The Quartzsite Solar Energy Project located in La Paz County, Arizona has received approval from the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to proceed. The 100 megawatt project will be located on Bureau of Land (BLM) managed land. The Quartzsite Project will be utilizing SolarReserve’s concentrated solar power (CSP) technology with integrated storage which allows the facility to operate like a …
BMW Boasts Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Fleet
BMW Manufacturing has expanded its use of Plug Power hydrogen fuel cells at its Spartanburg, South facility to power all material handle trucks and forklifts. The company now has 272 units in its fleet, making it the largest such fleet in North America. In 2010, BMW installed a storage and distribution area for hydrogen supplied by Linde Industrial Gases near …
World Bank: Crude Oil Biggest Driver of Food Prices
According to a recent study by the World Bank, “Long-Term Drivers of Food Prices,” oil prices are the biggest driver of higher food prices. The study, using data from 1960-2012, applied an economic model to five internationally-traded food commodities (maize/corn, wheat, rice, soybeans and palm oil) and studied the impact of several food-price drivers. These included energy prices, exchange rates, …
Groups Petition Cali to Evaluate Clean Energy Policy
Several organizations in California, including Californians Against Utilities Stopping Solar Energy (CAUSE), American Lung Association of California, California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA) and Presente.org are petitioning the California Energy Commission to quantify the air quality and economic benefits associated with the states “net energy metering” policy. According to CAUSE, net metering provides solar consumers with fair credit for the energy …
Prediction: Demand for Solar PV Will Rise
According to the latest NPD Solarbuzz North America PV Markets Quarterly, demand for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in the U.S. is forecast to grow significantly during 2013 and post another record high of 4.3 gigawats (GW). In addition, solar PV demand from the U.S. market now contributes over 12 percent of annual global demand compared to just five percent three …
IKEA Adds More Solar to Stores
IKEA has added another solar installation to one of its stores, this one located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 122,000 square foot PV array consists of a 1,015 kW system, built with 4,228 panels. The system is estimated to produce 1,330,000 kWh of solar power each year. This solar installation is the 39th for IKEA in the U.S. increasing its …
Project Volt Gas Volt – A Breakthrough Program?
During the EU Parliament in Brussels, a “breakthrough” green renewable energy program coined Project Volt Gas Volt was called for to make fossil fuel and first generation biofuel use obsolete. The call was made by Corinne Lepage, Member of the European Parliament (also the former French Minister of the Environment) and American Professor of Management, Robert I. Bell. According to …
SEAD Searches for Most Energy Efficient EV
The Clean Energy Ministerial’s Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) initiative is in search of the most energy efficient electric motor in the world. The SEAD Global Efficiency Medal competition will recognize the most energy efficient motors on the market as well as new technologies that have the potential to greatly reduce energy use in the future. According to the …
Navy Welcomes 1st Solar-Powered EV Charging Station
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mid-South officially welcomed into service the Navy’s first solar-powered electric car charging station with a ribbon cutting ceremony. During the ceremony NSA Mid-South Executive Officer Cmdr. Brad Meeks thanked the combined Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) team that brought the station online. He noted that the new photovoltaic carports are …
Introducing One Stop Solar Projects
One Block off the Grid (1 BOG) has introduced a new one-stop-shop model that allows homeowners to compare pricing and financial options such as leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), much like they would on Kayak or Expedia. The difference: homeowners also receive unbiased guidance throughout the process from an independent 1BOG solar specialist. 1BOG is now offering PPAs and …