News for February 05, 2002

California Plans $15 Billion Renewable Energy Initiative

Townhouse Resident first to install Solar Electricity in Aliso Viejo

Powerlight opens assembly line at Siemens Solar Los Angeles manufacturing plant

Energy issue powers California State legislative races

Nasa's Solar Aircraft to Demonstrate First Commercial Applications

Bekaert ECD (UniSolar) Systems Receives $1.5 Million Research Grant from CEC

Another Enron Casualty: Wind Power?

SMUD program shines in Davis

New Energy Corporation Corrects Jan. 3, 2002 Press Release

SunWize Technologies opens west coast Facility

IN BRIEF

Trends in PV Applications Report Published- The International Energy Agency's PV Power Systems Programme (IEA-PVPS) has published its annual report [1.8MB pdf] The report includes offgrid and ongrid applications and worldwide manufacturing production capacity.

California Solar Center partners with EFI to offer Energy Efficient Products - Looking to reduce your energy bills? Still haven't converted to Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFL)? Here's your chance to get a great deal on CFLs plus a whole catalog of energy efficient products - and support California Solar Center at the same time. Through a new partnership with Energy Federation Inc. ( a non-profit corporation), California Solar Center will receive 15% of all product orders originating from the CSC site. Click here now to explore the store. Be sure to order some CFLs on the first page. Thanks for your support.

Go Solar, Be Secure [By Terri Suess and Cheryl Long in Mother Earth News Jan 2002] This story is about a choice that can make you and the world more secure. It's about how you can install a solar photovoltaic (PV) roof, which will generate your electricity from the free, unlimited supply of sunshine. With your very own solar-electric roof, you'll be protected from rising electricity prices. You'll also be taking a major step away from our national dependence on polluting, unsustainable fossil fuels and dangerous nuclear reactors. "Solar PV is too expensive," you're probably thinking. Or maybe, "Our neighbors might think solar panels are ugly." Well, advances in solar PV technology are rapidly resolving both of those concerns... read more

Individual Energy - [Letter to the Editor - LATimes 2002.2.2] - For the same price as one of those huge SUVs, my husband and I purchased enough solar panels for our home to generate excess electricity, and we purchased a Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle. You don't have to charge the batteries on a hybrid; you just go to the gas station half as many times as you do in an average car. We are very happy, and we would encourage everyone (in fact, we would plead with everyone) to do the same. When it comes to saving the life or our Earth, we don't have leaders. We must take action ourselves....Bonnie Chase Claremont

2/21-22 -Energy and Environmental Summit 2002 - San Diego. - San Diego's 10th Annual Energy & Environmental Conference. Strong Technical Program: EES2002 will cover many exceptionally important subjects for commercial, industrial, institutional and governmental facility energy & environmental managers and engineers -- plus anyone else who supports the efforts of these managers and engineers to cut their energy costs and enhance the environment. Top Speakers: The EES2002 conference program will be presented by leading energy and environmental managers and engineers from Southern California. They'll tell you the best new ways to cut facility energy costs and enhance the environment while you're doing it. More details on EES2002[website] or download the EES2002 conference program[pdf].

Info about State Solar Income Tax - San Diego Regional Energy Office has drafted a Fact Sheet [145kb pdf] answering common questions regarding the new solar income tax credit. The Franchise Tax Board has also posted the form to fill out for Year 2001 filings. The Income tax is retroactive and applies to all systems installed after 1/1/2001. check incentives page for more info.

PV Forums for Local and State Government Leaders - Feb. 25/26 Sacramento - Local Government Commission SPIRE program read more here [More Events]

3/11-16 Women's PV Design and Installation Workshop SEI Cost:$550 - A PV Design and Installation workshop geared specifically towards women. Learn how to use photovoltaic technology to produce electricity from the sun through practical design and installation of PV systems. Participants learn system sizing, site analysis, hardware specification and component selection. The workshop covers typical applications and case study examples. Install an operational system in the field and learn the proper use of tools and safety precautions. For more information contact: Solar Energy International P.O. Box 715, Carbondale, CO 81623, Phone:(970) 963-8855, E-mail:sei@solarenergy.org, Website: www.solarenergy.org [Note: The Class will assist in the installation of a gridtied PV system on a school, facilitated by cosponsors The Rahus Institute and Alameda Power & Telecom]