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Posted 24 June 2008

Relocalization Network: Local Communities. Global Connections Read this newsletter on the web | Change your subscription

Relocalize Newsletter #21 : : June 2008

Currently, the U.S. gets only 0.1 percent of its total electricity supply from solar energy, but some are predicting that solar energy will rival the cost of power produced by coal, natural gas and nuclear plants in the next decade or so. With rising fuel prices, major companies are focusing attention on researching solar technologies to develop affordable options for consumers.

In the meantime, there are plenty of resources to help you get started with solar energy from basic to high-tech, low-cost to high investment. At the very least, you can experiment with passive solar applications, such as space heating and cooking (see online resources below).

IN THIS ISSUE:

Mooning the U.S. Solar Tax Credit

Solar Energy 101: cooking, heating and electricity generation

Online Resources on Solar

Post Carbon Cities Update

New on Global Public Media

Welcome New Local Post Carbon Groups

Upcoming Events

Mooning the U.S. Solar Tax Credit

Solar Panels

Since the summer solstice is now upon us, in this month's Relocalize, we thought to take a quick look at the solar landscape. Where do things stand with new technologies? What resources exist to help defray costs? Does solar work for everyone? Where can people get started?

Now, just two weeks ago, we might have struck a more optimistic chord. But then we were reminded that, in Washington, D.C., political grandstanding continues to take on more urgency than concerns over energy security, climate change or the economy.

On June 10^th, opponents successfully blocked a vote on HR 6049 (The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008), which would have extended the solar tax credit, due to expire at the end of the year, until 2014. (We won't even bother to mention the other incentives included in the bill, including those for wind, geothermal, biomass and other promising renewable technologies.)

In his latest blog entry, Asher Miller explores the importance of the investment tax credit in reducing our reliance on the fossil-fueled grid. Read more here.
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Solar Energy 101

A little bit of history...
The Earth has been absorbing solar energy for five billion years. Humans have been using solar energy for several thousand years. Ancient Greeks and Romans recognized and appreciated the advantages of what we now refer to as passive solar design (see below)—manipulating architecture to make use of the sun’s capacity to provide light and heat to indoor spaces. In the 6th Century AD in Rome, sunrooms in houses and public buildings were so customary that the Justinian Code initiated “sun rights” to ensure individual access to the sun (read more on the history of solar).

Solar thermal energy relates to the harnessing of light (photons) from the sun to produce heat (on a clear day the amount of solar energy accessible at the Earth’s surface in the direction of the sun's rays is typically 1000 W/m2).

How does one capture solar energy? Applications of solar energy fall into three main categories: heating/cooling, electricity production, and chemical processes. Within these categories, applications range from personal use to large scale commercial and agricultural operations.

Shelby Tay offers some examples of solar energy applications that can help us make the transition away from our dependence on cheap oil. Read more here.
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Online Resources

Want to know how to get started?
Visit Homepower Magazine for a short introduction and the National Residential Energy Services Network for a number of resources
Live in the U.S. and want to know if solar could work in your home?
Use the Solar Estimater tool by the American Solar Energy Society
Wondering about financing a solar system?
Check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) for rebate information and Alliance to Save Energy's guide to energy efficiency mortgages
Feel like cooking up your first solar meal?
Browse the Solar Cooking Archive
Looking for activities for kids (and adults alike)?
Build your own solar oven! Step by Step Instructions

Post Carbon Cities Update

In our work with local governments, Post Carbon Cities encourages cities and towns to start with a resolution recognizing the problem of peak oil -- this brings the issue to the forefront, and lays the groundwork for later policies that can take a constrained energy future into account. We also recommend that local governments form a task force to examine the specific, local challenges they face in peak oil and global warming.

For many local governments, however these are challenging or even impossible political actions. Relocalization Network members know that a lot of people, for various reasons, aren't ready to acknowledge the challenges posed by peak oil. Luckily, there are a lot of things that local governments can do that do not require an official recognition of peak oil. One of these is promoting local renewable energy -- particularly solar energy.

