Tag Archives: loan
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 [...]
‘No More Solyndras Act’ – Will it Hurt U.S Renewables Innovation?
The already uphill battle to promote renewable energy instead of traditional fossil fuels has become even harder. On Friday, September 14th, the US House of Representatives passed the No More Solyndras Act, effectively halting the Department of Energy’s (DoE) loan guarantee program. Republicans wrote the bill because, in light of the Solyndras scandal, they felt [...]
Why Some Republicans Support Clean Energy
As an organization concerned deeply about climate change, we often heavily criticize the “all of the above” approach to energy development. If we’re truly going to address the problem and lower greenhouse gas emissions, a primary focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation need to be our number one priority. Digging a deeper carbon [...]
The “No More Solyndras Act” Passes The House
As I expected the “No More Solyndras Act” was just passed in the House: Republicans on Friday pushed a bill through the House shining a campaign-season light on the most conspicuous failure of President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus package. The bill would phase out federal loan guarantees like those that went to the now-bankrupt solar power [...]
The Philippines Passes Renewable Energy FiT
In a historic day for renewable energy in The Philippines, the country approved a feed-in tariff (FiT) that convers small hydro, biomass, wind, and solar. It postponed including ocean energy for further study. The government previously announced the FiT for geothermal separately, in what it calls a “geothermal crash program.” It raised the rates to provide incentives to [...]
Energy Efficiency Financing: Where’s The Money?
Amongst the problems with energy efficiency upgrades is the little issue of money. Even though the projects will ultimately save a city, business or household money over the long haul, it’s tough to get people to invest the money upfront, if they even have it to begin with. Experts in the field often note that [...]
The Curse of the DOE Loan Guarantee?
A few months ago, we published an article that asked, “What is Really Happening at Abound Solar?” We’ve just learned the bad news — and maybe some good news. Abound is halting production of its first-generation, 10.5-percent-efficiency cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV module in order to transition to building its next-generation, higher-efficiency module. That’s the good [...]
DOE Loan Program Ends; Solar Grabs $4.7B in Approvals
This past Friday, the 30th September, was the final day for approvals under the Department of Energy’s 1705 Loan Guarantee Program. This was of course set up as part of the 2009 stimulus law and extended an existing Energy Department loan guarantee program. Activity at the DoE under the program has also now of course [...]
DOE’s Loan Guarantee Program: Batting .500
Last week, I discussed the fact that in the aftermath of Solydra’s declaration of Chapter 11, the government’s efforts to offer financial support for clean technology in general and solar in particular look likely to become heavily politicized – a development which, particularly ahead of the 2012 Presidential elections, can only have the affect of reducing the potential flow of finance into [...]