Rise & Shine: November 5, 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
California Defeats Clean Power, Fuel Measures
Propositions 7 and 10, which mostly were funded by out-of-state billionaires, sought to bolster California efforts to clean up its smoggy air and slash greenhouse gas emissions.

Yes! Solar Inc. Sells Franchise Territory to San Francisco Bay Area Investment Group
Yes! Solar, Inc., a subsidiary of Solar Power, Inc., has executed a franchise agreement with Trade Dimensions, Inc. located in Pleasanton, CA.

Borrego Solar Systems Ranked the 7th Fastest Growing Private Company in the Bay Area
Leading Integrator of Residential and Commercial Solar Energy Systems Achieved 158 Percent Revenue Growth From 2006 to 2007 and Is the Highest-Ranking Green/Cleantech Company on the List.

Suntech Maximizes Solar Energy at Caltech
Suntech Power has completed a 238 kWp solar array for the California Institute of Technology. The system was designed and installed by Suntech Energy Solutions.

NATIONAL NEWS
U.S. Vote Seen as One-Way Bet for Solar, Wind Power
An anticipated Democratic U.S. election sweep is thrilling solar and wind power investors because that outcome is seen as a big step toward establishing federal requirements for alternative energy.

UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
In S.F., Voters Defeat Prop H for City Utility
Ballot measures to push San Francisco toward running its own public power system have failed 11 times over nearly a century, and on Tuesday voters rejected the idea again.

FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Trades on Solar Companies Show Optimism in Sector
The trading in First Solar Inc. was particularly heavy, as investors picked up 31,000 calls that allow them to buy the company’s stock and 23,000 puts that allow them to sell it, according to Trade Alert.

GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Obama May Put Renewable Energy Plan Ahead of Climate Package
With unemployment at a high, an early effort to create jobs by encouraging electricity production from solar and wind will get top priority, energy lobbyists and analysts said. A more far-reaching effort on a climate-change bill may be delayed until late next year or 2010.

Obama’s Energy Czar: Could it Still Be Schwarzenegger?
Despite the stump-speech rhetoric, Gov. Schwarzenegger’s energy policies are a lot closer to Sen. Obama’s than to Sen. McCain’s. In some cases, they’re greener.

TECHNOLOGY
New Solar Maps Help Homeowners and Installers
Google Earth allows aerial views of rooftops that help installers prequalify solar-system buyers. Using Google Maps, residents and businesses a chance to see solar hot spots. And a new map from 3Tier provides a detailed study of how much sun shines at any spot in the Western Hemisphere.

Spire to Develop Microcrack Detection Technique for DOE
Spire has received a contract from the U.S. DOE to develop a microcrack detection technique for silicon solar cells and wafers. This diagnostic system will enable solar cell and module manufacturers to significantly reduce the cost and improve the reliability of their PV modules

SMA America Offering Solar Inverter Training in California
Inverter manufacturer SMA America is presenting a 3 day training event addressing technical and system-design details related to its Sunny Island products. Training will be Nov. 18-20 in Rocklin, CA.

Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more.