News, Trends & Analysis
Chad Blevins
Chad Blevins holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with Highest Honors from Saint Edward’s University in Austin, TX. He is a proud Air Force Reservist that was recognized as an Honor Graduate after completing “boot-camp” at age 31. He went on to train as an Engineering Apprentice and achieved the level of Distinguished Graduate, while also serving as the top student leader for a Detachment of over 200 Airmen. Every day, Chad strives to live by the Air Force Core Values: Integrity First | Service Before Self | Excellence in All We Do Chad is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager, and also holds a Certificate in Energy Technology & Policy from the University of Texas.
Homepage: http://www.smartpowercommunity.com/
Posts by Chad Blevins
Solar Power Surge Prompts TEP to Seek Changes to SunShare Rebate Program
Jul 19th
TUCSON, Ariz., Jul 14, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — A surge in the popularity of solar energy systems has prompted Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to propose new, lower subsidies for residential customers who install photovoltaic (PV) arrays.
Nearly 1,100 local homeowners have reserved TEP SunShare rebates for PV systems this year, exceeding the total number of residential solar power systems completed over the previous nine years combined. Local businesses also have rushed to invest in solar power systems, draining the funds designated for up-front commercial incentives in 2010.
In response to this unprecedented demand, TEP has asked the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to More >
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...New Cost Allocation Methodology Unveiled by Midwest ISO
Jul 19th
Jul 16, 2010 4:19 PM Midwest ISO
After more than 19 months of collaborative work with its stakeholders, the Midwest ISO filed its proposed cost allocation methodology for new transmission projects. Multi Value Projects (MVPs), transmission projects that have a regional impact and are part of a regional plan, will now have a 100% regional allocation of costs, pending the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval.
“This system will fairly and equitably share the cost of projects that benefit the entire region and enable the Midwest ISO and its members to continue delivering low cost and reliable energy to the region,” said John Bear, president More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...The Second Age of Solar – Driving Costs Down End to End to Get to Grid Parity | American Electric Technologies, Inc. AETI
Jul 19th
Posted on July 17, 2010
The Second Age of Solar – Driving Costs Down End to End to Get to Grid Parity
In this article, we shall explore some of the methods and techniques to drive down the costs of solar energy production & maintenance while increasing solar energy production efficiency over a much longer life. By achieving lower costs over life while increasing watts produced over life, solar project financiers and developers are rewarded with a greater return on solar power generation and its sale to the open market, perhaps without the need for incentives by 2016. That would result in solar power becoming the first of the renewable energies to More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Fred Morse on Abengoa Solar, Arizona ($1.45 billion DoE loan guarantee) #Solana
Jul 10th
Solar’s Long and Winding Road By Marc Gunther Published July 09, 2010
In 1969, the Nixon White House asked a young assistant professor of engineering at the University of Maryland whether solar energy made sense for America. Absolutely, he replied.
Four decades later, Fred Morse is still trying to persuade the government to put its muscle behind solar. Last week, he scored a big victory.
In his weekly radio address on July 3, President Obama announced that the Department of Energy had awarded a $1.45 billion loan guarantee to Abengoa Solar — a Spanish company where Morse is senior advisor for U.S. operations — to build one of the largest solar power More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...FHFA statement could bring PACE residential retrofits to a halt unless Congress steps in
Jul 10th
MARK BOSLET: JULY 9, 2010
PACE Program on Life Support
FHFA statement could bring PACE residential retrofits to a halt unless Congress steps in.
Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse, there’s more bad news for the home energy retrofit program PACE.
PACE was already under pressure from mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Now the Federal Housing Finance Agency has weighed in with its opinion of the program, and it isn’t good.
The national mortgage regulator claims PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) creates “risk management” challenges and “significant safety and soundness concerns” for mortgage lenders and investors in mortgage securities. The FHFA “urged state and More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Yingli Completes 400-MW Production Expansion
Jul 8th
Published: July 8, 2010
Baoding, China — Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited announced that its latest 400-megawatt (MW) capacity expansion has been completed and is producing panels.
“Given the higher cell efficiency of the Yingli Solar Panda Module, we expect to help our customers further reduce their balance-of-system cost.”– Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO, Yingli Green Energy
The new solar PV manufacturing lines include a 300-MW PANDA monocrystalline silicon based production capacity at the company’s Baoding headquarters, and a 100-MW multicrystalline silicon based production capacity in Haikou, Hainan Province.
“We expect these latest production lines to reach full capacity by the More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...University Receives $19 Million To Monitor Carbon Storage Project
Jul 8th
June 28, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin will receive up to $19 million from the U.S. Department of Energy and NRG Energy to design and oversee a monitoring plan for a carbon capture and storage demonstration project in southeast Texas.
The project will demonstrate advanced technology to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) from a coal-fired power plant.
This project will be among the first in the state of Texas, and one of only a handful in the world, to use anthropogenic CO2 as opposed to naturally occurring CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). EOR is a technique that More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Pike: Solar To Hit Grid Parity by 2013
Jul 2nd
Published: July 1, 2010
Colorado, United States — The solar energy market has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past two years, driven by a new abundance of polysilicon, the effects of the worldwide financial crisis, and the plunging price of solar modules.
Between 2010 and 2013, Pike Research forecasts that solar demand will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24%.As a result of these factors, the solar industry has shifted from supply-constrained to demand-driven, and a few strong companies have been able to improve their revenues and market share based on a low cost per watt combined More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Transmission Infrastructure Investments to Top $600 Billion Globally Over the Next 10 Years
Jul 2nd
Jun 30, 2010
Neglected on the back burner for years, high-voltage electricity transmission systems throughout the world are expected to see investments of more than $600 billion globally from 2010 to 2020, according to an analysis by market consulting and research firm Pike Research. The report notes a number of drivers at work here: population and economic growth, policy initiatives and a rejuvenated industry focus. The evidence? Thousands of miles of new transmission lines are being built and existing systems are being beefed up to add capacity and more monitoring capabilities.
Quick Take: Serious investment in transmission is critical if we’re going to meet the growing demand and More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...Largest solar farm in Texas planned in Pflugerville – Austin Business Journal
Jul 2nd
Friday, July 2, 2010, 11:40am CDT
Austin Business Journal – by Francisco Vara-Orta Staff Writer
Read more: Largest solar farm in Texas planned in Pflugerville – Austin Business Journal
Pflugerville could be home to the largest solar farm in Texas, pending a final agreement between RRE Austin Solar, the City of Pflugerville, Elgin ISD and Travis County, according to local officials.
RRE Austin Solar, a local company backed by India-based investors, has bought 600 acres of farmland about 15 miles east of Pflugerville.
The Pflugerville City Council announced this week that it has signed an agreement with Austin Solar, under which the company will install up to $750,000 in More >
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...
Loading ...
