VC Investment in Green Tech Up to US $1.2B in Q2

Greentech Media Inc. this week released quarterly data showing that venture capital investment in green technologies totaled US $1.2 billion in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009. This is up from $836 million in 59 deals in the first quarter of 2009.

Nominations Open for Lifetime Leadership Awards

People who know worthy nominees for the Building Efficiency Lifetime Leadership (BELL) award are encouraged to visit http://bit.ly/BELLdoc to review the nomination criteria and download the award nomination form.

Funding for a wide range of energy related projects

US DOI Fast-Tracking Initiatives for Solar Energy on Federal Lands

Under initiatives announced by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), federal agencies will work with western leaders to designate tracts of U.S. public lands in the West as prime zones for utility-scale solar energy development, fund environmental studies, open new solar energy permitting offices and speed reviews of industry proposals.

Renewable Energy Investors Are Cautiously Optimistic

In just five months, the U.S. government has gone from being a casual supporter of renewable energy to the one of world's biggest investors in the space. Now the private sector is trying to figure out what role it will play in this new era of government involvement.

IRENA Names Pelosse As Director General and Abu Dhabi As Headquarters

The Preparatory Commission of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has named Hélène Pelosse as the first head of the emerging Agency during its second session in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Four candidates with outstanding profiles and strong backgrounds in the field of renewable energy were nominated by the Member States for the position and the French candidate, Pelosse, was appointed.

Zoi Confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE

Cathy Zoi has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate for the post of Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE).

Are the Chinese Working To Curb Their Emissions?

Beijing's formulation of the {Alternative Energy Revitalization Plan} is yet another concrete illustration of the determination of the Chinese government to develop a low-carbon economy. It is also a reminder to critics of China's efforts to tackle climate change that Beijing is taking significant steps in realizing that goal. To be responsible in their criticism, those who care about climate change need to get under the hood and examine in detail the renewable energy engine that China is building and avoid the oversimplification that obscures a real convergence of interests.

House Passes Climate Bill Including National RPS

Late last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-212 to pass the American Clean Energy & Security Act. The new climate legislation includes a National Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) provision, mandating that investor owned utilities buy a minimum of 15% of their energy from renewable sources.

Aora Launches Hybrid Solar Thermal Station

Aora has launched its first hybrid solar thermal gas turbine power station at Kibbutz Samar in southern Israel. Aora's Samar "Power Flower" station consists of a field of 30 tracking mirrors (heliostats) situated on half an acre of land.

Radiance Solar & Cox Enterprises Complete Solar Hot Water Installation

Radiance Solar LLC announced the completion of one of Georgia's largest solar thermal hot water installations at Cox Enterprises' Manheim Georgia facility. The system will supply hot water to Manheim Georgia's auto detail operation, offsetting more than 300 million BTUs of energy per year with renewable solar energy.

Climate and the $3,100 Lie Detector

How can you tell when a politician in Washington isn't telling the truth? When they claim that the cost of capping carbon emissions and reducing foreign oil dependence will cost American families "$3,100."

Video: Solar Thermal Energy Industry Still Growing Worldwide

The Solar Thermal Industry is looking confidently toward the future following a strong performance in 2008, when the European market grew by 60%. This, despite the difficult economic condition around the world, according to new numbers relesed by the European Solar Thermal Industry Federation (ESTIF).

PG&E, NRG & eSolar Developing 92-MW of Solar Thermal

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has entered into an agreement with Alpine SunTower LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy Inc., for 92 megawatts (MW) of renewable, solar thermal power. The Alpine SunTower project features eSolar's solar thermal technology and is scheduled for completion in 2012.

SkyFuel to Install SkyTrough Collectors at Cogentrix Facility

SkyFuel Inc. has signed an agreement with Sunray Energy Inc. for the installation of SkyTrough collectors at Sunray's 43-megawatt (MW) parabolic trough generating plant near Daggett, California, formerly known as Solar Energy Generation Systems I and II.

U.S. Department of Labor Announces US $500M For Green Job Training

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis announced five grant competitions this week, totaling US $500 million, to fund projects that prepare workers for green jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries.

Photovoltaic Testing Network Expands

Testing and standards group TÜVRheinland is expanding its operations by opening a new test laboratory in Cologne, Germany, dedicated to analysis of solar systems.

