California’s Ninety Nine Percent Buying Solar Energy

Posted on November 15, 2011 by quest

PV Solar Report, an authority on California solar market data and SunRun, a leading home solar company, today announced that families in median income zip codes make up the majority of California’s home solar market. Two thirds of California home solar installations in 2009, 2010, and 2011 year-to-date have been in zip codes with median annual household incomes of less than $85,000 and not in the wealthiest areas of the state. In addition, the number of residential projects in lower income zip codes continues to increase as solar prices decrease. 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.

SunRun Director of Government Affairs Ethan Sprague said, “The data from PV solar report shows this model is working, and that it’s not just the wealthy driving and benefitting from solar adoption. We are working to educate consumers that solar is finally affordable.” “This is exactly the market transformation that the California Solar Initiative (CSI) was designed to achieve when it started in 2007. SunRun owns, insures and maintains solar panels and installs them on a homeowner’s roof. Families pay a low monthly rate for clean energy, fixing their energy costs for 20 years. The service makes solar accessible to more Californians because families who could not afford cash purchase can now go solar. One of every four SunRun customers reporting income makes less $50,000 per year.

“It’s exciting to analyze how the industry is growing right now, especially when trends indicate that solar is becoming more mainstream and not just reserved for the wealthiest individuals,” said Stephen Torres, founder and managing director of PV Solar Report. “Solar prices are coming down, it’s great for job growth from installing, financing, and servicing solar in local communities, and models like SunRun are helping drive growth because they eliminate large upfront investments.”

Solar Power Wars

Lakers Players Shoot For Green Solar Energy

Posted on November 14, 2011 by quest

The news that the NBA season is in peril isn’t good news. As just reported in the New York Times, “The union representing National Basketball Association players formally disbanded Monday and declared it would take its standoff with the league’s owners into federal court, a development that pushed the league as close as it has ever been to losing an entire season of play.”But recently Sungevity, a recognized national leader in solar innovation and customer satisfaction, announced the hiring of Lakers’ stars Metta World Peace and Devin Ebanks as part of the company’s “Rooftop Revolution” campaign – marking the first time out-of-work NBA stars are put their energy into the nation’s hot solar market and emerging green economy. In the land of abundant sunshine, the two Lakers drove Sungevity’s solar-powered, bio-diesel ice pop truck to Los Angeles hot spots and provided free, all-natural treats while promoting the ease and affordability of residential solar panel installation. “Without basketball or dancing on my schedule, I need a job!” joked Metta World Peace. “Sungevity is about positive, renewable energy, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my time than interacting with the fans and promoting the power of the sun to the city of Los Angeles.”

Ten years ago, there were just 500 home solar rooftops in California. Today, that number is over 60,000 and California is well on its way to reaching its goal of one million solar roofs by 2018. With the recent reintroduction of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Solar Incentive Rebate Program on September 1, homeowners can enjoy added savings on their solar units. The LADWP is awarding rebates until the $40 million budget earmarked for its fiscal year runs out.

“While we share Los Angeles’ hopes of seeing Metta and Devin back on the Staples Center court soon, we’re thrilled to have them on our team promoting solar energy as the key to minimizing utility costs and gaining energy independence,” said Danny Kennedy, Founder, Sungevity. “Between our fast, free iQuote process and the LADWP solar rebate program, there has never been a better time for Los Angeles residents to go solar.” Leveraging web-based solar analytics and satellite imagery, the company’s online iQuote process – combined with its Solar Lease program – provides homeowners with the easiest, most affordable solar energy solution. Sungevity is growing at a rapid pace, increasing its customer base by ten-fold and quadrupling employee headcount over the past year. The company currently provides solar services in five states including, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, and is the exclusive residential solar partner for Lowe’s, the world’s second-largest home improvement retailer.

McKibben ‘Not On Our Planet

Don’t Hate Electric Vehicles Hate Pollution

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

California One Gigawatts of Solar And Growing

Posted on November 11, 2011 by quest

Environment California Research & Policy Center released a new report documenting that California’s innovative Million Solar Roofs Initiative, halfway through its legislatively mandated timeline, is on pace to meet its goal of installing 3 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2016, is helping to reduce the cost of solar energy, and is creating thousands of jobs throughout the state. These findings come just as California hits the milestone of installing more than 1 gigawatt of rooftop solar power across the state—a milestone that only five other countries in the world have reached.

“California can become the Saudi Arabia of the sun if it continues to get behind big, successful solar programs,” said Michelle Kinman, Clean Energy Advocate with Environment California Research & Policy Center and co-author of the report, Building a Brighter Future: California’s Progress Toward a Million Solar Roofs. “All signs point to a bright future for solar power in California, meaning cleaner air, cleaner energy, and more jobs.”

The 2006 Million Solar Roofs Bill (SB 1 – Murray) was historic in both scope and scale, representing the first unified state effort to turn solar power into a commonplace and affordable energy resource for average citizens. The law established a 10-year, statewide interagency effort, now called the Go Solar California campaign, which includes programs that fund solar projects on homes, commercial businesses, farms, and government and non-profit buildings. Read the Full Report

Transforming Solar Sense

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.

Solar Powered Education On the Move In South Africa

United Steelworkers Stand With U.S. Solar Companies

Posted on November 8, 2011 by quest

Recently Jifan Gao, Trina Solar President responded to The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing. (CASM), compliant to the World Trade Organization of unfair trade practices. Now a group of seven domestic U.S. solar manufacturers led by SolarWorld Industries America Inc., today welcomed the support of the United Steelworkers (USW) – with 850,000 active members, the nation’s largest union – for the coalition’s petitions for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese imports.
The solar energy business continues to gather mainstream media attention as New Times writer Paul Krugman reported in his article, “Here comes the sun.” In it he laid out the case for the rapid development of renewable energy in America. Meanwhile Trina CEO, Goa in an interview with Bloomberg said “This is the decade of mergers and acquisitions. From now until 2015 is the first phase, when about two-thirds of the players will be shaken out.”

According to U.S. trade statistics, Chinese exports of solar cells and panels to the United States rose more than 350 percent from 2008 to 2010. In the first eight months of 2011 alone, imports from China totaled $1.6 billion, more than in all of 2010. In fact, exports in the month of July 2011 alone exceeded those from all of 2010. CASM contends that Chinese dumping has played a significant role in causing seven U.S. solar plants to close or downsize during the past 18 months, eliminating thousands of jobs, directly and indirectly, in Arizona, California, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Pennsylvania.

In the union’s letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission (ITC), Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers, said, in part: “Unfortunately, China continues to operate in a manner that is utterly inconsistent with its WTO obligations, which comes at the expense of developing our nation’s clean energy sector and creating and sustaining clean energy jobs for American workers. We urge you to vigorously apply and enforce our trade laws in these solar cases so that American workers and domestic industries can have a fair chance to compete in the U.S. market.” “Manufacturing is the fuel that drives our economic engine,” said Gordon Brinser, U.S. president of SolarWorld, the leader of CASM and the named petitioner in the case. “Members of the Steelworkers Union understand that the key to American economic growth is healthy competition. Their support for U.S. trade actions that keep quality, high-paying jobs in America and allow American companies to compete fairly in the global marketplace is greatly appreciated.”The next step in the case is an ITC staff hearing today Nov. 8, 2011.

Green Jobs Occupy California’s Future

10,000 Surrounded White House Protesting Oil Pipeline