FPL Group, Inc. plans to invest $2.4 billion aimed at increasing U.S. solar thermal energy output , reducing carbon dioxide emmissions

FPL Group, Inc., (NYSE: FPL) one of the country’s leading generators of renewable electric power, today announced a $2.4 billion investment program aimed at increasing U.S. solar thermal energy output and reducing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.

FPL Group, and its subsidiaries Florida Power & Light and FPL Energy, announced the following three initiatives today:

• Investment of up to $1.5 billion in new solar thermal generating facilities in Florida and California over the next seven years, starting with a project at Florida Power & Light (FPL).
• Investment of up to $500 million by FPL to create a smart network that will provide its 4.5 million customers with enhanced energy management capabilities.
• The launch by FPL Energy of a new consumer education program and new products that could increase renewable energy resources by at least $400 million over the first five years of the program.

“These new investments, coupled with our recent announcement to invest an estimated $20 billion in new wind generation, demonstrate FPL Group’s continued commitment to improve the environment and reaffirm our leadership position among U.S. utilities to combat global warming,” said Lew Hay, chairman and CEO of FPL Group.

Former President Bill Clinton announced FPL Group’s new commitments at today’s session of the 2007 Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, an event that fosters shared commitment by individuals, businesses and governments to confront major world issues and achieve real change.

“We at FPL Group are proud of our leadership position in clean energy and are pleased to take yet another step towards helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said Hay. “We thank President Clinton for challenging leaders throughout the world to address energy and climate change issues, and we are pleased that we can respond to his call with action.

“We also are deeply honored that Florida Governor Charlie Crist joined us in person today to receive this recognition at the Clinton Global Initiative Forum. Gov. Crist is providing great leadership in our state in addressing climate change,” said Hay.

Florida Power & Light to build new solar thermal facility

One of the country’s largest electric utilities, FPL is planning to build 300 megawatts of solar generating capacity in Florida using Ausra, Inc.’s solar thermal technology. According to estimates, this new facility will avoid nearly 11 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over a 20-year period. As a first step, FPL expects to construct a 10-megawatt project. Subject to Ausra meeting agreed-upon cost and technical specifications, as well as FPL gaining regulatory and related approvals, the utility will expand the project to a 300-megawatt facility.

Florida Power & Light to create smart network

In a second initiative, FPL said it plans to invest up to $500 million to install a smart network utilizing state-of-the-art technology in the 35 Florida counties it serves.

This new program will allow customers to view their energy consumption online every day. Real-time understanding of energy use means real-time opportunities to conserve. Smart meters installed at residences and businesses will offer customers the chance to cut power bills and lower electricity demand.

At the same time, FPL will be able to use this new smart network to develop better energy management programs. The combination of improved energy management and lower electricity demand from customers means that FPL will be able to reduce the volume of fossil fuels burned, thus cutting carbon dioxide emissions even more.

FPL Energy to launch renewable energy education and consumer participation program

In a third initiative, FPL Energy plans to launch a nationwide renewable energy program early next year that will allow residential and business customers to take an active role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing new sources of renewable energy. This project is expected to generate revenues of about $400 million during its first five years of operation, and 100 percent of these revenues will be used to develop new capacity in renewable energy.

Under this program, consumers will be able to purchase products associated with Renewable Energy Credits (REC) generated by FPL Energy’s renewable energy facilities. By doing so, participants will be able to help offset their own carbon footprints.

The program will be supported by a national educational effort that will explain how our products work and how purchasing them will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

FPL Group building on clean energy leadership position

These new programs will build on FPL Group’s long-standing commitment to improve the environment, and represent important additions to the company’s clean energy portfolio.

FPL Group’s competitive energy supplier subsidiary, FPL Energy, has many years of experience in solar power. It owns and operates the world’s largest solar thermal fields, located in the Mojave Desert. FPL Energy also is the country’s largest generator of wind power, with 52 wind facilities in 16 states.

In July, FPL Energy made another major decision aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, unveiling a $20 billion plan to triple its nearly 4,500-megawatt wind generating capacity. The company expects to add between 8,000 and 10,000 megawatts of wind energy by the end of 2012.

FPL is also a leader in energy conservation and efficiency

Department of Energy data show that FPL is No. 1 in energy conservation programs among U.S. electric utilities and No. 4 in energy efficiency programs.

FPL Group’s 36,000-megawatt power generation fleet has one of the lowest carbon dioxide emission rates in the country. For example, if the rest of the electric utility industry were generating electricity with the same carbon dioxide emissions rate per megawatt hour as FPL Group, the U.S. would be able to meet its Kyoto target for total carbon emissions without any emissions reductions from other sectors.

FPL Group’s CEO Hay is a strong advocate for a mandatory, nationwide policy to place a price on greenhouse gases. He advocates a carbon fee, calling it the most efficient and effective manner to slow, stop and eventually reduce carbon emissions. A copy of FPL Group’s proposed carbon fee policy can be obtained on www.fplgroup.com.

Tags: carbon dioxide emissions, solar thermal energy, global warming, FPL Energy, Clinton Global Initiative Forum

Alternative energy and OLPC

I was really surprised to read this comment left by cjohnson, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA, on a post about One Laptop per child (OLPC) project. I am happy to see a fellow human see the value of clean energy in the same way as I do. Also chairmen of INTEL and Microsoft failed to see, beyond the profit mountains or greed!
OLPC will provide computing power to children in poor nations and is powered by a hand cranked dynamo. It has been a big interest of mine and I have joined the few developers that develop for OLPC.
There is a project underway that will allow one to buy one for you and donate one to a poor child, for $399. May be some thing to think about this Christmas time.
The comment!
"The energy sources they really need are distributed generation - photovoltaics, wind, small hydro, biogas, and self-powered products such as this computer. Not western-style centralized power grids run by corporate oligarchies. That is the old-fashioned, polluting, and wasteful way to generate electricity. Distributed generation has taken hold where the legislative climate has been favorable. It has not done so well in others (e.g. US, UK) where big businesses who own the coal mines, large power stations, and grids also seem to own the government. Centralized grids are not the 'free markets' that 'pro-business' politics works them up to be, distributed grids are."

