New SunPower Solar Discovery Game Promotes Energy Awareness

Posted on June 21, 2011 by quest

SunPower Corp. today launched the Solar Discovery Game, an online contest and sweepstakes that promotes solar energy education and awareness in the U.S. The grand prize, which will be announced on September 16, 2011, is a high-efficiency SunPower solar power system, valued at up to $25,000.

To play, participants can access the Solar Discovery Game through SunPower’s Facebook page and answer a series of questions on solar power. Correct responses will earn players points and virtual badges, which can be posted to their Facebook walls. New questions will be added weekly through September 14. All participants will be entered into bi-weekly sweepstakes drawings to win prizes, including roundtrip plane tickets for two between any U.S. mainland airports via Hawaiian Airlines, video cameras, gift cards, event tickets, SunPower gear and more. The grand prize winner will receive an installed SunPower solar power system for their own home, or they may gift the system to a friend, neighbor or local community building, such as a school or recreation center.

“SunPower’s Solar Discovery Game is a great way to educate virtual audiences about solar, while providing the opportunity to win a high-efficiency SunPower solar power system,” said David Henry, SunPower chief marketing officer. “SunPower customers value our products for reliably delivering up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar power systems. With this game, we hope to inspire SunPower’s growing online community to discover more about emission-free solar power, and share that knowledge virally with friends and family.”

Partners collaborating with SunPower on the Solar Discovery Game include the Solar Energy Industries Association, Del Monte Foods, Hawaiian Airlines, eBay Green Team and California Academy of Sciences.

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U.S. Mayors Find Ways to Advance Energy Sustainability

Posted on June 20, 2011 by quest

Despite challenging economic conditions, a landmark survey of nearly 400 mayors in all 50 states has found that energy and sustainability efforts have maintained momentum within cities. The study, prepared for The U.S. Conference of Mayors and sponsored by Siemens, was based on survey research conducted from April to May, 2011, by the international research consultancy GlobeScan. The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,210 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

Among its key findings, the survey noted:
•   Three in four cities expect their use of clean energy technologies to increase over the next five years.
•   LED/efficient lighting, low-energy building technologies and solar electricity generation are the top three “most promising” technologies for reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
•   Mayors are looking to the economic benefits of these clean energy solutions as drivers of their energy strategies.
•   For one in three cities, adapting to climate change is already an element of their capital planning or capital improvement programs.
•   One-quarter of all cities have already set targets for the use of renewable energy.

“The overwhelming response to this survey – 396 mayors in all 50 states, representing about 74 million people – underscores the strong commitment of the nation’s mayors to clean energy technologies and energy efficiency solutions,” said Conference President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz. “Mayors are acting on these commitments, which also support our nation’s greater goals on energy independence and security,” she explained.”As a company that provides many of today’s technology solutions for cities, we’re pleased how cities are embracing the many economic benefits of sustainable technologies,” said Daryl Dulaney, president and CEO of Siemens Industry, Inc. “Our next challenge is to help cities come up with financing solutions that have minimal budget impact and keep cities on track with their sustainability goals using proven technologies.”

“LED and other efficient lighting sources are the technology of choice for cities aiming to reduce future energy use and climate-harming emissions,” said Conference Vice President Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa. “We know from our experience in Los Angeles that LED streetlights are the way of the future and having a tremendous impact globally. They save money, protect the environment, and create jobs.” The City of Los Angeles is now replacing 140,000 existing streetlight fixtures with LED units in order to save energy by a minimum of 40%, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 40,500 tons per year. Rob Kerr, Vice President of GlobeScan, which conducted the survey, said, “The survey reaffirms trends that we’re seeing in different countries around the world – that cities are taking the practical lead in pushing national sustainability objectives by actually deploying the technologies today. Sustainability efforts are not going to just go away in tough economic times.”

