional information, contact Jennifer Alvey at (702) 869-3610.

RESIDENTIAL SOLAR WATER HEATING, by Bob LeChevalier (CSTRR)

CSTRR has received a Financial Assistance contract from the Department of Energy for the introduction of solar water heating (SWH) in the new, residential, construction markets in support of the President’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative. For this project, CSTRR has assembled an impressive team including Pulte Homes, the leading US homebuilder, Nevada Power Co., the Nevada State Energy office, and two of the nations leading solar scientists, Dr. Wood from UNR and Dr. Boehm from UNLV.

The goal of this project of creating a self-sustaining market for solar water heating is best achieved through:

• The selection of the right product and manufacturer
• A quality installation by a responsible, trained, installer
• An aggressive marketing and public education program

The CSTRR team concluded that the product must have a minimum ten-year simple payback, a 20-30 year life, consumer acceptable aesthetics, and product warranties backed by a responsible manufacturing partner. With the product conditions satisfied and a good marketing and public outreach program, the CSTRR team believes a substantial market can be developed and thousands of SWH systems will be purchased by willing home buyers.

The first step in this program is to select the right SWH product and manufacturer by a review of the leading Solar Rating & Certification Corporation (SRCC) approved products. Five SWH systems were selected for consideration and on-site reviews. After an analysis and test program to confirm the performance and resolve several reliability issues uncovered during the reviews, two systems and manufacturers were selected.

To test the market, Pulte Homes will install nine systems in three subdivisions, two in Las Vegas and one in Phoenix, with three SWH systems in each. In each subdivision, one system will have gas auxiliary and two will have electric auxiliary. One of the homes having electrical auxiliary will be an all-electric home. Once these systems are installed and operating, Pulte Homes plans to introduce solar water heating as a buyer option. During the first year of this program, at least 3 dozen systems are expected to be sold. (Ed. Dave Beck, Pulte Homes, says estimates show that purchase of a SWH system and subsequent lower monthly utility bills will be comparable to the costs in a home with a traditional water heating system. The SWH systems are very durable and over the 20-30 years of the life of the system, a homeowner’s savings should be substantial. The first systems will be installed on model homes in March.)

Using simulated hot water loads, the performance analysis will be confirmed with tests on the systems in the model homes. Owner occupied solar water heated homes will also be tested to evaluate the performance variances attributable to different hot water use profiles. The data gained from these tests will be invaluable in confirming the performance and economic projections and in support of the marketing and outreach activities.

An educational program will be developed and used to train the sales staff, installers, inspectors, city building officials, financiers and appraisers. A promotional program will develop appropriate displays, brochures, ads, mailings and community events. Market research will also be conducted to survey buyers through focus group studies and this research will be used to refine the marketing and outreach programs. The Nevada Energy office with CSTRR support will conduct a public awareness program to promote SWH benefits to other builders, homebuyers, community leaders, realtors, and state and local policy makers.

The DOE funding provides less than 50% of the expenditures for these efforts over the planned 16-month life of this contract, which began October 1, 1998. Pulte Homes and Nevada Power Co. are providing substantial cost share to this initiative. The Nevada State Energy Office is also providing financial support.

CSTRR is excited about this solar opportunity as this is the very first solar hot water program of this magnitude that is supported by a leading home builder and a Fortune 500 utility. As a result of this program, CSTRR and the DOE anticipate increasing acceptance of this solar water-heating appliance by other leading builders. Discussions are planned with the State Energy Office to expand the use of this product in new construction markets and ultimately in the existing home markets throughout Nevada.

SUSTAINABILITY IN POLITICS by Assemblyman Kelly Thomas, Las Vegas, NV

My paradigm for thinking has been changed forever. Over the course of my studies, at UNLV’s School of Architecture, I was introduced to a concept of thinking – the concept of sustainability. The idea that we did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, rather that we borrow it from our children. I am now joining a small group of others who are introducing these ideas into the political arena.

America has long been known as a land of plenty. For centuries, it has drawn people to its shores with promises of endless bounty. Immigrants from all corners of the globe filled our cities establishing thriving, tight-knit communities. People dreamed of coming to the city where a chance to succeed seemed to be around every corner.

However, it was not long until the backdrop against which the American dream unfolded began to change. Families, weary from the war, but wealthy from its economic boom, ached to move away from the busy, crowded cities and towns. The booming automobile industry gave them the freedom they needed to move into suburbs and lives of unchecked consumption.

