tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61317672333204251882024-02-20T22:46:21.378-08:00Where's the Solar?Reporting on solar installations in the nation's capitalAndrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-76357947622274856002020-03-02T09:09:00.005-08:002020-03-24T09:59:26.936-07:00Presenting at the 2019 Appalachian State Energy Summit<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRRayKV4EFU4_uEPCTSvKgldTi7d-d6tr2qI0OLsxt9tH5sJsKqjR2cOg8i7wMNhf8CrPajuE8QYvbToQA7fUNxabW_EjXPiGQ5GELf1SSLd8ApJyfSPMtahl7DkjX9Fsk160thbYF1Ek/s1600/PDF+Two+Storms+Poster-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This poster compares Cuban and Puerto Rican Grids after Hurricanes Irma and Maria. It is a culmination of work I did with Vittoria Energy Expedition, an educational non-profit looking at energy independence as well as my sustainability studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1500" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRRayKV4EFU4_uEPCTSvKgldTi7d-d6tr2qI0OLsxt9tH5sJsKqjR2cOg8i7wMNhf8CrPajuE8QYvbToQA7fUNxabW_EjXPiGQ5GELf1SSLd8ApJyfSPMtahl7DkjX9Fsk160thbYF1Ek/s640/PDF+Two+Storms+Poster-1.jpg" title="Comparing Cuban and Puerto Rican Grids after Hurricanes Irma and Maria" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In all of its glory, the poster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="color: #1c1e21;">AT A GLANCE</span></b><br />
<div class="" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB9jQ3X3i36ofNBzrze53Gzv19eZNT81h4q-itGGD2g0RJ6_65HLqDf8Yt3sNysrdZF0ofO7x-w-2G_bUFbp2D-aK-Zz-FAtMzDPe9w3ejYAN7IsOMBv6YIoe9vifBz6-x83DQndgGpui/s1600/99ED3807-A011-4775-80E1-0F74DC4BCC98.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Posing at the 2019 Appalachian State University Energy Conference. Andrew Polich in front of his poster." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYB9jQ3X3i36ofNBzrze53Gzv19eZNT81h4q-itGGD2g0RJ6_65HLqDf8Yt3sNysrdZF0ofO7x-w-2G_bUFbp2D-aK-Zz-FAtMzDPe9w3ejYAN7IsOMBv6YIoe9vifBz6-x83DQndgGpui/s320/99ED3807-A011-4775-80E1-0F74DC4BCC98.JPG" title="Posing at the 2019 Appalachian State University Energy Conference" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud and exhausted all at once.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #1c1e21;">In July 2019, I got professional and presented some
energy resilience insights at the Appalachian State University Energy
Conference. My presentation, "A Tale of Two Storms," discussed the
huge difference between recovery in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria versus
recovery in Cuba after Hurricane Irma. Through visits to both of these islands
with Vittoria Energy Expedition, I learned how distributed energy helped Cuba
respond MUCH quicker than Puerto Rico where centralized energy caused the worst
blackout in U.S. history, lasting for almost a YEAR in some places. An
important insight into the future of the planet and renewable energy!</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #1c1e21;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1c1e21;">I even got to moderate the <a href="https://sustain.appstate.edu/initiatives/energy-summit/2019/student/">Campus Initiatives in Sustainability</a> working group. The discussions were enriching and challenging!</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>MORE BACKGROUND</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Islands
are excellent case studies for disaster mitigation. Around storms, they are
isolated from larger supply lines of fuel, food, and water. In the fall of
2017, the Caribbean saw two massive back-to-back storms. Hurricanes Irma and
Maria were both Category 5 and affected densely populated areas. But there were
stark contrasts in preparedness and response, especially with electricity.
Because Puerto Rico fell short on both fronts, Hurricane Maria took a toll of
around $100 billion and 3,000 lives--magnitudes more than what Irma was for
Cuba. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj9TN_rZgX2IWcTafPLlhm3DhTSil_uoETIQZRBiilUsc4tZKb12abKz3KKOJ6mBJ-uUVlCdsGdvFXEnE7odENG-zel1bDNaWONAQ7tu2Guf42FwonACmv5auARK7RXruBvJmz9XuDcFY/s1600/88347046_319004519073807_5757533643178246144_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="View of poster competition at the 2019 Appalachian State University Energy Conference. " border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="1500" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjj9TN_rZgX2IWcTafPLlhm3DhTSil_uoETIQZRBiilUsc4tZKb12abKz3KKOJ6mBJ-uUVlCdsGdvFXEnE7odENG-zel1bDNaWONAQ7tu2Guf42FwonACmv5auARK7RXruBvJmz9XuDcFY/s640/88347046_319004519073807_5757533643178246144_n.png" title="View of poster competition at the 2019 Appalachian State University Energy Conference. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm in a grey suit. <a href="https://sustain.appstate.edu/_images/postersession-2019-full-1500.jpg">Source</a>.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Two
classmates and I explored the two storms through maps. We looked at storm
paths, precipitation, wind speeds, and Doppler radar images. What shocked us
was how similar the storm maps were. One of the most compelling maps we
produced used before-and-after night time satellite imagery. We learned how to
use Google Earth Engine to show how steady the lights were in the capital
cities (Havana and San Juan). Those findings are on slide 8 of <a href="http://www.wheresthesolar.com/2019/04/tale-of-two-storms.html">this older post</a></span><span style="color: black;">.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTYSjCMRGNqIqpj3PMib8VNbDktffEGFEVjtKZXY0TE2DaReN-GVSzwKPKrdAWMa1vAtV2Egm8CA-ZcflmnJNNr7mPOOzas5t1-BiKSxUUpjPu0ENsL3yMtSrHsI7Baxg6SaqW9oajY_g/s1600/DC80079C-F3FE-4D01-AA60-5069B34E27A5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Andrew Polich presenting his poster to a fellow participant (center) and Chelsea Loftus (left) at the 2019 Appalachian State Energy Summit." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTYSjCMRGNqIqpj3PMib8VNbDktffEGFEVjtKZXY0TE2DaReN-GVSzwKPKrdAWMa1vAtV2Egm8CA-ZcflmnJNNr7mPOOzas5t1-BiKSxUUpjPu0ENsL3yMtSrHsI7Baxg6SaqW9oajY_g/s320/DC80079C-F3FE-4D01-AA60-5069B34E27A5.JPG" title="Andrew Polich presenting his poster to a fellow participant (center) and Chelsea Loftus (left) at the 2019 Appalachian State Energy Summit." width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Presenting to fellow participants and the general public.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">With such
similar storms, how could the costs be so different? Why was Puerto Rico’s
power restoration timeline so much longer than Cuba’s? We found that it came
down to distributed energy. After a devastating storm a decade earlier, Cuba
decided to transition from centralized electricity to decentralized (or
distributed). The government quickly installed diesel-electric generators all
across the island. Even if transmission lines were severed, power losses would
be localized and limited. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Puerto
Rico’s electricity was maintained by the utility, PREPA. The central grid was
destroyed during the storm and electricity was out for many months.
Transmission lines were cut and power generation facilities rendered
inoperable. The slow restoration of electricity proved to be more deadly than
the storm’s primary hit.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">With a
team at Vittoria Energy Expedition (an educational non-profit), I traveled to
both Puerto Rico and Cuba to learn more about the different electricity
systems. I interviewed power providers, communities, and government officials.
I documented and mapped out what I learned.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6SdOfqrcgIyWhp-tVRjF1-7DL0zCwwRRUzFk4ukFwBgmmzTZ1ssoSmmHi8zoIwwfV8-giPXIspZUmMezAM4t4by1iRZRUV-UdSeOrkA2Z9OSx6sTkDfYmsQQRrHtMtI3plIjEuPXbp45/s1600/2E3D62C2-ED88-42F0-97F3-6C08EAB0756E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute and Andrew Polich of Lenoir-Rhyne University talking about the decentralized Cuban grid system." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6SdOfqrcgIyWhp-tVRjF1-7DL0zCwwRRUzFk4ukFwBgmmzTZ1ssoSmmHi8zoIwwfV8-giPXIspZUmMezAM4t4by1iRZRUV-UdSeOrkA2Z9OSx6sTkDfYmsQQRrHtMtI3plIjEuPXbp45/s200/2E3D62C2-ED88-42F0-97F3-6C08EAB0756E.JPG" title="Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute and Andrew Polich of Lenoir-Rhyne University talking about the decentralized Cuban grid system. " width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chatting with Amory Lovins of<br />
the Rocky Mountain Institute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-right: .2pt; margin: .2in;">
<span style="color: black;">On both
islands, I learned how the people came to make do with limited equipment and
use any resources at their disposal. But it was this ingenuity matched with
effective government programs that made Cuba weathering Irma a success story.
Neighboring islands and coastal communities can learn a lot from the King of
the Caribbean in preparedness, resilience, and sustainability. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-13690208248379055382019-04-23T17:28:00.001-07:002019-05-04T21:05:27.274-07:00Tale of Two StormsHere's a project I did with some peers at <a href="https://www.lr.edu/asheville">Lenoir-Rhyne University</a> in Asheville. It tells the story of how Cuba and Puerto Rico weathered two category 5 hurricanes--the contrast is stark. It was inspired by a November 2017 visit to Puerto Rico with <a href="https://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a>.<br />
.<br />
..<br />
...<br />
....<br />
.....<br />
......<br />
.......<br />
........<br />
.........<br />
..........<br />
...........<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="700px" scrolling="yes" src="https://lru.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=64c1d4d958084211b578261000bd314c" width="150%"></iframe>Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-54079195204702570172017-10-24T03:49:00.004-07:002017-10-24T04:03:20.537-07:00Turkey is Huge on Solar<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/fY4D92ULdmU/0.jpg" frameborder="1" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fY4D92ULdmU?feature=player_embedded" width="500"></iframe></div>
<br />
Before the US and Turkey mutually cut off tourist visas, I got to spend 4 weeks in Turkey touring around with some amazing people. For 10 of those days, we were in the village of Ortahisar, home to <a href="https://www.google.com.tr/maps/place/Ortahisar+Castle/@38.6181845,34.8594615,16z/data=!4m18!1m12!4m11!1m3!2m2!1d34.8592683!2d38.6188216!1m6!1m2!1s0x152a42a6d73c3ff1:0xb87367a01a8a35f0!2sEagle+Cave+Inn,+Eski+Mahalle,+Hac%C4%B1+Telgraf+Caddesi+No:23,+Nev%C5%9Fehir!2m2!1d34.8654503!2d38.6196472!3m4!1s0x0:0x14484c418323abe7!8m2!3d38.6203555!4d34.8646054">an amazing rock castle</a>. As you can see in the below video, I did a bunch of hiking in the nearby valley. It was a lovely time.<br />
<br />
What I did not expect was to see SO MUCH SOLAR! I'm not talking about photovoltaics or PV, the panels that turn the sun's energy directly into electricity. These were solar hot water panels. They're generally larger than PV panels and don't have the metal conductor strips running through creating that classic grid look. In the image below, the solar hot water panel is on the left.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSRz3qL3vzIR6Ezm6rcvQfGDUfKJjjC7HRmSuSikfwaRtCRxEcIKNYhvno8NnKUYyaDSEEA1jHV8PpRFZUY8IYw8JMZYmODDiN4O3FiLl3EG_rw1LYHLRTo7UdxtVu2jOrE0zIENh50wE/s1600/Solar+Info+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="514" data-original-width="634" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSRz3qL3vzIR6Ezm6rcvQfGDUfKJjjC7HRmSuSikfwaRtCRxEcIKNYhvno8NnKUYyaDSEEA1jHV8PpRFZUY8IYw8JMZYmODDiN4O3FiLl3EG_rw1LYHLRTo7UdxtVu2jOrE0zIENh50wE/s400/Solar+Info+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://www.solarizeyourworld.com/solar-pv-vs-solar-thermal">Solarize Your World</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<div>
In Ortahisar, we were perched up on a hill overlooking neighboring rooftops. A vast majority of them had these panels. In fact, every town I went to during my 4 week stay in Turkey had these panels sprinkled all across the skyline. In the video above, you'll see some amazing shots from a cable car in Alanya to give you an idea of how ubiquitous solar hot water is.<br />
<br />
So I did some research and found that Turkey is a big leader the solar thermal market <a href="http://www.solarthermalworld.org/content/global-status-report-2017-key-shc-data-markets-and-policy">According to REN21</a>, it is second only to China. Compared to the US, they have double the installed capacity (1.45 GW-thermal VS 0.6 GW). Go Turkey!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My hosts told me about how people put this solar energy to use. Most of their neighbors heat their water in the summer. When there is less sun in the winter, they go back to relying on more traditional--and expensive--methods like gas or electricity.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I reached out to a number of other innovative companies including Baymak, <a href="http://www.solimpeks.com/company/about-us/">Solimpeks</a>, and Ezinc. I wasn't able to arrange a visit but I can save that for next time, after this US-Turkey tourist visa fiasco is over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KuKDpLYs288/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KuKDpLYs288?feature=player_embedded" width="500"></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-67479632018127549832017-08-21T09:07:00.004-07:002017-08-21T09:07:59.652-07:00Another Interesting Form of Energy--Poop!This blog has largely centered around my exploration of different solar projects. Things as small as a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po2cr7DpE6c">miniature solar-powered row boat</a> to <a href="http://www.wheresthesolar.com/2015/02/giant-solar-farm-mount-st-marys-in.html">an electric field in Maryland</a> that stretches as far as the eye can see.<br />
<br />
However, I'd like to take this opportunity to focus on another form of renewable and dare I say, clean energy. It's poop.<br />
<br />
With my colleagues at <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a>, I went to visit the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Miami, FL. I've actually wanted to visit one of these plants for a long time. During my 5 years in DC, I longed to go to <a href="https://www.dcwater.com/blue-plains">Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant</a>. But alas, my full-time job and their STUPID schedule was visit-prohibitive and I left DC wondering...<br />
<div>
<br />
But a couple of weeks ago, my dream came true.<br />
<br />
I've got a much more flexible schedule now, Vittoria's got solid connections, and the good people working for Miami-Dade County were willing to organize a great tour of an enormous poop factory. Here are my big take-aways:<br />
<br />
<b> - Don't through wipes down the toilet! </b>All of our tour guides agreed that those things are a huge cause of blockage in the sewer systems (grease from restaurants is also really bad).<br />
<b>- 33% of the electricity this poo-poo plant uses comes from the waste it processes!</b> The plant requires electricity for lighting, temperature controls, pumping, etc. and it uses a lot.<br />
<b> - Wastewater management is a huge deal, especially in Miami. </b>The city will see an increase of both people and flooding in the next few decades.<br />
<b>- The plant is building up. </b>We visited some of the super-important electronic controls and gases in the plant. All of these are being placed on foundations that are at least ten feet higher than the original systems built in the '50s. Miami is seeing a lot more storm surges and they can't afford to have one take out Central District Wastewater.<br />
<br />
Check out more of the videos from our Florida Expedition on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CV2vRk-1d0&list=PLFE-f6LrJPUNmXoYS5MalMmZHEokyUE2M">this sweet playlist</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DdS08niEeVU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="532" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DdS08niEeVU?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-70736442085181386672017-07-07T16:03:00.002-07:002017-07-07T16:23:00.217-07:00Videos--The Way I Aim to Do Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/I8grqY2FnG0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I8grqY2FnG0?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-right: 7px;" width="320"></iframe></div>
I recently filmed a kayaking trip with my brother and sister-in-law. It was to test out the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=campark+4k+action+camera&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=177289305599&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=388806689273515660&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010315&hvtargid=aud-383594461117:kwd-224821388914&ref=pd_sl_5dimfxsagn_b">Campark 4K Action Camera</a> I purchased. However, I was really pleased with the flow of the video.<br />
