What the Energy Future Looks Like: West Village, University of California at Davis

In the global competition for appealing clean energy solutions, a leading entry is the new West Village at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis), which today celebrated significant progress toward its goal of becoming the largest planned “zero-net energy” community in the United States.

Seven years ago, I was one of nine jurors who selected the winner in a competition to establish the nation’s first university-based center on energy efficiency (and yes, it’s hard to believe that this didn’t happen until 2006!). UC Davis finished first in a distinguished field, and it has more than justified expectations in the years since.

Among the Energy Efficiency Center’s proudest achievements is the beautifully designed space next to the main campus that bills itself as the nation’s largest planned community to reach “net zero” — annually consuming less electricity than it produces while emitting no carbon pollution.

The “West Village” is proceeding in stages and will ultimately house 3,000 students, along with 500 staff and faculty families and a cluster of retail and commercial buildings. By making those buildings far more energy efficient than even California’s rigorous standards require, the West Village architects were able to balance all their projected electricity needs with onsite solar photovoltaic (PV) power production. The UC Davis Center made a commitment to regular evaluations of the West Village’s performance, too, and the inaugural report was released this week.

The Results

In the first year of substantial occupancy and fully powered PV systems, roughly 1,500 people in more than 500 apartments and a half-dozen mixed-use buildings came hearteningly close to “zero net-energy”: about 87 percent of the way, to be precise. Thanks to local experts from the Davis Energy Group, we know pretty much exactly what caused the gap, and what to do about it.

The solar power systems performed pretty much exactly as advertised, although the evaluators think we can squeeze out a few more megawatt-hours of electricity with occasional cleanings of the solar panels (to remove dust emanating from local agricultural operations). Also operating as predicted were the buildings’ cooling and heating systems, and the one- and two-bedroom apartment units taken as a group. Consumption was higher than expected in two principal categories: three- and four-bedroom units, whose occupants loaded up on plug-in electronics and showed remarkable variation in monthly electricity use; and water heat, where a high-efficiency technology relatively new to U.S. markets (heat pumps) created some siting and operational problems that contributed to higher power use.

Looking Ahead

The West Village managers are confident that they can cover the remaining distance to “zero net energy,” and I agree with them. The water heating glitches are already mostly fixed. For the larger apartments, a host of strategies are being deployed to identify and motivate the largest electricity users to waste less energy, starting with the repeatedly proven social science insight that the best way to change behavior is simply to show people that their neighbors are doing better.

Regular performance reports will help with that message, as well as show the world continuing progress and any remaining barriers to reaching the community’s laudatory goals.

The next West Village performance review is due in early 2015. I look forward to sharing the results, and I’ll close with the quote that I authorized for use in the news release accompanying today’s report:

“The West Village is what a sustainable energy future looks like for California and the rest of the world. Its commitment to comprehensive evaluations like this one is an important part of the good example that the community is setting for all the rest of us.”

This article was originally published on NRDC's Switchboard and was republished with permission.

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California decision may speed up energy efficiency financing

A new market shaping decision found the California public utilities Commission (CPUC) on Sept. 19. The State dependence of private capital for energy efficiency, to increase the funding, the CPUC has provided private utilities $65.9 million for a suite of pilot finance programs for the State. California diversified approach could lead to original solutions, which other States could adopt.

"It's a very aggressive effort", said Frank Spasaro, head of the energy efficiency partnerships and financial Sciences at the Southern California gas company.

Most new programs offered by all State major private utilities. California has other great use, but they are not part of the CPUC decision.

"We have much effort into things that are market transformative," said David Nemtzow, Rector of Nemtsov & associates. "You can imagine it as a catalyst."

Taxpayers use the new suite of programs to access private capital funds. The programs will go on at the same time financing challenges from many angles. It tests a wide range of financing approaches to discover how to effectively perform. Utilities can later, as they by their experiences during the pilot phase these programs expand.

"This is a pilot project to learn how the market reacts in different ways to see," Nemtsov said. "Will lead it to lower interest rates [or] different terms? Borrowers will be more willing to lend? These are the things, which we want to test."

It has been somewhat controversial, that on-Court programs require repayment of the written consent of buyers of commercial real estate if the properties are sold. After Brad Copithorne, energy and financial policy specialist at Environmental Defense Fund can this feature be discouraged investment, because some lenders prefer loan, which are automatically transferable.

