Global Clean Energy Investments Exceed $27.3 Billion

Global investments in clean energy reached $27.3 billion in the first quarter of 2010 according to an analysis issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance on April 12.  This represents a 31% increase over the first quarter of 2009, but is 13.6% lower than the 4th quarter of 2009.

The figures include asset financing of wind farms, solar, biofuel production facilitiees plants, as well as public and private investments in clean energy companies.  China was the leader in clean energy asset financing in the first quarter of 2010 with investments of $6.5 billion, compared to $3.5 billion in US.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Solar Shows Strong Growth in 2009 Despite the Great Recession

U.S. solar electric generation capacity increased by 37 percent in 2009, showing strong growth despite the Great Recession. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the growth was the result of increased investment in both photovoltaic and concentrating solar power. It was driven primarily by strong demand in the residential and utility-scale markets.

Solar water heating and pool heating also grew in 2009, by about 10%. Not too bad given the overall state of the economy.

SEIA attributes the good news to a combination of government policies, new business models, and declining prices. Give the continued availability of tax credits and stimulus funds this year and next, SEIA expects continued growth in solar electricity generation in 2010.

The solar industry added 17,000 new jobs in 2009 and now employs a total of 46,000 workers in the USA. Solar manufacturing showed a 7 percent increase in PV module production from 2008.

California led the country in new solar electric generation capacity with 220 MW. Other states that continued to see growth in their installed base of solar electric generation were New Jersey (57 MW), Florida (36 MW), Arizona (23 MW), Colorado (23 MW), Hawaii (14 MW), New York (12 MW), Massachusetts (10 MW), Connecticut (9 MW), and North Carolina (8 MW).

There is still room for tremendous growth in this sector. The USA currently ranks fourth in the world in new solar generation capacity with 481 MW. Increasing advances in technologies such as thin film solar, lower prices, and government policies requiring fossil fuel prices to include the costs of pollution, solar electric generation should help solar capacity to reach into the gigawatts in the near future.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Dow Corning CEO Urges Congress on Green Energy Incentives

Dr. Stephanie A. Burns, Dow Corning's chairman, president and CEO, testified today before the House Ways & Means Committee at a hearing on energy tax incentives and the green job economy. The central message of her testimony was: "America’s energy transformation is inexorably linked to our nation’s economic and manufacturing future."

Dr. Burns noted that Dow Corning has announced more than $5 billion in investments in solar technology. Most of that is in capital for advanced manufacturing operations for polycrystalline silicon. It also includes other operations like research & development and materials that improve the performance and cost efficiency of solar cells and modules. Dr. Burns pointed out that these recent initiatives build on a 70-year history at Dow Corning of producing products focused on energy efficiency and sustainability.

Companies such as Dow Corning and its joint venture partners are manufacturing solar and other renewable energy-related materials here in America. This creates thousands of jobs in construction, engineering, science and skilled trades, according to Dr. Burns.

The problem is that many countries are now competing for these good jobs with tax credits and other incentives to attract green and sustainable investments. "Other nations have enacted aggressive policies to support the growth of the renewable energy industry," she said. "Companies that hope to manufacture in the United States are faced with a tax structure that encourages them to do otherwise. It is time for America to enact policies that will essentially assure this industry grows here."

Dr. Burns pointed out that recent initiatives such as the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have had a very positive impact by leveraging investments from the private sector. She urged Congress to do even more to stay competitive in the global clean technology race. The tax credit was capped at $2.3 billion, and was significantly oversubscribed. According to the Department of Energy, there were many viable projects that were not funded. With that in mind, Dr. Burns asked Congress to make the tax credit permanent in any energy, climate, or jobs bill now under development. "This will help propel America into an era of sustained, renewable energy use and help put Americans back to work," she said.

Dr. Burn's complete testimony before Congress is available by clicking here.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

26 MW Free-Field Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Going Up In Spain

The Spanish system integrator, Assyce Fotovoltaica, is constructing the largest First Solar free-field solar power plant in Extremadura, with a capacity of more than 26 MWp. The power plant with a land area of 69 hectares should be completed by the end of the year and will generate more than 42 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.

