He’s an electric-car-driving environmentalist, a liberal, and an Obama supporter. But unlike fellow Hollywood libs Charlize Theron, Susan Sarandon, Anne Hathaway, Spike Lee, and Darryl Hannah, Clooney chose not to attend the DNC. He’s all the way over in his other home country of Italy promoting his new film with Brad Pitt, Burn After Reading, but when asked whether he wanted to attend the convention, he replied, “I like watching conventions on television. I think the stars there should be the people who have been elected.”

He wasn’t exactly raving about Obama’s prospects, saying he was optimistic but also worried about the future, and Pitt was similarly tight-lipped. Perhaps, as an article in the Telegraph mused, this was tied to McCain’s comparison of Obama’s fan base to that of a celebrity. (As if McCain would turn away such a passionate, not to mention youthful, following, were he capable of attaining it.)

Georgie boy and his co-star are also philanthropists. Last week, Cloon and Pitt held a fundraising dinner for the charity they co-founded, Not on Our Watch. The organization benefits and raises awareness of the humanitarian crises in Darfur and similar global issues.

Speaking of Brad Pitt, his Make it Right campaign for building sustainable homes in New Orleans has chosen a New Orleans company, South Coast Solar, to supply solar panels for the homes being constructed in the Lower 9th Ward, which was ravaged by the storm three years ago. The solar panels won’t just benefit the environment but will result in lower energy bills for the residents. The first round of solar panels is being put into place right about now.

According to Treehugger, Clooney already donated $300K to Make it Right, with plans to donate more. He’s such a decent fellow that I hardly noticed how completely gorgeous he is.

Source: Plenty The World In Green

Posted By: Butler Ives

South Coast Solar awarded contract after competing in nationwide RFP…Company to provide solar electric panels and installation services for the first Make It Right homes.

July 25, 2008 (New Orleans, LA) Today, executives with New Orleans-based South Coast Solar, Louisiana’s leading provider of solar electric panels, solar hot water heaters, and solar pool heating products announced that the Company has been chosen to be the solar energy provider and consultant for the first Make It Right homes under construction in the Lower 9th Ward.

“We are excited to have been selected by Make It Right New Orleans for this important residential project in New Orleans. As lifelong residents of the city, my partners and I are committed to rebuilding New Orleans greener and more energy-efficient than before Hurricane Katrina. The utilization of solar power for these homes will enable these returning homeowners to live in more environmentally responsible homes that use less energy, which for the homeowners will translate into significantly lower energy bills,” says Troy Von Otnott, President of South Coast Solar.

In addition to meeting the qualifications of the RFP, South Coast Solar meets Make It Right’s objective of utilizing as many local resources as possible. South Coast Solar will design and install the rooftop solar energy systems for these Make It Right homes. Solar energy design has commenced on the first six homes, some of which are expected to be completed by August 29, 2008, the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Installation of each solar energy system takes only one day.

About South Coast Solar:

South Coast Solar, headquartered in New Orleans, LA, is Louisiana’s leading solar energy company specializing in both renewable energy systems and energy efficiency products and services. The company provides design and installation of solar energy systems for residences, multi-family apartments, hotels, restaurants and commercial businesses.

SCS provides solar electric panels, solar water heater systems and solar pool heating systems. The company represents the top solar product manufacturers in the world including SunPower, Schuco, Enerworks and Heliocol. SCS is the only authorized dealer of SunPower in Louisiana. SunPower designs, manufactures and delivers the highest-efficiency solar electric technology worldwide. SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cellsgenerate up to 50 percent more power than conventional cells. For more information on Sunpower visit www.sunpowercorp.com

About Make It Right:

Make It Right’s mission is built upon catalyzing redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward by building a neighborhood of safe and healthy homes that incorporate modern, high-quality design and construction while preserving the spirit of the community’s culture. Make It Right is committed to building 150 houses in the Lower 9th Ward; ensuring a green, affordable, sustainable, and replicable community to serve as a model for furtherrebuilding; including the Lower 9th Ward community as an integral part of the process; and a finance plan that ensures that residents who wish to return to the Lower 9th Ward can do so without further financial hardship. For more information on Make It Right visit www.makeitrightnola.org

Executives with New Orleans-based South Coast Solar, Louisiana’s leading provider of solar electric panels, solar hot water heaters, and solar pool heating products, announced that the Company, in cooperation with Louisiana Senator Nick Gautreaux, introduced and lobbied for legislation that increases the size of allowable net-metered commercial solar systems

“We are excited that the State of Louisiana has approved this important renewable energy legislation. On, January 1st, 2008, the State of Louisiana initiated one of the most forward-thinking renewable energy tax incentive programs in the country, providing a 50% tax credit for each renewable energy system for homeowners and multi-family apartments. As lifelong residents of the city, South Coast Solar is committed to rebuilding New Orleans greener and more energy-efficient than before Hurricane Katrina. The utilization of solar power for homes to large businesses will enable residents and business owners to live, work and play in more environmentally responsible buildings that use less energy, which for the owners will translate into significantly lower energy bills,” says Troy Von Otnott, President of South Coast Solar.

