Rise & Shine: December 19, 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
Analysis Calls Ambitious L.A. Solar Plan Extremely Risky
An outside consultant says Measure B, which easily made the March 3 ballot, is more costly than portrayed by the city’s Department of Water and Power.
Solar Energy Takes Off at Burbank Airport
As part of the construction of a new private aviation hangar at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, California, Independence Power has completed a 268 kW solar power system which meets 100% of the requirements for the new hangar and attached office building.
BP Solar Completes Wal-Mart Project Program
BP Solar has completed construction of solar projects at three Wal-Mart sites in California. The new projects include the 493.7 kW solar power system at the Sam’s Club in La Habra, Calif., and systems at Wal-Mart Super Centers in Palm Springs (605.9 kW) and Beaumont (675.2 kW).
Can California get 70% of its Power from Renewables?
The grid can accommodate a lot more solar and wind power than many experts believe, according to a new study. If it’s correct, it could cut the cost of trying to deploy renewable power.
Solar Installers Get S.F. Tax Break
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved broadening an existing tax credit to include solar installers. Companies with fewer than 10 employees will also be eligible.
NATIONAL NEWS
Panasonic to Buy Sanyo in $9 Billion deal
Panasonic to take advantage of struggling Sanyo’s green businesses in solar panels and rechargeable batteries.
One Megawatt Solar System Brought Online at OVC Facility
Liberty Media’s QVC, working with SunPower Corporation today unveiled the installation of a 1-megawatt solar electric power farm at the QVC Rocky Mount, a distribution center in NC.
City OKs High buyback Rate in Solar Program
Gainesville Regional Utilities agreed with members of the solar industry Thursday and recommended a higher rate for the proposed feed-in tariff for their solar energy incentive program.
Mass. Awards $3.2M for Alternative Energy, $17m for Solar
The governing board of the agency authorized the second $17 million funding block for the Commonwealth Solar program, originally launched in January by Gov. Deval Patrick.
Nevada Positioned Well to be Renewable Energy Capital
A poll shows Nevadans of all political stripes favor renewable energy, which prompted a business and technology spokesman to say the state is in a good spot to become a green makeover mecca.
San Antonio Seeks $1 Billion in Stimulus Money
San Antonio officials have drawn up a preliminary wish list packed with projects worth $1.1 billion. If fully funded, the work would create 9,380 jobs, according to city estimates.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
PUC Grants Bonuses to Electric Utilities
California regulators handed electric utilities $82.2 million in bonuses Thursday for improving energy efficiency, even though the state isn’t sure the companies saved as much power as they claim.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Ernst & Young: $4.6b in Greentech VC investment through Q308
A big push to commercialize solar and other green technologies has brought venture capital investment in the United States, Europe, China and Israel to a new record, the firm says. But the economic downturn is likely to slow the pace of funding.
SCHOTT Solar AG Presents Preliminary FY 2007/2008 Figures
During the company’s fiscal year 2007/2008 (1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008), SCHOTT Solar AG recorded an approximately 70 percent growth in sales to EUR 482 million.
Solar Cell Repower Raises $1.5M to Upgrade Subpar Solar Panels
Solar Cell Repower, a Norwegian startup working on technology to upgrade off-spec solar panels, has closed a Series A round of financing for $1.48 million from NorthZone Ventures.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
2008 Edition of the Solar Photovoltaic Cell Market Report is Finally Available
The outlook of solar PV market in the next few years largely depends on availability and pricing of polysilicon.
Reshaping Solar: Growth Expected Despite Economy
Tax credits, new trends and independent companies are spurring a solar surge. Elisa Wood reports from San Diego, USA, on the growing consumer interest in solar energy, despite the financial crisis.
Clouds on the Horizon for Solar Power Industry
As oil prices have plunged, solar has become less cost-competitive. At the same time, the credit squeeze has made it harder to finance solar projects.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Schwarzenegger, Bloomberg Tackle Warming
California’s governor and New York’s mayor have agreed to collaborate on efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emission, saying they can no longer wait for Washington to act on global warming.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Yingli Green Energy Signs Sales Agreements with Two Leading German PV System Integrators
Under the sales agreement with City Solar, Yingli Green Energy is expected to supply 20 MW of PV modules to City Solar in 2009.
EDF Commissions 7MW Photovoltaic System
EDF Energies Nouvelles has commissioned the La Narbonnaise photovoltaic solar power plant in the Aude region of France. With capacity of 7 MWp, this solar farm - built in 2008 - is the largest solar power plant currently in operation in mainland France.
Sunfilm Production Facility on Track
Sunfilm AG has completed construction of a new 20,000 m2 plant that is now due to begin operations in 2009.
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