The new financing of programmes includes three residential and three non-residential programs.

Residential programs include an energy efficiency finance items fee, a master-metered more families pilot program with Bill-repayment and a single-family house direct loan program.

The non-residential programs include two on-Bill-repayment programs for companies and a small-business area on Bill repayment of lease provider program (for equipment leasing).

New residential programs

Energy efficiency post free finance program offered by Pacific gas and electric company. Participants will be on line article-to-/ discounts on their electricity bills to pay back. Private investors will finance the loans.

Even if participants do not pay their bills, California will protect them law breakers. According to Spasaro if homeowners partial payments, these payments applied to other duties on the Bills before they are applied to the energy-efficiency loans.

The master metered more families pilot program with Bill-repayment is designed for the affordable housing market. This program connects private investors with multifamily owners who strive, retrofit their buildings more energy efficient. (A master is meter an electricity meter, serve several households.)

California Spasaro said affordable housing market is fairly limited, so it is difficult to develop effective programs for this sector. He said community development, which involved financial institutions, to create this program.

Spasaro said that this program in the price can provide heating included, discounts and solar water. Credit enhancements are probably to be expected. (Incentives offer credit enhancements for lenders to improved conditions for projects to offer.)

The CPUC decided that this program does not require that loan recipient enough energy to financially break save each year. (This requirement is also known as "Bill neutrality.") Program participants who do not their credit payments will be protected from interruptions.

The House direct loan program is a loan program, provides the private capital for low to middle income homeowners. The program was expanded to allow both direct and indirect loans. There is a provision for outstanding claims loans lenders protect, in case that some loans will not be repaid.

New non-residential programs

The two on-Bill-repayment programs for company records grant private capital from lenders to energy-efficiency loans. One of the programs is for small businesses, while the other programme covers the rest of the industry.

The small-business program is aimed at organizations that have difficulties with the procurement, energy efficiency financing.

The medium to large business program covers various approaches to energy efficiency, including the distributed generation and demand response. (Demand response programs energy consumption of a company customize, so that it is better makes in accordance with the, the utilities provide.) This company can be more energy efficient.)

Electrical service can be separated in both programs, if companies fail to make loan payments. When companies make installment payments, these payments will be split the cost of energy and their loans. These programs will include loan loss reserves as a credit enhancement.

An attempt to engage, Spasaro the equipment leasing market said the small businesses on-Bill-repayment leasing provider program. "We think there is a very large effort that goes in the area of leasing." It will be a competitive tender, any plants to find leasing providers.

Existing programs

The existing on-account-financing programs use funds collected from utilities by the taxpayer to energy efficiency financing support. The CPUC modified decision these programs so that they will reduce their focus on lighting. Spasaro said that these programs have waiting lists.

The new generation of pilot programmes these programmes in the area of the on account repayment, search go a step further private capital to the energy efficiency retrofit support.

Data management

Requires California new mediator - so-called organisational "hub these programs" for data and financial information set up sharing. This hub is the California hub for energy are called efficiency financing (Mamadou) and California are running from the alternative energy and advanced transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA).

Spasaro said the CHEEF activities responsible for the management of the master servicer, credit enhancements and loan performance data.

The CHEEF will stand between the utilities and the financial organizations and handle their transactions and data. Exchange of information between these organisations will be expected to be very complex. California adopts an IT system that can process these transactions, find other States copy it a useful model.

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Water + Sun = biofuel as a laboratory in California chases dream

LOS ANGELES: it sounds like magic, Schiffler fiction, a California dream. Serious scientists are hard at work on a new Alchemy: brewery fuel for cars - synthetic gasoline - from little more than water and sunshine.
Imitating the manner to convert plants sunlight and carbon dioxide in the air into energy and oxygen, is the Joint Centre for artificial photosynthesis at the California Institute of technology in a race to nature and the slow warming of trump. Nate Lewis, Caltech Professor and solar energy research star, has a plan, fuel remake, as we know it.

"If we get to do this, we would make it," Lewis said in an interview last month.
The effort is U.S. Energy Department funds with $122 million, and combines the talents of 120 scientists at Caltech; Stanford University; the University of California Berkeley, Irvine and San Diego campuses; and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Electric motors, vehicles, the self and other disorder of the global automobile industry, which dates back to the 19th century is rented by the hour, cars.
A few years ago seemed also fantastic all-electric cars. Tesla Motors Inc., which only battery-powered vehicles, now has a higher market value than some labour-intensive car manufacturers, such as Suzuki Motor Corp. and Fiat SpA.

