Southern California Edison has launched one of the most ambitious solar initiatives yet. It involves using the roofs of commercial buildings to develop renewable energy resources. Building owners get paid to host the solar arrays on their rooftops, and the utility takes all the risk. Where else is this kind of program happening? Why would a building owner choose this over the other alternatives for rooftop solar? In this month's briefing Denis Du Bois and guest co-host Stephen Lacey decipher the impact for owners, tenants, and solar companies. Denis interviews the corporate sustainability executive for AMB Property Corporation, who just joined SCE's new program. (podcast)

Continue reading "New Models for Rooftop Solar Power - Building Priorities Briefing" »

When you see solar modules on the roof of a building, they might not actually belong to the building's owner. Two common ownership scenarios have been around for several years. Lately, utilities have been devising new ownership models, to meet renewable energy requirements in their states. Learn the differences, in a minute. (podcast)

Continue reading "Rooftop Solar Ownership Models - Energy:Minute" »

Southern California Edison has announced three large installations of utility-owned solar on buildings. The latest of those is a warehouse owned by AMB Property Corporation. Denis Du Bois interviews Aaron Binkley, LEED AP, AMB's Director of Sustainability Programs. He's a registered architect and AMB's resident expert on energy, sustainability, and green building.

Continue reading "AMB Leases Warehouse Roof to Energy Utility" »

"Zero energy" is a term we'll see applied to more and more buildings. It means the building produces as much energy on site as it uses. But that's not the whole story. There are many variations. Learn what they mean, in a minute.

Continue reading "Zero Energy Buildings - "Zero" of What? - Energy:Minute" »

Current policies at the state and federal level are extremely supportive of clean energy development. But the structure of subsidies matters. As the stimulus pumps unprecedented billions into renewable energy, it is worth asking whether we are promoting the right kind of investment that will enhance future US competitiveness.

Continue reading "Stimulating through Subsidy -- Does It Work?" »

Veranda Solar is one of 12 semi-finalists in the 2009 Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open. The company's designs could bring the initial cost of residential solar down to $1000 or less. Denis Du Bois interviews Capra J'neva, CEO. (podcast)

Continue reading "Veranda Solar: Miniaturized, Power-Dense Residential PV" »

LivinGreen Materials is one of 12 semi-finalists in the 2009 Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open. The company's "drop-in" solar cell manufacturing technology could bring the cost of solar power closer to grid parity. Denis Du Bois interviews Chris Tagge, co-founder and CEO. (podcast)

Continue reading "LivinGreen Materials: Bringing Solar Closer to Grid Parity" »

Political will is apparently easier to find when global warming and rising sea levels threaten to inundate the tiny island nation you call home.

Continue reading "National 100x20 Plan Met Little Resistance" »

Hydrovolts is one of 12 semifinalists in the Pacific Northwest Clean Tech Open. The company's "flip wing" turbine marks new levels of efficiency in generating energy from flowing water. A generator can be dropped into a canal or stream in an afternoon with minimal site preparation. Denis Du Bois interviews Burton Hamner, co-founder and President. (podcast)

Continue reading "Hydrovolts: "Flip Wing" Turbine Bouys Efficiencies" »

As we wait for stimulus dollars to trickle through the system, a provision of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 has finally born fruit for renewable energy.

Continue reading "Federal Energy Loan Guarantee Program from 2005 Finally Approves its First Applicant" »

The 2009 Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo wrapped up this morning in Las Vegas.

Continue reading "Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo 2009" »

A new 30 percent tax credit for renewable energy is among many clean-energy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. President Obama signed the bill into law yesterday.

Continue reading "Stimulus Bill Creates $3.2 Billion in Tax Credits for Renewables" »

Once in a while, when waiting for an evening bus in downtown Seattle, I realize I'm standing in a solar-powered bus shelter. And I wonder whatever happened to the enthusiasm of Carmanah Technologies Corp, the company that illuminated those shelters and was so gung-ho about solar transit lighting. (photo)

Continue reading "Green Light for Transit: Urban Solar Steps in to Fill Need for Bus Shelter Lighting " »

Off-grid and grid-tied solar now have a new cousin: "Hybrid solar." Florida Power & Light executives marked the groundbreaking of a new solar power project that will be connected directly to a dinosaur power plant.

