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
SunRun Residential PV: “There’s a Ton of Business”
PPAs and PACE are complementary tools for financing home energy efficiency.
Solar Net Metering Bill Heads to Schwarzenegger’s Desk
The program currently caps the amount of electricity eligible for the credit to 2.5% of each utility’s peak power demand. The measure passed Thursday doubles that cap to 5%.
NATIONAL NEWS
SunPower Taps a $100M Sale Leaseback Financing Program
The Deal: Wells Fargo and SunPower discuss financing of their distributed solar energy projects.
SolarCraft Brings Solar to Historic Jackse Winery
Novato-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a solar electric generating system at the newly renovated Jackse Winery in Glen Ellen.
Solarized Portland on a Mission to Make Solar Panels Affordable For All
The plan: to convince like-minded homeowners to go in on a bulk purchase of solar panels — and to get the best possible price. Hard and Stevens signed up.
Massachusetts Initiating Reform with Government Grants
Governor Deval Patrick today announced the award of over $13 million in federal stimulus funds to help 111 communities across Massachusetts invest in clean energy and energy efficiency projects.
City Approves Solar Site
City council members unanimously approved conditional use permits for two tracts of land that would allow either to be used for what is expected to be the largest solar power plant in North Carolina.
Alpha Energy Commissions to First Solar Installation in the City of Avondale
The Alpha Group, recently completed the construction and commissioning of a 75kW Elevated Solar PV Grid-Tied structure for Cox Communications in Avondale, AZ.
There’s Something About Maryland…
That state over there on the other coast is trying to give California a run for its money as the solar leader with some news this week.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Cali Utilities: Get ready to Give Your Customers Smart Meter Data!
By the end of 2011, the CPUC wants the big investor-owned utilities to provide customers and approved third parties with “near real time” data from smart meters.
Classifying the Top States for Utility Scale PV Development in the US
Look for states with RPS solar requirements, municipal utilities, and (of course) California to drive market growth.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Washington Stalemate Blocks Job Creating Investment in Green Energy
At a time when the U.S. economy is desperate for jobs and investment in future growth, economists and business leaders say these projects – and billions of dollars in other investments in so-called “clean energy” — are on hold in large part because of political stalemate in Washington.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Plan B Energy and MP2 Capital Partner to Advance Rooftop Solar PV Projects in Ontario
Toronto-based Plan B Energy today announces that it has joined forces with San Francisco-based MP2 Capital to jointly develop, finance, own, and operate 10 megawatts of rooftop PV systems under Ontario’s feed-in-tariff program.
Canadian Solar Updates 4Q09 Outlook
Canadian Solar today updated its outlook for the fourth quarter 2009 ended December 31, 2009 based on selected unaudited financial results.
First Solar Announces Fourth Quarter Results
Quarterly revenues were $641.3 million, up from $480.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 and up from $433.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.
TECHNOLOGY
As Solar Power Advances, Displosal will Become an Issue
Like any other consumer product, solar panels have a limited shelf life and disposing of old panels will eventually come into play.
Innovalight’s Silicon Ink “Tatoo” Will Lower the Cost of Solar Cells
Compared to conventional vacuum processes, the inkjet method is significantly less expensive, and far more energy efficient.
Ceramics for Solar Cells and OLEDs
DuPont wants to show how we can get away from glass later this year.
The Secret Ingredients Inside IBM’s New Solar Cell
Think thin films for thin film.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EU Countries Vie to Meet Renewable Goals
The report, which is based on each country’s most recent forecast, suggests that 13 member states expect to meet their goals, while eight countries say they will go beyond their benchmarks.
To Date 25,000 of CO2 Emissions Avoided by Photovoltaic Plants Arsol-1 and Arsol Toledo
Both plants, located in Ciudad Real and Toledo, Spain, are producing highly efficient clean energy with a total of 15 MW of power.
Italy to Double Solar Capacity up to 2,000 MW in ‘10
Italy, Europe’s third-biggest solar market, is set to double photovoltaic capacity up to 2,000 megawatts in 2010 as operators race to sign up for generous incentives before they expire, a senior sector official said.
Israel Talks Solar with Egypt, Biofuel with Jordan
Israel has started talks with Egypt about possibly establishing a joint solar project in Egypt’s Sinai Desert.
T-Solar and Solarpack will Sell 173Gwh a Year of Photovoltaic Solar Energy to the Government of Peru for 20 Years
T-Solar’s installed capacity makes it one of the biggest photovoltaic (PV) power generators in the world, and Solarpack is a pioneer in the development, construction and maintenance of photovoltaic projects.
