SunPower City Alliance Offers Solar In San Jose

Posted on April 8, 2011 by quest

The City of San Jose and SunPower Corp. today announced that it is offering rebates to all San Jose homeowners and small business owners on purchases of a new, high-efficiency SunPower solar system. In addition to discounts on SunPower high-efficiency solar systems, this new comprehensive solar program offers homeowners free educational workshops through the City of San Jose, access to solar loans through designated financial institutions and introductions to qualified SunPower dealers who will conduct a free, no obligation solar evaluation. “We are proud to partner with SunPower on this innovative program to encourage new solar installations in San Jose,” said Mayor Chuck Reed. “These incentives will make it possible for more homeowners and small businesses to enjoy the financial and environmental benefits offered by solar energy.”

SunPower, based in San Jose, is an active member of the community and supports many local events each year. Last fall, the company announced plans to expand in San Jose and will move into its new, three-building facility to accommodate planned, long-term growth later this spring. “The SunPower City Alliance program makes it easy and affordable for those considering installing new solar systems at their residence or workplace,” said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO. “We are pleased to offer our neighbors this attractive opportunity to install the highest efficiency solar panels on the market today, with the highest reliability and guaranteed performance.”

SunPower’s broad Alliance Solar Program was launched in 2007 and is open to organizations and businesses wanting to partner with SunPower to educate their members or employees on the benefits of solar, and offer them rebates on a high-efficiency SunPower solar system.

BUILDING GREEN

Solar Energy A Vision That’s Real

Posted on April 6, 2011 by quest

Without a vision there is no mission; without a mission there is no action. The vision of a world being powered by solar energy might seem impossible – but it makes sense to seek a way to make it possible.

Man on the Moon
In most cases, the impossible is in fact feasible, if we just try. If you had asked in the 1950s whether it was possible to send a man to the moon, people would most likely have laughed in your face. Only a little over a decade later it happened. Although there are some skeptics who still believe it all happened in a Hollywood studio… but who can blame the disbelievers? In the USA anything is possible.

Now, let’s take a look at solar PV. All of the last decade’s forecasts in global market growth have been surpassed. With the exception of the somewhat modest growth experienced during the “crisis-year” 2009, 2008 to 2010 saw the global market growing an astonishing 100%. Numerous markets, for example Italy and Germany, have demonstrated that a growth rate of over 100% is indeed very feasible. So, if they are in a position to do so, more countries will hopefully follow suit. It is a proven model. The solar industry is growing with increasing speed – so fast, in fact, that analysts are worried about an oversupply situation this year for solar cells and modules. The “Impossible” Scenario

SOLAR EVENTS

Green Pioneer Majora Carter Wins Peabody Award

Posted on April 3, 2011 by quest

Majora Carter Wins Peabody Award for her radio show The Promised Land with Majora Carter, a forum for deep, eye-opening conversations about the environment and justice; Peabody Says: If there’s such a thing as eye-opening radio, Carter’s series, devoted to helping her audience envision a more just, sustainable world, is it.

Majora Carter founded Sustainable South Bronx in 2001 — when very few people were even talking about “sustainability,” and even fewer in places like the South Bronx. By 2003, she coined the term “Green the Ghetto” as she pioneered one of the nation’s first urban green-collar job training and placement systems. Her organization spearheaded new policies and legislation that fueled demand for those jobs, improved the lives of New Yorkers, and served as a model for the nation.

Majora’s 2006 TEDtalk was one of the first six presentations to launch that groundbreaking website. Since 2008, her consulting company has been exporting climate adaptation, urban micro-agribusiness, and leadership development strategies for business, state and local governments, federal agencies, foundations, universities, and economically underperforming communities.

Here’s what Robert Redford says about his Promised Land…What’s your Promised look like?

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

Solar In The Mix In Obama’s New Energy Policy

Posted on March 30, 2011 by quest

We meet here at a tumultuous time for the world. In a matter of months, we’ve seen regimes toppled and democracy take root across North Africa and the Middle East. We’ve witnessed a terrible earthquake, catastrophic tsunami and nuclear emergency batter a strong ally and the world’s third largest economy. And we’ve led an international effort in Libya to prevent a massacre and maintain stability throughout the broader region.

As Americans, we are heartbroken by the lives that have been lost as a result of these events. We are moved by the thirst for freedom in many nations, as well as the strength and perseverance of the Japanese people. And of course, it’s natural to feel anxious about what all this means for us.
One area of particular concern has been the cost and security of our energy. In an economy that relies on oil, rising prices at the pump affect everybody – workers and farmers; truck drivers and restaurant owners. Businesses see it hurt their bottom line. Families feel the pinch when they fill up their tank. For Americans already struggling to get by, it makes life that much harder.