<br />
In fact, I liked it so much that I wish I had filmed all of my solar site visits like this. I wish all of my blog posts were like this.<br />
<br />
I like the narration mixed in with the action/scenic shots. I think it does a much better job of telling the story than my videos where I either filmed a field of solar panels without any spoken commentary or recorded an interview with no supporting visuals or breaks in the back-and-forth.<br />
<br />
I'm finally seeing the importance of having an attention grabbing format. When you look at a vlogger like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/caseyneistat">Casey Neistat</a>, he's working to grab your attention by changing the shot every 3-5 seconds, being super animated in his narration, choosing flashy music, and introducing concepts that make you feel like you're learning something new. If I could be anything like that--the clean energy version--I think I'd be doing the world a great service.<br />
<br />
The funny thing is, I learned this 'format' lesson in way back in 2010 while teaching English in France. My first few days were painful for everyone. The 6-11 year olds that I was teaching got extremely tired of my listen and repeat method. The teachers nudged me to switch up the activities every 15 minutes or so.<br />
<br />
By the end of the year, I was bouncing around from Simon Says to singing "We are the world" to mini conversations. I think I'm in that transition moment now with my online content generation.<br />
<br />
One final point on format, you need good equipment. Everything I've been doing up until now has been on a cell phone. It's amazing what cell phones can do but when you compare the shots taken by a sports action camera or the sound quality of a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=rode+videomic+pro&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=178567399198&hvpos=1t1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=130221076125749118&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=e&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010315&hvtargid=aud-383594461117:kwd-25309682464&ref=pd_sl_8fcz5suink_e">Rode Videomic Pro</a>, it's night and day. And I've watched enough videos to know how irritating it is to watch a grainy video where you can barely hear anyone. If you're cranking out videos, the only excuses you have for poor quality are as follows:<br />
<br />
<ol><iframe 7px="" allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FrBcok1iaqI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" margin-left:="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FrBcok1iaqI?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>
<li>You (like me) are either too cheap or too poor to invest in good equipment. Not a good excuse.</li>
<li>The video you are shooting is a dramatic moment where you only had time to pull out a cell phone. For example, an earthquake, violence, street protest, or phenomena in the animal kingdom.</li>
</ol>
<br />
From this point on, the videos and writing you see from me will take this into account. In the meantime, here's a throwback to one of my favorite WheresTheSolar videos.Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-6553606139761313982017-06-18T07:32:00.001-07:002017-06-18T07:55:59.802-07:00Hard Rock Punta Cana: Resorts and Clean Energy? <iframe 320="" allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Nj8C7J0sjOw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nj8C7J0sjOw?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-right: 7px;"></iframe>
Hello, this is Andrew Polich and I'm down at the <a href="http://www.hardrockhotelpuntacana.com/">Hard Rock Resort</a> in Punta Cana. It's got some amazing guitars, cars, and jewelry and I've never been to a resort this big. This place is huge! It sprawls about a half mile down the beach. And if you check it out on <a href="https://www.google.com.do/maps/place/Hard+Rock+Hotel+%26+Casino+Punta+Cana/@18.7345,-68.482668,892a,35y,36.63h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xa81a3896d0e4c5a5!8m2!3d18.7330182!4d-68.4829498">Google Maps</a>, you'll see it's got more buildings and pools than you could shake a stick at. It's an ant colony human vacation activity.<br />
<br />
So why am I so interested in the size of Hard Rock Punta Cana? Well, as an energy blogger and proud team member of <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a>, I'm always wondering what people are using their energy for and where they're getting it from.<br />
<br />
I've been chatting with the staff and they say they're about 3,000 employees strong. With guests, the total population can balloon to upwards of 7,000 people.<br />
<br />
I'm staying in an enormous hotel building--I mean, check out the size of this place --and it's one of twelve. In this June heat, each building is constantly cranking out air conditioning and each restaurant and bar have cold drinks ready to go--and the Hard Rock boasts 9 restaurants.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br />Hard Rock is also using electricity for all the lights and noise</span><span style="background-color: white;">. This h</span>otel's even got a fleet of electric golf carts running around the campus at all times for lazy tourists like me.<br />
<br />
In terms of where Hard Rock is getting their energy, I don't know for sure but I'm betting it's fossil fuels. According to the <a href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/dr.html">CIA World Factbook</a>, the Dominican Republic's electricity breakdown is 85% fossil fuel, 13% hydroelectric, and about 2% other renewables.<br />
<br />
Resorts like Hard Rock are mini cities--remember, it can have 7,000 people running around during the busy season. If a place like this installed solar panels on its enormous building roofs, it could profoundly change energy demand in this region. And if other hotels and resorts that line the Dominican's beaches improved their energy production and consumption, they could change the country's energy profile.<br />
<br />
In about a month, I'm going to be exploring energy projects in Cuba with my team at <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a>. Over the next decade or two, I imagine Cuba will be trending in the direction of the Dominican Republic and building out its tourist economy and resorts. Team Vittoria and I will be waiting to see if those resorts embrace the future.Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-79764909918460821672017-06-06T09:31:00.004-07:002017-06-06T09:54:17.634-07:00The Paris Climate Agreement and What CNN and FOX Can Do to Save Humanity<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been inundated with opinions on President Trump not signing onto the </span><a href="http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php" style="font-family: inherit;">Paris Climate Agreement</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. It's in newspaper articles, late night talk shows, press releases, and Facebook rants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This hoopla seems like the perfect opportunity for someone like me to chime in: I blog about renewable energy, can <u>hear</u> both sides in a political debate, like the city of Paris, and have spent my adult life working on big policy questions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Through all of the recent noise, I've pinpointed six important items. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">CHAPITRE UN--What Happened</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">President Trump traveled for a few weeks to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Vatican City, Brussels, and Sicily before returning to the US on May 27. During that time, he met with world leaders and promised a decision on the Paris Agreement--a non-binding agreement signed by the US in April 2016 and the vast majority of nearly 200 countries. On June 1, from the White House Rose Garden, he made this statement:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">...in order to fulfill my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord...but begin negotiations to reenter either the Paris Accord or a really entirely new transaction on terms that are fair to the United States, its businesses, its workers, its people, its taxpayers. So we’re getting out. But we will start to negotiate, and we will see if we can make a deal that’s fair. And if we can, that’s great. And if we can’t, that’s fine. </span></i></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But it's not President Trump's announcement that deserves investigation. You can try to read between the lines but I think it's pretty straight forward. Also, this is in line with what he's been saying since the beginning of the campaign and it's no where near as colorful or forceful as some of the statements he's made on Islam, the wall, and healthcare. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The response, on the other hand, has been somewhat of a circus to follow. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">And now, everyone's arguing at a deafening pitch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b>CHAPITRE DEUX--</b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">No Matter What, Cities are a Huge Deal Here</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cities around the globe are the innovators for the environment--new technology is being tested. If you want to talk about addressing climate change, these are the laboratories for new approaches to water way clean ups, slicker city planning, better energy consumption, and effective waste management. Cities house the big populations that put pressure on the environment but they're also the location of the universities, companies, and workers that can help reduce the burden.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's one way to think of how important cities are in this debate. As humans, we're concerned about our immediate environment. The future of the global climate is complex with many mechanisms and interrupting factors that make predictions difficult if not impossible. It's hard for many Americans to individually relate to global climate patterns and moreover, think of how we might manage them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">At a city level, however, we feel the impacts and feel more agency. In big cities like LA, we can clearly see how human activity is affecting water quality, air quality, forestation, and even the climate. Asphalt and windows heat up the cities' temperatures. Chicken crap and sewage make many of our streams unswimmable and undrinkable. The exhaust that our cars and trucks and trucks fart out lowers the air quality and gives a lot of city dwellers breathing problems. You'll find more people agreeing on these realities--and doing something about it--than on "global climate change".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many cities outdate the nations in which they find themselves. Baltimore, my current stomping grounds, was founded in July of 1729. For you history majors out there, you know that's older than our great nation. In fact, our first president wasn't born until three years later, in 1732. Since 1729, Baltimoreons have been working their butts off to maintain an inhabitable environment: shoveling horse deuce from the streets, establishing parks for people to enjoy, replacing gas lamps with electric ones, and sifting trash out of the Inner Harbor. Americans could learn a lot from the 288 years of experience Baltimore has amassed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">From a politician's perspective, debating human effects on the environment are also much easier at the city level. If you're the Democratic mayor of South Bend, IN, using city funds to pay for a industrial site clean up or riverfront revitalization will have an immediate effect. Taxpayers can see their money at work and some might even enjoy it and re-elect you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Republican politician at the federal level from Florida or the Mississippi Delta region is similarly concerned about their cities. If water levels are off by even a thin margin, that poses a big problem to their way of life. And they'd sign onto federal legislation guaranteeing protection and funding for water projects in <i>their</i> backyards. However, why on earth would they support legislation that funds projects in South Bend that in no clear way benefits their voters? Present-day environmental legislation ends up being too sweeping or not immediately relevant to many federal legislators and their constituents.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Clearly, environmental politics at the city level are much more practical and relatable than the national or international levels. It's no surprise an agreement like the one in Paris might encounter a hold-up, such as the US pulling out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b>CHAPITRE TROIS--</b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is a Great PR Opportunity for the Business World</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Across the US, companies are making their voice heard on the Paris Agreement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many Fortune 500 companies are signaling that they do not support President Trump's decision to back out. It's become the popular thing to do--Silicon Valley's biggest companies reacted immediately </span>via press releases and tweets.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk and Disney's Bob Iger even left Trump's advisory council.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But this should come as no surprise. By supporting Paris, t</span>hese companies are branding themselves to masses that buy into the futuristic culture of renewable energy, green campuses, and environmentally 'friendly' products. Also remember that m<span style="font-family: inherit;">any of these companies have offices in Europe and across countries that firmly support the agreement. They're messaging to those bases as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Furthermore, take the examples of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and even Amazon's Jeff Bezos. Like Zuckerberg, many Silicon Valley tech entrepreneurs are</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Millennials--they grew up with a strong sense of environmentalism reinforced by school clean up programs, Captain Planet, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">An Inconvenient Truth, </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and politicians on TV debating the Kyoto Protocol. Bezos, born in '64 is a Gen Xer and was a young witness </span>the founding of the EPA in 1970, <span style="font-family: inherit;">the oil crisis of the mid '70s, a</span>nd many large water clean ups like Lake Erie and the spontaneously combusting Cuyahoga River. For these guys, the Paris Agreement is right in line with the messaging their generations grew up with.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">But this isn't every company profile. Many companies don't have offices in Europe or compete in the progressive Silicon Valley arena or believe that an environmentalist agreement will benefit their bottom line. To them, Trump's backing out represents protecting American jobs and maintaining America's independence from an overly bureaucratic international system. It's not surprising that such an </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">agreement would seem menacing to US extractive, transport, and manufacturing industries. And to those that support the Agreement, these companies are scratching their heads wondering why so many people are opinionated about a document they haven't even read. These are far from radical positions in the American business community. </span>Though Musk and Iger left, there are still <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2017/06/05/donald-and-the-c-suite-the-ceos-still-serving-on-trumps-advisory-councils/">45 remaining C-suite members</a> of Trump's advisory council<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>CHAPITRE QUATRE--</b><b>Future of the Agreement</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">What happens next with the Paris Agreement? The US hasn't officially exited and even if we do, it won't happen until the next US Presidential Election <i>and </i>the Agreement can be re-drafted. Heck, look at Trump's wording above. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there's Congress. Although they may give their opinions on the Agreement, it is not a treaty. As such, it does not require Senate ratification--it isn't in their jurisdiction. But if you are interestedin seeing what Congress is getting done, check out the hearings and legislation coming from the committees on <a href="https://www.epw.senate.gov/public/">Senate Environment and Public Works</a>, <a href="https://naturalresources.house.gov/">House Natural Resources</a>, or <a href="https://science.house.gov/">House Science, Space, and Technology</a>. To those C-SPAN loyalists, I salute you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the interim, important global companies and governments (city, state, and national) will keep innovating and raising their environmental standards. Without a doubt, countries will reach an agreement on managing their environmental impacts. However, once we've achieved that, the next world-ending hot-button issue will rear its ugly head and humans will do their fire drill.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which brings me to my favorite observation...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">CHAPITRE CINQ--</span></b><b>Future of the Climate Change Debate in America</b></span><br />
