Rise & Shine: January 7, 2009
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
SolarCity and 1BOG Announce Bay Area Program
SolarCity/1BOG participants will receive 25% off the cash price of a home solar system that includes monitoring and energy audit services. Participants who choose to finance the installation through SolarCity’s SolarLease option will receive their first 3 months free by signing up through 1BOG.
City of Red Bluff Turns on 3 Solar Lights
Three solar-powered parking lot lights at Red Bluff Skate Park have made an impression on the city, and if they continue to prove their success, they may be the motivation for going green with lighting in other areas around town.
NATIONAL NEWS
Castle & Cooke Opens 1.2MW Solar System in Hawaii
The La Ola Solar Farm on Lana’i, which uses SunPower trackers, is expected to generate approximately 3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The power is being purchased by Maui Electric Company.
Amtech Receives US $5M in Solar Orders
Amtech’s solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, has received approximately US $5M in orders for its diffusion processing systems for solar system manufacturing from two new customers.
Delays Keeping Local Solar Electrical System in the Dark
Homeowners in New Orleans can qualify for state tax credits that could refund as much as 50% of the cost of a system, but solar pioneers are finding that the process is anything but smooth.
Developers Diversified Begins Income Producing Solar Energy Program
Developers Diversified Realty, a real estate investment trust that develops and manages retail properties, has launched an income-producing solar energy program in partnership with SunEdison.
Why Skies Aren’t Too Dim for Solar
Given the economic uncertainty, consumers are reluctant to commit large amounts of money
Solar Panels Are a Good Idea if Affordable
The Tucson City Council is scheduled to consider a $7.6 million bond proposal today to add solar panels to seven city buildings.
Even if Money is Tight, City Leaders Say Spending Money on Solar is Worthwhile
Tucson city leaders point out the investment will save more money than it will cost.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Smart Grid Could Create 280,000 Smart Jobs
A new energy-efficient infrastructure could be coming to the U.S. with the new administration, and up to 280,000 new jobs could be created from the deployment of smart grid technology alone, according to a report by the GridWise Alliance.
SEPA Releases Utility Procurement Study: Solar Electricity in the Utility Market
The report, which is aimed at improving large scale acquisition by electric utilities, provides innovative ideas for future project procurement.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Financial of Venture Capital for Green Tech Slow
Solar power attracted more venture capital last year than any other form of green technology.
Solar Stocks Start 2009 With Bad News but Shrug it Off
The early days of 2009 are so far putting out a good share of negative news: sell recommendations from research analysts, a dire outlook from LDK, and Evergreen Solar shuttering a pilot plant. Investors, though, are shutting their ears to the bad news.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar Market Efficiency: Riding the Sustainability Wave Home?
Costs downstream of manufacturing have been high-particularly in the U.S. That’s why there is a major opportunity for those companies that reduce transaction costs for small purchases, such as in residential applications.
TECHNOLOGY
Japanese Researchers Pave Way for Artificial Photosynthesis
A Japanese research group has discovered a way to use sunlight to reduce CO2 to CO, which can then be used as a chemical engineering material.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Perpetual Energy Systems Activates Four Solar PV Systems
Perpetual Energy Systems (PES), a comprehensive financier and developer of solar-powered renewable energy systems, and Foster’s Wine Estates Americas, a subsidiary of Foster’s Group in Australia, have activated four solar installations.
Yingli Green Energy Acquires Cyber Power Group
To fund the acquisition, the company used available cash on hand and committed to issuing senior secured convertible notes due in 2012 to Trustbridge Partners II LP.
Abu Dhabi: The Prince of Solar Technology?
Though reported to have 8.5% of the world’s oil reserves and 3.3% of the world’s gas reserves, Abu Dhabi has launched a fund worth more than US $10 billion to find advanced renewable energy technology solutions to climate change.
New Solar Credit Scheme Will Fluctuate Payouts
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Australian Federal Government has revoked the $8,000 rebate for solar panel installations to households with less than $100,000 a year income, only implemented 7 months ago.
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.
Click here to subscribe.
[...] . Returns are pathetic for most funds, and the public offering pipeline on which venture depends Rise & Shine: January 7, 2009 – sweetsolarhome.com 01/07/2009 The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all [...]
Could you please translate your site into Italian because I’m not so comfortable reading it in English? I’m getting tired of using Google Translate all the time, there is a cool WP plugin called like global translator which will render all your articles automatically- that will make reading articleson your awesome blog even more comfortable. Cheers dude, Thailand!