<html><head></head><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Hilton,</div><div> This article just confirms what I have always suspected. Cost cutting could compromise quality and this also reinforces my business practice to buy American from solid companies. Obviously the choices are limited and the prices a few cents higher. This said, I have sold dozens of brands over the years and I have had no warranty issues for the last 17 years. Worst problem was lack of drainage in the extruded frame of a Sunwize module (made in India) with water retention and consequential frame distortion when frozen. My Arco and kyosera modules at over 30 years old are still doing fine. <br><br>John Blittersdorf</div><div>Central Vermont Solar & Wind</div><div><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On May 29, 2013, at 9:08 AM, Hilton Dier III <<a href="mailto:hiltondier@gmail.com">hiltondier@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div>
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<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Greetings wrenches,<br>
<br>
I'm sure many of you have seen this article in the New York Times:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/business/energy-environment/solar-powers-dark-side.html?hp&_r=1&">http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/business/energy-environment/solar-powers-dark-side.html?hp&_r=1&</a><br>
<br>
I have already gotten an email from a panicked client asking about
canceling his project.<br>
<br>
First question: Has anybody dealt with defective modules lately,
and if so, what brands?<br>
Second question: How much does this affect first-tier
manufacturers (Trina, Suntech, Yingli...) and how much of this is
"no-name" brands?<br>
Third question: Is this restricted to a particular technology such
as thin film?<br>
<br>
And the big question: How do we deal with this? I can imagine the
fossil fuel and nuclear industries promoting this story with
enthusiasm.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
<br>
Hilton<br>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Hilton Dier III
Renewable Energy Design
Partner, Solar Gain LLC
453 East Hill Rd.
Middlesex, VT 05602
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