Tag Archives: economic development
Net Metering: Whats Not to Like?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about net metering. What’s so special about net metering, and why all the fuss? Net metering is a simple concept that’s policy in 43 states. It’s like rollover minutes on a cell phone bill — it lets utility customers who install solar systems feed energy they generate into [...]
Kiva: Microfinancing Solar
Imagine this: You’re in a developing nation with little access to electricity. In fact, you don’t have access to a grid, or enough electricity to keep a refrigerator and a light on and water filtered in your home. Or, if you have a generator, you barely afford to pay for the expensive diesel that keeps [...]
In Focus: The Collaborative Economy
Can sharing goods and services help save the planet? That was one of a number of provocative questions posed by Van Jones in a Master class offered by the Presidio Graduate School. You may recall Jones as the passionate human rights and green jobs proponent who served briefly in the Obama Administration. The problem statement [...]
Isofoton Unleashes Ohio PV Production Facility
Solar technology pioneer, Isofoton, recently announced the opening of a Napoleon, OH facility scheduled to begin operation in November. With 120 employees and a production capacity of 50MW at the new facility, Isofoton has plans to scale up output to as much as 300MW after hiring an additional 210 employees. The announcement came at the [...]
The Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act
After World War II, 85 million Americans bought more than $185 billion in bonds to fund important infrastructure. New US legislation seeks to leverage that same financial model to raise $50 billion for clean energy and energy-efficient technologies. The “Clean Energy Victory Bonds Act of 2012″ (aka HR 6275) sponsored by Representative Bob Filner (D-CA) [...]
Bangladesh Hits 1 Million Solar Systems Milestone
In one of the poorest countries on the planet a renewable energy service company is installing one thousand solar home systems – a day. Not in its capital or busy urban centers, but where 80 percent of the population lives – in rural Bangladesh. The company, Grameen Shakti, literally translates as rural energy. By the [...]