Two jumps
Lewis has a two-stage plan to revolutionize fuel. Really, it is two jumps.

Initially, the coalition aims at a system to make large quantities of hydrogen as a fuel with inexpensive solar-panel-like devices. Liquid or gaseous hydrogen, which can drive up super clean fuel cell cars, is required for chemical plants and refineries.
Then comes the second jump: assign the same research a system that can mix the hydrogen fuel with carbon dioxide from the air, as a plant for liquid fuels, heavy makes cars, trucks, boats or aircraft.

Synthetic, CO2 free gasoline is not easy, quick or cheap.
Research laboratories are racing around the world to find renewable alternatives to oil. Some are private enterprises; others are State-funded. While attempting some fuel from algae, corn or other crops, Lewis, argued that such solutions require to much water or soil, which are needed for food production.

Innovation racing
Research projects such as JCAP luxury without to meet short-term receivables to investors have, said Pavel Molchanov, an analyst based in Houston for Raymond James & Associates Inc.

"Companies, which ought to be commercially within the next three years on private capital, also venture capital, in most cases", said Molchanov, who follows biofuel company. "If we what private developer of bio-fuels to consider now, none of them have a commercialization roadmap that goes by 2025."
Startups like KiOR Inc., Solazyme Inc., Ceres Inc., Gevo Inc. and Amyris Inc. have an advantage over JCAP, because they already are commercialization of biofuel alternatives to oil and ethanol from grain.

What has JCAP is the Department of energy, the apply as an energy innovation hub, one of three Manhattan project-like efforts. Others are to make to the improvement of nuclear power plants and building more energy-efficient. Lewis can with the Government financing, methodically searching for a breakthrough.
Wright brothers

"The first five years of JCAP, our goal is to show that this can happen He said the parts, components, to an artificial photosynthetic system rebuild to make". This prototype is "not commercializable aircraft was the Wright brothers in the same way a 747." We have to show to the people first, is there a there. "
About five years later, with "better, faster, cheaper" nuclear fuel may license its system technology, JCAP oil and energy companies, said Lewis.

The program is to help in talks with potential partners from the industry, to expand its analysis of the "Earth abundant" materials needed promising for their solar fuel distillery. Lewis went on certain companies to identify. JCAP technicians are looking for the perfect recipe for low-cost, light-absorbing materials and hydrogen generating hundreds of combinations of metal salts and alloys needed for catalysts, tested.
Increasing the urgency of a low-carbon energy sources was intensified as extreme weather adds to concerns that heat-trapping gases in the Earth's atmosphere make less hospitable planet.

President Barack Obama, whose managing JCAP financed, signaled in June that US measures to curb CO2 emissions of new steps from such pollution from power plants, will intensify the largest source of CO2 emissions according to the US Environmental Protection Agency pare.
Transport fuels

Secondly, the use of oil is-based fuel in the transport sector. Engines in cars, trucks, planes and ships produced 28 percent the 6.7 million tons of trailing by the United States in 2011, according to the EPA, issued, only electricity production by 33 percent. Obama put a plan 2011 double vehicle fuel economy up to the year 2025 cut carbon pollution.
Automakers are strengthening, with small, high-output engines vehicle efficiency Actuator supplied by batteries; and even hydrogen fuel cells.

A big hurdle for vehicles with fuel cells, such as those developed by Toyota Motor Corp. and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, is the lack of a clean source of hydrogen as a fuel. The first part of the Lewis plan it should be more plentiful and produce so much cleaner than is traditionally the case.
2020 JCAP technology for chemical plants and refineries, needed hydrogen could deliver, said William Royea, JCAP Deputy Director for strategy. Both use large amounts of gas - and the main source of industrial emit large amounts of CO2, for obtaining hydrogen from natural gas.

"If produced from this process is burnt gasoline-like fuel, back is that originally used the same CO2," said Lewis. "It is completely CO2-neutral."
Copyright 2013 Bloomberg

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Geothermal energy provides baseload electricity for Christmas in California

California independent system operator (ISO) maintains, reliability and accessibility to one of the largest and most modern power grids in the world. Its target of 33 per cent of electricity produced from renewable energy sources meets each day it Golden reported State on the production of renewable energy in the because it tries by end of 2020.

