Panasonic Eco Solutions North America (Panasonic), has completed the installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) parking lot canopy at the new Agoura Hills, California headquarters for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. Panasonic served a supporting role in the project that was developed and financed by RSB Funds (RSBF). The 115 kilowatt PV project will generate enough energy to operate over …
Genuine Bio-Fuel Intros ‘Second Chance Program’
Genuine Bio-Fuel has designed a new program, called the ‘Second Chance Program,’ for staffing its company with quality, dedicated employees as well as to assist former inmates and Veterans reestablish themselves within society. Executive Vice President of Genuine Bio-Fuel Inc. Jeff Longo believes, “companies in the alternative energy industry have a responsibility to spur job creation. What better way to spark …
Solar in Review 2012
GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has recently released the U.S. Solar Market Insight: Year-in-Review 2012. According to the report, solar is the fastest growing energy source in the U.S. The Solar Market Insight annual edition shows the U.S. installed 3,313 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV) in 2012, a record for the industry. Even with the …
Sun Valley Solar Launches Homeowner Loan Program
Sun Valley Solar Solutions is launching a new loan program for homeowners who would like to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Arizona. The program is in partnership with aleo solar, part of the Bosch Group. According to Sun Valley Solar, PV systems can generate up to 100% of a home’s yearly kilowatt hour electricity usage from solar panels, usually …
GRC Hosting Geothermal Workshop
The Geothermal Resources Council (GRC) is holding a two-day geothermal workshop in Sacramento, California, on June 10-11, 2013. Titled “Resource Assessment and Optimization,” the workshop will provide practical information to anyone interested in geothermal energy, including developers, financiers, utilities, regulators, public-interest organizations, and members of the academic community. The goal of the workshop is to educate attendees on how to …
Switchgrass Versus Heating Oil
According to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), using switchgrass pellets could be a cheaper source of energy, instead of fuel oil to heat homes and businesses in the Northeast. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) researcher Paul Adler led efforts on a lifecycle analysis that compared costs of energy generation from coal, natural gas, fuel oil, and …
Kalaeloa Solar Farm Now Generating Power on Oahu
The new 5MW Kalaeloa Solar Farm has gone online in West Oahu, Hawaii. Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie joined representatives of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) and Hawaiian Electric Company during during an event hosted by Bright Plain Renewable Energy (BPRE), who manages the solar farm. “Hawaii has growing energy demand and abundant sunshine, and it makes sense for the …
America Poised to Take Control of Energy Future
According to President Obama, America is poised to take control of our energy future, but this could be compromised due to the arbitrary cuts caused by the so-called “sequestration” now taking place. During his speech last Friday at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, the President pointed out the cuts would affect the federal research projects, “at a time when …
Kountry Korner in Baxter, IA Offering E15
Kountry Korner in Baxter, Iowa has become the third retail location in the state to offer E15 as a registered fuel. E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, has been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in 2001 or newer vehicles. “Our company is dedicated to environmentally-friendly practices and growing our local economy, so …
Unique Solar Parking System
WattLots has installed a unique solar parking system, Power Arbor, at Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. According to the company, the system uses mono-crystalline silicon solar cells and unlike typical flat panel systems, the open-air design of the Power Arbor does not collect snow. This reduces structural costs while providing up to 60 more days of annual power generation, …