Pacific Power Management (PPM) and the city of Auburn, California recently announced that the city’s wastewater treatment plant is going to be 100 percent powered by solar energy. A 680 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system will supply all of the plant’s electrical needs by this summer when the project is slated to be completed. The photovoltaic system will consist of …
Award Winning Minnesota Solar Home for Sale
Looking for a unique green home? Look no further. The University of Minnesota (U of M), who built an all-solar home for submission in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 2009 Solar Decathlon, is up for sale. The 550-square-foot-home house took fifth place out of 20 international entries in October’s Solar Decathlon. Interested buyers are required to submit a purchase …
Green Energy Benefits from Recession
While parts of the renewable energy sector have had some tough times lately … biodiesel with the loss of the federal tax credit, ethanol with the food vs. fuel fight, the economic downturn and the tightening of the credit markets … it seems green energy has actually benefitted from the recession. Well, at least in the area of new ideas. …
Newest Cash Crop – Clean Energy
Farmers and small business have found a crop to make them more money – clean energy. This according to a recent report from the Environmental Lay & Policy Center (ELPC) which just released “Farm Energy Success Stories” that demonstrate how a farm or small rural business adopted clean energy technologies and cut energy costs. Examples cited in the report include …
Solar Power Develops Largest Solar RV Parking Station
Solar Power Inc. (SPI) has been selected by Temescal Canyon RV to build the largest elevated solar recreational vehicle (RV) parking structure in the world. The RV park, located in Riverside County adjacent to the City of Corona, will incorporate a 1.75 megawatt DC solar system utilizing SPI’s solar modules. The system will provide both power generation as well as …
Deleware Introduces Clean Jobs Act
Earlier this week, Governor Jack Markell announced that he would be seeking legislation aimed at creating new green jobs, help home and businesses secure energy from alternative sources and spur the growth of emerging industries such as solar and wind power. The Clean Jobs Act would add a longer-range target to the state’s existing Renewable Portfolio Standard which sets a …
R4R – Research for Renewables Event Launched
Everyone needs an excuse to go to Italy and now you have one – Solarexpo. Solarexpo in an international conference and expo on renewable energy and distributed generation. The event will be held on May 5-7, 2010 in Italy and as part of the event, is launching the R4R – Research for Renewables event. R4R is a “research consortium” of …
GTI to Develop Home Solar Thermal Products
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) recently announced the opening of its Combine Heat and Power (CHP) and Renewable Energy Laboratory located on an 18-acre site in Des Plaines, Illinois. Much of the focus of this lab will be to bring to market more capabilities for developing a wide variety of efficient, sustainable renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal products. The …
SolarCast: Solar Policy Stalling Development
We’re kicking off a new podcast series this week called SolarCast. As the name suggests, the bi-monthly audio feature will take an in-depth look at the solar industry. The inaugural podcast features some of the antiquated policies that are slowing home solar projects in California. I spoke with Dan Thompson, the CEO and founder of Newport Beach, California-based MasterCraft Homes …
California Solar Plant Gets $1.37 Bil Federal Loan
A California company planning to build a large-scale solar power plant has received a Department of Energy $1.37 billion loan guarantee. The New York Times reports that BrightSource Energy of Oakland will put in the first utility-scale solar power plant to undergo licensing in California in nearly two decades: It would use solar thermal technology, in which mirrors concentrate sunlight …