One thing that keeps coming up in my mind when researching renewable content is the need for distributed energy generation. Just a little bit ago we read stories of large solar thermal plants out in the Mojave being blocked and people in an uproar over using public lands for energy generation. I agree that we need to conserve our land and that these plants can get very expensive, but in the meantime feel that we need to take a bigger look at our cities and towns already standing. The concept of decentralization is not new, and people write about it all the time. However, it is a topic that bears repeating.

I would love to see solar panels and small wind turbines on every building, bridge and structure in developed areas. Not in an overkill way, but enough to satisfy the energy demands of the areas around them. With decentralization comes less use of open space, more energy security, and the potential for a large amount of energy. I realize that some houses and buildings cannot accept solar panels or wind turbines and in some areas regulation and codes topple the thought of renewable generation. There needs to be a set of 'best practices' and a joint effort by local, state, and national powers to encourage this adoption. 

This month we will be focusing on renewable energy, particularly the role of solar applications. This comes off of March which focused on smart buildings and intelligent data systems, which in a sense is the perfect one-two punch. I've read a lot lately about the need for a beefed up smart grid in order to ramp up renewable energy generation, particularly with solar and wind.

With the advent of solar and wind, intermittent renewables, the need for smarter systems has risen. Utilities face a massive investment wall if you will, knowing that they will need to bulk up our infrastructure if we ever want to fully embrace clean sources of energy generation. There are a few problems with 'educating' our electrical grid, with some of them revolving around privacy issues and the others implementation.

Yesterday state utility regulators approved a new California Solar Initiative Thermal Program that will offer $350 million in rebates to encourage it’s residents to install water-heating systems powered by solar energy.

Funding for this program is broken down into three areas, with $250 million to replace natural gas powered water heaters and an additional $25 million set aside for low income residents.  Additional monies to the tune of $100.8 million will be used to fund the exchange of electrically powered water heaters.  Federal tax credits are also available and can be coupled with the state rebates for 30% of the value of new water heaters.