The article "Cheap laptops: the new ethical gift" where the comment was left.

Tags: photovoltaics, wind, small hydro, biogas, OPLC, One Laptop per child

Project Open Hand get a hand from PG&E, with solar power donation

SAN FRANCISCO—Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Project Open Hand today celebrated the unveiling of the non-profit's new state of the art solar and solar thermal energy system. PG&E's Bill Morrow was joined by San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros, San Francisco Assessor Recorder Phil Ting, and San Francisco Commission on the Environment President Paul Pelosi, Jr. to celebrate with community members who could see live readings of the new system's power generation and the amount of greenhouse gas emissions the system has avoided.

"Pacific Gas and Electric Company is proud to partner with Project Open Hand by donating two solar installations that not only help reduce green house gas emissions, but most importantly, increase the number of people who can be fed each day," said Bill Morrow, president and chief executive officer of PG&E, "By creating successful partnerships like the one we have today, our goal is to stimulate interest and confidence in the use of solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems for a wide variety of applications."

PG&E donated $200,000 to install a solar photovoltaic (PV) and a solar thermal system for Project Open Hand, part of its $7.5 million commitment to increase solar power in San Francisco. The 22KW 34 panel PV system installed by SolarCity is expected to produce more than 30,000 kW hours of clean renewable energy that will have zero greenhouse gas emissions.

The solar thermal system, installed by Luminalt, is the first solar water heater system ever donated by PG&E and will allow Project Open Hand to save significantly on their hot water costs. The state-of-the-art thermal system will produce enough energy to heat 170,000 gallons of water per year and reduce greenhouse gasses by almost 2 million pounds over its lifetime. Combined, the two solar systems will save Project Open Hand over $12,000 annually in energy costs and over $600,000 over the life of the system. This savings will allow the non-profit to serve an additional 6,700 home-delivered meals a year.

"As part of the Bay Area community, and of this planet we all share, I believe Project Open Hand has to do its part by using resources carefully and prudently, and – as much as possible – through reducing our dependence on non-renewable resources," said Tom Nolan, Executive Director of Project Open Hand. "PG&E has been a longtime supporter of Project Open Hand and we were very gratified when they selected us, donating a complete 'solar system' supplying both electricity and hot water. We are very excited about this new endeavor and indebted to PG&E for its extremely generous contribution to the greening of Project Open Hand," Nolan added.

This visible solar installation showcases one approach that is available to residential and commercial property owners interested in integrating solar systems on their buildings. The partnership with Project Open Hand is yet another step PG&E is taking to help San Francisco become more environmentally friendly by reducing its carbon footprint.

"As Treasurer of San Francisco, I have seen first hand the success and benefit of public-private partnerships," said San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros. "PG&E's partnership with Project Open Hand to increase solar power in San Francisco is another significant accomplishment we can add to the list."
"Not only is PG&E a major tax payer in their headquarter city of San Francisco," said San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, "They have become one of the major drivers behind increasing solar energy usage in San Francisco as well as insuring our non-profit community is a prime beneficiary."

"I applaud PG&E for their environmental leadership and taking the charge against climate change," said Paul Pelosi Jr., President of the San Francisco Commission on the Environment, "They are not only committed to increasing the amount of clean renewable energy delivered to their customers, but making sure their customers are also living the dream of using and benefiting from renewable sources such as solar."

PG&E has interconnected more than 17,000 customer-owned solar-generating systems to the power grid – representing more than 110 megawatts and more than any other utility in the nation. In San Francisco, PG&E has helped interconnect almost 500 of these solar systems, the most of any Northern California city. In just the past 24 months, PG&E has interconnected nearly 6,900 customers representing 61.5 megawatts of solar power. PG&E has also provided close to $210 million in rebates to nearly 450 customers through California's Self-Generation Incentive Program and California Solar Initiative (CSI). Through the CSI, PG&E has the potential to provide an additional $950 million in solar incentives.

Tags: solar power, solar thermal power, PG&E, Project Open Hand, San Francisco, solar water heater, Luminalt, greenhouse gasses, power grid, California Solar Initiative

Innovative Solar Island is Swiss Made!

A Swiss-designed artificial island is set to make its first appearance in the Gulf state of Ras al Khaimah,United Arab Emirates, with the aim of providing a source of clean energy.
The solution proposed by the centre is to build artificial islands that can sit offshore, where surface is not a problem. To cut costs, the usual solar panels would not be used, but rather a concentrator that heats water running through pipes. The steam is then used to generate electricity. Because of its floating structure, the island could be easily turned to always face the sun, generating maximum power. And to avoid having to connect the island to the mainland, the electricity could also be used to make hydrogen that could then be stored on the island before being shipped elsewhere.
"A floating infrastructure means a very low construction cost," said Hinderling. "There are no support structures to build."
However, building such a facility involves a few restrictions. There has to be around 350 days a year of sunshine, and it needs to sit somewhere between the tropics, near the equator for optimal performance. In many respects, the coastal region of the United Arab Emirates fits the bill, and this is why Ras al Khaimah is footing a large part of the development costs, contributing $5 million (SFr6.1 million) to the project.
"We began working on renewable energies with the emirate three years ago," Hinderling said. "The market with the biggest potential for solar and water technology is in that region, so that is where we have to work."


