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Posted on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 06:28 PM by Bryan Nisperos
viewed 131 times
Envision Solar International does not aim to make solar projects blend in and disappear. “Every solar project we build ends up being highly visible,” said Envision CEO Desmond Wheatley. And its newly commissioned solar tree at the new Alameda County training center for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in San Francisco is no exception. Envision will build a massive solar tracking tree that will create an iconic entrance for the new 46,000 training facility for electrical workers. The tree will be a massive structure covered with solar photovoltaic panels on a giant mechanical tracking system. It will follow the sun throughout the day to generate the maximum amount of power. The solar tree will offset the facility’s power consumption, Wheatley said. But that’s not necessarily why IBEW selected Envision. The tree is also symbolic. “Everyone who visits this facility or goes there to train will see it,” Wheatley said. “And they will know IBEW has made a commitment.” The facility will be the training grounds for all of the future electricians in the area, the people who will be dealing with power day in and day out throughout their careers. And Wheatley said he’s extremely excited that those students will see the solar tree as the future and current source of power. “When you see the mainstream begin to adopt this technology, that’s when you know we’re doing it,” Wheatley said. “That’s what tells you we have hope. It’s not just the tree huggers anymore.” And the fact that an electrical training facility would elevate solar energy to such prominence serves as a major endorsement for the technology, Wheatley said. Envision’s solar trees make both an environmental and architectural statement, he said. They’re not just there to generate power, they’re also beautiful and add aesthetic value. “We need to figure out how to fold this technology into the fabric of our built environments,” he said. MORE NEWS FROM CLEAN ENERGY AUTHORITYSolar stocks likely to remain at record lowsWith fundamental issues in the solar industry, including oversupply and consolidation, solar stocks are likely to remain at record lows through the end of 2012 and into 2013. New solar curriculum teaches students about renewable energyOne Million Lights recently teamed up with SunPower to bring a different kind of solar illumination to the world. Commerce Dept. imposes preliminary tariffs on Chinese PV manufacturersIn the trade complaint against Chinese silicon photovoltaic manufacturers the other shoe dropped today and it was louder than the soft thud of the first shoe. The U.S. Commerce Department preliminarily found that Chinese solar PV manufacturers were guilty of dumping PV cells and modules in the U.S. and impose preliminary anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-based PV manufacturers. Enphase brings the AC/PV roadshow to DenverEnphase, a manufacturer of microinverters for solar photovoltaics is making a lot of noise and on the heels of a successful initial public offering, the company has launched the Enphase Roadshow. Through the roadshow the company is traveling across the country to show off its microinverters and associated technologies that allow each PV module in an array to produce to its maximum ability. The roadshow made a two-day stop in Denver at the World Renewable Energy Forum to show off its latest. DOE Secretary sees bright future for solarYesterday Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Dr. Steven Chu discussed why he got involved in renewable energy and how solar and wind are becoming cost competitive with natural gas—which is currently cheaper than coal in the U.S. He also warned of the U.S. losing ground in terms of manufacturing jobs, unless Congress takes action to continue to support renewable energy. Chu made his remarks at Wednesday’s World Renewable Energy Forum keynote address. RELATED SOLAR NEWSSolarWorld States Anti-Dumping Duties Against ‘Big China Solar’ a Step Toward Restoring Industry CompetitionApple to Power 3 Data Centers with 100 Percent Renewable EnergyGreenpeace advocates gathered outside of Apple's Cupertino headquarters early this week dressed as iPhones and iPods, declaring their outrage about the company's lack of clean energy use. They projected social media messages from supporters on the side of the building:Solar Industry Reacts to Anti-Dumping RulingThe US has imposed higher-than-expected tariffs of around 31% on Chinese PV imports, drawing support from some US manufacturers and sharp criticism from Chinese officials and companies. In its preliminary ruling May 17, the US Commerce Department issued anti-dumping duties of 31.14% on imports of solar cells and panels from Suntech, 31.22% from Trina Solar, 31.18 percent from other companies that had requested but not received individual duty determinations and 249.96 percent from all other Chinese producers, including those controlled by the Chinese government. NREL Director Named Chair of National Science BoardDan Arvizu, director of the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, has been elected Chairman of the National Science Board. The 25-member body advises the president and Congress on science and engineering issues, and is the policy-setting and budget-approving body for the National Science Foundation. With an annual budget of $6.9 billion, the foundation funds about 20% of all federally supported basic scientific research at U.S. colleges and universities. Arvizu will serve a two-year term as chairman. Are IT Data Centers Emerging as a 'Killer App' for Green Power? Part 1Last month, Greenpeace launched a series of coordinated protests at Amazon, Apple and Microsoft locations to draw attention to the companies’ use of GHG intensive fuels in powering their data centers. The protests were a follow up to their recently released report, “How Clean is Your Cloud,” which criticized the companies foSOLAR ENERGY ARTICLES
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