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<title>SolarTown News</title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com</link>
<description>SolarTown News</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<copyright>Project copyright</copyright>
<pubDate>09-08-2010 00:16:16</pubDate>
<ttl>60</ttl>
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<title><![CDATA[Illinois Governor Signs Solar Energy Legislation]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/illinois-governor-signs-solar-energy-legislation</link>
<description><![CDATA[
On August 17, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed into law a pair of bills promoting solar energy use by both individuals and industry, SolarIndustryMag.com reported.&nbsp; The new laws strengthen utilities' renewable energy requirements and protect the rights of homeowners interested in going solar.

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<pubDate>08-19-2010 12:30:22</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Feed-In Tariffs Gaining Steam in California]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/feed-in-tariffs-gaining-steam-in-california</link>
<description><![CDATA[
While even the smallest attempts at energy legislation are floundering in Congress, California, in response to a study put out last month by UC Berkeley, is making progress toward a new feed-in tariff. A feed-in tariff is a policy mechanism that encourages the adoption of renewable energy by requiring utilities to buy electricity from renewable sources and setting the rates at which utilities must pay for that electricity.

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<pubDate>08-06-2010 06:14:12</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Clean Energy Jobs Drifting Overseas]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/clean-energy-jobs-drifting-overseas</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Watching the US clean energy sector struggle to keep up with increasingly bigger competitors is like watching a fighter in the ring without gloves. We've got the heart: We were once a heavyweight contender at the turn of the millennium, manufacturing half of the world's supply of solar cells. We were even the first country to create the modern windmill. But these days, we seem to lack the punch: our right and left swingers labeled &quot;price&quot; and policy&quot; have been picked up by foreign contenders and have brought the US clean energy sector down for the count. 

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<pubDate>08-04-2010 08:02:59</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Small in Size, Delaware Tries to Be a Leader in Solar Energy]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/small-in-size-delaware-tries-to-be-a-leader-in-solar-energy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Delaware Governor Jack A. Markell has signed into law four renewable energy bills that together make up the Clean Energy Jobs package. The laws seek to expand employment in the renewable energy industry and could facilitate the installation of approximately 250 MW (enough to power about 62,000 homes) of new solar photovoltaic systems by 2025, according to the governor's office. The new legislation expands Delaware's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) so that 25% of Delaware's electricity must come from renewable energy sources by 2025. It also includes specific solar energy targets (solar carve-outs) and provides incentives for local labor and manufacture of renewable energy systems.

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<pubDate>08-02-2010 12:16:51</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Hollywood Movie Sets Go Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/hollywood-movie-sets-go-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Revealed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, a dash of green was added to the production of his newest blockbuster hit, Inception. Caprio disclosed in a recent&nbsp;interview that the set of&nbsp;this new movie&nbsp;was made with solar power. 

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<pubDate>07-28-2010 11:54:35</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The Energy Bill is Dead...Long Live Ten Million Solar Roofs!]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/the-energy-bill-is-deadlong-live-ten-million-solar-roofs</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid&nbsp;admitted that he did not have the votes needed to pass an energy and climate bill before the August recess. Reid had been working over the past couple of weeks to put together an energy bill that would include a cap on carbon emissions from utilities, but the combination of election year politics, a troubled economy, and a stubborn Republican opposition has ultimately proven too much to overcome. But don't despair, not all energy-related news is so dire.&nbsp;Tthe Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this Wednesday approved Sen. Bernie Sanders's (D-VT) Ten Million Solar Roofs bill, which is designed to encourage the installation of 10 million solar systems in the U.S. over the next ten years. The bill would authorize $250 million for competitive grants in 2012 and additional funding through 2021, which would be used to fund state solar rebate, loan, and performance-based incentive programs. Systems with a capacity of one megawatt or less would be eligible for funding under the initiative. 

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<pubDate>07-23-2010 13:36:49</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Going Solar in Virginia Isn't All That Easy]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/going-solar-in-virginia-isnt-all-that-easy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Thanks to severe home improvement regulations from homeowners associations (HOAs), as well as lack of state-funded incentives, residents and business owners in Virginia are waging an uphill battle to go solar. The Washington Examiner reports that many homeowners associations in the county forbid the installation of solar panels and the state of Virginia does not offer financial assistance to residents looking to install solar energy systems.

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<pubDate>07-20-2010 06:51:11</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Proposed National Renewable Energy Standard Introduced in the Senate]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/proposed-national-renewable-energy-standard-introduced-in-the-senate</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Legislation&nbsp;establishing national renewable energy and energy efficiency standards was introduced in the Senate. This draft legislation&nbsp;would also give incentives for developing biofuels and biofuel infrastructure, and&nbsp;set targets for the availability of advanced vehicle technologies. The bill, called the Securing America's Future with Energy and Sustainable Technology Act of 2010, establishes a renewable electricity standard (RES) of 25% by 2025 and an energy efficiency resource standard of 1% per year. 


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>07-16-2010 13:35:26</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[National Net Metering Bill Introduced in the House]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/national-net-metering-bill-introduced-in-the-house</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) has&nbsp; introduced legislation in the House of Representatives that would establish a national standard for net metering. The bill, entitled the Americans Making Power Act, would allow Americans to feed back into the grid excess renewable power they generate through homes and small businesses. It also seeks to improve the reliability of the nation's electric grid by encouraging a more diffuse means of energy production. 