Continue reading "Grid-Bonded Solar in Florida" »

The power purchase arrangements the Air Force made for the solar power installation on Nellis Air Force Base put a new twist on a conventional financing vehicle commonly used for coal-fired power plants.

Continue reading "How Nellis AFB Financed its 14MW Solar Project" »

In Seattle, the only other place you would see so many suits is a funeral. But this capacity crowd of venture capitalists and entrepreneurs came not to bury the future of green. These 380 attendees came to hear what cleantech leaders are saying about the recent economic crisis and its effects on the industry. Optimism abounds. (photos)

Continue reading "Money Meets Optimism at Renewable Energy Finance Forum West" »

SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008 -- There's no doubt the U.S. stands to learn a lot from the EU experience with solar -- particularly Germany's successes. But are we applying what we're learning? Denis Du Bois interviews Kimberly Harris, Chief Resource Officer for Puget Sound Energy in Seattle. Harris had just come back from the SEPA Germany fact-finding trip that Julia Hamm referred to in her conference keynote. (podcast)

Continue reading "U.S. Utilities Apply What They Learn from Germany's Solar Successes" »

SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008 -- The Solar Power International conference sold out. Again. And once again the line-up of speakers was first class. They included California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and General Wesley Clark. Celebrities aside, this conference -- the industry's largest -- gave us an annual glimpse into the business of solar. Denis Du Bois talks about the show with CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund Manager Matt Lecar. (podcast)

Continue reading "Solar Power Intl 2008 Observations" »

SOLAR POWER INTERNATIONAL 2008: As the sold-out Solar Power conference opened in San Diego this morning, its co-organizer issued a challenge to industry to grow solar electric capacity by 30X by 2016, despite a struggling economy.

Continue reading "Solar Power Intl: SEPA Demands Deployments Despite Downturn" »

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed into law HR 1424, which includes the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008. The Act extends the Production Tax Credit and Investment Tax Credit that are essential to the growth of renewable energy in the United States. The looming expiration of those credits had the renewable energy industry buzzing with speculation.

Continue reading "Renewable Energy Tax Credits Extended as Far as 2016" »

The CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund's announcement earlier this month -- that Matthew Lecar will henceforth manage the fund -- is good news for the cleantech industry. Lecar combines Sand Hill investment savvy with energy industry expertise. That means entrepreneurs will meet an investor who understands the value of transformational clean energy innovations, and sees through those that aren't really.

Continue reading "New Leadership at CalCEF Angel Fund Means New Opportunities for Cleantech Startups" »

In Beijing China, 17,000 athletes from around the world are staying at a LEED Gold Olympic Village, their temporary home for the 2008 Olympic Games. The U.S. Green Building Council announced this week that the Village has been awarded LEED Gold certification under a pilot LEED for Neighborhood Development certification program.

Continue reading "Beijing Olympic Village Certified Green; Vancouver Seeks Twin Golds for 2010" »

The Yancey brothers' family feud over wind turbines is back in the news.

Continue reading "Yancey's Family Wind Woes In the News Again" »

A space-based solar power system would require building large solar energy collectors in Earth's orbit. Outside the atmosphere, in constant daylight, the panels would harvest more energy than land-based units.

Continue reading "Harvest the Sun -- From Space (NY Times)" »

HelioVolt and Architectural Glass & Aluminum Co. today announced a partnership to incorporate solar energy systems directly into standardized curtain wall products, the exterior glass facades that dominate modern urban construction.

Continue reading "HelioVolt Partners with AGA to Manufacture BIPV" »

Suniva's investors have put US $55 million of venture capital into a startup whose technology promises to achieve high efficiencies with low-cost monocrystalline silicon solar cells. Denis Du Bois interviews founder and solar pioneer Ajeet Rohatgi about the future of the PV industry and the meaning of his company's name. (podcast)

Continue reading "Lower Solar Cost and Higher Efficiency is "Gift from the Sun"" »

Energy Minute: Biomass is slowly gaining popularity for space heat -- in part because it's a renewable energy source, and in part because it's less expensive to operate than a conventional furnace. (podcast)

Continue reading "Biomass for Central Heat" »

Energy independence comes in many forms. We look at a commercial office example and a residential example that demonstrate how solar helps owners to be self-sufficient in ways that match their values. The California Healthcare Foundation covered the roof of their newly renovated offices with solar panels. Going solar is consistent with their mission to improve the health of Californians. Borrego Solar co-founder Chris Anderson built a new home for himself and went off-grid. He wants to show Northeasterners that a home can be energy independent and comfortable at the same time. Renewable energy isn't the only green-building feature of these two projects. (podcast) (photos)

Continue reading "Energy Independence at the Office and at Home - Building Priorities Briefing" »

You can't be in the solar power business without racking up airline miles to Germany, Spain and Asia. But for U.S. solar buyers, the conferences are coming here. Whatever you're looking for in solar, you'll find it, without a passport.

