Solar Forward

China and US – Green policy and solar politics

2011-12-26T17:42:00.000-08:00

How does the China and the United States get along when it comes to green energy and clean air policies? Not well.

Reports from the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Durban South Africa indicated that the biggest polluters acted like children without adult supervision. One attendee said, “China and the United States are hijacking the conference with game a of ping pong politics…frustrating the rest of the world. “

China and the United States are the two largest producers of green house gases. China does so with sheer numbers in population and the United States with its unmatched appetite for energy consumption. China is rapidly increasing its annual output of carbon dioxide while the US and the European Union have actually reduced emissions.

The US wants China to be bound by the same clean air standards as the rest of the world, but China contends, that due to it’s millions of poor people and rapid economic growth, it is an unfair standard.

And then there is the solar trade issue. Are the Chinese are dumping solar panels on the US market? Seven US solar panel manufactures appealed to the United States International Trade Commission, who agreed the Chinese are selling solar panels far below market value. It is quite clear that the Chinese government is supporting the solar industry in China and it is reported that the US could implement tariffs on Solar Panel imports as early as January 2012.

So here we are. Two very different countries, on the same planet, with the same problems, but stuck in a game of international politics.

China has the point of view they need freedom to pollute more, in order to compete with the rest of the world. A small part of that pollution is caused by the production of solar panels that are being exported at a rapid rate. Solar panels, when installed, would help eliminate green house gases.

Recent atmospheric studies show China and the US are totally intertwined. Pollution and dust from China travels over the Pacific Ocean, directly affecting precipitation levels and air pollution in the US. We are learning the Earth is a small island that we all share.

Solar panels from China travel by boat and the pollution travels by air. The real cost of sub market pricing of Chinese solar panels is far higher than just crushing the American solar industry. Industries can recover in a few years; the long-term impact of pollution is unknown.

If China installed all the solar panels they manufactured they would get closer to the goals of the UN Climate Change Conference. This would let the US fend for itself and increase production of solar panels domestically eliminating the need for tariffs. Local problems would be addressed on a local level. Pollution floating over the Pacific to the US would be reduced since China would burn less coal.

What have we learned from the recent Climate Change Conference? Environmentalists are not politicians and neither are economists. Before matters get worse, these two mega economies need to find a way to play nice on this warming sphere floating in space.

The most responsible action is to work on a local level to curb the consumption of energy that produces green house gasses and install as much renewable energy as possible.

It is our universal responsibility to install a solar panel made in America, China or wherever – without disrupting economies and creating more pollution in the process. It needs to be logistically and economically sound to install a quality solar system, designed to last decades, right now – on a local level.

Utilities melt in the Sun, just like...

2011-11-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

Utilities melt in the Sun, just like, vampires.

Imagine a new TV show: Those who walk during the day gathering energy from the sun and those who are willing to live forever with policies that keep solar energy in the dark.

A Vampire, by definition, "subsists by feeding on the life essence...of living creatures."

Most utilities are draining the life essence out of the earth and the people that live here. It is an undisputed fact the process of extracting and burning coal infects the planet with toxins killing human beings.

So, really, it is not much of a leap to think of the three hundred year old coal/utility industry as a vampire. They have very old traditions and the older they get, the stronger they get. But, no vampire is immune to the sun.

Look out vampires, in this reality TV show, the day walkers are bringing you into the sun one solar panel at a time.

Where is the Sun?

2011-11-13T22:11:00.000-08:00

The sun is not in the ground. It may not be obvious, but Solar energy requires no invasive surgery on our planet. Every day we look below the Earth's surface for energy. Why are we drilling and fracking when we know there are huge environmental costs?

BP has spent over $10 Billion on Deep Water Horizon and the checks are still being written.

These are long term liabilities that cause us more then just financial harm. Pollution is preventable disease.

The adolescent failures of the solar industry have zero environmental impact. When Solyndra imploded it didn't leave a pile of goo and almost kill off an entire ecosystem.

The sun is a clean billion year energy source. Unlike companies, the sun is not susceptible to failure. Solar companies may come and go, but they will not prevent the sun from shining or create an environmental tragedy.

Look up, the sun is shining in the sky.

Too much Green Power?

2011-11-05T18:31:00.000-07:00

It seems there can be too much green power at times. In June 2010 up in the Pacific North West, the wind was blowing and rain was falling out of the sky in large proportions. With all this green energy from a good sized summer storm, windmills and hydro electric stations were spinning up excess electricity at a time when there was not much demand.

What is a utility to do? Is there a way to store all this energy?

Bonneville Power has developed ways of remotely turning up water heaters and other home devices to make use of this excess energy, storing it in a way that the home owner is unaffected. Mixing valves keep the hot water at a safe level while the hot water tank may be 50 or 60 degrees above normal. The excess energy is saved and will be used later.