We will continue to argue on everything from the most trivial to most consequential policies. And every time, it manages to feel like the end of the world. Fortunately, I don't see the world ending any time soon so let's exhale and consider the following.<br />
<br />
In America, no side wants to concede on the climate change debate. It would be a political defeat. We're gonna be arguing about "Is climate change real?" long after the cows come home. <span style="font-family: inherit;">The phrasing and goals of this debate need to change or else we're going to continue to gridlock. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's an analogy. Let's say you're managing an employee and </span>didn't properly onboard him. He had great potential so you gave him the tall order of "fixing the company". Every time he wanted guidance and specifics, you kept it vague and overwhelming. So, he's become somewhat of a turd in your back pocket. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, he aggressively hits on all of his female colleagues, doesn't finish his work on time, and has threatened to burn the office to the ground. He's become</span> a polarizing figure in the workplace<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Either way, he's a menace to the future of the company. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This employee's name is "Harold ClimateChangeDebate". It's time to get rid of Harold and hire someone new. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So you've decided to hire "Sabrina LetsJustGetShitDone". During her onboarding process, you're specific with Ms. LetsGetShitDone </span>about what needs to be done<span style="font-family: inherit;">. You tell her you're not looking to fix the whole company, instead, you want to use her skills to make targeted changes here and there. When you present her to her colleagues, they find her a lot more approachable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Sabrina lives up to her family name and is able to achieve targeted goals. In the end, these goals add up to an overhaul of the company and everyone lives happily ever after with pay raises and a better work space.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's my analogy. If it wasn't clear enough, I guess what I'm trying to say is that we should spend less energy debating climate change and more energy getting shit done. I don't care what you call it. In fact, instead of climate change we should either adopt another name (like the "Viable Human Habitat" debate or "The Earth Enhancement" debate) or debate individual components separately (transport, industry, agriculture, oceans, rivers, forests, etc.). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The problem is, I know it's fun for news agencies to go around surveying people about their stance on climate change. I also know it's fun to judge people instantly if they say they're either for or against something. Sure makes my life easier. But perhaps we could retire such bad habits from this debate and transplant them onto something new that we also like to argue about, like dogs vs. cats or powerboats vs. sailboats. What a wonderful world this would be if we could get FOX and CNN to dedicate their unending news cycles to interviewing incoherent pet or boat owners and extrapolating on how those divisions are leading to America's demise. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><b>CHAPITRE SIX--</b><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Future of Humanity</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Paris Agreement is a consequential agreement and has the power to positively change our lives and planet. But even if we became perfect environmentalists tomorrow, humanity would see changes in weather patterns and climate. It's going to happen and you can quote me on that. It will affect things like our air, water, crops, and general livability of our cities. Because Earth is a dynamic environment, we have to find solutions to address these issues. Again, it's often easier to do that on the local level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">With regard to Earth's climate, we must understand that there is a narrow niche that we can live in (not 150F or -50F, not hurricane force winds and limited fresh water). So let's pray that Earth doesn't change too drastically. If it does, we've got a few options. Here are some of the cooler ones I could think of: </span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Move populations somewhere inhabitable like geodesic biospheres or other planets once we've worked out the kinks of bending the fabric of space time. Or perhaps, that might just mean moving billions of people to Canada;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Embrace climate-altering geo-engineering like the people at <a href="http://www.intellectualventures.com/">Intellectual Ventures</a>. We have the power to stop hurricanes on the Gulf of Mexico by <a href="http://www.intellectualventureslab.com/assets_lab/Salter-Sink-white-paper-300dpi1.pdf">changing water temperatures with buoys</a> or cool Earth's temperatures by mirroring the suns rays. Obviously, these come with enormous consequences and might be best accomplished by a rogue group but they appeal to our epic side; </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">And alter human genetics to make us more resilient to harsh climates. Even if we don't do well with extreme change, other species on Earth do. Perhaps we can mimic some of them and develop super humans--half rat genetics, half cockroach, and all ugly. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, there are things that can alter the Earth's climate like asteroids and calderas that are out of our control. But for what we can control, why not make our presence leaner and more efficient. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>-------</b><b>-------------------------------</b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, the Paris Climate Agreement has shown me that we're at the teenage stage in our relationship with Mother Earth. We've grown up fast--in the last couple hundred of years, we've built populations, skyscrapers, and weapons bigger and better than ever before. With this growth, we've also become extremely volatile and hormonal. If we don't pay some respect, she's still our mother and can smack us down with harsher living situations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">But we're reaching the stage of young adulthood. As a species, we're learning through our powers of observation that we can't just run around yelling and punching things. We need to present a better face if we want to keep our job at the restaurant. We're also more coordinated than our lanky, teenage self. All the different parts--from Asia to the Americas--are in better and more constant communication. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The noise following Paris actually gives me hope that we'll be smarter, more humble, and less at odds with Mother Earth. </span>Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-32375496554823094042016-10-28T11:47:00.003-07:002016-10-28T11:47:53.233-07:00Solar Golf Cart in Puerto RicoI want to tell you about a lovely vacation I had with my mom in Puerto Rico. I decided I needed some time to decompress between finishing up 5 years at the US Institute of Peace and starting a new job at the Lieber Institute for Brain Development. Puerto Rico was an easy-access and affordable solution.<br />
<br />
During our Oct. 22 to Oct. 27 visit, we stayed in Old San Juan and toured a number of coastal towns, the Bacardi Factory, the <a href="http://www.naic.edu/">Arecibo Observatory</a>, <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque">El Yunque National Forest</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_San_Felipe_del_Morro">El Morro Fort</a>. Each of these visits had a clean energy component. Below are some of the more notable ones.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkVWeQM6rzFtd3CQBikDcv5VJM_oiD10deps93cKD3C01l60rV3YQ3sZnhs4MrsewQshCE_A3pYxRWGE-SGTd9uWWx8bH5iN3BM6W4FYvcfQbiZXr-fS-Njd89ZuGW7E3dmIc50QQc-0Q/s1600/Bacardi+Factory+Tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Wind Turbines at Bacardi" border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvkVWeQM6rzFtd3CQBikDcv5VJM_oiD10deps93cKD3C01l60rV3YQ3sZnhs4MrsewQshCE_A3pYxRWGE-SGTd9uWWx8bH5iN3BM6W4FYvcfQbiZXr-fS-Njd89ZuGW7E3dmIc50QQc-0Q/s320/Bacardi+Factory+Tour.jpg" title="Wind Turbines at Bacardi" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My mom posing in front of the 1960s conceptual bat pavilion with one <br />of the wind turbines looming in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The Bacardi Factory had two wind turbines owned and maintained by Aspenall Energies (<a href="http://www.power-technology.com/projects/bacardiwindpowerproj/">Powertechnology.com</a>). You can see easily see the wind turbines from Old San Juan. However, the tour was a bit expensive and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're able to trick other visitors out of their drink tokens. The drinks weren't bad. I had a Bacardi Sunrise and my mom had the Daiquiri.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8e4v-ZwpS8V-Sb7hzsA2aFfbYiklHC0SyzjwZwL_Y2xOr2siy7a5P0Qnj6nJFxo-Vl3dke2gxWqtSsnkIeM8nCgw6221kQQLnCZLzMc_ZxdTnnHL5RT2piPP8843kvpFUTwucE9yL9gKg/s1600/Solar+in+Old+San+Juan.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Solar in San Juan" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8e4v-ZwpS8V-Sb7hzsA2aFfbYiklHC0SyzjwZwL_Y2xOr2siy7a5P0Qnj6nJFxo-Vl3dke2gxWqtSsnkIeM8nCgw6221kQQLnCZLzMc_ZxdTnnHL5RT2piPP8843kvpFUTwucE9yL9gKg/s320/Solar+in+Old+San+Juan.png" title="Solar in San Juan" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Smaller buildings might follow the solar trend of larger building in <br />Old San Juan. The orange star is our hotel, El Convento.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From the roof of our hotel, <a href="http://www.elconvento.com/">El Convento</a>, we could see a number of solar hot water heaters, much like the first photo in <a href="http://www.wheresthesolar.com/2016/09/opportunities-and-challenges-for-solar.html">my recent Dominican Republic post</a>. What I wasn't able to see from the hotel roof were some of the installations on larger buildings. Check out the solar on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballaj%C3%A1_Barracks">Ballajá Barracks</a> (top left) and the <a href="http://www.hacienda.gobierno.pr/">Departamento de Hacienda</a> (bottom right). Let's see if these big buildings are trend setters for the smaller ones and I'll check back in on Google Maps in another year or so.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagb_uebMqPItvCy0xzv5PYRZzBBhxogyBG_k8LK-17-R2LLkc0hOdl5VJgewccGayOyM2VdOdwyVVbm_j0b9mEFMDdw9Amn02JxpEOLAKuYf4eXiePVxXoVK9c3kORvusKEqkxyoUe_7V/s1600/Solar+Golf+Cart+El+Morro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img alt="Solar Golf Cart El Morro" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagb_uebMqPItvCy0xzv5PYRZzBBhxogyBG_k8LK-17-R2LLkc0hOdl5VJgewccGayOyM2VdOdwyVVbm_j0b9mEFMDdw9Amn02JxpEOLAKuYf4eXiePVxXoVK9c3kORvusKEqkxyoUe_7V/s320/Solar+Golf+Cart+El+Morro.jpg" title="Solar Golf Cart El Morro" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Solar panel on top with the <br />480 year-old Fort behind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My biggest solar interaction was at El Morro Fort. It was also the best tour. The Fort is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS)--the best tour guides on planet earth--and as we were walking up for our tour, an NPS golf cart with a solar panel drove by. I ran up to it and the park ranger was kind enough to give me some information. He showed me the 8 Powertron batteries under the front seat and the electric motor in the back. I didn't get a good look at the panel on the golf cart but I imagine it was around 300 watts. <br />
<br />
NPS collaborates a lot with the Energy Department and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). These solar golf carts fall in line with number of other clean energy NPS initiatives including solar panels on Alcatraz, energy-efficient buildings in Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, and Hybrid vehicles in the Tetons <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Droid Serif"; font-size: 16px;">(</span><a href="http://www.nrel.gov/news/features/2016/36723">NREL.gov</a>). Puerto Rico, like the 50 states, visibly benefits from these US Government services. As much and as right as we are to complain about government waste and inefficiencies, we should not be blind to the positive impact these can have on our parks, cities, and overall population.<br />
<br />One thing that struck me most during this vacation was the contrast between Puerto Rico, a US territory and the neighboring country of the Dominican Republic. Although the islands are merely 70 miles apart and majority Spanish-speaking, here are some of the problems I noticed in the DR and didn't see in Puerto Rico: piles of litter and trash in the streets, a pronounced gap between the rich and the poor that manifested itself in constant and aggressive begging, and frequent power outages. I believe these issues point not just to a difference in culture, but a difference in governance.<br />
<br />
I'm excited to have a third Caribbean territory to add to my cultural and clean energy considerations--Cuba. My <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a> teammates and I are in the final stages of planning Expedition Cuba. We built the boat over the course of the summer and fall, provided dozens of groups with tours of our clean energy vessel, built @vittoriaenergy up a social media, and mapped out our route. Although Cuba is in the same Caribbean neighborhood and I've studied its energy situation extensively, I believe my expedition there will be the most eye-opening and educational.Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-45233769322288381442016-09-28T14:56:00.003-07:002016-09-28T15:18:21.632-07:00Solar Visit to San Francisco: West Coast is the Best Coast<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichigNKbbfZ7imZAWPyobdZK3fYOn8faQnYTJ-VsjwmnTOj8iYCzyindFzmI7pTrd9Mr_Njxiif8U2eFROrtWTsmuVjdqcRAwDCFyF4ZVaFF2618lfYkR0jT55JGYmYu4GUgBUYweh5-Kn/s1600/Berkley+Homes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichigNKbbfZ7imZAWPyobdZK3fYOn8faQnYTJ-VsjwmnTOj8iYCzyindFzmI7pTrd9Mr_Njxiif8U2eFROrtWTsmuVjdqcRAwDCFyF4ZVaFF2618lfYkR0jT55JGYmYu4GUgBUYweh5-Kn/s320/Berkley+Homes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Solar homes just north of Berkeley</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My friend Valerie got married in Walnut Creek, just northeast of San Francisco on September 24, 2016. I was out there first and foremost for the wedding and to collect some <a href="https://www.kulikulifoods.com/">Kuli Kuli</a> merchandise. However, I never let a solar opportunity pass me up and there were plenty in California.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG4ONIL530PCA0qOOUfLMcgNaxhTOq1QgFMqXHX14lNL3kNRo7lBwhrR7uAZyz_T4D55vaLHtN9MdESONeqALIaLYWw2Q7unWvX5SFsaKG5FIO_ngUXPo4tHMnzCSWu2v_3MrJP8TM4eV/s1600/Solar+Library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglG4ONIL530PCA0qOOUfLMcgNaxhTOq1QgFMqXHX14lNL3kNRo7lBwhrR7uAZyz_T4D55vaLHtN9MdESONeqALIaLYWw2Q7unWvX5SFsaKG5FIO_ngUXPo4tHMnzCSWu2v_3MrJP8TM4eV/s320/Solar+Library.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Above is the solar-powered MLK Student Union</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As I was driving up from the San Jose Airport to downtown San Francisco, I almost stopped five times on Highway 101 to photo-document some of the amazing solar installations. However, it was a rental car and I needed to get accustomed to California drivers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJzY3-MWI5ZVl-Z5lqhEqM9-CLhuzl0fhpOZ3cUMleW4UkXoYut9jtWnXxl8fySigmD35Y-SoyA5INuisPj6rVnvYhiFpng2XqiPODAzacSRzlCBySkmjcZHZ0iCDYnEHvoq61j2CvcAA/s1600/CA+Academy+of+Sciences.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJzY3-MWI5ZVl-Z5lqhEqM9-CLhuzl0fhpOZ3cUMleW4UkXoYut9jtWnXxl8fySigmD35Y-SoyA5INuisPj6rVnvYhiFpng2XqiPODAzacSRzlCBySkmjcZHZ0iCDYnEHvoq61j2CvcAA/s320/CA+Academy+of+Sciences.jpg" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Solar cells integrated into the glass roof </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">of CA's Academy of Sciences </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">provided some much needed shade</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Once I made it to San Francisco, I got to go visit the Mission district, chill in Dolores Park, and go to Valerie's rehearsal dinner in Alameda. No solar but a lot of fun.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
