SolarYpsi’s Nonprofit Project has been highlighted in Home Power Magazine

SolarYpsi’s Nonprofit Project has been highlighted in Home Power Magazine. Early in 2015, a benefactor contacted SolarYpsi wanting to fund more PV installations in Ypsilanti. Since SolarYpsi is not a 501(c)3, it was determined that the best course of action would be to put together a list of nonprofits interested in having a PV system and the donor would choose from the list.  The donor contributed a total of $93,000 for 5 kW PV systems at a public library, two com­munity centers, a public high school, a health center, and a city-owned carport.

Interested in sharing solar experiences or information?  You can share on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/MiSolarUsers or send me a note to include in next week’s MiSUN Weekly.

2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun

The world is run by those who show up - time for Ann Arbor solar advocates to show up!

The world is run by those who show up - time for Ann Arbor solar advocates to show up!

This email string includes comments I've received from AA SUN members and supporters regarding the recent Energy Commission Report on Solar Taxation in Ann Arbor and the subsequent and related MLive story.  Some have encouraged me to ask AA Members to lobby their city council representatives. 

1. What AA SUN Can't Do - As a Mi SUN Chapter, AA SUN is bound by legal rules that apply to the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (a 501(c)3 Non Profit Association formed in 1991 and supported by members to educate and advocate for renewable energy in the Great Lakes).  Neither GLREA nor its member organizations (MI SUN and Chapters) may engage in lobbying activities.  AA SUN’s primary and sole vehicle for affecting public policy is education.

2. What AA SUN Can do - AA SUN’s primary and sole vehicle for affecting public policy is education.  AA SUN encourages its members and supporters to educate policy makers and thought leaders in Ann Arbor about issues that impact the viability of solar energy in our community.  Within this context, the Energy Commission Solar Taxation Report and MLive story are public documents and tools which you are free to use - or not use - as educational tools.   

3. What individual AA SUN Members Can Do - AA SUN members may lobby and/or educate as individuals who just happen to belong to AA SUN along with several other organizations that support enlightened solar public policies (e.g., Sierra Club of Huron Valley, Ecology Center, etc.). 

NOTE - AA Stakeholder Members, such as Sierra Club of Huron Valley, can lobby, if they so choose, on behalf of enlightened solar taxation policies (contact: Sierra Club Huron Valley Group, Nancy Shiffler,Chair, Sierra Club Huron Valley Group (nshiffler@comcast.net) andEd Steinman (HVGsierraclub@gmail.com, lighthawk.pilot@gmail.com).

The best thing we can all do is help grow AA SUN's Membership!  Elections are just two years away.

Mark Clevey

Founder/Organizer, AA SUN 
2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun

Will your taxes go up if you install solar panels? In Ann Arbor, yes.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Greg McGuire and his wife, Emily, live in the Old West Side historic district near downtown Ann Arbor.

A few years ago, they decided to add something new to their turn-of-the-century home: rooftop solar panels.

Not only was the 4.3-kilowatt system going to help them do their part for the environment by producing clean energy, it was going to be a financially prudent investment. Or so they thought until their taxes went up.

More ...


2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun

GLREA / American Solar Energy Society Conference

ASES SOLAR 2017 Call for Participation The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) has teamed up with the U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon collegiate building competition for an extra-ordinary event-filled two weeks in Denver, Colorado October 5-15, 2017. ASES's 46th annual conference, "SOLAR 2017: Building a 100% Renewable Energy Community," will be held October 9-12, in between the weekends of public days at the Decathlon. ASES is working with Decathlon organizers to create additional educational, sustainability, and networking events for a fun, rewarding time for people of all ages to celebrate solar energy and sustainability in buildings. Submit Poster, ~switch, Technical Session abstracts, or Forum and Workshop proposals here. SOLAR 2017 Opportunities to Present You may submit abstracts or proposals for the following types of presentations, using the SOLAR 2017 topical areas (listed further below) as a guide: Posters: This is a great way to get exposure to a larger audience: your poster will be up for the entire SOLAR 2017 conference, in addition to your presence at the poster session. Technical sessions: ASES will review your abstract(s) and assign them to the appropriate technical sessions. You will have an additional opportunity to have your work placed into the conference proceedings. ~switch talks: you have only 5 minutes to share your ideas or research in this popular fast-paced session. Forums: you propose a topic as well as organize the speakers to address this topic. A limited number of time slots are available for Forums. Workshops: if you are a trainer or teacher and wish to propose an educational workshop, we will allot time either before or after the ASES conference (NOT during the conference) for workshops. Workshops will have registration fees separate from the conference fees, and teachers/trainers may be paid a stipend from these fees. Topical Areas Progress to 100% Renewable Energy   What is working at the local, regional and/or national level and why? PACE and other financing Renewables working together Community solar Critical role of renewable energy in climate, air quality, water, food, and all other aspects of sustainable living Technology Innovations Resource assessment Solar & wind energy technologies Energy storage, vehicle to grid, vehicle to building Transportation, electric vehicles Grid integration, smart grids, micro-grids, grid management Energy efficiency Integrated building controls Tiny houses Education and Community Building Programs to raise public awareness and action Teaching renewable energy in the classroom Renewables in sports Strategies to advance contributions of emerging professionals Tools for advocates The 41st National Passive Solar Conference will also be part of SOLAR 2017, and will include the following topics Passive solar heating and cooling strategies to achieve 100% renewable energy in buildings Design tools, simulation, performance measurement and controls Building science implications in sustainable and carbon neutral design Building integrated renewable energy strategies Innovation, efficiency, renewables and market demand Case studies Presenters will have the option to submit a paper for the conference proceedings. Visit solar2017.org for more details.   Submit Poster, ~switch, Technical Session abstracts, or Forum and Workshop proposals here.  Questions - Contact solar2017@ases.org. Deadline: April 1, 2017.