Continue reading "World-Class Solar Conferences Crystallize on California Coast" »

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- Day4 Energy of Canada is one of the almost 200 exhibitors at the conference. Economic woes don't seem to dampen this company's enthusiasm. With a fresh IPO and a sold-out production run, Day4 is just trying to keep up with demand for its innovative photovoltaic modules. Denis Du Bois interviews Day4's Jake Brown at REW. (podcast) (photo)

Continue reading "Day4 Energy Rides Rising Global Demand for Solar Power" »

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- Adding solar power to your building is getting easier, thanks to a financing model borrowed from utility-scale renewable energy projects. Power purchase agreements are now an option for getting your own clean energy source, without laying out the capital. But even big projects don't happen without the right incentives in place. Some important federal subsidies are due to expire if Congress doesn't act soon to extend them. Will that happen in an election year? Does this dark cloud cast gloom on renewable energy's future? Denis Du Bois asks Mark McLanahan of MMA Renewable Ventures about his expectations for the production tax credit, the investment tax credit, and the global economy.

Continue reading "Solar Financier's Outlook is Bright; Tax Credits' Future is Cloudy" »

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- If the global economy coughs, will it choke off the flow of capital into the solar energy sector? Or does this hot industry have a special antibody that makes it immune to a recession? The prospect of a slowdown is a global issue. For a global perspective, Denis Du Bois interviews Peter Bostock of Solaicx, a company that ships its ingots and wafers to major photovoltaic cell manufacturers all over the world. (podcast)

Continue reading "Solaicx Anticipates Growth, Even if Economy Slows" »

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 opened earlier this week with keynote addresses by two well-known Nevada dignitaries. This is the fifth year for the conference and expo formerly known as Power-Gen Renewable Energy and Fuels. More than the name has changed. This article is your gateway to our coverage of this all-renewables conference.

Continue reading "Renewable Energy World Conference Is Changing with the Industry" »

RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD 2008 -- As oil prices closed above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Renewable Energy World 2008 conference and expo opened in Las Vegas, Nevada, today with a keynote address by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. (photos)

Continue reading "Senator Reid Opens Renewable Energy World Conference with Call for Policy Changes" »

Austin, Texas will be the site of the first manufacturing facility for HelioVolt Corporation, a producer of thin film solar energy products. The site was announced this morning. HelioVolt is headquartered in Austin, home to several clean-tech companies.

Continue reading "Austin Clean Tech Hub Expands: HelioVolt To Build Thin-Film Solar Factory" »

Fat Spaniel Technologies today announced a new web-based monitoring service for commercial-scale solar hot water installations. FST also announced a new integration with Outback equipment for off-grid and grid-tie photovoltaics. The news indicates the company is expanding its market focus into emerging niches of renewable energy information and analysis. (photos)

Continue reading "Fat Spaniel Spreads Out To Cover Solar Thermal Monitoring" »

Solaicx is a manufacturer of silicon ingots and wafers for photovoltaics, and the company recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Portland, OR. The plant will start out producing about 32 megawatts per year, and at full capacity it expects to employ 180 skilled workers and churn out 180 megawatts per year. Solaicx says its proprietary manufacturing technology yields low-cost, high quality cells that are optimized for solar energy applications. Why locate in Oregon, and not Asia? What is it about the Solaicx process that could make solar "affordable?" Denis Du Bois interviews the company's CEO, Bob Ford. (podcast) (photos) (transcript)

Continue reading "Solaicx Begins Full-Scale Production of "Solar-Optimized" Silicon Wafers in Oregon" »

Not only is China doubling its nuclear energy capacity by 2020, it's on a hydro spree that appears to abandon the ecological values we take for granted in the developed world.

