Here’s the solar-energy skinny for this Friday:
Catholic schools across upstate New York are installing rooftop solar systems, according to The Buffalo News. A joint effort of NYSERDA, a private solar installation company and the Diocese of Buffalo, the solar installations will together represent 1.5 megawatts of capacity. Panels have already been installed at elementary schools in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Hamburg, Lancaster and Lockport. Want more solar-powered nuns? (Correct answer: yes.) Check out this post from the GetSolar archives: “The Vatican Goes Solar.”
The Harrah’s Rincon Casino has since January been powered partly by a nearby solar energy farm, reports the San Diego Union Tribune. Located about half-way between L.A. and San Diego, the casino draws electricity from a one-megawatt solar installation — the largest solar power system on a local Indian reservation, according to the article.
After days of wrangling, the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power (LADWP) yesterday voted 4-0 to enact the first of four planned rate increases, via the L.A. Times. The vote will in effect add 0.8 of a cent for each kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Also in California solar energy news, construction of the country’s first concentrating photovoltaic (CP) solar power installation is underway, reports Green Inc. Silicon-Valley start-up SolFocus is building the one-megawatt for Victor Valley College in Victorville, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles. In theory, CP technology generates more energy per square unit of area by focusing the sun’s rays on photovoltaic (PV) cells. In practice, high temperatures — a product of highly concentrated sunlight — tend to lower the operating efficiency of conventional PV cells. IBM, for instance, is developing a “thermal interface layer” — that is, a component that helps keep the cells cool. I’m not familiar with the SolFocus’ technology, but I imagine they address the same set of issues.
Atlanta may soon see an inflow of strong beer, frites and other Belgian specialities, as Enfinity Corp. — a Belgium-based solar energy — announced it will base its Americas headquarters there,via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The move is expected to create at least 30 jobs.
More solar IPOs than M&As in 2010? Morgan Stanley seems to think so: renewable energy companies are more likely this year tap equity and debt markets rather than pursuing mergers with utilities, via Bloomberg.
Also in solar-related investing news, SunPower Corp. reported a 70 percent fall in Q4 profit, mainly due to shrinking margins,via WSJ.com. Despite weak profits, the company’s sales were up.
Finally, don’t miss this plug for solar power by Rhone Resch, head of the Solar Energy Industries Association — it’s definitely worth a read. Not quite sure what’s he’s going for with his college basketball analogy, however:
Across the country, people will start tuning in today to see how well they’ve done filling out their brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament. President Obama bestowed the “First Pick” on Kansas, while I’ve got my money on Syracuse. I admit I’m biased; I have a degree from there. But the Orange look poised to make it to Indianapolis.
When it comes to making their picks for energy, three out of four Americans have solar going all the way in their bracket.
Huh?
Anyway, Resch then goes on to list a number of stats showcasing solar power’s myriad merits and, finally, pulls hard for The Solar Bill of Rights, an initiative that deserves everyones’ attention.
Have a great weekend. We’ll see you back here next week.
Solar
Power Rundown for Friday, March 19