SkyFuel Signs Agreement with Cogentrix to Install SkyTrough Collectors at Sunray

Albuquerque, New Mexico June 23rd, 2009: SkyFuel, Inc. has signed an agreement with Sunray Energy, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy, LLC, for the installation of SkyTrough™ collectors at Sunray's 43 MW parabolic trough generating plant near Daggett, California, formerly known as Solar Energy Generation Systems I and II ("SEGS I & II"). The agreement with Sunray Energy, Inc., allows for the first commercial installation of the SkyTrough™, an advanced parabolic trough concentrator, which uses glass-free ReflecTech® Mirror Film reflectors. The agreement allows SkyFuel to integrate an array of SkyTrough™ solar collector assemblies into the Sunray plant to demonstrate their commercial viability in a full-scale, solar generating plant application. The SkyTrough™ installation is to be operational later this year. No business terms were disclosed.

Deserts Set to Bloom With Solar For Europe

Reinsurance company Munich Re is seeking to attract partners to conduct a feasibility study on the Desertec plan to exploit solar energy on an industrial scale in the deserts of North Africa for export to Europe.

Tessera Solar North America Signs 27-MW PPA

Tessera Solar North America announced the signing of a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with CPS Energy to develop a 27-megawatt (MW) solar project in West Texas, using the SunCatcher power system manufactured by Tessera Solar's sister company, Stirling Energy Systems (SES). This is the first PPA to be signed by the company since NTR's investment of US $100 million in Tessera Solar and SES in March 2008.

HENRY T. PEREA and BERNADETTE DEL CHIARO: Fresno must lead the way in solar power

(Updated Thursday, June 1, 2006, 9:35 AM)

It is not a question of if, but when solar power becomes a mainstream and competitive energy resource in California. By adopting the right policies today, we can have a great deal of control over how rapidly solar power becomes a commonplace, cost-effective and common-sense solution to many of the threats facing the central San Joaquin Valley including air pollution, global warming and rising energy costs.

To help realize the great promise of solar power, this summer we will ask the City Council to adopt the "Fresno Renewable Energy Rebate Initiative," which would provide up to $2,000 in direct rebates and savings for homeowners who use solar energy.

The goal of this initiative is to make solar energy more affordable while reducing harmful emissions caused by traditional sources of energy. We believe it is essential to promote the next generation of clean energy technologies by providing incentives to those who can benefit the most, homeowners.

Experience over the past 10 years, both in California and worldwide, shows that if we invest now in creating the demand, the solar industry will meet it, and in doing so, will manufacture and install solar systems more cheaply. Since 1998, the cost of solar power in California has dropped 25%. As the solar industry learns how to build more cheaply, demand will increase, creating a "virtuous cycle" that will give solar power a tremendous boost in becoming a major source of clean, homegrown power in the Valley.

In addition to lowering the cost of solar power, incentives to encourage renewable energy will bring other benefits, such as jobs, cleaner air and lowered energy costs. According to the Electric Research Institute, building solar panels instead of fossil fuel power plants will create four to seven times more jobs. Further, for every solar roof, air pollution is reduced by at least one ton every year. Finally, with energy prices on the rise, everything we do to reduce our demand on limited fossil fuels helps lower prices for everyone.

Today, federal and state rebates lower the cost of a typical residential solar system to $10,000. The system pays for itself via lower electric bills in around seven years. Yet much more can be done to make sure that everyone can afford to go solar. Also, more needs to be done to ensure Fresno not only benefits, but becomes a solar leader. Fresno, with its high energy costs, numerous sunny days and stubborn air pollution is a perfect location for solar power.

This is especially true considering the region's unprecedented growth. Every year, more than 4,000 new homes are built in Fresno County. One of the most cost-effective ways to build solar power is to incorporate it into the roof during construction. Many manufacturers today make solar panels that look and act just like shingles, saving material costs and creating a neat, seamless look to the roof.

From a homeowner's perspective, incorporating solar energy panels saves money. According to Environment California Research & Policy Center, an average Valley homeowner using solar energy can expect to net more than $120 a year. Savings can be even higher for homeowners who also invest in energy-efficiency measures like efficient appliances and lights.

The bottom line is that solar power is no longer just for the stereotypical green technology enthusiast. Rather, solar power is ready for everyday California homeowners looking for some relief from rising energy and housing costs and who recognize that independence, especially energy independence, is priceless.

It is for these reasons and many more that the City Council should embrace the Fresno Renewable Energy Rebate Initiative. Imagine if Fresno were the first city in the state to achieve Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's goal of building half of all new homes with solar power. Over the next 10 years, that would mean more than 15,000 solar roofs in Fresno, several hundred new jobs, cleaner air, and more money back in the budgets of Fresno families.

Ultimately, it would mean Fresno can become the nation's premier solar city, "farming" the sky for clean, reliable and pollution-free energy. After all, Fresno was built upon its abundant sunshine and long sunny days. Let's start putting that sun to use, not just on the farm but in growing our city, as well. Let's make Fresno the state's solar power leader.