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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!
Michael Norris has not set their biography yet

Industry leaders still backing concentrated solar power


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Solar leaders are backing concentrated solar power despite an onslaught of companies and utilities opting to ditch that technology for photovoltaic panels, which are cheaper.

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SRP approves 20 percent renewable standard


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Salt River Project has approved a plan to get 20 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020. The plan would have the utility getting more renewable power than any other in the state, though detractors say it may amount to less.

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Solar panels help power Tempe Beach Park


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At Tempe Beach Park, new solar panels are helping power pumps that fuel a water wonderland for children as well as the lights for Little League teams that play at the park's baseball fields. The first of several federally-funded statewide projects spotlighting solar power was unveiled last week at Tempe Beach Park.

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Intel, Ford to Test DC Microgrids


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Direct current. It's so out it's in. Intel and Ford Motor Company plan to retrofit select facilities to see if DC power can really curb their electricity consumption.

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Lawmakers bash hurdles to renewable-energy projects


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Despite improvements in the past two years, renewable-energy development on public land isn't moving fast enough, lawmakers on the House Natural Resources Committee said Friday.

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TÜV Rheinland extends testing programme for safety in the solar industry


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TÜV Rheinland (with offices in Tempe, AZ) will present its new services for the testing of solar modules and components, as well as services for investors and power plant construction at the Intersolar Europe 2011 trade fair in Munich.

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Get Green for Going Green


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As many architects, engineers, and design-build contractors today struggle with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, they may be overlooking a significant source of cash that can help them hire additional employees, more competitively price their jobs, and expand their business: the Energy Efficient Commercial Buildings Deduction.

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The Results Are In: NREL Ranks Utilities' Green Power Programs


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The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has released its annual assessment of utility green power programs, which ranks utilities in several green power categories.

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Renewable Energy Could Meet 80% Of Global Energy Supply Needs


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Close to 80% of the world's energy supply could be met by solar power and other forms of renewable energy by mid-century if deployment is backed by the right enabling public policies, according to a new report from researchers working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

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OpEd: Ariz. solar effort takes right 1st step


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Robert Robb recently questioned the wisdom of Arizona's legal system upholding the Corporation Commission's right to impose a renewable-energy standard and to create a mechanism to fund the process. He suggests that the Court of Appeals can't see the forest for the trees ("Judges jump on the solar bandwagon," Opinions, April 29).

On the contrary, it is exactly the opposite.

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Solar grant workshop to be held Thursday, May 12 in Bisbee


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USDA Rural Development will be participating in a solar grant workshop being sponsored by Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' office in conjunction with USDA Rural Development and featuring presentations from the Arizona Commerce Department's Energy Office and other experts on grant writing. The workshop will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday (May 12th)  in the Cochise County Board of Supervisors' Hearing Room, 1415 W. Melody Lane in Bisbee.

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Solar Technology Continues To Dominate Investment In Q1


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U.S. venture capital (VC) investment in cleantech companies increased by 54% to $1.14 billion in the first quarter of this year (Q1'11), from $743.3 million in the first quarter of 2010 (Q1'10).

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Southwestern Cities Aggressively Pursue Clean-Tech Firms


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Last August, a Spanish company called Rioglass Solar announced plans to build a factory in Surprise, Ariz., a suburb 25 miles outside Phoenix. Building a 160,000-foot, highly automated plant takes time, but Surprise was hungry. It sped Rioglass through the permitting process and suspended fees. The project broke ground in January.

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7 Solar Farms Coming Soon to the South West Deserts


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A whole lot has changed since we wrote this story three years ago, covering solar farms that were going under construction in the deserts of California and Arizona. On the one hand, there's been solar contracts revoked, companies sold, and money lost - on the other hand there's been a bunch of companies that have finally gotten state and federal permits to build plants.

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Towers of power: UA tech park gains world-class solar panels


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Tucson added to its growing solar-energy credentials Thursday with the dedication of one of the world's most efficient photovoltaic systems at the University of Arizona Science and Technology Park.

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SRP EarthWise Solar Energy Programs - Notice - 2011-04-29


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From:
Earthwisesolar [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.]
Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011
Subject: Important Information Regarding SRP's EarthWise Solar Energy Programs

SRP’s EarthWise Solar Energy Programs will open on May 1, 2011 with new incentive levels and program requirements. As there are many changes this year, it is strongly recommended that you review and understand the new documents and program requirements.  These items are available on the EarthWise Solar Energy Program website.  Please note: all application packages submitted on or after May 1, 2011 must be on the new program documents and must comply with all new program requirements.

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A Loan and a Name - Solar scores big


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BrightSource Energy, Inc. just announced it has closed the financing of its large solar thermal plant in the California desert and noted that Google is now one of the investors in the project. The search engine giant is now invested in renewable energy projects from sea to shining sea, so to speak.

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City of Tucson Doubles Solar Power


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The City of Tucson, Arizona has doubled its solar power capacity through a completed project in partnership with the Tucson Water Department, Trico Electric and SunPower Corp. The 1-megawatt, ground-mounted solar power system is located on former agricultural land located within Tuscon Water Department's underground water storage and recovery facility.

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Tucson locals seek to set solar standards


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Solar-energy professionals have launched a local industry-standards group - believed to be one of the first in the nation - to hold installers accountable for their work through inspections and a code of ethics. The Southern Arizona Solar Standards Board invites solar-energy-equipment installers to join and pledge to meet minimum technical standards for installations and to follow ethical standards.

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Scottsdale-based Restaurant goes carbon neutral


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Pita Jungle is dumping its carbon footprint by signing up with local firm EcoAid to acquire offsets for the power it uses.

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