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<pubDate>07-15-2010 07:09:33</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[PACE Will Not Go Down Without a Fight]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/pace-will-not-go-down-without-a-fight</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Who will save the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs? California Attorney General Jerry Brown is initiating a &quot;major action&quot; against Fannie, Freddie, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates the two lenders, for announcing in May that they will no longer issue mortgages on properties with PACE loans. Due to Fannie and Freddie's predominance in the mortgage market, private lenders have followed suit. Not surprisingly, then, all PACE programs have been suspended as of last week, when the FHFA formally endorsed Fannie and Freddie's disapproval of PACE. Attorney General Brown is getting some backup from a couple of prominent lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Barney Frank (D-MA), chairmen of the Energy &amp; Commerce and Financial Services committees, respectively, have sent a letter to the secretaries of Energy and Treasury and the Director of FHFA urging cooperation in establishing guidelines that will allow PACE programs to continue while protecting taxpayers and private lenders.


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>07-14-2010 14:00:44</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Smart Meters Rejected in Maryland]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/smart-meters-rejected-in-maryland</link>
<description><![CDATA[
A proposal made by Baltimore Gas &amp; Electric to install 1.2 million smart meters and institute time-of-use pricing was rejected on June 21 by Maryland's Public Service Commission. The proposal was touted by BG&amp;E as a way to save their customers billions of dollars and help them monitor and control their energy use, but the PSC objected to the utility's plan to pass on most of the upfront costs to their ratepayers. According to the PSC, the proposal asks BGE's ratepayers to take significant financial and technological risks and adapt to categorical changes in rate design, all in exchange for savings that are largely indirect, highly contingent and a long way off.

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<pubDate>07-13-2010 09:37:43</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Germany Reduces Feed-in Tariffs While Report Trumpets Benefits of Feed-In Tariffs in US]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/germany-reduces-feed-in-tariffs-while-report-trumpets-benefits-of-feed-in-tariffs-in-us</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The German Parliament approved an agreement made with the federal states that will cut the feed-in tariff for electricity generated by solar power. The feed-in tariff (FIT) is a policy mechanism designed to encourage the adoption of renewable energy sources and help accelerate the move toward grid parity, which is the point at which alternative means of generating electricity is equal in cost, or cheaper than, grid power. In the meantime, there is growing interest in FITs in the U.S. The University of California, Berkeley yesterday announced the results of a study examining the economic benefits of a comprehensive FIT in California. California's existing FIT, which went into effect at the beginning of this year, allows only small renewable energy systems of up to 3 megawatts (MW) to sell the electricity they generate back to their utilities, whereas the FIT considered in this study would cover systems with a maximum 20 MW capacity. 


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>07-09-2010 14:50:53</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Plane Soars Like An Eagle--Both Day and Night]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-plane-soars-like-an-eagle-both-day-and-night</link>
<description><![CDATA[
New feats of solar technology continue to amaze. A plane called Solar Impulse, weighing only as much as a midsize car, was powered by 12,000 solar cells that spread across its massive wingspan of &quot;210 feet from tip to tip&quot; according to TreeHugger. It took off from Switzerland at 6:15am yesterday, and the Solar Impulse blog reported victory early this morning: &quot;HB-SIA and pilot Andr&eacute; Borschberg are back from the night skies.&quot; 

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<pubDate>07-08-2010 14:01:07</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Obama Promises Money for Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/obama-promises-money-for-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In his weekly address to the nation, President Obama announced the investment of nearly $2 billion in solar energy. With a financial reform bill on its way through Congress and Deepwater Horizon continuning to spew oil into the Gulf, this announcement couldn't come at a more opportune time. The investment, in the form of a loan guarantee, was given to two companies, Abound and Abengoa - who will create thousands of jobs and promote the use of cleaner energy.

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<pubDate>07-07-2010 08:56:40</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[PACE Program Challenges Grow]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/pace-program-challenges-grow</link>
<description><![CDATA[
This solar news story is an update to an article we wrote last month about the major obstacle Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have put in the way of PACE programs. A support to homeowners, PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a finance program that allows homeowners to install solar panels and put the cost of the installations on their property tax bills and pay the assessment over a long-term period. Despite being promising in an economic and environmental sense, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued a letter in May, suggesting that property owners with mortgages from these two mortgage lenders would be forbidden from participating in the PACE programs. 

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<pubDate>07-01-2010 12:44:15</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Saharan Desert to Power Europe in Five Years]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/saharan-desert-to-power-europe-in-five-years</link>
<description><![CDATA[
As a testament to a truly connected world, already borderless in terms of trade and commerce, sunlight will soon join the ranks of globally imported goods. Collected from Saharan Desert solar panels, the intense, direct sunlight will be transported via underground wiring line called &quot;Transgreen&quot; to supply power to the hungry European homes and businesses. The Destertec plan, that EcoGeek describes as a &quot;large scheme of solar projects in Northern Africa.&quot; was unveiled last year, but excitement has been rekindled as just last week, European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger announced that Europe will be powered &quot;within the next five years...This is much sooner, than the initial 10-year time frame given to the project&quot; according to folks at Inhabitat.


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>07-01-2010 11:11:21</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[An Entire School District in Pennsylvania Going Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/an-entire-school-district-in-pennsylvania-going-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We see many announcements for solar projects, some of which get built, and many of which never get built. We usually wait until they are built before we mention them, but an announcement earlier this week about an entire school district in Pennsylvania going solar caught our attention. A solar integrator Solar Energy Initiatives, Inc. (SEI) signed a letter of intent to undertake a $16 million solar project with an unnamed school district (why keep it secret?) in Pennsylvania to install and operate about 4 megawatts of photovoltaic (PV) systems for the entire school district.

