News & Announcements
January 27, 2022
Argonne National Laboratory / U.S. Dept. of Energy
Solar Energy Environmental Mapper Update Now Available
Solar Energy Environmental Mapper ( http://solarmapper.anl.gov ), also available through the maps page of the Solar PEIS project website ( http://solareis.anl.gov ), is an interactive web-based map of the proposed alternatives in the Draft Solar PEIS and related information. Version 1.1 of the application has now been released with new tools and other enhancements. Solar Mapper provides access to data about the Draft Solar PEIS alternatives, land use designations (ACECs, WSAs, etc.), hydrography, and ecological resources in 6 southwestern states.
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June 14, 2021
The Ecologist
The IEA expects photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to provide 5 per cent of global electricity by 2030 and 11 per cent by 2050, driven by favourable incentive policies for residential and commercial installation. It also expects PV to provide a significant amount of energy for off-grid communities in rural areas.
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) is expected to grow to a similar market share - 11 per cent by 2050 - but its expansion will depend largely on the development of dedicated transport lines to bring power from regions with strong sunlight to areas of high population.
According to the IEA, North America is likely to be the biggest producer of CSP electricty, followed by India and North Africa. The latter is expected to export half its production to Europe through power lines across the Mediterranean.
April 6, 2011
Solarbuzz
U.S. Solar PV Backlog Orders Exceeds 12 GW
Solarbuzz, a market research firm that issues the United States Dealer Tracker Report, is indicating that the backlog of PV orders is now surpassing 12 Gigawatts, which contrasts with a projected downturn in European orders due to a cut-back in feed-in tariffs is various financially stressed European countries. The U.S. PV market doubled in size in 2010 and is expected to double in size again in 2011. The SolarBuzz press release features a colorful piechart outlines the number of projects planned from 2010 - 2015 broken out by system size. The top 10 states for non-residential project are California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Nevada and Florida.
September 13, 2019
Luskin Center / UCLA School of Public Affairs
"Los Angeles Solar Atlas" released
The Luskin Center has released a 98 page Solar Atlas with a fine-grain breakout of potential rooftop solar sites throughout Los Angeles County. The report is available for free download, though it is a large file - about 90mb. A variety of City zones, govermental districts and utility service area footprints are detailed with statistics and maps, including specific addresses of commercial structures that the researcher feel are prospects for solar power generation potential.
February 22, 2020
IHS iSuppli
Solar PV inventory spike expected early 2011, but rebounding sales throught remainder of year
Market research firm IHS iSuppli is projecting a temporary spike in PV equipment inventory in the 1st Quarter of 2011 due to a scaling back fo incentives beginning the 1st of the year and weather-related issues. However, they expect global demand will rebound sharply over the course of 2011, bringing inventory for the entire PV value chain back to relatively low levels.
February 3, 2011
California Independent System Operator (CA ISO)
ISO wholesale energy market opens doors to storage technologies
The California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) Board of Governors waved the starting flag today to enable new types of storage resources, such as batteries and flywheels, to provide reserves for the power grid. The resources offer flexibility and fast on/off capabilities that are expected to provide significant operational benefits.
January 24, 2011
San Diego Union Tribune
Energy Boom a Boon to Contractors
The article discusses a large construction contractor’s strategy to achieve success in the renewable energy sector by starting with relatively small projects, including a 1.14 MW solar installation that the contractor completed at a rural San Diego casino. The article also mentions the relationships between performance warranties and power purchase agreements, which are rarely addressed in the mainstream press: "Warranties are a much bigger issue when customers are looking for a return on their investment based on how much power a project produces, as opposed to how much rent they can charge for a building."
January 13, 2011
Association of Energy Engineer Southern California Chapter Elects Board of Directors for 2011
The AEE So. Calif. Chapter has elected its 2011 Board of Directors. Officers: Gene Beck (President), Richard Hack (Vice President), David Klug (Co-Secretary), Bob Gallion (Co-Secretary) Chris Miller (Co-Treasurer), Mauri Paz (Co-Treasurer). Board Members: Alan Ring, Serge Adamian (Past President), Bob Fryke, Tom Webster, Jasmine Gin, Jack Rosenthal, Peter Jonker, Sally Cirino, Nataka White, Kathleen Yanakis. Chapter Administrator is Jana Santago.
