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Posted on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 11:13 PM by Bryan Nisperos
viewed 181 times
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) announced today the PV America conference and exposition will be bi-coastal in 2013, with events in Philadelphia and San Diego. PV America East takes place January 29-31 at the Philadelphia Convention Center and PV America West is May 14-16 at the San Diego Convention Center. MORE NEWS FROM COOLER PLANET SOLAR NEWSGM is Going for the LEED GoldGeneral Motors is building an engine plant in southern Brazil equipped with many sustainable features including solar energy and water recycling systems, which the company expects will secure an LEED certification.Researchers Find Americans’ Misconceptions on Solar Installation CostAre you, like most people, overestimating the cost of solar? According to a recent study performed by Sunrun, only 3% of surveyed U.S. adults are aware that installing solar can cost less than $1,000 upfront. The other 97% are overestimating solar energy costs by as much as $40,000. Installing solar can be done with as little as no money upfront thanks to power purchasing agreements and solar lease options.Motech Americas Announces West Coast Installation of the YearNatcore Technology Developing “Absolute Black” Silicon WafersSolar panels have a long list of positives, from limitless electricity from the sun with no air pollution or carbon dioxide emissions to financial benefits, but they still have a hard time competing with coal, natural gas, oil and other sources of energy.US Sets Tariffs on Solar Panels from ChinaThe United States Commerce Department said it will impose tariffs on solar panels imported from China after concluding that the Chinese government provided illegal export subsidies to manufacturers there. The tariffs were smaller than some American industry executives had hoped for, 2.9 percent to 4.73 percent, which could dull their effect on the market. Nonetheless, additional tariffs could be imposed in May, when the Commerce Department is scheduled to decide whether China is dumping solar panels into the United States at prices below their actual cost. A finding of dumping would result in additional tariffs that could be far larger than the anti-subsidy tariffs. Whatever the size of the penalties, the ruling is likely to further heighten trade tensions with China, while holding implications for renewable energy policy in this country.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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