This is a great example of a utility thinking out side the box and creating new policies as green power generators become a greater percentage of the overall power generated.

We all need to think forward and create methods for creating and storing energy in an efficient manner.

Edison / LADWP and the stealing of the Sun

2011-11-05T13:51:00.000-07:00

Edison is stealing from all new solar customers. If you install a new solar system and you generate power - Edison is not giving you credit for three months. Some or our customers are loosing over $1000.
This is unfair and will backfire for Edison. So far the response from Edison has been " NEM legislation (is) becoming more complex" and "each NEM Package is now reviewed by our Field Engineers (P.E.), which added to the review time."
These excuses all add up to $ in Edison's pocket. Edison Field Engineers have no business being involved in a solar installation under 10 Kw. Period. They are not qualified, do not have the staff and have no incentive to do anything in a timely manner. All solar installations pass building and safety inspections. A utility can not justify the need for two inspections. Modern inverters are safe and smarter then the grid - they turn off when the grid goes too high or too low. Anyone who suggests a solar inverter is unsafe is living in the 1970's - period.
LADWP is in a simular boat with different problems. They are having staffing issues and have no ability to approve and inspect systems over 10 Kw with a staff of four inspectors who do not carry a cell phone or return emails.
The Solar industry is growing. The power companies are unable to keep pace and are doing, what appears to be their best efforts, to slow down the solar industry.
What will it take to teach a utility how to play nice?
Send suggestions and concerns to 411@solarfoward.com

Solar and the SO CAL utilities, Edison and LADWP

2011-11-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is unfair and will backfire for Edison. So far the response from Edison has been " NEM legislation (is) becoming more complex" and "each NEM Package is now reviewed by our Field Engineers (P.E.), which added to the review time."

These excuses all add up to $ in Edison's pocket. Edison Field Engineers have no business being involved in a solar installation under 10 Kw. Period. They are not qualified, do not have the staff and have no incentive to do anything in a timely manner. All solar installations pass building and safety inspections. A utility can not justify the need for two inspections. Modern inverters are safe and smarter then the grid - they turn off when the grid goes too high or too low. Anyone who suggests a solar inverter is unsafe is living in the 1970's - period.

LADWP is in a simular boat with different problems. They are having staffing issues and have no ability to approve and inspect systems over 10 Kw with a staff of four inspectors who do not carry a cell phone or return emails.

The Solar industry is growing. The power companies are unable to keep pace and are doing, what appears to be their best efforts, to slow down the solar industry.

What will it take to teach a utility how to play nice?

Send suggestions and concerns to 411@solarfoward.com

LADWP is lost in the sun

2011-10-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

To LADWP,

RE; RES # 1065430

Muhl 13858 Weddington St

This job has been in the hands of LADWP since 2010. The job passed LADBS final in March 2011.

The paperwork has been lost by three departments at various stages and now it seems to be lost again. This seems to be an issue with jobs over 10 Kw.

We are willing to do anything possible to enable the completion of the ESR process but we can’t get anything done when there is a total lack of communication. We can not fax a 11x14 sheet and we have been advised in the past that 8 x 10’s are not acceptable. This paperwork was submitted and approved, for the second time in the spring. This would be the third review of the paperwork.

Andrew Hoesly has been attempting to resolve this for two weeks and has spent over 15 hours restarting an inspection request - after I was informed it was inspected five months ago.

The Muhl family deserves decent service and we are doing our best to provide it. I fail to see how a third submittal of the paperwork via fax, is going to resolve anything.

We need prompt email communication and confirmation that the requirements have been met. And we need cell phone numbers for inspectors that only return calls in the early morning - if they have time. This just drags things on for days, weeks or months.

The appearance is that there is no oversight and no concern for the time line that clients and contractors are forced to deal with.

I look forward to suggestions and a completion of this interconnection approval.

Sincerely,

Mark Smith

China dumping Solar Panels?

2011-10-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Maybe. Or for sure, depends on your point of view and who is wining and who is losing. Solar is a great investment for anyone, but if the solar panels are 40% less in price and the quality is 25% less - China is going to be competitive in the market place.

We don't install the cheaper panels since there is not enough room on most roofs to make enough energy with the less efficient solar panels. We use Sunpower products on all residential jobs. Sunpower is the most powerful solar panel in the market. For us it only pays to use made in China panels on commercial jobs where space is not limited and a name brand is not as important.

This issue is not going away since their is a good possibility of an over abundance of made in China panels for the next year or two. As solar panel factories go out of business, there will be dumping of products and prices may drop for the short term.

Welcome to the wild west of Solar!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/business/global/us-solar-manufacturers-to-ask-for-duties-on-imports.html?emc=eta1

Edison Interconnection problems

2011-10-05T01:34:00.000-07:00

Why has Edison allowed their interconnection department to be an obstacle for Solar contractors and clients for over five years? There is obviously no incentive for Edison to allow customers to receive credit for the energy they produce. Why? Money!

