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Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Stephen Hawking: One Thing Threatens Us More Than Donald Trump … Climate Change
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Landmark Federal Study Links Cell Phone Radiation to Brain Cancer
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Could Pixar’s ‘Finding Dory’ Have an Adverse Effect on Coral Reefs?
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BMW South Africa Unveils Solar Carport to Charge Electric Vehicles
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Santiago’s Metro System to Become World’s First to Be Powered Largely by Solar and Wind
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Leading Primatologist Weighs in on Controversy Surrounding Shooting and Killing of Harambe
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35% of Northern and Central Great Barrier Reef Is Dead or Dying
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It’s Time to Break Saudi’s Oil Monopoly and Embrace Clean Transportation
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Monday, May 30, 2016
Solarize Delta County nears Halfway Mark! 55 Homes and Businesses Registered so Far!
Educational events for June Announced
Installers from Empowered Energy Systems, LLC of Hotchkiss just finished the first installation in a series of new solar PV systems springing up around Delta County. A brand new 25 kW commercial system now sits atop workspace solutions ProSpace’s roof in Delta. The system is sized to produce some 35,000 kWh/year of energy. To put that into perspective, that’s equivalent to offsetting 60,000 miles of emissions by an average passenger vehicle or the carbon sequestered by 23.2 acres of local forest, each year!
The federal tax credit of 30%, combined with annual deductions for commercial clients
(Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System), made the investment a “no-brainer” said ProSpace Interiors, and Delta County Economic Development (DCED), INC Vice President Tom Huerkamp. The added incentive of Solarize tiered rebates only sweetened the deal. “It just makes economic sense to do this” Huerkamp continued “and then there is the community reason to do it.”
Solarize Delta County is a nonprofit outreach program sponsored by Solar Energy International in partnership with DCED, to increase the accessibility and affordability of solar energy for all Delta County residents. Solarize Delta County seeks to raise awareness of solar, lower the cost of solar electric (PV) systems, and significantly ramp up adoption of PV throughout Delta County.
More energy produced locally means more money that stays in the community, and with it the potential for job creation. The program is an expansion of the 2015 Solarize North Fork Valley effort that resulted in over $400,000 of local investment in solar and installation of 23 residential systems, totaling 120kW. The local installers hired six new employees to handle the demand.
Whether the motivation is energy independence, reducing carbon footprint, or plain economic sense, more residents in Delta County are flipping the switch to produce their own affordable, solar energy, thanks to Solarize Delta County. Solarize Delta County is nearing the halfway point of a 3 month outreach program, with 55 homes and businesses currently registered for a free remote site assessment, to learn more about going solar. The program offers a tiered rebate system that increases savings as more neighbors sign contracts to install PV systems. Already the program is a fourth of the way to its first rebate level of 100kW of total contracted solar, where participants will receive an additional $400 off per system.
Interested residents can register by July 15th to participate and receive a free remote site assessment, to learn about their solar options and assist with identifying financing options. Solarize Delta County is hosting outreach and social events to educate and guide potential solar candidates through a streamlined assessment and installation process. All events are FREE and neighbors are encouraged to attend to learn more about going solar, the Solarize way:
- June 8th- “Reduce then Produce” Energy Efficiency event with DMEA- Cedaredge Library, 6-7:30 PM
- June 13th- Solar Cocktail Hour / Meet the Installers, Old Mad Dog Cafe-Crawford, 5 – 7PM
- June 14th- “Reduce then Produce” Energy Efficiency event with DMEA- Hotchkiss Memorial Hall attached to the Hotchkiss Library, 6-7:30 PM
- June 18th- Solar & Wine Tour of Mesa Winds Farm & Winery and Alfred Eames Cellars, with guided van leaving Solar Energy International at 1:00. Welcome to drive separately.
- June 20th- Screening of “Catching the Sun” at Paradise Theater
- June 21st- Hotchkiss Chamber “Business After Hours” at Hotchkiss Fire Station. Meet the Installers and learn about the Fire Station’s PV Solar System! 5:30-7:00 PM
For more information or to participate:
- Go to: http://ift.tt/1XKhEWO county/
- Google: Solarize Delta County
- Facebook: “like” Solarize Delta County
- Call: Gerald or Marla at (970) 527-7657 ext. 213
Go Solar. Simply. Together. Solarize Delta County!
The post Solarize Delta County nears Halfway Mark! 55 Homes and Businesses Registered so Far! appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).
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North Fork Solar Fair Draws Record Crowd
PAONIA CO – Since soon after the earliest settlers moved into Colorado’s North Fork Valley it has relied on two major forces to drive its economy: energy and agriculture. This year the North Fork Solar Fair & Permaculture Expo built on that proud heritage with a fun, dynamic, and hugely popular event. Nearly 300 people participated, a threefold increase from its 2015 debut. The record crowd turned out to learn about and participate in this year’s theme: Cultivate Community & Homegrown Energy.
