Rise & Shine: October 30, 2008
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
Clean Power Systems, Envision Solar, and Kyocera Plant a Solar Grove
The companies have supplied St. Mary Medical Center with an array of three “Solar Rows” that converts a 104-vehicle parking lot into a 230kW solar electric generating system.
PG&E Donates Solar Energy System to San Francisco’s Mission Housing Development Corporation
The solar installation at Valencia Gardens, a 260-unit affordable housing development, will allow Mission Housing to power their senior center, computer laboratory and other child care center.
First Solar Enters US Residential Market, Takes Minority Stake in SolarCity
First Solar, which produces the lowest cost solar cells in the industry, will also make a $25M equity investment in SolarCity and receive a minority stake in the company.
NATIONAL NEWS
City Commission to Vote on United Solar
The Battle Creek, Michigan City Commission will hold a special meeting to consider the approval of several tax breaks and exemptions for Unite
Monford Middle Recognized for its New Solar Operated System
Leon County Schools will have its official ceremony this morning for Montford Middle School, the latest school to have a solar-operated system.
The Wide Range of Solar Opportunities
The opportunities being developed by businesses were evident at Solar Power International. Some include: Solar integrators working out in the field designing and installing systems (like Borrego Solar) and financial solutions (SunRun Inc.)
Rifle Gives Solar Power a Shot
Rifle, CO’s mayor and its roughly 8,000 residents, in a show of forward thinking, are installing a total of 2.3 MW of solar power.
First Solar Signs Agreement For Additional 525MW of Modules
First Solar will supply 525MW of modules to Sorgenia Solar, a developer of large-scale, grid-connected solar power plants in Italy.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Can Utilities fill the Green Energy Finance Gap?
So the multi-billion dollar question on the first day of the Renewable Energy Finance Forum in Seattle was: Can utilities jump into that financing gap?
Poll: Texas Voters Favor Electricity Competition
A substantial majority of voters, 78%, favor the current competitive structure of the Texas electricity market. Of the 78%, 53% “strongly favor” allowing consumers to choose their electric providers.
Palo Alto Utilities Win National Green Energy Award
Palo Alto’s city-owned utilities won kudos this week from the U.S. Department of Energy for its renewable energy program, whose customer participation rate is reportedly the highest in the nation.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
SolarCity Raises $30M
SolarCity raised a $30M series c round, $25M coming from thin film solar panel manufacturer First Solar. With thin film, SolarCity can offer immediate cost savings in more markets in the United States.
CalCEF Angel Fund Back Solar, Biofuels, Lighting
An undisclosed solar company that is adapting chip manufacturing to make cheap, efficient solar cells was one of three recipients of CalCEF Angel Fund’s $20 million fund.
First Solar Profits Up 54%, Credit Crunch Could Impact Biz
First Solar on Wednesday reported a 54 percent jump in the third-quarter profit and a third-quarter revenue of $348.7 million.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Palin Suggests She’s a National Political Figure
Palin spoke after touring Xunlight, a solar technology startup in Toledo, OH, but she made only a passing reference to solar in her speech and instead renewed her call for more drilling in U.S. coastal waters.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Solar Millennium Sells Stake in Andasol CSP Projects
Solar Millennium AG has reached an agreement regarding the sale of its shares in the Andasol power plants to an undisclosed solar fund.
Sharp Expands Thin Film Solar Production
Sharp is increasing its thin-film solar production from 15 MW to 160 MW per year.
Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.