As the project unfolds, I'm sure there will be many questions, and this forum is one way to collect them and present them to the project.

If you have a question, reply here - we can start off with frequently asked questions, and then get them answered.

Thanks, Garreth and Kathy, for serving as our neighborhood representatives. My biggest question regarding the Pecan Street Project is what volunteer opportunities there will be for those of us who have already installed solar. Is special equipment required to be part of the smart grid? If so, what are the implications for installing it on an existing system?

If someone already has solar and wants to add more can that be done as part of the program?

Both good questions. I'll see what answers we can find. As Kathy mentioned in a previous post, it may take a while to get the answers, but these are exactly the things we need to figure out.

I would certainly hope that the project would seek to leverage and augment existing PV infrastructure (my panels too!)

We can pose these and any other questions we get to the team at the kick off meeting. If you can't make the meeting and want something answered, add questions and we'll see what we can find out!

Has anyone read and reviewed the Pecan Street Project's Participation Agreement? I'm reading it, but it would be helpful if some of the other neighbors who are more familiar with the legal-ese can comment so that we can all make an informed decision. I didn't see any red flags, but I'd love to hear other perspectives.

I eagerly read and returned it the day we received it, and I did not note any red flags. This initial phase of the project will gather electrical usage data over the course of a year. To participate, you allow the Pecan Street Project access to your house at least twice - to install and remove equipment, plus anytime equipment needs servicing. The agreement makes clear that they will set up a mutually agreeable time for access to your home - you aren't giving them a key or even the ability to knock on the door whenever they want. You also allow PSP to view historic and current electrical, water, and gas bills (from 2008 through the end of the monitoring period). All data remains confidential - whether obtained from the utilities or through their study. They will use and analyze the data, share it with partner organizations, and include it in reports - but without your name or address associated.

In return for your services, you will receive a free energy audit and the detailed results of the monitoring - after the monitoring is complete, so that your knowledge of how you're using power doesn't skew the data.

Did I miss anything?

I think you got it!

are any more volunteers needed?

Yes! Please volunteer:

"Email your name, address, and phone number to iwanttoparticipate@pecanstreetproject.org. We will log your information and will contact you when we’re ready to create testing groups."

There's been a terrific response to the first phase, though ultimately the project needs 1000 volunteers in it's 5 year life-span.

I urge you to register so that you can get involved as soon as the project is ready!

More info at the new updated Pecan Street Project website

Garreth