Challenges that might surface;

The biggest hurdle to the project seems to be the construction of the island itself. For example it is still unknown how the infrastructure will react in high winds, Hinderling said. "We have done simulations that have not revealed any problems, but it is not until we have tested in the real world that we will know if it works," he added. In situations such as storms or violent winds, he reckons that an island would be able to power its way out of danger before bad weather struck.
The construction of a prototype is now underway in the Gulf. It will have a diameter of 100 metres, one-tenth of the size of an actual solar island. Just don't go looking for it off the coast of the Emirates: initial tests will take place inland, with the island floating on a water channel.

swissinfo, Scott Capper in Neuchâtel

Beer goes green at Sierra Nevada

If you were a fan of that brown bottle with green and yellow labeled beer, you have another reason to be happy. Sierra Nevada beer company is putting up final touches to going 100% green. They are adding Solar panels to the fuel cells that provide most of the brewery's energy now. The brewery has four fuel cells operating 70 to 75 percent of the facility's power, Sustainability Coordinator Cheri Chastain said. This summer they have been in the process of adding solar panels. In a few short weeks the solar panels will be operational. With the added solar panels the brewery will be approaching 100 percent self-sufficiency. After the panels' installation the plan is to add additional solar panels in order to be completely self-sufficient when the sun is up, during peak hours, Chastain said.
The solar panels are located on the east side of the facility, covering three acres of the parking lot, providing energy to the facility along with covered parking for the employees, Chastain said. PG&E's Self-Generation Incentive Program is providing incentive costs to help fund the project. When the project is complete and successfully operational the brewery will receive a refund from PG&E. If you are interested, also check the California Energy Commissions offering.

Natural or bio-gas (Methane is a by product of beer production) is fed to the Fuel Cell , where hydrogen gas is extracted and combined with oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat, and water. Heat is then recovered and used to heat water for brewing and the electricity is used throughout the brewery. Fuel Cells are efficient, quiet, and produce extremely low emissions.
In addition to Solar Panels and Fuel Cells, Sierra Nevada Beer company has been busy keeping the environment clean with recycling, heat recovery, CO2 recovery, and byproduct recycling.
I think I will order a Sierra Nevada next time I visit the neighborhood Pub.
I was lead to this news by Jennifer Barker at Paradise post.

Tags: recycling, heat recovery, CO2 recovery, byproduct recycling, fuel cell, solar power, beer, sierra nevada, California Energy Commissions, PG&E

First Solar safeway in Dublin, California.

Not far away from where I live, Safeway opened a grocery shop that now powered by Solar energy. I have visited this store earlier to experience the wind powered gas station. I do not usually shop at safeway but to show support, now I will divide my shopping between safeway and Whole foods (Also solar powered for a long time, since 2002). New reporters get the facts right!
Safeway Inc. unveiled it's first-ever solar powered grocery store. Company adds solar program to its extensive "green power" initiative. Congressman Jerry McNerney joins Safeway official for tour of acre-wide rooftop solar array. Panels provide energy for the 55,000-square-foot store. Store's existing gas station already powered by wind energy.

Solar and wind energy are just part of Safeway's extensive company-wide environmental focus. The company has invested in other retail-based energy savings strategies to reduce the company's carbon power demand such has new energy-efficient refrigeration and lighting. Safeway is one of the largest retail recyclers of paper, cardboard, plastic and other materials. The company is at the recently joined the Chicago Climate Exchange, the world's first and North America's only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction registry and trading program. Safeway has committed to reduce its carbon footprint from the base year 2000 by 390,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Additionally, each year Safeway recycles enough paper, cardboard, plastic and other materials to fill a football field 190 feet high.

Tags: solar power, wind energy, Chicago Climate Exchange, greenhouse gas, green power, whole food

ClearFeuls in AlwaysOn GoingGreen100 Top Private Companies

AIEA, Hawaii--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ClearFuels Technology Inc., a developer of sustainable sugarcane biorefineries, today announced its selection by AlwaysOn as one of the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies for 2007. The first-annual elite GoingGreen 100 list was compiled by the AlwaysOn editorial panel. To be eligible for the GoingGreen 100 list, companies had to be peer-nominated, with AlwaysOn receiving more than 500 nominations from venture investors, investment bankers and other industry experts.

"The AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 companies will accelerate the global movement to a more sustainable environment," said Tony Perkins, founder and editor of AlwaysOn. "The ideas and innovation we saw as we reviewed hundreds of clean technology companies will be foundational to the next wave of economic growth in California and beyond. My congratulations to each AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 winner—these are the companies which we predict will have the greatest market traction, strongest innovation and most game-changing approaches this year."

Using advanced thermochemical technologies, ClearFuels’ integrated biorefineries are designed to increase per acre production of ethanol while reducing carbon dioxide emissions per gallon.

“ClearFuels is developing biorefineries that can produce clean renewable fuels from waste biomass or sustainable energy crops,” said ClearFuels President George St. John. “Our biofuel refinery design integrates efficient production of cellulosic ethanol from bagasse and cane trash with existing sugar mill and sugar fermentation facilities. This allows relative production flexibility of ethanol, sugar and power to optimize economic returns in response to commodity market prices, while increasing overall efficiency in a sustainable manner.” ClearFuels’ first commercial demonstration facility is currently under development in Hawaii.