Families available on Christmas day as California sat down for a meal of Turkey, ham or tamales, renewables candied 2,000 MWe, of the approximately 26,000 MWe load on 06 in the early evening.

The Sun went down, and it was not a windy day in the West. However, geothermal energy offered a reliable base load supply of 928 MWe.

In addition, geothermal power delivered most on Christmas day 21.354 MWh, about 40 percent of the total renewable on this day. Geothermal energy helped bring Christmas to California! The information and opinions in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily the RenewableEnergyWorld.com or companies, the advertising on this Web site and other publications. This blog has been directly by the author and has not been reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.

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California County's PACE Program Could Get Feisty with Feds

Does a Riverside County, CA, residential energy financing program put thousands of homeowners on a collision course with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)?

In a proposed rule-making, the FHFA has suggested that Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) policies represent a threat to the safety and soundness of mortgages held by government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. PACE is a unique financing strategy that allows homes and businesses to invest in significant energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades and pay them back through a property tax assessment (for an explanation of PACE, see this PACE 101 slideshow). The fight with FHFA stems from these assessments being “first liens,” e.g. in the event of bankruptcy, they are paid back before the mortgage holder (FHFA’s Fannie or Freddie).

The FHFA’s initial ruling in 2010 brought most residential PACE programs to a screeching halt, because residential participants would be threatened with having to pay their entire mortgage – in full – at any time. Residential PACE programs in Boulder, CO, and Sonoma County, CA, and elsewhere were suspended after the FHFA ruling.

But Riverside County launched its Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) Financing Program in late 2011, almost a year after FHFA had thrown down the gauntlet. Since then, over 2,000 homeowners have signed up (acknowledging the FHFA threat in writing) and proceeded with tens of millions in home renovations improving efficiency, generating local energy, and creating jobs. These participants have already met thresholds for positive equity in their home, and been current on the mortgage and property tax payments.

By keeping the program alive and using strong guidelines for participating homeowners, Riverside County puts a serious question to Fannie and Freddie: are they willing to default or accelerate mortgages on thousands of homes, all with mortgage holders who are customers in good standing?

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Los Angeles California incentive programs for small and large solar systems

For those of you who may not know, has the Los Angeles Department of water and makes a solar developed incentive program (SIP) in support of solar energy in Los Angeles. This solar incentive program will help you with the cost of the installation of a new solar system. The solar feed-in tariff program that unused energy back, is allowed, that owners of large on grid-connected solar systems sell currently in work.

This solar incentive program was created to meet the goal of Senate Bill 1, essentially an extension of the California Solar Initiative (CSI) and the Energy Commission new solar homes partnership (NSHP). Basically, the aim of the program to promote the solar LADWP is customers to help achieve its energy goals California. By a financial incentive to homeowners, the grid-connected photovoltaic systems, install, LADWP homeowners invest in solar energy to promote hopes.

LADWP customers who have installed photovoltaic systems, can a lump sum in advance based on the expected performance of your new system receive. To an estimate to calculate the expected performance, Buydown (EPBB) based has the LADWP website an online calculator. This provides a sense of energy, annual kWh, CEC AC rating, design factor CSI evaluation and incentive amount. With this information can LADWP to find out, how much money of the customer to pay in advance.

There are benefits that go beyond this one-time payment. According to the LADWP website:

"Customers to qualify and a full installation equipped with a 'net meter'." "When produced a customer system solar more energy, as they use the excess energy as a credit on their Bill is calculated and backward their counters."

This means that if a LADWP customer system excess energy produced solar, it goes back into the grid. The timer is running backwards and LADWP is able to credit energy on their electric bills to their customers.

Conversely, LADWP is currently developing another system to promote the use of solar technology in the context of solar feed-in tariff programthe clean LA program. Although solar incentive program customers not for the clean LA program are qualified, designed this program mainly for larger commercial use.

Produced on this system feed-in tariff customers produce 30kW and later, to a contract for the sale of 100% of the energy in their establishment to LADWP to a fixed interest rate for up to twenty years.

Here a brief collection is on such as the previous function stages:

Application: To qualify for this program, applicants must go through a six-week process of application. Applicants can find the base price for the energy, proof of the site control, and full equipment and an online charts. You must also provide a 24-hour 12-month energy expected profile, required documentation, and numbers a registration fee depending on the scope of their project. For small systems, 30kW 150kW, the registration fee is $500. The registration fee is $1,000 for major projects between 151kW and 999kW.

