Update on Pace from Renew SantaFe

Joe Pasalodos, Aug 04 15:13 (PDT):

On May 5, 2010, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac released statements to the banking community on PACE programs, indicating that Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac mortgages must retain their first lien position. These letters caused confusion and concern that PACE participants may be ineligible for conforming mortgages. The FHFA (Federal Housing Finance Authority), which regulates FNMA and Freddie Mac, has since issued clarification that they would not support the senior lien position of PACE financing. In spite of pledge provided by the Department of Energy (DOE) that the Federal Government would guarantee against any defaults suffered by FNMA and Freddie Mac, FHFA and the Administration were not able to come to an agreement. 
As a result of the aforementioned, program launch activities have been suspended. 
We have seen wide spread support at the local, state and federal levels from elected officials. New legislation is being introduced to re-animate PACE programs across the country. How can you help? Email your elected representatives both in the House of Representatives and the Senate urging their support and the support of their peers around PACE and the new legislation. 
You can find regular updates on the legislative progress of the PACE initiative at www.PACENOW.org 
Thank you for your inquiry. 
Regards, 
Joe

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Daniel Etra, Jul 30 15:01 (PDT):

A new inquiry from the Renew Santa Fe website has been received.

Name: Luis and Linda Martin

Email: MirasolSolarEnergy@gmail.com

Comment: We are a Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic design and retail company. We then help our customers hire a qualified installer. We have several customers in Santa Fe. Our customers there are mostly interested in advanced, integrated solar applications that are beyond the scope of a plumber and require engineering. We are very interested in information about Renew Santa Fe. Please contact us. Our phone number is 505-892-6406. Our Website is www.MirasolEnergySystems.com

Add me to the email list: Yes

Interest Type: Contractor

Dear Mr. Pasalodos and Mr. Etra:

Thank you for your update on PACE. I have been reading about the issues that have stalled PACE. We have begun taking action to encourage our elected representatives to resolve the issue. Furthermore, we are encouraging others to learn about PACE and to also contact them. I am also trying to find out what action is being taken to set up PACE in Sandoval and Bernalillio Counties. If you have an information regarding rhe status of PACE in those two counties or who is in charge, we would appreciate that information. 

As you know, most homeowners who desperately want and need solar systems installed on their homes are neither able to afford the investment nor are they able to finance it with traditional loans at this time. We would love to be able to hire lots of people to sell and install solar systems. If the business was there, we could add several jobs to the economy. Unfortunately, our business is just barely surviving. What is more sad is that there are many families who are struggling to pay high energy bills to keep their homes heated and the lights on. We are prepared to help in any way to get PACE moving in New Mexico once the FannieMae and FreddieMac issue has been resolved. Please let us know what else we can do to help. 

I will be posting your updates to our blog.

Thank you for responding so quickly.

Sincerel,

Linda Martin

Mirasol Solar Energy Systems

ANNOUNCING AWESOME SOLAR SYSTEM SPECIALS FROM MIRASOL SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS

BACK-TO-SCHOOL SOLAR THERMAL COLLECTOR SPECIAL– until October 15th, 2010.

SPP-30 Evacuated Tube Collectors -- $1299.00 + shipping with the purchase and installation of a complete Mirasol Solar System for heating space or domestic water.

(Suggested retail price of SPP-30 collector-- $1700.00)

These American-made Evacuated Tube collectors are the most advanced designed collector in solar thermal technology. They produce 43,000 BTUs of heat energy and have the highest rating for energy output by the SRCC. One SPP-30 collector replaces two flat plate collectors!

Get ready for winter heating and low energy bills with a Mirasol Solar System. Using the SPP-30 collectors, we can design our thermal systems to give you maximum heat output during the winter months. Flat plate collector systems are normally designed from the standpoint of reducing the risk of overheating during the summer so they produce less heat in the winter when you need it the most. A Mirasol system includes overheating protection and it is chemical-free and maintenance free!

PV SYSTEM SPECIALS FOR OUR SOLAR THERMAL CUSTOMERS

With the purchase of a Mirasol Solar Thermal system for heating space and/or hot water, Mirasol Solar will give you the option to add a one to two KWh Photovoltaic system to your home or business within 12 months of the installation of the Mirasol Solar Thermal system at OUR WHOLESALE COST + $200.00 for handling + shipping and/or delivery costs. The system can be grid-tie or off-grid. The special offer system will include all the parts and hardware you will need for your installation including mounting hardware* and batteries ** for off-grid systems.  It will not include installation, a system diagram, wire, conduit and grounding rod.  If you would like Mirasol Solar to provide you with a professional, cad drawing of your PV system design, there is an additional charge of $75.00. Normal manufacturer warranties will apply to the equipment.

