Across the United States, Main Street small businesses are working to rebuild our economy. These entrepreneurs are doing all they can to hire, grow and move their businesses forward. And they’re doing it largely through innovation — particularly in the clean energy arena.

Across all industries and at both ends of the political spectrum, entrepreneurs overwhelmingly support government investing in renewable energy and creating clean energy policies that will help guide them into a new economic sector….

Read the full story at the Huffington Post.

A powerful incentive to go solar
Up to 50% of your system cost can be paid to you by AEP in exchange for 15 years of your SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Certificates). That guarantees a good return for 15 years worth of your energy credits—paid up front—and brings the total cost of your system into affordable range.

SRECs are generated when you generate clean solar power. AEP is buying up solar customers’ SRECs, in part, to meet their own clean-energy mandates. But this is a limited time opportunity; once AEP’s SREC budget is spent, the program will end.

Use the energy of tomorrow, today
Clean solar power offers a wealth of advantages, not the least of which is—a cleaner planet for your kids’ kids and their kids. Leave them a profoundly positive legacy—a cleaner, smarter way to power their planet. Every step in the solar direction brings us closer to a cleaner world for everyone.

We’ll help make it happen
Third Sun Solar will design and install your solar energy system, help you register it, and guide you through the AEP paperwork to secure your RETP payment. We’ll make it easy for you. Give us a call today to get started!

Invest now in clean energy
No one knows for sure where fossil fuel prices are going… but the smart money says they’re going up. A clean solar energy system will provide power for 30+ years, and the fuel is free—it rises every morning.

Add clean solar now through Third Sun Solar and get this direct payment from AEP. We’ll help with all the details.

• Eight U.S. states installed over 50 megawatts of solar in 2011
• In 2009, only two PV projects over 10 megawatts were completed in the U.S. In 2010, the number rose to eight. In 2011, 28 such projects were connected to the grid.
• The U.S. installed 776 megawatts of solar in Q4 2011, up 64 percent over Q3 2011 and up 115 percent over Q4 2010. Every market segment had a record quarter, as did ten individual states.
• The U.S. installed 1,855 megawatts of PV in 2011, up 109 percent from the 887 megawatts installed in 2010. Growth occurred in every market segment and in 18 of the 23 states we track closely. The value of all PV installations rose to $8.4 billion, up from $5.0 billion in 2010.

Here is the entire list of top ten solar stats:

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/top-ten-us-solar-stats-from-2011/

The really good news is, clean energy is coming on strong! There’s no stopping it — it just makes too much sense.

Athens, Ohio—A top-rated dentist in the Columbus area has taken a leadership position in clean energy by installing Solar PV Systems on all three of his dental practices. In the face of Ohio Utilities increasing energy prices on January 1st of this year, Dr. Sehgal says, “Why not? Installing solar panels is good for the environment and with these electric rate hikes, it’s also a very wise investment for my business.”

Dr. Sudhir Sehgal was one of the first medical practitioners in central Ohio to install clean solar energy on his office rooftop on East Dublin Granville Road in 2010. The solar array produces about 30,000 kilowatt hours annually, which offsets nearly 70% of his total electric bill.

Dr. Sehgal’s main impetus for adding solar panels was a desire to make a positive step toward U.S. energy independence. “I kept reading and hearing about the need for our country to find alternative energy sources,” he said. In considering the financial pros and cons of this move, Dr. Sehgal reported, “My decision was based more on doing what I thought was the right thing. Fortunately, in the long run, it was economical and therefore it was a good business decision as well. I have a passion for thinking and acting outside of the box and pursuing solar energy seemed to fit that bill.”

Once Dr. Sehgal had his first solar system in place, and saw the positive results, he took the next step—adding solar energy to his other two branch offices in 2011. “Having installed solar at my Columbus location, it simply made sense to repeat these projects at my Hilliard and Reynoldsburg offices.” And, as a result, these decisions have placed Dr. Sehgal in a favorable position for the 2012 spike in electric rates.