It would cost Edison money to improve the interconnection process and cost them money once they fix it and make our mutual clients happy.

Over the past four months Solar Forward has gathered enough information to begin the process of pushing this issue. We have letters and factual data from over ten clients that show huge inconsistencies and lack of customer service for new solar clients.

On average it is taking two to three months for a new solar client to get a meter that goes backwards and for their bill reflect the energy they produce. On average Solar Forward receives twenty emails or phone calls from each Edison client expressing frustration over the interconnection process.

Getting solar energy connected to the grid should be a fun and rewarding process. Instead clients are feeling insulted and ripped off. One client has suggested taking Edison to small claims court. This would be a great first step.

Sungevity: Alien Solar Invader

2011-09-21T22:56:00.000-07:00

Sungevity is an alien solar space ship invading our town.

Sungevity is spending an estimated $250,000 in advertising in Los Angeles this month. They are like aliens flying their space ship over Los Angeles and sucking the solar rebate money out of LADWP before they fly away and raid another city.

There is only enough money for an estimated 700 residential solar installations in Los Angeles before the solar program runs out of money and shuts down till July of 2012. Already there are over 300 solar applications filed with LADWP. That leaves enough money for 500 lucky homeowners.

We estimate the money will run out by November. So for the next eight months – no new solar sales or installations will take place in Los Angeles. Since all rebate reservations need to be permitted within 60 days or they will expire, it will be a gold rush to get all the paperwork done. Sungevity has no staff to speak of in Los Angeles. They out source all the work including the installations. Who are they going to hire? New unqualified workers that will then be out of work in two months!

This is not a sustainable solar business plan for Los Angeles. This is a money grab at the expense of local businesses. When Sungevity leaves town - who provides the customer service on the cheap solar panels they install?

Solar Forward has 30 years of experience and we install quality Sunpower products – the most powerful solar panel in the world. We are a local business with solid relationships with LADWP, LADBS and 100% customer satisfaction. Our goal is a sustainable business with employees we don’t have to lay off.

Investment bankers masquerading as solar contractors need to have their cloaked spaceships shot down and treated like the alien invaders that they are.

The solar business has become the wildwest. Support your local solar installer. We live here and we will still be here after the alien space ship crashes.

CALSEIA meeting in Los Angeles

2011-09-20T23:17:00.000-07:00

Southern CALSEIA meeting at the Western Justice Center in Pasadena.

Solar contractors discuss issues effecting solar installations in southern California.

The times they are a changing.

Check back on Saturday for updates and full debrief.

NPR story "What about green jobs"

2011-09-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

What about all those green jobs, Mr. President?

Posted by USC Annenberg School of Journalism
on September 8, 2011 8:30 PM

As part of Marketplace’s coverage of President Barack Obama’s address to Congress tonight, in which he unveiled a $447 billion plan to invest in jobs, journalism students from the University of Southern California interviewed Los Angeles-area business owners and business leaders for reaction.

Creating green jobs was a central plank in Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Mark Smith believed his young firm was poised to ride a wave of expansion. Last year, the Solar Foundation, a trade association, predicted that the industry would add another 24,000 jobs in 2011, an increase of more than 25 percent.

But today, Smith’s enthusiasm is on the wane. He’s been able to grow his labor roll in recent years, but doesn’t expect to take on any more new hires. He finds himself increasingly caught in a thicket of regulations. And he’s disappointed that the green jobs theme didn’t merit a mention in the President’s speech.

Mark Smith, chief executive, Solar Forward, a provider of residential solar systems
LOCATION: Santa Monica, Calif.
YEARS IN BUSINESS: 6
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN 2008: 7
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES TODAY: 12 full-time, 2 part-time
HIRING THIS YEAR: “Probably not.”

On what he’s facing now: “The biggest obstacles are the constantly shifting landscape when it comes to rebate incentives and building requirements. There’s a never-ending plethora of obstacles. The rebates will change overnight without warning. “

On the President’s speech: “There is no central plan for solar. We need a centralized plan. I didn’t hear anything in that speech that there is any direction. We do have a crumbling infrastructure, there’s no doubt about it. But part of rebuilding an infrastructure that’s old and tattered is dealing with energy needs. Our utility grid is old and tattered. Part of alleviating the load requirements for our existing grid is to create decentralized power [such as solar energy] and then you don’t need the grid to distribute the power because the power is located locally…I just can’t believe [green energy] wasn’t addressed.”

On what he needs going forward: “There needs to be a federal mandate on how solar systems are allowed to hook up to the grid. Right now, every utility has a different requirement, every city has a different set of permitting guidelines for installing a solar system. There’s no consistency nationwide. Every city has a different rebate program.”

