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PV Program Funding Shortfall of $50 million to Sustain US Grid Connect Market

According to a new report issued today by the San Francisco based consultancy, Solarbuzz Inc, 37 Megawatts of grid connected solar photovoltaics were installed in the United States during last year, up from a national grid connect market of only 2 Megawatts in 1998. "The grid connect market now accounts for 56% of the total US solar photovoltaic market installations", says Craig Stevens, CEO of Solarbuzz Inc., "US customers' appetite for PV systems is keeping pace with customers in Germany and Japan". California leads the national story through the unprecedented success of its programs to stimulate both residential and commercial consumer demand, now accounting for over 80% of the total US market. New Jersey is now starting to see the benefits of its program as the market responds to the incentives it put in place last year. Based on its proprietary national database of installations that proceeded in 2003, the Solarbuzz report sets out in detail the type of PV systems that were installed, the characteristics of customers that purchased, the prices, the product suppliers and main installers. The report reveals that the news is not all good though. The very success of the incentive programs defined by strong consumer […]

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Pennsylvania Opens Second Round of RE Funding

Pennsylvania Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced US$5 million will be available in the second year of Pennsylvania's Energy Harvest grant program to make the state a national leader in building and deploying advanced energy technology with measurable impacts on pollution reduction, environmental protection and economic growth. "The first year of the Pennsylvania Energy Harvest grant program was a tremendous success, demonstrating clearly that a clean environment and robust economy go hand in hand," Secretary McGinty said during the Wenger Feeds Environmental Summit in Mount Joy, Lancaster County, where agribusiness leaders from across the Commonwealth met to discuss advanced energy development, pollution control and waste reduction in the farm and food- processing industries. Celebrating its 60th year as a major animal feed supplier, the Rheems- based Wenger is in the final stages of certification for ISO 14001 (Environment), ISO 9001 (Quality) and ISO 18001 (Health and Safety). Once certification is complete, the company will be the first feed mill in the country to obtain all three of these international standards that note exceptional operations. With some 400 employees, Wenger Feeds also is a four-time winner of one of the "Best Places to Work in PA" award and a 1999 […]

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Proton Energy Receives Phase II Award for Solar/Fuel Cell Power System

Proton Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp. (Nasdaq: DESC), announced they have been awarded $499,000 for the second phase of a project to develop a regenerative solar/Proton Exchange Membrane, or PEM, fuel cell demonstration system for the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, California. The Phase II contract builds on the success of the 1 kilowatt Phase I project and aims to upgrade the UNIGEN(R) Regenerative Fuel Cell System, or URFC, to improve system efficiency and tolerance to extreme environments. The goal of the project is to demonstrate grid independent constant power output using inherently intermittent renewable energy for stable, remote operation. The system development and operational enhancements prepare the URFC system for a one year, 24/7 test period where the system will use solar energy to provide 12 kilowatt hours per day of power for hydrogen generation and electrical energy output. The system is sized to provide a minimum of 4,320 kWh over the 12-month period during which data will be collected for modeling and future system upgrades. The system does not require any battery storage for operation or start-up. The URFC demonstration unit, which was tested at the site for six […]

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Vermont: First State to Pass Law Regulating Genetically Modified Crops

Vermont has become the first state in the U.S. to pass a law requiring the labeling of genetically engineered seeds. The law, known as the "Farmer Right-to-Know Act," was signed into law Monday by Vermont Governor James Douglas. The law mandates the labeling of genetically modified seeds at all retail outlets and requires seed manufacturers to keep track of genetically modified organism (GMO) or biotech seed sales in the state. Environmentalists hailed the law as a historic victory of grassroots mobilization over big dollar corporate lobbying. Seventy-nine Vermont towns have passed resolutions opposing the use of genetically modified crops. "Farmers and consumers have a right to be protected from unwanted genetic mutations," said Ben Davis, an environmental advocate with Vermont's Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and author of a fall 2003 report that showed genetic contamination of organically grown corn. "This law is the first step toward providing that protection." The Vermont law provides farmers and consumers basic information allowing them to choose GMO or non-GMO seeds, he added "Giving consumers a choice is a fundamental right in our society," said Davis. "Given the invasive nature of GMOs, farmers and home gardeners need to be able to make informed choices." […]

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Schwarzenegger Seeking Greener Energy Contracts

Gov. Schwarzenegger asked state energy regulators Wednesday to step up the pace in helping utilities enter long-term electricity contracts and buy more renewable energy. The governor said he feared shortages could occur as soon as 2006. In a letter to Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey, Schwarzenegger said he'd like to see utilities getting 20 percent of their power from green sources, such as solar and wind, by 2010 instead of 2017. He also urged the PUC to move up by two years a requirement that utilities keep a 15 percent electricity reserve by 2008 and to finish writing regulations that let utilities sign long-term contracts for electricity — suggesting that these two steps could encourage companies to build much-needed power plants. The Legislature passed a bill in 2002 directing the PUC to establish the renewable standards, reserve levels and utility contract procedures, but the commission hasn't finished writing the regulations that implement all of those provisions. Sen. Debra Bowen, chairwoman of the Senate Energy Committee, said Schwarzenegger's support for conservation and real-time metering were encouraging. And while the brief glimpse at Schwarzenegger's energy vision was "a start," she said, it lacks many details. Of particular interest, Bowen said, was […]

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