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Arizona Solar Center Blog

Commentary from Arizona Solar Center Board Members and invited contributors.

While blog entries are initiated by the Solar Center, we welcome dialogue around the posted topics. Your expertise and perspective are highly valued -- so if you haven't logged in and contributed, please do so!
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Two Solar Energy Plants, Including 1 GW Plant, Approved for Federal Lands


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The U.S. Interior Department has approved a permit for the $6 billion, 1,000 MW Blythe parabolic solar trough project and the 663.5 MW Calico solar power plant on federal lands in the California desert. The Blythe project would be one of the largest solar power plants in the world.

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TUV Rheinland, FM Approvals partner on solar roof standards


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Boston-based FM Approval has developed two approval standards covering all forms of solar modules on roof-mounted systems. It will test modules at its lab in West Glocester, R.I. TUV Rheinland PTL will use its lab in Tempe, AZ.

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Caltech, IKEA, Coke Power Up Clean Power Systems


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As more organizations focus on "greening" their facilities, they are adding all types of clean power including solar, wind, and fuel-cell technology. As an example, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) just fired up its 1.1-megawatt (MW) solar energy system. In Arizona, IKEA powered up its 75,000-square-foot solar array, consisting of two 300-kW systems at its store in Tempe.

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Pima County Unveils 1 MW Solar Plant


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Pima County officials, SunEdison, and SOLON Corporation, have activated a 1 megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant near the Roger Road Wastewater Reclamation Facility - the largest solar photovoltaic deployment to date for Pima County. The solar power plant was made possible through a solar services agreement between Pima County and SunEdison.

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US Solar Industry Grows Despite Economy


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According to a few announcements that have been made at Solar Power International, despite the dismal U.S. economy, the solar industry keeps right on growing. The solar energy industries association (SEIA) along with GTM Research released a report that shows that solar installations in 2010 are up more than 100% over 2009.

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Suntech starts production at first US plant


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Chinese solar panel maker Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd (STP.N) said on Friday it opened its first plant in the United States. The module production facility at Goodyear, Arizona has an initial annual capacity of 30 megawatt (MW).

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SRP cuts residential, small commercial solar incentives until May


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Salt River Project will not be issuing any more solar incentives for residential or small commercial systems for the rest of its fiscal year because the available money has been allocated. Read more: SRP cuts residential, small commercial solar incentives until May.

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Important APS Installer & Dealer Training


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On October 25, APS will launch significant enhancements to our online system that will provide installers, dealers and APS customers with additional online functionality, such as the ability to submit additional documentation online and the ability to track reservation status.

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Important APS Installer & Dealer Training Announcement


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Dear Installer/Dealer,

By now we hope you are familiar with the online application that our residential customers are now using to submit Renewable Energy Incentive Reservation Applications. On October 25, APS will launch significant enhancements to our online system that will provide you and our customers with additional online functionality, such as the ability to submit additional documentation online and the ability to track reservation status.

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APS & Solon plan Gila Bend solar PV plant


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In the utility's continuing effort to meet state renewable-energy rules, Arizona Public Service Co. announced it was planning an 18-megawatt solar plant in Gila Bend that would begin operating by November 2011.

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World's Largest Solar PV Power Plant Now Operating in Ontario, Canada


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Arizona-based First Solar Inc. has announced the grand opening of the largest operational solar photovoltaic installation in the world, the 80-megawatt Sarnia Solar Project in the province of Ontario, Canada.

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Arizona chips in $2M for algae biofuel center


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Arizona will put another $2 million in funding to help establish an algae research center being developed by Science Foundation Arizona and Arizona State University to promote renewable fuels.

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Plug pulled on solar plant


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Tessera Solar North America and the city of Phoenix have ended their joint bid to pursue a 250-megawatt solar power plant. Houston-based Tessera, the development arm of Scottsdale-based Stirling Energy Systems Inc., was in the planning stages of developing a $1 billion solar power plant at a Phoenix-owned landfill along State Route 85 in Buckeye.

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PV Market To Reach Nearly 17 GW This Year


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The global PV market is forecast to exceed 16 GW in 2010, according to recently released projections from IMS Research. Demand for PV systems is predicted to more than double in 2010, with the top five markets accounting for more than 13 GW, although slower growth is predicted in 2011.

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The 8 Most Exciting Solar Projects in the U.S.


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Sunlight is the world's most plentiful resource. That is, of course, why the United States has scrambled in recent years to supplant dirty, nonrenewable energy sources with ambitious solar projects. This article looks at some of the most exciting solar projects--both existing and planned--in the country.

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Valley lands solar inverter manufacturer Power-One


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Power-One Inc., a solar and wind inverter manufacturer, is the latest renewable energy company to land in Phoenix. The company announced its move to the Valley at a press conference Thursday morning. The factory is expected to create about 350 jobs with production starting next month.

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Corporation Commission Launches Arizona Goes Solar Website


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The Arizona Corporation Commission today launched Arizona Goes Solar, a website created to be a one-stop shop for homeowners and business owners who wish to learn more about opportunities to adopt solar technology and about solar projects already installed in the state.

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Self-Cleaning Solar Panels


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One of the best places to put a solar panel is in the desert, where it's sunny. But deserts are also dusty, which means the panels have to be washed frequently so the dust doesn't stop them from capturing sunlight. New technology could provide a solution--by letting solar panels clean themselves.

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Vice President's Report Predicts Solar Grid Parity In 2015


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The U.S. is on track to achieve four major innovation breakthroughs thanks to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) investments, according to a new analysis from the office of Vice President Joe Biden. One of the expected breakthroughs is halving the cost of solar power in half by 2015, putting solar electricity prices on par with the cost of retail electricity from the grid.

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Feed-in tariff to aid solar weighed


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Arizona utility regulators are designing rules that would require power companies to buy electricity from solar developers at prearranged prices. The "feed-in tariff" aims to guarantee profits for solar developers, while encouraging more solar-power generation in Arizona.

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