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New Yorkers In Times Square Billboard Talk Solar Jobs

Posted on June 19, 2011 by quest

Times Square is about to get a little bit sunnier: starting today, a digital billboard will feature photographs of real New Yorkers calling for state lawmakers to make the Empire State a solar energy powerhouse by passing the New York Solar Jobs Act of 2011 (S.4178/A.5713). Legislators have until the session ends on June 20 to pass the bill and bring the many economic and environmental benefits of a strong solar industry to New York.“There’s no better place to show New York lawmakers, and the world, that solar is ready for primetime than iconic Times Square,” said Shaun Chapman, Director of East Coast Campaigns for Vote Solar. “We have the power to create tens of thousands of jobs in New York, boost the state’s economy with billions in increased wages and revenue, and help clean up its air – all with solar energy,” said Pierre Bull, Energy Policy Analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “New Yorkers want the jobs, economic, and health benefits that solar power can deliver. With New Jersey currently number two nationwide in solar energy, there’s no reason the Empire State can’t give them a run for their money. ”

The featured New Yorkers are winners of the Empire State Solar Generation Photo Contest. The contest was led by Vote Solar and the Natural Resources Defense Council with participation from a coalition of grassroots organizations to demonstrate public support for the New York Solar Jobs Act. The groups used social media and other online outreach tools to encourage New Yorkers to submit photos showing their support for solar energy in the state. The contest drew entries from across the state, from Long Island to Lake George. Pictures featured solar businesses, customers and fans posing in front of panels, holding signs and finding other ways to illustrate New York’s solar potential. In addition to the photos, the broader grassroots campaign elicited more than 10,000 emails and 31,500 letters to lawmakers in support of the New York Solar Jobs Act.

The New York Solar Jobs Act would build a robust, competitive new solar energy marketplace in New York by requiring the state’s electricity providers to obtain an increasing portion of their electricity from solar power until they achieve 3% in 2025. The bi-partisan legislation is sponsored by Assemblymember Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) and Senator George Maziarz (R-C, Newfane). In addition to other benefits the bill would develop 5,000 MW of solar photovoltaics in New York by 2025, which would provide enough safe, reliable renewable electricity to power 500,000 average households.

Chile: Activists rally against Patagonia dam plans

Google Launches Largest Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Posted on June 11, 2011 by quest

Coulomb Technologies today announced that Google, Inc. has deployed more than 70 electric vehicle charging stations managed by the ChargePoint Network at its worldwide headquarters in Mountain View, CA. The charging stations are used by employee-owned electric vehicles, as well as the company’s growing car sharing program for Googlers (GFleet), which includes Chevrolet Volts and Nissan LEAFs. With plans for 250 more charging stations on its campus, and a goal to make 5 percent of its campus parking EV-ready, Google’s installation is the largest workplace charging installation for electric vehicles in the country. Google has created a video on their Green Blog detailing their green transportation initiatives.

“By investing in new, green transportation technologies, Google is making a significant contribution to reducing our own greenhouse gas emissions,” said Rolf Schreiber technical program manager, Electric Transportation, at Google. “Our EVs and charging stations are part of our broader green transportation system that includes biodiesel shuttles that Googlers use to commute to work instead of driving their own cars. But we’re only one company among many, so we hope our green transportation initiatives serve as a model for other companies to incorporate sustainability programs into their own workplaces.”

“Google continues to drive innovation and leadership in the workplace. The results of their clean transportation efforts are remarkable, taking the equivalent of over 2000 cars off the road every day,” said Bret Sewell, Coulomb Executive Vice President. “We are proud that the ChargePoint Network plays a key role in this success by providing Google a complete electric vehicle charging solution.”

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New Avatar Sequels Will Be Filmed Using Solar Energy

Posted on June 10, 2011 by quest

When Hollywood wants you, you know you’re hot stuff. And hotter than the Boulevard and casting calls is the news that major film studios are climbing on the solar energy bandwagon. This week, it was announced that James Cameron’s Avatar sequels will be filmed using solar-power energy. Public response to the announcement was nothing but praise for the solar movement. The popularity has created an exponentially-rising demand from businesses interested in the benefits of investing in solar energy — both economic and environmental.