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<pubDate>06-30-2010 10:20:44</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[An Upset at the Solar Decathlon Europe: Virginia Tech Takes the Honors]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/an-upset-at-the-solar-decathlon-europe-virginia-tech-takes-the-honors</link>
<description><![CDATA[
It is not quite the same magnitude of an upset as if Ghana were to win the World Cup this year, but we do have an upset of sorts to report in the solar world.&nbsp;World Winning by a hairline margin of less than a point, Virginia Tech took home the first prize&nbsp;at Europe's Solar Decathlon held in Madrid, Spain. It was a surprising win for the US team because less than a year ago, the same submission,an 800 square foot unit called the Lumenhaus,did not fare well at all.&nbsp;The team finished 13th overall out of 20 teams at the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.

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<pubDate>06-29-2010 12:23:50</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Subsidies in Dangerous Waters in Europe: The Woes of Spain and Germany]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-subsidies-in-dangerous-waters-in-europe-the-woes-of-spain-and-germany</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In a major blow to the solar industry in Spain, the Spanish government has decided to cut the revenue of most existing solar power plants by 30%. This decrease could bankrupt hundreds of companies that produce electricity using photovoltaic (PV) panels. In a parallel move, Germany is also making solar cuts. Considered the center of the global PV industry, the German PV market faces major changes in the upcoming months due to proposed revisions to the feed-in tariffs expected to be enacted by the end of 2010. The German parliamentary meditation committee was tasked with reaching a decision on proposed cuts to the country's solar incentive system, and is expected to announce their decision in early July. 

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<pubDate>06-22-2010 08:20:00</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Pennsylvania Wants to Bolster Its Solar Credentials ]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/pennsylvania-wants-to-bolster-its-solar-credentials</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Pennsylvania is trying to pass new legislation that will increase the incentives for solar energy . According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the proposed bill, also known as the Clean Energy and Green Jobs legislation,&nbsp;offers the potential to help create more green jobs and boost the growth and economy of the state's clean energy companies. The bill's primary focus is on progressing coal combustion technologies that reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

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<pubDate>06-17-2010 11:17:01</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Soccer in Africa]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-soccer-in-africa</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Solafrica, a Swiss nonprofit, is bringing the excitement of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to residents of Kiberia, Kenya's largest slum - and they are doing it entirely with&nbsp;solar energy. Dubbed &quot;Solar Soccer,&quot; the event's intent is to bring the game to Kiberians who would otherwise not be able to see it.&nbsp; Kiberia lacks many basic services, such as refuse disposal and plumbing, so for many residents, watching the game on Pay-Per-View is not an option.

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<pubDate>06-15-2010 14:08:07</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Gang Up on PACE ]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/fannie-mae-and-freddie-mac-gang-up-on-pace</link>
<description><![CDATA[
One of the major challenges for homeowners to buy and install solar panels on their homes has been trying to obtain financing. Across the nation, cities and counties are developing new finance programs that provide support to homeowners to install solar panels and green retrofits. Known as PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), homeowners put the cost of the solar installation on their property tax bills and pay the assessment over the long-term such as 15 years. But stop the presses-Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have put a major impediment in the way of the PACE programs. 

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<pubDate>06-10-2010 11:32:34</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Deepwater Horizon Disaster Spurs Louisiana Lawmakers to Embrace Renewable Energy ]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/deepwater-horizon-disaster-spurs-louisiana-lawmakers-to-embrace-renewable-energy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
There is nothing like an environmental disaster to focus the mind and win converts to renewable energy. While millions of gallons of leaked oil continue to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, seeping into Louisiana's fragile coastal wetlands, and damaging fisheries and the tourism industry, Louisiana lawmakers are pushing energy bills in the state legislature. If passed, the measures would help Louisiana capture energy from the Mississippi River's currents, make it easier for residents to install solar panels on their homes and allow people to trade in their gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient vehicles.

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<pubDate>06-09-2010 06:30:34</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Apple Sees a Future in Solar Electronics]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/apple-sees-a-future-in-solar-electronics</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In a patent application, Apple revealed plans for an incredible new implementation of mobile solar technology - one that places a solar panel inside of the phone itself. Portable solar modules for charging cell phones are already on the market, but Apple has been looking at integrating solar technology for quite some time. Prior patent applications from Apple, including one for &quot;solar cells on portable devices&quot; from 2008 and another for &quot;power management circuitry and solar cells&quot; from January 2010 hinted at the installation of solar panels in Apple devices.


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>06-07-2010 11:58:56</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Will the Deepwater Horizon Disaster Spur Support for the Energy Bill: Obama Hopes So]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/will-the-deepwater-horizon-disaster-spur-support-for-the-energy-bill-obama-hopes-so</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The United States' dependence on fossil fuels has been in the spotlight in the past few weeks due to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. President Obama has used the spill to highlight the administration's plans for alternative energy. In two recent speeches -- one at Pittsburgh's Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday and another at the Solyndra photovoltaic panel factory on May 26, Obama explained the importance of supporting alternative energy in building a brighter future for America. 

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<pubDate>06-04-2010 12:59:38</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[In North Carolina, Solar Means Jobs]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/in-north-carolina-solar-means-jobs</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Solar power is creating the one thing many Americans have been searching for since the start of the economic recession: jobs. Policy makers around the world have been stressing the economic potential of the renewable energy industry, expecting the creation of thousands of jobs in the coming years, from wind turbine manufacturing to solar panel installation. North Carolina could generate at least 28,000 jobs in the solar industry if it shifts electricity production from traditional sources to solar energy in the next 20 years.


