U.S. Solar Industry Reaches New Heights


728x90 U.S. Solar Industry Reaches New Heights

01 300x200 U.S. Solar Industry Reaches New HeightsThe U.S. solar industry is on a roll, with unprecedented growth in 2011,” said5102259515 604ecc8a01 300x225 U.S. Solar Industry Reaches New Heights Rhone Resch, President and CEO of SEIA. “Solar is now an economic force in dozens of states, creating jobs across America. But our industry needs stable policy on which to make business decisions, and unfortunately an underlying mechanism for financing solar projects is scheduled to expire on December 31. To keep the industry growing and creating jobs in the U.S. we need Congress to extend the 1603 program. The 1603 program has done more to expand the use of renewable energy than any other policy in U.S. history. Our country is not in a position to have Congress turn their back on American industries, and it is critical that Congress extend the 1603 program in the few days left before the end of the year.” More U.S. solar electric capacity came online in Q3 2011 than all of 2009 combined, and Q4 2011 is predicted to be even larger.

The residential PV market grew 21 percent over Q2 2011 to reach nearly 75 MW.California regained a substantial share of overall PV installation in Q3 2011 with 44 percent; the next six largest state markets combined comprised 45 percent of quarterly installations.While domestic solar markets are booming more than ever, the report also finds that U.S. solar is facing more uncertainty than at any point in recent history. On one hand, solar module prices are falling precipitously and system prices have never been lower; on the other hand, the market faces substantial risks in the form of legislative, financing, political, and market barriers.

“U.S. solar is entering 2012 with a sense of cautious optimism,” said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of the solar practice at GTM Research. “There are three questions on the mind of everyone in the market: one, what would be the impact of the 1603 Treasury Program’s expiration; two, can emerging commercial markets like Massachusetts, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, and Hawaii ramp up as major markets like California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania trend downward; and finally, how will the trade petition against Chinese solar imports impact market dynamics, both in the immediate term and if duties are ultimately levied?”

New MegaWatts Of Solar Power Heading South

US Solar Energy Gets United Steelworkers Backing


 US Solar Energy Gets United Steelworkers Backing

USW group 3 300x169 US Solar Energy Gets United Steelworkers Backing The back and forth between US and Chinese solar companies continues with Leo W. Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers (USW) issuing  a statement , commenting on a letter sent by 59 members of Congress to President Obama calling for action on Chinese clean energy protectionism.”Today’s congressional letter to President Obama highlights the imperative of confronting China’s predatory, protectionist and illegal trade practices in the alternative and renewable energy sector. The time for dialogue has come to an end — now is the time to put an end to their efforts to dominate this vital sector of our economy.

leo w gerard US Solar Energy Gets United Steelworkers Backing Ten years ago, China ascended to the World Trade Organization (WTO) with a promise to abide by free and fair rules of trade. China continues to massively subsidize their industries, to exclude others from exporting competitive products to their markets, to require transfers of technology and engage in countless practices to the disadvantage of other trading nations.  “Ten years is long enough to know that they have no intention of playing by the rules unless we challenge them and utilize the leverage of our market to provide a level playing field.

Alternative and renewable energy can provide an enormous opportunity not only to promote energy security, but to also enhance environmental protection while promoting the revitalization of manufacturing and job creation.  America has been a leader in developing these technologies, but not in manufacturing the resulting products due to China’s actions.”That’s why the Steelworkers filed a comprehensive trade case under Section 301 of our trade laws last year. President Obama and his Administration should end their review of that petition and act on the comprehensive set of issues identified in that case.  Coupled with acting on the solar products trade case, we can begin to restore the promise of green energy as an engine of economic growth and job creation here in the U.S.”

