Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 30 March 2013

Sustainable roofing systems prepare to take control of burgeoning GCC green construction movement

March 26 - 2013 - The company that supplied the thatched roofs for bungalows and villas on the Lebanon World Island of the Dubai World development is hoping its environmentally friendly and sustainable roofing systems can now take the UAE by storm.

Cape Reed Group of Companies recently completed their part in the landmark project off Dubai's coast in 2012, and have since just finished a project on Sir Baniyas Island in Abu Dhabi, where they supplied the natural cape reed thatched roofs for 64 bungalows and several public buildings. read more>>>

CSP Today speaks with SASIA about the future of Solar Energy in the Middle East

Mar. 18, 2013 - With the lead-up to MENASOL 2013, Browning Rockwell Founder and Director of SASIA (Saudi Arabia Solar Industries Association) shares his views on both CSP and PV in the MENA region.

Now that the industry has had time to consider the 54GW renewable energy strategy in place for Saudi Arabia for 2032, what are your conclusions?

I still believe its early days as it’s been out for a few weeks now. There has been a discussion for the past couple of years for that sort of magnitude of a programme but it wasn’t formally announced until the white paper and other announcements came February 20th, so I think there still a lot of discussion to be had. The industry right now has been asked to respond to the white paper by April 5th. I know a number of individual companies as well as SASIA who are going to present an industry response to it, but it’s the first step into the process. So I think it’s unfolding and I like to say we were waiting for the marathon to begin; now it has begun and it’s going to be a series of milestones that will happen. read more>>>

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OneRoof Energy Announces New Solar Design and Sales Management Software

March 26, 2013 - OneRoof Energy, Inc., one of the nation’s fastest growing solar finance providers, announced two new solar design and sales management tools that are helping dealers to bring solar electric systems to more residents throughout the country. The San Diego-based company, which estimates it will supply solar to more than 7,000 homes in 2013, rolled-out this month SunOpps Lite, an interactive iPad app that allows dealers to instantly assess the bottom line viability of solar for a homeowner. SunOpps Lite complements OneRoof Energy’s new web-based platform, SunOpps, a user-friendly, scalable platform that gives dealers and referral partners the ability to create, track and customize proposals and lease agreements from lead to close. read more>>>

JinkoSolar Donates 200 Modules to Earthquake-Stricken School in Medolla, Italy, in Cooperation with 'Rock No War'

March 26, 2013 - JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., a leading global PV solar power product manufacturer, today announced that it has donated 200 high-performance polycrystalline modules for a Rooftop PV system in a school in Medolla, Italy. Medolla was one of the towns most affected by the earthquake that struck the Emilia Romagna region of Italy in the May 2012.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for this new earthquake-resistant building took place on Saturday, March 23, 2013.The school is equipped with the latest energy saving technology devices.read more>>>

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Verengo Solar Launches Zero-Down Home Solar in New York State

March 26, 2013 - Verengo Solar, the nation's leading residential solar installation specialist, today announced it is expanding into New York with the aim of making affordable clean home energy available throughout the state.

"With the NY-Sun Initiative, now is a great time for New Yorkers to go solar and save money," said Peter Olmstead of citizen's advocacy group Vote Solar. "As a nationally recognized solar leader, already serving thousands of customers and supporting hundreds of jobs elsewhere in the country, Verengo's entry to the Empire State is a clear signal that New York is on its way to becoming a solar powerhouse." read more>>>

Solar power aiding jobs in Colorado

March 26, 2013 - Colorado is experiencing unprecedented growth in its solar power industry. The state hosts 246 power companies -- up from 40 four years ago -- and employs 6,200 workers.

Several factors have driven the industry's expansion in Colorado and across the country. read more>>>

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Research Release: SmartGrid Customer Engagement Success Stories

SGCC has found that utilities who are taking an active approach to integrate education and engagement into their residential, customer-facing smart grid programs have discovered a high degree of consumer satisfaction and acceptance. This and more can be found in our new research report released free to SGCC members and $75.00 for non-members.

SGCC’s Smart Grid Customer Engagement Success Stories report spotlights the strategies and tactics employed by four energy utilities in the U.S., CenterPoint Energy, Oklahoma Gas & Electric, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison, to successfully engage customers with the benefits of the smart grid, smart meters, demand response and other enabling technology and devices for home energy management. read more>>>

Congress needs institutionalized sources of expertise, paper says

New America fellow says CRS and GAO are insufficient

March 27, 2013 - Members of Congress need experts who can provide them unbiased research and facts, and its current sources of expertise aren't sufficient, a new paper from the New America Foundation says.

The paper (.pdf), published March 26, says the Congressional Research Service and Government Accountability Office have been inadequate. Their reports are "dense and text-heavy even as the demographic of congressional staff gets younger, more tech-dependent and more expectant of tweet-sized input," writes Lorelei Kelly, the New America research fellow who authored the paper. read more>>>