&nbsp;

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<pubDate>06-01-2010 14:47:34</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[New Jersey: Solar Leader or Solar Loser]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/new-jersey-solar-leader-or-solar-loser</link>
<description><![CDATA[
New Jersey has been a leader in clean energy programs in recent years In what looks to be a major blow to the solar industry in New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie has diverted $158 million from the Clean Energy Fund, which is used for clean energy incentives and operated through the state Board of Public Utilities, to help reduce the Garden State's increasing budget deficit.&nbsp;Governor Christie's actions have created a question as to whether the Garden State will continue to take the lead in America's energy revolution.

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<pubDate>05-19-2010 10:26:24</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Will the Deepwater Horizon Acccident Help or Hinder Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/will-the-deepwater-horizon-acccident-help-or-hinder-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We are at an interesting crossroads in the history of renewable energy. With the BP Deepwater Horizon accident serving as a vivid hallmark of the need for change as it continues to spew an estimated 210,000 gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico daily, and the climate bill, dubbed The American Power Act of 2010, just unveiled, the world is looking on to see what will unfold in the next couple of months. Coming at a time when the Obama administration is all ready taking a hard, long look at our energy policy, the BP oil debacle in the Gulf Coast may be the catalyst that helps drive our nation toward a future based on clean, renewable, homegrown energy sources and a national commitment to energy efficiency

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<pubDate>05-13-2010 14:01:14</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Connecticut Takes the Solar Initiative]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/connecticut-takes-the-solar-initiative</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Those looking to install solar power for their homes or businesses in Connecticut, whose traditionally-generated electricity rates are some of the highest in the United States, may soon get a break, as an aggressive energy bill was just approved by both the Connecticut House and Senate last week. It now awaits further action from the Governor.

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<pubDate>05-10-2010 10:59:57</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Zoning Can Turn Your Solar Electricity Off]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/zoning-can-turn-your-solar-electricity-off</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We have emphasized that you need to spend time designing your residential solar PV system-and that includes checking with your zoning board of your local municipality and checking with your homeowners' association to make sure that your solar modules comply with applicable zoning and other restrictions. Whether you own a few solar panels atop your residence or an entire large-scale solar farm, zoning laws are a bigger deal than you might think. 

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<pubDate>05-06-2010 05:53:11</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Is Your Solar Installer Certified: New UL Certification]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/is-your-solar-installer-certified-new-ul-certification</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Last week, Underwriter Laboratories (UL) announced that it will introduce a program to train and certify installers of photovoltaic products and systems. The program, set to launch in July of this year, is geared toward professional electricians interested in expanding their skill set to meet the demands of the growing solar energy industry. 

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<pubDate>05-03-2010 08:03:25</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Public Opinion Polls Show Strong Support for Solar Energy]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/public-opinion-polls-show-strong-support-for-solar-energy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Two recent polls show strong public support for renewable energy in general and solar in particular. A poll released on Earth Day by the wind energy industry suggests that 52 percent of American voters believe the US economy would be stronger if the country depended more on renewable energy resources. Thirty percent said the economy would be unchanged, and only 15 percent voted that the economy would be in worse shape. A second poll, released by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) in March, showed similar public backing for solar energy. The SEIA poll found that 75 percent of survey takers supported the installation of solar power plants on public land. Only 15 percent of the respondents opposed such installations. 

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<pubDate>04-27-2010 11:51:47</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Home Solar Panels Double in 2009]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/home-solar-panels-double-in-2009</link>
<description><![CDATA[
According to a report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), solar energy installations experienced significant growth in 2009--despite the&nbsp;recession. The total generating capacity from grid-tied photovoltaics (PV) grew 441 MW in 2009, reaching a cumulative capacity of 1,653 MW. In addition, solar thermal capacity landed just shy of 24,000 MW by the end of 2009. One of the industry's biggest winners was the market for home solar panels.&nbsp;According to the report, additional residential installations increased from 78 MW in 2008 to 156 MW in 2009, a 100 percent increase in just one year. 

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<pubDate>04-20-2010 13:21:56</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Renewable Portfolio Standards and Solar Carve-Outs: Focus on Maryland]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/renewable-portfolio-standards-and-solar-carve-outs-focus-on-maryland</link>
<description><![CDATA[
On the last day of their 2010 legislative session, Maryland lawmakers finalized a bill that will step up Maryland's adoption of solar energy.&nbsp;When the&nbsp;bill goes into effect, it&nbsp;will strengthen&nbsp;Maryland's solar energy industry by accelerating the percentage of solar energy that Maryland utility companies will need to obtain and increasing the penalty for non-compliance. The bill is expected to be signed by Governor O'Malley in May. 

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<pubDate>04-14-2010 11:15:45</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[BP Solar Closing Maryland Solar Panel Manufacturing Plant]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/bp-solar-closing-maryland-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant</link>
<description><![CDATA[BP Solar announced on March 26, 2010 that it would cut back operations at its main solar panel manufacturing plant in Fredrick, Maryland.&nbsp;The company plans to eliminate about 320 of the facility's 430 positions with many of the job losses coming from the plant's manufacturing unit. BP Solar will still maintain its Fredrick presence for sales, marketing, research, and project development. 
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<pubDate>04-08-2010 11:10:55</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Maryland Tries to Step Up the Pace for Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/maryland-tries-to-step-up-the-pace-for-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The Maryland state legislature is making an effort to hasten the adoption of solar energy. In a bill approved by the state senate&nbsp;on April 2, 2010, utility companies would be required, over the next few years, to purchase a higher percentage of their electricity from solar power than mandated in current law. The House of Delegates is scheduled to vote on the legislation in the coming weeks. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>04-06-2010 13:28:45</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Congress Active in Promoting Community Solar Energy]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/congress-active-in-promoting-community-solar-energy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Although there has been little to no movement on the energy bill in the Senate--you may remember the hopeful stories about the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 when it was barely passed in the House in June 2009--two Congressmen have introduced legislation to spur solar energy projects. Although small in scope, these initiatives are aimed at promoting the installation of community-based solar power systems. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>04-06-2010 06:51:39</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Rating Solar Panels: For Quality and Environmental Impact]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/rating-solar-panels-for-quality-and-environmental-impact</link>
<description><![CDATA[
If you are planning on putting home solar panels on your roof for the next 25 years, you have to be concerned about the quality of the solar panels. Certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the premier independent product safety certification organization, under stringent testing conditions is one measure of the quality of solar modules. UL is going global. And the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has released a scorecard, ranking manufacturers of solar panels on, among other criteria, environmental impact.

