Waste Management, Georgia Power sign 10-year landfill deal

Waste Management, Georgia Power sign 10-year landfill deal - Houston Business Journal:: "Waste Management Renewable Energy LLC has signed a 10-year contract with Georgia Power to produce electricity from landfill gas at one of the largest landfills in the Southeastern United States.
Owned by Houston-based Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WM), the Superior Landfill and Recycling Center in Savannah, Ga., will route all of its 6.4 megawatts a year to Georgia Power, which serves 2.3 million customers in 155 of 159 Georgia counties."

Going Radically Green with Residential Solar Power

Going Radically Green with Residential Solar Power: "Group Buying for Cheaper Rates
Group buying is another burgeoning grassroots solar discount option. Around the country, neighbors and communities are getting together to save money on solar power. It’s the same principle that makes buying cereal from the grocery store out of a bin cheaper than out of a box; the more you buy at once, the lower cost per unit. Group buying in solar power enables homeowners and neighborhood organizations to bargain collectively for cheaper solar rates.
Savings can be very substantial and all parties benefit, from the money-saving homeowner to the installer who gets to install, say, 20 systems within a few square blocks. One Block Off the Grid (1BOG), SolarCity and a handful of other companies and nonprofits are leading the way in community solar power"

Chipotle Grill is cooking up Solar

neighborsgo Blog The Dallas Morning News: "A Plano Chipotle location will be one of five in North Texas to receive solar panels as part of the restaurant chain's solar power initiative this year. The solar panels that will be installed in Plano's Collin Creek location in the first two weeks of April.
Although Chipotle isn't disclosing costs of the initiative, spokesman Chris Arnold said, the energy savings should pay for itself within two years.
Read the entire story at neighborsgo.com."

Millions In Energy Rebates Now Available To Virginians

Millions In Energy Rebates Now Available To Virginians: "Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, Virginia’s Chief Jobs Creation Officer, announced on behalf of Governor Bob McDonnell that effective March 22, 2010, $10 million in rebates will be available to help home owners and small businesses reduce their energy costs and harness energy from the wind and the sun. This is a continuation of the energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates made available last October.
“I encourage Virginians to take advantage of this opportunity to lower their energy costs and create jobs,” said Lieutenant Governor Bolling. “An energy efficient home or business will continue for years to save money. And both of these popular programs help to provide jobs for the workers who make the improvements or install the renewable energy systems.”
The first round of funding for efficiency and renewable energy rebates totaling about $20 million was sold out in less than three weeks when the programs opened in late October."

Clean Technology's Unstoppable Energy

By Joel Makower
Published March 22, 2010
One of the truly positive stories of the Great Recession is the continued growth of clean technology in general, and clean energy in particular. This isn't the prevailing narrative. According to the mainstream media, the excitement over cleantech has eased, the victim of global economic travails, the dearth of investment capital, and the cooling of political momentum to curb global warming. It's a bubble that, if not burst, has at least depressurized a bit.
That's not the world as I see it. Interest over cleantech remains high -- perhaps not by the media, which seems to have deemed it yesterday's story, but by the large corporations, national and sub-national governments, and the thousands of start-ups that seem to be surviving, even thriving. Not to mention all of their customers.
read the full article:
Clean Technology's Unstoppable Energy GreenBiz.com

75% of Americans Approve Solar Development

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands
Industry and Environmental Leaders Share Upbeat Outlook for Utility-Scale Market

WASHINGTON, DC – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released new national polling data showing that 75 percent of those surveyed support the development of solar energy plants on public lands. The poll was conducted by Gotham Research Group. Solar industry and environmental leaders, as well as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th) and pollster Jeff Levine joined SEIA President Rhone Resch on a call to discuss the results.

“The polling data we are releasing today confirms what we already knew,” said SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch. “The American public overwhelming supports the development of solar energy. It is time for our elected officials to respond to this high public demand and enact policies that allow solar to compete with other energy sources on a level playing field.”