"The area offers very good conditions for photovoltaics," explains Luis Garrido, managing director of Assyce Fotovoltaica. "Due to the high level of solar radiation in the south of Spain, we can expect a very good yield of electricity." The electricity yield will also benefit from the implementation of a new transformer technology. "In contrast to traditional power plants, electricity loss is considerably reduced," says Luis Garrido. Assyce is also implementing in this project the worldwide established inverter system technology from market-leader SMA Technology AG, based in Kassel, Germany. 36 transformer stations will be built up on the 69-hectare site. With more than 337,000 modules capturing solar radiation, Assyce Fotovoltaica, currently the only First Solar system integrator in Spain, is putting its trust in First Solar's thin film technology which has already proven its worth in many other solar power plants. "The modules are very effective and durable and they are perfect for use in hot climate regions," explains Luis Garrido. The First Solar modules offer a high level of operating reliability for the project. Assyce Fotovoltaica has been working together with First Solar with excellent success for years. Basically this partnership makes the realisation of this remarkable large-scale project possible.

The construction of the free-field solar power plant began at the end of January. The whole power plant should be completed by the end of the year at the latest. With the eco-friendly solar electricity over 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved every year and the electricity yield is enough to energize more than 14,000 four-person households for a whole year. "We are making an important contribution to the climate protection and to the expansion of renewable energy resources," explains Luis Garrido. "Power from the sun always has a future and will remain an important pillar of renewable energy."

Due to the limitation of 200 Megawatts per year for new free-field solar power plants (since the end of 2008), Assyce is particularly excited about being able to construct a power plant with a dimension of 10% of the total annual volume together with First Solar. Assyce Fotovoltaica is one of the pioneers in the Spanish free-field solar power plant market. The company, based in Padul (Granada), has already constructed more than 12 solar power plants all over Spain over the last few years.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Greener Resume Can Give College Graduates Edge in Job Market

Green-collar jobs grew by more than 9 percent, twice the growth rate for traditional jobs, from 1998 to 2007. Even during a recession, a greener resume can be the answer to getting hired, says Wake Forest Director of Sustainability Dedee DeLongpre Johnston. "Sustainability is a competitive advantage in the marketplace," she says. "College graduates entering the job market this year will definitely have an edge if they have developed sustainability-related skill sets."

Getting a green job doesn't mean looking for jobs with "sustainability" or "environment" in the title any more. Green jobs are also not limited to installing solar panels or weatherizing houses. From marketing to publishing to accounting to finance, viewing the world through the lens of sustainability and having practical experience in that area can make a difference when applying for jobs.

As banks look at making loans for green buildings, law firms develop new kinds of contracts for carbon credits, and companies target consumers who value greener products, students who understand what sustainability looks like in various industries or organizations and have experience solving real-world problems will fare well. And, if students understand sustainability principles, any job can become a green job.

"Sustainability is a way of thinking," DeLongpre Johnston says. "And, that way of thinking has value across the job market. Experience and knowledge tied to sustainability will make this year's job hunters stronger candidates."

Internships focused on sustainability are invaluable for students who are job hunting because they help students demonstrate to employers that they can solve problems, says DeLongpre Johnston, who has business majors, anthropology majors and students from other academic departments interning in her office and helps students find off-campus internships.

Integrating sustainability into a career also helps students who are passionate about a greener world align their passions and talents with their work.

"Eventually, sustainability will be woven seamlessly into the fabric of society," she says. Just as proficiency using word processing, the Web, and other technology is now expected in the workplace, understanding sustainability principles and how to apply them will become a basic expectation of employers in the future, she says.  Sustainability also offers the biggest entrepreneurial opportunities out there, DeLongpre Johnston says. The green economy has created new outlets for innovation.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

New Solar Leasing Fund Established

Sungevity, the leading online residential solar provider, announced today a new partnership with U.S. Bancorp to finance solar systems for Californian homes.  The program provides the first ever 10-year solar lease program, making it easier for California residents to get electricity free from the sun, with no money down, at the click of a mouse.  U.S. Bancorp is the parent of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States.

"We're excited to partner with Sungevity on their solar lease program," said Darren Van't Hof, Vice President of Renewable Energy Investments for U.S. Bank. "We like the residential solar space and are convinced its growth will outpace commercial solar development in the coming years."

Together the two companies have created a new tax equity fund to finance solar leases for Sungevity's future customers. Sungevity has become a leader in the solar industry because of its ability to offer easy and affordable residential solutions with its unique online design and sales process.

"Sungevity is thrilled to be able to offer the best solar lease on the market with the first ever 10-year term using this fund while maintaining a service unparalleled by our competitors," said Danny Kennedy, President and co-founder of Sungevity. "Having a great partner like U.S. Bank that believes in the power of solar helps ensure that more home owners than ever can reap the savings coming from solar power in their own homes."