Today, as our cities continue to sprawl uncontrollably, it is becoming apparent to many architects and planners that this physical arrangement of our modern life is exhausting our economic, social and environmental capital. We cannot continue to live in a way that will rob the next generation of their tomorrow.

To secure our, and our children’s, future we must begin to live a sustainable lifestyle. We must live in a way so that the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce can be met without reducing the capacity of the environment to provide for future generations.

Sustainable living through well-planned communities has the potential to solve many of our social and environmental ills. If we can reduce our reliance on the automobile for mobility we can improve the quality of our air and water. If we can shorten commute times, we can give parents more time with their children. If we can provide better pedestrian and open space environments that encourage more people to walk and interact, we can increase civility and public safety.

Economically, if we can reduce the long term costs of building and road maintenance through proper climatic building response and by creating less impermeable surface area, we can allocate tax dollars to more important programs like renewable energies.

Art and architecture are, more often than not, the vehicles that bring new ideas into the public arena. However, while architects and planners have the tools and the dreams to map the future of our cities, it is the lawmakers who construct the legal envelope within which the city will develop. It is the lawmakers that mark the final approval of these ideas and implement the policies that will rule the lives of countless generations to come.

The people that we place in office today will pass the laws that will determine how we build our tomorrow. The way we develop, or redevelop, our communities will have much to do with whether we can live more sustainable. We cannot change our paradigm for living, however, if we do not have the legal means to do so.

We need politicians that can bring to the forefront the idea of sustainable communities as better places to live, as a preferred alternative which addresses the hierarchy of needs for shelter, security, friendships, personal freedom and fulfillment.

We need these lawmakers in our local, state and national governments and it is for this reason that I am running for a seat in the Nevada State Assembly. (Ed. Kelly is now Assemblyman Thomas and is facing the challenges of serving in our Nevada Legislature. We wish him well and look forward to more articles from him.)

MILE HIGH DESERT GARDEN at China Spring Youth Camp

It’s snowing up in the mountains tonight, but Constance Alexander and Sally Dorf are already planning for spring and looking forward to a productive growing season. Sally has been talking with the UNR Extension Service (they run the Master Gardener Program – people in this commit to 48 hours minimum volunteer work/year). She is meeting with JoAnne Kelly (horticulturist in charge of the program) with the goal being to have them take over supervision of the China Spring garden on a continuing basis. In addition, in hopes of extending the growing season at our 6000 foot altitude level, SUNRISE has applied to the NV Division of Environmental Protection for a grant to add a greenhouse and compost bins. The greenhouse would be operated with solar energy and thermal water storage and will be used as a science lab classroom for the school at the camp.

Senator Jacobsen has a bill in the Legislature that if passed would add girls’ camp at China Spring. Perhaps we’d see more flowers in our MILE HIGH GARDEN.

IERI by Tom Whelan

The Innovative Energy Research Institute of Boulder City is a non-profit corporation founded for the purpose of assisting Boulder City’s Municipal Utility to meet the coming challenges of a deregulated energy marketplace. IERI, in conjunction with UNR, DRI, and the NV State offices of Energy and Consumer Protection, are currently conceptualizing a research project that will ultimately lead to a citizen-conceived and citizen-owned energy corporation. For more information, call (702) 293-7251 or visit IERI Web page at bouldercity.com. (Ed. Tom, a SUNRISE member, is running for a position on the Boulder City Council. We wish him success.)

Call the experts who have decades of experience:

Solarquest

P O Box 8046 Reno, NV 89507

(775) 826-9210 or (800) SOLQUEST (765-7837)

email: sales@solarquest.com

THE SOLAR FOR SCHOOLS GRANT HAS ARRIVED! by Roger DeNault

For six months we have been anticipating a grant from the Moya Lear (Lear Jet) Foundation to be used to initiate a solar education project in local schools. I’m happy to report that the Lear people have generously donated $10,000 for this purpose. SUNRISE member Don Bently (Bently Nevada) has added to the grant, so as to enable us to start the project.

Sunrise has been working in partnership with Ecosage, Inc., a Vermont based corporation which supplies remote, internet-based solar education curricula to schools all across the country. Ecosage located the Lear grant source and will provide the expertise by which the program will operate. Sunrise provides the non-profit base from which monies are dispensed, and will oversee the program. We’ll make sure the right people are contacted and that the program addresses the needs of Nevada’s schools.

