Solar Power News
The latest solar power news headlines, syndicated by rss from a variety of solar energy and photovoltaic news sources.
| 11/19/2008 10:45 PM |
| Easy Recycling Dell |
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So you may have decided to dispose of that Dell product that you have had for ages (or so you think) because you have the newest one available and there is no place for the old product. Before, you may thinking just how do you dispose of that computer product. Well, now, Dell has a solution. Partnering with Staples, Dell has now made it possible for any Dell product owner to recycle whatever Dell computer gadget they have for free. All they need to do is bring that item to any Staples branch across the country. That would not be difficult to do. After all, Staples has around 1500 stores across the country. When huge companies like Dell and Staples do things like this, just imagine the effect that it would have on the environment. This essentially means less trash and less toxic waste. Way to go Dell and Staples! And I wish you well in this endeavor. Source: Environmental Protection |
| 11/19/2008 08:00 PM |
| Rise & Shine: November 20, 2008 |
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CALIFORNIA NEWS SunRun Closes US $105M for Solar Facilities Gov. Schwarzenegger Looks to Advance Californias Renewable Energy Plans New Proposal Favors Sunrise Powerlink NATIONAL NEWS Patrick to Unveil Solar Power Plan FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS Fighting for the Planet GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Obama White House to Face Long-Held Consumer Denial and Awareness Hurdles in Realizing TECHNOLOGY Lumetas Solar Panels Recognized for Superior Design and Innovation ProLogis Builds 1MW Solar PV System In Japan Conergy Group Completes 3 Megawatt Project Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more. |
| 11/19/2008 03:31 AM |
| More shots of the 2010 Prius leak out |
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Filed under: Hybrid, Solar, Toyota  Click above for more leaked shots of the 2010 Toyota Prius
 Finally! Some actual interesting images of the new 2010 Toyota Prius, along with a couple of videos that we've pasted after the break. We already had a pretty good idea of what the hybrid hatch would look like, but there are a few more details revealed in these new images. We also get to see more shots of the interior, which reveal the huge center console and mid-mounted digital gauge cluster, as well as a few different shots of what will be displayed there. One particularly interesting bit is the key fob, which will have a button to keep the air conditioning active while the car is parked. Our assumption is that the AC will be powered electrically using the roof-mounted solar panels. That's definitely a unique feature that will be particularly useful to those of us who live in sunny and hot climates. Thanks for the tip, Danny![Source: Prius Chat] Continue reading More shots of the 2010 Prius leak out More shots of the 2010 Prius leak out originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| 11/19/2008 03:15 AM |
| SolarWorld offers to purchase Opel, kind of |
 Well, it's not exactly a solar car, but it's a start, right? By now, everyone is aware that General Motors is in a bit of financial trouble at the moment, and those U.S. problems will definitely have an impact on the European automakers also owned by GM, including its Opel subsidiary. A German power company called SolarWorld has made an extremely odd offer to the General to purchase the Opel brand for 1 billion euros, or about $1.26 billion in U.S. funds. Um, not gonna happen, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are the provisions demanded by SolarWorld for the sale. For starters, the German company suggests that each Opel worker get a payout, which would cost somebody, presumably General Motors itself, a total of... about a billion euros. Plus, nobody knows where SolarWorld would get the funding from. It seems that SolarWorld is looking to get a bit of press by making the offer to create "first green European car company," as they call it. It's worked. Thanks for the tip, Kenneth![Source: AFP via Yahoo] SolarWorld offers to purchase Opel, kind of originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| 11/19/2008 02:11 AM |
| New EPA Ruling Represents a Shift of Direction |
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In a surprise move that has potentially seismic ramifications for the energy industry, the EPA issued a ruling last Friday that will essentially halt the development of any new coal-based power plants in the United States. The ruling was issued by the agency's appeals panel as they denied a permit to Deseret Power, an energy conglomerate looking to build a 110 MW coal-burning power plant on the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation in Utah. As a result, more than one hundred other plants in various stages of development and construction now face an uncertain future. Claiming that they would no longer grant permits for projects that do not adequately consider the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, the appeals board overturned a permit recently granted by the agency's Denver office and cited a 2007 Supreme Court decision giving the EPA federal authority to regulate CO2 emissions. The decision, Massachusetts v. EPA, ruled 5-4 in favor of 12 state plaintiffs that the agency had shirked its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act and was widely perceived as a critique of the current administration's environmental policies. Environmentalists have hailed the new move as a harbinger of a green-friendly administration-in-waiting, though many are surprised that it has come under the aegis of a lame duck and environmentally obstinate commander-in-chief. Ultimately, whether this decision signals a belated acknowledgement of accepted scientific fact or a raise-of-the-white-flag by defeated leadership is less significant than the implication that, however we choose to meet our future energy needs, clean and renewable sources should finally get their chance. Sources: PSD Appeal No. 07-03, Environmental Appeals Board, United States Environmental Protection Agency;“EPA ruling over climate jeopardizes coal plants”, Reuters; “EPA Blocks Coal Plant, Could Change Power Landscape”, The Huffington Post (Nov. 14, 2008);“EPA Coal Decision Levels Playing Field for Wind, Solar”, Wired Science; “EPA Coal Decision Could Pave Way for Renewable Energy”, EcoGeek; “EPA ruling halts all new coal-fired power plants”, Scientific American; “Massachusetts, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al.”, Supreme Court of the United States, #05-1120; “Supreme Court: Heat-Trapping Carbon Dioxide is Pollution”, National Resources Defense Council (press release); “Justices say EPA Has Power to Act on Harmful Gases”, The New York Times (April 3, 2007). |
| 11/19/2008 01:36 AM |
| Florida, an Appealing Market for Solar |
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Florida, the sunshine state and a favorite for vacationers and retirees. Looking out my window at our dreary rainy Oregon weather, Florida is sounding pretty appealing at the moment. If you already are enjoying her tropical beaches or are considering a move in that direction, these new tax credits may peak your interest.