The next day, I went with my friend, Jaime, to Berkeley's campus. When we ascended the Safer Tower to get a view of the university, I realized just how much solar there was around Berkeley. From nearly every direction you looked out from the tower, there were residential and commercial solar installations. Jaime was interested in the overall view but once I began pointing the panels out, we were competing to spot the next installation.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
The morning after the wedding, we decided to go to Golden Gate Park. There, we walked along the greens, visited the botanical gardens, and stopped by the <a href="http://www.calacademy.org/">California Academy of Sciences</a>. Although I loved everything, the Academy of Sciences stood out because of its green roof and solar panels. These were integrated solar cells--a lot like what <a href="http://www.wheresthesolar.com/2015/02/national-academy-of-sciences-solar.html">I saw at the National Academy of Sciences</a> over a year and a half ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPCRlw5SSeS6XQl9RKK0QfZh4ExJpVHucpCo9lLnpJ97RFiS7z9G0555AurQ-eTARmbCFMOjOY9eFvmHN401V4JImvkRf6MyLMDqpq2LCOK6ArWNh66a3LUB5GMhN2vWKHmfWPbrB4u4r/s1600/Solar+Homes+in+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPCRlw5SSeS6XQl9RKK0QfZh4ExJpVHucpCo9lLnpJ97RFiS7z9G0555AurQ-eTARmbCFMOjOY9eFvmHN401V4JImvkRf6MyLMDqpq2LCOK6ArWNh66a3LUB5GMhN2vWKHmfWPbrB4u4r/s320/Solar+Homes+in+Sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Click on this to see the cluster of homes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My final moments in San Francisco were spent at Golden Gate Heights Park overlooking the Sunset District. I saw a lot of solar homes but was elated to see 24,000 solar panels under the setting sun. This is the <a href="http://recurrentenergy.com/projects/sunset-reservoir/">Sunset Reservoir Solar Project</a>, an enormous project 5 Megawatts big--that's enough to power 820 American homes <a href="http://www.seia.org/about/solar-energy/solar-faq/how-many-homes-can-be-powered-1-megawatt-solar-energy">according to SEIA</a>'s calculations. Check out the photos below.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxINbaaDXzFFGUMmnJ5sLLagzuokcr0UKf0nNAJlLh-Gp1CTY_aW4wvWI2YBOCrC0NH8Ph5x6M7_-mZ3XGqhwhbsqYHt10NZsuhKHIKTcId4i9k-aOifDBUw01mDJcuLOYH0qgHcVZorzZ/s1600/Reservoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxINbaaDXzFFGUMmnJ5sLLagzuokcr0UKf0nNAJlLh-Gp1CTY_aW4wvWI2YBOCrC0NH8Ph5x6M7_-mZ3XGqhwhbsqYHt10NZsuhKHIKTcId4i9k-aOifDBUw01mDJcuLOYH0qgHcVZorzZ/s320/Reservoir.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , "times" , "freeserif" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">The amazing Sunset Reservoir Solar Project</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In conclusion, Valerie's wedding was great and I saw a lot of solar. My humble opinion is that I should get paid to visit solar installations. I don't know how I'm going to go about finding the funders, but a boy can dream.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-40019378474405849882016-09-12T18:59:00.001-07:002016-09-12T19:32:56.752-07:00Opportunities and Challenges for Solar in the Dominican Republic<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VtyT7jcZmYJejjCWTE9tO-KFuUIWLY8QmulVXJB3ImCmk2eySG27J-wHw9IXyi7KTnkyyf9tUDOtz1XkY6y0BIbf89XBmQOFyRevVM8_UJKkHkV175oQt-2GIWRYqpP839faW1ucGr5p/s1600/IMG_20160901_185913552_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VtyT7jcZmYJejjCWTE9tO-KFuUIWLY8QmulVXJB3ImCmk2eySG27J-wHw9IXyi7KTnkyyf9tUDOtz1XkY6y0BIbf89XBmQOFyRevVM8_UJKkHkV175oQt-2GIWRYqpP839faW1ucGr5p/s200/IMG_20160901_185913552_HDR.jpg" width="193" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My only solar photo is of a rusty solar water </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">heater. Brilliant.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was in the Dominican Republic for a lovely, September 4 wedding. Of course, my main focus was the wedding but I was also able to incorporate solar. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I had a number of questions in mind: </span><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Where is the existing solar? </i><i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Where could solar be plugged in that it's not? Where is electricity lacking? Where is the demand! </i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm glad to report that I found some answers.</span><br />
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>Solar</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I visited a bunch of the island including the cities of Puerto Plata, Sosua, Santo Domingo, La Romana, Punta Cana, and Bavaro. The most solar I saw was in </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Santiago. There were a number of covered parking areas and commercial spaces covered with solar panels. I didn't get any photos of the photo-voltaic systems so you're going to have to trust me on their existence. To the right, there's a photo of one of the solar water heaters. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y0M_ss_JAspDiBo0BzO5QdKEDJ-TwuTM9HGrmm9DpkjnWADVjl05a1S2FHchyW9O1R4vY8K7JtL8z53xqTcJgYSTtJC7hvXAcs9b-LFsj6g9EwjPuHqTjZhYu4ze5IhI9KE8hTt7YeiX/s1600/DR+travel.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Y0M_ss_JAspDiBo0BzO5QdKEDJ-TwuTM9HGrmm9DpkjnWADVjl05a1S2FHchyW9O1R4vY8K7JtL8z53xqTcJgYSTtJC7hvXAcs9b-LFsj6g9EwjPuHqTjZhYu4ze5IhI9KE8hTt7YeiX/s320/DR+travel.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My trip across the DR--plenty of opportunity for solar spotting. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">A special </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">thanks to Marien Perez, who drove me from Punta Cana to Santiago</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I traveled back and forth from Santiago to Punta Cana and back to Sosua (left). To give you an idea, it was 250 miles from Punta Cana to Sosua alone. In the rural areas between cities, I noticed a lot of single solar panel installations (probably powering the lights in homes). However, I was disappointed that I didn't see any large-scale solar farms along the highway. My friends tell me that there is a big solar <a href="http://inhabitat.com/huge-solar-array-in-the-dominican-republic-is-the-caribbeans-largest/">installation in Monte Plata</a>--the biggest in the Caribbean. Next time.<br />
<br />
I imagine in the years to come, the Dominican Republic will be going a lot more solar. They've got a lot of space and a shortage of energy as I will discuss below.</div>
<br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Energy Efficiency</b><br />
It seemed that every building I entered was equipped with Compact Fluorescent Light-bulbs (CFLs). One example was the Alta Gracia Free Trade Zone I visited. They make tee-shirts and sweatshirts for American universities. In addition to good salaries, employees enjoy a work environment illuminated by CFLs. Although it costs more up front, a CFL can last 5 to 10 times your average incandescent light-bulb and it uses about 75 percent less energy than a traditional light bulb <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">(</span><a href="http://www.earthsfriends.com/cfl-vs-incandescent/" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">EarthFriends</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">). That's pretty good motivation for Dominicans looking to save money on electricity.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj0zTXjutSfRyBxKFSBY3Te1XOnhMJ1huL1rjatmAQWbnd7iHuAaGC48eeVpF8IigVVWvYCMDbXxSirUEEQLDWndDFocIcfC5hC_BG_eG_ZMh33Pskt0ZWPUAG14wWA7Co4jfcykON5c6/s1600/IMG_20160902_112029472_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbj0zTXjutSfRyBxKFSBY3Te1XOnhMJ1huL1rjatmAQWbnd7iHuAaGC48eeVpF8IigVVWvYCMDbXxSirUEEQLDWndDFocIcfC5hC_BG_eG_ZMh33Pskt0ZWPUAG14wWA7Co4jfcykON5c6/s320/IMG_20160902_112029472_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">CFLs illuminate the Alta Gracia Free Trade Zone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">In addition to CFLs, most of the places I stayed relied on ceiling fans instead of air conditioning. It's not as comfortable as AC, especially if you're in 90 degree heat, but it's very doable. Fans can moderate room temperatures for a fraction of the cost of AC. In fact, a ceiling fan isn't much more in cost than a 60 watt incandescent light-bulb. To give you a sense of the commitment to fans, as I was leaving the country, the main hall of the Puerto Plata Airport was ventilated by a 14 foot diameter <a href="http://www.bigassfans.com/">Big Ass Fan</a>. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<br />
Energy efficiency is a big deal in the Dominican Republic because energy isn't cheap and isn't always available. During my stay, I learned that in many areas, electricity is cut regularly during the days. The fancier buildings can afford diesel generators to fill the electricity gaps--but these are noisy, smelly, and expensive.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj_2yzc1ZSKMLLx6mFHoYLRUtxDDPL_Li8uuEJc7-o0jCBUSP0mT7KeqRj0uijQoYxicgQoPgU3n8pXIIMT_YuAWZS894grZT1opkxf9Iw6uhgJFK3zBLCCxys1W-nBzIfqqTYEBODKeT/s1600/Tin+House.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRj_2yzc1ZSKMLLx6mFHoYLRUtxDDPL_Li8uuEJc7-o0jCBUSP0mT7KeqRj0uijQoYxicgQoPgU3n8pXIIMT_YuAWZS894grZT1opkxf9Iw6uhgJFK3zBLCCxys1W-nBzIfqqTYEBODKeT/s320/Tin+House.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A rural house in Constanza, DR with corrugated tin roof. Photo credit: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">m<span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;">y Airbnb </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">host in Santiago, </span><a href="http://ryanbowen.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Home/G0000PLefhoSJPeo/I0000E4dJqO6YwgA" style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">Ryan Bowen</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>My Recommendations</b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
If you're looking to install solar in the Dominica<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">n Republic, I'd recommend a few things. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">First, make sure your panels can be installed on corrugated tin roofs. Many of the rural residences are made of this material. Be sure about how much weight it can bare and what it will take to secure the panels from blowing away in a strong wind. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Second, consider approaching the many resorts. The Dominican Republic has an enormous tourism industry. Each one of these resorts draws a huge amount of energy and if you play it right, you could be a big energy provider. One way in particular would be golf cart charging stations. Golf carts are by far the most popular way to get around and a covered charging station could provide shade, reliable electricity, and eco-tourism.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Third, if you can produce a solar-powered water purification unit that is affordable and easy to use, you could dominate the market. No one--not even the locals--drinks the tap water. Think of how much that adds up to in bottled water...people would be willing to pay good money for an alternative. One group I would recommend collaborating with is </span><a href="http://www.litrodeluzdominicana.org/english/gallery/photos/" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Litro de Luz</a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">. My Airbnb host in Santiago works with them and I'd be happy to put you in touch. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fourth, empty lots. There were a lot of empty lots in the cities if you could figure out a deal with the cities and utility company to use this land for a commercial solar farm, you could sell electricity back to the grid or to neighboring businesses and residences. Of the four options, this would probably be the most bureaucratic.</span><br />
<ol>
</ol>
<ol style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
</ol>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
In conclusion, the Dominican was an eye-opening experience and I got to see a lot of different sides to the society. I'm excited to plug in this experience to my upcoming voyage to Cuba with Vittoria Energy Expedition.</div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-14393278283606480422016-08-28T15:06:00.001-07:002016-08-29T11:28:01.581-07:00Coffee Conversation about Asheville Solar <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtESCVj5mj2Ye1P2pmsguz4ERiHo8SYzxyp64hfGKC9sBy3qEN2pgtI8cFw74VbjBxGCzS6Mt0NiXeVFS-O6XFMK_GWnBKDe3fAnPpC-CoTKzxUPsUv6nm3aXQ7gucmAac6QufqPc9j8NA/s1600/IMG_20160812_160926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtESCVj5mj2Ye1P2pmsguz4ERiHo8SYzxyp64hfGKC9sBy3qEN2pgtI8cFw74VbjBxGCzS6Mt0NiXeVFS-O6XFMK_GWnBKDe3fAnPpC-CoTKzxUPsUv6nm3aXQ7gucmAac6QufqPc9j8NA/s320/IMG_20160812_160926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On August 12, I was down in Asheville, NC visiting my brother and sister-in-law. While they were finishing up their Fridays at work, I met with one of their guitar-playing, Ultimate Frisbee friends. He works for a solar company that installs panels for homes and businesses around North Carolina.<br />
<br />
We spoke for an hour in the <a href="http://www.greensagecafe.com/">Green Sage Cafe</a> (downtown Asheville). We covered everything from the company's history to Power Purchase Agreements to how North and South Carolina compare on solar.<br />
<br />
My coffee date was extremely knowledgeable--he's been with his company for 5 years--and taught me a lot about the ins and outs of the solar industry in North Carolina.<br />
<br />
We focused particularly on how business ebbs and flows with legislation. A couple years ago, I <a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/top-10-solar-states">read</a> that North Carolina was third in the country for solar installations. He told me all about how this came and went because of State Tax Credits--incentives that North Carolina put in place for solar a few years ago but that recently expired. <b>Selling solar in North Carolina was hot and now it's not. </b>In fact, he told me he went from selling to 1 out of every 7 potential customers to 1 out of every 25.<br />
<br />
Eventually, I'm looking to support a solar company but I would prefer to handle communications or policy. This is an option in larger companies but Small and Medium-sized Enterprises like ones in North Carolina hire people that can sell or install panels. It's a growing industry but difficult route I've chosen. This is what conversations with salesmen like this remind me of.Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-90744442290876752842016-08-12T07:19:00.004-07:002016-08-12T07:52:22.465-07:00How to Solarize Your Sailboat<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DdrL2IXoL648upf4o1jLDLZkEI928ay1NnYvmoeQ_sc6dBxQ8AcP5oSztDNd3A5Y1Qi9aaPbC3GxOjTkA27LPeI_FoK_lIuUVDzL1ixq05jzcew-lFsYy8DDZ0NvPpfhZu7yDGwnb5gp/s1600/IMG_20160806_185954110_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DdrL2IXoL648upf4o1jLDLZkEI928ay1NnYvmoeQ_sc6dBxQ8AcP5oSztDNd3A5Y1Qi9aaPbC3GxOjTkA27LPeI_FoK_lIuUVDzL1ixq05jzcew-lFsYy8DDZ0NvPpfhZu7yDGwnb5gp/s320/IMG_20160806_185954110_HDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
On August 7, I saw this sleek looking sailboat with solar</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
strips by St. Mary's College of Maryland</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the last few months, I've been spending my nights and weekends thinking of ways to incorporate solar panels on a sailboat and it's not as easy as you might think. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The solar has to blend into all of the moving parts. The sails and ropes are constantly moving back and forth across the deck. Anything that gets in the way of their powerful movements will be ripped off and damage the boat.<br />