]]></description>
<pubDate>03-24-2010 14:46:20</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Large Solar Power Plants in the US and Abroad]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/large-solar-power-plants-in-the-us-and-abroad</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The solar energy industry is showing signs of growth both in the United States and abroad. Large solar power plants in California, Florida, and Europe are making headlines and grabbing the attention of energy insiders and policy makers. report. The Solar Energy Industry Association is predicting that there are over 100 utility-scale projects in the planning stages-that represents a whopping 17,000 megawatts. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>03-18-2010 13:01:56</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Energy Expands Its Reach in Developing World]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-energy-expands-its-reach-in-developing-world</link>
<description><![CDATA[
There are new signs that solar energy is increasing its global presence in the energy marketplace. Its ability to satisfy small, remote energy loads makes it a popular choice for power generation in developing regions of the world, Phaesun GmbH, a German solar power company specializing in off-grid installations, is building ten solar power plants in the Koudougou Region of Burkina Faso. These installations, which are expected to be finished by the end of March, will power telecommunications facilities in this West-African country's rural areas. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>03-16-2010 09:09:22</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Keeping Pace with Renewable Energy Standards: Colorado Climbs the Mountain]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/keeping-pace-with-renewable-energy-standards-colorado-climbs-the-mountain</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The Colorado State Senate gave its final approval for a bill that stands to raise the state's renewable energy production. Awaiting final signature from Democratic Governor Bill Ritter, the new legislation will require Colorado power utilities to increase the amount of energy that they purchase from renewable sources from 20% to 30% by 2020. You will remember from SolarTown's news article, last year California raised its mandate to 33%. With its new renewable energy standard, Colorado will be able to boast the second highest renewable energy standard in the United States. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>03-09-2010 12:42:39</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[PACE Coming to the Nation's Capital]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/pace-coming-to-the-nations-capital</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Property Assessed Clean Energy is gaining traction throughout the country, including here in Washington, D.C. There is now even a website devoted to gathering information about all of these programs. According to this site, a &quot;PACE bond is a bond where the proceeds are lent to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits (efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems) and who then repay their loans over 20 years via an annual assessment on their property tax bill.&quot; Berkeley issued the first bond in January 2009. According to the Center for Resource Solutions, 16 states and 300 cities across the country will have enacted PACE legislation by the end of this year. Now PACE is coming to Washington, D.C.

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-26-2010 11:49:04</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Mojave Desert Solar Power Complex Receives Large Federal Loan Guarantee]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/mojave-desert-solar-power-complex-receives-large-federal-loan-guarantee</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The solar power industry got a big boost last week when the Department of Energy announced a $1.37 billion loan guarantee for a solar thermal power complex in the Mojave Desert. BrightSource Energy, the recipient of the loan, plans to construct three solar thermal facilities with a collective generating capacity of 392 MW. According to a report from the Washington Post, the money will be drawn from resources given to the Department of Energy under the economic stimulus bill of 2009.&nbsp; The Obama administration emphasized that the new project would bring clean energy jobs to the region.

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-24-2010 12:08:53</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Net Metering Gets a Boost in California]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/net-metering-gets-a-boost-in-california</link>
<description><![CDATA[
A&nbsp;new bill passed by the California State senate may provide even greater incentives to residential solar energy projects. This draft legislation&nbsp;would significantly raise the net metering cap for electric utilities from 2.5% to 5%, but there are some opponents to the legislation. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-23-2010 08:26:28</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Ten Million Solar Roofs Initiative]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/ten-million-solar-roofs-initiative</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate's green jobs subcommittee, recently introduced the 10 Million Solar Roofs and 10 Million Gallons of Solar Water Heating Act of 2010. The legislation is aimed to encourage the installation of solar energy systems and solar water heaters on the rooftops of residential and commercial buildings by 2019.


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-16-2010 13:14:03</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[US Partnership for Renewable Energy Unlocks Capital for Solar Energy Projects]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/us-partnership-for-renewable-energy-unlocks-capital-for-solar-energy-projects</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The US Partnership for Renewable Energy Finance (US PREF), a program of the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), outlined the interaction and feasibility of financing utility and commercial scale renewable energy sources as a response to federal policy and lending programs at the recent Renewable Energy Technology Conference. US PREF is a non-partisan association whose objective is to unlock financial capital for renewable energy by networking private capital and investment firms with utilities, various levels of government, and other major stakeholders. Designed as an educational program for finance training in policy decisions to maximize government efficiency and to develop sound legislation, PREF provides pro bono analysis of how policy decisions will affect the market, and makes recommendations on policy that will spur private sector involvement. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-09-2010 13:29:18</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Chinese Solar Panel Manufacturer Opening Arizona Factory]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/chinese-solar-panel-manufacturer-opening-arizona-factory</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Earlier this week Suntech Power Holdings, China's largest manufacturer of solar panels, announced its plan to build a new production facility in Goodyear, Arizona. According to Solar Daily, the new production plant will be Suntech's first manufacturing outlet in the United States. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-08-2010 10:46:32</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Industry Sees Bright Future in New York State]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-industry-sees-bright-future-in-new-york-state</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In an effort to bolster the solar energy industry in New York State, the New York State Power Authority (NYPA) announced a plan to increase the state's solar electricity generation by 100 megawatts over the next four years, representing a 500% increase on New York's current solar generating capacity. Announced on Wednesday, this initiative is in line with Governor David Patterson's &quot;45 by 15&quot; goal that calls for 45% of the state's electricity to come from renewable resources by 2015.

