Rise & Shine: January 14, 2010
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
Solar Power Study for Milpitas City Buildings
City-owned buildings and facilities will be under review as part of a regional effort to make existing municipal facilities greener mainly by harnessing the power of the sun.
PV Powered Announces Two Megawatt Commercial Projects
SPG Solar, Inc. chooses PV Powered inverters for new California installations.
City Clamping Down on Solar Incentives Amid False Promises
Supervisor Chris Daly introduced legislation Tuesday that would add restrictions to the city’s solar inventive program.
NATIONAL NEWS
Power Leases May be Allowed on Neb. School Land
Nebraska lawmakers voted Wednesday to advance Sen. Greg Adams of York’s bill allowing school trust land to be leased for wind or solar power development.
Solar Energy Initiatives Announces Second $4M Solar Project in Southeastern US
Solar Energy Initiatives will serve as the developer of the project and will provide all of the solar equipment and balance of system to the commercial site.
Council Eyes Additional Solar Project Incentives
To keep the principals of E2Logicx Solar interested in Brush, the Brush City Council plans to offer additional incentives for a project that would bring the company’s world headquarters to the area.
First Solar Acquires Solar Project Development Pipeline from Edison Mission Group
First Solar has completed the acquisition of a portion of Edison Mission Group’s (EMG) solar project development pipeline. The utility-scale solar projects are located in California and the Southwest.
Norkus Enterprises Goes Solar
The combined system will be one of America’s largest Solyndra™ solar photovoltaic systems.
Two Solar Companies in Forefront for Approval
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management recently announced two companies — Solar Millenium and Solar Reserve — are among 31 projects nationwide identified for a fast track in the permitting process.
PV Powered Announces Two Megawatt Commercial Projects
The first of the two new installations is at a rice drying facility in Williams, Calif. (north of Sacramento) operated by the DePue Warehouse Company.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Colo. Dems want to Raise Renewable Energy Standard
Under current law, investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy must get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources like wind and solar energy by 2020. Gov. Bill Ritter announced Tuesday that he is backing planned legislation requiring them to hit 30 percent over the next 10 years instead.
Businesses Oppose Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan
Wisconsin’s business community is divided over Gov. Jim Doyle’s clean energy plan that calls for increasing the use of renewable fuels and opens the door to nuclear power, with opponents saying the new mandates will weaken Wisconsin’s already struggling manufacturing sector.
Utility Regulators Reject FPL Profit Making Request
The Public Service Commission dealt another blow to Florida Power & Light, this time unanimously rejecting a 12.5 percent return on equity sought in its $1.2 billion-a-year rate hike request.
NM Utility to Refile Renewable Energy Plan
Public Service Co. of New Mexico and environmental and energy groups have reached an agreement the utility says could lead to nearly 80 megawatts more of solar power—enough for 26,000 homes.
Cali’s Utilities Won’t Be Able to Meet 2010 State RPS
While it’s already 2010, even by the end of the year utilities won’t have enough clean power projects built and delivering power to meet the state requirements.
PG&E Initiative on Power Suppliers on Ballot
A ballot measure, backed by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., that would limit the ability of California cities to go into the public power business has qualified for the June election, according to the secretary of state.
Roundup: Opower, Xcel to Monitor Homes, Verizon Teams with Ambient and DOE Gives Out $80M
Smart grid is coming to a home near you.
Xcel Sought Millions from Start-Ups for SmarGridCity
Pay $5 million and be in the pilot, said the utility. No thanks, said prospective partners.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
China’s Domestic Solar Market: Time to Wake Up
China’s PV market will need to borrow some strategies from China’s success in wind.
Asia Pacific Wind & Solar Markets Hot in 2010 Frost Says
Renewable energy development in the Asia Pacific region holds considerable potential for growth in 2010 as initiatives taken by governments in 2009 are likely to stimulate not only the massive adoption of green energy technologies, but also R&D investments and manufacturing capacity.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Prospects Fading for US Climate Legislations in 2010
Now, as energy issues slip further down the policy priority list in the wake of that failed meeting, advocates are left wondering if the U.S. will see any significant piece of clean energy legislation in 2010.
Not in Anyone’s Backyard
Protect the environment or create renewable energy? A new bill shows they’re far from the same thing.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Ardour Capital’s 2009 Year-in-review, 2010 Look Ahead
Financial analysts look to the year past and the year ahead reporting on trends in the solar, wind, biofuel, energy storage and efficiency and geothermal sectors. They analyze the U.S. legislative landscape as well.
Arise Technologies Announces Settlement of the Second Drawdown from Committed Equity Facility of $200,000
Under the terms of the Agreement, to complete the $200,000 drawdown, ARISE issued 839,447 common shares to Haverstock at an average price of $0.238 per share.
Enecsys Secures 2.5M from Good Energies for Micro-Inverter
Enecsys Limited, a manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) micro-inverters, has received an investment of £2.5 million [US $4.2 million] from Good Energies.
Sustainable Energy Fund Launches New Program to Acquire $20M in Environmental Attributes
Sustainable Energy Fund Introduces New Program To Spur Small Scale Renewable Energy Generation Development.
1 Daqo New Energy Corp Files for $108M IPO
China’s Daqo New Energy Corp, which manufactures polysilicon for solar panel makers, filed for an initial public offering of up to $108 million on Tuesday.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CNPV Receives 60 MW Module Order
CNPV Solar Power SA has entered into a long-term strategic partnership sales agreement with Edisun Power Europe AG, a Swiss project development and project financing company.
Suntech Powers Shanghai World Expo with 3MW Solar Systems
The Shenergy Group, one of Shanghai’s leading energy companies, engaged Suntech’s system integration team to design, manufacture, and install the two solar systems.
Germany Moves Toward Trimming Solar Power Incentives
The government, photovoltaic companies and consumer lobby groups moved closer on Wednesday towards an agreement on trimming state-mandated incentives for solar power to reflect a steeper overall slide in costs.
France Trims Solar-Power Tariff For Rooftop Producers
France cut tariffs for electricity produced from rooftop solar panels by 24 percent in an overhaul of clean-energy subsidies aimed at spurring new projects without fueling speculation.
Uni-Invest Makes 240 Roofs Available for Solar Installations
A declaration of intent to that effect was signed by Uni-Invest and Eneco.
Russia Sees Huge Potential for Joint Ventures
Russia keen to assist Indian firms to construct solar power stations. They are also planning to enter into series of MoUs with Indian partners
Yingli Receives $4.5M Tax Credit for Planned Establishment for Manufacturing Operations in the US
Yingli has received through its US subsidiary, Yingli Americas, a tax credit of US$4.5 million from the United States Treasury Department.
Uni-Invest Makes 240 Roofs Available for Solar Installations
A declaration of intent to that effect was signed by Uni-Invest and Eneco.
EDF EN Comissions 23.4 MW Arnprior Solar Plant
This project is the first major solar installation undertaken by EDFEN in Canada.
Satcon Powers China’s Largest Ground-Mounted and Largest Rooftop Projects of 2009
Partners with GCL on 20MW Xunzhou Power Plant and 3MW Yancheng Guoneng Rooftop Installation.
Suntech Completes 3MW Solar Installation at Shanghai World Expo
The China and Theme pavilions feature two building-integrated solar systems with a combined power output of 3.12 megawatts (MW).
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