<br />
The elements also want to destroy your expensive panels. Think of tropical storm category waves and wind--they could easily tear off a panel. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In addition to the equipment and the elements, you have to consider the movement of the crew. Panels could cause serious injury. If a panel is poorly placed, a sailor could easily fall onto its sharp corner and go overboard. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi692icfW9VrMAu62tLeeXMB8QbdSJubaPRzgXk7qS7qr9DPtgplAZNIKimTqKNf36NYZRnURfD3Q_K1IS8KlsQ6YjBM2AhCEKC74lu04jFJTlZHieZmYw1hZRXOAY6OnbXCodjUO56SbRK/s1600/Solar+by+DC+Waterfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi692icfW9VrMAu62tLeeXMB8QbdSJubaPRzgXk7qS7qr9DPtgplAZNIKimTqKNf36NYZRnURfD3Q_K1IS8KlsQ6YjBM2AhCEKC74lu04jFJTlZHieZmYw1hZRXOAY6OnbXCodjUO56SbRK/s320/Solar+by+DC+Waterfront.jpg" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
This boat with 3 solar panels and wind turbine</div>
<div style="font-size: 12.8px;">
is moored in the Gangplank Marina in SW DC</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I took the picture above right after the <a href="http://www.yachtscoring.com/emenu.cfm?eID=1677">2016 St. Mary's Governor's Cup</a> of a boat that has found a way to integrate solar strips on top of the cabin and keep them out of the way of the sails and sailors. Though these strips are space-efficient, they don't produce that much electricity. I generously estimate that these six 3-foot long strips could produce a maximum of 240 watts at any given time. Remember that one incandescent light bulb is 60 watts.<br />
<br />
To get a better idea of how little usable room there is for solar on a sailboat, look right. This picture is of a 35' sailboat. That's a boat that could easily sleep 6 people and it probably weighs 11,000 pounds. For all intents and purposes, it's a yacht. However, you will see that it's only able to accommodate three small panels. They could power some on-board equipment such as lights and a small fan but nothing like navigation equipment or an electric motor. This boat relies on its diesel engine to produce the power it needs.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
At <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria Energy Expedition</a>, we're working on safely powering a boat to sail to Cuba in the Fall of 2016. We have mounted two 260 watt panels on a super-structure on the stern (back) of the boat. This structure was constructed from aluminum tubing that we welded to fit our boat. It's positioned far enough back that it doesn't interfere with our team's movement, ropes, cables, or sails.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In addition to the two big panels on the back, we have two more angled off the sides of the cabin. These will see a lot less sun but are easy to remove in case of a storm or damage.<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, we will be adding a 450 watt wind turbine off of the stern (port side).<br />
<br />
All of this energy is stored in a bank of batteries in the hull of the boat. The bank weighs over 500 pounds and requires monitoring and charge controlling--we have to make sure that the electricity the panels create and that our equipment draws interacts with the batteries at the same voltage. Otherwise, the batteries damage and we're left on the high seas with a lot of extra weight and zero power.<br />
<br />
In terms of meeting our boat's energy demand, at their best, these panels can generate 1 kilowatt of energy per hour. During the Caribbean Fall, there will be just under 12 hours of sunlight--enough to power the lights, fans, cell phones, navigation equipment, and electric motor on the boat.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP96-f1ps9iQPDz0xYq0vIPf417iLy3BgSZFh2UVfROZkYp9mJ43MIr1EHUz9AbKkSd2ovUg_cQsK0uYJuvwrtrqOhbXQRFEO8RJTVdFqawtPCDhzXNIorvxfq81kPAwc00pVcNBGAXB0s/s1600/Vittoria%2527s+Solar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP96-f1ps9iQPDz0xYq0vIPf417iLy3BgSZFh2UVfROZkYp9mJ43MIr1EHUz9AbKkSd2ovUg_cQsK0uYJuvwrtrqOhbXQRFEO8RJTVdFqawtPCDhzXNIorvxfq81kPAwc00pVcNBGAXB0s/s320/Vittoria%2527s+Solar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Vittoria teammate Chad Johnson after completing our<br />
support structure and solar install (not pictured, Nate Sermonis)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our boat has more clean energy than most. This extravagant solar array is for demonstration as much as it is for energy needs. Our mission as a 501(c)3 is to educate the American public about clean energy. What better way than a sailboat--a floating classroom that already harnesses the power of the wind. With the right conditions, Vittoria could operate indefinitely, an infinity machine.<br />
<i></i><br />
<i></i>
<i>To learn more about our project, check out <a href="http://www.vittoriaenergy.org/">www.vittoriaenergy.org</a> or email me at <a href="mailto:andrew@vittoriaenergy.org">andrew@vittoriaenergy.org</a>.</i><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-90435889652565019742016-07-12T20:20:00.000-07:002016-07-12T21:18:29.293-07:00Five Easy Steps To Going Solar<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">In late April, I was contacted by an employee at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://s.bl-1.com/h/zxM1MvD?url%3Dhttp://modernize.com/&source=gmail&ust=1468427058917000&usg=AFQjCNFylXtfMuChNBfeQOUnm05Qd5eKoQ" href="http://s.bl-1.com/h/zxM1MvD?url=http://modernize.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Modernize.com</a>. He told me that they've recently <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">written on clean energy for The Huffington Post, About.com, and even Time Magazine. He wanted to provide some basic and awesome content for my readers as well. He told me that if I posted it on my site, he would send it around to </span></span></i><i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://s.bl-1.com/h/zxM1MvD?url%3Dhttp://modernize.com/&source=gmail&ust=1468427058917000&usg=AFQjCNFylXtfMuChNBfeQOUnm05Qd5eKoQ" href="http://s.bl-1.com/h/zxM1MvD?url=http://modernize.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Modernize.com</a> followers (they have over 5,000 on Twitter)! Here's the post and I hope you enjoy my accompanying sketches.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Installing residential solar panels used to be far too
expensive for the average homeowner to consider. However, since 2006 and the
implementation of the <a href="http://www.seia.org/policy/finance-tax/solar-investment-tax-credit"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Solar Investment Tax Credit</span></a> (ITC), the price
of solar equipment and installations has fallen by more than 73 percent,
allowing nearly 800,000 businesses and
homes to convert to solar power. If you want to set up a solar system on your
home, you have a lot of important decisions to make—here are 5 easy steps from <a href="http://www.modernize.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Modernize</span></a>
to help you make the transition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReoRY95TmiKPgcsODPNrTGJDfPtSzVF1dmEGL1izdpDkFt55kx2DHdF6QbNyZ1794f5oprBIiVOC9_lNfBdBhlreD83Q9epENr4vFyaG7XJs3BY5A8AIQ3YsxG9ZxRMZrbd7fdQII_qoS/s1600/IMG_20160712_235728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiReoRY95TmiKPgcsODPNrTGJDfPtSzVF1dmEGL1izdpDkFt55kx2DHdF6QbNyZ1794f5oprBIiVOC9_lNfBdBhlreD83Q9epENr4vFyaG7XJs3BY5A8AIQ3YsxG9ZxRMZrbd7fdQII_qoS/s200/IMG_20160712_235728.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Home Energy Audit </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Energy efficiency and solar power go hand in hand, and the
less energy efficient your home, the more solar panels will have to be
installed in order to meet your power demands. Ensure that you keep costs down
and don’t purchase a larger system than you actually need by opting to have a
professional home energy assessor audit your home for energy deficiencies. For
roughly $300 to $500, an auditor can identify hidden leaks in your home, saving
you <a href="http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2012/04/18/home-energy-audits-worth-cost.html"><span style="color: #1155cc;">up to 30 percent</span></a> on your heating and cooling
alone. Considering that space heating makes up <a href="http://energy.gov/energysaver/tips-your-homes-energy-use"><span style="color: #1155cc;">42 percent of the average home energy use</span></a>,
that translates into hundreds of dollars saved each year! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The auditor will also assess how energy efficient your major
appliances are and offer suggestions on ways they can be improved. Replacing
these older appliances with ones that have an excellent rating from Energy Star
will be another worthy step to take before talking to a solar professional.
Better yet, opt for appliances that are solely powered by the sun, like solar
water heaters or solar refrigerators, to completely remove their pull from your
main solar panel network.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpijYmNxZIZ0yaZA9AHmHkHzKsm-2AjphEqy8Bj7VqKs9N41v4UTG7unxkHvLe_t7YK_xRQHG1OrVpncEVqKljR8s5gWlESP8bIYzP_EhyphenhyphenTI87_ulbmB-8cshtBvCcMRlzWtQu6g9YcCp/s1600/IMG_20160712_234631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpijYmNxZIZ0yaZA9AHmHkHzKsm-2AjphEqy8Bj7VqKs9N41v4UTG7unxkHvLe_t7YK_xRQHG1OrVpncEVqKljR8s5gWlESP8bIYzP_EhyphenhyphenTI87_ulbmB-8cshtBvCcMRlzWtQu6g9YcCp/s320/IMG_20160712_234631.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Solar Energy Design
Specialist Evaluation</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once your home is as energy efficient as possible, it is a
good idea to have solar professional come and evaluate how compatible your home
will be for a photovoltaic system. These design specialists will analyze your
home’s orientation to the sun, the pitch of your roof, and how easily they can
perform the installation due to your roofing material. You will need to have
looked over your energy bill history before this appointment so that can tell them
what your current kilowatt usage is. A general rule to keep in mind is that
since most homes use roughly 2,000 to 6,000 watts, you should expect to need <a href="http://www.sunergysystems.com/residential-solar/faq"><span style="color: #1155cc;">roughly 200 to 600 square feet</span></a> of roof space
to adequately generate enough energy. If your solar professional suggests a
solar power system that is drastically divergent from these figures, then you
should get a second opinion. When the analysis has been completed, you’ll have
a good estimate for just how much this renovation will cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;">3. Call Your Power
Company and Realtor</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Depending on where you live, some utility companies are
willing to buy any excess energy that you generate with your home’s solar
panels through net metering. When you talk to them, find out what their current
rates are and what steps you will need to take in order to participate in this
program. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> It is also advisable to contact a local realtor who can
evaluate how adding solar power to your home will impact your property value.
Some homeowners have seen their property value increase enough to </span><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleaebeling/2011/08/01/how-much-do-solar-panels-boost-home-sale-prices/#69892e4129dd" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1155cc;">recover almost 97 percent</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> of their renovation
expense!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkBGRQh2iQmGorELHLqaF24xWFiz2ruBLPvovW-9DOjTpcfA6RDbfrIb7rUTJEIFGSbOfw1x1-Oi4JwyR4HE_emPl4nTB__62OnEQJ2NB3stuVtKQNvwnoIxokvUier6fYx4_rNw3q2mF/s1600/IMG_20160713_000912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkBGRQh2iQmGorELHLqaF24xWFiz2ruBLPvovW-9DOjTpcfA6RDbfrIb7rUTJEIFGSbOfw1x1-Oi4JwyR4HE_emPl4nTB__62OnEQJ2NB3stuVtKQNvwnoIxokvUier6fYx4_rNw3q2mF/s320/IMG_20160713_000912.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. State and Federal
Incentives</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ITC provides homeowners with a 30 percent return on
their solar investment in the form of a tax credit until the end of 2019. That
means that if your total renovation is projected to cost $25,000, you will
receive an additional $7,500 on your next tax return. This money can certainly
help make your initial investment a far more attainable expense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Most local and state governments also have some form of
incentivization depending on the system you install. To find out what is
available for your area, visit the </span><a href="http://www.dsireusa.org/" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #1155cc;">database of state incentives</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDIucxUSPlLekSRxIzmyBW9nN4-sQXJrczp-yrB_yYGADOrDAb3vocvvkXMUcmtWBfn29yX7IzyuHH3WTIYBIwBtM1vi8mYUQi4gJ3ldtz81QHqgob0XsaayKzhMieZtyubfs8R1KS8g/s1600/IMG_20160713_001139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABDIucxUSPlLekSRxIzmyBW9nN4-sQXJrczp-yrB_yYGADOrDAb3vocvvkXMUcmtWBfn29yX7IzyuHH3WTIYBIwBtM1vi8mYUQi4gJ3ldtz81QHqgob0XsaayKzhMieZtyubfs8R1KS8g/s200/IMG_20160713_001139.jpg" width="119" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. Purchase or Lease</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now that you have all the important information for how
adding solar power will impact your home expenses, it is time to determine your
cumulative return on investment (ROI). If you determine your ROI to be worth
the renovation expense, then contact your solar professional and have them
finalize your designs. But if your ROI bottom line is too great, does this mean
that you have to completely give up on solar power? Not necessarily. Many solar
companies have a lease option available for homeowners which might be a viable
option for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> At the end of the day, it will take a lot of research and
effort to make your dreams of having a solar powered home come true, but the
reward of having a home that takes care of its own power needs will be well
worth it</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-32924466792903909582016-06-26T12:05:00.001-07:002016-06-26T13:00:39.827-07:00What People are Saying about Solar in DC<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/172313098" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My <a href="http://vittoriaenergy.org/">Vittoria</a> colleague, Chad Johnson, and I walked around the Shaw neighborhood in DC. We're super passionate about solar and know a thing or two but we want to see what others think. Some of these responses to our interview questions are priceless!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And here's a little bit more about Vittoria Energy Expedition. It's a mission to educate American people and businesses about clean energy projects in frontier markets. Here is our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vittoria-energy-expedition-cuba%23/&source=gmail&ust=1467057416480000&usg=AFQjCNE2PpYHB0HKVtkYoiBXaokuGYA10g" href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vittoria-energy-expedition-cuba#/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Indiegogo fundraising page</a> and some of our <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://vimeo.com/vittoriaenergy&source=gmail&ust=1467057416480000&usg=AFQjCNFqK7V7wQuIjfaiqcPItuHNHQVGAg" href="https://vimeo.com/vittoriaenergy" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">videos</a>. </span><br />
<div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />I will be sailing with a crew of 5 to our first of many destinations, Cuba. During this early-August expedition, we will visit 15 different clean energy generation facilities--wind, solar, biomass, and dams--and interview locals about their energy challenges. Cuba presents a fascinating energy case study because of its grid isolation as an island, warming relationship with the US, role as the "King of the Caribbean", and reliance on volatile Venezuelan crude.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We had a launch party with 300 people in attendance on May 21 and right now, we're in the fundraising stage of our campaign. Money we raise will go to clean energy classes we will be offering in Washington DC-area, film production of our visits to the energy sites--ultimately resulting in a documentary, content development for distance learners, and detailed online mapping and analysis.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We will directly educate hundreds of people in this initial voyage and in-person courses. In addition, our online materials will be pushed out to thousands over social media. We're hoping it goes viral!</span></div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-50995348729251284902016-06-14T16:59:00.000-07:002016-06-14T16:59:57.791-07:00Solar Power in the U.S. Military<div>
