Beyond Solar Plans New South Africa Project

Posted on December 24, 2010 by quest

Beyond Solar the US based international non profit that provides educational, medical, and economic well being for communities in the developing world by providing solar powered electricity is initiating a new project in South Africa. Beyond Solar’s approach to community development is a hybrid systems that blends traditional donation models with basic microfinance concepts. They provide capital to finance the purchase of solar powered lighting products and villagers make weekly payments for the products they receive. By providing inexpensive and sustainable energy Beyond Solar seeks to increase exposure and facilitate solar power adoption rate.

“Throughout the year we have received a lot of inquiries and interest about our two previous distributions in Orissa, India. We are pleased to report that our process of using your donated funds to provide lights to the villages in Orissa has made a tremendous impact. Even more exciting is that our use of micro-financing principals has been a success. Beneficiaries have made “payments” to cover the cost of their lights, which were funded by their increased productivity as well as the money saved on kerosene they didn’t have to buy. These payments were deposited into a fund that was administered by village leaders, and upon complete repayment of the loans, the money was returned to the villagers for future development projects; the funds you give continue to give!” said Jeff Olshesky Beyond Solar Co Founder.

Olshesky, also commented, “In the coming weeks, I will be sending more updates about our new project. In the meantime, I ask that you consider making a tax-deductable donation to Beyond Solar. Our goal is to distribute lights to 300 households and to do this, we need to raise approximately $10,000. Give the gift of light this holiday season.” To make a donation, simply go to Beyond Solar.

SUSTAINABILITY

Arizona Deserts Key to Solar Power

Posted on December 22, 2010 by quest

Abengoa Solar announced today that it has finalized $1.45 billion financing to build Solana, the world’s largest parabolic trough concentrating solar plant which will generate 250 net megawatts (MW). A parabolic trough is a type of solar thermal energy collector. Santiago Seage, CEO of Abengoa Solar, stated, “Solana is the first large scale CSP plant for Abengoa Solar in the U.S. and will be a key milestone for our development in this country as it allows us to strengthen our relationships with the local community as well as with the state and federal public authorities that have contributed notably to this project.” Abengoa Solar signed a power purchase agreement with Arizona Public Service Co, Arizona’s largest electric utility, to buy the energy produced by Solana for a period of 30 years.

The plant will be located 70 miles southwest of Phoenix, near Gila Bend, Arizona. Solana will produce enough energy to serve 70,000 households and will prevent the emission of 475,000 tons of CO2 per year compared to a natural gas burning power plant. The construction and operation of Solana will bring many economic and environmental benefits to Arizona and will support the nation’s goals for energy independence through a “green” economy. Abengoa Solar estimates that the Solana project will create between 1,600 to 1,700 new construction jobs and over 85 permanent jobs. Approximately 98 percent of the jobs created by the project will be American jobs, primarily in Arizona, in addition to neighboring states. Furthermore, around 75% of the equipment and supplies required to build Solana will be manufactured in the U.S.

In late 2009 Abengoa Solar signed a power purchase agreement in California to supply electricity generated by a 250 MW net CSP trough plant located in the Mojave Desert, 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The company also has several projects under development in the Southwest.

VISIT THE GREEN NEWS WALL

USDA Seeding Organic Producers

Posted on December 21, 2010 by quest

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced USDA will provide funding to help organic producers and those transitioning to organic production implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations. “Increasing consumer demand for organically grown foods is providing new opportunities for small and mid-size farmers to prosper and stay competitive in today’s economy,” Merrigan said. “The 2008 Farm Bill calls for this assistance, and we want to help these farmers protect the natural resources on their land and create conditions that help foster organic production.”
Fiscal year (FY) 2011 marks the third year of USDA’s Organic Initiative, and up to $50 million is available this year for producers to plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns in ways that are consistent with organic production. For example, organic producers may use the funding to plant cover crops, establish integrated pest management plans, or implement nutrient management systems consistent with organic certification standards.

Eligible producers include those certified through USDA’s National Organic Program, those transitioning to certified organic production, and those who meet organic standards but are exempt from certification because their gross annual organic sales are less than $5,000. In FY 2010, NRCS obligated nearly $24 million through the Organic Initiative to help producers implement conservation practices.

