Solar Fenway newsfeed

Voltaix Raises $12.5 Million for Semiconductors and Solar Cells

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:00 GMT

07/30/2009 - Voltaix, a provider of materials that enhance the performance of semiconductor chips and solar cells, recently announced that it has received $12...

New Gamesa Prototype Unveiled

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica has revealed the first prototype of its G10x - 4.5 MW product platform at the Cabezo Negro R&D wind farm located in the Jaulín local authority in the Spanish province of Saragossa.

Yingli To Supply SDIC Huajing with 10 MW of Solar PV Panels

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited has been selected by SDIC Huajing Power Holding Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of the State Development and Investment Corp. (SDIC), to supply solar photovoltaic (PV) modules for a 10-megawatt (MW) on-grid solar plant in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

DOE Offers US $43M Loan Guarantee to Beacon Power

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Beacon Power Corporation has received a conditional commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a loan guarantee of approximately US $43 million. The DOE's offer outlines terms for a loan that would finance more than 60% of Beacon's planned 20-megawatt (MW) flywheel-based energy storage plant to be located in Stephentown, New York. The plant, which will provide frequency regulation services, will help stabilize and enhance the performance of the grid.

Riverstone Acquires Babcock & Brown's North American Wind Holdings

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Riverstone Holdings LLC and the management team of Babcock & Brown's North American Energy Group confirmed the purchase of the wind development portfolio from Babcock & Brown LP to form Pattern Energy Group LP. Pattern Energy will be an independent, fully integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns and operates renewable energy and transmission assets across North America and parts of Latin America.

VC Investment in Green Tech Up to US $1.2B in Q2

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Greentech Media Inc. this week released quarterly data showing that venture capital investment in green technologies totaled US $1.2 billion in 85 deals in the second quarter of 2009. This is up from $836 million in 59 deals in the first quarter of 2009.

ODAC Newsletter - July 3

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:09 GMT

A weekly review from a UK perspective - "The first round in the great Iraqi oil sale was an interesting affair if not a very conclusive one. In the live TV auction which took place on Tuesday, only one deal was reached as international oil companies refused to meet the terms demanded...

Solutions & sustainability & community - July 3

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:12 GMT

Economy takes its toll on Amish
Greening a mountain community: Estes Park, Colorado
Why Are Chickens Leading the Sharing Revolution?

The Plastic Plan: Energy from Plastic Bottles

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:00 GMT

If we try to get rid of plastics altogether from our lives, we know that it is quite impractical. So what is the next best thing? We can recycle plastic in such a manner that it is economical and produces clean and green energy for our utilization. Industrial designer Chris Allen has come up [...]
Posted in: Environment, Industry, Inventions

First Biodiesel Pipeline Starts Operations

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00 GMT

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Sensus Acquires Telemetric Corporation, Extends Reach to Distribution Automation

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00 GMT

07/03/2009 - Highway 12 Ventures, Inc., an early-stage regional venture capital firm, recently announced that Sensus has acquired the assets and business of Telemetric Corporation, one of its portfolio companies...

Is Energy the Internet's Next Killer App?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:16 GMT

Some have called smart energy "the internet's next killer app." Actually it's the other way around.

KPCB Led Cleantech Venture Capital Investment Rebound in Second Quarter 2009

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:07 GMT

Cleantech Venture Capital Investment Rebounded in Second Quarter 2009

BLM Opens Doors for SW Solar Grand Plan

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:23 GMT

Just a year and a half after a breakthrough Solar Grand Plan study was published in the January 2008 Scientific American, the U.S. government has begun plans to implement major elements of such a Plan.

Making sense of green incentive overload…

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:24 GMT

PriceWaterhouseCoopers has come out with a handy chart for Canadian companies that are looking to “go green” but are also unaware of the incentives that are offered by the federal government and the provinces. It has created charts for federal incentives, and also charts for incentives offered by different provinces. Click here to access the charts.

Listen to the Discussion: What Will ACES (Waxman-Markey) Achieve?

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:12 GMT

The Energy Collective conducted a live, interactive webcast in which energy experts and TEC blogger board members Jesse Jenkins of the Breakthrough Institute and WattHead blog and John C. Whitehead of Appalachian State University dug into the details of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, the ACES climate bill, and provided insight into its likely effectiveness in a number of key areas...

Join the Energy Collective and listen to an archive recording of the discussion here.

It doesn’t grow on trees, but the DOE dishes it out

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:08 GMT

The U.S. Department of Energy allocated funds for everything from the smart grid to hydropower this week. Details, and a roundup of 33 latest deals in cleantech.