The North Fork is home to Solar Energy International (SEI), which hosted the event at its Paonia headquarters and campus, and was one of three sponsoring organizations. SEI is the world’s leading training institute for solar energy and alternative power systems—and is currently leading a collaborative local project to “Solarize Delta County.”
“Solar Energy International is honored to host this annual fair and expo,” said Gerald Espinosa, event organizer, and coordinator for Solarize Delta County. “We are bringing solar energy not only to communities around the world, but generating more of it right here in Delta County and the Western Slope. The Solar Fair is a chance to highlight and build from that work.”
Colorado’s North Fork Valley is an area in transition still firmly rooted in its small-town, rural past. Home to orchards since the first white residents in the 1880s and a coalmining community since soon thereafter, change has often come slowly to the area. Or all at once as commodity markets stumble. The most recent downturn has idled local mines, and spurred discussion about ways to have a robust economy, engage the future, honor the area’s roots, and protect the character of a cherished place.
Expanded significantly from last year’s, the event this year highlighted the great work being done regionally to transition toward cleaner power supplies and also featured workshops and exhibits on permaculture and biodynamics. These were facilitated by The Learning Council, the second sponsoring partner – and included offerings for kids and adults.
“We greatly enjoyed bringing new learning opportunities to this year’s Solar Fair,” said Alicia Michelsen of The Learning Council. “A strong community can weather change just fine, and coming together to share skills and celebrate each other is how we build strength.”
The 2016 Solar Fair & Permaculture Expo included food vendors, local drink, and over 15 exhibitors—including solar companies, the area’s electric cooperative, nonprofit organizations, and several local businesses.
Vendors, partners and exhibitors donated over two dozen prizes that were given away during the event. Musical acts included the Blue Sage Exploratory Chorus and the Solar Brothers. URSA! URSA! an effort comprised of musicians from the bands Grizzly Pears and Free the Honey closed the evening. All agreed after the success of this year’s event: The Solar Fair in 2017 will be even better!
“This year we all experienced the homegrown energy we can cultivate through community coming together,” said Pete Kolbenschlag a lead organizer of the event, and board member of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, the third sponsoring partner. “Big B’s Juices and Ciders and Revolution Brewing, along with the door prize donors, workshop leaders, exhibitors, and our great musicians all deserve a special measure of gratitude.”
The 2016 Solar Fair was sponsored in partnership by three area no-nprofit organizations. The sponsoring partners each brought a unique mission to their role in the event, showing that shared effort can come together in a way that can find opportunity in even the toughest challenges.
“On behalf of the Colorado Farm & Food Alliance, Solar Energy International, and The Learning Council we want to thank all who attended and made this year’s event so successful,” Kolbenschlag concluded as a shared statement from the sponsoring groups.
Solar Energy International (www.solarenergy.org) provides industry-leading training and expertise in renewable energy to empower people, communities, and businesses worldwide. The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance (http://ift.tt/1oPQ2C1) connects people from farm-to-table by engaging local the farm and food movement in climate and conservation action. The Learning Council (http://ift.tt/1Y05UzD) is a community organization providing educational options that celebrate the Arts and Agriculture.
Written by: Pete Kolbenschlag of Colorado Farm and Food Alliance
# # #
Photos of the 2016 Solar Fair and Permaculture Expo are available by calling Pete Kolbenschlag at 970-261-0678 or via email at Pete@MountainWestStrategies.com.
The post North Fork Solar Fair Draws Record Crowd appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).