]]></description>
<pubDate>02-01-2010 10:33:20</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[US Funding New Solar Energy Technologies]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/us-funding-new-solar-energy-technologies</link>
<description><![CDATA[
In an effort to promote sustainable business development, the federal government has taken to funding innovative technologies that will increase solar energy's efficiency and scope of applications. At the beginning of 2010, the Obama administration and the Department of Energy announced funding of $2.3 billion tax credits to 183 companies for new clean energy technology initiatives. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>01-27-2010 11:17:07</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Maryland Trying to Become Leader in Solar]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/maryland-trying-to-become-leader-in-solar</link>
<description><![CDATA[
There are several states that are trying to wrest the solar mantle from California, which has been the major hotbed of solar activity. Although not known for their sunshine, several states in the mid-Atlantic region have adopted progressive agendas to motivate growth in the solar industry-and there are enough solar rays to go around. Maryland is the latest state to strengthen its solar agenda. Governor Martin O'Malley released his 2010 energy agenda earlier this week. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>01-22-2010 14:54:52</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[France Wants Solar-But Keep It Beautiful Sacirc;il Vous PlaAtilde;reg;t ]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/france-wants-solar-but-keep-it-beautiful-sil-vous-plat</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The growth of solar continues to be driven by economic incentives. Most of these incentives are based on capacity or output or price, but here is a new one from France, aesthetics. France's answer to those who may deride the aesthetics of solar photovoltaic systems is to provide additional incentives for solar shingles or building-integrated photovoltaics installations.

]]></description>
<pubDate>01-15-2010 07:23:53</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Panels: On Our Roofs or In Our Fields]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-panels-on-our-roofs-or-in-our-fields</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Possibly it is a reflection of the maturing of the solar industry that the debate has shifted from whether to go solar to where to go solar, like in whether to put solar panels on your roof or in a huge array in the desert. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>01-05-2010 07:20:34</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Whither Thin Film: Is Thin Film Wilting on the Bud]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/whither-thin-film-is-thin-film-wilting-on-the-bud</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Thin film technology has been increasing its market share over the last couple of years. As reported in Greentech Media, according to Navigant Consulting thin-film shipments accounted for 11 percent of the global market in 2007, 14 percent in 2008, and possibly as much as 25 percent in 2009. But with the price of crystalline PV coming down, the thin film industry is under siege. Thin film has generally been recommended for its low cost, its ease of installation, its attractive appearance and its output in low light situations. But the major drawback is that it is significantly less efficient than the competing photovoltaic technology and requires much more space to produce the same output as crystalline panels.


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>12-10-2009 12:19:45</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Contaminated Brownfield Sites and Solar Energy: A Bright Idea]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/contaminated-brownfield-sites-and-solar-energy-a-bright-idea</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Renewable energy, and solar in particular, are real solutions in solving the energy issues faced by the United States. However these resources take space, and lots of it. As the result, the problem of where to place all of these solar power plants has arisen. One solution is through the redevelopment of contaminated industrial sites. Brownfield land sites- abandoned industrial or commercial areas with ground contamination that has been determined to be non-hazardous, number over 400,000 sites in the US and cover approximately 15 million acres. Much of this land goes undeveloped for decades, because the clean-up costs are prohibitively expensive so projects are done elsewhere. This results in slow economic growth in surrounding areas and increasing regional sprawl as new land is developed for commercial and industrial use.

]]></description>
<pubDate>12-09-2009 13:40:04</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Calculus is Changing: Massachusetts Allows You to Sell Excess Back to the Utility]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-calculus-is-changing-massachusetts-allows-you-to-sell-excess-back-to-the-utility</link>
<description><![CDATA[The price of solar panels is dropping. The life of solar panels is Increasing. New law are being enacted to allow you to sell excess electricity back to your utility company. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>12-02-2009 07:22:20</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solution for Solar Energy: More Effective Lobbying]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solution-for-solar-energy-more-effective-lobbying</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The convention at Solar Power International 2009 wrapped up last week, but the news media and blogosphere are still discussing the speech by the president of the Solar Energy Industries Association.

