Rise & Shine: September 11, 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
California Lawmakers Weigh Rules on Renewable Energy
Increasing California’s use of renewable energy would seem like a relatively simple goal, but it has become one of the hottest legislative debates as lawmakers rush to finish their business for the year.
Push for Renewable Energy Lauded, but Divisions Over Details Remain
Hoping to add “green” jobs to a beleaguered state economy, California lawmakers are poised to take up new rules dramatically increasing the amount of renewable power used in the state over the next 10 years.
SDG&E Power Shutoff Plan Rejected by PUC
State regulators in San Francisco Thursday rejected San Diego Gas & Electric’s plan to cut power to rural sections of the county during dry, windy weather.
A Battle Over California Emissions Rules
In a preliminary filing on Tuesday with the United States Court of Appeals in Washington, the chamber and the association asked for a review of an action by the Environmental Protection Agency in June that granted California a waiver allowing it to regulate tailpipe climate emissions.
City of Palm Desert Leads the Way
A fringe benefit of Palm Desert’s eco-friendly ways has been new jobs: the city’s list of solar-panel contractors has swelled to 22—up from three just a year ago.
NATIONAL NEWS
Premier Power Breaks Ground on Italian Solar Project
Premier Power Renewable Energy has broken ground on the first phase of its 20 megawatt solar pipeline in Italy.
Oerlikon Solar and Clairvoyant Energy Plan Thin Film Manufacturing Facility
A group of renewable energy companies has joined forces with Ford and the State of Michigan on a plan to convert the 320-acre Wixom Ford Motor Co. assembly plant outside Detroit into a renewable energy manufacturing park.
Colorado, China Sign Deal to Increase Business
Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and a Chinese trade official signed an agreement to promote business investments on Thursday as representatives of about 30 Chinese companies scoped out Colorado as a possible location for new offices and plants.
Renewable Energy Plan Creates Rift
After decades of allowing private companies to lease public lands for coal and oil, “we have started a new beginning” to make room for solar mirrors and wind turbines, he says. As with the older leases, operators would pay to use the land.
2 Scottsdale School to Get Sun Panels
Coronado and Desert Mountain high schools in Scottsdale won regulatory approval to install large solar-power systems this year, which will likely prompt other Arizona Schools to follow suit.
Nice Pay Package for First Solar’s New CEO
Robert Gillette, who will replace Michael Ahearn come Oct. 1, is set to get $5 million sign-on bonus and much more in stock and options.
Q&A with Nanosolar’s CEO Roscheisen
Nanosolar, a privately held photovoltaic solar company, announced on Wednesday it had begun operations at its German panel factory and that earlier this year it started up its California cell plant.
The Garden State Goes Green
Despite the upfront costs involved, there are a number of New Jersey businesses that have taken the solar plunge.
First Solar’s Gift to China: How to Build a Solar Farm
CEO Michael Ahearn says First Solar plans to carry out an ‘IP transfer’ by training Chinese companies how to engineer solar power projects.
Solar Energy Parts Plan Eyes St. Charles
Local and state officials are working to lure a new $200 million solar energy parts plant with 250 jobs to a business park in St. Charles’ Highway 370 corridor — one of a handful of sites still in the running for the facility.
Acro Energy Names Martin Spake CFO
He brings essential skills and insights that will prove especially valuable as Acro Energy gears up our financing efforts and executes our acquisition strategy into Southern California and across the nation.
NABVEP Releases Expanded Photovoltaic Entry Learning Objectives
The review and revision of Learning Objectives is a regular part of maintaining
the validity of our nationally recognized examinations.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Asian PV Markets Heating Up
It is obvious that Asia’s PV market is heating up not only in China, but also in Japan.
US and China Both Striving to Become World’s Top Market
The United States and China are in a head-to-head race to become the world’s top market for solar power, and panel makers are wasting no time making plans to cash in on the growth promise of both markets despite the global recession.
Half of Solar Firms to Fail, Analyst Says
Half of the existing solar manufacturers may not survive through the end of next year, according to the market research firm The Information Network, as reported by DigiTimes.
TECHNOLOGY
Evergreen Solar Launches New Line of Solar Panels for the Off-Grid Market
The ES-C Series of panels are suitable for direct 12, 24 or 48V battery charging in a wide variety of off-grid applications.
Dow Corning Commercializes Breakthrough Solar Cell Encapsulant Technology
This solution will help make solar power a viable and sustainable energy option globally by improving module durability and efficiency, as well as reducing capital and manufacturing costs and significantly increasing the production rate of solar panels.
Battery System to Provide Solar PV “Time-Shifting”
The SEGIS programme aims to maximise the value of distributed solar electric generation, offer greater control of electricity consumption and its cost and to anticipate the emergence of future smart grids.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China Sunergy Initiates Legal Proceedings Related to REC Supply Agreement
China Sunergy has initiated legal action with respect to bank guarantees related to its June 2008 supply agreement with REC, under which REC would start its performance from Jan 1, 2009 onwards.
Danfoss Solar to Raise Inverter Production Capacity to 1 GW
Danfoss Solar says the demand for its grid-connected solar inverter range has increased significantly in 2009. As a result, Danfoss is now preparing for further growth in 2010 by increasing production capacity to 1 GW.
CSI Receives 10MW Order from LG
Canadian Solar Inc. (CSI) has entered into a second memorandum of understanding with LG CNS Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the LG Group of South Korea, to implement a minimum 10 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects in Korea in 2010.
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