Rise & Shine: April 7, 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
Martinez Man Installs Solar to Save Money, Reduce Carbon Footprint
Martinez resident Jim Baak, Director of Policy for Large Scale for the San Francisco-based Vote Solar Initiative, has spent years convincing others that solar is the right move. But it wasn’t until recently that the conditions were right for Baak to install photovoltaic solar panels on his own home.
Solar Energy Becoming a Cost-Effective Way of Generating Electricity in California
In 2008 the US PV market grew by over 60% to more than 350 MW of newly installed solar power. The majority of this new power was built in California.
NATIONAL NEWS
Solar Energy Debated
Lawmakers were told Monday the solar energy industry will have a major impact on Nevada’s economy, assuming that tax abatements are offered to attract such companies to the state.
Xcel Energy and SunPower Sign Contract to Build 17MW Solar Photovoltaic Plant in Colorado
When completed at the end of 2010, the power plant will be the second-largest high-efficiency solar PV power plant in North America. It is expected to create approximately 200 jobs during construction.
Alternative Energy Measure Advances
The Nevada Senate voted Monday 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.
SEPA Increases Total Commitment to Solar for 2009
Demonstrating its deep commitment to solar electricity, the non-profit SEPA has just renewed its contract with non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to offset its 2009 carbon footprint with BEF Solar Offsets.
JCPenney, SunPower and Integrys Complete Solar Power Systems
J. C. Penney, Integrys Energy Services, and SunPower are celebrating the installation of SunPower solar power systems on five JCPenney stores in New Jersey, totaling approximately 2 megawatts.
Applied Materials Says Value of OrderSlashed
A major client for Applied Materials Inc’s solar production gear has slashed its order by more than 85 percent to $250 million, underscoring how a deepening recession is eroding a once red-hot solar sector.
SpectraWatt Sets Up Headquarters in New York
The move would initially create over 100 jobs in the New York region within the first year of operation.
Green Mountain Power to Build 200KW Array
Green Mountain Power plans to install a new solar array – its third solar installation – in Berlin, Vt. At 200 kW, the new array will be the largest project in Northern New England when it is built this summer, the utility says.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Entech Solar Announces Changes to Finance & Accounting Organization
This restructuring reflects the recently announced changes in the Company’s strategic direction, including the suspension of manufacturing operations for its current generation of concentrating solar systems in order to focus all resources on the rapid development and commercialization of its next generation products.
Stimulus Starting to Warm Up Cleantech Funding
While layoffs are still hitting industries like solar and wind, and biofuels are struggling across the board, if this morning’s funding news is any indicator, then it looks like the federal funds are actually starting to thaw the pocketbooks of the capital holders.
Banks in Germany are Still Loaning Money for the Construction of Small Installations and High-Quality Large PV Systems
It’s not that PV systems have poor rates of return – rather, the big banks simply don’t have any money right now.
Solar Module Sales Price of $1 per Watt no Longer Theory
Module prices are currently under pressure. Last year’s enormous growth of the solar industry and market by more than 100% was caused by a generous feed-in tariff in Spain.
TECHNOLOGY
PV: You Can’t Manage What You Don’t Measure
Until recently, most photovoltaic systems ran blind. Maybe you’d know how much power was being produced by the total system at the central inverter. But you didn’t have a lot of good diagnostic info to go on.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Antec Solar 3.0 Producing Again with Plans for Expansion
The latest incarnation of Antec Solar GmbH has re-launched production.
The Philippines Passes Tax Incentives for Renewable Energies
In December 2008, the president of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, signed a renewable energy law designed to expand the supply of electricity from renewable energy sources in the Philippines with the help of tax incentives and investment support.
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