Due to environmental protections, many of Ohio’s coal fired plants are coming off-line in the coming years. This could result in higher electric bills and instability in our transmission grid. And, since January 1st, we’re already seeing the result in rate increases. By generating more of our own electricity as Dr. Sehgal has done, we can power our homes and businesses while also reducing the strain on the electric grid. This, in turn, will stabilize our electricity costs and reduce pollution. With most of Ohio’s utility power generated by coal-burning power plants, it stands to reason that growing our base of distributed solar energy production will, in time, lessen the amount of energy required from burning fossil fuels.

When asked if other companies should pursue Solar Energy, Dr. Sehgal’s quick response was, “I absolutely believe that other businesses should pursue solar.” These types of projects will diversify our energy portfolio, create a cleaner environment and contribute to a stronger local economy. Commenting on his experience in working with Third Sun Solar for three projects to date, Dr. Sehgal said, “I have had an excellent experience and have recommended them to a number of friends, patients, and other people who have expressed interest in these projects.”

In conclusion, Dr. Sehgal’s position remains, “Why not!”

About Dr. Sudhir Sehgal

Dr. Sudhir Sehgal DDS is a highly-rated practitioner of general dentistry in Columbus, Ohio. Central Ohio Dental Associates, created by Dr. Sehgal, serves patients through three Columbus-area locations: at 2374 East Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus; 4511 Cemetery Rd. in Hilliard; and 1709 Brice Rd. in Reynoldsburg. They can be reached at 614-899-0309.

About Third Sun Solar

Based in Athens, Ohio, Third Sun Solar is a fast-growing design/build solar firm serving Ohio and the surrounding states. An Inc. 5000 company in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Third Sun Solar is at the forefront of the emerging clean energy industry—a growing resource for 21st-century Ohio jobs. For more than a decade, the company has custom designed and installed over 300 solar energy systems for its commercial, institutional, government, and residential customers across the Midwest. Third Sun Solar employs a team of NABCEP-certified solar energy system installers along with design engineers, financial analysts, grant specialists, and support staff, all focused on making it easier for customers to go solar. The company combines financial and management experience, multiple installation crews, a network of professional services partners, and advanced internal systems to deliver a smooth transition to solar energy at any scale.

Contact:

Gerald Kelly
Communications Director
(740) 641-5589

Download a PDF copy of this release.

Third Sun Solar Offers Residential Referral Program

At Third Sun Solar, we have been building our business one system and one customer at a time, and seeing a surprising amount of growth from word of mouth—customers telling a friend, or a friend of a friend. So we have decided to begin rewarding our customers for those referrals.

If a friend or neighbor of yours has shown interest in your solar energy system, and might be a good candidate for their own solar energy, at home or at their business, please provide us with their contact information and help introduce us.

If you do this, we can offer each of your referrals a special premium—a $250 Visa Gift Card, courtesy of Third Sun Solar and courtesy of you—for installing a 5kW or larger solar system. And if they install a system, we can also reward you with a $250 Visa Gift Card. This offer is good until February 15, 2012.

There is no limit to the number of referrals you can give us—and we will reward you for each one. But referrals must sign a contract by this February 15 for the rewards to be paid. The $250 reward applies to systems 5kW and larger, with rewards being pro-rated for smaller systems.

For more information, please give us a call at 740-597-3111. Thanks!

Third Sun Solar Short-Listed for Major Innovation Award

ATHENS, OHIO—Third Sun Solar has been listed as a semi-finalist for the 2011 TechColumbus Innovation Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in technology and innovation in Central Ohio.

Presented by TechColumbus, the annual Innovation Awards recognize outstanding achievements in technology leadership and innovation. From hundreds of entries, 13 outstanding leaders and teams who exemplify the best in technology leadership and innovation in 2011 will be honored during the Innovation Awards Ceremony on February 2, 2012 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Of the 13 award categories in this year’s event, Third Sun Solar is listed for its contributions in the Green Innovation segment. It shares this recognition with other firms that have developed a Green product or service that is commercially available and in production, and is in use with at least one customer/client; or that have applied or implemented a technology or process change that has a net positive impact on the environment.

About TechColumbus

TechColumbus is the catalyst for technology-driven economic growth in Central Ohio. Its goal is to accelerate innovation, business growth, job creation, and prosperity in the 15-county region of Central Ohio. TechColumbus works to create new companies, strengthen existing businesses, open doors to technology resources, and support the attraction and retention of technology-based businesses and talented people.

