Marin County Real Goods Solar To Merge With Alteris

Posted on June 23, 2011 by quest

by Jeff Quackenbush, Business Journal Staff Reporter: Real Goods Solar Inc , a solar energy systems integrator started in the North Bay, and Alteris Renewables Inc. today announced a deal to merge, giving Real Goods a large foothold in the Northeast. In the deal, Real Goods would issue 8 million shares, or more based on performance, to purchase all the stock of Wilton, Conn.-based Earth Friendly Energy Group Holdings, LLC, which does business as Alteris. The deal is set to close in the third quarter, pending approval of Real Goods shareholders, of which the majority is Boulder, Colo.-based Gaiam Inc. Gaiam intends to vote in favor of the merger, according to the announcement.

Real Goods Solar President John Schaeffer, who started the company in 1978 in Hopland, would become president of the residential division of the merged company.“Together, we are a much stronger company with a better ability to compete in the market that we established when Real Goods Solar sold the very first solar panel to the public in 1978,” Mr. Schaeffer said. “We can leverage our complementary expertise and geographies to accelerate the adoption of clean energy across the country. With the U.S. solar market projected to grow fivefold from 2010 to 2015, our company has plenty of opportunity ahead of it.”

The new chief executive officer of Real Goods Solar is Colorado resident and renewable energy advocate Bill Yearsley. A veteran of 40 mergers and acquisitions deals, he negotiated the Alteris merger, according to Real Goods Solar. Previously, he was chairman and CEO of the Construction and Aggregate Group and an executive director of Redland PLC. Real Goods Solar Chief Financial Officer Erik Zech would stay in that role. Ron French, head of Alteris’ commercial division would become president of the commercial division of the merged company. Alteris CEO Steven Kaufman would move to a board role, as would Alteris’ board Chairman David Belluck of Riverside Partners, Alteris’ controlling investor. Gaiam Chairman Jirka Rysavy will continue as Real Goods Solar’s chairman. “The Northeast and the West represent the two fastest growing markets for solar installations in the country, driven by high energy prices and government incentives in each region,” said Mr. Kaufman. Real Goods Solar has installed more than 7,300 home photovoltaic systems, as well as arrays for commercial, winery, education, government and institutional clients, in California and Colorado. Alteris has installed more than 4,000 systems in the past three decades in New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES

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.

LEARN FROM GREEN WEBINARS

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.”

More News at The Solar Wall

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

Brown Praises Job Creation At World’s Largest Solar Project

Posted on June 17, 2011 by quest

California Governor Jerry Brown, Jr. today joined Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and other federal, state and local officials at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Blythe Solar Power Project, a plan to build the largest solar energy facility in the world. The project will bring thousands of construction jobs to Riverside County and help California obtain 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. “It makes sense to power California with renewable wind and solar energy that protects clean air and water and promotes energy independence,” Governor Brown said. “Renewable energy projects also stimulate business investment in California and create thousands of new jobs.”

Brown also visited six other solar and wind energy projects—just 5% of the state’s 270 total renewable energy projects—including: First Solar’s Desert Sunlight, Solar Millenium’s Palen Solar Power Project, NextEra’s Genesis facility, Solar Reserve’s Rice Airfield Project, Abengoa’s Mojave Solar Project, and Terragen’s Alta-Oak Creek wind power project. The projects Brown visited today are estimated to create 5,390 new construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs in California. Upon completion, these power plants will generate 3,470 megawatts of energy, or 6 percent of California’s peak energy requirement, which is enough energy to power more than 1.4 million single-family homes.

In 2010, the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies surveyed 12 solar, wind, and geothermal projects and found an average of 4,258 jobs would be created per month during construction. Skilled and non-skilled trades needed to work on these projects include steel and ironworkers, teamsters, plumbers and pipefitters, cement masons, electricians, operating engineers, and managers and general laborers. These projects would also bring nearly 1,000 long-term operations and maintenance jobs to California. Source: Imperial Valley News

33% of Electricity Must Come from Renewables by 2020

Why Water Conservation Is Important

US To Become The World’s Largest Solar Market

Posted on June 17, 2011 by quest

The U.S. solar energy industry continued to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy in Q1 2011 according to the U.S. Solar Market InsightTM: Q1 2011 released today by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research. In total, cumulative grid-connected solar electric installations have reached more than 2.85 gigawatts (GW), enough to power nearly 600,000 U.S. homes. In the first quarter of 2011, the United States installed 252 megawatts (MW) of grid-connected photovoltaics (PV) or 66 percent year-over-year growth over Q1 2010 installations. Two major factors drove this growth: falling solar energy equipment costs and a rush to take advantage of the Section 1603 Treasury program that was expected to expire in 2010 (the program was eventually extended through the end of 2011). All three PV market sectors (residential, commercial and utility) continued to grow, with commercial installations showing the strongest gains.

“On the whole, the U.S. is currently the PV industry’s most attractive and stable growth market,” said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of Solar at GTM Research. “This is reflected in our report’s quarterly market data and in the comments from global suppliers, distributors, and developers, all of whom see the U.S. positioned to nearly double its global market share in 2011 and support a greater diversity of installation types than has been previously seen in any leading demand center.” Geographically, the market was concentrated in a few key states. In Q1 2010, the top seven states comprised 82 percent of total installations, but that figure grew to 88 percent in Q1 2011, implying that established, leading markets gained an even larger share. The pace of installations grew more than 50 percent in 11 of the 21 states analyzed in the report.

Price declines were also an important factor in the Q1 2011 solar expansion, as technology costs fell and the industry matured further, capitalizing on greater economies of scale and streamlined project development and installation. Domestic PV module production in Q1 2011 amounted to 348 MW, a 31 percent increase over Q1 2010. “With analysts predicting the U.S. to become the world’s largest solar market within the next few years, manufacturers are increasingly looking to the U.S. to site their facilities,” said Tom Kimbis, SEIA Vice-President of Strategy and External Affairs. “They are finding significant value in manufacturing close to their expected source of demand. This strong demand continues to make solar one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and a source of thousands of good jobs from manufacturing and installation to engineering and sales.”