WHO IS DEREGULATED - WHO ISN'T AND WHERE DOES BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS (BI-PV) FIT IN

The public may feel a bit confused about the deregulation program -including issues like who is being deregulated -when; and what portions of the energy industry will remain regulated. If you are one of those people who have attempted to call Southern California Edison to find out what they need to do to hook up their new building-integrated photovoltaics (BI-PV) system; you know that the public is not the only one confused. The following are some facts as well as some unresolved questions to attempt to clarify the organizational structure and schedule of deregulation in the energy industry:

• Investor-owned energy generation, merchandisers and demand-site consumers (ie, BI-PV) are the only portion of the energy industry being deregulated in California at this time. Each of these electricity producers are called an Energy Service Provider (ESP). Publicly-owned generation of electricity will not be deregulated until the year 2000 or beyond. All distribution of electricity will remain regulated.

• Demand-site consumers is a term I coined to assure manufacturers and merchandisers who service consumers choosing to create their own demand-site electricity through BI-PV or some other renewable energy are included in the lists of Energy Service Providers and Green Energy Providers.

• When you call the California Energy Commission (CEC) to get a list of Energy Service Providers there is list being developed for Green Energy Providers. Presently, they are not including demand-site consumers. You must be sure to tell them if you plan to install your own generation system. If your renewables system will produce more than 25% over your present electricity bill, you will need to register with the Public Utility Commission as an Energy Service Provider. If you want to buy electricity from an existing generator or merchandiser who indicates they are offering Green Energy ask for information about the company and the source of the electricity they are selling.

• Terms like "sustainable coal" and "co-generation of coal and gas" are not Green Energy Service Providers even though they may be listed as such. True Green Energy is clean, renewable and sustainable electricity generally from photovoltaics, solar thermal, wind and some kinds of small hydro plants. In other words the energy system does not pollute, it is not depleting and it is ecologically benign. Large hydro plants are not really 'Green Energy' because of the dramatic and negative side-effects of these plants including erosion and loss of wild-life and fish. All fuels have some negative side effects. Present forms of wind generation kills birds that get in the way of its blades and it produces noise pollution. Coal is not a 'sustainable' fuel because it is not ecological to mine coal. The wastes from burning coal pollutes the atmosphere and the tons of by-product coal ash is an environmental problem that is generally dumped with little mitigation. There are some efforts to utilize this coal ash in positive ways, but coal is not a clean or sustainable fuel. Pollution from coal has been cleaned up tremendously since London's dark air of the 1600s, however it is still reeking havoc on our environment. The overall problem is much more serious, today, because the size of the coal industry is global and growing. United States consumption of coal doubled in the last twenty years to nearly 55% of our electricity consumption despite the warnings of global warming and other damaging effects of CO2 in the atmosphere.

  CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT FUND - HAS IT BEEN TAKEN RANSOM BY ENRON-AMOCO-SOLAREX IN BILLION DOLLAR DEAL JUST BEFORE THE DEREGULATION IS FINAL?

  According to reliable sources over, ONE BILLION DOLLARS of the California Public Retirement Fund has, in the past three months, been invested in ENRON-AMOCO-SOLAREX. Considering the pending deregulation with related issues in debate as well as what look like anti-trust issues, there would appear to be a conflict of interest barring such investment of California Public Retirement Fund in ENRON-AMOCO-SOLAREX at this time. Attempting to secure a state's retirement funds is a tactic I have seen used by large and endangered development companies lacking the security they need to evolve an unpopular agenda. A large portion of the Kansas Public Retirement Fund was threatened during a lawsuit against a large development company that eventually filed bankruptcy along with related banks holding associated bad loans. The problem was addressed in my book Seven Cities In Four Nations completed in 1991. The book was accepted for publication by the Preservation Press of the National Trust of Historic Preservation in 1992. Publication is pending.

  In our January 1997 BI-PV NEWSLETTER, we warn the public about potential risks related to heavy long-term investment in traditional energy stocks and especially fossil fuels as the energy industry begins to shift toward new technologies and related global competition. Considering the timing, it would appear that a billion dollars of the Retirement Fund for California Public Employees has been taken ransom revealing the message that either you buy our fossil, nuclear and hydro energy or you lose your retirement. The question may become more crucial as the next decade unfolds.

  ENRON-AMOCO-SOLAREX continue to emphasize at technical conferences and trade shows that there is no market for BI-PV in the United States. They may be attempting to get a government guarantee for that -just in case the word about BI-PV as a thriving semi-conductor energy industry gets through to national economists and investors.