The survey also revealed that solar power was the top choice (38 percent) as the best use of public land. Respondents also selected solar farms and wind power (22 percent each) as the top energy sources that the government should prioritize for support, beating out natural gas (16 percent), nuclear (16 percent), oil (11 percent) and coal (4 percent). Read more: http://www.seia.org/cs/news_detail?pressrelease.id=769

Florida Solar Energy in Jeopardy

There is a Bill in the Florida legislature (HB 1267 / 1269 & SB 2404/2406) that needs all of our support in order to make it through. Solar Fusion is asking for your support with this Bill by joining with us in making two simple phone calls as soon as possible, to keep this bill alive.

The time has come for Florida to take action to establish a reliable, long-term funding program for renewable energy. The cost would be only .25 cents per month or $3.00 per year, to help decrease our dependence of fossil fuels. in

Call us today to obtain contact information or call in support of this bill:

The two Chairmen are:
Precourt, Stephen (HOUSE)
(850) 488-0256
Diaz de la Portilla, Alex (SENATE)
(850) 487-5109

Renewable Energy investment may rise to $200 Billion

By Jeremy van Loon
March 17 (Bloomberg)
Renewable energy investment may rise by 23 percent this year as government stimulus funds mainly in the U.S. and Europe are spent wind turbines and solar panels.
Spending may rise to between $175 billion and $200 billion this year from $162 billion in 2009, said Bloomberg New Energy Finance Chief Executive Officer Michael Liebreich today.
“There’s a big bulge of stimulus money coming through this year,” he said during a press conference at the consultant’s annual conference in London. “The question is what happens when they switch off the stimulus.” http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-17/renewable-energy-investment-may-reach-200-billion-in-2010.html

How to bring Good New Energy Jobs Home

It’s not JUST the rich economic opportunity in New Energy that matters. And it’s not JUST that the New Energies are a rich source of jobs. It’s also that the New Energies offer a remarkable opportunity to renew the nation’s manufacturing base, JUST when that opportunity is needed the most.
A lot of people find it difficult to understand how so many jobs can be promised by such new industries. That, however, is the point: The New Energy industries are still building their infrastructure and will be building it for decades. It is an infrastructure that will grow from providing 2% of U.S. power to providing probably a third of U.S. power by 2030 and perhaps all of it by the end of this century. Highly capital intensive, 70-to-75% of the cost of a wind project goes to the manufacturing sector, 68% of the total cost of solar power plants goes to equipment and 60-to-64% of the cost of solar photovoltaics is the cost of the modules and inverter. Somebody's got to build all that. http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/03/heres-how-to-bring-good-new-energy-jobs-home

Renewable energy opportunities continue to grow in Sault

Posted By Dan Bellerose
Posted 14 hours ago
The community's cluster of renewable energy opportunities continues ripening under the Sault Ste. Marie sun.
You can include solar panel manufacturing with already established hydroelectric, wind farm and cogeneration facilities as well as a commercial solar farm, a curbside waste to energy demonstration plant and a tire recycling facility all expecting to go operational within the next year.
Heliene Canada Inc., a joint manufacturing venture between Canadian entrepreneurs and Helios Energy of Barcelona, Spain, is the latest tool included in the city's basket of renewable energy opportunities.
Martin Pochtaruk, president of Heliene Canada, won't confirm the opportunity with local media but the joint venture launch has been trumpeted on the company website and in an interview with an on-line solar industry publication.
"I have no comment for the time being . . . There will be a joint announcement on developments in the near future," said Pochtaruk, a former senior executive with both Tenaris Algoma Tubes and Essar Steel Algoma. http://www.saultstar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2495983

PV Powered Inverters Used in 1 MW Solar Project at the University of Toledo

PV Powered Inverters Used in 1 MW Solar Project at the University of Toledo PVPowered Inc.: "incorporates a combination of 260kW and 100kW inverters organized in a centralized architecture, with two groupings of inverters mounted on pads 1000 feet apart and connected with a performance monitoring network.
“We chose PV Powered inverters because we were looking for a cost-effective and highly-reliable American-made product with high efficiency,” said Keith Dandridge, Project Manager at ADG. “We like the inverters’ simplistic and rugged design, and the responsiveness and quality of PV Powered’s technical support exceeds that of any other inverter company that we’ve dealt with.”"

Europe Could Pass Green Energy Target

Europe Could Pass Green Energy Target - BusinessWeek: "The European Union is to surpass its target of 20 percent consumption of energy from renewable sources by 2020, according to national forecasts submitted to the European Commission.
The EU executive found that overall, the bloc will achieve a 20.3 percent share of renewables in its energy mix.
According to a summary published on Thursday, 10 out of the EU's 27 member states are on track to exceed their national targets for renewable energy, with a further 12 set to meet their goals using domestic sources of renewable energy."