Linking the efforts of top technology enterprises, TechColumbus reaches out to the foremost research and development firms in the area—including The Ohio State University, Battelle, Columbus Children’s Research Institute, OhioHealth, 15 Fortune 1,000 companies, and thousands of tech-based and tech-enabled companies. TechColumbus facilitates collaboration among these tech assets and provides resources and assistance to accelerate business and overall economic progress.

THIRD SUN SOLAR PEOPLE: MEET JAMEY JONES

If you have ever sought a residential remote estimate from Third Sun Solar, or needed help getting your solar array certified and registered to sell your SRECs, chances are you’ve spoken—or at least emailed—with Jamey Jones. She is one of our mainstays—another Third Sun employee who does multiple things well, and without whom we wouldn’t be able to function as we do.

Jamey came to Third Sun Solar in 2008 as a receptionist—a position known within the company as a launch pad, as we keep finding great people to answer the phones and promoting them into other jobs here. Jamie was soon doing economic and solar performance modeling for residential systems, and became part of our sales team, handling inside work for all residential sales—completing remote estimates, interfacing with the Public Utilities Commission and GATS, and serving as liaison to all residential customers and projects.

What led Jamey to Third Sun Solar? Mainly, it was her abiding interest in wellness and being green. She had previously worked at the Farmacy Natural Foods Store in Athens; developed health food recipes for a local clientele; provided organic landscaping services for area clients; and worked with Passion Works Studio in Athens as a lead production artist, making collaborative art with adults with and without developmental disabilities.

Having come to the Athens community over twenty years ago as an Ohio University student, Jamey has put down roots here. She is the proud parent of two amazing kids—daughter Lilah (again on course for straight A’s at Athens city schools) and younger son River, aptly named for being a source of boundless energy.

What matters most to Jamey is that her work has environmental and/or social value—that it makes the world a better place for her children.

IN THE NEWS—STATE GRANT PROGRAM, OHIO UPDATE

Energy Loan Fund Replaces State Grants for Renewable Energy Systems

This past year, the State of Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy announced that it was suspending the grant program for solar installations. The ODOD Office of Energy administers incentive programs through the Advanced Energy Fund to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. To that end, on December 15, 2011, the Office of Energy launched the Energy Loan Fund that applies funds through the Advanced Energy Fund along with federal funds from the State Energy Program to offer low-interest loans to those seeking to add renewable energy systems to their homes.

The new program is not a grant. It is a loan program that requires credit approval and carries up-front and annual fees, and for that reason, is not nearly as attractive as the former grant program. However, solar panel prices have been falling, and we are willing to review and re-do the performance and economic modeling we may have previously performed for you. We may be able to offer better pricing than we could before.

Our take on this is that some customers may benefit, but not nearly as much as during the previous grant period. With solar panel prices falling, the Federal Tax Credit and depreciation rules still in place, and the Energy Loan Fund, there may be enough incentive in place to persuade more people to go solar. 2012 should show us whether the move to clean energy is ready to climb the adoption curve and see more of a  mainstream embrace.

IN THE NEWS—EXCERPTED FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD, JANUARY 2012

Gainesville, Florida Becomes a World Leader in Solar

By John Farrell

You don’t have to be big to go big on solar power.  That’s the lesson from the Gainesville Regional Utilities, the electric utility whose feed-in tariff solar policy has brought over 7 megawatts (MW) of solar to the city’s 125,000 residents.  The raw number isn’t much, but it puts Gainesville among the world leaders in solar installed per capita, beating out Japan, France, and China (and besting California, with 32 kilowatts -kW- per 1,000 residents).

If we were to advocate for, and gain, such policies here in the Midwest, we could put Ohio and the surrounding states on the solar map—and make a dramatic step toward moving away from electricity generated by burning coal. Want to take action on that? You can begin by sending this article to your local municipal electric utility.

The basic premise behind the feed-in tariff program is that anyone who wants to be a solar power generator can connect to the grid and get a 20-year contract for their power from the municipal utility.