<i>By Bobby Shields</i></div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
I am a Notre Dame grad and current Masters candidate in Security Policy at George Washington University. I study cyber security and energy security policy, with an interest in how renewable energy can affect U.S. national security. Andrew and I became friends soon after I arrived in DC in 2013. I've always enjoyed reading his blog and hearing his insights about solar over dinner at <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/keren-restaurant-washington">Keren Restaurant</a>. Below is a short article summarizing my recent research on the topic of solar power in the U.S. military. Feel free to email me at <a href="mailto:rshields1@gwu.edu">rshields1@gwu.edu</a> if you have any feedback!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgESxuj6CJjWk4Co3CDOtNKI_51w4ePwn6CptC7wDtiBbE1cOHDQ6wxuExZP7XmsFqWj2eSk-Hg7UgTY8lcI3TTj0J-sRfXLEEcqxk-D6VuhtxR6zTCAnGnTvacVkBExuipOe2udsZuod/s1600/soldiers+using+solar+panels-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgESxuj6CJjWk4Co3CDOtNKI_51w4ePwn6CptC7wDtiBbE1cOHDQ6wxuExZP7XmsFqWj2eSk-Hg7UgTY8lcI3TTj0J-sRfXLEEcqxk-D6VuhtxR6zTCAnGnTvacVkBExuipOe2udsZuod/s200/soldiers+using+solar+panels-2.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim Bolger wrote about clean <br />
energy and the military in<br />
Sept. 2013--<a href="https://joinmosaic.com/blog/top-5-department-defense-solar-energy-projects/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In August 2015, the U.S. Navy <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2015/aug/14/navy-mega-solar-plant/">signed</a>
a deal to purchase power from a 150 megawatt solar farm in Arizona to help
provide power to 14 military installations in California, making it the largest
renewable energy purchase by the U.S. government to date. This deal adds to the
U.S. military’s growing list of solar power projects, as the Defense Department
races to make solar a staple of its energy portfolio.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Federal initiatives have fueled the U.S. military’s “solar
surge.” <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title10/pdf/USCODE-2010-title10-subtitleA-partIV-chap173-subchapI-sec2911.pdf">Title
10 USC § 2910</a> mandates that the Defense Department consume at least 25% of
its facility energy—equating to 3 gigawatts of energy— from renewable resources
by 2025. The Obama administration’s recent <a href="https://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan">Clean Power Plan</a> regulates the
amount of carbon dioxide emissions in each state. These mandates have prompted
the U.S. military to partner with state utilities and independent power
producers to implement solar energy projects. As of 2013, the military has
allocated billions of dollars to establish more than 130 megawatts of solar
energy systems powering military bases in at least 31 states and the District
of Columbia. The military has also invested in small-scale solar technologies
for operational environments, including solar blankets and tents. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By aggressively incorporating solar energy into its energy
planning, the Defense Department is (1) combating climate change; (2) strengthening
its energy security; (3) and enhancing its operational mission capabilities in
remote locations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfw3R9Bn8YSyyuOdKAX1ULrBDxhsrulgZkn0vUyQiFHu8KkpJr9Vki62RJV3q0U1p1sgX32h7MIERxCXVjRqUYBWCLCB0FnXeH8_ToU-FhP0Q-1-vzW6X0nzKgWUU5dh_uWAW28MFUCV1/s1600/DOD+wide+renewable+energy+capacity+additions-LOGO_0.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfw3R9Bn8YSyyuOdKAX1ULrBDxhsrulgZkn0vUyQiFHu8KkpJr9Vki62RJV3q0U1p1sgX32h7MIERxCXVjRqUYBWCLCB0FnXeH8_ToU-FhP0Q-1-vzW6X0nzKgWUU5dh_uWAW28MFUCV1/s320/DOD+wide+renewable+energy+capacity+additions-LOGO_0.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See more about the additions <a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/enlisting-sun-powering-us-military-solar-energy-2013">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, the U.S. military’s solar projects can help combat
climate change. Being the largest consumer of energy in the federal government,
the Defense Department’s solar energy pursuits can significantly reduce the
U.S. government’s carbon footprint. Moreover, mitigating climate change
contributes to the U.S. military’s mission. According to a 2007 Defense
Department <a href="https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/national%20security%20and%20the%20threat%20of%20climate%20change.pdf">report</a>,
climate change “poses a serious threat to America’s national security…acts as a
threat multiplier for instability…[and] will add tensions eve in stable regions
of the world.” The U.S. military thus has a national security interest in investing
in solar energy to help tackle climate change.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, solar energy projects strengthen the U.S. military’s
energy security. U.S. military installations are vulnerable to electrical grid disruptions
from natural hazards, and physical or cyber attacks. Solar energy technologies can
diversify military installations’ energy sources and increase the scope of
onsite power generation to hedge against these electrical grid disruptions. Solar
energy technologies thus add to the resiliency of military installations and help
ensure continuity of operations. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Third, solar-powered facilities and equipment help military
personnel meet mission objectives in remote locations. Lightweight and portable
solar energy technologies provide a reliable alternative to power generators,
which require costly and dangerous fuel resupply and storage. These
technologies are already being deployed: U.S. Marines <a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/enlisting-sun-powering-us-military-solar-energy-2013">used</a>
portable solar panels and solar tent shields in a battle zone in Afghanistan’s
Khyber Pass. The Defense Department will continue to fund research for
flexible, lightweight solar panels for remote site generation in tactical
battlefield applications.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The future is bright for solar energy use in the military. The
Defense Department’s large purse and 25% renewable mandate will help lead the
U.S. government’s push for solar power research and implementation. Solar power
can even lead the way to future innovations such as microgrids—self-sustaining,
islanded grid units—at military bases. In fact, the U.S. Army has <a href="http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/the-military-microgrid-as-smart-grid-asset">spearheaded</a>
development of a microgrid that employs solar and other energy sources in Fort
Bliss, Texas. Initiatives like this can make the military a leading figure in
solar energy.<o:p></o:p></div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-57388240663061461402016-05-31T19:20:00.000-07:002016-05-31T19:20:13.554-07:00Working with Solar Sailors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE1WkuVf3UX8hsNa3PPFvNuezqnfBqxXo1yL6yPpvuTRpSKiTYsRFFCnpymH2j1m3JEDBUDMLbYR0lsEbXeEkqpTckYgo1TtEPCgF2IrwZvOhvsrENzeb9dewsk_1us-3DDih4_XGvk0-/s1600/Vittoria+Sailboat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBE1WkuVf3UX8hsNa3PPFvNuezqnfBqxXo1yL6yPpvuTRpSKiTYsRFFCnpymH2j1m3JEDBUDMLbYR0lsEbXeEkqpTckYgo1TtEPCgF2IrwZvOhvsrENzeb9dewsk_1us-3DDih4_XGvk0-/s320/Vittoria+Sailboat.png" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">One of the first boat sketches <br />Nate shared with me</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm joining a team that wants to educate about clean energy...through adventure!! We will be sailing to sites on a solar powered sail boat and I couldn't be more excited.<br />
<br />
When I first started this blog in November 2014, I had a few goals: to learn more about clean energy, talk with experts, visit some clean energy sites, develop some street cred, and eventually start working with people in the field.<br />
<br />
Nate Sermonis, a buddy of mine told me about his plans to sail to different clean energy sites around the world to share what he learned with others. This was early Fall 2015. He had read my blog and wanted me to join the cause.<br />
<div>
<div>
<br />
This project is exactly what I had hoped my blog would result in--working on renewable energy and getting to travel the world with it!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
As I see it, my role in this endeavor is two-pronged--help get clean energy equipment and help with promotion. Blogging has prepared me. I've been asking my contacts in the clean energy world about the best way to outfit this boat and getting good deals on equipment. As for promotion, I've been helping run the Twitter site, developing a list of funders, and put on our amazing launch event.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHzSsw5T40X7a_WYgaF4hAl2BoxtsZN68OwXOhQlk6TDFI6KS-MUPsb6wrZVoj_AQjwC-9ml9v718Z8zG5jB3oAEsRk-jtWT9y-wqr-moB8bZ79eg3MiA3H8CTNPHsoMsaPdrest74CE5/s1600/Vittoria+crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHzSsw5T40X7a_WYgaF4hAl2BoxtsZN68OwXOhQlk6TDFI6KS-MUPsb6wrZVoj_AQjwC-9ml9v718Z8zG5jB3oAEsRk-jtWT9y-wqr-moB8bZ79eg3MiA3H8CTNPHsoMsaPdrest74CE5/s320/Vittoria+crew.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Filming our launch video at the docks in SW DC (left to right): <br />me, Chad Johnson, and Nate Sermonis. April Avant--fundraiser<br />extraordinaire--is not pictured</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The current team of four has diverse backgrounds--government, social media, private sector--but we all have two things in common. First, we want to educate people. Whether it's Google hangouts, conversations, online videos, or media interviews, we're trying to share our experience and help others dream. Second, we're all pretty good communicators. We got the word out for our launch party and attracted 250 people to our rooftop celebration!<br />
<br />
We've still got a long way to go before our July expedition to Cuba. We need to sort out the visa situation, finish designing the boat, and raise $15,000 more.<br />
<br />
This solar-powered expedition will be the focus of my blog for the next few months so buckle up!</div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-11413478852606021222016-05-03T07:55:00.004-07:002016-05-03T07:57:33.246-07:00Solar in the United States Versus India<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHefgjDZGj5qJW6TKog5iXo4wZzT_pYOUiBqnQh1OzPfIeX2L-Iue7sdrvlgZX83ZRY-6SutTx50xmTBseEWA8MSJydUuVvSBefDqIncxcQFwtqYgzUAUOGJFQFtpsPqaCDak8mSEfMfa/s1600/SolarGIS-Solar-map-USA-en.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHefgjDZGj5qJW6TKog5iXo4wZzT_pYOUiBqnQh1OzPfIeX2L-Iue7sdrvlgZX83ZRY-6SutTx50xmTBseEWA8MSJydUuVvSBefDqIncxcQFwtqYgzUAUOGJFQFtpsPqaCDak8mSEfMfa/s320/SolarGIS-Solar-map-USA-en.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>American Solar</b><br />
Solar has a long way to go in the United States. In 2015, it made up a measly 0.6% of the electricity generated (<a href="https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=427&t=3">EIA</a>). In addition to that, of the 4,000,000,000,000 (that's four trillion) kilowatthours of electricity, about 67% of generated was from fossil fuels. There's a lot of room for growth, especially in the American southwest as you can see from the map.<br />
<div>
<br />
Here are some fast facts:<br />
<ul>
<li>The US has over 22,700 MW of solar capacity, enough to power more than 4.6 million average American homes.</li>
<li>In the first half of 2015, a new solar project was installed every 2 minutes.</li>
<li>Since 2006, the cost to install solar has dropped by more than 73%.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<i>All of the points above were pulled from the Solar Energy Industries Association's <a href="http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-industry-data">Industry Date</a>.</i></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The US is undeniably a solar leader in the world. Of the top 10 largest solar photo-voltaic projects in the world, the US has 6 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_photovoltaic_power_stations">Wikipedia</a>)! Our top six projects crank out 2,700 MW. To give you an idea of the scale, 1 MW could power 1,000 homes.<br />
<br />
The US has a long way to go in terms of percentages. Remember, only 0.6% of its electricity comes from solar whereas Germany produced 50% back in June 2014 (<a href="http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/08/germany-became-solar-superpower/#">Triple Pundit</a>). But it's tough for the US to move too aggressively in this direction. Besides, it has massive reserves of coal in Appalachia, oil in Alaska and off-shore, and natural gas all over the place.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W0WtIdEL5ZYRJPmt6QNaaW87nkB_sSfzoWEVPzvTDprT2bUUiXkKzqb5d-lCE8c54RRqNnpRi0Y7vhHtVN4fsg0qCqHDxel7q-o2CS0uG7Yis3XRHAghesRFZPvVfac_teroVftPczeS/s1600/Solar_Resource_Map_of_India.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5W0WtIdEL5ZYRJPmt6QNaaW87nkB_sSfzoWEVPzvTDprT2bUUiXkKzqb5d-lCE8c54RRqNnpRi0Y7vhHtVN4fsg0qCqHDxel7q-o2CS0uG7Yis3XRHAghesRFZPvVfac_teroVftPczeS/s320/Solar_Resource_Map_of_India.png" width="268" /></a></div>
<b>Indian Solar</b><br />
While the US has it made in terms of energy, India has been hustling for decades to meet the needs of its 1.2 billion people. The energy consumption in India is the fourth biggest after China, USA and Russia (<a href="http://www.usdebtclock.org/energy.html">US Debt Clock</a>). The energy produced doesn't come close to meeting demand.<br />
<br />
POWERGRID, India's state-owned electric utility company witnessed two of the largest blackouts in recent history. In July 2012, more than 700 million people were affected by one to two day blackouts in the north (<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jul/31/india-blackout-electricity-power-cuts">Guardian</a>). India experienced another blackout in January of 2001 that affected 230 million people (<a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2001/01/ind-j09.html">WSWS</a>). India's blackouts dwarf those experienced in other countries.<br />
<br />
The government's awareness of its energy deficit is pushing India to invest, invest, invest in new power sources. I wouldn't be surprised if they start snagging a few of the US's spots on the 10 largest solar photo-voltaic projects.<br />
<br />
It is also important to understand that India has been a global renewable energy leader. The country was the first in setting up a ministry of non-conventional energy resources in early 1980s. Solar currently makes up 14.59% or 6,763 MW of India's renewable energy, excluding hydro (<a href="http://www.renewindians.com/2013/02/indian-renewable-installed-capacity-has-reached-27.7GW.html">Renew Indians</a>). Wind comes in at 66%. India expects to install a total of 100,000 MW by 2022 (<a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/government-looking-at-100-000-mw-solar-power-by-2022-114111701373_1.html">Business Standard</a>). That's just six years from now and that's 14 times what they currently have!<br />
<br />
I've been lucky to correspond with one of the companies at the tip of the spear, <a href="http://www.su-kam.com/solar-solutions.aspx">Su-kam</a>. They've been servicing rural residences since 1989. Su-kam installs the solar panels, the wiring, the inverters, and most importantly, the batteries. Batteries play a critical role because they allow users to be independent of the grid--a grid which has experienced some major outages.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><br />
For now, the US enjoys the top spot in total renewable energy. However, India's needs are pushing it to be a fierce competitor. Let's check back in 2025. I bet this will be a very different looking analysis. </div>
<div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-80137770218596438672016-04-22T11:22:00.001-07:002016-04-22T11:24:19.609-07:00Solar Chanel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4SBRNyAJkRqOc9w2IjcEdYbsRHKI3I4ViG3HImV0PwIbl-s_cXCArJo_zrOpOuAkVwbV53MkYmx0IwHWsGanMdwykJmwK7roBsHbYIKargU1ZcnKNvGHbudkt98GQkDHw1Ipma-doq0Z/s1600/Solar+in+Mars+Hill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4SBRNyAJkRqOc9w2IjcEdYbsRHKI3I4ViG3HImV0PwIbl-s_cXCArJo_zrOpOuAkVwbV53MkYmx0IwHWsGanMdwykJmwK7roBsHbYIKargU1ZcnKNvGHbudkt98GQkDHw1Ipma-doq0Z/s320/Solar+in+Mars+Hill.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My name is Chanel Gardella and I'm Andrew's soon-to-be sister in law. I know he cares immensely about solar, so I always keep my eyes peeled for panels. Asheville is full of great solar opportunities.