“It is a tremendous honor for ClearFuels to be included with these other emerging leaders in green energy innovation,” St. John said.

ClearFuels and the GoingGreen 100 Top Private Companies for 2007 will be honored at AlwaysOn GoingGreen to be held at the University of California in Davis from September 10 – 12. GoingGreen is a two-and-a-half-day executive gathering that highlights the significant impact clean technologies have on new economic growth and in sustainable use of natural resources. The idea behind the GoingGreen 100 top private companies list is to identify the most promising entrepreneurial opportunities and investments in the clean technology industry.

A full list of all the AlwaysOn GoingGreen 100 Private Companies can be found on the AlwaysOn Web site at: http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/18632

For more information on ClearFuels Technology Inc., go to: www.clearfuels.com

Tags: ClearFeuls, GoingGreen 100, AlwaysOn, biorefineries

Nexxus Lighting, will light up and shine at 2007 Solar Decathlon

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nexxus Lighting, Inc. (NASDAQ:NEXS), a world leader in advanced lighting technology, including solid-state LED and fiber optic lighting systems and controls used in commercial, architectural, signage, swimming pool and retail lighting today announced that several of its LED products, including its new Savi™ LED light bulb and LED Flood Strip, will be featured in Georgia Techs’ entry into the 2007 Solar Decathlon.

The Solar Decathlon 2007 is an international competition between twenty universities to design, transport and commission an 800 square foot solar powered house on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in October 2007. The competition is sponsored by the US Department of Energy and is supported by BP Solar, Sprint, US Green Building Council, National Association of Home Builders, American Institute of Architects and ASHRAE. The Georgia Institute of Technology is the only university in the southeast selected to participate in this competition. George Tech’s College of Architecture is leading the project and working in collaboration with more than eighty students and faculty from the colleges of Engineering, Management and Sciences at all levels of the university: undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D.

“Nexxus Lighting is working with Georgia Tech to showcase the benefits of LED lighting systems in this unique solar power project,” stated Ralph Genova, VP of Sales for Nexxus Lighting. “LED lighting technology is extremely energy efficient, which is critical in alternative energy supplied structures, and has other unique attributes. Unlike compact fluorescent lamps that contain hazardous chemicals, our LED products do not contain mercury and therefore are truly an environmentally friendly light source, and they last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent light bulbs. We are very excited to support Georgia Tech in their efforts,” concluded Mr. Genova.

“Students working on this house have pushed the limits of residential technologies in all avenues ranging from solar technologies, architectural materials, engineering systems, lighting, and automation techniques,” stated Ruchi Choudhary, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Ph.D. Programs, College of Architecture at Georgia Tech.

“By providing the team with state-of-the-art LED light fixtures, Nexxus Lighting has contributed significantly towards upholding the spirit of innovation in the Georgia Tech Solar Decathlon House. Nexxus Lighting's contribution serves many avenues, such as demonstrating the integration of LED and fluorescent lights for ambient lighting in residential applications, demonstrating the integration of LED lights with architectural components of the house, educating both students and the general public about the advantages of LED technology, and finally providing low energy lighting solutions for operating the house under limited reserves of solar energy,” concluded Dr. Choudhary.

Nexxus Lighting introduced its Savi™ LED line of commercial light bulbs earlier this year and is expanding its offering of LED based lighting products and controls later this year as part of its “Life’s Brighter™” green lighting initiative.

For more information, please visit the Nexxus Lighting, Inc. web site at www.nexxuslighting.com.

Tags: Solar Decathlon, Nexxus Lighting, Savi™ LED light bulb, BP Solar, Sprint, US Green Building Council, National Association of Home Builders, American Institute of Architects, ASHRAE, George Tech, LED lighting

Application for construction of a 400 MW Solar Power Plant Filed, A first since 1989 in California.

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BrightSource Energy™, Inc., a utility scale solar thermal company, announced today that it has filed an Application For Construction (AFC) with the California Energy Commission (CEC) for development of a 400 MW solar power plant site. This is the first AFC to be filed in California since 1989 for the construction of solar power plants.

BrightSource plans to build three separate solar plants on a site in California known as Ivanpah, about five miles southwest of Primm, Nevada. The site is located on federally owned land administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). BrightSource has applied to the BLM for a right-of-way grant to use the land for its solar power complex, which will consist of two 100 MW solar power plants and one 200 MW solar power plant. The plants will utilize Distributed Power Tower™ (DPT) solar field technology developed by Luz II, a wholly owned subsidiary of BrightSource Energy.

“BrightSource is in negotiations with California utilities for the purchase of the electricity that these solar power plants will generate,” noted John Woolard, CEO of BrightSource Energy in making this announcement. “BrightSource continues to lead in the development of cost effective solar energy and will be the first company since 1990 to break ground in California for a new utility scale solar thermal plant.”

BrightSource Energy was founded by Arnold Goldman. Between 1984 and 1990, Mr. Goldman and the Luz International team built nine Solar Electricity Generating Stations (SEGS), the first of their kind, in California’s Mojave Desert. These plants continue to generate power at a capacity of 354 MW.

Privately held, BrightSource Energy is headquartered in Oakland, California. Further information may be found at www.brightsourceenergy.com.

Tags: California, AFC, BrightSource Energy, California Energy Commission, Ivanpah, Bureau of Land Management, Distributed Power Tower, solar thermal plant, SEGS

Extreme Makeover: Solar Edition

Press Release from groSolar

Athens, VT

When the Vitale family woke up yesterday, they didn't know that Ty and the gang from "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" would be knocking on their door. Not only will the Vitale's get a transformed house from the hugely popular reality series, they will get a free solar energy system from groSolar in the deal.