Interconnection process: After the potential seller the application process is complete, they give an interconnection agreement, which includes an interconnection study fee of $750 for small projects or $1500 for large projects.

Forward with agreements:Then the applicant of a development of deposit of $50 per kW, interconnection costs 10% down payment, insurance forms, and L.A. City compliance with business forms. This is when the applicant signs the reference offer PPA. LADWP sets then the fixed rate contract, the price corresponding to the applicant previously was offered. The interconnection agreement and the PPA standard offer run at this point.

Progress, it is now the seller's purchase the necessary permits and follow through with the construction of their project.

Monthly payments: Once the project is completed, a reliable revenue is meters, provided that LADWP can calculate the monthly payments to the seller. The seller receives an invoice over the energy sent monthly payments by LADWP based on the amount of energy by the sales counter. These payments based on the sum of the system energy collected by the hour, which multiplied by every hour is determined by the base price for the energy and the time of delivery. This means that sellers get more money for energy during peak hours of the day.

It is important to note that a separate metering system account for the energy consumption of the seller's plant is installed. The power required, coming to the system from the network itself and not from the power produced locally because 100% is sold to LADWP.

It is the seller, its own system according to the contract and LADWP to offer a report every two years.

One thing solar incentive program and the feed-in tariff is on that they promote the development of clean, local energy.

If in Los Angeles thinking about getting started with solar energy, life, and you notice GoGreenSolar.com go.

By Thomas Jackson
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California Awards $1.1 Million for Energy Research Projects

The California Energy Commission on July 11 awarded $1.1 million for energy research projects, including a variety impacting renewable energy and energy efficiency. Funds for the 10 projects come from the Commission's Public Interest Research Project program. Commissioners approved $300,000 to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California at San Diego in order to better understand differences in regional climate model projections for California and how they impact hydropower generation forecasting.

The remaining nine projects are from PIER's Energy Innovations Small Grant program. The program provides money to small businesses, non-profits, individuals, and academic institutions to conduct research establishing the feasibility of new, innovative energy concepts. These grants are capped at $95,000. Among the projects is a project dealing with small soluble organic molecules designed to increase the lifetime and reliability of photovoltaics, and a study of enhanced cooling towers for cooling buildings. See the California Energy Commission press release.

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California Solar Installer? Help! (Self and safety at work)

The good folks at vote solar initiative and SEIA must about a minute of your time, and believe you me, that minute is also issued. If you already know metering ticking clock about California NET, you click here now before it is too late. If you don't know what happened, read on:

There is a small solar policy, people take for granted called "net metering." If you read a solar Pro, you know what net metering is: generate extra solar energy during the day, and the utility credits of your account, at night. In other words, "your meter spiders" yada, yada, yada, backwards, the "roll minutes" of solar.

The problem is that net metering in California a limit of 5 per cent of electricity has highlight of any California utility. How is that 5 percent of performance calculated? Good question! Until now it was never really defined. Utilities are used, so a more restrictive method because Well…they can. With their interpretation, would be solar of the "5 %" results in almost 50 percent fewer NET dosed else see what we all thought, was allowed the definition.

Of course, solar installers and their employees want to have more solar, not less. Companies really difficulties for the maintenance of the solar growth it will net metering solar jobs in California, and that includes all jobs directly and indirectly of residential solar leasing and solar PPAs.

Why? Because without net install only so much metering, home and apartment owners solar like during the day, instead of dimensioning of solar systems for as much as their whole day and night use. That would result in smaller installations, and fewer facilities because the savings and ROI measured world are significantly reduced in a not-net.

You get it, I know. You are a solar Pro. So, how can you help, a definition of net metering decide that created more solar energy, not less? Ta-da:

The vote solar initiative and SEIA have an e-Mail campaign with the goal of 20,000 inhabitants of California by e-Mail, which created the California public utilities Commission (PUC) for a new "more solar" net metering-definition.

This week they are up to 10,000 e-Mails, and that's great. But they need understand all 20,000 to the full PUC net metering is as important for consumers - and jobs solar for our own. So, to help four simple steps:

Step 1) Send an email if you haven't.

Step 2) Share this link http://ow.ly/aybZ1 with all your friends, family, customers and pets on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Step 3) You with all your solar pro colleagues at work, especially if you live in California work and this blog post or the link above parts.

