Rise & Shine: July 2, 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
City Forms Energy Partnership with Edison
The city may soon cut down on its energy bill, thanks to Southern California Edison. Southern California Edison worked with the city’s Quality of Life Department to conduct energy audits for the buildings and parking structures at City Hall.
Santa Monica Eases Rules on Solar Panels
The ordinance allows solar energy systems that “meet objective development standards” to be approved without a public hearing and also allows them to encroach into setback areas and extend above current height limits.
SolarCraft Donates Solar Electric System
SolarCraft of Novato donated a SunPower Electric Solar Energy System at the fifth Annual Sonoma Valley Muse Auction and Benefit on May 30, 2009.
Ellis Energy Investments Acquires Pyron Solar
Ellis Energy Investments has acquired the assets of Pyron Solar, Inc. Pyron Solar is the manufacturer of the Pyron Solar Triad, a CPV Power Generator for utility scale installations.
Solar Energy Helps to Power Huge Ship at Port of Long Beach
The solar array, which provides 10% of the energy used by the M/V Auriga Leader while she is docked, is part of a demonstration project to reduce diesel emissions.
Dinuba to Plug into Energy Farm
A solar energy farm that will provide electricity for Dinuba’s waste-water treatment plant and save the city about $250,000 annually is in the works.
Cupertino Looks at Stimulus Money to Help Reduce City’s Utility Bills
The city is also considering a performance contract that would use future energy cost savings to finance the installation of solar panels.
NATIONAL NEWS
Massachusetts Seeks Bids to Install 5.35 Megawatts of Solar Power
As part of Governor Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, the state has issued the first round of investments in approximately 16 megawatts of solar photovoltaic energy at state-owned facilities throughout Massachusetts, including up to 2.75 MW atop Logan International Airport’s four commercial passenger terminals.
NM Land Managers to Study Solar Possibilities
As efforts to build solar-power facilities on public land in New Mexico gain steam, some experts say federal officials should proceed cautiously as they consider where to put them.
Reduced Use of Oil Promoted
There are also state and federal tax credits for solar customers, she said. Alteris also offers leased solar equipment for as little as $1,000 up front through another company called Sun Run, Cargill said.
S.F.’s Sunworks Plans $200M Solar Panel Plant
A San Francisco-based company has been allocated five megawatts of low-cost hydropower to encourage the construction and operation of a $200 million solar panel manufacturing plant in western New York state.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Marketing Solar Energy to the Public Remains a Challenge
The biggest challenge we face is educating people about the true costs of solar energy.
FINANCIAL
Venture Funding for Clean-Tech Rebounds
The $1.2 billion in venture capital invested in clean technology during the second quarter included $114M for solar.
TECHNOLOGY
SMA America Inc. Introduces the Sunny Tower
Rocklin, Calif.-based SMA America Inc. is now offering residential solar installers the new Sunny Tower inverter system.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ICP Solar Secures Licensing Agreement with Energizer
Energizer, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries and flashlights, will grant ICP Solar the global rights to its trade name for solar-powered chargers and related products.
UK Renewables Policy
The policy landscape for UK renewables has been frustratingly ad hoc, but the building blocks are now roughly in place for a dramatic transformation of the industry.
Enerqos Completes PV Installation for BMW Dealership
Enerqos Plc has commissioned a solar installation at the Viterbo BMW dealership, near Rome. The BIPV installation, which covers the entire roof canopy of the showroom, has already started producing “clean” electricity with a maximum output power of 121 kW.
Conergy Sells Portfolio of Three Solar Parks in Bavaria
Conergy Deutschland GmbH has successfully concluded the sale of three photovoltaic plants in Bavaria.
Juwi to Construct Solar Plant in Italy
The juwi group has signed a contract for the construction of a 1.7 MW solar photovoltaic plant at a market hall in Verona, Italy.
Lancashire Double Glazing Group Completes PV Installation
Lancashire Double Glazing Group, based in Preston, U.K., has completed what the company says is the largest photovoltaic roof installation in Britain.
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