A fast-growing and leading national solar energy company, groSolar joined the television show to provide the Vitale’s with a newly renovated, handicapped-accessible and energy efficient home.

“We are glad to help this deserving family,” groSolar CEO Jeff Wolfe said. “It is part of our mission of social responsibility and trying to be part of the climate crisis solution. This family will realize the benefits of solar energy in reducing their home energy bills with virtually no maintenance.’’

Wolfe said his company has made similar donations, including solar energy systems for the local Twin Pines Housing Trust and Habitat for Humanity.

“Solar energy provides affordable, low maintenance, reliable energy we all can live with," Wolfe said.

Sarah and Lou Vitale have two loving and bright sons: Kane, 2, and Louie Angelo Jr., one and a half. Louie Angelo has multiple birth defects, including Arthogryposis, club feet and skeletal displasia. Although he can’t move very well, he loves to paint. So his mother started Angel Boy Art in honor of her son. The organization allows children to paint and auction off their work to raise money and awareness around their particular disease.

Limited resources have prevented the Vitale's from adapting their home to Louis Jr.’s needs. The home was built on a weak foundation that consists of tree trunks, bare earth and shifting blocks.

A superior design team that includes groSolar and The McKernon Group, Inc. and hundreds of volunteers will now provide the family with a handicap-accessible, energy efficient house that everyone can be proud of. While Ty and the designers are rebuilding the home, the Vitale family will be living and volunteering at David’s House, a home away from home for children receiving treatment at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H.

The episode “Vitale Family’’ will air on ABC in January 2008.

The design team for the episode will feature team leader Ty Pennington and designers Michael Moloney, Paul DiMeo, Tanya McQueen and John Littlefield.

For more information, please contact Kevin Ellis 1-800-498-5390, kevin@kse50.com or Sue Lewis 1-800-374-4494, sue@grosSolar.com. www.groSolar.com.

Tags: renewable energy, alternative energy, solar, Extreme Makeover

China Calls for $265B Investment in Renewable Energy

Shares in renewable energy companies edged up on China’s stock exchanges Wednesday following the release of a national plan for reducing fossil fuel-based energy consumption, according to the country's official Xinhua News Agency.

China’s energy czar, Chen Deming, said on Tuesday that China needs $265 billion in investments to meet its renewable energy goals by 2020, according to the English-language China Daily.

The private sector, including state-owned companies, will likely foot most of the bill to reach China’s goal of generating 15 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources within 13 years, according to the National Development and Reform Commission’s (NRDC) plan. Beijing and local governments will contribute only about one-fifth of that total investment, Mr. Chen said.

Mr. Chen promised tax incentives and subsidies to help companies switch to more sustainable forms of energy, the China Daily said. But Mr. Chen also sketched out specific requirements, such as renewable energy investment quotas for large, state-owned enterprises and the installation of solar power equipment in real estate development projects, according to the China Daily.
source

Tags: enewable energy, alternative energy, solar, China

San Bernardino sees green through Solar and Wind permits.

Environmentally friendly developers and homeowners in San Bernardino County could start seeing green -- and saving money -- thanks to initiatives announced Monday by county supervisors.

Under a four-part plan unveiled by board Chairman Paul Biane that is expected to be approved by the Board of Supervisors today, the county will waive building permit fees for homeowners installing solar and wind-generated energy systems and expedite applications from developers whose projects meet certain green-building criteria.

"Time is money," Biane said. "We're encouraging residents and businesses to make changes that will help us cut our greenhouse gas emissions."

Homeowners currently pay $200 for a solar permit and $250 for a wind-energy permit, county planning officials said.

LAT news

Tags: solar power, wind power, solar permit, wind permit, building permit fees, wind-energy permit

Boeing will build High efficiency solar cells for SolFOcus

A SolFocus solar concentrator is populated with Spectrolab cells in each dish. Spectrolab has leveraged its expertise in space photovoltaic products to create solar cells with record-breaking efficiencies for Earth-based applications. The cells provided will be capable of generating more than 10 megawatts of electricity +, enough to power about 4,000 U.S. homes.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 28, 2006 - The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has signed a contract to provide 600,000 solar concentrator cells to SolFocus, Inc., a California-based renewable energy company that is developing renewable terrestrial energy alternatives.

"Companies on the cutting edge of the renewable energy revolution come to us because we are the world's leading manufacturer of solar cells," said Charles Toups, vice president of engineering for Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. "Our Spectrolab subsidiary has leveraged its expertise in space photovoltaic products to create solar cells with record-breaking efficiencies for Earth-based applications."

Under the 12-month contract from SolFocus, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., Spectrolab will build and deliver 600,000 solar concentrator cells that will be used to convert the sun's rays into affordable electricity for homes and businesses. The cells produced for SolFocus will be capable of generating more than 10 megawatts of electricity, or enough to power about 4,000 U.S. homes. With the average solar cell efficiency above 35 percent at concentration, Spectrolab's concentrator photovoltaic cells generate electricity at a rate that can be more economical than electricity generated from conventional, flat panel photovoltaic systems.

"Our mission is to deliver reliable solar-generated electricity at wholesale energy prices, and Spectrolab's multi-junction concentrator solar cells are key to making that possible," said Gary D. Conley, CEO of SolFocus. "Spectrolab's cells will be integrated into our upcoming solar concentrator field test program and then into the first phase of active deployments."

A significant advantage of concentrator systems is that fewer solar cells are required to achieve a specific power output, thus replacing large areas of semiconductor materials with relatively inexpensive optics that provide optical concentration. The slightly higher cost of multi-junction cells is offset by the use of fewer cells. Due to the higher efficiency of multi-junction cells used in the concentrator modules, only a small fraction of the cell area is required to generate the same power output compared to crystalline silicon or thin-film, flat-plate modules.

