Miami Herald Drops Ball on Secretary of Labor visit

The AFL-CIO Executive Council had a big meeting in Miami back in early March. I'm not in the solar business directly (just a big advocate), so I didn't hear a peep. Hilda Solis, then recently confirmed as Secretary of Labor, visited the group as one of her first acts on the job.

Why is her visit a solar energy story? Well, after addressing the Executive Council, she went to visit a training center for the IBEW where they're preparing future electricians to be the skilled "green jobs" workforce we need to successfully install solar photovoltaic and other "new" technologies.

Did you read about it in the Herald? I didn't. I found a link by accident to an online video of the visit on the IBEW's website: Sec Solis Visits LU 349 I have no idea how I got there, but glad I found the video none the less.

Curious how I'd missed such a big deal since I'm pretty good at scouring the local rag for energy stories, I ran a search of the Herald online and could only dig up a story in the Business Section (beacuse there's no such thing as a labor section) that came close: Labor secretary inspires union crowd in Miami, March 3, 2009

That story is just a bunch of piffle - no substance - about a rally of union members just happy to have someone at the DOL that might actually advocate for labor (organized or otherwise).

Nice to see the local electrical workers union wasn't waiting for stimulus funds or for the local markets to catch onto solar before they started their training programs. Very encouraging, even in the absence of the local press.

Miami Solar installation and design courses coming up soon

Miami-Dade College Earth Ethics Institute has been hosting photovoltaic training classes for a couple years now with the help of PV evangelist and FAU professor emeritus of electrical engineering Dr. Roger Messenger.

From their website:

Designing PV Systems, June 5, 2009

This is a 7-hour course that introduces the process of PV system selection, PV system site selection, types of PV systems, PV system electrical design considerations, PV system structural design considerations and PV system permitting and paperwork. It is intended primarily for design professionals (architects and engineers) but should also be of interest to code officials and contractors. Electrical and solar contractors who have taken the Installing Photovoltaic Systems course and want to understand more about the PV system design process may also be interested in this course.

Installing PV Systems, June 6, 2009

This is a 7-hour course that introduces the process of PV system installation and focuses, in minute detail, on how to install a PV system that someone else has designed. It includes understanding the electrical design, siting and structural considerations, safety considerations, system commissioning and programming as well as permitting and paperwork. It is intended for electrical and solar contractors as well as for electrical and structural inspectors and plan reviewers.

These courses qualify for 7 CEUs each for those who need continuing ed credits, and they're NABCEP certified too.

Thanks to the emailer who reminded me to post this.

Solar VS the South Fla Building Code - round 2

Alright, so it ain't a prize fight, or any kind of fight for that matter. I just needed something catchy to grab a reader or two.

The second meeting of the joint Dade/Broward building code appeals boards is set - this time in Broward. I got word that the meeting will be on March 23 at 10 AM at the West Broward Regional Library in Plantation.

A bunch of industry reps showed up the first time, and I expect that there will be a similar turnout - maybe better since many of the participants came from Broward or points north. Miami's indigenous solar industry being small enough to count on one hand. Getting these code issues straightened out could change that.

Miami-Dade looking to fix Building Code for solar - industry input needed

A bit of local news of big interest to our local solar energy companies sent in by by an alert reader with the Miami-Dade County Sustainability Office:

The Miami-Dade Building Code Compliance Office (BCCO) has been working with Broward County counterparts on issues related to the installation of alternative energy devices - primarily solar energy products - in residential and commercial structures.

A joint Broward/Miami-Dade Boards of Rules and Appeals (BORA) Sub-Committee meeting will be held on February 9, 2009 beginning at 10:00 am. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss issues with industry representatives to see what recommendations (both administrative and legislative) can streamline future renewable energy projects in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Recommendations from the joint Sub-Committee must, ultimately, be endorsed by both respective Boards.

The meeting will be held at 140 West Flagler Street in the BCCO 16th floor conference room.

Subsequent meetings will alternate between Broward and Dade venues until all issues have been resolved. Questions may be directed to Miami-Dade BORA Secretary, Yvonne Bell. Her office number is (305) 375-2047 or Yvonne@miamidade.gov.

To recap:

Who: The Building Code Compliance Offices in Miami-Dade and Broward

What: First of several meetings to see how they can make it easier to put solar on your home and business.

Where: 140 West Flagler, Miami - 16th Floor conference room

When: 10:00 AM

And I have at least 1 reader!

Solar Power trade show goes international

I was lucky enough to get to the Solar Power conference in San Diego this year, and boy has the event grown. The preimenent solar energy event of the year is a co-production of SEPA and SEIA and was launched in 2004 as a combination trade show and policy forum to discuss all things solar.

As the interest in solar energy has grown in the US and abroad, so has this conference. About 20,000 people were in attendance. Manufacturers, installers, and suppliers of solar PV, thermal, and even wind were in abundance. I was floored by the size of the show - 400+ companies with amazingly elaborate displays were there. Germany had an entire section of the show floor, as did Taiwan. There were flat plate, thin film, evacuated tube, and good 'ol glass and copper thermal products as far as you could see.

It was great to see the exponential growth of this industry and I'll try to post some reflections on what this means for Florida and Miami in particular.