Tag Archives: California

Over the past few years, the state of Florida has asserted itself as one of the states in the forefront of sustainability. When it comes to alternative energy and homes however, the developers in Florida have been somewhat lacking. Early this year, developer KB Homes moved forward with what is expected to be the first set of new houses in …

The solar power industry sustained an impressive growth in installed capacity with new capacity of 27.7 Gigawatts (GW) coming on line in 2011, on top of over 17 GW in 2010. This takes the total installed capacity worldwide to 67.44 GW. The capital cost of solar photovoltaic power plants have declined to around $2430 / kilowatt, which makes it possible …

Greensmith now providing distributed energy storage systems to fourteen customers, including eight electric utilities An innovative storage solution to integrate renewable energy generation and improve grid stability Greensmith Energy Management Systems, a leader in distributed energy storage control systems continues its growth, now with fourteen customers, including eight electric utilities using the company’s field-tested suite of product offerings. By expanding …

Under Pressure: Startup Company Turns Water into Power By David Ferris When Frank Zammataro thinks about water pressure, he sees an opportunity to create electricity. Zammataro, 53, is President and Co-Founder of Rentricity—a New York City energy company that has discovered a new way to tap into the excess pressure in water-treatment plants, reservoirs, and factories to help power our …

Solar power generation in today’s world has taken all new meaning and market push as the major player’s developing the new and more efficient power generating cells have shifted from the US to overseas. China has taken on a critical role in the solar energy marketplace with their huge investment in solar power factories that are cranking out cheaper solar …

Public Utilities Commission orders utilities to use renewable sources before electricity from fossil fuels San Francisco – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously today to strengthen a key clean energy policy in California called the Loading Order. The Loading Order sets a priority list for electricity sources. California’s utilities must first employ energy efficiency and conservation to meet …

A milestone has been reached on the road to developing advanced biofuels that can replace gasoline, diesel and jet fuels with a domestically-produced clean, green, renewable alternative. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have engineered the first strains of Escherichia coli bacteria that can digest switchgrass biomass and synthesize its sugars into all three …

First Solyndra, then Beacon Power Corp. Both alternative energy companies declared bankruptcy this year after receiving millions in federal job stimulus dollars. It’s just what the United States does not need right now, says nuclear scientist Michael T. Gamble, an alternative energy researcher and investment-banking analyst. The public backlash to ill-spent tax dollars could hurt a vital emerging industry – …

EV Connect and ClipperCreek Reach Major Milestone for Improving California’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 100th deployment marks solid progress toward statewide upgrade of 600+ EV charging stations CULVER CITY, California, November 16, 2011 — In an effort to give California’s electric vehicle (EV) drivers greater access to quality charging stations and upgrade the state’s existing infrastructure, EV Connect, a leading provider …

Walmart’s Big Solar Goal Rarely does a decision to go solar have such a big impact. However, because of its scale, Walmart is contributing to the fundamental development of a growing solar economy and creating hundreds of jobs with its long-term goal of using 100-percent renewable energy for all its retail and distribution facilities. And by announcing plans to install …

By Steven Pleging I believe that the loss of industry players Solyndra, Evergreen, and SpectraWatt opens the market for more innovative solar companies to succeed with smarter tactics and mainstream products that fit into existing manufacturing models. Remember when the dot.com bubble burst in 2000 and, seemingly overnight, some companies ceased making millions hand-over-fist? Flash forward to 2011, when nearly …

First Solyndra, then Beacon Power Corp. Both alternative energy companies declared bankruptcy this year after receiving millions in federal job stimulus dollars. It’s just what the United States does not need right now, says nuclear scientist Michael T. Gamble, an alternative energy researcher and investment-banking analyst. The public backlash to ill-spent tax dollars could hurt a vital emerging industry – …

SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL BREAKS NEW GROUND IN TEXAS Executives Come Together To Affirm Growth of Solar Industry Washington, D.C., – November 1, 2011 – Energy leaders from around the world descended upon Dallas, Texas for Solar Power International ’11, October 17 – 20. For the first time in its eight year history, SPI was staged outside California proving that the …

DENVER, October 11, 2011 – CH2M HILL (www.ch2mhill.com), a global full-service consulting, design, construction, and operations firm, has been named the #1 design firm in the solar power industry by Engineering News-Record magazine. A key reason for CH2M HILL’s earning of ENR’s top ranking is the diversity of strategic planning, permitting, design and construction services the company provides to concentrated …

Seven of the 19 Houses Built by Student Competitors Produced More Energy Than They Consumed Under Mostly Cloudy Skies WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 concluded this weekend on the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. Approximately 4,000 collegiate students from five countries on four continents invested countless hours of time and tireless …

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today highlighted the Department’s historic investment in clean energy technologies in remarks congratulating the 2011 Solar Decathlon winners. The following are the Secretary’s remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon, I’m delighted to be a part of today’s ceremony. I want to start by thanking everyone who made the 2011 Solar …

Prestigious Clean Energy Competition Open for Final Weekend WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the winners of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. The University of Maryland won top honors overall by designing, building, and operating the most cost effective, energy efficient and attractive …

New Zealand Wins Engineering Contest at U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 WASHINGTON, DC – New Zealand (Victoria University of Wellington) took first place today in the Engineering Contest during the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. The Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams from around the world to design, build, and operate houses that are affordable, highly energy …

UC Davis will receive $3.1 million of a $40 million biofuels grant announced today (Sept. 28) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Led by researchers at the University of Washington, the five-year project is intended to expand what has been a Midwest-centric biofuels industry into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana and Northern California. While the U.S. biofuels industry has focused …

El Segundo, Calif., September 28, 2011—In a development that could slow the downward spiral of prices and profit margins in the solar industry, the market share of high-efficiency crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) cells is expected to more than double by 2015, according to the latest IHS iSuppli PV Perspectives Market Brief from information and analysis provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). …