Solar Guerilla danger? [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

Bill Brooks, Tom Starrs, some of you have done an excellent job getting
utilities to see the light. We also do a good job identifying specific
individuals who block PV or make PV difficult. Please do not waste time
discussing the pros and cons of bootleg PV. If you have a problem with a
utility, building inspector, politician, anyone interfering with legitimate PV,
then share it off-line with Bill, Tom, me, others. PV blockage is a problem that
can be fixed. In case you have been to busy to look up from the trenches, PV is
winning every battle. Congratulations.

Bill Brooks wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> Having spent a major portion of my carrier working on the issue of getting
> PV interconnection simplified and standardized for our industry, I agree
> that guerilla solar is being used as an excuse by utility companies to
> oppose the PV industry. The tactic of glorifying it is backfiring in the
> regulatory arena, and I find it personally offensive given the amount of
> personal effort I have put into doing it the right way.
>
> I like to remind utilities that if they refuse to adopt the excellent
> standard (IEEE 929) that they are going to encourage the interconnection of
> equipment that may or may not be safe without their knowledge. The threat is
> better than folks actually doing it since the connotation is that this is
> illegal and potentially unsafe. I'm sure most folks do it safely, but there
> are those who do not and all we need is one lineman dead to kill our
> industry.
>
> I certainly understand the absolute frustration that occurs when dealing
> with an obstinate utility. However, resources exist to help the solar
> industry deal with their local utilities. IEEE 929 is an excellent primer on
> interconnection that needs to be embraced by our industry if we are to have
> any credibility with utilities.
>
> It is just as much of an education process to work with utility personnel as
> it is to work with local inspectors and customers. This is an infant
> industry and we are all pioneers. If you are looking for an easy road--you
> probably need to find another industry.
>
> My hat is off to all the pioneers that have brought this industry to where
> it is today, and those who continue to pave the way for future customers and
> generations to help them easily access this amazing technology and harness
> it for themselves. The precedents we have set in many parts of the country
> are extremely powerful and must be used as examples for those utilities more
> resistant to change.
>
> Bill.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Yago [mailto:jryago at erols.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 7:39 AM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: RE: Solar Guerilla danger? [RE-wrenches]
>
> Last year I worded a strong letter to HomePower about "glamorizing"
> solar Guerillas in a magazine also read by the general public and was
> told everyone is doing it because the utilities are asking for very
> un-realistic  interconnect requirements.  I agree with that sentiment,
> but this should be a "quiet" revolution for those of us who understand
> we still must install safe systems that meet code.
>
> My concern has been the general public will read these articles and
> think it means they can install systems any way they choose thinking
> this refers to safety codes in general.  I also felt glamorizing this
> activity in a national publication will come back and "bite" us all
> when an unsafe installation that was later found to be selling back
> without utility approval burns down a house and the utility holds this
> up as an example.
>
> Last year I was asked to testify during the net metering hearings for
> Virginia.  During the cross examination of me by one of the eight(8)!!
> utility lawyers present (this hearing was also broadcast), he held up
> a copy of HomePower Magazine and read the ads for Guerilla T shirts
> and read text that appeared to encourage illegal interconnect
> activity.  Of course this was taken out of context, but that should
> have been expected.
>
> Anyone else run into to this??
>
> Jeff Yago
>
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