Rise & Shine: February 9, 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
Site for Solar Panel Deals Nearly Ready
City officials and independent engineers plan to announce this month that they’ve completed work on sf.solarmap.org, a Web site that allows San Franciscans to plug in their address and estimate the cost – and savings – possible with solar panels.
DWP?s Renewable Energy Efforts Will Boost Rates, Report Says
A five-year review said the Los Angeles utility’s plan to increase such power sources has not been properly analyzed regarding costs to customers.
Simon Completes Solar Panel Installation at Mission Viejo Shops
Simon Property Group has just last month completed the largest solar installation by a mall owner in the U.S. Simon Property Group entered into a power purchase agreement with Element Markets.
Solar Industry may Be Bright Spot for Professionals in Current Recession
California’s solar and renewable energy industry continues to grow dramatically, despite the current financial crisis.
NATIONAL NEWS
Massachusetts Commonwealth Solar Program Hits One-Year Mark
A solar rebate program launched by Governor Deval Patrick and the state of Massachusetts a year ago is showing success in the adoption of solar energy for homes, businesses and municipal buildings across Massachusetts, Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Ian Bowles announced last week.
altPOWER President & CEO, Anthony Pereira, Receives Award from US DOE
altPOWER President and CEO, Anthony Pereira today received the Transformational Energy Action Management Special Achievement Award for Technology Demonstration ?In recognition of outstanding energy management in DOE facilities.?
How to Go Green in Hard Times
Buying and installing a set of solar panels can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But leasing the same system can be a cost-effective alternative.
Catching Some Rays
Condos and apartment buildings have proved resistant to solar power. That’s starting to change.
Illinois Solar Firms SmartSpark Moves to Austin
An Austin technology executive is moving his solar energy company’s headquarters from Illinois to Austin to take advantage of the local worker pool coupled with the regional emphasis on renewable energy.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
San Diego Utility to Roll Out Smart Meters Mid March
Starting in mid-March San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) will start rolling out 2.3 million electric and gas meters at its customers homes.
New Grid for Renewable Energy Could Be Costly
The study, sponsored by some of the nation’s biggest grid-running organizations east of the Rockies, is the most comprehensive attempt by the industry to figure out what kind of infrastructure upgrades would be needed if the U.S. attempts to sharply increase the amount of power it gets from sources such as wind and solar.
The More Your Know?
A groundbreaking ’smart grid’ test in Boulder, Colo., is delivering some surprises for both consumers and utilities.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar Power Partners Adds $32 Million
A company spokesperson confirmed the round, and said the investment was split between working capital and project financing.
Evergreen Solar Announces 2008 Fourth Quarter and Annual Results
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $44.2 million, including $3.1 million of fees from our Sovello (formerly EverQ) joint venture, compared to $22.1 million for the third quarter of 2008, including $4.3 million of fees and $22.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, including $5.3 million of fees
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Renewable Energy: ?Yes We Can?
Changing the direction of the country’s energy policy is central to the agenda of the nation’s 44th President, and supporting renewable energy development and deployment lies at the heart of President Obama’s plan.
Energy Spending That Was Cut From The Stimulus Bill
The new version of the Senate bill did cut out billions from several key energy programs, according to CNN including eliminating $1 billion for energy loan guarantees.
Obama Energy Plan Reaches For The Sky
Achieving renewable energy goals among most costly, complex effort in U.S. history.
TECHNOLOGY
Heliotex Introduces Automatic Solar Panel Cleaning System
Heliotex LLC, a provider of solar panel cleaning systems and anti-theft devices, has released a patent-pending automatic solar panel cleaning system for photovoltaic systems.
Evergreen Solar to Present at the Piper Jaffray Clean Technology and Renewables Conference
Evergreen Solar, Inc. a manufacturer of String Ribbon? solar power products with its proprietary, low-cost silicon wafer manufacturing technology, announced today that the Company will be presenting.
Surfect Technologies Achieves Milestones Lowering Solar Costs
Surfect Technologies has announced a number of key milestones for the company.
Silicon Substitute
Thin-film panels offer the hope of turning solar power into a more economical source of energy.
BioSolar Reports on Pre-Production Sample Tests
BioSolar Inc. has reported that test results for its BioBacksheet material, based on samples from the company’s first pre-production runs, have been consistent and satisfactory – leading the company closer to full-scale commercial production.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Spark Solar Seeks Investors for Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant
Spark Solar Australia Pty Ltd has developed the first project to be awarded Major Project Facilitation status by the Rudd Labor Government. The status recognizes Spark’s planned manufacturing operations as “of strategic significance to Australia”.
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