We are proud to have Louisiana Legislators that clearly understands both the economic and environmental impact our solar energy systems create for their owners. Louisiana has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a leader in the renewable energy and “clean-tech” industries and South Coast Solar is proud to lead the way. Through our affiliations and partnerships with organizations like LA Cleantech and Global Green

New Orleans, SCS is helping to educate citizens of Louisiana about the multitude of benefits from utilizing clean energy from the sun.

About South Coast Solar:

South Coast Solar, headquartered in New Orleans, LA, is Louisiana’s leading solar energy company specializing in both renewable energy systems and energy efficiency products and services. The company provides design and installation of solar energy systems for residences, multi-family apartments, hotels, restaurants and commercial businesses.

SCS provides solar electric panels, solar hot water heater systems and solar pool heating products. The company represents the top solar product manufacturers in the world including SunPower, Schuco, AET, Enerworks and Heliocol. SCS is the only authorized dealer of SunPower in Louisiana. SunPower designs, manufactures and delivers the highest-efficiency solar electric technology worldwide. SunPower’s high-efficiency solar cells generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional cells.

About Louisiana Senator Nick Gautreaux (District 26):
Born in Abbeville, Nick Gautreaux is a lifelong resident of Acadiana having lived in Vermilion parish for over 30 years. Mr. Gautreaux is a small business owner with experience in retail, real estate, finance and oil and gas. Nick Gautreaux is a graduate of Meaux Elementary, North Vermilion High School and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana – Lafayette. He is an active member of his community. Since graduating from high school, Nick has been a youth sports coach for underprivileged and at-risk children with LEYSA where he served as President of the Board of LEYSA. Nick has also taught religion classes and has previously served as a religious retreat counselor.
In addition to Senate Committees, Nick is serving on the NCSL Communications Committee, Technology and Interstate Commerce Committee, Health Committee, and Legislative Effectiveness and State Government Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures. Nick is married to Lynne Mouton Gautreaux and they have four children. Senator Gautreaux sponsored the original renewable energy tax credit legislation in 2007.

District Senate Office
209 E. St. Victor Street
Abbeville, LA 70510
(337) 740-NICK (6425)
1-866-740-NICK (6425)

When the lights go out in Central City, they stay on in parts of the Dryades YMCA where people can gather safely in an emergency.

That’s because the historic school and community center have back-up power generated by a 20 kW solar system on its roof, one of the largest in the city.

“We have a pretty good-sized system on the roof,” said Douglas Evans, chief executive of the Dryades Y.
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Now, because of a bill passed by the Legislature this summer expanding the maximum size of an alternative energy system hooked up to the electricity grid, Dryades could put a system of solar panels 15 times bigger on its roof if it wanted to.

But for now, that is unlikely to happen. While a generous residential state tax credit created after Hurricane Katrina has hatched a flock of solar installation companies around the city eager to climb on the rooftops of homes, solar installations haven’t found their way to Louisiana businesses yet.

Getting solar energy to take hold on commercial buildings around the country — which present the biggest opportunity to create a market because they can buy systems much larger than what fits on the rooftop of a house — has generally required financial incentives and allowances for large system capacities.

Louisiana has taken baby steps on the system size this summer. Senate Bill 359, sponsored by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Abbeville, increased the maximum size of a commercial or agricultural “net energy metering facility” from 100 kW to 300 kW. Net-metering is essentially an electricity meter that can run backward to sell electricity that is produced on-site from renewable sources like the sun or wind or biomass back to the grid.

A 300 kW system is the same size as the maximum allowed in Arkansas, and would be enough to power a small business, but it’s much smaller than the 2 MW permitted in New Jersey, according to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency.

But Louisiana doesn’t offer any incentives to help businesses buy the solar systems, which cost roughly $1 million per 100 kW installed. Homeowners can get a 50 percent state tax credit on solar panels installed on their homes for systems up to $25,000, plus a federal tax credit of 30 percent up to $2,000, but there’s no state tax credit for businesses.