  It would be far more viable and secure to invest a billion dollars of the California Public Retirement Fund in companies actually involved in timely mainstream domestic deployment of silicon and thin film technologies for building-integrated photovoltaics (BI-PV) to not only secure public employee's retirement funds, but the retirement of their children as well. Is this beginning to make sense to anyone, yet?

  CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (CEC) 50% BUYDOWN HAS BEEN DELAYED ACCORDING TO CALL CENTER ON FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6, 1998

  What really is going on with Assembly Bill 1890 and Senate Bill 90 RENEWABLES INCENTIVES is not clear at this time. Up until today, the call center indicated the program was in place beginning January 1st with the initial pay out on February 22nd. Today, I was informed the Renewables Incentive Program has been delayed until late March along with the deregulation start date. That may be a blessing for those of you who haven't submitted their application. The total program offers $54 million to cut the price of your solar system. This year is 50% for $10 million dollars of projects. Next year approved and completed applications get a 40% rebate. The third year they get 30% and the final year they only get 20%. However, each year the money is spread over a larger consumer base. We have discussed the idea that it might be a good time for large energy cartels to provide matching incentives for Demand-site Renewables deployment to strengthen this important new industry domestically.

  WITH DEREGULATION OF ENERGY INDUSTRY, SOME ENERGY COMPANIES OFFER TWO WEEKS FREE ELECTRICITY to encourage you to commit to their fossil, nuclear and hydro electricity fuel to light your home and turn on your computer or TV. That is about $15 of incentive for a consumer to buy into the energy cartel's preferred habits of polluting technologies. For those of you who don’t want to settle for anything less than clean sustainable electricity, there is a better alternative, today! Ask those energy companies offering free electricity for two weeks about their renewables and building-integrated photovoltaics (BI-PV) portfolio. Some of them own photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing companies. In fact over fifty percent of the PV manufacturing companies world-wide are owned by large oil companies. The Solar Development Cooperative gives talks, workshops and individual consulting to educate professionals and consumers on how easy it is to install a photovoltaic array into your rooftop. We consult individuals and groups on opening businesses in the BI-PV industry. The 50% Buydown makes BI-PV the most affordable and clean energy on the market. The fact that PV is made from silicon and is an evolving semi-conductor industry makes it one of the hottest new industries in the global technology marketplace.

  DURING THE 1970s, CONSUMERS WERE MISLED BY MISUSE OF TAX CREDIT PROGRAM FOR SOLAR ENERGY. Most of these projects were for solar thermal or hot water heater systems. Photovoltaics creates electricity from the "light" of the sun not the heat. This technology has reduced from $500 watt to less than $5 watt since 1972.REF1 The public have continually heard the frightening and very real news regarding CO2 emissions, global warming and hazardous waste. The impact of massive subsidence due to the effects of oil deployment and related national dependency issues have not even begun to be addressed by the press in the United States. With genuine concern, the American public has waited and listened twenty long years in faith for the opportunities that will allow them to utilize important sustainable technologies. US consumption of any fuels except fossil, nuclear and hydro has only increased a total of 0.1% since 1972. The Big Three dominated the industry providing 99.5% of US electricity in 1994.REF2 Coal consumption in the United States nearly doubled in the past twenty years. US energy businesses are taking their knowledge of traditional energy resources to 3rd World Nations where massive amounts of coal plants, hydro plants and nuclear plants are being developed in virgin energy markets with minimal consideration of the known hazards. The urgent need to utilize renewable energy around the world is not being addressed in large-scale deployment plans for these new energy markets. The ease with which building-integrated photovoltaics could be used for electricity within virgin energy markets and industrialized markets around the world, today, is not being adequately communicated to mainstream energy producers and the public consumer. Some large energy cartels may be eligible for an anti-trust lawsuit if they don't begin marketing their solar technology to the public or sell their company to people who will. The present practice of a primary focus on small-scale deployment in other nations is keeping the BI-PV industry price inflated as well as risking the United State's competitive edge in the industry.

  WHY AREN'T AMERICANS BEING ACTIVELY EDUCATED IN THE NEWS ABOUT RENEWABLES INCENTIVE PROGRAMS FOR DOMESTIC MARKETPLACE? These incentives have taken years of intense negotiations, substantial research and significant policy development to establish? Mainstream television welcomes many public service addresses and offer reduced or free rates for appropriate non-profit and government incentive topics. Why isn't the Million Solar Rooftops In USA 1997-2010 Program and the California 50% Buydown announced through daily Public Service Announcements?

