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
Dollars and Daggers in California’s Energy
In California, a state where government-by-ballot-proposition has been raised to a high art, energy companies are pouring millions of dollars into efforts to protect their interests.
Camp Tamarancho to Receive New Solar Panels
Novato solar company SPG Solar Inc. plans to install a new solar panel system for free this weekend at Camp Tamarancho, a Boy Scout camp outside Fairfax.
Near Blythe, Historian Sees Solar Plants as Threat to Desert Carvings
Three major installations are planned in the vicinity of Blythe.
NATIONAL NEWS
Sharp Inaugurates PV System on Manufacturing Plant
This system, comprised of 790 Sharp solar modules, is one of the largest solar arrays in Tennessee.
Mercury Solar Teams Up With NREL on Testing
NREL will extract data for its own long-term research from Mercury Solar System’s solar test-bed, the first solar photovoltaic testing facility in the Northeast.
BrightView Systems Named Solar Energy “Cool Vendor” by Leading Analyst Fir
Enterprises considering the use of on site solar power generation, vendors in the PV industry and investors will benefit from this insight into some of the up and coming solar players.
Pew Report Says Air Force is Going Green
The Air Force has cut its energy consumption by 20 percent in the past six years, but it still has work to do, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Mercury News Interview: DickSwanson, Founder & President of SunPower
Silicon Valley reveres its pioneers. And in the solar industry, Dick Swanson, the founder and president of San Jose-based SunPower, is a true technology legend.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Mayor’s Green Energy Goals Could be in Jeopardy After Electric Rate Battle
The city’s lack of funds to buy clean-burning energy can be traced back to a 2006 decision by the Villaraigosa administration.
New England to Upgrade Electric Grid to Cut Bills
Power companies in New England are beginning work on a nearly half-billion-dollar plan to upgrade the region’s electric grid to make way for appliances that can shut down to reduce electric bills, improve energy conservation and connect to wind and solar energy.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Making America a 21st Century Solar Power
Solar Power presents opportunities in the United States that cannot be overstated.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Ex-Im Bank to Speed Financing of US Solar Exports
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) has launched its new “Solar Express” product that the banks said will provide streamlined financing for U.S. exports to small solar-energy projects that could be approved in as few as 60 days.
FRV to Invest 125M Euros in 37W of PV Projects
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV) and BP Solar have signed an agreement to develop and build solar photovoltaic (PV) projects totalling 37.1 megawatts (MW) in Italy. FRV will invest €125 million [US $167 million] for these new projects.
$15M VC Round for Microinverter Firm SolarBridge
New funding gets the ACPV module startup to production—and provides a path to cash-flow positive.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Chevron and GreenGulf Sign Agreement to Study Solar Energy in Qatar
he research will be performed at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP).
Solar Industry Divided Over EU Toxic Substances Law
The European solar industry has begun a campaign to exclude photovoltaic solar panels from the recast directive on the restriction of certain hazardous substances (RoHS), which is currently being debated by the EU institutions.
DuPont and Oerlikon Launch New Photovoltaic Encapsulant
Choosing or creating the right material not only speeds module production, but can significantly improve long-term power output and module durability.