- Emily Frost

Sungevity Scam

2011-09-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Google Sungevity and "Scam" comes up. Why, the solar industry is getting scammed by investment bankers masquerading as solar installers. Sungevity is well on the way to giving the solar industry a black eye. Anytime you double dip on tax breaks, install the cheapest products with no quality control and have a ponzi scheme as a business plan, something will go wrong sometime soon.

Solar Car - Just Sunpower panels no batteries!

2011-09-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

Check this out! Our client made a car and is driving all over Burning Man without batteries!

Only four Sunpower solar panels and away he goes!

Our clients are happy people!

2011-09-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

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Edison's "toaster test"

2011-08-19T23:44:00.000-07:00

Why is Edison wanting to "test" inverters and "inspect" solar systems as if we are in the 1950's and the electron is to be feared?

The test is like someone coming to your home and turning on your toaster and waiting for it to pop! When was the last time a brand new toaster didn't pop? Do you think a solar installer is qualified to know if a toaster (inverter) is working properly?

This is a money grab by Edison and forces clients to wait for a month for the inspector to show up before they get credit for their solar system.

Thank you LA City Council!

2011-08-16T19:42:00.000-07:00

LADWP has been given the go ahead to start the solar program on Sept 1, 2011.

We think this was the right decision. The council made several points that Solar Forward and the Los Angeles solar community will follow up on. We have mutual goals.

It is shocking to me that large solar lease companies were asking for larger amounts of free money. "Install less solar in Los Angeles and put more money in my pocket," was their business plan.

I hope these companies have a nice flight home. Don't mess with the Los Angeles based solar community. Did they learn their lesson or will they be back?

We have a Sunpower lease product that works with the reduced rebate. We have a great customer base.

Give us a call and get solar on your roof. The money will run out and the program will shut down again. But at least we are going to start installing and prevent more coal from being burned. We will find more funding and do our best to bring the price down.

RESTART THE LADWP SOLAR PROGRAM NOW!

2011-08-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

REMOVE THE 245

RESTART THE SOLAR PROGRAM NOW!

· Los Angeles-based solar companies and LADWP customers overwhelmingly want the solar incentive program (SIP) restarted on September 1, 2011.

· The revised LADWP solar program is a fair and workable plan that will allow Los Angeles-based solar businesses to continue selling and installing solar systems for Los Angeles homeowners and businesses.

· The lower proposed rebate levels extend the limited program funding allowing more solar systems to be installed. This enables a sustained solar business to flourish in Los Angeles.

· We have a lease product that works with the proposed program, now. This gives all consumers equal access to a solar powered home.

· The mega Solar leasing companies with huge overhead and overblown advertising budgets want to take a larger chunk of LADWP’s rebate money and spend it on fewer solar systems. This helps their profit margin, not the people of Los Angeles.

· Our employees want us to run a business that keeps them working. Los Angelinos are eager to invest in solar systems. Restarting the program now will maintain the health of local businesses, keep consumers happy and help LADWP meet its solar program goals.

· Any further program delays will cause more local jobs and income to be lost while we burn more coal.

Solar, Bankers, Coal and a lease deal in LADWP land

2011-08-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

Solar Forward supports starting the LADWP solar program as it is proposed in two weeks - we all want a sustainable solar business in Los Angeles.

LA residents are eager to go solar but are handcuffed by the rebate programs roller coaster ride.

Some greedy solar leasing companies want to take LADWP’s rebate money and move it to their bank account as fast as possible, as easily as possible. They are able get double dip on the tax breaks compared to the average consumer and the federal government ends up picking up the tab. Why do they want LADWP to pay for a cheaper solar system owned by an out of state banker?

The bottom line is the solar business will continue to be successful here in Los Angeles based on the solar program that LADWP has presented to the the people of Los Angeles.

We even recommended making the rebates 10% lower to stretch the funding even further and help avoid another shutdown.

Of course, everyone would like more money in the solar program but we know that the funding is limited at this time.

The real story is we can sell a leased solar system (with the new lower rebate levels) and still make it work! Sunpower has a great product! So the old school solar lease companies need to stop crying.

Please do not delay in restarting this solar program. It may not be perfect, but we feel that LADWP has made an honest attempt to improve and streamline the program and we can and will make it work.

Any hesitation today will delay the program by at least a month causing more local jobs and income to be lost - and the burning of more coal.

Solar Forward supports working with the proposed LADWP solar program - we have customers that are ready to go solar!

We need to start installing more solar systems in Los Angeles as soon as possible. The greedy bankers can work on a better financial product while we put people to work installing solar systems and stop burning coal.

LADWP attacked by greedy solar lease companies

2011-08-13T23:05:00.000-07:00

http://chatsworth.patch.com/articles/cardenas-says-dwps-solar-incentive-is-too-low

Edison goes back in time, not back to the future!

