By Tim Christie /The Register-Guard
Wednesday, January 3, 2007
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/01/03/b1.bz.solar.0103.p1.php
George Rode fixes cars, and now he’s trying to do his part to get a few extra miles out of Mother Earth. Rode is preparing to install solar photovoltaic electric systems on the roofs of his two Eugene auto repair shops, Euro-Asian Automotive and Autohaus.
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Aim is to clean up Tri-valley Area, Aid Property Owners
By Meera Pal / MediaNews / Dec. 27, 2006
Source: MercuryNews
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16326607.htm
Pleasanton and Livermore, already neighbors, have something else in common: a plan to encourage property owners to step up their use of solar power — and help clean up the region at the same time.The two cities recently signed a joint agreement with Spectrum Energy, an Elk Grove-based energy services company that specializes in designing and installing energy-efficiency measures.
For $40,000, Spectrum Energy will develop and propose a design for a customer-friendly, communitywide system for residents and businesses interested in installing solar energy systems. Each city is contributing $20,000 toward the program.
Kathmandu, Dec 26, 2006
Source: ZeeNews
http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=344276&sid=SAS
A solar electrification project implemented with an Indian grant of over Rs two crore has helped light homes in Nepal`s eastern village of Jaljale. Some 4,500 villagers residing in 630 houses of Jaljale have benefited from the project. Each of the houses are now equipped with a solar panel, a maintenance-free battery and home lighting system of 75 watts, consisting of 4 lighting instruments of 12 watts each.
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By Talea Miller, NewsHour Extra /12.26.06
Source: PBS Feature story
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/green_12-26.html
A growing number of cities, businesses and school districts are discovering the benefits of “green” buildings that are environmentally friendly and reduce energy waste. This month, council members passed a bill to make Washington, D.C., the first major city to require all developers to design certified energy efficient buildings. Mayor Anthony Williams is expected to sign the bill into law. Elements of green design include water-free urinals, solar panels and recycled building materials that reduce waste and conserve water and energy.
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New gear at two Round Rock schools provides lessons in math, biology.
By Bob Banta
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/26/26Solar.html
ROUND ROCK — Penny Smeltzer views the new solar panels at Westwood High School as a chance for her statistics students to engage in some high-level mathematical forecasting. Chris Delbar thinks that the sun-generated electricity could launch her Westwood chemistry students into a field of study that could make the planet a lot healthier. “There’s an old saying that we must take care of the environment because we borrow it from our children,” Delbar said. “These panels will motivate us to learn more about renewable energy.”
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Public Utilies Commission wants to award credits to owners of solar units
By Katherine Conrad / Mercury News /December 26, 2006
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/16319161.htm
California property owners are poised to gain yet another reason to go green. In a decision closely watched by the solar industry, the California Public Utilities Commission recently signaled its intent to award the ownership of credits earned from renewable energy sources to the residential and commercial owners of such systems — and not to the utility companies.
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BANGKOK, Dec 26 (TNA)
source: ETNA English News
http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=26849
Thailand’s first solar-powered bus was announced Tuesday with fanfare suggesting it not only is suitable for public transport in cities, but is also noise- and air-pollution free. Dr. Anond Bunyaratvej, the secretary-general of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), presided at a press conference to announce the success of developing the country’s first solar-powered bus.
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By Gargi Chakrabarty, Rocky Mountain News
December 19, 2006
source: Rocky Mountain News
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/energy/article/0,2777,DRMN_23914_5223106,00.html
A New York startup with local roots will announce plans today to build the world’s largest solar energy park in the San Luis Valley. The $2 billion park, christened SolarDunes by developer SkyFuel, would have a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts – enough electricity for more than 300,000 homes and businesses along the power-hungry Front Range.
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) /December 21, 2006
Source. Scientific American
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=5A1106FCB6C23317695F2F619988EF41
The California Pubic Utilities Commission on Thursday issued requirements and other details for a new energy program that aims to make the state one of the world’s biggest producers of solar energy. The CPUC issued a 92-page handbook to guide California’s investor-owned utilities, customers, contractors, and solar equipment sellers through the rules for installing and operating solar photovoltaic projects.
Dow Diamond Solar powers at work: When the sun warms Dow Diamond and makes fans long for hot dogs and the words “play ball,” the light from the sky will power the stadium’s scoreboard.
By Cheryl Wade, 9 December 2006
source:
http://www.ourmidland.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17570557&
Dow Corning Corp. and Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. have teamed up to donate 168 solar panels, located outside the right field fence and adjacent to the outfield parking lot, which are designed to generate enough energy to operate the stadium’s scoreboard. Representatives from both companies showed off the panels — mounted 30 inches above the ground to be above the snow line — to local media on Friday, which was cold but sunny. Hemlock Semiconductor makes the polycrystalline silicon that is the main component of the panels, and Dow Corning makes protective coatings for the panels.
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