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Rare Gorilla Shot Dead After 4-Year-Old Boy Slips Into Animal’s Enclosure at Cincinnati Zoo
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Protein Shakes Can Help You Lose Weight and Boost Your Metabolism
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Sunday, May 29, 2016
Glyphosate Found in Urine of 93 percent of Americans Tested
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Giant Squid Could Be Longer Than a School Bus
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Ready to Buy an Electric Vehicle? Here’s What You Need to Know
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Friday, May 27, 2016
7 Ways to Increase Your Metabolism
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Solar Boat to Make Solo Trip From California to Hawaii
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10 Popular Dive Sites Closed in Thailand Due to Coral Bleaching Crisis
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NOAA: World’s Largest Sponge Is as Big as a Minivan
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South African Solar-Powered Eco-Village Will Be Car-Free
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5 Superfoods You’re Probably Not Eating, But Should Be
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Shell Pipeline Leaks 20,000 Gallons of Oil in California’s Central Valley
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Taiwan Recalls Quaker Oats Products Imported From U.S. After Detecting Glyphosate
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Peru Declares State of Emergency as Mercury Contamination From Illegal Gold Mining Poisons People and Planet
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Student Abandons Economics Major at George Mason Over Koch ‘Donations’
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Granddaughter of Exxon Scientist Confronts CEO Over Funding Climate Denial
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Thursday, May 26, 2016
13 Worst-Rated Sunscreens for Kids
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7 Common Myths About Ticks
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Hate Crowds? Visit These 10 National Parks
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5 Things You Need to Know About Donald Trump’s Pitiful Plan for the Planet
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Emily Petrossian Completes Battery-based Solar Installation Training
Emily Petrossian (second from the left in the photo) is the newest member of a battery manufacturing company based in California. She is the latest team member to attend solar installation training at Solar Energy International (SEI), sponsored by a company who routinely send their employees to train with SEI. Her goal was simple: to understand the uses and applications of her company’s battery technology in the solar field. Emily was well versed in batteries, providing technical support to customers. However, she wanted grow her knowledge as more people asked sought answers about the batteries in their solar electric systems. So, her employer enrolled in her in SEI’s courses and she arrived in Paonia, Colorado to complete the hands-on PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based). In fact, the SEI Battery Lab Class was her first hands on solar experience.
In her week at the SEI Campus in Paonia, CO, Emily and her fellow classmates worked with a wide range of battery-based PV system components and architectures. Supervised by instructors who live and breathe battery-based PV, small groups of students installed, tested, and commissioned numerous PV systems with energy storage capability. Emily, who was on the other side of the process, implemented her technical knowledge of batteries in a real world setting, side by side with classmates who are becoming certified solar installers or looking to use the class to install stand alone and multimode systems for their homes or businesses.
Emily says of her experience “ I have a newfound respect for the installers out in the field…there’s lots of hard labor and lots of knowledge.” Luckily, Emily is equipped with much more of that knowledge to take back to California to better serve her customers. She feels her solar installation training “was extremely beneficial” and will help her grow her career. She will however miss the small town vibe and relaxed pace of Paonia. However, there’s always a chance to SEI’s training campus because, as Emily can attest, there’s always more ways to use batteries, and consequently, always more to learn..
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Daniel Gisonda – Solar Installer Training Dreams Come True!
Armed with big plans and a search engine, Daniel found SEI during his online searches to pursue his Solar Training quest. He enrolled in a series of classes that would take him through the basics of solar electric systems to more advanced knowledge on the configuration of battery based systems; also enrolling in Micro Hydro and Solar Hot Water Pumping courses to keep his options open. Though his solar training was supposed to be in the pursuit of building an off-grid home, it quickly became about building a career.
Getting Bit by the Solar Installer Training Bug
It was clear from his first solar installer training class that Daniel had caught the solar bug, adding additional courses to his repertoire every time he was supposed to take his leave of SEI. Furthermore, it was obvious that simply doing solar as a hobby was not going to cut it. He knew right away that the pursuit of solar knowledge became the pursuit of a career. Thanks to the network of SEI instructors all over the world, Daniel was able to network with existing companies in Alaska and will likely have work awaiting him once he finishes his new home.
The solar connections didn’t stop there. When Daniel sought a new career in solar after leaving the military, he saw that this could be a viable path for his fellow servicemen and women. In fact, he’s already spread the word that “SEI is the place for solar training..everyone I know is a hands-on person and this is a hands-on place.” And for those vets looking to follow in Daniel’s footsteps, SEI In-person Classroom and Hands-on Labs are now approved for Veterans Education Benefits!
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Stephanie Gulliver – Solar Installation Training for Electrical Engineers!
Stephanie Gulliver (second from the right in photo) is an Electrical Engineer from San Francisco, CA. She is returning to SEI for her second class in solar electric systems and solar installation training. This Spring she enrolled in PV 202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid Direct) with the purpose of pursuing professional solar installer training to remain at the forefront of her field.
Solar Installation Training – Reaching New Heights (Literally)
As an Electrical Engineer, this means staying on top of the constantly changing National Electrical Code (NEC), especially as it concerns solar electric systems. In San Francisco, Stephanie’s company does design work for new buildings so she “applies the NEC a lot in my job…and the standards keep evolving.” Stephanie says it is important for her to better understand the implications of the NEC standards when it comes to solar because it is being used in more and more buildings. In addition, her education with SEI and this course in particular helped her understand how the NEC applies to the design and electrical systems for the entire building. She added “it’s a great real-world addition to the classes I took in university.”
