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
Wal-Mart Completes Three SoCal Projects
The chain completed installations at its locations at 14501 Lakewood Blvd. in Paramount, 3250 Big Dalton Ave. in Baldwin Park and 421 E. Highland Ave. in San Bernardino, the company said today.
NATIONAL NEWS
Utility PNM Prepares for 80 MW PV Program
The agreement will form the basis for a new PNM renewable plan to be filed by Jan. 25 with the N.M. Public Regulation Commission.
PA Company Proposes Lancaster County Solar Farm
Suburban Philadelphia company Community Energy is seeking to build a $20 million crop of solar panels amid grass on 40 acres of a farm in East Drumore Township.
Day4 Energy Expands Contract for Solar Electric Projects in Ontario
Day4 Energy has entered into a supply contract to provide a total of 5.1 megawatts or 23,000 modules to Ontario’s Hybridyne Power Systems Canada Inc., a 47.5 percent owned affiliate of Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc.
1 MW Solar System Unveiled in Maryland
The 1.01-megawatt (MW) solar installation covers nearly 175,000 square feet of roof space.
Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Finalists Unveiled
RenewableEnergyWorld.com, the World’s #1 Renewable Energy News Source, has announced the finalists for the 2009 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards. Now readers have the chance to pick their favorite nominee for the Reader’s Choice Award.
Dow Invests in CIGS Start-Up Nuvosun
Dow Chemical, which is rapidly expanding its footprint in green, has taken an equity investment in Nuvosun, a start-up focused on copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Wisconsin First in Midwest to Introduce Feed-in Tariff Bill in 2010
Powerful Wisconsin legislators were first out of the gate in a brewing race to be the first to pass feed-in tariff legislation in the Midwest.
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.
When Will Renewable Energy Companies Overtake Traditional Energy Companies?
When will renewable energy companies catch up to conventional energy companies? That is, when will we see an Exxon Mobil Corp., Chevron Corp. or ConocoPhilips of renewables?
Google: Search Engine, Mobile Player &…Energy Trader?
Its lawyers at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposing to “act as a power marketer, purchasing electricity and reselling it to wholesale customers.”
FirstEnergy Program Still Under Review
http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/jan/08/firstenergy-program-still-under-review/
State regulators are still reviewing FirstEnergy’s comprehensive plan to reduce energy use, including a revamped program to distribute compact-fluorescent bulbs to customers who want them.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Clean Energy Patent Growth Index
Solar Patents Part of Upward Trend in Clean Energy.
Solar Start-Up Bloodbath 2010
VCs and the Feds Have Pumped Billions into Solar Start-Ups but Only a Few Will Survive. We Pick Some Potential Winners and Losers.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Starwood Energy Closes Financing for 20 Megawatt Solar Power Generation
Starwood Energy Group Global today announced that its affiliate, Starwood SSM1 Canada Incorporated has completed agreements to finance and construct a 20 megawatt solar photovoltaic project in the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Prothea Completes First Round of Equity Financing
Italian system integrator Prothea has completed its first round of equity fundraising and start up Prothea Solar to develop a pipeline of 20MW solar energy projects in Italy, France and the Mediterranean area.
TECHNOLOGY
BIPV Metal Roofing Systems Provider Energypeak and Ascent Solar Work to Innovate Metal Roofing Solution
Both companies expect the testing of novel BIPV products to proceed through the first half of 2010, with the intent to purchase modules for projects in the second half of 2010.
How Efficient Can Solar Get?
Solar tech developers have been busy outdoing each other in breaking records for cell and panel efficiencies. Why is it important and how do these players stack up against each other?
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Aleo Solar AG increases Annual Revenue in 2009 to EUR 375 million
After a slow first six months, business picked up considerably from July, leading to a EUR 15 million year-on-year increase in revenue.
Solarcentury in Enviromena Partner in United Arab Emirates
Solarcentury has entered into a business partnering agreement with Enviromena Power Systems, the leading developer of solar projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
ReneSola Terminates Dynamic Green Energy Acquisition
ReneSola today announced that the Company has determined not to proceed with its acquisition of Dynamic Green Energy Limited.
Yingli Signs Five Sales Agreements for 30MW in Spain
The installations are expected to be ground-mounted power plants and will be installed in the first six months of 2010.
Fed Up
Germany’s Support for solar power is becoming ever harder to afford.
China’s Solarfun to Increase Capacity in 2010
Chinese photovoltaic cell maker Solarfun Power Holdings Co Ltd said on Friday it would increase its production capacity this year, anticipating higher demand.