U.S. officially joins IRENA; Canada still absent

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:32 GMT

Just an update: U.S. joins IRENA to “speed up adoption of renewable energy.”

The Breakup

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:01 GMT

Join ACE this July 4 as we break up with oil!

Declare your independence from fossil fuels and sign The Declaration.

Further reflection on state budget machinations

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:42 GMT

RENEW Wisconsin along with many of its members and friends asked Governor Doyle to veto a budget provision that delayed a sales tax exemption for renewable energy equipment. He did not veto the provision, so the exemption is scheduled to begin July 1, 2011.

Michael Vickerman reacts to the governor's (in)action:

As you know, the current state budget defers the effective date of the sales tax exemption on renewable energy systems by two years. The original exemption date of July 1, 2009, had been established in the previous biennial budget.

How much of an impact the implementation delay will have on the Focus on Energy renewable energy program is anyone's guess, though the nonprofit sector, a sizable segment of our target market, will not see any impact at all. There is likely to be a short-term impact on the private side, however. When word got out several months ago that the sales tax on RE systems was set to expire today, a few prospective system owners adjusted their installation timetables to take advantage of that change.

Longer term, I believe some renewable energy sectors are going to be more adversely affected than others. The sectors I worry about the most are the >20 kW wind market and the thermal markets (commercial solar water heating and biomass). The sales tax on a 35 kW wind turbine is going to run between $10K and $15K, and $27K on a 100 kW Northwind. These are substantial sums that will certainly affect return on investment. Moreover, the limited number of turbine models greater than 20 kW reduces a prospective system owner's options for downsizing. As for the two thermal sectors identified above, the implementation delay comes at a time when natural gas prices are sinking to levels not seen since the 1990's (when adjusted for inflation). The sales tax decision intensifies the already unfavorable economic headwinds that thermal renewable energy sectors must contend with.

I am less worried about PV because of its modularity and its popularity among nonprofit owners, and I believe biogas will not be materially affected because of the agricultural exemption. I don’t recall ever reviewing a biogas grant application that identified sales tax in the cost breakouts.

Given the weak labor picture and the sharp slowdown in business investments, the likelihood that revenues flowing into the state treasury will come in at or above current budget projections is very remote. The factors that resulted in the implementation delay through this budgetary cycle are not going away any time soon. It would be unrealistic to expect a different outcome in 2011. The only difference would be that another implementation delay in 2011 wouldn’t come as a rude surprise.

With the state budget experience behind us, I would like to suggest that installers and contractors proceed as though the sales tax exemption will not take place as prescribed in current law. Even if it was allowed to take effect in 2011, there’s no guarantee that an exemption will be continued after 2013. It will always be subjected to the perpetual tug-of-war between good intentions and budget realities, much like the federal Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) of yesteryear that proved utterly ineffectual in stimulating non-profit ownership of wind turbines.

Policymakers must bear in mind that that an inconsistent policy framework for building up emerging markets may be more harmful to the intended beneficiaries of such intervention than having no policy at all. The 11th hour withdrawal of the sales tax exemption cannot help but erode installer and contractor confidence in the long-term viability of the markets they participate in.

The only way out of this predicament is to establish a stable and enduring policy environment for nurturing growth in the renewable electric and thermal markets. Implementing the pro-renewable energy policy initiatives recommended by the Governor’s Global Warming Task Force would greatly help matters. The most effective actions would:

• Establish Advanced Renewable Tariffs to support distributed renewable generation sources;
• Extend renewable energy incentives to include propane and heating fuel users;
• Increase the Renewable Energy Standard and modify resource eligibility standards to include solar hot water and biomass heating systems.

Finally, regarding the excerpt below issued by the Governor’s Office, it’s worth noting that the state budget authorized millions of dollars to various building trade unions to provide training and education to members looking to break into the renewable energy industry. I commend state officials for recognizing the value of training and educating Wisconsin’s workforce to build up a renewable energy infrastructure serving businesses and communities across the state. At the same time, if the plan is to invest millions of dollars in workforce development to serve a vibrant renewable energy marketplace, then it behooves the state to implement policies that would generate legitimate work opportunities for these skilled workers. To increase the likelihood that the training and education that occurs today will lead to the jobs of tomorrow, the state must take stronger steps today to develop a renewable energy marketplace attractive enough to entice existing and new businesses to make a long-term commitment to it. In my mind that means a stronger commitment to distributed renewable resources, starting with incentives like Advanced Renewable Tariffs to create investment certainty and predictability. If the state fails to give equal weight to the market side of the equation, we will wind up exporting much of Wisconsin’s skilled renewable energy labor force to other states that can employ them.

