Arizona Solar Center Blog

Arizona's solar industry is just taking off. And now the Legislature could shoot it down. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would blow up the state's renewable-energy requirements - a key tool for promoting the use of solar power.

The Energy Department on Monday announced a "conditional" $1.4 billion loan guarantee for a solar thermal power complex in the Mojave Desert that would ultimately produce as much as 392 megawatts of electricity.

Gov. Jan Brewer joined business leaders last week in calling Arizona to create a climate more attractive to long-term employment, helping the state move away from growth as its primary economic driver. Her solution: recruit renewable companies.

Tessera Solar received final approval from the Phoenix City Council to build a 250-megawatt solar plant estimated at $1 billion on a city landfill in Buckeye on the west side of State Route 85.

The Republic story "Amid state's push for solar power, water-supply worries arise" (front page, Jan. 17) raised serious issues about using water to produce solar electricity, but the article's assertions about photovoltaic solar power are all wet.

Salt River Project officials think they can help people use less energy, or at least satisfy their curiosity, by showing how much their appliances cost to run.

The following PDF Documents are available:

• Disruptive Challenges: Financial Implications and Strategic Responses to a Changing Retail Electric Business
  (Report by Edison Electric Institute - May 2013)
• Launch & Grow Your Solar Business
  (AEE - 2010)
• NABCEP Certification Basics
  (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners - 2009)
• PV Mounting Solutions Presentation
  (Quickmount - 2009)

Courtesy, Arizona Solar Center

Courtesy, William Stein

Suntech, a Chinese solar giant, plans to open its first U.S. solar-panel manufacturing plant in September in Goodyear, bringing about 75 immediate jobs with the possibility of expanding to 250 jobs.

First Solar Inc., which is a global leader in solar technology and market share, is quickly making headway in 2010 in the clean energy sector and is poised for growth in the Southwest.

I suppose it's officially "tax season," though that term doesn't seem to be tossed out by popular media until late March or early April, when the deadline is looming and pressure is on. If you're an early bird, you may already be thinking about your taxes. At the very least, you should be starting to gather up everything you'll need—I know those W-2s and other forms are trickling in!

Some of the materials you may need this year include receipts, forms, and manufacturer certification statements from any energy-efficient purchases you made last year. Take another look at which products are eligible for energy efficiency tax credits.

NTR plc has announced the official opening of the 1.5-megawatt (MW) Maricopa Solar power plant in Phoenix, Arizona. Maricopa Solar is the first commercial project for the SunCatcher concentrating solar power (CSP) technology designed and manufactured by Stirling Energy Systems (SES).

This list may be useful for those teaching or studying solar energy.  The links will help educators enhance curriculum and expand their professional growth. Also consider reviewing our main Recommended Links page. For a list of entities at Arizona Universities involved in solar and renewable energy research and implementation, please see the University Intitiativespage.