Rise & Shine: February 18, 2009
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
Stellar, SolarNet & Sharp Join Forces to Design and Construct the Largest Solar Installation in the Wine Country
SolarNet, Stellar and an innovative collaboration of solar energy professionals today announced that a combined 2.8MW are online at four California wineries owned by Fosters Wine Estates Asti, Etude, Stags Leap, and Beringer wineries.
groSolar Hires Mark Ledbetter
Ledbetter will direct groSolars new distribution activities and installer support programs in Southern California.
Solar Companies See Hope in Stimulus Bill Signed By Obama
This has been a rough year so far for the solar power business in the Bay Area. Not just the installers, but also the manufacturers of solar panels are hurting.
Stimulus Adds Tax Credits for Home Solar Panels
Homeowners will now be able to get a federal tax credit worth 30 percent of the cost of their new solar system even if they’re also receiving state or local financing.
NATIONAL NEWS
Namaste Solar Becomes Poster Child for Economic Recovery
The signing ceremony for the $787 billion stimulus package featured the Colorado solar installer, who was held up as an example of hope.
Konarka Secures $5M Loan for Manufacturing
The long-term loan comes from a funding collaboration between the Emerging Technology Fund of Massachusetts Development Finance Agency and the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trusts Business Expansion Initiative.
Alternative Energy Bill Advances
A Senate panel voted Tuesday for an alternative energy bill that would ensure a homeowner association can’t restrict a homeowner’s right to install and use solar energy systems.
Gov. Charlie Crist to Unveil FAUs Solar Roof in Fort Lauderdale
Gov. Charlie Crist is scheduled to be in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday to unveil the city’s first totally green roof — a large-scale solar installation at Florida Atlantic University’s Higher Education Complex building on Las Olas Boulevard.
City’s New Solar Deal Could Save Thousands
Mayor John Moak has circulated preliminary numbers to the School Committee that show several bids provide better terms than the controversial, no-bid deal struck with EyeOn Solar in September.
Local Builder Going Solar
Missouri Solar Applications, a company based in Jefferson City, is collaborating with Dow Chemical Co. to produce solar roof shingles for use in Columbia.
How Government Stimulus Plan Will Affect You
Homeowners looking to save energy, makers of solar panels and wind turbines and companies hoping to bring the electric grid into the computer age all stand to reap major benefits.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Trina Solar Announces Selected Estimated Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results
For the full year 2008, the Company expects total net revenues for the full year 2008 to meet its previous guidance range of $800 million to $850 million.
Canadian Solar Pre-Announces Select Q4 2008 Results
For the fourth quarter, the Company expects to achieve $66 to $71 million in net revenues.
Suntech Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results
Total net revenues grew 4.2% year-over-year to $414.4 million.
Venture Capitalists: Money is Tight in the Green Sector
If your clean tech company was looking for financing, the Clean Tech Investor Summit was the place to be. Unfortunately, if your clean tech company was counting on financing any time soon, the chances aren’t good.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
US Stimulus Bill to Support 110,000 Solar Jobs Growth
The solar energy provisions in this bill will help create 60,000 jobs in the solar industry in 2009 alone and a total of 110,000 over the next two years.
Obama Signs Stimulus Package
Grants will be available, instead of a tax credit, for offsetting 30 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system at home or business.
Obama Signs the Stimulus
Not everyone is thrilled with the grants for clean energy projects, however. Ed Fenster, CEO of residential solar financier SunRun, said in an email today that he expects the stimulus package to increase the price of solar.
Stimulus Package Gives a Boost to Clean Energy
Among the incentives, the plan will allow developers of renewable-energy projects to swap tax credits for cash grants.
TECHNOLOGY
Green Power Labs Inc.: Webinar on High Resolution Solar Mapping & Monitoring
Green Power Labs is pleased to partner with Leonardo Energy and to present its methodology and software for high resolution solar resource mapping and monitoring.
Xantrex to Supply Inverters For BP Solar Home Solution Systems
Xantrex will supply residential grid-tie solar inverters to BP Solar for use in its solar package solutions targeted to a network of dealers throughout North America.
Mitsubishi Electric Claims Highest Solar PV Conversion Efficiency Plan
Mitsubishi Electric Corp. says it has improved its conversion efficiency rate for a 150 mm x 150 mm, practical-size multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell from 18.6% to 18.9%.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Suntech Acquires Minority Stake in Asia Silicon
Suntech Power has recently acquired a minority stake in Asia Silicon Co., Ltd. from an existing shareholder for a total consideration of approximately $8.1 million.
Can Hybrid Solar Provide Non-stop Electricity?
Israeli energy company AORA wants to prove it doesn’t have to be sunny for a solar power plant to make electricity. Like weaning a car from total dependence on fuel, the answer, it says, is to go hybrid.
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.
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