The class also literally helped her stay at the top of her field, by allowing her to climb Mt. Lamborn which towers 11,936 ft. above SEI’s Paonia, CO training facility. Of her time in Paonia, Stephanie says “I Love it! It’s the perfect place to have this type of course, you (SEI) have both nature and renewables.” Though Stephanie found Solar Energy International online, it was definitely the mountainous location and easy access to State and National Parks that sold it. And she has really taken advantage of her time in the West Elk Mountains and all of the hiking that comes with it.
So, between her time spent in the classroom and her time spent outdoors, would she recommend SEI to her friends? Before she had even completed the course, she’s emailed four of her colleagues with the link to sign up. And we’re guessing that email included some great pictures from the summit of Mt. Lamborn.
The post SEI Alumni Highlight: Stephanie Gulliver – Solar Installation Training for Electrical Engineers! appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).
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Three ‘Man-Eating’ Crocodiles Found in Florida Everglades
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Rooftop Solar Provides Net Benefits to All Nevadans
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SolarWorld Americas Selects Solar Energy International (SEI) as Training Partner
This partnership will provide professional development for SolarWorld’s rapidly growing solar installer network. solar installation training opportunities are available for installers just entering the field, all the way up to seasoned veterans seeking advanced technical knowledge.
“At SolarWorld, we understand that choosing a high-quality PV module is only the first step towards a high-quality installation. As the solar industry and our installer network continue to grow at a rapid pace, comprehensive design and installation training is more important than ever. Partnering with SEI gives our installers the opportunity to be industry leaders in installation quality,” said Sarah Wilder, SolarWorld’s Manager of Product Training.
Building off of SolarWorld’s product-specific trainings, SEI courses allow SolarWorld installers to take their knowledge and their careers to the next level. Through Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Online Campus, busy SolarWorld installers can take SEI online courses anywhere and anytime. These instructor-led 6-week courses are some of the most rigorous and highly-technical trainings found in the solar industry. Discounts are available for SolarWorld Authorized Installers and Accelerated Partners. For discount codes and more information, contact the SolarWorld training team at trainingusa@solarworld.com.
“SEI is proud to have been selected by SolarWorld as a training partner. For years, SolarWorld has been a dedicated supporter of our non-profit mission through equipment donations and charitable support. This new partnership takes this connection to the next level and galvanizes the dedication of both of our organizations working towards a highly skilled clean energy workforce. We look forward to providing our technical training to SolarWorld’s installer network and we welcome their team to our growing network of 45,000 students and alumni worldwide,” said Kathy Swartz, SEI’s Executive Director.
About SolarWorld’s Partner Programs
SolarWorld Authorized Installers (AIs) are a select group of manufacturer-approved, higher-volume SolarWorld installers who maintain a record of outstanding business practices and installation quality. Benefits include:
- AI logo and branding
- Eligibility for co-branded marketing and cooperative marketing funds
- Sales leads
- Access to finance programs
- System proposal and design support
- 1st tier training discounts
Eligibility requirements include 1 year in solar, minimum 100kW/year installed, a phone interview, and an annual quality inspection audit.
The SolarWorld Accelerated Partnership Program is designed to support companies who are new to solar or looking to grow their business through a partnership with SolarWorld. Benefits include:
- Fast track to the Authorized Installer Program
- Eligible for retroactive co-op credits
- System proposal and design support
- 2nd tier training discounts
Eligibility requirements include 6 months in solar and a minimum 25kW/year installed.
To learn more about SolarWorld partner programs and to register in the SolarWorld Partner Portal, please visit http://ift.tt/1NQ3Doo.
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Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Grants $650k to Accelerate Climate Change Solutions
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Monsanto Ordered to Pay $46.5 Million in PCB Lawsuit in Rare Win for Plaintiffs
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NASA Captures Mars in a Very Photogenic Mood
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Protesters Blockade Planned Pipeline Site Near Nuclear Plant Outside NYC
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Nation’s First Major Public University Fully Divests From Fossil Fuels
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Bayer ‘Confident’ It Can Still Strike Deal with Monsanto, Merger Could Spell Disaster for Farmers and Global Food Supply
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Renewable Energy Jobs Surpass Oil and Gas Sector for First Time in U.S.
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Exxon Board Rejects All Nine Climate Resolutions at Annual Meeting
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Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Undercover Investigation Exposes Shocking Neglect at Third Largest Pig Farm in U.S.
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Fracked Gas Isn’t Green or Clean
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World’s Largest Solar Rooftop System Goes Online, Will Power 8,000 Homes
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The 9 Best Hot Springs on Earth
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More Big Retailers Say ‘No’ to GMO Salmon
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Ground-Breaking Agreement Marks First Voluntarily Limits to Industrial Fishing in Arctic
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The Science Behind the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
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Meet the Carbon-Neutral Sports Car Made From Hemp
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The True Cost of Fracking
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