A New Incentive for Solar in California: Tradable Renewable-Energy Credits

A New Incentive for Solar in California: Tradable Renewable-Energy Credits: "Published March 14, 2010
California homeowners and small-business owners who install solar-electric systems may soon start to receive an additional reward that could be worth hundreds of dollars a year.
The California Public Utilities Commission has authorized the use of tradable renewable-energy credits as an incentive for increased adoption of rooftop solar photovoltaic electricity.
Renewable-energy credits are certificates that represent the value of a specific amount of renewable electricity that has been generated, and are typically amassed in units that represent 1 megawatt-hour of electricity, equivalent to 1,000 kilowatt-hours."

Solar power, LED lights add flash to police fleet

Solar power, LED lights add flash to police fleet » Evansville Courier & Press: "The Evansville Police Department is hailing the addition of six new police cars outfitted with LED light bars and solar panels as a move to save money and go green.
Federal stimulus money paid for the six cars and for the outfitting of four existing cars with the solar panels.
Police Chief Brad Hill is pleased with the new developments that originated at the desk of Paul Gelzleichter, the fleet manager."

Sunshine State solar energy funds burnt out

March 14, 8:28 PMOrlando Headlines ExaminerDavid Steiner
One of Florida’s most promising green energy markets may be on the verge of collapse. The state fund for subsidizing solar energy has run out, and statewide, solar energy companies are laying workers off. Currently, there are 149 licensed solar contractors in the sunshine state.The debate pushes on as legislators weigh the benefits of preparing for a green economy against the ongoing budget cuts to critical parts of our infrastructure such as schools, police, fire-rescue and highway departments. The 14.4 million dollar solar energy subsidy fund is in danger of not be renewed this year. It had been paying up to $20,000 for the installation of a residential system and up to $100,000 for business applications. As it stands, almost 8,000 people are waiting for their rebates, which will not materialize until the fund is replenished. continue to read full article: http://www.examiner.com/x-38254-Orlando-Headlines-Examiner~y2010m3d14-Sunshine-state-solar-energy-funds-burn-out

Solar Thermal & PV WIN

Press Releases and Articles by Conserval Systems (SolarWall): "Conserval Engineering has been awarded the 2009 Renewable Energy World Award for Best Building Integrated Renewable for their SolarWall® PV/Thermal (PV/T) technology installed at the new John Molson School of Business at Concordia University in Montreal. The award was presented to Conserval at the opening ceremony of the Renewable Energy World Conference in Austin, Texas on February 23."

MASS Homeowners Cut Electricity Rates Up to 50%

Massachusetts Homeowners Cut Electricity Rates Up to 50% Alteris Renewables: "By Alteris Renewables
March 10, 2010 - Boston, MA
The largest renewable energy installer in the Northeast, Alteris Renewables, in partnership with SunRun, the nation's largest home solar financing company, is enabling homeowners to cut their electricity costs up to 50% of their current rates with a solar energy system installed for as little as $3,000 down."

OpEdNews - Will The Natural Gas Boom Undercut Renewable Energy?

OpEdNews - Article: Will The Natural Gas Boom Undercut Renewable Energy?: "For OpEdNews: Todd Darling - Writer
Will natural gas be the bridge fuel to the future or a road block for renewables?
No wonder the unemployed can't find work in a new Green economy: the jobs haven't arrived yet. They're stalled somewhere in Washington, DC.
Major industries have balked at making 'green tech' investments, in part because Congress, the Obama administration and some national environmental organizations are now sending mixed messages."

Solar Energy Could Provide 10% of U.S. Power

Solar Energy Could Provide 10% of U.S. Power - Science News - redOrbit: "By 2030, solar power could meet as much as 10-percent of the need for electricity in America, claims a new report from a leading environmental advocacy group.
The report, Building a Solar Future: Repowering America’s Homes, Businesses and Industry with Solar Energy, was presented on March 9, 2010 by Washington, D.C. based Environment America and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. According to a press release from the group, the study 'examines a wide variety of solar technologies and tools, including photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, solar water heaters, solar space heating, and passive solar design' and 'makes the case that there are many ways to take advantage of the sun’s energy.'"