As demands surge, Sun Center Studios is taking the spotlight as an up-and-coming, new age film lot located just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The site houses an $85 million studio stretching over 33 acres. On that 33 acres lie a 4-D movie theatre, five studios, seven soundstages, and a 370,00-square-foot high-tech museum. The 216 kilowatt (kW) energy system ranks in the top one percent of solar projects funded by the Pennsylvania Sunshine Solar Rebate Program, and is the largest solar-related project in Delaware County, PA. Sun Center carefully designed their campus and sound stage to facilitate optimum efficiency, using the newest technology to obtain environmental sustainability.

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Senior Vice President of Sun Center Studios Adam Rotwitt elaborates: Sun Center Studios’ commitment to sustainability extends throughout the entire facility from the efficient design of the campus’s new buildings and stormwater management, our use of organic and locally grown foods whenever possible, to our participation in ‘smart-grid’ technology programs through integrated demand response and the installation of electric vehicle charging stations along with a fleet of hybrids for our production company clients. Rotwitt is passionate about the global efforts in solar energy transition and confident that his company is actively setting a good example. In doing so, Rotwitt believes other nearby Pennsylvania business will catch on and follow suit. Sun Center Studios is proud to stand as a role model for local developments, as well as for foreign companies with business in the film and media industry. According to David Richman, Commercial Sales for Mercury Solar Systems: The solar incentives in Pennsylvania and New Jersey are some of the most generous in the country, making this an optimal time to invest. We commend Sun Center Studios for incorporating solar into their state-of-the art facility.

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Calls for Solar Farms After Nuclear Disaster in Japan

Posted on June 9, 2011 by quest

Business and government leaders across Japan are calling for creating “solar farms” on damaged or abandoned land to help wean the nation off nuclear energy and provide economic opportunities for future generations. Katsunobu Sakurai, mayor of Minami-soma, told reporters on Thursday he wants to invite experts from around the world to rebuild his devastated city as a center for what Japanese call “natural energy.” His city of 70,000 residents is about 15 miles from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, where three reactors underwent meltdown after being swamped by the March 11 tsunami. “The land is ruined land but we can see this as a chance to fill them with a huge amount of solar panels in one fell swoop,” said Mr. Sakurai, referring to a 25-square-mile area ruined by muddy, salty seawater from the tsunami and radiation from the plant.

“But such a venture cannot succeed unless the government makes a clear policy, and sets regulations where power companies are required to buy electricity at a specified price.” In April, Mr. Sakurai called for Minami-soma to become a global center for “the brave people of the world” to create industries to transcend the nuclear power generation. “We are in need of a new mindset that is totally different from the one that merely envisions creating a new city on higher ground,” he said. Several corporations and state organizations, meanwhile, are making their own moves to create new energy technologies.

Masayoshi Son, president of mobile phone giant Softbank and one of Japan’s wealthiest men, has promised that his company will shoulder most of the $1 billion cost of building 10 massive solar power plants in Japan. Mr. Son says 19 provinces have pledged to join his project to build solar plants to wean Japan off nuclear energy. The provinces include Hokkaido in the north, Nagasaki in the far south, the Tokyo suburb of Saitama, and four central provinces that lost power when the government ordered a cold shutdown of Hamaoka nuclear plant. Mr. Son says the provinces will build solar power farms on abandoned farmland in declining rural areas across Japan. The provinces plan to set up a council to coincide with a meeting of Japan’s National Governors’ Association in July.

“The Hamaoka nuclear power plant had covered more than 80 percent of the electricity needs of our prefecture,” Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu told reporters in May. “We cannot help but switch to solar power to compensate for it. This is a big turning point.” About two-thirds of Japan’s aging nuclear reactors are switched off, and most of the active reactors will shut down for scheduled maintenance in coming months. Opposition from local residents and a growing anti-nuclear protest movement will likely make it difficult for private regional monopolies to restart reactors. By Christopher Johnson – Special to The Washington Times