The purpose of the grant is to initiate an awareness of solar technology for both students and teachers. This will be accomplished by a local school, or potentially several schools,

building a "solar education station," a small trailer, outfitted with a fully functional wind and solar system. This station, in turn, can do real work. Initially, it will be used to charge an electric "go-cart," or "electrathon," which will also be built by the students. In addition, the education station can be transported to other schools to demonstrate how solar and wind works. It can also be used as a stand-alone communication center in the event of a Y2K crisis or other natural disasters.

In the event several schools become involved in the program, we anticipate a number of solar electrathon go-carts will be built and that these will be raced, one school against another. There is nothing like competition to involve the kids, and to serve as a motivator to understand and improve the technologies used!

Virginia City High School, under the able guidance of Mr. Ric Schrank, has already built electrathons and other electric vehicles, beginning in the early 90s. Their program can always use in-kind or cash donations. If you are interested, contact Ric at the High School at 847-0992

Sunrise member Dr. Joe DeFlyer, of Western Nevada Community College, is looking into how the College can set our program up so teachers can receive "in service" credits for attending the initial 3-day intensive workshop we plan. College students could also receive credit for taking the education station to schools to demonstrate its capability.

Call if you’d like more information on this program:

NORTH DAKOTA SOLAR RACE CAR VISITS LAS VEGAS by Gail Lucas

The University of North Dakota Solar Car Team visited Las Vegas from March 8 to 12 to test their solar race car, called SUBZERO 2, at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. On Wednesday, March 10, the team members showed the solar powered car at the Desert Research Institute. This stop will be the team's only one away from the Speedway as they will be here primarily to test the car. They wanted to interact briefly with students during this visit to increase awareness about solar energy and technology and show off the SUBZERO 2's array of 756 solar cells, which produce approximately 1000 Watts of power.

From June 20 through June 29 the UND team from Grand Forks will participate in the 1300 mile Sunrayce from Washington, D.C. to Florida.

VOLUNTEERISM by Roger DeNault

We have many members who mention on their application forms that they’d be interested in volunteering for projects. Perhaps they become disinterested when no one calls to ask them to volunteer for some specific project. I’d like to suggest that one of the roles that Sunrise plays is to become a conduit or vehicle for projects that may interest each of you. Each of you has special interests and talents. We can help to expedite those ideas you may have had in the past. Use this group as a resource! We’re here to help you, not just the other way around.

One example is the school program I’m spearheading with help from both Ecosage and Sunrise. It was my idea, but I took it to the SUNRISE board for help to make it a reality. Our group also helped Anne Macquarrie obtain a grant from the State to produce a newsletter on Muscle Power, promoting a more bikeable and walkable environment in Carson City.

We’ve provided resources for Constance Alexander and Sally Dorf to begin an organic farming program at the youth facility at China Spring. This has been very successful. We have just helped them apply for a grant to use recyclables (compost) in a winter greenhouse (a "biodome’) in order to extend the season there.

We were able to expedite a computer to the K-9 Rescue Group in Silver Springs so that they could more efficiently place animals for adoption on the Internet.

You get the idea! Please, don’t wait for us to call you. Put together your own ideas and present them to us! Volunteerism should be proactive!

K9 RESQ- HELPING THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF WESTERN NEVADA by Pam Young

With the help of SUNRISE, K9 RESQ is helping the natural resources of western Nevada by helping to recover and place man’s best friend, the dog. Our domestic animals are a sustainable resource that needs control on a daily basis. And not by euthanasia! There is an over abundance of domestic animals and that spay/neuter is a less expensive and more humane alternative than housing in animal control shelters and paying with our tax dollars to hire individuals to patrol and care for these dogs. Our organization is directly involved with the community rescuing unwanted pets and caring for them at our own expense. We vaccinate, sterilize, and follow up on any veterinary care that the dog may need. We house the dogs indefinitely; we are a NO KILL rescue program. We have had some dogs up to one year.

Our affiliation with SUNRISE, Sustainable Resources Group has been a blessing. Roger DeNault with the SSRG has helped us immensely by providing a computer and various contacts statewide to assist in our efforts. However, our finances are stretched to the limit and we need your help to cover housing, feed, and medical supplies. Jim Benson has graciously been donating feed and donations for such can be made directly to BENSONS FEED at 2750 Hwy. 50 East, Carson City, NV 89701 or call him at (775) 882-7999. Let him know that you would like to make a donation to K9RESQ/PIT BULL RESCUE. Feed alone runs over $300; medical costs average $200 monthly, not including emergencies. This includes worming, vaccinations, and spay/neuter for each dog that comes to our program. We have vets that will cut the cost in half. For this we thank them.

