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Steve Carr
Certification # 031409-20

Andy Cochrane
Certification No. 031508-18

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NW Eco Building Guild

NEWS BRIEFS

Oscar contender FUEL is an insightful portrait of America’s addiction to oil and an uplifting testament to the immediacy of new energy solutions. Director, Josh Tickell, a young activist , shuttles us on a whirlwind journey to track the rising domination of the petrochemical industry—from Rockefeller’s strategy to halt Ford’s first ethanol cars to Vice President Cheney's petrochemical company sponsored energy legislation — and reveals a gamut of available solutions to "repower America" —from vertical farms that occupy skyscrapers to algae facilities that turn wastewater into fuel. Tickell and a surprising array of environmentalists, policy makers, and entertainment notables take us through America’s complicated, often ignominious energy past and illuminate a hopeful, achievable future, where decentralized, sustainable living is not only possible, it’s imperative.

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Federal Solar Tax Credits Extended for 8 Years
Posted October 6, 2008

On Friday, October 3rd, new federal legislation was passed that extends the 30-percent federal investment tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations for 8 years (through December 31, 2016). This landmark legislation is part of H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, designed to address the U.S. financial crisis..  
 

Power Trip Energy president Andy Cochrane responded to the news saying, “It’s nice that congress is agreeing with what our clients have known for years now: solar works.  It works great here in the northwest, and there has never been a better time to invest in grid tied solar PV for your home or business.  There are over 700 grid tied systems installed in Washington State, and this number is doubling each year.  The citizens of Washington State are leaders, not followers.  We do appreciate that the federal income tax credit extension will return to our customers some of the money they have invested in their solar PV systems.  The 8-year extension of the credit and the removal of the $2,000 cap for residential systems just makes sense for our country.”

The solar investment tax credit (ITC) provisions will:

· Extend for 8 years the 30-percent tax credit for both residential and commercial solar installations (through December 31, 2016);

· Eliminate the $2,000 monetary cap for residential solar electric installations, creating a true 30-percent tax credit (effective for property placed in service after December 31, 2008);

· Allow Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filers, both businesses and individuals, to take the credit.  Previously, the credit could not be used to reduce tax liability below the alternative minimum tax amount.  This is no longer the case;

· Allow any unused credits to be rolled forward to future tax years;
 

Even though the elimination of the $2,000 residential cap does not take effect until January 1, 2009; we here at Power Trip Energy encourage our clients to act now and not to wait until January to schedule a site evaluation or to purchase a system.  We anticipate being very busy after January 1 as a result of the improved federal income tax credit.  We recommend having your solar PV system installed as soon as possible and waiting to commission the system (having the utility make the final connection) after January 1 to take full advantage of the new federal income tax credit.  Please contact us at 360-643-3080 for more information. 

Al Gore Poses Renewable Energy Challenge to U.S.

Posted July 28, 2008

Former Vice President Al Gore challenged the United States to shift its entire electricity sector to carbon-free wind, solar and geothermal power within 10 years.  “This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative.  It represents a challenge to all Americans - in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs,

innovators, engineers, and to every citizen,” Gore told the crowd at a Washington DC event on July 18.  The problem according to Gore, “We're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the planet. Every bit of that's got to change.” 

“To those who argue that we do not yet have the technology to accomplish these results with renewable energy: I ask them to come with me to meet the entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution. I've seen what they are doing and I have no doubt that we can meet this challenge.

“To those who say the costs are still too high: I ask them to consider whether the costs of oil and coal will ever stop increasing if we keep relying on quickly depleting energy sources to feed a rapidly growing demand all around the world. When demand for oil and coal increases, their price goes up. When demand for solar cells increases, the price often comes down.”

Check out the video of Al Gore’s full speech at www.wecansolveit.org, click on link at the bottom of the page.

The staff at Power Trip Energy count ourselves among the “entrepreneurs who will drive this revolution,” as referred to by Al Gore.  Expect to hear more from us soon.  We’ll have a challenge of our own for you.   

July Solar Home Tour a Success

Posted July 28, 2008

The 2008 ASES (American Solar Energy Society) Solar Tour for Jefferson County held on July 12 was a huge success.  This was the first summer solar tour held in Washington State and the weather cooperated with sunshine and blue skies.  Approximately 300 – 400 tour participants traveled to Port Townsend from as far away as Vancouver WA, Bellevue, Anacortes, Redmond, Kingston, Bremerton, and Port Angeles.  Tour participation was up about three times over last fall’s solar tour.

Power Trip Energy hosted the tour and held a kick-off event that over the course of the day at Wildberry

Andy Cochrane leads a workshop on solar thermal systems during the 2008 Solar Tour.

 Farm.  All the seats were filled at three solar workshops held at the Power Trip Energy Shop including standing room only at the back of the room (see photo above)  Thanks to Puget Sound Energy for helping to sponsor the event and for PSE employee Jake Wade for attending and leading one workshop.  Power Trip Energy employees provided guided tours of the 5 solar systems installed at Wildberry Farm.  A drawing limited to walkers and bicyclists for a $35 gift certificate to PT Cyclery went to a group of college students from Bellevue who cycled to the various tour sites (and Waterfront Pizza). 

The eleven solar tour sites reported between 25 to 50 tour participants at each site throughout the day.  Homeowners were at each site to answer questions including what their system cost, how much of their home’s energy the system is covering, and what it was like working with the installer. 

Steve Moore, whose 7.2 kW system was installed in May 2008, reported that one visitor asked what kinds of things went wrong during the course of the installation.  And Steve shrugged and said, “It all went great.  We were here the first day Power Trip started the installation.  We left town for 5 days and when we arrived home the following week the system was complete and the utility had turned on the system.  Sorry to disappoint you, but nothing went wrong.”  

The 2009 Solar Tour for Jefferson County has not been scheduled yet, but it will likely be a summer event again.  ASES Solar Tours for King, Kitsap, and Clallam, and other Washington State counties are scheduled for October 4, 2008.  Learn more about upcoming solar tours at www.solarwashington.org.

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