Michael Vickerman
RENEW Wisconsin
Wisconsin Wind Working Group
mvickerman@renewwisconsin.org
www.renewwisconsin.org

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From the Governor's Office:

Clean Energy Wisconsin and Job Training
Through Wisconsin Act 2, the Governor provided $2,630,000 in grants from the Wisconsin Development Fund to specific organizations (unions) in the building trades to provide job training and retraining programs, including training in green building and the installation of alternative energy systems.
a. $1 million to the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/Building Industry Group Skilled Trades Employment Program (BIG STEP)
b. $150,000 to the Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 7 to train workers on the construction industry on the LEED certification process
c. $175,000 to the Painters and Allied Trades, District Council 7 to train to certify individuals to provide instruction to workers in the construction industry on standards established by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International, and by the Society for Protective Coatings
d. $175,000 to the Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters to train carpenters in the installation of windmills and other alternative energy systems.
e. $72,000 to the Wisconsin State Council of Carpenters to train carpenters in sustainable green building practices.
f. $248,000 to the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association, Local 75 to build, using green building practices, a mobile training facility to be used in connection with training programs for workers in the pipe trades.
g. $265,000 to the Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council
h. $275,000 to the Wisconsin Operating Engineers to train workers in the construction of geothermal energy and wind energy systems.
i. $210,000 to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to purchase equipment for three laboratories to be established in the state for training workers in the installation of solar electricity systems
j. $60,000 to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for instructor training and start−up costs in connection with the laboratories that will be established by this group

The budget also provides nearly $2 million to the Wisconsin Technical College System to support efforts to re-train individuals and prepare them for available jobs in industries across the state.

VCs Expect Slow Recovery, But Cleantech Remains a Bright Spot

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:02 GMT

While cleantech investment appears to be on the rebound, it's clear the recession isn't over yet. Mark Jensen, managing partner for the venture capital services group at Deloitte & Touche, said Wednesday that about half of the largest venture-capital firms expect to reduce their overall investments in the next few years in response to the recession.

But venture-capital firms expect cleantech to fare better than most other categories. According to the Deloitte survey, a whopping 95 percent said they plan to either increase or maintain their level of cleantech investment, with 63 percent anticipating more investment and 32 percent expecting to invest the same amount as they do now.

Earthquakes: The Other Side of Drilling for Geothermal Power

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:45 GMT

Geothermal technology surely is one of the cleanest technologies available to us, extracting clean heat from the hot underground. This energy source is often seen as inexhaustible, and its benefits seem to outweight its weak points. For decades, geothermal companies have been drilling into Earth's crust at depths of over 4-5km.

Inside cleantech Europe: That was the week that was!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:43 GMT

Scotland sets the world’s most ambitious emissions reduction target, while the largest VC deal of the week goes to a French company developing technology for ultra-low power integrated circuits.

Thornton Bank Offshore Project Officially Commissioned

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Thornton Bank, Belgium's first offshore wind farm, has been officially inaugurated.

Iberdrola Sells Chilean Hydro Stakes

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00 GMT

Chilean energy company CGE, through its CGE Generación subsidiary, is to acquire stakes in two hydroelectricity companies in Chile as part of an asset divestment programme by Spanish group Iberdrola.

Solar Fenway newsfeed

Voltaix Raises $12.5 Million for Semiconductors and Solar Cells

New Gamesa Prototype Unveiled

Yingli To Supply SDIC Huajing with 10 MW of Solar PV Panels

DOE Offers US $43M Loan Guarantee to Beacon Power

Riverstone Acquires Babcock & Brown's North American Wind Holdings

VC Investment in Green Tech Up to US $1.2B in Q2

ODAC Newsletter - July 3

Solutions &amp; sustainability &amp; community - July 3

The Plastic Plan: Energy from Plastic Bottles

First Biodiesel Pipeline Starts Operations

Sensus Acquires Telemetric Corporation, Extends Reach to Distribution Automation

Is Energy the Internet's Next Killer App?

KPCB Led Cleantech Venture Capital Investment Rebound in Second Quarter 2009

BLM Opens Doors for SW Solar Grand Plan

Making sense of green incentive overload…

Listen to the Discussion: What Will ACES (Waxman-Markey) Achieve?

It doesn’t grow on trees, but the DOE dishes it out

U.S. officially joins IRENA; Canada still absent

The Breakup

Further reflection on state budget machinations

VCs Expect Slow Recovery, But Cleantech Remains a Bright Spot

Earthquakes: The Other Side of Drilling for Geothermal Power

Inside cleantech Europe: That was the week that was!

Thornton Bank Offshore Project Officially Commissioned

Iberdrola Sells Chilean Hydro Stakes

Solutions & sustainability & community - July 3