New Solar Manufacturing Plants Coming to Four States

New Solar Manufacturing Plants Coming to Four States - Renewable Energy World: "by Ernie Tucker, NREL
The Dow Chemical Company announced on February 3 that it has picked Midland, Michigan, as the site for the first full-scale production facility for its Dow Powerhouse solar shingle, if the company obtains sufficient local, state, and federal funding.
That became more likely on February 25, when the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) awarded $61.3 million in tax credits over 15 years to Dow for a variety of projects, including the manufacturing plant. The proposed facility will produce solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingles."

Budget Pressure Could Eat At State Renewable Programs

UPDATE: RENEWED ENERGY: Budget Pressure Eats At State Programs - WSJ.com:
By Mark Peters
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Hefty budget deficits are tempting Northeast U.S. states to tap money earmarked for efficiency and renewable-energy programs.
Elected officials in New Jersey and Connecticut may divert hundreds of millions of dollars collected through electric rates into state coffers. Environmentalists are closely watching New York and Rhode Island, among other states, to see if they do the same with money raised through a regional, market-based program to cut emissions of the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.
Many states are struggling to balance their annual budgets as the recent recession continues to hit tax revenue, with the energy funds in Northeast states looking particularly vulnerable. Unlike the federal government, no state except Vermont can run a deficit, so elected officials face tough choices as the fiscal year ends and budgets are finalized this spring.
Environmentalists warn diverting money away from renewable projects and efficiency programs is short-sighted. The move would inject uncertainty into fragile retail markets taking shape for solar panels and other renewable-energy technologies. Reduced funding could curb in-state research while scaling back popular efficiency programs that provide environmental benefits and consumer savings at relatively low costs.
'We feel very strongly this is a dangerous precedent,' said Matt Elliott, global warming and clean energy advocate for Environment New Jersey"

First Solar Signs Contract with PG&E for 300 MW Photovoltaic Solar Power Project

First Solar Signs Contract with PG&E for 300 MW Photovoltaic Solar Power Project - MarketWatch: "TEMPE, Ariz., Mar 09, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- First Solar, Inc. /quotes/comstock/15*!fslr (FSLR 106.22, -2.42, -2.23%) today announced a power purchase agreement to supply Pacific Gas and Electric Company with renewable electricity from a 300 megawatt (AC) utility-scale photovoltaic solar power facility that First Solar is developing in Southern California.
The Desert Sunlight project, to be located near Desert Center in eastern Riverside County, Calif., will have a total capacity of 550 megawatts, enough to power approximately 160,000 area homes -- or about 480,000 residents. The other 250 MW portion of the project is already under contract to Southern California Edison. First Solar's power purchase agreements with PG&E and SCE are subject to the approval of the California Public Utilities Commission."

Study indicates Iowa as world leader in renewable energy

Study indicates Iowa as world leader in renewable energy » Columns » The Clinton Herald, Clinton, Iowa: "CLINTON — A new study out this week proves that Iowa is indeed a world leader in renewable energy. The new research says that 20 percent of all the electricity generated in Iowa comes from wind power. Iowa now generates about 3,670 megawatts from wind, which is enough to power 75 percent of all homes in Iowa, and is second in the country in wind capacity behind Texas.

The study proves our focus on renewable energy and green jobs over the last four years is having a positive impact on our economy and environment. There are more than 8,100 “green” jobs in Iowa and the number continues to grow."

Solar Power for Buses

Solar Power for Buses : CleanTechnica: "The SunPods Sun Bus Power System™ “consists of four thin film solar panels that run the length of the bus and charge an on-board battery bank. When the bus engine is off, the batteries power the air-conditioning and wireless connectivity equipment, enabling transportation companies to effectively meet anti-idling standards without compromising passenger comfort.”"

Clean energy is losing steam says HeraldTribune

Clean energy is losing steam HeraldTribune.com: "Clean energy is losing steam

By Zac Anderson

Published: Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 1:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, March 6, 2010 at 9:57 p.m.

Despite all the attention Florida has gotten for its clean energy efforts -- including President Barack Obama's recent visit to a solar plant in Arcadia -- many experts say the state's clean energy market is on the verge of collapse.

