BASEA Masthead

 

BOSTON AREA SOLAR ENERGY ASSOCIATION

Promoting Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future

 

 

 

BASEA Forum Series

There will be no Forum in April

       Hope to see you in May

 

 

 

 

 

Last Month: Thursday March 8th

 

The Utility Business Plan IS the Problem!

 

Understanding why
utility companies resist solar 

and what they're up to 'behind the wires'.   


 

Why are incentives changing and going down in a solar-friendly state like Massachusetts?


At the March BASEA Forum, Mark Durrenberger will explain the basics of the investor-owned utility business model and why & how it potently resists the growth of solar energy.

Understanding the underlying motivations of utility companies, which are multi-national and Fortune 500 businesses, is important for those who would advocate for renewable energy. Utilities market themselves as progressive and green-friendly, but their real actions align with the profit motive and guaranteed return-on-equity for building more infrastructure that keeps solar growth in check.

Can their business model be reformed to coexist with a renewable energy future?  

 

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Mark Durrenberger is the president and founder of New England Clean Energy, an established Massachusetts solar installer and repeat Solarize Mass participant with a focus on customer satisfaction (see their 10 Point Pledge). In 2012, he was named Worcester Business Journal's Small Business Leader of the Year.

 

Mark speaks regularly about solar, renewable energy and energy efficiency at continuing education programs and community events. He has delivered Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" presentation more than 30 times. He is a NABCEP-certified PV Technical Sales Professional and former treasurer of the Solar Energy Business Association of New England (SEBANE), with a Master's degree in Energy Engineering from UMass Lowell.

Mark blogs as the Energy Miser, recently commenting on our BASEA Forum topic in this post.

 

Location: First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist; 

3 Church Street, Harvard Square

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.





 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

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Location: First Parish in Cambridge Unitarian Universalist 
3 Church Street, Harvard Square

Time: Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  Presentation begins at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Questions: hkv@solarwave.com  (Please include “BASEA” in subject)

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-Going

One-day Workshops for Building Professionals - Various Locations

Smart Building: High Performance Homes

Learn the latest in smart building techniques through presentations, case studies and discussion, from foundation to roofs. Presented by the Center for EcoTechnology and the CSG; and the Mass. Department of Energy Resources. Smart Building Flyer

AEENE Dinner Meeting and Seminar: The Association of Energy Engineers, New England Chapter

Monthly meeting, first Wednesday of the Month (check for details) AEENE Meeting Schedule

 

Volunteers Are Always Needed for the Forum, the annual Junior Solar Sprint competition, and the website.

 

Visit our Forum page, where you'll find our complete listing of past forum speakers, topics, and resources.

The BASEA Forum Series is held September through May, on the second Thursday of each month, at the 1st Parish Unitarian Church, #3 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. Reception begins at 7:00 pm, with the program beginning at 7:30. The forums are free and open to the public.

 

BASEA Activities and Services

  • BASEA Forum - Renewable Energy Lecture Series
  • Junior Solar Sprint - Model solar car competition for middle school science students, organized and sponsored by BASEA in Eastern Massachusetts.

 

BASEA is looking for additional ways to help create a more sustainable energy future.

Please spend some time thinking about this question, and send your suggestions in to us.

 

Also, if you are interested in working with this group, please let us know. Send comments or questions to mfe.foresightproject@gmail.com.


  • BASEA is no longer a chapter of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) but supports it's mission. Links to NESEA and other regional, national and international solar organizations can be found on the BASEA Links page.

 

BASEA's Mission

The Boston Area Solar Energy Association is convinced that New England's primary dependence on non-renewable energy sources is costly to our environmental, social, economic and political systems.

Therefore, we foster the design and use of solar and sustainable energy technologies through education, advocacy and the demonstration of practical, cost effective techniques.

It is our goal to promote Renewable Energy for a Sustainable Future.

Please remember that your donations support BASEA.

 

BASEA is affiliated with


The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association


The American Solar Energy Association.

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The International Solar Energy Association