The long-term contract makes getting financing for solar projects easier and the prices are attractive.  The utility pays 24 cents per kilowatt-hour generated for large-scale ground-mounted systems and up to 32 cents for small, rooftop systems.

The price differentiation helps accommodate solar arrays of various sizes, from residential to larger commercial installations, spreading the economic opportunity.  The differentiation may also help small-scale residential projects that can’t use federal tax incentives for businesses (depreciation).

Thus far, approximately one-third of the city’s 7.3 MW of solar power is in relatively small systems 100 kW and smaller.  About half the installed capacity is in projects 500 kW and larger.

The solar feed-in tariff program also brings value to the local community and electricity system.  A report released earlier this year found that the grid benefits and social benefits of solar power far outweigh the typical valuation of solar power by utilities.  These benefits include reduced stress on the utility distribution system and reduced transmission losses.

The feed-in tariff program also means local economic development.  With a rule of thumb of eight jobs per MW, according to a University of California, Berkeley, study of the jobs created from renewable energy development, Gainesville has already generated 56 jobs.  The National Renewable Energy Laboratory has estimated that each megawatt of solar adds $240,000 to the local economy, and if Gainesville’s solar projects are locally owned, the value could be much higher.

More than anything, Gainesville provides an important lesson in local energy self-reliance.  While many communities must await action by a state legislature or investor-owned utility, the municipal utility has the authority to act quickly in support of the community.  And when the utility is locally controlled, it can mean big things for local solar power.

ABOUT THIRD SUN SOLAR

Founded in 2000, Third Sun Solar is at the forefront of the emerging Ohio clean energy industry—a growing resource for 21st-century jobs. For more than a decade, the company has custom designed and installed over 300 renewable energy systems for its commercial, institutional, government, and residential customers across the Midwest. Third Sun Solar employs a team of NABCEP-certified solar energy system installers along with system designers, financial analysts, grant specialists, and support staff, all focused on making it easy for customers to go solar. The company combines financial and management experience, highly trained installation crews, privileged supply agreements with leading equipment suppliers, a network of professional services partners, and advanced internal systems to deliver a smooth transition to solar energy at any scale. An Inc. 5000 company in 2009, 2010 and 2011, To learn more, please visit our website at thirdsunsolar.com.

TESTIMONIAL

ON THE JOB

Third Sun Solar installers completing a 5.4kW SunPower panel systemon a standing seam metal roof in Coshocton, Ohio

Gerald Kelly

gkelly@third-sun.com

Download a PDF copy of this Newsletter.

ATHENS, OHIO—Third Sun Solar has been listed as a semi‐finalist for the 2011 TechColumbus Innovation Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in technology and innovation in Central Ohio.

Based in Athens, Ohio, Third Sun Solar is a fast‐growing design/build solar firm serving Ohio and the surrounding states from offices in Athens, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Akron. The firm’s recent solar energy projects have included the Franklin County Job and Family Services building, the Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Dublin, and a host of residential solar projects. A recently announced Third Sun Solar project for 2012 is a major solar array for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

An Inc. 5000 company in 2009, 2010 and 2011, Third Sun Solar is at the forefront of the emerging clean energy industry. For more than a decade, the company has custom designed and installed over 300 solar energy systems for its commercial, institutional, government, and residential customers across the Midwest. Third Sun Solar employs a team of NABCEP‐certified solar energy system installers along with design engineers, financial analysts, grant specialists, and support staff, all focused on making it easier for customers to go solar. The company combines financial and management experience, multiple installation crews, a network of professional services partners, and advanced internal systems to deliver a smooth transition to solar energy at any scale.

About the TechColumbus Innovation Awards

Presented by TechColumbus, the annual Innovation Awards recognize outstanding achievements in technology leadership and innovation. From hundreds of entries, 13 outstanding leaders and teams who exemplify the best in technology leadership and innovation in 2011 will be honored during the Innovation Awards Ceremony on February 2, 2012 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Of the 13 award categories in this year’s event, Third Sun Solar is listed for its contributions in the Green Innovation segment. It shares this recognition with other firms that have developed a Green product or service that is commercially available and in production, and is in use with at least one customer/client; or that have applied or implemented a technology or process change that has a net positive impact on the environment.