Step 4) Write your own version of this message on a company blog or e-newsletter and send it from current and former customers and potential customers. Be sure to ask to share it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. to. The news spread, the better.

SEIA and coordination need solar all 20,000 signatures which on May 7th, so please, please, pretty please, the Word as fast as possible out.

Thanks to its own solar jobs Campaign…and Really…your in advance for the support of this solar.

(P.S.) If you're not in California, you can share it on Facebook, etc. Only you, every California friends and family say the message to spread. In addition, battle California loses this definition solar you can be sure that other State PUCs be Watching…and our follow. (So, please help where ever you are.)

Tor Valenza advises a.k.a. "Fred Solar" solar companies in marketing, communications, and branding. Reach him by UnThink solar, or follow him on Twitter @ SolarFred.

California Commits $100 Million to Build EV-Charging Stations

A new initiative in California will increase the infrastructure for EVs.
Credit: DOE, Charles Watkins

California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. joined with the California Public Utilities Commission on March 23 to announce a $100 million dollar fund for the construction of a statewide network of charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). The plan calls for at least 200 public fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state. The funds come from a $120 million settlement with NRG Energy, Inc. that stems from ten-year-old claims during the state's energy crisis. The settlement did not involve EVs.

The network of charging stations funded by the settlement will be installed in the San Francisco Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Basin, and San Diego County. The goal is to support cleaner air and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Governor Brown also announced that he has signed an executive order laying the foundation for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles on California's roadways by 2025. In January, the California Air Resources Board voted to require the largest automakers to derive 15%, or about 1.4 million, of their annual California sales from EVs or other zero- or near-zero emissions vehicles by 2025. See the executive order and the governor's press release.

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California is Top Renewable State: Report

A new ranking of states released on February 28 gives California the lead in terms of overall renewable energy suitability. Ernst & Young issued United States Renewable Attractiveness Indices, which focuses on diverse renewable energy markets, energy infrastructures, and their suitability for individual technologies.

Following California in the "All Renewables Index" were New Mexico, Colorado, and Hawaii, with Massachusetts and Texas tied for fifth place, the report said. New Mexico and Colorado rated highly because of consistent growth and strong potential across all renewable energy technologies. Massachusetts and Texas tied because of strong solar and wind investment respectively. In separate renewable indices, Maine topped the biomass category and finished second in geothermal. Illinois ranked fourth in the long-term wind index. Future reports will be released semiannually, Ernst & Young said. See the Ernst & Young press release and the full report.

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DOE Solar Decathlon 2013 moves to California

This is an excerpt from EERE network news, a weekly electronic newsletter.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on 26 January that the US Department of energy Solar Decathlon 2013 will take place at a new location in Orange County great Park in Irvine, California. For the first time since the beginning of the competition in 2002 the event is from the National Mall Washington, D.C. Chu also called the 20 teams from colleges and universities in the United States and to the world, the every two years at compete will be.

Now, the participants begin a two-year process, solar powered, to build high-quality energy-efficient houses that combine affordability, appeal, and design excellence. During the whole process two years are the teams design, build and test their homes before it at the site of competition Solar Decathlon 2013 put together. Teams in ten categories range from the best architecture and engineering at producing electricity for heating and cooling. Students gain real world experience a growing global industry.

Selected teams of Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico; Czech Technical University (Czech Republic); Hampton University and Old Dominion University; Middlebury College; Missouri University of science and technology; Norwich University; Queens University, Carleton University and Algonquin College, (Canada); Santa Clara University; Southern California Institute of architecture and California Institute of technology; • Stevens Institute of technology, Stanford University; The Catholic University of America, George Washington University and American University; The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College; University of Calgary, Canada; University of Louisville, Ball State University and University of Kentucky; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; University of Southern California; University of Vienna (Vienna, Austria); and the West Virginia University. See the DOE press release (copyright) and the Solar Decathlon website.

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California OKs Energy Efficiency Rules for Battery-Charged Devices

The California Energy Commission on January 12 approved a first-in-the-nation energy efficiency standard that will reduce wasted energy by battery chargers used with cell phones, laptop computers, power tools, and other devices. The proposed standards can save nearly 2,200 gigawatt hours (GWh) each year, enough energy to power nearly 350,000 homes.