]]></description>
<pubDate>11-02-2009 11:47:56</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Likelihood of Energy Bill Passage Before End of Year: None to Slim]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/likelihood-of-energy-bill-passage-before-end-of-year-none-to-slim</link>
<description><![CDATA[
If the health care debate and Afghanistan were not enough on the plate of President Barack Obama, it appears that he has not given up hope of quick passage of the energy bill, and more importantly of a deal in Copenhagen at the United Nations Climate Change Conference that is set to begin on December 7. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>10-23-2009 11:30:43</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Biden Does Berkeley: Financing Your Solar Array]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/biden-does-berkeley-financing-your-solar-array</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Vice President Biden announced a new national program, a part of which is modeled substantially on the Berkeley approach to provide financing for solar installations. We at SolarTown believe that the number one impediment to the adoption of solar energy in the United States today is financing. Even with the generous incentives currently available from the federal government and many states and local utilities, the upfront costs continue to present a high hurdle for those looking to place solar panels on their roofs. The creative financing approach innovated in Berkeley, California has received considerable attention and has been seen as one of the solutions to the financing quandary. The new program attempts to address this substantial challenge to the solar industry. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>10-21-2009 08:48:06</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Feed -In Tariffs  California Style]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/feed-in-tariffs-california-style</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The feed-in-tariffs, under which the consumer may sell excess energy back to the utility, have been both praised and demonized in Europe. They have been at the center of the debate in the leading solar countries of Germany and Spain. And they are beginning to creep into the United States, slowly but surely. California became the latest state to adopt some form of a feed-in tariff. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>10-14-2009 12:18:15</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Dow Chemical Wants to Become the 800 Pound Gorilla in the BIPV Market]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/dow-chemical-wants-to-become-the-800-pound-gorilla-in-the-bipv-market</link>
<description><![CDATA[
New technologies incubating now will hit the market in the next few years, changing the entire complexion of solar energy products. Dow Chemical has announced a new product in the building integrated photovoltaic market that it hopes will dominate the market in the next several years. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>10-06-2009 08:21:45</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Batten Down the Hatches: Solar Panel Thefts]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/batten-down-the-hatches-solar-panel-thefts</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Along with new technology comes new crime. We have seen this with viruses attacking our computers. And now we are seeing it in solar energy. Burglary of solar panels has cropped up in California over the past year, leaving homeowners, schools, and businesses with missing solar panels. Just last week, there was another report of a theft of solar panels in the wine country in California.

]]></description>
<pubDate>10-02-2009 12:37:07</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Will Obama Go to Copenhagen Empty Handed]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/will-obama-go-to-copenhagen-empty-handed</link>
<description><![CDATA[
President Obama has not made any secret of the fact that he would like to attend the Copenhagen conference with the energy bill in hand. Tomorrow, we will&nbsp;see&nbsp;the version of the bill in one Senate committee. Passage of the final bill is anything but assured before the Copenhagen conference, even though it is a major component of the Obama Administration's domestic policy agenda. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>09-29-2009 13:06:21</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Cooperatives: Going Solar One Neighborhood at a Time]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-cooperatives-going-solar-one-neighborhood-at-a-time</link>
<description><![CDATA[
There are several significant challenges facing someone who is interested in going solar. The cost of the array, which can be in the tens of thousands of dollars looms as a major hurdle. The panels may be expensive and you may not have the finances to support going green. The second challenge is simply the process and procedures. It is very confusing even for the most committed because most of the programs are relatively young and the people who are in charge of the various bureaucracies do not have a lot of experience. Finding out about local regulations, building codes, tax credits, utility rebates all involves work. A neighborhood in DC formed a solar cooperative to battle against these problems.

]]></description>
<pubDate>09-21-2009 14:17:35</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[California Executive Order Mandates 33 by 2020: Is it Legal]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/california-executive-order-mandates-33-by-2020-is-it-legal</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Governor Schwarzenegger signed an executive order yesterday requiring that the utilities in California obtain 33% of all their energy from renewables by 2020. Although this is an ambitious goal, the executive order bypassed the work of the California legislature, imperiling the bipartisan support for this goal. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>09-16-2009 13:41:03</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Million Solar Roofs from California to India]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/million-solar-roofs-from-california-to-india</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Nature reports on a new initiative in India to put solar panels on one million roofs by 2020. The initiative is reminiscent of the bold initiative in California to place solar panels on one million roofs in the Golden State by 2018. Governor Schwarzenegger signed the legislation to complete this million solar roof plan in 2006, and now India has matched California's vision. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>09-10-2009 10:29:53</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Chinese Garnering Market Share Through Dumping]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/chinese-garnering-market-share-through-dumping</link>
<description><![CDATA[
We have been following the news stories about the precipitous fall in the price of PV panels. And now there may be another explanation. A New York Times article set off a fire storm of protest by suggesting that one of the major solar PV manufacturers was selling panels in the US at below its marginal cost. Why would a manufacturer want to incur a loss on selling its products? The simple answer is to garner market share and drive its competitors out of business. This practice is known as dumping and, if harm can be shown to domestic producers, is illegal. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>09-04-2009 11:15:15</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Efficiency Standards in Building Codes: Does San Francisco Show What the Future Holds ]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/efficiency-standards-in-building-codes-does-san-francisco-show-what-the-future-holds</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The fastest way to improve our nation's energy needs is to improve the efficiency of our buildings. By far and large the structures we occupy throughout the country consume the largest percentage of our resources. Perhaps this is why the recent American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) includes a major provision requiring higher efficiencies in new building construction. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-30-2009 14:28:26</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Lower Silicon Prices...Again]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/lower-silicon-pricesagain</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Good news continues to roll in about prices of silicon. Once again they continue to fall. Only this time they have fallen enough to lead many companies to renegotiate their supply contracts. A green tech media online article talks about the price reduction and the near spot market price of around $67 per kilogram being reached. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-29-2009 10:46:39</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Creative Financing Solutions Fuel Solar Energy]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/creative-financing-solutions-fuel-solar-energy</link>
<description><![CDATA[
By now every American citizen is aware of the nation's drive towards a renewable and green energy future. The push for energy independence has been tied to national security and environmental preservation, making it imperative that as citizens we change our habits now. Rhetoric motivates the populace beginning the process of reversing decades of energy waste. But rhetoric doesn't solve the greatest barrier to conversion to renewable energy; the cost. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-23-2009 12:59:34</pubDate>
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<item>
<title><![CDATA[The Invasion of the Feed In Tariffs]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/the-invasion-of-the-feed-in-tariffs</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Solar installation in the United States still lags behind nations in Europe despite a recent flurry of federal and state tax credits. Despite government tax credits, the price of installing solar panels remains out of reach of most consumers. More creative means are needed to stimulate demand. More creative means are needed to make solar more affordable. America is now looking to Europe for guidance.

