Rise & Shine: April 6, 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
Conergy Installs Thin-Film Solar Energy Tracking System for Irrigation District
The solar energy experts at Denver-based Conergy Americas and officials at California’s South San Joaquin Irrigation District (SSJID) have installed what is believed to be the world’s first large single-axis solar tracking system featuring thin-film photovoltaic cells.
Collaborative Sets Climate Change Goals
The group has outlined 10 specific action areas, each with its own targets and timeline. Among them are developing standard regional green building and rooftop solar requirements by 2010.
California Feed-in Tariffs: The Price Isn’t Right
As state regulators look into expanding the feed-in tariff program to promote small-scale renewable power generation, they will likely hear passionate arguments for boosting the prices for buying renewable power in order to attract more participants.
NATIONAL NEWS
Solar Panel Plant May Shine on Rockland
Rockland could become the home of a $5 million solar panel manufacturing plant that could provide nearly 40 well-paying jobs.
Panel Discussion
1BOG is now recruiting its third batch of Bay Area residents for a group buy and is at various stages of similar efforts in Los Angeles, San Diego and New Orleans. Those will most likely be followed by Denver and Phoenix.
More States Want Solar Power to be Option in New Homes
A growing number of states are moving to require home builders to offer solar electricity and hot-water systems in new homes, right alongside more traditional options such as fancy kitchen countertops and special window treatments.
No Funds Yet for PA Solar Plan
Lawmakers allotted $100M in July for the program. It’s been stalled in Harrisburg.
Grant Boosts Port Orange’s Solar Efforts
One of the solar-energy projects under consideration in Port Orange is a plan to erect a photovoltaic solar power generating array for three of the city’s 27 wells.
Developer Could Bring Solar Energy, Cash to Norton
Developer Ansar Energy LLC, based in Scituate, has proposed a solar energy production project at the site that could bring $300,000 to $400,000 in new annual revenue to Norton, MA while also helping the town to go green.
Solar Power Energizes Mayors at Conference
Mayors and officials from 25 cities have spent this week at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) 2nd Annual Solar America Cities meeting in San Antonio, Texas, discussing the future of solar power.
First Solar Completes US $400M Acquisition of OptiSolar PV Pipeline
First Solar said that it expects to construct the solar power plants developed under the pipeline over the next several years and sell them to a combination of regulated utilities, diversified energy companies and other independent power producers.
City Outlines its Renewable Energy Plan
The new law requires that renewable energy resources play an increasingly larger role in powering the grid.
Solar Farms Lights Way
By next year, the largest photovoltaic solar energy farm in the country will be in Davidson County, one of the most visible impacts of a new state law on renewable energy passed in 2007.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Belmont to Explore Pulling Plug on PG&E
Most cities in the Bay Area are powered by PG&E, but a Belmont city councilman thinks that his city could cut costs on “greener” technology by forming a municipal utility district to maintain and operate its power and utility needs.
Utilities Targeting Smart Grid Upgrades
Utilities are moving quickly as billions in federal funds are focused on upgrading the nation’s electric infrastructure: “Smart grids” are coming.
An Interactive Energy Bill
Combined with deployment of other smart grid technologies, the result could be an interactive electricity bill that offers ratepayers unprecedented control over energy consumption and household expenses.
TVA Board Approves Renewable Energy Purchase
The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) board has authorized the purchase of as much as 2,000 MW of renewable energy by 2011 as part of TVA’s plan to have 50% of its power supply come from renewable energy sources by 2020.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Pelosi Says congress Must Enact Ambitious Health Care, Energy Bills This Year
Pelosi said a comprehensive energy bill would have to help families and businesses that face higher utility rates, as well as industries that compete with countries that might not have the same pollution standards.
Energy Legislation to Test Fractured Democrats
Lawmakers from states rich in renewable wind and solar energy, such as California and Colorado, are likely to back the proposal overwhelmingly, but resistance will come from southeastern states without big renewable energy development.
TECHNOLOGY
Nanoplasmonic Solar Cells Twice as Efficient as Current Solar Cells
The Australian university and Suntech will collaborate to develop solar cells that are twice as efficient and run at half the cost of those currently available.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Rebate Incentives Boost Solar Panel Sales
New solar incentives announced this week in British Columbia mean those who choose to make the switch to greener energy sources can save up to 58 per cent in rebates.
Canadian Solar Wins Bid for Chinese Rural Electrification Project
Canadian Solar has selected in a competitive bidding process to supply solar panels for 80,000 solar home systems for rural households in Sichuan province of China. The total order size is 1.6 MW.
Victorian Feed-in Tariff to Cancel Out Thousands Owed to Solar Homes
The Victorian Government’s proposed feed-in tariff will cancel out thousands of dollars owed to solar homes for the clean electricity they generate and feed into the power grid, says the Alternative Technology Association.
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