  THE ONE MILLION SOLAR ROOFTOPS IN USA 1997-2010 PROGRAM WAS PROPOSED BY THE SOLAR ENERGY INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION IN APRIL 1997 AND ENDORSED BY PRESIDENT CLINTON IN JUNE. The program has had very little press coverage despite the fact that it is one of the most far-reaching policy announcements of this century no matter what party or country you are from!

  TODAY, CALIFORNIANS ENJOY THE BENEFITS OF NET METERING FOR GRID-CONNECTED RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS. This program provides consumers of renewable energy with reverse metering to account for and reimburse them for excess electricity produced using clean, quiet, sustainable and non-polluting fuels. Informed residential consumers know NET METERING will issue them credit and/or pay for the excess renewable electricity they create at the going rate they pay for traditional electricity. Sound good?!

  THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION (CEC) THINKS IT SOUNDS SO GOOD, THEY ARE PROVIDING A 50% BUYDOWN FOR PROPERTY OWNERS INSTALLING SYSTEMS CREATING ELECTRICITY UP TO 25% OVER THEIR PRESENT ELECTRICITY BILL. For approved applications, the CEC will reserve a 50% Buydown for the cost of a solar rooftop system including component and installation expenses. The program will provide this 50% Buydown up to One Million $Dollars$ per project for qualified systems installed by a certified installer. Upon submittal of a certificate of completion for the approved project a check for fifty percent of the approved project costs will be issued to the property owner. This incentives program is included in a larger $540 million dollar renewables incentives package. It is one of the most generous and comprehensive renewables deployment programs ever initiated anywhere in the world. The program started on January 1st and will begin paying out on February 22nd on a first-come-first-serve basis. Americans need daily television, newspaper, radio and magazine coverage to evolve a level playing field with the competitive understanding needed for timely advancement of BI-PV technologies in the domestic and global marketplace. Public Service Announcements would be very helpful!

  DOMESTIC MAINSTREAM USE OF BI-PV WILL INCREASE NATIONAL AUTONOMY TO LESSEN THE POSSIBILITY OF WAR, REDUCE THE GROWING THREATS OF GLOBAL POLLUTION & HAZARDOUS WASTE AND LAY THE FOUNDATIONS FOR GLOBAL SECURITY THROUGH A SUSTAINABLE AGENDA. Domestic deployment of building-integrated photovoltaics (BI-PV) will reduce pollution while it advances our knowledge and expertise in the use of important sustainable products as we evolve an ethical and timely leadership role for the US in global BI-PV technology developments and sustainable energy deployment. The knowledge and expertise Americans will gain through timely domestic deployment of this important silicon semi-conductor technology will assure our nation stays at the cutting edge of responsible and constructive competition in the BI-PV industry worldwide.

  GERMAN STATES 1000 PV ROOFS PROGRAM - WITH INSTALLATIONS ALL ABOVE THE US - CANADIAN BORDER MERIDIAN COMPLETED WORKING INSTALLATION OF 2000 PLUS PV ROOFTOP SYSTEMS FROM 1993-95. This government-subsidized comprehensive national approach to grid-connected BI-PV deployment was courageous with only 2-4 direct sun hours a day at any location in Germany. Orange County California has 6 to 8 sun hours a day 300 days a year. The intense Southern California sun creates a reliable arena for massive deployment of BI-PV. The desert lands of California could easily provide all of the silica needed to generate as much electricity within the building infrastructure as the most wasteful consumption habits may demand.

  BI-PV IS A SEMI-CONDUCTOR INDUSTRY - PRIMARILY IN COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES WITH THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY - NOT THE BIG THREE ENERGY PRODUCERS OF FOSSIL - NUCLEAR - HYDRO ELECTRICITY. In the next twenty years, these three traditional sources of electricity and mobility will by necessity substantially reduce their long-term role in domestic and global electricity and mobility marketplace due to environmental and global safety issues that simply cannot and will not be ignored or dismissed by responsible nations and businesses. In the next twenty years, BI-PV will evolve into a major silicon construction energy industry comparative in size to the computer industry. This deployment process will hardly impact the huge electricity and transportation industry of primary energy producers in that time, due to the rapid rate of electricity demand globally and the continual deployment of new electricity markets. It will, however, begin to prepare the way to realistically address the run-away "traditional fuels" problem that will by that time have become a global crisis of substantial proportion. BI-PV will prepare the US domestic and global marketplace for the needed transition and momentum into easily adaptable sustainable energy alternatives.

  ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT MARKETS AND DEPLOYMENT ARENAS FOR BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAICS (BI-PV) WORLD-WIDE. We, thereby, need to understand the significance and potential of this new industry. At the California Energy Commission hearing on December 11th, 75% of the delegates who attended were from the San Francisco and Sacramento area. Large energy cartels were well represented. If Orange County is to seriously compete for Silicon Valley technology deployment, our famously bright sunshine 300 days a year could be the region’s ticket to becoming the world leader in BI-PV technology, manufacturing and design. To bring the renewable incentive dollars to Orange County and Southern California where they belong, property owners must apply to reserve their 50% Buydown for a BI-PV rooftop, today!

  50% BUYDOWN PROGRAM COUPLED WITH NET METERING CREATES FERTILE GROUND FOR ARCHITECTS - ENGINEERS - INSTALLERS - SILICON MANUFACTURERS to evolve the solid foundations of a thriving BI-PV industry, today! When an approved project issues a certificate of completion meeting the standards approved in their application, the property owner will be issued a check from the California Energy Commission covering 50% of the costs of their project. This is not a tax credit program, it is a cash buydown. If your application doesn’t succeed the first year, you have three more years to apply. Don’t wait. It is a first-come-first-serve program with limited resources. Practice makes perfect. The 50% Buydown is a highly competitive incentive program in a larger program focused on remote-site renewables.

  PRIVATE INDUSTRY INVESTORS SEE FUTURE-VESTED-INTEREST OF 50% BUYDOWN INCENTIVES PROGRAM AS OPPORTUNITY TO EVOLVE THE NEEDED SOLID BI-PV INDUSTRY IN USA. ---A well-defined industry development strategy will assure a sound foundation for important advancements in solar electric building materials manufacturing, design and use. The 50% Buydown incentives program compliments needed industry deployment efforts and a broader opportunity for consumer investments in this silicon technology to assure a quality and reliable domestic BI-PV industry timely evolves. Only 1% or $5.4 million of the larger program is allocated for educating the public and private industry throughout the state of California. The American public must be provided equal access through a persistent mainstream media to assure this opportunity creates the competitive and quality industry involvement intended.

  ADVENT OF THE HEADRICK SOLAR-VOLTAIC DOME(TM) POWER STATION MAY EVOLVE WITH MARRIAGE OF PROTOTYPE PROJECT TO PREMIER SOLAR ELECTRIC CAR RENTAL FACILITY PROPOSED FOR IRVINE ~ HOMETOWN OF THE INVENTOR. --- Since 1993, the Solar Development Cooperative -Lighting the Way With Creation's Original Remedy has been the exclusive marketing agent for the Headrick Solar-Voltaic Dome(TM) Power Station. Their global effort to educate the energy and construction industry about the most efficient solar array in existence, today has resulted in numerous requests for a prototype project. Three new electric cars are being deployed in the Orange County area. The EV-1 developed by GM may be test driven by contacting Kathleen Molina at Saturn on Edinger. Mike Saturn at Honda can introduce you to the EV-Plus. Edison may provide you with further information on models of electric cars available in the area and what incentives they provide to support electric car consumers. Three of the primary concerns with electric cars are: (1) the use of traditional fuels to charge them, (2) the need to lease them for three years without initial consumer access to the vehicles and (3) limited distance of 80-120 miles the vehicle will travel when they will then need recharging. The charging takes one to six hours depending on the amount, model of vehicle and charger available. The Solar Development Cooperatives proposes to address these problems for potential electric car consumers by negotiating lease of a fleet of fifty vehicles they will then rent to consumers for a day, a week or a month. Consumers will be encouraged to trade vehicles with a depleted charge for a full-charged model without having to wait the time it takes to charge a vehicle. The majority of the charging will be done with solar electricity. The price of rental will be comparative to rental of traditional vehicles.

  SOLAR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE INVITES MEDIA TO COOPERATE THROUGH REPORTING POSITIVE CHANGE --- We challenge you, as journalists, to be a part of the cooperative transformation of energy industry news from a "vicious circle of global tragedy" toward a "virtuous circle of healthy renewal" for all people who believe in the need and the role of sustainable technology for a vital and thriving global humanity now and in the future.