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
Can the US or California Institute a Feed-in Tariff?
The “Renewable Portfolio Standard in California has failed.” The way to grow the PV market in the U.S. is with a Feed-in Tariff, according to the FIT Coalition.
German Solar Firms Get Warm Welcome in California Market
California hopes to use 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, making it an attractive market for Geman solar companies.
NATIONAL NEWS
Spire Solar Systems Leverages Rapidly Growing Northeast Market
The solar power systems will be located on the big box retail facilities owned by BJ’s in Ledgewood, NJ; Flemington, NJ; South Attleboro, MA and Leominster, MA. Electricity will be provided to BJ’s under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Tioga Energy.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
New Hampshire Senate Approves Increased Net Metering
Current law limits the size of eligible generators to 100 kW. The new legislation allows generators up to 1 MW.
Nearly 5% Electric Rate Hike Approved by DWP Board
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s appointees at the Department of Water and Power approved a 4.8% electric rate increase Thursday, with utility officials warning that the political standoff over the issue had put the city’s renewable energy goals in jeopardy.
Leno Bill Would Let Rate Payers Weigh in Before PG&E Claims Profits
The measure would require ratepayer approval before a public utility company can transfer profits to their shareholding company.
PUC Waited too Long to Tell PG&E to Back Off
The scolding that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. just got for its over-the-top campaign urging Marin ratepayers to opt out of the new public power authority was much deserved, if overdue.
Belvedere and Fairfax First to Sign Up for 100%Renewable Electricity
Belvedere and Fairfax have become the first two municipal governments in Marin to sign up for Marin Clean Energy’s so-called “deep green” option, which guarantees their electricity will come from 100 percent renewable sources.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar Growth Slows With Homes a Glaring Exception
A new report from a solar industry group found that the pace of solar installations slowed last year amid the economic downturn.
Solar Power Firms Add 481MW in 2009
U.S. solar power developers including Toledo-born First Solar Inc. and SunPower Corp. added 481 megawatts of the renewable energy last year, according to the Solar Energy Industry Association.
Solar Industry Revenue Spikes 36%in 2009, Says Trade Troup
And California continues to dominate, according to an annual report released Thursday morning by the trade group.
Growing Pains
The price of solar panels is falling fast enough to hurt Western manufacturers, but it is not yet low enough to make the sun a competitive source of electricity.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SunPower Secures Three-Year, $350 Million Letter of Credit Facility
The new facility, which initially provides for a maximum issuance of $350 million in letters of credit but, at the agreement of the parties, may be increased to a maximum of $400 million.
Worldwide Energy and Manufacturing USA Announces Record Revenue for Fiscal Year 2009
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, net income before tax was $0.78 million compared to net income of $4.18 million in the same period of 2008.
GT Solar Jumps Most in 4 Months as Analyst Sees Sales Doubling
GT Solar International Inc., a supplier of equipment to solar-cell manufacturers, surged the most since December after an analyst at Wunderlich Securities forecast sales will double in two to five years.
TECHNOLOGY
Norwegian Solar Grade Silicon Looks for Bright Future
A Norwegian producer of solar-grade silicon, Elkem Solar, has combined basic and applied research to develop production methods that cut costs and consume less energy than conventional silicon production.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Conergy Erects 3 MW PV System
Conergy AG has erected in India one of the largest photovoltaic plants in the country. With the 3-megawatt-strong power plant, Conergy will contribute to the power supply of the local rural population around the city of Itnal situated in the province of Karnataka.
Sino-American Silicon May Enter US Solar Module Market
Sino-American Silicon Products Inc. of Taiwan plans to enter the U.S. market for solar modules amid reports that the Obama Administration will start to push clean-energy bill after winning Congressional approval on the health care bill.
Iberdola Signs 50MW PPA with We Energies
We Energies will purchase 50 megawatts (MW) of energy from Iberdrola Renewables’ Barton Wind Power Project in operation near Kensett, Iowa.
