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
Solar Power and Energy Efficiency Will be Topics of NSHP Sponsored Workshop in San Jose
Solar Energy Workshop Will Focus on How to Save Money and Live Comfortably Using Solar Power and Energy Efficiency.

Politics May Make Future of Solar Energy Small
Such opposition to big solar “plants” in the desert and power lines that would link them to cities could tip the scales toward a profusion of smaller rooftop solar projects as politics upsets conventional wisdom about how the United States could respond to global warming.

SolarCity Proposes $10M Panel System
The Arizona Republic reports that SolarCity Corp. has proposed a new $10 million solar panel system to be built at the Coronado and Desert Mountain high schools in Foster City, CA.

NATIONAL NEWS
Washington State a Solar Giant
A solar project in Washington that aims to be “the largest in the world” upon completion was announced this morning.

Las Vegas Touts Plans to Use Solar Panels
Las Vegas plans to put solar panels on the top of carports at city buildings as part of an effort to cut the city’s electrical costs.

Go Solar, and Save Money in Return
Kim Loring and others are discovering a new plan that can slash the $25,000-to-$35,000 cost to just $1,000 up front.

City Council Evaluates Solar Power
David Holmes, manager of applied research and development for Avista Utilities, presented statistics and the pros and cons of the potential purchase by the city of street light solar panels.

U of U Program Opens Kids up to the Possibilities of Solar Power
Cory Jensen hopes teaching high school and elementary students about solar energy will help them become more energy and environmentally aware — and maybe even inspire some to become the innovative thinkers of the future.

Del. City, Delmarva Power Considering Solar Plant
Delmarva Power and Dover city officials are considering an agreement to build a 10-megawatt solar power plant.

Markell Signs Solar Energy Bill
Standing next to solar panels at the DuPont Co.’s Chestnut Run Plaza on Thursday, Gov. Jack Markell signed three pieces of legislation into law that encourage homeowners to install solar panels and wind turbines on their property.

It Ain’t Easy Going Green
While in many ways Connecticut has been very progressive — the state’s Clean Energy Fund incentive programs help consumers pay for solar panels and other green technology — the current hodgepodge of local rules and laws are frustrating to people like Zito who are committed to building and living sustainably.

Chinese Group Plans Local Solar Panel Hub
Centron Solar’s planned sales site and assembly lines eventually could bring several hundred jobs to Eugene.

Applied Materials to Demonstrate the Power of Scaling Solar Technology at Intersolar North America
“Scale” is the key — scaling up power output through higher efficiency and bigger panels while scaling down cost through faster processing, tighter process control and lower material costs.

Axio Power Acquires Solar Assets of BQ Energy
The acquisition includes BQ Energy’s solar assets in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and California.

Big Changes at SoloPower
One of SoloPower’s VCs steps in as CEO and a star researcher returns to NREL. Volume production now due in late 2010, early 2011.

Toyota Plugs Solar Flowers in Boston
As part of a national marketing effort for its new Prius, Toyota yesterday planted five solar-powered charging stations in front of the Prudential mall.

UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Smart Meter Tech: Expect Slow Growth Over Next 2 Years
After this period of slow going, however, the smart meter technology market in the U.S. is set to ramp up a lot more quickly to $4.69 billion in 2013, up from $1.84 billion in 2008.

MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Solar is Nearly Competitive with Traditional Energy in Some Markets
Proximity to grid parity varies by location, and is closest for commercial rooftop installations in California according to a new report from Lux Research.

Research and Markets: Emerging Solar PV Technologies Market Trends and Developments
This report studies in detail the key technology trends and happenings that shaped up the industry since 2001 until 2008.

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
U.S. Treasury Issues ITC Grand Guidance, More Stimulus Money to Flow to Renewables
Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 bio-mass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities.

FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Suntech Announces Draw Down of Convertible Loan Facility with ICF
Proceeds from the facility will be used to support Suntech’s transition to the high efficiency Pluto technology and debt financing requirements.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
SMA Increases Production Capacity to 4GW
SMA Solar Technology AG has opened its new 193,000 square foot solar inverter factory in Kassel, Germany.

Phoenix Solar’s Singapore Branch to Build Photovoltaic Power Plant at Singapore’s Changi Airport
The project is supported by the Clean Energy Research and Test-bedding (CERT) program launched by the Economic Development Board and Clean Energy Program Office in August 2007.

Solar Plan Reaches Milestone
MORE than five years of planning and preparation will come to a climax this morning when the first sod is turned on what is hoped will become Australia’s largest ground-mounted, flat-plate, grid-connected solar installation.

Aleo Supplies Modules to Sardinian Project
aleo solar is to supply the Arborea I project with 1,138 aleo S_18 type modules with a total output of 250 kilowatts as part of a cooperation agreement with the Italian project developer Sardasol S.r.l. and the Oldenburg-based IFE Eriksen AG project management company.

Ikea and UNICEF Lighten Up Pakistani Children’s Lives with Solar Power
Since June 2009, for every SUNNAN solar powered lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide, one lamp will be given to UNICEF to light up the life of a child.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 9:09 am and is filed under Solar Industry News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.