A Solar House Divided

Solar City Returns Solar Strong


 Solar City Returns Solar Strong

526994main FAQ21 266x300 Solar City Returns Solar StrongIt was in August that U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a partial guarantee of a $344 million loan to help secure financing for SolarCitys “SolarStrong” project. The project, partnered SolarCity with the country’s leading military housing-privatization developers to install 160,000 rooftop solar installations on as many as 124 military housing developments across the US. Then after the Solyndra shutdown in September the DOE withdrew from the project. But today SolarCity and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have announced that they have agreed to terms on financing for SolarStrong, SolarCity’s ambitious five-year plan to invest more than $1 billion in the solar power project. As part of the project, SolarCity plans to partner with the country’s leading privatized military housing developers to install, own and operate rooftop solar installations and provide solar electricity at a lower cost than utility power. SolarStrong is ultimately expected to create up to 300 megawatts of solar generation capacity that could provide power to as many as 120,000 military housing units. SolarStrong would be the largest residential solar photovoltaic project in American history. Solar City is a leading national solar services company.

After the Solydra failure and the  Department of Energy withdrew their commitment from the Solar Strong project, skeptics were predicting doom for the entire green sector however, Lyndon Rive, SolarCity’s chief executive officer said, “BofA Merrill never wavered when the loan guarantee wasn’t finalized and worked with us to create a financing structure that works without it.SolarStrong makes affordable clean energy available on a much greater scale. This is uncharted territory for residential solar. The fact that SolarStrong can move forward without a federal loan guarantee is a clear indication that long-term incentives such as the investment tax credit are working.”“This project demonstrates the long term viability of large-scale, distributed solar generation,” said Jonathan Plowe, head of New Energy and Infrastructure Solutions at BofA Merrill. “We are excited to see the project through with SolarCity and extend our expertise and financing capabilities to propel residential solar to the next level.”

SolarCity now expects SolarStrong to create thousands of full-time and temporary jobs. The company says it hopes to provide as many of those jobs as possible to U.S. veterans and military family members, which have been among those hardest hit by the economic downturn. SolarCity has added more than 1,200 new, full-time workers since the recession began in December 2007; creating more than one new job per workday in that timeframe. “This is a groundbreaking transaction that represents a key milestone for the U.S. solar industry,” said Tim Newell, managing director for USRG Renewable Finance, financial advisor for SolarStrong. “We’re proud to be part of this project that will invest in military communities across the United States.”

Green Jobs Future Here Now

robotworkers.future 11 276x300 Solar City Returns Solar Strong

Green For All On Recycling

More Environmental Legal Woes for JinkoSolar


 More Environmental Legal Woes for JinkoSolar

Jinko Protest 300x216 More Environmental Legal Woes for JinkoSolar It had to be within days of announcing it’s sponsorship of  the San Francisco 49ers in September that JinkoSolar was feeling some environmental heat. The Huffington Post reported in mid September,“Police detained at least 20 people after hundreds of villagers protested last week, some storming the factory compound and overturning vehicles. Authorities said the factory had failed to address earlier environmental complaints and that the protests followed mass fish deaths in late August due to runoff from heavy rains.” Then in early October the company reported it was in the process of completion of its phase I environment safety upgrade at its facility in Haining City west of Shanghai in the Zhejiang Province of China.

Since then Los Angeles based law firm Glancy Binkow & Goldberg LLP has just filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Jinko stock on the open market between May 13, 2010 and September 21, 2011. The securities fraud class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The Complaint alleges that in the Prospectus and Registration Statement issued in connection with the Company’s IPO, and in subsequent filings with Securities and Exchange Commission, JinkoSolar represented that the Company was in full compliance will all environmental regulations in the People’s Republic of China. The Complaint further alleges that last month, after a massive die-off of fish in a river adjacent to JinkoSolar’s primary manufacturing facility in Haining, China, hundreds of local residents protested and eventually ransacked the facility, 31 people were detained by police, and the facility was shut for several weeks.

Solar Megawatt Step

438599 133388661 300x225 More Environmental Legal Woes for JinkoSolar Chevy Volt Being Fed Checked

Thankful For A Renewable Vision


 Thankful For A Renewable Vision

images1 Thankful For A Renewable VisionIt’s that time of year again. When as a nation Americans give thanks. The thanks are for family, friends and people who make a difference in the lives of others. In that regard I personally have a great deal to be thankful for. But as a national and global society do we ever stop and think about the people who are out there everyday doing things that are on a scale that can transform the world? One such person is Secretary of Energy Steven Chus here are his comments from a recent speech in Colorado. “I’m here at a critical time for America’s energy future.  It’s a time of challenge, but it’s also a time of opportunity. Last year, more than $240 billion was invested globally in clean energy.  The worldwide market for solar photovoltaic systems alone is worth more than $80 billion.

