Blogger Featured in Solar Today Magazine

Getting publicity is sure great but for someone like me it's a little difficult to "toot my own horn." Still, if you have spare time during lunch or whenever, take a look. http://goo.gl/WrvsE

Many thanks to author and friend Dr. Mary Beth McCabe for interviewing me and writing this article which was totally unsolicited by this writer or Clary Solar. Mary Beth owns Sun Marketing and specializes in the marketing and promotions of solar power from assisting individual installers with building image to strategic planning for solar integrators and manufacturers. She can be contacted at mbmccabe@sunmarketing.net.

Also, special thanks to both Mary Beth and her husband, Allen Shubat, for purchasing a 6.9kWdc system. It is always impressive when people actually practice what they preach. --DB

June: Dow, NASDAQ, Solar Drop More

Month finishes strong though

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 158 points during June to finish at 12412, about a 1.3% decline. The NASDAQ fell 60 points during the month to end at 60.22, a 2.17% slip. Issues in the 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) however finished nearly flat from May finishing at 391 points, just a 2.5 point slip or .6%.

Despite weak performance for solar stocks this year, the industry continues to be one of the few bright growth sectors. Spain's and Italy's reduction in solar feed-in tariffs have led to a glut in panel inventories and unprecedented low wholesale pricing worldwide.

20 Solar Stocks Index as of 6/30/11

	Close 5/31/11	Close 6/30/11	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	12570	12412	-158	-1.272%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2835.3	2775.08	-60.22	-2.170	1628.03	1293.85
Amtech Systems ASYS	21.88	20.60	-1.28	-6.213	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.78	13.01	-.77	-5.918	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	9.85	11.52	+1.69	+16.95	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	1.40	1.17	-.23	-19.66	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.09	.07	-.02	-28.57	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	.70	.58	-.12	-20.68	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	124.25	130.66	+6.41	+5.158	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	12.76	16.15	+3.37	+26.56	4.00	4.02
Hanwha SolarOne HSOL f/k/a Solarfun	6.73	6.41	-.32	-4.992	6.12	2.30
JA Solar JASO	6.03	5.50	-.53	-9.636	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	105.45	101.69	-3.74	-3.697	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	7.59	7.36	-.23	-3.125	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	10.52	8.27	-27.20	-12.45	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	7.42	5.24	-2.18	-41.60	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	2.66	2.41	-.25	-10.37	1.60	1.23
SunPower SPWRA	21.06	19.30	-.1.76	-9.119	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	8.12	7.90	-.22	-2.784	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	22.95	22.47	-.48	-2.136	10.09	7.23
Westinghouse Solar (Akeena) WEST	1.13	1.56	+.43	+38.05	2.28	.61
Yingli YGE	9.18	9.19	+.01	+.1089	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 393.55	Current 391.06	Change -2.49/.6367%		1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitalization of $100M+ except Westinghouse Solar (formerly Akeena), Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval of any stock listed. Comments are always welcome.

May: Major Stock Indexes Down

Poor economic data gets blame

The Dow Industrials slipped over 1.9% in May, the first monthly drop in six month. The Dow closed Tuesday a 12570, 241 points down from April. The NASDAQ fared only slightly better with a 1.35% drop to finish at 2835, a 38-point slide from last month. Eighteen in the 20 Solar Stocks Index (20SSI) were slammed in May with the index finishing at 393.55, a 47-point slip or nearly 12%.

Only 38,000 jobs were added last month when analysts projected 175,000. Also, the Institute for Supply Management reported growth in the U.S. manufacturing sector slowed to 53.5% in May from 60.4% in April, the largest one-month drop since 1984.

Supplies of solar panels are backing up, according to a source for this blog, and some major manufacturers appear to be dumping modules at unprecedented low pricing. It would appear a good time for consumers to add solar power to their homes. The question is how many are in a position to do so.