Across Florida, solar companies are laying people off because the state fund used to subsidize solar energy for the last four years has dried up and nearly 8,000 solar rebate applications are on hold. The fund faces an estimated $25 million backlog.
The Florida Legislature, which convened its annual session last week, appears unlikely to restore the fund this year, and prospects for several other bills promoting alternative energy also look dim.
By not moving forward on alternative energy at a time when other states -- as well as nations such as China -- are making solar, wind and other alternative sources a priority, one prominent state economist says Florida is missing a crucial opportunity.
'It's a big risk when you aren't investing in the future of the state's economy,' said Sean Snaith, an economist with the University of Central Florida Institute for Economic Competitiveness."

Alternative energy could mean big bucks for Alabama

Experts: Alternative energy could mean big bucks for Alabama - Birmingham Business Journal:: "From his Birmingham office at Southern Research Institute, Bob Dahlin exchanges data with scientists and government officials in Ghana, China, India, Australia and Canada.
SRI’s director of power systems and environmental research is sharing information about alternative energy – a high-growth, international industry that Dahlin believes can transform Alabama. He said the state can leverage cutting-edge research into sustainable jobs thanks to the federal government’s push into “green” energy."

Sierra College on solar power quest

Sierra College on solar power quest for Rocklin, Grass Valley campuses - Auburn Journal: "Sierra College is planning a major move into solar power at its Rocklin and Grass Valley campuses.
With plans for ground-mounted solar cells in parking lots and others on buildings, a report from the college estimates savings of from $75,000 to $125,000 a year on what is now a $1.5 million electricity bill.
The college has put out a request for proposals to construct solar arrays at the two campuses at no cost to Sierra. The contract would also include a power-purchase agreement that could save the college money on electricity.
Bob Parkins is a Sacramento consultant hired by the college to look at the feasibility of solar and develop a request for proposals that includes a power-purchase agreement. Under the power purchase agreement, the college would be paying less for energy than it now pays off the Pacific Gas & Electric grid.
“I’m expecting Sierra College will end up saving money for the energy and be able to use that for its general budget and other purposes,” Parkins said."

Venture capitalists seeing green

Venture capitalists seeing green - The Boston Globe: "After spending last year in the doldrums, venture capitalists are optimistic that a rebound will occur this year, particularly in the so-called green-tech energy and conservation sector, according to a recent survey from the tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP. The survey indicated that venture capitalists may be moving away from investments in businesses that produce electricity with wind or solar power, in favor of companies that specialize in energy storage and conservation."

Xcel Energy offers one-time incentive for solar power

kare11.com Twin Cities, MN Xcel Energy offers one-time incentive for solar power: "MINNEAPOLIS - Xcel Energy announced today that it is now offering incentives to Minnesota electricity customers to install solar panels on top of their homes and businesses.
To encourage the growth of solar energy in the state, Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards will make a one-time payment of $2.25 per installed watt of generating capacity to help off-set the cost to customers who install small or medium rooftop photovoltaic systems.
For an average size residential installation of 3.5 kilowatts or 3,500 watts, the incentive payment would be $7,875, or about 30 percent of the installation costs. Federal, state and local government agencies may provide customers with other rebate opportunities for installations.
'Minnesota is a great resource for solar energy,' said Laura McCarten, Xcel Energy regional vice president. 'Our Solar*Rewards program makes it more affordable for residents and business owners interested in this clean, sustainable energy option.'
Participants must agree to install a system with a capacity of 0.5 kilowatts to 40 kilowatts. In exchange for the incentive payment, ownership of the Renewable Energy Credits produced by the system will transfer to Xcel Energy for a term of 20 years. Xcel Energy will also buy any energy that a system produces the customer does not use."

Solar Thermal Collectors Have Larger Capacity than Wind Power

Solar Thermal Collectors Have Larger Capacity than Wind Power: "Although concentred solar power (CSP) generation is probably better known, solar thermal (ST) collectors employ a much lower level of technology and convert far more of the sun’s energy into useful heat, according to a new market analysis.
The report “Solar Thermal Power Report” by ReportBuyer describes solar thermal energy technology in its various applications, describing the various technologies: collectors, receivers, heat storage systems and energy conversion units."