U.S. Offers $535 Million Loan Guarantee to Solar Panel Manufacturer
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Friday that the federal government would be offering a $535 million loan guarantee to solar panel manufacturer Solyndra. The California based company will use the funds to widely expand its photovoltaic panel manufacturing capacity.
The loan guarantee is the first to be offered under the Energy Policy Act of 2005. During the Bush Administration the program was bogged down by Energy Department bureaucracy, as well as congressional foot dragging.
The money for this loan guarantee comes from appropriations from the Obama stimulus package. “The leadership and actions of President Barack Obama, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the U.S. Congress were instrumental in concluding this offer for a loan guarantee,” said Solyndra CEO and founder, Dr. Chris Gronet.
Solyndra’s new facilities will eventually produce solar panels capable of producing 500 megawatts a year.
Energy Secretary Chu: Progress Needed in Batteries, Solar and Biofuels
Energy Secretary Steven Chu discussed the ways the U.S. should fight climate change in an interview with the New York Times. Chu noted that while President Obama and much of Congress has endorsed a cap-and-trade system similar to that in-place in Europe, alternatives could still emerge like a simple tax on carbon emissions or a modified cap-and-trade.
Chu highlighted three fields in particular that would require significant scientific breakthrough to combat climate change: electric batteries, solar power, and biofuels. Of course, batteries and biofuels are keys to shifting our automobiles off of petroleum, and solar could eventually replace dirty coal.
However, (taking a page from Friedman’s playbook) Chu noted that countries like India and China, which have large coal reserves, will not abandon that cheap energy source, so the U.S. better lead the world in finding a way to burn it cleanly.
Chu noted that while the technology may not be there yet, these feats are far from impossible. He analogized the situation to the turn of the nineteenth century when European scientists Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch made scientific discoveries that allowed the development of cheap nitrogen fertilizers that saved Europe from starvation.
Southern California to Get Major Boost in Solar Energy
Southern California Edison (SCE) and BrightSource Energy announced an agreement on Wednesday that would bring seven new solar thermal projects online, producing a total of 1,300 MW of renewable energy– enough to power nearly 845,000 homes.
BrightSource, which has Google as an investor, uses a proprietary “power tower” technology that focuses thousands of small mirrors towards a boiler sitting atop a tower in order to produce high temperature steam. The super heated steam is used to spin a conventional turbine which generates electricity. The steam is then cooled back into water and reused by the system. READ MORE
Gore Testifies on Climate Change Before Senate Committee
Al Gore testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday about climate change. (Link to full video list.) Gore noted that we are in a dire situation and fundamental change needs to occur as soon as possible. Gore repeated his warning that “clean” coal may not be a feasible solution in the near-term, noting “We must avoid becoming vulnerable to the illusion that this is near at hand. It is not.”
Gore said that the most promising sources of clean energy are wind and solar, and that while he is not against nuclear power, the costs are just too unpredictably high.
“Our home – Earth – is in grave danger,” Gore noted. “What is at risk of being destroyed is not the planet itself, of course, but the conditions that have made it hospitable for human beings.” READ MORE
Israel Sets Renewable Energy Target of 10% by 2020
The Israeli government on Monday set a target of producing 10% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020. The target was set by the socio-economic cabinet, led by Finance Minister Roni Bar-On.
While this is a step in the right direction, it seems like Israel, out of all countries, would have the greatest interest in reducing fossil fuel dependency and consumption. However, a target of only 10% renewables by 2020 is a fraction of California’s goals, which are to have 20% renewables by 2010 and 33% by 2020.
While Israel has shown a progressive approach towards many clean technologies, including the early adoption of the Better Place electric vehicle model, it would seem to be in its interest to do significantly more with renewable electricity generation.
Interactive Map Allows SF Residents to Estimate Their Home’s Solar Energy Potential
Despite its foggy weather, San Francisco is on the forefront of residential solar panel installations. In addition to providing monetary incentives, the city recently commissioned the production of a really cool interactive online map that can be used by anyone looking to determine the solar energy potential on their property.
The map is at sf.solarmap.org and allows users to plug-in any address in the city and will return details on: Roof Size, Estimated solar PV potential, Estimated electricity produced, Estimated electricity savings, and Estimated carbon savings.
The purpose of the map is “to promote greater public awareness about solar potential in San Francisco and to facilitate greater solar usage among commercial and residential building owners.”
Is Trend Towards Residential Renewable Energy Production a Good Thing?
With state and federal governments implementing policies to support residential renewable energy production (such as this program in San Diego), Green Inc. takes a quick survey of the current state of private energy production, and questions whether it is even worth it:
“Buying a small wind turbine to power a home can be costly – in the range of $12,000 to $70,000 (including installation fees), according to Ron Stimmel, the small wind expert at the American Wind Energy Association.