My partner and myself have taken many classes at the WNCC to better our knowledge in running the rescue program. Brian is an Environmental Science major, and Pam has been taking every computer and business course possible.

For more information contact Brian Key or Pam Young (775) 577-4342, e-mail us at k9resq@accutek.com or visit our web site www.homestead.com/opalkennel/k9resq.html

We’d like to invite everyone out for a "Day of Dogs" March 13 & 14, in Reno, NV. Here you will see Rottweilers, American Pit Bull Terriers, Belgian Sheepdogs of all varieties, American Eskimos, Dalmations, Toy Fox Terriers, etc. in a United Kennel Club show sponsored by the Rottweiler Club of Nevada. For more information call Pricilla at (775) 851-3637. We do hope that you will come and enjoy yourselves and see the true nature of these breeds. Maybe even take one home!! Watch for the K9 RESQ booth and make a donation there. Tell them you read about us in the SUNRISE newsletter!

FRIENDS OF SUNRISE by Ed Powell

We are trying to put together an informal "phone book" of Sunrise members, friends, allies, and related businesses. I'm combining various membership lists, lists from the Solar Home Tour, and other useful contacts. The book will include name, address, phone/fax number(s), workplace, interests (perhaps), & group responsibilities. It will be arranged geographically, with the hope of enhancing the SUNRISE "community"- helping us see who actually is a "neighbor".

First draft will be "rough," then refined as requested by the members. This isn't to invade members' privacy, but to make us a bit more accessible to each other. It would be helpful to be aware if members have businesses and services, which we could support. You would indicate if you did not want to be mailed or otherwise contacted by members who had such businesses or services. If someone doesn't wish to be listed, that wish would be honored. If you received this newsletter in the mail, you can assume we have your address. However, there are many email addresses we do not have. Drop us a quick email, just to be sure you’re on our list. Of course, if you received this newsletter in some other fashion, we’d like to convince you to join SUNRISE!

ELECTRIFICATION – PRIME TIME PV, by Joe Morrissey

Americans look back at the powerful force of the first arrival of electrification and many still remember the revolutionary impact that home power made on their lives. Today’s question is how can we keep the power we need without destroying our air and water. Each time generations have tried to find a way around this challenge, they have ended up passing their failures in dammed rivers, rusting nuclear plants and smog on to the future. Each of the power generating technologies have their share of broken promises.

The promised potential of solar electric, known as Photovoltaics or PV, could have been amongst those broken promises. But the good news is that it is finally coming to fruition. The scientific groundwork for PV began at the dawn of the century, and thirty years ago became the power source of a growing fleet of satellites. Many magazines like Popular Science began touting the day that PV would power homes…only if it were more affordable. Slowly it began to appear in military and governmental projects. Later, it became the choice for remote homes where its expense was less than the alternative. That power was there was not the question, rather how to harvest it practically. Several approaches were tried from solar farms in the desert to panels tacked on roofs and in yards. The desire for clean energy began to overcome business as usual.

The advent of net metering agreements amongst 23 states in the past few years signals the coming of age for PV. These states recognize that PV is an emerging technology with no downsides. The promise of incorporating PV power into the existing power grid is that everyone wins. PV is ready for the mainstream.

Homeowners win because not only are they creating power, but they also own the power they create. They are immune to inevitable rate hikes, they can write off the additional interest on their taxes, and when it is time to sell they are selling a home as well as a power source. In short, they get a return on their investment that would not have been there if they had chosen to keep paying their local utility company.

Currently, Sacramento, California is the North American leader for PV. A few years ago its nuclear generator at Rancho Seco was embroiled in controversy and eventually shut down. Rather than crying over spilt milk, the leadership of the local Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) embraced the emergence of PV. They began an aggressive program to put PV on rooftops of ratepayer's homes. They reasoned that the more PV available to the power grid the better for them because they could forestall building new power plants.

According to SMUD, over its first thirty years a 4-kilowatt power roof system will provide a dramatic reduction in air pollutants while conserving natural resources. Each power roof system will significantly reduce the production of carbon dioxide (global warming) by 433,000 lbs., sulfates (acid rain) by 2,900 lbs., and nitrates (smog) by 1660 lbs. Each power roof will reduce the need for 253,000 lbs. of coal, 21,000 gallons of oil and 27 million cubic feet of natural gas.

