MiSo, a solar house that has been an exhibit at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor for the past 10 years, is now going to serve as an off-grid house. The aluminum house, designed and built by UM students and displayed on the Washington Mall for the 2005 Solar Decathalon, was purchased by Lisa and Matt Gunneson, a Grand Rapids couple who plan to move it to land they own near Evart. Outfitted with solar panels on its half-round roof and with a battery storage system inside, the 660 sq.ft. one-bedroom house is capable of operating without any external power sources.
Interested in sharing solar experiences or information? You can share on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/MiSolarUsers or send me a note to include in next week’s MiSUN Weekly.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Friday, January 20, 2017
Brownfield Sites in the Upper Peninsula that could host the development of more than 750 MW of solar energy
Brownfield Sites in the Upper Peninsula that could host the development of more than 750 MW of solar energy have been identified by Michigan Energy Options. The solar mapping tool specifically looks at the areas around Marquette and Houghton. It lists 79 sites with 752 MW of solar potential, as well as each site’s proximity to transmission lines, substations and roads. A 2010 study by the Land Policy Institute at MSU estimated 4,320 MW in wind and solar potential on brownfield sites across the state.
Interested in sharing solar experiences or information? You can share on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/MiSolarUsers or send me a note to include in next week’s MiSUN Weekly.
2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun
2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
ALERT - Solar Taxation
The City of Ann Arbor, Energy Commission Solar Subcommittee met with Howard Lazarus, City Administrator (January 11 2017) to present their recent Solar Taxation Report. Councilperson Chip Smith was in attendance along with several city staff. The City Administrator said he essentially agreed with the report's findings and conclusions, quoting Oscar Wilde - "a cynic was ‘a man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing" - noting that there was no place cynicism in Ann Arbor when it comes to Climate Action.
In this meeting, Administrator Lazarus made a commitment to find a way to eliminate and/or ameliorate the solar tax in Ann Arbor. Councilperson Chip Smith indicated that there was strong support in the City Council to address this issues as well.
Administrator Lazarus also committed to a report to the Energy Commission on Feb. 14th 2017 on the City's plan to eliminate and/or ameliorate the effects of solar taxation and their progress on implementation.
Mark H. Clevey
Founder/Organizer, AA SUN
Friday, January 6, 2017
Midcontinent ISO has integrated a solar farm into its wholesale market for the first time
Midcontinent ISO has integrated a solar farm into its wholesale market for the first time. The 100-MW North Star solar farm outside of Minneapolis is the largest solar facility in the Midwest and will sell its output to Xcel Energy. Several large solar farms have been built in the MISO region, but North Star is the first that can trade its electrical output in the wholesale energy market.
Interested in sharing solar experiences or information? You can share on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/MiSolarUsers or send me a note to include in next week’s MiSUN Weekly.
2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun
2glrea.org/solar/mi-sun
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
For those solar users interested, the Ann Arbor Property Tax appeal's will occur on March 22, 22 and 23 2017.
For those solar users interested, the Ann Arbor Property Tax appeal's will occur on March 22, 22 and 23 2017. I have been informed by a staff person in the Assessors Office that I will receive a letter in early March outlining my SOLAR TAX INCREASE and notifying me of the appeal process. My understanding is that appeals can be done in writing or in person. My appeal will include information on my solar systems energy output and its emissions reductions.
You can contact the City Assessors office to determine your SOLAR TAX! See the Energy Commission Report on Solar Taxation in Ann Arbor.
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