Tags: High efficiency solar cell, solar cell, Boeing, SolFocus, photovoltaic, Spectrolab

SunPower Solar systems guidance for 2008.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug 22, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ --

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, today reiterated its guidance for 2008.

Supporting that guidance, SunPower expects to have silicon sufficient to generate 250 megawatts or more of solar cell production in 2008. SunPower buys silicon using a portfolio strategy that combines polysilicon, ingot and wafer procurement from a variety of suppliers under a variety of contract terms and durations.

"SunPower prudently plans for our silicon procurement from a variety of suppliers with an approach designed to anticipate manufacturing ramp rates," said Tom Werner, chief executive officer at SunPower Corp. "We match our solar cell manufacturing expansion and production plans to our silicon supply to allow for maximum utilization of our manufacturing capacity. By rapidly scaling from Fab 1, now in full production, to Fab 2 beginning this quarter, SunPower expects to achieve economies of scale that will contribute to our goal to reduce installed solar system costs by 50 percent by 2012."

About SunPower

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. SunPower high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black appearance. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com. SunPower is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: CY).

Tags: solar energy, solar cells, solar panels, solar systems, SunPower

PG&E Joins The Green Grid

Expands Industry-Leading Financial Incentive Programs for Energy Efficient Computing Equipment

SAN FRANCISCO - Pacific Gas and Electric Company today announced that it is the first utility to join The Green Grid, a non-profit consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems. The utility will now include The Green Grid's efficiency standards to expand its industry-leading financial incentive programs for customers who purchase premium efficiency servers, data storage devices, routers, and other computing equipment.

"PG&E has developed an industry-leading portfolio of high tech energy efficiency programs and services for our customers, and learning what constitutes premium efficiency for computing equipment will help us expand our offerings," explained Brad Whitcomb, vice president of customer products and services for PG&E. "We want to provide our customers with information and incentives for the most energy efficient high tech equipment on the market."

The Green Grid is a consortium of more than forty high-tech equipment companies, including AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems and VMware, whose goal is to lower the overall consumption of power in data centers around the globe. The consortium will work together to develop meaningful, platform-neutral standards, measurement methods, processes and new technologies to improve data center efficiency and performance.

"PG&E brings a highly-valued perspective," said Don Tilton, a director of The Green Grid. "The utility's leadership and experience in developing innovative high-tech energy efficiency programs will enhance our efforts to improve overall data center efficiency. As more utilities join, we expect to collaborate on standardizing demand response and energy efficiency incentive and rebate programs across the industry to accelerate the adoption of technologies that support this goal."

PG&E currently offers a comprehensive portfolio of programs and service offerings for the high tech sector, including financial incentives for the following:

• Virtualization projects — Incentives to customers who undertake IT virtualization projects in data centers that result in the removal of computing equipment.
• MAID Systems — Incentives for Massive Array of Idle Disks, or MAID systems that store rarely-used data to hard disks that are normally turned off, helping customers realize 75% or more in energy savings compared to typical systems.
• Energy efficient servers — Incentives for customers who replace old, inefficient servers with new energy efficient ones.
• HVAC upgrades — Incentives for projects that effectively reduce the amount of energy needed to cool data centers.
• 80 PLUS power supplies — $5 incentive per unit to manufacturers who integrate power supplies with a minimum efficiency of 80% or more into desktop computers and servers.
• LCD monitors — $10 incentive per unit to manufacturers of energy efficient monitors.
• "Sleep-mode" software — $15 incentive per computer for enterprise customers who purchase software that allows computers to "snooze" when not in use.

"Our customers and the industry are asking us to expand our programs, and to promote them to other utilities," said Mark Bramfitt, principal program manager for the high tech sector at PG&E. "Having industry-accepted measurement protocols will form the basis of new programs, and we hope to complement The Green Grid's efforts with our knowledge and experience."

PG&E's existing server incentive programs applies to replacement projects where the utility can measure and calculate energy savings from the removal of old, inefficient servers and replacement of them with fewer and more energy efficient ones. The Green Grid standards will allow PG&E to expand its incentive program offerings to include new purchases of premium efficiency servers and other computing equipment.

In February, PG&E announced that it is leading the formation of a nationwide coalition of utilities to discuss and coordinate energy efficiency programs for the high tech sector, focusing on data centers. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), TXU Electric Delivery, Austin Energy, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and NSTAR all signed on to the coalition. Since that time several additional utilities have asked to take part in the coalition, including two utilities in Canada.

Data centers can use up to one hundred times the energy per square foot of typical office space, so the energy efficiency opportunities are significant. PG&E customers in northern and central California who are interested in earning financial incentives for data center efficiency measures must apply prior to implementing projects and can find more information about the company's programs and service offerings at www.pge.com/hightech.

A leader in energy efficiency for over 30 years, PG&E's programs have saved customers nearly $10 billion and prevented approximately 125 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from entering the atmosphere. Going forward, PG&E is doing even more. Between 2006 and 2008, the utility is spearheading nearly $1 billion in enhanced energy-efficiency programs. This investment will avoid the need for more than 600 megawatts of new generation—or roughly the amount of electricity produced at a large power plant.