But here’s the thing – we’ve been down this road before. Remember, it was just three years ago that gas prices topped $4 a gallon. Working folks haven’t forgotten that. It hit a lot of people pretty hard. But it was also the height of political season, so you had a lot of slogans and gimmicks and outraged politicians waving three-point-plans for two-dollar gas – when none of it would really do anything to solve the problem. Imagine that in Washington. The truth is, of course, was that all these gimmicks didn’t make a bit of difference. When gas prices finally fell, it was mostly because the global recession led to less demand for oil. Now that the economy is recovering, demand is back up. Add the turmoil in the Middle East, and it’s not surprising oil prices are higher. And every time the price of a barrel of oil on the world market rises by $10, a gallon of gas goes up by about 25 cents. The point is, the ups and downs in gas prices are usually temporary. When you look at the long-term trends, though, there will be more ups than downs. That’s because countries like India and China are growing at a rapid clip. And as two billion more people start consuming more goods, and driving more cars, and using more energy, it’s certain that demand will go up a lot faster than supply.

GAIN INSIGHT

California Sets Solar and Renewable Energy Goals

Posted on March 29, 2011 by quest

Today’s passage of SBX1-2 by the California State Assembly is “a major boost” for jobs, clean energy and the state’s economy, says the Independent Energy Producers (IEP) “We appreciate the support of the renewable energy developers, environmentalists, labor and health organizations who worked tirelessly for this victory.” SBX1-2 by Senator Joe Simitian (D–Palo Alto) requires that 33 percent of the state’s energy come from renewable sources by 2020. Previously, the goal was 20 percent by 2010.

“This landmark legislation will help put Californians back to work and provide the clean electricity needed to power our economy into the future,” said Jan Smutny-Jones, Executive Director of IEP California. “The jobs and investment created by SBX1-2 are a major boost for our economy — and a signal to the nation that California is still the innovative leader when it comes to clean, green energy.”While increasing the amount of energy from renewable sources, SBX1-2 also protects system reliability, fosters resource diversity, and produces the greatest environmental benefits for California residents. Over 45 energy, labor, environmental and health organizations joined IEP in supporting SBX1-2, including the California Wind Energy Association, AFSCME, Sierra Club California and the American Lung Association of California.“SBX1-2 will generate billions of dollars in investment, create thousands of jobs and foster local economic development,” said Smutny-Jones. “We appreciate the support of the renewable energy developers, environmentalists, labor and health organizations who worked tirelessly for this victory.”

IEP is California’s largest association of electricity generators, representing over 26,000 MWs of power or about one-half of California’s peak needs — about eighty percent of the renewable energy being delivered in California.

GREEN WEBINARS

Undersea Kites Generate Wave Energy

Posted on March 25, 2011 by quest

Carbon Trust provides £350,000 grant for first seagoing trials of innovative tidal energy device Tidal energy device developer Minesto UK Ltd is receiving a grant of up to £350,000 from the Carbon Trust funded by Invest Northern Ireland to deploy the first seagoing prototype of its innovative seakite technology – ‘Deep Green’. The device works like a kite, tethered to the seabed, which flies through the sea current carrying a turbine. If trials are successful, Minesto plans to deploy enough devices around the UK’s coastline to generate up to 530GWh a year by 2020, enough to power the annual electricity needs for all households in a city approximately the size of Newcastle.

The radically new concept can operate inCarbon Trust provides £350,000 grant for first seagoing trials of innovative tidal energy device Tidal energy device developer Minesto UK Ltd is receiving a grant of up to £350,000 from the Carbon Trust funded by Invest Northern Ireland to deploy the first seagoing prototype of its innovative seakite technology – ‘Deep Green’. The device works like a kite, tethered to the seabed, which flies through the sea current carrying a turbine. If trials are successful, Minesto plans to deploy enough devices around the UK’s coastline to generate up to 530GWh a year by 2020, enough to power the annual electricity needs for all households in a city approximately the size of Newcastle.

Benj Sykes, Director of Innovations at the Carbon Trust, said: “The UK boasts some of the best tidal resources in the world and we are focussed on bringing down the cost of extracting that energy. Minesto’s Deep Green is a very exciting technology as it could provide a step change reduction in the cost of tidal energy and open up swathes of the UK’s coast to generating electricity. Tidal energy has the potential to produce up to 18 terawatt hours ofelectricity, equivalent to over 5% of the UK’s electricity consumption.”