Continue reading "Patrick Moore Should Be Proud of China's Energy Plans (NY Times)" »

The renewable energy industry's leading podcast series ran a segment I recorded at Greenbuild. It's an excerpt of an audio package I produced when I visited the exhibits of the major energy-related exhibitors there. (podcast)

Continue reading "Solar at Greenbuild: Audio Tour (Inside Renewable Energy)" »

Continue reading "Solar Decathlon 2007 Winners" »

Continue reading "Solar Decathlon 2007 Draws 100,000 To See Energy-Efficient Homes" »

Let me be the first to point you to next week's Fortune magazine. Marc Gunther's "The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades" shines 4 pages of praise on solar module manufacturer SunPower.

Continue reading "SunPower's Shades of Fortune" »

Benefuel, Inc. and its customer Seymour Biofuels announced plans this morning to build a biodiesel refinery based on technology that converts low-grade fats and vegetable oils into biodiesel.

Continue reading "Seymour Refinery To Tackle Key Flaws in Biodiesel Production" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- The sold-out Solar Power 2007 conference rocked Long Beach CA. If you didn't make it to the conference, this article is your info gateway to catch up on the happenings there. Essential links to sound bytes from the keynote presentations, stories from the expo floor, an inside view from the Press Room, webcasts of the conference, and more.

Continue reading "Solar Power 2007 Round-Up" »

If I were to sum up the message of the opening remarks from the Solar Power 2007 conference, it would be simply: "We have arrived." Plus, Ted Turner's unabashed remarks were the talk of the conference. (Includes a sampling of his more memorable sound bytes.) (podcast)(photo)(transcript)

Continue reading "Solar Power 2007 Conference Keynote Presentation Themes" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- At the expo I spoke with Paul Wormser, Senior Director of Product Development for Sharp Solar. Sharp introduced a new mounting system at the conference. This is part of a trend I call the "Macintosh approach," a trend that will change the game for solar manufacturers.

Continue reading "Sharp Solar OnEnergy Marks Trend: PV for the Rest of Us" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- Ted Turner was the highlight of the opening day of Solar Power. The straight-talking DT Solar founder and cable TV mogul joined Stewart Brand (of Whole Earth Catalog fame) in a discussion during the opening session, before a packed house of about 2,000 conference attendees.

Continue reading "Solar Power 2007: Renewables Are "Biggest Business Opportunity" Says Ted Turner" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- If I were to sum up the message of SEPA Executive Director Julia Hamm’s opening remarks at Solar Power 2007, it would be the phrase: "We have arrived."

Continue reading "Solar Power 2007: "It Is Our Time"" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), maintenance contracts, and other long-term solar energy customer agreements all require that someone keep a vigilant watch over system performance. That's not easy for operators with long lists of systems to monitor. Fat Spaniel today announced Insight Manager, designed to monitor multiple sites in a single, web-based dashboard.

Continue reading "Fat Spaniel Launches Insight Manager Multi-Site Dashboard at Solar Power 2007" »

SOLAR POWER 2007 -- Sometimes the best location for a camera, sensor, or area light is unfortunately not pre-wired for electricity. At the Solar Power 2007 conference in Long Beach, California, today Carmanah introduced a self-contained, solar-powered energy source for this very situation. (photo)

Continue reading "Carmanah Introduces EverGEN Small "Solar Engine" at Solar Power 2007" »

Home builder Peter Erickson used some innovative business ideas to allow homeowners to share in the incentives and financial benefits of harnessing solar energy.

Continue reading "Affordable Solar: High-Performance Housing + Smart Investing (Home Power)" »

Geothermal energy is one of the most intriguing renewable sources for me. Humans have used natural hot springs for millenia. A recent AP article reports on the latest efforts in Europe to tap hot rocks deep underground as a way to heat water to produce energy.

Continue reading "Energy Search Goes Underground in Switzerland (AP)" »

Energy Minute: A small region of Spain is far ahead of almost everyone in its use of renewable energy. It uses wind, solar, biomass and hydro to produce 60 percent of its power. (podcast)

Continue reading "Spain's Navarre Region Runs with Renewable Energy" »

Solar thermal doesn't get enough attention. Its energy output is used for building space heating, refrigeration and air conditioning, hot water, steam for industrial processes, drying, and electric power generation.

Continue reading "Solar Thermal Energy an Option in Large Facilities (WAPA)" »

PepsiCo announced the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs) to match 100 percent of the purchased electricity used by all of its US-based manufacturing facilities, headquarters, distribution centers and regional offices. The EPA says the purchase marks the largest REC deal to date. The deal is for 1 billion kWh per year for three years. How much is that in real money?