Because nearly two-thirds of the 8,000 GWh of electricity consumed in California by battery charger systems (or battery chargers) is wasted by inefficiency, the Energy Commission proposed appliance efficiency standards requiring battery chargers to consume less energy while providing the same performance. Consumer chargers used in cell phones, personal care devices, and power tools will be required to comply with the new standards by February 1, 2013. Industrial charger compliance (e.g. forklifts) is required by January 1, 2014. Compliance for small commercial chargers (such as walkie-talkies and portable barcode scanners) is required by January 1, 2017. See the California Energy Commission press release.

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Interior Department OKs Renewable Energy Projects in California, Oregon

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced on December 29 the approval of two renewable energy projects—a solar plant in California and a wind farm in Oregon—that will be built on private lands and will use power lines that cross public lands to connect to their respective power grids. When built, the projects will deliver 379 megawatts of power, enough to power 112,500 homes.

In California, the Centinela Solar Energy Project is a 275-megawatt solar energy power plant that will be located on 2,067 acres of previously disturbed private land near El Centro, California. Interior approved the right-of-way for 19 acres for the power line on public land, and Imperial County gave a green light to the solar power plant on December 27, 2011. The project would support at least 367 jobs and deliver enough electricity to power about 82,500 homes. In Oregon, the North Steens Transmission Line Project is a 44-mile, 230-kilovolt power line that will carry power from a proposed wind power project. The wind project, proposed on private land near Diamond, Oregon, would generate 104 megawatts, enough to power about 30,000 homes.

Both projects underwent extensive environmental review, and they reflect strong efforts to mitigate potential environmental impacts, such as requiring funding for the acquisition of 80 acres of additional habitat for the flat-tailed horned lizard in California and implementing requirements that minimize audio and visual impacts from the Oregon project. See the DOI press release.

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California Has 1 In 4 U.S. Solar Energy Jobs, Study Says

In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. Above, a worker at the Solar Micro Generating Facility at Victor Valley College in Victorville last year. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times / October 17, 2011)
Reporting from Sacramento
One in every four solar energy jobs in America is held by a Californian, and growth in the clean-tech industry is burgeoning nationwide, a new study said.

In August, California had an estimated 25,575 solar-related jobs out of 100,237 for all 50 states, according to the National Solar Jobs Census 2011. The census is scheduled for release Monday by the Solar Foundation, a research and education organization in Washington.

California's solar jobs tally was more than four times greater than runner-up Colorado, which had 6,186 solar jobs.
The Golden State ranked first in the nation for generating electricity from both photovoltaic solar panels and concentrated solar power systems that use mirrors to create steam to run turbines, the study said.

"This report shows that the solar industry is not only creating green jobs across California but that the industry is forecast to continue growing at a much faster pace than the overall U.S. economy," said Michelle Kinman, a clean energy advocate for Environment California. "California industry and policymakers have a tremendous opportunity to build on this solid foundation and make solar a centerpiece of the state's energy policy."

Nationally, employment in all parts of the solar industry, including manufacturing, installation, residential, commercial and large-scale power generation, grew 6.8% in the 12 month period ended in August. Overall U.S. job growth was less than 1% for the same period, the census said.
Growth is expected to accelerate 24%, creating 24,000 jobs, over the next year, based on a survey of solar employers.

The industry's momentum should continue despite bad publicity from a political scandal surrounding the bankruptcy of Northern California solar panel manufacturer Solyndra, industry advocates said. The Fremont, Calif., company recently closed after getting a $535-million federal loan guarantee.
"We have to look beyond the failure of one company and see the tremendous success that's occurring here," said Arno Harris, chief executive of Recurrent Energy, a San Francisco solar developer.

David Hochschild, vice president of Fremont-based Solaria Corp., said the technology "is on the cusp of playing a large role in mainstream markets."
Here's a list of the top states ranked by the number of solar industry jobs, according to the solar jobs census:
1. California 25,575
2. Colorado 6,186
3. Arizona 4,786
4. Pennsylvania 4,703
5. New York 4,279
6. Florida 4,224
7. Texas 3,346
7. Oregon 3,346
8. New Jersey 2,871
9. Massachusetts 2,395
marc.lifsher@latimes.com
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SPI solar begins construction of the 8 megawatt utility scale development in Palm Springs, California

ROSEVILLE, Kalifornien-(BUSINESS WIRE) - SPI solar ("SPI") (OTCBB: SOPW) a leading developer of ("PV") solar energy photovoltaic systems today announced that it entered into an EPC contract with North Palm Springs investments, LLC and is building on a 8-megawatt DC-utility-scale development is located in nearby Palm Springs, California has begun. A power purchase agreement ("PPA") with Southern California Edison ("SCE") makes the exclusive buyer SCE the current through the SPI system for a period of 20 years. During this term SPI monitoring services offer PowerView monitoring system monitoring and optimal system performance and maximum power generation on the company's own solar.

