Rise & Shine: June 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
SunPower Signs Module Assembly Agreement with Jabil Circuit
SunPower Corporation has signed a multi-year solar panel manufacturing agreement with Jabil Circuit, Inc., to build panels for SunPower’s North American solar market. Jabil will begin manufacturing panels for SunPower in Mexico in the second half of 2009.
SunPower Names Naveet Govil Vice President, Treasurer
International Finance Veteran Brings More Than 14 Years of Experience with Large, Multinational Corporations.
NATIONAL NEWS
At PV America, Rendell Says Alternative Energy Will Boost Economy
The federal government can help the country escape from recession by launching a five-to-10 year infrastructure revitalization program and by taking steps to boost the production and consumption of alternative energy, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell told a solar-energy conference Monday.
Trina Solar Establishing First North American Warehouse
Trina Solar Ltd., an integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products, is planning to establish a warehouse operation near the seaports in Oakland, Calif.
Norwegian Solar Company Establishing U.S. Operations
Norway-based Scatec Solar, a supplier of solar PV solutions, has established its first subsidiary in the U.S., in Mountain View, Calif.
Surprise Vies for APS Solar Project
Surprise has offered up a wastewater-treatment facility as a possible site for a small solar generation project by Arizona Public Service.
Stimulus Funds to Help City’s Eco-Friendliness
Chandler’s new City Hall could get a $500,000 solar power installation that would serve as a “highly visible example” of the city’s commitment to eco-friendliness.
Solar Firm Turns to Local Farms to Grow Business
Crump recently started pitching solar installations to local farms using government grants and credits as a tasty carrot.
Is Solar Power Only a Rich Man’s Renewable Source?
Without energy from the sun, life on earth would be impossible. Turning that energy into electricity is one of the keys to saving the earth, according to renewable power advocates.
Solar Panel Plant Proposal Gains Big Boosts
A Rockland company’s plan to operate a solar panel manufacturing plant in the city received two boosts on Monday.
REC Solar Opens New Office to Provide Residential, Commercial Solar Systems to Arizona Customers
REC Solar offers customers a complete solar solution from custom engineering and solar education to flexible financing assistance and online system monitoring. T
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Duke Energy Partners with Cisco to Fast-Track Development of Utility’s Smart Grid
The three-year partnership is the latest development in Duke Energy’s effort to rapidly convert its existing electricity delivery infrastructure into an advanced smart grid that uses two-way digital communication to reduce energy usage, improve efficiency, bolster system reliability, detect power outages, and integrate solar and other renewable energy sources into the electric grid.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
EPV Solar Completes Private Debt Exchange Offer
EPV Solar has successfully completed its private offer to exchange all of its 8% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2010 for new 1% Convertible Senior Secured PIK Notes due 2016, shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase shares of its common stock and the related consent solicitation.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar Survivors: Winners and Losers in Crystalline Silicon PV
As the market becomes restricted to only the companies with the best products, lowest costs and successful business models, the task now is to identify just who those companies are.
Brighter Days Seen for Solar, Next-Gen Biofuels
As the sector recovers from the 2008 financial market meltdown, insiders look for next-generation biofuels and solar technologies to start joining mainstream energy markets, while wind power continues to lean heavily on government support.
Green Businesses Must Follow Model
If you want to get an idea of the state of green business right now, Joel Makower says there’s a parallel in the information economy.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Governors Warn Energy Plan Could Stifle Growth
The price of electricity and fuel could rise sharply and economic growth could be stifled in the Southeast and elsewhere in the country under tax proposals being considered in Washington, several southern governors said Monday.
Moving U.S. from Carbon Energy to Clean Power
The American Clean Energy and Security Act begins to lay the groundwork for a future powered by the wind and sun.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
New Partner Found for Itarion Solar
Centrosolar has announced a new investment partner for the building of a new solar PV manufacturing plant in Portugal.
Sinosol Completes First Phase of 5MW Thin Film Solar Park
Sinosol AG has completed its first 1MWp of a solar park as general contractor utilizing thin film modules from start up manufacturer, Malibu, a joint venture of Schüco International KG and E. ON AG.
Greece Introduces New Incentives for Small Rooftop PV
The new program covers rooftop PV systems up to 10 KWp (both for residential users and small companies) and sets a new feed-in-tariff (FIT) for such systems.
Government Stops Solar Rebate Program Early, Switches to Solar Credits Scheme
Solar Credits will build on the largest ever investment in solar panels in the nation’s history under the Solar Homes and Communities Plan, with more than 80,000 solar systems set to be installed on Australian rooftops since the Rudd Government came to office.
Astronergy Invests Nearly 2 Billion RMB on Solar Energy
It probably offers about 1300 families’ amount electricity for a year, which marked Chinese solar modules production come into the “thin-film era.”
Canadian Solar Completes Two Solar Demonstration Projects for Suzhou City Hall in China
Canadian Solar engineers designed a dual system so that it will automatically switch from solar to grid electricity working mode when the battery voltage is low, but switch back to solar power mode when the batteries are charged.
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