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-21-2009 11:47:20</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Energy Market Poised for Significant Growth]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-energy-market-poised-for-significant-growth</link>
<description><![CDATA[
A&nbsp;picture of a future grounded in solar energy is sharpening as the vision is coming into focus. The pieces of the puzzle are lining up ready to be placed into their appropriate position. Each individual piece ready to fulfill its job. The time for solar energy is here.

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-17-2009 09:33:00</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Surplus of Silicon Reduces PV Prices]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/surplus-of-silicon-reduces-pv-prices</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The main barrier inhibiting solar's entrance onto the main stage is the cost of silicon used in manufacturing. In anticipation of a growing world market companies are developing newer, cheaper and more efficient methods of refining silicon for use in solar products. As these methods are perfected the supplies of silicon are increased. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-14-2009 15:09:38</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Land Rush]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-land-rush</link>
<description><![CDATA[
A land rush is underway in the American Southwest as companies and investors buy up large tracts of land in anticipation for building solar energy plants. This rush has been pushed forward recently by the Bureau of Land Management's opening of public lands for possible solar development. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-13-2009 09:44:14</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[First Solar Providing Industry Drive]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/first-solar-providing-industry-drive</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The price of installing a watt of solar energy has fallen dramatically with a few companies announcing they have broken the one dollar a watt barrier. The payoffs for installing solar are now shorter in time and cost savings are growing greater as quickly as price falls. 


&nbsp;

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-09-2009 15:00:44</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar Looking for a Solar Carve-Out]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-looking-for-a-solar-carve-out</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Legislation and incentives are what has buffered solar energy production from the fates of so many other industries recently. Massive amounts of stimulus money have been appropriated for renewable energy and should be making its way into the market soon. In addition to providing more money, the industry is lobbying for legislation requiring greater amounts of future energy supplies to be met through solar power. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>07-08-2009 06:51:18</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Incentives Continue for Renewables]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/incentives-continue-for-renewables</link>
<description><![CDATA[
The House of Representatives narrowly passed what is generally regarded as landmark legislation directed at curbing greenhouse emissions in the United States, setting the stage for a tough fight in the Senate. The American Clean Energy and Security Act aims to cut carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050 through various means. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>06-29-2009 12:24:47</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Building the Smart Grid]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/building-the-smart-grid</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Most citizens in the United States live in cities. Many of these cities lie close to the coasts. Most supplies of renewable energy lie in remote areas in the interior of the country. It appears we have a geographical problem to overcome. One solution is the construction of a smart grid throughout the United States. &nbsp;Discover Magazine reporter Peter Fairley wrote an in depth story about the next generation smart grid in June's edition. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>06-11-2009 15:38:48</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The Sun Doesn't Shine Bright In Texas]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/the-sun-doesnt-shine-bright-in-texas</link>
<description><![CDATA[One of the sunniest states in the union failed to pass significant legislation to aid solar energy development when the Texas legislature failed to approve $500 million in incentives. Not everything is bigger in Texas. 
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<pubDate>06-09-2009 08:44:17</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[The Sunshine State Not Living Up To Its Name]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/the-sunshine-state-not-living-up-to-its-name</link>
<description><![CDATA[&quot;Build it and they will come.&quot; The famous line heard by Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) in the 1989 film &quot;Field of Dreams&quot; may be used to explain the development of the United States' first all solar city.&nbsp;Earlier this year, former NFL linemen Syd Kitson and Kitson &amp; Partners announced plans to begin construction for Babcock Ranch reports the New York Times. 
]]></description>
<pubDate>06-08-2009 16:44:43</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Thin Film: Solar Energy's New Frontier]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/thin-film-solar-energys-new-frontier</link>
<description><![CDATA[
As solar energy gains acceptance and financial feasibility, start-up companies across the country are aiming to develop and market the most efficient solar products to consumers. The focus is not entirely on large solar power plants anymore. Thin film technology is gaining a foothold. 

]]></description>
<pubDate>06-05-2009 09:23:24</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Obama's Energy Pop]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/obamas-energy-pop</link>
<description><![CDATA[
Before he became president in July 2008, President Obama started his &quot;energy pop&quot; by seriously considering alternative energies. He summoned a meeting of industry leaders from oil companies, utility providers, a climate scientist, an economist, a California climate expert, and campaign staffers. Following the meeting Obama decided the climate and energy issues needed more pop. &quot;This stuff needs to pop more,&quot; he told his aides as he left the room. &quot;We need to find a way to make it pop more.&quot; 

]]></description>
<pubDate>06-03-2009 11:15:08</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Solar energy project for student housing]]></title>
<link>http://www.solartown.com/community/news/view/solar-energy-project-for-student-housing</link>
<description><![CDATA[
BUFFALO, N.Y. Press release - In its effort to promote renewable energy technologies throughout New York State and in response to Governor Paterson&rsquo;s call to expand New York&rsquo;s renewable energy portfolio, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) today joined with the University at Buffalo (UB) to announce a major, multi-million dollar award to the university to construct a 1.1 megawatt solar energy array on UB&rsquo;s North (Amherst) Campus. The solar array, consisting of approximately 5,000 photovoltaic panels, will generate clean energy directly from the sun for students living in UB&rsquo;s apartment complexes.

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<pubDate>05-08-2009 05:42:48</pubDate>
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