So, I just read a slightly confusing article that popped up today on the Phoenix Business Journal’s Web site. The article discusses the Arizona Corporation Commission’s approval of a request for an additional $143 million in commercial solar system incentives to be given out by APS. My personal feelings about this approval aside, based on the content of this article, it doesn’t seem as if there is much favor by the commission for their own decision. The article is riddled with negative comments by the commissioners, while casually mentioning that the incentive increase will benefit the solar industry. Well, of course it will! The more solar installation projects in the works, the better the solar industry will fare.

However, on the flipside, there are comments by several commissioners stating numerous reasons why they hesitantly approved the incentive increase. According to one commissioner, there is concern over whether the systems will continue producing energy through the life of the incentive, which could be 10 to 20 years. To that point, with proper maintenance, most solar systems should last 25 to 35 years. Another commissioner questions whether or not APS has been pushing homeowners to buy into solar systems the same as businesses. This is a valid point if it can be proven that APS is not marketing solar systems to residential customers, but there is nothing in the article that suggests they are not. To play devil’s advocate, there could be many reasons why residential solar installs have not been in as high of demand as expected. Such factors include the number of single-family, currently lived-in homes in APS zones, HOA regulations that may prohibit or delay home owners from installing solar, the inability for homeowners to secure funding, or simply a lack of urgency to make a commitment. This was a big decision the Arizona Corporation Commission made, especially since the increased incentive could affect APS customers. They must expect that some people will be very happy with the decision and others will not be pleased. The commission will be more likely to gain supporters of their decision of they can provide some positive reasons, because they definitely exist.

Holly
Public Relations

Most of the time when shopping at Costco, I’m a zip in and get it done kind of person. I have to be this way or else I get distracted by all of those other things I need, like an inflatable mattress, 200 utility towels or solar tubes. Instead, I go for the less exciting products – toilet paper, dog food, vitamins – because despite their volume, they actually get used in my household. Good intentions aside, oftentimes unnecessary items still make their way into my shopping cart. What is it about that environment that makes me feel as if I can’t live without a two pound tub of hummus dip? Have you ever tried to singlehandedly consume that much hummus dip? Well, let’s just say that my coworkers were very excited about that impulse purchase! With too many shopping trips ending this way, I had to figure out why I can’t control myself in this store. Maybe it’s to simply make myself feel better, but I have come to what seems like a rational conclusion. While Costco is not a closeout retailer, many of the items they carry are on a seasonal or oftentimes trial basis. Not to mention, if a product has made its way onto Costco’s shelves, it’s usually an item that is on the verge of becoming very popular or is already wildly popular. Top it off with a significant savings, and things become irresistible! This conclusion leads me back to my list of products I think I need at Costco, like solar tubes. Despite my burning desire to buy them, I couldn’t rationalize the purchase of solar tubes. If you don’t know what they are, solar tubes serve a similar purpose as skylights, but require much less space, are easier to install, and are less expensive. If you’ve been looking into them or have contemplated skylights, you may want to give these solar tubes a look. If it weren’t for the pesky HOA rules that govern my condo, you can bet that my shopping cart would have been filled with one solar tube for every room in my home!

Holly
Public Relations

On Monday, the British newspaper The Independent published an interview with Fatih Birol, chief economist for the International Energy Agency, in which Birol warned governments to pay attention to the impending oil crunch. Peak oil arrives within ten years, Birol said, but as demand for oil rises, prices will soar long before that. He predicts an oil-price crisis within two years, crippling any economic recovery. Bottom line: the world needs to adopt substitutes for petroleum, soon, simpl [...]

Anything that has to do with solar and advancing the solar industry, I want to support. I really do. I’m a big believer that expanding Arizona’s footprint in the solar arena is going to help diversify our economy and hopefully assist us the next time we face a downturn. Aside from that, I feel alternative energy is just the right thing to do. A recent topic in the solar world is there are several Valley schools that would like to take advantage of federal stimulus money and install solar systems on their facilities. Over the next 15 years, utilizing solar energy to power the schools will save on estimated $4.7 million for the Scottsdale schools alone. Sounds great, right? Now here lies the rub. Unfortunately, schools, government agencies, and non-profits aren’t able to use the significant tax incentives that other businesses have access to. Without these incentives, many won’t be able to afford the solar systems. There is an initiative being proposed to the Corporation Commission by a California based solar company that has a presence in Arizona. This company wants to essentially serve as a middleman by taking advantage of the tax benefits and selling the energy to the schools for less than what they would pay their utility companies. I have mulled this over and tried to see it from both sides of the spectrum; however, I always come back to the same thought. Allowing a private company to essentially act as a utility broker is wrong. There are regulations in place by the Corporation Commission for a reason; yet, the solar company wants to be dismissed from these regulations. I wish the schools could take advantage of the same tax incentives as a private company, but I don’t think this is the way. If we make an exception for them, then when does it stop? Wouldn’t it make more sense to work towards passing a new bill that enables non-profits and government agencies to benefit from the tax incentives?

Holly
Public Relations