California Selected For 2013 Solar Decathlon

Posted on January 27, 2012 by quest

Now just after President Obama’s State of the Union Address The United States Department of Energy today announced that the Orange County Great Park has been selected as the site for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon challenges international collegiate teams to design and build solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive while promoting the education and economic benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Visitors will be able to tour the renewable energy houses that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances at a specially-constructed Great Park Solar Village in the fall of 2013.

“I am extremely proud that after carefully evaluating sites throughout the nation, the Department of Energy selected our Great Park as the location of this important international event,” said Mike Ellzey, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “Staging the 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Great Park will focus worldwide attention on the entire solar renewable energy industry in Orange County and throughout California. The event will also greatly stimulate the local economy by bringing in tourism dollars from those attending.”

“The Orange County Great Park is proud and honored to be chosen as the host site for the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors. “This unique event fits perfectly with our vision and focus on innovation, sustainability and community engagement. We are excited and look forward to working with the Department of Energy, the participating universities and our community partners to put on an extraordinary event.”The Solar Decathlon is a biennial event that was launched in 2002. The 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Orange County Great Park will be the first Decathlon held outside of Washington D.C.. The Great Park was selected through a national competition.

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Obama Goes Green In State of The Union

Posted on January 25, 2012 by quest

President Obama put it out there in last night’s State of the Union Address at one point saying, “Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same,” Obama said. “It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no cop-outs. He focused on four areas – American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.There it was the energy, the passion, the truth telling and a vision for a new clean green tech America. Was that Barrack Obama calling for innovation and entrepreneurship to drive a new era of energy prosperity? Or was it Obama channeling former President Jimmy Carter who back in 1977 proposed a new National Energy Policy. I wonder where we’d be if his policies had remained in effect. Who knows maybe there would have been no need for a war in Iraq.

And just last week President Obama went thumbs down on the Keystone XL Pipeline project which opponents had called an environmental disaster in the making. In his State of the Union speech last night he went directly after big oil. He said,”Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs”

While conceding the logjam in Congress he said, “We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.

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A Green Agenda Mr. President

Posted on January 24, 2012 by quest

By Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins: Tonight, President Obama presents his State of the Union address. He’s expected to present a forceful vision for 2012.The problem, of course, is that we need to be building an American economy today that will position us for the next hundred years, not just the next one. There’s a clear path to doing so, but political obstacles will make it difficult.
So today Green For All is announcing a “Plan To Keep America First,” a four-step outline of how the President can ensure that our nation remains strong and competitive well into the next century, while putting Americans back to work now:
1.   Recognize long-term growth opportunities. Specifically, the on-going growth of renewable energy, green jobs, and pollution controls
2.   Make direct entrepreneurial investments in green technology. Leverage the government’s resources to support the clean energy economy and ensure a robust return on its investment.
3.   Make direct investments in infrastructure – with an eye toward the future. Build infrastructure now that considers long-term sustainability and energy use trends.
4.   Use full power of the executive branch. It’s vital that the private sector work with President Obama to figure out creative ways to make progress.

The plan is ambitious and not politically easy. That’s where you come in. Take a few minutes to read the plan. Then, contact your member of Congress using our online tools. Let the President and your member of Congress know that you support Green For All’s bold, forward-looking agenda for America.We’ve seen repeatedly over the last few months the power of speaking out, both on Wall Street and online. It’s time for us to step up once again and demand the jobs that will keep America first.

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Future Engineers Using Solar And Renewable Energy

Posted on January 18, 2012 by quest

Hundreds of future engineering students from all across New Jersey flocked to Rutgers’ University this past Saturday to gain insight and encouragement from New Jersey American Water engineers as they competed in the 5th Annual New Jersey Engineers Future Cities Competition. The competition, held at the Rutgers University Livingston Campus, featured students’ models of future cities designed to meet energy needs and maintain a healthy planet.“The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

Throughout the university’s student center, student vied for more than two dozen awards with models of cities made from recycled materials that showcased different forms of alternative energy such as wind mills, solar power, and magnets. New Jersey American Water sponsored two of the awards: 5th place overall, which was awarded to Iselin Middle School for their city named “Verison City,” and the specialty category of Healthiest City, given to St. Paul Interparochial School for their city named “Findiger City.”Iselin Middle School received a $500 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Grant for materials used in their school’s classrooms as well as the opportunity to be the special guests of the company at the American Water Works Association’s New Jersey (AWW-NJ) chapter’s annual conference held in Atlantic City . St. Paul Interparochial School in Ramsey, NJ will also take a behind the scenes tour of a New Jersey American Water treatment plant.