SMUD is literally putting their money where their mouths are. They "buydown" the cost of the PV for their ratepayers, making it more affordable. The California Energy Commission likewise is buying down PV for much of the rest of the state. Those funds are on a first come, first served basis. This buy-down decreases over the next few years as the increase of PV sales allows prices to fall.

Many of the first to sign up for the buydown in California are upscale new home buyers choosing the breakthrough Atlantis Energy, Inc. SUNLATES™ roof that is both a roof and a power generator. Atlantis Energy's CEO, Mario Poznasky, wants nothing less than to cover every south facing roof in the West with SUNSLATES™. Not as fancy technology, but as a mass building material designed to take advantage of the huge energy source going to waste everyday as it pours down on our homes.

The products to harvest sun power need not to be out of reach of middle income homeowners. A new 50 home community (currently under construction) in a Compton neighborhood in Los Angeles, by Nehemiah West Development, has designed SUNSLATES™ onto their roofs. These new homeowners will have power, and will also own it. The environmental cost of energy ends on their roofs.

This Compton development is unique because it was able to leverage California's buy-down funds and was blessed with a progressive developer. It would not have made it to first base without his awareness and commitment to incorporate this new energy source into the community. It is also the first large development of PV roofed homes in the United States.

There is good reason for the rest of the Sunbelt states to systematically harvest this life-giving resource. Imagine the result of committing to cover every south-facing roof with PV throughout the west. No longer would there be a need to build more power plants in the teeth of global warming. Homeowners would have a secure source of power on their roofs. No longer would they face an endless march of utility payments leaving the monthly budget. All this is now possible and affordable. It will become even more affordable as energy rates rise, now a foregone conclusion according to the energy and utility press.

The challenge to us all is to provide governmental and personal foresight to commit to energy independence, rather than wait for another energy crisis (like the OPEC event in the 70’s) or worse "wait and see" whether global warming is truly upon us.

There is a Second Coming of energy for our homes and communities on the horizon. Communities like Sacramento and Compton are Harbingers. The shame is if we ignore their lesson.

NEVADA: HOME TO A REVOLUTIONARY NEW WINDPOWER TECHNOLOGY by Alan & Grace Caldwell, Prime Energy, Gardnerville, NV

An advanced wind turbine, particularly suited for small (300w - 50kW) wind power applications, has been developed in Nevada. After several years of engineering and testing, it is now ready for manufacture. An engineer's drawing of the wind turbine will be displayed at the Nevada Energy Independence Exhibition on March 18th. The exhibition, co-sponsored by SUNRISE and the Nevada Sustainable Energy Council, will be held on the 3rd floor of the Legislative Building in Carson City from 12:00 - 5:30pm.

The first commercial prototype of the wind turbine will be introduced in conjunction with the latest fuel cell technology at the National Hydrogen Association Convention in Washington D.C. on April 7-9. Contact Prime Energy Corporation, Alan or Grace Caldwell, at 775-782-8471 for more information.

by Roger DeNault

We always enjoy hearing from folks as to how we are doing. Some letters, however, are more entertaining than others. Here’s what we recently received from A.J.: "It is apparent to me, after reading your newsletter, that my life is not worth diddly squat without a membership in SUNRISE. Since I am old and rapidly approaching feeble, please accept the senior rate. It seems a copy of the home tour literature would enrich my life considerably also. So much more so should it be autographed as was teased in the newsletter. Consequently you may find enclosed $17. I shall be waiting in anticipation of the next newsletter and schedule of what is in store in 1999." Thanks, AJ! Your Solar Home Tour Booklet is in the mail, and autographed by yours truly.

BR, a retired senior designer, writes that he was motivated to sign up for a membership as a result of the fuel cell article written by Jeremy Snyder of DRI, Reno in our last newsletter. Thanks, B.R., we’ll try to keep abreast of the latest in this technology through our contacts with Glenn Rambach, Jeremy Snyder, Arne LaVen and the others at DRI working on these, and other advanced energy concepts.

Printed with recycled electrons.

Marion Barritt, President (775) 782-7353

Janice Barbour, Vice President (775) 849-0852

Roger DeNault, Treasurer (831) 460-1250

Mark Harris, Secretary (775) 355-7035

Ernie Nielsen (775) 746-0411

Betsy Gledhill (775) 849-0842

Susan Czopek (775) 849-9377

Bob Cooper (775) 322-6072

Ed Powell (775) 747-6082

This newsletter was edited by Marion Barritt and Roger DeNault, and published by Roger DeNault.