President Obama has used his trip to solar manufacturing plant built with federal stimulus money to make a push for alternative fuel sources. KGO-TV in San Francisco reports that speaking at the Solyndra plant in Fremont, California, Obama made his case in a facility built with $535 million in federal loan guarantees, mindful that the oil disaster in the Gulf …
Western Wind & Solar Integration Study Released
Today, GE Energy has released “The Western Wind & Solar Integration Study,” which was prepared for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The purpose of the report was to investigate the operational impacts and economics of wind, photovoltaics and concentrating solar on the power system operated by the WestConnect group of utilities located mainly in the southwest. The study specifically …
BioSolar Launches Bio-Based Solar Technology
One of the criticism of alternative energy has been that it takes petroleum to produce the alternative energy. Today, BioSolar, a developer of technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources, has announced that it has begun commercial production and sales of its bio-based backsheet for solar panels. BioBacksheet is a protective backing for photovoltaic (PV) solar modules that …
BP Oil Spill Could Be Worst in US History
“I hope people use this opportunity to take a hard look at their own dependence on oil. I hope they look to find ways to kick their oil addiction as soon as possible and to elect leaders that help us do the same as a nation,” said John Abraham Powell, President of Get Oil Out (GOO), a non-profit organization dedicated …
Pickens Encourages Investment in American Energy
“When do we stop investing in OPEC and start investing in America?” That’s the question that oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens asked at a House Ways and Means committee hearing Wednesday on “Energy Tax Incentives Driving the Green Job Economy.” Pickens told the panel that he’s for “anything that’s American” when it comes to energy -including wind, coal, solar, hydro, …
Sopogy Features Solar Hybrid Electricity & H20 System
Sopogy, Inc. has partnered with Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida to showcase its SopoNova solar panels. The project, developed by STG International, has been designed to be a model for cost-effective, stand alone solar power solutions for health clinics in Africa. According to the company, the MicroCSP system generates solar energy by reflecting the sun’s energy from mirrors into …
Rep. Giffords Releases Solar Energy Report
Today, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) along with Environment Arizona, have released a solar energy report, “Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy,” detailing how solar energy can be used to power our homes, businesses, farms, and neighborhoods as well as how solar can play a role in energy security and pollution reduction. “This …
Solar for Schools Act Introduced
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz) has announced the introduction of legislation that would make it more affordable for schools to install solar power systems. The Solar Schools Act was announced during a day-long tour of Tuscon, Arizona that highlighted the state’s burgeoning solar industry. “School buildings are used most heavily during the day, during the same hours that solar energy …
Constellation Energy Completes Solar & Wind Project
While President Obama only gave a cursory comment about the role of solar and wind in our energy future in his remarks this morning, these industries continue to move forward with completion of renewable electricity projects. Today, Constellation Energy announced that its subsidiary, Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group, has completed the installation of a 1.2 megawatt solar and wind …
SolarCity Creates $90 Million Fund for Solar Projects
A new fund has been created for commercial and residential solar projects that will begin in 2010. SolarCity, a company that not only offers solar power system design and installation, but financing as well, has created a new $90 million fund in partnership with U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation (USBCDC) to finance new projects in the U.S. SolarCity will use …