Thoughts on Solar by Run on Sun's Founder & CEO, Jim Jenal

The folks at SEIA - the Solar Energy Industry Association - have put out an action alert for Californians who are concerned about expanding access to solar power through the expansion of the net metering rules.  Here’s their action alert - please take a look and then click on the link to add your voice.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is deciding how much customer-owned renewable energy is allowed to get the bill saving benefits of net metering.  This statewide clean energy credit program has empowered over 100,000 solar energy systems to be installed on homes, businesses, schools, libraries and other buildings around the state.

The Commission has proposed allowing for more homeowner solar– and some utilities are trying their best to restrict continued access to it.

Click here to tell the CPUC that you support their preliminary decision to give more Californians access to solar net metering: I support net metering!

We have written before about the importance of the federal section 1603 Treasury Grant Program as a means to spur further growth in solar.  Well it is crunch time and if you agree with me that this is a program that needs to be continued, there are a couple of things you need to do, NOW.

The good news is that it is easy, thanks to the 1603 Coalition folks over at SEIA - here’s what you need to do:

• First, place a call to your U.S. Senators urging them to support an extension of the 1603 program.  If you click here you will be given the opportunity to fill-in your information and then the system will place the call for you!  (Isn’t hi-tech wonderful?)


• Second, send a brief letter to the editor of your local paper.  Again, SEIA has made this easy - click on this link to see the local papers in your area - they even give you a draft letter to work with as a starting point!  (What could be easier?)

We have railed in the past about the PR problems plaguing solar - well, here is a way for you to help counter some of that by making a little positive PR of your own.  If everyone who supports solar were to take five minutes today to do these two things, we would be well on our way to getting the 1603 program extended for another year - and wouldn’t that be a swell way to ring in the New Year?

As part of its campaign to publicize the truth about the solar industry, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) has created a Solar Works for America website that contains great information about how solar is working for homes and businesses all across the country.  Part of that website is a collection of profiles about the people who make up this industry, telling their stories in their own words about why the got into solar and the positive influence they see solar having in their lives and communities.

We are pleased to announce that Run on Sun Founder & CEO Jim Jenal is now the subject of one of the Solar Works for America profiles.

The profile - which includes a quite youthful image of Jenal, recounts his involvement in the solar industry and his prior career (one of many) as an attorney.  Reinventing oneself from high-stakes litigator to solar integrator and installer might not be the most obvious career path, but according to Jenal, it works: “Now my clients are thrilled to work with me and they really value what we have done together.  Making that transition has been a wonderful improvement in my life.”

For potential Run on Sun clients, however, the money quote is at the end:

“At Run on Sun we take great pride in our work and it shows.  We never forget that we are building systems for the long run and that all of our work must exceed our clients’ expectations.”

Solar issues don’t get that much coverage in our local press (although last week had a great article by John Grula), but I am very pleased to report that the Pasadena Weekly has a feature out today highlighting my candidacy for the SEIA Board of Directors.

From the article:

Jenal, who runs the Pasadena-based solar company Run on Sun with partner Brad Banta, is currently soliciting support from fellow SEIA members for a Nov. 22 ballot election. He said his experience would bring a fresh perspective to the board, which has a political action committee and lobbies legislators for solar energy-friendly legislation.

“There’s really an opportunity here to expand the membership to bring in a lot of the smaller voices. That will make the national effort that much stronger,” he said.

SEIA membership today constitutes a relatively small cross-section of companies. Jenal estimates there are about 5,000 solar companies nationwide, yet only 1,100 companies are SEIA members. Consequently, he added, there is a gap between the programs and campaigns coming out of Washington, DC, and the day-to-day concerns of solar businessmen across the country.

“There’s a lot of growth that needs to happen there and a lot of outreach to companies that haven’t been a part of the industry until now,” Jenal said. “I’m running to help advocate on the board for those smaller companies.”

Voting closes on the 22nd with the winners to be announced on the 23rd.

UPDATE - We have had some problems with the audio file but here is a link to the prepared text in case the audio stops working.

Today’s Meet the Candidates webinar allowed those of us running for the SEIA Board of Directors the opportunity to make our case in a three-minute “stump speech.”

For those of you who couldn’t make the webinar, I have linked to my speech below.

I welcome your comments, as always - thanks for listening!