2011-08-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

In all honesty this is turning into a case of the gang that can’t shoot straight.

Out of the blue and without consulting the solar industry, Edison is asking for a NEW single line diagram that is different from the diagram used by Building and Safety. This doubles the work for solar contractors.

And they want a solar contractor to meet them at the solar installation for a very silly inspection that is the same as checking to see if your car starts by itself with the key out.

And they want to keep the solar system off line for a month till they get around to inspecting 70% of the solar installs.... the other 30% are ok??? All solar systems have already passed building and safety inspection. These inspectors have more experience that any of Edison's inspectors inspecting solar systems.

And after inspection and everything checks out - Edison wants to keep the solar system off till the "paperwork is processed and permission to operate is given in two or three days." So they want us to keep it off till a high priest at Edison blesses the paperwork?

This is an effort to make more money and waste energy. This will cost Edison, clients and the industry over $1000 per job.

Today on a job site I met an Edison employee who was nice, but ineffective.

The entire inspection took ten minutes and only confirmed that a state of the art inverter is working normally. If you set your microwave for one minute, does it stay on.

In the list below there are items that have never been requested by Edison in the ten years I have been installing solar systems.

We need to clear up this radical change in policy that only adds work and accomplishes nothing more.

I also learned that there is a back log of over 2000 applications in the interconnection department. This is not an easy fix.

Please feel free to contact me - no one in the solar industry or any Edison client should accept this new effort to slow down and confuse the safety of a solar installation.

Burning coal for Los Angeles electric power

2011-07-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

What keeps LADWP alive. Coal. The more coal they burn the more money they make. Does anyone in LA see this? LADWP is broke. They are addicted to coal. How can we help? Rase rates. The residential customer costs the city of LA $ with every Kw-h consumed. The business customers support the residential customers. It is a bizarre business plan. It promotes the burning of coal to survive.

Solar energy costs money to install and stops the coal from being burned. Solar saves the environment and saves big bucks for many years to come.

Solar Forward. Saving the earth one solar system at a time.

Questions? 411@solarforward.com

July 4 th solar and car MPG

2011-07-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration and the auto industry are locked in negotiations over new vehicle mileage and emissions standards that will have a profound effect on the cars Americans drive and the health of the auto industry over the next decade and beyond. NYT 7/4

So, what does this mean solar fans? More solar electric for sure. Who needs a drop of gas if the sun is charging your car, your motorcycle and your electric bike? Less oil to buy from overseas and less pollution here at home AND all the $$$ that went overseas now stays here making our economy stronger. So buy more solar so Solar Forward can be the first solar company with an all electric fleet of cars and trucks!

http://www.facebook.com/solarforward new pictures!

KCBS CH 2 Monday Night 11 PM

2011-06-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

CBS News Investigates LADWP issues.

Solar Forward in the news.

Thank you for supporting Solar Forward and the Solar Industry.

Solar Forward in Solar Industry Mag

2011-06-11T10:48:00.001-07:00

http://issuu.com/zackinpublications/docs/sim1106_online/36?zoomed=&zoomPercent=&zoomX=&zoomY=&noteText=&noteX=&noteY=&viewMode=magazine

Interesting news report on LADWP and interconnection issues. Mark Smith, CEO of Solar Forward is quoted.

Inverters are totally safe and and there is nothing to fear. We are wasting energy and burning a pound of coal for every Kw-h we consume in Los Angeles.

We have three systems that have still not been turned on by LADWP, this is a crime against humanity.

LADWP vs Edison: Same part of the world but worlds apart

2011-05-31T19:45:00.000-07:00

Introduction:

Since 2005 the solar industry has grown over 500%. This has been an exponential growth fueled by the high cost of energy in both dollars and environmental pollution caused by conventional methods of generating electricity. The LADWP solar rebate program has been very popular. Many systems have been installed as the solar industry and the consumer have adopted the new technologies. LADWP has done the best that they can to incorporate the emergence of solar energy into their infrastructure.

Many of LADWP employees involved with solar have been with the department for twenty to thirty years and the requirements for cogeneration were written in the 1970’s. It has been difficult for the department to adapt. Within the solar department there have been many staff changes, many interdepartmental procedural changes and many changes to the paperwork process. LADWP has not had the financial resources to hire staff to run their solar program. People have retired and been furloughed, overtime has been disallowed and staff has been reassigned. One woman said point blank, “I am not qualified for my job since the man that was doing it before me was an engineer, but I am doing the best I can.”

The staff means well at LADWP, they are handicapped by the outdated requirements and procedures. At one point there were three site visits and five departments involved with each solar installation. Given the acceleration of the solar industry it has been very difficult for LADWP to keep up.

