Solarize Massachusetts

“Thank to this year's Solarize Massachusetts program, which ended on November 4, more than 800 businesses and residents in 17 municipalities across the state elected to go forward with a solar energy installation, according to the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). In total, the program, which offered more financial incentives when more property owners signed up, was responsible for the installation of more than 5 megawatts of new PV capacity.”

GetSolar.com

U.S. Army Goes Solar

Fort Bliss

"Balfour Beatty Communities, LLC and SolarCity® have announced plans to provide up to 4,700 military homes with solar energy systems at Balfour Beatty-managed residential communities on Fort Bliss, Texas, and the adjacent White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico. The 13.2 megawatt project is an equipment lease arrangement, primarily financed by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which directly supportsthe U.S. Army’s vision for ‘Net Zero’ energy consumption at all installations."

"The Defense Department is currently the largest energy consumer in the United States and has designated Fort Bliss a “Net Zero Installation”, meaning the Army expects the installation to produce as much energy as it uses while sending no waste to landfills and maximizing water reuse. Balfour Beatty Communities is the Army’s only military housing partner on Net Zero Installations at both Fort Bliss and Fort Carson (CO) and, with family housing responsible for close to 20% of a typical installation’s energy, waste and water footprint, it is important the company provides proactive support. The projects will also help the military meet Department of Defense goals to have 25 percent of its energy requirements met by renewable energy by 2025."

Energy Digital

Island of Tokelau To Become World’s First Solar-Powered Nation

"Living in America, it can feel like it’s nearly impossible to wean ourselves off fossil fuels, but even our car-obsessed society doesn’t have it as bad as island-dwellers. The island nations of the South Pacific are among some of the most petroleum-dependent countries in the world. That’s because islands don’t have massive oil reserves or coal deposits. In order to generate electricity, South Pacific nations must import huge amounts of fuel to power diesel generators.

Now, one island nation has said enough is enough. The South Pacific nation of Tokelau is aiming to ditch its diesel dependency and transform itself into the world’s first solar-powered country.   Using 4,032 solar panels and 1,344 batteries, the island nation will generate 150% of its own current electricity demand."

Earth Techling

A New Breed of Solar Utility Challenges the Old Guard

"Georgia Solar Utilities wants to build a large solar farm within the state and has petitioned the Georgia Public  Service Commission to sell the electricity directly to customers rather than to Georgia Power or other providers within Georgia.

Georgia Power has challenged Georgia Solar’s request. It argues allowing the Macon-based company to operate as a utility would violate Georgia Power’s standing as a regulated monopoly and would 'create barriers to future solar development.'"

Savannah Now

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Powered by the Sun

Tesla Model S

Solar Power - How Many Moving Parts?

Check out Semiconductor-Based Microinverter Technology @ Enphase

Farmers Grow Profits With a New Crop: Solar Panels

"Solar panels cover a 35-acre field that once produced corn, tobacco and other crops. When the sun shines, the panels generate enough electricity for hundreds of homes."

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/11/2478266/farmers-grow-profits-with-a-new.html#storylink=cpy

"North Carolina’s renewable and energy-efficiency industry employs more than 15,000 people and has generated some $3.7 billion in gross revenue this year, the association says. Companies providing solar energy services have increased 76 percent since the renewable energy requirement passed the General Assembly five years ago, according to surveys by the Sustainable Energy Association."

“It is guaranteed money,” said Hunt, 63, a Marine Corps veteran. “Farming is a risky business. If you can take some of the risk out and the liability, you are ahead of the ball game. If I die, my wife will have income because she couldn’t farm the land anymore.”

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/11/2478266/farmers-grow-profits-with-a-new.html#storylink=cpy

New Observer

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/11/11/2478266/farmers-grow-profits-with-a-new.html#storylink=cpy

Solar Mamas

“A girl is not supposed to continue school past age 10 because it is shameful. Is it not shameful that the youth of these girls is wasted without work? Without an education or purpose in life?”

Explore India’s Barefoot College, providing impoverished women with skills to change their communities.

PBS

Major League Baseball Goes Solar

Kauffman Stadium - Home of the Kansas City Royals

"Spring means one thing to the American sports fan — the start of a new Major League Baseball (MLB) season. For the environmentally conscious sports fan, however, it means the debut of new sustainability initiatives at ballparks across the country as the MLB continues its efforts to go green."

Clean Technica

Solar Numbers in San Diego

"Solar provides a futures contract for electric power at a fixed price for 30 years."

FC Note: Hedging their fuel costs with futures contracts has been a very effective strategy for Southwest Airlines, now a leader in their industry.

With no price at the source and by eliminating all the steps in between, directly accessing the sun's unlimited amount of energy takes the hedging concept to a whole new level as the costs of producing, refining and transporting energy from fossil resources continues to climb.

We cannot produce our own gasoline, but we can take control of a major part of our energy costs by producing our own electricity, courtesy of the sun.

Solar energy along with its obvious environmental benefits equals Financial Conservation thus economic empowerment -- particularly for the individual.

Smart. Direct. Simple.

For a breakdown of the numbers specific to the area, visit one of San Diego's local solar providers @ Home Energy Systems

Solar Highway in Germany

Solar Energy Industry Growth 50% in First 9 Months of 2012

"According to the Federal Network Agency, the solar energy industry in Germany grew by more than 50% in the first 9 months of 2012. Energy production from solar installations rose from 4.1% or 6.1% during this time. Germany now acquires more than 26% of its energy from renewable sources, including solar, wind, biomass, and hydrogen fuel. The country is currently on track to throw more support behind solar energy and thereby increase the rate of growth the solar energy industry has been experiencing in recent months."

The Fuel of Tomorrow Reported Today!

Renewable Energy: The Top 5 Nations

"Solar, wind, tidal and geothermal energy made up only 1.3 percent of total global energy use in 2011, but that's up 15.5 percent from the previous year. This is increasing due to policy and private investment, as well as commitments to reduce environmental impact and dependence on foreign energy sources. Here are the top five countries which are making use of renewable energy."

The Christian Science Monitor

England: The World's Largest Community-Owned Solar Park

"The Westmill Solar Cooperative announced Nov. 1 the launch of the world’s largest community-owned solar project in the south of England near Oxford. The 5 MW 30-acre Westmill solar park consists of 20,260 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and is designed to generate 4.8 GWhr per year, which the cooperative says is equivalent to a year’s electricity consumption for 1,500 homes and enough to prevent 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. The park was built by an initial group of private investors with the intention of selling it to a community-owned cooperative."

Inhabitat - Design Will Serve the World

Top 10 Solar Myths

Myth 1: Solar will get more efficient, so I should wait.

Myth 2: Solar doesn't work in cool, cloudy, or foggy climates.

Myth 3: I will store the excess energy I generate in batteries.

Myth 4: Solar panels require maintenance.

Myth 5 : Solar panels will cause my roof to leak, deteriorate, or collapse.

Myth 6: Solar is still so expensive that it will never be able to pay for itself (just like hybrid cars).

Myth 7: When the power goes out, my home is still powered

Myth 8: Solar will look ugly on my roof.

Myth 9: Installing solar panels will increase my property tax.

Myth 10: Solar panels require a tracking system to follow the angle of the sun

.For the Answers, visit One Block Off the Grid

Apple Goes Solar in a Big Way

The first of two 20 MW solar farms being built next to Apple's data center in North Carolina.

Gigaom.com