January 12, 2011
The AEE So. Calif The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) has created new "policy forms" that can be utilized by insurance carriers to offer coverages insuring property losses to renewable energy generating equipment connected or adjacent to buildings. The policy forms are not directed towards utility scale solar or wind farms. The standard base form includes coverage options for loss of energy generation income and the costs to buy replacement electricity. AAIS is not an insurance company and is not involved with offering insurance coverages, but is "a national advisory organization that develops standardized policy forms and rating information used by more than 600 property/casualty companies throughout the U.S." The forms are part of a new class of coverage in the AAIS Inland Marine Guide, a program of standardized policy forms, rating procedures, underwriting guidelines, and other information for the traditionally nonfiled classes of inland marine insurance.
January 1, 2011
Sacramento Bee
California is set to revive its green leadership
Summary: V. John White, Executive Director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies in Sacramento, comments that newly elected California Governer Jerry Brown has an opportunity to get "renewables right this time", reduce dependance on coal, oil and natural gas and grow the green sectors of the California economy.
December 20, 2010
Business Insurance Magazine’s "Risk of Going Green" Video Series: Solar Energy
Alternative Energy: Solar Farm Risks
Summary: The magazine’s BusinessInsurance.com video interview of insurance expert addressing risks of owning and operating a solar energy farm. Solar Farm Risks is one of five "Risk of Going Green" videos posted on BusinessInsurance.com site.
December 17, 2010
Los Angeles Times
Treasury grant program for renewable energy projects extended by Congress
Summary: The 1603 Treasury grant program, a government incentive for renewable energy projects, was extended by Congress as part of major tax cut legislation today. The program was set to expire at the end of 2010. It covers up to 30% of the cost of solar, wind and other alternative energy installations. President Obama is expected to sign it on Friday. (SBRM update: Since this story’s posting, this legislation was been signed by President Obama.)
December 16, 2010
Study Shows Wind Turbines on Farmlands May Benefit Crops
University of Colorado Boulder and the Dept. of Energy Ames Laboratory research efforts are revealing that wind turbines located on farmland may provide significant benefits to the crops located below the towers. The plume of turbulence created by the turbine blades helps mix air layers, creating a beneficial microclimates near the towers, keeping crops cooler in Summer and warmer in Winter, and helps control moisure levels. Ames Laboratories has released a brief video outlining the objectives of their research efforts .
December 16, 2010
Southwest U.S. utility-scale solar projects Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) evaluation draft is now available.
The Office of Enegy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Department of Energy (DOE); and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Department of the Interior (DOI), are preparing a PEIS for six Southwestern U.S. States to evaluate utility-scale solar energy development, to develop and implement Agency-specific programs or guidance that would establish environmental policies and mitigation strategies for solar energy projects, and to amend relevant BLM land-use plans with the consideration of establishing a new BLM Solar Energy Program. Drafts of development area maps are also now available: Programmatic EIS maps and spatial data
December 15, 2010
Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Southern California Chapter has scheduled its annual "Power Lunch" event for January 13, 2011 in Commerce, California. Featured speakers from Southern California Edison, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and Southern California Gas will discuss the current state of affairs in energy and present today’s facts and tomorrow’s visions and predictions on energy supplies and costs in California. AEE SoCal Jan. 13 Power Lunch
December 3, 2010
The International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) has added South Bay Risk Management to their Construction Risk & Insurance Specialist Agent / Broker Directory: CRIS Directory
November 18, 2010
Los Angeles Times
"Orange County hits pay dirt with clean-tech industry"
Summary: Business groups indicate Orange County is well positioned for growth of its emerging clean-tech sector, which currently accounts for 300 clean-tech firms and 20,000 jobs in the county.
November 18, 2010
US Green Building Council Press Release
"Two New Green Building Offerings from USGBC: LEED for Retail and LEED Volume Program"
Summary: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of LEED for Retail, its newest green building rating system, and the LEED Volume Program, a program designed to meet the certification needs of high-volume property developers.
November 05, 2010
Geothermal Energy Association press release
"2010 Geothermal Energy Expo Wrapped with Record Attendance"
Summary: More than 2,500 attendees from 42 different states and 13 different countries came together in Sacramento for the 34th annual Geothermal Energy Expo, the largest gathering of geothermal energy leaders in the world.