Given that there is still interdepartmental confusion at LADWP concerning solar and they are quite under staffed we don’t believe LADWP will be able to keep up with the goals of Governor Jerry Brown to aggressively add solar capacity to the state of California. Local solar power makes economic and environmental sense since local power prevents a 10% line loss when power is transmitted from out of state and prevents coal form being burned. It is ironic that when you Google “success LADWP solar” what comes up is articles on how the solar program has been suspended.

For some reason at LADWP there is a lack of understanding or a lack of acceptance when it comes to UL 1741 and the design of modern inverters.

1. All modern inverters meet and exceed the requirements of UL 1741. This prevents and inverter from going on line in the event of a power outage. Solar Forward has installed over 500 inverters and observes the following:

a. We have witnessed the LADWP grid at 277 volts (high) and two of our SMA inverters went off line until the grid returned to normal levels.

b. We have witnessed the Edison grid at 205 volts (low) and our inverter went off line until the grid returned to a normal level.

c. We have witnessed a 120 volt leg that fell to 107 volts due to a client having a short in a lamp and our inverter went off line.

d. We have tried to “trick” our inverters on line with a generator and they would not come on line.

e. We have a client that had two TV’s, a computer and a SMA inverter receive damage after a huge voltage spike in the LADWP grid.

f. We have had a total of seven inverters fail. All have failed OFF, unable to feed the grid.

We concluded that modern inverters are not a risk to a lineman or any electrical worker.

We make the following observations of the Edison and PG&E Solar Programs:

1. Edison and PG&E have had safe and efficient solar program.

2. There have been no untimely terminations of their solar programs for any period of time.

3. All paperwork with Edison and PG&E is handled in a timely manner and solar contractors may submit and observe the process on–line. A rebate reservation takes an average of two weeks.

4. Building and Safety inspectors have verified the integrity of solar installations. About 12% of solar systems are inspected by a third party on a random basis – no injuries have resulted from an improperly inspected or improperly installed solar systems.

5. All PG&E and Edison solar installations have been interconnected and turned on after passing building and safety inspection within 48 hours.

6. All modern inverters meet and exceed the requirements of UL 1741. This prevents and inverter from going on line in the event of a power outage. Solar Forward has installed over 500 inverters and observes the following:

a. We have witnessed the LADWP grid at 277 volts (high) and two of our SMA inverters went off line until the grid returned to normal levels.

b. We have witnessed the Edison grid at 205 volts (low) and our inverter went off line until the grid returned to a normal level.

c. We have witnessed a 120 volt leg that fell to 107 volts due to a client having a short in a lamp and our inverter went off line.

d. We have tried to “trick” our inverters on line with a generator and they would not come on line.

e. We have a client that had two TV’s, a computer and a SMA inverter receive damage after a huge voltage spike in the LADWP grid.

f. We have had a total of seven inverters fail. All have failed OFF, unable to feed the grid.

7. Edison does not require an open blade AC disconnect unless the solar system is over 10 Kw. No additional performance meter is needed.

8. Staff at Edison and PG&E have been trained and in sufficient numbers to run the solar program. There are a total of two departments to work with for systems under 10 Kw. These two departments talk to each other. There are three departments for systems over 10 Kw. There are currently few problems with paperwork.

We make the following observations of the LADWP program:

1. LADWP has had a safe but unstable solar program.

2. The LADWP solar program has been put on hold without warning at least three times over three years. This has caused the solar contractor and the consumer to try and adapt to a market place that as been turned on and off. The rules for the program have changes many times without warning. Rebates were delayed for up to a year without notice. Currently it is impossible to process paperwork with LADWP for the installation of a solar system in the city of Los Angeles.

3. All rebate paperwork is submitted through the mail to LADWP. There is no method to track the paperwork other than making a phone call or sending an email. Most email requests for status are not returned. A typical rebate reservation takes six to ten weeks.

4. LADWP requires their own personal to inspect every solar system. LADWP has not had a consistent staff of trained inspectors. All LADWP solar inspectors have been reassigned as of May of this year. Inspections are scheduled six to ten weeks after passing building and safety inspections.

5. All LADWP solar installations take six to ten weeks to be interconnected. After building and safety inspection the solar system is off until the meter is replaced by an LADWP inspector. This costs the consumer an average of $50 per week, burning 250 pounds of coal a week for an average total of one ton of coal being burned while waiting for inspection.

6. LADWP has consistently ignored the safety value of UL 1741 and has sent safety notices to their clients telling them LADWP employees could be injured by their solar system. LADWP solar requirements were written in the 1970’s and have not been updated to reflect the technology that has been available for the past five years.

7. LADWP requires an open blade AC disconnect and an old fashioned analog meter for all solar systems. For systems over 10 Kw LADWP requires an open blade disconnect with a window and a commercial grade electrical panel with test sockets. This adds $3000 to the cost of a 10 Kw system. No other utility in the country requires an open blade disconnect.

