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
Port of Sacramento Now Operating on Solar Power
The Port of West Sacramento today unveiled a newly installed solar power system that will provide all of its electricity needs over the next 25 years.
Volunteers Complete First ‘Solar Build’ In Sunnyvale
SunWork Renewable Energy Projects, a South Bay nonprofit dedicated to spreading solar power with the help of trained volunteers, completed its first “solar build” in Sunnyvale.
Escondido Council Approves Solar Retrofit
Escondido will spend $1.2 million to retrofit its facilities for energy efficiency with solar panels, “cool” roofing and sensors that turn off lights.
NATIONAL NEWS
Not So Fast – Solar Installation Costs are Not Dropping
In an article stating that Cost of Installed Solar Fell 30% in Past Decade, there is a strong inference that the entire cost of installing solar is going down. This is not entirely accurate.
Residential Solar Customers Creating a Gold Mine in Arizona
Arizona Invites Solar Companies Worldwide to Tap into Arizona’s Booming Residential Solar Market; Now more than 600 Solar Related Businesses Are Scrambling to Meet the Demand.
PV Powered Supplies Inverters to Largest Rooftop Solar Installation in Pacific Northwest
PV Powered’s commercial inverters are being installed in a new 2.4 MW project in Portland, Ore., the largest rooftop solar project in the Pacific Northwest.
Executive Departures at Clean Energy Firms
The past week has brought a spate of executive departures at renewable energy start-ups, with the president of SolarReserve, a power plant builder, and the chief executives of Clipper Windpower and Aurora Biofuels stepping down.
Solar FlexRack Chosen for One Largest Solar Projects in North America
The Blue Wing Solar Project in Texas will use 214,500 photovoltaic modules.
Why Applied Materials Should Curb its Solar Plans
It’s crystalline clear: the amorphous business isn’t working for Applied.
US Firms Working to Lower Cost of Solar Energy
Ohio One piece of the American effort to find a way to make solar energy cheap enough that everyone will want it is unfolding in a modest redbrick building in this Midwestern city once known as one of the nation’s top makers of glass.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Marin Officials Lodge Complain Against PG&E
Marin County energy officials have filed a complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission over what they claim are attempts by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to quash their plans to offer an alternative, cleaner energy source to county residents.
PG&E Customer Refuses to Take Smart Meter, Locks Up Old Meter
Dieteman’s beef isn’t with his bill. It’s with issues of privacy and Big Brother. And to show PG&E he’s serious, he locked up his old meter.
T-RECs Invade California Energy Market
To meet renewable goals, California utilities can buy power from Arizona households. It’s a new ball game.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solarbuzz Reports World Solar Photovoltaic Market Grew to 6.43 Gigawatt in 2009
World solar photovoltaic (PV) market installations reached a record high of 6.43 gigawatt (GW) in 2009, representing growth of 6% over the previous year.
Booming Residential Solar Market in Arizona Drives Growth, Creates 50 Additional Jobs
Executives Cite Top Rated Solar Incentive Programs, Utility Co-op Marketing Programs and the Rising Residential Interest in Solar Power to Save Money and Reduce Electric Bills.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Energy Bill More About Jobs
Sen. John Kerry, hoping to win over wavering senators, said he is pushing environmental reforms to create jobs and spark energy independence, with climate benefits along “for the ride.”
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar Energy Firms Seen Vulnerable
Shares of a number of solar energy companies have become vulnerable as the Obama administration has turned out to be a lot less lucrative for green investors than originally hoped, Barron’s said.
TECHNOLOGY
Solar Panels Made Three Times Cheaper and Four Times More Efficient
In this latest news, scientists are using current technology in a new type of concentrating array which they say is four times more efficient and three times cheaper than current solar cells.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SMA Plans Ontario Manufacturing Facility
Inverter manufacturer, SMA Solar Technology AG is to strengthen its presence in North America with the foundation of a subsidiary in Canada. The site will be selected during the course of the first half of 2010.
Moser Baer Makes Solar Breakthrough
Moser Baer PhotoVoltaic, the solar module manufacturing arm of Moser Baer India, has increased its thin film solar module manufacturing capacity by 20%.
Span & Germany Forecast to be Renewable Powerhouses of Europe
The EU will surpass its target to consume 20 per cent of its energy from renewable energy by 2020, according to national forecasts submitted to the European Commission.
Canada’s Largest Supermarket Chain Going Solar
Ontario’s got a new feed-in tariff, and the largest supermarket chain in Canada, Loblaw, is looking to take advantage of it.
Trina Increased Module Shipments to Enerqos
Trina Solar Limited announced that its subsidiary, Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd., has increased its yearly shipments to Enerqos SPA.