Continue reading "PepsiCo Makes Largest Corporate Purchase Yet of RECs" »

The DOE's NREL has released its 2007 ranking of leading utility green power programs. Utilities are ranked according to green energy sales, number of participants, and the lowest premium charged per kWh.

Continue reading "Green Power Programs: These Utilities Have the 10 Best (NREL)" »

Energy Minute: Rooftop concentrating solar is a scaled-down version of the technology behind the largest utility-class solar power plants. A handful of companies are working on innovative approaches. They promise to have products on the U.S. market by 2008. (podcast)

Continue reading "Rooftop Concentrating Solar" »

When you decide to put a solar power system on the roof of your building, the next question is, "what kind?" There are conventional silicon modules, a technology that hasn't changed dramatically since the first lunar landing. There are thin film solar sheets that add a layer of protection and insulation to the roof, while they generate power -- although not as efficiently. Soliant Energy is working on a form of concentrating solar technology for commercial rooftops. Energy Priorities interviews CEO Brad Hines. (podcast) (photo)

Continue reading "Soliant Energy Targets Commercial Rooftops with its Concentrating Solar Platform" »

Energy Minute: The U.S. Department of Energy announced $168 million in funding to accelerate solar energy technology development. This brief podcast explains what the research will accomplish and how it will happen. (podcast)

Continue reading "Solar America Initiative" »

Energy Minute: Demand response programs ask customers to stop buying as much power during periods of peak demand, because there's not enough energy to go around. This "triple-shot" Energy Minute examines whether those customers, or the utilities, could somehow use renewable energy instead. (podcast)

Continue reading "Can Renewable Energy Help Manage Peak Demand?" »

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $168 million in funding to accelerate solar energy technology development, positioning the money as a giant boost to the future of photovoltaics. Will this really make solar cost-competitive with grid power in the next eight years? How meaningful is this announcement to businesses?

Continue reading "Solar America Initiative Starts Not with a Bang, but with a Whimper" »

Life is good for renewable energy companies, but sustained success will require a sustained commitment, says National Renewable Energy Lab director Dan Arvizu. He spoke at the Power-Gen Renewable Energy and Fuels 2007 conference in Las Vegas Nevada last week. Here are the highlights of his keynote address. (podcast) (photo)

Continue reading "NREL Leader Urges Investing with the Long View to Sustain Renewable Industry's Growth" »

Six solar projects make 2006 a milestone year for this renewable-energy finance innovator. Third-party financing removes removes a cost barrier, and power purchase agreements promise predictably-priced green energy.

Continue reading "MMA Renewable Ventures Closes $39 Million in Solar Project Financing for 2006" »

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a "Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge" for 2007. The campaign urges large companies to make a greater commitment to renewable energy.

Continue reading "EPA Launches Fortune 500 Challenge (NW Current)" »

Checking in on a solar array from the office is an intriguing thought for a solar homeowner. But there's a more serious and practical side to monitoring renewable energy systems for businesses, who are demanding accountability from solar installers and integrators. (podcast) (photo)

Continue reading "Monitoring Solar Energy for Fun and Profit: Fat Spaniel's "PV2Web" Displays Real-Time Status" »

A power plant in Connecticut would rather have a pile of garbage than a lump of coal for Christmas. A state-sponsored project turns non-recyclable garbage into fuel for this and four more generating stations. During the holidays, Americans produce more garbage than in any other season.

Continue reading "Connecticut Turns Holiday Trash into Electricity (Waterbury Rep-American)" »

Vodafone Fiji is expanding mobile phone coverage to the outer Fiji islands, relying on renewable power sources to power its stations in off-grid regions. Engineers keep an eye on the newest site via a remote monitoring system from Fat Spaniel Technologies.

Continue reading "Engineers Remotely Monitor Solar at Fiji Mountaintop Cell Tower" »

GREENBUILD -- This is a conference about sustainable building. The host, the US Green Building Council, is an environmental organization with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better building practices.

