Rise & Shine: February 26, 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
Critics Light into DWP Plan
The process used to place a solar initiative on next week’s ballot came under scrutiny Tuesday, with opponents arguing that Measure B needed further study before it was put to a vote.
Padre Dam Municipal Water District Dedicates Solar Energy System
The Padre Dam Municipal Water District, a provider of water, waste water, recycled water and recreation services to the eastern suburbs of San Diego, today announced the activation of an 862 kilowatt photovoltaic solar energy system.
Vote No On Charter Amendment B
The proposed charter amendment and ordinance proposition is less about solar energy than it is a grab for political power.
NATIONAL NEWS
Barse Questions City Council on Solar Plan
Former Mayor Perry Barse addressed City Council at Tuesday’s regular meeting with questions about the proposed solar generating plant and comments about the city’s stimulus wish list.
DC Offers Grants for Solar, Wind Power Projects
The District of Columbia soon will begin providing grants of as much as $33,000 to install solar and wind energy equipment on buildings across the city.
Hoku Delays Polysilicon Plant Start Up
Hoku Materials has entered into a change order agreement under its engineering, procurement and construction management services contract with Stone & Webster, Inc., to clarify the scope of on-going work for Hoku’s planned 4,000 metric tons per year polysilicon production plant.
BP Solar to Sell, Rent New Space
BP Solar is looking to sell or rent the 140,000-square-foot space at its plant off Ballenger Creek Pike in Maryland.
German Company to Build $1B Plant in Tennessee
A bit of good news in this bad economy for a southeast Tennessee city: German chemical company Wacker Chemie is investing in a new $1 billion plant in the area.
Solar Energy Systems Installs Array at NYC Apartment Building
Solar Energy Systems LLC (SES) has completed a 54.28 kW DC solar photovoltaic system for Kips Bay Towers, a 1,120-unit multifamily property in New York.
Solar Power Pries Slide Toward Grid Parity
Photon Consulting, which advises solar companies, this week released a summary of a study that predicts that a number of solar companies will hit a long-pursued industry target of $1 per watt by 2012.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Tax Settlement Lifts PG&E Earnings
PG&E Corp., the parent of California utility Pacific Gas & Electric, said fourth-quarter net income more than doubled on a tax settlement and higher rates.
GE and Google Discussing Energy Product
The smart grid partnership between search engine giant Google and conglomerate GE could deliver a lot more than public policy changes and compelling discussion forums.
Michigan Utility Proposes Pilot Solar Tariff
Consumers Energy, one of Michigan’s principle investor-owned electric utilities, has filed a petition with the Michigan Public Service Commission that contains a proposed “pilot” feed-in tariff for solar PV.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Clean Energy Infrastructure & Reducing Dependence on Oil Key to Economic Growth and Recovery, Leaders Concluded
Major leaders from government, business, labor and non-governmental organizations agreed today on four key recommendations to reform U.S. energy policy.
Mr. Obama’s Energy Future
He spoke of the profit to be gained by American industries and workers if the United States took the lead in investing in manufacturing wind turbines, more efficient solar panels and next-generation batteries.
Obama’s Budget Presumes Revenue From a Carbon Market
Mr. Obama has repeatedly stated that combating climate change, and the greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that contribute to it, is a goal of his administration.
DOE to Expedite Disbursement of Funds Received via Stimulus Act
Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced a sweeping restructuring of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) processes for issuing direct loans, loan guarantees and other funds to expedite the disbursement of the DOE funds received via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
TECHNOLOGY
Hemp Homes, Fish Food, Holographic Solar, and Other Ideas
Prism Solar Technologies’ solar panel isn’t a monolith of silicon. It consists of silicon strips spaced out by holographic film. The film concentrates sunlight onto the cells to produce a module that will be 18.7 percent efficient by 2015.
Adept Technology to Showcase Solar Cell Handling System
Adept Technology has announced its solar cell handling system will be showcased at the 2nd International Photovoltaic Power Generation Expo in Tokyo, Japan.
Ikerlan Designs Silicon-Free Photoelectric Module of Easy Incorporation
Apart from fulfilling the function of converting solar light into electricity, these modules solve the problems of integratability and availability that current technology presents.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Japan May Force Utilities to Buy Surplus Domestic Solar Power
Japan plans to soon require electricity companies to buy surplus power generated by household solar panels at about twice the current price, a government official said Tuesday.
Impact of Phantom RECs Underestimated
The contribution small-scale renewable energy sources, such as roof-top solar, make to reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions is far greater than expected.
Solar Semiconductor Flags Off Its First Export Consignment from Fab City
Solar Semiconductor Private Limited (SS) on Wednesday flagged off its first export consignment of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules to Germany. This also marks the start of the company?s commercial production activity at the state government-promoted Fab City.
Scheuten Solar Receives 10MW Order from Aethlios
Scheuten Solar and Aethlios, a French specialist in the design, sale and installation of photovoltaic solar roofs have signed a multiannual contract for the supply of solar modules in the Multisol® range.
Suntech Appoints Japanese Distributor
Suntech Power has established an agreement with House Care Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of West Holdings Group, under which House Care will become an authorized distributor of Suntech in Japan and distribute 30MW of Suntech solar products in 2009.
2.8MW A3 Highway Solar System near Completion
When finished, the 2.8-megawatt solar installation will be one of Germany’s largest and first to be located on a public highway.
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Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.
Chris Moran