110126 steven chu ap 3281 300x162 Thankful For A Renewable VisionThe solar market is going to explode in the coming decades.  According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, trillions of dollars will be invested globally in solar and other renewable energy sectors over the next 20 years. Countries around the world, especially China, recognize the economic potential in the solar market, and are racing at full speed to capture the lead. China leads the world in total clean energy investments and has provided strong government support to its solar industry.  Today, China’s market share in solar cell and solar module production is roughly 50 percent, up significantly from just a few years ago.Meanwhile, the U.S. market share has dropped. In 1995, the United States produced more than 40 percent of the world’s solar panels, but last year, we only produced about seven percent. Although the United States invented solar PV technologies, we are no longer the leading manufacturer. Instead of watching a technology be discovered in America and then shipped overseas, we need to fight to keep it here. Other countries want these opportunities and are moving aggressively; so must we.”

He went on to say, “America has a choice to make today: Are we going to be importers or exporters of solar technologies?  We can accept defeat and watch the solar jobs go to China, Germany and other countries, or we can get in the game and play to win, creating jobs in Colorado and across the country. To compete in the clean energy race, we have to do more than invent technologies, we have to make them and sell them too. Steven Chu recently appeared before Congress and personally took the heat for the Solyndra failure. He heads an agency that’s doing everything it can to spark innovation through programs such as the Sunshot Initiative, Solar Decathlon and DOE Recovery Act. Dr Chu is a Noble Peace Prize Winner and we can be grateful to him for bringing a scientific, environmental, business and social consciousness to the cause of renewable energy in America.

Intersolar Heading For Beijing

1FYOD00Z1 224x300 Thankful For A Renewable Vision

Anti-nuclear rally in Japan

Mission College Takes Solar Megawatt Step


438599 13338866 Mission College Takes Solar Megawatt StepIt’s happening all over nation state California. Now Mission College, Gilbane Co., a full-service construction company, and SunPower Corp., recently announced the dedication of a 1.1-megawatt (MW) solar power system at Mission College, located in Santa Clara, Calif. Over the 25-year-life of the system, Mission College is expected to save approximately $8.5 million in electricity costs. “At a time when schools are hard-pressed to reduce operating expenses, SunPower is working with K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to finance solar power solutions that supply significant, ongoing savings,” said SunPower Managing Director Bill Kelly. “To realize a great return on its investment in clean energy, Mission College wisely utilized low-interest financing mechanisms accessible to educational institutions and selected a system with guaranteed long-term energy performance and the highest efficiency, highest reliability on the market today.” Mission College President Dr. Laurel Jones said, “We are excited to be a model of sustainability for our student body and local community by introducing sustainable practices throughout our campus, including the new solar power system, development of clean tech curriculum and construction of LEED-designed, energy-efficient buildings.

It turns out SunPower is actively installing solar power systems at more than 90 educational facilities in California.  They have also built systems for community colleges including Bakersfield College, Mendocino College, Napa Valley College, Ohlone College, the Foothill-DeAnza Community College District, and the Los Angeles Community College District. SunPower has more than 750 large solar power systems in operation or under contract globally.

Statewide California just recently passed a milestone of one gigawatts of installed solar power. This puts California steps closer  to reaching its goal of generating 33% of its energy statewide through renewable energy by 2020. In order for these goals to be achieved  a combination of utility, commercial and residential programs are in effect to stimulate acceptance and purchasing. In fact as recently reported here,California’s Ninety Nine Percent Buying Solar Energy”; The top cities on the list are not California’s wealthiest and are home to more mainstream families.  For example, Bakersfield and Fresno are among the state’s top five solar cities with annual household incomes averaging between $40,000 and $50,000.  By comparison, Malibu, which was not even in the top 25, has a median annual household income of $160,000.  The percent of total installations in California’s highest income zip codes is only 2-3 percent.

New Solar Solutions Could Put Angelenos To Work