At the heart of this mission is energy efficiency. EP went last week to find out whether energy is of interest to LEED architects and builders. It is. Here's our perspective on the conference and expo. (photos)

Continue reading "Greenbuild 2006: Energy in the Spotlight" »

GREENBUILD -- Building-integrated solar, or BIPV, has caught attendees' attention at the Greenbuild 2006 Conference and Expo. Open Energy, a relatively new company in the space, is exhibiting three types of BIPV for roofs and windows. Their solar building materials are of particular interest to the large audience of LEED-accredited architects here. Open Energy's Howard Gomes talks with us about their products and the return on investment in various parts of the U.S. and the world. (podcast) (photos)

Continue reading "Open Energy's Solar Building Materials Draw Crowds at Greenbuild" »

GREENBUILD-- Interview with John Langdon of HelioVolt, a maker of solar power products that use no silicon. He talks about the applications of the company's photovoltaics for commercial buildings, and the economics of designing solar into a structure. Hear what's now and what's next from this innovative renewable energy company, with a prediction for the future of solar technologies. (podcast)

Continue reading "HelioVolt's No-Silicon Solar Technology -- The Future of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics?" »

The photovoltaics industry's biggest U.S. conference is happening this week in San Jose, CA. Having reached a modest level of maturity, the sector is facing a new array of challenges. What issues stand in the way of widespread success, and what are industry leaders doing about them?

Continue reading "Solar Power 2006 Rallies Vendors, Enthusiasts to Address Industry Challenges" »

Renewable energy sources could soon become significant contributors to the world's growing energy demand -- and they had better, because energy efficiency alone is not enough to counter the alarming trend of climate change.

Continue reading "The Rise of Renewable Energy (Scientific American)" »

Energy Minute: The Norwegian company Hydro this week was awarded a concession from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate for placing a floating windmill seven miles offshore in the North Sea. The wind turbines will cost more, but produce more energy. (Podcast)

Continue reading "Norway Floats Energetic Plan: Deepwater Wind Turbines" »

Three solar power innovators were honored in the Wall St. Journal's 2006 Technology Innovation Awards, along with Fiberstars (lighting), A123Systems (storage) and Zensys (wireless).

Continue reading "Solar Innovators HelioVolt, SunPower, Stellaris Honored for Innovations (Wall Street Journal)" »

The possibilities for building-integrated photovoltaics are about to get much more interesting. Future buildings, even some in design today, could use a new, semi-transparent solar glass. Thin-film solar technologies may eventually make it practical for the entire building envelope to generate power.

Continue reading "Thin Film Could Soon Make Solar Glass and Facades a Practical Power Source" »

The third annual PowerGen Renewable Energy conference in Las Vegas offered 28 seminars. But the trade show floor was just as interesting. (podcast)

Continue reading "Power-Gen Renewable Energy Expo 2006 Audio Tour" »

Power-Gen RE 2006 -- The Energy Policy Act of 2005 has several provisions to encourage investment in distributed generation and other uses of solar energy for commercial, industrial and residential projects. It extends a business tax credit, creates a residential tax credit, among other measures. In addition to these federal incentives, some states are responding with changes to their own incentives, and others are considering new programs.

Continue reading "Guide to On-Site Renewable Energy Incentives in the Energy Policy Act" »

Power-Gen RE 2006 -- In the opening keynote session at Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels, industry leaders focused on the prospects and challenges for the renewable energy sector in the United States. They represented companies spanning all major forms of utility-scale renewable energy power generation. Many of the speakers highlighted the shortcomings of U.S. energy policy and legislation.

Continue reading "Industry Leaders Outline Renewable Energy Challenges" »

Power-Gen RE 2006 -- In the opening ceremony for the 2006 Power-Gen Renewable Energy & Fuels conference, organizer PennWell announced the purchase of three UK magazines.

Continue reading "Renewable Energy World Acquisition Announced at Power-Gen RE 2006" »

The third annual Power-Gen Renewable Energy conference is, for renewable energy professionals, practically a mandatory education and networking event. Last year's conference attracted 1,500 delegates and 100 exhibitors. Following strong interest in biomass and fuels at the 2005 event, Power-Gen has added the word "Fuels" to its moniker.

Continue reading "Power-Gen RE Conference to Welcome Renewables to the Mainstream" »

Private investment in "clean tech" -- primarily renewable energy technologies -- is climbing, while some of the funded companies are making headlines with their initial public stock offerings. Meanwhile the oil president puts on a green face, which puts smiles on the faces of biofuels producers and feedstock growers. Where does it all lead? An analyst report released today by Clean Edge examines factors the firm believes are influencing clean-energy market growth, and offers forecasts of coming trends.