<br />
<br />
The other day, I was working out in Mars Hill, NC and I noticed these panels on top of the Mars Hill Public Library. They were soaking up some sun, on one of the warmest days (so far) of 2016. I know Andrew always appreciates a good solar-photo and I loved the clouds, so I had to stop my car and take this shot.<br />
<br />
I can't wait for Andrew to move to Asheville, where he can invest in his own solar endeavors and spend more time enjoying life with us!Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0Library Dr, Mars Hill, NC 28754, USA35.827702 -82.54773639999996235.8268975 -82.548996899999963 35.8285065 -82.546475899999962tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-8246907269240678432016-04-12T07:06:00.002-07:002016-05-01T16:20:42.785-07:00Solar and Big Data?<div class="MsoNormal">
On April 9, I got to Skype chat with a Yale student based in China. He's working in China on a device, the NODE, that monitors its surrounding environment and reports that info back to cell phones. The applications are endless! After our Skype conversation, he expressed interest in writing a post for WheresTheSolar. Here it is:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIvJTNHBo08sd6XJZiI7XEqVphs1RbBS_BbyUD7sXOcDiT071_qD0i2LM2zuJxbnaZ356eY4MMEGJItX8oBOr3HjSKpbM1H8FaacheCJcEF-CEaXjZl-F5BUABKPP6WmrMZNNUkOMLuxl/s1600/Gordon+With+Some+Friends+in+Southern+Africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIvJTNHBo08sd6XJZiI7XEqVphs1RbBS_BbyUD7sXOcDiT071_qD0i2LM2zuJxbnaZ356eY4MMEGJItX8oBOr3HjSKpbM1H8FaacheCJcEF-CEaXjZl-F5BUABKPP6WmrMZNNUkOMLuxl/s320/Gordon+With+Some+Friends+in+Southern+Africa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gordon with some friends and the NODE in Southern Africa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>Hi, my name is Gordon McCambridge, and I am the inventor of
<a href="http://pivotech.co/">NODE</a>. NODE is a low cost, ruggedly
designed, universal data monitoring unit. I was on a research trip in Southern Africa and was working with organizations engaged with the “last mile” of
vaccine delivery. Our team realized that these organizations lacked the real-time field data that they needed to get the vaccines to destination intact.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We put our engineering hats on and realized that a
solution to all these challenges could be achieved by combining a few “maker” technologies – an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino">Arduino</a> and a cell phone. </i><br />
<table cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza8kgn9gfErbAjMTr8woAuseANVCm_foP3X0jnnIaf-FE40KuJi1TG4v62tr_-NKd5jNJPgG3bmU1APzu6YRIkjPQLrVhcfhAyKDTOIwU_mhnM1Q2OnbQXxOBDX-aJHyNw6MROrlsdsXs/s1600/The+NODE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhza8kgn9gfErbAjMTr8woAuseANVCm_foP3X0jnnIaf-FE40KuJi1TG4v62tr_-NKd5jNJPgG3bmU1APzu6YRIkjPQLrVhcfhAyKDTOIwU_mhnM1Q2OnbQXxOBDX-aJHyNw6MROrlsdsXs/s200/The+NODE.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close up of NODE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i></i><br />
<i></i>
<i>We further realized that
such a device could be tailored to many different fields through the addition
of different sensors and attachments: a rain gauge and soil moisture sensor for
the farming collective or a GPS unit and set of temperature probes for the blood
bank shipment. Our concept was a device that was both low cost and rapidly
scalable--a stark contrast to the previous standard of highly
specialized and expensive devices.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>With that concept, a year of effort, and a trip around the
world, NODE was born. We have piloted our device in Zimbabwe and
prepared for manufacturing in Shenzhen, China--a global capital of electronics manufacturing. <b>We have found many clear links to solar energy
and solar technology for NODE. </b>For example, a key use case for
the NODE can be supplying real time power and general
environmental data on a given solar installation over a cell phone network. With this data,
we would allow solar-focused organizations to quickly identify system
issues and troubleshoot remotely. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2cGBnwBLsaySpDSETE5XTmi9fjxOpD4HfXrGK9iAdZWjpYSaAr6qA03Wd9SXABqYlcuZyIs1_3tg3LpnmlGKfpLgcV0PHtlQoauCZuC8lGKl4H2fyeg3ubEey-B7JVFA1AhRLO-RnVnu/s1600/NODE+with+Solar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2cGBnwBLsaySpDSETE5XTmi9fjxOpD4HfXrGK9iAdZWjpYSaAr6qA03Wd9SXABqYlcuZyIs1_3tg3LpnmlGKfpLgcV0PHtlQoauCZuC8lGKl4H2fyeg3ubEey-B7JVFA1AhRLO-RnVnu/s320/NODE+with+Solar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NODE with a Solar cells on top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>We also want to incorporate solar tech into our general designs. Specifically, we are experimenting with solar
charging for NODE. NODE doesn't draw a lot of power and we should be
able to directly connect it to a low cost solar panel and
use that power to charge and run NODE indefinitely in any situation.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
As you can see, Gordon is up to some really cool stuff. If you're interested in working with Gordon or simply want to learn more about his project, he would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach him at info@pivotech.co or +1 (484) 809-1025. </div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-12831495053336064942016-03-23T17:44:00.001-07:002016-03-28T18:20:08.234-07:00DC vs. Berlin: Who is More Solar?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrj4_ASSfxWNliNlWWd4XIM_c8GDU-Ris8gB8ZIPOlK72t82mwlCGip1qrvbYpwDrNym-fEPrnm-LiOBYW6kcJjkWGo98owHSutgSZ_5N3mZityyYwQKEJ_Br_nW_NOzez5EmOvjzi4El/s1600/SolarGIS-Solar-map-World-map-en.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrj4_ASSfxWNliNlWWd4XIM_c8GDU-Ris8gB8ZIPOlK72t82mwlCGip1qrvbYpwDrNym-fEPrnm-LiOBYW6kcJjkWGo98owHSutgSZ_5N3mZityyYwQKEJ_Br_nW_NOzez5EmOvjzi4El/s640/SolarGIS-Solar-map-World-map-en.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://solargis.info/doc/_pics/freemaps/1000px/ghi/SolarGIS-Solar-map-World-map-en.png">Solar GIS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I recently contacted Dr. Peter Nagel, Editor in Chief of the <a href="http://www.lexegese.blogspot.de/p/lexegese-website.html">Energy Law Journal</a> via Twitter. He's based in Frankfurt, Germany and seems to really know his stuff. The journal is in German and google translate doesn't always do the most accurate job. I was interested in doing a comparison of our respective countries' two capital cities, DC and Berlin. Dr. Nagel was interested in the idea too. However, when I presented the initial research and comparisons, he seemed to shy away. I'm disappointed in that but happy the exchange resulted in this post.<br />
<br />
So here's what I found to start the comparison.<br />
<br />
On the national level, Germany is really beating the US on the solar battlefield. According to <a href="http://www.triplepundit.com/2015/08/germany-became-solar-superpower/">TriplePundit</a>, in June 2014, Germany reached over 50% of its electricity demand (<b>23.1 GW</b>) with solar power. Around that same time, the U.S. had just just .54% (<b>20 GW)</b>.<br />
<br />
Let's drill down to the city level. Here are some of the key statistics I found.<br />
<br />
<b>Population</b><br />
-DC has 658,893 people (US Census Bureau 2014). <br />
-Berlin has a population of 3,502,000 (2012 UN Data).<br />
<br />
<b>Area</b><br />
-DC is 68.3 mi²<br />
-Berlin is 344.3 mi²<br />
<b><br /></b><b>Annual kWh of Sun per Meter Squared</b><br />
<b><i>According to Solar GIS (above)</i></b><br />
-DC gets 1500 kWh/m2<br />
-Berlin gets 1150 kWh/m2<br />
<br />
<b>Installed Solar Capacity</b><br />
-DC has 17 MW of solar energy currently installed and ranks the district 34th in the country in installed solar capacity (SEIA's <a href="http://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/washington-dc">DC Solar Profile</a>). Apparently that's enough to power 2,500 homes.<br />
-Berlin has 83 MW of installed solar (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_Germany">Solar Power in Germany</a>). Of the German federal states, Berlin ranks 14 out of 16 in installed solar capacity.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Highlights</b><br />
-According to SEIA, DC has:<br />
<ul>
<li>130 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in DC, employing 1,000 people.</li>
<li>In 2015, $20 million was invested on solar installations. This represents a 132% increase over the previous year, and is expected to grow again this year.</li>
<li>The Department of Energy’s Forrestal headquarters building is one of the largest solar installations, generating about 230,000 kw/h per year (<a href="http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=DC">US Energy Information Administration</a>).</li>
</ul>
<div>
-Berlin has:<br />
<ul>
<li>17 solar companies (<a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=solar%20companies%20in%20berlin&rflfq=1&rlha=0&tbm=lcl&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:2&rlfi=hd:;si:">Google search</a>)</li>
<li>SEIA's counterpart is the German Solar Industry Association (GSIA). GSIA has 800 member companies and SEIA has 1,000. When you consider that GSIA is only seven years old (SEIA is 42) and Germany is 1/4 the population of the US, GSIA isn't doing too poorly.</li>
</ul>
<br />
So what are our big takeaways? In terms of installed solar capacity, DC has .249 MW/mi² whereas Berlin has .241 MW/mi². DC has 1 MW for every 38,758 people whereas Berlin has 1 MW for every 42,1923. <i>So even though Berlin has more installed solar capacity than DC, DC has more installed solar per mi² and per person than Berlin. WIN!!!!!</i><br />
<br />
So we know what the cities can produce in terms of solar. Determining what solar they consume is a lot more difficult. Below are some graphs to help you understand what energy sources the cities are consuming. You can see that solar has a long way to go before is beats out other competitors like oil or natural gas.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=1f75dffa8b&view=fimg&th=1539f10928cb5c79&attid=0.1.2&disp=emb&attbid=ANGjdJ-Y5nL0yGLl6yQJU1QNhyQMq41dCK1wdu9dmLq0kv9GuQ5pIxAJGXt5yk9cEkWtgA56J7GJEA4C27J3mrzdM2w1Q71FnEifHP-5t7qghDLOvMQjXDOqF6MwmWI&sz=w1142-h810&ats=1458662581784&rm=1539f10928cb5c79&zw&atsh=1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
Final Berlin Energy Consumption for 2012: 262,326 terajoules.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: </span><a href="https://www.statistik-berlin-brandenburg.de/home.asp" style="font-size: small;">Office for Statistics Berlin-Brandenburg, 2015</a><span style="font-size: x-small;">.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKUyMwBrfXo-AvJdhc_HHZCb8SCLQCMxdALhRPhnWSdITg3YICWznt3t2ToAEcpuCLla6kekJGbONYFI1uU8HsF-x7JxPIXTPmklBSne1jRQX1HVMFPHSX5RTMCXnNxJ6tk7TnxU6VEMW/s1600/%25232.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTKUyMwBrfXo-AvJdhc_HHZCb8SCLQCMxdALhRPhnWSdITg3YICWznt3t2ToAEcpuCLla6kekJGbONYFI1uU8HsF-x7JxPIXTPmklBSne1jRQX1HVMFPHSX5RTMCXnNxJ6tk7TnxU6VEMW/s640/%25232.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Estimates of District of Columbia Energy Consumption for 2013: 180,188 terajoules</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Source: <a href="http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=DC#tabs-1">EIA</a> after converting Btu to terajoules</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-18703937897985667012016-03-13T20:02:00.001-07:002016-03-13T20:02:44.629-07:00Learning About the Solar Politics of DCOn February 9, I got to interview Anya Schoolman, the force behind DC Solar United Neighborhoods or <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/">DC SUN</a>. DC SUN is less than ten years old and has already been instrumental in bringing solar to hundreds of homes around DC and blocking the merger between utility giants Pepco and Exelon. It was a real honor to sit down with Anya and by far the best education I've received in the solar politics of Washington, DC.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG1YKZCiHaxrVw20LiT8zDvT9xg2irLPCcHWTKr9rna12PZ1nb-WmlSnQk-JIYY5FSmpZJsygTLJqcL1zQSL-1QcCzwSlgsQY00DjcsVqZ_3HyGz2Bqp5mLzBmqUJC8KL0Ar8dZYmYNFu/s1600/Community+Solar+Diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQG1YKZCiHaxrVw20LiT8zDvT9xg2irLPCcHWTKr9rna12PZ1nb-WmlSnQk-JIYY5FSmpZJsygTLJqcL1zQSL-1QcCzwSlgsQY00DjcsVqZ_3HyGz2Bqp5mLzBmqUJC8KL0Ar8dZYmYNFu/s320/Community+Solar+Diagram.jpg" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community solar--you buy a big solar<br />
installation with your neighbors and you all<br />
save money on electricity</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of the most interesting points that Anya mentioned has to do with community solar. According to the <a href="http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed-solar/shared-renewablescommunity-solar">Solar Energy Industries Association</a>, community solar allows "several energy customers to share the benefits of one local renewable energy power plant. The shared renewables project pools investments from multiple members of a community and provides power and/or financial benefits in return."<br />
<br />
This is a no-brainer way for you and your neighbors to make money! However, Anya explained that community solar is being held up by DC's at-large Council Member, <a href="http://dccouncil.us/council/vincent-orange">Vincent Orange</a>. He's the Chairman of the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and has the power to push community solar legislation through. Common Vincent!<br />
<br />
Another big thing we focused on was the Exelon-Pepco merger. Exelon is the largest US nuclear power plants operator and regulates utilities in IL, PA, and MD. It's looking to buy out the Potomac Electric Power Company or Pepco. The merger seems inevitable--Exelon is a giant that employs 30,000 and looks like it can easily gobble up Pepco and its 1,400 staff. Anya and DC SUN oppose this merger vehemently, arguing that Exelon will not be a friend to home solar and clean energy installations. Their efforts have helped delay it but the war isn't over.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YwA4BnqccUM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YwA4BnqccUM?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="320"></iframe>During the interview, Anya informed me that DC's Mayor Muriel Bowser got a $25 million payment for one of her pet projects after the merger was initially shot down. The Mayor then began to publicly favor the merger. In addition to that, many of DC's elected officials own stock in either Pepco or Exelon that would benefit from this merger. Classic David vs. Goliathe.<br />
<br />
To conclude, if you're living in the DC area and want to go solar or would just like to learn more about DC SUN's work, you should visit them at <a href="http://www.dcsun.org/">www.dcsun.org</a>. They're a dedicated team and tireless workers.<br />
<br />
PS--one complaint I have about my video is sound quality. My cell phone has a hearing problem. To give you an idea, of the 20 minutes I recorded, I could only use 4 minutes because most of it sounded like mumbling. Does anyone have any cheap audio recommendations? Thank you.Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-73654745370085857492016-02-21T15:21:00.004-08:002016-02-23T06:54:24.109-08:00Scott "The Solar Wizard" Sklar Interview<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XVGID2d0zD62Zn9a0MGo9jrO93TVBQt5wfcvkn4E_8Vm3Y5loTecWapzeCBWEckt8a8QpmT7FgmUyEl_6cFbQLLj1FXgxV-1ESFFJ-nhVuanmrMkFWS_0RyJ12OhQJtiCY3GotwbSCMd/s1600/Sklar+Series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7XVGID2d0zD62Zn9a0MGo9jrO93TVBQt5wfcvkn4E_8Vm3Y5loTecWapzeCBWEckt8a8QpmT7FgmUyEl_6cFbQLLj1FXgxV-1ESFFJ-nhVuanmrMkFWS_0RyJ12OhQJtiCY3GotwbSCMd/s200/Sklar+Series.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I went with a different color for each</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> of the videos of this 4-part series. The</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">full interview combines all colors</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On February 3, I got to sit down and interview Scott Sklar. I often refer to him as the clean energy wizard. You can ask him anything about energy and he'll have an answer--often very futuristic. If you ask people in the solar world about him, they are proud if they had the chance to work with him. For his host of government and private-sector clients, he's always concocting a mixture of renewable energy solutions. So to interview him for my blog was a real catch.<br />
