Rise & Shine: December 22, 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
Marin Can Take Pride in Being Bay Area’s Solar Leader
Homeowners, businesses and governmental agencies have been busy installing solar panels - enough to lead the Bay Area in the number of solar-energy panels per capita.
New Options for Tapping into Solar Energy
More affordable options are being touted by the solar industry. In recent months new financing programs have been introduced for homeowners who prefer to lease a solar system or to buy the power produced by a solar system on their home that is owned and maintained by someone else.
Council Gets Secret Solar Panel Report
The analysis, given earlier to some officials, warns that the DWP underestimated the costs of Measure B.
First Solar Reaches Grid Parity
Bachman priced the Sempra First Solar plant in San Diego at 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour, which is below the U.S. grid parity price of 9 cents per kilowatt-hour.
NATIONAL NEWS
Connecticut Solar Power Rebate Program is Victim of its Own Success
Connecticut rebate program for home and business owners who purchase solar systems to generate electricity has become so popular, money has run out for some residential rebates, and rebate applications for commercial, government and nonprofit groups are being cut off next month.
Solar Power International Moves to Larger Digs
Solar Power International has announced that the event will be held in Anaheim, California, October 27-29, 2009 to accommodate the event’s rapid growth.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Utilities Seek Stimulus Money to Improve Energy Efficiency
A utility association that represents 70 percent of the U.S. power industry joined environmental and energy groups Friday in calling on Congress and the new administration to jump-start the economy by helping Americans save energy.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Bosch Invests 530M in Ersol
The Bosch Group has revealed plans to invest some 530 million [US $741.67 million] through to 2012 in expanding solar module production through its majority held subsidiary arm ersol Solar Energy AG.
SolarEdge Funding Confirmed: $23M Round B for Solar Balance of Plant
SolarEdge closed its $23 million Round B led by Vertex Venture Capital with the participation of all previous investors. Its previous round was $11.8 million in funding from Walden International, Opus Capital and Genesis Partners. Weve also heard that EnPhase, another player in that field, is in the midst of raising their next round.
Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. Announces First Quarter Results
Greg Bakeman, COO and CFO said: “We are pleased to announce that we have made the transition from a development stage company to an operating business.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Siemens Installs Photovoltaic System at Healthcare Facility
Siemens Energy has installed a turnkey photovoltaic plant on the roof of the Siemens Healthcare x-ray systems manufacturing plant in Forchheim. After a planning and construction time of less than three months, the unit went into service on Friday. The solar power installation will generate more than 750 megawatt-hours of climate-friendly electricity per year.
More than 2MW of PV Module Contracts Signed for Europe in 2009, says aleo Solar
The company says it has deals with specialist dealers, installers, and solar technology specialists in core markets throughout the continent.
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