8. The LADWP solar program has been consistently under staffed and they have consistently put untrained personal in jobs that they are not qualified for. There are three departments for systems under 10 Kw. They do not work seamlessly. For systems over 10 kw there are more than five departments. Paperwork is consistently lost for months at a time.

LADWP is Broken

2011-05-08T04:39:00.000-07:00

To the Editor:

The solar industry in Los Angles, operating within the LADWP service area, has been put on ice for four to five months.  The LADWP has shut down the ability to sell and install a Solar Electric System for the third time in five years.  Permits from building and safety are still available, but due to the dysfunctional conditions at LADWP  (extremely understaffed, department infighting and operating under rules that were designed for technology in the 1970’s) it has become impossible to install a solar electric system in the largest municipal utility in the United States servicing over four Million residents.

Without any warning on midnight April 8, 2011 LADWP shut down 70% of our business by refusing to process any solar rebate paperwork.   April 11, 2011 LADWP sent letters to all customers installing a solar electric system threatening financial penalties and legal action if they turn on their solar system with out first receiving a LADWP solar inspection.   The following week LADWP reassigned most of their solar inspectors to other jobs, thereby bringing the inspection process to a virtual halt.

The LADWP solar incentive program had a staff of three up until December 2010, when one person retired. This leaves two people to process all the paper work for solar installations, man the office and answer the phone. Processing paper work for each project requires carefully examination to check all the calculations and confirm all the components selected for the solar system are acceptable to LADWP. After this is complete (which takes by one estimate takes about two hours) a “rebate reservation” of the system can be scheduled. This process takes six to ten weeks. After the reservation is issued, the solar system can be installed. Once installed, LADWP needs to have a copy of the final inspection from Building and Safety. Then after another four to ten weeks of processing paperwork an inspection of the system can be scheduled with an LADWP solar inspector. Then after two to four weeks an inspector will show up. In the case of one of our clients, Mr.Reinstein, was given an estimate that it would take 3-4 weeks for the DWP to come out and inspect his system so that it could be turned on. Mr. Reinstein, like all customers are given strict instructions that they are not allowed to “turn on” their solar systems before the solar inspection or they will be in violation of LADWP rules. Mr. Reinstein waited four months. This means his solar system, which was already inspected and approved by LA Building and Safety, remained turned off and was not producing energy. All because the LADWP requires they send out their own inspector to look at the system. In the mean time, as his solar system sat dormant on his roof, four tons of coal was burned to produce the electricity that Mr. Reinstein was consuming.

So Cal Edison allows the solar system to be turned on immediately after passing Building and Safety inspection.  So Cal Edison has outsourced the inspection responsibility because it is more economical and efficient in terms of quality control and speed.   They randomly inspect 15% of the solar systems installed.

LADWP needs restructuring or to outsource the solar program. Current policies are a bureaucratic nightmare and their commitment to accommodating renewable energy on a local level is only PR rhetoric.  Several solar contractors have offered to pay for an additional staffer at the DWP just to speed up the paperwork, but the response was to actually decrease staffing instead.

Secondly, there is the basic issue that LADWP is disorganized and inefficient.  Skip Farber (another Solar Forward client) had the following to say after dealing with the DWP on his solar project.

 “I found the LADWP people to be smart and courteous with a genuine desire to serve the customer.  That being said, as an experienced business person I can make the following assumptions and observations: The Solar Program is not organized or empowered to manage the internal LADWP cross-over of departments. Inefficiencies and coordination issues were obvious in several areas.  A specific example was the installation of the proper meter….we had three such changes to meters before getting the proper meter.  This was both expensive for LADWP and us.  It also resulted in billing mistakes which required time on both (LADWP/us) our parts to sort out. It seems that LADWP has several “silos” that operate somewhat or completely independently.  The Solar Group needs to access or function across these groups but does not have control or authority to manage projects centrally.  This leads to the kind of inefficiency described above.”

Similar to Mr. Reinstein, Mr. Farber not only had to wait an extraordinary amount of time for his paperwork to be processed and his system to be inspected by DWP’s own people—while his system was sitting dormant—but he also received a lower rebate check amount with no justification or notification of the change.  This was due to DWP staff making mistakes.  After six months of futile efforts, there is still no response from LADWP to over thirty phone calls and emails.  Now, the manager and all of the solar inspectors have been reassigned.

The policy of LADWP sending out their own inspector to re-inspect a solar system for safety purposes is an insult to LA Building and Safety.  The claim is solar electric systems on the grid could cause harm to electricians working on electrical lines nearby.  UL 1741 is the required standard with modern inverters – they turn off when the grid is down.   There is no justifiable safety hazard. So Cal Edison, PG&E and all of Europe have faith in today’s technology and don’t even require an old fashion open blade AC disconnect switch that LADWP requires let alone redundant inspectons.

