The Solar Genie is Out of the Bottle: Part III of Interview with Meridian Solar's President, Andrew McCalla

This is the third part of a three-part Q & A with Andrew McCalla, president and founder of Austin, Texas-based Meridian Solar. In this segment McCalla talks about feed-in tariffs, the shift to larger projects, and the future of the solar industry.

ROBERT GLUCK:  According to the San Antonio Express News' Tracy Idell Hamilton, "programs such as Solartricity, known as feed-in tariffs, are relatively new in the United States. European countries have used them to become world pacesetters in solar power, although the global recession has hurt those efforts recently." Do you think more states in the U.S. should adopt feed-in tariff programs? Why?

ANDREW MCCALLA:  Yes, I do. For starters, a feed-in tariff, as opposed to a power capacity rebate, incentivizes long-term system integrity, because if it isn’t producing energy, it isn’t generating revenue. Furthermore, this pattern of buying energy is sympathetic to that which is already in place with utilities nationwide.

As to whether or not solar should receive some premium valuation, I think it should. While the precise premium amount is subject to debate, the premium value solar represents to society and the grid should be recognized and compensated. This levels the playing field with other forms of energy production that are, without a doubt or contest, already incentivized.

RG:  In the April 30, 2010 issue of the Austin Business Journal, Christopher Calnan reported:

"Meridian Solar is going commercial. The Austin-based installer of solar panels and related systems is giving up the residential side of its business to take advantage of the federal dollars being pumped into large-scale commercial and public projects. Calnon quoted Meridian's Chief Financial Officer Mark Begert who said the company has 'decommissioned' its outbound residential business while it focuses on competing for $80 million in larger projects - nationally and statewide - that are being fueled by the first round of economic stimulus money being distributed by federal officials."

Why the shift and how is this going?

AM:  Residential solar will continue to grow, and that is a very good thing as it too allows the technology to manifest one of its key attributes: that it is distributed, allowing for the production of electricity where it is used.

However, the market for larger, more sophisticated systems is growing as well; and Meridian, because of the expertise it has developed over the past decade, is uniquely positioned to address the issues surrounding the design and installation of them. So far so good.

RG:  How do you see the future for Meridian Solar?

AM:  Bright.

RG:  How do you see the future for solar power? Other renewables?

AM:  While some may choose to look at the fractional representation of renewable energy in our national, and international, energy portfolio, and highlight that as detraction, I see it as opportunity. The fact is, more renewable energy, including solar, will be implemented in every subsequent year for a long time to come. The genie is out of the bottle.

Read the first two segments of this interview here:

• Part I of Q & A With Meridian Solar's President Andrew McCalla: "High Quality System Design"

• Part II of Interview with Meridian Solar's President Andrew McCalla: "Saving Customers Money, Solartricity Program"

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