Rise & Shine: October 13, 2008
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
SunPower and GE Parter to Power-Up in San Diego
SunPower and GE announced the completion of a 1.1-MW solar-electric power system on the roof of HP’s printing technology research and development facility in San Diego.
Applied CEO: Solar May be 25% of ‘09 Sales
Applied Materials Inc.’s solar equipment business could make up as much as a quarter of its sales in 2009, up from about 10 percent this year.
Shining a Light on S.F. Solar Options
Unfortunately, in many cases – whether you’re buying a hybrid car or installing solar panels – it takes a whole lot of “green” to go green. Thanks to a newly formed San Francisco bargaining collective, though, this may be changing.
The Solar Coaster: Dilbert Goes Solar
On the eve of a serious week ahead with Solar Power International 2008 taking centerstage in San Diego, the solar coaster would like start things off with something a little more light-hearted.
Schwarzenegger: Solar and Other Clean Technologies Are a Bright Spot in Dark Economy
Acknowledging the dark clouds of the economy, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in Silicon Valley on Thursday pointed to clean-technology, and solar specifically, as offering a solution, even a salvation.
Wattbot Launches Site to Speed Up Clean Energy Adoption
Wattbot can cut providers’ sales cycle in half and help consumers navigate the confusing, inefficient energy information out there on the web.
NATIONAL NEWS
McCormick Adds Solar to its Energy Supply
Constellation Energy will construct an approximately 1 MW solar power system at McCormick?s Spice Mill and Distribution Center in Hunt Valley, MD.
Solrayo Awarded Major Clean Energy Grant From State of Wisconsin
Enable IPC has announced that its efficient energy-focused subsidiary SolRayo has been awarded a $250,000 clean energy grant by Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle.
Paying for your Solar Electric System
Between state, federal, and utility companies incentives, in some parts of the country you can cut your cost in half. Look into power purchase agreements as well.
Goals Are High in energy Plan Seen as Vital to the State
This fall, NJ will make final an ambitious master energy plan that aims to reduce energy consumption by at least 20 percent by 2020 and get 22.5 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
Towns Should Follow State’s Lead on Renewable Energy
While the state of Arizona is making it easier and more profitable for people to generate their own renewable energy, some local governments are making it harder and more expensive.
Arizona Utility Offers EZ Financing for Solar Panels
A partnership between the Arizona Utility, APS and the non-profit organization, Electric & Gas Industries Association now offers a new loan program that provides unsecured installment financing for residential renewable energy power generation system
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
When the Lights Go Out, Consequences Are Worse Than Darkness
This year, Orange and Rockland Utilities, turned off power to 8,627 customers from Jan. through Sept. That is a 23% increase over the previous year.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
GT Solar Fends Off IPO Class Action Suits
GT Solar International is the target of several class action lawsuits, charging that it misled investors by failing to disclose that it was in danger of losing its primary customer before the launch a little more than a month ago of its half-billion-dollar initial public offering.
Standard Solar Raises US $8.5M
Standard Solar Inc. announced that it has raised US $8.5 million to fund expansion that is aimed at meeting growing demand in its targeted residential and commercial markets.
A “Green New Deal” can Save the World’s Economy
Top economists and United Nations leaders are working on a “Green New Deal” to create millions of jobs, revive the world economy, slash poverty and avert environmental disaster, as the financial markets plunge into their deepest crisis since the Great Depression.
How Badly Could A Recession Hurt Cleantech
It looks as if heavily funded technologies like wind and solar power could get hit from more than one direction.
Funds, Too, Are Mining New Energy Sources
Exchange traded funds that focus on alternative energy have proliferated in a very short time, and many of them have been mirroring the sharp swings in the oil markets.
Energy Biz Boosts GE, Solar Stocks Still Battered
The financial market crisis has made this a hellish week for solar companies – even for thin-film solar star First Solar. GE saw a 22 percent profit decline in the third quarter, but did brisk business in energy.
Solar Tax Incentives Run Into Credit Freeze
The renewable industry depends on equity as well as credit to complete projects, and the credit market has frozen. Without access to capital, solar companies may cut back on expansion plans and look to Asia to produce solar panels.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Schwarzenegger’s Pale Green Report Card
Schwarzenegger wants to be known as the greenest governor in America. But his eco-record this year was at best “mixed,” according to report cards from several of the state’s major environmental groups.
TECHNOLOGY
Black Silicon Startup SiOnyx Could Revolutionize Solar, Imaging
Solar cells could be made that are more sensitive to light and more efficient at producing electricity, though both stories clearly state that the solar application is far in the future.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Solibro to Build Thin Film Manufacturing Facility
Solibro GmbH is to build its new manufacturing plant for photovoltaic modules, with a production capacity of 90 MWp, in Solar Valley Thalheim in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany.
A Crisis of Credit for Solarvalue’s Metallurgic Silicon Ramp
Solarvalue has recognized that the schedule to ramp it’s Slovenia silicon facility has met financing and R+D set backs.
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