“Altogether, says Mr. Stimmel, some kind of financial incentive for residential small wind is available in about 17 states, though in some cases the incentives are offered through utilities rather than directly by the state itself. (In Colorado, for example, a handful of utilities are offering rebates, which go up to $10,000.) READ MORE
San Diego hopes to lead California in solar panel installations
San Diego may be the first major city in California to take advantage of a new state law that allows government to assist in the financing of solar panel installations for homes and businesses. Under the proposal by Mayor Jerry Sanders, participants will be able to pay for solar panel installations through their property tax bill over a 20 year period. The privately financed loans would have a fixed interest rate and could be transferred if the property was sold.
The proposal, if approved by the San Diego City Council, would become law early next year. This would coincide with the federal law that goes into effect on January 1 that gives a 30% tax credit for residential and commercial solar installations. READ MORE
BrightSource solar recognized by World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer
BrightSource Energy, Inc., an American-Israeli company that develops solar thermal energy plants has be recognized by the World Economic Forum as a 2009 Technology Pioneer.
The WEF, which is best known for its yearly meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is a non-political, not-for-profit organization that is “committed to improving the state of the world.” To be a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society.
BrightSource was given this recognition based upon its development of its clean and efficient solar thermal technology, known as the Luz Power Tower. See the above video for an overview of the technology.
Around the globe, there are 4.2 GW worth of solar energy currently being developed using BrightSource’s technology, including the massive solar plant being developed just outside of Los Angeles.
Obama delivers powerful video message to Schwarzenegger’s Governors Global Climate Summit
Whoa. No seriously, whoa.
Obama’s video recorded message delivered to Schwarzenegger’s Governors Global Climate Summit on Tuesday was incredible. It was short, right on point, and incredibly well articulated.
In the three and a half minute video, Obama started out by simply declaring, “too often Washington has failed to show leadership. That will change when I take office.”
He then laid out a few of the key policies that will be a part of his climate change strategy. He wants a federal cap-and-trade system, he wants to return emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and then another 80% reduction by 2050. He wants to develop solar, wind, next generation biofuels. And he wants to look at nuclear and clean coal.
Obama then underlined the importance of the upcoming summit in Poznan, Poland, where negotiations will begin over how to replace the Kyoto Protocol. Obama made it clear that, unlike with the current administration, the country under his leadership will be an integral part of the international approach to climate change.
“Delay is no longer an option, denial is no longer an acceptable response,” Obama noted, adding, “the stakes are too high.”
Obama’s video message to Schwarzenegger’s ‘Governors Global Climate Summit’
New anti-reflective coating invented for solar cells
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute say they have invented a new type of anti-reflective coating to be used on photovoltaic solar cells that will dramatically increase the effectiveness of the panels. Traditionally, these solar cells absorb approximately 67% of the sun’s rays, allowing 33% of the potential energy to be lost. This new coating that can absorb sunlight striking from almost any angle, increases the absorption rate to 96%. READ MORE
New solar plant opens in Bakersfield, CA, test-run for much bigger plant
A new solar energy plant opened near Bakersfield, CA yesterday. While the plant itself is relatively small– it can generate 5 MW of electricity, which is enough for just under 4,000 homes, it is a trial run for a much larger plant slated to begin construction in Central California next year. READ MORE
Can Google save the planet?
With the announcement that it was proposing a $4.4 trillion plan to get the U.S. off of fossil fuels by 2030, Google joined the ranks of Al Gore and T. Boone Pickens, as those providing desperately needed private leadership to address the problems of climate change and our failing energy policy.
Google, which uses tremendous amounts of energy to power its servers, has (through it’s philanthropic unit Google.org) put together a comprehensive plan that would fundamentally shift the way our country generates energy. According to the proposal’s architect, Jeffrey Greenblatt, “Technologies and know-how to accomplish this are either available today or are under development.”
The major proposals of the plan include:
READ MORE
Senate passes extension of wind and solar credits but measure still requires House approval
After eight failed attempts, the Senate finally approved a bill to extend tax credits for renewable energy generation from sources like wind, solar and geothermal. Additionally, the proposed bill provides incentives to decrease energy consumption by both businesses and private residences, through credits for things such as installing solar panels.
The tax credits will cost the government around $18 billion, which is slated to be made up by an increase in taxes on the oil industry. But don’t feel too bad for the oil producers, as they’ve also been given a carrot in this proposal, which would allow them to write off costs incurred from the production of oil from shale and tar sands. Additionally, the bill gives a tax credit, ranging from $2,500 to $7,500, to private citizens who purchase electric vehicles. The measure must now pass the House, and be signed by the president, who has indicated his support.