<br />
The interview lasted just under an hour and it was a struggle getting it down to 4 sub-five-minute segments. The discussion covers a broad range of topics: the evolution of Scott's Stella Group, the future of America's energy portfolio, a beach ball-like solar lantern, and how to succeed as a clean energy entrepreneur.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUYIoiCLX6HWGWrhxvtbof4UdkXNEHFIacOeptzTtVSXxlBWFsVSER4AaacJSgiTci3xaPHTpX-MuKbBo_WsCFJIj0X-PqYWJgwKR6puoG2_o1IlHrdnc30ueDS3BIXuHrEv9LC0JILW_/s1600/Merlin%2527s+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFUYIoiCLX6HWGWrhxvtbof4UdkXNEHFIacOeptzTtVSXxlBWFsVSER4AaacJSgiTci3xaPHTpX-MuKbBo_WsCFJIj0X-PqYWJgwKR6puoG2_o1IlHrdnc30ueDS3BIXuHrEv9LC0JILW_/s400/Merlin%2527s+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what Sklar's solar house reminds me of. You should go visit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We did the interview in Scott's Arlington office. It feels like you're entering into Merlin's house from Disney's Sword and the Stone. The room is packed full of inventions I've never seen and half-completed science projects.<br />
<br />
I didn't have my videographer, Potencial Puro with me so I had to make do with my cell phone. My phone did a good job with the visual but the audio couldn't compete with Potencial's shotgun mike. In addition to that, I didn't have a tripod so I had to binder clip my phone to a stand-up glass statue.<br />
<br />
These interviews were very info-dense so it took a long time to edit. I finally finished on February 20.<br />
<br />
Although I found the interview educational, I think my videos should focus more on very hands-on experiences like touring a solar field or building my own, mini-solar experiment. That's the style that seems to work for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAL3JXZSzSm8AlZyD3nQdBA">Primitive Technology Youtube</a> channel. Most of this guy's videos have 1 million+ views!<br />
<br />
And now, the video. My favorite is Part II. Check it out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PFNfs5w2REI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="333" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PFNfs5w2REI?feature=player_embedded" width="400"></iframe></div>
Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-24793127678360265242016-02-11T12:45:00.005-08:002016-02-11T13:00:39.409-08:00Appalachia's Clean Energy Future?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPMXyHbcV1QHSREe_vdMQxeaMkFUw_MOll1ci7WvM5s1mcpaBWuXhrM6ZpxVH79zqikNyT0dA7t_A99nrkxkvAqnEkO15be7j2v7ha1g8620S5o3E5E-cR4-HaV2VIAHon2O6hFTAHgrq/s1600/Coal+Train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPMXyHbcV1QHSREe_vdMQxeaMkFUw_MOll1ci7WvM5s1mcpaBWuXhrM6ZpxVH79zqikNyT0dA7t_A99nrkxkvAqnEkO15be7j2v7ha1g8620S5o3E5E-cR4-HaV2VIAHon2O6hFTAHgrq/s320/Coal+Train.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical scene in Appalachia, much like what I saw in<br />
Williamson in the Fall of 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A recent interview with Scott "the solar"Sklar prompted this post and if you will permit me, I'm going to take a little time to talk about energy trends other than solar.<br />
<br />
When you and I think of Appalachian energy, we think of coal-loaded trains stretching on endlessly and distant dynamite blasts opening up entire mountain tops for mining. In the Fall of 2007, I spent a week in Williamson, WV and I learned a lot about energy.<br />
<br />
One day, I visited an <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=arche+coal+stock">Arche Coal</a> mountain-top removal site and the scale of everything was HUGE! I rode around in a mini-van with some fellow Notre Dame students. A Mack truck with a tall, yellow flag guided us around. This was so earth movers with wheels 12 feet tall wouldn't accidentally back up onto our 6 foot tall van.<br />
<br />
The "mountain-top removal" technique was no exaggeration either. Whole mountains had been reconfigured into dirt piles and runways and trenches to extract the black gold.<br />
<br />
Our tour guide explained that at that point--fall '07--coal created 52% of American electricity. Although the current percentage is debated, it's in the mid- to low-30s. That works out to roughly a 20% drop in 10 years and if we kept that up, coal would be at 0% around 2032.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7cVy2naUA5Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7cVy2naUA5Q?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-left: 7px;" width="320"></iframe>However, a lot of this change has happened because of the amazing natural gas boom so I doubt it will keep falling at this rate. However, coal will keep falling and this will change the culture and landscape of Appalachia as we know it.<br />
<br />
During a recent solar interview with clean energy expert, Scott Sklar, I got an idea of what Appalachia might look like in 2050. Instead of a coal trains and dynamite, Sklar sees energy generated from whirring windmills, deep geothermal wells, and tree harvesting.<br />
<br />
This is not an out-of-touch dream from a clean energy zealot. It's very probable.<br />
<ul>
<li>Appalachia has an abundance of trees, which can be harvested in rotating patterns for burnable pellets and bark chips. I'm from the Pacific Northwest and this is something I saw frequently in the Weyerhaeuser owned forests of southwest Washington. </li>
<li>Dead trees and biomass on the forest floor are also a big source of energy. </li>
<li>Wind blowing over the mountains is forceful and you can ask anyone--like me--that's walked to the top. It could power innumerable turbines. </li>
<li>In addition to this, Sklar claims that at least half of U.S. geothermal reserves are under Appalachia. Yellowstone and its geysers may be the first thing to come to mind but don't forget about this old mountain chain. </li>
</ul>
The region is equipped with a good network of trains and blue-collar workers, which could greatly accelerate this energy transition. The great thing about this vision for Appalachia is that it is optimized through its diversity. If one method doesn't work, there are others to replace it.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a few steady trends that I imagine will change energy in Appalachia. I have tried to capture them in the sleek looking table below. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background: #FF9933; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.45pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #FFFF99; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 137.05pt;" valign="top" width="183"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Increasing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #FFFF99; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.25pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Decreasing<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #FF99CC; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.45pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Clean energy<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 137.05pt;" valign="top" width="183"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Number of jobs*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.25pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Cost per watt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background: #FF99CC; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 81.45pt;" valign="top" width="109"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coal<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 137.05pt;" valign="top" width="183"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Political opponents at the federal and local levels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 120.25pt;" valign="top" width="160"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "andalus" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Percentage of American electricity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>*As of November 2015, the solar industry <b>alone </b>employed 208,859 workers (<a href="http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/national/">National Solar Jobs Census</a>). In a job-hungry region like Appalachia, coal will be fighting an uphill battle against new employment opportunities. </i></div>
</div>Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-52953204022170042932016-01-21T21:13:00.000-08:002016-01-21T21:28:04.180-08:00Solar Video--My Attempt to Emulate Bill Nye the Science Guy<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0n4IFw3rS8rLtb8VlrGY4GbHa_W0ZqZvic6K8Idx9vRfAr35zH7iWs1aou-i3a7w6DNBw492xd3g2aQqifD0u90Sut-3bgOXkKlrzDqo_X84FDlr1R3flYOiCeL8aL8Eou-iYSaDyo0h/s1600/Bill-Nye-Oklahoma-state-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0n4IFw3rS8rLtb8VlrGY4GbHa_W0ZqZvic6K8Idx9vRfAr35zH7iWs1aou-i3a7w6DNBw492xd3g2aQqifD0u90Sut-3bgOXkKlrzDqo_X84FDlr1R3flYOiCeL8aL8Eou-iYSaDyo0h/s200/Bill-Nye-Oklahoma-state-1.jpg" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill Nye the Science Guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On a recent holiday drive from Savannah to DC with my mom, we were talking about my blog. We talk a lot about the blog. My mom has great faith in me and wants my blog to be a big production. She's a drama teacher. She told me that the videos I had posted thus far were bland. I guess my panoramic shots of solar aren't quite worthy of mainstream attention.<br />
<br />
We brainstormed for a while and she suggested I do a video where I explain something about solar and make it a bit more relatable to people who don't necessarily have a solar passion. Something like what Bill Nye the Science Guy was able to do with science.<br />
<br />
Fast-forward two weeks. On Jan. 16, I wandered around my neighborhood of Mt. Pleasant in search of some commonplace, "relatable" solar. For just over an hour, I filmed at four different locations, including a solar trash compactor, solar gas line monitor, and solar parking meter, and solar-powered Bikeshare station. I chose these installations because they are ubiquitous in DC, anyone can see them while walking, and I was well-versed (having blogged about all four).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
But this wasn't just any shoot. I'm very lucky to have a friend who's a videographer, <a href="http://www.potencialpuro.com/">Potencial Puro</a>. He helped me film my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSlbj-HdjsA">Nov. 15 interview</a> with Jonathan Morgenstein. He has all of the appropriate equipment: a camera with a fish-eye lens, shotgun mic, and tripod. It produces a much higher quality video than my cellphone.<br />
<br />
<iframe 320="" allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/50DninriXfU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/50DninriXfU?feature=player_embedded" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-right: 7px;"></iframe><b>Check out the video!</b><br />
<br />
One thing you might notice is that there are a lot of passers-by. One of the difficult things about filming is that you have to keep a straight face and focus on your material, even when people are bumping into you or purposefully trying to throw off your game. I've got a whole new level of respect for in-the-field news reporters.<br />
<br />
I was also horribly under-dressed and freezing by the end of it. You'll see that I don't look too warm in the video and see a bit more of my complaining in the outtakes.<br />
<br />
Despite the difficulties, it was a fun shoot and I plan to do something similar in the near future. I hope you enjoy it!Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6131767233320425188.post-31681895215064257752016-01-13T12:50:00.003-08:002016-01-13T12:52:42.238-08:00Sketching my Solar Visits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVx3ZTyi9wuIWxjJmllS-pvQ9C7ODXRX3U8TMHKeqwPJw-lkfemX_FslInTlaifx21ggSct6EuFNKNNypkg0FISfjGrX_7JhvoCkPoHA8w1UE7EXM17OF4w_Gf2adWRxMDoKbVNxH_CQl/s1600/Solar+Sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVx3ZTyi9wuIWxjJmllS-pvQ9C7ODXRX3U8TMHKeqwPJw-lkfemX_FslInTlaifx21ggSct6EuFNKNNypkg0FISfjGrX_7JhvoCkPoHA8w1UE7EXM17OF4w_Gf2adWRxMDoKbVNxH_CQl/s400/Solar+Sketch.jpg" width="352" /></a></div>
This blog has been an excellent opportunity for me to express myself. Before I started it just over a year ago, I had no outlet for creative writing, photography, or start-to-finish project implementation. Wheresthesolar has filled that void tremendously. Every blog post requires a bit of luck finding the solar, photographing it, putting a unique spin in the writing, and then pitching it on social media. Even though the work may only take a few hours, the duration of a post (from inspiration to publish) can be a few weeks.<br />
<br />
In addition, I've had to learn how to present my thoughts over multiple mediums. Before this blog, my online presence gave no indication of my interest in solar. Now, I communicate this interest through Wheresthesolar on Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, and Flickr. Each platform requires a certain amount of finessing.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsG9_ikzIdES0iK3kmjhJkq45KHiqD8jbK1CP-g5ptE9rUM54awQmAXnXb4tBFw-rZQkuzdGfDML1-24RQR4pbbXmeJci789TjR9Eydd7ALUQ7zoaqsMDr4Q4JvWrBalzT0dvPjkpiWSy/s1600/Celeste+and+Eileen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsG9_ikzIdES0iK3kmjhJkq45KHiqD8jbK1CP-g5ptE9rUM54awQmAXnXb4tBFw-rZQkuzdGfDML1-24RQR4pbbXmeJci789TjR9Eydd7ALUQ7zoaqsMDr4Q4JvWrBalzT0dvPjkpiWSy/s400/Celeste+and+Eileen.jpg" width="152" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top: Auntie Celeste's oil<br />on canvas of Chris on the<br />shore<br />Bottom: Animation by<br />Aunt Eileen </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Recently, a couple of my family members suggested I start sketching some of my favorite photos. It seems to be the 'in thing'. My former boss, retired Congressman Jay Inslee (now governor of Washington) auctioned <a href="http://old.seattletimes.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2017869079_the_art_of_jay_inslee.html">some of his sketches</a> to donors during his 2012 gubernatorial race. My buddy, Mike Bradley (see post below) told me that the real lynch pin and draw to the <a href="http://waitbutwhy.com/">Wait but Why blog</a> are the stick figure drawings. Even President Bush has a <a href="http://www.bushcenter.org/art-of-leadership/explore-exhibit">number of portraits on display</a> down at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in University Park, TX.<br />
<br />
Sketching and painting runs in the family. My mom originally taught me to draw. I pencil sketched frequently in middle school and high school. It used to be one of my ways of relaxing and focused my ideas. My mom's sister Katie is an architect and urban designer at MICA in Baltimore. Their youngest sister Eileen is an animator in Los Angeles (<a href="http://eileenomeara.blogspot.com/p/stills.html">Eileen's site</a>). Their aunt Celeste was a prolific oil-on-canvas painter in Reno. Here is a <a href="http://www.ccacarmels.org/documents/MCCARMDIGESTcopy1copy.pdf">collection</a> of some of Celeste's work.<br />
<br />
Solar is difficult to sketch because there are only so many ways to flatter a photo-voltaic panel. As I was looking through <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/131563178@N04/sets/72157662739984190">my solar photos</a> on Flickr, I decided to go with the one above. It's from a visit March 2015 to the <a href="http://www.wheresthesolar.com/2015/03/solar-church-3-western-presbyterian-in.html">Western Presbyterian</a> church in Foggy Bottom. I liked sketching this photo because of the vanishing point, the human element with Betsy Carter in the foreground, and the simplicity of shapes. I hope you like it!Andrew Polichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14336649235964309069noreply@blogger.com1