20 Solar Stocks Index as of 5/31/11

	Close 4/29/11	Close 5/31/11	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	12810.54	12570	-240.54	-1.913%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2873.54	2835.30	-38.24	-1.348	1628.03	1293.85
Amtech Systems ASYS	22.68	21.88	-.80	-3.656	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	15.69	13.78	-1.91	-13.86	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	10.80	9.85	-.95	-9.644	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	2.00	1.40	-.60	-42.86	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.0433	.09	+.0467	+207.8	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	1.35	.70	-.65	-92.85	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	139.57	124.25	-15.32	-12.24	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	11.17	12.76	+1.59	+14.23	4.00	4.02
Hanwha SolarOne HSOL f/k/a Solarfun	6.83	6.73	-.10	-1.485	6.12	2.30
JA Solar JASO	6.85	6.03	-.82	-13.59	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	109.91	105.45	-4.46	-4.229	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	11.51	7.59	-3.92	-51.64	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	11.83	10.52	-1.31	-12.45	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	9.18	7.42	-1.76	-23.72	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	3.21	2.66	-.55	-20.67	1.60	1.23
SunPower SPWRA	21.69	21.06	-.63	-2.991	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	8.97	8.12	-.85	-10.46	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	28.47	22.95	-5.52	-24.05	10.09	7.23
Westinghouse Solar (Akeena) WEST	.455	1.13	+.675	+48.35	2.28	.61
Yingli YGE	12.53	9.18	-3.35	-36.49	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 440.42	Current 393.55	Change -46.87/11.9%		1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitalization of $100M+ except Westinghouse Solar (formerly Akeena), Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval of any stock listed. Comments are always welcome.

April: Dow, NASDAQ Climb; Solar Slips

Only four solar winners

The Dow had a bumpy April but still was able to finish 490 points ahead since March to end at 12810.54, nearly a 4% gain. The NASDAQ also had a good month gaining 92 points to 2873.54, a 3.3% rise. Issues in the 20 Solar Stocks Index fared poorly however as 15 stocks lost value and the index closed today at 440.42, over an 8% drop.

Spring is usually good to solar as contracts pick up after winter. Also, the BP Gulf disaster of a year ago; damaging strip mining in Appalachia; and the continuing nuclear crisis in Japan would make one think a serious turn to renewables would be natural. But there's nothing natural or logical to our growing energy problems when Big Oil, King Coal and nuclear lobbies command the attention and control of a duplicitous Congress. Solar, wind and geothermal are all ready to take their places in the nation's energy industry but stalwart corporate interests continue to stymie any political or moral will to change.

As the wicked talons of greed become more and more conspicuous (including banking, HMOs, NFL, tax breaks for the elite) it seems they keep attaining more instead of being held in check. And the middle class (sans Teabaggers) gets less political access, higher gas and food prices, outrageous credit card interest and fees and paychecks that seem to shrink month by month.


20 Solar Stocks Index as of 4/29/11

	Close 3/31/11	Close 4/29/11	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	12319.73	12810.54	+490.27	+3.983%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2781.07	2873.54	+92.47	+3.324	1628.03	1293.85
Amtel Systems ASYS	24.24	22.68	-1.56	16.878	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	15.62	15.69	+.07	+.4481	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	11.28	10.80	-.48	-4.444	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	2.26	2.00	-.26	-13.00	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.05	.0433	-.0067	-15.47	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	.599	1.35	+.751	+25.37	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	160.84	139.57	-21.27	-15.23	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	10.67	11.17	+.50	+4.686	4.00	4.02
Hanwha SolarOne HSOL f/k/a Solarfun	7.58	6.83	-.75	-10.98	6.12	2.30
JA Solar JASO	7.01	6.85	-.16	-2.335	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	100.91	109.91	+9.00	+8.918	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	12.24	11.51	-.73	-6.342	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	12.96	11.83	-1.13	-9.551	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	10.55	9.18	-1.37	-14.92	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	3.86	3.21	-.65	-20.24	1.60	1.23
SunPower SPWRA	17.14	21.69	+4.55	+26.54	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	9.86	8.97	-.89	-9.921	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	30.09	28.47	-1.62	-5.690	10.09	7.23
Westinghouse Solar (Akeena) WEST	.475	.455	-.020	-4.395	2.28	.61
Yingli YGE	12.89	12.53	-.36	-2.873	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 477.42	Current 440.42	Change -37/8.401%		1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitalization of $100M+ except Westinghouse Solar (formerly Akeena), Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval of any stock listed. Comments are always welcome.

