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
Mayor Defends Success of City’s Pilot Solar Program
In a letter to the East Bay Express, Bates says he believes Berkeley FIRST might be the city’s “most important contribution to combating climate change” and says it has laid the foundation for a larger scale state-wide program.
NATIONAL NEWS
NREL Launches Strategic Energy Analysis Institute
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has established a new global institute dedicated to analyzing, speeding and smoothing the transition to sustainable energy worldwide.
Small Businesses Find Success with Renewable Energy
As of early March, small businesses have been selected to receive nearly $5.4 billion in funding across a number of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and related programs.
Texas Cities, Schools, State Park Win $32M in Funding for Solar Projects
The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has announced that 32 solar photovoltaic projects across the state have been awarded $32 million in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands
The survey also revealed that solar power was the top choice (38 percent) as the best use of public land.
SEIA on Utility Scale Solar
There are over 100 utility-scale solar projects in the U.S. totaling 17,000 MW now in the planning stage.
Belgian Solar Company Chooses Atlanta
A department spokeswoman said Enfinity received no tax breaks or state incentives. At least 30 jobs will be created.
Bill Would Extend Solar Benefits to Communities
Mark Udall yesterday announced a bill that would extend the tax credit available to homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs, to those homeowners who collectively own small solar arrays located somewhere other than their own property.
Catholic Schools are Installing Roof Based Solar Panels
Crews already have installed solar panels at elementary schools in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Amherst, Hamburg, Lancaster and Lockport, and the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo hopes to have 43 solar projects installed during the next several years.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
LA Utility Approves First of 4 Panned Rate Hikes
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power board has approved the first of four planned rate hikes that would help fund the city’s transition to renewable energy.
S.F. Sues Over PG&E Backed Ballot Measure
San Francisco and a group of government-owned utilities from around California took their campaign against a Pacific Gas and Electric Co.-sponsored ballot measure to court Thursday, arguing that Proposition 16 is a power grab dressed up as an expansion of taxpayers’ rights.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SunPower to Revised Earnings; Costs Understated
The restatement will lower SunPower’s profits for 2008 and the first three quarters of 2009 by $16.9 million, based on generally accepted accounting principles, the company reported Thursday.
Trina Solar to Offer 8M American Depository Shares
Chinese solar power company Trina Solar Ltd. said it plans to offer 7.9 million American depositary shares, each representing 50 ordinary shares of the company.
BrightSource Raising $150M Mezzanine Rounde
The solar thermal player, fresh from $1.37B in Fed loans, needs to raise a mezzanine round. En route to IPO?
General Electric Invests in Thin Film Solar Tech
GE plans to harness cadmium telluride technology from PrimeStar Solar Inc., a start up firm that GE holds a major stake in.
Acro Energy Receives Stock Exchange Approval to Close Private Placement
The sale of 1,086,044 units at CAD0.29 per unit raised gross proceeds of CAD314,953 for Acro Energy.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Germany to Add Record 5 GW Solar Power in 2010
Karin Freier, head of the Environment Ministry’s solar energy department, said planned cuts of 16 percent in state subsidies that will take effect in July were fuelling the boom as investors rush to beat the deadline.