Sungevity started providing solar leases this month and has already sold one-quarter of a megawatt under the offer. Leveraging the easy online "iQuote" process, which enables Sungevity to use satellite images and aerial photography to assess customers' roofs remotely and accurately determine the homes' solar potential, the company has been able to furnish thousands of customers with a firm proposal to use solar power with no capital cost. Demand has been huge with over 1000 iQuotes requested through www.sungevity.com in the last week alone.

The offer gives most customers savings from the start of their Sungevity Solar Lease. The graphic compares a typical customer's monthly electric bill over a ten year period – savings from the solar lease starts immediately and increases significantly over time.

"This is the killer app for driving the mass adoption of solar," said Kennedy. "We've made it more than affordable to access electricity free from the sun, and we've made it easy by selling it over the internet."

"The Sungevity Solar Lease is a game changer: In one day this month we sold more solar power than our previous biggest month – people are voting with their mouses to get a lower electricity bill and do something for the planet."

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

Underwriters Laboratories Opens Europe's Largest Photovoltaic Testing and Certification Facility in Germany

Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a global leader in safety testing and certification, announced today the expansion of its global photovoltaic (PV) footprint near the Frankfurt/Main airport in Germany, where it opens Europe's largest photovoltaic testing and certification facility. The new Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence reinforces UL's commitment to drive global progress and innovation of safe and reliable solar energy technologies and equipment.

UL is expanding its presence in Europe and Asia as the PV industry continues to experience significant global progress. The global installed capacity of solar photovoltaic power in GW has grown more than 1,000 percent from 2001 to 2008 and sales of photovoltaic technologies is predicted to reach $32.3 billion by 2012, according to BBC Research. Local service capabilities in San Jose, Calif., Suzhou, China, Frankfurt, Germany and upcoming facilities in Japan and India allow UL to bring an industry-leading portfolio of services to local markets and help manufacturers succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

The new state-of-the-art 22,600 square-foot testing facility in Germany houses 22 world-class testing chambers, including: fourteen climate chambers, four damp heat chambers, two large walk-ins and two temperature and humidity ovens and other cutting edge testing equipment. This added capacity allows UL to offer its European customers faster and more cost efficient testing processes due to the local presence and a highly skilled engineering team that speaks the local language. The comprehensive portfolio of services allows for global conformity assessment according to UL, IEC and EN certification requirements and enables faster global market access for UL's customers.

"The opening of the German facility marks another milestone in our photovoltaic global expansion and underscores our commitment to the industry and our customers," said Jeff Smidt, Vice President and General Manager for UL's Global Energy business. "Whether it is through our industry expertise, innovations in our service portfolio or investing in state-of-the-art facilities, we are expanding our capabilities to help manufacturers deliver innovative and safe PV products to the market."

UL is currently the only company in Europe that is fully accredited to test to UL 1703 and IEC/EN 61730 standards and its UL Mark has complete market acceptance in the U.S. The new facility enables small and large European manufacturers to locally test PV technologies and gain efficient access to the global market.

The Photovoltaic Technology Center of Excellence in Neu-Isenburg near Frankfurt/Main is located at Admiral-Rosendahl-Strasse 23, Neu-Isenburg (Zeppelinheim). To learn more about the new facility, visit: www.ul.com/pv-video. For more information on UL's PV services, visit: http://www.ul.com/dge/photovoltaics/.

www.DaviesGreenEnergy.com

PBS KIDS(R) Celebrates Fifth Annual 'Share The Earth Day' April 22

On April 22, PBS KIDS will host "Share the Earth Day" as 15 different series present eco-friendly, earth science and outdoor exploration-themed episodes. Families can join favorite characters from CURIOUS GEORGE, SESAME STREET, SUPER WHY! and more as they learn about solar power, pollution, water conservation, biospheres and saving the rainforest. 2010 marks PBS KIDS' largest "Share the Earth Day" event.

"'PBS KIDS Share the Earth Day' encourages kids to explore earth science as part of their daily lives, from backyard adventures with Sid the Science Kid to cooking using solar energy with Curious George," said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President of Children's Media, PBS. "PBS KIDS is a leader in science learning, with the most comprehensive, dedicated content and resources on TV, on-line and in classrooms."