For customers who have already installed a Mirasol Solar thermal system at any time, we will offer the PV system special for the next 12 months beginning from today, August 3, 2010.

*Mounting hardware is necessary to install the PV panels to your roof. The type of mounting hardware needed is determined by the number of solar panels, inclination of your roof and the roofing material.

**Batteries are normally drop-shipped from the manufacturer to the customer’s address. Shipping will always apply. MIrasol Solar will not provide any other batteries except those that are manufactured expressly for solar applications.

PACE--A NEW SOLAR FINANCING PROGRAM

An innovative new program to finance renewable energy retrofits for homes and businesses is in development in New Mexico. Called Property-Assessed Clean Energy or PACE, the program gives people the opportunity to install Solar Thermal, Solar Photovoltaic, geothermal systems or wind generators with little or no upfront costs and at a low interest rate. PACE has been successfully implemented in many areas of the United States.

In 2009, the New Mexico state legislature passed two laws to enable county governments to raise money through the issuance of bonds to fund clean energy projects for their residents.
The loan is paid over a set number of years through a special tax or assessment on the
property tax bill of those home or business owners who chose to enroll in the program. The
lien is actually on the property and not the individual. If the property is sold before the
loan is satisfied, the new property owner inherits the payments as well as the system.
PACE has many advantages for the State of New Mexico.

Implementing PACE will:

• Finance clean energy systems for everyone including low-income home owners.
• Decrease carbon pollution in our state.
• Lower energy bills for New Mexicans especially those who heat with expensive propane.
• Encourage job growth and economic stimulus for New Mexico.

To date, the PACE programs have been stalled nation-wide due to objections made by Fannie
Mae and Freddie Mac. Many high-powered people are fighting for Pace but they need our help.
We encourage you to call your legislatures on the federal, state and county levels to ask
them to support PACE.

For more information about PACE, go to:

NM Dept. of Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources:
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/ECMD/CleanEnergyTaxIncentives/CleanEnergyFinancing.htm

Renew Santa Fe: https://renewsantafe.com/systems/energy

PACE NOW: http://pacenow.org/blog/

Vote Solar: http://votesolar.org/

Solar Energy Industries Association: http://www.seia.org/

Solar 101 for Women

OIL SPILL HAS WOMEN THINKING ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The BP oil spill in the Gulf brings to mind an old Cuban saying that goes: "The good thing about this situation is how bad it is." The oil spill disaster has got a lot more people thinking the way we have all along, which is that we need to reduce our usage of fossil fuels. They are dangerous! We are getting more calls for information about solar from women! As a woman who has worked most of her life in the high-tech, male-dominated field of telecommunications, I am thrilled with the calls from women.

When I designed our new website, two of my goals were to make the website warm and inviting and to help people learn a little bit about solar technology. Solar is much like computers were 25 years--only the geeks really understood it all.

SOLAR JUST MAKES ELECTRICITY, DOESN'T IT?

Solar is not that difficult to understand. It is basically just this--energy from the sun is collected to produce either heat (Solar Thermal) to directly heat the space or domestic water in our homes, or, with different equipment, make electricity (Solar Photovoltaics). The sun has been successfully making heat for over 5 million years. There is a good chance it won't stop any time soon. All we have to do is harvest its energy!

So how do you know which solar system you need in your home? Think in terms of heat and power. Nearly half of your energy dollars are spent for heat. Solar Thermal gives you more energy for a lot less money. Whether your furnace and hot water heater use gas or electricity, always use a Solar Thermal system to make the heat. For lights and most other appliances, use a Photovoltaic system. It is just that easy.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Solar is an investment. You can compare it to the investment you would make for a new car or remodeling your kitchen. Every woman knows that you will never be able to sell a car for the same price you paid for it, but, a remodeled kitchen will increase the value of your home. If you sell your home, you can usually recoup the cost of the kitchen upgrade. Adding a solar system to your home will also increase the value of your home. You will also recoup the cost of the system if you sell your home. However, the solar system will make its own payments by the money you save on your utility bills! There is no other investment that you can make that will actually pay for itself!

HOW DO I KNOW THAT MIRASOL SOLAR WILL GIVE ME THE BEST VALUE

All of our thermal systems are designed according to ASHRAE standards. We use SRCC rated equipment. We follow all the state laws. We guarantee that a Mirasol Thermal system will produce more energy for you than a system from any of our competitors at the least cost per BTU. If you get a less expensive quote from another company, bring it to us. We will go over it with you and tell you what they left out to make the system cheaper and if we can also take out those parts and still make your system function the way you want it.

Check out our rating with the BBB.