Link: http://solarpie.org/blog/blog2.php/2010/09/07/solar-pie-files-irs-form-1023

Solar Pie is on the path to getting approval from the IRS to become a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

When Scott and I think back on our year with Social Venture Partners both of us would wholeheartedly agree that SVP inspired us to step out and take a risk to follow our heart and taught us how to do that effectively.

There were two specific SVP events that have had a lasting impact on us. At the 2007 SVP International Conference we attended a break-out session called “Accelerating your Impact” with PLAN founders Al Etmanski and Vickie Cammack. They shared that “To achieve sustainability, one needs to get its principles, concepts and values into the ‘water supply.’ We kept coming around to that question. What does it mean to get solar power education into to everyday lives of those around us and “into the water” ?

The second event was a breakout session by Randy Ottinger who spoke about leaving a legacy. His question was what do I/we want to make last for our family and our community? As Scott and I mulled this question we felt called to do what we could to accelerate the adoption of safe, clean renewable solar energy. We believe that solar energy is right on three levels:

Safe, Clean and Infinite Source of Power for the future
Good for the Environment
Good for National Security

Thanks SVP for informing and empowering us to take the next step. Willow Russell and Eric Becker from the SVP staff made a video of our story. We are so grateful to SVP for the opportunity to tell the story of
how SVP taught us to step out and take action. Our story is your story too.

Starting at 11:30 September 2nd, 2009 this very parking lot at 401 Eastlake Avenue E.,in Seattle will be transformed for the Solar Pie Kick Off Event. Starting at noon the clock will reflect the real time production metrics from the Solar Pie roof on top of the PEMCO Building.

All Solar Pie Members are invited. To become a Solar Pie member click here.

Gabriel Campanario sketched this view of the Iconic PEMCO Clock for The Seattle Times, July 29, 2009 issue.

Seattle Sketcher Sketch is Copyright 2009, Seattle Times Company. Used with permission

The Seattle Sketcher, Seattle Times artist Gabriel Campanario has sketched the "Iconic PEMCO Clock". Starting September 2nd, this iconic clock will display the production metrics from the Solar Pie solar roof installed at the top of the PEMCO Insurance Building.

Our launch on September 2nd will be held at the very location the Seattle Sketcher sketched this picture. We chose this location for our launch for the very same reasons as the Seattle Sketcher..because it has a fantastic view of the "Iconic PEMCO Clock".

Thank you to Gabriel Campanario for this wonderful image. See more of his work here at the Seattle Times.

Last week we spent a delightful two hours with Nancy Bartley a reporter for the Seattle Times. Though it was a sweltering 97 degrees in our attic both she and veteran Seattle Times photographer Greg Gilbert marched up two long staircases to view our Solar Inverter up close and in person.

From there we showed them the two electric meters we have at our house. One meter records all of the electricity created by our solar panels and the second meter records the electricity use in our home. It was a great moment when Nancy Bartley saw our solar production meter moving forward and the meter for our electricity use actually running backwards. We were no longer consumers of electricity we were generators of safe, clean, renewable electricity beyond what we use in our home. We were sending all of this wonderful excess energy back to feed our neighbors fans on that hot August day.

There has been so much written about the cost of Solar Energy. We view it from a different perspective; solar installations build elasticity into the grid. Solar installations are like that great pair of pants with an elastic waist. They are a smart, economical way to build flex into the grid…avoiding blackouts on those hot summer days when everyone on the grid turns on their fans to cool down.