In a progressive [...]
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| 11/19/2008 12:17 AM |
| Space-Based Solar Power Documentary |
 The fever over Space-Based generation of solar power is rising. A new documentary aimed at students is covering the potential for solar power to be beamed back to earth. It's being shown for free at The Futures Channel and is approx. 19 minutes long.The Pentagon is conducting a study on this subject as well as other groups. It's possible that 1.2 Million jobs could be created by developing Space-Based Solar Power into a viable industry in the coming years! The makers of the documentary hope to inspire these students to become future engineers, scientists, researchers, etc. "It's going to be the new generation of students coming through the system now that are going to be the engineers, the designers, the builders of these systems," Air Force Col. Michael "Coyote" Smith, a space-based solar power strategist, says in his interview. A program to build space-based solar power technology would require people across hundreds of career tracks, ranging from electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineers to metallurgists and welding technicians, he explains. The idea is to inspire a critical thinking ability and a love for mathematics which will be essential to anyone entering the field. Check out the documentary called "Powering the Planet" at the Futures Channel. |
| 11/19/2008 12:10 AM |
| Solar and Home Value |
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But if you know you’re going to move before the housing market rebounds fully, this could be a great time to put solar on your house. According to the U.S. DOE’s office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, a home with solar will sell twice as fast as a home without solar – even in depressed markets1. This is because of the marketing value home solar has. Because the demand for solar homes is higher than the supply, you’ll sell your home faster. Doesn’t that sound nice? Lennar Homes and their partner SunPower saw this happen in early 2007:
A solar home’s value goes up faster too. According to Shea Homes, the value of California homes with solar went up 55% while non-solar homes went up 45% in value during the same time period3. All 257 homes in one Clarum Homes development sold within a year of being put on the market – 2 years faster than planned. Plus, homes originally priced at $379,000-$499,000 were selling for as much as $600,000. Get an extra $100,000-$200,000 for your home? Sounds pretty good to me. In other words, the increase in your home’s resale value can mean that you immediately recoup you’re the cost of going solar! Both the faster increase in a solar home’s value and the increase in its resale price are a result of the value the solar electricity will bring to the homeowner in the future. In other words, minus any maintenance and repair costs, solar adds value to a home because it means the homeowner will save more and more over time on electricity. There’s a commonly quoted study by ICF Consulting that puts some numbers to this. The study explains that saving $1 a year on energy costs adds $20 to your home’s value4. In other words, saving $1,000 per year increases your home’s value by $20,000. Even if you’re not moving, solar is one of the smartest things you can do with your money in the current economy. Stay tuned and we’ll tell you more… 1. http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/pdfs/43076.pdf Are you in California and interested in solar for your home? Call us at 877.SUN.MOJO or visit our website to learn more. |
| 11/19/2008 12:00 AM |
| Converting Sunlight Into Electricity: European Project Breaks Efficiency Record |
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Scientists have developed photovoltaic multi-junction solar cells which are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. This is the highest percentage ever reached in Europe, according to researchers.
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| 11/18/2008 11:52 PM |
| SolarWorld plans bid for German GM Opel sites to expand Solar World |
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German Opel “Bailout” targets Reconstruction to Green Automotive Group
SolarWorld AG (FRA:SWV) plans to offer €250 million cash and €750 million in bank credit lines contingent upon a German Federal government loan guarantee. Before submission, the offer will also require:
SolarWorld said it “would subsequently develop Opel into the first ‘green' European automotive group” and:
SolarWorld Chairman and CEO Frank H. Asbeck said:
In the “Kein Scherz: Solarworld will Opel kaufen” article by Handelsblatt, SolarWorld CEO Asbeck said:
My loose English translation:
Here are a few early reports on the bid:
With this bid, SolarWorld is redefining itself as a green sustainability company instead of simply a leading solar photovoltaic firm. SolarWorld has strong political connections in Berlin, so I would not discount the possibility of German political support for this bid. |
