Other than our 60+ stories from the past week, here are a few more noteworthy ones worth a look or two:
Solar Energy
1.(solar farm in video above)
MidAmerican Renewables, LLC, a subsidiary ofMidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, announced it has completed its acquisition of theTopaz Solar FarmfromFirst Solar, Inc.(NASDAQ: FSLR). The 550-megawatt photovoltaic power plant being built inSan Luis Obispo County, Calif., will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 160,000 averageCaliforniahomes….
The Topaz project will be built, operated and maintained byFirst Solar. Construction began inDecember 2011and is expected to be complete by early 2015. The project will create approximately 400 construction jobs and 15 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs.
Note: we in December.
2.
Colorado has the highest solar thermal resources in the U.S. and could create 24,000 jobs, generating $1 billion in annual state revenue by 2050. Solar Thermal Alliance of Colorado is responsible for the goal. The recent organization was created by an umbrella of organizations in the state, including Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES), Colorado Environmental Coalition and other organizations.
The group held a meeting on January 24 and [it] was attended by State Reps. Max Tyler and Randy Fischer, both Democrats, to announce its goals and the Colorado Solar Thermal Roadmap, which will help the state internationally lead in the solar thermal field. Solar thermal technologies can heat and cool homes and produce electricity, depleting the reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
3.
In its newly released report, “,” industry analyst firm NanoMarkets forecasts revenues fromCIGSpanels will reach$4.4 billion(USD) by 2017. And while the recent announcement of a 150 MW solar farm supports the notion that CIGS technology is finally ready for prime time, NanoMarkets says that CIGS manufacturers will have to adopt new strategies to protect themselves from falling solar panel prices.
Additional details about the report are available at
Also see Andrew’s post:
4.
Real Goods Solar reaffirmed its commitment to make solar power affordable and accessible, by giving homeowners the opportunity to win their own 4kW home solar electric system valued up to$25,000in the.
Qualifying homeowners can enter to win and see official rulesator call 888.56.SOLAR.
5.
The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), in partnership with SunPower Corp., Joint Venture Silicon Valley, and Wells Fargo, installed solar parking canopy systems, totaling 2.1 megawatts (MW), at its three bus maintenance divisions.Using a Power Purchase Agreement to finance the systems, it is anticipated that VTA will save$2.7 millionin electricity costs over the next 20 years.
“VTA will be saving taxpayer money on energy costs while investing in a future that will benefit us all,” saidSanta Clara CountySupervisor and VTA ChairKen Yeager.”VTA is already combating global warming through the promotion of mass transit and congestion management.Now, we are reducing greenhouse gases through our operations, too.”
6.
Clean Power Finance, the online marketplace for residential solar financing and sales software, today announced the availability of its residential solar finance products in the states of Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Initially only available in California, the solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) Clean Power Finance manages and markets are now accessible to qualified solar sales and installation customers in other states to brand and market as their own financing solutions to homeowners.
We are committed to growing the residential solar market and believe that making competitive financing products available to companies selling solar is crucial to industry growth this year and beyond, said Robert Prigge, SVP of worldwide sales for Clean Power Finance. Solar PPAs and le
Read More: Clean Links: Solar, Wind, EV, & Policy News via Feeds.importantmedia.org.