Mooning the U.S. Solar Tax Credit

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

The Earth has been absorbing solar energy for five billion years. Humans have been using solar energy for several thousand years. 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 Looking for activities for kids (and adults alike)? Build your own solar oven! Step by Step Instructions Want to learn more about solar cooking? Browse the Solar Cooking Archive Looking for some new recipes? Permaculture author and teacher (and founder of Post Carbon Flagstaff) Lisa Rayner recently published the “The Sunny Side of Cooking: Solar cooking and other ecologically friendly cooking methods for the 21st century” as a practical, easy-to-follow guide for beginning and experienced solar cooks.

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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: 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 - Ventimiglia, 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.

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'." Read more.