Commercial enterprises can only get a federal tax credit of 30 percent of the project, assuming Congress renews the program, which is set to expire at the end of this year. Renewing the federal renewable tax credits has gotten snarled in the energy bill, but solar proponents are optimistic that the program will be renewed.

The residential credits, which can be used for homes or apartment buildings, aren’t transferable the way Louisiana film tax credits are, meaning that they can’t be sold up front to raise money for an apartment project with solar energy. And the credits don’t apply to commercial buildings, which might be interested in the type of huge solar systems that could help develop an alternative energy industry.

“People just don’t think it’s cost effective,” said Byrd, who gave up on designing larger solar systems.
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Michael Hecht, chief executive of the economic development group Greater New Orleans Inc., said that with Louisiana’s history as a major producer of oil and gas, it makes sense to explore whether the state can also become a hub for alternative energy like solar power.

The question of whether to offer solar tax credits to businesses to help develop a green-building industry comes at a good time, Hecht said, because there’s an appetite in Baton Rouge to overhaul the state’s tax and incentive policies. It will ultimately come down to weighing the costs and benefits of solar tax credits for businesses versus potential incentives in other areas.

“What we have to understand is, what’s the net benefit for that incentive? We know from the film industry that incentives have a great benefit, but they can be challenging to manage,” Hecht said.

— ‘Ahead of the curve’ —

The system at the Dryades YMCA was donated by Entergy Corp. before the storm and installed in 2006.

Evans said going solar had nothing to do with the Dryades YMCA “thinking green,” and everything to do with thenEntergy New Orleans Inc. chief executive Dan Packer, who served on Dryades’ capital committee. He thought it would be a good investment for the group while helping Entergy to meet its greenhouse gas emission goals.

“We just happened to be ahead of the curve because of Dan’s insistence that we test this to see if there are some great benefits to be derived, not only from an environmental perspective, but for the economic benefit of the organization,” Evans said.

Now that the system has been running for two years, Dryades plans to audit its power bills to find out how much money it has saved by generating its own power or selling it back to Entergy. If the results look good, Evans said he’d like to explore putting solar on upcoming projects, such as Dryades’ aquatics and wellness center. “There are some thoughts of possibly expanding the system,” he said.

Other businesses are finding that solar power is a worthwhile investment. Retailers like Wal-Mart Stores, Kohl’s and Macy’s — all of which operate in Louisiana — are adorning their large, flat roofs with photovoltaic cells. The goal is for stores to reduce their operating costs by generating the own power and develop marketing cache with their customers by being environmentally responsible.

Kohl’s has solar panels on 43 stores and will add panels on 42 more. Those 250 to 400 kW systems generate 25 percent 50 percent of each store’s power, spokeswoman Nzingha Thompson said.
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Macy’s has solar panels on 18 stores and will add them to 40 more by the end of the year.

But the retailers’ investments are largely in states that have large system allowances and generous tax credits, such as California, Connecticut and New Jersey. Neither Kohl’s nor Macy’s has any plans at this point to add solar to Louisiana stores, even though Macy’s is building new stores at the Lakeside and Esplanade malls in Jefferson Parish.

“It’s not a good option for us in Louisiana. There’s no state incentive,” said Ed Smith, regional vice president of public relations at Macy’s in Houston.

— Spotlight on apartments —

With businesses in Louisiana not great candidates for solar, the best hope for the fledging providers to grow is with apartment complexes, which are eligible for the residential solar credit and which can support huge systems.

Multifamily apartments can have the maximum-sized residential system of 25 kW for each unit, so a 100-unit complex could have a system of up to 2,500 kW, or more than eight times what’s allowed for businesses right now.

Tammy Esponge, executive director of the Apartment Association of Greater New Orleans Inc., said that calculation is just beginning to register with her group’s members.

“It is just starting to barely scratch the surface here in the New Orleans area,” Esponge said.

Troy Von Otnott, president of the New Orleans start-up South Coast Solar LLC, said he’s working on several apartment projects, such as the former Stephens garage apartment project on Carondelet Street.

Matt Morrin, development manager of the Lafitte project at Enterprise Community Partners Inc., said his company is also checking out solar options for the massive redevelopment of public housing.

“It is something that we’re exploring,” Morrin said. “For our development team, energy efficiency is a very important issue. It’s a financial as well as mission-oriented priority for us.”

. . . . . . .
Source: Nola.com
Rebecca Mowbray can be reached at rmowbray@timespicayune.com or at 504.826.3417.