Solar Stocks Ahead First Quarter

Winners: 13 Losers: 7

(Ed. Note: After my hard-drive crashed on Dec. 19, I was able to recover most of my data with the exception of some HTML code for this blog. Since then--and with the encouragement of some readers--I have been able to reconstruct this index which I intend to update monthly instead of weekly.)

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 828 points since this blogs last update Dec. 17 which is a 7% increase and ended the first quarter at 12320. NASDAQ composite gained 138 points or over a 5% and finishing March at 2781. For the most part issues in the 20 Solar Stocks Index surged as well gaining 73 points over the same period for an 18% total increase and finish the first quarter at 477.

Notable winners include Trina Solar, Yingli, Renesola, Sunpower and GT Solar all with 20%-plus gains. Losers are lead by ECD followed by Entech and Westinghouse Solar. It appears at this time it is too early to tell of the nuclear crisis in Japan will have a positive effect in solar power plans for the future. However, the solar industry will definitely get a boost from bill that past the California legislature this week that will require all of the state's utilities to get 33% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The bill was sent to Gov. Jerry Brown's office for signature on Tuesday.

20 Solar Stocks Index as of 3/31/11

	Close 12/17/11	Close 3/31/11	Up/Down	% Change	Close 1/5/09*	Close 3/6/09**
Dow Jones DJIA	11491.91	12319.73	+827.82	+7.203%	8952.89	6626.95
NASDAQ	2642.97	2781.07	+138.10	+5.225	1628.03	1293.85
Amtel Systems ASYS	24.54	25.24	+.70	+2.852	4.00	2.73
Applied Materials AMAT	13.61	15.62	+2.01	+14.77	10.67	8.70
Canadian Solar CSIQ	12.68	11.28	-1.40	-12.41	7.00	3.0601
ECD (UniSolar) ENER	4.98	2.26	-2.72	-220.3	29.33	17.45
Entech Solar ENSL.OB	.08	.05	-.03	-60.00	.28	.23
Evergreen Solar ESLR	.599	1.35	+.751	+25.37	3.60	1.03
First Solar FSLR	133.25	160.84	+27.59	+20.70	157.80	108.49
GT Solar Int. SOLR	8.40	10.67	+2.27	+27.02	4.00	4.02
Hanwha SolarOne HSOL f/k/a Solarfun	8.45	7.58	-.87	-11.47	6.12	2.30
JA Solar JASO	6.67	7.01	+.34	+5.097	5.09	1.91
Kyocera KYO	101.98	100.91	-1.07	-.9909	71.87	54.21
LDK Solar LDK	10.05	12.24	+2.19	+21.79	14.84	4.40
MEMC Elect. WFR	11.08	12.96	+1.88	+16.97	15.76	13.68
Renesola SOL	8.02	10.55	+2.53	+31.54	5.15	2.1201
Satcon SATC	4.27	3.86	-.41	-10.62	1.60	1.23
SunPower SPWRA	13.52	17.14	+3.62	+26.77	45.13	23.39
SunTech STP	8.23	9.86	+1.63	+19.80	13.55	5.34
Trina Solar TSL	22.74	30.09	+7.35	+32.32	10.09	7.23
Westinghouse Solar (Akeena) WEST	.55	.475	-.075	-15.78	2.28	.61
Yingli YGE	10.27	12.89	+2.62	+25.51	7.25	3.888
20SSI Weekly Cumulative:	Previous 403.97	Current 477.42	Change +73.45/+18.18%		1/05/09* 415.41	3/06/09** 266.01

* The starting date of the 20 Solar Stock Index (20SSI).
** The Concensus "new" bull market began on Monday, March 9, 2009.
NOTE: All above stocks have market capitalization of $100M+ except Westinghouse Solar (formerly Akeena), Amtel Systems
and Entech Solar. This listing is strictly informational and implies neither endorsement or disapproval of any stock listed. Comments are always welcome.

Japan's Nuke Crisis: Time for Solar Backup?

