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
SunPower Signs 32-Megawatt Solar Power Supply Agreement With Toshiba
The SunPower panels will form the cornerstone of Toshiba’s new residential solar offering in Japan, to be launched on April 1.
NATIONAL NEWS
Solutia Announces Agreement to Acquire Etimex Solar
Solutia Inc. has reached a definitive agreement to purchase Etimex Solar GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Etimex Holding GmbH, which is controlled by funds affiliated with Alpha Gruppe.
Michigan Investing in Dow Solar Shingle Production Facility
Combined, the 11 projects are expected to create 17,321 new jobs and generate over $804 million in new investment in the state.
Hawaii PUC Approves New Electric Rate Method to Help Spur RE
The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has approved a new method for setting electric rates designed to encourage a clean energy economy for Hawaii.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
PG&E Rate Cut Would Help Bakersfield, Hot Areas
The proposed rate cut would average 2.5 percent and would take effect on June 1.
California Energy Commission Announces Clean Energy Program
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has announced the $90 million Clean Energy Manufacturing Program, which will provide financing to manufacturers in the clean energy sector.
Villaraigosa Considers a Carbon Surcharge for DWP Customers
The extra revenue would be used to move the utility from coal to wind, solar and geothermal sources of energy.
Smart Meters replacing Meter Readers in Southern California
SCE, PG&E and San Diego Gas and Electric are among those making the switch. Utilities hope this will lead to reduced power demand.
Bakersfield’s SmartMeter Trouble Worries Industry
Kern’s SmartMeter backlash has raised red flags around the world and sparked debate within the electric utility industry.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
US Backs Loans to Build World’s Largest Solar Power Complex
The Obama administration gave preliminary approval Monday for $1.4 billion in federal loan guarantees to help build what it says will be the world’s largest solar power complex — in California’s Mojave Desert.
Feingold, Ensign Introduce Renewable Energy Bill
U.S. Sens. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and John Ensign, R-Nev., are introducing renewable energy legislation that would ensure all forms of renewable energy meet a potential renewable electricity standard (RES).
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SolarWorld AG Reports 2009 Results
The Group outperformed its revenue target in spite of an industry-wide decline of prices by one third due to a shipment increase by 38 per cent.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SolarWorld Participates in Polysilicon Joint Venture in Qatar
The joint venture built there the first production of polysilicon in the Arabian Peninsula. Partners are the Qatar Foundation (70%) and the Qatar Development Bank (1%).
Showa Shell Solar Changes Name to Solar Frontier
The move will be accompanied by a global branding consolidation under a single name, Solar Frontier (the original name of its international sales subsidiary), and a new logo.
Mitsubishi Electric Expands Production Capacity
By March 2011, the company will raise its annual PV cell/module production capacity by 50 MW to 270MW, and ultimately plans to reach an annual capacity of 600MW at an early stage.
Toshiba Makes Full Scale Entry into Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems Business
Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today announced that it will make its full-scale entry into the residential solar photovoltaic systems business in Japan on April 1st 2010.
PV testing and Certification Center Opens in Singapore
The Association for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies (the VDE Institute) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) have partnered with the Solar Energy Research Institute Of Singapore (SERIS) to open what the organizations say is the first testing and certification center for photovoltaic modules in southeast Asia.
New Energy Loan Designe to Help Rural Canada Increase RE
Canadian agriculture producers and agribusiness operators who are considering the use of renewable energy sources in their business will soon have a new financing option, thanks to a new energy loan.