We want to work with the DWP to resolve this issue. It is not our goal to sit on the sideline and play the blame game. We have made several requests for meetings with LADWP to discuss the issues and work together - all have been denied.  It is in all of our interests to see this process become streamlined, for the environment, our health and for the economy. Many solar contractors working in LA have had to lay people off.  This has now become a legal issue of “Restraint of Trade” since LADWP is not allowing us to operate our business.  Realistically,  Solar Forward will not be able to install a new solar electric system for five months.

In order to achieve Governor Brown’s goal of producing 33% clean energy by 2020, something needs to change. Our aging infrastructure with a centralized energy design is inefficient.  Close to 10% of the coal-generated energy is lost traveling hundreds of miles across interstate lines, through transformers and local distribution.  Residential and commercial solar electric systems supply energy locally, to their own house or business.  If your not home or the business is closed on the weekend, the energy is consumed locally in the neighborhood.

If the city of Los Angeles is truly serious about clean energy, then this issue needs to be made a priority. The American Lung Association calls Los Angeles the second dirtiest and most dangerous city in terms of air pollution and respiratory problems. They also released information recently conveying that particle pollution from power plants kills approximately 13,000 people a year.  About 50% of the LADWP’s electricity comes from coal-powered plants.

Solar power is clean, safe, local energy.   LADWP has proven that it is not a team player in enabling the residents and businesses in Los Angeles effectively install green energy on a local level.   The solar program needs to in the hands of a third party.

Edison Recall

2011-02-15T17:13:00.001-08:00

Dear Solar Forward and Sunpower customers,

Southern California Edison has proactively and without notifying Solar Forward or Sunpower mailed out a Safety Notice highlighting an inverter recall.

YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL!

We have contacted the two Edison customers who have these inverters.

Of the over five hundred inverters we have installed, only five fall under this recall. Unfortunately, Edison has sent out a mass mailing that is creating some confusion for solar electric customers.

The only inverter affected is the model manufactured by Xantrex.

PV Power and SMA inverters made for Sunpower are a completely different design by a different manufacturer. These inverters are nearly bullet proof and we have had less than a .5% failure rate over five years.

Thank you for being a Solar Forward customer and if you have questions please feel free to contact us at any time. We look forward to providing energy solutions for you, your family and friends for decades to come.

Sincerely,

Mark Smith

CEO Solar Forward

New Year for Solar

2011-01-05T09:27:00.000-08:00

We are installing new and better solar panels this year. The power is up 1.5% to 2% !

Not a huge jump but every little bit counts.

In the past two months we passed 100% of our building inspections the first time!

This is proof that Solar Forward quality is top notch!

Go green, give us a call!

Solar rebates

2010-11-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

The rebates are falling, the rebates are falling!

Lease or buy?

2010-10-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

Here is the break down.

If you have no money you can get a solar system for free.

Then, if you sell your house in less then 10 years you will pay twice for your energy. The person buying your house has to take over the lease and can only take over the lease if they have perfect credit.

If you buy a solar system. I becomes a adder for your home and is typically worth twice what you paid for it when you sell your house.

How do we know that? We have had two of our clients sell their home and they MADE MONEY! They were very happy!

If you live in your house till you die then, a lease deal might work out, but all of the companies that are leasing are still losing money... so who knows what will happen if they go under and the banks own the solar system.

May the leaser beware!

China

2010-10-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

So why are we in a trade war with China over green energy?

Lets read between the lines.

The IRS will give you a 30% tax credit on any solar electric system we install. That costs the US economy an average of $10,000 on home systems.

If the Solar Contractor is installing solar panels made in China then the US Government is supporting the Chinese economy.

At Solar Forward we install Sunpower solar panels. Sunpower is an American Company.

We are doing our best to install the best products for the best price and do the right thing all at the same time.

Sherman Oaks Fest

2010-10-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

We had a great time today meeting people and hanging out on an overcast day. There was considerable interest in Solar and we thank all those that stopped by to look over our Solar Roller and sign up for a free solar evaluation. Thank you!

2010-10-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

We saw Danny Kennedy co founder of Sungevity at the Schuco October fest party after the Solar Convention in Los Angeles.

He crashed the party, said hello to no one and walked directly up to the desert table. Without using a fork or a plate Danny used his dirty hands to pluck a piece of cake off the table and insert directly into his mouth. He then left the party without saying hello to the hosts or anyone.

This is the the business model for Sungevity. Jump in and steal the cake with dirty hands and leave ASAP.

Good luck!

2010-10-12T18:05:00.000-07:00

We are all going to run around the Solar International Convention in Los Angeles this week and play in the solar sandbox!

See you there!!

2010-06-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

Solar Forward is going to broadcast live on www.randomtv.com on Thur June, 24 2010

Watch a solar installation take place. Men at work, on the roof, in the sun!