Kevin Kelly, visionary writer, founder of Wired magazine, and all-around hi-tech guru, is a SunRun customer, and just wrote a great discussion of SunRun’s approach to home solar.
Check out his post about SunRun under the Cool Tools section of his website.
Thanks Kevin for your thoughtful discussion of SunRun!
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
Mayor Defends Success of City’s Pilot Solar Program
In a letter to the East Bay Express, Bates says he believes Berkeley FIRST might be the city’s “most important contribution to combating climate change” and says it has laid the foundation for a larger scale state-wide program.
NATIONAL NEWS
NREL Launches Strategic Energy Analysis Institute
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has established a new global institute dedicated to analyzing, speeding and smoothing the transition to sustainable energy worldwide.
Small Businesses Find Success with Renewable Energy
As of early March, small businesses have been selected to receive nearly $5.4 billion in funding across a number of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and related programs.
Texas Cities, Schools, State Park Win $32M in Funding for Solar Projects
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has announced that 32 solar photovoltaic projects across the state have been awarded $32 million in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands
The survey also revealed that solar power was the top choice (38 percent) as the best use of public land.
SEIA on Utility Scale Solar
There are over 100 utility-scale solar projects in the U.S. totaling 17,000 MW now in the planning stage.
Belgian Solar Company Chooses Atlanta
A department spokeswoman said Enfinity received no tax breaks or state incentives. At least 30 jobs will be created.
Bill Would Extend Solar Benefits to Communities
Mark Udall yesterday announced a bill that would extend the tax credit available to homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs, to those homeowners who collectively own small solar arrays located somewhere other than their own property.
Catholic Schools are Installing Roof Based Solar Panels
Crews already have installed solar panels at elementary schools in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Hamburg, Lancaster and Lockport, and the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo hopes to have 43 solar projects installed during the next several years.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
LA Utility Approves First of 4 Panned Rate Hikes
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power board has approved the first of four planned rate hikes that would help fund the city’s transition to renewable energy.
S.F. Sues Over PG&E Backed Ballot Measure
San Francisco and a group of government-owned utilities from around California took their campaign against a Pacific Gas and Electric Co.-sponsored ballot measure to court Thursday, arguing that Proposition 16 is a power grab dressed up as an expansion of taxpayers’ rights.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SunPower to Revised Earnings; Costs Understated
The restatement will lower SunPower’s profits for 2008 and the first three quarters of 2009 by $16.9 million, based on generally accepted accounting principles, the company reported Thursday.
Trina Solar to Offer 8M American Depository Shares
Chinese solar power company Trina Solar Ltd. said it plans to offer 7.9 million American depositary shares, each representing 50 ordinary shares of the company.
BrightSource Raising $150M Mezzanine Rounde
The solar thermal player, fresh from $1.37B in Fed loans, needs to raise a mezzanine round. En route to IPO?
General Electric Invests in Thin Film Solar Tech
GE plans to harness cadmium telluride technology from PrimeStar Solar Inc., a start up firm that GE holds a major stake in.
Acro Energy Receives Stock Exchange Approval to Close Private Placement
The sale of 1,086,044 units at CAD0.29 per unit raised gross proceeds of CAD314,953 for Acro Energy.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Germany to Add Record 5 GW Solar Power in 2010
Karin Freier, head of the Environment Ministry’s solar energy department, said planned cuts of 16 percent in state subsidies that will take effect in July were fuelling the boom as investors rush to beat the deadline.
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
Major California Solar Project Moves Ahead
California regulators on Wednesday recommended that the state’s first new big solar power plant in nearly two decades be approved after a two-and-half-year review of its environmental impact on the Mojave Desert.
CB Richard Ellis Goes Solar
The Los Angeles-based company launched its CBRE Solar program Wednesday, offering services such as solar power purchase agreements, project development and management services, and investment opportunities to clients in the U.S. and Canada.
SPG Solar Completes Large Scale Solar System for JMB Realty
One of the Most Powerful Urban Solar Systems in the Western United States.
Victor Valley College Goes Solar with SolFocus Power Plant
New Solar Plant Uses Earth-Friendly Concentrating Photovoltaic Technology to Supply 30 Percent of Campus Electricity Demand.
Southern California Edison Launches Request for Offers form Independent Power Producers for Solar Program
Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission approved SCE’s plan to generate hundreds of megawatts of emission-free solar power from the rooftops of large industrial buildings in SCE’s service territory.
NATIONAL NEWS
Akeena to Provide Installation Services for Lowe’s
Akeena Solar this week said that it will provide residential installation services for Lowe’s customers in 21 California stores.
Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy Hosts Conference
Energy Security, Job Creation, Investments, and the Family Farm will take center stage at this special event.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
PUC Listens to Proposition 16 Debate
Critics of a PG&E-backed ballot measure that would hamper public power efforts want California energy regulators to jump into the fray.
kWhOURS Aims to Modernize Energy Audits
In the system developed by kWhOURS, auditors can export their Excel spreadsheets or instantly plug it into benchmarking and analysis software like Energy Star and DOE-2.
California’s Smart Meter Battle: Google vs. Utilities
There’s a battle looming in California over smart meters and energy prices.
If You Modernize the Grid, Will Consumers Care?
Part of the problem is the nature of the product–electricity is the ultimate commodity that consumers in the U.S. simply expect to work.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Senators Share Emission Bill’s Details With Industry Groups
Lawmakers at the heart of Senate energy and climate negotiations revealed key details today of their legislative proposal during a closed-door meeting with major industry groups they are courting in hopes of winning over Senate moderates and avoiding an expensive advertising war.