Continue reading "Report Tracks Five Key Trends in Clean Tech Market Growth" »

The Northwest Energy Angel Group was formed in late 2005 and has already financed its first clean tech company.

Continue reading "Energy Angels To Fuel Industry (Puget Sound Business Journal)" »

Appearing two days after the "green" State of the Union Address, and in the middle of a Clean Tech Investor Summit, this Wall Street Journal article covers all the bases.

Continue reading "Alternative Fuels Attracting Venture Capital (Wall St. Journal)" »

PowerLight's flagship project, the Bavaria Solarpark, will be awarded Power Engineering magazine's Best Renewable Project of 2005. Award winners will be published in the magazine's January 2006 issue.

Continue reading "Bavaria Solarpark Awarded Best Renewable Project (PowerGen Int'l)" »

Day4Energy Inc. has closed a fourth round of new funding for its specialized photovoltaic technologies.

Continue reading "Chrysalix Leads Day4 Energy VC Round 4 (VentureWire)" »

Hurricane Katrina is likely to destroy more structures than any other natural disaster in history. Utilities in her path are struggling to restore their conventional hub-and-spoke electric distribution grids. If an expected quarter-million small businesses and residences are to be bulldozed, why not build solar-powered structures in their place using sustainable building materials and techniques? Why not rebuild the power grid wisely, too?

Continue reading "After Katrina: Let's Rebuild Green" »

The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) has launched a new US$5 million rebate program to help consumers, businesses, and institutions buy renewable energy systems.

Continue reading "Making Solar Hot - Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Launches Rebate Program to Encourage Adoption (Boston Globe)" »

The overcast Pacific Northwest is an unlikely region for solar-powered lighting to proliferate, but the transit authorities in several Northwest cities have installed lighted bus stops that are powered solely by the elusive sun. Photos.

Continue reading "Solar Transit Lighting Shines in the Cloudy Pacific Northwest - Case Study" »

Starbucks Coffee Company committed recently to purchase wind power to offset a portion of the energy used in its operations. The commitment puts the company in the top 25 U.S. purchasers of renewable energy. Mitigating climate change is the driver behind Starbucks' decision to buy renewable energy certificates, which allow any size company to support renewable energy.

Continue reading "Starbucks Buys Wind Power to Reduce Climate Impact - Case Study" »

Green tags, also known as renewable energy certificates (RECs), are sold to support the production of renewable energy. Green tags offset higher production costs of generating power from wind, solar, and other renewable sources. They place a financial value on environmental and social benefits, separate from the market value of the kilowatt hours produced. The concept of tradable renewable energy certificates is central to Europe's strategy to comply with the Kyoto Protocol.

Continue reading "Green Tags in a Nutshell" »

The clock is ticking on government funding for energy-related investments by rural businesses. Grants and loan guarantees are available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but their deadlines for the year are approaching quickly.

Continue reading "Renewable Energy Grant Funds from USDA about to Expire" »

Solar energy will help to power a cultural center and three other facilities. The combined 3.1 megawatt project is scheduled to come online in 2006.

Continue reading "Las Vegas Valley Water District Plans a 3.1 MW Solar Project" »

The second annual Power-Gen Renewable Energy Conference was held in Las Vegas March 1-3, 2005. The exhibit hall was busy, the sessions well attended, and the hallway discussions lively.

Continue reading "Power-Gen Renewable Energy Conference 2005 Report" »

What are the top five actions that your business can take in 2005 to become a more responsible energy user and take us closer to a clean and sustainable energy future? EP gathered ideas from engineers, entrepreneurs and investors to compile this year's business energy priorities. Here they are, in priority order.

Continue reading "2005 Energy Priorities" »

Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) technology uses one form of renewable geothermal energy to supplement or replace conventional heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Continue reading "Geothermal Heat Pumps in a Nutshell" »

Case study of building a solar power system for an off-grid home, as told from first-hand experience by our Editor. He talks about the decision to go solar, how the system works, and what it cost. Photos.

Continue reading "Off-Grid Solar Powered Home: The PV System" »

Which large-scale generation technologies will be the first to achieve widespread adoption and displace fossil fuels?

If we listen to the utility industry, we'll be using coal and natural gas to generate our electricity for decades to come. Their perspective isn't centered solely in conservatism and a vested interest in the status quo.

Continue reading "Large-Scale Alternative Energy Sources: Which Ones, and How Soon?" »