Should Californians be alarmed?

After sending an email out to prospects last week I got a call from a man I pitched about 16 months ago. He said he is quite interested in adding not only grid-tied solar power to his home in East San Diego County. He was particularly rattled about the nuclear crisis ongoing in Japan and the fact that members of his family have some serious health issues requiring ample electricity availability.

Granted, the possibility of an 8.9 earthquake is not likely here but possible. Also, inland San Diego County is susceptible to devastating brush fires in the fall so this person's concerns are not so far fetched.

California leads the U.S. with some 77,000 grid-tied residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems and San Diego Gas & Electric's territory leads both Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison in total installations despite the fact SDG&E has much fewer customers than either of the other two utilities. Recommending most of these PV system owners add backup systems is maybe "crying wolf" but those living in outlying areas might want to take a look. Also, it helps that panels are already installed so adding batteries and appropriate inverter won't be as much of a capital outlay as installing an entire system.

Mind you, standard fuel-powered generators are the first line of defense against power outages but that solution is only as good as how long the fuel lasts during an extended power outage.

If a customer of either of the Big 3 above has big power bills, a grid-tie system is a very good deal today. Panel prices continue to be rock-bottom low and there is still a CA Solar Initiative rebate and a federal tax credit to help defray installation costs. For those thinking about installing a grid-tie system with backup, consider where you actually live. Those residing in a city likely will get power restored more quickly than people in the back country. A conventional gas-powered generator could be a logical backup for, say, a week-long outage. Granted, this has not happened in the 32 years I've lived in San Diego so the backup option is hardly necessary unless...

Solar power as a long-term backup strategy is the most reliable one can have. The question one needs to ask is how much of a load is enough to sustain a household daily for weeks, possibly months, at a time. This translates into how big an off-grid inverter needs to be and how many batteries are needed for required backup.

For those living in San Diego County, feel free to contact this blogger about solar backup solutions. For those around the U.S. here are some links for further information:

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/back-up-power.html

http://www.solartechnologies.com/cm/Solar-Power-Homes/Back-Up-Power-Systems.html

http://www.solarhome.org/browseproducts/Outback-PS1-3000-Grid-Tie-Solar-Power-System-with-Battery-Backup.html

http://www.altestore.com/store/Kits-Package-Deals/Grid-Tied-with-Battery-Backup/c568/

California: Both Nuke Plants Near Faults

Another lesson ignored?

For those naysayers constantly jabbing and maligning solar power advocates as energy pollyannas, here's a present-day take on California's two nuclear plants. The earthquake threat here is obvious but it's possible elsewhere in the U.S. (At right: San Onofre nuclear power plant. The following is an excerpt from "Top Ten Nuclear Nations' Quake Hazard". See whole story at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2011/03/pictures/110329-top-10-nuclear-nations-quake-hazard/)

"Japan's Fukushima Daiichi crisis has raised questions around the world on the earthquake hazard in countries that rely heavily on nuclear power. As it turns out, the seismic threat varies widely in the top ten countries generating electricity by fission.

Although the United States has not built a new nuclear power station since the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island, it is far and away the world's largest nuclear power producer. Its 104 reactors produce more electricity than all the nuclear plants in the next two nations-France and Japan-combined. But because U.S. electricity use is so prodigious, all those nuclear plants provide only 20 percent of the total.

"Given the map of U.S. earthquake hazard, it's no surprise that California's two nuclear power plants are the ones that have raised the most political concern in the wake of Japan's crisis. San Onofre, in San Clemente, and Diablo Canyon, in Avila Beach, are located right on the coast, near active faults.

Earthquake hazard in this area of the West, where the North American tectonic plate meets the Pacific plate, is about five times greater than the earthquake hazard in the eastern half of the United States, says seismologist Seth Stein, of Northwestern University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. He is author of the recent book, Disaster Deferred, on how new science is changing views of earthquake hazards in the Midwestern United States. As the book explains, there is some seismic hazard in the central and eastern part of the country, where the vast majority of U.S. nuclear reactors are located. Damaging earthquakes have occurred near Charleston, South Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and New Madrid, Missouri."