News

Tags: The Green Grid, PG&E, AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems, VMware, NEEA

The National Park Service turns 91 years this week! and CNPSR has a word for us

I enjoy our National Parks and for as long as I can remember, I visit at least two parks a year. I visited three parks this year and plan to visit at least two more before the year ends. We are so lucky with our natural resources and forefathers vision to preserve those for future generations. When ever you visit these parks or other facilities under NPS, you may have seen sweet people who help you out with finding maps or what ever you are looking for in a park. Well they turn out to be one of the oldest social gathering to service all of us.

WASHINGTON, D.C.//August 22, 2007//The National Park Service -- America’s premier conservation agency -- turns 91 years old this week with millions of citizens enjoying historic treasures from Independence Hall to Mesa Verde and famous natural sanctuaries such as Yellowstone (The First National Park), Yosemite and the Everglades. Today, the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR), whose more than 600 members cumulatively served 17,000 years in the National Park Service, voiced hope that a new era of reinvestment in national parks is dawning.
But, on the eve of expected NPS/Interior Department announcement about the future of America’s national parks, CNPSR also sounded a strong note of caution to the American public and Congress that new proposals to revitalize the national parks need to be carefully evaluated as to whether they succeed—or fail—in five areas:
· Provide a sustained level of investment of public funds that ensures preservation of the national parks;
· Heed and incorporate science in management decisions and planning;
· Ensure the highest degree of protection of national parks, consistent with the law;
· Preserve the uniqueness and special role of units of the National Park System; and· Respond with urgency to the growing impact of climate change.

Executive Council Chair of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees Bill Wade, a former superintendent of Shenandoah National Park, said: “Tomorrow, the pool of some 200 certified eligible Centennial Challenge programs and projects with commitments for matching funds from partner organizations will be revealed in Yosemite National Park. We are heartened that the National Park Service Director, Mary Bomar, is focusing attention on the urgent need to make significant investments in our national parks. However, what concerns us is the potential that budgetary sleight of hand could be giving the American people false reassurance—belief that funding increases in the national parks are larger and more certain than they are in reality.”

“As longtime stewards of the national parks, we are concerned that the level of care that Americans expect in their national parks, is still not being fulfilled,” said Rob Arnberger, a former superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park and member of CNPSR’s Executive Council. “Promises by the Administration of federal matching dollars are not certain. Yet they are being used to encourage private sector funding of national park projects. The result could be a much smaller increase in funding than the national parks actually need and the American people are being promised—and spending priorities driven increasingly by preferences of the private sector rather than by the professional judgment of the parks’ public guardians.”

CNPSR today offered to the American public a “yardstick” for evaluating whether new funding proposals for the national parks are adequate and properly directed. Wade said his organization hopes that Congress will use the criteria in its upcoming Appropriations decisions:

Provide a sustained level of public funding that will ensure preservation of the national parks
The net effect of various spending proposals must be considered. The Administration’s proposed FY2008 budget actually reduces funding to erase the national parks’ “maintenance backlog.” It makes no sense to promote new “Centennial Initiative” spending on expensive new buildings and other facilities that add significantly to the National Park Service’s maintenance challenge, while reducing funding necessary to repair, for example, sewer systems that threaten the parks’ lakes and streams. Meanwhile, the role of private philanthropy needs careful consideration. It has played a significant role in the preservation of our common heritage in the national parks. It should continue to help provide a “margin of excellence.” However, it is not a reliable or appropriate substitute for the federal responsibility to ensure protection and operation of the parks through adequate and sustained provision of public funding.

Heed and incorporate science in management decisions and planning

Americans expect their government to base decisions on the best possible information. As the National Park Service builds toward its second century, it should fully fund solutions that scientific studies have demonstrated will preserve the natural, cultural and historic resources of the national parks. If the National Park Service instead promotes or funds projects or management decisions that ignore scientific findings and result in avoidable levels of harm to park resources, the public’s support for necessary increases in national park funding will erode, hampering the agency’s ability to fulfill its mission. For example, it makes no sense that the superintendent of Big Cypress National Preserve recently reopened areas to off-road vehicle use that are critical to the Florida panther’s survival, areas where the Service’s own scientific studies have concluded that off-road vehicle use places the panther in greater jeopardy.
Ensure the highest degree of protection of national parks, consistent with law

The American public needs reassurance that increased financial support will lead to enhanced stewardship of the national parks, not only through the application of science but through the National Park Service upholding its overarching mandate to conserve resources entrusted to its care.

However in Yellowstone, the National Park Service has spent over $10 million on four separate studies in ten years that have verified conclusively that the park’s winter air quality, peace and quiet and wildlife can be protected to the degree required by law only by replacing snowmobile use with expanded public access on snowcoaches. Yet the park superintendent continues to push snowmobile use. Seven former directors of the National Park Service have written to Interior Secretary Kempthorne urging him to continue Yellowstone’s transition away from snowmobile use and thereby uphold his strong public pledge that he will continue a conservation-first emphasis in the national parks. New funding proposals designed to “strengthen” the national parks lack credibility as long as the National Park Service proposes to contravene its own scientific findings and legal responsibilities by perpetuating harmful snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park.

Preserve the uniqueness and special role of units of the National Park System

From the beginning, Congress intended national parks to be exceptions to the rule—areas within a developing and changing country that would remain undiminished and allow each generation of Americans to experience and be inspired by their natural and cultural heritage. Funding of projects or activities that would clutter or commercialize units of the National Park System, erode their air quality, add to their congestion or noise, or otherwise compromise the unique and authentic experiences of the national parks is at odds with the national park mission and would deprive present and future generations of the special purpose that national parks were intended to provide, separate and distinct from other public lands. Congress should carefully screen new funding proposals to ensure that none would have this result.

