Peter's Comments

Great Project,
Be sure to try keep the PV arrays out from under the flight path or up wind from the approach. Georgetown University, Washington DC, has had to clean their 300 KW array with solvents and power washing to get the oily residue from the un-combusted jet fuels off the modules every five years. This problem is less frequent with the new cleaner jet engines. They used to loose up to 40% of their power and then would have to have them professionally cleaned. Fortunatly, Fresno-Yosemite Airport won't have the traffic that Ronald Reagan has.
Congratulations. Peter, 360JMG

This is the legislative victory of a three year campaign to get solar included in the MD RPS in a meaningful way. We had to press through what ever we could to keep our industry growing to prove we can grow and industry with reasonable help. Patience, persistance and the examples set in other states that convinced the Senate Finance Chairman Thomas Middleton to listen to Senator Rob Garagiola and pass this bill. It took years to gain the Senators confidence the House of Delegates was even more aggressive in their suppor. Now the Regulatory campaign will begin and MD-DC-VA Solar Energy Industries Association will need the entire industries support to get the rules through the Public Service Commision, Peter Lowenthal Director MDV-SEIA
Group Director Renewable Energy Practise
360JMG

While MDV-SEIA provided the local industry grass roots support over the last few years, it has been the expertise from Chris Cook and Colin Murchie from Sun Edison and Todd Foley, Bruce Johnston from BP Solar, presenting the solar legislation option in a way that didn't frighten the representatives, that made the difference this year. With the help of hundreds of supporters from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Clean Energy Partnership and all the other Environmental organizations and facilitated with Vote Solar, the politicians got the message that Maryland citizens like most Americans in every state, want solar energy.
Thanks to everyone who helped. Now on to the implementing the Regulations.

This would be a far more commendable project if it were not for the fact that we currently have a shortage of silicon for manufacturing PV modules. This eats up many tons of silicon. On a recent trip to Guatemala, I was reminded of the millions of people all over the planet that would love to have even 20 watts of PV powering 3-4 LED house lights. Once again we are witnessing government incentives, in this case for a great cause, shifting our markets away from solar products that can transform the lives of needy human beings.