Continuing the Earth Day learning on digital platforms, PBSKIDSGO.org/video will feature the online premiere of WORDGIRL's "Earth Day Girl" episode, as well as a themed channel of Earth Day episodes. Beginning today, PBSKIDSGO.org will launch new content on EekoWorld, an interactive website designed to introduce children to the basics of ecosystems, conservation and pollution, and on April 5th, PBSKIDSGO.ORG/designsquad/contest will feature the launch of the 2010 Trash to Treasure competition which challenges kids to recycle, reuse and reengineer everyday items into new inventions. PBSKIDS.org will feature more than 20 environment and nature games, as well as an Earth Day specific playlist at PBSKIDS.org/video.

PBSPARENTS.org will feature tips for making recyclable crafts, throwing an eco-friendly birthday party and supporting children's interest in nature. The site will also host an Expert Q&A with Kimberly Brenneman, education advisor for SID THE SCIENCE KID. PBSTEACHERS.org will host a webinar on April 5, titled "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day," exploring environmental curriculum and its impact on student preparedness for green jobs.

Earth Day Episodes, Airing on "Share the Earth Day," April 22 (check local listings)

For preschoolers:

(NEW) CURIOUS GEORGE – "Something New Under the Sun"

It's too hot to do anything except cool off in front of the air conditioner...until the power goes off. To beat the heat, George and the Man with the Yellow Hat visit the museum, which is the only place in town with power, due to its new solar energy panel. George sees how the sun can charge batteries, and the Man agrees to make his famous lasagna for Dr. Levit's birthday. But how can the Man make his lasagna without power for his electric oven? Can a monkey's knowledge of solar power be the key to baking the world's first solar energy birthday lasagna?

BARNEY & FRIENDS – "Home Sweet Home: The Rainforest"

It's Earth Day, a great time for everyone to learn how to help take care of our world, but Ben is wasting paper while BJ isn't too concerned about cutting down a tree to make room for a new playground. After a trip to the rainforest and a meeting with Mother Nature, everyone learns the importance of taking care of our world. As Earth Day comes to an end, Barney reminds us all that taking good care of our Earth is the natural thing to do...for the people we love.

CAILLOU – "Outdoor Adventures"

When Caillou, Grandpa and Daddy go on a canoe trip, Caillou is amazed to see a dragonfly, a blue heron and a beaver working on his beaver lodge. Later, when Caillou and his family are on a picnic at the park, his beach ball accidentally rolls into a pond. Caillou sees a family of ducks swimming in the pond and wants to take a closer look.

CLIFFORD – "Doggie Garden"

Its Keep Birdwell Beautiful month and the kids are doing their part by planting a flower garden. Seeing this, the dogs decide to create a doggie flower garden of their own. But when Cleo hears that almost anything grows in Birdwell Island soil, she decides she'd much rather grow a garden full of dog toys! She soon learns, however, that working alone for a selfish end is not nearly as rewarding as working together for the whole community.

DINOSAUR TRAIN – "Tiny Loves Fish"

After Mr. Pteranodon teaches the kids his fishing method, Buddy and Tiny work together as a team to catch fish in the Big Pond.

DRAGON TALES – "Green Thumbs"

Following a torrential storm, the gang discovers Lily, a baby flower, helplessly floating downstream after being uprooted by the rain. They learn that she was separated from her family and misses them dearly. The gang knows that she's too little to take care of herself, and they use what they know to plant her in a bucket of soil and promise to take her back where she belongs.

IT'S A BIG BIG WORLD – "World Tree Day"

It is World Tree Day and Snook has made badges to give to all of the residents who do something nice for the tree. While they all find their own ways to care for the tree, Bob is worried because he can't think of anything to do. After a talk with Snook and Oko, Bob writes a song to celebrate the tree and earns a badge from Snook.

SESAME STREET – "Wild Nature Survivor Guy"

Wild Nature Survivor Guy is accustomed to surviving in the wilds of nature and thinks he needs to "survive" out on Sesame Street. First, Wild Nature Survivor Guy finds a tomato plant and bites into a ripe tomato. Not only do tomatoes come from nature, but so do all the fruits and vegetables on display outside Hooper's store. Next, Wild Nature Survival Guy looks for water to quench his thirst. He finds leaves with drops of water and gathers the droplets to drink.

SID THE SCIENCE KID – "The Dirt on Dirt"

Sid wants to know what makes dirt so dirty. At school, Sid and his friends discover that dirt is really important to the Earth because it helps things grow, and it's also filled with tiny rocks, pieces of leaves, and even living things like bugs and worms!