About TechColumbus

TechColumbus is the catalyst for technology‐driven economic growth in Central Ohio. Its goal is to accelerate innovation, business growth, job creation, and prosperity in the 15‐county region of Central Ohio. TechColumbus works to create new companies, strengthen existing businesses, open doors to technology resources, and support the attraction and retention of technology‐based businesses and talented people.

Linking the efforts of top technology enterprises, TechColumbus reaches out to the foremost research and development firms in the area—including The Ohio State University, Battelle, Columbus Children’s Research Institute, OhioHealth, 15 Fortune 1,000 companies, and thousands of tech‐based and tech‐enabled companies. TechColumbus facilitates collaboration among these tech assets and provides resources and assistance to accelerate business and overall economic progress.

Contact:

Gerald Kelly
gkelly@third-sun.com

Download a PDF copy of this release.

Athens, Ohio— Alternative Energy Magazine, a web-based news source featuring inside knowledge of the renewable energy industry, has published a new study performed by project developers at Third Sun Solar. The study explores the comparative strengths of two competing solar panel technologies—crystalline and thin-film solar cells—mounted on the same rooftop.

A Need for Data

Solar project developers at Third Sun Solar saw a need for independently verifiable, real-world comparison studies of these two technology choices. They are seeking to gather data using these two technologies in specific projects types, such as ground mounted solar arrays, flat roofs, pitched roofs, shade impacted sites, and in different climatic regions.

An Opportunity to Showcase Two Technologies

The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati approached Third Sun Solar to provide approximately 30kW of solar for their new LEED Gold Certified Wastewater Engineering Building in Cincinnati. This project was planned for a flat roof designed to be regularly viewed by the public for its showcase energy and storm water management technologies. This working demonstration site offered an ideal spot to initiate a Midwest-specific study of the two solar technology types on a flat roof with excellent solar resource.

The study revealed that while both thin film and crystalline solar technologies provide reliable and impressive energy production performance, and both solar cell types perform best in cool temperatures and high sunlight, the “thin-film” amorphous silicon modules suffer lower performance losses during low light or high temperature operation. However, the performance impacts imposed by the different mounting requirements of each system more than offset this cell-type difference.

Details

While reliable performance predictions can easily be obtained for crystalline silicon modules, the same is not true for the various thin film technologies in the marketplace today. Customers and solar developers are often left having to extrapolate from marketing claims and a small number of site-specific studies to make predictions about which is the best technology to use for a specific project. Factors such as differing orientation and attachment options, different area requirements, and differing technical limitations between crystalline and thin film technologies make the task of translating study results to real-world applications difficult. As a result, marketing claims from competing manufactures can obfuscate what should be a transparent comparison.

The full results of the study can be found here, and electrical performance data and environmental conditions for both systems are available to the public here.

Third Sun Solar appreciates the full support for this project provided by the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, The City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Ohio, Cintech Construction, and KZF Design.

FYI: AltEnergyMag is an excellent resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of alternative energy issues—including journalists and policy makers.

Contact:

Gerald Kelly
gkelly@third-sun.com

Following a long career with AT&T Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies, Tim came to us with a deep interest in solar energy and skills in electrical layout, system design and maintenance. His previous work on data acquisition projects for Bell Labs and Lucent helped him transition easily to his role at Third Sun Solar, where he serves as a Project Specialist with a focus on PV solar monitoring systems, setup and maintenance. As part of that role, Tim seeks to optimize the energy flow from PV solar installations and provide monitoring data so that customers can see what their system is producing at any time. Naturally, there is a strong customer education element in that, and Tim enjoys the process of getting systems set up and working, then showing customers how they can keep themselves informed of their system’s production.

Tim’s enjoyment of education has also come into play with area students. At New Albany High School, he helped create a project to light up a boardwalk and nature preserve using solar. His students in the Environmental Sciences program gained hands-on experience installing the PV solar array, wiring the modules, and gaining a close understanding of how PV solar works.

Communication is therefore central to Tim’s job. From his early days as a ham radio operator, he has enjoyed the process of building and using technology to connect people. The best part of his Third Sun Solar job, he says, is all the interesting people he gets to meet. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have Tim on our team.