Respond with urgency to climate change

The national parks have been called America’s “islands of hope.” Scientific studies over the past several decades have documented that increasing development in areas surrounding the national parks has fragmented and altered habitat, adversely impacting wildlife and fish. As a result, the parks have become strongholds for countless species threatened or eliminated in other portions of their historic ranges. Now, scientific studies are increasingly demonstrating that climate change is accelerating these disruptions and national parks, owing to their protected status, remoteness or higher elevation—or all of these factors—are destined to be vital refuges for plants and animals unlikely to be able to survive in other areas. Indeed, national parks may need to serve as “seed banks” and “gene reserves” sustaining species for repopulation elsewhere at a later time. Funding urgently needs to prioritize the role that national parks must play in helping the nation respond to climate change.

“Above all, we are urging Congress to spend tax dollars wisely at a critical time for America’s National Park System, moving toward its second century in a changing climate,” said Rick Smith of CNPSR’s Executive Council and a former Superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns National Park. “It is crucial that the expanded commitment of public dollars for the stewardship of these public treasures be adequate and that every dollar addresses the national parks’ greatest needs and their most important values to the American people. Everyone understands the folly of paying only the ‘minimum due’ on his or her credit card and pushing a bigger balance to another day. The American public deserves better with its national parks.”

ABOUT CNPSR

The 600 members of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees are all former employees of the National Park Service with a combined 17,000 years of stewardship of America's most precious natural and cultural resources. In their personal lives, CNPSR members reflect the broad spectrum of political affiliations. CNPSR members have served their country well, and their credibility and integrity in speaking out on national park issues should not go ignored. The Coalition counts among its members seven former directors or deputy directors of the National Park Service; 25 former regional directors or deputy regional directors; 32 former associate or assistant directors at the national or regional office level; 68 former division chiefs at the national or regional office level; and over 135 former park superintendents or assistant superintendents. For more information, visit the CNPSR Web site at http://www.npsretirees.org.

CONTACT: Patrick Mitchell, for CNPSR, (703) 276-3266 or pmitchell@hastingsgroup.com

Tags: National Park Service, NPS, CNPSR, Coalition of National Park Service Retirees

Buying A Solar Electric System

Austin, TX (PRWEB) August 13, 2007 -- Verde Energy, the only company to provide a trusted source for competitive quotes on solar power, solar thermal, and wind power projects, recently unveiled a video production designed to introduce solar electric systems to a mainstream audience.

One of the key challenges to widespread solar adoption lies in educating customers about their choices, and the viability of their particular site. Since its inception, Verde Energy has focused on providing educational tools, concise information, and personalized consultations to help customers address this challenge and make the right choice to meet their renewable energy needs.

The online video buyer's guide is the latest in Verde Energy's effort to introduce residential and commercial electricity customers to the economics, site requirements, design options, and financing sources for solar electric systems. The fourteen-minute video titled "Buying A Solar Electric System" was produced by The Sustainable Media Network and is available on Verde Energy's web site at the following link: http://www.VerdeEnergy.com/solar_video.html

"Solar electric systems are an economically viable energy source for millions of Americans. The objective of this video is to help our customers understand their options, and quickly evaluate the feasibility of solar energy for their particular situation," said Rob Powell, chief executive for Verde Energy. "Our friends at The Sustainable Media Network did an outstanding job producing this video and we are grateful for their efforts."

The video production addresses the economics of photovoltaic technology, available financing sources, major factors in sizing and designing a system, the impact of weather and location on performance, and the environmental benefits of going solar.

Rising electricity prices and the growing availability of state and federal rebates continue to drive the adoption of renewable energy. Several states currently offer financial incentives for renewable energy and energy conservation projects, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, and New York, among others.

Tags: photovoltaic, Verde Energy, solar power, solar thermal, wind power, renewable energy, "Buying A Solar Electric System", Sustainable Media Network

An amateur meteorologist discovers 1934, not 1998, is hottest year

Blogger gets hot and bothered over Nasa's climate data error
An amateur meteorologist in Canada has embarrassed Nasa scientists into admitting that some of the data they used to show significant recent increases in global warming is flawed.

· Amateur discovers 1934, not 1998, is hottest year
· Climatologists insist trend is still towards warming

Tags: meteorologist, nasa, Climatologist

SMART cars come to San Francisco!

A swarm of tiny shiny cars resembling oversize ski boots scooted around San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood Thursday afternoon, offering Bay Area drivers a sneak peek at a distinctive and diminutive European car that will make its American premiere early in 2008.

With a length of just 8.8 feet, the Smart Fortwo will be the smallest production car sold in the United States - more than 3 feet shorter than the Mini.

San Francisco Chronicle Article

Tags: SMART car, efficient cars, small cars, San Francisco, Bay Area

GPS may help to give Clearer picture of Global warming

As we all wonder about global warming and our planet, one of the wildcards of global warming is how fast the world's massive ice sheets are melting. Greenland's and Antarctica's ice sheets contain enough ice to raise sea levels 70 meters, if it all melted. And in recent years, evidence has been mounting for accelerating ice loss.Efforts to measure the rate of melting on Greenland and Antarctica and thereby predict how fast sea levels will rise are complicated by something called "post-glacial rebound" of the earth's crust. When the crust is relieved of its millennia-long burden of ice, it shifts around a bit, and springs back.

In the first comprehensive effort to correct for this phenomenon, scientists from an international team are scurrying around Greenland this summer to install 24 continuous GPS stations into bedrock around the coast. They're also rigging them up with solar panels and large battery packs to keep them powered up through bitterly cold winters.

Read more at Technology Review

Tags: global warming, GPS, post-glacial rebound, solar panels