Rise & Shine: October 17, 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
OptiSolar to Turn on Solar Power Soon
OptiSolar expects its solar power plant in Sarnia, Ontario, to start producing power before the end of the year.
NATIONAL NEWS
Evergreen Solar signs Two New Sales Contracts
The first contract is with Mainstream Energy Corp. and AEE Solar Inc.
More State, County, City Governments Expected to Offer Residential Financing
Government-sponsored residential solar lease or loan programs are expected to proliferate now that the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has launched its lease program and that Berkeley has secured a financing partner for its pilot loan program
City Education Officials Pursue Solar Energy
Danbury, CT school officials want to install solar panels on two schools — taking advantage of their size and setting in relation to the sun — to reduce energy costs.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
National Grid: Dream or Reality?
U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell told a solar conference crowd that she will tackle the complex issue of regulating utilities and building new transmission lines at a time when money is tough to come by.
Most in State Oppose More “Subprime” Investments in Coal, Nuclear Power
86% in Colorado want limits on subsidies for oil shale production, 76% support moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. Strong back
shift to clean wind and solar power.
US Solar Field Foresees Cost Parity With Coal, Gas
US producers of solar power will no longer need federal subsidies within eight years because by then solar power will cost less than electricity generated by conventional power plants.
Turning Up the Heat? You Might Get Help With the Bill
PA raised the eligibility income levels for a family of four from $32,000 to nearly $45,000 a year after the federal money for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solar and the Credit Crisis
At Nanosolar, where we just had our first profitable month, we are looking forward to demonstrating how fast growth and innovation in solar is possible in a sustainable, non-dilutive manner.
Evergreen Solar Announces Third Quarter 2008 Results
Product sales were $17.8 million for the third quarter of 2008, compared to $18.1 million for the second quarter of 2008 and $15.4 million in the third quarter of 2007.
Collaboratory Funds 12 New Solar Research Projects
The Center for Revolutionary Solar Photoconversion (CRSP) says it is launching 12 novel solar research projects totaling more than $1.1 million in its inaugural round of research and development funding.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
In Downturn, Solar Industry Sees Bright Days Ahead
Even with the gloomy economic outlook, the mood at this week’s Solar Power International 2008 conference was decidedly upbeat.
PV Cycle: Making Europe’s Photovoltaic Industry “DoubleGreen”
PV CYCLE’s objective is to create a European voluntary take-back and recovery scheme for PV modules.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
What About Joe the Solar Guy?
Little new ground was broken on energy in the final presidential debate Wednesday night, but both candidates hammered away at their talking points on energy independence.
Solar Energy Industries Association Names Senator Maria Cantwell 2008 National Energy Champion of the Year
Senator Cantwell played a leading role in forging the bipartisan compromise that extended the solar investment tax credit (ITC).
TECHNOLOGY
OutBack Power Systems Unveils SMARTRE
The product is a fully integrated renewable energy grid-tie system with battery backup for residential and light commercial applications for customers who want to sell power back to the grid and have the ability to produce and maintain power during a utility power outage.
REC Introduces SCM Series Solar Module
REC Group announced the U.S. launch of the SCM Series Module.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
International Solar PV Energy Trade Mission to China
Ignoring an expected oversupply situation in 2009, Chinese companies are aiming for growth rates of 100-400% a year.
Government Pledges to Cut Carbon Emission by 80% by 2050
The government today committed the UK to cutting greenhouse-gas emissions by 80% by the middle of the century in a bid to tackle climate change.
Yingli Green Energy to Supply 1.5MW of Modules to China Mobile
The bid accounted for over 31% of China Mobile’s total recent PV module procurement.
GT Solar Signs $46.8M Contract With Top Green Energy Technologies
The agreement, valued at $46.8 million, is GT Solar’s most comprehensive polysilicon production equipment and services agreement to-date, and the company’s first sale of its products to a customer based in Taiwan.
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