SkyFire Solar Powers Net Zero Tesla

Posted on November 14, 2011 by quest

It looks as if the solar and the electric vehicle industry and are on the something. Just last week Sunpower and Chevy Volt paired to provide in home solar solution powering up a Volt. On the storage side of things, NRG Energy, Inc. is partnering with the University of Delaware to take electric vehicles (EVs) to the next level with eV2gsm, a company commercializing new technology that will enable EV owners to sell electric storage services from the batteries of parked EVs to help stabilize the electricity grid. All of this is well, electrifying.

Now one of Canada’s largest solar contractors with photovoltaic systems operating throughout Western Canada, SkyFire Energy Inc. has announced today the installation of a solar system on a private residence south of Calgary to power a Tesla Roadster, the world’s first electric supercar. The array of 12 installed solar panels will deliver enough energy to offset 100 per cent of the car’s annual charging requirements.

David Kelly, partner, SkyFire Energy said, “With SkyFire’s extensive experience and qualifications of delivering solar solutions for commercial and residential properties, it was a welcome extension of our team’s expertise towards this innovative project that powers Alberta’s first net-zero energy car.” Prior to installation, SkyFire monitored the necessary energy usage during the first few months and sized a 2160-Watt photovoltaic system to generate the requisite amount of energy from the sun.

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Los Angeles The New Mecca For Electric Vehicles

Posted on November 13, 2011 by quest

It seems LA is to electric vehicle companies as San Francisco is to solar companies. “We are proud to welcome CODA to Los Angeles — the city that creates and innovates,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “We see CODA’s move as a boost to our growing clean technology industry in LA and we are thrilled they chose to locate in our City.”CODA Holdings, a leading developer of all-electric vehicles and advanced battery systems, just recently held the grand opening celebration of its 100,000 square foot global headquarters, R&D Division and Processing Center in the heart of Los Angeles. In addition, the City has named the road adjoining joining CODA’s headquarters “Electric Drive” to honor of CODA’s core technology. “We chose to place the global headquarters in Los Angeles not only because it is one of the most significant early markets for the deployment of electric vehicles, but because elected officials and business leaders have demonstrated their commitment to fostering a successful local cleantech industry,” said Phil Murtaugh, CEO, CODA Holdings. “We are excited about the many jobs we’ve already created for the area and look forward to many more as we expand and bring to market our all-electric sedan and energy storage products.” Just recently Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed BYD who opened their North American headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

You Got A Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

CODA’s Executive Chairman, Mac Heller and CEO, Phil Murtaugh, Governor Jerry Brown, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa,Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-47), Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, Councilman Herb Wesson and California Air Resources Board Chairman Mary Nichols were on hand to mark the occasion. Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-50), and representatives for Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and State Senator Curren Price (D-26) were in attendance. “Dynamic innovation is a key building block of California’s 21st century economy,” said California Governor Jerry Brown. “Car companies like CODA are investing in California because our laws encourage electric cars and recognize the paramount importance of reducing oil dependency.”

CODA is currently the fastest-growing company in Los Angeles, with a 275% job increase year to date and an expected 300% growth by the end of this year. With 220 engineers, technicians and corporate staff at its global headquarters, CODA is located on South Fairfax Avenue, adjacent to Interstate 10. Over the next year, CODA anticipates adding an additional 100 employees at the location, growing to 650 in the following years. The company supports further jobs at a facility in Benicia, CA where its vehicles undergo final assembly.

Eco-Friendly Meets Economy

Los Poblanos Inn & Organic Farm Fodor Winner

Posted on November 12, 2011 by quest

Among the most experienced and discerning international travelers, they say it’s the little things that count the most when it comes to accommodations. For some that could translate into massive reception areas, 24-hour concierge service and liveried valet parking but for the nearly 1,000 hyper-critical and seasoned travelers who took part in voting for the 2011 Fodor’s Top 100 Hotels in the World, it had more to do with organic produce grown mere yards from the kitchen, the intoxicating scent of freshly distilled lavender oil and even the antics of a goat named Periwinkle.

Los Poblanos Inn & Organic Farm is pleased to announce its having been named one of “Fodor’s 100 Hotels,” for 2011, a designation given to the top 100 “best in category” hotels in the world. Los Poblanos was the only New Mexico property to win an award and was, in fact, one of only twenty-nine properties in the United States, in any category, to be so honored by Fodor‘s. Privately owned by the Rembe family, the 25-acre inn and organic farm also boasts a cultural center and conference facilities that marry state-of-the art technology with historic architecture, antiques and exquisite examples of colonial and legendary New Mexico craftsmanship by the likes of architect John Gaw Meem, wood carver Gustave Baumann, painter Peter Hurd, tin artist Robert Woodman and photographer Laura Gilpin.