"We are very pleased to have this project." "SCE is partner a great to work with and our largest utility-scale project, and our biggest project with SCE is to this day," said Steve Kircher, CEO for SPI. "Utility-scale projects as well as an increasing number of distributed generation track projects in the United States we are," added Mr Kircher. "This week we are the Intersolar North America Conference in San Francisco, where we will meet with several perspectives to develop strategic partnerships with us like the we recently, announced with KDC solar visited." We are excited about our pipeline development and "Mr. KIRCHER Castle the possibilities that it represents for our company."

The Palm Springs development use about 33,880 solar modules on a single Tracker System a total of 36.5 hectares on two separate parcels of LDK for SPI made. The SPI-single-tracking systems can the array, the strings of the panels to follow the course of the Sun, maintaining an optimal angle relative to the position of the Sun from sunrise to sunset and hence to the increase in the power production capabilities of the system to mechanically. SPI includes innovative and environmentally friendly installation practices in his design process as a result minimal disturbance of native conditions. (Video installation by the SPI Tracker systems can be found under: http://www.spisolar.com/Page.aspx?)(Page 44)

If you have finished, created the system a estimated 8,000 kilowatt hours electricity in the first year, to remove the equivalent 10,912 miles of cars with the highway and opposing 6 tons of CO2 from the environment operated.

About solar power, Inc. (OTCBB: SOPW):

(SPI) is a vertically integrated photovoltaic solar developer solar power, Inc. offers an own brand for high-quality, low-cost distributed generation and utility-scale solar energy development of building services. By the company close relationship with LDK Solar expands SPI the range of the vertical integration of Silicon system. Project development offers from project funding and temporary asset management, SPI turnkey world-class photovoltaic solar energy facilities for their business, Government and utility customers. For more information, please visit: www.spisolar.com.

Safe Harbor statement:

This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to the activity of solar power, Inc., its subsidiaries and the solar industry, by the use of forward looking words such as "believes, expects" or similar expressions be identified can. The forward looking statements contained in this press release include statements for the company running ability, their growth plans and revenue and sales give estimates, in formal market long-term supply agreements and acceptance of products and services. These statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, general terms and conditions, management of growth and political and other business risks. All forward-looking statements are qualified expressly submitted in the reports of the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission in their entirety by this cautionary statement and of the risks and other factors that in detail. The company assumes no obligation, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether to a new information, future events or otherwise, except may be required under securities law.

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California highways could green energy source

A representation of Innowattech installed piezoelectric sensors on a motorway.(Credit: Innowattech)

It may seem a little ironically might, but automotive traffic the next source of green energy. A law for a pilot program, vibration using road and convert it into energy adopted 6-1 in the California State Assembly natural resources Committee yesterday. It moves Transport Committee to the vote next week in the Assembly.

California Assemblyman Mike GATTO (D - Los Angeles) Bill first AB 306 in February.

Piezoelectric generation captures energy that generate cars, trains, or people, how they move on land and vibrations. These vibrations can be converted into energy with piezo materials surfaces and made usable. Power in roadside batteries stored power road signs and signals could or fed into a larger scale, directly into the grid.

A single lane. 6 km-long road generates electricity up to 44 megawatts a year, enough, to power 30,800 houses. And a good things about this energy strategy is the peak energy is usually with peak usage.

Israel is already piezoelectric generation on motorways and Italy has install plans, the technology in a range of the Venice Trieste motorway. Funds for this test project in Northern and Southern California would already come from existing resources by California alternative and renewable fuel and vehicle technology program.

Although a speaker familiar with the account the sensors of built said Israeli technology companies Innowattech or Michigan-based PowerLeap are inexpensive, no figures on the technology or installation costs could be given. However, a backlog $50 billion on maintenance means that it install plenty of opportunity for piezoelectric sensors without digging roads. Determine whether it is more cost effective to broken sensors before regular schedule of road maintenance replace one the pilot program objectives.

(Source: NBC LA)

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