New
Governor signs more solar bills
July 13, 2009, phoenix.bizjournals.com - Two more bills (HB 2332 & 2336) to push demand for solar and renewable energy in Arizona were signed by Gov. Jan Brewer over the weekend... Read full story
SRP revising solar incentives
April 21, 2009, www.srpnet.com - SRP is announcing changes to its residential and commercial solar electric system incentives effective June 1, 2009. For entire press release, click here.
Phoenix makes it easy to go solar at home
State & Local News
Source: Arizona Republic
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A new program will allow about 1,000 Arizona Public Service Co. customers in Phoenix, including many low-income families, to put solar panels on their homes and cut their power bills without paying anything up front.
Read more...
Pinnacle West Utility To Invest $500 Million In Solar Power
State & Local News
Source: Wall Street Journal
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Pinnacle West Capital Corp.'s (PNW) top executive said Wednesday the company's Arizona utility plans to invest at least $500 million over the next few years to develop solar-power generation and expand its rooftop solar program to include more residential customers.
Read more...
Arizona Air Force Base Community to Rely 75% on Solar
State & Local News
Source: Environmental Leader
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Soaring Heights Community at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base will become the largest solar-powered community in the continental U.S., upon completion, according to a press release.
Read more...
Arizona Supports "Energy Awareness Month" With Solar and Sustainable Home Tour
State & Local News
Source: Arizona Solar Energy Association
Monday, October 05, 2009 Valley Supports "Arizona Solar and Sustainability Month" with Valley Tour
Scottsdale, AZ, October 5, 2009
Nationally, October is Energy Awareness Month by presidential proclamation since 1991. The aim is to promote public understanding of our energy needs and to reduce energy consumption in our everyday lives. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) announced its 14th annual National Solar Home Tour in support of this important event.
From slow lane to fast track
December, 2009: US Department of the Interior to cut red tape for at least 13 large-scale CSP and PV projects on public land – 5.3 GW could break ground by late 2010
Unsubsidized PV
December, 2009: A 10 MW PV farm in Chile is being planned without direct subsidies
Congress passes the most powerful solar legislation in history
Solar provisions will extend the solar investment tax credit
for eight years, removes the $2000 monetary cap
The U.S. House and Senate just passed historic legislation that will massively increase the use of solar energy all across the America. Renewable energy provisions in H.R.1424 include an eight year extension of the 30% solar tax credit and removal of the monetary cap for residential solar electric installations. The President signed it into law on October 3.
Click here to see bill summary.
The solar provisions in this bipartisan legislation will help position the U.S. as a global leader in the booming solar marketplace, generating thousands of green-collar jobs, promoting energy independence, and helping to tackle climate change.
"Renewable energy and energy efficiency are our economic drivers," said Brad Collins, Executive Director of the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society. "I applaud members of Congress for coming together to extend the renewable energy tax credits that will strengthen the new energy economy and generate green jobs at a time when they're needed most."
Key provisions of this legislation will:
- Extend the investment tax credit for residential and commercial solar installations for eight years (it was previously set to expire at the end of 2008)
- End the $2000 cap on the investment tax credit for residential solar electric installations placed into service after December 31, 2008
- Allows filers of the alternative minimum tax to claim solar investment tax credits
- Allows public utilities to claim the solar investment tax credits
- Authorize $800 million in new clean renewable energy bonds and creates a new category of tax credit bonds called Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds to finance state and local initiatives to reduce carbon emissions
- Extends deductions for energy efficient commercial buildings
- Establishing a new tax credit for purchasers of plug-in electric-drive vehicles
- Extends research and development tax credits
Wells Fargo Financing of Green Buildings Gallops Beyond $2 Billion
Source: Company
Wells Fargo & Company has doubled its commitment to high performance, LEED-certified buildings in the past 19 months, bringing its total financing of green structures to more than $2 billion. (more)
REI Forges Ahead with Solar Plan
Source: Company
Outdoor gear and apparel company REI has installed solar arrays on three stores in the San Francisco Bay Area - bringing the firm more than halfway to its goal of outfitting 10 percent of its retail sites with systems to harness power from the sun. (more)
School District Invests $1.3 Million in High Efficiency
Source: Company
The Jacksonville Independent School District (JISD) in Jacksonville, Texas, has implemented $1.3 million in facility enhancements designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at Jacksonville Middle School. The Energy Solutions division of TAC, a world leader in energy services, building automation and security, completed the work as a performance contract with the district. Because the project enables the district to reduce its energy consumption, the JISD will receive a $30,000 rebate from the local electric utility. (more)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Source: ACEEE
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) staff completed an analysis and report on the potential for energy efficiency policies in the Commonwealth of Virginia and presented it to Governor Kaine at the Commonwealth of Virginia's Energy and and Sustainability Conference in Richmond. ACEEE Associate Director for Research Neal Elliott presented the results of the study, Energizing Virginia: Efficiency First, before over 500 attendees in the plenary session immediately following the Governor's opening comments. Governor Kaine has formally declared that this next year, his last year in office, will be his year to focus on energy issues in the Commonwealth. (more)
NREL and Private Industry Begin Nationwide Solar Measuring Network
Source: NREL
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory and IBERDROLA RENEWABLES have jointly deployed the first of several solar resource measuring stations as part of a planned instrumentation network throughout the United States. (more)