Designed in 1932 and built in 1934, the property has hosted and, for 77 years, served as the “home away from home” for some of the country’s leading thinkers, movers and shakers. Today, politicians, celebrities, foodies, authors and philosophers find their way to Los Poblanos for an environment that includes wide open space, an unparalleled view of the Sandias, superlative food and, inevitably, a sense of having exhaled. “While we certainly strive hard to meet and exceed the expectations of all of our guests, we’re also aware that many of them are seasoned world travelers, accustomed to luxury properties all over the globe. While some travelers tend to prefer – and even stick to – luxury chain hotels as a means of ‘regulating’ their accommodation experience regardless of locale, we’re that anti-brand, intimate and authentic experience that chains simply can’t offer. With more than fifty percent of our guests repeat customers, we take pride in offering the one-of-a-kind, ‘local flavor’ experience that Fodor’s saw as unique. We’re humbled to be on the same list with such legendary properties as the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, the Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee.”

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IKEA Charging Up EV’s In Southern California

Posted on November 11, 2011 by quest

IKEA-USA a leading home furnishings retailer, today officially plugged-in four Blink Pedestal electric vehicle charging stations at its Carson, California store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, Inc., a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. This initiative represents the second such project for IKEA in the United States. Installation also is planned at seven other IKEA stores in the Western U.S. To charge an EV at IKEA Carson, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their Blink InCard (RFID card), plug the charger into the EV, and then shop and eat at their leisure in the IKEA store while the vehicle is charging.

Maike Buhmann, IKEA Carson store manager said, “We are thrilled at how these electric-vehicle charging stations further the sustainability of IKEA Carson, and now are available to the public.” “We appreciate the support of ECOtality and Southern California Edison – our partners in helping facilitate and promote the use of EVs in Southern California.”ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, a public-private partnership funded in part by a federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the deployment of EVs. Globally, IKEA evaluates all locations regularly for energy conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. The company is the process of installing solar panels atop more than half of its U.S. locations. In addition their sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); incorporating environmental measures into the construction of buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms; and operationally, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and facilitating recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs.

Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 330 IKEA stores in 40 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment.

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Environmental Disaster Halted With XL Pipeline Review

Posted on November 10, 2011 by quest

By Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins - CEO Green for All. It’s breathtaking. Stunning. It’s absolutely the right thing to do, of course, to further assess the potential damage the pipeline could do – to the land it runs across if the oil were to spill; to the planet, once its burned. But somehow I don’t think we expected this to happen.   It was your leadership that got this done. It was the leadership of the thousands who protested last weekend in Washington, of the hundreds who went to jail to draw attention to the cause. It was the leadership of young people and indigenous people and retirees and communities of color. It was the leadership of our allies at 350.org.

But it was also the leadership of President Barack Obama. Make no mistake: without his intervention, this outcome may not have happened. We thank him for doing the right thing – and we remind him that the fight for a cleaner environment isn’t over.  Thank you for your engagement and your commitment. It’s been a generally bleak few months. So let’s take a moment today to celebrate a substantial victory.

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Solar Power Wars

Posted on November 10, 2011 by quest

Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld and a leader for the Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) said.“We are pleased that the facts have begun to speak for themselves. China’s plans for the U.S. market have been clear from its excessive and illegal subsidization of its export-heavy industry, its ever-escalating drive to dump product at artificially low prices on the U.S. marketplace and its contrived public-affairs tactics, including a new coalition for Chinese importers that purports to serve the interests of American consumers.” His comments came in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce‘s decision to initiate an intensive, year-long investigation into Chinese solar export practices. “The anti-competitive tactics of Chinese exporters have threatened to wipe out U.S. producers and jobs,” Brinser said. “Domestic producers look forward to returning to steady increases in efficiency and sustainable decreases in pricing that directly result from legal international competition – and to advances in America’s renewable-energy future.”

A recently published survey by the Solar Energy Industries Association is clear that the U.S. public cares deeply about the vitality of domestic manufacturing as it stands in China’s crosshairs. The survey shows overwhelming bipartisan support – 82 percent – for U.S. solar manufacturing. Chinese companies have almost no production on U.S. soil. CASM alleges that China’s state-sponsored industry has mounted an onslaught of dumping that has included a surge of imports in recent months. Chinese exports into the United States in July alone exceeded those of all of 2010, according to federal trade data. To counter this alleged surge ahead of the U.S. investigation, the SolarWorld-led coalition is seeking a federal determination of “critical circumstances,” requiring that any import duties required to offset alleged improper trade tactics be applied retroactively for three months.

In discussing China’s market share accomplishments Jifin Gao, President of China based Trina Solar said he, “attributed that success to better operational management that creates a “huge cost advantage” to competitors from Japan, Europe or the U.S., he said. “We have a faster reaction to the market because it’s being managed properly. This gives us a competitive advantage.”Assuming the International Trade Commission finds on Dec. 5 that Chinese exports have harmed the domestic industry, the first possible determination on “critical circumstances” could come as soon as Jan. 12, meaning importers of record could later be required to deposit estimated duties on imports back to this past Oct. 14, according to CASM.