In between presenting their designs, students stopped by the New Jersey American Water booth to seek academic and career advice, as well as to marvel at the company’s “magic floating faucet” and collect giveaways.“It is so important to encourage students at this early age to explore engineering and technology as a career interest,” said Suzanne Chiavari, New Jersey American Water Vice President of Engineering, and Future Cities Competition judge. “The innovation of their cities and the detailed though that went into their design showed that these students are wise beyond their years. New Jersey American Water is proud to have supported this year’s Future Cities Competition and we look forward to coming back for another year.”

OBAMA TO TURN DOWN XL PIPELINE

Ed Begley Jr. Shinning For Panasonic Solar 

Posted on January 10, 2012 by quest

Jim Doyle, President of Panasonic Eco Solutions North America has announced an exclusive brand license and endorsement agreement with noted environmentalist endorsement of Ed Begley Jr. for Panasonic HIT solar panels. “Mr. Begley is not only a well known actor but his view of helping the environment matches Panasonic’s mission to be the number one green innovation company in the electronics industry by 2018, the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding. Ed will be a recognizable and trusted voice to the customer about how they can help the environment by installing solar panels.”

“Environmental lifestyles have changed much over the past few years. Solar has become an alternative to people who want to do something sustainable in their lives as well as save money. Solar can help them do both with quality solar panels like Panasonic’s HIT, government incentives, and solar leasing,” said Mr. Begley. “This agreement will help me reach customers and educate the public on the benefits of going solar. It has always been my mission to help people make greener lifestyle choices, and consequently create a brighter, healthier future for all of us.”

HIT stands for “heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer”, and the solar cells used are a hybrid with a unique structure comprised of a thin mono-crystalline silicon wafer surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers. HIT solar modules are known for having one of the world’s highest conversion efficiencies and excellent temperature characteristics, allowing HIT modules to generate more power throughout the year, even during peak summer months, compared to other types of crystalline modules. The panels were originally developed by Sanyo Electric, which Panasonic Corporation acquired on April 1, 2011.

California Focusing On 2020 Solar Vision

Solar Forces Unite

Posted on January 9, 2012 by quest

The Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade association for the solar energy industry, recently announced that it has officially merged with the Solar Alliance, an advocacy organization committed to establishing solar policies at the state level. Effective immediately, the Solar Alliance will operate under the SEIA brand in an effort to present a unified solar industry voice in all advocacy efforts at the state level. Carrie Cullen Hitt, president of the Solar Alliance, is now Vice President for State Affairs at SEIA, and the Solar Alliance team joins Hitt as part of SEIA’s new department for State Affairs.“The solar energy industry is expanding and it is critical for SEIA to mirror this growth and put our resources and expertise into developing state policy that expand markets for solar energy,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “Adding Carrie Cullen Hitt and her top-notch staff to the SEIA team is a critical step as we continue to scale the U.S. market and move toward our goal of installing 10 gigawatts of solar annually by 2015.”

“We have tremendous opportunities for opening markets for solar across all regions,” said Hitt. “With the Solar Alliance now a part of SEIA, we have the unified voice that is necessary on the policy front – both in Washington and in the states – to really take the U.S. solar industry to the next level.” Additionally, SEIA has established more formalized, collaborative relationships with nearly a dozen state and regional SEIA chapters to coordinate efforts. While the state and regional SEIA chapters remain wholly independent entities, this partnership brings additional resources and coordination on efforts that align with SEIA’s policy goals in the states.

In 2012, SEIA will present a unified voice in policy issues ranging from international trade, extension of the Section 1603 Treasury Program, and improved access for solar developers on public lands to the policy efforts in the states. State efforts will entail a number of different policy efforts including net metering, a financial tool for recognizing value of distributed generation on the grid, and removing barriers to grid interconnection and permitting. The combination of state and federal policy has driven access to energy markets for solar project developers across the country. In 2010, 17 states installed more than 10 megawatts of new solar capacity compared to only four in 2007.