Obama’s Nuclear Madness and the Future of “Clean”
Obama announced the first loan guarantee to the nuclear industry in nearly three decades – a conditional guarantee of $8.2 billion for two proposed nuclear power plants in Georgia.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Agile Energy Secures Funding from Good Energies
Agile Energy’s near-term pipeline consists of approximately 400 MW of solar projects.
Iosil Secures US $13.5M for Polysilicon Production
The investment will allow the company to its polysilicon production pilot facility in one of several locations under consideration.
TECHNOLOGY
Aluminum Maker Eyes Solar Industry
Alcoa, the aluminum giant, is testing a new type of solar technology that it believes will lower the cost of renewable energy.
Intermolecular’s PV Development: R&D in Hyper Drive
Dozens of photovoltaic process experiments on a single wafer.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Morocco: A Sunny Disposition
A solar-powered bonanza beckons. Morocco has virtually no oil or gas of its own and imports 98% of its energy.
Czech Parliament Approves Bill to Scale Back Solar Subsidies
The Czech lower house of parliament Wednesday approved a bill to allow the local energy regulator to sharply reduce the high fixed sale price for electricity produced at new photovoltaic solar generators.
Sahara Desert Solar Project Unlikely to Happen, Liebreich Says
A 400 billion-euro ($550 billion) plan by companies including Siemens AG and Munich Re to develop solar-electricity generators in the Sahara Desert is unlikely to come to fruition in its present form,
Suntech’s Dr. Shi Applauds Australian Feed-in Tariff
Chinese solar PV powerhouse, Suntech, has applauded the Australian state of New South Wales for its adoption of a feed-in tariff (FiT).
Q-Cells Declares 2009 Loss of $1.8B; CEO Resigns Amidst “Huge Loss of Confidence”
They were the number-one cell producer in the world in 2008. What went wrong?
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
In Recession’s Shadow, Solar Power Shines
The companies appear to be riding a wave of good fortune for the solar-power industry.
NATIONAL NEWS
Evergreen Solar Panels Now Powering Five Megawatt Italian Solar Power Plant
It is the largest installation of Evergreen Solar panels in the company’s history.
Suniva® Solar Cells Power 3 MW Solar Project in India
The 3MW, ground-mounted system is the largest grid-connected solar field in India, covering more than 12 acres.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Greening the DWP
The mayor’s plan, correctly, is for clean, renewable energy. So why the lack of transparency?
DWP Rates May Rise Between 8% and 28% to Pay for Mayor’s Green Initiatives
The hike would pay for more aggressive conservation programs and a solar plan designed to create 16,000 jobs as well as cover the fluctuating price of coal and natural gas.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
World Solar Photovoltaic Market Grow to 6.43 Gigawatt in 2009
The PV industry generated $38 billion in global revenues in 2009, while successfully raising over $13.5 billion in equity and debt, up 8% on the prior year.
Clean Energy 2010 Trending Up
Clean Edge’s annual trends report finds clean-energy markets holding up in tough economic climate — thanks to a lot of help from China.
Renewable Energy Strong Despite Recession
A devastating recession slowed but did not stop the clean energy industry’s growth in 2009, a report issued Tuesday found.
China to Restrict Polysilicon Production
Solar demand is growing, but China wants to prevent a bust.
China’s Policies Fuel its Renewable Energy Sector
The Chinese government has helped turn the country into an alternative energy powerhouse using a slew of policies that support domestic renewable fuel industries, according to a study released Monday.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Group of 29 Governors Seeks Renewable Power Standard
Schwarzenegger and others say a U.S. guideline would help spur job growth and economic development. They also say the current fragmented system is pushing investments abroad.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solyndra Generated Over $100M in Revenue Last Year
Solyndra brought in revenues of $100.47 million for the fiscal year that ended on January 2, 2010, up from $6.01 million for the fiscal year that ended on January 2, 2009.
CPV Semi Startup Solar Junction Gets More Funding
A $13.3M inside round keeps the firm going while they wait for the CPV market to emerge.
TECHNOLOGY
RF Micro to Develop Solar Cells
In cooperation with the National Renewable Energy Lab, RF Micro Devices soon will develop a new generation of solar cells that produces far more energy than today’s solar panels.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CNPV Signs Long-Term Strategic Partnership with Sinatis Europe
CNPV Solar Power SA has entered into a long-term strategic partnership sales agreement with Sinatis Europe, a French project development and distribution company.
Suntech Selected to Power Taiwan’s Largest Solar Power Plant
Owned and operated by the Taiwan Power Company, and developed by Fortune Electric Co., Ltd., the new 4.7MW solar plant in Young’an, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, will nearly double the island’s current installed solar capacity of about 5MW.
Siliken to Build 9.8 MW Solar Power Plant
The Spanish renewable energy company, Siliken has entered into an agreement with the company FRV -Fotowatio Renewable Ventures to set up a 9.8 MW power PV plant in the Italian city of Fiumicino (Rome).
9REN Completes Permits Three Projects in Italy
Two of the three projects are in the Apulia region, one in Latium, close to Rome: San Trifone (2.4MW) in Lizzano and Masseria Martellotta (8MW) in Palagianello (both in the Province of Taranto) are located near the 7MW already in operation.
Czechs Seek to Temper Solar Investment Boom
The Czech Republic does not spring to mind as one of Europe’s hot spots, yet an over-used subsidy scheme has created a bonanza for solar power that has ignited fears of a spike in energy prices and grid instability.
Ireland’s Surface Power Signs Major Strategic Partnership Agreement with Solar Energy Initiatives
Agreement will place the company’s industry-leading SP501 solar collector in all 50 states.
First Solar Joins Desertec Solar Project
U.S. solar power company First Solar (FSLR.O) has joined the Desertec solar power project, which hopes to supply 15 percent of Europe’s power by 2050 via a network of renewable energy sources.
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