How about that other solar - you know, the not so sexy kind?

[oldhippie]

16. [sigh] I don't know why I bother .....

I do NOT malign solar. I am a solar advocate. I have been probably since before you were born.

Just for the record, and probably telling too much, but:

BSEE degree in 1970

In the early 70's I was designing and deploying PV powered remote unattended sensors and covert telemetry relay equipment on a certain trail in South East Asia.

In the mid 70's I helped design and deploy 83 remote unattended sensors and telemetry units on a weapons test range in California.

I helped my buddies at China Lake and White Sands Missile Range upgrade their solar powered remote sensors and relays.

In the late 70's I was one of the original investors and charter stockholders in Real Goods Trading Corporation in CA when the founder, John Schaeffer (another Old Hippie) took it public. RGTC was a pioneer in DIY residential solar in California.

http://realgoodssolar.com/

http://ecopreneuring.org.uk/index.php/case-studies/real-goods-trading-company

In the 80's I went renegade and went back to school for MBAs in International Management and Finance because I knew I would be getting deeper in the solar business one day.

I knew Richard and Karen Perez (founders and publishers of HomePower Magazine) back when HP was an 8 page newsletter and we were fellow ham radio operators trying to run our rigs from solar power. Through them I also met Joe Schwartz, who went on to become the editor of Solar Professional Magazine, and one very smart dude.

I had a PV system on my house in California, and have had one on my current house in Texas for 16 years, though it is smaller than I would wish due to shading issues, and I don't want to cut down the oak trees.

I spent a few years (2006-2009) working with a small German company developing direct methanol fuel cells for use by the US and German armies in special applications. The company went on to field them in the commercial market.

I am on a city and regional council to advocate sustainable communities, and in particular try to get our cities to utilize renewable energy and conservation.

I am currently an independent solar consultant working with a high tech company in Alabama to put a commercial scale PV system on their HQ building and look for opportunities for them to break into the commercial and small utility scale projects.

What I am NOT is a religious nut about renewable energy. It is good. It has it's place. A big place. It is getting better and better, and cheaper and cheaper. But it is not the be all and end all of energy solutions for the world. Fossil fuels still have a place, even though you don't like it. Nuclear power has a place, even though many don't like it. Renewables are not going to "save us" from fossil or nuclear for the near future. No matter how much people want to rant and rave. I'm a realist. Yes, it's time will come when it will probably be predominant. Preaching "all renewables all the time", "renewables will save us from Climate Disaster" and "The smart grid will solve all the problems with intermittency" just doesn't do it. Let's advocate renewables, but be real about it.

So, now you, and everyone else here, knows more about my background and my solar "creds" than they ever wanted to know. So how about you, Kris? Would you share your academic and professional work experience with solar power with us? How many systems have you designed and installed? Do you also have solar on "every rooftop" you've ever owned? Have you invested much of your personal wealth in solar energy startups and new ventures? I'd sincerely like to hear it.