Solar States Blog

As Solar States founder Micah Gold-Markel continues the fight to bring solar energy to Philadelphia, Solar States is bringing some new voices to the conversation. This month, Solar States is hosting monthly investor salons to talk to alternative energy investors and venture capitalists about the state of the alternative energy marketplace and what it will take to make the solar dream a reality in Philadelphia.

Solar States would also like to bring you in on the conversation. That’s why we will be video taping these meetings and taking your comments on the Solar States blog. These videos will start to appear on the blog in early December, after the first Salon takes place. Keep all eyes glued here for more information on these exciting investment meetings.

On today’s This Week In Duh, we ring our own bell a little bit; toot our own horn; scratch our own back, if you will. This partnership we have created is so brilliant, we just have to shout about it. I mean, who would have thought that an environmental education center would partner with a solar environmental education and install company? Please, hold your applause until the end.

Ok, so maybe our networking isn’t totally brilliant, but this partnership may be. For our part, we are just happy these guys would work with us. The Schuylkill Center has been around nearly 25 years, educating the educators, the nature buffs and the regular city dwellers here in Philadelphia on the wonders of nature, and how to keep it as wondrous as possible. As one of the oldest environmental education centers in the country, we feel their experience and dedication is the best foothold for our solar education programs.

This month, Solar States helps lead a two-day teacher workshop on solar energy. Participants will work with industry experts, learning about the grant and incentive programs that will bring solar technology to the forefront of Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio. Teachers attending the program will receive lesson plans that use solar energy in science, math, social studies and civics classes. Participants also receive a $50 stipend, 11 ACT 48 credit hours, a free pyranometer or multimeter, and small PV cells to use in the classroom.

Some things were just made to be together: peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, a 130-watt solar panel and a 250-watt, grid-tied inverter. If you don’t get that joke and you would like to, check out more information here. If you have some duh-inducing technology news of your own, e-mail me at john@solar-states.com.