SUPER WHY! – "Tiddalick the Frog"

Whyatt's mom tells him that he's wasting water. This is a really big problem and he's not sure how to fix it. So the Super Readers dash into the Australian folk tale of Tiddalick the Frog and make the acquaintance of a funny amphibian whose puddle jumping is using up all the water and leaving his neighbors in the dust literally! As the Super Readers help Tiddalick and his dry friends, they learn how important water is to the planet, along with a valuable lesson about conservation.

WORDWORLD – "Caterpillar Gets a Home"

Duck makes a new friend on a windy, rainy day: Caterpillar. It soon becomes apparent that Caterpillar needs a home to protect her from the elements. Together, she and Duck learn to sound out some words that might make suitable homes, such as BAG, CAN and BOX. But which one will be just right?

For early elementary school children:

WORDGIRL – "Earth Day Girl" (NEW – Online Premiere)

When the Birthday Girl learns that the Earth is having a special celebration (on her birthday!), she decides to teach the Earth a lesson. Will WordGirl find a way to stop the Birthday Girl and save Earth Day?

ARTHUR – "The Cherry Tree"

Muffy will do anything to have a gigantic Dream Bouncy Castle at her party, or so she thinks. When her favorite cherry tree is cut down to make room for the castle in her yard, she starts to have regrets. Then to make matters worse, she learns that cutting down trees hurts the environment, too. What can Muffy do to fix the damage she's done?

CYBERCHASE – "The X Factor"

All is not well in Perfectamundo, a dome-enclosed cybersite, when orange spots are discovered building up on the dome's interior surface, blocking the site's precious sunlight. What source could be responsible for the spots multiplying so fast? Is it Hacker's new factory that pours out orange clouds through smoky stacks? It can't be that new Digifizz toy, with its tiny burst of colorful sparkles shooting into the air each time it gets used. With time running out, the CyberSquad must come to grips with the power of multiplication and use it to undo the site's pollution problem.

ELECTRIC COMPANY – "The Flube Whisperer"

Keith sends away for a Skeleckian pet that lives in a biosphere. But when the biosphere malfunctions, will Manny save the day?

MAYA & MIGUEL – "Every Day Is Earth Day"

For a school Earth Day project, the kids decide to clean up an old lot and plant a community garden. But as the deadline approaches, a rainstorm hits, turning the patch of dirt into a muddy mess. How will Maya get her friends out of the muck this time?

SOURCE PBS KIDS and PRNewswire.com

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG) Brings Affordable, Clean Power to San Francisco Communities

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG), the nation's largest solar group purchase company, today announced the launch of its latest San Francisco solar campaign, which will offer homeowners in the city of San Francisco impartial advice and a group discount rate of $5.39 per watt on home solar panel installation. After a rigorous evaluation of local solar installers, 1BOG selected San Francisco-based Luminalt as campaign partner to service the 1BOG solar community for the city of San Francisco.

This 1BOG campaign coincides with the launch of GreenFinanceSF, the City of San Francisco's version of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. Homeowners can finance energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements that are paid back through property taxes, rather than income. 1BOG's solar resources, tools and advice will help San Francisco community members understand the process so that they can decide whether to use this new innovative way of financing their solar energy systems.

"Stacking city, state and federal rebates on top of the 1BOG group discount makes solar energy a no brainer compared to any other fixed-return residential investment. Going solar is a smart financial decision, especially for homes with large power bills," said 1BOG CEO Dave Llorens. "Combining the City's powerful new financing that requires no home equity, with 1BOG's support, makes it easier and more affordable than ever to go solar."

"Luminalt's mission is to empower San Franciscans as solar leaders: we offer outstanding customer service and products, engage with our local community to provide the highest possible incentives, and we provide green jobs and training for residents of underserved communities as installers and in other solar industry roles," said Luminalt CEO Jeanine Cotter. "It is essential to make clean energy mainstream, and we are thrilled to work with 1BOG to offer a simple and financially compelling way for San Francisco homeowners to go solar."

The San Francisco 1BOG program is available now to local homeowners throughout the entire city of San Francisco through June 25, 2010. For more information, details about pricing and products or to sign up, visit the 1BOG SF Solar homepage at http://SolarSanFrancisco.1bog.org.

1BOG and Luminalt will be hosting a free webinar and online information session with details about the SF solar campaign on April 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. PT. To sign up, visit: http://SolarSanFrancisco.1bog.org/webinar.