Renewable Energy Focus
SFGate.com - Sep 15
Despite serious environmental concerns, the California Energy Commission has given a preliminary green light to a second big solar project in the California desert by BrightSource Energy of Oakland. The proposed Palen solar plant is the latest iteration of an increasingly controversial push by the Obama administration to subsidize giant solar plants in the Mojave Desert. The plant would be within a few miles of Joshua Tree National Park.
Los Angeles Times - Sep 17
A UC regents committee decided Wednesday not to sell off stocks and holdings in oil, coal, and natural gas from the university’s $91 billion endowment and retirement funds but moved to have environmental and social issues more deeply influence investment decisions. The action disappointed student activists who had been pressing the university to divest its holdings in fossil fuel industries out of concerns that burning those fuels is hastening climate change.
The Desert Sun - Sep 13
With the fate of the Salton Sea hanging in the balance, all eyes are turned toward the lake's southern shore. That's where 11 geothermal power plants churn out electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the potential for massively expanded energy development. Despite the recent failure of Senate Bill 1139 to make it through the Assembly, geothermal advocates point to a host of factors they say bode well for future development by the Salton Sea, ranging from a little-known bill passed by the state Legislature last month to the potential for extracting lithium and other valuable minerals from geothermal brine.
The Desert Sun - Sep 16
SunPower claimed yesterday that the company had made its one billionth high efficiency solar cell since going into manufacturing 11 years ago. SunPower was found to be one of the industry’s biggest spenders on research and development in PV Tech’s annual analysis of R&D spending by solar manufacturers. The company is also currently building a new facility, Fab 4, in the Philippines, which will have a manufacturing capacity of 350 megawatts after ramping takes place, but initially is expected to produce only around 50 megawatts of solar cells next year.
Solar Industry Magazine - Sep 15
It has been a year since the merger of SolarCity and Zep Solar. The fist major product born of that union reveals market directions on two significant issues: the future of the commercial-scale market space and the significance of east-west-facing solar as a possible solution to utility load curve problems. First and foremost, the new ZS Peak line of flat-roof mounting and racking systems puts SolarCity's marker squarely on the commercial-scale space.
Pacific Business News - Sep 17
California-based SPI Solar, which has interests in about 17.5 megawatts of solar energy projects in Hawaii, plans to expand even more in the state by opening an office in Hawaii before the end of the year. SPI Solar, which has offices in California, Europe, and China, has about 15 megawatts under current development in Hawaii.
Notable Renewable Energy Projects and Deals
Reuters - Sep 18
Vivint Solar Inc., a residential solar panel installer backed by Blackstone Group LP, is expected to raise up to $371 million in its initial public offering. Provo, Utah-based Vivint Solar was launched in 2011 and is currently the second-largest installer of residential solar panels in the U.S. after SolarCity Corp., which is backed by Tesla Motors Inc. founder Elon Musk.
OC Register - Sep 8
The sun’s rays are now harnessed into the city’s power grid with help from 7,908 solar panels spanning 300,000 square feet on the roof of the Anaheim Convention Center. With a capacity of nearly 2.4 megawatts, the new solar panels can meet 15 percent of the city-owned Convention Center’s electricity needs, or power 600 homes. Crews from Borrego Solar wrapped up construction earlier this month on the $5.7 million project.
PV Magazine - Sep 17
California-based EDF Renewable Energy has agreed to sell two solar projects with a combined 57 megawatts to U.S. energy company Dominion. The two California projects include the 32.6-megawatt Cottonwood Solar and 24.3-megawatt Catalina Solar 2.
Energy Business Review - Sep 17
Iberdrola Renewables announced a 10-year contract to supply Roseville Electric, the municipal electric utility of Roseville, California, with a package of renewable energy products. Roseville is seeking to increase the amount of energy it receives from renewable resources to 33 percent by 2020.