Local governments are often fairly large institutions, and that means they have significant purchasing power. Municipalities are major energy utility customers and can use their leverage to encourage utilities to offer energy from "green" sources like solar energy. Some cities are creating buying pools to aggregate demand and create an even bigger push toward renewables.

Laurel Hoyt shares some examples of solar policies for municipalities in her recent blog. Read more here.
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New on Global Public Media

Peak Moment: "Team Fate": College students pioneering plug-in hybrid electric vehicle design
KunstlerCast #18: Pavement
Julian Darley: The Balloon Goes Up: Are We At A Peak Oil Tipping Point?
Chris Skrebowski: Oil Leaps To A New Record
Crop to Cuisine: Midwest Permaculture
Peak Moment: We Make the Path by Walking: White Oak Farm CSA
The Reality Report: Jamie Henn of 350.org
Richard Heinberg: How Do You Like the Collapse So Far?
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Relocalization Network Group Updates

Please join us in welcoming the following local groups to the Relocalization Network. Take a moment to have a look at their websites:

Simon Clissold, Torri Superiore Ecovillage - Italy
Peter Driscoll & Ruth Wallsgrove, Transition Sydney - Sydney, Australia
Cem Baykent, Istanbul Peak Oil Awareness - Istanbul, Turkey

SustainaBundy's first Annual General Meeting was held on Monday, June 16th. The group recently started the SustainaBundy Farm Gate Buying Group with members coordinating with one another to purchase fresh, local meat, fruit, vegetables and nuts directly from producers.

Lyttelton Timebank icon In February of 2007, Project Port Lyttelton in New Zealand launched their local timebank project with a modest grant from the Relocalization Network to trial Timebank USA's online software. Over one year later, their Timebank has seen considerable growth and support from the community. Here is a message from the new Timebank coordinator Julie Lee:

"The last few months have been very busy and a lot fun. A lot of learning, researching and meeting people. I feel very blessed/hounoured to be given the opportunity of filling this role. I have come to discover that the TimeBank is one of the most useful tools we have and should be using it in our everyday lives. The opportunities appear to have no ceiling. The highlight of the last couple of months would have been setting up a 'Community Treasure Chest'. This is where our members can donate some of their time credits. These credits can then be given out, at the discretion, of the member co-ordianator to individuals or community groups. Another highlight is the enthusiasm of our local Kindergarten about the TimeBank." Read more.

For more info about Relocalization Network group projects, visit www.relocalize.net.
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Upcoming Events

Post Carbon Institute Speakers Schedule

Transportation Symposium 2035: Where are we headed?
June 26, 2008 - North Jersey Transportation Authority, Newark, NJ
Daniel Lerch, Post Carbon Cities Program Manager will be presenting at this meeting of leading experts in transportation policy, finance, economics, land use and technology.

Post Carbon Institute Events

Post Carbon Institute Lecture Series
Kiss Your Gas Goodbye. Peak Oil, Gas Prices & the Future of Energy.
August 2, 2008-Sebastopol, CA
Join us as Richard Heinberg, Julian Darley and Celine Rich kick off our first local lecture series in Sonoma County. Wine, appetizers and community networking in addition to a thought provoking presentation.

Post Carbon Events Participation

Marin County Fair
July 2-6, 2008 - San Rafael, CA
Solar Car Share will participate in the Alt-Fuel Vehicle Road Show, a display of over 25 alternative fuel and high MPG vehicles.

Featured Events

ASPO-USA Peak Oil Conference
September 21-23, 2008 - Hyatt Regency, Sacramento, CA
ASPO-USA announces its fourth annual high-level conference to discuss impacts of and responses to a peak in world oil production. Conference participants will include Matt Simmons, Jeff Rubin, Jim Buckee, Jeremy Gilbert, Herman Franssen, Kjell Aleklett, Randy Udall, Jim Puplava, David Hughes, Dan Reicher, Vince Mathews, Nate Hagens, and many others. Early Bird registration ends July 21.
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