Higher Learning: Rooftop Solar Workshop

From as far as Staten Island, NY to York, PA, participants in MAREA’s most recent Solar Installation Workshop sweated and smiled through four vigorous days of cooperative work and learning. This installation took place on a residential rooftop in Kutztown, PA at the home of Gene and Vivian Mosca.

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Shedding Light on New Solar Legislation

Solar advocates continue to work for improvements in PA solar policy. With the state rebate program, federal tax credit, emerging REC market and expiring electricity price caps, market conditions have finally been right for a solar industry to get off the ground in PA. Two years ago, there were a handful of solar installers in PA, now there are hundreds. And over 20 megawatts of residential solar electric has been installed in the last 18 months.

To maintain and extend this growth, however, we need to take PA’s solar policy to the next step. This doesn’t mean more rebates, just simple improvements to our existing renewable energy portfolio standards. These standards currently say that by 2021, one half of one percent of the electricity sold in PA must come from solar sources. New legislation would increase this to 1.5% and include solar hot water, plus it would require that renewable energy credits be purchased from PA sources (right now they can come from solar generators in many other surrounding states).

These simple changes would make a big difference for the future of solar in PA and all the goodness it brings. Though reasonable and involving no impact on the state budget, two recent attempts at similar legislation in PA have failed, largely due to the deep pockets and political skill of the coal-industry and utility companies, among others.

If you support this legislation, your voice could make a difference. By and large, Pennsylvania legislators want to do right by their constituents and want to hear from you. The new attempt is House Bill 1128. It is more focused than previous attempts and is strictly solar. To find your legislator, go to www.legis.state.pa.us. To express your opinion, visit in person (best!), call, write or email (sometimes gets lost in spam). You don’t need to be an expert, just care. If you’d like more info on the bill or how to help, contact Vera Cole, vera.cole@themarea.org.

Use Google Calendar for MAREA Events
Sign up for access to our Google Calendar, and never miss another MAREA event! It’s easy and you can share your events too.
For more info: [MAREA Calendar].

Sure, you can check our website or read our newsletter to learn about our events, but, with Google Calendar, you can choose to receive reminders about our meetings and choose when and how you’d like to receive them.
Here’s how it works. Click the link below to send us an email asking us to add you to the calendar. After we’ve added you, you’ll automatically see our events on your Google Calendar. Click on an event that interests you and select Copy to My Calendar. Depending upon which version of Google you use, you’ll see Reminder either to the right of the event announcement or directly below it. Choose between an email or pop-up reminder and then select when you’d like to receive it. One reminder not enough? You can create as many as five for the same event!
Don’t worry if you don’t have a gmail account. You don’t need one. All you need is a Google account. It only takes a minute to sign up. Go to www.google.com and click on the Calendar option on the upper left side of the screen. If you don’t see it, click on More to find it on a drop-down list of options. On the calendar page, you’ll see a Create an Account button on the lower right of the screen. Click on the button to get to a page where you’ll enter your email address, select a password, and add a little information to set up your calendar.
If your organization lists its events on a Google calendar, let us know! Send a description of your organization and the type of events you list to info@paenergyfest.com.

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