ORGANIC FARMING

GREEN CAREERS

DOE to Fund $50 Million in Solar Energy Technologies

Posted on December 20, 2010 by quest

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the Department’s intent to fund up to $50 million to test and demonstrate innovative technologies that will lead to cost-competitive solar energy technologies. The demonstration program will be a critical link between the Department of Energy‘s advanced technology development programs and full-scale commercialization efforts. The Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) will serve as a proving ground for cutting-edge solar technologies, such as concentrating solar thermal power and concentrating photovoltaic energy, which can be used for utility applications in the Southwestern United States where there is an abundance of solar energy.

“This funding will allow the Department to further test advanced and innovative solar energy technologies in real-world conditions, providing critical data for companies and communities looking to invest in large-scale solar projects,” said Secretary Chu. “The Solar Demonstration Zone in Nevada is part of an integrated effort to expand the solar energy industry, helping to put America on a path to a sustainable energy future and create the jobs of the 21st century economy.”

The Department expects to announce the Funding Opportunity Announcement early next year. Potential technology applications include Concentrated Solar Power systems that use mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight on a heat absorbing fluid, convert it to steam, and ultimately generate electricity, as well as Concentrated Photovoltaic Power that uses lenses to concentrate sunlight to improve the efficiency of conventional photovoltaics. The demonstration projects as part of the Solar Demonstration Zone will be deployed at a large enough scale to provide useful operating and economic data for the eventual deployment of solar energy projects at utility-scale, which are typically grid-connected projects larger than 20 megawatts.

SUSTAINABILITY

Think Electric Drives Electric

Posted on December 19, 2010 by quest

THINK, the world’s leading dedicated electric vehicle maker, has delivered its first U.S.-built cars to the State of Indiana for use in its government fleet. The 15 vehicles, which were shipped from THINK’s manufacturing facility in Elkhart, Ind., will be the first electric passenger vehicles with American-made, Lithium-ion batteries used in a U.S. fleet operation.

“We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to deliver an all-electric car built in the U.S. with an advanced battery that suits the needs of government and commercial fleet operators,” said THINK CEO Barry Engle. “Our delivery today is part of a larger effort to help transform the U.S. light-duty vehicle fleet from one that is mostly dependent on imported oil, to one that is fueled entirely by domestically produced electric energy.”

“As part of that goal, we’ve made a strategic decision to target initially the many millions of fleet vehicles in operation in the U.S. market,” Mr. Engle added. “These fleets can jumpstart vehicle electrification in America’s cities and help push the industry past early adopters into mainstream consumer markets. Fleet sales will drive up vehicle and battery production volumes and drive down costs, which will benefit retail consumers.”

The economics of electric vehicles for fleet operators in terms of cost of ownership are highly positive. With defined travel routes and centralized recharging and service, fleets are the natural platform to launch this new industry

INSIGHT

California Approves Innovative Solar Program

Posted on December 17, 2010 by quest

Today the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to approve a new program designed to drive small to mid-sized renewable energy development. Called a “Renewable Auction Mechanism” (RAM), this next-generation feed-in tariff program will require investor-owned California utilities to purchase electricity from solar and other renewable energy systems up to 20 MW in size. Solar advocates and industry representatives applauded the CPUC for its innovative approach to helping California meet its renewable goals and build a strong new energy economy.

“This program is a thoughtful design that helps keep the state on track with its renewable energy obligations and goals but in a cost-effective and pragmatic way. We are very excited about the significant opportunity it provides solar developers”
“This is an elegant program that will drive significant new development in small to mid-sized renewables in California. The approach builds on best-practices to deliver cost-effective solar on-line quickly, in a way that delivers sustained value to ratepayers. In combination with California’s 80,000 behind-the-meter solar systems and the Renewable Portfolio Standard that is driving large-scale projects, this program pioneers a new approach to wholesale distributed generation. At scale, solar is more cost effective than the fossil fuel alternatives. All it takes is the right market mechanism to turn the opportunity into reality, and we thank the Commission and Commission staff for their vision,” said Adam Browning, Executive Director of Vote Solar, a non-profit organization working to make solar a mainstream American energy resource.