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
Saving on Energy Costs By Going Solar
Solar energy just might be on eof the few recession proof industries around.
Minturn Nut Company Goes Solar with Cenergy Power
Minturn Nut Company, a leading grower and processor of California almonds, last month completed a 403 kilowatt (kW) direct current solar photovoltaic system on the rooftop of its warehouse facilities.
Town of Fairfax Leads the Way to Solar
SPG Solar Installs Solar System on the Progressive Town’s Public Facilities.
Solar World Works with Chevron to Expands its US Business
Working with Chevron Energy Solutions, SolarWorld has installed civic projects in California with total output capacity of more than 15 MW.
NATIONAL NEWS
Lawmakers Finish Energy Summit with Projects Tour
Lawmakers and alternative energy industry officials are following up a daylong energy summit in Las Vegas with a tour of nearby clean energy projects.
BLM Planning Meetings on Solar Projects Near Primm
Federal land managers are planning a series of public meetings about a proposal to build two solar energy generating stations near the Nevada-California state line.
Trina Solar Supplies Modules for Solar Power Project at Colorado State University
Trina has been selected by Renewable Ventures to supply modules for a two-MW PV project in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Water District Wins $3.8M for Solar Panels
The sun is shining down on the Chelmsford Water District, where $3,783,000 of federal stimulus money will help create one of the largest municipal solar projects on the East Coast.
Oregon Governor Vetoes Two Bills, Signs One
H.B.2472 reduces the business energy tax credit cap (BETC) from $10 million to $3.5 million, a reduction that the governor believes goes too far and would put Oregon at a competitive disadvantage in growing the state’s renewable energy sector.
Labor Secretary Expects More Green Job Hiring
Hiring in the alternative energy industry will pick up in the next 12 months, though it will take some time before so-called green jobs will become a bigger part of the U.S. job market, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said Monday.
Getting Sports Events to Go Green
Fenway Park in Boston, home to the Boston Red Sox, uses solar panels to heat hot water.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Progress Energy Carolinas Plans 2.3 MW PV System
Progress Energy Carolinas has signed an agreement with a California company to buy electricity from a 2.3-megawatt solar farm in Laurinburg that the firm plans to build.
SMUD Announces Feed-in Tariffs – But Can Program Deliver as Promised?
The specific tariffs proposed by SMUD have raised questions among analysts whether the proposal accomplished its stated objective of developing a “fair” price for renewable energy.
Echelon Scores Duke Energy Smart Meter Deal
The company, which has been a strong seller in the European market for several decades, said Monday that it signed a $15.8 million agreement to supply Duke Energy with smart meters.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Glut Feeling: Solar Power’s Got Too Much of a Good Thing
Even though demand for solar power has fallen off sharply this year, thanks in large part to the recession and Spain’s decision to slam the brakes on solar, production of solar-power components has charged ahead.
Solar Panel Glut Could Last Through 2012, Says Report
Solar panel makers aren’t slowing down their production enough despite the lackluster market demand. Almost half of the solar panels made in 2009 would sit in warehouses, says iSuppli.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Will Federal Grants Propel Renewable Projects?
It’s been almost a year since Congress passed an extension of tax credits for solar, wind and other renewable power projects. Yet they haven’t sparked investment as hoped, and now the industry is looking to a new federal program to pick up some of the slack.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
REC ASA Announces 2nd Quarter 2009 Results
Renewable Energy Corporation ASA (REC) reported revenue of NOK 2,308 million in the second quarter 2009, an increase of 9 percent from NOK 2,121 million in the second quarter 2008.
Centrosolar Reports First Half 2009 Results
Centrosolar Group has used the first half of 2009, characterized by a weak market environment and a continuous price declines, to make strategic adjustments to its business portfolio. The inventory that had been built up in 2008 during a phase of high sourcing prices was written down and sold-off.
DayStar narrows Q2 Loss, Needs Funding
DayStar Technologies Inc, a developer of solar photovoltaic products based on CIGS thin-film deposition technology, on Monday reported a narrowed second quarter loss.
Solar Strock Review: Spring Summer 2009
Solar is fundamental to our efforts to produce energy without destroying our environment. Despite this fact, some were unconvinced about solar’s prospects in 2009 and beyond.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A CIGS Factory-in-a-Box?
Germany’ Centrotherm Photovoltaics has begun selling equipment to make CIGS solar cells. Most everyone else has spent millions to get to that point.
ENEL Completes 6MW PV System
A photovoltaic plant in Montalto di Castro (Viterbo) has just been completed. With 6 MW of installed capacity, it is currently the largest photovoltaic plant in Italy and among the largest in Europe.
Spire Solar Establishes Spire Solar India
Spire Solar Taps in to the Vast Potential of India’s Solar Market.
