Rise & Shine: September 30, 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 to Fund Largest Energy Efficiency Effort in US
State regulators have approved plans by Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas to provide $3.1 billion in consumer rebates, retrofits and other efficiency programs over the next three years.
NATIONAL NEWS
State’s Questions Mean Delay in Approval of Ocean County Solar Panel Project
A state environmental panel gave the township a list of questions Tuesday it still needs answered about its planned solar panel project at the local landfill before it can grant approval.
Solar Sells: City Makes Way for Rising Industry
With the help of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the state of Tennessee, plus federal tax incentives, Wampler Sausage will soon begin installation of a 22.75 kilowatt photovoltaic system to generate solar power.
Spire Enters into Commercial Agreements with Korea’s Uni-CHEM
Uni-CHEM has indicated its intent to lease space from Spire at its Hudson, New Hampshire’s Spire Semiconductor facility to house the automated 60MW Cell Line and 50MW Module Line.
Alternative Energy Water War Slows Some Solar Projects
Here is an inconvenient truth about renewable energy: It can sometimes demand a huge amount of water.
Recurrent to Use Spanish Roofs for Solar Power
A San Francisco solar company will use the broad, flat rooftops of commercial distribution centers in Spain to generate as much as 4.8 megawatts of electricity, under an agreement announced Tuesday.
Don’t Dismiss Renewable Energy in Pennsylvania
Researchers conclude that environmental factors are relatively unimportant in determining where manufacturers set up, with labor costs and access to markets being more prominent.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Clean Power Grants Step in to Fill Tax Credit Gap, but Problems Remain
Even if the program is tweaked so that investors aren’t disqualified, the clock is ticking as the grants are set to expire in 2010.
The Strategic Imperative for the U.S. Senate to Pass an Effective Energy Bill
The United States Senate possesses the key to address the most critical national security issue that the country presently faces.
Climate Control Debate Heats Up in Senate
President Barack Obama’s drive to tackle global warming gets a boost on Wednesday, when Democrats in the Senate are expected to unveil a bill aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next four decades.
Senate Climate Bill: Similar to the House, but Tougher
The official draft is supposed to be released on Thursday during a press conference in Washington DC, and introduced by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.).
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Partnerships, VC funds Warm Up French Solar Industry
As summer fades away, many initiatives have emerged to continue to foster solar energy on the French soil.
Financing Heating Up for Solar Industry
Lending is starting to flow a little more freely toward solar-power projects and providers, after a stall.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SOLON Partners with Pretium Renewable Energy in Israel
This strategic move is intended to capitalize on the attractive feed-in tariffs for greenfield solar power plants that are expected to be introduced shortly.
Wacker Exits Solar Wafer Business
The reason for this move is WACKER’s decision to focus its solar activities from now on exclusively on its core competency which is the production of hyperpure polycrystalline silicon.
Eleca Signs 10MW Agreement with Enfinity
Eleca S.p.A. has executed an agreement with Enfinity NV for the planning and implementation of ten photovoltaic ground based plants of 1 MWp power each. The systems will be built in the Region of Puglia over the next few months.
Suntech Power Connects 10MW PV System
In addition to supplying high quality solar modules for the system, Suntech designed, installed and managed the development of the solar system and holds a minority share of the project.
EuPD Research & SEMI PV to Share Market Information
The agreement lays the foundations for the exchange of market information and membership benefits.
Italy’s Piedmont Region Plans for 75MW of PV
Spanish solar photovoltaic multinational, the OPDE Group is set to sign an agreement with the regional government of Piedmont in Italy for the construction of 17 solar facilities in the period 2009-2010 with a combined capacity of some 75 MW.
Fifteen European PV Entities Join Forces to Reduce Bureaucratic Barriers and Ensure Successful Deployment of PV in the EU
Over the next 30 months, fifteen PV entities will work on a project called PV Legal to identify and find solutions to overcome market barriers for PV at the level of regulatory frameworks and in the end reduce the lead-time to connect a PV system to the electricity grid.
Townsville Solar City’s Anniversary Marks Clean Energy Success
Environment Minister Peter Garrett joined Ergon Energy and council representatives in Queensland this week to mark the first year of the $32 million Townsville Solar City and the launch of a 100 kW solar farm.
Click here to subscribe.