Rise & Shine: February 6, 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
L.A. City Controller Laura Chick Opposes Solar Energy Plan
Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick formally came out today against the solar energy plan known as Measure B, saying the proposal was rushed through the City Council without sufficient review.
SolarCraft Completes Solar Electric System for Dahl-Beck Electric
Novato-based SolarCraft announced today it has completed the design and installation of an 83 kW solar electric system for Dahl-Beck Electric in Richmond, CA. The third generation family owned and operated electric motor repair facility is now powered by the sun.
San Jose Unified School District Completes 5.5MW Solar Project
San Jose Unified School District, Chevron Energy Solutions and Bank of America have completed what is believed to be the largest K-12 solar and energy efficiency project in the U.S.
NATIONAL NEWS
1366 Technologies Wins DOE Contract to Develop Low-Cost Cells
The Massachusetts startup plans to design its own factory equipment to show it can mass-produce multicrystalline silicon cell with an efficiency to 19 percent instead of the typical 15.5 percent.
Evergreen Considers Contract Manufacturing
The maker of silicon wafers, cells and panels now wants to contract with manufacturers to make cells and panels to cut cost. Evergreen doubled its fourth-quarter revenue but widened the net loss.
US, China Must Cooperate on Climate Change
The Center of U.S.-China Relations and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change called on leaders of the countries to take immediate action and collaborate on developing technologies for clean use of coal, enhancing the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, and creating new mechanisms for financing clean energy.
Bay Future, Midland Tomorrow, Saginaw Future Introduce Solar Initiative
The broader partnership is intended to attract increased business investment to the Great Lakes Bay area of Michigan. A specialized marketing campaign and Web site that will focus on the solar supply chain will also be officially launched.
Timex Group Dedicates Ground-Mounted Solar Array in CT
Timex Group USA held a dedication ceremony for its recently completed installation of 800 solar panels outside its Middlebury, Conn., headquarters.
Construction Company Installs Solar Roof
A Jacksonville construction company is going green, with a new solar roof system that will harness the sun’s energy.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
City Becomes First in US With Solar Feed-in Tariffs
Gainesville will be the first city in the U.S. to implement a solar feed in tariff, city commissioners decided in an unanimous vote Thursday.
Duke Says Restrictions on Solar Program are Too Costly
The N.C. Utilities Commission will hear arguments March 16 on Duke’s request that it remove restrictions on how the utility can recover its costs for the $50 million program.
Even With Stimulus, Smart Grid Could Face Rough Year
Smart grid companies are showing some concern over utilities slowing down smart grid rollout plans in the near term, and the stimulus package is actually just a drop in the bucket of the investment needed to launch a nationwide smart grid.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar Companies Post Mixed Results
Solar companies are painting a mixed picture of the sector’s health this month, with some companies surprising with strong results for the latest three-month period, and others disappointing.
Evergreen Solar Announces 2008 Fourth Quarter and Annual Results
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2008 were $44.2 million, including $3.1 million of fees from our Sovello (formerly EverQ) joint venture, compared to $22.1 million for the third quarter of 2008, including $4.3 million of fees and $22.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2007, including $5.3 million of fees
Renewable Energy Project Finance: Cause for Optimism Amidst Turmoil
Financing conditions have changed so drastically, and quickly, in the U.S. during the past few months that renewable energy industry professionals may already be looking back at the recent years’ phenomenal growth rates with a sense of nostalgia.
Sharp Q3 in Red, Sees First Ever Annual Loss
Sharp is the world’s No.2 solar cell maker behind Germany’s Q-Cells.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
2009: The year of the Shake-out: IEA Underestimates Renewables
Everyone in the industry has been preparing for a time of falling renewable energy prices, rapid consolidation, and a quick push-out of weak companies. That time is now. And the economic crisis is only speeding the process up.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Renewable Energy Stimulus Plan Update
Under the Senate version of the bill companies that manufacture renewable energy related equipment (i.e., wind turbines and solar panels) could receive a tax credit equal to 30% of the new investments in plants or machinery.
Industry Association Calls on Congress to Pass Solar Policies in Economic Stimulus
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has called on Congress to quickly pass the economic recovery package with key solar provisions that will have an immediate impact on job creation in America and keep the solar economic engine humming.
Who Gets What: Tax Breaks for Energy Conservation
The $900 billion economic recovery package before Congress includes more than $50 billion in energy-related grants, tax breaks and loan guarantees to spur solar and wind energy development and to cut energy use in everything from government buildings to schools and homes.
DOE Offering Loan Guarantees for Renewable Energy Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking applications for loan guarantees under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for the June 30, 2008, solicitation.
TECHNOLOGY
PV Balancing Act Boosts Output Over the Long Haul
As solar lab researchers one-up each other with sub-percent increases in PV efficiency, Act Solar is focusing on array management. They say their PowerString technology can output 40-80% more total power over the lifetime of a PV system.
Xantrex Introduces Utility Scale Grid Tie Solar Inverters in Italy
These high power solar inverters are designed to meet the technical requirements of large scale applications for utilities and businesses.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Renewable Energy Funding at Risk
Renewable energy leaders warn that sector could be ’strangled at birth’ by proposed closure of £50m micro-renewables fund.
Suntech Granted Preliminary Injunctions Against Trademark Infringers
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. has been granted preliminary injunctions in Germany against “Suntech Power Holding (Hongkong) Co., Limited”, which is unrelated to Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd, and two identified distributors.
Juwi and Real Estate Developer SEGRO Start Long Term Cooperation
The juwi group and SEGRO plc, one of Europe’s leading property investment and developing companies, have agreed long-term cooperation for climate protection.
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